HGF inhibits TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast differentiation and ECM deposition via MMP-2 in Achilles tendon in rat

Both myofibroblast differentiation and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition are essential components of scar formation in tendons, and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is reported to prevent fibrogenic responses in tendons. Matrix metalloproteinases-2(MMP-2) is also involved in the healing process in tendons. Whether HGF protects healed Achilles tendons from injury-induced scar formation and the mechanisms are unknown. Daily for 2 weeks after wounding, except for the non-surgical control group, the Achilles tendons in rats were locally injected with HGF (100 ng 50 μl⁻¹ per mouse) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Histological examination showed HGF ameliorated disorganized collagen fibers caused by surgical incisions in rats. After transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) induced fibrogenic responses in primary Achilles tendon fibroblasts in rats, HGF treatment for 24 h reduced α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) (0.60 ± 0.07-fold, P < 0.05) and type III collagen expression (0.39 ± 0.07-fold, P < 0.05). Moreover, HGF elevated MMP-2 expression (1.23 ± 0.11-fold, P < 0.05). The MMP-2 inhibitor, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), partially blocked the inhibitory effects of HGF on α-SMA expression (from 0.60 ± 0.07-fold to 0.83 ± 0.07-fold, P < 0.05) and type III collagen expression (from 0.39 ± 0.06-fold to 0.86 ± 0.08-fold, P < 0.05). These results indicate HGF attenuates TGF-β1-induced fibrogenic responses in Achilles tendon, which was mediated by MMP-2. These results will aid in developing effective therapeutic approaches for the dysfunctional repair in Achilles tendons.     

留守儿童解释偏向的跨情境比较研究

目的了解留守儿童在一般同伴和亲密好友社交情境下的解释偏向特点。方法选取320名留守儿童为研究组,276名普通儿童为控制组,施测儿童版两可社交情境解释问卷。结果留守儿童的消极解释偏向显著高于控制组(t=2.52,P<0.05),积极解释偏向显著低于控制组(t=-4.21,P<0.001);留守儿童指向自身的消极解释偏向显著高于控制组(t=2.66,P<0.01;t=3.58,P<0.001);留守儿童在亲密好友情境比在一般同伴情境下更少产生消极解释(t=5.77,P<0.001),更多地产生积极解释(t=-4.19,P<0.001)。结论留守儿童存在明显的消极解释偏向,缺乏积极解释偏向;好友关系在一定程度上抑制消极解释并促进积极解释的产生。     

MP-PCNN超声多普勒血流信号声谱图降噪去斑方法

为有效抑制超声多普勒血流信号声谱图中的背景噪声和多普勒斑点,提出了Matching Pursuit(MP)及单向衰减阈值脉冲耦合神经网络(MP-PCNN)模型。首先将分段的多普勒超声信号进行MP循环分解,分离噪声与信号,然后用单向衰减阈值PCNN模型计算声谱图在各个灰度等级上的点火时刻图并定位斑点,用中值滤波器抑制斑点。通过对各种信噪比的仿真超声多普勒血流信号处理,实验结果表明,MP-PCNN方法可有效地滤除声谱图中的噪声与斑点,并较好地保持边缘与细节信息,在主观及客观性能比较上优于同类降噪去斑方法。     

A quantitative exploration of symptoms in COVID-19 patients: an observational cohort study

Background: As the spreading of the COVID-19 around the global, we investigated the characteristics and changes of symptoms in COVID-19 patients.Methods: This was an ambispective observational cohort study, and 133 confirmed COVID-19 patients were included and all symptoms over the course were analyzed qualitatively. The symptoms, their changes over the course in the cohort and in the different clinical types, etc. were illustrated. Differences in different periods and severities were analyzed through Chi square test, association with severity was analyzed through LASSO binomial logistic regression analysis. Inter-correlation and classification of symptoms were completed. Major symptoms were screened and their changes were illustrated.Results: A total of 43 symptoms with frequencies as 6067 in this cohort. Differences of symptoms in different stages and clinical types were significant. Expectoration, shortness of breath, dyspnea, diarrhea, poor appetite were positively but vomiting, waist discomfort, pharyngeal discomfort, acid reflux were negatively correlated with the combined-severe and critical type; dyspnea was correlated with the critical type. The 17 major symptoms were identified. The average daily frequency of symptoms per case was decreased continuously before the transition into the severe type and increased immediately one day before the transition and then decreased. It was decreased continuously before the transition date of the critical type and increased from the transition into the critical type to the next day and decreased thereafter. Dyspnea (P<0.001), shortness of breath (P<0.01) and chest distress (P<0.05) were correlated with death and their corresponding coefficient was 0.393, 0.258, 0.214, respectively.Conclusion: The symptoms of COVID-19 patients mainly related to upper respiratory tract infection, cardiopulmonary function, and digestive system. The mild type and the early stage in other types mainly related to upper respiratory tract infection. The cardiopulmonary function and digestive system associated symptoms were found in all other types and stages. Dyspnea was correlated with critical type, and dyspnea, shortness of breath and chest distress were correlated with death. Respiratory dysfunction (or incompleteness) associated symptoms were the characteristic symptoms. The changes of symptoms did not synchronously with the changes of severity before the transition into the severe or critical type.     

