Serum Retinol-Binding Protein Levels Are Associated with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Chinese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Real-World Study

Background@#The association of serum retinol-binding protein (RBP) levels with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains controversial. Furthermore, few studies have investigated their relationship in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore the association between serum RBP levels and NAFLD in Chinese inpatients with T2DM. @*Methods@#This cross-sectional, real-world study included 2,263 Chinese T2DM inpatients. NAFLD was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography. The subjects were divided into four groups based on RBP quartiles, and clinical characteristics were compared among the four groups. The associations of both RBP levels and quartiles with the presence of NAFLD were also analyzed. @*Results@#After adjustment for sex, age, and diabetes duration, there was a significant increase in the prevalence of NAFLD from the lowest to the highest RBP quartiles (30.4%, 40.0%, 42.4%, and 44.7% for the first, second, third, and fourth quartiles, respectively, P<0.001 for trend). Fully adjusted multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that both increased RBP levels (odds ratio, 1.155; 95% confidence interval, 1.012 to 1.318; P=0.033) and quartiles (P=0.014 for trend) were independently associated with the presence of NAFLD in T2DM patients. @*Conclusion@#Increased serum RBP levels were independently associated with the presence of NAFLD in Chinese T2DM inpatients. Serum RBP levels may be used as one of the indicators to assess the risk of NAFLD in T2DM patients.

Advance in Sexual Dysfunction for Patients with Breast Cancer (review) / 中国康复理论与实践

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women and it has a 5-year survival rate of over 80%. However, sexual dysfunction limits comprehensive rehabilitation. A correct understanding of present situation of sexual dysfunction provides the basis for its evaluation and prediction, which is of great significance to their rehabilitation. This article reported on the current situation, related factors, assessment, and prediction of sexual dysfunction in patients with breast cancer undergoing rehabilitation.

Vasovagal syncope or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in children with neurological symptoms at disease onset: a clinical analysis of 88 cases / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the clinical features of vasovagal syncope (VVS) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) in children with neurological symptoms at disease onset.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 88 children with the initial symptoms of the nervous system, such as transient loss of consciousness, dizziness, headache, and convulsion, who were finally diagnosed with VVS or POTS.@*RESULTS@#Of the 88 children, there were 35 boys (40%) and 53 girls (60%), with an age of 4-15 years. The peak age of onset was between 10 and 13 years. All the children had the initial symptoms of transient loss of consciousness, dizziness, headache, and convulsion. Nervous system diseases were excluded by electroencephalography, cerebrospinal fluid examination, and cranial MRI. Of the 88 children, 53 (60%) were confirmed with VVS, and 35 (40%) with POTS, according to the results of head-up tilt test (HUTT). Five children with the initial symptom of transient loss of consciousness were misdiagnosed with epilepsy. Predisposing factors were determined for 59 children (67%), and prolonged standing was the most common factor, followed by change in body position and strenuous exercise. Premonitory symptoms were observed in 66 children (75%), among which chest discomfort was the most common symptom, followed by gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain) and pale complexion. All 88 children received health education and exercise for autonomic nerve function, among whom 53 children with VVS were given oral rehydration salts and 35 children with POTS were given oral rehydration salts and metoprolol. All 88 children were followed up for 18 months, and the response rates to the above treatment at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months of follow-up were 87%, 93%, 93%, and 90% respectively.@*CONCLUSIONS@#In addition to nervous system diseases, functional cardiovascular diseases including VVS and POTS should be considered for children with the initial symptoms of transient loss of consciousness, dizziness, headache, and convulsion. HUTT can be used to make a confirmed diagnosis, and the early treatment can achieve a good outcome.

Genotoxicity and Embryotoxicity Study of Bicyclol Methyl Ether, Main Impurity in Bicyclol / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the genotoxicity and embryotoxicity of bicyclol methyl ether (BME), the main impurity in bicyclol.@*METHODS@#Five concentrations of BME (0.5, 5, 50, 500 and 5000 μg/plate) were used in the Ames test to detect gene mutation. In the chromosome aberration test, Chinese hamster lung cells were used to detect chromosomal aberration of BME (15, 30, 60, 120 μg/mL) with or without S9 mixture. Embryotoxicity test was also conducted to determine any embryotoxicity of BME (7.5, 22.5, 67.5 μg/L) using zebrafish embryos.@*RESULTS@#No significant differences were observed in the Ames test and the chromosome aberration test in the BME groups compared with the vehicle control group. The zebrafish embryos toxicity test also showed no embryo development toxicity of BME, including hatching rate, body length, pericardial area and yolk sac area.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Bicyclol methyl ether has no genotoxicity in vitro and embryotoxicity in zebrafish embryos, and the impurity in bicyclol is qualified.

