OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect of mustard seed on allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) in mice and explore the mechanism.

METHODSEighteen BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal control group, model group and mustard seed group. The mice in the normal control group and model group were fed with normal chow, and those in mustard seed group were given 5% mustard seed mixed in the chow. Three weeks later, ACD was induced on the ear using 2, 4-dinitrofluorobenzene. After 24 h, the swelling of the ear was examined, and the rats were sacrificed to collect the ear tissue ears and blood for histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations, RT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSIn mice with ACD, feeding with mustard seeds significantly lessened the ear swelling, improved the tissue histopathology, lowered the number of infiltrating Langerhans cells, and reduced the expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA in the ear, but did not cause significant changes in serum levels of IL-4, IFN-γ and IL-17.

CONCLUSIONMustard seed inhibits ACD in mice possibly by suppressing the expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA and inhibiting Langerhans cell migration in the epidermis.

Animals ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Dinitrofluorobenzene ; adverse effects ; Female ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mustard Plant ; Seeds ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like inflammation in mice and the therapeutic effects of mustard seed (Sinapis Alba Linn).

METHODSThirty BALB/c mice were randomized equally into blank control group (fed with normal forage and treated with vehicle), model group (fed with normal forage and treated with 5% imiquimod cream), and experimental group (fed with 5% mustard seed forage and treated with 5% imiquimod cream). RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and caspase-11. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the expression and distribution of ASC and caspase-1. ELISA was used to test the serum levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, the mice with imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like inflammation showed significantly increased NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and caspase-11 mRNA expressions, ASC and caspase-1 protein expressions , and serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18 (P<0.05). These changes were obviously attenuated by feeding the mice with mustard seed.

CONCLUSIONNLRP3 inflammasome is involved in imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like inflammation in mice, and mustard seed may suppress the inflammation induced by IL-1β and IL-18 through down-regulating the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome.

Aminoquinolines ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; Caspase 1 ; metabolism ; Female ; Inflammasomes ; metabolism ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Interleukin-18 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mustard Plant ; chemistry ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein ; Phytotherapy ; Psoriasis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Seeds ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the sleep quality of inland military officers and soldiers stationed and trained at plateau and its possible influence factors.Methods A total of 459 military officers and soldiers stationed and trained at plateau were performed the on site psychological assessment by adopting the psychological stress self-evaluation test (PSET),Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI),work related fatigue feelings (WRFFQ) and self compiled general data questionnaire.Results (1) The mean value of overall sleep quality in militaries stationed and trained at plateau was 5.61-±-3.48.40.5 ％ of respondents had good sleep quality,25.3％ had poor sleep quality and 34.2％ had general sleep quality.(2)The fatigue and psychological stress scores in the militaries with poor sleep quality were significantly higher than those in the militaries with good sleep quality (t1 =10.70,t2 =-9.68,P＜0.01).(3)The psychological stress,fatigue degree,confidence level of self-assessment health status had significantly positive correlation(r =0.517,0.488,0.259,0.352,P＜ 0.01).(4) The psychological stress,fatigue degree,confidence level of self-assessment health status entered the PSQI total score regression equation,moreover the predictive variation amount was 36.1％.Conclusion The psychological stress status and fatigue level in the militaries at plateau affect the sleep quality,and the confidence degree and health status assessment of officers and soldiers on exercise also produce the active influence on sleep.

Objective To observe the effect of Tomatis converted auditory training on the executive functioning of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.Methods Eighty breast cancer patients with the executive dysfunction who were undergoing chemotherapy were divided into a control group and an experimental group,each of 40.The experimental group was given Tomatis high and low frequency auditory training,while the control group was given ordinary music training.The patients in both groups were treated in 4 stages,each of 5 consecutive days with intervals of 21 days.The Chinese Version of the Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS) was used to evaluate both groups before and after the intervention,including rule transformation ability,problem solving ability,planning ability,supervising ability and organizing ability.Results After the intervention,the experimental group had a significantly higher average score than before the intervention in the rule-switching card test,the action planning test,the key-finding test,and the modified six-element test.Their average BADS score was also significantly improved.The control group showed a significantly better average score only in the key-finding test and in its average BADS total score.After the intervention,the experimental group had a significantly higher average score than the control group in the rule-switching card test and the action planning and six-element tests.Its average BADS rating was also significantly better.Conclusion Tomatis high and low frequency auditory training can improve the executive function of patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer.Its effect is better than that of ordinary music training.

Objective To observe the effect of TOMATIS auditory training on improving cognitive and post-traumatic stress disorder in patients after breast cancer chemotherapy. Methods Eighty invasive ductal carcinoma of breast cancer patients with cognition and psychological disorders were selected in the breast department of Tangshan People's Hospital from October 2016 to September 2017. All patients were randomly divided into control group ( n=40) and experimental group ( n=40) . The experimental group was given the TOMATIS high and low audio frequency auditory training,and the control group was given ordinary music training. Before and after the intervention, the Chinese version of the Montreal cognitive assessment scale ( MoCA) and the post-traumatic stress disorder scale ( PTSD-SS) were evaluated for both groups of pa-tients. Results After the intervention,the experimental group had significantly higher scores in visual struc-ture skills((3. 83±0. 71)vs(2. 68±0. 57)),executive function ((2. 23±0. 53)vs(1. 55±0. 50)),attention and concentration((1. 55±0. 78)vs(1. 23±0. 53)),language((1. 50±0. 75)vs(1. 08±0. 47)),calculation ((2. 00±0. 60)vs(1. 45±0. 75)),abstract thinking((1. 63±0. 54)vs(1. 00±0. 51)),memory((4. 68± 0. 47)vs(2. 70±0. 72)),directive force((5. 25±0. 54)vs(3. 90±0. 81)) and total score((22. 65±2. 89)vs (15. 58±2. 10))than the control group(all P<0. 05). After intervention,the scores of subjective assessment of traumatic events((2. 60±0. 63)vs(3. 98±0. 62)),repeated recurring experiences((24.05±2.72)vs (26. 70±2. 28)),avoidance symptoms((24. 35±1. 64)vs(26. 40±1. 19)),increased alertness((24. 23± 1. 80)vs(25. 45±1. 20)),impaired social function((7. 28±1. 01)vs(8. 68±0. 66)),and total scores((85. 85±5. 13)vs(94. 63±2. 92)) in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant ( all P<0. 01) . Conclusion TOMATIS auditory train-ing can effectively improve the cognitive function and psychological state in breast cancer chemotherapy pa-tients,which is worthy of popularization and application.

Objective To investigate the occurrence of common symptoms in breast cancer patients in different chemotherapy periods and to analyze the relationship with the chemotherapy periods. Methods A total of four hundred and fifty?six breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in Tangshan Cancer Hospital from August 2016 to August 2017 were investigated via common symptom questionnaire among breast cancer patients. The results of the investigation were statistically analyzed, and the relationship between chemotherapy related symptoms and chemotherapy periods was analyzed by multiple Logistic regression analysis. Results In terms of the 20 kinds of chemotherapy symptoms, among the patients whose incidence rate was >50％ had 9 kinds of symptoms. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that alopecia (95％ CI=5. 820～562. 784,P=0. 001) ,skin allergy ( 95％ CI=0. 002～0. 157,P<0. 001) ,cancer caused insomnia( 95％ CI=1. 179～25. 638, P=0. 030) ,dry mouth ( 95％ CI=0. 008～0. 470,P=0. 007) ,vaginal dryness or burning heat ( 95％ CI=13. 368～647. 615 P<0. 001) ,oral ulcer ( 95％CI=0. 026～0. 654,P=0. 013) ,abnormal defecation ( 95％ CI=0. 025～0. 749,P=0. 022),memory loss (95％CI=1. 065～19. 415,P=0. 041),distal phalanges numbness (95％ CI=0. 004～0. 421,P=0. 007),poor appetite (95％ CI=1. 189～65. 964,P=0. 033),local skin irritation /ulceration ( 95％ CI=0. 003～0. 143, P<0. 001 ) were associated with the chemotherapy, the difference was statistically significant. The above symptoms can be divided into 3 symptom groups by factor analysis,and they were respectively medicine side effect symptom cluster, neuropsychiatric symptom cluster and mucocutaneous symptom cluster. Conclusion There are many symptom clusters that affect the life and rehabilitation level in patients with breast cancer during chemotherapy, and are closely related with the chemotherap cycle. Doctors should adopt a scientific model of symptom management and take measures to improve the survival state of the patients.

[Objective]Depression is a common mental illness with a profound impact on physical health.Depression has been associated with a higher risk of bacterial infection;however,whether this relationship is causal and how depression affects infection remains unclear.Therefore,we aimed to investigate the effects of depressive phenotype in infected mice by constructing a chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)model.[Methods]Mice were induced with CUMS for 4 weeks.The depressive phenotype was evaluated using behavioral tests.Subsequently,the mice were intraperitoneally injected with Klebsiella pneumoniae to establish bacterial infection.Serum and abdominal tissues were collected 48 h after infection.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to observe the pathological changes in the tissues,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to measure the levels of inflammatory factors.In addition,the fecal samples collected before infection were analyzed for 16S rDNA gene of gut microbiota,and the expression levels of NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway in colon tissues of uninfected mice were detected.[Results]Behavioral tests showed that compared with the control mice,CUMS mice had significantly lower body weight(P<0.0001,t=5.426),lower sucrose preference rate(P<0.001,t=4.937),increased swimming stationary time(P<0.001,t=16.37),and decreased time spent in the central area of the open field(P<0.01,t=3.575).Survival analysis showed that compared with the control mice,the survival rate of CUMS mice significantly decreased after infection(P<0.05).Additionally,histochemical staining showed that tissue damage in the liver(P<0.05,t=4.025),kidney(P<0.05,t=2.828),and mesentery(P<0.01,t=5.367)significantly increased.Furthermore,ELISA results showed that the levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6(P<0.01,t=3.365),IL-1β(P<0.01,t=4.061),TNF-α(P<0.01,t=4.460)and LPS(P<0.0001,t=27.24)were elevated.The difference was statistically significant.According to 16S rDNA sequencing,CUMS-induced changes in the intestinal bacterial community structure of mice,making them significantly different from the control mice.Compared with the control mice,the expression levels of NF-κB(P<0.01,t=6.825)and NLRP3(P<0.001,t=9.561)were upregulated in CUMS mice.[Conclusion]The CUMS model was successfully constructed and CUMS mice developed more severe bacterial infection.Gut microbiota was dysregulated and the expression of NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway was up-regulated in CUMS mice,which was related to the susceptibility to bacterial infection.