加用参附注射液对冠心病心力衰竭患者福辛普利应用剂量的影响

目的:分析加用参附注射液对冠心病慢性心力衰竭患者福辛普利应用剂量的影响。方法:以冠心病慢性心力衰竭急性发作的住院患者为研究对象,随机将其分为加用参附注射液的观察组(n=26)和不加参附注射液的对照组(n=23),根据2组福辛普利应用剂量、平均动脉血压、血肌酐、血尿素氮等指标,分析加用参附注射液对福辛普利应用的影响。结果:观察组福辛普利应用剂量明显高于对照组(P<0.05),且对平均动脉血压、血肌酐、血尿素氮等指标无显著影响(P>0.05)。结论:在冠心病慢性心力衰竭急性发作的住院患者中,应用参附注射液显著增加福辛普利的应用剂量,且对血压及肾功能无明显影响,从而更早、更积极地启动神经激素阻滞治疗。     

煮散剂与汤剂在肺炎喘嗽中的疗效比较和成本分析

目的比较儿科煮散剂与饮片汤剂对小儿肺炎喘嗽的临床疗效和经济成本分析,探讨中药煮散剂的成本优势。方法对2010年10月至2013年3月广东省中西医结合医院儿科病房收治的300例肺炎喘嗽患儿按风寒闭肺、风热闭肺、痰热闭肺3种证型随机分配到煮散剂组和饮片组,比较3种证型各自方剂不同剂型口服给药对患儿临床症状、体征的影响,观察煮散剂与饮片的疗效差异,探讨煮散剂口服给药的安全性。同时,对煮散剂与饮片进行临床经济成本对比评价。结果煮散剂组在小儿肺炎喘嗽3种证型中的临床疗效与饮片汤剂组比较差异无统计意义（P〉0．05）,但煮散剂组在中药经济成本上明显少于饮片组。结论通过对小儿肺炎喘嗽3种证型的临床观察及对比,煮散剂在有效性、安全性方面与饮片剂型无明显差异,但在经济成本土明显优于饮片汤剂型。     

In-Situ Synthesis,Microstructure, and Mechanical Properties of TiB2-Reinforced Fe-Cr-Mn-Al Steel Matrix Composites Prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering

In-situ synthesis, microstructure, and mechanical properties of four TiB₂-Reinforced Fe-Cr-Mn-Al Steel Matrix Composites have been researched in this work. The microstructure and phases of the prepared specimens have been characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction technique, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The sintered specimens consisted of Fe₂AlCr, CrFeB-type boride, and TiB₂. The mechanical properties, such as hardness and compression strength at room temperature (RT) and at elevated temperatures (600 °C and 800 °C) have been evaluated. The compressive strength and Vickers hardness of the sintered specimens increase with the volume fraction of TiB₂ in the matrix, which are all much higher than those of the ex-situ TiB₂/Fe-15Cr-20Mn-8Al composites and the reported TiB₂/Fe-Cr composites with the same volume fraction of TiB₂. The highest Vickers hardness and compressive strength at room temperature are 1213 ± 35 HV and 3500 ± 20 MPa, respectively. As the testing temperature increases to 600 °C, or even 800 °C, these composites still show relatively high compressive strength. Precipitation strengthening of CrFeB and in-situ synthesis of TiB₂ as well as nanocrystalline microstructure produced by the combination of mechanical alloying (MA) and spark plasma sintering (SPS) can account for the high Vickers hardness and compressive strength.     

Experimental Study on the Mechanical Properties and Compression Size Effect of Recycled Aggregate Concrete

To explore the basic mechanical properties and size effects of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) with different substitution ratios of coarse recycled concrete aggregates (CRCAs) to replace natural coarse aggregates (NCA), the failure modes and mechanical parameters of RAC under different loading conditions including compression, splitting tensile resistance and direct shear were compared and analyzed. The conclusions drawn are as follows: the failure mechanisms of concrete with different substitution ratios of CRCAs are similar; with the increase in substitution ratio, the peak compressive stress and peak tensile stress of RAC decrease gradually, the splitting limit displacement decreases, and the splitting tensile modulus slightly increases; with the increase in the concrete cube’s side length, the peak compressive stress of RAC declines gradually, but the integrity after compression is gradually improved; and the increase in the substitution ratio of the recycled aggregate reduces the impact of the size effect on the peak compressive stress of RAC. Furthermore, an influence equation of the coupling effect of the substitution ratio and size effect on the peak compressive stress of RAC was quantitatively established. The research results are of great significance for the engineering application of RAC and the strength selection of RAC structure design.     

