Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) in controlling myopia in children and its effect on retinal blood flow. Methods: Sixty-eight myopic children were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, with 34 cases in each group. The control group was given auricular acupressure treatment alone, and the observation group was treated with EA once a week in addition to the treatment used in the control group. The spherical equivalent refraction (SER) and axial length (AL) were measured at baseline, and after 3 months and 6 months of treatment. Optical coherence tomography angiography was used to measure the vessel density (VD) and perfusion density (PD) in the surface layer of the retina. Results: After 3 months and 6 months of treatment, the changes in SER between the two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). After 3 months of treatment, the changes in AL between the two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05); after 6 months of treatment, the change amount of AL in the observation group was smaller than that in the control group (P<0.05); after 3 months and 6 months of treatment, the changes in VD and PD in the surface layer of the retina in the observation group were significantly greater than those in the control group (P<0.01). Conclusion: EA treatment once a week for 6 months can delay the increase of AL and improve the retinal surface blood flow in myopic children.

Objective:To explore the effects of home-based telerehabilitation guidance on physical function and activities of daily living for stroke patients. Methods:From September, 2015 to March, 2018, 240 stroke recovering patients from three community health service centers in Fengtai District, Beijing for outpatient rehabilitation were randomly divided into control group (n = 120) and tele-rehab group (n = 120). Both groups accepted routine rehabilitation for six months, while the tele-rehab group received telerehabilitation guidance in addition. They were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and modified Barthel Index (MBI) before and after treatment. Results:The scores of FMA and MBI improved after treatment in both groups (|t| > 14.536, P < 0.001), and improved more in the tele-rehab group than in the control group (|t| > 2.200, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Home-based telerehabilitation guidance may enhance the effect of community-based outpatient rehabilitation for stroke patients.

The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of serum inhibin B (INHB) as a predictor of the retrieval outcome of testicular haploid gametes (spermatids and testicular spermatozoa) in nonobstructive azoospermic men. Serum hormone levels, testicular volume, and histological evaluation were performed in 403 Chinese nonobstructive azoospermic men. Testicular haploid gamete was successfully retrieved in 213 of 403 patients (52.85%). The haploid gamete group always had higher INHB levels than the non-haploid gamete group. According to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, INHB was a good predictor of testicular haploid gamete retrieval outcome in all patients (sensitivity: 77.93% and specificity: 91.58%) and patients with normal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH; sensitivity: 88.52% and specificity: 70.83%). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of INHB was similar to that of FSH in all patients or patients with normal FSH. In patients with elevated FSH, INHB was superior to FSH in predicting the presence of haploid gamete (AUC: 0.73 vs 0.55, P < 0.05), with a sensitivity of 60.00% and a specificity of 80.28%. It concluded that serum INHB as an effective marker for spermatogenesis was a significant predictor of testicular haploid gamete retrieval outcomes in nonobstructive azoospermic men. Especially, INHB is superior to FSH in predicting the presence of haploid gamete in the patients with elevated FSH.
Adult ; Azoospermia/blood* ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone/blood* ; Haploidy ; Humans ; Inhibins/blood* ; Male ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sperm Retrieval ; Spermatogenesis/physiology*

Objective: To establish an HPLC-DAD method for the determination of rutin and hyperoside in the leaves of "WudangⅡ Flos Lonicerae". Methods: A Fortis Xi Phenyl column (250 mm×4. 6 mm, 5 μm) was adopted, the mobile phase was acetoni-trile-0. 5% glacial acetic acid aqueous solution with gradient elution at a flow rate of 0. 9 ml·min-1, the detection wavelength was 354 nm, and the column temperature was 30℃. Results: The linear range of rutin (r=0. 999 5) and hyperoside (r=0. 999 5) was 9. 00-90. 00μg·ml-1and 16. 35-163. 50 μg·ml-1, and the average recovery was 99. 70% ( RSD =1. 96% ) and 99. 30% ( RSD =1. 95% ), respectively. Conclusion: The method is simple, accurate, reproducible and specific, which can be used for the determina-tion of rutin and hyperoside in the leaves of "Wudang Ⅱ Flos Lonicerae".

OBJECTIVETo assess the association of impairment of surface area of first-episode schizophrenia(SZ) with polymorphisms of COMT gene, and the difference in the impaired patterns between familial patients with schizophrenia(FPS) and sporadic patients with schizophrenia(SPS).

METHODSNinety-eight patients with first-episode SZ(FPS=40, SPS=58) and 78 healthy controls were recruited. COMT gene was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Participants were scanned for 3.0T magnetic resonance images. Freesurfer software was used to analyze the difference in brain surface area between SZ and controls, its association with COMT genotypes, and the difference between SPS, FPS and control groups. Multiple tests were corrected using a Monte Carlo simulation at P<0.05.

RESULTSCompared with controls, SZ showed decreased surface area in right occipital cortex and left prefrontal cortex. No association was found between COMT polymorphisms and whole brain area difference. Among the three subgroups, SPS showed smaller left prefrontal area compared with both FPS and control groups. Patients with SPS also showed significant area reduction in right occipital lobe compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONSurface area impairment can be found in those with first-episode SZ, but without association with COMT gene polymorphisms. The SPS have more severe area impairment than FPS, indicating that SPS and FPS may be attributed to different etiological mechanisms.

Adult ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Radiography ; Schizophrenia ; diagnostic imaging ; enzymology ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (P38 MAPK) signaling pathway in regulating the expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the substantia nigra (SN) of a mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD).

METHODSC57BL/6N mice were treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to establish an subacute PD model, and the behavioral changes of the mice were observed. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were employed to detect the expressions of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), NF-κB, iNOS and phosphorylated P38 (p-P38) in the midbrain before and after treatment with SB203580.

RESULTSCompared with the control mice, the PD mouse models presented with typical symptoms of PD and showed significantly increased number of p-P38-, NF-κB-, and iNOS-positive cells in the SN area (P<0.01) with significantly reduced number of TH-positive neurons (P<0.01). After SB203580 treatment, the number of p-P38-, NF-κB-, and iNOS-positive cells was reduced obviously (P<0.01) and the number of TH-positive neurons in the SN increased significantly in the PD model mice (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONP38 MAPK signaling pathway may play an important role in modulating NF-κB and iNOS expression in the SN in the early stage of MPTP-induced subacute PD, and SB203580 can inhibit P38 signaling pathway to protect the DA neurons in PD model mice.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Imidazoles ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Neurons ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Parkinson Disease ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Pyridines ; Substantia Nigra ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

Objective To test the reliability of the Chinese version of tridimensional personality questionnaire(TPQ) and to explore three-dimentional personality characteristics of heroin dependence. Methods Personality characteristics of 358 heroin dependers,114 male smoker and 200 normal controls were investigated using the TPQ. 78 heroin depender were examined 10 days later to test the reliability of TPQ.Results (1) Retest reliabilities of the three higher-order dimensions of the novelty seeking(NS),reward dependence(RD) and harm avoidance(HA) were all good( r =0.87,P <0.01;r =0.84,P <0.01,r =0.64,P <0.01).The dimension's Alpha split of NS or HA were 0.72 and 0.71,respectively. While RD's Alpha split was just 0.29. (2) NS was higher but not significantly in the heroin-dependenc group than normal controls(P =0.09),but the former had significantly higher HA and lower RD [(15.25±5.95) vs (13.22±6.27),t =13.65,P <0.01;(17.08±3.28) vs(18.29±3.83),t =15.07,P <0.01]. (3)There were significantly sex differences in all the three higher-order dimensions of TPQ in the heroin-dependence group( P <0.01). Male heroin dependers had significantly higher NS ,higher HA and lower RD than male controls[(16.99±4.76) vs(15.29±4.60), P =0.002;(14.46±6.01) vs (12.31±6.00),P =0.002],and male heroin dependers had significantly higher NS,lower RD than male smokers( P <0.001).Compared with female controls,female heroin dependers only had significantly higher HA.Conclusion Reliability of the TPQ is good. Sex difference in personality characteristics of heroin depender exits. Male heroin depender have high NS,high HA,and low RD,which can provide scientific data for early intervention of heroin dependence.

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between expression of caveolin-1 (Cav-1) and pERK1/2 and prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSCav-1 and pERK1/2 protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in samples obtained from 160 patients with NSCLC and 20 patients with normal lung tissue.

RESULTSNormal bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells were positive for Cav-1 (membranous and cytoplasmic staining patterns). The expression rate of Cav-1 in NSCLC was 65.6% (105/160), which was significantly lower than that in normal lung tissue (P = 0.002). The Cav-1-positive rates in well to moderately differentiated tumors and poorly differentiated tumors were 56.8% (46/81) and 75.7% (53/70), respectively (P = 0.015). The expression of Cav-1 was much higher in patients with lymph node metastasis (77.8%, compared with 55.7% in lymph node-negative group, P = 0.003). The expression was also higher in stage III to IV than in stage I to II disease (75.4%, compared with 58.2%, P = 0.024). The overall survival of patients with Cav-1-positive tumors (71.4%, 37.1% and 17.1% 1-, 3- and 5-year survival, respectively) was lower than those with Cav-1-negative tumors (89.1%, 69.1% and 43.6% 1-, 3- and 5-year survival, respectively, P = 0.000). On the other hand, normal bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells were negative for pERK1/2. The expression rate of pERK1/2 in NSCLC was 61.3%, which was significantly higher than that in normal lung tissues (P = 0.000). The pERK1/2-positive rates in well to moderately differentiated tumors and poorly differentiated tumors was 53.1% and 71.4%, respectively (P = 0.021). The expression of pERK1/2 was much higher in patients with lymph node metastasis (80.6%, compared with 45.5% in lymph node-negative group, P = 0.000). The expression of pERK1/2 was also higher in stage III to IV than in stage I to II disease (76.8%, compared with 49.5%, P = 0.426). The overall survival of patients with pERK1/2-positive tumors (74.5%, 42.9% and 19.4% 1-, 3- and 5-year survival, respectively) was lower than those with pERK1/2-negative tumors (82.3%, 56.5% and 37.1% 1-, 3- and 5-year survival, respectively, P = 0.002). Cav-1 and pERK1/2 expression showed negative correlation (P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONSCav-1 expression is lower in NSCLC than in normal lung tissue, whereas pERK1/2 expression is higher in NSCLC. Positive expression of Cav-1 and overexpression of pERK1/2 correlates with tumorigenesis and tumor progression of NSCLC. Cav-1 and pERK1/2 may serve as potential markers for predicting prognosis in NSCLC.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Caveolin 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cytoplasm ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; methods ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Staging ; classification ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo examine three possible causes of the relationship between attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder: additive genetic factors(A), common environmental factors(C) and individual-specific environmental factors(E).

METHODSOne hundred and forty pairs of twins from the Southwestern China Twin Registry were examined with the parent-rated Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The cross-twin within-variable, within-twin cross-variable and cross-twin cross-variable correlations were calculated. Using structural equation modelling, bivariate models were fitted. The best fitting model was chosen based on likelihood and parsimony.

RESULTSThe observed phenotypic correlation between HYPER and COND was 0.44 (95% CI: 0.09, 0.27), with genetic factors accounting for about 70% of the observed correlation. Bivariate model fitting quantified the genetic correlation between HYPER and COND at 0.76 (95% CI: 0.31, 1) and the individual-specific environmental correlation at 0.28 (95% CI: 0.02, 0.51).

CONCLUSIONIn children, three different genetic factors may exist: one that solely affects the liability to hyperactivity behaviour, one that has only an effect on conduct behaviour and one that influences both hyperactivity and conduct behaviour. Our results suggests that most of the environmental factors that increase the risk of hyperactivity behaviour do not influence conduct behaviour and vice versa.

Adolescent ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Comorbidity ; Conduct Disorder ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Environment ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Models, Biological ; Phenotype ; Risk Factors ; Twins, Dizygotic ; genetics ; Twins, Monozygotic ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of neutral endopeptidase (CD10) and motility-related protein-1 (CD9) in malignant melanoma and their clinical significance.

METHODSImmunohistochemical study for CD10 and CD9 using Streptavidin-biotin complex technique was carried out in 48 cases of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM), 23 cases of metastatic melanoma and 23 cases of benign nevus.

RESULTSThe positivity rate of CD10 was highest in metastatic melanoma and lowest in benign nevus (P < 0.01). In contrast, the positivity rate of CD9 in metastatic melanoma was lower than that in CMM (P < 0.05). The expression of CD9 was inversely correlated with that of CD10 in malignant melanoma (CMM: r = -0.40, P = 0.005; metastatic MM: r = -0.44, P = 0.034). The expression of CD10 and CD9 in CMM also correlated with tumor histology, Clark's level of invasion and presence of nodal metastasis. A similar relationship was also observed for CD10 and CD9 expression in stromal fibroblasts of CMM (r = -0.43, P = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONSCD10 and CD9 expression correlates with the invasiveness and metastatic potential of malignant melanoma; both factors may demonstrate a counteracting effect. These two markers have potential implications in prognostic assessment of CMM. Stromal fibroblasts may also play an important role in the progression of CMM.

Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neprilysin ; metabolism ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; Tetraspanin-29