Electroacupuncture at acupoints of yangming meridians for sarcopenia: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical effect of electroacupuncture at acupoints of yangming meridians for sarcopenia.@*METHODS@#A total of 60 patients with sarcopenia were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. In the control group, conventional nutrition intervention for sarcopenia was adopted. In the observation group, on the basis of the treatment in the control group, acupuncture was applied at bilateral Binao (LI 14), Quchi (LI 11), Zusanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34), etc.,ipsilateral Quchi (LI 11) and Zusanli (ST 36) were connected to electroacupuncture, with discontinuous wave, 2 Hz in frequency, 1-10 mA in intensity, 2 times a week, with a interval of 3 days. A total of 12-week treatment was required in the two groups. Before and after treatment, the appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), grip strength, 6 m-walking time, body fat percentage and body moisture percentage were observed in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#Compared with those before treatment, after treatment, ASMI and grip strength were increased while 6 m-walking time was shortened in the two groups (P<0.05); body fat percentage was decreased while body moisture percentage was increased in the observation group (P<0.05). After treatment, in the observation group, ASMI, grip strength and body moisture percentage were increased (P<0.05), 6 m-walking time was shortened and body fat percentage was decreased (P<0.05) compared with those in the control group.@*CONCLUSION@#Electroacupuncture at acupoints of yangming meridians can effectively improve the skeletal muscle mass, muscle function, body fat percentage and body moisture percentage in patients with sarcopenia, and make the distribution of muscle and fat more reasonable.

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for a Stanford type A aortic dissection patient combined with postoperative respiratory failure and COVID-19: A case report / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#During the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there has been controversy over whether emergency surgical management should be performed or not in the patients with COVID-19. Stanford type A aortic dissection is a very urgent life-threatening disease, and guidelines recommend surgical treatment for patients with type A aortic dissection in the first instance. However, intraoperative extracorporeal circulation can be fatal to patients recovering from COVID-19. During the pandemic, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has played an important role in supporting COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory failure. This article reports a successful V-V ECMO treatment for a Stanford type A aortic dissection patient, who suffered respiratory failure caused by COVID-19 after emergency surgery.

Histamine stimulates thermogenesis of brown and beige fat / 生理学报

β3-adrenergic agonists induce adaptive thermogenesis and promote beiging of white fat. However, it remains unclear which metabolites mediate the stimulatory effects of β3-adrenergic agonists on thermogenesis of brown and beige fat. In this study, adipose tissue was isolated from 8-week-old C57/BL6J male mice by intraperitoneal administration of β3-adrenergic agonist CL316,243 for RNA-Seq, which revealed that histidine decarboxylase, a key enzyme in histamine synthesis, was strongly induced in adipose by CL316,243. Therefore, we speculated that histamine might be involved in the process of thermogenesis in adipose tissue. We determined the physiological role and mechanism by which histamine promotes fat thermogenesis by intravenous administering histamine to C57BL/6J mice fed a normal or a high-fat diet. The results showed that intravenous injection of histamine into C57BL/6J mice fed a normal diet stimulated the expression of thermogenic genes, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT). H&E staining also suggested that histamine treatment decreased the size of lipid droplets in adipocytes. Moreover, histamine treatment also enhanced thermogenesis of fat in high-fat diet induced obese mice, and improved glucose intolerance and fatty liver phenotype. Finally, we demonstrated that the effects of histamine on the thermogenic program were cell autonomous. Our data suggest that histamine may mediate the effects of β3-adrenergic agonists on thermogenesis of fat.

