Objective To investigate the effects of hydrogen-rich saline on postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in aged mice and the possible mechanism.Methods Seventy-two male C57BL/6 mice,aged 18 months,weighing 45-55 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =18 each):control group (group C),hydrogen-rich saline group (group H),POCD group and POCD + hydrogen-rich saline group (group PH).POCD was induced by open tibial fracture.Hydrogen-rich saline 10 ml/kg was injected intraperitoneally twice a day for 7 days before surgery.Six mice were chosen at day 1,3 and 7 after surgery and cognitive function was assessed by Morris water maze test.The mice were then sacrificed and hippocampus was isolated for determination of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) contents (by ELISA) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity.Results Compared with group C,the escape latency was significantly prolonged,the time of staying at the original platform quadrant was shortened,the frequency of crossing the original platform was decreased at 3 and 7 days after surgery,and the contents of NF-α and IL-1β and NF-κB activity were increased during 1,3 and 7 days after surgery in group POCD (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group H (P ＞ 0.05).Compared with group POCD,the escape latency was significantly shortened,the time of staying at the original platform quadrant was prolonged,the frequency of crossing the original platform was increased at 3 and 7 days after surgery,and the contents of NF-α and IL-1β and NF-κB activity were decreased at 1,3 and 7 days after surgery.Conclusion Hydrogen-rich saline can alleviate POCD via inhibiting NK-κB activity in hippocampus and reducing inflammatory response.

Objective To compare the consistency between the estimated values of nine common resting energy expenditure estimation equations and the measured values among the elderly population in pension institutions. Methods A total of 181 elderly individuals from Henan Guangda Ouan Leling Nursing Center were recruited as study objects through cluster sampling. The differences between the estimated values of nine common equations and the measured values obtained by indirect calorimetry were compared, and subgroup analyses were conducted to compare their consistency across different subgroups. Results Among the nine equations, the Cunningham equation and the Owen equation showed relatively small deviations from the measured values, with no significant differences (deviation rates of -1.9% and -2.0%, root mean square errors of 222.7 kcal/d and 239.4 kcal/d, and coincidence rates of 48.4% and 47.5%, respectively). In subgroups stratified by gender and body mass index (BMI), the Cunningham equation showed no significant difference compared with the measured values. The Owen equation showed no significant difference compared with the measured values only in some subgroups [males with BMI of 20~ < 27 kg/m² and ≥27 kg/m², and females with BMI < 20 kg/m²]. Conclusion The Cunningham equation, which utilizes body composition data, can assess the resting energy expenditure of the elderly in pension institutions with relatively high accuracy and speed, demonstrating strong applicability in this population.

Objective To explore the feasibility of the deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) judging the indications and prognosis of the total knee arthroplasty based on the trained DCNN computer learning system.Methods C1FAR-10 DCNN model based on TensorFlow (an open source system,Google,USA) optimized by Alex Krizhevsky were constructed.There were 400 cases with knee osteoarthritis from different databases used for analysis.Three hundred patients underwent total knee arthroplasty,while 100 did not.X-ray of 200 preoperative cases from the 400 cases and their enlarged image (50 times) were applied for training DCNN,while the enlarged images from other 200 cases were used to test the DCNN.The correlation and the regression between judgment of the DCNN and clinical truth were analyzed.The clinical truths were rechecked three times and were confirmed by treatment results.Pearson correlation and linear regression analysis were used.The relation test of the software was only used as a reference.Results There was no significant difference between the baseline of cases for learning and test.After learning 200 cases,the DCNN judged the 10 000 cases enlarged from remaining 200 cases.The correlation between the DCNN judgment and the clinical truth was not significant (r=0.000,F=0.001,P=0.970).False positive was observed in 1 681 cases,false negative in 3 296.After enlarged to 10 000 images,the correlation between the two judgments was significant (F=11 228.735,P=0.000,r=0.727 and R2=0.529).The software detection precision was 0.860.Conclusion DCNN can be applied in judging the indications of the total knee arthroplasty.Large sample size can improve the accuracy of the judgment significantly.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of cleft palate in mice induced by excessive all-trans retinoic acid (atRA). Methods: The pregnant mice were randomly divided into atRA-treated group (n=27) and control group (n=27). atRA-treated group was given by gavage a single dose of atRA (100 mg/kg) at 8: 00 AM on gestation day 10 (GD10) and the control group was given by gavage the isopyknic corn oil. At GD13-GD15, the fetal mice palate development was observed by HE staining. The mouse embryonic palatal mesenchymal cell proliferation was detected by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) immunohistochemistry. The expressions of Smad2, phospho-Smad2 (p-Smad2), Smad4 and Smad7 in mouse embryonic palatal mesenchyme were analyzed by Western blotting. Results: At GD13-GD15, compared with the control, the ratio of BrdU-positive cells in the palatal mesenchyme of atRA-treated fetuses decreased significantly (P<0.05), especially at GD14, atRA inhibition rate was (65.4±1.7)%. Moreover, atRA decreased the levels of p-Smad2 and Smad4 in embryonic palate mesenchymal cells, whereas the expression of Smad7 was significantly increased at GD14 and GD15. Conclusions atRA may lead to cleft palate by inhibiting the activation of Smad signaling pathway and affecting the proliferation of palatal mesenchymal cells.

Diabetic neuropathic pain （DNP） is one of the common complications of diabetic peripheral neuropathy， which is difficult to be cured. The clinical manifestations of DNP include reduced pain threshold， neuropathic pain in extremities， and abnormal pain. Studies have demonstrated that nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB）， mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）， Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）， nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）， and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathways are involved in the treatment of DNP by inhibiting the activation and release of inflammatory cytokines ［e.g.， tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α） and interleukin （IL）］， regulating inflammation-mediating factors ［e.g.， reactive oxygen （ROS）， inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS）， cyclooxygenase （COX-2）， and NF-κB inhibitor （IκB）］， suppressing neurogenic inflammation， destroying the persistent damage of peripheral nerves， and repairing damaged peripheral nerves. The literature of modern medical research has demonstrated that the treatment of DNP with Chinese herbal medicines is associated with the signaling pathways above. They can treat DNP by regulating the expression of key proteins in the signaling pathways to control neurogenic inflammation and repair diabetic peripheral neuropathic damage. By summarizing the available studies， this review aims to provide a reference for the in-depth research on Chinese herbal medicines in the treatment of DNP and give new insights into the protection of diabetic peripheral nerves and the treatment of DNP with Chinese herbal medicines.

Objective To identify stable reference genes for a comparison of the transcription levels of target host genes under viral infection in order to provide data for studies on interactions between the host and the influenza virus.Methods Reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR(RT-qPCR)was performed to detect the relative expression levels of six candidate reference genes,including glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase(GAPDH),β-actin,18S RNA,β2-microglobulin(B2M),ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2D2(UBE2D2),and ribosomal protein L37A(RPL37A)in classical cell models(A549 cells and THP-1 cells)under different conditions.The stability of the reference genes was evaluated using such methods as BestKeeper,GeNorm,NormFinder,and comparative A Ct method.Results The stability of reference genes varied depending on conditions.When such experimental factors as influenza virus infection and immune activation were taken into consideration,β-actin and GAPDH were identified as the most stable reference genes in A549 cells and THP-1 cells,followed by UBE2D2 and B2M.Conclusion The optimal reference genes in A549 cells and THP-1 cells under influenza virus infection or after being treated with interferons or LPS have been identified,which is of referential value for studying the mechanisms of viral infections.