AIM: AIM: To explore the relationship between apoptosis in the lung tissues and lung ischemia/reperfusion injury, and observe effects of panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on apoptosis in lung ischemia/reperfusion injury. METHODS: Single lung in situ ischemia/reperfusion animal model was used. Eighty four Japanese white rabbits were randomly divided into control group (control), ischemia/reperfusion 1 h group (IR1h), IR3h, IR5h, Panax Notoginseng Saponins 1 h group (PNS1h), PNS3h and PNS5h. TUNEL, immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization techniques were used to observe apoptosis and Fas/FasL expression in various phases of lung ischemia/reperfusion. RESULTS: Cell apoptosis in lung tissues were significantly high, Fas/FasL mRNA and its protein were up-regulated in lung tissues of lung ischemia/reperfusion injury compared with control (all of P

Objective To retrospectively analyze the importance of preoperative ultrasound and D-dimer determination for patients with traumatic fractures so as to evaluate the value of vascular color Doppler ultrasound in diagnosing of vein thrombosis and the correlation between D-dimer level and lower extremity vein thrombosis. Methods The study involved 1000 in-patients with multiple traumatic fractures, femoral fractures, tibial fractures or tibiofibular fractures admitted from March 2008 to April 2009 who were prepared for open reduction surgery. There were 568 males and 432 females, at age range of 20-90 years ( average 54.8 years). Vein D-dimer was examined in the morning on the second day after admission. Vascular color Doppler ultrasound was performed on the lower extremity one day before operation (after the swelling faded away, about 4-10 days after fracture). Results The vascular color Doppler ultrasound on the lower extremity showed vein thrombosis of the lower extremity in 64 patients (6.4%) including 26 patients with iliac- femoral vein thrombosis, 10 with popliteal-tibial vein thrombosis and 28 with gastrocnemius or soleus muscle vein thrombosis. On the second day after operation, out of 736 patients (73.6%) with D-dimer above normal (324 μg/L), 56 patients (7.6%) developed thrombosis afterwards;of 264 patients (26.4%) with normal D-dimer, eight patients (3.03%) developed thrombsis. Incidence of thrombosis in patients with D-dimer above 650 μg/L was higher than that in patients with D-dimer below 650 μg/L (P＜0. 01). Conclusions Preoperative lower extremity vein Doppler ultrasound in traumatic fracture patients can lower the risk of fatal lung thrombosis caused by existing deep vein thrombosis.D-dimer above normal level indicates tendency of thorombosis. However, normal D-dimer still have the possibility to develop thrombosis, which deserves attention.

Objective To explore the impact of blood-activatingand qi-nourishing therapy on the hypercoagulable state of rats after femur fracture.Methods One hundred and twenty SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups,namely normal group,model group,low-molecular-weight heparin(LMWH) group,combination group (LMWH + Tongmai Decoction),30 rats in each group.The rat model of femur fracture was established.After successful modeling,LMWH group was given subcutaneous injection of LMWH 600 U/kg,and the combination group was given subcutaneous injection of LMWH 600 U/kg together with gastric gavage of Tongmai Decoction,the model group was given subcutaneous injection of the same volume of normal saline.The treatment lasted for 1-7 days after the surgery.The pathologic features of the left great saphenous vein were observed by HE staining method,and the relative volume,thickness and quantity of the blood vessels were also measured.The plasma D-dimer (D-D) and fibrinogen (FIB) levels were determined by biochemical analyzer,and the plasma levels of whole blood viscosity at low shear rate (WBV-lsr) and whole blood viscosity at high shear rate (WBV-hsr) were measured with hemodynamic detector.Results On day 7 after the modeling,less endothelium cells,agglomerative red cells,and large thrombi were found in the great saphenous vein tissue section of the model group under microscope.Compared with the normal group,the levels of D-D,FIB,WBV-lsr and WBV-hsr in the model group at various time points were increased,the difference being significant (P ＜ 0.05).After 7-day treatment,the levels of D-D,FIB,WBV-lsr and WBV-hsr in LMWH group and combination group were lower than those of the odel group,and the decrease in the combination group was superior to LMWH group(P ＜ 0.05).The blood vessel endothelium cells in the combination group were arranged neatly with same cellular width while without enlargement or swelling,the effect being superior to that of LMWH group.Conclusion Blood-activating and Qi-nourishing therapy can effectively relieve hypercoagulable state of rats after femur fracture.

AIM: To investigate the effect of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)/carbon monoxide (CO) system on pulmonary ischemia-reperfusion injury (PIRI) in rabbits. METHODS: Single lung ischemia and reperfusion animal model was used in vivo. The rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (n=10 in each), control group (C), PIR group (I-R), PIR+ hemin group (H) and PIR+zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP) group (Z). Changes of several parameters which included plasma carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) at different time points, wet to dry ratio of lung tissue weight (W/D), the injured alveoli rate (IAR) and the HO-1 enzymatic activity were measured at 180 min after reperfusion in lung tissue. The tissue slides were also stained by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) for HO-1 to detect the expression of HO-1 in lung and to analyze the optical density. The lung tissue was prepared for electron microscopic observation at 180 min after reperfusion. RESULTS: The plasma content of COHb in I-R, H, and Z group increased in a time-dependent manner after I-R. But the increment of H group was higher than that of I-R group, while that of Z group was lower. The HO-1 activity in lung tissue was highest in H group, followed by IR group, Z group, and C group (P

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In recent years, endoscopic submucosal tunnel dissection (ESTD) has gained popularity worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ESTD in treating upper gastrointestinal submucosal tumors (SMTs) in a large-volume endoscopic center. METHODS: Patients with SMTs were enrolled in this study between January 2012 and January 2015. Demographic data, clinical data, and treatment outcome were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Seventy SMTs originating from the muscularis propria (MP) layer were identified in 69 patients. All patients successfully underwent the ESTD procedure. The mean procedure time was 49.0±29.5 minutes, and the mean tumor size was 18.7±7.2 mm. Among all lesions, the majority (70.0%) were located in the esophagus, 12.9% in the cardia, and 17.1% in the stomach. Complete resection was achieved in 67 lesions (95.7%). Perforation occurred in three patients (4.3%), who were treated by endoclips. Pneumothorax occurred in two patients (2.9%) and was successfully managed by thoracic drainage. During a median follow-up of 18.1 months, patients were free of local recurrence or distant metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated the feasibility and safety of ESTD in treating upper gastrointestinal SMTs originating from the MP layer. Large-scale comparative studies with other treatment methods should be conducted in the future.
Cardia ; Drainage ; Esophagus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pneumothorax ; Recurrence ; Stomach ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To investigate the application value of phase contrast MR angiography (PC MRA) in quantitative assessment for the hemodynamic features of functional posterior communicating artery (F-PCoA) in the patients with posterior circulation ischemia (PCI).Methods:Data of PC MRA in our Hospital from April 2015 to March 2017 were collected retrospectively. Twenty-six patients (PCI group) were diagnosed as PCI with F-PCoA, and other 25 patients were defined as non-PCI group including 10 patients with F-PCoA (non-PCI group 1) and 15 patients without F-PCoA (non-PCI group 2). The cross-sectional area, mean flux, mean velocity, minimum flux, maximum flux, minimum velocity, and maximum velocity were recorded, and the peak height of flux (maximum flux-minimum flux) and peak height of velocity (maximum velocity - minimum velocity) of basilar artery (BA) were calculated. The subtype, cross-sectional area, mean flux, mean velocity, blood flow direction, and absolute flux of F-PCoA in anterior-posterior direction(sum of both sides)were recorded and analyzed statistically.Results:The F-PCoA of 36 cases in PCI group and non-PCI group 1 were divided into three types: type A: the F-PCoA was consistent with anatomical posterior communicating artery (A-PCoA), accounting for 83.3%(30/36 cases); type B: the F-PCoA was not consistent with A-PCoA, accounting for 13.9%(5/36 cases);and type C: a mixed type with the F-PCoA was consistent with A-PCoA in only one side, accounting for 2.8%(1/36 cases). There were no significant differences in the composition of F-PCoA subtype (χ 2=0.609, P=0.737) and the absolute flux of F-PCoA in anterior-posterior direction( t=-0.576, P=0.568) between PCI group and non PCI group 1. It could be unidirectional or bidirectional blood flow forasingle F-PCoA during a cardiac cycle. The blood flow direction of bilateral F-PCoA was similar or not in one single case. The obviously main wave peak of the absolute flux curve of F-PCoA in anterior-posterior direction in PCI group were observed. There was a significant difference in the cross-sectional area of BA between non PCI group 1 and 2( t=-2.856, P=0.009), however no significant differences were found in the genders, mean flux, mean velocity, minimum flux, maximum flux, peak height of flux, minimum velocity, maximum velocity, and peak height of velocity of BA. Conclusions:PC MRA can be used to quantificationally assess the hemodynamic characteristics of F-PCoA such as flow direction, velocity and flux direction, absolute flux in anterior-posterior direction and morphological changes of F-PCoA, which may provide more information for the PCI diagnosis and treatment.

Empathy is one of the basic qualities that modern clinicians need to possess.Although traditional Chinese medicine has no definition for empathy,it does have practical applications.TCM clinical empathy,nurtured by Chinese excellent traditional culture,can be seen in TCM classics and clinical practice of famous doctors of previous generations,and has been inherited in the spiritual thinking of modern colleges and universities of Chinese medicine.However,at present,there is a relative lack of special training courses for"empathy"in Chinese medicine higher education.This paper first briefly describes the connotation,history,and neuroscience mechanism of the concept of"empathy".Secondly,the manifestations and characteristics of"empathy"in the clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine were sorted out.Finally,we use modern medicine and psychology for reference,and combine the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine to make suggestions for the cultivation of the ability of"empathy"in clinical Chinese medicine.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) has shown tremendous potential in disease prevention and therapy. The clinical application requires mRNA with enhanced stability and high translation efficiency, ensuring it not to be degraded by nucleases and targeting to specific tissues and cells. mRNA immunogenicity can be reduced by nucleotide modification, and translation efficiency can be enhanced by codon optimization. The 5´ capping structure and 3´ poly A increase mRNA stability, and the addition of 5' and 3' non-translational regions regulate mRNA translation initiation and protein production. Nanoparticle delivery system protects mRNA from degradation by ubiquitous nucleases, enhances mRNA concentration in circulation and assists it cytoplasmic entrance for the purpose of treatment and prevention. Here, we review the recent advances of mRNA technology, discuss the methods and principles to enhance mRNA stability and translation efficiency; summarize the requirements involved in designing mRNA delivery systems with the potential for industrial translation and biomedical application. Furthermore, we provide insights into future directions of mRNA therapeutics to meet the needs for personalized precision medicine.
RNA, Messenger/genetics* ; Cytoplasm ; Nanoparticles ; Precision Medicine

Objective To investigate the current status of physical activity and depressive symptoms a-mong middle-aged and older adults in Chengdu,Sichuan and explore the relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms.Methods Multi-stage proportional stratified random sampling was employed to select middle-aged and older adults aged ≥45 years as the participants,and face-to-face interviews were carried out to collect data.Logistic regression was adopted to explore the relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults.The trend test was performed for the relationship between different lev-els of physical activity and depressive symptoms.The subgroup analysis and the test for multiplicative interactions were conducted for the relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms.Results A total of 4376 middle-aged and older adults were included.Among them,14.58％(638/4376),25.98％(1137/4376),and 27.83％(1218/4376)had depressive symptoms,failed to reach the guideline-recommended standards of physical activity,and were at low levels of physical activity,respectively.There was a negative association be-tween reaching guideline-recommended physical activity standard and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and ol-der adults(OR=0.713,95％CI=0.589-0.861,P＜0.001).In addition,moderate levels(OR=0.714,95％CI=0.586-0.871,P=0.001)and high levels of physical activity(OR=0.705,95％CI=0.548-0.906,P=0.006)had negative associations with the presence of depressive symptoms.The trend test revealed that the negative association between physical activity and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults enhanced as the level of physical activity increased(Pfor trend=0.001).The subgroup analysis and the test for multiplicative interactions revealed that neither reaching guideline-recommended physical activity standards or not nor the physi-cal activity level had an interaction with each of the subgroups(all Pfor interaction＞0.05).Conclusions The current status of depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults in Chengdu,Sichuan needs to be ameliora-ted.A negative association existed between reaching the guideline-recommended physical activity standard and pres-ence of depressive symptoms,and the negative association enhanced as the physical activity level elevated.

Objective To understand the current situation and explore the influencing factors of delay in seeking medical treatment for common symptoms of residents in the rural areas of Sichuan province. Methods In July 2019,multi-stage random sampling was carried out in Zigong city,Sichuan province,and the data were collected by face-to-face questionnaire interview.The residents who had lived at hometown for more than half a year in the past year and had seen a doctor in the most recent month were surveyed.Logistic regression was adopted to predict the influencing factors of delay in seeking medical treatment. Results A total of 342 subjects were enrolled,and the incidence of delay in seeking medical treatment was 13.45%(46/342).Compared with the young and middle-aged(<65 years)people,the elderly(≥65 years)people were more likely to have delay in seeking medical treatment (OR=2.187,95%CI=1.074-4.457,P=0.031).The rural residents who gave higher score of the overall quality of township health centers were less likely to have delay in seeking medical treatment (OR=0.854,95%CI=0.735-0.992,P=0.039). Conclusions The occurrence of delay in seeking medical treatment for common symptoms of rural residents in Sichuan province is low.Age and the overall quality evaluation of township health centers affect the occurrence of delay in medical treatment among the rural residents in Sichuan province.Efforts should be made to improve the awareness of disease prevention among the elderly in rural areas.The investment in health resources in township health centers should be increased to strengthen the introduction and training of talents.These measures can improve the health services in township health centers,guide residents to make timely use of health resources,and reduce the occurrence of delay in seeking medical treatment.
Middle Aged ; Aged ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Logistic Models ; Rural Population ; China/epidemiology*