Using a consensus acupoints regimen to explore the relationship between acupuncture sensation and lumbar spinal postoperative analgesia: A retrospective analysis of prospective clinical cooperation / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#This study evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment on postoperative pain in patients with degenerative lumbar spine disease, and explored the relationship between the postoperative analgesic effect of acupuncture and the sensation of acupuncture experienced by the patients.@*METHODS@#This retrospective study analyzed the medical records of 97 patients who had undergone an operation by the same surgeon due to degenerative lumbar disease. These patients were divided into acupuncture group (n = 32), patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) group (n = 27), and oral analgesia group (n = 38) according to the different postoperative analgesic methods. During their hospitalization, patients completed daily evaluations of their pain using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and injection times of supplemental meperidine were recorded. Also, the Chinese version of the Massachusetts General Hospital Acupuncture Sensation Scale (C-MASS) was used in the acupuncture group.@*RESULTS@#Each of the three treatment groups showed significant reductions in postoperative pain, as shown by reduced VAS scores. The acupuncture group, however, had less rebound pain (P < 0.05) than the other two groups. Both the acupuncture and PCA groups experienced acute analgesic effects that were superior to those in the oral analgesia group. In addition, the higher the C-MASS index on the second day after surgery, the lower the VAS score on the fourth day after surgery. There was also a significant difference in the "dull pain" in the acupuncture sensation.@*CONCLUSION@#The results demonstrated that acupuncture was beneficial for postoperative pain and discomfort after simple surgery for degenerative spinal disease. It is worth noting that there was a disproportionate relevance between the patient's acupuncture sensation and the improvement of pain VAS score.

Diet related knowledge and behavior among students in Anhui Province / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To assess diet-related knowledge and behavior among primary and middle-school students in five cities of Anhui, and to provide evidence for nutrition education and intervention strategies.@*Methods@#A multi stage stratified cluster random sampling method was used to select 2 045 students in five cities(Huaibei,Bengbu,Ma anshan,Hefei and Wuhu) of Anhui for a questionnaire survey on nutrition knowledge, diet behavior, food preferences, and diet education.@*Results@#The overall rate of good nutritional awareness was 38.3%; students had the highest rate of awareness on plain water being the healthiest drink(91.6%). The overall rate of healthy food preferences was 51.5%, with milk and dairy products being the highest rated (66.4%). The overall rate of good diet behavior was 85.8%, with eating most meals on time and in appropriate quantities being the highest rated (87.7%). The overall rate of students with good diet education was 25.0%, while the rate of table cleaning was 73.0%. Middle school students had more knowledge of nutrition(χ 2=28.8), while primary school students had better healthy food preferences and diet behaviors(χ 2=31.3，77.6), and girls were more frequently involved in setting and clearing the table(χ 2=12.2)(P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#Insufficient nutrition knowledge, clear food preferences, unhealthy dietary behaviors, and a lack of diet education were observed in primary and middle school students in Anhui. Specific nutritional education in school settings should be developed, home school cooperation should be strengthened, and diet education activities should be increased to help primary and middle school students form a healthy lifestyle.

Identification of Ten Long Noncoding RNAs as Biomarkers for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract Long-chain non-encoded RNAs (lncRNAs) are important in many life activities and can participate in the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Moreover, lncRNAs can be used as basis for developing new strategies to hinder liver cancer. To investigate the utility of lncRNAs in HCC as potential biomarkers for early detection and diagnosis, we mined genomic data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and analyzed the gene expressions from 374 tumor patients and 50 normal patients. The abnormal expressions of 387 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) were identified from a total of 3099 lncRNAs. Moreover, 18 modules were divided based on WGCNA, and 2 of the 18 modules were positively correlated with stage and grade, and negatively correlated with survival time. Finally, 10 lncRNAs were found and their main functions are the enhancement of cellular metabolic capacity and cell proliferation. These 10 lncRNAs may serve as novel prognostic markers and therapeutic targets, and may help guide subsequent studies on HCC.

Comprehensive transcriptomics and proteomics analyses of rice stripe virus-resistant transgenic rice

Stable transgenic rice line (named KRSV-1) with strong resistance against rice stripe virus was generated using the genesequence of disease-specific protein by RNA interference. Comprehensive safety assessment of transgenic plants has turnedinto a significant field of genetic modification food safety. In this study, a safety assessment of KRSV-1 was carried out in astepwise approach. The molecular analysis exhibited that KRSV-1 harbored one copy number of transgene, which wasintegrated into the intergenic non-coding region of chromosome 2 associated with inter-chromosomal translocations of 1.6-kb segments of chromosome 8. Then, transcriptomics and proteomics analyses were carried out to detect the unintendedeffects as a result of the integration of the transgene. Although 650 dramatically differentially expressed genes (DDEGs)and 357 differentially expressed proteins were detected between KRSV-1 and wild-type (WT) by transcriptomics andproteomics analyses, no harmful members in the form of toxic proteins and allergens were observed. Encouragingly, thenutritional compositions of seeds from KRSV-1 were comparable with WT seeds. The results of this entire study ofmolecular analysis, transcriptome and proteome profile of KRSV-1 revealed that no detrimental changes in the form of toxicproteins and allergens were detected in the transgenic rice line due to the integration of the transgene.

The effectiveness of modified radical mastectomy combined with radioactive particle implantation in the treatment of patients with advanced breast cancer / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To explore the effectiveness of modified radical mastectomy combined with radioactive particle implantation in treating advanced breast cancer.Methods A total of 106 patients diagnosed with advanced breast cancer at our hospital from January 2012 to July 2014 were included in this study and were randomly divided into an intervention group (n=53),in which patients were treated with modified radical mastectomy combined with radioactive particle implantation,and a control group (n=53).in which patients received modified radical mastectomy alone.Rates of 1-and 3-year survival,over 1 year local control,disease recurrence,and post treatment complications were recorded and compared between the two groups.Results There was no difference in 1-and 3 year survival rates between the two groups (both P＞0.05).The over 1-year local control rate of cancer in the intervention group (92.5％) was higher than in the control group (77.4％) (x2=4.7111,P=0.030).The disease recurrence rate within 1 year in the intervention group (9.4％) was lower than that in the control group (24.5％) (x2 =4.2828,P =0.0385).The rate of post-treatment complications in the intervention group (11.3 ％) was significantly lower than in the control group (26.4 ％) (x2 =3.9442,P =0.0470).Conclusions Radical mastectomy combined with radioactive particle implantation not only helps to improve the local control rate of patients with advanced breast cancer,but also significantly reduces the recurrence rate of disease and the incidence of complications.

Optimization of SPECT/CT scan schemes in localizing preoperative parathyroid lesions / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Objective To compare the diagnostic efficiencies of different scanning schemes of dualphase 99Tcm-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) planar imaging with or without SPECT/CT in the preoperative localization of parathyroid lesions.Methods Forty-two patients (20 males,22 females;average age (53.1 ± 14.8) years) with primary or secondary hyperparathyroidism who underwent parathyroidectomy from June 2011 to June 2016 were analyzed retrospectively.All patients underwent dual-phase 99Tcm-MIBI planar scan and dual-phase SPECT/CT scan.The images were collected according to the following 4 procedures:dualphase planar imaging (S1),dual-phase planar imaging+early-phase SPECT/CT (S2),dual-phase planar imaging+delayed-phase SPECT/CT (S3),dual-phase planar imaging+dual-phase SPECT/CT (S4).Pathological results were considered as the gold standard.A total of 168 parathyroid glands in 42 patients were evaluated by the 4 imaging procedures respectively.The diagnostic efficiencies were calculated and compared by x2 test.Results Seventy-eight abnormal parathyroid lesions were found.The diagnostic sensitivities of S1,S2,S3,S4 were 66.7％ (52/78),89.7％(70/78),69.2％(54/78),89.7％(70/78),and the accuracies were 78.6％ (132/168),94.0％ (158/168),85.1％ (143/168),94.0％ (158/168),respectively.The diagnostic accuracies of S2 and S4 were significantly higher than those of S1 and S3 (x2 values:17.027 and 7.176,both P＜0.01).Condusions The dual-phase planar imaging together with early-phase and dualphase SPECT/CT imaging have high diagnostic efficiencies in the preoperative localization of parathyroid lesions.Considering reducing radiation dose and examine time,the dual-phase planar imaging together with early-phase SPECT/CT is a better choice.

DNA methylation modulates H19 and IGF2 expression in porcine female eye

Abstract The sexually dimorphic expression of H19/IGF2 is evolutionarily conserved. To investigate whether the expression of H19/IGF2 in the female porcine eye is sex-dependent, gene expression and methylation status were evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP). We hypothesized that H19/IGF2 might exhibit a different DNA methylation status in the female eye. In order to evaluate our hypothesis, parthenogenetic (PA) cells were used for analysis by qPCR and BSP. Our results showed that H19 and IGF2 were over-expressed in the female eye compared with the male eye (3-fold and 2-fold, respectively). We observed a normal monoallelic methylation pattern for H19 differentially methylated regions (DMRs). Compared with H19 DMRs, IGF2 DMRs showed a different methylation pattern in the eye. Taken together, these results suggest that elevated expression of H19/IGF2 is caused by a specific chromatin structure that is regulated by the DNA methylation status of IGF2 DMRs in the female eye.

Chengjiang school descendant Mr. Huang Zong-Xu's academic characteristics of acupuncture and moxibustion / 中国针灸

HUANG Zong-xu, who studied from Mr. Cheng Dan-an, the founder of Chengjiang acupuncture school, is a famous acupuncturist of Fujian Province. Through collecting and sorting of Mr. Huang's theses and medical records, his academic characteristics of acupuncture and moxibustion were summarized as follows. Paying attention to meridians and collaterals and treatment based on syndrome differentiation; valuing the needling sensation as well as being good at reinforcing and reducing methods; thinking highly of taking care of spleen and stomach, ombination of needles and herbal medicine to treat difficult miscellaneous diseases; being adept in externd therapy and penetration needling and diet prescriptions, as well as attaching importance on health preserving.

Tissue-engineered conduit using bladder acellular matrix and bladder epithelial cells for urinary diversion in rabbits / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>For muscle invasive bladder cancer, radical cystectomy is the most effective treatment now and urinary diversion is often necessary. The use of intestinal tissue for urinary diversion is frequently associated with complications. In this study, we aimed to make a tissue-engineered conduit (TEC) using bladder epithelial cells and bladder acellular matrix (BAM) for urinary diversion in rabbits.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Bladder epithelial cells of rabbit were cultivated and expanded in vitro, then seeded on BAM, and cultured for 7 days. Then cell-seeded graft was used to make TEC. In the experimental group, most of bladder of the rabbit was removed while bladder trigone was retained. The proximal end of TEC was anastomosed with bladder trigone and the distal end was anastomosed with the abdominal stoma. In the control group, TEC was made using unseeded BAM. Haematoxylin and eosin staining was conducted, respectively, at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks postoperatively. Immunohistochemistry was performed 8 weeks postoperatively. Intravenous urography, retrograde pyelography, and cystoscopy of TEC were made at 12 weeks postoperatively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All animals were alive in the experimental group. Haematoxylin and eosin staining showed epithelial coverage in TEC. Immunohistochemistry showed anti-cytokeratin AE(1)/AE(3) antibody and anti-ZO1 antibody positive, confirming there were mature and functional epithelial cells on the lumen of TEC. Retrograde pyelography and intravenous urography showed that TEC developed well and that there was no obstruction. In the control group, four rabbits were dead within 2 weeks and scar formation, atresia, and severe hydronephrosis were found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>We successfully made TEC using BAM and bladder epithelial cells for urinary diversion in rabbits. The lumen of this new TEC covered mature epithelial cells and could prevent urinary extravasation.</p>

Cloning, expression and functional analysis of the dhbC gene from the siderophore producing bacterium Bacillus subtilis CAS15 / 生物工程学报

We amplified dhbC gene from the siderophore producing bacterium CAS15 by PCR. After ligated the PCR product to pMD18-T vector and then sequenced, we obtained a 1197 bp fragment. The blast result showed that the nucleotide acids of dhbC gene (Accession No. FJ194456) of CAS15 shared 99.7% identity with that of dhbC gene of Bacillus subtilis (GenBank Accession No. Z99120), and was predicted to encode a 43.8 kD polypeptide with 398 amino acid residues. We cloned the dhbC gene into expression vector pET-30a(+) and then transformed into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) via calcium chloride transformation method, and obtained the recombinant E. coli BL21(DE3)/pET-30a-dhbC. Induced by 1 mmol/L IPTG the fusion protein 6His-DhbC, a 48.8 kD polypeptide was successfully expressed mainly in soluble form in E. coli BL21(DE3), and the amount reached highest at 30 degrees C for 4 h. According to the N-terminal fusion 6 His-tag, we purified the recombinant polypeptide by Ni2+ metal affinity chromatography and finally identified it by Western blotting. The result indicated that the recombinant DhbC had the antigenicity to rabbit anti-his-tag polyclonal antibody, which provides the basis for the study of practical utilization in production and the biocontrol mechanism of B. subtilis. Finally, we deleted dhbC gene by gene knockout and then retransformed it into the dhbC gene-delected mutant, which confirmed that dhbC gene play an important role in siderophore biosynthesis.

Expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in the impairment of contralateral testes of unilateral cryptorchidism in rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between germ cell apoptosis and expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax in contralateral testes of experimental unilateral cryptorchid rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups (namely cryptorchid group and control group), with 10 rats in each group. Cryptorchid animal model was established, and contralateral testes were captured 90 days later. The evidence of germ cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay. The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by immunohistochemical method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the contralateral testes of experimental unilateral cryptorchidism, apoptosis index of germ cell and Bax expression significantly increased compared with those in the control group, respectively (P < 0.01), while Bcl-2 expression and testis weight obviously decreased (P <0.01). The apoptotic cells were mostly pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The germ cell apoptosis is highly correlated with expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax in contralateral testes of experimental unilateral cryptorchidism. Bcl-2/Bax plays an important role in germ cell apoptosis.</p>

The influence of occupational exposure and smoking on lung ventilation of coke oven workers / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the influence of occupational exposure and smoking on lung ventilation function of coke oven workers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Environmental monitoring was performed on the top, side and bottom of some coke ovens. Lung ventilation function test was performed in 234 coke oven workers.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The poison concentration in environment had such tendency as it was the highest on the top, then the side, and the lowest at the bottom. The standardized forced expiratory volume in the 1st second (FEV(1), 90.8% +/- 8.6%) and forced expiratory rate (FEV(1)%, 95.4% +/- 12.4%) of those coke oven workers who smoked were significantly lower than those non-smoking workers (100.9% +/- 14.3%, 108.9% +/- 17.6%); among those smoking workers, the partial correlation coefficients between forced vital capacity (FVC) and benzene soluble, benzopyrene, and smoking index were -0.249, -0.187 and -0.368 respectively; and the coefficients between FEV(1) and the three aspects were -0.255, -0.191 and -0.388; and the coefficients between FEV(1)% and them were -0.131, -0.107 and -0.065. Among those non-smoking workers, the coefficients between benzene solubles and FVC, FEV(1) and FEV(1)% were -0.154, -0.052 and -0.176, and between benzopyrene and them were -0.121, -0.037 and -0.159.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The lung ventilation function of coke oven workers has certain negative correlation with both occupational exposure and smoking.</p>