ABSTRACT
The research on the essence of triple energizer has not reached a consensus. The correspondence between the existing understanding and the classical theory of triple energizer is still limited in terms of structure and function. According to the traditional theory， nutrient-defense takes channels as the main circulatory system， while the operation of nutrient-defense in the triple energizer remains unclear. Since little is known about the physical structure of the triple energizer， the role of triple energizer as a collection of other Zang-fu organs has been ignored in most cases. The new progress in anatomy paves the way for the research on the essence of triple energizer. The function and structure of triple energizer are similar to those of interstitium and interfacial fluid flow， which enriches our understanding of the macro and micro structures of triple energizer. The triple energizer is distributed throughout the body and composed of membrane and interstitial space. The material structure of triple energizer includes fiber scaffold， collagen fiber， mesenchymal stem cells， histiocytes， pericytes， and interstitial fluid. The functions of triple energizer include passing body fluids， operating nutrient-defense， distributing original Qi， and transmitting and changing pathogenic Qi. According to the available theories and research achievements， we put forward the concept of vertical and horizontal triple energizer， pointed out that triple energizer had independent structure and the features of Zang-fu organs， and preliminarily defined the spatial distribution of triple energizer. The relationship between channels and triple energizer is essential for discussing the operation of nutrient-defense. Telocyte （Tc） and telopod （Tp） has the characteristics of channels in function and structure. The connective tissue with the distribution of Tc and Tp belongs to the same material as the basic structure of interstitial/interfacial fluid flow system and the fibrous skeleton of interstitium. It is clear that channels and triple energizer have material commonality. From the operation paths of nutrient-defense， we proposed that channels may be soaked and attached in triple energizer and put forward the model of channels soaked and attached in triple energizer. By combining the circulation of nutrient-defense with the vertical and horizontal triple energize， we developed the theory of triple energizer-nutrient-defense loop to comprehensively describe the generation， transport， and metabolism of nutrient-defense in channels and triple energizer， aiming to provide a theoretical model for future studies of disease transmission and change from exterior to interior.
ABSTRACT
The research on the essence of triple energizer has not reached a consensus. The correspondence between the existing understanding and the classical theory of triple energizer is still limited in terms of structure and function. According to the traditional theory， nutrient-defense takes channels as the main circulatory system， while the operation of nutrient-defense in the triple energizer remains unclear. Since little is known about the physical structure of the triple energizer， the role of triple energizer as a collection of other Zang-fu organs has been ignored in most cases. The new progress in anatomy paves the way for the research on the essence of triple energizer. The function and structure of triple energizer are similar to those of interstitium and interfacial fluid flow， which enriches our understanding of the macro and micro structures of triple energizer. The triple energizer is distributed throughout the body and composed of membrane and interstitial space. The material structure of triple energizer includes fiber scaffold， collagen fiber， mesenchymal stem cells， histiocytes， pericytes， and interstitial fluid. The functions of triple energizer include passing body fluids， operating nutrient-defense， distributing original Qi， and transmitting and changing pathogenic Qi. According to the available theories and research achievements， we put forward the concept of vertical and horizontal triple energizer， pointed out that triple energizer had independent structure and the features of Zang-fu organs， and preliminarily defined the spatial distribution of triple energizer. The relationship between channels and triple energizer is essential for discussing the operation of nutrient-defense. Telocyte （Tc） and telopod （Tp） has the characteristics of channels in function and structure. The connective tissue with the distribution of Tc and Tp belongs to the same material as the basic structure of interstitial/interfacial fluid flow system and the fibrous skeleton of interstitium. It is clear that channels and triple energizer have material commonality. From the operation paths of nutrient-defense， we proposed that channels may be soaked and attached in triple energizer and put forward the model of channels soaked and attached in triple energizer. By combining the circulation of nutrient-defense with the vertical and horizontal triple energize， we developed the theory of triple energizer-nutrient-defense loop to comprehensively describe the generation， transport， and metabolism of nutrient-defense in channels and triple energizer， aiming to provide a theoretical model for future studies of disease transmission and change from exterior to interior.
