Objective To explore the effects of matrine and oxymatrine on apoptosis in human hepatocarcinoma SMMC-7721 cells.Methods The MTT assay and double staining of annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate(annexin V-FITC)/propidium iodide(propidium iodide, PI)were used to detect proliferation and apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells, respectively.Results When the concentrations of matrine and oxymatrine were 0.50 mg/ml, 1.00 mg/ml and 2.00 mg/ml, the proliferation inhibition rates in SMMC-7721 cells was gradually increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner,and the inhibition of matrine on proliferation were greater than that of oxymatrine in the same concentration(1.00 mg/ml)(24 h:42.39%±0.04%vs. 21.36%±0.02%;48 h: 51.69%±0.03%vs. 36.16%±0.02%;72 h: 78.98%±0.05%vs. 61.24%±0.13%;allP<0.05). When the concentrations of matrine and oxymatrine were 0.25 mg/ml, 0.50 mg/ml and 1.00 mg/ml, the apoptosis rates of SMMC-7721 cells were significantly increased;and induction of matrine in apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells was greater than that of oxymatrine at the same time point(48 h)(apoptosis rates in 0.25 mg/ml, 4.08%±0.20%vs. 2.20%±0.18%;0.50 mg/ml: 4.32%±0.19%vs. 3.08%±0.26%;1.00 mg/ml: 9.93%±0.18%vs. 9.01%±0.20%;allP<0.05).Conclusion Matrine and oxymatrine can inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis human hepatocarcinoma SMMC-7721 cells.

Objective To observe the effects of dredging collaterals and activating blood worm Chinese materia medica on angiogenesis related factors of lung cancer in hypoxic environment. Methods The lung cancer A549 cells were cultured in vitro to simulate tumor hypoxia microenvironment by the hypoxia workstation, and different concentrations of Scorpio, Scolopendra and Gecko medicated serum were added. MTT method was used to detect cell proliferation and screen the best medicine concentration and duration of action. Lung cancer A549 cells were administrated by the three kinds of medicated serum, and cells were collected and supernatant was cultured. Contents of VEGF, TGF-β1, and bFGF were detected by ELISA. Results Three kinds of medicated serum had the inhibitory effect on both added normoxia and hypoxia in cultured A549 lung cancer cells. 7.5% concentration of medicated serum was selected, and 24 h later were used in later experiments. Scorpio, Scolopendra and Gecko medicated serum can more reduce the contents of VEGF, TGF-β1 and bFGF in the supernatant of A549 cell compared with the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion Dredging collaterals and activating blood worm Chinese materia medica had inhibitory effect on cancer cells and the regulation of angiogenesis related cytokines in the condition of normoxia and hypoxia.

Radiation-induced pulmonary injury(RPI)refers to intrathoracic neoplasm after radiotherapy, radiation wild area normal lung tissue injury complicated by damage to the reaction. Traditional Chinese medicine was used for nourishing yin and clearing lung, heat-clearing and detoxifying, promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis in reducing the adverse reaction of radiotherapy. TCM showed the advantage for radioactive lung injury. Based on the different mechanism of action and from the perspective of TCM treatment, the article reviewed the latest experiment research of TCM on radiation-induced pulmonary injury were summarized, and we discussed and pointed out the existing problems and prospect solution

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of chronic Q fever.Methods:The epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory results, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of 12 patients with chronic Q fever admitted in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2008 to December 2022 were analyzed retrospectively.Results:Of the12 cases, there were 11 males and 1 female with a median age at diagnosis of 58 years (47-68). The median time interval between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 9.5 months (4.0-28.5). Ten patients had fever, and the common symptoms included weakness ( n=6), weight loss ( n=5) and shortness of breath ( n=3). Seven patients presented with hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Among the 12 patients, 1 patient suffered from cardiac valve and artery involvement at the same time, 8 patients suffered from infective endocarditis, and 1 patient suffered from aneurysm. No definite infection site was found in 2 patients. Seven of the 12 patients (58.3%) had elevated serum creatinine. Rheumatoid factors were detected in 8 patients, all of which were elevated. Nine patients were treated with doxycycline/minocycline plus hydroxylchloroquine and 3 patients were treated with doxycycline/minocycline. Patients were followed up for 3 months to 14 years, 7 patients stopped antibiotics after 12 to 30 months and were in stable condition. One patient died of heart failure 6 months after diagnosis and 1 patient lost follow-up. Three patients diagnosed in 2022 were still under treatment and in stable condition. Conclusions:The clinical manifestations of chronic Q fever lack of specificity and may involve multiple systems. Endocarditis and mycotic aneurysm are common complications. For long-term fever with new heart valve function damage or mycotic aneurysm patients, chronic Q fever should therefore be considered.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) induced by direct or indirect exposure to free silicon dioxide(SiO_2) and the expression of surface protein marker in rat typeⅡalveolar epithelial cell RLE-6TN.METHODS: i) The alveolar macrophages(AM) were isolated from specific pathogen-free SD rat by bronchoalveolar lavage.AM and RLE-6TN were treated with 0-140 mg/L(final concentration) of SiO_2 suspension and were cultured conventionally for 24,48 and 72 hours. The cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. The result of CCK-8 essay was used to choose the SiO_2 concentration for the following study. ii) To establish models of RLE-6TN co-cultured with AM that were seeded in Transwell. The cells were divided into 4 groups: the direct control group(RLE-6TN,no SiO_2 exposed),the direct exposure group(RLE-6TN,treated with 100 mg/L SiO_2),the indirect control group(RLE-6TN and AM were cocultured,no SiO_2 exposed) and the indirect exposure group(RLE-6TN and AM were co-cultured,AM was treated with 100 mg/L SiO_2 directly). Western blotting was used to detect the expression of E-cadherin(E-cad) and α-smooth muscle protein(α-SMA) after cells were cultured for 0,24,48 and 72 hours. RESULTS: i) According to the CCK-8 assay,the final concentration of 100 mg/L SiO_2 was chosen for the following study. ii) The difference of relative expression of E-cad andα-SMA in RLE-6TN was statistically significant in different treatment combination and time(P < 0. 01). The E-cad expression of RLE-6TN at 48 and 72 hours in the direct exposure group and the indirect exposure group was lower than that in direct control group at the same time point(P < 0. 05). The E-cad expression in RLE-6TN at 72 hours in the direct exposure group was lower than that in the 0 and 24 hours(P < 0. 05). The E-cad expression in RLE-6TN at 48 and 72 hours in the indirect exposure group was lower than that in the 0 hour(P < 0. 05). At 48 and 72 hours,the α-SMA expression in the indirect exposure group and the direct exposure group was higher than that in their control groups at the same time point(P < 0. 05). The expression of α-SMA in the indirect exposure group was higher than that in the direct exposure group(P < 0. 05). The expression of α-SMA in both exposure groups increased in a time-effect relationship(P <0. 05). CONCLUSION: Direct or indirect exposure to free SiO_2 can induce EMT in RLE-6TN,and decrease the expression of E-cad and increase the expression of α-SMA in a time-effect relationship. Indirect exposure group is more susceptible to EMT.

One-compartment lumped-parameter models of respiratory mechanics, representing the airflow resistance of the tracheobronchial tree with a linear or nonlinear resistor, are not able to describe the mechanical property of airways in different generations. Therefore, based on the anatomic structure of tracheobronchial tree and the mechanical property of airways in each generation, this study classified the human airways into three segments: the upper airway segment, the collapsible airway segment, and the small airway segment. Finally, a nonlinear, multi-compartment lumped-parameter model of respiratory mechanics with three airway segments was established. With the respiratory muscle effort as driving pressure, the model was used to simulate the tidal breathing of healthy adults. The results were consistent with the physiological data and the previously published results, suggesting that this model could be used for pathophysiological research of respiratory system.

ObjectiveTo elucidate the principles and methods of the Bayesian probabilistic linkage model， and to demonstrate the effect of applying the model in linking birth and death data. MethodsThrough the Shanghai birth and death registration system， data of 199 025 infants born in 2017 and 1 512 infants who died in 2017 and 2018 were collected. After cleaning the data， the data were divided into monthly blocks and fully linked. The Jaro-Winkler algorithm and Euclidean distance were employed to measure the similarity of fields for matching. A Bayesian probabilistic linkage model was constructed and the linking effect was evaluated using a confusion matrix. ResultsUsing the Bayesian probabilistic linkage model， the birth and death data of infants were effectively linked， revealing that 36.71% of infants who died in Shanghai were born outside the city， and the probability of infant death was 2.6‰. The confusion matrix of the test set showed a recall rate of 0.86， precision of 0.76， and an F-score of 0.81. ConclusionThe practical application of Bayesian probabilistic linkage demonstrates a good model performance， enabling the establishment of birth-death cohorts that more accurately reflect the true levels of infant mortality. Utilizing this technique to integrate data from different departments can effectively improve research efficiency in the field of public health.

Mechanical ventilation is an importmant life-sustaining treatment for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Its clinical outcomes depend on patients' characteristics of lung recruitment. Estimation of lung recruitment characteristics is valuable for the determination of ventilatory maneurvers and ventilator parameters. There is no easily-used, bedside method to assess lung recruitment characteristics. The present paper proposed a method to estimate lung recruitment characteristics from the static pressure-volume curve of lungs. The method was evaluated by comparing with published experimental data. Results of lung recruitment derived from the presented method were in high agreement with the published data, suggesting that the proposed method is capable to estimate lung recruitment characteristics. Since some advanced ventilators are capable to measure the static pressure-volume curve automatedly, the presented method is potential to be used at bedside, and it is helpful for clinicians to individualize ventilatory manuevers and the correpsonding ventilator parameters.
Humans ; Lung ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome ; Ventilators, Mechanical