Association between periconceptional supplementation of folic acid or multiple-micronutrients containing folic acid and preterm delivery in women / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the association between periconceptional supplementation of folic acid or multiple-micronutrients containing folic acid(MMFA) and risk of preterm delivery in women with natural conception, singleton pregnancy and vaginal delivery.@*METHODS@#A retrospective cohort study was performed based on the prenatal health care system and hospital information system of Tongzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Beijing and the women who had their prenatal care in the hospital from January 2015 to December 2018 were included. The information of 16 332 women who conceived naturally, had a singleton pregnancy, and delivered vaginally was collected. Compliance scores were constructed based on the time of initiation and the frequency of taking nutritional supplements. The association between maternal periconceptional micronutrient supplementation, including pure folic acid (FA) pills or MMFA and the rate of preterm delivery was evaluated using Logistic regression models.@*RESULTS@#The preterm delivery rate (gestational week < 37 weeks) of the study population was 3.8%, and the mean (standard deviation) of gestational age was (38.98±1.37) weeks. A total of 6 174 (37.8%) women took FA during the periconceptional period, 8 646 (52.9%) women took MMFA, and 1 512 (9.3%) women did not take any nutritional supplements. The association between periconceptional supplementation of FA or MMFA and risk of preterm delivery in women was not statistically significant [adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=1.01, 95%CI: 0.74-1.37]. The associations with preterm birth were not statistically significant in further analysis by the type of nutritional supplements, time of initiation, and the frequency of supplementation. In addition, the association between the compliance score of taking supplements and the rate of preterm delivery was not statistically significant, either.@*CONCLUSION@#This study did not find an association between the risk of preterm delivery and the use of FA or MMFA during the periconcep-tional period in women with natural conception, singleton pregnancy, and vaginal delivery. In the future, multicenter studies with large-scale prospective cohort or population-based randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm the association between taking FA or MMFA during the periconceptional period and preterm delivery among women.

Risk Factors for Hepatic Encephalopathy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Sorafenib or Lenvatinib Treatment: A Real-World Study.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the incidence rate and risk factors for hepatic encephalopathy (HE) among unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) patients with liver cirrhosis who received sorafenib or lenvatinib treatment. Patients and Methods: uHCC patients with cirrhosis who received first-line sorafenib or lenvatinib treatment between September 2014 and February 2021 were continually reviewed in our single-center retrospective study. The Hepatic Encephalopathy Scoring Algorithm was used to evaluate the occurrence and grade of HE during treatment, and logistic regression models were used to further explore the risk factors for HE. Results: A total of 454 eligible patients were enrolled in our study, with 214 and 240 patients in the sorafenib and lenvatinib groups, respectively. At time of data cut-off (2021-12), the incidence of HE in sorafenib group (4.2%, 95% CI:2-7%) was significantly lower than that in lenvatinib group (11.3%,95% CI:7-15%) (p = 0.006), with alcoholic cirrhosis [OR: 5.857 (95% CI: 1.519-22.591)], Child-Pugh >7 [OR: 3.023 (95% CI: 1.135-8.053)], blood ammonia ≥38.65 µmol/L [OR: 4.693 (95% CI: 1.782-12.358)], total bile acid ≥29.5 µmol/L [OR: 11.047 (95% CI: 4.414-27.650)] and duration of treatment ≥5.6 months [OR: 4.350 (95% CI: 1.701-11.126)] to be risk factors for the occurrence of HE during first-line systemic therapy. Conclusion: In our study, for off-label uHCC patients (Child-Pugh >7) with alcoholic cirrhosis, hyperammonemia, hypercholesterolemia, and estimated longer duration of treatment, the application of lenvatinib has to be cautious, which needs to be confirmed in future clinical trials.

