Visual analysis of research on traditional Chinese medicine treatment of Alzheimer's disease in recent ten years / 中国中药杂志

This study employed bibliometrics tools to review the studies of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) treatment of Alzheimer's disease(AD) in recent ten years, aiming to explore the research status, hotspots, and future trends in this field at home and abroad. The relevant literature published from January 1, 2012 to August 15, 2022 was retrieved from Web of Science and CNKI. CiteSpace 6.1R2 and VOSviewer 1.6.15 were used for the visual analysis of authors, countries, institutions, keywords, journals, etc. A total of 2 254 Chinese articles and 545 English articles were included. The annual number of articles published showed a rising trend with fluctuations. The country with the largest number of relevant articles published and the largest centrality was China. SUN Guo-jie and WANG Qi were the authors publishing the most Chinese articles and English articles, respectively. Hubei University of Chinese Medicine and Beijing University of Chinese Medicine published the most articles in Chinese and English, respectively. Journal of Ethnopharmacology and Neuroscience Letters published the articles with the highest cited frequency and the highest centrality. According to the keywords, the research on TCM treatment of AD mainly focused on the mechanism of action and treatment methods. Metabolomics, intestinal flora, oxidative stress, tau hyperphosphorylation, β-amyloid(Aβ), inflammatory cytokines, and autophagy were the focuses of the research on mechanism of action. Acupuncture, clinical effect, kidney deficiency and phlegm stasis, and dredging governor vessel to revitalize mind were the hotspots of clinical research. This research field is still in the stage of exploration and development. Exchanges and cooperation among institutions should be encouraged to carry out more high-quality basic research on TCM treatment of AD, obtain high-level evidence, and clarify the pathogenesis and prescription mechanism.

Screening of Serum Biomarkers for Distinguishing between Latent and Active Tuberculosis Using Proteome Microarray / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify potential serum biomarkers for distinguishing between latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and active tuberculosis (TB).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A proteome microarray containing 4,262 antigens was used for screening serum biomarkers of 40 serum samples from patients with LTBI and active TB at the systems level. The interaction network and functional classification of differentially expressed antigens were analyzed using STRING 10.0 and the TB database, respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used to validate candidate antigens further using 279 samples. The diagnostic performances of candidate antigens were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. Both antigen combination and logistic regression analysis were used to improve diagnostic ability.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Microarray results showed that levels of 152 Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)-antigen- specific IgG were significantly higher in active TB patients than in LTBI patients (P < 0.05), and these differentially expressed antigens showed stronger associations with each other and were involved in various biological processes. Eleven candidate antigens were further validated using ELISA and showed consistent results in microarray analysis. ROC analysis showed that antigens Rv2031c, Rv1408, and Rv2421c had higher areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.8520, 0.8152, and 0.7970, respectively. In addition, both antigen combination and logistic regression analysis improved the diagnostic ability.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Several antigens have the potential to serve as serum biomarkers for discrimination between LTBI and active TB.</p>

Research progress in histone lysine demethylases inhibitors / 药学学报

The methylation of histone lysine plays a pivotal role in epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Histone lysine methylation modifications have 5 sites within histone H3(K4, K9, K27, K36, K79)and 1 site within histone H4(K20). Methylation at various sites has been shown to lead to transcriptional activation or silencing. Histone lysine methyltransferases(HKMTs)and histone lysine demethylases(HKDMs)collectively regulate the methylation modification state of histone lysine. It was reported that the mis-regulation of HKDMs is associated with the occurring and resistance of numerous malignant tumors, so more and more attention are received to HKDMs. Therefore, it is great significant in the study and development of HKDMs inhibitors. The inhibitors could be served not only as a tool in the investigation of the biological function, but also could be used as novel anti-cancer agents in the anticancer therapy. In this review, we provide a short summary of the HKDMs inhibitors recently reported and their potential in the treatment of diseases.

Study on toxicity of 999 Ganmaoling grain and influence of diet on hepatic toxicity / 中国中药杂志

This paper was aimed to compare the acute toxicity of 999 Ganmaoling grain and its different ingredients, and investigate the influence of routine diet on the hepatic toxicity induced by Ganmaoling in mice, so as to provide experimental basis for the clinical safety evaluation. Mice were given a single dose of Ganmaoling grain or its different ingredients respectively by gavage, and then observed for 14 days. LD₅₀ values of Ganmaoling grain or its chemical ingredient and the maximal tolerated dose of its herb ingredient were determined. Mice were divided into starvation and diet group, a single dose of Ganmaoling grain was administered by gavage. LD₅₀ values were estimated after 14 day observation. Mice were divided into starvation and diet group. At the same time,control group was set up for each. A single dose of Ganmaoling grain was given. Serum biochemical indexes were detected, liver weight index was calculated and liver tissue morphological change was observed after 6 h. LD₅₀ values were 4.42, 0.64 g•kg⁻¹ for Ganmaoling grain group and chemical ingredient group, respectively. The maximal tolerated dose of the herb ingredient group was close to 24.24 g•kg⁻¹. The toxic symptom was basically similar in the Ganmaoling grain and the chemical ingredient group. The body weight and food intake were decreased to a certain extent in both groups. There were pathological changes of liver and heart tissue in some of the surviving animals. The animals in the Ganmaoling grain group exhibited a lighter toxicity and recovered faster than that in the chemical ingredient group. LD₅₀ values of Ganmaoling grain were 2.56, 6.93 g•kg⁻¹ for starvation and diet group respectively. TD₅₀ values were 1.29, 6.31 g•kg⁻¹ for starvation and diet group respectively. The toxicity of 999 Ganmaoling was less, which may be related to the reduction of toxicity after the combination of herb and chemical ingredients. Compared with starvation group, the values of LD₅₀ and TD₅₀ of diet group was significantly increased, and toxicity was decreased. From the point of view of safety, it is safer to use Ganmaoling in the absence of hunger or after meal. The above tests provide experimental basis for the clinical safety use of Ganmaoling.

Noninvasive monitoring of intra-abdominal pressure by measuring abdominal wall tension / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

@#BACKGROUND: Noninvasive monitoring of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) by measuring abdominal wall tension (AWT) was effective and feasible in previous postmortem and animal studies. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of the AWT method for noninvasively monitoring IAP in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: In this prospective study, we observed patients with detained urethral catheters in the ICU of Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital between April 2011 and March 2013. The correlation between AWT and urinary bladder pressure (UBP) was analyzed by linear regression analysis. The effects of respiratory and body position on AWT were evaluated using the paired samples t test, whereas the effects of gender and body mass index (BMI) on baseline AWT (IAP<12 mmHg) were assessed using one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: A total of 51 patients were studied. A significant linear correlation was observed between AWT and UBP (R=0.986, P<0.01); the regression equation was Y=–1.369+9.57X (P<0.01). There were significant differences among the different respiratory phases and body positions (P<0.01). However, gender and BMI had no significant effects on baseline AWT (P=0.457 and 0.313, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant linear correlation between AWT and UBP and respiratory phase, whereas body position had significant effects on AWT but gender and BMI did not. Therefore, AWT could serve as a simple, rapid, accurate, and important method to monitor IAP in critical y il patients.

Analysis of 57 abdominal penetrating injury cases with exploratory laparotomy / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the characteristics of abdominal penetrating injuries with exploratory laparotomy, as well as to summarize the key points of injury degree, and to supply reasonable reference for the practice and criterion modification in forensic clinical medicine identification. METHODS Fifty-seven cases which were all abdominal penetrating injuries with exploratory laparotomy from July 1990 to February 2011 were retrospectively analyzed including the instrument causing trauma, amount of the hemoperitoneum, the organs of the injury, conclusion of the forensic indentification, and so on.@*RESULTS@#There was some correlation between the organ injury patterns, volume of hemoperitoneum and identification conclusion for the abdominal penetrating injury cases with exploratory laparotomy. CONCLUSION The intra-abdominal injury has important effect for the injury degree of the abdominal penetrating injury cases with exploratory laparotomy and should be considered in the practice and criterion modification of these kinds of cases.

