Research progress in artificial intelligence assisted diabetic retinopathy diagnosis.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most common retinal vascular diseases and one of the main causes of blindness worldwide. Early detection and treatment can effectively delay vision decline and even blindness in patients with DR. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) models constructed by machine learning and deep learning (DL) algorithms have been widely used in ophthalmology research, especially in diagnosing and treating ophthalmic diseases, particularly DR.

[National Natural Science Foundation of China promotes the development of Chinese medicine in China--an analysis of Chinese medicine project funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China in the last decade].

In recent years, projects funded by the Division V III of Health Sciences of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) increased steadily, which enhanced the process of modernization of Chinese medicine (CM). We analyzed CM projects funded by NSFC during 2003 -2012, which aimed to provide reference to experts in the CM field.

[Applications and approved projectsof general program, young scientist fund and fund for less developedregion of national natural science funds in discipline of Chinese materia medica, NSFC in 2012].

The applications accepted and approved by general program, young scientist fund and fund for less developed region of national natural science funds in the discipline of Chinese materia medica, NSFC in 2012 have been introduced. The research contents of the funded projects in the popular research areas have been summarized and the problems in the applications have been analyzed to give a reference to the scientists in the field of Chinese materia medica.

Rehmannia glutinosa extract activates endothelial progenitor cells in a rat model of myocardial infarction through a SDF-1 α/CXCR4 cascade.

Objectives: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) can be used to repair tissues after myocardial infarction (MI) but EPC activators have adverse reactions. Rehmannia glutinosa is a herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, which can promote bone-marrow proliferation and protect the ischemic myocardium. We investigated the effects of Rehmannia glutinosa extract (RGE) on EPCs in a rat model of MI.

Unpredictable chronic mild stress promotes atherosclerosis in high cholesterol-fed rabbits.

Objectives: Chronic psychological stress is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis in humans. Experimental studies using various stress models have yielded controversial results. This study investigated the effects of unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) on atherogenesis in New Zealand white rabbits.

Chronic psychological stress induces vascular inflammation in rabbits.

Psychological stress is associated with a systemic inflammatory response. It is unclear, however, whether psychological stress contributes to vascular inflammation. Here, we examined the effects of unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) on vascular inflammation in rabbits.

Danshensu protects vascular endothelia in a rat model of hyperhomocysteinemia.

Aim: To examine whether danshensu could protect vascular endothelia in a rat model of hyperhomocysteinemia.

Methods: The model was established by feeding rats with a methionine-rich diet (1 g·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹) for 3 months. Immediately following the discontinuation of methionine-rich diet, rats were treated with danshensu (67.

ACE2 overexpression ameliorates left ventricular remodeling and dysfunction in a rat model of myocardial infarction.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that overexpression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) may favorably affect left ventricular (LV) remodeling and function after myocardial infarction (MI). The left anterior descending coronary artery was ligated to produce anterior MI in 100 Wistar-Kyoto rats that were randomly divided into Ad-ACE2, Ad-ACE2+A779, Ad-EGFP, model, and sham groups. Two weeks later, rats in the Ad-ACE2 and Ad-EGFP groups received direct intramyocardial injection of Ad-ACE2 and Ad-EGFP, respectively.

Sulfotanshinone Sodium Injection could decrease fibrinogen level and improve clinical outcomes in patients with unstable angina pectoris.

We randomly divided 100 unstable angina pectoris (UAP) patients into two groups: the trial group received Sulfotanshinone Sodium Injection (SSI) 60 mg combined with a loading dose of 300 mg aspirin and a maintenance dose of 100 mg of aspirin plus baseline therapy, and the control group received the same doses of aspirin and baseline therapy. 94 patients completed treatment. After 4 weeks' medication, the severity of angina pectoris improved in both groups, with a significant improvement in total effective rate in the trial group but no difference in the total effective rate of improvement seen on ECG.

Herba Epimedii water extract elevates estrogen level and improves lipid metabolism in postmenopausal women.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can ameliorate lipid metabolism after menopause, but it is not suitable for long-term use because of serious side effects. Herba Epimedii is a widely used herbal medicine in many Asian countries, it potentially treats menopausal syndrome and its complications with few side effects and good curative effects. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of Herba Epimedii water extract on blood lipid and sex hormone levels.

Effects of Bulbus allii macrostemi on clinical outcomes and oxidized low-density lipoprotein and plasminogen in unstable angina/non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients.

Unstable angina (UA)/non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is associated with an increased risk of cardiac death and an efficacious drug with few side effects is necessary. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of Bulbus allii macrostemi (B. macrostemi) on UA/NSTEMI patients as well as to elucidate possible mechanisms.

Evaluation of gross tumor size using CT, 18F-FDG PET, integrated 18F-FDG PET/CT and pathological analysis in non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: The correlation of gross tumor sizes between combined 18F-FDG PET/CT images and macroscopic surgical samples has not yet been studied in detail. In the present study, we compared CT, 18F-FDG PET and combined 18F-FDG PET/CT for the delineation of gross tumor volume (GTV) and validated the results through examination of the macroscopic surgical specimen.

Methods: Fifty-two operable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients had integrated 18F-FDG PET/CT scans preoperatively and pathological examination post-operation.

Involved-field radiotherapy is effective for patients 70 years old or more with early stage non-small cell lung cancer.

Background And Purpose: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 80-85% of all lung cancers, especially in patients 70 years old or more. In this study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of involved-field radiotherapy (IFRT) for patients 70 years old or more with early stage NSCLC.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a multicenter prospective study in elderly patients with NSCLC treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Effects of rhubarb extract on radiation induced lung toxicity via decreasing transforming growth factor-beta-1 and interleukin-6 in lung cancer patients treated with radiotherapy.

Background: Radiation induced lung toxicity (RILT) is the main adverse effect in the radiation therapy of lung cancer. However, the optimal management of RILT has not been defined. In this paper, we investigated the effects of rhubarb extract on RILT, pulmonary function (PF), transforming growth factor-beta-1 (TGF-beta1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in lung cancer patients treated with radiotherapy.

KLF4: a novel target for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease characterized by a large amount of hyperproliferation and poorly differentiated or undifferentiated smooth muscle cells in atherosclerotic plaque. Cancer cells differ from normal cells in many aspects, including hyperproliferation and loss of differentiation. So the research on tumor may shed light on the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Prediction of atherosclerotic plaque ruptures with high-frequency ultrasound imaging and serum inflammatory markers.

Atherosclerotic plaque rupture and thrombosis are the main causes of acute coronary syndrome. In the present study, we investigated whether ultrasound imaging and inflammatory parameters are predictive of plaque rupture in a newly established animal model. We developed a rabbit model for plaque rupture by locally delivering recombinant p53 adenovirus to plaques in rabbits fed a high-cholesterol diet for 10 wk, and plaque rupture was triggered using Chinese Russell's viper venom and histamine.

Effects of Quyu Xiaoban capsules on clinical outcomes and platelet activation and aggregation in patients with unstable angina pectoris.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Quyu Xiaoban capsules (QYXB) on clinical outcomes and platelet activation and aggregation in patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) and phlegm and blood stasis syndrome.

Design: Ninety (90) UAP patients were randomly divided into two groups: the control group received a loading dose of 300 mg aspirin and a maintenance dose of 100 mg of aspirin plus baseline therapy for 4 weeks, and the trial group received the same doses of aspirin and baseline therapy plus QYXB for 4 weeks. The severity of anginal attacks, alterations of TCM symptoms and signs, and electrocardiographic (ECG) changes were observed in all patients before and after treatment.

BAFF - an essential survival factor for B cells: Links to genesis of ITP and may be of therapeutic target.

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease characterized by the production of antiplatelet antibodies secreted by B cells resulting in enhanced destruction of platelets by macrophages. B cells have been demonstrated to play a critical role in the genesis of ITP. Recently identified B cells activating factor of the TNF ligand family (BAFF) is essential in their physiology which can promote B cells development, survival, proliferation and maturation, then the secretion of more antibodies.

Effects of Quyu xiaoban capsules on clinical outcomes and platelet activation and aggregation in patients with unstable angina pectoris.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Quyu Xiaoban capsules (QYXB) on clinical outcomes and platelet activation and aggregation in patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) and phlegm and blood stasis syndrome.

Design: Ninety patients with UAP were randomly divided into two groups: a control group that received a loading dose of 300 mg aspirin and a maintenance dose of 100 mg of aspirin plus baseline therapy for 4 weeks, and a trial group that received the same doses of aspirin and baseline therapy plus QYXB for 4 weeks. The severity of anginal attacks, alterations of TCM symptoms and signs, and electrocardiographic (ECG) changes were assessed in all patients before and after treatment.

Effects of Quyu Xiaoban Capsule on vascular endothelial function in patients with atherosclerosis.

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of Quyu Xiaoban Capsule (QYXBC) on endothelial dependent vascular relaxation (EDVR) function in patients with atherosclerosis (AS) with ultrasonic technique.

Methods: Tested were the endothelial function and blood lipids of 42 patients with AS in the treated group and 30 healthy volunteers in the control group. And re-examination of these parameters was carried out on the AS patients after they had been treated with QYXBC for 10 months.

[Clinical study of acoustic densitometry technique in detecting atherosclerotic plaque].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Quyu Xiaoban Capsule (QYXB) on the regressive treatment of atherosclerosis (AS) with acoustic densitometry (AD) technique.

Methods: Eighty patients with AS were randomly divided into two groups, trial group was treated with QYXB and conventional medicine, and control group was treated with conventional medicine alone. Normal arterial wall and different types of atherosclerotic plaques were detected with AD technique before treatment and 10 months later.