Objective:To observe the clinical effect of electroacupuncture(EA)combined with exercise therapy on balance function in patients with knee osteoarthritis(KOA). Methods:Seventy patients with KOA were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group,with 35 cases in each group.The treatment group was treated with EA combined with exercise therapy.EA was applied to Dubi(ST35),Neixiyan(EX-LE4),Xuehai(SP10),Liangqiu(ST34),Yanglingquan(GB34),and Zusanli(ST 36).Exercise therapy(muscle strength training and knee mobility training)was applied after EA.The control group only received the same exercise therapy as the treatment group.The two groups were treated with the same course of treatment,3 times a week for 4 consecutive weeks,12 times in total,and followed up for 1 month.The Pro-Kin254P balance test system was used to measure the balance function parameters at 4 time points,including before treatment,after 1 session of treatment,after 12 sessions of treatment,and at 1-month follow-up after treatment.The visual analog scale(VAS)and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index(WOMAC)scores were recorded. Results:The markedly effective rate and total effective rate in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.01).The Romberg area,Romberg length,and VAS scores of the two groups decreased significantly after 1 session of treatment,12 sessions of treatment,and 1 month after treatment,and the differences between different time points in the same group were statistically significant(P<0.01).There were significant differences between the two groups at the same time point(P<0.05).The total WOMAC scores of the two groups after 1 session of treatment,12 sessions of treatment,and 1 month after treatment decreased significantly,and there were significant differences between different time points in the same group(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference between the two groups at the same time point(P>0.05). Conclusion:EA combined with exercise therapy or exercise therapy alone can enhance the balance function,relieve joint pain,and improve joint function in patients with KOA.EA combined with exercise therapy is superior to exercise therapy alone in improving balance function and pain,but the two treatment protocols have similar effects in improving joint function.

Dry eye is a multifactorial disease, which seriously affect the work and life of patients. Since the pathogenesis of dry eye has not been clarified so far, there is no standard animal model available now. Non-Sjögren syndrome dry eye is one of the main types of dry eye, which requires further research. Studies on dry eye mechanisms have led to the development and improvement of animal models. In this paper, the methods of animal models of non-Sjögren syndrome dry eye, including drug treatments, surgery, exogenous injury, behavioral patterns, changes in diet, are reviewed. In addition,different models are described, the problems are analyzed and perspectives and reflections on future research are offered.

ObjectiveTo explore the regulatory effect of Gouqi chewable tablets on innate and adaptive immunity in normal mice and its antioxidant activity in vitro and in vivo. MethodThe effects of low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （0.25， 0.5， 1.5 g·kg^-1） on the immune function of normal mice were observed by carbon clearance test， immune organ index test， serum hemolysin test， ConA-induced splenic lymphocyte proliferation test， and natural killer cell （NK cell） activity test. The effects of Gouqi chewable tablets on the antioxidant capacity in vivo were determined by detecting the content of superoxide dismutase （SOD）， glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px）， and malondialdehyde （MDA） in mice serum. The in vitro antioxidant activity of Gouqi chewable tablets was detected by 2，2'-azino-bis（3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid） diammonium salt （ABTS）， 2，2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl （DPPH）， and hydroxyl radical scavenging tests. ResultCompared with the blank control group， the low-， medium-， and high-dose groups of Gouqi chewable tablets improved the viability of NK cells， the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes， and the level of serum hemolysin antibody in mice （P<0.05）. The high-dose group increased the thymus index， spleen index， and phagocytic function of macrophages （P<0.05， P<0.01）. As compared with the blank control group， the activity of GSH-Px in mice serum in the medium-dose group was increased （P<0.05）， and the content of MDA in mice serum in the high-dose group was decreased （P<0.05）. In in vitro antioxidant tests， the median inhibitory concentration （IC₅₀） values of Gouqi chewable tablets were 1.64±0.20， 2.04±0.03， and 10.27±0.03 g·L^-1 by the DPPH， ABTS， and OH^- free radical method， respectively. Those results indicated that Gouqi chewable tablets have good antioxidant effects in vitro. ConclusionGouqi chewable tablets can enhance the immune function of mice with good antioxidant effects.

Objective: To analyze the clinical epidemiological characteristics including composition of pathogens , clinical characteristics, and disease prognosis acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) in Chinese children. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical and laboratory data of 1 610 children <15 years of age with ABM in 33 tertiary hospitals in China from January 2019 to December 2020. Patients were divided into different groups according to age,<28 days group, 28 days to <3 months group, 3 months to <1 year group, 1-<5 years of age group, 5-<15 years of age group; etiology confirmed group and clinically diagnosed group according to etiology diagnosis. Non-numeric variables were analyzed with the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, while non-normal distrituction numeric variables were compared with nonparametric test. Results: Among 1 610 children with ABM, 955 were male and 650 were female (5 cases were not provided with gender information), and the age of onset was 1.5 (0.5, 5.5) months. There were 588 cases age from <28 days, 462 cases age from 28 days to <3 months, 302 cases age from 3 months to <1 year of age group, 156 cases in the 1-<5 years of age and 101 cases in the 5-<15 years of age. The detection rates were 38.8% (95/245) and 31.5% (70/222) of Escherichia coli and 27.8% (68/245) and 35.1% (78/222) of Streptococcus agalactiae in infants younger than 28 days of age and 28 days to 3 months of age; the detection rates of Streptococcus pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus agalactiae were 34.3% (61/178), 14.0% (25/178) and 13.5% (24/178) in the 3 months of age to <1 year of age group; the dominant pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae and the detection rate were 67.9% (74/109) and 44.4% (16/36) in the 1-<5 years of age and 5-<15 years of age . There were 9.7% (19/195) strains of Escherichia coli producing ultra-broad-spectrum β-lactamases. The positive rates of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and blood culture were 32.2% (515/1 598) and 25.0% (400/1 598), while 38.2% (126/330)and 25.3% (21/83) in CSF metagenomics next generation sequencing and Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen detection. There were 4.3% (32/790) cases of which CSF white blood cell counts were normal in etiology confirmed group. Among 1 610 children with ABM, main intracranial imaging complications were subdural effusion and (or) empyema in 349 cases (21.7%), hydrocephalus in 233 cases (14.5%), brain abscess in 178 cases (11.1%), and other cerebrovascular diseases, including encephalomalacia, cerebral infarction, and encephalatrophy, in 174 cases (10.8%). Among the 166 cases (10.3%) with unfavorable outcome, 32 cases (2.0%) died among whom 24 cases died before 1 year of age, and 37 cases (2.3%) had recurrence among whom 25 cases had recurrence within 3 weeks. The incidences of subdural effusion and (or) empyema, brain abscess and ependymitis in the etiology confirmed group were significantly higher than those in the clinically diagnosed group (26.2% (207/790) vs. 17.3% (142/820), 13.0% (103/790) vs. 9.1% (75/820), 4.6% (36/790) vs. 2.7% (22/820), χ²=18.71, 6.20, 4.07, all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the unfavorable outcomes, mortility, and recurrence between these 2 groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The onset age of ABM in children is usually within 1 year of age, especially <3 months. The common pathogens in infants <3 months of age are Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae, and the dominant pathogen in infant ≥3 months is Streptococcus pneumoniae. Subdural effusion and (or) empyema and hydrocephalus are common complications. ABM should not be excluded even if CSF white blood cell counts is within normal range. Standardized bacteriological examination should be paid more attention to increase the pathogenic detection rate. Non-culture CSF detection methods may facilitate the pathogenic diagnosis.
Adolescent ; Brain Abscess ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Escherichia coli ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Meningitis, Bacterial/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Subdural Effusion ; beta-Lactamases

Objective: To explore the mechanism of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion in Crohn disease (CD) treatment by observing the effect of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on protein expressions of colonic M2 macrophage marker CD206, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) 2. Methods: Twenty-six specific pathogen free male rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group and a herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group. The CD model was prepared by enema with the mixture of 5％ (W/V) 2,4,6- trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) and 50％ ethanol at 2:1 (volume ratio). After the model was successfully prepared, rats in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group received herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion at Qihai (CV 6) and bilateral Tianshu (ST 25). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of rat colon; immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expression of colonic CD206 protein; Western blot, immunofluorescence, and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) technologies were used to detect the protein and mRNA expressions of colonic AMPK and TSC2. Results: Compared with the normal group, rats in the model group showed damaged colonic mucosa, missing of the epithelial layer, thickened submucosa, vascular proliferation, massive infiltration of monocytes and lymphocytes, and cracked ulcers that reached the muscle layer. Rats in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group showed reduced intestinal inflammation and healing intestinal epithelium ulcers. Compared with the normal group, rat colonic CD206 protein expression, and the protein and mRNA expressions of colonic AMPK and TSC2 were decreased in the model group (all P<0.01); compared with the model group, rat colonic CD206 protein expression was increased (P<0.01), as well as the protein and mRNA expressions of AMPK and TSC2 in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion can reduce intestinal inflammation in CD rats, increase colonic CD206 protein expression, and up-regulate the protein and mRNA expressions of colonic AMPK and TSC2.

To scientifically evaluate the intervention effect of Chinese medicine preventive administration(combined use of Huo-xiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid and Jinhao Jiere Granules) on community population in the case of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19), a large cohort, prospective, randomized, and parallel-controlled clinical study was conducted. Total 22 065 subjects were included and randomly divided into 2 groups. The non-intervention group was given health guidance only, while the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) intervention group was given two coordinated TCM in addition to health guidance. The medical instructions were as follows. Huoxiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid: oral before meals, 10 mL/time, 2 times/day, a course of 5 days. Jinhao Jiere Granules: dissolve in boiling water and take after meals, 8 g/time, 2 times/day, a course of 5 days, followed up for 14 days, respectively. The study found that with the intake of medication, the incidence rate of TCM intervention group was basically maintained at a low and continuous stable level(0.01%-0.02%), while the non-intervention group showed an overall trend of continuous growth(0.02%-0.18%) from 3 to 14 days. No suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case occurred in either group. There were 2 cases of colds in the TCM intervention group and 26 cases in the non-intervention group. The incidence of colds in the TCM intervention group was significantly lower(P<0.05) than that in the non-intervention group. In the population of 16-60 years old, the incidence rate of non-intervention and intervention groups were 0.01% and 0.25%, respectively. The difference of colds incidence between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05). In the population older than 60 years old, they were 0.04% and 0.21%, respectively. The incidence of colds in the non-intervention group was higher than that in the intervention group, but not reaching statistical difference. The protection rate of TCM for the whole population was 91.8%, especially for the population of age 16-60(95.0%). It was suggested that TCM intervention(combined use of Huoxiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid and Jinhao Jiere Granules) could effectively protect community residents against respiratory diseases, such as colds, which was worthy of promotion in the community. In addition, in terms of safety, the incidence of adverse events and adverse reactions in the TCM intervention group was relatively low, which was basically consistent with the drug instructions.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Betacoronavirus ; Coronavirus Infections ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; drug therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Young Adult

Snake venom has special pharmacological activities and contains a array of small polypeptides that can antagonize integrins, therefore called disintegrins. Disintegrins can block integrin-dependent platelet aggregation, tumor growth, and tumor metastasis. A disintegrin fraction was isolated and purified from the venom of snake Gloydius brevicaudus (GBV). Its physical and chemical properties were characterized, and its biological activities were investigated. The crude venom of GBV were isolated by Superdex 75 gel filtration chromatography. The anti-platelet aggregation activity of the fractions was screened by the Born method. The fraction that shown anti-platelet activity was further purified with Sephadex G-25 gel filtration, DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow ion exchange chromatography, and Lichrospher C18 reversed-phase chromatography respectively. The purity of the active component was analyzed with SDS-PAGE (Tris-Tricine system) and high-performance liquid-phase chromatography (HPLC), with protein concentration determined by the Bradford method. The molecular weight was evaluated by the gel imaging method and mass spectrometry, and the isoelectric point was measured by disc isoelectric focusing electrophoresis. The protease activity was measured with the Rick method. The phospholipase A activity was determined by the automatic potentiometric titration method. Amino acid sequencing results were subjected to homology comparison using the BLAST program. Seven fractions (Ⅰ-Ⅶ) were isolated from GBV by gel filtration chromatography on Superdex 75 column. The fraction Ⅳ inhibited the platelet aggregation induced by ADP with molecular weight lower than 10 000 Da, suggesting a disintegrin component. A disintegrin named GBV-Ⅳ4 was purified from the fraction by Sephadex G-25 gel filtration, DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow ion-exchange and Lichrospher C18 reverse chromatography. It was homogeneous shown as a single band on SDS-polyacrylmide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE, Tris-Tricine system) with molecular weight 8 746 Da as calculated by Image Master VDS system. The isoelectric point of GBV-Ⅳ4 was 6.3 by disc polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. GBV-Ⅳ4 exhibited no detectable phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) activity with the pH-stat technique or proteinase activity according to the method of Rick. GBV-Ⅳ4 is composed of 70 amino acids with RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) active region and a molecular weight of 7 442 Dalton as assayed by Mass Spectrography. Characterization of GBV-Ⅳ4 is consistent with meta-chain disintegrin (70 amino acid sequence, six pairs of disulfide bond). Retrieved by Genbank, GBV-Ⅳ4 has high homology with other disintegrins. We concluded that GBV-Ⅳ4 is a novel disintegrin contained RGD. GBV-Ⅳ4 showed dose-dependent inhibition of ADP- or thrombin-induced platelet aggregation with IC₅₀ 0.339 or 0.577 μg·mL^-1 respectively. In conclusion, a new disintegrin derived from the GBV snake venom and named GBV-Ⅳ4 containing RGD tripeptide sequence could inhibit platelet aggregation.

Three new prenylated stilbenes, named as cajanusins A-C (1-3), and one new natural product cajanusin D (4), along with six known derivatives (5-10) were isolated from the leaves of Cajanus cajan. Their structures were fully elucidated by means of extensive spectroscopic methods and comparison with data in the reported literatures. The new compounds of 1 and 2 were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activities against a panel of human cancer cell lines.

To further evaluate the effect of miR-217 in the proliferation of mouse adult pancreatic stem cells, we firstly transfected adult pancreatic stem cells with miR-217 mimics and studied the effect of miR-217 on proliferation through Western blot and immunofluorescence. Results showed that during the proliferation of adult pancreatic stem cells, miR-217 inhibited the protein expression of Ki-67 and Cyclin D1, which are related to cell propagation. As well as that, to investigate the target genes of miR-217 and their conserved sites bound by the seed region of miR-217, we used bioinformatic algorithms to find a potential target of miR-217 and verified by dual-luciferase activity assay. Surprisingly, dual-luciferase activity assay revealed that miR-217 could decrease PMIR-REPORT-Sirt1-3′UTR luciferase activity and Sirt1 is a direct target of miR-217. Finally, we verified the function of Sirt1 in the proliferation of pancreatic stem cells. Overexpression of miR-217 in pancreatic stem cells inhibited the level of Sirt1 in protein level but not in mRNA level. Furthermore, activator of Sirt1 played positive effect on colony formation ability and cell proliferation and inhibitor of Sirt1 showed the opposite function. In conclusion, miR-217 inhibits the proliferation of mouse adult pancreatic stem cells through Sirt1 and decreased expression of miR-217 to contribute to the pancreatic stem cells development.