Objective:To investigate the effects and mechanisms of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and Captopril (CAP) on mechanical ventilation-induced lung injury (VILI) in mice.Methods:Seventy-two healthy male BALB/c mice were randomly assigned (using a random number table) into six groups ( n=12 per group): normal control (NC) group, VILI group, ACE2 group, VILI+ACE2 group, CAP group, and VILI+CAP group. One hour prior to mechanical ventilation, the ACE2 and VILI+ACE2 groups were intraperitoneally injected with ACE2 at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg, while the CAP and VILI+CAP groups were intraperitoneally injected with CAP at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg. Following mechanical ventilation, serum samples were collected and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect inflammatory factors [platelet activating factor (PAF), endothelin-1 (ET-1), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)] and cardiovascular system related indicators [von Willebrand factor (vWF), thrombomodulin (TM), angiotensin (Ang) (1-9), Ang (1-7), prostacyclin I 2 (PGI2)]. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was gathered, and total protein concentration was determined using BCA method, and sICAM-1 levels were measured by ELISA. Lung tissues were collected and subjected to hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE staining) for the assessment of pathological lung injury and lung injury scoring. Western blot and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were utilized to detect the relative expression levels of ACE2 protein and mRNA, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS 20.0 software. Intergroup comparisons were conducted using one-way analysis of variance followed by the least significant difference (LSD) test. Results:No statistically significant differences were observed in the levels of PAF, ET-1, sICAM-1, vWF, TM, Ang(1-9), Ang(1-7), and PGI2 in serum and lung tissues between the ACE2/CAP groups and the NC group (all P>0.05). Compared with the VILI group, the VILI+ACE2 and VILI+CAP groups exhibited significantly decreased serum and lung tissue levels of PAF, ET-1, sICAM-1, and vWF (all P<0.05), while the levels of TM, Ang(1-9), Ang(1-7), and PGI2 were significantly increased (all P<0.05). Pathological lung injury was alleviated, and the lung wet/dry weight ratio was significantly reduced (all P<0.05) in the VILI+ACE2 and VILI+CAP groups. Furthermore, both ACE2 protein and mRNA expression levels were significantly increased in these groups (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Both ACE2 and CAP can inhibit inflammation and protect the cardiovascular system, possibly by promoting the ACE2/Ang(1-9)/Ang(1-7) axis, thereby exerting a protective effect against VILI.

Objective:To explore Lijin Zhenggu Therapy combined with heat supplementing needles on cartilage damage, immune balance, and liver X receptor NF-κB in knee osteoarthritis of New Zealand white rabbits.Methods:Totally　60 New Zealand white rabbits were divided into normal group, model group, Lijin Zhenggu Therapy group, heat supplementing needles group, and a combination group using random number table method, with 12 rabbits in each group. Except for the normal group, all other groups were established with knee osteoarthritis models. The Lijin Zhenggu Therapy group was treated with Lijin Zhenggu Therapy, the heat supplementing needles group was treated with heat supplementing needles, the combination group was treated with Lijin Zhenggu Therapy combined with heat supplementing needles. The pain threshold of each group of white rabbits was observed using a pain meter; HE staining was used to observe the morphology of cartilage damage in each group of white rabbits; ELISA was used to detect PGE 2, IL-1β and β-EP in the articular cartilage tissue of white rabbits in each group; PCR was used to detect the levels of LXRα and NF-κB mRNA. Western blot was used to detect toll like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor (MyD88), interferon regulatory factor-7 (IRF-7) in synovial tissue of rabbits in each group. Results:Compared with model group, the pain threshold of rabbits in heat supplementing needles group, Lijin Zhenggu Therapy group and combination group increased ( P<0.05); the levels of PGE 2 and IL-1β decreased ( P<0.05), while the level of β-EP increased ( P<0.05). LXRα mRNA level increased ( P<0.05), and NF-κB mRNA level decreased ( P<0.05); the expressions of TLR4, MyD88, IRF-7 and NF-κB P65 in synovial tissue decreased ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Lijin Zhenggu Therapy combined with heat supplementing needles can reduce the levels of PGE 2 and IL-1β, increase β-EP level, improve pain and cartilage tissue morphology. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of liver X receptor nuclear factor NF-κB pathway, reduction of inflammatory reactions and immunity maintaining.

Objective:To explore the mechanism of acupuncture combined with sand therapy on bone biomechanics and immune function in rabbits with knee osteoarthritis based on G protein coupled signal.Methods:Totally 35 rabbits were randomly divided into normal group, model group, sand therapy group, acupuncture and moxibustion group and combined group, with 7 rabbits in each group. Except for the normal group, all other groups were prepared with knee osteoarthritis models. After 12 h modeling, rabbits in the sand therapy group and the combined group were treated with sand therapy. Rabbits in the acupuncture and moxibustion group and the combined group received acupuncture stimulation intervention therapy. Rabbits in normal group and model group only moved freely. The levels of IgG, IgM and IgA in serum and IL-1β and TNF-α were detected by ELISA method. The biomechanical properties of femur were measured by American Instron universal material experimental machine. The pathological changes of rabbits in each group were observed by HE staining. Protein expression levels of Gαs, cAMP and Gi in rabbit cartilage tissues were detected by Western blot.Results:Compared with model group, the levels of IgG, IgM and IgA increased ( P<0.05)l the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α decreased ( P<0.05); the maximum load, breaking load, structural stiffness and capacity absorption of rabbits in sand therapy group, acupuncture group and combined group increased ( P<0.05); the expressions of Gαs and cAMP protein increased ( P<0.05), while the expression of Gi protein decreased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Acupuncture combined with sand therapy in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis can effectively improve the bone strength of osteoarthritis, reduce the inflammatory response, balance the expression of G protein and improve the imbalance of immunoglobulin.

Objective:To investigate the effects of external application of Compound Dahuang Powder combined with acupuncture on the synovial ultrastructure, pathological angiogenesis, and Ras/Raf signaling pathway in rheumatoid arthritis rats.Methods:Totally 100 SPF grade SD rats were selected and divided into normal group, model group, acupuncture group, external application group, and combination group according to random number table method, with 20 rats in each group. Except for the normal group, Freund's complete adjuvant was injected into the bilateral plantars to establish a rheumatoid arthritis model. One week after modeling, the acupuncture group received acupuncture at "Yinlingquan (SP9)" and "Sanyinjiao (SP6)" for 30 minutes, with continuous intervention for 6 days and 7 days as one course of treatment, for a total of 3 courses of intervention. The external application group of rats applied compound Dahuang Powder on the right hind foot and ankle joint, 10 g/time, twice a day, for 7 days as one course of treatment, with a total of 3 intervention courses; the combination group received a combined intervention of acupuncture and external application of compound Dahuang Powder. No intervention was performed in the normal group and model group. The levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in serum of rats in each group were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructure of synovial cells. HE staining was used to observe the morphology of synovial tissue. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor VEGFR2 in synovial tissue. Western blot and RT qPCR were used to detect Ras/Raf protein and mRNA in synovial tissue, respectively.Results:Compared with model group, the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in serum of rats in acupuncture group and external application group decreased ( P<0.05), the expressions of VEGF and VEGFR2 decreased ( P<0.05), and the expressions of Ras and Raf protein and mRNA in acupuncture group and external application group decreased ( P<0.05). Compared with acupuncture group and external application group, the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in serum of rats in the combination group decreased ( P<0.05), the expressions of VEGF and VEGFR2 decreased ( P<0.05), and the expressions of Ras and Raf protein and mRNA in the combination group decreased ( P<0.05). The results of synovial cell ultrastructure showed that the nuclear membrane of synovial cells in normal group was good, and the nuclear membrane in model group was seriously damaged. The acupuncture group and external application group had different degrees of improvement, and the combination group had the most significant improvement. HE staining results showed that the joint synovial tissue of the normal group was normal, the joint synovial tissue of the model group had a large amount of inflammatory infiltration, the joint synovial injury of the acupuncture group and the external application group was slightly improved, and the pathological injury of the combined group was significantly reduced. Conclusion:The combination of external application of compound Dahuang Powder and acupuncture can regulate angiogenesis related factors, regulate the Ras/Raf signaling pathway, and improve the ultrastructure of synovial cells in rheumatoid arthritis model rats.

As essential part of teachers' teaching practice, the design and arrangement of assignments is the main carrier of interaction between teachers and students, and is also an important learning way for students. According to the discipline characteristics and teaching modes of histology and embryology courses, we have developed a systematic assignment design model that covers theory, practice, and application with four types of assignments—pre-class assignments, exploratory assignments, practical assignments, and innovative assignments distributed before class, in class, after class, and throughout the teaching process. Behind this assignment design strategy is the concept of learner-centered teaching, which aims to help students learn professional knowledge and develop comprehensive literacy.

Objective To investigate the analgesic effect of different administration times of compound lidocaine cream for lumbar paracentesis in the infants＜3 months oldMethods A total of 120 infants with lumbar puncture in the pediatric department of this hospital from January 2021 to June 2023 were selected as the study subjects and divided into the control group and observation 1,2,3 groups according to the random number table method,30 cases in each group.The control group had no medication intervention in the punc-ture local part before lumbar paracentesis,while the observation 1,2,3 groups were smeared the compound li-docaine cream 0.5 g,5 cm2 with the puncture point as the center at 10,30,60 min before lumbar puncture.The change situation of the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale(NIPS)score,heart rate(HR)and transcutaneous blood oxygen saturation(SpO2)at 1 min before puncture,1 min of puncture beginning and 3 min after puncture and the puncture success rate were compared among 4 groups.Results Compared with at 1 min before puncture,the NIPS score at 1 min of puncture beginning and at 3 min after puncture in 4 group was higher,the NIPS score at 1 min of puncture beginning and at 3 min after puncture in the observation 1,2,3 groups was lower than that in the control group,moreover the observation 2,3 groups were lower the observation 1 group(P＜0.05).Compared with at 1 min before puncture,except the heart rate at 3 min after puncture in the observa-tion 3 group was slower,the heart rate at other time points in the 4 groups was faster(P＜0.05);HR at 1 min of puncture beginning and at 3 min after puncture in the observation 1,2,3 groups was slower than that in the control group,moreover the observation 2,3 groups was lower than the observation 1 group(P＜0.05),SpO2 had no statistical difference among 4 groups(P＞0.05).The puncture success rate in the observation 1,2,3 groups was higher than that in the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Smearing compound lidocaine cream before lumbar puncture in the infants＜3 months old has a good analgesic effect and could increase the success rate of puncture.

Objective To investigate the effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on the regulation of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) in the peripheral blood of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were extracted from normal healthy individuals and AR patients, then stimulated with CGRP, interleukin 33 (IL-33) and CGRP combined with IL-33 for 3 days, with blank stimulus as control. The percentage of ILC2 in the four groups was measured by flow cytometry. After being sorted, ILC2 was given to CGRP, IL-33 and CGRP combined with IL-33 stimulation for 3 days, with blank stimulus as control. The percentage of IL-5 and IL-13 positive cells in ILC2 was detected by flow cytometry, and the levels of IL-5 and IL-13 in ILC2 supernatant were measured by ELISA. Results The percentage of ILC2 in the peripheral blood of AR patients was significantly higher than that of the control group. The levels of IL-5⁺ILC2 and IL-13⁺ILC2 were significantly increased by IL-33 single stimulation after culturing PBMCs. After adding IL-33 combined with CGRP stimulation, the levels of IL-5⁺ILC2 and IL-13⁺ILC2 in PBMCs were significantly reduced; after CGRP single stimulation, the levels of IL-5⁺ILC2 and IL-13⁺ILC2 in PBMCs were further decreased. After ILC2 was sorted and cultured, the levels of IL-5⁺ILC2 and IL-13⁺ILC2 showed significant increase after IL-33 single stimulation. The levels of IL-5⁺ILC2 and IL-13⁺ILC2 were decreased by IL-33 and CGRP co-stimulation, and they were further reduced after CGRP single stimulation. Compared to IL-33 single stimulation, IL-5 and IL-13 levels dropped significantly due to the IL-33 and CGRP co-stimulation. The levels of IL-5 and IL-13 were further reduced by CGRP single stimulation. Conclusion CGRP inhibits the proliferation and activation of peripheral blood ILC2 in AR and exert anti-inflammatory effects in AR.
Humans ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide/pharmacology* ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Immunity, Innate ; Interleukin-33/pharmacology* ; Interleukin-13 ; Lymphocytes ; Interleukin-5/pharmacology* ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Cell Proliferation

OBJECTIVES: Shelter hospital was an alternative way to provide large-scale medical isolation and treatment for people with mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Due to various reasons, patients admitted to the large shelter hospital was reported high level of psychological distress, so did the healthcare workers. This study aims to introduce a comprehensive and multifaceted psychosocial crisis intervention model. METHODS: The psychosocial crisis intervention model was provided to 200 patients and 240 healthcare workers in Wuhan Wuchang shelter hospital. Patient volunteers and organized peer support, client-centered culturally sensitive supportive care, timely delivery of scientific information about COVID-19 and its complications, mental health knowledge acquisition of non-psychiatric healthcare workers, group activities, counseling and education, virtualization of psychological intervention, consultation and liaison were exhibited respectively in the model. Pre-service survey was done in 38 patients and 49 healthcare workers using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire 2-item (PHQ-2) scale, and the Primary Care PTSD screen for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (PC-PTSD-5). Forty-eight healthcare workers gave feedback after the intervention. RESULTS: The psychosocial crisis intervention model was successfully implemented by 10 mental health professionals and was well-accepted by both patients and healthcare workers in the shelter hospital. In pre-service survey, 15.8% of 38 patients were with anxiety, 55.3% were with stress, and 15.8% were with depression; 16.3% of 49 healthcare workers were with anxiety, 26.5% were with stress, and 22.4% were with depression. In post-service survey, 62.5% of 48 healthcare workers thought it was very practical, 37.5% thought more practical; 37.5% of them thought it was very helpful to relief anxiety and insomnia, and 27.1% thought much helpful; 37.5% of them thought it was very helpful to recognize patients with anxiety and insomnia, and 29.2% thought much helpful; 35.4% of them thought it was very helpful to deal with patients' anxiety and insomnia, and 37.5% thought much helpful. CONCLUSIONS Psychological crisis intervention is feasible, acceptable, and associated with positive outcomes. Future tastings of this model in larger population and different settings are warranted.
Humans ; COVID-19 ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Crisis Intervention ; Psychosocial Intervention ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Mental Health ; Depression/epidemiology* ; Health Personnel/psychology* ; Anxiety/etiology*

Objective:To disclose the molecular genetic differences of Culex flavivirus among mosquitoes in Gansu province in 2011 and 2019.Methods:Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to obtain the nucleotide sequences of Culex flavivirus genomes from mosquitoes in Gansu province in 2011 and 2019, and viral molecular biology and bioinformatics method were used to analyze the genetic differences of the viruses.Results:Nucleotide sequences of 10 strains of Culex flavivirus were obtained, including 8 strains (all from Culex pipiens pallens) obtained in 2011 and 2 strains ( from Culex tritaeniorhynchus and Anopheles sinensis) in 2019. Homology analysis of nucleotide and amino acid sequences of virus E gene showed that the nucleotide sequence similarity and amino acid similarity of viruses isolated from Gansu in 2019 and 2011 ranged from 98.3%-100% and 95.4%-97.3%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of Culex flavivirus E gene sequence showed that two strains of Culex flavivirus isolated in Gansu province in 2019 (GS1975 and GS1976) and eight strains of Culex flavivirus isolated in 2011 all belonged to group B of genotype 1 of Culex flavivirus. Further analysis found that GS1975 virus isolated in 2019 was in a common evolutionary cluster with viruses isolated from Liaoning (2010 and 2011) and Inner Mongolia (2018), while GS1976 virus isolated in 2019 formed a coevolutionary cluster with viruses isolated from Inner Mongolia (2018) and Gansu (2011). Conclusions:Although both Culex flaviviruses isolated in Gansu province in 2011 and 2019 are genotype 1 virus, the two viruses isolated in 2019 distributed in two different evolutionary clusters, suggesting that the local mosquito virus genome changes over time, therefore, long-term monitoring of molecular differences is needed to carry out.