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Objective:To analyze the blood glucose screening condition for individuals receiving physical examinations. Specifically, to examine the rates of abnormal postprandial glucose at different levels of fasting blood glucose and the characteristics of people who had normal fasting blood glucose with high postprandial glucose.Methods:Participants were individuals who received physical examinations at the Health Management Centre, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, from January 2016 to December 2016. Data collection included general information, physical examination, and laboratory tests including fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, postprandial glucose, blood fat, and blood uric acid. The blood glucose indicators for the study population were analyzed. Among participants without diabetes, the rate of abnormal postprandial glucose at different fasting blood glucose levels or with a HbA1c screening were compared. For participants with complete information, chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regressions were used to analyze the characteristics of individuals who had normal fasting blood glucose with high postprandial glucose.Results:A total of 45 447 participants were included, with 23 001 males (50.61%) and 22 446 females (49.39%). For blood glucose, the most frequently completed indicator was fasting blood glucose (97.04%), then HbA1c (56.17%) followed by postprandial glucose (17.51%). There were 7 351 participants without diabetes who had all three glucose indicators. As fasting blood glucose increased, the abnormal rate of postprandial glucose increased gradually. When fasting blood glucose was lower than 5.6 mmol/L, the rate of abnormal postprandial glucose was 11.59%. When fasting blood glucose was between 5.6 mmol/L and 6.1 mmol/L, the rate was 33.9%. When fasting blood glucose was higher than 6.1 mmol/L, the rate was 68.73%. When the cutoff for fasting blood glucose was 5.6 mmol/L, the rate of abnormal postprandial glucose decreased compared with a cutoff of 6.1 mmol/L (11.59% vs. 14.32%, respectively). Combined with HbA1c screening, the rate of postprandial glucose abnormalities were both reduced (8.83% vs.11.59% for 5.6 mmol/L; 10.08% vs. 14.32% for 6.1 mmol/L). A total of 5 872 individuals had complete information and were included in the analysis. Participants who were men, >45 years old, and were overweight or obese had higher risk for abnormal postprandial glucose [ OR(95% CI): 2.85(2.33-3.48), 2.15(1.76-2.62), 1.82(1.45-2.27), and 2.64(2.04-3.42), respectively, P<0.05]. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia and hyperuricemia were also risk factors [ OR(95% CI): 1.80(1.51-2.15) and 1.52(1.27-1.82), respectively, P<0.05] Conclusions:The completion rate was highest for fasting blood glucose and lowest for postprandial glucose among the study population. The rate of abnormal postprandial glucose was high when fasting blood glucose was normal. Screening combined with HbA1c decreased the rate of postprandial glucose abnormalities. Postprandial glucose testing should be recommended for those who are male, older, overweight or obese, and have other risk factors including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperuricemia.
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Objective@#To evaluate the changes of volume and mass of pulmonary nodules which were detected in low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening, and to analyze the influencing factors.@*Methods@#This retrospective study analyzed the CT images of the participants who underwent at least two chest LDCT scanning from March 2009 to December 2015 in National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College. The inclusion criteria was the nodule diameter ≥6 mm; the volume growth was defined as ≥20%. Fifty-one pulmonary nodules (PNs) were selected among 51 enrolled participants (26 men and 25 women). According to characteristic of nodule and risk stratification of participant, the nodules were classified into different groups (10 non-solid nodules, 17 part-solid nodules and 24 solid nodules; 14 PNs in high-risk group, 12 PNs in moderate-risk group and 25 PNs in low-risk group). The Lung-VCAR software was used to measure the diameter and volume of the PNs, and all nodules were calculated for the volume doubling time (VDT) and mass doubling time (MDT).@*Results@#Among the 51 PNs, the diameter of 33 nodules increased more than 1.5 mm while 18 nodules increased less than 1.5 mm. The median VDT of part-solid nodules was 364 days, which was shorter than that of non-solid nodules and solid nodules (761 and 819 days, respectively), the differences were statistically significant (both P<0.05). The median MDT of part-solid nodules was 351 days, which was lower than that of non-solid nodules and solid nodules (772 days and 840 days, respectively). The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The median VDT and MDT of the pulmonary nodules in the high-risk group were 181 days and 256 days, respectively, which were lower than those in the low risk group (1 037 days and 1 035 days, respectively). VDT has good correlation with MDT (r=0.909, P<0.001).@*Conclusions@#Both the characteristic of PNs and the risk status of the participants could affect the growth of nodules in LDCT screening. The part-solid nodules and high-risk group nodules grew relatively faster, which should be closely focused on. Compared with the two-dimensional diameter, the three-dimensional quantitative indicators (VDT and MDT) were more sensitive for nodule growth. The mass changes of part-solid nodules were earlier than that of volume.
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Objective The aims of the study were to investigate the effects of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) on autophagy in INS-1 cells and its underlying mechanism,and to explore the role of autophagy in hIAPP-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress.Methods INS-1 cells were treated with hIAPP (10 μmol/L) for 24 h in the presence or absence of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC),compound C,5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR) and 3-methyladenine (3-MA),respectively.Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the number of autophagosome in cells.Cell viability was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) test.2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay was used to measure the relative levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS).Western blot was used to detect expression of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and autophagic markers p62 and microtubule associated protein 1 light chain3 (LC3).Results Treatment of INS-1 cells with hIAPP resulted in a significant increase in the number of autophagosomes and the expression of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ (both P＜0.05).Meanwhile,treatment of INS-1 cells with hIAPP enhanced the level of ROS to 1.76 times of control cells (P＜0.01).Co-treatment with NAC,an antioxidant,inhibited hIAPP-induced ROS generation,and the expression of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ and p-AMPK in the INS-1 cells (all P＜0.05).Pretreatment of INS-1 cells with AMPK inhibitor compound C suppressed hIAPP and AICAR,an activator of AMPK,induced expression of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ and p-AMPK (all P＜0.05).Autophagic inhibitor 3-MA and compound C aggravated the hIAPP-induced cell death and ROS generation in INS-1 cells (All P＜0.05).The cytotoxic effects of hIAPP were significantly attenuated by co-treatment with AICAR (P＜0.05).Conclusion Autophagy may act as an adaptive mechanism to alleviate hIAPP-induced oxidative damage and toxicity in INS-1 cells.
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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of obesity on obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) by age in relation to anthropometric measurements. METHODS: The medical records of 1,110 participants diagnosed with OSAS were analyzed according to age. All participants underwent nocturnal polysomnography and had their body mass index, waist circumference, neck circumference (NC), and waist-to-hip ratio measured. RESULTS: According to the multiple linear regression analysis model for the natural logarithm of the apnea-hypopnea index treating all four anthropometric measurements and gender as covariates, the final stepwise model accounted for an increasing percentage of the variability in the severity of OSAS as a function of age: 7.0, 9.1, 14.5, and 25.6% for those aged <30, 30–39, 40–49, and 50–59 yrs, respectively. It accounted for a decreased percentage among those 60–69 (20.3%) and 70 yrs or older (3.9%). The correlation between NC and the severity of OSAS linearly increased as a function of age for those aged 30–59 yrs, peaked among those in their 60s, and dramatically decreased thereafter. CONCLUSION: Middle-aged patients with OSAS were more likely to be obese, as measured by anthropometric measurements, than were younger or older OSAS patients. In particular, the predictive value of NC was significantly lower for younger and older OSAS patients.
Subject(s)
Humans , Age Distribution , Body Mass Index , Body Weights and Measures , Linear Models , Medical Records , Neck , Obesity , Polysomnography , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive , Waist Circumference , Waist-Hip RatioABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate sleep characteristics and factors associated with sleep disturbance in schizophrenia patients with concurrent active psychotic symptoms and insomnia. METHODS: Schizophrenia patients with insomnia and active psychotic symptoms (n = 63) were recruited from communitybased mental rehabilitative facilities. Sleep scales such as the Korean version of the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI-K) and the Korean Version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-K) were evaluated and those with ISI-K >15 were included in the study. Psychotic, anxiety and depressive symptoms were rated with the Brief Psychotic Rating Scale (BPRS), the Korean Version of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (K-ASI), and the Korean Version of the Beck Depression Inventory-I (K-BDI), respectively. Pearson correlation analyses were performed between the sociodemographic data, ISI-K and PSQI-K. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the factors which affected the ISI-K and PSQI-K. RESULTS: The mean ISI-K and PSQI-K scores were 18.1 ± 2.6 and 12.0 ± 2.2, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between age of onset and ISI-K score and positive correlations between BRPS and PSQI-K scores and between K-ASI and both ISI-K and PSQI-K scores. Multiple regression analyses for both ISI-K and PSQI-K with K-ASI, age of onset, and BPRS as covariates revealed K-ASI as the only significant remaining factor. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that anxiety symptoms are associated with insomnia symptoms in schizophrenia patients regardless of depressive or psychotic symptoms.