Relationship between micronutrients supplementation during periconceptional period and serum concentration of vitamin E in the 1st trimester of gestational period / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the association of maternal periconceptional folic acid or multiple micronutrients supplementation during periconceptional period and the serum vitamin E (Vit.E) concentration in the 1st trimester of gestational period.@*METHODS@#A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on the prenatal health care system and clinical laboratory information system. Totally, 22 171 pregnant women who had their prenatal health care and gave birth in Tongzhou Maternal & Child Health Hospital of Beijing from Jan. 2016 to Dec. 2018 were recruited. The usage patterns of nutritional supplements [folic acid (FA) or multiple micronutrients (MM)] during periconceptional period were independent variables, and serum Vit.E concentration and serum Vit.E concentration≥11.2 mg/L in the 1st trimester of gestational period were outcome variables for generalized linear regression model and Logistic regression model, respectively, to analyze the relationships between the independent and outcome variables.@*RESULTS@#The range of the serum Vit.E concentration in the 1st trimester of gestational period was 5.2-24.0 mg/L, and the median concentration was 10.1 (8.8-11.6) mg/L; the excess rate of the serum Vit.E of those who took MM supplementation was 0.3%, and the rates for the groups of FA only or no nutritional supplements used were both 0.1%. Compared with women without nutritional supplement or the women taking FA, the women who took MM had higher serum Vit.E levels in the 1st trimester of gestational period (both P < 0.05). The women taking FA or MM initiated before the conception showed that the serum Vit.E concentration in the 1st trimester of gestational period was higher than that after the conception (P < 0.05), and the serum Vit.E concentration of women who took regularly was higher than that of irregular taking (P < 0.05); with taking compliance elevated, the serum Vit.E concentration of the two groups of women taking FA or MM increased (P < 0.05). The risk of serum Vit.E concentration≥11.2 mg/L among the women taking MM was higher than that of the women without nutritional supplements or taking FA only [odds ratio (OR)=1.36, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.21-1.53; OR=1.39, 95%CI: 1.31-1.48)]; women who took FA or MM showed a lower risk for serum Vit.E concentration≥11.2 mg/L of taking it after the conception than before, the ORs (95%CI) were 0.86 (95%CI: 0.77-0.96) and 0.88 (95%CI: 0.81-0.95), respectively; the women taking the two supplements regularly had higher risk for serum Vit.E concentration≥11.2 mg/L than irregular taking, the ORs (95%CI) were 1.16 (95%CI: 1.05-1.29) and 1.13 (95%CI: 1.04-1.22) for FA and MM users, respectively; with the compliance increasing, the women taking MM had a higher risk of serum Vit.E levels≥11.2 mg/L in the 1st trimester [OR (95%CI) was 1.10 (1.07-1.14)], but for FA users, the OR (95%CI) was 1.04(1.00-1.08).@*CONCLUSION@#Vit.E nutritional status in women in early gestational period in Beijing was generally good, and the excess rate of serum Vit.E was higher in women who took MM during periconceptional period than those without nutritional supplement or taking FA only, suggesting that women need to consider their own Vit.E nutritional status to choose the type of nutritional supplements during periconceptional period, so as to avoid related health hazards.

[UPLC quantitative fingerprint research on Gardeniae Fructus based on chemical pattern recognition technology].

Twenty-six batches of Gardeniae Fructus from different producing area were collected for the development of the fingerprint, and the main components of Gardeniae Fructus were identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The producing areas of Gardeniae Fructus were distinguished by chemical pattern recognition technology, and the index components of Gardeniae Fructus were quantitated. An UPLC wavelength switching method was adopted, and the separation was carried out on a Waters Acquity UPLC HASS C_(18)(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 µm) column using the mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.5% formic acid water for gradient elution. Principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were used for the data ana-lysis. The results showed that the similarity of 26 batches of Gardeniae Fructus was more than 0.89, and ten common peaks were defined. Sixteen compounds including monoterpenes, iridoids and diterpenoids were identified by reference identification, literature comparison and high-resolution mass spectrometry data analysis. The distinguishment of origin of Gardeniae Fructus was realized by PCA and OPLS-DA analysis, and two quality differential markers were screened as geniposide and crocin Ⅰ. The contents of crocin Ⅰ, crocin Ⅱ and geniposide in Gardeniae Fructus from different places were different. These results will provide reference for the geographical origin traceability of Gardeniae Fructus.

