Objective To observe brain functional activity of patients with arrhythmia after radiofrequency ablation with amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF).Methods Twenty-six patients with anxiety disorder after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) were included as RFCA group.Age and sex matched twenty-six healthy volunteers were included as control group.The difference of ALFF between the two groups was analyzed by two-sample t test.Partial correlation between extracted values from dysfunctional brain regions and hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) scores were investigated.Results Compared with control group,ALFF of left middle temporal gyrus,right putamen,left amygdala significantly increased,and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC),right praecuneus,left middle frontal gyrus and right middle occipital gyus significantly decreased in RFCA group (Alphasim correction,P＜0.01).ALFF values of left DLPFC were negatively correlated with HAMA scores (r=-0.872,P=0.013).Conclusion The brain activity of RFCA patients in resting state is abnormal.ALFF can provide more evidences for the pathogenesis of the disease.

Background Studies determined that blue light exposure causes apoptosis of human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells,but its mechanism is still below understood.Objective The aim of this study was to investigate whether or how mitochondrial apoptotic pathway is involved in blue-light induced apoptosis of human RPE cells in vitro.Methods Human RPE cells were isolated from fresh donor eyes and primarily cultured and passaged.The cells were identified with keratin antibody by immunochemistry.Then the cells were the non-light exposed group,simple light-exposed group,light-exposed+nifedipine group,light-exposed+calphostin C group and the light-exposed+phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) group.Human RPE cells in light-exposed group were consequently cultured for 24 hours following the exposure of (2 000±500)lx blue-light for 6 hours,and then the expression levels of bax,bcl-2,bcl-xl in the cells were detected by Western blot to evaluate the effect of blue light on the apoptosis.The cells in the light-exposed+nifedipine group,light-exposed+calphostin C group and the light-exposed+PMA group were treated with the corresponding drugs 1 hour prior to light irradiation and sequently received 6-hour light irradiation and 48-hour culture.The expression of caspase-9 protein in the cells were assayed with Western blot to assess the influence of Ca2+ channel and protein kinase C (PKC) pathway on mitochondria of RPE cells.Results Cultured cells grew well with visible pigment in cytoplasm.The cells showed the positive response for keratin and presented a cobblestone-like appearance.The expression bands of bax,bcl-2 and bcl-xl proteins were clearly visible at the molecular weight of 23 000,26 000 and 30 000 in both non-light exposed group and the simple light-exposed group,and the absorbance values of the cells to bax were elevated,while the absorbance values to bcl-2 and bcl-xl were declined in the simple light-exposed group compared with the non-light exposed group (t =-4.409,P =0.012 ;t =7.575,P =0.002 ; t =6.068,P =0.004).Compared with the non-light exposed group,the absorbance values of caspase-9 were significantly raised in the simple light-exposed group,light-exposed+calphostin C group and the lightexposed+PMA group (P=0.005,0.002,0.000),but no significant difference between the non-light exposed group and light-exposed+nifedipine group (P=0.191).Compared with the simple light-exposed group,the expression level was considerably higher in the light-exposed + PMA group (P =0.005) ; while that in the light-exposed + nifedipine group or light-exposed+calphostin C group was not significantly different (P=0.057,0.643).Conclusions Blue light exposure induces apoptosis of RPE cells by up-regulating the expressions of bax and caspase-9 proteins and down-regulating the expressions of bcl-2 and bcl-xl.The mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and PKC pathway participate in blue-light induced apoptosis of human RPE cells in vitro.

Objective:To investigate the regulation and mechanism of chronic Trichinella spiralis ( Ts) infection on liver immunopathology in mice co-infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA( PbA). Methods:According to body weight, 64 specific pathogen free female Kunming mice (6 - 8 weeks old, weighting 22 - 25 g) were divided into 4 groups by using random number table method. Control group: uninfected; Ts group: mice were mono-infected with 30 Ts larvae by oral gavage on day 0; PbA group: mice were mono-infected with 1 × 10 6PbA-infected red blood cells in 0.1 ml of phosphate buffer (PBS) administered by intraperitoneal injection on day 121; co-infected ( Ts+PbA) group: mice were infected with 30 Ts larvae by oral gavage and intraperitoneal injected with 1 × 10 6PbA-infected red blood cells in 0.1 ml PBS on day 121 after Ts infection. There were 16 mice in each group, in which 10 mice in each group were monitored for the survival rate. The peripheral red blood cell parasitemia of PbA group and Ts + PbA group were monitored every other day by light microscope examination of Giemsa-stained thin tail-blood smears from day 3 after PbA infection. Mice were sacrificed at day 135 after Ts infection and/or at day 15 after PbA infection, the mouse body weight and liver weight were measured, and the liver index were calculated. Ts-infected mice were monitored by a light microscope examination of diaphragm compression slide. Under a light microscope, the liver pathology and liver fibrosis of mice were observed and compared with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Sirius red staining, respectively. The F4/80 + Kupffer cells in liver of mice were examined by immunohistochemical staining. Results:After infection with Ts or PbA, Ts larvae cysts were observed in diaphragm tissues and PbA were observed in red blood cells under the light microscope. After PbA infection, there was no significant difference in survival rate between PbA group and Ts+ PbA group ( P > 0.05). Compared with PbA group, the peripheral red blood cell parasitemia was significantly decreased in Ts+ PbA group on days 11 and 15 after PbA infection (%: 27.104 ± 7.623 vs 45.032 ± 9.849, 60.218 ± 2.776 vs 76.778 ± 6.351, P < 0.05), and the liver index and the liver pathology score were significantly decreased in Ts+ PbA group ( P < 0.05). Sirius red staining showed that the positive area of liver fibrosis in Ts+ PbA group was significantly higher than that in PbA group ( P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining showed that the average optical density value of F4/80 + Kupffer cells in Ts+ PbA group was significantly higher than that in PbA group ( P < 0.01). Conclusion:Chronic Ts infection may reduce the peripheral red blood cell parasitemia, increase F4/80 + Kupffer cells expression in liver, and attenuate liver pathology in mice co-infected with PbA.

Objective To investigate the expression of serum 25(OH)D,vitamin D receptor (VDR)and vitamin D1-α hydroxylase (CYP27B1) in intestinal mucosa tissues of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Methods From January 1st to December 31st in 2014,105 patients with IBD were enrolled,among them there were 49 cases of ulcerative colitis (UC) and 56 cases of Crohn's disease (CD);there were 20 cases in remission,26 cases in mild active phase,37 cases in moderate active phase and 22 cases in severe active phase;and 50 cases with lesions located in the left colon and 55 cases with lesions located in the right colon.At the same period,45 healthy individuals were also recruited as controls,whom were suspected as IBD but at last proved healthy.The lactulose and mannitol absorption ratio (LMR),serum endotoxin,tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and 25(OH)D levels,and the expressions of VDR and CYP27B1 in the intestinal mucosa tissues were detected in all the subjects.T test,one-way analysis of variance and chi square test were used for statistical analysis.Results The LMR,endotoxin and TNF-α levels of UC group were (63.2 ± 13.9)％,(118.9 ± 19.7) EU/mL,and (109.6 ± 18.4) ng/L,respectively,which were higher than those of the healthy control group ((3.3 ± 1.2)％,(34.2 ±5.6) EU/mL,and (0.6±0.3) ng/L);the level of 25 (OH)D was (36.6± 9.7) nmol/L,which was lower than that of healthy control group ((49.6± 10.9) nmol/L),and all the differences were statistically significant (t =28.796,29.284,27.817 and 6.118,all P＜0.05).LMR,endotoxin and TNF-α levels of CD group were (52.9±11.3)％,(96.4±10.6) EU/mL and (83.0±16.1) ng/L,respectively,which were higher than those of the healthy control group,25(OH)D level was (44.4±9.4) nmol/L,which was lower than that of healthy control group,and all the differences were statistically significant (t=34.555,39.716,34.293 and 0.012,all P＜0.05).The differences in LMR,endotoxin,TNF-α and 25 (OH)D levels among healthy control group,remission group,mild active group,moderate active group and severe active group were statistically significant (F=286.731,385.690,657.830 and 18.932,all P＜0.01) which was dependent on the disease activity.Compared with those of the healthy controls,the levels of LMR,endotoxin and TNF-α of the left colon group and the right colon group increased,and 25(OH)D levels decreased.The high expression rates of VDR in UC group and CD group were 36.7％ (18/49) and 55.4％ (31/ 56),respectively,which were both lower than that of healthy control group (80.0％ (36/45)),and the differences were statistically significant (x2 =38.574 and 13.837,both P＜0.05).The high expression rates of CYP27B1 of UC group and CD group were 26.5％ (13/49) and 35.7％ (20/56),respectively,which were both higher than that of healthy control group (22.2％ (10/45)),and the differences were statistically significant (x2=6.499 and 4.430,both P＜0.05).The differences in the high expression rates of VDR and CYP27B1 among healthy control group,remission group,mild active group,moderate active group and severe active group were statistically significant (F=33.470 and 27.142,both P＜0.01),which was dependent on the disease activity.Compared with that of the healthy control group,the high expression rates of VDR of the left colon group and the right colon group decreased,and the high expression rates of CYP27B1 increased.Conclusion There is vitamin D metabolic imbalance in IBD patients,as well as low serum 25(OH)D level,low rate of high VDR expression in colonic mucosa tissues and high rate of high CYP27B1.

