OBJECTIVE To investigate the intervention effect and potential mechanism of breviscapine on hepatic fibrosis （HF） in rats based on the transforming growth factor-β（1 TGF-β1）/Smad2/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1（ERK1） and Kelch-like epichlorohydrin-associated protein 1（Keap1）/nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2（Nrf2）/heme oxygenase-1（HO-1） pathways. METHODS Totally 60 rats were randomly divided into normal control group， model group， breviscapine low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups （5.4， 10.8， 21.6 mg/kg）， and colchicine group （positive control， 0.45 mg/kg）， with 10 rats in each group， half male and half female. Except for the normal control group， HF model of the other groups was induced by carbon tetrachloride. Subsequently， each drug group was given corresponding medicine by gavage once a day for 28 days. The liver appearance of rats in each group was observed and their liver coefficients were calculated. The levels of alanineaminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST）in serum， those of ALT， AST， superoxide dismutase （SOD），malondialdehyde （MDA） and glutathione peroxidase （GSH- Px） in liver tissue were detected. The liver tissue inflammatory and fibrotic changes were observed. The protein and mRNA expressions of TGF-β1， Smad2， ERK1， Nrf2， Keap1 and HO-in liver tissue were detected. RESULTS Compared with the normal control group， the model group showed large areas of white nodular lesions in the liver， obvious inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen fiber deposition. The body weight， the levels of SOD and GSH-Px in liver tissue， the protein and mRNA expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 were significantly lowered in the model group （P＜0.05）； the liver coefficient， the percentage of Masson staining positive area， ALT and AST levels of serum and liver tissue， MDA level of liver tissue， the protein and mRNA expressions of TGF-β1， Smad2， ERK1 and Keap1 were significantly increased （P＜0.05）. Compared with the model group， the liver lesions of rats in each drug group were improved， and the above quantitative indexes were generally reversed （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Breviscapine has a good intervention effect on HF rats， which may be related to inhibiting TGF-β1/Smad2/ERK1 pathway for anti-fibrosis and regulating Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway to inhibit oxidative stress.

Photoplethysmography (PPG) is often affected by interference, which could lead to incorrect judgment of physiological information. Therefore, performing a quality assessment before extracting physiological information is crucial. This paper proposed a new PPG signal quality assessment by fusing multi-class features with multi-scale series information to address the problems of traditional machine learning methods with low accuracy and deep learning methods requiring a large number of samples for training. The multi-class features were extracted to reduce the dependence on the number of samples, and the multi-scale series information was extracted by a multi-scale convolutional neural network and bidirectional long short-term memory to improve the accuracy. The proposed method obtained the highest accuracy of 94.21%. It showed the best performance in all sensitivity, specificity, precision, and F1-score metrics, compared with 6 quality assessment methods on 14 700 samples from 7 experiments. This paper provides a new method for quality assessment in small samples of PPG signals and quality information mining, which is expected to be used for accurate extraction and monitoring of clinical and daily PPG physiological information.
Photoplethysmography ; Machine Learning ; Neural Networks, Computer

Objective:To investigate the effects of lengths of intramedullary nails on the treatment efficacy of osteoporotic unstable intertrochanteric fracture.Methods:Retrospectively analyzed were the data of patients with osteoporotic unstable intertrochanteric fracture who had been admitted to Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Friendship Hospital from January 2017 to December 2019. According to the lengths of intramedullary nails, the patients were divided into 2 groups. In the short nail group of 135 cases, there were 38 males and 97 females with an age of (82.2 ± 7.7) years and an intramedullary nail with a length of 170 mm was used. In the long nail group of 32 cases, there were 8 males and 24 females with an age of (81.5±7.1) years and an intramedullary nail longer than 300 mm was used. The amount of intraoperative hemoglobin drop value, operation time, Harris hip score at 6 months after surgery, incidence of complications and mortality were compared between the 2 groups.Results:There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, indicating comparability between groups ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in intraoperative hemoglobin drop value [(19.8±2.2) g/L versus (20.0±2.1) g/L], Harris hip score (72.0±3.0 versus 71.2±3.6), incidence of complications [3.0% (4/135) versus 6.2 (2/32)] or mortality [14.3% (19/135) versus 15.6% (5/32)] ( P>0.05). The long nail group needed significantly longer operation time than the short nail group [(84.6±5.6) min versus (92.0±7.2) min] ( P<0.05). Conclusions:In the treatment of osteoporotic unstable intertrochanteric fracture, short and long intramedullary nails show no significant difference in hemoglobin drop value, functional score, complications or mortality, indicating they can both lead to safe and reliable curative efficacy. However, long nails need longer operation time.

Objective:To analyze the influence of comprehensive rehabilitation on postoperative functions in the elderly patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture.Methods:From June 2015 to June 2019, 144 elderly patients were treated at Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Friendship Hospital for femoral intertrochanteric fractures by internal fixation with proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA). Of them, 65 received comprehensive rehabilitation, including intervention measures for details, prevention and management of comorbidities and complications and active exercise of the injured limb, while 79 conventional rehabilitation. In the comprehensive rehabilitation group, there were 22 males and 43 females with an age of (76.6±6.7) years, and 18 cases of type 31-A1, 35 cases of type 31-A2 and 12 cases of type 31-A3 by the AO type. In the control group, there were 23 males and 56 females with an age of (75.2±7.0) years, and 25 cases of type 31-A1, 39 cases of type 31-A2 and 15 cases of type 31-A3 by the AO type. The 2 groups were compared in terms of visual analog scale (VAS), Harris hip score, Barthel index, postoperative ambulation time and complications at 6 months after operation.Results:The 2 groups were comparable because there was no significant difference between them in the preoperative or intraoperative general data ( P>0.05). The comprehensive rehabilitation group had a significantly lower VAS score (1.5±1.0), a significantly higher Harris hip score(83.9±5.4), a significantly higher Barthel index (81.6±5.4), significantly shorter postoperative ambulation time [(2.6±1.0) d], and a significantly lower incidence of complications [4.6% (3/65)] than the control group did [1.9±1.2, 80.2±7.9, 78.2±7.9, (3.2±1.4) d, 16.5%(13/79), respectively] (all P< 0.05). Conclusion:For elderly patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture, comprehensive rehabilitation can significantly reduce complications, promote functional recovery of the hip, and speed up recovery of capabilities of daily living compared with conventional rehabilitation.

Objective:To explore the incidence and morphology of the posterolateral fracture fragment affecting the fibular notch in posterior pilon fracture.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted of the CT and clinical data of the 31 patients with posterior pilon fracture who had been treated at Department of Orthopaedic, China-Japan Friendship Hospital from May 2013 to May 2018. They were 17 men and 14 women, aged from 20 to 68 years (average, 42 years). The injury affected the left side in 13 cases and the right side in 18 ones. The incidence of the posterolateral fracture fragments affecting the fibular notch was counted. The morphologic indexes of the fragments were measured like axial angle of their fracture line, fragment area, fragment height, and sagittal angle of their fracture line.Results:A posterolateral fracture fragment affecting the fibular notch was found in all the 31 posterior pilon fractures, giving an incidence of 100% in the posterior pilon fracture. The fracture line of the fragments tended to be in the coronal plane. The axial angle of the fracture line was 20.25°±9.48°; the ratio of the fragment area to the distal tibial articular area was 15.78%±6.75%; the fragment height was 36.59 mm ± 10.70 mm; the sagittal angle of the fracture line was 18.37°±5.45°.Conclusions:A posterolateral fracture fragment affecting the fibular notch can be found in all the posterior pilon fractures. It does not affect a large articular area and its fracture line is usually located in the coronal plane. These data may help choose appropriate surgical approach and internal fixation.

Objective:To investigate the effect of smoking on autophagy in alveolar macrophages (AMs) of silicosis patients.Methods:In December 2019, a random sampling method was used to select 42 male patients with silicosis (19 cases of stage II and 23 cases of stage III) who were treated with large volume whole lung lavage from August to December 2017 in the Beidaihe sanatorium. According to the different smoking index of the study subjects (smoking index=smoking cigarette consumptions per day×years of smoking) , we divided them into high (Smoking index>400) , medium (200≤smoking index≤400) , low (smoking index <200) and non-smoking group. The levels of autophagy related proteins LC3, Beclin1, p62 and apoptosis related protein Cleaved Caspase-3 were detected by Western blot. The effects of smoking on autophagy activity of AMs in silicosis were analyzed.Results:The ratio of autophagy related protein LC3 II/LC3 I, the expression of Beclin1, p62, and apoptosis related protein Cleaved Caspase-3 in the high smoking group were significantly higher than that of the middle, low smoking group and the non-smoking group ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:Smoking can aggravate the dysfunction of autophagic degradation in silicosis patients' AMs, which may accelerate the progress of silicosis through increasing apoptosis in AMs.

Objective:To investigate the effect of smoking on autophagy in alveolar macrophages (AMs) of silicosis patients.Methods:In December 2019, a random sampling method was used to select 42 male patients with silicosis (19 cases of stage II and 23 cases of stage III) who were treated with large volume whole lung lavage from August to December 2017 in the Beidaihe sanatorium. According to the different smoking index of the study subjects (smoking index=smoking cigarette consumptions per day×years of smoking) , we divided them into high (Smoking index>400) , medium (200≤smoking index≤400) , low (smoking index <200) and non-smoking group. The levels of autophagy related proteins LC3, Beclin1, p62 and apoptosis related protein Cleaved Caspase-3 were detected by Western blot. The effects of smoking on autophagy activity of AMs in silicosis were analyzed.Results:The ratio of autophagy related protein LC3 II/LC3 I, the expression of Beclin1, p62, and apoptosis related protein Cleaved Caspase-3 in the high smoking group were significantly higher than that of the middle, low smoking group and the non-smoking group ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:Smoking can aggravate the dysfunction of autophagic degradation in silicosis patients' AMs, which may accelerate the progress of silicosis through increasing apoptosis in AMs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation of phosphorylated ribosomal S6 protein (P-S6) content in blood and brain tissue in mice and rats with seizure. METHODS: Seizure models were induced by intraperitoric injection of kainic acid (KA) in C57BL/mice and SD rats. Flow cytometry was used to detect the content of P-S6 in blood; Western blot was used to detect the expression of P-S6 in brain tissues. The correlation between P-S6 expression in blood and in brain tissue was examine by Pearson analysis, and the correlation between P-S6 expression in blood and the severity of seizure was also observed. RESULTS: Western blotting analysis showed that the expression of P-S6 was significantly increased in peripheral blood and brain tissue in mice 1 h after KA-induced seizure,and the expression levels increased to (1.49±0.45) times (<0.05) and (2.55±0.66) times ( <0.01) of the control group, respectively. Flow cytometry showed that the positive percentage and average fluorescence intensity of P-S6 in the blood of mice increased significantly 1 h after KA-induced seizures (<0.01), which was consistent with the expression of P-S6 in brain tissue (=0.8474, <0.01). Flow cytometry showed that the average fluorescence intensity of P-S6 in blood increased from 14.89±9.75 to 52.35±21.72 (<0.01) in rats with seizure, which was consistent with the change of P-S6 in brain tissue (=0.9385, <0.01). Rats with higher levels of seizure were of higher levels of P-S6 in peripheral blood. CONCLUSIONS Consistent correlation of P-S6 expression is demonstrated in peripheral blood and in brain tissue after KA-induced seizure, suggesting that the expression of P-S6 in blood can accurately reflect the changes of mTOR signaling pathway in brain tissue.
Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Kainic Acid ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Phosphorylation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seizures ; blood ; chemically induced ; physiopathology

Objective To compare the outcomes of Dresden technique versus open surgery for acute Achilles tendon ruptures.Methods From January 2013 to June 2017,67 patients were operatively treated for acute Achilles tendon rupture at Department of Orthopaedics,China Japan Friendship Hospital.Of them,Dresden technique was used in 32(minimally invasive group) and open surgery in 35(open surgery group).The 2 groups were compared in terms of baseline characteristics,operation time,operative incision length,hospital stay,postoperative complications like incision infection and tendon re-rupture and the Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Score(ATRS).Results The 2 groups were compatible due to insignificant differences in the baseline characteristics(P>0.05).They were followed up for 18 months.The minimally invasive group had significant shorter operation time(40.0min),incision length(3.0cm) and hospital stay(5 d) than the open surgery group(42.5 min,10.0 cm and 6 d)(P<0.05).No sural nerve lesion was observed in either group.The rate of wound complications was 0% for the minimally invasive group and 8.6% for the open surgery group;the rate of re-rupture was 3.1% for the former and 2.9% for the latter;the ATRS at the final follow-up was 98.0 for the former and 98.5 for the latter.There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in the above comparisons(P>0.05).Conclusions Percutaneous suture of the Achilles tendon with the Dresden instruments is a safe,fast and standardized surgical procedure for acute Achilles tendon ruptures,leading to shorter operation time,incision length and hospital stay,better functional recovery and a tendency of decreased wound complications than the open surgery.

Objective To establish a quick and accurate method for detection of tree shrew adenovirus(TAV) using TaqMan real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Methods Based on the published TAV genome sequence, a 3' conserved sequence was used to design specific probe primers. A standard curve was prepared using a recombinant plasmid containing the target gene fragment. A real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR method was established for detecting TAV based on TaqMan probe. Results The detection method was specific and was not cross-reactive with other common pathogens. The detection limit of the method was 3.7 copies/μL,showing a high sensitivity. The correlation coefficient was 0.998, and the efficiency was 95.7%. The amplification result showed a fine linear relationship,and the repeatability test effect was good. Conclusions The TAV real-time quantitative PCR detection method based on TaqMan probe has been successfully established. It has high sensitivity and reproducibility and can be applied to early detection of TAV infection.