ObjectiveTo explore the guidance value of “treatment of disease in accordance with three conditions” theory in the prevention and treatment of corona virus disease 2019（COVID-19） based on the differences of syndromes and traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） treatments in COVID-19 patients from Xingtai Hospital of Chinese Medicine of Hebei province and Ruili Hospital of Chinese Medicine and Dai Medicine of Yunnan province and discuss its significance in the prevention and treatment of the unexpected acute infectious diseases. MethodDemographics data and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients from the two hospitals were collected retrospectively and analyzed by SPSS 18.0. The information on formulas was obtained from the hospital information system （HIS） of the two hospitals and analyzed by the big data intelligent processing and knowledge service system of Guangdong Hospital of Chinese Medicine for frequency statistics and association rules analysis. Heat map-hierarchical clustering analysis was used to explore the correlation between clinical characteristics and formulas. ResultA total of 175 patients with COVID-19 were included in this study. The 70 patients in Xingtai，dominated by young and middle-aged males，had clinical symptoms of fever， abnormal sweating，and fatigue. The main pathogenesis is stagnant cold-dampness in the exterior and impaired yin by depressed heat， with manifest cold， dampness， and deficiency syndromes. The therapeutic methods highlight relieving exterior syndrome and resolving dampness， accompanied by draining depressed heat. The core Chinese medicines used are Poria，Armeniacae Semen Amarum，Gypsum Fibrosum，Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium，and Pogostemonis Herba. By contrast，the 105 patients in Ruili， dominated by young females， had atypical clinical symptoms， and most of them were asymptomatic patients or mild cases. The main pathogenesis is dampness obstructing the lung and the stomach， with obvious dampness and heat syndromes. The therapeutic methods are mainly invigorating the spleen， resolving dampness， and dispersing Qi with light drugs. The core Chinese medicines used are Poria，Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma，Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma，Coicis Semen，Platycodonis Radix，Lonicerae Japonicae Flos， and Pogostemonis Herba. ConclusionThe differences in clinical characteristics， TCM syndromes， and medication of COVID-19 patients from the two places may result from different regions，population characteristics， and the time point of the COVID-19 outbreak. The “treatment of disease in accordance with three conditions” theory can help to understand the internal correlation and guide the treatments.

Six new tirucallane-type triterpenoids (1-6), along with ten known triterpenoids, were isolated from methylene chloride extract of the resin of Boswellia carterii Birdw. By the application of the comprehensive spectroscopic data, the structures of the compounds were clarified. The experimental electronic circular dichroism spectra were compared with those calculated, which allowed to assign the absolute configurations. Compounds 5 and 6 possesed a 2, 3-seco tirucallane-type triterpenoid skeleton, which were first reported. Their inhibitory activity against NO formation in LPS-activated BV-2 cells were evaluated. Compound 9 showed appreciable inhibitory effect, with an IC

Adult ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; Constipation/surgery* ; Humans ; Megacolon/surgery* ; Proctocolectomy, Restorative

To analyze the functional change of horizontal semicircular canals after cochlear implantation.Eighteen patients were enrolled in this study.Their vestibular function was evaluated by using the caloric test and video head impulse test before and one week,one month after CI surgery,respectively.The unilateral weakness(UW),slow phase velocity(SPV)in caloric test and gain in video head impulse test(vHIT-G)were observed.Caloric test was abnormal when UW>25% or SPV mean<6°/s,while vHIT was abnormal when vHIT-G<0.8.The SPV of the implanted ear were[(10.36±8.01)°/s;(14.77±14.24)°/s]pre-operatively,[(6.45±7.52)°/s;(5.14±4.67)°/s]1 week post-operatively and[(6.05±3.86)°/s;(6.27±4.17)°/s]1 month post-operatively.Statistically significant difference(<0.05)was found between pre-and post-operative period.The vHIT-G of the implanted ear were(0.73±0.33)pre-operatively,(0.65±0.32)1 week post-operatively and(0.71±0.36)1 month post-operatively.There was no statistically significant difference of vHIT-G between preand post-operative period((pre-operative/1 week post-operative)=0.084,(pre-operative/1 month post-operative)=0.679).Four patients presented with vertigo and one of them manifested slight unsteadiness post-operatively.All symptoms resolved within 7 days.These symptoms had no correlate with age,gender,implantedear and results of vestibular test.Cochlear implantation can affect the horizontal semicircular canal function,and the video head impulse test and caloric test should be used in a complementary fashion.
Caloric Tests ; Cochlear Implantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Head Impulse Test ; Humans ; Semicircular Canals ; physiopathology ; Vertigo

Objective To explore the effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on long bone fracture healing and to examine caveolin-1 gene expression in the radius defects of rabbits.Methods A total of 24 New Zealand rabbits with 3-mm bone defects at lower 1/3 in both radii were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n=6).Daily LIPUS treatment was performed to the right fracture sites at a intensity of 30 mW/cm2 for 20 minutes,while the left sites received sham treatment with power off.To assess the effects of LIPUS on bone defects,X-ray imaging and hematoxylin-eosin staining were applied 7,14,21,28 days after the surgery.Additionally,the immunohistochemical staining was used to determine the subcllular localization of caveolin-1 and semi-quantify the caveolin-1 level,qPCR was performed to detect the mRNA level of caveolin-1,gene Col2a1 and Col10a1,and osteocalcin.Results On day 14,the radiological score of the right radii and mineralized callus area were significantly higher than that of the left ones,both of them were elevated with time flied.Histological examination suggested that the differentiation and apoptosis of chondrocytes along with the formation and bridging of the bone trabeculas appeared earlier in the right radius defects.The immunohistochemical staining showed that on day 7 and 14,the level of caveolin-1 increased with the proliferation and differentiation of condrocytes,and was significantly higher in callus tissues on the right sites.On day 21 and 28,the mesenchymal stem cells migrated to the surface of cartilage matrix started to differentiate into osteoblasts,the level of caveolin-1 decreased,and was significantly lower on the right sites.The result of qPCR indicated that compared with the left sites the caveolin-1 gene expression on the right sites was significantly higher on day 7,while significantly lower on day 21.The mRNA expression levels of Col2a1,Col10a1 and osteocalcin on the right sites were significantly higher on day 7 and 14,but they were significantly lower on day 21 and 28,except for Col10a1 on day 28.Conclusions Advancing endochondral ossification is considered to be a crucial mechanism during long bone fracture healing promoted by LIPUS.The caveolin-1 gene expression first increased in the chondrocytes then decreased in the mesenchymal stem cells during the process.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between blood concentrations of tacrolimus (FK506) and cystatin C (Cys C) and the effect of FK506 on glycolipid metabolism in renal transplant recipients.

METHODSA total of 325 patients receiving renal transplantation between August, 2014 and September, 2015 in Nanfang Hospital were divided into 4 groups according to the postoperative time (1 month group, 1-3 months group, 4-6 months group, and 7-12 months group). FK506 blood trough concentration was measured at the time of postoperative follow-up, and creatinine (Scr) and Cys C levels were also detected. Results Plasma FK506 concentration decreased with age in the recipients and showed a positive correlation with Cys C (r=0.985, P=0.015) but no obvious correlation with Scr (r=0.259, P=0.741). FK506 had no effect on blood glucose (5.53-5.59 mmol

CONCLUSIONFK506 does not affect the level of glycolipid metabolism in patients after renal transplantation. Cys C is positively related to blood concentration of FK506 in the renal transplantation recipients. The rational use of FK506 can improve the effectiveness and safety of the treatment in the recipients.

β3-adrenoceptor (β3-AR) has been shown to promote myocardial apoptosis. However, the exact physiological role and importance of this receptor in the human myocardium, and its underlying mode of action, have not been fully elucidated. The present study aimed to determine the effects of β3-AR on the promotion of myocardial apoptosis and on norepinephrine (NE) injury. We analyzed NE-induced cardiomyocyte (CM) apoptosis by using a TUNEL and an annexin V/propidium iodide apoptosis assay. Furthermore, we investigated the NE-induced expression of the apoptosis marker genes Akt and p38MAPK, their phosphorylated counterparts p-Akt and p-p38MAPK, caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Bax. In addition, we determined the effect of a 48-h treatment with a β3-AR agonist and antagonist on expression of these marker genes. β3-AR overexpression was found to increase CM apoptosis, accompanied by an increased expression of caspase-3, bax/bcl-2, and p-p38MAPK. In contrast, the β3-blocker reduced apoptosis of CMs and the associated elevated Akt expression. We identified a novel and potent anti-apoptosis mechanism via the PI3K/Akt pathway and a pro-apoptosis pathway mediated by p38MAPK.
Adrenergic Agonists ; pharmacology ; Adrenergic Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cells, Cultured ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of water pollution with dexamethasone on intestinal flora in mice.

METHODSTwenty Balb/c mice were randomly divided into control group and low-, moderate- and high-dose dexamethasone groups. The mice in dexamethasone groups were exposed to dexamethasone sodium phosphate in drinking water at doses of 0.035, 0.225, and 2.25 ng for 36 days. The changes in behaviors, fur condition, and feces of the mice were observed daily. All the mice were sacrificed at 36 days and the tissues in the ileocecal region was collected for denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of 16S rDNA V6 variable regions of microbes and sequence analysis with BLAST.

RESULTSThe mice in the 3 dexamethasone groups all showed aggressive behaviors. Cluster analysis of DGGE graph showed relatively stable floras in the ileocecal region in all the mice, but principal component analysis identified differences in the dominating flora among the groups. Diversity analysis of the flora revealed significantly increased amount and types of bacteria in the intestinal flora in all the 3 dexamethasone groups (P<0.05 or 0.01) compared with the control group. Sequence analysis of 16S rDNA V6 regions showed 15 common bacterial species and 2 differential species between the dexamethasone groups and the control group with changes in the type and proportion of the dominating bacterium in the dexamethasone groups. Lactobacillus colonization was detected in the control group but not in moderate- and high-dose dexamethasone groups, and Shigella species were found in the latter two groups.

CONCLUSIONSWater contamination with dexamethasone can affect the nervous system of mice, cause changes in the types and amounts of intestinal bacteria and the dominating bacteria, and inhibit the colonization of probiotics in the intestinal floras to increase the risk of invasion by intestinal pathogenic bacteria.

Animals ; Bacteria ; classification ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Drinking Water ; chemistry ; Feces ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; drug effects ; Lactobacillus ; isolation & purification ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Probiotics ; RNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; genetics ; Shigella ; isolation & purification

As molecular targets continue to be identified and more targeted inhibitors are developed for personalized treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), multigene mutation determination will be needed for routine oncology practice and for clinical trials. In this study, we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of multigene mutation testing by using the Snapshot assay in NSCLC. We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of 110 consecutive NSCLC specimens for which epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation testing was performed between November 2011 and December 2011 using Sanger sequencing. Using the Snapshot assay, mutation statuses were detected for EGFR, Kirsten rate sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS), phosphoinositide-3-kinase catalytic alpha polypeptide (PIK3CA), v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF), v-ras neuroblastoma viral oncogene homolog (NRAS), dual specificity mitogen activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MEK1), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in patient specimens and cell line DNA. Snapshot data were compared to Sanger sequencing data. Of the 110 samples, 51 (46.4%) harbored at least one mutation. The mutation frequency in adenocarcinoma specimens was 55.6%, and the frequencies of EGFR, KRAS, PIK3CA, PTEN, and MEK1 mutations were 35.5%, 9.1%, 3.6%, 0.9%, and 0.9%, respectively. No mutation was found in the HER2, NRAS, or BRAF genes. Three of the 51 mutant samples harbored double mutations: two PIK3CA mutations coexisted with KRAS or EGFR mutations, and another KRAS mutation coexisted with a PTEN mutation. Among the 110 samples, 47 were surgical specimens, 60 were biopsy specimens, and 3 were cytological specimens; the corresponding mutation frequencies were 51.1%, 41.7%, and 66.7%, respectively (P = 0.532). Compared to Sanger sequencing, Snapshot specificity was 98.4% and sensitivity was 100% (positive predictive value, 97.9%; negative predictive value, 100%). The Snapshot assay is a sensitive and easily customized assay for multigene mutation testing in clinical practice.
Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Genes, erbB-1 ; Genes, erbB-2 ; Genes, ras ; Humans ; Mutation ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) ; Retrospective Studies ; ras Proteins

Aged ; Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orientia tsutsugamushi ; Scrub Typhus ; epidemiology