OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of Tiaoshen Guben holistic therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion (holistic treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion by adjusting the mind and consolidating the root) on comorbidity of depression and insomnia. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with comorbidity of depression and insomnia were included and treated with Tiaoshen Guben holistic therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion. Acupuncture was applied to Baihui (GV20), Guanyuan (CV4), bilateral Neiguan (PC6), etc. The refined moxibustion therapy was delivered at Zhongwan (CV12), Qihai (CV6), bilateral Yongquan (KI1), etc. Subcutaneous embedding therapy with thumb-tack needle was adopted at bilateral Xinshu (BL15), bilateral Pishu (BL20), etc. The intervention was operated once every other day, 3 treatments a week, and for 6 consecutive weeks. Before and after treatment completion, and in 1 month after treatment, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Hamilton's depression scale (HAMD-17) were adopted to assess sleep quality and depression symptoms in the patients, respectively. Before and after treatment completion, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the functional connectivity (FC) of locus coeruleus (LC) in brain regions was evaluated; and the levels of serum norepinephrine (NE), cortisol (CORT), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) were detected. RESULTS: Compared with the scores before treatment, PSQI and HAMD-17 scores after treatment completion and in 1 month after treatment were reduced (P<0.01); and strengthened FC was revealed between the right LC and the pars opercularis of the left inferior frontal gyrus, as well as the lateral occipital lobe region. After treatment completion, serum NE was elevated (P<0.01), the levels of CORT, ACTH and CRH were reduced (P<0.01). Before and after treatment completion, the difference in FC between the right LC and the pars opercularis of the left inferior frontal gyrus was negatively correlated with the differences in PSQI score (r = -0.484, P = 0.016) and HAMD-17 score (r = -0.233, P = 0.027). CONCLUSION Tiaoshen Guben holistic therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion can effectively alleviate depression symptoms and improve sleep quality in the patients with comorbidity of depression and insomnia, which is obtained probably through reducing the levels of serum CORT, ACTH and CRH, increasing serum NE, strengthening the FC of the right LC with the pars opercularis of the left inferior frontal gyrus and the lateral occipital lobe region.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/therapy* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Depression/complications* ; Aged ; Young Adult ; Acupuncture Points ; Comorbidity

Objective:To investigate the association of urinary cadmium levels with peripheral leukocyte classification counts among middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years in selected areas of China.Methods:The research was based on the survey of the impact of soil quality of agricultural land on human health in typical areas conducted in 2019-2020. A total of 5 600 middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years were included by using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method. Baseline characteristics of the subjects were collected and physical examinations were performed. Random midstream urine was collected to measure urinary cadmium and urinary creatinine and fasting venous blood was collected to measure the leukocyte count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, monocyte count and eosinophil count. The linear mixed effect model was used to analyse the association of urinary cadmium levels with leukocyte classification counts, and the dose-response relationship between them was analyzed by using the restricted cubic spline (RCS) function.Results:The age of the subjects was (63.17±12.02) years; 2 851 (50.91%) were males; and the M ( Q 1, Q 3) of urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium levels was 2.69 (1.52, 4.69) μg/g·creatinine. After adjusting for confounding factors, the results of linear mixed effects model analysis showed that for each 1-unit increase in urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium level, the percentage change [% (95% CI)] of leukocyte count and lymphocyte count was -1.70% (-2.61%, -0.79%) and -1.57% (-2.86%, -0.26%), respectively. RCS function showed a negative linear relationship between urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium levels and leukocyte counts and lymphocyte counts, respectively (all Pnon-linear>0.05). Conclusion:Urinary cadmium levels are negatively associated with leukocyte count and lymphocyte count among middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years in selected areas of China.

Objective:To investigate the association of urinary cadmium levels with peripheral leukocyte classification counts among middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years in selected areas of China.Methods:The research was based on the survey of the impact of soil quality of agricultural land on human health in typical areas conducted in 2019-2020. A total of 5 600 middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years were included by using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method. Baseline characteristics of the subjects were collected and physical examinations were performed. Random midstream urine was collected to measure urinary cadmium and urinary creatinine and fasting venous blood was collected to measure the leukocyte count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, monocyte count and eosinophil count. The linear mixed effect model was used to analyse the association of urinary cadmium levels with leukocyte classification counts, and the dose-response relationship between them was analyzed by using the restricted cubic spline (RCS) function.Results:The age of the subjects was (63.17±12.02) years; 2 851 (50.91%) were males; and the M ( Q 1, Q 3) of urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium levels was 2.69 (1.52, 4.69) μg/g·creatinine. After adjusting for confounding factors, the results of linear mixed effects model analysis showed that for each 1-unit increase in urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium level, the percentage change [% (95% CI)] of leukocyte count and lymphocyte count was -1.70% (-2.61%, -0.79%) and -1.57% (-2.86%, -0.26%), respectively. RCS function showed a negative linear relationship between urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium levels and leukocyte counts and lymphocyte counts, respectively (all Pnon-linear>0.05). Conclusion:Urinary cadmium levels are negatively associated with leukocyte count and lymphocyte count among middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years in selected areas of China.

Objective To investigate the early clinical characteristics and radiographic changes in confirmed Novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) and excluded NCP patients. Methods Twenty-four patients with suspected NCP admitted to Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital and Jinshan Branch Hospital between January and February, 2020 were chosen as our research subjects. Early clinical features and radiographic changes were analyzed in 10 patients of confirmed NCP and 14 patients of excluded NCP. Results In the early stage, all 24 suspected patients were mild, and had normal blood gas analysis. Of 10 diagnosed patients, 50% were male. All the 10 patients had fever and fatigue, with body temperature between 37.5℃ and 38.5℃. Only 1 patient had dry cough. 2 patients had no clear epidemiological exposure history, the other 8 had a clear epidemiological exposure, with a possible incubation period of 1-10 days. From CT imaging, lesions were characterized as ground glass shadow ( n =9), which could be unilateral ( n =1) or bilateral ( n =9), and were mainly close to the pleura ( n =9), with nodule shadow ( n =1) and without focal necrosis, and could combined with pleural effusion ( n =1. Among patients excluded NCP, all 14 patients had a clear history of epidemic exposure, with an onset time of 1 to 13 days. 12 patients had fever , including 4 with temperature > 38.5°C, 8 with temperature 37.3-38.5°C, and 2 without fever. All patients had fatigue , 7 patients had dry cough and 2 patients had chest pain. From CT imaging, ground glass shadow appeared in 4 patients , lesions were unilateral in 10 patients and bilateral in 4 patients , and the lesions were relatively sporadic, without necrosis or pleural effusion. Conclusion 1．Not all patients with NCP have a direct history of epidemiology exposure, some patients may be infected unknowingly. 2. According to CT imaging, NCP seems to have no special manifestations different from other viral pneumonia. 3. NCP is more common among middle-aged people.

Objective To study the expression and significance of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in serum samples of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients.Methods The concentrations of CCL2 and VEGF in the serum was assessed by ELISA in healthy donors (n=27) and OSCC patients (n=85).Then analyzed the correlation between the concentrations of CCL2 and VEGF and the relationship with patients' clinicopathological characteristics.Results CCL2 concentration was lower in OSCC patients than in healthy donors (69.12 ± 19.54 pg/ml vs 103.41 ± 34.42 pg/ml,t =6.477,P＜0.05).The expression of CCL2 was positively associated to TNM stage in OSCC (t=2.193,P＜0.05).VEGF concentration was higher in OSCC patients than in healthy donors (145.76 ± 49.34 pg/ml vs 70.35± 14.93 pg/ml,t=3.92,P＜0.05).There was a negative correlation between CCL2 and VEGF (r=-0.216,P＜0.05).The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve suggests that CCL2 and CCL2/VEGF in serum are good diagnostic markers to discriminate healthy people from OSCC patients,the cutoff values was 98.61 pg/ml and 0.82.Conclusion The expression of CCL2 and VEGF in serum correlated to OSCC progression,and it can be a potential diagnostic biomarker for oral disease.

The regulation of immune response is affected by several factors in order to maintain homeostasis.Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase(IDO) is a tryptophan-catabolizing enzyme expressed by different types of APC,including macrophages and dendritic cells.IDO activity leads to regulatory effects on T cells,which are mediated by tryptophan depletion in specific local tissue microenvironments,the production of proapoptotic metabolites,and inhibition of T-cell clone proliferation through regulatory T cells.IDO plays an important role in protecting the allogeneic fetus from rejection,the development of autoimmune diseases,allograft rejection,and cancer.So regulation of IDO activity may offer a novel drug-based strategy to treat immune-related diseases.

Objectives To investigate HPV infection and its correlati on with the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibito r of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC). Meth ods HPV6/11 and 16/18 DNA were detected using in situ hybridization in 26 case s of VSCC, 21 cases of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) and 10 specimens o f normal skin. The expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was measured by immunohistoche mical method in these three groups. Results The infection rates of HPV6/11 and 16/18 in VSCC and VIN were 69.23% (18/26) and 38.46% (10/26), 42.86% (9/21) and 28.57% (6/21) respectively, and no HPV6/11 or 16/18 DNA was discovered in norma l skin epidermis. The expression rates of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in VSCC, VIN and norm al skin epidermis were 92.31%(24/26) and 76.92% (20/26), 90.45% (19/21) and 80.9 5% (17/21), and 80.00% (8/10) and 50.00% (5/10) respectively. MMP-9 expression in HPV positive lesions was higher than that in HPV negative lesions, but no sig nificant difference of TIMP-1 expression was observed in HPV positive and negati ve lesions. Conclusions HPV infection may play a role in the development of VS CC. The higher expression of MMP-9 comparing with that of TIMP-1 may be an early marker of tumor progression in VSCC, and HPV infection may facilitate the invas ion and metastasis of VSCC.