[Graduate training mode of acupuncture-moxibustion and tuina based on "three crosses and two integrations": a preliminary study].

In view of the core tasks and weak links in the training of medical graduate in the new era, based on the characteristics and development needs of the discipline, a new "three crosses and two integrations" graduate training mode of acupuncture-moxibustion and tuina is proposed, with "equal emphasis on inheritance and innovation, theory and practice" as the core, with "curriculum cross" as the basis, with "academic cross" as the connotation, and with "discipline cross" as the pathway. This new training mode focuses on the comprehensive cultivation of graduates' comprehensive abilities, aiming to achieve the training goal of "strong inheritance ability, excellent innovation ability, good practical ability and broad international perspective".

[Heavy Metal Emissions from Coal-fired Power Plants and Heavy Metal Pollution Characteristics and Health Risks in Surrounding Soils].

The aim of this study was to reveal the influence of heavy metal emissions from the flue gas of coal-fired power plants on the surrounding soil environment. Seven heavy metals, including As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Hg, and Ni, were detected in the flue gas of six coal-fired power plants in Shijiazhuang, and the heavy metals in the soil surrounding the power plants were analyzed. The source analysis and health risk assessment of the heavy metals were carried out. The results showed that after a series of flue gas pollutant control measures, the emission concentrations of different heavy metals in the flue gas of the coal-fired power plants ranged from 0.11 to 6.32 mg·(MW·h)-1, and Cu, Cr, and Ni were the main pollutants. The total amount of the seven heavy metal elements discharged into the atmosphere by each power plant was 33.56-275.71 kg·a-1. The average contents of Cr, Cu, Pb, Hg, and Ni in the surface soil surrounding the coal-fired power plant were higher than the background values of Hebei soil, and the contents were 1.16-2.32 times higher than the background values. The heavy metal content in the soil around the power plants was proportional to the heavy metal emissions in the flue gas. The heavy metal content in the soil under different wind directions first increased and then decreased gradually with the increase in distance from the power plants. Source analysis showed that coal combustion emissions contributed the most to heavy metals in soil around the power plants (41.4%), followed by industrial emissions (23.6%) and transportation emissions (19.6%). Altogether, human activities played a leading role in soil heavy metal enrichment, accounting for 84.6%. The health risk assessment showed that the overall health risk of metal elements in the soil surrounding the power plant was within acceptable limits.

Orientin Improves Cognition by Enhancing Autophagosome Clearance in an Alzheimer's Mouse Model.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and is characterized by the presence of ß-amyloid (Aß) plaques and defective autophagy in the brain, which is believed to cause neuronal dysfunction. By using APP/PS1 transgenic AD mice, we investigated the influence of orientin (Ori) on cognitive function and its underlying mechanisms in AD models. Our data indicated that Ori improved spatial learning and memory in APP/PS1 mice, possibly through decreasing brain Aß deposition and attenuating autophagy impairment. Ori decreased the LC3-II/I ratio, p62 and cathepsin D (Ctsd) protein levels and the number of autolysosomes, whereas the protein levels of Ulk1 and Beclin-1 were no different between the control and treatment groups, indicating increased autolysosome clearance and thus a decreased Aß burden in the brain. Our results showed that Ori could enhance autolysosome clearance, decrease brain Aß deposition and improve learning and memory in AD mice.

Cytomegalovirus infection in day care centres: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence of infection in children.

Maternofetal transmission of cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common infectious cause of congenital malformation in developed countries. Maternal infection often results from close contact with infected children, and this may occur in day care centres (DCCs). A systematic review of observational studies was conducted to examine the prevalence of CMV infection among children attending DCCs. Meta-analysis using the random effect model was performed for studies including controls. Sources included PubMed, EMBASE (until August 2018), and references from identified publications. Inclusion criteria were studies reporting CMV infection prevalence among childcare children aged less than 7 years of age. Controls were children without childcare exposure. CMV infection was defined as viral excretion detected by culture, polymerase chain reaction, or CMV seropositivity. Twenty-eight publications including 8347 participants met the eligibility criteria. The pooled prevalence of CMV infection among children in childcare from all studies was 32% (95% CI 23-41). Within case-controlled studies, prevalence among children attending DCCs was 34% (95% CI 25-44), whereas prevalence among those without childcare exposure was 22% (95% CI 15-30). Meta-analysis showed a significant association between DCC attendance and CMV infection (odds ratio 2.69, 95% CI 1.68-4.30; heterogeneity χ2 /df = 8; I2  = 84%, P < 0.00001). Attendance at DCCs is significantly associated with increased risk of childhood CMV infection. Prevention strategies to reduce risk of CMV infection of pregnant women and children should involve review of DCC exposure and consideration of preventative hygiene strategies.

Association between interleukin-19 and angiopoietin-2 with vascular complications in type 2 diabetes.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of interleukin-19 (IL-19) in angiogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus with complications, and to assess the relationship of serum IL-19 and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in type 2 diabetes mellitus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The group studied comprised of 240 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (132 men and 108 women), and included macrovascular complications, microvascular complications and type 2 diabetes mellitus without vascular complications. The control group consisted of 50 healthy blood donors. All participants were evaluated for: IL-19, Ang-2, fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin and glycosylated hemoglobin. RESULTS: The serum IL-19 levels of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with angiopathy were found to be significantly higher compared with patients without angiopathy. IL-19 levels were significantly positively correlated with Ang-2, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance and glycosylated hemoglobin (r = 0.769, 0.523 and 0.491, respectively, P < 0.01). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, IL-19 levels (P = 0.01) were found to be independently associated with patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus complications. CONCLUSIONS: These data are the first to implicate the association between the IL-19 and type 2 diabetes mellitus with vascular complications. IL-19 is significantly positively correlated with Ang-2. The potential role of IL-19 and Ang-2 in the pathogenesis of vascular complications in type 2 diabetes could warrant further study.