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Objective:To analyze the composition and functional characteristics of the intestinal microflora in novel coronavirus pneumonia patients with arterial stiffness, in order to provide empirical evidence for rational use of intestinal microecological modulators.Methods:Patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia admitted to our hospital between April 5 and April 19, 2020 were enrolled as research subjects.They were divided into the stiffness group and the control group according to the results of arterial stiffness.Stool samples were collected within 7 days of admission.Intestinal flora DNA was analyzed and entered into a database, shotgun metagenomic sequencing was performed, and bioinformatics analysis was conducted based on sequencing results.Results:A total of 16 patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia were included in this study, including 7 in the stiffness group and 9 in the control group.Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and blood pressure were higher in the stiffness group than in the control group( P<0.05). Beta diversity analysis at the phylum level showed that there were significant differences in the composition of the intestinal flora between the two groups( P<0.05). Patients with arterial stiffness had a lower relative abundance than the controls in fecal Holdemanella, Mitsuokella, Deinococcus, Lachnospira, Turicibacter, Butyrivibrio, Sporomusa, and Halanaerobium, species associated with the production of short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs), regulation of energy metabolism, anti-radiation, anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory effects.The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis showed that the intestinal flora in the control group was mainly involved in the pathways of lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, metabolism of SCFA and other amino acids, and membrane transport, while the intestinal flora in the stiffness group was mostly concerned with the pathways of amino acid metabolism and DNA damage repair. Conclusions:The use of microbial agents capable of increasing short-chain fatty acids in patients with novel caronavirus infection may contribute to the restoration of intestinal flora homeostasis.
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OBJECTIVE@#To summarize and elucidate the characteristics and evolvement of Chinese medicine (CM) patterns reflecting the physical and mental conditions of participants in the Mars 500 long-term closed environment.@*METHODS@#The DS01-T Digital TCM Four-Diagnostic Instrument and CM Inquiring Diagnostic Questionnaire were used to collect information from 6 participants in the Mars 500 International Joint Research Project, through diagnostic methods of observation, palpation and inquiry according to CM theory. During the 520 days of the experiment, data collection was performed 37 times; a total of over 400 digital images of tongues and facial complexion and over 20,000 data were collected. These data were then analyzed by a team of experts in CM, statistics, and data mining.@*RESULTS@#The CM pattern evolvement of participants in the long-term closed environment followed some common trends. Qi deficiency was the main CM pattern observed, with individual features depending on constitutional differences [manifested in varying degrees of accompanying patterns of Gan (Liver) qi stagnation, Pi (Spleen) deficiency, dampness encumbering, or yin deficiency].@*CONCLUSION@#The research has verified the effectiveness of CM syndrome differentiation based on the four diagnostic methods, which should serve as a solid foundation for observation, monitoring, and intervention in regard to the health conditions of astronauts in long-term space flights in the future.
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OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the development of social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related influencing factors.@*METHODS@#A total of 889 children with ASD in 10 cities of China were enrolled as subjects. The Autism Social Skills Scale was used to assess their social skills.@*RESULTS@#The children with ASD had a lower score of each factor than the theoretical median, with the lowest score for social communication and the highest score for self-regulation. There were significant differences in the total score of social skills and the scores of social cognition and social participation between the children with ASD in different age groups (P<0.05). There were also significant differences in the total score of social skills and the scores of social orientation, social communication, social participation, and self-regulation between the ASD children with different language levels (P<0.01).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Children with ASD have low social skills, and their social skills are associated with age and language level.
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Child , Humans , Autism Spectrum Disorder , Social SkillsABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the appropriate time of replacing drainage bags after trans-cervical resection of adhesion(TCRA) surgery.Methods Totally 156 patients underwent TCRA were randomly divided into three groups:Group A,the drainage bags were replaced daily;Group B,the drainage bags were replaced every 3 days;Group C,the drainage bags were never replaced.The drainage bags were removed on the 6th day after TCRA for all groups.Bacterial culture results from the balloon surface of drainage bag,outer cervical orifice,and the connector of drainage bag for 3 groups were observed.The positive rates of bacterial cultures were analyzed statistically.Results The bacterial culture results from the drainage bag connector of 3 groups indicated that the positive rate of Group C was significantly lower than that of other two groups(P＜0.05).The bacterial culture from the drainage bag balloon surface also indicated the same result,but the result did not showed statistically significant difference(P＞0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the culture result firom outer cervical orifice and the volume of drainage fluid within three groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion It is indicated that the patient may enjoy a lower rate of bacterial infection without replacing any drainage bags connected to balloon drainage tubes placed after TCRA within 6 days.We suggest that the intrauterine drainage hags may be kept without replacement until direct removing the drainage tube on day 6 after TCRA.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To comprehensively evaluate the health status of 6 volunteers from the Mars 500 Project through analyzing their pulse graphs and determining the changes in cardiovascular function, degree of fatigue and autonomic nervous function.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Six volunteers were recruited; all were male aged 26-38 years (average 31.83±4.96 years). Characteristic parameters reflflecting the status of cardiovascular functions were extracted, which included left ventricular contraction, vascular elasticity and peripheral resistance. The degree of fatigue was determined depending on the difference between the calendar age and biological age, which was calculated through the analysis of blood pressure value and characteristic parameters. Based on the values of pulse height variation and pulse time variation on a 30-s pulse graph, autonomic nervous function was evaluated. All parameters examined were marked on an equilateral polygon to form an irregular polygon of the actual fifigure, then health status was evaluated based on the coverage area of the actual fifigure.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results demonstrated: (1) volunteers developed weakened pulse power, increased vascular tension and peripheral resistance, and slight decreased ventricular systolic function; (2) the degree of fatigue was basically mild or moderate; and (3) autonomic nervous function was excited but generally balanced.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These volunteers were in the state of sub-health. According to Chinese medicine theories, such symptoms are mainly caused by the weakening of healthy qi, Gan (Liver) failing in free coursing, and disharmony between Gan and Wei (Stomach), which manifests as a weak and string-like pulse.</p>
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the changes in cardiopulmonary function induced by mid/long-term simulated microgravity with 6° head down bed rest (HDBR), and the effects of Taikong Yangxin Prescription (, TYP) as a countermeasure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fourteen healthy male volunteers were randomly divided into a control group and a Chinese medicine (CM) group (7 in each group) by a random digital table based on their body weight. Both groups underwent 6° HDBR for 60 days. Subjects in the CM group received daily TYP pills and subjects in the control group received daily placebo pills. Cardiac systolic and pumping functions were measured by echocardiography before HDBR; on days 20, 42, and 57 of HDBR; and on day 3 of recovery after HDBR (R+3). Cardiopulmonary functional reserve and exercise capacity were evaluated before HDBR, on day 29, and on day R+3 by exercise testing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The heart rate (HR) increased gradually during HDBR. The HR was significantly higher on day 57 than before HDBR in the control group (P<0.05), but did not increase significantly in the CM group. The stroke volume/stroke volume index, ejection fraction, and left ventricular fractional shortening tended to decrease over time in the control group, but not in the CM group. These parameters were significantly higher in the CM group than in the control group on day 42 (P<0.05 or <0.01). Exercise testing showed that maximum O2 consumption (VO2max), metabolic equivalents, relative O2 consumption (VO2), O2 pulse, and exercise duration were significantly lower on day 29 than before HDBR in the control group, but not in the CM group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Sixty days of 6° HDBR induced a reduction in cardiac systolic and pumping functions, and reduced cardiopulmonary functional reserve and exercise capacity. Administration of TYP significantly improved cardiac systolic and pumping functions, and maintained cardiopulmonary functional reserve and exercise capacity.</p>
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Adult , Humans , Male , Bed Rest , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Exercise Test , Heart , Physiology , Lung , PhysiologyABSTRACT
The expression and significance of osteopontin (OPN) and NF-κB in patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) were investigated. Thirteen TAA specimens, 20 AAA specimens and 6 normal aortic specimens were collected. The expression of OPN, nuclear factor-κB P65 (NF-κB P65), urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were detected by using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting was employed to determine the expression of OPN and NF-κB P65. Immunohistochemical results showed that the expression of OPN, NF-κB P65, uPA, MMP-2 and MMP-9 was positive in all TAA and AAA specimens and negative in normal specimens, with the difference being statistically significant (P0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that there existed a positive correlation between the expression of OPN and that of NF-κB P65, uPA, MMP-2 and MMP-9 and between the expression of NF-κB P65 and that of uPA, MMP-2, MMP-9 (P0.05). It was concluded that OPN and NF-κB P65 were involved in the pathogenesis of TAA and AAA. OPN can up-regulate the expression of MMP and uPA via NF-κB signaling pathway thereby accelerating the degradation of extracellular matrix and playing an important role in the pathogenesis and development of TAA and AAA.
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Objective To investigate effects of Taikong Yangxin Prescription on left ventricular pump and contract function in rat after tail suspension.Methods Twenty four male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly and divided into three groups:(A)normal control group,(B)tail-suspension group and(C)Chinese herb compound group(taking Taikong Yangxin Prescription and tail suspension).The left ventricular functions in rats were examined by echocardiography separately after 7 d and 28 d tail-suspension.Results After 28 d of tail-suspension,as compared with the tail-suspension group,LVDD in Chinese herb compound group increased significantly(P