Research advances in monomers of Chinese herbs in treatment of liver fibrosis by regulating oxidative stress / 临床肝胆病杂志

Liver fibrosis, a common pathological process of most types of chronic liver diseases, is caused by the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins after chronic liver injury. An increasing number of evidence has shown that oxidative stress is closely associated with the development and progression of liver fibrosis and is involved in the pathological process of liver fibrosis caused by various factors. With natural constituents and a clear structure, Chinese herbal monomers herbs have achieved a marked clinical effect in the treatment of liver fibrosis. This article reviews the research advances in monomers of Chinese herbs in the treatment of liver fibrosis by regulating oxidative stress-related signaling pathways.

Current status and influencing factors of hearing loss in suspected occupational noise-induced deafness among electric welders in Nantong City / 中国职业医学

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the current status and influencing factors of hearing loss in the suspected occupational noise-induced deafness(ONID) among welders in Nantong City. METHODS: A total of 3 265 noise-exposed welders who underwent the occupational health examination in Nantong City in 2017 were collected as the study subjects by judgment sampling method. The data of occupational medical examination of these welders was collected. The incidence and influencing factors of suspected ONID were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 159 cases of suspected ONID were detected and the detection rate was 4.87%. The suspected ONID was mainly mild noise-induced deafness, accounting for 82.39%(131/159). The abnormal rates of 4 000 Hz hearing threshold in the left and right ears of suspected ONID cases were higher than that of 3 000 Hz in the corresponding ears(100.00% vs 93.08%, 98.11% vs 92.45%, P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age and length of service during noise exposure were risk factors for suspected ONID(P<0.05). The risks of suspected ONID among welders in general equipment manufacturing industry, metal products industry, other industries, electrical machinery and equipment manufacturing industry, and manufacturing of equipment of railways, ships, aerospace and other transportations were lower than that in computer, communication and other electronic equipment manufacturing industry. The odds ratio(OR) and 95% confidence interval(95%CI) were 0.341(0.155-0.752), 0.264(0.112-0.620), 0.149(0.038-0.582), 0.110(0.035-0.341), 0.418(0.179-0.972), respectively. The risk of suspected ONID among welders in state-owned enterprises was lower than that in private enterprises(OR=0.254, 95%CI 0.116-0.559,P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The age, service length of noise exposure, type of enterprise industry and economy of enterprise are all influencing factors of suspected ONID in electric welding workers in Nantong City.

Analysis and Suggestion of the Development of Medium Sized Public Hospitals in the New Era / 中国医院管理

Middle sized public hospitals are facing new challenges with the introduction of the new medical reform policies and the promotion of internet information economy.In order to adapt to the new social economy and policy,medium sized public hospitals should be reformed,be more active and find their own new position according to the new environment.The following work can be done to improve medium sized public hospitals' survival and development and to better meet the needs of the society:exploring their resources,building their regional medical associations,strengthening their construction of key disciplines,utilizing the advantages of internet and information system,and reforming their personnel divisions.

Animal experimental study of left ventricular wall motion at ventricular pacing by speckle tracking imaging / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To assess the change of left ventricular wall motion at ventricular pacing(VP)by using global circumferential strain (GCS) and segmental circumferential strain of speckle tracking imaging(STI). Methods Seven adult pigs were sedated,followed by median sternotomy and opening of the pericardium. Temporary pacing leads were placed on the right ventricular (RV) epicardium and LV epicardium for RV or LV pacing. A LV short axis view at the mid-level LV was acquired at sinus and VP rhythm. Analysis of circumferential strain by STI was performed offline. The onset of QRS wave was used to characterize the beginning of the cardiac cycle, and the ratio of beginning systolic time, end systolic time and total systolic time to cardiac cycle dyssynchrony was analyzed at sinus and VP rhythm. Results Compared with sinus rhythm,in VP rhythm all of the ratio of the beginning systolic time,end systolic time and total systolic time to cardiac cycle were increased (all P ＜0.05), and the construction of six segments were dyssynchrony,even segmental paradoxical movement. At VP ≥130 beats/min,both LV global and LV segments sometimes showed irregular motion while the EKG remained normal, which included: ( 1 ) multiple construction and diastole in one heart cycle; (2) A large variability of construction amplitude in several consecutive cardiac cycles. Conclusions VP can lead to several kinds of disturbance of left ventricular wall motion, including delay and lengthening of LV systole, dyssynchrony, and irregularity of systole and diastole.

Hypolipidemic effects of alismatis rhizome on lipid profile in mice fed high-fat diet

To investigate the effect of Alismatis rhizome [AR] extract on lipid profile in mice fed high-fat diet. The study was performed in Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Resource and Compound Prescription [Hubei University of Chinese Medicine], Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China, between December 2009 and June 2010. Forty male Kunming mice [8-week-old] were randomly divided into 4 groups and were treated for 4 weeks: Group 1: normal control, Group 2: high-fat control, Group 3: positive control and Group 4: AR 2.26g/kg. The hypolipidemic effects of AR were evaluated by serum lipids, liver lipids, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Serum aminotransferases and histopathological changes were also measured. Alismatis rhizome treatment resulted in an obvious decrease in serum and liver cholesterol, triglyceride along with elevated serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in hyperlipidemic mice. The histopathological results showed that adipose vacuoles in AR treated mice liver were almost identical to those of normal control mice. Serum alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase and the relative liver weight in AR treated mice were decreased significantly. Alismatis rhizome substantially decreased the mRNA expression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase [Hmgcr], while the expressions of sterol regulatory element binding factor 2 [Srebf2] and cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase [Cyp7a1] were marginally affected. These results confirmed the efficacy of AR in the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Alismatis rhizome may act by decreasing the liver synthesis of cholesterol, rather than by increasing the cholesterol catabolism

Neuroprotective mechanism of tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside on rats after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the neuroprotective mechanism of tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside (TSG), a Chinese medicine, on rats after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.@*METHODS@#A total of 96 Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into 4 groups (n=24): a control group, an ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) model group, a low dose TSG [60 mg/(kg.d)]group, and a high dose TSG [120 mg/(kg.d)]group. After 6 days intragastric (ig) administration of TSG or natural saline (I/R group), reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was established by intraluminal suture technique. The rats of control group were operated on while the middle cerebral artery was not blocked. At 6 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 7 d after the reperfusion, behavior test was used to evaluate the neurological deficiency of each group. The protein expressions of nerve growth factor (NGF), growth associated protein (GAP)-43, and protein kinase A catalytic subunit (PKAc) in the cortex were measured by immunohistochemical method.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the I/R group, the neurological defect scores of the 2 TSG groups were significantly lower except at 6 h after the reperfusion. Compared with the I/R group, the protein expression of NGF, GAP-43, and PKAc after the reperfusion of the 2 TSG groups increased significantly.@*CONCLUSION@#The protein expression of NGF may increase when treated with TSG after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, which activates the PKA pathway and increases the protein expression of GAP-43 that protects the neuron.

The clinical research of gender differnces for women with coronary heart disease / 中国实用内科杂志

Coronary heart disease(CHD) is the leading cause of death among women worldwide.Recent technological advances in cardiovascular diagnosis and treatment have not led to significant declines in mortality for women with CHD when compared to the dramatic declines for men.Owing to the gender differences of physiology and social circumstances,women with CHD may have different manifestations as compared to men with CHD.Recently,research has shown that women with CHD had mainly the following characteristics:special risk factors,atypical ischemia symptoms,multiple risk factors and comorbidities at initial physician consultation,higher under-treatment rate and higher mortality rate.At the same time,most CHD researches have paid little attention to women.Therefore,the current CHD guidelines may not be completely suitable for women.In order to improve the prevention and treatment of CHD in women,we advocate to enhance research and clinical work for women with CHD. Abstract:Summ ary:Coronary heart d isease(CHD) is the lead ing cause of death among wom en worldw ide.Recent technological advances in card iovascu lar d iagnosis and treatm ent have not led to sign ificant dec lines in mortality for wom en w ith CHD when compared to the dram atic dec lines form en.Ow ing to the gender d ifferences of physiology and soc ial c ircum stances,wom en w ith CHD m ay have d ifferent m an ifestations as compared to m en w ith CHD.Recently,research has shown that wom en w ith CHD had m ain ly the follow ing characteristics: spec ial risk factors,atyp ical ischem ia symptom s,mu ltip le risk factors and comorb id ities at in itial physic ian consu ltation,h igher under-treatm ent rate and h igher mortality rate.At the sam e tim e,most CHD researches have paid little attention to wom en.Therefore,the current CHD gu idelines m ay not be comp letely su itab le forwom en.In order to improve the prevention and treatm ent of CHD in wom en,we advocate to enhance research and c lin ical work for wom en w ith CHD.