The Guidelines for Establishing Animal Models of Rheumatoid Arthritis with Cold-dampness Obstruction Syndrome and Dampness-heat Obstruction Syndrome （hereinafter referred to as the Guidelines） （No. T/CACM1567-2024） was published by Chinese Association of Chinese Medicine on January 11， 2024. To assist researchers and medical workers in understanding and applying the Guidelines more accurately， and also to provide reference and assistance for the establishment of guidelines on other types of diseases and syndromes combined with animal models， this paper made a declaration of the workflow， technological links， development references， promotion of its application and after-effect evaluation of the Guidelines that has been made according to the requirements of "Draft Group Standard of the Standardization Office of the Chinese Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine".

Microglia cells are unique macrophages of the central nervous system,which play an important role in nerve injury,repair and remodeling.The functional abnormalities of the central auditory pathway and limbic sys-tem,as well as neural structure and functional remodeling are the focus of the central mechanism of tinnitus.M1 and M2 microglia participate in neural remodeling through pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses,respec-tively.In recent years,studies have found that microglia are involved in the pathogenesis of acute tinnitus by relea-sing their related cytokines,but the specific mechanism is still unclear.This study reviewed the research progress of M1 and M2 microglia in the mechanism of acute tinnitus.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) on admission on predicting neurological outcomes for stroke patients at the convalescence stage (three months after stroke). MethodsA total of 277 inpatients with ischemic stroke in Wenzhou TCM Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University from November, 2022 to January, 2023 were divided into good outcome group (n = 195) and poor outcome group (n = 82) according to the score of modified Rankin Scale (mRS) three months after stroke. Their clinical data and GNRI were compared. ResultsCompared with the good outcome group, the poor outcome group showed a lower level of GNRI (t = -9.569, P < 0.001), more proportion of patients with high nutritional risk (χ² = 68.861, P < 0.001). More cases with poor outcome were found with higher nutritional risk (Z = 65.406, P < 0.001). After covariate adjustment, higher level of GNRI was an independent protective factor for poor outcome three months after stroke (OR = 0.895, 95%CI 0.864 to 0.927, P < 0.05), and the OR increased with the nutritional risk grade of GNRI (P < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of GNRI, score of NIHSS, and BMI were 0.812 (Z = 11.576, P < 0.001), 0.759 (Z = 8.328, P < 0.001), and 0.594 (Z = 2.716, P = 0.007), respectively; while the combination of GNRI and NIHSS was more effective (AUC = 0.875, Z = 17.389, P < 0.001). The sensitivities of GNRI, NIHSS and the combination of the two in predicting neurological function were 65.85%, 76.83% and 79.21%, respectively, and the specificities were 81.54%, 60.51% and 82.95%, respectively. ConclusionGNRI on admission is associated with neurological function three months after stroke. GNRI can be used alone or in combination with NIHSS score to predict neurological outcome in the rehabilitation period, which is a useful complement to traditional predictors.

Objective:The susceptibility of tinnitus rats with low estrogen level induced by sodium salicylate and the changes of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in serum were observed to investigate the relationship between tinnitus occurrence and estrogen level.Methods:Forty-two healthy female Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group( n=6), normal group( n=6), sham operation group( n=6) and ovariectomized group( n=24). Control group was intraperitoneally injected with normal saline 200 mg/kg for 14 consecutive days. Normal group, sham operation group and ovariectomized group were intraperitoneally injected with sodium salicylate 200 mg/kg for 14 consecutive days. Before and after sodium salicylate induction, the tinnitus behavior of rats in each group was detected by prepulse inhibition (PPI) and gap pre-pulse inhibition of the acoustic startle (GPIAS) test. Before and after sodium salicylate induction, blood samples were collected from eyeballs of rats in each group, and serum levels of estradiol and TNF-α were detected by ELISA. SPSS 25.0 software was used to analyze the data. Results:(1) Following 14 days of sodium salicylate intervention, there was no significant difference in PPI inhibition rate between groups or within groups(all P>0.05). (2)There was no significant difference in the inhibition rate of GPIAS in the four groups before sodium salicylate injection( F=0.217, P>0.05). With sodium salicylate injected for 14 days, the inhibition rate of GPIAS in ovariectomized group (30.88%±15.40%) was significantly lower than that in the other three groups (44.11%±21.06%, 38.27%±10.92%, 51.59%±11.34%), and the difference was statistically significant( F=3.533, P<0.05). The inhibition rate of GPIAS in ovariectomized group with sodium salicylate injected for 14 days was significantly lower than that before injection, and the difference was statistically significant( t=2.977, P<0.05).There was no significant difference in GPIAS inhibition rate between the other three groups before and after sodium salicylate injection( P>0.05). (3)The level of TNF-α in ovariectomized rats was significantly higher than that in the other three groups, the difference was statistically significant(all P<0.05). With sodium salicylate injection for 14 days, TNF-α level in the ovariectomized group increased more significantly than that in the other three groups, the difference was statistically significant( F=8.045, P<0.05). TNF-α levels increased following salicylate injection in normal group, sham operation group and ovariectomized group, and the differences were statistically significant( t value was -4.843, -4.932 and -5.965 respectively, each P<0.05). There was no significant difference in TNF-α levels before and after normal saline injection in control group(all P>0.05). Conclusion:Low estrogen levels increase susceptibility to sodium salicylate-induced tinnitus. Decreased estrogen levels may increase susceptibility to tinnitus through the increased expression of pro-inflammatory factor TNF-α.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in infected hepatocytes is the main cause of off-therapy viral rebound. The half-life of cccDNA is only 33-50 days, so the conversion of newly synthesized rcDNA to cccDNA in the nucleus is essential for the maintenance of cccDNA pool in infected hepatocytes. Though not directly targeting the existing cccDNA, current nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) may exhaust the cccDNA reservoir by blocking the rcDNA formation. Indeed, a prolonged consolidation therapy post loss of serum HBV DNA can achieve sustained remission and thus safe drug discontinuation in a small proportion of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. In recent studies, we and others have demonstrated that it is the serum HBV RNA that reflects the cccDNA activity in infected hepatocytes, particularly among the patients on NAs. Here we suggest that instead of measuring serum HBV DNA only, simultaneous measurement of both viral DNA and RNA would improve the accuracy to reflect the cccDNA activity; therefore, the virological response should be redefined as consistent loss (less than the lower limit of detection) of both serum HBV DNA and RNA, which indicates the safety of drug discontinuation. Accumulating evidence has suggested that for the CHB patients with lower serum HBsAg, switch-to or add-on pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) treatment would result in loss of serum HBsAg in a relatively large proportion of CHB patients. Since serum HBV RNA is an ideal biomarker to reflect the intrahepatic cccDNA activity, for the patients with a serum HBsAg level lower than 1 500 IU/ml after long-term NAs treatment, the serum HBV RNA should be measured. If serum HBV RNA is detected, peg-IFN should be added on; if serum HBV RNA is not detected, NAs treatment should be switched to peg-IFN treatment. We believe the therapy based on serum HBV RNA would make the functional cure of CHB (serum HBsAg loss or even conversion to anti-HBs) more efficient.

Objective To explore the relation between the enlargement of orbital volume and the degree of enophthalmos, and that between the enlarged volume of floor together with that of medial wall and the degree of enophthalmos. Methods A total of 17 patients of unilarteral orbital fracture were scanned by MSCT (slice width 0.625mm), who suffered late enophthalmos as a results of combination fracture of the medial wall and floor. The clinical data were collected, and input into a software named MIMICS in order to measure orbital volume, the degree of enophthalmos, the enlarged volume of medial wall, and that of orbital floor. Simple linear correlation and regression were carried out between the enlargement of orbital volume and the degree of enophthalmos. Mutiple linear correlation and regression were carried out between the enlarging volume of floor together with that of medial wall and the degree of enophthalmos. Results The equation of the enlargement of orbital volume (V) and the degree of enophthalmos (E) was E= 0.851 V-0.197 (Pearson r=0.969, P＜0.01, the 95% confidence intervals of 0.732-0.970). The standardized equation between the enlarged volume of floor together with that of medial wall and the degree of enophthalmos was E= 0.690 VF+0.413 VM-0. 086 (setpwise, entry =0.5, removal= 0. 11,P＜0.01 ); Comparing the standardized coefficients of independent variables, the outcome was bF (0.690) ＞ bM(0.413). Conclusion Significant linear correlation between the increment of the orbital volume and the degree of enophthalmos is found that 1.0 ml enlargeement in bony volume causes approximately 0.9 mm of enophthalmos; enlarged volume of floor has more powerful influence on the degree of enophthalmos than enlarged volume of medial wall, the former is 1.56 times of the latter.

Objective To study the clinical efficacy of bilateral double Z plasties for correction of the webbed neck defects, and to explore its principle and superiority to other reported methods. Methods We designed a small Z plasty over the mastoid with a rhomboidal skin resection of infra-hairline, and another large Z plasty transposition skin flap in superior-acromion. The tight band of fibrous webbing was separately cut and undermined at infra-mastoid and midclavicular line, wherein the middle part of the band retracted medially.Results It involved narrow tunneled anterolateral skin undermining and minimal skin resections from the nape of the neck, and posterior rhomboidal skin excision avoided the unnatural and noticeable lateral scars with normal skin extended in the middle of the webbing.The resultant scar was hidden and mild with no hypertrophic scars. A total of 5 cases were repaired, in which 1 case was male, 4 others were females. Follow-up for 1 to 11 years showed that the appearance and function in the repaired sites by using the bilateral double Z-plasties for repair of webbed neck deformity were very satisfactory. Conclusion We propose the use of this technique for correction of webbed neck deformities with simplified manipulation and cosmetic effect.

In the face of the worldwide threat of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) to human life, some of the most urgent challenges are to develop fast and accurate analytical methods for early diagnosis of this disease as well as to create a safe anti-viral vaccine for prevention. To these ends, we investigated the antigenicity of the spike protein (S protein), a major structural protein in the SARS-coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Based upon the theoretical analysis for hydrophobicity of the S protein, 18 peptides were synthesized. Using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), these peptides were screened in the sera from SARS patients. According to these results, two fragments of the S gene were amplified by PCR and cloned into pET-32a. Both S fragments were expressed in the BL-21 strain and further purified with an affinity chromatography. These recombinant S fragments were confirmed to have positive cross-reactions with SARS sera, either by Western blot or by ELISA. Our results demonstrated that the potential epitope regions were located at Codons 469-882 in the S protein, and one epitope site was located at Codons 599-620. Identification of antigenic regions in the SARS-CoV S protein may be important for the functional studies of this virus or the development of clinical diagnosis.
Antigens, Viral ; immunology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cloning, Molecular ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Molecular Weight ; Peptide Fragments ; chemistry ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism

Objective To study the course of different cervical nerve segments and their related intervertebral foramen’s size so as to increase safety and decrease complications in microinvasive surgery for cervical syndrome. Methods Fifteen human cervical specimens (30 sides) were anatomically observed for the course, branches and distribution of cervical nerves. Results The diameter of intervertebral foramen ranges from 0.54 to 0.65 cm, and increases gradually from top to bottom. The vertical diameter and anteroposterior diameter between C4, C5 and C6 vertebrae are smaller, and those between C3 and C7 are larger, but the diameter line of nerve root in intervertebral foramen from up to down gradually increases. The anteversion angle between nerve root and spine cord on horizontal plane is from 15? to 19?, within a small variation, while the declination angle on coronal plane gradually decreases from C3 to C7. There exist plenty of anastomosis branches among the cervical dorsal rami. Conclusion In the range of 0.6 cm around articular process at the entrance of intervertebral foramen, it is the narrowest part, the removal of which may alleviate the pressure on nerve root and benefit spinal stability. Because of the general existence of anastomosis branches of cervical nerve, the symptoms of cervical syndrome are not completely consistent to innervation. The intervertebral foramen between C4, C5, C6 is relatively small and the diameter line of nerve root is comparatively large, so the nerve root at C4, C5, C6 is most likely to be pressed.

Objective　To search a simple, safe and effective osteotomy for hypertrophied mandibular angle.Methods　Hypertrophied mandibular angles were classified as lateral bulge, posteroinferior projection and combination based on their appearances. With local nerve blocking and infiltrating anesthesia, 162 cases with hypertrophied mandibular angel were respectively operated by intraoral approach with sagittal split, curved or combinative osteotomy method according to their types. Hypertrophied masseters were partially resected simutaneouly in 75 cases combined with masseter hypertrophy, and buccal fat pads were extracted in 52 cases associated with round faces.Results　Postoperative follow-up of 3～12 months to 60 cases of them showed 94.3 % of them were satisfactory.Conclusion　This operative method is simple and safe.It has minimal influence on the overall body of patients, and it is accord with the rules of aesthetic surgery.