OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to investigate the genetic background of mitochondrial genes in young patients with Coronary heart disease (CHD) to provide a foundation for the early prevention of young patients with CHD.

METHODS115 cases of young (⋜ 45 years) CHD Chinese Han patients (case group), 100 cases of older (> 45 years) Chinese Han CHD patients (experimental group) hospitalized and 100 cases of healthy people through physical examination (control group) at the General Hospital of PLA between January 2014 and December 2015 were selected. General information, clinical assessment, pedigree analysis, and mitochondrial full sequence scanning were performed. The pedigrees of one patient harbouring the C5263T mutation were recruited. Mitochondrial functional analysis including cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were performed on pedigrees with the C5263T mutation (mutation group) and without the mutation (non-mutation group).

RESULTSThe differences in biochemical tests (P > 0.05) between the case group and experimental group were not significant. The C5263T single-nucleotide mutation of the mitochondrial ND2 gene was observed in 2 young CHD patients in the case group. The premature CHD of these 2 patients followed a pattern of maternal inheritance. The mutation group (I1, II2) had higher ROS levels (4750.82 ± 1045.55 vs. 3888.58 ± 487.60, P = 0.022) and lower MMP levels (P = 0.045) than the non-mutation group (II1, III1, III2).

CONCLUSIONWe speculated that the mitochondrial C5263T mutation might be associated with the occurrence CHD in Chinese Han young people.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Base Sequence ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronary Disease ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Female ; Genes, Mitochondrial ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mutation ; NADH Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDSome problems have been found in the usually adopted combined approach for the removal of intra-extracranial tumors in skull base. Herein, we described a pure endoscopic transnasal or transoral approach (ETA) for the removal of intra-extracranial tumors in various skull base regions.

METHODSRetrospectively, clinical data, major surgical complications, pre- and postoperative images, and follow-up information of a series of 85 patients with intra-extracranial tumors in various skull base regions who were treated by surgery via ETA in our skull base center during the past 10 years were reviewed and analyzed.

RESULTSGross total tumor removal was achieved in 80/85 cases (94.1%) in this study. All 37 cases with tumors in anterior skull base and all 14 cases with tumors in jugular foramen received total tumor removal. Thirteen and three cases with tumors in clivus received total and subtotal tumor removal, respectively. Total and subtotal tumor removal was performed for 16 cases and 2 cases in lateral skull base, respectively. The complications in this study included: cerebrospinal fluid leakage (n = 3), meningitis (n = 3), and new cranial nerve deficits (n = 3; recovered in 3 months after surgery). In the follow-up period of 40-151 months (median: 77 months), seven patients (8.8%) out of the 80 cases of total tumor removal experienced recurrence.

CONCLUSIONSComplete resection of intra-extracranial growing tumors in various skull base regions can be achieved via the pure ETA in one stage in selected cases. Surgical procedure for radical removal of tumors is feasible and safe.

The reasonable selection of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) scan sequence and parameters is very important for the objective evaluation of the results of clinical study and high quality imaging. The semi quantitative scoring system of total knee joint including Whole Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score, Boston Leeds Osteoarthritis Knee Score, MRI Osteoarthritis Knee Score, Cartilage Repair Osteoarthritis Knee Score and so on. They can fully evaluate the imaging changes of various organs during the development of knee osteoarthritis. With the continuous development of MRI technology, the morphological and physiological changes of articular cartilage can be quantitatively assessed. T2 mapping, Diffusion Weighted Imaging, and delayed Gadolinium-Enhanced MRI of Cartilage can be quantitatively monitoring changes in cartilage matrix components. These quantitative and semi quantitative evaluation techniques are helpful to detect OA in its early stage, guide clinical early intervention, and also provide the possibility for the accurate evaluation of the therapeutic effect.

As a traditional Chinese medicine, wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) has a long cultivation history and a good industrial development foundation. With the development of wolfberry production, the expansion of cultivation area and the increased attention of governments and consumers on food safety, the quality and safety requirement of wolfberry is higher demanded. The quality tracing and traceability system of production entire processes is the important technology tools to protect the wolfberry safety, and to maintain sustained and healthy development of the wolfberry industry. Thus, this article analyzed the wolfberry quality management from the actual situation, the safety hazard sources were discussed according to the HACCP (hazard analysis and critical control point) and GAP (good agricultural practice for Chinese crude drugs), and to provide a reference for the traceability system of wolfberry.

The dissipation of spirodiclofen in fresh fruit and dry fruit of wolfberry was detected in this study to provide a reference for its safe application.According to Pesticide Residue Test Criteria of China, the open-field experiment was conducted in Zhongning courty of Ningxia province, and the dissipation of spirodiclofen was studied by acetonitrile extraction and HPLC-MS/MS detection. The results showed that the half-lives of spirodiclofen in fresh wolfberry fruit and dry wolfberry fruit were 6.9-11.2 days and 8.5-10.4 days, respectively. Spirodiclofen belongs to the easily degradable pesticide type. According to the maximum residue limits (0.5 mg•kg⁻¹) of spirodiclofen of EU for wolfberry, after recommended dosage being sprayed for once, fresh wolfberry fruit was safe to eat after 5 days, and dry wolfberry fruit was safe to eat after 21 days.

The safety interval period and residue dynamics of two main components (XDE-175-J and XDE-175-L) of spinetoram in wolfberry were measured. Field experiment design and sampling method were carried out according to the "Guideline on pesticide residue trials". The wolfberry samples were extracted with acetonitrile by ultrasonic, and analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS. The wolfberry was sprayed with 6% spinetoram suspension concentrate (SC) at recommended dosage (1 500 times) and doubling dosage (750 times) (one time) at fructescence of wolfberry. The half-lives of spinetoram residue under recommended dosage treatment was 3.65-4.25 d, and all the fresh and dried fruits conform to first order kinetics equation. The dissipation rate was over 95% in fresh and dried fruits at 14 d after application. In conclusion, spinetoram belongs to the easily degradable pesticide type.

