Objective To investigate the effect of Epimedium flavanoids (EF) on neuro-inflammatory reaction in Alzheimer disease (AD) mice model.Methods β-amyloid1-40 (Aβ1-40) was injected to the right lateral ventricle of 2-month-old male ICR mice to induce AD model. Morris water maze and step-through tests were used to measure the learning and memory ability of mice. The concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in the hippocampus were determined by radioimmunoassay. The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positive cells (astrocytes) was detected by immunochemistry staining.Results Compared with the sham-operation group, the learning and memory ability decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), the concentrations of IL-1β and TNF-α in the hippocampus increased (P<0.01) and the expression of astrocytes in the hippocampus elevated (P<0.05) in Aβ1-40 injection model mice. Intragastric administration of EF (100 and 300 mg/kg) for 3 weeks significantly improved the learning and memory ability (P<0.05, P<0.01), decreased IL-1β and TNF-α concentrations in the hippocampus (P<0.05, P<0.01) and inhibited the expression of astrocytes in the hippocampus (P<0.05), compared with Aβ1-40 injection model mice.Conclusion EF can decrease the inflammatory reaction in the brain of mice induced by Aβ.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of Da Vinci robotic assisted and laparos-copic assisted complete mesocolic excision (CME) for right hemicolon cancer.Methods:The propensity score matching and retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopatho-logical data of 119 patients with right hemicolon cancer who were admitted to Daping Hospital, Army Medical University from July 2016 to July 2019 were collected. There were 63 males and 56 females, aged (61±11)years. All the 119 patients underwent CME of right hemicolon. Of 119 patients, 37 cases undergoing Da Vinci robotic assisted CME of right hemicolon were divided into robotic group and 82 cases undergoing laparoscopic assisted CME of right hemicolon were divided into laparoscopic group. Observation indicators: (1) the propensity score matching conditions and comparison of general data between the two groups after propensity score matching; (2)intraoperative and postoperative situations; (3) postoperative pathological examination; (4)follow-up. Follow-up was conducted by outpatient examination or telephone interview to detect tumor metastasis and survival of patients after surgery up to August 2019. The propensity score matching was conducted by 1∶1 matching using the nearest neighbor method. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the independent sample t test. Count data were represented as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rate and the GraphPad Prism 5 software was used to draw survival curve. The Log-rank test was used for survival analysis. Results:(1) The propensity score matching conditions and comparison of general data between the two groups after propensity score matching: 68 of 119 patients had successful matching, including 34 cases in each group. Before propensity score matching, cases undergoing surgery by surgeon A or surgeon B were 32, 5 of the robotic group, versus 49, 33 of the laparoscopic group, showing a significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=8.381, P<0.05). After propensity score matching, the gender (males or females), age, body mass index (BMI), cases with tumor classified as stageⅠ, stage Ⅱ or stage Ⅲ of TNM staging, cases with tumor located at ileocecal region, ascending colon, hepatic flexor of colon or transverse colon, cases undergoing surgery by surgeon A or surgeon B were 17, 17, (62±10)years, (22.4±2.7)kg/m 2, 4, 14, 16, 3, 15, 10, 6, 29, 5 of the robotic group, versus 15, 19, (62±11)years, (22.4±2.8)kg/m 2, 4, 18, 12, 2, 19, 7, 6, 30, 4 of the laparoscopic group, showing no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=0.236, t=0.127, 0.044, χ2=1.071, 1.200, 0.000, P>0.05). (2) Intraoperative and postoperative situations: after propensity score matching, the operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, cases undergoing conversion to open surgery, time to postoperative initial out-of-bed activities, time to postoperative first flatus, time to postoperative initial liquid food intake, duration of postoperative hospital stay and treatment expenses were (235±50)minutes, (73±45)mL, 0, (1.9±0.7)days, (2.9±1.2)days, (3.1±2.4)days, (9.1±4.9)days, (9.6±1.8)×10 4 yuan of the robotic group, versus (183±35)minutes, (74±74)mL, 1, (2.1±0.6)days, (3.3±1.4)days, (3.5±4.2)days, (9.1±3.9)days, (6.3±1.6)×10 4 yuan of the laparoscopic group, respectively. There were significant differences in the operation time and treatment expenses between the two groups ( t=5.050, 8.165, P<0.05) while there was no significant difference in the volume of intraoperative blood loss, time to postoperative initial out-of-bed activities, time to postoperative first flatus, time to postoperative initial liquid food intake or duration of postoperative hospital stay between the two groups ( t=0.118, ?0.462, ?1.129, ?1.291, 0.027, P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the conversion to open surgery between the two groups ( P>0.05). Five patients of the robotic group and 7 patients of the laparoscopic group had postoperative complications. There was no significant difference in the postoperative complications between the two groups ( χ2=0.405, P>0.05). (3) Postoperative pathological examination: after propensity score matching, cases with R 0 resection, the number of lymph node dissected, cases with lymph node metastasis and cases with tumor differentiation as well differentiated adenocarcinoma, moderately differentiated adeno-carcinoma, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma or mucinous adenocarcinoma were 34, 17±5, 14, 1, 22, 6, 5 of the robotic group, versus 34, 17±5, 12, 2,20, 2, 10 of the laparoscopic group, respectively. There was no significant difference in the R 0 resection between the two groups ( P>0.05) and there was no significant difference in the number of lymph node dissected, lymph node metastasis and tumor differentiation between the two groups ( t=0.488, χ2=0.249, 4.095, P>0.05). (4) Follow-up: after propensity score matching, 68 patients were followed up for 1?36 months, with a median follow-up time of 24 months. The follow-up time was (20±13)months of the robotic group, versus (21±13)months of the laparoscopic group, showing no significant difference between the two groups ( t=0.409, P>0.05). During the follow-up, 3 cases of the robotic group and 4 cases of the laparoscopic group had tumor distant metastasis. The disease-free survival rate and overall survival rate at postoperative 3 years were 83.9% and 86.8% of the robotic group, versus 82.0% and 86.6% of the laparoscopic group, showing no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=0.188, 0.193, P>0.05). Conclusion:Da Vinci robotic assisted CME for right hemicolon cancer is safe and feasible.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of rapamycin on the activity of NOD-like receptor C4 (NLRC4) inflammasomes in the rats with ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI).Methods:Thirty-six healthy clean-grade male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 200-250 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), VILI group and rapamycin group (group RAPA). In group RAPA, rapamycin 4 mg·kg -1·d -1 was intraperitoneally injected once a day for 3 consecutive days before establishing the model, while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in group C and group VILI.The patients were mechanically ventilated for 4 h (tidal volume 20 ml/kg, respiratory rate 80 breaths/min, inspiratory/expiratory ratio 1∶1, fraction of inspired oxygen 21%) in VILI and RAPA groups.Blood samples were collected from the femoral artery after the end of ventilation for blood gas analysis and for determination of serum interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) concentrations (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), and PaO 2 was recorded.The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for determination of the neutrophil count and IL-1β and IL-18 concentrations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The lung tissues were obtained for examination of the pathological changes (under the light microscope) after HE staining which were scored and for determination of wet to dry weight (W/D) ratio, and expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), NLRC4 and caspase-1 (by Western blot) and expression of NLRC4 mRNA (by real-time polymerase chain reaction). Results:Compared with group C, the W/D ratio, lung injury score, neutrophil counts in BALF, and concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in serum and BALF were significantly increased, PaO 2 was decreased, and the expression of mTOR, NLRC4, caspase-1 and NLRC4 mRNA was up-regulated in group VILI and group RAPA ( P<0.01). Compared with group VILI, the W/D ratio, lung injury score, neutrophil counts in BALF, and concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in serum and BALF were significantly decreased, PaO 2 was increased, and the expression of mTOR, NLRC4, caspase-1 and NLRC4 mRNA was down-regulated in group RAPA ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The mechanism by which rapamycin alleviates VILI may be related to inhibiting activation of mTOR signaling pathway and inhibiting the activity of NLRC4 inflammasomes in rats.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between protein kinase C-delta (PKCδ) and pyroptosis during ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) in rats.Methods:Thirty-six clean-grade healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 200-250 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), group VILI, and VILI plus specific PKCδ inhibitor KAI 9803 group (group K). Phosphate buffer solution 200 μl was injected through the tracheal tube after intubation in group VILI, and KAI 9803 200 μg/kg was given instead in group K. The patients were mechanically ventilated (tidal volume 40 ml/kg, respiratory rate 60 breaths/min, inspiratory/expiratory ratio 1∶2, fraction of inspired oxygen 21%, positive end-expiratory pressure 0) for 4 h. Blood samples were taken from the femoral artery at the end of mechanical ventilation for blood gas analysis, and PaO 2 was recorded.Animals were sacrificed at the end of ventilation, lung tissues were removed, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was prepared.The total protein concentrations in BALF were measured by coomassie blue staining, and concentrations of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and IL-1β in BALF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Lung tissues were obtained for microscopic examination of the pathological changes which were scored and for determination of wet/dry weight ratio (W/D ratio) and expression of PKCδ and gasdermin D N terminal fragment (GSDMD-N) protein and mRNA (by Western blot or by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction). Results:Compared with group C, the lung injury score, W/D ratio, and concentrations of total protein, IL-18 and IL-1β in BALF were significantly increased, PaO 2 was decreased, and the expression of PKCδ and GSDMD-N protein and mRNA was up-regulated in VILI and K groups ( P<0.01). Compared with group VILI, the lung injury score, W/D ratio, and concentrations of total protein, IL-18 and IL-1β in BALF were significantly decreased, PaO 2 was increased, and the expression of PKCδ and GSDMD-N protein and mRNA was down-regulated in group K ( P<0.05 or 0.01). Conclusion:PKCδ can mediates the pathophysiological process of VILI in which pyrolysis is involved in rats.