Demographic characteristics and associated influencing factors in treated patients with chronic hepatitis B with hypoviremia : a single-center retrospective cross-sectional study / 中华肝脏病杂志

Objective: To investigate the demographic characteristics and clinical influencing factors which associates with the occurrence probability of persistent or intermittent hypoviremia (LLV) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treated with nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs). Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis was performed on patients with CHB who received outpatient NAs therapy for≥48 ± 2 weeks. According to the serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA load at 48±2 weeks treatment, the study groups were divided into LLV (HBV DNA < 20 IU/ml and < 2 000 IU/ml) and MVR group (sustained virological response, HBV DNA < 20 IU/ml). Demographic characteristics and clinical data at the start of NAs treatment (considered as baseline) were retrospectively collected for both patient groups. The differences in the reduction of HBV DNA load during treatment was compared between the two groups. Correlation and multivariate analysis were further conducted to analyze the associated factors influencing the LLV occurrence. Statistical analysis was performed using the independent samples t-test, c2 test, Spearman analysis, multivariate logistic regression analysis, or area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: A total of 509 cases were enrolled, with 189 and 320 in the LLV and MVR groups, respectively. Compared to patients with MVR group at baseline: (1) the demographics characteristics of patients showed that LLV group was younger in age (39.1 years, P = 0.027), had a stronger family history (60.3%, P = 0.001), 61.9% received ETV treatment, and higher proportion of compensated cirrhosis (20.6%, P = 0.025) at baseline; (2) the serum virological characteristics of patients showed that LLV group had higher HBV DNA load, qHBsAg level, qHBeAg level, HBeAg positive rate, and the proportion of genotype C HBV infection but decreased HBV DNA during treatment (P < 0.001) at baseline; (3) the biochemical characteristics of patients showed that LLV group had lower serum ALT levels (P = 0.007) at baseline; (4) the noninvasive fibrosis markers of patients showed that LLV group were characterized by high aspartate aminotransferase platelet ratio index (APRI) (P = 0.02) and FIB-4 (P = 0.027) at baseline. HBV DNA, qHBsAg and qHBeAg were positively correlated with LLV occurrence (r = 0.559, 0.344, 0.435, respectively), while age and HBV DNA reduction were negatively correlated (r = -0.098, -0.876, respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed that ETV treatment history, high HBV DNA load at baseline, high qHBsAg level, high qHBeAg level, HBeAg positive, low ALT and HBV DNA level were independent risk factors for patients with CHB who developed LLV with NAs treatment. Multivariate prediction model had a good predictive value for LLV occurrence [AUC 0.922 (95%CI: 0.897 ~ 0.946)]. Conclusion: In this study, 37.1% of CHB patients treated with first-line NAs has LLV. The formation of LLV is influenced by various factors. HBeAg positivity, genotype C HBV infection, high baseline HBV DNA load, high qHBsAg level, high qHBeAg level, high APRI or FIB-4 value, low baseline ALT level, reduced HBV DNA during treatment, concomitant family history, metabolic liver disease history, and age < 40 years old are potential risk factors for developing LLV in patients with CHB during the therapeutic process.

Effect of early intervention of liver-smoothing and blood-activating decoction combined with acupuncture on patients with post-stroke depression / 中国中药杂志

To study the effect of early intervention of liver-soothing and Blood-activating decoction combined with acupuncture in improving neurological functions, depressive symptom and life quality of patients with post-stroke depression, and compare with fluoxetine hydrochloride. Specifically, 63 patients with post-stroke depression were randomly divided into the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) acupuncture group (31 cases) and the western medicine group (32 cases). On the basis of the conventional treatment of the primary disease, the TCM acupuncture group was treated with liver-soothing and blood-activating decoction and acupuncture, while the western medicine group was treated with fluoxetine hydrochloride for four weeks. In the follow-up visit six months later, scores of HAMD, NIHSS and SS-QOL were observed. The scores of HAMD and NIHSS of both groups were significantly decreased (P < 0.01), while the scores of SS-QOL increased significantly, with a notable difference compared with that before the treatment (P < 0.01). Specifically, the TCM acupuncture group's was superior to the western medicine group (P < 0.05). The study suggests that the early intervention of liver-soothing and blood-activating decoction combined with acupuncture on patients with post-stroke depression has the effect in relieving depression symptom and improving neurological functions, thereby improving their quality of life and prognosis.

Establishment of an N-2a cell line stably expressing mouse galanin and the effect of over-expressed galanin on the proliferation and apoptosis of N-2a cell / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct an N-2a cell line stably expressing PcDNA 3.1-platelet derived growth factor-galanin (GAL) and explore the effect of over-expressed GAL on proliferation and apoptosis of N-2a cell in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The vector containing the target gene was transfected into N-2a cells by liposome, and cell clones stably over-expressing GAL was obtained via G418 screening. GAL mRNA and protein levels were determined by reverse transcriotion-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. The proliferation of N-2a cells was detected by MTT.The cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>RT-PCT and Western blot indicated that GAL genes were highly expressed in the transfected N-2a cells (i.e.GAL-N-2a). As shown by MTT, the proliferation of the N-2a cells transfected with PcDNA 3.1-PDGF-GAL was significantly slower than the control group(P<0.05). Compared with the non-transfected cells in the control group, the N-2a cells with endogenously overexpressed GAL were arrested at the G0/G1 phases, and the over-expressed GAL protein significantly induced the N-2a cell apoptosis in a concentration-dependent fashion.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Eukaryotic expression vector PcDNA 3.1-PDGF-GAL can encode the expression of GAL in N-2a cells. Aslo, it can inhibit cell proliferation and promote the cell apoptosis.</p>

Effect of schisandrin B on lung mRNA expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 signal transduction molecule in rat lungs exposed to silica / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of schisandrin B (Sch-B) on expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and signal transduction molecule mRNA in rat lungs exposed to SiO2, and explore the intervention mechanism of Sch-B on pulmonary fibrosis induced by SiO2.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety six Wistar rats were randomly divided into control (normal saline) group, SiO2 group and SiO2 plus Sch-B group. The rats were exposed to SiO2 by direct tracheal instillation to establish the silicotic animal models. SiO2 group and SiO2 plus Sch-B group were treated with 1 ml SiO2 (50 mg/ml) for each rat From the first day after model establishment, SiO2 plus Sch-B group were orally given Sch-B (80 mg/kg) a day, control group and silica group were orally given olive oil. On the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th days after treatment, 8 rats in each group were sacrificed and samples were collected. The histo-pathological examination of lung was performed by HE staining. The expression levels of TGF-beta1, TGF-betaR II and Smad4 mRNA in the lung tissues were detected by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results of histo-pathological examination showed that in SiO2 group, lung tissues were injured obviously; the alveolar inflammation with alveolus interval edema and inflammation cell infiltration appeared on the 3rd and 7th days; the alveolus interval became thicker, became thicker, fibroblast and collagen matrix increased markedly on 14th day; the alveolar structure was damaged, alveolar wall thickened obviously, collagen aggravation and pulmonary fibrosis displayed on 28th day. The alveolar inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis in SiO2 plus Sch-B group were significantly less than those in SiO2 group. The expressions levels of TGF-beta1 TGF-betaR II and Smad4 mRNA (TGF-1beta: 1.03 +/- 0.31, 1.33 +/- 0.39,1.08 +/- 0.26, 0.82 +/- 0.16, TGF-betaR II: 0.65 +/- 0.11, 0.80 +/- 0.16, 0.83 +/- 0.24, 0.62 +/- 0.15, Smad4:0.87 +/- 0.15, 0.68 +/- 0.11, 0.78 +/- 0.19, 0.30 +/- 0.08) in SiO2 group were significantly higher than those in the control group (TGF-beta1:0.59 +/- 0.22, 0.55 +/- 0.25, 0.56 +/- 0.20, 0.55 +/- 0.12, TGR-betaR II :0.28 +/- 0.13, 0.31 +/- 0.15, 0.34 +/- 0.15, 0.27 +/- 0.09, Smad4:0.23 +/- 0.11, 0.40 +/- 0.12, 0.39 +/- 0.12, 0.18 +/- 0.06) (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), but the expression level of TGF-beta1 mRNA was the highest on the 7th day. The expression levels of TGF-beta1 and Smad4 mRNA (TGF-beta1:0.68 +/- 0.28, 0.88 +/- 0.25, 0.75 +/- 0.11, 0.61 +/- 0.14,Smad4:0.25 +/- 0.12, 0.45 +/- 0.09, 0.44 +/- 0.07, 0.21 +/- 0.04) in SiO2 plus Sch-B group were significantly lower than those in SiO2 group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05 ), but there were no significant differences of the TGFbetaR II mRNA expression levels between SiO2 group and SiO2 plus Sch-B group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sch-B can reduce the pulmonary fibrosis induced by SiO2 through inhibition of the mRNA express of TGF-beta1 and Smad4 in the lung tissue, modulating the TGF-beta1/Smad4 signal transduction pathway and inhibiting the target gene activation.</p>

Effect of Schisandrin B on mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor-kappaB in rat lungs exposed to silica / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Schisandrin B on mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-KB in rat lungs exposed to silica.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>92 Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: Control (20), Silica (30), Sch-B treated 1 group (Sch-B 1) (24) and Sch-B treated 2 group (Sch-B 2)(18). Silicotic animal models received an intratracheal injection of silica. From the first day after model establishment, rats in Sch-B 1 were treated intragastrically with Sch-B at a dose of 80 mg/kg, once daily. From the 8th day after model establishment, rats in Sch-B 2 were treated intragastrically with Sch-B at a dose of 80 mg/kg, once daily. 6 rats in Sch-B 1 were sacrificed on the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 21st days, and 6 rats in Sch-B 2 on the 14th, 21st and 28th days, 4 Control rats, 6 silica rats on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th days accordingly, lungs were collected. Right lung for protein extraction, the phosphorylation level of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, c-Jun NH2-terminal amino kinase and p38 in lungs were detected by Western Blot. Left lung was fixed by neutral formalin. The ratio of nuclear transfer of NF-kappaB was evaluated by immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>1. The phosphorylation level of ERK1/2 in Sch-B 1 on 3rd, 7th, 14th and 21st (0.974 +/- 0.169, 0.987 +/- 0.149, 0.920 +/- 0.092 and 0.884 +/- 0.078) and Sch-B 2 on 14th, 21st and 28th (1.012 +/- 0.050, 1.167 +/- 0.083 and 1.002 +/- 0.060) were significantly lower than in silica groups P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); The phosphorylation level of JNK1 in Sch-B 1 reached its summit on 7th day (P < 0.01 ), and that in Sch-B 2 on 14th, 21st and 28th (0.882 +/- 0.064, 0.802 +/- 0.061, 0.792 +/- 0.015) was lower than Silica groups at every time points (P < 0.01); The phosphorylation level of p-p38 in Sch-B 1 was higher than silica group on 3rd day (0.309 +/- 0.045) and lower on 7th, 14th and 21st day, but that in Sch-B 2 were lower and lower. 2. The ratio of nuclear transfer of NF-KB in Sch-B 1 on 3rd, 7th, 14th and 21st [(13.54 +/- 5.36)%, (21.01 +/- 6.43)%, (30.55 +/- 6.44)%, (37.39 +/- 9.32)%] was lower than that in silica groups (P < 0.01); but in Sch-B 2, it was lower than silica group on the 21st [(44.33 +/- 22.88)%] and higher on the 28th day [(58.52 +/- 14.57)%] (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Sch-B has some depression effects on the activation of MAPKs in rat lungs exposed to silica. The nuclear transfer of NF-kappaB could be suppressed by Sch-B in the initial stage of rat lungs exposed to silica. Protection of Sch-B against silica induced lung injury in rats may be via MAPKs and NF-kappaB signal transduction pathway.</p>

Effect and mechanism of jiannao yizhi decoction on learning and memory in rats with similar Alzheimer's disease / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Jiannao Yizhi Decoction (JNYZD) on learning and memory in rats with similar Alzheimer's disease (AD), and to investigate its possible mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The composite AD rat model was established by injecting aggregated Abeta25-35 into the lateral cerebral ventricle of senile rats, and all the modeled rats were divided into 5 groups, the model group, the Donepezil group, the high-, middle-, and low-dose JNYZD group. All rats, except those in the model group, were treated respectively with Donepezil and JNYZD at the daily dose of 0.525 mg/kg, 42.4 g/kg, 21.2 g/kg, 10.6 g/kg for 21 days. The ability of learning and memory of rats in different groups was tested using Morris water maze, and the activity of acetylcholine esterase (AchE) and butyrocholin esterase (BehE) in serum were determined, too.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The escape latent period was shorter in all medicated group than in the model group (P<0.01 or P<0.05), and it was insignificantly different among all medicated groups (P>0.05). A decreasing trend of AchE and BchE activity presented in the high- and middle-dose JNYZD groups, but insignificant difference was shown as compared these indexes respectively with those in the Donepezil group. Furthermore, the improvement of learning and memory in similar AD rats was insignificantly different between the Donepezil group and the JNYZD groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>JNYZD can improve the learning and memory ability of similar AD rats by influencing the activity of cholinesterase.</p>