Hyperbaric oxygen improves functional recovery of rats after spinal cord injury via activating stromal cell-derived factor-1/CXC chemokine receptor 4 axis and promoting brain-derived neurothrophic factor expression / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a worldwide medical concern. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism underlying the protective effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) against SCI-induced neurologic defects in rats via exploring the stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1)/CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) axis and expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).@*METHODS@#An acute SCI rat model was established in Sprague-Dawley rats using the Allen method. Sixty rats were divided into four groups (n = 15 in each group): sham-operated, SCI, SCI treated with HBO (SCI + HBO), and SCI treated with both HBO and AMD3100 (an antagonist of CXCR4; SCI + HBO + AMD) groups. The rats were treated with HBO twice a day for 3 days and thereafter once a day after the surgery for up to 28 days. Following the surgery, neurologic assessments were performed with the Basso-Bettie-Bresnahan (BBB) scoring system on postoperative day (POD) 7, 14, 21, and 28. Spinal cord tissues were harvested to assess the expression of SDF-1, CXCR4, and BDNF at mRNA and protein levels, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and histopathologic analysis.@*RESULTS@#HBO treatment recovered SCI-induced descent of BBB scores on POD 14, (1.25 ± 0.75 vs. 1.03 ± 0.66, P < 0.05), 21 (5.27 ± 0.89 vs. 2.56 ± 1.24, P < 0.05), and 28 (11.35 ± 0.56 vs. 4.23 ± 1.20, P < 0.05) compared with the SCI group. Significant differences were found in the mRNA levels of SDF-1 (mRNA: day 21, SCI + HBO vs. SCI + HBO + AMD, 2.89 ± 1.60 vs. 1.56 ± 0.98, P < 0.05), CXCR4 (mRNA: day 7, SCI + HBO vs. SCI, 2.99 ± 1.60 vs.1.31 ± 0.98, P < 0.05; day 14, SCI + HBO vs. SCI + HBO + AMD, 4.18 ± 1.60 vs. 0.80 ± 0.34, P < 0.05; day 21, SCI + HBO vs. SCI, 2.10 ± 1.01 vs.1.15 ± 0.03, P < 0.05), and BDNF (mRNA: day 7, SCI + HBO vs. SCI, 3.04 ± 0.41 vs. 2.75 ± 0.31, P < 0.05; day 14, SCI + HBO vs. SCI, 3.88 ± 1.59 vs. 1.11 ± 0.40, P < 0.05), indicating the involvement of SDF-1/CXCR4 axis in the protective effect of HBO.@*CONCLUSIONS@#HBO might promote the recovery of neurologic function after SCI in rats via activating the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis and promoting BDNF expression.

Effects of Bailing capsules for renal transplant recipients: a retrospective clinical study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The administration of immunosuppressive agents is always an important factor affecting the long-term survival of organ transplantation recipients. The best therapeutic regimen which either decreases the side effects of immune inhibitors or enhances the immunosuppressive efficacy is the goal of transplantation surgeons continue to search. This study investigated the effects of Bailing (Cordyceps sinensis) capsules on renal function and other systems of the body after renal transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 80 renal transplant recipients who were administered Bailing capsules and 100 renal transplant recipients in the control group were retrospectively analyzed to compare the incidences of graft rejection and infection after transplantation. The results of routine blood and urine tests, liver and kidney functions, uric acid (UA), 24-hour urine protein (24 h-Upro), as well as 1- and 5-year patient renal allograft survival rates were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The follow-up was 3 - 5 years. The two groups were not shown to have statistically significant differences in age, gender, cold ischemia time, donor-recipient human leukocyte antigen typing, panel reactive antibodies, lymphocytotoxicity tests, and the application of immunosuppressive agents at the baseline. The two groups were also not significantly different in the incidence of acute injection after transplantation, recovery of renal function, and blood glucose level. The Bailing group was significantly lower than the control in the incidence of infection, serum aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, UA, and 24-hour Upro, but significantly higher than the control group in peripheral red blood cell count and white blood cell count (P < 0.05). One-year and 5-year patient survival rates were 98.7% and 98.0%, respectively in the Bailing group, 95.0% and 93.0%, respectively, in the control group. One-year and 5-year renal allograft survival rates were 97.5% and 95.0%, respectively, in the Bailing group, and 92.5% and 84.0%, respectively, in the control group. The comparison of patient and renal allograft survival rates between the two groups using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank test showed that only the differences in renal allograft survival rates were statistically significant (Log-rank: 5 years: patient survival P = 0.420; renal allograft survival P = 0.049).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Bailing capsules were effective in preventing allograft rejection, protecting liver and kidney functions, stimulating hematopoiesis, and reducing the incidence of infection and thus are ideal immunoregulators.</p>