The choline acetyltransferase (CHAT) and the molecular forms of acetyl-cholinesterase (ACHE) activites in various brain regions of 20-day-old hypothyroid and hyper-thyroid rats were measured. The results provided the following information: 1) CHAT and ACHE activities were directly interrelated with thyroid hormones. 2) In both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid rats the nonextractable ACHE activity was distinctly decreased in every brain region, suggesting that both conditions were affected in the critical period of cholinergic synaptic development. 3) The ratio of membrane-bound ACHE to soluble ACHE decreased;it showed that thyroid hormone deficiency might distrub development and maturation of cholinergic neurons. 4) In most regions of the central nervous system,the CHAT seemed to be more affected than ACHE by thyroid hormones.

ObjectiveTo observe the effects and safety of early high-loading-dose clopidogrel in treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome.Methods178 patients with STEMI were divided into two groups randomly.96patients were treated with clopidogrel 600 mg immediately when they came to the hospital, and then were treated with clopidogrel 75mg daily for 1 year;82 patients were treated with clopidogrel 300mg immediately when they came to the hospital,and then were treated with clopidogrel 75mg daily for 1 year.The attacks of postinfarction angina pectoris,events of heart failure and the composite of death,reinfarction or stroke were observed.ResultsCompared with control group, the high-loading-dose group had obvious reduction in the attacks of postinfarction angina pectoris and the composite of death, reinfarction or stroke (all p ＜ O.05).There were no major and minor bleeding events in the two groups.ConclusionEarly treatment with high-loading-dose of clopidogrel in ACS could significantly improve its prognosis,and was safe and well tolerated.

OBJECTIVETo minimize of the radiation dose of cardiovascular CT angiography (CTA) imaging while preserving the image quality.

METHODSTo reduce the radiation dose in CTA imaging, the normal-dose scan induced non-local means (ndiNLM) algorithm was adapted for low-mAs scanned CTA image restoration by using the previous scanned high-quality image.

RESULTSQualitative and quantitative evaluations were carried out on both simulated phantom and clinical CTA scans in terms of accuracy and resolution properties. Compared to the original NLM algorithm, the ndiNLM method could achieve noticeable gains in terms of noise-induced artifacts suppression and enhanced structure preservation.

CONCLUSIONThe ndiNLM algorithm is a potential useful technique to reduce the radiation dose in CTA imaging.

