Objective To propose a new multi-joint series venipuncture system, explore the mechanics and kinematics-based related control problems involved in needle insertion and needle picking during the puncture process, and verify feasibility of this system. Methods A puncture manipulator was built, and needle displacement control algorithm was proposed by combing with the puncture mechanics model. The the forward kinematics was calculated by using DH method, so as to obtain the tip coordinates. Then the inverse kinematics was calculated by using the geometric method. The forward and inverse processes were closely connected. The position error of the end coordinates before and after needle picking was compared by using the method of kinematics positive solution-inverse solution-re-positive solution. Finally, experimental verification and simulation were conducted by combining with the physical object. Results Through simulation and experiments, accuracy of the theoretical model was verified. The needle insertion algorithm could be used to achieve success with only one needle insertion, which provided theoretical basis for the control of robot arm. The position error before and after needle picking could be controlled within 1 mm from the end trajectory. The end needle tip of robot arm was almost kept fixed during the needle picking process. Therefore, this needle picking scheme was feasible and could basically verify that the needle picking action of robot arm met the accuracy and safety requirements. Conclusions The venipuncture manipulator truly simulates the needle insertion and needle picking action during the puncture process, and can safely and accurately realize the needle insertion and needle picking action with needle tip as the fixed point, indicating that it has certain clinical value.

Da Chaihu decoction is a classic prescription for the treatment of cholecystitis that is widely used in clinical practice, and has a definite curative effect. However, due to its diverse components and complex functions, the traditional indexes fail to capture its overall efficacy. Therefore, this study analyzed and predicted the quality markers (Q-markers) of Da Chaihu decoction based on specific chromatogram and network pharmacology to provide a reference for the comprehensive control of the quality. The study obtained 35 potential practical components of Da Chaihu decoction through virtual screening. The specific chromatogram of 15 batches of Da Chaihu decoction was established by HPLC-DAD with neohesperidin as a reference. Compared with the chromatographic peaks and the reference substance, the chemical components were assigned to predict the nine components of albiflorin, paeoniflorin, naringin, hesperidin, neohesperidin, baicalin, wogonoside, saikosaponin b₂, saikosaponin b₁ as Q-markers of Da Chaihu decoction. Finally, the network of the "components-key targets-signal pathways-biological processes" was constructed by network pharmacology to explore the mechanism of Da Chaihu decoction in treating cholecystitis to clarify the accuracy of Q-markers. The results indicated that potential Q-markers could act on multiple targets to regulate inflammatory and metabolism, and then combine to treat cholecystitis. Q-markers could combine with the pharmacologic action of Da Chaihu decoction, which could elucidate the overall efficacy of Da Chaihu decoction. This study explored the Q-markers of Da Chaihu decoction combined with the specific chromatogram and network pharmacology, which provided a basis for the quality control and evaluation of Da Chaihu decoction.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the applicability of two risk assessment methods for occupational health risk assessment in enterprises with 1-bromopropane(1-BP) production and utilization. METHODS: Three enterprises with 1-BP production and utilization were selected as the research subjects by a typical sampling method. The exposure concentration of time-weighted average of 1-BP-exposed in worker was detected. The non-carcinogenic health risk of 1-BP was assessed using the USA Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) inhalation risk(EPA assessment model) and the Ministry of Manpower of Singapore(MOM assessment model), and the results were compared. RESULTS: When the EPA method was used for the assessment, the risk assessment results of the four posts in the manufacturing enterprises were all negligible. In the enterprises that use 1-BP, the posts of cleaning machine B and clamping were of medium risk and the other four posts were of low risk based on the occupational exposure limit(OEL) in China used as the reference exposure concentration(RfC). When the 24-hour minimal risk level of USA Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry was used as the RfC, the posts of cleaning machine B and clamping were of extreme high risk; the posts in cleaning machine A and checking were of high risk; the post in the cleaning machine D was of medium risk and the post of cleaning machine C was of low risk. When the MOM assessment model was used for evaluation, the four posts were of low risk in the 1-BP production enterprises. In the enterprises that use 1-BP, the posts of cleaning machine B and clamping were of high risk; the posts of cleaning machine A, cleaning machine D and checking were of medium risk; and the post of cleaning machine C was of low risk. CONCLUSION: When the OEL value is used for risk assessment, the MOM assessment method is more suitable than the EPA assessment method to assess occupational health risks of 1-BP.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infections in Elaphurus davidianus released to Poyang Lake areas and evaluate the impact of the project of “E. davidianus released to wild environments for natural reproduction and growth” “(E. davidianus return home project”) on the transmission of schistosomiasis in Poyang Lake areas. Methods During the period from April 2018 to December 2019, the population distribution, inhabiting activity and natural reproduction of E. davidianus released to Poyang Lake areas were investigated by means of GPS and artificial observations. The S. japonicum infection was identified in animal feces in E. davidianus inhabitats using a hatching test, and snail distribution was surveyed in E. davidianus inhabiting grass islands using a systematic sampling method. Results A total of 51 E. davidianus were released to the Poyang Lake areas in 2018, which subsequently produced 5 E. davidianus habitats in Yinlong Lake, Longkou, Nanchi Lake, Lianzi Lake and Zhu Lake. E. davidianus was found to predominantly inhibit in grass islands, farmlands and forest lands in hilly regions around the Poyang Lake areas. The natural reproduction rate of E. davidianus was 25% in the habitats in 2019, and the mean density of snails was 0.009 to 0.039 snails/0.1 m² in E. davidianus inhabitats; however, no S. japonicum infection was identified in snails. In addition, the mean densities of wild E. davidianus and bovine feces were 4.6 samples/hm² and 2.1 samples/hm², Conclusions The E. davidianus released to Poyang Lake areas may get infections with S. japonicum, and cause schistosomiasis transmission through fecal contamination in grass islands. The impact on and the prevalence of S. japonicum infection was 4.35% and 13.16% (P = 0.236), respectively; however, the intensities of S. japonicum infections were “+++” and “+”, respectively. Conclusions The E. davidianus released to Poyang Lake areas may get infections with S. japonicum, and cause schistosomiasis transmission through fecal contamination in grass islands. The impact on local schistosomiasis transmission and the response strategy requires to be investigated following the release of E. davidianus to lake regions, to ensure the achievement of the goal of schistosomiasis elimination and the successful implementation of the “E. davidianus return home project” in Poyang Lake areas.

Natural products have been a major source of leading compounds in drug discovery. How to effectively screen active compounds from complex matrix remains an interesting topic. In this review, we comprehensively summarized advanced liquid chromatography based approaches in natural products screening, including pre-column, on-column and post-column screening methods. Their advantages, disadvantages and prospect are also discussed.

Objective To analyze the surveillance data after schistosomiasis transmission interruption from 1985 to 2018, so as to provide scientific basis for the future prevention and control of schistosomiasis. Methods The data pertaining to snail survey, surveillance of schistosomiasis in humans and livestock, and health education were collected and analyzed in Songjiang District after schistosomiasis transmission interruption from 1985 to 2018. Results From 1985 to 2018, there were 8 townships, 68 villages and 1 462 settings with snails in Songjiang District, covering an area of 96.399 hm². There were 4 townships and 59 villages with snails newly identified in previously schistosomiasis non-endemic areas, with emerging snail habitats of 60.161 hm². A total of 26 148 snails were captured, and no infections were detected. The snail habitats were mainly distributed in the river course, ditches and farmlands, which accounted for 45.28%, 33.17% and 21.55% of total snail habitats, respectively. A total of 245 955 humans were subjected to the serological test, with a positive rate of 0.03%, and 37 humans were subjected to the parasitological test, with 3 positives detected. These three egg-positives were all imported chronic cases with schistosomiasis. A total of 9 109 livestock were detected using the serological test, and no infection was found. Most of the awareness rate of schistosomiasis control knowledge and the rate of correct behavior formation were over 80% in residents and students. Conclusions The achievements of schistosomiasis control are consolidated in Songjiang District; however, there are still risk factors of schistosomiasis transmission, including residual snails, snail diffusion and importation of external source of infection. The future surveillance of schistosomiasis should focus on snails and sources of infection.

Objective: This research aimed to explore the therapeutic effect and its mechanism of pirfenidone in liver cirrhosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in mice. Methods: Sixty male C57 BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the control group, model group and different doses of pirfenidone group, twelve rats in each group. Mice were intraperitoneally injected with 20％ CCl4 soybean oil solution ( 5 ml/kg), twice a week for 7 weeks. And these mice were free to drink 20％ ethanol solution in the third week after building the model. The low, medium and high dose groups were respectively given 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of pirfenidone solution according to the body weights, while the model group and control group were given equal volume of blank solvent after building the model, once a day for 2 weeks. The serum level of ALT and AST, liver index, spleen index, the gene or protein expression level of TGF-β1 and Smad3 were analyzed before and after the treatment of pirfenidone. Results: The serum level of ALT, AST increased significantly in the model group ( P＜0. 05), while decreased significantly in different doses of pirfenidone group ( P＜0. 05). The liver and spleen index in the model group was significantly higher than that in the control group ( P＜0. 05). However, after treating with pirfenidone, the liver and spleen index were significantly lower than that in the model group ( P＜0. 05). The number of TGF-β1 positive cells in the model group was significantly more than that in the control group, but it was significantly decreased in the pirfenidone group. The gene expression level of Smad3 in the model group was significantly higher than that in the control group ( P＜0. 05). The gene expression level of TGF-β1 and Smad3 in different doses of pirfenidone group were significantly lower than that in the model group ( P＜ 0. 05). Meanwhile, the protein level of TGF-β1 and Smad3 were significantly increased in the model group, while decreased in the pirfenidone group. Conclusion: Pirfenidone relieves liver cirrhosis caused by carbon tetrachloride in mice by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

Parasitic diseases are common infectious diseases closely related to poverty,which are mainly endemic in the trop-ical and subtropical regions.Africa is the major epidemic area of parasitic diseases,and the global burden of malaria and schisto-somiasis is over 85% in Africa.This paper reviews the disease burden,regional distribution and control strategies of the main parasitic diseases in Africa,in order to promote the prevention and control of parasitic diseases in this area.

Objective:To investigate dynamic change of T helper 17 cells (Th17) and regulatory T cells(Treg) frequency in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg ) positive chronic hepatitis B patients receiving nucleoside analogues treatment . Methods:A total of 30 chronic hepatitis B patients with positive HBeAg were enrolled .All the patients received telbivudine antiviral treatment .The peripheral blood Treg cell frequency ,Th17 cell frequency and Th17/Treg ratio were detected before treatment and at 4th ,8th ,12th ,24th ,36th ,48th weeks after treatment .The total bilirubin in serum (TBIL) ,direct bilirubin in serum (DBIL ) ,alanine transaminase (ALT ) ,aspertate aminotransferase (AST ) ,hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV‐DNA ) and HBeAg level were detected and compared between before and after treatment .The correlations of Treg cell frequency and Th17 cell frequency with the indexes of TBIL ,DBIL ,ALT ,AST ,HBV‐DNA ,HBeAg were analyzed ,respectively .Results:Treg cell frequency was decreased then increased and reached the minimum point at 8th weeks after treatment .Th17 cell frequency decreased during treatment ;and Th17/Treg ratio decreased and was stable at 24th ,36th ,48th week after treatment .The levels of TBIL ,DBIL ,ALT ,AST ,HBV‐DNA and HBeAg were significantly decreased after treatment (P< 0 .05) .Treg cell frequency was positively correlated with HBV‐DNA and HBeAg levels ( P< 0 .05 ) . Th17 cell frequency was positively correlated with TBIL ,DBIL ,ALT and AST levels (P<0 .05) .Conclusions:Treg cell frequency ,Th17 cell frequency and Th17/Treg ratio shows dynamic changes during nucleoside analogues treatment for HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients .They are correlated with liver function indexes after treatment ;they can provide evidence for clinical treatment and prognosis evaluation .

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Shenfu Injection (SF) on the apoptosis of prostate cancer PC-3 cells and its possible mechanism.

METHODSWe divided prostate cancer PC-3 cells into a blank control group and three experimental groups, the latter treated with SF at 50, 100, and 200 microl/ml, respectively, for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Then we determined the proliferation of the cells by MTT assay, measured their apoptosis by Annexin V/PI flow cytometry, and detected the expression of P53 mRNA by RT-qPCR.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, the survival rates of the prostate cancer PC-3 cells in the 50, 100, and 200 microl/ml SF groups were (93.76 +/- 2.63)%, (81.21 +/- 1.80)% and (18.01 +/- 3.84)% at 24 hours, (94.67 +/-1.11)%, (78.33 +/- 2.89)% and (10.34 +/- 1.44)% at48 hours, and (91.30 +/- 0.47)%, (36.67 +/- 1.56)% and (1.33 +/- 0.32)% at 72 hours, all significantly increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The expression of p53 mRNA was also markedly increased in all the three experimental groups at 48 hours (P < 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSF can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of PC-3 cells, which may due to its upregulation of the p53 mRNA expression.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism