Emodin suppresses alkali burn-induced corneal inflammation and neovascularization by the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of emodin on alkali burn-induced corneal inflammation and neovascularization. METHODS: The ability of emodin to target vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) was predicted by molecular docking. The effects of emodin on the invasion, migration, and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were determined by cell counting kit-8, Transwell, and tube formation assays. Analysis of apoptosis was performed by flow cytometry. CD31 levels were examined by immunofluorescence. The abundance and phosphorylation state of VEGFR2, protein kinase B (Akt), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and P38 were examined by immunoblot analysis. Corneal alkali burn was performed on 40 mice. Animals were divided randomly into two groups, and the alkali-burned eyes were then treated with drops of either 10 µM emodin or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) four times a day. Slit-lamp microscopy was used to evaluate inflammation and corneal neovascularization (CNV) in all eyes on Days 0, 7, 10, and 14. The mice were killed humanely 14 d after the alkali burn, and their corneas were removed and preserved at －80 ℃ until histological study or protein extraction. RESULTS: Molecular docking confirmed that emodin was able to target VEGFR2. The findings revealed that emodin decreased the invasion, migration, angiogenesis, and proliferation of HUVEC in a dose-dependent manner. In mice, emodin suppressed corneal inflammatory cell infiltration and inhibited the development of corneal neovascularization induced by alkali burn. Compared to those of the PBS-treated group, lower VEGFR2 expression and CD31 levels were found in the emodin-treated group. Emodin dramatically decreased the expression of VEGFR2, p-VEGFR2, p-Akt, p-STAT3, and p-P38 in VEGF-treated HUVEC. CONCLUSION: This study provides a new avenue for evaluating the molecular mechanisms underlying corneal inflammation and neovascularization. Emodin might be a promising new therapeutic option for corneal alkali burns.

Relationship between immune function of T cells in peripheral blood and expression of hepatitis C virus in patients with chronic hepatitis C / 重庆医学

Objective To explore the relationship between the immune function of cellin peripheral blood with the virureplication and hepatitiviru(HCV)-cAg expression in the patientwith chronihepatiti(CHC) .MethodPeripheral blood lymphocytesubpopulation ,HCV-Rnand HCV core antigen (HCV-cAg) in 63 healthy people undergoing the physical exami-nation (control group) and 85 caseof CHC(Chgroup) were analyzed by the flow cytometry ,real-time Pcand ELIS,respec-tively .ResultThe percentageof total cell,T4 cell,T8 cell,double negative cell(DN) and double positive cell(DP) in the Chgroup were (67 .37 ± 10 .43)% ,(37 .11 ± 10 .28)% ,(21 .63 ± 8 .87)% ,(7 .80 ± 4 .57)% and (0 .20 ± 0 .29)% , respectively ,the absolute contentwere in turn (0 .70 ± 0 .44) × 109/L ,(0 .37 ± 0 .22) × 109/L ,(0 .22 ± 0 .17) × 109/L ,(0 .08 ± 0.06)×109/Land(0.19±0.68)×107/L,respectively.TheratioofT4/T8was(2.18±1.26)% .Theresultsindicatedthatthe percentage of T8 cellin the Chpatientwadecreased obviously (P＜0 .01) ,which resulted in the ratio of T4/T8 raising(P＜0 .05);meanwhile ,the absolute contentof the total cell,T4 cell,T8 celland Dnwere all decreased obviously (P＜0 .05);moreove,the percentage of T4 celland Dnin the patientwith HCV-Rnpositive and HCV-cAg positive wasignificantly in-creased (P＜0 .05) .Conclusion When HCV replicating in the patientwith CHC,the T lymphocyte subpopulation haobviouab-normity .The low immune function or immune tolerance ofT cells may be the important cause of recurrence and uncurability of CHC.

A cross sectional survey on the prevalence of active pulmonary tuberculosis in three 'key' elderly population / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To conduct a survey on the prevalence of active pulmonary tuberculosis among 65 year olds or above. Study subjects would include those with characteristics of TB suspicious symptoms, diabetes and close contacts.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Purpose-sampling method was applied to choose 3 counties in Shandong province as the study sites, relying on the local basic public health service, for those elderly under 65 years old or above. The study team would introduce the process and contents of this study to the subjects followed by chest X-ray and sputum smears on those registered tuberculosis suspects, patients with diabetes, TB close contacts in the past 2 years, from January to September, 2013.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>82 active pulmonary TB cases were identified among 9 041 cases who received the examination, with a crude prevalence rate as 9.1‰. From patients having both suspicious TB and diabetic symptoms, patients with diabetes or having suspicious symptoms of TB, the prevalence rates of active TB were 115‰, 3.4‰, 0.9‰ respectively. No active pulmonary TB case was found in the TB close contacts, patients with diabetes, or those people with suspicious TB symptoms. TB prevalence rates among all the above mentioned groups were significantly different (χ(2) = 697.478, P = 0.000). Prevalence rate of active pulmonary TB with diabetes was 18 times (RR = 17.951) higher than those non-diabetic patients, and 2 times higher than those with suspicious symptoms (RR = 3.860). Results from single factor analysis showed that diabetes were closely related to the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis(χ(2) = 46.637, P = 0.000), the longer duration of diabetes and the higher risk of tuberculosis(RR > 1).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our data showed that active pulmonary TB prevalence was high in elderly diabetes patients which suggesting that 'Key crowd screening program' should be introduced into case-finding strategy on TB, with special focus on TB patients with diabetes or those people having suspicious symptoms of TB.</p>

A cross sectional survey on the prevalence of active pulmonary tuberculosis in three‘key’ elderly population / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To conduct a survey on the prevalence of active pulmonary tuberculosis among 65 year olds or above. Study subjects would include those with characteristics of TB suspicious symptoms,diabetes and close contacts. Methods Purpose-sampling method was applied to choose 3 counties in Shandong province as the study sites,relying on the local basic public health service,for those elderly under 65 years old or above. The study team would introduce the process and contents of this study to the subjects followed by chest X-ray and sputum smears on those registered tuberculosis suspects,patients with diabetes,TB close contacts in the past 2 years,from January to September,2013. Results 82 active pulmonary TB cases were identified among 9 041 cases who received the examination,with a crude prevalence rate as 9.1‰. From patients having both suspicious TB and diabetic symptoms,patients with diabetes or having suspicious symptoms of TB,the prevalence rates of active TB were 115‰,3.4‰,0.9‰respectively. No active pulmonary TB case was found in the TB close contacts,patients with diabetes,or those people with suspicious TB symptoms. TB prevalence rates among all the above mentioned groups were significantly different(χ2=697.478, P=0.000). Prevalence rate of active pulmonary TB with diabetes was 18 times(RR=17.951)higher than those non-diabetic patients,and 2 times higher than those with suspicious symptoms (RR=3.860). Results from single factor analysis showed that diabetes were closely related to the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis(χ2=46.637,P=0.000),the longer duration of diabetes and the higher risk of tuberculosis (RR>1). Conclusion Our data showed that active pulmonary TB prevalence was high in elderly diabetes patients which suggesting that‘Key crowd screening program’should be introduced into case-finding strategy on TB,with special focus on TB patients with diabetes or those people having suspicious symptoms of TB.

A cross sectional survey on the prevalence of active pulmonary tuberculosis in three‘key’ elderly population / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To conduct a survey on the prevalence of active pulmonary tuberculosis among 65 year olds or above. Study subjects would include those with characteristics of TB suspicious symptoms,diabetes and close contacts. Methods Purpose-sampling method was applied to choose 3 counties in Shandong province as the study sites,relying on the local basic public health service,for those elderly under 65 years old or above. The study team would introduce the process and contents of this study to the subjects followed by chest X-ray and sputum smears on those registered tuberculosis suspects,patients with diabetes,TB close contacts in the past 2 years,from January to September,2013. Results 82 active pulmonary TB cases were identified among 9 041 cases who received the examination,with a crude prevalence rate as 9.1‰. From patients having both suspicious TB and diabetic symptoms,patients with diabetes or having suspicious symptoms of TB,the prevalence rates of active TB were 115‰,3.4‰,0.9‰respectively. No active pulmonary TB case was found in the TB close contacts,patients with diabetes,or those people with suspicious TB symptoms. TB prevalence rates among all the above mentioned groups were significantly different(χ2=697.478, P=0.000). Prevalence rate of active pulmonary TB with diabetes was 18 times(RR=17.951)higher than those non-diabetic patients,and 2 times higher than those with suspicious symptoms (RR=3.860). Results from single factor analysis showed that diabetes were closely related to the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis(χ2=46.637,P=0.000),the longer duration of diabetes and the higher risk of tuberculosis (RR>1). Conclusion Our data showed that active pulmonary TB prevalence was high in elderly diabetes patients which suggesting that‘Key crowd screening program’should be introduced into case-finding strategy on TB,with special focus on TB patients with diabetes or those people having suspicious symptoms of TB.