Objective:To compare the expression of myeloid cell trigger receptor expressed on myoid cell 2 (TREM2) in different brain regions of tyrosine kinase binding protein(TYROBP) knockout mice and wild-type mice at different months of age, and to explore the relationship between TREM2, TYROBP and early onset Alzheimer's disease(EOAD).Methods:Healthy TYROBP gene knockout mice were divided into three groups according to the results of gene sequencing: the homozygous (TYROBP -/-) group, the heterozygous (TYROBP -/+ ) group, and the wild type (WT) group.Western blot and RT-qPCR were used to detect the expression of TREM2 in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of 2, 4 and 6 month old mice in the three groups and with 10 in each group at each time point. Results:(1) In the prefrontal cortex: Western blot and RT-qPCR results showed that compared with WT mice (2-month-old: (0.993±0.048), (1.654±0.033); 4-month-old: (0.503±0.019), (2.169±0.023); 6-month-old: (0.600±0.036), (1.468±0.057)), the levels of TREM2 protein and mRNA in 2-month-old TYROBP -/+ group ((0.746±0.062), (1.137±0.067)) and TYROBP -/- group ((0.661±0.028), (0.644±0.012)) were decreased.While in 4-month-old and 6-month-old TYROBP -/+ group (4-month-old: (1.140±0.006), (5.483±0.088); 6-month-old: (0.827±0.043), (3.020±0.082)) and TYROBP -/- group (4-month-old: (1.071±0.010), (3.012±0.150); 6-month-old: (0.627±0.026), (1.633±0.027)) were increased, especially in 4-month-old mice and the differences were statistically significant ( F=12.946, 134.445; 725.318, 289.202; 12.172, 202.791; all P<0.05). (2) In the hippocampus: Western blot results showed that compared with WT mice (2-month-old: (1.268±0.036); 4-month-old: (0.813±0.010); 6-month-old: (0.312±0.021)), the level of TREM2 protein in 2-month-old TYROBP -/+ group ((0.804±0.034)) and TYROBP -/- group ((0.534±0.020)) were decreased.While in 4-month-old and 6-month-old TYROBP -/+ group ((0.932±0.011); (0.769±0.031)) and TYROBP -/- group ((0.910±0.014); (0.609±0.018)) were increased, especially in 4-month-old mice and the differences were statistically significant ( F=142.807; 27.884; 94.067; all P<0.05). Conclusion:The expression level of TREM2 decreases in 2-month-old TYROBP gene knockout mice while increases in 4-month-old and 6-month-old TYROBP gene knockout mice.It is presumed that TREM2/TYROBP signal pathway participates in the pathological process of EOAD and plays different roles in different pathological stages of EOAD.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a common cerebral small vessel disease, mainly caused by β-amyloid deposition on the small vessels less than 200 μm in diameter in cortex and leptomeninges. CAA is a major cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in the elderly, especially lobar location. Early symptoms are insidious, and as the disease progress, they manifest as cerebral hemorrhage, cognitive decline, transient focal neurological episodes, cerebral infarction, epilepsy, headache, etc. MRI revealed that CAA is a disease in which bleeding and ischemia coexist, and even inflammation and immune responses are involved. MRI findings of CAA include cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral microbleeds, convexity subarachnoid hemorrhage and cortical superficial siderosis, cortical microinfarcts, CAA-associated inflammation, white matter hyperintensities, enlarged perivascular spaces, cerebral atrophy and lacune, etc. The same patient often has several of the above manifestations, and each manifestation has different specificity for the diagnosis of CAA. The rapid development of MRI technology has led to the improvement of the diagnostic level of CAA, and it is of great clinical significance to understand these imaging findings. This article reviews the MRI findings of sporadic CAA.

Objective To investigate the detection and clinical significance of Tp-e interval extension of sudden coro-nary death. Methods A total of 502 patients with coronary heart disease were selected, of which 46 patients with sud-den coronary death were assigned to the sudden death group and the other 456 patients were assigned to the survival group. The Tp-e, Tp-e/√RR , heart rate-corrected QT inverval (QTc) and left ventricular ejection fraction of the two groups were compared and the clinical significance of Tp-e interval extension for sudden coronary death was decided. Results Compared to the survival group, the sudden death group had significantly extended Tp-e, Tp-e/√RR and QTc(P<0.05);Compared to the survival group, the sudden death group had significantly reduced LVEF (P<0.05); Tp-e extension was positively correlated to sudden coronary death and QTc(P<0.05). Conclusion The Tp-e interval extended obviously in the patients with sudden coronary death and thus can serve as a predictive risk factor of sudden coronary death.

