Objective To observe the effect of Hawthorn Jiangzhi powder on blood lipids in hyperlipidemia patients.Methods Four hundreds and eighty-four patients with hyperlipidemia were selected from Department of Cardiology in Huanghuai University Affiliated Hospital from January 2011 to June 2016,and they were divided into observation group and control group by random number table,each group 242 cases.The observation group took orally Hawthorn Jiangzhi powder (including ingredients:hawthorn 6 g,salvia miltiorrhiza 18 g,black soybean 16 g,hoelen 6 g,ganoderma lucidum 9 g,kudzuvine root 6 g,Chinese yam 6 g,fructus amomum 9 g,coix seed 16 g,cassia seed 6 g) once 6-9 g powder,twice a day,once in the morning and another in the evening;the control group was given simvastatin,20 mg each day during taking dinner;the therapeutic period lasted 2 months in both groups.The differences in serum lipid and serum inflammatory factor levels were compared before and after treatment in the two groups;the changes of lymphocyte subsets of the two groups were observed and compared with the changes of the subset results of 100 normal healthy subjects aged 35-80 years old in the same period in our hospital,and the total efficiency,the situations of adverse reactions and liver and kidney functions of two groups were observed.Results In the observation group and the control group,before treatment the levels of CD4+,CD8+,CD4+/CD8+ were lower than those of healthy control group,but after treatment the levels of CD4+,CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+ were higher than those before treatment,and the changes of the observation group were more significant than those of the control group(CD4+:0.47±0.11 vs.0.40±0.10,CD8+:0.28 ± 0.10 vs.0.26 ± 0.08,CD4+/CD8+:1.67 ± 0.79 vs.1.53 ± 0.45);After treatment,the levels of hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP),interleukin-6 (IL-6),von Willebrand factor (vWF) and homocysteine (Hcy) in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment,and the levels of hs-CRP,IL-6 and vWF in the observation group were obviously lower than those in the control group [hs-CRP (mg/L):5.1 ± 1.8 vs.5.8 ± 1.7,IL-6 (ng/L):2.9 ± 1.6 vs.3.7 ± 1.8,vWF:(126.8 ± 12.8)％ vs.(156.5 ± 11.3)％,all P ＜ 0.05].After treatment,Hcy in the observation group was lower than that in the control group,but there was no significant difference between the two groups (μμmol/L:5.2 ± 1.8 vs.5.4 ± 2.6,P ＞ 0.05).In the observation group after treatment at each time point,the levels of total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were lower than those before treatment,while the levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol/total cholesterol (HDL/TC) were higher than those before treatment;after treatment in the control group,the levels of TC,TG and LDL-C were decreased,and the levels of HDL-C and HDL/TC were obviously increased compared with those before treatment;The levels of TC,TG and LDL-C in the observation group after treatment for 2 months were significantly lower than those in the control group [TC (mmol/L):1.26 ± 0.57 vs.2.26 ± 0.56;TG (mmol/L):3.45 ± 0.78 vs.5.45 ± 0.75,LDL-C (mmol/L):2.40±0.65 vs.2.72±0.85;all P ＜ 0.05),and HDL/TC was obviously increased (1.19±0.15 vs.0.62±0.35,P ＜ 0.01).The total therapeutic effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group [90.1％ (218/242) vs.73.4％ (178/242),P ＜ 0.01].Adverse reactions and changes of liver and kidney functions during the period of treatment in the two groups were minimal.Conclusions Hawthorn Jiangzhi powder can effectively reduce the blood lipids and serum inflammation cytokines in patients with hyperlipidemia,improve blood rheological situation,reduce serum levels of inflammatory factors,inhibit the formation and development of atherosclerosis and enhance the immune function obviously in patients with high lipid abnormalities.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the biological activity of ellagic acid extracted from gallnut against nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its molecular mechanism. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma 5-8F cells were treated with 2, 4, 6 μg/mL ellagic acid for 48 h in vitro. The cell proliferation and cell apoptosis were analyzed by MTT and Hoechst33258 stain. The cell cycle and protein expression were measured by flow cytometry and Western blot. RESULTS: Ellagic acid inhibited the proliferation of 5-8F cells. The inhibition rates were (29.35±4.95)%, (53.32 ±4.44)% and ( 61.75 + 6.93)%, respectively, with significant difference from the control group (P<0.01). S phase cells in the experimental groups were (25.47±0.74)%, (28.08±1.41)% and (35.49±0.66)%, respectively, with significant difference (P<0.01) from the control group (21.26±0.70)%. Cells in the experimental groups showed nuclear pyknosis, karyorrhexis and poptotic cell morphology. The expression of COX-2 and stathmin in 5-8F cells was down-regulated with increased drug concentration. CONCLUSION Ellagic acid extracted from gallnut has activity against nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, and its mechanism may be related to down-regulated expression of COX-2 and stathmin.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Ellagic Acid ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Stathmin ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective:To observe the changes of serum micro-inflammatory and nutritional status in elderly peritoneal dialysis patients after treatment with bifidobacterium triple viable bacteria, and the impact of Bifidobacterium triple viable bacteria treatment on the endpoint.Methods:Totally 180 elderly patients receiving peritoneal dialysis were divided into control group and observation group, with 90 cases in each.Both groups were treated on the basis of the routine treatment, the observation group was treated with oral Bifidobacterium triple viable bacteria for twelve months.Before treatment, 6 months and 12 months after treatment, fasting venous blood from the patients in the two groups were collected in the morning.The levels of serum micro-inflammatory indexes[tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-8(IL-8), C-reactive protein(CRP)]were detected by ELISA.The nutritional status and dialysis adequacy indexes[nutritional status: albumin(ALB), hemoglobin(Hb), transferrin(TRF), prealbumin(PA), calcium ion, phosphorus ion; indicators of dialysis adequacy: serum creatinine(Scr), blood uric acid(BUA), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), cystatin C(Cys-c)levels]were detected by automatic blood biochemical analyzer.After 24 months of follow-up, the occurrence of endpoint events(peritonitis, abdominal pain, malnutrition, abdominal infection, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular accidents)in the two groups was recorded.Results:After 24 months of treatment, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and CRP in the two groups were lower than those before treatment, and the observation group was lower than control group[(25.7±4.0)μg/L vs.(33.6±6.0)μg/L, (2.9±0.7)ng/L vs.(4.9±1.2)ng/L, (17.0±7.2)ng/L vs.(22.8±7.9)ng/L, (4.6±0.7)mg/L vs.(6.9±1.2)mg/L]( t=10.272, 13.134, 5.040, 15.575, respectively, P<0.05 for all). After 24 months of treatment, the levels of ALB, Hb, TRF, PA and calcium ion of the two groups were higher than before treatment, and the levels of phosphorus ion were lower than before treatment, and the changes of the above indicators in observation group were more obvious than those in the control group[(45.7±5.2)g/L vs.(39.8±4.9)g/L, (72.7±8.0)g/L vs.(68.6±9.0)g/L, (4.3±1.0)g/L vs.(3.0±0.6)g/L, (321.5±29.0)mg/L vs.(297.6±25.1)mg/L, (4.9±1.3)mmol/L vs.(2.9±0.9)mmol/L, (1.3±0.9)/L vs.(1.8±0.3 mmol/L)]( t=7.737, 3.213, 9.880, 5.9 00, 11.937, 4.415, P<0.05 for all). There was no significant difference in intestinal flora between the two groups before treatment( P>0.05). After 24 months, an increase was observed in Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria in both groups, while Enterobacteria and Enterococcus in both groups were decreased, and the changes of the above indicators in the observation group were also more obvious than those in the control group[(8.4±0.9)IgCFU/g ratio(6.4±0.9)IgCFU/g, (8.8±1.3)IgCFU/g ratio(7.9±1.3)IgCFU/g, (7.1±0.9)IgCFU/g ratio(8.0±1.1)IgCFU/g, (5.4±0.7)IgCFU/g ratio(6.9±0.9)IgCFU/g]( t=14.248, 4.339, 5.825, 12.753, P<0.05 for all). There was no significant difference in dialysis adequacy index between the two groups before treatment( P>0.05 for all). After 24 months of treatment, the levels of Scr, BUA, BUN and Cys-C in both groups decreased, and those of the observation group were lower than those of the control group[(471.5±50.5)μmol/L vs.(623.3±62.6)μmol/L, (17.5±0.5)mmol/L vs.(20.6±1.8)mmol/L, (16.4 ± 3.0)mmol/L vs.(22.5±2.0)mmol/L, (1.9±0.5)mg/L vs.(3.0±0.7)mg/L]( t=17.877, 14.976, 15.842, 11.749, P<0.05 for all). The incidence of endpoint events in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group(12.2% vs.2.2%, t=6.574, P<0.05 for all). Conclusions:After the treatment of Bifidobacterium triple viable bacteria in elderly peritoneal dialysis patients, the micro-inflammatory state of the patients was reduced, the nutritional status was improved, and the incidence of endpoint events was low, and has high clinical promotion and application value.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the interventional effect of the Chinese herbal preparation Xi Fu Pai Chen(XFPC) on pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in rats with silicosis. METHODS: A total of 144 adult specific pathogen free male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: blank control group, silicosis model group, drug administration control group and groups of low-dose,medium-dose and high-dose XFPC, with 24 rats in each group. Lung silicosis model was established by single inhalation tracheal instillation method, which was treated with 50.0 g/L silica suspension, in groups except in the blank control group. On the 7 th day of modeling, the rats in the drug administration control group were orally given tetrandrine(5 mg/kg body weight), while those in the low-, medium-and high-dose groups were given 43, 86 and 192 g/L of XFPC by atomization inhalation once a day for 20 minutes, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. At the end of drug administration, the histopathological changes of the lung were observed. The number and classification of cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were examined, and the levels of malondialdehyde(MDA) and interferon-gamma(IFN-γ) in BALF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: On the 7 th day after modeling, the body weight in the drug administration control group and XFPC high-dose group decreased compared with the blank control group(P<0.05). On the 35 th day after modeling, the body weights of rats in the other 5 groups were lower than that in the blank control group(P<0.05). The pathological changes of lung tissue(infiltration of inflammatory cells, fibrosis and size of silicon nodule) in drug administration control group and XFPC low-dose group were better than those in silicosis model group by naked eyes and under light microscope. The lung coefficient, the proportion of neutrophils and the level of MDA and IFN-γ in BALF of the drug administration control group and XFPC low-dose group decreased(P<0.05), and the proportion of macrophages in BALF increased(P<0.05) compared with the silicosis model group. There was no significant difference in lung coefficients and the relevant indices of BALF between XFPC medium-, high-dose groups and silicosis model group(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Low dosage XFPC can improve pulmonary fibrosis and inflammation in rats with silicosis, and its mechanism of action may be related to reducing the levels of IFN-γ and MDA in BALF.

【Objective】 To investigate the correlation of serum exosomal microRNA-301a (miR-301a) with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events after peritoneal dialysis in diabetic nephropathy. 【Methods】 A total of 211 patients with diabetic nephropathy treated with peritoneal dialysis from June 2019 to June 2020 in the First Hospital Affiliated of Hebei North University were selected as study subjects. Serum exosomal miR-301a was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The patients were divided into high miR-301a group and low miR-301a group based on the median of miR-301a; the clinical data of the two groups were compared. The correlation of miR-301a with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was analyzed by Spearman. Linear regression was applied to analyze the factors associated with the effect of miR-301a. The patients were followed up for two years. Kaplan-Meier and Log-Rank were conducted to compare the cumulative incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events between the two groups, and COX regression and restricted cubic spline were used to analyze the level-effect relationship between miR-301a and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events after peritoneal dialysis. 【Results】 Thirty-seven cases (17.54%) of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events occurred during follow-up. The hs-CRP level and dialysis duration were lower in low miR-301a group than in high miR-301a group (P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between miR-301a and hs-CRP (rs=0.237, P=0.001). Linear regression analysis showed that hs-CRP was independently associated with miR-301a (P<0.05). The cumulative cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event rate in low miR-301a group was 3.70% (4/108), which was lower than that in high miR-301a group [32.04% (33/103), P<0.001]. COX regression analysis showed that high serum albumin level was an independent protective factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events after peritoneal dialysis in diabetic nephropathy,while high hs-CRP level and miR-301a >1.46 were independent risk factors for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events after peritoneal dialysis in diabetic nephropathy. Restricted cubic spline fitting COX regression analysis showed a non-linear relationship between miR-301a and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events after peritoneal dialysis in diabetic nephropathy (P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 hs-CRP is independently associated with miR-301a in diabetic nephropathy peritoneal dialysis patients. High miR-301a level suggests a high risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events after peritoneal dialysis in diabetic nephropathy.