OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at back-shu points of five zang on fatigue status, quality of life and motor cortical excitability in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), so as to explore the possible mechanism of EA for CFS. METHODS: A total of 72 patients with CFS were randomized into an EA group (36 cases, 4 cases dropped off) and a sham EA group (36 cases, 3 cases dropped off). In the EA group, EA at Ganshu (BL 18), Xinshu (BL 15), Pishu (BL 20), Feishu (BL 13) and Shenshu (BL 23) was adopted, with continuous wave, 2 Hz in frequency. In the sham EA group, sham EA at non-acupoints (1.5-2.0 cm lateral to back-shu points of five zang) was applied, with shallow needling, and no current was connected. The treatment in the both groups was 20 min each time, once every other day, 2 weeks as one course, 3 courses were required. Before and after treatment, the scores of fatigue scale-14 (FS-14) and the MOS 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) were observed, and cortical excitability (the resting motor threshold [RMT], amplitude of motor-evoked potential [MEP-A] and latency of motor-evoked potential [MEP-L]) was detected in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the physical fatigue score, mental fatigue score and total score of FS-14, as well as RMT of motor cortex in the EA group were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01), the physical fatigue score and total score of FS-14 in the sham EA group were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05); each item score and total score of FS-14 and RMT of motor cortex in the EA group were lower than those in the sham EA group (P<0.01, P<0.05). After treatment, each item score and total score of SF-36 and MEP-A of motor cortex in the EA group were increased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01), which were higher than those in the sham EA group (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION EA at back-shu points of five zang can effectively improve the fatigue status and quality of life in patients with CFS, its mechanism may be related to the up-regulating excitability of cerebral motor cortex.
Humans ; Electroacupuncture ; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic/therapy* ; Acupuncture Points ; Quality of Life ; Cortical Excitability

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Acute liver failure (ALF) is a type of disease with high mortality and rapid progression with no specific treatment methods currently available. Glucocorticoids exert beneficial clinical effects on therapy for ALF. However, the mechanism of this effect remains unclear and when to use glucocorticoids in patients with ALF is difficult to determine. The purpose of this study was to investigate the specific immunological mechanism of dexamethasone (Dex) on treatment of ALF induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/D-galactosamine (D-GaIN) in mice. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice were given LPS and D-GaIN by intraperitoneal injection to establish an animal model of ALF. Dex was administrated to these mice and its therapeutic effect was observed. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to determine liver pathology. Multicolor flow cytometry, cytometric bead array (CBA) method, and next-generation sequencing were performed to detect changes of messenger RNA (mRNA) in immune cells, cytokines, and Kupffer cells, respectively. RESULTS: A mouse model of ALF can be constructed successfully using LPS/D-GaIN, which causes a cytokine storm in early disease progression. Innate immune cells change markedly with progression of liver failure. Earlier use of Dex, at 0 h rather than 1 h, could significantly improve the progression of ALF induced by LPS/D-GaIN in mice. Numbers of innate immune cells, especially Kupffer cells and neutrophils, increased significantly in the Dex-treated group. In vivo experiments indicated that the therapeutic effect of Dex is exerted mainly via the glucocorticoid receptor (Gr). Sequencing of Kupffer cells revealed that Dex could increase mRNA transcription level of nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 1 (Nr4a1), and that this effect disappeared after Gr inhibition. CONCLUSIONS In LPS/D-GaIN-induced ALF mice, early administration of Dex improved ALF by increasing the numbers of innate immune cells, especially Kupffer cells and neutrophils. Gr-dependent Nr4a1 upregulation in Kupffer cells may be an important ALF effect regulated by Dex in this process.
Animals ; Dexamethasone/therapeutic use* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Kupffer Cells/physiology* ; Liver Failure, Acute/pathology* ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1/physiology* ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid/physiology*

Objective:To explore the effect of Taiji Quan on the sleep quality of patients with chronic insomnia disorder (CID) and its mechanism. Methods:From January, 2015 to December, 2017, 31 patients with CID were enrolled in the sleep disorder clinic. Before and 24 weeks after Taiji Quan exercise, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess their sleep quality, the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, TNF-β, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNF-R)1 and sTNF-R2 were detected with protein chip, and the correlation between the total score of PSQI and the serum levels of TNF-α, TNF-β, sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2 were analyzed after exercise. Results:After Taiji Quan exercise, the scores of PSQI factors (subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, daytime dysfunction) and the total score of PSQI decreased (t > 4.080, P < 0.05). The serum levels of TNF-α and TNF-β decreased (t > 13.580, P < 0.01), however, the serum levels of sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2 significantly increased (t > 160.189, P < 0.001). The serum levels of TNF-α and TNF-β were positively correlated with the total score of PSQI (r > 0.638, P < 0.001), while the serum levels of sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2 were negatively correlated with the total score of PSQI (r > 0.532, P<0.001). Conclusion:Taiji Quan exercise could help to improve the sleep quality of patients with CID. The mechanism may be related to the decrease of the serum levels of TNF-α and TNF-β, and the increase of the serum levels of sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2.

Diabetic nephropathy(DN) is a kind of severe diabetes mellitus(DM) complications,which is one of the most common cause of end-stage renal failure.The incidence of DN increases with the increase of the number of DM patients,and early prevention is the key.DM and DN are characteristic advantages of Tibetan medicine,the "holistic view" of dynamic balance based on the three major factors in the body(Sanyin,included rlung,mkhris-pa and bad-gan) is a unique understanding of DM and DN among Tibetan medical practitioners,and which has rich and unique clinical and medication experiences in DN treatment.This paper discussed the medical theory "holistic view" on the Tibetan medicine for DM and DN,dug commonly used Tibetan drugs and Tibetan medical prescriptions for clinical treatment of DN,in order to provide new ideas for the treatment of DN and the discovery of new drugs for DN, and give full play to the unique advantages of Tibetan medicine.

Objective: To investigate the effect of berbamine hydrochloride on the absorption characteristics of berberine hydrochloride in different intestinal segments of rats in normal environment and high calcium environment. Method: Taking rat everted intestinal sac model,the content of berberine hydrochloride in absorbent solution of everted intestinal sac from different compatibility groups was determined by HPLC,and the uptake per unit area in different groups was analyzed by One-way ANOVA. Result: Compared with the normal J70 group(in normal environment,the concentration of berberine hydrochloride was 70 mg·L^-1) at the same time point,the uptake per unit area of the normal J70+Ver100 group(in normal environment,the concentration of berberine hydrochloride was 70 mg·L^-1,adding verapamil hydrochloride to a concentration of 100 mg·L^-1) was significantly increased in the ileum(P<0.05) at 120 min;the uptake per unit area values of the high calcium J70+A35 group(in high calcium environment,the concentration of berberine hydrochloride was 70 mg·L^-1,adding berbamine hydrochloride to a concentration of 35 mg·L^-1) were significantly increased in the duodenum(P<0.05) at 30,60,90 min;and the uptake per unit area values of the high calcium J70+A70 group(in high calcium environment,the concentration of berberine hydrochloride was 70 mg·L^-1,adding berbamine hydrochloride to a concentration of 70 mg·L^-1) were significantly increased in the ileum(P<0.05) at 30,90,120 min.By comparing with the normal group with the same mass concentration,the intestinal absorption of berberine hydrochloride was better in the high calcium J70+A35 group and the high calcium J70+A70 group. Conclusion: Berbamine hydrochloride can promote the absorption of berberine hydrochloride in intestine to a certain extent,especially in the high calcium environment.

Objective: To optimize purification process of total alkaloid extract of Berberis dictyophylla cortex by macroporous resin,and to establish its quality standard. Method: Acid dye colorimetry was used to investigate the purification process of total alkaloid extract of B. dictyophylla cortex,the process parameters included concentration of sample solution,speed of sampling,diameter-height ratio of resin column,water washing amount,concentration and dosage of eluent,flow rate of elution,etc.In order to determine the optimum process,HPLC was employed to determine the contents of four alkaloids(magnoflorine,jatrorrhizine hydrochloride,palmatine hydrochloride,and berberine hydrochloride) with mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.1% phosphoric acid aqueous solution for gradient elution and detection wavelength at 270 nm.After being purified,quality standard of total alkaloid extract of B. dictyophylla cortex was investigated according to the requirements in the 2015 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Result: Optimal purification conditions were as following:10 g of HPD100 macroporous adsorption resin with a column diameter-height ratio of 1:8,sampling solution concentration of 11 g·L^-1,the loading flow rate of 1 mL·min^-1,sampling solution volume of 50 mL,washed with 4 BV of water(1 BV=15 mL) and added 9 BV of 30% ethanol,after being purified,the transfer rate of total alkaloids was>80%,and its purity was>65%.The quality standard of total alkaloid extract of B. dictyophylla cortex was established,there were 19 common peaks in the characteristic chromatogram,and the overall similarity was>0.99. Conclusion: This optimized purification process is stable and feasible, and the established quality standard is controllable.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the predictive value of Ees/Ea in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension based on right cardiac catheterization and cardiac magnetic resonance examination. METHODS: A total of 50 pulmonary arterial hypertension patients confirmed by right heart catheterization were retrospectively reviewed and followed up 2 years. The relationship between the baseline clinical data and survival prognosis of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension were analyzed. The predictive value of baseline Ees/Ea for prognosis in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension were compared. RESULTS: The Ees/Ea calculated by volume method was significantly correlated with the prognosis of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension(OR =0.082, 95%CI 0.009-0.814, P=0.032). The two-year survival rate of group Ees/Ea>0.67 was significantly higher than that of Ees/Ea≤0.67(86.7% vs. 50%, P=0.003). Conclution Ees/Ea calculated by volume method is an independent influence factor of the survival prognosis of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. When Ees/Ea≤0.67, the patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension is more likely to deteriorate.

Objective: To investigate the strong expression (S+) of P53 and BCL2 proteins in MYC/BCL2 double-expression DLBCL (DEL) and whether they can be used for the prognostic evaluation and stratified diagnosis of DELs. Methods: Tissue microarray were made by filed FFPE blocks of 174 DLBCL cases. The translocation of MYC, BCL2 and BCL6 genes were detected by FISH, and the proteins were detected by IHC. Data of clinicopathologic features and follow up of patients were collected and OS (overall survival) and PFS (progression free survival) were analyzed by statistics. Results: Eight double-hit lymphomas (DHLs) were identified in all cases, and 45 DELs were selected from 166 remaining cases, which have no significant difference in OS and PFS compared with non-DEL cases (P=0.668 and P=0.790) . Of 42 DEL-cases with follow up data, 24 cases with P53+ or/and BCL2 (S+) are significantly shorter OS and PFS than others (P=0.003 and P=0.000) , in which the cases with P53+/BCL2 (S+) co-expression were the worst prognosis, and P53/BCL2 co-weaker positive DEL cases even have superior OS and PFS than those non-DELs. Although statistics showed that the cases of P53+ or/and BCL2 (S+) have a lower OS and PFS in total cases (P=0.063 and P=0.024) , it is not the case when the DEL-cases take out from total cases, that is the cases with P53+ or/and BCL2 (S+) are as similar OS and PFS as others in non-DEL group (P=0.590 and P=0.550) . Conclusion: The strong expression of P53 and BCL2 proteins can be used as indicators of stratified diagnosis and poor prognosis of DEL.
Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/genetics* ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/genetics* ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics*

Objective To master the present situation of medical equipment utilization by the nurse in some hospital and the knowledge requirements for medical equipment operation under doctor-nurse integration mode in order to complete the training system for medical equipment operation. Methods Totally 251 pieces of questionnaires were issued and collected on the knowledge requirements for medical equipment operation. Statistical analysis was executed on essential personnel information, common medical equipment, knowledge requirements for medical equipment operation, the mode of acquiring corresponding knowledge and etc. Results The personnel involved in the questionnaire was characterized by low age, short working lifetime, low educational level and etc; the common medical equipment included sphygmomanometer, monitor, infusion pump, injection pump and etc;the knowledge was required on complicated emergency treatment equipment such as ventilator and defibrillator; the mode for acquiring the knowledge included teaching by skilled teachers, training in the department, training by the factory engineer and studying the video or courseware on equipment operation. Conclusion It is a useful measure to improve the training effect and training level of the medical equipment by directed training and operating knowledge provided according to the current situation and requirement of the nurse using medical equipment under doctor-nurse integration mode.

BACKGROUNDTrichophyton rubrum represents the most common infectious fungus responsible for dermatophytosis in human, but the mechanism involved is still not completely understood. An appropriate model constructed to simulate host infection is the prerequisite to study the pathogenesis of dermatophytosis caused by T. rubrum. In this study, we intended to develop a new T. rubrum infection model in vitro, using the three-dimensional reconstructed epidermis - EpiSkin ®, and to pave the way for further investigation of the mechanisms involved in T. rubrum infection.

METHODSThe reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) was infected by inoculating low-dose (400 conidia) and high-dose (4000 conidia) T. rubrum conidia to optimize the infection dose. During the various periods after infection, the samples were processed for pathological examination and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation.

RESULTSThe histological analysis of RHE revealed a fully differentiated epidermis with a functional stratum corneum, which was analogous to the normal human epidermis. The results of hematoxylin and eosin staining and the periodic acid-Schiff staining showed that the infection dose of 400 conidia was in accord with the pathological characteristics of host dermatophytosis caused by T. rubrum. SEM observations further exhibited the process of T. rubrum infection in an intuitionistic way.

CONCLUSIONSWe established the T. rubrum infection model on RHE in vitro successfully. It is a promising model for further investigation of the mechanisms involved in T. rubrum infection.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epidermis ; microbiology ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; cytology ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; Trichophyton ; pathogenicity