Initial experience with circumferential pulmonary vein isolation guided by Overlay Ref and CartoMerge in the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>CartoMerge has been widely used in guiding circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (CPVI) for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). However, the procedure of landmarks selection varies among operators according to their experience. Techniques have to be established to standardize this procedure. We propose that Overlay Ref could facilitate this procedure. This paper aimed to report our initial experience with CPVI guided by Overlay Ref and CartoMerge for the treatment of PAF.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-nine patients with PAF were enrolled in this study. Using Overlay Ref technique, a reference image (inverted) was faded into the live fluoroscopic image. Landmarks of CartoMerge were selected from anatomic points of the top of superior pulmonary veins (PVs) and the bottom of inferior PVs guided by Overlay Ref image. Overlay Ref images were also used to guide the ablation procedure combining with CartoMerge.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients were successfully mapped by CartoMerge guided by Overlay Ref. The distance between the mapping points and the CT surfaces was (1.42 +/- 0.67) mm for the patients as a whole. This led to a successful rate of 96% for isolation of pulmonary veins. Duration of ablation procedure was (92 +/- 17) minutes. And the total duration of procedure was (139 +/- 32) minutes. CartoMerge could also be performed just with 3 paries to 4 paries selected landmarks guided by Overlay Ref without a full anatomic model constructed by Carto. Then, the total duration of procedure could be shortened to (115 +/- 38) minutes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Overlay Ref technique can facilitate the catheter ablation of PAF and can help to standardize the procedure of landmarks selection.</p>

Epidemiological survey of rheumatic heart disease in schoolchildren in Guangdong and Xinjiang / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) among schoolchildren in Guangdong Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using a cluster sampling method, an epidemiological survey of RHD was conducted in 16 682 primary and high school students by auscultation in Guangdong Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from 2005 to 2006. Review of the clinical records, RHD survey in adults, and examination of the positivity rate of group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GAS) by throat swab cultures in the students aged between 9 and 12 years in the sampled schools were also carried out.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No RHD patient was found in the sampled population. In Xinjiang, the prevalence of RHD was 12.9/1000 among adults, higher than that (2.2/1000) in Guangdong Province. The GAS-positive rate in the schoolchildren in Xinjiang ranged from 9.8% to 12.6%, higher than that in Guangdong (2.3%-3.9%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The GAS-positive rate among children and incidence of RHD in adults are higher in Xinjiang than in Guangdong. The prevalence of RHD among the schoolchildren shows a reduction compared with that in 1994.</p>

Effects of genistein on expression of TGF-beta1 and intracellular free Ca2+ concentration in fibroblasts derived from human hypertrophic scar / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of Genistein on TGF-beta1 expression and the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration in human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts, and to discuss the mechanism of the anti-fibrosis effect.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fibroblasts were derived from human hypertrophic scar tissue and cultured in vitro. Genistein in different concentrations (25, 50, 100 micromol/L) was administrated to the fibroblasts, respectively. After 48 hours of co-culture, the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA and protein were examined by RT-PCR and Western-Blot assay respectively. The intracellular free Ca2+ concentration in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts pretreated by Genistein was determined by laser confocal scanning microscopy with or without the stimulation of bFGF.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Genistein inhibited the expression of TGF-beta1 in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts on a concentration-dependent manner. bFGF significantly elevated the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration, however its stimulating effect was remarkably alleviated when the fibroblasts were pre-treated by Genistein.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Genistein can reduce the expression of TGF-beta1 and block the accumulation of intracellular free calcium induced by growth factors. It maybe one of the possible mechanisms of Genistein's antifibrosis effect.</p>

The effects of genistein on tyrosine protein kinase-mitogen activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the inhibitory effects of genistein on tyrosine protein kinase (TPK)-mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathway in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (HSFb), in order to explore the molecular mechanism of inhibition of scar hyperplasia by genistein.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HSFbs were isolated from human hypertrophic scar tissues and cultured in vitro. The cells were treated by genistein in different concentrations (25, 50, 100 micromol/L, respectively), followed by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) stimulation. The activity of TPK was assessed with [gamma-32P] ATP substrate incorporation. The phosphorylation protein expression levels of main signal molecules in TPK-Ras-MAPK pathway including c-Raf, MEKl/2, extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK), p38MAPK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) were determined by Western blot. HSFbs treated with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) were used as control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After being treated with genistein in concentration of 25, 50, 100 micromol/L, the activity of TPK in HSFbs was depressed significantly [(7.15 +/- 0.35) x 10(5), (5.62 +/- 0.88) x 10(5), (5.62 +/-0.88) x 10(5) 10(5) pmol x min(-1) x mg(-1), respectively] when compared with that in control group [(8.92 +/- 0.28) x 10(5) pmol x min(-1) x mg(-1), P < 0.05]. Compared with those in control group,the phosphorylation protein expression levels of c-Raf, MEK1/2, ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK were lowered in different degree (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) after genistein treatment. The phospho-JNK levels after treatment with genistein were similar to that of control group. Under the condition of pretreatment with genistein, the activities of TPK and signal pathway protein expressions in HSFb showed a downward trend after stimulation with bFGF.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Genistein can effect the proliferation and activation of HSFb by inhibiting the phosphorylation of receptor of TPK signal transduction pathway (TPK --> Raf --> MEK --> ERK/p38).</p>

A randomized prospective comparison of CartoMerge and CartoXP to guide circumferential pulmonary vein isolation for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>CartoXP and CartoMerge have been used to treat atrial fibrillation (AF) for several years. Our randomized prospective study compared clinical outcomes of these two versions of three dimensional electroanatomic mapping system in guiding catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-one patients with symptomatic, drug refractory PAF were randomly assigned to CartoMerge group (n=42, mean age (54.5+/-13.1) years, history of AF=3.2 years) or CartoXP group (n=39, mean age (59.8+/-15.6) years, history of AF = 2.9 years). All patients underwent 64-slice computed tomography (MSCT) 1 to 3 days prior to ablation procedure. Using CartoMerge(TM) Image Integration Module, 3D anatomical images of the left atrium (LA) and pulmonary veins (PVs) derived from MSCT of CartoMerge group were established and merged with the electroanatomical map. The integrated images were used to guide the procedure of circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (CPVI). In the other group, CPVI was guided just by CartoXP. The endpoint of CPVI in both groups was abolition or dissociation of pulmonary vein potentials (PVPs).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Mapping points to establish the electroanatomical model of the LA/PVs were 48.7+/-13.4 in CartoMerge group and 62.5+/-15.7 in CartoXP group (P<0.001). Mean distance between mapping points and the MSCT surfaces in CartoMerge group was (1.59+/-0.33) mm. Accomplishment of abolition or dissociation of PVPs was achieved 95.2% in CartoMerge group and 92.3% in CartoXP group. Durations of procedure and exposure to X-ray were (156+/-25) minutes, (179+/-21) minutes (P<0.001) and (19.6+/-7.5) minutes, (28.5+/-12.8) minutes (P<0.001), respectively. After a follow-up with duration of (11.9+/-3.1) months vs (12.4+/-3.6) months post the first ablation procedure, patients free of AF were 33 (78.6%) in CartoMerge group and 29 (74.4%) in CartoXP group (P>0.50). No patient suffered pulmonary vein stenosis, atrioesophageal fistula, stroke or death.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared to CartoXP, CartoMerge shortened the catheter ablation procedure and exposure to X-ray, without affecting the clinical outcomes of circumferential pulmonary vein isolation for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in experienced centres.</p>

Clinical characteristics of the patients with dengue fever seen from 2002 to 2006 in Guangzhou / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical characteristics of the patients with dengue fever (DF) seen from 2002 to 2006 in Guangzhou in order to prevent and treat dengue fever better.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data from 1342 inpatients with DF seen from 2002 to 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. The dengue virus was isolated by C6/36 cell culture and genotyped by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and gene sequence analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average age of the patients was 34.4 years, without sex difference in distribution. Most of the patients had obvious toxemic symptoms including fever (100 percent), headache (85.9 percent), myalgia (64.5 percent), bone soreness (46.6 percent) and skin rash (65.9 percent). Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, elevated alanine aminotransferase, elevated aspartate aminotransferase and hypokalemia were found in 66.0 percent, 61.3 percent, 69.0 percent , 85.7 percent and 28.4 percent of patients, respectively. DF-IgM could be detected in 90 percent of patients. The virus was identified as dengue virus type-I.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The epidemic of DF was caused by dengue virus- I from 2002 to 2006 in Guangzhou. Most of the patients had classic DF clinical manifestation with high percentage of hepatic injury. Few patients progressed to dengue hemorrhagic fever.</p>

