[Clinical characteristics of biliary obstruction patients with Clonorchis sinensis infections].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics of biliary obstruction patients with Clonorchis sinensis infections, so as to provide insights into the clinical diagnosis and therapy of this comorbidity. METHODS: A total of 45 biliary obstruction patients with C. sinensis infections that were admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from October 2012 to September 2019 were enrolled, and 45 patients with biliary obstruction alone at the hospital during the same study period were recruited as controls. Univariate analysis was performed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory examination results and imaging manifestations related to C. sinensis infection, and the statistically significant univariate was used as an independent variable for multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Compared with biliary obstruction alone, males (91.11% vs. 46.67%; χ2 = 20.737, P < 0.01) and rural areas (62.22% vs. 22.22%; χ2 = 14.757, P < 0.01) showed a significantly higher proportion in biliary obstruction patients with C. sinensis infections. The major clinical symptoms involved in had jaundice (45 cases, 100%) and abdominal pain (40 cases, 88.89%) in C. sinensis-infected patients. Logistic regression analysis showed that males [odds ratio (OR) = 10.717, 95% confidential interval (CI): (2.571, 44.662)] and drinking alcohol [OR = 4.474, 95% CI: (1.019, 19.642)] were risk factors for biliary obstruction patients with C. sinensis infections, while living in city [OR = 0.128, 95% CI: (0.038, 0.435)] was a protective factor. Additionally, in biliary obstruction patients with C. sinensis infections, lower total bilirubin (Z = -2.566, P <0.05) and direct bilirubin (Z = -3.454, P <0.05), higher indirect bilirubin (Z = -3.821, P < 0.05), thickening of the bile duct wall and dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct were detected. CONCLUSIONS: A comprehensive diagnosis requires to be made based on clinical symptoms, laboratory and imaging examinations, in order to improve the diagnosis of biliary obstruction patients with C. sinensis infections.

Inhibitory effects of essential oils from Asteraceae plant against pathogenic fungi of Panax notoginseng.

AIMS: Diseases caused by pathogenic fungi was a major constrain in increasing productivity and improving quality of Panax notoginseng. The aim of this research was to evaluate the inhibitory activity of essential oils (EOs) from Asteraceae family, Chrysanthemum indicum and Laggera pterodonta, against pathogenic fungi of P. notoginseng. METHODS AND RESULTS: The antifungal activity was investigated using multiple methods, disclosing that the EOs from C. indicum and L. pterodonta are active against hypha growth of different fungi but with different degrees of potency. Checkerboard testing indicated that the combination of EOs with hymexazol had synergistic effect against Pythium aphanidermatum, and exhibited additive effects against bulk of targeted pathogenic fungi. Besides, we found that the baseline sensitivity of Fusarium oxysporum to L. pterodonta EOs was higher than those of C. indicum by means of mycelium growth rate method. Finally, the practicability of those EOs as plant pesticide was confirmed by in vivo model showing that EOs can significantly inhibit the occurrence of root rot of P. notoginseng caused by F. oxysporum. CONCLUSION: Those studies suggest that the EOs from C. indicum and L. pterodonta had the potential to develop into new pollution-free pesticides for the protection of precious Chinese herbal medicines. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study provided a new way of biological control for overcoming the frequent diseases occurrence of P. notoginseng.

[Clinical observation of continuous and intermittent application of lamivudine or entecavir resistance mutations in patients with chronic hepatitis B].

Objective: To observe continuous and intermittent application of lamivudine or entecavir resistance mutations in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Methods: Data of patients with active stage of chronic hepatitis B over the past 6 years were collected and analyzed retrospectively. The incidence of drug resistance mutation and related factors between patients taking LAM or ETV continuously and intermittently were compared with those taking LAM or ETV. Data comparison was performed using χ(2) test. Results: Patients with HBV DNA≥10(5) copies / ml at the time of initial treatment had higher resistance mutation rates than those with HBV DNA < 10(5) copies / ml at either continuous or intermittent treatment, and patients with intermittent treatment had higher resistance mutation rates than those with continuous treatment. Simultaneously, the incidence of drug resistance mutation in LAM and ETV in the first, second and third years were significantly higher in intermittent treatment than that of continuous treatment (P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between the frequency of drug withdrawal and the rate of drug resistance mutation. There were no individual difference and drug difference between LAM and ETV. Conclusion: In the treatment of chronic hepatitis B with oral nucleoside analogues, drug resistance may occur in either continuous or intermittent treatment. When comparing continuous with intermittent treatment, it suggests that intermittent is more likely to cause viral resistance mutation.

Tanshinone IIA protects dopaminergic neurons against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neurotoxicity through miR-153/NF-E2-related factor 2/antioxidant response element signaling pathway.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder with increased oxidative stress, the underlying vital process contributing to cell death. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA), a major bioactive diterpene quinone of Salva miltiorrhiza, had been proved effective in the MPTP model through its anti-inflammatory activity. Here in this research, we found that Tan IIA prevented the loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons by activating the NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway. The cytotoxicity of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) was attenuated by the treatment of Tan IIA in SH-SY5Y cells, which significantly reduced 6-OHDA-induced lactic dehydrogenase release and reactive oxygen species production. Further study indicated that Tan IIA contributed to the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2, which bound to the ARE sequence, and activated ARE-regulated genes, including heme oxygenase-1, glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) and glutamate cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM). Tan IIA also protected against damage to mitochondrial membrane potential, reduced the translocation of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm and the activation of Caspase-9 and Caspase-3. Moreover, we demonstrated the above effects were performed in Nrf2-dependent manner. Further studies revealed that Tan IIA reduced the enhancement of miR-153 by 6-OHDA, which targeted the 3'-UTR of Nrf2, and suppressed its expression and activation. Additionally, neurodegeneration caused by in vivo stereotaxic injection of 6-OHDA could also be ameliorated by the administration of Tan IIA. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that Tan IIA may be beneficial for the treatment of PD, and also confirm that targeting the Nrf2/ARE pathway is a promising strategy for therapeutic intervention in PD.