Influence factors and predictive ability of a risk prediction model for carotid atherosclerosis in a follow-up population / 中华疾病控制杂志

Objective To explore factors influencing the incidence of carotid atherosclerosis in different genders so as to provide reference for the specific prevention of the disease. Methods A nested case-control study was conducted to analyze factors influencing the incidence of carotid atherosclerosis in Jinchang cohort population who were randomly selected through stratified sampling by age and followed up. A risk prediction model was established and the goodness of fit was evaluated by the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC). Results The standardized incidence of carotid atherosclerosis in this follow-up population was 12.32%, and the incidence rate of males (13.65%) was greater than that of females (11.29%). The difference was statistically significant ( 2=4.267, P<0.001). Age, education, elevated systolic blood pressure, and elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were common risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis in both men and women. Elevated fasting plasma glucose (OR=2.556, 95% CI: 1.618-4.038) and elevated triglyceride (OR=1.535, 95% CI: 1.058-2.227) were only associated with men. Abdominal obesity (OR=1.414, 95% CI: 1.013-1.974) was only associated with women. The area under ROC of male and female prediction models was 0.835 (95% CI: 0.815-0.856) and 0.809 (95% CI: 0.788-0.831), respectively. The sensitivity was 78.0% and 78.9%, the specificity was 78.8% and 73.1%, and the diagnostic coincidence rate was 91.3% and 82.4%, respectively. Conclusions There are different risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis in males and females, and targeted prevention and control measures should be taken according to gender. The risk prediction model established by Logistic regression had certain guiding value.

Effect of Zhizhu Pill on Gastric Smooth Muscle Contractile Response and Protein Expression of Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor in Functional Dyspepsia Rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the therapeutic mechanism of Zhizhu Pill (ZP) for treating functional dyspepsia (FD) rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 30 ten-day-old male rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (n =10) and the model group (n = 20). The FD rat model was induced using gastric administration of 0.1% iodoacetamide (IA) combined tail clamping. The model was evaluated when rats were 8-week old. Successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into the model group (n = 10) and the ZP group (n = 10). Rats in the normal group and the model group were administered with normal saline by gastrogavage, while those in the ZP group were administered with ZP Decoction (2 mL/100 g) by gastrogavage. All medication lasted for 7 successive days. The contractile activity in in vitro longitudinal gastric muscle was recorded using Power Lab biological signal collecting system. The expression of growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) in stomach of FD rats was detected using Western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the normal group, average frequencies of gastric contraction and changing rates of amplitude obviously decreased in the model group (P < 0.05). Results of Western blot and IHC showed that the expression of GHSR decreased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, average frequencies of gastric contraction and changing rates of amplitude obviously increased in the ZP group (P < 0.05). Results of Western blot and IHC showed that the expression of GHSR increased in the ZP group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ZP could promote the gastric motility in FD rats induced by gastric administration of IA combined tail clamping, and its mechanism might be related to up-regulating GHSR protein level.</p>

Study on the mechanism of action of total saponins of Panax notoginseng in ameliorating oxidative stress and insulin resistance in rats fed with high fat diet / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether total saponins of Panax notoginseng (tPNS) can ameliorate oxidative stress and insulin resistance (IR) in the high fat induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rat model and to explore the relationship between oxidative stress and IR.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 50 healthy rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (NC), the model group, the high dose tPNS group (at the daily dose of 160 mg/kg), the low dose tPNS group (at the daily dose of 80 mg/kg), and the bicyclol group (at the daily dose of 100 mg/kg), 10 in each group. Rats in the NC group were fed with standard forage. Those in the rest group were fed with high fat forage. Distilled water was given by gastrogavage to those in the NC group and the model group. Corresponding medication was performed for 4 weeks. Four weeks later Lee's index and body weight were measured. All rats were sacrificed to detect the wet weight of livers. Their sera was isolated and detected to calculate liver functions (serum ALT and AST levels). Levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting insulin (FINS) were detected. Insulin sensitive index (ISI) and insulin resistance index (IRI) were calculated. Serum levels of TNF-alpha and malondialdehyde (MDA), contents of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), hydroxy radical level (-OH), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were measured. Pathological changes of livers was observed by HE staining of paraffin section.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the NC group, rats' wet liver weight and Lee's index increased in the model group (P < 0.05), and results of light microscopy showed that obvious fatty degeneration occurred in livers. Compared with the model group, rats' wet liver weight and Lee's index, as well as ALT and AST could be obviously improved by tPNS and bicyclol (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The fatty deposition of liver cells could also be alleviated. Compared with the NC group, serum levels of-OH, MDA, and TNF-alpha significantly increased, and activities of T-SOD and T-AOC decreased in the model group (P < 0.01), also accompanied with IR. Compared with the model group, concentrations of -OH, MDA, and TNF-alpha decreased after treated by tPNS (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), activities of T-SOD and T-AOC got recovered (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and IR got obvious improvement (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The anti-oxidative stress effect and IR improving effect of tPNS might play partial roles in treating NAFLD.</p>

Effects of shugan jianpi recipe on the ion transport of diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome rat colon mucosa induced by 5-HT / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the mechanism of Shugan Jianpi Recipe (SJR) on the ion transportation of diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) colon mucosa induced by 5-HT.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 36 male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, i. e., the normal group, the model group, and the SJR group, 12 in each group. IBS-D Rat model was induced by intracolonic instillation of acetic acid and restraint stress. After successful modeling, normal saline was given to rats in the normal group and the model group, while SJR was given to those in the SJR group by gastrogavage for 14 days. The short circuit current (lsc) technology was used to measure 5-HT induced lsc changes of the colon mucosa under the actions of drugs and specific blocking agents.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no difference in basal current (BC), the potential difference (PD), and transmembrane resistance (TR) of the distal colon among the 3 groups (all P > 0.05). The 5-HT induced short circuit current change (delta lsc) was lower in the model group than in the normal group (P < 0.05), and it was higher in the SJR group than in the model group (P < 0.05). When 4,4'-diisothiocyanato-stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS, 500 micromol/L), an Ca(+)-dependent Cl- channel blocker, was added from the epiphragm of the colonic mucosa, the 5-HT induced delta lsc was lower in the model group than in the normal group (P < 0.05), and it was higher in the SJR group than in the model group (P < 0.05). When Na+ was substituted in the epiphragm solution (Na+ free) or amiloride (100 micromol/L) was added from the epiphragm of the colonic mucosa, an epithelial Na+ channel blocker, the 5-HT induced delta lsc was lower in the model group than in the normal group (P < 0.05), and it was higher in the SJR group than in the model group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SJR could affect the transmembrane electrolyte transportation of IBS-D rat induced by 5-HT through regulating the secretion of Cl- and HCO3-. The effects might be achieved by the coordination of apical Cl- channel CFTR, basolateral Na(+)-K+ ATPase, sodium-potassium-chloride cotransporter, sodium-bicarbonate cotransporter, Cl-/HCO3- exchanger, as well as K+ channel.</p>