[Epidemiological investigation of allergic rhinitis in central cities and countrysides of Inner Mongolia region].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) in 3 central cities (Chifeng, Hohhot, Ordos) and the surrounding rural areas of Inner Mongolia region, and to look for possible risk factors related to the disease. Methods: From March to October of 2019, a multi-stage stratified random sampling epidemiological survey was conducted in Chifeng, Hohhot, Ordos and rural areas. The AR-related factors of the population were obtained in the form of face-to-face questionnaire survey, and the skin prick test (SPT) was taken for the participants. AR disease was diagnosed according to the "Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis (2015, Tianjin)". The daily airborne pollen situation in the three regions was monitored during the same period. SPSS 23.0 was used to analyze all survey results. Results: A total of 6 818 questionnaires were recovered, with 6 393 valid questionnaires. The self-reported prevalence of AR was 27.72% (1 772/6 393) and the confirmed prevalence of AR was 17.10% (1 093/6 393). The prevalence of perennial AR was 1.83% (117/6 393) while the prevalence of seasonal AR was 15.27% (976/6 393). The prevalence of AR diagnosed in females was higher than that in males (19.19% vs 15.34%, χ²=16.594, P<0.001) and the prevalence of females in the two age groups of 36-45 years and 46-55 years was significantly higher than that of males (18.17% vs 9.73%, 14.13% vs 7.25%, χ2 value was 23.848, 18.772, respectively, all P<0.001). The prevalence of confirmed diagnoses in ethnic minorities was higher than that of Han nationality, and the prevalence of confirmed diagnoses in urban areas was higher than that in rural areas (23.13% vs 16.20%, 27.27% vs 9.71%, χ2 value was 24.516, 336.024, respectively, all P<0.001). The main nasal symptoms of AR patients were sneezing (91.31%), nasal congestion (85.91%) and nasal itching (85.00%). The most common concomitant disease of AR was allergic conjunctivitis (73.99%). Asthma (OR=6.629), food allergy (OR=3.236), drug allergy (OR=1.786), application of antibiotics (OR=1.553), recent home decoration (OR=2.307), and smoking (OR=1.322) were the AR related risk factors. The highest proportion of SPT positive reactions was Artemisia annua (80.15%). The peak period of clinical symptoms of AR patients in Inner Mongolia region was July to September, which was consistent with the second peak period of airborne pollen monitoring. Conclusions: The prevalence of AR in central cities and the surrounding rural areas of Inner Mongolia region is 17.10%, and Artemisia species is the most important pollen allergen in this area. History of asthma, food allergy, drug allergy, antibiotic use, home decoration and smoking history are the related risk factors for AR.

[Current status of registered drug and vaccine pediatric clinical trials in China].

Objective: To evaluate the current status of the registered pediatric drug or vaccine clinical trials in China for the purpose of providing a reference for the development of pediatric clinical trials in China. Methods: We collected the data about registered pediatric clinical trials that were conducted from September 6, 2013(Mandatory registration start date) to September 6, 2019 (Cut-off date) at Chinadrugtrials.org.cn platform. The survey items included trial name and number, drug classification, sponsor's information, current trial status, completion status, etc. The clinical trials were categorized by drug group (includes chemical medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and natural medicine, biological products) and by vaccine group. Results: During the six years 349 pediatric clinical trials were registered on the platform, including 162 pediatric drug trials and 187 vaccine trials. The numbers of chemical drugs and biological products registered in 2018 were 23 and 11, respectively, the highest in the history. The number of pediatric clinical trials of traditional Chinese medicine and natural medicine was 11 in 2014, but from 2015 to 2018 only 2 to 4 trials were registered each year. The overall completion rates of the registered drug and vaccine clinical trials were 22.8% (37/162) and 41.7%(78/187), respectively. Only 42 international multicenter pediatric clinical trial projects were registered on the platform. The numbers of drug and vaccine phase Ⅰ clinical trials were 4 and 46, respectively. Thirty-six pediatric endocrine system agent clinical trials were carried out, with the largest number of all the drug categories registered on the platform. Conclusions: In recent years the number of registered pediatric drug and vaccine clinical trials increased in China. However, the number is still very limited. It is urgent to further promote the development of pediatric clinical trials.

A survey of outcomes and management of patients post fragility fractures in China.

UNLABELLED: We found that the fragility hip and vertebral fractures caused excess mortality rates in this Chinese female population, which was unexpectedly lower than those in western countries and other Asian countries. This was the first nationwide survey relating to post-fracture outcomes conducted among Chinese population in Mainland China. INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the mortality, self-care ability, diagnosis, and medication treatment of osteoporosis following fragility hip and vertebral fractures through a nationwide survey among female patients aged over 50 in Mainland China. METHODS: This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study based on medical chart review and patient questionnaire. Female patients aged 50 or older admitted for low-trauma hip or vertebral fractures and discharged from Jan 1, 2008 to Dec 31, 2012 were followed. RESULTS: Total of 1151 subjects of hip fracture and 842 subjects of vertebral fracture were included. The mean age was 73.4 ± 10.0, and the median of duration from index fracture to interview was 2.6 years. The overall 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, 4-year, and 5-year cumulative mortality rates were 3.5, 7.0, 11.2, 13.1, and 16.9 %, respectively. The first year mortality rates in hip (3.8 %, 95% CI 3.3-4.4 %) and vertebral fracture (3.1 %, 95% CI 2.5-3.7 %) were significantly higher than that in the general population (1.6 %). Impaired self-care ability was observed in 33.2, 40.6, and 23.8 % of overall, hip fracture, and vertebral fracture group, respectively. The overall diagnosis rate of osteoporosis was 56.8 %, and bone mineral density (BMD) measurement had never been conducted in 42.0 % among these women. After the index fracture, 69.6 % of them received supplements and/or anti-osteoporotic medications, among which 39.6 % only received calcium with/without vitamin D supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: The osteoporotic hip and vertebral fractures caused excess mortality rates in this population of Mainland China. The current diagnosis and medical treatment following the fragility fractures is still insufficient in Mainland China.

Quality assessment of a formulated Chinese herbal decoction, Kaixinsan, by using rapid resolution liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry: A chemical evaluation of different historical formulae.

Kaixinsan is an ancient Chinese herbal decoction mainly prescribed for patients suffering from mental depression. This decoction was created by Sun Si-miao of Tang Dynasty (A.D. 600) in ancient China, and was composed of four herbs: Radix and Rhizome Ginseng, Radix Polygalae, Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii and Poria. Historically, this decoction has three different formulations, each recorded at a different point in time. In this study, the chemical compositions of all three Kaixinsan formulae were analyzed. By using rapid resolution LC coupled with a diode-array detector and an ESI triple quadrupole tandem MS (QQQ-MS/MS), the Radix and Rhizome Ginseng-derived ginsenosides including Rb(1), Rd, Re, Rg(1), the Radix Polygalae-derived 3,6'-disinapoyl sucrose, the Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii-derived α- and ß-asarone and the Poria-derived pachymic acid were compared among the three different formulations. The results showed variations in the solubility of different chemicals between one formula and the others. This systematic method developed could be used for the quality assessment of this herbal decoction.

Arginine stimulates intestinal cell migration through a focal adhesion kinase dependent mechanism.

BACKGROUND: L-Arginine is a nutritional supplement that may be useful for promoting intestinal repair. Arginine is metabolised by the oxidative deiminase pathway to form nitric oxide (NO) and by the arginase pathway to yield ornithine and polyamines. AIMS: To determine if arginine stimulates restitution via activation of NO synthesis and/or polyamine synthesis. METHODS: We determined the effects of arginine on cultured intestinal cell migration, NO production, polyamine levels, and activation of focal adhesion kinase, a key mediator of cell migration. RESULTS: Arginine increased the rate of cell migration in a dose dependent biphasic manner, and was additive with bovine serum concentrate (BSC). Arginine and an NO donor activated focal adhesion kinase (a tyrosine kinase which localises to cell matrix contacts and mediates beta1 integrin signalling) after wounding. Arginine stimulated cell migration was dependent on focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signalling, as demonstrated using adenovirus mediated transfection with a kinase negative mutant of FAK. Arginine stimulated migration was dependent on NO production and was blocked by NO synthase inhibitors. Arginine dependent migration required synthesis of polyamines but elevating extracellular arginine concentration above 0.4 mM did not enhance cellular polyamine levels. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that L-arginine stimulates cell migration through NO and FAK dependent pathways and that combination therapy with arginine and BSC may enhance intestinal restitution via separate and convergent pathways.

[Effects of Bay K8644 and nifedipine on L-type Ca2+ channels in hypothalamic neurons of rats].

To investigate the effects of Bay K8644 and nifedipine on L-type of Ca2+ channels in hypothalamic neurons, the cell-attached patch-clamp technique was used to record Ca2+ current from isolated neurons. The results showed that the averaged open time and NPo were markedly increased by Bay K8644, but had no effect on channel conductance. Nifedipine, on the contrary, had an inhibitory effect on the L-type Ca2+ channels.

[Properties of single L-type Ca2+ channels in hypothalamic neurons of newborn rats].

AIM: To investigate the characteristics of single L-type Ca2+ channels in hypothalamic neurons. METHODS: The cell-attached patch-clamp technique and acute cell isolation technique were used. RESULTS: (1) L-type Ca2+ channels opened throughout an 768 ms long voltage pulse. (2) The averaged open-time constant was 0.28 ms(tau0), two closed-time constants were 2.91 (tau(c1)) and 53.22 ms(tau(c2)). (3) The conductance was (29.5 +/- 3.1) pS and (4) Bay K 8644 increased the open probability by prolonging the mean open time to 1.61 ms. CONCLUSION: L-type Ca2+ channel existed in hypothalamic neurons, with the similar properties to Ca2+ currents as previously reported, but showed its own peculiarity.

Effects of dynamic range and amplitude mapping on phoneme recognition in Nucleus-22 cochlear implant users.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the consequences for phoneme recognition of errors in setting threshold and loudness levels in cochlear implant listeners using a 4-channel continuous interleaved sampling (CIS) speech processor. DESIGN: Three Nucleus-22 cochlear implant listeners, who normally used the SPEAK speech processing strategy participated in this study. An experimental 4-channel CIS speech processor was implemented in each listener as follows. Speech signals were band-pass filtered into four broad frequency bands and the temporal envelope of the signal in each band was extracted by half-wave rectification and low-pass filtering. A power function was used to convert the extracted acoustic amplitudes to electric currents. The electric currents were dependent on the exponent of the mapping power function and the electrode dynamic range, which was determined by the minimum and maximum stimulation levels. In the baseline condition, the minimum and maximum stimulation levels were defined as the psychophysically measured threshold level (T-level) and maximum comfortable level (C-level). In the experimental conditions, the maximum stimulation levels were fixed at the C-level and the dynamic range (in dB) was changed by varying the minimum stimulation levels on all electrodes. This manipulation simulates the effect of an erroneous measurement of the T-level. Phoneme recognition was obtained as the dynamic range of electrodes was changed from 1 dB to 20 dB and as the exponent of the power-law amplitude mapping function was changed from 0.1 to 0.4. RESULTS: For each mapping condition, the electric dynamic range had a significant, but weak effect on vowel and consonant recognition. For a strong compression (p = 0.1), best vowel and consonant scores were obtained with a large dynamic range (12 dB). When the exponent of the mapping function was changed to 0.2 and 0.4, the dynamic range producing the highest scores decreased to 6 dB and 3 dB, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Phoneme recognition with a 4-channel CIS strategy was only mildly affected by large changes in both electric threshold and loudness mapping. Errors in threshold by a factor of 2 (6 dB) and in the loudness mapping exponent by a factor of 2 were required to produce a significant decrease in performance. In these extreme conditions, the effect of the electric dynamic range on phoneme recognition could be due to two independent factors: abnormal loudness growth and a reduction in the number of discriminable intensity steps. The decrease in performance caused by a reduced electric dynamic range can be compensated by a more expansive power-law mapping function, as long as the number of discriminable intensity steps is moderately large (e.g., >8).

