The effect of adventitia on the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis (As) is getting more attentions. Fibroblasts, mast cells, dendritic cells, vasa vasorums, vascular-associated lymphoid tissues, and vascular peripheral nerves are related to the occurrence and development of As. This essay summarizes studies on the changes in adventitia in As process and its effect on the occurrence and development of As, as well as the latest progress.
Adventitia ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Disease Progression ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of oral contraceptive pretreatment (OCP) in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF-ET.

METHODSWe randomly divided 85 patients with P-COS undergoing IVF-ET into an OCP (n = 53) and a control group (n = 32), the former received OCP, while the latter did not before the cycle. We retrospectively analyzed the data of the patients for the ovulation promoting effect of OCP and its influence on the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and outcomes of IVF-ET.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, OCP significantly reduced the formation of ovarian cyst (P < 0.05), remarkably increased the duration of gonadotropin stimulation and consumption (P < 0.01) , and markedly raised the percentage of mature ova (87.92% vs 92.85%, P < 0.05). But no significant differences were observed between the two groups in the incidences of moderate and severe OHSS, number of retrieved oocytes, and rates of fertilization, miscarriage and clinical pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONOCP for patients with PCOS can help to control the time of ovarian stimulation, improve the synchronism of follicular development, and increase the duration of gonadotropin stimulation and consumption, but cannot change the incidences of moderate and severe OHSS.

Adult ; Contraceptives, Oral ; therapeutic use ; Embryo Transfer ; methods ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; methods ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; etiology ; therapy ; Ovulation ; Ovulation Induction ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; complications ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Retrospective Studies

Lipid accumulation in the vessel wall and tunica intima vasorum pathological changes are important factors in the development of atherosclerosis, which are closely related with hemodynamics. In this paper, we established a model of local low shear stress in rabbits using carotid artery cannula and a high cholesterol diet for 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. The effects of Shenlian extract on blood flow, vascular pathology formation and lipid metabolism were assessed by electromagnetic blood flow meter and hematoxylin-eosin staining of the proximal end in carotid artery at different times. The results demonstrate that the relationship between blood flow and shear stress for control, atorvastatin, Shenlian extract high-dose, Shenlian extract middle-dose, and Shenlian extract low-dose were linearly related. The blood flow and the shear stress of proximal end in carotid artery of Shenlian extract (1.12, 2.24, 4.48 g x kg(-1)), and atorvastatin (4.7 x 10(-4) g x kg(-1)) were significantly (P < 0.05)increased compared with the control. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ,and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were markedly decreased with the increasing of dose and time. This study is the first to prove that the inhibition of Shenlian extract on low shear stress (LSS) induces rabbits carotid atherosclerosis with increasing blood flow and decreasing lipids and vessel pathological changes.
Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Blood Flow Velocity ; drug effects ; Carotid Arteries ; chemistry ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Rabbits ; Stress, Mechanical

Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Remission Induction ; Thymoma ; pathology ; therapy ; Thymus Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Transplantation, Homologous

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks were spreading rapidly around the world in early 2020. This disease is within the category of "damp epidemic" and "damp toxin epidemic" in traditional Chinese medicine, with lung and spleen as the lesion focuses, while dampness and toxin as especially prominent properties. Through clinical observation, we found that dampness would often transform into damp heat during the development and evolution of the disease, and the "triple energizer" treatment was an important therapeutic method, eliminating pathogens through purgation and diuresis: for those with damp-heat accumulation toxin diffused to the triple energizer, we could use Ganlu Xiaodudan as primary prescription, which can spread the upper part, smooth the middle part and infiltrate the lower part, so as to provide a way out for the pathogenic factors and regulate Qi movement. For those with damp-heat in Shaoyang channel, we could use Haoqin Qingdantang to clear heat and promote diuresis, harmonize Shaoyang, eliminate damp-heat and epidemic pathogenic factor. For those with pathogen hidden in membrane source dampness trapping and hidden heat, we could use Dayuanyin to eliminate pathogens between interior and exterior parts, and regulate Qi movement. At the same time we shared three typical cases treated in Wuhan, and conducted an in-depth analysis in this study. Clinically, the method of elimination of pathogens through purgation and diuresis is mainly used in the early and middle stage of this disease. When the disease is still located in Qi system, it also can be applied to mild, ordinary patients and severe patients that have accurate syndrome differentiation. In such cases, it can effectively improve symptoms, reduce pathogenic toxin, truncate and reverse the course of disease, give way to pathogen, and avoid disease aggravating.

