Objective:To investigate the effects of different tube voltages combined with artificial intelligence reconstruction algorithm(CI)on the computed tomography(CT)imaging quality and radiation dose of chest phantom on the basis of the CT scan for an adult male simulated chest phantom(PH-N1).Methods:A 512-slice CT scanner of ultrahigh-end was adopted to conduct scan,and the images were divided into 70 kV group,80 kV group,100 kV group and 120 kV group according to different tube voltage.For 4 groups of CT scan images with different tube voltages,the 10%,30%,50%,70%and 90%CI were adopted to reconstruct 1mm thin layer image.The CT volume dose index(CTDIvol)and the dose-length product(DLP)of the scans of 4 groups were compared.The CT values and standard deviation(SD)values of the aorta,abdominal wall fat and erector spine muscle were measured.Two senior diagnostic physicians with more than 5 years of work experience independently and double-blindly evaluated the image quality by using 5-point scale.A Kappa consistency test was conducted.One-way analysis of variance was adopted to compare the differences of CT values and SD values of the tissues of image targets.The Friedman rank-sum test was adopted to compare the differences of subjective image qualities among different groups.Results:The differences of CTDIvol and DLP among 4 groups with different tube voltages were significant(F=1855.617,3996.118,P<0.05),respectively.Under 70 kV tube voltage,there were no significant differences in CT values of the aorta,abdominal wall fat and erector spine muscle,which were reconstructed by using 10%,30%,50%,70%and 90%CI(P>0.05),while the differences of SD values among them were statistically significant(F=32.267,53.327,14.873,P<0.05),respectively.Under the different tube voltages of 4 groups,which were reconstructed by 90%CI,the CT values of aorta,abdominal wall fat and erector spine muscle gradually decreased with decreasing of tube voltage,the differences were significant(F=139.899,2563.93,219.231,P<0.05),respectively.The consistency of subjective scores between two diagnostic physicians was better for each group of images(Kappa=0.712～0.869).Conclusion:Compared with 80 kV,90 kV and 120 kV images,the reconstructed images with 90%CI algorithm under 70 kV tube voltage can significantly reduce the radiation dose,and the images have a favorable signal-to-noise ratio at the same time.

Humans ; Otitis Media, Suppurative ; Chronic Disease ; Biofilms ; Otitis Media

Although herbal medicines(HMs)are widely used in the prevention and treatment of obesity and obesity-associated disorders,the key constituents exhibiting anti-obesity activity and their molecular mechanisms are poorly understood.Recently,we assessed the inhibitory potentials of several HMs against human pancreatic lipase(hPL,a key therapeutic target for human obesity),among which the root-extract of Rhodiola crenulata(ERC)showed the most potent anti-hPL activity.In this study,we adopted an integrated strategy,involving bioactivity-guided fractionation techniques,chemical profiling,and biochemical assays,to identify the key anti-hPL constituents in ERC.Nine ERC fractions(retention time=12.5-35 min),obtained using reverse-phase liquid chromatography,showed strong anti-hPL activity,while the major constituents in these bioactive fractions were subsequently identified using liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS).Among the identified ERC constituents,1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranose(PGG)and catechin gallate(CG)showed the most potent anti-hPL activity,with pIC50 values of 7.59±0.03 and 7.68±0.23,respectively.Further investigations revealed that PGG and CG potently inhibited hPL in a non-competitive manner,with inhibition constant(Ki)values of 0.012 and 0.082 μM,respectively.Collectively,our integrative analyses enabled us to efficiently identify and characterize the key anti-obesity constituents in ERC,as well as to elucidate their anti-hPL mechanisms.These findings provide convincing evidence in support of the anti-obesity and lipid-lowering properties of ERC.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy between acupuncture combined with western medication and simple western medication for ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG), and to explore its possible mechanism. METHODS: A total of 60 patients of ocular myasthenia gravis were randomized into an acupuncture combined with western medication group (30 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a western medication group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off). Oral pyridostigmine bromide tablet and prednisone acetate tablet were given in the western medication group. On the basis of the treatment in the western medication group, Tongdu Tiaoqi acupuncture (acupuncture for unblocking the governor vessel and regulating qi ) was applied at Baihui (GV 20), Fengfu (GV 16), Hegu (LI 4), Zusanli (ST 36), etc. in the acupuncture combined with western medication group, once a day, 6 days a week. The treatment was given 8 weeks in both groups. Before and after treatment, the OMG clinical absolute score was observed, electrophysiological indexes of orbicularis oculi (value of mean jitter, percentage of jitter >55 μs and percentage of blocks) were measured by single-fiber electromyography (SFEMG), serum levels of acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR-Ab), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) were detected by ELISA method. RESULTS: After treatment, the OMG clinical absolute scores, values of mean jitter, percentages of jitter >55 μs, percentages of blocks and serum levels of AChR-Ab, IFN-γ and IL-4 were decreased compared before treatment in both groups (P<0.05), and those in the acupuncture combined with western medication group were lower than the western medication group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture combined with western medication can effectively improve ptosis, palpebra superior fatigability, eye movement disorder and neuromuscular junction dysfunction in patients with ocular myasthenia gravis, the therapeutic effect is superior to simple western medication. Its mechanism may be related to down-regulating serum levels of AChR-Ab, IFN-γ and IL-4 and promoting the recovery of orbicularis oculi function.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Facial Muscles ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; Interleukin-4 ; Myasthenia Gravis/drug therapy*

Objective:To establish a set of scientific and reasonable indicator system of common prosperity in the field of health, so as to promote the construction and evaluation of the demonstration area of common prosperity with high quality of health.Methods:According to the requirements of promoting common prosperity demonstration area with high quality of health in Zhejiang province, the initial indicator pool was established through literature research and theoretical analysis in July 2021, and experts were convened to carry out expert brainstorming to determine indicator system in the form of meetings. Delphi method was used to conduct two rounds of expert consultation on the indicator system.Finally, the analytic hierarchy process and percentage weight method were used to calculate the indicator weight value.Results:The final indicator system included 4 first-level indicators and 30 second-level indicators. Among the first-level indicators, the weight values of the development, equilibrium, inclusiveness, and sustainability were 0.326 4, 0.242 8, 0.245 8, and 0.185 0. There were 8 second-level indicators in developmental indicator dimension, of which the indicator with the highest weight was the per capita health expectancy. The balance indicator dimension included 6 second-level indicators, of which the indicator with the highest weight was the per capita financing difference of basic medical insurance between the urban workers with the urban-rural residents. The inclusive indicator dimension included 6 second-level indicators, and the proportion of personal health expenditure to total health expenditure had the highest weight. The sustainability indicator dimension included 10 second-level indicators, and the proportion of government health expenditure in fiscal expenditure had the highest weight.Conclusions:The indicator system constructed in this research could provide certain guidance and reference for promoting the construction of common prosperity in health, and provide some reference for follow-up research in this field.

Screening suitable reference genes is the premise of quantitative Real-time PCR(qRT-PCR)for gene expression analysis. To provide stable reference genes for expression analysis of genes in Aconitum vilmorinianum, this study selected 19 candidate re-ference genes(ACT1, ACT2, ACT3, aTUB1, aTUB2, bTUB, 18S rRNA, UBQ, eIF2, eIF3, eIF4, eIF5, CYP, GAPDH1, GAPDH2, PP2A1, PP2A2, ACP, and EF1α) based on the transcriptome data of A. vilmorinianum. qRT-PCR was conducted to profile the expression of these genes in the root, stem, leaf, and flower of A. vilmorinianum. The Ct values showed that 18S rRNA with high expression level and GAPDH2 with large expression difference among organs were not suitable as the reference genes. NormFinder and geNorm showed similar results of the expression stability of the other candidate reference genes and demonstrated PP2A1, EF1α, and CYP as the highly stable ones. However, BestKeeper suggested EF1α, ACT3, and PP2A1 as the top stable genes. In view of the different results from different softwares, the geometric mean method was employed to analyze the expression stability of the candidate re-ference genes, the results of which indicated that PP2A1, EF1α, and ACT3 were the most stable. Based on the comprehensive analysis results of geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and geometric mean method, PP2A1 and EF1α presented the most stable expression in different organs of A. vilmorinianum. PP2A1 and EF1α were the superior reference genes for gene expression profiling in different organs of A. vilmorinianum.
Aconitum ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, Plant/genetics* ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reference Standards ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase (IDI) is a key enzyme in the regulation of triterpenes biosynthesis and plays an important role in ginsenoside biosynthesis. In this study, two IDI genes, PvfIDI1 (GenBank No. MZ736417) and PvfIDI2 (GenBank No. MZ736418) were cloned from Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus. The open reading frame of both PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 was 924 bp encoding 307 amino acids. The molecular weights of PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 were 34.84 kDa and 34.66 kDa, respectively, with theoretical pIs of 6.01 and 5.66. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 contained two conserved sequences: TNTCCSHPL and WGEHELDY. Phylogenetic analysis showed that PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 were closely related to Panax notoginseng IDI. Expression analysis showed that both PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 genes are expressed in root, rhizome, stem and leaf of P. vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus. However, PvfIDI1 is highly expressed in the rhizome and PvfIDI2 is highly expressed in the stem. PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 recombinant proteins were expressed in E. coli; a functional coloration experiment showed that PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 could promote the accumulation of lycopene, indicating that both PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 encode functional IDI enzymes. The cloning and functional studies on PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 provide a foundation for the further study of IDI and the regulation of ginsenoside biosynthesis in P. vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus.

Objective To establish a method for determination of escitalopram in biological samples by ultrasound-assisted ionic liquid-dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （GC-MS/MS） and provide evidences for forensic determination of cases related to escitalopram. Methods The 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate （[C₆MIM][PF₆]） was selected as an extract solvent to process biological samples. Ultrasound-assisted extraction was used on the samples. Then the samples were detected by GC-MS/MS. Results The linear range of escitalopram in blood and liver were 5.56-1 111.10 ng/mL and 0.025-5.00 mg/g, respectively. The correlation coefficient （r） were greater than 0.999, limit of detection （LOD） were 4.00 ng/mL and 2.00 μg/g, limit of quantitation （LOQ） were 14.00 ng/mL and 6.00 μg/g, respectively. The extraction recovery rates were all greater than 50%, the interday and intraday precision were less than 20%. Escitalopram was detected in blood and liver samples from the actual poisoning case by this method with a content of 1.26 μg/mL and 0.44 mg/g, respectively. Conclusion The ultrasound-assisted ionic liquid-dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with GC-MS/MS is environment friendly, rapid, has good enriching effect and consumes less organic solvent and can be used for forensic determination of escitalopram related cases.
Citalopram ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Limit of Detection ; Liquid Phase Microextraction ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Objective:To investigate the mechanism of Sinisan in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus（T2DM） based on network pharmacology. Method:Based on electronic databases， active ingredients of Sinisan and target genes of ingredients as well as type 2 diabetes were screened out. Cytoscape software was applied to construct "herb-active ingredient-target-disease" interaction network diagram，respectively. The common genes of ingredients and disease were uploaded to the STRING database， and the protein interaction network map （PPI） was constructed. CytoNCA and Cluster Marker were used to analyze PPI，respectively. Finally，ClueGO was used to analyze gene ontology （GO） enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of genes and genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment. Result:A total of 137 active components and 110 effective genes of Sinisan in the treatment of type 2 diabetes were screened out. Based on PPI analysis，these effective genes were divided into 4 different clusters， and 12 genes were considered as the most effective targets. GO enrichment analysis showed that cluster 1 mainly involved acute inflammatory response and acetylcholine receptor signaling pathway， cluster 2 mainly involved cellular response to steroid hormone stimulu and xenobiotic stimulus，and cluster 3 was mainly engaged in the metabolism process of protein，fatty and glucose and the response to hypoxia. KEGG analysis was highly correlated with advanced glycation end products-receptor for AGE （AGE-RAGE） pathway，apoptosis pathway，inflammatory pathway，cell cycles and various metabolic pathways. Conclusion:Sinisan has a regulatory effect in pathogenesis and prognosis of T2DM，such as inflammation，cell apoptosis and nutrition metabolism. Moreover，its potential mechanisms on diabetic angiopathies，diabetic cognitive impairment and cancers were reveal，so as to define a direction for the fundamental research of Sinisan.