Shikonin induces cell death by inhibiting glycolysis in human testicular cancer I-10 and seminoma TCAM-2 cells / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the pattern of shikonin-induced cell death in testicular cancer cell I-10 and seminoma TCAM-2 cells and explore the possible mechanism in light of mitochondrial function and glycolysis.@*METHODS@#I-10 cells treated with 0, 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 μmol/L shikonin and TCAM-2 cells treated with 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 μmol/L shikonin were examined for mitochondrial membrane potential and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) using JC-1 kit and ROS kit, respectively. The levels of intracellular lactic acid in the cells were detected using a lactic acid kit. The inhibitory effect of shikonin on the proliferation of the cells was assessed with MTT assay. The death patterns of the cells were observed by transmission electron microscopy, and annexin V-FITC/PI double staining was used to detect cell apoptosis. Western blotting was used to detect the relative expression levels of the apoptotic proteins Bax, Bcl-2, and cleaved caspase-3, the autophagy- related protein LC3B and glycolysis- related proteins PKM2, GLUT1 and HK2.@*RESULTS@#MTT assay showed that shikonin significantly inhibited the proliferation of I-10 and TCAM-2 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner ( < 0.05). The IC values of shikonin in I-10 cells at 24, 48, and 72 h were 1.8, 1.36 and 1.16 μmol/L, as compared with 2.37, 0.8 and 0.41 μmol/L in TCAM-2 cells, respectively. Shikonin treatment significantly reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, increased ROS levels and lower the level of lactic acid in both I-10 and TCAM-2 cells ( < 0.05). Transmission electron microscopy and annexin V-FITC/PI double staining demonstrated that shikonin induced apoptosis and excessive autophagy in I-10 and TCAM-2 cells ( < 0.05). In both I-10 and TCAM cells, shikonin treatment significantly down- regulated the expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved caspase-3, PKM2, GLUT1 and HK2, and up-regulated the expression of autophagy-related protein LC3B ( < 0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Shikonin can inhibit the proliferation, induce apoptosis and increase autophagy in both I-10 and TCAM-2 cells probably by affecting energy metabolism of the cells.

Comparison of contents of three active ingredients in Bletilla striata from different sources / 中国中药杂志

In order to understand the difference of contents of coelonin,batatasin Ⅲ and 3'-O-methylbatatasin Ⅲ in 60 different sources of Bletilla striata planted under the same conditions. UPLC method was used and the analysis was performed on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column( 2. 1 mm×100 mm,1. 7 μm),eluted with acetonitril-0. 1% formic acid solution by gradient. The flow rate was 0. 208 m L·min-1,the detection wavelength was 270 nm,the column temperature was 35 ℃ and the injection volume was 4μL. Under the above chromatographic conditions,the three components can be separated well with good linearity in the range of 0. 156-5. 000 mg·L-1. The average contents of coelonin,batatasin Ⅲ and 3'-O-methylbatatasin Ⅲ were( 0. 116 ± 0. 071) %,( 0. 386 ±0. 185) % and( 0. 086±0. 034) %,respectively. After planting for two years under the same conditions,there was no significant difference in chemical composition among different sources and varieties,but the contents of the three components had some regional differences,which indicated that the western region was higher than the eastern region,while the contents of coelonin and batatasin Ⅲ in B.sinensis were slightly higher than those in B. striata. The chromatographic method above is simple,stable and reproducible,and can be used for quantitative analysis of three components. The content analysis of different sources of B. striata can provide reference for future B. striata breeding and quality control.

A novel splicing mutation identified in a Chinese family with Alport syndrome and analysis of its pathogenicity / 医学研究生学报

Objective The purpose of this study was to identify a pathogenic variant in a Chinese family with Alport syndrome and analyze the pathogenicity of the variant. Methods Using targeted region capture and high-throughput sequencing technology, we identified the genetic variant of the proband with Alport syndrome, verified the variant in the family members by Sanger sequencing, and analyzed its influence on the pre-mRNA splicing process by in vitro minigene assay. Results A heterozygous variant c.2767G>T (p.Gly923Cys) was identified as a novel variant in exon 32 of the COL4A5 gene in the proband, which was confirmed by Sanger sequencing to be cosegregated with disease in the family. The minigene assay demonstrated that the c.2767G>T variant induced deletion of exon 32 of the COL4A5 gene. Conclusion A novel COL4A5 mutation was identified by targeted region capture and high-throughput sequencing, which has enriched the gene mutation spectrum of Alport syndrome. The exonic mutation c.2767G>T confirmed to be a splicing mutation by in vitro minigene assay, which may lead to a deeper insight into the molecular pathogenesis of Alport syndrome.

Duplex PCR for rapid detection of the drug-resistant genes KPC and NDM / 医学研究生学报

ObjectiveThe nucleic acid technology for detecting drug-resistant genes has become one of the powerful tools for monitoring and controlling the spreading of drug-resistant bacteria. This study was to establish a method for rapid detection of the drug-resistant genes KPC and NDM and provide some guidance in clinical drug use and monitoring the prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria in the hospital.MethodsAccording to the conserved regions of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) and New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM), we designed the primers of duplex PCR, optimized the amplification system and established a method for simultaneous detection of the drug-resistant genes KPC and NDM. Then, we analyzed the sensitivity and specificity of the method and applied it to the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae.ResultsThe sequences of KPC and NDM exhibited a 100% consistency with those of the original ones. Target fragments of the desired size of 151 bp were detected in the KPC-2 positive standard and Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC BAA 1705 standard strains, and those of the desired size of 261 bp were observed in the NDM-2 positive standard strain and NDM-positive pneumococcal bacteria, neither with non-specific amplification. Sequencing of the PCR products showed a 100% consistency between the sequences of the products and those of the drug-resistant genes KPC-2 and NDM-1. The detectable limits of KPC and NDM for duplex PCR were 7×102 and 5×102 copies per reaction respectively. Drug-resistant genes were detected in 12 (92.3%) of the 13 carbapenems-resistant strains, including 10 KPC-positive (83.3%) and 2 NDM positive ones (16.7%), but neither KPC nor NDM in the other 10 carbapenems-sensitive strains. In the 13 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, KPC was detected in 2 (33.3%) of the 6 carbapenems-resistant ones, but neither KPC nor NDM in the other 7.ConclusionThe duplex PCR method can be used for rapid and effective detection of the drug-resistance genes KPC and NDM, with the advantages of high sensitivity and specificity, and is therefore of great significance for guiding clinical drug use and monitoring the spreading of carbapenems-resistant bacteria in the hospital.

Preventive protection of Yingxindan on myocardial ischemia / 中国药理学通报

Aim To observe the preventive protection of Yingxindan on acute myocardial ischemia induced by sublingual injection of pituitrin ( pit) in rats.Methods Sixty rats were randomly divided into saline group , model group, nifedipine 12.6 mg · kg -1 group, and Yingxindan 25.2, 12.6, 6.3 mg · kg -1 groups.The saline group and model group were given the same vol-ume of water.After administration for 7 d, an acute myocardial ischemia model was induced by sublingual intravenous injection of pit 1 U · kg -1 in the rats 1 h after last administration .The changes of the II electro-cardiogram(ECG) ST segment at different time points , as well as the positive rate of myocardial ischemia and arrhythmia were observed .Meanwhile , the levels of serum creatine kinase ( CK ) , creatine kinase isoenzyme ( CK-MB ) , glycogen phosphorylase isoenzyme BB ( GPBB ) , cardiac troponin I ( cTnI ) and cardiac troponin T ( cTnT ) were observed .Re-sults Yingxindan could suppress the changes of ST segment of electrocardiogram in rats with acute myocar-dial ischemia induced by pit and reduce the positive rate of myocardial ischemia and arrhythmia .The con-tents of myocardial injury markers CK , CK-MB, GPBB, cTnI and cTnT in serum significantly de-creased, and the corresponding relationship existed . The greater the dose of Yingxindan , the smaller the content of myocardial injuried markers in serum .Con-clusion Yingxindan has significant preventive protec-tion effect on acute myocardial ischemia by pit .

Comparison of clinical outcomes between unilateral fixation fusion and minimally invasive spine transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in treating lumbar disc herniation / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the short-term clinical outcome between unilateral fixation fusion (ULF) and minimally invasive spine transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) in treating lumbar disc herniation (LDH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 39 patients with LDH were retrospectively analyzed from June 2008 to March 2013. There was 22 males and 17 females, aged from 45 to 75 years old with an average of 56.9 years. Therer were 3 cases in L3,4, 15 cases in L4,5, 21 cases in L5S1. Among them, 21 patients underwent unilateral fixation fusion (ULF group) and 18 underwent minimally invasive spine transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF group). Operation time, blood loss, the times of radiographic exposure and hospital stay were noted and compared between two groups. Radiograph informations were regularily accessed and VAS, ODI scores were recorded at 3 days and 3, 6, 12 months after operation, respectively. According to modified Macnab criteria, the clinical effects were evaluated at final follow-up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All operations were successful without severe complications. The averaged operative time and the times of radiographic exposure in ULF group [(95 ± 25) min and (4.2 ± 0.4) times] were less than that of MIS-TLIF group [(120 ± 35) min and (10.1 ± 3.9) times] (P < 0.05). But, the mean blood loss and hospital stay in MIS-TLIF group [(75 ± 45) ml and (7.2 ± 2.2)d ]were less than that of ULF group [(165 ± 60) ml and (11.0 ± 3.7) d] (P < 0.01). All patients were followed up from 12 to 45 months with an average of 29.5 months. The VAS and ODI score had significantly improved during the follow-up and no significant differences were found between two groups at the same time point (P > 0.05). The postoperative radiographs showed internal fixation position was good. And all patients obtained bone fusion by CT scan at 1 year after operation. There was no significant differences in modified Macnab criteria between two groups at the latest follow-up (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Favorable short-term clinical effects can be achieved in suitable LDH patients with ULF or MIS-TLIF surgical procedures.</p>

Effect of Glucagon-like peptide 1 on Lipid Metabolism / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

[Summary] Glucagon-like peptide-1 ( GLP-1 ) as a new treatment of type 2 diabetes, not only has hypoglycemic effect, but also plays an important role in the regulation of lipid metabolism. GLP-1 plays a unique role in regulating lipid metabolism via lipid absorption and transport, fat formation and decomposition, hepatic lipid metabolism, and cholesterol transport.

In vitro culture and neuron-like differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:The discovery and concept of pulp tissue-derived stem cells is beneficial to the understanding of tooth development and regeneration and repair mechanisms from the cellular level. OBJECTIVE:To understand the induced differentiation capacity and induced conditions in vitro of human dental pulp stem cells into neuron-like cells. METHODS:Pulp tissue was separated from human healthy third molars. Single cellsuspensions were prepared and seeded into 6-wel plates containing alpha-modified minimum essential medium supplemented with 15%fetal bovine serum. Subconfluent cultures (first passage) of colony forming cells were induced with butylhydroxy anisole, forskolin,β-mercaptoethanol, basic fibroblast growth factor. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Immunofluorescence and reverse transcription-PCR assay showed that human dental pulp stem cells positively expressed stro-1, Col-I, dentin sialoprotein after 2 weeks of induction. Nestin and neuron-specific enolase were strongly expressed, but the gingival fibroblasts were negatively expressed. It indicates that adult stem cells in human dental pulp have a high neuron-like celldifferentiation potential under a certain inductive condition.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen administered at different pressures and different exposure time on differentiation of neural stem cells in vitro / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) administered at different pressures and different exposure time on the differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cerebral cortices from newborn rats (0-3 days old) were sterilely collected, digested, and centrifuged. After removal of the supernatant, the cells were re-suspended with DMEM/F12 medium containing B27, bFGF and EGF. The NSCs of 2-3 passages were randomly divided into seven groups: a control (untreated) and 6 HBO treatment groups that NSCs were subjected to HBO treatment of different pressures (1, 2 or 3 ATA) and different exposure time (30 or 60 minutes). The differentiated NSCs were examined by neuron-specific enolase (NSE) immunocytochemistry 24 hrs later. Percentage of NSE positive cells differentiated from NSCs was assessed by fluorescent microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The percentage of NSE positive cells differentiated from NSCs was the highest in the HBO 2ATA-60 min group (9.17+/-0.50%) (P<0.01), followed by the HBO 3ATA-60 min (7.89+/-0.62%), HBO 2ATA-30 min (6.72+/-0.76%), HBO 3ATA-30 min (6.08+/-0.57%), HBO 1ATA-60 min (5.45+/-0.52%), HBO 1ATA 30 min (3.85+/-0.44%) and control groups (3.72+/-0.88%). In addition to the HBO 1ATA-30 min group, the other HBO treatment groups had increased significantly percentage of NSE positive cells compared with the control group (P<0.01). Under the same pressure, the 60 min treatment groups had increased significantly percentage of NSE positive cells compared with the 30 min treatment groups (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>HBO treatment (2 ATA, 60 minutes) produces a best effect in the differentiation of NSCs into neurons.</p>

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen on differentiation and Wnt3 expression of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Hyperbaric oxygen(HBO)treatment promotes the proliferation and differentiation of endogenous neural stem cells in neonatal rats following hypoxic/ischemic brain damage(HIBD).The Wnt signaling pathway is associated with neurogenesis.However,there are few data recording the role of HBO in the differentiation of neural stem cells in vitro.OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of HBO on differentiation and Wnt3 expression of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs).METHODS:BMSCs were isoiated and cultured.The rat BMSCs of passages 3-5 were cultured in DMEM/F12(1:1)medium with basic fibroblast growth factor,epidermal growth factor and B27 for 24 hours.The induced BMSCs were randomly divided into two groups:control group(no treatment)and HBO group(HBO,0.10 MPa,60 minutes stabilizing pressure with at least 90% oxygen).The neuron specific encloase(NSE),glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)and 04 marked oligodendrocyte immunocytochemistry were detected by immunofluorescent staining,and Wnt3 protein expression was detected by Western-blot.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:BMSCs cultured in classic medium of neural stem cells could significantly induce the expression of nestin.The expression of NSE and 04 of HBO group was greater than control group(P＜0.01),but GFAP expression displayed no significant difference between the groups(P＞0.05).Western blot showed HBO could enhance the Writ3 expression (P＜0.05).Results show that HBO can induce BMSCs to differentiate into neural cells and oligodendrocyte,which is correlated with the activation of the Wnt3 protein.

Medium-term, long-term efficacy of collagenase injected to target site by CT-guided in treatment for lumbar disc herniation / 中国基层医药

Objective To explore medium-term,long-term efficacy of collagenase injected to target site by CT-guided in treatment for lumbar disc herniation. Methods 50 patients with lumbar disc protrusion were treated with CT-guided percutaneous injection of collagenase accurately reaching prominence(target site). Results All patients were followed up 36 to 60 months. The total effective rate was 82.97% (more than 36 months)and82.23%(more than 60 months). Conclusion Grasping indications well, CT-guided percutaneous injection of collagenase target site in treatment of lumbar disc herniation was accurate, safe, simple, effective, and was the preferred treatment for such patients.

Protective effects of delayed multiple course hyperbaric oxygen treatment against hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in neonatal rats / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the protective effects of multiple course hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment against hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) in neonatal rats when HBO treatment is delayed (96 hrs after the HIBD event).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-eight 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley rat pups were randomly assigned to control, HIBD and HBO groups. The HBO group was subdivided into cohorts receiving treatment 2 h, 48 h and 96 h, respectively, after HIBD was induced. The three subgroups comprising different therapeutic windows were further randomly assigned to receive 1, 2 or 3 courses of HBO treatment ("HBO-1, -2 and -3 sub-groups"). HBO was administered once daily (2 ATA), a course lasting for seven days. There was an interval of three days between the courses. All pups were sacrificed at the end of HBO treatment (31 days after HIBD). TUNEL staining was used for testing neuronal apoptosis in the cortex and the CA1 of the hippocampus, and NSE staining was used to ascertain cortical neuronal population.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>1.There were significantly more TUNEL positive cells in the HIBD group than in the control group; NSE positive cells were significantly lower than in controls (P<0.01). 2. With the more delayed therapeutic window, the effects of apoptosis inhibition and neuronal protection of a single course of HBO were gradually reduced. 3. With increasing courses of HBO treatment, the effects of apoptosis inhibition and neuronal protection of HBO increased gradually in rats receiving treatment 48 and 96 hrs after HIBD. In the HBO group receiving treatment 2 hrs after HIBD, the number of apoptotic cells and NSE positive cells were close to that of the control group after one course of HBO treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>One course of HBO administered within 2 hrs after HIBD can effectively inhibit neuron apoptosis and protect neurons. The effects of apoptosis inhibition and neuron protection of HBO can be increased through increasing the number of HBO treatment courses in neonatal rats with HIBD even if initiation of treatment is delayed after HIBD.</p>

Advances of forensic entomology in China / 法医学杂志

Forensic entomology is a branch of forensic medicine, which applies studies of insects and arthropods to getting evidence for court and has an analogous advantage in the estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) and other questions of forensic relevance. The paper expounds its definition and contents and reviews some progress of the studies in some aspects in China such as the constitution and succession of insect community on the different cadavers, the applications of morphological features of insects and the technology of analysis of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in forensic entomology, and forensic entomological toxicology etc.

GCS Improvement After Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Traumatic Brain Injury / 医学研究杂志

Objective To observe the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBOT) on Glasgow coma scale(GCS) in patients with traumatic brain injury(TBI) and the influences of course and initiating time of HBOT on the therapeutic effects.Methods 105 cases of TBI patients,which performed HBOT more than 30 days in HBOT Center of Southwest Hospital,were analyzed retrospectively.The GCS improvements were compared with 29 cases of TBI patients without HBOT during the same period.They were also compared between patients with different severity,initiating times and courses of HBOT.Results The GCS improvement of patients with HBOT was 3.97?2.65,especially in severe TBI patients(5.22?2.49),Both were higher than that without HBOT(2.38?2.16)(P