Effects of traditional Wuqinxi on physical fitness and mental health of female college students / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#In order to promote health management of female college students, and to provide effective fitness training program for female college students to promote physical and mental health.@*Methods@#A total of 80 female college students from Bengbu College in 2018 were selected and were randomly divided into an experimental group and control group, with 40 students each. The experimental group received a 16 week traditional Wuqinxi intervention, and the control group maintained original sports exercises practice.@*Results@#The weight of the experimental group significantly decreased from (52.45±7.35)kg to (50.05± 6.89 )kg ( P <0.01); body mass index, waist circumference and other indicators also improved significantly. Step test scores of the experimental group significantly increased from (45.28±4.27) to (50.38±4.26) ( P <0.01); Vital capacity/body mass index, grip strength/body mass index, and sit up/body mass index were also significantly improved ( P <0.01). In the experimental group. Balance scores assessed through standing in one foot with eyes closed significantly increased from (28.84±9.42)s to (30.61±10.26)s ( P <0.01); Standing long jump test ( P <0.01) and 800 meter running test ( P <0.05) also showed significant improvement. Mental health problems of the experimental group showed a decreasing trend, six dimensional scores including interpersonal sensitivity and depression all showed significant decreases compared with before the experiment ( P <0.01). In the control group, except for 800 meter running test, there was no significant differences in all the indicators before and after the intervention ( P >0.05).@*Conclusion@#The traditional Wuqinxi shows a positive effect on physical fitness and mental health among female college students, and it is indeed a practical and effective training program for fitness improvement.

Dioxin-like (DL-) polychlorinated biphenyls induced immunotoxicity through apoptosis in mice splenocytes via the AhR mediated mitochondria dependent signaling pathways.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) would do serious damage to multiple systems, while coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls, the most toxic member of the family, has been widely taken into consideration. In this study, ICR mice were fed with different doses of PCB126 to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms on immunotoxicity. The results showed that PCB126 caused immunosuppression as evidenced by inhibiting the ratios of thymus and spleen weights, changing the organizational structure and decreasing levels and mRNA expression of TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-2. PCB126 inhibited the SOD activity and spurred the accumulation of MDA in spleen and thymus. Meanwhile, it also disturbed the Nrf2 signaling pathway as evidenced by up-regulating the mRNA expression of Nrf2 and Keap1. Additionally, a remarkable reduction in the mRNA expression of AhR and enhancement in the mRNA expression of Cyp1 enzymes (Cyp1a1, Cyp1a2 and Cyp1b1) were observed, which increased the ROS levels. PCB126 could increase protein expression of Bax, Caspase-3, Caspase-8 and Caspase-9, while the protein expression of Bcl-2 was decreased. In summary, the results indicated that PCB126 modulated the AhR signaling pathway, which interacted with apoptosis and oxidative stress to induce immunotoxicity, enrich the immunotoxicological mechanisms of PCB126.

Leveraging machine learning techniques for predicting pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor grades using biochemical and tumor markers.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) is now increasing rapidly. The tumor grade of PNETs significantly affects the treatment strategy and prognosis. However, there is still no effective way to non-invasively classify PNET grades. Machine learning (ML) algorithms have shown potential in improving the prediction accuracy using comprehensive data. AIM: To provide a ML approach to predict PNET tumor grade using clinical data. METHODS: The clinical data of histologically confirmed PNET cases between 2012 and 2018 were collected. A method of minimum P for the Chi-square test was used to divide the continuous variables into binary variables. The continuous variables were transformed into binary variables according to the cutoff value, while the P value was minimum. Four classical supervised ML models, including logistic regression, support vector machine (SVM), linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and multi-layer perceptron (MLP) were trained by clinical data, and the models were labeled with the pathological tumor grade of each PNET patient. The performance of each model, including the weight of the different parameters, were evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 91 PNET cases were included in this study, in which 32 were G1, 48 were G2 and 11 were G3. The results showed that there were significant differences among the clinical parameters of patients with different grades. Patients with higher grades tended to have higher values of total bilirubin, alpha fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and carbohydrate antigen 72-4. Among the models we used, LDA performed best in predicting the PNET tumor grade. Meanwhile, MLP had the highest recall rate for G3 cases. All of the models stabilized when the sample size was over 70 percent of the total, except for SVM. Different parameters varied in affecting the outcomes of the models. Overall, alanine transaminase, total bilirubin, carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and carbohydrate antigen 72-4 affected the outcome greater than other parameters. CONCLUSION: ML could be a simple and effective method in non-invasively predicting PNET grades by using the routine data obtained from the results of biochemical and tumor markers.

Combining Exosomes Derived from Immature DCs with Donor Antigen-Specific Treg Cells Induces Tolerance in a Rat Liver Allograft Model.

Allograft tolerance is the ultimate goal in the field of transplantation immunology. Immature dendritic cells (imDCs) play an important role in establishing tolerance but have limitations, including potential for maturation, short lifespan in vivo and short storage times in vitro. However, exosomes (generally 30-100 nm) from imDCs (imDex) retain many source cell properties and may overcome these limitations. In previous reports, imDex prolonged the survival time of heart or intestine allografts. However, tolerance or long-term survival was not achieved unless immune suppressants were used. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) can protect allografts from immune rejection, and our previous study showed that the effects of imDex were significantly associated with Tregs. Therefore, we incorporated Tregs into the treatment protocol to further reduce or avoid suppressant use. We defined the optimal exosome dose as approximately 20 µg (per treatment before, during and after transplantation) in rat liver transplantation and the antigen-specific role of Tregs in protecting liver allografts. In the co-treatment group, recipients achieved long-term survival, and tolerance was induced. Moreover, imDex amplified Tregs, which required recipient DCs and were enhanced by IL-2. Fortunately, the expanded Tregs retained their regulatory ability and donor-specificity. Thus, imDex and donor-specific Tregs can collaboratively induce graft tolerance.

Neurotensin Changes Propulsive Activity into a Segmental Motor Pattern in the Rat Colon

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Neurotensin is a gut-brain peptide with both inhibitory and excitatory actions on the colonic musculature; our objective was to understand the implications of this for motor patterns occurring in the intact colon of the rat. METHODS: The effects of neurotensin with concentrations ranging from 0.1-100 nM were studied in the intact rat colon in vitro, by investigating spatio-temporal maps created from video recordings of colonic motility before and after neurotensin. RESULTS: Low concentration of neurotensin (0.1-1 nM) inhibited propagating long distance contractions and rhythmic propagating motor complexes; in its place a slow propagating rhythmic segmental motor pattern developed. The neurotensin receptor 1 antagonist SR-48692 prevented the development of the segmental motor pattern. Higher concentrations of neurotensin (10 nM and 100 nM) were capable of restoring long distance contraction activity and inhibiting the segmental activity. The slow propagating segmental contraction showed a rhythmic contraction—relaxation cycle at the slow wave frequency originating from the interstitial cells of Cajal associated with the myenteric plexus pacemaker. High concentrations given without prior additions of low concentrations did not evoke the segmental motor pattern. These actions occurred when neurotensin was given in the bath solution or intraluminally. The segmental motor pattern evoked by neurotensin was inhibited by the neural conduction blocker lidocaine. CONCLUSIONS: Neurotensin (0.1-1 nM) inhibits the dominant propulsive motor patterns of the colon and a distinct motor pattern of rhythmic slow propagating segmental contractions develops. This motor pattern has the hallmarks of haustral boundary contractions.

Differential expressions of miRNAs in kidney in puromycin aminonucleoside nephropathy model and intervened effects of Leizhi capsule / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the differential expression characteristics of microRNAs (miRNAs) in renal tissues in puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) nephritic model, and its relationship with key structural molecules of slid diaphragm (SD) nephrin and podocin and expression of skeleton protein synaptopodin; and to explore the in vivo mechanisms of Leizhi capsule (LZC) for ameliorating the expressions of nephrin, podocin and synaptopodin and reducing proteins by regulating the modal rat renal tissues miRNAs.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: the control group (A), the model group (B), the LZC-treated group (C), the multi-glycoside of Tripterygium wilfordii (GTW)-treated group (D) and the valsartan-treated group (E). Apart from group A, all of rats in the remaining groups are injected with PAN (100 mg x kg(-1)) through jugular veins to establish the PAN nephropathy model. On the 2nd day after PAN nephropathy model was established, group C was orally administered with LZC (5 mL x kg(-1) x d(-1)) in group C, group DGTW (10 mL x kg(-1) x d(-1)), and E group valsartan (7.5 mL x kg(-1) x d(-1)), while groups A and B were intervened with physiological saline, for 10 days. Body weight and 24 h urinary protein ration (Upro) in all rats were measured at day 0, 3, and 9. All rats were sacrificed at day 11 after the establishment of the model, and their blood and renal tissues were collected to observe such blood biochemical indicators including albumin (Alb), serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and glomerular ultrastructure (podocyte foot process form) and expressions of dicer enzyme, nephrin, podocin and synaptopodin in renal tissues. Meanwhile, the differential expressional characteristics of miRNAs in renal cortex were analyzed by biochip assay. Additionally, the differential expressional volumes of rno-miR-23a, rno-miR-300-3p, rno-miR-24 and rno-miR-30c were measured by real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Proteinuria, renal dysfunction, hypoproteinemia and podocyte foot process fusion were investigated in model rats induced by PAN. In renal tissues of PAN nephropathy model rats, dicer enzyme affected the expressions of nephrin, podocin and synaptopodin in podocytes, up-regulated the expressions of rno-miR-23a and rno-miR-300-3p, and down-regulated the expressions of rno-miR-24 and rno-miR-30c. The miRNAs with differential expressions included rno-miR-24, rno-miR-30c, rno-miR-23a and rno-miR-300-3p. LZC could improve the general state, proteinuria, serum BUN and podocyte foot process fusion of PAN nephropathy model rats, reduced the expressions of dicer enzyme, increased the expressions of nephrin, podocin and synaptopodin in podocytes, weakened the up-regulated rno-miR-23a and rno-miR-300-3p, and strengthened the down-regulated rno-miR-24 and rno-miR-30c in renal tissues.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PAN in vivo impacts the expressions of miRNAs in renal tissues, intervenes the expressions of nephrin, podocin and synaptopodin in podocytes, damages podocyte structures and functions and generates proteinuria by means of differential expression of dicer enayme/miRNAs. LZC can reduce proteinuria in PAN nephropathy model rats. Its mechanism may intervene dicer enayme/miRNAs differential expression, regulate nephrin, podocin and synaptopodin in podocytes and improve podocyte structures and functions.</p>

Treatment of chronic primary glomerulopathy patients of Shen deficiency and dampness heat syndrome by yishen qingli granule combined low-dose Tripterygium wilfordii multiglycoside tablet: a clinical efficacy observation / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of treatment of chronic primary glomerulopathy (CPG) patients of Shen deficiency and dampness heat syndrome (SDDHS) by Yishen Qingli Granule (YQG) combined with low-dose Tripterygium Wilfordii multiglycoside Tablet (TWT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 231 CPG patients of SDDHS were enrolled in this study (including 60 patients from First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 58 from First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 46 from Xinqiao Hospital of Third Military Medical University, 35 from First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 14 from First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, and 18 from Wuxi Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine). They were randomly assigned to the control group (116 cases) and the trial group (115 cases) according to block group method. There were 217 cases in the safety analysis set (109 cases in the trial group vs 108 cases in the control group), and 203 cases in the full analysis set (99 cases in the trial group vs 104 cases in the control group). All patients received basic treatment such as ACEI/ARB. Furthermore, YQG (consisting of raw astragalus 10 g, prepared Polygonum Multiflorum 10 g, Pyrrosia 10 g, 1.5 g each package, containing 10 g of crude drugs) was additionally given to patients in the trial group, each package, twice daily. The TWT (10 mg) was given, twice a day. The TWT dose was adjusted according to 24 h urinary total protein (UTP). The placebos of YQG and TWT were administered to those in the control group. The treatment course consisted of 24 weeks and the follow-up visit lasted for 24 weeks. The biochemical indices were observed before and after treatment including 24 h UTP, urine red cell count (U(RBC)), renal functions (BUN, SCr), blood routine test (WBC), and liver functions (SGPT, SGOT). Reverse reactions such as gastrointestinal discomfort, skin rash, and irregular menstruation were also observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the total effective rate was better in the trial group (82.83% vs 61.54%, P < 0.01). Results of stratified comparison of UTP showed better efficacy in the trial group (0.8-3.0 g/24 h, P < 0.01). The UTP decline occurred in the trial group after 8 weeks of treatment, with stable action, showing statistical difference when compared with the control group (P < 0.01). In the trial group, U(RBC) level decreased after treatment but changed more significantly. But there was no statistical difference in the changes when compared with the control group (P > 0.05). After treatment, there were no statistical difference in safety indicators such as WBC, SGPT, and SGOT between the two groups after treatment (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>On the basis of basic treatment such as ACEI/ARB, application of YQG combined with low-dose TWT had better effect in controlling proteinuria of CPG patients, and could help stabilizing their conditions with less adverse reactions.</p>