Objective To explore the effect of electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) on the expressions of P2X2 and P2X3 receptors in experimental pulpalgia rats.Method Forty-two male SD rats were randomized into a normal group (group N), a control group (group C), a pulpalgia model group (group M), an antagonist group (group A), an electroacupuncture group (group E), and an antagonist+electroacupuncture group (group AE), 7 rats in each group. Group N didn’t receive any interventions; group C received injection of normal saline into pulp cavity of the same dose as the injection in group M, and the cavity was then blocked by dental fillings 5-6 min later; in group M, maxillary first and second molar teeth were drilled (drill bit of 1 mm in diameter) to expose pulp and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) solution 5μg/μL was injected into the holes (1~3μL for each hole), and the holes were then covered by dental fillings 5-6 min later; group A received the same modeling method as that in group M, but A-317491 was injected together with LPS (0.5 mg/kg); group E received electroacupuncture at bilateral Hegu (LI 4) with needles retained for 30 min, once a day, totally for 3 times; group AE received the same electroacupuncture intervention after receiving the same treatments as that in group A. The rats’ behaviors and weight were observed for 30 min after intervention each day. The rats were sacrificed on the 4th day, and the mRNA expressions of P2X2 and P2X3 receptors andβ-actin in trigeminal ganglion were detected by using RT-PCR. The mRNA expressions were then compared among the groups.Result The behavioral changes in group M, E, and AE were more significant than that in group C and N (P<0.01); the behavioral changes in group A, E, and AE were less significant than that in group M (P<0.01). The weight in group C was significantly lower than that in group N (P<0.01); the weights in group M, A, E and AE were significantly lower than that in group C and N (P<0.01); the weights in group E and AE were significantly higher than that in group M and A (P<0.01,P<0.05); the weight in group A was slightly higher than that in group M (P<0.05); the weights in group AE was significantly higher than that in group E (P<0.01). The mRNA expressions of P2X2 receptor in group M, A, and AE were significantly higher than that in group N and C (P<0.01); the mRNA expressions of P2X2 receptor in group A, E, and AE were lower than that in group M (P<0.05); the mRNA expression of P2X2 receptor in group A was lower than that in group E (P<0.05); the mRNA expression of P2X2 receptor in group E was higher than that in group AE (P<0.05). The mRNA expressions of P2X3 receptor in group M, A, and E were significantly higher than that in group C (P<0.05) and group N (P<0.01); the mRNA expressions of P2X3 receptor in group A, E, and AE were significantly lower than that in group M (P<0.01); the mRNA expression of P2X3 receptor in group AE was markedly lower than that in group E (P<0.01).Conclusion The expressions of P2X2 and P2X3 receptors in trigeminal ganglion were increased in LPS-induced pulpalgia rats. Electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) and injection of A-317491 both can down-regulate the mRNA expressions of P2X2 and P2X3 receptors, which is plausibly the action mechanism of electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) in analgesia.

Objective To study the effectiveness of personalized rehabilitation treatments based on threedimensional gait analysis (3DGA) for improving the walking function of children with cerebral palsy (CP).MethodsA total of 21 spastic CP children with diplegia or hemiplegia,IQ scores ＞60,and an average age of 8.5 years received 3DGA.They then received personalized rehabilitation treatment designed according to the 3DGA results.After four weeks of treatment the children accepted 3DGA again.Their gait descriptors before and after treatment were compared. ResultsAfter the personalized rehabilitation the subjects'clinical foot dorsiflexion angle,clinical popliteal fossa angle,walking velocity,stride length,step length,peak ankle dorsiflexion in prime stance,peaking ankle plantar flexion in last stance,peak back ground reaction forces (GRFs) and peak vertical GRF in stance all had improved significantly.The cadence,total support time,swing phase,initial double support time,peak knee extension in stance and the peak forward GRF were not,however,significantly different compared with before the personalized rehabilitation treatment.Conclusion Under the guidance of 3DGA,the walking function of spastic CP children improved significantly after 4 weeks of personalized rehabilitation treatment.3DGA can play an important role in formulating personalized rehabilitation protocols and guiding rehabilitation treatment for CP children.

