Therapeutic effect evaluation of leonurine,polygonatum polysaccharide and deoxynojirimycin in combination on antithrombosis and hypoglycaemia / 中国药理学通报

Aim To evaluate the efficacy of the combination of leonurine(SCM),polygonatum polysaccharide(PSP)and deoxynojirimycin(DNJ)in hypoglycemic and antithrombotic aspects by establishing and using zebrafish type II diabetes combined with thrombosis model. Methods On the basis of the zebrafish type II diabetes model established by streptozotocin,phenylhydrazine(PH),arachidonic acid(AA)and ponatinib(PT)were used respectively to establish thrombosis models,which were divided into control group,model group,metformin+aspirin group,and the high,medium and low concentration groups of the combination drugs. After drug intervention in the experimental group,the thrombosis of tail vein was observed. Kit was used to determine the sugar content of juvenile fish tissues in each group. Quantitative analysis of cardiac erythrocytes by o-dianisidine staining method was used to calculate the inhibition rate of thrombus. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)was used to detect the mRNA expressions of related genes in zebrafish. Results Compared with the model group,the combined drug could significantly increase the staining intensity of erythrocytes in zebrafish hearts,inhibit thrombosis,down-regulate the expression of thrombosis-related genes,and reduce tissue glucose content. Conclusions The combined use of the three drugs can effectively reduce the tissue sugar content and have antithrombotic effect,which show great potential in the development of drugs for the treatment of type II diabetes and thrombosis.

Prediction of superantigen active sites and clonal expression of staphylococcal enterotoxin-like W / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: The docking and superantigen activity sites of staphylococcal enterotoxin-like W (SElW) and T cell receptor (TCR) were predicted, and its SElW was cloned, expressed and purified. Methods: AlphaFold was used to predict the 3D structure of SElW protein monomers, and the protein models were evaluated with the help of the SAVES online server from ERRAT, Ramachandran plot, and Verify_3D. The ZDOCK server simulates the docking conformation of SElW and TCR, and the amino acid sequences of SElW and other serotype enterotoxins were aligned. The primers were designed to amplify selw, and the fragment was recombined into the pMD18-T vector and sequenced. Then recombinant plasmid pMD18-T was digested with BamHⅠand Hind Ⅲ. The target fragment was recombined into the expression plasmid pET-28a(+). After identification of the recombinant plasmid, the protein expression was induced by isopropyl-beta-D- thiogalactopyranoside. The SElW expressed in the supernatant was purified by affinity chromatography and quantified by the BCA method. Results: The predicted three-dimensional structure showed that the SElW protein was composed of two domains, the amino-terminal and the carboxy-terminal. The amino-terminal domain was composed of 3 α-helices and 6 β-sheets, and the carboxy-terminal domain included 2 α-helices and 7 antiparallel β-sheets composition. The overall quality factor score of the SElW protein model was 98.08, with 93.24% of the amino acids having a Verify_3D score ≥0.2 and no amino acids located in disallowed regions. The docking conformation with the highest score (1 521.328) was selected as the analysis object, and the 19 hydrogen bonds between the corresponding amino acid residues of SElW and TCR were analyzed by PyMOL. Combined with sequence alignment and the published data, this study predicted and found five important superantigen active sites, namely Y18, N19, W55, C88, and C98. The highly purified soluble recombinant protein SElW was obtained with cloning, expression, and protein purification. Conclusions: The study found five superantigen active sites in SElW protein that need special attention and successfully constructed and expressed the SElW protein, which laid the foundation for further exploration of the immune recognition mechanism of SElW.

Exploration of Stratified Evidence Scoring Method of Acupuncture Clinical Practice Guidelines / 中国结合医学杂志

Due to its own internal laws of development, Chinese medicine (CM) seems more inclined to empirical medicine in a relatively long historical period. It is considered to be lacking objective and unified clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), and the difficulties in diagnosis and therapeutic effect evaluation comes with it, have restricted its further inheritance, development and international communication. Over the years, our research group has been committed to improving the standardization theory and methodology of CM, also perfecting relative techniques for further application, which are all based on the stratified evidence scoring method. We have already applied this method to 45 issued guidelines, including 5 national guidelines, 3 industrial guidelines, and 37 formulation/revision social organization guidelines. The stratified evidence scoring method has been recognized and used widely. It helps scholars and applicators to study, formulate, publish and popularize the acupuncture therapy clinical practice guidelines better, thus further promotes the development of acupuncture therapy.

Bloodletting Puncture at Hand Twelve Jing-Well Points Relieves Brain Edema after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats via Inhibiting MAPK Signaling Pathway / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate whether blood-brain barrier (BBB) served a key role in the edema-relief effect of bloodletting puncture at hand twelve Jing-well points (HTWP) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the potential molecular signaling pathways.@*METHODS@#Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to the sham-operated (sham), TBI, and bloodletting puncture (bloodletting) groups (n=24 per group) using a randomized number table. The TBI model rats were induced by cortical contusion and then bloodletting puncture were performed at HTWP twice a day for 2 days. The neurological function and cerebral edema were evaluated by modified neurological severity score (mNSS), cerebral water content, magnetic resonance imaging and hematoxylin and eosin staining. Cerebral blood flow was measured by laser speckles. The protein levels of aquaporin 4 (AQP4), matrix metalloproteinases 9 (MMP9) and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway (MAPK) signaling were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot.@*RESULTS@#Compared with TBI group, bloodletting puncture improved neurological function at 24 and 48 h, alleviated cerebral edema at 48 h, and reduced the permeability of BBB induced by TBI (all P<0.05). The AQP4 and MMP9 which would disrupt the integrity of BBB were downregulated by bloodletting puncture (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In addition, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 signaling pathways were inhibited by bloodletting puncture (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Bloodletting puncture at HTWP might play a significant role in protecting BBB through regulating the expressions of MMP9 and AQP4 as well as corresponding regulatory upstream ERK and p38 signaling pathways. Therefore, bloodletting puncture at HTWP may be a promising therapeutic strategy for TBI-induced cerebral edema.

Initiation of Acupoint Molecular Mechanisms for Manual Acupuncture Analgesia-Nuclear Factor κB Signaling Pathway / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To identify the prominent molecular signaling in acupoints and explore their roles in initiating the analgesia effect of manual acupuncture (MA).@*METHOD@#A three-step study was conducted, the experiment 1 was a genome-wide analysis of the tissue at acupoint Zusanli (ST 36), including 12 Wistar rats which were divided into control, control+MA1, and control+MA7 groups. In the experiment 2, the paw withdrawal latency (PWL), immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis of phospho-nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) p65 (p-p65), phospho-NFκB p50 (p-p50) at ST 36 were performed on rats of saline, saline+MA, and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)+MA groups (n=6). In experiment 3, 24 rats were divided into saline+DMSO, CFA+DMSO, CFA+DMSO+MA, and CFA+BAY 11-7082+MA groups, the PWL and immunofluorescence assay of NFκB p65 at ST 36 was conducted.@*RESULT@#(1) The gene: inhibitor of NFκB (Nfkbia), interleukin-1β (Il1b), interleukin-6 (Il6), chemokine c-x-c motif ligand 1 (Cxcl1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/Ccl2) expressions in the control+MA7 group were significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the expression of NFκB p65 (Rela), NFκB p50 (Nfkb1) were increased in the control+MA7 group (P<0.05). (2) CFA+MA groups showed increased PWL from day 1 to 7 (P<0.01 vs. CFA), and the Western blot results were consistent with immunohistochemistry, the expression of NFκB p-p65 and NFκB p-p50 were significantly increased in the MA-related groups compared with control and CFA groups (P<0.05). (3) Compared with the CFA+DMSO+MA group, the PWL of the CFA+ BAY 11-7082+MA group decreased significantly and continued until day 5 and 7 (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively), and the NFκB p65 expression of CFA+BAY 11-7082+MA was significantly reduced compared with CFA+DMSO+MA (P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Local NFκB signaling cascade in acupoint caused by MA is an important step in initiating the analgesic effect, which would provide new evidence for the initiation of MA-effect and improve the understanding of the scientific basis of acupuncture analgesia.

Initiation mechanisms of acupuncture effect: a literature review of basic studies / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To summarize the research status of the changes in local microenvironment of acupoints caused by acupuncture, provide theoretical guidance for the initiation mechanisms of local acupuncture effect at acupoints. Methods: Using acupuncture, acupoint as key words to search China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Academic Journal Full-text Database (Wanfang), Chongqing VIP Database (CQVIP), PubMed and other databases, the representative articles were selected for review. Results: Acupuncture could excite afferent nerves, activate cells, and promote the release of chemical substances like neuropeptide, hormone, cytokines, etc. in the local site of acupoints. Besides, it may cause mechanical deformation of connective tissues, and change chemical ions as well as ion channels. Conclusion: The microenvironment changes around acupoints are crucial to acupuncture effect; the concept of 'acupoints network' can be used to objectively describe the local changes around the acupoints after acupuncture.

Indication of bloodletting therapy based on multi-dimensional evidence assessment / 中国针灸

The indication of bloodletting therapy was determined based on the multi-dimensional evidence assessment, which could provide guidance for the clinical application of bloodletting therapy. The literature of bloodletting therapy was comprehensively collected by retrieval in CNKI, Wanfang and VIP databases (until February 23, 2019), modern books in Library of Tianjing University of TCM and the (Fifth Edition). The disease spectrum of bloodletting therapy was determined by self-designed questionnaire survey e-mailed to relevant experts. The indication of bloodletting therapy was determined by Delphi expert meeting. As a result, 746 pieces of ancient literature and 32 775 modern literature were included. The indications of bloodletting therapy based on the multi-dimensional evidence assessment include herpes zoster, acne, acute tonsillitis, vascular headache, varicose veins of lower extremities, acute lumbar sprain, early erysipelas, wheat swelling, exogenous fever of children, stroke, which are mainly the syndromes of blood stasis, toxin, excess and heat.

Association between red cell distribution width and mortality in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To investigate the association of red cell distribution width (RDW) with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 207 patients who initiated CAPD for more than 3 months between July 2005 and March 2016 in the First Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University.Baseline data on demographic,clinical and biochemical variables as well as comorbidities were obtained;medications and clinic outcomes were recorded.According to receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) analysis,patients were divided into high RDW (RDW ＞ 15.1％) and low RDW (RDW≤ 15.1％) groups.The data of two groups were compared and Spearman's correlation analysis was used to explore the association of RDW with clinical and biochemical parameters.Survival curves were calculated using Kaplan-Meier method.Cox regression model was employed to analyze risk factors of all-cause and CVD-related mortality.Results In this study,207 CAPD patients were enrolled.The overall median survival time was 80 months.And the median survival time of high RDW group (68 patients) and low RDW group (139 patients) were 59 months and 96 months,respectively.There were statistical differences in diastole pressure,hemoglobin,hematocrit,serum albumin,intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH),eGFR,cholesterol,lipoprotein a,4-hour dialysate-to-plasma ratio for creatinine (4hD/Pcr),total Ccr (P ＜ 0.05,respectively);the two groups also varied in the proportion of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,cardiovascular disease and hyperlipidemia,as well as in the use of iron supplements,angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin Ⅱ receptor blockers (ARB),and beta-receptor blockers (P＜0.05,respectively).Cardiovascular event was a leading cause of mortality.Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that the high RDW group had higher all-cause and CVD-related mortality compared with the low RDW group (P ＜ 0.01).The 1-year,3-year,and 5-year patient survivals of the high RDW and low RDW group were 87.97％ vs 97.01％,58.02％ vs 81.53％,and 41.62％ vs 67.96％,respectively,demonstrating significant differences (P=0.001).Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that high RDW was independent risk factor for all-cause mortality (HR=1.212,95％CI:1.007-1.458,P=0.042) and CVD-related mortality (HR=1.697,95％ CI:1.030-2.795,P=0.038).Conclusion RDW is associated with mortality risks in CAPD patients and can be stratified as a valuable indicator for the risk of death.

Effect of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway on epithelial mesenchymal transition of the peritoneum in uremic peritoneal dialysis rats / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To investigate whether the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway is involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of peritoneal mesothelial cells in uremic peritoneal dialysis (PD) rats.Methods A total of 48 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly separated into six groups:normal control group (NC group,n=8),sham group (n=8),uremic group (n=8),PD group (n=8),S3I-201 control group (n=8) and S3I-201 group (n=8).Uremic model generated by 5/6 nephrectomy surgery in rats was established.The rats of PD group,S3I-201 control group and S3I-201 group received daily infusion of 4.25％ glucose-based peritoneal dialysate fluid (3 ml/100 g) from PD catheters for 28 days.Rats of S3I-201 group were injected with STAT3 inhibitor S3I-201 (2.5 mg/kg) solution from the catheters every other day;the same dose of the solvent of S3I-201 was simultaneously given to S3I-201 control group rats.After PD for 28 days,peritoneal function,pathologic changes,and microvessel density (MVD) were evaluated.Creatinine,urea nitrogen and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration in blood and dialysate,and protein and mRNA levels of phospho-JAK2 (p-JAK2),phospho-STAT3 (p-STAT3),E-cadherin,alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in peritoneum were determined.Results Uremia and peritoneal dialysate could aggravate the peritoneal function and elevate peritoneal thickness and MVD.They could also increased the concentration of IL-6 in blood and dialysate and the expression levels of α-SMA,VEGF,p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 in peritoneum,while lowering E-cadherin expression in peritoneum.These manifestations were even more remarkable in PD group compared to those in uremic group.There was no statistical difference between the S3I-201 control group and the PD group as regards all the index (all P ＞ 0.05).Compared with the S3I-201 control group,the rats treated with S3I-201 showed better peritoneal function.S3I-201 could reduce peritoneal thickness (P＜0.05),MVD (P＜0.05),the concentration of IL-6 in blood and dialysate,the mRNA and protein expression of α-SMA,VEGF,p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 (all P ＜ 0.05),while enhance the mRNA and protein expression of E-cadherin (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions After STAT3 is inhibited,the peritoneal thickness,MVD and IL-6 concentration in PD rats are decreased,and EMT is also inhibited,while peritoneal function is improved.The JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway may thus be involved in the process of EMT of peritoneum in uremic peritoneal dialysis rats by regulating the expression of IL-6.

Interleukin-6 induces epithelial mesenchymal transition of human peritoneal mesothelial cells by STAT3 / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To investigate the role of STAT3 transcription factor in IL-6 inducing epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs).Methods HPMCs were cultured in vitro and grouped.(1) According to the stimulation time with 50 μg/L IL-6,HPMCs were divided into 24,48,72 h groups.(2) HPMCs were grouped 50,100 μg/L according to IL-6 concentration.(3) HPMCs were respectively divided into control group,IL-6 group,empty vector group,empty vector+IL-6 group,virus infecting group and virus infecting+IL-6 group,as lenti-virus vector mediating RNA interference targeting STAT3 was applied.The mRNA expressions of E-cadherin,α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected by real time PCR;their protein expressions and the phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 were detected by Western blotting;the expressions and distribution of E-cadherin and α-SMA were observed by immunofluorescence.Results Compared with those in control group,the expression of E-cadherin decreased remarkably (P ＜ 0.05),while the expressions of VEGF and α-SMA and the ratio of phosphorylated (p)-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 increased significantly in IL-6 concentration groups and stimulation time groups (all P ＜ 0.05),which had been dose and time dependent.Compared with empty vector+IL-6 group,virus infecting+IL-6 group had decreased expressions of VEGF and α-SMA,while increased expressions of E-cadherin (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions IL-6 can promote VEGF and α-SMA gene expression and prevent E-cadherin gene expression by STAT3,which involves in EMT of peritoneum fibrosis.While STAT3 gene is knocked-down,EMT is inhibited in HPMCs.

Interleukin-6 induces epithelial mesenchymal transition of human peritoneal mesothelial cells by STAT3 / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To investigate the role of STAT3 transcription factor in IL-6 inducing epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs).Methods HPMCs were cultured in vitro and grouped.(1) According to the stimulation time with 50 μg/L IL-6,HPMCs were divided into 24,48,72 h groups.(2) HPMCs were grouped 50,100 μg/L according to IL-6 concentration.(3) HPMCs were respectively divided into control group,IL-6 group,empty vector group,empty vector+IL-6 group,virus infecting group and virus infecting+IL-6 group,as lenti-virus vector mediating RNA interference targeting STAT3 was applied.The mRNA expressions of E-cadherin,α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected by real time PCR;their protein expressions and the phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 were detected by Western blotting;the expressions and distribution of E-cadherin and α-SMA were observed by immunofluorescence.Results Compared with those in control group,the expression of E-cadherin decreased remarkably (P ＜ 0.05),while the expressions of VEGF and α-SMA and the ratio of phosphorylated (p)-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 increased significantly in IL-6 concentration groups and stimulation time groups (all P ＜ 0.05),which had been dose and time dependent.Compared with empty vector+IL-6 group,virus infecting+IL-6 group had decreased expressions of VEGF and α-SMA,while increased expressions of E-cadherin (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions IL-6 can promote VEGF and α-SMA gene expression and prevent E-cadherin gene expression by STAT3,which involves in EMT of peritoneum fibrosis.While STAT3 gene is knocked-down,EMT is inhibited in HPMCs.

Mechanism of DATS Inhibiting Side Population Cell Proliferation in Multiple Myeloma / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of diallyl thiosulfinate (DATS) on the proliferation of side population (SP) cells in multiple myeloma (MM) and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>RPMI-8226 and NCI-H929 cells were cultured, and the level of SP cells was detected by Hoechst33342 staining. The SP cells were cultured and treated with 10 µg/ml DATS, the CCK8 assay was carried out to examine the effect of DATS on the proliferation ability in SP cells, and plate colony-forming test was used to examine the colony-forming ability, the flow cytometry assay was carried out to examine the cell cycle, Western blot assay was used to examine the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin E, CDK2 and CDK4.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SP cells were detected in RPMI-8226 and NCI-H929 cells with a proportion of 3.17±0.98 and 2.65±0.61, respectively. DATS treatment could significantly inhibit the SP cells survival in a time-dependent manner, and also could significantly inhibit the colony forming. In addition, DATS treatment could significantly induce the G/S arrest and suppress the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin E, CDK2 and CDK4.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DATS can inhibit the proliferation and colony-forming of SP cells in multiple myeloma, and induce the G/S arrest that may be carried out via suppressing the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin E, CDK2 and CDK4.</p>

Scientific principle analysis on prescription of Sini Decoction / 中草药

To analyze the background of Sini Decoction prescription, taking the clinical emergency treatment of shock syndrome by Sini Decoction as the main line, to explore the following three problems on rescuing shock syndrome faced by Zhang Zhong-jing: The first is how to use Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata (fuzi) to restore yang for saving from collapse, in the case that the blood capacity can not be quickly supplied; The second is how the active constituents in fuzi could be quickly absorbed, in the pathological state of the shock with severe gastrointestinal disturbance; The third is how to relieve the toxicity of fuzi, in the condition that the active components are not affected; The aim of the study is to reveal the scientificality and rationality in the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, which could provide the guidance for the application of classical prescription in modern clinic or the development of new Chinese materia medica.

Effect of p38MAPK inhibitor on the soft palate reconstruction of the rats with chronic intermittent hypoxia / 中国耳鼻咽喉头颈外科

OBJECTIVE To explore the role of P38MAPK inhibitor on the soft palate reconstruction of the rats with chronic intermittent hypoxia. METHODS The animals were divided into normal control group, hypoxia control group and SB203580+hypoxia group (every group 20 rats). After 5 weeks, the expressions of p38MAPK and p-p38MAPK protein on the soft palate of the rats were detected with immunohistochemical techniques and western blot. RESULTS Compared with the normal control group, the soft palate tissue thickness of the hypoxia group were increased most obviously; Levels of p38MAPK were increased in hypoxia control group; Compared with the hypoxia control group, the levels of p-p38MAPK group were decreased in SB203580+hypoxia group. CONCLUSION p38MAPK may play important roles in the soft palate reconstruction of the rats with chronic intermittent hypoxia.

Clinical analysis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss with vertigo / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) with vertigo.@*METHOD@#By analyzing the clinical data of 271 ISSHL patients, they were divided into without vertigo group (n = 169) and vertigo group (n = 102). In vertigo group, 34 cases were patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) secondary to the ISSHL. All patients received conventional treatment. According to the types of BPPV, patients with secondary BPPV received Epley maneuver or Barbecue roll maneuver. By analyzing the results of the pure tone audiometry test and treatment outcomes of the patients, we summarized the clinical characteristics of ISSHL patients with vertigo.@*RESULT@#The audiometric curves of ISSHL with vertigo group were mainly at high frequency. The degrees of hearing loss of these patients were severe and profound. After treatment, the improvement of hearing threshold for ISSHL with vertigo group was lower than that for ISSHL without vertigo group. What's more, the rate of recovery, success and total effective of audition for ISSHL with vertigo group was also obviously lower than that for ISSHL without vertigo group. Of all the patients with BPPV, 27 cases of posterior semicircular canal and 7 cases of lateral semicircular canal were identified. All patients with BPPV were diagnosed as the same ears as the ISSHL.@*CONCLUSION@#ISSHL with vertigo group lost hearing more severely than ISSHL without vertigo group. Also, the improvement of hearing and the effective after treatment were really poor. The symptoms of ISSHL with BPPV group improved and eased significantly than that of ISSHL without BPPV group. The major of BPPV secondary to the ISSHL occurs in the posterior semicircular canal. The canalith repositioning is an effective therapy to the secondary BPPV.

Pathological changes of upper and lower respiratory tissue in rats with chronic intermittent hypoxia / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the pathological changes of chronic intermittent hypoxia on upper and lower respiratory tissue in experimental rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 40 female SD rats were divided into 2 groups. Twenty rats were fed in normal state (control group), and 20 rats were fed in hypoxia environment (hypoxia group). The pathological changes of upper and lower respiratory tissue were observed under optical microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Chronic intermittent hypoxia resulted in irreversible changes both at upper and lower respiratory tract in rats. The thickness of the lamina propria in soft palate was significantly increased in hypoxia group (125.85 ± 6.34) µm vs. (57.26 ± 4.67) µm (t=36.330, P<0.01). Lung pathological examination in hypoxia group showed pulmonary interval thickening (2.15 ± 0.49) µm vs. (0.45 ± 0.12) µm (t=14.132, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This study confirmed that long-term hypoxia can lead to organization reconstruction in upper and lower respiratory tract in rats. In OSAHS patients, it is suggested that earlier intervention could alliviate the pathological changes in respiratory system.</p>

Rapid and high-throughput identification of recombinant bacteria with mass spectrometry assay / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct a rapid and high-throughput assay for identifying recombinant bacteria based on mass spectrometry.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) techniques were used to identify 12 recombinant proteins (10 of Yersinia pestis, 1 of Campylobacter jejuni and 1 of Helicobacter pylori). A classification model for the various phase of recombinant bacteria was established, optimized and validated, using MALDI-TOF MS-ClinProTools system. The differences in the peptide mass spectra were analyzed by using Biotyper and FlexAnalysis softwares.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Models of GA, SNN, and QC were established. After optimizing the parameters, the GA recognition model showed good classification capabilities: RC=100%, mean CVA=98.7% (the CVA was 96.4% in phase 1, 100% in phase 2, 98.4% in phase 3, and 100% in phase 4, respectively) and PPV=95%. This model can be used to classify the bacteria and their recombinant, which only requires 3.7×103 cells for analysis. The total time needed is only 10 min from protein extraction to reporting the result for one sample. Furthermore, this assay can automatically detect and test 96 samples concurrently. A total of 48 specific peaks (9, 16, 9, and 14 for the four stages, respectively) was found in the various phase of recombinant bacteria.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MALDI-TOF MS can be used as a fast, accurate, and high-throughput method to identify recombinant bacteria, which provide a new ideas not only for recombinant bacteria but also for the identification of mutant strains and bioterrorism pathogens.</p>

Sensing bacterial infections by NAIP receptors in NLRC4 inflammasome activation

The inflammasome is an emerging new pathway in innate immune defense against microbial infection or endogenous danger signals. The inflammasome stimulates activation of inflammatory caspases, mainly caspase-1. Caspase-1 activation is responsible for processing and secretion of IL-1β and IL-18 as well as for inducing macrophage pyroptotic death. Assembly of the large cytoplasmic inflammasome complex is thought to be mediated by members of NOD-like receptor (NLR) family. While functions of most of the NLR proteins remain to be defined, several NLR proteins including NLRC4 have been shown to assemble distinct inflammasome complexes. These inflammasome pathways, particularly the NLRC4 inflammasome, play a critical role in sensing and restricting diverse types of bacterial infections. Here we review recent advances in defining the exact bacterial ligands and the ligand-binding receptors involved in NLRC4 inflammasome activation. Implications of the discovery of the NAIP family of inflammasome receptors for bacterial flagellin and type III secretion apparatus on future inflammasome and bacterial infection studies are also discussed.

Effect of epigallocatechingallate on acute lung injury induced by oleic acid in mice / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the effect of epigallocatechingallate (EGCG) on acute lung injury induced by oleic acid in mice and the possible mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Acute lung injury was induced by oleic acid in mice. Light microscopy and electron microscopy were used to examine histological changes and lung index as well as wet to dry weight ratio was calculated. Serum TNF-a level was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was determined by Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Pretreatment of EGCG significantly alleviated oleic acid induced lung injury accompanied by reduction of lung index and wet to dry weight ratio, decreased of TNF-a level in serum and inhibition of phosphorylation of p38 MAPK.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EGCG showed beneficial effect on acute lung injury induced by oleic acid in mice. The ultimate reduction of TNF-alpha in serum caused by inhibition of phosphorylated p38 MAPK is involved in the mechanism of action of EGCG.</p>

Study of the effect of crocin on rat experimental hyperlipemia and the underlying mechanisms / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of crocin on rat experimental hyperlipemia and its mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Hyperlipemia model was established by feeding heavy cholesterol for 2 months and the effect of crocin on blood lipid in experimental hyperlipemia rats was observed. Aortic smooth muscle cells were cultured in different culture media and proliferation was measured by MTT assay. Western blotting was used to detect the effect of crocin on phosphorylation of p38 MAPK.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Crocin not only decreased greatly the content of cholesterol, triglyceride and density lipoprotein in blood, but also increased the content of high density lipoprotein. In addition, the proliferation of smooth muscle cells and the activation of p38MAPK were inhibited by Crocin.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Crocin prevents atherosclerosis in hyperlipemia, which may be mediated by the inhibition of both proliferation of smooth muscle cells and activation of p38MAPK.</p>