Background/Aims: Low educational attainment is a well-established risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in developed areas. However, the association between educational attainment and the risk of NAFLD is less clear in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study including over 200,000 Chinese adults across mainland China was conducted. Information on education level and lifestyle factors were obtained through standard questionnaires, while NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were diagnosed using validated formulas. Outcomes included the risk of NAFLD in the general population and high probability of fibrosis among patients with NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the risk of NAFLD and fibrosis across education levels. A causal mediation model was used to explore the potential mediators. Results: Comparing with those receiving primary school education, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD were 1.28 (1.16 to 1.41) for men and 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for women with college education after accounting for body mass index. When considering waist circumference, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.94 (0.86 to 1.04) for men and 0.88 (0.80 to 0.97) for women, respectively. The proportions mediated by general and central obesity were 51.00% and 68.04% for men, while for women the proportions were 48.58% and 32.58%, respectively. Furthermore, NAFLD patients with lower educational attainment showed an incremental increased risk of advanced fibrosis in both genders. Conclusions In China, a low education level was associated with a higher risk of prevalent NAFLD in women, as well as high probability of fibrosis in both genders.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the mechanism of mechanical ventilation (MV) induced endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) promoting mechanical ventilation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (MVPF), and to clarify the role of angiotensin receptor 1 (AT1R) during the process. METHODS: The C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: Sham group, MV group, AT1R-shRNA group and MV+AT1R-shRNA group, with 6 mice in each group. The MV group and MV+AT1R-shRNA group mechanically ventilated for 2 hours after endotracheal intubation to establish MVPF animal model (parameter settings: respiratory rate 70 times/minutes, tidal volume 20 mL/kg, inhated oxygen concentration 0.21). The Sham group and AT1R-shRNA group only underwent intubation after anesthesia and maintained spontaneous breathing. AT1R-shRNA group and MV+AT1R-shRNA group were airway injected with the adeno-associated virus one month before modeling to inhibit AT1R gene expression in lung tissue. The expressions of AT1R, ERS signature proteins [immunoglobulin heavy chain-binding protein (BIP), protein disulfide isomerase (PDI)], fibrosis signature proteins [collagen I (COL1A1), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)] in lung tissues were detected by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to evaluate lung injury and Masson staining was used to evaluate pulmonary fibrosis. RESULTS: Compared with the Sham group, the degree of pulmonary fibrosis and lung injury were more significant in the MV group. In the MV group, the protein expressions of AT1R, BIP, PDI, COL1A1 and α-SMA were increased (AT1R/β-actin: 1.40±0.02 vs. 1, BIP/β-actin: 2.79±0.07 vs. 1, PDI/β-actin: 2.07±0.02 vs. 1, COL1A1/α-Tubulin: 2.60±0.15 vs. 1, α-SMA/α-Tubulin: 2.80±0.25 vs. 1, all P < 0.01). The number of E-cad⁺/AT1R⁺ and E-cad⁺/BIP⁺ cells in lung tissue increased, and the fluorescence intensity of COL1A1 and α-SMA increased. Compared with the MV group, the degree of pulmonary fibrosis and lung injury were significantly relieved in the MV+AT1R-shRNA group. In the MV+AT1R-shRNA group, the protein expressions of AT1R, BIP, PDI, COL1A1 and α-SMA were decreased (AT1R/β-actin: 0.53±0.03 vs. 1.40±0.02, BIP/β-actin: 1.73±0.15 vs. 2.79±0.07, PDI/β-actin: 1.04±0.07 vs. 2.07±0.02, COL1A1/α-Tubulin: 1.29±0.11 vs. 2.60±0.15, α-SMA/α-Tubulin: 1.27±0.10 vs. 2.80±0.25, all P < 0.01). The number of E-cad⁺/AT1R⁺ and E-cad⁺/BIP⁺ cells in lung tissue decreased, and the fluorescence intensity of COL1A1 and α-SMA decreased. There was no statistically significant difference in the indicators between AT1R-shRNA group and Sham group. CONCLUSIONS MV up-regulate the expression of AT1R in alveolar epithelial cells, activate the AT1R pathway, induce ERS and promote the progression of MVPF.
Mice ; Animals ; Pulmonary Fibrosis/chemically induced* ; Lung Injury ; Respiration, Artificial/adverse effects* ; Actins/metabolism* ; Tubulin ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; RNA, Small Interfering

Objective To study stress relaxation behaviors of cartilage scaffolds under different degradation cycles by using finite element analysis combined with theoretical models. Methods Based on the established degradation theoretical model, the elastic modulus of the scaffold was calculated under different degradation cycles. The finite element model of cartilage scaffolds was established and stress relaxation simulation was performed to analyze the variation of scaffold relaxation stress with time. The stress relaxation constitutive model was established to predict mechanical properties of the scaffold. Results The elastic modulus of cartilage scaffolds at 14 th, 28th, 42nd, 56th day after degradation was 32. 35, 31. 12, 29. 91, 28. 74 kPa, respectively. The upper layer for cartilage scaffolds was the largest. The overall relaxation stress of the scaffold decreased rapidly with time and then tended to be stable. At 8th week after degradation, the stress which the scaffold couldwithstand was still within the physiological load range of the cartilage. The predicted results of the stress relaxation constitutive model were in good agreement with the finite element simulation results. Conclusions The elastic modulus of the scaffold gradually decreases with the increase of degradation time. The longer the degradation period is, the less stress the scaffold can withstand. At the same degradation period, the larger the applied compressive strain, the larger the stress on the scaffold. Both the finite element simulation and stress relaxation constitutive model can effectively predict stress variations of cartilage scaffolds under degradation

Objective:To establish a method for determintation of chlorogenic acid and linarin in Yejuhua granules by HPLC.Methods:We applied HPLC methods. The Kromasil 100-5 C18 column (250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm) was used, the mobile phase was acetonitrile-0.4%H 3PO 4 solution (gradient elution), the flow rate was 1.0 ml/min, the dection wavelenghth was 334 nm and the column temperture was 32 ℃. Results:Chlorogenic acid and buddleoside had good linearity in the ranges of 0.30-1.50 μg ( r2=0.999 1) and 0.12-0.62 μg ( r2=0.999 8), respectively. The average recoveries were 99.70% and 96.67%, with RSD<2%, respectively. Conclusion:The method is simple, rapid, reliable, efficient, and can be used for determination of chlorogenic acid and buddleoside in Yejuhua Granules.

PEP06 is a novel endostatin-Arg-Gly-Asp-Arg-Gly-Asp(RGDRGD)30-amino-acid polypeptide featuring a terminally fused RGDRGD hexapeptide at the N terminus.The active endostatin fragment of PEPO6 directly targets tumor cells and exerts an antitumoral effect.However,little is known about the kinetics and degradation products of PEP06 in vitro or in vivo.In this study,we investigated the in vitro metabolic stability of PEP06 after it was incubated with living cells obtained from animals of different species;we further identified the degradation characteristics of its cleavage products.PEP06 underwent rapid enzymatic degradation in multiple types of living cells,and the liver,kidney,and blood play important roles in the metabolism and clearance of the peptides resulting from the molecular degradation of PEP06.We identified metabolites of PEP06 using full-scan mass spectrometry(MS)and tandem MS(MS2),wherein 43 metabolites were characterized and identified as the degradation metabolites from the parent peptide,formed by successive losses of amino acids.The metabolites were C and N terminal truncated products of PEP06.The structures of 11 metabolites(M6,M7,M16,M17,M21,M25,M33,M34,M39,M40,and M42)were further confirmed by comparing the retention times of similar full MS spectrum and MS2 spectrum information with reference standards for the synthesized metabolites.We have demonstrated the metabolic stability of PEP06 in vitro and identified a series of potentially bioactive downstream metabolites of PEP06,which can support further drug research.

Objective To observe the clinical effect of bevacizumab and temozolomide combined with concurrent radiotherapy for elderly patients with malignant brain glioma after the surgery . Methods A total of 55 patients in department of neurosurgery of Lanzhou Military Region General Hospital from January 2013 to December 2015 were enrolled. The patients were divided into control group and observation group. The 25 cases in the control group received radiotherapy and temozolomide. The 30 cases in the observation group received bevacizumab and temozolomide combined with concurrent radiotherapy. After treatment for 6 and 12 months, the clinical effects and adverse reactions of the two groups were compared byχ2 test, and the survival was compared by Log-rank test . Results Patients in the treatment group were followed up for 6 months after chemoradiotherapy, the response rate (RR) was 80 ％ (24/30), the disease control rate (DCR) was 97 ％ (29/30). The RR and DCR in the control group were 68 ％ (17/25) and 84 ％(21/25). There were significant differences between the two groups (χ2 values were 3.742 and 8.000, both P<0.05). After 12 months of follow-up, the RR and DCR in the treatment group were 40 ％ (12/30) and 80 ％(24/30), the control group were 16％(4/25) and 56％(14/25). There were significant differences between the two groups (χ2 values were 3.547 and 1.983, both P< 0.05). The adverse effect rates had no significant difference between the two groups (all P> 0.05). The 2-year survival rates in the treatment group and control group were 28.2 ％ and 11.0 ％, the difference was statistically significant (χ 2 = 4.512, P = 0.034). Conclusions Temozolomide and bevacizumab combined with concurrent radiotherapy in treatment of malignant glioma is superior to temozolomide combined with radiotherapy, and bevacizumab is safe and has few side effects. It is a preferred treatment and is worthy of clinical promotion.

Meridians in human body were classified as white meridian and black meridian according to Tibetan medicine.Season and environment,improper diet,toxic heat and trauma were recognized as main reasons damaging the white meridian in Tibetan Medicine,leading to the emerge of white meridian disease induced by Long (one of the three factors) and blood disorder.White meridian disease in Tibetan medicine involved a series diseases,such as many clinical diseases,due to the damage of white meridian system caused by pathogenic factors.Stroke also belonged to white meridian disease.Drugs and treatments were selected based on the nature of disease such as cold and heat,onset,thelocation of disease and the three factors (Chi Ba,Long and Pei Gen).It was the fundamental principle of the treatment rules of white meridian disease in Tibetan medicine,namely,prescribing medication with the rule of diagnosis and treatment,comprehensive analysis of the causes of diseases and mastering the change law of diseases and syndromes in clinic.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of Atorvastatin in reducing the recurrence rate of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) after single burr hole drainage and irrigation.Methods Between January 2000 and May 2005 and between January 2013 and December 2015,122 patients with CSDH admitted to the Neurosurgery Department,Lanzhou General Hospital were treated with single burr hole drainage and irrigation under local anesthesia.All patients were classified into two groups.Patients in the treatment group (n=67) took Atorvastatin after operation and those in the control group (n=55) did not take Atorvastatin.Patient demographics,clinical characteristics,imaging data,Markwalder's Grading Scale (MGS) and recurrence rates were assessed.Results Preoperative clinical characteristics and MGS levels at discharge were similar between the two groups (all P＞0.05).The recovery rate of CSDH was 98.5％ in the treatment group,without recurrence or death.The recovery rate of CSDH was 96.4％ in the control group,with four cases of relapse,making up a recurrence rate of 7.3 ％ (4/55).As a result,the recurrence rates were statistically significantly different between the two groups (x2 =5.038,P =0.039).Conclusions Atorvastatin can significantly reduce the recurrence rate of CSDH after single burr hole drainage and irrigation.

Objective To summarize the experience with resurgery for recurrent valvular heart diseases.Methods From June 2004 to June 2015, 28 patients (15 males and 13 females) with ages ranging from 44 to 67 years (55.6±6.5 years) with recurrent heart valve disease underwent resurgery. The reasons for resurgery included perivalvular leakage (7 cases), bioprosthetic valve decline (6 cases in mitral valve and 3 in tricuspid valve), mechanical prostheses dysfunction (2cases), infective endocarditis after valve replacement (2 cases), restenosis of repaired native valve (1 case), and severe tricuspid insufficiency after left-side valve surgery (7 cases). Resurgery included mitral valve replacement in 18 patients and tricuspid valve replacement in 10. All the patients underwent third or fourth or even fifth cardiac surgery for valve replacement.Results There were 2 hospital deaths with a mortality of 7.1% (2/28). The main causes of early-stage deaths were low cardiac output syndrome. The main postoperative complications were respiratory failure in 3, low cardiac output syndrome in 2, reexploration for bleeding in 2 and serious infectious shock in 1. All the patients were found with the great improvement in heart function and the re-implanted prostheses worked well during follow-up.Conclusions Although resurgery for recurrent heart valve disease poses a continuing challenge to cardiac surgeon, it could be performed with the satisfactory results. The keys to a successful cardiac resurgery include appropriate operational timing, refined surgical technique and reasonable perioperative managements.