Relationship between serum vitamin E concentration in first trimester and the risk of developing hypertension disorders complicating pregnancy / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the incidence of hypertension disorders complicating pregnancy (HDCP) and vitamin E (VE) nutritional status among pregnant women in Beijing, and to determine the relationship between serum VE concentration in the first trimester of pregnancy and the risk of developing HDCP.@*METHODS@#A retrospective cohort study was performed including 22 283 cases of pregnant women who underwent singleton deliveries in Tongzhou Maternal & Child Health Hospital of Beijing from January 2016 through December 2018 and received tests of serum VE concentrations in the first trimester of pregnancy. Nonconditional Logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between serum VE concentration levels and the risk of developing HDCP.@*RESULTS@#The total incidence of HDCP was 5.4%, with the incidence of gestational hypertension around 2.1% and the incidence of preeclampsia-eclampsia around 3.3%. The median concentration of serum VE in early pregnancy was 10.1 (8.8-11.6) mg/L, and 99.7% of the participants had normal serum VE concentrations. The incidence of gestational hypertension and that of preeclampsia-eclampsia had been annually increasing in three years; a linear-by-linear association had also been observed between the serum VE concentrations and the years of delivery. According to the results of the univariable and the multivariable Logistic regression analyses, higher risks of developing HDCP had been observed among women with higher serum VE concentrations. Compared to those with serum VE concentrations in interquartile range (P25-P75) of all the participants, the women whose serum VE concentrations above P75 were at higher risks to be attacked by HDCP (OR = 1.34, P < 0.001), gestational hypertension (OR = 1.39, P = 0.002), or preeclampsia-eclampsia (OR = 1.34, P = 0.001), as suggested by the results of the multivariable Logistic regression model analyses. In addition, the women with serum VE concentrations of 11.2 mg/L or above had a significantly higher risk of developing HDCP than those whose serum VE concentrations of P40-P60 of all the participants, and this risk grew higher as serum VE concentrations in the first trimester of pregnancy increased.@*CONCLUSION@#Women in Beijing are at good nutritional status. From January 2016 to December 2018, the incidence of HDCP increased with serum VE concentration level, and serum VE concentration of 11.2 mg/L is an indicator of an increased risk of developing HDCP, suggesting that pregnant women should take nutritional supplements containing VE carefully.

Maternal periconceptional folic acid supplementation and its effects on the prevalence of fetal neural tube defects / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To find out the status of folic acid supplementation among women, to evaluate the prevention effects on neural tube defects (NTDs), and to explore the factors impact on folic acid supplementation compliance.@*METHODS@#Based on the routine data of 92 121 women in prenatal health care and birth defect surveillance system in Tongzhou District of Beijing from 2013 to 2018, we described the prevalence of periconceptional folic acid supplementation, pre-pregnancy folic acid supplementation and regularly folic acid supplementation (compliance supplementation). Trend χ2 tests were used to evaluate the change of folic acid supplementation prevalence. The prevalence difference among the women with folic acid supplementation and without supplementation were tested with Fisher's exact test. Factors asso-ciated with folic acid supplementation compliance rate were analyzed with univariate and multivariate Logistic regression model.@*RESULTS@#The prevalence of periconceptional folic acid supplementation during the six years was 90.08% and it was increased from 2013 to 2018, but the rate of pre-pregnancy and regular supplementation was only 41.5% and declined from 2013 to 2018, especially 2013 to 2015. The prevalence of NTDs among the fetuses whose mothers took folic acid during periconceptional period was 5.5/10 000, while the prevalence for the fetuses whose mothers did not take folic acid was 19.7/10 000 (P < 0.001), the rates ratio was 27.9% (χ2=23.74, P < 0.001). The difference between the prevalence of NTDs among the fetuses whose mothers took folic acid only and multiple micronutrients was not statistically significant. After controlling the confounding factors, it was found that the compliant folic acid supplementation rates in women, whose household registrations were outside Beijing and whose education levels were junior high school or below, and who were younger than 25 years old, and who were multiparas and who were pre-pregnancy underweight or obese, were lower than those of the corresponding control groups (P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The rate of folic acid supplementation among women in Tongzhou District of Beijing was relatively high, but their compliance was poor. Women who did not take folic acid during periconception seriously affected the prevention effect of NTDs. We should focus on women who are younger than 25 years old, lower educated, pre-pregnancy underweight or obese, multiparas and nonlocal household registers, in order to improve the periconceptional folic acid supplementation compliance and improve the effects of NTDs prevention.

A strategy for designing voriconazole dosage regimens to prevent invasive pulmonary aspergillosis based on a cellular pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics model.

BACKGROUND: Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a life-threatening disease in immunosuppressed patients. Voriconazole is commonly used to prevent and treat IPA in the clinic, but the optimal prophylactic antifungal regimen is unknown. The objective of this study was to clarify the mechanism underlying how voriconazole prevents IPA based on a target cellular pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics model, with the aim of identifying a way to design an optimal prophylactic antifungal regimen. METHODS: A nystatin assay was used to establish a target-cells model for A. fumigatus infection. An inhibitory effect sigmoid Emax model was developed to explore the cellular PK/PD breakpoint, and Monte Carlo simulation was used to design the prophylactic antifungal regimen. RESULTS: The intracellular activity of voriconazole in the target cells varied with its concentration, with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) being an important determinant. For A. fumigatus strains AF293 and AF26, voriconazole decreased the intracellular inoculum by 0.79 and 0.84 lg cfu, respectively. The inhibitory effect sigmoid Emax model showed that 84.01% of the intracellular inoculum was suppressed by voriconazole within 24 h, and that a PK/PD value of 35.53 for the extracellular voriconazole concentration divided by MIC was associated with a 50% suppression of intracellular A. fumigatus. The Monte Carlo simulation results showed that the oral administration of at least 200 mg of voriconazole twice daily was yielded estimated the cumulative fraction of response value of 91.48%. Concentration of voriconazole in the pulmonary epithelial lining fluid and the plasma of > 17.77 and > 1.55 mg/L, respectively, would ensure the PK/PD > 35.53 for voriconazole against most isolates of A. fumigatus and may will be benefit to prevent IPA in clinical applications. CONCLUSIONS: This study used a target cellular pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics model to reveal a potential mechanism underlying how voriconazole prevents IPA and has provided a method for designing voriconazole prophylactic antifungal regimen in immunosuppressed patients.

Autophagic cell death induced by reactive oxygen species is involved in hyperthermic sensitization to ionizing radiation in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

AIM: To investigate whether autophagic cell death is involved in hyperthermic sensitization to ionizing radiation in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and to explore the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Human hepatocellular carcinoma cells were treated with hyperthermia and ionizing radiation. MTT and clonogenic assays were performed to determine cell survival. Cell autophagy was detected using acridine orange staining and flow cytometric analysis, and the expression of autophagy-associated proteins, LC3 and p62, was determined by Western blot analysis. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were quantified using the fluorescent probe DCFH-DA. RESULTS: Treatment with hyperthermia and ionizing radiation significantly decreased cell viability and surviving fraction as compared with hyperthermia or ionizing radiation alone. Cell autophagy was significantly increased after ionizing radiation combined with hyperthermia treatment, as evidenced by increased formation of acidic vesicular organelles, increased expression of LC3II and decreased expression of p62. Intracellular ROS were also increased after combined treatment with hyperthermia and ionizing radiation. Pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine, an ROS scavenger, markedly inhibited the cytotoxicity and cell autophagy induced by hyperthermia and ionizing radiation. CONCLUSION: Autophagic cell death is involved in hyperthermic sensitization of cancer cells to ionizing radiation, and its induction may be due to the increased intracellular ROS.

Research on In-vitro Percutaneous Absorption and Pharmacodynamics of Chinese Herbal Compound Cremor for Eczema with Different Mass Concentrations of Synthetic Borneol / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To compare in-vitro percutaneous absorption and pharmacodynamic actions of anti-inflammation and inhibiting delayed-type hypersensitivity of Chinese herbal compound cremor for eczema (CHCCE) with different mass concentrations of synthetic borneol. Methods By adopting modified Franz diffusion device add with isolated BALB/cnude mice skin as a barrier, in vitro percutaneous absorption effectiveness of CHCCE with different mass concentrations of borneol was compared by in vitro percutaneous test after the content of matrine was determined with high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). Meanwhile, the effects of CHCCE with different mass concentrations of synthetic borneol on reducing dimethylbenzene-induced auricular edema and suppressing delayed-type hypersensitivity induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene(DNCB) in mice were compared. Results Cumulative permeation amount of matrine in CHCCE with synthetic borneol was higher than that in CHCCE without synthetic borneol 2～ 48 h after administration (P 0.05) among CHCCE groups with different mass concentrations of synthetic borneol after 48 h. In vitro percutaneous absorption behavior of matrine arrived to the steady state and the cumulative permeation amount of matrine presented a decreasing trend in all medication groups 12 h after administration. Within 12 h of the medication, the permeation rate of CHCCE with different mass concentrations of borneol was in the sequence of 3％ borneol > 1％ borneol > 2％ borneol > 0.5％ borneol > no borneol. The content of matrine was decreased with the increase of mass concentration of synthetic borneol after 12 h. The results of pharmacodynamic actions of CHCCE showed that compared with the blank control group, CHCCE with 1％, 3％ synthetic borneol could significantly suppress the acute inflammation induced by dimethylbenzene and inhibit contact dermatitis induced by dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) in mice(P 0.05). Conclusion CHCCE with 1％ synthetic borneol has good effects on in vitro transdermal absorption, and can suppress inflammation and delayed-type hypersensitivity effectively.

An analysis on the influencing factors and relationship of serum 25 (OH) D levels between late-term pregnant women and newborns / 预防医学

Objective To explore the influencing factors and relationship of serum 25 (OH) D levels between late-term pregnant women and newborns. Methods A total of 600 pregnant women and 600 newborns were selected in Lishui Maternal and Children Health Institution during 2016 and information were collected by questionnaires. Serum 25 (OH) D levels in pregnant women's venous bloods and newborns' cord bloods were tested respectively before and after delivery. Results Serum 25 (OH) D levels in 600 pregnant women's venous bloods before delivery were (36.25 ±14.92) nmol/L and 75.16% (451 pregnant women) had lower serum 25 (OH) D levels. Serum 25 (OH) D levels in newborns' cord bloods after delivery were (29.59±16.13) nmol/L and 82.50% (495 newborns) had lower serum 25 (OH) D levels. The relationship of serum 25 (OH) D levels between pregnant women and newborns was significant (r=0.892, P<0.05) . Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy in pregnant women (400 IU/d) 25 (OH) D level was higher than those of not (P<0.05) . Serum 25 (OH) D levels of pregnant women were influenced by seasons (P<0.05) as higher in summer and autumn and lower in spring and winter. Conclusion Serum 25 (OH) D levels of pregnant women and newborns in Lishui were lower and different among seasons. Serum 25 (OH) D levels of pregnant women could have influence on serum 25 (OH) D levels of newborns. It should be encouraged to increase vitamin D intakes and outdoor activities, especially in spring and winter.

Right Median Nerve Electrical Stimulation for Acute Traumatic Coma Patients.

The right median nerve as a peripheral portal to the central nervous system can be electrically stimulated to help coma arousal after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The present study set out to examine the efficacy and safety of right median nerve electrical stimulation (RMNS) in a cohort of 437 comatose patients after severe TBI from August 2005 to December 2011. The patients were enrolled 2 weeks after their injury and assigned to the RMNS group (n=221) receiving electrical stimulation for 2 weeks or the control group (n = 216) treated by standard management according to the date of birth in the month. The baseline data were similar. After the 2-week treatment, the RMNS-treated patients demonstrated a more rapid increase of the mean Glasgow Coma Score, although statistical significance was not reached (8.43 ± 4.98 vs. 7.47 ± 5.37, p = 0.0532). The follow-up data at 6-month post-injury showed a significantly higher proportion of patients who regained consciousness (59.8% vs. 46.2%, p = 0.0073). There was a lower proportion of vegetative persons in the RMNS group than in the control group (17.6% vs. 22.0%, p = 0.0012). For persons regaining consciousness, the functional independence measurement (FIM) score was higher among the RMNS group patients (91.45 ± 8.65 vs. 76.23 ± 11.02, p < 0.001). There were no unique complications associated with the RMNS treatment. The current study, although with some limitations, showed that RMNS may serve as an easy, effective, and noninvasive technique to promote the recovery of traumatic coma in the early phase.

Clnical observation, of the effects of lattice ultra pulse carbon dioxide laser combined with traditional Chinese medicine on the treatment of hyperplastic scar / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical effects of lattice ultra pulse carbon dioxide laser combined with traditional Chinese medicine ( Fuchunsan ) on the treatment of postburn hyperplastic scar.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-three patients with hyperplastic scar after burn injury hospitalized from February 2012 to June 2014 in our department were treated with lattice ultra pulse carbon dioxide laser combined with traditional Chinese medicine (Fuchunsan). Patients were divided into early stage group (E, n = 35), middle stage group (M, n = 25), and late stage group ( L, n = 3) according to the formation time of scar, which was respectively 3 weeks to 3 months, longer than 3 months and less than or equal to 6 months, and 3 to 15 years in groups E, M, and L. The number of times of laser treatment of patients in each group was recorded. The degree of scar pain in patients of the three groups was assessed by the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) before treatment and after treatment for 1, 2, and 3 times. The scar condition of patients in groups E and M was assessed by the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) before treatment and after treatment for 1, 3, and 5 times. Patients in group L did not receive VSS assessment but were evaluated by clinical observation only. Photos of scar in treating area were taken before treatment and after treatment for 3 and 5 times to evaluate the clinical effect. Data were processed with t test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Patients in groups E and M were treated with laser for (4.8 ± 1.1) and (7.7 ± 2.1) times respectively. In group L, the treatment was stopped in 2 patients after laser treatment for 5 times, and 1 patient received laser treatment for 12 times. The degree of pain in patients of groups E and M was alleviated significantly after treatment for one time, and the number of patients scoring 1-4 point(s) in NRS increased from 5 cases to 38 cases. After treatment for 2 and 3 times, the increase in the number of patients scoring 1-4 point (s) in NRS was on a small scale. Before treatment and after treatment for 1 time, VSS scores of patients in groups E and M were similar (with values respectively 0.641 and 0. 082, P values above 0. 05). After treatment for 3 and 5 times, VSS scores of patients in group E were respectively (9.2 ± 0.8) and (7.0 ± 1.1) points, which were significantly lower than those in group M [ (9.7 ± 1.0) and (8.2 ± 1.0) points, with values respectively -1.993 and -4.433 , P < 0.05 or P < 0.01]. After treatment for 3 times, the rate of improvement in appearance was respectively 88.6% (31/35) and 72.0% (18/25) in groups E and M, and it was respectively 100.0% (35/35) and 96.0% (24/25) after treatment for 5 times. No significant effect in appearance was found in the 3 patients in group L.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Early application of lattice ultra pulse carbon dioxide laser combined with traditional Chinese medicine (Fuchunsan) for the treatment of postburn hyperplastic scar is effective.</p>

