Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is defined as non-protein coding transcript longer than 200 nucleotides. In the form of RNA, it affects gene expression at the epigenetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, and is widely involved in the body's pathophysiological processes. This review summarizes the research progress of lncRNA in the field of parasitology in order to find new targets for the prevention and treatment of parasitic diseases.

Objective To observe the clinical effect of CT-guided percutaneous puncture of stylomastoid foramen and radiofrequency ablation on primary hemifacial spasm. Methods Twenty-seven patients with primary hemifacial spasm, admitted to and accepted CT-guided percutaneous puncture of stylomastoid foramen and radiofrequency ablation in our hospital from August 2018 to May 2019, were chosen in our study. Clinical data and efficacy of the patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results All patients were punctured to the stylomastoid foramen precisely under the guidance of CT localization; 21 could detect facial muscle twitch with 0.1-0.5 mA current, and positive results were also found in 6 patients with 0.5 mA current after adjusting the position of the needle tip. After standard radio frequency ablation (mean 83.3 ℃ for 23.7 seconds), 26 patients had complete disappearance of facial spasm, but left grade II (n=18) or grade III (n=8) facial paralysis; one patient with disappearance of abnormal electromyographic response waveform as the end criterion only partially relieved, but no facial paralysis. No facial hematoma, intracranial hemorrhage, infection, or death occurred. Follow-up for 2-12 months showed no recurrence or aggravation of facial paralysis. Conclusion CT-guided percutaneous puncture of stylomastoid foramen by radio frequency ablation can effectively treat primary hemifacial spasm, but there will be mild facial paralysis.

Objective? To analyze the application value of language communication and psychological support in urodynamic examination of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods? From July 2016 to October 2018, a total of 106 BPH patients who underwent urodynamic examination in the Department of Urology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University were enrolled as subjects. They were divided into the observation groups and the control group by random number table method, with 53 cases in each group. The control group was given routine nursing. The observation group was given language communication and psychological support intervention besides routine nursing. The incidence of abnormal abdominal pressure changes, unnatural detrusor contraction, and unnatural external urethral sphincter contraction, examination time, and examination success rate were compared between the two groups. At 20 min before the start of examination (T1), 10 min after the start of examination (T2), and 10 min after end of the examination (T3), changes in hemodynamics indexes [systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR)]were also analyzed. The pain grading and incidence of complication during examination were compared too. Results? The incidence of abnormal abdominal pressure changes, unnatural detrusor contraction, and unnatural external urethral sphincter contraction in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P＜0.05). The examination time in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group, while the examination success rate was higher than that in the control group (P＜0.05). At T2, SBP, DBP and HR in the observation group were lower than those in the control group. At T3, SBP and DBP in observation group were lower than those in control group (P＜0.05). The pain grade of the observation group was lower than that of the control group (P＜0.05). The incidence of bladder irritation, fever, hematuria and dysuria in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P＜0.05). Conclusions? The application of language communication and psychological support in urodynamic examination for BPH patients can effectively improve examination efficiency, reduce hemodynamic fluctuations and pain, prevent or reduce complications risks so it is worth promoting in clinical practices.

Astrocytes are important nerve cells in the central nervous system （CNS）， which mainly play a key role in nutrition and support. Astrocytes and neurons undergo close energy coupling and substance coupling， which are closely related and interact with each other. In recent years， many studies have shown that the astrocyte-neuron coupling imbalance plays a central role in the occurrence and progression of Alzheimer's disease （AD） and serves as an important therapeutic target receiving increasing attention. According to traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） theory， the main pathogenesis of AD is kidney deficiency and marrow inadequacy， and in clinical medication， kidney-tonifying and marrow-filling TCM prescriptions are often employed with satisfactory results achieved. As reported， many kidney-tonifying and marrow-filling prescriptions exhibit regulatory and protective effects on the imbalance of astrocyte-neuron coupling， suggesting that the effect of kidney-tonifying and marrow-filling prescriptions in treating AD may have some internal relationship with its regulation of the imbalance of astrocyte-neuron coupling. This article reviewed the underlying internal relationship between the imbalance of astrocyte-neuron coupling and the pathogenesis of kidney deficiency and marrow inadequacy in AD and the research progress in the intervention mechanism of TCM for tonifying the kidney and filling the marrow.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Dihuang Yinzi in improving astrocyte injury and glycolysis in Alzheimer's disease （AD） mice via regulating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway， thereby improving the cognitive function of AD mice. MethodForty male APP/PS1 transgenic mice aged four months were randomly divided into a model group and a model + Dihuang Yinzi （0.25 g·kg^-1） group， with 20 mice in each group. Forty C57BL/6J mice with the same background and same age were randomly divided into a control group and a control + Dihuang Yinzi （0.25 g·kg^-1） group， with 20 mice in each group. The mice in the control + Dihuang Yinzi group and the model + Dihuang Yinzi group were administered with Dihuang Yinzi by gavage， and those in the control group and the model group received an equal volume of sterilized normal saline， once a day for 150 days. Morris water maze test was performed to test the ability of navigation and space exploration of mice. The protein expression of p-PI3K， PI3K， p-Akt， Akt， phosphofructokinase-1 （PFK-1）， and aldehyde dehydrogenase 3 family member B2 （ALDH3B2） in mouse brain tissues was measured by Western blot. An immunofluorescence assay was performed to detect astrocyte morphology and the expression level of ALDH3B2. ResultAs compared with the control group， the model group showed prolonged escape latency during the 2^nd to 5^th days of the location-based navigation （P<0.05， P<0.01）， reduced number of times crossing the target area of the platform， shortened residence time in the target quadrant （P<0.05， P<0.01）， prolonged residence time in the opposite quadrant （P<0.05）， increased surface area of the cell body and total length of cell protrusions of astrocytes （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and down-regulated protein expression of p-PI3K， p-Akt， ALDH3B2， and PFK-1 （P<0.01）， while the above experimental indexes were not significantly different in the control + Dihuang Yinzi group. Compared with the model group， the model + Dihuang Yinzi group showed shortened escape latency of APP/PS1 mice during the 2^nd to 5^th days of the location-based navigation （P<0.05， P<0.01）， increased number of times crossing the platform， prolonged target quadrant residence time （P<0.05， P<0.01）， shortened residence time in the opposite quadrant （P<0.05）， reduced surface area of the cell body and total length of cell protrusions of astrocytes （P<0.05）， and up-regulated protein expression of p-PI3K， p-Akt， ALDH3B2， and PFK-1 （P<0.01）. ConclusionDihuang Yinzi can improve the learning and memory ability of AD mice by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and up-regulating the protein expression of PFK-1 and ALDH3B2 to protect against astrocyte injury in brain tissues and improve glycolysis.