Objective:To establish criteria of commonly-seen TCM syndromes of depression.Methods:Consultation of specialists,clinical epidemiological survey,scores of syndrome degree rating and statistical analysis of multiple factors were adopted to establish the criteria for main syndrome differentiation of 5 commonly-seen TCM syndromes of depression.Results:Of 1977 cases of depression,1731 cases were stagnation of the liver-Qi,stagnation of the liver-Qi and deficiency of the spleen,stagnation of the liver-Qi and phlegm,deficiency of both the heart and spleen,and Yin-deficiency of both the liver and kidney.And according to statistical analysis,the criteria for main syndrome differentiation of the 5 syndromes were established.Conclusion:Commonly-seen syndromes of depression have common cause of disease and pathogenesis.Stagnation of the liver-Qi is basic syndrome,and in clinical manifestation of various syndromes emotional depression is common main syndrome,but various syndromes still have other main syndrome.

Objective To investigate the model, quality as well as effect of teaching-in-English in five-year clinical medicine program of Hainan Medical University. Methods The questionnaire was carried out among clinical medicine undergraduates of 2012–2015 grades in Hainan Medical University, to investigate studying time, studying habits and the impact of teaching in English. Additionally results of CET-4, CET-6 and overseas internship from undergraduates of 2012–2015 grade, as well as the result of phased medical licensing examination and post-graduate entrance examination from undergraduates of 2012 were accordingly collected from the Teaching Management Department. Results For the Chinese students in international classes, the average time of self-study was 161.49 min, 58.3% had preview before classes, and 90.7% had habit of review after classes. Thus the first time pass rate, total pass rate, first time excellent rate and total excellent rate of CET-4 and CET-6 of international classes were significantly higher than those of regular classes. The result of post-graduate entrance examination in 2016 showed that the score, pass rate and acceptance rate of international classes of 2012 grade were significantly higher those of regular classes (P < 0.01). Conclusions Teaching-in-English reform in Hainan Medical University has achieved initial success. Chinese students from international classes are superior to those from regular classes in many aspects. However, there are still many problems, and effective measures should be implemented to promote teaching quality continuously.

Betel quid dependence(BQD)is a chronic recurrent brain disease characterized by loss of self-control and compulsive repeated use of drugs, which conforms to the characterics of addictive behavior classified by the World Health Organization.Long term chewing Betel nut can increase the risk of a variety of cancers such as oral cancer.The BQD research lacks the ideal animal model whereas the mechanism of BQD is still not clear, and there is no effective treatment and prevention. Notably, neuroimaging technology has provided a non-invasive, quantitative assessment method for the neural mechanism of BQD. The author summarized the neural mechanism and imaging studies progress of BQD, and these findings provided preliminary objective evidence for the brain changes of BQD, which was helpful for the deep understanding of the neuropathic mechanism of BQD, and provided theoretical basis for the early intervention and treatment.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Yupingfeng on hyaluronic acid (HA) and Foxp3⁺ Treg in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: A total of 58 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were divided into two groups, 30 cases in the treatment group, 28 cases in the control group. Patients in two groups were treated with synchronous radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment, the treatment group was treated with the Yupingfeng granules through oral administration, 10 g/time, tid for 2 courses. The serum Foxp3⁺ Treg markers of each group were detected by flow cytometry assay before treatment and after treatment, and the level of HA in serum was detected by radio immunoassay. Results: After radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the contents of Foxp3⁺ Treg and HA were significantly decreased in two groups (P < 0.05), and the decrease of treatment group was more significantly (P < 0.01). Correlation analysis showed positive correlation between Foxp3⁺ Treg and HA (P < 0.05). After treatment, the incidence of side effects in two groups was significantly decreased. And there was significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy with Yupingfeng treatment can decrease the levels of Foxp3⁺ Treg and HA in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients. Yupingfeng can also effectively reduce the side effect due to radiation and chemotherapy.

Monoclonal antibody (mAb) is an important biological macromolecule and widely used in immune detection, in vitro diagnostics, and drug discovery. However, the inherent properties of mAb restrict its further development, such as high molecular weight and complex structure. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop alternatives for mAb. Various types of miniaturized antibodies have been developed, among which the variable domain of immunoglobulin new antigen receptor (VNAR) is very attractive. The shark single-domain antibody, also known as shark VNAR, is an antigen-binding domain obtained by genetic engineering technology based on the immunoglobulin new antigen receptor (IgNAR) that naturally exists in selachimorpha. It has a molecular weight of 12 kDa, which is the smallest antigen-binding domain found in the known vertebrates at present. Compared with mAb, the shark VNAR exhibits various superiorities, such as low molecular weight, high affinity, tolerance to the harsh environment, good water solubility, strong tissue penetration, and recognition of the hidden epitopes. It has attracted wide attention in the fields of immunochemical reagents and drug discovery. In this review, various aspects of shark VNAR are elaborated, including the structural and functional characteristics, generating and humanization techniques, affinity maturation strategies, application fields, advantages and disadvantages, and prospects.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; immunology ; Antigens ; Epitopes ; metabolism ; Protein Domains ; immunology ; Receptors, Antigen ; chemistry ; immunology ; Sharks

Objective To explore the clinical features of critical cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods The clinical data of nine patients who were diagnosed with critical COVID-19 in Hainan General Hospital from January 21, 2020 to February 6, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. RT-PCR testing for 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was performed with multi-sites synchronize specimens including pharyngeal swab, blood, excrement, and urine. The serum levels of leucocyte, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and lactic acid between the improved group (five cases) and the deteriorated group (four cases) were compared. The t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups. Results There were eight males (88.9%) and 1 female enrolled. The patients aged 28-77 years old, with an age of (52.9±18.0) years. By March 4, 2020, all five cases in improved group were cured and discharged, three cases in deteriorated group died and 1case remained in critical condition. All multi-sites specimens of patients in improved group turned negative in 2-4 weeks of illness onset, while those of cases in deteriorated group showed sustained viral nucleic acid positive (up to 48th day of illness onset). The white blood cell counts ((13.52±8.24)×10 9 /L vs (10.49±4.46) ×10 9 /L), C-reactive protein ((139.71±87.46) mg/L vs (78.60±55.40) mg/L) and procalcitonin ((2.32±4.03) ng/mL vs (0.28±0.58) ng/mL) , lactic acid ((3.70±4.14) mmol/L vs (2.33±0.53) mmol/L) in deteriorated group were all significantly higher than those in improved group ( t =2.908, 5.009, 4.391 and 2.942, respectively, all P <0.01). A rapid rise of serum IL-6 level up to 8 500 pg/mL was observed in one patient three days prior to death. Conclusion Among the patients with critical COVID-19, serum levels of inflammatory cytokines of the death cases are higher than those of improved and discharged cases.

There is a rare case of an elderly diabetic with diabetic foot infection at Hainan General Hospital in September 2021, which was diagnosed as Corynebacterium diphtheriae infection incidentally on routine culture with conventional methods and molecular biological approaches, to aid in diagnosis in clinical practice. Owing to smear staining, Albert staining and VITEK 2 system, automated identification systems viz matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) confirmed combing with 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene has been used for the taxonomic classification of bacteria. Otherwise, toxin gene tox was done for diphtheria toxin synthesis. The isolate was Gram-stain-positive, rod-like arrangement with irregular thickness, with characteristic metachromatic granules, ferment most sugars and homology of 16S rRNA analyses with C. diphtheriae NCTC11397^T (MW682323.1) was greater than a 100% possibility, toxin gene tox was negative. The findings lay the foundation to clinical identify and trace of non-toxigenic C. diphtheriae. Moreover, this work provides insights into the non-toxigenic C.diphtheriae that contribute to recognized risk of non-toxigenic C.diphtheriae infections.
Aged ; Corynebacterium/genetics* ; Corynebacterium diphtheriae/genetics* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Foot ; Diphtheria/microbiology* ; Humans ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics*

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of eugenol against Fusarium solani(F.solani)-induced fungal keratitis(FK)in mice and to preliminarily explore possible underlying mechanisms.METHODS: A modified epifluorescence microscopy method was used to prepare the FK mouse model. An equal amount of DMSO(0.05%)was applied to the conjunctiva of the right eye of rats in the dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO)group. The eugenol group was prepared by applying eugenol(160 μg/mL)to the conjunctival sac of the right eye of mice. The insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1)group was coated with the PI3K/AKT pathway activator IGF-1(10 nmol/mL)in the conjunctival sac of the right eye in addition to the administration of eugenol. The corneal morphology was observed under a slit-lamp microscope on days 1, 3, and 5 of inoculation with F.solani suspension, respectively. Hematoxylin eosin(HE)staining was used to assess corneal histopathological damage. The bacterial load of corneal tissue was determined. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot were used to analyze the levels of inflammatory mediators interleukin-6(IL-6)and interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and the expression of PI3K/AKT pathway proteins.RESULTS: Eugenol treatment improved the morphological symptoms of keratitis and inflammatory response in FK mice, and reduced corneal pathologic tissue damage and fungal load. At 3 d after F.solani infection, corneal tissue IL-6 levels were significantly higher and IL-1β levels were significantly lower in the eugenol group compared with the DMSO group(both P<0.05); corneal tissue IL-6 levels were significantly higher and IL-1β levels were significantly lower in the eugenol group than in the IGF-1 group(both P<0.05). At 5 d after infection, both IL-6 and IL-1β levels in corneal tissue of the eugenol group were significantly lower than those of the DMSO and IGF-1 groups(P<0.05); compared with the DMSO group, the expression of p-PI3K and p-Akt in the corneal tissues of the eugenol group was significantly reduced(P<0.05); the expression of p-PI3K and p-Akt in corneal tissues was significantly lower in the eugenol group than that of the IGF-1 group(both P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Eugenol may attenuate F.solani-induced corneal inflammation by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway, and it has a protective effect against F.solani keratitis in mice.

BACKGROUNDPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder with delayed or chronic onset caused by unusual, threatening, or disastrous psychological trauma, and it is an important manifestation of post-disaster mental and behavioral disorders. Studies have shown that IL-6 is a cytokine associated with PTSD occurrence. This study aimed to explore the role of cytokine and ethnicity in the pathogenesis of PTSD by examining levels of serum cytokines IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and cortisol in PTSD patients of Li and Han ethnic groups.

METHODSLevels of serum cytokines IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and cortisol were examined by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) method and assessed by PCL-C scale among 30 PTSD patients of Han ethnicity and 30 of Li ethnicity, and compared with 30 normal controls of Han and Li ethnicity, respectively.

RESULTSPTSD patients of Li ethnicity scored higher than PTSD patients of Han ethnicity, and normal controls of Li and Han ethnic groups in each of the re-experiencing, avoidance/numbing, and hyperarousal symptoms. The differences reached statistical significance (P < 0.05). In PTSD patients of Li ethnicity compared to patients of Han ethnicity and normal controls of either Li or Han ethnicity, the levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were higher, and the level of cortisol was lower.

CONCLUSIONSThere are ethnic differences in re-experiencing, avoidance/numbing, and hyperarousal symptoms among PTSD patients. The levels of serum cortisol and cytokines are strongly associated with the race.

Adult ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Male ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; blood ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

Microvascular invasion (MVI) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an important factor influencing postoperative recurrence and prognosis of patients. At present, the diagnosis of MVI mainly relies on postoperative histopathological examination, which is difficult to meet the need of preoperative determination of whether MVI occurs. With the development of imaging technology, multimodality MRI techniques, such as DWI, diffusion kurtosis imaging, intravoxel incoherent motion, enhancement MRI and MR radiomics analysis have been applied for diagnosis of MVI. The application progresses of the above multimodality MRI for diagnosis of MVI in preoperative HCC were reviewed in this article.