Songbirds and humans both rely critically on auditory feedback for learning and maintaining accurate vocalizations. During vocal learning, juvenile songbirds learn to sing by using auditory feedback to match their variable song patterns to a memorized tutor model. During song maintaining, adult songbirds monitor the integrality and accuracy of its song on-line according to auditory feedback. This form of learning requires auditory-vocal integration. The output of songs and the information of auditory feedback are integrated in some areas of the bird's brain, and then direct next vocal activity. In recent years, the lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior neostriatum (LMAN) has been demonstrated that it is necessary for feedback-dependent song decrystallization, and LMAN neurons exhibit highly selective responses to auditory presentation of the bird's own song (BOS). Moreover, the discovery of mirror neurons in the high vocal centre (HVC) also provides a significant clue for further study in songbirds. Here the progress of auditory feedback and the plasticity of vocal learning in songbirds are reviewed in recent years.

Objective To compare the effects and cost of peripheral intravenous catheter (PIV) and peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) on very low birth weight infants (VLBWI).Methods From July 2013 to August 2015,95 VLBWI with PICC (PICC group) and 90 VLBWI with PIV (PIV group) admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Changzhi Maternal and Child Care Hospital were included in the analysis.The two groups were compared in body mass increase,average length of hospital stay,incidence of catheter-related complications,and care cost and effect.Results The body mass increase per weak was higher in the PICC group than in the PIV group,with statistically significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).The average length of hospital stay in the PICC group was shorter than that in the PIV group [(48.2 ± 5.2) d vs.(53.2 ± 8.1) d,P ＜ 0.05].The incidence of catheter-related complications was lower in the PICC group than in the PIV group (35.4％ vs.44.9％),including phlebitis (PICC group,21 person-times;PIV group,169 person-times),liquid leakage or exosmose (PICC group,2 person-times;PIV group,185 person-times),and catheter prolapse (PICC group,3 person-times;PIV group,145 person-times) with statistically significant differences (all P ＜ 0.05),and catheter blockage (PICC group,7 person-times;PIV group,84 person-times) and other complications such as venous embolism and infection (PICC group,1 person-time;PIV group,3 person-times) with no statistically significant differences (all P ＞ 0.05).The average monthly cost in the PICC group (1 951.5 yuan) was lower than that in the PIV group (2 008.5 yuan),and the cost of single insertion in the PICC group (1 691.5 yuan) was higher than that in the PIV group (129.9 yuan),the cost-effectiveness was better in the PICC group than in the PIV group (30.22 vs.36.45).Conclusions For VLBWI,PICC can reduce the times of venous puncture,the incidence of complications,and promote body mass increase.However,the monthly cost was similar between the two groups in this study,possibly because of the short-time of this study.The advantages in cost-effectiveness of PICC may become more prominent when the catheter dwelling time extends.

Treatment with the combination of Chinese herbs and cytotoxic chemotherapies showed a higher survival rate in clinical trials. In this report, the results demonstrated that the tanshinone II A, a key component of Salvia miltiorrhiza bunge, when it is combined with the cytotoxic drug cisplatin showed synergistic antitumor effects on human prostate cancer PC3 cells and LNCaP cells in vitro. Antiproliferative effects were detected with MTT assay. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometer. Protein expression was detected by Western blotting. The intracellular concentration of cisplatin was detected by high performance liquid chromatography. The results demonstrated that tanshinone II A significantly enhanced the antiproliferative effects of cisplatin on human prostate cancer PC3 cells and LNCaP cells with the increase of the intracellular concentration of cisplatin. These effects were correlated with cell cycle arrested at S phase and cell apoptosis. The apoptosis might be achieved through death receptor pathway and mitochondrial pathway. Furthermore, the Bcl-2 family members were also involved in this apoptotic process. Collectively, these results indicated that the combination of tanshinone II A and cisplatin had a better treatment effect in vitro not only on androgen-dependent LNCaP cells but also on androgen-independent PC3 cells.

This study is to investigate the antitumor activity of ophiopogonin B (OP-B). MTT assay, flow cytometric analysis, acridine orange staining, Lyso-Tracker Red staining and HeLa-GFP-LC3 transfect cells assay were used to detect the proliferation activity, apoptosis and autophagy of HeLa cells. The results showed that OP-B exerted potent antiproliferative activity on HeLa cells, the cell growth inhibition effect of OP-B was not due to apoptosis and OP-B could induce autophagy of HeLa cells. OP-B also induced the protein expression up-regulation of Beclin-1 and promoted LC3 I transformation LC3 II, which were representative proteins of autophagy. Furthermore, 3-MA, an inhibitor of autophagy, not only inhibited OP-B-mediated autophagy but also almost completely reversed the antiproliferative effect of OP-B, suggesting that the growth inhibition effect of OP-B was autophagy dependent. Western blotting demonstrated that OP-B inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt and its' downstream vital protein, such as mTOR and p70S6K. In addition, OP-B also induced the protein expression up-regulation of PTEN, which is a negative regulation protein for Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. However, OP-B did not affect the protein expression of total Akt. Collectively, the antitumor effects of OP-B were autophagy-dependent via repression Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Therefore, OP-B is a prospective inhibitor of Akt/mTOR and may be used as an alternative compound to treat cervical carcinoma.

