Objective:To observe the effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hot ironing on limb function and balance ability in stroke patients with hemiplegia during the recovery period, and to provide more reference schemes for clinical rehabilitation of stroke patients with hemiplegia.Methods:A randomized controlled study was conducted. Stratified random sampling was used to select stroke patients with hemiplegia during the recovery period admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from June 2023 to January 2024. The patients were divided into a control group and an observation group using the random envelope method. The control group received limb positioning techniques combined with conventional acupuncture intervention, while the observation group received additional TCM hot ironing intervention. Before and after the intervention, the Brunnstrom motor function grading, three-level assessment method, and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale were used to evaluate the patients′ limb function, balance function, and daily living ability.Results:Among the 66 patients included, with 33 patients in the control group, includinng 19 males and 14 females, aged (51.02 ± 8.34) years old, and 33 patients in the observation group, including 21 males and 12 females, aged (49.65 ± 8.21) years old. Before the intervention, there were no statistically significant differences in Brunnstrom upper limb motor function, Brunnstrom lower limb motor function, sitting balance, standing balance, and ADL scores between the two groups (all P>0.05). After the intervention, the observation group showed significant improvements in Brunnstrom upper limb motor function (0 cases at levelⅠ, 33 cases at levelⅡor above), Brunnstrom lower limb motor function (1 case at levelsⅠ-Ⅲ, 32 cases at level Ⅳ or above), sitting balance (0 cases at levelsⅠ-Ⅱ, 33 cases at level Ⅲ), and standing balance (1 case at levelsⅠ-Ⅱ, 32 cases at level Ⅲ). The control group showed less improvement in Brunnstrom upper limb motor function (10 cases at levelⅠ, 23 cases at level Ⅱor above), Brunnstrom lower limb motor function (14 cases at levelsⅠ-Ⅲ, 19 cases at level Ⅳ or above), sitting balance (9 cases at levelsⅠ-Ⅱ, 24 cases at level Ⅲ), and standing balance (11 cases at levelsⅠ-Ⅱ, 22 cases at level Ⅲ). The differences between the two groups were statistically significant ( Z values were 9.39-15.51, all P<0.05). The ADL score in the observation group was (80.25 ± 8.89) points, higher than the control group′s score of (69.97 ± 8.17) points, the difference was statistically significant ( t=4.89, P<0.05). Conclusions:TCM hot ironing can effectively improve limb dysfunction, motor function, balance ability, and walking mobility in stroke patients with hemiplegia during the recovery period, thereby enhancing their daily living ability.

Objective:To observe the effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hot ironing on limb function and balance ability in stroke patients with hemiplegia during the recovery period, and to provide more reference schemes for clinical rehabilitation of stroke patients with hemiplegia.Methods:A randomized controlled study was conducted. Stratified random sampling was used to select stroke patients with hemiplegia during the recovery period admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from June 2023 to January 2024. The patients were divided into a control group and an observation group using the random envelope method. The control group received limb positioning techniques combined with conventional acupuncture intervention, while the observation group received additional TCM hot ironing intervention. Before and after the intervention, the Brunnstrom motor function grading, three-level assessment method, and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale were used to evaluate the patients′ limb function, balance function, and daily living ability.Results:Among the 66 patients included, with 33 patients in the control group, includinng 19 males and 14 females, aged (51.02 ± 8.34) years old, and 33 patients in the observation group, including 21 males and 12 females, aged (49.65 ± 8.21) years old. Before the intervention, there were no statistically significant differences in Brunnstrom upper limb motor function, Brunnstrom lower limb motor function, sitting balance, standing balance, and ADL scores between the two groups (all P>0.05). After the intervention, the observation group showed significant improvements in Brunnstrom upper limb motor function (0 cases at levelⅠ, 33 cases at levelⅡor above), Brunnstrom lower limb motor function (1 case at levelsⅠ-Ⅲ, 32 cases at level Ⅳ or above), sitting balance (0 cases at levelsⅠ-Ⅱ, 33 cases at level Ⅲ), and standing balance (1 case at levelsⅠ-Ⅱ, 32 cases at level Ⅲ). The control group showed less improvement in Brunnstrom upper limb motor function (10 cases at levelⅠ, 23 cases at level Ⅱor above), Brunnstrom lower limb motor function (14 cases at levelsⅠ-Ⅲ, 19 cases at level Ⅳ or above), sitting balance (9 cases at levelsⅠ-Ⅱ, 24 cases at level Ⅲ), and standing balance (11 cases at levelsⅠ-Ⅱ, 22 cases at level Ⅲ). The differences between the two groups were statistically significant ( Z values were 9.39-15.51, all P<0.05). The ADL score in the observation group was (80.25 ± 8.89) points, higher than the control group′s score of (69.97 ± 8.17) points, the difference was statistically significant ( t=4.89, P<0.05). Conclusions:TCM hot ironing can effectively improve limb dysfunction, motor function, balance ability, and walking mobility in stroke patients with hemiplegia during the recovery period, thereby enhancing their daily living ability.

BACKGROUND: China bears the biggest atrial fibrillation (AF) burden in the world. However, little is known about the incidence and predictors of AF. This study aimed to investigate the current incidence of AF and its electrocardiographic (ECG) predictors in general community individuals aged over 60 years in China. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study, recruiting subjects who were aged over 60 years and underwent annual health checkups from April to July 2015 in four community health centers in Songjiang District, Shanghai, China. The subjects were then followed up from 2015 to 2019 annually. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, and the resting 12-lead ECG were collected. Kaplan-Meier curve was used for showing the trends in AF incidence and calculating the predictors of AF. Associations of ECG abnormalities and AF incidence were examined using Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: This study recruited 18,738 subjects, and 351 (1.87%) developed AF. The overall incidence rate of AF was 5.2/1000 person-years during an observation period of 67,704 person-years. Multivariable Cox regression analysis indicated age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-1.09; P < 0.001), male (HR, 1.30; 95% CI: 1.05-1.62; P = 0.018), a history of hypertension (HR, 1.55; 95% CI: 1.23-1.95; P < 0.001), a history of cardiac diseases (HR, 3.23; 95% CI: 2.34-4.45; P < 0.001), atrial premature complex (APC) (HR, 2.82; 95% CI: 2.17-3.68; P < 0.001), atrial flutter (HR, 18.68; 95% CI: 7.37-47.31; P < 0.001), junctional premature complex (JPC) (HR, 3.57; 95% CI: 1.59-8.02; P = 0.002), junctional rhythm (HR, 18.24; 95% CI: 5.83-57.07; P < 0.001), ventricular premature complex (VPC) (HR, 1.76; 95% CI: 1.13-2.75, P = 0.012), short PR interval (HR, 5.49; 95% CI: 1.36-22.19; P = 0.017), right atrial enlargement (HR, 6.22; 95% CI: 1.54-25.14; P = 0.010), and pacing rhythm (HR, 3.99; 95% CI: 1.57-10.14; P = 0.004) were independently associated with the incidence of AF. CONCLUSIONS The present incidence of AF was 5.2/1000 person-years in the studied population aged over 60 years in China. Among various ECG abnormalities, only APC, atrial flutter, JPC, junctional rhythm, short PR interval, VPC, right atrial enlargement, and pacing rhythm were independently associated with AF incidence.
Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation/epidemiology* ; Prospective Studies ; Incidence ; Atrial Flutter/complications* ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Electrocardiography

【Objective】 To explore the potential molecular biological mechanism of Belamcanda chinensis in the treatment of glioma based on network pharmacology, molecular docking technology and in vitro cell experiments. 【Methods】 ① The active components, targets of Belamcanda chinensis and targets of glioma were obtained by database search. String database was used to analyze protein-protein interaction relationship, R project was used to analyze gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway, Cytoscape software was used to build "compound-target-disease" network and PPI network, and AutoDock software was used to verify molecular docking. ② Western blotting, qRT-PCT and apoptosis assay were used to verify the enrichment results of network pharmacology targets and protein pathway. 【Results】 ① We screened out 32 types of active components, 484 types of targets and 464 types of glioma targets, and obtained 62 kinds of therapeutic targets after mapping. We obtained 12 kinds of key pharmacodynamic molecules such as Isoiridogermanal, Iridobelamal A and Rhamnazinand and other key pharmacodynamic molecules, as well as AKT1, STAT3, HRAS and other core targets by network topology analysis. Enrichment analysis results demonstrated that they were mainly involved in biological processes such as peptide serine phosphorylation, protein kinase B signal transduction, peptide serine modification, and pathways including PI3K/AKT signal pathway and Rap1 signal pathway. The results of molecular docking verified the good binding activity of the key pharmacodynamic molecules with the core targets. ② The results of Western blotting showed that the protein expressions of VEGF and MMP9 of Belamcanda chinensis extracts in 8 mg/mL and 16 mg/mL groups were significantly lower than those in the blank control group (P<0.01 or P<0.001). Compared with the blank control group, the early apoptosis rate of Belamcanda chinensis extracts at 8 mg/mL and 16 mg/mL were significantly decreased (P<0.001 or P<0.000 1). qRT-PCR results showed that the mRNA expression levels of VEGF and MMP9 in Belamcanda chinensis extracts at 8 mg/mL and 16 mg/mL were significantly decreased (P<0.001 or P<0.0001). 【Conclusion】 The treatment of glioma with Belamcanda chinensis is the result of multi-component, multi-target and multi-channel interactions. The results of cell experiments confirmed that Belamcanda chinensis extracts can affect the expressions of related target proteins of PI3K/AKT signal pathway and VEGF and MMP9, which verified the results of network pharmacology. The results provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of Belamcanda chinensis and studies on glioma.

Objective:To develop an ex vivo normothermic mechanical perfusion(NMP)and compare the effect of different portal perfusion pressures on attenuating hepatic injury from donor after cardiac death(DCD).Methods:All rat livers were subjected to in situ warm ischemia for 30 min after cardiac attest and thereafter stored for 8 h under cold preservation. Six livers were harvested and regarded as static cold storage(group CS, n=6). In experimental group, liver received an ex vivo dual NMP with oxygenated perfusion via hepatic artery for 2 h after cold storage. Hepatic injury was assessed and compared from perfused livers with full portal vein pressure(group M1, n=6)and low portal vein pressure(group M2, n=6). The evaluation parameters included perfusion flow, liver enzymes of perfusate, pathological changes by hematoxylin-eosin staining, Suzuki histological criteria, expression of activation markers of polymorphonuclear neutrophils and macrophages, myeloperoxidase (MPO)and CD68 by immunohistochemistry, level of malondialdehyde(MDA)and activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD). Results:In experimental group during NMP, perfusion flows tended to increase when portal pressures were stabilized in groups M1 and M2.Perfusion flow during NMP 60~120 min was significantly higher than during NMP 0~20 min.After NMP with full portal pressure, hepatic sinusoidal congestion, hepatocyte necrosis, steatosis and Suzuki criteria were lower in group M1 than those in group CS( P<0.05). Compared with group M1, lower hepatic injury was characterized with a lower change of liver enzymes in perfusate( P<0.05), a better histological evaluation( P<0.05), a lower level of MDA and a higher activity of SOD( P<0.05), lower expressions of CD68 and MPO ( P<0.05)and lower levels of TNF-α and IL-6( P<0.05)in perfused liver. Conclusions:The ex vivo dual NMP with oxygenated perfusion via hepatic artery mimics liver perfusion under the physiological conditions.NMP with a lower portal pressure can attenuate hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury and confer a better protection against liver damage from DCD.

Objective:To investigate the drug resistance and pathogenic mechanism of a uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strain UPEC132 at the genome-wide level. Methods:The susceptibility of UPEC132 strain to 16 antimicrobial agents was determined by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay. The UPEC132 strain was genotyped by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). The three-generation sequencing platform was used to sequence and assemble the whole genome of the UPEC132 strain. Drug resistance and virulence gene function annotations were predicted by Prodigal software and screened by using genome database. Genome sequences of the UPEC132 strain and 23 other UPEC strains collected from GenBank were phylogenetically analyzed, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed by RAxML software.Results:The UPEC132 strain was resistant to ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, tetracycline, erythromycin, chloramphenicol and cefazolin. Its genotype was ST10522 by MLST. The whole genome of the UPEC132 strain included one complete genome (chromosome) and two plasmid sequences. The sequence sizes of the chromosome and plasmids 1 and 2 were 5 234 468 bp, 117 139 bp and 101 356 bp, and the guanine-cytosine (GC) content was 50.48%, 49.05%, and 54.04%, respectively. There were 4 856, 140 and 116 genes annotated in the chromosome and plasmids 1 and 2, respectively. Drug resistance genes were mainly distributed in the chromosomal genome, mainly including the multidrug resistance efflux pump gene clusters. Only blaTEM-1 and tetG genes were carried in the plasmid 2. Virulence genes were also mainly distributed in the chromosome genome, including nine pilus adhesins, five iron uptake systems and three secretory toxins. Gene clusters encoding Afa and type Ⅳ fimbriae were located on plasmids 1 and 2, respectively. The phylogenetic tree showed that the UPEC132 strain was not in the same branch with either of the 23 UPEC strains. Conclusions:The UPEC132 strain belonged to ST10522, which was a newly named ST type of Escherichia coli and first reported at home and abroad. The genome-wide genetic information of the UPEC132 strain was fully revealed. The multidrug resistance genes and virulence genes carried by the UPEC132 strain were associated with its drug resistance and pathogenicity.

Objective To explore the role and mechanism of inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor 1 400W in alleviating ischemia-reperfusion injury of human intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells.Methods Human intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells (HIBEC) in logarithmic phase were inoculated into culture plate at an appropriate density.The samples were randomly divided into control group (group C),ischemiareperfusion group (group I/R) and ischemia-reperfusion + 1 400W group (group I/R + 1 400W).Group C was cultured routinely;cells in I/R and I/R + 1 400W groups were placed in a three-gas incubator for 12h for simulating ischemia and then normal culture for 6h for simulating reperfusion.The I/R + 1 400W group had a final concentration of 100 μmol/L of 1 400W before ischemia and hypoxia.After reperfusion,cells and culture medium were collected,CCK 8 was used for detecting cell vitality,microplate method for detecting the content of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in culture medium,AnnexinV-FITC/PI double stain for detecting apoptosis level,Western blot for analyzing the expressions of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)related protein cysteinyl aspartic acid protease 12 (caspase-12),glucose regulatory protein 78 (GRP78) C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS).Results As compared with group C,cell viability significantly decreased in I/R and I/R+ 1 400W groups (53.8％ ± 2.3％ vs.100％,66.5 ％ ± 2.8 ％ vs.100 ％) (P＜0.05) while LDH increased markedly in cell culture medium (287.4 ±9.0U/L vs 120.2 ± 8.7U/L,212.0 ± 8.3U/L vs 120.2 ± 8.7U/L) (P＜0.05).Apoptosis accelerated markedly (41.5％±2.3％ vs5.2％±0.5％,32.7％± 1.8％ vs 5.2％±0.5％) (P＜0.05) and the expressions of caspase-12,GRP78,CHOP and iNOS spiked (P＜0.05);as compared with I/R group,cell viability of I/R+ 1 400W group rose while LDH,apoptosis level,caspase-12,GRP78 and CHOP declined in cell culture medium (P＜0.05).Conclusions 1 400W may alleviate ischemia-reperfusion injury of human intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells and its mechanism may be correlated with a suppression of endoplasrnic reticulum stress.

Objective To analyze the characteristics of antibiotic resistance in group A Streptococ-cus ( GAS) strains isolated from children with scarlet fever in Tianjin in order to provide reference for clinical drug administration. -ethods GAS strains were collected from 2011 to 2016. A total of 276 isolates were analyzed by antibiotic susceptibility test and emm typing. Results All of the isolates were susceptible to penicillin, cefazolin and vancomycin, while 98. 2％ were susceptible to both chloramphenicol and levofloxa-cin. The resistance rates to azithromycin, erythromycin, clarithromycin, clindamycin and tetracycline were 97. 8％, 97. 1％, 94. 2％, 94. 2％ and 79. 3％. The concomitant resistance to erythromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, clindamycin and tetracycline was 73. 2％. The resistance rates of GAS strains isolated from different years to tetracycline, clindamycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin and azithromycin were significantly different. A statistically significant difference was found between the percentages of emm12 and emm1 strains resistant to tetracycline (84. 0％ vs 59. 5％, χ2=13. 820, P=0. 000). Conclusions The isolated GAS strains are sensitive toβ-lactams and highly resistant to macrolide antibiotics, clindamycin and tetracycline. Penicillin remains the preferred treatment for GAS infection and cephalosporins may be used as a substitute if the patient is allergic to penicillin.

Objective: To investigate the etiological characteristics of Streptococcus pyogenes that caused scarlet fever from 2012 to 2016 in Tianjin. Methods: The subjects were children diagnosed clinically as scarlet fever in Tianjin scarlet fever monitoring hospital from 2012 to 2016. The exclusion criteria were children with scarlet fever who were unable to cooperate with sampling. A total of 575 cases of children's swabs were collected. Biochemical methods were used to isolate and identify the bacteria of pharynx swab, and the PCR method was used to detect the emm genotyping and superantigen speA and speC, and the resistance of the strains to 10 antibiotics was measured by K-B paper method. We compared the carrying status of superantigen genes by different types of GAS and the resistance of all GAS to different antibiotics. Results: There were 5 emm types (emm1/11/12/22/89). The dominant types were emm12 (52.9%, 100 strains) and emm1 (44.4%, 84 strains). The carrying rates of speA and speC genes were 21.7% (41 strains) and 76.7% (145 strains), respectively. The speA gene carrying rate of emm1 type GAS was 33.3% (28 strains), which were higher than that of emm12 (12% (12 strains)) (χ²=12.21, P<0.001). The speA and speC gene simultaneous carrying rate of emm1 type GAS was 27.4% (23 strains), which was higher than that of emm12 type (12% (12 strains)) (χ²=7.01, P=0.008). The percentages of the strains that were resistant to Azithromycin, Erythromycin, Clarithromycin, Clindamycin, Tetracyclin, Levofloxacin and Chloramphenicol were 96.8% (183 strains), 96.3% (182 strains), 92.1% (174 strains), 92.1% (174 strains), 73.0%(138 strains), 2.1% (4 strains) and 1.6% (3 strains), respectively. All isolates were susceptible to Penicillin, Cefazolin and Vancomycin, and there were statistical significance (χ²=953.28, P<0.001). Conclusion The dominant emm types causing scarlet fever are emm12 and emm1. The frequencies of speA and speC in emm1 and emm12 are different. S.pyrogenes in Tianjin were susceptible to penicillin, cefazolin and vancomycin, but highly resistant to the clindamycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin and azithromycin.

Objective:To research the clinical effects of ulinastatin in the treatment of sepsis induced acute renal injury and its possible mechanisms.Methods:114 cases of patients with sepsis induced acute kidney injury from 2014.02 ～ 2016.08 were selected and randomly divided into the control group (n=57) and experimental group (n=57) according to the draw method,the control group was given conventional treatment,while the experimental group was treated by ulinastatin based on the control group,the urine urinary injury molecule-1 (KIM-1),atrialnatriuretic peptide (ANP),cyscatin-c (CYS-C),interleukin l,6 (IL-1,IL-6),c-reactive protein (CRP),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),nitric oxide (NO),endothelin 1 (ET-1),immunoglobulin A,G,M (IgA,IgG,IgM) levels,APACHE-Ⅱ score were compared between two groups before and after the treatment.Results:After treatmented,the urine of KIM-1,ANP,serum of CYS-C,IL-l,IL-6,CRP,TNF-α,ET-1 levels and APACHE-Ⅱ score of experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P＜0.05).The serum NO,IgA,IgG,IgM levels of experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P＜0.05).Conclusion:Ulinastatin could significantly relieve sepsis induced acute renal injury,which might be related to the inhibition of inflammatory response,improvement of the renal blood flow and immune function.