Non-linear association between long-term air pollution exposure and risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

BACKGROUND@#Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) has become a global epidemic, and air pollution has been identified as a potential risk factor. This study aims to investigate the non-linear relationship between ambient air pollution and MASLD prevalence.@*METHOD@#In this cross-sectional study, participants undergoing health checkups were assessed for three-year average air pollution exposure. MASLD diagnosis required hepatic steatosis with at least 1 out of 5 cardiometabolic criteria. A stepwise approach combining data visualization and regression modeling was used to determine the most appropriate link function between each of the six air pollutants and MASLD. A covariate-adjusted six-pollutant model was constructed accordingly.@*RESULTS@#A total of 131,592 participants were included, with 40.6% met the criteria of MASLD. "Threshold link function," "interaction link function," and "restricted cubic spline (RCS) link functions" best-fitted associations between MASLD and PM2.5, PM10/CO, and O3 /SO2/NO2, respectively. In the six-pollutant model, significant positive associations were observed when pollutant concentrations were over: 34.64 µg/m3 for PM2.5, 57.93 µg/m3 for PM10, 56 µg/m3 for O3, below 643.6 µg/m3 for CO, and within 33 and 48 µg/m3 for NO2. The six-pollutant model using these best-fitted link functions demonstrated superior model fitting compared to exposure-categorized model or linear link function model assuming proportionality of odds.@*CONCLUSION@#Non-linear associations were found between air pollutants and MASLD prevalence. PM2.5, PM10, O3, CO, and NO2 exhibited positive associations with MASLD in specific concentration ranges, highlighting the need to consider non-linear relationships in assessing the impact of air pollution on MASLD.

Research Progress on Estimation of Postmortem Interval Based on Ocular Tissues Structure / 法医学杂志

Estimation of postmortem interval (PMI) is one of the important research contents in forensic pathology, and it has always been the focus and hot spot of research work. In recent years, scholars at home and abroad have made some research progress in estimating PMI by using ocular tissue. After death, the changes of cornea, aqueous humor, iris, lens, vitreous humor and retina all show time sequence change rule highly related to PMI. This paper reviews the research progress of PMI estimation based on the morphological, biochemical, molecular and genetic material changes of different ocular tissue structures after death, and discusses the existing problems and development trends.

Guanxin Danshen Dripping Pills Improve Quality of Life and Cardiovascular Prognoses of CHD Patients after PCI with Anxiety or Depression (GLAD Study): A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the efficacy and safety of Guanxin Danshen Dripping Pills (GXDS) in the treatment of depression or anxiety in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).@*METHODS@#From September 2017 to June 2019, 200 CHD patients after PCI with depression and anxiety were included and randomly divided into GXDS (100 cases) and placebo control groups (100 cases) by block randomization and a random number table. Patients in the GXDS and control groups were given GXDS and placebo, respectively, 0.4 g each time, 3 times daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcomes were scores of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Scale (GAD-7) and the Seattle Angina Pectoris Scale (SAQ). The secondary outcomes included 12 Health Survey Summary Form (SF-12) scores and the first onset time and incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Other indices including blood pressure, blood lipids, microcirculation and inflammatory-related indices, etc. were monitored at baseline, week 4, and week 12.@*RESULTS@#In the full analysis set (200 cases), after treatment, the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores in the GXDS group were considerably lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the baseline, the total PHQ-9 scores of the experimental and control groups decreased by 3.97 and 1.18, respectively. The corrected mean difference between the two groups was -2.78 (95% CI: -3.47, -2.10; P<0.001). The total GAD-7 score in the GXDS group decreased by 3.48% compared with the baseline level, while that of the placebo group decreased by 1.13%. The corrected mean difference between the two groups was -2.35 (95% CI: -2.95, -1.76; P<0.001). The degree of improvement in SAQ score, SF-12 score, endothelin and high-sensitive C-reactive protein levels in the GXDS group were substantially superior than those in the placebo group, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). Similar results were obtained in the per protocol population analysis of 177 patients. Three cases of MACES were reported in this study (1 in the GXDS group and 2 in the placebo group), and no serious adverse events occurred.@*CONCLUSIONS@#GXDS can significantly alleviate depression and anxiety, relieve symptoms of angina, and improve quality of life in patients with CHD after PCI. (Registration No. ChiCTR1800014291).

Using Next-Generation Sequencing Technology to Confirm the HLA Rare Alleles Detected by PCR-SSOP / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To confirm the HLA genotypes of the samples including 4 cases of magnetic bead probe HLA genotyping result pattern abnormality and 3 cases of ambiguous result detected by PCR sequence-specific oligonudeotide probe (SSOP) method.@*METHODS@#All samples derived from HLA high-resolution typing laboratory were detected by PCR-SSOP. A total of 4 samples of magnetic bead probe HLA genotyping result pattern abnormality and 3 samples of ambiguous result were further confirmed by PCR sequence-based typing (SBT) technology and next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology.@*RESULTS@#A total of 4 samples of magnetic bead probe HLA genotyping result pattern abnormality were detected by PCR-SSOP method. The results of SBT and NGS showed that the HLA-A genotype of sample 1 did not match any known genotypes. NGS analysis revealed that the novel allele was different from the closest matching allele A*31:01:02:01at position 154 with G>A in exon 2, which resulting in one amino acid substitution at codon 28 from Valine to Methionine (p.Val28Met). The HLA-C genotype of sample 2 was C*03:119, 06:02, sample 3 was C*03:03, 07:137, and sample 4 was B*55:02, 55:12. A total of 3 samples with ambiguous result were initially detected by PCR-SSOP method. The re-examination results of SBT and NGS showed that the HLA-B genotype of sample 5 was B*15:58, 38:02, sample 6 was DRB1*04:05, 14:101, and sample 7 was DQB1*03:34, 05:02. Among them, alleles C*03:119, C*07:137 and DRB1*14:101 were not included in the Common and Well-documented Alleles (CWD) v2.4 of the Chinese Hematopoietic Stem Cell Donor Database.@*CONCLUSION@#The abnormal pattern of HLA genotyping results of magnetic probe by PCR-SSOP method suggests that it may be a rare allele or a novel allele, which needs to be verified by sequencing.

Establishment of a CFTR-based detection method for the second messenger cAMP in the cytoplasm / 中国应用生理学杂志

Objective: To establish a detection method based on Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) that can sensitively detect the second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP) in the cytoplasm. Methods: The eukaryotic expression vectors of CFTR and YFP-H148Q / I152L were constructed respectively. FRT cells co-expressing CFTR and YFP-H148Q / I152L were obtained by liposome transfection. The expression of CFTR and YFP-H148Q / I152L in FRT cells was observed by an inverted fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry was used to detect the purity of cells; The cell model was identified by the fluorescence quenching kinetics test. The validation of the cell model which could screen CFTR modulators was verified by the fluorescence quenching kinetics experiments. The radioimmunoassay was used to detect the cAMP concentration in cytoplasm after adding CFTR activator. Results: The results of the inverted fluorescence microscope showed that CFTR was expressed in the cell membrane and YFP-H148Q / I152L was expressed in the cytoplasm of FRT cells. The FRT cell model stably co-expressing ANO1 and YFP-H148Q / I152L was successfully constructed. The model could screen CFTR modulators, and the slope of fluorescence change and the concentration of CFTR modulators were in a dose-dependent manner. The slope of the fluorescence could reflect the cAMP concentration in the cytoplasm. The cell model could sensitively detect the intracellular cAMP concentration. Conclusion: The cell model could efficiently and sensitively detect the second messenger cAMP concentration in the cytoplasm, and it provided a simple and efficient method for the study of other targets associated cAMP signal.

Panax quinquefolium saponin Optimizes Energy Homeostasis by Modulating AMPK-Activated Metabolic Pathways in Hypoxia-Reperfusion Induced Cardiomyocytes / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of Panax quinquefolium saponin (PQS) on energy deficiency in hypoxia-reperfusion (H/R) induced cardiomyocytes.@*METHODS@#The H/R injury involved hypoxia for 3 h and then reperfusion for 2 h. Cardiomyocytes recruited from neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) were randomly divided into control, H/R, H/R+compound C (C.C), H/R+PQS, and H/R+C. C+PQS groups. BrdU assay, lactase dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage and early apoptosis rate were evaluated to assess cell damages. Contents of high energy phosphate compounds were conducted to detect the energy production. Protein expression levels of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase a (AMPKα), glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), phosphate fructose kinase 2 (PFK2), fatty acid translocase/cluster of differentiation 36 (FAT/CD36), and acetyl CoA carboxylase 2 (ACC2) in the regulatory pathways were measured by Western blotting. Immunofluorescence staining of GLUT4 and FAT/CD36 was used to observe the mobilization of metabolic transporters.@*RESULTS@#PQS (50 mg/L) pretreatment significantly alleviated H/R-induced inhibition of NRVMs viability, up-regulation of LDH leakage, acceleration of early apoptosis, and reduction of energy production (P<0.05). Compared with the H/R group, up-regulated expression of AMPKα, GLUT4, PFK2, FAT/CD36 and ACC2 were observed, and more GLUT4 and FAT/CD36 expressions were detected on the membrane in the H/R+PQS group (P<0.05). These effects of PQS on H/R-induced NRVMs were eliminated in the H/R+C.C+PQS group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#PQS has prominent advantages in protecting NRVMs from H/R-induced cell damages and energy metabolic disorders, by activation of AMPKα-mediated GLUT4-PFK2 and FAT/CD36-ACC2 pathways.

Research Progress of the Relationship between SUNDS and OSAHS / 法医学杂志

Sudden unexplained nocturnal death syndrome （SUNDS） is always a difficulty in forensic medicine researches. Although the development of molecular genetics promotes the etiologic study of SUNDS, the pathogenesis of most such cases is still unclear. Sleep apnea syndrome （SAS） is one of the common forms of sleep disorders, and obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome （OSAHS） is the most common. In recent years, some domestic and international researches show that OSAHS is related to the development of cardiovascular disease, which may cause cardiac arrhythmia, even sudden death. This article reviews the relationship between SUNDS and OSAHS and aims to provide new ideas for the pathogenesis of SUNDS.

Inhibitory mechanisms of timosaponin AⅢ on proliferation and growth of human glioblastoma cells / 中国中药杂志

To explore the inhibitory effect of timosaponin AⅢ on the proliferation of human glioblastoma cell line U87MG and investigate its related mechanism. As compared with the model group, the tumor weight was significantly reduced in timosaponin AⅢ-treated group. Timosaponin AⅢinhibited the proliferation of U87MG cell line in a dose-dependent manner. It up-regulated the gene and protein expression levels of p21, meanwhile inhibited the protein expression levels of β-Catenin, Cyclin D1 and Bcl-2. It also inhibited the translocation of β-Catenin into nucleus, suppressed the phosphorylation expression of ERK, but increased the phosphorylation expression of p38 and JNK. Combined use of JNK inhibitor SP600125 and p38 inhibitor SB203580 could decrease p21 and increase β-Catenin protein expressions. Timosaponin AⅢ inhibited the proliferation of human glioblastoma cell line U87MG partly by intervening MAPK and Wnt/β-Catenin signal pathways.

Long-term follow-up of Chinese herbal medicines combined with conventional treatment in patients with acute coronary syndrome after percutaneous coronary intervention: A multicenter randomized controlled trial / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the prognosis effect of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) for benefiting qi and activating blood circulation adjunctive to conventional treatment in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 702 patients with ACS who underwent PCI were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive conventional treatment plus CHMs for benefiting qi and activating blood circulation (treatment group, 351 cases) or conventional treatment alone (control group, 351 cases) for 6 months. Six months later, all patients received conventional treatment alone. Follow-ups were scheduled at 6th, 12th, 18th, 24th month after enrollment in April 2008, and the final follow-up visit was during September 2011 and November 2011. The primary endpoint was the composite of cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction or revascularization (PCI or coronary artery bypass grafting); and the secondary endpoint was the composite of re-admission for ACS, congestive heart failure, nonfatal stroke or other thrombus events.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 621 (88.59%) patients completed 35.4±3.8 months follow-up, while 80 (11.41%) patients withdrew from the trial (41 in the treatment group and 39 in the control group). The incidence of primary endpoint was 5.7% (20 patients) in the treatment group versus 10.86% (38 patients) in the control group [relative risk (RR): 0.53; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.30, 0.88; P=0.013; absolute risk reduction (ARR):-0.052, 95% CI: -0.06, 0.01]. The incidence of secondary endpoint was 5.98% (21 patients) in the treatment group versus 10.28% (36 patients) in control group (RR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.33, 0.97, P=0.037; ARR: -0.043, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.01). Most of the primary and secondary endpoints were occurred in 18 months (84.50% in the treatment group versus 78.10% in the control group).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CHMs for benefiting qi and activating blood circulation adjunctive to conventional treatment improved clinical outcomes for patients with ACS after PCI in long-term follow-up.</p>

Efficacy of Chinese Herbs for Supplementing Qi and Activating Blood Circulation on Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: a Clinical Observation / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the efficacy of Chinese herbs for supplementing qi and activating blood circulation (CHSQABC) on patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this ChiCTR-TRC-00000021, a total of 281 ACS patients complicated with type 2 DM after successful PCI were randomly assigned to the Western medicine treatment group (the control group, treated by routine Western medicine treatment) and the combined treatment group (the treatment group, treated by CHSQABC + routine Western medicine treatment). Patients in the combined treatment group took Xinyue Capsule (2 pills each time, 3 times per day) and Compound Chuanxiong Capsule (2 pills each time, 3 times per day for half a year and 1-year follow-ups). Primary endpoints covered incidence of death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), ischemia-driven revascularization, and secondary endpoints included stroke, heart failure, and rehospitalization for ACS. At the same time scores for blood stasis syndrome (BSS) and the incidence of angina pectoris were evaluated before treatment, at month 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The incidence of ischemia-driven revascularization was obviously less in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). No patient had nonfatal MI in the treatment group, while 5 patients in the control group had it. The incidence of non-fatal MI showed an obvious lowering tendency in the treatment group, but with no statistical difference when compared with that in the control group (P > 0.05). Four patients readmitted to hospital in the treatment group, while 12 patients readmitted. There existed obvious tendency in the treatment group, but with no statistical difference when compared with that in the control group (P > 0.05). The incidence of angina was significantly lower in the treatment group at month 6, 9, and 12 than that at month 1 , but it was lower in the control group at 9 months (P < 0.05). The incidence of angina was 15. 4% in the treatment group, obviously lower than that in the control group (26.2%, P < 0.05). Compared with before treatment, scores for BSS were obviously lowered in the treatment group at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of treatment and in the control group at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of treatment (P < 0.05). It was obviously lower in the treatment group than in the control group at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of treatment (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Administration of CHSQABC combined routine Western medicine treatment could reduce the event of revascularization and post-PCI recurrent angina, and improve scores for BSS of ACS patients complicated with DM after PCI.</p>

Effect of miR-145 on NSCLC cell proliferation and FSCN1 protein expression / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of miR-145 on human lung adenocarcinaoma A549 cell proliferation and FSCN1 expression. Methods pmR-mcherry/miR-145 was constructed and transfected into A549 cell,then the expression of miR-145 and the proliferation of A549 cell were verified by QPCR and MTS assay, respectively.The situation of FSCN1 expression in A549 cell was detected by Western blot.Results pmR-mcherry/miR-145 vector was constructed successfully,and QPCR results indicated that miR-145 expressed effectively.Western blot results showed that FSCN1 was one of the targets of miR-145 in A549 cell.MTS assay results indicated that miR-145 inhibited the proliferation of A549 cell.Conclusion Overexpression of miR-145 can inhibit the proliferation of A549 cell, and FSCN1 was one of its target.

Long-term effect of stent coating with zedoary essential components on neointimal formation in the porcine coronary artery / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the effect of the zedoary essential component-eluting stent (ZES) on a porcine coronary neointimal formation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>ZES, sirolimus-eluting stents (SES), and bare metal stents (BMS) were randomly implanted in three different major epicardial vessels in 36 balloon-injured pigs. Coronary angiography, optical coherence tomography, and histomorphological analysis were used to determine antihyperplasia effects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>ZES and SES had a significantly larger lumen diameter and area, and reduced diameter and area of stenosis in arteries at 30 and 90 days compared with arteries implanted with BMS (P<0.01). Histomorphometric analysis showed moderate inflammatory responses, such as infiltration of mononuclear cells, lymphocytes, and multinucleated giant cells in some arteries with SES compared with ZES (P<0.05). Injury scores were not different among the three groups at 30 and 90 days. The endothelialization score in the SES group was 2.69 ± 0.42 at 30 days and 2.83 ± 0.39 at 90 days compared with the ZES and BMS groups (both were 3.00 ± 0.00 at either 30 or 90 days, P<0.05). Well developed endothelium was observed in the ZES group, while incomplete endothelium and inflammatory cells were observed with stent struts partly naked at the vessel lumen in the SES group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The ZES inhibits neointimal hyperplasia with good endothelia coverage in the porcine balloon injury coronary model.</p>

Effects of different Chinese medicine therapeutic methods on the ventricular remodeling and the heart function in chronic heart failure rats of Shen-yang deficiency syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of warming yang method, nourishing yin method, activating blood method, and the combined treatment method on the ventricular remodeling (VR) and the heart function of heart failure (HF) rats of Shen-yang deficiency syndrome (SYDS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The Sprague-Dawley (SD) HF rat model of SYDS was established by continuously intravenous dripping adriamycin after economizing bilateral thyroid tissues. Rats were then randomly divided into the model group (administered with normal saline at the daily dose of 6 mL/kg by gastrogavage), the warming yang group (administered with Wenyang Jianxinling Extractum at the daily dose of 6 mL/kg by gastrogavage), the activating blood group (administered with Ligusticum Wallichii and Salvia Miltiorrhiza Extractum at the daily dose of 6 mL/kg by gastrogavage), the nourishing yin group (administered with Radix Ophiopogonis and Rhizoma Anemarrhenae Extractum at the daily dose of 6 mL/kg by gastrogavage), and the combined treatment group (administered with Yin-Yang Supplementing Extractum at the daily dose of 6 mL/kg by gastrogavage), 10 in each group. Another 10 SD rats were taken as the normal control group. They ate food and drank water freely. All rats were intervened for four successive weeks. The left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), maximal rate of left ventricular pressure of development ( +dp/dtmax), and maximal rate of left ventricular pressure of decline (-dp/dtmax) were observed. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) and the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were determined. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) was calculated. The heart rate (HR) was recorded. Then all rats were killed and their hearts were taken out to weigh the heart mass (HM), the left ventricular mass (LVM), the right ventricular mass (RVM). The heart mass index (HMI) and the left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were calculated. The mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP1) in the myocardium were detected using RT-PCR. The serum levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), MMP-9, and TIMP-1 were assayed by double antibody sandwich ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the normal control group, HR, LVEDP, HM, LVM, HMI, RVM, LVMI, NT-proBNP, MMP-9, and MMP-9 mRNA significantly increased, but SBP, DBP, MAP, LVSP, +/- dp/dtmax, TIMP-1, and TIMP-1 mRNA significantly decreased in the model group with statistical difference (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, SBP and DBP, +/-dp/dtmax increased,while LVEDP, NT-proBNP, and MMP-9 decreased in the warming yang group. HR, LVEDP, HM, LVM, HMI, RVM, LVMI, MMP-9 mRNA, NT-proBNP, and MMP-9 significantly decreased, while TIMP-1 mRNA increased in the activating blood group. HR, LVEDP, +/- dp/dtmax, LVMI, NT-proBNP, and MMP-9 decreased, while TIMP-1 increased in the combined treatment group, showing statistical difference (P<0.05). Compared with the warming yang group, SBP and +dp/dtmax decreased in the nourishing yin group; HR and MMP-9 mRNA decreased in the activating blood group, HR decreased in the combined treatment group, all showing statistical difference (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the rest indices (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Activating blood method and combined treatment method could regulate the expressions of MMP-9 and TIMP1 mRNA of HF rats of SYDS, effectively ameliorate the VR, and improve the HF.</p>

Relationship between the changes in immune cells and HBeAg loss following antiviral treatment in chronic hepatitis B patients / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the changes in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific and non-specific cellular immunity that accompany viral load decline during adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) treatment in patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B, and to explore the antiviral immunity mechanism underlying the treatment response.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Serial analysis of cellular immunological parameters was performed in HBeAg-positive patients (n = 20) throughout the 48-week course of ADV therapy (10 mg/d). HBV-specific T cell reactivity to HBV core antigen (HBcAg) was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay and cell proliferation assay at pre-treatment (baseline) and post-treatment weeks 4, 12, 24, 36, and 48. Percentage of regulatory T cells (Tregs), as well as activated peripheral natural killer (NK) cells (expressing the NKG2D receptor), was measured by flow cytometry. Comparisons of means were performed by the two-tailed t-test or the Mann-Whitney rank sum test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 48 weeks of ADV therapy, HBeAg loss was observed in six of the 20 (30%) patients and 14 patients remained HBeAg-positive. In the patients with HBeAg loss, the viral load reduction was accompanied by a significantly enhanced response rate of HBV-specific interferon (IFN)-gamma-producing CD4+ T cells [measured as (spot forming cells/peripheral blood mononuclear cells); baseline: (661.25+/-281.97) *10(-6) vs. week 48: (280.75+/-104.33) *10(-6), P = 0.045]. In contrast, patients without HBeAg loss showed no significant differences in T cell response rates. The patient groups with and without HBeAg loss showed similar proportions of peripheral blood Tregs during the treatment course, which included a trend of gradual decrease from baseline to week 4 with steady levels thereafter. In addition, both groups showed a similar increase in NKG2D expression that began at week 12 and peaked at week 48.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HBV-specific T cell reactivity temporally increases in some ADV-treated chronic hepatitis B patients, and this trend is strongly associated with HBeAg loss. Furthermore, recovery of HBV-specific T cell reactivity promotes viral clearance and HBeAg seroconversion.</p>

Relation between HBsAg levels during the immune clearance phase of hepatitis B virus infection and liver pathological stages of chronic hepatitis B / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether the level of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) represents the status of inflammation and stages of fibrosis in livers of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) during the immune clearance phase (IC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Liver biopsy samples and sera were collected from 165 consecutive patients (136 males; 29 females) with CHB in IC who were treated in our hospital between March 2009 and June 2011. Routine biochemical tests were carried out to measure indicators of liver function. The relation between HBsAg level and liver pathological stages were determined by Spearman's rank correlation analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of HBsAg level for liver pathological stages. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze potentially relevant indicators, and liver pathology-predicting models were built and analyzed by the ROC method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean values of HBsAg (IU/mL) were significantly different at the different liver inflammation stages: G1, 27 716.07+/-32 870.69; G2, 34 478.75+/-40 899.55; G3, 19 408.09+/-24 881.07; G4, 14 286.31+/-28 610.14. Likewise, the mean values of HBsAg (IU/mL) were significantly different at the different liver fibrosis stages: S1, 41 337.23+/-43 236.39; S2, 27 264.32+/-32 517.29; S3, 111 541.77+/-11 538.93; S4, 11 447.37+/-22215.44. Spearman's rank correlation analysis indicated a significant correlation between HBsAg level and liver inflammation stage (rs = -0.244) and fibrosis stage (rs = -0.365). ROC curve analysis of the diagnostic value of HBsAg for inflammation stages S more than or equal to 4 revealed that the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.70. The specificity of diagnosing S more than or equal to 4 was > 95.16% when HBsAg was less than or equal to 32995 IU/mL. Binary logistic regression analysis identified age, serum albumin, cholinesterase, and HBsAg as independent predictors of liver fibrosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HBsAg level is negatively correlated with liver inflammation and fibrosis stages for patients with CHB in the IC phase, and might represent a useful noninvasive marker of the degree of hepatic fibrosis.</p>

Effects of xiongshao capsule combined with ischemic postconditioning on monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in rat myocardium with ischemic reperfusion injury / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate effect of Xiongshao Capsule (XSC) combined with ischemic postconditioning (IPoC) on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) contents as well as inflammatory cell infiltration (ICI) in myocardium of rat with ischemic reperfusion (I/R) injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-five Sprague-Dawley rats were equally randomized into 5 groups, the sham-operated group (A), the I/R group (B), the IPoC group (C), the fosinopril sodium plus IPoC group (D), and the XSC plus IPoC group (E). Excepting rats in Group A, all animals received I/R injury through a 30-min occlusion of left anterior descending artery followed by 1-h reperfusion. Additionally, IPoC (3 cycles of 10 s reperfusion/10 s of ischemia) was applied on rats in Group C before 1 h of reperfusion; while rats in Groups D and E were pretreated for 14 days with 0.9 mg/kg fosinopril sodium and 0.135 g/kg XSC respectively via gastrogavage, and the I/R injury with IPoC applied 2 h after the final gavage. Serum creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) levels were detected by colorimetric method, myocardial infarction size was measured by nitro blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) staining, MCP-1 and TNF-alpha contents in myocardial tissue were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and ICI was detected by HE staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with Group B, myocardial enzymes and infarction size were significantly decreased (P<0.01), contents of MCP-1, TNF-alpha and ICI in myocardial tissue were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01) in Group C. Compared with Group C, further reduced infarction size and release of myocardial enzyme CK-MB (P<0.01) were seen in Group E, and contents of MCP-1 and TNF-alpha as well as ICI in myocardial tissue in Group E were also significantly lower (P<0.05, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>XSC could enhance the protective effect of IPoC on rat with myocardial I/R injury, and the mechanism may be related to its inhibition on MCP-1 and TNF-alpha expressions as well as ICI suppression.</p>

Protective effect of fosinopril sodium pretreatment combined with ischemic postconditioning on rat heart underwent myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of fosinopril sodium pre-treatment combined with ischemic postconditioning on rat serum and myocardial oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines post ischemia/reperfusion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n = 15), ischemia/reperfusion group (30 minutes in situ occlusion of the left anterior descending artery followed by 1 hour reperfusion, n = 15), IPoC group (30 minutes occlusion of the left anterior descending artery followed by 3 cycles of 10 seconds of reperfusion/10 seconds of ischemia before 1 hour reperfusion, n = 15) and fosinopril sodium group [pretreated with fosinopril sodium (0.9 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1) for 14 days) followed by IPoC protocol at 2 h after the last gavage, n = 15]. The arterial blood and heart samples were extracted after 1 hour reperfusion. Serum CK-MB and cTnT levels were detected by colorimetric method, myocardial infarction size was measured by nitrotetrazolium blue chloride staining, SOD content was examined by colorimetric method, MDA content was detected using thiobarbituric acid method, serum levels of Interleukin-1α (IL-1α), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were examined by radioimmunoassay, IL-1α, IL-6 and TNF-α levels of myocardial tissue were detected by ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with I/R group, myocardial enzymes and infarction size were significantly decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), serum SOD content was increased and MDA content was decreased (all P < 0.01), serum and myocardial levels of IL-1α, IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly reduced (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in IPoC group. Compared with IPoC group, fosinopril sodium pretreatment further reduced infarction size and myocardial enzyme CK-MB (P < 0.05), increased SOD content (P < 0.05) while reduced serum IL-6 and myocardial tissue TNF-α (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Pretreatment with fosinopril sodium enhanced the protective effect of IPoC on rat myocardium underwent I/R injury, possibly by reducing oxidative stress and early inflammatory reaction.</p>

Effect of compound salvia injection on nitrate ester tolerance / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect and mechanism of Compound Salvia injection (CSI) on nitrate ester tolerance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-four patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) were randomly divided into three groups, Group A treated with isosorbide dinitrate (ISD, 15 mg, 4 times per day) alone, Group B with ISD plus CSI and Group C with ISD plus vitamin C. The therapeutic course for all groups was 10 days. The tolerance to nitrate ester and blood pressure were monitored. Before and after treatment, the color Doppler ultrasonic apparatus was used to detect the baseline value of humeral arterial internal diameters (D0), the humeral arterial dilatory response under compression [D1, that is, the flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD)] and the vasodilatory response after sucking of nitroglycerin (D2). And the blood levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA expression were determined. The endothelial-dependent vasodilation (EDD) was expressed by (D1 - D0)/D0 x 100%, and the endothelial-independent vasodilation (EID) was expressed by (D2 - D0)/D0 x 100%.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The occurrence rate of nitrate tolerance in Group B and C (28.57% and 35.7%) was lower than that in Group A (64.29%), but insignificant difference was found between the former two. (2) After treatment, blood pressure increased in Group A to the level of pre-treatment, that in Group C also increased but still lower than that of pre-treatment, while insignificant increase was observed in Group B, comparison between Group B and C showed significant difference (P < 0.05). (3) After treatment, EID lowered in Group A, EDD increased in Group B and C (P < 0.05), EDD and EID in Group B and C were higher than those in Group A (P < 0.05), and EDD was higher in Group B than in Group C (P < 0.05). (4) After treatment, ET-1 mRNA expression lowered in Group B, eNOS mRNA expression increased in Group B and C, with significant difference as compared with those before treatment and those in Group A (P < 0.05), and eNOS mRNA expression in Group C was lower than that in Group B (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CSI could partially prevent the occurrence of tolerance to nitrate ester, with the effect better than vitamin C, the mechanism might be related with its regulation on eNOS, ET-1 mRNA expression and protection on vascular endothelial function.</p>