[An experimental study of acute toxicity and pharmacology of fermented Platycodonis Radix].

This study investigated the acute toxicity of fermented Platycodonis Radix on mice and its effect on coughing in mice infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The maximum dosage(MAD) was used in the acute toxicity experiment on mice to observe the signs of mice. After 14 days, dissection, blood biochemical examination, and pathological tissue section observation were conducted. In the pharmacological experiment of fermented Platycodonis Radix, 60 healthy BALB/c mice, 30 males and 30 females, were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a carbetapentane group(0.013 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and high-, medium-, and low-dose fermented Platycodonis Radix groups(5.2, 2.6, and 1.3 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), with 10 mice in each group. Except for the blank group, the mice in the other five groups underwent model induction by intranasally instilling 20 µL of 1×10~6 CCU M. pneumoniae for 3 days, and the mice in each group were orally administered the corresponding drugs for 7 days. Cough induction experiment was conducted to observe and record the cough latency and total cough count within 3 min for each group. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and Masson staining were used to observe the pathological changes in lung tissues. Immunohistochemistry was performed to observe the protein expression of transient receptor potential A1(TRPA1), calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP), and substance P(SP) in the lung tissues of mice in each group. Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR) was used to elucidate the changes in the mRNA levels of cough-related factors TRPA1, CGRP, and SP in mice treated with fermented Platycodonis Radix. No mice died in the acute toxicity experiment, and there were no changes in general behavior and major organ histopathological examinations. Compared with the blank group, there were no statistically significant differences in blood biochemical indexes. In the pharmacological experiment of fermented Platycodonis Radix, compared with the model group, the high-and medium-dose fermented Platycodonis Radix groups showed improved lung tissue structure of mice, with clear structure and regular tissue morphology. The qRT-PCR and immunohistochemical detection showed a decrease in the expression of TRPA1, CGRP, and SP in the fermented Platycodonis Radix groups. Fermented Platycodonis Radix can exert an inhibitory effect on cough by suppressing the expression of TRPA1, CGRP, and SP in lung tissues, thereby identifying the target of the drug.

Effect of Short-Term Kinesiology Taping on Knee Proprioception and Quadriceps Performance in Healthy Individuals.

Background: Kinesiology taping (KT) is well known measure for preventing musculoskeletal injuries. Our study aims to explore the actual effects of KT on healthy participants' knee proprioception and quadriceps performance within 1 h. Methods: A total of 35 healthy male amateur runners were recruited in our study. Four taping sequences were randomly allocated to four different weeks, namely, no taping, placebo taping, KT with tension, and KT with no tension. A CON-TREX isokinetic dynamometer was used in assessing the participants' knee proprioception and muscle strength of knee extension and flexion at 60°/s. The electromyography (EMG) signals of medial oblique muscle and vastus lateralis were collected using Myon EMG system synchronously. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used in exploring the difference between taping and time effects, and the significance was set to alpha <0.05. Results: Significant interaction effect was found between the taping groups and time effect [F (3.32) = 2.389, p = 0.029, η 2 = 0.050] in the peak torque during the concentric contraction of quadriceps. No significant interaction and no significant differences between groups and time effects in knee proprioception and muscle activation. Conclusion: The effect of KT seems insufficiently large to impose a positive effect on healthy people within short periods. Health participants may not necessarily use KT to increase muscle activation and proprioception of knee.

[Effect of baicalin on expression of fibrogenic factors TGF-ß1, mmp2 and timp2 in tissue of mice with pulmonary fibrosis].

To investigate the effect of baicalin extracted from Qinbai Qingfei Concentrated Pills on the expressions of TGF-ß1, mmp2 and timp2 in mice with pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin. The Biacore technique was used to detect the specific binding between Qinbai Qingfei Concentrated Pills and TGF-ß1, and the affinity components were enriched, regenerated and recovered by Biacore fishing. Then ultra-performance liquid chromatography and quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) were used to determine whether the monomer was baicalin. Biacore was used to verify the affinity kinetics of baicalin, which was validated by pharmacodynamics in vivo. Totally 30 BALB/C mice were randomly divided into three groups: baicalin group, blank group and model group. The blank group was given sodium chloride injection(0.08 mL·kg~(-1)), while the model group and the baicalin group were injected with 4 mg·kg~(-1) bleomycin. The localization of TGF-ß1, mmp2 and timp2 protein in the cells and the mRNA expressions of TGF-ß1, mmp2 and timp2 were detected by RT-PCR 14 days later. The results of Biacore affinity analysis showed that the peak of binding response between Qinbai Qingfei Concentrated Pills and TGF-ß1 protein reached 1 524.0 RU, with specific binding. The affinity constant K_D of baicalin and TGF-ß1 was 1.620 06 µmol·L~(-1), which was determined by SPR kinetic analysis, suggesting a stable binding between baicalin and TGF-ß1, which verified the results of angulation. The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the deposition of cellulose in baicalin group was significantly less than that in model group, the mRNA expressions of TGF-ß1, mmp2 and timp2 were decreased in baicalin solution compared with the model group. Baicalin combined with TGF-ß1 could inhibit the expressions of mmp2 and timp2 and delay the progress of pulmonary fibrosis.

