OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical efficacy of modified Zhujing Pills in the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration(AMD)of liver and kidney insufficiency type.METHODS 64 patients with dry AMD of liver and kidney insufficiency type were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group,32 patients each.The control group was given oral treat-ment with Laishiding capsules,and the experimental group was given oral treatment with modified Zhujing Pills granules.The treatment course for both groups was 3 months.Before and after treatment,the patients in the two groups were observed for TCM syndrome scores,visual acuity,fundus autofluorescence(AF),changes in drusen area within 5 mm of the fovea,and plasma superoxide dis-mutase(SOD),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)activity and malondialdehyde(MDA)levels.RESULTS After treatment,the scores of TCM syndromes in the experimental group were significantly reduced(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and the efficacy of TCM syn-dromes was better than that of the control group(P＜0.01);the visual acuity of the patients in the experimental group was significantly improved,AF was significantly weakened and the area of drusen was reduced(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),which were better than those in the control group(P＜0.05);the plasma SOD and GSH-Px activities of the experimental group were increased,and the MDA level was significantly lowered(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),which were better than the control group(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION Modified Zhujing Pills can reduce fundus AF intensity,decrease macular drusen area,improve visual acuity,and reduce TCM syndrome scores in pa-tients with dry AMD.The therapeutic mechanism may be related to its antioxidant effect.

Silicosis is one of the most common forms of pneumoconiosis globally. Workers who engage in mining, construction, ceramics, and many other industries have a high risk of developing silicosis. Chronic and repeated inhalation of free silica (SiO₂) dust (<5 μm) during working can lead to inflammatory reactions, resulting in interstitial lung disease characterized by extensive nodular fibrosis in both lungs. Once silicosis occurs, it will develop progressively even when the workers are removed from the silica dust environment. The pathogenesis of silicosis is complex, especially the role of nod-like receptor family protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in the pathogenesis and progression of silicosis remains to be further studied. NLRP3 inflammasome, a multi-protein complex composed of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein, and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 1 is involved in oxidative stress, inflammatory response, apoptosis, and pyroptosis, and has become one of the hot spots in silicosis research. This review summarized the structure, function, and activation mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome. Furthermore, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of NLRP3 in mediating oxidative stress, inflammatory response, apoptosis, and pyroptosis in the progression of silicosis were reviewed. Finally, the potential therapeutic drugs for silicosis based on NLRP3-associated mechanisms were outlined. More attention should be paid to the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in the pathogenesis and progression of silicosis in the future, which will provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of silicosis.

Guided by the emphasis on learning process, the educational reform has designed a "trinity" comprehensive evaluation system (quantitative clinical practice, in-class medical record analysis, and staged comprehensive written test) as the formative evaluation of the course. Through this assessment system, students' self-learning potential is stimulated, clinical skills practice is strengthened, and "taking exams to promote learning and taking exams to promote teaching" is realized. In the practice of teaching reform, it has been found that compared with the conventional teaching class, the students in the teaching reform class have higher participation and are more satisfied with the process assessment of the "trinity" comprehensive evaluation system.

Sarcopenia etiology is diverse and the pathogenesis is complex.It is closely related to limited activity, malnutrition and a variety of clinical diseases, which seriously affects the quality of life in the elderly and has become a global common health problem.This review focuses on the literature of non-drug interventions for sarcopenia in the past five years, focusing on the relationship of multimodal exercise, intestinal flora, parenteral nutrition and comprehensive intervention with sarcopenia, in order to provide a new basis for formulating scientific and effective non-drug intervention for sarcopenia.

Marsupialization is effective in the treatment of cystic lesions of the jaw. It is a simple operation that can result in minimal trauma, the reduction of postoperative recurrence, and maximum preservation of the surrounding tissue structure and function. However, there is a certain failure rate in clinical treatment due to the improper grasp of indications and nonstandard operation. The highest failure rate reported in the literature is 32.6%. To further standardize the clinical application of marsupialization and improve the success rate of treatment, we put forward an expert consensus of marsupialization in the treatment of jaw cystic lesions by reviewing the domestic and foreign literature and summarizing the experience in marsupialization from some famous domestic experts. In this consensus, we propose three elements of marsupialization: the establishment of the opening, the maintenance of cyst plugs and regular washing. The scope of application of marsupialization includes jaw cysts and cystic ameloblastomas. It is necessary to standardize the position of the opening, the size of the opening and the manufacture of the cyst plug, and a panoramic film or cone beam computed tomography(CBCT) should be used to observe the changes in the cystic cavity before and after operation. A second-stage operation should be performed when the lesion is significantly reduced by more than 50% or at least 5 mm from important structures; furthermore, the teeth of focus should be treated according to the relationship between the lesion and tooth and the type of tooth.

BACKGROUND: In vitro isolation and culture of neural stem/progenitor cells will provide a good cell model for the study of neurodevelopment, neurological diseases, and neural transplantation. OBJECTIVE: To study the highly effective method for isolation and expansion of hippocampal neural stem/progenitor cells from newborn mice, and to identify the proliferation and differentiation of hippocampal neural stem/progenitor cells using improved adherent culture method. METHODS: Neural stem/progenitor cells were isolated from the hippocampus of newborn C57BL/6 mice and were expanded for several passages. Combination of polylysine and laminin were used for adherent culture to promote cell attachment. Morphological observation and immunofluorescence cytochemical staining were conducted to detect the expression of neural progenitor-specific marker protein Nestin and proliferation index Ki-67. After 7 days of induction and differentiation, the expression of GFAP, DCX, Tuj1 and S100β was detected by immunofluorescence. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: About 82％ of the cultured neural stem/progenitor cells expressed Nestin, and about 49％ expressed Ki-67. A small number of cells were DCX-positive neurons after induction and differentiation, while most of the cells were positive for GFAP. The ratio of neurons to astrocytes was 1:1.7 identified by Tuj1 and S100β double staining. The neural stem/progenitor cells derived from the hippocampus were efficiently isolated and cultured. The cell proliferation and differentiation abilities were effectively identified after adherent culture, which can provide sufficient cell sources for further experimental research.

