BACKGROUND: It has been obtained by the animal experimental and clinical researches that electroacupuncture promotes the regeneration of peripheral nerve, but its mechanism is still unknown. Neurotrophic factor (NF) maintains the survival of neurons in injured nerve and promotes the axonal regeneration. The observation of the changes of nerve growth factor (NGF) before and after electroacupuncture stimulation probably provides a new approach on revealing peripheral nerve disorder.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on NGF in regeneration microenvironment after facial nerve injury.DESIGN: Complete randomized-division and controlled animal experiment.SETTING: Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion of West China Hospital affiliated to Sichuan University.MATERIALS: The experiment was performed in Animal Experiment Center of West China Hospital affiliated to Sichuan University from September to December 2001, in which, 50 New Zealand healthy adult rabbits were employed and randomized into 2 groups, named experiment group and the control, 25 rabbits in each one.METHODS:① After intravenous anesthesia on experimental animal,the upper buccal branch of facial nerve was separated and exposed. Under surgical magnifying glass, the nerve was cut off and a silica-gel tube was used to be inlayed in two broken ends and fixed with stitching, by which, a regeneration chamber is formed. In experiment group, on the day when the rabbit was completely resuscitated from anesthesia in the operation, electroacupuncture was applied. Points: Yifeng (TE 17), Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6) and Hegu (LI 4). Method of treatment: perpendicular puncture was applied on Yifeng (TE 17), 1 cm deep; penetrating puncture was from Dicang (ST 4) to Jiache (ST 6), 1.5 cm deep; and on Hegu (LI 4), 0.5 cm deep. The electrodes was attached on Yifeng (TE 17) and Dicang (ST 4) respectively, with dense-disperse wave, at 18-20 Hz, 1.5 V. The needles were retained for 30 minutes and the treatment was given once a day, totally for 14 days.In the control,no any management was applied.② On the 3rd, 5th 7th, 10th and 14th days after surgery, 10 animals were sacrificed, 5 rabbits in each of experiment group and the control. The fluid was collected from the regeneration chamber and double antibodies sandwiched enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine NGF level in regeneration chamber. ③ t test was adopted for the difference comparison of measurement data.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison of NGF level in regenerated chamber on the 3rd, 5th, 7th 10th and 14th days after surgery RESULTS: Fifty rabbits were all in result analysis. From the 3rd day to 7th day after surgery, NGF level in regeneration chamber was not different remarkably between experiment group and the control (P ＞ 0.05). On the 10th and 14th days, NGF level in regeneration chamber in experiment group was higher remarkably than that in the control [On the 10th day after surgery: (2 793.0±163.1), (2571.1±91.6) ng/L; on the 14th day after surgery: (2 696.1±147.5), (2 243.7±271.2) ng/L, t=4.45, 3.44, P ＜ 0.01].On the 7th day after surgery, NGF levels in regeneration chamber in both experiment group and the control were up to the peak. But, since the 14th day after surgery, NGF level in the control began declining, that in experiment group was still kept at a relatively high level.CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture improves and maintains the stable high level of NGF in regeneration microenvironment after facial nerve injury, which is probably one of the mechanisms of electroacupuncture on promoting the regeneration of peripheral nerve.

Objective To investigate the influence of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on radiosensitivity and prognosis,the relationship between NLR and clinical features,and the clinical value of NLR in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods 2006 to 2011 in the cancer center of Zhongshan University admitted to the newly diagnosed nasopharyngeal cancer patients in 266 cases.The association of pretreatment NLR with radiotherapy doses 20,40,and 60 Gy and therapeutic effect at 3 months after radiotherapy was analyzed,as well as the influence of NLR on overall survival (OS),local recurrence-free (LRF),and distant metastasis-free (DMF) rates.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rates and the log-rank test was used for survival difference analysis.Results NLR showed differences across patients with different T stages and sexes (P=0.039,0.032).The patients with NLR≤3 had significantly higher OS,LRF,and DMF rates compared with those with NLR＞ 3 (P=0.004,0.025,0.045).As NLR increased,the radiosensitivity in patients with NPC was reduced gradually,and radiosensitivity showed a significant difference between sensitive group and moderately sensitive group (P=0.043).When the radiotherapy dose was 40 Gy,the tumor regression group had a lower NLR than the residual tumor group (P=0.025).Conclusions In patients with NPC,an increased pretreatment NLR is an adverse prognostic factor,and NLR can be used as a simple and convenient method to evaluate the prognosis of patients with NPC.

Objective To establish TaqMan real-time PCR method for detection and identification of Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumonia. Methods Two sets of primers and FAM-labeled probes targeting different genes of Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae were designed and synthesized. The bexA gene was used for identification of Haemophilus influenzae and lytA for Streptococcus pneumoniae. The sensitivity and specificity of real-time PCR were assessed for different primers and probes. Cut-off values of cycle threshold (Ct) were determined. Two hundred and seventy-eight cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from suspected bacterial meningitis cases were detected by real-time PCR assay, latex agglutination test and bacteria culture simultaneously. Results Haemophilus influenzae isolates of serotype a to d could be detected and identified by bexA primers and probe. All Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates of different serotypes could be detected and identified by lytA primers and probe. The respective sensitivities for Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae were 10 and 90 genome DNA copies in each PCR reaction. Of the 278 CSF specimens, four were positive by Haemophilus influenzae and seven positive by Streptococcus pneumoniae when detected by real-time PCR. Of the four Haemophilus influenzae positive specimens, two were positive by culture and one positive hy latex. Of the seven Streptococcus pneumonia positive specimens, two were positive by culture and two positive by latex. Conclusions Real-time PCR could rapidly detect and identify Haemophilus influenzae of serotype a to d and Streptococcus pneumoniae of different serotypes with high sensitivity. TaqMan real-time PCR could be widely used for the diagnosis of invasive meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae. It can improve the rate of positivity for diagnosis of suspicious bacterial meningitis cases.

OBJECTIVE To study the role of ciliary neurotrophic factor(CNTF) in the generation of facial nerve.METHODS Twenty adult New Zealand rabbits' bilateral super buccals of facial nerves were transected and connected with silicone tube.CNTF was injected into a random side of silicone tube and normal saline in the other.At four and eight weeks after the operation, both the CNTF group and the SAL group underwent electrophysiology test and histopathology as well as quantity analysis.RESULTS Four weeks later, both CNTF and SAL group failed in eliciting muscular excitement upon stimulation; T-test showed a signifi-cant difference(P

Objective To observe the effect of different doses of esketamine on early mood in pa-tients with preoperative anxiety after thoracoscopic surgery.Methods Eighty patients with preoperative anx-iety before thoracoscopic surgery,37 males and 43 females,aged 25-64 years,BMI 18-26 kg/m2,ASA physical statusⅠ-Ⅲwere selected.According to random number table,the patients were randomly divided into four groups:control group(group C),esketamine 0.1 mg/kg group(group E1),esketamine 0.2 mg/kg group(group E2),and esketamine 0.3 mg/kg group(group E3),20 patients in each group.In groups E1,E2,and E3,the patients were slowly injected with corresponding doses of esketamine intrave-nously 30 minutes before the end of the operation,and the patients in group C were given 10 ml of normal saline at the same time.The 7-item generalized anxiety disorder scale(GAD-7)score and hospital anxiety and depression scale(HADS)score were evaluated 24 hours before surgery,24,48,72,and 120 hours af-ter surgery,respectively.Peripheral venous blood(5 ml)was collected at the same time points,and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)concentration was detected by ELISA.NRS scores at rest and ex-ercise were recorded 12 and 24 hours after surgery.The number of remedial analgesia and the number of ef-fective compressions of analgesia pump within 48 hours after surgery were recorded.Results Compared with group C,the scores of GAD-7 and HADS in groups E1,E2,and E3 were significantly decreased 24,48,and 72 hours after surgery(P＜0.05).And compared with groups E1 and E2,the scores of GAD-7 and HADS in group E3 were significantly lower(P＜0.05).The serum BDNF level in groups E1,E2,and E3 were significantly increased compared with group C 24,48,and 72 hours after surgery(P＜0.05).Compared with group E1 and E2,the serum BDNF level in group E3 was significantly higher(P＜0.05).Compared with group C,the NRS scores at rest 12 and 24 hours and the scores at exercise 12 hours after surgery in groups E1,E2,and E3 were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).And compared with groups E1 and E2,the scores in group E3 were significantly lower(P＜0.05).The number of postoperative remedial analgesia and the number of effective compressions of analgesia pump in groups E1,E2,and E3 were signif-icantly decreased compared with group C within 48 hours after surgery(P＜0.05).And compared with groups E1 and E2,the number in group E3 was significantly lower(P＜0.05).Conclusion Single intra-venous injection of esketamine 0.1,0.2,and 0.3 mg/kg can improve early postoperative mood of patients with anxiety before thoracoscopic surgery,and esketamine 0.3 mg/kg has better anti-anxiety effect.

Mammalian reproduction is closely related to their metabolic status. The hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis ( HPG axis) is regulated by various metabolic factors. Glucagon-like peptide-1 ( GLP-1) is one of various metabolic factors that not only affect glycemic and metabolic control, but also with many other effects, including affecting HPA axis. The function of GLP-1 is related to the location of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor ( GLP-1R) distribution. It has been confirmed that GLP-1R is widely distributed in HPG axis. The effects of GLP-1 and GLP-1R agonists on the HPG axis have also attracted much attention. The positive effects of GLP-1 and GLP-1R agonists on the HPG axis indicated it could be the new target for the new treatment for gonadal diseases. The role of GLP-1 and GLP-1R agonists in the central nervous system is reviewed.

Objective: To investigate the molecular characteristics of serogroup B neisseria meningitidis in China. Methods: Total of 485 (100 strains isolated from cerebrospinal fluid or blood samples of encephalomyelitis cases, and 385 strains isolated from nasopharynx of healthy carriers) Meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) strains, isolated from 29 provinces of China between 1968 and 2016, were analyzed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and PorA typing methods. Further, the genetic diversity of three MenB vaccine proteins, FHbp, NadA and NHBA, were analyzed. Results: The 485 study strains belonged to 270 sequence types (STs), 107 of which (representing 211 strains) could be grouped into ten clonal complexes (CC). CC4821 has been the predominant lineage in China since 2005 (28.7%, n=139). The most common PorA types of MenB strains from invasive meningococcal cases were P1.5-2,2-2 (10.0%, n=10), P1.5-1,2-2 (9.0%, n=9) and P1.5-1,10-4 (9.0%, n=9). Four hundred and twenty one strains had intact fhbp gene; variant 1, 2 and 3 accounted for 12.8% (54 strains), 85.0% (358 strains) and 2.2% (9 strains) respevtively. Ten out of 432 strains (2.3%) contained complete nadA gene. All the 172 strains for which the nhba gene was sequenced had intact gene sequence which corresponded to 68 peptide types. Conclusion CC4821 was the predominant CC of MenB strains in China; the vaccine proteins were diverse about the sequences. The vaccine proteins should be carefully selected when developing MenB vaccines in China.

Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH1) is an important regulator of plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels, which are associated with insulin resistance in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). To elucidate the role of hepatic DDAH1 in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, we used hepatocyte-specific Ddah1-knockout mice (Ddah1^HKO) to examine the progress of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD. Compared to diet-matched flox/flox littermates (Ddah1^f/f), Ddah1^HKO mice exhibited higher serum ADMA levels. After HFD feeding for 16 weeks, Ddah1^HKO mice developed more severe liver steatosis and worse insulin resistance than Ddah1^f/f mice. On the contrary, overexpression of DDAH1 attenuated the NAFLD-like phenotype in HFD-fed mice and ob/ob mice. RNA-seq analysis showed that DDAH1 affects NF-κB signaling, lipid metabolic processes, and immune system processes in fatty livers. Furthermore, DDAH1 reduces S100 calcium-binding protein A11 (S100A11) possibly via NF-κB, JNK and oxidative stress-dependent manner in fatty livers. Knockdown of hepatic S100a11 by an AAV8-shS100a11 vector alleviated hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in HFD-fed Ddah1^HKO mice. In summary, our results suggested that the liver DDAH1/S100A11 axis has a marked effect on liver lipid metabolism in obese mice. Strategies to increase liver DDAH1 activity or decrease S100A11 expression could be a valuable approach for NAFLD therapy.