[Effect of Dilong on expression of fibrogenic factors TGF-ß1 and α-SMA in lung tissue of mice with pulmonary fibrosis].

The aim of this paper was to investigate the effect of Dilong( geosaurus) on the expressions of fibrotic factors TGF-ß1 and α-SMA in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis mice. The binding ability of Dilong to fibrotic factor TGF-ß1 was initially detected by Biacore technology and verified by in vivo pharmacodynamics. A total of 60 SPF C57 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups. Except the blank group( injecting 0. 08 m L·kg-1 sodium chloride in the trachea),the other five groups were given bleomycin( 4 mg·kg-1) to replicate the pulmonary fibrosis model. After 14 days of drug treatment,the expressions of TGF-ß1 and α-SMA were detected by Masson staining,immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. The results of Biacore experiment showed that the extract of Dilong was well bound to TGF-ß1 protein in vitro,and the binding value reached 619. 3. Compared with the model group,Masson's results showed that cellulose deposition in high-dose,medium-dose and low-dose Dilong groups decreased to varying degrees. RT-PCR results showed that different doses of Dilong could reduce protein and mRNA expressions of TGF-ß1 and α-SMA to a certain extent in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion,Dilong could delay the process of pulmonary fibrosis by binding to target protein TGF-ß1 and inhibiting the expression of α-SMA.

Prevalence and associated positive psychological variables of depression and anxiety among Chinese cervical cancer patients: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of depression and anxiety and its associated factors in cervical cancer are not well evaluated in China. Meanwhile, with increasing attention given to positive psychological variables in oncology field, there is a need to conduct a study to explore the integrative effects of positive psychological variables on depression/anxiety so as to provide patients a more holistic cancer care. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of depression/anxiety as well as the integrative effects of hope, optimism and general self-efficacy on depression/anxiety among Chinese cervical cancer patients. METHODS: A multi-centre, cross-sectional study was conducted of consecutive inpatients at the Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute and the Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University in Liaoning Province, northeast China. A total of 224 cervical cancer patients eligible for this study completed questionnaires on demographic and clinic variables, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Herth Hope Index, Life Orientation Scale-Revised, and General Self-Efficacy Scale during February and August 2013. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression and anxiety was 52.2% and 65.6% in cervical cancer patients. The anxiety score was significantly higher in patients at the period of 4-6 months after diagnose and at cancer stage II. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that hope, optimism and general self-efficacy as a whole accounted for 31.3% variance of depression and 35.6% variance of anxiety. Under standardized estimate (ß) sequence, hope, optimism and general self-efficacy significantly associated with depression, respectively; hope and optimism were also significant individual predictors of anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of depression and anxiety among cervical cancer patients should receive more attention in Chinese medical settings. More importantly, efforts to develop the integrated psychosocial interventions are effective and necessary to alleviate depression/anxiety in cervical cancer patients by synthesizing and integrating the individual protective effects of hope, optimism and general self-efficacy.

Extraction, characterization and spontaneous emulsifying properties of pectin from sugar beet pulp.

The effects of organic acid extractants on the yield and characteristics of pectin from sugar beet pulp were investigated with citric acid, malic acid and lactic acid at different pH (1.5 and 2.0) and time (1 h and 2 h). The results demonstrated that the yields of pectins were directly correlated with the decrease of pH and reaction time, and the optimum yield of 17.2% was obtained at pH 1.5 and 2 h. Furthermore, the acid type also affected the physicochemical characteristics of pectin, especially on the esterification degree (42-71), galacturonic acid content (60.2-77.8%), emulsion activity (35.2-40.1%) and emulsion stability (62.1-79.4%), and a relatively single pectin mainly consisted of homogalacturonan could be obtained under a suitable reaction condition, which was an excellent crude material for the production of emulsion activity.

[Complete Freund's adjuvant-induced splenic T cell apoptosis in the prevention of diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study the apoptosis of T lymphocytes in the spleen and its role in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) preventing diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. METHODS: Forty-two NOD mice were divided into two groups randomly: CFA-treated NOD female mice (6w, 12w and 30w) and PBS-treated NOD female mice (6w, 12w and 30w). The apoptosis of splenic T lymphocytes was observed with the TDT-mediated fluorescein-dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) technique and avidin-biotin complex method. RESULTS: CFA induced the apoptosis of CD4+ T lymphocytes in the mouse spleen and could prevent the development of Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) in NOD female mice. CONCLUSION: CFA preventing Type 1 diabetes in NOD mice may be related to the apoptosis of T lymphocytes in the spleen, which downregulates mature CD4+ T lymphocytes in the periphery.