Objective · To evaluate the association between the abnormal maternal serum markers of alpha fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and unconjugated estriol (uE3) in the second trimester screening and the adverse obstetric outcomes other than trisomy 21 (T21),trisomy 18 (T18) and open neural tube defects (ONTD), and to provide local data for supporting evidence based clinical managements. Methods · A retrospective cohort study was performed in the women who received second trimester maternal serum screening in the International Peace Maternal and Child Health Hospital between 2012 and 2014, with naturally conceived singleton pregnancies. Obstetric outcomes were followed up by searching electronic medical records within the hospital. Abnormal level of marker was defined as a MOM value ≥ 99th (P99) or ≤ 1st percentile (P1) of the overall screened population. Incidence of an adverse obstetric outcome was compared between the groups with abnormal markers and the control with all markers in normal. Results · ① A total of 25616 pregnancies were included in this study, in which 4526 were identified as having various adverse obstetric outcomes. Among them 4143 pregnancies were with isolated and 383 pregnancies were with co-occurring two or more adverse outcomes. ② When compared to pregnancies with normal levels of all three serum markers, pregnancies with decreased AFP or decreased hCG did not show associations with any adverse obstetric outcomes. However, pregnancies with increased AFP, increased hCG or decreased uE3 were at increased risk for a variety of abnormal pregnancy outcome. In 18 pregnancies with an outcome of fetal chromosomal abnormalities other than T21 and T18, 9 presented with either increased AFP, increased hCG or decreased uE3, with relative risk ratios of 13.33、35.00 and 59.00, respectively. ③ The performance of those markers tended to be improved in a subset of adverse obstetric outcomes, including low birth weight

Objective To explore the sleep quality and its influencing factors among the patients with schizophrenia of Hui and Han populations in the rural areas in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.MethodsTotally 296 patients with schizophrenia of Hui and Han populations in the rural areas were selected from 2 counties of Wuzhong and Zhongwei in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region by using cluster random sampling method.Self-made general information questionnaire was used to collect the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients with schizophrenia.The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI) was used to evaluate the sleep quality.Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale(BPRS),Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA) were used to measure the psychotic symptoms,depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms,respectively.ResultsIn the rural areas,the incidence of sleep disorder in the patients with schizophrenia of Hui and Han populations was 84.5%.The influencing factors of sleep disorder in the patients with schizophrenia in the rural areas were age(B=0.055,P=0.012,OR=1.057,95%CI:1.012-1.103),nationality(B=2.250,P<0.01,OR=9.485,95%CI:2.701-33.319),marital status(B=-1.506,P=0.003,OR=0.222,95%CI:0.081-0.605),course of disease(B=-0.003,P=0.089,OR=0.997,95%CI:0.993-1.001),the total score of HAMD(B=0.079,P=0.007,OR=1.083,95%CI:1.021-1.148)and the total score of HAMA(B=0.060,P=0.036,OR=1.061,95%CI:1.004-1.122).ConclusionSleep disorders are common and associated with multiple factors in patients with schizophrenia of Hui and Han populations in Ningxia rural area.In clinical practice,more attention should be paid to the identification and intervention of sleep disorders,so as to improve the sleep quality for the patients with schizophrenia.

Objective To explore the effect of dronedaronel on hyperpolarization-activated cyclic-nucleotide-gated(HCN) channel expression by detecting the change of HCN channel mRNA and protein level before and after giving dronedarone in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes.Methods Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were separated and digested by type Ⅱ collagenase,and then single ventricular myocytes were collected through differential sticking wall separation method.According to the concentrations (0.1,0.5,1.0,5.0,10.0,20.0 μmol/L of dronedaronel for treating myocytes for 48 h) and time(10 μmol/L of dronedaronel for treating myocytes for 1,6,12,24,48 h)the gradient grouping was conducted.The levels of HCN2 and HCN4 channel mRNA and protein level were determined by real-time PCR and Western blot.Results The HCN2 mRNA and HCN4 mRNA expression levels in concentration gradient group and time gradient group were lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05);compared with the control group,the protein level in the 10 umol/L dronedaronel treatment for 12 h group was significantly down-regulated(P＜ 0.01).Conclusion Dronedaronel could inhibit the expression of HCN2/HCN4 channel mRNA and protein,moreover its action shows the concentration dependency and reaches the maximum at 12 h after medication.

Purpose To investigate the expression and clinical significance of the cell cycle inhibitors p16 protein and specific recogni-tion of viral replication intermediate TLR3 in the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia ( CIN) and cervical invasive carcinoma. Methods Immunohistochemical stain was used to detect the expressions of p16 and TLR3 in 19 cases of normal cervical epithelium ( NCE) , 62 cases of CIN, and 17 cases of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Results The positive rates of p16 protein were 0, 72. 5%and 100% in NCE, CIN and SCC respectively in which the difference among those groups were statistically significant ( P<0. 01 ) . Similarly, the positive rates of TLR3 protein were 26. 3%, 87% and 100% in NCE, CIN and SCC respectively and the difference a-mong those groups was significant (P<0. 01). Furthermore, there was a significant and positive correlation between the expression of p16 and TLR3 (rs =0. 538, P<0. 01). Conclusion Increased expression is observed in CIN and SCC compared with NCE and the expression of p16 and TLR3 is associated with level of CIN. Those could provide certain experiment basis for the pathologica diagnosis of early cervical cancer.