OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of "olfactory three needles" on cognition, learning and memory abilities, as well as hippocampal microglia (MG) phagocytic activity in vascular dementia (VD) rats, and explore the mechanisms of acupuncture in regulating MG activation and improving remyelination, so as to ameliorate VD. METHODS: Among 38 SD rats meeting experimental requirements, 9 rats were randomly assigned to a sham-operation group, and the remaining rats underwent permanent bilateral common carotid artery ligation to establish VD model. Eighteen successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into a model group and an electroacupuncture (EA) group, with 9 rats in each one. In the EA group, EA was performed at "olfactory three needles" ("Yintang" [GV24⁺] and bilateral "Yingxiang" [LI20]), at disperse-dense wave, the frequency of 2 Hz/15 Hz and the current intensity of 1 mA, for 15 min per intervention, once daily. One course was composed of 7 days, and 2 courses were required, with the interval of 2 days. The novel object recognition test was employed to assess the cognition of rats, and the Morris water maze was adopted to observe learning and memory abilities. Luxol fast blue (LFB) staining was performed to evaluate myelin sheath loss in the hippocampus, the Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM2) and proteolipid protein (PLP) in the hippocampus; and the immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the positive expression of PLP, sex determining region Y-box 10 (SOX10), ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1)⁺ TREM2⁺ and Iba1⁺ lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1)⁺ in the hippocampus. RESULTS: Compared with the sham-operation group, the rats in the model group exhibited the prolonged escape latency on day 3 and 4 (P<0.05, P<0.01), the increase of the total distance traveling (P<0.01) and the decrease of the recognition index (RI) and platform crossing frequency (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the rats in the EA group showed the shortened escape latency on day 3 and 4 (P<0.05), the decrease of total distance traveling (P<0.01) and the increase of RI and platform crossing frequency (P<0.05, P<0.01). When compared with the sham-operation group, the rats of the model group presented uneven staining, sparse arrangement of myelin sheath fibers, unclear contours, and prominent vacuole-like changes in the hippocampal CA1 region. When compared with the model group, the EA group showed more dense staining, the increase of myelin sheath fibers with more orderly alignment, and fewer vacuolar changes in the hippocampal CA1 region. Compared with the sham-operation group, the model group exhibited the increase of TREM2 protein expression and the decrease of PLP protein expression in the hippocampus (P<0.01), whereas the EA group showed the up-regulation of TREM2 and PLP protein expression when compared with the model group (P<0.01, P<0.05). The positive expression of the hippocampal PLP, SOX10, and Iba1⁺LAMP1⁺ in the model group was reduced in comparison with the sham-operation group (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the positive expression of Iba1⁺ TREM2⁺ was elevated (P<0.05). In the EA group, the positive expression of PLP, SOX10, Iba1⁺TREM2⁺, and Iba1⁺ LAMP1⁺ was higher compared with that in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION "Olfactory three needles" can improve the learning and memory, and cognitive functions of VD rats, and its mechanism may be associated with the up-regulation of TREM2 and LAMP1 to adjust MG phagocytic activity and intracellular degradation, and promote remyelination.
Animals ; Dementia, Vascular/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Microglia/metabolism* ; Male ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Remyelination ; Memory ; Hippocampus/cytology* ; Cognition ; Electroacupuncture ; Needles

Objective To investigate the efficacy of varying doses of methylprednisolone(MP)on mice with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD)induced with influenza A virus(IAV).Methods Mouse model of COPD was established using LPS combined with smoking for 12 weeks,and then these COPD mice were treated with administration of 40 μL IAV via nasal drip to establish a AECOPD model.A total of 15 AECOPD mice were randomly divided into low-,medium-and high-dose MP groups,oseltamivir group and blank group.The body weight and survival time were monitored within 10 d after IAV infection.On days 1,3,and 5 post-treatment,lung function was assessed using whole-body plethysmography(WBP),inflammatory factors in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were quantified with ELISA,viral titers in BALF were determined using plaque assays,and colony-forming units were evaluated with blood agar plates.Immunofluorescence analysis:① Pulmonary immunofluorescence assay:Mice were randomly categorized into(n=4):LPS 1-day group,LPS 3-day group,and LPS+MP treatment group.All groups received an initial dose of LPS via atomization;subsequently,the LPS+MP treatment group received a single gavage dose of MP.Lung tissues were harvested from the 1-day LPS group on 1 d post-treatment,and from the 3-day LPS and LPS+MP groups on 3 d for immunofluorescence staining.② Cellular immunofluorescence assay:Mouse bone marrow neutrophils were classified into blank control(no intervention),LPS stimulation(LPS group),MP intervention with LPS stimulation(LPS+MP group),and MP intervention alone(MP group).The above cells were collected in 4 h after corresponding interventions for subsequent cellular immunofluorescence analysis.Results ①The medium-dose MP group demonstrated the most significant improvement in survival rate,weight recovery,and lung function when compared to other groups(P＜0.05).② Treatment of medium-dose MP obviously reduced the levels of IL-6 and neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs)(P＜0.05),while,elevated inflammatory factors and NETs were observed in the high-dose MP group on day 5 post-treatment.③ Notable decline in the lung injury score was found in the medium-dose MP group than the other groups(P＜0.05).④The high-dose MP group exhibited substantial bacterial proliferation and delayed viral clearance since day 5 after treatment.Conclusion Medium-dose MP shows best efficacy in treatment of IAV-induced AECOPD,and the dose neither delays viral clearance nor increases the risk of bacterial infection following viral infection.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of intermittent feeding through an oral to esophageal (IOE) tube for persons with a late-onset swallowing disorder after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods:Fifty-six patients with late-onset swallowing difficulties after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma were divided at random into an observation group and a control group, each of 28. In addition to conventional therapy, the controls were fed through an indwelling nasogastric tube (NGT) while an IOE tube was used in the observation group. The nutritional status of the two groups was compared after 20 hours and after 15 days of treatment. Depression, oral feeding ability, leakage and aspiration, and life quality were evaluated using patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a functional oral feeding scale (FOIS), a leakage-aspiration scale (PAS), and a swallowing-quality of life (SWAL-QOL) evaluation. From the 3rd day after admission the daily amount fed was recorded.Results:At admission there were no significant differences between the two groups. After 15 days, however, there was significantly greater improvement observed in the average serum albumin, hemoglobin, serum total protein, serum prealbumin level, body mass index(BMI) and SWAL-QOL score of the experimental group compared to the control group, with significantly fewer members suffering from depression. From the 4th day after admission the observation group′s members ate a significantly larger proportion of the target feeding amount.Conclusion:IOE feeding can improve the nutritional status, psychological status, and life quality of persons with a late-onset swallowing disorder more effectively than NGT feeding, with a lower incidence of adverse events.

Objective:To explore the population who benefit from primary tumor resection (PTR) of asymptomatic metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) .Methods:The clinicopathological data of 121 patients with asymptomatic mCRC with unresectable liver metastases treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University from January 2014 to January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the survival curve accompanied with log-rank test. Cox regression model was used to analyze the prognostic factors.Results:The median overall survival (OS) of 121 mCRC patients was 20 months, and the 3- and 5-year survival rates were 34.71% and 10.74%. The median OS of PTR and non-PTR patients were 21 months and 18 months respectively, with no statistically significant difference ( χ2=0.79, P=0.375) . In 65 mCRC patients received targeted therapy, the median OS of PTR and non-PTR patients were 25 months and 28 months respectively, with no statistically significant difference ( χ2=1.65, P=0.199) . In 84 patients with mCRC of the left colon and rectum, the median OS of PTR and non-PTR patients were 24 months and 18 months respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=4.25, P=0.039) . In 37 patients with mCRC of the right colon, the median OS of PTR and non-PTR patients were 19 months and 17 months respectively, with no statistically significant difference ( χ2=0.18, P=0.675) . In 64 mCRC patients who received liver local treatment, the median OS of PTR and non-PTR patients were 36 months and 17 months respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=12.60, P<0.001) . In 57 mCRC patients who did not receive liver local treatment, the median OS of PTR and non-PTR patients were 15 months and 17 months respectively, with no significant difference ( χ2=0.58, P=0.445) . Univariate analysis showed that the location of the primary tumor ( HR=0.51, 95% CI: 0.25-0.76, P=0.025) , the degree of differentiation ( HR=1.46, 95% CI: 1.13-9.45, P=0.004) , the maximum diameter of the liver metastases ( HR=1.86, 95% CI: 1.35-4.60, P=0.012) , the level of serum carcinoembryonic antigen ( HR=3.55, 95% CI: 2.55-8.45, P<0.001) , local treatment of liver metastases ( HR=0.35, 95% CI: 0.19-0.93, P<0.001) were influencing factors for OS of asymptomatic mCRC patients with unresectable liver metastases. Multivariate analysis showed that the primary sites of the left colon and rectum ( HR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.25-0.93, P=0.039) , local treatment of liver metastases ( HR=0.78, 95% CI: 0.27-0.86, P<0.001) were independent influencing factors for OS of asymptomatic mCRC patients with unresectable liver metastases. Conclusion:Asymptomatic mCRC patients with unresectable liver metastases with primary sites of the left colon and rectum and local treatment of liver metastases can benefit from PTR.

Objective To detect NRAS gene mutations in patients with acral melanoma, and to analyze their relationship with the prognosis of acral melanoma. Methods Clinical and pathological data were collected from 55 patients with pathologically diagnosed acral melanoma. DNA was extracted from paraffin?embedded specimens from lesions of the 55 patients and 15 patients with nevus. PCR and direct DNA sequencing were performed to detect NRAS gene mutations. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the Cox′s proportional hazards regression model. Results Of the 55 patients, 6(10.9%)carried the Q61R mutation in codon 61 of the NRAS gene. No mutations were found in exon 1 or 2 of the NRAS gene in any of these paraffin?embedded specimens, and none of the pigmented nevus specimens harbored NRAS gene mutations. Of the 6 patients carrying NRAS gene mutations, 4 had lymph node metastasis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that independent factors of poor prognosis included advanced clinical stage(RR = 2.54, 95% CI: 1.062- 6.066, P < 0.05), not receiving surgical resection(RR = 2.98, 95% CI:1.316- 3.525, P < 0.05), and carrying NRAS gene mutations (RR = 2.73, 95% CI: 0.932- 3.257, P < 0.05). Conclusions NRAS gene mutations may be associated with lymph node metastasis in patients with acral melanoma. The prognosis of acral melanoma may be associated with clinical staging, treatment strategies and NRAS gene mutations. Additionally, NRAS gene mutations may serve as a new index for predicting prognosis of acral melanoma.

Objective To detect the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA in the melanoma, and to analyze the relationship between the expression and subtypes and clinicopathological features of melanoma. Methods Expression of hTERT mRNA was detected by real-time quantitative PCR in 64 cases of melanoma and 30 cases of nevus. SPSS 17.0 software was used to analyze the relationship between hTERT mRNA expression and clinical pathological features of melanoma. Results The relative expression of hTERT mRNA in melanoma tissues was higher than that in nevus tissues [(52.43±5.42) vs (21.38±3.73), t= 4.72, P= 0.000]. The expression of hTERT mRNA in melanoma had no significant correlation with age, gender, ethnicity (all P> 0.05), but had relationship with subtypes, lymph node metastasis, Clark classification (all P< 0.05). The expression of hTERT mRNA in mucosal melanoma was significantly higher than that of acral and non-acral melanoma (t= 7.71, P= 0.001), while the expression of acral and non-acral melanoma had no difference (P> 0.05). Conclusions The expression of hTERT mRNA in melanoma is high, especially in mucosal melanoma. hTERT may play an important role in the occurrence and development of melanoma.

OBJECTIVETo perform a sampling survey of occupational hazard in typical industrial enterprises in Guangzhou, China, by means of sentinel surveillance, to understand the classification, distribution, and concentration/intensity of occupational hazard as well as the characteristics and development of occupational health management in Guangzhou, and to provide a scientific basis for occupational health supervision.

METHODSFifteen enterprises in information technology (IT), shipbuilding, chemical, leather and footwear, and auto repair industries were enrolled as subjects. Dynamic surveillance for occupational hazard and occupational health management was performed in workplaces of those enterprises.

RESULTSThe overall overproof rate of occupational hazard in the 15 sentinel enterprises from 2012 to 2014 was 6.16% (45/731). There was no significant difference in the overproof rate between the three years (P > 0.05). During the three years, enterprises in shipbuilding industry had significant higher overproof rates than those in other industries (P < 0.05). According to the results of occupational health management questionnaire, the overall coincidence rate of survey items was 57.88% (393/679); enterprises in IT industry had significant lower coincidence rates than those in other industries in 2012 and 2014 (47.62%, 29.63%; P < 0.05), while enterprises in leather and footwear industry had significant lower coincidence rates than those in other industries in 2013 (40.63%; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe enterprises in shipbuilding industry are the key to the prevention and control of occupational hazard in Guangzhou. To strengthen surveillance for occupational health in workplaces in Guangzhou, it is important to enhance occupation health supervision among small and micro enterprises and develop continuous sentinel surveillance for occupational hazard in key industries.

Objective To find the reasonable treatment strategy by analyzing the failure pattern and survival rates of radical resection of gastric cancer.Methods Data were collected from 110 patients with radical resection and adjuvant treatment of gastric cancer,counted up the number of cases that failure in different ways.The survival rate after operation was calculated by Kaplan-Meier.The chi-square test was used to find the differences in survival rates between different differentiation,location and gender.Results 1,3,5-year survival rates of 110 cases were 83.64％ (92/110),46.36％ (51/110),35.45％ (39/110),respectively.Malignant ascites was the main failure type for postoperative of gastric cancer,approximately accounting for 41.51％ (22/53),abdominal lymph node metastasis accounting for 30.19％ (16/53),anastomotic recurrence accounting for 13.21％ (7/53),abdominal implantation and mesenteric metastasis accounting for 9.43％ (5/53),organ metastasis accounting for 5.66％ (3/53).The 5-year local failure rate of concurrent chemoradiotherapy group was a little lower than that in adjuvant chemotherapy alone group (15.00％ ∶22.22％).The 1-year survival rates of adjuvant chemotherapy alone and concurrent chemoradiotherapy group were 84.44％ and 80.00％ respectively,with no significant difference (x2 =0.236,P =0.627).However,the 3,5-year survival rates of the two groups were 66.67％ vs 40.00％ and 53.33％ vs 20.00％ respectively,with statistically significant differences (x2 =4.930,P =0.026 ; x2 =7.294,P =0.007).Conclusion Peritoneal metastasis is the most common failure pattern for the patients with gastric cancer who received radical operation and adjuvant treatment.The relapse rate of concurrent chemoradiotherapy group is lower than that in adjuvant chemotherapy alone group,but the overall survival rate is similar.

Objective To explore the related factors influencing the prognosis of children with Tourette syndrome ( TS) . Methods We collected 420 outpatient cases of TS children in the department of pediatrics of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January of 2007 to October of 2010 as the research objects. Using the unified survey questionnaire, we observed the influencing factors of TS prognosis such as sex, onset age, mother’s pregnancy situation, the perinatal period, partiality for food intake, family relationship, the first symptom, the severity of disease, underlying diseases, comorbidities ( such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder) , family history of psychiatric or neurological diseases, trace elements levels, electroencephalogram (EEG), antistreptolycin O (ASO), course of disease, and maintenance treatment. The related factors of prognosis was analyzed with single factor and multiple factors Logistic regression analysis. Results Among the 420 cases of TS children, 396 cases were included into the final analysis, 24 were lost and the follow-up lost rate was 5.7%. The remission rate of TS was 78.3%, and the uncured rate was 21.7%. The results of preliminary screening of the influencing factors by single factor Logistic analysis showed that the related influencing factors for TS prognosis were 12, and they were course of diseases, abnormal birth history, father’s education level, mother’s education level, upbringing methods, family history of psychiatric or neurological diseases, underlying disease history, comorbidities history, abnormal ASO, the severity of disease, the frequency of disease relapse, and the medication history of western medicine (P<0.05) . And then the obtained 12 factors were analyzed by the multiple fac tors Lo gistic regression analysis, the results showed that upbringing methods, comorbidities history, the severity of disease, and the frequency of disease relapse were correlated with TS prognosis ( P < 0.05) . Conclusion TS children will have poor prognosis when their parents spoil, indiscipline, beat and scold, and dictate them, or when the children have severe illness state, frequent recurrence of the disease, and the history of comorbidities ( atten tion deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc.) .