Objective To explore the efficacy and complications of small insicion surgical treatment and the routine microscopic surgical treatment for children with tight filum terminale type of tethered cord syndrome.Methods According to the clinical manifestations and imaging findings,a total of 43 children with tethered cord syndrome were classified into two groups.Namely the control group (30 cases) who underwent the routine microscopic surgery and the observation group (13 cases) who underwent the small insicion surgical treatment.The difference including prognosis,complications,hospital stays,size of the wound between the two groups were analyzed.Results The 43 children were followed up for 3 to 24 months with an average of 9 months.The results indicated that the postoperative effective rate of the control group was 93.3％,while it was 100％ in the observation group.The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant(P ＞ 0.05).The rate of complications of the control group was 6.67％ whlie it was 0.00％ in the observation group,and the difference of the two groups was statistically significant(P ＜ 0.05).The difference of hospital stays and the size of the wound between the two groups were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The small insicion surgical treatment could guarantee the surgical effect for children with tight filum terminale type of tethered cord syndrome,and it can reduce the surgical trauma,post operation hospitalization duration,incidence of complications and intraoperative scar tissues.

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in Henan province.Methods Epidemiological characteristics and related factors of JE cases in Henan province from 2006 to 2010 were analyzed with descriptive epidemiological method and JE IgM antibodies of the serum or cerebrospinal fluid of the cases were detected by ELISA.Results 3099 cases were reported in Henan province from 2006 to 2010.The incidence fluctuated from 0.39/100 000 to 1.08/100 000,and the incidence rate was decreasing.Patients were concentrated mainly in Xinyang,Nanyang and Luoyang cities,which accounted for 60.12％ of the total.The peak season was in July-September,accounted for 93.26％ of all the cases.Most cases were in 0-14 year old (83.61％) in the whole province.However,in Luoyang city,number of cases in the ≥ 15 year old group,had an obvious increase (57.63％).Compared with the provincial data,significant difference was found between the two ≥ 15 year old groups (x2=330.0341,P＜0.05)statistically.20.23％ of the JE cases were vaccinated but 75.54％ of them did not complete the whole course.79.77％ of the cases were not sure if they had received the vaccination.42.98％ of the JE cases were confirmed through laboratory tests but other 45.95％ of them were clinically diagnosed,with the rest 11.07％ were suspected cases.Conclusion The distribution of JE cases showed seasonal,regional characteristics and crowd differences in Henan province.Basic immunization and the program on strengthening immunization of JE should be further standardized.The laboratory diagnosis rate of JE cases should be further improved.

Objective: To explore associated factors of mobile phone dependence and its relation with psychological resilience among college students. Methods: College students from 5 universities in Hefei were randomly selected through multi-stage sampling (stratified clustering) and investigated with questionnaires. A total of 2 502 college students were included in the analysis. Results: Mobile phone dependence among college students differed by gender (χ2=18.25, P<0.01), residence (χ2=17.71, P<0.01), whether in a relationship(χ2=8.09, P<0.01), grade(χ2=19.58, P<0.01), only child(χ2=7.48, P<0.01), family economic status (χ2=17.43, P<0.01) and time spent in mobile phone (χ2=73.46，P<0.01) while no similar differences were found by family structure and length of mobile phone ownership. Spearman correlation showed negative correlation (P<0.01) between mobile phone dependence and psychological resilience. Logistic regression model results showed that female, not in a relationship, lower grade, less time spent in mobile phone and high psychological resilience were negatively correlated with mobile phone dependence. Compared with students from rural areas, urban area was positively associated with mobile phone dependence. Emotional control, family support, and interpersonal assistance associated with lower risk for mobile phone dependence. Conclusion Mobile phone dependence is affected by gender, relationship status, grade, usage duration, and residence. High psychological resilience associated negatively with risk for mobile phone dependence.

Objective To evaluate clinical factors associated with laboratory-confirmed influenza infection and probe into the effects of different influenza-like illness(ILI) definitions on influenza surveillance in hospitalized children. Methods The influenza surveillance on the hospitalized children with acute respiratory infection was carried out in Soochow university affiliated children’s hospital from October 2017 to May 2018. The definition of influenza-like illness(ILI), which proposed by world health organization (WHO), the European center for disease prevention and control (ECDC) and ministry of public health of China, was analyzed to determine the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), sensibility, specificity, and the positive and negative predictive values of the ILI definition using the laboratory evidence of influenza virus infection as golden criteria. Logistic regression model was employed to explore the risk factors of the laboratory confirmed influenza infection among the hospitalized children. Results Of the enrolled 1 459 hospitalized children, 204(14.0%) were lab-confirmed influenza cases. The ECDC definition had the highest sensitivity (91.7%, 95% CI: 87.9%-95.5%) but the lowest specificity (44.6%, 95% CI: 41.9%-47.4%). The WHO definition had the lowest specificity (70.6%, 95% CI: 64.3%-76.8%). China’s definition was the most discriminant definition with relatively high sensitivity (91.2%, 95% CI: 87.3%-95.1%) and specificity (51.5%, 95% CI: 48.8%-54.3%), and its positive area under curve value (71.2%, 95% CI: 67.9%-74.5%) was the highest. Multivariate analysis model showed that the detection rate of influenza virus in children with fever (≥38 ℃) was higher than that in children without fever (OR=7.03, 95% CI:3.89-12.70). Conclusions It is suggested to adopt China’s ILI definition to get better output during influenza surveillance among hospitalized children.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role and significance of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its transcriptional regulator Twist1 in the development of the human fetal prostate.

METHODSTwenty-five human fetal prostate specimens at various developmental stages (16-39 weeks) were included in this study. EMT markers, such as E-Cadherin, N-Cadherin and Vimentin, and EMT transcriptional regulator Twist1 were determined by immunohistochemistry, and their relationship with the development of the human fetal prostate was analyzed.

RESULTSE-Cadherin was expressed in the fetal prostate epithelium only, while Vimentin, N-Cadherin and Twist1 in both the epithelium and the stroma. The expression of E-Cadherin gradually increased, but those of Vimentin, N-Cadherin and Twist1 gradually decreased with the gestation stages. No significant changes were observed in the staining patterns of Vimentin, N-Cadherin and Twist1 in the stroma during the whole developmental process.

CONCLUSIONEMT is involved in the development of the human fetal prostate, which may promote epithelial cell motility to form prostatic bud tubules in early gestation stages and boost the differentiation of prostate epithelia in later stages.

Cadherins ; metabolism ; Cell Dedifferentiation ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Fetal Development ; Humans ; Male ; Mesoderm ; metabolism ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Prostate ; embryology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Twist-Related Protein 1 ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo screen and compare the specific transcription factors that repress the epithelial phenotype in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in two different human prostate cancer models LNCaP/HIF1alpha and ARCaP.

METHODSWe established two different prostate cancer EMT models, LNCaP/HIF1alpha and ARCaP, cultured LNCaP, LNCaP/HIF1alpha, IF11 and IA8 cells in vitro, and detected the five transcription factors Snail, Slug, ZEB1, SIP1 and Twist1 in these cells by RT-PCR.

RESULTSDifferent levels of Snail, Slug, ZEB1, SIP1 and Twist1 were detected in both LNCaP and LNCaP/HIF1alpha cells, with significant differences only in the expressions of Slug and Twist1 between the two cells. The expression of Slug was increased, but that of Twist1 decreased in the LNCaP/HIF1alpha cells. All the five transcription factors but Twist1 were expressed in both the IF11 and IA8 cells, but only the express- sions of ZEB1 and Slug were increased significantly in the IA8 cells.

CONCLUSIONThere are different mechanisms underlying transcriptional regulation in different prostate cancer EMT models. Slug may be one of the key transcription factors involved in the HIF1alpha-induced EMT of LNCaP cells, while ZEB1 and Slug may play an important role in repressing the epithelial phenotype of the ARCaP model.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Phenotype ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; classification ; genetics ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDSpinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a group of neurodegenerative disorders that primarily cause the degeneration in the cerebellum, spinal cord, and brainstem. We study the clinical characteristics, radiological features and gene mutation in Chinese families with SCAs.

METHODSIn this study, we investigated 10 SCAs Chinese families with SCA1, SCA3/Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), SCA7, SCA8. There were 27 people who were genetically diagnosed as SCA, of which 21 people showed clinical symptoms, and 6 people had no clinical phenotype that we called them presymptomatic patients. In addition, 3 people with cerebellar ataxia and cataracts were diagnosed according to the Harding diagnostic criteria but failed to be recognized as SCAs on genetic testing. Clinical characteristic analyses of each type of SCAs and radiological examinations were performed.

RESULTSWe found that SCA3/MJD was the most common subtype in Han population in China, and the ratio of the pontine tegmentum and the posterior fossa area was negatively correlated with the number of cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeats; the disease duration was positively correlated with the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale score; and the CAG repeats number of abnormal alleles was negatively correlated with the age of onset.

CONCLUSIONSCollectively our study is a systematic research on SCAs in China, which may help for the clinical diagnosis and prenatal screening of this disease, and it may also aid toward better understanding of this disease.

Adult ; DNA Repeat Expansion ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Machado-Joseph Disease ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Mutation ; genetics ; Spinocerebellar Ataxias ; genetics ; pathology ; Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo understand the epidemic characteristics and viral antibody level among healthy people of Japanese B encephalitis (JE) in Henan province in 2010.

METHODSA total of 433 selected JE cases in Henan province in 2010 were analyzed by descriptive epidemiological method. Xinyang and Luoyang were selected as survey sites in 2010.12 administrative villages were randomly selected from both cities. As the investigation objects, 519 healthy people from the two cities were randomly selected by eight age groups:less than one year old, 1 - 2 years old, 3 - 4 years old, 5 - 6 years old, 7 - 14 years old, 15 - 19 years old, 20 - 59 years old, and above 60 years old. A total of 1008 samples of blood specimens were collected both in May and November, and JE viral antibody was detected by micro-cytopathic effect neutralization test.

RESULTSThe incidence rate of JE was 0.46/100 000 (433/94 130 434) in Henan province in 2010.97.69% (423/433) of the patients were found between July and September, and 81.06% (351/433) were distributed in Nanyang, Xinyang, Luoyang, Zhumadian and Zhoukou city. Children aged 0 to 14 years were the primarily affected group (82.22%, 356/433), the people above 15 years old accounted for 17.78% (77/433) of whole cases in Henan province, but the same group accounted for 65.79% (50/76) of whole cases in Luoyang city, which obviously higher than the percentage in Henan province (χ(2) = 79.57, P < 0.05). Most patients were scattered children in Henan province, accounting for 58.89% (255/433). In Luoyang city, most patients were peasants, accounting for 44.74% (34/76). The antibody positive rate of JE among health people above 15 years old in Luoyang city was 48.94% (46/94), which was lower than it in Xinyang city at 97.78% (88/90). The difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 55.42, P < 0.05). The antibody positive rate among healthy people under vaccination was 50.41% (61/121), which was obviously higher than that among people without vaccination, at 16.67% (6/36) in Luoyang city. The difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 12.92, P < 0.05). The antibody positive rate among healthy people under vaccination was 67.11% (51/76) in Xinyang city, which was obviously higher than that among people without vaccination, at 46.39% (45/97). The difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 7.40, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of JE showed seasonal and regional characteristics, there were differences among ages and occupations. The difference was consistent with the difference in viral antibody level among health people in Henan province and Luoyang city.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese ; immunology ; Encephalitis, Japanese ; blood ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult