Understanding heart development at a molecular level is a prerequisite for uncovering the causes of congenital heart diseases .Such knowledge can also greatly benefit therapeutic approaches that try to enhance cardiac regeneration or that involve the differentiation of resident cardiac progenitor cells .Wnt proteins have been shown to play multiple roles dur-ing cardiac development .They are extracellular growth factors that activate different intracellular signaling branches .Here, we summarize our current understanding of how these factors affect different aspects of cardiogenesis , from early specifica-tion of cardiac progenitors to later developmental steps , such as remodeling processes .

Objective To investigate the characteristics and influencing factors leading to sudden cardiac death (SCD) of incarcerated prisoners. Methods Seventy-five SCD cases of prisoners between 2000 and 2013 in Henan province were collected, and environment, psychological and physical factors were retro-spectively analyzed. Combined with histopathological results, specific factors of SCD were also studied. Results In the 75 cases, 21 cases (28%) had definite chronic past medical histories, and 75 cases (100%) had cardiovascular disease confirmed by autopsy. Conclusion Due to presence of the potential cardiac diseases, special incarcerated environment, psychological stress, and body-restraint might be the precipitat-ing factors in SCD of those prisoners.

OBJECTIVETo explore biomechanical properties and stress-strain of mucosa scars after cleft palate surgery.

METHODSAfter the model of mucosa scars was made, the mucosa scars and normal mucosa were excised and examined immediately by tensionometry.

RESULTSThe mucosa scars after cleft palate surgery were compared with normal mucosa. The Poisson's ratio of mucosa scars and normal mucosa was 0.5 and 0.49, respectively, showing no significant difference between the two groups. The ultimate Young's modulus of mucosa scars was about 24.22 MPa, however, it declined to 3.32 Mpa in normal mucosa.

CONCLUSIONSThe mucosa scars after cleft palate surgery are biomechanically weaker than normal mucosa. It can be used for further research, such as maxillary orthognathic surgery, distraction osteogenesis, and orthodontic treatment.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cicatrix ; physiopathology ; Cleft Palate ; surgery ; Humans ; Mouth Mucosa ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Osteotomy, Le Fort

Objective To study the imaging of inner ear malformations in children with congenital sensorineural hearing loss(SNHL).Methods CT and MRI examinations were performed on children with SNHL diagnosed by audiological test.One hundred and eighty-eight patients with complete imaging information were obtained.The imaging of inner ear malformations was analyzed according to Sennaroglu's classification. Results Thirty-five patients(54 ears) were found with inner ear malformations by CT and MRI,3 of whom(5 ears) were accompanied by outer and middle ear malformations.Among the 35 patients,2(4 ears) were found to be common cavity deformity,1(1 ear) cochlear hypoplasia,13(26 ears) incomplete partition II(Mondini deformity),4(7 ears) vestibule dilation,13(19 ears) semicircular canal deformity and 19(34 ears) large vestibular aqueduct.Internal auditory canal was found narrow in 7 patients(10 ears) and wide in 1(2 ears) with classic Mondini deformity. Conclusion CT and MRI examinations are of great importance to the diagnosis and treatment of inner ear malformations in children with congenital SNHL,especially for the candidates of cochlear implantation.

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical therapeutic effect of combined acupuncture and moxibustion therapy on polyneuritis.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty cases were treated with combined scalp acupuncture, body acupuncture (stimulating root of nerve as main), cupping and pricking at segmental root of nerve, and electric hot moxibustion, and their therapeutic effects were observed.

RESULTSOne hundred and thirty-eight cases were cured (86.3%) and the total effective rate was 100.0%. The average recovery time for clinical symptoms was 12.81 days, the average recovery time for nervous system signs was 19.76 days, the average recovery time for recovery of ocular muscular dyskinesia was 15.14 days. There was significant therapeutic effect for improvement of simple symptoms, with significant differences when the first and second therapeutic courses compared with that before treatment (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe combined acupuncture and moxibustion therapy has a definite therapeutic effect on polyneuritis.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Neuritis ; therapy

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics and influencing factors leading to sudden cardiac death (SCD) of incarcerated prisoners. METHODS: Seventy-five SCD cases of prisoners between 2000 and 2013 in Henan province were collected, and environment, psychological and physical factors were retrospectively analyzed. Combined with histopathological results, specific factors of SCD were also studied. RESULTS: In the 75 cases, 21 cases (28%) had definite chronic past medical histories, and 75 cases (100%) had cardiovascular disease confirmed by autopsy. CONCLUSION Due to presence of the potential cardiac diseases, special incarcerated environment, psychological stress, and body-restraint might be the precipitating factors in SCD of those prisoners.
Autopsy ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Environment ; Humans ; Mental Disorders ; Prisoners ; Retrospective Studies ; Stress, Psychological

The in vitro transcribed (IVT) mRNA technology has progressed rapidly and the application of mRNA vaccines in the COVID-19 pandemic made it become the most talked-about topic. Compared with protein drugs, IVT mRNA has a lower cost; it can be modular produced and its sequence can be modified easily, so it has a broad application prospect. However, due to its short history, mRNA drugs face the problem of lacking sufficient clinical data, and there is no quality control standard for mRNA drugs except mRNA vaccines. We overview the sequence design, delivery vectors, administration, application prospect and safety considerations of mRNA drugs. We also discussed the quality control of mRNA drugs briefly.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) at points along Foot Yangming Channel on metabolite of ulcerative colitis (UC) rats' cerebral cortex and to identify key metabolites by referring to Pi/Wei-brain related theory in Chinese medicine (CM).

METHODSThe UC rat model was set up by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) method. Male SD rats were randomly divided into the model group and the EA group, 13 in each group. Another 13 rats were recruited as the blank control group. Rats in the blank control group and the model group received no EA. EA was performed at Zusanli (ST36), Shangjuxu (ST37), and Tianshu (ST25) for 5 days by using disperse-dense wave. Then all rats were sacrificed. Their recto-colon and the ileocecal junction were pathomorphologically observed by light microscope and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Cerebral cortexes were extracted. Water-soluble and lipid-soluble brain tissue metabolites were respectively extracted for metabolic research using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR).

RESULTSEA could obviously improve the general condition of UC model rats, decrease the value of DAI, reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the intestinal tract, stabilize structures such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and so on (P <0.05). 1HNMR analysis showed that in the model group, contents of glutamic acid, cholesterol, very low density lipoproein (VLDL) in the pallium obviously decreased, while alanine and low density lipoprotein (LDL) significantly increased. After EA, levels of lactic acid, glutamic acid, total cholesterol (TC), and VLDL all increased, and levels of alanine and LDL decreased. All indices were approximate to those of the blank control group.

CONCLUSIONEA at Foot Yangming channel was found to have some effect on metabolites in the brain tissue of UC model rats, which had specific metabonomic material basis and mechanism based on the Pi/Wei-brain related theory.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Electroacupuncture ; Lipids ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUNDAscorbic acid has important antioxidant properties, and may play a role in the protective effects of ischemic preconditioning on later ischemia-reperfusion. Herein, we examined the role of endogenous extracellular ascorbic acid in ischemic preconditioning in the kidney.

METHODSWe developed a solitary rabbit kidney model where animals received ischemia-reperfusion only (ischemia-reperfusion group, n = 15) or ischemic preconditioning followed by ischemia-reperfusion (ischemic preconditioning group, n = 15). Ischemia-reperfusion was induced by occluding and loosening of the renal pedicle. The process of ischemic preconditioning included 15-minute brief ischemia and 10-minute reperfusion. In vivo microdialysis coupled with online electrochemical detection was used to determine levels of endogenous extracellular ascorbic acid in both groups. The extent of tissue damage was determined in kidney sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Serum creatinine and urea nitrogen were also detected to assess renal function.

RESULTSDuring ischemia-reperfusion, the extracellular ascorbic acid concentration during ischemia increased rapidly to the peak level ((130.01 +/- 9.98)%), and then decreased slowly to near basal levels. Similar changes were observed during reperfusion (peak level, (126.78 +/- 18.24)%). In the ischemic preconditioning group there was a similar pattern of extracellular ascorbic acid concentration during ischemic preconditioning. However, the ascorbic acid level was significantly lower during the ischemia and early reperfusion stage compared to the ischemia-reperfusion group. Additionally, the extent of glomerular ischemic collapse, tubular dilation, tubular denudation, and loss of brush border were markedly attenuated in the ischemic preconditioning group. Levels of serum creatinine and urea nitrogen were also decreased significantly in the ischemic preconditioning group.

CONCLUSIONSIschemic preconditioning may protect renal tissue against ischemia-reperfusion injury via use of extracellular ascorbic acid. In vivo microdialysis coupled with online electrochemical detection is effective for continuous monitoring extracellular ascorbic acid in the renal cortex.

Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods ; Kidney ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rabbits ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo compare the intracephalic imaging differences of stroke treated with combined therapy of scalp and body acupuncture and body acupuncture only, in order to apply the image basis for the differences of clinical curative effects.

METHODSTwenty cases of stroke were randomized into a body acupuncture group (group A) and a scalp and body acupuncture group (group B), ten cases in each group respectively. In group A, body acupuncture was applied simply, and different acupoints were selected according to the symptoms: Shousanli (LI 10), Jianliao (TE 14), Huantiao (GB 30) and Jiaji (EX-B 2) etc. were selected for hemiplegia, Fengchi (GB 20), Xiaguan (ST 7) and Quanliao (SI 18) etc. were for facial paralysis, Fengfu (GV 16) and Lianquan (CV 23) etc. were for aphasia. In group B, combined therapy were applied, the body acupoints selection was same as above; for scalp acupoints, corresponding motor area, sensory area and foot motor sensory area were selected. Instant changes of local cerebral blood flow before and after treatment were examined and evaluated by NIRS and the curative effects of both groups were evaluated.

RESULTSThe total therapeutic effective rate was 90.0% (9/10) and the basically cured rate was 30.0% (3/10) in group A; and 100.0% (10/10) and 50.0% (5/10) respectively in group B, indicating that the clinical curative effect in group B was superior to that in group A at 20, 30 min of acupuncture treatment (P < 0.05). Both imaging results showed that blood flows of prefrontal cortex in both groups were increased with varying degrees after treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); the cerebral blood flow in group B was much more improved than that in group A at 20, 30 min of acupuncture treatment (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can significantly increase blood flow and oxygen saturation in brain cortex, and the effect with combined therapy of scalp and body acupuncture is superior to that with body acupuncture.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain ; physiopathology ; Brain Chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phototherapy ; instrumentation ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; Stroke ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome