Hypocholesterolaemic mechanism of bitter melon aqueous extracts via inhibition of pancreatic cholesterol esterase and reduction of cholesterol micellar solubility

This study investigated the hypocholesterolaemic effects of bitter melon aqueous extracts (BMAE) in vitro, the inhibitory effects of BMAE on pancreatic cholesterol esterase (CEase) and incorporation of cholesterol into micelles were investigated. BMAE decreased the in vitro micellar solubility of cholesterol in a dose-dependent manner. The conformation of CEase was investigated by means of circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence. The result revealed the decrease of α-helix contents, increase of β-sheet and exposure of aromatic amino acid residuals. The incorporation of cholesterol into micelles was inhibited by BMAE. A complex was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which indicated interaction between cholesterol and BMAE. The result revealed that BMAE can play a role in decreased intestinal cholesterol absorption via inhibition of CEase, and of micelle formation.     

社区“5+1”糖尿病分阶段达标管理对2型糖尿病患者生存质量干预效果分析

目的 分析社区"5+1"糖尿病分阶段达标管理对2型糖尿病患者生存质量的干预效果及其影响因素，为提高患者生存质量提供依据。方法 采用分层整群抽样的方法在山西省、江苏省和宁夏回族自治区选择12个社区卫生服务中心，分别作为干预组（管理方式：社区"5+1"糖尿病分阶段达标管理）、对照组[管理方式：依据《国家基本公共卫生服务规范（2011年版）》的相关要求]，进行为期2年的随访观察。采用面对面问卷调查的方式，收集患者的人口学信息等基本信息；采用健康调查简表（SF-36）对患者在干预前后测量生存质量。采用SAS 9.4软件进行双重差分法以及多重线性回归模型分析。结果 基线时共纳入2 467名研究对象，终末时共1 924人接受了为期2年完整的随访管理。干预后，干预组、对照组患者生理健康维度（PCS）、心理健康维度（MCS）评分变化净差值分别为13.6分、29.8分。多重线性回归分析结果显示，影响患者PCS得分的主要因素有年龄、医保类型、基线PCS得分以及所在地区，影响患者MCS得分的主要因素有年龄、医保类型、基线MCS得分、是否合并高血压以及所在地区。结论 社区"5+1"糖尿病分阶段达标管理对2型糖尿病患者生存质量的干预效果较好。     

Binding mode of conformations and structure-based pharmacophore development for farnesyltransferase inhibitors

Farnesyltransferase (FTase) is one of the prenyltransferase family enzymes that catalyse the transfer of 15-membered isoprenoid (farnesyl) moiety to the cysteine of CAAX motif-containing proteins including Rho and Ras family of G proteins. Inhibitors of FTase act as drugs for cancer, malaria, progeria and other diseases. In the present investigation, we have developed two structure-based pharmacophore models from protein–ligand complex (3E33 and 3E37) obtained from the protein data bank. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed on the complexes, and different conformers of the same complex were generated. These conformers were undergone protein–ligand interaction fingerprint (PLIF) analysis, and the fingerprint bits have been used for structure-based pharmacophore model development. The PLIF results showed that Lys164, Tyr166, TrpB106 and TyrB361 are the major interacting residues in both the complexes. The RMSD and RMSF analyses on the MD-simulated systems showed that the absence of FPP in the complex 3E37 has significant effect in the conformational changes of the ligands. During this conformational change, some interactions between the protein and the ligands are lost, but regained after some simulations (after 2 ns). The structure-based pharmacophore models showed that the hydrophobic and acceptor contours are predominantly present in the models. The pharmacophore models were validated using reference compounds, which significantly identified as HITs with smaller RMSD values. The developed structure-based pharmacophore models are significant, and the methodology used in this study is novel from the existing methods (the original X-ray crystallographic coordination of the ligands is used for the model building). In our study, along with the original coordination of the ligand, different conformers of the same complex (protein–ligand) are used. It concluded that the developed methodology is significant for the virtual screening of novel molecules on different targets.     

In Vivo Kinematics of Functional Ankle Instability Patients and Lateral Ankle Sprain Copers During Stair Descent

Patients with mechanic ankle instability experience increased tibiotalar and subtalar joint laxity. However, in vivo joint kinematics in functional ankle instability (FAI) patients and lateral ankle sprain (LAS) copers, especially during dynamic activities, are poorly understood. Ten FAI patients, 10 LAS copers, and 10 healthy controls were included in this study. A dual fluoroscopic imaging system was used to analyze the tibiotalar and subtalar joint kinematics during stair descent. Five key poses of stair descent were analyzed. Kinematic data from six degrees of freedom were calculated utilizing a solid modeling software. The range of motion and joint positions in each degree of freedom were compared among the three groups. The tibiotalar joints of FAI patients and LAS copers were significantly more inverted than those of healthy controls during the foot strike (p = 0.016, = 0.264). The subtalar joints of FAI patients were significantly more anteriorly translated (pose 2, p = 0.003, = 0.352; pose 3, p < 0.001, = 0.454; pose 4, p = 0.004, = 0.334), inverted (pose 4, p = 0.027, = 0.234; pose 5,p = 0.034, = 0.221), and externally rotated (pose 4, p = 0.037, = 0.217; pose 5; p = 0.004, = 0.331) than those of healthy controls during the mid‐stance and the heel off. The FAI patients showed excessive tibiotalar inversion and subtalar joint hypermobility during stair descent. Meanwhile, the LAS copers maintained subtalar joint stability, and only showed excessive tibiotalar inversion in foot strike. These data provide insight into the mechanisms behind the development of FAI after initial LAS. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:1860–1867, 2019     

Dying is the Most Grown-Up Thing We Ever Do: But Do Health Care Professionals Prevent Us from Taking It Seriously?

This paper takes a somewhat slant perspective on flourishing and care in the context of suffering, death and dying, arguing that care in this context consists principally of ‘acts of work and courage that enable flourishing’. Starting with the perception that individuals, society and health care professionals have become dulled to death and the process of dying in Western advanced health systems, it suggests that for flourishing to occur, both of these aspects of life need to be faced more directly. The last days of life need to be ‘undulled’. Reflections upon the experiences of the author as carer and daughter in the face of her mother’s experience of death are used as basis for making suggestions about how care systems and professionals might better assist people in dealing with ‘the most grown up thing’ humans ever do, which is to die.     

生物型与骨水泥型假体全髋关节置换术治疗老年移位型股骨颈骨折的疗效分析

目的 比较生物型与骨水泥型假体全髋关节置换术(THA)治疗老年移位型股骨颈骨折(DFNF)的临床疗效.方法 前瞻性纳入2015年7月—2018年6月佳木斯大学附属第一医院骨科收治的老年DFNF患者128例,男性71例,女性57例;年龄61～84岁,平均72.7岁.骨折原因:跌伤75例,撞伤32例,高处坠落伤21例.依据随机数字表法分为生物型假体THA组(BPTHA组,n=64)与骨水泥型假体THA组(CPTHA组,n=64).BPTHA组行生物型假体髋关节置换,CPTHA组行骨水泥型假体髋关节置换.观察两组术中出血量、手术时间、术后引流量等围术期指标及住院时间.比较术前及术后6、12个月髋关节功能(Harris),血清前列腺素缓激肽(BK)、5-羟色胺(5-HT)等疼痛因子水平及视觉模拟评分(VAS),血清淀粉样蛋白A(SAA)、C反应蛋白(CRP)、红细胞沉降率(ESR)等炎性反应指标水平;分析术后并发症发生情况.结果 两组术中出血量、手术时间、术后引流量差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);BPTHA组住院时间长于CPTHA组[(19.76±2.24)d vs.(15.37±1.71)d,P<0.05].术后6个月,BPTHA组Harris评分低于CPTHA组[(81.72±8.37)分vs.(86.68±8.85)分,P<0.05];术后12个月,BPTHA组Harris评分高于CPTHA组[(95.54±9.67)分vs.(90.72±9.12)分,P<0.05].术后6个月,BPTHA组血清BK、5-HT、SAA、CRP、ESR水平及VAS均高于CPTHA组(P<0.05);术后12个月,BPTHA组血清BK、5-HT、SAA、CRP、ESR水平及VAS均低于CPTHA组(P<0.05).BPTHA组并发症发生率为3.13％,CPTHA组并发症发生率为4.69％,两组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 BPTHA、CPTHA均可应用于老年DFNF的临床治疗,但CPTHA近期疗效优于BPTHA,而BPTHA远期疗效优于CPTHA.