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Objective To evaluate standardized training simulation examination for residents trainees in ultrasound medicine. Methods From 2018 to 2020, all the 17 resident trainees participated in the training at the standardized training base for residents located in the department of ultrasound medicine of China-Japan Friendship Hospital.The examination was conducted in stages for capacity building for clinical reasoning, the equipment operation and humanity, three rounds.The assessment performance was analyzed in groups based on academic degree and grade respectively. Questionnaire survey was implemented for trainees' subjective evaluation for simulation examination. Results Both clinical reasoning and the ultrasonic operation dealing with heart check by the graduate group and the undergraduate group showed a progressing trend for three grades, and the postgraduate group had higher performance than the undergraduate group {[clinical reasoning (342.10±26.73) points vs (269.55±30.35) points, (336.00±22.58) points vs (287.18±22.18) points, (352.00±31.00) points vs (327.27±22.31) points], [untrasonic operation for heart check (89.67±7.59) points vs (62.00±2.00) points, (83.00±7.79) points vs(67.50±7.50) points, (97.33±2.05) points vs (89.50±2.50) points]}. There was no statistically significant difference among grades. Performance was evident between grades 1 and 3 with the machine operation [(243.19±18.39) points vs (268.00±25.06) points]. In the undergraduate group, the 1st and 3rd examination progressed significantly [(234.59±15.24) points vs (262.00±33.34) points]. The questionnaire showed that 17 trainees believed that the simulation examination effectively improved their ultrasound skills. Conclusions The simulation examination can improve the clinical skill and increase trainees' confidence, so this method should be shared by other institutions for standardized residents training.

In order to clarify the influence of key cultivation measures on rapeseed oil quality, a single factor field experiments of sowing date, planting density, and nitrogen rate were carried out in Wuhan and Lanzhou with "Xiangzayou 518 (XZY518)" and "Dadi 199 (DD199)" as the experimental materials. The rapeseed was harvested at maturity stage, followed by cold pressing and oil content, oil extraction efficiency, color of rapeseed oil, peroxide value, total polar phenols, and phytosterol content were assessed, and rapeseed oil quality was evaluated comprehensively under each treatment. The results showed that sowing date, density, and nitrogen rate all significantly affected the key quality indexes of rapeseed oil, and the pattern of change of each index was not the same between the two varieties from two sites. Two varieties from two sites had higher oleic acid content in rapeseed oil under early sowing conditions, and as the sowing date was delayed, rapeseed oil color deepened, chlorophyll content increased, and the comprehensive quality decreased. The XZY518 from two sites at D2 density (4.5x105 hm-2) had a lower acid value, higher total polar phenol, total phytosterol, and total tocopherol contents, and better comprehensive quality. The DD 199 from two sites with increasing density, the chlorophyll content of rapeseed oil increased, the color deepened, the linoleic acid content decreased, and the comprehensive quality also decreased. Two varieties from two sites had higher oil content and oil extraction efficiency under low nitrogen (120 kg hm-2). With the increase of nitrogen rate, rapeseed oil color deepened, comprehensive quality declined. Principal component analysis showed that the effect of sowing date on the comprehensive quality of rapeseed oil was greater than that of planting density and nitrogen rate treatments, and that acid value, chlorophyll, total polar phenols, antioxidant power and total phytosterols were key quality indicators affecting rapeseed oils. Correlation analysis showed that seed oil content was significantly positively correlated with oil extraction efficiency, chlorophyll, carotenoids, and rapeseed oil color were all significantly positively correlated, and total polar phenols were significantly positively correlated with antioxidant power. In summary, early sowing at an appropriate date, reducing nitrogen fertilizer rate, and lowering planting density in production can improve the quality of pressed rapeseed oil. The findings of this study offer technical assistance to produce high-quality rapeseed oil raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To analyze the changes of mortality and disease burden of stroke in 1990 and 2015 in Tianjin. Methods The results of the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2015 (GBD 2015) for Chinese estimated by province were used to describe the disease burden of stroke in Tianjin. The analysis index included number of death, mortality rate, disability adjusted life year (DALY), years of life lost (YLL) and years lost due of disability (YLD). The change from 1990 to 2015 for all indexes was used to describe the transitions of disease burden of stroke in the past 25 years in Tianjin. Results In 2015, the mortality rate of stroke reached 101.53 per 100 000 people and the age-standardized mortality rate was 117.73 per 100 000 people. The DALY, YLL, and YLD reached 285 558.36, 265 627.77 and 19 930.60 person year, respectively, and the age - standardized DALY rate, YLL rate and YLD rate were 1870.55, 1746.63 and 123.92 per 100 000 people. Compared with the result in 1990, the number of death, DALY, YLL and YLD in 2015 were increased by 26.24%, 9.05%, 5.48% and 98.63%, respectively, while the age-standardized mortality rate, DALY rate, YLL rate and YLD rate in 2015 were decreased by 46.75%, 52.81%, 54.32% and 11.20%, respectively. In different types of stroke, DALY and YLL of hemorrhagic stroke were higher, while YLD was lower than ischemic stroke in 1990 and 2015. Compared with 1990, DALY was decreased by 11.77%, YLL was decreased by 14.75%, and YLD was increased by 96.87% in hemorrhagic stroke in 2015, while DALY was increased by 47.38%, YLL was increased by 44.04% and YLD was increased by 100.08% in ischemic stroke in 2015. Conclusions Disease burden of stroke became more and more serious in Tianjin, of which the ischemic stroke was most serious, and the disease burden of stroke in men was greater than that in women. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2018.07.009

Objective To investigate the changes in the serum levels of Klotho, fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in children with idiopathic short stature (ISS) before and after recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment, as well as the correlation of Klotho and FGF23 with the growth hormone (GH)/IGF-1 growth axis in these children. Methods A prospective study was conducted on 33 children who were diagnosed with ISS in the Department of Pediatrics, Hebei Provincial People's Hospital, from March 10, 2021 to December 1, 2022 (ISS group). Twenty-nine healthy children, matched for age and sex, who attended the Department of Child Healthcare during the same period, were enrolled as the healthy control group. The children in the ISS group were treated with rhGH, and the serum levels of Klotho, FGF23, and IGF-1 were measured before treatment and after 3, 6, and 9 months of treatment. A correlation analysis was conducted on these indexes. Results There were no significant differences in the serum levels of IGF-1, Klotho, and FGF23 between the ISS and healthy control groups (P>0.05). The serum levels of Klotho, FGF23, and IGF-1 increased significantly in the ISS group after 3, 6, and 9 months of rhGH treatment (P<0.05). In the ISS group, Klotho and FGF23 levels were positively correlated with the phosphate level before treatment (P<0.05). Before treatment and after 3, 6, and 9 months of rhGH treatment, the Klotho level was positively correlated with the IGF-1 level (P<0.05), the FGF23 level was positively correlated with the IGF-1 level (P<0.05), and the Klotho level was positively correlated with the FGF23 level (P<0.05), while Klotho and FGF23 levels were not correlated with the height standard deviation of point (P>0.05). Conclusions The rhGH treatment can upregulate the levels of Klotho, FGF23, and IGF-1 and realize the catch-up growth in children with ISS. Klotho and FGF23 may not directly promote the linear growth of children with ISS, but may have indirect effects through the pathways such as IGF-1 and phosphate metabolism. The consistent changes in Klotho, FGF23 and IGF-1 levels show that there is a synergistic relationship among them in regulating the linear growth of ISS children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amorphous Ni-P alloy coatings were prepared on 45 carbon steel blocks using electrodeposition method. The thermal effect and quality change of Ni-P alloy coating under heating rate of 20℃/min were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG). Coatings were heat-treated at 300℃ and 400℃ for 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75min respectively, coating surface was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), microhardness tester. The result shows that the exothermic peak of Ni-P alloy coating appears at 284.8℃, coating quality and elemental composition are stable during the heat treatment. Crystallization process experiences a transformation of amorphous, metastable state NiP and Ni5P2, stable state Ni3P. The microhardness of coating can be improved remarkably after heat treatment, namely, the maximum value of heat-treated coating is 1036.56HV, which is nearly 2 times as hard as as-deposited coating. The corrosion resistance of heat-treated Ni-P alloy coating in NaCl solution is inferior to as-deposited coating, but they are both much better than 45 carbon steel substrate.

The procyanidins of Camellia oleifera shells were efficiently separated by using deep eutectic solvent and microwave-assisted extraction. The eutectic solvent made of choline chloride and oxalic acid system was selected as the extraction solvent. The effects of microwave power, raw material particle size, microwave temperature, microwave time, solvent water content and solid-liquid ratio on the extraction amount of procyanidins from Camellia oleifera shells were extensively studied, and the optimal extraction process parameters were further evaluated through orthogonal optimization experiments. When using the raw material with an average particle size of 53 µm and 5% water content of solvent, the optimum technological parameters could be as follow; the material liquid ratio of 1:20 (g/mL), microwave power of 600 W and microwave irradiation at 35 °C for 60 min. Under these optimized conditions, the extraction amount of procyanidins from Camellia oleifera shells can achieve to 66. 89 mg/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To analyze the changes of mortality and disease burden of stroke in 1990 and 2015 in Tianjin. Methods The results of the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2015 (GBD 2015) for Chinese estimated by province were used to describe the disease burden of stroke in Tianjin. The analysis index included number of death, mortality rate, disability adjusted life year (DALY), years of life lost (YLL) and years lost due of disability (YLD). The change from 1990 to 2015 for all indexes was used to describe the transitions of disease burden of stroke in the past 25 years in Tianjin. Results In 2015, the mortality rate of stroke reached 101.53 per 100 000 people and the age - standardized mortality rate was 117.73 per 100 000 people. The DALY, YLL, and YLD reached 285 558.36, 265 627.77 and 19 930.60 person year, respectively, and the age - standardized DALY rate, YLL rate and YLD rate were 1870.55, 1746.63 and 123.92 per 100 000 people. Compared with the result in 1990, the number of death, DALY, YLL and YLD in 2015 were increased by 26.24%, 9.05%, 5.48% and 98.63%, respectively, while the age - standardized mortality rate, DALY rate, YLL rate and YLD rate in 2015 were decreased by 46.75%, 52.81%, 54.32% and 11.20%, respectively. In different types of stroke, DALY and YLL of hemorrhagic stroke were higher, while YLD was lower than ischemic stroke in 1990 and 2015. Compared with 1990, DALY was decreased by 11.77%, YLL was decreased by 14.75%, and YLD was increased by 96.87% in hemorrhagic stroke in 2015, while DALY was increased by 47.38%, YLL was increased by 44.04% and YLD was increased by 100.08% in ischemic stroke in 2015. Conclusions Disease burden of stroke became more and more serious in Tianjin, of which the ischemic stroke was most serious, and the disease burden of stroke in men was greater than that in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of grafting on physiological characters of melon (Cucumis melo) seedlings under copper stress were investigated with Pumpkin Jingxinzhen No.3 as stock and oriental melon IVF09 as scion. The results showed that the physiological characters of melon seedlings were inhibited significantly under copper stress. Compared with self-rooted seedlings, the biomass, the contents of photosynthetic pigment, glucose and fructose, the photosynthetic parameters, the activities of sucrose phosphate synthase, neutral invertase and acid invertase in the leaves of the grafted seedlings were increased significantly. The uptake of nutrients was improved with the contents of K, P, Na increased and the content of Cu decreased. When the concentration of Cu2+ stress was 800 μmol · L-1, the contents of Cu in the leaves and roots of the grafted seedlings were decreased by 31.3% and 15.2%, respectively. Endogenous hormone balance of seedlings was improved by grafting. In the grafted seedlings, the content of IAA and peroxidase activity were higher, whereas the contents of ABA, maleicdialdehyde, the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were lower than that in the control. It was concluded that the copper stress on the physiological characters of melon seedlings was relieved by grafting which improved the resistance of the grafted seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China Geodetic Coordinate System 2000 (CGCS2000) has no velocity, and can not show the dynamic and verisimilitude of China geocentric coordinate reference frame in whole. Therefore, it is necessary to build the velocity field model based on CGCS2000. The acquisition method of velocity field in China continent based on CGCS2000 was introduced; a large number of duplicate observed data at China GPS continuous operation stations in the international IGS stations from 2000 to 2010 were used to obtain the point results of high-precision GPS continuous operation stations and velocity field. It is found that the horizontal precision of point is better than µ2 mm, and the vertical precision of point are better than µ3 mm; the precision of velocity field in the north-south direction is better than µ1.6 mm per year, and that in the east-west direction is better than µ1.8 mm per year. The variation and trend of China GPS continuous operation stations in 11 years were studied, and the motion trend of each station was obtained. The coincident points from CGCS2000 and China Crustal Movement Observation Network were compared. The small difference proves that the calculating result is reliable and feasible, and CGCS2000 can provide high-precision data for building velocity field model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the effect of the digital computer-assisted technique in orthognathic surgery. METHODS: Twelve patients from January 2008 to December 2011 with jaw malformation were treated in our department. With the help of CT and three-dimensional reconstruction technique, 12 patients underwent surgical treatment and the results were evaluated after surgery. RESULTS: Digital computer-assisted technique could clearly show the status of the jaw deformity and assist virtual surgery. After surgery all patients were satisfied with the results. CONCLUSIONS: Digital orthognathic surgery can improve the predictability of the surgical procedure, and to facilitate patients' communication, shorten operative time, and reduce patients' pain. Supported by Beijing Natural Science Foundation (7112124) and Beijing Science and Technology Project (D131100003013001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of computer-aided surgical techniques in surgical treatment of cranio-maxillofacial fibrous dysplasia. METHODS: Twenty-two patients from January 1999 to December 2012 with cranio-maxillofacial fibrous dysplasia were treated in our department. According to the patients' specific conditions, surgeons designed surgical programs, and used computer-assisted surgical techniques to produce skull model and navigation template individually. The effects after surgery were evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients with resection of the bone lesions restored facial symmetry partially. The patients were followed up for 3 to 36 months, and the treatment effects were satisfactory. CONCLUSIONS: With preoperative planning, intraoperative navigation and postoperative prediction, computer -aided surgery shows its great value in improving the accuracy of cranio-maxillofacial surgery, shortening operating time and restoring facial symmetry. It is regarded as a valuable and safe surgical technique in cranio -maxillofacial surgery. Supported by Beijing Natural Science Foundation (7112124). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effect of temperature increase in boll period (13-Jul. to 24-Aug. ) on cotton yield and fiber quality under the global warming background, a pot experiment with cotton cultivar Simian 3 was carried out in half-open-top greenhouse in Pailou experiment station (32°02' N, 118°50' E) of Nanjing Agricultural University in 2010 and 2011. The results indicated that when the temperature was increased by 2-3°C (with an average daily temperature of 31. 1 to 35. 2 °C), the biomass declined by 10%, while the cotton yield declined by 30% -40%. The fiber quality also changed significantly with the relative indices responding differently. The micronaire value and fiber strength increased, the fiber length reduced while the fiber uniformity and elongation rate changed little. The plant photosynthesis capability, the biomass accumulation and the ability of carbohydrates transferring to sink organs all deceased. The soluble amino acids, soluble sugar, sucrose and C/ N decreased significantly, while the starch content increased significantly. The allocation in vegetative organs was increased while that in reproductive organs was reduced, which in turn declined the economical index. The lower fruit branches were affected little under increased temperature condition while the middle, upper and top branches were affected greatly. The results indicated that, under the 2 -3°C warmer condition, the cotton plants experienced the high temperature stress, both the photosynthesis ability and the carbohydrates transportation from source to sink were decreased, leading to the decline of cotton yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: To evaluate the chemical composition of the zinc modified surface of implanted titanium and to assess its effect on the antibacterial activity in vitro. METHODS: Pure commercial titanium discs were modified with zinc by plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition (PIIID) technique. The surfaces were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectrometer. To measure the bacterial responses, S. mutans were seeded onto the surfaces of discs in 24-well culture plates at a density of 1 x 109 CFU/mL and observed by a scanning electron microscope. The statistical significance of difference was assessed by ANOVA using SPSS 13.0 software package, followed by a Bonferroni test. RESULTS: The full range XPS indicated that the main difference of zinc PIIID on the disc was the appearance of the signals of zinc and oxygen. At the same time, the relative atomic concentration of zinc increased gradually with the implanting time, the concentration of zinc in Zn-Ti-80 rain group being the highest among the groups. The zinc implanted titanium could affect adherence and the form of S.mutans. The adherence amount of bacteria in Zn-Ti-60 min and -80 min group was significantly less than those in cp-Ti group, Zn-Ti-20 rnin and -40 rain group. CONCLUSIONS: PIIID can successfully introduce zinc into pure titanium surface, which can change adherence and the form of S.rautans slightly. Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality (7112124) and No.52 General Financial Grant of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2012M521879). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the reliability of CardioChek PA portable blood analyzer in the detection of blood lipid and to explore the feasibility and accuracy of its application in lipid screening in high - risk stroke group. Methods According to the profile of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards of Method Comparison and Bias Estimation Using Patient Samples (NCCLS-EP9-A), two different biochemical analysis systems, CardioChek PA blood analyzer (testing system) and Siemens ADVIA2400 automatic analyzer (reference system), were used respectively to test lipids including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high - density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL - C), low - density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL - C) to obtain the correlation coefficient and the linear regression equation as well as predicted bias. Based on the comparison, CardioChek PA blood analyzer was used to detect blood lipid of 1263 persons (more than 40 years old) at high-risk of stroke. Results The outcomes of TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL - C between CardioChek PA blood analyzer and Siemens ADVIA2400 automatic analyzer had significant correlations (r > 0.975, P < 0.05) and error allowance at different medical decision levels were all between 95% confidence interval (CI) of predicted bias, indicating that there were comparability of TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C between two detecting systems and the outcomes were acceptable. Moreover, there were 347 cases (27.47% ) with abnormal TC, 348 cases (27.55% ) with abnormal TG, 62 cases (4.91% ) with abnormal HDL-C and 441 cases (34.92%) with abnormal LDL-C among 1263 persons. Conclusion There is comparability of TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C between CardioChek PA blood analyzer and ADVIA2400 biochemical automatic analyzer and the outcomes of CardioChek PA are accurate and confident, thus CardioChek PA can be used in epidemiological study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the coupling effect of water and nitrogen on the leaf nutrient contents of Populus tomentosa and to search for an optimal combination of water and nitrogen for P. tomentosa, a field experiment with randomized block design (3 levels of irrigation water and 4 levels of fertilizer nitrogen) was conducted in a two-year-old P. tomentosa clone BT17 plantation in the nursery of Weixian County, Hebei Province of North China from 2007 to 2009. The N, P and K contents in BT17 leaves differed significantly among seasons, with the order of spring > summer > autumn, and had significant differences among the 12 treatments, being the highest in the treatment 75% of field capacity and 160 g per plant of N application rate. The coupling of water and nitrogen had positive effects on the leaf N, P, and K contents, and thus, more attention should be paid to this coupling effect in the management of P. tomentosa. The leaf nutrient contents had different responses to water and nitrogen. The leaf N and K contents were more affected by soil water content, while the leaf P content was more affected by N application rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking the Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica sand-fixing plantations at different development stages (24-, 29-, 39-, and 43 years old) in Nenjiang Sandy Land as test objects, this paper studied their population structure, understory species composition, and species diversity. No regenerated seedlings were found in all the four P. sylvestris var. mongolica plantations. The mean individual height and DBH of the populations differed significantly with development stage. With the increasing age of the plantations, the proportion of small-sized individuals decreased obviously, while that of large-sized individuals increased, population tended to mature, and the diameter structure except 43 years old plantation was in normal distribution. A total of 33 understory plant species were recorded, belonging to 28 genera and 15 families. Setaria viridis was the dominant species, but its dominance decreased gradually with increasing age of the plantations. With the increase of plantation age, the proportion of annual plants decreased, while that of perennial plants increased. The Simpson index and Pielou index had no significant differences among the different aged plantations, but the richness index, Shannon index, and Alatalo index of 39 years old plantation were significantly higher than those of 24 years old stands, suggesting that the species diversity of the community improved with time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study compared the utilization of and requirements for primary healthcare services for residents living in remote and non-remote areas of Hualien County. Methods: We used quantitative questionnaires to survey 6 townships in remote areas and 3 townships in non-remote areas of Hualien County. The questionnaire gathered data about demographics, utilization of primary healthcare services, and the needs for medical care, preventive care, and health education services. A total of 573 valid questionnaires were retrieved for a response rate of 97%. In addition, 10 village heads of villages in remote/non-remote areas were invited to participate in qualitative interviews. Results: The results indicated that 49.3% of residents in remote areas thought that medical resources were inadequate, while only 16.6% of the residents in non-remote areas held the same opinion. Results also showed a need to strengthen various departments of healthcare services in villages and townships. Ophthalmology was the most needed medical service in remote areas, while family medicine was the most needed in non-remote areas. Mobile medical services were also needed for residents living in remote areas, while those living in non-remote areas emphasized a need for the reduction in payments for medical care. The qualitative in-depth interviews showed that the attitudes of village or neighborhood leaders were highly correlated with the availability of medical resources. Conclusions: Access to primary health care centers was similar in remote and non-remote areas; however, the residents in remote areas had a relatively lower level of satisfaction with health care services. We suggest that healthcare authorities consider specific service items and quality when determining the deployment of health care services in remote areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tobacco flavor, an important tobacco additive, is an essential raw material in cigarette production that can effectively improve the quality of tobacco products, add aroma and taste, and increase the suction flavor. The quality consistency of tobacco flavors affects the quality stability of branded cigarettes. Therefore, the quality control of tobacco flavors is a major concern for cigarette and flavor manufacturers. Physical and chemical indices, odor similarity, and sensory efficacy are employed to evaluate the quality of tobacco flavors, and the analysis of chemical components in tobacco flavors is usually conducted using gas chromatography (GC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). However, because the composition of tobacco flavors is complex, their quality cannot be fully reflected using a single component or combination of components. Therefore, establishing an objective analytical method for the quality control of tobacco flavors is of extreme importance. Chromatographic fingerprint analysis is routinely used for the discriminative analysis of tobacco flavors. Chromatographic fingerprints refer to the general characteristics of the concentration profiles of different chemical compounds. In the daily procurement process, fingerprints established by GC and HPLC are effective for the evaluation and identification of tobacco flavors. However, given continuous improvements in aroma-imitation technology, some flavors with high similarity cannot be directly distinguished using existing methods. In this study, a method for the determination of organic acids and inorganic anions in tobacco flavors based on ion chromatography (IC) was developed to ensure the quality consistency of tobacco flavors. A 1.0 g sample of tobacco flavors and 10 mL of deionized water were mixed and vibrated for 30 min. The aqueous sample solution was passed through a 0.45 μm membrane filter and RP pretreatment column in succession to eliminate interferences and then subjected to IC. Standard solutions containing nine organic acids and seven inorganic anions were used to identify the anions in the tobacco flavors, and satisfactory reproducibility was obtained. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) for retention times and peak areas were <0.71% and <6.02%, respectively. The chromatographic fingerprints of four types of tobacco flavors (samples A-D) from five different batches were obtained. Nine tobacco flavor samples from different manufacturers (samples AY1-AY3, BY1-BY2, CY1-CY2, DY1-DY2) were also analyzed to obtain their chromatographic fingerprints. Hierarchical cluster and similarity analyses were used to evaluate the quality of tobacco flavors from different manufacturers. Hierarchical clustering refers to the process of subdividing a group of samples into clusters that exhibit a high degree of intracluster similarity and intercluster dissimilarity. The dendrograms obtained using SPSS 12.0 indicated good quality consistency among the samples in different batches. Samples AY3, BY2, CY2, and DY1 clustered with the batches of standard tobacco flavors. Therefore, hierarchical cluster analysis can effectively distinguish the quality of products from different manufacturers. The Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of Traditional Chinese Medicine (version 2.0) was used to evaluate the similarity between the standard tobacco flavors and products from different manufacturers. Among the samples analyzed, samples AY3, BY2, CY2, and DY1 showed the highest similarity values (>97.7%), which was consistent with the results of the hierarchical cluster analysis. This finding indicates that IC combined with chromatographic fingerprint analysis could accurately determine the quality of tobacco flavors. GC combined with ultrasonic-assisted liquid-liquid extraction was also used to analyze the tobacco flavors and verify the accuracy of the proposed method. Compared with GC coupled with ultrasonic-assisted liquid-liquid extraction, IC demonstrated more significant quality differences among certain tobacco flavors.

Acupoint drug delivery is a traditional external therapy of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Guided by the meridian and collateral theory in TCM, it applies medications to the skin at acupoints, exerting a dual therapeutic effect by stimulating the acupoints and the conduction of meridians. Acupoint drug delivery is widely used in clinical practice. Different from traditional oral admi-nistration and injection, it absorbs medications through the skin, effectively avoiding the first-pass effect of drugs and the toxic side effects caused by injection. Acupoint selection and transdermal drug absorption are pivotal factors affecting the efficacy of acupoint drug delivery. Recent research on acupoint drug delivery mainly focuses on the evaluation of clinical efficacy, yet the systematic investigations on acupoint selection and pharmacodynamic factors are scarce. This study reviews the mechanism, efficacy evaluation and application status of acupoint drug delivery. It integrates the theory of TCM with modern medicine to explore the mechanism of acupoint drug delivery, evaluate its clinical efficacy, and assess the transdermal penetration in vivo and in vitro. The application status of acupoint drug delivery is also summarized, including the selection of acupoints, application dosage form, application time and the absorption of acupoints. This review aims to offer insights and references for the research, development and clinical application of acupoint drug delivery products.

To understand the responses of radial growth of Fraxinus mandshurica from different provenances to climatic factors, we used the dendrochronological method to establish the standard chronologies of F. mandshurica from 20 provenances in Maoershan provenance test forest, and analyzed the differences in radial growth and their correlation with climate factors. The results showed that the overall trend of F. mandshurica chronologies from 20 provenances was generally similar. There were differences in growth amplitude, with the average radial growth of F. mandshurica from Dailing, Lushuihe and Sanchazi being the highest. The radial growth of F. mandshurica from 20 provenances was significantly positively correlated with the highest temperature in July and the average temperature in July except for Huinan. The radial growth of F. mandshurica from 14 provenances was significantly positively correlated with the precipitation in August. The radial growth of F. mandshurica was constrained by temperature and precipitation during the growing season. There was difference in radial growth among F. mandshurica from different provenances under drought stress. F. mandshurica from Wangqing, Dailing, and Hailin had stronger resistance to drought, while that from Wandianzi, Zhanhe, and Xinglong had better recovery ability after drought.

This paper serves as an annual review of capillary electrophoresis (CE) technology for 2023. The journals were selected based on their impact factor (IF), a universally recognized academic performance metric, combined with experimental work closely related to CE technology, to facilitate the rapid acquisition of significant research and application advancements in CE technology in 2023. A thematic search of the ISI Web of Science database yielded 669 research papers on CE technology published in 2023. This review highlights five experimental papers published in journals with IFs greater than 10.0, including Nature Communications , Nucleic Acids Research , Engineering , Journal of Medical Virology , and Carbohydrate Polymers , and 31 experimental papers from representative journals with IFs between 5.0 and 10.0, such as Analytical Chemistry , Analytica Chimica Acta , Talanta , and Food Chemistry . It also provides an overview of experimental research in journals with focused reporting on CE technology but with IFs less than 5.0, such as Journal of Chromatography A and Electrophoresis , as well as significant experimental research from key domestic Chinese core journals (Peking University). In 2023, all the latest scientific advancements reported in journals with an IF greater than 10.0 utilized previously reported CE methods, offering new breakthroughs for the promotion and application of CE technology. Additionally, new applications of CE in conjunction with mass spectrometry remained a hot topic. An increase in reports on the hardware aspects of CE, such as 3D printing and underwater systems, and significant breakthroughs in the analysis of non-solution samples, such as solid particles, cell vesicles, cells, viruses, and bacteria, was noted. CE is advantageous for the analysis of drugs and their components. In Chinese journals, the number of papers on CE applications exceeded that in previous years, with particular focus on the field of printing for new applications.

Objective To analyze the current situation of dietary diversity and caregiver self-efficacy for complementary feeding among infants and young children aged 6 to 23 months in rural Nanchong city,Sichuan province,and to explore the relationship between dietary diversity and caregiver self-efficacy. Methods Multi-stage randomized cluster sampling method was used to select infants and young children aged 6 to 23 months and their caregivers in rural areas of Nanchong city,Sichuan province as the subjects.A structured questionnaire was designed to collect the basic information of the subjects,dietary diversity,and caregiver self-efficacy for complementary feeding.Multivariate Logistic regression was adopted to analyze the relationship between the dietary diversity and caregiver self-efficacy for complementary feeding of infants and young children. Results A total of 770 pairs of infants and young children and their caregivers were included.The minimum pass rate of dietary diversity was 61.56%(474/770) for all the infants and young children and 45.00%(108/240),69.16%(287/415),and 68.70%(79/115) for the infants and young children aged 6 to 11,12 to 17,and 18 to 23 months,respectively.The results of regression analysis showed that the caregiver self-efficacy of complementary feeding was a contributing factor for qualified dietary diversity of infants and young children in the case of other confounders being controlled( OR =1.42,95% CI =1.17-1.73, P <0.001). Conclusion The dietary diversity for infants and young children in rural Nanchong city,Sichuan province needs to be improved,and caregivers with higher self-efficacy of complementary feeding are more likely to provide diversified complementary feeding for infants and young children.

This study aims to investigate the molecular mechanism of tanshinone Ⅱ&#95;(A )(TaⅡ&#95;A) combined with endothelial progenitor cells-derived exosomes(EPCs-exos) in protecting the aortic vascular endothelial cells(AVECs) from oxidative damage via the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt) pathway. The AVECs induced by 1-palmitoyl-2-(5'-oxovaleroyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine(POVPC) were randomly divided into model, TaⅡ&#95;A, EPCs-exos, and TaⅡ&#95;A+EPCs-exos groups, and the normal cells were taken as the control group. The cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) was used to examine the cell proliferation. The lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) cytotoxicity assay kit, Matrigel assay, DCFH-DA fluorescent probe, and laser confocal microscopy were employed to examine the LDH release, tube-forming ability, cellular reactive oxygen species(ROS) level, and endothelial cell skeleton morphology, respectively. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the expression of interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR) and Western blot were employed to determine the mRNA and protein levels, respectively, of PI3K and Akt. Compared with the control group, the model group showed decreased cell proliferation and tube-forming ability, increased LDH release, elevated ROS level, obvious cytoskeletal disruption, increased expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, and down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and Akt. Compared with the model group, TaⅡ&#95;A or EPCs-exos alone increased the cell proliferation and tube-forming ability, reduced LDH release, lowered the ROS level, repaired the damaged skeleton, decreased the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, and up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and Akt. TaⅡ&#95;A+EPCs-exos outperformed TaⅡ&#95;A or EPCs-exos alone in regulating the above indexes. The results demonstrated that TaⅡ&#95;A and EPCs-exos exerted a protective effect on POVPC-induced AVECs by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway, and the combination of the two had stronger therapeutic effect.

This study aims to explore the influence of Polygonati Rhizoma on the pyroptosis in the rat model of diabetic macroangiopathy via the NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3(NLRP3)/cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1(caspase-1)/gasdermin D(GSDMD) pathway. The rat model of diabetes was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ) combined with a high-fat, high-sugar diet. The blood glucose meter, fully automated biochemical analyzer, hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot were employed to measure blood glucose levels, lipid levels, vascular thickness, inflammatory cytokine levels, and expression levels of pyroptosis-related proteins. The mechanism of pharmacological interventions against the injury in the context of diabetes was thus explored. The results demonstrated the successful establishment of the model of diabetes. Compared with the control group, the model group showed elevated levels of fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-c), lowered level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-c), thickened vascular intima, and elevated serum and aorta levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and interleukin-18(IL-18). Moreover, the model group showed increased NLRP3 inflammasomes and up-regulated levels of caspase-1 and GSDMD in aortic vascular cells. Polygonati Rhizoma intervention reduced blood glucose and lipid levels, inhibited vascular thickening, lowered the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-18 in the serum and aorta, attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome expression, and down-regulated the expression levels of caspase-1 and GSDMD, compared with the model group. In summary, Polygonati Rhizoma can slow down the progression of diabetic macroangiopathy by inhibiting pyroptosis and alleviating local vascular inflammation.

Based on the concept of quality by design(QbD), the Box-Behnken design-response surface methodology combined with standard relation(SR) and analytic hierarchy process(AHP)-entropy weight method(EWM) was applied to optimize the extraction process of the classic prescription Yihuang Decoction. The content of geniposidic acid, phellodendrine hydrochloride, and berberine hydrochloride in Yihuang Decoction, the extract yield, and fingerprint similarity were used as the critical quality attributes(CQAs) of the extraction process. The extraction time, water addition, and extraction times were used as the critical process parameters(CPPs). After determining the levels of each factor and level through single-factor experiments, response surface experiments were designed according to the Box-Behnken principle, and the experimental results were analyzed. The SR between each sample and the reference sample under various evaluation indicators of different extraction parameters was calculated. The weights of the five evaluation indicators were determined using AHP-EWM, followed by comprehensive evaluation. A function model between CPPs and CQAs characterized by comprehensive scores was established to predict the optimal extraction process parameters. In the final comprehensive weight coefficients, the yield rate accounted for 43.1%, and the content of berberine hydrochloride, phellodendrine hydrochloride, and geniposidic acid accounted for 35.1%, 6.3%, and 15.5%, respectively. After comprehensive score analysis with SR, the established second-order polynomial model was statistically significant(P&lt;0.01, and the lack of fit was not significant). The predicted optimal extraction conditions for Yihuang Decoction were determined as follows: 8-fold volume of water, extraction time of 1.5 h, and extraction once. The mean comprehensive score of the validation experiment was 85.77, with an RSD of 0.99%, and it met the quality control stan-dards for the reference sample of Yihuang Decoction. The results indicate that the optimized extraction process for Yihuang Decoction is stable and reliable, and the water extract is close in quality attributes to the reference sample. This can serve as a foundation for the research and development of granules in the future. Box-Behnken design-response surface methodology combined with SR and AHP-EWM can provide references for the modern extraction process research of other classic prescriptions.

The study aims to observe the effects and explore the mechanisms of Buyang Huanwu Decoction and Astragali Radix-Angelicae Sinensis Radix combination in the treatment of the inflammatory response of mice with atherosclerosis(AS) via the Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88(MyD88)/nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB) signaling pathway. Male ApoE~(-/-) mice were randomly assigned into a model group, a Buyang Huanwu Decoction group, an Astragali Radix-Angelicae Sinensis Radix combination group, and an atorvastatin group, and male C57BL/6J mice of the same weeks old were used as the control group. Other groups except the control group were given high-fat diets for 12 weeks to establish the AS model, and drugs were administrated by gavage. Aortic intimal hyperplasia thickness, blood lipid level, plasma inflammatory cytokine levels, M1/M2 macrophage markers, and expression levels of proteins in TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway in the vessel wall were measured to evaluate the effects of drugs on AS lesions and inflammatory responses. The results showed that the AS model was successfully established with the ApoE~(-/-) mice fed with high-fat diets. Compared with the control group, the model group showed elevated plasma total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-c) levels(P&lt;0.05), thickened intima(P&lt;0.01), and increased plasma tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6(IL-6) levels(P&lt;0.01). Moreover, the model group showed increased expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)(P&lt;0.01), inhibited expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS) and cluster of differentiation 206(CD206)(P&lt;0.01), and up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB inhibitor alpha(IκBα), and NF-κB in the vessel wall(P&lt;0.05). Compared with the model group, Buyang Huanwu Decoction and Astragali Radix-Angelicae Sinensis Radix combination lowered the plasma TC and LDL-c levels(P&lt;0.01), alleviated the intimal hyperplasia(P&lt;0.01), and reduced the plasma TNF-α and IL-6 levels(P&lt;0.05). Moreover, the two interventions promoted the expression of eNOS and CD206(P&lt;0.05), inhibited the expression of VCAM-1 and iNOS(P&lt;0.01), and down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, IκBα, and NF-κB(P&lt;0.05) in the vessel wall. This study indicated that Buyang Huanwu Decoction and Astragali Radix-Angelicae Sinensis Radix combination could delay the progression of AS, inhibit the polarization of vascular wall macrophages toward M1 type, and attenuate vascular inflammatory response by inhibiting the activation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in the vascular wall. Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix were the main pharmacological substances in Buyang Huanwu Decoction for alleviating the AS vascular inflammatory response.

Objective To investigate the influencing factors and establish a model predicting the performance of needle visualization in fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules. Methods This study prospectively included 175 patients who underwent FNA of thyroid nodules in the Department of Ultrasound in China-Japan Friendship Hospital and compared the display of the needle tips in the examination of 199 thyroid nodules before and after the application of needle visualization.We recorded the location,the positional relationship with thyroid capsule,ultrasonic characteristics,and the distribution of the soft tissue strip structure at the puncture site of the nodules with unclear needle tips display before using needle visualization.Furthermore,according to the thyroid imaging reporting and data system proposed by the American College of Radiology,we graded the risk of the nodules.Lasso-Logistic regression was employed to screen out the factors influencing the performance of needle visualization and establish a nomogram for prediction. Results The needle tips were not clearly displayed in the examination of 135 (67.8%) and 53 (26.6%) nodules before and after the application of needle visualization,respectively,which showed a significant difference ( P <0.001).Based on the positional relationship between the nodule and capsule,anteroposterior/transverse diameter (A/T) ratio,blood supply,and the distribution of subcutaneous strip structure at the puncture site,a nomogram was established to predict the probability of unclear display of the needle tips after application of needle visualization.The C-index of the prediction model was 0.75 (95% CI =0.67-0.84) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.72.The calibration curve confirmed the appreciable reliability of the prediction model,with the C-index of 0.70 in internal validation. Conclusions Needle visualization can improve the display of the needle tip in ultrasound-guided FNA of thyroid nodules.The nomogram established based on ultrasound features such as the positional relationship between the nodule and capsule,A/T ratio,blood supply,and the distribution of subcutaneous strip structure at the puncture site can predict whether needle visualization is suitable for the examination of nodules.

This article provides a detailed review of capillary electrophoresis (CE) technology in 2022, summarizing a total of 881 CE technology-related articles searched from ISI Web of Science using the keywords "capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry" or "capillary isoelectric focusing" or "micellar electrokinetic chromatography" or "capillary electrophoresis" (excluding "capillary electrochromatography""microchip" "microfluidic" "capillary monolithic column"). The review focuses on 16 articles published in Lancet Global Health , ACS Central Science , Microbiome , Trends in Food Science & Technology , TrAC-Trends in Analytical Chemistry , Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis , Journal of Cachexia , Sarcopenia and Muscle , Food Hydrocolloids , Science of the Total Environment , and Carbohydrate Polymers with impact factors (IFs) greater than 10.0, and 46 articles published in Analytical Chemistry , Analytica Chimica Acta , Talanta , and Food Chemistry with IFs between 5.0 and 10.0. A comprehensive overview of representative CE works published in Journal of Chromatography A , Electrophoresis , and important Chinese core journals (Peking University) with IFs<5.0 is also provided. Based on IFs, this review introduces representative works on CE to facilitate readers' understanding of important research advances in CE technology over the last year.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) is a serine/threoninekinase involved in the signal transduction cascade of Ras-Raf-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)-ERK.It participates in the cell growth,proliferation and even invasion by regulating gene transcription and expression.The occurrence of a variety of diseases such as lung cancer,liver cancer,ovarian cancer,cervical cancer,endometriosis,and preeclampsia,as well the metastasis and disease progression,is closely associated with the regulation of cell invasion by ERK1/2 signaling pathway.Therefore,exploring the regulation of ERK1/2 signaling on cell invasion and its role in pathogenesis of diseases may help to develop more effective treatment schemes.This article introduces recent progress in the regulation of ERK1/2 signaling on cell invasion and the role of such regulation in diseases,with a view to give new insights into the clinical treatment of ERK 1/2-related diseases.

This study aims to explore the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction glycosides on the inflammatory response of apolipoprotein E~(-/-)(ApoE~(-/-)) mice and RAW264.7 cells through nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB) signaling pathway. In the in vivo experiment, ApoE~(-/-) mice were fed with high-fat diets for 12 weeks to induce the animal model of atherosclerosis, and 75 μg·mL~(-1) oxidized low-density lipoprotein(Ox-LDL) incubated RAW264.7 cells for 24 h to establish the atherosclerosis cell model. Automatic biochemical analyzer, hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), Western blot, and droplet digital polymerase chain reaction(PCR) were used to determine the blood lipid levels, aortic intimal thickness, inflammatory factor content, NF-κB pathway-related proteins, and mRNA expression levels, and evaluate arterial atherosclerotic lesions and anti-atherosclerotic mechanisms of the drug. The model of atherosclerosis was successfully established in ApoE~(-/-) mice after 12 weeks of feeding with high-fat diets. In the model group, the plasma levels of total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) were increased(P&lt;0.01), the intima of the blood vessels was thickened, the levels of inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6(IL-6) were increased, and the protein and mRNA expressions of NF-κB and inhibitor of NF-κB(IκBα) were significantly increased as compared with the control group. Compared with the model group, the high-dose Buyang Huanwu Decoction glycoside group decreased the plasma levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C, reduced the plaque area and thickness and the content of inflammatory factor TNF-α, and inhibited the protein and mRNA expressions of NF-κB and IκBα, with the effect same as Buyang Huanwu Decoction. In the in vivo experiment, 75 μg·mL~(-1) Ox-LDL stimulated RAW264.7 cells for 24 h to successfully establish a foam cell model. As compared with the control group, the nuclear amount of NF-κB and the protein and mRNA expressions of IκBα in the model group increased. Compared with the model group, the middle-dose and high-dose Buyang Huanwu Decoction glycoside groups decreased the nuclear amount of NF-κB and the protein and mRNA expressions of IκBα. The above results show that the glycosides are the main effective substances of Buyang Huanwu Decoction against atherosclerosis, which inhibit the NF-κB pathway and reduce the inflammatory response, thus playing the role against atherosclerotic inflammation same as Buyang Huanwu Decoction.

Objectives: To investigate the incidence rate of adverse reactions of methimazole in children with hyperthyroidism., Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 304 children with hyperthyroidism who were hospitalized in Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from January 2015 to May 2021. The incidence rate of methimazole-related adverse reactions was analyzed. The risk factors for common adverse reactions were evaluated., Results: Among the 304 children, 87 (28.6%) experienced adverse reactions, among whom there were 20 boys (23%) and 67 girls (77%). Common adverse reactions included neutropenia (12.8%), rash (11.8%), elevated alanine aminotransferase (9.5%), and joint pain (3.0%), and some children experienced multiple adverse reactions simultaneously or intermittently. Neutropenia often occurred within 3 months after administration (25/39, 64%), elevated alanine aminotransferase often occurred within 1 month after administration (17/29, 59%), and rash often occurred within 3 months after administration (30/36, 83%). Most of the above adverse reactions returned to normal after symptomatic treatment. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that younger age and lower absolute neutrophil count before treatment were risk factors for neutropenia after methimazole treatment ( P <0.05)., Conclusions: The adverse reactions of methimazole are common in children with hyperthyroidism, and most adverse reactions occur within 3 months after administration and can be relieved after symptomatic treatment. Children with a younger age or a lower baseline absolute neutrophil count may have a higher risk of neutropenia.

Objective: To observe the effect of wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14) on the expressions of Beclin-1 and GRP78 in spinal dorsal horn in rats with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR), and to explore the possible analgesic mechanism of wheat-grain moxibustion for CSR., Methods: A total of 48 SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group, a wheat-grain moxibustion group and a wheat-grain moxibustion+3-MA group, 12 rats in each group. The CSR model was prepared by spinal cord insertion method. Three days after modeling, the rats in the model group were intraperitoneally injected with 1 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution; the rats in the wheat-grain moxibustion group were treated with wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14, 6 cones per time) on the basis of the model group; the rats in the wheat-grain moxibustion+3-MA group were intraperitoneally injected with 3-MA solution and wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14, 6 cones per time). The three groups were intervened for 7 days, once a day. The gait score and mechanical pain threshold were observed before treatment and 7 days into treatment; after the treatment, the expressions of mRNA and protein of Beclin-1 in spinal dorsal horn were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry; the expression of GRP78 protein in spinal dorsal horn was detected by Western blot method; the autophagosomes and ultrastructure in spinal dorsal horn neurons were observed by electron microscope., Results: After the treatment, compared with the sham operation group, in the model group, the gait score was increased and the mechanical pain threshold was decreased ( P <0.01), and the expression of GRP78 protein in spinal dorsal horn was increased ( P <0.01). Compared with the model group and the wheat-grain moxibustion+3-MA group, in the wheat-grain moxibustion group, the gait score was decreased and mechanical pain threshold was increased ( P <0.01), and the expression of GRP78 protein in spinal dorsal horn was decreased, and the expressions of mRNA and protein of Beclin-1 were increased ( P <0.01). Under electron microscope, the ultrastructure of spinal dorsal horn neurons in the wheat-grain moxibustion group was not significantly damaged, and its structure was basically close to normal, and the number of autophagosomes was more than the other three groups., Conclusion: Wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14) has analgesic effect on CSR rats. The mechanism may be related to moderately up-regulate the expression of Beclin-1, enhance autophagy and reduce endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Objective: To observe the effect of mild moxibustion (Moxi) at "Dazhui" (GV14) on neuropathic pain, expression of autophagy and apoptosis factor LC3 and Bax proteins and mRNAs in the spinal cord tissue in rats with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR), so as to explore its underlying mechanism underlying relief of CSR-induced pain., Methods: Forty rats (half male half female) were randomly divided into blank control, model, Moxi, Moxi+autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA, Moxi+3-MA) groups, with 10 rats in each group. The CSR model was established by loose ligature of the local cervical nerve roots. Three days after modeling, mild Moxi was applied to GV14 for 10 min, once daily for 7 days. Rats of the Moxi+3-MA group received intraperitoneal injection of 3-MA(1 mL, 15 mg/kg+ saline) before Moxi, once daily for 7 consecutive days. Rats of the model and Moxi groups were also given normal saline (i.p., 1 mL), once daily for 7 days. The gait behavior score (1-3 points) was scaled according to the rats' pain reaction and foot paw contracture produced walking disorder and the mechanical pain threshold (MPT) was detected before and after the treatment. The expression of spinal cord LC3 and Bax proteins and mRNAs were detected by immunohistochemistry and quantitative RT-PCR, respectively., Results: Compared with the blank control group, the gait disorder score, and percentage of Bax positive cells and expression of Bax mRNA were significantly increased ( P <0.01, P <0.05), and MPT was markedly decreased in the model group ( P <0.01). After the treatment, the gait disorder score, percentage of Bax positive cells and Bax mRNA expression were significantly down-regulated ( P <0.01, P <0.05), while the MPT and percentage of LC3 positive cells and LC3 mRNA expression were considerably increased ( P <0.01, P <0.05) in both Moxi and Moxi+3-MA groups. The therapeutic effects of mild Moxi were remarkably superior to those of Moxi+3-MA in downregulating gait disorder score, Bax positive cell percentage and Bax mRNA expression, and in up-regulating MPT, LC3 positive cell percentage and LC3 mRNA expression ( P <0.05), suggesting a reduction of the function of mild Moxi after administration of 3-MA., Conclusion: Mild Moxi at GV14 can relieve neuropathic pain in CSR rats, which may be related to its functions in up-regulating LC3 autophagy, thereby inhibiting the expression of Bax pro-apoptotic protein in spinal cord to reduce apoptosis and to repair nerve injury.

This paper aims to study the effect of Xiangqin Jiere Granules(XQ) on lipid metabolism and chronic inflammation in different obesity model mice. The monosodium glutamate(MSG) obese mouse model was established by subcutaneous injection of MSG in newborn mice, and the high fat diet(HFD) obese mouse model was established by feeding adult mice with HFD. The normal mice were assigned into the control group; the MSG obese mice were assigned into MSG model group, XQ4.5 group(Xiangqin Jiere Granu-les, 4.5 g·kg~(-1)), XQ22.5 group(Xiangqin Jiere Granules, 22.5 g·kg~(-1)); the HFD obese mice were assigned into HFD model group, XQ4.5 group, and XQ22.5 group. The mice were intragastrically administrated with saline or XQ for 5 weeks. After that, the body weight, visceral fat mass, liver and thymus weight, and the organ indexes in each group were measured. The levels of triglyceride(TG), total cholesterol(TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-c) in serum and liver tissue were detected by the kits. The mRNA expression levels of acetyl CoA carboxylase 1(ACC1), fatty acid synthetase(FAS), diacylgycerol acyltransferase 1(DGAT1) and hepatic lipase(HTGL) involved in lipid metabolism in mouse liver tissue were detected by quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR). The protein levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6(IL-6) in serum were detected by ELISA, and the mRNA levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in liver tissue were detected by qPCR. Compared with the control group, MSG and HFD mice showed increased body weight, abdominal circumference, Lee index and visceral fat mass as well as elevated levels of TG, TC, and LDL-c in serum. The model mice had up-regulated gene levels of ACC1, FAS and DGAT1 while down-regulated gene level of HTGL in the liver. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein levels of IL-6 increased in the model mice. Compared with the model mice, XQ treatment decreased the body weight, abdominal circumference, Lee index, and visceral fat mass, lowered the levels of TG, TC, and LDL-c in se-rum, down-regulated the gene levels of ACC1, FAS, and DGAT1 in liver tissue, up-regulated the gene level of HTGL, and down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of IL-6. To sum up, XQ has good therapeutic effect on different obesity model mice. It can improve lipid metabolism and reduce fat accumulation in obese mice by regulating the enzymes involved in lipid metabolism, and alleviate obesity-related chronic low-grade inflammation.

Objective: To compare the clinical effect of acupuncture combined with wheat-grain moxibustion and oral sertraline hydrochloride dispersible tablets in the treatment of mild to moderate postpartum depression., Methods: Sixty patients with mild to moderate postpartum depression were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with psychotherapy. The control group was treated with oral sertraline hydrochloride dispersible tablets, 50 mg each time, once a day; the observation group was treated with acupuncture at Qihai (CV 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Xuehai (SP 10), Hegu (LI 4), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3), etc. combined with wheat-grain moxibustion at Xinshu (BL 15), Pishu (BL 20), Ganshu (BL 18) and Shenshu (BL 23), once every other day, 3 times a week. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks as a course, with 2 consecutive courses of treatment. Before and after treatment and follow-up of 3 months after the end of treatment, the Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) and World Health Organization quality of life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) score of the two groups were compared, and the clinical effect was assessed., Results: After treatment and during follow-up, the HAMD and EPDS scores of the two groups were lower than before treatment ( P <0.05), and the WHOQOL-BREF scores of the two groups were higher than before treatment ( P <0.05). In the control group, the scores of HAMD and EPDS during follow-up were higher than after treatment ( P <0.05), and the score of WHOQOL-BREF during follow-up was lower than after treatment ( P <0.05). After treatment and during follow-up, the HAMD and EPDS scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group ( P <0.05), and the WHOQOL-BREF score of the observation group was higher than that of the control group ( P <0.05). The total effective rate of the observation group was 93.3% (28/30), which was higher than 86.7% (26/30) of the control group ( P <0.05)., Conclusion: Acupuncture combined with wheat-grain moxibustion can improve the depressive symptoms of patients with mild to moderate postpartum depression and improve their quality of life, and the clinical effect is more lasting and stable than oral sertraline hydrochloride dispersible tablets.