Objective To investigate whether Angelica Sinensis and Astragalus capsules(AAC)regulates myocardial autophagy in heart failure rats via the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase(Akt)/mammalian target of sirolimus(mTOR)signaling pathway.Methods A rat model of heart failure was constructed by intraperitoneal 2.5 mg·kg-1 doxorubicin,and another 8 rats served as the control group.The modeling rats were randomly divided into model group,control group and experimental-L,-M,-H groups.Control group was given 30 mg·kg-1 3-methyladenine by intraperitoneal injection;experimental-L,-M,-H groups were given 150,300 and 450 mg·kg-1 AAC by gavage,respectively;blank and model groups were given the same quantity of sterile distilled water.Six groups were administered once daily for 6 weeks.The cardiac function was measured by ultrasound,and the expression levels of PI3K,Akt,mTOR,sequestosome 1(P62)and microtubule-associated light chain protein 3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ(LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ)in myocardial tissue were measured by Western blot.Results In the blank,model,control and experimental-H groups,the left ventricular ejection fraction values were(85.00±3.63)％,(56.75±4.83)％,(75.63±3.70)％and(72.75±4.23)％;the relative expression levels of PI3K were 1.00±0,0.28±0.05,0.64±0.08 and 0.74±0.16;phosphorylated Akt/Akt were 1.00±0,0.49±0.06,0.90±0.16 and 0.95±0.10;phosphorylated mTOR/mTOR values were 1.00±0,0.42±0.09,0.73±0.13 and 0.83±0.08;the relative expression levels of P62 proteins were 1.00±0,0.24±0.12,0.57±0.09 and 0.96±0.10;the relative expression levels of LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ proteins were 1.00±0,4.31±0.75,2.20±0.76 and 1.59±0.24,respectively.Compared to the model group,statistical significant were identified in the experimental-H and control groups(all P＜0.05).Conclusion AAC can regulate PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway,inhibit myocardial autophagy and improve cardiac function in rats with heart failure.

Objective:This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Dibai Yijing Formula(DYF)in the treat-ment of male infertility with essence deficiency in the kidney and damp-heat in the essence chamber(Abbreviation:kidney deficiency and damp-heat type).Methods:This study employed a randomized,controlled clinical trial design,recruiting 72 male patients with infertility due to kidney deficiency and damp-heat type.Patients were randomly assigned to an treatment group(36 patients)and a control group(36 patients)using a random number table.The control group received oral Clomiphene Citrate Capsules(50 mg,twice daily),while the treatment group received oral DYF(one dose daily,200 ml each time,30 minutes after breakfast and dinner).Both groups underwent a 12-week treatment period.After treatment,sperm concentration(SC),percentage of progressively motile sperms(PR),total sperm motility[PR+percentage of non-progressively motile sperms(NP)],and semen volume(SV)were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.Additionally,the total score of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)syndrome score and sperm DNA fragmentation index(DFI)and pregnancy outcomes of the patients'spouses were compared between the two groups.Results:Three patients dropped out from the treatment group and four from the control group.There were no statistically sig-nificant differences in semen parameters between the two groups(P＞0.05).After treatment,the patients in the treatment group showed significant difference in the percentage of SC([19.42±5.30]x 106/ml vs[10.75±2.41]x 106/ml),PR([27.72±6.62]％vs[20.04±4.10]％),PR+NP([49.86±10.68]％vs(33.74±5.58)％],DFI([12.33±3.43]％vs[15.06±3.98]％)and TCM symtom score([7.45±1.82]vs[13.85±1.91]),and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The patients in the control group showed significant difference in the percentage of SC([19.56±5.24]× 106/ml vs[11.31±2.08]× 106/ml)and TCM symptom score([12.81±1.86]vs[14.06±1.64]).But no significant changes were observed in the PR([21.75±5.93]％vs[20.05±4.67]％),PR+NP([34.23±7.15]％vs[32.35±4.09]％),SV([3.19±1.08]ml vs[3.12±1.13]ml),and DFI([15.11±4.76]％vs[15.51±4.35]％)were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).Improve-ments in PR,PR+NP,TCM symptom score and DFI in the treatment group were better than those in the control group after treatment(P＜0.05);the differences in SC and SV and spousal pregnancy in the treatment group were not statistically significant compared with those in the control group(P＞0.05).No serious adverse events occurred in both groups during the treatment period.Conclusion:The treatment of male infertility with DYF is effective and safe.

