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Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of scraping therapy in the treatment of perimenopausal syndrome (PMS). Methods Thirty recruited PMS subjects were treated with scraping therapy in the Outpatient Department, Acupuncture-Moxibustion Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, at the areas including Shenting (神庭GV24)—Bǎihui (百会GV20), Qihǎi (气海CV6)—Guānyuan (关元CV4), Zǐgōng (子宫EX-CA1), Zusānlǐ (足三里ST36)—Xiajuxū (下巨虚ST39), Dijī (地机SP8)—Sanyīnjiāo (三阴交SP6), Taichōng (太冲LR3)—Xingjiān (行间LR2), Gānshū (肝俞BL18)—Dǎnshū (胆俞BL19), Pishū (脾俞BL20)—Weishū (胃俞BL 21), and Sānjiāoshū (三焦俞BL 22)—Shenshū (肾俞BL 23), with an even reinforcing-reducing method. Before and after treatment, the serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E2) were tested. And before treatment and at the 4th week, 8th week, and 12th week of treatment, the Kupperman index (KI) and menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire (MENQOL) symptom scores were recorded for evaluating the clinical efficacy. Results Comparing with before treatment, the modified Kupperman symptom scores were all decreased after treatment, the difference was statistically significant (P 0.05); the total effective rate was 86% after the 4 weeks’ treatment, 97% after the 8 weeks’ treatment, and 96% after the 12 weeks’ treatment. Conclusion scraping therapy can relieve the PMS symptoms to some extent. It can improve the life quality of PMS subjects. Its influence on the estrogen levels of PMS subjects was not obvious.

Laparoscopic surgery is the standard surgical approach for colon cancer. However, there is no standard surgery for right colectomy. Selection between total laparoscopic right colectomy (TLRC) and laparoscopic-assisted right colectomy (LARC) is a topic of interest. In this systematic review, we compared the short-term outcomes of TLRC and LARC in the treatment of right colon cancer.We identified studies (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase) comparing TLRC and LARC up to February 2021. Surgical duration; volume of intraoperative blood loss; number of harvested lymph nodes; incision length; hospitalization duration; time to first flatus; time to first defecation; and anastomotic leakage, ileus, and wound infection were compared.Thirty studies (TLRC, 1948 patients; LARC, 2369 patients) were evaluated. All studies were retrospective, except seven prospective studies, three RCTs, and three case-control studies. TLRC demonstrated lesser intraoperative blood loss volume (P 0.01), less frequent intraoperative conversion to laparotomy (P = 0.02), shorter hospitalization duration (P 0.01), smaller incision length (P 0.01), shorter time to first flatus (P 0.01) and first defecation (P 0.01), and lesser frequent wound infection (P 0.01) compared with LARC. The surgical duration, number of harvested lymph nodes, anastomotic leakage, and ileus were similar between TLRC and LARC (P 0.05).TLRC is associated with significantly earlier bowel recovery, lesser blood loss, smaller incision length, lower rate of conversion, shorter hospitalization duration, and lesser frequent wound infection compared with LARC.

Childhood trauma is one of the most prominent risk factors in developing major depressive disorder (MDD) and may lead to unfavorable outcomes of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy in MDD. While how it modulates the treatment outcome of the repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and how sex difference may play a role in mediating this relationship remain unknown. To evaluate this question, 51 (37 women) MDD patients were treated with 10 Hz rTMS to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (lDLPFC). The experience of childhood trauma was quantified by the Childhood Traumatic Questionnaire (CTQ). The depressive severity was assessed by Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) as the primary and secondary assessments. Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) were also assessed for further confirmation. Thirty-six (70.6%) participants showed a response including 17 (33.3%) achieving remission to the rTMS treatment. The alleviation of depressive symptoms was negatively correlated with the CTQ scores, specifically in women but not men, in subjective BDI and BHS, but not objective HAMD or HAMA. We demonstrate that childhood trauma negatively affects the subjective perception of rTMS-lDLPFC treatment outcomes in female MDD patients. This highlights the importance of measuring childhood trauma-related symptoms in routine clinical rTMS treatment, as they may impact perceived efficacy.

Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a multifaceted mental disorder where participants, in addition to various symptoms, often suffer from increased focus on past time perspective and higher incidence of childhood trauma. Whether the abnormal time perspective is a result of the depressive symptoms or, alternatively, mediates between childhood trauma and depression remains unclear. Aims To examine the triangular relationship between early life trauma, time perspective, and depressive symptoms. Method We investigated a large-scale MDD sample (n = 93) and healthy subject sample (n = 69) with Beck depression inventory-II (BDI-II), Beck hopelessness scale (BHS), childhood traumatic questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), and the Zimbardo time perspective inventory (ZTPI). Results The MDD patients reported more childhood trauma experiences, and were featured by abnormal time perspectives on past and future when compared to healthy control. By applying two alternative mediation models, we observed that the time perspective acted as a mediator between childhood trauma and depressive symptom severity, rather than as a consequence of depressive symptom. Furthermore, this abnormal time perspective was a risk factor to MDD, as the childhood trauma only mediated the time perspective in MDD. Finally, we showed that time perspective was a long-term personal trait and unchanged after the remission of depression symptoms under five-day transcranial magnetic stimulation. Conclusions Abnormal time perspective mediates the impact of early childhood trauma on depressive symptomatology. Besides better understanding of the temporal basis of depressive symptoms, we highlight the importance of preventive time perspective therapy in subjects with childhood trauma.

Tumor-initiating cells (TICs) or cancer stem cells are believed to be responsible for gastrointestinal tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance. It is hypothesized that gastrointestinal TICs (giTICs) might originate from cell-cell fusion. Here, we systemically evaluate the evidence that supports or opposes the hypothesis of giTIC generation from cell-cell fusion both in vitro and in vivo. We review giTICs that are capable of initiating tumors in vivo with 5000 or fewer in vivo fused cells. Under this restriction, there is currently little evidence demonstrating that giTICs originate from cell-cell fusion in vivo. However, there are many reports showing that tumor generation in vitro occurs with more than 5000 fused cells. In addition, the mechanisms of giTIC generation via cell-cell fusion are poorly understood, and thus, we propose its potential mechanisms of action. We suggest that future research should focus on giTIC origination from cell-cell fusion in vivo, isolation or enrichment of giTICs that have tumor-initiating capabilities with 5000 or less in vivo fused cells, and further clarification of the underlying mechanisms. Our review of the current advances in our understanding of giTIC origination from cell-cell fusion may have significant implications for the understanding of carcinogenesis and future cancer therapeutic strategies targeting giTICs.

Dual ion batteries (DIBs) exhibit broad application prospects in the field of electrical energy storage (EES) devices with excellent properties, such as high voltage, high energy density, and low cost. In the graphite-based DIBs, high voltage is needed to store enough anions with the formation of anion intercalation compound XCn (X = AlCl4-, PF6-, TFSI-, etc.). Hence, it is difficult for graphite-based DIBs to match proper anodes and electrolytes. Here, an Se/graphene composite is prepared via a convenient method, and assembled into a dual-ion full battery (DIFB) as anode with graphite cathode and 1 mol/L NaPF6 in EC:EMC (1:1, v:v). This DIFB has achieved a high discharge capacity of 75.9 mAh/g and high medium output voltage of 3.5 V at 0.1 A/g. Actually, the suitable anode materials, such as the present Se/graphene composite, are extremely important for the development and application of graphite-based DIBs. This study is enlightening for the design of future low-cost EES devices including graphite-based DIBs.

Neuropsychiatric disorders are the leading cause of mental and intellectual disabilities worldwide. Current therapies against neuropsychiatric disorders are very limited, and very little is known about the onset and development of these diseases, and their most effective treatments. MIR137 has been previously identified as a risk gene for the etiology of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. Here we generated a forebrain-specific MIR137 knockout mouse model, and provided evidence that loss of miR-137 resulted in impaired homeostasis of potassium in mouse hippocampal neurons. KCC2, a potassium-chloride co-transporter, was a direct downstream target of miR-137. The KCC2 specific antagonist VU0240551 could balance the current of potassium in miR-137 knockout neurons, and knockdown of KCC2 could ameliorate anxiety-like behavior in MIR137 cKO mice. These data suggest that KCC2 antagonists or knockdown might be beneficial to neuropsychiatric disorders due to the deficiency of miR-137.

More evidences show that microRNAs play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammation and autoimmune diseases including Lichen planus, and are an attractive therapeutic target. MicroRNA family plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression, which involves cell proliferation, apoptosis, growth, differentiation and metabolism, vascularization, immune response and other biological processes. The changes of expression profile and expression level are closely related to the occurrence and development of many diseases, such as tumor, inflammatory disease and autoimmune disease relevant. However, there are few reports on microRNA in the pathogenesis of LP. This review summarizes the research advance of microRNAs (microRNAs -137, microRNAs -125b, microRNAs -138, microRNAs -27b, microRNAs -203) and their downstream proteins in LP.

Background: To explore the immediate effects and mechanism of acupuncture on craving after tobacco cessation based on the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF). Methods: This was a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study. Forty participants were recruited and divided into a smoking group and a non-smoking group, 20 cases in each one. The smoking participants were requested to quit smoking 24 hours before the fMRI scan. The scan process was scan – acupuncture – scan. Between the two scans, acupuncture was applied at Lieque (LU 7), Hegu (LI 4), Baihui (GV 20), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taichong (LR 3) in two groups. Results: After acupuncture, self-made craving for smoking, Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale (MNWS) and Questionnaire of Smoking Urges (QSU) were all reduced (P

Suffering from fragile environment, poor accessibility and infrastructure, as well as social, political and economic marginality, the interprovincial mountain geographical entities are difficult areas for the regional governance in China. By analyzing the spatial patterns and the influencing factors of the interprovincial mountain geographical names (IMGNs), the goal of this research is to clarify the geographical features of IMGNs and offer alternatives for the management of interprovincial mountain regions in China. The spatial visualization, the analysis of spatial agglomeration and the influencing factors of IMGNs were all implemented under a geographical information system. Results showed that there were 6869 IMGNs in China according to the database of “China’s Second National Survey of Geographical Names (2014–2018)”, including 4209 mountain geographical names, 1684 mountain peak geographical names and 976 the other mountain geographical names. Hunan Province had the largest number of names while Shanghai had the smallest number of names. In addition, the spatial variance of the mountain peak names and the mountain names were larger than that of the other mountain geographical names, and the IMGNs showed a significant clustering phenomenon in the southern part of China. The relative elevation and the population had an impact on the distribution of the IMGNs. The largest number of the names occurred where the relative elevation was between 1000–2000 m and where the population was between 40–50 million. Density of unnamed interprovincial mountain geographical entities declined from west to east in China. The analysis of generic names of different types of IMGNs implied that the naming of IMGNs is inconsistent. Based on these analyses, it is suggested that the government should take the IMGNs as management units, strengthen the naming of unnamed interprovincial mountain geographical entities, standardize the generic names of IMGNs and identify areas of poverty based on the survey of IMGNs.

Background Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are a critical predisposing factor of sepsis in the clinic. As a product of human energy metabolism and immune response, itaconate can effectively reduce inflammation in the body. This research employed 4-octyl itaconate (4-OI) to illustrate that itaconate exerted anti-inflammatory effects to protect the body from acute lung injury (ALI) induced by MRSA. Methods HE staining and immunohistochemistry are used to evaluate the MRSA-induced ALI in mice. WB and qPCR were used to verify the effect of 4-OI on inflammation and oxidative stress caused by MRSA. Molecular docking was used to verify the binding sites of 4-OI and Keap1. Results We demonstrated that 4-OI treatment increased the survival ratio, attenuated the pathological damage, inhibited neutrophil infiltration, and reduced lung bacterial burden in the mouse MRSA pneumonia model. 4-OI decreased the expression of inflammatory factors by stimulating the Nrf2 in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, 4-OI exerted its effect by promoting nuclear transport of Nrf2 in vitro. The results of molecular docking indicated that 4-OI bound to the pocket of Keap1 and exerted a stable interaction. Both Nrf2 inhibitors (ML385) and Nrf2-/- mice abolished the protective effect of 4-OI on MRSA-induced inflammation both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions 4-OI prevents lung damage caused by MRSA bacteremia via activating Nrf2/ARE pathway.

Objective. Tong Xie Yao Fang (TXYF) is a classic and effective prescription in traditional Chinese medicine which is used to treat ulcerative colitis (UC). Our study investigated the effect of TXYF on Hippo pathway activation in UC-induced intestinal mucosa injury and explored the possible mechanism. Method. After ulcerative colitis was successfully induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS), 48 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a control group, model group, TXYF group, and sulfasalazine group and treated with the corresponding drugs for 28 days. The parameters including body weight, colon length, spleen index, and disease activity index (DAI) and histopathological characteristics were assessed. The myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and IL-6 level in the colon mucosa were determined with the corresponding commercial kits. The expressions of the Hippo pathway components YAP1, TAZ, P-YAP, and LATS1 were detected in the colon mucosa of each group on different stages by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blotting. Immunohistochemical staining was used to evaluate the growth and apoptosis of the colon epithelium. Result. TXYF significantly improved the weight loss, colonic shortening, DAI, spleen enlargement, and histopathological score of the rats with TNBS-induced UC. TXYF also reduced the MPO activity and expression of IL-6 in the colon mucosa. Furthermore, treatment with TXYF significantly increased YAP1 expression in the early stage (3–7 days) and significantly decreased YAP1 expression in the late stage (14–28 days). In the early stage, TXYF inhibited Hippo pathway activity, which promoted proliferation and regeneration of the intestinal mucosa. In the late stage, the Hippo pathway was activated, thereby inhibiting apoptosis and promoting intestinal mucosal differentiation. Conclusion. TXYF alleviated the inflammatory response and promoted mucosal healing in rats with UC, which was probably achieved through the Hippo pathway. These results indicated that TXYF was a potential therapy for treating UC.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a tyrosine kinase receptor involved in homeostatic regulation of normal cells and carcinogenesis of epithelial malignancies. With rapid development of the precision medicine era, a series of new therapies targeting EGFR are underway. Four EGFR monoclonal antibody drugs (cetuximab, panitumumab, nimotuzumab, and necitumumab) are already on the market, and a dozen other EGFR monoclonal antibodies are in clinical trials. Here, we comprehensively review the newly identified biological properties and anti-tumor mechanisms of EGFR monoclonal antibodies. We summarize recently completed and ongoing clinical trials of the classic and new EGFR monoclonal antibodies. More importantly, according to our new standard, we re-classify the complex evolving tumor cell resistance mechanisms, including those involving exosomes, non-coding RNA and the tumor microenvironment, against EGFR monoclonal antibodies. Finally, we analyzed the limitations of EGFR monoclonal antibody therapy, and discussed the current strategies overcoming EGFR related drug resistance. This review will help us better understand the latest battles between EGFR monoclonal antibodies and resistant tumor cells, and the future directions to develop anti-tumor EGFR monoclonal antibodies with durable effects.

Background: The relationship between serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. To explore the prognostic value of preoperative CA19-9 in α-fetoprotein (AFP)-positive and -negative HCC with hepatitis B virus (HBV) background (HBV-HCC).Methods: We evaluated HBV-HCC patients who underwent curative resection (Cohort 1). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed, and the clinicopathological characteristics were compared according to a CA19-9 cutoff of ≥ 39 U/ml. Immunohistochemical staining of CA19-9 in HCC tumor tissue and background liver were quantified in another cohort of 216 patients with resected HCC (Cohort 2). Immunohistochemical staining or serum CA19-9 level was also compared between patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) (Cohort 3).Results: In Cohort 1, CA19-9 ≥ 39 U/ml was an independent risk factor for RFS (HR=1.507, 95% CI=1.087-2.091, p=0.014) and OS (HR=1.646, 95% CI=1.146-2.366, p=0.007) in both AFP-positive and AFP-negative patients. CA19-9 ≥ 39 U/ml was also associated with significantly higher incidence of macrovascular invasion compared with CA19-9 < 39 U/ml (23.0% vs. 7.2%, p=0.002), elevated aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index, and lower albumin. In contrast, no association was found between CA19-9 and systemic inflammation. CA19-9 expression was found exclusively in the background liver but not in HCC tumor cells. In contrast, tumor tissue was the main source of CA19-9 in ICC patients.Conclusions: CA19-9 ≥ 39 U/ml was associated with lower OS and RFS in both AFP-positive and negative HCC patients. CA19-9 is secreted by the background liver but not by tumor cells. Thus, CA19-9 is a prognostic marker for liver inflammation and cirrhosis in HCC.

Traumatic brain injury is a global leading cause of disability and death, which puts patients at high risk for developing dementia. Early intervention is believed as the key to minimize the development of brain damages that could aggravate the symptoms. Here, we report that the serine protease inhibitor SerpinA3N is upregulated in hippocampal neurons in the early stage of hippocampal stab injury (HSI), while its deficiency causes a greater degree of neuronal apoptosis and severer impairments of spatial learning and memory in mice after HSI. We further show that MMP2 is a key substrate of SerpinA3N, and MMP2 specific inhibitor (ARP100) can protect against neuronal apoptosis and cognitive dysfunction in mice after HSI. These findings demonstrate a critical role for SerpinA3N in neuroprotection, suggesting that SerpinA3N and MMP2 inhibitors might be a novel therapeutic agents for neurotrauma.

Introduction The mechanisms underlying sleep deprivation‐induced memory impairments and relevant compensatory signaling pathways remain elusive. We tested the hypothesis that increased brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the basal forebrain following acute sleep deprivation was a compensatory mechanism to maintain fear memory performance. Methods Adult male Wistar rats were deprived of 6‐hr total sleep from the beginning of the light cycle. The effects of sleep deprivation on BDNF protein expression and activation of downstream tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB)/phospholipase C‐γ1 (PLCγ1) signaling in the basal forebrain and fear memory consolidation were examined. BDNF or selective downstream TrkB receptor antagonist ANA‐12 was further injected into the basal forebrain bilaterally to observe the changes in fear memory consolidation in response to modulation of the BDNF/TrkB signaling. Results Six hours of sleep deprivation‐induced both short‐ and long‐term fear memory impairments. Increased BDNF protein expression and TrkB and PLCγ1 phosphorylation in the basal forebrain were observed after sleep deprivation. Microinjection of BDNF into the basal forebrain partly reversed fear memory deficits caused by sleep deprivation, which were accompanied by increased BDNF protein levels and TrkB/PLCγ1 activation. After ANA‐12 microinjection, sleep deprivation‐induced activation of the BDNF/TrkB pathway was inhibited and impairments of fear memory consolidation were further aggravated. Conclusions Acute sleep deprivation induces compensatory increase of BDNF expression in the basal forebrain. Microinjection of BDNF into the basal forebrain mitigates the fear memory impairments caused by sleep deprivation by activating TrkB/PLCγ1 signaling., We found that acute sleep deprivation could increase BDNF protein expression and downstream TrkB/PLCγ1 activation robustly in the basal forebrain area. Microinjection of BDNF into basal forebrain could further activate TrkB/PLCγ1 signaling and reverse the decline in fear memory consolidation. Moreover, microinjection of TrkB receptor antagonist ANA‐12 could aggravate sleep deprivation‐induced memory impairments.

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the Piezo1/Ca2+/calpain pathway of the basal forebrain (BF) modulates impaired fear conditioning caused by sleep deprivation. Adult male Wistar rats were subjected to 6 h of total sleep deprivation using the gentle handling protocol. Step-down inhibitory avoidance tests revealed that sleep deprivation induced substantial short- and long-term fear memory impairment in rats, which was accompanied by increased Piezo1 protein expression (P < 0.01) and increased cleavage of full-length tropomyocin receptor kinase B (TrkB-FL) (P < 0.01) in the BF area. Microinjection of the Piezo1 activator Yoda1 into the BF mimicked these sleep deprivation-induced phenomena; TrkB-FL cleavage was increased (P < 0.01) and short- and long-term fear memory was impaired (both P < 0.01) by Yoda1. Inhibition of Piezo1 by GsMTx4 in the BF area reduced TrkB-FL degradation (P < 0.01) and partially reversed short- and long-term fear memory impairments in sleep-deprived rats (both P < 0.01). Inhibition of calpain activation, downstream of Piezo1 signaling, also improved short- and long-term fear memory impairments (P = 0.038, P = 0.011) and reduced TrkB degradation (P < 0.01) in sleep-deprived rats. Moreover, sleep deprivation induced a lower pain threshold than the rest control, which was partly reversed by microinjection of GsMTx4 or PD151746. Neither sleep deprivation nor the abovementioned drugs affected locomotion and sedation. Taken together, these results indicate that BF Piezo1/Ca2+/calpain signaling plays a role in sleep deprivation-induced TrkB signaling disruption and fear memory impairments in rats.

Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs) contain 12 family members(CEACAM1、CEACAM3、CEACAM4、CEACAM5、CEACAM6、CEACAM7、CEACAM8、CEACAM16、CEACAM18、CEACAM19、CEACAM20 and CEACAM21)and are expressed diversely in different normal and tumor tissues. CEA (CEACAM5) has been used as a tumor biomarker since 1965. Here we review the latest research and development of the structures, expression, and function of CEACAMs in normal and tumor tissues, and their application in the tumor diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. We focus on recent clinical studies of CEA targeted cancer immunotherapies, including bispecific antibody (BsAb) for radio-immuno-therapy and imaging, bispecific T cell engager (BiTE) and chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T). We summarize the promising clinical relevance and challenges of these approaches and give perspective view for future research. This review has important implications in understanding the diversified biology of CEACAMs in normal and tumor tissues, and their new role in tumor immunotherapy.

Objective To investigate the correlation of M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) expression and serum anti-PLA2R antibody with the clinical parameters and prognosis of patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). Methods A literature search for relevant original articles published between January 2009 and October 2019 was conducted on domestic and foreign databases. RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis. Results Eighteen studies were included in this meta-analysis. There were 1235 anti-PLA2R antibody-positive and PLA2R-positive patients, and 407 serum anti-PLA2R antibody-negative and PLA2R-negative patients. Compared with negative group, patients in the serum PLA2R antibody -positive group had lower serum albumin [SMD = -1.11, 95% CI (− 1.82, − 0.40), P P P P P = 0.002]. No significant difference was observed between anti-PLA2R antibody -positive and -negative groups with respect to adverse events. Serum anti-PLA2R antibody titer did not affect the adverse event rate. Conclusion As compared to PLA2R, serum anti-PLA2R antibody is more closely related with IMN disease progression.

Background We designed and conducted this multicenter randomized active-controlled open-label trial to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture, auricular point pressing, and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) on tobacco cessation in the Chinese population. Methods This randomized controlled trial was conducted in seven hospitals in China between October 2013 and February 2016. Eligible participants were recruited and randomly assigned to receive acupuncture or auricular point pressing or NRT via a central randomization system with a 1:1:1 ratio. All treatment was given for a total of 8 weeks, and follow-up visit was at 16 weeks. The primary outcome measure was carbon monoxide (CO)-confirmed 24-h point abstinence rate ( Results A total of 300 participants were recruited and 195 participants finished, with a dropout rate of 35.00%. Two cases of adverse events in the acupuncture group and 2 cases in the NRT group were observed. The CO-confirmed 24-h point abstinence rate was 43.00% at 24 weeks in the acupuncture group, which was similar to 44.00% in the NRT group ( P > .05), but significantly higher than the 30.00% in the auricular point group ( P P Conclusions We found acupuncture was safe and a possible treatment for tobacco cessation, but it requires further study to establish its role. Trial Registry Chinese Clinical Trial Registry; No.: ChiCTR-TRC-13003544; URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn/abouten.aspx

In this article, an effective strategy (viz., constructing multiple heterointerfaces) is proposed to develop superior electrode materials for sodium-ion battery (SIB), which is the most promising alternative to market-dominant lithium-ion battery for stationary energy storage. In the as-prepared heterogeneous-SnO2/Se/graphene (h-SSG) composite, there exists multiple phase interfaces, including heterointerfaces between tetragonal and orthorhombic SnO2 (t-/o-SnO2) in the heterogeneous SnO2 nanojunctions and two phase interfaces between t/o-SnO2 and amorphous Se. These multiple phase interfaces promise the much improved Na storage properties of h-SSG when compared to four controls without such multiple heterointerfaces because the multiple built-in electric fields at the heterointerfaces can significantly boost the surface reaction kinetics and facilitate charge transport as demonstrated by kinetics analyses, theoretical calculations and contrastive electrochemical tests. Moreover, h-SSG also exhibits superior Na-ion full cell performance when coupled with a high-voltage Na3V2(PO4)2O2F cathode. In view of the universality of the heterointerface-based enhancement effect on surface reaction and charge transport kinetics and the facile preparation procedures, the present strategy should be universal to develop other superior electrode materials for high-performance SIBs and other batteries for future energy storage applications.

// Fei Song 1 , Hong Wang 1 and Yingying Wang 2 1 Department of General Surgery, Shandong Provincial Third Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China 2 Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China Correspondence to: Yingying Wang, email: wangyingyingsdszz@163.com Keywords: MEIS1, gastric cancer, proliferation, invasion, migration Received: June 27, 2017 Accepted: September 05, 2017 Published: September 28, 2017 ABSTRACT Myeloid ecotropic viral integration site 1 (MEIS1) has been identified to be a potential tumor suppressor in some cancers. However, the mechanisms underlying MEIS1-induced cancer development and progression were not clear. Here, we investigated the expression and role of MEIS1 in gastric cancer. In vivo , we analyzed tumor growth using nude mice model. In the present study, MEIS1 expression was obviously decreased in GC cell lines compared with that in normal gastric cell lines (all p

// Fei Song 1 , Geng Wang 2 , Zhifang Ma 3 , Yuebing Ma 3 and Yingying Wang 3 1 Department of General Surgery, Shandong Provincial Third Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China 2 Department of Emergency, Laiwu City People’s Hospital, Laiwu, Shandong, China 3 Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China Correspondence to: Yingying Wang, email: wangyingyingsdszz@163.com Keywords: BAG3, EMT, cervical cancer Received: July 19, 2017 Accepted: August 04, 2017 Published: September 08, 2017 ABSTRACT Bcl2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) has been reported to be involved in aggressive progression of many tumors. In the present study, we examined the expression of BAG3 in human cervical cancer (CC) tissues and investigated the role of BAG3 in SiHa and HeLa cell growth, migration, and invasion. Here, we found that most of CC tissues highly expressed the protein and mRNA of BAG3, while their expression was obviously lower in paired normal tissues (all p

The aim of this study was to establish clinical practice guidelines for acupuncture-moxibustion by retrieving relevant literature and adopting the best current national and international evidence, according to experts' experience and patients' values. This was achieved using the Grade of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system combined with a wide range of national experts' consensus, in order to provide reliable evidence for acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of scapulohumeral periarthritis, and to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the treatment.

Organ decellularization is emerging as a promising regenerative medicine approach as it is able to provide an acellular, three-dimensional biological scaffold material that can be seeded with living cells for organ reengineering. However this application is currently limited to donor-derived decellularized organs for reengineering in vitro and no study has been conducted for re-engineering the decellularized organ in vivo. We developed a novel technique of a single liver lobe decellularization in vivo in live animals. Using a surgical method to generate a by-pass circulation through the portal vein and infra-hepatic vena cava with a perfusion chamber system, we decellularized the single liver lobe and recellularized it with allogenic primary hepatocytes. Our results showed that the decellularization process in vivo can preserve the vascular structural network and functional characteristics of the native liver lobe. It allows for efficient recellularization of the decellularized liver lobe matrix with allogenic primary hepatocytes. Upon the re-establishment of blood circulation, the recellularized liver lobe is able to gain the function and the allogenic hepatocytes are able to secret albumin. Our findings provide a proof of principle for the in vivo reengineering of liver.

Anxiety and depression are major public health concerns worldwide. Although genome-wide association studies have identified several genes robustly associated with susceptibility for these disorders, the molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with anxiety and depression is largely unknown. Reduction of microRNA-137 (miR-137) level has been implicated in the etiology of major depressive disorder. However, little is known about the in vivo impact of the loss of miR-137 on the biology of anxiety and depression. Here, we generated a forebrain-specific miR-137 knockout mouse line, and showed that miR-137 is critical for dendritic and synaptic growth in the forebrain. Mice with miR-137 loss-of-function exhibit anxiety-like behavior, and impaired spatial learning and memory. We then observe an elevated expression of EZH2 in the forebrain of miR-137 knockout mice, and provide direct evidence that knockdown of EZH2 can rescue anxious phenotypes associated with the loss of miR-137. Together our results suggest that loss of miR-137 contributes to the etiology of anxiety, and EZH2 might be a potential therapeutic target for anxiety and depressive phenotypes associated with the dysfunction of miR-137.

Discrete time Markov decision process is studied and the minimum reward risk model is established for the reservoir long-term generation optimization. Different form the commonly used optimization criterion of best expected reward in reservoir scheduling, the probability that the expected generation of the whole period not exceeding the predete reward target to be smallest is chosen as the optimizing target for this random process. For the hydropower tends to operate as peak-clipping mode in Market-based model to gain more profits, the function of electricity price and output can be founded by analyzing on the typical day load course of the electricity system. Compared with the generally used criteria of the largest expectation power generation model, this model is fitted for the decision-making in which the risk is needed to be limited to reflect the risk preference of the policy makers. Stochastic dynamic programming method is adopted to solve the model and the model is tested on the Three Gorges Hydropower Station.

Objective: Discuss the influence of empathy nursing on the negative emotions of young breast cancer patients. Method: 132 young breast cancer patients admitted from February 2016 to February 2017 were selected and divided into observation group (66 patients) and control group (66 patients). The control group was given routine nursing, while the observation group was given empathy nursing based on routine care. SAS (Self-Rating Anxiety Scale) and SDS (Self-Rating Depression Scale) were adopted to analyze the influence of the two nursing methods on the negative emotions of the two groups. Results: Before nursing, by comparing the scores of SDS and SAS of the two groups, P>0.05, which means there is no statistically significant difference; after the nursing, the scores of SAS and SDS of the two groups decreased, and the degree of decline in the control group was less than the observation group, the difference is statistically significant. Conclusion: Empathy nursing can effectively improve the negative emotions of young breast cancer patients and is beneficial to the recovery.

AimsBicarbonate is involved in many human essential metabolic processes, but little is known about the association between serum bicarbonate and glucose metabolism. This study aims to investigate the association between serum bicarbonate and the risk of progressing to impaired fasting glucose (IFG)/diabetes mellitus (DM).SettingThe data were obtained from a large-scale prospective cohort study in a single health centre in Beijing.ParticipantsA total of 5318 participants aged 18–70 years who underwent health examinations annually with baseline fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ranging from 3.9 to 5.5 mmol/L, without a history of either diabetes or concomitant chronic diseases, were enrolled in this 6-year observational study.Primary outcome measuresA logistic regression analysis was used to calculate ORs for progressing to IFG/DM by the category of baseline serum bicarbonate. In addition, an analysis of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for predicting IFG was performed.ResultsOf the 5318 participants, 210 developed IFG after a median 2.2 years of follow-up. After adjusting for sex, age, FPG, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, serum creatinine, serum alanine aminotransferase and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol at baseline, the participants in the first (OR 4.18, 95% CI 2.42 to 7.21; pConclusionsLower serum bicarbonate is associated with higher risk of the development of IFG/DM.

Background/aims Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide, and the importance of tubular injury has been highlighted in recent years. However, the underlying mechanisms and effective therapeutic targets are still unclear. In this study, we investigated mtDNA, mitochondrial dynamics, function and metabolic pathways to determine if mitochondrial damage plays a critical role in the development of tubular injury in DKD patients. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out among healthy controls (HCs, n = 65), diabetes patients without kidney disease (DCs, n = 48) and DKD patients (n = 60). Serum, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and kidney biopsy specimens were obtained from participants. Metabolomics was employed to investigate cellular metabolism. Results DKD patients had decreased mtDNA copy numbers and increased mtDNA damage compared to DCs. Mitochondrial fragmentation was specifically presented in tubules, but not in podocytes of DKD patients. The accumulation of damaged mtDNA and fragmented mitochondria resulted in increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, activation of apoptosis and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in tubules and PBMCs. Furthermore, glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle was perturbed, and increased dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) and decreased succinyl-CoA synthetase (SCS) respectively in these two metabolic pathways were identified as potential biomarkers for tubular injury in DKD. Conclusion Our study indicates that mitochondrial damage could be the hallmark of tubular injury in DKD patients, and this would provide a novel and attractive therapeutic target to improve this disease.

Filoviruses, including Ebola, have the potential to be transmitted via virus-laden droplets deposited onto mucus membranes. Protecting against such emerging pathogens will require understanding how they may transmit at mucosal surfaces and developing strategies to reinforce the airway mucus barrier. Here, we prepared Ebola pseudovirus (with Zaire strain glycoproteins) and used high-resolution multiple-particle tracking to track the motions of hundreds of individual pseudoviruses in fresh and undiluted human airway mucus isolated from extubated endotracheal tubes. We found that Ebola pseudovirus readily penetrates human airway mucus. Addition of ZMapp, a cocktail of Ebola-binding immunoglobulin G antibodies, effectively reduced mobility of Ebola pseudovirus in the same mucus secretions. Topical delivery of ZMapp to the mouse airways also facilitated rapid elimination of Ebola pseudovirus. Our work demonstrates that antibodies can immobilize virions in airway mucus and reduce access to the airway epithelium, highlighting topical delivery of pathogen-specific antibodies to the lungs as a potential prophylactic or therapeutic approach against emerging viruses or biowarfare agents.

T cells play a critical role in acute allograft rejection. TGF-β/Smad3 signaling is a key pathway in regulating T cell development. We report here that Smad3 is a key transcriptional factor of TGF-β signaling that differentially regulates T cell immune responses in a mouse model of cardiac allograft rejection in which donor hearts from BALB/c mice were transplanted into Smad3 knockout (KO) and wild type (WT) mice. Results showed that the cardiac allograft survival was prolonged in Smad3 KO recipients. This allograft protection was associated with a significant inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, and MCP-1) and infiltration of neutrophils, CD3+ T cells, and F4/80+ macrophages. Importantly, deletion of Smad3 markedly suppressed T-bet and IFN-γ while enhancing GATA3 and IL-4 expression, resulting in a shift from the Th1 to Th2 immune responses. Furthermore, mice lacking Smad3 were also protected from the Th17-mediated cardiac injury, although the regulatory T cell (Treg) response was also suppressed. In conclusion, Smad3 is an immune regulator in T cell-mediated cardiac allograft rejection. Loss of Smad3 results in a shift from Th1 to Th2 but suppressing Th17 immune responses. Thus, modulation of TGF-β/Smad3 signaling may be a novel therapy for acute allograft rejection.

Graphene material prepared by reducing graphene oxide (GO, prepared by the modified Hummers method) has been considered as one of the most promising candidates for electrode materials for supercapacitors due to its mass producibility, high electrical conductivity, large specific surface area, and superior mechanical strength. However, it usually exhibits an unfavorable cycling performance, mainly large capacitance fading in the initial thousands of cycles, as shown but not discussed in some previous reports. In this paper, we not only find a similar phenomenon to a commercial graphene material, but also develop a very simple method to successfully enhance its electrochemical properties in terms of cycle life as well as high-rate performance, leakage current and alternating current impedance. For example, the relatively low capacitance retention of about 89.9% at the initial 1000th cycle was increased up to 99.7% after improvement, the capacitance retention was raised to 73% from 43% at a scan rate of 100 mV s−1 in cyclic voltammetry, and leakage current density was significantly more than halved (from 2.42 mA g−1 to 1.01 mA g−1). Additionally, the reasons for the improvement are also disclosed by analyzing the characterization results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. It is found that the optimization of the functional groups of doped nitrogen and oxygen atoms may contribute to the improvement of cycle life and decrease of leakage current density, and the enhanced rate performance can be attributed to the increase of electrical conductivity.

Objective To observe the antihypertensive efficacy of guasha for essential hypertension. Methods Thirty-four cases of essential hypertension were treated with guasha along the following route of the governor vessel, the bladder meridian and the gallbladder meridian and the hand yangming large intestine meridian and the foot yangming stomach meridian on the head, neck and back. The gentle stimulation and supplementation method was applied for deficiency syndrome and the heavy stimulation and drainage method was applied for excess syndrome. Two times a week, total 8 treatments were given Blood pressure was measured at different time points from 2:00PM to 8:00PM (2:00PM, 2:30PM, 3:00PM, 3:30PM, 4:00PM, 5:00PM, 6:00PM, 8:00PM) before the first application of guasha and after the eighth treatment, respectively. Results Compared with each time point before the first application of guasha, there were statistically significant differences of blood pressure at each corresponding time point after the eighth guasha (all P Conclusion Blood pressure can be effectively reduced by adopting guasha, and the clinical symptoms and quality of life of patients with essential hypertension can be improved.

The construction and operating mode of distribution network have changed due to the access of distributed generations (DGs), which has a deep influence on reliability evaluation. A new approach and the related analytical formulation is proposed in this paper to get a better evaluation for distribution network connected to DGs, after considering the fault reconstruction, switch type, DGs types and access locations, islands abundance probabilities and other factors. We propose a classification that includes various cases defined by the relative position of load points (LPs), faults, and switches, in networks with and without DGs. Taking IEEE RBTS BUS6 distribution system for example, the simulation results in the proposed method indicate that DGs improved the reliability for distribution network effectively.

ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of heated moxa sticks (“moxibustion”) and Daiwenjiu ointment (DO) on changes in temperature and blood perfusion volume on the skin of the backs of healthy subjects.MethodsDO was spread on the left side of the body, and the right side of the body was treated with a heated moxa stick. Images denoting blood perfusion and body temperature were collected 7-8 cm lateral to the spinous process of the sixth thoracic vertebra using laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI). Data obtained from eight-frame images were analyzed and used to calculate the mean blood perfusion volume. Simultaneously, blood-perfusion images were collected from the body surface and used to compare the change in blood flow on the body surface and the actual position of imaging.ResultsAfter moxibustion, a rapid increase in blood perfusion volume and body temperature was noted in the local skin surface. The maximum blood perfusion volume and body temperature was noted at 20 min (P

When two slender pipes were girthed weld, some of un-solidified solder liquid would ooze from the weld gap. Then the weld beading would be formed in the pipeline after solidification. It is difficult to be cleared away because of the higher hardness. Up to now, there was no effective method to solve this problem. So how to guarantee the pipeline quality was a big question, and it would influence the benefit of companies seriously. This paper presents a new cleaner to solve this problem. The cleaner was driven by direct current motor, and the cutting tool mechanism was driven by pneumatic motor which can carry different kinds of cutting tools. For the question of passing through the bend, the cleaner was designed to specified size after accurate analyzing. And another significant part was monitor, which was mainly composed of camera and video. In the end, we designed a model cleaner and manufactured it. The cleaner had been tested on spot and achieved the desired effect.

In order to save space mission cost, prolonging the working life of the spacecraft and improving the flexibility and capable of performing various tasks should get more attention on orbit servicing technology. For the docking process of a new type of two independent service in-orbit spacecraft, this paper finished the kinematics analysis, for the whole docking capture process, two groups of different initial conditions and control function of the simulation analysis were finished by the ADAMS software. The results prove that the docking mechanism performance is very good, and reliable connection can be realized in the general initial conditions.

Formation flight problem is the most important and interesting problem of multiple UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) cooperative control. In this paper, a novel approach for UAV formation flight based on multimodel predictive control is designed. Firstly, the state equation of relative motion is obtained and then discretized. By the geometrical method, the characteristic points of state are determined. Afterwards, based on the linearization technique, the standard linear discrete model is obtained at each characteristic state point. Then, weighted model set is proposed using the idea of T-S (Takagi-Sugeno) fuzzy control and the predictive control is carried out based on the multimodel method. Finally, to verify the performance of the proposed method, two different simulation scenarios are performed.

This was a prospective multicenter observational study, aiming to explore the effects of acupuncture on smoking cessation in Hong Kong. From March of 2010 to August of 2015, a total of 5202 smokers were recruited based on inclusion criteria and treated with acupuncture for 8 weeks. As a result, 2940 subjects finished the study with a drop-out rate of 43.48%. The self-reported 7-day point abstinence rate was 34.00% in Week 8 and 18.40% in Week 52. The exhaled carbon monoxide level and the number of cigarettes smoked per day were reduced significantly after treatment. The time to relapse was calculated to be 38.71 days. In addition, “cigarettes smoked per day,” “Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence,” “total sessions of acupuncture,” “whether finished 8 acupuncture treatments in the first month,” and “total sessions of acupuncture” were believed to be essential factors for abstinence success. It was concluded that acupuncture was a safe method for smoking cessation and was effective in helping smokers to quit; therefore, acupuncture could be considered as one of the methods to help smokers quit. Further studies regarding the effect differences between acupuncture and medications were needed to clarify the overall benefits of acupuncture.

An energy model was developed based on the fuel-product concept. The matrix equation for exergy balance of regenerative system was established, and the mathematical model for exergy analysis of thermal system was structured. Exergy losses, exergy loss rate, exergy loss coefficient and exergy efficiency of the main components of a domestic N600-24.2/566/566 power plant were calculated based on this model. The results showed that the exergy efficiency of high pressure heaters are higher than that of low pressure heaters; the exergy efficiency of grade group of the intermediate pressure turbine are higher than the grade group of high pressure turbine and low pressure turbine. The exergy efficiency of the last grade group of low pressure turbine is the lowest. The exergy efficiency of the governing stage and the last grade group of low pressure turbine are 82.999% and 85.911%; the coefficient of exergy loss is maximum in the boiler (39.204%); the exergy effciency of superheater and reheater are 51.52% and 51.7%. Therefore, superheater and reheater have the largest energy conservation potential. Governing stage and low pressure turbine have more energy conservation potential.

Optical fiber sensors have been used widely in offshore oilfield. An optical fiber sensor system including an optical fiber sensor testing temperature and pressure under well, a connector connecting the optical fiber sensor with the optical cable, two connectors connecting cables, 3600 meters armoured optical cable and an interrogator was applied in an offshore oil well on Zhoushan island. The temperature and pressure under well have been measured for about two month and the testing results are presented in this paper.

ObjectiveTo explore factors influencing the curative effect of scraping therapies (at acupoints or along channels) and to determine the relationship of scraping site and strength to curative effect.MethodsTwo hundred and ten patients with lumbar muscle strain were divided into five groups with 42 patients each. The “scraping therapy at acupoint until appearance of skin eruptions” and “scraping therapy along channel until appearance of skin eruptions” groups were treated with a 4-day course. The “scraping therapy at acupoint without appearance of skin eruptions”, “scraping therapy along channel without appearance of skin eruptions”, and acupuncture groups were treated with a 2-day course. The five groups were treated with seven courses. The visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and lumbago scores were recorded in the five groups before treatment, after each treatment, and in follow-up visits one month and three months after treatment.ResultVAS, ODI, and lumbago scores after treatment improved in the five groups (P

A kind of optical fiber sensor testing the temperature and pressure under well is present. The temperature is measured by a FBG and the pressure is detected by the F-P cavity. The oxy-hydrogen is used to meld the fiber and glass capillary. The experiment results such as the cavity length changing in a long time under the condition of high temperature and pressure and the pressure calibration results are also given.

In the oil field development and production, fluid flow is an extremely important parameter which determines the transmission characteristics of the oil production, real-time monitoring of fluid flow parameter provides a scientific basis for oil and gas optimization exploration and increase of reservoir recovery. A method for interrogating fiber optic sensors using flow-induced pipe vibration is proposed, then the fixed relationship between standard deviation of pipe wall’s vibration induced by fully developed turbulence and mean flow rate is determined, by the abundant experimental data analysis,The vibration frequency characteristic of the pipe’s vibration signals is found in the experimental system.and fluid flow is measured non-intrusively, the study is conducted on vibration induced by turbulent flow when fluid flow through pipe.

The online prediction of the low carbon ferrochrome terminal composition in electro-silicothemic smelting process plays a key role in guiding the determining the tapping time, the smelting process of the power supply system, the production quality and the energy consumption and so on. By introducing the multi-scale wavelet kernel function in the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm, and according to the Bayesian classifier to certain different smelting conditions, we chose different decomposition scales. In this way, the accuracy of the terminal composition prediction during the smelting process is improved greatly. Experiments show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

OBJECTIVE The predictive value of microalbuminuria (MAU) for kidney damage is limited in type 2 diabetes (T2D). We studied whether a urine proteome specific for sight-threatening proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is an indicator to predict chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) in patients with T2D. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A shotgun urine proteomic analysis was performed in patients with MAU and PDR (case subjects) and in patients with MAU and a duration of T2D for >10 years but without any degree of retinopathy (control subjects). In the cohort study, 210 patients with T2D with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥80 mL/min/1.73 m2 were followed for a median of 5.3 years. Urine proteins specific for PDR were used for predicting CRI (eGFR RESULTS The top two urine proteins with the highest difference in ratio of case subjects to control subjects were haptoglobin (8.7 times; P < 0.0001) and α-2-macroglobulin (5.7 times; P < 0.0001). In the cohort study, patients with baseline urinary haptoglobin ≥20 ng/min (haptoglobinuria) had a higher incidence of CRI than those without (hazard ratio [95% CI] 3.27 [1.41–7.58]; P = 0.006). The overall CRI rate was 3.2% for patients without haptoglobinuria or MAU, 9.5% for those with MAU, and 13.3% for those with haptoglobinuria. The highest rate for CRI (22.4%) was in patients with both MAU and haptoglobinuria (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Urine haptoglobin, which is specific for PDR, is a novel biomarker and complement to urine albumin for predicting kidney damage in patients with T2D.