Objective:To explore the relationship of serum interleukin (IL) -9 and platelet-activating factor (PAF) levels with serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, disease severity and disease course in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) .Methods:A total of 60 patients with active CSU were collected from Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from March 2018 to March 2019 (active CSU group), and divided into mild group, moderate group and severe group according to 7-day urticaria activity score (UAS7). After 28-day standard antihistamine therapy, the patients whose condition became stable were included in the stable CSU group. During the same period, 30 health examinees were included in the healthy control group. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from the subjects in each group, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect serum levels of IL-9 and PAF, and immunoturbidimetric assay to detect the serum total IgE level. Correlations of serum IL-9 and PAF levels with serum total IgE levels, UAS7 scores and disease courses were analyzed in patients with CSU. One-way analysis of variance was used for comparisons among multiple groups, least significant difference- t test for multiple comparisons, and Pearson correlation analysis for correlation analysis. Results:Totally, 28 males and 32 females were included in the active CSU group, their age ranged from 11 to 68 years (34.68 ± 8.62 years), and the disease duration ranged from 2 months to 7 years (1.42 ± 0.41 years). In the healthy control group, 14 were males and 16 were females, and their age ranged from 10 to 70 years (35.06 ± 7.89 years). According to UAS7, 12, 26, and 22 patients were diagnosed with mild, moderate and severe CSU respectively, and 22 were included in the stable CSU group after standard treatment. The levels of serum IL-9, PAF and total IgE significantly differed among the active CSU group, stable CSU group and healthy control group (IL-9: 144.34 ± 23.19 vs. 109.25 ± 20.77 vs. 107.23 ± 19.23 pg/ml; PAF: 362.45 ± 51.45 vs. 223.18 ± 32.46 vs. 221.23 ± 28.38 pg/ml; total IgE: 168.12 ± 32.48 vs. 24.04 ± 7.04 vs. 21.76 ± 5.95 IU/ml; F = 38.80, 148.38, 499.12, respectively, all P < 0.001), and were significantly higher in the active CSU group than in the stable CSU group and healthy control group (all P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the stable CSU group and healthy control group (all P > 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the serum IL-9 and PAF levels were positively correlated with serum total IgE levels and UAS7 scores (all P < 0.05), but not correlated with the disease course (both P > 0.05) . Conclusion:Serum IL-9 and PAF levels in patients with active CSU were markedly elevated along with the increase in disease severity, and closely correlated with serum total IgE levels.

AIM:To investigate the effects of adipose-derived stem cells(ADSCs)with overexpression or si-lencing of long noncoding RNA(lncRNA)SNHG8 on the viability,migration,angiogenesis,and the expression of vasoac-tive factors in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs).METHODS:Identification of ADSCs derived from morbidly obese patients(O-ADSCs)was conducted using flow cytometry and induction of lipogenesis and osteogenesis.The expression of lncRNA SNHG8 in healthy human ADSCs(H-ADSCs)and O-ADSCs was detected by RT-qPCR.Tran-swell method was used to establish the indirect co-culture system of ADSCs and HUVECs for 48 h,and the cells were di-vided into O-ADSCs+HUVECs group,H-ADSCs+HUVECs group,and HUVECs alone group.The mRNA and protein ex-pression levels of angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ),endothelin-1(ET-1)and endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS)in HUVECs were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot.The lncRNA SNHG8 overexpression and silencing lentiviruses were con-structed and used to infect O-ADSCs.The indirect co-cultured ADSCs and HUVECs were divided into O-ADSCs-OE-SNHG8+ HUVECs group,O-ADSCs-OE-NC+HUVECs group,O-ADSCs-sh-SNHG8+HUVECs group,and O-ADSCs-sh-NC+HUVECs group.After co-culture for 48 h,the viability,migration and tubule formation of HUVECs were detected by CCK-8,scratch and angiogenesis assays,respectively.The mRNA and protein expression levels of Ang Ⅱ,ET-1 and eNOS in HU-VECs were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot,respectively.The nitrate reductase method was used to detect the con-tent of NO in HUVECs.RESULTS:(1)The cultured cells were identified as ADSCs.(2)Compared with H-ADSCs,ln-cRNA SNHG8 expression was significantly up-regulated in O-ADSCs(P<0.01).(3)Compared with H-ADSCs+HUVECs group and HUVECs group,the mRNA and protein expression levels of Ang Ⅱ and ET-1 in HUVECs in O-ADSCs+HU-VECs group were up-regulated(P<0.01).(4)Overexpression of lncRNA SNHG8 in O-ADSCs enhanced the viability,mi-gration and tube formation ability of HUVECs,up-regulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of Ang Ⅱ and ET-1,down-regulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of eNOS,and decreased the content of NO in HUVECs(P<0.05).However,silencing of lncRNA SNHG8 in O-ADSCs exerted opposite results(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:(1)The O-ADSCs can promote endothelial cell viability,migration and tubule formation through paracrine effects.(2)The O-ADSCs with overexpression of lncRNA SNHG8 promote the imbalance of diastolic and contractile factors secreted by endo-thelial cells,and induce the dysfunction of vascular endothelial cells.

Objective:To explore the correlation between serum levels of interleukin-9 (IL-9), platelet activating factor (PAF), total immunoglobulin E (IgE), interferon γ (IFN-γ), and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU).Methods:Sixty CSU active phase patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from March 2018 to March 2019 were selected and included in the CSU active phase group. Based on the 7-day Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7), they were divided into three groups: 15 mild group, 25 moderate group, and 20 severe group; And 19 patients who entered the quiescent phase of the disease after 28 days of standardized antihistamine treatment were included in the CSU quiescent phase group. Another 30 healthy subjects who participated in the physical examination at the same time at our hospital′s physical examination center were selected to be included in the healthy control group. 5 ml of fasting elbow vein blood was collected from CSU active and stationary patients, as well as healthy subjects. The serum levels of IL-9, PAF, total IgE, IFN-γ, and IL-4 were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pearson correlation test was used to analyze the correlation between serum IL-9, PAF levels and total IgE, IFN-γ, and IL-4 levels in CSU active patients.Results:The serum levels of IL-9, PAF, total IgE, and IL-4 in the CSU active phase group were higher than those in the CSU stationary phase group and healthy control group (all P<0.05), and the serum IFN-γ levels were lower than those in the CSU stationary phase group and healthy control group (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the levels of the above indicators between the healthy control group and the CSU stationary group (all P>0.05). The serum levels of IL-9, PAF, total IgE, and IL-4 in the severe group were significantly higher than those in the mild and moderate groups (all P<0.05), and the serum IFN-γ levels were significantly lower than those in the mild and moderate groups (all P<0.05); The serum levels of IL-9, PAF, total IgE, and IL-4 in the moderate group were significantly higher than those in the mild group (all P<0.05), and the serum IFN-γ levels were significantly lower than those in the mild group ( P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum IL-9 and PAF levels were positively correlated with serum total IgE and IL-4 levels in CSU active phase patients (IL-9: r=0.726, 0.870, PAF: r=0.788, 0.795, all P<0.01), and negatively correlated with serum IFN-γ levels (IL-9: r=-0.831, PAF: r=-0.816, all P<0.01). Conclusions:The serum levels of IL-9 and PAF in patients with active CSU are elevated and correlated with total IgE, IFN-γ, and IL-4 levels, suggesting that IL-9 and PAF may be related to the occurrence and development of CSU.

Tongue diagnosis is an indispensable objective basis for TCM diagnosis and treatment of epidemic diseases.To understand its application in an epidemic situation and to support in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases using traditional Chinese medicine,the tongue image APP was implemented in this study to monitor the tongue image features of patients with new coronavirus pneumonia.It has been discovered through practice that the tongue image APP enables medical professionals to objectively,conveniently,quickly,and flexibly collect the patient's tongue image.It has also been discovered through the analysis of the tongue image characteristic data that the tongue image APP can,to a certain extent,objectively reflect the general law of the tongue image characteristics of the new crown pneumonia.According to the tongue image data gathered by the Tongue Image APP,Xinguan pneumonia patients'tongues were typically red,their fur was typically white,yellow,or both white and yellow,and they had a greater amount of thick and greasy fur.Nevertheless,there are still several issues with the Tongue APP application that have been noted:①The consistency of tongue shape and coating was poor;for instance,the inconsistency rate between a thin and fat tongue was as high as 62.96%;②The tongue image analysis index in the APP is still mostly a qualitative index,and the degree of discriminating is insufficient.The results of this study demonstrate that the tongue image information of different ages,sexes,disease classifications,and onset times does not reflect obvious differences and certain rules.③The tongue image characteristic indexes gathered by the tongue image APP are insufficient and do not include information on glossiness of tongue image(such as dark tongue)and tongue state.To promote the adoption of the tongue image APP and better support the prevention and treatment of epidemic diseases by traditional Chinese medicine,we should fully integrate modern advanced science and technology,improve the short videos of tongue coating,quantification of qualitative indicators,comprehensive collection of tongue image characteristic indicators,etc.