Objective To examine the effects of gross tumor volume (GTV) and radiation dose on the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with whole body gamma knife.Methods The clinical data of 69 HCC patients who underwent body gamma knife treatment from January 2012 to June 2015 in the Radiotherapy Center of the PLA General Hospital were retrospectively reviewed.Based on a 50% or 60% isodose coverage of the planning target volume (PTV), patients were treated with a radiation dose of 4-5 Gy per fraction, and a total marginal dose of 36-50 Gy (median dose 45 Gy).Short-term efficacy, overall survival (OS), and the adverse effect of the treatment were evaluated.The optimal cut-off tumor volume was identified using the receiver operating characteristic curve, and survival was determined by the Kaplan-Meier method.Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression model, respectively.Results The overall short-term response rate of the 69 patients was 67%.The 1-and 2-year OS rates were 62% and 40%, respectively, with a median survival of 18.6 months.The multivariate analysis showed that gross tumor volume (GTV)<93 cm3(P=0.013) and short-term efficacy of radiotherapy (P=0.000) were significant independent prognostic factors for survival.When GTV was<93 cm3, prognosis was significantly better in patients treated with a dose of ≥45 Gy than in those with<45 Gy (P=0.019).In contrast, radiation dose had no significant effect on survival among patients with GTV>93 cm3(P=0.665).Conclusions GTV is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival of HCC patients.Although high-dose radiotherapy provides survival benefits to patients with small GTV, it is not necessarily suitable for patients with large GTV.

Objective To explore the effect of low concentration 5-fluorouracil combined with triamcinolone acetonide on rabbit ear hypertrophic scar model.Methods White rabbits post-traumatic scars were randomly divided into A,B,C and D groups,each group contained 18 cases.Group A was given triamcinolone acetonide and low concentration 5-fluorouracil,Group B was given low concentration 5-fluorouracil,Group C was given triamcinolone acetonide and Group D was used as the control group.The dynamic changes of the scar were observed by naked eyes,hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and van Gieson (VG) staining through microscope.Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CD34 were detected and compared within 4 groups by immunohistochemical staining.Results We successfully established a rabbit ear scar model.It was observed that the scars of Groups A,B and C had been shorter and flatter than Group D,close to the normal tissue.In HE and VG staining,the number of fibroblasts,inflammatory cells,blood vessels in groups A,B and C had been decreased,compared with Group D.Immunohistochemical results showed that the positive rates of VEGF and CD34 from the most to the lest were Groups D,B,C and A.The scar proliferation index from the most to the lest were Groups D,B,C and A.Conclusions The effect of low concentration 5-fluorouracil in treatment of the rabbit ear hypertrophic scar is better than that of triamcinolone acetonide.Low concentration 5-fluorouracil combined with triamcinolone acetonide has a synergistic effect in treatment of hypertrophic scar,which has better effect than that of low concentration 5-fluorouracil or triamcinolone acetonide alone.

Clinical decision support system (CDSS) has been developed and integrated into clinical nursing system by building up rules and knowledge base through literature retrieval, expert argumentation, and situation analysis. With such algorithms as reasoning algorithm, case study, artificial intelligence and big data analysis, three modules have been constructed as follows. The first is an Intelligent Knowledge-based Decision Module composed of 15 document-driven knowledge-based decision-makers and 5 task-driven knowledge-based decision-makers. The second is an Intelligent Quality Control Recording Module which has achieved intelligent quality control of nursing records through Feedforward Control and Feedback Control. The third is an Intelligent Human-Computer Interaction Module which consists of real-time static interactions through e-board and dynamic reminders/alarms triggered by the system. CDSS, since in use, has reduced the incidence of adverse nursing events and problems of quality control in nursing records, and improved satisfaction of patients.

Objective To observe the influence of gender in cortical spreading depression (SD) wave in mice.Methods Potassium chloride (KCl) or middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models were used to induce SD.Adult C57 mice were randomly divided into four groups:male and female KCl-induced groups,male and female MCAO-induced groups (n=8).SD waves were monitored for 2 h by electrophysiological method.Results SD waves showed lower amplitude and longer duration time in the MCAO-induced group as compared with those in the KCl-induced group.There were no obvious differences in SD amplitude,duration time,frequency and onset time of first SD between male and female KCl-induced groups (P＞0.05).There were no differences in SD amplitude and duration time between male and female MCAO-induced groups (P＞0.05),however,SD frequency and onset time of the first SD were signficantly different between male and female MCAO-induced group (P＜0.05).Conclusion Mice gender has an effect on MCAO-induced SD,but no obvious effect on KCl-induced SD; the possible explanation for the difference is that estrogens modifying susceptibility to SD is mainly through their effect on glutamate but not on K+ metabolic pathways.

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effect of artesunate on mice with acute Toxoplasma gondii ( T. gondii) infection. Methods:Based on body weight (16 - 18 g), sixty-four C57BL/6 female mice aged 6 - 8 weeks were divided into 4 groups by random number table method: uninfected control group without treatment; T. gondii-infected group (Tg group), each mouse was intraperitoneally (i.p.) infected with 100 tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain; T. gondii-infected + artesunate treatment group (Tg + ART group), 3 hours after each mouse i.p. infected with 100 tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain, artesunate solution was i.p. injected at a dose of 30 mg/kg, once a day for a total of 7 consecutive days; T. gondii-infected + sulfadiazine treatment group (Tg + SDZ group), 3 hours after each mouse i.p. infected with 100 tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain, sulfadiazine solution was orally administrated at a dose of 100 mg/kg, once a day for a total of 7 consecutive days. There were 16 mice in each group, in which 10 mice were used to observe survival time and 6 mice were used to monitor body weight and collect tissue samples. Mice were weighed every day from day 1 post infection (p.i.); mice were sacrificed at day 7 p.i., the liver weights of mice were weighed and the liver indexes were calculated; liver tissues were paraffin-embedded, sectioned, and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), and the pathological changes of liver tissues of mice in each group were observed under a light microscope. The expression levels of T. gondii major surface antigen 1 (SAG1) in the liver tissues of mice in each group were detected by real-time quantitative PCR for evaluating parasite load. Results:All mice in the uninfected control group were survived. The survival time was 7 - 9 days in Tg group, 8 - 11 days in Tg + ART group, and 9 - 13 days in Tg + SDZ group. Compared with Tg group, the survival times of mice in Tg + ART group and Tg + SDZ group were significantly longer ( P < 0.05). On day 7 p.i., compared with uninfected control group, Tg + ART group or Tg + SDZ group, the body weight of mice in Tg group was lower ( P < 0.05); however, there was no significant difference of body weight in Tg + ART group and Tg + SDZ group compared with uninfected control group ( P > 0.05). Compared with Tg group, Tg + ART group and Tg + SDZ group had lower liver indexes and SAG1 mRNA expression levels in the liver tissues ( P < 0.05 or < 0.001), and liver histopathological changes were milder. Compared with Tg + SDZ group, there was no significant difference in both liver index and SAG1 mRNA expression level in the liver tissue of Tg + ART group ( P > 0.05). Conclusion:Artesunate solution i.p. injection can prolong the survival time, reduce parasite load in the liver, and attenuate hepatic pathological damage, to a certain extent, of mice with acute T. gondii infection.

Parasitic diseases still remain the world's greatest health problems and cause huge economic burden in poor areas. The drugs currently used to treat protozoiases and helminthiases have certain defects, and it is urgent to develop more effective therapeutic drugs for these diseases. Berberine is one kind of important anti-inflammatory agents originally derived from Coptis rhizoma. The derivatives of berberine are obtained by modifying the structural site of berberine. In addition to its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activities, berberine and its derivatives also have significant anti-parasitic activity. In this paper, we summarized recent progress in the use of berberine and its derivatives against the infections of protozoa ( Leishmania spp ., Trypanosoma spp. , Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium falciparum, and Eimeria tenella) and helminths ( Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma. japonicum, Echinococcus granulosus, and Toxocara canis), which may providea useful reference for researchers in this field.