Effects of a Reinforcing and Reducing Method of Acupuncture on Interstitial Fluid Pressure in Subcutaneous Tissue of Minipig / 医用生物力学

Objective To study the effect of the reinforcing and reducing method of acupuncture reported in first Chapter the Nine Needles and Twelve Yuan of the Miraculous Pivot on interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) in subcutaneous tissue of minipig, and to investigate its biomechanical mechanism of regulating the interstitial fluid. Methods Nine healthy minipigs were randomly selected for reinforcing method (pull or press) and reducing method (wave a big pinhole), and tested on soft skin tissues of the abdomen. The IFP in the normal state (NS), the low volume (LV) state (by extracting interstitial fluid) and the high volume (HV) state (by injecting saline solution) was measured before and after acupuncture. Results In the normal state, pulling and pressing the needle could obviously increase IFP, while reducing method could significantly decrease IFP, leading to a rapid decrease in 5 min after acupuncture. In the LV state, pulling and pressing the needle could increase IFP. However, in 10 min after acupuncture, the descend rates of IFP were relatively slower. In the HV state, the reducing method could significantly decrease IFP, and the changing trend in 5 min after acupuncture was different from that of the control group. Conclusions The reinforcing and reducing method of acupuncture could increase or decrease IFP, which proved that the acupuncture method could regulate IFP in the opposite direction. The research findings provide a new scientific basis for using reinforcing and reducing method of acupuncture in clinic.

Status of diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis in 2017: a national multi-center retrospective study / 中华胃肠外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the current status of diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis (AA) in China.@*METHODS@#Questionnaire survey was used to retrospectively collect data of hospitalized patients with AA from 43 medical centers nationwide in 2017 (Sort by number of cases provided: Jinling Hospital of Medical School of Nanjing University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Lu'an People's Hospital, Tengzhou Central People's Hospital, Dalian Central Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Dongying People's Hospital, Jinjiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huangshan Shoukang Hospital, Xuyi People's Hospital, Nanjing Jiangbei People's Hospital, Lanzhou 940th Hospital of PLA, Heze Municipal Hospital, The First College of Clinical Medical Science of China Three Gorges University, Affiliated Jiujiang Hospital of Nanchang University, The Second People's Hospital of Hefei, Affiliated Central Hospital of Shandong Zaozhuang Mining Group, The Third People's Hospital of Kunshan City, Xuzhou First People's Hospital, The 81st Group Army Hospital of PLA, Linyi Central Hospital, The General Hospital of Huainan Eastern Hospital Group, The 908th Hospital of PLA, Liyang People's Hospital, The 901th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, The Fourth Hospital of Jilin University, Harbin Acheng District People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Nanjing Luhe People's Hospital, Taixing Municipal People's Hospital, Baotou Central Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Linyi People's Hospital, The 72st Group Army Hospital of PLA, Zaozhuang Municipal Hospital, People's Hospital of Dayu County, Taixing City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Beijing Guang'anmen Hospital, Langxi County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Central Hospital, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University).The diagnosis and management of AA were analyzed through unified summary. Different centers collected and summarized their data in 2017 and sent back the questionnaires for summary.@*RESULTS@#A total of 8 766 AA patients were enrolled from 43 medical centers, including 4 711 males (53.7%) with median age of 39 years and 958 (10.9%) patients over 65 years old. Of 8 776 patients, 5 677 cases (64.6%) received one or more imaging examinations, and the other 3 099 (35.4%) did not receive any imaging examination. A total of 1 858 (21.2%) cases received medical treatment, mainly a combination of nitroimidazoles (1 107 cases, 59.8%) doublet regimen, followed by a single-agent regimen of non-nitroimidazoles (451 cases, 24.4%), a nitroimidazole-free doublet regimen (134 cases, 7.2%), a triple regimen of combined nitroimidazoles (116 cases, 6.3%), nitroimidazole alone (39 cases, 2.1%) and nitroimidazole-free triple regimen (3 cases, 0.2%). Of the 6 908 patients (78.8%) who underwent surgery, 4 319 (62.5%) underwent laparoscopic appendectomy and 2589 (37.5%) underwent open surgery. Ratio of laparotomy was higher in those patients under 16 years old (392 cases) or over 65 years old (258 cases) [15.1%(392/2 589) and 10.0%(258/2 589), respectively, compared with 8.5%(367/4 316) and 8.0%(347/4 316) in the same age group for laparoscopic surgery, χ²=91.415, P<0.001; χ²=15.915,P<0.001]. Patients with complicated appendicitis had higher ratio of undergoing open surgery as compared to those undergoing laparoscopic surgery [26.7%(692/2 589) vs. 15.6%(672/4 316), χ²=125.726, P<0.001].The cure rates of laparoscopic and open surgery were 100.0% and 99.8%(2 585/2 589) respectively without significant difference (P=0.206). Postoperative complication rates were 4.5%(121/2 589) and 4.7%(196/4 316) respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (χ²=0.065, P=0.799). The incidence of surgical site infection was lower (0.6% vs. 1.7%, χ²=17.315, P<0.001), and hospital stay was shorter [6(4-7) days vs. 6(5-8) days, U=4 384 348.0, P<0.001] in the laparoscopic surgery group, while hospitalization cost was higher (median 12 527 yuan vs. 9 342 yuan, U=2 586 809.0, P<0.001).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The diagnosis of acute appendicitis is still clinically based, supplemented by imaging examination. Appendectomy is still the most effective treatment at present. Laparoscopic appendectomy has become the main treatment strategy, but anti-infective drugs are also very effective.

The effects of bitter gourd saponins on the expression of podocin and nephrin in renal tissues of rats with renal damage induced by salt-sensitive hypertension / 中国医师杂志

Objective To study the therapeutic effect of bitter gourd saponins on salt-sensitive kidney injury induced by high salt diet and its possible mechanism.Methods 50 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal group,model group and low-dose,middle-dose and high-dose treatment group after 10 days of adaptive feeding.Each group had 10 rats.Except the normal group,the other four groups were given high salt diet (4.0％ high salt diet) to induce salt-sensitive kidney damage in rats.The normal group and the model group were given 1.0 m/(kg · d) normal saline,and the three dosage groups of total saponins of balsam pear were given 10 mg/(kg · d),20 mg/(kg · d) and 40 mg/(kg · d) respectively.After 8 weeks of treatment,rats were sacrificed and collect the 24-hour proteinuria,creatinine.Serum creatinine,serum aldosterone,serum sodium and serum potassium were measured,and renal histopathology and the expression of podocin and nephrin were detected.Results Pathological examination of model group showed obvious glomerular sclerosis and renal interstitial fibrosis,and glomerular sclerosis in the treatment group was obviously improved by bitter gourd saponins;The systolic pressure in the model group was 170 mmHg,significantly higher than that of the normal and treatment groups,the systolic blood pressure of the treatment groups were obvious decreased when treated by bitter gourd saponins (P ＜ 0.05);Compared with normal group,serum creatinine and 24 h proteinuria / urine creatinine in model group were significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05),while creatinine clearance rate and aldosterone were significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.05),and the above indexes in bitter gourd saponins treatment group were significantly improved;Compared with the model group,the protein and mRNA expression of podocin and nephrin were significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.05),while the two indexes can be revered by bitter gourd saponins in treatment group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The bitter gourd saponins can significantly improve the symptoms of salt-induced hypertensive nephropathy in rats,which may be related with the expression of podocin and nephrin in renal tissue,thereby inhibiting glomerulosclerosis and improving renal interstitial fibrosis.

Influential factors for anemia in pregnancy based on a nested case-control study in Changsha / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the prevalence of anemia during pregnancy and the influential factors in changsha city, and to provide scientific evidence for prevention and intervention of anemia during pregnancy. 
@*METHODS@#A cluster sampling of 713 mothers, who delivered baby between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013 in the three streets of kaifu district of Changsha, was selected to establish a retrospective cohort. The maternal health information during pregnancy was collected within 15 days after the delivery. The influential factors of anemia during pregnancy were analyzed by the method of retrospective nested case-control study and conditional logistic regression.
@*RESULTS@#The prevalence of anemia during pregnancy in Changsha was 9.96%. The multiple conditional logistic regression results show that high family income (OR=0.632, P=0.020), high education level (OR=0.276, P=0.033), folic acid supplement (OR =0.248, P=0.050), iron supplement (OR=0.272, P<0.001) and eating blood products (OR=0.588, P=0.044) were the beneficial factors for anemia during pregnancy, while multipara (OR=2.917, P=0.003), long duration of menstrual period before pregnancy (OR=1.335, P=0.041), living in new decoration housing (OR=3.690, P=0.045) and tea-drinking (OR=1.365, P=0.094) were the risk factors for anemia during pregnancy. 
@*CONCLUSION@#The prevalence of anemia during pregnancy in Changsha is below the average levels. The occurrence of anemia during pregnancy is closely related to the women's economic level and nutritional status. Women should strengthen maternal nutrition during pregnancy and bedroom environment monitor, drink little strong tea and improve the nutritional status of iron during pregnancy.

Color spectrum of cupping mark detected by hyperspectral camera:a preliminary observation / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To perform quantitative observation on the color change of local skin after cupping, so as to explore objective and quantitative methods for skin response of cupping.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seven health subjects were included. By quantitative meridian cupping instrument, cupping methods with four types of pressures were respectively performed on subjects for 5 min.The spectrum of cupping mark before and after the cupping was collected by hyperspectral camera, and the color change was recorded by digital camera.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Before the cupping, the differences of back skin areas were not significant (>0.05), and its average spectrum indicated two peaks at 540-550 nm and 580-590 nm. After cupping with different pressures, spectrum changes of skin were observed. For -0.02 MPa, the most significant reduction was observed at 550 nm (-12.1%,<0.05); for -0.03 MPa, the most significant reduction was observed at 540 nm (-22.1%,<0.05); for -0.04 MPa, the most significant reduction was observed at 610 nm (-26.7%,<0.05); for -0.05 MPa, the most significant reduction was observed at several spectrums (all<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>After cupping with different negative pressures, significant changes of spectrum are observed on skin; for different pressures, the spectrums of the most significant changes are different; the hyperspectral camera could be applied to perform quantitative observation on the color change of local skin.</p>

Active ingredients in rhubarb with anti-proliferative effects on scar fibroblasts / 药学学报

This study is to explore the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine rhubarb with antiproliferative activity on hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (HSF). Rhubarb was extracted with Soxhlet extraction method by different polar solvents. MTS method was used to screen rhubarb solvent extracts (25 microg x mL(-1)) with anti-proliferative activity on HSF, and flow cytometry was used to detect their influences on cell cycle. Then, the active ingredients were analyzed by HPLC. The components with high activity were identified by UPLC-Q/TOF and verified by HE staining. The results showed that the ethyl acetate extract of rhubarb had higher anti-proliferative activity (P < 0.01), increased significantly the proportion of cells in G0/G1 phase (P < 0.01), and reduced the proliferation index (PI) (P < 0.01). The main active ingredients were anthraquinones. The results of confirming experiment showed that emodin, rhein and gallic acid could inhibit cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, the ethyl acetate extract of rhubarb showed anti-proliferative activity on HSF, and the anti-proliferative ingredients might be anthraquinones.