Nomogram for predicting post-traumatic hydrocephalus after decompressive craniectomy for traumatic brain injury

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and validate a practical nomogram to predict the occurrence of post-traumatic hydrocephalus in patients who have undergone decompressive craniectomy for traumatic brain injury. METHODS: A total of 516 cases were enrolled and divided into the training (n=364) and validation (n=152) cohorts. Optimal predictors were selected through least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis of the training cohort then used to develop a nomogram. Receiver operating characteristic, calibration plot, and decision curve analysis, respectively, were used to evaluate the discrimination, fitting performance, and clinical utility of the resulting nomogram in the validation cohort. RESULTS: Preoperative subarachnoid hemorrhage Fisher grade, type of decompressive craniectomy, transcalvarial herniation volume, subdural hygroma, and functional outcome were all identified as predictors and included in the predicting model. The nomogram exhibited good discrimination in the validation cohort and had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.80 (95%CI 0.72-0.88). The calibration plot demonstrated goodness-of-fit between the nomogram's prediction and actual observation in the validation cohort. Finally, decision curve analysis indicated significant clinical adaptability. CONCLUSION: The present study developed and validated a model to predict post-traumatic hydrocephalus. The nomogram that had good discrimination, calibration, and clinical practicality can be useful for screening patients at a high risk of post-traumatic hydrocephalus. The nomogram can also be used in clinical practice to develop better therapeutic strategies.

Effect of herb-partitioned moxibustion in improving tight junctions of intestinal epithelium in Crohn disease mediated by TNF-α-NF-κB-MLCK pathway / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To explore the effect of herb-partitioned moxibustion (HPM) on tight junctions (TJs) of intestinal epithelial cells in Crohn disease (CD) mediated by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-myosin-light- chain kinase (MLCK) pathway. Methods: Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal control (NC) group, a model control (MC) group, an HPM group and a mesalazine (MESA) group, with 12 rats in each group. Trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) was administered to establish CD models. When the model was confirmed a success, the HPM group rats were treated with HPM at Tianshu (ST 25) and Qihai (CV 6), while the MESA group rats were given MESA solution by lavage. When the intervention finished, the colonic epithelial tissues were separated, purified and cultured in each group to establish the intestinal epithelial barrier model in vitro, and TNF-α was added (100 ng/mL) in the culture medium and maintained for 24 h to establish an increased epithelial permeability model. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) was used to examine the permeability of the barrier; Western blot was used to observe the expressions of the proteins related to TJs of intestinal epithelial cells mediated by TNF-α-NF-κB-MLCK pathway; immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the expressions and distributions of tight junction proteins in the intestinal epithelium. Results: After TNF-α induction, compared with the MC+TNF-α group, the TEER value increased significantly in the HPM+TNF-α and MESA+TNF-α groups (both P<0.001); the expressions of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65, MLCK, myosin light chain (MLC), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) and receptor interaction protein-1 (RIP1) decreased significantly (P<0.01 or P<0.05), and the expression of zinc finger protein A20 (A20) increased significantly (P<0.01); the expressions of occludin, claudin-1, zonula occludens protein 1 (ZO-1) and F-actin also increased significantly (all P<0.01). Compared with the MESA+TNF-α group, the expressions of MLC, occludin, claudin-1, ZO-1 and F-actin increased significantly in the HPM+TNF-α group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Conclusion: HPM can protect or repair the damage of intestinal epithelial barrier in CD rats, which may be achieved through modulating the abnormal TJs in intestinal epithelium mediated by TNF-α-NF-κB-MLCK pathway.

Analysis of ocular infection in neonates / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM:To study the distribution, drug resistance and epidemic characteristics of pathogenic bacteria in neonatal eye infection in Cangnan County, Zhejiang Province from 2014 to 2018, and to provide the basis for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of clinical conditions.<p>METHODS: Totally 108 strains of pathogenic bacteria isolated from 294 eyes specimens from neonatal clinic from January 2014 to December 2018 were identified, common drug sensitivity test and epidemiological characteristics were summarized and analyzed.<p>RESULTS: The detection rate of pathogenic bacteria in 294 ocular secretions was 36.7%(108/294). The main flora included 48 strains of<i> Staphylococcus epidermidis</i>(44.4%), 16 strains of<i> Staphylococcus aureus</i>(14.8%), 24 cases of <i>Escherichia coli</i>(22.2%), 12 strains of <i>Neisseria gonorrhoeae</i>(11.1%), 5 strains of <i>Corynebacterium diphtheria</i>(4.6%), 2 strains of <i>Enterococcus</i>(1.9%)and 1 case of <i>Streptococcus </i>(0.9%). The main pathogens are highly sensitive to amikacin and netilmicin, and are highly sensitive to jellithromycin and netilmicin. The activity of gentamicin is poor. It has good activity against quinolones.<p>CONCLUSION:<i>Staphylococcus</i> is the main pathogen of neonatal eye infection, and eye antibiotics commonly used in clinic have good antibacterial activity against all kinds of pathogenic bacteria.

Effect of electroacupuncture on anti-Mullerian hormone expression in rats with polycystic ovarian syndrome / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To observe whether the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on improving sex hormone disorders and follicle development is by decreasing the expression of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in rats with experimental polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).Methods:Forty rats were randomly divided into four groups,a normal group (NG),a model group (MG),an EA at acupoints group (EAAG),and an EA at non-acupoints group (EANAG),with 10 rats in each group.The rats in the EAAG and EANAG were intervened by EA treatment for consecutive 14 d.Zhongji (CV 3) and Guanyuan (CV 4) were selected as the acupoints in the EAAG,and the tip of the tail and 1 cm up from the tail tip were selected as the non-acupoints in the EANAG.After treatment,the histomorphological changes of the ovary,the levels of aromatase P450 (P450arom),testosterone and estradiol in the ovarian tissues,and the expressions of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and AMH were observed.Results:After treatment,compared with the MG and EANAG,the expression of AMH decreased (P＜0.05),the levels of P450arom and estradiol increased significantly,and the level of testosterone decreased significantly (all P＜0.01) in the EAAG.Additionally,several normal follicles were present and the number of cystically dilated follicles decreased in the EAAG.Compared with the MG and EANAG,the EAAG obviously had more follicular granulosa cells.Conclusion:EA can down-regulate the abnormally increased expression of AMH to improve sex hormone disorders and follicle development in PCOS rats.

Determination of three anthroic acids in petri dish cultured Antrodia camphorate by quantitative analysis of multi-component with single marker / 中国中药杂志

The present study is establish the quantitative analysis of multi-component with single marker for determining three anthroic acids, (25S)-antcin K, (25R)-antcin K and (25S)-antcin C in the petri dish cultured Antrodia camphorata. The relative correction factors of (25S)-antcin K and (25R)-antcin K were established by high performance liquid chromatography with (25S)-antcin C as the internal reference. Relative correction factors were used to calculate the contents of (25S)-antcin K and (25R)-antcin K which were difficult to gain in abundance. At the same time, the contents of these three compounds were determined by external standard method. Two methods were compared to evaluate the accuracy and rationality of the multi-components with single marker method in the determination of the petri dish cultured A. camphorate. It was found that the quantitative method of multi-component with single marker and external standard method showed no significant difference. In summary, taking (25S)-antcin C as the internal reference, the method of multi-component with single marker can be applied to the quantitative analysis of (25S)-antcin K and (25R)-antcin K in the petri dish cultured A. camphorata.

Comparison of Electroacupuncture and Mild-Warm Moxibustion on Brain-Gut Function in Patients with Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and mild-warm moxibustion (Mox) therapies for constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (C-IBS) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty C-IBS patients were assigned to 2 groups by simple randomized method, i.e. EA group (30 cases) and Mox group (30 cases). Both EA and Mox treatments were performed on bilateral Tianshu (ST 25) and Shangjuxu (ST 37) for 30 min each time, 6 times per week, for 4 consecutive weeks. The gastrointestinal symptoms and psychological symptoms of the two groups were scored before and after treatment. The effects on the corresponding functional brain areas, namely the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), insular cortex (IC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) were observed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the Mox group, greater improvements in abdominal distension, defecation frequency, diffificulty in defecation and stool features were observed in the EA group (all P<0.01), both Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores were signifificantly decreased in the EA group (all P<0.01). Finally, decreased activated voxel values were observed in the ACC, right IC and PFC brain regions of EA group with 150 mL colorectal distension stimulation (P<0.05 or P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both EA and Mox could signifificantly improve some of the most intrusive symptoms of C-IBS patients, and EA was more effective than Mox. The therapeutic effect of these two therapies might through modulating of the brain-gut axis function. (Registration No. ChiCTRTRC-11001349).</p>

Cultivation and Biological Characterization of Chicken Primordial Germ Cells

The purpose of this work was to investigate the isolation, culture process of chicken gonadal primordial germ cells (PGCs) and study their biological characterization. PGCs were harvested from 5.5-day-old chicken embryonic genital ridges and explanted onto chicken embryonic fibroblasts (CEFs). The results showed that the primary cultivation of chicken PGCs on their own gonadal stroma cells were better than CEFs at first two days for reproduction. The conditioned media supported the growth and colony formation of PGCs for a prolonged time in vitro and maintained a normal diploid karyotype, which were positively stained by alkaline phosphatase (AKP), periodic acid Schiff (PAS) and reacted with anti-SSEA-1, SSEA-3, Oct4, Blimp1 and Sox2. Real-time PCR showed that they expressed the stage specific genes CVH, Blimp1 and Dazl, the stem cell specific genes Sox2, Pouv and Nanog. They also formed the embryoid bodies (EBs). These results suggested that the chicken PGCs cultured in vitro not only had strong self-renewal ability, but also had the potential capability of multi-lineage differentiation.

Comparison of electroacupuncture and moxibustion on brain-gut function in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized controlled trial / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and moxibustion therapies on patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 60 D-IBS patients were randomly allocated to the EA group (30 cases) and moxibustion group (30 cases). Before and after treatment, the gastrointestinal symptoms and psychological symptoms were scored by Visual Analogue Scale, Bristol Stool Form Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD); the expressions of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-HT3 receptor (5-HT3R), and 5-HT4 receptor (5-HT4R) in the sigmoid mucosal tissue were measured by immunohistochemical staining. Additionally, the effects on the functional brain areas of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), insular cortex (IC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) were observed by functional magnetic resonance imaging.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with before treatment, both EA and moxibustion groups reported significant improvements in abdominal pain and abdominal bloating after treatment (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The moxibustion group reported greater improvements in defecation emergency, defecation frequency, and stool feature than the EA group (P<0.01). Both HAMA and HAMD scores were significantly decreased in the moxibustion group than in the EA group (P<0.01). Both groups demonstrated significantly reduced expressions of 5-HT, 5-HT3R and 5-HT4R in the colonic mucosa after treatment (P<0.01), with a greater reduction of 5-HT in the moxibustion group (P<0.05). Finally, decreased activated voxel values were observed in the left IC, right IC and PFC brain regions of patients in the moxibustion group under stimulation with 150 mL colorectal distension after treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while in the EA group only PFC area demonstrated a reduction (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Moxibustion can significantly improve the symptoms of D-IBS, suggesting that moxibustion may be a more effective therapy than EA for D-IBS patients.</p>

Observation of the change in ocular anterior segment after pterygium surgery with ultrasound biomicroscopy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AlM: To observe the effect of anterior chamber depth and angle change after pterygium excision.METHODS:Thirty cases (30 eyes) of primary pterygium were underwent pterygium excision. Central anterior chamber depth, four direction angle open distance ( AOD ) and open angle ( AA ) were measured preoperatively and postoperatively by ultrasound biomicroscopy ( UBM ) and the intraocular pressure was observed.RESULTS:Preoperative and Postoperative intraocular pressure were 15. 17±10. 6 and 16. 23±2. 61mmHg, and the central anterior chamber depth were 2. 28±0. 39 and 2. 33± 0. 24mm. The four directions of AOD and AA were no statistical difference.CONCLUSlON:The anterior chamber depth and the angle change is not obvious after pterygium excision.

Investigation of health status of workers exposed to low concentration cadmium in a zinc powder factory / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the health status of workers exposed to Cd at low concentration.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred eighteen workers of zinc powder finishing and 34 staffs were served as the exposure group and control group, respectively. The physical examination, blood cadmium, urinary cadmium, blood lead, urinary 32-microglobin, urine creatine, chest film, pulmonary function , pure tone teat and were detected for all subjects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twelve air samples from 6 monitoring points in workshop were detected, the air Cd concentrations were 0.002-0.015 mg/m³, which were under the national limit of occupational exposure. In exposure group, the rates of exceeding standards of blood Cd and urinary Cd were 65.25% and 38.16%, respectively, the rate of exceeding standards of urinary Cd for two times was 27.12%, the rate of exceeding standard of urine Cd for two times plus the positive urinary 32-microglobin was 2.54 %. In control group, the rates of exceeding national standard of blood Cd was 26.47 %, but the values of urinary Cd were normal. In exposure group, the rate of exceeding standards of urinary Cd increased with the service length. Smoking could enhance the rates of exceeding standards of blood Cd and urinary Cd.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In zinc powder finishing, the low-concentration cadmium exposure could cause the occupational cadmium poisoning, the comprehensive protection measures can reduce the occupational cadmium poisoning. It is suggested that the limits of occupational exposure to cadmium should be declined.</p>

Cloning, prokaryotic expression and polyclonal antibody preparation of HCCR: a new biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To construct a prokaryotic plasmid expressing truncated human cervical cancer oncogene (HCCR-1(167-360)), to express and purify the recombinant protein, and to develop the polyclonal antibody against HCCR.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HCCR-1(167-360) was amplified by RT-PCR from HepG2 cells and cloned into vector pRSET-B, then expressed in E.coli BL21(DE3) pLysS, which was induced by IPTG. The recombinant protein was purified using Ni-NTA spin column and acrylamide gel electrophoresis. A polyclonal antibody was developed by immunizing BALB/c mice with the purified recombinant protein, and their sensitivity and specificity were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Recombinant plasmid expressing truncated HCCR-1167-360 was constructed. A protein of 2.70 x 10(4) was successfully expressed and purified. High titer polyclonal antibody with a high specificity was obtained by immunizing BALB/c mice with the purified recombinant protein.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The truncated recombinant HCCR-1(167-360) developed in this study is highly purified and shows strong antigenecity; the polyclonal antibody against this HCCR protein was generated by regular immunization method, showing both high sensitivity and specificity. The protein and the antibody can be used for further clinical examination and research of HCCR.</p>

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation combined with microwave coagulation therapy under contrast-enhanced ultrasound guidance for treatment of melanoma metastasis to lymph nodes: a case report / 第二军医大学学报

Objective:To introduce our experience on treatment of melanoma metastasis to lymph nodes by percutaneous radiofrequency ablation combined with microwave coagulation therapy under contrast-enhanced ultrasound guidance and to assess the subsequent clinical efficacy. Methods: The 64 years old male patient with right sole melanoma had an enlarged right inguinal lymph node and received surgical resection twice within 9 months. During the following 2-7 months, more than 20 enlarged lymph nodes appeared along the right iliac artery and right lower limb, complicated with lower limb swelling. Surgical resection was ruled out due to the involvement of the iliac artery and the great number of the enlargements. Chemotherapy and Chinese herb medication were proven to be less effective, then a combined thermotherapy by radio frequency ablation (CelonLab-ENT, Germany) and microwave coagulation (YWY-2T, China) was employed percutaneously under the guidance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for the treatment. The patient was followed up for 6 months. Results: Intra-and post-operation contrast-enhanced ultrasound scanning and biopsy pathology showed avascularity, necrosis, and atrophy in all the treated lymph nodes, with no obvious complications. The general condition of the patient was good and there was no new lesion found in other sites, except a few ones still receiving ablation in the right lower limb. Conclusion: Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation combined with microwave coagulation therapy under the guidance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound shows a stable killing effect for melanoma metastasis to lymph nodes in this patient, without obvious complications, and should be considered for more clinical applications.