[Evaluation of the efficacy of Nd:YAG laser in the treatment of 80 patients with oral mucosal venous malformation].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of Nd:YAG laser treatment for venous malformations. METHODS: Eighty patients with oral mucosal venous malformations underwent one or more Nd:YAG laser treatments, and photographs of the lesions before and after laser treatment were collected and compared, patients' satisfaction were assessed using visual analog scale (VAS). SPSS 22.0 software package was used for data analysis. RESULTS: A total of 58 cases were cured in 80 patients, 21 cases showed remarkable improvement. Nine patients(11.25%) experienced adverse effects after laser therapy, including atrophic scars in 2 patients, oral mucosal ulcers in 4 patients, transient hyperpigmentation in 2 patients, and transient hypopigmentation in 1 patient, which met the expected response to effective therapy, and the follow-up results showed that most patients achieved maximum satisfaction values. CONCLUSIONS: Nd:YAG laser is an effective and safe treatment for oral mucosal venous malformation with definite efficacy and few side effects, which is worthy of popularization and application.

A Review of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Buyang Huanwu Decoction for the Treatment of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease.

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is often referred to as "collaterals disease" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and commonly includes ischemic and hemorrhagic CSVD. TCM has a long history of treating CSVD and has demonstrated unique efficacy. Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BHD) is a classical TCM formula that has been used for the prevention and treatment of stroke for hundreds of years. BHD exerts its therapeutic effects on CSVD through a variety of mechanisms. In this review, the clinical and animal studies on BHD and CSVD were systematically introduced. In addition, the pharmacological mechanisms, active components, and clinical applications of BHD in the treatment of CSVD were reviewed. We believe that an in-depth understanding of BHD, its pharmacological mechanism, disease-drug interaction, and other aspects will help in laying the foundation for its development as a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of CSVD.

Modes of Viroid Transmission.

Studies on the ways in which viroids are transmitted are important for understanding their epidemiology and for developing effective control measures for viroid diseases. Viroids may be spread via vegetative propagules, mechanical damage, seed, pollen, or biological vectors. Vegetative propagation is the most prevalent mode of spread at the global, national and local level while further dissemination can readily occur by mechanical transmission through crop handling with viroid-contaminated hands or pruning and harvesting tools. The current knowledge of seed and pollen transmission of viroids in different crops is described. Biological vectors shown to transmit viroids include certain insects, parasitic plants, and goats. Under laboratory conditions, viroids were also shown to replicate in and be transmitted by phytopathogenic ascomycete fungi; therefore, fungi possibly serve as biological vectors of viroids in nature. The term "mycoviroids or fungal viroids" has been introduced in order to denote these viroids. Experimentally, known sequence variants of viroids can be transmitted as recombinant infectious cDNA clones or transcripts. In this review, we endeavor to provide a comprehensive overview of the modes of viroid transmission under both natural and experimental situations. A special focus is the key findings which can be applied to the control of viroid diseases.

A meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of adjuvant sorafenib for hepatocellular carcinoma after resection.

BACKGROUND: Sorafenib was reported as a useful adjuvant treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent surgical resection. However, its therapeutic value remains controversial. This meta-analysis examined the available data regarding the efficacy and safety of sorafenib in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after radical surgery. METHODS: The meta-analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The protocol was registered in advance with PROSPERO (CRD42021233868). We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to identify eligible studies. Overall survival, recurrence-free survival, and recurrence rates were analyzed, and adverse events were reviewed. Hazard ratios or pooled risk ratios with 95% CIs were collected and analyzed using STATA version 12.0 in a fixed-effects or random-effects meta-analysis model. RESULTS: In total, 2655 patients from 13 studies were ultimately included in this meta-analysis. The combined results illustrated that sorafenib was associated with better overall survival than the control (hazard ratio = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.59-0.86; P < 0.001). Similarly, the drug also improved recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.54-0.86, P = 0.001). Combined data revealed that patients treated with sorafenib after resection had a lower recurrence rate (pooled risk ratio = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.68-0.90, P < 0.001). The primary adverse events were hand-foot skin reaction, fatigue, and diarrhea of mild-to-moderate severity, whereas grade 4 adverse events were rare (< 1%). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis demonstrated that adjuvant sorafenib therapy after resection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma could prolong overall survival and recurrence-free survival and reduce recurrence rates without intolerable side effects. However, more evidence is needed before reaching a definitive conclusion.

FoxA2 inhibits the proliferation of hepatic progenitor cells by reducing PI3K/Akt/HK2-mediated glycolysis.

FoxA2 is an essential transcription factor for liver organogenesis and homeostasis. Although reduced expression of FoxA2 has been associated with chronic liver diseases, hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) that are activated in these circumstances express FoxA2. However, the functional effects and underlying mechanism of FoxA2 in HPCs are still unknown. As revealed by immunostaining, HPCs expressed FoxA2 in human cirrhotic livers and in the livers of choline-deficient diet supplemented with ethionine (CDE) rats. Knocking down FoxA2 in HPCs isolated from CDE rats significantly increased cell proliferation and aerobic glycolysis. Moreover, gene transcription, protein expression, and the enzyme activities of hexokinase 2 (HK2) were upregulated, and blocking HK2 activities via 2-deoxyglucose markedly reduced cell proliferation and aerobic glycolysis. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis revealed that FoxA2 knockdown enhanced the transcription of genes involved in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway and triggered downstream Akt phosphorylation. Blocking the PI3K/Akt pathway by Ly294002 inhibited HK2 activities, aerobic glycolysis, and cell proliferation in FoxA2-knockdown cells. Therefore, FoxA2 plays an important role in the proliferation and inhibition of HPCs by suppressing PI3K/Akt/HK2-regulated aerobic glycolysis.

Phytopathogenic fungus hosts a plant virus: A naturally occurring cross-kingdom viral infection.

The transmission of viral infections between plant and fungal hosts has been suspected to occur, based on phylogenetic and other findings, but has not been directly observed in nature. Here, we report the discovery of a natural infection of the phytopathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani by a plant virus, cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). The CMV-infected R. solani strain was obtained from a potato plant growing in Inner Mongolia Province of China, and CMV infection was stable when this fungal strain was cultured in the laboratory. CMV was horizontally transmitted through hyphal anastomosis but not vertically through basidiospores. By inoculation via protoplast transfection with virions, a reference isolate of CMV replicated in R. solani and another phytopathogenic fungus, suggesting that some fungi can serve as alternative hosts to CMV. Importantly, in fungal inoculation experiments under laboratory conditions, R. solani could acquire CMV from an infected plant, as well as transmit the virus to an uninfected plant. This study presents evidence of the transfer of a virus between plant and fungus, and it further expands our understanding of plant-fungus interactions and the spread of plant viruses.

Epidemiological Features and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of Haemophilus influenzae Originating from Respiratory Tract and Vaginal Specimens in Pediatric Patients.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) is a common pathogen of respiratory tract infections in children, however, as a possible cause of vulvovaginitis in prepubertal girls, its epidemiological features, antibiotic-resistance patterns, and treatment are seldom noted. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Specimens obtained from patients were inoculated on Haemophilus selective medium; and drug-sensitivities tests were determined using the disk diffusion method. A cefinase disk was used to detect ß-lactamase. RESULTS: A total of 610 H. influenzae strains, 81.6% (498/610) from the respiratory tract and 18.0% (110/610) from the vagina, were identified in the Children's Hospital in 2015. The age of the children with respiratory tract strains were significantly younger than those with vaginal strains (P < .001). The H. influenzae isolation rate in May was the highest. The ß-lactamase positive rate was 51.5% (314/610), and 52.5% (320/610) were resistant to ampicillin. The susceptibilities rates to cefuroxime, ampicillin/sulbactam, cefotaxime, clarithromycin, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim were 72.1% (440/610), 95.9%, 96.4% (588/610), 81.8% (499/610), and 36.4% (222/610), respectively. Higher resistance to ampicillin, cefuroxime, clarithromycin, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim were found in respiratory tract strains, compared with vaginal strains (P < .05). All of the patients with H. influenzae in the respiratory tract were cured with oral or intravenous ß-lactam antibiotics. Of all patients with vaginal strains, 50% (55/110) were cured with topical ofloxacin gel, and 44.5% (49/110) were cured with oral ß-lactam antibiotics. CONCLUSION: The drug-resistance rates of H. influenzae isolated from vagina were lower than those from the respiratory tract. Topical ofloxacin gel or oral ß-lactam antibiotics are effective treatments to eliminate the H. influenza causing infection in the vagina.

Species and quantity of airborne pollens in Shanghai as monitored by gravitational and volumetric methods.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of allergic diseases has markedly increased in the last decades. It is therefore important to assess the distribution of airborne pollen, the most important aeroallergen, for allergic disease prevention and control. OBJECTIVE: To identify the species and quantity of airborne pollens, and observe their distribution characteristics in Shanghai, using gravitational (Durham Sampler) and volumetric (Rotorod Sampler 40) methods simultaneously. In addition, the correlation between both methods was analyzed to provide effective preventive measures for pollen-sensitized individuals. METHOD: Pollen counts were monitored in the same area from November 1, 2009 to October 31, 2010 by samplers set at the same height and site. Pollen concentrations as well as any association between the two methods were determined. RESULTS: Two pollen concentration peaks in Shanghai were observed from March to May (spring) and September to October (autumn). In spring, tree pollen was the main species, with a predominance of Broussonetia. In autumn, grass pollen predominated, with mostly Humulus. Thirty-two species were identified by both gravitational and volumetric methods. Five and seven additional species were identified exclusively by the gravitational and volumetric methods, respectively. Pollen counts obtained from both devices were significantly correlated (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Two methods were used simultaneously for the first time to monitor pollen counts in central urban Shanghai, showing two annual peaks. Broussonetia and Humulus were the predominant spring and autumn pollens, respectively. Pollen counts obtained by both methods were clearly correlated. Regional airborne pollen monitoring offers preventive measures for sensitized individuals and provides useful clinical information.

[Brief introduction to progress of national census of Chinese medicine resources (pilot)].

Since the beginning of 2011, with the strong support of the Ministry of Finance, the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine has organized the pilot work on the census of traditional Chinese medicine resources (hereinafter referred to as the "pilot work"). At all levels of Chinese medicine management departments under the joint efforts of the pilot work has achieved initial results. For the fourth national comprehensive implementation of traditional Chinese medicine resources, the technical methods have been optimized, the working teams have been professionally trained, and the experiences are accumulated. All of these laid a solid foundation for the work. As of August 2017, through the "National Resources Survey Information Management System". The initial summary of the Chinese medicine resourcesdisplayed more than 200 million collected data, more than 500 million photos, and more than 20 million copies of dried specimens and other physical materials.Furthermore more than 40 species of new species were found by the participant workers participate in the relevant Chinese medicine resources survey. During the pilot work, a central platformhas initially formed, 28 provincial-level traditional Chinese medicine raw material quality monitoring technical service center, 66 county-level monitoring stations of Chinese medicine resources dynamic monitoring information and technical service system were established.The information monitoring services of 190 kinds of Chinese herbal medicine prices, circulation and planting area of six major categories of, Chinese herbal medicine quality, field management and other 10 categories of technical services were launched. In the 20 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), the construction of 28 Chinese herbal medicine seed breeding base were arranged, nearly 160 kinds of Chinese herbal medicine seed breeding production were carried out. And in Hainan and Sichuan province, two Chinese herbal medicine germplasm resources bases were established, preserve the germplasm resources collected in traditional Chinese medicine resources census work were preserved.

Investigation methodology and application on scientific and technological personnel of traditional Chinese medical resources based on data from Chinese scientific research paper / 中国中药杂志

The aim of this study is to identify the present status of the scientific and technological personnel in the field of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) resource science. Based on the data from Chinese scientific research paper, an investigation regarding the number of the personnel, the distribution, their output of paper, their scientific research teams, high-yield authors and high-cited authors was conducted. The study covers seven subfields of traditional Chinese medicine identification, quality standard, Chinese medicine cultivation, harvest processing of TCM, market development and resource protection and resource management, as well as 82 widely used Chinese medicine species, such as Ginseng and Radix Astragali. One hundred and fifteen domain authority experts were selected based on the data of high-yield authors and high-cited authors. The database system platform "Skilled Scientific and Technological Personnel in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resource Science-Chinese papers" was established. This platform successfully provided the retrieval result of the personnel, output of paper, and their core research team by input the study field, year, and Chinese medicine species. The investigation provides basic data of scientific and technological personnel in the field of traditional Chinese medicine resource science for administrative agencies and also evidence for the selection of scientific and technological personnel and construction of scientific research teams.

[Key content and formulation of national Chinese materia medica resources survey at county level].

According to National Census for Water, National Population Census, National Land and Resources Survey, and work experience of experimental measures for national Chinese materia medica resources(CMMR) survey,the national CMMR survey at the county level is the key point of whole survey, that includes organization and management, field survey, sorting data three key links. Organization and management works of national CMMR survey needs to finish four key contents, there are definite goals and tasks, practicable crew, preparation directory, and security assurance. Field survey works of the national CMMR survey needs to finish five key contents, there are preparation works for field survey, the choice of the key survey area (samples), fill in the questionnaire, video data collection, specimen and other physical collection. Sorting data works of the national CMMR survey needs to finish tree key contents, there are data, specimen and census results.

[Formulation of technical specification for national survey of Chinese materia medica resources].

According to the process of the technical specification (TS) design for the fourth national survey of the Chinese materia medica resources (CMMR), we analyzed the assignment and objectives of the national survey and pointed out that the differences about CMMR management around China, the distribution of CMMR and their habitat, the economic and technological level, and even enthusiasm and initiative of the staff, etc. are the most difficult points for TS design. And we adopt the principle of combination of the mandatory and flexibility in TS design. We fixed the key points which would affect the quality of national survey first, then proposed the framework of TS which including 3 parts of organization and 11 parts of technique itself. The framework will serve and lead the TS preparation, which will not only provide an action standard to the national survey but will also have a profound influence to the popularization and application of the survey technology of CMMR. [Key words]

Year-round atmospheric wet and dry deposition of nitrogen and phosphorus on water and land surfaces in Nanjing, China.

The dry deposition of ammonium, nitrate, and total phosphorus (TP) to both water (DW) and land (DD) surfaces, along with wet deposition, were simultaneously monitored from March 2009 to February 2011 in Nanjing, China. Results showed that wet deposition of total phosphorus was 1.1 kg phosphorus ha (-1)yr(-1), and inorganic nitrogen was 28.7 kg nitrogen ha (-1)yr(-1), with 43% being ammonium nitrogen. Dry deposition of ammonium, nitrate, and total phosphorus, measured by the DW/DD method, was 7.5/2.2 kg nitrogen ha (-1)yr(-1), 6.3/ 4.9 kg nitrogen ha (-1)yr(-1), and 1.9/0.4 kg phosphorus ha (-1)yr(-1), respectively. Significant differences between the DW and DD methods indicated that both methods should be employed simultaneously when analyzing deposition to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in watershed areas. The dry deposition of ammonium, nitrate, and total phosphorus contributed 38%, 28%, and 63%, respectively, to the total deposition in the simulated aquatic ecosystem; this has significance for the field of water eutrophication control.

[Probe into monitoring mechanism of Chinese materia medica resources].

Focusing on the problems of Chinese materia medica resources,and combining with the national Chinese materia medica resources survey, the paper probes into monitoring mechanism of Chinese materia medica resources. The establishment of the monitoring mechanism needs one organization and management agencies to supervise and guide monitoring work, one network system to gather data information, a group of people to perform monitoring work, a system of technical methods to assure monitoring work scientific and practical, a series of achievements and products to figure out the methods for solving problems, a group of monitoring index system to accumulate basic data, and a plenty of funds to keep normal operation of monitoring work.

The survey of serum retinol of the children aged 0~4 years in Zhejiang Province, China.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin A can have a positive impact on growth and development of children, but vitamin A deficiency (VAD) was found to be a public health problem in Zhejiang Province, China in 1998. There have been no studies on this topic in Zhejiang Province recently. This study was designed to evaluate the serum retinol levels of children aged 0~4 years in Zhejiang Province, southeast China. This epidemiological data will help design supplementation strategies for vitamin A in high-risk groups and improve their vitamin A status. METHODS: Children were randomly recruited for this study using a stratified sampling method. A blood sample was collected from each child. Assessment included C-reactive protein (CRP), serum retinol was measured with HPLC and a questionnaire completed providing for family information and nutritional status. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk factors for VAD in children. RESULTS: A group of 357 subjects aged 1 day to 4 years were recruited. The mean plasma retinol concentration was 1.653 (sd 0.47) mumol/L. There were 3.08% (11/357) of children affected with VAD, and 7.28% (26/357) of children had low vitamin A status, but none of the children showed any clinical symptoms of VAD. There was no significant difference in the levels of plasma retinol and the incidence rate of VAD between male and female children. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that living in urban region, having parents with good education and taking vitamin A capsule regularly prevented children from VAD, whereas being young (less than 2 years old) was a risk factor. CONCLUSION: Low vitamin A status remains a nutritional problem in Zhejiang Province. The high-risk group in this study were young, dwelled in rural regions, had parents with poor education and did not take a regular vitamin A containing supplement.