Objective: To quantitatively analyze the chest computerized tomography ( CT ) images of coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ) cases by automatic artificial intelligence ( AI ) system, so as to provide the basis for the prediction of severe cases and early clinical intervention. Methods: Eighty-three confirmed cases of COVID-19 from January 23 to February 14, 2020 in Wuchang Hospital of Wuhan were selected and the clinical data were collected. According to the diagnosis and treatment Plan of COVID-19 (seventh trial), the patients were divided into an ordinary group and a severe group. The parameters of chest CT images were quantified by the automatic AI system, and the CT imaging features of two groups were compared. Results: There were 46 cases in the ordinary group and 37 cases in the severe group, with the age of ( 62.68 ±13.69 ) years and ( 50.52 ±12.45 ) years, respectively. The percentages of total pulmonary lesions, the lesion volume of bilateral lungs, the lesion volume of right lower lung, the left lung volume and the right lung volume from -300 to -200 Hu [median (inter-quartile range)] were 19.80% ( 21.69% ), 622.87 ( 1 145.73 ) cm3, 205.73 ( 246.95 ) cm3, 26.50 (21.20) cm3 and 38.02 (48.78) cm3 in the severe group, which were significantly different from 9.78% ( 13.24% ), 333.55 ( 401.77 ) cm3, 126.02 (164.21) cm3, 21.43 (13.11) cm3 and 26.92 ( 18.04 ) cm3 in the ordinary group ( P<0.05 ). The volume of pulmonary lesions reached the peak from 10 to 16 days after infection. Conclusion The lung lesions in severe cases of COVID-19 are large, especially in the right lower lung, and need to be closely monitored from 10 to 16 days after infection for early warning of severe cases.

Objective To study effects of Rupixiao granules on contraction of uterus of mice in vitro. Methods Mouse model with isolated uterine contraction was established. The mice pretreated with estradiol benzoate were sacrificed and then the uteri were taken out. The normal contractions were recorded by the biological function system. Effects of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 mg.mL-1 Rupixiao granules on spontaneous and oxytocin-induced (5 U.L-1) uterine contractions were recorded,inhibition of Rupixiao granules on mean constriction amplitude,constriction frequency and contraction activity of pitocin-pretreated uterus was observed and the inhibition rates were calculated. Results Compared with the baselines, the amplitude, frequency, activity of spontaneous uterine contraction were significantly down-regulated by Rupixiao solution at a range of 10-60 mg.mL-1 ,as well as it could inhibit oxytocin-induced spasmodic contraction of isolated uterus at 10-50 mg . mL-1 ( P<0. 01 ) . Conclusion The Rupixiao granules inhibits spontaneous contraction of isolated mouse uteri and oxytocin-induced spasm of uterine smooth muscle in vitro.

Objective: To quantitatively assess biochemical alterations in the cartilage of the subtalar and midtarsal joints in chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) patients with isolated anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) injuries and combined calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) injuries using MRI T2 mapping. Materials and Methods: This study was performed according to regulations of the Committee for Human Research at our institution, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Forty CLAI patients (26 with isolated ATFL injuries and 14 with combined ATFL and CFL injuries) and 25 healthy subjects were recruited for this study. All participants underwent MRI scans with T2 mapping. Patients were assessed with the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) rating system. The subtalar and midtarsal joints were segmented into 14 cartilage subregions. The T2 value of each subregion was measured from T2 mapping images. Data were analyzed with ANOVA, the Student’s t test, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: T2 values of most subregions of the subtalar joint and the calcaneal facet of the calcaneocuboid joint in CLAI patients with combined CFL injuries were higher than those in healthy controls (all p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in T2 values in subtalar and midtarsal joints between patients with isolated ATFL injuries and healthy controls (all p > 0.05). Moreover, T2 values of the medial talar subregions of the posterior subtalar joint in patients with combined CFL injuries showed negative correlations with the AOFAS scores (r = -0.687, p = 0.007; r = -0.609, p = 0.021, respectively). Conclusion CLAI with combined CFL injuries can lead to cartilage degeneration in subtalar and calcaneocuboid joints, while an isolated ATFL injury might not have a significant impact on the cartilage in these joints.

Objective To observe the effects of beans pressured on ear acupoint on improvement of sleep quality in community type 2 diabetes and on blood glucose level control. Methods A total of 184 cases of type 2 diabetes patients were divided into two groups, control group and the observation group, 92 cases in each group. The patients in the observation group were received ear pressure beans therapy, and the patients in control group were given routine symptomatic treatment. Pittsburgh sleep quality index ( PSQI) score, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting capillary glucose, non-fasting capillary glucose and blood lipid level were tested to evaluate the efficacy of ear pressure beans therapy. Results After 6 months intervention, the PSQI and HbA1c of the observation group were (8. 05 ± 2. 08) and (6. 71 ± 1. 11)%, while those were (10. 90 ± 2. 92) and (7. 14 ± 1. 55)% in the control group (t=7. 609,2. 134;P<0. 05). Conclusions The ear pressure beans therapy can improve sleep quality in community type 2 diabetes, thereby enabling better control of blood glucose level;it is worth in the community to promote for type 2 diabetes people.

Acupuncture-moxibustion was introduced to India in mid-20th century and has been legislated in two provinces in India where the registration of acupuncture practitioners is implemented at present. In India, the central government recognizes that acupuncture-moxibustion is an approach of treatment and is permitted by the licensed doctor. Because of the weakness of the basic development of acupuncture-moxibustion in India, the go-vernment put great effort to support and protect their national traditional medicine. Acupuncture-moxibustion development is mainly in the folk and in the progression for the provincial and governmental legislation. In the paper, by taking West Bengal as example, the legislation, clinical application, education and scientific research of acupuncture-moxibustion are analyzed so that an approach is explored for the further development of acupuncture-moxibustion in India.

OBJECTIVESTo summarize the results of liver transplantation for various end-stage liver diseases at the Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences (SUMS), define the role of liver transplantation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and fulminant hepatitis B, and assess the efficiency of lamivudine on preventing HBV recurrence.

METHODSSeventy liver transplants performed at the SUMS between April 1993 and December 2000 were retrospectively analyzed. The main indications for liver transplant were hepatocellular carcinoma (26 cases), liver cirrhosis (21 cases), fulminant hepatitis B (12 cases), sclerosing cholangitis (4 cases) and other terminal liver diseases (7 cases). Lamivudine was used in twelve patients suffering from fulminant hepatitis B. Logistic multivariate regression analysis was applied to determine the risk factors predicting liver transplantation outcomes.

RESULTSFifty-four patients survived for more than one month, and 16 patients died within 30 days after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The overall hospital survival rate was 77.1%. The hospital survival rates in the Child's A and B patients were 87.5% and 83.3%, respectively. Those rates were superior to those of the Child's C patients (P < 0.05). The outcome of patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was superior to that of patients with large HCC. Preoperative APACE III scores, the severity of ascites and serum creatine level had independent influence on outcome. Of the patients with fulminant HBV infection, 9 recipients survived for a follow-up period of 2 - 24 months. Treatment with lamivudine monotherapy was both well tolerated and efficacious in patients with fulminant hepatitis B.

CONCLUSIONSThe results indicate that orthotopic liver transplantation could provide long-term cure and palliation for patients with HCC, and that patient selection is extremely important in predicting outcome. The results support the continued application of liver transplantation as a therapeutic modality for various end-stage liver diseases and that lamivudine is an effective and safe monotherapy in OLT for patients with HBV infection.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; mortality ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Cholangitis, Sclerosing ; mortality ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B ; mortality ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver ; pathology ; surgery ; Liver Cirrhosis ; mortality ; surgery ; Liver Neoplasms ; mortality ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Schools, Medical ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

By collecting and analyzing information regarding the history development, current situation, legislation, health insurance, education and academic organizations of acupuncture in Israel, the development characteristics of acupuncture in Israel were summarized. The overall traditional medicine developed well in Israel, yet acupuncture have only appeared in Israel for 18 years. The proposal of Israeli Acupuncture Legislation Act improved the development of health insurance, education and public awareness of acupuncture in Israel. However, improvement in areas of education, legislation and health insurance are still in need. Suggestions are proposed to improve the education quality, acupuncture legislation, international cooperation, volunteer activities and cultural exchanges. In addition, the legislative process of acupuncture in the countries of "the Belt and Road", especially the Middle East countries, are promoted.

Acupuncture has been applied in 183 countries and regions and gradually become a name card as TCM spreads across the world. The international influence of which plays a significant role in enhancing TCM development. The laws and regulations of TCM acupuncture along One-Belt-One-Road countries were compared and analyzed in this article. With comprehensive research and analysis, the international development strategy of acupuncture was rationally proposed. Combined with the historical background of China's national initiative One-Belt-One-Road, the acupuncture was taken as a breakthrough to lead the global spreading of TCM culture and Chinese herbs, so as to enhance China's soft strength, which could further create a fine cultural environment for the economic prosperity of One-Belt-One-Road countries. In addition, the strategy selection for China regarding TCM acupuncture development along One-Belt-One-Road countries was proposed, and the suggestive solution and implementation strategy for the essential missions and significant issues were provided.

OBJECTIVE: Bo investigate the regulatory relationship between NKD1 and YWHAE and the mechanism of NKD1 for promoting tumor cell proliferation. METHODS: HCT116 cells transfected with pcDNA3.0-NKD1 plasmid, SW620 cells transfected with NKD1 siRNA, HCT116 cells with stable NKD1 overexpression (HCT116-NKD1 cells), SW620 cells with nkd1knockout (SW620-nkd1^-/- cells), and SW620-nkd1^-/- cells transfected with pcDNA3.0-YWHAE plasmid were examined for changes in mRNA and protein expression levels of YWHAE using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was used to detect the binding of NKD1 to the promoter region of YWHAE gene. The regulatory effect of NKD1 on YWHAE gene promoter activity was analyzed by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay, and the interaction between NKD1 and YWHAE was analyzed with immunofluorescence assay. The regulatory effect of NKD1 on glucose uptake was examined in the tumor cells. RESULTS: In HCT116 cells, overexpression of NKD1 significantly enhanced the expression of YWHAE at both the mRNA and protein levels, while NKD1 knockout decreased its expression in SW620 cells (P < 0.001). ChIP assay showed that NKD1 protein was capable of binding to the YWHAE promoter sequence; dual luciferase reporter gene assay showed that NKD1 overexpression (or knockdown) in the colon cancer cells significantly enhanced (or reduced) the transcriptional activity of YWHAE promoter (P < 0.05). Immunofluorescence assay demonstrated the binding of NKD1 and YWHAE proteins in colon cancer cells. NKD1 knockout significantly reduced glucose uptake in colon cancer cells (P < 0.01), while YWHAE overexpression restored the glucose uptake in NKD1-knockout cells (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION NKD1 protein activates the transcriptional activity of YWHAE gene to promote glucose uptake in colon cancer cells.
Humans ; Colonic Neoplasms ; HCT116 Cells ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; RNA, Messenger ; Glucose ; Calcium-Binding Proteins/metabolism* ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism* ; 14-3-3 Proteins/metabolism*