To characterize the background current in fetal human nasopharyngeal epithelial cells and clarify its relationship with volume activated Cl(-) currents (I(Cl,vol)), whole-cell patch clamp and cell imaging techniques were employed. Under isotonic conditions, a background current [(5.9+/-2.1) pA/pF at +80 mV, n=21] was detected. The current presented a weak outward rectification and a negligible time-dependent inactivation. The current-voltage relationship showed that the reversal potential of the background current [(-0.73+/-1.7) mV, n=21] was close to the calculated equilibrium potential for Cl(-)(-0.9 mV). Application of extracellular hypertonic stimulation (440 mOsmol/L) suppressed the current by (59.6+/-7.1)% and the inhibition was reversible after returned to isotonic conditions. Bathing the cells in hypotonic solution (160 mOsmol/L) induced a volume-sensitive Cl(-) current. The Cl(-) channel blockers, tamoxifen (20 micromol/L) and 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB) (100 micromol/L), inhibited the background current by (74.0+/-5.2)% (P<0.01, n=5) and (60.9+/-8.9)% (P<0.01, n=6) at +80 mV and increased basal cell volume by (107.7+/-2.9)% (P<0.01, n=25) and (104.4+/-2.4)% (P<0.01, n=19), respectively. The data indicate that Cl(-) current is an important component of the background current in fetal human nasopharyngeal epithelial cells. The background Cl(-) current is involved in volume activated Cl(-) current and basal cell volume regulation.
Cells, Cultured ; Chloride Channels ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Electrophysiology ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Fetus ; Humans ; Nasopharynx ; cytology ; Nitrobenzoates ; pharmacology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Tamoxifen ; pharmacology

Objective To explore the commonly used acupoints and stimulation parameters of electroacupuncture in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN)through data mining.Methods The clinical research literature of electroacupuncture in the treatment of DPN was retrieved from CNKI,Wanfang,VIP,CBM and PubMed from the establishment of the database to May 2023.The database of acupoint selection and electroacupuncture stimulation parameters for electroacupuncture in the treatment of DPN was established.Descriptive statistics,cluster analysis and association rule analysis were performed on the data.Results The 36 prescriptions in the 36 included literatures were analyzed.The top three acupoints with high frequency of use were:Sanyinjiao(SP6),Zusanli(ST36)and Hegu(LI4);acupoints are mainly bladder meridian of foot bladder meridian,stomach meridian of foot yangming,spleen meridian of foot taiyin;through cluster analysis,8 cluster clusters were obtained.The core prescription of'Hegu,Zusanli,Sanyinjiao'was obtained by association rule analysis,and the most supported acupoint combination was'Zusanli-Sanyinjiao'.The most commonly used stimulation parameters were continuous wave,density wave,5 Hz,intensity tolerance,30 minures/time,1 time/day,and the total treatment time was 4 weeks.Conclusion The core acupoints of electroacupuncture in the treatment of DPN are Hegu,Zusanli and Sanyinjiao.Electroacupuncture parameters recommended 5 Hz,continuous wave,30 minutes/time,1 time/day,treatment for 4 weeks.It can provide some reference for clinical acupoint selection and parameter selection of electroacupuncture in the treatment of DPN.

OBJECTIVETo study the anatomy of peroneal tendofascial flap combined with adipofascial flap for the repair of heel tissue defects.

METHODSThe lower extremities of five cadavers (10 sides) were perfused with red latex, the blood supply of peroneal tendofascial flap and vicinity adipofascial flap were observed. The diameter, course, branches and location of the blood vessels were measured. Eight fresh cadavers (16 sides) were perfused with lead oxide-gelatine mixture. The covering fascia tissues of the lower extremities was obtained and photographed by X-ray. The vascular anastomosis and association of nutrient vessel of peroneal tendofascial flap and vicinity adipofascial flap were observed. Two adult lower extremities specimens (4 sides) were used to construct vessel diagrams for observation of the course, distribution and anastomosis of the vessels. Eight cases were treated successfully with theses flaps.

RESULTSThe blood supply of the combined fascial flap is multi-originated. For the area within 4 cm below and above the lateral malleolus cusp, the blood supply includes 2-5 branches from heel lateral artery with an average diameter of (0.5 +/- 0.2) mm, 1-2 branches from posterior lateral malleolus artery with an average diameter of (0.6 +/- 0.2) mm and 2-3 branches from the descending part of perforating branches of peroneal artery with an average diameter of (0.5 +/- 0.2) mm. The blood supply of area 4 cm above lateral malleolus cusp is 1-3 branches from intermuscular septum perforating branches of peroneal artery with an average diameter of (1.0 +/- 0.2) mm. These above branches are anastomosed each other and also send off many smaller branches to form vascular net around tendon. The fascial flaps and free skin grafts in eight patients were completely survived. All patients were followed up for 3-24 months, the donor and recipient sites were healed very well. The functional and cosmetic results were satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONSPeroneal tendofascial flap combined with adipofascial flap, with proximal pedicle or reverse distal pedicle, can be used to repair the defect at the lower leg and refractory small- and medium-sized defects at the heel.

Adipose Tissue ; anatomy & histology ; transplantation ; Adult ; Aged ; Fascia ; anatomy & histology ; transplantation ; Female ; Fibula ; Heel ; injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; anatomy & histology ; transplantation ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps

The transwell chamber migration assay and the patch-clamp technique were used to investigate the volume-activated Cl(-) current (I(Cl.vol)) in migrated nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells (CNE-2Z). 47% hypotonic solution activated a ICl.vol in the migrated CNE-2Z cells. Compared with the control cells (non-migrated), the properties of this current and the sensitivity to Cl(-) channel blockers were changed. The current density in migrated CNE-2Z cells was higher than that in non-migrated cells. The current was almost completely inhibited by extracellular application of adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP, 10 mmol/L), 5-nitro-2-3-phenylpropylamino benzoic acid (NPPB, 100 mmol/L) and tamoxifen (30 mmol/L) in all voltage steps applied. The inhibition of NPPB and tamoxifen on the current was stronger in migrated cells than that in non-migrated cells. The permeability sequence of the four anions was Br(-)>Cl(-)> I (-)>Gluconate. The sequence was different from that of the non-migrated cells (I(-)> Br(-)> Cl(-)> Gluconate). The results suggest that volume-activated chloride channels may be involved in the CNE-2Z cell migration.
Carcinoma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; physiology ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Size ; drug effects ; Chloride Channels ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; physiology ; Chlorides ; metabolism ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nitrobenzoates ; pharmacology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Tamoxifen ; pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of serum leptin (LEP) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in children with congenital heart disease(CHD) and their roles in CHD.

METHODSForty-eight children with acyanotic CHD (ACHD group), 20 age-matched children with cyanotic CHD (CCHD group) and 20 healthy children (control group) were enrolled. The ACHD group was subdivided into two groups with (n=20) or without concurrent heart failure (n=28). Serum LEP, VEGF, total protein and albumin levels and body mass index (BMI) were measured.

RESULTSSerum total protein and albumin levels were not apparently different in all CHD children from healthy controls, but there was a significant difference in the BMI between them (p<0.01). Serum LEP and VEGF levels and the ratio of LEP/BMI in all CHD children were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (p<0.01). Compared with the ACHD group without heart failure, the serum LEP and VEGF levels and the ratio of LEP/BMI in the CCHD and the ACHD with heart failure groups increased significantly (p<0.01). In the ACHD group, serum LEP level was positively correlated with BMI (p<0.01). In the CCHD group, there were positive correlations between serum LEP level and serum VEGF level (p<0.01) and between hemoglobin concentration and serum VEGF level (p<0.01). Arterial oxygen saturation was negatively correlated with serum VEGF (p<0.01) and LEP levels (p<0.01) in the CCHD group.

CONCLUSIONSBoth VEGF and LEP play roles in the pathophisiological process of CHD. VEGF and LEP are associated with the development of heart failure in children with ACHD.

Body Mass Index ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; blood ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Infant ; Leptin ; blood ; Male ; Oxygen ; blood ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood

Background: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of acute herpes zoster. The treatment of PHN remains a challenge for clinical pain management. Despite the effectiveness of anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and lidocaine patches in reducing PHN, many patients still face intractable pain disorders.In this randomized controlled study, we evaluated whether hydromorphone through intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA) was effective in relieving PHN. Methods: Patients with PHN were randomly divided into two groups, one group received oral pregabalin with IV normal saline, another group received oral pregabalin with additional IV PCA hydromorphone for two weeks. Efficacy was evaluated at 1, 4, and 12 weeks after the end of the treatments. Results: Two hundred and one patients were followed up for 12 weeks. After treatment, numerical rating scale (NRS) score of patients in the hydromorphone group was significantly lower than that of the control group, and the difference of NRS scores between the two groups was statistically significant at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment. The frequency of breakthrough pain in the hydromorphone group was significantly lower than that in the control group 1 and 4 weeks after treatment.After treatment, the quality of sleep in the hydromorphone group was significantly improved compared with the control group. The most common adverse reactions in the hydromorphone group were dizziness and nausea, with no significant respiratory depression. Conclusions IV PCA hydromorphone combined with oral pregabalin provides superior pain relief in patients with PHN, which is worthy of clinical application and promotion.

