Paeoniflorin Coordinates Macrophage Polarization and Mitigates Liver Inflammation and Fibrogenesis by Targeting the NF-[Formula: see text]B/HIF-1α Pathway in CCl4-Induced Liver Fibrosis.

Liver fibrosis is a disease largely driven by resident and recruited macrophages. The phenotypic switch of hepatic macrophages can be achieved by chemo-attractants and cytokines. During a screening of plants traditionally used to treat liver diseases in China, paeoniflorin was identified as a potential drug that affects the polarization of macrophages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of paeoniflorin in an animal model of liver fibrosis and explore its underlying mechanisms. Liver fibrosis was induced in Wistar rats via an intraperitoneal injection of CCl4. In addition, the RAW264.7 macrophages were cultured in the presence of CoCl2 to simulate a hypoxic microenvironment of fibrotic livers in vitro. The modeled rats were treated daily with either paeoniflorin (100, 150, and 200[Formula: see text]mg/kg) or YC-1 (2[Formula: see text]mg/kg) for 8 weeks. Hepatic function, inflammation and fibrosis, activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC), and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition were assessed in the in vivo and in vitro models. The expression levels of M1 and M2 macrophage markers and the NF-[Formula: see text]B/HIF-1[Formula: see text] pathway factors were measured using standard assays. Paeoniflorin significantly alleviated hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, as well as hepatocyte necrosis in the CCl4-induced fibrosis model. Furthermore, paeoniflorin also inhibited HSC activation and reduced ECM deposition both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, paeoniflorin restrained M1 macrophage polarization and induced M2 polarization in the fibrotic liver tissues as well as in the RAW264.7 cells grown under hypoxic conditions by inactivating the NF-[Formula: see text]B/HIF-1[Formula: see text] signaling pathway. In conclusion, paeoniflorin exerts its anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects in the liver by coordinating macrophage polarization through the NF-[Formula: see text]B/HIF-1[Formula: see text] pathway.

Investigation and analysis of concentrations of radium-226 and uranium in agricultural products around uranium tailings pond / 中国辐射卫生

@#<b>Objective</b> To investigate the radionuclide radium-226 and natural uranium content in the main agricultural products around a decommissioned uranium tailings pondand to determine the radioactivity level in the food around the tailings pond. <b>Methods</b> From 2017 to 2021, several samples of rice and beans were collected in the surrounding area of the tailings pond for five consecutive years, and the concentrations of radium-226 and natural uranium were measured by a high-purity germanium gamma spectrometer. The annual accumulated effective dose of internal exposure caused by radium-226 ingested through local standard human diet was estimated by the indirect method. <b>Results</b> The detection rate of natural uranium in rice was 96.0%, and the detection rate of radium-226 was 74.0%; the detection rate of natural uranium in beans was 96.7%, and the detection rate of radium-226 was 73.3%. The annual accumulated effective dose caused by radium-226 ingested through diet was about 170.22 μSv/a in surrounding residents. <b>Conclusion</b> The concentrations of radium-226 and natural uranium in the main agricultural products around the tailings pond are within the limit of the national standard. By comparing with the research results in related fields in China, the radiation effects caused by radium-226 ingested through dieton the residents around the tailings pond are acceptable.

Analysis of genetic diversity among Chinese Pleurotus citrinopileatus Singer cultivars using two molecular marker systems (ISSRs and SRAPs) and morphological traits.

To evaluate the genetic diversity of Pleurotus citrinopileatus Singer cultivars in China, 20 P. citrinopileatus strains were analyzed using morphological traits, inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) molecular markers. Eleven ISSR primers amplified a total of 116 DNA fragments of which 96 (82.91%) were polymorphic, whereas 8 SRAP primer pairs amplified 69 fragments of which 65 (93.47%) were polymorphic. Phylogenetic trees constructed on the basis of ISSR, SRAP, and combined ISSR/SRAP analyses using the Unweighted Pair-group Method with Arithmetic Averages method distributed the 20 strains into three or six major groups. The grouping exhibited great similarity and was generally consistent with their morphological characters and antagonism test, which indicated a high level of genetic diversity among P. citrinopileatus Singer and relationship between each other. Based on the genetic analysis, the primary mini-core strains were constructed with progressive sampling method of the smallest genetic distance. The mini-core germplasm collection included 4 strains (strain 2, 5, 7 and 11). Our findings will provide a scientific fundament for facilitating parent selection for broadening genetic base, accelerating the genetic breeding, identification of cultivated strains and the development of bioactive products from this commercially important medicinal mushroom.

