BACKGROUND: Cell apoptosis and expression of related apoptotic gene are found in rats with acute cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of ganglioside on cell apoptosis in rats with acute cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.DESIGN: Randomized control animal experiment.SETTING: Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital of Jilin University.MATERIALS: The experiment was conducted in the Animal Laboratory of China-Japan Friendship Hospital of Jilin University at April 2002.Forty-eight healthy male Wistar rats aged 3-4 months with the body mass of (220±50) g were selected and randomly divided into ischemia-reperfusion group and ischemia-reperfusion + administration group (intraperitoneal injection of ganglioside GM-1 at 30 minutes before ischemia) with 24 rats in each group, and each group was subdivided into three groups according to the reperfusion time: 3-hour, 6-hour and 24-hour with 8 rats in each time-point.METHODS: ①Rat models of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion were established. ②Diphenylamine method was adopted to detect changes of DNA splitting rate in brain tissues at 3 hours,6 hours and 24 hours after cerebral ischemia.100 mg of cerebral cortex was made into 10% homogenate by adding into 0.9 mL of splitting fluid,which was then put in the centrifuge tube for repeated freezing and melting. The supernatant and deposit were collected.DNA splitting rate = supernatant absorption/(supernatant absorption + deposit absorption). ③Immunohistochemical method was used to study the expression of protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ) as well as changes of ganglioside after administration. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes of DNA splitting rate in cerebral cortex of rats as well as intensity of PKCδ expression.RESULTS: One rat in the normal saline control group died for exceeding anesthetization at the 6th hour of reperfusion, and 2 rats died at the 24th hour of reperfusion, which were supplemented respectively. With the time of reperfusion increasing, changes of DNA splitting rate significantly increased, which peaked at the 24th hour. The expression of PKCδ peaked at the 6th hour of reperfusion and gradually decreased. The DNA splitting rate and PKCδ expression were remarkably decreased at corresponding time-points in the ganglioside group.CONCLUSION: Ganglioside can inhibit cell apoptosis and reduce PKCδ expression after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion to protect cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND:Vertebral column resection is the frequently mentioned spinal orthopaedic concept. Due to the high requirement of the operation skil , difficulty and more complications, the previous studies have reported from different aspects, and many researchers have focused on the analysis of complications, that may be related with the procedure and manner. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the efficacy and complications of posterior vertebral column resection combined with titanium screw rod fixation for the treatment of severe spinal deformity. METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed 48 patients with severe spinal deformity who treated with posterior vertebral column resection and titanium screw rod fixation, with an average removal of 1.6 vertebral. The patients were fol owed-up for 15-64 months. The Cobb angle (coronal plane and sagittal plane) of the patients before treatment, after treatment and in the final fol ow-up was analyzed, and the relative complications of the surgery were analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The patients with spinal deformity were divided into five categories, included kyphoscoliosis (n=11), severe scoliosis (n=20), congenital spinal deformity (n=4), spherical kyphosis (n=3), and angular kyphosis (n=10). The average coronal plane deformity angle of the patients was corrected from 84° preoperation to 35° postoperation, with the total correction rate of 54%. The average sagittal plane deformity angle was corrected from 90° preoperation to 42° postoperation, and the sagittal plane Cobb angle was decreased for 48°. The mean operation time was 545 minutes (204-1 355 minutes), the intraoperative blood loss was 1 610 mL (50-8 244 mL), and the average blood loss was 65%. After treatment, 31 cases had complications, including 13 cases of intraoperative neurological dysfunction (observed through electrophysiological monitoring and wake), permanent neurological dysfunction did not occur after timely treatment. The posterior vertebral column resection and titanium screw rod fixation can obtain better effect in the treatment of severe spinal deformity, but the procedure has high complications and is difficult for operation.

Malaria is the one of major diseases which threatens people’s life in Africa. Out of humanitarianism, Chinese scientists has contributed to research of Artemisinin and ACTS more than 30 years, China provides long-term antimalaria assistance to Africa and gain great achievements. In Moheli, the island of Comoros, the antimalaria group used a new strategy which universal medication and proactive intervention. They established not only an effective antimalaria system and reporting system but also a local antimalaria team. Furthermore, they enhanced publicity and put mass protection and treatment into effect. Finally, they achieved significant result. In order to apply those successful experience to other countries in Africa, this paper summed up those experience and inspirations.

Malaria is the one of major diseases which threatens people’s life in Africa. Out of humanitarianism, Chinese scientists has contributed to research of Artemisinin and ACTS more than 30 years, China provides long-term antimalaria assistance to Africa and gain great achievements. In Moheli, the island of Comoros, the antimalaria group used a new strategy which universal medication and proactive intervention. They established not only an effective antimalaria system and reporting system but also a local antimalaria team. Furthermore, they enhanced publicity and put mass protection and treatment into effect. Finally, they achieved significant result. In order to apply those successful experience to other countries in Africa, this paper summed up those experience and inspirations.

Objective The aim was to screen the expression profiles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and explore the function of microRNA-301 a (miR-301 a). Methods Collected the tumor and adjacent normal tissues of 45 patients, who were diagnosed primary GIST. The expression profiles of tumor miRNAs in 5 of the 45 patients were obtained by microarray technology, and the abnormal expression levels of miRNAs in the remaining 40 patients were detected by Real Time-PCR as a validation experiment. Correlation analysis was analyzed between the significantly up-regulated expression of miR-301 a and the clinicopathological features of the patients. The MTT experiment was used to explore the effect of miR-301 a on the growth of GIST cell lines. Results Five kinds of miRNAs with high expression and five kinds of miRNAs with low expression were screened out from GIST, of which the expression of miR-301 a was up-regulated most obviously. The expression of miR-301 a was closely related to tumor risk grade, tumor size, mitosis and necrosis (P < 0.05). The overexpression of miR-301 a in GIST cell lines could significantly enhance the proliferation of cells. Conclusions MiR-301 a was up-regulated in GIST, which was closely related to malignant clinicopathological features and could affect the growth and proliferation of tumor cells in vitro. MiR-301 a might be a potential target for future treatment of GIST.

Objective:To translate the Attention to Positive and Negative Inventory(APNI)and analyze the validity and reliability in Chinese undergraduates sample,to offer a convenient and reliable tool of measuring the cognitive bias for national researchers. Methods:The English-version APNI went through translation into Chinese, retroversion into English,translation into Chinese again,and revision several stages. Two parts of samples (1450 Chinese college students)were surveyed. Sample one (n=1000)was used for item analysis,exploratory factor a-nalysis (EFA),concurrent validity and reliability analysis,while sample 2 (n=450)was used for confirmatory fac-tor analysis (CFA). Totally 68 subjects of sample 1 were randomly chosen and resurveyed with an interval of one week. Beck depression inventory (BDI-II)and patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9)was used for concurrent validi-ty. Results:Item analysis indicated that the 22 items of Chinese APNI had good discriminability. EFA focused onattention to positive information(API)and attention to negative information(ANI)two factors. CFA showed good model fit (χ2 =1376,RMESA=0. 09,CFI=0. 94). Concurrent validity result showed that the total scores of BDI-II and PHQ-9 was negatively correlated with total scores of API (r=-0. 24,-0. 29,Ps<0. 01 ),and posi-tively correlated with total scores of ANI (r=0. 36,0. 31,Ps<0. 01). The Cronbach'αcoefficients of API and ANI sub-scale were 0. 86 and 0. 82,while the retest reliability coefficients were 0. 79 and 0. 62. Conclusion:It suggests that the Chinese APNI has good validity and reliability in a sample of college students,which could be used to eval-uate the cognitive bias of Chinese college students.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness and outcomes of percutaneous ablation guided by ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) in colorectal liver oligometastases (CLOM). Methods: This study included patients with CLOM treated with percutaneous ablation from January 2008 to January 2021 in this observational study. Only lesions visualized on both CT and US images were further analyzed according to whether patients’ initial ablation treatments utilized US guidance or CT guidance. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate local tumor progression (LTP)–free survival after propensity score matching (PSM). The LTP-free survival and treatment-related outcomes were compared between these two groups. Results: PSM identified 116 patients from each group, with 269 and 238 lesions in the USguided and CT-guided groups, respectively. US-guided ablation had a shorter average procedure time and lower cost than CT-guided ablation (27.54±12.06 minutes vs. 32.70±13.88 minutes, P=0.003; $2,175.13±618.17 vs. $2,455.49±710.25, P=0.002). For patients >60 years of age, the cumulative LTP rate at 1 year was lower in the US-guided group than in the CT-guided group (17.8% vs. 25.1%, P=0.038). For patients with perivascular liver lesions, the cumulative LTP rate at 1 year was lower in the US-guided group (14.4% vs. 28.2%, P=0.040). Conclusion For patients whose age is >60 years or who have perivascular liver lesions, USguided ablation is better than CT-guided ablation, with a shorter treatment time and lower costs when both ablation methods are feasible for patients.

Objective:To investigate the influence of abnormal blood pressure circadian rhythms and the morning surge on aortic stiffness in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension(ISH).Methods:A total of 300 untreated elderly(≥60 years)patients with ISH were enrolled.24-hour ambulatory blood pressure was measured by using a non-invasive portable ambulatory sphygmomanometer with an inflatable cuff.Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity(baPWV)and the ankle-brachial pressure index(ABI)were measured by using an automated device.Patients were divided into the dipper(n=95), no-dipper(n=177)and extreme dipper(n=28)groups according to the rate of nocturnal blood pressure reduction.They were also divided into the morning surge(n=88)and no morning surge(n=212)groups according to the morning blood pressure surge(MBPS). Differences between the groups were compared.Correlations between the parameters were calculated by partial correlation analyses.The effects on baPWV and ABI were calculated by multiple linear regression analyses.Results:baPWV was higher in the extreme dipper group than in the dipper and no dipper groups[(1 402±234)cm/s vs.(1 467±114)cm/s vs.(1 538±140)cm/s, P<0.01], while ABI values were lower in the extreme dipper group than in the dipper group(0.98±0.10 vs.1.05±0.12, P<0.01)and the no dipper group(0.98±0.10 vs.1.03±0.12, P<0.05). Moreover, baPWV[(1 508±170)cm/s vs.(1 430±163)cm/s, P<0.01]was higher while ABI values(0.98±0.13 vs.1.06±0.11, P<0.01)were lower in the morning surge group than in the no morning surge group.baPWV was positively correlated with daytime Systolic blood pressure(dSBP)( r=0.169, P<0.01), 24 hSBPCV( r=0.143, P<0.05), and MBPS( r=0.157, P<0.01), while ABI was negatively correlated with dSBP( r=-0.146, P=0.011)and MBPS( r=-0.321, P<0.01). Age( P<0.01), dSBP( P<0.05)and 24 h systolic blood pressure variation coefficient( P<0.05)were independent factors for baPWV, while dSBP and MBPS were independent factors for ABI(all P<0.01). Conclusions:Abnormal blood pressure circadian rhythms and the morning surge are associated with increased aortic stiffness in elderly patients with ISH.

Objective:To examine the relationship between sarcopenia and DNA methylation in the promoter of the growth differentiation factor 15(GDF15)gene in elderly individuals.Methods:This cross-sectional study collected data from 865 elderly individuals aged 65 years and above who underwent physical examination at the Yuetang Town Community Medical Center in Yangzhou City between May and September 2020.The verification set included 431 males and 434 females with an age range of 65-100 years and a mean age of(76.0±5.9)years.The diagnosis of sarcopenia was based on the consensus diagnostic criteria of the Asian Sarcopenia Working Group in 2019.The study included 295 cases in the non-sarcopenia group and 470 cases in the sarcopenia group.The study selected 50 non-sarcopenia patients and 50 age-gender matched sarcopenia patients as the explore set for DNA methylation sequencing of the GDF15 gene.The sequencing results were then verified using the methylation-specific polymerase chain(PCR)method in the verification center.Additionally, serum GDF15 levels were detected using the enzyme-linked immunosoradsorption method.The study analyzed the correlation between GDF15 methylation levels, serum GDF15 levels, and sarcopenia.Results:The study found that individuals with sarcopenia had lower levels of body mass index(BMI), appendicular skeletal muscle mass(ASMI), grip strength, and gait speed in both the discovery and validation sets compared to those without sarcopenia( P<0.05). Additionally, the DNA methylation of GDF15 was found to be lower in the sarcopenic group compared to the non-sarcopenic group[93.7%(79.6%, 98.0%) vs.97.7%(95.3%, 99.0%), Z=-9.294, P<0.01]. The results of the correlation analysis indicate a positive relationship between the methylation level and appendicular skeletal muscle mass( r=0.206, P<0.01), grip strength( r=0.297, P<0.01), and gait speed( r=0.383, P<0.01). Conversely, there was a negative correlation between the methylation level and serum GDF15 level( r=-0.249, P<0.05). The study conducted ROC analysis to determine the predictive ability of GDF15 methylation for sarcopenia found that the area under the curve was 0.700 with a cut-off score of 92.7%.Furthermore, binary regression analysis revealed that low GDF15 methylation( OR=1.136, 95% CI: 1.098~1.175, P<0.01)was linked to a higher risk of sarcopenia, even after adjusting for age, sex, and BMI.The serum GDF15 level was higher in the sarcopenic group compared to the non-sarcopenic group[(0.665±0.432)pg/L vs.(0.465±0.211)pg/L( t=-2.452, P<0.05)]. Additionally, it was observed that the methylation of GDF15 was negatively correlated with the serum GDF15 level( r=-0.249, P<0.05). Conclusions:A low level of GDF15 methylation has been found to be linked with a higher risk of sarcopenia, suggesting that measuring GDF15 methylation could potentially serve as a biomarker for diagnosing sarcopenia.

Objective To summarize the medication law of TCM in the treatment of chronic bronchitis;To provide reference for clinical medication.Methods Medical records of patients with chronic bronchitis who were hospitalized in the Respiratory Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine from January 1,2016 to December 31,2021 were extracted based on HIS electronic medical record data.After screening,the TCM prescriptions used by patients with chronic bronchitis were input into Excel 2019 to establish a database.Based on the software Lantern 5.0,the latent structure model was learned,hidden variables and explicit variables were obtained,and the model was interpreted.SPSS Modeler 18.0 was used to establish model points with Apriori algorithm for Chinese materia medica with a frequency greater than 6%,to obtain the association rules between drugs,and to analyze the medication law of TCM in treating chronic bronchitis.Results A total of 3 410 cases were included,involving 423 kinds of Chinese materia medica,with a cumulative frequency of 82 766 times.Among them,109 kinds of Chinese materia medica with a frequency of>6 % had a cumulative frequency of 69 845 times.The top five commonly used medicines were Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus,Poria,Atractyodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma,Asteris Radix et Rhizoma,Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium,mainly with medicines of reducing cough and phlegm,antiasthmatic medicine,tonifying deficiency,clearing heat,relieving superficies,promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis.The medicinal properties were warming,cold and mild,and the main tastes were bitter,sweet and pungent,and the meridians were mainly lung,spleen,liver and stomach meridians.Through analysis of latent structure,49 hidden variables and 149 hidden classes were obtained.Combined with professional knowledge,10 comprehensive clustering models and 21 core formulas were deduced,such as Sangbaipi Decoction,Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction,Xiaoqinglong Decoction,Erchen Decoction,Shashen Maidong Decoction,Liuwei Dihuang Pills,Yinqiao Powder,Zhisou Powder,Yupingfeng Powder,Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction combined with Daotan Decoction,etc.It was concluded that the chronic bronchitis syndrome included phlegm-heat stagnation lung syndrome,qi stagnation blood stasis syndrome,cold fluid attacking lung syndrome,phlegm-dampness accumulation lung syndrome,lung qi and yin deficiency syndrome,kidney yin deficiency syndrome,wind heat attacking lung syndrome,wind cold attacking lung syndrome,lung qi and spleen deficiency syndrome,phlegm stasis interjunction syndrome.A total of 41 strong association rules were screened in the analysis of association rules,including 5 strong association rules for two and 36 strong association rules for three.The high confidence rules were Saposheikovize Radix + Angelicae Sinensis Radix →Atractyodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma,Saposheikovize Radix + Codonopsis Radix → Atractyodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma,Codonopsis Radix + Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium → Atractyodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma;the higher degree of improvement were Bupleuri Radix + Mori Cortex → Scutellariae Radix,Perillae Fructus + Belamcandae Rhizoma → Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus,Armeniacae Semen Amarum + Pinelliae Rhizoma → Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium,etc.Conclusion In the treatment of chronic bronchitis,TCM is mainly used to reduce phlegm,relieve cough and asthma,and the method of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis is commonly used to help eliminate phlegm.In addition,TCM pays attention to the application of methods such as tonifying lung and securing the exterior,invigorating spleen and benefiting qi.