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Background The global incidence and mortality rates of liver cancer, which is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, are increasing. However, information on its epidemiology and clinical prognosis is limited. This study aimed to characterize the epidemiology and prognostic factors of secondary liver cancer to aid in the pretreatment evaluation of the disease. Methods Patients diagnosed with secondary liver cancer between 2010 and 2014 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were retrospectively included. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed to screen for significant factors associated with secondary liver cancer. Results A total of 85,738 secondary liver cancer patients were identified; in this population, the first primary site was the lung (25.9%), followed by the colorectum, pancreas, stomach, breast, and cecum. Patients with primary tumors of the colorectum, cecum and breast had longer median survival time. Advanced age, male gender, black race, poor differentiation or lack of differentiation, regional lymph node metastases, and presence of distant metastasis were associated with poor prognosis. Conclusions In this study, novel findings on the role of the primary site and synchronous distant metastasis to specific organs in patients with secondary liver cancer were described. These findings have significant implications in clinical diagnosis and treatment, and provide a better understanding of secondary liver cancer in the general population.

Objective To compare the clinical therapeutic effect on epiphora as sequela of peripheral facial paralysis treated with pricking technqiue of fire needling therapy at Chengqi (承泣 ST1) and acupuncture treatment at conventional acupoints. Methods From September 2018 through to October 2018, 64 cases of epiphora as sequela of peripheral facial paralysis were collected from the Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion in Suzhou TCM Hospital. According to random number table, they were divided into an observation group and a control group, 32 cases in each one. In the observation group, pricking technique of fire needling therapy was used at ST1, once every two days. In the control group, acupuncture with filiform needle was applied to Jīngming (睛明BL1), Taiyang (太阳EX-HN5), Tongzĭliao (瞳子髎GB1), Sibai (四白ST2) and Quanliao (颧髎SI18) on the affected side as well as Hegŭ (合谷LI4) on the contralateral side, once per day. The 10-day treatment was as one 1 course and the consecutive 3 courses of treatment were required in either of the groups. Before and after treatment, Munk grade, clinical effective rate and the number of treatments were observed in the evaluation of therapeutic effect. Results After treatment, Munk grade was improved in the patients of the two groups (both P Conclusion Pricking technique of fire needling therapy at ST1 achieves the better effect on epiphora as sequela of peripheral facial paralysis as compared with acupuncture at conventional acupoints.

Here we report two young patients with atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter complicated with cardiogenic cerebral embolism. Electrophysiological study revealed a large area of low-voltage zone or area of electric silence in both sides of the atrium during restoration of sinus rhythm, and the echocardiogram showed loss of mechanical function of the atrium. The electrical-mechanical dysfunction of the atrium was considered to be the cause of embolic event in this type of patient who was "very low" stroke risk atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. The idiopathic, fibrotic atrial cardiomyopathy may be underlying in these patients.

AimsObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a risk factor for steroid-resistant (SR) asthma. However, the underlying mechanism is not well defined. This study aimed to investigate how chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), the main pathophysiology of OSA, influenced the effects of glucocorticoids (GCs) on asthma.Main MethodsThe effects of dexamethasone (Dex) were determined using the ovalbumin (OVA)-challenged mouse model of asthma and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β treated airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs), with or without CIH. The p38 MAPK signaling pathway activity was then detected in the mouse (n= 6) and ASMCs models (n= 6), which were both treated with the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB239063.Key FindingsUnder CIH, mouse pulmonary resistance value, inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and inflammation scores increased in OVA-challenged combined with CIH exposure mice compared with OVA-challenged mice (p< 0.05). These indicators were similarly raised in the OVA + CIH + Dex group compared with the OVA + Dex group (P< 0.05). CIH exposure enhanced the activation of the p38 MAPK pathway, oxidative stress injury, and the expression of NF-κB both in lung tissue and ASMCs, which were reversed by treatment with Dex and SB239063. In thein vitrostudy, treatment with Dex and SB239063 decreased ASMCs proliferation induced by TGF-β combined with CIH and suppressed activation of the p38 MAPK pathway, oxidative stress injury, and NF-κB nuclear transcription (p< 0.05).SignificanceThese results indicated that CIH decreased GC sensitivity by activating the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Chronic constipation is a common gastrointestinal disorder, with a worldwide incidence of 14–30%. It negatively affects quality of life and is associated with a considerable economic burden. As a disease with multiple etiologies and risk factors, it is important to understand the pathophysiology of chronic constipation. The purpose of this review is to discuss latest findings on the roles of gut motility, fluid, and electrolyte transport that contribute to chronic constipation, and the main drugs available for treating patients. We conducted searches on PubMed and Google Scholar up to 9 February 2021. MeSH keywords “constipation”, “gastrointestinal motility”, “peristalsis”, “electrolytes”, “fluid”, “aquaporins”, and “medicine” were included. The reference lists of searched articles were reviewed to identify further eligible articles. Studies focusing on opioid-induced constipation, evaluation, and clinic management of constipation were excluded. The occurrence of constipation is inherently connected to disorders of gut motility as well as fluid and electrolyte transport, which involve the nervous system, endocrine signaling, the gastrointestinal microbiota, ion channels, and aquaporins. The mechanisms of action and application of the main drugs are summarized; a better understanding of ion channels and aquaporins may be helpful for new drug development. This review aims to provide a scientific basis that can guide future research on the etiology and treatment of constipation.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spreads and rages around the world and threatens human life. It is disappointing that there are no specific drugs until now. The combination of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and western medication seems to be the current more effective treatment strategy for COVID-19 patients in China. In this review, we mainly discussed the relationship between COVID-19 and gut microbiota (GM), as well as the possible impact of TCM combined with western medication on GM in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, aiming to provide references for the possible role of GM in TCM against COVID-19. The available data suggest that GM dysbiosis did occur in COVID-19 patients, and the intervention of GM could ameliorate the clinical condition of COVID-19 patients. In addition, TCMs (e.g., Jinhua Qinggan granule, Lianhua Qingwen capsule, Qingfei Paidu decoction, Shufeng Jiedu capsule, Qingjin Jianghuo decoction, Toujie Quwen granules, and MaxingShigan) have been proven to be safe and effective for the treatment of COVID-19 in Chinese clinic. Among them, Ephedra sinica, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Bupleurum chinense, Lonicera japonica,Scutellaria baicalensi, and Astragalus membranaceus are common herbs and have a certain regulation on GM, immunity, and angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Notably, Qingfei Paidu decoction and MaxingShigan have been demonstrated to modulate GM. Finally, the hypothesis of GM-mediated TCM treatment of COVID-19 is proposed, and more clinical trials and basic experiments need to be initiated to confirm this hypothesis.

