Recent Research Progress on CircRNA in Hematological Malignancies--Review / 中国实验血液学杂志

Most hematological tumors have high-grade malignancy and low cure rate, requiring new molecular markers for detection and evaluation. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs with covalently closed-loop structures, which participate in gene transcription and translation by binding to microRNAs and proteins. In recent years, with the deepening research on circRNAs, circRNAs have been found to play an important role in hematological malignancies. In this review, the latest research progress on the function and molecular mechanism of circRNAs in hematological malignancies was systematically summarized, and it was found that circRNAs may be potential new biomarkers and therapeutic targets in hematological malignancies.

The Psychosomatic Traits of "People with the Five Elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine": A Qualitative Study / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#To identify the representative attributes of the five elements of a person with a qualitative methodology and provide the basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of "people with the five elements in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)."@*METHODS@#Data collected from the literature review, two sessions of brainstorming of experts with related experience in "people with the five elements in TCM" from October 2020 to December 2020, and six rounds of in-depth interviews with 30 participants who had various attributes of the five elements from March 2021 to October 2021 were analyzed. Triangulation was used in this study, and theming and synthesizing were used to analyze the data.@*RESULTS@#A total of 31 experts and 30 interviewees participated in this study. The median age of the experts and interviewees were 48.0 and 38.5 years, respectively; 51.66% and 54.8% of experts and interviewees, respectively, were men. The descriptors of facial diagrams of "people with the five elements in TCM" were complexion, shape, distribution state of facial bones, convergence trend of facial muscles, and facial expression. A theoretical model of "people with the five elements in TCM" was shaped based on these findings.@*CONCLUSION@#The study suggests a possibility for bridging the gap between personality and bodily state, identifying an avenue for personality research from the perspective of TCM.

Influence of metabolic syndrome on activities of daily living in middle-aged and elderly population in China: a prospective cohort study / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To examine the associations between metabolic syndrome (MS) and the risks for impaired activities of daily living (ADL) in the middle-aged and elderly population in China and provide basis for improving healthy life expectancy. Methods: Prospective cohort study design was used in this study. Based the data of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from 2011 to 2018 and the baseline data in 2011, the follow up for ADL outcomes was conducted in 2013, 2015 and 2018 respectively, and the participants recruited in 2013 and 2015 were new baseline populations. The participants with impaired ADL in three baseline populations were excluded. Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the effect of different components and number of MS components on the risk for ADL impairment in the middle-aged and elderly population in China. Results: In 59 795 person-years of follow-up, a total of 1 011 cases of ADL impairments were recorded. The incidence density of ADL impairment was 16.91 per 1 000 person-year; The findings of Cox regression analysis showed that compared with the middle aged and elderly people without MS, the risk for ADL impairments was 1.29 times higher (95%CI: 1.12-1.50) for those with one component of MS, 1.32 times higher (95%CI:1.07-1.64) for those with hyperlipemia complicated with diabetes, 1.78 times higher (95%CI: 1.22-2.59) for those with obesity and one component of MS, 2.48 times higher (95%CI:1.59-3.85) for those with hypertension complicated with hyperlipemia, 3.51 times higher (95%CI:1.66-7.43) for those with hypertension complicated with diabetes, 1.80 times higher (95%CI: 1.40-2.32) for those with ≥3 MS, respectively. Compared with the middle-aged and elderly population without MS, the risk for impaired ADL increased by 30% (HR=1.30, 95%CI: 1.13-1.51), 54% (HR=1.54, 95%CI: 1.28-1.85) and 87% (HR=1.87, 95%CI:1.45-2.41), respectively, in the middle-aged and elderly with one, two, and more than three components of MS, with a significant dose-response relationship that ADL impaired risks increased as the number of MS components increased (P<0.001). Conclusions: Our findings suggested that MS is a risk factor for ADL impairment in middle-aged and elderly population in China. Prevention and early intervention of obesity, hypertension, hyperlipemia, diabetes and metabolic syndrome could help to reduce or delay the incidence of ADL impairment.