An investigation of ketoacidosis in children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 224 children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, and according to the presence or absence of DKA, these children were divided into DKA group and non-DKA group, with 112 children in each group. The DKA group was further divided into ≥5-year group (65 children) and <5-year group (47 children), and according to the blood gas parameters, this group was divided into mild group (26 children), moderate group (29 children), and severe group (57 children). The factors influencing the development of DKA were analyzed, as well as the clinical and laboratory features of DKA children with different ages.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The most common symptoms in these 224 children with type 1 diabetes were polydipsia (86.2%), polyuria (78.6%), and weight loss (57.1%). Compared with the non-DKA group, the DKA group had a significantly higher percentage of children who were aged <5 years, who had low family income, or whose parents had an educational level of senior high school or below. The DKA group had significantly higher levels of random blood glucose and HbA1C and significantly lower levels of pH, HCO3, and C-peptide than the non-DKA group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the percentage of children with severe DKA between the ≥5-year group and the <5-year group (P>0.05). Compared with the <5-year group, the ≥5-year group sufferred from symptoms for a significantly prolonged period, and had a significantly lower level of random blood glucose and significantly higher levels of HbA1C and C-peptide (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>DKA has a high incidence rate in children with type 1 diabetes, and the development of DKA is associated with age, parents' educational level, and family income.</p>

Study on anti-oxidative effect of extracts from Cichorium endivia on HepG2 cells and its mechanism / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effect of extracts from Cichorium endivia (CEE) in H2O2-induced HepG2 cell oxidative stress injury, and explore the antioxidant mechanism of CEE in HepG2 cells.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The viability of H2O2-induced HepG2 cells and the intracellular ROS level were measured by MTT assay and DCFH-DA fluorescence staining assay. The antioxidant-response element (ARE)-Luciferase activity was tested in HepG2 cells stably transected by ARE reporter gene. The fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR was adopted to determine the mRNA expressions of genes containing ARE sequence in HepG2 cells.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The cell viability reduced, while the ROS level increased after HepG2 cells were treated by H2O2. Different concentrations of CEE could be added to significantly improve the above results. After HepG2 cells transected by ARE reporter gene were treated with different concentrations of CEE, the intracellular ARE activity could increase in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the mRNA expressions of regulatory genesGCLC, GCLM and HMOX-1 containing ARE sequence in HepG2 cells were up-regulated in a concentration-dependent manner by CEE.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CEE inhibited the H2O2-injured HepG2 cells by reducing the ROS level. CEE's antioxidant mechanism for HepG2 cells may be closely related to the antioxidant defense system associated with its effect of activating Nrf2-ARE pathway in HepG2 cells.</p>

Effect of the lung's neurotrophins on airway hyperresponsiveness in a rat model of asthma / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of change in neurotrophins level in the bronchial asthma rats' lung on airway hyperresponsiveness and airway neural plasticity. Methods A total of forty male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with 10 rats in each group: control group,asthmatic group, NGF+BDNF prevention group and anti-NGF+anti-BDNF prevention group. The asthmatic model was established by inhalation and injection of ovalbumin. The airway responsiveness was measured after 8 weeks.The bronchial inflammation was assessed by HE staining,and nerve growth factor and brain derived neurotrophic factor expressions of left lung were assayed by the immunohistochemistry staining.Then the expressions of synaptophysin and neurofilament were detected by RT-PCR. Results Compared with the control group, the lung tissue of the asthma group and NGF+BDNF prevention group had more infiltrating inflammatory cells; The expressions of NGF and BDNF were higher in the asthma group and NGF+BDNF prevention group than those in the control group and anti-NGF+anti-BDNF prevention group (P＜0.05),and significantly higher in the NGF+BDNF prevention group than those in the asthma group (P＜0.05).Both the airway responsiveness and the levels of SYN mRNA and NF mRNA in the lung tissues were significantly higher in the asthma group and NGF+BDNF prevention group than those in the control group (P＜0.05).In asthma group,the expressions of NGF and BDNF were positively related to the expressions of SYN (r=0.889,P＜0.05; r=0.985,P＜0.05)and NF(r=0.956,P＜0.05; r=0.927,P＜0.05),and also positively related to the airway hyperresponsiveness (r=0.938,P＜0.05; r=0.906,P＜0.05). Conclusion NGF and BDNF might be involved in rat airway bronchial neural plasticity changes,which resulted in the airway hyperresponsiveness.

