Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture at points Xiaohai and Xiajuxu on the expressions of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in serum and nicotinic acetylcholine receptorα 7 (α 7 nAchR) in duodenal tissues in a rat model of duodenal ulcer (DU) and preliminarily explore the relative specificity of He-Sea point in “treating visceral diseases with He-Sea point”.Methods Forty healthy SD rats were randomized into blank (A), model (B), Xiaohai (C) and Xiajuxu (D) groups, 10 rats each. A rat model of DU was made by subcutaneous injection of 10% cysteamine hydrochloride at the right buttock. After successful model making, group C was given electroacupuncture at point Xiaohai and group D, at point Xiajuxu. Duodenal tissue ulcer was macroscopically observed and scored in every group of rats. Rat serum expression of TNF-α was determined by double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); rat serum expression of ChAT, by ultraviolet spectrophotometry & colorimetry; rat duodenal expression ofα7 nAchR, by Western blot.Results After model making, the duodenal ulcer score was significantly higher in groups B, C and D than in group A (allP<0.01) and significantly lower in groups C and D than in group B (bothP<0.01) and in group D than in group C (P<0.01). TNF-α expression was significantly higher in group B than in group A (P<0.01) and significantly lower in groups C and D than in group B (bothP<0.01) and in group D than in group C (P<0.01). ChAT expression tended to increase in group C compared with group B but there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) and was significantly higher in group D than in group B (P<0.01) or C (P<0.05).α7 nAchR expression was significantly higher in groups C and D than in group B (bothP<0.01). There was a positive correlation between ChAT andα7 nAchR expressions in every group (r=0.444,P=0.007).Conclusions Electroacupuncture at both points Xiaohai and Xiajuxu can reduce the duodenal ulcer score and serum TNF-α expression and increase serum ChAT and duodenalα7 nAchR expressions in DU rats. The results show that the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on duodenal ulcer may be produced by regulating TNF-α. Its mechanism may be activating cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway to produce an anti-inflammatory effect. The effect being better in group D than in group C suggests that Xiajuxu has the relative specificity.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) expression in primary tumor foci of breast cancer and the patients' prognosis.

METHODSParaffin sections of surgical specimens were retrospectively collected from 130 stage I-III breast cancer patients who received surgery between January 2000 and December 2002 in our hospital. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess APRIL expression intensity in the tumor cells and density of interstitial APRIL-positive cells, and their association was analyzed with the density of interstitial CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cells and with the histopathologic features, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS) of the patients.

RESULTSAPRIL positive staining was found in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells, interstitial cells, and the extracellular matrix. APRIL intensity in the tumor cells was positively correlated with the density of interstitial APRIL-positive cells (P=0.009) and Ki67 (P=0.003). The density of interstitial APRIL-positive cells was positively correlated with the density of interstitial CD4⁺ cells (P<0.001) and CD8⁺ cells (P<0.001). In hormone receptor negative patients (ER- and PR-), multivariate COX regression identified the density of interstitial APRIL-positive cells as a positive prognostic factor for DFS (HR=0.313, 95% CI=0.107-0.920, P=0.035). CONCLUSIONSl APRIL is widely expressed in the interstitial immune cells in breast cancer. APRIL staining intensity in the tumor cells is positively correlated with tumor proliferation, indicating that the immune cells might promote tumor proliferation by secreting APRIL. A greater density of interstitial APRIL-positive cells is associated with a good prognosis in hormone receptor-negative patients.

Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Cytoplasm ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13 ; metabolism

Objective:To explore an efficient method of practical teaching for ultrasonography.Methods:There were 41 five-year clinical medical students intending to learn ultrasonography in the spring semester of 2019. After completing common theory courses, they were divided into two groups randomly for practice courses, which consisted of two modules: Lecture and Hands-on. Lecture included case-based learning while Hands-on included pictures reading. Each group followed different sequence of modules. There were assessments of ultrasound theory, practice or the combination of both before, during and after practice courses.Results:The theory and practice ability of each group improved significantly after practice courses ( P < 0.05). Moreover, the group whose Hands-on module preceded Lecture module got the higher scores in the evaluation of the combined ability of theory and practice ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:The theory was as important as the practice during the clerkship of ultrasonography. The clinical practical teaching pattern that Hands-on precedes Lecture has achieved better teaching effects.

Objective To evaluate the applied value of septal cartilage combined with perpendicular plate of ethmoid bone graft in short nose plasty in Chinese people with insufficient septal cartilage.Methods From February 2015 to March 2017,thirty-five women with short noses underwent septal extension grafting in our institute.We used perpendicular plate of ethmoid bone to enhance the L-strut structure.An L-strut,comprising 0.6 cm segments of the caudal and dorsal cartilaginous septum,was left altered to harvest more cartilages for septal extension.The harvested septal cartilage was grafted on one side of the caudal septum.Then the alar cartilage was fixed at the end of the septal cartilage graft.Nasal lengths and nasolabial angles were measured pre-and postoperatively.Results The average nasal lengthening was (3.37±1.87) mm (P＜0.001).There was no infection,cerebral spinal fluid leakage,hemorrhage and other complications postoperatively.The average follow-up was 10 months (6 months to 2 years).After operation,33 patients were satisfied with the nasal contour,1 patient complained of high tip projection whereas one patient complained of low tip projection,and the dissatisfactions were corrected by revision surgeries.Conclusions Combining the septal cartilage with perpendicular plate of ethmoid bone graft presents an adequate nose lengthening and a decreased nostril show,even in patients with very little septal cartilage.With minimum complications,this novel technique provides promising clinical outcomes and high patient satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase (PNMT) G-390A genetic polymorphism with risk of essential hypertension (EH) in Changsha Han people. METHODS: A case-control association study was performed in 400 patients with essential hypertension (EH) and 388 normotensive subjects. PNMT G-390A was genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-FRLP). RESULTS: The genotype frequencies for the -390 GG, GA, and AA were 39.3%,50.0%, and 10.8%, respectively in EH patients, and were 43.6%,45.6%, and 10.8%, in normal subjects. No significant difference in either genotypic frequency (P=0.433) or allele frequency (P=0.378) of PNMT G-390A between EH patients and normals was observed. When by gender, there was significant difference in genotypic frequency (P<0.05) and allele frequency (P=0.046) of G-390A polymorphism between EH patients and normals in the male, but not in the female (P>0.05). CONCLUSION PNMT G-390A polymorphism is possibly associated with EH risk in male Chinese Han population in Changsha.
Adult ; Aged ; Base Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; enzymology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sex Factors

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) C-824T polymorphism with essential hypertension (EH) susceptibility in Hunan Han population by a case-control study. METHODS: A case-control study was performed on 368 EH patients and 353 healthy controls of Han nationality recruited in Hunan province. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)was used to genotype the C-824T polymorphism. RESULTS: (1) Genotype frequencies for TH-824CC and -824CT+-824TT genotypes were 89.9% and 10.1%, respectively for EH patients and 88.7% and 11.3%, respectively for the controls. No significant difference in the genotype distribution of C-824T polymorphism between the patients and controls was observed (P=0.579). Allele frequencies of TH C-824T also showed no significant difference between the patients and controls (P=0.515). (2) When adjusted by EH risk factors, results of unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that there was no association between TH C-824T polymorphism and EH susceptibility (P=0.264). (3) When stratified by gender, no significant difference in the genotype distribution of TH C-824T polymorphism was observed between the patients and controls in either male or female subjects (P=0.841 and P=0.288). (4) Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in individuals with -824 CT+TT genotype was significantly higher than that in individuals with -824 CC genotype in the controls (P=0.015). (5) When stratified by gender, significant difference in DBP between TH C-824T CT+TT genotype and CC genotype was observed in the male (P= 0.018) but not in the female (P=0.083) controls. CONCLUSION There is no association between TH gene C-824T polymorphism and EH susceptibility in Hunan Han population. The TH gene C-824T polymorphism is possibly associated with increased DBP in the males in Hunan Han population.
Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertension ; enzymology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sex Factors ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; genetics

Objective:To retrospectively review the efficacy of enhanced epidural anesthesia in the patients undergoing cesarean section.Methods:The data from patients who underwent cesarean section in our hospital from August 2008 to December 2021 were retrospectively collected. The method of epidural anesthesia, drug dosage, onset time, blocking level, anesthesia effect, remedial medication, and complications related to the method were recorded. The main points of enhanced epidural anesthesia included: ① test negative pressure by rotating the epidural puncture needle in situ to determine the position of the needle tip; ② catheterization after administering local anesthetic through epidural puncture needle to assess the clinical application of this technique. A questionnaire survey was conducted in 134 anesthesiologists with qualifications for epidural procedures. The questionnaire addressed whether to perform routine needle rotation during epidural procedures, direction of needle rotation, and the percentage of the dosage of local anesthetic administered through puncture needle. Results:A total of 10 054 patients received epidural anesthesia (10 016 cases) and switched to general anesthesia because of poor epidural effect or intraoperative emergencies (38 cases) were enrolled. The consumption of local anesthetics for epidural anesthesia was 18 (15, 20) ml.There were 7 287 cases with block plane records, of which the ratio of the block level reached T 6-8 was 86.84%. The time from the beginning of anesthesia to skin incision was 25 (20, 30) min. Sixteen patients (0.159%) switched to general anesthesia because of poor epidural effect.Among 10 016 patients underwent epidural anesthesia, 925 patients (9.235%) received intravenous adjunctive drugs.No patients experienced total spinal anesthesia, 25 patients (0.248%) had epidural perforation due to puncture or needle rotation, and 4 cases (0.039%) local anesthetic intoxication, 3 cases (0.030%) postoperative nerve injury, and 142 patients (1.412%) requiring intervention with vasoactive drugs due to hemodynamic instability within 30 min after epidural administration. Questionnaire survey: The proportion of anesthesiologists rotating epidural puncture needles was 85.1%, and the proportion of anesthesiologists using epidural puncture needles to inject local anesthesia drugs with a dose greater than 50% of the total dose before catheterization was 84.2%. Conclusions:Enhanced epidural anesthesia can provide effective anesthesia for the patients undergoing cesarean section without increasing the risk of complications related to epidural procedures.

Objective:To explore the application experience of autologous fat transplantation in improving the facial contour of young cosmetic patients.Methods:From October 2017 to October 2020, the plastic surgery department of Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital admitted 10 young cosmetic patients with poor facial contours, including 1 male and 9 females, aged 18-35 years, with an average of 28 years. Autologous subcutaneous fat was harvested by liposuction and static purification and then injected into the areas with poor facial contour with an amount of 10%-30% over.Results:The facial contour of 10 young cosmetic patients was well improved, and there were no postoperative complications such as facial asymmetry, local uneven skin, skin infection and necrosis or fat embolism. 8 cases were filled once and 2 cases were filled twice. The patients were followed up for 6-24 months and the postoperative effect was good. The excellent and good rate evaluated by patients, plastic surgeon and the third party doctor was more than 80%.Conclusions:The use of autologous fat to improve the facial contour of young cosmetic patients is easy to operate with less trauma and good effect, which is worthy of promotion.

Pulmonary fibrosis， chronic obstructive pulmonary disease， acute lung injury， asthma， and infectious pneumonia are common pulmonary inflammatory diseases worldwide. There is evidence that mitochondria produce a large amount of reactive oxygen species （ROS） when stimulated by inflammation， leading to oxidative stress that affects the onset and progression of pulmonary inflammatory diseases. With in-depth research， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has made significant progress in the treatment of pulmonary inflammatory diseases. An increasing amount of evidence indicates that single TCM and their active components， as well as TCM compound formulas， can improve mitochondrial oxidative stress status through multi-target and multi-pathway mechanisms， thereby effectively treating pulmonary inflammatory diseases. Currently， there is a lack of systematic review and summary of TCM research in this field both domestically and internationally. Therefore， this article aims to summarize and conclude the mechanisms by which TCM regulates mitochondrial oxidative stress to intervene in pulmonary inflammatory diseases， providing a scientific basis for its clinical application and offering new ideas and references for in-depth research on the prevention and treatment of pulmonary inflammatory diseases with TCM.