[The association of lipid profile and bleeding in patients with minor stroke or transient ischemic attack on antiplatelet therapy: subgroup analysis of CHANCE]

Objective: Abnormalities of lipid profile were considered as risk factors of hemorrhage after ischemic stroke. We aimed to determine the relationship between lipid levels and bleeding in minor stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients receiving antiplatelet therapy. Methods: Serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride were tested in a subgroup of 3 044 consecutive patients from Clopidogrel in High-risk patients with Acute Non-disabling Cerebrovascular Events (CHANCE) trial. Patients were randomized to clopidogrel plus aspirin group or single aspirin group. The primary endpoint was any bleeding within 90 days. The secondary endpoint was severe bleeding according to the Global Utilization of Streptokinase and Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO) definition. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the associations of lipid levels and outcomes. Results: A total of 59 (1.9%) bleeding events occurred at 90 days. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (adjusted HR=2.16; 95%CI 1.17-4.00, P=0.014) and age (adjusted HR=1.04; 95%CI 1.01-1.06, P=0.006) were significantly associated with any bleeding. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol was also associated with severe bleeding (adjusted HR=3.05; 95%CI 1.39-6.68, per 1 mmol/L increase). No correlations between outcomes and levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride were found. There was no interaction of any lipid component level with randomized antiplatelet therapy. Conclusions: Elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is independently associated with any bleeding and severe bleeding in the patients with acute minor stroke or high-risk TIA on antiplatelet therapy.

[Targeting diagnosis and treatment value of chelating anti-IL-1β mAb-SPIONs in temporal lobe epilepsy model]

Objective: In order to study the diagnosis and treatment value of chelating anti-IL-1β mAb-SPIONs in temporal lobe epilepsy model induced by lithium chlorid and pilocarpine. Methods: Forty-five temporal lobe epilepsy model rats were randomly and equally divided into saline group, plain-SPIONs group, anti-IL-1β mAb-SPIONs group. Each group was injected with equal particles at day 3 and day 14 after the onset of seizures. MRI were conducteds before and 4 hours after particles injection and T₂ values were measured. The distribution of iron particles in the epileptic tissue was observed and the neuronal loss, astrocyte proliferation and microglia activation were detected. The expressions of IL-1β and NF-κBp65 in each group were detected meanwhile. Results: At day 14 after seizure, the value of T₂ was 84±14 after injecting anti-IL-1β mAb-SPIONs. Compared with the control group, the value of T₂ obviously declined. These phenomena of neuron loss, astrocyte proliferation and microglia activation had been improved obviously. IL-1βand NF-κBp65 expression also significantly reduced. Conclusion: Anti-IL-1β mAb-SPIONs can penetrate blood brain barrier and plays an important role in targeting positioning and targeting therapy in temporal lobe epilepsy.

From C60 "trilliumons" to "trilliumenes:" Self-assembly of 2D fullerene nanostructures on metal-covered silicon and germanium

We discovered a set of C₆₀ nanostructures that appear to be constructed using a universal building block made of four C₆₀ molecules on Si(111) or Ge(111) surfaces covered by an atomic layer of Tl, Pb, or their compound. The building block is a four-C₆₀ cluster having a shape reminiscent of the three-petal flower "white trillium." Therefore, we call it "trilliumon" and the various 2D ordered nanostructures derived from it "trilliumenes." Self-assembly of the trilliumenes is a result of an intricate interplay among the adsorbed C₆₀ molecules, metal atoms, and semiconductor substrates. Remarkably, all metal layers triggering formation of trilliumenes on the Si(111) surface have recently been reported to be the thinnest 2D superconductors. In this respect, the trilliumenes show promise to be 2D nanostructured superconductors whose properties are awaiting their exploration.

Observation of Double Weyl Phonons in Parity-Breaking FeSi

Condensed matter systems have now become a fertile ground to discover emerging topological quasiparticles with symmetry protected modes. While many studies have focused on fermionic excitations, the same conceptual framework can also be applied to bosons yielding new types of topological states. Motivated by Zhang et al.'s recent theoretical prediction of double Weyl phonons in transition metal monosilicides [Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 016401 (2018)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.120.016401], we directly measure the phonon dispersion in parity-breaking FeSi using inelastic x-ray scattering. By comparing the experimental data with theoretical calculations, we make the first observation of double Weyl points in FeSi, which will be an ideal material to explore emerging bosonic excitations and its topologically nontrivial properties.

System for Informatics in the Molecular Pathology Laboratory: An Open-Source End-to-End Solution for Next-Generation Sequencing Clinical Data Management

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) diagnostic assays increasingly are becoming the standard of care in oncology practice. As the scale of an NGS laboratory grows, management of these assays requires organizing large amounts of information, including patient data, laboratory processes, genomic data, as well as variant interpretation and reporting. Although several Laboratory Information Systems and/or Laboratory Information Management Systems are commercially available, they may not meet all of the needs of a given laboratory, in addition to being frequently cost-prohibitive. Herein, we present the System for Informatics in the Molecular Pathology Laboratory (SIMPL), a free and open-source Laboratory Information System/Laboratory Information Management System for academic and nonprofit molecular pathology NGS laboratories, developed at the Genomic and Molecular Pathology Division at the University of Chicago Medicine. SIMPL was designed as a modular end-to-end information system to handle all stages of the NGS laboratory workload from test order to reporting. We describe the features of SIMPL, its clinical validation at University of Chicago Medicine, and its installation and testing within a different academic center laboratory (University of Colorado), and we propose a platform for future community co-development and interlaboratory data sharing.

[Dysfunctional resting-state connectivity of default mode network in adolescent patients with first-episode drug-naive major depressive disorder]

Objective: To study resting-state functional connectivity (FC) of default mode network (DMN) in adolescent patients with first-episode drug-naive major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: We enrolled thirty first-episode and drug-naive adolescent MDD patients and twenty-nine adolescent healthy control (HC) participants in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. There were no differences in age, sex, and education between the MDD and HC group. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance images (fMRI) was performed. We selected posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) of DMN as regions of interests (ROI). The differences of these regions from the whole brain functional connectivity were analyzed. The relations between abnormalities in FCs of DMN and clinical variables were further investigated. Results: Compared to the HCs, the MDD patients had congruently reduced FCs between the PCC and cerebellum, temporal cortices, occipital cortices, fusiform, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. MPFC not only had reduced FCs with fusiform, temporal cortices, anterior cingulate cortex, but also had enhanced FCs with occipital cortices, parietal cortices, and precentral gyrus. In addition, the increased FC between the right MPFC and right precentral gyrus was positive correlated with Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) scores (r=0.38, P=0.04). The reduced FC between the left middle temporal gyrus and left PCC as well as the enhanced FC between the right middle cingulum and right MPFC were positive correlated with the duration of depression since onset (r=0.39, P=0.03; r=0.38, P=0.04). Conclusions: These findings show dysfunctional DMN connectivity of adolescent MDD patients. Neurodevelopmental abnormalities in DMN may present in adolescent MDD.

Variation of nanoparticle fraction and compositions in two-stage double peaks aging precipitation of Al-Zn-Mg alloy

Atom probe tomography (APT) coupling high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) was used to analyze the fraction and compositions of different nanoparticles in two-stage double peaks aging process of Al-Zn-Mg alloy. Al content is found to be closely related to the size of nanoparticles and it can be greater than ~ 50.0 at. % in the nanoparticle with the equivalent radius under ~ 3.0 nm. Correspondingly, Al content of the nanoparticle, with the equivalent radius over ~ 5.0 nm, is measured under ~ 40.0 at. %. Evolution from Guinier-Preston (G.P.) zone to η phase is a growing process where Mg and Zn atoms enter the nanoparticle, therefore rejecting Al atoms. G.P. zones can take up a number fraction of ~ 85.0 and ~ 22.7% of nanoparticles in the first and second peak-aged samples, respectively, and even in the over-aged (T73) sample, they can still be found. As aging time increases, fraction of η' phases monotonically rises to the peak value (~ 54.5%) in the second peak-aged state and then drops, which is significant for the second hardness peak and directly proves their function as the transitional medium. In T73 state, ~ 63.3% nanoparticles compose of η phases, which were measured to still contain ~ 10.2 to ~ 36.4 at. % Al atoms.

[Difference of one year death and stroke recurrence in ischemic stroke patients with anterior and posterior circulation intracranial atherosclerosis]

Objective: To explore the differences of one year death and stroke recurrence between ischemic stroke patients with intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis or occlusion of anterior circulation and those of posterior circulation. Methods: All the patients were from the Chinese Intracranial Atherosclerosis Study (CICAS), between October 2007 and June 2009; patients with extracranial stenosis or occlusion, patients without acute infarction by diffusion weighted image, and patients with intracranial atherosclerosis of both anterior and posterior circulation were excluded.All the enrolled patients were divided into three groups: no significant intracranial atherosclerosis group (n=964), anterior circulation intracranial atherosclerosis group (n=440), posterior circulation intracranial atherosclerosis group (n=233). One year outcome was evaluated by any cause of death and stroke recurrence. Results: Of the 1 637 patients, 30 cases were died and 58 cases had stroke recurrence within one year.Compared with : no significant intracranial atherosclerosis group, adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of one-year death for anterior and posterior circulation intracranial atherosclerosis group were 1.349 (0.311-5.851), 4.542 (1.227-16.813), respectively.Adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of one year stroke recurrence were 1.663 (0.620-4.460) and 2.464 (0.935-6.493), respectively. Conclusions: Ischemic stroke patients with intracranial atherosclerosis of posterior circulation has higher risk of one year death. One year stroke recurrence risk for patients with intracranial atherosclerosis of anterior and posterior circulation needs to be further evaluated.

[Diagnostic value of narrow-band imaging in detection of recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma]

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value and feasibility of narrow-band imaging in detection of recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods: One thousand three hundred and sixty-four NPC patients who had completed NPC treatment were enrolled. All patients were followed-up with imaging, serological examination of EB virus and nasopharyngeal endoscopy(WL and NBI mode), in which (1) both white light (WL) and NBI modes were done; (2) positive endoscopic patients were given nasopharyngeal biopsy; (3) using histologic finding as criterion standard, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and Yonden's index of two modes were compared. Kappa index was used to evaluate the consistency between the two modes and pathological results respectively; (4) the positive rates of WL and NBI in patients with early recurrent (stage Ⅰ+ Ⅱ) were compared. Results: A total of 265 cases were suspected as having recurrent lesions by endoscopy in WL mode and 68 cases of them were pathologically diagnosed as having NPC; and 82 cases were suspected as having recurrent lesions by endoscopy in NBI mode and 74 cases of them were pathologically diagnosed as having NPC. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and Yonden's index of WL mode were 91.89%, 0, 25.09% and -0.0811, respectively, with a kappa of -0.045; the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and Yonden's index of NBI mode were 100.00%, 95.94%, 97.05% and 0.9594, respectively. Conclusion: NBI has higher sensitivity, specificity, early diagnosis rate and Yonden's index than WL.

[Co-morbidity of vasovagal syncope and postural tachycardia syndrome with allergic diseases in children]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical characteristics of the co-morbidity of vasovagal syncope (VVS) and postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) with allergic diseases in children.

METHODS

A re-trospective analysis was launched to summarize the clinical data of children with VVS and POTS. They were divided into allergic group and non-allergic group according to the history of allergic diseases. The participants' clinical characteristics were compared between allergic group and non-allergic group using independent sample t test or rank sum test; composition comparisons were completed by Chi-square test. Bi-variate correlation analysis was used to explore the association between eosinophil percentage/count and symptom scores/frequency of syncope episodes. A P value <0.05 was defined as statistically significant.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven children complaining of orthostatic intolerance (43 patients diagnosed as VVS and 24 cases diagnosed as POTS) were enrolled. Totally 21 cases (31%) had allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis, atopic eczema, asthma, as well as food allergy. And allergic rhinitis is the most common co-morbidity. There were no significant differences between the two groups in age, gender ratio, height, body weight and basement blood pressure. Compared with the non-allergic group, the allergic group showed later onset age (year) (11±2 vs. 9±3, P<0.05) of orthostatic intolerance and shorter course of the diseases (month) [8.0 (0.1, 0.1) vs. 24.0 (0.1, 144.0), P<0.05]. The frequency of syncope episodes in the allergic group among VVS children (times per month) [2.50 (0.08, 30.00) vs. 0.25 (0.03, 5.00), P<0.05] was much higher than that in the non-allergic group. Additionally, the eosinophil percentage (%) [3.50 (0.70, 0.59) vs. 1.65 (0.30, 6.20), P<0.001] and eosinophil count (×10⁹) [0.18 (0.05, 0.71) vs. 0.10 (0.02, 0.38), P<0.001] were increased in the allergic group. However, there were no remarkable differences in the results of head-up tilt test in children with VVS or in the maximum change of heart rate during standing test in children with POTS were involved.

CONCLUSION

Allergic diseases are common co-morbidities in children with both VVS and POTS. Allergic rhinitis is the most common co-morbidity. Children with co-morbidity of VVS/POTS and allergic diseases had a later onset of symptoms of orthostatic intolerance, and were more likely to be hospitalized for intensive attacks of symptoms during a short period when compared with those without allergic diseases. Children diagnosed as VVS combined with allergic diseases had more frequent episodes of syncope.

Cloning and functional characterization of the HbSYR1 gene encoding a syntaxin-related protein in Tibetan hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum HK. f.)

Tibetan barley is a staple food for the natives of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Drought causes a reduction in barley production. In this study, the full-length cDNA of a gene encoding a syntaxin-associated protein was cloned from the leaves of a drought-resistant variety of barley, "Himalaya 10"; its expression was evaluated during drought stress and rehydration via real-time PCR. The cloned HbSYR1 cDNA sequence was 1300 bp in length, and included an 840-bp open reading frame that encoded 279 amino acids. Sequence analysis predicted the molecular weight of the encoded protein to be 42.08 kDa, with an isoelectric point of 4.98. ScanProsite analysis showed that the HbSYR1 protein contained a SNARE family characteristic motif, five casein kinase II phosphorylation sites, two N-glycosylation sites, four protein kinase C phosphorylation sites, and two N-myristoylation sites. The TMHMM prediction program indicated that the protein does not contain a transmembrane transfer ribbon. According to the SignalP 3.0 server, this protein does not contain a signal peptide, and is not a secretory protein. Instead, this protein was suggested to be localized in the cytoplasm, as predicted by the protein subcellular localization prediction tool (PSORT). Our results indicated that HbSYR was induced by drought stress and rehydration, and was determined to be a key gene for drought resistance and water retention in barley.

AC electric field controlled non-Newtonian filament thinning and droplet formation on the microscale

Monodispersity and fast generation are innate advantages of microfluidic droplets. Other than the normally adopted simple Newtonian fluids such as a water/oil emulsion system, fluids with complex rheology, namely, non-Newtonian fluids, which are being widely adopted in industries and bioengineering, have gained increasing research interest on the microscale. However, challenges occur in controlling the dynamic behavior due to their complex properties. In this sense, the AC electric field with merits of fast response and easiness in fulfilling "Lab on a chip" has attracted our attention. We design and fabricate flow-focusing microchannels with non-contact types of electrodes for the investigation. We firstly compare the formation of a non-Newtonian droplet with that of a Newtonian one under an AC electric field and discover that viscoelasticity contributes to the discrepancies significantly. Then we explore the effect of AC electric fields on the filament thinning and droplet formation dynamics of one non-Newtonian fluid which has a similar rheological behavior to bio samples, such as DNA or blood samples. We investigate the dynamics of the thinning process of the non-Newtonian filament under the influence of an AC electric field and implement a systematic exploration of the non-Newtonian droplet generation influenced by parameters such as the flow conditions (flow rate Q, capillary number Ca), fluid property (Weissenberg number Wi), applied voltage (U) and frequency (f) of the AC electric field. We present the dependencies of the flow condition and electric field on the non-Newtonian droplet formation dynamics, and conclude with an operating diagram, taking into consideration all the above-mentioned parameters. Results show that the electric field plays a critical role in controlling the thinning process of the filament and the size of the generated droplet. Furthermore, for the first time, we quantitatively measure the flow field of the non-Newtonian droplet formation under the influence of an AC electric field, assisted by a high-speed micro particle imaging velocimetry (μPIV) system. The flow field distributions obtained using the correlation algorithm show that the electric field generated Maxwell stress deforms the interface, changes the flow recirculation pattern, stimulates the instability and hence reduces the size of the non-Newtonian droplet. Finally, we analyze the impact of Maxwell stress by means of the electric capillary number Ca_E. Our findings reveal the rich physics of non-Newtonian fluids and widen the applications of electric field in non-Newtonian environments, which could be critical for bioengineering.

[Relationship between blood routine test parameters and syncopal recurrence of vasovagal syncope in children]

Objective: To explore the relationship between venous blood routine test parameters and syncopal recurrence of children with vasovagal syncope (VVS). Method: Sixty-three children (male 32, female 31) diagnosed as VVS in Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital from November 2010 to October 2015 were included in a case observational study.Their mean age was (11.2±2.7) years and basic treatment such as predisposing causes avoiding, standing training, autonomic nervous function exercise and oral rehydration salts were advised to them.The clinical data were obtained by out-patient visit and over telephone from December 2015 to January 2016, with a median follow-up period of 10 (4, 26) months. The effects of baseline venous blood routine test parameters, gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) on syncopal recurrence were studied via univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis.Kaplan-Meier curve was used to evaluate the long-term prognosis. Result: Among the 63 VVS children in this study, 31 cases were diagnosed as VVS vasodepressor type, 4 cases as VVS cardioinhibitory type and 28 cases as VVS mixed type, 16 cases (25%) had experienced recurrence of syncope while 47 cases (75%) had not.The result of univariate analysis of Cox regression showed that baseline platelet count (PLT) (HR=1.012, 95%CI: 1.003-1.022) had a marked impact on the survival rate.And the result of multivariate analysis of Cox regression showed that baseline hemoglobin concentration (HGB) (HR=1.055, 95%CI: 1.007-1.105), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) (HR=0.612, 95%CI: 0.423-0.884) and PLT(HR=1.015, 95%CI: 1.006-1.024) had significant effects on survival rate of VVS children.In this study, the one-year, two-year, and three-year survival rate were 83% (52/63), 79% (50/63) and 75% (47/63), respectively. Conclusion: The baseline venous blood routine test parameters HGB, MCH and PLT might be the influencing factors of the syncopal recurrence of VVS children.

Correction: Systematic investigation of the SERS efficiency and SERS hotspots in gas-phase deposited Ag nanoparticle assemblies

Correction for 'Systematic investigation of the SERS efficiency and SERS hotspots in gas-phase deposited Ag nanoparticle assemblies' by L. B. He et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2017, 19, 5091-5101.

Intrinsically patterned two-dimensional materials for selective adsorption of molecules and nanoclusters

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have been studied extensively as monolayers, vertical or lateral heterostructures. To achieve functionalization, monolayers are often patterned using soft lithography and selectively decorated with molecules. Here we demonstrate the growth of a family of 2D materials that are intrinsically patterned. We demonstrate that a monolayer of PtSe₂ can be grown on a Pt substrate in the form of a triangular pattern of alternating 1T and 1H phases. Moreover, we show that, in a monolayer of CuSe grown on a Cu substrate, strain relaxation leads to periodic patterns of triangular nanopores with uniform size. Adsorption of different species at preferred pattern sites is also achieved, demonstrating that these materials can serve as templates for selective self-assembly of molecules or nanoclusters, as well as for the functionalization of the same substrate with two different species.

[Comparison of vacuum bag fixation and Orfit rack with thermoplastic membrane fixation for image-guided cervical cancer radiotherapy]

Objective: To compare the difference of displacement between the vacuum bag fixation and the Orfit rack with thermoplastic membrane fixation of the cervical cancer patients, and to explore the individual fixation of the patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 66 patients diagnosed as cervical cancer in Zhangzhou Municipal Hospital of Fujian Province from December 2014 to April 2016. Among them, 33 patients were fixed with vacuum bag, 33 patients were fixed with the Orfit rack with thermoplastic membrane. The cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were acquired daily for the first three times of the radiotherapy, followed by once every other day for a total of 15 times. The CBCT scan images were matched with the CT scan images, and the matching results were recorded and analyzed. Results: The absolute value of the displacement in the left and right directions of the vacuum bag group was (0.28±0.30) cm, significantly lower than (0.38±0.46) cm in the Orfit rack with thermoplastic membrane group(P<0.001). The absolute value of the displacement in the anteroposterior direction of the vacuum bag group was (0.28±0.32) cm, with no significant difference of (0.27±0.23) cm in the Orfit rack with thermoplastic membrane group (P=0.580). The absolute value of the displacement in the up and down directions was (0.33±0.60) cm, with no statistically significant difference of (0.27±0.48) cm in the Orfit rack with thermoplastic membrane group (P=0.150). During the three times of CBCT scans, the differences of displacement in the left and right directions of the vacuum bag group were negligible, while apparently varied in the anteroposterior and up and down directions, however, the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The change of the displacement in the three-dimensional direction in the Orfit rack with thermoplastic membrane group was marginal, and all of the differences were not significant(all P>0.05). Conclusions: Both the vacuum bag fixation and the Orfit rack with thermoplastic membrane fixation are suitable for the cone-beam CT image-guided radiotherapy of cervical cancer patients. However, the displacement in the left and right directions of the vacuum bag fixation is smaller than the Orfit rack with thermoplastic membrane fixation. During the period of treatment, the mean value of the difference of displacement in the anterior and posterior directions of the Orfit rack with thermoplastic membrane fixation is mild, which can be used individually by the patients with a flexible body and good tolerance.

TNF-α was involved in calcium hydroxide-promoted osteogenic differentiation of human DPSCs through NF-κB/p38MAPK/Wnt pathway

It has been reported that calcium hydroxide can induce proliferation, migration, and mineralization in dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), but the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we sought to explore the role of calcium hydroxide in the cell proliferation and directional differentiation of DPSCs and to study the regulatory effect of NF-κB, p38MAPK, and Wnt signaling on differentiation of DPSCs. CCK8 cell assay, Wound Healing Assay, and Alkaline Phosphatase Staining Assay were respectively used to determine the proliferation rate, migration and ALP expression of DPSCs. Alizarin Red Staining Assay was used to observe the mineralization of DPSCs. RT-PCR analysis and Western Blot Analysis displayed the expression of related fators at mRNA and protein level, respectively. In the present study, we found that NF-κB, p38MAPK, and Wnt signaling could abolish calcium hydroxide-induced proliferation of DPSCs. The inhibition of NF-κB, p38MAPK, and Wnt signaling suppressed the migration, ALP expression, and mineralization of DPSCs. NF-κB, p38MAPK, and Wnt signaling involved in directional differentiation of DPSCs. Moverover, calcium hydroxide could activate NF-κB, p38MAPK, and Wnt pathway by regulating TNF-α. Our study showed that NF-κB, p38MAPK, and Wnt signaling pathway were involved in calcium hydroxide-induced proliferation, migration, mineralization, and osteogenic differentiation in DPSCs. Calcium hydroxide affected NF-κB, p38MAPK, and Wnt pathway by regulating TNF-α.

[Textual criticism and discrimination on the naming of"Five-abstention Soup of Medical Professional"from the Han-tomb of the Marquis of Haihun]

A lacquer vessel with the inscription of Yi gong wu jin tang (Five-abstention Soup of Medical Profession) has been unearthed from the Han-tomb of Marquis of Haihun, in which"Five abstentions"is related to the incantations and abstention therapies prevalent in the Qin and Han Dynasties. The"Five-abstention Law"is the five rituals and methods during the process of practicing incantations and abstentions therapies including"keeping one's thinking (cun si)","holding the breath(bi qi)","twirling eyes (nian mu)","stepping after Yu's sample (yu bu)"and"incanting and blessing (zhou zhu)". The"Five-abstention Law"uses the medium"soup"to achieve the purpose of treatment."Soup"refers either to"decoction"or to"magic water". The lacquer vessel with the inscription"Five-abstention Soup of Medical professional"could be an instrument for implementing the process of practising the"Five-abstention Law", reflecting the historical facts that Liu He, the Marquis Haihun did accept the incantations and abstention therapies.

[Effect of fibroblast growth factor 1 on the proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression in submandibular gland of diabetic mice]

Objective: To examine the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in submandibular gland of diabetic mice and to investigate the influence of fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1) on PCNA expression and its possible mechanism. Methods: Sixteen db/db diabetic male mice were randomly divided into diabetic group and diabetic-FGF-1 group (n=8). Eight age-matched db/m mice served as a control group. After FGF-1 was administered intraperitoneally to diabetic-FGF-1 group continuously for 16 weeks, blood glucose and body weight of each mouse in the three groups were detected at 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks. Then the flow rate of saliva in three groups was compared at 0, 8, 16 weeks. At 16 week, bilateral submandibular glands were resected. Then HE staining was performed to observe the histological morphology of submandibular gland and PCNA expression was examined by immunohistochemical staining. Results: Four weeks after administration, the blood glucose in diabetic-FGF-1 group decreased markedly, close to the control group (P>0.05). Weight loss in diabetic-FGF-1 group was noticeable at 8 weeks after administration, but still higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The flow rate of saliva in diabetic-FGF-1 group increased gradually after administration, which was higher at 8, 16 weeks ([260.1±43.3], [308.5±34.0] mg·min(-1)·kg(-1)) respectively than that in the diabetic group at the same time point ([181.8±37.5], [194.9±49.8] mg·min(-1)·kg(-1)) (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, submandibular glands in diabetic group significantly atrophied and the glandular atrophy in diabetic-FGF-1 group was alleviated. The submandibular gland index in the control group, diabetic group and diabetic-FGF-1 group were (7.45±0.63), (2.23±0.26), (3.97±0.15) mg/g, respectively (P<0.05). HE staining showed that the histological morphology of submandibular gland in diabetic-FGF-1 group was clearer, and acinar and ductal atrophy were less significant than diabetic group. Immunohistochemistry showed that the rate of PCNA-positive cells in the control group, diabetic group and diabetic-FGF-1 group were (45.23±7.78)%, (11.50±1.69)%, (36.98±6.53)% respectively (P<0.05). Conclusions: FGF-1 can up-regulate the expression of PCNA in submandibular gland of diabetic mice. This effect may be one of the important mechanisms of FGF-1 reversing the structural atrophy and dysfunction of submandibular gland caused by diabetes mellitus.