Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Objective:To compare the clinical characteristics, diagnostic plans, and treatment strategies of patients with combined burn-blast injuries caused by liquid plastic and liquid metal foreign objects in the body.Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study. From January 2009 to July 2019, 41 patients with combined burn-blast injuries caused by hot solution explosion who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery of Qingdao Hospital of Rehabilitation University. The following indexes of all patients were collected, including gender, age, total burn area, admission time after injury, site of combined burn-blast injuries, and type of foreign objects in the body. According to the type of foreign objects in the body, the patients were divided into liquid plastic group (30 cases) and liquid metal group (11 cases). The following indexes of the two groups of patients were collected, including the clinical characteristics (swelling in the injury site, pain, fever, abscess formation, depth of injury, activity of foreign objects, and difficulty in removing foreign objects), imaging examinations (ultrasound, computed radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging examinations), treatment (repair period and repair method), and incidence of complications during follow-up after discharge.Results:There were 33 males and 8 females among the patients, aged 18-65 years. The total burn area was 1% to 78% total body surface area, the admission time after injury was 2 h to 7 d, the combined burn-blast injuries mainly occurred in the limbs and trunk, and the foreign objects in the body were liquid plastics (polyethylene and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and liquid metals (liquid iron and aluminum). The proportions with swelling in the injury site, injury with depth to the bone, poor mobility of foreign objects, and difficulty in removing foreign objects in patients in liquid plastic group were significantly higher than those in liquid metal group ( P<0.05). The proportions of confirming foreign objects in the body through computed radiography and computed tomography examinations in patients in liquid metal group were 7/7 and 8/8, respectively, which were significantly higher than 1/5 and 3/20 in liquid plastic group ( P<0.05); the proportion of confirming foreign objects in the body through ultrasound examination in patients in liquid metal group was 11/11, which was similar to 24/26 ( P>0.05); the proportion of confirming foreign objects in the body through magnetic resonance imaging examination in patients in liquid metal group was 2/2, which was the same as 4/4 in liquid plastic group. The proportions of patients in liquid plastic group who underwent stage Ⅰ wound repair and direct suture were significantly lower than those in liquid metal group ( P<0.05), while the proportions of patients who underwent delayed wound repair, skin grafting, and flap grafting were significantly higher than those in liquid metal group ( P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups of patients during follow-up after discharge ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Combined burn-blast injuries could result in damages of different severity in patients due to different types and locations of foreign objects in the body. Computed radiography and computed tomography examinations can be used to diagnose metal foreign objects in the body, while ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging examinations can be used to diagnose plastic foreign objects in the body. Multidisciplinary collaboration and comprehensive treatment are important means of treating this type of patients.

Currently the main treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is chemotherapy combining hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. However, the unbearable side effect of chemotherapy and the high risk of life-threatening infections and disease relapse following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation restrict its application in clinical practice. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop alternative therapeutic tactics with significant efficacy and attenuated adverse effects. Here, we revealed that umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSC) efficiently induced AML cell differentiation by shuttling the neutrophil elastase (NE)-packaged extracellular vesicles (EVs) into AML cells. Interestingly, the generation and release of NE-packaged EVs could be dramatically increased by vitamin D receptor (VDR) activation in UC-MSC. Chemical activation of VDR by using its agonist 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 efficiently enhanced the pro-differentiation capacity of UC-MSC and then alleviated malignant burden in AML mouse model. Based on these discoveries, to evade the risk of hypercalcemia, we synthetized and identified sw-22, a novel non-steroidal VDR agonist, which exerted a synergistic pro-differentiation function with UC-MSC on mitigating the progress of AML. Collectively, our findings provided a non-gene editing MSC-based therapeutic regimen to overcome the differentiation blockade in AML.

Objective:To explore the psychometric characteristics of the Chinese version of the health-related social capital scale.Methods:From March to May 2020, after the original scale was translated into Chinese following the Brislin improved translation model, 251 community-dwelling senior citizens aged 65 and above were selected by convenient sampling method. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 22.0, including tests of significance, correlation analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis.Results:Exploratory factor analysis extracted three factors: social participation, social cohesion, and reciprocity, which accounted for a cumulative contribution rate of 61.72%. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the three-factor model fitted well(χ 2/ df=1.22, RMSEA=0.04, CFI=0.98, GFI=0.93, IFI=0.98, TLI=0.97). Social capital was significantly correlated with perceived social support positively ( r=0.36, P<0.01), and with loneliness negatively ( r=-0.30, P<0.01). The three factors were significantly correlated with the total scale ( r=0.85, 0.50 and 0.52, respectively, all P<0.01). And correlations between the items of each factor were 0.24-0.55, 0.30-0.59, 0.44-0.70, respectively(all P<0.01). The Cronbach's α coefficients of the total scale and three factors were 0.74, 0.72, 0.65 and 0.62, respectively(all P<0.01), and their retest reliability were 0. 92, 0. 87, 0. 82 and 0. 96, respectively(all P<0.01). Conclusion:The Chinese version of health-related social capital scale conforms to the three-factor model with good reliability and validity, which can be used to assess the social capital status of community-dwelling older adults in China.

This study aims to investigate mechanism of "Ephedrae Herba-Descurainiae Semen Lepidii Semen" combination(MT) in the treatment of bronchial asthma based on network pharmacology and in vivo experiment, which is expected to lay a theoretical basis for clinical application of the combination. First, the potential targets of MT in the treatment of bronchial asthma were predicted based on network pharmacology, and the "Chinese medicine-active component-target-pathway-disease" network was constructed, followed by Gene Oncology(GO) term enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment of the potential targets. Molecular docking was used to determine the binding activity of key candidate active components to hub genes. Ovalbumin(OVA, intraperitoneal injection for sensitization and nebulization for excitation) was used to induce bronchial asthma in rats. Rats were classified into control group(CON), model group(M), dexamethasone group(DEX, 0.075 mg·kg~(-1)), and MT(1∶1.5) group. Hematoxylin and eosin(HE), Masson, and periodic acid-Schiff(PAS) staining were performed to observe the effect of MT on pathological changes of lungs and trachea and goblet cell proliferation in asthma rats. The levels of transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1, interleukin(IL)6, and IL10 in rat serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), and the mRNA and protein levels of mitogen-activated protein kinase 8(MAPK8), cyclin D1(CCND1), IL6, epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3 K), and protein kinase B(Akt) by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Network pharmacology predicted that MAPK8, CCND1, IL6, and EGFR were the potential targets of MT in the treatment of asthma, which may be related to PI3 K/Akt signaling pathway. Quercetin and β-sitosterol in MT acted on a lot of targets related to asthma, and molecular docking results showed that quercetin and β-sitosterol had strong binding activity to MAPK, PI3 K, and Akt. In vivo experiment showed that MT could effectively alleviate the symptoms of OVA-induced asthma rats, improve the pathological changes of lung tissue, reduce the production of goblet cells, inhibit the inflammatory response of asthma rats, suppress the expression of MAPK8, CCND1, IL6, and EGFR, and regulate the PI3 K/Akt signaling pathway. Therefore, MT may relieve the symptoms and inhibit inflammation of asthma rats by regulating the PI3 K/Akt signaling pathway, and quercetin and β-sitosterol are the candidate active components.
Animals ; Asthma/drug therapy* ; Cyclin D1 ; Dexamethasone/adverse effects* ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS)/adverse effects* ; Ephedra ; ErbB Receptors ; Hematoxylin/therapeutic use* ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-6 ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8/therapeutic use* ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Network Pharmacology ; Ovalbumin/adverse effects* ; Periodic Acid/adverse effects* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Quercetin ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats

Aim To investigate the effect of arbutin on apoptosis of NRK-52e cells induced by LPS and the potential mechanism.Methods The model of NRK- 52e cells injury was constructed by LPS, and NRK-52e cells were divided into control, LPS ( 1 mg • L 1 ) , low dose arbutin (LPS, 1 mg • L 1 + arbutin, 5 (xmol • L_l ) , high dose arbutin ( LPS, 1 mg • L 1 + arbutin , 10 (xmol • L 1 ) and its corresponding inhibitor THC group ( 1 (xmol • L 1).The cell viability was detected ; the levels of ROS, apoptosis, Ca~' concentration and mitochondrial membrane potential ( MMP ) were detected by flow cytometry; the levels of key apoptosis proteins were detected by in cell western; the binding activity of arbutin with ER(3 was imitated by molecular docking technology, and verified by in cell western.Results Arbutin could effectively regulate the levels of ROS, Ca"+ , apoptosis proteins and ER(3 in NRK-52e cells induced by LPS and inhibit the de- cline of MMP, which is blocked by estrogen receptor inhibitor THC.In addition, arbutin has good binding activity with ERf}.Conclusion This study confirms that arbutin could inhibit LPS-induced apoptosis of NRK-52e cells through ER£.