Lingnan Fire-needle on Inhibiting Melanocyte Apoptosis in Vitiligo Model Mice by Regulating Hippo-YAP Signaling Pathway / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of fire-needle of Lingnan on the vitiligo model after hydroquinone-induced oxidative stress based on the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway. MethodsC57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal group （Control）， model group （HQ）， HQ+fire-needle group （FA）， and positive control group （Halometasone）， with 8 mice in each group. The vitiligo model was prepared by hydroquinone （HQ）. The skin pathological changes were observed by depigmentation score， HE staining and Masson-Fontana. Elisa was used to detect the levels of tyrosinase （TYR）， malondialdehyde （MDA） and monoamine oxidase （MAO）.Western-blot and PCR were used to detect the expression of Yap1 and Tp73 among the groups. ResultsCompared with the control group， the epidermis and dermis were significantly thicker. The number of melanocyte hair follicles， basal melanocytes， epidermal cells containing melanin granules were significantly decreased， and the depigmentation score was significantly reduced（P＜0.01）. The level of TYR decreased， and the levels of MDA and MAO increased after modeling（P＜0.01）. The expression of Yap1 and Tp73 were significantly reduced （P<0.01）. The dermis became thinner in the halometasone and FA group after treatment of 4 weeks. The number of melanocyte hair follicles， basal melanocytes， epidermal cells containing melanin granules increased （P<0.05）. Compared with that of the HQ group， the level of TYR in the halometasone group and FA group was significantly increased （P<0.01）. The levels of MDA and MAO in the FA group were decreased （P<0.05）. The expressions of Yap1 and Tp73 in the FA group were significantly increased （P<0.01）， and their effects were better than those in the Halometasone group （P<0.05）. ConclusionsFire-needle of Lingnan protects melanocytes from oxidative stress by activating the Hippo-YAP pathway. It enhances the synthesis and function of melanocytes and promotes repigmentation by reducing the content and activity of oxidative stress products.

Effect of Shugan Tiaoshen acupuncture combined with western medication on depression-insomnia comorbidity due to COVID-19 quarantine: a multi-central randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of Shugan Tiaoshen acupuncture (acupuncture for soothing the liver and regulating the mentality) combined with western medication on depression and sleep quality in the patients with depression-insomnia comorbidity due to COVID-19 quarantine, and investigate the potential mechanism from the perspective of cortical excitability.@*METHODS@#Sixty patients with depression-insomnia comorbidity due to COVID-19 quarantine were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a sham-acupuncture group, 30 cases in each one. The patients of both groups were treated with oral administration of sertraline hydrochloride tablets. In the acupuncture group, Shugan Tiaoshen acupuncture was supplemented. Body acupuncture was applied to Yintang (GV 24+), Baihui (GV 20), Hegu (LI 4), Zhaohai (KI 6), Qihai (CV 6), etc. The intradermal needling was used at Xin (CO15), Gan (CO12) and Shen (CO10). In the sham-acupuncture group, the sham-acupuncture was given at the same points as the acupuncture group. The compensatory treatment was provided at the end of follow-up for the patients in the sham-acupuncture group. In both groups, the treatment was given once every two days, 3 times a week, for consecutive 8 weeks. The self-rating depression scale (SDS) and insomnia severity index (ISI) scores were compared between the two groups before and after treatment and 1 month after the end of treatment (follow-up) separately. The cortical excitability indexes (resting motor threshold [rMT], motor evoked potential amplitude [MEP-A], cortical resting period [CSP]) and the level of serum 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were measured before and after treatment in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#After treatment and in follow-up, SDS and ISI scores were decreased in both groups compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the scores in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05), and the decrease range in the acupuncture group after treatment was larger than that in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05). After treatment, rMT was reduced (P<0.05), while MEP-A and CSP were increased (P<0.05) in the acupuncture group compared with that before treatment. The levels of serum 5-HT in both groups were increased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05). The rMT in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the sham-acupuncture group, while MEP-A and CSP, as well as the level of serum 5-HT were higher in the acupuncture group in comparison with the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Shugan Tiaoshen acupuncture combined with western medication can relieve depression and improve sleep quality in the patients with depression-insomnia comorbidity due to COVID-19 quarantine, which is probably related to rectifying the imbalanced excitatory and inhibitory neuronal functions.

Prevention and control strategies for infectious diseases in the high-incidence areas during medical service period of hospital ship / 第二军医大学学报

When providing medical services in infectious disease high-incidence areas such as Africa becomes a routine, the prevention and control of infectious diseases has become an indispensable part of hospital ship mission.“Mission Harmony-2017” provided a 155-day medical service in seven African countries (Djibouti, Sierra Leone, Gabon, Congo [Brazzaville], Angola, Mozambique and Tanzania). We successfully completed the mission through active preparation before the departure, including carefully studying the prevalent trend of infectious diseases in these countries, disease screening and compulsory vaccination and drug prevention, and critical prevention and control during the mission (staff training, health and epidemic prevention and graded precaution). At last we achieved “zero” incidence of infectious diseases among mission personnel during the task. The prevention and control strategies for infectious diseases in this mission can provide experience for all kinds of personnel in areas with high-incidence of infectious diseases in the future.

Professor 's experience for post-stroke dysphagia treated with penetrating-needling and swallowing technique of acupuncture / 中国针灸

Professor 's experience for post-stroke dysphagia treated with penetrating-needling and swallowing technique of acupuncture is summarized in this paper. The key pathogenesis of this disease is dysfunction of organs, impairment of the house of mental activity and dysfunction of meridian sinew. Innovatively, the anatomic structure related to swallowing is divided into three zones. Based on the distributions of heart, kidney and stomach meridians on the neck, three lines are determined. Hence, the theory of "three-zone and three-line" as well as the penetrating-needling and swallowing technique of acupuncture are put forward. In this paper, the theoretic evidences of penetrating-needling and swallowing technique of acupuncture, point selection and manipulation in treatment of post-stroke dysphagia are introduced.

Changes of Treg and Th17 cells balance in the development of acute and chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

BACKGROUND: Many studies suggest that in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection regulate T (Treg) cells and interlukin-17-producing T help cells (Th17) are mutually antagonistic in the immune response. This study is aimed to reveal the cell differentiation environment and the significance of Treg and Th17 balance in the development of acute and chronic HBV infection. METHODS: Ten patients with acute HBV infection (AHB) and forty-eight patients with chronic HBV infection, including 12 asymptomatic HBV carriers (HBV carriers), 18 chronic hepatitis B patients (CHB) and 18 acute-on-chronic HBV-related liver failure (ACHBLF) were enrolled. Treg and Th17 cells differentiation related cytokine levels were detected by using ELISA. Flow cytometry was employed to count the Treg and Th17 frequency in peripheral blood. RESULTS: Compared to health controls both AHB and ACHBLF patients favoured Th17 cell differentiation, accompanied by a higher proportion of peripheral Th17 cells (P < 0.01) and high level of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) (P < 0.01). However, asymptomatic HBV carriers and CHB were conducive to Treg cell differentiation. In AHB and ACHBLF, peripheral blood IL-17A + CD4 + T cell frequency increased significantly compared with healthy controls. Changes of Treg and Th17 cell frequency were not completely consistent. Both CHB and ACHBLF had lower level of Treg/Th17 ratio than in health control (P < 0.05). Both plasm IL-17A levels (r = -0.72, p<0.001) and Th17 frequency(r = -0.49, p = 0.0003) negatively correlated with plasma HBV DNA load in patients with chronic HBV infection. In addition, both Th17 frequency and plasm IL-17A levels positively correlated with ALT (r = 0.33,p = 0.01 Vs r = 0.29, p = 0.04) and total bilirubin levels (r = 0.72,p<0.0001 Vs r = 0.53, p = 0.0001) in these chronic HBV-infected subjects. However, for AHB there were positive correlation between both Th17 frequency (r = 0.64, p = 0.04) and plasm IL-17A levels (r = 0.69, p = 0.02) with serum ALT levels, but no significant correlation between both HBV DNA level and total bilirubin level with Th17 frequency or plasm IL-17A levels were found. Furthermore, Treg/Th17 ratio was negatively correlated with total bilirubin levels (r = -0.41, p = 0.004) in chronic HBV-infected patients, especially in patients with ACHBLF (r = -0.69, p = 0.001) and positively correlated with viral load in these chronic HBV-infected subjects (r = 0.55, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Th17 cells are involved in acute and chronic HBV infection, especially in AHB and ACHBLF. CHB and ACHBLF patients manifested obvious Treg/Th17 ratio imbalance, which might be linked to disease progression and the continuous HBV infection.