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Objective To assess the value of acute gastrointestinal injury(AGI)and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein(I-FABP)in the prognosis of liver cirrhotic patients with sepsis.Methods Clinical data of 84 liver cirrhosis patients with sepsis who were admitted to the intensive care unit(ICU)of a hospital from September 2020 to March 2023 were analyzed retrospectively,and 41 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis during the same period were selected as the control group.Serum I-FABP level in patients was determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Scores of the model of end-stage liver disease(MELD)and sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)were calculated.AGI was evaluated based on medical records.30-day and 90-day survival was observed.Correlation among variables was analyzed by Spearman correlation.Risk factors for death in patients with liver cir-rhosis and sepsis was determined by multivariate Cox regression analysis.The optimal cut-off value was determined by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,and the diagnostic efficacy was compared through the area under the ROC curve(AUC).Results Both AGI grading and I-FABP level in liver cirrhosis patients with sepsis were higher than those in the control group(both P<0.05).I-FABP level was correlated with procalcitonin(PCT),MELD,and SOFA scores in patients with liver cirrhosis and sepsis(all P<0.05).AGI grading was positively cor-related with SOFA score(P=0.038).The 30-day and 90-day mortality of patients in the liver cirrhosis with sepsis group were 25.0%(n=21)and 35.7%(n=30),respectively.Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that baseline I-FABP and SOFA scores were independently correlated with 30-day and 90-day survival,and the I-FABP quartile showed good prognostic differentiation efficacy.ROC curve showed that I-FABP could significantly improve the predictive effect of SOFA score on the prognosis of patients.Conclusion AGI grading and I-FABP level in liver cirrhosis patients with sepsis are elevated significantly.Serum I-FABP is associated with the prognosis of patient and can improve the predictive efficacy of SOFA score for survival.
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Objective:To observe any effect of warm acupuncture on chondrocyte apoptosis and the miR-27a-mediated PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway using a rat model of early knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Methods:Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a warm acupuncture group, an inhibitor group, and an inhibitor + warm acupuncture group (the combined group), each of 10. Three days before the modeling, both the inhibitor and combined groups were injected with miR-27a inhibitor. Papain was then injected in all groups except the control group to establish the early KOA model. After successful modeling, the combined and warm acupuncture groups were given 30 minutes of warm acupuncture at the medial and lateral Xiyan points daily for 14 days. The model and inhibitor groups were fixed for 30 minutes during those sessions. After the 2 weeks, hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe any pathological changes in the cartilage tissue. Terminal deoxynucleoitidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling was used to detect chondrocyte apoptosis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were employed to observe the levels of interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and IL-6. Western blotting was used to evaluate the expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT, p-mTOR, PI3K, AKT, mTOR, LC3-II, and Beclin1 proteins in the cartilage tissue, while quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions detected the content of miR-27a.Results:After the intervention, the morphology of the chondrocytes in the warm acupuncture group had improved significantly compared to the model group, while that of the inhibitor and combined groups was better than among the warm acupuncture group. The rate of chondrocyte apoptosis in the warm acupuncture group was significantly lower than in the model group, while the rates of the inhibitor and combined groups were lower still. There was no significant difference between the inhibitor and the combination group on average. The average expression of IL-6, IL-1β, LC3-II and Beclin1 protein and of miR-27a were significantly lower in the warm acupuncture, inhibitor and combined groups than among the model group, with those of the inhibitor and combined groups significantly lower than among the warm acupuncture group, on average. The average p-PI3K/PI3K, p-AKT/AKT and p-mTOR/mTOR levels of the warm acupuncture, inhibitor and combined groups were significantly higher than those of the model group, with those of the inhibitor and combined groups significantly higher, on average, than among the warm acupuncture group. However, there was no significant difference between the inhibitor group and the combined group in their protein expression and mRNA levels.Conclusions:Warm acupuncture may down-regulate the expression of miR-27a to promote the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, inhibiting excessive autophagy and apoptosis. That would relieve inflammation and damage, and delay degeneration in early KOA, at least in rats.
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Objective: To examine the clinical value of fluorescence-guided indocyanine green (ICG) laparoscopic anatomical hepatectomy in the treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: Data from patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and who underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy with ICG fluorescence navigation in the Department of Liver Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center of West China Hospital between September 2020 and May 2022 were retrospectively collected. There were 53 males and 19 females, with an age of (55.5±12.9)years(range:42.6 to 68.4 years). Among them, 13 of the cases underwent laparoscopic anatomical liver resection(LALR) guided by tans-arterial ICG,43 of the cases received LAIR guided by portal vein negative ICG, and 16 of the cases received LALR positive by portal vein. Comparison among the three groups was performed by one-way ANOVA; and the rank sum test was used for comparison between groups. The counting data was expressed as percentage,and the χ2 test or Fisher's exact probability method was used for comparison between groups. Results: (1) Postoperative pathology: Resection R0 was achieved in all operations. The maximum tumor diameter of the patients in the arterial staining group, the reverse staining group, and the positive staining group(M (IQR)) was 2.5 (2.4) cm, 3.0 (2.5) cm and 3.0(2.4) cm,respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in the maximum tumor diameter between the three groups (P=0.364). The minimum tumor margin was 1.1 (1.1) cm, 1.0 (1.0) cm, 1.1 (1.6) cm in the the arterial staining group, reverse staining group and the positive staining group, respectively. There was no significant difference in the margin among the three groups (P=0.878). (2) Operation conditions: the operation time of the arterial staining group, the negative staining group, and the positive portal staining group was (348±93)minutes,(277±112)minutes,and (295±116)minutes,respectively. There were no significant differences in operation time among the three groups (P=0.134). The intraoperative blood loss of the three groups was 80(150)ml,200(350)ml,and 100(150)ml,respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in intraoperative bleeding volume between the three groups(P=0.743). All cases were not transfused during the operation and were not converted to laparotomy. ALT in the arterial staining group was higher than in the negative staining group in the first two days after the operation ((559±398)IU/L307(257) IU/L, q=235.5,P=0.004;(611±389)IU/L(331±242) IU/L, q=265.2, P=0.002). There was only one case of a grade III complication (Clavien-Dindo grading system) postoperative complication in the negative and positive staining group of the portal vein, respectively. Tumor markers in all patients decreased to the normal range after 2 months of operation. Conclusion: Laparoscopic anatomical hepatectomy guided by ICG fluorescence through arterial staining and portal vein staining is safe and feasible for primary hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.
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Objective:To observe any effect of tendon manipulation on the joint pain, joint motion and gait of persons with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Methods:Sixty-one KOA patients were randomly divided into an observation group ( n=31) and a control group ( n=30). Both groups received ultrasonic physiotherapy and exercise trai-ning (including quadriceps femoris training and heel raising training), while the observation group was additionally provided with daily tendon manipulation, five times a week for 3 weeks. Before and after the treatment, knee pain (using a visual analog scale (VAS)), motor function (using the Western Ontario and McMaster University (WOMAC) osteoarthritis index scale), step length, gait speed and the double support phase ratio were evaluated in both groups using three-dimensional gait analysis equipment. Results:After the treatment the average VAS scores, as well as the joint pain, stiffness and dysfunction and the total WOMAC scores of both groups had decreased significantly. There was significant improvement in the average stride length, walking speed and the proportion of double support phase among the observation group, and the latter two measurements had also improved significantly in the control group. After the intervention, the average pain, WOMAC scores and gait descriptors of the observation group were significantly superior to the control group′s results.Conclusion:Tendon manipulation can usefully supplement routine rehabilitation in the treatment of KOA, improving walking efficiency and thus life quality.
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Objective:To observe the mRNA and protein expression levels of thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR), protein kinase A (PKA) and sodium iodine transporter (NIS) in mammary gland tissue of lactating rats with different iodine nutrition levels, and to explore the role of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)-THSR-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-PKA signal pathway in the process of mammary iodine uptake during lactation.Methods:Using a group design, according to body weight (80 - 100 g), 110 Wistar female rats were randomly divided into normal iodine (NI) group, severe iodine deficiency (SID) group, moderately iodine deficiency (MID) group, moderately iodine excess (MIE) group and severe iodine excess (SIE) group, with 22 rats in each group. Another 22 Wistar male rats were selected, and the feeding situation was consistent with that of NI group. After 3 months of feeding, 24-hour urine samples of female rats were collected, and the female rats were caged with the male rats (5 ∶ 1). After mating, each female rat was fed separately. At 10 days of childbirth, the lactating rats were sacrificed and thyroid and mammary gland tissues were taken. The urinary iodine was determined by arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometry. The morphological changes of thyroid and mammary gland tissues were observed by HE staining. The mRNA expression levels of TSHR, PKA and NIS in thyroid and mammary gland tissues were measured by real-time PCR; the protein expression levels of TSHR, PKA, phosphorylated PKA (p-PKA), and NIS in mammary gland tissue were measured by Western blotting.Results:Compared with NI group (162.59 μg/L), the median urinary iodine of female rats in SID and MID groups (3.16, 6.36 μg/L) was lower, and the median urinary iodine of female rats in MIE and SIE groups (2 356.27, 11 507.29 μg/L) was higher ( P < 0.01). HE staining showed that different levels of iodine uptake had different effects on thyroid follicles: most of the follicles in NI group were uniform round or oval; in MID group, the number of small follicles increased, the epithelial cells were monolayer columnar or cubic, the follicular cavity became smaller, and the glia decreased; the follicles in SID group became smaller, and the epithelial cells were columnar or high columnar, with reduced or absent glia in the follicular cavity; pleomorphic changes were found in thyroid follicles in SIE and MIE groups, with some follicles significantly enlarged and some small follicles hyperplasia. Different levels of iodine intake had different effects on mammary duct: compared with NI group, the connective tissue around the mammary duct in SID and MID groups showed obvious fibrosis, while the fibrosis in MIE and SIE groups was significantly reduced. The results of real-time PCR showed that there were significant differences in the mRNA expression levels of TSHR, PKA and NIS in thyroid tissues of lactating rats with different levels of iodine nutrition ( F = 10.73, 92.37, 115.75, P < 0.01). There were statistically differences in the mRNA expression levels of TSHR, PKA and NIS in mammary gland tissues of lactating rats with different levels of iodine nutrition ( F = 40.25, 39.63, 14.92, P < 0.05). Western blotting results showed that there were significant differences in the protein expression levels of TSHR, PKA, p-PKA and NIS in mammary gland tissues of lactating rats with different levels of iodine nutrition ( F = 4.14, 6.73, 8.48, 4.51, P < 0.05). Among them, the protein expression level of TSHR in MIE and SIE groups was lower than that in NI group ( P < 0.05); the protein expression level of PKA in SID and MID groups was higher than that in NI group ( P < 0.05); the protein expression level of p-PKA in SID group was higher than that in NI group, but that in SIE group was lower than that in NI group ( P < 0.05), the protein expression level of NIS in SID group was higher than that in NI group ( P < 0.05). Conclusions:The mRNA and protein expression levels of TSHR are decreased in mammary gland tissues of lactating rats with high iodine intake, while the mRNA and protein expression levels of PKA and NIS are increased in low iodine intake. TSH-TSHR-cAMP-PKA signal pathway may be involved in the regulation of iodine intake in mammary gland tissue of lactating rats, which may protect itself and its offspring.
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Objective:To observe any effect of combining motor imagery therapy (MIT) with repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for improving upper limb motor functioning after a stroke.Methods:Ninety stroke survivors were randomly divided into a control group, an MIT group and a combination group, each of 30. All received conventional rehabilitation therapy, while the MIT group additionally received MIT and the combination group received the MIT along with 1Hz rTMS applied over the M1 region of the contralateral cortex. Before and after 4 weeks of treatment, everyone′s upper limb functioning was quantified using the Fugl-Meyer assessment scale (FMA) and the Hong Kong version of the hemiplegia upper limb function test (FTHUE-HK). Motor evoked potentials (MEPs), cortical latency (CL) and central motor conduction time (CMCT) were also recorded.Results:After the treatment the average FMA and FTHUE-HK scores of all three groups had improved significantly. The average CL and CMCT were significantly shortened. Compared with the control group, the average upper limb FMA score and FTHUE-HK scores of the treatment group were significantly higher. The combination group showed a significant improvement in its average MEP cortical latency and CMCT values.Conclusions:MIT therapy alone can improve the upper limb motor functioning of stroke survivors, but it is more effective in combination with rTMS.
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BACKGROUND@#Intra-articular injection is a classic strategy for the treatment of early osteoarthritis (OA). However, the local delivery of traditional therapeutic agents has limited benefits for alleviating OA. Exosomes, an important type of extracellular nanovesicle, show great potential for suppressing cartilage destruction in OA to replace drugs and stem cellbased administration. @*METHODS@#In this study, we developed a thermosensitive, injectable hydrogel by in situ crosslinking of Pluronic F-127 and hyaluronic acid, which can be used as a slow-release carrier to durably retain primary chondrocyte-derived exosomes at damaged cartilage sites to effectively magnify their reparative effect. @*RESULTS@#It was found that the hydrogel can sustainedly release exosomes, positively regulate chondrocytes on the proliferation, migration and differentiation, as well as efficiently induce polarization of M1 to M2 macrophages. Intraarticular injection of this exosomes-incorporated hydrogel significantly prevented cartilage destruction by promoting cartilage matrix formation. This strategy also displayed a regenerative immune phenotype characterized by a higher infiltration of CD163+ regenerative M2 macrophages over CD86+ M1 macrophages in synovial and chondral tissue, with a concomitant reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-a, IL-1b, and IL-6) and increase in anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) in synovial fluid. @*CONCLUSION@#Our results demonstrated that local sustained-release primary chondrocyte-derived exosomes may relieve OA by promoting the phenotypic transformation of macrophages from M1 to M2, which suggesting a great potential for the application in OA.
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Objective:To observe the effect of enriched rehabilitation training on cognitive function, plasma mir-146a-5p microRNA precursor levels and inflammatory factors in persons with post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI).Methods:Fifty-eight persons with PSCI were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, each of 29. The observation group was given enriched rehabilitation training, while the control group was provided with conventional cognitive rehabilitation training. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA), the Digit Span Test (DST), parts A and B of the Trail Making Test (TMT A-B) and the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) were used to assess the subjects′ cognitive functioning and their ability in the activities of daily living (ADL). Plasma levels of mir-146a-5p, IL-6 and TNF-α were detected before and after the treatment.Results:After treatment, the average MOCA, DST and MBI scores, as well as the average TMT A-B times had improved significantly for both groups. However, the observation group′s averages were significantly better than those of the control group on all three tests. After the treatment, the average plasma expression of miR-146a-5p had increased significantly in both groups, but the increase in the observation group was significantly greater. Plasma IL-6 and TNF-α levels were significantly lower than before the treatment, with the average TNF-α level in the observation group significantly lower than that of the control group.Conclusions:Enriched rehabilitation training can improve the cognition of stroke survivors more effectively than conventional cognitive rehabilitation training. That may be related to the up-regulation of plasma miR-146a-5p and reducing inflammation.
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BACKGROUND@#At present, an ultrafine chest tube combined with a traditional thick tube were often used after pulmonary uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (U-VATS). However, the thick tube was often placed in the incision, which increased the risk of poor wound healing and postoperative pain. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility and safety of using two ultrafine chest tubes (10 F pigtail tube) for drainage after pulmonary U-VATS.@*METHODS@#The medical records of patients who underwent pulmonary U-VATS during June 2018 and June 2020 in the department of cardiothoracic surgery of the second affiliated hospital of Soochow university were retrospectively reviewed to compare two different drainage strategies, receiving two 10 F pigtail tubes as chest tube (group A) or one 10 F pigtail tube as lower chest tube combined with one 24 F tube as upper chest tube (group B).@*RESULTS@#106 patients in group A receiving two 10 F pigtail tubes during June 2019 and June 2020 and 183 patients in group B receiving one 10 F pigtail tube as lower chest tube combined with one 24 F tube as upper chest tube during June 2018 and June 2019 were included. There was no significant difference between two groups in terms of the postoperative thoracic drainage (mL) (1st: 199.54±126.56 vs 203.59±139.32, P=0.84; 2nd: 340.30±205.47 vs 349.74±230.92, P=0.76; 3rd: 435.19±311.51 vs 451.37±317.03, P=0.70; 4th: 492.58±377.33 vs 512.57±382.94, P=0.69; Total: 604.57±547.24 vs 614.64±546.08, P=0.88), drainage time (d) (upper chest tube: 2.54±2.20 vs 3.40±2.07, P=0.21; lower chest tube: (2.24±2.43 vs 3.82±2.12, P=0.10), postoperative hospital stays (d) (6.87±3.17 vs 7.06±3.21, P=0.63), poor wound healing (0 vs 3.28%, P=0.09), replacement of lower chest tube (0.94% vs 2.19%, P=0.66) and the VAS1 (3.00±0.24 vs 2.99±0.15, P=0.63). Notably, there were significant differences between two groups in terms of the VAS₂ (2.28±0.63 vs 2.92±0.59, P<0.01) and VAS₃ (2.50±1.58 vs 2.79±1.53, P=0.02), as well as the frequency of using additional analgesics (25.47% vs 38.25%, P=0.03) and replacement of the upper chest tube (0 vs 4.37%, P=0.03).@*CONCLUSIONS@#It's feasible and safe to use two 10 F pigtail tubes for drainage after pulmonary U-VATS, which can achieve less postoperative pain and lower frequency of replacement of the upper chest tube on some specific patients.
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Objective To investigate the clinical manifestations,diagnosis,treatment,and laboratory examination characteristics of 8 pemphigus patients with high titers of anti-desmoglein antibodies in remission. Methods A retrospective study was conducted for the pemphigus patients diagnosed and treated in the department of dermatology from January 2013 to September 2020.The patients should have the serum anti-desmoglein antibodies ≥150 U/ml in remission or the antibody levels dropped less than 20%(calculated based on the maximum detection limit of 150 U/ml)of their initial ones detected before treatment,and the clinical and laboratory data of patients eligible for the inclusion criteria were collected. Results Among the 134 pemphigus patients with available follow-up data during this period,a total of 8 patients met the criteria,with the follow-up period of 21-85 months and the remission duration of 18-70 months.They all received less than or equal to 10 mg/d prednisone and had high titers of anti-desmoglein antibodies.At their first visit,the number of patients with positive anti-desmoglein 1/desmoglein 3 antibodies was 7.Two patients still had high titers of anti-desmoglein 1 antibodies 19 months and 21 months after they achieved remission,and 5 patients had high titers of anti-desmoglein 3 antibodies in 18-70 months.There was one patient showing high titers of both antibodies,especially for anti-desmoglein 1 antibodies.This patient relapsed after 19 months' remission while other patients were still in clinical remission. Conclusions Some pemphigus patients showed persistent high titers of anti-desmoglein antibodies in remission.Anti-desmoglein 3 antibodies were more common to keep positive,while high titer of anti-desmoglein 1 antibodies was less observed.The high titer of anti-desmoglein 1 antibodies had a correlation with recurrence.For the pemphigus patients with long-term clinical remission but high antibody titer,the dosages of corticosteroids should be adjusted carefully according to their actual clinical manifestations and the positive antibody type.For the patients with high titer of anti-desmoglein 1 antibodies,the dosage reduction of corticosteroids should be appropriately slower.
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Humans , Autoantibodies , Drug Therapy, Combination , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Pemphigus/drug therapy , Recurrence , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the effect of sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (SAS) on sleep staging of bipolar disorder patients in different states. Methods:A total of 210 healthy controls aged 18-65 and 235 bipolar disorder patients of the same age were collected. The bipolar disorder patients were divided into depressive, manic and mixed states. Sleep time structure, sleep posture, heart rate and other indicators were collected by using sleep quality assessment system based on cardiopulmonary coupling analysis. According to whether the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was ≥ 5 times/h, whether they had SAS were determined. Two-way multivariate analysis of variance was conducted, investigating the effect of clinical states and SAS, on several sleep indicators. Results:SAS significantly prolonged rapid eyes movement (REM) sleep time of patients in depressive state (P=0.000) and shortened deep sleep time of patients in manic state (P=0.011). In addition, the heart rate during sleep (including deep sleep, light sleep and REM sleep) of patients in manic state increased most significantly among the three clinical states (P=0.000). Lying supine aggravated SAS most significantly in manic state among the three clinical states (P=0.002). Conclusion:SAS has different effects on the sleep staging of bipolar disorder patients in different states.
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Objective To understand the condition of tick carrying CRT(Candidatus rickettsia tarasevichiae) and compound infection with SFTSV(Sever fever thrombocytopenia syndrome virus) in Yanbian area of Jilin province. Methods Free ticks were collected from 6 counties including Yanji, Wangqing, Hunchun, Dunhua, Antu and Helong in the Korean Autonomous Prefecture of Jilin Province(Yanbian Prefecture) by using the flagging, and they were classified morphologically. The CRT and SFTSV in ticks were detected by Nest PCR(Nested polymerase chain reaction) and Real Time RT-PCR(Real-time Quantitative polymerase chain reaction) methods. Target DNA sequencing was performed for CRT positive products, and the homology of gene sequence and phylogenetic relationship were analyzed. Results A total of 1032 ticks were collected in this study, including ixodes persulcatus (35.56%) and dermacenter silvarum (20.64%). haemaphysalis japonica (20.45%), haemaphysalis longicornis (10.47%), haemaphysalis concinna (8.33%),others( 4.55%). The CRT was detected from the Ixodes persulcatus, Haemaphysalis longicornis, Haemaphysalis japonica Dermacentor silvarum. The MIR(Minimum infection rate per 100 ticks) of CRT was 10.47%.The SFTSV was detected from the Haemaphysalis-concinna, Haemaphysalis-japonica,Ixodes-persulcatus,Haemaphysalis-longicornis,Dermacentor-silvarum. The MIR of SFTSV was 2.52 %. Three species of ticks, including Ixodes persulcatus(2.45%), Haemaphysalis japonica(1.42%), and dermacentor silvarum(0.47%), had CRT and SFTSV compound infections, and the MIR of two pathogens compound infections was 1.26 %. In this study, the gene sequence of CRT positive PCR products ompA and 17kDa with nucleotide sequence of Xinyang plant of HeNan XinYang strain (KX365196.1),had homology of 100%. Phylogenetic analysis showed that CRT ompA and the HeNan XinYang strain (KX365196.1) gene sequences formed a cluster in Yanbian, while the 17 kDa gene formed an independent branch. Conclusions For the first time, CRT was detected from free ticks in Yanbian area of Jilin Province, and it was found that Ixodes persulcatus may be the main medium of transmission of the pathogen. At the same time, it was found that CRT and SFTSV have compound infection in ticks of Yanbian area. Therefore, it can be clearly identified that Yanbian area in Jilin Province is the natural source of CRT, and there are two pathogenic compound infections in the local ticks.
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Objective To investigate the effect of needle-warmed moxibustion on chondrocyte apoptosis and the lubricin protein content of osteoarthritic knees.Methods Forty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into a sham operation group,a model group,a Western medicine group and a needle-warmed moxibustion group,each of 10.Knee osteoarthritis was induced in all except the sham operation group by injecting an aqueous solution of papain into the outer edge of one patellar tendon at the inferior pole of the patella.In the sham operation group the injection needle was only inserted and withdrawn.The needle-warmed moxibustion group had needle-warmed moxibustion applied to the internal and external DUBI acupoints 14 days after the modelling in 2 courses of treatment.The Western medicine group was given diclofenac sodium (15 mg/kg body weight) by gavage on the same schedule.The sham operation group and the model group were fed normally without special treatment.At the end of the treatment,knee cartilage tissue was resected from each group and the number of chondrocytes and the expression of lubricin in the articular cartilage cells were compared.Results Compared with the model group and the Western medicine group,the number of chondrocytes in the moxibustion group was significantly greater and the cells were arranged more neatly.TUNEL staining showed that the apoptosis rate of chondrocytes in the moxibustion group was significantly lower.A reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction showed that the expression of lubricin mRNA in the moxibustion group had increased significantly.Western blotting showed that the expression of lubricin protein was also significantly enhanced in the moxibustion group.Conclusions Needle-warmed moxibustion has a positive therapeutic effect on knee osteoarthritis,at least in rabbits.It can inhibit the apoptosis of knee chondrocytes and promote the secretion of lubricin.
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Objective:To observe the effects of enriched rehabilitation on cognitive function and serum arginine in stroke patients. Methods:From January, 2017 to June, 2018, 40 patients in our department were randomly divided into conventional group (n = 20) and enriched group (n = 20). The conventional group received cognitive rehabilitation, and the enriched group received enriched rehabilitation, once a day, six times a week for three months. Before treatment and three months after treatment, the cognitive function was assessed with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Digit Span Test and Stroop Color Word Test, and the levels of serum arginine and malondialdehyde were detected. Results:Finally, all the patients completed the experiment. There was no significant difference in the scores of MoCA, Digit Span Test and Stroop Color Word Test, and the level of serum arginine and malondialdehyde before treatment (t < 1.243, P > 0.05). Three months after treatment, all the above indexes improved (t > 2.170, P < 0.05), and were better in the enriched group than in the conventional group (t > 2.278, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Enriched rehabilitation could improve the cognitive function of patients after stroke, which might be related to the significant reduction of the elevated serum arginine and reduction of oxidative damage after stroke.
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BACKGROUND: ClonePix, a cell cloning and screening system, can quickly and efficiently screen cell clones undergoing suspension culture with low melting point agarose, which can be used to provide a sufficient number of seed cells for biological therapies. OBJECTIVE: To isolate and identify chondrogenic stem cells from the rat lumbar endplate.METHODS: The lumbar endplates of 10 Sprague-Dawley rats with an age of 4 weeks were digested using trypsin and type II collagenase to isolate primary chondrogenic stem cells, followed by suspension culture with low melting point agarose. Then, the cell clones were selected by ClonePix and expanded in vitro for morphological observation.The multidirectional differential potential of cell clones was identified through osteogenesis, adipogenesis and chondrogensis tests, and the monoclonal formation ability was determined. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The cell clones could be successfully separated by using the agarose culture system, which were spindle-shaped after in vitro expansion.The osteogenesis,adipogenesis and chondrogensis capacities of the cells were identified using alizarin red, oil red O and safranin staining, respectively. Single cells of the clone group were inoculated into 10 cm culture dishes, and after 12 days of in vitro expansion culture,colonies of cells were observed with the naked eye.With the increase of cell seeding density,the number of cell colonies decreased. When the cells were inoculated into 10 cm culture dishes at a density of 100 cells, the colony forming ability was strongest, and more than 20 cell colonies could be formed. These findings indicate that chondrogenic stem cells that are isolated by the agarose gel culture system have multidirectional differentiation potential and high proliferation ability.
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Objective:To investigate the role of metformin (MET) in inflammatory response in abdominal aortic aneurysm(AAA) formation induced by angiotensin Ⅱ.Methods:AAA models were established by Ang Ⅱ infusion in ApoE-/-mice.Thirty male ApoE-/-mice (8-10-week-old) were randomly and equally divided into four groups:Control group,AAA group and AAA+MET group.HE staining and immunohistochemical staining were used to analyze the inflammatory response.Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to analyze the mRNA expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1).Western blotting was used to analyze the activation of nuclear factor κB signaling (NF-κB).Results:The AAA incidence and mean maximum suprarenal aortic diameter of AAA group is larger than the AAA+MET group.Compared with the AAA grouP,the expression of ICAM-1 and activity of NF-κB is lower in AAA+MET group.Conclusion:Metformin can attenuate AAA formation partially by regulating macrophage infiltration through regulating the mRNA expression of ICAM-1 regulated by the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway.
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Objective:To explore the role of TLR4 in the process of lower limb ischemia-reperfusion injury.Methods:Ischemia Reperfusion injury model:in this study,the model of lower limb ischemia-reperfusion was established by rubber band wound method,C57BL / 6J mice were randomly divided into model control group(IR) and ischemia-reperfusion group(IR);TLR4 experiment:The mice models of ischemia reperfusion were divided into wild type (WT) model group and TLR4 knock out (TLR4-/-) model group;The expressions of TLR4 and HMGB1,TNF-α and IL6 were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.The apoptosis of vascular wall was detected by TUNEL.Results:The expression of TLR4,HMGB1,TNF-α,IL6 in the IR group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.01).After TLR4 knockout,the expression of inflammatory factors and apoptosis in IR group was significantly reduced (P<0.01).Conclusion:TLR4 mediates inflammatory response and induces apoptosis in lower limb ischemia reperfusion injury in mice.
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Objective To explore the preliminary results of application of reserving the left subclavian artery by fenestration of domestic stent graft in the thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) of type B dissection with unfavourable proximal landing zone.Methods From October 2015 to January 2018,a total of 13 patients with type B aortic dissection without healthy proximal landing zones underwent TEVAR using fenestration of domestic stent graft in our hospital.Computed tomography angiography (CTA) data were measured before surgery.Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was conducted after surgery.All patients underwent CTA or ultrasound examination during follow-up.Operation success rate,survive rate,patency of left subclavian artery and complications were analyzed.Results All the patients were deployed fenestrated endografts successfully.No proximal endoleak happened during perioperative period.Delirium occurred in 1 case during 7 postoperative days and fully recovered with the medical treatment.The mean follow-up period was (9.8 ± 9.5) months (range,1-29 months).11 patients underwent CTA and 2 patients underwent ultrasound examination during follow-up.During period of following up,no patients died,no proximal endoleak appeared,and all the left subclavian arteries reserving by fenestration.Conclusions Reserving the left subclavian artery by fenestration of domestic stent graft in TEVAR of type B dissection with hostile proximal sealing zone is economical,safe and feasible,which expand the indication of TEVAR for aortic dissection,and the long-term outcomes of this technique need to be assessed in the future.
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Objective To evaluate the diagnosis and treatment of 37 cases of popliteal vascular entrapment syndrome (PVES).Methods The clinical data of 37 PVESA cases (44 limbs) from July 2004 to July 2016 was retrospectively analyzed.There were 28 men and 9 women,age ranging from 7 to 74 years.They all underwent B-us,CTA,MRA or DSA examination before the operation.Surgical procedures performed on 38 limbs included musculo-tendinous division,popliteal-popliteal interposition,femoralpopliteal bypass.Result One patient died of PE one day after operation.The ankle brachial index (ABI)increased from 0.54 ±0.31 to 0.87 ±0.23 after operation (P <0.01).30 cases were followed-up with a mean followup time of 43.8 months and intermittent claudication were relieved in all cases.Conclusions PVES is an extremely important cause of non-arteriosclerotic lower extremity arterial chronic ischemia which need early,active and appropriate surgical intervention.
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Objective To analyse the initial resucts in different treatment methods for the treatment of aortic arch injury.Methods A total of 23 patients (18 males and 5 females) with injuries of superior arch arteries underwent our treatment in Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University from January 2008 to May 2017.Nine patients underwent surgical procedures(surgical group),13 patients underwent endovascular procedures (endovascular group),1 patient underwent conservative treatment.The conditions of all survived patients were followed up by telephone or outpatient from one to sixty months postoperative.Mortality and complications such as rehaemorrhagia,cerebralinfarction,stenosis or blockage during the follow-up period was assessed.Operation time,hospitalization time after treatment,mortality and complications within 30 days of surgical group and endovascular group were compared by statistical methods.The data were analyzed by SPSS 16.0 software.Measurement data were expressed as ((x) ± s).The count data were expressed as frequency and percentage (%),and comparison between groups were evaluated with t test,Chi-square.Results All patients had achieved technical success.In patients treated by surgical procedures,one case of death and 2 cases of cerebralinfarction were reported within 30 days.One patient died of rehaemorrhagia during the 2nd day of open operation.Meanwhile,another two patients suffered from cerebral infarction,they recovered within 30 days.All patients treated by endovascular procedures survived without cerebralinfarction.However,blockage occurred in one patient of these patients.The operation time [(2.4 ± 1.1) hours and (1.0 ± 0.4) hours] (P < 0.01) and the time of postoperative hospitalization [(8.3 ± 3.0) days and(2.5 ± 1.0) days] (P < 0.05) were statistically different of the two groups.The postoperative mortality rate of the two groups undergoing open surgery and endovascular treatment within 30 days was 11.1% and 0.0% (P =0.41),and complication rates with 33.3% and 7.7% respectively (P =0.26),there has no significant difference.Overall,66.7% (6/9) patients treated by surgical procedures and 92.3% (12/13) patients treated by endovascular procedures and one patient treated by consewative treatment survived without any complication during the follow up period.Conclusions Initial results suggest that endovascular procedures can significantly shorten the time of operation and the time of postoperative hospitalization,and the mortality and complication rate are also slightly lower than surgical procedures.Endovascular procedures is an important method for treatment for injuries that involve superior arch arteries.It plays a special role in rescuing injuries of superior arch arteries.