BACKGROUND: Eczema is the most common skin problem among children in Hong Kong. Previous studies have highlighted that the quality of life of the families of children with eczema influences the effects of eczema interventions. However, the Chinese version of the Family Dermatology Life Quality Index (C-FDLQI), a tool for measuring the quality of life of the families of children with eczema, has not yet been validated. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the psychometric properties of the C-FDLQI among parents and caregivers of children with eczema in Hong Kong. METHODS: This study evaluated the internal consistency, test-retest reliability and structural validity of the C-FDLQI and its convergent validity by examining its correlations with the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) and the Cantonese version of the Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index (C-CDLQI) among 147 Chinese parents/caregivers of children with varying degrees of eczema.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Caregivers ; Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatology ; Eczema ; Hong Kong ; Humans ; Parents ; Psychometrics ; Quality of Life ; Reproducibility of Results ; Semantics ; Skin

Objective To investigate the effect of microRNA-22 (miRNA-22) on the expression of P2X7 receptor and inflammatory factors in hippocampus of rats with epilepsy. Methods Healthy SD male rats were intraperitoneal injected with lithium chloride and pilocarpine to induce epilepsy. Three days later, 45 epileptic rats were randomly divided into three groups: epilepsy group( EP group), miRNA-22 agomir group (EF+agomir group) and miRNA-22 agomir control group ( EF+agomir control group). Another 15 healthy rats were selected as control group(N group). The expression of P2X7 protein was detected by West- ern blot and the levels of miRNA-22, P2X7 mRNA, NF-κB mRNA ,IL-1β mRNA were detected by qRT-PCR. Nissl staining was used to observe the damage of Nissl bodies. Results Western blot result showed that compared with the N group(0. 91±0. 10), the level of P2X7 protein in EP group (1. 17±0. 052) in-creased, and the difference was statistically significant (t=-4. 11,P=0. 02). Compared with the EP+ag-omir control group(0. 94± 0. 14),the expression of P2X7 protein in EP+agomir group (0. 66± 0. 06) de-creased and the difference was significant (t=-3. 10,P=0. 04). And the qRT-PCR results showed that compared with N group, the levels of P2X7mRNA (9. 08±0. 94), NF-κB mRNA (20. 10±2. 15) and IL-1β mRNA (50. 64±5. 42) in EP group increased(t=-14. 96,P<0. 05; t=-15. 38,P<0. 05; t=-15. 87,P<0. 05). The expression of P2X7mRNA (1. 31 ± 0. 64), NF-κB mRNA ( 2. 28 ± 1. 10) and IL-1β mRNA (2. 12±1. 20) in EF+agomir group decreased compared with EP group((9. 08± 0. 94),( 20. 10± 2. 15), (50. 64±5. 42)) and EF+agomir control group((7. 03 ±1. 90),(18. 72±1. 76),(47. 39±6. 16)), and the differences were statistically significant(F=29. 77, P<0. 01;F=98. 99, P<0. 05;F=96. 29, P<0. 01). Nissl staining results showed that a large number of morphologically abnormal and disintegrated Nissl bodies could be observed in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions of EP group,which showed a smaller size,irreg-ular morphology,chromatin pyknosis,boundary blur between nucleus and cytoplasm. Compared with the nor-mal group, the difference was significant (P<0. 05). While in miRNA-22 agomir group, the disintegration of Nissl bodies was improved and the number of Nissl bodies increased. Conclusion Intraventricular injec-tion of miRNA-22 agomir can down-regulate the expression of P2X7 receptor and related inflammatory factors in hippocampus of epileptic rats, thus inhibiting seizures.

Objective To propose a treatment planning optimization algorithm which can make full use of OAR dose distribution prediction meanwhile improving the output planning quality as much as possible.Methods We had reformulated an FMO function under the guidance of dose distribution prediction and also integrated equivalent uniform dose (gEUD) based on the consideration of prediction uncertainty,for providing optimal solution.Performance of the method was evaluated by comparing the optimized IMRT plan quality of 8 cervical cancers in the term of DVH curves,dose distribution and dosimetric endpoints with the original ones.Results The proposed method had a feasible,fast solution.Compared with original plan,its output plan had better plan quality in better dose homogeneity,less hot spot and further dose sparing for OARs.V30,V45 of rectum was decreased by (6.60±3.53)％ and (17.03±7.44)％,respectively,with the statistically significant difference (t=-4.954,-6.055,P＜0.05).V30,V45 of bladder was decreased by (14.74 ± 5.61) ％ and (14.99 ± 4.53) ％,respectively,with the statistically significant difference (t=-6.945,-8.759,P＜0.05).Conclusions We have successfully developed a predicted dose distribution and equivalent uniform dose-based planning optimization method,which is able to make good use of 3D dose prediction and ensure the output plan quality for intensity modulated radiation therapy.

Objective To establish a three-dimensional (3D) dose prediction model,which can predict multiple organs simultaneously in a single model and automatically learn the effect of the geometric anatomical structure on dose distribution.Methods Clinical radiotherapy plans of patients diagnosed with the same type of tumors were collected and retrospectively analyzed.For every plan,each organs at risk (OAR) voxel was regarded as the study sample and its deposited dose was considered as the dosimetric feature.A regularized multi-task learning method than could learn the relationship among different tasks was employed to establish the relationship matrix among tasks and the correlation between geometric structure and dose distribution among organs.In this experiment,the spinal cord,brainstem and bilateral parotids involved in the intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plan of 15 nasopharyngeal cancer patients were utilized to establish the multi-organ prediction model.The relative percentage error between the predicted dose of voxel and the clinical planning dose was calculated to assess the feasibility of the model.Results Ten cases receiving IMRT plans were utilized as the training data,and the remaining five cases were used as the test data.The test results demonstrated a higher prediction accuracy and less data demand.And the average voxel dose errors among the spinal cord,brainstem and the left and right parotids were (2.01±0.02)％,(2.65± 0.02) ％,(2.45± 0.02) ％ and (2.55± 0.02) ％,respectively.Conclusion The proposed model can accurately predict the dose of multiple organs in a single model and avoid the establishment of multiple single-organ prediction models,laying a solid foundation for patient-specific plan quality control and knowledge-based treatment planning.

The aim of this paper was to compare the properties of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets and Tripterygium wilfordii Tablets from dose-effect-toxicity on type Ⅱ collagen-induced arthritis( CIA) in rats. SD rats were randomly divided into eight groups,including normal group,model group,Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets groups( 1 times equivalent dose 0.009 g·kg-1,4 times equivalent dose 0.036 g·kg-1,16 times equivalent dose 0.144 g·kg-1),Tripterygium wilfordii Tablets groups( 1 times equivalent dose 0.007 5 mg·kg-1,4 times equivalent dose 0.030 mg·kg-1,16 times equivalent dose 0.120 mg·kg-1). Beginning on the first immunization,Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets and Tripterygium wilfordii Tablets administered intraperitoneally once a day. After the second immunization,the symptoms such as redness and swelling of joints were observed,and the clinical score and incidence of arthritis were evaluated. HE and Masson staining were used to examine the histopathological changes of joints. The expression level of anti-type Ⅱ collagen antibody Ig G in serum was detected by ELISA,routine testing of blood components,the concentration of ALP( alkaline phosphatase),ALT( alanine aminotransferase),AST( aspartate aminotransferase),GGT( gamma-glutamyltransferase),TBi L( total bilirubin),CRE( creatinine) and UREA( urea) in serum were detected by enzymatic assay. The rate of sperm deformity in the epididymis was evaluated under light microscope. The extent of damage to the testis and ovarian tissue was assessed by HE staining. Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets and Tripterygium wilfordii Tablets attenuated the inflammation,redness,swelling and deformity of joints and reduced the clinical score and incidence of arthritis in CIA rats. Meanwhile,it also exhibited obvious reduction in all pathological features such as joint synovitis,pannus,cartilage erosion and bone destruction. Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets and Tripterygium wilfordii Tablets reduced Ig G in a dose-dependent manner,and Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets is better than Tripterygium wilfordii Tablets( P<0.05 or P<0.01). The high doses of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets and Tripterygium wilfordii Tablets could significantly increase the organ coefficient of liver and spleen and reduced RBC and HGB in CIA rats( P<0.01),and severity leading to death. Gastric mucosal injury and morphological changes of liver and kidney were not observed in CIA rats of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets and Tripterygium wilfordii Tablets treatment group. The 4 and 16 times doses of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets and Tripterygium wilfordii Tablets could significantly increase serum ALT,GGT and decrease CRE( P<0.05 or P<0.01). Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets and Tripterygium wilfordii Tablets could increase the sperm deformity rate and damage the testicular seminiferous tubules of CIA male rats. Severity increased with dose and time increasing. The effect of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets( 16 times) is more significant than Tripterygium wilfordii Tablets( 16 times). Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets and Tripterygium wilfordii Tablets significantly delayed onset of arthritis and inhibited the paw edema and arthritic score. Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets and Tripterygium wilfordii Tablets also caused male reproductive damage,high dose affected hematopoiesis,and maximum dose leading to death. Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets and Tripterygium wilfordii Tablets all depended on dose-effect-toxicity manner. Anti-arthritis effect of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets is better than Tripterygium wilfordii Tablets,but the toxicity of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets maximum dose is more obvious. The relevant conclusions of our study will provide experimental references for clinical rational use of drugs,and further clinical studies are needed to confirm our conclusions.
Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Glycosides ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tablets ; Tripterygium ; toxicity

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organ Transplantation ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tissue and Organ Procurement ; statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Notch signal on hypoxic induction factor (HIF-1α) and autophagy-associated genes Beclin1, LC3I, LC3II in oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) induced myocardial cell injury. METHODS: The OGD model was established using hypoxic culture box and hypoglycemic DMEM medium. The cells were divided into normal control group, OGD group, OGD + NC siRNA group, OGD + Notch1 siRNA group and OGD + HIF-1α siRNA group. Western blot was used to detect the interference effects of HIF-1α siRNA and Notch1 siRNA. The effects of Notch1 siRNA and HIF-1α siRNA on the activity of myocardial cells in OGD model were detected by the CCK-8 assay. The effects of Notch1 siRNA and HIF-1α siRNA on autophage-associated genes Beclin1, LC3I and LC3II expression were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The results of Western blot showed that HIF-1α siRNA could effectively knock down the expression of HIF-1α in myocardial cells in OGD model, and Notch1 siRNA could effectively knock down the expression of Notch1 and HIF-1α in myocardial cells in OGD model. The result of CCK-8 assay showed that Notch1 siRNA and HIF-1α siRNA reduced the activity of myocardial cells in OGD model, and there was no statistical difference between the two groups. Western blot results showed that Notch1 siRNA and HIF-1α siRNA could reduce the expressions of the autophagy-associated genes Beclin1, LC3I and LC3II, and reduce the ratio of LC3II to LC3I at mRNA level. CONCLUSION Notch1 plays a role in myocardial protection by regulating the expression of HIF-1α to regulate the autophagy in OGD model cells.
Autophagy ; Beclin-1 ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; pathology ; Oxygen ; Receptors, Notch ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether ginsenoside-Rb1 (Gs-Rb1) improves the CoCl-induced autophagy of cardiomyocytes via upregulation of adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway. METHODS: Ventricles from 1- to 3-day-old Wistar rats were sequentially digested, separated and incubated in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum for 3 days followed by synchronization. Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into 7 groups: control group (normal level oxygen), hypoxia group (500 μmol/L CoCl), Gs-Rb1 group (200 μmol/L Gs-Rb1 + 500 μmol/L CoCl), Ara A group (500 μmol/L Ara A + 500 μmol/L CoCl), Ara A+ Gs-Rb1 group (500 μmol/L Ara A + 200 μmol/L Gs-Rb1 + 500 μmol/L CoCl), AICAR group [1 mmol/L 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR) + 500 μmol/L CoCl], and AICAR+Gs-Rb1 group (1 mmol/L AICAR + 200 μmol/L Gs-Rb1 + 500 μmol/L CoCl). Cells were treated for 12 h and cell viability was determined by methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). AMPK activity was assessed by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) ELISA assay. The protein expressions of Atg4B, Atg5, Atg6, Atg7, microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3), P62, and active-cathepsin B were measured by Western blot. RESULTS: Gs-Rb1 significantly improved the cell viability of hypoxia cardiomyocytes (P<0.01). However, the viability of hypoxia-treated cardiomyocytes was significantly inhibited by Ara A (P<0.01). Gs-Rb1 increased the AMPK activity of hypoxia-treated cardiomyocytes. The AMPK activity of hypoxia-treated cadiomyocytes was inhibited by Ara A (P<0.01) and was not affected by AICAR =0.983). Gs-Rb1 up-regulated Atg4B, Atg5, Beclin-1, Atg7, LC3B II, the LC3B II/I ratio and cathepsin B activity of hypoxia cardiomyocytes (P<0.05), each of these protein levels was significantly enhanced by Ara A (all P<0.01), but was not affected by AICAR (all P>0.05). Gs-Rb1 significantly down-regulated P62 levels of hypoxic cardiomyocytes (P<0.05). The P62 levels of hypoxic cardiomyocytes were inhibited by Ara A (P<0.05) and were not affected by AICAR (P=0.871). CONCLUSION Gs-Rb1 may improve the viability of hypoxia cardiomyocytes by ameliorating cell autophagy via the upregulation of AMPK pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular-level mechanism on the hematopoiesis effect of Angelicae sinensis Radix (ASR) with systems-based interactome analysis. METHODS: This systems-based interactome analysis was designed to enforce the workflow of "ASR (herb)→compound→target protein→internal protein actions→ending regulated protein for hematopoiesis". This workflow was deployed with restrictions on regulated proteins expresses in bone marrow and anemia disease and futher validated with experiments. RESULTS: The hematopoiesis mechanism of ASR might be accomplished through regulating pathways of cell proliferation towards hemopoiesis with cross-talking agents of spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK), Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), and interleukin-2-inducible T-cell kinase (ITK). The hematopoietic function of ASR was also validated by colony-forming assay performed on mice bone marrow cells. As a result, SYK, JAK2 and ITK were activated. CONCLUSION This study provides a new approach to systematically study and predict the therapeutic mechanism for ASR based on interactome analysis towards biological process with experimental validations.

Right ventricle to pulmonary artery (RV-PA) conduits have been used for the surgical repair of congenital heart defects. These conduits frequently become stenosed or develop insufficiency with time, necessitating reoperations. Percutanous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) can delay the need for repeated surgeries in patients with congenital heart defects and degenerated RV-PA conduits. We presented our first experience with PPVI and described in detail the procedural methods and the considerations that are needed for this intervention to be successful. Immediate and short-term clinical outcomes of our patients were reported. Good haemodynamic results were obtained, both angiographically and on echocardiography. PPVI provides an excellent alternative to repeat open-heart surgery for patients with congenital heart defects and degenerated RV-PA conduits. This represents a paradigm shift in the management of congenital heart disease, which is traditionally managed by open-heart surgery.