AIM To research the antiasthmatic effects of Zuogui Pills,Yougui Pills and Yupingfeng Powder and their mechanism of action.METHODS Male Brown Norway rats were randomly divided into five groups.OVA was used to induce the model of chronic asthma.Five groups of asthmatic rats were given Zuogui Pills,Yougui Pills,Yupingfeng Powder by gavage once daily for 14 d,respectively.The normal and the model group were given normal saline.Penh value,serum Thl,Th2 inflammatory cytokines,and CROT and ACTH protein levels were determined.Pathological changes of airway remodeling were measured.RT-PCR method was used to measure the expression of CRH mRNA in hypothalamus,and TGF-β1 and Smad3 mRNA in lung tissues.RESULTS Penh values of Yupingfeng Powder group and Yougui Pills group were significantly lower than that of Zuogui Pills group.The Thl inflammatory cytokine of Yupingfeng Powder group was significantly higher than that of Zuogui Pills group,while the Th2 cytokine was significantly lower than that of Zuogui Pills group.In Yougui Pills group,only IL-5 was significantly lower than that of Zuogui Pills group.Serum CROT,ACTH protein and CRH mRNA of Yupingfeng Powder group were significantly higher than those in Zuogui Pills group.No significant difference was found between Yupingfeng Powder group and Zuogui Pills group with regard to TGF-β1 and Smad3 mRNA.Smad3 mRNA of Yougui Pills group was significantly higher than that of the model group.Airway remodeling was significantly reduced by Yupingfeng Powder and Zuogui Pills.The number of goblet cells in Yougui Pills group was significantly lower than that in Zuogui Pills group.CONCLUSION All the three formulaes possess significant antiasthma effects.Regulation effects of Yupingfeng Powder on Thl/Th2 balance,HPA and TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway are strong.Compared with Zuogui Pills,Yougui Pills possesses weaker TGF-β1/Smad3 regulative effects and stronger HPA regulative effects.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of severe hemolysis during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Methods The clinical data of adult patients undergoing ECMO after cardiac surgery admitted to Fuwai Hospital from December 2010 to October 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic characteristics, renal function, primary disease, operation data, ECMO related data and outcomes were recorded. Patients were divided into normal free hemoglobin (FHB) group (FHB ≤ 500 mg/L) and severe hemolysis group (FHB > 500 mg/L) according to the FHB level during ECMO support. The parameters before and after ECMO support were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression was used to identify the independent risk factors of severe hemolysis. Results A total of 81 patients including 19 patients with severe hemolysis was enrolled, and 62 in normal FHB group. There was no difference in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, clamping time, lactate level before ECMO, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, intra-aortic balloon pump use and central catheter insertion between two groups. The maximums of serum creatinine (SCr) and FHB levels were higher in severe hemolysis group as compared with those in normal FHB group [maximal SCr (μmol/L): 281.02±164.11 vs. 196.67±87.31, maximal FHB (mg/L): 600 (600, 700) vs. 200 (100, 300)], the incidence of clots in circuit or oxygenator, infection, and hemofiltration in severe hemolysis group was increased [26.3% (5/19) vs. 4.8% (3/62), 31.6% (6/19) vs. 12.9% (8/62), 36.8% (7/19) vs. 14.5% (9/62), all P < 0.1]. As well as outcomes including the rate of site of surgery or intubation bleeding and acute renal failure [ARF, 57.9 % (11/19) vs. 30.6% (19/62), 94.7% (18/19) vs. 41.9% (26/62)], and the survival rate was lowered [10.5% (2/19) vs. 51.6% (32/62), all P < 0.05]. As result of univariate analysis, clots in circuit or oxygenator, infection and hemofiltration were associated with severe hemolysis. It was showed by logistic regression analysis that the clots in circuit or oxygenator was a risk factor of severe hemolysis during ECMO [odds ratio (OR) = 6.262, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.244-31.515, P = 0.026]. Conclusions The clots in circuit or oxygenator were independent risk factors of severe hemolysis during ECMO. Severe hemolysis can induce the increase of the rate of bleeding in the operation site or intubation and the rate of ARF, and decrease of the survival rate.

Zona incerta (ZI) belongs to the structure of the subthalamus which contains cells of various sizes and types,and has a wide range of nerve fiber projections underlie complex functions.In recent years,a series of research evidences have demonstrated that ZI is involved in regulation mechanisms of predation,feeding,sleep/arousal,pain,locomotion and emotion.In this paper,the research progresses on the structure and functions of ZI in recent years are reviewed,which is expected to provide references for the future studies on ZI functions.

Ovarian cancer is the third-most-common malignant reproductive tumor in women. According to the American Cancer Society, it has the highest mortality rate of gynecological tumors. The five-year survival rate was only 29% during the period from 1975 to 2008 (Reid et al., 2017). In recent decades, the five-year survival rate of ovarian cancer has remained around 30% despite continuous improvements in surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other therapeutic methods. However, because of the particularity of the volume and location of ovarian tissue, the early symptoms of ovarian cancer are hidden, and there is a lack of highly sensitive and specific screening methods. Most patients have advanced metastasis, including abdominal metastasis, when they are diagnosed (Reid et al., 2017). Therefore, exploring the mechanism of ovarian cancer metastasis and finding early preventive measures are key to improving the survival rate and reducing mortality caused by ovarian cancer.
B7-H1 Antigen/biosynthesis* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Chemokines/biosynthesis* ; Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology* ; Survival Rate ; Up-Regulation

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of vitamin D3 on alcoholic liver injury in mice. Methods: Forty mice were randomly divided into 4 groups : normal Control (Control) group , vitamin D3 (VitD3 ) group , alcohol model (EtOH) group and alcohol + vitamin D3 (EtOH + VitD3 ) group. The mice were fed with the DeCarlialcohol liquid diet to establish alcoholic liver injury model. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) , aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and liver index were detected. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of liver. The relative expression levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF⁃α ) , transforming growth factor β (TGF⁃β) , interleukin⁃6 (IL⁃6) and interleukin⁃1β (IL⁃1β) mRNA were detected by quantitative real⁃time PCR (qRT⁃PCR) . The expressions of nuclear factor⁃kappa B (NF⁃κB) p65 and NF⁃κB p50 in liver were detected by Western blot. Results: The serum ALT , AST vitality , liver index and hepatic TNF⁃α , TGF⁃ β , IL⁃6 and IL⁃1β mRNA in EtOH group were significantly higher than those in Control group. EtOH group disorganized hepatocyte and hepatic lobules boundary was not clear, and the hepatocytes showed apparent inflammatory cells infiltration of liver cells and fat cavitation. NF⁃κB p65 and NF⁃κB p50 protein expression increased significantly. Compared with EtOH group ,the serum ALT , AST vitality , liver index and hepatic TNF⁃α , TGF⁃ β , IL⁃6 and IL⁃1β mRNA in EtOH + VitD3 group decreased significantly. The pathological staining results showed that inflammatory cells infiltration and decrease in the number of fat vacuoles , and the liver cells returned to normal liver cell structure. At the same time the NF⁃κB p65 and NF⁃κB p50 protein expression level decreased significantly. Conclusion Vitamin D3 has a certain protective effect on alcohol⁃induced liver injury in mice , and its main mechanisms are related to the inhibition of NF⁃κB pathway and the reduction of inflammatory response.

Objective: To investigate the value of 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS) in determining the content of liver triglyceride in patients with fatty liver disease (FLD), as well as its influencing factors. Methods: A total of 124 patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), chronic hepatitis B (CHB), or hepatitis B complicated by FLD who underwent liver biopsy in the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University were enrolled, and the clinical data, serological markers, FibroScan results, and ¹H-MRS results were collected. A correlation analysis was performed with the results of liver biopsy as the gold standard, and the influence of factors including hepatitic B virus (HBV) infection and obesity on accuracy was analyzed. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of means between the three groups, and the LSD or SNK test (for homogeneity of variance) or the Tamhane’s or Dunnett’s test (heterogeneity of variance) was used for comparison between any two groups. The t-test was used for comparison of continuous data between groups, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data. The MRS-PDFF receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated, the optimal cut-off points for the diagnosis of NAFLD were estimated, and sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Results: The NAFLD group (42 patients) and the CHB + NAFLD group (40 patients) had a significantly higher proton density fat fraction (PDFF, the content of triglyceride in the liver) than the CHB group (42 patients) (16.84±9.76/9.39 ± 5.50 vs 3.45 ± 1.63, P < 0.001). The results were significantly correlated with the degree of steatosis confirmed by liver biopsy (P < 0.001), but it was not significantly correlated with inflammation or fibrosis grade. The correlation analysis showed that the MRS-PDFF value measured by 1H-MRS was significantly correlated with body mass index (BMI), blood lipids, alkaline phosphatase, and blood glucose, while it was not significantly correlated with age, sex, or the presence or absence of hepatitis B. The ROC curve analysis showed that the AUCs of PDFF measured by 1H-MRS were 0.93, 0.974, and 0.976, respectively, for the diagnosis of steatosis S1(≥5%), S2(≥34%), and S3(≥66%), and the corresponding optimal thresholds were 5.14%, 11.16%, and 16.7%, respectively. Conclusion 1H-MRS has a high diagnostic value in quantitative evaluation of the degree of liver steatosis in patients with FLD and is not affected by the factors such as HBV infection, age, and sex, while it is correlated with BMI and lipid metabolism.