Leonurus japonicus Houtt., a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, is often used as a gynecological medicine with the effect of promoting blood circulation, regulating menstruation, clearing heat, and detoxificating. As the most important alkaloid in L. japonicus, leonurine has a wide range of biological activities, such as antioxidation, anti‐inflammation, and anti‐apoptosis. Cardiovascular system and central nervous system diseases are arrogant killers that threaten human lives and health around the world, but many drugs for treating them have certain side effects. This paper reviews the potential therapeutic effects of leonurine on cardiovascular system and central nervous system diseases, summarizes the previous research progress, and focuses on its therapeutic effect in various diseases. Although leonurine plays a prominent role in the treatment of cardiovascular system and central nervous system diseases, there are still some shortages, such as low bioavailability, weak transmembrane ability, and poor fat solubility. Therefore, the structure modification of leonurine may solve these problems and provide reference value for the development of new drugs. At present, leonurine is in clinical trial, and it is hoped that our summary will help to provide guidance for its future research on the basic science and clinical application., This article reviews the pharmacological effects of a hot potential drug leonurine on cardiovascular and brain diseases. Its structure modification may be an effective way to reduce side effects, strengthen efficacy, and improve bioavailability. We believe that in the near future, leonurine is very likely to become one of the new drugs following the results of artemisinin, which will benefit all human beings.

With expansion of city scale, the issue of public transport systems will become prominent. For single-swipe buses, the traditional method of obtaining section passenger flow is to rely on surveillance video identification or manual investigation. This paper adopts a new method: collecting wireless signals from mobile terminals inside and outside the bus by installing six Wi-Fi probes in the bus, and use machine learning algorithms to estimate passenger flow of the bus. Five features of signals were selected, and then the three machine learning algorithms of Random Forest, K-Nearest Neighbor, and Support Vector Machines were used to learn the data laws of signal features. Because the signal strength was affected by the complexity of the environment, a strain function was proposed, which varied with the degree of congestion in the bus. Finally, the error between the average of estimation result and the manual survey was 0.1338. Therefore, the method proposed is suitable for the passenger flow identification of single-swiping buses in small and medium-sized cities, which improves the operational efficiency of buses and reduces the waiting pressure of passengers during the morning and evening rush hours in the future.

The incidence rate of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs) is increasing worldwide, causing an increasingly serious public health burden. The pursuit of new promising treatment options is thus becoming a pressing issue. Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) is one of the main active quinochalcone C-glycosides in the florets of Carthamus tinctorius L., a medical and edible dual-purpose plant. HSYA has attracted much interest for its pharmacological actions in treating and/or managing CCVDs, such as myocardial and cerebral ischemia, hypertension, atherosclerosis, vascular dementia, and traumatic brain injury, in massive preclinical studies. In this review, we briefly summarized the mode and mechanism of action of HSYA on CCVDs based on these preclinical studies. The therapeutic effects of HSYA against CCVDs were presumed to reside mostly in its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective roles by acting on complex signaling pathways.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the potential value of circumferential resection margin (CRM) in colon cancer prognostics.Summary Background Data: CRM has been extensively studied as an important prognostic factor in rectal and esophageal cancer, but not in colon cancer.Methods: Data from 6,681 CRM-positive patients and 25,908 CRM-negative patients diagnosed with colon cancer in 2010–2015 were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Statistical analysis methods utilized included the chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier estimates, Cox proportional, and X-tile software analyses.Results: After propensity score matching, CRM positivity was found to be negatively related with survival (P < 0.001). X-tile software identified 0 and 30 mm as optimal cutoff values (P < 0.001) for prognosis, which was applicable only in stage II–IV patients. A 20 and 33% risk decrease were observed in patients with CRM between 0 and 30 mm [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.76–0.84], and larger than 30 mm (95% CI = 0.62–0.71), respectively. Chemotherapy strongly benefited prognosis with a hazard ratio of 0.36 (95% CI = 0.34–0.38) for overall survival (OS). Patients with a CRM value of 0–30 mm seemed to benefit most from chemotherapy compared with other groups. CRM and number of regional lymph nodes are independent risk factors, and the latter is a good substitute for CRM in AJCC stage I patients.Conclusion: CRM positivity is a strong unfavorable survival indicator for colon cancer patients. A better outcome is expected with CRM values larger than 30 mm. This cutoff value only applied to stage II–IV patients. For stage I patients, number of regional lymph nodes is a good substitute to predict survival. Chemotherapy was another favorable prognostic factor, especially for patients with a CRM value between 0 and 30 mm.

Ethnopharmacological relevance As recorded in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, Genkwa Flos (YH) and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (GC) compose one herbal pair of the so-called “eighteen incompatible medicaments”, which indicate pairs of herbs that are mutually incompatible and that theoretically should not be applied simultaneously. However, the theory has been called into question due to a lack of evidence. Aims of study In this study, the incompatibility of YH and GC was investigated based on an assessment of the toxic effects of their combination by traditional safety methods and a modern metabonomic approach. Materials and methods Sprague-Dawley rats were used to evaluate the subacute toxicity of YH and YH-GC. The serum, urine, and several tissues were collected for biochemical analysis, histopathological examination, and metabonomic analysis. Results Rats exposed to a dose of 1.0 g/kg YH (3 times of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia maximum dose) exhibited toxicity of the heart, liver, kidney and testes, and rats exposed to a YH-GC combination (1.0 g/kg YH + 1.0 g/kg GC) exhibited similar hepatotoxicity, which aggravated renal and reproductive toxicity. Following this, a metabonomic study tentatively identified 14 potential biomarkers in the YH group and 10 potential biomarkers in the YH-GC group, and metabolic pathways were then constructed. YH disturbed the pathways of glycerophospholipid metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and sphingolipid metabolism, while YH-GC combination induced disruptions in phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, tyrosine metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Conclusion The toxicities of YH and YH-GC combination above the Chinese Pharmacopoeia dose were obvious but different. Metabonomics combined with biochemical and histopathological methods can be applied to elucidate the toxicity mechanism of the YH-GC combination that caused liver, kidney and reproductive injuries in rats.

Faced with the dramatic pace of population ageing, the Shanghai municipal government launched a pilot programme in 2013 designed to address this and to strengthen ageing-in-place arrangements by providing basic in-home medical services for residents above the age of 80. Yet after a two-year trial run, the ‘Home-Based Medical Care Scheme for the Oldest-Old’ (HBMCSOO) policy remained significantly under-utilised despite the increasing demand for medical services. Our multi-disciplinary research team of social workers and anthropologists identified two key factors impeding the implementation of home-based medical care services: (a) the distortion of policy implementation and (b) the inadequate professionalisation of community-based elder-care workers. Based on our evaluation of the pilot programme, the Shanghai municipal government made several practical adjustments to improve the subsequent city-wide policy implemented in 2016. While these changes mostly focused on minor adjustments to improve in-home medical services for the oldest-old, they represent an encouraging first step towards our call for a holistic integrated care system whose design and delivery takes into account local political and social contexts, including existing institutional infrastructure and cultural expectations about care-giving responsibilities. The challenges of implementing Shanghai's HBMCSOO policy ultimately provide instructive lessons on best practices for integrating medical and social services in order to improve ageing-in-place measures in diverse local settings around the world.

A new type of recycled aggregate concrete curb is designed based on the strength comparison between the recycled concrete mixed with crushed brick masonry at an appropriate ratio with the ordinary concrete through a compression strength test. The result shows the compressive strength of this recycled concrete curb is not as good as that of ordinary concrete curb, so reinforcement measures have to be taken. The construction technique of the new designed recycled concrete curb is simple, environment-friendly and permeability, it is recommended for urban and rural roads subject to rainy weather.

Objective. To systematically evaluate the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine Qiju Dihuang Decoction (QDD) for hypertension. Methods. A comprehensive literature search of randomized controlled trials using QDD to treat hypertension was conducted in 7 electronic databases, including Chinese databases. Subjects and abstracts of the trials were read in NoteExpress for preliminary screening, and the full text was read for further screening. The data extraction table was made for the selected 19 trials, and risk of bias was assessed by using the Cochrane collaboration tool, followed by data analysis using Rev Man 5.3. Results. The antihypertensive efficacy of QDD is 1.45 times that of antihypertensive drugs and 1.56 times that of conventional therapies, which can also reduce the endothelin level. QPAD exhibits an antihypertensive effect, and its clinical efficacy is 1.34 times and 1.61 times that of antihypertensive drugs, which can not only significantly lower the diastolic blood pressure but also reduce the 24 h mean ambulate blood pressure. At the same time, it can decrease the TCM syndrome score, inhibit the inflammation, protect the renal function, reduce the insulin resistance, and improve the life quality of patients. Conclusion. QDD can effectively reduce blood pressure and improve the life quality of patients with hypertension, which plays a certain role in preventing hypertension complications. However, due to the methodological deficiencies, more rigorous randomized controlled trials will be needed in the future to provide stronger evidence.

Background. Qixuehe capsule (QXH), a Chinese patent medicine, has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of menstrual disorders. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome (QS-BSS) is the main syndrome type of menstrual disorders. However, the pharmacodynamic effect of QXH in treating QS-BSS is not clear, and the main active compounds and underlying mechanisms remain unknown.Methods. A rat model of QS-BSS was established to evaluate the pharmacodynamic effect of QXH. Thereafter, a network pharmacology approach was performed to decipher the active compounds and underlying mechanisms of QXH.Results. QXH could significantly reduce the rising whole blood viscosity (WBV) and plasma viscosity (PV) but also normalize prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), and fibrinogen (FIB) content in QS-BSS rats. Based on partial least-squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), the low-dose QXH-intervened (QXH-L) and the high-dose QXH-intervened (QXH-H) groups seemed the most effective by calculating the relative distance to normality. Through network pharmacology, QXH may improve hemorheological abnormality mainly via 185 compounds-51 targets-28 pathways, whereas 184 compounds-68 targets-28 pathways were associated with QXH in improving coagulopathy. Subsequently, 25 active compounds of QXH were verified by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS. Furthermore, 174 active compounds of QXH were shared in improving hemorheological abnormality and coagulopathy in QS-BSS, each of which can act on multiple targets to be mainly involved in complement and coagulation cascades, leukocyte transendothelial migration, PPAR signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway, and arachidonic acid metabolism. The attribution of active compounds indicated that Angelicae Sinensis Radix (DG), Paeoniae Radix Rubra (CS), Carthami Flos (HH), Persicae Semen (TR), and Corydalis Rhizoma (YHS) were the vital herbs of QXH in treating QS-BSS.Conclusion. QXH can improve the hemorheology abnormality and coagulopathy of QS-BSS, which may result from the synergy of multiple compounds, targets, and pathways.

OBJECTIVES Guided by the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), the study explored information and communications technology (ICT) use and anticipation among middle-aged adults in urban China. METHODS Path analysis was performed on data from 401 participants aged 45-65 to examine the associations between anticipated ICT support and the acceptance and adoption process of ICT. RESULTS For the late middle-aged adults, those who had greater belief in ICT usefulness and received more social support for ICT use were more likely to anticipate greater ICT support in old age. These associations were not found in the early middle-aged group. DISCUSSION The frequency of ICT use may be the key explanation for different ICT predictors and patterns. The constructs of UTAUT are sequential steps. Middle-aged adults may believe in ICT usefulness even though they have not witnessed it in person.

The central nervous system (CNS) is a vital part of the human nervous system, and the incidence of CNS disease is increasing year by year, which has become a major public health problem and a prominent social problem. At present, the drugs most commonly used in the clinic are receptor regulators, and neurotransmitter inhibitors, but they are accompanied by serious side effects. Therefore, the identification of new drugs and treatment strategies for CNS disease has been a research hotspot in the medical field. Celastrol, a highly bio-active pentacyclic triterpenoid isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F, has been proved to have a wide range of pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammation, immunosuppression, anti-obesity and anti-tumor activity. However, due to its poor water solubility, low bioavailability and toxicity, the clinical development and trials of celastrol have been postponed. However, in recent years, the extensive medical value of celastrol in the treatment of CNS diseases such as nervous system tumors, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cerebral ischemia, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has gradually attracted intensive attention worldwide. In particular, celastrol has non-negligible anti-tumor efficacy, and as there are no 100% effective anti-tumor drugs, the study of its structural modification to obtain better leading compounds with higher efficiency and lower toxicity has aroused strong interest in pharmaceutical chemists. In this review, research progress on celastrol in CNS diseases and the synthesis of celastrol-type triterpenoid analogues and their application evaluation in disease models, such as CNS diseases and autotoxicity-related target organ cancers in the past decade are summarized in detail, in order to provide reference for future better application in the treatment of CNS diseases.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Neuropathic pain, the incidence of which ranges from 5 to 8% in the general population, remains challenge in the treatment. Shaoyao Gancao decoction (SGD) is a Chinese classical formula used to relieve pain for thousands of years and has been applied for neuropathic pain nowadays. However, the effective components of SGD for the treatment of neuropathic pain remains unclear. Aims of study To investigate the effect and potential mechanism of SGD against neuropathic pain and further reveal the effective components of SGD in the treatment of neuropathic pain. Materials and methods Spared nerve injury (SNI) model rats of neuropathic pain were orally given SGD to intervene, the components in vivo after SGD administration were determined, behavior indicators, biochemical parameters, and metabolomics were applied for assessing the efficacy. Then correlation between components and biomarkers was analyzed by pearson correlation method. To further measure the contribution of components to efficacy, the combination of partial least-squares regression (PLSR) and multi-index comprehensive method was carried out, according to the corresponding contribution degree of the results, the components with large contribution degree were considered as the effective components. Results SGD exhibited a significant regulatory effect on neuropathic pain, which could increase the pain threshold and decrease the levels of SP, β-EP, PGE2 and NO. With the high resolution of UPLC-Q-TOF/MS technology, a total of 128 compounds from SGD were identified and 44 of them were absorbed in blood. Besides, 40 serum biomarkers were identified after intervention of SGD and the metabolic pathways were constructed. The key metabolic pathways including Glycerophospholipid metabolism, Linoleic acid metabolism, Alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchor biosynthesis and Arachidonic acid metabolism may be related to the regulation of neuropathic pain. Metabolomics combined with PLSR and multi-index comprehensive method was utilized to discover 5 components including paeonol, DL-Arabinose, benzoic acid, hispaglabridin A and paeonilactone C as effective components of SGD in the treatment of neuropathic pain. This strategy was used to explore the effective components of SGD and elucidate its possible analgesic mechanism. Conclusion This study demonstrate that SGD significantly relieved neuropathic pain and elucidated the effective components of SGD for treating neuropathic pain, the strategy as an illustrative case study can be applied to other classical formula and is beneficial to improve the quality and efficacy.

Objective(s) This article was undertaken to investigate the association between tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) G308A polymorphism and interferon-γ (INF-γ) A874T polymorphism and risk of preterm birth (PTB) by performing a meta-analysis of available studies. Study design Articles were chosen based on PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science, and China Biology Medicine (CBM) databases with no language restriction from their inceptions to 1 March, 2014. Specific inclusion criteria were used to evaluate articles. Meta-analysis was performed by using a random or fixed effect model with STATA 11.0 software. We estimated the summary odds ratios (ORs) with its corresponding 95% confidence interval (95%CI) to assess the association. Results 21 eligible case–control studies with a total of 2103 cases and 5070 controls were finally included into this meta-analysis. Pooled analysis showed that A allele of TNF-α G308A was not associated with increased PTB risk (OR = 0.84, 95%CI: 0.65–1.07, p = 0.167 for G vs. A). Stratifying analysis for ethnicity and different definition of PTB also indicated that A allele was not associated with increased PTB risk. However, the meta-analysis showed that INF-γ A874T polymorphism was associated with the increased risk of PTB (OR = 1.14, 95%CI: 1.11–1.73, p = 0.004 for A vs. T). Stratifying analysis was not performed due to the small sample size. Conclusion(s) TNF-α G308A polymorphism was not associated with an increased risk of PTB, but INF-γ A874T polymorphism may contribute to increasing susceptibility to PTB. Detection of polymorphism of INF-γ A874T might be a promising biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of preterm delivery.

With the rapid development of the printing industry, relying on its flexibility and advantage for short-run printing, the use of digital printing in various areas of the market becomes more widely. Digital print quality evaluation and control is particularly important. Among them, the solid density is an important indicator of print quality evaluation. Using different digital printing methods, the factors to influence the density is different. In this paper, two factors that affect xerographic toner solid density were discussed base on the principle of electrostatic imaging and toner transfer and fusing process. Experiments analyzed different transfer supply voltage conditions on CMYK four-color solid density; and the fusing temperature on CMYK four-color solid density. The results showed that: transfer supply voltage and fusing temperature are influential factors on the four-color solid density.

As a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, Xin-Sheng-Hua Granule (XSHG) has been applied in China for more than 30 years to treat postpartum diseases, especially anemia. However, underlying therapeutic mechanisms of XSHG for anemia were still unclear. In this study, plasma metabolomics profiling with UHPLC-QTOF/MS and multivariate data method was firstly analyzed to discover the potential regulation mechanisms of XSHG on anemia rats induced by bleeding from the orbit. Afterward, the compound-target-pathway network of XSHG was constructed by the use of network pharmacology, thus anemia-relevant signaling pathways were dissected. Finally, the crucial targets in the shared pathways of metabolomics and network pharmacology were experimentally validated by ELISA and Western Blot analysis. The results showed that XSHG could exert excellent effects on anemia probably through regulating coenzyme A biosynthesis, sphingolipids metabolism and HIF-1α pathways, which was reflected by the increased levels of EPOR, F2, COASY, as well as the reduced protein expression of HIF-1α, SPHK1, and S1PR1. Our work successfully explained the polypharmcological mechanisms underlying the efficiency of XSHG on treating anemia, and meanwhile, it probed into the potential treatment strategies for anemia from TCM prescription.

