Objective To investigate the protective effect and mechanisms of total alkaloids of Bulbus Fritillaria Pallidiflora (TA-BFP) on pulmonary fibrosis in silicosis mice. Methods i) Bulbus Fritillaria Pallidiflora (BFP) powder was collected by heating and refluxing twice with 70.00% ethanol, and the dried concentrated sample was purified using cation-exchange and macroporous adsorbent resins to obtain TA-BFP. The total alkaloids level was detected using ultraviolet spectrophotometry and the characteristic peaks in TA-BFP were identified using the high-performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD). ii) Specific pathogen-free male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the control group, model group and intervention group, with 15 mice in each group. Mice in the model group and the intervention group were treated with 80 μL silica suspension with a mass concentration of 62.5 g/L, while the control group was treated with an equal volume of 0.9% sodium chloride solution using non-exposed tracheal instillation method. On the 28th day after modeling, mice in the intervention group were given TA-BFP at a dose of 60 mg/kg body mass, and the model group and control group were given 2.00% Tween-80 solution at the same volume by gastric gavage, once per day, for 28 days. The mouse lung tissue pathology was observed, lung organ coefficient was calculated, and inflammation and fibrosis scores were assessed after the intervention period. Serum levels of mouse interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results i) The total alkaloid level of TA-BFP in the BFP powder was 50.36% after elution and purification. A total of nine alkaloid components in TA-BFP were identified by HPLC-ELSD. ii) The results of lung histopathology showed that no obvious changes of inflammation and fibrosis were identified in the lungs of mice in the control group, obvious changes of inflammation and fibrosis were identified in the lungs of mice in the model group, and the intervention group showed reduced inflammation and fibrosis in the lungs of mice compared with that of the model group. The lung organ coefficient, pulmonary inflammation score, pulmonary fibrosis score, and levels of serum IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were significantly higher in the model group than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The lung organ coefficient, pulmonary inflammation score, pulmonary fibrosis score, and levels of serum IL-1β, and TNF-α were significantly higher in the intervention group than those in the control group (all P<0.05), while the pulmonary inflammation score, pulmonary fibrosis score, and levels of serum IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were significantly lower in the intervention group than those in the model group (all P<0.05). Conclusion TA-BFP alleviates pulmonary inflammation in silicosis mice, thereby delaying the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. The mechanism may involve in inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α.

AIM:To investigate the effect of Ganoderma leucocontextum extract(GLE)on mice with cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury(AKI)and lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced cellular inflammation.METHODS:Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group,AKI group,low-dose(100 mg/kg)GLE group,high-dose(300 mg/kg)GLE group,and quercetin(100 mg/kg)group,with 6 mice in each group.The AKI model was es-tablished by intraperitoneal injection of a 20 mg/kg cisplatin solution.After GLE intervention for 3 d,serum creatinine(SCr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)levels were measured.Renal pathology was observed using HE and PAS staining.The expression of β-catenin and Axin2 protein in each group was detected by immunohistochemistry.The expression lev-els of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),IL-6,β-catenin and Axin2 in each group were detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR.The TCMK1 cells were stimulated with 2 mg/L LPS to simulate cellular inflammatory injury.After GLE treatment(0.2,0.4,0.6 and 0.8 g/L)for 24 h,the expressions of IL-1β,IL-6,β-catenin and Axin2 in each group were detected.Fur-ther overexpression of Axin2 was used to verify the changes in the above-mentioned indices.RESULTS:High doses of GLE significantly reduced SCr(P<0.01)and BUN(P<0.05)levels compared with the AKI mice.AKI mice showed re-nal tubule dilatation,tubular epithelial cell necrosis,vacuolation,and other pathological manifestations,which were im-proved after GLE intervention.Immunohistochemistry showed increased expression of Axin2 and β-catenin protein in the kidneys of AKI mice,which was reduced by GLE intervention.Western blot and RT-qPCR results in vitro and in vivo showed that GLE intervention significantly inhibited the expression and mRNA levels of IL-1β,IL-6,Axin2 and β-catenin(P<0.05).Overexpression of Axin2 antagonized the effect of GLE on IL-1β,IL-6,Axin2 and β-catenin,resulting in sig-nificantly up-regulated expressions of these proteins and mRNAs(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:GLE significantly allevi-ates the inflammatory response in AKI mice and LPS-induced cells,and protects against cisplatin-induced kidney injury in mice by inhibiting the Axin2/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Objective To understand the prevalence,treatment and influence factors of hypertension in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients in Anhui Province.Methods A total of 2724 adult patients on MHD from January 1st 2014 to March 31st 2014 in 26 hospitals of southern,northern and central Anhui Province were investigated.Their demographic characteristics,primary disease,complications,medications,dialysis and laboratory examination were explored.The prevalence treatment rate and control rate of hypertension were analyzed.Associated factors for controlling hypertension [systolic blood pressure (SBP) ＜ 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ＜ 90 mmHg] were assessed by logistic regression analysis.Results (1) The prevalence of hypertension in the hemodialysis patients was 87.0％.Their treatment rate and control rate were 93.2％ and 23.9％ respectively.The average of SBP was (145.90±21.18) mmHg,and the DBP on average was (83.60± 12.21) mmHg.The most commonly used anti-hypertensive drug is calcium channel blocker (88.2％).Over one third (45.7％) of patients were treated with two kinds of anti-hypertensive drug,26.2％ with 1 kind,21.7％ with 3 kinds,and 6.4％ with 4 kinds or more.(2) Compared with non-hypertension patients,patients with hypertension have older age,higher body mass index (BMI),phosphorus,SBP and DBP,as well as lower hemoglobin and Kt/V (all P ＜ 0.05).(3) The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that Ca ＞ 2.50 mmol/L (OR=2.084,95％CI 1.008-4.307,P=0.047) positively correlated with controlling hypertension,while smoke (OR=0.594,95％CI 0.356-0.911,P=0.046) and BMI 18.5 ～ 23.9 kg/m2 (OR=0.516,95％CI 0.293-0.907,P=0.022) negatively correlated with it.Conclusions High prevalence yet low control rate of hypertension in MHD patients in Anhui Province were observed.Hypocalcemia may be a protective factor for hypertension control,while smoke and BMI may be risk factors for it.