Efficacy of ultra-mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy and retrograde intrarenal surgery in the treatment of 2-3 cm lower calyceal stones / Eficacia de la nefrolitotomía percutánea ultramini y la cirugía intrarrenal retrógrada en el tratamiento de cálculos caliceales inferiores de 2-3 cm

Abstract We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of ultra-mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy (UMP) and retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for the management of lower calyceal stones. A group of 136 patients with a single lower calyceal stone (2-3 cm in diameter) was divided into the UMP or RIRS groups. The average operation time in the RIRS group was significantly longer than that in the UMP group, and the intraoperative blood loss in the former was markedly less than that in the latter. Besides, in the RIRS group, the decreased value of postoperative Hb was obviously lower, the postoperative hospital stay was evidently shorter, and the total hospitalization expenses were markedly less than those in UMP group were. Moreover, the success rate of the first-stage lithotripsy in the UMP group was notably higher than that in RIRS group. The RIRS group had an obviously lower VAS score but a markedly higher BCS score than the UMP group six hours after surgery. At 24 h after operation, the levels of serum CRP, TNF-α and IL -6 in patients in both groups were remarkably increased, and they were evidently lower in the RIRS group than those in the UMP group were. Three days after surgery, the levels of serum CRP, TNF-α and IL -6 were notably lower in the UMP group than those in RIRS group were. RIRS and UMP are safe and effective in the treatment of 2-3 cm lower calyceal stones. The first-stage UMP is characterized by a high stone-free rate (SFR), short operation time and low postoperative infection risk, while RIRS is associated with less blood loss and low total expenses.

Resumen Nuestro objetivo fue comparar la eficacia y seguridad de la nefrolitotomía percutánea ultramini (UMP) y la cirugía intrarrenal retrógrada (CRIR) en el manejo quirúrgico de los cálculos caliceales inferiores. Un grupo de 136 pacientes con un solo cálculo calicial inferior (2-3 cm de diámetro) se dividió en un grupo UMP o un grupo CRIR. El tiempo de operación promedio en el grupo CRIR fue significativamente más largo que en el grupo UMP, y la pérdida de sangre intraoperatoria en el primero fue marcadamente menor que en el segundo. Además, en el grupo CRIR, el valor disminuido de la Hb postoperatoria fue obviamente menor, la estancia hospitalaria postoperatoria fue evidentemente más corta y los gastos totales de hospitalización fueron notablemente menores que los del grupo UMP. Además, la tasa de éxito de la litotricia de primera etapa en el grupo UMP fue notablemente más alta que en el grupo CRIR. El grupo CRIR tuvo una puntuación VAS obviamente más baja pero una puntuación BCS marcadamente más alta que el grupo UMP a seos horas después de la operación. A las 24 h después de la operación, los niveles séricos de PCR, TNF-α e IL -6 en los pacientes de ambos grupos aumentaron notablemente y fueron evidentemente más bajos en el grupo CRIR que en el grupo UMP. Tres días después de la operación, los niveles séricos de PCR, TNF-α e IL -6 fueron notablemente más bajos en el grupo UMP que en el grupo CRIR. Los procedimientos CRIR y el UMP son seguros y eficaces en el tratamiento de cálculos caliciales inferiores de 2-3 cm. El UMP de primera etapa se caracteriza por tener una tasa libre de cálculo (SFR) alta, un tiempo de operación corto y un riesgo de infección posoperatorio bajo, y el RIRS se caracteriza por una menor pérdida de sangre y gastos totales bajos.

