Floating Mat Formation Makes Zizania latifolia More Competitive under the Conditions of Continuous Significant Water Level Rise.

Water level rise is considered an environmental filter for the growth and reproduction of aquatic plants in lakes. Some emergent macrophytes can form floating mats, enabling them to escape from the negative effects of deep water. However, an understanding of which species can be uprooted and form floating mats easily and what factors affect these tendencies remains greatly elusive. We conducted an experiment to determine whether the monodominance of Zizania latifolia in the emergent vegetation community in Lake Erhai was related to its floating mat formation ability and to try to find the reasons for its floating mat formation ability during the continuous increase in water level over the past few decades. Our results showed that both the frequency and biomass proportion of Z. latifolia were greater among the plants on the floating mats. Furthermore, Z. latifolia was more likely to be uprooted than the other three previously dominant emergent species due to its smaller angle between the plant and the horizontal plane, rather than the root:shoot or volume:mass ratios. The dominance of Z. latifolia in the emergent community in Lake Erhai is due to its easier ability to become uprooted, allowing it to outperform other emergent species and become the single dominant emergent species under the environmental filter of deep water. The ability to uproot and form floating mats may be a competitive survival strategy for emergent species under the conditions of continuous significant water level rise.

Risk factors for infections after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To explore risk factors for infections after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, and improve the under standing for reducing infection.@*METHODS@#Clinical data of 2 591 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair from January 2019 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, including 1 265 males and 1 326 females, aged from 25 to 82 years old with an average age of (51.5±15.6) years old. They were divided into infection group(n=18) and uninfected group(n=2 573) according to whether or not patients had postoperative infection. Gender, age, smoking, diabetes, body mass index, local closure within 1 month before operation, operation time, preventive use of antibiotics, and internal fixation implantation between two groups were recorded. Univariate Logistic regression analysis screened factors associated with infections after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Theresultswere entered into the multivariate logistic regression analysis, screening the high risk factors for infections after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.@*RESULTS@#In 2 591 patients, 18 patients were infected after operation, infection rate was 0.69%. Univariate Logistic regression analysis showed that gender, age, operation time, antibiotic prophylaxis, internal fixation implantation were risk factors for infections after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed male(OR=14.227), age≥65 years(OR=34.313), operation time≥2 h (OR=15.616), without antibiotic prophylaxis(OR=4.891), and internal fixation implantation(OR=5.103) were major risk factors for infection after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair(P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Male, age≥65 years, operation time≥2 h, without antibiotic prophylaxis and internal fixation implantation were independent risk factors for infection after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Early diagnosis and timely treatment should be carried out to reduce the incidence of infection.

Modulation of gut microbiota during alleviation of antibiotic-associated diarrhea with Zingiberis Rhizoma / 中国中药杂志

This study was aimed to explore the effect of Zingiberis Rhizoma extract on rats with antibiotic-associated diarrhea(AAD), and reveal the modulation of gut microbiota during alleviation of AAD. AAD rat model was successfully established by exposing rats to appropriate antibiotic mixed solution. Peficon(70 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) was used as positive control, then rats were treated with 200 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1) and 400 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1) of Zingiberis Rhizoma extract for low and high dosage groups of Zingiberis Rhizoma extract, respectively. The weight changes of the rats were observed, and the degree of diarrhea were evaluated by fecal score, 120 min fecal weight and fecal water content. Colon tissues for histopathological examination were stained with hematoxylin and eosin(HE), and 16 S rRNA sequencing analysis of gut microbiota was performed. The results showed that compared with the model group, the degree of diarrhea, indicated by fecal water content, fecal score, and 120 min fecal weight of positive control group, Zingiberis Rhizoma low-dose group and Zingiberis Rhizoma high-dose group were significantly ameliorated. And the treatment of Zingiberis Rhizoma could significantly improve the pathological condition of colon tissue in AAD rats, especially the high dose of Zingiberis Rhizoma. In addition, 16 S rRNA sequencing analysis of gut microbiota showed that the diversity and abundance of gut microbiota were significantly improved and the reco-very of gut microbiota was accelerated after given high-dose of Zingiberis Rhizoma, while no significant changes of alterations were observed after given Pefikon. Of note, compared with the pefikon group, the abundance and diversity of gut microbiota in Zingi-beris Rhizoma high-dose group were significantly elevated. At the phylum level, the abundance of Firmicutes in AAD rats increased and the abundance of Proteobacteria was decreased after the Zingiberis Rhizoma intervention. At the genus level, the abundance of Bacillus spp., Lachnoclostridium and Escherichia coli-Shigella were decreased, and the abundance of Lactobacillus spp., Trichophyton spp., and Trichophyton spp., etc., were increased. While compared with the AAD model group, there was no significant difference of gut microbiota after given Peficon. The results showed that Zingiberis Rhizoma exerted beneficial health effects against AAD, and positively affected the microbial environment in the gut of rats with AAD.