Preparation of diclofenac sodium liposomes and its ocular pharmacokinetics / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To prepare diclofenac sodium liposomes and observe its ocular pharmacokinetics in rabbits.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The diclofenac sodium cationic liposomes were prepared by reverse-phase evaporation methods and the formula of liposome was optimized with uniform design. HPLC method was established and validated for the determination of diclofenac sodium in precornea, cornea and aqueous humor of rabbit eye. Liposome and eyedrop solution 50 microL with total 50 microg diclofenac sodium were instilled to eyes of rabbits, separately. Samples of tear, cornea and aqueous humor were collected at different time intervals after rabbits were sacrificed. The ocular pharmacokinetics was investigated by the concentration-time data of tear, cornea and aqueous humor.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean particle size of the diclofenac sodium liposomes was 226.5 nm with zeta potential of + 18. 1 mV. The entrapment efficiency reached 63%. Compared with solution, liposome was characterized by slower clearance in precornea. The concentration of diclotenac in cornea and aqueous humor instilled with liposome were higher than that with eye-drop solution. Cmax of diclofenac sodium in aqueous humor instilled with liposome and eye-drop solution were (0.69 +/- 0.25) and (0.48 +/- 0.19) microg x mL(-1) and (36.68 +/- 11.7) and (21.82 +/- 8.6) microg x g(-1) in cornea, respectively. But no significant difference were found to Tmax in aqueous humor and cornea between liposome and eyedrop, T(1/2) of diclofenac in aqueous humor and cornea with liposoine were longer than that with eye-drop solution. The ocular bioavailability of liposome in aqueous humor was 211% compared with that of eyedrop.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Diclofenac sodium cationic liposomes can increase the corneal contact time, enhance the corneal permeability of diclofenac sodium and improve its ocular bioavailability.</p>

Analysis of Clinical Features and Drug Sensitivity of 67 Newborn Infants with Klebsiella Pneumoniae / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and drug sensitivity of newborn pneumonia of klebsiella pneumoniae,and investigate the positive rate of extended-spectrum ? lactamases(ESBLs)in klebsiella pneumoniae.Method Sixty-seven cases of sputum samples newborn pneumonia of klebsiella pneumoniae from Jan.2003 to Dec.2005 were collected.Bacteria identification and drug sensitivity test were performed.At the same time,ESBLs were detected.Results The clinical characteristics of newborn pneumonia of klebsiella pneumoniae were non special,and the positive rate of ESBLs in klebsiella pneumoniae was 17.91%.The klebsiella pneumoniae was 100%sensitivie to carbopenems,but resistant to commonly used ?-antibiotics such as penicillin and cephalosporin.ESBLs negative strains had higher drug sensitivity than ESBLs strains.Conclusions Partial klebsiella pneumoniae are ESBLs strains and insensitive to commonly used antibiotics.In order to decrease ESBLs strains,the antibiotics treatment shall be used appropriately and the selection of antibiotics shall be guided by the results of drug sensitivity tests.

Evaluation of efficacy and safety of brivudine once daily versus 4 times daily in the treatment of herpes zoster / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To assess efficacy and safety of oral brivudine 125 mg once daily versus 4 times daily in the treatment of herpes zoster.Methods A five-centre,randomized,double-blind,parallel- controlled study was performed on 226 patients with herpes zoster.Oral brivudine 125 mg was given once daily to 112 patients,and four times daily to 114 patients,both for 7 days.All patients were followed up for 3 weeks after the end of treatment.Results The time to the last formation of new vesicles was 3.88 days for the once daily group,and 3.79 days for the 4 times daily group,without significant differences between the two groups.There was also no significant difference between the two groups with respect to the time to total resolution of vesicles,time to first crusts,time to full crusting,time to first loss of crusts,time to full loss of crusts,time to first relief of pain,and time to complete relief of pain.Postherpetic neuralgia occurred in 34.5% of patients in the once daily group,and 30.4% of patients in the 4 times daily group.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was 5.4% and 9.6%,in the once daily group and 4 times daily group, respectively.Conclusions Brivudine 125 mg once daily is equally effective,more convenient and safe in comparison with brivudine 125 mg 4 times daily for the treatment of herpes zoster.

Advances in Gene-engineering Production of Defensins / 微生物学通报

This paper reviews the recent advances in recombinant expression and purification of defensins, including the choice of host cells, vectors and expression strategies in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell ex- pression systems, as well as the status of purification processes. By summarizing the problems existed in the production and clinical applications of defensins, the authors here also pointed out the research directions for defensins, and conceived the prospects for its exploitation in the future.