Objective: To observe the effect of Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) on creatine kinase (CK), mitochondrial Ca2+ concentration, and ultrastructure of skeletal muscle in delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) model rats.Methods: A total of 130 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a blank group, an exercise control group, a pre-exercise Tuina group, and a post-exercise Tuina group. According to the time points for sample collection, the exercise control group was divided into a 0 h exercise control group, a 24 h exercise control group, a 48 h exercise control group, and a 72 h exercise control group; the pre-exercise Tuina group was further divided into a 0 h pre-exercise Tuina group, a 24 h pre-exercise Tuina group, a 48 h pre-exercise Tuina group, and a 72 h pre-exercise Tuina group; and the post-exercise Tuina group was divided into a 0 h post-exercise Tuina group, a 24 h post-exercise Tuina group, a 48 h post-exercise Tuina group, and a 72 h post-exercise Tuina group. Rats in all groups except for the blank group received DOMS modeling. Professionals performed Nie-Pinching manipulation and finger Nian-Twisting manipulation on the lower limbs of the rats. The samples were collected at 0 h, 24 h, 48 h, or 72 h after exhaustive exercise for each pre-exercise Tuina group. The samples were collected at 0 h, 24 h, 48 h, or 72 h after Tuina for each post-exercise Tuina group. The changes in serum CK, skeletal muscle mitochondrial Ca2+ concentration, and Ca2+-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) were determined. The ultrastructure changes of skeletal muscles in each group were observed by a transmission electron microscope. Results: The electron microscope showed that compared with the exercise control group, the skeletal muscle structures of the pre-exercise Tuina group and the post-exercise Tuina group were significantly improved, and the overall performance of skeletal muscle in the pre-exercise Tuina group was more similar to that of the blank group. The level of serum CK in the pre-exercise Tuina group and the post-exercise Tuina group was significantly lower than that in the exercise control group (P<0.01). The Ca2+ concentration of skeletal muscle in the 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h pre-exercise Tuina groups was lower than that in the post-exercise Tuina group at the same time point (P<0.01). The Ca2+-ATPase concentration of skeletal muscle in the 24 h and 72 h pre-exercise Tuina groups was lower than that in the post-exercise Tuina group at the same time point (P<0.05).Conclusion: Tuina effectively prevents muscle damage caused by heavy exercise and long-term exercise, which may be related to the increase of skeletal muscle Ca2+-ATPase activity and mitochondrial Ca2+ transport.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of computer-assisted cognitive training in the treatment of cognitive impairment after stroke.Methods:A total of 155 stroke survivors with vascular cognitive impairment were identified at 31 hospitals. They were randomly divided into a control group of 72 and an experimental group of 77 (6 failed to follow up). The control group received 30 minutes of conventional cognition training 5 times a week for 2 weeks, while the experimental group was given computer-assisted cognition training. Before and after the treatment, both groups′ cognition was evaluated using Chinese versions of the Mini Mental State Assessment Scale (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Test (MoCA).Results:After the treatment, the average MMSE and MoCA scores of the observation group [(22.5±3.62) and (19.69±4.43)] and the control group [(21.7±4.30) and (19.10±5.58)] were significantly better than those before the treatment [(19.3±3.08) and (16.79±4.58); (19.7±3.11) and (17.74±5.25)]. The post-treatment difference between the groups′ averages was not significant, but the observation group′s improvements on the immediate memory, delayed memory and calculation portions of the MMSE were significantly greater than those of the control group.Conclusions:Computer-assisted cognition training can improve the overall cognitive functioning of stroke survivors, achieving the same therapeutic effect as conventional cognitive therapy. It is more effective than conventional cognitive therapy in promoting immediate memory, delayed memory and calculation ability.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and effectiveness of direct gastroscopy for detecting gastric cancer.

METHODSClinical screening by direct gastroscopy was performed for gastric cancer (GC) from September 1985 to July 1998. 3048 elderly people were screened. Their age ranged from 60 to 93 years, and 2034 of the 3084 were followed up.

RESULTSNinety-two patients with gastric cancer were discovered by gastroscopy, representing 3.02% of the screened population. The rate of early gastric cancer (EGC) was 63.04% (58/92) of all gastric cancers detected. The rate was up to 79.59% (39/49) on follow-up, and was 74.14% (43/51) in asymptomatic patients with gastric cancer. The excision rate was 88.89% for patients with gastric cancer, and 100% for patients with early gastric cancer. The 5-year survival rate was 91.89% for patients with gastric cancer, and 96.30% for patients with early gastric cancer.

CONCLUSIONClinical screening and follow-up by direct gastroscopy in persons over 60 years of age are a safe and effective method for raising the 5-year survival and detection rate of gastric cancer, especially early gastric cancer.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; mortality ; Survival Rate

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effect of artesunate on mice with acute Toxoplasma gondii ( T. gondii) infection. Methods:Based on body weight (16 - 18 g), sixty-four C57BL/6 female mice aged 6 - 8 weeks were divided into 4 groups by random number table method: uninfected control group without treatment; T. gondii-infected group (Tg group), each mouse was intraperitoneally (i.p.) infected with 100 tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain; T. gondii-infected + artesunate treatment group (Tg + ART group), 3 hours after each mouse i.p. infected with 100 tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain, artesunate solution was i.p. injected at a dose of 30 mg/kg, once a day for a total of 7 consecutive days; T. gondii-infected + sulfadiazine treatment group (Tg + SDZ group), 3 hours after each mouse i.p. infected with 100 tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain, sulfadiazine solution was orally administrated at a dose of 100 mg/kg, once a day for a total of 7 consecutive days. There were 16 mice in each group, in which 10 mice were used to observe survival time and 6 mice were used to monitor body weight and collect tissue samples. Mice were weighed every day from day 1 post infection (p.i.); mice were sacrificed at day 7 p.i., the liver weights of mice were weighed and the liver indexes were calculated; liver tissues were paraffin-embedded, sectioned, and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), and the pathological changes of liver tissues of mice in each group were observed under a light microscope. The expression levels of T. gondii major surface antigen 1 (SAG1) in the liver tissues of mice in each group were detected by real-time quantitative PCR for evaluating parasite load. Results:All mice in the uninfected control group were survived. The survival time was 7 - 9 days in Tg group, 8 - 11 days in Tg + ART group, and 9 - 13 days in Tg + SDZ group. Compared with Tg group, the survival times of mice in Tg + ART group and Tg + SDZ group were significantly longer ( P < 0.05). On day 7 p.i., compared with uninfected control group, Tg + ART group or Tg + SDZ group, the body weight of mice in Tg group was lower ( P < 0.05); however, there was no significant difference of body weight in Tg + ART group and Tg + SDZ group compared with uninfected control group ( P > 0.05). Compared with Tg group, Tg + ART group and Tg + SDZ group had lower liver indexes and SAG1 mRNA expression levels in the liver tissues ( P < 0.05 or < 0.001), and liver histopathological changes were milder. Compared with Tg + SDZ group, there was no significant difference in both liver index and SAG1 mRNA expression level in the liver tissue of Tg + ART group ( P > 0.05). Conclusion:Artesunate solution i.p. injection can prolong the survival time, reduce parasite load in the liver, and attenuate hepatic pathological damage, to a certain extent, of mice with acute T. gondii infection.

Organoids are a novel disease model that is self-assembled from stem cells or malignant tumors and is used in clinical research.They are similar to tissues and organs in the body and have partially functional 3D cell structures.There are two types of traditional models for liver cancer research,i.e.,in vivo models(animal models of liver cancer established by induction)and in vitro cell experiments using corresponding cell lines.Organoids have the advantages of the two types of traditional models and show unique advantages in tumor research.Traditional models cannot fully reflect the microenvironment of cells,which often leads to the inconsistency with clinical research findings,and the emergence of new research models provides a new direction for the research on liver cancer.This article reviews the research advances in liver cancer organoids,in order to provide a new perspective for future research on liver cancer.

BACKGROUND:Obesity negatively affects dynamic balance during walking,and crossing barriers is a more routine functional activity that requires more stability in controlling body posture. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the differences in dynamic stability between obese and average males,and to assess the balance ability of obese males using a relatively more challenging obstacle crossing. METHODS:A total of 24 male youths(12 each in the obese and normal groups)were recruited to complete the tests of walking on level ground and crossing obstacles of different heights(4 cm,11 cm,15 cm)in random order.Kinematic and dynamic data were collected using the Qualisys motion capture system and Kistler force stage.Statistical analysis was performed using two-factor(2 groups * 4 movement types)repeated measures analysis of variance. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The obese group had a lower step speed than the normal group(P<0.05),the proportion of the first single support period decreased and the proportion of the second double support period increased when crossing the 11 cm versus 15 cm hurdles(P<0.05).When walking on level ground,the margin of stability in the internal and external directions in the normal group was greater than that of the obese group(P<0.05).When crossing the 4 cm hurdles,the margin of stability in the obese group was less than that in the normal group(P<0.05).When crossing the 11 cm hurdles,there was no significant difference between the two groups in the anterior-posterior direction(P>0.05),while there was a significant difference in the internal-external direction(P<0.05).When crossing the 15 cm hurdles,the margin of stability in the obese group was lower than that in the normal group(P<0.05).Overall,obesity decreases the body's ability to control the body,reduces dynamic stability during crossing the barrier,and increases the risk of falls compared with the general population.In addition,compared with level ground walking,the decrease in the dynamic stability when crossing barriers is more significant in the obese group than the general population.

Objective To explore the mechanism of piper longum extract on liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)in rats.Methods Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,low dose group(16.6mg/kg),middle dose group(33.3mg/kg)and high dose group(66.7mg/kg)of piper longum extract,with 12 rats in each group.Except the blank group,the other groups were subcutaneously injected with 50％CCl4 rapeseed oil solution for 8 weeks to establish liver fibrosis models.At the same time of modeling,the model group was given normal saline by gavage,and the low,middle and high dose groups of piper longum extract were given gavage for 8 weeks.After the experiment,serum alanine transaminase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST)and γ-glutamyl-transferase(γ-GT),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-6(IL-6)were measured;the pathological changes of liver tissue in rats was observed by hematoxylin eosin staining and Masson's trichrome staining.The tissue total RNA was extracted and qPCR method was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of Collagen Ⅰ,α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)and TNF-α.Tissue protein was extracted and Western blot method was used to detect the protein expression levels of Collagen Ⅰ,α-SMA and TNF-α.Results The results of HE staining and Masson staining showed that the liver fibrosis of rats in the model group was obvious,ALT,AST and γ-GT were increased,serum inflammatory mediator TNF-α and IL-6 secretion was increased.The mRNA and protein expression levels of Collagen Ⅰ,α-SMA and TNF-α in the model group were significantly increased.Piper longum extract can significantly improve the degree of liver fibrosis.ALT,AST,y-GT were decreased,and serum inflammatory mediator TNF-α and IL-6 were decreased,the mRNA and protein expression levels of Collagen Ⅰ,α-SMA,TNF-α in liver tissue were significantly decreased.Conclusion Piper longum extract has obvious therapeutic effect on CCl4 induced liver fibrosis in rats,which can be achieved by inhibiting the inflammatory factor TNF-α and IL-6 expression,and possibly by inhibiting the activation of hepatic stellate cell,thereby reducing Collagen Ⅰ andα-SMA synthesis exerts anti fibrosis effect.

Objective Exploring the protective effect and mechanism of piperlongumine(PL),an active ingredient in the extract of Piper longum,on hepatic stellate cell damage in vitro.Methods The liver stellate cells(HSC-T6)were activated by adding lipopo-lysaccharide(LPS),and the liver stellate cells were treated with different concentrations of piperlongumine,and the protein and mRNA expression levels of IL-18,GSDMD,NLRP3 and caspase-1 in the cells were detected by Western blot and qPCR.Immunofluorescence staining showed the localization and expression of IL-18,GSDMD,NLRP3 and caspase-1 in cells.Molecular docking technology was used to analyze the target molecules of the action of piperlongumine.Results In vitro experiments showed that piperlongumine could in-hibit the protein and mRNA expression of IL-18,GSDMD,NLRP3 and caspase-1 in a concentration-dependent manner.The results of molecular docking verified the correlation,and piperlongumine could bind to IL-18,GSDMD and caspase-1,but had a poor binding effect with NLRP3.Conclusion Piperlongumine can prevent pyroptosis by inhibiting the caspase-1 signaling pathway of HSC-T6 cells,thereby exerting a protective effect on liver injury.

OBJECTIVETo explore the common causative genes and mutation sites for hereditary non-syndromic deafness in Shanxi.

METHODSPeripheral blood samples were collected from regional schools for children with deafness. The samples were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization of flight mass spectrometry, and the results were verified by DNA sequencing.

RESULTSFor all samples, the 20 mutational sites of the 4 common causative genes were tested. As revealed, c.235delC of GJB2 gene has the highest mutational rate (13.67%). c.IVS7-2A>G of SLC26A (PDS) gene has a mutation rate of 17.67%, and c.1555A>G of mitochondrial 12S rRNA has a mutation rate of 2.00%. No mutations have been found with GJB3 gene. Sequencing analysis has suggested that the above results have a consistency rate of 99%.

CONCLUSIONAnalysis of mutations of the 4 common deafness-related genes can facilitate early diagnosis and treatment for the disease. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry is a reliable method for such a task.

Adolescent ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Child ; China ; Connexin 26 ; Connexins ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Deafness ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; RNA, Ribosomal ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo identify novel common mutations among patients with non-syndromic hearing loss (NSHL).

METHODSHigh-throughput gene capture technology was used to analyze 18 patients with NSHL in whom common mutations of deafness genes including GJB2, SLC26A4, GJB3, and mtDNA were excluded. Suspected mutation was verified with Sanger sequencing.

RESULTSNext generation sequencing has identified 62 mutations in 29 genes associated with hearing loss, which included 54 missense mutations, 4 splicing mutations, 3 deletional mutations, and 1 nonsense mutation. Mutations occurring more than twice in the 18 patients were verified by Sanger sequencing. This has confirmed 15 mutations in 8 genes, including 3 missense mutations (p.C2184G, p.L2825P, p.H1888Y) which have not been reported previously. Meanwhile, p.L445W, p.D866N, and IVS919-2A>G were common causative mutations.

CONCLUSIONA number of common causative mutations, e.g., p.L445W, p.D866N, IVS919-2A>G, have been identified by high-throughput capture technology, which may facilitate the research and genetic diagnosis for hearing loss.

DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Deafness ; genetics ; Female ; Hearing Loss ; genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; genetics