ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of Tuina (a traditional Chinese massage therapy) on intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration and the regulatory mechanisms of the transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1)/small mothers against decapentaplegic (Smad) signaling pathway. METHODS: Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were randomized into five groups: the control group, model group, model + Tuina group (Tuina group), model + TGF-ß1 group (TGF-ß1 group), and model + TGF-ß1 inhibitor SB431542 group (SB431542 group). The model was established by posterolateral annulus fibrosus puncturing (AFP). Recombinant TGF-ß1 and inhibitor SB431542 was injected into the TGF-ß1 group and SB431542 group with a microsyringe, respectively. The rabbits in the Tuina group received Tuina treatment along the bladder meridian for 4 weeks. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on rabbits before AFP and after 4 weeks of intervention. Lumbar IVDs (L2-L3 to L4-L5) were harvested after intervention. Histopathological changes in the IVDs were measured by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Type I collagen was analyzed by immunohistochemistry detection. The expression level of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3) was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling and Western blotting. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to analyze the expression of TGF-ß1 and Smad2/3/4 and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5. RESULTS: Posterolateral AFP induced IVD degeneration in rabbits with histopathological damage and noticeable changes in MRI images. Tuina alleviated histo-pathological changes and reversed the expression of extracellular matrix degeneration-related molecules and apoptosis-related proteins. Furthermore, AFP induced the activation of TGF-ß1 and Smad2/3/4, whereas Tuina therapy markedly reduced the protein expression of Smad2/3 and the gene expression of TGF-ß1 and Smad2/3/4. Additionally, the TGF-ß1/Smad signaling pathway was activated in the TGF-ß1 group, while the TGF-ß1/Smad signaling pathway was inhibited in the SB431542 group. CONCLUSION: Posterolateral AFP induced disc degeneration as determined by MRI assessment and histological analysis. Tuina alleviated disc degeneration, possibly by inhibiting the fibrotic response mediated by the TGF-ß1/Smad pathway, thus alleviating extracellular matrix degeneration and reducing cell apoptosis.
Subject(s)
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration , Meridians , Rabbits , Animals , Female , Humans , Transforming Growth Factor beta1/genetics , Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/genetics , Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/therapy , Mothers , Urinary Bladder , alpha-Fetoproteins , Signal TransductionABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the mediating effect of inflammatory factors in the association between low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C) and thyroid associated ophthalmopathy(TAO).Methods:This study was a prospective study, which icluded a total of 86 patients with Graves′ disease who attended the Department of Endocrinology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2021 to June 2022. Among them, there were 56 patients with Graves′ disease accompanied by TAO, including 30 cases in the inactive group and 26 in the active group. Additionally, there were 30 cases having Graves′ disease alone. The relationship between LDL-C, inflammatory factors, and the onset and activity of TAO were analyzed using binary logistic regression. Mediation analysis was used to explore the mediating effect of inflammatory factors in the association between LDL-C and TAO onset and activity.Results:Interleukin(IL) -6 was a potential mediator that linking the association between LDL-C and TAO onset: LDL-C had a direct effect on TAO(Total effect value=0.274, 95% CI 0.161-0.386), while IL-6(mediated effect=0.067, 95% CI 0.011-0.123) and IL-17(mediated effect=0.042, 95% CI 0.007-0.077) partially mediated the effect of LDL-C on TAO, accounting for 24.45% and 15.33% of the total effect, respectively. IL-6 was a potential mediator of the association between LDL-C and TAO activity: LDL-C had a direct effect on TAO activity(Total effect value=0.320, 95% CI 0.204-0.435), and IL-6(mediated effect=0.103, 95% CI 0.021-0.185) partially mediated the effect of LDL-C on TAO activity, with a mediation effect of 32.19%. Conclusion:IL-6 plays a partiall mediating role in the association of LDL-C with TAO onset and activity.
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Objective To evaluate the endoscopic manifestation of purpura abdominalis in child patients for early diagnosis and discuss the pathogen of purpura abdominalis.Methods The endoscopic and clinical manifestation of 91 patients with purura abdominalis were studied.Ten kinds of food allergenspecific IgG were detected by ELISA method in 91 patients with purpura abdominalis.13C-UBT was detected in 91 patients with purpura abdominalis.Results Endoscopy revealed congestion,edema,splotch hemorrhage and erosion,mostly in duodenum descendent and bulb.IgG positive rate of various foods was detected in 82 patients.13C-UBT positive rate was 70.3％.Conclusions Early endoscopy was an important treatment in the differential diagnosis of purura abdominalis.Both Helicobacterpylori infection and food intolerance could be the reason of purpura abdominalis.
ABSTRACT
Based on the variation of site 34, 46, 241, 305 and 322 in the 18S-ITS1 rDNA sequence, 19 Carchesium polypinum populations collected from eight provinces of China were separated into northern and southern population along the delineation between the Yangtze River and the Pearl River. This geographic distribution pattern of Carchesium polypinum maybe results from two factors: the vicariance resulting from the formation of the delineation between the Pearl River and the Yangtze River accompanied with the uplift of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, and the different dispersal paths of C. polypinum affected by the climate.