Cloning, tissue expression pattern and genomic organization of latexin, a human homologue of rat carboxypeptidase A inhibitor.

Latexin, a carboxypeptidase A inhibitor, is expressed in a cell type-specific manner in both central and peripheral nervous systems in the rat. It is used as a molecular marker for the regional specification of the neocortex. In this study, a cDNA was isolated from a human fetal brain cDNA library. The cDNA (LXN) contains an open reading frame encoding 222 amino acids. The comparison between the deduced amino acid sequences of LXN and latexins of rat and mouse revealed high sequence identity (84.2 and 84.7%, respectively). Northern blot analysis showed that LXN was expressed as a transcript of 1.3 kb in 15 out of 16 tissues examined, except in peripheral blood leukocyte. The expression levels were high in heart, prostate, ovary, kidney, pancreas, and colon, moderate or low in other tissues including brain. It is noteworthy that the tissue distribution of human LXN differs greatly to that of its homologue in the model animal, rat latexin. In addition, the LXN gene contains at least 6 exons and spans 5.9 kb according to the genomic sequence of the clone RP11-79M21 and the gap sequence cloned in this paper. LXN was assigned to 3q25-q26.2 according to the position of the marker SHGC-35682 found adjacent to LXN gene.

[Analysis of physicochemical property and composition of fatty acid of almond oil].

Almond oil was extracted from almond and saponified with saturated KOH-methanol. The mixed fatty acids methylated by methanol-H2SO4(4:1, V/V). Methyl esters were extracted by ether and detected by gas chromatography. The major fatty acids in Taiyuan almond oil were found to be about 68% oleic acid (C18:1), 25% linoleic acid(C18:2), 4.6%-4.8% palmitic acid(C16:0) and a little of palmitoleic acid(C16:1), stearic acid(C18:0). A trace of arachidic acid(C20:0) was also found.

[The effect of blood-pancreatic juice barrier on 5-fluorouracil in post-pancreatoduodenectomy patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the distribution and the relationship of 5-Fu in the plasma and the pancreatic juice in post-pancreatoduodenectomy patients after 5-Fu given intravenously. METHODS: After 5-Fu (1.0 g/m(2)) was given intravenously in post-pancreatoduodenectomy patients, blood and pancreatic juice were collected. The 5-Fu concentrations were determined by HPLC and at last the penetration ratio (PR) of 5-Fu was studied with PCNONLIN. RESULTS: 5-Fu in the plasma penetrated the pancreatic tissue and crossed the blood-pancreatic juice barrier (BPJB) in post-pancreatoduodenectomy patients (PR = 1.01 +/- 0.49). The concentration of 5-Fu in pancreatic juice was much higher than that in plasma. CONCLUSIONS: 5-Fu is suitable for adjuvant chemotherapy of pancreatic adenocarcinoma after pancreatoduodenectomy.

[Determination of oil contents and fatty acids in seeds of Torreya Arn. in China].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the oil contents and fatty acid composition in the seeds of Torrreya in China. METHOD: The contents and composition were determined by gravimetric analysis and GC respectively. RESULT: The oil contents in the seeds were 42.67%-54.39%. Among the fatty acids, linoleic acid and oleic acid were dominant. The unsaturated fatty acids accounted for 76.1%-82.0% of the whole fatty acids, and the major saturated fatty acids were behenic acid and palmitic acid. CONCLUSION: The oil in the seeds of Torreya is of high-quality, and the higher contents of bdhenic acid are characteristic for the oil. The development and utilization values of the seed oil in Torreya are evaluated.

[Study on the quality standard of Hippophae rhamnoides oil for pharmaceutical uses].

The quality control methods of the seed oil and fruit oil of Hippophae rhamnoides are studied. The physical and chemical factors are determined and the identification and determination methods for the bioactive compnents a-tocopherol and carotenes are established.

[Experimental study and textual research on whether the genus of Pyrola contains arbutin].

Thin layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography show that Pyrola calliantha does not contain arbutin. Literature survey shows that to date no one has ever isolated arbutin from this herb.

[Experimental study on yiqi-huoxue therapy of liver fibrosis].

UNLABELLED: The experimental hepatic fibrosis was treated with YiQi (reinforcing Qi, YQ) Huoxue (activating blood circulation, HX) principle which was consisted of astragalus membranaceus, Ligusticum wallichii, paeonia lactiflora, etc. After stimulation with CCl4 over four months, the Wistar rat developed liver fibrosis. Rats were divided into the normal control, the toxifying control, YQHX group and HX group. The experimental period lasted over four months. RESULTS: (1) Mortality of animal: Both toxifying control and HX group reached 50%, while YQHX group was 16% only. These results suggest that YQHX agents could strengthen the body resistance; (2) The determination of serum SGPT: The mean levels in toxifying control were 39.3 +/- 39, in HX group 43.7 +/- 12.9, while in YQHX group 29.0 +/- 7.6 (units/Lserum). These results indicated that YQHX agents had the function of protecting the liver and lowering the activity of SGPT (P less than 0.01); (3) Measuring the contents of hepatic collages: The mean levels in toxifying control was 38.9 +/- 3.3 (mg/g liver), while in HX group and YQHX group 28.7 +/- 2.2 and 22.7 +/- 1.1 (mg/g liver) respectively. The results indicated that the YQHX agents had the best results in treating hepatic fibrosis; (4) Observation with hepatic histopathology: The degree of hepatocyte degeneration and necrosis in YQHX group was milder than that in toxifying and HX group. These observations revealed that YQHX agents possessed the function of protecting liver. There was severe liver fibrosis in toxifying control, but the degree of liver fibrosis in YQHX group was significantly milder than that in toxifying control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evidence that C1 and C2 propriospinal neurons mediate the inhibitory effects of viscerosomatic spinal afferent input on primate spinothalamic tract neurons.

1. Lumbosacral spinothalamic tract (STT) neurons can be inhibited by noxious pinch of the contralateral hindlimb or either forelimb and by electrical stimulation of cardiopulmonary sympathetic, splanchnic, and hypogastric afferents. A previous study found that spinal transections between C2 and C4 sometimes abolished the inhibitory effect of spinal afferent input and sometimes left it intact. This suggested that propriospinal neurons in the C1 and C2 segments might mediate this effect. To test whether neurons in the C1 and C2 segments were involved in producing this inhibitory effect, the magnitude of the reduction in neural activity was measured in the same STT neuron before and after spinal transection at C1 or between C3 and C7. 2. All neurons were antidromically activated from the contralateral thalamus and thoracic spinal cord. For us to accept a neuron for analysis, the characteristics of the somatic input and the latency and shape of the antidromatic spike produced by spinal cord stimulation had to be the same before and after the spinal transection. Also, spinal transection often causes a marked increase in spontaneous cell activity, which may affect the magnitude of an inhibitory response. To avoid this confounding problem, a cell was accepted for analysis only if it showed marked inhibition of high cell activity evoked by somatic pinch before spinal transection. For analysis 13 STT neurons met these criteria: 6 neurons were in monkeys with C1 transections, and 7 neurons were in animals with transections between C3 and C7.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of electroacupuncture of "zusanli" acupoint on high blood pressure and blood hyperviscosity in stress rats.

Elevation of blood pressure (BP) and blood viscosity (BV) was induced in unanesthetized Wistar rats by fixing and hanging. Electroacupuncture of "Zusanli" acupoint or microinjection of GABA (60 micrograms/10 microliters) into the IV ventricle of the brain could lower the high BP and BV induced by fixed-hanging, which could be blocked by a microinjection of GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline (60 micrograms/10 microliters). The results showed that the depressant effect of electroacupuncture of "Zusanli" acupoint on high BP and blood hyperviscosity induced by fixed-hanging might be mediated by the activation of GABAA receptors in the brain.