] AIM: To investigate the expression of the urotensin Ⅱ (UⅡ) receptor GPR14 in the aorta of apoE knockout mouse. METHODS: The expression of GPR14 in the aorta of apoE knockout C57BL/6J mice at various ages (18 weeks, 28 weeks, and 38 weeks old, respectively) was determined with competitive RT-PCR. A binding assay of [ 125 I]-UⅡ on the aortic tissue was also performed in 28 weeks group. RESULTS: We found significant upregulation of GPR14 mRNA at all three ages. Compared with wild type group at the same age, the GPR14 mRNA level in apoE knockout mice increased 54.2% in 18 week group (P

Objective To investigate the protective effect of modified Qianjin Weijing Decoction(MQJWJD)on TNF-α and NF-κB in rats with lung injury induced by particulate matter; To discuss relevant mechanism of action. Methods A tracheal drip 15 mg/kg fine particles of saline solution was used to establish modeling, every other day, three times. Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group and MQJWJD high-dose and low-dose groups, with eight rats in each group. Medication groups were given relevant medicine for gavage. The level of TNF-α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was measured by ELISA. The expression of NF-κB protein in lung tissues was measured by immunohistochemistry. The histopathology of the lung injury was observed by light microscope. Results Compared with normal group, the level of TNF-α and the expression of NF-κB protein in the model group were higher than those in the normal group (P<0.01). Compared with model group, the level of TNF-α and the expression of NF-κB protein in MQJWJD low-dose and high-dose groups were lower than those in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Pathological observation showed that, compared with normal group, model group showed intratracheal, alveolar and interstitial bacteria within a large number of fine particles calm, alveolar and pulmonary interstitial visible large amounts of phagocytic fine particles of macrophages and accompanied by more neutrophils and lymphocyte infiltration; Lung tissue pathological changes were significantly lighter in MQJWJD high-dose and low-dose groups than the model group. MQJWJD high-dose group showed mild inflammation, alveolar and pulmonary interstitial visible phagocytic fine particles of macrophages, a small amount of neutrophils and lymphocyte infiltration. Conclusion MQJWJD can reduce the pulmonary injury in rats induced by particulate matter and has protective effects on the rat model through decreasing the levels of TNF-α and the expressions of NF-κB protein in injured lung tissues.

Objective:To investigate the short-term efficacy of rotational femoral neck osteotomy with preservation of the round ligament in the treatment of subchondral insufficiency fracture of the femoral head (SIFFH) in young and middle-aged people.Methods:A retrospective case series study was used to analyze the clinical data of 13 patients with SIFFH, who were admitted to 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force from January 2017 to January 2022. The patients included 10 males and 3 females, aged 22-49 years [(33.5±8.3)years]. There were 6 patients with fracture on the left hip and 7 on the right hip. All the patients were treated by rotational femoral neck osteotomy with preservation of the round ligament. Postoperatively, standardized joint functional training was given. The operative time and intraoperative bleeding were recorded. The modified Harris hip score and visual analogue score (VAS) were compared preoperatively, at 3, 6 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up. Radiological examinations were used to observe the occurrence of any collapse of the femoral head, non-union at osteotomy site or other complications.Results:The patients were followed up for 13-24 months [(17.9±3.1)months]. The operative time was (127.3±9.8)minutes, with the intraoperative bleeding of (393.9±21.9)ml. The values of modified Harris hip score were (61.6±3.3)points, (80.2±4.4)points, and (91.9±4.1)points at 3, 6 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up, respectively, being significantly higher than the preoperative (51.4±3.5)points (all P<0.05), and there were significant differences between different postoperative timepoints (all P<0.05). The values of VAS were (4.9±1.1)points, (3.0±0.9)points, and (1.4±0.5)points at 3, 6 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up, respectively, being significantly lower than preoperative (6.7±0.9)points (all P<0.05), and there were significant differences between different postoperative timepoints (all P<0.05). Imaging examination showed no femoral head collapse, with all the bones healed at the osteotomy site. There were no serious complications such as bone non-union, incision infection or peripheral nerve injury. Conclusion:Rotational femoral neck osteotomy with preservation of the round ligament in treating SIFFH in the young and middle-aged population has the advantages of shortened operative time, less intraoperative bleeding, promoted hip function recovery, attenuated pain and decreased complications, showing a satisfactory early effect.

Objective:To analyze the allocation of chief examining physicians in health examination (management) institutions in 2019.Methods:A current situation study. Using a census method, a questionnaire survey was conducted to collect basic information (such as institution name, address, nature, affiliation, category, and level) and the allocation of chief physicians (such as gender, year of birth, full-time or part-time, type of practice, level of professional title, and years of engagement in health examination and management work) of 5 428 health examination (management) institutions in 2019. The collected data were statistically analyzed using chi-square test.Results:In terms of the type of practice of chief physicians, the proportions of internal medicine physicians in public and privately-run institutions was 72.84% and 68.23%, respectively, with a statistically significant difference in distribution ( χ2=19.632, P<0.05); the proportions of surgeons was 27.16% and 31.77%, respectively. The proportions of internal medicine physicians in third-, second-, first-, and unclassified-level institutions was 75.76%, 69.14%, 68.60%, and 68.78%, respectively; the proportions of surgeons was 24.24%, 30.56%, 31.40%, and 31.22%, respectively; with a statistically significant difference in distribution ( χ2=47.682, P<0.05). In terms of the level of professional title of chief physicians, the proportions of associate senior physicians in public and privately-run institutions was 69.56% and 73.66%, respectively, and the proportions of senior physicians was 30.44% and 26.34%, respectively, with a statistically significant difference in distribution ( χ2=15.276, P<0.05); the proportions of associate senior physicians in third-, second-, first-, and unclassified-level institutions was 62.72%, 75.55%, 78.40%, and 74.51%, respectively, with the proportions of senior physicians being 37.28%, 24.45%, 21.60%, and 25.49%, respectively, with a statistically significant difference in distribution ( χ2=168.462, P<0.05). The average number of chief physicians per institution in China was 1.67, with the highest number in the North China (2.10) and the lowest number in the Southwest region (1.49). The compliance rate of chief physicians with qualifications was 33.37% nationwide, with only the North China (48.64%) and the East China (37.05%) surpassing the national average, and the lowest rate was in the Northeast region (24.01%). Conclusions:There are regional differences in the allocation of chief examining physicians in China, and the uneven and insufficient development of their skills and abilities remains a prominent contradiction.

BACKGROUNDSleep deprivation (SD) has been used in treatment of depression disorder, and could effectively improve the patients' depressive symptoms.The aim of the study was to explore the effects of SD on electroencephalographic (EEG) and executive function changes in patients with depression.

METHODSEighteen depression patients (DPs) and 21 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled in the present study. The whole night polysomnography (PSG) was recorded by Neurofax-1518K (Nihon Kohden, Japan) system before and after 36 hours of SD. The level of subjects' depression state was assessed by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the executive function was assessed by Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST).

RESULTSSignificantly decreased sleep latency (SL; before SD: (31.8 ± 11.1) minutes, after SD: (8.8 ± 5.2) minutes, P < 0.01) and REM sleep latency (RL; before SD: (79.8 ± 13.5) minutes, after SD: (62.9 ± 10.2) minutes, P < 0.01) were found after SD PSG in depression patients. Decreased Stage 1 (S1; before SD: (11.7 ± 2.9)%, after SD: (7.3 ± 1.1)%, P < 0.01) and Stage 2 (S2, before SD: (53.8 ± 15.5)%, after SD: (42.3 ± 14.7)%, P < 0.05) of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and increased Stage 3 (S3, before SD: (11.8 ± 5.5)%, after SD: (23.6 ± 5.8)%, P < 0.01) and Stage 4 (S4, before SD: (8.8 ± 3.3)%, after SD: (27.4 ± 4.8)%, P < 0.01) NREM sleep were also found. After SD, the depression level in patients decreased from 6.7 ± 2.1 to 2.9 ± 0.7 (P < 0.01). In WCST, the patients showed significantly decreased Response errors (Re, before SD: 22.3 ± 2.4, after SD: 18.3 ± 2.7, P < 0.01) and Response preservative errors (Rpe, before SD: 11.6 ± 3.6, after SD: 9.3 ± 2.9, P < 0.05). Depression patients' RE (t = 2.17, P < 0.05) and Rpe (t = 2.96, P < 0.01) also decreased significantly compared to healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONSD can improve depression symptom and executive function in depression patients.

Adult ; Depression ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polysomnography ; methods ; Sleep Deprivation ; physiopathology

Objective: Several COVID-19 patients have overlapping comorbidities. The independent role of each component contributing to the risk of COVID-19 is unknown, and how some non-cardiometabolic comorbidities affect the risk of COVID-19 remains unclear. Methods: A retrospective follow-up design was adopted. A total of 1,160 laboratory-confirmed patients were enrolled from nine provinces in China. Data on comorbidities were obtained from the patients' medical records. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio ( Results: Overall, 158 (13.6%) patients were diagnosed with severe illness and 32 (2.7%) had unfavorable outcomes. Hypertension (2.87, 1.30-6.32), type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (3.57, 2.32-5.49), cardiovascular disease (CVD) (3.78, 1.81-7.89), fatty liver disease (7.53, 1.96-28.96), hyperlipidemia (2.15, 1.26-3.67), other lung diseases (6.00, 3.01-11.96), and electrolyte imbalance (10.40, 3.00-26.10) were independently linked to increased odds of being severely ill. T2DM (6.07, 2.89-12.75), CVD (8.47, 6.03-11.89), and electrolyte imbalance (19.44, 11.47-32.96) were also strong predictors of unfavorable outcomes. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease on admission (5.46, 3.25-9.19), while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes (6.58, 1.46-29.64) within two weeks. Conclusion Besides hypertension, diabetes, and CVD, fatty liver disease, hyperlipidemia, other lung diseases, and electrolyte imbalance were independent risk factors for COVID-19 severity and poor treatment outcome. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease, while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes.
Adult ; Aged ; COVID-19/virology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome