ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effectiveness and potential mechanism of combined tongue three-needle acupuncture and acupoint application on Lianquan （CV 23） for patients with dysphagia after ischemic stroke. MethodsA prospective study was conducted on 160 patients with post-stroke dysphagia， who were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group， with 80 cases in each group. The control group received conventional rehabilitation training， while the treatment group received tongue three-needle acupuncture combined with acupoint application on Lianquan （CV 23） on the basis of conventional rehabilitation training， for 4 weeks in both groups. We compared the clinical effectivenss of both groups after treatment， and assessed the swallowing function including videofluoroscopic swallowing study （VFSS）， standardized swallowing assessment （SSA） and functional oral intake scale （FIOS）， swallowing contrast test including hyoid maximum displacement （HmaxD）， pharyngeal transit time （PTT）， and upper esophageal sphincter （UES） opening， surface electromyography （sEMG） test including maximum amplitude and swallowing duration as well as swallowing quality of life questionnaire （SWAL-QOL） score of the patients in both groups before treatment， after 2 weeks and 4 weeks of treatment， respectively. ResultsThe total effective rate in treatment group was 82.50% （66/80）， significantly higher than 66.25% （53/80） in control group （P＜0.05）. The VFSS， and FOIS scores， UES opening rate and HmaxD， sEMG maximal amplitude values， and SWAL-QOL scores were increased in both groups after 2 weeks and 4 weeks of treatment compared with the values before treatment （P＜0.05）， while SSA scores， PTT， and swallowing duration were decreased compared within group before treatment （P＜0.05）. VFSS and FOIS scores， UES opening rate and HmaxD， sEMG maximal amplitude values， and SWAL-QOL scores after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment in the treatment group were higher （P＜0.05）， while SSA scores， PTT， and swallowing duration were lower （P＜0.05） than those in the control group at the same time. ConclusionCombined tongue three-needle acupuncture and acupoint application on Lianquan （CV 23） for patients with dysphagia after ischemic stroke can significantly improve swallowing activities， and its mechanism of action may be related to the improvement of the contraction ability and coordination of swallowing-related muscle groups.

AIM: To investigate the expression of serum growth differentiation factor 11(GDF11)and thrombospondin 1(TSP1)in patients with diabetic retinopathy(DR), and discuss their relationship with microvascular injury.METHODS: Totally 102 DR patients were served as DR group and assigned into non proliferative DR group(NPDR group)and proliferative DR group(PDR group)based on the severity of DR lesions. Meantime, 100 patients with simple diabetes were served as control group. Serum indicators of microvascular injury including vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), endothelial cells(ECs), endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs), and levels of GDF11 and TSP1 were measured in each group. Pearson method was used to discuss the correlation between GDF11, TSP1 and microvascular injury indicators. Logistic regression was used to discuss the factors that affected the occurrence of DR. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to analyze the evaluation value of serum GDF11 and TSP1 for the DR conditions.RESULTS: For the control group, DR group had lower EPCs and GDF11, and higher VEGF, ECs, and TSP1 levels(all P<0.05). The PDR group had lower GDF11 and higher TSP1 than the NPDR group(all P<0.05). Serum GDF11 was negatively related to VEGF and ECs(r=-0.486, -0.511, all P<0.001), and positively related to EPCs(r=0.475, P<0.001). TSP1 was positively related to VEGF and ECs(r=0.579, 0.594, all P<0.001), and negatively related to EPCs(r=-0.505, P<0.001). Moreover, GDF11 and TSP1 were negatively correlated(r=-0.443, P<0.001). The course of T2DM, VEGF, and TSP1 were risk factors for DR, while GDF11 was a protective factor(all P<0.05). The AUC of GDF11, TSP1, and combined diagnosis for PDR conditions was 0.819, 0.822, and 0.915, respectively. The combined diagnosis was better than single diagnosis(Zcombination-GDF11=2.070, P=0.039, Zcombination-TSP1=2.274, P=0.023).CONCLUSION: GDF11 and TSP1 are closely associated with microvascular injury in DR patients and are related to the progression of DR disease, and the combined detection of their serum levels is of clinical value in the assessment of DR disease.

Lymphatic metastasis is the main metastatic route for colorectal cancer, which increases the risk of cancer recurrence and distant metastasis. The properties of the lymph node metastatic colorectal cancer (LNM-CRC) cells are poorly understood, and effective therapies are still lacking. Here, we found that hypoxia-induced fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAPα) expression in LNM-CRC cells. Gain- or loss-function experiments demonstrated that FAPα enhanced tumor cell migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, stemness, and lymphangiogenesis via activation of the STAT3 pathway. In addition, FAPα in tumor cells induced extracellular matrix remodeling and established an immunosuppressive environment via recruiting regulatory T cells, to promote colorectal cancer lymph node metastasis (CRCLNM). Z-GP-DAVLBH, a FAPα-activated prodrug, inhibited CRCLNM by targeting FAPα-positive LNM-CRC cells. Our study highlights the role of FAPα in tumor cells in CRCLNM and provides a potential therapeutic target and promising strategy for CRCLNM.

Objective To investigate the effect of early glucose metabolism abnormality on skeletal muscle content of young men.Methods 88 males who underwent physical examinations in our hospital from September 2020 to September 2021 were divided into normal blood glucose group(NGT,n=47)and IGR group(n=41),according to their FPG and 2 hPG levels.FPG,FIns and visceral fat area(VFA)were measured.HOMA-IR,HOMA-β,skeletal muscle index(SMI)and body fat ratio(BFR)were calculated.Results Compared with NGT group,the males in IGR group showed elevated BMI,WC,FPG,2 hPG,HOMA-IR and VFA(P＜0.05),but decreased HDL-C and SMI(P＜0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that SMI was negatively correlated with BMI,WC,FPG,2 hPG,HOMA-IR,VFA and BFR in young men(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Logistic regression analysis showed that BMI was the influencing factor of FPG,while SMI was the influencing factor of 2 hPG.Conclusions In young men with abnormal glucose metabolism,the postprandial blood glucose significantly increase with the decrease of skeletal muscle content,and fasting blood glucose is mainly affected by BMI.

Objective:To establish a polymerase chain reaction(PCR)method to accurately discriminate the crude materials and aqueous extract of Zaocys dhumnades,Elaphe carinata,Elaphe meollendorff and Ptyas korros.Methods:Specific primers were designed using mitochondrial Cytb gene(CO1)as a target gene,and annealing temperature,number of cycles and the type of DNA polymerases were optimized.The mixed samples were detected by this method.Results:By this multiplex allele-specific PCR identification method,135,182,246 and 197 bp of specific fragments were amplified from DNA templates of Zaocys dhumnades,Elaphe carinata,Elaphe meollendorffi and Ptyas korros,respectively,following the conditions:cycle number of 35,annealing temperature of 62 ℃.The adulterants and the blank control showed no bands.The method could simultaneously and accurately identify the snake-derived components in the mixed samples.Conclusion:The method can be used to identify the samples of Zaocys dhumnades,Elaphe carinata,Elaphe meollendorffi and Ptyas korros simultaneously,accurately and rapidly,and is suitable for the identification of standard decoctiond and formula granules samples.

Background Since the outbreak of COVID-19, primary health care workers have been facing unprecedented work pressure, and their occupational stress should be taken seriously. Objective To analyze the occupational stress situation and its influencing factors of primary health care workers in Guangdong Province, and to propose targeted interventions. Methods Using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method, each prefecture-level city in Guangdong Province was classified into "good", "medium", or "poor" category based on its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019 released by the Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Statistics. In September 2021, four primary health care institutions were randomly selected from each stratum, and a total of 1327 staff members were selected for the study. The Core Occupational Stress Scale (COSS) and a basic information questionnaire designed by the authors were used. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the means between two groups, and Kruskal-Walis H test was used to compare the means among multiple groups. The comparison of categorical data was performed by trend χ² test or Pearson χ² test; the analysis of factors influencing occupational stress was performed by dichotomous multiple logistic regression analysis. Results There were 365 health care workers reporting occupational stress in this survey, and the positive rate of occupational stress was 27.5%. The total occupational stress score in M (P₂₅, P₇₅) and the scores of social support, organization and reward, demand and effort, and control were 45.0 (40.0, 50.0), 20.0 (17.0, 21.0), 14.0 (12.0, 17.0), 12.0 (10.0, 15.0), and 5.0 (4.0, 6.0), respectively. The results of dichotomous multiple logistic regression analysis showed that high education, low income, doctor positions, long working hours in a day, and shift work were associated with the occurrence of reporting occupational stress (P<0.05). Conclusion Education, average monthly income, job category, daily working hours, and shifts are factors influencing the occurrence of reporting occupational stress in primary health care workers; targeted interventions should be implemented to reduce their occupational stress levels.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.08.015.].

Objective:To study the short-term clinical outcomes of different courses of antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) for preterm twins.Methods:From January 2017 to December 2021, preterm twins with gestational age (GA) 24-34 weeks admitted to the neonatal ward of our hospital and received ACS were retrospectively studied. The infants were assigned into single-course group, partial-course group and multiple-course group according to ACS courses. The short-term clinical outcomes were compared among the groups. SPSS software version 25.0 was used for statistical analysis.Results:A total of 286 infants were enrolled in this study, including 128 in single-course group, 89 in partial-course group and 69 in multiple-course group. Compared with single-course group, the risks of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in both partial-course group ( OR=2.332, 95% CI 1.028-5.293, P=0.043) and multiple-course group ( OR=3.872, 95% CI 1.104-13.584, P=0.034) were higher. The birth length in multiple-course group ( β=-0.016, 95% CI -0.029 - -0.002, P=0.024) was lower than single-course group. Conclusions:The risks of neonatal RDS in preterm twins are higher in partial-course and multiple-course of ACS. A full course of ACS should be used to prevent neonatal RDS until further evidence of effectiveness is available.

Objective:To investigate the effects of computerized cognitive remediation therapy (CCRT) combined with social skill training on the improvement of negative symptoms of schizophrenia.Methods:A total of 102 schizophrenic patients who received treatment in Shanxi Province Social Welfare Kangning Psychiatry Hospital from March 2019 to June 2021 were included in this study. They were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group ( n = 51/group). During the intervention process, because of the reasons such as midway discharge, only 93 patients were included in the final analysis, consisting of 47 patients in the intervention group and 46 patients in the control group. All patients received social skills training. Patients in the intervention group received 8-week CCRT. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and Social Skills Checklist were used to evaluate curative effect in the two groups. Results:After treatment, total score of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the score of negative symptoms in the intervention group were (46.36 ± 9.33) points and (11.15 ± 3.53) points, respectively, which were significantly lower than (51.06 ± 10.26) points and (16.42 ± 4.75) points in the control group ( t = 2.07, 5.41, both P < 0.05). The total score of Social Skills Checklist, conflict resolution ability score and relationship building ability score in the intervention group were (16.05 ± 6.85) points, (3.36 ± 1.65) points and (3.14 ± 1.83) points, respectively, which were significantly lower than (21.08 ± 8.24) points, (5.92 ± 2.35) points and (6.75 ± 2.51) points, respectively ( t = 2.87, 5.34, 7.00, all P < 0.01). Conclusion:CCRT combined with social skill training can effectively improve the negative symptoms of patients with schizophrenia.

Objective:To explore the correlation between system thinking ability and safety behavior of nurses in Emergency Department.Methods:From August 2021 to February 2022, convenience sampling was used to select nurses in Emergency Department from three ClassⅢ hospitals as the survey subject. Three rounds of questionnaire surveys were conducted using the Systems Thinking Scale and the Nurse Safety Behavior Questionnaire, with a 3-month interval among each round. The measurement time for each round was marked as T1, T2, and T3, respectively. AMOS 23.0 software was used for cross-lagged analysis to explore the correlation between Emergency Department nurses' system thinking ability and safety behavior. A total of 257 nurses in Emergency Department participated in the three rounds of questionnaire surveys.Results:The results of cross-lagged analysis showed that T1 system thinking ability could predict T2 safety behavior and T2 system thinking ability (β=0.26, 0.58, P<0.01). T1 safety behavior could predict T2 safety behavior and T2 system thinking ability (β=0.54, 0.17, P<0.01). T2 system thinking ability could predict T3 safety behavior and T3 system thinking ability (β=0.31, 0.59, P<0.01). T2 safety behavior could predict T3 safety behavior (β=0.48, P<0.01), but it could not predict T3 system thinking ability (β=0.04, P>0.05) . Conclusions:The system thinking ability and safety behavior of nurses in Emergency Department interact with each other, and the correlation develops dynamically. We should strengthen the cultivation of system thinking ability among nurses in Emergency Department to improve their safe behavior.