OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of relaxing needling at the contracted sites of meridian-muscle regions in the patients with post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome (SHS) at acute stage. METHODS: Eighty patients with post-stroke SHS at acute stage were randomized into an observation group (40 cases, 1 case dropped out) and a control group (40 cases, 1 case was eliminated). In the control group, the routine medication, basic rehabilitation training, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy were administered. In the observation group, besides the treatment as the control group, relaxing needling was delivered at the contracted sites of meridian-muscle regions. These contracted sites were distributed along three yin meridians of hand and three yang meridians of hand on the affected upper limbs. The intervention was given once daily, 5 times a week and for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the scores of visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, edema degree, modified Barthel index (MBI), and Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) for motor function, and the integrated electromyography (iEMG) of surface electromyogram (sEMG) were observed in the two groups. The curative effect was evaluated after treatment and in follow-up of 2 months after treatment in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, VAS scores and the scores of edema degree were reduced when compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and the scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). MBI and FMA scores increased after treatment compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and the scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05) after treatment. The iEMG values of the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, and wrist extensors were elevated after treatment in comparison with those before treatment (P<0.05) in the two groups, and the values in the observation group were larger than those in the control group after treatment (P<0.05). The total clinical effective rate in the observation group was 92.3% (36/39), which was better than that of the control group (74.4%, 29/39, P<0.05) after treatment; and that of the observation group was 97.4% (38/39), which was better than 82.1% (32/39) in the control group (P<0.05) in follow-up. CONCLUSION Relaxing needling at the contracted sites of meridian-muscle regions in treatment of post-stroke SHS at acute stage can attenuate the symptoms such as upper limb pain, swelling and spasm, improve motor function and the activity of daily living of patients.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Meridians ; Stroke/complications* ; Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/etiology* ; Adult ; Acupuncture Points

AIM:The objective of this study is to examine the expression of profilin 1(PFN1)in mice with di-abetic nephropathy and determine its association with immune cell infiltration.METHODS:This study presents an analy-sis of PFN1 expression and immune cell infiltration in patients with diabetic nephropathy,utilizing transcriptome expres-sion data from kidney tissue microarray.Additionally,the findings were validated in a diabetic nephropathy mouse model.Sixteen C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into two groups,namely the normal group and the model group,in an equal manner.The model group underwent the establishment of the diabetic nephropathy model through intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin.Subsequently,the expression levels of CD11b,F4/80,CC chemokine receptor 4(CCR4),interleukin-1 receptor type I(IL-1R1),B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax)and caspase-3 in kidney tissue were assessed upon successful establishment of the diabetic nephropathy model.Furthermore,the overexpression of PFN1 was observed in a cellular model of diabetic nephropathy,and the protein expression levels of monocyte chemotactic pro-tein-1(MCP-1)and caspase-3 were assessed.RESULTS:The expression of PFN1 was found to be significantly in-creased in the GSE30122 dataset of transcriptome expression in kidney tissues affected by diabetic nephropathy(P＜0.01).This increase in PFN1 expression was found to be correlated with the presence of macrophages and T cells.Fur-thermore,the renal tissue of the diabetic nephropathy model group exhibited significant pathological changes.In this mod-el group,the expression levels of PFN1,CD11b,F4/80,CCR4,IL-1R1,Bax,Bcl-2,and caspase-3 were all significant-ly increased(P＜0.01).Overexpression of PFN1 could enhance the expression of MCP-1 and caspase-3 proteins.CON-CLUSION:Macrophages and Th17 cells were identified within the renal tissue of mice with diabetic nephropathy,con-comitant with an up-regulation in the expression of PFN1.This up-regulation was observed to facilitate the induction of apoptosis in the context of diabetic nephropathy.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of metaphyseal expansion and non-expansion when using proximal femoral nail antirotation（PFNA）in the treatment of severe osteoporotic intertrochanteric fracture in the elderly.Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 66 elderly patients with severe osteoporotic intertrochanteric fracture admitted to Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2019 to January 2020, including 49 males and 17 females. The age ranged from 75 to 89 years［（80.9±3.3）years］. The AO types of fractures were 31-A1 in 23 patients, 31-A2 in 22 and 31-A3 in 21. A total of 34 patients were stabilized by the PFNA technique with metaphyseal expansion（metaphyseal expansion group）and 32 patients received PFNA fixation without metaphyseal expansion（metaphyseal non-expansion group）. The total blood loss, hidden blood loss, intraoperative blood loss, dominant blood loss, postoperative drainage, transfusion volume, transfusion rate, operation time, hospital stay and fracture healing time were compared between the two groups. The hip functional recovery was assessed by Harris hip score at 1, 3, 6 months postoperatively and at the last follow-up. The incidence of complications was observed.Results:All patients were followed up for 12-17 months［（13.5±1.1）months］. The total blood loss, hidden blood loss, intraoperative blood loss, dominant blood loss, postoperative drainage in metaphyseal expansion group were（976.3±210.1）ml,（712.4±224.4）ml,（139.4±21.0）ml,（263.8±36.3）ml,（124.4±29.5）ml respectively, significantly higher than those in metaphyseal non-expansion group［（799.0±119.5）ml,（603.0±136.4）ml,（94.1±18.8）ml,（195.9±35.4）ml,（101.9±27.5）ml］（ P<0.05）. The transfusion volume［2（0, 2）U］and transfusion rate［53%（18/34）］in metaphyseal expansion group ware increased compared to metaphyseal non-expansion group［0（0, 1.5）U, 25%（8/32）］（ P<0.05）. There were no significant differences in operation time, hospital stay, fracture healing time or hip Harris score at 1, 3, 6 months after surgery and the last follow-up between the two groups（ P>0.05）. No wedge-shaped distraction deformity, fracture nonunion, femoral head necrosis, wound infection, pulmonary embolism or fat embolism occurred in both groups. There was no significant difference in the incidence of iatrogenic lateral wall fracture, lower limb venous thrombosis or postoperative medical complications between the two groups（ P>0.05）. Conclusion:For elderly patients with severe osteoporotic intertrochanteric fracture, both PFNA with metaphyseal expansion and non-expansion can achieve satisfactory results, while the metaphyseal non-expansion is superior in perioperative blood loss and transfusion rate.

Objective To observe the curative effect of oseltamivir combined with Lingjiaowuhutang in children with influenza. Methods One hundred and twenty cases of children with influenza were selected from November 2017 to December 2017 and they were divided into two groups, each with 60 cases. The patients in western medicine group were treated with oseltamivir alone , those in Chinese traditional medicine combined with western medicine group were treated with oseltamivir and Lingjiaowuhutang. The efficacy and duration of fever and cough were was compared between two groups. Results Thirty-three patients were confirmed influenza A and 87 patients were confirmed influenza B. The total effective rate in Chinese traditional medicine combined with western medicine group was significantly higher than that in western medicine group: 96.7% (58/60) vs. 86.7%(52/60), χ2= 3.927, P < 0.05. The duration of fever and cough in Chinese traditional medicine combined with western medicine group was significantly shorter than those in western medicine group: (30.18 ± 6.22) h vs. (36.24 ± 13.46) h, (120.18 ± 21.45) h vs. (143.14 ± 33.26) h, P < 0.05. Conclusions Oseltamivir combined with Lingjiaowuhutang in children with influenza has better efficacy and can shorten duration of disease. It is worthy of clinical application.

Aim To explore the effects of hydrocortisone on intracellular calcium in microglial cells.Methods The intracellular calcium was measured by instantaneous scanning with confocal laser microscope(CLM) in BV-2 cells, and fluo3-AM was used to dye the intracellular calcium.Results Both hydrocortisone and nicotine could obviously increase intracellular calcium in BV-2 cells(P<0.05).It was indicated by instantaneous scanning with CLM that hydrocortisone induced the rising of intracellular calcium immediately, and reached the peak about at the fifteenth second, and sustained for 10 seconds, then declined to baseline at 200th second.The effect of hydrocortisone on intracellular calcium exhibited a highly consistency with nicotine.Antagonist of glucocorticoid receptors RU486 could not abolish the rising of intracellular calcium induced by hydrocortisone(P>0.05);but the blocker of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor(α7nAChR) methyllycaconitine could suppress the rising of intracellular calcium induced by hydrocortisone(P<0.05).Conclusion Hydrocortisone enhances intracellular calcium via α7nAChR in microglial cells, which not only demonstrates the non-genomic effect of glucocorticoid, but also suggests that glucocorticoid could serve as endogenous ligand of α7nAChR.

Objective To analyze the bone metabolism in hospitalized patients with Graves disease and the changes after 131I therapy.Methods The differences of bone metabolism were analyzed between 315 patients with Graves disease and 300 normal controls in a case-control study.The changes in bone turnover markers and BMD levels before and one year after 131I therapy were observed in 60 patients.Results Compared to normal control,bone turnover markers were markly higher and BMD levels were lower in patients with Graves disease.The level of thyroid hormones were positively related to bone turnover markers,while negatively related to total hip BMD (Z-score).But there was no linear relationship with lumbarand femoral neck BMD (Z-score).After one year of 131I therapy,bone turnover markers were markly lower than that before treatment,while BMD levels were partly higher than that before treatment.Conclusions In Graves disease patients,bone turnover markers were generally increased,while BMD levels decreased compared with normal people.After 131I therapy,along with the improvement of thyrotoxicosis,the high bone turnover rate can be suppressed,and BMD can partly recover.

Children without company of parents in pediatric intensive care unit,often irritable crying,injured,or scratching themselves,pulling in all kinds of wire and/or catheter on the body,and even adverse events,such as dropping of bed.To ensure the safety of the children,we invent a multifunctional strait-jacket,and it is applied in clinic in order to solve the above problems.The structure of this strait-jacket is open,easy to install wire and all kinds of operation;shoulder,cuff with button loops fix bed guardrail by a rope,to prevent the roll shift;cuff with double fold gloves can avoid scratch the skin,remove the line,having the effect of palm warm;waist adding two constraints,not improving constraints on the waist but abdomen to keep warm.By clinical application,this strait-jacket improves the comfort of the constraint,can prevent the occurrence of complications due to improper constraints,such as skin abrasions,physical damage,blood circulation obstacle,alleviate the pain for the children.

Aim To study the effect of activating Sonic hedgehog( Shh) pathway on the function of endothelial progenitor cells ( EPCs ) in type 1 diabetic mice. Methods EPCs were isolated and cultured by density gradient method from diabetic mice. The effects of Shh N-terminal peptide and agonist SAG on EPCs prolifera-tion were evaluated by using the MTT colorimetric as-say. EPCs migration was measured by Transwell meth-od. EPCs tube formation ability was estimated by Matrigel . EPCs senescence activity was determined by β-galactosidase staining. Results Compared with control mice, the function of EPCs in type 1 diabetic mice was impaired. The proliferation, migration and tube formation of diabetic EPCs could be promoted by Shh peptide and agonist SAG. The senescence of dia-betic EPCs could be decreased by Shh peptide and ag-onist SAG. Conclusion Activating Shh signaling pathway can improve the impared function of diabetic EPCs in type 1 diabetic mice.

Objective To observe the changes of peripheral blood interleukin-2(IL-2) ,interleukin-4(IL-4) ,interleukin-10(IL-10) ,tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in chronic hepatitis B(CHB) patients with positive e-anti-gen(HBeAg) treated by Bushenqingtou Decoction .Methods 60 cases of CHB with positive HBeAg were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group ,30 cases in each group .The CHB treatment group received Bushenqingtou Decoction with the treatment course of 48 week ,while the CHB control group did not received the medication therapy .In the beginning and at 48 weeks of treatment ,the blood in the two CHB groups were collected for detecting HBV DNA ,IL-2 ,IL-4 ,IL-10 ,TNF-αand IFN-γ. Results Compared with before treatments ,the levels of IL-2 ,TNF-αand IFN-γafter treatments in the CHB treatment group were obviously increased ,while the levels of HBV DNA ,IL-4 and IL-10 were remarkably decreased (P<0 .01);however ,there were no statistical differences of the various indexes after the treatments in the CHB control group (P>0 .05) .Conclusion Bushenqingtou Decoction could inhibit the replication of HBV DNA in the CHB patients with positive HBeAg and improve the body immune func-tion .

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a member of FGF family. It has been demonstrated that FGF21 is an independent, safe and effective regulator of blood glucose levels in vivo. In order to improve the activity of FGF21, we exchanged the beta10-beta12 domain of the human FGF21 with that of the mouse FGF21 to construct a novel FGF21 gene (named hmFGF21), and then subcloned hmFGF21 gene into the SUMO expression vector to create pSUMO-hmFGF21 and transformed it into E. coli Rosetta for expression of the fusion protein SUMO-hmFGF21. Both in vitro and in vivo glucose regulation activity of hmFGF21 was evaluated. The SDS-PAGE result showed that compared with wild-type hFGF21, the soluble expression of hmFGF21 increased about 2-fold. HmFGF21 was more potent in stimulation of glucose uptake in HepG2 cells in vitro. The results of anti-diabetic effect on db/db mice demonstrated that hmFGF21 had better efficacy on controlling the blood glucose of the db/db diabetic animals than wild-type hFGF21. These results suggest that the biological properties of FGF21 are significantly improved by optimization.