ABSTRACT
As a threat to human health， steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femur head is a common refractory orthopedic disease mainly caused by glucocorticoids， with poor prognosis and unclear pathogenesis. Osteogenesis-associated signaling pathways play an important role in bone formation. Glucocorticoid-induced abnormal activation and transport of these signaling pathways lead to abnormal differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells， dysfunction of bone metabolism， and osteogenesis disorders， which may be the main reasons for the occurrence and development of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femur head. Bone formation and remodeling need the participation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells， which are stem cells characterized by continuous self-renewal and differentiation. The key to strengthening bone remodeling is to improve the osteogenic differentiation capacity， which is the key point to inhibit bone resorption and prevent bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from differentiating into osteoclasts. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has been used in the treatment of osteonecrosis in ancient times. It is recorded in the Treasury of Words on Materia Medica （《本草汇编》） that "The deficiency in the lower energizer cannot be tonified without Eucommiae Cortexz.The soreness in lower legs cannot be alleviated without Eucommiae Cortex...The pain in the waist and knee cannot be relieved without Eucommiae Cortex...Tonifying liver and invigorating kidney， Eucommiae Cortex is an essential medicine." This indicates that ancient physicians have already begun to use the liver-tonifying， kidney-invigorating， and sinew-bone-strengthening effects of Eucommiae Cortex for the treatment of osteonecrosis. As the national support for the development of TCM strengthens， increasing studies have been conducted on the TCM prevention and treatment of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femur head. Studies have suggested that Chinese medicinal herbs can exert a positive effect on the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by affecting targeted signaling molecules， and promote osteogenesis and bone defect repair， thus combating the occurrence and development of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femur head. The regulation of osteogenic signaling pathway by Chinese medicines to prevent steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head has become a hot research topic. This article reviews the studies about the prevention and treatment of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femur head with the active components in Chinese medicinal herbs by regulating osteogenic signaling pathways. We then explore the mechanism of the active components in promoting the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts and inhibiting their differentiation into osteoclasts to facilitate bone formation， aiming to provide a reference for the further study of treating steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head with Chinese medicinal herbs.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the correlation between serum levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and lipoxin A4 (LXA4) and diabetic nephropathy, and to analyze the value of HO-1 and LXA4 in the diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted in 185 patients with type 2 diabetes admitted to the Department of Endocrinology, Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University from January 2016 to January 2020. There were 96 cases with diabetic nephropathy (nephropathy group) and 89 cases without diabetic nephropathy (non nephropathy group). According to the stage of chronic kidney disease,the nephrotic group was divided into three subgroups: stage 1-2 group (31 cases), stage 3-4 group (40 cases) and stage 5 group (25 cases). Another 82 healthy volunteers were selected as the control group.Serum HO-1, LXA4, oxidative stress,inflammatory factors, glucose metabolism and renal function were detected. Pearson analysis of HO-1, LXA4 and oxidative stress, inflammatory factors, glucose metabolism and renal function index correlation, binary logistic regression analysis of diabetic nephropathy factors.Results:The serum HO-1 ((0.60 ± 0.20) μg/L) and LXA4 levels ((435.12 ± 22.42) ng/L) in nephrotic group were lower than those in non nephrotic ((0.72 ± 0.23) μg/L, (498.21 ± 29.48) ng/L)( t=29.351, 24.135, all P<0.05). The serum HO-1 and LXA4 levels in the 5 stage group were lower than those in the 3-4 stage and 1-2 stage group (all P<0.05). The serum HO-1 and LXA4 levels in the 3-4 stage group were lower than those in the 1-2 stage group (all P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that HO-1 was positively correlated with total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR) ( r=0.516, 0.602, 0.617; all P<0.05), and was positively correlated with malondialdehyde (MDA) and homeostasis model insulin resistance (homeostasis model insulin resistance) Model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) LXA4 was negatively correlated with T-AOC, SOD and EGFR ( r=-0.559, 0.597, 0.637; all P<0.05), and positively correlated with MDA, IL-6, TGF-β1, HOMA-IR and UACR There was a negative correlation ( r=-0.498, -0.623, -0.725; all P<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that malondialdehyde ( OR=1.587, 95% CI 1.402-1.603, P=0.016), TGF-β1 ( OR=1.679, 95% CI 1.642-1.739, P=0.012), HOMA-IR ( OR=1.699、95% CI 1.534-1.739, P=0.009) were risk factors of diabetic nephropathy (all P<0.05). HO-1 ( OR=0.506, 95% CI 0.423-0.653, P<0.001) and LXA4 ( OR=0.492, 95% CI 0.409-0.535, P<0.001) were protective factors for DN ( P<0.001). After adjusting for MDA, TGF-β1 and HOMA-IR, HO-1 ( OR=0.485, 95% CI:0.402-0.564, P<0.001) and LXA4 ( OR=0.416, 95% CI:0.386-0.475, P<0.001) were still associated with DN. ROC analysis showed that the area under curve (AUC) of HO-1 and LXA4 were 0.820 (95% CI:0.760-0.880, P<0.001) and 0.763 (95% CI:0.691-0.836, P<0.001), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity were 71.88%, 80.90%, 75.00% and 84.27%, respectively. Conclusion:The decrease of serum LXA4 and HO-1 levels is closely related to diabetic nephropathy, which can be used as a biological indicator for the diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION@#Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-induced coagulopathy (CIC) has been widely reported in the literature. However, the spectrum of abnormalities associated with CIC has been highly variable.@*METHODS@#We conducted a systematic review of the literature (until 1 June 2020) to assess CIC and disease severity during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Primary outcomes were pooled mean differences in platelet count, D-dimer level, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and fibrinogen level between non-severe and severe patients, stratified by degree of hypoxaemia or those who died. The risk factors for CIC were analysed. Random-effects meta-analyses and meta-regression were performed using R version 3.6.1, and certainty of evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach.@*RESULTS@#Of the included 5,243 adult COVID-19 patients, patients with severe COVID-19 had a significantly lower platelet count, and higher D-dimer level, prothrombin time and fibrinogen level than non-severe patients. Pooled mean differences in platelet count (-19.7×109/L, 95% confidence interval [CI] -31.7 to -7.6), D-dimer level (0.8μg/mL, 95% CI 0.5-1.1), prothrombin time (0.4 second, 95% CI 0.2-0.6) and fibrinogen level (0.6g/L, 95% CI 0.3-0.8) were significant between the groups. Platelet count and D-dimer level were significant predictors of disease severity on meta-regression analysis. Older men had higher risks of severe coagulopathic disease.@*CONCLUSION@#Significant variability in CIC exists between non-severe and severe patients, with platelet count and D-dimer level correlating with disease severity. Routine monitoring of all coagulation parameters may help to assess CIC and decide on the appropriate management.
ABSTRACT
The protocorm-suspension-system of Cremastra appendiculata was founded by liquid-suspension culture. The factors to effect germination rate and seedling conversion rate of C. appendiculata synthetic seeds, such as synthetic coating materials, synthetic endosperm components, storing conditions and germination materials, etc. were studied. The result showed that the germination rate and seedling conversion rate of synthetic seeds were the highest on the MS solid-medium while using 4% sodium alginate + 2% CaCl2 + 2% chitosan as synthetic coating materials, with 1/2 MS liquid-medium + 0.2 mg x L(-1) NAA + 0.1 mg x L(-1) GA3 + 0.5 mg L(-1) BA + 0.4 mg x L(-1) penicillin + 10.0 mg x L(-1) endophyte extract +0.3% carbendazim powder + 0.2% sodium benzoate + 1.0% sucrose as synthetic endosperm. And the germination rate and seedling conversion rate of synthetic seeds could attain to 68% and 65% after 20 days storing at 4 degrees C. The germination rate and seedling conversion rate of synthetic seeds decreased to a great extent with increasing the storing temperature and prolonging storing time.