Medical visual question answering (MVQA) plays a crucial role in the fields of computer-aided diagnosis and telemedicine. Due to the limited size and uneven annotation quality of the MVQA datasets, most existing methods rely on additional datasets for pre-training and use discriminant formulas to predict answers from a predefined set of labels. This approach makes the model prone to overfitting in low resource domains. To cope with the above problems, we propose an image-aware generative MVQA method based on image caption prompts. Firstly, we combine a dual visual feature extractor with a progressive bilinear attention interaction module to extract multi-level image features. Secondly, we propose an image caption prompt method to guide the model to better understand the image information. Finally, the image-aware generative model is used to generate answers. Experimental results show that our proposed method outperforms existing models on the MVQA task, realizing efficient visual feature extraction, as well as flexible and accurate answer outputs with small computational costs in low-resource domains. It is of great significance for achieving personalized precision medicine, reducing medical burden, and improving medical diagnosis efficiency.
Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Algorithms ; Telemedicine

Objective To investigate the acute toxicity,irritation,and other effects of Shexiang Anhe hemorrhoid ointment on hemorrhoid-phased model rats by examining the TLR4/p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway.Methods Sixteen New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into an intact skin Shexiang Anhe hemorrhoid ointment group,intact skin control group,broken skin Shexiang Anhe hemorrhoid ointment group,and broken skin control group,with four rabbits in each group.In the experimental group,20 g of Shexiang Anhe hemorrhoid ointment(1 g/mL)was evenly applied to an area on the rabbits depleted of hair,and an equal volume of solvent(mixture of glycerol,lanolin,and water)was evenly applied to the area on the backs of the rabbits in the control group once a day for 14 days.Another 40 rats were taken and randomly divided into a normal group,model group,Maillard group,and hemorrhoid cream group,with 10 animals in each group.The cream was applied once a day for 14 days.The acute toxicity of the cream in the intact and broken skin of rabbits was observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and other method after treatment.In situ photographs were taken of the perianal tissues of rats with hemorrhoids to observe the efficacy of Shexiang Anhe hemorrhoid ointment,and the length and width of the ulcers were measured with vernier calipers to calculate the area.Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of TLR4,p38 MAPK,and NF-κB mRNA in the perianal tissues of the rats.Results Compared with rabbits in the control groups with intact or broken skin,rabbits in the administered group showed no significant difference in body mass.The mean values for the irritation evaluation points for Shexiang Anhe hemorrhoid ointment on rabbits with broken skin for 1 h,24 h,48 h,and 72 h were 1.5,1,0.5,and 0.25,respectively,showing there was no obvious skin irritation.In the hemorrhoidal rats,Shexiang Anhe hemorrhoid ointment treatment significantly reduced hemorrhoid symptoms after 14 days administration;the ulcer area was significantly smaller(P＜0.05)and TLR4,p38 MAPK,and NF-κB mRNA levels were significantly lower compared with the findings in the model group(P＜0.05).Conclusions Shexiang Anhe hemorrhoid ointment is a safe topical treatment with minimal acute toxicity and irritation to the skin and achieved good efficacy in the treatment of hemorrhoidal rats.Its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibition of the TLR4/p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Fu's subcutaneous needling in the treatment of non-acute idiopathic facial paralysis and its effect on serum levels of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET). METHODS: A total of 76 patients with non-acute idiopathic facial paralysis were randomly divided into an observation group (38 cases, 2 cases dropped out) and a control group (38 cases, 2 cases dropped out). The patients in the control group received basic treatment (mecobalamin tablets orally, specific electromagnetic spectrum irradiation, facial muscle rehabilitation training). The patients in the observation group were treated with Fu's subcutaneous needling on the basis of the control group. The needling points included brachioradialis muscle, sternocleidomastoid muscle, trapezius muscle, etc., and the needling was inserted around the affected muscle, and the reperfusion activity was carried out at the same time, once every other day, 3 times a week. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. The House-Brackmann (H-B) grade and H-B symptom score were observed before treatment, after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment in the two groups. The facial disability index (FDI) score [including physical function (FDIP) score and social life function (FDIS) score] and the serum levels of NO and ET were compared before and after 4 weeks of treatment in the two groups. The clinical effect and safety of the two groups were assessed. RESULTS: After 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, the H-B grade of the two groups was lower than that before treatment, and the H-B symptom scores were higher than those before treatment (P<0.001, P<0.05); the H-B grade of the observation group was lower than that of the control group, and the H-B symptom score was higher than that of the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, the FDIP scores of the two groups were higher than those before treatment, and the FDIS scores were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05 ); the FDIP score of the observation group was higher than that of the control group, and the FDIS score was lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, the serum level of NO in the observation group was higher than that before treatment, and the serum level of ET was lower than that before treatment (P<0.05); the increase of serum level of NO and the decrease of serum level of ET in the observation group were greater than those in the control group (P<0.05). The cure rate of the observation group was 55.6% (20/36), which was higher than 22.2% (8/36) of the control group (P<0.05). There were no serious adverse reactions in both groups. CONCLUSION Fu's subcutaneous needling combined with basic treatment can effectively improve the motor function of facial muscles in patients with non-acute idiopathic facial paralysis, which may be related to the regulation of serum NO and ET levels.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Facial Paralysis/physiopathology* ; Young Adult ; Nitric Oxide/blood* ; Treatment Outcome ; Acupuncture Points ; Endothelins/blood* ; Adolescent

OBJECTIVE：To study the improve ment effect of salvianolate on renal interstitial fibrosis （RIF）model rats and its possible mechanism. METHODS ：Totally 50 male SD rats were randomly divided into normal group ，model group ，losartan group （positive control group ，9 mg/kg）and salvianolate low-dose and high-dose groups （18，36 mg/kg）according to body weight ，with 10 rats in each group. Except for normal group ，other groups were given adenine 250 mg/kg intragastrically to establish RIF model. After modeling ，administration groups were given relevant medicine intragastrically ，and normal group and model group were given constant volume of normal saline intragastrically ，the volume was 10 mL/kg，once a day ，for consecutive 30 days. After last medication，the serum levels of creatinine （Scr），urea nitrogen （BUN）and 24 h proteinuria （24 h UPro ）were detected by ELISA. HE staining and Masson staining were used to observe the histopathological characteristics and fibrosis of the kidney. The degree of renal tubular injury and glomerulosclerosis were scored ，and the percentage of positive staining area of renal tissue was calculated ； immunohistochemistry and Western blot assay were used to determine the protein expression of Wnt 5a，Wnt5b，and β-catenin. RESULTS：Compared with normal group ，Scr，BUN and 24 h UPro levels ，renal tubular injury score ， glomerulosclerosis score ， the percentage of positive staining area in renal tissue ，the protein expression of Wnt 5a and β-catenin were increased significantly in model group （P＜0.05），while the expression of Wnt 5b protein was decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. Pathological changes such as mesangial hyperplasia ，fibrous tissue increase and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed under microscope. Compared with model group ，above indexes of rats were improved significantly in losartan group ，salvianolate low-dose and high-dose groups （P＜ 0.05），and the effect of salvianolate had dose-dependent trend. CONCLUSIONS ：Salvianolate has the improvement effect on RIF model rats induced by adenine ，and its mechanism may be related to inhibition of Wnt/ β-catenin signal pathway.

Objective:To observe the effects of berberine on procoagulant and fibrinolytic inhibitory factors produced by rat type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cell (AECⅡ) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).Methods:AECⅡ cells (RLE-6TN cells) were cultured in vitro, and the cells in logarithmic growth phase were collected. The cytotoxicity text of berberine was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) to determine the drug concentration range according to inhibition concentration of half cells (IC 50). The RLE-6TN cells were divided into five groups, the cells in blank control group were cultured in DMEM; the cells in LPS group were stimulated with 5 mg/L LPS; and the cells in berberine pretreatment groups were pretreated with 20, 50 and 80 μmol/L berberine for 1 hour, and then were co-cultured with 5 mg/L LPS. The cells were collected after LPS induced for 24 hours. The protein and mRNA expression levels of tissue factor (TF), tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in the cells were detected by Western blotting and real-time fluorescence quantification reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The levels of activated protein C (APC), precollagen Ⅲ peptide (PⅢP), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) and antithrombin Ⅲ (ATⅢ) in the cell supernatant were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results:According to the inhibition rate curve, the IC 50 of berberine on RLE-6TN cells was 81.16 μmol/L. Therefore, 20, 50 and 80 μmol/L were selected as the intervention concentration of berberine. Compared with the blank control group, the expression and secretion of procoagulant and fibrinolytic inhibitory factors were abnormal in RLE-6TN cells after LPS induced for 24 hours. The protein and mRNA expression levels of TF and PAI-1 in the LPS group were significantly increased, but the protein and mRNA expression levels of TFPI were significantly decreased. Meanwhile, the levels of APC and ATⅢ in the cell supernatant were significantly decreased, while the levels of PⅢP and TAT were significantly increased. After pretreatment with berberine, the abnormal expression and secretion of procoagulant and fibrinolytic inhibitory factors induced by LPS were corrected in a dose-dependent manner, especially in 80 μmol/L. Compared with the LPS group, the protein and mRNA expression levels of TF and PAI-1 in the berberine 80 μmol/L group were significantly decreased [TF protein (TF/GAPDH): 0.45±0.02 vs. 0.55±0.03, TF mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 0.39±0.08 vs. 1.48±0.11, PAI-1 protein (PAI-1/GAPDH): 0.37±0.02 vs. 0.64±0.04, PAI-1 mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 1.14±0.29 vs. 4.18±0.44, all P < 0.01] and those of TFPI were significantly increased [TFPI protein (TFPI/GAPDH): 0.53±0.02 vs. 0.45±0.02, TFPI mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 0.94±0.08 vs. 0.40±0.05, both P < 0.01]. Meanwhile, the levels of APC and ATⅢ in the cell supernatant were significantly increased [APC (μg/L): 1 358.5±26.0 vs. 994.2±23.1, ATⅢ (μg/L): 118.0±7.4 vs. 84.4±2.7, both P < 0.01], while those of PⅢP and TAT were significantly decreased [PⅢP (μg/L): 11.2±0.4 vs. 18.6±0.9, TAT (ng/L): 222.1±2.8 vs. 287.6±7.0, both P < 0.01]. Conclusions:Berberine could inhibit the LPS-induced expressions of procoagulant and fibrinolytic inhibitory factors in rat AECⅡ cells and promote the expressions of anticoagulant factors in a dose-dependent manner. Berberine may be a new therapeutic target for alveolar hypercoagulability and fibrinolysis inhibition in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Objective:To determine the effect of andrographolide (AD) on the expression of procoagulant and fibrinolytic inhibitory factors in rat type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cells (AECⅡ) stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).Methods:The AECⅡ cells RLE-6TN in the logarithmic growth phase were divided into 5 groups: the normal control (NC) group, the LPS group, and the 6.25, 12.5, and 25 mg/L AD groups (AD 6.25 group, AD 12.5 group, AD 25 group). The NC group was cultured with RPMI 1640 conventional medium. In the LPS group, 5 mg/L LPS was added to the RPMI 1640 conventional medium for stimulation. Cells in the AD groups were treated with 6.25, 12.5, and 25 mg/L AD in advance for 1 hour and then given LPS to stimulate the culture. The cells and cell culture supernatant were collected 24 hours after LPS stimulation. The protein and mRNA expressions of tissue factor (TF), tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), and plasminogen activator inhibition-1 (PAI-1) in cells were detected by Western blotting and real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The levels of procollagen Ⅲ peptide (PⅢP), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), antithrombin Ⅲ (AT-Ⅲ) and activated protein C (APC) in the cell supernatant were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results:Compared with the NC group, the protein and mRNA expressions of TF and PAI-1 in the LPS group were significantly increased, and the protein and mRNA expressions of TFPI were significantly reduced. At the same time, the levels of PⅢP and TAT in the cell supernatant were significantly increased, the levels of AT-Ⅲ, APC were significantly reduced. Compared with the LPS group, the protein and mRNA expressions of TF and PAI-1 in AD 6.25 group, AD 12.5 group, AD 25 group were significantly reduced [TF/GAPDH: 0.86±0.08, 0.45±0.04, 0.44±0.04 vs. 1.32±0.10, TF mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 2.59±0.25, 2.27±0.05, 1.95±0.04 vs. 4.60±0.26, PAI-1/GAPDH: 2.11±0.07, 1.45±0.04, 0.86±0.09 vs. 2.56±0.09, PAI-1 mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 3.50±0.22, 2.23±0.29, 1.84±0.09 vs. 6.60±0.27, all P < 0.05], while the protein and mRNA expressions of TFPI were significantly increased [TFPI/GAPDH: 0.78±0.05, 0.81±0.03, 0.84±0.07 vs. 0.36±0.02, TFPI mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 0.46±0.09, 0.69±0.07, 0.91±0.08 vs. 0.44±0.06, all P < 0.05]. Also the levels of PⅢP and TAT in the cell supernatant were significantly reduced, and the levels of AT-Ⅲ and APC were significantly increased [PⅢP (μg/L): 13.59±0.23, 12.66±0.23, 10.59±0.30 vs. 15.82±0.29, TAT (ng/L): 211.57±6.41, 205.69±4.04, 200.56±9.85 vs. 288.67±9.84, AT-Ⅲ (μg/L): 102.95±3.86, 123.92±2.63, 128.67±1.67 vs. 92.93±3.36, APC (μg/L): 1 188.95±14.99, 1 366.12±39.93, 1 451.15±29.69 vs. 1 145.55±21.07, all P < 0.05]. With the increase of the dose of AD, the above-mentioned promotion and inhibition effects became more obvious. In the AD 25 group, TF, PAI-1 protein and mRNA expressions decreased, TFPI mRNA expression increased, PⅢP level in the supernatant decreased and AT-Ⅲ, APC levels increased compared with AD 6.25 group, the difference was statistically significant, and the decrease of PAI-1 protein expression and PⅢP level in the supernatant were also statistically significant compared with AD 12.5 group. Conclusions:Andrographolide in the dose range of 6.25-25 mg/L can dose-dependently inhibit the expression and secretion of procoagulant and fibrinolytic inhibitor-related factors in AECⅡ cells RLE-6TN stimulated by LPS, and promote the secretion of anticoagulant factors. 25 mg/L has the most obvious effect.

Objective:To explore the effect of small dose of low molecular weight heparin on the prognosis of elderly patients with severe pneumonia using systematic evaluation method.Methods:Databases including Wanfang data, VIP, CNKI, SinoMed, PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies about the comparison of conventional therapy and low molecular weight heparin on prognosis of elderly patients with severe pneumonia from the time of database establishment to August 2019. The patients in conventional treatment group were treated by improving ventilation, anti-infection, eliminating phlegm, relieving asthma and maintaining homeostasis while those in low molecular weight heparin group were subcutaneously injected with low molecular weight heparin of 4 000 U, once a day for 7 days. The patients' main outcomes included the oxygenation index (PaO 2/FiO 2) after 7 days of treatment, duration of mechanical ventilation, mortality in hospital, and secondary outcomes included acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHEⅡ) score and coagulation function after 7 days of treatment, the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and incidence of bleeding. Data extraction and quality evaluation were conducted. The Meta-analysis of included studies that met the quality standards was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. Funnel diagram analysis was used to analyze the parameters with no less than 10 studies enrolled. Results:A total of 14 RCT studies were enrolled involving 1 173 elderly patients with severe pneumonia, among whom 590 received low molecular weight heparin while the other 583 received conventional therapy. All the included studies were well designed and of high quality. The results of Meta-analysis showed that compared with conventional therapy, small dose of low molecular weight heparin significantly elevated PaO 2/FiO 2 after 7 days of treatment [mean difference ( MD) = 19.25, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 16.88 to 21.61, P < 0.000 01], shortened the duration of mechanical ventilation ( MD = -48.88, 95% CI was -67.42 to -30.33, P < 0.000 01), and decreased mortality in hospital [odds ratio ( OR) = 0.40, 95% CI was 0.22 to 0.73, P = 0.003] and APACHEⅡ score after 7 days of treatment ( MD = -3.38, 95% CI was -3.94 to -2.83, P < 0.000 01), and shortened the length of ICU stay ( MD = -4.51, 95% CI was -5.75 to -3.27, P < 0.000 01). There was no significant difference in the changes of coagulation parameters after 7 days of treatment or the incidence of bleeding between low molecular weight heparin group and conventional therapy group [7-day thrombin time (TT): MD = 0.57, 95% CI was -0.15 to 1.28, P = 0.12; 7-day prothrombin time (PT): MD = 0.32, 95% CI was -0.35 to 0.98, P = 0.35; 7-day fibrinogen (FIB): MD = -0.17, 95% CI was -0.45 to 0.10, P = 0.22; incidence of bleeding: OR = 0.86, 95% CI was 0.36 to 2.07, P = 0.74]. The funnel diagram showed that there was publication bias of included 10 studies about APACHEⅡ score after 7 days of treatment. Conclusion:Small dose of low molecular weight heparin can improve the prognosis of elderly patients with severe pneumonia and it has no obvious side-effect on coagulation function.

Fusarium ear rot (FER) caused by Fusarium verticillioides is one of the most common dis-eases affecting maize production worldwide. FER results in severe yield losses and grain contami-nation with health-threatening mycotoxins. Although most studies to date have focused on comprehensive analysis of gene regulation in maize during defense responses against F. verticil-lioides infection, less is known about the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in this process. We used deep sequencing to compare small RNA libraries from the maize kernels of susceptible (N6) or resistant (BT-1) inbred lines from uninfected plants and upon F. verticillioides infection. We found that pathogen exposure was accompanied by dynamic alterations in expression levels of multiple miRNAs, including new members of previously annotated miRNA families. A combination of tran-scriptomic, degradomic, and bioinformatics analyses revealed that F. verticillioides-responsive miRNAs and their potential target genes displayed opposite expression patterns in the susceptible and resistant genotypes. Functional category analysis uncovered preferential enrichment of the pathogen-responsive miRNAs and their targets in the phenylpropanoid metabolic processes, plant-pathogen interactions, and plant phytohormone signal transduction pathways. Furthermore, transgenic maize plants overexpressing miR408b exhibited reduced resistance to F. verticillioides infection in a susceptible maize line. These findings provide new insights into the regulatory roles of miRNAs in maize immunity against FER and new resources for breeding disease resistance into maize.

Objective To investigate cancer patients′nutritional status after operative treatment and analysis of risk factors for malnutrition, which provides the basis for maintaining patients′ nutrition support after discharge. Methods One hundred and thirty patients treated with tumor in Liuan Hospital affiliated to Anhui Medical University were investigated. The nutritional status of patients discharged from hospital was evaluated by subjective comprehensive assessment, and the risk factors of malnutrition when they were discharged from hospital were analyzed. Results In 130 patients, 76 patients (58.46%) were assessed as no or mild malnutrition, and 54 patients (41.54%) as moderate or severe malnutrition. Univariate analysis showed that body mass index < 18.5 kg/m2 at admission, nutritional risk screening 2002(NRS2002) ≥ 3 scores, smoking and drinking were related to the occurrence of malnutrition after tumor surgery (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that NRS2002≥3 scores at admission and smoking were independent risk factors for malnutrition at discharge (P < 0.05). Conclusions The incidence of malnutrition in patients after tumor surgery is high, and there are many risk factors. Therefore, early nutrition support should be provided to patients, and family nutrition intervention after discharge is also very necessary.

Objective To explore the impacts of clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) on duration and defined daily doses (DDDs) of antibiotics in patients with bacterial severe pneumonia in intensive care unit (ICU). Methods Patients with severe pneumonia, whose antibiotic usage was prescribed with the guide of CPIS, and admitted to ICU severe respiratory and infectious disease ward of Guizhou Medical University Affiliated Hospital from May 2017 to October 2017 were enrolled as CPIS group. Patients with the first CPIS score > 5 were given antimicrobial therapy, and the score was dynamically evaluated every 2-3 days. If the CPIS score < 5, the score was evaluated again after 2 days. If the score was still < 5, the antimicrobial drugs were discontinued. Patients admitted to the same ward from November 2016 to April 2017 were regarded as controls, of whom the antibiotic usage was completely conducted by the clinical experience of the chief physician. The duration and DDDs of antibiotics were compared between patients in two groups. At the same time, the usage of ventilator and prognostic indicators (the length of ICU stay, ICU mortality) were recorded. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was drawn, and the cumulative survival rates of 28 days, 90 days and 12 months were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Results In our department, 177 and 182 patients were admitted to ICU from November 2016 to April 2017 and from May 2017 to October 2017, respectively, of whom 101 and 65 patients with severe pneumonia were collected respectively during the two stages. There was no significant difference in gender composition, age, underlying diseases, vital signs, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHEⅡ) score, or peripheral blood routine at admission between the two groups, indicating that the baseline data of the two groups were equally comparable. During the treatment process, there was no significant difference in the duration of mechanical ventilation [hours: 126.0 (69.0, 228.8) vs. 120.0 (72.0, 192.0)], the length of ICU stay [days: 7.0 (5.0, 11.0) vs. 8.0 (5.0, 14.0)], or ICU mortality [18.8% (19/101) vs. 26.2% (17/65)] between the control group and CPIS group (all P >0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the cumulative survival rate of 28 days (log-rank test: χ2 = 0.540, P = 0.462), 90 days (log-rank test: χ2 = 0.332, P = 0.564) or 12 months (log-rank test: χ2 = 0.833, P = 0.362). Patients from CPIS guided group, however, had a shorter duration of antibiotics usage (days: 7.54±4.81 vs. 9.88±4.96, P < 0.01), and had a lower DDDs of antibiotics (17.58±13.09 vs. 22.73±18.31, P < 0.05) as compared with those in the control group. Conclusion CPIS-guided therapeutic regimen shortens antibiotic duration and decreases antibiotic DDDs in patients with severe pneumonia in ICU, indicating the values of CPIS in guiding antibiotics usage in these patients.