Hepatic Steatosis Is Associated with Elevated Serum Iron in Patients with Obesity and Improves after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

BackgroundIron is closely related to metabolism. However, the relationship between iron and hepatic steatosis has not been fully elucidated.ObjectiveWe aimed to investigate the triangular relationship between iron and hepatic steatosis and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in patients with obesity.MethodsA total of 297 patients with obesity and 43 healthy individuals with a normal BMI were enrolled. Eighty-two patients underwent LSG. Anthropometrics, glucose-lipid metabolic markers, and hepatic steatosis assessed by FibroScan (CAP value and E value) were measured at baseline, and again at follow-up time intervals of 6 months and 1 year after surgery.Results(1) Iron was significantly higher in patients with obesity or overweight than in the individuals with normal BMI (8.18 ± 1.47 vs. 7.46 ± 0.99 mmol/L, p = 0.002). Iron was also higher in subjects with high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and hyperuricemia than non-corresponding disorders (all p < 0.05). Moreover, iron was significantly higher in the severe than mild or moderate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) group (p = 0.046 and 0.018). (2) Iron was positively associated with body weight, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, uric acid, liver enzymes, postprandial blood glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, free fatty acid, and hepatic steatosis (CAP value), and negatively associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (all p < 0.05). Iron was also positively associated with the visceral adipose area in patients with obesity and negatively associated with the subcutaneous adipose area in patients with overweight (all p < 0.05). (3) Iron levels and CAP values were decreased gradually 6 months and 1 year after surgery (all p < 0.05).ConclusionsOverall, our results indicated that iron is associated with hepatic steatosis in obesity. The iron level was significantly higher in patients with severe NAFLD than with mild or moderate NAFLD. LSG may reduce iron levels while improving fat deposition in the liver.     

金属烤瓷冠修复失败的主要原因分析

目的:观察金属烤瓷冠修复失败的主要原因。方法:选择门诊100例180件金属烤瓷铸造修复体修复后所致的失败原因进行分析,机械性失败病例为根折和铸造核冠脱落及瓷崩裂各1例。结果:机械性失败原因发生率为1.7%。结论:修复后所致失败原因应早先在金属烤瓷铸造修复体时要严格掌握好,选择好,设计要合理,备牙技术要提高,取模要精确等因素,积极处理好失败原因。     

临床教师职业倦怠的相关影响因素分析

目的 探讨职业倦怠的主要影响因素及与教学质量的相关性.方法 对97名参与临床教学的医护人员进行调查,分析职业倦怠现状、影响因素,及职业倦怠与教学质量的相关性.结果 97名临床教师中,存在轻度倦怠41例(42.27%),中度倦怠23例(23.71%),重度倦怠9例(9.28%),合计共有73名临床教师存在职业倦怠(75....     

660 nm red light-enhanced bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation for hypoxic-ischemic brain damage treatment

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation is an effective treatment for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage. However, the in vivo transplantation effects are poor and their survival, colonization and differentiation efficiencies are relatively low. Red or near-infrared light from 600–1,000 nm promotes cellular migration and prevents apoptosis. Thus, we hypothesized that the combination of red light with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation would be effective for the treatment of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage. In this study, the migration and colonization of cultured bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on primary neurons after oxygen-glucose deprivation were detected using Transwell assay. The results showed that, after a 40-hour irradiation under red light-emitting diodes at 660 nm and 60 mW/cm2, an increasing number of green fluorescence-labeled bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells migrated towards hypoxic-ischemic damaged primary neurons. Meanwhile, neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage were given an intraperitoneal injection of 1 × 106 bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, followed by irradiation under red light-emitting diodes at 660 nm and 60 mW/cm2 for 7 successive days. Shuttle box test results showed that, after phototherapy and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation, the active avoidance response rate of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage rats was significantly increased, which was higher than that after bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation alone. Experimental findings indicate that 660 nm red light emitting diode irradiation promotes the migration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, thereby enhancing the contribution of cell transplantation in the treatment of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage.