ObjectiveTo explore the dose-effect relationship and safety of high， medium， and low doses of raw Astragali Radix in the modified Huangqi Chifengtang （MHCD） for treating proteinuria in immunoglobulin A （IgA） nephropathy， and to provide scientific evidence for the clinical use of high-dose Astragali Radix in the treatment of proteinuria in IgA nephropathy. MethodsA total of 120 patients with IgA nephropathy， diagnosed with Qi deficiency and blood stasis combined with wind pathogen and heat toxicity， were randomly divided into a control group and three treatment groups. The control group received telmisartan combined with a Chinese medicine placebo， while the treatment groups were given telmisartan combined with MHCD containing different doses of raw Astragali Radix （60， 30， 15 g）. Each group contained 30 patients， and the treatment period was 12 weeks. Changes in 24-hour urinary protein （24 hUTP）， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores， effective rate， and renal function were observed before and after treatment. Safety was assessed by monitoring liver function and blood routine. ResultsAfter 12 weeks of treatment， 24 hUTP significantly decreased in the high， medium， and low-dose groups， as well as the control group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The TCM syndrome scores in the high， medium， and low-dose groups also significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Comparisons between groups showed that the 24 hUTP in the high-dose group was significantly lower than in the medium， low-dose， and control groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the 24 hUTP in the medium-dose group was significantly lower than in the control group （P<0.05）. The TCM syndrome scores in the high and medium-dose groups were significantly lower than in the low-dose and control groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The total effective rates for proteinuria in the high， medium， low-dose， and control groups were 92.59% （25/27）， 85.19% （23/27）， 60.71% （17/28）， and 57.14% （16/28）， respectively. The effective rates in the high and medium-dose groups were significantly higher than in the low-dose and control groups （χ²=13.185， P<0.05， P<0.01）. The effective rates for TCM syndrome scores in the high， medium， low-dose， and control groups were 88.89% （24/27）， 81.48% （22/27）， 71.43% （20/28）， and 46.43% （13/28）， respectively. The efficacy of TCM syndrome scores in the high and medium-dose groups was significantly higher than in the control group （χ²=14.053， P<0.01）. Compared with pre-treatment values， there was no statistically significant difference in eGFR and serum creatinine in the high and medium-dose groups. However， eGFR significantly decreased in the low-dose and control groups after treatment （P<0.05）， and serum creatinine levels increased significantly in the control group （P<0.05）. No statistically significant differences were observed in urea nitrogen， uric acid， albumin， total cholesterol， triglycerides， liver function， and blood routine before and after treatment in any group. ConclusionThere is a dose-effect relationship in the treatment of IgA nephropathy with high， medium， and low doses of raw Astragali Radix in MHCD. The high-dose group exhibited the best therapeutic effect and good safety profile.

Objective To explore the constituent elements of patients'sense of gain experience and provide theoretical insights for improving patient satisfaction with healthcare services.Methods Purposive sampling and convenience sampling were employed to select 46 experts in health management from universities,hospitals,government agencies,and academic societies across China for semi-structured interviews.Qualitative analysis of the interview data was conducted using grounded theory.Results Through three-level coding,159 initial concepts,19 categories,7 main categories,and 2 core categories were identified.A conceptual framework for the constituent elements of patients'sense of gain experience was constructed,centered on two core dimensions:micro-level experience and macro-level acquisition.Conclusion The concept of"patients'sense of gain experience"enriches the theoretical framework of"sense of gain"and breaks through the unidimensional approach to evaluating medical service quality.Its enhancement requires collaborative efforts from multiple stakeholders,including medical institutions,governments,policymakers,and other actors.

Objective To explore the constituent elements of patients'sense of gain experience and provide theoretical insights for improving patient satisfaction with healthcare services.Methods Purposive sampling and convenience sampling were employed to select 46 experts in health management from universities,hospitals,government agencies,and academic societies across China for semi-structured interviews.Qualitative analysis of the interview data was conducted using grounded theory.Results Through three-level coding,159 initial concepts,19 categories,7 main categories,and 2 core categories were identified.A conceptual framework for the constituent elements of patients'sense of gain experience was constructed,centered on two core dimensions:micro-level experience and macro-level acquisition.Conclusion The concept of"patients'sense of gain experience"enriches the theoretical framework of"sense of gain"and breaks through the unidimensional approach to evaluating medical service quality.Its enhancement requires collaborative efforts from multiple stakeholders,including medical institutions,governments,policymakers,and other actors.

Objective:To investigate the status quo of psychological distress among parents of children with cancer and analyze its influencing factors.Methods:Totally 334 parents of pediatric oncology patients meeting the inclusion criteria were selected by convenience sampling from Hunan Children's Hospital between June and October 2022. A questionnaire survey was conducted using a general information questionnaire, Distress Thermometer, Social Support Rating Scale, and Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale-Family Member Form.Results:A total of 334 questionnaires were distributed, with 298 valid responses received, making the effective response rate 89.22%. The DT score of the 298 parents of pediatric oncology patients was (7.58±2.85). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that parental gender, the impact of caregiving on income, economic pressure, uncertainty in illness, and social support were significant influencing factors of the parents' psychological distress ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:The psychological distress of parents of children with cancer is at a relatively high level and is influenced by multiple factors. Medical professionals can implement targeted interventions based on specific circumstances to alleviate the psychological distress of these parents.

The morphological structure and physiological indexes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae have changed during serial re-pitching due to the stress conditions in serial handlings and the cells become aging. It is of great significance to study the physiological changes of S. cerevisiae during serial re-pitching to understand the anti-aging effect of S. cerevisiae. In this paper, the changes of the physiological indexes during re-pitching of yeast are summarized, and based on the analysis of the previous works further research directions are proposed.

Objective In order to acquaint with the prevalence of Tibetan sheep plague in this area, we conducted a serum epidemiological investigation of Tibetan sheep plague in Qinghai Province. Methods Indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) and colloidal gold immunochromatography (GICA) were applied to test serum samples of Tibetan sheep and whole blood samples from jugular vein of Tibetan sheep were collected in 8 Prefectures of Qinghai Province from 2013 to 2016. Results A total of 86 positive Tibetan sheep serum samples with plague F1 antibody were detected by both methods, and the positive rate was 0.68％ (86/12710), the samples collected in Xinghai County Hainan Prefecture had the highest positive rate, which was 5.20％ (27/519). The Haixi Prefecture and Yushu Prefecture were historical epidemic areas, the positive rates were 0.65％(15/2313) and 0.26％(6/2293), respectively. Hainan Prefecture, Guoluo Prefacture and Huangnan Prefecture were newly confirmed epidemic areas, the positive rates were 1.61％ (28/1741), 1.01％ (15/1481), and 1.44％(19/1316), respectively. The antibody titers were 1:20 to 1:5120, the samples collected in Maqin County Guoluo Prefecture had the highest titer, namely 1 :5120. Conclusions In Qinghai Province, Tibetan sheep plague is endemic, and there are outbreaks in some regions. So we have to enhance the Tibetan sheep plague monitoring especially in Marmot plague epidemic area.

Objective To understand the epidemic trend of Tibetan sheep plague in Guoluo Prefecture,Qinghai Province,we detected the plague F1 antibody in Tibetan sheep serum in this area.Methods Indirect hemagglutination test (IHA) and colloidal gold immunochromatography (GICA) were applied to test serum samples of Tibetan sheep which were separated from 5 ml whole blood drew from jugular vein in Maqin County,Maduo County,Gande County,Banma County,Jiuzhi County and Dari County in 2014 and 2015.Results We collected 1 481 serum samples,566 from Maqin County,315 from Maduo County,150 from Gande County,150 from Banma County,150 from Jiuzhi County and 150 from Dari County.Totally 14 serum samples showed F1 antibody positive,the positive rate was 0.95％ (14/1 481),and they were all from Maqin County.Conclusions This area has the prevalence of Tibetan sheep plague.Therefore,the monitoring work of Tibetan sheep plague should be strengthened.

OBJECTIVETo assess the association of C677T and A1298C polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene with the susceptibility to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

METHODSBlood samples of 115 PCOS patients and 58 fertile women (for whom PCOS has been excluded) were collected for DNA extraction. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used for determining the C677T and A1298C polymorphisms. A database has been set up with Epidata and a significance test was performed with a statistical analysis system.

RESULTSA significant difference has been found in the allele frequencies of MTHFR gene 677 C and T polymorphisms between the two groups (P<0.01), for which T allele has increased the risk for PCOS by 2.06 times. Heterozygous and homozygous genotypes at position 677 (CT and TT) were more common among PCOS cases than controls, with an OR of 3.91 (95%CI: 1.70-8.97) and 4.39 (95%CI: 1.77-10.89), respectively. There was no statistical difference in genotypic distribution of MTHFR gene A1298C polymorphism (P>0.05). In the PCOS group, there was a significant difference with an OR of 6.40 (95%CI: 1.71-23.95) for an increased risk of insulin resistance in homozygous C677T mutations (TT) compared with the wild genotype (CC, P<0.01). The PCOS group and the control group also differed significantly in their red blood cell folate levels (P<0.01), but not in serum vitamin B12 and homocysteine levels (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONMTHFR gene C677T polymorphism is associated with PCOS, for which CT and TT genotypes can increase the risk of PCOS. The TT genotype can also increase the risk of insulin resistance in PCOS patients. The A1298C polymorphism of the MTHFR gene is not associated with the occurrence of PCOS. The folate level in red blood cells of PCOS patients is lower, for whom folate should be supplemented.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; enzymology ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the plasmid features and geographical distribution characteristics of Yersinia pestis of different plague foci in China.

METHODSA total of 2 213 Yersinia pestis strains were colected from 11 Chinese plague foci separated during 1943 to 2012, and plasmid DNA according to alkali cracking method, and measured the relative molecular mass (Mr) of plasmid DNA based on the standard plasmid contrast method, then analyzed the plasmid profiles by agar gel electrophoresis.

RESULTSA total of 2 213 strains had 16 kinds of plasmids with different Mr, including 4×10(6), 6×10(6), 7×10(6), 13×10(6), 16×10(6), 20×10(6), 22×10(6), 23×10(6), 27×10(6), 30×10(6), 36×10(6), 45×10(6), 52×10(6), 65×10(6), 72×10(6) and 90×10(6). Plasmid were classified into 26 kinds of plasmid profiles. A total of 2 213 Yersinia pestis strains contained 4 large plasmids, 52×10(6), 65×10(6), 72×10(6) and 90×10(6), whose ratio was 22.10% (589/2 213), 75.60% (1 672/2 213), 0.17% (4/2 213), 2.12% (47/2 213), respectively. Among which, strains with plasmid 52×10(6), 65×10(6), 90×10(6) distributed in Qinghai-Tibet plateau Himalayan Marmot natural plague foci, strains with 72×10(6) plasmid only distributed in Inner Mongolia Meriones unguiculatus natural plague foci and Junggar Basin R. opimus natural plague foci, and 65×10(6) plasmid distributed in all the other foci.

CONCLUSIONStrains in Chinese 11 plague foci contained 4 kinds of large plasmid, the Mr respectively were 52×10(6), 65×10(6), 72×10(6), 90×10(6), which were classified into 26 kinds of plasmid profiles with other plasmid. These plasmid profiles distributed in relatively independent epidemic focus.

Animals ; China ; Genotype ; Plague ; Plasmids ; Yersinia pestis

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of excision repair cross-complementing 1 (ERCC1) and the treatment of cisplatin-based chemotherapy in local advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHOD: The expression of ERCC1 protein in 107 cases with NPC and in 48 normal nasopharyngeal tissues adjacent to the cancer was detected by immunohistochemical method. RESULT: High expression of ERCC1 was observed in 52 cases with NPC, and 18 cases normal nasopharyngeal tissues, there was no statistically significant differences between them. The expression of ERCC1 protein was significant correlated with patient total TNM stage, but not significantly correlated with age, gender, histological type, T stage and N stage. The recent treatment efficiency in Low ER-CCl expression cases was higher than high expression cases. There was statistically significant difference between them. In 97 follow-up cases, 2 cases died, 5 cases with liver and lung metastasis, there was no statistically significant difference between them. CONCLUSION ERCC1 expression maybe regarded as indicator platinum based chemotherapy sensitivity prediction in nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and also helpful for formulating individualized treatment. The immunohistochemical detection is also simple and effective detection method for ERCC1 expression.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma ; Cisplatin ; therapeutic use ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Endonucleases ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology