The connotation of the "four-dimensional pivot-earth" qi transformation mode is a dialectical system of the ascending and descending of yin-yang qi movement， which presented as "the middle Jiao showing earth qi mediating， the left wheel showing water and wood ascending， and the right wheel showing fire and metal converting and descending". Based on this dialectical thinking， it is believed that the core pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis is deficiency of center qi and transportation failure to pivot-earth； the middle-stage characteristics of the disease progression are the loss of mediation of the central qi， resulting in water coldness and wood constraint， and clear yang failing to ascend； the final outcome of this disease is the loss of astringeing of lung metal and qi sinking. The treatment should be based on the rule of qi movement， so for the start-stage， Buzhong Yiqi Decoction （补中益气汤） should be used as the basis to nourish the earth and consolidate the root， and restrengthen the middle qi； for the middle-stage， herbs like Yingyanghuo （Epimedium brevicornu Maxim.）， Bajitian （Morinda officinalis How） could be combined to warm the water and soothe the wood， raise yang and boost qi； for the final stage， plus Sini Decoction （四逆汤） to astringe metal to stop collapse， and powerfully supplement original qi. All these medicinals can promote pivot-earth re-transportation， four-dimensional transformation， and regular circulation of qi movement， so as to provide thoughts for improving the clinical effectiveness of myasthenia gravis.

BACKGROUND:At present,there are many clinical studies on dysphagia,but little is known about the stress of bones and hyoid muscles caused by dysphagia.OBJECTIVE:To establish a three-dimensional model of swallowing musculoskeletal system to investigate the stress changes of hyoid and suprahyoid muscles during swallowing.METHODS:A healthy adult male was selected for head and neck CT scanning.A three-dimensional model was constructed by image extraction method.According to hyoid motion,the lowest and highest positions of hyoid were set,and the muscle strength of suprahyoid muscles was successively loaded to observe the stress influence of suprahyoid muscles on hyoid under physiological state.By changing the material properties of muscles,we simulated different degrees of dysphagia and observed the stress changes of suprahyoid muscle group under the condition of dysphagia.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The finite element models including C2-C4 vertebrae,partial temporal bone,mandible,hyoid,and mylohyoid-geniohyoid muscle were established,which could reflect the displacement of hyoid and stress changes during swallowing.(2)Under physiological conditions,among suprahyoid muscles,mylohyoid muscle had the greatest influence on hyoid stress,followed by digastric muscle,geniohyoid muscle,and stylohyoid muscle.(3)By simulating different degrees of dysphagia,it was found that with the increase of the severity of dysphagia,the stress of suprahyoid muscles gradually increased.(4)These findings conclude that among suprahyoid muscles,mylohyoid muscle and digastric muscle have the greatest influence on hyoid stress,which suggests the importance of specific muscle stimulation.The aggravation of dysphagia was positively correlated with the stress change of suprahyoid muscles,which could provide a biomechanical reference for the mechanism study and clinical diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia.

BACKGROUND:At present,there are many clinical studies on dysphagia,but little is known about the stress of bones and hyoid muscles caused by dysphagia.OBJECTIVE:To establish a three-dimensional model of swallowing musculoskeletal system to investigate the stress changes of hyoid and suprahyoid muscles during swallowing.METHODS:A healthy adult male was selected for head and neck CT scanning.A three-dimensional model was constructed by image extraction method.According to hyoid motion,the lowest and highest positions of hyoid were set,and the muscle strength of suprahyoid muscles was successively loaded to observe the stress influence of suprahyoid muscles on hyoid under physiological state.By changing the material properties of muscles,we simulated different degrees of dysphagia and observed the stress changes of suprahyoid muscle group under the condition of dysphagia.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The finite element models including C2-C4 vertebrae,partial temporal bone,mandible,hyoid,and mylohyoid-geniohyoid muscle were established,which could reflect the displacement of hyoid and stress changes during swallowing.(2)Under physiological conditions,among suprahyoid muscles,mylohyoid muscle had the greatest influence on hyoid stress,followed by digastric muscle,geniohyoid muscle,and stylohyoid muscle.(3)By simulating different degrees of dysphagia,it was found that with the increase of the severity of dysphagia,the stress of suprahyoid muscles gradually increased.(4)These findings conclude that among suprahyoid muscles,mylohyoid muscle and digastric muscle have the greatest influence on hyoid stress,which suggests the importance of specific muscle stimulation.The aggravation of dysphagia was positively correlated with the stress change of suprahyoid muscles,which could provide a biomechanical reference for the mechanism study and clinical diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia.

Objective:To discuss the improvement effect of curcumin combined with fecal bacteria transplantation on the mice with dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis(UC),and to clarify the related mechanism.Methods:Fifty mice were randomly divided into control,model,curcumin,fecal bacteria transplantation,and combination groups.Except for the mice in control group(given distilled water),the mice in the other groups were given distilled water containing 2%DSS to establish the UC models.The mice in curcumin group were gavaged with 0.4 mL of 60 mg·kg-1 curcumin solution once per day for 10 d;the mice in fecal bacteria transplantation group underwent enema with 0.2 mL of fecal bacteria suspension once per day for 10 d;the mice in combination group received the enema of 0.2 mL fecal bacteria suspension and gavaged with 0.4 mL of 60 mg·kg-1 curcumin solution.At the end of the experiment,the disease activity index(DAI)and colon macroscopic damage index(CDMI)of the mice in various groups were calculated;the morphology of colon tissue of the mice in various groups was detected by HE staining;the levels of interleukin(IL)-1β,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),IL-4,and IL-10 in colon tissue of the mice in various groups were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method;the expression levels of occludin and zonula occludens-1(ZO-1)mRNA and proteins in colon tissue of the mice in various groups were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative(RT-qPCR)and Western blotting methods.Results:The intestinal mucosal epithelial structure of the mice in control group was intact and continuous with regular glandular arrangement and without inflammatory cell infiltration or ulceration;the intestinal mucosal epithelial structure of the mice in model group exhibited loss of colonic mucosal epithelium,disordered glandular arrangement,reduced goblet cells,congestion and edema in mucosal and submucosal layers,and extensive infiltration of inflammatory cells with widespread small ulcers;the intestinal mucosal epithelial structure of the mice in curcumin,fecal bacteria transplantation,and combination groups exhibited relatively intact colonic mucosal epithelial structures with reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and ameliorated mucosal and submucosal congestion and edema.Compared with control group,the DAI and CDMI of the mice in model group were increased(P<0.05),the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were increased(P<0.05),the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were decreased(P<0.05),and the expression levels of occludin and ZO-1 mRNA and proteins were decreased(P<0.05);compared with model group,the DAI and CDMI of the mice in curcumin,fecal bacteria transplantation,and combination groups were decreased(P<0.05),the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were decreased(P<0.05),the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were increased(P<0.05),and the expression levels of occludin and ZO-1 mRNA and proteins were increased(P<0.05).Compared with curcumin group and fecal bacteria transplantation group,the DAI and CDMI of the mice in combination group were decreased(P<0.05),the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were decreased(P<0.05),the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were increased(P<0.05),and the expression levels of occludin and ZO-1 mRNA and proteins were increased(P<0.05).Conclusion:Curcumin combined with fecal bacteria transplantation can ameliorate the pathological damage in colonic tissue of the UC mice,inhibit the secretion of inflammatory factors,and promote the repaiment of intestin mucosa.

[Objective]To summarize the clinical experience of Professor MA Ruijie in the treatment of insomnia by using Hewei-acupuncture,with a view to illustrating the theoretical basis and clinical application of Hewei-acupuncture in the treatment of insomnia.[Methods]Through the clinical study with the teacher,combined with the review of Chinese medical textbooks and modern medical clinical research literature on insomnia.Professor MA's understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of insomnia,the composition and basis of the acupuncture points of Hewei-acupuncture,and the theoretical and mechanistic study of Hewei-acupuncture for the treatment of insomnia were elaborated,and Professor MA's ideas of identification and treatment of this disease were analyzed.[Results]Professor MA believes that the sleep and wakefulness of human beings are controlled by the heart and spirit,and regulated by the Yin and Yang of Ying and Wei,which are related to the functions of internal organs,among which the malfunctioning of the spleen and stomach is closely related to the occurrence of insomnia.Professor MA's treatment of this disease is characterized by the importance of the theory of meridian and collateral disease and the Qi of the spleen and stomach in the middle-Jiao,and she believes that the foot Yangming stomach meridian Qi reversal,Ying and Wei are out of harmony;the spleen and stomach deficiency,the heart and spirit of the loss of nourishment;and elevation disorders,misdirection of the good offices are important reasons for the occurrence of insomnia.Hewei-acupuncture is a summary of Professor MA's clinical experience in treating insomnia and other neurological disorders by taking"Tianshu"(ST25),"Zusanli"(ST36),"Neiguan"(PC6)and"Gongsun"(SP4)as the main acupoints.This method relieves insomnia by regulating Qi of the spleen and stomach,strengthening the function of the spleen and stomach,and balancing Yin and Yang of the organism.[Conclusion]Hewei-acupuncture in the clinical treatment of insomnia is characterized by streamlining of acupoints,light pain,and good long-term efficacy,which is of practical significance in guiding the clinical treatment of insomnia.

Objective:To study the feasibility of preserving the subvalvular structure during mitral valve replacement and whether it is more conducive to the recovery of cardiac function.Methods:The clinical data of 205 patients who underwent mitral valve replacement due to mitral insufficiency in Enshi Central Hospital from January 2017 to December 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. According to whether the subvalvular structure of mitral valve was preserved during operation, they were divided into three groups: group A was to preserve all the subvalvular structures of anterior and posterior mitral valve, group B retained all or part of the subvalvular structure of the posterior valve, in group C, all anterior and posterior subvalvular structures were removed. The operation time, cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic occlusion time of patients in each group were counted. Postoperative ventilator use time, ICU stay time and incidence of complications; mitral flow velocities (MVE), left ventricular end diastolic dimension (LVED), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were rechecked by echocardiography at 1 week, 3 months and 6 months after operation.Results:There were no significant differences in operation time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic occlusion time, ventilator use time and ICU stay time among the three groups before surgery ( P>0.05). There were no death cases in perioperative period, and all patients were cured and discharged from hospital. The results of cardiac color ultrasound showed that MVE, LVED, LVEF and LVFS were improved compared with those before operation. Postoperative ultrasound results showed no significant difference in MVE at 1 week, 3 months and 6 months ( P>0.05). At 1 week after surgery, LVED in group A was lower than that in group B and C: (44.90 ± 5.59) mm vs. (46.13 ± 6.15) mm, (48.33 ± 5.59) mm. The difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Three months after operation, LVED and LVFS in group A were higher than those in group B and group C: (43.37 ± 5.61) mm vs. (44.69 ± 5.45) mm and (53.42 ± 5.35) mm, (33.92 ± 3.34)% vs. (31.67 ± 3.20)% and (30.37 ± 6.96)%, respectively. The differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). At 6 months after operation, LVED in group A was lower than that in group B and group C: (41.86 ± 3.27) mm vs. (47.85 ± 6.93) mm and (53.42 ± 8.17) mm. LVFS was higher than that in group B and group C: (33.42 ± 2.64) % vs. (32.18 ± 5.98) % and (32.28 ± 2.58) %, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Preserving the whole subvalvular structure of mitral valve will not lead to prosthetic valve dysfunction and increase surgical complications. After operation, it showed better reduction of left ventricular end diastolic diameter and better left ventricular shortening rate, which was more conducive to the recovery of cardiac function.

Objective To investigate the carrying status and characteristics of Clostridium difficile isolated from infants.Methods Two hundred and thirty-eight stool specimens were collected from infant younger than 1 year old,that were hospitalized or outpatient from August to November 2015.Immunochromatography targeted GDH and toxin A&B of C.difficile was used for C.difficile screening,and those positive specimens were inoculated in CDIF and anaerobic culture.C.difficile isolates were genotyped by using slpA sequence typing (slpA ST),and tcdA,tcdB,cdtA and cdtB of C.difficile isolates were detected by PCR.Results Fifty C.difficile strains were isolated from 238 stool samples,and the isolated rates of C.difficile from <3 months,3 months to <6 months,and 6 months to 1 years old groups were 9.3%,17.6% and 27.3%(χ2=6.940,P=0.031<0.05),respectively.52.0%(26/50) of the C.difficile isolates were toxigenic,and 69.2% (18/26) toxigenic isolates harbored tcdA+tcdB+cdtA-cdtB-.Fifty C.difficile isolates were genotyped as 11 slpA STs,slpA ST fr-02 and kr-02 were the commonest genotypes in toxigenic C.difficile isolates;however,that was slpA ST xr-03 in non-toxigenic isolates.Conclusion High C.difficile carriage is found in infants younger than 1 year old,and more than half of C.difficile isolates are toxigenic.Most of toxigenic isolates harbored toxin A and B.The genotype of C.difficile isolates is different between toxigenic isolates and non-toxigenic isolates.

Objective To establish the theoretical basis of the probiotic application among very low birth weight(VLBW) infants,the efficacy of probiotics on the gut microbiota of VLBW infants on the 14th postnatal day was studied.Method The VLBW infants admitted to BaoAn Maternal and Child Care Hospital from January 2015 to December 2015 were randomly assigned into probiotics group and placebo group.From the first feeding to corrected gestational age of 36 weeks,probiotics group was treated with a combination of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus while placebo group with placebo.Fecal samples were collected on the 1st and 14th postnatal day.Total bacterial DNA was extracted and sequenced using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing on MiSeq sequencing platform.Result A total of 21 VLBW infants were enrolled,9 in probiotics group and other 12 placebo group.No significant differences of clinical data existed between the two group (P ＞ 0.05),The abundance and diversity of microflora (P ＞ 0.05) on the first day between the two group were similar.Compared with placebo group,the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillales in stool samples on the 14th day was significantly increased,while the Halomonas was significantly decreased.The relative abundance of the Shannon-index was increased,but without significant difference (P =0.16).Conclusion Enteral supplementation of probiotics in VLBW infants may increase probiotic bacterium and microflora diversity.

OBJECTIVEVideo-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) esophagectomy has been performed for more than 10 years in China. However, compared with the conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy, whether VATS esophagectomy has more advantages or not in the lymph node (LN) dissection and prevention of perioperative complications is still controversial and deserves to be further investigated. The aim of this study was to explore whether there are significant differences in this issue between the two surgical modalities or not.

METHODSThe results of lymph node dissection and perioperative complications as well as other parameters in the patients treated by VATS esophagectomy and those by conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy at our department from May 1, 2009 to July 30, 2013 were compared using SPSS 16.0 in order to investigate whether there was any significant difference between these two treatment modalities in the learning curve stage of VATS esophagectomy.

RESULTSOne hundred and twenty-nine cases underwent VATS esophagectomy between May 1, 2009 and July 30, 2013, and another part 129 cases with the same preoperative cTNM stage treated by conventional esopahgectomy via right thoracotomy were selected in order to compare the results of lymph node dissection and perioperative complications as well as other parameters between those two groups of patients. There were no significant differences in the sex, age, lesion locations and cTNM stage between these two groups. The total LN metastatic rate in the VATS esophagectomy group was 35.7% and that of the conventional esophagectomy group was 37.2% (P > 0.05). The total average number of dissected lymph nodes was 12.1 vs. 16.2 (P < 0.001). The average dissected LN stations was 3.2 vs. 3.6 (P = 0.038). The total average number of dissected LN along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve was 2.0 vs. 3.7 (P = 0.012). The total average number of dissected LN along the right recurrent laryngeal nerve was 2.9 vs. 3.4 (P = 0.231). However, there was no significant difference in the total average number of dissected LN in the other thoracic LN stations, and in the perioperative complications between the two groups. The total postoperative complication rate was 41.1% in the VATS group versus 42.6% in the conventional group (P = 0.801). The cardiopulmonary complication rate was 25.6% vs. 27.1% (P = 0.777). The death rate was the same in the two groups (0.8%). The VATS group had less blood infusion (23.2% vs. 41.8%, P = 0.001) and shorter hospital stay (15.9 days vs. 19.2 days, P = 0.049) but longer operating time (161.3 min vs. 127.8 min, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIn the learning curve stage of VATS esophagectomy, compared with the conventional esophagectomy, less LN number and stations can be dissected in the VATS group due to un-skillful VATS manipulation, especially it is more difficult in the LN dissection along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Therefore, it is more suitable to select patients with early esophageal cancer without obvious enlarged lymph nodes for VATS esophagectomy in the learning curve stage.

China ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Humans ; Learning Curve ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Node Excision ; adverse effects ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Lymph Nodes ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; adverse effects ; Thoracotomy

Objective To develop a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR )method for detecting and genotyping moxifloxacin-resistant Clostridium difficile (C.difficile)isolates.Methods Specific PCR primers of slpA genotypes gr,hr,fr,gc08 and 078 were designed according to the differences of slpA nucleotide sequences in different C.difficile genotypes,and the house-keeping gene tpi specific PCR primers were also added for the construction of multiplex PCR method.Nine common intestinal normal and pathogenic strains were used to verify the specificity of slpA multiplex PCR for the detection of C.difficile.Forty-six C.difficile reference strains,belonging to 11 slpA genotypes,were used to verify the ability of the multiplex PCR method for dectecting and genotyping.Thirty-nine moxifloxacin-resistant clinical isolates were genotyped by the multiplex PCR,and its clinical value was evaluated by comparing with slpA sequence typing (slpA ST)method.Results All the 9 intestinal normal and pathogenic strains were negative when detected by the multiplex PCR.And tpi of 46 C. difficile reference strains were positive,and 36 strains belonging to slpA genotypes gr,hr,fr,gc08 and 078 were genotyped correctly.Other 10 strains which belonged to other 6 genotypes were non-typeable. Among 39 moxifloxacin-resistant clinical isolates,all were positive of tpi,and 32 isolates were typed correctly by the multiplex PCR method,including 22 slpA genotypes gc08,6 genotypes hr,2 genotypes fr,and 2 genotypes 078,which were consistent with slpA ST.However,7 isolates could not be typed by multiplex PCR,which were identified as other genotypes not included in the multiplex PCR by slpA ST. Conclusions A convenient and rapid multiplex PCR method for the detection of C.difficile is established successfully,which can distinguish among five slpA genotypes.slpA genotype gc08 is the common genotype of moxifloxacin-resistant clinical isolates.