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Background and Purpose: In this study, we investigate the longitudinal measurement invariance of the Chinese version of the mini-mental state examination (CMMSE). Methods: The factor structure and longitudinal equivalence of the CMMSE were examined by confirmatory factor analysis. Four CMMSE measurements of 13,132 participants from the China Longitudinal Health and Longevity Study between 2008 and 2018 were included. The nested model of longitudinal invariance proves the existence of strict longitudinal invariance. Results: It showed that the factor structure, factor loadings, intercept error variance, and latent factor means of the CMMSE were invariant across four measurements. Conclusion: These findings indicate that the changes in CMMSE scores can be attributed to real structural change, indicating that the CMMSE is a reliable measurement tool for the study of cognitive aging.
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Reproducibility of Results , Humans , Aged , China , Factor Analysis, Statistical , PsychometricsABSTRACT
Brachial plexus avulsion (BPA) is a combined injury involving the central and peripheral nervous systems. Patients with BPA often experience severe neuropathic pain (NP) in the affected limb. NP is insensitive to the existing treatments, which makes it a challenge to researchers and clinicians. Accumulated evidence shows that a BPA-induced pain state is often accompanied by sympathetic nervous dysfunction, which suggests that the excitation state of the sympathetic nervous system is correlated with the existence of NP. However, the mechanism of how somatosensory neural crosstalk with the sympathetic nerve at the peripheral level remains unclear. In this study, through using a novel BPA C7 root avulsion mouse model, we found that the expression of BDNF and its receptor TrκB in the DRGs of the BPA mice increased, and the markers of sympathetic nervous system activity including α1 and α2 adrenergic receptors (α1-AR and α2-AR) also increased after BPA. The phenomenon of superexcitation of the sympathetic nervous system, including hypothermia and edema of the affected extremity, was also observed in BPA mice by using CatWalk gait analysis, an infrared thermometer, and an edema evaluation. Genetic knockdown of BDNF in DRGs not only reversed the mechanical allodynia but also alleviated the hypothermia and edema of the affected extremity in BPA mice. Further, intraperitoneal injection of adrenergic receptor inhibitors decreased neuronal excitability in patch clamp recording and reversed the mechanical allodynia of BPA mice. In another branch experiment, we also found the elevated expression of BDNF, TrκB, TH, α1-AR, and α2-AR in DRG tissues from BPA patients compared with normal human DRGs through western blot and immunohistochemistry. Our results revealed that peripheral BDNF is a key molecule in the regulation of somatosensory-sympathetic coupling in BPA-induced NP. This study also opens a novel analgesic target (BDNF) in the treatment of this pain with fewer complications, which has great potential for clinical transformation.
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Humans , Mice , Animals , Hyperalgesia/metabolism , Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism , Hypothermia/metabolism , Neuralgia , Brachial Plexus/injuries , Edema/metabolismABSTRACT
ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the role of suPAR in the pathogenesis of podocyte injury in FSGS. Methods① The sera of primary FSGS patients （17 cases） were collected. Healthy volunteers （10 cases） and patients with other types of primary nephrotic syndrome （10 cases） were set as normal and disease controls. SuPAR levels were detected by ELISA； ② Podocytes were stimulated by suPAR in vitro， and cells were collected to analyze apoptosis by flow cytometry and for RNAseq analysis； ③ Differentially expressed genes （DEGs） were screened from RNAseq data. Both up-regulated and down-regulated genes were analyzed by KEGG and GO enrichment analysis. Heat map was used to show expression of genes related to podocyte focal adhesion， slit diaphragm and actin dynamics and endocytosis. Differentially expressed genes were verified by qPCR. Results① The level of suPAR in FSGS patients was significantly increased， and that in other nephrotic syndrome（NS） patients was also significantly increased； ② suPAR stimulation significantly altered the transcriptome pattern of human podocytes. A total of 272 up-regulated genes and 288 down-regulated genes were screened； ③ KEGG and GO enrichment analysis of up-regulated and down-regulated genes showed that Focal adhesion and DNA replication and DNA repair related pathways were significantly down-regulated； ④ suPAR did not increase podocyte apoptosis. ConclusionThe level of suPAR is significantly increased in patients with primary FSGS. SuPAR may promote podocyte injury by interfering with genomic homeostasis and disrupting focal adhesion， slit diaphragm， actin dynamics and endocytosis-related functional molecules of podocytes.
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Chemical constituents of water extracts of Asplenium ruprechtii were investigated. Five compounds were isolated by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 gel column chromatographies and preparative HPLC, and their structures were identified by various spectral analyses as aspleniumside G(1), trans-p-coumaric acid(2), trans-p-coumaric acid 4-O-β-D-glucoside(3), cis-p-coumaric acid 4-O-β-D-glucoside(4), and(E)-ferulic acid-4-O-β-D-glucoside(5). Among them, compound 1 is a new 9,19-cycloartane glycoside.
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Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Glucosides , Glycosides , TriterpenesABSTRACT
Lycii Cortex, the dry root bark of Lycium barbarum(Solanaceae), is rich in chemical compositions with unique structures, such as organic acids, lipids, alkaloids, cyclopeptides and other components, and plays an important role in traditional Chinese medicine. It has the effect of cooling blood and removing steam, clearing lung and reducing fire. It is mainly used in the treatment of hot flashes due to Yin deficiency, hectic fever with night sweat, cough, hemoptysis and internal heat and diabetes. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that the crude extract or monomer of Lycii Cortex has a variety of pharmacological activities, such as hypoglycemic, hypotensive, hypolipidemic, antibacterial, and antiviral effects. In this paper, the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of Cortex Lycii were reviewed in order to further clarify its effective substances, promote the development of medical undertakings, and ensure the "Healthy China" plan.
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China , Hypoglycemic Agents , Lycium , Medicine, Chinese Traditional , Plant BarkABSTRACT
BACKGROUNDWe described the epidemiological features of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak, and evaluated the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on the epidemic in Wuhan, China. METHODSIndividual-level data on 25,961 laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 cases reported through February 18, 2020 were extracted from the municipal Notifiable Disease Report System. Based on key events and interventions, we divided the epidemic into four periods: before January 11, January 11-22, January 23 - February 1, and February 2-18. We compared epidemiological characteristics across periods and different demographic groups. We developed a susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered model to study the epidemic and evaluate the impact of interventions. RESULTSThe median age of the cases was 57 years and 50.3% were women. The attack rate peaked in the third period and substantially declined afterwards across geographic regions, sex and age groups, except for children (age <20) whose attack rate continued to increase. Healthcare workers and elderly people had higher attack rates and severity risk increased with age. The effective reproductive number dropped from 3.86 (95% credible interval 3.74 to 3.97) before interventions to 0.32 (0.28 to 0.37) post interventions. The interventions were estimated to prevent 94.5% (93.7 to 95.2%) infections till February 18. We found that at least 59% of infected cases were unascertained in Wuhan, potentially including asymptomatic and mild-symptomatic cases. CONCLUSIONSConsiderable countermeasures have effectively controlled the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan. Special efforts are needed to protect vulnerable populations, including healthcare workers, elderly and children. Estimation of unascertained cases has important implications on continuing surveillance and interventions.
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To review the literatures on the treatment of COPD combined with anxiety and depression treated by TCM in recent years, which conclude that to treat this kind of disease is usually by taking drugs, as well as non-drug therapy such as traditional Chinese exercises, acupuncture and massage, and music, etc, which could improve patients unhealthy emotions and quality of life. The recent clinical researches on TCM treatment has been increased, but the overall number of the research of this kind is limited, with problems such as small sample size, singular observing indicator, and requiring multi-center research. There still lacks related basic research and needs more attention.
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Objective:To investigate the current status of emotional intelligence and conflict management model of emergency department nurses, analyze the correlation between emotional intelligence and conflict management model.Methods:A convenient sampling method was used to investigate on 195 emergency department nurses with general information scale, emotional intelligence scale and conflict management model scale.Results:In the emergency department, the emotional intelligence score of the nurses from high to low was regulation of emotion (3.71±0.67), self-emotion detection (3.55±0.67), use of emotional (3.49±0.70), other people ′s emotion appraisal (3.39±0.60). The most commonly used conflict management mode was integration (3.78±0.62), followed by concession (3.59±0.63), evasion (3.55±0.64), compromise (3.39±0.66), and the least commonly used was dominance (2.55±0.56). Every dimensions of emotional intelligence were correlated with conflict management model positively ( r values were 0.109-0.523, P<0.05 or 0.01), the top predictive factor was emotion detection. Conclusions:The emotional intelligence is an important factor influencing the conflict management mode of nurses in emergency department. Managers should pay attention to improve emergency nurses ′ emotional intelligence and guide them to adopt appropriate conflict management model, which will help alleviate the contradiction between emergency nurses and patients and create a more harmonious emergency care relationship.
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This paper reviews the clinical research literature of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in recent years. It is believed that TCM has curative effect in the treatment of acute exacerbation or remission of COPD. The treatment principle for acute stage of COPD includes phlegm, heat and dampness, and the chronic stage lung, spleen and kidney. TCM can improve the clinical symptoms and quality of life, with various treatments and less adverse reactions. However, there are some limitations such as small sample size, lack of in-depth discussion on the mechanism of trwatment, lack of standardized syndrome differentiation and outcomes evaluation standards.
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To review the literatures on the treatment of COPD combined with anxiety and depression treated by TCM in recent years, which conclude that to treat this kind of disease is usually by taking drugs, as well as non-drug therapy such as traditional Chinese exercises, acupuncture and massage, and music, etc, which could improve patients unhealthy emotions and quality of life. The recent clinical researches on TCM treatment has been increased, but the overall number of the research of this kind is limited, with problems such as small sample size, singular observing indicator, and requiring multi-center research. There still lacks related basic research and needs more attention.
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Objective@#To explore the relationship between anthropometric indices and the incident risk of hypertension, compare novel anthropometric indices with traditional indices in hypertension prediction and establish hypertension prediction models among elderly Chinese.@*Methods@#A total of 27 009 retirees from the Dongfeng Motor Corporation were recruited at baseline in 2008 and the first follow-up was conducted in 2013. After the exclusion of participants less than 60 years old, participants with hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, and those with missing data, a total of 6 784 elderly participants were enrolled in this study. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between traditional anthropometric indices, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), novel anthropometric indices, visceral adiposity index (VAI), body shape index (ABSI), body roundness index (BRI), and the incident risk of hypertension. Meanwhile, a multivariate logistic regression model was used to establish hypertension prediction models. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to compare the prediction ability of different models.@*Results@#A total of 1 787 incident cases of hypertension were identified, with the incidence of hypertension about 27.59%. Significant positive associations were detected between BMI, WC, WHtR, VAI, BRI and the incident risk of hypertension after adjusting for potential confounders (all P values<0.05). In men, the OR (95%CI) (upper tertile vs lower tertile) was 1.45 (1.22-1.73) for VAI, and 1.86 (1.55-2.23) for BRI. In women, the OR (95% CI) (upper tertile vs lower tertile) was 1.55 (1.22-1.96) for VAI, and 1.60 (1.27-2.01) for BRI. For ABSI, no significant association was observed in either men (OR (95%CI): 1.07 (0.90-1.28)) or women (OR (95%CI): 1.03 (0.82-1.29), both P values >0.05). The basic hypertension prediction model included age, drinking (only in men), education status (only in men), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and fasting blood glucose levels. Based on the basic prediction model, BMI (in men: AUC=0.697) and BRI (only in men: AUC=0.696) improved area under ROC curve (AUC) significantly (P<0.05). BMI was the strongest predictor in both men (AUC=0.697) and women (AUC=0.685) in the extended model.@*Conclusion@#Significant positive associations were detected between BMI, WC, WHtR, VAI, BRI and the incident risk of hypertension among elderly Chinese. BMI was the strongest predictor in hypertension prediction model compared with other anthropometric indices.
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This study was designed to study the chemical constituents from bulbil of Dioscorea opposite Thunb.. Four compounds were isolated by silica gel column chromatography. On the basis of physic-chemical characters and spectroscopic data analysis, these compounds were identified as lyzalkaloid (3,4-dihydro-6-hydroxy-4-methyl-6H-pyrido[6,5-b]indol-5(1H)-one) (1), anoectochine (2), ginsenine (3), and 2-hydroxy-3-(1H-indol-3-yl) propanoic acid methyl ester (4). Compound 1 is a new indole alkaloid, named as lyzalkaloid. Compounds 2-4 were isolated from this plant for the first time. The cytotoxic activities were assessed by MTT assay. All compounds exhibited the cytotoxic activity against HepG2 and MDA-231 with IC50 values of over 100 μmol·L-1, respectively. All compounds show no significant cytotoxic activities against HepG2, MDA-231 cancer cell.
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To investigate the behavioral and biomolecular similarity between neuralgia and depression, a trigeminal neuralgia (TN) mouse model was established by constriction of the infraorbital nerve (CION) to mimic clinical trigeminal neuropathic pain. A mouse learned helplessness (LH) model was developed to investigate inescapable foot-shock-induced psychiatric disorders like depression in humans. Mass spectrometry was used to assess changes in the biomolecules and signaling pathways in the hippocampus from TN or LH mice. TN mice developed not only significant mechanical allodynia but also depressive-like behaviors (mainly behavioral despair) at 2 weeks after CION, similar to LH mice. MS analysis demonstrated common and distinctive protein changes in the hippocampus between groups. Many protein function families (such as cell-to-cell signaling and interaction, and cell assembly and organization,) and signaling pathways (e.g., the Huntington's disease pathway) were involved in chronic neuralgia and depression. Together, these results demonstrated that the LH and TN models both develop depressive-like behaviors, and revealed the involvement of many psychiatric disorder-related biomolecules/pathways in the pathogenesis of TN and LH.
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Animals , Male , Mice , Avoidance Learning , Physiology , Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor , Metabolism , Depression , Pathology , Disease Models, Animal , Electroshock , Functional Laterality , Helplessness, Learned , Hindlimb Suspension , Psychology , Hippocampus , Metabolism , Mass Spectrometry , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Orbit , Pain Measurement , Proteomics , Methods , Reaction Time , Physiology , Signal Transduction , Physiology , Trigeminal Neuralgia , PathologyABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the correlation between lumbar physiological curvature and Pfirrmann grading of lumbar intervertebral disc in young patients with lower lumbar pain.Methods 1 1 1 cases with lower lumbar pain were analyzed retrospectively by lumbar MRI examination.The MRI image was reviewed by two radiologists,and the degree of lumbar physiological curvature and lumbar disc degeneration were observed.Chi square test was applied to the statistical results.Results Final analysis was performed on 300 discs in 60 cases of patients with lumbar physiological curvature straightening.Among them,209 were grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ(70%),45 grade Ⅲ(15%),35 grade Ⅳ(11%)and 11 grade Ⅴ(4%)in Pfirrmann grading.In total of 255 discs of 51 cases with normal physiological curvature of the spine,there were 212 (83%)of Pfirrmann grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ,22 of grade Ⅲ(9%),19 of grade Ⅳ(7%)and 2 of grade Ⅴ(1 %).There was statistical difference between the lumbar physiological curvature straightening and the normal lumbar physiological curvature group (P< 0.05).The proportions of degeneration of Ⅰ-Ⅱ in the lumbar physiological curvature group was lower than that in normal lumbar curvature group,while the proportions of gradeⅢ,ⅣandⅤdegeneration in the lumbar physiological curvature group were higher than that in normal lumbar curvature group.Conclusion Stratification lumbar physiologic curvature is an important factor for lumbar disc degeneration and easy to cause Pfirrmann gradeⅣ-Ⅴdegeneration in young patients.
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A quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) and stress tensor analysis was applied to analyze intramolecular interactions influencing the photoisomerization dynamics of a light-driven rotary molecular motor. For selected nonadiabatic molecular dynamics trajectories characterized by markedly different S1 state lifetimes, the electron densities were obtained using the ensemble density functional theory method. The analysis revealed that torsional motion of the molecular motor blades from the Franck-Condon point to the S1 energy minimum and the S1/S0 conical intersection is controlled by two factors: greater numbers of intramolecular bonds before the hop-time and unusually strongly coupled bonds between the atoms of the rotor and the stator blades. This results in the effective stalling of the progress along the torsional path for an extended period of time. This finding suggests a possibility of chemical tuning of the speed of photoisomerization of molecular motors and related molecular switches by reshaping their molecular backbones to decrease or increase the degree of coupling and numbers of intramolecular bond critical points as revealed by the QTAIM/stress tensor analysis of the electron density. Additionally, the stress tensor scalar and vector analysis was found to provide new methods to follow the trajectories, and from this, new insight was gained into the behavior of the S1 state in the vicinity of the conical intersection.
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The chemical constituents of Dioscorea opposite Thunb. were isolated and purified by Diaion HP-20, Sephadex LH-20, Toyopearl HW-40, MCI Gel CHP-20, ODS, silica gel column chromatography and semi-preparative-HPLC. Nine compounds were found and their structures were elucidated by spectral data and physicochemical properties, which were identified as 2-(1',2',3'-trihydroxybutyl-4'-O-α-D-glucopyranoside)-6-(2",3",4"-trihydroxybutyl)-pyrazine (1), uracil (2), xanthine (3), hypoxanthine (4), thymine (5), adenosine (6), uridine (7), inosine (8), and 5'-deoxy-5'-methylsulphinyladenosine (9). The compound 1 is a new pyrazine derivative, and the compound 3-5, 8, 9 are found in this plant for the first time.
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Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture at the beginning and ending points of bicipital muscle on the superficial electromyography (sEMG) of the spastic limb in hemiplegia.Method Forty patients with spastic hemiplegia after cerebral stroke were divided by the random number table into a group of electroacupuncture at the beginning and ending points (group A) and a group of electroacupuncture at antagonistic muscles (group B). The former selected Ashi points at the beginning and ending points of bicipital muscle, while the latter selected points at the antagonistic muscles [Tianjing (TE10), Qinglingyuan (TE11), etc.], to receive perpendicular puncturing. The needles were retained for 30 min, and the sEMG of bicipital muscles in resting state was detected after the removal of the needles. The spastic bicipital muscle was examined by sEMG prior to the acupuncture treatment, and respectively after 2-week and 4-week acupuncture treatment, and the detected parameters included root mean square (RMS) and integrated electromyography (IEMG).ResultThe EMG and IEMG declined gradually in the two groups after the acupuncture treatment; the intra-group comparisons of the RMS and IEMG values at three time points, e.g. prior to acupuncture treatment, after 2-week acupuncture treatment and after 4-weekacupuncture treatment, showed that the values changed significantly compared to those at the previous time point (P0.05). The RMS and IEMG values presented same changing tendencies after 4-week acupuncture treatment in the two groups.ConclusionAcupuncture at the beginning and ending points and at the points on antagonistic muscles both can decrease the resting-state muscle tension in hemiplegia patients; sEMG is of certain significance in evaluating the treatment of hemiplegia.
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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of verbascoside on iron deposition of astrocyte cell overexpressing heme oxygenase-1 gene, and to seek new drug in treating Alzheimer's disease. METHODS: Primary cultured astrocyte cells of rats were cultured and purified in vitro. With gene recombination and transfer techniques, transfect HO-1 gene into primary cultured astrocyte cells. HO-1 transfected astrocyte were then treated by different concentrations of verbascoside. Proliferation of cell was measured by CCK-8 assay and expression of HO-1 protein was analyzed by Western blotting. Iron deposition was also visualized by Perl's Prussian blue stain. RESULTS: Immunofluorescence staining showed that most of the cells were GFAP-postitive and the purity was over 95%. The expression of HO-1 protein was increased in HO-1 injury model of astrocyte. Treatment of verbascoside with variable concentration caused the decrease of HO-1 protein expression more or less and reduction of iron deposition in transfected cells(20 μmol·L-1 reducing 47.69%, 40 μmol·L-1 reducing 51.63%). CONCLUSION: Verbascoside could enhance astrocyte cell resistance against injury induced by overexpression of heme oxygenase-1 gene.
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Objective To explore the expression and its clinical significance of immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by detecting the expression of IgG4 in the serum and intestinal mucosa of patients with IBD.Methods From March 2015 to August 2016,68 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC),132 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and 52 healthy controls were collected.The serum levels of IgG4 were detected by immunonephelometry.The expression of IgG4 in intestinal mucosa was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.Five high power fields (HPF) were randomly selected in each specimen.C-reaction protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of patients with UC,patients with CD and healthy controls were detected.The extent of disease,clinical type,disease activity scores (UC scored by Mayo score system,CD scored by Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI)) and current treatment were collected.The correlation between IgG4 expression and CRP,ESR,Mayo score and CDAI were analyzed.Independent sample t test,Chi square test and Pearson's correlation were performed for statistical analysis.Results The results of immunonephelometry indicated that the serum levels of IgG4 of patients with UC,CD and healthy controls were (0.79±-0.61),(0.69±0.59) and (0.41±0.32) g/L,respectively;all were lower than standard level 1.35 g/L.The results of immunohistochemistry revealed that the number of IgG4 positive cells in the colonic mucosa of active UC and CD patients were higher than that of healthy controls ((15.42±12.47)/HPF,(18.65±12.46)/HPF and (4.71±4.14)/HPF),and the differences were statistically significant (t=5.392 and 8.450,both P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in mucosal IgG4 expression between UC,CD patients at remission phase and healthy controls ((4.72±4.23)/HPF,(5.30±4.87)/HPF and (4.71±4.14)/HPF,both P＞0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in mucosal IgG4 expression between UC and CD patients at active phase and remission phase (both P＞0.05).The case number of active patients,CRP,ESR and Mayo scores of IgG4 positive UC patients were all higher than those of IgG4 negative group(x2 =5.499,t=2.811,3.471 and 4.676;all P＜0.05).The number of active patients,CRP,ESR and CDAI of IgG4 positive CD patients were all higher than those of IgG4 negative group(x2 =4.341,t=3.842,3.892 and 2.935,all P＜ 0.05).In UC patients,the number of IgG4 positive cells was positively correlated with CRP,ESR and Mayo scores (r=0.382,0.381 and 0.470;P=0.001,0.003 and P＜0.01).The number of IgG4 positive cells was positively correlated with CRP,ESR and CDAI in CD patients (r=0.199,0.209 and 0.201;P=0.022,0.016 and 0.021).Conclusions The expression level of IgG4 significantly increased in the intestinal mucosa of IBD patients correlated with the activity of disease.The expression level of [gG4 may be one of the parameters to evaluate the activity of IBD.
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The utility of the QTAIM/stress tensor analysis method for characterizing the photoisomerization of light driven molecular rotary machines is investigated on the example of the torsion path in fluorene molecular motor. The scalar and vector descriptors of QTAIM/stress tensor reveal additional information on the bonding interactions between the rotating units of the motor, which cannot be obtained from the analysis of the ground and excited state potential energy surfaces. The topological features of the fluorene motor molecular graph display that, upon the photoexcitation a certain increase in the torsional stiffness of the rotating bond can be attributed to the increasing topological stability of the rotor carbon atom attached to the rotation axle. The established variations in the torsional stiffness of the rotating bond may cause transfer of certain fraction of the torsional energy to other internal degrees of freedom, such as the pyramidalization distortion. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