Objective To characterize a species of the genus Tricula and parasitized trematodes in schistosomiasis-endemic areas of Yunnan Province using a molecular analysis, so as to understand their taxonomic positions. Methods Tricula spp. and Oncomelania snails were collected from Xiangyun County, Yunnan Province, and cercaria parasitizing snails were observed using crushing followed by microscopy. Cercaria parasitizing Tricula snails at various morphologies were sampled using a shedding method. Genomic DNA was extracted from snail soft tissues and cercariae, and the 16S rRNA, COI, 28S rDNA genes in snails and the ND1 and 28S rDNA genes in cercariae were amplified using a PCR assay and sequenced. The species of Tricula snails and their parasitized trematodes was characterized using sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis. Results Among 382 Tricula snails detected, there were three types of trematode cercariae found, including the non-forked (20.94%, 80/382), double-forked (3.40%, 13/382) and swallow shapes (7.07%, 27/382). Sequence and phylogenetic analyses showed that the 16S rRNA, COI and 28S rDNA gene sequences of this species of Tricula had high homology to those in Delavaya dianchiensis, and were clustered in a branch. Sequencing analysis of the ND1 and 28S rDNA genes revealed that the non-forked cercariae belonged to the family Pleu- rogenidae, the swallow-shaped cercariae belonged to the family Opecoelidae, and the double-forked cercariae belonged to another species of the genus Schistosoma that was different from S. sinensium and S. ovuncatum. Conclusion The species and taxonomy of Triculla spp. and their parasitized trematodes are preliminarily determined in schistosomiasis-endemic areas of Yunnan Province; however, further studies are required to investigate the more definite taxonomy and pathogenicity.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to survey the need, the utilization, and the influencing factors of dental services for children in selected areas in Chongqing province by investigating their oral health status. The survey will provide references for preventive oral health care in targeted Chongqing areas, which may improve the level of oral health among pre-school children. METHODS: Random cluster sampling was utilized according to standards of the Fourth National Oral Health Epidemiological sampling survey, and 1 300 children between the ages of three and four years old from 24 kindergartens in 12 subdistricts of three areas in Chongqing were interviewed for free dental checkups and to participate in the survey. The questionnaires were designed according to the Anderson model and were answered by the children's parents. The results were analyzed utilizing Chi-square test logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of caries among the pre-school children in selected areas of Chongqing was 55.4%, the decay, missing, filled surface (dmfs) was 6 696, the mean dmfs was 5.2, and the caries filling constituent ratio was 2.3%. A total of 1 173 questionnaires were analyzed. The ratio for seeing a dentist for therapeutic reasons was 6.31% (74/1 173) and for prevalence was 22.93% (269/1 173). CONCLUSIONS The oral health service needs of pre-school children in selected areas of Chongqing are large and the oral health service utilization rate is low. Oral health care processes are arduous; thus, targeted oral prevention policies should be created.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dental Care ; statistics & numerical data ; Dental Caries ; Dental Health Surveys ; Humans ; Oral Health ; Prevalence

Objective The purpose of this study was to identify a pathogenic variant in a Chinese family with Alport syndrome and analyze the pathogenicity of the variant. Methods Using targeted region capture and high-throughput sequencing technology, we identified the genetic variant of the proband with Alport syndrome, verified the variant in the family members by Sanger sequencing, and analyzed its influence on the pre-mRNA splicing process by in vitro minigene assay. Results A heterozygous variant c.2767G>T (p.Gly923Cys) was identified as a novel variant in exon 32 of the COL4A5 gene in the proband, which was confirmed by Sanger sequencing to be cosegregated with disease in the family. The minigene assay demonstrated that the c.2767G>T variant induced deletion of exon 32 of the COL4A5 gene. Conclusion A novel COL4A5 mutation was identified by targeted region capture and high-throughput sequencing, which has enriched the gene mutation spectrum of Alport syndrome. The exonic mutation c.2767G>T confirmed to be a splicing mutation by in vitro minigene assay, which may lead to a deeper insight into the molecular pathogenesis of Alport syndrome.

Objective To assess the clinical significance of transient elastography (Fibroscan) in detection of clonorchiasis, so as to provide new insights into the assessment of therapeutic efficacy of deworming. Methods The liver stiffness measurement (LSM) values were measured in parasitologically diagnosed clonorchiasis patients using FibroScan before and after deworming, and the patients’age, gender, body mass index (BMI), duration of raw fish consumption and total amount of raw fish consumption were collected for correlation analyses. Results The clonorchiasis patients’age, gender, BMI, duration of raw fish consumption and total amount of raw fish consumption had no associations with pre-treatment LSM values (r/rs = 0.189, 0.073, 0.180; 0.071, –0.098, 0.033; 0.166, 0.309, 0.172; 0.235, 0.247, 0.209; 0.164, 0.277, 0.088; all P values > 0.05). There was a significant difference in the LSM values from the seventh, eighth and ninth intercostal space prior to deworming (F = 3.259, P < 0.05), and no significant difference was detected after deworming (F = 0.851, P > 0.05). The LSM values from the seventh, eighth and ninth intercostal space were significantly lower pre-deworming than post-deworming (t = 6.724, 5.603, 2.884; all P values < 0.05). Conclusion FibroScan is feasible to assess the therapuetic efficacy of deworming in patients with clonorchiasis; however, measurement at various sites affects the LSM value.

