Objective To investigate the development trend of drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis in Jiangsu Province,and to provide the basis for further prevention and treatment of the disease.Methods In 2009,eight major counties were chosen,and in each county all diseased villages were classified into light,moderate and severe disease types according to water fluorine content based on historical data,and one village was chosen from each type.In monitoring villages with improved water,one source water and three tap water samples were collected,respectively.Five water samples were collected in water unimproved monitoring villages according to water well locations of the east,the west,the south,the north and the center.The fluorine content in water was determined according to the Standard Testing Methods for Drinking Water (GB/T 5750-2006).Children aged 8 to 12 were examined for dental fluorosis by Dean method.Residents over the age of 16 were examined for clinical osteofluorosis,and two monitoring counties were chosen,then one village was respectively chosen in each county,and clinically diagnosed patients with skeletal fluorosis were examined again by X-ray.Both clinical and X-ray diagnosis were on the basis of Diagnostic Criteria of Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis (WS 192-2008).Urine samples of 30 children aged 8 to 12 and of 20 adults over the age of 16 were randomly collected and urinary fluoride was determined by F-ion selective electrode method(WS/T 89-1996).Results Of all the 24 villages of 8 counties,20 villages were water improved,and water-improvedprojects ran normally in 18 villages,while scrapped in the rest 2 villages.One hundred and two samples were tested,and the mean of water fluoride in water-improved villages was 1.10 mg/L,while in water unimproved villages and villages with water improved projects scrapped was 1.90 mg/L.The prevalence of dental fluorosis was 42.51％(854/2009).The prevalence of clinical skeletal fluorosis was 23.23％ (2024/8713) and the X-ray detection rate was 32.00％ (24/75).Six hundred and sixty-four urine samples of children were determined,and geometric mean of urinary fluorine was 1.59 mg/L,while 370 adult urine samples were determined,and geometric mean of urinary fluorine was 2.20 mg/L.Conclusions Endemic fluorosis in Jiangsu Province has not been fully controlled and there are signs of recovery.We must pay attention to water improvement measures to reduce fluoride and the management and maintenance of water improvement projects,and further strengthen the prevention and control of endemic fluorosis.

In the previous study, a high-throughput screening method was established to find the antagonists of CD36. In the present study, a new compound named IMB-1680 was found using this method. The anti-atherosclerotic activities of IMB-1680 were then evaluated. Dose-dependent activities of IMB-1680 were detected by using Sf9 [hCD36] and CHO [hCD36] models. Fluorescence microscopic photography and flow cytometry were used to analyze uptake of mLDL. Foam cell test with RAW264.7 macrophages was used to examine lipid accumulation. The results showed that IMB-1680 inhibited CD36 activity with IC50 of 2.80 and 8.79 micromol x L(-1) in Sf9[hCD36] and CHO [hCD36] cells, respectively. Fluorescence microscopic photography and flow cytometry revealed that IMB-1680 could significantly reduce DiI-AcLDL uptake. Meanwhile, IMB-1680 also could reduce lipids accumulation in RAW264.7 macrophages. In all, the data indicated that IMB-1680 might be a potent effective anti-atherosclerotic leading compound.
Animals ; CD36 Antigens ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; CHO Cells ; Cells, Cultured ; Cricetulus ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Foam Cells ; cytology ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; cytology ; metabolism ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Plasmids ; Receptors, Scavenger ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Sf9 Cells ; Spodoptera ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of dl-tetrahydropalmatine(dl-THP) on liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CC4) in mice.

METHODMice were administracted with dl-tetrahydropalmatine ip 20, 40 mg x kg(-1) daily for 9 d respectively, and then actue liver injury model was induced by 0.1% carbon tetrachloride ip 20 mL x kg(-1). The mice were killed 17 h after injection ip of CCl4, serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferase (ALT and AST) activity were measured, and maleic dialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity in liver were detected.

RESULTdl-THP significantly reduced the level of serum ALT and AST, inhibited lipoperxidation in liver, while increased SOD activity in liver tissue. Degeneration of hepatocytes was obviously prevented in mice treated with dl-THP, and the liver histological structure was well maintained.

CONCLUSIONdl-THP has inhibitory effects on liver injury induced by CCl4 in mice. The mechanisms may be related with its effects of reducing lipid peroxidation product.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Berberine Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Memory encoding and memory retrieval are two important processes of the memory. The main results of studies on the neural basis of the memory encoding and memory retrieval by functional magnetic resonance image (fMRI) technique were summarized in this review. The neural basis of memory encoding and retrieval phases varies with different materials, memory types, and age stages. It means that the neural networks of these memory activities are separate. The functional locations of the activated brain areas during memory encoding and during memory retrieval phases are overlapped with distinction. The activated brain areas of memory encoding mainly locate in the prefrontal lobe, the temporal lobe, the parietal lobe, the anterior hippocampus, the thalamus, and the basal ganglia (including the striatum and the marginal division of the striatum). The activated brain areas of memory retrieval mainly locate in the prefrontal lobe, the temporal lobe, the entorhinal cortex, the perirhinal cortex, the posterior hippocampus, the thalamus, and the basal ganglia. The anterior hippocampus is mainly activated during the encoding phase, whereas posterior hippocampus is mainly activated during the retrieval phase. The intensity of the activated cerebral cortex regions during the encoding phase is stronger than that during the retrieval phase, whereas the opposite activated pattern is found in the subcortical structures, mainly the basal ganglia and thalamus, during the two phases. It seems that the stimulation might activate certain cerebral cortex areas during the memory encoding phase, then the information is transported to the subcortical structures and comes back to the cerebral cortex to complete the memory retrieval phase. The encoding and retrieval phases of the memory are supposed to be accomplished by a neural circuit among the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus and cerebral cortex, rather than the cerebral cortex only.
Brain ; physiology ; Brain Mapping ; Cerebral Cortex ; physiology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Memory

OBJECTIVETo study the pathologic change and molecular regulation in cell proliferation and apoptosis of gastric mucosa in rats with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), and evaluate the possible mechanisms.

METHODSRats were administered with 60% alcohol or 2% salicylate sodium, 20 mmol/L deoxycholate sodium and 0.1% ammonia water to establish chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) models. The gastric specimens were prepared for microscopic view with hematoxylin and eosin (H-E) and alcian blue (A-B) stain. The number of infiltrated inflammatory cells, the thickness of the mucosa gland layer (microm) and the number of gastric glands were calculated. The damage of barrier in mucosa with erosion or ulceration, and the thickness of mucin were examined by scanned electron microscope (SEM). The levels of PGE(2), EGF (epiderminal growth factor) and gastrin in the serum were measured with radioimmunoassay or ELISA method. The immunohistochemistry method was used to observe the number of G cells, the expression of protein of EGFR (EGF receptor), C-erbB-2, p53, p16 and bcl-2 in gastric tissue.

RESULTSUnder SEM observation, the gastric mucosa was diffused erosion or ulceration and the thickness of mucin was decreased. Compared with normal rats, the grade of inflammatory cell infiltration in CAG rats was elevated, whereas the thickness and number of gastric gland were significantly lower (P<0.05). Compared with normal level of (0.61+/-0.28) microg/L, EGF in CAG (2.24+/-0.83) microg/L was significantly higher (P<0.05). The levels of PGE(2) and gastrin in serum were significantly lower in CAG rats than that in normal rats (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry detection showed that the number of G cell in antrum was lower in CAG group (P<0.05). Immuno-stain showed EGFR protein expression in the basal and bilateral membrane, and the cytoplasma in atrophic gastric gland, while negative expression was observed in normal gastric epithelial cells. Positive staining of p53 and p16 protein was localized in the nucleus of epithelial cells. The former was higher positively expressed in atrophic gland, while the later was higher positively stained in normal gastric tissue. bcl-2 protein was positively stained in the cytoplasma in atrophic gastric gland, while very weakly stained in normal gastric tissue.

CONCLUSIONThe pathological findings in gastric gland accorded with the Houston diagnostic criteria of antrum-predominant CAG. CAG in rats was related with the damage of barrier in gastric mucosa and the misbalance of cell proliferation and apoptosis. There was high protein expression of oncogene, while inhibitor of suppressor gene in CAG rats indicated high trend of carcinogenesis.

Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; blood ; Gastric Mucosa ; chemistry ; pathology ; Gastrins ; blood ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; analysis ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical effect of squeezing and clapping bone setting manipulation in treating the postpartum pubis symphysis separation.

METHODSFrom June 2015 to March 2017, 80 patients with postpartum pubic symphysis separation were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, 40 patients in each group. In treatment group, the patients' reproductive age ranged from 26 to 40 years old with an average of (30.61±5.94) years old and the neonatal weight ranged from 3.2 to 4.52 kg with an average of (3.59±0.13) kg. In control group, patients' reproductive age ranged from 22 to 37 years old with an average age of (27.51±4.57) years old and the neonatal weight ranged from 3 to 5.8 kg with an average of (3.81±0.63) kg. The patients in the treatment group were treated with the squeezing and clapping manipulation, once a week for 3 weeks. The patients in the control group were treated with pelvic bandage immobilization, and the immobilization of the pelvis was not less than 8 hours per day, 3 weeks for 1 course. The VAS pain score, Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) and separation distance of pubis were clinical observed and evaluated on the first day of treatment, 1, 2, 3 weeks and 1 months after treatment.

RESULTSThe pubic symphysis VAS score was compared with that before treatment, in the treatment group, the difference was statistically significant at 1 week(0.013); the difference was statistically significant in the control group for 1 month (0.042). The two groups were less than those of the control group after treatment (<0.05). The ODI score was compared with that before the treatment, in the treatment group, the difference was statistically significant at 1 week (0.009), the difference was statistically significant in the control group for 1 month(0.013), the two groups were less than those before treatment(<0.05). The pubic symphysis distance was compared with that before treatment, the treatment group decreased significantly after treatment (<0.05), there was no significant difference in the control group after treatment (>0.05), the two groups were compared, the difference was statistically significant at first weeks(0.042) and third weeks (0.005).

CONCLUSIONSThe "squeezing and clapping" manipulation can quickly restore the distance between pubic symphysis separation, relieve local pain and improve lumbosacral function, and is better than pelvic bandage fixation treatment.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the hypoglycemic characteristics of hospitalized elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODSFrom January, 2014 to December, 2015, the data of 58 565 blood measurements using a standard blood glucose monitoring system (BGMS) were collected from 1187 cases of patients with type 2 diabetes during hospitalization in the Department of Endocrinology, Guangdong General Hospital (Guangzhou, China). Stratified analyses were conducted by dividing the patients into 3 age groups, namely <45 years group (128 cases), 45-64 years group (594 cases), and ≥65 years group (465 cases). The incidence and time distribution of hypoglycemia in these patients were compared among the 3 age groups.

RESULTSThe risk of hypoglycemia increased with age. Compared with those below 45 years of age, the patients beyond or equal to 65 years had a significantly increased hypoglycemic density (0.95% vs 0.40%, P<0.001), a higher proportion of patients with hypoglycemia (28.17% vs 10.94%, P<0.001), and greater patient-days with hypoglycemia (4.48% vs 1.76%, P<0.001). In the elderly patients, hypoglycemia occurred most frequently before dawn, at which time the hypoglycemic density was 2.66% in patients ≥65 years of age, significantly higher than that in patients below 45 years (1.09%, P<0.05) and between 45 and 64 years (1.90%, P<0.05); the proportion of patients with hypoglycemia was also significantly higher in the elderly patients (14.57%) than in those below 45 years (3.77%, P<0.02) and between 45 and 64 years (9.42%, P<0.02). The proportion of patients with recurrent hypoglycemia (≥2 times) was significantly higher in patients ≥65 years (13.33%) than in younger patients (2.34% in <45 years group and 9.43% in 45-64 years group, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe hypoglycemic risk in hospitalized elderly patients with T2DM is significantly higher than that in younger patients, especially before dawn and in terms of recurrent hypoglycemia. Clinicians should develop differential blood glucose monitoring and management strategies for these elderly patients to improve the clinical safety.

OBJECTIVETo observe the difference in the efficacy on traumatic nerve injury among electroacupuncture, warm needling therapy and electroacupuncture plus warm needling therapy and explore the better therapeutic method.

METHODSThe electromyography (EMG) and electroneurography (ENG) of 93 cases showed traumatic nerve injury of moderate damage. According to the single blind randomization principle, they were divided into an electroacupuncture (EA) group, a warm needling therapy (WN) group and an EA plus WN group, 31 cases in each one. The main acupoints were selected from Yangming Meridian and Shaoyang Meridian corresponding to the distribution of damaged nerves. EA, WN and EA plus WN were applied separately. The treatment was given once every day, 15 treatments made one session. After 3 sessions of treatment (45 treatments in total), EMG and ENG were re-checked and the results were analyzed statistically.

RESULTSRegarding the total effective rate and effective rate, it was 96. 8% (30/31) in the EA plus WN group, which was better than 74.2% (23/31) in the EA group and 77. 4% (24/31) in the WN group (P<0. 05). Concerning to the improvements of EMG, the result in the EA plus WN group was 96.8% (30/31), which was better than the other two groups [74. 2%(23/31),74. 2%(23/31)] (P<0. 05). In terms of the recovery of nerve conduction and amplitude, the results in EA plus WN group [(50.9+/-4. 6)m/s,(8. 8+/-2. 9),microVx1 000] were better than the other two groups [(43.7+/-3.1)m/s,(4. 2+/-1. 9)microV X 1 000,(43. 8+/-3. 3)m/s,(4. 5+/-2. 2)microV X 1 000] (P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONEA combined with WN is a better therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of traumatic nerve injury.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Given the increasing incidence of neurodegenerative disease (ND), recent research efforts have intensified the search for curative treatments. Despite significant research, however, existing therapeutic options for ND can only slow down the progression of the disease, but not provide a cure. Light therapy (LT) has been used to treat some mental and sleep disorders. This review illustrates recent studies of the use of LT in patients with ND and highlights its potential for clinical applications. The literature was collected from PubMed through June 2020. Selected studies were primarily English articles or articles that could be obtained with English abstracts and Chinese main text. Articles were not limited by type. Additional potential publications were also identified from the bibliographies of identified articles and the authors' reference libraries. The identified literature suggests that LT is a safe and convenient physical method of treatment. It may alleviate sleep disorders, depression, cognitive function, and other clinical symptoms. However, some studies have reported limited or no effects. Therefore, LT represents an attractive therapeutic approach for further investigation in ND. LT is an effective physical form of therapy and a new direction for research into treatments for ND. However, it requires further animal experiments to elucidate mechanisms of action and large, double-blind, randomized, and controlled trials to explore true efficacy in patients with ND.
Animals ; Humans ; Neurodegenerative Diseases/therapy* ; Phototherapy ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

The fundamental principle of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is holism, and it is crucial for TCM to address the key issue of the "holistic view" of Chinese herbal medicine. While the overall regulatory effects of Chinese herbal medicine have been widely recognized, the holistic internal logic of individual ingredients of Chinese herbal medicines require further clarification. In order to comprehensively understand the mechanism of action of Chinese herbal medicine, this paper combined the holistic view of Chinese herbal medicine with differentiation thinking to explore the intrinsic logical relationships within Chinese herbal medicine. Starting from the perspective of the coexistence of multiple components in Chinese herbal medicine, this paper systematically examined the "self-consistent" phenomenon within single Chinese herbal medicine. This phenomenon refers to the consistent or opposing actions of various components in terms of their physical and chemical properties, pharmacokinetic effects, biological effects, flavors and properties, and TCM efficacy. The paper summarized various logical relationships of syndrome differentiation exhibited by the same Chinese herbal medicine, analyzed the underlying reasons, and focused on analyzing external factors affecting the "self-consistent" phenomenon in the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine, aiming to better elucidate the theoretical basis of the pharmacological effects of Chinese herbal medicine, further enrich the scientific connotation of the holistic view of Chinese herbal medicine, and provide theoretical guidance for the preparation process, compatibility patterns, and formulation design of Chinese herbal medicine.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*