BACKGROUND:The effect of electroacupuncture on the proliferation and differentiation of hippocampal oligodendrocytes in model mice with Alzheimer's disease remains poorly understood while demyelinating reaction related to oligodendrocytes is a common pathological reaction of Alzheimer's disease. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects and mechanism of electroacupuncture stimulation of"Baihui"(GV 20),"Fengfu"(GV 16)and bilateral"Shenshu"(BL 23)in Alzheimer's disease model mice on the proliferation and differentiation of endogenous neural stem cells to neurons and oligodendrocytes. METHODS:Forty 6-week-old SPF APP/PS1 transgenic male Alzheimer's disease model mice were randomly divided into electroacupuncture group(n=20)and Alzheimer's disease model group(n=20).Healthy male C57BL/6J mice of the same age were used as normal controls(n=20).The mice in the electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture at"Baihui"(GV 20),"Fengfu"(GV 16)and bilateral"Shenshu"(BL 23)for 16 weeks(20 minutes/day and one day off a week).After electroacupuncture,Morris water maze was used to detect the changes of learning and memory function.Immunohistochemistry was utilized to detect hippocampal dentate gyrus β-amyloid senile plaques.The expression of BrdU/NeuN and BrdU/GALC in the hippocampal dentate gyrus was detected by immunofluorescence double labeling.Western blot assay was used to detect the expression levels of neuron specific protein Nestin and oligodendrocyte specific protein GALC in the hippocampus.mRNA and protein levels of Notch1 and Hes1 in the hippocampus were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the normal control group,the ability of learning and memory in the Alzheimer's disease model group decreased significantly;hippocampal dentate gyrus β-amyloid senile plaques increased significantly(P<0.01);the expression of GALC and Nestin in the hippocampus decreased significantly(P<0.01,P<0.05).(2)Compared with the Alzheimer's disease model group,the learning and memory ability of the electroacupuncture group was significantly increased;β-amyloid senile plaque in the hippocampal dentate gyrus decreased significantly(P<0.01).BrdU/NeuN double labeled positive cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus and Nestin protein expression in the hippocampus increased significantly(P<0.01,P<0.05);GALC expression in hippocampus increased significantly(P<0.01).The mRNA and protein levels of Notch1 in the hippocampus were significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01).The mRNA and protein levels of Hes1 in the hippocampus decreased significantly(P<0.05).(3)These findings indicate that electroacupuncture at"Baihui"(GV 20),"Fengfu"(GV 16)and bilateral"Shenshu"(BL 23)of the Alzheimer's disease model infant mice can promote the proliferation and differentiation of endogenous neural stem cells to neurons and oligodendrocytes,which may be regulated through the Notch1/Hes1 pathway.

Objective:To explore the protective effect of 18α glycyrrhetinic acid (18α-GA) on acute ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in mice, providing theoretical and experimental basis for the clinical application of 18α-GA.Methods:Forty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: DSS model group, positive drug control group, high, medium, and low dose groups of 18α-GA, with 8 mice in each group. The 5 groups of mice were continuously fed with 3% DSS solution for 7 days to establish an acute UC animal model. At the same time, each group was intraperitoneally injected with 100 mg/kg physiological saline, 100 mg/kg sulfasalazine, 40 mg/kg 18α-GA, 20 mg/kg 18α-GA, and 10 mg/kg 18α-GA daily. The weight of mice was measured and recorded daily, and the Disease Activity Index (DAI) of mice was evaluated. On the 8th day, the mice were euthanized and their colon length was measured; After slicing, the colon mucosa was observed and pathological scoring was performed; Western blot was used to detect the expression of NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway related proteins in colon tissue; Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the content of interleukin(IL)-1β in colon tissue.Results:Compared with the DSS model group, the weight loss amplitude of the 18α-GA high and medium dose groups was significantly smaller on the 7th day (all P<0.05); Colon length was longer (all P<0.05), the pathological score of colon mucosa was significantly lower (all P<0.05); The expression of GSDMD, cleaved caspase1, and IL-1β in colon tissue was significantly lower (all P<0.05); The 18α-GA high-dose group had lower DAI scores ( P<0.05); The expression of NLRP3 was lower in colon tissue ( P<0.05). Conclusions:18α-GA can improve DSS induced acute ulcerative colitis in mice by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.

To report 7 Chinese children with characteristic hyperpigmented macules on the forehead and temples. Among the 7 cases, there were 2 males and 5 females, with the age at onset ranging from 9 to 24 months (12.43 ± 5.32 months), and the disease duration being 1 - 4 months (2.57 ± 1.27 months). Skin examination revealed that the children presented with varying numbers of irregular brown macules and patches scattered on their foreheads and temples, without obvious desquamation. Dermoscopic examination revealed multiple yellowish-brown patches with irregular borders, and linear vessels were observable in some skin lesions. A diagnosis of acquired facial hyperpigmented macules was made in these children. The children received no treatment. After 2 years of follow-up, hyperpigmented macules completely subsided in 2 cases and regressed to varying degrees in 4 cases, while 1 case exhibited no changes in the skin lesions. Considering the literature and the cases discussed in this article, it is hypothesized that acquired facial hyperpigmented macules in young children may represent an independent condition.

Objective:This paper is to propose a calibration model based on sine function which enables more choices to determine the functional relationship between the absorbance and the concentration of the tested substance.Methods:This paper uses Taylor series expansion and Levenberg-Marquardt to obtain the optimal parameters for the Sine model and then summarizes the characters of the Sine model. On the basis of these characters, this paper compares and evaluates the experimental data processed by the Sine model from four aspects: correctness, precision, linearity and correlation.Results:The generated sine function calibration model achieved deviations within ±3% of the national standard substance, precision ( CV%) less than 2%, and a linear correlation coefficient greater than 0.990 within the measurement range of 32-710 mg/L. The correlation coefficients between the sine model and other well-performing linear calibration models for 104 clinical samples were all greater than 0.990. Conclusions:The performance evaluation of the prealbumin assay kit using the sine function calibration model meets industry standards and shows good correlation with the results of clinical sample measurements. This indicates that the sine function calibration model can serve as a new calibration model for in vitro diagnostic research and clinical applications.

Objective:To study the regulatory effect of Wumen-Yiji powder on 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) signal transduction system in intestine and hypothalamus of diarrhea irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) model rats. Methods:Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into blank group (10 rats) and diarrhea irritable bowel syndrome group (50 rats). The diarrhea irritable bowel syndrome group formed the diarrhea irritable bowel syndrome model after 2 weeks of senna leaf gavage and restraint stress. They were randomly divided into model group, deshute group (1.5 mg/kg), low, medium and high dose group of Wumen-Yiji San (6, 12, 24 g/kg), with 10 rats in each group. After continuous administration for 2 weeks, the contents of 5-HT in serum, colon and hypothalamus were detected by ELISA; HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of colon in each group. The protein and mRNA levels of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH-1), serotonin receptor 3 (5-HT3R), serotonin receptor 4 (5-HT4R), serotonin transporter (SERT) in colon and hypothalamus were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR, respectively. Results:Compared with the model group, the pathological morphology of colon in each treatment group was improved. Compared with the model group, the level of 5-HT in serum and colon significantly decreased ( P<0.05), and the level of 5-HT in hypothalamus of rats in the low, medium, high dose group of Wumen-Yiji San significantly increased ( P<0.05). The expression of TPH-1, 5-HT3R and 5-HT4R protein significantly decreased ( P<0.05), and the expression of SERT protein in the medium, high dose group of Wumen-Yiji San significantly increased ( P<0.05). The expression of TPH-1, 5-HT3R and 5-HT4R protein in hypothalamus increased ( P<0.05), and the expression of SERT protein in the high dose group of Wumen-Yiji San significantly decreased ( P<0.05). The mRNA levels of TPH-1 (4.778 ± 0.604, 3.278 ± 0.668, 1.670 ± 0.361 vs. 6.877 ± 0.148), 5-HT3R (3.807 ± 0.463, 2.697 ± 0.455, 1.132 ± 0.136 vs. 6.322 ± 0.778), 5-HT4R (4.521 ± 0.234, 2.801 ± 0.351, 1.331 ± 0.142 vs. 6.741 ± 0.293) in colon tissue of low, medium and high dose groups of Wumen-Yiji San decreased ( P<0.05). The level of 5-HT4R mRNA (0.616 ± 0.208, 0.726 ± 0.226 vs. 0.521 ± 0.062) increased ( P<0.05), and the level of SERT mRNA (1.563 ± 1.023 vs. 2.612 ± 1.035) in medium, high dose group of Wumen-Yiji San decreased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The result showed that Wumen-Yiji San could regulate the expression of 5-HT signaling system relating proteins and mRNA in the colon and hypothalamus of IBS-D rats within a certain dose range, so as to improve the symptoms of IBS-D.

Objective:To analyze the association between thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) and differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) metastases detected by post-radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy scan, when stimulated thyroglobulin (sTg) <1 μg/L.Methods:A total of 314 (68 males, 246 females, age (44.5±12.5) years) post-thyroidectomy DTC patients whose sTg <1 μg/L between March 2013 and May 2017 in Henan Cancer Hospital were enrolled retrospectively. Patients underwent 131I whole-body planar imaging ( 131I-WBS) and SPECT/CT imaging 5 d after 131I administration. Iodine avid metastases were compared between TgAb-positive group and TgAb-negative (TgAb<4 kU/L) group. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess odds ratio ( OR) for iodine avid metastases in each subgroup (Q1: 4 kU/L≤TgAb≤9.27 kU/L; Q2: 9.27 kU/L101.43 kU/L) of TgAb-positive patients, with the TgAb-negative patients as the reference. χ2 test was used to analyze the data. Results:Iodine avid metastases were found in 16.9% (53/314) of DTC patients and were more frequently in TgAb-positive group with TgAb>26.75 kU/L than TgAb-negative group (26.0%(19/73) vs 13.7%(23/168); χ2=5.382, P=0.02). Most metastases (92.5%, 49/53) occurred in cervical and mediastinal lymph nodes. The OR for iodine avid metastases was obviously high in TgAb-positive patients with 26.75 kU/L

Objective:To analyze the trend of medication use in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) in recent ten years in at Xijing Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University.Methods:From 2010 to 2019, the clinical data of 1 425 patients diagnosed with UC in the Department of Gastroenterology at Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, were retrospectively collected. According to the period of medication, the UC patients were divided into year 2010 to 2014 group and year 2015 to 2019 group. The general information and the medication trend of year 2010 to 2014 group and year 2015 to 2019 group were analyzed. And then according to gender and age (<40 years old and ≥40 years old), patients were divided into subgroups and analyzed. Independent sample t test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results:The number of UC patients of year 2010 to 2014 group and year 2015 to 2019 group was 369 and 1 056, respectively. The percentages of patients in remission of the two groups were 9.5% (35/369) and 12.0% (127/1 056), respectively; the percentages of mild patients were 40.4% (149/369) and 41.6% (439/1 056), respectively; the percentages of moderate patients were 37.4% (138/369) and 28.9% (305/1 056), respectively; the percentages of severe patients were 12.7% (47/369) and 17.5% (185/1 056), respectively. There was no significant difference in the proportion of UC patients with different degrees between year 2010 to 2014 group and year 2015 to 2019 group ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the age and proportion of female between the year 2010 to 2014 group and year 2015 to 2019 group ((46.2±15.3) years old vs. (44.6±30.6) years old; 45.8%, 169/369 vs. 44.8%, 473/1 056; both P>0.05). The utilization rates of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), glucocorticoid, immunosuppressants, and biological agents of the year 2015 to 2019 group were all higher than those of the year 2010 to 2014 group (96.8%, 1 022/1 056 vs. 90.0%, 332/369; 29.9%, 316/1 056 vs. 14.6%, 54/369; 8.4%, 89/1 056 vs. 2.4%, 9/369; 4.8%, 51/1 056 vs. 0.5%, 2/369, respectively), and the differences were all statistically significant ( χ2=26.766, 33.256, 15.315 and 14.038, all P<0.01). Within each of the year 2010 to 2014 group and the year 2015 to 2019 group, there were no significant differences between the female and male in the age, utilization rates of 5-ASA, glucocorticoid, immunosuppressants and biological agents ((47.2±13.6) years old vs. (45.3±16.5) years old, (43.1±12.9) years old vs. (45.8±39.5) years old, 88.8%, 150/169 vs. 91.0%, 182/200; 96.8%, 458/473 vs. 96.7%, 564/583; 13.6%, 