Material basis and molecular mechanisms of Chaihuang Qingyi Huoxue Granule in the treatment of acute pancreatitis based on network pharmacology and molecular docking-based strategy.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze active compounds and signaling pathways of CH applying network pharmacology methods, and to additionally verify the molecular mechanism of CH in treating AP. Materials and methods: Network pharmacology and molecular docking were firstly used to identify the active components of CH and its potential targets in the treatment of AP. The pancreaticobiliary duct was retrogradely injected with sodium taurocholate (3.5%) to create an acute pancreatitis (AP) model in rats. Histological examination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot and TUNEL staining were used to determine the pathway and mechanism of action of CH in AP. Results: Network pharmacological analysis identified 168 active compounds and 276 target proteins. In addition, there were 2060 targets associated with AP, and CH had 177 targets in common with AP. These shared targets, including STAT3, IL6, MYC, CDKN1A, AKT1, MAPK1, MAPK3, MAPK14, HSP90AA1, HIF1A, ESR1, TP53, FOS, and RELA, were recognized as core targets. Furthermore, we filtered out 5252 entries from the Gene Ontology(GO) and 186 signaling pathways from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG). Enrichment and network analyses of protein-protein interactions predicted that CH significantly affected the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, which played a critical role in programmed cell death. The core components and key targets showed strong binding activity based on molecular docking results. Subsequently, experimental validation demonstrated that CH inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT in pancreatic tissues, promoted the apoptosis of pancreatic acinar cells, and further alleviated inflammation and histopathological damage to the pancreas in AP rats. Conclusion: Apoptosis of pancreatic acinar cells can be enhanced and the inflammatory response can be reduced through the modulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, resulting in the amelioration of pancreatic disease.

Effect of wearing medical protective masks on treadmill running performance in the postpandemic era: a randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: In the postpandemic era, wearing protective masks in public places will still be an important means of blocking popular viruses in the future. The purpose of this study was to explore whether sports performance was affected by mask wearing and exercise duration during 15-min treadmill running at a speed of 75% maximal aerobic speed. METHODS: Thirty-six males were randomly divided into mask and nonmask groups. The kinematic and kinetic data were obtained at four time points (RN0-1 min, RN5-6 min, RN9-10 min, and RN14-15 min) during running. Two-way mixed ANOVA was applied to examine the effects between groups and times with Bonferroni post hoc comparison and independent samples t-test. RESULTS: The results showed that there was no difference between mask and nonmask group during running (p > 0.05). As running time increased, hip joint ROM, hip joint flexion/extension max, and ankle joint plantarflexion max angles increased; knee joint flexion min and ankle joint dorsiflexion max angles decreased; average peak vertical ground reaction forces (PVGRF) increased after 9 min-running (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Wearing a medical protective mask does not affect the joint angle and touchdown PVGRF of lower extremities during treadmill running while affected by running time and changed after 9 min-treadmill running. Future studies will examine the effects of wearing masks during the pandemic on muscle activation and blood biochemical values during exercise. TRIAL REGISTRATION NO: ChiCTR2000040535 (date of registration on December 1, 2020). Prospectively registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry.

Increased Asymmetry of Lower Limbs and Leading Joint Angles during Crossing Obstacles in Healthy Male with Cold Exposure.

Lower ambient temperatures impair neuromuscular function and balance. However, whether lower ambient temperatures could alter joint angles and symmetry of lower limbs during crossing obstacles in males still remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated whether there is reduction of ambient temperature (20°C; 15°C; 10°C) on lower limbs joint angles and symmetry when crossing obstacles in males. On three different occasions, eighteen male participants underwent 30 min exposure to three different environmental temperatures (10°C, 15°C, and 20°C), which was followed by the obstacle crossing test at 10%, 20%, and 30% of the participant leg length. In each trial, we assessed joint angles and symmetry of lower limbs when crossing obstacles at 10%, 20%, and 30% of the participants' leg length. The results showed that leading limb maximum joint angles were greater in 10°C than in 15°C and 20°C when leading limb crossed obstacle heights of 20% and 30% leg length (p < 0.05). Trailing limb maximum joint angles were not different (p > 0.05). Lower limb asymmetry increased when participants crossed obstacle heights of 20% and 30% leg length at 10°C (p < 0.05). This study concluded that in male participants, cold exposure can increase lower limb asymmetry to increase falling risk when crossing obstacles. Also, the increased leading limb joint angles and constant trailing limb joint angles increase safety during crossing obstacles.

Black Bamboo Rhizome Extract Improves Cognitive Dysfunction by Upregulating the Expression of Hippocampal BDNF and CREB in Rats with Cerebral Ischaemia-Reperfusion Injury.

INTRODUCTION: The study aimed to explore the effects of treatment with black bamboo rhizome extracts on learning and memory and determine the underlying mechanisms in rats with cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the following four groups: control, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), low-dose drug, and high-dose drug groups. Rats underwent MCAO using a suture method before drug treatment. Then, neurological impairment was assessed using the Longa scoring method, and triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining was used to analyse the cerebral infarction area. The Elliott formula was used to calculate water content in the brain tissue. A Morris water maze (MWM) was used to assess changes in learning and memory abilities, and Western blotting was used to detect cyclic adenosine phosphate response element-binding protein (CREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the hippocampus of MCAO rats. RESULTS: After treatment with black bamboo rhizome extracts, the neurological dysfunction score was lower in the drug groups than in the MCAO group, and a significant difference was observed between the high-dose drug and MCAO groups (P<0.05). Additionally, the cerebral infarction area was significantly smaller in the drug groups than in the MCAO group (P<0.01), and the effect was more obvious in the high-dose drug group than in the low-dose drug group. There was also a significant difference in water content between the high-dose drug and MCAO groups, and cerebral oedema was significantly reduced in the high-dose drug group (P<0.05). In the MWM, the incubation period was significantly reduced, the number of platform crossings was significantly increased, and the search time was prolonged in the drug groups compared with those in the MCAO group (P<0.05). Moreover, the expression of BDNF and CREB was significantly increased in the drug groups compared to that in the MCAO group, and the increase was more obvious in the high-dose group than in the low-dose group (P<0.05). DISCUSSION: Black bamboo rhizome extracts significantly improved cognitive dysfunction, reduced cerebral oedema, decreased the cerebral infarction area, and improved the neurological function score and learning and memory abilities in rats with cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion injury.

Effects of the weight of shoes on calf muscle simulation.

The current study investigated the effects of shoes of different weights on calf individual muscle contributions during a running cycle. Twenty male runners ran on a force platform with shoes of four different weights (175 g, 255 g, 335 g, and 415 g). The study evaluated runners' lower extremity muscle forces under the four shoe weight conditions using a musculoskeletal modeling system. The system generates equality and inequality constraint equations to simulate muscle forces. The individual muscle contributions in each calf were determined using these muscle forces. Data were compared using one-way repeated-measure ANOVA. The results revealed significant differences in the contributions of the gastrocnemius lateralis. Post hoc comparisons revealed that running in the 175 g shoes resulted in a larger contribution of the gastrocnemius lateralis than running in the 415 g shoes during the braking phase. Therefore, wearing lightweight shoes while running may promote fatigue in the gastrocnemius muscle during the braking phase. The calf muscle activation results may indicate that an adaptation period is warranted when changing from heavy to lightweight shoes.

Natural Resistance Associated Macrophage Protein Is Involved in Immune Response of Blunt Snout Bream, Megalobrama amblycephala.

The natural resistance-associated macrophage protein gene (Nramp), has been identified as one of the significant candidate genes responsible for modulating vertebrate natural resistance to intracellular pathogens. Here, we identified and characterized a new Nramp family member, named as maNramp, in the blunt snout bream. The full-length cDNA of maNramp consists of a 153 bp 5'UTR, a 1635 bp open reading frame encoding a protein with 544 amino acids, and a 1359 bp 3'UTR. The deduced protein (maNRAMP) possesses the typical structural features of NRAMP protein family, including 12 transmembrane domains, three N-linked glycosylation sites, and a conserved transport motif. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that maNRAMP shares the significant sequence consistency with other teleosts, and shows the higher sequence similarity to mammalian Nramp2 than Nramp1. It was found that maNramp expressed ubiquitously in all normal tissues tested, with the highest abundance in the spleen, followed by the head kidney and intestine, and less abundance in the muscle, gill, and kidney. After lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, the mRNA level of maNramp was rapidly up-regulated, which reached a peak level at 6 h. Altogether, these results indicated that maNramp might be related to fish innate immunity and similar to mammalian Nramp1 in function.

Asbestos exposure and laryngeal cancer mortality.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Occupational exposure to asbestos occurs in many workplaces and is well known to cause asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. However, the link between asbestos exposure and other malignancies was not confirmed. The aim of the current meta-analysis was to provide a summary measure of risk for laryngeal cancer associated with occupational asbestos exposure. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched for studies characterizing the association between asbestos and laryngeal cancer. Standardized mortality rate (SMR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) of each study was combined using a fixed or random effect model. RESULTS: Significantly increased SMR for laryngeal cancer was observed when subjects were exposed to asbestos (SMR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.45-1.97, P < .001), with little evidence of heterogeneity among studies (Q = 15.39, P = .803, I(2) = 0.0%). Effect estimates were larger for cohorts controlling for male subjects, Europe and Oceania, mining and textile industries, exposure to crocidolite, long study follow-up (>25 years), and SMR for lung cancer > 2.0. Publication bias was not detect by Begg test (P = .910) and Egger test (P = .340). CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports the association of exposure to asbestos with an increased risk of laryngeal cancer mortality among male workers. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 126:1169-1174, 2016.

Association of HTR2A T102C and A-1438G polymorphisms with susceptibility to major depressive disorder: a meta-analysis.

Serotonin 2A receptor (HTR2A) gene was implicated to be associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) susceptibility due to its role of key neurotransmitter in many physiologic processes. A great number of related studies reported in different populations have emerged. The results of these studies, however, have been inconsistent and thereby definite conclusions are difficult to establish. With the cumulative data in recent years, it was necessary to carry out a comprehensive analysis of previous findings. Electronic databases were systematically searched for studies published before May 2013. Pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) were estimated under three different genetic models. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also performed. A total of 21 studies, 3,299 patients and 4,092 controls, met the selection criteria. 15 studies included HTR2A T102C polymorphism (with a total of 2,409 patients and 3,130 controls), and 9 studies included HTR2A A-1438G polymorphism (with a total of 1,510 patients and 2,281 controls). Our results showed that no significant association of MDD susceptibility with T102C polymorphism was found in allelic analysis and genotypic analysis (For T vs. C: OR = 1.06, 95 % CI = 0.95-1.18, P = 0.307; For TT + TC vs. CC: OR = 1.07, 95 % CI = 0.90-1.28, P = 0.451; For TT vs. TC + CC: OR = 1.08, 95 % CI = 0.95-1.22, P = 0.235). With respect to A-1438G polymorphism, however, carriers with A allele tend to suffer from MDD (AA + AG vs. GG: OR = 1.20, 95 % CI = 1.02-1.43, P = 0.030). When stratified by race for T102C polymorphism and A-1438G polymorphism of the HTR2A, we found no significant association. In conclusions, our study suggests that the A allele of A-1438G polymorphism might play a role in susceptibility to MDD. On the contrary, T102C polymorphism does not seem to be capable of modifying MDD risk.

Left-behind children in rural China experience higher levels of anxiety and poorer living conditions.

AIM: The number of rural Chinese parents who leave their children with family members to work in the cities has increased dramatically over the last decade. This study compared the social anxiety of left-behind children (LBC) and children not left behind (non-LBC). METHODS: We investigated 1694 LBC and 1223 non-LBC, aged seven to 17 years, in a Chinese province using a structured questionnaire that included questions about socio-demographic characteristics, social anxiety, family function, quality of life, neglect and physical abuse. RESULTS: LBC displayed higher social anxiety scores, more neglect, lower parental educational level, lower quality of life, lower family function and lower prevalence of physical abuse than non-LBC. Multiple linear regression models showed that higher Social Anxiety Scales for Children (SASC) scores in LBC were clearly associated with lower quality of life, poorer family function, physical abuse, being female, having more siblings and minorities. In non-LBC, they were associated with lower quality of life, poorer family function, neglect, being female and physical abuse. CONCLUSION: LBC have a relatively higher level of social anxiety and poorer living conditions than non-LBC, and there are differences in social anxiety, and its relevant factors, between the two groups.

Association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and depression: An updated meta-analysis of 26 studies.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies concerning the association between the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene polymorphism and depression have provided inconclusive findings. A meta-analysis was therefore performed to investigate a more reliable estimate. METHODS: This meta-analysis recruited 26 published studies which were selected by a search of electronic databases up to January 2013, including 4992 depression cases and 17,082 controls. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and depression susceptibility using random effect models. RESULTS: Meta-analyses results suggested that MTHFR C677T polymorphism contributed to the increased depression risk in overall populations (for T vs. C: OR=1.19, 95%CI=1.07-1.32; for TT+CT vs. CC: OR=1.15, 95%CI=1.01-1.31; for TT vs. CC: OR=1.42, 95%CI=1.16-1.75; for TT vs. CT+CC: OR=1.38, 95%CI=1.16-1.63). Subgroup analysis by ethnicity indicated an association in Asian populations (for T vs. C: OR=1.36, 95%CI=1.11-1.66; for TT+CT vs. CC: OR=1.32, 95%CI=1.03-1.69; for TT vs. CC: OR=1.88, 95%CI=1.26-2.79; for TT vs. CT+CC: OR=1.76, 95%CI=1.30-2.38); and a marginal association in White populations (for TT vs. CT+CC: OR=1.15, 95%CI=1.01-1.31). However, the association between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and depression was not observed in the elderly. CONCLUSION: The MTHFR C677T polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of depression, especially in Asian populations. However, there was no evidence indicating a correlation in the elderly.

[Suicide ideation and its influential factors among primary and junior high school students in rural areas of Anhui province].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the suicide intention and its influential factors among primary and junior high school students in rural areas of Anhui province, in order to provide evidence for early intervention related to mental health problems. METHODS: All students from 3 junior high and 5 primary schools in Changfeng county of Anhui were recruited as the study subjects using the cluster sampling method. Data were collected by using Children's Depression Inventory, the Family APGAR Index, the Trait Coping Style Questionnaire, the Children's Self-Esteem Scale, Social Anxiety Scale for Children, and the Quality of Life Scale. Chi-square test and Logistic regression were used to analyze the suicidal ideation and its influential factors respectively. RESULTS: 8.64% (252/2917) of the studied children had suicidal ideation. Out of them, 9.80% (166/1694) and 7.03% (86/1223) were left-behind or non-left-behind children. There was statistically significant difference on suicide ideation between the left-behind children and non-left-behind children (P = 0.015). Data from the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that social anxiety and negative coping style were the risk factors for suicidal ideation (P < 0.05) while better family function and quality of life were the protective factors of suicidal ideation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Suicide ideation was relatively prevalent among rural children in Anhui province. Family, school and society should carry out different kinds of preventive measures to prevent suicide related behaviors in children from this area.

Short form 36-Item Health Survey test result on the empty nest elderly in China: a meta-analysis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life of the empty nest elderly in China using meta-analytic techniques. Electronic databases were searched for studies concerning the quality of life of the empty nest elderly published before December 2011. Pooled weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated with fixed and random effect models. Subgroup analyses, sensitivity analyses and publication bias were also performed. Ten studies (6948 empty nesters and 4560 non-empty nesters) were included in this meta-analysis. Vitality (WMD -1.946; 95% CI -3.183 to -0.708), role emotional (WMD -6.084; 95% CI -8.545 to -3.623) and mental health (WMD -2.606; 95% CI -3.964 to -1.249) were statistically significantly low in the empty nest elderly whereas physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, general health, and social functioning showed no statistical significance. Subgroup analyses showed a statistical significance with WMD of role emotional and mental health in urban area, that of role physical, bodily pain, vitality, role emotional and mental health in rural area, and that of vitality, social functioning, role emotional and mental health in mix area. This meta-analysis indicated that among eight dimensions of the Short Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36), only vitality, role emotional and mental health (mental components) were statistically significantly low in the empty nest elderly. More studies are needed to confirm this finding.

Interleukin 1 beta -511 C/T gene polymorphism and susceptibility to febrile seizures: a meta-analysis.

One previous meta-analysis found no evidence that interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß) -511 gene polymorphism was associated with febrile seizures (FS) by pooling a limited number of studies. However, it is necessary for the meta-analysis to reevaluate the relationship with more recent findings. Electronic databases were systematically searched for studies published before June 2011. Pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated by means of a genetic model free approach. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also performed. All statistical analyses were conducted using Stata 9.0. A total of eight studies, 728 FS cases and 1,223 controls, met the selection criteria. The results show a significant association between IL-1ß -511 C/T gene polymorphism and FS (recessive genetic model TT vs. CC + CT: OR = 1.361, 95% CI: 1.065-1.738, P = 0.014). Subgroup analyses show a significant association in Asia (OR = 1.394, 95% CI: 1.005-1.935, P = 0.047), but not in Europe (OR = 1.387, 95% CI: 0.750-2.565, P = 0.298). IL-1ß -511 C/T gene polymorphism may play a role in susceptibility to FS, especially in Asia. Geographic differences may be a critical factor in the risk of FS.

[Governance of peking union medical college in 1920s - 1930s].

Peking Union Medical College has an important position in medical education history in modern China. There are many administrative documents in the college archives and among them are the college By-laws (1920s-1930s). These recorded changes in the College Board, the establishment of various committees and their power and responsibility, which reflect the governance of the college. The governance is analyzed in the paper, using the different versions of the by-laws, which is of reference value to the current university governance reform in China.

[P-selectin gene -2123 polymorphism in children with Henoch-Sch-nlein purpura].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether P-selectin gene -2123 polymorphism is associated with the pathogenesis of Henoch-Sch-nlein purpura (HSP) in children. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) is used to identify the distribution of allele and genotype frequencies of P-selectin gene promoter -2123 polymorphism in 86 children with HSP (including 40 cases of purpura nephritis) and 70 healthy controls. RESULTS: Compared with the healthy controls, the frequencies of GG genotype and G allele of P-selectin promoter -2123 in children with HSP increased significantly (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in P-selectin promoter -2123 genotype and allele frequencies between the patients with and without nephritis. CONCLUSIONS: P-selectin gene promoter -2123 polymorphism appears to be associated with the pathogenesis of HSP in children.

[Magnetic resonance imaging character in chronic injury of the elbows in athletes].

OBJECTIVE: To introduce the experiences of applying MR to diagnose the imaging characters in chronic injury of the elbows in athletes. METHODS: From September 2005 to May 2008, 40 elbows of 34 athletes, included 21 males and 13 females,aged from 6 to 16 years old, averaged (12.3 +/- 3.1) years were taken axial, saggital and coronal planes MR Imaging. RESULTS: Magnetic resonance imaging showed thickening and effusion of olecranon synovial plicaes, bone marrow edema of lower humeral ossification, radial head, olecranon, ulna coronoid, ulnar collateral ligament trauma in chronic injury of the elbow joint. CONCLUSION: MRI is a susceptible method for the diagnoses of chronic injury of the elbow.

Determination of brain iron content in patients with Parkinson's disease using magnetic susceptibility imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the phase radians in several cerebral regions between patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and control subjects, and to evaluate whether iron deposition quantified by susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is related to the severity of motor symptoms of PD. METHODS: SWI consisted of both magnitude and phase images from a fully flow-compensated, 3-dimensional and gradient-echo (GRE) sequence. Magnitude and phase data were collected at GE HD 1.5T. The regions evaluated included frontal white matter, grey matter, cerebrospinal fluid, putamen, caudate nucleus (CN), substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), and red nucleus (RN). A total number of 42 patients (12 patients without cognitive dysfunction, and 30 with cognitive dysfunction from mild to moderate degrees) and 30 control subjects were employed in the present study. RESULTS: The phase radians of SNc, CN and RN in PD patients were lower than those in control subjects (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The phase radians can be used to estimate the brain iron deposition in PD patients, which may be helpful in the diagnosis and longitudinal monitoring of PD.

[Polarization and immune regulation of TH cells in children with bronchial asthma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the polarization and immune regulation of TH cells in patients with bronchial asthma. METHODS: Thirty-eight hospitalized children with bronchial asthma (ranging from 4-12 years old) and 29 age-matched healthy children (Control group) were enrolled in this study. Serum IL-2 and IFN-gamma levels were detected using ELISA. The percentage of TH1 and TH2 cells was detected by intracellular staining. RESULTS: The serum levels of IL-2 (15.94 +/- 3.07 microg/L) and IFN-gamma (487.2 +/- 43.6 pg/mL ) in asthmatic patients were significantly lower than those in the Control group (24.73 +/- 4.37 microg/L and 654.07 +/- 14.64 pg/mL respectively; P < 0.01). The percentage of TH1 in asthmatic patients decreased significantly compared with that in the Control group [(11.24 +/- 2.43)% vs (16.67 +/- 2.73)%; P < 0.01]; in contrast, the percentage of TH2 increased compared with that in the Control group [(19.85 +/- 4.46)% vs (16.08 +/- 6.17)%; P < 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS: The serum levels of IL-2 and IFN-gamma, and the number of TH1 cells decreased in asthmatic patients. The decreased number of TH1 cells and the ratio of TH1/TH2 suggest an abnormal polarization of TH1 and TH2 cells. The changes may be associated with the inhibition of cellular immune function in asthmatic patients.