Effects of Filling Rate and Resin Concentration on Pore Characteristics and Properties of Carbon Based Wood Ceramics

As a kind of novel porous ceramics, wood ceramics can be used for filtration, friction, energy storage and electrode materials, etc. In current work, the carbon based wood ceramics (C WCMs) was prepared using pine wood powder and phenolic resin as starting materials. The effects of filling rate of wood powder and resin concentration on pore characteristics and properties of C WCMs were characterized and analyzed with different techniques. Furthermore, the association among porosity of C WCMs, filling rate of wood powder and resin concentration was explored with multiple regression model. The results showed that: increasing the resin concentration and the filling rate of wood powder can improve the mechanical properties of C WCMs, but reduce the porosity and air permeability; when resin concentration is more than 50%, a large amount of caking will appear in the C WCMs, causing internal defects; changing the filling rate under a certain resin concentration can obtain the C WCMs with better pore structure; the porosity of C WCMs has a good linear relationship with resin concentration and filling rate, under the condition that sintering process and the size of wood powder are determined.     

Prognostic Markers and Driver Genes and Options for Targeted Therapy in Human-Papillomavirus-Positive Tonsillar and Base-of-Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The incidence of Human-papillomavirus-positive (HPV⁺) tonsillar and base-of-tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC and BOTSCC, respectively) is increasing epidemically, but they have better prognosis than equivalent HPV-negative (HPV⁻) cancers, with roughly 80% vs. 50% 3-year disease-free survival, respectively. The majority of HPV⁺ TSCC and BOTSCC patients therefore most likely do not require the intensified chemoradiotherapy given today to head and neck cancer patients and would with de-escalated therapy avoid several severe side effects. Moreover, for those with poor prognosis, survival has not improved, so better-tailored alternatives are urgently needed. In line with refined personalized medicine, recent studies have focused on identifying predictive markers and driver cancer genes useful for better stratifying patient treatment as well as for targeted therapy. This review presents some of these endeavors and briefly describes some recent experimental progress and some clinical trials with targeted therapy.     

Characteristics of wear particles and wear behavior of retrieved PEEK-on-HXLPE total knee implants: a preliminary study

Polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) has been used clinically for intervertebral fusion and internal fixators in spine and trauma surgery because of its mechanical properties and bioinertness. The present study aimed to assess the suitability of PEEK as an alternative material to cobalt–chromium–molybdenum alloy in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and evaluate the in vivo wear property on the contact surface of the PEEK-on-highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE). PEEK prosthesis was designed and manufactured using injection molding based on the computed tomography data of a standard goat right hind limb. Fifteen goats underwent TKA using PEEK-on-HXLPE prosthesis on the right hind limb. The goats were sacrificed at 12, 24, and 48 weeks postoperatively. The mean surface roughness (R_a) of the retrieved components, proinflammatory cytokines in the synovial fluid, and characteristics of wear particles in the synovial membrane were investigated using laser confocal microscopy, ELISA and polarized light microscopy. The R_a of the femoral component was about 0.08, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.26 μm at pre-study, 12-, 24-, and 48 weeks in the retrievals, respectively. The R_a of the HXLPE bearing samples was approximately 0.38, 0.4, 0.1, and 0.42 μm at pre-study, 12-, 24-, and 48 weeks in the retrievals, respectively. The median size of the particles was 2.63 μm, 1.98 μm, and 3.00 μm at 12, 24, and 48 weeks, respectively. The particles ranged in size from 0.4 μm to 15 μm, and particles <1 μm accounted for 7–13%, those of size 2–5 μm accounted for 67–76%, and those >5 μm accounted for 11–22%. Levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were significantly increased in synovial fluids at 24- and 48 weeks after surgery. Wear occurred on the surfaces of the PEEK and HXLPE material and the size of most wear particles was 1–5 μm. This induced an inflammatory response in the synovial membrane and release of proinflammatory cytokines. A high polishing process may be necessary to lengthen the life of the PEEK prosthesis by reducing the wear and the generation of debris. The PEEK prosthesis as a new generation of artificial joints is promising to be used clinically in the future.

Polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) has been used clinically for intervertebral fusion and internal fixators in spine and trauma surgery because of its mechanical properties and bioinertness.     

The influence of composition on the functionality of hybrid CuO–ZnO–Al2O3/HZSM-5 for the synthesis of DME from CO2 hydrogenation

A series of CuO–ZnO–Al₂O₃/HZSM-5 hybrid catalysts with different Cu/Zn ratios and disparate Al₂O₃ doping were prepared and characterized by XRD, BET, H₂-TPR, NH₃-TPD and XPS techniques. The optimal Cu/Zn ratio is 7 : 3, and the introduction of a suitable amount of Al₂O₃ to form hybrid catalysts increased the BET specific area and micropore volume, facilitated the CuO dispersion, decreased the CuO crystallite size, increased the interaction between CuO and ZnO, enhanced the number of weak acid sites, altered the copper chemical state and improved the catalytic performance consequently. The highest CO₂ conversion, DME selectivity and DME yield of 27.3%, 67.1% and 18.3%, respectively, were observed over the CZA₇H catalyst. The suitable temperature of 260 °C and the appropriate space velocity of 1500 h⁻¹ for one-step synthesis of dimethyl ether (DME) from carbon dioxide (CO₂) hydrogenation were also investigated. The 50 h stability of the CZA₇H catalyst was also tested.

The introduction of Al₂O₃ increased the number of weak acid sites, altered the copper chemical state and improved the catalytic performance and stability consequently.     

Polydopamine-based nanoparticles with excellent biocompatibility for photothermally enhanced gene delivery

For non-viral gene delivery systems, desirable endosomal release is crucial for the achievement of optimum therapeutic efficacy. In this work, polyethylenimine-modified polydopamine-based nanoparticles (PPNPs) with excellent biocompatibility were prepared. These PPNPs showed an average diameter of 13 nm with narrow size distribution. Besides, they could load pGL3 DNA effectively at a mass ratio of PPNPs to DNA above 5 and form complexes with spherical morphology (60–80 nm). And PPNPs/DNA complexes demonstrated good photothermal conversion ability. Due to the excellent biocompatibility of polydopamine, these PPNPs/DNA complexes showed low cytotoxicity to HepG2 cells, even after 15 minutes of NIR light irradiation. Furthermore, the PPNPs/DNA complexes with mass ratios of 23 and 30 showed higher transfection levels than Lipofectamine 2000. After exposing these complexes to near infrared (NIR) light with a power density of 2.6 W cm⁻² for 15 min, the transfection level of PPNPs/DNA complexes tripled in HepG2 cells. The rise in gene transfection was attributed to the locally induced heat produced by the PPNPs/DNA complexes, which promoted endosomal membrane disruption and led to better endosomal escape. This result was also confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscope observation. Moreover, PPNPs/DNA complexes demonstrated excellent biocompatibility in hemolysis assays. At the mass ratio of 23 and DNA concentration of 20 μg mL⁻¹, the hemolysis ratio of the PPNPs/DNA complexes was only 1%, lower than that of the PEI/DNA complexes. This PPNP nanocarrier was inspiring for the design of non-viral gene delivery systems with promoted therapeutic efficacy.

Polyethylenimine-modified polydopamine-based nanoparticles (PPNPs) were constructed for photothermally enhanced gene delivery.     

Plasma metabolic profiling analysis of Cortex Periplocae-induced cardiotoxicity based on UPLC/Q-TOF-MS

Cortex Periplocae is a well-known form of traditional medicine with its unique cardiotonic action, anti-tumor activity and immune regulation effect. However, improper use of Cortex Periplocae often leads to cardiac toxicity, which in the most severe cases can even be life-threatening. Biochemical tests and histopathological examinations are primary methods for clinical trials. However, such approaches are time-consuming, lack specificity and have low sensitivity, which can easily lead to negative results in studies. Therefore, a more scientific and systematic evaluation of Cortex Periplocae cardiotoxicity is particularly important. In this study, we established a method that combines metabonomics with trend analysis of a gavage concentration series to find cardiac toxicity biomarkers of Cortex Periplocae. We created rat cardiotoxicity models, in which the toxicity was caused by Cortex Periplocae. We collected data from rat plasma samples based on metabonomics using ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS). Multiple statistical analyses, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), were used to examine metabolite profile changes in plasma samples to screen potential cardiotoxicity biomarkers and metabolic pathways. Compared with the control group, after 7 days administration, the pathological sections showed cardiac toxicity. Moreover, some metabolites in the body changed significantly. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis showed that there are 11 metabolites related with cardiac toxicity, which play a role in “phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis”; “phenylalanine metabolism”; “valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis”; “glycerophospholipid metabolism” as well as “pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis”. These metabolites can better explain the cardiotoxicity mechanism of Cortex Periplocae and provide a scientific and systematic method to evaluate the cardiotoxicity of Cortex Periplocae.

The experimental design flow for screening the cardiotoxicity biomarkers induced by Cortex Periplocae.