The paper introduces Professor SUN Shentian's experience in clinical practice of Ningshen (tranquilizing the mind) point. This point is an empirical point discovered by Professor SUN on the basis of meridian differentiation, nerve function and anatomic location, and in association with the years of clinical practice. The point is located in the prefrontal area, jointed with the distribution of the governor vessel, and responded to the body surface projection area of the frontal pole. It works on regulating the mind, regaining consciousness, improving cognition, alleviating depression, mutually treating physical and mental disorders, as well as unblocking collaterals, regulating the tendons and relieving spasm. This point is widely used in treatment of mental disorders, stroke and extrapyramidal diseases and obtains the reliable therapeutic effect in clinical practice.
Humans ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy/history* ; China ; Meridians ; History, 20th Century

Objective To obtain the range of anatomical parameters of healthy knee joints in Chinese males and validate a statistical shape model(SSM)based on the geometric shape of a healthy knee to provide references for the design of knee SSM-based prostheses.Methods Computed tomography(CT)images of knee joints from 112 healthy males were acquired to build three-dimensional(3D)knee joint models.Each model was the target model separately,and the remaining models were used as the training set for principal component analysis(PCA).The obtained knee SSM was fitted to the target model to predict the SSM.The exact anatomical measurement points were marked on the sample and SSM prediction models,and 17 linear and 3 angular parameters were derived.The values of the anatomical parameters were statistically tested using an independent samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test,and the validity of the SSM in terms of geometric shape was demonstrated if the resulting P-values were all greater than 0.05.Results Qualitative and quantitative comparative analyses of anatomical parameters showed that the mean deviation of linear parameters was less than 6 mm,and that of angular parameters was less than 2.5°.The results of statistical tests showed P＞0.05 for all anatomical parameters,proving that the knee SSM prediction model was not statistically different from the true healthy model in terms of geometric shape.Conclusions This study derived a reference range of anatomical parameters for a healthy knee and demonstrated that the knee SSM model was consistent with the real healthy model in terms of shape.The results provide a reference for the design of knee SSM-based prostheses.

Humans ; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms/genetics* ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Oncogenes ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Cell Movement

Objective:To explore the risk factors of bladder recurrence in patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (upper tract urothelial carcinoma, UTUC).Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the data of 815 patients underwent radical nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma between June 2009 to June 2019.There were 519 males and 340 females, aged from 26-93 years old(average 66.5±9.6 years old). 396 patients were renal pelvic caicinoma.463 patients were ureteral caicinoma.675 patients were accompanied with hydronephrosis.664 patients were accompanied with preoperative gross hematuria. Preoperative diagnostic ureteroscopy was performed in 323 cases.283 patients had the history of smoking.48 patients were con-comitant with bladder carcinoma at the first diagnosis. Univariate analysis and logistic multivariate regression analysis were used to investigate the risk factors for bladder recurrence after UTUC radical surgery.Results:Among the 859 patients, 407 (47.4%) had low-stage tumor (T is/T a/T 1), 452 (52.6%) had high-stage tumor (T 2-T 4), 110 (12.8%) had low-stage tumor (G 1/G 2), and 749 (87.2%) had high-stage tumor (G 3). 126 (17.2%) of 859 patients had relapse during the follow-up period, the average follow-up time was 17 months, the median recurrence time was 12 months, 101(80.1%) of the relapse occurred within 2 years after operation. In univariate analysis, lower tumor stage ( P=0.047), higher tumor grade ( P=0.043), preoperative hematuria symptom ( P=0.023) and preoperative diagnostic ureteroscopy ( P=0.002) were closely related to bladder recurrence. Taking the above factors into the logistic multivariate regression analysis showed that tumor staging T is/T s/T 1 ( B=0.476, P=0.019), tumor grade G 3( B=0.848, P=0.024), preoperative hematuria symptom ( B=0.521, P=0.048), preoperative diagnostic ureteroscopy( B=0.521, P=0.002) were independent risk factors of postoperative recurrence of bladder. Conclusion:lower tumor stage, higher tumor grade, preoperative hematuria symptom and preoperative diagnostic ureteroscopy are the independent risk factors of postoperative bladder recurrence in patients with UTUC. Routine intravesical chemotherapy should be performed in patients with UTUC with the above risk factors, and routine diagnostic ureteroscopy is not recommended.

Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) and the Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) have become essential technologies to effectively measure protein–DNA interactions and chromatin accessibility. However, there is a need for a scalable and reproducible pipeline that incorporates proper normalization between samples, correction of copy number variations, and integration of new downstream analysis tools. Here we present Containerized Bioinformatics workflow for Reproducible ChIP/ATAC-seq Analysis (CoBRA), a modularized computational workflow which quantifies ChIP-seq and ATAC-seq peak regions and performs unsupervised and supervised analyses. CoBRA provides a comprehensive state-of-the-art ChIP-seq and ATAC-seq analysis pipeline that can be used by scientists with limited computational experience. This enables researchers to gain rapid insight into protein–DNA interactions and chromatin accessibility through sample clustering, differential peak calling, motif enrichment, comparison of sites to a reference database, and pathway analysis. CoBRA is publicly available online at https://bitbucket. org/cfce/cobra.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on renal fibrosis in a mouse model of renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) and the role of serine-threonine kinase (Akt). Methods: Sixty male C57BL/6 mice, aged 8 weeks, weighing 20-25 g, were divided into 5 groups (n=12 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (S group), renal I/R group (I/R group), renal I/R plus dexmedetomidine group (I/R + D group), renal I/R plus dexmedetomidine plus Akt agonist SC79 group (I/R + D + SC group), and renal I/R plus dexmedetomidine plus normal saline group (I/R+ D+ NS group). Renal I/R injury model was established by clamping the bilateral renal pedicle for 30 min followed by reperfusion.Dexmedetomidine was intraperitoneally injected at 30 min before surgery in I/R+ D, I/R+ D+ SC and I/R+ D+ NS groups.SC79 was intraperitoneally injected as a bolus of 0.04 mg/kg at 1 min of reperfusion, followed by an intraperitoneal injection of the same dose every 24 h until day 7.The serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and Scr concentrations were detected at 24 h of reperfusion.Renal tissues were taken, and the damage to the renal tubules was scored.Renal tissues were removed at 14 days of reperfusion to detect the degree of renal fibrosis and expression of collagen 1 (COL1), fibronectin (FN), and α-smooth actin (α-SMA) (by immunofluorescence and Western blot). The expression of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) in renal tissues was determined by Western blot at 24 h and 14 day of reperfusion. Results: Compared with group S, the serum BUN and Scr concentrations, renal tubule damage score and degree of renal fibrosis were significantly increased, and the expression of COL1, FN, α-SMA and p-Akt was up-regulated in group I/R (P<0.05). Compared with I/R group, the serum BUN and Scr concentrations, renal tubular damage score and degree of renal fibrosis were significantly decreased, and the expression of COL1, FN, α-SMA and p-Akt was down-regulated in I/R+ D and I/R+ D+ NS groups (P<0.05). Compared with I/R+ D group, the serum BUN and Scr concentrations, renal tubule damage score and degree of renal fibrosis were significantly increased , and the expression of COL1, FN, α-SMA and p-Akt was up-regulated in I/R+ D+ SC group (P<0.05). Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can reduce the degree of renal fibrosis in a mouse model of renal I/R and the mechanism is related to inhibiting activation of Akt.

Objective To explore the efficacy of quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) in the assessment of osteoporosis and the impact factors on the QSM values.Methods A total of 105 volunteers (35 males and 70 females) were recruited in this study.The height,weight,waistline and hipline were measured,and the body mass index was calculated.All the subjects underwent MRI-based QSM and quantitative computed tomography (QCT).The measurement of QSM and QCT values was performed on L3 vertebrae body.According to QCT value,the subjects were divided into three groups (normal,osteopenia and osteoporosis).According to age,the subjects were divided into group I (21-30 years old),group 2 (31-40 years old),group 3 (41-50 years old),group 4 (51-60 years old),and group 5 (＞60 years old).Differences among all groups were compared using one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis.Results According to QCT value,54 subjects were normal,22 osteopenic and 29 osteoporotic.The QSM value for the subjects with osteoporosis [148.60(109.42,188.81)ppb] was significantly higher than that of normal (P＜0.001)and the osteopenia (P＜0.001).The QSM value for the subjects with osteopenia was significantly higher than the normal (P＜0.001).The coefficient of QSM and BMD was-0.749 (P＜0.001).Multiple linear regression showed age was the independent influence factor for QSM value (r=0.72,P＜0.001),whereas the gender,BMI,waistline and hipline showed no significant difference (P＞0.05).With the increasing of age,the QSM value showed a gradual increasing trend.And there were significant differences of QSM values among the different age groups (P＜0.001).The QSM value of 138.98 (100.37,183.84)ppb for group 5 (＞60 years old) was significantly higher than that of group 1,group 2,and group 3 (P＜0.001).There is no difference between group 5 and group 4 (P＞0.05).The QSM value of 96.62(28.62,143.99)ppb for group 4 (51-60 years old) was significantly higher than that of group 1 and group 2 (P＜0.001).And there was no difference between group 4 and group 3 (P＞0.05).The QSM value of group 1,group 2,and group 3 showed no significant difference (P＞0.05).Conclusions The QSM of bone is feasible in the assessment of osteoporosis and has the potential to be a biomarker providing new insights into osteoporosis.And age is the critical factor affecting QSM value.

Objective To observe the rat cardiac size and cardiac function changes before and after trimetazidine administration plus bone-marrow stem cells transplanting through echocardiography.Methods Forty wistar rats were divided into the following 4 groups randomly:control group (T),myocardial infarction group (Ⅱ),bone marrow stem calls transplantation group (Ⅲ),and bone marrow stem cells transplantation plus trimetazidine administration group(Ⅳ).The rats' left anterior coronary artery in group Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳwas ligated to produce myocardial infarction model,then bone-marrow stem cells were injected around the infarcted area into the later two groups.Furthermore,rats in group Ⅳ were administrated with trimetazidine.The size and systolic function of the hearts were measured 4 weeks after transplantation.The left ventricular systolic pressure(LVSP) and the end-diastolic pressure(LVEDP) were also measured at the end of experiment.Results The left ventricular diameter of rats in group Ⅲ and Ⅳ was smaller than that in group Ⅱ,and the ventricular systolic function increased,LVSP increased and LVEDP decreased statistically in group Ⅲ and Ⅳ.the amelioration of cardiac size and function was significantly notable in group Ⅳ than that in group Ⅲ.Conclusions Bone marrow stem cells transplantation can release the enlargement of left ventricle and improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction.The therapeutic efficacy can be further elevated if administrated with trimetazidine simultaneously.