[Airborne pollens in Wuhan urban area and its correlation with hospital visits of allergic rhinitis patients from 2017 to 2018].

Objective: To investigate the species and concentrations of airborne pollens in Wuhan urban area and their correlation with the number of visits of allergic rhinitis patients. Methods: Retrospective analysis of pollen dispersal characteristics and the number of patients with allergic rhinitis presenting to Tongji Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan city from October 2017 to September 2018, as well as pollen allergen testing results of patients with allergic rhinitis presenting to the Department of Allergy during the same period. Pollen data was collected by a 1-year air sampling conducted in Wuhan City during the same period using the volumetric method. The samples were examined microscopically to identify airborne pollen species and counted, and the concentrations of various pollens were calculated. Information on patients with allergic rhinitis who came to the hospital during the same period was collected, and the correlation between pollen concentration and the number of patient visits was statistically analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis. Results: A total of 35 types of airborne pollen were collected from October 2017 to September 2018. The dominant pollens in spring were Moraceae (68.46%, 1 042/1 522), Pendula (12.22%, 186/1 522) and Cupressaceae (2.30%, 35/1 522); in summer and autumn, the dominant pollens were Artemisia (3.81%, 58/1 522), Humulus (4.01%, 61/1 522) and Ambrosia (0.59%, 9/1 522). The peak number of visits for allergic rhinitis patients occurred in March-April and July-September, both exceeding 2 200 visits and reaching a maximum of 2 545 visits. There was a very weak correlation between the number of visits and the total pollen concentration (r=0.17, P=0.001). The average monthly pollen skin prick test positive rate of patients with allergic rhinitis was highest in March-May, exceeding 40% with a maximum of 45.73%, and there was a significant correlation between the positive pollen skin prick test positive rate and the average monthly pollen concentration (r=0.62, P=0.031). Conclusions: Pollen species and concentrations fluctuated continuously with time in Wuhan urban area, with peak pollen dispersal in spring from March to April and in autumn from August to September. The number of visits to patients with allergic rhinitis and the positive pollen skin prick test positive rate increased accordingly during the peak pollen concentration periods.

Tripterygium glycoside fraction n2: Alleviation of DSS-induced colitis by modulating immune homeostasis in mice.

BACKGROUND: The Tripterygium glycosides (TG) is the main active extractive of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F and is widely used in clinical practice to treat inflammatory diseases (including inflammatory bowel disease). However, due to its severe toxicity, TG is restricted to the treatment of many diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to study a new method to obtain the attenuated and synergistic extracts from TG. PURPOSE: Tripterygium glycosides-n2 (TG-n2) was obtained from TG by a new preparation method. In this study, we aimed to investigate the difference in the chemical compositions between TG and TG-n2, further explored its toxicity and therapeutic effects on DSS-induced colitis in mice. METHODS: The major chemical compositions of TG and TG-n2 were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). Subsequently, acute toxicity test was applied to evaluate the toxicity difference between TG and TG-n2. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis model was used to explore the therapeutic effect of TG and TG-n2 and their potential mechanisms of action. RESULTS: We found that the chemical compositions of TG-n2 is different from TG. The main difference is the ratio of triptriolide (T11) / triptolide (T9). Acute toxicity test proved that TG-n2 was less toxic than TG. Base on this, further studies showed that TG-n2 has a similar therapeutic effect as compared to TG on attenuating the symptoms of colitis, such as diarrhea, bloody stools, body weight loss, colonic atrophy, histopathological changes, inhibiting cytokines secretion and reducing absolute lymph number. In addition, TG and TG-n2 can increase the apoptosis of T lymphocyte in vivo. Further investigated showed that TG and TG-n2 could increase the expressions of Bax and p62 on CD3-positive T cells. CONCLUSION: This study showed that oral administration of TG-n2 is safer than TG. Moreover, the attenuated TG-n2 has the similar therapeutic effect on treating experimental colitis in mice when compared to TG. Its mechanism may be related to activating the expression of Bax in T cells and inducing T cells autophagy to regulate the survival of T lymphocytes in colitis mice, thus reducing inflammation in colon.

[Effects of Anluohuaxianwan on transforming growth factor-ß1 and related signaling pathways in rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis].

