A Comparative Study of The Regular Pattern of Syndrome and Treatment of Lung-intestine Related Diseases in Ancient and Modern Medical Cases Based on Data Mining

Objective: To analyze the similarities and differences of the applications of "the lung and large intestine being interior-exteriorly related"between the ancient and modern clinical practices, and to reveal the theory meaning.Method: Based on the ancient and modern medical cases database, 245 ancient medical records and 373 modern medical records were studied with the general statistical description and analysis of association rules, and the results were compared to summarize the similarities and differences of the regular pattern of syndrome and treatment on lung-large intestine related diseases in ancient and modern medical records.Results: In modern medical cases, intestinal diseases appeared with the main symptom of constipation due to deficiency of lung qi and qi stagnation of large intestine were always treated by purgation together with replenishing and restoring lung qi. In ancient medical cases, large intestine heat was always caused by lung heat and a variety of diarrhea symptoms appeared. They were always treated by clearing heat and moistening lungs. In addition, the symptom of bound stool caused by qi stagnation of large intestine due to lung qi stagnation was always treated by lowering lung qi to regulate and smooth large intestine qi. And Armeniae Amarum Semen was used by both as a core medicinal herb.Conclusion: Ascending-descending of qi movement is the core of the lung and large intestine relationship. In other words, the lung and the large intestine communicate through qi.

Analysis on clinically drug-used law for lung-intestine related diseases

OBJECTIVE:To analyze the application laws of clinical drugs by descriptive statistical method with the clinical literatures guided by "lung being connected with large intestine" used as the object.METHODS:Retrievepubliclypublishedclinicalliteratures about "lung being connected with large intestine"inrecent30years,establishthedatabaseofclinical literature,and study on the clinically drug-used lawsbydescriptivestatisticalanalyticmethod.RESULTS:The common high frequent drugs used for the lung-intestine related diseases were Gualou(Ructus Trichsanthis),Dahuang(Radix et Rhizoma),Kuxingren(Semen Armeniacae Amarum),Gancao(Radix Glycyrrhizae),Houpu(Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis),Zhishi(Fructus Aurantii Immaturus).For the different clinical syndrome types,in the commonly used drugs there were different characteristics,reflecting the principle of TCM syndrome differentiation treatment.CONCLUSION:The common high frequent drugs used for the lung-intestine related diseases are Gualou(Fructus Trichsanthis),Dahuang(Radix et Rhizoma),Kuxingren(Semen Armeniacae Amarum),Gancao(Radix Glycyrrhizae),Houpu(Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis),Zhishi(Fructus Aurantii Immaturus),which are commonly-used drugs for the lung-intestine related diseases,with differences for different syndrome types.

Bioinformatic analysis and in vivo validation of angiogenesis related genes in inflammatory bowel disease

Angiogenesis plays a significant role in the occurrence and development of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).The aim of this study is to explore potential angiogenesis related genes(ARGs)in IBD through bioinformatics analysis and in vivo experiments.Methods:GSE57945,GSE87466,and GSE36807 were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database.GSE57945 was used as the training set,while GSE87466 and GSE36807 were used as the validation set.The key ARGs associated with IBD were identified using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)and random forest methods.These identified ARGs were then utilized to construct a diagnostic model for IBD.The Single-Sample Genome Enrichment Analysis,Cibersort,and Xcell methods were used to evaluate the immune infiltration.Expression of amyloid beta precursor protein(APP)was verified in the IBD mouse model induced by dextran sulfate sodium using immunohistochemistry(IHC).Results:The receiver operating curve area of GSE57945 was 0.948.Two distinct clusters were identified using consensus clustering and non-negative matrix factorization clustering.Subsequent analyses revealed significant differences in immune levels and functional enrichment between the two clusters.The successful construction of the animal model for the IBD was evident by hematoxylin and eosin staining,while IHC results showed a high expression of APP in IBD and a low expression in normal tissues.Conclusion:Our findings provide new insights into the diagnosis of IBD by ARGs,and APP could be a potential novel biomarker for IBD and promising therapeutic targets.

A Case of Warthin’s Tumor Together with IgG4-Related Sialadenitis

Warthin’s tumor is the second most frequent neoplasm next to pleomorphic adenoma in the salivary gland. The tumor contains the epithelial oncocyte cells with the presence of rich-mitochondria and their surrounding abundant lymphocytes. A relatively new disease entity of IgG4-related disease frequently occurs in the salivary gland. However, the coexistence of Warthin’s tumor and IgG4-related disease is scarcely observed. We have recently experienced a rare case of Warthin’s tumor with IgG4-related sialadenitis. A 51-year-old man presented to our hospital, complaining of a mass with right submandibular tenderness and spontaneous pain. A computed tomography scan of the cervical region revealed a suspicion of lymph node proliferative disease, including malignant lymphoma. Elevated serum levels of IL-2R: 1843 U/ml (reference value 122 - 496 U/ml), IgG: 3430 mg/dl (reference value 861 - 1747 mg/dl), and IgG4: 3140 mg/dl (reference value 11 - 121 mg/dl) were observed. Other laboratory data showed within normal ranges. The cervical tumor was diagnosed as Warthin’s tumor by the findings of fine-needle aspiration cytology and biopsy examination. Immunohistochemistry revealed numerous IgG4- and IgG-positive cells with fibrosis surrounding the epithelial component of Warthin’s tumor, suggesting IgG4-rerated sialadenitis. Finally, we diagnosed the cervical tumor as Warthin tumor with IgG4-related sialadenitis. This is the second report describing a case of Warthin’s tumor with possible involvement of IgG4-related sialadenitis.

Studies on Human Dietary Requirements and Safe Range of Dietary Intakes of Selenium in China and Their Application in the Prevention of Related Endemic Diseases

The human dietary selenium requirement in China has been estimated by various methods. The minimum dietary selenium requircment for the prevention of Keshan disease (KD) was found to be around 17 μg/d. On the other hand, an intake of 40 μg/d is required to maintain the plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity at plateau. Hence 40 μg/d is considered as the adequate dietary selenium requirement. Studies conducted in a chronic selenosis area indicate thai the toxic dietary selenlum inlake (adverse effect level), which would maintain the characteristic fingernail changes, was approximately 1600 μg/d. The mean value of dietary selenium intakes, which enabled the five patients to recover from fingernail lesions, was found to be 819 ±126μg/d. At a 95% confidence limit, the lower limit is around 600μg/d. Therefore, 600 and 400μg/d were suggested as the individual daily maximum safe selenium intake and the safe dietary selenium intake, respectively,The results were used in the prevention of Se-related endemic KD and Kashin-Beck disease (KBD)

Changes in Dietary Patterns and Certain Nutrition-related Diseases in Urban and Rural Residents of Jiangsu Province,China,During the 1990s

Objective To investigate into the changes of dietary patterns and their impacts on health of urban and rural residents in Jiangsu Province, China during the 1990s. Methods On the basis of the results of food consumption survey, the calorie intake was calculated according to the balanced diet method and the quality of diet was assessed by scores of desirable dietary pattern (DDP). Results It was found that food consumption and dietary patterns changed remarkably during the 1990s. Grain consumption was decreasing year by year, but the consumption of animal food was markedly increasing. Although the score of desirable dietary pattern (DDP) in urban residents was more than 90, the deducted score due to over-consumption of animal food increased. The mortality from infectious diseases evidently decreased in the whole province, while the death rates of some chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, colorectal cancer and breast cancer, were increasing rapidly in urban areas. Conclusions Sufficient attention should be paid to the negative effects of change in dietary patterns on people's health, especially in the urban residents.

Higher vitamin D serum concentration increases health related quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases

AIM: To investigate the effect of vitamin D(VD) concentrations and VD supplementation on health related quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) patients. METHODS: A cohort of 220 IBD patients including 141 Crohn's disease(CD) and 79 ulcerative colitis(UC) patients was followed-up at a tertiary IBD center. A subgroup of the cohort(n = 26) took VD supplements for > 3 mo. Health related quality of life was assessed using the short IBD questionnaire(s IBDQ). VD serum concentration and s IBDQ score were assessed between August and October 2012(summer/autumn period) and between February and April 2013(winter/spring period). The mean VD serum concentration and its correlation with disease activity of CD were determined for each season separately. In a subgroup of patients, the effects of VD supplementation on winter VD serum concentration, change in VD serum concentration from summer to winter, and winter s IBDQ score were analyzed.RESULTS: During the summer/autumn and the winter/spring period, 28% and 42% of IBD patients were VD-deficient(< 20 ng/m L), respectively. In the winter/spring period, there was a significant correlation between s IBDQ score and VD serum concentration in UC patients(r = 0.35, P = 0.02), with a trend towards significance in CD patients(r = 0.17, P = 0.06). In the winter/spring period, VD-insufficient patients(< 30 ng/m L) had a significantly lower mean s IBDQ score than VD-sufficient patients; this was true of both UC(48.3 ± 2.3 vs 56.7 ± 3.4, P = 0.04) and CD(55.7 ± 1.25 vs 60.8 ± 2.14, P = 0.04) patients. In all analyzed scenarios(UC/CD, the summer/autumn period and the winter/spring period), health related quality of life was the highest in patients with VD serum concentrations of 50-59 ng/m L. Supplementation with a median of 800 IU/d VD day did not influence VD serum concentration or the s IBDQ score.CONCLUSION: VD serum concentration correlated with health related quality of life in UC and CD patients during the winter/spring period.

Roles of plasmablasts in IgG4-related disease and various immune-based diseases

IgG4-related disease(IgG4-RD) is a systemic fibroinflammatory disease with multiple organ disorders.Recently,in IgG4-RD,increased circulating plasmablasts have been found.The subsets of plasmablasts are negative for RP105(CD180).A large population of B cells lacking RP105(RP105-negative B cells) are found inpatients with active with systemic lupus erythematosus and other systemic autoimmune diseases,including dermatomyositis,and Sj?gren's syndrome.In other conditions,such as neuromyelitis optica,Kawasaki's disease,primary biliary cirrhosis and aging,RP105 expression on B cells and monocytes also alters.We review the basic science and clinical significance of RP105-negative B cells including plasmablasts in various immune-based diseases.RP105-negative B cells,especially plasmablasts,play crucial roles in both systemic and organ-specific autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.

NIH funding for disease categories related to neurodegenerative diseases

Introduction The National Institutes of Health （NIH）, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is the nation＇s medical research agency-making important discoveries that improve health and save lives.Thanks in large part to NIH-funded medical research, Americans today are living longer and healthier. The NIH invests over $31.2＊ billion annually in medical research for the American people. More than 80% of the NIH＇s funding is awarded through almost 50 000 competitive grants to more than 325 000 researchers at over 3 000 universities, medical schools, and other research institutions in every state and around the world.

Liver expression of Nrf2-related genes in different liver diseases

BACKGROUND： The KEAP1-Nrf2 antioxidant signaling pathway is important in protecting liver from various insults. However,little is known about the expression of Nrf2-related genes in human liver in different diseases.METHODS： This study utilized normal donor liver tissues（n=35）, samples from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma（HCC, n=24）, HBV-related cirrhosis（n=27）, alcoholic cirrhosis（n=5） and end-stage liver disease（n=13）. All of the liver tissues were from the Oriental Liver Transplant Center, Beijing,China. The expressions of Nrf2 and Nrf2-related genes, including its negative regulator Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1（KEAP1）, its targeted gene NAD（P）H-quinone oxidoreductase 1（NQO1）, glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit（GCLC） and modified subunit（GCLM）, heme oxygenase 1（HO-1） and peroxiredoxin-1（PRDX1） were evaluated. RESULTS： The expression of Nrf2 was decreased in HCC, increased in alcoholic cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease. The expression of KEAP1 was increased in all of the liver samples.The most notable finding was the increased expression of NQO1 in HCC（18-fold）, alcoholic cirrhosis（6-fold）, endstage liver disease（5-fold） and HBV-related cirrhosis（3-fold）.Peri-HCC also had 4-fold higher NQO1 m RNA as compared to the normal livers. GCLC m RNA levels were lower only in HCC, as compared to the normal livers and peri-HCC tissues.GCLM m RNA levels were higher in HBV-related cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease. HO-1 m RNA levels were increased in all liver tissues except for HCC. Peri-HCC had higher PRDX1 m RNA levels compared with HCC and normal livers.CONCLUSION： Nrf2 and Nrf2-related genes are aberrantly expressed in the liver in different diseases and the increase of NQO1 was the most notable finding, especially in HCC.

Metabonomic window into hepatitis B virus-related hepatic diseases

Metabonomics has recently been widely used todiscover the pathogenesis and find potential metabolic markers with high sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, it develops new diagnosis and treatment methods, increases early phase diagnosis rates of certain diseases and provides a new basis for targeted therapy. This review mainly analyzes the research progress of the metabonomics of hepatitis B virus(HBV)-related hepatic diseases, hoping to discover some potential metabolic markers for identification of HBVrelated hepatic diseases from other etiologies and for HBV-related hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. This can contribute to early discovery, diagnosis and treatment, eventually increasing the survival rate of HBV-related hepatic diseases.

Immunoglobulin G4-related kidney diseases: An updated review

This review will encompass definition, pathogenesis, renal clinical manifestations and treatment of immunoglobulin G4-related diseases( IgG4-RDs). IgG4-RD is a recently recognized clinical entity that often involves multiple organs and is characterized by high levels of serum immunoglobulins G4, dense infiltration of IgG4+ cells and storiform fibrosis. Cellular immunity, particularly T-cell mediated immunity, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of IgG4-RDs. The most frequent renal manifestations of IgG4-RD are IgG4-related tubulointerstitial nephritis, membranous glomerulopathy and obstructive nephropathy secondary to urinary tract obstruction due to IgG4-related retroperitoneal fibrosis. IgG4-RD diagnosis should be based on specific histopathological findings, confirmed by tissue immunostaining, typical radiological findings and an appropriate clinical context. The first line treatment is the steroids with two warnings: Steroid resistance and relapse after discontinuation. In the case of steroid resistance, B cell depleting agents as rituximab represent the secondline treatment. In the case of relapse after discontinuation, steroid treatment may be associated with steroid sparing agents. Since the disease has been only recently identified, more prospective, long-term studies are needed to an improved understanding and a more correct and safe treatment.

Protein Lysine Acetylated/Deacetylated Enzymes and the Metabolism-Related Diseases

Lysine acetylation is a reversible posttranslational modifcation, an epigenetic phenomenon, referred to as transfer of an acetyl group from acetyl CoA to lysine ε- amino group of targeted protein, which is modulated by acetyltransferases (histone/ lysine (K) acetyltransferases, HATs/KATs) and deacetylases (histone/lysine (K) deacetylases, HDACs/KDACs). Lysine acetylation regulates various metabolic processes, such as fatty acid oxidation, Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, angiogenesis and so on. Thus disorders of lysine acetylation may be correlated with obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which are termed as the metabolic complication. With accumulating studies on proteomic acetylation, lysine acetylation also involves in cell immune status and degenerative diseases, for example, Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease. This review primarily summarizes the current studies of lysine acetylation in metabolism modulation and in metabolism-related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and fat metabolism disorder.

Analysis of the Influence of Probiotics on Intestinal Micro-ecology and Related Diseases

Probiotics are a kind of living microorganisms added into food or drug,which are beneficial to our health.Probiotics can regulate the balance of microecosystem in intestine.Recently,people have paid more attention to the effect on the intestinal microecology.This article mainly made a review on the mechanism and application of probiotics.

Adolescents’ Knowledge of Diet-Related Chronic Diseases and Dietary Practices in Ghana

Diet-related chronic diseases constitute public health and developmental challenges in Ghana. The Ghana Health Service in 2007 reported a national prevalence of diabetes of 11.6%, 27.8% for hypertension and 25% of women were reported to be overweight. Adolescents usually adopt lifestyles that negatively affect their nutritional and health status and increase their risk for development of diet-related chronic diseases later in life. The study was therefore carried out to investigate adolescents’ knowledge of diet-related chronic diseases and its influence on their dietary practices. The study design was a cross-sectional survey involving 313 adolescents aged 14 18 years from public and private senior high schools. Structured interviews and diet assessment methods were used to collect information on respondents’ knowledge of diet-related chronic diseases and dietary practices. The data collected were analyzed using the SPSS program version 16. The Chi-square test and ANOVA were used to determine the relationships between respondents’ knowledge of diet-related chronic diseases and dietary practices. The results revealed that knowledge of diabetes, hypertension and obesity were low among the respondents with most of them (89.2%) having fair to poor knowledge of the diseases. Eighty-eight percent of the adolescents ate three or more times in a day. Meals mostly skipped were breakfast and lunch. Dietary diversity of the respondents was generally poor. There was a significant relationship between knowledge of diet-related chronic diseases and the dietary practices of the adolescents. As knowledge of the diseases increased, dietary diversity also improved.

Pathogenesis and treatment of hepatitis C virus-related liver diseases

BACKGROUND: Few comprehensive reviews on the pa- thogenesis of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver diseases have been presented to the present. This article was to re- view the pathogenesis and treatment of HCV-related liver diseases. DATA SOURCES: Data presented here are mostly taken from Japanese studies. RESULTS: HCV infection is characterized by persistent in- flammation of the liver and frequent development of hepa- tocellular carcinoma (HCC) in most cases. These charac- teristic evidences could be explained by immunological al- terations and oxidative stress in the hepatocyte caused by HCV infection. Interferon (IFN) treatment is carried out, at present, not only for the elimination of infected HCV for the treatment of chronic liver diseases, but also for both the prevention of HCC and the treatment of advanced HCC with chemotherapy. The treatment for oxidative stress is al- so important for non-responders to IFN. CONCLUSION: It is important to understand the pathoge- nesis of HCV-related liver diseases for a successful treat- ment.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis associated with immunoglobulin G4-related disease

Retroperitoneal fibrosis is a rare disease characterized by the development of inflammation and fibrosis in the soft tissues of the retroperitoneum and other abdominal organs.Retroperitoneal fibrosis can be of 2 types:idiopathic and secondary.The recently advocated concept and diagnostic criteria of immunoglobulin G4(IgG4)-related disease,derived from research on autoimmune pancreatitis(AIP),has led to widespread recognition of retroperitoneal fibrosis as a condition caused by IgG4-related disease.We now know that previously diagnosed idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis includes IgG4-related disease;however,the actual prevalence is unclear.Conversely,some reports on AIP suggest that retroperitoneal fibrosis is concurrently found in about 10% of IgG4-related disease.Because retroperitoneal fibrosis has no specific symptoms,diagnosis is primarily based on diagnostic imaging(computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging),which is also useful in evaluating the effect of therapy.Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis can occur at different times with other lesions of IgG4-related disease including AIP.Thus,the IgG4 assay is recommended to diagnose idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis.High serum IgG4 levels should be treated and monitored as a symptom of IgG4-related disease.The first line of treatment for retroperitoneal fibrosis is steroid therapy regardless of its cause.For patients with concurrent AIP,i.e.,IgG4-related retroperitoneal fibrosis,the starting dose of steroid is usually 30-40 mg/d.The response to steroid therapy is generally favorable.In most cases,the pancreatic lesion and retroperitoneal fibrosis improve after the initial treatment.However,the epidemiology,treatment for recurring retroperitoneal fibrosis,and long-term prognosis are still largely unknown.Further analysis of such cases and research are necessary.

Assessment of disease specific knowledge and health-relatedquality of life among United States military veterans withinflammatory bowel disease

AIM To evaluate the association between patientdisease knowledge of inflammatory bowel disease （IBD）and health related quality of life （HRQoL） and identifypatient and disease related predictors of patientknowledge of IBD.METHODS： We performed a cross-sectional study ofIBD patients with an established diagnosis of IBD longerthan 3 mo prior to enrollment. The Crohn＇s and colitisknowledge score （CCKNOW） and short inflammatorybowel disease questionnaire （SIBDQ） were selfadministeredto assess patient knowledge of IBDand HRQoL, respectively. Demographic and diseasecharacteristics were abstracted from the electronicmedical record. The correlation between CCKNOWand SIBDQ scores was assessed by a linear regressionmodel. Associations of patient knowledge and thevariables of interest were calculated using ANOVA.RESULTS： A total of 101 patients were recruited.Caucasian race, younger age at diagnosis, and having a college or post-graduate degree were significantlyassociated with higher CCKNOW scores. Patients withCD had higher CCKNOW scores compared to patientswith ulcerative colitis and inflammatory bowel diseasetype unclassified, P 〈 0.01. There was no significantcorrelation between overall CCKNOW and SIBDQ scores（r^2 = 0.34, P = 0.13）. The knowledge sub-domain ofdiet in CCKNOW was negatively correlated with HRQoL（r^2 = 0.69, P 〈 0.01）.CONCLUSION： IBD diagnosis at a younger age inaddition to Caucasian race and higher education weresignificantly associated with higher knowledge aboutIBD. However, patient knowledge of IBD was notcorrelated with HRQoL. Further studies are required tostudy the effect of patient knowledge of IBD on otherclinical outcomes.

阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer’s Disease,AD)与动力相关蛋白1(dynamin-related protein 1,Drp1)

阿尔茨海默病(AD)已成为威胁老年人生活的一种常见病,对老年人的生活质量有着严重的影响,目前尚无有效地防治方法。最新研究发现在阿尔茨海默病的病理发生中,神经细胞伴有显著的线粒体代谢紊乱和动态变化的异常,其中动力相关蛋白1(Drp1)是参与线粒体动态变化的关键分子。深入研究阿尔茨海默病中线粒体动态变化的异常及Drp1等关键分子的作用机制,对于揭示AD的发生机制及寻找药物作用靶点具有重要意义。综述了Drp1在阿尔茨海默病中的调控机制。

Shifting balance from neurodegeneration to regeneration of the brain: a novel therapeutic approach to Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative conditions

Neurodegeneration is one of the biggest public health problems in modern society. Age-associated neurodegeneration, which is accelerated several-fold in Alzheimer＇s disease （AD） alone, is not only an enormous social and economic burden to the affected in- dividuals and their families, but is also a great scientific challenge. Currently 25-35 million people worldwide suffer from AD, the single largest cause of dementia in middle- to old-aged individuals. These numbers are projected to triple by 2050 if no treatment to prevent or reverse AD is developed.