Effects of vagus nerve stimulation on serum cytokines and neurotransmitters in epilepsy patients with depression / 中国医师杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on serum cytokines and neurotransmitters in epilepsy patients with depression.Methods:From March 2015 to 2018, 13 patients with epilepsy combined with depression undergoing VNS surgery in Brain Hospital of Hunan Province were selected as the research objects. The surgical efficacy, depression degree, serum cytokines and neurotransmitter changes before operation, 6 months and 12 months after operation were compared.Results:The effective rate of epilepsy treatment at 6 and 12 months after VNS were 61.5%(8/13) and 76.9%(10/13), respectively. After 6 months and 12 months, Hamiton Depression scale (HAMD) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) scores were significantly lower than those before operation ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). At 6 months after operation, serum 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) level was significantly higher than that before operation, while serum interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF- α) were significantly lower than those before operation ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). At 12 months after operation, 5-HT and dopamine (DA) were significantly increased, while IL-1 α, IL-2, IL-6 and TNF -α were significantly decreased ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions:VNS may can improve epilepsy and depression by regulating the level of neurotransmitter and serum cytokines.

Effects of Mitochondrial Unfolded-Protein Response on Aggregation Toxicity of Amyloid-β Protein / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

[Objective] To investigate the effects of mitochondrial unfolded-protein response (UPRmt) on the aggregation toxicity of Aβ protein in Alzheimer's disease (AD).[Methods] By cloning the mitochondrial outer membrane tomm-22,inner membrane E04A4.5 and atfs-1 genes of Caenorhabditis elegans (C.elegans) and constructing the L4440 interference vectors,HT115 competent cells were transformed to prepare tomm-22,E04A4.5 and atfs-1 RNAi bacteria.The effects of tomm-22 and E04A4.5 RNAi on the process of paralysis were investigated through transgenic AD disease models CL4176 and CL2006.The life span of wild type N2 C.elegans was observed after RNAi of tomm-22 and E04A4.5.The regulatory role of ATFS-1 signaling by atfs-1 RNAi in inhibition of Aβ protein aggregation was detected.The dynamic changes of UPRmt in transgenic SJ4100 nematode and the autophagy level in transgenic DA2123 nematodes were analyzed by tomm-22 and E04A4.5 RNAi.[Results] We successfully established the UPRmt model by cloning mitochondrial tomm-22 and E04A4.5 of C.elegans and further constructing RNAi bacteria,and showed that they can suppress aggregation toxicity of Amyloid-β (Aβ) protein in AD model CL4176,and slow down paralysis process.The life span of wild type N2 was significantly shortened after feeding with the tomm-22 and E04A4.5 RNAi bacteria.At the same time,the progressive paralysis AD model CL2006 shows a delayed paralysis in the early stage of life cycle but get acceleration in the late.These results illustrate that the UPRmt can alleviate the mitochondrial stress and improve the function of mitochondria at least in the short term.The atfs-1 RNAi confirmed that delayed paralysis process of AD model CL4176 is not directly related to the ATFS-1 signal.However,tomm-22 and E04A4.5 RNAi can gradually increase the UPRmt response and induce the expression level of autophagy-related molecules LGG-1,suggesting that tomm-22 and E04A4.5 RNAi may play a role in delaying the AD disease process by enhancing the activity of autophagy in C.elegans.[Conclusions] The study found that the UPRmt can inhibit the accumulation of A β protein by coordinating the signal transduction between mitochondria and nucleus,and can help to restore mitochondria and even intracellular protein homeostasis for protecting the normal physiological function of cells,and also provides new targets for prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as AD.