Subject(s)
Humans , Age of Onset , Anxiety , Community Mental Health Services , Depression , Linear Models , Mental Health Services , Mental Health , Schizophrenia , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders , Weights and MeasuresABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The effect of transdermal nicotine patch on sleep physiology is not well established. The current study aimed to examine the influence of nicotine patch on homeostatic sleep propensity and autonomic nervous system. METHODS: We studied 16 non-smoking young healthy volunteers with nocturnal polysomnography in a double blind crossover design between sleep with and without nicotine patch. We compared the sleep variables, sleep EEG power spectra, and heart rate variability. RESULTS: The night with nicotine patch showed significant increase in sleep latency, wake after sleep onset, and stage 1 sleep; and decrease in total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and percentage of REM sleep. Also, spectral analysis of the sleep EEG in the night with nicotine patch revealed decreased slow wave activity in stage 2 and REM sleep and increased alpha activity in the first NREM-REM sleep cycle. Heart rate variability showed no differences between the 2 nights, but the low to high ratio (a parameter indicative of sympathetic nervous system activity) positively correlated with wake after sleep onset in night with nicotine patch. CONCLUSION: Transdermal nicotine patch significantly disrupts sleep continuity, sleep architecture, and homeostatic sleep propensity. The overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system may be responsible for these changes.
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Male , Autonomic Nervous System , Cross-Over Studies , Electroencephalography , Healthy Volunteers , Heart Rate , Heart , Nicotine , Physiology , Polysomnography , Sleep, REM , Spectrum Analysis , Sympathetic Nervous System , Tobacco Use Cessation DevicesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We investigated the prevalence of insomnia and its clinical characteristics in North Korean refugees. METHODS: North Korean refugees living in South Korea (48 males, 129 females; mean age 38.22+/-12.24 years) and South Koreans (112 males, 203 females; mean age 39.48+/-10.32 years) completed the following questionnaires: the Self-reported Questionnaire on Insomnia, Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), Trauma Exposure Check List for North Korean Refugees, and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). RESULTS: North Korean refugees had insomnia more often than South Koreans did (38.42% vs. 8.89%). Depression combined with insomnia was also more prevalent in North Korean refugees (28.25% vs. 3.17%). Compared with South Koreans with insomnia, North Korean refugees with insomnia showed higher CES-D scores. The North Korean refugees with insomnia had experienced a larger number of traumatic events, and had higher CES-D and IES-R scores compared to North Korean refugees without insomnia. Insomnia in North Korean refugees was also associated with the presence of significant depressive and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. CONCLUSION: Insomnia was common in North Korean refugees and was closely associated with depressive and PTSD symptoms. Our study suggests that complaints of insomnia may indicate more severe psychopathology, especially in refugees.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Depression , Korea , Prevalence , Psychopathology , Refugees , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders , Stress Disorders, Post-TraumaticABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: In the present study, it was hypothesized that the sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) characteristics of young (55 yrs) OSAS patients would differ. METHODS: We analyzed 76 sleep EEG recordings from OSAS patients (young group: n=40, mean age: 24.3±4.9 yrs; elderly group: n=36, mean age: 59.1±4.9 yrs), which were obtained during nocturnal polysomnography. The recordings were assessed via spectral analysis in the delta (0.5–4.5 Hz), theta (4.5–8 Hz), alpha (8–12 Hz), beta (12–32 Hz), slow sigma (11–13 Hz), and fast sigma (13–17 Hz) frequency bands. RESULTS: Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) and sleep efficiency (%) did not differ significantly between the two groups (19.8±14.4 vs. 25.9±16.0, p=0.085; 84.4±12.6 vs. 80.9±11.0, p=0.198, respectively). After adjusting for gender, the slow/fast sigma ratio was not significantly correlated with AHI in the elderly group (r=-0.047, p=0.790) but AHI was inversely correlated with the slow/fast sigma ratio in the young group (r=-0.423, p=0.007). A multiple linear regression analysis revealed that a higher AHI was related with a lower slow/fast sigma ratio in the young group (β=-0.392, p=0.028) but not the elderly. CONCLUSION: In the present study, sleep EEG activity differed between young and elderly OSAS patients. The slow/fast sigma ratio was associated with OSAS severity only in young patients, suggesting that young OSAS patients may have a distinctive brain plasticity compared with elderly patients.