Objective: The traditional Chinese medicine Anluohuaxianwan (ALHXW) has been used to treat liver fibrosis induced by chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, the anti-fibrosis mechanisms of ALHXW remain to be investigated. This study used a rat model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver fibrosis to explore the potential antifibrogenic mechanisms of ALHXW. Methods: Twenty-seven male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to control group, model group, and treatment group (n = 9 per group). Rats in the model and treatment group were injected intraperitoneally with 40% CCl(4)(2 ml/kg), and rats in the control group were administered saline twice a week for 6 weeks. Starting at week 4 following model construction, rats in the treatment group received daily gavages with ALHXW solution (concentration 0.15 g/ml) daily, while rats in the control and model groups were given saline for a total of 6 weeks. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured from blood samples collected at the end of weeks 3, 6 and 9. Histopathological examination of liver tissue was performed to evaluate liver fibrosis at week 9. At the same time, the mRNA expression of TGF-ß1 and Smads in liver tissues was quantified by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and TGF-ß1 protein level in the liver was measured by Western blot. Inter-group comparison was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) when the continuous data were normally distributed and satisfied the homogeneity of variance; otherwise, nonparametric tests were used. Categorical data were compared between groups using nonparametric tests. Results: ALHXW markedly alleviated liver injury in the treatment group after 3 weeks of therapy as indicated by a significantly reduced level of ALT compared with the model group [(162.98 ± 73.14)U/L vs (322.52 ± 131.76)U/L, P = 0.047], and a 39.8% reduction in AST level compared with the model group[ (537.56 ± 306.06)U/L vs (892.98 ± 358.19)U/L, P = 0.053]. Moreover, at the end of the 6-week therapy, histopathological diagnosis showed that liver fibrosis was significantly reduced in the ALHXW-treated group compared with that in the model group (P = 0.002). The relative expression of TGF-ß1 mRNA and protein in the liver were significantly lower in ALHXW-treated rats than that in model rats (1.34 ± 0.31 vs 1.78 ± 0.45, P = 0.025; 0.39 ± 0.02 vs 0.57 ± 0.04, P = 0.003). Conclusion: ALHXW treatment can reverse CCl(4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats. Its mechanisms of anti-fibrosis may occur through the inhibition of TGF-ß1 synthesis and TGF-ß1/Smads signaling pathway, which in turn suppress the activation of hepatic stellate cells and thereby reverses fibrosis.

Effects of preventive acupuncture on streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia in rats.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes prevention has received increasing attention recently. Clinical and experimental studies showed that acupuncture could produce hypoglycemic effect. However, little is known about the effectiveness of acupuncture in diabetes prevention. AIM: To investigate the preventive effects of acupuncture on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemia in rats. METHODS: Hyperglycemia was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg/kg). Rats were randomly divided into six groups (no.=8 each group): control, diabetes, preventive acupuncture plus STZ injection, STZ injection plus therapeutic acupuncture, STZ injection plus preventive and therapeutic acupuncture, and preventive and therapeutic acupuncture control. Body weight, blood glucose, serum insulin, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzymes were measured by routine standard methods. Histological analysis of pancreatic islets was conducted. RESULTS: Preventive acupuncture significantly relieved hyperglycemia, insulin deficiency, weight loss, and pancreatic islet damage in rats with STZ injection; it also significantly reduced serum lipid peroxidation and enhanced superoxide dismutase in the serum and the pancreas without significantly affecting serum glutathione peroxidase and catalase. Therapeutic acupuncture exhibited a hypoglycemic effect in the late stage, but did not significantly improve other parameters. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that preventive acupuncture is beneficial to the control of STZ-induced hyperglycemia in rats.

A widely tunable dual-wavelength CW Ti:sapphire laser with collinear output.

We report a collinear output and tunable dual-wavelength CW Ti:sapphire laser with a simple cavity configuration. The wavelength splitting range is easily tuned from 10 nm to 110 nm, which provides 56 THz bandwidth for terahertz generation. The total output power of two colors with the spatial mode of TEM(00) is between 700 mW and 300 mW, for small and large wavelength splittings, respectively, under 5 W argon-ion laser pumping.

[Clinical study of zhinu-I,-II in treating 61 patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura].

The article studied 61 patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, they were classified and treated with Chinese herbal medicine Zhinu (ZN) -I, -II, in comparison with 30 cases of patients treated with prednisone. The results showed that the effect of prednisone was more effective than ZN- I, -II in four weeks (P < 0.05). On the contrary, follow up for 12 months, the effect of ZN-I, -II were more effective than prednisone (P < 0.05) and the possibility of recurrence was lower (P < 0.01). In addition, blood platelet counts of the patients treated with ZN-I, -II increased slower, but lasting for longer term. The conclusion indicated that the ZN-I, -II were safe and effective. There was no obvious side effects.

Microscopic observations on livers of rabbits and dogs infected with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae and early treatment with artemether or praziquantel.

UNLABELLED: To study the histopathological change of the liver of the hosts treated with artemether (Art) or praziquantel (Pra) in early stage after infection with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae. METHODS: Dogs infected once with schistosome cercariae were treated ig with Art 10 mg.kg-1 or Art capsule (ArtC) 15 mg.kg-1 on d 7, or praziquantel (Pra) 30-40 mg.kg-1 on d 21 after infection, followed by the repeated dosing once every 1 or 2 wk for 2-4 times. In rabbits, infected with 48-52 schistosome cercariae once every other day for 5 times, were treated ig with Art 10 mg.kg-1 or Pra 30 mg.kg-1 was started on d 7 or on d 21 after the first infection, followed by the repeated dosing every 1 or 2 wk for 2-3 times. RESULTS: After above mentioned dogs or rabbits were treated ig with Art, ArtC or Pra, the female worm reduction rates were 92.1%-100%. Histopathological examination showed that the reduction rates of total granuloma in the liver sections of the dogs and rabbits were 70.9%-97.3% and 76.5%-97.4%, respectively. Meantime, the structure of the hepatic lobules was normal with normal arrangement of the liver bundle. CONCLUSIONS: Early treatment with Art or Pra exhibited a promising effect of protection of the liver of the dogs and rabbits infected with schistosome cercariae. Early treatment of infection with schistosome cercariae kills the Female worms before oviposition. Thus, the host will be protected from the damage caused by schistosome eggs. Promising results were obtained when mice and rabbits received an early treatment with artemether (Art) or praziquantel (Pra). This work was to study the liver infected with cercariae and treated by intragastric gavage (ig) with Art, Art capsule (ArtC) or Pra in early stage after infection.

Experimental studies on early treatment of schistosomal infection with artemether.

An early treatment with artemether given in appropriate regimens was tested in mice, rabbits and dogs for prevention purposes. Artemether was administered intragastrically (ig) to the hosts on day 7 after infection with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae at a single dose, and the same dose of artemether was repeated every 1 or 2 weeks for 2-4 times. As a result, most of the female worms were killed before their oviposition with female worm reduction rates of 90-100%, resulting in protection of the host from damage induced by schistosome eggs. When rabbits were treated ig with artemether 10 mg kg-1 on day 7 after infection, followed by repeated dosing every week for 4 times, some parameters related to acute schistosomiasis, such as temperature, eosinophil count and eggs in the feces were negative, and low specific antigen and antibody levels in serum were seen. Further study showed that the appropriate regimens of Artemether were also effective in early treatment of reinfection with cercariae. When rabbits infected with 48-52 cercariae once every other day for 5 times were treated ig with artemether 15 mg kg-1, followed by repeated dosing every 1 or 2 week for 2- 3 times, the female worm reduction rates were 92.1-98.4%. Histopathological examination of the livers showed that the above-mentioned early treatment with Artemether exhibited a promising protective effect on dogs and rabbits. The major features included normal appearance of the liver resembling those of uninfected dogs and rabbits; few or no dispersed miliary egg tubercles appeared on the surface of the liver; the structure of the hepatic lobules was normal with normal arrangement of the liver bundles; few or no eggs appeared in the portal vein area and there was apparent diminution of total egg granuloma, comprising inflammatory, fibrous or scarred egg granuloma. On the basis of above-mentioned results, early treatment with Artemether could be recommended for field trial for controlling acute schistosomiasis, reducing infection rate and intensity of infection.

[Hemodynamic effects of a water soluble extract of Liriope spicata Lour on anesthetized cats].

The effects of water soluble extract of Liriope spicata on acute hemodynamics were studied in anesthetized cats. The results showed that LV dp/dt max was increased by 87%, whereas t-dp/dt max was shortened by 28% after administration of WSEL (1.75 g/kg, iv). At the same time CO, CI, SI, and SVWI were increased by 146, 151, 153, and 194%, respectively. HR was declined slightly. SVR was reduced by about 48%. WSEL (0.7 g/kg, iv) induced an increase of 38% in LV dp/dt max, 44% in CO, 50% in SI and a decrease of 20% in t-dp/dt max and 20% in SVR. Preliminary results indicated that WSEL increased ventricular contractile force and might increase cardiac pump function.

[A study on the literature on sheng mai powder of past dynasties].

Our study reveals that the earliest historical records of Sheng Mai Powder are found in "Yixue qiyuan" ("Origins of Medicine"), a medical book written by Zhang Yuansu and published in the beginning of 1186, 45 years earlier than the latest edition of "Neiwai shangbian huolun" ("Treaties on the identification of Internal Diseases and External Damages"), written by Li Gao in 1231. The study also suggests that the assertion of Sheng Mai Powder to be inaugurated by Sun Simiao is groundless.