Objective:To observe the effect of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) on the increase of hippocampal neurons -[Ca~(2+)-]_i induced by thapsigargin (Tg), a sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca~(2+)-ATPase (SERCA2a) inhibitor. Methods: The primarily cultured hippocampal neurons of newborn SD rats(within 24 h of delivery) were prepared after 10-14 d culture. The intracellular -[Ca~(2+)-]_i was measured with Fura-2/AM in real time. The neurons were divided into 3 groups. Group A (n=20), EGTA (3 mmol/L);Group B (n=40), EGTA (3 mmol/L) + Tg (10 ?mol/L);and Group C (n=12), EGTA (3 mmol/L) +Tg (10 ?mol/L) +CNTF (500 U/?l). Results: When the extracellular Ca~(2+) was chelated by enough EGTA, -[Ca~(2+)-]_i was ≤(30.73?7.25) nmol/L; after EGTA+Tg was added, -[Ca~(2+)-]_i significantly increased(-[Ca~(2+)-]_i≥-[91.55?12.24-] nmol/L); and after EGTA+Tg+CNTF was added, -[Ca~(2+)-]_i was markedly reduced compared with that in group B (-[Ca~(2+)-]_i≤-[26.09?7.16-] nmol/L, P

Objective To investigate the relationship between the immune defence reaction against Plasmodium infection and the prophenoloxidase (PPO) of the midgut by comparative analysis of the distributions and the changes of PPO in the midgut of Anopheles stephensi and Anopheles dirus before and after infection with Plasmodium yoelii . Methods Midguts were dissected out from both Anopheles stephensi and Anopheles dirus at 3, 5, 7, 11 and 15 d before and after infection with Plasmodium yoelii . Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were performed respectively on the collected midguts using Manduca Sexta PPO IgG polyantibody. Results PPO in the midguts from both Anopheles stephensi and Anopheles dirus was mainly located in the circulation conduit of midgut before infection with Plasmodium yoelii , but aggregated and distributed at the interspace of midguts as pieced or/and stripped forms after infection. Furthermore, PPO in the midgut of Anopheles dirus was more concentrated than that of Anopheles stephensi . Western blotting revealed that the PPO band with about molecular weight of 67?10 3 was detected in the midguts of both Anopheles stephensi and Anopheles dirus before and after Plasmodium yoelii infection. There was significant difference before and after infection, and the PPO band was obviously enhanced after infection. PPO bands in the midgut of Anopheles dirus were more prominent than those of Anopheles stephensi . Conclusion PPO in the midgut of Anopheles mosquitoes may come from the hemolymph by the circulation conduit before Plasmodium yoelii infection. However, the different distributions and changes of PPO in the midguts resulted from the Anopheles mosquitoes infected with Plasmodia may be closely correlated with Plasmodia infection, which may be of important physiological significance and may be involved in the immune defensive reaction against Plasmodium .

Objective To characterize the clinical characteristics of lupus mesenteric vasculitis (LMV). Methods Analyzing the clinical, laboratory and treatment data of LMV patients hospitalized from 2002. 1.1 to 2007. 12. 31 retrospectively. Results (1) The three common manifestations were abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomit with the prevalence rate of 77%, 70% and 67% respectively. (2)The majority of LMV cases were active vital organ (28/30), kidney (24/30) and hematological system (18/30) were the main organs of involvement. Ten patients had hydroureteronephrosis, and 8 patients had intestinal pseudo-obstruction at the same time. (3) Systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score was ≥10 in 80% (24/30) of patients. The progression of LMV was accompanied with new-onset ieucopenia or worsening leucopenia or hypocomplementemia in 10 cases. (4) Blood antinuclear antibodies were positive in 27 patients detected, and anti-SSA antibody was positive in 15 (56%), anti-U1RNP antibody was positive in 14 (52%). (5) Fourteen cases had bowel wall thickening with target sign or mesenteric vessels with palisade or comb sign in contrast CT scan of abdomen. (6)Twenty-seven cases were treated with orally or intravenous medium to high dose steroid therapy and recovered from LMV. Conclusions (1) Abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomit were frequent manifestations of LMV patients. (2) LMV was one of the serious complications of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE), and usually accompanied by active SLE in other organs. (3) A drop in the white blood cell count or complement C3 titer might be correlate with the occurrence of LMV. It needs to further investigate the relationship between LMV and the high positive rate of anti-SSA and anti-U1RNP antibody. (4) LMV patients responded well to intravenous high dose methylprednisolone.

Objective To explore the relationship between the respiratory disturbance index (RDI) detected by cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC) and all parameters of polysomnography (PSG), and to analyze the correlation of the two different analytical techniques for the interpretation of sleep breathing events.Methods In this case-control study, the patients′ CPC and PSG were simultaneously recorded at the Sleep Clinic at Changzheng Hospital from Janunary 2016 to December 2016.Effective recordings were obtained from 292 patients (male/female: 173/119).According to PSG, these patients were divided into two groups: obstructive sleep apnea hyponea syndrome (OSAHS) group (n=173, aged (50.1±13.3) years) and non-OSAHS group (n=119, aged (50.5±11.7) years).All the PSG parameters and the RDI detected by CPC were compared between the two groups.Pearson correlation was used to analyze the relationship between the CPC-RDI and polysomnography parameters, and Bland-Altman chart was used to test the correlation of the two methods.The receiver operator characteristic curve was used to research the value of CPC-RDI in diagnosis of OSAHS.Results The OSAHS group showed higher levels of total sleep time (TST, (445.94±82.64) min), apnea times ((108.16±35.70)/h), hypopnea rate ((55.62±17.44)/h), apnea hyponea index (AHI, (22.78±20.73)/h), Epworth Sleeping Scale (ESS) scores ((11.21±5.30) scores), CPC-RDI ((32.98±22.19)/h) compared with the non-OSAHS group ((417.21±96.10) min,t=2.730;(7.89±5.41)/h,t=30.384;(11.05±2.23)/h, t=27.709;(5.51±3.11)/h,t=9.014;(7.61±2.29)scores,t=6.973;(11.16±8.63)/h,t=10.205, all P<0.01), and a significant decrease in N1 latency ((14.79±9.29) min vs (18.18±8.98)min, t=-3.106), N3% ((6.53±4.95)% vs(8.83±7.29)%,t=-3.212) and the lowest oxygen saturation (SaO2;(77.91±12.21)% vs(92.72±5.17)%, t=-12.479, all P<0.05 respectively).Pearson correlation analysis indicated that RDI was positively correlated with TST, N2 sleeping time, N3 sleeping time, AHI, microarousals index, leg movements index, and ESS scores (P<0.01 respectively).Remarkably, the correlation between CPC-RDI and PSG-AHI was excellent (r=0.801, P<0.01), and CPC-RDI was negatively correlated with lowest SaO2 (r=-0.765, P<0.01).Bland-Altman showed that the points in the limits of agreement accounted for more than 95% of all points.If CPC-RDI is higher than 18.95, the subjects were more likely with OSAHS.The sensitivity was 62.9% and the specificity was 88.7%.In addition, the enhanced low-frequency coupling parameters in the CPC analysis technique can clearly analyze the central respiratory rhythm disturbance.Conclusions CPC technology is an effective assessment technology to diagnose sleep-disordered breathing, and correlates well with AHI detected by traditional PSG.It shows the advantage of screening for central sleep apnea.

Objective To test the level of cell factor interleukin (IL)-21,CXCL13 in the plasma of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA),and to analyze the relationship between Follicular helper T cells(Tfh)and clinic features and discuss the possible immunological pathogenesis of RA.Methods The Tfh cells were obtained from patients and healthy controls (NC) and detected by Flow cytometery.While the levels of IL-21,CXCL13 in patients and NC were measured by ELISA tests.Those analysis were performed by student's t-test,one-way ANOVA,SNK-q test,Chi-square test,Spearman's correlation and multiple linear regression.Results The expression of CD4+CXCR5+ICOS+ cells (Tfh) in PBMCs of RA was significantly higher than normal controls (3.0±1.2 vs 1.1±0.4,P＜0.01).Meanwhile,the three RA groups of patients were divided to low,moderate and high disease activity groups,and the results showed that the expression of Tfh were increased accordingly (1.8±0.7,2.5±0.6,4.0±1.2).The expression of Tfh in the three groups were all significantly higher than that of controls (P＜0.01).There was a positive correlation between Tfh and DAS28,ESR,CRP,TJC,and bone erosion,RF and anti-CCP respectively.The expression of Tfh in those patients who had bone destruction was higher than those with no or mild bone destructions (2.7±1.1vs 3.4±1.3).The expression of Tfh in patients with un-treated RA patients,when compared to those RA patients who were treated appropriately and those who were not treated appropriately,was decreased significantly.The expression of Tfh in appropriately treated RA patients was lower than that without appropriately treatment.The level of IL-21,CXCL13 was decreased in patients with RA in the order of high,moderate,low disease activity and NC.Conclusion The expression of Tfh and the levels of IL-21,CXCL13 are increased significantly,and are closely related to disease activity and bone ersions.The expression of Tfh is decreased after relevant treatment.These results indicate that the abnormality of Tfh may play an important role in the pathogenesis of RA.

Background: Although there are some Chinese herbal medicines in treatment of constipation, but no multi-center randomized controlled trials have been carried out to prove their effectiveness. Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Yunchang Capsule in treatment of functional constipation with deficiency of both qi and yin and internal accumulation of poisonous pathogenic factors syndrome, and to explore the clinical dosage. Design, setting, participants and interventions: A randomized, double-blinded controlled, multicenter trial was conducted. A total of 240 patients with functional constipation from West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Fujian Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine were randomly divided into three groups: low dose group (80 cases), high dose group (80 cases) and control group (80 cases). Patients in the low dose group were treated with two pills (0.35 g/pill) of Yunchang Capsule and one pill of Yunchang Capsule simulant for three times daily; patients in the high dose group were treated with three pills (0.35 g/pill) of Yunchang Capsule for three times daily; and patients in the control group were treated with three pills (0.35 g/pill) of Biantong Capsule for three times daily. The therapeutic course was 14 days. Main outcome measures: Clinical symptoms, syndromes, and adverse effects were observed before and after the treatment, and blood, urine and stool tests, hepatorenal function and electrocardiogram were also examined. Results: Two cases were excluded, eleven cases were lost to follow-up, and there were 234 patients entered to intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis. After the treatment, the therapeutic effects were calculated by full analysis set (FAS) and per-protocol population set (PPS) analysis respectively. The effects on functional constipation in FAS showed the response rates in the low dose, high dose and control groups were 86.25% (69/80), 82.90% (63/76), and 70.52% (55/78) respectively, and PPS analysis showed the response rates were 85.71% (66/77), 83.56% (61/73), and 70.13% (54/77) respectively. There were no significant differences among the three groups (P>0.05). The effects on traditional Chinese medicine syndrome in FAS showed the response rates in the low dose, high dose and control groups were 78.75% (63/80), 69.74% (53/76), and 67.95% (53/78) respectively, and PPS analysis showed the response rates were 77.92% (60/77), 69.87%(51/73), and 67.53% (52/77) respectively. There were also no significant differences among the three groups (P>0.05). No severe adverse events were observed. Conclusion: Both low dose and high dose of Yunchang Capsule are effective and safe in treatment of functional constipation with deficiency of both qi and yin and internal accumulation of poisonous pathogenic factors syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of Chaiqin Chengqi Decoction (CQCQD) in treatment of rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP). METHODS: Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham-operated (SO) group, ANP group and CQCQD-treated group. ANP was induced by retro-pumping 3.5% sodium cholate to common bile duct. Blood sample was collected from abdominal vein for examination and the pancreatic tissue samples were taken for making pathology section 6 hours later. The pancreatic tissue (HE staining) was observed by light microscope. The content of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was detected with the method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in pancreas was detected by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: Compared with the SO group, there was dramatic increase in the white blood cell (WBC) counts and AMY level in the ANP group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the ANP group, the WBC counts and AMY level in CQCQD-treated group were significantly reduced (P<0.05). The edema, inflammatory infiltration, haemorrhage and necrosis scores and total pathological score in the ANP group were obviously higher than those in the SO group (P<0.01). The edema, haemorrhage and inflammatory infiltration scores and the total pathological score in CQCQD-treated group were decreased (P<0.05). The integral optical density of NF-kappaB p65 positive cells of pancreas in CQCQD-treated group was lower than that in the ANP group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: CQCQD can reduce the content of serum TNF-alpha and IL-6, depress the activation of NF-kappaB, and lessen the pancreatic lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the occurring mechanism and clinical characteristics of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) associated with hypoalbuminemia in early stage and its influence on prognosis of SAP and the preventive and therapeutic management of this disease. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-eight cases diagnosed as SAP complicated by hypoalbuminemia in early stage were accepted in our hospital from August 1, 2003 to December 31, 2004, and they were divided into 2 groups according to the level of plasma albumin: mild hypoalbuminemia (30 to 35 g/L) group and severe hypoalbuminemia (<30 g/L) group. The complications in the early stage, related parameters, and the incidence rate of infection and mortality in the later stage were evaluated respectively. RESULTS: The incidence rates of renal dysfunction, shock, cardiovascular failure and gastrointestinal hemorrhage, the score of acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II ) and the frequencies of pulse and breath in the severe hypoalbuminemia group were all higher than those in the mild hypoalbuminemia group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The differences of incidence rate of hepatic failure and the scores of Ranson and Balthazar CT between these two groups had no statistical significance (P>0.05). The incidence rate of infection and the mortality in the severe hypoalbuminemia group were higher than those in the mild hypoalbuminemia group (P<0.01) in the later stage of SAP. CONCLUSION: Hypoalbuminemia in the early stage can accelerate the deterioration in pathophysiology of SAP. The lower level of the plasma albumin is in the early stage, the more complications and the higher incidence rate of infection and mortality will be in the later stage. To relieve the extent of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and abundant supplement of albumin, amino acid and lipid in time may be crucial to prevent the occurrence and deterioration of hypoalbuminemia.

OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic effects of Chaiqin Chengqi Decoction (CQCQD) in treating severe acute biliary pancreatitis. METHODS: Ninety patients with severe acute biliary pancreatitis were treated with CQCQD, and they were divided into two groups: early-treated group (54 patients treated with CQCQD within 3 days after the onset of severe acute biliary pancreatitis) and late-treated group (36 patients treated with CQCQD between 3 and 7 days after the onset of severe acute biliary pancreatitis). The complication incidence rate, operation rate, mortality rate and hospitalization period were examined. RESULTS: The incidence rates of encephalopathy, infection and gastrointestinal hemorrhage were lower in the early-treated group than those in the late-treated group (P<0.05). The hospitalization periods of the early- and late-treated groups were (24.9+/-18.4) days and (51.6+/-45.9) days respectively (P<0.05). The general mortality rate was 14.4%. The mortality rate of the early-treated group (7.4%) was significantly lower as compared with that of the late-treated group (25.0%) (P<0.05). The operation rate of the early-treated group (11.1%) was also significantly lower as compared with that of the late-treated group (27.8%) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Treating severe acute biliary pancreatitis with CQCQD in early stage may reduce the complication incidence rate, shorten the hospitalization period, and decrease the operation rate and mortality rate.

Objective: To examine the dose-response association between cardiorespiratory fitness ( CRF ) and the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Methods: A joint search was performed in Chinese and English electronic databases, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure ( CNKI ) , Wanfang Data, VIP, CBM, PubMed, Embase and Web of Science, to retrieve publications reporting the correlation between CRF and the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases until May, 2021. The pooled risk was estimated using the random effects model, and the dose-response association was evaluated using restricted cubic splines. The source of heterogeneity was assessed by subgroup analysis, and the stability of the results was tested by the trim-and-fill method, while the publication bias was assessed using funnel plots. Results: Totally 37 280 literatures were identified, and 23 eligible studies were finally included in the analysis, which covered 2 605 622 subjects. There were 22 publications identified as high-quality. Meta-analysis revealed that the pooled risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases reduced by 42% in the highest CRF group relative to the lowest CRF group ( OR=0.58, 95%CI: 0.52-0.65 ), and a one metabolic equivalent ( MET ) increase in CRF caused a 10% reduction in the pooled risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases ( OR=0.90, 95%CI: 0.88-0.92 ). There was a negative linear correlation between CRF and the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases ( P=0.396 ). Subgroup analysis identified gender, sample size and study regions as possible sources of heterogeneity, and sensitivity analysis showed that the study results were stable. Conclusions There is a negative linear correlation between CRF and the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and an increase in CRF may reduce the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.