Astragaloside IV plays a role in reducing radiation-induced liver inflammation in mice by inhibiting thioredoxin-interacting protein/nod-like receptor protein 3 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) on radiation-induced liver inflammation in mice. METHODS: The mice were divided into normal group, dimethyl sulfoxide solvent group, irradiation group (IR), irradiation + AS-IV (20 mg/kg) group (IR+AS-20) and irradiation + AS-IV (40 mg/kg) group (IR+AS-40). One month after intraperitoneal injection of AS-IV, the mice were irradiated with 8Gry Co60γ, the blood was collected for biochemical analysis, and the liver was collected for hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunofluorescence and electron microscopic observation, oxidative stress, and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: The AS-IV treatment significantly ameliorated the pathological morphology of liver and reduced the alanine aminotransferase and aspertate amino-transferase levels in serum induced by radiation; AS-IV treatment also significantly reduced the expression of inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 and antagonized malonaldehyde content and superoxide dismutase activity in liver caused by radiation; in addition, AS-IV treatment can significantly inhibited the positive expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) and nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in liver tissue after radiation; The expression of TXNIP, NLRP3 inflammasome, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD, cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase 1 and interleukin 1beta in the AS-IV prevention group decreased significantly compared to the radiation group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that Co60γ radiation can cause structural and functional damage to the liver, which may be related to the NLRP3 mediated inflammatory pathway; AS-IV may play a protective role by inhibiting the TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway in the radiation-induced liver injury model.

Combating COVID-19 with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine in China

COVID-19, an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread throughout the world. China has achieved rapid containment of this highly infectious disease following the principles of early detection, early quarantine and early treatment with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine. The inclusion of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the Chinese protocol is based on its successful historic experience in fighting against pestilence. Current findings have shown that the Chinese medicine can reduce the incidence of severe or critical events, improve clinical recovery and help alleviate symptoms such as cough or fever. To date there are over 133 ongoing registered clinical studies on TCM/integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine. The three Chinese patent medicines (/ (Forsythiae and Honeysuckle Flower Pestilence-Clearing Granules/Capsules), (Honeysuckle Flower Cold-Relieving Granules) and (Stasis-Resolving & Toxin-Removing) were officially approved by the National Medical Products Administration to list COVID-19 as an additional indication. The pharmacological studies have suggested that Chinese medicine is effective for COVID-19 probably through its host-directed regulation and certain antiviral effects.

Opportunities and challenges for nurses in the face of elderly care with medical support / 中华医院管理杂志

The authors analyzed the opportunities and challenges faced by nurses in the time of elderly care with medical support using SWOT analysis, for the purpose of suggestions for the development of nurses to cope with such new scenario. Advantages of the nurses in such a time are as follows: professional nursing care, holistic care ability, and standardized assessment skill. Their disadvantages include: poor team leadership, insufficient business and management skills, and poor motivation for personal development. Their opportunities include: guidance of the national strategy, innovation of " Internet plus", and flexible working hours. Their challenges include: room of improvements for both quantity and quality of nursing personnel, better efficiency for integration and allocation of resources, and better capability to leverage" Smart elderly care". Four suggestions are raised in this regard, i. e., to strengthen the ability for elderly care with medical support, to improve multidisciplinary coordination, to cultivate their entrepreneurship, and to improving the ability of information application.

Effects of naringin on proliferation, differentiation and matrix mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of naringin on the proliferation, differentiation and matrix mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells in vitro.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>MC3T3-E1 cell lines were taken in vitro model. CCk-8 method was used to observe the proliferation of MC3T3 cells. Lactic acid dehydrogenase cytotoxicity (LDH) test was used to observe the cell toxicity. Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OC) were used to observe the cell differentiation. Von kossa calcification staining method was used to observe the cell calcification.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The high dosages of the naringin could promote the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells at both 12 h and 24 h. While, low dosages did not show the same capability. LDH test showed that the cytotoxicity percentages in all six naringin treated groups were quite low. BMP-2 cytoimmunochemistry test showed that the three naringin treated group (10, 1, 0.1 micromol x L(-1)) showed higher brown coloration in cytoplasm than the control group at both 24 h and 48 h. 1, 0.1 micromol x L(-1) naringin raised ALP activity of MC3T3-E1 cells at 48 h (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, 0.1 micromol x L(-1) naringin increased the ALP activity at 72 h (P < 0.05). 10 and 1 micromol x L(-1) naringin increased the capability of MC3T3-E1 cell to synthesize osteocalcin during 8th - 12th dsince adding the medicine (P < 0.05). Naringin did not show the positive effects on cell calcification.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Naringin could promote proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells.</p>