Objective To compare cortical inhibition(CI)function between patients with schizophrenia and depression,and to explore the correlation between CI function and clinical symptoms.Methods A total of 35 first episode schizophrenia(FES)patients,41 depression patients(21 with first episode depression,20 with recurrent depression),and 35 healthy controls(HC)were recruited.The positive and negative syndrome scale(PANSS)was used to assess symptoms in FES patients,while the 17-item Hamilton depression scale(HAMD-17)and Hamilton anxiety scale(HAMA)were used to assess symptoms in depression patients.All participants'cortical inhibition and excitation measures were examined using single or paired pulses transcranial magnetic stimulation.Analysis of covariance/generalized linear model was employed to compare cortical inhibition and excitation measures among groups including age,gender,and medication status as covariates.The correlations between cortical inhibition and excitation measures and clinical symptoms were analyzed.Results The cortical silent period(CSP)in FES group was longer than that in control group and depression group[(92.08±35.43)ms vs.(70.27±22.12)ms vs.(70.81±29.29)ms,P<0.05].Depression group was further divided into first episode depression(FED)and recurrent depression(RD)subgroups.The short-interval cortical inhibition(SICI)was weaker in FED group than in the RD group and the control group(0.76±0.44 vs.0.43±0.32 vs.0.45±0.20,P<0.05).In FED group,CSP was negatively correlated with the general symptom score of PANSS(r=-0.544,P<0.001),and SICI was negatively correlated with the negative symptom score of PANSS(r=-0.501,P=0.005).In the FED group,SICI was positively correlated with HAMD-17 score(r=0.605,P=0.028).Conclusion Both FES patients and FED patients exhibit abnormal CI.There are distinct characteristics between FES and FED.FES patients exhibit prolonged CSP,while FED patients exhibit decreased SICI.The abnormal CI in FES and FED are correlated with their clinical symptoms.

Objective:To investigate COVID-19 vaccination status and relevant adverse reactions in patients with psoriasis treated with biological agents, and to explore the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on psoriatic lesions.Methods:Clinical data were collected from 572 psoriasis patients aged 18 - 60 years, who were registered in the management system of psoriasis patients treated with biological agents in the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital from May 2019 to June 2021. The COVID-19 vaccination status was investigated by telephone interviews, and the vaccination-related information was obtained by fixed healthcare workers during a fixed time period according to a predesigned questionnaire. Measurement data were compared between two groups by using t test, and enumeration data were compared by using chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test. Results:The COVID-19 vaccination coverage rate was 43.13% (226 cases) among the 524 patients who completed the telephone interview, and was significantly lower in the biological agent treatment group (30.79%, 105/341) than in the traditional drug treatment group (66.12%, 121/183; χ2 = 60.60, P < 0.001) . The main reason for not being vaccinated was patients′ fear of vaccine safety (49.66%, 148/298) , followed by doctors′ not recommending (26.51%, 79/298) . In the biological agent treatment group after vaccination, the exacerbation of psoriatic lesions was more common in patients receiving prolonged-interval treatment (42.86%, 6/14) compared with those receiving regular treatment (4.40%, 4/91; Fisher′s exact test, P < 0.001) . Skin lesions were severely aggravated in two patients after COVID-19 vaccination, who ever experienced allergic reactions and whose skin lesions did not completely subside after the treatment with biological agents. Conclusions:The COVID-19 vaccination coverage rate was relatively low in the psoriasis patients treated with biological agents, and no serious adverse reaction was observed after vaccination. Prolonged-interval treatment due to COVID-19 vaccination ran the risk of exacerbation of skin lesions.

ObjectiveTo analyze the quality changes of Platycladi Semen before and after the deterioration of moth-eaten and rancidity during storage. MethodFour types samples of Platycladi Semen， including normal， moth-eaten， oxidative rancidity and hydrolytic rancidity， were determined for volatile components， odor， and taste based on headspace solid phase microextraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （HS-SPME/GC-MS） and electronic sensory techniques such as electronic nose and electronic tongue. Volatile components were identified by searching the database and manual comparison， the odor and taste were determined by the response values of the electronic nose and electronic tongue sensors， and the difference between samples before and after deterioration was studied by multivariate statistical analysis. ResultA total of 85 compounds were identified in Platycladi Semen samples. Compared with the normal samples， the number of volatile compounds in samples after hydrolytic rancidity decreased by 5， the number of volatile compounds in samples after moth-eaten and oxidative rancidity increased by 1 and 21， respectively. Aldehydes and acids accounted for majority of types. Among them， the contents of N-hexanoic acid， hexanal and propionic acid in the samples of oxidative rancidity reached 11.49%， 10.21% and 7.52%， which became the key indicators of rancidity. There was significant variance among the odor components corresponding to W1W， W2W and W1S sensors by electronic nose analysis. It was indicated that the value of sourness in deteriorated samples generally increased by mean of electronic tongue analysis. Compared with normal samples， the moth-eaten samples had changed slightly and rancidity samples had changed significantly especially oxidative rancidity samples of volatile components， odor and taste by multivariate statistical analysis. ConclusionIn terms of Platycladi Semen， the oxidative rancidity caused by nature storage for 12 months has the greatest impact on the quality. Therefore， it should be mainly to prevent oxidative rancidity to ensure the quality of Platycladi Semen.

Objective:To evaluate the effects of different densities of rat cardiac fibroblasts (RCF) subjected to hypothermic hypoxia-reoxygenation on cardiomyocyte injury and intercellular coupling.Methods:RCF was cultured in vitro and divided into 3 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: RCF density 0.5×10 5 cells/ml group (T 0.5 group), RCF density 1.0×10 5 cells/ml group (T 1.0 group), and RCF density 2.0×10 5 cells/ml group (T 2.0 group). The three groups were placed in an anoxic device, into which 95% N 2 + 5% CO 2 was continuously blown at the speed of 5 L/min for 15 min, and then placed in a 4 ℃ refrigerator for 1 h for low temperature treatment.After completion of culture, cells were placed in a incubator containing 95% air + 5% CO 2 at 37 ℃ for 4 h of reoxygenation.After the end of culture, RCF in three groups were indirectly co-cultured with cardiomyocytes of the same density (1.0×10 5 cells/ml) in a Transwell chamber for 16 h, cardiomyocytes were seeded in the lower chamber of Transwell, and RCF were seeded in the upper chamber of Transwell.After the end of co-culture, cardiomyocytes were collected for determination of the cell viability (by CCK8 method), apoptosis rate (by flow cytometry), expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) mRNA (by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction), and expression of Cx43 and phosphorylated Cx43 (p-Cx43) (by Western blot). Results:Compared with T 0.5 group, the cell viability, apoptosis rate and expression of Cx43, p-Cx43 and Cx43 mRNA were significantly decreased in T 1.0 and T 2.0 groups ( P<0.01). Compared with T 1.0 group, the cell viability, apoptosis rate and expression of Cx43 and p-Cx43 were significantly decreased ( P<0.01), and no significant change was found in expression of Cx43 mRNA in cardiomyocytes in T 2.0 group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:RCF subjected to hypothermic hypoxia-reoxygenation induces cardiomyocyte injury in a density-dependent manner in a certain range, and the mechanism may be related to down-regulation of the expression of Cx43 and reduction of the activity of Cx43.

Objective:To evaluate the effects of different density rat fibroblasts on the expression of conjunctin 43 (Cx43) in cardiomyocytes and cell viability.Methods:Cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts were co-cultured using Transwell, cardiomyocytes were inoculated into the lower chamber of Transwell and fibroblasts into the upper chamber of Transwell.The cells were divided into 3 groups ( n=12 each) by a random number table method: fibroblast density 0.5×10 5 cells/ml group (group C 0.5), fibroblast density 1×10 5 cells/ml group (group C 1), and fibroblast density 2×10 5 cells/ml group (group C 2), with the density of cardiomyocytes 1×10 5 cells/ml in three groups.Cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts were co-cultured for 20 h in three groups.Cardiomyocytes were collected after co-culture for determination of cell viability (by CCK8 method), apoptosis rate (by flow cytometry), and expression of Cx43 mRNA (by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction) and expression of Cx43 and phosphorylated Cx43 (p-Cx43) (by Western blot). Results:There was no significant difference in the apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes among the three groups ( P>0.05). Compared with group C 0.5, the expression of Cx43 protein and mRNA and p-Cx43 was significantly up-regulated in group C 1, the cardiomyocyte viability was significantly increased, and the expression of Cx43 protein and mRNA and p-Cx43 was up-regulated in group C 2 ( P<0.05). Compared with group C 1, the cardiomyocyte viability was significantly increased, and the expression of Cx43 protein and mRNA and p-Cx43 was up-regulated in group C 2 ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Rat fibroblasts up-regulate the expression of Cx43 and enhance the activity of Cx43 in cardiomyocytes and enhance cell viability in a density-dependent manner in a certain range.