Comparison of cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation guided by real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography vs. contrast agent injection / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Pulmonary vein (PV) occlusion generally depends on repetitive contrast agent injection when cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). The present study was to compare the effect of cryoballoon ablation for AF guided by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) vs. contrast agent injection.@*METHODS@#Eighty patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF) were enrolled in the study. About 40 patients underwent cryoballoon ablation without TEE (non-TEE group) and the other 40 underwent cryoballoon ablation with TEE for PV occlusion (TEE group). In the TEE group during the procedure, PVs were displayed in 3-dimensional images to guide the balloon to achieve PV occlusion. The patients were followed up at regularly scheduled visits every 2 months.@*RESULTS@#No differences were identified between the groups in regard to the procedure time and cryoablation time for each PV. The fluoroscopy time (6.7 ± 4.2 min vs. 17.9 ± 5.9 min, P < 0.05) and the amount of contrast agent (3.0 ± 5.1 mL vs.18.1 ± 3.4 mL, P < 0.05) in the TEE group were both less than the non-TEE group. At a mean of 13.0 ± 3.3 mon follow-up, success rates were similar between the TEE group and non-TEE group (77.5% vs. 80.0%, P = 0.88).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Cryoballoon ablation with TEE for occlusion of the PV is both safe and effective. Less fluoroscopy time and a lower contrast agent load can be achieved with the help of TEE for PV occlusion during procedure.

Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of Tripterygium wilfordii processed with licorice on mice model of ulcerative colitis / 中国中药杂志

The aim of this paper was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Tripterygium wilfordii processed with licorice on DSS-induced ulcerative colitis( UC) mice and its regulation on intestinal immune system. In this study,a DSS-induced animal model of UC mice was established,with mesalazine( Mes) as a positive drug. The pharmacodynamic effects of low( PT1) and high( PT2)doses of T. wilfordii processed with licorice were analyzed by disease activity index( DAI),colon length and colon histopathological score in mice. By detecting the expression levels of TNF-α and IL-6 cytokines in the serum of mice,immunohistochemical CD3+T and Fox P3+Treg staining in the colon of mice,the anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects of T. wilfordii processed with licorice on UC mice were analyzed. The hepatotoxicity of each dose of T. wilfordii processed with licorice was also analyzed by HE staining in liver tissue of mice and ALT and AST levels in serum. The results showed that the colitis symptoms of the mice in the PT1 group and the PT2 group were alleviated,the inflammatory cell infiltration was reduced. And the expression of inflammatory factors was decreased,the difference was statistically significant compared with the model group( P<0. 05). The HE staining and ALT and AST levels in the high dose group and low dose group were not significantly different from those in the normal group. The results showed that T. wilfordii processed with licorice has the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects on UC mice,and the dose did not show significant hepatotoxicity.