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is highly contagious. In the early stages of the disease, the symptoms of coldness, dampness and depression in the lungs often appear, including fever, fatigue, soreness, dry cough, poor appetite, and white greasy tongue coating. During the development of the disease, the damp toxin epidemic often enters the inner and generates heat, and the damp heat epidemic toxin blocks pleurodiaphragmatic sites, the triple energizer and lungs, with manifestations of chest tightness, shortness of breath, exacerbation after exercise, or high fever without bringing down, poor appetite, bitterness in mouth, fatigue, diarrhea, loose stools, and yellow and thick tongue fur. As the pathogen can go outward or enter more deeply inside to cause death at the moment, it is the crucial time to treat the disease. In this study, Haoqin Qingdantang was used to clear dampness and heat, reconcile Shaoyang channel and recover the triple energizer, detoxify the dampness fever epidemic toxin, and block the toxin inside, with a good efficacy. This prescription focuses on smoothing the Shaoyang gallbladder channel and the triple energizer, and regards the spleen and stomach as the acquired essence. In the prescription, Erchentang reconciles the spleen and stomach, elevates clear Qi and lower turbid Qi. Bupleuri Radix is added to increase its detoxification function, and Paeoniae Rubra Radix is added to circulate the blood and prevent pathogen from the blood. When the condition improves, Sweet Wormwood Herb and talc are often withdrawn, and Codonopsis is added to nourish the spleen and stomach, to strengthening vital qi to eliminate pathogenic factor. Based on the cases of COVID-19 treated in Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, this paper summarized some experience of applying Haoqin Qingdantang.

This study was designed to investigate the activity of Shenlian tablet in stabilization of the atherosclerosis (As) plaque in apoE^-/- mice and explore the mechanisms. Rat peritoneal mast cells were randomly allocated and treated with Shenlian tablet (100, 50, 25, 12.5 mg ·L^-1) or cromoglicate sodium (200 μg·L^-1) for 2 h before exposure to substance P. Histamine, tryptase, IL-1β and NF-κB were measured in the cell culture supernatant by ELISA assay. The plaque formation was induced by common carotid artery cannula method combined with high-fat diet in apoE^-/- mice, and the plaque instability was induced by substance P through local mast cell degranulation. Mice were divided into eight groups that included the model 1 (M1, sham-operated group), M2 (carotid artery cannula combined with high-fat diet), M3 (M2 combined with substance P 0.5 μg/mouse), Shenlian extract (95, 190 and 380 mg·kg^-1·d^-1), atorvastatin (2.6 mg·kg^-1·d^-1) and normal control group. Total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs CRP), matrix metalloproteinases 9 (MMP-9) and histamine were measured by ELISA. Thickness, plaque area, mast cell degranulation were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, toluidine blue staining. CD117 antigen expression were observed by confocal microscopy. Intracellular phosphorylation was detected using the Bio-Plex 6-plex phosphoprotein assay kit. The results show that the mast cell membrane was stabilized by Shenlian tablet. Histamine, tryptase, interleukin l-β and NF-κB exhibited a significantly reduction in the Shenlian tablet-treated group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Substance P significantly enhanced activation and degranulation of adventitial mast cells. In addition, it increased adventitia inflammatory cells infiltration and promoted intraplaque hemorrhages in apoE^-/- mice model group. The proliferation, degranulation and inflammation of mast cell were significantly inhibited by Shenlian tablet. On the other hand, the same treatment decreased hs-CRP, MMP-9 and histamine in serum. IκB, p38 MAPK phosphorylation, intraplaque hemorrhage and collagen degradation were reduced in the presence of Shenlian tablet, which increased the stability of the As plaque. The results show that the vulnerable plaque model induced by mast cell activation in adventitia was established. Shenlian tablet exhibited a protective effect in this model. Shenlian tablet may increase the plaque stability via inhibition of mast cell-mediated inflammatory response.