Research on infrared radiation characteristics of skin covering two acupuncture points in the hand and forearm, NeiGuan and LaoGong points / 生物医学工程学杂志

In order to research the infrared radiation characteristics of the skin covering Traditional Chinese acupuncture points, which are NeiGuan in the forearm and LaoGong in the center of the palm, we detected continuously the infrared radiation spectra of the human body surface by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The experimental results showed that firstly, the differences of the infrared radiation spectra of the human body surface were obvious between individuals. Secondly, the infrared radiation intensity of the human body surface changed with time changing. The infrared radiation intensity in two special wavelength ranges (wavelengths from 6. 79 microm to 6. 85 microm and from 13. 6 microm to 14. 0 microm) changed much more than that in other ranges obviously. Thirdly, the proportions of the infrared radiation spectra changed, which were calculated from the spectra of two different aupuncture points, were same in these two special wavelength ranges, but their magnitude changes were different. These results suggested that the infrared radiation of acupuncture points have the same biological basis, and the mechanism of the infrared radiation in these two special wavelength ranges is different from other tissue heat radiation.

[Influence of rhubarb on gastrointestinal motility and intestinal mucosal barrier in patients with severe burn].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of rhubarb on gastrointestinal motility and intestinal mucosal barrier in patients with severe burn. METHODS: Thirty patients with severe burn admitted to our burn wards within 48 hours after burn injury from December 2009 to December 2010 were divided into therapeutic group (T, treated with 10 g rhubarb by nasal feeding and 5 g L-glutamine by oral administration beginning from 6 hours after admission, three times per day, and also given enteral nutrition beginning from 24 hours after admission, n = 16) and control group (C, received the same treatment as used in T group but without rhubarb, n = 14) according to the random number table. Gastrointestinal function indexes including restoration of bowel sound within 24 hours, abdominal distension, tolerance to enteral nutrition, and defecation were observed after treatment. The serum samples were harvested on post burn day (PBD) 3, 7, 14 for determination of the levels of gastrin (GAS) by radioimmunoassay, motilin (MTL) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, diamine oxidase (DAO) by enzyme spectrophotometry, and endotoxin (ET) by kinetic turbidimetric assay with TAL. Data were processed with t test and chi-square test. RESULTS: Compared with those in C group, the numbers of patients with restoration of bowel sound within 24 hours and tolerance to enteral nutrition in T group were increased (with chi2 value respectively 5.01, 4.84, P values all below 0.05), the number of patients with abdominal distension was decreased (chi2 = 4.84, P = 0.025). Compared with those of C group, defecation time was earlier, number of bowel movement was increased with soft feces in patients of T group. The serum levels of GAS in T group on PBD 3, 7, 14 [ (92 +/- 26), (95 +/- 16), (98 +/- 18) ng/L] were significantly higher than those in C group [(80 +/- 15), (75 +/- 17), (79 +/- 13) ng/L, with t value respectively 15.352, 22.951, 19.263, P values all below 0.01]. The serum levels of MTL in T group on PBD 3, 7, 14 [(246 +/- 80), (299 +/- 76), (300 +/- 100) ng/L] were significantly higher than those in C group [(189 +/- 44), (203 +/- 64), (200 +/- 67) ng/L, with t value respectively 14.173, 19.294, 26.298, P values all below 0.01]. The serum levels of ET in T group on PBD 3, 7, 14 [(0.398 +/- 0.035), (0.373 +/- 0.005), (0.238 +/- 0.019) EU/mL] were significantly lower than those in C group [(0.493 +/- 0.043), (0.501 +/- 0.045), (0.423 +/- 0.099) EU/mL, with t value respectively 6.213, 9.153, 15.134, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01]. The serum levels of DAO in T group on PBD 3, 7 [ (3.0 +/- 0.4), (2.9 +/- 0.5) U/mL] were significantly lower than those in C group [(3.9 +/- 0.5), (3.6 +/- 0.6) U/mL, with t value respectively 3.982, 4.236, P values all below 0.05], and there was no obvious difference between T and C groups on PBD 14 (t = 1.762, P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Rhubarb can protect intestinal mucosal barrier in patients with severe burn through increasing secretion of gastrointestinal hormones and promoting restoration of gastrointestinal motility.

Appraisal of occupational stressor in petrochemical industry workers / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the origin of occupational stress among petrochemical industry workers and to access the main occupational stressors that impact job satisfaction and mental health of petrochemical industry workers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A survey on occupational stressor was carried out by Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI) in 532 petrochemical industry workers (345 chemical and 187 logistic workers).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The environment in workplace of chemical group was worse than that of contrast. The chemical workers had less control over job and they experienced more hazards, monotonous as well as role stressors than the logistic group. The scores of job satisfaction and mental health of chemical group (36.867 +/- 0.656, 43.734 +/- 0.542, respectively) were higher than that of contrast (40.321 +/- 0.901, 46.714 +/- 0.745, respectively) (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The occupational stressors exist in chemical workers which affect chemical workers' job satisfaction and mental health with different levels.</p>

Polyphyllin D induces mitochondrial fragmentation and acts directly on the mitochondria to induce apoptosis in drug-resistant HepG2 cells.

We previously showed that polyphyllin D (PD) produced a stronger apoptotic effect in R-HepG2 with multi-drug resistance (MDR) than that in its parent HepG2 cells without MDR. In this study, PD was found to elicit mitochondrial fragmentation in live cells by using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM). When mitochondria were isolated and treated directly with PD, a stronger swelling, deeper transmembrane depolarization, and more apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) release were observed from the mitochondria of R-HepG2 than that of HepG2. These observations suggest that PD is a potent anti-cancer agent that bypasses MDR and elicits apoptosis via mitochondrial injury.

Advances and trends in the researches on meridians / 生物医学工程学杂志

This review summarizes the newest advances in recent researches on meridian. Firstly, fascia, connective tissue, mast cells, fibroglia fibrils and interstitial fluid are found accumulated under the deeper layer tissue of the acupoints and channels, thus giving indications of their important role in the propagated sensation along meridian. Secondly, the supplementary data involve the characteristics and the neurobiological basis of propagated sensation along meridian, which suggest that the function of the meridian is of integrity, i.e. the points on different segments of the same channel produce a uniform clinical effect. The effect of Luomai (collateral, branch of the large channel) and the mechanism of long distance of transmission across spinal segments are introduced. Thirdly, the objective evidence of channel-viscera bi-directional correlativity. Lastly, the application of the gene chip technique to meridian research. As for the main trends in the researches of meridian, the emphases are laid on the function of acupoints and channels, on the correlation between the channel and internal organs, on the rational distribution of proportion as well as on the coordination of meridian research between laboratory experiments and clinical practices. Recently, faced to international competition, Chinese physicians and researchers feel an unshrinkable duty and are making a greater effort to carry out researches on the meridian.

ADR Induced by Traditional Chinese Medicine:Analysis of 85 Cases / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To analyze the manifestations and characteristics of adverse drug reactions (ADR) induced by Traditional Chinese medicine.METHODS:85 ADR reports collected from the spontaneous reporting system in our hospital from 2005 to 2008 were analyzed retrospectively.RESULTS:ADR almost involved all the body system and 31.63% were nervous system.Main dosage form inducing ADR was injection (51.76%).CONCLUSION:ADR induced by Traditional Chinese Medicine can not be disregarded.Clinical pharmacists should pay more attention to the drug therapy by intravenous administration to reduce the incidence of ADR.