Multi-link Vision and MiniVision stent registry in Asian patients with coronary artery disease: a prospective, multi-center study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Recent studies have showed that the fine mesh stents are associated with a significant reduction in both clinical and angiographic re-stenosis of the coronary arteries. To maintain a very satisfactory radio-opacity using the stents, Guidant of the USA has designed a new type of bare metal stents (BMS)-Multi-link (ML) Vision/ML MiniVision stents. The clinical outcomes of Asian patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after implanting the Multi-link Vision or MiniVision stent were investigated in this study.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>An observational, prospective, multi-center, non-randomized post marketing registry was conducted to demonstrate the efficacy of the BMS-ML Vision/ML MiniVision stents. The primary end point of the registry was clinical target lesion revascularization (TLR) at a 6-month follow-up. The major secondary end points included the rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and serious adverse events (SAE) in hospital and at 6 months; and the rate of clinical TLR as a function of the type of angina. A total of 429 Asian people with 449 lesions from 14 centers were selected for this study. The average reference diameter of the lesions was (3.0 +/- 0.5) mm, and the mean length was (15.7 +/- 5.0) mm.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The successful rate of the procedure was 99.3%. Twenty-five percent of the lesions were treated by direct stenting without pre-dilation. Eighty-six percent of the lesions were implanted with ML Vision stent. After the 6-month follow-up, the rate of clinical TLR was 1.4%. The MACE, SAE and target vessel revascularization (TVR) were 6.8%, 3.5% and 1.4% respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The current registry showed the excellent 6-month clinical outcomes of ML Vision/ML MiniVision stents in Asian patients with CAD.</p>

Diazoxide preconditioning alleviates apoptosis of hippocampal neurons induced by anoxia-reoxygenation in vitro through up-regulation of Bcl-2/Bax protein ratio / 生理学报

Activating mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium (mitoK(ATP)) channels is a critical event of pharmacological preconditioning, which can enhance neuronal ability against various insults. mitoK(ATP) channels are abundant in neurons and can be selectively opened by diazoxide (DZ). The aim of this study was to determine whether DZ could restrain neuronal apoptosis induced by anoxia-reoxygenation and to reveal the effect of DZ preconditioning on the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in cultured hippocampal neurons. Cultured for 9~10 d in vitro, the hippocampal neurons of Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to the following 5 groups randomly: Control, DZ 0 mumol/L, DZ 30 mumol/L, DZ 100 mumol/L, DZ 100 mumol/L+5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD, a selective mitoK(ATP) channel blocker) 100 mumol/L. Prior to oxygen deprivation, the hippocampal neurons except those in the control group were treated with DZ or DZ+5-HD for 1 h per day and this treatment persisted for 3 d. Thereafter, neurons were subjected to anoxia for 4 h and followed by reoxygenation. At 24 h of reoxygenation the neuronal survival rates were measured by MTT method, while the apoptotic rates were assayed by annexin V-FITC staining. The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were detected with immunocytochemistry and evaluated by Western blot. Anoxia-reoxygenation injury reduced the survival rates and increased apoptotic rates significantly. In comparison with those in other groups, the survival rate in DZ 100 mumol/L group was increased by about 15%, whereas the apoptotic rate was decreased by almost 12% simultaneously. 5-HD could abolish the neuroprotection afforded by 100 mumol/L DZ. Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in the control normoxic neurons were both expressed slightly, while anoxia-reoxygenation led to high expression of Bax protein. The administration of 100 mumol/L DZ enhanced the expression of Bcl-2 protein by nearly 60%, whereas Bax protein was reduced by approximately 30%. Lower concentrations of DZ had no detectable effects on the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins. However, beneficial effects of DZ on the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were reversed after the co-treatment with 5-HD. In conclusion, 100 mumol/L DZ prevented cultured hippocampal neurons from apoptosis induced by anoxia-reoxygenation possibly through up-regulating the expression of Bcl-2 protein and down-regulating the expression of Bax protein.

