Objective: To investigate the relationship between high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality in the elderly population. Methods: A total of 14 355 elderly persons aged ≥65 years, who participated in the annual physical examination in Kailuan Group in 2006 were included in this prospective cohort study. According to HDL-C level, the participants were divided into 4 groups: low-level group (HDL-C<1.30 mmol/L), intermediate-level group (1.30 mmol/L ≤HDL-C≤1.54 mmol/L), medium-high-level group (1.55 mmol/L ≤HDL-C≤1.80 mmol/L), high-level group (HDL-C≥1.81 mmol/L). Baseline data such as age, sex and blood lipid levels were collected and compared. Inpatient medical records and death information were obtained through the social security system, and CVD and all-cause mortality were analyzed. After adjusting for confounding factors, the medium-high-level group was used as the reference group. Cox proportional risk regression model was used to evaluate the impact of HDL-C on CVD and all-cause mortality events. The linear or nonlinear relationship between HDL-C level and CVD and all-cause mortality events was evaluated by restricted cubic spline regression model. Death competitive risk analysis was conducted, and sensitivity analysis was performed after excluding subjects with CVD or all-cause mortality within 1 year of follow-up and female participants. Results: The average age of this cohort was (71.5±5.5) years and follow-up time was (10.9±3.3) years. Compared with medium-high-level group, Cox proportional risk regression analysis showed that the HR (95%CI) of CVD and all-cause mortality in low-level group were 1.21 (1.06-1.38) (P<0.05) and 1.02 (0.95-1.11) (P>0.05), respectively; the HR (95%CI) of CVD events in high-level group was 1.17 (1.03-1.33) (P<0.05), and there was a marginal significant association with all-cause mortality, the HR (95%CI) was 1.07 (1.00-1.16) (0.05<P<0.1). The restricted cubic spline regression analysis showed that HDL-C was nonlinearly correlated with CVD (nonlinear correlation P<0.1), and presented a U-shaped curve trend, while HDL-C was linearly correlated with all-cause mortality (nonlinear correlation P>0.1). Conclusions: In the elderly population, the risk of CVD is lowest when the HDL-C level is 1.55-1.80 mmol/L, either high or low HDL-C is a risk factor for CVD. High HDL-C tends to be related to increased risk of all-cause mortality and low HDL-C is not related to increased risk of all-cause mortality.
Aged ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Objective To explore whether microRNAs (miRNA) in astrocytes participate in regulating the phenotypic switch in the developing central nervous system (CNS). Methods The hGFAP-CreERT; Dicer fl/fl; mT/mG and Dicer fl/fl; mT/mG mice were generated and induced by tamoxifen (TMF). The)' were divided into 7 days, 10 days, 14 days Dicer conditional knock out (Dicer CKO) group and control group according to their age and the expression of hGFAP-CreERT. These 24 mice were divided into six groups and each group contained four mice. Then the change of astrocytes in the developing CNS was observed by immunofluorescenct staining. Results Both of the densities of astrocytes and microglial cells increased in the Dicer CKO mice brains as compared to littermate controls. Conclusion Dicer and miRNA of astrocytes are important for astrocytes quiescence in developing brains.

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) acts as a tumor promoter in advanced prostate cancer (PCa). We speculated that microRNAs (miRNAs) that are inhibited by TGF-β1 might exert anti-tumor effects. To assess this, we identified several miRNAs downregulated by TGF-β1 in PCa cell lines and selected miR-3691-3p for detailed analysis as a candidate anti-oncogene miRNA. miR-3691-3p was expressed at significantly lower levels in human PCa tissue compared with paired benign prostatic hyperplasia tissue, and its expression level correlated inversely with aggressive clinical pathological features. Overexpression of miR-3691-3p in PCa cell lines inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion, and promoted apoptosis. The miR-3691-3p target genes E2F transcription factor 3 (E2F3) and PR domain containing 1, with ZNF domain (PRDM1) were upregulated in miR-3691-3p-overexpressing PCa cells, and silencing of E2F3 or PRDM1 suppressed PCa cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Treatment of mice bearing PCa xenografts with a miR-3691-3p agomir inhibited tumor growth and promoted tumor cell apoptosis. Consistent with the negative regulation of E2F3 and PRDM1 by miR-3691-3p, both proteins were overexpressed in clinical PCa specimens compared with noncancerous prostate tissue. Our results indicate that TGF-β1-regulated miR-3691-3p acts as an anti-oncogene in PCa by downregulating E2F3 and PRDM1. These results provide novel insights into the mechanisms by which TGF-β1 contributes to the progression of PCa.

To analyze the academic characteristics and medication rules of traditional Chinese medical master Liu Zu-yi for treating insomnia. Totally 178 cases of insomnia treated by Professor Liu were collected,and the treatment data were input into traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system( TCMISS) by using data mining methods,such as essential information,frequency statistics of symptoms,syndrome type statistics,extraction of syndrome elements,frequency statistics of drugs; and four properties and five tastes of drugs,distribution of meridians,regularity of prescriptions,new prescription analysis were mined. It was found that the most commonly used drugs( over 100 times) were Albiziae Cortex,Longgu,Polygoni Multiflori Caulis,Ostreae Concha,Ziziphi Spinosae Semen,Crataegi Fructus; the commonly used couplet medicines were Longgu-Ostreae Concha,Ziziphi Spinosae Semen-Polygoni Multiflori Caulis,Ziziphi Spinosae Semen-Albiziae Cortex-Polygoni Multiflori Caulis; and seven new prescriptions in treating insomnia were explored,such as prescriptions containing Hordei Fructus Germinatus,Ziziphi Spinosae Semen,Galli Gigerii Endothelium Corneum,Rehmanniae Radix,Lilii Bulbus. Based on the introduction and discussion of Professor Liu's academic views and characteristics on insomnia treatment and the illustrative evidences added to the typical case list,this paper combines the academic characteristics,data support and typical medical records to verify each other,and objectively summarizes his academic experience for treating insomnia. Treatment shall focus on the primary cause of disease in three aspects; syndrome differentiation shall distinguish between excessive disease and deficient disease; therapy shall reinforce deficiency and reduce diarrhea,regulate the five internal organs,and emphasizes the heart and liver,particularly the liver; medication shall focus on the drugs for calming the mind and protecting the stomach and spleen,which are commonly combined with three types of traditional Chinese medicine with effect in introducing Yangqi( Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum,Prunellae Spica,Polygoni Multiflori Caulis) and restraining Yangqi( Longgu,Ostreae Concha,Ziziphi Spinosae Semen); nursing care focuses on preserving the body and tranquilizing the mind by means of three methods for tranquilizing the mind and three methods for preserving the body.
Data Mining ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Meridians ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Schistosoma japonicum cysteine protease inhibitor (rSjCystatin) for treatment of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis in mice.

METHODSAfter a week of adaptive feeding, 54 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal control group (group A), sepsis group (group B), and rSjCystatin intervention group (group C). The mice in group A received an intraperitoneal injection of PBS (100 µL), and those in groups B and C were injected with PBS (100 µL) containing LPS (10 mg/kg); the mice in group C were also intraperitoneally injected with 25 µg sjCystatin in 100 µL PBS 30 min after LPS injection. From each group, 10 mice were randomly selected 24 h after PBS or LPS injection for detecting serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 using ELISA and the levels of ALT, AST, BUN, and Cr using automatic biochemical analyzer; the pathological changes in the liver, lung and kidney were observed with HE staining. The remaining 8 mice in each group were used for observing the changes in the general condition and the 72-h survival.

RESULTSThe 72-h survival rates of the mice was 100% in group A, 0 in group B, and 36% in group C, showing a significant difference among the 3 groups (P<0.05). Compared with those in group A, the mice in group B exhibited obvious liver, lung, and renal pathologies with increased levels of ALT, AST, BUN, Cr, IL-6, and TNF-α (P<0.05). Treatment with sjCystatin significantly lessened LPS-induced organ pathologies, lowered the levels of liver and renal functional indexes and the pro-inflammatory cytokines, and increased the serum level of IL-10 in the mice (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSjCystatin can produce a significant therapeutic effect on sepsis induced by LPS in mice.

The objective of this prospective study of the risks of treatment failure in patients with drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) was to provide reference data to help develop a disease control strategy. Participants were recruited in eight provinces of China from October 2008 to December 2010. A total of 1447 patients with drug-susceptible PTB and older than 15 years of age were enrolled. Demographic characteristics, bacteriological test results, and patient outcome, i.e., cure or treatment failure were recorded and compared using the chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with risk of treatment failure. Of the 1447 patients who were enrolled, 1349 patients (93.2%) were successfully treated and 98 (6.8%) failed treatment. Failure was significantly associated with age 365 years [odds ratio (OR)=2.522, 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.097-5.801)], retreatment [OR=2.365, 95% CI: (1.276-4.381)], missed medicine [OR=1.836, 95% CI: (1.020-3.306)], treatment not observed [OR=1.879 95% CI: (1.105-3.195)], and positive culture result after the first [OR=1.971, 95% CI: (1.080-3.597)] and second month [OR=4.659, 95% CI: (2.590-8.382)]. The risk factors associated with treatment failure were age 365 years, retreatment, missed medication, treatment not observed, and positive culture at the end of month 1 or month 2. These risk factors should be monitored during treatment and interventions carried out to reduce or prevent treatment failure and optimize treatment success.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antitubercular Agents ; therapeutic use ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; drug effects ; physiology ; Prospective Studies ; Retreatment ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Failure ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDEnhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols or fast-track (FT) programs enable a shorter hospital stay and lower complication rate. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is associated with a lesser trauma and a quicker recovery in many elective abdominal surgeries. However, little is known of the safety and effectiveness made by ERAS protocols combined with MIS for gastric cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness made by FT programs and MIS in combination or alone.

METHODSWe summarized an 11-year experience on gastric cancer patients undergoing elective laparotomy or minimally invasive gastric resection in standard cares (SC) or FT programs during January 2004 to December 2014. A total of 984 patients were enrolled and assigned into four groups: open gastrectomies (OG) with SC (OG + SC group, n = 167); OG with FT programs (OG + FT group, n = 277); laparoscopic gastrectomies (LG) with FT programs (LG + FT group, n = 248); and robot-assisted gastrectomies (RG) with FT programs (RG + FT group, n = 292). Patients' data were collected to evaluate the clinical outcome. The primary end point was the length of postoperative hospital stay.

