Role of arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction on lower limb performance in older adults with type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study

AimTo verify whether arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction influence lower limb muscle strength and gait speed in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsCross-sectional study including seventy-eight older adults with T2DM (aged 67 ± 6 years and 42 % male). Arterial stiffness was assessed using pulse wave velocity (PWV), while endothelial function was measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Lower limb muscle strength and gait speed were assessed using the 30-second chair stand test (30s-CST) and 10-Meter Walk Test, respectively.ResultsBoth PWV (m/s) and FMD (%) were univariately associated with number of repetitions in 30s-CST and gait speed (P < 0.05). After control for age, sex and body mass index, PWV remained associated with repetitions in 30s-CST (95 % CI: ?0.494 to ?0.054; P = 0.015) and gait speed (95 % CI: ?0.039 to ?0.002; P = 0.031). After adjustments for control variables, T2DM duration and glycemic control, FMD was associated with repetitions in 30s-CST (95 % CI: 0.008 to 0.324; P = 0.039) and gait speed (95 % CI: 0.011 to 0.038; P = 0.001).ConclusionIn older adults with T2DM, both arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction are associated with decreased leg muscle strength and slower gait speed.     

Gender difference in association between diabetes mellitus and all-cause mortality in atrial fibrillation patients

ObjectiveThere may be gender difference in correlation of diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular events. We attempt to investigate whether there is gender-heterogeneity in one-year outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with DM or not.MethodsPatients who were diagnosed with AF admitted to the emergency departments in the Chinese AF Multicenter Registry study were enrolled. Basic demographics information, initial Blood Pressure and heart rate, medical histories, and treatments of each patient were collected. Follow-up was carried out with a mean duration of one year. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality and systemic embolism.ResultsA total of 2016 patients were selected from September 2008 and April 2011. All-cause mortality was significantly higher in male AF patients with DM than those without (21.8 % & 13.6 %, P = 0.014). Cox regression analysis showed that there was an interaction between gender and DM for one-year all-cause mortality (P = 0.049). DM was significantly associated with one-year all-cause mortality regardless of univariate analysis (HR = 1.436, 95%CI:1.079–1.911, P = 0.013) or multivariate analysis (HR = 1.418, 95%CI: 1.059–1.899, P = 0.019). For male patients with AF, DM was significantly associated with one-year all-cause mortality (P = 0.048), but not for female patients with AF (P = 0.362).ConclusionDM was independently associated with one-year all-cause mortality in the entire cohort of AF patients. This association was found mainly in male patients with AF, but not in female patients. DM management programs may need to reflect gender difference.     

中医药调控IL-1治疗肿瘤机制的研究进展

炎症已成为影响肿瘤细胞增殖转移的第七大因素,而白细胞介素-1(IL-1)是炎性微环境的重要因子之一。中医药在治疗肿瘤时具有多途径、多靶点的优势,同时炎性微环境致病特点与现代中医学"癌毒"的理论相吻合。查阅近年中医药调控IL-1家族分子治疗肿瘤机制的文献,对其进行梳理,并做出概括及评价,从中医药主要调控IL-1α、IL-1β和IL-18因子治疗肿瘤展开综述,为中医药更系统化治疗肿瘤提供参考。     

Effects of exogenous factors on spatial accuracy in neurosurgery

The study aimed to assess the effect of exogenous factors such as surgeon posture, surgical instrument length, fatigue after a night shift, exercise and caffeine consumption on the spatial accuracy of neurosurgical manipulations. For the evaluation and simulation of neurosurgical manipulations, a testing device developed by the authors was used. The experimental results were compared using nonparametric analysis (Wilcoxon test) and multivariate analysis, which was performed using mixed models. The results were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05. The study included 11 first-year neurosurgery residents who met the inclusion criteria. Hand support in the sitting position (Wilcoxon test p value = 0.0033), caffeine consumption (p = 0.0058) and the length of the microsurgical instrument (p = 0.0032) had statistically significant influences on the spatial accuracy of surgical manipulations (univariate analysis). The spatial accuracy did not significantly depend on the type of standing position (Wilcoxon test p value = 0.2860), whether the surgeon was standing/sitting (p = 0.1029), fatigue following a night shift (p = 0.3281), or physical exertion prior to surgery (p = 0.2845).When conducting the multivariate analysis, the spatial accuracy significantly depended on the test subject (p < 0.0001), the use of support during the test (p = 0.0001), and the length of the microsurgical instrument (p = 0.0397). To increase the spatial accuracy of microsurgical manipulations, hand support and shorter tools should be used. Caffeine consumption in high doses should also be avoided prior to surgery.     

Safety and efficacy of oral nemonoxacin versus levofloxacin in treatment of community-acquired pneumonia: A phase 3, multicenter,randomized, double-blind,double-dummy,active-controlled,non-inferiority trial

Background/Purpose

Nemonoxacin is a novel nonfluorinated quinolone with excellent in vitro activity against most pathogens in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), especially Gram-positive isolates. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of nemonoxacin compared with levofloxacin in patients with CAP.

基于复杂网络的《新针灸学》与《经络腧穴学》比较分析研究（英文）

提取《新针灸学》《经络腧穴学》中穴位名称、主治病症信息,基于复杂网络建立穴-症网络,分析两者穴位数量、相互关联程度及主治规律变化,借助拓扑学数据解释变化原因,为传统针灸知识体系的结构化、标准化研究提供具体思路和方法。共纳入《新针灸学》386穴、773种症状、形成152163个穴位配伍对,《经络腧穴学》403穴、253种症状、28755个穴位配伍对。两本教材的穴-症网络存在丰富的差异性,其所载的病症结构化程度随医学知识的更新而提升。《新针灸学》模型具有更加典型的小世界效应,或因其以病症为主要分类手段的优势体现。两本教材穴位定位与主治方面发生许多变化,学科发展、时代背景等方面是变化的主要原因。     

Safety and efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine,Qiaoshao formula,combined with dapoxetine in the treatment of premature ejaculation: An open-label,real-life,retrospective multicentre study in Chinese men

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Chinese medicine, Qiaoshao formula combined with dapoxetine was used for the treatment of premature ejaculation in a real-life setting. Nine hundred and five males diagnosed with premature ejaculation were reviewed in this retrospective cohort study. We divided the patients into two groups: dapoxetine alone and Qiaoshao formula combined with dapoxetine according to actual interventions provided to patients in clinics. The perceived intravaginal ejaculation latency time and the premature ejaculation profile measures markedly improved in both groups. However, in men with severe premature ejaculation (baseline perceived intravaginal ejaculation latency time <1 min) and those with baseline age ≤30 years, the perceived intravaginal ejaculation latency time was slightly but significantly longer with combined therapy than with dapoxetine alone (p < .05). Therefore, combined therapy involving the Qiaoshao formula and dapoxetine proved to safe as well as effective for treating premature ejaculation while prolonging the perceived intravaginal ejaculation latency time, which significantly improved the overall satisfaction of the patient and likely that of the couple.     

缺氧条件下白花丹醌对肝癌HepG2细胞增殖、凋亡与侵袭及HIF-1α表达的影响

目的 研究白花丹醌在缺氧条件下对人肝癌细胞HepG2增殖、凋亡、侵袭和低氧诱导因子1α(hypoxia induced factor1α，HIF-1α)及其下游基因表达的影响。方法 采用二氯化钴(CoCl₂)化学诱导法建立HepG2细胞体外缺氧模型，经不同浓度(2，4，8 μmol·L^–1)白花丹醌处理24 h后，MTT、平板克隆形成试验观察HepG2细胞增殖水平变化；使用Annexin V/PI双染流式细胞术检测HepG2细胞凋亡情况；使用Transwell试验观察HepG2细胞侵袭能力的变化；使用qRT-PCR检测HepG2细胞内HIF-1A mRNA转录水平变化；使用Western blotting检测细胞内HIF-1α及其下游基因c-Myc、VEGFA、MMP9和TWIST1的蛋白表达水平。结果 当CoCl₂处理浓度为150 μmol·L^–1时，HepG2细胞增殖水平未见显著变化，而HIF-1α蛋白表达水平显著升高(P<0.01)，提示体外缺氧模型建立成功。与常氧对照组相比，MTT、平板克隆形成试验结果显示不同浓度白花丹醌作用HepG2细胞后，其增殖水平受到显著抑制(P<0.05或P<0.01)； Transwell试验结果显示白花丹醌可显著抑制HepG2细胞侵袭(P<0.05或P<0.01)；流式细胞术结果表明白花丹醌能显著诱导HepG2细胞凋亡(P<0.05或P<0.01)；Western blotting及qRT-PCR检测结果显示，白花丹醌能显著下调HIF-1α蛋白及HIF-1A mRNA表达水平(P<0.05或P<0.01)。Western blotting检测结果显示HIF-1α及其下游基因c-Myc、VEGFA、MMP9和TWIST1的蛋白表达水平均显著下调(P<0.05或P<0.01)。结论 CoCl₂体外模拟肝癌HepG2细胞缺氧的适宜浓度为150 μmol·L^–1；在缺氧条件下，白花丹醌可显著抑制肝癌HepG2细胞的增殖与侵袭，同时诱导细胞凋亡，其作用机制可能与下调HIF-1α蛋白及其下游靶基因蛋白表达有关。