Research progress on the mechanism of Chinese medicine and active components against cartilage destruction of rheumatoid arthritis / 中国药房

Rheumatoid arthritis （RA） is a systemic chronic auto-inflammatory disease， characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells， pannus formation， articular cartilage destruction， and bone matrix destruction. Therefore， improving articular cartilage destruction has an important impact on the treatment of RA. Chinese medicine has a good application effect in improving cartilage destruction of RA due to its characteristics of multiple components， multiple targets， high activity and low side effects. Based on this， the author reviewed relevant literature to summarize the relevant research and mechanism of Chinese medicine and its active components in improving RA cartilage destruction. The results showed that Chinese medicine and its active components can improve RA cartilage destruction by regulating inflammatory factors， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B， Wnt/β- catenin， nuclear factor-κB， mitogen-activated protein kinase， Janus kinase 2/signal transduction and activator of transcription 3/ vascular endothelial growth factor， microRNAs， fibroblastic synovial cells.

Mechanism of Chaenomelis Fructus in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis based on network pharmacology and experimental verification / 中国中药杂志

The material basis and mechanism of Chaenomelis Fructus in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis(RA) were explored by network pharmacology, and the potential anti-RA targets of Chaenomelis Fructus were verified by molecular docking and animal experiments. The active components and targets of Chaenomelis Fructus were searched against the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform. GeneCards, DisGeNET, and OMIM were used to obtain RA-related targets. The common targets shared by Chaenomelis Fructus and RA were considered as the potential targets of Chaenomelis Fructus in the treatment of RA. Cytoscape 3.9.0 was employed to establish a "traditional Chinese medicine-active component-common target-disease" network. The protein-protein interaction(PPI) network was established by STRING, and the core genes were visualized by RStudio 4.1.0. DAVID was used for Gene Ontology(GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment to predict and visualize the involved signaling pathways. Molecular docking was carried out with the active components screened out as ligands and RA core genes as the targets. Finally, the prediction results were verified by animal experiments. Four main active components of Chaenomelis Fructus were obtained, which corresponded to 137 targets. Chaenomelis Fructus and RA shared 37 common targets. GO annotation yielded 239 terms(P<0.05), and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis screened out 94 signaling pathways(P<0.05), mainly involving interleukin-17(IL-17), tumor necrosis factor, Toll-like receptor, and nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) signaling pathways. Molecular docking results showed that the main active components of Chaenomelis Fructus bound well with the core targets of RA. The results of animal experiments proved that Chaenomelis Fructus can alleviate joint swelling in the mice with RA. The results of ELISA showed that Chaenomelis Fructus lowered the levels of interleukin-6(IL-6) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β). Western blot showed that Chaenomelis Fructus down-regulated the protein level of vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA). Chaenomelis Fructus exerts anti-inflammatory effect and reduces pannus formation by regulating the core targets such as VEGFA, IL-1β, and IL6 in the treatment of RA. The findings of this study provide new ideas for the future treatment of RA with Chaenomelis Fructus.

The osteoprotective effects and mechanisms of RA model mice by total saponins of Chaenomeles speciosa / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To study the osteoprotective effects and possible mechanism of total saponins of Chaenomeles speciosa on rheumatoid arthritis （RA） model mice， and to provide reference for further development of anti-RA drugs. METHODS Seventy male DBA/1 mice were randomly divided into normal group， model group， low-dose and high-dose groups of C. speciose total saponins （60， 240 mg/kg）， Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside tablets group （positive control， 30 mg/kg）， with 14 mice in each group. In addition to the normal group， the other groups of mice were induced by glucose-6-phosphate isomerase mixed polypeptide to prepare RA model. The body weight， rear toes thickness and arthritis scores of each group were recorded； the synovial inflammation， bone and cartilage destruction of ankle joint tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining， tartrate- resistant acid phosphatase staining and safranin O-fast green staining； the contents of interleukin-6 （IL-6） in serum and tumor necrosis factor α （TNF-α）， IL-4 and IL-10 in ankle joint tissues were detected by ELISA； the expression levels of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand （RANKL）， receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB （RANK）， osteoprotegerin （OPG）， tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 6 （TRAF6） and nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 （NFATC1） protein in ankle joint tissues were detected by Western blot assay. RESULTS At the end of administration， compared with normal group， the body mass of mice in the model group was significantly reduced （P＜0.05）， and the arthritis score and the thickness of the left and right rear toes were significantly increased （P＜0.05）； the ankle joint tissues of mice in the model group showed significant synovial proliferation and inflammatory infiltration， the number of osteoclasts increased significantly and significant destruction of cartilage tissue. The content of IL-6 in serum， the content of TNF-α， the protein expression levels of RANKL， RANK， TRAF6 and NFATC1 in the ankle joint tissues were increased significantly （P＜0.05）， while the contents of IL- 4 and IL-10， the protein expression level of OPG in the ankle joint tissues were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with model group， above pathomorphological changes and the content/level of indicators of mice in each administration group were significantly improved （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Total saponins of C. speciosa may exert osteoprotective effects on RA model mice， the mechanism of which may be associated with reducing the contents of IL-6 and TNF-α， increasing the contents of IL-4 and IL-10， inhibiting the activation of RANKL/RANK/OPG signal pathway， thus inhibiting the proliferation of osteoclasts and promoting the repair of cartilage and bone tissue.

Comparison of intracardiac and upturned approach for total anomalous pulmonary venous connection / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective:Analyze the effect of intracardiac method and upturning method in the treatment of infracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection(TAPVC), to explore the surgical method of infracardiac TAPVC.Methods:From July 2011 to August 2019, 20 patients with infracardiac TAPVC were treated, including 12 cases with upturning method and 8 cases with intracardiac method. The cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time, delayed thoracic closure, ICU time, mechanical ventilation time, postoperative days and anastomotic flow rate were compared between the two groups.Results:There was no significant difference in cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time, delayed thoracic closure, ICU time and mechanical ventilation time between the two groups. The postoperative hospital stay in upturning group was significantly lower than that in intracardiac group [(14.7±2.9)days vs.(16.1±6.2)days, P<0.05], and the postoperative anastomotic velocity > 120 cm/s in intracardiac group was significantly less than that in upturning group(1 case vs. 7 cases, P<0.05). Two patients died in upturning group, but there was no significant difference compared with the intracardiac group. Conclusion:There is no significant difference between the two methods in the treatment of subcardiac TAPVC. The authors think that the exposure of the upturning methods is difficult, and the distortion of the anastomosis may be hidden trouble. The in situ anastomosis of the intracardiac method is not easy to make mistakes.

Association of early serum potassium with all-cause mortality in adult maintenance hemodialysis patients / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective:To investigate the association of early serum potassium level with all-cause mortality in adult maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.Methods:It was a retrospective cohort study. The data of patients newly entered MHD in the registration system of Zhejiang province dialysis quality control center from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2019 were collected. Follow-up was conducted until December 31, 2020. The average value of predialysis serum potassium within the first 3 months starting hemodialysis was defined as early serum potassium, and patients were divided into 6 groups according to their early serum potassium levels. Death within 1 year of MHD patients was defined as short-term death. Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare the long-term and short-term survival rates of the six groups. Cox regression model was used to analyze the association of different serum potassium levels with the short-term all-cause mortality of adult MHD patients.Results:A total of 27 362 patients aged (61.2±14.4) years old were included, including 16 775 males (61.3%), 1 303 patients (4.8%) with hypokalemia (serum potassium<3.5 mmol/L) and 10 034 patients (36.7%) with hyperkalemia (serum potassium≥5.0 mmol/L). Among them, there were 5 145 patients (18.8%) with serum potassium≥5.5 mmol/L. According to the early serum potassium levels, the patients were divided into group 1 (serum potassium<3.5 mmol/L), group 2 (3.5≤ serum potassium<4.0 mmol/L), group 3 (4.0≤serum potassium<4.5 mmol/L), group 4 (4.5≤serum potassium<5.0 mmol/L), group 5 (5.0≤serum potassium<5.5 mmol/L) and group 6 (serum potassium≥ 5.5 mmol/L), respectively. Until the end of follow-up, the follow-up time was (40.7±27.8) months and 5 400 patients died. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases [1 551 cases (28.7%)] and infections [366 cases (6.8%)] were the main causes of death. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the long-term and short-term cumulative survival rates in the serum potassium<3.5 mmol/L group were the lowest among the 6 groups (Log-rank test, χ2=119.0, P<0.001; χ2=74.6, P<0.001, respectively). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that early serum potassium<3.5 mmol/L was an independent influencing factor for short-term all-cause death in MHD patients (with 4.5≤serum potassium<5.0 mmol/L as reference, HR=1.54, 95% CI 1.26-1.89, P<0.001). In the subgroup of age≥65 years, multivariate Cox regression model showed that serum potassium<4.5 mmol/L was independently associated with short-term death in MHD patients (with 4.5≤ serum potassium< 5.0 mmol/L as reference, serum potassium<3.5 mmol/L, HR=2.16, 95% CI 1.69-2.75, P<0.001; 3.5≤serum potassium<4.0 mmol/L, HR=1.40, 95% CI 1.14-1.72, P=0.001; 4.0≤serum potassium< 4.5 mmol/L, HR=1.46, 95% CI 1.21-1.75, P<0.001), while in the subgroup of age<65 years, serum potassium level was not significantly associated with short-term mortality risk in MHD patients. The early serum potassium level was associated with the risk of short-term all-cause death in a "U" shape, and both low and high potassium levels increased the risk of short-term all-cause death. The optimal early blood potassium level was about 4.75 mmol/L. Conclusions:The prevalence of hypokalemia at early stage of dialysis in adult MHD patients is about 4.8%. There is a U-shaped association between early serum potassium level and short-term (1 year) all-cause mortality risk, and early serum potassium<3.5 mmol/L is an independent risk factor for long-term and short-term all-cause mortality in MHD patients.

Protective effect of heat shock transcription factor 1 on acute lung injury in septic rats by regulating NOD-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome activation / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective:To determine whether heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) ameliorates sepsis induced acute lung injury (ALI) by regulating NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activity in rat alveolar macrophages (AM).Methods:Twenty-four SPF Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into control group, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group, overexpression empty vector+LPS group, and overexpression HSF1+LPS group by random number table method, with 6 rats in each group. The rat model of sepsis-induced ALI was reproduced by intraperitoneal injection of LPS (5 mg/kg); the rats in the control group were given the same volume of normal saline. The rats in the overexpression empty vector+LPS group and the overexpression HSF1+LPS group were instilled with 100 μL of overexpressed empty vector adenovirus or overexpressed HSF1 adenovirus through the trachea, respectively; the rats in the control group and LPS group were instilled with an equal volume of normal saline at the same time. At 6 hours after the model was reproduced, carotid blood was collected to determine the oxygenation index (PaO 2/FiO 2); lung tissue was obtained, and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe the pathological changes of lung tissue under a light microscope. Lung tissue wet/dry ratio (W/D) was determined. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the positive expression of macrophage-specific marker antibody CD68. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expressions of HSF1 and NLRP3. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected, and the levels of interleukins (IL-1β, IL-18) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, BALF of normal rats was collected, and primary AM was isolated, cultured and divided into four groups. The AM in the blank control group was cultured normally without any treatment; the LPS group was treated with 1 mg/L LPS for 24 hours to reproduced the LPS stimulation model; AM in the overexpression empty vector+LPS group and the overexpression HSF1+LPS group were transfected with empty vector plasmid or overexpressed HSF1 plasmid, respectively, for 48 hours, and then the AM was treated with 1 mg/L LPS. The cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). The protein expressions of HSF1 and NLRP3 in AM were detected by Western blotting. The levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in AM culture medium were determined by ELISA. Results:Compared with the control group, the rat lung structure in the LPS group was severely injured, the alveolar cavity and pulmonary interstitium were congested and edema, the alveolar walls were significantly thickened and ruptured, accompanied by a large number of inflammatory cells infiltration. The lung W/D ratio increased, the infiltration degree of macrophages increased, PaO 2/FiO 2 decreased, HSF1 protein expression decreased and NLRP3 protein expression increased in lung tissue and AM, and IL-1β and IL-18 levels in BALF and AM culture medium increased. Compared with the LPS group, the degree of lung injury in the overexpression HSF1+LPS group was significantly improved, the lung W/D ratio was significantly reduced (4.76±0.16 vs. 6.93±0.33, P < 0.05), the macrophage infiltration was reduced, PaO 2/FiO 2 increased significantly [mmHg (1 mmHg≈0.133 kPa): 397.62±19.46 vs. 280.12±37.42, P < 0.05], HSF1 protein expression was significantly up-regulated in lung tissue and AM (HSF1/GAPDH: 0.90±0.04 vs. 0.61±0.04 in lung tissue, 1.10±0.10 vs. 0.57±0.08 in AM, both P < 0.05), NLRP3 protein expression was significantly down-regulated (NLRP3/GAPDH: 0.75±0.14 vs. 1.05±0.11 in lung tissue, 0.81±0.09 vs. 1.14±0.17 in AM, both P < 0.05), and the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in BALF and AM medium were significantly decreased [IL-1β (ng/L): 7.82±0.45 vs. 14.09±0.58 in BALF, 11.11±0.46 vs. 16.66±0.96 in AM; IL-18 (ng/L): 50.44±3.30 vs. 66.31±5.67 in BALF, 43.95±0.88 vs. 73.52±1.23 in AM, all P < 0.05]. There was no significant difference in the detection indicators between the overexpression empty vector+LPS group and the LPS group. Conclusion:HSF1 attenuates LPS-induced ALI in rats, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in AM.

Comparative analysis of the treatment of partial anomalous pulmonary vein connection by double-patch method or Warden Technique / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective:To compare the surgical and long-term follow-up results of partial anomalous pulmonary vein connection treated by double-patch method or Warden Technique.Methods:There were 33 cases of right pulmonary vein connected with the superior vena cava from May 2010 to May 2019 in our center treated by double-patch method or Warden technique. 21 cases were treated by double-patch method and 12 cases by Warden technique. Echocardiography and electrocardiogram were followed up regularly to observe the occurrence of arrhythmia, superior vena cava stenosis and pulmonary vein stenosis postoperatively.Results:All patients were discharged uneventfully, and were followed up for 1~8 years. In double-patch group, 2 cases with arrhythmia, 1 of whom was junctional arrhythmia which was automatically converted to sinus rhythm 1 day after surgery. The other had an early second degree atrioventricular block after surgery, and sinus rhythm was restored 3 days later with temporary pacemaker. 1 case had superior vena cava stenosis by echocardiography(PD 8 mmHg). No arrhythmia was found in long-term follow-up in Warden group. 2 cases had superior vena cava stenosis by echocardiography(PD 6 mmHg). Right pulmonary vein stenosis(PD 8 mmHg) was found in 1 case by echocardiography, no obvious aggravation was found in long-term follow-up.Conclusion:The double-patch method and Warden Technique are both safe and effective in the treatment of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection.

Surgical experience of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection in adults / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective:To explore the therapeutic strategy and result of adult total anomalous pulmonary venous connection(TAPVC).Methods:From November 2011 to November 2019, 6 adult patients with TAPVC underwent surgical correction. The Darling types include 4 cases of supracardiac , 1 case of intracardiac and 1 case of mixed type. There were 1 male and 5 female. The mean age was(28.6±4.8) years old and the mean weight was(47.3±3.67) kg. Preoperative oxygen saturation was 0.91±0.05.Results:All patients underwent primary repair successfully without perioperative death and complications. The average cardiopulmonary bypass time was(122.0±35.9) min, and the aortic cross-clamp time was(78.2±20.4) min. The mean postoperative hospitalization was(9.7±2.9) days, and the mean intensive care unit time was(3.5±1.4) days.The mean mechanical ventilation was(17.1±2.9) h. There were no later left heart dysfunction and pulmonary vein obstruction during the follow-up of 6-100 months.no pulmonary artery hypertension was identifed.Conclusion:TAPVC can be repaired savely in adult and satisfied result can be anticipated.

Cordycepin inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo via targeting FGFR2 and blocking ERK signaling / 中国天然药物

Cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) from Cordyceps militaris has been reported to have anti-tumor effects. However, the molecular target and mechanism underlying cordycepin impeding pancreatic cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo remain vague. In this study, we reported functional target molecule of cordycepin which inhibited pancreatic cancer cells growth in vitro and in vivo. Cordycepin was confirmed to induce apoptosis by activating caspase-3, caspase-9 and cytochrome c. Further studies suggested that MAPK pathway was blocked by cordycepin via inhibiting the expression of Ras and the phosphorylation of Erk. Moreover, cordycepin caused S-phase arrest and DNA damage associated with activating Chk2 (checkpoint kinase 2) pathway and downregulating cyclin A2 and CDK2 phosphorylation. Very interestingly, we showed that cordycepin could bind to FGFR2 (K = 7.77 × 10) very potently to inhibit pancreatic cancer cells growth by blocking Ras/ErK pathway. These results suggest that cordycepin could potentially be a leading compound which targeted FGFR2 to inhibit pancreatic cells growth by inducing cell apoptosis and causing cell cycle arrest via blocking FGFR/Ras/ERK signaling for anti-pancreatic cancer new drug development.

Gut-lymph-lung pathway mediates sepsis-induced acute lung injury / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

This review attempts to unveil the possible mechanisms underlying how gut lymph affects lung and further gives rise to acute respiratory distress syndrome, as well as potential interventional targets under the condition of ischemia-reperfusion injury. We searched electronic databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Embase to identify relevant literatures published up to December 2019. We enrolled the literatures including the Mesh Terms of "gut lymph or intestinal lymph and acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome." Gut is considered to be the origin of systemic inflammation and the engine of multiple organ distress syndrome in the field of critical care medicine, whereas gut lymph plays a pivotal role in initiation of ischemia-reperfusion injury-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome. In fact, in the having been established pathologic model of sepsis leading to multiple organ dysfunction named by Gut Lymph theory, a variety of literatures showed the position and role of changes in gut lymph components in the initiation of systemic inflammatory response, which allows us to screen out potential intervention targets to pave the way for future clinic and basic research.

Distribution and morphological characteristics of symptomatic atherosclerotic plaques in the middle cerebral artery using high?resolution magnetic resonance imaging / 中华神经科杂志

Objective To observe distribution and morphological characteristics of symptomatic atherosclerotic plaques in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) using high?resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR?MRI), and to investigate HR?MRI characteristics of atherosclerotic plaques in the MCA in patients with acute cerebral infarction. Methods A total of 57 symptomatic patients with MCA atherosclerotic plaques recruited in the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University from January 2014 to January 2016 were imaged with diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), three dimensional time of flight magnetic resonance angiography (3D TOF?MRA) and HR?MRI scanning for plaque on a 3.0 T MRI scanner. According to the results of DWI examination, the 57 patients were divided into transient ischemic attack (TIA) group (27 cases) and acute cerebral infarction group (30 cases). The distribution of the narrowest lumen plaque was evaluated by cross?section division into four equal arcs (superior, inferior, ventral, dorsal arcs). For quantitative analysis, lumen area (LAMLN), vessel area (VAMLN) at maximal lumen narrow (MLN) and LAreference, VAreference were measured, then wall area (WA), plaque area (PA), percentage of plaque burden, rate of lumen stenosis and remodeling index (RI) were calculated. The data of each group were compared and analyzed. Results The location and morphological analysis of the 57 patients with symptomatic MCA atherosclerotic plaques revealed that plaques were located in the ventral wall in 19 cases (33.3%), the upper wall in 15 cases (26.3%), the dorsal wall in 10 cases (17.5%), and the lower wall in 13 cases (22.8%). For the location variations in ventral wall, upper wall, dorsal wall and lower wall, the TIA group was shown as six cases (22.2%), five cases (18.5%), seven cases (25.9%) and nine cases (33.3%), and the acute cerebral infarction group was shown as 13 cases (43.3%), 10 cases (33.3%), three cases (10.0%) and four cases (13.3%), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of each side wall between the two groups (P>0.05). VAreference, LAreference, VAMLN and RI of the TIA group and the acute cerebral infarction group were (19.89 ± 1.34) mm2, (15.19 ± 2.04) mm2, (20.78 ± 1.78) mm2, 1.09 ± 0.11 and (19.70 ± 1.34) mm2, (14.60 ± 2.33) mm2, (21.53 ± 2.34) mm2, 1.10 ± 0.11, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The remodeling patterns of both groups were mainly positive remodeling, with a total of 44 cases (77.2%). In the TIA group and the acute cerebral infarction group, the WAMLN, PA, stenosis rate and plaque load percentages were (8.85±1.92) mm2, (4.00±3.00) mm2, 20.92%± 9.18%, 19.05% ± 14.93% and (11.10 ± 1.88) mm2, (6.00 ± 2.25) mm2, 28.56% ± 8.67%, 27.30% ± 7.69%, respectively. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (t=-4.466, t=-2.865, t=-3.231, t=-2.580, P<0.01). There were eight patients (29.6%) with unsmooth plaque surface in the TIA group and 19 patients (63.3%) in the acute cerebral infarction group. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (χ2=6.475, P<0.05). LAMLN in the TIA group and the acute cerebral infarction group was (11.93±1.59) mm2 and (10.43±2.08) mm2 respectively, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t=3.033, P<0.01). Conclusions Symptomatic atherosclerotic plaques in MCA in the acute cerebral infarction group have higher plaque load, thicker vascular wall at the maximum stenosis and more unsmooth plaque surface. This indicates the characteristics of high?risk plaques to a certain extent.

Correlation between three-dimensional high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging enhancement characteristics of plaque and time of symptom onset of stroke in patients with intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis / 中华神经科杂志

Objective@#To assess the enhancement characteristics of plaques in patients with intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis using three-dimensional high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (3D HR MRI), and to analyze the correlation between the enhancement characteristics of plaques and the time from onset of stroke symptoms to MRI examination.@*Methods@#The enhancement characteristics of plaques were retrospectively analyzed in 61 patients with cerebral infarction who were scanned in MRI room of the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University from January 2014 to January 2016. According to the elapsed time between symptom onset and MR examination, 61 patients were classified into early stage group (<4 weeks, n=26), middle stage group (4-12 weeks, n=20) and late stage group (>12 weeks, n=15). All cases underwent three-dimensional sampling perfection with application optimized contrast using different angle evolutions (3D-SPACE) T1WI and enhanced 3D-SPACE T1WI sequence scans, as well as routine head MRI examinations. The signal intensities of plaques before and after enhancement scanning were compared on the 3D-SPACE T1WI sequence. The degrees of plaque enhancement were qualitatively analyzed, and the enhancement rates of plaques were quantitatively calculated. The correlation between the enhancement characteristics of plaques and time of symptom onset of stroke was analyzed.@*Results@#Sixty-one intracranial atherosclerotic plaques on the 3D HR MRI showed eccentric thickening or annular thickening of the vessel wall, and slightly higher signals on the T1WI. They showed different degrees of enhancement or no enhancement after enhancement scans. The characteristics of plaque enhancement in 61 patients with cerebral infarction were analyzed. The results showed that 26 plaques in the early stage group were obviously enhanced for 21 cases (80.8%), mildly enhanced for 4 cases (15.4%), no enhancement for 1 case (3.8%), and the enhancement rate was 80.49%±18.64%. Twenty plaques in the middle stage group were obviously enhanced for 2 cases (10.0%), mildly enhanced for 14 cases (70.0%), no enhancement for 4 cases (20.0%), and the enhancement rate was 52.09%±18.17%. Fifteen plaques in the late stage group were mildly enhanced for 2 cases (2/15), no enhancement for 13 cases (13/15), and the enhancement rate was 12.16%±10.44%. There were statistically significant differences in the degrees of plaque enhancement and plaque enhancement rates among the three groups (χ2=22.834, P<0.01; F=78.403, P<0.01). Further analysis showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the degree of enhancement and enhancement rate of plaques between the early stage group and the middle stage group (χ2=-4.177, P<0.01; t=5.179, P<0.01), and there was a statistically significant difference between the middle stage group and the late stage group (χ2=-2.484, P<0.05; t′=8.189, P<0.01), and the difference between the early stage group and the late stage group was also statistically significant (χ2=-3.796, P<0.01; t′=15.044, P<0.01). There was a significant negative correlation between the time from onset of stroke symptoms to MRI examination and the enhancement rate of plaques (r=-0.903, P<0.01).@*Conclusions@#Enhanced HR MRI scanning can clearly show the enhancement of intracranial atherosclerotic plaques. With the prolongation of the onset time interval, the enhancement of intracranial atherosclerotic plaques gradually weakens, which can assess the vulnerability of plaques and has important guiding significance for secondary prevention of ischemic stroke.

Distribution and morphological characteristics of symptomatic atherosclerotic plaques in the middle cerebral artery using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging / 中华神经科杂志

Objective@#To observe distribution and morphological characteristics of symptomatic atherosclerotic plaques in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI), and to investigate HR-MRI characteristics of atherosclerotic plaques in the MCA in patients with acute cerebral infarction.@*Methods@#A total of 57 symptomatic patients with MCA atherosclerotic plaques recruited in the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University from January 2014 to January 2016 were imaged with diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), three dimensional time of flight magnetic resonance angiography (3D TOF-MRA) and HR-MRI scanning for plaque on a 3.0 T MRI scanner. According to the results of DWI examination, the 57 patients were divided into transient ischemic attack (TIA) group (27 cases) and acute cerebral infarction group (30 cases). The distribution of the narrowest lumen plaque was evaluated by cross-section division into four equal arcs (superior, inferior, ventral, dorsal arcs). For quantitative analysis, lumen area (LAMLN), vessel area (VAMLN) at maximal lumen narrow (MLN) and LAreference, VAreference were measured, then wall area (WA), plaque area (PA), percentage of plaque burden, rate of lumen stenosis and remodeling index (RI) were calculated. The data of each group were compared and analyzed.@*Results@#The location and morphological analysis of the 57 patients with symptomatic MCA atherosclerotic plaques revealed that plaques were located in the ventral wall in 19 cases (33.3%), the upper wall in 15 cases (26.3%), the dorsal wall in 10 cases (17.5%), and the lower wall in 13 cases (22.8%). For the location variations in ventral wall, upper wall, dorsal wall and lower wall, the TIA group was shown as six cases (22.2%), five cases (18.5%), seven cases (25.9%) and nine cases (33.3%), and the acute cerebral infarction group was shown as 13 cases (43.3%), 10 cases (33.3%), three cases (10.0%) and four cases (13.3%), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of each side wall between the two groups (P>0.05). VAreference, LAreference, VAMLN and RI of the TIA group and the acute cerebral infarction group were (19.89±1.34) mm2, (15.19±2.04) mm2, (20.78±1.78) mm2, 1.09±0.11 and (19.70±1.34) mm2, (14.60±2.33) mm2, (21.53±2.34) mm2, 1.10±0.11, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The remodeling patterns of both groups were mainly positive remodeling, with a total of 44 cases (77.2%). In the TIA group and the acute cerebral infarction group, the WAMLN, PA, stenosis rate and plaque load percentages were (8.85±1.92) mm2, (4.00±3.00) mm2, 20.92%±9.18%, 19.05%±14.93% and (11.10±1.88) mm2, (6.00±2.25) mm2, 28.56%±8.67%, 27.30%±7.69%, respectively. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (t=-4.466, t=-2.865, t=-3.231, t=-2.580, P<0.01). There were eight patients (29.6%) with unsmooth plaque surface in the TIA group and 19 patients (63.3%) in the acute cerebral infarction group. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (χ2=6.475, P<0.05). LAMLN in the TIA group and the acute cerebral infarction group was (11.93±1.59) mm2 and (10.43±2.08) mm2 respectively, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t=3.033, P<0.01).@*Conclusions@#Symptomatic atherosclerotic plaques in MCA in the acute cerebral infarction group have higher plaque load, thicker vascular wall at the maximum stenosis and more unsmooth plaque surface. This indicates the characteristics of high-risk plaques to a certain extent.

Effect of different gosages of oxytocin on infantile pathological jaundice / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To study the effects of different oxytocin doses on neonatal pathologic jaundice.Methods A total of 386 newborn infants with normal term of labor were selected from the full-term pregnant women who were admitted to Jiaxing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital from August 2014 to September 2015 were divided into low dose group (2.5 ~5.0U,n=96), middle dose group (5.0 ~7.5U,n=96), high dose group (7.5~10.0U,n=96) and control group (n=98) according to the different dosage of oxytocin.Total labor time, neonatal gender, neonatal weight and maternal age, as well as the day of birth within seven days of skin side of the bile values were recorded.The probability of each group of neonatal patients with pathological jaundice and the relationship with oxytocin doses were studied.Results The incidence of neonatal pathologic jaundice was 3.23%in the low dose group, 6.67%in the middle dose group, 29.73%in the high dose group and 3.16%in the control group.The differences among low dose group, middle dose group and control group were not significan.Compared with high dose group, the incidence of neonatal pathologic jaundice in low dose group, middle dose group, and the control group were all lower(P7.5U can promote pathologic jaundice.

Tissue-engineered scaffold preparation using three-dimensional printing technology:a retrospective study on bone repair / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: The tissue-engineered scaffold, as a substitute of autogenous bone graft, plays an important role in bone repair. In the meanwhile, three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has obtained more attention because of its accurate adjustment.OBJECTIVE: To review the in vitro or in vivo studies on the 3D-printed scaffolds applied in bone repair, thus providing basis for clinical research.METHODS: The first author searched the PubMed database using the English keywords of tissue engineering, bone,three-dimensional printing, scaffold for pertinent articles addressing 3D-printed tissue-engineered scaffolds.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There are plenty of studies on 3D-printed tissue-engineered scaffolds, and recent research focuses on the material selection and surface modification. The appropriate porosity is vital, and with the development of manufacturing technology, each property of the scaffold is improved, and composite materials prevail gradually. All above improvements enhance the mechanical property and promote cell adhesion and proliferation.Furthermore, the surface modification promotes the implant-bone interaction. In vivo and in vitro research both indicate that composite materials with the surface coating of bone induction can improve the scaffold performance and osteogenesis.

Quantitative study of abdominal hemorrhage in abdominal trauma based on computed tomography images / 中华创伤杂志

Objective To verify the feasibility and accuracy of the quantitative evaluation of the volume of internal abdominal hemorrhage based on CT images.Methods The clinical data of 76 patients diagnosed as abdominal hemorrhage or hemoperitoneum and performed with emergency surgery in the Second Affiliated Hospital to Wenzhou Medical University from January 2009 to September 2016 were retrospectively analyzed by case-control study.The Noboru Oriuchi's formula was used to calculate the volume of abdominal hemorrhage based on CT images,and the results were compared and adjusted with the volume of actual abdominal hemorrhage recorded during the operation.SPSS 21.0 was used to statistically analyze the data.The linear regression was analyzed on the results measured by the two methods.Results The volume of abdominal hemorrhage measured by the CT calculation method ranged from 10 to 4 335 ml,while the corresponding volume measured by operational calculation method ranged from 200 ml to 4 490 ml.The absolute difference in the volume measured by these two methods ranged from 4.8 ml to 500 ml.The ratio of the absolute difference to the volume of abdominal hemorrhage by operational calculation method ranged from 0.2％ to 95.0％,the median of which was 4.5％ (2.8％,8.9％).When the exact volume of abdominal hemorrhage was ＜ 500 ml,the absolute difference in the exact volume ranged from 30.0％ to 95.0％,the median of which was 69.1％ (51.2％,78.6％).When the volume was less than 500 ml,the ratio ranged from 0.2％-13.6％,the median of which was 4.2％ (2.7％,6.4％).Analysis of the numbers of the two measuring methods with linear correlation method after eliminating the cases in which the bleeding volume was less than 500 ml showed that two methods presented a linear correlation (r =0.971,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion After the conventional abdominal CT scanning,the Noboru Oriuchi's formula can be used to accurately calculate the volume of abdominal hemorrhage in patients with volume of abdominal hemorrhage more than 500 ml.

Silence of STIM1 attenuates the proliferation and migration of EPCs after vascular injury and its mechanism

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of stromal interaction molecule 1(STIM1) knockdown on the proliferation and migration of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) after vascular injury and its mechanism.@*METHODS@#The rat bone marrow derived EPCs were divided into three groups: adenovirus negative control (group NSC), rat STIM1 adenovirus vector transfection group (group si/rSTIM1) and rat &human recombinant STIM1 adenovirus transfection group (group si/rSTIM1+hSTIM1). The STIM1 expressions in each group were detected by reverse transcription PCR after transfection; the cell proliferation was tested by [(3)H] thymidine incorporation assay ((3)H-TdR); Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry; the cells' migration activity was detected by Boyden assay; Calcium ion concentration was detected by using laser confocal method.@*RESULTS@#48 h later after transfection, the expression level of STIM1 in si/rSTIM1 cells was significantly lower than that in NSC group (0.21 ± 0.12 vs 1.01 ± 0.01, P<0.05); EPCs that stayed in G1 phase in si/rSTIM1 group [(93.31 ± 0.24)%] were significantly more than that in NSC group [(78.03 ± 0.34)%, P<0.05]; EPCs' migration activity in si/rSTIM1 group (10.03±0.33) was significantly lower than that in NSC group: (32.11 ± 0.54, P<0.05); EPCs calcium ion concentration changes in EPCs in si/rSTIM1 group (38.03 ± 0.13) was significantly lower than that in NSC group (98.11 ± 0.34, P<0.05). While there was no significant difference between si/rSTIM1+hSTIM1 group and NSC group on the four indexes above.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Silence of STIM1 attenuates EPCs proliferation and migration after vascular injury, by mediating the calcium ion concentration in EPCs.

Comparison of coronary plaque composition between patients with acute coronary syndrome and stable coronary artery disease / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The purpose of the present study was to compare the plaque composition between patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) by intravascular ultrasound virtual histological analysis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and ten patients were divided into ACS group (n = 131, 188 diseased vessels) and SCAD group (n = 79, 158 diseased vessels). A total of 346 de novo lesions with > 50% stenosis in native coronary arteries with diameters > 2.5 mm were studied with intravascular ultrasonography. Geometric and compositional data were obtained using intravascular ultrasound virtual histology software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no significant differences in overall lesions for fibrous (51.2% +/- 12.5% vs. 52.6% +/- 9.6%), fibrolipidic (11.3% +/- 10.6% vs. 12.9% +/- 9.4%), calcium (15.1% +/- 8.9% vs. 20.5% +/- 12.5%) or necrotic core (23.1% +/- 9.8% vs. 20.4% +/- 6.8%, all P > 0.05) components between ACS and SCAD patients. Culprit lesions for fibrous (49.1% +/- 11.2% vs. 50.3% +/- 9.7%), fibrolipidic (10.2% +/- 9.5% vs. 12.7% +/- 9.5%), calcium (15.4% +/- 8.9% vs. 17.4% +/- 24.8%), or necrotic core (24.0% +/- 11.5% vs. 19.7% +/- 5.3%, all P > 0.05) components were also similar between ACS and SCAD patients. High density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL) levels > 1.04 mmol/L was associated with more fibrolipidic (15.6% +/- 9.6% vs. 7.4% +/- 5.9%) and less necrotic core (19.4% +/- 8.6% vs. 28.6% +/- 11.2%, all P < 0.05 vs. patients with HDL < or = 1.04 mmol/L) components in ACS patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Coronary plaque composition was similar between ACS and SCAD patients.</p>