OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the academic status and influence of the National Journal of Andrology (NJA).

METHODSThe data of articles and citations in 16 issues of NJA (2000-2002) were collected, then the quality of this journal was evaluated in terms of bibliometric parameters.

RESULTSExcept for reviews and translations, the sums of original papers accounted for 183 (53.5%), the articles with citation in 16 issues were 333 (97.08%), and funded project papers accounted for 62 (18.08%). The number of the articles and funded project papers increased every year; the average publishing cycle of the articles was 8.7 months; the average number of authors was 3.7 per article; the average age of the first author was 36.3 years old; the authors distributed in 30 provinces, 43.37% of the authors had senior professional title and 40.80% of the authors had master's or doctor's degrees, the journal had a high rate of self-citation (6.30%).

CONCLUSIONSNational Journal of Andrology is a high quality journal, with excellent authors, strong influence and bright future.

Andrology ; statistics & numerical data ; Bibliometrics ; China ; Periodicals as Topic ; statistics & numerical data

OBJECTIVESince 2011 EB-APS conference, we hypotheses that phase switching of inspiration-expiration is dominantly initiated by oscillatory information PaO2, PaCO2 and [H+] via fast peripheral chemical receptors. However, the evidence of the waveform of ABG is lack.

METHODSSix surgery patients with normal heart function and negative Allen test, had been placed the arterial catheterization directly connected to 3 x 1 000 mm pre-heparin plastic pipe for continuous collecting arterial blood. We counted the number of heart beat for the blood collecting time, and separated the blood pipe into the heart beat numbers' short pieces using haemostatic forceps, then put pipe into iced water at once fir analyzing PaO2, PaCO2, pH and SaO2 as soon as possible. We selected two breaths cycles of waveform from each patient for data calculations of magnitudes and time interval.

RESULTSThe heart beat numbers for filling blood into pipe were 16 ± 2, and all covered more than 2 breathing cycles. Each breathing cycle is cover 5 ± 0.6 heart beat. There were significant changes of PaO2, PaCO2, [H+] a and SaO2 (i.e. the highest high values compare to the next lowest values, P < 0.05). The time interval of changing PaO2, PaCO2, [H+]a and SaO2 magnitudes were 11.28 ± 1.13 mmHg, 1.77 ± 0.89 mmHg, 1.14 ± 0.35 nmol/L and 0.52% ± 0.44% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThis simple continuous beat-by-beat arterial blood sampling and ABG analyzing method is new and practicable. We obtain a clear evidence of periodic parameters ABG waveform, which following breathing cycle.

Arteries ; physiology ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; methods ; Respiration

Freezing of gait (FOG) is a common occurrence in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) that leads to significant limitations in mobility and increases risk of falls. Focused vibrotactile stimulation and cueing are two methods used to alleviate motor symptoms, including FOG, in patients with PD. While effective on their own, the effect of combining both focused vibrotactile stimulation and cueing has yet to be investigated. Two patients, both with a history of PD, suffered from frequent FOG episodes that failed to respond adequately to medication. A novel vibrotactile stimulation device that delivered rhythmic kinesthetic stimuli onto the sternum successfully reduced FOG episodes in both patients and drastically improved their mobility as measured by the Timed Up and Go test. We found that a combination of focused vibrotactile stimulation and cueing was effective in reducing FOG episodes in two patients with PD. Further well-designed prospective studies are needed to confirm our observations.

Freezing of gait (FOG) is a common occurrence in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) that leads to significant limitations in mobility and increases risk of falls. Focused vibrotactile stimulation and cueing are two methods used to alleviate motor symptoms, including FOG, in patients with PD. While effective on their own, the effect of combining both focused vibrotactile stimulation and cueing has yet to be investigated. Two patients, both with a history of PD, suffered from frequent FOG episodes that failed to respond adequately to medication. A novel vibrotactile stimulation device that delivered rhythmic kinesthetic stimuli onto the sternum successfully reduced FOG episodes in both patients and drastically improved their mobility as measured by the Timed Up and Go test. We found that a combination of focused vibrotactile stimulation and cueing was effective in reducing FOG episodes in two patients with PD. Further well-designed prospective studies are needed to confirm our observations.

OBJECTIVEWe investigate the magnitudes of waveform changes of arterial blood gas (ABG) in patients with heart failure.

METHODSFive patients with heart failure were selected, continuous collecting radial artery blood and measured PaO2, PaCO2, pHa and Sao2. We selected two typical breaths cycles of waveform changes of ABG from each patient for data analysis. Comparison of the adjacent highest and lowest values to verify the presence of a periodic waveform changes of ABG, and in addition, we used t test to analysis the range of waveform changes of ABG in patients with heart failure and patients with normal cardiac function and compared whether the difference between them.

RESULTSThe 5 patients (2 surgical and 3 ICU) with heart failure, were 4 male and 1 female, (69 ± 7)year, (169 ± 10) cm, (75 ± 19)kg, LVEF = (38 ± 3)%. The heart beat numbers for full blood into the blood sampling pipe were 17 ± 2, and all covered more than 2 breath cycles. There were significant changes of PaO2, PaCO2, [H+]a and SaO2 (P < 0.05). The magnitudes of changing PaO2, PaCO2, [H+]a and Sao2 were (7.94 ± 2.02)mmHg, (1.18 ± 0.56)mmHg, (0.54 ± 0.17)nmol/L and (0.21 ± 0.07)%, and they were (6.1 ± 1.5)%, (3.2 ± 1.5)%, (1.5 ± 0.5)% and (0.2 ± 0.1)% from their mean respectively. Even these magnitudes fo all ABG parameters were trendily lower than those of patients with normal cardiac function, but only PaO2 and [H+]a were significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONUsing this simple continuous beat-by-beat arterial blood sampling method, we obtained a clear evidence of periodic waveform of ABG parameters following by breath cycle in patients with heart failure, but the magnitude trendily be decreased.

Aged ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; methods

OBJECTIVE This study aims to elucidate the mechanism of action of Isoliquiritigenin(ILG)in the treatment of Dia-betic Encephalopathy(DE)based on network pharmacological analysis and in-vitro experiments.METHODS The potential targets of ILG were predicted using the HERB database and SwissTargetPrediction database.DE-associated disease targets were obtained from GeneCards,OMIM,and PharmGkb,and the intersecting targets between ILG and DE were identified using the Venny software.A PPI network was constructed using the STRING database,and core targets were screened out using Cytoscape software.GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were undertaken using R 4.0.3,followed by validation via molecular docking techniques and in vitro experiments.RESULTS 65 intersecting targets between ILG and DE were identified in this study.Topological analysis yielded eight core targets namely,EGFR,ESR1,PTGS2,PPARG,GSK3β,CDK2,PIK3R1,and F3.GO function and KEGG pathway en-richment analyses revealed that ILG antagonizes DE through several biological processes which impact numerous cellular components and molecular functions such as response to lipopolysaccharides,protein phosphorylation,protein kinase activity,and serine/threo-nine/tyrosine kinase activity.Pathways implicated included the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,protein polysaccharide signaling pathway in cancer,and endocrine resistance pathway.The molecular docking results showed that all eight core targets had a good binding with ILG,especially with GSK3β,with a binding energy of-7.22 kcal·mol-1.In vitro experiments indicated that ILG could improve high glucose-induced cell damage and activate the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway.CONCLUSION ILG is likely to exert its effects on GSK3β to regulate the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway,thereby alleviating DE.

Objective To examine the aerosol particle deposition in human upper respiratory tract model and explore the pathogenesis of toxic aerosol in human upper respiratory tract. MethodsA human upper respiratory tract model was constructed using ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) plastic, and an experimental system was established to measure the deposition efficiency of aerosol particles with different diameters (0.3 or 6.5 μm) at different breathing intensity (30 or 60 L/min) in this model. Results The deposition patterns of aerosol particles with different diameters and at different breathing intensity in human upper respiratory tract model were similar. The deposition efficiency was generally higher in pharynx，larynx and trachea while being the highest in the area of larynx. Conclusions The breathing intensity has a major impact on aerosol deposition efficiency in the model. Larger aerosol particles are more easily to deposit in the model. Inertial impaction and turbulence intensity are the main mechanisms of aerosol particle deposition.

Objective To study the vortex structure and vortex evolution induced by jets in mouth-pharynx area, so as to deepen the understanding of jet motion characteristics and disease prevention in mouth-pharynx area. Methods CT scanning and 3D reconstruction were used to construct 3D model of realistic human mouth-throat model, and the method of large eddy numerical simulation was used to accurately simulate the process of vortex evolution in the model. ResultsIn the phase of inhalation, several vortex tubes were formed in mouth, and a turbulence jet appeared in the glottal region. In the phase of exhalation, the intense jet in the glottal region caused complex vortex structures in throat. Conclusions During inhalation, transition occurrs in the pharynx, and the “horseshoe vortexes” which are similar to the shape of horseshoe appeared on the anterior wall of the trachea. During exhalation, “arch vortex” are formed on the posterior wall of throat with the barrier of epiglottis.

Objective To investigate the airflow distribution mode in human upper respiratory tract model for understanding the characteristics of the airflow in human upper respiratory tract, and provide scientific basis for analyzing the diffusion, transition and deposition patterns of aerosol in human upper respiratory tract. Methods PIV（particle image velocimetry）technology was adopted to study flow fields of the real human upper respiratory tract model. The airflow state in oral cavity，pharynx and trachea was analyzed. Results The flow velocity was relatively high at the upper tongue coating and in the middle of the oral cavity; when the airflow reached the pharynx, the velocity was increased rapidly due to the reduction of sectional area; the maximum velocity (10.24 m/s) appeared in the glottis, and the velocity in the anterior wall was higher than that in the posterior wall of the trachea; as the airflow injected at the glottis, the velocity gradient was increased, and the vorticity was concentrated at the anterior and posterior wall of the glottis, resulting in a significantly higher vorticity value at anterior wall of the trachea than that at the posterior wall. Conclusions PIV technology is an effective way to investigate the airflow distribution mode in human upper respiratory tract, and it is of great importance for exploring the harm of toxic aerosol to human body and the therapeutic effect of inhalation drug aerosol, as well as for researching the pathogenesis of respiratory system.