We evaluate the performance of Xpert MTB/RIF for the diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) in China. The performance of Xpert was evaluated compared to the composite reference standard (CRS), drug susceptibility testing (DST), and imaging examination. The overall sensitivity and specificity of Xpert were 64.1% (195/304) and 100% (24/24), respectively, using CRS as the gold standard. The sensitivity was significantly higher than that of culture for pus (P<0.05). The proportion of EPTB-positive cases diagnosed by imaging was two times more than that diagnosed using Xpert; however, 6 out of 19 cases may have been overdiagnosed by imaging. Compared to phenotypic DST, the sensitivity and specificity of Xpert were 80% (12/15) and 100% (75/75), respectively. Considering its high sensitivity and specificity, Xpert MTB/RIF may be used as a rapid initial test for EPTB diagnosis, and may also support a quicker decision on the treatment regimen. The combination of imaging and Xpert testing could provide high efficiency and accurate diagnosis of suspected EPTB.
Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; China ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; drug effects ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Rifampin ; pharmacology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sputum ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; diagnosis ; microbiology

In this study, a ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap-Orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS/MS) method was developed to analyze the chemical components in Citrus aurantium. C. aurantium were extracted with 75% methanol, and we applied a Thermo Scientific BDS Hypersil C₁₈ column (2.1 mm×150 mm, 2.4 μm) to UHPLC analysis with acetonitrile-water (containing 0.1% formic acid) in gradient as mobile phase. Elutes were then detected by ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS/MS. A total of 27 components were identified, including fourteen flavonoids, seven coumarins, five limonoids and one alkaloid. This study showed an insight into the composition of C. aurantium, which could provide theoretical foundation for further study and utilization of the medicinal resources.

BACKGROUNDThe aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of vinorelbine and cisplatin (NP chemotherapy) alone or in combination with Aidi injection for the treatment of advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSPertinent publications were identified in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CNKI, CQVIP, and Wanfang databases, up to December 8, 2015. After quality assessment of all included randomized controlled trials evaluating Aidi injection combined with NP chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced NSCLC, a meta-analysis was performed by Review Manager 5.2 and STATA 12.0 for statistical analyses.

RESULTSTwelve studies including 509 and 503 cases in the experimental and control groups, respectively, were finally analyzed. The meta-analysis revealed that when cisplatin dose ranging from 20 to 40 mg/m 2 , combination of Aidi injection and NP chemotherapy was statistically different compared with NP chemotherapy alone in enhancing efficiency (relative risk [RR] = 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.05-1.47], P = 0.010) and reducing the incidence of Grade II or above nausea and vomiting (RR = 0.49, 95% CI [0.30-0.80], P = 0.005). Meanwhile, with cisplatin ranging from 80 to 120 mg/m 2 , no significant differences in efficiency (RR = 1.11, 95% CI [0.87-1.42], P = 0.390) and Grade II or above nausea and vomiting (RR = 0.88, 95% CI [0.71-1.10], P = 0.260) were obtained. In addition, Aidi injection combined with NP chemotherapy was superior to NP chemotherapy alone in improving the quality of life, alleviating Grade II or above leukopenia and thrombocytopenia.

CONCLUSIONSAidi injection combined with NP chemotherapy can enhance efficiency, improve the quality of life, and decrease adverse effects in patients with advanced NSCLC.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Injections ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Publication Bias ; Quality of Life ; Vinblastine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of metronomic chemotherapy of low dose phosphoramide combined with prednisolone (CP metronomic chemotherapy) on proliferation and apoptosis of RPMI 8226 cells, and to explore its regulating effect on Notch1/NF-κB signaling pathways.

METHODSExperiment was divided into the DMSO control group, and the phosphoramide mustard (PM) group, the prednisolone group, the phosphoramide mustard plus prednisolone group (the CP group). RPMI 8226 cells were treated with different drugs, CCK-8 method was used to detect cell proliferation, flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle and apoptosis, reverse transcription PCR was used to detect Notch1 and NF-κB mRNA expression level.

RESULTSCompared with DMSO control group, RPMI8226 cell proliferation inhibition rate in all the PM, prednisolone and CP groups increased significantly with prolonging of time (r of 0.994,0.996,0.999, respectively, P<0.001). And at the same time, the inhibitory rate of cell proliferation was significantly different; the cell inhibitory rate in PM group was lowest, that in CP group was highgest, that in prednissone group was intermediate (P<0.01). After 48 hours, compared with the DMSO control group, the G/Gcell proportion in treatment group increased significantly, S phase cell proportion decreased significantly, especially in PM and CP groups. The G/M phase cell proportion increased in PM group, while reduced in the prednisolone and the CP groups. After 48 hours, compared with the DMSO control group, RPMI 8226 cell apoptosis rate increased as follow: in PM, pre-dnisolone and CP group(P<0.01). After 48 hours, compared with the DMSO control group, Notch1 and NF-κB mRNA expression in the prednisolone, the PM and the CP group decreased significantly(P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONCP metronomic chemotherapy can significantly reduce RPMI 8226 cell proliferation, promote RPMI 8226 cell apoptosis, arrest RPMI 8226 cells mainly in the G/Gphase, and significantly reduce Notch1 and NF-κB expression levels. It is suggested that Notch1/NF-κB signaling pathways is involved in CP metronomic chemotherapy for MM.