The compatibility between Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) and Honghua (Carthami Flos) is a known herb pair, which could activate blood circulation and dissipate blood stasis effects. In this paper, we quantified seven main bio-active components (hydroxysafflor yellow A, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, ferulic acid, 3-n-butylphthalide, and ligustilide) in plasma samples in vivo by UPLC-TQ/MS method and investigatedwhether the pharmacokinetic (PK) behaviors of the seven components could be altered in blood stasis rats after oral administration of the Gui-Hong extracts. It was found that the Cmax and AUC0-t of these components in blood stasis rats had increasing tendency compared with normal rats. Most components in model and normal rats had significant difference in some pharmacokinetic parameters, which indicated that the metabolism enzymes and transporters involved in the metabolism and disposition of these bio-active componentsmay bealtered in blood stasis rats. This study was the first report about the pharmacokinetic investigation between normal and blood stasis rats after oral administrationof Gui-Hong extracts, and these results are important and valuable for better clinical applications of Gui-Hong herb pair and relatedTCM formulae.

Rhubarb is one of the most ancient, commonly used and important herbs in Chinese medicine. The modern researches of rhubarb clarified the efficacies, ingredients and mechanisms in a more scientific and rigorous way. The main chemical compositions of rhubarb include anthraquinones, anthrones, stilbenes, tannins, polysaccharides etc. These compositions show extensive pharmacological activities including regulating gastrointestinal, anticancer, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, protecting cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and so on. This paper reviews the recent studies on the active ingredients, pharmacological effects, clinical application and functional mechanism.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Herb pair, the most fundamental and simplest form of herb compatibility, serves as the basic building block of traditional Chinese medicine formulae. The Danshen–Honghua herb pair (DH), composed of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Danshen in Chinese) and Carthami Flos (Honghua in Chinese), has remarkable clinical efficacy to cure cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. This study was designed to investigate the pharmacodynamics of DH in comparison with single herbs and pharmacokinetics of DH relative to Danshen in acute myocardial ischemic injury. Materials and methods Sixty male Wistar rats were divided into control, model and drug treated groups. The acute myocardial ischemia rat model was induced by administering 85 mg/kg/d isoproterenol (ISO) subcutaneously for two consecutive days. For pharmacodynamic study, histopathological and biochemical analysis were performed to assess the anti-myocardial ischemic effects. While for pharmacokinetic study, a UPLC–MS/MS method was developed for determination of nine main active ingredients, namely danshensu, protocatechuic acid, protocatechualdehyde, caffeic acid, lithospermic acid, rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid B, salvianolic acid A and salvianolic acid C in rat plasma. Results The histopathological and biochemical analysis revealed that DH exerted enhanced anti-myocardial ischemic effects against the ISO-induced myocardial ischemia compared with single herbs. The pharmacokinetic study indicated that DH could significantly increase the t1/2z of danshensu, Tmax, AUC0-∞ and MRT0-t of protocatechuic acid in comparison with Danshen alone in normal rats, but more importantly elevate systemic exposure level and prolong t1/2z of protocatechualdehyde, caffeic acid, Tmax of danshensu in acute myocardial ischemia rats. Conclusions Our findings demonstrated the greater effects of DH after the compatibility in ISO-induced acute myocardial ischemia rats at pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic levels and provided valuable information for clinical application of herb pairs.

nanomaterials have been widely used in sports stadiums, sports turf, athletics track, sports apparel, sports equipment and sports supplements. nanomaterials, however, may have a negative impact on cell lung tissue, liver tissue and brain tissue. Actually, there is a certain biological security risk in it. When the full use of nanomaterials in sports are been taken, the positive effects of development projects and biological research on nanomaterials should be emphasized.

Carbon fiber materials are not only widely used in aerospace, automotive and other industries, but also develop one of the best sports equipment selection. Elaborated by typical examples, this paper introduces the carbon fiber material used in the game of high-tech equipment and indicates that this material greatly promoted the improvement of sports performance. Carbon fiber materials have become one of the new materials which are essential for the development of modern sports equipment.

Objective To objectively evaluate the effectiveness of psychological interventions for improving health-related quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Design and review methods Databases including Ovid-Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, the Cochrane Library and Embase were electronically searched to identify randomized controlled trials published from inception through November 2013 involving psychological intervention in SLE patients. Studies that measured physiological function, life vitality, depression, pain degree, disease activity, severity of fatigue, and physical and mental component summaries as outcomes were included. Trials involving patients with multiple diseases or received simultaneous psychological interventions or combinations of other interventions were excluded. Two independent investigators screened the identified articles, extracted the data, and assessed the methodological quality of the included studies. Qualitative descriptions were conducted and quantitative analysis was performed with RevMan software (version 5.2). Results A total of six randomized controlled trials comprising 394 participants were included in the study. Meta-analyses showed that psychological interventions significantly reduced the degree of depression (standard mean difference = −0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.78–0.10; P = 0.01] and improved the status of the physical health component summary (mean difference = 8.85, 95%CI: 3.69–14.00; P = 0.00] in SLE patients. However, there was no significant effect of psychological intervention on disease activity, degree of pain, fatigue or the mental health component summary. Conclusions The results show that psychological interventions can effectively improve the health-related quality of life in patients with SLE. The full benefit and clinical performance of psychological care requires further investigation by a series of multicenter, large-sample size randomized controlled trails.

A growing body of evidence has investigated the association between maternal exposure to PM2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter 2.5 μm) during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, the results of those studies are not consistent. To synthetically quantify the relationship between maternal exposure to PM2.5 during pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes (the change in birth weight, low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), small for gestational age (SGA), and stillbirth), a meta-analysis of 25 published observational epidemiological studies that met our selection criteria was conducted. Results suggested a 10 μg/m(3) increase in PM2.5 was positively associated with LBW (odds ratio (OR) = 1.05; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.02-1.07), PTB (OR = 1.10; 95 % CI, 1.03-1.18), and SGA (OR = 1.15; 95 % CI, 1.10-1.20) based on entire pregnancy exposure, and pooled estimate of decrease in birth weight was 14.58 g (95 % CI, 9.86-19.31); however, there was no evidence of a statistically significant effect of per 10 μg/m(3) increase in PM2.5 exposure on the risk of stillbirth (OR = 1.18; 95 % CI, 0.69-2.04). With respect to three different gestation periods, no significant risks were found in PTB, stillbirth, and the first trimester on the change of birth weight with a 10 μg/m(3) increase in PM2.5. In this study, a comprehensive quantitative analysis of the results show that PM2.5 can increase the risk of LBW, PTB, and SGA; pregnant women need to take effective measures to reduce PM2.5 exposure.

Summary Objective To observe the different concentrations of mycophenolic acid (MPA) during the early post-transplant phase for various combinations of cyclosporine A (CsA) and tacrolimus (Tac) with enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS). Method A total of 42 Chinese adults receiving live related donor kidney transplants were studied. All received a triple immunosuppressive regimen of EC-MPS, CsA/Tac and corticosteroids and were divided randomly into CsA (n = 21) and Tac (n = 21) combination groups. The dosage of EC-MPS was the same (1440 mg/day) in the two groups. The MPA concentration was evaluated with an enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) and the pharmacokinetic characteristics were investigated in both groups. Results The mean maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax) of MPA in the CsA and Tac groups were 11.365 ± 9.522 and 9.748 ± 7.523 μg/ml, respectively (p = 0.137). The maximum times to Cmax (Tmax) were 2.54 ± 1.53 and 2.67 ± 1.08 h, respectively (p = 0.341). The mean MPA 12-h areas under the curve (MPA-AUC0–12 h) were 59.463 ± 16.252 and 77.535 ± 33.615 μg h/ml (p = 0.003) and the mean residence times (MRT) were 3.71 ± 0.829 and 3.928 ± 0.923 h (p = 0.038). Conclusion Combined with the same EC-MPS dosage (1440 mg/day), the MPA-AUC0–12 of the Tac group was higher than that of the CsA group, and the Tac group had a longer MRT after kidney transplantation. Our data indicate that the concentration of MPA should be monitored in clinical therapy when EC-MPS is combined with different calcineurin inhibitors to reduce acute allograft rejection and avoid adverse events.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (rhubarb), as the preferred representative of cathartic drugs of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has a long history of medicinal use and multifarious functions that produce a wide range of dosage. In modern times, rhubarb and its prescriptions are not only used to treat common clinical diseases, but also achieve good results in the treatment of acute, dangerous, severe and difficult diseases. However, rhubarb also has an alias called “General”, which means that its efficacy is relatively rapid. Aim of the study The present study was conducted to simultaneously elucidate dosage-effect relationship of rhubarb of different efficacy, “Removing accumulation with purgation” (E1) and “Clearing heat and purging fire” (E2), providing reference for the safe and effective usage of rhubarb. Materials and methods Three-week-old rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (Con.), model group (Mod.) and rhubarb groups with six doses (0.135, 0.27, 0.81, 1.35, 4.05, 8.1 g/kg). We established a constipation model with gastrointestinal accumulated heat induced by dyspepsia, taking defecation characteristics observed by metabolic cages, alvine pushing rate, gastrointestinal hormones in serum, etc., as indicators of E1, and taking TG, Na+-K+-ATPase, inflammatory factors and proteins, etc., as indicators of E2. The factor analytic approach was used to systematically evaluate the two effects and analyze the corresponding dosage-effect relationship. Results The levels of Gas, AchE, TG, Na+-K+-ATPase, TNF-α, IL-1β, (p-)NF-κB p65, (p-)p38, (p-)ERK and p-JNK in model rats increased significantly while the levels of defecation, fecal water content, MTL, SS, ET, NTS, VIP, JNK and TLR4 decreased. Compared with the Mod., in rhubarb groups, the increase of faeces, alvine pushing rate, most gastrointestinal hormones, etc., reflected the therapeutic efficacy of E1, and the reduction of TG, Na+-K+-ATPase, expression levels of inflammatory indexes, etc., reflected the impact of E2. After the analysis, the effective threshold dose ranging from 0.67 to 5.37 g/kg (corresponding to 7.44–59.67 g in the clinic) was in the EC20-EC80 range for E1 treatment and from 0.78 to 5.60 g/kg (equivalently clinical 8.67–62.22 g) was for E2 treatment. And the 1.6- and 1.2-fold rhubarb highest dose of Chinese Pharmacopoeia might be the optimal doses for E1 and E2 respectively. In general, however, the concentration of rhubarb liquid for overall efficacy is suggested to be between middle and highest dose of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Conclusion A constipation model was used to elucidate two main effects of rhubarb, which was consistent with the characteristics of TCM syndrome. In the wide range of rhubarb dosage, low doses might have little or no effect and although high concentrations of rhubarb liquid enhanced curative efficacy, it would also have certain side effects on the body. Therefore, scientific-based experiments and rational analysis by mathematical models could contribute to the safe and effective application of rhubarb in the clinic.

There are many 0 km/h speed stop point records in the floating car data (FCD), which has some spatial relations with the vehicle queue length in front of intersection. A new method for computing vehicle queue length in front of intersection based on FCD of stop points was described. First, the data on normal queue points are calculated from stops by map matching based on the geographic location of the stops, the continuous relationship between the queue points and movement points and the relative location to the intersections on a road link. Second, the relative positional relationship of FCD at intersections is calculated on the basis of the data on normal stops and by two-step statistics. Vehicle queue length at intersections is then calculated on the basis of the stopping distances of floating cars and the distribution density at intersections. An example is presented to demonstrate how the algorithm functions.

For the transfer station which selects Platform Interchange as interchange mode, this article proposes the method of taking Upstream Platform as buffer container to ease passenger flow pressure of downstream platform through the analysis of the reason why the downstream platforms which have different interchange modes put up different platform pressure. To be easy to study and describe, this article creates a new concept of Pressure Contribution Rate which is to measure the balance state of passenger flow pressure and designs a procedure to select the optimal case. Finally, the article proves the feasibility of the method by taking Fuxingmen station as the example.

A strain measurement system for fiber optic is established based on digital image processing techniques. The hardware of the system is consists of a light source, optical fiber cable tensile equipment, CCD camera and image acquisition card. Hardware equipment was selected by the technical requirements of the system, such as measurement accuracy, velocity and so on. The software of the system, including image acquisition module, data processing module, edge detection module, image measurement module and image storage module, is designed.

The impeller as the key components of power generating machine, its processing technology has been an important subject in the manufacturing industry. The air flow meter uses in the integral impeller modeling, programming and processing research. Apply UGNX8.0 to the integral impeller for solid modeling and NC machining tool path simulation. In the terms of CNC machining for the characteristic and difficulty, put forward in this paper based on the UGNX8.0simulation of NC machining program and steps, successful interference free tool path, and according to the simulation results, generate four axis NC machining procedure of NC.

Using the automation production mode of modern manufacturing industry for reference, a new industrialized PL-ISEE (product line based integrated software engineering environment) model was proposed by us in reference [8]. The middle part of the PL-ISEE architecture is data layer which is composed of the software components bus and core assets database platform to achieve the storage and managements of product line core assets data. In this paper, the architecture and its implementation mechanism of the PL-ISEE database platform is further researched. Whole platform architecture consists of core asset objects management service and assets database system. The data model and database schema as well as database views of the database platform are designed and created by using united product line concept model and data model. So, the database supporting platform’s functions and configuration also well satisfy the requirements of interfaces, tools and data integration as well as product line assembling production in the PL-ISEE. Therefore, the design and realizing ideas of the PL-ISEE database platform will be valuable to research product line engineering and methodology in future.

This article studies about anti-jamming problem for frequency control system with three experimental methods which are magnetic shielding, grounding and filtering. The results demonstrate that filtering is the most evident anti-interference. the interference of frequency converter is independent with the signal; Shielding on both ends of the grounding is better than single ended grounding. All of the conclusions will be used for reference.

A parameter optimization method based on sensitivity analysis is presented for the structural optimization of variable section slender manipulator. Structure mechanism of a polishing robot is introduced firstly, and its stiffness model is established. Then, a design sensitivity analysis method and a sequential liner programming (SLP) strategy are proposed. In the beginning of the optimization, the design sensitivity analysis method can be used to select the sensitive design variables which can make the optimized results more efficient and accurate. And then, it can be used to improve the convergence during the process of the optimization. The design sensitivities are calculated using the finite difference method. The search for the final optimal structure is performed using the SLP method. Simulation results show that the structure optimization method is effective to enhance the stiffness of the manipulator, no matter when the manipulator suffers constant force or variable force. This work lays a theoretical foundation for the structural optimization for such manipulators.

This paper had 3-dimensional models of a spiral bevel gear and a cutter in real size assembled in accordance with the milling process and transformed them into the finite element analysis (FEA) code. Then several researches on simulation methods of this milling system had been conducted, and stress distributions of gear surface after processing under different cutting conditions was given out, based on which a cause-effect study was carried out about the correlation between cutting parameters and the stress distribution, leading to methods of maintaining a low-stress condition during manufacturing.

In order to improve the efficiency of traffic control system in the era of big data, a new variable cycle control model based on multi-source information is presented for intersection in this paper. Firstly, with consideration of multi-source information, a unified framework based on cyber-physical system is proposed. Secondly, taking into account the variable length of cell, hysteresis phenomenon of traffic flow and the characteristics of lane group, a Lane group-based Cell Transmission Model is established to describe the physical properties of traffic flow under different traffic signal control schemes. Thirdly, the variable cycle control problem is abstracted into a bi-level programming model. The upper level model is put forward for cycle length optimization considering traffic capacity and delay. The lower level model is a dynamic signal control decision model based on fairness analysis. Then, a Hybrid Intelligent Optimization Algorithm is raised to solve the proposed model. Finally, a case study shows the efficiency and applicability of the proposed model and algorithm.

Unblocked reliability is a probability index, which reflects the relationship between traffic demand and supply in peak hour at workday. Regarded traffic demand and road capacity as variables conforming normal distribution, the different road network unblocked reliability can be gotten by the random experimentation, and the change rules of road network unblocked reliability and velocity under different supply and demand combination were put foreword. The road network unblocked reliability analyses show that, the change rules of road components, routes, OD, and network are alike; the unblocked criterion is higher, the unblocked reliability is smaller; the traffic demand is lower, the corresponding reliability is higher under the same unblocked criterion and the same demand variation.

The present meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of puerarin co-treatment with betahistine in treating vertebrobasilar ischemia (VBI) vertigo. A total of 6 medical databases were searched, identifying randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of VBI vertigo performed until August 2014 that investigated a combined treatment of puerarin with betahistine or with other conventional drugs. The quality of the literature was evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias, and Rev Man 5.0 software was used for statistical analysis and evaluation. The present study included 7 RCTs, involving a total of 664 subjects, and revealed a statistically significant increase in efficacy between the control and the experimental group (odds ratio [OR], 4.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.05 to 8.15). The average blood flow velocity within the vertebrobasilar arteries increased following treatment with puerarin and betahistine compared with that of the control groups (OR, 7.59; 95% CI, 6.19 to 9.00); however, no difference was detected between these groups in the average flow velocity within the left vertebral artery (OR, 6.17; 95% CI, 5.22 to 7.13). The frequency of adverse reactions in the experimental group was lower (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.32 to 1.77) compared with the control group. Combined puerarin and betahistine regimens were more effective in treating VBI vertigo compared with other, conventional drugs; effectively alleviating the associated symptoms, including dizziness and increased average blood flow velocity within the vertebrobasilar arteries, without causing an increased number of serious side effects. However, the efficacy and safety of puerarin and betahistine use in treating VBI vertigo requires additional investigation.

Constrained A* algorithm is studied to minimize travel time as well as delay risk based on reliability analysis when at most limited real time traffic information is available. The reliable path under the duration constraint is searched heuristically by avoiding the high-risk links, incident links as well as links that are positively dependent on incident links as far as possible through a weight increasing procedure. By making use of information computed at the start of the trip to exploit better lower bound of heuristic function, a responsive version of the constrained A* search is proposed which reduces the on-demand calculation time dramatically. An in-depth experimental performance analysis of the proposed methods shows their efficiency.

Background Schistosomiasis remains a major public health problem in China. The major endemic areas are located in the lake and marshland regions of southern China, particularly in areas along the middle and low reach of the Yangtze River. Spatial analytical techniques are often used in epidemiology to identify spatial clusters in disease regions. This study assesses the spatial distribution of schistosomiasis and explores high-risk regions in Hubei Province, China to provide guidance on schistosomiasis control in marshland regions. Methods In this study, spatial autocorrelation methodologies, including global Moran’s I and local Getis–Ord statistics, were utilized to describe and map spatial clusters and areas where human Schistosoma japonicum infection is prevalent at the county level in Hubei province. In addition, linear logistic regression model was used to determine the characteristics of spatial autocorrelation with time. Results The infection rates of S. japonicum decreased from 2009 to 2013. The global autocorrelation analysis results on the infection rate of S. japonicum for five years showed statistical significance (Moran’s I > 0, P < 0.01), which suggested that spatial clusters were present in the distribution of S. japonicum infection from 2009 to 2013. Local autocorrelation analysis results showed that the number of highly aggregated areas ranged from eight to eleven within the five-year analysis period. The highly aggregated areas were mainly distributed in eight counties. Conclusions The spatial distribution of human S. japonicum infections did not exhibit a temporal change at the county level in Hubei Province. The risk factors that influence human S. japonicum transmission may not have changed after achieving the national criterion of infection control. The findings indicated that spatial–temporal surveillance of S. japonicum transmission plays a significant role on schistosomiasis control. Timely and integrated prevention should be continued, especially in the Yangtze River Basin of Jianghan Plain area.

From the early 90s, online education has been continually reshaping the notion of open learning. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have generated a paradigm shift in online education by presenting free high-quality education to anyone, anywhere with Internet access. Since 2012, MOOCs got attention of the universities, media and entrepreneurs. These online courses may change the world by 2022. This paper discusses major elements of MOOCs that can influence teaching and learning in engineering. It also explores the promise of online education in improving standard in-class engineering education.

To investigate whether remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) can attenuate ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI) in recipients after kidney transplantation using donation after cardiac death.Forty-eight recipients referred for kidney transplantation were recruited. The paired recipients who received the kidneys from the same donor were randomly assigned (one received RIC and the other did not). RIC was induced by three 5-min cycles of brief repetitive ischemia and reperfusion by clamping the exposed external iliac artery. Blood samples were withdrawn at hour 2, hour 12, days 1-7, day 14, and day 30 to measure serum creatinine level and estimated glomerular filtration rate after transplantation. Urine samples were collected at hours 2, 12, 24, and 48 to measure urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin after transplantation. Renal tissues were obtained at 30 min for histologic changes after transplantation.There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics of the recipients and donors between RIC and control groups. The serum creatinine level was lower in the RIC group compared with that of the control group (12 h, days 1-14, P0.05; other P 0.05); the estimated glomerular filtration rate was higher in the RIC group compared with that of the control group (12 h, days 1-14, P0.05; other P0.05); urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, an early marker of IRI, was lower in the RIC group at hours 2, 12, 24, and 48 (2 h, 48 h, P0.05; 12 h, 24 h, P0.05) compared with that of the control group. The graft pathology showed no differences between RIC and control groups.RIC enhanced the early recovery of renal function in recipients after kidney transplantation. Our results provide a novel potential approach to attenuate transplantation-associated IRI.

With economic development, we are facing a motorized, urbanized and marketized challenge for the sustainable development of urban transportation. For the future development of new city transit in Beijing, this paper implements a "people-oriented, comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable," scientific development concept, and also puts forth a multi-level public transit network fuzzy evaluation to meet the requirement of sustainable development. TRANSCAD software is used to build a demand forecasting model of new city public transit network in the future. Based on the scientific development concept, this paper establishes a comprehensive evaluation index system, which includes an accessibility index, a comfort index, a network performance index and a coordination index. Every index is given a different weight. Finally, it builds a multi-level public transit sustainable fuzzy evaluation combined with traffic simulation software TRANSCAD, and also gives a specific analysis example. It is of great significance for overall sustainable development of urban transport, and for social and economic progress.

The optimization method of regional scheduling based on the hub point in transit network is proposed by analyzing the current public transport scheduling problems and the development trend of regional transit. Through the set of the network edge and node property value, the highest number of bus line reaching node at the same time within the permissible error is the objective function; heuristic algorithm is used to solve the departure time and the time in station at each node of frequency for each line. Because all lines coordinated arriving, the transfer time of lines running on the network for passengers decreases. The total transfer cost of main nodes is reduced to achieve the transfer optimization of lines in the public transport network.

A 61-year-old male smoker (40 pack-years) presented with right chest pain. Computed tomography of the chest revealed a cavitary mass in the right lower lobe. A transbronchial biopsy showed squamous cell carcinoma. We examined epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in exhaled breath condensate (EBC). The DNA extracted from his EBC showed a deletion mutation in exon 19. Subsequently, the del E746-A750 mutation in exon 19 in a transbronchial tissue specimen was confirmed. Although he underwent whole-brain irradiation against multiple brain metastases, he had paralysis of the left side of the body and his performance status was 3. The patient was treated with gefitinib. He had marked tumor regression and no symptoms. Although only a small percentage of heavy smokers with squamous cell carcinoma harbor EGFR mutations, they probably benefit from EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors. EGFR mutation status in the patients having such clinical features might be examined.