Application of spinal surgical robots in minimally invasive surgery for thoracolumbar fracture / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the safety and accuracy of Renaissance robot navigation system in minimally invasive surgery for thoracolumbar fracture.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of patients with thoracolumbar fracture who underwent posterior minimally invasive pedicle screw internal fixation from July 2016 to July 2019 was retrospectively analyzed. And the patients were divided into robot group and artificial group. Robot navigation assisted screw placement was used in robot group, and traditional unarmed screw placement was used in artificial group. There were 20 patients in robot group, including 13 males and 7 females, aged from 23 to 69 years old with an average of(45.05±11.81)years old, one case was T11 fracture, 2 cases were T12, 10 cases were L1, 6 cases were L2 and 1 case was L3. There were 20 patients in artificial group, including 11 males and 9 females, aged from 26 to 65 years old with an average of(43.40±11.22)years old, 2 cases were T11 fractures, 7 cases were T12, 10 cases were L1, and 1 case was L3. The numbers of fluoroscopy, operation time and intraoperative blood loss were observed. The screw position was evaluated by Neo method.@*RESULTS@#A total of 126 screws were implanted in robot group and 124 screws were implanted in artificial group. The operation time, fluoroscopy times, intraoperative blood loss were(115.75±14.26) min, (7.95±0.89) times and (132.50±29.36) ml in robot group and (129.50±10.50) min, (14.40±2.56) times and(182.50±23.14) ml in artificial group, respectively, there was significant difference between the groups(P<0.05). According to Neo classification method, there were 122 screws at grade 0, 4 screws at grade 1 in robot group, and there were 108 screws at grade 0, 9 screws at grade 1 and 7 screws at grade 2 in artificial group. The accuracy of the robot group was better than that of artificial group(P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Compared with free hand screw placement, Renaissance robot navigation system can effectively improve the accuracy of pedicle screw placement, reduce the number of fluoroscopy times and intraoperative blood loss, thereby improving the safety of operation.

Comparison of vesselplasty and percutanous kyphoplasty in the treatment of Kümmell disease / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the efficacy between vesselplasty and percutanous kyphoplasty (PKP) in the treatment of Kümmell disease.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of patients with Kümmell disease from July 2018 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different therapeutic methods, the patients were divided into vesselplasty group and PKP group. There were 20 patients in vesselplasty group, including 2 males and 18 females, aged from 54 to 83 years with an average of (67.40±7.44)years, 1 case of T10 fracture, 3 cases of T12 fracture, 9 cases of L1 fractures, 5 cases of L2 fractures and 2 cases of L3 fractures. There were 20 patients in PKP group, including 3 males and 17 females, aged from 56 to 81 with an average of(67.20±7.01) years, 2 cases of T10 fracture, 1 case of T11 fracture, 6 cases of T12 fracture, 10 cases of L1 fracture and 1 case of L3 fracture. Visual analogue scale(VAS), Cobb angle, anterior vertebral height were recorded before operation, 1 day after operation and 1 year after operation. Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) was recorded before operation, 1 month after operation and 1 year after operation. And bone cement leakage rate was compared between two groups after operation.@*RESULTS@#All the patient were followed up for more than 1 year. In vesselplasty group, VAS score was 1.20±0.41, ODI was(13.50±3.10)%, Cobb angle was(17.20±3.12)° and anterior vertebral height was(20.20±1.35) mm at 1 year after operation. In PKP group, VAS score was 1.15±0.40, ODI was (13.20±3.00)%, Cobb angle was (17.10±3.19)° and anterior vertebral height was (20.10±1.37) mm at 1 year after operation. These index was significantly better than pre-operation through intra-group comparison(P<0.05), and there was no statistically difference between the two groups(P>0.05). There were 20 cases (20 vertebrae) in vesselplasty group, of which 1 case had bone cement leakage at the upper endplate, with a leakage rate of 5%(1/20). In PKP group, there were 20 cases (20 vertebrae), 3 cases of upward endplate leakage(3/7), 1 case of downward endplate leakage(1/7), 1 case of leakage to the front of the vertebral body(1/7), 2 cases of leakage to the side of the vertebral body(2/7), with a leakage rate of 35% (7/20). The difference between two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Vesselplasty in the treatment of Kümmell disease can better reduce leakage rate of bone cement and reduce complications.

Utilization strategies of Chinese medicinal solid waste by pyrolysis and gasification technology / 中国中药杂志

With the advantages of extensive sources, easy collection, renewability, high yield, carbon circulation, low pollution, and so on, Chinese medicinal solid waste can be converted into clean gas by pyrolysis and gasification, which is then able to serve for industrial production. This is of great practical significance in the context of energy shortage and for solid waste recycling in China. This paper reviews the research progress on biomass gasification principle, gasification medium, and reactor in gasification technology of Chinese medicinal solid waste in recent years. Meanwhile, based on the summary of related research, the defects and improvement measures regarding raw materials, gasification agents, by-products, and reactors were discussed, which provides direction for further development in the gasification technology of Chinese medicinal solid waste in the future.

Clinical Application of Circulating Tumor DNA in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma--Review / 中国实验血液学杂志

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) as an aggressive lymphoma, there has not a good molecular marker to assess the therapeutic efficacy and prognosis of the disease. As compared with the traditional deteation method, it was found that the circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can be used as a non-invasive specific biomarker which can dynamically provide the information about the lymphoma. ctDNA in DLBCL can be obtained by dideoxy chain termination method combined with PCR, so as to detect genetic markers, targeted sequences of gene which is related to lymphoma; the digital PCR (dPCR) for lymphoma somatic mutations and the detection of abnormal methylation; ctDNA is closely related to the diagncsis, therapeutic efficiency and prognosis of DLBCL, thus ctDNA can be used for the early detection, mid-term and prognostic monitoring in DLBCL, which makes ctDNA have a broad clinical applied prospect.

Traditional Chinese medicine for prevention and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: A focus on epithelial-mesenchymal transition / 中西医结合学报

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignant cancers worldwide. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which endows epithelial cells with mesenchymal properties, plays an important role in the early stages of metastasis. Conventional cancer therapies have promising effects, but issues remain, such as high rates of metastasis and drug resistance. Thus, exploring and evaluating new therapies is an urgent need. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have been acknowledged for their multi-target and coordinated intervention effects against HCC. Accumulating evidence indicates that TCM can inhibit the malignancy of cells and the progression of EMT in HCC. However, studies on the effects of TCM on EMT in HCC are scarce. In this review, we summarized recent developments in anti-EMT TCMs and formulae, focusing on their underlying pharmacological mechanisms, to provide a foundation for further research on the exact mechanisms through which TCM affects EMT in HCC.

Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Prognostic Predictor in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Angioimmunoblastic T Cell Lymphoma / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the prognostic evaluation value of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with newly diagnosed angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL).@*METHODS@#Clinical data of 39 patients with newly diagnosed AITL in our hospital from March 2010 to August 2018 were colleated and retrospective analyzied, and the relationship between NLR before treatment and the prognosis of AITL patients was analyzed.@*RESULTS@#Among 39 AITL patients, the median value of NCR was 5.43. Based on the cut-off value (5.43), all the patients were divided into 2 groups: high NLR group (5.43, n=20) and a low NLR group (＜5.43, n=19). The total effective rate of treatment was lower in the high NLR group as compered with low NLR group (P=0.041). Univariate analysis showed that, age ＞60 years old, extranodal involvement＞1 as well as high NLR were the independent risk factors that affected overall survival (OS) in newly diagnosed AITL patients. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that extranodal involvement＞1 and high NLR were the independent risk factors that affected OS in newly diagnosed AITL patients.@*CONCLUSION@#The NLR may be an independent prognostic factor in patients with newly diagnosed AITL. High NLR associated with poor prognosis.

Research thoughts and methods on grading identification and transmission change law of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) Q-marker / 中国中药杂志

The quality marker( Q-maker) of traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) has been the core concept of TCM quality evaluation and control in recent years. Based on the knowledge and long-term practice of the researches on TCM quality,we put forward that " Taking the effectiveness as the core,the measurability and peculiarity as necessary conditions,and considering compatibility for TCM formulae,TCM Q-makers are selected and confirmed,and then the transmission and traceability should be investigated as its functional attributes". Selecting the commonly used representative TCM as the research object,based on the score of TCM effectiveness,measurability and peculiarity,a layered three-dimensional integrated technology was adopted for the quantitative evaluation and grading identification of the Q-markers for TCM. And after Q-markers for TCM are selected and confirmed,the transmission variation of the Q-markers is studied in the whole process from the formation of TCM to its function representation. Based on TCM chemical and biological characteristics as well as effectiveness,and integrating multidisciplinary techniques and methods,researches on innovative methods for system identification and confirmation of the TCM Q-makers are developed emphatically to form representative and exemplary extensive application,which will provide significant theoretical and methodological support for effectively improving the quality control level of TCM.

Effects of long-term dry-eye and higher-order aberrations on visual quality in LASIK patients / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM: To observe the dry eye and high-order aberrations(HOAs)before and after laser <i>in situ</i> keratomileusis(LASIK)and to evaluate their effects on visual quality.<p>METHODS: Totally 58 myopia patients(116 eyes)were enrolled from June 2008 to June 2010, who were interviewed before and on 1a, 3a, 5a after operation. Their total HOAs, third-order coma, third-order trefoil and fourth-order spherical aberration of the corneal surface 0s and 10s after blinking were measured, and uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), spherical equivalent(SE), corneal fluorescent staining, S I t were taken. OSDI questionnaire was scored, dry eye was diagnosed and graded. <p>RESULTS: Five years after LASIK, OSDI scores gradually increased from 10.003±1.462 to 20.252±2.540, BUT decreased from 8.402±2.640s to 6.897±3.408s and S I t decreased from preoperative level 14.382±6.241mm/5min, but recovered to preoperative level of 13.432±4.206mm/5min. The HOAs obtained 10s after blink were higher than 0s, and the augment of spherical aberration was the most significant. As to the same time point, the post operative HOAs were higher than that before operation, and the elevation of spherical aberration was still the most significant. 5a after operation, there was no difference between dry eye and non-dry eye patients on HOAs obtained 0s after blinking(all <i>P</i>>0.05). There was no significant difference between mild dry eye and preoperative HOAs 10s after blink 5a after operation(all <i>P</i>>0.05). However, the HOAs of moderate and severe dry eye patients were higher than non-dry eye patients(all <i>P</i><0.05). 5a after surgery, the HOAs differences between two time points of dry eye patients had positively correlated with OSDI scores. <p>CONCLUSION: The instability of tear film caused by dry eye in patients long-term after LASIK increases patient's HOAs and ultimately impair patient's visual quality, which mainly owe to the significant increase of spherical aberration.

Dose-toxicity-effect relationship between licorice combined with rhubarb in purgation / 中国中药杂志

The dose-toxicity-effect relationship between licorice combined with rhubarb in purgation was studied. A total of 108 ICR mice were divided into control group,model group,positive group,low,medium and high-dose rhubarb groups,and low,medium and high-dose rhubarb-liquorice decoction group. After 6 days of continuous administration of loperamide hydrochloride,the constipation model of mice was replicated,and each group was given lactulose,different doses of rhubarb and rhubarb-liquorice decoction for 14 days. After administration,the defecation characteristics,blood biochemistry,liver,kidney and colon pathological changes in each group were compared. Based on the objective weight given by factor analysis,the dose-toxicity-effect relationship was comprehensively analyzed by multi-index scoring method. Two common factors were extracted by factor analysis,representing effect and toxicity respectively. The results showed that rhubarb could exert a diarrhea effect at the dosage of 1/2,2 and 8 times of the high limit set forth in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia,increase the defecation volume and the intestinal tract propulsion rate,reduce the time of anal and the oral transmission,and increase the water content of feces. The combination with licorice could alleviate its diarrhea effect,especially at the dosage of 1/2 times of the high limit set forth in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. However,rhubarb showed obvious hepatic and colon toxicities at the dosage of 2 and 8 times of the high limit set forth in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia,and the combination with licorice could significantly reduce its toxicity. It shows that licorice has a " mediating" effect on rhubarb by alleviating the purgation property and reducing the toxicity.

Risk factors of high birth weight in rural areas of Shanxi Province / 中华疾病控制杂志

@# Objective To estimate the association between the risk of high birth weight(HBW) and maternal environmental and behavioral factors exposure during pregnancy in rural areas. Methods Data were collected from the surveillance system of birth population and adverse pregnancy outcome in Pingding County, Shanxi Province during 2007 and 2012, where we followed up 204 controls with normal birth weight, 125 cases with HBW≥4 200 g and 171 cases with HBW 4 000-4 200 g. Case control study was performed to explore the potential risk factors of HBW. Results The total number of births was 18 749, including 1 177 cases of high birth weight, with an incidence rate of 6.28% between 2007 and 2012. Concerning the case control study on HBW<4 200 g, after adjusting parental reproductive age and parity, the risk of HBW was 3.10(95% CI：1.67-5.76)times higher among women with gestational weeks ≥42 than that of women with gestational weeks < 42. The risk of HBW in boys was 2.30(95% CI：1.46-3.63)times higher than that in girls. No significant association was observed between maternal BMI before pregnancy and the risk of HBW；Regarding the case control study on HBW≥4200 g, after adjusting maternal reproductive age and parity, the risk of HBW was 3.01(95% CI:1.49-6.08) times higher among women with gestational weeks≥42 than that of those with gestational weeks <42. The risk of HBW was 1.91(95% CI:1.15-3.16)times higher among women with pre-pregnancy BMI≥24 than that of those with pre-pregnancy BMI< 24. The risk of HBW was 2.59(95% CI:1.06-6.32)times higher in women who ate soybean products ≥4 times a week than that of those who ate soybean products less than once a week. Conclusion It would be of public health significance to reduce the risk of high birth weight, which can be reduced by managing pre-pregnancy BMI, diet during pregnancy and controlling gestational week.

Effect of different concentrations of curcumin on inflammatory factors and endotoxin changes in lung tissues of rats with heatstroke in dry-heat environment / 医学研究生学报

Objective Thermal injury causes pulmonary edema, which may lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, multiorgan failure and even death. The article aimed to study the mechanism of curcumin pretreatment on inflammatory factors in lung tissues and serum endotoxin of rats with dry-heat environment.Methods A total of 50 SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10): normal control group, dry heat control group, low concentraion group (50mg/kg curcumin pretreatment group), middle concentraion group (100mg/kg curcumin pretreatment group), and high concentration group (200mg/kg curcumin pretreatment group). Rats in normal control group and dry heat control group were given normal saline by gavage, while rats in 3 curcumin pretreatment groups were given curcumin of different concentrations (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg) by gavage once a day for 7 consecutive days. At 8d, all the other 4 groups except normal control group were transferred to the climate cabin (The Simulated Climate Cabin for Special Environment of Northwest of China) with the condition of (41±0.5)℃, (10±1)% relative humidity.The rats were put in the dry-heat environment for 150min, then they were anaesthetized and sacrificed at 150min to collect the blood, lung tissues for further analysis. Observation was made on the pathological changes of lung tissues of rats in each group and the changes of inflammatory factors such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and LPS.Results Compared with dry heat control group, the concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and LPS in normal control group, curcumin pretreatment groups with low concentration, middle concentration and high concentration were significantly higher(P<0.01). The concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and LPS in curcumin pretreatment group with low concentration were significantly lower than those curcumin pretreatment groups with middle concentration and high concentration(P<0.05). Compared with curcumin pretreatment group with middle concentration, LPS concentration of curcumin pretreatment group with high concentration decreased significantly (P<0.01). Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between the plasma of LPS and inflammatory cytokines of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in lung tissues (correlation coefficient r=0.866, r=0.900, r=0.885, P=0.000).Conclusion Curcumin inhibits bacterial endotoxin in blood, reduces the expression of inflammatory factors, and plays an important role in alleviating secondary multiple organ damage, which means curcumin pretreatment can relieve lung damage caused by heatstroke and reduce the mortality of heatstroke.

Protective effect of curcumin on the intestinal injury and oxidative stress in rats in dry and hot desert environment / 中国比较医学杂志

Objective To investigate the protective effect of curcumin pretreatment on the intestinal mucosa in rats in dry and hot desert environment. Methods Eighty male SPF grade rats were randomly divided into saline control group ( NC group) and curcumin pretreatment group ( HDC group ) ( 40 in each group ) . Rats in the NC group were gavaged with saline, and rats in the HDC group were gavaged with curcumin (200 mg/kg), once a day for 7days. The rats were placed in a cabin simulating the dry and hot desert environment (41 ± 0. 5)℃ and relative humidity of (10 ± 2)%. Rats were randomly taken from each groups ( n=10 ) and sacrificed with 3% sodium pentobarbital intraperitoneally at 0 min, 50 min, 100 min and 150 min time points. The ileal tissue was stained for histological examination and oxidative stress index was detected. Results At time points 0 min and 50 min, the pathological injury scores of the HDC group were not significantly different compared with the NC group (P > 0. 05). At time points 100 min and 150 min, the pathological injury scores of the HDC group were significantly decreased compared with the NC group ( P < 0. 01 ) . At time points 50 min, 100 min and 150 min, the CAT and SOD activity of HDC group were significantly increased compared with the NC group (P< 0. 05 or P< 0. 01). The MDA content of HDC group were significantly decreased compared with the NC group ( P< 0. 05 or P < 0. 01 ) . Exposed to dry and hot environment, the pathological injury scores of the NC group were negatively correlated with CAT and SOD activity (r= -0. 9128, r= -0. 9125, P< 0. 01), and positively correlated with MDA content (r=0. 9258, P< 0. 01). Conclusions Curcumin pretreatment can protect the intestinal mucosa of rats in dry-heat environment of desert, and curcumin can alleviate the pathological damages of intestinal mucosa by inhibiting the oxidative stress in intestinal mucosa.

Involvement of spliced X-box binding protein 1 in renal fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction in mice / 生理学报

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is involved in the process of kidney fibrosis. Spliced X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1S) is the key mediator of ER stress while its role in fibrosis is still poorly understood. This study was aimed to investigate the role of XBP1S in renal fibrosis and evaluate whether valsartan could alleviate fibrosis through XBP1S. Renal interstitial fibrosis was induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in C57BL/6 mice, and UUO mice were daily administered with valsartan (20 mg/kg) through oral gavage. After 7 days of UUO, at euthanasia, left kidney was collected to examine the histological alteration by using haematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson's trichrome staining, Sirius red staining and immunohistochemistry. Western blot was used to assess XBP1S, targets of XBP1S, fibronectin, α-SMA, BAX and BCL2 protein levels. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to assess NADPH oxidase subunits p47-phox and p67-phox mRNA levels. The results showed that XBP1S expression was decreased by about 70% in the UUO mice compared with that in sham mice (P < 0.01), which was reversed by valsartan administration (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, UUO-induced renal interstitial fibrosis was attenuated by valsartan treatment. In addition, the protein levels of fibronectin and α-SMA were upregulated by UUO induction (P < 0.01), and valsartan administration inhibited the protein levels of fibronectin and α-SMA in UUO mice (P < 0.05). Western blot analysis showed that the ratio of BAX to BCL2 protein level was increased in UUO model compared with that in sham mice, and the increment also was diminished by valsartan treatment (P < 0.05). Finally, UUO-induced mRNA levels of p47-phox and p67-phox were significantly attenuated by valsartan administration (P < 0.05). These results showed that valsartan at least partly restores renal interstitial fibrosis by enhancing XBP1S activation through inhibiting oxidative stress and apoptosis in the UUO mice. These results suggest that XBP1S could be a potential therapeutic target for kidney fibrosis.

Effects of curcumin on pain threshold and on the expression of nuclear factor κ B and CX3C receptor 1 after sciatic nerve chronic constrictive injury in rats / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of curcumin on pain threshold and the expressions of nuclear factor κ B (NF-κ B) and CX3C chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1) in spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of the rats with sciatic nerve chronic constrictive injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty male Sprague Dawley rats, weighing 220-250 g, were randomly divided into 4 groups. Sham surgery (sham) group: the sciatic nerves of rats were only made apart but not ligated; chronic constrictive injury (CCI) group: the sciatic nerves of rats were only ligated without any drug treatment; curcumin treated injury (Cur) model group: the rats were administrated with curcumin 100 mg/(kg·d) by intraperitoneal injection for 14 days after CCI; solvent control (SC) group: the rats were administrated with the solvent at the same dose for 14 days after CCI. Thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) and mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) of rats were respectively measured on pre-operative day 2 and postoperative day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14. The lumbar segment L4-5 of the spinal cord and the L4, L5 DRG was removed at post-operative day 3, 7 and 14. The change of nuclear factor κ B (NF-κ B) p65 expression was detected by Western blotting while the expression of CX3CR1 was determined by immunohistochemical staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the sham group, the TWL and MWT of rats in the CCI group were significantly decreased on each post-operative day (P<0.01), which reached a nadir on the 3rd day after CCI, and the expressions of NF-κ B p65 and CX3CR1 were markedly increased in spinal cord dorsal horn and DRG. In the Cur group, the TWL of rats were significantly increased than those in the CCI group on post-operative day 7, 10 and 14 (P<0.05) and MWT increased than those in the CCI group on post-operative day 10 and 14 (P<0.05). In addition, the administration of curcumin significantly decreased the positive expressions of NF-κ B p65 and CX3CR1 in spinal cord and DRG (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our study suggests that curcumin could ameliorate the CCI-induced neuropathic pain, probably through inhibiting CX3CR1 expression by the activation of NF-κ B p65 in spinal cord and DRG.</p>

Gelsolin level for prognostic evaluation in patients with critically illness / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes of plasma gelsolin level in patients with critical illness and its application in prognostic evaluation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety six critically ill patients admitted in ICU of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from February 2012 to December 2013 were enrolled in the prospective cohort study. Plasma gelsolin levels were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at admission (d1), d2, d4 and d8 after admission, and also detected in blood samples of 186 healthy subjects as controls. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between the level of plasma gelsolin and prognosis of patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average levels of plasma gelsolin were significantly lower in critically ill patients than those in control subjects (F=1986.37, P<0.01). There was significant difference in overall level of gelsolin between survival patients and fatal patients (F=16.691, P<0.01). APACHE Ⅱ score was associated with survival outcomes (r=0.489, P=0.009); the APACHE Ⅱ score was significantly higher in fatal patients than that in survival patients (29.5±7.7 vs 22.1±5.7, t=5.375, P<0.01). There was a negative correlation between plasma gelsolin levels and fatal outcomes (r=-0.512, P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that the overall plasma gelsolin levels and the last measured level was a prognostic factor for critically ill patients (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Plasma gelsolin levels are correlated with the severity of critically ill patients, and plasma gelsolin can be used as indicator of prognosis.</p>

Research about improving flowability of powder of Chinese herbs extracts by surface modification technology / 中国中药杂志

In this study, modification technology by surface coating was used to improve the flowability of powder of Chinese herbs extracts. Seven kinds of powder of Chinese herbs extracts were coated with 1% silica nanoparticles using an under-driven Comil. The powder characteristics tester was used to evaluate the flowability of uncoated and coated powders. Surface morphology and particle size distribution of powders were compared by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and optical microscope. The powder hygroscopicity was also investigated. The results showed that, after modification, angle of repose, angle of spatula, compressibility and adhesiveness extremely decreased, and flowability index substantially increased, the powder flowability was significantly improved, especially Gegen and Dahuang extracts powders. Scanning electron microscopy images showed the distribution of silica nanoparticles on the host drug particle surfaces. There were no remarkable changes in the particle size distribution and hygroscopicity of all powders after coating. Therefore, Comilling for surface coating modification technology was an effective method to improve the flowability of Chinese herbs extracts and suggested a possible way forward to enhance the quality of Chinese drugs pharmaceutics in their study and manufacture.

Effect of M8046 on expression of COX-2/PGE2 in spinal cord and DRG in rats with neuropathic pain / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of glucocorticoid receptor antagonist-M8046 on the behavior and the cyclooxygenase-2/prostaglandin E2( COX-2/PGE2) expression in spinal cord dorsal horn and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in chronic constrictive injury (CCI) rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and forty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, 36 rats in each group: Sham operation group (Sham), chronic constrictive group (CCI), M8046 treated group (M8046) and solvent controlled group (Sc). M8046 3 mg/(kg x d) intraperitoneal injection was given after operation in group M8046. Paw thennal withdrawal (PTWL) and paw mechanical withdrawal threshold (PMWT) of rats were measured on 2 pre-operative and 1, 3, 7, 10, 14 post-operative days. The spinal cord and L15 DRG of the operated side was removed at 3, 7, 14 days after surgery. The change of COX-2 and PGE2 expression was determined by immunohistochemical staining and ELISA separately.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PTWL and PMWT in CCI group were significantly lower than those in Sham group on every post-operative day (P < 0.05). PTWL and PMWT in M8046 group were significantly higher than those in CCI group on 7, 10, 14 post-operative day (P < 0.05). In spinal dorsal horn, the level of COX-2 and PGE2 expression in CCI group was significantly higher than that in Sham group (P < 0.05). M8046 could significantly attenuate the activation of COX-2 and PGE2 induced by CCI (P < 0.05). The expression of COX-2 and PGE2 in DRG was similar to that in spinal dorsal horn.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The effects of M8046 ameliorate the CCI-induced neuropathic pain may be related to attenuate the expression of COX-2 and PGE2 in spinal cord and DRG.</p>