Establishment of a graphene oxide-assisted nucleic acid chromatography strip detection technology for Prorocentrum minimum.

In recent decades, the harmful algal blooms (HABs) caused by Prorocentrum minimum have caused serious environmental damage and economic losses. The detection of P. minimum plays an important role in warning the outbreak of P. minimum-forming HABs. By utilizing the powerful absorption of graphene oxide (GO) on short-stranded DNA, a GO-assisted nucleic acid chromatography strip (GO-NACS) was proposed here to achieve a highly sensitive, specific, intuitive, and convenient detection of P. minimum. In particular, this study used our previously reported conventional-NACS (C-NACS) as a control to evaluate the improvement of detection performance with the use of GO. The performance of GO-NACS was evaluated from the perspectives of specificity, sensitivity, stability, and practicality. The specificity test demonstrated that it had a high degree of specificity and did not display cross-reacting with non-target algal species. The sensitivity test with the genomic DNA indicated that it had a detection limit of 1.30 × 10-3 ng µL-1, representing a 10-fold higher sensitivity than C-NACS and a 100-fold higher sensitivity than agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE). The interference test with non-target algal species demonstrated that it had a good detection stability, and the interfering algal species had no obvious effect on the detection of P. minimum. The practicality test with simulated natural water samples showed that the cellular detection limit of GO-NACS was 6.8 cells mL-1, which was 10-fold and 100-fold lower than that of C-NACS and AGE, respectively. In conclusion, the established GO-NACS may offer a novel alternative technique for the detection of P. minimum while guaranteeing specificity and enhancing sensitivity without requiring extensive apparatus.

Effects of Tongguan Capsules （通冠胶囊）on Left Ventricular Remodeling and Gut Microbiota in Patients with Acute ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction： A Randomized Controlled Clinical Study / 中医杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy and safety of Tongguan Capsule（通冠胶囊）on ventricular remodeling in patients after acute myocardial infarction （AMI）， and to explore the possible mechanism. MethodsA total of 53 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction （STEMI） patients were collected and randomly divided into 26 cases in the treatment group and 27 cases in the control group. The control group was given conventional therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI） for AMI， and the treatment group was given Tongguan Capsules （4.5 g each time， 3 times a day） on the basis of the control group. The course of treatment was 12 weeks. Echocardiographic data and stool samples were collected from subjects before and after the intervention， and left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）， left ventricular end-diastolic volume index （LVEDVi）， left ventricular end-systolic volume index （LVESVi）， left ventricular mass index （LVMi） were measured and calculated， so as to compare the number of cases of left ventricular remodeling in the two groups. At the same time， 16S rDNA sequencing was performed on the stool samples to analyze the diversity of gut microbiota （GM）， the composition of the GM， the GM difference between the groups； recording the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events （MACEs） and adverse reactions of patients in the two groups during the study period； and performing Spearman's correlation analyses of the post-treatment flora data with LVEF， LVEDVi， LVESVi， LVM， and LVMi in the two groups. ResultsOne case fail to follow up in the treatment group and 2 cases fail to follow up in the control group， and 25 cases in each of the two groups were finally included in the analysis. LVEDVi， LVESVi， and LVMi of the control group after treatment were higher than those before treatment （P＜0.05）； after treatment， LVEDVi， LVESVi and LVMi in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group （P＜0.05）. Left ventricular remodeling occurred in 5 cases （20.00%） in the treatment group and 13 cases （52.00%） in the control group， and the incidence of left ventricular remodeling in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group （P=0.03）. After treatment， the ACE estimation and Chao estimation of bacterial abundance in the treatment group were higher than that before treatment and that in the control group （P＜0.05）. The treatment group showed an increase in Mycobacterium anisopliae phylum and a decrease in Mycobacterium thickum， Mycobacterium anisopliae phylum， and Mycobacterium patella phylum after treatment （P＜0.05）. When comparing between groups after treatment， the relative abundance of Prevotella， Agathobacter， Dialister， Eubacterium coprostanoligenes group was up-reuglated and the relative abundance of Enterococcus was down-regulated in the treatment group（P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of MACEs and the occurrence of adverse reactions between groups during treatment （P＞0.05）. The results of correlation analysis showed that Prevotella were positively correlated with LVEF and negatively correlated with LVEDVi， LVESVi， LVM， and LVMi （P＜0.01）. Agathobacter group were negatively correlated with LVEDVi， LVESVi （P＜0.01）； Enterococcus group were positively correlated with LVESVi （P＜0.05）. ConclusionTongguan Capsules can improve ventricular remodeling in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with better safety； its mechanism may be related to adjusting the enrichment of related bacteria such as Prevotella， Dialister and Enterococcus and other related bacterial genera， increasing the colonization and diversity of beneficial bacteria， and adjusting the structure of GM.

The characteristics and coping strategies of medical support mission in rescue and landing of Shenzhou-14 manned spacecraft / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective:To review the characteristics and coping strategies of the rescue and landing medical support mission of Shenzhou-14 manned spacecraft.Methods:The characteristics of rescue and landing medical support mission of Shenzhou-14 manned spacecraft was analyzed, and the coping strategies and experience were discussed.Results:(1) The characteristics of rescue and landing medical support mission of Shenzhou-14 manned spacecraft included: long time in space station and high-intensity space missions; high-density space medical support mission in short term; special environmental factors in severe cold night; complex terrain of landing site; and the young medical support team. (2) The main coping strategies of rescue and landing medical support mission of Shenzhou-14 manned spacecraft included: strengthened the organization and leadership and improved the training model; reinforcement learning the medical treatment plan and strengthened the medical rescue skills training; optimized the carrying equipment and added the heat preservation and lighting measures; improved the medical rescue process and perfected the emergency plan; emphasized on the scientific research as important as mission; and strengthened the physical exercise and cold resistance exercise.Conclusions:The characteristics and coping strategies of rescue and landing medical support mission of Shenzhou-14 manned spacecraft are summarized to provide the experience for space medical rescue and offer the support for China's manned space industry.

Application of scenario simulation teaching combined with modular training in nursing education of medical rescue in manned space flight / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective:To study the application of scenario simulation teaching combined with modular training in nursing education of medical rescue in manned space flight.Methods:Twenty nurses from the medical rescue team of Strategic Support Force Characteristic Medical Center were selected as the research objects. The research objects were randomly divided into the scenario simulation combined with practical training group (practical training group, n=10) and traditional teaching group (control group, n=10). Scenario simulation teaching combined with modular training and traditional teaching were used to carry out nursing training. After the training, theoretical assessment, operation assessment and satisfaction survey were organized. Results:The scenario simulation teaching combined with modular training group was significantly better than the traditional training group in theory assessment, operation assessment and satisfaction survey of nursing staff (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Scenario simulation teaching combined with modular training has obvious teaching effect, which can improve the ability and quality of nursing staff, and help to complete the manned space medical rescue mission efficiently.

Effect of Tongguan Capsules () on Restenosis after Coronary Stent Implantation: Study Protocol for A Randomized Controlled Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

BACKGROUND@#Although percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) had become widely employed therapeutic procedure for coronary artery disease, stent restenosis limited the benefits of this revascularization and the question how to prevent such events remained unresolved. While numerous empirical observations suggested Tongguan Capsules (), a patented Chinese Medicine, could decrease frequency and duration of angina pectoris attacks, evidence supporting its efficacy on restenosis remained inadequate.@*OBJECTIVE@#This trial was designed to determine whether Tongguan Capsules would reduce restenosis rate in patients after successful stent implantation.@*METHODS@#Approximately 400 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary stent deployment were enrolled and randomized to control group or Tongguan Capsules (4.5 g/d) for 3 months. All patients received standard anti-platelet, anti-coagulation and lipid-decreasing treatments, concurrently. The primary clinical endpoint was the 12-month incidence of the major adverse cardiovascular events (defined as cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and recurrence of symptoms requiring additional revascularization). The angiographic end point was restenosis rate at 6 months.@*CONCLUSION@#This study would provide important evidence for the use of Tongguan Capsules in patients after stent implantation in combination with routine therapies, which may significantly reduce incidence of the restenosis so as to potentially improve the clinical outcomes. (registration number: ChiCTR-TRC- ChiCTR-IIR-17011407).

Remodeling of active endothelial enhancers is associated with aberrant gene-regulatory networks in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Environmental and epigenetic factors often play an important role in polygenic disorders. However, how such factors affect disease-specific tissues at the molecular level remains to be understood. Here, we address this in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We obtain pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (PAECs) from lungs of patients and controls (n = 19), and perform chromatin, transcriptomic and interaction profiling. Overall, we observe extensive remodeling at active enhancers in PAH PAECs and identify hundreds of differentially active TFs, yet find very little transcriptomic changes in steady-state. We devise a disease-specific enhancer-gene regulatory network and predict that primed enhancers in PAH PAECs are activated by the differentially active TFs, resulting in an aberrant response to endothelial signals, which could lead to disturbed angiogenesis and endothelial-to-mesenchymal-transition. We validate these predictions for a selection of target genes in PAECs stimulated with TGF-ß, VEGF or serotonin. Our study highlights the role of chromatin state and enhancers in disease-relevant cell types of PAH.

Theoretical Insight into Coordination Chemistry of Am(VI) and Am(V) with Phenanthroline Ligand: Implications for High Oxidation State Based Minor Actinide Separation.

Despite continuing and burgeoning interest in americium (Am) coordination chemistry in recent years, investigations of the electronic structures and bonding chemistry of high oxidation state americium complexes and their implications for minor actinide separation remain relatively less explored to date. Here, we used density functional theory (DFT) to create high oxidation states of americium but experimentally feasible models of Am(V) and Am(VI) complexes of phenanthroline ligand (DAPhen) as [AmO2(L)]1+/2+ and [AmO3(L)]1+ (L = 2,9-bis[(N,N-dimethyl)-carbonyl]-1,10-phenanthroline (oxo-DAPhen, LO) and 2,9-bis[(N,N-dimethyl)-thio-carbonyl]-1,10-phenanthroline (thio-DAPhen, LS)), meanwhile comparing these with [UO2(L)]2+. On the basis of the calculations, the Am(V) and Am(VI) oxidation state are thermodynamically feasible and can be stabilized by DAPhen ligands. From a comparative study, the strength of thio-DAPhen in the separation of high oxidation state Am emerges better than does oxo-DAPhen, which relates to the nature, energy level, and spatial arrangement of their frontier orbitals. This study provides fundamental knowledge toward understanding the transuranic separations processes, which has implications in designing new, more selective extraction processes for the separation of Am from curium (Cm) as well as lanthanide.

Probing the Electronic Structure and Chemical Bonding of Uranium Nitride Complexes of NU-XO (X = C, N, O).

Uranium(III) compounds are very reactive and exhibit a broad range of chemical-bonding tendencies owing to the spatially diffused valence orbitals of uranium. A systematic study on the geometries, electronic structures, and chemical bonding of NU-XO (X = C, N, O) is performed using relativistic quantum chemistry approaches. The NU-CO and NU-NO complexes have an end-on structure, that is, (NU) (η1-CO) and (NU) (η1-NO), whereas NU-OO adopts a side-on ((NU) (η2-O2)) structure. The electronic structure analysis shows that UN exhibits efficient activation reactivity to molecules, especially to NO and O2, because of the significant U 7s/5f → XO 2π* electron transfer. Thus, the oxidation state of U is +V with the dianion ligand NO2- and O22- in NU-NO and NU-OO, respectively. Instead, U retains its usual +III oxidation state in NU-CO with a neutral CO ligand. The significant stability of NU-XO (X = C, N, O) is determined by the covalent U-X bonding which contains both X → U σ-, π-donation from the X lone pair and U 5f → XO 2π* back-donation contributions. The significant back-donation to the antibonding X-O 2π* orbital results in the obvious weakening of the X-O bonding.

