Objective:To explore the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on interleukin-33 (IL-33)/growth stimulation expressed gene 2 (ST2) signaling pathway in the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) of rats modeling hyperalgesia (HP).Methods:This study consisted of two experiments. In the first, 30 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a Sham-HP group, an HP group, an antibody group and an inhibitor group, each of 6. HP was induced in all except the rats of the blank and Sham-HP groups by injecting carrageenan (Car) and prostaglandin E2 subcutaneously at the bottom of the left hind feet. The antibody and inhibitor groups were then given intrathecal injections of anti-ST2 antibody and a tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)-specific inhibitor, respectively. In the second experiment, 42 SD rats were randomly divided into a Sham-HP group, an HP group, a TENSⅠgroup, a TENS II group, a TENS I inhibitor group, a TENS II inhibitor group, and a Sham-TENS group, each of 6. All of the groups had HP induced as in experiment one. All of the rats except those in the Sham-HP, HP and Sham-TENS groups were then given TENS, and the TENS I and II inhibitor groups were offered intrathecal injection of TNF-α-specific inhibitors. Mechanical pain thresholds (MPTs) were documented 4h, 24h, 48h, 72h, 6d, 7d 4h, 7d 1h, and 7d after the Car injections. Western blotting was used to measure the protein expressions of IL-33, ST2 and TNF-α 6d after the Car injection in both experiments.Results:In experiment one, the average MPTs of the HP, antibody and inhibitor groups had decreased significantly 4 hours after the Car injection compared with the blank and Sham-HP groups. However, 7d 1h after the Car injection the value had increased significantly in the Sham-HP, antibody and inhibitor groups compared with the HP group, while the expressions of IL-33, ST2 and TNF-α had decreased significantly. In experiment two, by 4 hours after the Car injection, the average MPT of all the other groups had decreased significantly compared with the Sham-HP group. Moreover, by 7d 1h after the Car injection, the average MPTs of the groups receiving TENS had increased significantly, with significantly lower MPT in the TENS Ⅱ group than in group Ⅰ, on average. There was also significantly higher expression of IL-33, ST2 and TNF-α in group II. Compared with the TENS Ⅰ and Ⅱ groups, the average MPT was significantly higher in the TENS I and Ⅱ inhibitor groups, but IL-33, ST2 and TNF-α expression was lower.Conclusions:TENS can inhibit TNF-α expression, which influences the signals of the DRG IL-33/ST2 signaling pathway to reverse hyperalgesia. TENS combined with anti-TNF-α treatment is superior to TENS alone in treating hyperalgesia.

Objective:To evaluate the value of bedside ultrasound in evaluating volume responsiveness of patients with septic shock.Methods:A total of 102 patients with septic shock admitted to ICU of the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from April 2018 to February 2021 were selected. Patients were divided into response group and non-response group according to the value of stroke volume increase (ΔSV) after volume loading test (VE), and the hemodynamic parameters before and after VE were compared between the two groups. Pearson correlation was used to analyze the relationship between ΔSV and hemodynamic indexes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to analyze the sensitivity and specificity of each hemodynamic index in evaluating volumetric reactivity in patients with septic shock.Results:Of the 102 patients, 54 responded and 48 did not. Before VE, the distensibility index of inferior vena cava (ΔIVC 1), espiratory variability index of inferior vena cava (ΔIVC 2), respiratory variability of aortic peak velocity (ΔVpeak AO), brachial artery maximum velocity variability (ΔVpeak BA) and respiratory rate of peak flow velocity of femoral artery (ΔVpeak CFA) in response group were higher than those in non-response group (all P<0.05), but there was no statistical significance in heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and central venous pressure (CVP) between 2 groups (all P>0.05). After VE, the HR, ΔIVC 1, ΔIVC 2, ΔVpeak AO, ΔVpeak BA and ΔVpeak CFA in response group were significantly decreased, while MAP and CVP were significantly increased (all P<0.05). The CVP was significantly decreased in the non-response group ( P<0.05), while other indexes were not significantly changed. Before VE, the ΔIVC 1, ΔIVC 2, ΔVpeak AO, ΔVpeak BA and ΔVpeak CFA were positively correlated with ΔSV ( r=0.589, 0.647, 0.697, 0.621, 0.766; all P<0.05). There was no correlation between CVP and ΔSV ( r=-0.345, P>0.05). Before VE, the area under the curve of ΔIVC 1, ΔIVC 2, ΔVpeak AO, ΔVpeak BA and ΔVpeak CFA were all >0.7, indicating high sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions:Bedside ultrasound monitoring ΔIVC, ΔVpeak AO, ΔVpeak BA and ΔVpeak CFA can better evaluate the volume response of patients with septic shock, and can provide a reference basis for clinical fluid resuscitation treatment.

Objective:To observe any effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (p-ERK1/2) and phosphorylated cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein (p-CREB) in the spinal dorsal horns of diabetics experiencing neuropathic pain.Methods:Eight rats were randomly selected from 30 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats as the normal group (N), and the remaining twenty-two rats were treated with a single high-dose intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) to establish a neuropathic pain model. The rats modeled successfully were randomly divided into a model group (M, n=8) and an EA group ( n=8). In the EA group, electroacupuncture was applied at the bilateral Hou san li and Kunlun acupoints starting on the 15th day after the STZ injection. The daily sessions lasted 30 minutes for 1 week. Body weight (BW), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) were observed before the STZ injection and on the 7th, 14th, and 21st days afterward. The expression of p-ERK1/2 and p-CREB in the dorsal horns of the rats′ spinal cords was detected using western blotting. The count of p-CREB-positive cells in the dorsal horns and their co-localization with neurons was detected using immunofluorescence. Results:In comparison with the N group, the average BW of the M group on the 7th, 14th and 21st days after the STZ injection was significantly lower, while the average FBG was significantly higher. There was no significant difference between the M and N groups in the average PWL on the 7th day after the STZ injection, but it had decreased significantly in the M group on the 14th and 21st days. Compared with the M group, the average PWL of the EA group was significantly longer on the 21st day after the injection. The expression of p-ERK1/2 and p-CREB protein in the spines of the M group was significantly higher than in the N group. p-CREB positive cells were more numerous in the M group compared with the N group, while in the EA group they were fewer. P-CREB was co-located with neurons in the spinal dorsal horn.Conclusion:EA can alleviate neuropathic pain effectively, perhaps by inhibiting the expression of p-ERK1/2 and p-CREB in the dorsal horns of the spinal cord.

Ischemic hepatitis, also known as hypoxic hepatitis or shock liver, refers to liver cell damage without any known cause of acute hepatitis, and is characterized by transient elevation of transaminase levels (20 times higher than normal value).The incidence of the disease is about 2.5% to 10%, and the hospital mortality rate is greater than 50%. Current research suggests that there are many risk factors for the disease, including systemic hypotension, low cardiac output, sepsis and respiratory distress, but eventually it will manifest as hepatocyte dysfunction. Unfortunately, the mortality rate related with hypotension is high, and the key to treatment is to correct hemodynamic disorders. This article reviews the research progress in the etiology, mechanism and clinical manifestations of ischemic hepatitis.

Objective To evaluate of value of HER2 as a prognostic marker,and to analysis associations with common his-topathological parameters in BC cases.Methods In this study,formalin-fixed,paraffin-embedded samples of tumors from 160 breast cancer patients who underwent curative surgery proce-dures between 2011 and 2014 were tested by immunohisto-chemistry (IHC)as aprimary estimate of HER2 status,followed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).Concordance rate between IHC and FISH was evaluated.Theχ2 test was used to evaluate the correlation between HER2 gene amplifica-tion status and different clinical pathological features including:(estrogen receptor)ER and (progesterone receptor)PR ex-pression,age,menopausal status and tumor size.Results There was a significant inverse association between expression of hormone receptors (ER and PR)and HER2 amplification (all P<0.05)among the patients studied.However,no relation-ship was observed between HER2 amplification and age,menopausal status and tumor size (P>0.05).HER2-negative le-sions were of higher grade and more likely to be ER-negative,PR-negative,p5 3-positive,lymph node metastasis,and also Ki-67≥20% as compared to the HER2-positive group and HER2 overe xpression was associated with the levels of ER and PR. Conclusion There is correlation of many clinical factors with HER2 expression.

ObjectiveTo identify the metabolic alterations on prefrontal lobes and hippocampus in male patients with the first-episode mania using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy(H-MRS).Method 18 male patients with the first-episode mania and 27 healthy subjects matched for age,gender,and years of education were included in the study.1 H-MRS was performed in two sides of the hippocampus and frontal lobes regions.The ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA),choline (Cho) to creatine (Cr) were measured.One-sample t test and paired-samples t test were used for statistic process.ResultsMale patients with the first-episode mania presented decreased NAA/Cr in left frontal lobe and hippocampus regions when compared to normal controls( left frontal lobe (1.68 ±0.19 vs 1.86 ± 0.19),hippocampus ( 1.32 ± 0.10 vs 1.43 ± 0.16 ),P ＜ 0.01 ),but there were no significant difference in NAA/Cr for right frontal lobe and hippocampus regions between groups ( all P ＞ 0.05 ).Two groups also showcd no significant difference for Cho/Cr in bilateral frontal lobe and hippocampus (P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusion There is significant difference of manifestation of 1H-MRS between male patients with mania and normal controls,which reflects neuronal dysfunction in the prefrontal lobes and hippocampus.

ObjectiveTo examine biochemical characteristics of the frontal lobe and hippocampus in unaffected parentsof schizophreniaprohandsusingprotonmagneticresonancespectroscopy(1H-MRS).Method 19 unaffected fathers of schizophrenia probands with matched 19 male healthy control subjects and 24 unaffected mothers of schizophrenia probands with matched 24 female healthy control subjects were included in the study.1 H-MRS was performed in two sides of the hippocampus and frontal lobes regions.The ratios of N-Acetylaspartate ( NAA ),choline (Cho) to creatine (Cr) were measured.One-sample T test and paired-samples t test were used for statistic process.ResultsUnaffected mothers of schizophrenia probands had a higher Cho/Cr ratio ( left ( 1.10 ± 0.13,right ( 1.08 ± 0.12 ) ) in the frontal white matter compared with matched female health control subjects(left( 1.03 ± 0.10),right( 1.02 ± 0.09 )).The NAA/Cr ratio was significantly reduced in the left frontal white matter of female health control subjects compared to right( 1.64 ± 0.12 vs 1.74 ± 0.13 ),but this difference was not observed in unaffected mothers of schizophrenia probands.There were no significant differences in metabolites for frontal lobe and hippocampus regions between unaffected fathers of schizophrenia probands and male healthy control subjects groups( all P＞0.05 ).ConclusionThe results implicate that the metabolic abnormalities and disappeared asymmetry of NAA/Cr might exist in the frontal white matter among unaffected mothers of schizophrenia probands.

Objective To detect the patterns of cognitive impairment between patients with paranoid schizophrenia and patients with bipolar mania by using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) ,and to explore research clues for finding of cognitive endophenotype in patients with paranoid schizophrenia or bipolar mania. Methods Six CANTAB subtests and the seven subtests of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WAIS short form) were administered to 35 patients with paranoid schizophrenia and 33 patients with bipolar mania who were drug naive experiencing an acute episode, as well as 30 healthy controls. Results Patients with paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar mania demonstrated impairments in 13 of the 15 cognitive indicators in CANTAB. After controlling IQ, both patient groups remained as significantly different from normal controls in terms of search strategy(36. 8 ±3.56,37.24 ±4. 21,30. 33 ±6.24) ,between-search errors(40. 86 ± 19.97,40.24 ± 18.92,15.4 ±17.22) on the SWM test,the proportion of hits(0.54 ±0. 18,0.56 ±0.15,0.78 ± 0.17) on the RVIP test,total errors(45.26 ±36.36,46.61 ±33.32,14 ± 11.7) and EDS errors (12.43 ±9.96, 13.18 ±8.98,4.97 ±6.09)on the IED test. Between search error in the SWM test was positively correlation with YMRS scores ( r=0.38, P=0.039) in bipolar patients. Conclusion Both patient groups demonstrated a comparable profile of cognitive impairments during active periods of their condition. The cognitive impairment index may be a discreet cognitive endophenotype overlapping the disorders.

Objective To study the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract endometriosis. Me- thods Retrospective review of 6 cases of urinary tract endometriosis was carried out. Results There were 2 cases of bladder and 4 cases of ureter endometriosis EMS involving the urinary tract had not been considered before operation.The diagnosis depended on biopsy.The treatment consisted of salpingo-oophorectomy,local excision of the lesion freeing of the ureter and end-to-end anastomosis. Conclusions Urinary tract endometriosis should be considered in premenopausal women presenting noncalculous low ureteric obstruction or cyclical symptoms of bladder.Removal of the lesion should be undertaken when there is evidence of endometriosis invading into the urinary tract.

AIM: To investigate the expression of tissue factor(TF) induced by oxidized high density lipoprotein(oxHDL) in human umbilical vein cell line,ECV304,and the related mechanisms.METHODS: Four main groups were designed: the negative,the positive(ECV304 with histamine),the HDL group and the oxHDL group.Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(RQ-PCR) and Western blotting were used to detect the expression level of TF.The specific inhibitors of MAPKs,SP600125(c-jun terminal NH2 kinase,JNK),SB203580(p38 MAP kinase,p38 MAPK),PD98059(extracellular signal-regulated kinase,ERK1/2) were used to investigate the underlying mechanisms.RESULTS: The TF expression in normal ECV304 cell line was not detected.Histamine administration resulted in a significant expression of TF in ECV304 cell line,with strongest effect after 1 h co-incubation at concentration of 1?10-5 mol/L histamine(about 4.8-fold higher expression of TF compared with that of 1?10-9 mol/L histamine).Expression level of TF was detected after stimulated with oxHDL in dose-and time-dependent manners.The highest expression of TF mRNA was found at 20 mg/L oxHDL and 6 h co-incubation,with 1.8-fold and 5.3-fold increase in TF expression,respectively,compared with that at 10 mg/L oxHDL and 2 h co-incubation.20 mg/L oxHDL also caused an apparent augmentation of TF protein expression,about 1.5-fold higher compared with that stimulated by 40 mg/L oxHDL.HDL co-incubation did not cause a detectable expression of TF protein.The mRNA levels of TF in ECV304 cell line induced by oxHDL were decreased by 95.0%,81.0%,87.0%,respectively(all P