Objective To explore the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the improve?ment of depressive behavior and the hippocampus brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in chronic stress-induced depression rats. To further investigate the possible molecular mechanism of rTMS treatment for depres?sion. Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into the blank control group (n=8) and the stress-induced group (n=30). Singly housing and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) were used to induce the depression model in stress-induced group. Twenty-four model rats were divided into three groups:model group (with no further treatment), rTMS group (receiving 10 Hz rTMS intervention for 3 weeks) and shame group (receiving pseudo TMS treatments for 3 weeks). Weight measurement, sucrose consumption test and open-field test were used to assess the behavior changes. The rat hippocampal CA3 area of BDNF positive staining cell number and expression levels of BDNF mRNA in hippocampus were examined after intervention. Results The weight reduction rate, score of sucrose consump?tion test and the score of open field test were significantly higher in rTMS group than in model group (P<0.05). The num? ber of BDNF staining positive cells in the hippocampal CA3 area was lower in model group and shame group than in the blank control group whereas was higher in the rTMS group than in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the BDNF mRNA relative expression was significantly increased in the hippocampus of rTMS group (P<0.01). Conclusion rTMS can improve depressive behaviors of CUMS rats probably through the increase in expression of BDNF in the hippocampal neurons and neuronal regeneration.

Objective To investigate the effects of low dosage of β-elemene on the radiosensitivity of rabbit VX2 renal transplant carcinoma model. Methods We took the rabbit VX2 renal transplant carcinoma as the model. Experimental rabbits were divided into three groups: the control group, the radiation group, and the radiation +β-elemene (radiosensitivity) group. The change of tumor was observed by Spiral CT and B ultrasound to compare its regrowth period. The tumor was measured by light microscopy and electron microscopy. Results The tumor in radiosensitivity group was restrained obviously and the sensitization enhancement ratio (SER) of β-elemene was 1.89. Different apoptosis was observed under transmission electron microscopy. Conclusion Low dosage β-elemene can enhance the radiosensitivity of rabbit VX2 renal transplant carcinoma model and induce the apoptosis of tumor cells, but the mechanism needs further study. It promotes apoptosis in mechanisms in vitro.

Objective:To explore the application value of ultrasonic layer-specific strain technology in evaluating left ventricular systolic function in young male strength athletes.Methods:In October 2018, 30 professional young male wrestlers from Henan Provincial Heavy Sports Management Center (athlete group) and 30 healthy young males matched with age (control group) were randomly selected.Using traditional echocardiography combined with stratified strain technique, heart rate (HR), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVDd), interventricular septal thickness on diastole(IVSTd), postwall thickness on diastole (PWTd), relative wall thickness (RWT), end diastolic volume index(EDVI), end systolic volume index (ESVI), ejection fraction (LVEF), stroke volume index (SVI), cardiac index (CI), spherical index (SPI), endocardial myocardial global longitudinal strain(GLSendo), mid-myocardial global longitudinal strain(GLSmid), epicardial myocardial global longitudinal strain(GLSepi), peak strain dispersion(PSD) and whole myocardial longitudinal strain cross-wall difference (ΔLS) were measured respectively. The differences between the two sets of data were analyzed.ROC curves were plotted to analyze and compare the stratified strain parameters performance to predict left ventricular systolic function or synchrony in athletes.Results:The values of LVDd, PWTd, IVSTd, RWT, SPI, EDVI, ESVI and SVI in athelete group were higher than those of the control group. And the values of HR, GLSendo, GLSmid, GLSepi and ΔLS were lower than those of the control group.The differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in LVEF, CI and PSD between the two groups (all P>0.05). The areas under the ROC curve of GLSendo, GLSmid and GLSepi for athletes′ left ventricular systolic function were 0.753, 0.747 and 0.726, respectively, and the optimal cut-off values were -22.34%, -19.95%, -17.35%, respectively. Conclusions:Long-term high-intensity exercise can lead to subclinical changes in left ventricular systolic function, and ultrasonic layer-specific strain technology can more accurately and specifically evaluate left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Among the GLS parameters, GLSendo is the optimal parameter for testing the left ventricular systolic function of athletes.

Objective:To explore the influencing factors of continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT)after heart transplantation(HT).Methods:For this retrospective cohort study, the relevant clinical data were retrospectively reviewed for 145 recipients undergoing HT at No.7 Municipal People's Hospital from April 2018 to December 2022.They were assigned into two groups of non-CRRT(n=124)and CRRT(n=21). And t, χ2or rank-sum test was utilized for comparing baseline data, intraoperative and postoperative general conditions of two groups.Variables with P<0.05 in univariate analysis and significant indicators in previous studies were included in multivariate logistic regression analysis to analyze the influencing factors of CRRT post-HT.Receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)was utilized for selecting the optimal predictive cut-off value. Results:Among them, 66 cases(45.52%)developed AKI and 21(14.48%)required CRRT.Through univariate analysis, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR), erythrocyte count, platelet, hemoglobin, total bilirubin, intraoperative volume of blood loss, volume of blood transfusion, urine volume, operative duration, cardiopulmonary bypass time, postoperative mechanical ventilation time, ICU stay and postoperative acute kidney injury were compared.The inter-group differences were statistically significant( P<0.05). Further multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that preoperative hemoglobin level( OR=0.869, 95% CI: 0.770-0.980, P=0.022), preoperative platelet count( OR=0.959, 95% CI: 0.925-0.993, P=0.019), intraoperative volume of hemorrhage( OR=1.004, 95% CI: 1.000-1.009, P=0.049), intraoperative urine volume( OR=0.997, 95% CI: 0.993-1.000, P=0.035), operative duration( OR=1.022, 95% CI: 1.000-1.044, P=0.047)and mechanical ventilation time( OR=1.036, 95% CI: 1.005-1.069, P=0.024)were the independent influencing factors of CRRT post-HT.ROC curve results indicated that area under curve(AUC)of operative duration, mechanical ventilation time and intraoperative volume of hemorrhage were 0.745(95% CI: 0.636-0.855), 0.835(95% CI: 0.735-0.934)and 0.669(95% CI: 0.506-0.830)with a sensitivity of 0.714, 0.857, 0.571 and a specificity of 0.710, 0.685, 0.895.And the cut-off values were 283.5 min, 25.46 h and 825 ml respectively. Conclusions:Hemoglobin level, preoperative platelet count, intraoperative volume of hemorrhage, urine volume, operative duration, mechanical ventilation time and intraoperative urine volume are independent influencing factors of CRRT post-HT.Operative duration >283 min, mechanical ventilation time >25.46 h and intraoperative volume of hemorrhage >825 ml have some predictive values for CRRT post-HT.

Objective To investigate the biochemical and routine blood parameters in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein blood thrombus (PVBT) or portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT), as well as the expression level and clinical significance of inflammatory indices in patients with different types of PVBT. Methods A total of 51 HCC patients with PVBT and 37 HCC patients with PVTT who were diagnosed and treated in The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2016 to December 2020 were enrolled as PVBT group and PVTT group, respectively, and 50 HCC patients without portal vein thrombosis who were hospitalized during the same period of time were enrolled as control group. General clinical data and laboratory test results were collected from the three groups. The chi-square test or the Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups; a one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups, and the Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to investigate the expression levels of albumin (Alb), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the PVBT group and the PVTT group, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated to analyze their value in predicting different types of thrombosis. Results There were no significant differences in general data and conventional biochemical parameters between the three groups (all P > 0.05), while there were significant differences in the inflammatory indices Alb, CRP, ESR, and IL-6 between the three groups ( H =10.207, 24.465, 8.917, and 37.584, P =0.006, P < 0.001, P =0.012, and P < 0.001), and further analysis between two groups showed that the PVTT group had a significantly lower level of Alb and significantly higher levels of CRP, ESR, and IL-6 than the PVBT group and the control group, and the PVBT group had significantly higher levels of CRP and IL-6 than the control group (all P < 0.05). The ROC curve analysis showed that Alb, CRP, ESR, and IL-6 had an AUC of 0.659, 0.826, 0.679, and 0.873, respectively, in the PVTT group, as well as an AUC of 0.508, 0.635, 0.503, and 0.701, respectively, in the PVBT group. Conclusion HCC patients with PVTT tend to have high expression levels of the inflammatory indices IL-6, CRP, and ESR and a low expression level of Alb, and their predictive value decreases successively, while HCC patients with PVBT tend to have relatively low expression levels IL-6, CRP, and ESR and a relatively high expression level of Alb. IL-6 and CRP have a certain value in predicting PVBT, while ESR and ALB have little predictive value.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between ambient fine particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and the risk on preterm birth.

METHODSA total of 1 882 pregnant women with local residency of Taiyuan city and underwent delivery at the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University with the dates of conception between January 1 and December 31, 2013, were enrolled in the study. Information on general demographics, home address and history on pregnancy, lifestyle and related environmental factors were collected through in-person interview. Birth outcomes and maternal complications were abstracted from medical records. Data on the amount of daily average PM2.5 from 8 monitor points in Taiyuan city, between March 1, 2012 and December 31, 2013 were also collected. Individual exposure during pregnancy were calculated using the inverse-distance weighting method, based on home address. Multivariate unconditional logistic regression model was used to examine the associations among PM2.5 exposure, risk of preterm birth and related clinical subtypes.

RESULTSThe overall incidence of preterm birth was 8.21% (151/1 839)in 1 839 pregnant women. Exposure to ambient PM2.5 during the second week prior to delivery was associated with an increased risk of preterm birth (OR=1.087, 95% CI: 1.001-1.182 per 10 μg/m(3) increase) and mild preterm birth (OR=1.099, 95% CI: 1.007-1.200 per 10 μg/m(3)). Compared to data from the China Environmental Air Quality Standard, higher level of exposure (≥75 μg/m(3)) of PM2.5 during the second week before delivery was associated with an increased risk of preterm birth (OR=1.008, 95%CI: 1.000-1.017) but the association was mainly seen for mild preterm birth (OR=1.010, 95%CI: 1.001-1.018).

CONCLUSIONSRESULTS from our study showed that exposure to high level of PM2.5 during late pregnancy would increase the risk of preterm birth. Future large studies are needed to examine the association by preterm clinical subtypes and to elucidate potential underlying mechanisms.

China ; epidemiology ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Logistic Models ; Maternal Exposure ; Particle Size ; Particulate Matter ; analysis ; toxicity ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Premature Birth ; chemically induced ; epidemiology ; Public Health ; statistics & numerical data