Influence of three kinds of intraocular lens on vision and visual quality of patients with age-related cataract / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM: To analyze the influence of trifocal lens(AT LISA tri 839MP), Lenstec SBL-3 intraocular lens(IOL)and T SPHERIS 209M monofocal IOL implantation on vision and visual quality of patients with age-related cataract(ARC). <p>METHODS: Totally 114 patients(114 eyes)with ARC undergoing elective surgical treatment in the hospital between October 2018 and April 2019 were enrolled in the prospective clinical study. They were divided into LISA tri group, SBL group and monofocal group with 38 cases(38 eyes)in each group. They were treated with trifocal IOL(AT LISA tri 839MP), Lenstec SBL-3 IOL and CT SPHERIS 209M monofocal IOL, respectively. The corneal endothelium, vision and visual quality before operation and 3mo after operation were compared. <p>RESULTS:Three months after operation, no significant changes in corneal endothelial cell density(ECD), central corneal thickness(CCT)and the proportion of hexagonal cells in the three groups compared with preoperation(<i>P</i>>0.05), while the uncorrected distance visual acuity(UCDVA), uncorrected intermediate visual acuity(UCIVA)and uncorrected near visual acuity(UCNVA)were significantly improved(<i>P</i><0.001). UCDVA, UCIVA and UCNVA of LISA tri group were(0.11±0.03)LogMAR,(0.17±0.05)and(0.09±0.02), which of SBL group were(0.12±0.02, 0.19±0.05, 0.08±0.02), all significantly better than(0.21±0.04, 0.24±0.07, 0.15±0.03)in monofocal group(<i>P</i><0.05). 3mo after operation, the near off-glasses rate and visual satisfaction in LISA tri group were 92% and 97%, which in SBL group were 95% and 92%, all significantly higher than 66% and 68% in monofocal group(<i>P</i><0.017). Compared with preoperation, the visual function and quality of life(VF-QOL)scores of the three groups significantly increased(<i>P</i><0.001), which were significantly higher in LISA tri group and SBL group than in monofocal group(<i>P</i><0.05). <p>CONCLUSION: Trifocal IOL(AT LISA tri-839MP)and Lenstec SBL-3 multifocal IOL implantation is superior to monofocal IOL in the treatment of patients with ARC, which can effectively improve vision and visual quality.

Chronic Exposure to Hypoxia Inhibits Myelinogenesis and Causes Motor Coordination Deficits in Adult Mice / 神经科学通报·英文版

Exposure to chronic hypoxia is considered to be a risk factor for deficits in brain function in adults, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Since active myelinogenesis persists in the adult central nervous system, here we aimed to investigate the impact of chronic hypoxia on myelination and the related functional consequences in adult mice. Using a transgenic approach to label newly-generated myelin sheaths (NG2-CreER

Dicer Deletion in Astrocytes Inhibits Oligodendroglial Differentiation and Myelination / 神经科学通报·英文版

Increasing evidence has shown that astrocytes are implicated in regulating oligodendrocyte myelination, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. To understand whether microRNAs in astrocytes function in regulating oligodendroglial differentiation and myelination in the developing and adult CNS, we generated inducible astrocyte-specific Dicer conditional knockout mice (hGFAP-CreERT; Dicer fl/fl). By using a reporter mouse line (mT/mG), we confirmed that hGFAP-CreERT drives an efficient and astrocyte-specific recombination in the developing CNS, upon tamoxifen treatment from postnatal day 3 (P3) to P7. The Dicer deletion in astrocytes resulted in inhibited oligodendroglial differentiation and myelination in the developing CNS of Dicer cKO mice at P10 and P14, and did not alter the densities of neurons or axons, indicating that Dicer in astrocytes is required for oligodendrocyte myelination. Consequently, the Dicer deletion in astrocytes at P3 resulted in impaired spatial memory and motor coordination at the age of 9 weeks. To understand whether Dicer in astrocytes is also required for remyelination, we induced Dicer deletion in 3-month-old mice and then injected lysolecithin into the corpus callosum to induce demyelination. The Dicer deletion in astrocytes blocked remyelination in the corpus callosum 14 days after induced demyelination. Together, our results indicate that Dicer in astrocytes is required for oligodendroglia myelination in both the developing and adult CNS.

Chronic Exposure to Hypoxia Inhibits Myelinogenesis and Causes Motor Coordination Deficits in Adult Mice / 神经科学通报·英文版

Exposure to chronic hypoxia is considered to be a risk factor for deficits in brain function in adults, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Since active myelinogenesis persists in the adult central nervous system, here we aimed to investigate the impact of chronic hypoxia on myelination and the related functional consequences in adult mice. Using a transgenic approach to label newly-generated myelin sheaths (NG2-CreER

Therapeutic effects of phacoemulsification respectively combined with diffractive multifocal IOL and monofocal IOL implantation in the treatment of cataract / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM: To compare the therapeutic effects of phacoemulsification respectively combined with diffractive multifocal intraocular lens(IOL)and monofocal IOL implantation in the treatment of cataract. <p>METHODS: A total of 99 cataract patients(145 eyes)who underwent phacoemulsification combined with IOL implantation in the hospital from January 2015 to February 2019 were divided into observation group(<i>n</i>=51, 75 eyes)and control group(<i>n</i>=48, 70 eyes)according to the non-randomized clinical trial and patient voluntary principles. The observation group was treated with diffractive multifocal IOL implantation, while the control group was treated with monofocal IOL implantation. The visual acuity, corneal endothelial cell count, loss rate of corneal endothelial cells, results of corneal topography, and contrast sensitivity(CS)in daytime, day glare time, nighttime and night glare time were compared between two groups. The complications and spectacles-independent rate were counted. <p>RESULTS: At 1wk, 1mo and 3mo, there were no significant differences in the best corrected distance visual acuity(BCDVA)and best corrected near visual acuity(BCNVA)between two groups(<i>P</i>>0.05). However, the uncorrected distance visual acuity(UCDVA)at 1wk and 1mo, the uncorrected near visual acuity(UCNVA)and the distance corrected near visual acuity(DCNVA)at 1wk, 1mo and 3mo of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group(<i>P</i><0.05). After surgery, corneal endothelial cell counts and astigmatism of two groups decreased significantly. No significant differences were found in corneal endothelial cell count, loss rate of corneal cells and astigmatism between two groups(<i>P</i>>0.05). CS in daytime of 1.5c/d frequency band, in day glare time of 1.5c/d, 3c/d and 6c/d frequency bands, in nighttime of 3c/d and 18c/d frequency bands, in night glare time of 3c/d, 6c/d and 18 c/d frequency bands were significantly lower, while CS in daytime of 12c/d frequency band was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between two groups(<i>P<</i>0.05), but the spectacles-independent rate was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group(<i>P</i><0.05). <p>CONCLUSION: Phacoemulsification combined with diffractive multifocal IOL implantation can obtain good total range visual acuity, with a higher spectacles-independent rate and relatively low CS after surgery.

Bibliometric analysis of corona virus research / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To provide data reference for later researchers to visually and conveniently recognize the key research areas of coronavirus, quickly find important literature and influential research partners by analyzing the research literature on coronavirus. Methods Data from the Web of Science Core Collection database were selected to systematically collate the literature on coronavirus research from 1968 to 2019, and the literature type distribution, annual number of papers, countries, institutions, journals, authors, literature co citation, and emerging key words were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2019 and CiteSpace 5.5.R2 software. Results As of December 31, 2019, a total of 13,959 papers on coronavirus have been published. Global coronavirus research is divided into three periods: The initial research period (1968-2003), the first golden development period (2004-2012) and the second golden development period (2013-2019). United States is the country with the largest number of publications; the University of Hong Kong is the institution with the largest number of publications, and the Journal of Virology ranks first in the number and influence of publications. Peiris JSM, Drosten C and Ksiazek TG are good partners in the field of coronavirus research. Conclusions "SARS-CoV", "infectious disease", "coronavirus spike protein" may attract close attention in the field of coronavirus research.

Involvement of GDNF/PI3K/AKT pathway in promoting facial nerve regeneration using electro acupuncture in a rabbit model of facial nerve crush injury / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: The mechanism of electroacupuncture on multi-acupoints in the treatment of peripheral facial paralysis is still unknown. Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is currently the most effective factor in promoting the survival of motoneurons in vitro, and the PI3K/AKT pathway plays an important role in protecting damaged motoneurons. There is yet no research on GDNF/PI3K/AKT pathway involved in electroacupuncture promoting facial nerve regeneration in rabbits. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on regeneration after peripheral facial nerve crush injury, and to explore the protective mechanism of electroacupuncture on facial motoneurons through the GDNF/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. METHODS: Sixty-six adult healthy New Zealand white rabbits provided by the Animal Experimental Center of Southwest Medical University were randomly divided into a normal group and a model group. The facial nerves on the right side in the model group were subjected to a crush injury. Then the animal models were randomly divided into a model control group and an electroacupuncture group. Animals in the model control group recovered naturally, while those in the electroacupuncture group underwent electroacupuncture at Yifeng, Jiache, Sibai, Dicang, Yangbai, and Quanliao acupoints daily for 30 minutes. The improvement of facial paralysis symptoms in experimental animals were observed and scored. Tissue samples were directly taken form the normal group, and pons tissues with facial neurons were taken in the model group at 1, 4, 7, 14, and 28 days postoperatively. The morphologies of facial motoneurons and Nissl bodies were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and Nissl staining, respectively. Immunohistochemical techniques and western blot assay were used to detect the protein expression of GDNF, PI3K, AKT, and p-AKT in the facial motoneurons. The study protocol was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Southwest Medical University with approval No. 20170120001. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The symptoms of facial paralysis were that the animal’s mouth was drooped at the affected side, with lodging tentacles and the movement being weakened, and the eyelids that could not be lifted, which recovered faster and more completely in the electroacupuncture group than the model control group. The morphological changes of facial neurons and changes of Nissl bodies in the electroacupuncture group were lighter than those in the model control group. At each time point postoperatively, the stronger GDNF immune response could be seen in the electroacupuncture group, and the number of GDNF-positive cells was higher than that of the model control group except 1 day postoperatively (P < 0.001). The expressions of GDNF, PI3K, p-AKT proteins in the facial motoneurons were significantly increased in the electroacupuncture group compared with the model control group (P < 0.05; P < 0.01; P < 0.001). To conclude, electroacupuncture can effectively treat the peripheral facial paralysis caused by the crushed injury of facial nerve and promote the recovery of facial neurons. The up-regulation of GDNF expression in the facial motoneurons and the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway may be the underlying protective mechanism of electroacupuncture.

The correlation between different smoking status and serum uric acid in a middle-aged male population / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective:To explore the correlation between different smoking status and serum uric acid(SUA)in a middle-aged male in health check-up population.Methods:In this cross-sectional study, a total of 26701 middle-aged men who underwent health check-up in Taihu Sanatorium of Jiangsu Province from January 2014 to June 2015 were studied.The correlation between smoking status and SUA was analyzed by questionnaires, physical examination and serum biochemical assay.Smoking state was divided into no smoking, a occasional smoking and smoking groups.Results:With the increase of age, there was a downward trend of SUA( F=7.38, P=0.000). Among the three smoking groups, the group with occasional smoking had the highest level of SUA.The smoking group had lower level of SUA than the non-smoking group and occasional smoking group( P=0.000 and 0.005). In the non-smoking group, the fourth quartile of SUA(41.5%)had a higher percentage than that in first quartile of SUA(38.4%)( χ2=12.266, P=0.000). In the smoking group, the fourth quartile of SUA(54.9%)had lower percentage than that in the first quartile of SUA(58.4%)( χ2=7.049, P=0.008). Compared with the non-smoking group, the prevalence of hyperuricemia(HUA)in smoking group was lower( OR=0.872, 95% CI: 0.821~0.927, P=0.000), the prevalence of HUA in occasional smoking group was higher( OR=1.194, 95% CI: 1.013~1.408, P=0.035). Conclusions:As compared with the non-smoking group, the prevalence of HUA is lower in smoking group and is higher in occasional smoking group.

Anti-nociceptive effect of patchouli alcohol: Involving attenuation of cyclooxygenase 2 and modulation of mu-opioid receptor / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the anti-nociceptive effect of patchouli alcohol (PA), the essential oil isolated from Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Bent, and determine the mechanism in molecular levels.@*METHODS@#The acetic acid-induced writhing test and formalin-induced plantar injection test in mice were employed to confirm the effect in vivo. Intracellular calcium ion was imaged to verify PA on mu-opioid receptor (MOR). Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) and MOR of mouse brain were expressed for determination of PA's target. Cellular experiments were carried out to find out COX2 and MOR expression induced by PA.@*RESULTS@#PA significantly reduced latency period of visceral pain and writhing induced by acetic acid saline solution (P<0.01) and allodynia after intra-plantar formalin (P<0.01) in mice. PA also up-regulated COX2 mRNA and protein (P<0.05) with a down-regulation of MOR (P<0.05) both in in vivo and in vitro experiments, which devote to the analgesic effect of PA. A decrease in the intracellular calcium level (P<0.05) induced by PA may play an important role in its anti-nociceptive effect. PA showed the characters of enhancing the MOR expression and reducing the intracellular calcium ion similar to opioid effect.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Both COX2 and MOR are involved in the mechanism of PA's anti-nociceptive effect, and the up-regulation of the receptor expression and the inhibition of intracellular calcium are a new perspective to PA's effect on MOR.

Analysis of unique long 16 binding protein 1 expression in peripheral blood exosomes of pregnant women with preeclampsia / 中国实用妇科与产科杂志

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of unique long 16 binding protein 1(ULBP1)in peripheral blood exosomes of patients with preeclampsia(PE).METHODS: Twenty patients with PE who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University from June 2017 to July 2018 were enrolled.The normal control group(NC group)consisted of 20 normal pregnant women,all of whom were primiparas,singleton.Blood samples were taken from the median vein of the fasting elbow.The serum was separated by low-speed centrifugation.Extraction of exosomes from serum was performed using ExoQuick Precipitation kit,and the exosome marker protein CD63 was detected by Western blot,the morphology of exosomes were identified by transmission electron microscopy,and the expression of ULBP1 in exosomes was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.RESULTS: The expression of ULBP1 in peripheral blood exosomes was significantly higher in PE than in the control group[(1.0500±0.5937)μg/L vs.(0.4875±0.4346)μg/L,P=0.0013(P<0.05)].CONCLUSION: The expression of ULBP1 in peripheral blood exosomes of PE patients is increased,and its increase may provide a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of PE.

Analysis of Clinical Characteivstics and Therapeutic Efticacy of 54 Patients with Mantle Cell Lymphoma / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyse the clinical characteristics and therapeutic efticacy of patients with mantle cell lymphoma(MCL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data including cliniced parameters and laboratorial test results of 54 patients with MCL were collected and restrospectively analyzed to clarity the clinical characteristics of MCL and to evaluate the survival and factors affecting prgnosis of patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The incidence of MCL accounted for 4.0% of NHL in our center. The median age of MCL patients was 63 years old, the male and female ratio was 1.4∶1. The MCL patients inⅢ-Ⅳ stage accounted for 96.3%; the extranodal organ involvement existed in 98.1% patients, the most common extranodal involvement sites were bone marrow(72.2%), spleen(51.9%), gastrointestinal tract(25.9%). The overall response rate(ORR) was 66.7%, among which the complete remisson (CR) rate was 37.1%, 3 year and 5 year-progression free survival rate was 52.7% and 34.7% respectively, 3 year and 5 year overall survival rate was 60.4% and 49.6% respectively. The therapeutic efficacy in chemotherapy combined with cytarabine group was suprior to that in chemotherapy group without cyteratine, the chemotherapy comtined with auto-HSCT could further improve the prognosis of patients. The unvariatc analysis showed that the KI67 level, B sgmptom, liver function, LDH and C-RP levels, initial therapeutic efficacy, high dose cytarabine regimen, auto-HSCT and relapse-refractroy status were prognosis-related factors; the multi-variate analysis showed that the initial therapeutic efficacy and relapse rcfractory stasus were independent prognostic risk factors. Analysis showed that the surival of patients stratified according to MIPI and MIPI-c indexes was significantly different from that stratified by IPI index.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The MCL patients commonly complicated by extranodal involvement and have poor prognoss. Using the chenotherapy regimen combined with high doge of cytarabine as induction therapy and auto-HSCT as consotidatory therapy shows the significont efficacy for survival of young patients with MCL. The MIPI and MIPIc indexe are more much suitable for prognosis evaluation of MCL patients.The initial therapeuntic efficacy and relapse-refractrong status are the independant prognosis-related factors.</p>

Relationship of the Changes of Peripheral Blood Immuno-Cell Subsets with the Prognosis of B Cell Lymphoma Patients / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the relationship of T lymphocyte subsets, B lymphocytes and NK cells with the genesis, progression and prognosis of B cell lymphoma.@*METHODS@#The levels of T lymphocyte subsets, B lymphocytes and NK cells in peripheral blood of healthy control group and B cell lymphoma group were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The clinical data were collected, and the relationship of these immune indexes with the general conditions, laboratory indexes, curative effect and prognosis were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#Forty-four patients entolled in this study including 24 male and 20 females with the median age of 57 years old (17-82 years), all the patients were the first visit to our hospital and diagnosed. The total counts of lymphocytes, T, B and NK cells in the peripheral blood of patients with the first treatment of B-cell lymphoma were significantly lower than those in healthy controls, and the ratio of CD3HLA-DR activated T cells was significantly higher than that of healthy controls ( 61.5 /μl was higher than that in patients with low level of NK cells.@*CONCLUSION@#The level of total lymphocytes, total T cells, total B cells, NK cells and advanced activated T cells in the patients with B cell lymphoma were significantly different from those in normal subjects. Total count of lymphocytes, T cells, B cells, CD4 cells and NK cells in peripheral blood are important prognostic indicators for BCL. The ECOG score and β2-microglobulin level are independent risk factors for prognosis. The NK cell level and FAC-1 are independent protective factors for the prognosis of B cell lymphoma.

Mechanism underlying berberine's effects on HSP70/TNFα under heat stress: Correlation with the TATA boxes / 中国天然药物

Heat stress can stimulate an increase in body temperature, which is correlated with increased expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα). The exact mechanism underlying the HSP70 and TNFα induction is unclear. Berberine (BBR) can significantly inhibit the temperature rise caused by heat stress, but the mechanism responsible for the BBR effect on HSP70 and TNFα signaling has not been investigated. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between the expression of HSP70 and TNFα and the effects of BBR under heat conditions, using in vivo and in vitro models. The expression levels of HSP70 and TNFα were determined using RT-PCR and Western blotting analyses. The results showed that the levels of HSP70 and TNFα were up-regulated under heat conditions (40 °C). HSP70 acted as a chaperone to maintain TNFα homeostasis with rising the temperature, but knockdown of HSP70 could not down-regulate the level of TNFα. Furthermore, TNFα could not influence the expression of HSP70 under normal and heat conditions. BBR targeted both HSP70 and TNFα by suppressing their gene transcription, thereby decreasing body temperature under heat conditions. In conclusion, BBR has a potential to be developed as a therapeutic strategy for suppressing the thermal effects in hot environments.

Pomegranate leaf attenuates lipid absorption in the small intestine in hyperlipidemic mice by inhibiting lipase activity / 中国天然药物

Pomegranate leaf (PGL) has a definite role in regulating lipid metabolism. However, pharmacokinetic results show the main active ingredient, ellagic acid, in PGL has lower oral bioavailability, suggesting that the lipid-lowering effect of PGL may act through inhibiting lipid absorption in the small intestine. Our results demonstrated that pomegranate leaf and its main active ingredients (i.e., ellagic acid, gallic acid, pyrogallic acid and tannic acid) were capable of inhibiting pancreatic lipase activity in vitro. In computational molecular docking, the four ingredients had good affinity for pancreatic lipase. Acute lipid overload experiments showed that a large dosage of PGL significantly reduced serum total cholesterol (TG) and triglycerides (TC) levels in addition to inhibiting intestinal lipase activity, which demonstrated that PGL could inhibit lipase activity and reduce the absorption of lipids. We also found that PGL could reverse the reduced tight-junction protein expression due to intestinal lipid overload, promote Occludin and Claudin4 expression in the small intestine, and enhance the intestinal mucosal barrier. In conclusion, we demonstrated that PGL can inhibit lipid absorption and reduce blood TG and TC by targeting pancreatic lipase, promoting tight-junction protein expression and thereby preventing intestinal mucosa damage from an overload of lipids in the intestine.

Association of TLR3-1377C/T gene polymorphisms and expression with susceptibility to enterovirus 71 encephalitis in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association of gene polymorphisms of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3)-1377C/T and expression of TLR3 with the susceptibility to enterovirus 71 (EV71) encephalitis in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 187 children with EV71 infection (59 children in the encephalitis group and 128 in the non-encephalitis group) and 232 children who underwent physical examination were enrolled in the case-control study. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to detect the TLR3-1377C/T gene polymorphisms. ELISA was used to measure the serum level of TLR3.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of TLR3-1377C/T between the non-encephalitis group and the encephalitis group. Compared with the control group, the encephalitis group and the non-encephalitis group had significant increases in the serum level of TLR3 (P<0.05), and the non-encephalitis group had the highest level (P<0.05). The encephalitis group had a significantly higher EV71 viral load than the non-encephalitis group (P<0.01). The children aged <1 year or ≥1 year in the encephalitis group and the non-encephalitis group had significant increases in the serum level of TLR3 compared with their counterparts in the control group (P<0.05), and the children aged <1 year or ≥1 year in the non-encephalitis group had a significantly higher serum level of TLR3 than those in the encephalitis group (P<0.05). In the encephalitis group, the children aged ≥1 year had a significantly higher TLR3 concentration than those aged <1 year (P<0.05), and there were no significant differences in the TLR3 concentration between the children aged ≥1 year and <1 year in the non-encephalitis group and the control group. In the encephalitis group, the proportion of children aged <1 year was significantly higher than those aged ≥1 year (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The TLR3-1377C/T gene polymorphisms are not significantly associated with the development of EV71 encephalitis. Low expression of TLR3 might weaken the inhibitory effect on virus replication and promote the development of EV71 encephalitis. The deficiency in the expression of TLR3 in serum after EV71 infection might be an important factor for the development of encephalitis in infants.</p>

Expression of VEGF and PEDF in early-stage retinopathy in diabetic Macaca mulatta / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in early stage of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Macaca mulatta.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three diabetic Macaca mulattas induced by high-fat diet were identified for early stage of diabetic retinopathy according to the fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin Alc (HbA1c), fundus photograph and duration of diabetes, with another 3 age-matched healthy Macaca mulattas as control. The expression of VEGF and PEDF in the retinas of Macaca mulatta were detected by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>In early stage of diabetic retinopathy, VEGF mRNA and protein of the diabetic group were both significantly increased compared with the control group (P<0.05). PEDF expression at both mRNA and protein levels was significantly decreased in diabetic Macaca mulattas compared with the control group (P<0.01 and 0.05 respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Retinal VEGF expression is increased and PEDF expression is decreased in early stage of diabetic retinopathy, suggesting their involvement in the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy and their value in assisting in the early diagnosis.</p>

Cellular microparticles and pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. The finding that cellular microparticles (MPs) generated by injured cells profoundly impact on pathological courses of TBI has paved the way for new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. MPs are subcellular fragments or organelles that serve as carriers of lipids, adhesive receptors, cytokines, nucleic acids, and tissue-degrading enzymes that are unique to the parental cells. Their sub-micron sizes allow MPs to travel to areas that parental cells are unable to reach to exercise diverse biological functions. In this review, we summarize recent developments in identifying a casual role of MPs in the pathologies of TBI and suggest that MPs serve as a new class of therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of TBI and associated systemic complications.

Berberine action targets and its absorption behavior：how to use old drug for new mechanisms / 中国中药杂志

A variety of pharmacological effects of berberine (BBR) are constantly being discovered with the deepening of BBR research. What followed is how to rationally use the drug according to these new pharmacological effects. Because of some cardiac toxicity and poor oral absorption, conflicts may arise between improving the bioavailability and controlling the toxicity of BBR. Meanwhile some new therapeutic uses of BBR, such as hypolipidemia, hypoglycemia as well as prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, need long-termoral administration, thereby may lead to alteration of intestinal flora and potentially affect body's other physiological functions. Based on the stated targets of BBR and related pharmaceutical properties, comprehensive analysis of these issues was conducted in this study. Some suggestions were presented below：the effect of long-term oral administration on body function, especially the intestinal flora, needs to be further investigated; risks shall be considered in changing the composition of the formulation to improve the absorption rate of oral administration; for the medication with higher concentration demand (such as anti-cancer), targeted drug-delivery is worthy to be considered.

Brazilein inhibits neuronal inflammation induced by cerebral ischemia and oxygen-glucose deprivation through targeting NOD2 expression / 中国天然药物

Brazilein is reported to have immunosuppressive effect on cardiovascular and cerebral-vascular diseases. The essential roles of innate immunity in cerebral ischemia are increasingly identified, but no studies concerning the influence of brazilein on the innate immunity receptors have been reported. The present study was designed to investigate the regulation of NOD2 (Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2) by brazilein for its protection of neuron in cerebral ischemia in vivo and oxygen-glucose deprivation in vitro. The results showed that brazilein could reverse the elevated expression of NOD2 and TNFα (tumor necrosis factor alpha) elicited by cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. This reduction could also be detected in normal mice and C17.2 cells, indicating that this suppressive effect of brazilein was correlated with NOD2. The results from GFP reporter plasmid assay suggested brazilein inhibited NOD2 gene transcription. In conclusion, brazilein could attenuate NOD2 and TNFα expression in cerebral ischemia and NOD2 may be one possible target of brazilein for its immune suppressive effect in neuro-inflammation.