BACKGROUND: Proximal femoral nail anti-rotation is widely used to treat various intertrochanteric fractures. Although its operation trauma is small, and the blood loss of perioperative period is still large. Tranexamic acid has been gradually used to reduce the bleeding of intertrochanteric fracture. The effectiveness and safety of reducing blood loss during perioperative period were not reported. OBJECTIVE: To explore the safety and efficacy of tranexamic acid on perioperative blood loss in patients with intertrochanteric fracture undergoing proximal femoral nail anti-rotation. METHODS: One hundred and eight patients with intertrochanteric fracture undergoing proximal femoral nail anti-rotation were selected from First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine between January 2015 and January 2017. Among all the subjects, 52 patients who received the operation before January 2016 served as the control group and 56 patients who received the operation after January 2016 were selected as the treatment group. Half an hour before operation, patients in the treatment group received 1 g tranexamic acid dissolved in 250 mL normal saline by intravenous dropping; patients in the control group just received 250 mL normal saline by intravenous dropping. The bleeding volume, blood transfusion volume, hemoglobin, hematocrit, coagulation index, D-dimer levels and complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) During perioperative period, actual blood loss, intraoperative blood loss, dominant blood loss, recessive blood loss, volume of drainage, blood transfusion volume and blood transfusion rate were lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). (2) There was no statistically significant difference in the hemoglobin and hematocrit between the two groups before operation (P > 0.05). The hemoglobin and hematocrit of the two groups gradually decreased after the operation, and there was a slight improvement in the fifth day after surgery. At postoperative 2 hours, 1, 3 and 5 days, the hemoglobin and hematocrit of the treatment group were higher than in the control group (P < 0.05). At preoperation and each time point postoperation, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and fibrinogen levels were not statistically significant between the two groups (P > 0.05). Postoperative D-dimer levels in the two groups were significantly higher than preoperation, and there was a return on the fifth day. There was no statistically significant difference between groups at preoperation and each time point of postoperation (P > 0.05). (3) The results suggest that the tranexamic acid can effectively reduce the dominant and recessive blood loss in patients with the intertrochanteric fracture, and it is safe and effective.

Objective:To analyze the effect of different glucocorticoid administration routes in the treatment of children's secretory otitis media and impacts on immunologic function.Methods:Clinical data of children with secretory otitis media received treatment at our hospital from January 2016 to June 2016 were analyzed.Patients were divided into two groups by different glucocorticoid administration routes,Group A:intratympanic injection;Group B:oral administration.After one week,clinical effects and immunologic functions were tested and compared between the two groups.Results:A total of 87 patients were analyzed,Group A 45 cases,Group B 42 cases.After one week treatment,both of the two groups got significantly improved in audiology indexe (P<0.05),however,these index were more better in Group A when compared with those of Group B(P<0.05).Meanwhile,Group A patients got higher cure rate than that of Group B (91.1%,41/45 vs 73.8%,31/42;X2=4.558,P=0.033).Both of the two groups got significantly improved in CD3+T,CD4+T and CD4/CD8 (P<0.05) and decreased in CD8,IL-4,IFN-γ and IL-4/IFN-γ(P<0.05),but these markers changed more significant in Group A (P<0.05).Group A patients had a lower recurrence rate than Group B patients one year after treatment, the difference was statistically significant (9.76%,4/41 vs 29.03%,9/31;Log-rank X2=4.698,P=0.030).Conclusion:The treatment of children's secretory otitis media,the intratympanic injection of glucocorticoid shows a better effect than that of oral cortico-steroids.

Objective:To observe the clinical effects of acupuncture plus external medicine application for cervical radiculopathy.Methods:A total of 98 patients with cervical radiculopathy were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group based on the random digital table.The observation group (50 cases) was treated by acupuncture plus external medicine application and the control group (48 cases) was treated by acupuncture alone.The patients received the treatment every day.Ten sessions made a course.Cervical spondylosis symptom scale was used to assess the cases before and after the treatment.The clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups after the treatment.Results:The total effective rate was 98.1％ in the observation group versus 87.6％ in the control group with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P＜0.05).The cure rate was 52.0％ in the observation group versus 18.8％ in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the score of cervical spondylosis symptom scale between the two groups before the treatment (P＞0.05).It increased with a significant difference in both groups after the treatment (both P＜0.05),while a significant difference was found in the results between the two groups after the treatment (P＜0.05).Conclusion:Acupuncture plus external medicine application is more effective than acupuncture alone for treating cervical radiculopathy.The method also effectively improves the clinical symptoms.

Inhibition of apoptosis induced by oxidative stress is an effective way to reduce myocardial injury. In this study, we used H₂O₂-stimulated rat cardiac myoblast cell line (H9c2) as an oxidative damage model. Curcumin (Cur) was chosen as a model drug and mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were chosen as the carrier to construct a Cur-loaded delivery system (Cur@MSNs) and to examine its protective effects against oxidative damage. The MSNs guaranteed efficient loading and controlled release of Cur. Besides, the hydrophilicsilanol groups on the surface of MSNs promoted the Cur solubility in water and increased its cellular uptake amount, which improved the bioavailability of Cur. The results suggest that the Cur@MSNs was pharmacologically active in the reduction of the oxidative damage of H9c2 cells. It was verified that a great decrease of reactive oxygen species was inducted by Cur@MSNs, which led to the protective effects against oxidative damage.