OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy and safety of Tiaowei Jiannao acupuncture (acupuncture for regulating defensive qi and nourishing brain) for post-ischemic stroke insomnia (PISI). METHODS: A total of 96 patients with PISI were randomized into an acupuncture group (32 cases, 1 case was excluded), a medication group (32 cases, 1 case dropped out, 1 case was excluded) and a sham-acupuncture group (32 cases, 1 case dropped out, 1 case was excluded). In the acupuncture group, Tiaowei Jiannao acupuncture was applied at bilateral Shenmai (BL62), Zhaohai (KI6), Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3), and Baihui (GV20), Sishencong (EX-HN1), Yintang (GV24⁺), Shenting (GV24), once a day, 1-day interval was taken after 6-day treatment, for 3 weeks totally. In the medication group, eszopiclone tablet was given orally, 1-3 mg a time, once a day for 3 weeks. In the sham-acupuncture group, non-invasive sham acupuncture was applied, the acupoint selection, frequency and course of treatment were the same as the acupuncture group. Before treatment, after 2,3 weeks of treatment, the scores of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), self-rating sleep scale (SRSS), National Institutes of Health Stroke scale (NIHSS), Hamilton depression scale-17 (HAMD-17) were observed; before and after treatment, the sleep parameters were recorded using polysomnography (PSG); and the efficacy and safety were evaluated after treatment in the 3 groups. RESULTS: After 2,3 weeks of treatment, the scores of PSQI, HAMD-17 and SRSS in the acupuncture group and the medication group, as well as the SRSS scores in the sham-acupuncture group were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05); after 2 weeks of treatment, the NIHSS score in the acupuncture group was decreased compared with that before treatment (P<0.05); after 3 weeks of treatment, the NIHSS scores in the acupuncture group, the medication group and the sham-acupuncture group were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05). After 3 weeks of treatment, the scores of PSQI, SRSS, HAMD-17 and NIHSS in the acupuncture group and the medication group, as well as the NIHSS score in the sham-acupuncture group were decreased compared with those after 2 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). After 2,3 weeks of treatment, the scores of PSQI, SRSS and HAMD-17 in the acupuncture group and the medication group were lower than those in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05), the NIHSS scores in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the medication group and the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05); after 3 weeks of treatment, HAMD-17 score in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the medication group (P<0.05), the NIHSS score in the medication group was lower than that in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, after treatment, the total sleep time was prolonged (P<0.05), the wake after sleep onset, sleep latency, and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep latency were shortened (P<0.05), the sleep efficiency was improved (P<0.05), the number of awakenings was reduced (P<0.05), the percentage of rapid eye movement (REM%) and the percentage of NREM stage 1 (N1%) were decreased (P<0.05), the percentage of NREM stage 2 (N2%) and the percentage of NREM stage 3 (N3%) were increased (P<0.05) in the acupuncture group and the medication group; the sleep latency was shortened in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05). After treatment, the PSG indexes in the acupuncture group and the medication group were superior to those in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05); in the acupuncture group, the number of awakenings was less than that in the medication group (P<0.05), the REM% and N1% were lower than those in the medication group (P<0.05), the N2% and N3% were higher than those in the medication group (P<0.05). The total effective rate were 93.5% (29/31) and 90.0% (27/30) in the acupuncture group and the medication group respectively, which were higher than 10.0% (3/30) in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05). There was no serious adverse events in any of the 3 groups. CONCLUSION Tiaowei Jiannao acupuncture improves the insomnia symptoms in patients with ischemic stroke, improves the quality of sleep, increases the deep sleep, promotes the recovery of neurological function, and relieves the depression. It is effective and safe for the treatment of PISI.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Male ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/physiopathology* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Acupuncture Points ; Treatment Outcome ; Adult ; Ischemic Stroke/complications* ; Stroke/complications* ; Sleep

BACKGROUND: Induced pluripotent stem cells are a type of reprogrammed cells with similar characteristics to embryonic stem cells, which are capable of differentiating into phenotypes associated with patient specific diseases. Moreover, their clinical application avoids ethical issues. OBJECTIVE: To review the research progress of induced pluripotent stem cells in myocardial regeneration and repair, cardiovascular disease models, drug development and screening, and drug toxicity testing. METHODS: PubMed (2006-2018) and CNKI (2013-2018) databases were retrieved for relevant articles using the keywords of "induction of pluripotent stem cells; myocardial infarction; arrhythmia; cardiovascular disease; heart failure; heart transplantation; disease model; drug toxicity" in English and Chinese, respectively. The data were reviewed one by one, and the citations involved in the literatures were also reviewed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Induced pluripotent stem cells have great potential value in myocardial regeneration and repair, establishment of cardiovascular disease models, new drug development and screening, and drug toxicity detection. The application prospect of the cells is broad, but most of the research is still in the experimental stage. In addition, safety problems, such as low induction efficiency and tumorigenicity, will limit the clinical application of induced pluripotent stem cells.

By bioinformatics analysis, a putative keratinase gene gm2886 (Accession number: KY368946) was discovered in the genome of a feather-degrading strain, Streptomyces albidoflavus Fea-10. gm2886 was ligated into integrative Escherichia coli-Streptomyces shuttle vector pSET152 under the promoter PermE and added with C-terminal His-tag. The expression vector was transformed into Streptomyces pactum ACT12 by conjugal transfer and the recombinant protein GM2886-His6 was detected in fermentation broth. GM2886-His6 was purified and characterized. Its size was nearly 36 kDa. GM2886-His6 showed proteolytic activity towards a variety of substrates and could even degrade insoluble substrates, such as azure keratin and chicken feathers. The optimal pH and temperature of GM2886-His6 for proteolysis of casein was pH 10.0 and 50 ℃, respectively. The enzyme activity was inhibited by PMSF, but not EDTA, indicating that GM2886-His6 was a serine proteinase. Our results laid the foundation for the research of the molecular biological mechanism on feather-degrading and for the further utilization of Fea-10.

Objective To study the epidemiological characteristics and type of human adenovirus (HAdv) in Wuxi area in 2011-2013.Methods A total of 1983 acute respiratory infections samples were collected from Wuxi People's Hospital during 2011-2013.HAdv was detected by Real-time PCR,the positive samples were inoculated into Hep-2 cells to isolate the viruses.The amplificons were purified and sequenced,and the sequences were analyzed by Bioedit and MEGA 5.0.Results Human adenovirus was appeared throughout the year in Wuxi area during 2011-2013.In winter and spring,the highest rate (44.26％) was detected in 1-3 years old children.There were 4 strains (13.33％) for HAdV-3,6 strains for HAdV-7(20.00％) of B subgroup,5 strains (16.66％) for HAdV-1,8 strains (26.67％) for HAdV-2,3 strains (10.00％) for HAdV-5,4 strains (13.33％) for HAdV-6 of C subgroup.The phylogenetic tree formed two independent branches and C subgroup gradually became advantage.Conclusions Human adenovirus had obvious seasonal characteristics in Wuxi area during 2011-2013,mainly in winter and spring;1-3 years old children were the main susceptible population.Six types of B and C subgroups were the dominant epidemic strains,with the epidemic tendency transformed from subgroup B to C.

Objective To introduce operative skill of liver resection by blocking hilum of liver under normal temperature.Method Retrospective analysis of experience treating 86 cases of liver cancer with the operation.Result Among 86 cases of hepatic malignant tumor,there were not serious complications such as death,massive haemorrhage etc.during operation;postoperative liver failure occurred in 7 cases,among them,cure 5 cases and 2 cases of death.The incision infection occurred in 5 patients;The thorax dropsy occurred in 19 cases, which was absorbed by oneself after treating in 14 cases,cured by puncture occurred in 5 cases.Conclusion Operative skill of blocking hilum of liver under normal temperature is more ideal means in treating the liver cancer.