The α4β2-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is a ligand-gated ion channel that is distributed throughout the nervous system. It is involved in the regulation of various neurotransmitters including acetylcholine, dopamine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and norepinephrine. α4β2-nAChR plays an important role in learning, memory, cognition, attention, inflammation, and pain. A large number of studies have shown that α4β2-nAChR is an important therapeutic target for neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, depression, nicotine dependence, pain, etc. It is an important target in the early diagnosis and curative effect detection of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease. This review summarizes the role, mechanisms and related drug research advances on α4β2-nAChR ligand drugs in neurological diseases, as well as providing a theoretical basis for identifying and developing more suitable α4β2-nAChR-related compounds.

AIM:To report our precaution practices for ocular surgeries under local anesthesia during COVID-19 outbreak and evaluate the respiration situation among the patients with medical face masks under ocular surgeries.

METHODS:Sixty Chinese patients needed eye surgery treatment were recruited and given medical face masks as one of the COVID-19 precaution practices during eye surgery with local anesthesia. Oxygen supplementation and negative pressure drainage were applied to relieve the potential respiratory discomfort, and the respiratory comfort score was evaluated.

RESULTS:Patients with medical face masks experienced mild to moderate respiratory discomfort with an overall mean score of 2.34±0.73. Supplementation of oxygen together with negative pressure drainage relieved this discomfort(overall mean score of 0.15±0.75; P<0.001). There is no gender and operation time difference on respiratory discomfort or discomfort relieve. Failure in negative pressure drainage led to severe respiratory discomfort.

CONCLUSION:Negative pressure drainage could maintain the respiratory circulation in patients with medical face mask under eye surgery with local anesthesia. Application of medical face masks in patients under surgeries is recommended to protect the medical practitioners during the operations within COVID-19 outbreak.

Outbreaks of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) have occurred many times and caused serious health burden in China since 2008.Application of modem information technology to prediction and early response can be helpful for efficient HFMD prevention and control.A seasonal auto-regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model for time series analysis was designed in this study.Eighty-four-month (from January 2009 to December 2015) retrospective data obtained from the Chinese Information System for Disease Prevention and Control were subjected to ARIMA modeling.The coefficient of determination (R2),normalized Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) and Q-test P value were used to evaluate the goodness-of-fit of constructed models.Subsequently,the best-fitted ARIMA model was applied to predict the expected incidence of HFMD from January 2016 to December 2016.The best-fitted seasonal ARIMA model was identified as (1,0,1)(0,1,1)12,with the largest coefficient of determination (R2=0.743) and lowest normalized BIC (BIC=3.645) value.The residuals of the model also showed non-significant autocorrelations (PBox-Ljung (Q)=0.299).The predictions by the optimum ARIMA model adequately captured the pattern in the data and exhibited two peaks of activity over the forecast interval,including a major peak during April to June,and again a light peak for September to November.The ARIMA model proposed in this study can forecast HFMD incidence trend effectively,which could provide useful support for future HFMD prevention and control in the study area.Besides,further observations should be added continually into the modeling data set,and parameters of the models should be adjusted accordingly.

AIM To optimize the subcritical aqueous extraction for polysaccharides from the leaves of Punica granatum L.and to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity.METHODS With reaction pressure,solid-liquid ratio,extraction time and extraction temperature as influencing factors,yield of polysaccharides as an evalution index,the extraction was optimized by Box-Behnken method on the basis of single factor test.Then the scavenging effects of polysaccharides on hydroxyl free radical,superoxide anion and DPPH free radical were detected.RESULTS The optimal conditions were determined to be 5 MPa for reaction pressure,1 ∶ 27 for solid-liquid ratio,11 min for extraction time,and 155 ℃ for extraction temperature,the yield of polysaccharides was 1.809％.There was a dose-effect relationship between scavenging rate and polysaccharides' concentration.0.1 mg/mL Polysaccharides displayed the strongest scavenging effects on hydroxyl free radical,superoxide anion and DPPH free radical with the clearance rates of 57.36％,70.51％ and 58.02％,respectively.CONCLUSION This stable and reliable method can be used for the subcritical aqueous extraction for polysaccharides from P.granatum leaves with obvious in vitro antioxidant activity.

Objective To observe the expression of silent information regulator 1(SIRT1)in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma,and its relationship with invasion and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its effect on survival and prognosis.Methods The clinical and pathological data of 104 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent radical esophagectomy at the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January to December 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Immunohistochemical method (EnVision method) was used to detect the expression of SIRT1 in cancer tissues and adjacent tissues. The clinicopathological features of different SIRT1 expressions were compared. The factors affecting the prognosis of the patients with esophageal cancer were analyzed.Results The positive expression rate of SIRT1 protein was significantly higher in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues than that in adjacent tissues(61.54% vs. 29.81%, χ2=21.100, P<0.05). The expression of SIRT1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was significantly correlated with vascular infiltration(VI),infiltration depth(pT),lymph node metastasis(pN)and clinical stage(pTNM)(P<0.05).Univariate survival analysis showed that the overall survival time(OS)was significantly lower in patients with SIRT1 positive expression than that of patients with negative expression(Log-rank χ2=10.065,P<0.05).SIRT1 positive expression, lymph node metastasis,deep tumor infiltration,late clinical stage and vascular infiltration showed poor prognosis(P<0.05). Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that SIRT1 positive expression, lymph node metastasis, depth of invasion and clinical stage were independent prognostic factors for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The prognosis of patients with deep tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, late clinical stage and high expression of SIRT1 was worse. Conclusion SIRT1 is highly expressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and which is closely related to the invasion and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and has an effect on the prognosis of patients.

OBJECTIVETo study the maturation effect of CpG2006 and phosphodiester oligonucleotides on leukemia-derived dendritic cells.

METHODSLeukemia cells K562/A02 were induced into dendritic cells by rhGM-CSF and rhIL-4. After 7 days induction, the cell-morphology was observed, the immunophenotype of cells was detected by flow cytometry and the cell function was evaluated by allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions, CTL responses and secretion of IL-12 and IL-6. Then a CpG oligonucleotide CpG2006, two synthetic bacterial phosphodiester oligonucleotides A-ODN and T-ODN were added to these leukemia-derived DCs. Three days later, the DCs were re-detected by the above-mentioned methods.

RESULTSAfter induced by CpG2006, A-ODN or T-ODN, the leukemia-derived DCs with typical dendritic morphology were increased. The expressions of CD83, HLA-DR and CD86 were (65.5 +/- 8.4)%, (32.0 +/- 4.3)% and (18.6 +/- 3.2)% respectively in day 7 leukemia-derived DCs, raised to (88.9 +/- 3.6)%, (53.9 +/- 3.2)% and (39.9 +/- 7.3)% respectively after exposing CpG2006 for 3 days; increased to (97.0 +/- 5.3)%, (63.9 +/- 7.3)% and (40.2 +/- 7.4)% respectively after treated by A-ODN; and further increased to (93.26 +/- 4.65)%, (58.3 +/- 5.6)% and (36.2 +/- 6.8)% respectively after treated by T-ODN. These results was markedly different than unaffected cells did. These DCs induced by the above-mentioned three oligonucleotides could upregulate significantly the capacity for stimulating allogeneic T cells. They could also induce CTL to generate specific cytotoxic activity against K562/A02 cells. The secretion of IL-6 and IL-12 was increased remarkably.

CONCLUSIONCpG2006, as well as two phosphodiester oligonucleotides can induce leukemia-derived DCs maturation.

Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides ; pharmacology ; Oligonucleotides ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore and evaluate the feasibility, safety, radicality and the short-term outcome of minimally invasive esophagectomy versus open esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

METHODSFrom July 2007 to October 2009, 67 patients with esophageal cancer received minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE group), while 38 patients underwent conventional open esophagectomy (OE group: via right thorax, abdomen, left neck). The operative procedures, clinicopathological data and short-term outcome were collected and compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe clinical data of the two groups were comparable. No significant differences was found in demographics between the two groups. Median blood loss in MIE group was less than that in OE group (chest: 112.3 ml vs. 175.3 ml, P = 0.035, abdominal: 31.4 ml vs. 100.5 ml, P = 0.026). More patients in OE group were transferred to ICU (P = 0.042) and more obvious pain (P = 0.005). The rate of pulmonary infection and intestinal obstruction in OE group were higher than MIE group (P = 0.046 and 0.045). There were no differences in the number of lymph node dissection for two groups, the average was 20.9 and lymph node metastasis rate was 26.9% in MIE group. Mean follow up was (14.0 ± 2.2) months (range, 2 to 29 months). Recurrence rate and survival rate were no differences.

CONCLUSIONThe Minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer is feasible, safe, and reliable short-term effect, and can achieve radical tumor resection, which may lead to better future of surgical treatment for esophageal carcinoma.

Aged ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracoscopy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Rongshi granule on osteopontin(OPN) expression.

METHODThe urlisthiasis rats were induced by ethylene glycol (EG) and ammonium chloride, the control group rats were non-treated, and the Rongshi granule groups (low-dose group, middle-dose group and high-dose group) were administered Rongshi granule in addition to EG and ammonium chloride in 21 days. Pooled 24 h urine samples from each group were collected weekly with the use of metabolic cages, the concentration of uric calcium and oxalic acid were respectively measured by EDTA and photoelectric colorimetric method. Eight animals from each group were killed at 0, 7, 14, and 21 days, kidneys were histologic examinaed and immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTThe expression of kidney osteopontin in model group was obviously higher than that of control group (P <0.01), and was up to the highest at 21 days with 1.4 times (0.281 3/0.201 8) of the control group. The expression of kidney osteopontin in all of the Rongshi granule groups were lower than those of model group (P < 0.05), with an obvious dose-dependent manner. The degree of the kidney calcium oxalate crystal of the rats in all the Rongshi granule groups was much lower than that of model group, and the uric calcium and oxalic acid were much lower than those of model group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe Rongshi granule could inhibit the expression of osteopontin in rat urolithiasis model.

Ammonium Chloride ; Animals ; Calcium ; urine ; Calcium Oxalate ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ethylene Glycol ; Female ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Kidney Calculi ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Male ; Osteopontin ; metabolism ; Oxalic Acid ; urine ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Acupressure ; Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manipulation, Spinal ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Spondylosis ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical application value of 8.5/11.5 F transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of refractory hematospermia.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 78 cases of refractory hematospermia diagnosed and treated by 8.5/11.5 F transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy from June 2012 to June 2014. The patients underwent serum PSA examination, transrectal ultrasonography, seminal vesicle ultrasonography, and pelvis CT or MRI before surgery, and all received transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy under the 8.5/11.5 F rigid ureteroscope.

RESULTSOperations were all successfully accomplished, which revealed abnormal opening of the ejaculatory duct in 5 cases, mucosal inflammatory hyperemia in the prostatic utricle and seminal vesicle in 78, dark red mucilage substance in the seminal vesicle in 34, seminal vesicle stones in 19, small polyp in the seminal vesicle in 2, and ejaculatory duct or seminal vesicle cyst in 4. All the patients received symptomatic treatment during the surgery. After surgery, hematouria was found in 13 cases, which disappeared within 2 weeks, pelvic hematoma in 1 case, which was cured by conservative treatment within 3 months, and epididymitis in 2 cases, which was controlled by anti-infection treatment. Hematospermia recurred in 3 cases during the 1-year postoperative follow-up.

CONCLUSION8.5/11.5 F transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy, with its advantages of easy operation, wide field of vision, large channel for operation, and few complications, deserves general clinical application in the diagnosis and treatment of refractory hematospermia.

Calculi ; Ejaculatory Ducts ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Epididymitis ; etiology ; Hemospermia ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Postoperative Period ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seminal Vesicles ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Urethra