1.Effects of volatile oil from artemisia dracunculus for treatment of mice with myocardial injury caused by viral myocarditis
Wei CHEN ; Lei ZHAO ; Bo SHENG ; Feiping LU ; Jingshu ZHANG ; Suping NIU ; Xuefeng ZANG ; Guomin ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine in Intensive and Critical Care 2017;24(1):54-57
Objective To investigate the effects of volatile oil from artemisia dracunculus on myocardial injury caused by viral myocarditis in mice and explore its possible mechanism.Methods Totally 160 adult male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal control group (10) and viral myocarditis group (150).Viral myocarditis mice models were reproduced by intraperitoneal inoculation with a solution of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3),a viral strain with affinity to myocardium,and then randomly divided into model,astragalus group,and low-,medium-,and high-dose volatile oil from artemisia dracunculus groups.After 1 hour of viral infection,normal control group and model group mice were given normal saline by intragastric administration,astragalus group mice were injected with astragalus 0.1 mL in each mouse by intraperitoneal injection,and the mice in other three groups were given low,medium and high dose (2%,5%,10%) 0.3 mL volatile oil from artemisia dracunculus in each mouse by intragastric administration,respectively,once a day for one week consecutively.The mortality,heart/body weight ratio,the activity of natural killer cells (NK cell),virus titer in myocardial homogenate,serum cardiac troponin Ⅰ (cTnI) level and myocardial pathological changes were observed.Results ① Mortality:the mortality of model group was higher than that of the normal control group,astragalus group,low and medium dose volatile oil from artemisia dracunculus groups (60.0% vs.0%,23.3%,20.0%,28.7%),and the difference in the mortality being of no statistical significance between model group and that of high-dose volatile oil from artemisia dracunculus group (60.0% vs.47.6%,P > 0.05);the mortality of astragalus group was obviously lower than that of high-dose volatile oil from artemisia dracunculus group (P < 0.01),and the differences in comparisons between the mortalities of astragalus intervention group,and medium-and low-dose volatile oil groups were not statistically significant (all P > 0.05),and the comparison of mortality between low-and medium-dose volatile oil groups were also not statistically significant (P > 0.05).② Immunization parameters:on the 8th day after modeling,the activity of NK cells in the model group was significantly lower than that in the normal control group [(15.91 ± 3.87)% vs.(38.50 ± 2.32)%],the activities of NK cells in astragalus group,medium-and low-dose volatile oil from artemisia dracunculus groups were significantly higher than that in model group [(19.38 ± 3.27)%,(18.54 ± 3.09)%,(18.36 ± 2.64)% vs.(15.91 ± 3.87)%,all P < 0.05].None of virus was detected in the myocardial homogenate in the normal control group,and the virus titers in astragalus group,low and medium dose volatile oil from artemisia dracunculus groups were significantly lower than the titer of the model group (10-9/mL:1.96 ± 0.44,1.95 ± 0.46,1.95 ± 0.48 vs.2.41 ± 0.51,all P <0.01).③ Myocardial injury parameters:the level of cTnI in the normal control group was less than 0.1 μg/L,obviously lower than that in the model group [(15.84 ± 3.89) μg/L],as well as the ratio of heart/body weight in model group was also significantly higher than that in normal control group (× 10-4:8.3 ± 1.3 vs.4.6 ± 0.1),and the cTnI and the ratio of heart/body weight of astragalus intervention group,low and medium dose volatile oil from artemisia dracunculus groups were markedly lower than those of model group [cTnI (mg/L):10.03 ± 2.35,10.81 ± 2.56,11.10 ± 1.89 vs.15.84 ± 3.89,ratio of heart/body weight (× 10-4):7.2 ± 0.8,7.3 ± 1.0,7.3 ± 0.6 vs.8.3 ± 1.3].In the normal control group,there were no inflammatory cell infiltration and necrosis in myocardial tissue,the scores of myocardial pathological changes were 0.In the model group,the scores of inflammatory cell infiltration (3.25 ± 0.45) and of necrosis (2.91 ± 0.51) were markedly higher than those in the normal control group.And the above scores in astragalus group,low and medium dose volatile oil from artemisia dracunculus groups were significantly lower than those of the model group (infiltration score:2.92 ± 0.39,2.95 ± 0.35,2.95 ± 0.37 vs.3.25 ± 0.45,necrosis score:2.46 ± 0.50,2.50 ± 0.51,2.54 ± 0.50 vs.2.91 ± 0.51,all P <0.05).Conclusions Volatile oil from artemisia dracunculus can protect cardiomyocytes by removing the virus and regulating the immune function in the body.But the protective effects of volatile oil from artemisia dracunculus is related to the dosage,and the effects of low and medium dose are better.
2.Effects of quercetin in combination with bortezomib or lenalidomide on inhibition of proliferation of HL-60 cells
Jie XIAO ; Guomin NIU ; Songmei YIN ; Shuangfeng XIE ; Yiqing LI ; Danian NIE ; Liping MA ; Xiuju WANG ; Yudan WU
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2014;(14):2196-2199
Objective Our preliminary study demonstrates that quercetin can inhibit the proliferation of HL-60 cells. This sudy aimed to find some drugs which could have synergistic effects with quercetin on apoptosis of HL-60 cells. Methods HL-60 cells were cultured with bortezomib at different concentrations (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32μmol/L) alone or combined with quercetin at different concentrations for 48 h. HL-60 cells were cultured with lenalidomide at different concentrations (5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, and 320 μmol/L) alone or in combination with quercetin at different concentrations for 48 h. The CCK-8 assay was used to determine the effects on proliferation of HL-60 cells. Results Bortezomib significantly inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 cells (P<0.01). IC50 of quercetin was 49.24μmol/L after cells treated by quercetin combined with bortezomib, which was 13.44μmol/L lower than that treated by quercetin alone. Isobolographic analysis revealed the two drugs had synergistic effect. The results of cell viability of HL-60 cells treated by lenalidomide at lower concentrations (5, 10, 20, 40, and 80μmol/L)were not different from those of the control group (P > 0.05). The results of cell viability of HL-60 cells treated by lenalidomide at higher concentrations (160 and 320μmol/L) were lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). IC50 of quercetin after cells treated by quercetin combined with bortezomib was not different from that treated by quercetin alone. Isobolographic analysis revealed the two drugs had no synergistic effect. Conclusions Bortezomib can inhibit the proliferation of HL-60 cells and it has a synergistic effect with quercetin on HL-60 cells. Lenalidomide has a weaker role in inhibition of the proliferation of HL-60 cells, and it has no synergistic effect with quercetin on HL-60 cells.
3.Value of peripheral blood long non-coding RNA-LET in the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B cirrhosis
Xingjie NIU ; Zhihui LIU ; Fengmei CUI ; Yaomin LIU ; Yanfei WANG ; Guomin ZHANG ; Jinxia LIU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2020;36(12):2709-2713
ObjectiveTo investigate the value of peripheral blood long non-coding RNA-LET (lncRNA-LET) in the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) cirrhosis, and to provide a basis for early clinical diagnosis and treatment of liver cirrhosis. MethodsA total of 175 CHB patients who attended The Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University from March 2017 to May 2019 were enrolled, among whom 52 patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis were enrolled as cirrhosis group and 123 patients without the pathological changes of liver cirrhosis were enrolled as non-cirrhosis group. A total of 40 healthy individuals who underwent physical examination in our hospital during the same period of time were enrolled as normal control group. Liver function parameters and the level of lncRNA-LET in peripheral blood were measured for all subjects. The t-test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups; an analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups, and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups, and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of ranked data. A Pearson correlation analysis was performed to investigate correlation. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to investigate the value of peripheral blood lncRNA-LET in predicting liver cirrhosis. Results Compared with the normal control group, the cirrhosis group and the non-cirrhosis group had significantly higher serum levels of the liver function parameters total bilirubin (TBil), total bile acid (TBA), albumin (Alb), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (all P<0.05) and a significantly lower serum level of cholinesterase (ChE) (P<0.05); compared with the non-cirrhosis group, the cirrhosis group had significantly higher serum levels of TBil, TBA, Alb, and ALT (all P<0.05) and a significantly lower serum level of ChE (P<0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the cirrhosis group and the non-cirrhosis group had significantly lower relative expression of lncRNA-LET in peripheral blood (P<0.05), and the cirrhosis group had significantly lower relative expression of lncRNA-LET in peripheral blood than the non-cirrhosis group (P<0.05). The relative expression of lncRNA-LET decreased significantly with the increase in liver fibrosis stage (P<0.05). In the patients with CHB, the relative expression of lncRNA-LET in peripheral blood was negatively correlated with liver fibrosis stage, TBil, TBA, Alb, and ALT (r=-0.352,-0.372,-0.364, and -0.410, all P<0.001) and was positively correlated with ChE (r=0.340, P<0.001). The ROC curve was used to analyze the value of peripheral blood lncRNA-LET in predicting liver cirrhosis, and the area under the ROC curve was 0934, with an optimal cut-off value of 0.833, a sensitivity of 84.57%, and a specificity of 80.57%. ConclusionThe expression level of lncRNA-LET in peripheral blood decreases with the progression of liver fibrosis and has a good value in the diagnosis of CHB cirrhosis, and therefore, it can be used as a potential biological indicator for the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis.
4.Correlation between tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and the androgen receptor in HER-2-positive breast cancer
Fang LIU ; Lu CAO ; Cong XU ; Guomin XIANG ; Yun NIU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Oncology 2019;46(8):389-393
Objective: To investigate the relationship between tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and the androgen receptor (AR) in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)-positive breast cancer. Methods: Specimens of 448 patients with HER-2-positive breast cancer from the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital between March 2018 and November 2018 were collected. TILs were pathologically evaluated. AR expression was immunohistochemically analyzed. The relationships among TILs, the AR, and clinicopathological parameters were determined. Results: There were 38.2% (171/448) patients with TILs non/low-infiltrated, 42.2% (189/448) with moderately infiltrated, and 19.6% (88/448) with high infiltration. AR was positive in 62.7%(281/448) of the patients. Spearman correlation analysis showed that TILs and the AR were negatively related (r=-0.140, P=0.003). TILs were significantly associated with the AR in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer (P=0.009). Conclusions: TILs and the AR were negatively related in HER-2-positive breast cancer, indicating that HER-2-positive breast cancer can be treated according to the different infiltration levels of TILs and AR expression.
5.Epidemic characteristics of foodborne disease outbreaks in Mengla County, Yunnan Province from 2017 to 2021
Chunmei LIU ; Ling SUN ; Jun BAI ; Qi MAO ; Jing ZHU ; Huizhi HE ; Jinfang CHENG ; Xiaowen NIU ; Xiaomin YANG ; Hongyuan YANG ; Huiping LUO ; Guomin HE
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2022;34(10):1002-1006
ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemic characteristics of foodborne disease outbreaks in Mengla County, Yunnan Province, so as to provide basis for formulating corresponding prevention and control measures. MethodsThe data of foodborne disease outbreaks in Mengla County, Yunnan Province from 2017 to 2021 in the national "foodborne disease outbreak monitoring system" were collected. The time, population, region, place, pathogenic factors and inducing links of the events were statistically analyzed. ResultsFrom 2017 to 2021, a total of 68 incidents were reported, including 526 cases and 5 deaths. The total incidence rate was 23.40% and the case fatality rate was 0.95%. The peak period was from May to July, with the largest number of reported events in July. The reporting areas were mainly Mengla Town (35.29%), Guanlei Town (11.76%) and Mengpeng Town (10.29%). The main place of the incident was family (76.47%). The main pathogenic factors were plant toxins (79.41%), mainly through the ingestion of wild mushrooms (68.52%), improper processing of green beans (12.96%) and aconitum (9.26%). ConclusionAccording to the epidemiological characteristics of Mengla County, we should focus on the public education of health knowledge in key areas and places, especially on the identification of wild mushrooms, to prevent accidental eating. At the same time, we should strengthen the monitoring and risk assessment of foodborne diseases, find potential risks as soon as possible, issue early warning and forecast in time, and constantly improve the clinical treatment ability of poisoned patients.