Effect of Chinese drugs for strengthening Pi, harmonizing Wei, and dispersing blood stasis on the expression of gastric mucosal heat shock protein 70 in chronic atrophic gastritis patients / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Chinese drugs for strengthening Pi, harmonizing Wei, and dispersing blood stasis (CDSPHWDBS) on the expression of gastric mucosal heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 100 CAG patients were assigned to the control group and the treatment group by random digit table, 50 in each group. Patients in the control group took Folic Acid Tablet 10 mg each time, 3 times per day. Those in the treatment group took CDSPHWDBS, 100 mL each time, once per day. The treatment course was 6 months for all. Clinical symptoms and signs, endoscopic and histopathological changes were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. The expression of gastric mucosal HSP70 in CAG patients was determined using SP immunohistochemistry. Data were collected by HPIAS-1 000 pathological graphic analysis system, and its expression semi-quantitatively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate of clinical Chinese medical symptoms and signs was 88. 0% (44/50 cases) in the treatment group and 56. 0% (28/50 cases) in the control group, with significant difference between the two groups (P <0. 01). The improvement rate of endoscopic manifestations such as congestion and edema, erosion, bile regurgitation, pale gastric mucosa, exposed blood vessels, particles proliferation in the treatment group were superior to those in the control group (P <0. 05). The total effective rate of atrophy was 80. 0% (40/50 cases) in the treatment group and 54. 0% (27/50 cases) in the control group, with significant difference between the two groups (P<0. 01). The effective rate of intestinal metaplasia was 75. 0% (12/16 cases) in the treatment group and 33.3% (5/15 cases) in the control group, with significant difference between the two groups (P < 0. 05). The optical density value of gastric mucosal HSP70 was significantly elevated in the two groups after treatment (both P <0. 05). It was higher in the treatment group than in the control group after treatment with significant difference (P <0. 01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CDSPHWDBS had obvious effect in treatment of CAG and could improve pathological changes of precancerous lesions possibly by promoting the expression of gastric mucosal HSP70 in CAG patients.</p>

T lymphocyte subgroups and serum levels of trace elements in patients with diarrhea type of irritable bowel syndrome / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the T lymphocyte subgroups and the levels of serum zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), iron (Fe), copper (Cu) in patients with diarrhea type of irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 30 D-IBS patients and 30 control subjects were enrolled in this study, and their peripheral blood samples were collected. The percentage of peripheral CD3, CD4, CD8 T lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry, and the ratio of CD4/CD8 was calculated. Serum Zn, Fe and Cu levels were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry(AAS), and the Se level by atomic fluorometry.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with control group,the percentage of CD4 T lymphocyte and the ratio of CD4/CD8 in D-IBS group were significantly lower (P<0.01). However, there was no significant difference in serum Zn, Se, Fe, Cu levels between two groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The declines of peripheral blood CD4 T lymphocytes and the ratio of CD4/CD8 may suggest a cellular immune abnormality in D-IBS patients. There was no significant difference in trace elements levels between the two groups.</p>

Advanced oxidation protein products induce monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression via p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in rat vascular smooth muscle cells / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) are new uremic toxins reported by Witko-Sarsat in 1996, which are associated with the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms by which AOPPs enhance atherosclerosis have not been fully understood. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a chemokine which stimulates migration of monocytes and plays a critical role in the development of atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated the effect of AOPPs on MCP-1 expression in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>VSMCs were cultured and then co-incubated with AOPP (200 micromol/L, 400 micromol/L) for different times with or without pretreatment with specific p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor SB203580. RT-PCR and Western blott were used to detect MCP-1 mRNA and protein expression at different time points after AOPP stimulation in rat smooth muscle cells. Western blot was used to detect the expression of phosphorylated p38 MAPK.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Treatment of VSMC with AOPPs resulted in a significant increase of the expression of MCP-1 mRNA and protein in time- and dose-dependent manner, and could activated p38 MAPK. Pretreatment of VSMCs with SB203580 resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of AOPPs-induced MCP-1 mRNA and protein expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>AOPPs can stimulate MCP-1 expression via p38 MAPK in VSMCs. This suggests that AOPPs might contribute to the formation of atherosclerosis through this proinflammatory effect.</p>

C-reactive protein as an important prognostic marker for ischemic stroke / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>There is growing evidence indicating that reactions of inflammatory system play an important role in stroke and development of carotid plaques. It is purposed to understand the relationship between serum level of c-reactive protein (CPR) and size of cerebral infarction, carotid plaques and prognosis of ischemic stroke.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 121 patients with ischemic stroke were included in the study. Serum level of CRP was measured within 72 hours after onset of index stroke. All patients were scored by CNDF based on deficit in their clinical neurological function, and examined with CT/MRI and carotid duplex ultrasound scanning.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Leukocyte count and blood glucose level at admission were significantly higher in the group with abnormal serum level of CRP than those with normal one (P = 0.045 and P = 0.021, respectively). Incidence of territory infarction (42 cases, 61.76%) was also significantly higher than that of lacunar infarction (23 cases, 43.4%), with P = 0.044. Occurrence of carotid plaques was higher in the former (32 cases, 65.30%) than that in the latter (17 cases, 34.69%), with P = 0.035. CNFD scores were higher in the former (ranging 6 - 35, with a median of 18) than those in the latter (ranging 6 - 28, with a median of 11), with Mann-Whitney U test, P = 0.0001. And, more severe prognosis was also found in the former than in the latter, with P = 0.0001.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Serum level of CRP was an important prognostic marker for carotid plaque and stroke.</p>