BACKGROUND:Changes in skeletal muscle mass have been indicated in studies addressing the effects of low-frequency pulsed magnetic fields on the structure and morphology of the skeletal muscle,but no relevant studies have been conducted on the morphologic changes that occur after chronic exposure to the low-frequency pulsed magnetic field. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of chronic exposure to low-frequency pulsed magnetic fields on the maximal voluntary contraction and morphologic indicators of the quadriceps muscle of the leg,thereby providing a reference of muscle morphologic changes for the use of this technique as a strategy for muscle function improvement. METHODS:Seventy healthy subjects were recruited and randomly divided into a test group that received magnetic field stimulation and a control group that underwent sham treatment,with 35 subjects in each group,and the total duration of the trial was 4 weeks.The test group underwent low-frequency pulsed magnetic stimulation for 15 minutes every 48 hours,while the control group underwent sham treatment,with the same intervention interval and duration as the test group.After 4 weeks of intervention,changes in the maximum voluntary contraction value of the quadriceps muscle in different groups were observed,and B-mode ultrasonography was utilized as a means of assessment to observe changes in muscle thickness,muscle cross-sectional area,and pinnation angle indexes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After 4 weeks of chronic exposure to low-frequency pulsed magnetic fields,68 subjects completed the test.The maximum voluntary contraction value of the quadriceps muscle in the test group increased significantly(P=0.000),and the increment was significantly higher than that of the control group(P=0.008).Three indexes related to muscle morphology in the test group were significantly higher than the pre-test values(P=0.000),while in the control group,muscle thickness showed a significant reduction(P=0.020),there was no significant change in the pinnation angle,but a significant increase in the cross-sectional area(P=0.000).Intergroup comparisons revealed that the three indicators related to muscle morphology,including muscle thickness(P=0.012),pinnation angle(P=0.003),and cross-sectional area(P=0.049),were significantly higher in the test group than in the control group.The above data confirmed that the maximum voluntary contraction of the quadriceps muscle was significantly increased in healthy adults after 4 weeks of chronic exposure to the low-frequency pulsed magnetic field,and significant increases in the three muscle morphometric indices of muscle thickness,cross-sectional area,and pinnation angle were observed in the test group,providing a basis of muscle tissue morphology for the use of this technique as an exercise alternative and medical treatment strategy for muscle improvement.

Objective To investigate the function of the glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 2(GOT2)gene in acute myeloid leukemia cells.Methods ShRNAs targeting at GOT2 were constructed to suppress GOT2 expression in the THP-1 human monocytic leukemia cell line.GOT2 mRNA level was measured by RT-qPCR,and GOT2 protein ex-pression was measured by Western blot.Intracellular free amino acid level was quantified using colorimetric assays.The impact of GOT2 knockdown in THP-1 cell function was evaluated through cell viability(CCK-8 assay)and ap-optosis(flow cytometry).Results After GOT2 knockdown,both GOT2 mRNA and protein were significantly de-creased in THP-1 cells(P＜0.05).Compared to the control group,GOT2 knockdown did not affect intracellular glutamate levels(P＞0.05),but led to a marked decrease in aspartate level(P＜0.05).GOT2 knockdown signifi-cantly impaired THP-1 cell viability,inhibited cell proliferation(P＜0.05)and promoted apoptosis(P＜0.05).Conclusions Down regulation of GOT2 significantly decreases intracellular aspartate level in acute myeloid leukemia cells,impairs cellular viability and induces apoptosis,which suggests that GOT2 may play a key role in the regula-tion of amino acid metabolism in acute myeloid leukemia.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in mice and the role of the Notch signaling pathway.Methods:Thirty-six SPF healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6 weeks, weighing 20-22 g, were divided into 6 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (group S), partial hepatectomy group (group PH), non-acupoint electroacupuncture+ partial hepatectomy group (group NPH), partial hepatectomy+ Fli-06 group (group PH+ F), acupoint electroacupuncture+ partial hepatectomy group (group EPH), and acupoint electroacupuncture+ partial hepatectomy+ Fli-06 group (group EPH+ F). All the mice except for group S underwent partial hepatectomy. Fli-06 4.8 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected starting from 2 days before surgery, once a day, until the mice were sacrificed in group PH+ F and group EPH+ F, while the equal volume of 0.9% sodium chloride solution was injected in the other groups. In EPH group, electroacupuncture of bilateral " Zusanli" acupoints lasting for 15 min was performed using continuous waves with a frequency of 2 Hz and an intensity of 1 mA once a day starting from the time point immediately after surgery for 3 consecutive days. Mice were anesthetized at day 2 after partial hepatectomy, and blood samples were taken from the eyeball for determination of the serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentrations (using a fully automated biochemical analyzer) and concentrations of serum epidermal growth factor (EGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). The mice were subsequently sacrificed and liver tissues were taken for calculation of the liver mass to body mass ratio and for determination of the expression of liver proliferation marker Ki-67 (by immunohistochemical staining), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin D1 (CCND1), Notch Intracellular Domain (NICD), and hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1α) (using Western blot) and Notch1, jagged canonical Notch ligand 1 (Jagged1) and hairy and enhancer of split 1 (Hes1) mRNA (by real-time polymerase chain reaction). Results:Compared with group S, the serum ALT, AST, EGF and HGF concentrations were significantly increased, and the expression of hepatic Notch1, Jagged1 and Hes1 mRNA and Ki-67, PCNA, CCND1 and NICD was up-regulated in group PH ( P<0.05 or 0.01). Compared with group PH, the liver mass to body mass ratio and serum EGF and HGF concentrations were significantly increased, the serum ALT and AST concentrations were decreased, and the expression of hepatic Notch1, Jagged1, Hes1 mRNA and Ki-67, PCNA, CCND1, NICD and HIF-1α was up-regulated in group EPH, and the liver mass to body mass ratio and the serum HGF concentrations were significantly decreased, the serum ALT and AST concentrations were increased, and the expression of hepatic Jagged1 and Hes1 mRNA and Ki-67, PCNA, CCND1, NICD, and HIF-1α was down-regulated in group PH+ F ( P<0.05 or 0.01). Compared with group EPH, the liver mass to body mass ratio and serum EGF and HGF concentrations were significantly decreased, the serum ALT and AST concentrations were increased, and the expression of hepatic Notch1, Jagged1, Hes1 mRNA and Ki-67, PCNA, CCND1, NICD and HIF-1α was down-regulated in group EPH+ F ( P<0.01). Conclusions:Electroacupuncture at Zusanli acupoint promotes liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in mice, and the mechanism may be related to the activation of the Notch signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND:Muscle weakness is a common symptom after coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)infection and affects the ability to perform daily activities in humans during recovery.Low-frequency pulsed magnetic field stimulation at a strength of 1.5 mT and a frequency of 3 300 Hz can enhance the maximal voluntary contraction and strength endurance of human skeletal muscle by inducing and activating classical transient receptor potential channel 1(TRPC1),which produces a series of pathological support effects on muscle tissue.It has not been studied whether this means will improve muscle weakness in patients recovering from COVID-19. OBJECTIVE:To select the low-frequency pulsed magnetic field for magnetic stimulation of lower limb muscle groups in patients with COVID-19,in order to observe the effect of this stimulation on the improvement of muscle weakness of lower limb muscle groups in patients with COVID-19 during the recovery period. METHODS:Fourteen patients infected with COVID-19(Omicron strain)positive for Innovita COVID-19 Ab Test(Colloidal Gold)and accompanied by muscle weakness were recruited and randomly divided into two groups:a test group receiving magnetic field stimulation and a control group receiving sham treatment,respectively.The total duration of the trial was 3 weeks.The test group was given low-frequency pulsed magnetic stimulation of the lower limbs every 48 hours and the control group was given the same intervention procedure as the test group but with sham stimulation.Patients in both groups were not informed whether the magnetic stimulation apparatus was running or not.Nine sessions were performed in both groups and the changes in the maximum voluntary contraction,explosive leg force and strength endurance of the local muscle groups of the lower limbs were subsequently observed in both groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Among the eight local muscle groups collected,seven local muscle groups in the test group showed an increase in the maximum voluntary contraction value after 3 weeks of low-frequency pulsed magnetic field stimulation.In the control group,there were only three muscle groups with improvement in the maximum voluntary contraction.The rate of improvement in the anterior and posterior muscle groups of the left leg in the test group was significantly higher than that in the control group.The longitudinal jump height and peak angular velocity of the knee joint in both groups were improved compared with the pre-test measurement,and the elevation rate of jumping height in the test group was higher than that in the control group.Under the fatigue condition,the decline rates of peak angular velocity of the knee joint and jumping height in the test group decreased significantly,while those in the control group did not change significantly.The above data confirmed that the low-frequency pulsed magnetic field stimulation with the intensity of 1.5 mT and frequency of 3 300 Hz could improve the muscle strength of more local muscle groups in the lower limbs of patients with COVID-19 during the recovery period compared with the human self-healing process,and the whole-body coordination ability and functional status based on explosive leg force of the legs could be significantly improved.Therefore,low-frequency pulsed magnetic field stimulation can be used as an effective,non-exercise rehabilitation tool to improve muscle weakness in the lower limbs of patients with COVID-19.

Objective:To investigate the safety and feasibility of the occipital condyle screw and evaluate the safepath parameters for the occipital condyle screw.Methods:Data of 64 patients with upper cervical computed tomographic angiograms from September 2016 to September 2018 were retrospectively collected. Excluded occipito-cervical injury, tumor, and vertebral artery course variation. Mimics software was used to reconstruct the occiput, atlas and vertebral artery. Three candidate entry points were placed for each occipital condyle, the midpoint of posterior of occipital condyle as middle entry point, and the medial and lateral entry points were located 3 mm medial and lateral to the middle entry point. The vertebral artery-occipital bone distance (VOD) of each entry point were measured on sagittal plane, and the minimum feasible value was determined to be 4mm. After that 3.5 mm diameter virtual screw was inserted into each candidate entry point with VOD>4 mm, each screw with maximum and minimum cranial angulation was combined with appropriate medial angulation to get the maximum screw length. Then, the screw placement parameters were measured by 3-Matic, and the safe range of cranial angulation and the success rate of screw placement were calculated.Results:The VOD of medial and middle entry point were 8.07±2.13 mm and 7.70±2.19 mm respectively, and the feasibility rate of screw placement of those entry point were 97.7% and 96.1%, respectively. There were significant differences inVOD and feasibility rate of screw placement between medial and middle entry point. The VOD of lateral entry point was 5.63±1.66 mm, and the feasibility rate was only 78.9%, which was significantly lower than that of medial and middle entry point. The lateral entry point could obtain a larger medial angulation, which was supplemented by a longer screw length. The medial angulation and length of screw gradually decreased with the inward movement of the entry point. There were significant differences in medial angulation and screw length among groups. The safe range of cranial angulation of medial, middle and lateral entry points were 8.17°±2.55°, 12.58°±4.23° and 12.09°±3.83°, respectively, and the difference were statistically significant. Among the screw entry point that could accommodate screw fixation, the maximum screw placement success rate can be obtained by adding 5° cranial angulation to the lateral and middle entry point, which were 98.02% and 98.37%, respectively,while 100% success rate of screw placement could be obtained at the medial entry point at 3° cranial angulation.Conclusion:In the selection of the entry point in the horizontal direction, middle and medial entry points have higher success rate of screw placement and wider safe range of cranial angulation because of less affection of horizontal segment of the vertebral artery. However, the screw length of medial entry point is much shorter than middle and lateral entry point. As a result, the middle entry point may be an optimal entry point for the occipital condyle screw.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids(PAs)are among the most hepatotoxic natural compounds that are widely distributed throughout the world.Most PAs are metabolically activated to trigger toxicity.Exposure to herbal medicine containing PAs and food supplements contaminated by PAs is considered to be one of the two main causes of hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome(HSOS),which is a rare hepatic vascular disease with a high mortality rate.PAs-induced HSOS cases have been reported worldwide.However,there is no clinically effective therapy for PAs-induced HSOS,which is partially because the toxic mechanism is not fully understood.This review focuses on updating the information on the metabolism and the molecular mechanisms of PAs hepatotoxicity,including oxidative stress,apoptosis,and dysfunction of bile acid metabolism,and their interactions.

The clinical, pathological features and diagnostic methods of one case of adult-onset neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) were analyzed. The patient was 61-year-old female presented with progressive cognitive impairment, episodic unconsciousness, stroke-like attack and paroxysmal digestive tract symptoms. Diffusion-weighted images showed high signals at the cerebral cortico-medullary junction with lace-type distribution, which persisted. Skin biopsy revealed intranuclear inclusion bodies in adipocytes, fibroblasts, and sweat gland cells. This case suggests that adult neuronal nuclear inclusion disease is a chronically progressive neurodegenerative disease with a highly clinical heterogeneity. The subcortical lace sign and eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies by skin biopsy contribute to the diagnosis.

Objective To explore the application of UW solution in the replantation of the rat limb,and to explore a simple method for the ideal preservation of the amputated limbs.Methods From September,2017 to Janurary,2018,one hundred and twenty healthy adult male SD rats,weight 320-350 g,were randomly divided into 8 groups:A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H group.The isolated limbs of the control group A,C,E,G were cryopreserved in refrigerator at 4 ℃,while those of the experiment group B,D,F,H were preserved under the same condition after being perfused with UW solution.All the severed limbs were replanted back to the rats after different time length of cry opreservation:A,B 12 hours,C,D 20 hours,E,F 28 hours and G,H 36 hours.During the operations the femoral artery and venous patency were detected immediately after anastomosis.And after the operations the survival rates of limb replantation were observed.On the third day after the limb replantation,the tibial posterior muscle tissue was examined for pathology.The cell areas in pathological photographs were compared with Image analysis software Image-pro Plus 6.0 and the ultra structural changes of skeletal muscle tissue were observed.Results The femoral artery and venous patency in experiment group A,C,E and control group B,D,F were all 100 percent.However,in the group G,H the severed limb vessels changed obviously,the patency dropped markedly and the survival rates of limb replantation turned out to be 0.The experiment groups perfused with UW solutions,had relatively higher survival rates compared with the control groups (12 h:93.33％ vs.53.33％,20 h:80.00％ vs.40.00％,28 h:53.33％ vs.13.33％) and the skeletal muscles edema was lighter than that of the control group,with a larger proportion of cell areas(12 h:69.49±8.57 vs.44.75±6.34,20 h:56.34±7.73 vs.36.69±5.74,28 h:45.76±8.23 vs.31.49±7.72).There was a significantly difference (P＜0.05).Electron microscope observation showed that the experiment group bore a lighter damage of myofibril,interstitial tissue and mitochondria compared with the control group.Conclusion The combination of UW solution and cryopreservation of organs is an ideal and proper way to preserve the amputation limb,to extend the time limit for replantation,and to achieve a better recovery effect of postoperative limb function.Besides,UW solution is easy to be promoted in the treatment of isolated limb in clinical work.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and clinical efficacy of stratified suture of lateral pharyngeal wall(SSLPW) combined with soft palate radiofrequency coblation in the treatment of the patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS).Methods:The clinical data of 21 severe OSAHS patients underwent lateral pharyngoplasty(LP) combined with soft palate radiofrequency coblation (LP group) and 39 severe OSAHS patients underwent SSLPW combined with soft palate radiofrequency coblation (SSLPW group) were selected.The apnea hypopnea index(AHI),lowest SaO2(LSaO2),Epworth sleepiness scale(ESS) scores,and related postoperative complications of the patients in two groups were analyzed before and after operation.The successful rates of operation of the patients in two were compared.Results:In LP group,1 patient was cured (5%),19 patients were improved markedly (90%),1 patient was effective (5%),and no patient was invalid;the successful rate was 95.2%(20/21).In SSLPW group,2 patients were cured (5.1%),33 patients were improved markedly (84.6%),4 patients were effective (10.3%),and no patients was invalid;the successful rate was 89.7%(35/39);there was no statistical difference in the successful rate of operation of the patients between two groups (P>0.05).There was statistically significant improvement of the subjective symptoms.All the patients returned to normal subjective swallowing functions without nasal pharyngeal reflux and dysphagia in one month follow-up after operation.Compared with before operation,the AHI and ESS scores of the patients in two groups after operation were decreased(P<0.05);the LSaO2 scores were increased(P<0.05).Conclusion:The AHI,LSaO2 and ESS scores are significantly improved in the OSAHS patients after treated with SSLPW combined with soft palate radiofrequency coblation.The method is a valid option for the severe OSAHS patients.

[ABSTRACT]OBJECTIVETo estimate different dimensions of maxillary sinus measured on cone-beam computerized tomography (cone-beam CT), and determine the differences in side and gender.METHODScone-beam CT image data from 200 normal adults was selected and analyzed by Invivo Dental software. The craniocaudal diameter, anteroposterior diameter, width and volume of maxillary sinus were measured as well as the thickness of the orbital floor. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 11.5.RESULTSThere were no statistically significant differences in the craniocaudal diameter, anteroposterior diameter, width and volume of maxillary sinus between sides (P>0.05, respectively). Significant differences were noted in the craniocaudal diameter and volume of bilateral maxillary sinus and the width of right maxillary sinus based on gender (P<0.05, respectively). There were no significant differences in the width of left maxillary sinus, the anteroposterior diameter of bilateral maxillary sinus and the osseous thickness of the orbital floor (P>0.05, respectively).CONCLUSIONOur findings indicate that cone-beam CT can be used to measure different dimensions of maxillary sinus and provide imaging anatomical data for clinical treatment.