Therapeutic window analysis of Tripterygium wilfordii processed by liquorice: an instantiation using allergic contact dermatitis / 中国中药杂志

The present study was aimed to explore the dose-toxicity-effect relationship of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f( TW) processed by liquorice,to establish the safe and effective therapeutic window,and further to provide scientific reference for the clinical use of TW. The toxicity and anti-inflammatory effect of six doses of raw TW and TW processed by liquorice( 0. 78,1. 56,3. 12,6. 24,12. 48,15. 60 g·kg-1) in 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene( DNFB)-induced allergic contact dermatitis( ACD) model were mainly examined by histopathology and serum biochemistry. The liver biochemical parameters including ALT and AST,related inflammatory factors including TNF-α and IL-2,together with liver index,kidney index and the other pharmacodynamic indicators,were examined and compared. The results showed that compared with the control group,the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-2 of the model group were significantly increased( P<0. 01),which proved that the ACD model was successful. The comprehensive analysis of liver biochemical indexes,serum inflammatory factors and the other indexes showed that the safe and effective therapeutic window of TW processed by liquorice was 3. 12-12. 48 g·kg-1. The results showed the therapeutic window of TW processed by liquorice was much broader than that of raw TW. And it could provide scientific reference for the clinical rational use of TW.

Study on Language Rehabilitation for Aphasia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim is to update our clinical recommendations for evidence-based language rehabilitation of people with aphasia, based on a systematic review of the literature from 1999 to 2015. DATA SOURCES: Articles referred to in this systematic review of the Medline and PubMed published in English language literatures were from 1998 to 2015. The terms used in the literature searches were aphasia and evidenced-based. STUDY SELECTION: The task force initially identified citations for 51 published articles. Of the 51 articles, 44 studies were selected after further detailed review. Six articles, which were not written in English, and one study related to laryngectomy rehabilitation interventions, were excluded from the study. This study referred to all the important and English literature in full. RESULTS: Aphasia is the linguistic disability, which usually results from injuries to the dominant hemisphere of the brain. The rehabilitation of aphasia is until in the process of being debated and researched. Evidence-based medicine (EBM), EBM based on the clinical evidence, promotes the practice of combining the clinicians' first-hand experience and the existing objective and scientific evidence encouraging making decisions based on both empirical evidence and the scientific evidence. Currently, EBM is being gradually implemented in the clinical practice as the aim of the development of modern medicine. CONCLUSIONS: At present, the research for the aphasia rehabilitation mainly focuses on the cognitive language rehabilitation and the intensive treatment and the precise treatment, etc. There is now sufficient information to support evidence-based protocols and implement empirically-supported treatments for linguistic disability after traumatic brain injury and stroke, which can be used to develop linguistic rehabilitation guidelines for patients with aphasia.

Preliminary screening of biomarkers for curcumin's antidepressant effect based on metabonomics method / 中国中药杂志

To screen potential biomarkers of curcumin related to treating depression rats by using metabolomics means, so as to explore the antidepressant action mechanism of curcumin. The healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) stimulation was conducted for modeling for 2 weeks, and then curcumin (200 mg•kg⁻¹) or venlafaxine (40 mg•kg⁻¹) was given by gavage administration. The blank group and model group rats were given with the same volume of 1% CMCNa normal saline, once per day for two weeks. The rats serum for each group was collected and LC/MS-IT-TOF method was used to characterize the metabolic differences. Also multivariate statistical analysis was used to screen possible potential biomarkers and analyze the possible metabolic pathways. After administration of curcumin and venlafaxine respectively, the depression indexes of CUMS model rats were all improved significantly (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences between curcumin and venlafaxine groups. In PCA and PLS-DA analysis after curcumin or venlafaxine intervention on CUMS model group rats, the small molecule metabolites level reflects a normal trend, and particularly for the curcumin group. Through metabonomics technology, 11 biomarkers associated with curcumin antidepressant effect were screened, and at the same time seven metabolic pathways were involved. The results showed that curcumin had antidepressant effects, which was evident in both macro and micro levels, comparable with positive drug of venlafaxine. The antidepressant effect of curcumin may be associated with the glycerol phospholipid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, pentose and glucuronic acid ester and ether lipid metabolism, but still need further exploration in the future.

Effects of salt intake and potassium supplementation on renalase expression in the kidneys of Dahl salt-sensitive rats.

