Objective To observe the therapeutic efficacy and safety of acupuncture and epidural anesthesia during full-term labor. Method A total of 199 eligible subjects experiencing natural labor were randomized into four groups. The acupuncture group was intervened by acupuncture at acupoints; the epidural group was given epidural anesthesia;the combined analgesia group was given acupuncture at acupoints plus epidural anesthesia; the control group was not given any interventions for analgesia. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was adopted to record and compare labor pain (cervix dilation 3 cm at 0 min, 30 min, and 60 min, and at full cervix dilation); meanwhile, the active period of the first stage of labor, cervix dilation speed, the second stage of labor, Caesarean section (C-section) rate, instrumental delivery rate, Apgar score, and post-labor bleeding amount (2 h) were also recorded. The contents of blood β-endorphin (β-EP) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were monitored during the first stage of labor. Result Compared with the control group, the VAS scores dropped in the other three groups, and the decreases were similar in the epidural group and combined analgesia group, while the decrease in the acupuncture group was the least significant. Regarding the labor-related indexes, the cervix dilation speed was higher in the acupuncture group than in the control group(P<0.05), while there was no significant difference between the acupuncture group and control group in comparing the duration of the second labor stage(P>0.05). There were no significant between-group differencesin comparing the post-labor bleeding amount and Apgar score of the new-born babies(P>0.05), but compared with the epidural group, there was no use of assisted delivery. The content of blood β-EP during the first stage of labor increased in the acupuncture group and combined analgesic group(P<0.05), but there were no significant changes in the epidural group and control group(P>0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture analgesia can reduce labor pain and shorten labor duration without affecting the second stage of labor and security-related indexes.

Objective To investigate the correhtion between cognitive impairment and cerebral atherosclerosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods Acute ischemic stroke patients without cognitive impairment were recruited before symptom onset.The Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) was used to evaluate the cognitive function.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to identify the infarct locations and sides.Magnetic resonance angiography,CT angiography and digital subtraction angiography were used to identify atherosclerotic arteries.Resul~ A total of 101 patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled,including 75 (74.3％) with cognitive impairment.The proportions of age (54.54 ± 12.59 years vs.64.43 ± 10.37 years;t =-3.960,P ＜0.001),years of education ≤6 years (50.7％ vs.11.5％;x2 =12.257,P ＜ 0.001),and cerebral atherosclerosis (89.3％ vs.50.0％;x2 =18.137,P ＜0.001) of the cognitive impairment group were significantly higher than those of the normal cognitive function group.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that cerebral atherosclerosis was an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment in patients with acute ischemic stroke (odds ratio 1.720,95％ confidence interval 1.005-2.942;P=0.048).MoCA score was negatively correlated with the offending vessels (r=-0.365,P＜ 0.001) and the most severe vessels of atherosclerotic degree (r=-0.243,P =0.014).Conclusions Most patients with acute ischemic stroke had cognitive impairment in the early stage after onset,and the MoCA scores was negatively correlated with the degree of cerebral atherosclerosis.Cerebral atherosclerosis was an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment in patientswith acute ischemic stroke.

Objective: To study the mechanism of Gengnianle Water-paste Pills in resisting climacteric aging. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, high and low dosage groups of Gengnianle, positive control group. The climacteric rat model were established by ectomizing the bilateral ovaries. The E2, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroid hormone (T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were detected. Results: Compared with model group, in high dose of Gengnianle group, the levels of E2, T3, T4 increased and the levels of FSH, LH, TSH reduced. The effect of high dose of Gengnianle in improving the adjustment function of the thalamus-hypophysis-ovary axis and the thalamus- hypophysis-thyroid gland axis is better than that of positive control group (P

Objective To investigate the relationship between abnormal bone mineral density (BMD) and subclinical thyroid dysfunction. Methods Thyroid function, biochemical indicators of bone metabolism and BMD were reviewed retrospectively in the subjects who received health checkups from July 1, 2009 to January 31, 2017 in the Health Check-up Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital. People who had thyroid dysfunction, recognized risk factors for osteoporosis, and medication history were excluded. A cross-sectional analysis of thyroid status and biochemical indicators of bone metabolism was performed by the standard methods. BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results A total of 6884 subjects (3726 women and 3158 men) were enrolled in the study, with an average age of (50.74 ± 10.41) years. They were divided into three groups:subclinical hyperthyroid, subclinical hypothyroid, and euthyroidism. The alkaline phosphatase in subclinical hyperthyroid group was higher than that in the euthyroidism group[ (67.95±20.64)U/L vs. (63.88±18.99)U/L]. Calcium and phosphorus in blood were higher in both subclinical hyperthyroid and subclinical hypothyroid groups. The rate of abnormal BMD in male euthyroidism, subclinical hyperthyroid and subclinical hypothyroid groups were 36.10％(1049/2906), 29.27％(12/41) and 27.01％(57/211), respectively. The rate of abnormal BMD showed no difference between subclinical hyperthyroid group and euthyroidism group (P>0.05). The rate of abnormal BMD was lower in subclinical hypothyroid group than in euthyroidism group (χ2=7.0901, P<0.01), especially in the males aged 40-49 years (χ2=10.4618, P<0.01). The rate of abnormal BMD in female euthyroidism, subclinical hyperthyroid and subclinical hypothyroid groups was 38.81％(1286/3314), 45.83％ (33/72) and 40.88％ (139/340), respectively. The rate of abnormal BMD showed no difference among the three groups (P>0.05). Conclusion There is no significant difference in the rate of abnormal BMD between subclinical thyroid dysfunction group and euthyroidism group, possibly because abnormal serum biochemical indicators preceded the presence of low BMD. More sensitive methods used to determine the status of bone metabolism await to be developed.

Objective:To analyze the clinical features, imaging findings and gene test of patients with type Ⅱ Alexander disease.Methods:All the clinical data of three cases with type Ⅱ Alexander disease from August 2018 to June 2020 in the Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Qingdao) and Qilu Hospital of Shandong University were collected, and their clinical and imaging findings were analyzed retrospectively.Results:All the three patients were middle aged and old men with a chronic progressive course, beginning with weakness of one or both lower limbs, followed by dizziness, dysarthria, dysphagia, sphincteral disturbances, constipation and orthostatic hypotension. Three patients all experienced misdiagnosis (hydrarthrosis, cerebral vascular disease, alcoholism, respectively) at early stage of the disease. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed mild supratentorial periventricular leukodystrophy, which was not specific. Sagittal cranial MRI demonstrated medulla oblongata and upper cervical cord atrophy called “tadpole atrophy”, which had high suggestive value. The results of gene analysis showed heterozygous mutation of glial fibrillary acidic protein gene, which had been reported as pathogenic gene; c.1091C>T (p.A364V) in exon 6, c.722C>T (p.R258C) in exon 4 and c.197G>A (p.R66Q) in exon 1, respectively.Conclusions:Type Ⅱ Alexander disease is an autosomal dominant disease, most with point mutations, rarely with deletion mutations. Type Ⅱ Alexander disease should be suspected when a patient had signs of lower brainstem involvement such as dizziness, ataxia, pyramidal sign, autonomic dysfunction, especially when cranial MRI showed mild supratentorial leukodystrophy, and medulla oblongata and upper cervical cord atrophy.

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of histone H3 acetylation in cleft palate induced by 2, 3, 7, 8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in C57BL/6J mice, and its mechanism.

METHODSOn gestation day 10 (GD10), 36 pregnant mice were randomly divided into two groups as the treated group(n = 18) and the control group( n = 18). The mice in the treated group received intragastric administration with TCDD 28 μg/kg, while the mice in the control group received equivalent corn oil. The pregnant mice were sacrificed on GD13. 5, GD14. 5 and GD15. 5, collecting fetal palates to determine the activities of histone acetyltransferases (HATs) by Colorimetric and the expression level of acetylated histone H3 (Acetylated histone H3, Ac-H3) by Western-blot.

RESULTSThe activity of HATs was 0.409 7 ± 0.0147, 0.522 3 ± 0.017 1 and 0.643 5 ± 0.013 9 in control group on GD13.5, GD14.5 and GD15.5; 0.865 0 ± 0.0129, 0.719 1 ± 0.017 8 and 0.551 2 ± 0.016 8 in TCDD group. The activity of HATs in TCDD group was higher than that in control group on GD13. 5, GD14. 5, showing significantly difference between the two groups (t = - 56. 932, t = - 19. 516, P < 0.01); however, the activity of HATs in TCDD group was significantly lower than that in control group on GD15. 5 (t = 10. 382, P < 0.01). The expression level of Ac-H3 was 0.745 0 ± 0.113 5, 1.055 9 ± 0.249 4 and 1.795 5 ± 0.081 9 in control group on GD13. 5, GD14. 5 and GD15. 5; while 1.4490 ± 0. 1460, 1. 641 8 ± 0.099 7 and 1. 512 1 ± 0. 150 2 in TCDD group. The expression of Ac-H3 in TCDD group was higher than that in control group on GD13. 5, GD14. 5, showing significantly difference( t = -6. 593, -3. 779, P <0. 01, P <0.05) ; However, the expression of Ac-H3 in TCDD group was statistically lower than that in control group (t = 2. 870, P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe acetylation of histone H3 was involved in the cleft palate of C57BL/6J mice induced by TCDD, which may be one of the mechanisms in TCDD-induced cleft palate.

Acetylation ; drug effects ; Acetyltransferases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cleft Palate ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Dioxins ; Female ; Fetus ; Histones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins ; Pregnancy ; Random Allocation ; Teratogens

Objective To investigate the effect of transplantation of mouse marrow stromal cells (mMSCs) on Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) transgenic mice through cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) injection.Methods We delivered 5 × 105 mMSCs into SOD1 transgenic mice by single injection to CSF at the age of 8 weeks or by multiple injections at the age of 8,10 and 12 weeks.Neurologic phenotype observation,weight measurement,hanging wire test and motor neuron counts were used to assess disease progression of SOD1 mice.Results Single transplantation of mMSCs didn' t show beneficial effect on SOD1 mice.Compared with vehicle-treated mice,SOD1 transgenic mice with multiple transplantations of mMSCs demonstrated attenuated weight loss,improved motor performance,decreased motor neuron loss,and importantly,prolonged survival by 17 days ((157 ± 15) d vs (140 ± 11) d; x2 =7.56,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Intrathecal injection could be an effective route of cell transplantation,and multiple transplantations of mMSCs are needed to achieve the therapeutic effect on SOD1 mice.

Objective To assess the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of Multidimensional fatigue symptom inventory-short form(MFSI-SF).Methods The reliability and validity of the Chinese version MFSI-SF were assessed in a sample of 203 cancer patients.Statistical software was used to perform the analysis.Results The results showed moderate correlation between items and the total scale,the content validity index was 0.82,and exploratory factor analysis indicated five dimensions of the scale,the cumulative variance contribution was 56.65％.Confirmatory factor analysis showed moderate model fitting:x2/df=l.73,GFI=0.83,AGFI=0.79,NNFI=0.94,RMSEA=0.06,criterion validity was 0.585,and the Cronbach α of the total scale was 0.896.Conclusions The results demonstrated good convergent validity,it is suitable to evaluate fatigue status in Chinese cancer patients.

In order to improve students' overall quality,Biomedical Engineering College of Chongqing Medical University has carried out quality development training in the 6 session of the 450 students.The content includes development projects,the queue training,humanities lectures,inspirational film etc.; the objective is to develop the students' mind,develop their team spirit and interpersonal communication skills.College has recruited and assisted professional instructors in the whole training.The centralized training in specific situations gives students a strong spiritual shock and strong positive energy.Before and after the training we use the same questionnaire to students,the results of which have shown that their comprehensive ability,EQ,and cohesion of the class have been improved.

Objective To investigate the characteristics and neural mechanisms of visual attention dysfunction in patients with hypertension using the event related potentials(ERPs).Methods Visual Oddball pattern was adopted to analyze P3a and P3b components of 15 essential hypertensives and 15 normotensives,and all the participants were submitted to cognitive assessment by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).Results ①Novelty stimulus:the mean amplitude of N2 in hypertensive patients ((1.56± 1.15) μV) was decreased than normal controls ((-2.19±1.15) μV,P＜0.05),particularly at forehead-central sites (P＜0.05).In addition,the amplitude of P3a of hypertensive patients ((6.27± 1.01) μV) was different from normal controls ((7.09± 1.01) μV),but there was no statistical significance(P＞0.05).The latency of visual P3a was significantly longer in patients with hypertension group ((432.83 ± 8.22) ms) than that in control group ((403.10 ± 8.22) ms,P＞ 0.05).②Target stimulus:compared with control group ((6.75 ±0.90)μV),visual P3b amplitude in hypertension group ((4.08 ± 0.90) μV) was significantly declined (P＜ 0.05).Besides,the latency of visual P3b of hypertensive patients ((440.70 ± 6.42) ms) was different from normal controls ((436.91±6.42) ms),but there was no statistical significance(P＞0.05).③Compared with control group (27.31± 1.22),the M MSE score of patients with hypertension (24.55±2.42) was decreased (P＜0.05).The amplitude of visual P3b was positively correlated with MMSE scores in parietal region(r=0.51,P＜0.05).Conclusions The abilities of visual involuntary attention and voluntary attention are damaged in patients with hypertension,the impact degree of hypertension on two kinds of attention and the neural mechanisms are different.Moreover,there is a significant positive correlation between the amplitude of visual P3b and MMSE,which prompts that visual P3b for clinical early assessment of attention in patients with hypertension provides more objective neurophysiological basis.