Animals ; Callithrix ; Sex Factors ; Vocalization, Animal ; Sex Characteristics

Background/Aims: Despite the high efficacy of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), approximately 1–3% of hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients fail to achieve a sustained virological response. We conducted a nationwide study to investigate risk factors associated with DAA treatment failure. Machine-learning algorithms have been applied to discriminate subjects who may fail to respond to DAA therapy. Methods: We analyzed the Taiwan HCV Registry Program database to explore predictors of DAA failure in HCV patients. Fifty-five host and virological features were assessed using multivariate logistic regression, decision tree, random forest, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and artificial neural network. The primary outcome was undetectable HCV RNA at 12 weeks after the end of treatment. Results: The training (n=23,955) and validation (n=10,346) datasets had similar baseline demographics, with an overall DAA failure rate of 1.6% (n=538). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, poor DAA adherence, and higher hemoglobin A1c were significantly associated with virological failure. XGBoost outperformed the other algorithms and logistic regression models, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 1.000 in the training dataset and 0.803 in the validation dataset. The top five predictors of treatment failure were HCV RNA, body mass index, α-fetoprotein, platelets, and FIB-4 index. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the XGBoost model (cutoff value=0.5) were 99.5%, 69.7%, 99.9%, 97.4%, and 99.5%, respectively, for the entire dataset. Conclusions Machine learning algorithms effectively provide risk stratification for DAA failure and additional information on the factors associated with DAA failure.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) with different time intervals on corticospinal excitability of the primary motor cortex (M1) and the upper limb motor function in healthy subjects and observe the after-effect rule of acupuncture. METHODS: Self-comparison before and after intervention design was adopted. Fifteen healthy subjects were included and all of them received three stages of trial observation, namely EA₀ group (received one session of EA), EA_6h group (received two sessions of EA within 1 day, with an interval of 6 h) and EA_48h group (received two sessions of EA within 3 days, with an interval of 48 h). The washout period among stages was 1 week. In each group, the needles were inserted perpendicularly at Hegu (LI 4) on the left side, 23 mm in depth and at a non-acupoint, 0.5 cm nearby to the left side of Hegu (LI 4), separately. Han's acupoint nerve stimulator (HANS-200A) was attached to these two needles, with continuous wave and the frequency of 2 Hz. The stimulation intensity was exerted higher than the exercise threshold (local muscle twitching was visible, and pain was tolerable by healthy subjects, 1-2 mA ). The needles were retained for 30 min. Using the single pulse mode of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) technique, before the first session of EA (T0) and at the moment (T1), in 2 h (T2) and 24 h (T3) after the end of the last session of EA, on the left first dorsal interosseous muscle, the amplitude, latency (LAT), resting motor threshold (rMT) of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and the completion time of grooved pegboard test (GPT) were detected. Besides, in the EA_6h group, TMS was adopted to detect the excitability of M1 (amplitude, LAT and rMT of MEPs) before the last session of EA (T0*). RESULTS: The amplitude of MEPs at T1 and T2 in the EA₀ group, at T0* in the EA_6h group and at T1, T2 and T3 in the EA_48h group was higher when compared with the value at T0 in each group separately (P<0.001). At T1, the amplitude of MEPs in the EA₀ group and the EA_48h group was higher than that in the EA_6h group (P<0.001, P<0.01); at T2, it was higher in the EA₀ group when compared with that in the EA_6h group (P<0.01); at T3, the amplitude in the EA₀ group and the EA_6h group was lower than that of the EA_48h group (P<0.001). The LAT at T1 was shorter than that at T0 in the three groups (P<0.05), and the changes were not obvious at the rest time points compared with that at T0 (P > 0.05). The GPT completion time of healthy subjects in the EA₀ group and the EA_48h group at T1, T2 and T3 was reduced in comparison with that at T0 (P<0.001). The completion time at T3 was shorter than that at T0 in the EA_6h group (P<0.05); at T2, it was reduced in the EA_48h group when compared with that of the EA_6h group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in rMT among the three groups and within each group (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Under physiological conditions, EA has obvious after-effect on corticospinal excitability and upper limb motor function. The short-term interval protocol (6 h) blocks the after-effect of EA to a certain extent, while the long-term interval protocol (48 h) prolongs the after-effect of EA.
Humans ; Electroacupuncture ; Motor Cortex/physiology* ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation/methods* ; Upper Extremity ; Exercise ; Muscle, Skeletal/physiology*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the expression level of melatonin and its effects on immune function in aplastic anemia (AA) patients. METHODS: The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the plasma levels of melatonin in AA patients, and the correlation between melatonin levels and laboratory indexs was analyzed. The activation, proliferation, and apoptosis of T cells from AA patients were analyzed by flow cytometry with or without melatonin in vitro. RESULTS: The plasma levels of melatonin in AA patients were significantly lower compared with healthy controls (HC) (12.23 pg/ml vs 20.04 pg/ml, P < 0.01), while the plasma melatonin levels of AA patients in remission group after immunosuppressive therapy (IST) were significantly higher than those in non-remission group (29.16 pg/ml vs 11.73 pg/ml, P =0.04). Moreover, the melatonin levels were positively correlated with platelets (r =0.49), the absolute reticulocyte count (r =0.45), and the percentage of neutrophils (r =0.43). Meanwhile, there was a negative correlation between melatonin levels and the percentages of lymphocytes (r =-0.45). The expressions of CD25 and CD69 in both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells from AA patients were remarkably inhibited by melatonin in vitro (all P < 0.05). When cultured with melatonin, the proliferation rates of both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells from AA patients were markedly suppressed (P =0.01 andP < 0.01). CONCLUSION The plasma levels of melatonin were decreased in AA patients, which might play an important role in the mechanism of immunological abnormalities. The hyperimmune status of AA patients could be partially ameliorated by melatonin in vitro.
Humans ; Anemia, Aplastic ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; Melatonin ; Blood Cell Count

The cases of feeling comfort during acupuncture and moxibustion treatment in literature were summarized and its biological basis was explored. A simple classification of comfort was made, and the importance of obtaining comfort in acupuncture treatment was pointed out. Considering the pursuit of less pain and harmlessness in modern clinical treatment, sugar needle should be advocated and popularized in current clinical practice of acupuncture and moxibustion.
Sugars ; Moxibustion ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Emotions ; Needles

Objective:To explore the difference of lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood(PB)between aplastic anemia(AA)and hypoplastic myelodysplastic syndrome(hypo-MDS)patients,meanwhile to compare the clinical parameters obtained from PB and bone marrow(BM).Methods:The lymphocyte subsets in hypo-MDS(n=25)and AA(n=33)patients were investigated by flow cytometry.Meanwhile,the differences in PB cell counts,biochemical indicators,BM cell counts and abnormal chromosomes between the two groups were analyzed.Results:The percentage of CD8+T cells in A A group was significantly higher than that in hypo-MDS group(P=0.001),while the percentage of CD4+T cells and the CD4+/CD8+ratio in AA group were obviously lower than those in hypo-MDS group(P=0.015 and0.001,respectively).Furthermore,the proportion of CD4+andCD8+activated T(TA)cells,and memory Tregs in AA group was distinctly lower than those in hypo-MDS group(P=0.043,0.015 and 0.024,respectively).Nevertheless,the percentage of CD8+naive T(TN)cells in AA patients was remarkably higher(P=0.044).And hypo-MDS patients had declined lymphocyte counts(P=0.025),increased levels of total bilirubin(TBil),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),vitamin B12 and proportion of BM blasts than AA patients(P=0.019,0.023,0.027 and 0.045,respectively).Conclusion:In this study it was confirmed that the percentages of CD4+and CD8+TA cells,memory Tregs and CD8+TN cells were significantly different between AA and hypo-MDS patients,which provide an essential basis for the identification of these two diseases.

Abstract: Objective To analyze the occupational hazards of enterprises in Pingshan district of Shenzhen in 2017. Methods Occupational hazards were analyzed in 200 enterprises in Pingshan district of Shenzhen City selected using stratified Results random sampling method. A total of 24 industries were involved in the 200 enterprises. The declaration rate of ， occupational hazards was 91.5% and the exposure rate of occupational hazards among workers was 49.2%. The regular monitoring rate of occupational hazard factors in workplaces of the enterprises was 79.5%. There were 129 kinds of occupational ， ， hazard factors of which 19 factors exceeded the national occupational exposure limit accounting for 14.7%. The over standard ， ， ， ， ， ， ， ， rates of noise silica dust cotton dust methanol toluene and other dust were 28.7% 13.6% 11.8% 5.86% 0.5% and ， ， 0.4% respectively. There were 13 kinds of occupational hazard factors in the workplace of metal products industry all of which （ ） exceeded the occupational exposure limit. The exposure rate 56.7% of occupational hazard factors in workers was the highest. Conclusion ， ， The main occupational hazard factors were noise dust and chemical factor and the major occupational hazard industry was metal manufacturing in Pingshan district of Shenzhen City.

Zuojinwan originated from Danxi′s Experiential Therapy （《丹溪心法》） in the Yuan dynasty. It is a representative prescription for the treatment of liver fire invading stomach syndrome， and is also one of the typical prescriptions of the anti-adjuvant method of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. In this paper， the method of bibliometrics was used to systematically sort out the ancient books of Zuojinwan， and 729 relevant literature data were obtained. After certain retrieval and screening， 57 ancient books of TCM were finally obtained. The statistics and analysis were carried out from the aspects of prescription source， historical evolution， composition， functions， evolution of prescription meaning， prescription dose， and preparation and usage of Zuojinwan. It was found that Zuojinwan was composed of Coptis chinensis rhizoma and Euodia rutaecarpa fructus in a ratio of 6∶1. It was mainly used for the treatment of liver fire invading stomach syndrome. The symptoms included pain in chest and hypochondrium， vomiting and bitter mouth， noisy acid-swallowing， red tongue coating yellow， and pulse string number. Later medical records recorded that Zuojinwan was mostly consistent with the original prescription. It mainly treated various diseases caused by liver fire， including left by liver fire， including left hypochondriac pain， swallowing acid and vomiting acid， tendon hernia and lump， epigastric pain， bitter mouth pulse string， head pain， diarrhea， gonorrhea， cold and hot， abdominal pain， alcohol wet yellowing， silence of oral dysentery and so on. There was little controversy in the analysis of relevant prescriptions. In the past dynasties， pills was mainly used， which was consistent with the original prescription. In modern times， it is mainly water flooding for pills or steamed cakes for pills， warm boiling water to serve 6 g， taking 2-3 g per time， the history is basically the same. In this paper， through the excavation， collation and systematic analysis of the ancient literature of TCM that recorded Zuojinwan， we hope to provide the literature basis for the development， inheritance and utilization of this famous classical formulas.

From the perspective view of Chinese medicine, the Gan (Liver) meridian of Foot-Jueyin starts from the great toe, running upward along the medial side of the thigh to the perineal area, where it curves around the external genitalia and goes up to the lower abdomen. In clinical practice, acupoints in the feet of the Gan meridian of Foot-Jueyin are used to treat the genitourinary and external genitalia diseases. Studies have shown that reproductive system diseases have specific pathological reactions in the places (radial side of tibia and foot) where Gan meridian of Foot-Jueyin passes by. Why does this happen? In this article, we begin by briefly reviewing the evidences linking foot and genitalia. We then explore the potential mechanism of the relationship between genitals and the Gan meridian of Foot-Jueyin. The brain cerebral cortex is characterized by cortical interactions. Numerous studies show that different cerebral cortex function areas (especially the adjacent areas) are overlapping and interact with each other. Finally, we presume that there is a specific connection between the feet and the genitals. Physiologically in the cortical homunculus, the genital area lies adjacent or overlapped to the foot areas, the two areas may interact with each other. The functional reorganization between different areas of the cerebral cortex under pathological conditions may be the underlying mechanism of the relationship between the feet and the genitals.

Objective:To explore the material basis and mechanism of Sangjiang Ganmao injection （SG） in the treatment of common cold by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/electrostatic field orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry （UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS） and network pharmacology. Method:UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS was used to identify the chemical components of SG with mobile phase of acetonitrile （A）-0.1% formic acid aqueous solution （B） for gradient elution （0-10 min， 4%-15%A； 10-35 min， 15%-30%A； 35-45 min， 30%-33%A； 45-55 min， 33%-60%A； 55-58 min， 60%A）， flow rate of 0.2 mL·min^-1， electrospray ionization （ESI） and scanning range of m/z 100-1 500 under positive and negative ion modes. Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP） and GeneCards 5.0 database were used to screen and predict the potential targets of chemical components in SG， STRING 11.0 database and Cytoscape 3.7.2 software were used to construct protein-protein interaction （PPI） network model， gene ontology （GO） analysis and pathway analysis were performed on potential targets by Metascape 3.5， Reactome database and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG）， Cytoscape 3.7.2 software was used to build the network of "herbs-ingredients-key targets". Result:A total of 54 components in SG were identified， and 80 potential targets of SG for treatment of common cold were predicted and screened based on this. SG exerted therapeutic effects by acting on targets such as interleukin （IL）-6， tumor necrosis factor （TNF） and IL-10， and signaling pathways such as IL-17 signaling pathway， TNF signaling pathway and interaction of cytokine receptors. Conclusion:SG may interfere with the expression of inflammatory cytokines by acting on related targets and pathways such as inflammation and immune system， and regulate the immune function of the body as a whole， thereby exerting a therapeutic effect.