·α-crystallin is the predominant structural protein in the lens.lt is a member of small heat shock proteins ( sHSPs) which has the common functions of HSPs.lt also has anti-apoptotic activity etc.Recently, it has been proved to combine with the cellular membrane of retinal ganglion cells ( RGCs ) to enhance the survival of RGCs and the regeneration of axons, thereby partly restore visual function.But we haven’t come to a unified conclusion of the mechanism.This review is focused on structure and functions of α-crystallin, the protection function and mechanism of α-crystallin towards RGCs after the optic nerve injury.

Objective To investigate the influence of a multifaceted stroke telehome-care (THC) on extremities function, activities of daily living (ADL) and quality of life in stroke patients with hemiplegia. Methods A total of 52 stroke survivors in department of neurology were randomized to the THC intervention or usual care. The patients in the control group received conventional care, while those in the intervention group were additionally given a THC program over 3 months. The THC intervention includes motor imagery and adaptive strategies. Data collection was undertaken using the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment Scale (FMA), the Barthel Index (BI), the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Results At baseline, the scores of FMA, BI, and SIS in the intervention group were 53.62 ± 23.52, 54.04 ± 17.44, 179.96 ± 28.51, and while the scores of the control group were 50.96 ± 19.52, 49.46 ± 15.09, 169.23 ± 28.48. There were no pre-existing differences on any scale between the two groups (t=0.443, 1.012, 1.358, P > 0.05). At 3 months, the scores of FMA, BI, SIS in the control group were 53.54 ± 17.45, 50.77 ± 14.47, 76.19 ± 27.78, and were significantly lower than 78.38 ± 12.54, 74.62 ± 11.22, 228.54±22.63 in the THC group (t=5.895, 6.641, 7.449,P<0.01). At 6 months, the scores of FMA, BI, SIS in the control group were 57.88±17.89, 59.08±13.85, 183.92±26.56, and were significantly lower than 90.58 ± 9.60, 86.54 ± 9.88, 252.19 ± 20.10 in the THC group (t=8.211, 8.233, 10.451, P < 0.01). Conclusions A telehome-care program that provide distance training and education of disabled persons resulted in greater improvements in physical functioning, ADL and quality of life.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of scoliosis among primary and middle school students in Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, so as to provide insights into scoliosis control among children and adolescents. Methods: Grade 4 to 6 primary school students and grade 1 to 3 junior high school students were recruited using a stratified cluster sampling method in Jiaxing City in 2019. Participants' demographic characteristics, dietary habits and nutritional status, physical activity, learning environments, reading and writing habits were collected using questionnaires. Scoliosis was screened through general examinations, forward bend test and scoliometer, and scoliosis was diagnosed with whole-spine X-ray scans in an erect position. The prevalence of scoliosis was descriptively analyzed among primary and middle school students. Results: A total of 8 026 primary and middle school students were included, 7 304 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 91.00%. The respondents included 3 667 primary school students (50.21%) and 3 637 junior high school students (49.79%), and included 3 776 boys (51.70%) and 3 528 girls (48.30%). There were 659 participants with initial screening positive for scoliosis (9.02%), and the percentages of positive initial screening of thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbar scoliosis were 2.93%, 4.56% and 4.56%, respectively. A higher percentage of positive initial screening of scoliosis was diagnosed among participants living in Pinghu City (10.45%), junior high school students (11.74%), girls (11.96%), students with a medical history of anemia (22.44%), students with less than 3 days of moderate-intensity physical activity in the past week (9.46%), students with less than 3 days of walking duration of over 10 minutes in the past week (10.18%), students with daily sitting duration of 5 hours and more in the past week (10.74%), students with their class seats exchanged every semester or month (10.28%), students with daily reading and writing duration of 3 hours and more after school (10.93%) and students with less than 10 cm distance from the chest at reading or writing to the edge of the table (9.67%) (all P<0.05). A total of 218 students received whole-spine X-ray scans in an erect position, 132 participants were definitively diagnosed as scoliosis (60.55%), and the estimated prevalence of scoliosis was 5.46%. Conclusion The percentage of positive initial screening of scoliosis was 9.02% among primary and middle school students in Jiaxing City. Gender, stage of learning, nutritional status, exercise frequency and habits of reading and writing may be factors affecting the development of scoliosis.

To investigate the genetic diversity among wild Dipsacus asperoides in China, 66 germplasmic resources of D. asperoides were analyzed by Start Codon Targeted Polymorphism (SCoT) molecular markers. Genetic distance was calculated by TREECONW software and the systematic diagram of genetic relationship was clustered by UPGMA method. The results showed that the totals of 181 bands were detected using 20 primers , among which 109 were polymorphic bands. The average percentage of polymorphic bands was 60.13%. Genetic distance changed from 0.030 6 to 0.181 4. The clustering results showed that there was no significant correlation between the classification of the wild D. asperoides and their geographical origin. The relatively high genetic diversity of D. asperoides provides the basis for breeding new varieties.
China ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Dipsacaceae ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Genetic

To reveal the genetic diversity and genetic structure in Artemisia annua varieties (strains) populations, we detected the genetic polymorphism within and among eight varieties (strains) populations (192 individuals) by the approach of Start Codon Targeted Polymorphism (SCoT). The associated genetic parameters were calculated by POPGENE1.31 and the relationship was constructed based on UPGMA method. The results showed that, using 20 screened primers, a total of 145 bands were produced, of which 122 were polymorphic loci. At species level, there was a high level of genetic diversity among eight varieties (strains) populations (PPB = 84.1% ,H = 0.217 3 and H(sp) = 0.341 9). However, at the variety (strains) population level, genetic diversity was lower, the average of genetic parameters was PPB = 41.9%, H = 0.121 5, H(pop) = 0.186 8. The Nei's genetic differentiation coefficient was 0.441 0, indicate that most of the genetic variation in this species existed within the variety populations. The gene flow (N(m) = 0.633 9) was less among populations, indicating that the degree of genetic differentiation was higher. Genetic similarity coefficient were changed from 0.755 1 to 0.985 7. By clustering analysis, eight varieties (strains) were clustered into two major categories and it was also showed the same or similar genetic background varieties (strains) have a tendency to gather in the same group. Results suggest that, in variety breeding, breeders should strengthen the exchange of bred germplasm and increase mutual penetration of excellent genes, which would broaden the genetic base of A. annua.
Artemisia annua ; classification ; genetics ; Codon, Initiator ; genetics ; Genetic Markers ; genetics ; Genetic Structures ; Genetic Variation ; Genetics, Population ; methods ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Species Specificity

Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Male ; Treatment Outcome

This article was aimed to study the optimum technological conditions of roller compaction of FKⅣ gran-ules. This experimentation compared content of two granule preparation techniques which were the dry process gran-ulation and the wet process granulation, and adopted L9(34) orthogonal experiment to study the technological parame-ters of FKⅣ granules. The dry process granulation was selected. And factors such as roller pressure, roller speedand moisture content of power, which influence the result of granule yield were also studied in the dry process gran-ulation. The results showed that the optimum technological conditions were roller pressure at 5.0 Mpa, roller speed at 400 rpm, and moisture content of power at 3.0%. It was concluded that the roller compaction process of FKⅣ gran-ules was feasible in production which was able to meet the requirement of production.

Objective To investigate the relationship between refractory hypertension and renal hemodynamics in end stage renal diseases (ESRD) patients.Methods ESRD patients were classified into:patients with refractory hypertension (group A) and patients with normal blood pressure(group B).Renal hemodynamic indices were ex- amined by duplex ultrasonography.Fasting serum lipid (TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C,Lp(a),ox-LDL) and serum parathyroid hormane (PTH) were determined in all patients.Results Significant differences were found in renal hemodynamic indices such as peak systolic velocity (PSV),mean flow velocity (MV),pulsatility index (PI),renal- aortic ratio (RAR) and in clinical index such as Lp(a) and ox-LDL between the two group.Refractory hyperten- sion patients had lower renal hemodynamic indices and higher Lp(a) and ox-LDL levels than in patients with con- trolled BP.Logistic regression analysis revealed that refractory hypertension was related with PSV,EDV,Pl and RAR,but not relevant with sex,age,dialysis time,hematocrit,BUN,creatinine,TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C, PTH,MV and RI.Conclusion Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis and severe disorder in renal hemodynamics is likely the cause for refractory hypertention in ESRD patients.The rise of serum Lp(a) and ox-LDL might acceler- ate renal artery atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVEConditioned taste preference (CTP) is a taste learning reflex by which an animal learns to prefer a substance which tastes not well and has been studied with much interest in recent years. However, the neural substrates of CTP are less known. This study aimed to determine the possible neural path- ways of CTP and whether serum leptin level and the leptin receptor (OB-Rb) in the hind brain are involved following CTP formation.

METHODSWe established CTP of quinine in rats with a 2-bottle preference test. The serum leptin concentrations were detected, the expression of c-fos in the rat brain was tested to determine the nuclei in relation with establishment of CTR Finally, the OB-Rb mRNA expression was examined by RT-qPCR assay in parabrachial nucleus (PBN) and the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) of the hind brain.

RESULTSCompared with control group, the level of serum leptin was higher in the CTP group (4.58 ± 0.52 vs 1.67 ± 0.25 µg/L, P < 0.01); increased c-fos positive cells were found in the anterior hypothalamus (AH, 221.75 ± 4.96 vs. 178.50 ± 6.63 cells/mm², P < 0.05), the basal lateral amygdala (BLA, 70.75 ± 6.17 vs 56.50 ± 3.62 cells/ mm², P < 0.05) and the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST, 41.25 ± 1.32 vs 32.50 ± 1.02 cells/mm², P < 0.05). But in ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH, 20.75 ± 2.73 vs 38.5 ± 1.54 per 1 mm², P < 005), PBN (21.50 ± 2.24 vs 36.25 ± 1.49 cells/mm², P < 0.05) and the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA, 22.25 ± 1.53 vs 35.50 ± 2.11 cells/mm², P < 0.05), the number of c-fos positive cells was decreased in the CTP group. In addition, we found OB-Rb mRNA expression in PBN of CTP group rats was higher than that of control group (0.95 ± 0.055 vs 0.57 ± 0.034, P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference of OB-Rb mRNA expression in NST between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONNuclei AH, BLA, NST, VMH, PBN and CeA participate in the formation of CTP. Leptin and its receptor in PBN may be involved in the formation and maintenance of CTP.

Animals ; Conditioning (Psychology) ; Leptin ; blood ; Rats ; Receptors, Leptin ; physiology ; Rhombencephalon ; physiology ; Taste ; physiology

Objective To investigate the activity change pattern and corresponding significance of gly- colytic enzymes including alsolase A(ALDA)and lactate dehydrogenase M(LDH-M)regulated by hy- poxia-inducible factor 1?(HIF-1?)in spinal cord injury(SCI)of rats.Methods SD rats were ran- domly divided into control group and groups at 12 hours,1,2 and 3 days,1 and 2 weeks after compres- sive SCI,in which the activity changes of ALDA and LDH-M in the injured spinal cord were observed at different time points by means of enzyme histochemistry.Results Opitical density(A)value of AL- DA continued significant increase from two days to one week after SCI(P＜0.05)and decreased gradual- ly at 2 weeks after SCI.A value of LDH-M began significant increase at day 1 after SCI and recovered to normal level at 2 weeks after SCI(P＜0.05).Conclusion Activities of ALDA and LDH-M regulated by HIF-1?in spinal cord injury is significantly increased.