Objective To investigate the effect of Matrine on the expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) in human rhabdomyosarcoma RD cells in vitro.Methods Cultured human rbabdomyosarcoma RD cells were divided into Matrine intervention groups (0.5 g/L,1.0 g/L and 1.5 g/L) and a control group.The proliferation-inhibition rates in RD cells treated with different concentrations of matrine were detected by methylthiazolyl blue colorimetric assay.Flow cytometry analysis was performed for the apoptosis rates of RD cells.Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to measure the XIAP mRNA expression.Results There was a significant difference in the proliferation-inhibition rates [0.5 g/L Matrine group:(15.84 ± 2.58)％,1.0 g/L Matrine group:(23.13 ±4.19)％,1.5 g/L Matrine group:(30.32 ±3.02)％,and the control group:(8.92 ± 1.23)％];apoptotic rates [0.5 g/L Matrine group:(12.33 ± 1.15)％,1.0 g/L Matrine group:(16.67 ± 0.99)％,1.5 g/L Matrine group:(25.33 ± 1.91)％,and the control group:(9.47 ± 0.96)％];XIAP mRNA expression(0.5 g/L Matrine group:0.633 ± 0.046,1.0 g/L Matrine group:0.441 ± 0.055,1.5 g/L Matrine group:0.326 ± 0.065,control group:0.794 ±0.029)in RD cells among 0.5 g/L,1.0 g/L,1.5 g/L Matrine groups and the control group (F =14.15,83.37,50.57,all P ＜ 0.05).The proliferation-inhibition and apoptotic rates in RD cells were gradually increased with the increasing Matrine concentration.The expression of XIAP mRNA was significantly decreased in different Matrine groups compared with the control group,exhibiting a dose-dependent manner.Conclusions Matrine can inhibit the proliferation of RD cells and induce the apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner,which may be related to the down-regulated XIAP mRNA.

Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation is closely associated with the progression of liver fibrosis.As an important component of the innate immune system,natural killer (NK) cells are enriched in the liver and play a key role in host defense against viral infection and tumor,and their anti-fibrotic effect has also been confirmed.NK cells can reduce liver fibrosis by killing early-activated or senescent HSCs or secreting interferon-γ.This article summarizes related research advances in recent years,and introduces the molecular immunological mechanism of NK cells in regulating HSCs and their potential anti-fibrotic effect based on the function and phenotype of NK cells and HSCs.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture in treating herpes zoster.Method Ninety patients with herpes zoster were randomized into treatment group 1, treatment group 2, and a control group, 30 cases in each group. Treatment group 1 was intervened by surround needling at Ashi points (deep needling, by 33 mm) plus electroacupuncture; treatment group 2 was by surround needling at Ashi points (superficial needling by 16 mm) plus electroacupuncture; the control group was by oral administration of Valacyclovir Hydrochloride tablets plus Vitamin B1. After 10-day treatment, the blister-breaking time, crust-forming time, and the time of falling-off of the crust, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were observed, and the clinical efficacies were compared.Result The recovery rate and total effective rate were respectively 73.3% and 93.3% in treatment group 1, versus 46.7% and 86.7% in treatment group 2, and 33.3% and 63.3% in the control group. The recovery rate of treatment group 1 was significantly different from that of treatment group 2 and the control group (P<0.01,P<0.05). The total effective rates of treatment group 1 and 2 were both significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.01,P<0.05). The blister-breaking time, crust-forming time, and crust falling-off time of treatment group 1 were significantly different from that of treatment group 2 and the control group (P<0.01,P<0.05). The crust-forming time and falling-off time of treatment group 2 were significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.05). The VAS scores were markedly changed after the intervention in the three groups (P<0.01). After the treatment, the VAS scores of treatment group 1 and 2 were significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.01). The VAS score of treatment group 1 was markedly different from that of treatment group 2 after the treatment (P<0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture is an effective method in treating herpes zoster, while deep surround needling at Ashi points plus electroacupuncture can effectively inhibit the development of blisters, promote crust-forming, release the neural pain, and reduce the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia.

Objective:To observe the influence of multi-disciplinary cooperation and optimization management mode on the negative situation and rehabilitation effect of patients with affective disorder after coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease.Methods:A total of 188 patients with emotional disorders caused by coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease from January 2017 to December 2018 to our hospital were selected. According to the random number method, 94 cases in the control group adopted the conventional management model, and 94 cases in the experimental group adopted the multidisciplinary collaborative optimization management model. The negative emotions [evaluated by Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale(SDS) ] scores before and after management, the coping style (Jalowies) scores, and quality of life [evaluated by World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) ] scores were compared between the two groups. The clinical rehabilitation effect and satisfaction rate of related management between the two groups were compared.Results:There were no significant differences between the two groups before management of SAS scores, SDS scores, Jalowies scores, and WHOQOL-BREF quality of life scores ( P> 0.05). After management, the SAS scores and SDS scores of the two groups were significantly reduced, and the Jalowies scores and WHOQOL-BREF quality of life scores were significantly increased. After management, the SAS score and SDS score of the experimental group were 47.32±5.68, 49.93±6.49 and 54.95±6.59, 55.33±8.30 in the control group, the difference was significant between two groups ( t value was 8.503, 4.969, P<0.01). The Jalowies scores and WHOQOL-BREF scores of the experimental group were higher than those of the control group ( t value was -27.662--4.290, P<0.01). The total effective rate of rehabilitation in the experimental group was 98.94%(93/94), which was significantly higher than 90.43%(85/94) in the control group, the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 value was 6.760, P <0.05). The total satisfaction rate of the experimental group for management intervention was 100.00%(94/94), which was significantly higher than the total satisfaction rate of the control group, 91.49%(86/94), the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 value was 6.397, P <0.05). Conclusions:In the patients with affective disorder caused by coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease, multi-disciplinary cooperation and optimization management mode can significantly reduce the negative emotions of patients after management, improve the way of patients to deal with the disease, effectively improve the clinical rehabilitation effect and the quality of life of patients, improve the satisfaction rate of patients with management, shorten the distance between nurses and patients, and achieve ideal results.

Objective To investigate the effect of norcantharidin on growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis of human rectal cancer Colo 320 cells. Methods Norcantharidin (NCTD) in different concentrations were added to rectal cancer Colo 320 cells. Morphological characteristics of apoptosis were observed using the light microscope and transmission electron microscope. The expressions of Bag-1 and Bcl-2 proteins were tested by Western blotting. The growth inhibition of Colo 320 cells on the cell cycle was observed by flow cytometry. Results The apoptosis morphological changes of Colo 320 cells were observed by the light microscope and transmission electron microscopy. Flow cytometry analysis showed that the cell count of G2/M phase in experimental group was higher than that in control group ( <0.05) but the cell counts of G0/G1 and S phases have decreased in experimental group after treatment with NCTD at the concentrations of 5μg/mL, 10μg/mL and 20 μg/mL, and presented dosage dependence relations. The expressions of Bag-1 and Bcl-2 proteins have decreased. Conclusion Norcantharidin has inhibitory effect on rectal cancer Colo 320 cells, and the effect may be related to the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the value of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CEMRI) in the diagnosis of residual or recurrent lesion after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MethodsPubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang Data were searched for studies on CECT and/or CEMRI in the diagnosis of residual or recurrent lesion after TACE published up to April 2019. After two reviewers independently performed literature screening, data extraction, and assessment of the risk of bias using the QUADAS-2 tool, Stata 12.0 and RevMan 5.3 were used to analyze pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC). ResultsA total of 13 studies on CECT and 13 studies on CEMRI in the diagnosis of residual or recurrent HCC lesion after TACE were included, with 934 lesions from 748 patients and 847 lesions from 557 patients, respectively. High heterogeneity was observed in the 13 studies on CECT in the diagnosis of residual or recurrent HCC lesion after TACE (P=0.001, Q=12.56, I2=84.08%), while no significant heterogeneity was observed in the 13 studies on CEMRI (P=0.473, Q=0.11, I2=0). In the diagnosis of residual or recurrent HCC lesion after TACE, CECT had a sensitivity of 72% (95% confidence interval ［CI］: 66%-78%), a specificity of 99% (95% CI: 93%-100%), and an AUC of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.83-0.89), and CEMRI had a sensitivity of 88% (95% CI: 82%-93%), a specificity of 96% (95% CI: 91%-98%), and an AUC of 0.98 (95% CI: 0.96-0.99). CECT had a significantly lower sensitivity than CEMRI in the diagnosis of residual or recurrent HCC lesion after TACE (Z=2.12, P=0.03). ConclusionIn comparison with CECT, CEMRI has an extremely higher diagnostic efficiency in the diagnosis of residual or recurrent HCC lesion after TACE and is thus an effective method for diagnosis.

Objective:To investigate the influencing factors for celiac lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (TE-SCC), construct a prediction model of celiac lymph node metastasis in TE-SCC, and stratify the probability of celiac lymph node metastasis.Methods:The retrospective case-control study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 443 patients with TE-SCC who underwent thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy with systematic lymph node dissection in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between March 2015 and April 2019 were collected. There were 259 males and 184 females, aged from 41 to 81 years, with a median age of 64 years. The nomogram prediction model was constructed based on the results of multivariate analysis of influencing factors for celiac lymph node metastasis in TE-SCC, of which calibration curve and decision curve were drawed. The predictive performance was evaluated using the concordance index. The score for celiac lymph node metastasis in TE-SCC predicted by nomogram model was used for further recursive partitioning analysis, and patients were stratified into risk subgroups using the decision-making tree model. Observation indicators: (1) celiac lymph node metastasis in TE-SCC; (2) analysis of influencing factors for celiac lymph node metastasis in TE-SCC; (3) construction of nomogram prediction model of celiac lymph node metastasis in TE-SCC; (4) construction of decision-making tree model of celiac lymph node metastasis in TE-SCC and risk subgroup analysis of celiac lymph node metastasis probability. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M (range). Count data were represented as absolute numbers and percentages, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the chi-square test. Comparison of ordinal data between groups was analyzed using the nonparametric rank sum test. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Logistic regression model. Based on Logistic regression model multivariate analysis, a new nomogram model was constructed using the RStudio 3.4 software. Results:(1) Celiac lymph node metastasis in TE-SCC: celiac lymph node metastasis was found in 89 of the 443 patients, with a celiac lymph node metastasis rate of 20.09%(89/443). (2) Analysis of influencing factors for celiac lymph node metastasis in TE-SCC. Results of univariate analysis showed that tumor location, tumor length, tumor differentiation degree, pathological T staging, nerve invasion, vessel invasion, and thoracic lymph node metastasis were related factors for celiac lymph node metastasis in TE-SCC ( χ2=12.177, Z=-2.754, -4.218, -4.254, χ2=3.908, 33.025, 30.387, P<0.05). Results of multivariate analysis showed that tumor location, vessel invasion, and thoracic lymph node metastasis were independent influencing factors for celiac lymph node metastasis in TE-SCC ( odds ratio=2.165, 3.442, 2.876, 95% confidence interval: 1.380-3.396, 1.787-6.633, 1.631-5.071, P<0.05). (3) Construction of nomogram prediction model of celiac lymph node metastasis in TE-SCC: based on the factors screened by multivariate analysis, including tumor location, vessel invasion, and thoracic lymph node metastasis, the nomogram prediction model of celiac lymph node metastasis in TE-SCC was established, with the concordance index of 0.846. The calibration curve showed a high consistency between the celiac lymph node metastasis probability estimated by the prediction model and the actual rate of celiac lymph node metastasis. The decision curve showed that the nomogram prediction model of celiac lymph node metastasis in TE-SCC had a good prediction value when the probability threshold was 0.001-0.819.(4) Construction of decision-making tree model of celiac lymph node metastasis in TE-SCC and risk subgroup analysis of celiac lymph node metastasis probability: patients were stratified into six risk subgroups using the decision-making tree model based on the celiac lymph node metastasis probability. The group A included patients with no vessel invasion+negative thoracic lymph node, group B included patients with no vessel invasion+the number of positive thoracic lymph nodes of 1-3, group C included patients with no vessel invasion+the number of positive thoracic lymph nodes of ≥4, group D included patients with vessel invasion+the number of positive thoracic lymph nodes of 0-2+upper or middle thoracic esophageal carcinoma, group E included patients with vessel invasion+the number of positive thoracic lymph nodes of 0-2+lower thoracic esophageal carcinoma, group F included patients with vessel invasion+the number of positive thoracic lymph nodes of ≥3. The group A was low-risk group with the celiac lymph node metastasis probability of 11%, group B and D were intermediate low-risk groups with the celiac lymph node metastasis probability of 27% and 21%, group C and E were the intermediate high-risk groups with the celiac lymph node metastasis probability of 56% and 55%, and group F was high-risk group with the celiac lymph node metastasis probability of 80%. Conclusions:The tumor location, vessel invasion, and thoracic lymph node metastasis are independent influencing factors for celiac lymph node metastasis in TE-SCC. Vessel invasion has the dominant influence on celiac lymph node metastasis, followed by the number of positive thoracic lymph nodes, and then the tumor location. Patients can be stratified into six risk subgroups based on the nomogram prediction model and decision-making tree model of celiac lymph node metastasis in TE-SCC.

Objective:To observe any effect of repetitive low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on sleep disorders and abnormal behaviors of children on the autism spectrum.Methods:Forty autistic children were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, each of 20. Both groups were given sleep behavior training and individualized conventional rehabilitation training. Those in the observation group also received 30min of rTMS at 1Hz applied over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortical area once a day, 5 days a week. Before and after 8 weeks of this treatment, both groups were evaluated using the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), the Child Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and the children′s Sleep Habit Questionnaire (CSHQ).Results:The average CARS and CSHQ scores, as well as the total ABC score of both groups increased significantly over the 8 weeks, but the average CARS and CSHQ scores, as well as the total ABC score of the observation group were then significantly better than in the control group. After the treatment, the average ABC scores for sensory ability, communication ability, motor ability, and language ability were significantly lower than before the treatment for both groups, but the observation group′s averages were then significantly better than those of the control group.Conclusions:Supplementing routine intervention with low-frequency rTMS can effectively improve the sleeping and correct the abnormal behavior patterns of autistic children.

Objective:To explore the effect of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the executive functioning and core symptoms of preschool children on the autism spectrum.Methods:Forty-three preschool children showing signs of autism were randomly divided into an rTMS group of 21 and a control group of 22. In addition to routine rehabilitation and training in basic living skills, the rTMS group was additionally provided with 1Hz rTMS for 8 weeks. Before and after the treatment, both groups were evaluated using the preschool version of the Behavior Rating Inventory for Executive Function (BRIEF-P), the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), the revised version of the Repetitive Behavior Scale (RBS-R) and the Child Autism Rating Scale (CARS).Results:After the 8 weeks of treatment, the average BRIEF-P, SRS, RBS-R and CARS scores of both groups had improved significantly, but the rTMS group′s averages where then significantly better than those of the control group.Conclusions:Low-frequency rTMS in addition to conventional rehabilitation intervention can significantly improve the executive functioning and core symptoms of preschool children on the autism spectrum.

BACKGROUNDOncogenesis, development, invasion and metastasis of lung cancer are modulated by relative genes of lung cancer, and the expression, deletion or mutation of these genes are regulated by cell membrane signal transduction system and cell membrane ionic channels. The aim of this study is to explore the electrophysiological properties of human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 and cell proliferation affected by tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA), one potassium channel blocker, so as to know whether the voltage-gated potassium channels are required for the proliferation of A549 cell line.

METHODSIonic currents were recorded by whole-cell patch-clamp recording technique. The proliferation activity of A549 cells was measured by MTT assay.

RESULTSMembrane current was observed when cells were held at -70mV and test potentials ranged from -30 to +110mV. The current exhibited properties of voltage-dependent, outward rectification and no or little inactivation over the 500ms voltage pulse. Exposure of tumor cells to 10mmol/L TEA reduced the peak outward potassium current (evoked by depolarization to +110mV) from (1057.52±59.17)pA to (212.26±11.96)pA, the ratio of suppression was 79.92% (P < 0.01). Obvious inhibitive effect of TEA with different concentrations ranged from 20 to 60mmol/L on proliferation activity of the cells was found.

CONCLUSIONSThe voltage-gated potassium channels exist in human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 and play a great role in proliferation of A549 cells. TEA can inhibit proliferation of A549 cell through blocking the potassium channels and the inhibition is dose-dependent.