ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo explore the intervention effect of Baofeikang granule （BFK） on the rat model of pulmonary fibrosis through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. MethodAfter adaptive feeding for one week， 50 healthy rats were randomly divided into a blank group （n=8） and an experimental group （n=42）. After anesthesia， the rats in the experimental group were injected with bleomycin sulfate solution （5 mg·kg-1） into the trachea for the induction of the pulmonary fibrosis model. Those in the blank group were injected with the same amount of normal saline under the same manipulation. On the 7th day after modeling， one of the remaining 33 rats alive was randomly removed， and the other 32 model rats were assigned into a model group （n=8）， a prednisone acetate （1.17 mg·kg-1） group （n=8）， a low-dose BFK （13.59 g·kg-1） group （n=8）， and a high-dose BFK （27.18 g·kg-1） group （n=8）. The rats in the groups with drug intervention were treated correspondingly by gavage once per day for 21 days， and those in the blank group and the model group received the same amount of normal saline. The pulmonary compliance and ventilatory function， the scores of pathological changes and fibrosis， the levels of type Ⅰ collagen （Col Ⅰ） in lung tissues and hydroxyproline （HYP） in the serum， and the relative expression of Wnt3a and β-catenin protein in lung tissues were compared. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group showed reduced pulmonary function indexes， such as forced vital capacity （FVC）， peak expiratory flow （PEF）， the resistance of lung （RL）， and dynamic compliance （Cdyn） （P<0.05， P<0.01）， severely damaged lung tissue morphology， massive formed continuous fibrous foci， increased fibrosis score （P<0.01）， elevated levels of Col Ⅰ in lung tissues and HYP in the serum （P<0.01）， and up-regulated expression of Wnt3a and β-catenin （P<0.01）. FVC， PEF， and Cdyn levels in the prednisone acetate group and the BFK groups were higher than those in the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Pathological changes were improved in the groups with drug intervention， and fibrosis scores were decreased as compared with the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The scores in the BFK groups were lower than that in the prednisone acetate group （P<0.01）. The levels of Col Ⅰ and HYP in the groups with drug intervention were lower than those in the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The level of Col Ⅰ in the prednisone acetate group was higher than that in the high-dose BFK group （P<0.01）. The levels of serum HYP in the BFK groups was lower than that in the prednisone acetate group （P<0.01）. The protein expression of Wnt3a in lung tissues of the high-dose BFK group was lower than that of the model group （P<0.05）. The protein expression of β-catenin in the prednisone acetate group and the BFK groups was lower than that in the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the expression level in the high-dose BFK group was lower than that in the prednisone acetate group （P<0.01）. ConclusionBFK can relieve bleomycin sulfate-induced pulmonary fibrosis， reduce collagen deposition， improve pulmonary compliance， and enhance pulmonary ventilatory function in rats. One of its mechanisms is presumedly the inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the ultrasonographic appearance of thyroglossal duct cysts and thyroglossal duct ifstula, and disicuss the value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of thyroglossal duct cysts and thyroglossal duct ifstula. Methods Totally 142 cases of surgically and pathologically conifrmed thyroglossal duct cysts and thyroglossal duct ifstula cases in Beijing Children′s Hospital Afifliated to Capital Medical University from 2005 to 2012 were retrospectively reviewed and the ultrasonographic characteristics were analyzed. Results Among 142 cases, 128 cases of thyroglossal duct cyst were diagnosed by ultrasound. The ultrasonographic manifestation generally presented as anechoic and uneven medium echo cystic masses, with posteria wall echo enhancement. Most of the cyst walls were thin, and close to the thyoid, with or without deep ifstula. If the cysts were associated with infection, the wall would be thickening and echo enhancement of the surrounding soft tissue could be seen. Cysts ranged from the root of tongue to the suprasternal fossa, mostly in midline level of the neck. Of all the 128 cases, 95 cases were single cyst, round in shape; 33 cases had irregular shape with a fistula extended deeply, 13 cysts extended to the hyoid trailing edge, 20 cases extended to the mouth lfoor. Ultrasound examination revealed ifstulas in 10 cases, which presented as a hypoechoic thin strip-like echo inside the neck soft tissue, 6 cases extended to the hyoid bone direction, 2 cases extended to the mouthlfoor, 2 cases extended to the front thyroid. The other 4 cases showed anterior hypoechoic area, without cyst or ifstula structure. Conclusions Ultrasound is valuable in detcting the size, position, internal echo of the cyst and sinus, as well as showing their relationship with the hyoid. It is an optimal choice for the diagnosis of thyroglossal cyst and thyroglossal ifstula.