Purpose::Traumatic brain injury (TBI), currently a major global public health problem, imposes a significant economic burden on society and families. We aimed to quantify and predict the incidence and severity of TBI by analyzing its incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability (YLDs). The epidemiological changes in TBI from 1990 to 2019 were described and updated to provide a reference for developing prevention, treatment, and incidence-reducing measures for TBI.Methods::A secondary analysis was performed on the incidence, prevalence, and YLDs of TBI by sex, age group, and region ( n =21,204 countries and territories) between 1990 and 2019 using the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019. Proportions in the age-standardized incidence rate due to underlying causes of TBI and proportions of minor and moderate or severe TBI were also reported. Results::In 2019, there were 27.16 million (95% uncertainty intervals ( UI): 23.36 -31.42) new cases of TBI worldwide, with age-standardized incidence and prevalence rates of 346 per 100,000 population (95% UI: 298 -401) and 599 per 100,000 population (95% UI: 573 -627), respectively. From 1990 to 2019, there were no significant trends in global age-standardized incidence (estimated annual percentage changes: -0.11%, 95% UI: -0.18% --0.04%) or prevalence (estimated annual percentage changes: 0.01%, 95% UI: -0.04% -0.06%). TBI caused 7.08 million (95% UI: 5.00 -9.59) YLDs in 2019, with age-standardized rates of 86.5 per 100,000 population (95% UI: 61.1 -117.2). In 2019, the countries with higher incidence rates were mainly distributed in Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and Australia. The 2019 global age-standardized incidence rate was higher in males than in females. The 2019 global incidence of moderate and severe TBI was 182.7 per 100,000 population, accounting for 52.8% of all TBI, with falls and road traffic injuries being the main causes in most regions. Conclusions::The incidence of moderate and severe TBI was slightly higher in 2019, and TBI still accounts for a significant portion of the global injury burden. The likelihood of moderate to severe TBI and the trend of major injury under each injury cause from 1990 to 2019 and the characteristics of injury mechanisms in each age group are presented, providing a basis for further research on injury causes in each age group and the future establishment of corresponding policies and protective measures.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of skin temperature, blood infusion and inflammatory cytokines of cutaneous tissue in the sensitized area of colitis model rats, as well as the relationship between sensory and sympathetic nerves and the formation of sensitized area, and to initially reveal the partial physical-chemical characteristics of the sensitized area in the colitis model rats. METHODS: Thirty-five male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group (n=10), a model group (n=18) and a guanethidine group (n=7). 5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was adopted for 6-day free drinking to establish colitis model in the model group and the guanethidine group. On day 6 and 7, in the guanethidine group, guanethidine solution (30 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally for sympathetic block. On day 7, after injection of evans blue (EB) solution, the EB extravasation areas on the body surface were observed to investigate the distribution and physical-chemical characteristics of the sensitized area. The control area was set up, 0.5 cm away from the sensitized area, and with the same nerve segment innervation. Disease activity index (DAI) score of rats was compared between the normal group and the model group, and the morphological changes in the colon tissue were investigated with HE method. Using infrared thermal imaging technology and laser speckle flow imaging technology, skin temperature and blood infusion were determined in the sensitized area and the control area of the rats in the model group. Immunofluorescence technique was adopted to observe the expression levels of the positive nerve fibers of substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and the correlation with blood vessels; as well as the expression levels of SP positive nerve fibers/tryptase⁺ mast cells, and tryptase⁺ mast cells/5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in skin tissue in the sensitized area and the control area of the rats in the model group. MSD multi-level factorial method and ELISA were applied to determine the contents of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines (e.g. TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-4 and IL-10) and anti-inflammatory substance corticosterone (CORT). RESULTS: Sensitization occurred at the T₁₂-S₁ segments of the colitis model rats, especially at L₂-L₅ segments. Compared with the normal group, DAI score was increased in the rats of the model group (P<0.05), and the colonic mucosal damage was obvious, with the epithelial cells disordered, even disappeared, crypt destructed, submucosal edema and a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrated. In comparison with the control area, the skin temperature and blood infusion were increased in the sensitized area of the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01); as well as the expression levels of the positive nerve fibers of SP, CGRP and TH of skin tissue (P<0.05), which was specially distributed in peripheral vessels, the expression levels of SP positive nerve fibers/tryptase⁺ mast cells, and tryptase⁺ mast cells/5-HT of the skin tissue were all expanded (P<0.05) in the sensitized area of the model group. Compared with the model group, the number of sensitized areas was reduced in the guanethidine group (P<0.05). In comparison with the control area of the model group, in the sensitized area, the contents of pro-inflammatory cytokines, e.g. TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, and the anti-inflammatory substance CORT of skin tissue were all increased (P<0.05); and the contents of IL-6 and TNF-α were negatively correlated with CORT (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The sensitized areas on the body surface of colitis rats are mainly distributed in the L₂-L₅ segments. Sensory and sympathetic nerves are involved in the acupoint sensitization, and the sensitized areas may have the dynamic changes in pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory substances.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide/metabolism* ; Colitis/metabolism* ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Guanethidine ; Interleukin-6 ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serotonin ; Skin Temperature ; Substance P/genetics* ; Tryptases ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UHPLC-MS/MS) method was established to investigate the pharmacokinetic behaviors of psoralenoside, isopsoralenoside, calycosin-7-glucoside, ononin, psoralen, isopsoralen, methylnissolin, and neobavaisoflavone in rat plasma after oral administration of Bufei Huoxue Capsules. After SD rats were administered with Bufei Huoxue Capsules suspension by gavage, blood samples were collected from the inner canthus at different time points. After protein precipitation, plasma samples were separated on ACQUITY UPLC BEH C_(18) column(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 μm). The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile(A) and water(B) containing 0.1% formic acid in gradient elution. The positive and negative ions were measured simultaneously in the multi-reaction monitoring(MRM) mode. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated and fitted by DAS 3.2.8. Psoralenoside, isopsoralenoside, calycosin-7-glucoside, ononin, psoralen, isopsoralen, methylnissolin, and neobavaisoflavone were detected in the rat plasma after drug administration, with AUC_(0-t) of(3 357±1 348),(3 555±1 696),(3.03±0.88),(2.21±0.33),(1 787±522),(2 295±539),(5.69±1.41) and(3.40±0.75) μg·L~(-1)·h, and T_(max) of(1.56±0.62),(1.40±0.70),(0.21±0.05),(0.25±0.12),(0.26±0.11),(0.34±0.29),(0.74±0.59), and 0.25 h. The method is proved specific and repeatable and is suitable for the determination of psoralenoside, isopsoralenoside, calycosin-7-glucoside, ononin, pso-ralen, isopsoralen, methylnissolin, and neobavaisoflavone in the rat plasma, which can be applied to pharmacokinetic study.
Animals ; Capsules ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacokinetics* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproducibility of Results ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods*

This manuscript aims to investigate the effects of resibufogenin on the proliferation, migration and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and its related mechanisms. MTT assay was used to determine the inhibitory effect of resibufogenin on the growth of four hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro. Wound-healing assay and Transwell assay were used to evaluate the migration and invasion ability of resibufogenin on MHCC-97H cells. Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of migration and invasion related proteins in MHCC-97H cells treated with different concentrations of resibufogenin. The results showed that resibufogenin significantly inhibited the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values on MHCC-97H, HepG2, SK-Hep-1 and Huh-7 cells were 0.55 ± 0.06, 2.83 ± 0.24, 5.25 ± 0.49, 14.89 ± 2.28 μmol·L^-1, respectively. Resibufogenin also suppressed the migration and invasion of MHCC-97H cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The protein expression of integrin α2, integrin α6, integrin β1, N-cadherin, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) and transcription factor Twist in MHCC-97H cells were decreased significantly with the increase of the concentration of resibufogenin, while the protein expression of E-cadherin increased. In addition, we found that p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT ratios were significantly reduced after treatment with resibufogenin. In conclusion, resibufogenin can inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma MHCC-97H cells in vitro, which is related to the regulation of intracellular migration and invasion protein expression and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influencing factors of low back pain and the relationship of the influence of bad working posture, weight load and frequency of load and the dose-response relationship among the occupational workers of key industries in China. METHODS: A total of 57 501 employees from 15 key industries in China were selected as research subjects using stratified cluster sampling method. The occurrence of low back pain in the past one year, as well as occupational factors such as job type, labor organization and work posture were investigated by using the Chinese version Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of low back pain in the occupational population of key industries in China was 16.4%(9 448/57 501). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of low back pain in females was higher than that in males(P<0.01). Married, obese, occasional and frequent smokers, and a history of lower back disease were associated with increased risk of low back pain(all P<0.05). The risk of low back pain was associated with older age, higher education level, and lower frequency of physical exercise(all P<0.01). The risk of low back pain was higher with longer working time, greater back curvature, and the high frequency of long standing and sitting position work, uncomfortable working posture, repeated operation per minute, and lifting>5 kg weight(all P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The influencing factors of low back pain in the occupational population of key industries in China include bad working posture, high frequency load, weight load and other individual factors. There is a dose-response relationship with low back posture load and frequency of load.

An immunologically stressed rat model was used in a metabolomics study on the ability of Paeoniae Rubra Radix to reduce the liver toxicity of Psoraleae Fructus. Different groups of rats were given the extracts of Psoraleae Fructus and Psoraleae Fructus together with Paeoniae Rubra Radix or combined with a non-toxic dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The biochemical indices of liver function and pathological changes in liver tissue were used to evaluate histopathological changes. UHPLC-QTOF/MS was used to analyze the metabolic profile of serum samples, combined with principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) methods. The HMDB database and Metabo Analyst online tool were used for biomarker identification and metabolic pathway-enrichment analysis. The results show that the co-treatment Psoraleae Fructus and LPS resulted in significant liver injury, indicated by the elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities, as well as obvious pathological changes. Liver injury was significantly decreased by treatment with Paeoniae Rubra Radix. Metabolomic analysis showed that the addition of Paeoniae Rubra Radix ameliorated the abnormal serum metabolism in rats mainly through regulation of arachidonic acid metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathways.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of virtual reality (VR) on comprehensive balance for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods:The databases of Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Scopus, VIP, Wanfang Data and CNKI were retrieved to collect randomized controlled trials about VR intervention for PD patients, from establishment to November, 2020. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted the data and evaluated the quality of the literature, and then used Review Manager 5.3 software for meta-analysis. Results:A total of 24 documents were included. Compared with the control group, VR intervention might improve the static balance (SMD = -0.49, 95%CI -0.64 to -0.35, P < 0.001) of PD patients. Simple VR intervention might improve the Berg Balance Scale score (SMD = 0.83, 95%CI 0.43 to 1.23, P < 0.001) for PD patients, while combination of VR intervention might improve the Berg Balance Scale score (SMD = 0.75, 95%CI 0.53 to 0.96, P < 0.001) and Timed 'Up and Go' Test time (SMD = -0.87, 95%CI -1.52 to -0.22, P = 0.008) for PD patients; however, simple VR intervention might do little in improving Timed 'Up and Go' Test time (SMD = -0.36, 95%CI -0.74 to 0.03, P = 0.07). Conclusions:VR can improve the comprehensive balance for PD patients, especially combine with conventional or balance training.

The long-term and extensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the cultivation of Chinese materia medica has resulted in serious soil ecological and environmental problems such as secondary salinization, soil consolidation, soil acidification, continuous cropping obstacles, micro-ecological imbalance, and serious soil pests and diseases in the production areas of Chinese materia medica. Therefore, promoting the ecological planting of Chinese materia medica is the only way for the production of Chinese materia medica. Attapulgite(ATP) is a kind of water-rich magnesium-rich aluminosilicate clay mineral with layered and chain structure. It has abundant reserves in China, possesses nano-material properties, strong adsorption and ion exchange properties, and has huge high value utilization space. ATP and its functional products have the potential of water and fertilizer conservation, regulating soil structure and micro-ecology, and are widely used in ecological planting of Chinese materia medica. This paper reviews the resource distribution, structural characteristics, the research and application progress in soil ecological effects of ATP, and prospects the application prospects of it in the ecological planting of Chinese materia medica.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Magnesium Compounds ; Materia Medica ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Silicon Compounds ; Soil

Interleukin-27 (IL-27), a heterodimeric cytokine, plays a protective role in diabetes. Ghrelin, a gastric hormone, provides a hunger signal to the central nervous system to stimulate food intake. The relationship between IL-27 and ghrelin is still unexplored. Here we investigated that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)-mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling mediates the suppression of ghrelin induced by IL-27. Co-localization of interleukin 27 receptor subunit alpha (WSX-1) and ghrelin was observed in mouse and human gastric mucosa. Intracerebroventricular injection of IL-27 markedly suppressed ghrelin synthesis and secretion while stimulating STAT3-mTOR signaling in both C57BL/6J mice and high-fat diet-induced-obese mice. IL-27 inhibited the production of ghrelin in mHypoE-N42 cells. Inhibition of mTOR activity induced by siRNA or rapamycin blocked the suppression of ghrelin production induced by IL-27 in mHypoE-N42 cells. siRNA also abolished the inhibitory effect of IL-27 on ghrelin. IL-27 increased the interaction between STAT3 and mTOR in mHypoE-N42 cells. In conclusion, IL-27 suppresses ghrelin production through the STAT3-mTOR dependent mechanism.

Background::Although the use of expanded-criteria donors (ECDs) alleviates the problem of organ shortage, it significantly increases the incidence of delayed graft function (DGF). DGF is a common complication after kidney transplantation; however, the effect of DGF on graft loss is uncertain based on the published literature. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between DGF and allograft survival.Methods::We conducted a retrospective, multicenter, observation cohort study. A total of 284 deceased donors and 541 recipients between February 2012 and March 2017 were included. We used logistic regression analysis to verify the association between clinical parameters and DGF, and Cox proportional hazards models were applied to quantify the hazard ratios of DGF for kidney graft loss.Results::Among the 284 deceased donors, 65 (22.8%) donors were ECD. Of the 541 recipients, 107 (19.8%) recipients developed DGF, and this rate was higher with ECD kidneys than with standard-criteria donor (SCD) kidneys (29.2% vs. 17.1%; P = 0.003). The 5-year graft survival rate was not significantly different between SCD kidney recipients with and without DGF (95.8% vs. 95.4%; P= 0.580). However, there was a significant difference between ECD kidney recipients with and without DGF (71.4% vs. 97.6%; P = 0.001), and the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for graft loss for recipients with DGF was 1.885 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.305–7.630; P = 0.024). Results showed that induction therapy with anti-thymocyte globulin was protective against DGF (odds ratio= 0.359; 95% CI= 0.197–0.652; P= 0.001) with all donor kidneys and a protective factor for graft survival (HR = 0.308; 95% CI = 0.130–0.728; P = 0.007) with ECD kidneys. Conclusion::DGF is an independent risk factor for graft survival in recipients with ECD kidneys, but not SCD kidneys.