Objective To develop an automatic urine volume detection and collection device to solve the problems of routine urine test.Methods An automatic urine volume detection and collection device was developed with the components of a main control system,a detection system,a prompting system and a grasping and moving system.The main control system consisted of two STM32 microcontrollers and a reset switch;the detection system was made up of a weighing module,an infrared module and indicator lights,which had its urine volume automatic detection algorithm developed based on the Keil5 platform;the prompting system realized voice broadcasting through the voice module fixed on the back panel of the box;the grasping and moving system was composed of a rail drive motor(86CM stepper motor),a photoelectric switch and a motorized gripper.Results The device developed tested urine samples with an accuracy of 99.44％,and could collect qualified samples automatically and quickly.Conclusion The device developed detects urine volume and collects samples automatically,and enhances the accuracy and efficiency of urine examination.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(4):66-69]

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of the T2WI gray scale ratio for Hashimoto's thyroiditis(HT).Methods The T2WI-iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least square estimation(IDEAL)quantitation sequence water images of 22 HT cases were analyzed retrospectively.The gray scale ratio of the thyroid,sternocleidomastoid muscle,trachea cavity,and subcutaneous fat at the same layer were measured on the picture archiving and communication systems(PACS).The gray scale ratios of thyroid/sternocleidomastoid muscle(T/M),thyroid/trachea cavity(T/Tr),and thyroid/lipid(T/L)were calculated.The intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC)was used to evaluate the consistency among the measurements,and the optimal threshold for distinguishing HT from non-HT was determined via the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.The Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between T/M,T/Tr,T/L ratios,and titers of thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPO-Ab)and thyroglobulin antibody(Tg-Ab),respectively.Results On the T2WI-IDEAL quantitation sequence water images,the(x)±s of T/M,T/Tr,T/L ratios for HT and non-HT were 2.17±0.47 and 1.62±0.21(t=14.90,P<0.001),9.40±3.24 and 4.87±2.93(t=11.42,P<0.001),1.66±0.32 and 1.21±0.31(t=7.51,P<0.001),respectively.The area under the curve(AUC)of T/M,T/Tr,and T/L ratios for diagnosing HT were 0.89,0.86,and 0.85,respectively;the optimal thresholds were 1.90,3.50,and 1.36,and the sensitivity and specificity were 72.7%and 100%,100%and 40.5%,95.5%and 29.7%,respectively.The T/M ratio had a moderate correlation with TPO-Ab(r=0.513,P<0.05),and T/Tr,T/L ratios had a mild correlation with TPO-Ab,respectively.Conclusion The T/M ratio in the T2WI gray scale ratio can quantitatively and objectively distinguish HT from non-HT to some extent and is correlated with TPO-Ab.It has extremely high specificity and holds promise as a non-invasive imaging method for the diagnosis of incidental HT.

Aim To observe the effect of epimedium on the proliferation and stem cell-like character expression of breast cancer cells, and investigate the relationship between the inhibition of stem cell-like character and miR-148a by epimedium, and its molecular mechanism. Methods After treatment with different concentrations of epimedium, cell viability and population dependence were detected by MTT assay and colony formation assay; the breast cancer stem cell-derived mammosphere formation was examined by Mammosphere assay; the expression levels of CD44,ALDH-1, Oct4,BMIl and EpCAM were detected by qPCR; the protein expression levels of EpCAM, SOX4, ZO-1, E-cadherin and vimentin were detected by Western blot; the protein localization of EpCAM was observed by im-munofluorescence assay; the effect of epimedium on migration was detected by wound healing assay. The miR-148a mimic was transfected into MDA-MB-231 cells, and the effects of epimedium on stem-like character expression of transfected MDA-MB-231 cells were observed. Results Epimedium significantly inhibited the proliferation and population dependence of MDA-MB-231 cells (P < 0.05 ), and reduced the breast cancer stem cell-derived mammosphere formation; compared with control group, epimedium significantly decreased mRNA levels of CD44, ALDH-1, Oct4, BMI1 and EpCAM (P <0.05) ,decreased protein contents of EpCAM, SOX4 and Vimentin (P < 0.05 ), up-regulated the protein expression of ZO-1 and e-cadherin ( P <0.05) ,and decreased the migration ability of MDA-MB-231 cells (P < 0.05). Epimedium up-regulated the expression of miR-148a in MDA-MB-231 cells (P <0.01). YYH + miR-148a mimic group significantly inhibited stem-like character expression and EMT process of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells compared with control group (P <0.05). Conclusions Epimedium can inhibit the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells, which may be related to the up-regulation of miR-148a, decrease of stem-like character expression of breast cancer cells,and inhibition of EMT.

Immunotherapy targeting immune checkpoint molecules has emerged as a key approach in cancer treatment, representing the forefront of antitumor research. However, studies on immune checkpoint molecules have mainly focused on targeted therapies. Chinese medicine (CM) research as a complementary medicine has revealed that immune checkpoint molecules also undergo disease-specific changes in the context of autoimmune diseases. This review article presents a comprehensive analysis of CM studies on immune checkpoint molecules in the last 5 years, with a focus on their role in different diseases and treatment modalities. CM research predominantly utilizes oral administration of herbal plant extracts or acupuncture techniques, which stimulate the immune system by activating specific acupoints through temperature and needling. In this study, we analyzed the modulation and mechanisms of immune checkpoint molecules associated with different coinhibitory and costimulatory molecules, and reviewed the immune functions of related molecules and CM studies in treating autoimmune diseases and tumors. By summarizing the characteristics and research value of CM in regulating immune checkpoint molecules, this review aims to provide a useful reference for future studies in this field.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Immune Checkpoint Proteins ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Neoplasms/pathology* ; Autoimmune Diseases

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of herbal cake separated moxibustion on macrophage effector molecule T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-4 (Tim-4) and ubiquitination of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) in rabbits with immunosuppression, and to explore the possible mechanism on herbal cake separated moxibustion in improving immunosuppression. METHODS: Thirty-two big-ear white rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a moxa stick moxibustion group and a herbal cake separated moxibustion group, 8 rabbits in each group. Except the normal group, the immunosuppression model was established by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide of60 mg/kg in the other 3 groups. "Shenque" (CV 8), "Shenshu" (BL 23), "Zusanli" (ST 36), etc. were selected in both the moxa stick moxibustion group and the herbal cake separated moxibustion group. Moxa stick moxibustion was applied in the moxa stick moxibustion group, one cone at each acupoint; herbal cake separated moxibustion was applied in the herbal cake separated moxibustion group, 5 cones at each acupoint. The intervention was given once every other day for 10 times in both groups. Leukocyte content in peripheral blood was detected by blood cell analyzer; the positive expression of PD-1 in CD⁺₄ T lymphocytes, CD⁺₈T lymphocytes and CD⁺₆₈ macrophages in peripheral blood was measured by flow cytometry, the serum levels of interleukin 2 (IL-2), CD₈, CD₆₈ and Tim-4 were detected by ELISA, and the expression of Tim-4 and F-box only protein 38 (FBXO38) in the liver and spleen tissues was measured by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, in the model group, white blood cell count (WBC) and percentage of neutrophils (NEU%) were decreased while percentage of lymphocyte (LYM%) was increased (P<0.01) in peripheral blood; the positive expression rates of PD-1 in CD⁺₄ T lymphocytes, CD⁺₈T lymphocytes and CD⁺₆₈ macrophages in peripheral blood were increased (P<0.01); the serum levels of IL-2, CD₆₈ and Tim-4 were increased (P<0.01), the serum level of CD₈ was decreased (P<0.01); the average optical density (AOD) of Tim-4 in the liver tissue and FBXO38 in the liver and spleen tissues was increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, in the moxa stick moxibustion group and the herbal cake separated moxibustion group, WBC and NEU% were increased (P<0.01); the positive expression rates of PD-1 in CD⁺₄ T lymphocytes, CD⁺₈T lymphocytes and CD⁺₆₈ macrophages in peripheral blood were decreased (P<0.01); the serum levels of IL-2, CD₆₈ and Tim-4 were decreased (P<0.01), the serum levels of CD₈ were increased (P<0.01); the AOD of Tim-4 and FBXO38 in the liver tissue and FBXO38 in the spleen tissue was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the moxa stick moxibustion group, in the herbal cake separated moxibustion group, the positive expression rate of PD-1 in CD⁺₆₈ macrophages in peripheral blood was increased (P<0.05); serum level of Tim-4 was increased (P<0.01); AOD of Tim-4 in the liver tissue was decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Herbal cake separated moxibustion can improve immunosuppression by regulating the expression of macrophage effector molecule Tim-4 and the FBXO38 mediated ubiquitination of PD-1, Tim-4 may be one of the specific indexes of immunomodulation involving with herbal cake separated moxibustion.
Animals ; Rabbits ; Interleukin-2/genetics* ; Moxibustion ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/genetics* ; Immunosuppression Therapy ; Ubiquitination

Objective: To investigate the activities of daily living and the use of assistive devices among disabled people demanding assistive devices in Jiading Township, Jiading District, Shanghai Municipality, so as to provide the evidence for the implementation of rehabilitation interventions and the selection of assistive devices for the disabled people living in the community. Methods: The disabled people demanding assistive devices were sampled from 17 communities in Jiading Township in January 2020. A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted to collect participants'age, gender, type of disability, provision and use of assistive devices. The activities of daily living were evaluated using the Activities of Daily Living Scale, and the difference in the frequency of assistive device use was compared among the disabled people with different activities of daily living. Results: A total of 377 questionnaires were allocated, and 328 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 87.00%. The respondents included 187 men ( 57.01% ) and 141 women (42.99%), and had a mean age of ( 71.78±13.86 ) years. Among all respondents, limb disability was predominant (248 people, 75.61%), and 84.45% (277 people) were provided with assistive devices. Assessment of activities of daily living showed complete self-care in 85 respondents ( 25.91% ), functional decline in 39 respondents ( 11.89% ) and functional dysfunction in 204 respondents ( 62.20% ). The proportion of functional dysfunction was predominantly detected among disabled people at ages of 80 years and older ( 79.63% ) ( P<0.05 ). Of the disabled people with assistive devices, 139 people used the devices daily ( 50.18% ), and the proportion of daily use of assistive devices was significantly higher in people with functional dysfunctions than in those with complete self-care ( 59.33% vs. 29.41%; P<0.05 ). In addition, no need was identified as the predominant cause of non-provision of assistive devices ( 29 people, 56.86% ). Conclusions Functional dysfunction of daily living is highly prevalent among the disabled people demanding assistive devices in Jiading Township, in whom the elderly are predominant, and the proportion of assistive device use is high among people with functional dysfunctions. The provision of assistive devices recommends to be improved based on assessment of activities of daily living.

Objective: To investigate the current situation of cell phone use and sleep quality among college students, establish a sleep quality trajectory model and explore the influence of cell phone use on the sleep quality trajectory. Methods: Based on data from the College Student Behavior and Health Cohort Study 2019-2020, a latent class growth modeling was used to establish a sleep quality trajectory model among college students. The baseline influencing factors of sleep quality trajectories among college students were analyzed by χ² test, and the effects of cell phone use on sleep quality trajectories were analyzed by binary logistic regression. Results: A total of 1 092 college students were included in the analysis. The detection rates of cell phone use and poor sleep quality were 24.5% and 13.3%. Latent class growth model identified two groups of sleep quality trend trajactories: an improved sleep quality group (86.0%) and a decreased sleep quality group (14.0%). The result of binary logistic regression showed that the cell phone use was a risk factor of sleep quality trajectories. Conclusion: The cell phone use during college period could increase the risk of poor sleep quality. Targeted intervention measures about cell phone use should be adopted to improve the sleep quality among college students.
Humans ; Sleep Quality ; Cohort Studies ; Cell Phone Use ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Students ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Cell Phone ; Sleep

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of children with Burkitt lymphoma (BL) and to summarize the mid-term efficacy of China Net Childhood Lymphoma-mature B-cell lymphoma 2017 (CNCL-B-NHL-2017) regimen. Methods: Clinical features of 436 BL patients who were ≤18 years old and treated with the CNCL-B-NHL-2017 regimen from May 2017 to April 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. Clinical characteristics of patients at disease onset were analyzed and the therapeutic effects of patients with different clinical stages and risk groups were compared. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox regression was used to identify the prognostic factors. Results: Among 436 patients, there were 368 (84.4%) males and 68 (15.6%) females, the age of disease onset was 6.0 (4.0, 9.0) years old. According to the St. Jude staging system, there were 4 patients (0.9%) with stage Ⅰ, 30 patients (6.9%) with stage Ⅱ, 217 patients (49.8%) with stage Ⅲ, and 185 patients (42.4%) with stage Ⅳ. All patients were stratified into following risk groups: group A (n=1, 0.2%), group B1 (n=46, 10.6%), group B2 (n=19, 4.4%), group C1 (n=285, 65.4%), group C2 (n=85, 19.5%). Sixty-three patients (14.4%) were treated with chemotherapy only and 373 patients (85.6%) were treated with chemotherapy combined with rituximab. Twenty-one patients (4.8%) suffered from progressive disease, 3 patients (0.7%) relapsed, and 13 patients (3.0%) died of treatment-related complications. The follow-up time of all patients was 24.0 (13.0, 35.0) months, the 2-year event free survival (EFS) rate of all patients was (90.9±1.4) %. The 2-year EFS rates of group A, B1, B2, C1 and C2 were 100.0%, 100.0%, (94.7±5.1) %, (90.7±1.7) % and (85.9±4.0) %, respectively. The 2-year EFS rates was higher in group A, B1, and B2 than those in group C1 (χ²=4.16, P=0.041) and group C2 (χ²=7.21, P=0.007). The 2-year EFS rates of the patients treated with chemotherapy alone and those treated with chemotherapy combined with rituximab were (79.3±5.1)% and (92.9±1.4)% (χ²=14.23, P<0.001) respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that stage Ⅳ (including leukemia stage), serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)>4-fold normal value, and with residual tumor in the mid-term evaluation were risk factors for poor prognosis (HR=1.38,1.23,8.52,95%CI 1.05-1.82,1.05-1.43,3.96-18.30). Conclusions: The CNCL-B-NHL-2017 regimen show significant effect in the treatment of pediatric BL. The combination of rituximab improve the efficacy further.
Adolescent ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Burkitt Lymphoma/drug therapy* ; Child ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Lactate Dehydrogenases ; Lymphoma, B-Cell/drug therapy* ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Rituximab/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome

Child ; Humans ; COVID-19 ; SARS-CoV-2

Kidney injury and decreased chemosensitivity of tumor cells are obstacles with cisplatin (CDDP) chemotherapy. Down-regulation of the organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2) is a key means to alleviate CDDP-induced kidney injury and increase chemosensitivity. Astragaloside IV (AS IV) is obtained from the well-known traditional Chinese herb Astragalus membranaceus. This study explored the role of AS IV in preventing kidney injury and enhancing the antitumor effect of CDDP by suppressing OCT2 expression in kidney and MRP2 in tumors. This project was reviewed and approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the First Hospital of Jilin University. The effects of AS IV on CDDP inhibition of tumor growth and promotion of apoptosis were assessed in Lewis lung tumor (LLC)-bearing mice by H&E and TUNEL staining. Kidney injury was assessed by serum biochemical parameters and H&E staining. We used Western blotting and immunohistochemistry assays to detect OCT2 and MRP2 expression in kidney and tumor. The concentration of CDDP in kidney and tumor was measured by HPLC-MS/MS. AS IV enhanced CDDP chemosensitivity by increasing tumor cell apoptosis and slowing tumor growth, and decreased kidney injury as evidenced by lower blood creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Co-administration of AS IV suppressed MRP2 overexpression induced by CDDP in tumor tissues and may be an important mechanism for enhancing CDDP chemosensitivity. Moreover, AS IV reduced CDDP-induced kidney injury in mice along with suppression of OCT2 expression in kidney. The concentration of CDDP was increased in tumor but decreased in kidney. In total, AS IV not only enhanced the antitumor effect of CDDP by suppressing MRP2 expression in tumor cells, but also decreased kidney injury induced by CDDP. The results provide new insight into the combined use of a chemotherapy drug and natural ingredients to treat cancer.