Acupuncture Therapy ; Diaphragm ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Paralysis ; pathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore action mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Fenglong" (ST 40) for treatment of hyperlipidemia.

METHODSForty SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group (group A), a model group (group B), a model diet-control group (group C), a model + EA group (group D) and model diet-control + EA group (group E), 8 cases in each one. The rats in group A were fed with normal diet continuously while those in the rest 4 groups were fed with high-fat diet to establish hyperlipidemia model. Afterwards, the rats in group C and group E were fed with normal diet, while EA at "Fenglong" (ST 40) was applied in group D and group E, 30 min per time, once a day. After 28 days of treatment, macrophage was collected in each group. Oil red O-staining was applied to detect the formation of foam cells, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISE) was adopted to measure the contents of total cholesterol (TC) in macrophage and analyze the rate of cholesterol efflux.

RESULTSThe counts of positive cells of oil red O-staining and the contents of TC in the group B, group C and group D were significantly increased compared with those in the group A (all P < 0.01). The counts of positive cells and contents of TC in the group C, group D and group E were significantly clecreased compared with those in the group B (all P < 0.01), and the decline in group D was more obvious than that in the group C (all P < 0.01). Compared with group C and group D, the counts of positive cells and contents of TC in the group E was obviously decreased (all P < 0.01), which was not statistically different from group A (P > 0.05). In the meantime, compared with group C, the rate of cholesterol efflux in group D and group E was significantly increased (both P < 0.01), and the rise in group E was more obvious than that in the group D.

CONCLUSIONThe electroacupuncture at "Fenglong" (ST 40) could significantly prohibit the transformation of macrophage into foam cell and increase rate of cholesterol efflux in macrophage, which could prevent and reverse the formation of foam cell and play an essential role in treating hyperlipidemia and stopping it from developing into a further level.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Biological Transport ; Cells, Cultured ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Electroacupuncture ; Foam Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; metabolism ; therapy ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

navirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the patients younger than 18 years old infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant, and to provide a basis for determining the chest CT changes and efficacy of COVID-19 caused by Omicron virus variant in patients younger than 18 years old. Methods　The clinical and imaging data of 30 cases of patients younger than 18 years old infected with COVID-19 Omicron variant, who admitted to the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen from February 11 to March 26, 2022 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. The clinical manifestations, imaging features and dynamic changes of lesions were summarized. Results A total of 41 intrapulmonary lesions in 30 patients with COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. The main manifestations were patchy or nodular ground-glass opacities and/or consolidation, with focal subpleural distribution, lesions mainly occur in the right lung (70.73%, 29/41). There were 42 lesion morphologies, with 22 (52.38%) striped shadows and 16 (38.10%) nodular shadows, with small lamellar and patchy shadows predominating. There were 36 lesion density variations, with ground glass shadows being the most common, with a total of 24 ground glass shadows (66.66%) in each lobe of the lung, and also 6 consolidation lesions (16.67%) and 6 mixed ground glass opacity and consolidation lesions (16.67%). With the progression of the disease, lesions gradually enlarged, appeared on the 2nd day (312.93 mm3), peaked on the 9th day (1 837.18 mm3). The average absorption time of the lesions was (16±3) days, and there was no significant difference between the absorption time of patchy and nodular lesions (ground glass and/or consolidation) (t=0.853, P>0.05). The lesions showed focal ground-glass opacity in the early stage, 77.78% lesions were absorbed after treatment in the late stage. Inflammatory nodules were absorbed slowly (9-19 days), without residual fibrotic changes. Conclusions　The imaging manifestations of COVID-19 in patients younger than 18 years old infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant have certain characteristics, showed patchy or nodular ground glass opacities and/or consolidation, mainly distributed in the subpleural area, with small and few lesions and slow change, didn't remain fibrosis. Being familiar with its clinical and imaging manifestations can assist in early diagnosis, but confirming the diagnosis requires a combination of epidemiological history, clinical symptoms, SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid and radiological manifestations.

Eleven old male patients with hyperuricemia were collected ( hyperuricemia group,65-90 years old ).10 healthy middle-aged males ( middle-aged group,30-40 years old) and 10 healthy old males ( older group 60-70 years old ) with normal blood uric acid level were used as controls.All of the subjects were given low purine content diet ( 250 mg/d ) for 3 days followed by high purine content diet ( 800 mg/d ) consecutively for another three days.The samples of fasting blood and 24 h urine were collected for assay.The results showed that there were no significant changes of serum uric acid ( UA ) concentration in three groups after low purine content diet.But the levels of serum UA in three groups all increased significantly after high purine content diet,and the change was higher in hyperuricemia group than middle-aged group [ ( 507.7 ± 108.1 vs 378.9 ± 80.1 ) μmol/L,P＜0.05 ].24 h urine uric acid excretion in three groups was all significantly decreased after low purine content diet and increased after high purine content diet.After high purine content diet,24 h urine uric acid was lower in hyperuricemia group than middle-aged group [ ( 2.99 ± 1.21 vs 3.62 ± 1.02 ) mmol/24 h,P＜0.05 ].Blood urea nitrogen levels in all subjects decreased after low purine content diet and increased after high purine content diet ( P＜0.05 or P＜0.01 ).Creatinine clearance rate in hyperuricemia group was decreased after high purine content diet compared with baseline [ (75.3 ± 20.3 vs 80.7 ±20.0) ml/min ],and there were no significant changes in other groups after low and high purine content diet.24 h urine protein in hyperuricemia group was higher than middle-aged group ( P＜0.05 ),and increased after high purine content diet with significant difference ( P＜0.05 ).These results suggest that high purine content diet and decreased by renal uric acid clearance mainly contribute to hyperuricemia in old people.

BACKGROUND: In the past, the incidence rates of infectious diseases,natural epidemic diseases and endemic diseases in three gorges areas were always high. Because the flooded areas of Kaixian was enormous, the population of Kaixian was intensive density, the pollution may harm to the population health after the dam has been established.OBJECTIVE: To predict the influence of the Three-gorges dam on population health in Kaixian County of Chongqing and put forward to scientific evidence of preventive measures through analyzing the main health indicators and influence factors in Kaixian.DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.SETTING: Public Health College of Chongqing Medical University and Disease Controlled Center in Kaixian County of Chongqing.PARTICIPANTS: The survey was conducted in Kai County of Chongqing,from February to May 2004. All disease surveillance data of people in this county was investigated and other people lived in three-gorges area or around area were selected as the controls.METHODS: Collect and sort relevant indicators of social development,population health and public health system of Kaixian and related area to go deep into the representative townships to do some filed investigation,collect water samples of local drainage areas to carry out laboratory quantitative analysis; carry out comparative analysis based on the relevant materials; carry out comprehensive predicting and evaluation to the potential impact on population health of the three gorges engineering by combining the quantitative and qualitative analysis methods.general people in Kai county, Chongqing city and all over the nations durKai county, Chongqing city and all over the nations during 1999 and 2003;ty, Chongqing city and all over the nations during 1999 and 2001: Mortality rates of infants and under-five children were also higher than that average levels of whole country and Chongqing respectively; Multi-indicators showed that the general population health status of Kaixian was great bad,which stood a distinct gap among average levels of the whole country and Chongqing maintained about 250/100 000 or so, which was higher than the national level (190/10 000), however, the incidence rate of infectious diseases of Kaixian was rising year after year, even that of the recent two years has been reached up to more than 1.5 times higher than that of the whole of the water-based infectious diseases, especially the virus hepatitis, was severe. Another potential impact on population health of three-gorge dam is the emergence of natural epidemic diseases and insect-based infectious diseases. Malignant tumor such as hepatocarcinoma.CONCLUSION: We should strengthen current public health system, and cognition to the possible threat on disease epidemic and public health.With the construction of three-gorge dam, it is necessary to speed up establishment of effective measures to reduce predictable influence on population health.

The thermostability of the inulinase was studied in this resea rc h. Some alcoholic materials and thickening agent could enhance the thermostabli lity of the inulinase. Using glycerol、xanthic pastern and though orthogonal ex periments of three elements and three levels, a satisfying protective agent, whi ch included glycerin(6%), xanthan gum(0.6%) and CaCl_2 (100mmol/mL) and ha d a significant effect on the enhancement of the inulinase thermostability, was acquired.

Objective:To investigate the effect on the expression of Slug for the trasfection of miR-200c combined with the research on the ability of migration of breast cancer cell BT549.Methods:Chemically synthesized miR-200c mimic was trasfected into BT549 cells,which have high metastatic potential.The effect on the ability of migration of breast cancer cell BT549 for the transfection of miR-200c was analyzed by Transwell migration assay and Wound healing assay.The expression of Slug and E-cadherin mRNA was detected by Real-time PCR.The expression of Slug protein was detected by Western blot.Results:Transfection with miR-200c mimic significantly down-regulated the expression of Slug as compared with the control group (P<0.05).BT549 cell tranfected with miR-200c mimic had lower levels of migration capacity than cells in the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion:miR-200c inhibits Epithelial-mes-enchymal transition by suppressing Slug leading to down-regulation of migration capacity of breast cancer cell BT549.

Objective To discuss the risk factors for susceptibility of subcutaneous tophi with an aim to provide clinical evidence for the prevention and treatment of tophi.Methods A total of 5 321 cases of gout patients whose course of disease was less than 10 years were selected and divided into two groups according to whether a subcutaneous tophus was present. The clinical information was collected and relevant biochemical indices were detected.Results There were significant differences in the ratios of regular exercise, involvement of upper limb joints, combining renal insufficiency, kidney stone and coronary heart disease between the tophus group and the non-tophus group(P<0.05 or P<0.01). There were significant statistical differences in age, disease duration, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, serum uric acid, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance rate, the number of joints involved between the two groups[(51.80±14.58 vs 48.45±14.45)year,(5.61±3.20 vs 3.28±3.06)year,(26.50±3.39 vs 27.05±3.45)kg/m2,(138±20 vs 133±18)mmHg, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa,(89±13 vs 87±12)mmHg,(486.66±121.96 vs 460.02±119.10) μmol/L,(112.11±62.97 vs 104.43±46.28) μmol/L, (86.46±37.99 vs 93.00±40.11 )ml/min,(2.89±1.86 vs 1.76±1.22) joints, all P<0.01]. There were no statistical differences in family history, gender, history of smoking and drinking, the means of waistline, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol between the two groups(all P>0.05). Further logistic regression analysis indicated that disease duration, a large number of joints involved, the involvement of upper limb joints, combining kidney stones, higher serum uric acid level, and higher diastolic pressure were risk factors of the early onset of subcutaneous tophi, while regular exercise and body mass index were protective factors.Conclusion Patients with long duration, high serum level of uric acid, a large number of joints involved, upper limb joint involved, kidney stones, and hypertension were more likely to develop subcutaneous tophi. These risk factors should be intervened actively in clinic.

Objective To detect and analyze thyroid tumor by two-dimensional sonogram and Doppler parameter, and evaluate the value of high-frequency ultrasound in diagnosing thyroid benign and malignant tumors. Methods The ultrasonic images of 104 thyroid tumor from 80 patients with typical features were collected. Thyroid tumor was classified into benign and malignant nodules, based on the shape, border, or the rear wall echo, echo attenuation loss, internal echo, and microcalcifications in two-dimensional sonogram and systolic blood peak velocity (Vmax) and resistant index (RI) in Doppler examination. The expected results of high frequency ultrasound were compared with pathological results on consistency and error rate. Results Prediction of benign tumor by high frequency ultrasound was 66, and pathology 61, consistency rate of the two was 92.4%. Prediction of malignant lesions was 38, and pathological examination 32, consistency rate of the two was 84.2%. The total coincidence rate was 89.4%(93/104) and the error rate was 11.6%( 11/104). Conclusions The typical features of thyroid tumor on high-frequency ultrasound are helpful in diagnosis of benign or malignant nodules, which is valuable in guiding clinical treatment.

This study was designed to investigate the correlation between autophagy and polarization of macrophages in atherosclerosis (AS) plaque in arteriosclerosis obliterans amputees. Femoral artery specimens from arteriosclerosis obliterans amputees were performed hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, oil red O and immunofluorescence staining to observe the morphology of atherosclerotic plaque, phenotype of macrophages and autophagy in plaque; using real-time quantitative RT-PCR technology to detect the mRNA level of M1 and M2 type markers in arterial tissue; to analyze polarized signal pathway and autophagy protein levels in macrophages by Western blotting. Arterial specimens staining showed obvious lipid deposition and obvious infiltration of amount of foam cells and inflammatory cells. Macrophages were mainly expression M1 type in percentage in fibrous plaque. Although both M1 and M2 macrophages were upregulated in atheromatous plaque, the increase was dominant in M2 type in percentage. The level of autophagy was significantly higher in the atheromatous plaque than that of fibrous plaque. The expression of tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) mRNA was significantly higher in fibrous plaque than that of atheromatous plaque (P < 0.01 or 0.05), and arginase-1 (Arg-1), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), CD163 and interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNA was significantly lower than that in atheromatous plaque (P < 0.01). The levels of p-STAT1 and NF-κB were significantly increased in fibrous plaque (P < 0.01), while p-STAT6 expression was significantly increased in atheromatous plaque (P < 0.01). The level of LC3-II was significantly higher in atheromatous plaque than that in fibrous plaque (P < 0.01). Macrophages in early atherosclerotic plaque were induced to M1 type through p-STAT1/NF-κB pathway and expressed moderate levels of autophagy; while macrophages in advanced plaques were induced to polarization of M2 type through p-STAT6 pathway. M2 macrophages expressed a higher level of autophagy than M1 macrophages.