Objective To determine the median effective concentration (EC50) of epidural lidocaine inhibiting herpetic neuralgia.Methods The patients with thoracic or lumbar herpetic neuralgia,aged 20-60 yr,with body mass index of 18-25 kg/m2,of ASA physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,were included in the study.Epidural catheter was placed under the guidance of the digital subtraction angiography (DSA).An injection of iohexol mixed with lidocaine was given under the guidance of DSA to make sure that drug solution covered all the injured nerve roots.The initial concentration of lidocaine was 0.37％.The concentration was determined by up-and-down sequential allocation.Each time the concentration of lidocaine increased/decreased in the next patient depending on whether or not the analgesia was effective.The ratio between the two successive concentrations was 1.06.Effective analgesia was defined as VAS score ≤ 1 within 30 min after administration.The EC50 and 95 ％ confidence interval of lidocaine inhibiting herpetic neuralgia were calculated using Dixon formula.Results The EC50 of lidocaine inhibiting herpetic neuralgia was 0.199 ％ and the 95 ％ confidence interval was 0.168 ％-0.216 ％.Conclusion The EC50 of epidural lidocaine required to inhibit herpetic neuralgia is 0.199％.

Objective To investigate the effect of sorafenib in ameliorating renal fibrosis and its possible mechanisms.Methods Rats were subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO ) and intragastrically administered sorafenib.NRK-52E cells were treated with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)and sorafenib. HE staining was used to visualize renal fibrosis.α-SMA and E-cadherin expressions in kidney tissue and NRK-52E cells were performed using immunofluorescence.The cell cycle of NRK-52E cells was determined by flow cytometry analysis.Smad3 and p-Smad3 protein expressions in NRK-52E cells were detected by Western blot analysis. Results HE staining showed that kidney interstitial fibrosis,tubular atrophy,and inflammatory cell infiltration in the sorafenib-treated UUO groups were significantly decreased compared with the vehicle-treated UUO group (P<0.05).Compared with those in UUO and TGF-β-stimulated NRK-52E groups,the expression of a-SMA decreased but E-cadherin expression increased in the UUO kidneys and NRK-52E cells of the sorafenib-treated groups (P<0.05).After 24 h stimulation with TGF-β1 5 ng/mL,the number of cell cycles arrested in G0/G1 phase was significantly increased and the number of cells that entered G2 ,S phase decreased (P<0 .0 5 ).Compared with that in TGF-β-stimulated NRK-52E groups, p-Smad3 decreased in the sorafenib-treated groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Our results suggest that sorafenib may be useful for the treatment of renal fibrosis through suppressing TGF-β/Smad3 signaling.

Objective To investigate the effect of Levocarnitine on lipid metabolism and nutritional status of maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and possible mechanism. Methods A total of 40 MHD patients [mean age (53.5±7.1) years] who underwent normal hemodialysis more than 6 months were randomly classified into two groups, Levocarnitine supplemented group (LS-G) (n=20; Levocarnitine supplementation after each normal hemodialysis session, at a dose of 1.0 g/day by intravenous administration) and control group (C-G) (n=20; normal hemodialysis). Before treatment, one month and three months after treatment we respectively measured or observed the following items, the tolerance to hemodialysis, carnitine level in plasma, C-reactive protein, IL-6, TNF-α, percentage of neutrophil, and some relevant nutritional parameters, such as lipid profile, transferrin, total protein, albumin and prealbumin levels. Comparative analysis was conducted between the two groups. Results In LS-G three months after treatment, the levels of carnitine, hemoglobin, and prealbumin in plasma were significantly increased (P<0.05), but C-reactive protein, neutrophil percentage, low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride were significantly decreased (P<0.05) in contrast to those in C-G and before treatment. Transferrin, total protein, and albumin were elevated in LS-G, with no statistical significance. Conclusion There was a significant improvement of lipid metabolism and nutritional status for the long-term maintenance hemodialysis patients with Levocarnitine supplementation. And this improvement is related to the decrease of inflammatory factors.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Qufengtongluo Recipe (QFTLR) on the expressions of cell cycle regulatory proteins in rat mesangial cells (MCs) in vitro and investigate the mechanism by which QFTLR inhibits MC proliferation.

METHODSUsing the methods of serum pharmacology, we studied the expressions of cell cycle regulatory proteins in rat MCs treated with QFTLR by laser scanning confocal microscope and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control cells, the cells challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) showed significantly enhanced expressions of cyclin D1, CDK2, and P21 (P<0.01) and obviously lowered protein expression of P27 (P<0.01). Treatment of the LPS-challenged cells with QFTLR and benazepril both resulted in significantly attenuated expressions of cyclin D1, CDK2, and P21 and obvious increase of P27 expression (P<0.05 or P<0.01), but QFTLR produced stronger effects than benazepril in regulating of cyclinD1, P21 and P27 protein expressions (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONQFTLR inhibits rat MC proliferation in vitro possibly by down-regulating the cellular expressions of cyclin D1, CDK2, and P21 and up-regulating the expression of P27 protein.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Mesangial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE： To study lung tissue injury induced by long-term aerosol inhalation of 4 kinds of non-aerosol drugs in healthy SD rats， and to evaluate the safety of aerosol inhalation of non-aerosol drugs. METHODS： Totally 40 healthy SD rats （♂） were randomly divided into 8 group， i.e. blank control group， normal saline group （solvent control）， budesonide group （non-aerosol drug control， 0.1 g/L） ，silicon dioxide group （lung injury drug control， 40 g/L）and 4 kinds of non-aerosol drugs [Dingchuan decoction group （15 g/mL， calculated by crude drug）， cefatriaxone group （200 g/L）， Qingkailing group （stoste） and Tangreqing group （stoste）]， with 5 rats in each group. Except that blank control group didn’t received any treatment， other groups received aerosol inhalation， 10 mL， twice a day， for consecutive 56 days. After medication， the number of white blood cells in peripheral blood were counted and classified， and the number of white blood cells in bronchus alveolar lavage fluid were counted. The pathological changes of lung tissue were observed by HE staining and the number of dust cells was counted. The expression of leukocyte differentiation antigen 163 （CD163） in lung tissue were determined by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS： The white blood cells in peripheral blood mainly included lymphocyte and neutrophil， of which lymphocyte is the main one. Compared with blank control group， there was no statistical significance in the number of white blood cells， lymphocyte or neutrophil in peripheral blood， the number of white blood cells in alveolar lavage fluid or the number of dust cells in lung tissue of rats in normal saline group （P＞0.05）； the structures of bronchus and lung tissue were intact， and the expression of CD163 was negative. Compared with normal saline group， there was no statistical significance in the above indexed of rats in budesonide group（P＞0.05）， the structures of bronchus and lung tissue were intact， and the expression of CD163 was negative， while the number of white blood cells， lymphocyte or neutrophil in peripheral blood， the number of white blood cells in alveolar lavage fluid or the number of dust cells in lung tissue of rats in other 5 groups were all increased significantly （P＜0.05）； alveolar wall thickening and alveolar interstitial edema occurred in different degrees in lung tissue. The expression of CD163 was positive or strongly positive. CONCLUSIONS： The long-term aerosol inhalation of 4 kinds of non-aerosol drugs can induce pathological changes of lung tissue and increase the number of inflammatory cell and dust cell in alveolin in healthy SD rats.

【Objective】 To explore the role and mechanism of TRPC6 in apoptosis of glomerular mesangial cells (HBZY-1) induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). 【Methods】 The experiment groups were classified as follows: normal control (NC), thapsigargin (TG), TG+SKF96365, and TG+TRPC6 siRNA groups. Transcription and protein expressions of TRPC6 and ERS related proteins (GRP78 and Caspase12) were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Additionally, cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry and Hoechst33258. Finally, Fluo-4 AM Ca²⁺ imaging technique was used to determine changes of intracellular calcium ( [Ca²⁺] i) by laser scanning confocal microscope. 【Results】 Morphological changes of apoptotic cells were characterized by nuclear enrichment or nuclear fragmentation, and the apoptosis rate was increased after TG stimulation. The expressions of TRPC6 and ERS related proteins (GRP78 and Caspase12) were elevated in TG group compared with NC group (P<0.05). Pre-incubation of HBZY-1 cells with SKF96365 and TRPC6 siRNA decreased cell apoptosis (P<0.05). The entry of [Ca²⁺] i also increased after TG stimulation (P<0.05). The expressions of TRPC6, GRP78 and Caspase12 were downregulated compared with TG group after treatment with SKF96365 and TRPC6 siRNA accompanied by decreased [Ca²⁺] i (P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 Taken together, this study suggests that inhibition of TRPC6 can alleviate TG-induced HBZY-1 cell apoptosis.

【Objective】 To explore the role and mechanism of TRPC in promoting extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in rat glomerular mesangial cells (HBZY-1). Methods Immunofluorescence staining was performed to observe the distribution and expression of TRPC1 and TRPC6 in HBZY-1 cells. After AngⅡ stimulation, qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of Gαq/PLCβ4/TRPC signaling pathway main proteins and ECM deposition indicators (α-SMA, collagenⅢ and fibronectin). By silencing the expressions of TRPC1 and TRPC6 by RNA interference, the expressions of ECM deposition indicators were detected. Changes in [Ca²⁺]i influx were determined through Fluo-4AM Ca²⁺ imaging. 【Results】 Both TRPC1 and TRPC6 were expressed in HBZY-1, and were mainly located in cell membrane and cytoplasm. After AngⅡ stimulation, Gαq/PLCβ4/TRPC signaling pathway was activated, and the mRNA and protein expressions of Gαq, PLCβ4, TRPC1 and TRPC6 were all increased (P<0.05). [Ca²⁺]i influx also increased (P<0.01), and the mRNA and protein expressions of ECM deposition indicators (α-SMA, ColⅢ and Fn) were upregulated (P<0.05). Silencing the expressions of TRPC1 and TRPC6 by RNA interference led to decreased [Ca²⁺]i influx (P<0.05), and downregulated mRNA and protein expressions of ECM deposition indicators in HBZY-1 cells (P<0.05). The results suggested that inhibition of TRPC expressions could inhibit AngⅡ induced ECM deposition in HBZY-1 cells, which might be associated with decreased [Ca²⁺]i influx. 【Conclusion】 TRPC may be a novel therapeutic target of renal fibrosis.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing outpatient hemodialysis (HD) and home peritoneal dialysis (PD) are high risk population of severe and critical types caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. In order to improve the quality of diagnosis and treatment in dialysis patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, we wrote this recommendation for primary care clinicians. During the epidemic period of SARS-CoV-2 infection, all patients should be instructed to strengthen self-management. Once the SARS-CoV-2 infection was found in dialysis patients, early stratified management should be carried out within 72 hours after the first positive nucleic acid or antigen test results, which includes early antiviral therapy, early recognition, and transferring severe patients from community or primary hospital to a referral hospital promptly. Guidance for dietary and sports rehabilitation after SARS-CoV-2 infection should also be started as soon as possible.