Quercetin plays a neuroprotective role in inhibiting mitochondrial apoptosis by mediating JNK signaling pathway / 中国药理学通报

Aim To study the mechanism of quereetin (Que) inhibiting mitochondrial damage induced by Aβ

Granzyme B: A novel therapeutic target for treatment of atopic dermatitis

Granzyme B is a serine protease that can play multiple roles in intracellular and extracellular perforin-dependent or non-perforin-dependent mechanisms. Granzyme B has been found to be an important factor involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis and is increased in both skin lesions and peripheral blood of atopic dermatitis patients. In this article, we review the correlation between granzyme B and atopic dermatitis to provide a novel therapeutic targeting option for clinical treatment of the latter.

Clinical efficacy of fire needling combined with cupping therapy on herpes zoster of acute stage and the effect on Th17/Treg cellular immune balance / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical efficacy between the combined therapy of fire needling and cupping, and western medication on herpes zoster of acute stage, as well as the effects on Th17 and Treg cells and inflammatory factors, i.e. IL-10 and IL-17 in the peripheral blood.@*METHODS@#Eighty patients with herpes zoster of acute stage were randomly divided into a combined therapy (fire needling plus cupping) group and a western medication group, 40 cases in each one. In the combined therapy group, the pricking and scattering techniques with fire needle were used at ashi points and Jiaji (EX-B 2) corresponding to the affected spinal segments; afterwards, cupping therapy was delivered. The combined treatment was given once daily. In the western medication group, valaciclovir hydrochloride tablet and vitamin B1 tablet were administered orally. The duration of treatment in each group was 10 days. Before each treatment from day 1 to day 10 and on day 11 , the score of symptoms and physical signs was observed in the two groups separately. Before each treatment from day 1 to day 10 and on day 11, 30, 60, the score of visual analogue scale (VAS) and skin lesion indexes were observed in the two groups. On day 60, the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia was recorded in the two groups. The levels of Th17 and Treg cells, Th17/Treg ratio in the peripheral blood, as well as serum levels of IL-10 and IL-17 were detected before and after treatment in the two groups. The clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups.@*RESULTS@#From day 6 to day 10 during treatment and on day 11, the scores of symptoms and physical signs in the combined therapy group were lower than those of the western medication group (P<0.05, P<0.01). On day 3, day 6 to day 10 during treatment and day 11, day 30, VAS scores in the combined therapy group were lower than those of the western medication group (P<0.05, P<0.01). On day 60, the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia in the combined therapy group was lower compared with that in the western medication group (P<0.05). The blister arresting time and scabbing time in the combined therapy group were shorter than those of the western medication group (P<0.05). After treatment, the level of Th17, and Th17/Treg ratio in the peripheral blood, as well as the serum levels of IL-10 and IL-17 were all lower in comparison with those in the western medication group (P<0.05). The curative and remarkably effective rate was 82.5% (33/40) in the combined therapy group, higher than 62.5% (25/40) in the western medication group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The early application of fire needling combined with cupping therapy can effectively treat herpes zoster of acute stage, relieve pain, and reduce the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia, which may be related to reducing the levels of Th17 and Treg cells, and Th17/Treg ratio in the peripheral blood, as well as the serum levels of IL-10 and IL-17 so that the cellular immune balance is modulated.

Acupuncture-Neuroimaging Research Trends over Past Two Decades: A Bibliometric Analysis / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To identify topics attracting growing research attention as well as frontier trends of acupuncture-neuroimaging research over the past two decades.@*METHODS@#This paper reviewed data in the published literature on acupuncture neuroimaging from 2000 to 2020, which was retrieved from the Web of Science database. CiteSpace was used to analyze the publication years, countries, institutions, authors, keywords, co-citation of authors, journals, and references.@*RESULTS@#A total of 981 publications were included in the final review. The number of publications has increased in the recent 20 years accompanied by some fluctuations. Notably, the most productive country was China, while Harvard University ranked first among institutions in this field. The most productive author was Tian J with the highest number of articles (50), whereas the most co-cited author was Hui KKS (325). Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (92) was the most prolific journal, while Neuroimage was the most co-cited journal (538). An article written by Hui KKS (2005) exhibited the highest co-citation number (112). The keywords "acupuncture" (475) and "electroacupuncture" (0.10) had the highest frequency and centrality, respectively. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) ranked first with the highest citation burst (6.76).@*CONCLUSION@#The most active research topics in the field of acupuncture-neuroimaging over the past two decades included research type, acupoint specificity, neuroimaging methods, brain regions, acupuncture modality, acupoint specificity, diseases and symptoms treated, and research type. Whilst research frontier topics were "nerve regeneration", "functional connectivity", "neural regeneration", "brain network", "fMRI" and "manual acupuncture".

Comparison of HPLC fingerprints and determination of main components of Viticis Fructus from different species / 中国中药杂志

In order to comprehensively evaluate the quality of Viticis Fructus, this study established HPLC fingerprints and evaluated the quality of 24 batches of Viticis Fructus samples from different species by similarity evaluation and multivariate statistical analysis(PCA, HCA, PLS-DA). On this basis, an HPLC method was established to compare the content differences of the main components, including casticin, agnuside, homoorientin, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid. The analysis was performed on the chromatographic column(Waters Symmetry C_(18)) with a gradient mobile phase of acetonitrile(A)-0.05% phosphoric acid solution(B) at the flow rate of 1 mL·min~(-1) and detection wavelength of 258 nm. The column temperature was 30 ℃ and the injection volume was 10 μL. The HPLC fingerprint of 24 batches of Viticis Fructus samples was established with 21 common peaks, and nine peaks were identified. Similarity analysis was carried out based on chromatographic data of 24 batches of chromatographic data of Viticis Fructus, and the results showed that except for DYMJ-16, the similarity of Vitex trifolia var. simplicifolia was ≥0.900, while that of V. trifolia was ≤0.864. In addition, the similarity analysis of two different species showed that the similarity of 16 batches of V. trifolia var. simplicifolia was 0.894-0.997 and that of the eight batches of V. trifolia was between 0.990 and 0.997. The results showed that the similarity of fingerprints of these two species was different, but the similarity between the same species was good. The results of the three multivariate statistical analyses were consistent, which could distinguish the two different species. The VIP analysis results of PLS-DA showed that casticin and agnuside contributed the most to the distinction. The content determination results showed that there was no significant difference in the content of homoorientin and p-hydroxybenzoic acid in Viticis Fructus from different species, but the content of casticin and agnuside was significantly different in different species(P<0.01). The content of casticin was higher in V. trifolia var. simplicifolia, while agnuside was higher in V. trifolia. The findings of this study show that there are differences in fingerprint similarity and component content of Viticis Fructus from different species, which can provide references for the in-depth study of the quality and clinical application of Viticis Fructus.

Acteoside promotes autophagy and apoptosis of hepatoma cells by regulating JNK signaling pathway / 中国中药杂志

This study explored the molecular mechanism of acteoside against hepatoma 22(H22) tumor in mice through c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK) signaling pathway. H22 cells were subcutaneously inoculated in 50 male BALB/c mice, and then the model mice were classified into model group, low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose acteoside groups, and cisplatin group. The administration lasted 2 weeks for each group(5 consecutive days/week). The general conditions of mice in each group, such as mental status, diet intake, water intake, activity, and fur were observed. The body weight, tumor volume, tumor weight, and tumor-inhibiting rate were compared before and after administration. Morphological changes of liver cancer tissues were observed based on hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining, and the expression of phosphorylated(p)-JNK, JNK, B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), Beclin-1, and light chain 3(LC3) in each tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. qRT-PCR was performed to detect the mRNA expression of JNK, Bcl-2, Beclin-1, and LC3. The general conditions of mice in model and low-dose acteoside groups were poor, while the general conditions of mice in the remaining three groups were improved. The body weight of mice in medium-dose acteoside group, high-dose acteoside group, and cisplatin group was smaller than that in model group(P<0.01). The tumor volume in model group was insignificantly different from that in low-dose acteoside group, and the volume in cisplatin group showed no significant difference from that in high-dose acteoside group. Tumor volume and weight in medium-dose and high-dose acteoside groups and cisplatin group were lower than those in the model group(P<0.001). The tumor-inhibiting rates were 10.72%, 40.32%, 53.79%, and 56.44% in the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose acteoside groups and cisplatin group, respectively. HE staining showed gradual decrease in the count of hepatoma cells and increasing sign of cell necrosis in the acteoside and cisplatin groups, and the necrosis was particularly obvious in the high-dose acteoside group and cisplatin group. Immunohistochemical results suggested that the expression of Beclin-1, LC3, p-JNK, and JNK was up-regulated in acteoside and cisplatin groups(P<0.05). The results of immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and qRT-PCR indicated that the expression of Bcl-2 was down-regulated in the medium-dose and high-dose acteoside groups and cisplatin group(P<0.01). Western blot showed that the expression of Beclin-1, LC3, and p-JNK was up-regulated in acteoside and cisplatin groups(P<0.01), and there was no difference in the expression of JNK among groups. qRT-PCR results showed that the levels of Beclin-1 and LC3 mRNA were up-regulated in the acteoside and cisplatin groups(P<0.05), and the level of JNK mRNA was up-regulated in medium-dose and high-dose acteoside groups and cisplatin group(P<0.001). Acteoside promotes apoptosis and autophagy of H22 cells in mice hepatoma cells by up-regulating the JNK signaling pathway, thus inhibiting tumor growth.

Expert consensus on late stage of critical care management / 中华内科杂志

We wished to establish an expert consensus on late stage of critical care (CC) management. The panel comprised 13 experts in CC medicine. Each statement was assessed based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) principle. Then, the Delphi method was adopted by 17 experts to reassess the following 28 statements. (1) ESCAPE has evolved from a strategy of delirium management to a strategy of late stage of CC management. (2) The new version of ESCAPE is a strategy for optimizing treatment and comprehensive care of critically ill patients (CIPs) after the rescue period, including early mobilization, early rehabilitation, nutritional support, sleep management, mental assessment, cognitive-function training, emotional support, and optimizing sedation and analgesia. (3) Disease assessment to determine the starting point of early mobilization, early rehabilitation, and early enteral nutrition. (4) Early mobilization has synergistic effects upon the recovery of organ function. (5) Early functional exercise and rehabilitation are important means to promote CIP recovery, and gives them a sense of future prospects. (6) Timely start of enteral nutrition is conducive to early mobilization and early rehabilitation. (7) The spontaneous breathing test should be started as soon as possible, and a weaning plan should be selected step-by-step. (8) The waking process of CIPs should be realized in a planned and purposeful way. (9) Establishment of a sleep-wake rhythm is the key to sleep management in post-CC management. (10) The spontaneous awakening trial, spontaneous breathing trial, and sleep management should be carried out together. (11) The depth of sedation should be adjusted dynamically in the late stage of CC period. (12) Standardized sedation assessment is the premise of rational sedation. (13) Appropriate sedative drugs should be selected according to the objectives of sedation and drug characteristics. (14) A goal-directed minimization strategy for sedation should be implemented. (15) The principle of analgesia must be mastered first. (16) Subjective assessment is preferred for analgesia assessment. (17) Opioid-based analgesic strategies should be selected step-by-step according to the characteristics of different drugs. (18) There must be rational use of non-opioid analgesics and non-drug-based analgesic measures. (19) Pay attention to evaluation of the psychological status of CIPs. (20) Cognitive function in CIPs cannot be ignored. (21) Delirium management should be based on non-drug-based measures and rational use of drugs. (22) Reset treatment can be considered for severe delirium. (23) Psychological assessment should be conducted as early as possible to screen-out high-risk groups with post-traumatic stress disorder. (24) Emotional support, flexible visiting, and environment management are important components of humanistic management in the intensive care unit (ICU). (25) Emotional support from medical teams and families should be promoted through"ICU diaries"and other forms. (26) Environmental management should be carried out by enriching environmental content, limiting environmental interference, and optimizing the environmental atmosphere. (27) Reasonable promotion of flexible visitation should be done on the basis of prevention of nosocomial infection. (28) ESCAPE is an excellent project for late stage of CC management.

Effects of mycorrhizal planting on small molecular chemical components of Dendrobium officinale / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to provide a scientific basis for the application of the mycorrhizal planting technology of Dendrobium officinale by investigating the effects of mycorrhizal planting on the fingerprints of D. officinale and the content of six chemical components. Seventeen samples of D. officinale under mycorrhizal and conventional planting were collected from four regions, such as Jinhua of Zhejiang. The HPLC fingerprints were established to evaluate the similarity of the samples. The content of six chemical components of the samples was determined by HPLC. There were 15 common peaks in the fingerprints, and five of them were identified by marker compounds, which were naringenin, 4,4'-dihydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybibenzyl, 3,4'-dihydroxy-5-methoxybibenzyl, 3',4-dihydroxy-3,5'-dimethoxybibenzyl(gigantol), and 3,4-dihydroxy-4',5-dimethoxybibenzyl(DDB-2). The similarities of the fingerprints of mycorrhizal and conventional planting samples and the control fingerprint were in the ranges of 0.733-0.936 and 0.834-0.942, respectively. The influences of mycorrhizal planting on fingerprints were related to planting regions, the germplasm of D. officianle, and the amount of fungal agent. The content of six chemical components in the samples varied greatly, and the content of DDB-2 was the highest, ranging from 69.83 to 488.47 μg·g~(-1). The mycorrhizal planting samples from Chongming of Shanghai and Taizhou of Jiangsu showed an increase in the content of 5-6 components, while samples from Zhangzhou of Fujian and Jinhua of Zhejiang showed an increase in the content of 1-2 components. The results showed that mycorrhizal planting technology did not change the chemical profile of small molecular chemical components of D. officinale, but affected the content of chemical components such as bibenzyls, which has a good application prospect.

Experimental study of cardioprotective effects of Cinnamomi Ramulus and Cinnamomi Cortex formula granules on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats based on efficacy of "warming and coordinating heart Yang" / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to parallelly investigate the cardioprotective activity of Cinnamomi Ramulus formula granules(CRFG) and Cinnamomi Cortex formula granules(CCFG) against acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury(MI/RI) and the underlying mechanism based on the efficacy of "warming and coordinating the heart Yang". Ninety male SD rats were randomly divided into a sham group, a model group, CRFG low and high-dose(0.5 and 1.0 g·kg~(-1)) groups, and CCFG low and high-dose(0.5 and 1.0 g·kg~(-1)) groups, with 15 rats in each group. The sham group and the model group were given equal volumes of normal saline by gavage. Before modeling, the drug was given by gavage once a day for 7 consecutive days. One hour after the last administration, the MI/RI rat model was established by ligating the left anterior descending artery(LAD) for 30 min ischemia followed by 2 h reperfusion except the sham group. The sham group underwent the same procedures without LAD ligation. Heart function, cardiac infarct size, cardiac patho-logy, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, cardiac injury enzymes, and inflammatory cytokines were determined to assess the protective effects of CRFG and CCFG against MI/RI. The gene expression levels of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain protein 3(NLRP3) inflammasome, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD(ASC), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1(caspase-1), Gasdermin-D(GSDMD), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), and interleukin-18(IL-18) were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). The protein expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, GSDMD, and N-GSDMD were determined by Western blot. The results showed that both CRFG and CCFG pretreatments significantly improved cardiac function, decreased the cardiac infarct size, inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and reduced the content of lactic dehydrogenase(LDH), creatine kinase MB isoenzyme(CK-MB), aspartate transaminase(AST), and cardiac troponin Ⅰ(cTnⅠ). In addition, CRFG and CCFG pretreatments significantly decreased the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in serum. RT-PCR results showed that CRFG and CCFG pretreatment down-regulated the mRNA expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, ASC, and downstream pyroptosis-related effector substances including GSDMD, IL-18, and IL-1β in cardiac tissues. Western blot revealed that CRFG and CCFG pretreatments significantly decreased the protein expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, GSDMD, and N-GSDMD in cardiac tissues. In conclusion, CRFG and CCFG pretreatments have obvious cardioprotective effects on MI/RI in rats, and the under-lying mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway to reduce the cardiac inflammatory response.

A real-world study of the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir and velpatasvir in the treatment of HCV-infected patients in a county in northern China / 中华肝脏病杂志

Objective: To evaluate the real-world efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir and velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) tablets in the treatment of Chinese patients with chronic HCV infection. Methods: An open-label, single-center, prospective clinical study was conducted in a county in northern China. A total of 299 cases were enrolled. Of these, 161 cases with chronic hepatitis C and 73 cases with compensated cirrhosis received SOF/VEL for 12 weeks. 65 cases with decompensated cirrhosis received SOF/VEL combined with ribavirin for 12 weeks (22 cases) or SOF/VEL for 24 weeks (43 cases). Virological indicators, liver and renal function indexes, and liver stiffness measurement were detected at baseline, the fourth week of treatment, the end of treatment, and the 12-weeks of follow-up. Adverse reactions and laboratory abnormalities were observed during the course of treatment . The primary endpoint was undetectable rate of HCV RNA (SVR12) at 12 weeks of follow-up with the use of modified intention-to-treat (mITT) approach. Measurement data between two groups were compared using t-test. One Way ANOVA was used for comparison between multiple groups. Enumeration data were analyzed by chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Results: 291 cases had completed treatment. HCV RNA was undetectable after 12 weeks of follow-up, and the SVR12 rate was 97.3% (95% confidence interval: 95.4%-99.3%). Among them, 97.4% of genotype 1b, 96.4% of genotype 2a, and 100% of those with undetected genotype achieved SVR12. The SVR12 rates in patients with chronic hepatitis C, compensated and decompensated liver cirrhosis were 98.1%, 98.6% and 93.8%, respectively. An improvement in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and other liver biochemical indicators accompanied with virological clearance and reduced liver stiffness measurement was observed in patients with compensated cirrhosis, with statistically significant difference. There was no significant abnormality in renal function before and after treatment. The most common adverse reactions were fatigue, headache, epigastric discomfort and mild diarrhea. The overall adverse reactions were mild. One patient died of decompensated liver cirrhosis combined with massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding, which was unrelated to antiviral treatment. Four patients discontinued treatment prematurely due to adverse events. Relapse was occurred in four cases, and drug-resistance related mutations were detected in three cases. Conclusion: Sofosbuvir and velpatasvir tablets in Chinese HCV-infected patients with different genotypes, different clinical stages or previously treated with pegylated interferon combined with ribavirin resulted in higher SVR12, indicating that the treatment safety profile is good.

The Effect of Doxycycline on the Expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in Multiple Myeloma / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients, and analyze the effect of doxycycline (DOX) on the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in MM cells.@*METHODS@#The peripheral blood and bone marrow samples of MM patients were collected, and the patients were divided into three groups: newly diagnosed group, remission group and relapsed/refractory group, while the peripheral blood samples of 34 health people and the bone marrow samples of 17 IDA patients were selected as normal control and control group. The levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were detected by ELISA. The protein levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in H929 cells treated by different concentrations of DOX were analyzed by Western blot. After H929 cells was treated by Akt inhibitor MK-2206 2HCl in combination with DOX, Western blot was used to detect the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9.@*RESULTS@#The levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in newly diagnosed MM patients were higher than those in control (P<0.05), while for the patients in the remission group were decreased, but still higher than those in control. The levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were increased again for the patients in relapsed/refractory group, and showed no significant difference as compared with those in newly diagnosed group. The levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 could be inhibited by 10 mg/L and 15 mg/L DOX treated by H929 cell. The protein levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 showed no altered in H929 cells treated by 5 nmol/L MK-2206 2HCl alone. DOX exerted more profound inhibitory effect to MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in H929 cells when Akt inhibitor MK-2206 2HCl was combined with DOX.@*CONCLUSION@#The levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 are increased in MM patients and related to the disease status of MM. DOX can inhibit the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in MM cells, and antagonizing its activation of Akt signaling pathway can further enhance the inhibitory effect.

Effect of Doxycycline on Intrinsic Apoptosis of Myeloma Cell Line H929 and Its Mechanism / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the mechanism of the in vitro toxicity of doxycycline to myeloma cell line H929 and also the possible pathway involved its toxicity.@*METHODS@#Myeloma cell line H929 was treated with DOX, MEK inhibitor U0126 or RAS agonist ML-098, either alone or in combination. Then, the expression of p-MEK, caspase-3, caspase-9 and c-Jun in H929 were used to detected by Western blot; the cells proliferation and apoptosis were detected by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively.@*RESULTS@#DOX significantly increased the levels of cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9, and down-regulated the level of p-MEK in H929 (P<0.05). MEK antagonist U0126 significantly increased the levels of cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9, and down-regulated the level of p-MEK (P<0.05). After Dox combined with ML-098 treatment of H929 cells, the apoptosis rate of H929 cells was lower than that of DOX alone treatment group(P<0.05). Compared with DOX alone treatment group, the expressions of p-MEK and p-ERK1/2 in DOX+ML-098 combined treatment group were increased, and the levels of cleaved caspase-3,9 in H929 cells were decreased (P<0.05). The levels of c-Jun mRNA and protein increased in H929 when treated by DOX alone (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#DOX can induce apoptosis of H929 via intrinsic apoptosis pathway, and MEK/ERK pathway and c-Jun possibly play a role in this process.

Application of Tiaoshen Jianpi acupuncture and moxibustion in hospice care for terminal cancer patients / 中国针灸

To analyze the application feasibility of Tiaoshen Jianpi acupuncture and moxibustion in hospice care for terminal cancer patients. Tiaoshen Jianpi acupuncture and moxibustion adjusts the spirit to regulate emotions and fortifies the spleen to supplement and boost foundation of acquired (postnatal) constitution. And it could relieve adverse reactions after radiotherapy and chemotherapy, alleviate pain and regulate emotions in hospice care for terminal cancer patients, so as to promote the progress of hospice care for terminal cancer patients.

Oxymatrine inhibits the pyroptosis in rat insulinoma cells by affecting nuclear factor kappa B and nuclear factor (erythroidderived 2)-like 2 protein/heme oxygenase-1 pathways

As the mechanism underlying glucose metabolism regulation by oxymatrine is unclear, this study investigated the effects of oxymatrine on pyroptosis in INS-1 cells. Flow cytometry was employed to examine cell pyroptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Cell pyroptosis was also investigated via transmission electron microscopy and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Protein levels were detected using western blotting and interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 secretion by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The caspase-1 activity and DNA-binding activity of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 protein (Nrf2) were also assessed. In the high glucose and high fat-treated INS-1 cells (HG + PA), the caspase-1 activity and LDH content, as well as Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3, Gsdmd-N, caspase-1, apoptosis-associated specklike protein containing a CARD, IL-1β, and IL-18 levels were increased. Moreover, P65 protein levels increased in the nucleus but decreased in the cytoplasm. Oxymatrine attenuated these effects and suppressed high glucose and high fat-induced ROS production. The increased levels of nuclear Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the HG + PA cells were further elevated after oxymatrine treatment, whereas cytoplasmic Nrf2 and Keleh-like ECH-associated protein levels decreased. Additionally, the elevated transcriptional activity of p65 in HG + PA cells was reduced by oxymatrine, whereas that of Nrf2 increased. The results indicate that the inhibition of pyroptosis in INS-1 cells by oxymatrine, a key factor in its glucose metabolism regulation, involves the suppression of the NF-κB pathway and activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Effect of Danggui Niantongtang on Autophagy and Apoptosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblast-like Synoviocyte / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Danggui Niantongtang （DGNTT） on cell apoptosis and autophagy in rheumatoid arthritis （RA） fibroblast-like synoviocytes （FLS）. MethodRA-FLS were isolated and cultured from the synovial tissue of RA patients. The cells were treated with 10% blank serum （blank control group）， 10% sera containing low， medium and high doses of DGNTT. Wound healing assa and cell invasion test were applied to observe the effect of RA-FLS invasion technique. The apoptosis and autophagy level of RA-FLS cells was detected by Hoechst33342 method and monodansylcadaverine （MDC） staining. The mRNA and protein expression levels of B cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2 associated X protein （Bax）， microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3）， autophagy key molecular yeast Atg6 homolog 1 （Beclin1） were detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR）and Western blot. ResultCompared with the blank control group，each dose of serum could slow down the wound healing and significantly Reduce the number of RA-FLS cells invading the lower chamber（P<0.01），the mRNA and protein expression levels of Bcl-2，LC3，Beclin1 were significantly decreased（P<0.01）， and Bax were significantly increased（P<0.01）. Hoechst33342 results showed that low， medium and high doses DGNTT could promote RA-FLS cell apoptosis. After MDC staining，autophagosome in low， medium and high doses DGNTT decreased significantly（P<0.01）. ConclusionDanggui Niantongtang can effectively inhibit the proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes. Its mechanism may be related to promote apoptosis and inhibit autophagy of fibroblast-like synoviocytes.

Effect of Danggui Niantongtang on Expression of Autophagy-related Proteins LC3， Beclin1 and p62 in Rats with Adjuvant Arthritis Differentiated into Wind-damp-heat Impediment / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the preventive and control effects of Danggui Niantongtang against adjuvant arthritis differentiated into wind-damp-heat impediment in rats and its influences on the expression of autophagy-related proteins microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3）， homolog of yeast Atg6 （Beclin1） and p62. MethodThe six-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into the normal group， wind-damp-heat impediment model group， low-， medium-， and high-dose Danggui Niantongtang （5.67， 11.34， 22.68 g·kg-1） groups， and methotrexate （MTX， 1.35 mg·kg-1） group， with 10 rats in each group. A rat model of adjuvant arthritis was established by subcutaneous injection of inactivated Mycobacterium tuberculosis into the tail root， followed by exposure to the manual climatic box for 16 d for inducing the wind-damp-heat impediment. The drugs were administered intragastrically on the day of immunization for 28 d. The general conditions of rats were observed and the swelling degree of toes and arthritis index （AI） were detected. The pathological changes in the synovial tissues of the knee joints were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The mRNA expression levels of LC3， Beclin1， and p62 in the synovial tissues were measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， followed by the assay of their protein expression by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. ResultCompared with the normal group， the wind-damp-heat impediment model group exhibited significantly increased swelling degree of toes （P<0.01）， increased AI （P<0.01）， proliferated synovial cells （P<0.01）， up-regulated LC3 and Beclin1 protein and mRNA expression （P<0.01）， and down-regulated p62 protein and mRNA expression （P<0.01） after 16， 20， 24， 28-d medication. Compared with the wind-damp-heat impediment model group， each medication group displayed alleviated toe swelling and synovial hyperplasia to different degrees， decreased mRNA and protein expression levels of LC3 and Beclin1 （P<0.01）， and increased p62 mRNA and protein expression （P<0.05，P<0.01）， with the best outcomes observed in the medium-dose Danggui Niantongtang group. ConclusionDanggui Niantongtang effectively relieves adjuvant arthritis due to wind-damp-heat impediment in rats， which may be related to its regulation of the expression of autophagy-related proteins LC3， Beclin1， and p62 and the inhibition of autophagy.

Effect of Anti-Oxidative of Ethyl Pyruvate and Taurine on the Red Blood Cell Storage at 4 ℃ / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the anti-oxidative effect of ethyl pyruvate (EP) and taurine (TAU) on the quality of red blood cells stored at 4±2 ℃, hemolysis, energy metabolism and lipid peroxidation of the red blood cells in the preservation solution were studied at different intervals.@*METHODS@#At 4±2 ℃, the deleukocyte red blood cells were stored in the citrate-phosphate-dextrosesaline-adenine-1 (CPDA-1) preservation (control group), preservation solution with EP (EP-AS), and TAU (TAU-AS) for long-term preservation. The enzyme-linked immunoassay and automatic blood cell analyzer were used to detect hemolysis and erythrocyte parameters. Adenine nucleoside triphosphate (ATP), glycerol 2,3-diphosphate (2,3-DPG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) kits were used to test the ATP, 2,3-DPG and MDA concentration.@*RESULTS@#During the preservation, the rate of red blood cell hemolysis in EP-AS and TAU-AS groups were significantly lower than that in CPDA-1 group (P<0.01). The MCV of EP-AS group was increased with the preservation time (r=0.71), while the MCV of the TAU-AS group was significantly lower than that in the other two groups (P<0.05). The concentration of ATP and MDA in EP-AS and TAU-AS groups were significantly higher than that in CPDA-1 group at the 14th day (P<0.01). The concentrations of 2,3-DPG in the EP-AS and TAU-AS groups were significantly higher than that in the CPDA-1 group from the 7th day (P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#EP and TAU can significantly reduce the red blood cell hemolysis rate, inhibit the lipid peroxidation level of red blood cells, and improve the energy metabolism of red blood cells during storage. The mechanism of EP and TAU may be related to their antioxidation and membrane protection effect, so as to improve the red blood cell quality and extend the preservation time.

Research on cost-benefit analysis of in-hospital falls: based on real world data / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective:Based on the real-world clinical data of hospital electronic medical records, to analyze the length of stay and healthcare costs associated with in-hospital falls and fall injuries in hospitals.Methods:Based on the electronic medical record system of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, a retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients admitted to these departments reported falls in nursing management information system from January 2017 to December 2019. A total of 38 481 patients from 74 units were enrolled in this study. The patients′ characteristics, falls, falls injury, and explore the length of hospital stay and bottom-up direct cost were analyzed.Results:A total of 243 cases (0.6%) fell and 154 cases (63.4%) were injured by falls from January 2017 to December 2019. Compared with non-fallers, the median length of stay of patients with falls was 19 days, which was significantly increased compared with 7 days of patients without falls ( Z=-15.18, P<0.05). The median hospitalization cost of patients with falls was 39 000 yuan, which was significantly higher than 16 300 yuan of patients without falls ( Z=-11.47, P<0.01). There was no statistical difference between non-injuried fallers and injuried fallers for length of stay and healthcare costs ( Z=-0.92, -0.64, P>0.05). Linear regression model analysis showed that gender, age, comorbidity, inpatient department unit, reason of hospitalization were significantly correlated with inpatient cost and length of stay ( F=280.05, 217.31, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Patients who have an in-hospital fall have significantly longer hospital stays and higher direct costs, mainly can be attributed to the fall itself, not the injury. Our findings have important financial implications for real world in light of optimal intervention strategies, resource allocation and economic evaluation of fall prevention.

The Application of the Mosoteach-based Mobile Interactive Teaching Modein Literature Reading and Discussion of the Molecular Biology Course / 中国生物化学与分子生物学报

Graduate education emphasizes the development of students’ scientific research andinnovation abilities. Literature reading and discussion (LRD) plays an active role in the development ofinnovative thinking and critical thinking for graduate students. However, in traditional, large molecularbiology classes, the effective implementation of large-scale, collective LRD presents a great challenge. Mosoteach is a cloud-based free app designed specifically for education with powerful human-computerinteraction and human-human interaction functions. In the present study, LRD was introduced into amolecular biology course for graduate students and was conducted via the Mosoteach app. The onlinediscussion board in the Mosoteach cloud class was restricted to enrolled students and was designated theprivate online discussion board (PODB). The PODB built a sense of community for students and was aneffective approach for organizing and facilitating discussion in large classes. Small-group learning in LRDwas helpful to understand the literature and foster collaboration and discussion. Overall, we demonstratedthat Mosoteach-based LRD was helpful in improving student learning outcomes. The relationship betweenstudent learning style and engagement, satisfaction and academic performance in cloud classes meritsfurther investigation.

Relationship between the G894T polymorphism of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene and lipid metabolism among hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy patients / 解剖学报

Objective To investigate the relationship between the G894T polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene and the lipid metabolism in patients with irypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (HDCP). Methods The 528 cases of HDCP patients admitted to the Xingtai Third Hospital from January 2016 to January 2020 were selected as the research objects, and 128 normal pregnant women during the same period were selected as the control group. The fasting peripheral venous blood of all stud)' subjects in the early morning was collected, and blood lipid indexes, cystatin C (CysC) and uric acid levels and other biochemical index levels were measured. According to the blood lipid level, it was divided into normal blood lipid group and dyslipidemia group. The dyslipidemia group included 4 subgroups [ hyper triglyceride (TG) blood group (T G