Objective To explore the abnormally functional brain region in resting state in first-episode major depression disorder patients with function magnetic resonance imaging.Methods 51 patients diagnosed with first-episode major depression disorder according to DSM-Ⅳ and 50 gender-,age-,and education-matched healthy controls completed resting state fMRI scan.The severity of depression,and unpredicted homodynamic responses across the whole brain were analyzed using Hamilton depression scale,regional homogeneity and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation,respectively.Results Compared with control group,the right medial frontal gyms (BA6,MNI:3,-3,63,K=34) and left medial frontal gyrus(BA9,MNI:-9,36,30,K=10) (P＜0.001,uncorrected) in the case group showed higher regional homogeneity,with statistical significance.Compared with control group,right medial frontal gyrus (BA6,MNI:3,-3,63,K =35) and right posterior cingulated gyrus (BA31,MNI:3,-36,36,K =11) (P＜ 0.001,uncorrected)in the case group showed higher amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation,with statistical significance.Conclusion First-episode major depression disorder patients in resting state had several abnormally functional brain regions,which might be related to the pathological mechanism of depression disorder.

Objective To investigate the inhibitive effect of siRNA(small interfering RNA,siRNA) on the phosphodiesterase type 5(PDE5) in smooth muscle cells of human corpus cavernosum,and provide experimental groundwork for the gene therapy of erectile dysfunction (ED). Methods Small interfering RNAs targeting PDE5 gene were systhesized by using web design software provided by Ambion,there siRNAs and control siRNA were systhesized by Ambion. SiRNAs were transfected into smooth muscle cells of human corpus cavernosum by using siPORTTM Lipid reagent;down-regulation of PDE5 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR;the inhibitive effect of PDE5 was detected by Western Blotting. Results The results of RT-PCR indicated siRNA1、siRNA2 and siRNA3 made down-regulations of PDE5 mRNA expression in the transfected groups 58.2%、14.9% and 11.8%;the PDE5 expression decreased 70.5%、19.8% and 17.3%;however the expression did not have different in control siRNA and frank group. Conclusions The synthesized siRNAs in vitro were able to down-regulate the expression of PDE5.There were different capabilities of the specific siRNAs down-regulation.It was suggested that the siRNA technique provide not only an extremely powerful tool for the functional analysis of genome but also a new method for ED gene therapy.

Objective To retrospectively compare the image quality and radiation dose for coronary CT angiography obtained with a prospectively gated transverse (PGT) CT technique and a retrospectively gated helical (RGH) CT technique. Methods Coronary CT angiography obtained with 256-slice CT were retrospectively evaluated in 177 patients. The main branches of coronary arteries were divided into 9 segments. The image quality was evaluated with a four-point grading scale. The assessability of coronary artery segment, image quality score and radiation dose for prospective and retrospective CT angiography were compared with student t test. Results The PGT technique was used in 86 patients. The routine RGT technique was used in 91 patients. The percentage of assessable coronary artery segments was 98. 8% (765 of 774)with PGT technique versus 99. 6% (816 of 819) with RGH technique (t = 2. 51, P = 0. 01 ). In patients with heart rates under 75 beats per minute, the image quality of coronary artery branches was similar between PGT and RGH techniques (99. 8% versus 99. 7%, t = 1.90, P > 0. 05 ) . In patients with heart rates above 75 beats per minute, the image quality with RGH technique was better than that with PGT technique (99.0% versus 93. 6%, t = 3.57, P < 0. 05 ). Effective dose with prospective CT angiography was 60. 0% lower than that with retrospective CT angiography [ (4. 4 ± 0. 5 ) vs ( 10. 3 ± 1.5 ) mSv, t = 33.4,P <0. 05 ]. Conclusions Prospective CT angiography can reduce effective radiation dose obviously. The PGT technique offers the similar image quality with RGH technique in patients with heart rates under 75 beats per minute and RGH technique has better image quality in patients with heart rates above 75 beats per minute.

Objective:To understand the status of drinking water-borne endemic fluorosis in Henan Province, so as to provide scientific basis for improving prevention and control strategies.Methods:Ten counties (districts, referred to as counties) were selected from drinking water-borne endemic fluorosis areas of Henan Province in 2018. Three villages in each project county were selected according to the disease status of mild, moderate and severe conditions, and the operation status of water improvement projects, water fluoride content and dental fluorosis among children aged 8 to 12 years in each diseased village were monitored.Results:Totally 30 villages were surveyed, all of which were in the water improvement projects; a total of 25 water improvement projects were monitored, all of them were in normal operation, and the water fluoride exceeding standard rate was 28.00% (7/25), the qualified rate of water fluoride in the water improvement projects was 72.00% (18/25). Among them, 21 villages were in normal operation and the water fluoride in the water improvement projects met national standard. In which the detection rate of dental fluorosis among children aged 8 to 12 years was 36.71% (606/1 651), the index of dental fluorosis was 0.74, and the epidemic intensity was extremely mild. Water fluoride of water improvement projects in 9 villages exceeded the national standard, where the detection rate of dental fluorosis among children aged 8 to 12 years was 43.57% (261/599), the index of dental fluorosis was 0.78, and the epidemic intensity was extremely mild. The detection rate of dental fluorosis among children in the villages where the water fluoride of water improvement projects exceeded the national standard was higher than that in the villages where the water fluoride of water improvement projects met the national standard (χ 2=8.752, P < 0.01). Conclusions:The excessive fluorine content in the water of water improvement projects is still serious, and the epidemic is still severe. It is necessary to strengthen the scientific demonstration of the water improvement project construction and the project acceptance upon completion, so as to prevent unqualified projects from being put into use. We will carry out regular water quality monitoring and promptly rectify projects with water quality exceeding the standards.

Objective:To learn about the progress of prevention and control of drinking-water-borne endemic arsenic poisoning in Henan Province, and provide scientific basis for achieving the goal of eliminating high arsenic hazards as scheduled.Methods:From July to August 2019, in accordance with the requirements of the National Monitoring Program for Drinking-water-borne Endemic Arsenic Poisoning, a general survey was carried out in 26 high-arsenic villages in 6 counties of Henan Province to investigate the water improvement situation and the operation of water improvement projects, and the arsenic content in drinking water of households was measured, meanwhile, the arsenic poisoning status of permanent residents in high-arsenic villages was investigated.Results:All 26 villages with high arsenic content in the province had undergone water improvement, with a water improvement rate of 100.00%. A total of 18 water improvement projects were investigated in 26 high-arsenic villages, all of which were operating normally. Twenty-six water samples were collected, and the arsenic content in the household water was < 0.01 mg/L, which met the sanitary standards for drinking water. No patient of endemic arsenic poisoning was found during the survey.Conclusion:In Henan Province, the drinking-water-borne endemic arsenic poisoning has been effectively controlled, and the prevention and control achievements should continue to be consolidated in the future.

Objective:To understand the prevention and control progress of drinking water-borne endemic fluorosis in Henan Province, to evaluate the effects of prevention and control measures, and provide a basis for adjusting prevention and control strategies.Methods:In 2019, a general survey was conducted in all registered drinking water-borne endemic fluorosis villages in Henan Province to monitor the basic conditions of water improvement, the fluoride content of drinking water and the prevalence of dental fluorosis in children aged 8-12 years. The control compliance (water fluoride content qualified and the detection rate of dental fluorosis of children ≤30%) status of the villages was analyzed, and calculate the compliance rate.Results:A total of 17 504 drinking water-borne endemic fluorosis villages were monitored, among them, 17 352 villages with water improvement and 152 villages without water improvement, with a water improvement rate of 99.1%. Among the 3 685 water improvement projects constructed, 3 448 were in normal operation, and the normal operation rate was 93.6%. There were 13 526 villages with qualified drinking water fluoride content, and the qualified rate of water fluorine was 77.3%; the actual beneficiary population was 11 011 000, and the population benefit rate was 90.1%. The qualified rate of water fluoride in the villages with and without water improvement was 77.9% (13 512/17 352) and 9.2% (14/152), respectively; the qualified rate of water fluoride in the villages with water improvement was significantly higher than that in the villages without water improvement (χ 2=400.58, P < 0.05). A total of 498 527 children of 8 to 12 years old were examined, 68 972 cases of dental fluorosis were detected, the detection rate of dental fluorosis was 13.84%, and the dental fluorosis index was 0.3. The number of villages meeting the control standard was 12 488, and the compliance rate was 71.3%. Conclusions:In Henan Province, the water improvement projects in the drinking water-borne endemic fluorosis areas have been basically implemented, and the disease has been effectively controlled. However, there is still a certain gap with the target of the "13th Five-Year Plan on National Prevention and Control of Endemic Diseases", and timely rectification is needed to ensure the effectiveness of the water improvement projects.