CD34, VEGF and endothelin-1 expression in intrahepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华普通外科杂志

Objective To explore the roles of CD34,VEGF and endothelin-1 in hepatic sinusoid capillarization and the intrahepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods Data of 10 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma without intrahepatic metastasis were compared with those 10 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma with intrahepatic metastasis.Liver cancer tissues and paracancerous tissues were collected,hepatic sinusoidal capillarization was detected by immunohistochemistry,mRNA expression and protein expression of CD34,VEGF and endothelin-1 genes were detected by QPCR,Western blot,and the relationship between gene expression and metastasis of HCC was observed.Results Hepatic sinusoid capillarization was observed in carcinoma tissues,not in the adjacent tissues,whereas mRNAs and proteins of CD34,VEGF and endothelin-1 were higher in liver cancer tissues than that in the adjacent tissuess.In addition,both mRNA and protein expression levels of these genes were significantly higher in the intrahepatic metastatic liver cancers than those without metastasis (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion CD34,VEGF and endothelin-1 may play important roles in intrahepatic metastasis of liver cancer.

CD34, VEGF and endothelin-1 expression in intrahepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华普通外科杂志

Objective@#To explore the roles of CD34, VEGF and endothelin-1 in hepatic sinusoid capillarization and the intrahepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.@*Methods@#Data of 10 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma without intrahepatic metastasis were compared with those 10 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma with intrahepatic metastasis . Liver cancer tissues and paracancerous tissues were collected, hepatic sinusoidal capillarization was detected by immunohistochemistry, mRNA expression and protein expression of CD34, VEGF and endothelin-1 genes were detected by QPCR, Western blot, and the relationship between gene expression and metastasis of HCC was observed.@*Results@#Hepatic sinusoid capillarization was observed in carcinoma tissues, not in the adjacent tissues, whereas mRNAs and proteins of CD34, VEGF and endothelin-1 were higher in liver cancer tissues than that in the adjacent tissuess. In addition, both mRNA and protein expression levels of these genes were significantly higher in the intrahepatic metastatic liver cancers than those without metastasis (P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#CD34, VEGF and endothelin - 1 may play important roles in intrahepatic metastasis of liver cancer.

Shenzhu Guanxin Recipe Granules () for Improving Exercise Tolerance in Patients with Stable Angina (SERIES Trial): A Protocol of Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Parallel Controlled Clinical Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

BACKGROUND@#Many patients with chronic angina experience anginal episodes despite successful recanalization, antianginal and antiischemic medications. Empirical observations suggested that Shenzhu Guanxin Recipe Granules (, SGR), a Chinese herbal compound, exerted potential impacts on increased treadmill exercise performance and angina relieve. However, there has been no systematic study to clarify the impact of SGR on exercise tolerance in patients with stable angina. The SERIES (ShEnzhu guanxin Recipe for Improving Exercise tolerance in patients with Stable angina) trial is designed to determine the effects of SGR on exercise duration, electrocardiographic (ECG) evidence of myocardial ischemia, and incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in stable anginal patients.@*METHODS@#A total of 184 eligible patients with stable angina will be randomly assigned to receive placebo or SGR (10 g/day for 12 weeks) in a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome will be the change from baseline in total exercise tolerance duration, time to onset of angina and ECG ischemia during exercise treadmill testing performed over a 12-week study period. The secondary outcome will include ECG measures, the occurrence and composite of MACE and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire score. Moreover, the coronary microcirculation will be evaluated to explore the possible effects in response to treatment of SGR. After the procedure, all participants will be followed up by interview at 3 and 6 months, enquiring about any cardiac events, hospitalizations, cardiac functional level and medication usage. Additionally, the occurrence of adverse events will be evaluated at each follow-up.@*DISCUSSION@#This study may provide novel evidence on the efficacy of SGR in improving exercise tolerance and potentially reducing clinical adverse events. (Trial registration No. ChiCTR-TRC-14004504).

A study of feature extraction for Alzheimer's disease based on resting-state fMRI.

The Alzheimer's Disease (AD) has become a major threat of human health with its incidence rate ascending year by year. Early diagnosis of AD is very important for AD patients to keep life quality. The resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) which precisely reflects the brain changes on the resting state of individuals provides a quantitative approach, which has been introduced to distinguish AD patients from normal population. In this study, we proposed a method to find the most distinctive features identifying AD patients from rs-fMRI images. The ALFF and ReHo parameters based on pre-processed rs-fMRI data were extracted, and some key parameters of the brain functional network based on graph theory were calculated. Then we tested the recognition performance of different classifiers, and the best classification algorithm, that is, Support Vector Machine (SVM) with linear-kernel are selected. Finally through a recursive feature selection procedure, we got the most distinctive feature set. Additionally, this study also implies that there may be several changes in some particular ROIs of the brain during the AD development.

Analysis of reperfusion delay in patients with acute ST elevated myocardial infarction based on gender difference / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To examine the influence of gender difference on the reperfusion delay in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).Methods A total of consecutive 325 patients with STEMI were analyzed admitted in the 306 Hospital of PLA from Jan.2011 to Dec.2015.Patients were divided into two groups:male group (n=268) and female group (n=57).The clinical data and the time intervals including symptom onset to first medical contact (So-to-FMC),transfer delay (FMC-to-D),FMC to balloon dilatation (FMC-to-B),activation delay and door to balloon (D-to-B) time were compared between different gender groups,and the prognosis was observed.Results The overall median of pre-hospital delay was 125 minutes.The median of prehospital delay time (male 119.5min vs.female 160.0min) and So-to-FMC time (male 69.5min vs.female 100.0min) were longer in female than in male patients,but no statistical difference existed (P＞0.05) between the two groups in pre-hospital delay,So-to-FMC,FMC-to-B,D-to-B and total ischemia time.Compared with male patients,female patients were more likely to have additional comorbidities,such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus,and lower rate of smoking (P＜0.05).However,the incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) showed no significant difference between female and male patients at 30-day (male 5.22％ vs.female 5.26％) and I-year (male 10.82％ vs.female 8.77％) follow-up (P＞0.05).Conclusion The influence of gender on reperfusion delay is gradually weakening.

Effect of Danlou Tablet () on peri-procedural myocardial injury among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome: A study protocol of a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>It has been shown that administration of statins reduced the risk of peri-procedural myocardial damage. However, it remains unclear whether Chinese medicine Danlou Tablet (), similar to statins, may protect patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from peri-procedural myocardial damage.</p><p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To demonstrate the hypothesis whether treatment with Danlou Tablet would improve clinical outcome in patients undergoing selective PCI with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Approximately 220 patients with unstable angina or non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing PCI will be enrolled and randomized to Danlou Tablet treatment (4.5 g/day for 2 days before intervention, with a further 4.5 g/day for 90 days thereafter) or placebo. All patients will not receive Danlou Tablet before procedure. The primary end point is to evaluate the incidence of cardiac death, myocardial infarction or unplanned re-hospitalization and revascularization after 30 days in patients undergoing selective PCI treated with Danlou Tablet compared with placebo. Secondary endpoints include the incidence of peri-procedural myocardial injury, 3-month clinical outcomes, the quality of life and Chinese medicine syndromes assessment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study protocol will provide important evidence of Danlou Tablet treatment on the peri-procedural myocardial injury in patients with NSTE-ACS undergoing selective PCI, which may support a strategy of routine Danlou Tablet therapy to improve the clinical outcomes.</p>

Recognition of Similarities and Differences--a New Thinking Paradigm of Critically Care Integrative Medicine / 中国中西医结合杂志

"Wise men could recognize similarities, but the fool only recognizes differences" in Su-wen, which expounded clinical thinking methods of Chinese medicine (CM). "To recognize similarities and differences simultaneously" is of important clinical significance in understanding the laws of diseases. CM pays much attention to recognize similarities, while modern medicine emphasizes the differences observed. In order to develop integrative medicine (IM), similarities recognition and differences identification must be combined together to innovate new thinking methods of IM.

Clinical experience and thinking of treating abdominal compartment syndrome by dachaihu decoction / 中国中西医结合杂志

The descriptions about Dachaihu Decoction (DD) were retrieved from ancient and modern literatures. A feeling of being oppressed in stomach or abdomen was raised to be a main symptom of Dachaihu Decoction syndrome (DDS). The pathogenesis of DDS includes failure of shaoyang to flow upward, abnormality of gallbladder and stomach, and inner stagnation of heat. The main clinical feature of abdominal compartment syndrome is severe abdominal distension, which is similar to that of DDS. Significant effects could be achieved by using DD. The clinical use of classical prescriptions should focus on main symptoms and grasp the pathogenesis.