Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of fire needling plus moxibustion in treating prurigo nodularis. Methods Ninety patients with prurigo nodularis were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 45 cases. The treatment group received fire needling plus moxibustion and the control group, external application of halometasone ointment. Skin lesions and pruritus were scored in the two groups before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups. Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the skin lesion score and the pruritus score in the two groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the skin lesion score and the pruritus score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.01). The total efficacy rate was 81.8% in the treatment group and 60.5% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Fire needling plus moxibustion is an effective way to treat prurigo nodularis.

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacies of fire acupuncture in treat various types of acne. Methods: An open test was designed. One thousand and eighty-six patients who visited for clinical service were collected as a sample. Results: The cure and marked effective rate was 78.5% for lung heat type, 80.8% for heat toxin type, 77.4% for disharmony of the Thoroughfare and Conception Vessels type and 80.1% for blood stasis and phlegm accumulation type. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in therapeutic effect between different types (P>0.05). Conclusion: Fire acupuncture has an exact therapeutic effect on various types of acne without toxic side effects.

This paper briefly introduces the working procedure of in vitro diagnostic products (IVD) industrial standards, and elaborates the importance of professional standards for production and supervision. Based on the analysis of working progress during the past 10 years, some problems and countermeasures on project setting, participation, standard material, personnel training, work cycle are put forward, which are helpful for the future development of the IVD.
Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures ; standards ; Humans ; Reference Standards

AIM:To observe the characterization in neural cells derived from the hippocampus of embryonic rats and to examine the effect of myelin-associated glycoprotein(MAG) on the proliferation,differentiation and neurite growth of neural stem cells(NSCs).METHODS:The hippocampus cells of embryonic rats were isolated and cultured in vitro.The expressions of nestin and doublecortin,the marks of NSCs,were observed by immunocytochemical method.The rate of proliferating cells was examined by BrdU immunocytochemistry.The average neuronal neurite length and the percentage of differentiated neurons were detected by immunocytochemistry staining.RESULTS:The hippocampus cells of 16 days old embryonic rats had the characteristics of NSCs.The percentage of differentiated neurons(?-tubulin Ⅲ-positive cells) was 18.17%?2.79% and the average neuronal neurite length was(136.27?33.66)?m,seven days after the differentiation initiated in vitro in control group.After NSCs were treated with MAG-Fc(200 ?g/L),the percentage of differentiated neurons and the average neurite length were decreased,respectively,to 10.05%?3.42%(P0.05).CONCLUSION:MAG-Fc inhibits the differentiation and neurite growth of the NSCs,but has no effect on the proliferation.

Background: and Purpose: Contrast enhancement of the oculomotor nerve in MRI was recently noticed in patients with clinical ischemic isolated oculomotor nerve palsy (iIONP). The opinions about whether this is a sign of inflammation and whether or not to administer steroids vary between doctors. The study aimed to determine the associations between this enhancement and vascular-disease risk factors (VRFs) and inflammatory factors in iIONP patients. Methods: The study recruited patients who had experienced iIONP during the previous 2 years. They were divided into groups A and B based on whether or not they exhibited an enhanced oculomotor nerve in MRI of the cavernous sinus using thin-section, fat-suppressed, and contrast-enhanced sequences. VRFs, inflammatory factors, and improvement scores were compared between the two groups. Results: Most (71.1%) of the 45 included iIONP patients had enhanced oculomotor nerves in MRI. VRFs, periorbital pain, elevated C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio were not significantly associated with the enhancement. Four of the five patients in group A exhibited an elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IgG synthesis rate. The improvement score of eight patients who received 80 mg of methylprednisolone in addition to the routine therapy was not significantly different from the scores of the other patients (p=0.485). Conclusions More than half of the iIONP patients had an enhanced oculomotor nerve in MRI. A few of them also had elevated CSF IgG synthesis rate, but no further evidence for inflammation was found. The administration of steroids seemed to have no benefit other than increasing the blood glucose level.

Objective To investigate the clinical outcomes of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for treatment of vertebral compression fractures in perimenpausal women.Methods A total of 53 perimenopausal patients (70 vertebrae) undergone PKP for vertebral compression fractures from January 2007 to May 2014 were analyzed retrospectively by case-control study.Thirty-six patients had single vertebral fractures and 17 two-level vertebral fractures.The fracture segments included 5 T11 vertebrae,14 T12 vertebrae,30 L1 vertebrae,12 L2 vertebrae and 9 L3 vertebrae.Ratio of vertebral compression was 10％-30％.According to treatment difference,the patients were divided into PKP group and non-operation group.In PKP group,there were 30 patients with age range of 44-54 years (mean,51.0 years),and the fracture segments included 13 T11 vertebrae,11 T12 vertebrae,17 L1 vertebrae,7 L2 vertebrae,3 L3 vertebrae.In non-operation group,there were 23 patients with age range of 44-54 years (mean,50.5 years),and the fracture segments included 2 T11 vertebrae,3 T12 vertebrae,13 L1 vertebrae,5 L2 vertebrae,6 L3 vertebrae.Visual analogue scale (VAS),Oswesty disability index (ODI),vertebral compression rate,Cobb angle and bone mineral density change were compared preoperatively,2 weeks,6 months and 3 years after operation.Results All patients were followed up for 6-36 months.VAS and ODI were improved compared with preoperative status in two groups at 2 weeks,6 months and 3 years (P ＜ 0.01).VAS and ODI in PKP group were significantly decreased at 2 weeks and 6 months compared with non-operation group (P ＜ 0.01).The Cobb angle and vertebral compression rate in non-operation group were improved at 6 months compared with those in preoperative status (P ＜ 0.05),and a consistent increase was noted at 3 years,but the difference was not statistically significant (P ＞ 0.05).The Cobb angle and vertebral compression rate in PKP group were reduced at 6 months compared with preoperative status (P ＜ 0.05),and an increase was noted at 3 years,but the difference was not statistically significant (P ＞ 0.05).The Cobb angle and vertebral compression rate in PKP group did not increase at 6 months and 3 years,but they had significant increase in non-operation group (P ＜ 0.05).The body mass index in non-operation group decreased at different degrees at 6 months and 3 years,compared with preoperative status (P ＜ 0.05),while the body mass index reduction in PKP group had no statistically significant difference (P ＞ 0.05).The body mass index reduction in PKP group was less than that in non-operation group at 3 years (P ＜0.01).The body mass index reduction in PKP group was slow and had no statistically significant difference compared with preoperative status (P ＞ 0.05).The body mass index reduction in non-operation group was fast and had significant decrease compared with preoperative status (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion PKP can relieve pain for vertebral compression fractures in perimenopausal women in short term and long term,and PKP can also improve spinal kyphosis and prohibit the decline of bone mineral density.

G protein-coupled receptors(GPCRs)represent the largest class of cell surface receptors,mediating wide range of cellular and physiological processes through their transducers,G proteins and the-arrestins participate in almost all pathological processes. Recent technological advances are revolutionizing the utility of cryo-electron microscopy(cryo-EM),leading to a tremendous progress in the structural studies of biological macromolecules and cryo-EM has played a leading role in the structural biology of GPCR signaling complex. New discoveries of high-resolution threedimensional structures of GPCR signaling complexes based on cryo-EM have emerged vigorously,which depict the common structural characteristics of intermolecular interaction between GPCR and G protein complex-the conformational changes of the transmembrane helix 6 of receptors,and also demonstrate the structural basis of G protein subtype selectivity. Single-particle cryo-EM becomes an efficient tool for identifying the molecular mechanism of receptor-ligand interaction,providing important information for understanding GPCR signaling and the structure-based drug design.
Cryoelectron Microscopy ; Protein Binding ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; chemistry

Objective:To investigate the effects of NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3) inflammasome activation on the proliferation, migration and extracellular matrix desposition of activated pancreatic stellate cells(PSCs).Methods:The rat PSCs were isolated, cultured and identified, and were divided into control group or LPS group based on the pretreatment with LPS (10 μg/ml for 24 hours) or without. The expression of NLRP3 inflammasome associated molecules in PSCs culture medium was detected by ELISA. The PSCs with NLRP3 inhibition were constructed by shRNA carrying lentivirus infection and were divided into LPS+ negative control group and LPS+ lentivirus group based on whether the cells were treated with LPS and infected by lentivirus or not. The alteration in cell proliferation and migration were detected by CCK-8 kit and transwell chamber method. The expression of extracellular matrix α-SMA and collagen in PSCs was detected by immunofluorescence staining and the expression of TGF-β mRNA was analyzed by RT-qPCR.Results:The cytoplasm of PSCs which were cultured for 24 hours was rich in bright annular lipid droplets, and the cells expressed desmin. After 7 days of culture, the cell became larger in size, the lipid droplets basically disappeared, and the cells were activated and expressed α-SMA. The expression of caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 in the supernatant of PSCs culture medium in LPS group were significantly higher than those in control group (1.55±0.04 vs 0.65±0.03), (2.02±0.04 vs 1.05±0.05) and (1.70±0.05 vs 0.97±0.03), respectively. After inhibiting by lentivirus infection, the expression of NLRP3 in the lentivirus group (0.25±0.04) was significantly lower than that in negative control group (0.68±0.05). In control group, LPS group, LPS+ negative control group and LPS+ lentivirus group, the A490 values was 0.61±0.02, 1.15±0.06, 0.96±0.05, and 0.56±0.01, respectively; the migrating PSCs number was (64.12±4.58), (121.67±8.02), (111.67±4.67) and (69.67±8.08)/HF, respectively; the relative expression of α-SMA was 0.78±0.05, 4.12±0.04, 3.81±0.06 and 0.88±0.05, respectively; the relative expression of collagen was 0.65±0.03, 3.43±0.02, 2.67±0.02 and 0.48±0.03, respectively; and the expression of TGF-β mRNA was 0.22±0.03, 0.89±0.01, 0.86±0.03 and 0.43±0.02, respectively. The A490 value, the migrating cells number, the expression of α-SMA, collagen and the expression of TGF-β mRNA in LPS group and LPS+ negative control group was significantly higher than those in control group and LPS+ lentivirus group, and all the differences were statistically significant (all P value <0.05). Conclusions:NLRP3 inflammasome activation may accelerate the extracellular matrix deposition and pancreatic fibrogenesis by promoting PSCs proliferation and migration ability via regulating the biological functions.

Objective:To investigate the application value of CT and MRI imageomics based on machine learning method in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.Methods:The clinical data of 62 patients with surgically resected and pathologically confirmed pancreatic cancer, who underwent enhanced CT scan, MRI plain or enhanced scan in Shanghai General Hospital between January 2014 and December 2021 were collected. According to the chronological order of surgery, 49 patients from January 2014 to December 2020 were enrolled in the training set and 13 patients from January 2021 to December 2021 were enrolled in the validation set. 3D-slicer 4.8.1 software was used to draw the region of interest in each layer of CT and MRI images for cancerous and paracancerous tissue segment. Image features were extracted by Python and the optimal feature set from the training set data was obtained by using Lasso regression model. The machine learning decision tree model was constructed. The receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC) curve was drawn, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the value of these three kinds of imageomics models in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.Results:The 1 767 CT features and 1 674 MRI features were obtained from enhanced CT scan, MRI plain scan and enhanced MRI scan, respectively. For the differential diagnosis model of cancerous tissue and paracancerous tissue, the enhanced CT scan data model obtained the optimal feature set involving 6 features, the MRI plain scan model obtained the optimal feature set involving 16 features, and the enhanced MRI scan model obtained the optimal feature set involving 15 features. The diagnostic model based on enhanced CT scan had an AUC of 0.98 in the training set and 1 in the verification group. The AUC of the MRI plain scan and enhanced MRI scan models in both the training set and the validation set was 1. The specificity and sensitivity of machine learning decision tree model based on the three kinds of imageomics models in the diagnosis of cancerous tissue and paracancerous tissue were 100%. For the differential diagnosis model of splenic artery wrapping, the enhanced CT scan model didn′t obtain the optimal features and had no diagnostic efficacy. The MRI plain scan model and enhanced MRI scan model obtained the optimal feature set involving 5 and 4 features, respectively. The AUC of the MRI plain scan model in the training set and the validation set were 0.862 and 0.750, respectively, with diagnostic sensitivity of 93.8% and 50.0%, and specificity of 78.6% and 100%, respectively. The AUC of the enhanced MRI scan model in the training set and the validation set were 0.950 and 0.861, respectively, with diagnostic sensitivity of 90.0% and 93.6%, and specificity of 100% and 78.6%, respectively.Conclusions:Based on the radiomics of CT enhanced, MRI plain scan and enhanced MRI scan, the machine learning diagnostic model has an accuracy of more than 90% in differentiating pancreatic cancer from paracancerous tissue. For the differentiation of splenic artery wrapping in pancreatic cancer, the diagnostic model based on enhanced MRI scan haS the best diagnostic efficiency.

Objective To study the relationship between bronchial asthma and smoking status in Chinese people.Methods Asthma epidemiological survey and stratified-cluster-random method survey were performed in residents over 14 years in 8 provinces (cities) of China from February 2010 to August 2012.Asthma was diagnosed based upon case history,clinical signs and lung function test.Smoking status was investigated by questionnaire.Results Sampling population was 180 099 and 164 215 were valid.A total of 2 034 subjects were diagnosed as asthma including 79 692 men and 84 523 women.The overall prevalence rate of asthma was 1.24％ (2 034/164 215).Smokers were 23.8％ (39 137/164 215) in the whole population.Smokers were 34.5％ (702/2 034) in asthmatic patients,compared with 23.7％ (38 435/ 162 181) in no-asthmatic population.The incidence of asthma was 1.79％ and 1.06％ in smokers and nonsmokers respectively (P ＜0.001),suggesting that OR of smoking was 1.70 (95％ CI 1.55-1.86,P ＜ 0.001).According to asthma control test (ACT) score,the level of asthma control in non smoking group was higher than that in smoking group(43.2％ vs 35.3％).The times of hospitalization due to acute exacerbations (0.51 vs 0.41 events/person/year),total hospitalization rate (27.35 ％ vs 20.12％),annual emergency room visits (0.80 vs 0.60 events/person/year) and emergency room visit rate (31.77％ vs 24.47％) were all much higher in smoking asthmatic patients than those in non smoking asthmatic patients,indicating that the level of asthma control in smoking patients was significantly worse than in non smoking patients.Conclusions The smoking rate in Chinese people over 14 years is still high.The prevalence rate of asthma in smokers is significantly higher than that of non-smokers.The level of asthma control in smokers is significantly worse than that in non smokers.