Diazoxide preconditioning plus subsequent hypothermia increased resistance of rat cultured hippocampal neurons against hypoxia-reoxygenation injury / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion/hypoxia-reoxygenation insult triggers lots of pathophysiological and biochemical events that separately affect the evolution of cerebral damage. Accordingly, all known effective neuroprotective measures should be taken to get the optimal efficacy of therapy. This study was undertaken to investigate whether diazoxide (DZ) preconditioning combined with the following hypothermia could contribute to synergistic neuroprotection compared with either hypothermia or DZ preconditioning alone.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cultured for 9-10 days in vitro, the hippocampal neurons of SD rats were preconditioned with DZ 0 micromol/L or DZ 250 micromol/L for 1 hour per day and this treatment lasted for 3 days. Subsequently, neurons were subjected to deprivation of oxygen for 4 hours at 37 degrees C, 34 degrees C, 30 degrees C and 22 degrees C, respectively. This experiment consisted of 8 groups (4 temperature groups and 4 combination groups) and each group contained 12-well or 2-dish cells. Survival rate, expression of Bcl-2, fluorescence magnitude of intracellular calcium, and concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined at 24 hours after reoxygenation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The survival rate and expression of Bcl-2 were both increased in individually hypothermic conditions compared with those at 37 degrees C (P < 0.05), whereas intracellular calcium and MDA did the opposite exhibition simultaneously (P < 0.05). 22 degrees C contributed to a higher survival rate and greater expression of Bcl-2 in comparison with other hypothermia (P < 0.05). Preceding administration of 250 micromol/L DZ took the similar effects on the neurons like hypothermia. Moreover, compared with individual hypothermia or DZ preconditioning, the neuronal survival rate and expression of Bcl-2 in the combination group were increased significantly (P < 0.05), whereas the calcium fluorescence density and concentration of MDA were reduced further (P < 0.05). 250 micromol/L DZ preconditioning combined with 22 degrees C provided a maximal neuroprotection.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Compared with either individual hypothermia or DZ preconditioning, the combination of both treatments conferred synergistic protection for cultured hippocampal neurons in vitro against hypoxia-reoxygenation insult.</p>

Analysis on clinical and epidemiological characteristics of 1032 patients with Dengue fever in Guangzhou / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of Dengue fever (DF) during the Dengue-1 epidemic in Guangzhou.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical and epidemiological data of 1032 patients with DF from May 2002 to November 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. Dengue virus were isolated by cell culture and typed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Age of the patients ranged from 55 days to 91 years old (average 34.7 +/- 13.2 years) with sex ratio 1.03:1. Incubation period ranged from 2 to 12 days with mean periods of 5.3 +/- 2.4 days. Most (45.0%) cases appeared in September and the epidemic last from July to November. Dengue outbreak had involved 675 cases in 26 common places. The common manifestations were seen as fever (100%), headache (90.9%), myalgia (68.4%), bone soreness (48.8%), fatigue (79.3%), skin rash (60.1%), positive tourniquet test (45.3%), leukopenia (63.3%) and thrombocytopenia (60.8%), respectively. Dengue virus was isolated from serum of 19 out of 54 patients' and identified as Dengue virus type 1. DNA sequence analyzes on rates of nucleotide homology were 97%, 97% and 98% compared with those of Dengue virus type 1 strain of DF outbreak in Cambodia, in 1997 and 1999 in China.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The epidemic of DF in Guangzhou in 2002/2003 was caused by Dengue virus type-1 with most patients showing classic type of the disease. Date suggested that change can happen from non-endemic to hypoendemic regions in Guangdong province.</p>

Establishment of an animal model of human hyperplastic scar in nude mice / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish an ideal model of human hyperplastic scar (HS) in nude mice, so as to provide us a new model to carry out further studies on the mechanism of HS development.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Full skin defect sized 2.0 cm x 1.5 cm was created on the back of 100 nude mice. The defect was thereafter covered with full thickness human skin. After the grafted skin survived, the nude mice were subjected to deep partial thickness burn of the grafted skin with heated copper rod. The development of the hyperplasia of the scar after wound healing was observed histologically and grossly.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Grafted full-thickness human skin took and survived well in 86 out of 100 nude mice. There was obvious and continuous hyperplasia of scar in 67 mice (78%). The external appearance and histological features of the HS appeared similar to those in human HS. The average thickness of the scar was 0.34 cm, with the thickest part measuring 0.6 cm. In addition, the time of hyperplastic change lasted for 63 - 217 days in average of 128 days.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Obvious and continuous scar hyperplasia could be found in this model, and the whole process beginning from wound healing to the formation of HS could be easily observed. The model was therefore suitable and ideal for the study of HS.</p>