RESULTSThe OG + SC group showed the longest postoperative hospital stay (mean: 12.3 days, median: 11 days, interquartile range [IQR]: 6-16 days), while OG + FT, LG + FT, and RG + FT groups recovered faster (mean: 7.4, 6.4, and 6.6 days, median: 6, 6, and 6 days, IQR: 3-9, 4-8, and 3-9 days, respectively, all P< 0.001). The postoperative rehabilitation parameters such as flatus time after surgery (4.7 ± 0.9, 3.1 ± 0.8, 3.0 ± 0.9, and 3.1 ± 0.9 days) followed the same manner. After 30 postoperative days' follow-up, the total incidence of complications was 9.6% in OG + SC group, 10.1% in OG + FT group, 8.1% in LG + FT group, and 10.3% in RG + FT group. The complications showed no significant differences between the four groups (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSERAS protocols alone could significantly bring fast recovery after surgery regardless of the surgical technique. MIS further reduces postoperative hospital stay. It is safe and effective to apply ERAS protocols combined with MIS for gastric cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Elective Surgical Procedures ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Postoperative Care ; methods ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Background and purpose:Myelosuppression is the most common dose-limiting toxicity of tumor chemotherapy in which leukocytopenia and neutropenia are the most common conditions. Not only are up-titrations of the doses of chemotherapeutic drugs limited, but also normal process of the chemotherapy is affected. Filgrastim-Recombinant Human Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (rhG-CSF) has the activity of stimulating the formation of granulocyte colony and promoting the growth, proliferation and differentiation of granulocytes which can be signiifcantly effective on leukocytopenia and neutropenia induced by chemotherapy. In this study, we observed the leukogenic effects, toxic and side effects of low, medium, and high doses of rhG-CSF used prophylactically after chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), to explore a rational application strategy for rhG-CSF..Methods:One hundred and twenty six patients with pathologically proved advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) under chemotherapy were digitally randomized to A, B and C groups. Filgrastim was given to patients of the three groups 24h after the end of chemotherapy. The dosages are: Group A (low dose): 300 μg of Filgrastim, s.c., qd × 1 day; Group B (medium dose): 300 μg of Filgrastim, s.c., qd × 2 days; Group C (high dose): 300 μg of Filgrastim, s.c., qd × 3 days. Then the signs and symptoms as well as toxic and side effects of Filgrastim after medication were observed.Results:Prophylactic usage of medium and high dosages of rhG-CSF could maintain WBC count at no less than 4.0×109/L in nearly 60% of patients. In patients with Grade III leukopenia, more days were needed for recovery of white blood cell (WBC) count with the low dose, while signiifcantly (P<0.05) less days were needed with the high dose. In view of the dynamic changes of neutrophil(ANC), additioning of the high dose of rhG-CSF after chemotherapy could increase the average level ofANC, notably shortening the duration of lowANC caused by chemotherapy. The incidence of infections was 4.76% for the 126 patients as a whole, 9.52% for the low dose group, and 4.76% for the middle dose group. The patients could tolerate the slight side effects incurred during treatment with Filgrastim.Conclusion:All of the three doses (low, medium, and high) of prophylactic administration of Filgrastim after chemotherapy can promote recoveries of WBCs and neutrophil granulocytes and reduce opportunities of infections. High doses of rhG-CSF can be faster and safer in increasing WBCs and neutrophil granulocytes.

BACKGROUNDMultimodal cocktail periarticular injection (MCPI) with a large volume of low concentration local anesthetics, adrenaline, and anti-inflammatory agents such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug or steroids have shown good pain control and improvement in range of motion after surgery. This study compares the efficacy of pain control after total knee arthroplasty, using multimodal cocktail periarticular injection with steroid or without steroid.

METHODSThis is a prospective, double-blinded, randomized and control study. Seventy-two patients with osteoarthritis that met clinical criteria for total knee arthroplasty were recruited into the study, and were randomized to receive either multimodal cocktail periarticular injection with steroid or without steroid. Pain was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) at preoperative and postoperative at rest, and during activity. The range of motion was recorded preoperatively and postoperatively. The amount of daily and cumulative morphine consumption were measured by patient-controlled analgesia in the first 72 hours postoperatively. The duration of celecoxib usage was also recorded at the last follow-up.

RESULTSThere were no differences between the non-steroid and steroid groups with regard to VAS at rest and during activity, or range of motion, at any postoperative observation time. The postoperative Knee Society Knee Score in the steroid group improved significantly as compared with that in non-steroid group at the one-month (84.1±13.1 and 65.9±12.1; P < 0.0045), three-month follow-up (90.2±16.3 and 72.5±16.6; P < 0.0027), but after postoperative six-month the Knee Society Knee Score showed no significant difference between the groups. There was no significant difference in consumption of the morphine about daily or total consumption within 72 hours between the two groups. The duration of celecoxib usage in patients in the steroid group was significantly shorter than that in the non-steroid group ((7.2±0.7) compared with (10.5±1.9) weeks; P = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONThe patients who received the steroid injection had faster rehabilitation and less non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs consumption.

Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; methods ; Celecoxib ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Male ; Pain Measurement ; Pyrazoles ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Steroids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Sulfonamides ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use