AIM: To observe the effect of stellate ganglion interruption combined with Xuefu Zhuyu Capsules on the residual post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) in the old. METHODS: 74 aged patients (55-87 years) suffering from residual PHN were selected and divided into two groups. and received stellate ganglion interruption (control group) and received stellate ganglion interruption combined with Xuefu Zhuyu Capsules (treatment group). The clinic effect was evaluated before and after treatment by visual analogue scale (VAS) and quality of sleep (QS). RESULTS: VAS and QS were 8.84?0.66 and 3.78?0.31, respectively, before treatment and there was significant reduction in VAS and QS after treatment in treatment group. CONCLUSION: The clinic effect of stellate ganglion interruption combined with Xuefu Zhuyu Capsules is efficient on relief from PHN and improvement of sleep quality.

Objective Pneumosilicosis is characterized by pulmonary fibrosis and cannot be effectively treated at present. This study was to explore the changes of monocyte subsets in the mouse model of silicon dioxide-induced experimental pneumosilicosis and the correlation of the changes with lung inflammatory injury and pulmonary fibrosis. Methods A total of 100 male C57BL/6J mice weighing 18-22 g were equally randomized into a normal saline (NS) group and a silicon dioxide (quartz) group.The model of experimental pneumosilicosis was established by oropharyngeal aspiration of quartz suspension.At 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after treat-ment, the mice were sacrificed and the proportions of different circulating monocyte subpopulations determined by flow cytometry.Dif-ferent types of inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BALF) were routinely counted.The inflammation score and col-lagen volume fraction ( CVF) of the lung tissue were obtained by HE and picrosirius red staining. Results At 7 days after quartz treatment, silicotic nodules were observed in the lung tissue.Compared with the NS controls, the model mice showed significantly in-creased inflammation score and CVF at 7 days (0.920 ±0.049 vs 1.400 ±0.089, P<0.01;0.525 ±0.048 vs 1.950 ±0.065, P<0.01) and 28 days (0.800 ±0.089 vs 1.520 ±0.136, P<0.01;0.850 ±0.050 sv 5.300 ±0.776, P<0.01).In comparison with the NS group, the quartz group also exhibited significant increases in the number of total cells at days 1-28 (P<0.01) and the count of neutrophils at days 1-14 (P<0.01) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of the model mice, as well as in the number of macrophages in the BALF at 3 days (0.980 ±0.663 vs 6.821 ±2.627, P<0.01), 7 days (1.225 ±0.601 vs 6.697 ±1.864, P<0.01), 14 days (1.492 ±0.438 vs 2.574 ±0.396, P<0.01), and 28 days (2.035 ±0.456 vs 3.249 ±0.492, P<0.01).The count of neutrophilic granulocytes in the BALF was remarkably higher in the quartz than in the NS group at 1, 3, 7, and 14 days (P<0.01) but not at 28 days (P>0.05).Compared with the NS controls, the quartz-treated mice showed markedly increased proportion of Ly6Chimonocytes at all time points, which peaked at 7 days (58.750 ±2.386 vs 78.300 ±2.517, P<0.01), with a positive corre-lation with the inflammation score (P<0.01) and CVF of the lung tissue (P<0.01) at 7 and 28 day. Conclusion The propor-tions of circulating Ly6Chi and Ly6Clo monocytes changed dynamically in the murine model of quartz-induced experimental pneumosilico-sis.The increased proportion of the Ly6Chi monocyte subpopulation might be closely related with lung inflammatory injury and pulmona-ry fibrosis in pneumosilicosis.

AIM: To establish a cell line of stable silencing of P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) expression through short hairpin RNA ( shRNA)-mediated interference in murine RAW264.7 macrophages, and to investigate the proliferation and apoptosis in the cell line.METHODS:Stable silencing of P2X7 R gene in the RAW264.7 cells was achieved by re-combinant shRNA plasmid targeting murine P2X7 R gene via liposome mediated transfection, followed by G418 selection. The efficacy of plasmid transfection and P2X7 R silencing in G418 resistant cells was verified by immunofluorescent micros-copy and real-time PCR, respectively.The proliferative activity was analyzed by CCK-8 assay and EdU cell proliferation as-say.The cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry.RESULTS:The expression of P2X7 R at mRNA and protein levels was down-regulated by 80% in shP2X7 R group compared with negative control ( NC) plasmid transfection.In addition, P2X7 R-silencing cells exhibited higher proliferative activity compared with NC and wild-type RAW264.7 cells (P<0.05).Compared with NC cells, P2X7R silencing resulted in an increase in the phagocytosis of the cells ( P<0.05) .CONCLUSION:A cell line RAW264.7 of stable silencing of P2X7 R expression was successfully es-tablished.P2X7 R gene silencing stimulates the proliferation, and changes phagocytic function in murine RAW264.7 macro-phages.

OBJECTIVETo screen the point mutation of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) gene in Chinese familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) patients, characterize the relationship between the genotype and the phenotype and discuss the molecular pathological mechanism of FH.

METHODSA patient with clinical phenotype of homozygous FH and her parents were investigated for mutations in the promoter and all eighteen exons of the LDL-R gene. Screening was carried out using Touch-down PCR and direct DNA sequencing; multiple alignment analysis by DNASIS 2.5 was used to find base alteration, and the LDL-R gene mutation database was searched to identify the alteration. In addition, the apolipoprotein B gene (apo B) was screened for known mutations (R3500Q) that cause familial defective apo B100 (FDB) by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

RESULTSTwo new heterozygous mutations in exons 4 and 9 of the LDL-R gene were identified in the proband (C122Y and T383I) as well as her parents. Both of the mutations have not been published in the LDL-R gene mutation database. No mutation of apo B100 (R3500Q) was observed.

CONCLUSIONTwo new mutations (C112Y and T383I) were found in the LDL-R gene, which may result in FH and may be particularly pathogenetic genotypes in Chinese people.

Adult ; Apolipoproteins B ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; China ; Female ; Heterozygote ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Receptors, LDL ; genetics

Background: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) strategies in COVID-19 patients differ from those in patients suffering from cardiogenic cardiac arrest. During CPR, both healthcare and non-healthcare workers who provide resuscitation are at risk of infection. The Working Group for Expert Consensus on Prevention and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Cardiac Arrest in COVID-19 has developed this Chinese Expert Consensus to guide clinical practice of CPR in COVID-19 patients. Main recommendations: 1) A medical team should be assigned to evaluate severe and critical COVID-19 for early monitoring of cardiac-arrest warning signs. 2) Psychological counseling and treatment are highly recommended, since sympathetic and vagal abnormalities induced by psychological stress from the COVID-19 pandemic can induce cardiac arrest. 3) Healthcare workers should wear personal protective equipment (PPE). 4) Mouth-to-mouth ventilation should be avoided on patients suspected of having or diagnosed with COVID-19. 5) Hands-only chest compression and mechanical chest compression are recommended. 6) Tracheal-intubation procedures should be optimized and tracheal-intubation strategies should be implemented early. 7) CPR should be provided for 20-30 min. 8) Various factors should be taken into consideration such as the interests of patients and family members, ethics, transmission risks, and laws and regulations governing infectious disease control. Changes in management: The following changes or modifications to CPR strategy in COVID-19 patients are proposed: 1) Healthcare workers should wear PPE. 2) Hands-only chest compression and mechanical chest compression can be implemented to reduce or avoid the spread of viruses by aerosols. 3) Both the benefits to patients and the risk of infection should be considered. 4) Hhealthcare workers should be fully aware of and trained in CPR strategies and procedures specifically for patients with COVID-19.