Renalase is currently the only known amine oxidase in the blood that can metabolize catecholamines and regulate sympathetic activity. High salt intake is associated with high blood pressure (BP), possibly through the modulation of renalase expression and secretion, whereas potassium can reverse the high salt-mediated increase in blood pressure. However, whether potassium could also modulate BP through renalase is unclear. In this study, we aim to investigate how salt intake and potassium supplementation affect the level of renalase in rats. Eighteen salt-sensitive (SS) and 18 SS-13BN rats were divided into six groups, receiving normal salt (0.3% NaCl), high salt (8% NaCl) and high salt/potassium (8% NaCl and 8% KCl) dietary intervention for four weeks. At the end of experiments, blood and kidneys were collected for analysis. mRNA level of renalase was measured by quantitative real-time PCR and protein level was determined by Western blot. We found that mRNA and protein levels of renalase in the kidneys of SS and SS-13BN rats were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) after high salt intervention, whereas dopamine in plasma was increased (P < 0.05) compared with rats received normal salt, suggesting that salt may induce salt-sensitive hypertension through inhibition of renalase expression. We also found increased mRNA level and protein level of renalase, decreased catecholamine levels in plasma, and decreased BP in SS rats treated with high salt/potassium, compared with that of the high salt SS group. Taken together, the salt-induced increase and potassium-induced decrease in BP could be mediated through renalase. More studies are needed to confirm our findings and understand the underlying mechanisms.

Effects of yangxin decoction on metabolomics of patients with unstable angina / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To primarily seek for unstable angina (UA) correlated metabolic markers and to observe the effects of Yangxin Decoction on the plasma metabolism of UA patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ten UA patients from clinics of No. 2 Circulation Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from November 2009 to December 2010 were recruited as the treatment group. Another 10 healthy volunteers were recruited as the control group (Group D). The changes of plasma metabolic components were observed in UA patients after they took Yangxin Decoction for 28 days, using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Analysis was conducted using principle component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) to seek for UA correlated metabolic markers.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Results of PCA among Group D (the healthy group), Group M (UA group before medication), and Group G (UA group after medication): all samples of the three groups were centrally distributed in the four score plot of the oval regions (95% confidence interval). In Group M, the relative dispersion of the sample 8, 9, and 10 was near to Group D. The samples of the three groups could be separated. The samples of Group M (before medication) and Group G (after medication) could be basically separated. Comparison of metabolic end products between Group D and Group M: In the metabolites of UA group, ceramide, glycocholic acid, allocholic acid, lithocholic acid, leukotriene B4 obviously increased.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Ceramide, glycocholic acid, allocholic acid, lithocholic acid, leukotriene B4 might be metabolic markers of UA. Yangxin Decoction might have effects on some plasma metabolites or metabolic pathways of UA patients.</p>

Effect of ursolic acid on retinal vascular form in oxygen-induced mouse retinopathy / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of ursolic acid (UA) on retinal vascular form in oxygen-induced mouse retinopathy.Methods The 60 clean 7-day C57BL/6J mice were divided into 6 groups randomly:blank control group,model control group (PBS),positive control group (triamcinolone),UA intervention group (low dose,meta dose,high dose),with 10 mice in each group(right eye as experimental subject,10 eyes each group).The blank control group mice were raised in air,with other groups of mice in (750 ± 20) mL/L O2 high-oxygen environment for 5 consecutive days.The model control group mice and breastfeeding mice were put back in air enviroment(210 mL/L O2) on the 12th day after birth to induce the generation of retinal neovascufarization.The drug treatment was applied to the corresponding groups immediately when models were successful:3 μL sterile PBS was injected in model control group,3 μL 1.5,3.0 and 6.0 μg UA in UA intervention group,3 μL triamcinolone(1 mL ∶ 40 mg) in positive control group.All mice were killed after overdose of anesthesia on the 17th day,and their eyeballs were made into retinal tissue sections,HE dying,counting the neovasculanzation endothelial nuclei number which broke the retinal internal limiting membrane.The morphologic changes of retinal vessels were estimated by observing the vascular pattern with the technology of stretched preparation of retina.Results From the observation of tissue pathology slice in blank control group,the structure of internal limiting membrane was even,and the vascular endothelial cells lined up evenly,while some vascular endothelial cells broke the internal limiting membrane occasionally.In model control group,a lot of vascular endothelial cells broke the internal limiting membrane and new vessel lumen was formed.The result of low UA intervention group was basically similar to that of model control group.The result of high-dose UA intervention group was close to that of positive control group,though some vascular endothelial cells broke the internal limiting membrane,and internal limiting membrane structure was even,and new vessel lumen was not formed.The endothelial nuclei number of newly-generated internal limiting membrane vessel in model control group was obviously higher than that of blank control group,while the high-dose UA intervention group was obviously lower than that of model control group,and the high-dose UA intervention group was lower than that of the low-dose UA intervention group obviously,and all the differences were statistically significant(P ＜ 0.05).Retinal flatmounts showed that in the blank control group retinal vascular appeared with uniformly radiated distribution from optic disc in all directions,with bigger pipe diameter,proper branch and clear peripheral retinal vascular structure.However,lots of retinal neovascularization was seen in model control group,with slender retinal diameter,line rigidity,structure disorder,and uneven distribution,and there was large non-perfused areas in the centeral area.Through comparison with different doses UA intervention group,retinal vascular distribution and pattern in the high-dose UA intervention group were close to the positive group.The distribution of retinal neovascularization was much better than the model control group and the low-dose UA intervention group,with no obvious non-perfused areas.Conclusions UA can inhibit the formation of neovascularization in oxygen-induced mice retinal ischemia model.It has a positively correlated relationship with UA dose.

Role of valsartan on myocardial Calpain I, calcineurin and Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIδ expression of renovascular hypertensive rats / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the protein expression of Calpain I, mRNA and protein expressions and activity of calcineurin, and the alternative splicing of Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) δ in the hypertrophic heart, and to investigate the effect of angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker valsartan (Val) on cardiac hypertrophy and the level of Calpain I, calcineurin and CaMKIIδ in renovascular hypertensive rats model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rats were randomly divided into sham-operated control (n=8), hypertension (n=8) and hypertension plus Val (n=8, 30 mg×kg(-1)×(-1)). The renovascular hypertension was induced by two kidney-one clip methods in rats. The ratio of left ventricular weight to body weight was measured, the mRNA expression of calcineurin and alternative splicing of CaMKIIδ were determined by RT-PCR, the protein expression of Calpain I and calcineurin were measured by Western blot and the activity of calcineurin activity was assayed by a specialized kit.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eight weeks after procedure, hypertension rats developed significantly cardiac hypertrophy, and the protein expression of Calpain I, mRNA and protein expression and the activity of calcineurin were significantly increased compared sham-operated control rats (all P<0.01), the mRNA expression of CaMKIIδA and B increased, CaMKIIδC mRNA decreased (P<0.01). Treatment with valsartan effectively attenuated cardiac hypertrophy and reversed hypertension induced changes on myocardial Calpain I, calcineurin and CaMKIIδ.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Valsartan attenuates cardiac hypertrophy in renovascular hypertensive rats, possibly through inhibiting Calpain I, calcineurin and CaMKIIδ signaling pathways.</p>

Radiofrequency ablation technique eradicating palpebral margin neoplasm.

AIM: To report the study on radiofrequency ablation technique for eradication of palpebral margin neoplasm and its clinical effects. METHODS: One hundred and six cases with the palpebral margin neoplasm were performed surgical removal with radiofrequency ablation technique. The 1-2 months postoperative follow-up was investigated and the lost cases were excluded from statistics. The continuing follow-up lasted about 6-16months. RESULTS: One hundred cases underwent one treatment and 6 cases underwent two treatments. Six cases were missed. All the cases followed up healed well without pigmentation or scar left, nor eyelash loss or palpebral margin deformation. No case was recurrent. CONCLUSION: Radiofrequency ablation has significant efficiency in eradicating the palpebral margin neoplasm.

Effects of mycophenolic acid on human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of mycophenolic acid (MPA) on the proliferation and differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MSCs were treated with MPA at the concentration of 1 μ mol/L, 10 μ mol/L, 50 μ mol/L, and 100 μ mol/L, respectively. Cell proliferation was analyzed using CCK-8 method. Apoptosis was detected by PI/Annexin V assay kit. The mRNA expression of inosine-5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) in MSCs was analyzed by RT-PCR. Osteogenic differentiation was analyzed by Von Kossa staining, Ca(2+) quantification and real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the range of 1 μ mol/L to 100 μ mol/L, MPA caused a significant subdued proliferation rate of MSCs in a concentration-and time-dependent manner by guanosine depletion, and PI/Annexin staining showed no apoptosis induced by MPA. RT-PCR results showed that MSCs expressed both IMPDH I and IMPDH II. von Kossa staining and Ca(2+) quantification indicated that MPA inhibited osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, and real-time PCR detected a dose-dependent decrease in expression of Osteopontin and BMP-2. Further investigation showed that MPA down-regulated the expression of Runx2 and Osterix.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MPA can inhibit the proliferation of MSCs by guanosine depletion in a concentration-and time-dependent manner and inhibit the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs by down-regulation of the expression of Runx2 and Osterix.</p>

Synergistic cytotoxic effects of rapamycin and idarubicin on human acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia Jurkat cells / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the cytotoxic effects of mTOR inhibitor rapamycin (Rapa) and idarubicin (IDA) on human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia Jurkat cell line.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The proliferation of Jurkat cells was observed by CCK-8 assay. The combined index was analyzed by Isobologram method. Apoptosis was detected by electron microscopy and flow cytometry with Annexin V/PI staining. Protein expressions of Caspase 3, PARP, Caspase 8, Caspase 9, Akt, p-Akt, P85S6K, p-P85S6K, P70S6K, p-P70S6K, ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 were determined by Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The IC(50) of IDA for Jurkat cells was significantly reduced when combined with 10 nmol/L rapamycin. The combined index was <1. Both electron microscopy and Annexin V/PI staining flow cytometry revealed that rapamycin significantly increased apoptotic sensitivity to IDA. The combination of IDA with rapamycin enhanced the expressions of Caspase 3, PARP, Caspase 8 and Caspase 9. Rapamycin significantly inhibited mTOR signaling upstream Akt and downstream S6K activation triggered by IDA, and the combination of the two agents led to synergistic inhibition of ERK phosphorylation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combination of IDA with rapamycin exerted a synergistic anti-proliferative effect and promoted apoptosis by both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways in Jurkat cells. Inhibition of ERK phosphorylation and mTOR signaling by rapamycin may play a certain role in this synergistic effect.</p>

[Electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) for treatment of nausea and vomiting caused by the chemotherapy of the malignant tumor: a multicentral randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effects between electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) combined with intravenous drip of Granisetron and intravenous drip of Granisetron only for treatment of nausea and vomiting caused by the chemotherapy of the malignant tumor. METHODS: The methods of multicentral, randomized controlled trial were used, the observation group (127 cases) was treated with electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) combined with intravenous drip of Granisetron, and the control group (119 cases) was treated with intravenous drip of Granisetron only. RESULTS: The total effective rate of 90.5% in observation group was superior to that of 84.0% in control group (P < 0.01); the nausea and vomiting scores of two groups were obviously decreased after treatment (both P < 0.001), and the decreased degree of the observation group was superior to that of control group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) can significantly alleviate the symptoms such as nausea and vomiting caused by the chemotherapy of the patients.

[Soil N2O flux and its affecting factors under different land use patterns in Three Gorges Reservoir Area of China].

By using static chamber techniques, the N2O emission from soils under different land use patterns was measured. The results showed that the N2O flux ranged from -21 to 435 microg x m(-2) h(-1), and the annual N2O flux was decreased in the order of vegetable field > orchard > upland > upland transferred from paddy field > woodland, being 447.14, 313.57, 167.00, 124.875 and 7.24 mg x m(-2), respectively. The N2O flux presented significant seasonal fluctuation, with the maximum in spring and summer, followed by in autumn, and the minimum in winter, which was approximately consistent with the changes of air- and soil temperature. N2O flux had significant positive correlation with the soil temperature at 5 cm depth and soil NO3(-)-N content, but no significant correlation with soil moisture and NH4(+)-N contents.

[Variations and influencing factors of nitrate nitrogen concentration in water in a small watershed of Three Gorges area].

In order to study the water quality and response to influencing factors in typical watersheds of Three Gorges area between 2004 and 2005, the variation characteristics of nitrate nitrogen concentration were analyzed under heterogeneous landscape condition through continuous observation with method of dividing into sub-watersheds in Quxi watershed (the first-grade branch, located in Three Gorges). The results suggested that nitrate nitrogen concentration fluctuated between 0.4 and 14.6 mg x L(-1) with the highest in winter,higher in autumn and summer and lower in spring. Discrepancy also exists in different years. In addition, nitrate nitrogen concentration shows increasing trends with the aggravating impacts of agricultural activities on environment. Moreover, nitrate nitrogen concentration had some relationships with different land use types and space layout to some extent, and was also affected by geological and hydrological characters in the sub-watersheds, which indicated that response of nitrate nitrogen concentration in water was evident to influencing factors.

Study on the value assessment of various screening programs regarding cervical cancer screening strategy in the rural areas of China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the application value and feasibility of various cervical screening methods and to explore a rapid and efficient cervical cancer screening program for the women in the rural areas of China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We sequentially conducted human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test by hybrid capture-2 (hc2) with cervical cells, liquid-based thinprep cytology test (TCT), visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), visual inspection with iodine (VILI), colposcopy respectively for the 2499 married women between 30 and 49 years from Xiushui county of Jiangxi province. All the detection methods were performed independently under double-blind design. Women who were diagnosed positive for having any VIA,VILI and colposcopy inspection or for those women who were diagnosed negative for VIA, VILI and colposcopy but with positive result of HPV or TCT test underwent cervical biopsy directly and endocervical curettage (ECC)when necessary. We performed cervical biopsy endocervical curettage within two weeks to observe the sensitive (SE), specificity (SP), negative predict value (NPV) and positive predict value (PPV) of these detection methods when used alone or combined each other, including HPV test, TCT inspection, VIA, VILI, and colposcopy, the pathological diagnosises of cervical tissue were confirmed by IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) while the cytological findings were underegone through the updated program of TBS (The Bethesda System) in 2001.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 2499 women underwent the screening and found 443 women who were diagnosed as HPV positive, 337 women with abnormal cervical cytology and 27 women with ASC-H, 157 cases with ASCUS; 103 cases with HSIL, 49 cases with LSIL and 1 cervical cancer. According to the pathological findings. There were 181 women diagnosed as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or cervical cancer, including 81 cases with CIN1 37 cases with CIN2,60 case cervical cancer. The sensitivity rates of HPV, TCT, HPV+ TCT, VIA, VILI, VIA+VILI and colposcopy were 96.67%, 89.47%, 97.98%, 56.57%, 36.36%, 63.64% and 39.39%, and the specificity rates were 85.00%, 96.91%, 86.97%, 94.60%, 96.23%, 92.97% and 98.14% respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HPV + TCT seemed to be more sensitive than other screening methods in the cervical cancer screening program.</p>

Study on blood biochemical variables of obese children screened by new BMI and weight-for-height criterion / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the abnormal state of liver function and plasma lipid levels of obese schoolchildren who were screened by weight-for-height criterion and new body mass index criterion respectively.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>280 obese children were screened by weight-for-height criterion and 125 obese children were screened by body mass index criterion in a routine school check-up program. All of the latter subjects was included in the former one. One obese child and 1 non-obese child were matched for gender and age. 14 items related to liver functions and plasma lipids were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the abnormal items,7 items in 125 obese children screened by new BMI criterion and 5 items in 155 "obese children" excluded by BMI criterion, were significantly higher than those children among controlled group. The abnormal rates were 10.4%-22.9% in the former and 3.2%-13.0% in the latter.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The new BMI criterion seemed to be more stringent than weight-for-height. Less than a half of the obese children screened by weight-for-height were taken on obese children by new BMI criterion. The overweight children who were screened by BMI criterion also had abnormal liver functions and plasma lipids.</p>