[Effects of different types of intraocular lens implantation on patient's visual quality and function after phacoemulsification]

Objective: To explore the effects of different types of intraocular lens (IOL) implantation on patient's visual quality and function after phacoemulsification. Methods: The clinical data of patients with monocular cataract who underwent phacoemulsification in the Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University between December 2021 and May 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the types of IOL, the patients were divided into monofocal group, bifocal group and depth of focus extension group. Three months later, uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCDVA), best corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA), uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UCIVA), best corrected intermediate visual acuity (BCIVA), uncorrected near visual acuity (UCNVA) and best corrected near visual acuity (BCNVA) were detected. Contrast sensitivity and total wavefront aberration were measured by visual function analyzer. Satisfaction with visual quality was evaluated by hospital-made satisfaction questionnaire. Results: A total of 92 patients were included, with 31 males and 61 females, and their age was (61.8±5.2) years. There were 43, 28 and 21 cases in monofocal group, bifocal group and depth of focus extension group, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found in clinical baseline data among the three groups. UCIVA, UCDVA, BCIVA and BCDVA in depth of focus extension group were 1.01±0.13, 0.92±0.18, 1.21±0.19 and 1.20±0.23, respectively, which were higher than those in monofocal group (0.62±0.12, 0.74±0.13, 1.02±0.17, 1.07±0.19, respectively) and bifocal group (0.67±0.15, 0.78±0.14, 1.01±0.16, 1.01±0.18, respectively), while absolute value of spherical equivalent [(-0.42±0.07) D] was lower than that in the other two groups [ (-0.49±0.05) D and (-0.45±0.08) D] (both P<0.05). UCNVA and BCNVA in bifocal group were 0.91±0.18 and 1.25±0.18, which were higher than those in depth of focus extension group (0.63±0.24 and 1.19±0.17) (both P<0.05). There were no significant differences in contrast sensitivity among the three groups under day vision or between monofocal group and bifocal group under night vision (all P>0.05), but the contrast sensitivity was higher in depth of focus extension group under night vision (3.0, 6.0, 12.0 c/d) than other two groups (all P<0.05). The score of ocular discomfort was the highest in bifocal group, followed by depth of focus extension group and monofocal group (both P<0.05). The score of visual interference in bifocal group was lower than that in monofocal group and depth of focus extension group (both P<0.05). The scores of subjective feeling in bifocal group and depth of focus extension group were higher than that in monofocal group (both P<0.05). The reading score was the highest in bifocal group, followed by depth of focus extension group and monofocal group (both P<0.05). There was no significant difference in total low-order aberration among the three groups (P=0.472). The total aberration and higher-order aberration [(0.74±0.35) μm and (0.41±0.12) μm] were the highest in monofocal group, followed by bifocal group [(0.61±0.21) μm and (0.22±0.09) μm] and depth of focus extension group [(0.46±0.13) μm and (0.06±0.09) μm] (all P<0.05). Conclusions: IOL implantation with depth of focus extension can enhance visual range, night vision and contrast sensitivity, and thus effectively improve postoperative visual quality and function in cataract patients. The bifocal IOL can better improve the patient's UCNVA and BCNVA, resulting in high satisfaction with visual quality.

Inhibition of GluN2D-Containing NMDA Receptors Protects Dopaminergic Neurons against 6-OHDA-Induced Neurotoxicity via Activating ERK/NRF2/HO-1 Signaling

Abnormal glutamate signaling is implicated in the heightened vulnerability of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD). NMDA receptors are ion-gated glutamate receptors with high calcium permeability, and their GluN2D subunits are prominently distributed in the basal ganglia and brainstem nuclei. Previous studies have reported that dopamine depletion led to the dysfunctions of GluN2D-containing NMDA receptors in PD animal models. However, it remains unknown whether selective modulation of GluN2D could protect dopaminergic neurons against neurotoxicity in PD. In this study, we found that allosteric activation of GluN2D-containing NMDA receptors decreased the cell viability of MES23.5 dopaminergic cells and the GluN2D inhibitor, QNZ46, showed antioxidant effects and significantly relieved apoptosis in 6-OHDA-treated cells. Meanwhile, we demonstrated that QNZ46 might act via activation of the ERK/NRF2/HO-1 pathway. We also verified that QNZ46 could rescue abnormal behaviors and attenuate dopaminergic cell loss in a 6-OHDA-lesioned rat model of PD. Although the precise mechanisms underlying the efficacy of QNZ46 in vivo remain elusive, the inhibition of the GluN2D subunit should be a considerable way to treat PD. More GluN2D-selective drugs, which present minimal side effects and broad therapeutic windows, need to be developed for PD treatment in future studies.

PACAP/PAC1-R activation contributes to hyperalgesia in 6-OHDA-induced Parkinson's disease model rats via promoting excitatory synaptic transmission of spinal dorsal horn neurons

Pain is a common annoying non-motor symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD) that causes distress to patients. Treatment for PD pain remains a big challenge, as its underlying mechanisms are elusive. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and its receptor PAC1-R play important roles in regulating a variety of pathophysiological processes. In this study, we investigated whether PACAP/PAC1-R signaling was involved in the mechanisms of PD pain. 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced PD model was established in rats. Behavioral tests, electrophysiological and Western blotting analysis were conducted 3 weeks later. We found that 6-OHDA rats had significantly lower mechanical paw withdrawal 50% threshold in von Frey filament test and shorter tail flick latency, while mRNA levels of Pacap and Adcyap1r1 (gene encoding PAC1-R) in the spinal dorsal horn were significantly upregulated. Whole-cell recordings from coronal spinal cord slices at L4-L6 revealed that the frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) in dorsal horn neurons was significantly increased, which was reversed by application of a PAC1-R antagonist PACAP 6-38 (250 nM). Furthermore, we demonstrated that intrathecal microinjection of PACAP 6-38 (0.125, 0.5, 2 μg) dose-dependently ameliorated the mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia in 6-OHDA rats. Inhibition of PACAP/PAC1-R signaling significantly suppressed the activation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in spinal dorsal horn of 6-OHDA rats. Microinjection of pAAV-Adcyap1r1 into L4-L6 spinal dorsal horn alleviated hyperalgesia in 6-OHDA rats. Intrathecal microinjection of ERK antagonist PD98059 (10 μg) significantly alleviated hyperalgesia in 6-OHDA rats associated with the inhibition of sEPSCs in dorsal horn neurons. In addition, we found that serum PACAP-38 concentration was significantly increased in PD patients with pain, and positively correlated with numerical rating scale score. In conclusion, activation of PACAP/PAC1-R induces the development of PD pain and targeting PACAP/PAC1-R is an alternative strategy for treating PD pain.

LRRK2 G2019S promotes astrocytic inflammation induced by oligomeric α-synuclein through NF-κB pathway

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the irreversible loss of dopaminergic neurons and the accumulation of α-synuclein in Lewy bodies. The oligomeric α-synuclein (O-αS) is the most toxic form of α-synuclein species, and it has been reported to be a robust inflammatory mediator. Mutations in Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2) are also genetically linked to PD and neuroinflammation. However, how O-αS and LRRK2 interact in glial cells remains unclear. Here, we reported that LRRK2 G2019S mutation, which is one of the most frequent causes of familial PD, enhanced the effects of O-αS on astrocytes both in vivo and in vitro. Meanwhile, inhibition of LRRK2 kinase activity could relieve the inflammatory effects of both LRRK2 G2019S and O-αS. We also demonstrated that nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway might be involved in the neuroinflammatory responses. These findings revealed that inhibition of LRRK2 kinase activity may be a viable strategy for suppressing neuroinflammation in PD.

Early Enteral Nutrition and Sepsis-Associated Acute Kidney Injury: A Propensity Score Matched Cohort Study Based on the MIMIC-III Database

PURPOSE

We aimed to analyze the optimal timing of enteral nutrition (EN) in the treatment of sepsis and its effect on sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI.).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The MIMIC-III database was employed to identify patients with sepsis who had received EN. With AKI as the primary outcome variable, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were utilized to calculate the optimal cut-off time of early EN (EEN). Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to control confounding effects. Logistic regressions and propensity score-based inverse probability of treatment weighting were utilized to assess the robustness of our findings. Comparisons within the EEN group were performed.

RESULTS

2364 patients were included in our study. With 53 hours after intensive care units (ICU) admission as the cut-off time of EEN according to the ROC curve, 1212 patients were assigned to the EEN group and the other 1152 to the delayed EN group. The risk of SA-AKI was reduced in the EEN group (odds ratio 0.319, 95% confidence interval 0.245-0.413, p<0.001). The EEN patients received fewer volumes (mL) of intravenous fluid (IVF) during their ICU stay (3750 mL vs. 5513.23 mL, p<0.001). The mediating effect of IVF was significant (p<0.001 for the average causal mediation effect). No significant differences were found within the EEN group (0-48 hours vs. 48-53 hours), except that patients initiating EN within 48 hours spent fewer days in ICU and hospital.

CONCLUSION

EEN is associated with decreased risk of SA-AKI, and this beneficial effect may be proportionally mediated by IVF volume.

[Relationship between expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and improvement of macular structure in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy]

Objective: To explore the relationship between expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and improvement of macular structure in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. Methods: A before-after study was carried out. A total of 110 patients (110 eyes) with wAMD who were admitted to Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University between August 2019 and December 2021 were enrolled, and all patients were given vitreous injection of anti-VEGF drug (ranibizumab or bevacizumab). The aqueous humor was collected to detect mRNA levels of NLRP3, cysteinyl aspartate specific protease-1 (Caspase-1), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC) and interleukin (IL) 1β by fluorescence quantitative PCR. The levels of IL-1β, IL-18, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and VEGF in aqueous humor were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The correlation between the above indexes and central macular thickness (CMT) in wAMD patients was analyzed by multivariate linear regression analysis. Results: In the 110 wAMD patients, there were 68 males and 42 females, with a mean age of (68.7±7.6) years. Compared with those before treatment, mRNA levels of NLRP3 (1.65±0.27, 1.34±0.19 vs 1.97±0.23, both P<0.017), Caspase-1 (1.47±0.15, 1.29±0.17 vs 1.53±0.18, both P<0.017), ASC (1.33±0.14, 1.21±0.18 vs 1.47±0.12, both P<0.017) and IL-1β (1.78±0.21, 1.46±0.17 vs 2.21±0.24, both P<0.017), and levels of IL-1β [(26.9±5.7), (20.3±4.6) vs (33.6±8.3) ng/L, both P<0.017], IL-18 [(32.7±7.6), (23.3±6.9) vs (46.4±9.4) ng/L, both P<0.017], TNF-α [(39.4±6.6), (21.7±6.3) vs (52.9±9.1) ng/L, both P<0.017] and VEGF [(35.7±10.2), (23.4±6.7) vs (65.4±19.3) ng/L, both P<0.017] were decreased after the first and second injection. Moreover, the above-mentioned indexes after second injection were lower than those after the first injection (all P<0.017). The results of multivariate linear regression analysis showed that NLRP3 mRNA (the first injection: β=53.750, P<0.001; the second injection: β=94.648, P<0.001), IL-1β (the first injection: β=1.356, P=0.021; the second injection: β=2.008, P=0.003), IL-18 (the first injection: β=1.984, P<0.001; the second injection: β=1.251, P=0.003) and VEGF (the first injection: β=1.875, P<0.001; the second injection: β=2.119, P<0.001) had linear relationships with CMT. Conclusion: The decrease of NLRP3 inflammasome and its products in aqueous humor may be related to the improvement of macular structure in wAMD patients after anti-VEGF therapy.

Astragaloside IV alleviates cytarabine-induced intestinal mucositis by remodeling macrophage polarization through AKT signaling

BACKGROUND

Intestinal mucositis (IM) is one of the common side effects of chemotherapy with Cytarabine (Ara-C) and contributes to the major dose-limiting factor of chemotherapy, while the effective drug for IM is little. Astragalus, one of the main active components extrated from the roots of Astragalus membranaceus (AS-IV), is a common Chinese herbal medicine used in gastrointestinal diseases. However, the effect and mechanism of AS-IV on IM is unclear. Accumulating evidence suggests that M1 macrophages play a pivotal role in IM progression.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study was to explore the protection of AS-IV and its potential molecular mechanism on intestinal mucositis injury induced by Ara-C.

METHOD

The protective effect of AS-IV was investigated in LPS-induced macrophages and Ara-C-induced intestinal mucositis mouse model. H&E, immunofluorescence and western blotting were used to evaluate the damage in different doses of Ara-C. Silencing AKT targeted by siRNA was performed to explore the potential mechanisms regulating macrophage polarization effect of Ara-C, which was investigated by CCK-8, immunofluorescence and western blotting. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to detect macrophage surface marker proteins and inflammatory genes to explore the potential molecular mechanism of AS-IV regulating macrophage polarization.

RESULTS

The Cytarabine intervention at dose of 100mg/kg significantly induced IM in mice, with the ileum the most obvious site of injury, accompanied by decreased intestinal barrier, intestinal macrophage polarization to M1 and inflammation response. The administration of AS-IV improved weight loss, food intake, ileal morphological damage, intestinal barrier destruction and inflammatory factor release in mice induced by Ara-c, and also suppressed macrophage polarization to M1, regulating in phenotypic changes in macrophages. In vitro, the expression of M1 macrophage surface marker protein was markedly decreased in LPS-induced macrophages after silencing AKT. Similarly, the western blotting of intestinal tissues and molecular docking indicated that the key mechanisms of AS-IV were remodel AKT signaling, and finally regulating M1 macrophages and decrease inflammation response.

CONCLUSION

Our study highlights that AS-IV exerts protective effect in Ara-C-induced IM through inhibit polarization to M1 macrophages based on AKT, and AS-IV may serve as a novel AKT inhibitor to counteract the intestinal adverse effects of chemotherapeutic agents.

[Analysis on the infection source of the first local cluster epidemic caused by the VOC/Gamma variant of SARS-CoV-2 in China]

Objective: To investigate a SARS-CoV-2 epidemic reported in Rongcheng City, Weihai, Shandong Province. Methods: The SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid positive patients and their close contacts were investigated, and the whole genome sequencing and genetic evolution analysis of 9 variant viruses were carried out. An infection source investigation and analysis were carried out from two sources of home and abroad, and three aspects of human, material and environment. Results: A total of 15 asymptomatic infections were reported in this epidemic, including 13 cases as employees of workshop of aquatic products processing company, with an infection rate of 21.67% (13/60). Two cases were infected people's neighbors in the same village (conjugal relation). The first six positive persons were processing workers engaged in the first process of removing squid viscera in the workshop of the company. The nucleic acid Ct value of the first time were concentrated between 15 and 29, suggesting that the virus load was high, which was suspected to be caused by one-time homologous exposure. The whole genome sequence of 9 SARS-CoV-2 strains was highly homologous, belonging to VOC/Gamma (Lineage P.1.15). No highly homologous sequences were found from previous native and imported cases in China. It was highly homologous with the six virus sequences sampled from May 5 to 26, 2021 uploaded by Chile. The infection source investigation showed that the company had used the squid raw materials captured in the ocean near Chile and Argentina from May to June 2021 over the last 14 days. Many samples of raw materials, products and their outer packages in the inventory were tested positive for nucleic acid. Conclusion: This epidemic is the first local epidemic caused by the VOC/Gamma of SARS-CoV-2 in China. It is speculated that the VOC/Gamma, which was prevalent in South America from May to June 2021, could be imported into China through frozen squid.

[Chlamydia trachomatis infection and its associated factors among asymptomatic outpatients attending sexually transmitted disease-related clinics]

Objective: To understand the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection and its associated factors among asymptomatic outpatients attending sexually transmitted disease (STD)-related clinics in Shenzhen and provide evidence for development of future interventions. Methods: From April 15 to May 16, 2018, a cross-sectional study was conducted and patients attending STD-related Clinics were recruited from 22 medical institutions in Nanshan, Luohu, Bao'an, Longgang, Yantian, and Longhua districts of Shenzhen. After the informed consent from each participant was obtained, social-demographic information was collected through a structured questionnaire and urine samples were collected for CT nucleic acid detection. In addition, logistic regression was used to explore associated factors of CT infection. Results: In asymptomatic outpatients, the prevalence of CT infection was 7.16% (250/3 492). Being single (aOR=2.29, 95%CI:1.65-3.16), without registered Shenzhen residency (aOR=1.49, 95%CI:1.04-2.13), and without previous CT testing in the past year (aOR=2.04, 95%CI:1.03-4.05) were the risk factors of CT infection in asymptomatic outpatients. Among participants without registered Shenzhen residency, 89.25% (2 176/2 438) were college-degree or below, and 51.29% (1 255/2 447) were aged ≤30 years, and the risk of CT infection among those ≤30 years old was 1.73 times higher than those >30 years old (95%CI:1.28-2.34). Conclusions: The prevalence of CT infection was high among asymptomatic outpatients attending STD-related clinics in Shenzhen. Routine CT screening should be carried out for this population, especially for those with sexually active age, being single, with low educational level, and without previous CT testing in the past year. Also, raising their awareness of knowledge and adverse outcomes of CT infection should be considered to promote routine CT screening and timely treatment.

[Investigation of small airway function of occupational asthma at different stages]

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of small airway dysfunction in patients with occupational asthma, and explore the significance of small airway function indicators in the evaluation of occupational asthma. Methods: A total of 53 patients with occupational asthma diagnosed in our hospital from December 2008 to December 2018 were retrospectively collected in May 2020. 55 healthy people were included as the control group (NC group) and 58 bronchial asthma patients as BA group. The general information and baseline pulmonary function (FVC、FEV(1)、PEF) of the subjects were collected, the pulmonary function were reexamined and small airway function (FEF(25%)pred、FEF(50%)pred、FEF(75%)pred、MMEF(25-75%)pred) were tested at the time of diagnosis and remission. Results: There was no significant difference in pulmonary function and asthma control score (ACT) between OA group and BA group (P=0.356, 0.610, 0.364, 0.430, 0.533, 0.759, 0.426, 0.632) . The incidence of small airway dysfunction in OA group was 77.4%. The indexes of small airway function (FEF(25%)pred, FEF(50%)pred, FEF(75%)pred, MMEF(25-75%)pred) were lower than those in the NC group (P<0.001) . The small airway function indexes of mild and moderate OA patients in remission stage were improved (P=0.029, 0.182) , but the abnormal rate of small airway function was still 62.3%, and there was no significant difference compared with those at the time of diagnosis (P=0.091) . Small airway function (MMEF(25-75%)pred, FEF(50%)pred) was correlated with large airway function (FEV(1)% pred, PEF% pred) (P=0.001) . Conclusion: Small airway dysfunction often occurs and persists in patients with occupational asthma, and has a certain correlation with large airway function indexes.

Early-Life Stress Induces Prodromal Features of Parkinsonism in Ageing Rats

Early-life stress (ELS) can cause long-term effects on human health, ranging from adolescence to adulthood, and even to gerontic. Although clinical retrospective data suggest that ELS may be related to senile neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD), there are few prospective investigations to explore its real contribution to PD. Here, we investigated the behavioral, histochemical, neuromorphological, and transcriptional changes induced by maternal separation (MS), an ELS model. Without neurotoxin, MS rats showed behavioral alterations in olfaction, locomotion, and gait characters after depression compared with control rats. Based on neuroimaging and histochemistry, although we found that the dopaminergic system in the striatum was impaired after MS, the decrease of striatal dopamine level was ~33%. Consistently, tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining positive neurons of MS rats in the substantia nigra showed deficit by about 20% in cell counting. Furthermore, using transcriptome sequencing, we discovered many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of MS rats in the striatum significantly enriched in the pathway of dopaminergic synapse, and the biological process of locomotion and neuromuscular process controlling balance. Encouragingly, some representative DEGs relating to PD were singled out. These results suggest that ELS-depression rats potentially mimic some key features of prodromal stage of PD during natural senescence. In conclusion, our findings provide some novel insights into the future pathogenesis and therapeutic studies for PD related to depression.

Pramipexole regulates depression-like behavior via dopamine D3 receptor in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease

Depression is one of the strongest predictors of quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Despite the high prevalence of depression, there is no clear guidance for its treatment in PD because the evidence for the efficacy of most antidepressants remains insufficient. Pramipexole, a dopamine agonist, is one of the few drugs that has proven to be clinically useful. However, the underlying mechanisms of antidepressive effects of pramipexole are still unknown. A 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced mouse model, dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) and D3 receptor (DRD3) knockout mice were used in our study. Compared with other dopamine D2-like receptor agonists and madopar, pramipexole improved depression-like behavior and alleviate bradykinesia in an MPTP-induced mouse model of PD. Pramipexole significantly improved depression-like behavior in DRD2^-/- mice but not in DRD3^-/- mice. These results demonstrate that the antidepressive effect of pramipexole is mediated by DRD3 but not DRD2. Our findings highlight the need to develop novel dopamine agonists specifically targeting DRD3 for the treatment of depression in PD in the future.

Induction of Parkinsonian-Like Changes via Targeted Downregulation of Astrocytic Glutamate Transporter GLT-1 in the Striatum

BACKGROUND

Previous investigations have suggested that decreased expression of glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) is involved in glutamate excitotoxicity and contribute to the development of Parkinson's disease (PD), GLT-1 is decreased in animal models of PD. GLT-1 is mainly expressed in astrocytes, and the striatum is a GLT-1-rich brain area.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to explore the function and mechanism of astrocytic GLT-1 in PD-like changes.

METHODS

In the study, PD-like changes and their molecular mechanism in rodents were tested by a behavioral assessment, micro-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), western blotting, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining, and high performance liquid chromatography pre-column derivatization with O-pthaldialdehida after downregulating astrocytic GLT-1 in vivo and in vitro.

RESULTS

In vivo, after 6 weeks of brain stereotactic injection of adeno-associated virus into the striatum, rats in the astrocytic GLT-1 knockdown group showed poorer motor performance, abnormal gait, and depression-like feature; but no olfactory disorders. The results of micro-PET/CT and western blotting indicated that the dopaminergic system was impaired in astrocytic GLT-1 knockdown rats. Similarly, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive immune-staining in neurons of astrocytic GLT-1 knockdown rats showed deficit in cell count. In vitro, knockdown of astrocytic GLT-1 via RNA interference led to morphological injury of TH-positive neurons, which may be related to the abnormal calcium signal induced by glutamate accumulation after GLT-1 knockdown. Furthermore, the GLT-1 agonist ceftriaxone showed a protective effect on TH-positive neuron impairment.

CONCLUSION

The present findings may shed new light on the future prevention and treatment of PD based on blocking glutamate excitotoxicity.

Spinal cord stimulation reduces cardiac pain through microglial deactivation in rats with chronic myocardial ischemia

Angina pectoris is cardiac pain that is a common clinical symptom often resulting from myocardial ischemia. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is effective in treating refractory angina pectoris, but its underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. The spinal dorsal horn is the first region of the central nervous system that receives nociceptive information; it is also the target of SCS. In the spinal cord, glial (astrocytes and microglia) activation is involved in the initiation and persistence of chronic pain. Thus, the present study investigated the possible cardiac pain-relieving effects of SCS on spinal dorsal horn glia in chronic myocardial ischemia (CMI). CMI was established by left anterior descending artery ligation surgery, which induced significant spontaneous/ongoing cardiac pain behaviors, as measured using the open field test in rats. SCS effectively improved such behaviors as shown by open field and conditioned place preference tests in CMI model rats. SCS suppressed CMI-induced spinal dorsal horn microglial activation, with downregulation of ionized calcium-binding adaptor protein-1 expression. Moreover, SCS inhibited CMI-induced spinal expression of phosphorylated-p38 MAPK, which was specifically colocalized with the spinal dorsal horn microglia rather than astrocytes and neurons. Furthermore, SCS could depress spinal neuroinflammation by suppressing CMI-induced IL-1β and TNF-α release. Intrathecal administration of minocycline, a microglial inhibitor, alleviated the cardiac pain behaviors in CMI model rats. In addition, the injection of fractalkine (microglia-activating factor) partially reversed the SCS-produced analgesic effects on CMI-induced cardiac pain. These results indicated that the therapeutic mechanism of SCS on CMI may occur partially through the inhibition of spinal microglial p38 MAPK pathway activation. The present study identified a novel mechanism underlying the SCS-produced analgesic effects on chronic cardiac pain.

[Emphasizing the mutual effects of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease with infectious disease]

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease is a hepatic manifestation of systemic metabolic disorders, with a high prevalence. Moreover, it often coexists and evidently interacts with liver injury caused by a variety of viral infections in association with specific bacterial or fungal infectious diseases, and thus unitedly affect the intra-and extrahepatic diseases clinical outcome. The mutual effects, natural process, and extrahepatic manifestations of the two diseases combined coexistence are now elaborated here.

Advances of Zebrafish in Neurodegenerative Disease: From Models to Drug Discovery

Neurodegenerative disease (NDD), including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, are characterized by the progressive loss of neurons which leads to the decline of motor and/or cognitive function. Currently, the prevalence of NDD is rapidly increasing in the aging population. However, valid drugs or treatment for NDD are still lacking. The clinical heterogeneity and complex pathogenesis of NDD pose a great challenge for the development of disease-modifying therapies. Numerous animal models have been generated to mimic the pathological conditions of these diseases for drug discovery. Among them, zebrafish (Danio rerio) models are progressively emerging and becoming a powerful tool for in vivo study of NDD. Extensive use of zebrafish in pharmacology research or drug screening is due to the high conserved evolution and 87% homology to humans. In this review, we summarize the zebrafish models used in NDD studies, and highlight the recent findings on pharmacological targets for NDD treatment. As high-throughput platforms in zebrafish research have rapidly developed in recent years, we also discuss the application prospects of these new technologies in future NDD research.

[Biocompatibility of extracellular matrix hydrogel with human iPSCs differentiated cardiomyocytes]

Objective: To observe the biocompatibility of porcine omental derived extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel with human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) and the feasibility of ECM hydrogel as a delivery vector of cell transplantation. Methods: A series of chemical, physical and enzymatic methods were applied to acellularize the porcine omentum. Subsequently, the extracted ECM was prepared into thermosensitive hydrogel. The biochemical composition of the hydrogel was identified by histological staining. The microstructure was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The hydrogel was then injected into the myocardium of mice to observe its in situ gelation ability. Differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into cardiomyocytes was achieved by small molecule induction, and then the obtained hiPSC-CMs were cultured. hiPSC-CMs cultured onto the prepared hydrogel were defined as the hydrogel group, while conventionally cultured hiPSC-CMs were defined as the control group. Cardiomyocyte viability and growth patterns were detected using live/dead staining, CCK-8 and phalloidin staining. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot of cardiomyocytes were used to determine the survival and phenotypic maintenance markers of cardiomyocytes in materials. Results: The results of HE staining, oil red O staining and DAPI fluorescence staining showed that there was no significant cell debris, nucleus and lipid residue in the prepared ECM hydrogel. The Sirius red staining and Alcian blue staining showed that the hydrogel retained collagen and glycolaminoglycan, which were the main components of ECM. The prepared hydrogel behaves as a viscous liquid at 4 ℃ and as a gel state at 37 ℃. Scanning electron microscope results showed that the microstructure of the hydrogel was composed of irregular fibers and pores of different sizes. Under the guidance of ultrasound, the prepared ECM hydrogel could be successfully injected into the myocardium of mice. Immediately after the injection, the hyperechoic signal could be observed under ultrasound, suggesting that the hydrogel remained in the myocardium. HE staining of myocardial tissue evidenced that there was lump of gel in the injection area. The differentiated hiPSC-CMs were co-cultured with the prepared ECM hydrogel, and the results of live/dead staining showed that most of the hiPSC-CMs in the hydrogel group and the control group were alive, dead cells were scanty. The results of CCK-8 test showed that the absorbance values of the two groups were similar (P>0.05). The results of phalloidin staining showed that hiPSC-CMs could extend normally when co-cultured with ECM hydrogel. The cell morphology of the hydrogel group was similar with that of the control group, and there was no statistically significant difference in the F-actin coverage area per cell between the two groups (P>0.05). Immunofluorescence staining of cardiomyocyte markers showed that there was no significant difference in the coverage area of α-actinin and connexin-43 (Cx-43) per field between the hydrogel group and the control group (both P>0.05), the quantitative results of DAPI staining showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the number of cells between the two groups (P>0.05). Meanwhile, the results of Western blot showed that the expression levels of α-actinin and Cx-43 in cardiomyocytes in the hydrogel group were similar as those in the control group (both P>0.05). Conclusions: These results show that preparation of the ECM hydrogel from porcine omentum is successful. The hydrogel has good biocompatibility and no obvious cytotoxicity. Besides, the hydrogel can support the survival of hiPSC-CMs in vitro and maintain its phenotype. These properties make it a promising injectable cardiac tissue engineering material.

[Study of cytokines in peripheral blood and lung of rats exposed to hard metal dust]

Objective: To study the dynamic changes of cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum of hard metal lung disease (HMLDR) rats. Methods: In March 2019, the rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, each group included 8 rats: control (C) group include 3 groups, hard metal (HM) group include 3 groups. 10 mg HM were administered in HM group by using the pulmonary endotracheal tube. After 4, 8 and 12 week, the BALF and serum were collected for the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) , tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) . Results: There was no abnormality in behavior, diet and fur of rats in C and HM group at each exposure time. There was no significant difference in body weight between the two groups of rats (P>0.05) . Compared with the C group, the expression of MMP-1 in BALF of rats in HM group were significantly higher in all stages (4, 8 and 12 weeks after exposure) (P<0.05) , the expression of TIMP-1 in BALF of rats in HM group were significantly higher in 8 and 12 weeks after exposure (P<0.05) . However, there was no significant difference in serum MMP-1 and TIMP-1 levels between the two groups in each stage (P>0.05) . There was no significant difference in TNF-α. level in BALF and serum between C and HM group in all stages (P>0.05) . Conclusion: Expression of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 in BALF have reference value in the HMLD auxiliary diagnosis.

Advances in intranasal application of stem cells in the treatment of central nervous system diseases

Stem cells are characterized by their self-renewal and multipotency and have great potential in the therapy of various disorders. However, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) limits the application of stem cells in the therapy of neurological disorders, especially in a noninvasive way. It has been shown that small molecular substances, macromolecular proteins, and even stem cells can bypass the BBB and reach the brain parenchyma following intranasal administration. Here, we review the possible brain-entry routes of transnasal treatment, the cell types, and diseases involved in intranasal stem cell therapy, and discuss its advantages and disadvantages in the treatment of central nervous system diseases, to provide a reference for the application of intranasal stem cell therapy.

Scene perception based visual navigation of mobile robot in indoor environment

Only vision-based navigation is the key of cost reduction and widespread application of indoor mobile robot. Consider the unpredictable nature of artificial environments, deep learning techniques can be used to perform navigation with its strong ability to abstract image features. In this paper, we proposed a low-cost way of only vision-based perception to realize indoor mobile robot navigation, converting the problem of visual navigation to scene classification. Existing related research based on deep scene classification network has lower accuracy and brings more computational burden. Additionally, the navigation system has not yet been fully assessed in the previous work. Therefore, we designed a shallow convolutional neural network (CNN) with higher scene classification accuracy and efficiency to process images captured by a monocular camera. Besides, we proposed an adaptive weighted control (AWC) algorithm and combined with regular control (RC) to improve the robot's motion performance. We demonstrated the capability and robustness of the proposed navigation method by performing extensive experiments in both static and dynamic unknown environments. The qualitative and quantitative results showed that the system performs better compared to previous related work in unknown environments.

[Analysis of direct economic burden of occupational asthma]

Objective: To analyze the direct economic burden of occupational asthma patients and provide economic basis for the government to rationally allocate health resources. Methods: In September 2019, colleted the case data of 53 patients diagnosed with occupational asthma who were hospitalized in our hospital from December 2008 to December 2018, and analyze the impact of gender, age, diagnosis time, ducation level, allergen type to the length of stay, hospitalization cost, medical technology diagnosis and treatment costs, western medicine costs, average daily hospitalization costs and other indicators. Results: The average length of hospitalization for occupational asthma patients was (38.7±8.1) days, and the average hospitalization cost was 14743 yuan, of which medical technology diagnosis and treatment costs, western medicine costs, and comprehensive medical service costs accounted for the top three, 42.5% (331977/781369) , 32.0% (249942/781369) , 19.6% (153268/781369) respectively. Hospitalization days for occupational asthma patients has decreased significantly in 2014-2018 (P<0.05) . There were no significant differences in hospitalization costs, medical technology diagnosis and treatment costs, western medicine costs, and average daily hospitalization costs for occupational asthma patients caused by different allergens (isocyanates, persulfates and phthalic anhydrides) (P>0.05) . Hospitalization days, hospitalization costs, medical technology diagnosis and treatment costs, western medicine costs, and average daily hospitalization costs of patients with moderate occupational asthma were significantly higher than those of mild patients (P<0.05) . Conclusion: Early detection of occupational asthma patients and early intervention can reduce the economic burden on patients and society.

Comparison between video-assisted retroperitoneal debridement and small incision pancreatic necrosectomy in infected pancreatic necrosis

BACKGROUND

Debridement and drainage have always been mainstream treatment for infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN), and the application of minimally invasive necrosectomy is becoming increasingly widespread. However, few studies have compared video-assisted retroperitoneal debridement (VARD) and small incision pancreatic necrosectomy (SIPN) individually. Our aim was to compare VARD and SIPN by evaluating outcomes.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients with IPN who underwent either VARD or SIPN between 2010 and 2019 in China. Data relative to patient demographics, major complications, health care resource utilization and mortality were collected. Statistical analyses used were the two-tailed Student's t-test and the chi-squared test.

RESULTS

Of 59 patients, 31 patients underwent SIPN and 28 patients were treated with VARD. SIPN and VARD had similar treatment success and mortality rates. The rate of reintervention due to lack of clinical improvement was significantly lower in the SIPN group (32% versus 61%; P = 0.028). In addition, the length of total hospital stay was 60 days in the SIPN group and 72 days in the VARD group (P < 0.0001) and mean total costs was significantly less in the SIPN group than in the VARD group (P = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

Given the shorter hospitalization period, lower total cost and lower rate of reinterventions, SIPN may be superior to the step-up approach for patients with IPN than for those with VARD.

The potential biological functions of circular RNAs during the initiation of atresia in pig follicles

The specific expression profile and function of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in mammalian ovarian follicles, especially during the atresia process, are unclear. In this study, genome-wide deep circRNA sequencing was applied to screen circRNAs in healthy and early atretic antral follicles in pig ovaries. A total of 40,567 distinct circRNAs were identified in follicles, among which 197 circRNAs (108 upregulated and 89 downregulated) were significantly shifted during the early atresia process. Most differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs) lacked protein-coding potential. Annotation analysis of the DECs revealed 162 known host genes, or noncoding RNAs, and 10 intergenic regions. The key pathways in which these host genes are involved include the focal adhesion-PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA)-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 signaling pathway and transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway. Further comparison analysis between host genes of DECs and the differentially expressed linear messenger RNA transcripts revealed the cotranscription of circRNAs and their linear mRNAs in inhibin beta units (INHBA and INHBB), glutathione S-transferase (GSTA1), and VEGFA. In addition, we predicted 196 pairs of potential circRNA-micro RNA (miRNA) interactions among 77 DECs and 101 porcine miRNAs. We have identified 16 functional miRNAs by comparing the 101 miRNAs to the functional miRNAs reported in mammal ovarian follicle atresia and granulosa cell apoptosis studies. Our study adds new knowledge to circRNA distribution profiles in pig ovarian follicles, offers a valuable reference for transcriptomic profiles in the initiation of follicular atresia, highlights warranted circRNAs for further functional investigation, and provides possible biomarkers for ovarian dysfunctions.

ADATMS-7 regulates the focal adhesion kinase signaling and promotes invasiveness of trophoblasts in early pregnancy

INTRODUCTION

ADAMTS-7, a member of the disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) family, was recently identified to be associated with cell migration and invasion. However, its function on trophoblasts remains unknown. In this study, we are aimed to investigate the role of ADAMTS-7 on trophoblasts in human first trimester gestation.

METHODS

The expression of ADAMTS-7 in trophoblasts and HTR8/SVneo cells is examined by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR. BrdU incorporation and Annexin V/PI staining are utilized to measure the effect of ADAMTS-7 on the proliferation and apoptosis of HTR8/SVneo cells, respectively. In addition, we detect the role of ADAMTS-7 on the invasion ability of HTR8/SVneo cells using matrigel invasion assays. The activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and integrinβ1 induced by ADAMTS-7 were determined by Western blot.

RESULTS

ADAMTS-7 and its substrate cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) were expressed in both primary human trophoblasts and human trophoblast cell lines. TGF-β1 induced a continuous and significant decrease of ADAMTS-7. Inversely, IL-1β up-regulated the ADAMTS-7 level in a dosage dependent manner. In addition, knockdown of ADAMTS-7 inhibited the growth and invasion of HTR8/SVneo cells. To the contrary, ADAMTS-7 overexpression promoted the growth and invasion of HTR8/SVneo cells. ADAMTS-7 knockdown led to a decreased level of FAK Tyr-397 phosphorylation.

DISCUSSION

Our results suggest that ADAMTS-7 may regulate trophoblasts invasion through focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling.

[Characteristics of auditory brainstom response and auditory steady state evoked responses in noise-induced hearing loss population]

Objective: To explore the characteristics of auditory steady state evoked responses (ASSR) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) in noise-induced hearing loss population and the relationship between the response threshold of corresponding frequency and pure tone audiometry (PTA) . Methods: Noise-induced hearing loss patients who completed subjective and objective audiometry in our hospital from October 2014 to October 2018 were collected. The results of PTA, ABR, ASSR and the correlation between subjective and objective audiometry were discussed. Results: A total of 381 ears of 193 patients were enrolled. The difference of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 kHz between ASSR threshold and PTA was 5.9, 6.9, 11.8 and 1.8 dB, respectively. The correlation coefficients were 0.638, 0.680, 0.657 and 0.608. The difference of 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 kHz between ABR threshold and PTA was 44.2, 35.0, 19.0 and 2.0 dB. With the increase of frequency, the threshold difference between ABRt V wave and PTA decreased gradually. Conclusion: ASSR and ABR response thresholds are valuable in subjective assessment on noise-induced hearing loss. The thresholds of ASSR and ABR at 4 kHz are close to those of PTA.

Roles for IFT172 and Primary Cilia in Cell Migration, Cell Division, and Neocortex Development

The cilium of a cell translates varied extracellular cues into intracellular signals that control embryonic development and organ function. The dynamic maintenance of ciliary structure and function requires balanced bidirectional cargo transport involving intraflagellar transport (IFT) complexes. IFT172 is a member of the IFT complex B, and IFT172 mutation is associated with pathologies including short rib thoracic dysplasia, retinitis pigmentosa and Bardet-Biedl syndrome, but how it underpins these conditions is not clear. We used the WIM cell line, derived from embryonic fibroblasts of Wimple mice (carrying homozygous Leu1564Pro mutation in Ift172), to probe roles of Ift172 and primary cilia in cell behavior. WIM cells had ablated cilia and deficiencies in directed migration (electrotaxis), cell proliferation and intracellular signaling. Additionally, WIM cells displayed altered cell cycle progression, with increased numbers of chromatids, highlighting dysfunctional centrosome status. Exposure to a physiological electric field promoted a higher percentage of primary cilia in wild-type cells. Interestingly, in situ hybridization revealed an extensive and dynamic expression profile of Ift172 in both developing and adult mouse cortex. In vivo manipulation of Ift172 expression in germinal regions of embryonic mouse brains perturbed neural progenitor proliferation and radial migration of post-mitotic neurons, revealing a regulatory role of Ift172 in cerebral morphogenesis. Our data suggest that Ift172 regulates a range of fundamental biological processes, highlighting the pivotal roles of the primary cilium in cell physiology and brain development.

[Computational investigation of Artemisia pollen deposition in realistic nasal cavities of residents in northwest China]

Objective: To investigate the deposition rate of Artemisia pollen in different nasal cavity regions and its influence factors in residents of northwest China. Methods: Thirty healthy adults from northwest China were enrolled. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and discrete phase model (DPM) were used for numerical simulation of nasal structures. The pollen deposition fraction in each anatomical part was counted and the effects of pollen density and breathing rate on deposition were analyzed. SPSS 19.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: The hottest deposition parts of Artemisia pollen were nasal septum (30.70%±12.27%), vestibule (27.45%±8.21%), middle turbinate area (13.59%±8.98%) and nasopharynx (7.14%±5.90%). When the inspiratory flow rate increased to 30 L/min, the deposition rates of pollen in nasal vestibule and nasal septum were significantly higher than that at the rate of 15 L/min (43.20%±11.14% vs 27.45%±8.21%, 51.48%±9.77% vs 30.70%±12.27%, t value was -8.126,-5.264, respectively, all P<0.05), which indicated that with the increase of the inspiratory flow rate, the deposition hotspot moved forward. Compared with the wet Artemisia pollen, the deposition rate of the dry pollen in nasal vestibule and nasal septum decreased significantly (16.55%±4.33% vs 27.45%±8.21%, 7.09%±3.69% vs 30.70%±12.27%, t value was 8.669, 9.173, respectively, all P<0.05). The escape rate at outlet increased from 17.00%±9.57% to 43.48%±13.43% (t=-9.282, P<0.05). Conclusions: The deposition of Artemisia pollen in nasal cavity is highly concentrated. The inhalation velocity and the dry-wet degree of pollen are the main determinants of the deposition site.

[The effect of genioglossus activity to velopharyngeal surgery in patient with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome]

Objective: To investigate the effect of genioglossus (GG) activation at sleep onset on the outcome of velopharyngeal surgery in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients. Methods: Thirty-five patients between April 2014 and February 2015 in Beijing Tongren Hospital with OSAHS underwent overnight polysomnography with synchronous genioglossus electromyography (GGEMG) using intraoral electrodes. The upper airway (UA) anatomy was evaluated by three-dimensional computer tomography (3D-CT) in OSAHS patients. Then, all of the patients received velopharyngeal surgery, including revised uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) with uvula preservation or UPPP combined transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty. All patients were followed-up using polysomnography 3-6 months after surgery. T-test or Wilcoxon test were used to compare the variables between groups, and Spearman correlation analysis was used to test the correlation between parameters. Results: Thirty-five patients received velopharyngeal surgery. Twenty-two patients (62.86%) were responders, and 13 patients (37.14%) were non-responders. Responders had a higher mean GGEMG during sleep onset (15.31±3.74 vs. 9.92±2.93, t=4.504, P=0.001). The decreased AHI was significantly positively related to the sleep onset mean GGEMG (r=0.541, P=0.004) and the change in GGEMG (r=0.422, P=0.028). The decreased AHI was significantly negatively related to the minimal cross sectional airway area (mCSA,ρ=0.629,P=0.000) and the minimal lateral airway dimension (mLAT, ρ=0.484, P=0.009) at velopharynx. Conclusions: The outcome of velopharyngeal surgery was affected by the mean GGEMG during sleep onset. We speculated that the patient with higher GGEMG at sleep onset and narrower velopharynx were more suitable candidates for velopharyngeal surgery.

Erratum: Observation of D^{0} Meson Nuclear Modifications in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV [Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 142301 (2014)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.142301.

[Personal dose monitoring of radiation workers in medical institutions at the municipal level and below in a city from 2011 to 2014]

Objective: To determine the personal dose level of radiation workers in medical institutions at the municipal level and below in a city, and to provide a scientific support for strengthening the radiation protection in the city's medical institutions. Methods: Information of the successful applicants for the "Radiation Worker Permit" from 174 medical institutions at the municipal level and below was collected from October 1, 2011 to December 31, 2014. The annual effective dose was calculated based on the personal dose monitoring report, and indicators including sex, permit application time, hospital level, type of occupational radiation, length of radiation work, blood test, and micronucleated lymphocyte rate were analyzed. Results: Of the 1 143 radiation worker permit applications submitted by medical institutions the municipal level and below in this city from 2011 to 2014, 1 123 provided at least one personal dose monitoring report. The annual effective dose of the radiation workers was 0-4.76 mSv (mean 0.31±0.40 mSv) , and the collective annual effective dose was 351.96 mSv. The annual effective dose was significantly different between radiation workers with different times of permit application, hospital levels, and types of occupational radiation (P<0.05) . Interventional radiology workers had the highest annual effective dose (0.63 mSv) , and annual effective dose was significantly different between interventional radiology workers with different lengths of radiation work (H=10.812, P<0.05) . Conclusion: The personal radiation dose of radiation workers in medical institutions at the municipal level and below in this city is maintained at a relatively low level, suggesting that the occupational environment is relatively safe for these workers. However, more focus should be placed on clinical interventional radiology workers.

[Effect of nerve growth factor on chronic peripheral neuropathy in rats induced by 1-bromopropane]

Objective: To observe the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) and Mecobalamin on chronic peripheral neuropathy in rats induced by 1-bromopropane. Methods: 36 male SD rats were exposed to 1-bromopropane vapor at concentrations of 4 000 mg/m(3), 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for 12 weeks. The rats were randomed divided into 4 groups, and treated by Mecobalamin for 300 μg/kg qd, NGF for 40 μg/kg qd, Mecobalamin+NGF with the dose as mentioned above, respecively. The control group were fed in normal condition. The changes of Sciatic nerve conduction velocity (NCV) , electromyography (EMG) and pathology were observed 30 days later. Results: The nerve conduction velocity were decreased in all the rats. Compared with the control group, the motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) was improved in group Mecobalamin and group Mecobalamin+NGF, The difference was statistically significant, as the sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) was improved only in group Mecobalamin+NGF. Sciatic nerve biopsy observed by electron microscope showed that myelinated nerve fibers were obvious swelling, lamellar separation, partial myelin vacuolization, and axonal degeneration. After treatment with exogenous nerve growth factor, the number and severity of damaged nerve fibers were restored. Conclusion: Exogenous nerve growth factor contributes to the recovery of peripheral nerve damage induced by 1-bromopropane.

Beam Energy Dependence of Jet-Quenching Effects in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=7.7, 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27, 39, and 62.4 GeV

We report measurements of the nuclear modification factor R_{CP} for charged hadrons as well as identified π^{+(-)}, K^{+(-)}, and p(p[over ¯]) for Au+Au collision energies of sqrt[s_{NN}]=7.7, 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27, 39, and 62.4 GeV. We observe a clear high-p_{T} net suppression in central collisions at 62.4 GeV for charged hadrons which evolves smoothly to a large net enhancement at lower energies. This trend is driven by the evolution of the pion spectra but is also very similar for the kaon spectra. While the magnitude of the proton R_{CP} at high p_{T} does depend on the collision energy, neither the proton nor the antiproton R_{CP} at high p_{T} exhibit net suppression at any energy. A study of how the binary collision-scaled high-p_{T} yield evolves with centrality reveals a nonmonotonic shape that is consistent with the idea that jet quenching is increasing faster than the combined phenomena that lead to enhancement.

[Occupational characteristics of 318 cases diagnosed as occupational asthma]

Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics of occupational asthma and provide a basis for revising the diagnosis of occupational asthma in China. Methods: Taking "occupational asthma" , "occupational bronchial asthma" and "bronchial provocation test at work site" as key words, the case reports of occupational asthma in China were retrieved. The general data, latent period, allergen, clinical manifestation, and diagnostic methods were analyzed. Results: A total 318 cases from 14 published literatures were reported.The incidence of male and female is basically similar. The average age of onset is 38 years, and the latent period is from 2 months to 19 years. The top 3 allergens were isocyanates, penicillin and cephalosporins, formaldehyde. During the diagnosis process, 48.8% of the patients were diagnosed by bronchial provocation test, and 19 cases were diagnosed according to the specific IgE antibody. Only 1 case was diagnosed according to the specific skin test. Conclusion: The etiological diagnosis of occupational asthma is not easy. Nearly half of the patients in our country have been diagnosed as occupational asthma by bronchial provocation test at work site. How to identify the relationship between occupational exposure and the occurrence of asthma is one of the main problems we need to solve.

Sculpting nanoparticle dynamics for single-bacteria-level screening and direct binding-efficiency measurement

Particle trapping and binding in optical potential wells provide a versatile platform for various biomedical applications. However, implementation systems to study multi-particle contact interactions in an optical lattice remain rare. By configuring an optofluidic lattice, we demonstrate the precise control of particle interactions and functions such as controlling aggregation and multi-hopping. The mean residence time of a single particle is found considerably reduced from 7 s, as predicted by Kramer’s theory, to 0.6 s, owing to the mechanical interactions among aggregated particles. The optofluidic lattice also enables single-bacteria-level screening of biological binding agents such as antibodies through particle-enabled bacteria hopping. The binding efficiency of antibodies could be determined directly, selectively, quantitatively and efficiently. This work enriches the fundamental mechanisms of particle kinetics and offers new possibilities for probing and utilising unprecedented biomolecule interactions at single-bacteria level.

Optical trapping is a versatile tool for biomedical applications. Here, the authors use an optofluidic lattice to achieve controllable multi-particle hopping and demonstrate single-bacteria-level screening and measurement of binding efficiency of biological binding agents through particle-enabled bacteria hopping.

Beam-Energy Dependence of Directed Flow of Λ, Λ[over ¯], K^{±}, K_{s}^{0}, and ϕ in Au+Au Collisions

Rapidity-odd directed-flow measurements at midrapidity are presented for Λ, Λ[over ¯], K^{±}, K_{s}^{0}, and ϕ at sqrt[s_{NN}]=7.7, 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27, 39, 62.4, and 200 GeV in Au+Au collisions recorded by the Solenoidal Tracker detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. These measurements greatly expand the scope of data available to constrain models with differing prescriptions for the equation of state of quantum chromodynamics. Results show good sensitivity for testing a picture where flow is assumed to be imposed before hadron formation and the observed particles are assumed to form via coalescence of constituent quarks. The pattern of departure from a coalescence-inspired sum rule can be a valuable new tool for probing the collision dynamics.

[Clinical observation of coblation assisted transoral microsurgery for the treatment of oral and oropharygneal malignancy]

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of coblation assisted transoral surgery for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal malignancy. Method:19 patients who suffered from oral or oropharyngeal malignant tumors underwent coblation assisted transoral surgery from August 2008 to August 2017 were studied. According to the tumor sites and pathological results, there were four oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (two tongue carcinoma and two mouth floor carcinoma), eleven oropharygneal SCC (five tonsillar carcinoma, four soft palate carcinoma, one tongue base cartinama and one multiple carcinoma invading both soft palatine and hypopharynx), and four lymphatic and hematopoietic malignancies (three tonsillar tumors and one tumor invading both tonsil and tongue base). According to AJCC guideline, the stages of four oral SCC were T₁N₀M₀, T₁N₂M₀, T₂N₁M₀, and T₂N₂M₀ respectively; while the stages of eleven orophygneal SCC were T₁N₀M₀ for 5 patients, T₂N₀M₀ for 4 patients, T₂N₁M₀ for one patient, and T₂N₂M₀ for one patient respectively. Result:Among the 19 patients studied, concurrent neck dissections and tracheotomies were performed in six and four patients respectively. For all the transoral procedures, the blood loss could be controlled within 20 ml, while the operative time were controlled within two hours. 13 patients started oral feeding the day they were operated on. All of the four patients who underwent the tracheotomy could be decannulated successfully after surgery. Four patients diagnosed as lymphatic and hematopoietic malignancies turned to hematology department for further treatments. For the remaining 15 SCC patients, 14 were followed up successfully with one loss to follow-up: the follow up time ranged from 6 to 108 months, during these times, one patient with multiple carcinomas invading the soft palate and hypopharynx had developed new carcinomas located in contralateral hypopharynx and esophagus and had the metastasis in cervical lymph nodes 5 months after surgery, another patient with soft palate carcinoma had the metastasis in cervical lymph nodes 18 months after surgery. Two patients died because of intracranial hemorrhage and cardiovascular event 5 and 12 months after surgery respectively. The three years' tumor free survival and overall survival rates calculated by Kaplan-Meier method were 75.0% and 77.9% respectively. All patients had no severe dysfunctions for swallow, speech and breathing related to the surgery. Conclusion:Radiofrenquency coblation assisted transoral surgery for oral and oropharygneal carcinoma has definite therapeutic effect. Most cases can avoid open surgery and tracheotomy.The advantages are blood control, simplifing surgery,shortening operational time,faster recovery, lower incidence of complications and better preservation of organ function.

Dijet imbalance measurements in Au+Au and pp collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV at STAR

We report the first dijet transverse momentum asymmetry measurements from Au+Au and pp collisions at RHIC. The two highest-energy back-to-back jets reconstructed from fragments with transverse momenta above 2  GeV/c display a significantly higher momentum imbalance in heavy-ion collisions than in the pp reference. When reexamined with correlated soft particles included, we observe that these dijets then exhibit a unique new feature-momentum balance is restored to that observed in pp for a jet resolution parameter of R=0.4, while rebalancing is not attained with a smaller value of R=0.2.

[Minor salivary duct carcinoma of the larynx: a case report]

Salivary duct carcinoma SDC is a rare disease, especially in the larynx. From the pathology point of view, SDC histomorphology is very similar to breast ductal carcinoma. From the immunohistochemistry, epithelial antibodies are positive, but the SMA is negative. From the review of papers, total resection is the first choice for the treatment, but the local recurrence and distant metastasis are the main influence factors for survival rate. Now we still lack the clinical experience for such disease.

High-resolution and multi-range particle separation by microscopic vibration in an optofluidic chip

An optofluidic chip is demonstrated in experiments for high-resolution and multi-range particle separation through the optically-induced microscopic vibration effect, where nanoparticles are trapped in loosely overdamped optical potential wells created with combined optical and fluidic constraints. It is the first demonstration of separating single nanoparticles with diameters ranging from 60 to 100 nm with a resolution of 10 nm. Nanoparticles vibrate with an amplitude of 3-7 μm in the loosely overdamped potential wells in the microchannel. The proposed optofluidic device is capable of high-resolution particle separation at both nanoscale and microscale without reconfiguring the device. The separation of bacteria from other larger cells is accomplished using the same chip and operation conditions. The unique trapping mechanism and the superb performance in high-resolution and multi-range particle separation of the proposed optofluidic chip promise great potential for a diverse range of biomedical applications.

Measurement of D^{0} Azimuthal Anisotropy at Midrapidity in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV

We report the first measurement of the elliptic anisotropy (v_{2}) of the charm meson D^{0} at midrapidity (|y|<1) in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV. The measurement was conducted by the STAR experiment at RHIC utilizing a new high-resolution silicon tracker. The measured D^{0} v_{2} in 0%-80% centrality Au+Au collisions can be described by a viscous hydrodynamic calculation for a transverse momentum (p_{T}) of less than 4  GeV/c. The D^{0} v_{2} as a function of transverse kinetic energy (m_{T}-m_{0}, where m_{T}=sqrt[p_{T}^{2}+m_{0}^{2}]) is consistent with that of light mesons in 10%-40% centrality Au+Au collisions. These results suggest that charm quarks have achieved local thermal equilibrium with the medium created in such collisions. Several theoretical models, with the temperature-dependent, dimensionless charm spatial diffusion coefficient (2πTD_{s}) in the range of ∼2-12, are able to simultaneously reproduce our D^{0} v_{2} result and our previously published results for the D^{0} nuclear modification factor.

[The multicenter study on the registration and follow-up of low anticoagulation therapy for the heart valve operation in China]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the optimal anticoagulation methods and monitoring strategy for Chinese patients undergoing heart valve replacement, which is potentially quite different from western populations.

METHODS

In this multicenter prospective cohort study, the anticoagulation and monitoring strategy data was acquired from 25 773 in-hospital patients in 35 medical centers and 20 519 patients in outpatient clinic in 11 medical centers from January 1st, 2011 to December 31th, 2015.

RESULTS

As for in-hospital patients, mean age of study population was (48.6±11.2) years old; main etiology of valve pathology was rheumatic (87.5%) origin among study cohort; 94.8% of study population received mechanical valve implantation; international normalized ratio (INR) monitoring (in all the study centers) and low-intensity anticoagulation strategy (31 hospitals chose target INR range of 1.5-2.5, and actual values of INR among 89.2% of 100 069 in-hospital monitoring samples were 1.5-2.5), with mean actual INR values of 1.84±0.53, and warfarin dosage of (2.82±0.93) mg/d were widely adopted among the study centers; strategies of in-hospital warfarin administration were similar in all the study centers; complication rates of low-intensity anticoagulation strategy were low in severe hemorrhage (0.02%), thrombosis (0.05%), and thromboembolism (0.05%) events, without anticoagulation-related death.As for 18 974 outpatient clinic patients, the follow-up rate was 92.47%, with a total of 30 012 patient-years (Pty). Anticoagulation-related morbidity and mortality rates were 0.67% and 0.15% Pty; major hemorrhage morbidity and mortality rates were 0.25% and 0.13% Pty; thromboembolism morbidity and mortality rates were 0.45% and 0.03% Pty.The mean dosage of warfarin daily dosage was (2.85±1.23) mg/d and INR value was 1.82±0.57.No significant regional difference in the intensity of anticoagulation therapy was noted during the study.

CONCLUSIONS

INR can be used as a normalized indicator for intensity of anticoagulation therapy in China.The optimal anticoagulation intensity with INR range from 1.5 to 2.5 is safe and effective for Chinese patients with heart valve replacement, and there is no significant regional difference in the intensity of anticoagulation therapy.

Charge-Dependent Directed Flow in Cu+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV

We present the first measurement of charge-dependent directed flow in Cu+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV. The results are presented as a function of the particle transverse momentum and pseudorapidity for different centralities. A finite difference between the directed flow of positive and negative charged particles is observed that qualitatively agrees with the expectations from the effects of the initial strong electric field between two colliding ions with different nuclear charges. The measured difference in directed flow is much smaller than that obtained from the parton-hadron-string-dynamics model, which suggests that most of the electric charges, i.e., quarks and antiquarks, have not yet been created during the lifetime of the strong electric field, which is of the order of, or less than, 1  fm/c.

Association of growth factor receptor-bound protein 10 gene polymorphism with superovulation traits in Changbaishan black cattle

The application of assisted reproductive technology in animal production benefits the economy and conservation of biological resources. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) was used as predictive markers for breeding and reproduction. In the present study, we examined the association between a SNP of the grb10 gene and superovulation traits in cattle. Sequencing results indicated a point mutation and statistical analysis showed a significant association of the mutation with superovulation traits. The high number of embryos collected from the heterozygotes suggested that the mutation in the grb10 gene exerted a significant effect on the number of embryos recovered although the quality was not affected. The grb10 gene may serve as a useful biomarker for donor selection.

Oxytocin is implicated in social memory deficits induced by early sensory deprivation in mice

Early-life sensory input plays a crucial role in brain development. Although deprivation of orofacial sensory input at perinatal stages disrupts the establishment of the barrel cortex and relevant callosal connections, its long-term effect on adult behavior remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the behavioral phenotypes in adult mice with unilateral transection of the infraorbital nerve (ION) at postnatal day 3 (P3). Although ION-transected mice had normal locomotor activity, motor coordination, olfaction, anxiety-like behaviors, novel object memory, preference for social novelty and sociability, they presented deficits in social memory and spatial memory compared with control mice. In addition, the social memory deficit was associated with reduced oxytocin (OXT) levels in the hypothalamus and could be partially restored by intranasal administration of OXT. Thus, early sensory deprivation does result in behavioral alterations in mice, some of which may be associated with the disruption of oxytocin signaling.

Association between polymorphisms in the promoter region of pri-miR-34b/c and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. MicroRNA-34 (miR-34) gene plays a key role in altering the apoptotic cycle and pathways of downstream cells, and therefore influences carcinogenesis. In this case-control study, we assessed the role of the pri-miR-34b/c rs4938723 polymorphism in HCC risk. The pri-miR-34b/c polymorphic genotype was determined in 286 patients with HCC and 572 controls using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The male gender (X² = 12.95, P < 0.001), regular alcohol consumption (X² = 16.81, P < 0.001), and a family history of cancer (X² = 11.88, P = 0.001) were associated with HCC risk. However, the age (t = 1.19, P = 0.12) and tobacco smoking habit (X² = 0.64, P = 0.42) of HCC patients were comparable to those of the controls. The TC (adjusted OR = 1.46, 95%CI = 1.06-2.01) and CC (adjusted OR = 3.07, 95%CI = 1.77-5.34) genotypes of pri-miR-34b/c rs4938723 were correlated with a higher risk of HCC compared to the TT genotype. Moreover, the TC+CC genotype was correlated with an increased risk of HCC compared to the TT genotype (adjusted OR = 1.64, 95%CI = 1.21-2.22). In the recessive model, the CC genotype of pri-miR-34b/c rs4938723 was significantly correlated with an elevated risk of HCC compared to the TT+TC genotype (adjusted OR = 2.50, 95%CI = 1.49-4.22). Further large-scale and multi-center studies are required to confirm these results.