Effect of clinician-patient communication on compliance with flupentixol-melitracen in functional dyspepsia patients

AIM: To explore whether clinician-patient communication affects adherence to psychoactive drugs in functional dyspepsia(FD) patients with psychological symptoms. METHODS: A total of 262 FD patients with psychological symptoms were randomly assigned to four groups. The patients in Groups 1-3 were given flupentixol-melitracen(FM) plus omeprazole treatment. Those in Group 1 received explanations of both the psychological and gastrointestinal(GI) mechanisms of the generation of FD symptoms and the effects of FM. In Group 2, only the psychological mechanisms were emphasized. The patients in Group 3 were not given an explanation for the prescription of FM. Those in Group 4 were given omeprazole alone. The primary endpoints of this study were compliance rate and compliance index to FM in Groups 1-3. Survival analyses were also conducted. The secondary end points were dyspepsia and psychological symptom improvement in Groups 1-4. The correlations between the compliance indices and the reductions in dyspepsia and psychological symptom scores were also evaluated in Groups 1-3.RESULTS: After 8 wk of treatment, the compliance rates were 67.7% in Group 1, 42.4% in Group 2 and 47.7% in Group 3(Group 1 vs Group 2, P = 0.006; Group 1 vs Group 3, P = 0.033). The compliance index(Group 1 vs Group 2, P = 0.002; Group 1 vs Group 3, P = 0.024) with the FM regimen was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Groups 2 and 3. The survival analysis revealed that the patients in Group 1 exhibited a significantlyhigher compliance rate than Groups 2 and 3(Group 1 vs Group 2, P = 0.002; Group 1 vs Group 3, P = 0.018). The improvement in dyspepsia(Group 1 vs Group 2, P < 0.05; Group 1 vs Group 3, P < 0.05; Group 1 vs Group 4, P < 0.01) and psychological symptom scores(anxiety: Group 1 vs Group 2, P < 0.01; Group 1 vs Group 3, P < 0.05; Group 1 vs Group 4, P < 0.01; depression: Group 1 vs Group 2, P < 0.01; Group 1 vs Group 3, P < 0.01; Group 1 vs Group 4, P < 0.01) in Group 1 were greater than those in Groups 2-4. The compliance indices were positively correlated with the reduction in symptom scores in Groups 1-3. CONCLUSION: Appropriate clinician-patient communication regarding the reasons for prescribing psychoactive drugs that emphasizes both the psychological and GI mechanisms might improve adherence to FM in patients with FD.

3-N-Butylphthalide mitigates high glucose-induced injury to Schwann cells:association with nitrosation and apoptosis

A high glucose state readily causes peripheral axon atrophy, demyelination, loss of nerve fiber function, and delayed regeneration. However, few studies have examined whether nitration is also critical for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of high glucose on proliferation, apoptosis, and 3-nitrotyrosine levels of Schwann cells treated with butylphthalide. In addition, we explored potential protective mechanisms of butylphthalide on peripheral nerves. Schwann cells were cultured in vitro with high glucose then stimulated with the peroxynitrite anion inhibitors uric acid and 3-n-butylphthalide for 48 hours. Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometry were used to investigate the effects of uric acid and 3-n-butylphthalide on proliferation and apoptosis of Schwann cells exposed to a high glucose environment. Effects of uric acid and 3-n-butylphthalide on levels of 3-nitrotyrosine in Schwann cells were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results indicated that Schwann cells cultured in high glucose showed decreased proliferation, but increased apoptosis and intracellular 3-nitrotyrosine levels. However, intervention with uric acid or 3-n-butylphthalide could increase proliferation of Schwann cells cultured in high glucose, and inhibited apoptosis and intracellular 3-nitrotyrosine levels. According to our data, 3-n-butylphthalide may inhibit cell nitrification and apoptosis, and promote cell proliferation, thereby reducing damage to Schwann cells caused by high glucose.

Phase-matching quantum key distribution with light source monitoring

The transmission loss of photons during quantum key distribution(QKD)process leads to the linear key rate bound for practical QKD systems without quantum repeaters.Phase matching quantum key distribution(PM-QKD)protocol,an novel QKD protocol,can overcome the constraint with a measurement-device-independent structure,while it still requires the light source to be ideal.This assumption is not guaranteed in practice,leading to practical secure issues.In this paper,we propose a modified PM-QKD protocol with a light source monitoring,named PM-QKD-LSM protocol,which can guarantee the security of the system under the non-ideal source condition.The results show that our proposed protocol performs almost the same as the ideal PM-QKD protocol even considering the imperfect factors in practical systems.PMQKD-LSM protocol has a better performance with source fluctuation,and it is robust in symmetric or asymmetric cases.

Cryptotanshinone induces apoptosis of activated hepatic stellate cells via modulating endoplasmic reticulum stress

BACKGROUND Cryptotanshinone(CPT)has wide biological functions,including anti-oxidative,antifibrosis,and anti-inflammatory properties.However,the effect of CPT on hepatic fibrosis is unknown.AIM To investigate the effects of CPT treatment on hepatic fibrosis and its underlying mechanism of action.METHODS Hepatic stellate cells(HSCs)and normal hepatocytes were treated with different concentrations of CPT and salubrinal.The CCK-8 assay was used to determine cell viability.Flow cytometry was used to measure apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and Western blot analyses were used to measure mRNA levels and protein expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS)signaling pathway related molecules,respectively.Carbon tetrachloride(CCL4)was used to induce in vivo hepatic fibrosis in mice.Mice were treated with CPT and salubrinal,and blood and liver samples were collected for histopathological examination.RESULTS We found that CPT treatment significantly reduced fibrogenesis by modulating the synthesis and degradation of the extracellular matrix in vitro.CPT inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase in cultured HSCs.Furthermore,we found that CPT promoted apoptosis of activated HSCs by upregulating expression of ERS markers(CHOP and GRP78)and activating ERS pathway molecules(PERK,IRE1α,and ATF4),which were inhibited by salubrinal.Inhibition of ERS by salubrinal partially eliminated the therapeutic effect of CPT in our CCL4-induced hepatic fibrosis mouse model.CONCLUSION CPT can promote apoptosis of HSCs and alleviate hepatic fibrosis through modulating the ERS pathway,which represents a promising strategy for treating hepatic fibrosis.

2型糖尿病视网膜动脉硬化与心脑血管系统疾病的关系

目的:探讨2型糖尿病视网膜动脉硬化情况及其与心脑血管系统疾病的关系。方法:选取2016-01/2017-01我院收治的2型糖尿病患者85例为研究对象,对患者进行眼底检查,确定其眼底动脉硬化分级情况,并对患者血糖水平进行检测,测定其糖化血红蛋白、空腹血糖和餐后2h血糖水平。患者均随访至少1. 5a,统计随访期间患者心脑血管系统疾病的发生率。比较不同眼底动脉硬化分级患者的血糖水平和心脑血管系统疾病发生率,并分析眼底动脉硬化分级与血糖水平和心脑血管系统疾病的关系。结果:患者85例中,眼底动脉硬化分级为Ⅰ级、Ⅱ级和Ⅲ级患者比例分别为15%(13/85)、52%(44/85)和33%(28/85),随访期间心脑血管系统疾病发生率为27%(23/85)。随着眼底动脉硬化分级的升高,其糖化血红蛋白、空腹血糖、餐后2h血糖水平和心脑血管系统疾病发生率亦升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0. 05)。Spearman相关分析结果显示,2型糖尿病患者眼底动脉硬化分级与其糖化血红蛋白、空腹血糖、餐后2h血糖水平和心脑血管系统疾病发生率均呈正相关(rs=0. 875、0. 792、0. 835、0. 878,P<0. 05)。结论:2型糖尿病眼底动脉硬化严重,且与其血糖水平和心脑血管系统疾病密切相关。

Olanzapine Induces Inflammation and Immune Response via Activating ER Stress in the Rat Prefrontal Cortex

Objective Antipsychotics,in particular olanzapine,are first-line medications for schizophrenia.The prefrontal cortex(PFC)is an important region for antipsychotics’therapeutic effects.The PFC inflammatory and immune pathways are associated with schizophrenia pathogenesis.However,the effect of antipsychotics on the inflammatory and immune pathways in the PFC remains unclear.We aimed to examined the time-dependent effect of olanzapine on inflammatory and immune markers in the PFC of rats.Since the inflammatory and immune pathways are related to endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress,we further investigated whether or not olanzapine-induced inflammation and immune responses were related to ER stress.Methods Expression of pro-inflammatory markers including IkappaB kinaseβ(IKKβ),nuclear factor kappa B(NFκB),tumor necrosis factorα(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6)and IL-1β,and immune-related proteins including inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),toll-like receptor 2(TLR2)and cluster of differentiation 14(CD14)were examined by Western blotting.Results Olanzapine treatments for 1,8 and 36 days significantly activated the inflammatory IKKβ/NFκB signaling,and increased the expression of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1βand immune-related proteins such as iNOS,TLR4 and CD14.Olanzapine treatment for 1 day,8 and 36 days also induced ER stress in the PFC.Co-treatment with an ER stress inhibitor,4-phenylbutyrate,inhibited olanzapine-induced inflammation and the immune response in the PFC.Conclusion These results suggested olanzapine exposure could be a factor that induces central inflammation and immunological abnormities in schizophrenia subjects.Olanzapine induces PFC inflammation and immune response,possibly via activating ER stress signaling.

Molecular characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus among children with respiratory tract infections in southwest China

Background The molecular characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) in general pediatric wards and county-level hospitals were rarely reported in China.Methods Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from children hospitalized with respiratory tract infection (RTI) in Zhongjiang and Youyang counties in 2015.All isolates were typed by multilocus sequence,staphylococcal protein A,accessory gene regulator (agr),and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec [SCCmec,for methicillin-resistant S.aureus (MRSA) only].Polymerase chain reaction was used to screen 21 super-antigen (SAg) genes and panton-valentine leukocidin (pvl).Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by E test.Results A total of 2136 children were enrolled.Overall,125 (5.9%) children carried S.aureus,among which MRSA accounted for 42.4%.ST59-SCCmec type Ⅳ-t437-agr group Ⅰ (58.5%) was the most prevalent genotype in MRSA,and ST188-t189-agr group Ⅰ (22.2%) was the top genotype in methicillin-sensitive S.aureus (MSSA).The pvl carriage rate in MRSA and MSSA was 15.1% and 9.7%,respectively (P =0.4112).About 96.8% of S.aureus isolates were positive for at least one SAg gene.The most common SAg gene profile in the dominant ST59 clone was seb-sek-seq (42.8%).All S.aureus isolates were resistant to penicillin and erythromycin (minimum inhibitory concentration 90 was > 32 and 256 mg/L to penicillin and erythromycin,respectively),but usually susceptible to other tested non-β-lactam antimicrobials.Conclusions Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA were detected with a high frequency in children with RTI in county-level hospitals of China.ST59-SCCmec type Ⅳ-t437-agr group Ⅰ was the dominant MRSA clone.The S.aureus isolates exhibited high resistance to penicillin and erythromycin.

Sports Injury-Related Fingers and Thumb Deformity Due to Tendon or Ligament Rupture

Background：Hand injuries are very common in sports,such as skiing and ball sports.One of the major reasons causing hand and finger deformity is due to ligament and tendon injury.The aim of this study was to investigate if the high-resolution 3T magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） can demonstrate the complex anatomy of the fingers and thumb,especially the tendons and ligaments,and provide the accurate diagnosis of clinically important fingers and thumbs deformity due to ligamentous and tendinous injuries during sport activities.Methods：Sixteen fresh un-embalmed cadaveric hands were harvested from eight cadavers.A total of 20 healthy volunteers＇ hands and 44 patients with fingers or thumb deformity due to sports-related injuries were included in this study.All subjects had MR examination with T1-weighted images and proton density-weighted imaging with fat suppression （PD FS） in axial,coronal,and sagittal plane,respectively.Subsequently,all 16 cadaveric hands were sliced into 2-mm thick slab with a band saw （six in coronal plane,six in sagittal plane,and four in axial plane）.The correlation of anatomic sections and the MRI characteristics of tendons of fingers and the ulnar collateral ligament （UCL） at the metacarpal phalangeal joint （MCPJ） of thumb between 20 healthy volunteers and 44 patients （confirmed by surgery） were analyzed.Results：The normal ligaments and tendons in 16 cadaveric hands and 20 volunteers＇ hands showed uniform low-signal intensity on all the sequences of the MRI.Among 44 patients with tendinous and ligamentous injuries in the fingers or thumb,12 cases with UCL injury at MCPJ of the thumb （Stener lesion =8 and non-Stener lesion=4）,6 cases with the central slip injury,12 cases with terminal tendon injury,and 14 cases with flexor digitorum profundus injury.The ligaments and tendons disruption manifested as increased signal intensity and poor definition,discontinuity,and heterogeneous signal intensity of the involved ligaments and tendons.Conclusions：Sports injury-related fingers and thumb deformity are relatively common.MRI is an accurate method for evaluation of the anatomy and pathologic conditions of the fingers and thumb.It is a useful tool for accurate diagnosis of the sports-related ligaments and tendons injuries in hand.

High-resolution 3T Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex in Chinese Wrists： Correlation with Cross-sectional Anatomy

Background：The injury of the triangular fibrocartilage complex （TFCC） is a common cause of ulnar-sided wrist pain.The aim of this study was to investigate if the high-resolution 3T magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） could demonstrate the detailed complex anatomy of TFCC in Chinese.Methods：Fourteen Chinese cadaveric wrists （from four men and three women;age range at death from 30 to 60 years;mean age at 46 years） and forty healthy Chinese wrists （from 20 healthy volunteers,male/female：10/10;age range from 21 to 53 years with a mean age of 32 years） in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from March 2014 to March 2016 were included in this study.All cadavers and volunteers had magnetic resonance （MR） examination of the wrist with coronal T 1-weighted and proton density-weighted imaging with fat suppression in three planes,respectively.MR arthrography （MRAr） was performed on one of the cadaveric wrists.Subsequently,all 14 cadaveric wrists were sliced into 2 mm thick slab with band saw （six in coronal plane,four in sagittal plane,and four in axial plane）.The MRI features of normal TFCC were analyzed in these specimens and forty healthy wrists.Results：Triangular fibrocartilage,the ulnar collateral ligament,and the meniscal homolog could be best observed on images in coronal plane.The palmar and dorsal radioulnar ligaments were best evaluated in transverse plane.The ulnotriquetral and ulnolunate ligaments were best visualized in sagittal plane.The latter two structures and the volar and dorsal capsules were better demonstrated on MRAr.Conclusion：High-resolution 3T MRI is capable to show the detailed complex anatomy of the TFCC and can provide valuable information for the clinical diagnosis in Chinese.

A highly selective colorimetric and“Off-On”fluorescence sensor for CN^-based on Zn(salphenazine)complex

The development of sensors for selective detection of cyanide ion(CN^-) is an important mission to accomplish because of the versatility and toxicity of CN^-. In the present work, an "ensemble"-based colorimetric and fluorescent sensor(L2-Zn^(2+)) for CN^-ion has been developed. The addition of cyanide ions removed Zn^(2+) from the ensemble(L2-Zn^(2+)) in aqueous medium, resulting in a color change of the solution from red to buff and a "turn-on" fluorescent response. Also, the sensitivity of both the fluorescenceand colorimetric-based assay is below the maximum allowable level of cyanide ions in drinking water set by the World Health Organization. In addition, test strips, which served as convenient and efficient CN^- test kits, were fabricated based on the sensor.Notably, the selective detection of cyanide with L2-Zn^(2+) for practical application was also performed in sprouting potatoes.

Experimental investigation of the factors affecting accuracy and resolution of the pore structure of cement-based materials by thermoporometry

Thermoporometry(TPM) is a calorimetric-based technique for characterizing pore structure according to the freezing and melting point depression of liquid confined in pores which attributes to a varying phase-transition free energy by interface curvature.TPM has demonstrated an emerging success in applications for determining the mesopores of cement-based materials in recent decades.To improve its resolution and accuracy,this paper discussed these factors which show a great influence on the baseline heat flow and the derived pore structure using two molecular sieves with discontinuous size for calibration,referring to the sample handling,the mass of sample and the varying temperature.The pore size distributions of ordinary and high-strength concrete by TPM were favorably compared to the results taken by nitrogen adsorption/desorption(NAD) and mercury intrusion porosimetry(MIP).The results illustrated that both the accuracy and resolution improve with the decreasing cooling/heating rate until 1 °C/min;however,if the rate is too slow,it can lead to an unstable result.The mass of the sample tested has much less an effect on the accuracy when it increases to more than 30 mg.TPM is demonstrated to be more accurate to characterize the mesopores with the size bigger than 4 nm as compared to NAD and MIP.