To select appropriate descriptors for responses of the Health Scale of Traditional Chinese Medicine (HSTCM).

Objective To observe the effect of acute normovolemic hemodilution(ANH)combined with enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)on immune function in patients undergoing hepatic lobectomy. Methods 80 patients were divided into two groups:ERAS group(group E),ANH combined with ERAS group(group AE). bleeding volume,blood transfusion,infused fluid volume,urine output during operation and clinical index after surgery were recorded. Exhaust and defecation time ,fluid intake time and hospitalization duration were also record-ed. Blood samples were obtained from the patients at 30 min before anesthesia induction(T1),immediately(T2), 24 h(T3),3 d(T4)and 7 d(T5)after the end of operation for determination of the expression of CD3+,CD4+, CD8+ on T cells and natural killer cell. Results In group E ,CD3+,CD4+ T-lymphocytes and NK cells at T2-3 decreased as compared with T0. Compared with group E ,no allogeneic blood transfusion cases were found and clinical index duration was shorter in group AE. CD3+,CD4+T-lymphocytes and NK cells at T2-3 increased in group AE as compared with those in Group E. The difference is significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion ANH combined with ERAS can decrease allogenic blood transfusion and increase post-operation immunologic function ,shorten the postoperative hospitalization time.

Objective To investigate the distribution characteristics and changing tendency of urinary tract stones.Methods From January 2011 to May 2017,clinical data of 15 269 patients treated in our center was retrospectively reviewed.The stone components were detected by the automatic stone infrared spectroscopy system and the predominant components were recorded.There were 9 019 male patients and 6 250 female patients.The patients were divided into four groups according to their age,including group A ≤ 18 years;group B 19-40 years;group C 41-60 years;and group D ＞ 60 years.Compared the distribution characteristics of urinary tract stones of patient in different groups of sex,age and calendar year.Results Calcium oxalate stones were more prevalent in males than females [6 221 (69.0％)vs.3 582 (57.3％),P ＜ 0.001],but calcium phosphate stones [210 (3.4％) vs.210 (2.3％)],magnesium ammonium phosphate stones [230(3.7％) vs.165 (1.8％)] and carbonate apatite stones [1 328 (21.3％) vs.1 030 (11.4％)] were more common in females than males (P ＜ 0.001,respectively).The proportion of uric acid stones in group D [679(20.7％)] was higher than that in group A [23(9.1％)],group B[260(7.9％)],group C [1 163 (13.8％)] (P ＜0.001,respectively).The peak of carbonate apatite stones was showed in group B [652(19.7％)] (P＜0.001,respectively).Ammonium urate stones [9(3.5％)] and cystine stones [36 (14.2％)] were more frequent in group A(P ＜0.001,respectively).In adults,the percentage of uric acid stones increased with age,such as group B [260(7.9％)],group C [1 163(13.8％)],group D [679 (20.7％)].And the carbonated apatite stones decreased with age,such as group B [652 (19.7％)],group C [1 270(15.1％)],group D [416(12.7％)] (P ＜0.001,respectively).Further analysis showed the proportion of calc ium oxalate (OR =0.944,95 ％ CI 0.927-0.962,P ＜ 0.001),ammonium urate stones (OR =0.854,95％ CI 0.742-0.982,P =0.027) decreased,while calcium phosphate (OR =1.192,95％ CI 1.127-1.261,P ＜0.001),uric acid (OR =1.042,95％ CI 1.015-1.069,P =0.002) and ammonium magnesium phosphate (OR =1.078,95％ CI 1.019-1.141,P =0.009) stones increased with time.Conclusions The distribution of stones was different in genders and age.Calcium oxalate stones were more common in male patients,while ammonium magnesium phosphate and carbonate apatite stones were more common in female patients.Uric acid stones were more frequent in patients older than 60,while carbonate apatite were more frequent in the 19-40 age group.The proportion of calcium oxalate and ammonium urate stones showed a downward trend,whereas calcium phosphate,uric acid and magnesium ammonium phosphate stones increased with time.

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether electroacupuncture (EA) can promote cell survival and enhance heart function of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) therapy.

METHODSMSCs were isolated from bone marrow and expanded in Minimum Essential Medium Alpha (α-MEM). MI was induced in 72 Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) for 30 min and reperfusion. MI rats randomly received injection of 1×10(6) DiI-labeled MSCs alone (n =24, MSC group), or plus electroacupuncture (EA) at Neiguan (PC6, n=24, EA+MSC group), or saline (n =24, saline group). EA treatment was performed for 4 days. Another 24 rats were subjected to chest-open surgery without LAD occlusion and treatment (sham group). Three time points, 4, 14 and 28 days (n =8 for each group) were included in this study. The survival of transplanted MSCs and the protective gene expression were analyzed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot at day 4 and 14. Left ventricular remodeling, cardiac function, infarction area, fibrosis and capillary density were analyzed at day 28.

RESULTSEA can enhance MSC survival (2.6-fold up) at day 4. Big capillary density was 53% higher in EA+MSC treated group than MSC alone group. Furthermore, the rats treated by EA reduced the fibrosis and had 36% smaller infarct size comparing to MSC alone. EA also attenuated left ventricular remodeling and enhanced the functional recovery of infarcted hearts at week 4.

CONCLUSIONEA at Neiguan acupoint can promote the stem cell survival and improve ischemic heart function. EA could become a useful approach in stem cell therapy for ischemia heart diseases.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Combined Modality Therapy ; methods ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Graft Survival ; physiology ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; physiology ; Myocardial Ischemia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ventricular Remodeling ; physiology

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Previous research has shown maternal betaine supplementation alleviates fetal-derived hepatic steatosis. Therefore, this study examined the anti-inflammatory effect of maternal betaine intake in offspring mice and its mechanism.MATERIALS/METHODS: Female C57BL/6J mice and their offspring were randomly divided into 3 groups according to the treatment received during gestation and lactation: control diet (CD), fatty liver disease (FLD), and fatty liver disease + 1% betaine (FLD-BET). The FLD group was given a high-fat diet and streptozotocin (HFD + STZ), and the FLD-BET group was treated with HFD + STZ + 1% betaine. After weaning, the offspring mice were given a normal diet for 5 weeks and then dissected to measure the relevant indexes. RESULTS: Compared to the CD group, the offspring mice in the FLD group revealed obvious hepatic steatosis and increased serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α; maternal betaine supplementation reversed these changes. The hepatic mRNA expression levels of IL-6, IL-18, and Caspase-1 were significantly higher in the FLD group than in the CD group. Maternal betaine supplementation reduced the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing C-terminal caspase recruitment domain (ASC). Maternal betaine supplementation also reversed the increasing protein expressions of nitric oxide dioxygenase-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), ASC, Caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 in offspring mice exposed to HFD + STZ. Maternal betaine supplementation decreased the homocysteine (Hcy) and s-adenosine homocysteine (SAH) levels significantly in the livers. Furthermore, the hepatic Hcy concentrations showed significant inverse relationships with the mRNA expression of TNF-α, NLRP3, ASC, and IL-18. The hepatic SAH concentration was inversely associated with the IL-1β mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS The lipotropic and anti-inflammatory effect of maternal betaine supplementation may be associated with the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome in the livers of the offspring mice.

Humans ; Mpox (monkeypox) ; China