Study about eye complication of nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the eye complication of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), to analysis the clinical manifestation, CT characteristics and pathological diagnosis of eye complications of NPC and to provide the base for early diagnosis of NPC.@*METHOD@#To retrospectively study of 82 cases eye complications in 562 cases NPC, to study their clinical manifestation, CT characteristics and pathological diagnosis.@*RESULT@#The clinical studies showed that eye complication cases were occurred in 82 cases of 562 NPC cases (14.6%). Thirty-six cases in left and 37 cases in right eye, 9 cases in bilateral eyes. Sixty-five cases came from Guangdong, while the others 17 cases come from 5 provinces. There were 9 kinds of eye manifestation. CT appearances: 40 cases suffered from skull base distracted, 6 cases with orbit involved, 2 cases ( in left eyes) with orbit metastasis, 12 cases with nose-sinus involved, 68 case with parapharyngeal space involved, 49 cases with soft issue in wall of styloid process involved (there were many kind of shows in the same case, so the data were repeated in these cases).@*CONCLUSION@#There were multiplicity and complexity in eye complication of NPC. Ophthalmologists should think highly of these cases.

Classification of the hydrogen-bonding species in a series of novel hydrazide based azobenzene derivatives investigated by two-dimensional correlation infrared spectroscopy and molecular modeling.

Classification of hydrogen-bonding species in a series of novel hydrazide modified p-methoxyazobenzene derivatives, 4-{n-[4-(4-methoxy-phenylazo)-phenoxy]-alkoxy}-benzoic acid hydrazide (Dn, n = 3, 6, 10) are performed in the present study. Temperature-dependent infrared (IR) spectra of Dn have been measured to investigate the thermal stability of the weak intermolecular interactions, such as hydrogen bonding among hydrazide moieties, pi-pi stacking among aromatic groups, and hydrophobic interaction between alkyl chains. In order to reveal the hydrogen bonding formed between NH, NH2, and CONH groups efficiently, two-dimensional (2D) correlation spectra have been constructed in the thermal sensitive spectral regions of (a) 3500-3100 cm(-1) and (b) 1700-1450 cm(-1), separately, and it have also been constructed between these two spectral regions. Based on the experimental data, the ab initio computational models have been developed to the proposed patterns of hydrogen bonding related to intermolecular interactions in Dn. The intermolecular hydrogen bondings and molecular alignments patterns result from both the experimental data and the computational models are performed for D3, D6, and D10, respectively, in the present study.

Related variance analysis on auditory effects of tympanoplasty / 中国耳鼻咽喉头颈外科

OBJECTIVE To study the relative factors affecting auditory effects after tympanoplasty. METHODS 118 cases (126 ears) of tympanoplasty were reported,16 factors that might influence auditory effects were analysed. RESULTS There were 10 in 16 factors affecting auditory effects after tympanoplasty, including course, the degree of pathological changes, air-bone gap, function of eustanchian tube, remaining handle of malleus, the type of surgery, condition of tympanic mambrane after operation and so on. The results of single-variance analysis had statistical differences (P＜0.05). CONCLUSION Auditory effects after tympanoplasty were influenced by a series of factors, the major factors were the degree of pathological change and type of surgery.

Evaluation of virtual endoscopy in tympanoplast / 中国耳鼻咽喉头颈外科

OBJECTIVE To study the clinical usability of virtual endoscopy(VE) in tympanoplasty.METHODS A total of 102 patients (204 ears) were observed by virtual endoscopy. Tympanoplasty was performed in 72 cases (75 ears) including 53 cases (55 ears) with chronic otitis media and 19 cases (20 ears) with congenital microtia and middle ear dysmorphia. Ossicular chain reconstruction was conducteded in 65 ears at the same time. RESULTS The ossicular chain was showed eroded in 19 ears of 23 patients with cholesteatoma otitis media pre-operatively by VE, but was found eroded in all of 23 ears during operation. The ossicular chain was showed eroded in 29 ears of 32 patients with osteitis otitis media pre-operatively by VE, but during operation it was found 23 ears with malleus and incus eroded, 11 ears without head of stapes or up-structure of stapes. VE showed 18 ears with congenital microtia and middle ear malformation and 2 ears with small tympanic cavity and no ossicular chain preoperatively, and operation proved 17 ears with severe ossicular malformation, 2 ears without stapes, 1 ear with vestibular window atresia. There were 2 ears with sudden hearing loss after tympanoplasty, the VE showed ossicular displacement. The coincidence rates between VE and operation view were 92 % in patients with otitis media and 100 % in patients with congenital microtia and middle ear malformation. CONCLUSION VE can supply reliability data for evaluation of the damaged ossicular chain and efficacy of tympanoplasty.

Effects of siRNA targeting PCNA gene on nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE2 cell cycle / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To explore the effects of small interfering RNA(siRNA) targeting PCNA gene on nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE2 cells growth and cycle.METHODS:Three synthesized siRNA targeting PCNA gene was transfected into CNE2 cells by using LipofectamineTM reagent.The PCNA mRNA and PCNA protein were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical method.Inverted phase contrast microscope was used to determine the CEN2 cells growth before and after PCNA-siRNA transfected.Flow cytometry was used to observe the cell cycle.RESULTS:In CNE2 cells after PCNA-siRNA transfection,the expressions of PCNA mRNA and protein were down-regulated at different degree.Inhibition ratio of PCNA mRNA was 98.5%.Meanwhile,the cell cycle was suffocated at G0/G1 stage.CONCLUSION:The synthesized PCNA-siRNA effectively interferes nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by down-regulating the expressions of the PCNA mRNA and its protein,therefore inhibits the growth of CNE2 cells.Future application of PCNA-siRNA in the gene therapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma might be expected.

Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions in Normal Infants Hearing Screening / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate the usage of distortion product otoacoustic emissions(DPOAE) in normal infants hearing screening.Methods One hundred infants(200 ears) without clinical condition of illness were checked in GSI 70 DPOAE screening.The pure tones were 2,3,4 kHz,the OAE screener scored the test result as a pass,when the responses were above the PASS/REFER line and the signal-to-noise was at least 10 dB.Results Ninty-four infants(188 ears) passed hearing screening. Four infants(8 ears) with ceruminous impaction didn′t pass screening;after extracting impacted cerumen from the external auditory meatus,the 4 infants(8 ears) passed screening.Two infants(2 ears) with secretory otitis media didn′t pass screening,but after medicine treatment for 1 week,they passed screening too.Conclusion DPOAE has advantages in infants hearing screening.J Appl Clin Pediatr,2006,21(3):168-169

Environment Lead Pollution Investigation of a Lead Smeltery / 环境与健康杂志

Objective To understand the environmental lead pollution level caused by a lead smeltery.Methods From the surrounding of the investigated factory,the farmland soil,sediment,water,ambient air,courtyard dust,waste and 7 kinds of crops were collected to determine the lead level.Results Respectively,the lead concentration was 3.1 mg/L in the agriculture irrigation water,exceeded the allowed limit by 30 times,was 0.07 mg/L in the pond water,exceeded the allowed limit by 0.4 time,was 1 101.5 mg/kg in the sediment of the pond,exceeded the allowed limit by 0.10 time,was 7 400.0 mg/kg in the river sediment,exceeded the allowed limit by 6.40 times,was 47.0-287.9 mg/kg in the farmland soil and within the 400 m bound around the lead smeltery,the average level in the soil was 195.0 mg/kg.Conclusion The lead smeltery has caused the lead environment pollution in degrees,it is the main source of lead pollution that caused high blood lead in some people living in that area.