23/169 vs. 15.5%, 31/200; 28.3%, 134/473 vs. 31.2%, 182/583; 2.4%, 4/169 vs. 2.5%, 5/200; 7.0%, 33/473 vs. 9.6%, 56/583; 0 vs. 1.0%, 2/200; 5.3%, 25/473 vs. 4.5%, 26/583; all P>0.05). In the patients aged≥40 years old of the year 2010 to 2014 group, the proportion of females was higher than that of the patients aged <40 years old (50.2%, 121/241 vs. 37.5%, 48/128), and the utilization rate of 5-ASA in patients aged ≥40 years old was lower than that of patients aged <40 years old (85.9%, 207/241 vs. 97.7%, 125/128), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=5.438 and 12.824, P=0.020 and P<0.01). In the year 2010 to 2014 group, there were no statistically significant differences in the utilization rates of glucocorticoid, immunosuppressants and biological agents between patients aged ≥40 years old and patients aged <40 years old (13.7%, 33/241 vs. 16.4%, 21/128; 2.1%, 5/241 vs. 3.1%, 4/128; 0 vs. 1.6%, 2/128; all P>0.05). In the year 2015 to 2019 group, the utilization rate of biological agents in patients aged≥40 years old was lower than that in patients aged<40 years old (3.7%, 23/630 vs. 46.5%, 198/426), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=4.721, P=0.030). In the year 2015 to 2019 group, there were no statistically significant differences in female proportion, utilization rates of 5-ASA, glucocorticoid, immunosuppressants and biological agents between patients aged≥40 years old and patients aged <40 years old (43.7%, 275/630 vs. 46.5%, 198/426; 96.0%, 605/630 vs. 97.9%, 417/426; 29.7%, 187/630 vs. 30.3%, 129/426; 8.6%, 54/630 vs. 8.2%, 35/426; all P>0.05). Conclusions:Compared with year 2010 to 2014, the number of UC patients remarkably increased in the year 2015 to 2019 in the Department of Gastroenterology, Xijing Hospiatal, Air Force Medical University. The utilization rates of 5-ASA, glucocorticoid, immunosuppressants and biological agents all increased in UC patients. The medication trends of UC patients with different gender were almost the same. The medication trends of UC patients with different age were different.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of 125I seed implantation guided by CT in treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. Methods:The data of 63 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer in the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from Jun. 2015 to Jun. 2018 (48 males and 15 females) were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent CT-guided 125I seed implantation, and regular follow-up after operation. All patients were followed up for 3 to 36 months to evaluate the clinical efficacy, including the volume of cancer before and after treatment, tumor marker CA199 and changes in complications such as abdominal pain and jaundice, and the survival status of the patients. Results:Three months after seed implantation, 9 cases (14.3%) had complete remission of cancer in 63 patients, 33 cases had partial remission (52.4%) , 15 cases had no change (23.8%) , and 6 cases had disease progression (9.5%) . The total effective rate was 67.7%. Three months after treatment, the volume of cancer was (31.92±14.93) cm 3, which was significantly smaller than that before treatment [ (44.88±16.19) cm 3; t=6.79, P<0.01]. Three months after treatment, Serum CA199 (77.21±58.69 U/ml) was significantly lower than that before treatment (327.76±110.42) U/ml ( t=16.56, P<0.05) . 125I seed implantation for advanced pancreatic cancer had an average survival period of (13.04±0.92) months and a median delivery period of 11 months. Of the 57 patients with different degrees of abdominal pain, 49 were better than before, and the pain relief rate was 85.9%. Among 42 patients with jaundice symptoms of varying degrees, 31 were better than before, and the jaundice remission rate was 73.8%. There were no serious complications related to treatment in any patients. Conclusion:125I seed implantation therapy can safely and effectively treat advanced pancreatic cancer, and improve related clinical symptoms such as abdominal pain and jaundice.

Objective:To assess the value of CD4 + and CD8 + T-lymphocyte counts for the diagnostic classification and prognosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods:A total of 95 COVID-19 adult patients admitted to Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University from January to March 2020 were recruited. The CD4 + and CD8 + T-lymphocyte counts among ordinary, severe and critical patients, as well among the cured, improved, unimproved and death patients were compared. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was used to evaluate the value of CD4 + and CD8 + T-lymphocyte counts for the clinical diagnosis and prognosis of COVID-19. The comparison among groups was performed by Mann-Whitney U test. Results:A total of 95 COVID-19 cases including 68 common, 11 severe and 16 critical cases were enrolled. The counts of CD4 + and CD8 + T-lymphocyte of patients in common, severe and critical groups were 419 (309, 612), 267 (212, 540), 141 (77, 201)/μL, and 238 (153, 375), 128 (96, 172), 92 (51, 144)/μL, respectively, with significant differences ( Z=24.322 and 15.956, respectively, both P<0.01). The counts of CD4 + and CD8 + T-lymphocyte of the death, unimproved, improved, and cured patients were 149 (143, 349), 315 (116, 414), 344 (294, 426), 745 (611, 966)/μL, and 106 (43, 501), 176(67, 279), 194(188, 432), 429(276, 564)/μL, respectively, with significant differences ( Z=36.083 and 16.658, respectively, both P<0.01). The optimal cut-off point of CD4 + T-lymphocyte counts was 237/μL for critical COVID-19 with AUROC 0.911 (95% confidence interval ( CI) 0.833-0.989, P<0.01), with the sensitivity of 86.1% and specificity of 87.5%. For predicting severe and critical cases, the optimal cut-off point of CD4 + T-lymphocyte counts was 405/μL with AUROC 0.863 (95% CI 0.727-0.999, P=0.001), with the sensitivity of 78.6% and specificity of 74.6%. Conclusions:The conditions of patients with COVID-19 are aggravated with CD4 + and CD8 + T-lymphocyte counts decreasing. CD4 + T-lymphocyte counts may be an indicator for diagnostic classification of COVID-19 and prognostic indicator for severe and critical patients.

Objective:To understand the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of children with hereditary thrombocytopenia (HT).Methods:The clinical data of 5 patients with HT in the Hematology and Oncology Department of Children′s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from August 2015 to October 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical and laboratory characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of HT were discussed by reviewing relevant literatures.Results:Five patients included 3 boys and 2 girls.The median age at onset of 4 years and 2 months old and the median age at diagnose was 4 years and 4 months old.All patients presented with the thrombocytopenia, among which 4 cases were macrothrombocytopenia and 1 case was normothrombocytopenia.The main clinical presentations of 5 patients were skin petechiae and ecchymoses.Four cases were initially misdiagnosed as immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and received the glucocorticoid and immunoglobulin, while the therapeutic effect was not satisfactory.The gene sequencing confirmed MYH9 gene mutation(c.3493C>T), MYH9 gene mutation(c.5878G>A), NBEAL2 gene compound heterozygous mutation(c.295C>T; c.4169C>T), GP1BA gene mutation(c.1761A>C), and ANKRD26 gene mutation(c.5123A>G), in 5 patients respectively. Conclusions:HT should be suspected among those with recurrent isolated thrombocytopenia and no response to the ITP regimen, and the early gene screening is of great significance to the patients′ treatment and prognosis.