Simultaneous determination of melamine and cyanuric acid residues in water and urine by solid phase extraction-hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry method / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>We aimed to establish a sensitive quantified method for the simultaneous determination of melamine and cyanuric acid residues in water and urine by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-ESI-MS/MS) with the pretreatment of hydrophilic functional silica gel and cation exchange resin mixed solid phase extraction column(MCT), and to investigate the melamine and cyanuric acid residues in 501 water and 216 urine from several province and city.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>About 100 ml water (or 10 ml urine) was adjusted to pH 3.0 with concentrated hydrochloric acid, and then mixed with the internal standard solution((15)N3-melamine and (15)N3-(13)C3 -cyanuric acid) and 100 ml acetonitrile (10 ml for urine). The solution was cleaned with MCT solid-phase extraction column, and eluted once by 3 ml methanol and twice by 2.5 ml methanol (containing 5% ammonia water). The effluent was collected and dried by N2 flow at 40 °C, and then diluted to 2 mmol/L ammonium acetate containing 90% volume fraction acetonitrile. The completely dissolved solution was then filtered with 0.22 µm organic membrane; and the filtrate was detected by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and quantified with internal standards. The repeatability and sensitivity of the assay were evaluated. Then we detected the melamine and cyanuric acid residues in 501 water and 216 urine samples collected from several province and city.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>By the quantification of internal standard (15)N3-melamine and (15)N3-(13)C3-cyanuric acid, the melamine and cyanuric acid were linear in the range of 2.0-1000.0 µg/L with correlation coefficient of 0.9998 and 0.9997. The detection limits of the method were separately 0.4 ng/L (melamine) and 0.3 ng/L (cyanuric acid) for water, and 4.0 ng/L (melamine) and 3.0 ng/L (cyanuric acid) for urine. The average recovery rate was around 95.3%-100.1% with the relative standard deviation (RSD) was <4.02%. Out of the 501 water samples, melamine was detected out in 19.9% (100/501) and cyanuric acid was detected out in 5.2% (26/501). The content was around 0.03-5.00 g/L. Melamine or cyanuric acid was detected out in 24.5% of the urine samples (53/216), with the content around 0.01-1.00 g/L.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The established method of solid phase extraction-hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry can satisfy the requirement for detection of melamine and cyanuric acid residues in all sorts of water and urine. Meanwhile, the two substances widely existed in water and Chinese population.</p>

Measuring diet quality of labor workers in Shenzhen using Chinese diet balance index / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the overall diet quality and diet model of labor workers in Shenzhen using Chinese Diet Balance Index (DBI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In May 2009, 14 canteens from Baoan, Longgang and Nanshan districts were selected by stratified random sampling and 60 workers were randomly selected from each canteen by using random number method. Diet measurements were carried out among the 840 labor workers. Diet quality was evaluated by using DBI scoring and evaluating system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median values of labor workers' food intakes of cereal and meat & poultry were 483.8 and 121.7 g/d, which were more than the recommended amounts of their intakes of Chinese residents (cereal: 250 - 400 g/d, meat & poultry: 50 -70 g/d). The median values of the labor workers' intakes of fruit, dairy and eggs were 37.3, 20.6 and 23.5 g/d,which were less than recommended amounts in fruits (200 - 400 g/d), dairy (300 g/d) and eggs (25 - 50 g/d). The DBI-HBS scores of males and females in Shenzhen migrant workers were 24.4 +/- 6.1 and 22.6 +/- 6.3, respectively with a statistically significant difference (t = 4.21, P < 0.01). DBI-HBS scores of < 20 age group, 20 - 29 age group, 30 - 39 age group and > or = 40 age group in labor workers were 12.7 +/- 5.9, 11.3 +/- 6.3, 12.8 +/- 6.4 and 11.2 +/- 5.6 respectively (F = 3.67, P = 0.01). There were 7 dietary patterns among labor workers in this survey. Nearly 8.2% (68/830) of them belonged to Pattern A. Pattern B and E were the main dietary patterns, which accounted for 37.3% (310/830) and 31.0% (257/830) of the total population.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DBI can describe and evaluate the overall dietary quality and the major problem of the dietary patterns in labor workers. It is necessary to strength nutritional education to increase the intake of fruits, milk and eggs to improve nutritional status in labor workers in Shenzhen.</p>

Ozone therapy combined with sulfasalazine delivered via a colon therapy system for treatment of ulcerative colitis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the therapeutic effect of ozone therapy combined with sulfasalazine sulfasalazine delivered via a colon therapy system in the treatment of distal ulcerative colitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This prospective randomized controlled clinical trial involved 54 patients with mild to moderate active distal ulcerative colitis, who were randomize into 3 groups in accordance with the inclusion criteria (n=18). Each group was given sulfasalazine at the daily dose of 2 g, and in colon therapy group and ozone therapy plus sulfasalazine therapy group, sulfasalazine was delivered via a colon therapy system on a daily basis; the control group received sulfasalazine via retention enema only. At 0, 2, and 4 weeks of the treatment, colonoscopy was performed to evaluate the disease activity, and biopsy samples were obtained at 0 and 4 weeks for histological examination.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In comparison with colon therapy group and control group, ozone therapy plus colon therapy resulted in more rapid alleviation of the clinical symptoms and better histological improvement without any adverse effects.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ozone therapy combined with sulfasalazine delivered via a colon therapy system is feasible and effective for treatment of ulcerative colitis.</p>

Epidemiological studies on Clonorchis sinensis infection along the Zhujiang River in Lou village of Shenzhen / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the transmission route and epidemiological features of Clonorchis sinensis infection in Shenzhen area--the biggest immigration city of Southern China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this study, we examined 1473 individuals (710 males and 763 females) to determine the current status of C. sinensis infection among the people in one village in Zhujiang river region, Guangdong province, China. Blood samples were detected on antibody of C. sinensis with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay,and stool specimens from sera positive cases were examined by modified Kato-Katz thick smear to confirm the density of infection. People were interviewed on their life styles under the structured questionnaire which was administered by trained staff members. Major content of the questionnaire included eating raw fish, using the same utensils for both raw fish and cooked food, using feces of domestic animals and human feces to feed fish and so on.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 1473 people examined, 70 (4.75%) were found infected with C. sinensis. By counting eggs per gram feces (EPG), it was found that heavy intensities of infection in males was stronger than that of females,and the overall average EPG was 41.87. Of 1473 interviewees, 54% of them did not know about fluke disease or its transmission route, 12% of those who knew about the fluke but believed that the infection caused no harm or only slight harm to their health. 27% of the interviewees ate raw fish at least 1-2 times per months with 5% of the families using the same utensils for both raw fish and cooked food. 40% of the fish ponds owners fed their fish with the feces of domestic animals and human feces.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Together with these results, unhealthy behaviors, poor knowledge, inappropriate farming/fishery practices, eating raw fish were important factors influencing the C. sinensis prevalence in humans.</p>

Telomerase activity and regulation in human neuroepithelial tumors / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate telomerase activity and expression of hTR and hTERT in human neuroepithelial tumors for exploring new strategy for clinical diagnosis and treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Telomerase activity was detected by modified TRAP method and the expression of hTR and hTERT was measured by RT-PCR method in 65 human neuroepithelial tumors, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive rates of telomerase and hTERT were 61.54% and 70.77% respectively in human neuroepithelial tumors, and the positive rate and their level of expression were correlated with the degree of malignancy of tumors positively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Telomerase activity and hTERT are significantly correlated with the degree of malignancyin human neuroepithelial tumors. hTERT may play a key role in the regulation of telomerase activity.</p>

Clinical Use of Miniprobe Sonography(MPS) in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Diseases / 中国医师杂志

Objective To raise diagnostic rate of protruded lesion of gastrointestinal mucosa and to judge the precise differentiation to the depth of malignant lesion.Methods 12 cases of gastrointestinal diseases were examined by MPS combined with endoscopic examination.Results To the patients suffering protruded lesion of gastrointestinal mucosa with negative biopsy,the MPS provided a sound basis for diagnosis;To the cases of malignant lesion,findings of MPS with regard to the depth were in total concordance with that of surgical biopsy.Conclusion MPS is significanfly superior to conventional endoscopy with pathological biopsy in the differentation of protruded lesion of gastrointestinal mucosa.But in the case of malignant lesion,only the depth of infiltration of gastrointestinal wall can be correctly assessed by MPS.The value is limited in showing whole Picture for larger focus and in the identification of around lymphnodes and whether or no distal metastases in the near organs.