ObjectiveTo detect the value of ultrasound-guided steroids injection for the treatment of plantar fasciitis.MethodsThirty-eight physical therapy ineffective plantar fasciitis patients were enrolled in this study, and randomly divided into ultrasound-guided and palpation-guided groups. Pain intensity was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) and plantar fasciitis were evaluated by high frequency ultrasound including assessment of the thickness before injection and at 4 weeks, 12 weeks post injection.ResultsThirty-eight patients who received either ultrasound guided or palpation-guided injection had significantly lower visual analog scale scores and lower plantar fascia thickness (bothP<0.01) at 4 weeks, 12 weeks post injection. The differences in plantar fascia thickness, VAS score between the two groups before, and at the 4 weeks follow-up were not statistically significant [2.52±0.77vs 2.68±0.82,P>0.05; (4.56±0.25) mmvs (4.72±0.38) mm, P>0.05]. However, the ultrasound guided group had lower mean visual analog scale score (1.47±0.77vs 2.37±0.68,P<0.01) and lower mean plantar fascia thickness [(4.02±0.24) mmvs (4.53±0.35) mm,P<0.01] than the palpation-guided group at 12 weeks post injection. The calcification of the plantar fascia at 12 weeks post injection in ultrasound guided group was completely disappeared or significantly decreased.ConclusionUltrasound-guided injection for treating plantar fasciitis is more accurate and effective than palpation-guided injection, and is of great clinical value for both patients and doctors.

OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of natrin from Naja naja atra(Chinese cobra)on intracellular free calcium overload,and to discuss the protective effect and the possible mechanism of natrin on myocardium calcium(Ca2+)and potassium(K+)ion channels in the primary cardiomyocytes of SD neonatal rats. METHODS The primary cardiomyocytes of SD neonatal rats were used,which were respectively pretreated with natrin 5,25 and 125 mg · L-1 for 24 h before injury was induced by H2O2 0.3 mmol · L- 1. The dynamic variation of intracellular calcium was monitored by laser confocal microscopy using Fluo-3 as Ca2+fluorescence probe. Additionally,the cardio myocytes of neonatal rats were pretreated for 24 h using different concentrations of natrin 5,25,125 mg · L-1 and verapamil 5 nmol · L-1,followed by exposure to H2O2 0.3 mmol · L-1 for 15 min. Then,the mRNA expressions of calcium channels subunits Cav1.2,Calm,RyR2 and potassium channel Kir6.2 were analyzed by FQ-PCR method. RESULTS Laser confocal microscopy revealed that H2O2 obviously caused calcium overload in cardiomyocytes, giving rise to 49.37% fluorescence increase in intracellular calcium compared with the control group(P<0.01). However,natrin 5,25 and 125 mg·L-1 resulted in 27.52%, 12.71% and 5.15% fluorescence increase in intracellular calcium,respectively,compared with the control group(P<0.01). Moreover, the PCR results showed that the mRNA expressions of Cav1.2, Calm and RyR2 in the myocardial cells treated with H2O2 were increased 2.78,2.26,and 5.34 times as compared with the control group,while Kir6.2 displayed a 1.79-fold expression level(P<0.01). By contrast, the combination of natrin and verapamil significantly decreased the mRNA expression of Cav1.2,Calm and RyR2,compared to the H2O2-treated group(P<0.01). Meanwhile,the expression of Kir6.2 was considerably higher than that of the H2O2-treated group(P<0.05). CONCLUSION Natrin can reduce the intracellular calcium overload of cardiomyocytes induced by H2O2 and shows a protective effect against oxidative damage for cardiomyocytes. The possible mechanism is that natrin can decrease the mRNA expression of Cav1.2,Calm,RyR2 and increase the expression of Kir6.2 of the H2O2-induced cardiomyocytes.

Aim To explore the lipid-lowering mecha-nisms of curcumin from the molecular levels and pro-vide scientific basis for clinical development of lipid-lowering drugs.Methods Using oil red O staining and enzymic to determinate the levels of cholesterol in HepG2 cells.Moreover,uptaking of DiI-LDL was also measured.The expressions of mRNA and protein were detected by RT-Q-PCR and Western blot.Results The red lipid droplets and the levels of TC and FC sig-nificantly increased in HepG2 cells after treated with curcumin.The orange red fluorescence was higher than that of control.Curcumin could promote the expression levels of mRNA and protein of SREBP2 and LDLR, what′s more,curcumin could reduce the expression of the mature PCSK9 level and IDOL protein.Conclu-sion Curcumin accelerates LDL-C uptake probably via downregulating the expression of PCSK9 and IDOL in HepG2 cells.

Aim To explore the effects of niacin on LDL-C uptake and metabolism in HepG2 cells,and to clarify the functions of niacin in lipid-lowering and slo-wing the atherosclerosis process,thus to provide a sci-entific basis for niacin as a lipid-lowering drug in clini-cal development.Methods Oil red O staining was used to observe HepG2 cells after lipid uptake.Enzy-matic method was used to determine the content of in-tracellular free cholesterol (FC)and total cholesterol (TC).The LDLR levels on the surface of cell mem-brane were detected by immunofluorescence flow cy-tometer.The mRNA and protein expressions of LDLR, SREBP2 and PCSK9 were analyzed by qPCR and Western blot.Results The results of oil red O staining showed that the rate of oil red O-positive cells and the number of red lipid droplets were significantly in-creased in niacin group than control group.Niacin sig-nificantly increased the levels of TC and FC in HepG2 cells(P <0.05 ).What’s more,niacin significantly upregulated the expression of LDLR and significantly downregulated the protein expression of PCSK9,while it had no effect on the expression of SREBP2.Conclu-sion Niacin accelerates LDL-C uptake probably via downregulating the expression of PCSK9 and reducing the degradation of LDLR protein in HepG2 cells.

Objective: To establish a method using gas chromatography for the determination of the residual chloroform in the medical polylactic acid membrane. Methods: The direct aqueous injection gas chromatographic method was established for the determination using RESTEK RTX capillary-column chromatography with the electron capture detector(ECD) at 270 ℃ and with the column at 85 ℃,maintained for 3 min. The split ratio of sampling was 10∶1. The injector temperature was 200 ℃. The high purity nitrogen was used as the carrier gas with the flow of 1. 0 ml /min. The injection volume was 1 μl. Results: The calibration curve showed a good linearity within the range of 25-2 000 ng /ml (r = 0. 999 9). The limit of detection was 1. 50 ng /ml,and the limit of quantitation was 4. 62 ng /ml. The average recovery rate was 98. 35％,RSD = 1. 98％. Conclusion: Gas chromatography is sensitive and accurate for the determination of the residual chloroform in the medical polylactic acid membrane.

Objective:To study the mechanism of Herba Hedyotidis against liver fibrosis based on network pharmacology. Methods:Based on TCMSP database and Uniprot database, the effective components and target genes of Herba Hedyotidis were screened. Target genes of liver fibrosis were screened by GeneCards and OMIM database, and the "disease-component-target" network map was constructed by Cytoscape 3.8.2 software. Protein interaction network was constructed by STRING database, and the Cytoscape 3.8.2 software was used to screen the core target out. The core targets were analyzed by gene ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment. Experimental verification was performed to the analysis results. A hepatic fibrosis model was established by intraperitioneal imjection of 40% carbon tetrachloride oil solution in rats that were then divided into the model control group and the Herba Hedyotidis group by randomized number table table, with 10 rats in each group. Ten normal rats were used as the normal control group. The Herba Hedyotidis group were injected 2.7 g/kg herb aqueous extract by intragastric administration, once a day, for 4 weeks; and the normal and model control group were given the same volume distilled water for gavage. The serum GPT, GOT, Alb and liver pathologic changes were observed. The serum expressions of IL-6, IL-1β and TGF-β1 were detected by ELISA. The expressions of PI3K, Akt, HIF-1α and VEGF were detected by Western blot. Results:5 effective components and 118 targets of Herba Hedyotidis in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis were obtained. Stigmasterol, β-sitosterol and quercetin were the most effective components with high moderate value. The moderate targets were VEGF, EGFR, HIF-1α and IL-6. The core genes of PPI network were HIF-1α, IL-6, etc. GO enrichment analysis showed that RNA transcription, protein binding and other processes may be affected. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that significant enrichment pathways were cancer pathway, hepatitis B pathway, PI3K/Akt, HIF pathway and so on. Animal experimental results showed that compared with model group, liver histopathology was improved significantly, the content of GPT, GOT, IL-6, IL-1β and TGF-β1 decreased ( P<0.01), the content of Alb increased ( P<0.01), and the protein expressions of PI3K, Akt, HIF-1α and VEGF in liver tissue were down-regulated ( P<0.01). Conclusion:The Herba Hedyotidis exerts functions of anti-hepatic fibrosis through acting on the targets of VEGF, EGFR, HIF-1α and IL-6, regulating the PI3K/Akt, HIF-1 pathways, and has anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenesis, anti-tumor and other biological functions.

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum L-carnitine and its related metabolites[trimethylamine(TMA)and trimethylamine N-oxide(TMAO)]levels and gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)in the second trimester of pregnant women in Shanghai.Methods A case-control study was conducted in 280 pregnant women between 18 and 23 weeks of gestation from January 2018 to January 2021.Among them,134 cases of GDM were the case group(GDM),and 146 cases with normal blood glucose(BG)were the control group(Con).Serum L-carnitine,TMA and TMAO levels were quantified by ultra high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.Logistic regression analysis,stratified analysis and linear regression were used to explore the relationship between L-carnitine,TMA and TMAO levels and GDM and glucolipid metabolism.Results Serum L-carnitinelevelwas significantly lower in GDM group than that in Con group(P<0.01).After adjusting for confounders,logistic regression showed a 70%reduction in the risk of GDM in the group with highest tertile of L-carnitine compared with the group with lowest tertile(OR 0.30,95%CI 0.15～0.63).The risk of GDM decreased by 14%for each 1 μmol/L increase in serum L-carnitine(OR 0.86,95%CI 0.80～0.93).Serum L-carnitine was negatively correlated with 1 hPG(r=-0.21,P<0.01)and 2 hPG(r=-0.15,P<0.05),respectively,TMA was negatively correlated with 2 hPG(r=-0.21,P<0.01).Conclusions Higher serum L-carnitine level may be negatively associated with GDM.Serum L-carnitine and TMA levels were negatively correlated with blood glucose levels.

Objective To explore the effects of the diet safety instructions and interventions on aspiration pneumonia in elderly patients with dysphagia. Methods The multidisciplinary team was established involved clinical physicians, dietitians, therapists and nurses. The study investigated 40 elderly long-stay patients with dysphagia who were capable of oral feeding were selected according with the inclusive criteria. After the swallowing assessment and diet safety instructions, the participants were divided into intervention group (n=20) and control group (n=20) under the principle of voluntariness and matching selection. The patients of intervention groups were supplied with all mushy diet; the patients of control group had semi-solid, thick liquid, partial mushy diet, etc. depended on participants′ swallowing situations and tastes. Both groups of patients were oral feeding on their own or with help. The incidence of bucking, food refusal and feeding time per meal were investigated during the three months, and the aspiration pneumonia incidence of two groups were retrospectively analyzed three months before interventions. Results In the intervention group, the incidence of bucking (109), food refusal (22) and feeding time per meal [(18. 64 ± 5. 05) min] were lower than those in the control group [bucking (272);food refusal (135); feeding time per meal (25. 78 ± 8. 37) min] (χ2 =7. 369, 4. 433;t= -4. 363;P<0. 05). After three months′interventions, the incidence of aspiration pneumonia in both groups was decreased that the intervention group was 13 ∶ 4 and the control group was 11 ∶ 7 (χ2 =20. 742,13. 809;P<0. 05). The control group had two cases with bucking aspiration and one cases with multiple organ failure and death after nasal feeding; the intervention group had no dropout. Conclusions A close cooperation of multi-discipline team can significantly improve the detection rate and feeding safety management of elderly patients with dysphagia. The diet intervention and safety eating management can reduce the incidence of aspiration pneumonia and promote the patients′quality of life.