Objective To investigate the effect of acupoint catgut embedding combined with Ziwu-Liuzhu theory based acupuncture on the clinical efficacy and sleep quality of depressive patients. Methods A total of 64 patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups, 32 in each group. The control group was treated with routine electro-acupuncture, while the observation group was treated with acupoint catgut embedding combined with Ziwu-Liuzhu theory based acupuncture. Both groups were treated for 8 weeks. Sleep quality was assessed by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and depression was assessed by Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) to evaluate the clinical efficacy. Results After treatment, the HAMD score (11.3 ± 2.4 vs. 14.5 ± 2.6, t=4.986) and PSQI index (9.6 ± 2.3 vs. 11.8 ± 2.5, t=3.307) in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). The quality of life (12.9 ± 2.3 vs. 11.3 ± 2.5, t=2.598) and mental health score (13.5 ± 2.4 vs. 11.3 ± 2.6, t=3.413) of WHOQOL-BREF scale in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 93.8％ (30/32) in the observation group and 75.0％ (24/32) in the control group. There were significant differences between the two groups (χ2=4.246, P=0.038). Conclusions Acupoint catgut embedding combined with Ziwu-Liuzhu theory based acupuncture can effectively improve depressive state, sleep quality and quality of life in patients with depression, and the curative effect is better than conventional electro- acupuncture treatment.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of five-element acupuncture on clinical symptoms, brain metabolism and immunoglobulin level in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.Methods:It was a randomized controlled trial. A total of 94 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in our hospital from January 2021 to January 2022 were selected and divided into two groups according to the random number table method, with 47 in each group. The conventional western medicine group was treated with conventional western medicine, and the five-element acupuncture group was treated with five-element acupuncture on the basis of the conventional western medicine group. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the serum levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), corticosterone (CORT), IL-2 and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were detected by ELISA; the levels of natural killer (NK) cells, CD4 +, CD8 +, IgG and IgM were detected by flow cytometry; the whole body superconducting MRI scanner was used to scan T2 Flair, T2WI and TlWI sequences of the hippocampus, and the spectral curves and the areas under the peak of N-acetylaspartic acid (NAA), creatine (Cr) and choline (Cho) were obtained, and the ratios of Cho/Cr and NAA/Cr were calculated. the fatigue Scale-14 (FS-14) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) were used to evaluate the fatigue state of the patients, and the Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used to evaluate the anxiety state of the patients. Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) and Somatic and Mental Health Report Score (SPHERE) were used to evaluate the quality of life of patients. And the clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results:After treatment, the levels of IgG, CD4 + and NK in the five-element acupuncture group were significantly higher than those in the conventional western medicine group ( t values were 4.76, 3.65, 6.42, respectively, P<0.01), and the level of IgM, CD8 + was significantly lower than that in the conventional western medicine group ( t values were 7.30, 4.79, P<0.01); the levels of IFN-γ, IL-2 and 5-HT in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the conventional western medicine group ( t values were 7.60, 4.05, 2.79, respectively, respectively, P<0.01), and the level of CORT was significantly lower than that in the conventional western medicine group ( t=6.72, P<0.01); the NAA/Cr levels in the left [(1.10±0.04) vs. (1.05±0.03), t=6.86] and right [(1.18±0.02) vs. (1.21±0.03), t=8.23] hippocampus of the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the conventional western medicine group ( P<0.01), and the Cho/Cr levels in the left [(1.08±0.04) vs. (1.03±0.03), t=5.70] and right [(1.17±0.02) vs. (1.20±0.03), t=5.71] hippocampus of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the conventional western medicine group ( P<0.01). After treatment, the scores of physical fatigue, mental fatigue and FSS in the five-element acupuncture group were significantly lower than those in the conventional western medicine group ( t values were 8.08, 9.08 and 7.07, respectively, P<0.01). The scores of DASS-21, BAI, SCL-90 and SPHERE in the conventional western medicine group were significantly lower than those in the conventional western medicine group ( t values were 3.63, 5.77, 8.74, 5.92, respectively, P<0.01).The total effective rate was 95.74% (45/47) in the five-element acupuncture group and 82.98% (39/47) in the conventional western medicine group, and there was no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=2.80, P=0.094). Conclusion:Five-elements acupuncture can improve the expression of T lymphocytes, increase the levels of immunoglobulin and NK, reduce the level of CORT, regulate the brain metabolism of NAA in the left and right hippocampus, improve the clinical symptoms and negative emotions, and improve the clinical efficacy and quality of life in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Objective:To summarize the experience of laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair (TAPP) and to discuss its safety and feasibility.Methods:Data of 26 consecutive cases from January 2015 to March 2018 in Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine were analyzed retrospectively. They were all males, aged (68.3±14.1) years, with a range from 57 to 86 years. Body mass index was (23.3±4.1) kg/m 2. Bathel indexwas 91.4±5.6. Intraoperative main procedures were done in accordance to Guideline of Standardized Operation for Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair. A drainage tube or catheter was not routinely placed intraoperatively. Patients were discharged but for any complaints. Observation data included intraoperative, postoperative and following-up data. The following-up period was more than 12 months by telephone or clinic. The long-term complications and the changes of Barthel index were observed. Paired sample t test was used to compare the changes of Barthel index before and after operation. Results:Of the 26 cases, none was converted to open procedure and no intra- or post-operative serious complications occurred. Occurrence of surgical site seroma was 17 (65.4%) cases. The operating time was (76.5±23.6) min. Intraoperative blood loss was (8.6±4.4) mL. The postoperative hospitalization was (2.3±1.2) d. Bathel index in 1 month postoperative was 96.9±3.2. It was higher statistically than that preoperative ( t=-6.968, P=0.000). Conclusions:TAPP in the treatment of huge inguinoscrotal hernia is safe and feasible. Mastering the anatomical characteristics and the according procedures is an important factor for successful operation.

Objective:To estimate and analyze the occurrence of post-thyroidectomy syndrome (PTS) following endoscopic thyroidectomy via areola approach (ETAA) vs open thyroidectomy (OT) .Methods:Data of 903 consecutive cases, aged from 20 to 66 with 231 males and 672 females, in Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, from Jan. 2016 to Dec. 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. They were enrolled according to the same criteria. Based on different procedures, the cases were divided into ETAA group (n=162) and OT group (n=741) . Intraoperative procedure was according to unified principle. Drainage tube was removed if 24-hour drainage volume was less than 20 ml. Following-up was implemented by telephone or outpatient clinic. Data of 2 groups of 5 PTS items during 1 m, 3 m, 6 m and 1 y postoperatively and the scores of the medical outcomes study short form 36-item health survey (SF-36) V2 were analyzed by independent sample t test and repeated measures analysis of variance. Results:The patients of 2 groups were all followed up for more than 1 y with 43 cases censored (4.8%) . Demographic data of the rest of 2 groups were not different statistically ( P>0.05) . Median of every phase scores of the 5 items of PTS were 0 to 1. Scores of the 5 items were decreased gradually in accordance with time factor ( P=0.000) . The scores of peculiar feeling at the surgical site and discomfort in neck were different statistically during 1 m and 3 m postoperatively ( P=0.000) . Incidence of peculiar feeling at the surgical site in 1 m and 3 m postoperatively in ETAA group (54, 38.8% and 8, 5.8%) was higher than that in OT group (153, 21.2% and 20, 2.8%) . However, incidence of discomfort in neck in ETAA group (14, 10.1% and 0) was lower than in OT group (194, 26.9% and 53, 7.4%) . The other 3 items at all phases were not different statistically ( P>0.05) . The SF-36 V2 scores at 1 y postoperatively of 2 groups were not different statistically ( P=0.458) . Conclusions:PTS is a common symptom after OT or ETAA. It is frequent within early phase after thyroidectomy and is decreased significantly within 6 m. Peculiar feeling at the surgical site occurs less in OT than in ETAA in early postoperative phase and discomfort in neck occurs more, conversely.

We investigated the enhanced immune response of a recombinant T cell immunogen as an effective cellular immune adjuvant. The T cell immunogen named TI contained several T cell epitopes from the VP1, VP4, 3A and 3D proteins of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and two pan-T helper (T(H)) cell sites to broaden the immunogenicity of the protein. Meanwhile, another fusion protein named OA-VP1 was expressed in bacteria, which contained two VP1 proteins of O and Asia1 type FMDV. Mice were vaccinated with commercially inactivated vaccine or OA-VP1 protein with or without the TI immunogen. The results show that mice inoculated with inactivated vaccine or OA-VP1 protein supplemented with TI immunogen produced significantly higher level of neutralizing antibodies (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) than the mice only inoculated with inactivated vaccine or OA-VP1 protein by microneutralization assay. An obvious increase in T cell number by flow cytometric analysis and significantly higher concentration of IFN-gamma secreted in culture media of spleen lymphocytes were observed in groups supplemented with TI immunogen (P < 0.01). TI immunogen was an effective stimulator for humoral and cellular immunity and could help improve the immunogenicity of inactivated vaccine or protein subunit vaccine.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Capsid Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte ; genetics ; immunology ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease ; immunology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus ; immunology ; Immunization ; Mice ; Viral Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology ; pharmacology

Antigenic purity is important for quality control of the foot-and-mouth (FMD) whole virus inactivated vaccine. The recommended method for evaluation the antigenic purity of FMD vaccine is to check the serum conversion to non-structural protein (NSP) 3AB antibody after 2 to 3 times inoculation of animals with inactivated vaccine. In this study, we developed a quantitative ELISA to detect the amount of residual 3AB in vaccine antigen, to provide a reference to evaluate the antigenic purity of FMD vaccine. Monoclonal antibody (Mab) of NSP 3A and HRP-conjugated Mab of NSP 3B were used to establish a sandwich ELISA to quantify the NSP 3AB in vaccine antigen of FMD. Purified NSP 3AB expressed in Escherichia coli was serially diluted and detected to draw the standard curve. The detectable limit was determined to be the lowest concentration of standard where the ratio of its OD value to OD blank well was not less than 2.0. Results: The OD value was linearly corelated with the concentration of 3AB protein within the range between 4.7 and 600 ng/mL. The correlation coefficient R² is greater than 0.99, and the lowest detectable limit is 4.7 ng/mL. The amount of 3AB protein in non-purified inactivated virus antigen was detected between 9.3 and 200 ng/mL depending on the 12 different virus strains, whereas the amount of 3AB in purified virus antigen was below the lowest detectable limit. The amount of 3AB in 9 batches of commercial FMD vaccine antigens was between 9.0 and 74 ng/mL, whereas it was below the detectable limit in other 24 batches of commercial vaccine antigens. Conclusion: the sandwich ELISA established in this study is specific and sensitive to detect the content of 3AB protein in vaccine antigen of FMD, which will be a useful method for evaluation of the antigenic purity and quality control of FMD inactivated vaccine.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease/prevention & control* ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins/genetics* ; Viral Vaccines