Objective To observe the clinical features of cognitive function,neuroendocrine and inflammatory cytokines in patients with chronic tension type headache(CTTH)and insomnia.Methods From April 2020 to December 2020,58 patients with CTTH comorbid insomnia in our hospital were selected as the research group,and 58 healthy individuals who underwent physical examinations during the same period were selected as the control group.Pain severity was assessed by the Visual Analog Scale(VAS),sleep quality was evaluated by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI),and overall cognitive function was evaluated by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale(MoCA).The serum cortisol(Cor),adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH),C-reactive protein(CRP),TNF-α,and IL-6 were measured.Results The VAS and PSQI scores of the research group were significantly higher than those of the control group,while the MoCA score was significantly lower than that of the control group(all P＜0.05).Compared to the control group,the serum levels of Cor,ACTH,CRP,TNF-α,and IL-6 in the research group were significantly increased(all P＜0.05).The VAS,PSQI scores,serum Cor,ACTH,CRP,TNF-α,and IL-6 levels of patients with moderate headache in the research group were significantly higher than those of patients with mild headache,while the MoCA score was significantly lower than that of patients with mild headache(all P＜0.05).The VAS and PSQI scores of the research group showed a significant negative correlation with the MoCA score,and significant positive correlation with the levels of serum Cor,ACTH,CRP,TNF-α,and IL-6,the VAS score showed significant positive correlation with PSQI score(all P＜0.05).Conclusion CTTH comorbidity insomnia has a certain degree of cognitive decline,which may be related to neuroendocrine disorders and overexpression of inflammatory cytokines.

BACKGROUND: Visual input significantly influences cerebral activity related to locomotor navigation, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to analyze the effects of chronic visual impairment and its rehabilitation on sensorimotor integration during level walking in patients with age-related cataract. METHODS: This prospective case series enrolled 14 female patients (68.4 ± 4.7 years) with age-related cataract, scheduled for consecutive cataract surgeries at the Department of Ophthalmology in Peking University Third Hospital from June 2019 to June 2020. Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals during level walking were recorded using a portable EEG system before and 4 weeks after visual restoration. Walking speed was assessed using the Footscan system. Spectral power of the theta and alpha bands was analyzed with repeated-measures analysis of variance, with Assignment (rest and walking), Phase (preoperative and postoperative), and Electrode sites (F3, Fz, F4, O1, and O2) as within-subject factors. RESULTS: Compared to the visual impairment state, theta band power significantly decreased after visual restoration (13.16 ± 1.58 μV 2vs. 23.65 ± 3.48 μV 2 , P = 0.018). Theta activity was notably reduced during walking (17.24 ± 2.43 μV 2vs. 37.86 ± 6.62 μV 2 , P = 0.017), while theta power at rest was not significantly different between the two phases (9.44 ± 1.24 μV 2vs. 9.08 ± 1.74 μV 2 , P = 0.864). Changes in walking speed were correlated with alterations in theta power at electrode sites of O1 ( r = -0.574, P = 0.032) and O2 ( r = -0.648, P = 0.012). Alpha band power remained stable during walking and was unaffected by visual status. CONCLUSIONS Chronic visual impairment from age-related cataract triggers enhanced cerebral activation of sensorimotor integration to compensate for visual decline during locomotion. This cerebral over-activation is effectively alleviated by visual restoration.
Humans ; Female ; Walking/physiology* ; Aged ; Electroencephalography/methods* ; Prospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Cataract/physiopathology* ; Vision Disorders/physiopathology*

Objective:To systematically analyze the registration status of clinical trials related to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in China Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR); To focus on the characteristics and shortcomings of TCM research; To provide data support and theoretical basis for optimizing clinical trial design and improving the quality of TCM research.Methods:The IBD-related clinical trials registered by ChiCTR from the establishment of the database to September 18, 2024 were retrieved. SPSS 26.0 software was used to analyze the frequency of research objects, registration time, registration area and institution, source of funds, research type and design scheme, random method and blind method, trial staging and research center, sample size, intervention measures and outcome indicators.Results:There were 317 clinical trials of IBD. Shanghai, Jiangsu, Beijing, Guangdong and Zhejiang accounted for 72.87% of the total number of registrations. Most of the registered projects were intervention studies (51.42%), 48 studies used blind method, and randomized controlled study was the main research design type. In the 68 clinical trials related to TCM, the intervention measures were divided into 4 categories, of which Chinese materia medica was the most (42 items); the sample size was the most in the intervention study, with a total of 6 787 cases; the total frequency of outcome indicators was 1 866 times, and the quality of life and mental health were the most (147 items).Conclusions:The number of registered IBD clinical trials is generally increasing, but there may be problems such as uneven distribution of regions and institutions, poor design of sample size, blind method and other research, and non-standard filling of registration information. In the research of TCM treatment of IBD, it is suggested to further strengthen the depth and breadth, especially the characteristic therapy of TCM.

Objective To observe the clinical features of cognitive function,neuroendocrine and inflammatory cytokines in patients with chronic tension type headache(CTTH)and insomnia.Methods From April 2020 to December 2020,58 patients with CTTH comorbid insomnia in our hospital were selected as the research group,and 58 healthy individuals who underwent physical examinations during the same period were selected as the control group.Pain severity was assessed by the Visual Analog Scale(VAS),sleep quality was evaluated by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI),and overall cognitive function was evaluated by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale(MoCA).The serum cortisol(Cor),adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH),C-reactive protein(CRP),TNF-α,and IL-6 were measured.Results The VAS and PSQI scores of the research group were significantly higher than those of the control group,while the MoCA score was significantly lower than that of the control group(all P＜0.05).Compared to the control group,the serum levels of Cor,ACTH,CRP,TNF-α,and IL-6 in the research group were significantly increased(all P＜0.05).The VAS,PSQI scores,serum Cor,ACTH,CRP,TNF-α,and IL-6 levels of patients with moderate headache in the research group were significantly higher than those of patients with mild headache,while the MoCA score was significantly lower than that of patients with mild headache(all P＜0.05).The VAS and PSQI scores of the research group showed a significant negative correlation with the MoCA score,and significant positive correlation with the levels of serum Cor,ACTH,CRP,TNF-α,and IL-6,the VAS score showed significant positive correlation with PSQI score(all P＜0.05).Conclusion CTTH comorbidity insomnia has a certain degree of cognitive decline,which may be related to neuroendocrine disorders and overexpression of inflammatory cytokines.

Objectives:To discuss the feasibility of Image J in quantitative analysis on thin layer chromatography (TLC) using gallic acid in Galla Chinensis as research object.Methods:Silica gel GF 254 thin-layer plate was used with chloroform-ethyl formate-formic acid (5:5:1) as the developing solvent and the images were taken under ultraviolet light (254 nm). Polyamide film was used with 75% ethanol-glacial acetic acid (50:1) as the developing solvent and 1% ferric chloride ethanol solution as the chromogenic reagent, and the images were taken under sunlight. Images obtained from the above conditions were imported into Image J to analyze and calculate the content of gallic acid in Galla Chinensis by using external standard two-point method. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used with a mobile phase of methanol-0.1% phosphoric acid solution (15:85) at a wavelength of 273 nm to determine the gallic acid content in Galla Chinensis. Results:The quantitation limit of gallic acid on silica gel GF 254 thin-layer plate was 0.401 6 μg, the linear range was 2.855 - 9.515 μg ( r2 = 0.996 0), and the average recovery was 105.12% ( RSD=3.48%); the quantitation limit of gallic acid on polyamide film was 0.363 4 μg, the linear range was 1.427 - 4.758 μg ( r2 = 0.991 5), and the average recovery was 103.75% ( RSD=4.60%). The HPLC method had a quantitative limit of 4.42 ng, a linear range of 0.122-0.977 μg ( r2 = 0.999 9), and a recovery rate of 98.30% ( RSD = 1.40%). The accuracy, repeatability and stability of RSD were all <5%. The gallic acid content measured using Image J showed a maximum relative error of 9.30% and a minimum of 1.62% compared to the HPLC results. Conclusions:Image J is feasible for quantitative analysis of TLC and can be used as a complementary method for quality control of Chinese materia medica.

Background::Visual inputs are critical for locomotor navigation and sensorimotor integration in the elderly; however, the mechanism needs to be explored intensively. The present study assessed the gait pattern after cataract surgery to investigate the effects of visual restoration on locomotion.Methods::The prospective study recruited 32 patients (70.1 ± 5.2 years) with bilateral age-related cataracts in the Department of Ophthalmology at Peking University Third Hospital from October 2016 to December 2019. The temporal-spatial gait parameters and kinematic parameters were measured by the Footscan system and inertial measurement units. Paired t-test was employed to compare data normally distributed and Wilcoxon rank-sum test for non-normally distributed. Results::After visual restoration, the walking speed increased by 9.3% (1.19 ± 0.40 m/s vs. 1.09 ± 0.34 m/s, P=0.008) and exhibited an efficient gait pattern with significant decrease in gait cycle (1.02 ± 0.08 s vs. 1.04 ± 0.07 s, P=0.012), stance time (0.66 ± 0.06 s vs. 0.68 ± 0.06 s, P=0.045), and single support time (0.36 ± 0.03 s vs. 0.37 ± 0.02 s, P=0.011). High amplitude of joint motion was detected in the sagittal plane in the left hip (37.6° ± 5.3° vs. 35.5° ± 6.2°, P=0.014), left thigh (38.0° ± 5.2° vs. 36.4° ± 5.8°, P=0.026), left shank (71.9° ± 5.7° vs. 70.1° ± 5.6°, P=0.031), and right knee (59.1° ± 4.8° vs. 56.4° ± 4.8°, P=0.001). The motor symmetry of thigh improved from 8.35 ± 5.30% to 6.30 ± 4.73% ( P=0.042). Conclusions::The accelerated gait in response to visual restoration is characterized by decreased stance time and increased range of joint motion. Training programs for improving muscle strength of lower extremities might be helpful to facilitate the adaptation to these changes in gait.

Endodontic microsurgery is one effective method for preserving teeth affected by periapical disease, and is also an essential technique for treating difficult cases. However, due to the restricted operating space at the posterior site and the proximity of the root apex to the maxillary sinus, endodontic surgery in the posterior maxillary area represents great challenges. This article summarizes the anatomical relationship between the maxillary sinus and the maxillary posterior teeth, the influence on endodontic microsurgery, and the application of assistive techniques on maxillary posterior teeth, such as 3D-printed surgical guides and ultrasonic osteotomes. Literature review results show that the spatial relationship between the apex of maxillary posterior teeth and the maxillary sinus is usually divided into three categories: the apex enters the maxillary sinus; the apex contacts the bottom of the maxillary sinus; and there is a distance between the apex and the bottom of the maxillary sinus. CBCT should be performed before the operation, and the periapical state of the tooth and the maxillary sinus and the distance between the lesions and the sinus floor should be considered to evaluate the difficulty of the operation. Meanwhile, during surgery, equipment such as surgical guides, endoscopes and ultrasonic osteotomes should be used to ensure that the operation is safer, reliable, precise and less invasive, but the clinical popularity of ultrasonic osteotomes still needs further promotion. Moreover, high-quality clinical studies on the long-term effects of micro-apical surgery in the posterior maxillary area are still lacking.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of galectin-3 in inducing the differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into hepatocyte- like cells and explore the involvement of the signaling pathways in the induced cell differentiation.

METHODSThe third passage of cultured rat femoral BMSCs were treated with 0.5 μg/mL galectin-3, 20 ng/mL hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) or both to induce their differentiation, with untreated rat BMSCs and hepatocytes as controls. At 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of induction, the cells were examined for morphological changes followed by glycogen staining, quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting. Gene microarray technique was used to examine the mRNA expression profile of the BMSCs induced with galectin-3. The BMSCs were also induced with galectin-3 in combination with XMU-MP-1, a Hippo signaling pathway inhibitor, after which Western blotting was performed to detect the expressions of YAP, P-YAP, ALB, AFP and CK-18 in the cells.

RESULTSThe cells isolated from the femoral bone marrow of SD rats showed a consistent surface marker phenotype with the BMSCs. Induction with galectin-3, HGF, or both all resulted in gradual morphological changes of the BMSCs into hepatocyte-like cells, and the cells with a combined induction for 28 days showed the highest morphological similarity with hepatocytes. The cells induced with galectin-3, HGF, or their combination for 28 days all showed increased positivity rate of glycogen staining, which was the highest in the cells with combined induction ( < 0.05) without significant difference between the cells induced with galectin-3 and HGF alone ( > 0.05). Induction with galectin-3 and HGF alone both increased the expressions of AFP, ALB and CK-18 mRNAs in the cells, and their expression levels were similar between the cells at 28 days ( > 0.05). Galectin-3 and HGF did not show an interactive effect on the mRNA expressions of AFP (=0.236, =0.640) or ALB (=50.639, =0.000), but had a synergistic effect on CK-18 mRNA expression (=50.639, =0.000). The protein expressions of AFP, ALB and CK18 were also increased in the induced cells but not detected in the cells without induction. Gene microarray results revealed 27 up-regulated genes and 62 down-regulated genes in galectin-3-induced BMSCs involving TGF-β, PI3K-Akt and Hippo signal pathways. Induction with galectin-3 and galectin-3+XMU-MP-1 increased YAP expression in the cells, and galectin-3+XMU-MP-1 was more efficient to induce the differentiation of the BMSCs.

CONCLUSIONSGalectin-3 can induce the differentiation of rat BMSCs into hepatocyte-like cells, and the combination with HGF increases the efficiency of induced differentiation of the cells. TGF-β, PI3K-Akt and Hippo pathways are involved in the induced differentiation of the BMSCs, and inhibiting Hippo pathway can improve the induction efficiency.

Background Our previous study showed that curcumin suppresses the proliferation of human lens epithelial cells (LECs) in vitro and has an influence on the signal transduction of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosinc monophosphate (cGMP).Actually,the regulation for biological behavior of LECs in vivo is complex.Objective This study was to investigate the changes of signal transduction of protein kinase (PK) in inhibition of curcumin on human LECs proliferation.Methods HLE-B3 was cultured and then divided into the blank control group,recombinant human basic fibroblast growth factor (rhbFGF) group and rhbFGF+ curcumin group.rhbFGF of 10 ng/ml was added in the medium in the rhbFGF group,and 20 mg/L curcumin was added into rhbFGF-induced cell medium for 24 hours in the rhbFGF+ curcumin group.The expression rates of PKA,PKC,PKG and calmodulin (CaM) in the cells were assayed using flow cytometry.Results The expression rates of PKA protein were (46.847± 1.673) ％,(33.250 ± 2.242) ％ and (71.645 ±2.432) ％ in the blank control group,rhbFGF group and the rhbFGF+ curcumin group,respectively,and the expression rate of PKA protein was significantly reduced in the rhbFGF group compared with the blank control group (t =11.904,P＜0.01),but the expression rate of PKA protein in the rhbFGF+ curcumin group was significnatly higher than that in the rhbFGF group (t=28.430,P＜0.01).In the blank control group,rhbFGF group and the rhbFGF+ curcumin group,the expression rates of PKC protein in the cells were (35.575± 1.937) ％,(50.652±2.068) ％ and (27.662t4.481) ％,those of PKG protein were (63.838±0.486) ％,(86.562 ± 1.325) ％ and (40.733 ± 2.175) ％,while those of CaM protein were (67.408± 1.391)％,(83.887±3.499)％ and (53.785 ± 1.942)％,the expression rates of PKC,PKG and CaM were significantly lower in the rhbFGF group in comparison with the blank control group (all at P＜0.01),and those in the rhbFGF+ curcumin group were significantly declined in comparison with the rhbFGF group (all at P＜0.01).Conclusions Suppression of curcumin on HLE-B3 proliferation probably is associated with the up-regulation of PKA expression and down-regulation of PKC,PKG and CaM expression in the cells.

Objective To explore the clinical application value of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with CT-guided percutaneous acetic acid injection (PAI) in treatment of huge hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Forty-three patients with huge HCC were randomly divided into two group. Twenty-one patients in group A underwent routine one course for TACE (three times), and the interval of TACEs was one month. Twenty-two patients in group B underwent TACE combined with PAI, and CT-guided PAI was performed once a week since 2-3 weeks after first TACE, and one course included 6-9 times of PAI. Postoperative follow-up was conducted (including AFP, the size of tumor, etc.). One course of treatment was repeated in case of tumor recurred. Results At the 1st month after treatment, no statistical difference was found of AFP positive rate between two groups. Statistical difference of total effective rate was found between two groups (38.10% vs 77.27%). The 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rate In group A was 47.62%, 23.81% and 9.52%, respectively, while in group B was 81.82%, 54.55% and 36.36%, respectively, and significant differences were found between the two groups for the same period. Conclusion TACE combined with PAI is safe and more effective than TACE alone in the treatment of huge HCC.