BACKGROUND:At present, the methods of treating unstable comminuted radial head fractures contain open reduction and internal fixation and metal prosthesis replacement. There were success cases treated by the two methods, but some shortcomings simultaneously existed.
OBJECTIVE:To compare the clinical therapeutic effects of replacement of the radial head with metal prosthesis with open reduction and internal fixation for the treatment of unstable comminuted radial head fractures.
METHODS:A prospective randomized control ed analysis was performed in 45 cases of unstable comminuted radial head fractures. These cases received open reduction and internal fixation and metal prosthesis replacement. This study compared the Broberg and Morrey elbow joint function score and the incidence of complications after fixation, and performed statistical analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The subjects were fol owed up for 1-5 years, averagely 2.8 years. According to Broberg and Morrey scores, the average score was 90.1 and the incidence of complications was 13.6%in the prosthesis replacement group. The average score was 76.8 and the incidence of complications was 47.9%in the open reduction. Significant differences were visible between the two groups (P<0.01). Compared with the open reduction group, prosthesis replacement for unstable comminuted radial head fractures obtained better joint function and lower incidence of complications.

Facial paralysis is a frequently-occurring disease, which causes the loss of the voluntary muscles on one side of the face due to the damages the facial nerve and results in an inability to close the eye and leads to dropping of the angle of the mouth. There have been few objective methods to quantitatively diagnose it and assess this disease for clinically treating the patients so far. The skin temperature distribution of a healthy human body exhibits a contralateral symmetry. Facial paralysis usually causes an alteration of the temperature distribution of body with the disease. This paper presents the use of the histogram distance of bilateral local binary pattern (LBP) in the facial infrared thermography to measure the asymmetry degree of facial temperature distribution for objective assessing the severity of facial paralysis. Using this new method, we performed a controlled trial to assess the facial nerve function of the healthy subjects and the patients with Bell's palsy respectively. The results showed that the mean sensitivity and specificity of this method are 0.86 and 0.89 respectively. The correlation coefficient between the asymmetry degree of facial temperature distribution and the severity of facial paralysis is an average of 0.657. Therefore, the histogram distance of local binary pattern in the facial infrared thermography is an efficient clinical indicator with respect to the diagnosis and assessment of facial paralysis.
Facial Paralysis ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Infrared Rays ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; methods ; Skin Temperature ; Thermography ; instrumentation

OBJECTIVETo learn the existence of natural focus of Lyme disease and its distribution.

METHODSA semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was developed for detection and genotyping of Borrelia burgdorferi on basis of outer surface protein A (OspA) gene. Ticks and mice collected from 6 forest areas in Beijing were detected with above methods. The positive PCR products were cloned and sequenced. The sequences were compared with published sequences for homology. IFA as used to detect IgG antibody on Borrelia burgdorferi. Lyme disease spirochete were isolated from H. longicornis were also attempted.

RESULTSB. Burgdorferi sensu lato were detected from 939 ticks and 250 mice specimens collected from above 6 study sites using primer pairs OA(1)/OA(4) and SL/OA(4). Only the specimens collected from Dongling mountain showed positive amplification. One in three adult Ixodes persulcatus with one of 57 nymph Ixodes persulcatus showed positive while 9 of 119 (7.56%) mice specimens showed positive, of which 8 were B. grinii and one B. afzelii. In this study, we attempted to isolate B. burgdorferi sensu lato strains from 160 H. longicornis ticks (20/group) but failed. Serological survey showed a 9.1% (5/55) infection rate with B. burgdorferi sensu lato in the mice of Dongling mountain forest areas.

CONCLUSIONSThe natural focus of Lyme disease including B. garinii and B. afzelii might have existed in Dongling mountain of Mentougou district, Beijing. Ixodes persulcatu and mice may serve as vectors and reservoirs, respectively.

Animals ; Antigens, Surface ; genetics ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Bacterial Vaccines ; Borrelia burgdorferi ; genetics ; Borrelia burgdorferi Group ; classification ; genetics ; Humans ; Ixodes ; microbiology ; Lipoproteins ; Lyme Disease ; microbiology ; Mice ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

Objective To investigate the mammographic,galactographic,pneumographic features and their pathological basis.Methods Mammography(n=26),galactography(n=13),pneumography(n=5)and specimen radiography(n=12) in 26 cases pathologically proved,and mammographic-pathologic correlation were analyzed.Results The breast hamartomas in 26 cases were all benign,they were circumscribed and surrounded by a true capsule.The mammographic appearances could be divided into three types acording to different amount of fibroglandular and adipose tissue in tumors:prominantly fatty,prominantly fibrous(fibroglandular)and mixed fibrofatty.Conclusion A clearly containing areas of fat and fibroglandular density and a characteristic"slice of sausage"appearance can be showed on mammograms.Galactography and pneumography is of a great help to differential diagnosis of breast hamartomas.

Objective:To study the influence of surgical operation on cellular kinetics in peripheral blood monocytes of patients with malignant tumors.Methods:Apoptosis level and proliferative activity were measured and compared between before and after surgical opration in peripheral blood monocytes of patients with malignant tumors.Rusults:Apoptosis level of patients with malignant tumors after surgical operation was lower than that of patients before surgical operation( P