OBJECTIVE: Therapeutic angiogenesis has become a promising approach for treating ischemic heart disease (IHD). The present study aims to investigate the effects of Qishen Granule (QSG) on angiogenesis in myocardial ischemia (MI) and the potential mechanism. METHODS: In vivo study was conducted on rat model of myocardial infarction. QSG was performed daily at a dose of 2.352 g/kg for four weeks. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiogram and pro-angiogenic effects were evaluated by Laser Doppler and CD31 expression. Oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) was applied in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Cell viability, wound healing and tube formation assay were used to test functions of HUVECs. ELISA and Western blots were used to assess protein expressions of bone morphogenetic protein 2-delta-like 4-notch homolog 1 (BMP2-Dll4-Notch1) signaling pathway. RESULTS: The results showed that QSG improved heart function, cardiac blood flow and microvessel density in myocardial ischemic rats. In vitro, QSG protected HUVECs by promoting the cell viability and tube formation. QSG upregulated bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) and downregulated delta-like 4 (Dll4) and notch homolog 1 (Notch1) expressions both in rats and HUVECs. CONCLUSION QSG protected against MI by promoting angiogenesis through BMP2-Dll4-Notch1 pathway. BMP2 might be a promising therapeutic target for IHD.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the job choice preferences of Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) workers to provide CDC management information and recommendations for optimizing employee retention and motivation policies. METHODS: A discrete choice experiment was conducted in nine provinces across China. Seven key attributes were identified to analyze the job preferences of CDC workers. Mixed logit models, latent class models, and policy simulation tools were used. RESULTS: A valid sample of 5,944 cases was included in the analysis. All seven attributes significantly influenced the job choices of CDC workers. Heterogeneity analyses identified two main groups based on different levels of preference for attribute utility. Income-prioritizers were concerned with income and opportunities for career development, whereas bianzhi-prioritizers were concerned with bianzhi and welfare benefits. The policy simulation analysis revealed that income-prioritizers had a relatively higher sensitivity to multiple job preference incentives. CONCLUSION Income and bianzhi were the two key attributes influencing the job choices and retention preferences of CDC workers. Heterogeneity in job preferences was also identified. Based on the preference characteristics of different subgroups, policy content should be skewed to differentiate the importance of incentives.
China ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. ; Middle Aged ; Choice Behavior ; Career Choice ; Motivation

Objective:To evaluate the effect of intrathecal exosomes derived from human amniotic fluid (hAF exo) on neuropathic pain induced by spared nerve injury (SNI) in mice.Methods:Eighteen clean-grade healthy male Kunming mice, aged 7-8 weeks, weighing 30-35 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (Sham group), SNI group, and SNI+ hAF exo group. Spared nerve injury was produced by exposing the sciatic nerve and its branches and ligation and transection of tibial nerve and common fibular nerve in anesthetized mice. Another three mice were selected to develop the model of neuropathic pain after anesthesia. PKH-26 labeled hAF exo 7 μl was intrathecally injected on days 1, 2 and 3 after developing the model. The mice were sacrificed at 10 h after the end of administration, and the uptake of hAF exo by the dorsal horn of the injured lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord was observed with the fluorescence microscope. On 1, 2 and 3 days after developing the model, 1 μg/μl hAF exo 7 μl was intrathecally injected in SNI+ hAF exo group, and PBS 7 μl was intrathecally injected in Sham group and SNI group. The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MPWT) was measured at 1 day before and 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after operation. And then the mice were sacrificed after measurement of the pain threshold at 7 days after developing the model, and the ipsilateral lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord was taken for determination of the expression of CD11b, interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and IL-10 by Western blot. Results:The dorsal horn of the lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord on the injured side could absorb hAF exo with the fluorescence microscope. Compared with Sham group, the MPWT was significantly decreased at 3-7 days after developing the model, the expression of CD11b and IL-1β was up-regulated ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the expression of IL-10 in SNI group ( P>0.05). Compared with SNI group, the MPWT was significantly increased at 3-7 days after developing the model, the expression of CD11b and IL-1β was down-regulated, and the expression of IL-10 was up-regulated in SNI+ hAF exo group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Intrathecal exosomes derived from human amniotic fluid can alleviate neuropathic pain in mice, and the mechanism may be related to mediation of the polarization of microglia from M1 type to M2 type and attenuation of neuroinflammation.

Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Placenta Accreta/surgery* ; Cesarean Section ; Retrospective Studies ; Biomarkers ; Hysterectomy ; Placenta Previa ; Placenta

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of central nervous system specific protein B (S100B)combined with neuron specific enolase(NSE)and serum lactate for severe neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy(HIE)induced by perinatal asphyxia.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted.A total of 126 neonates admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Xi ′an Jiaotong University due to perinatal asphyxia from April 2019 to April 2022 were selected as the research subjects.Neonates who were clinically diagnosed with HIE were selected as the observation group(45 cases), and those without HIE were selected as the control group(81 cases). The differences of each parameter between the two groups were compared.Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression were used to analyze the indicators that might cause severe HIE.The risk factors were put into the receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)to analyze their predictive value for prognosis.Results:There were no significant differences in gestational age, weight and gender between the two groups(all P>0.05). The Apgar scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group; the rates of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, and prolonged labor were higher than those in the control group.These differences are statistically significant(all P< 0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group showed significantly higher rates of abnormal brain electroencephalogram and cranial magnetic resonance imaging, as well as increased levels of lactate, S100B( t-values for 8 h and 72 h were 13.10 and 2.00 respectively), and NSE( t-values for 8 h and 72 h were 10.85 and 15.57 respectively), all with statistical significance(all P< 0.05). By conducting binary Logistic regression analysis on indicators that might cause HIE, it was found that Apgar scores at 5 minutes and 10 minutes were negatively correlated with the risk of severe HIE( OR<1 and P<0.05). Prolonged labor, as well as factors such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, S100B concentration at 8 hours after birth, NSE concentration at 8 hours after birth, and lactate levels were all risk factors for poor prognosis( OR>1 and P<0.05). The predictive threshold values for severe HIE using the biochemical markers S100B, NSE, and lactate were 1.87 μg/L, 19 μg/L, and 4.6 mmol/L respectively.The sensitivity of prediction were 78%, 68%, and 75% respectively; while the specificity were 66%, 71%, and 67%, and all area under the curve(AUC)was greater than 0.5.The sensitivity of the combined prediction by the three factors was 87%, with a specificity of 79% and AUC 0.86( P<0.05). Conclusion:S100B, NSE and serum lactate are independent risk factors for predicting neonatal serve HIE, and the combination of the three indicators can improve the predictive efficiency.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of long-pulsed 1 064-nm Nd:YAG laser combined with a topical emulsion containing Camellia reticulata and Radix Notoginseng in the treatment of melasma. Methods:A total of 80 patients with melasma were enrolled from Department of Dermatology, People′s Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region from June 2019 to June 2020, and randomly and equally divided into control group and observation group by using a random number table: 40 patients in the control group were treated with long-pulsed 1 064-nm Nd:YAG laser once every 2 weeks for 6 sessions as a course of treatment; another 40 in the observation group were treated with the same laser therapy as the control group and a topical emulsion containing Camellia reticulata and Radix Notoginseng twice a day for 3 months as a course of treatment. Melasma area and severity index (MASI), clinical efficacy, patient satisfaction rate and safety were compared between the 2 groups before and/or after treatment. Results:After 4- and 8-week treatment, there was no significant difference in the MASI score between the observation group (14.57 ± 3.22 points, 10.00 ± 2.94 points, respectively) and control group (14.74 ± 3.11 points, 11.31 ± 3.00 points, respectively; both P>0.05). After 12-week treatment, the MASI score was significantly lower in the observation group (4.80 ± 2.78 points) than in the control group (7.07 ± 3.22 points, t = -3.38, P<0.01). After 3-month treatment, the response rate was significantly higher in the observation group (36 cases, 90%) than in the control group (31 cases, 77.5%; χ2 = 4.58, P < 0.001) ; however, there was no significant difference in the patient satisfaction rate between the observation group (87.5%) and control group (72.5%, χ2 = 7.26, P = 0.06). In addition, no significant difference in the occurrence of adverse reactions was observed between the observation group (5 cases, 12.5%) and control group (7 cases, 17.5%; P > 0.05) . Conclusion:Compared with the long-pulsed 1 064-nm Nd:YAG laser alone, the topical emulsion containing Camellia reticulata and Radix Notoginseng in combination with the long-pulsed 1 064-nm Nd:YAG laser is more effective for the treatment of melasma, with higher patient satisfaction and less adverse reactions.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The aim of this study was to determine the CV risk in Chinese patients with T2D based on the 2019 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) guidelines on diabetes, pre-diabetes, and CV diseases. METHODS: A total of 25,411 patients with T2D, who participated in the study of China Cardiometabolic Registries 3B study, were included in our analysis. We assessed the proportions of patients in each CV risk category according to 2019 ESC/EASD guidelines. RESULTS: Based on the 2019 ESC/EASD guidelines, 16,663 (65.6%), 1895 (7.5%), and 152 (0.6%) of patients were included in "very high risk," "high risk," and "moderate risk" categories, respectively. The proportions of patients in each category varied based on age, sex, body mass index, and duration. While 58.7% (9786/16,663) of elderly patients were classified to "very high risk" group, 89.6% (3732/4165) of patients with obesity were divided into "very high risk" group. Almost all patients with a duration of diabetes >10 years had "very high risk" or "high risk." However, 6701 (26.4%) of Chinese T2D patients, who had shorter duration, and one or two risk factors, could not be included in any category (the "unclear risk" category). CONCLUSIONS In China, most patients with T2D have "very high" or "high" CV risk based on 2019 ESC/EASD guidelines. However, the risk of patients in "unclear risk" group needs to be further classified.
Adult ; Aged ; Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Heart Disease Risk Factors ; Humans ; Risk Factors

By means of brain connectomics, structural patterns of the brain nerve cells can be abstracted into a highly complex network, and epilepsy is one of the most common disorders of brain network. Although focal epilepsy (FE) is once thought to be a focal brain disease, current researches have confirmed that extensive changes exist in the FE brain network. With the development of brain connectomics in the field of epilepsy, the brain network characteristics of FE are gradually characterized. In this paper, the recent advance in human brain connectomics of FE is reviewed to summarize the characteristics of FE brain network.

Objective To investigate the MRI features of solitary fibrous tumors(SFT)in the spinal canal.Methods MRI images of 5 cases with pathologically proved STF in the spinal canal were analyzed retrospectively.Results Of 5 lesions,there were 2 in the cervical spine,3 in the thoracic spine;1 in the epidural space and 4 in the subdural extramedullary space.On MRI plain scan,3 lesions showed homogeneous iso-intense signal on T1WI and hypo-intense signal on T2WI,2 lesions showed heterogeneous signal,1 showed patchy hypo-intense signal on T1WI and T2WI at the upper edge of lesion,which had been confirmed as hemorrhage and the other lesion showed internal cystic variation.All of the 5 lesions enhanced on enhancement scan,with moderate enhancement in 2 lesions and significant enhancement in 3 lesions.Cystic and hemorrhagic area were not enhanced.The"dural tail sign"was showed in 3 cases.Conclusion The diagnosis of SFT should be considered when a lesion shows a localized solitary mass in the spinal canal with hypo-intense on T2WI and moderate to significant enhancement.

The bonding restoration has become an important clinical technique for the development of dental bonding technology. Because of its easy operation and the maximum preservation of tooth tissues, bonding repair is widely used in dental restoration. The recent multi-mode universal adhesives have brought new progress in dental bonding restoration. In this article the universal adhesives were reviewed according to its definition, development, improvement, application features and possible problems.
Adhesives ; administration & dosage ; Dental Bonding ; methods ; Dentin-Bonding Agents ; Humans ; Technology, Dental