OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of Qiangxin decoction in the treatment of chronic heart failure （CHF） by regulating the inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB alpha/nuclear factor-κB p65 subunit （IκBα/NF-κB p65） signaling pathway-mediated M1 macrophage polarization. METHODS In animal experiments， mice were used as research subjects， and the CHF model was established via coronary artery ligation. Model mice were treated with Qiangxin decoction （21.69 g/kg） for 28 days. After intervention， pathological morphological changes of myocardial tissues and cardiomyocyte apoptosis were observed. Serum levels of inflammatory factors including tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-6 （IL-6）， myocardial injury marker troponin I3 （TNNI3）， and macrophage-related markers F4/80 and cluster of differentiation 80 （CD80） were detected. In cell experiments， monocyte-macrophage leukemia RAW264.7 cells were induced to undergo M1 polarization by 10 ng/mL lipopolysaccharide combined with 10 ng/mL interferon-γ， followed by 48 h intervention with 10% drug-containing serum of Qiangxin decoction. After intervention， the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 and NF-κB p50 was observed. The positive rate of CD80 in cells was measured. The mRNA expression of inflammatory factors including IL-1β， IL-6， IL-8， IL-18， TNF-α， inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS）， cyclooxygenase-2 （COX2）， C-C motif chemokine receptor 7 isoform 2 （CCR7-2）， as well as the expression levels of proteins related to the IκBα/NF-κB p65 signaling pathway were detected. RESULTS Animal experimental results showed that Qiangxin decoction alleviated myocardial fibrosis in mice， and significantly reduced the cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate， serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6， as well as the protein expression of TNNI3， F4/80 and CD80 in myocardial tissues （P＜0.05）. Cell experimental results indicated that Qiangxin decoction significantly suppressed the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 and NF-κB p50 （P＜0.05）. It significantly decreased the CD80 positive rate， mRNA levels of IL-1β， IL-6， IL-8， IL-18， TNF-α， iNOS， COX2 and CCR7-2， total and nuclear expression of NF-κB p65， total， nuclear and cytoplasmic expression of phosphorylated NF-κB p65， total expression of phosphorylated IκBα （P＜0.05）. Meanwhile， it significantly elevated the total expression of IκBα and cytoplasmic expression of NF-κB p65 （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Qiangxin decoction can inhibit the activity of the IκBα/NF-κB p65 signaling pathway， reduce the release of pro-inflammatory factors， thereby restraining M1 macrophage polarization， mitigating myocardial fibrosis， and ultimately exerting therapeutic effects against CHF.

Objective To employ Borrelia burgdorferi( B. burgdorferi) , a culturable and genetical-ly transformable spirochete, as a surrogate system to study Treponema pallidum ( T. pallidum) gene function. Methods Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the T. pallidum gene tp0111 encodes the putative sigma factor RpoN. We constructed a B. burgdorferi shuttle vector harboring tp0111. The shuttle vector was then trans-formed into the B. burgdorferi rpoN mutant strain. The phenotype of the resulting B. burgdorferi strain was then determined. Results We successfully constructed the B. burgdorferi rpoN mutant carrying the T. palli-dum gene tp0111. We found that tp0111 could partially complement the B. burgdorferi rpoN mutant. Con-clusion This work provides the first experimental evidence showing that tp0111 is the rpoN gene of T. palli-dum. It also demonstrates that B. burgdorferi can be used as a surrogate system for studying T. pallidum gene function.

Numerical simulations of volume conduction can be used to analyze the process of energy transfer and explore the effects of some physical factors on energy transfer efficiency. We analyzed the 3D quasi-static electric field by the finite element method, and developed A 3D coupled field-circuit model of volume conduction basing on the coupling between the circuit and the electric field. The model includes a circuit simulation of the volume conduction to provide direct theoretical guidance for energy transfer optimization design. A field-circuit coupling model with circular cylinder electrodes was established on the platform of the software FEM3.5. Based on this, the effects of electrode cross section area, electrode distance and circuit parameters on the performance of volume conduction system were obtained, which provided a basis for optimized design of energy transfer efficiency.
Algorithms ; Electric Conductivity ; Electrodes ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Equipment Design ; Finite Element Analysis ; Models, Theoretical ; Prostheses and Implants ; Skin Physiological Phenomena

In this paper, a seriesly connected three phase bipolar symmetrical voltage multiplier (VM) is proposed, which is a novel VM for X-ray power supply. It consists of three single phase bipolar symmetrical VM, which are connected in series at their smoothing columns. The charging and discharging process occurs six times in a cycle and the frequency of the output voltage ripple is six times as large as the drive signal frequency. The proposed VM has three times larger output voltage and three times smaller ripple factor as compared to single phase bipolar symmetrical VM, and smaller voltage drop and faster dynamic response than those of the series connected three phase symmetrical VM. The simulation is provided to show the feasibility of proposed VM.
Electric Power Supplies ; Equipment Design ; Radiography ; instrumentation ; Technology, Radiologic ; instrumentation ; X-Rays

Objective To investigate the effects and feasibility of mini-thoracotomy focus cleaning in the management of cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis or pulmonary tuberculoma. Methods The mini-thoracotomy approach was adopted in patients with cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis or pulmonary tuberculoma who had undergone long-term anti-tuberculosis therapy or needed a re-treatment.Eight patients with chronic fibro-cavitative pulmonary tuberculosis and 10 patients with pulmonary tuberculoma underwent focus cleaning, irrigation, and folding suture. Results All the 18 patients were cured clinically, with their sputum findings turning negative for bacteria and pulmonary shadows subsiding. No operative complications occurred. Follow-up for 1～4 years found no recurrence. Conclusions Focus cleaning is an effective surgical alternative for pulmonary tuberculosis after proper selection of cases. The procedure is minimally invasive and patient's pulmonary function can be protected to the greatest possible advantage.