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 epidemic in Huangpu District of Shanghai, and to provide scientific evidence for prevention and control of COVID-19. Methods Descriptive statistics were used to study the suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported from January 21 through March 10, 2020 in Huangpu District, Shanghai. Results A total of 120 suspected cases of COVID-19 were reported, of which 12 were diagnosed and 108 were excluded.The first confirmed case was reported on January 21, and the last case was on February 10; the majority (11/12) of the confirmed cases were reported from January 21 through February 1.The average duration of time from the symptom onset to the first medical visit was 2.6 days, whereas the average duration from the first medical visit to the hospital diagnosis was 2.2 days.There were 15 suspected cases with a confirmed history of residence or tourism in Wuhan, in which 6 were confirmed cases.Moreover, 5 suspected cases had a confirmed history of contact with other confirmed cases, in which 3 were confirmed cases.Thus, exposure in Wuhan and exposure to confirmed cases were the most significant risk factors at this stage of the epidemic. Conclusion The 12 cases identified in Huangpu District of Shanghai are all adults, half of whom had confirmed history of exposure in Wuhan.The first cluster of COVID-19 cases in Shanghai is documented in Huangpu District.Epidemiological investigation reveals that the confirmed cases might be infectious the day before the symptom onset.

Background: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of acute herpes zoster. The treatment of PHN remains a challenge for clinical pain management. Despite the effectiveness of anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and lidocaine patches in reducing PHN, many patients still face intractable pain disorders.In this randomized controlled study, we evaluated whether hydromorphone through intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA) was effective in relieving PHN. Methods: Patients with PHN were randomly divided into two groups, one group received oral pregabalin with IV normal saline, another group received oral pregabalin with additional IV PCA hydromorphone for two weeks. Efficacy was evaluated at 1, 4, and 12 weeks after the end of the treatments. Results: Two hundred and one patients were followed up for 12 weeks. After treatment, numerical rating scale (NRS) score of patients in the hydromorphone group was significantly lower than that of the control group, and the difference of NRS scores between the two groups was statistically significant at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment. The frequency of breakthrough pain in the hydromorphone group was significantly lower than that in the control group 1 and 4 weeks after treatment.After treatment, the quality of sleep in the hydromorphone group was significantly improved compared with the control group. The most common adverse reactions in the hydromorphone group were dizziness and nausea, with no significant respiratory depression. Conclusions IV PCA hydromorphone combined with oral pregabalin provides superior pain relief in patients with PHN, which is worthy of clinical application and promotion.

OBJECTIVEIn mid-July 2005, five patients presented with septic shock to a hospital in Ziyang city in Sichuan, China, to identify the etiology of the unknown reason disease, an epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory study were conducted.

METHODSAn enhanced surveillance program were established in Sichuan, the following activities were introduced: active case finding in Sichuan of (a) laboratory diagnosed Streptococcus suis infection and (b) clinically diagnosed probable cases with exposure history; supplemented by (c) monitoring reports on meningococcal meningitis. Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infection was confirmed by culture and biochemical reactions, followed by sequencing for specific genes for serotype and virulence factors.

RESULTSFrom June 10 to August 21, 2005, 68 laboratory confirmed cases of human Streptococcus suis infections were reported. All were villagers who gave a history of direct exposure to deceased or sick pigs in their backyards where slaughtering was performed. Twenty six (38%) presented with toxic shock syndrome of which 15 (58%) died. Other presentations were septicaemia or meningitis. All isolates were tested positive for genes for tuf, species-specific 16S rRNA, cps2J, mrp, ef and sly. There were 136 clinically diagnosed probable cases with similar exposure history but incomplete laboratory investigations.

CONCLUSIONAn outbreak of human Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infections occurred in villagers after direct exposure to deceased or sick pigs in Sichuan. Prohibition of slaughtering in backyards brought the outbreak to a halt. A virulent strain of the bacteria is speculated to be in circulation, and is responsible for the unusual presentation of toxic shock syndrome with high case fatality.

Animals ; Bacteremia ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Shock, Septic ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Streptococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; veterinary ; Streptococcus suis ; isolation & purification ; Swine ; Swine Diseases ; microbiology

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence of extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) and its risk factors in very preterm infants (VPIs) during hospitalization in China. METHODS: A prospective multicenter study was performed on the medical data of 2 514 VPIs who were hospitalized in the department of neonatology in 28 hospitals from 7 areas of China between September 2019 and December 2020. According to the presence or absence of EUGR based on the evaluation of body weight at the corrected gestational age of 36 weeks or at discharge, the VPIs were classified to two groups: EUGR group (n=1 189) and non-EUGR (n=1 325). The clinical features were compared between the two groups, and the incidence of EUGR and risk factors for EUGR were examined. RESULTS: The incidence of EUGR was 47.30% (1 189/2 514) evaluated by weight. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher weight growth velocity after regaining birth weight and higher cumulative calorie intake during the first week of hospitalization were protective factors against EUGR (P<0.05), while small-for-gestational-age birth, prolonged time to the initiation of total enteral feeding, prolonged cumulative fasting time, lower breast milk intake before starting human milk fortifiers, prolonged time to the initiation of full fortified feeding, and moderate-to-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia were risk factors for EUGR (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS It is crucial to reduce the incidence of EUGR by achieving total enteral feeding as early as possible, strengthening breastfeeding, increasing calorie intake in the first week after birth, improving the velocity of weight gain, and preventing moderate-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia in VPIs.
Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Gestational Age ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors