This study examined the effect of tanshinone II A (TSN II A) on the cardiac fibrosis induced by transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and the possible mechanisms. Cardiac fibroblasts were isolated from cardiac tissues of neonatal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats by the trypsin digestion and differential adhesion method. The cells were treated with 5 ng/mL TGF-β1 alone or pretreated with TSN II A at different concentrations (10(-5) mol/L, 10(-4) mol/L). Immunocytochemistry was used for cell identification, RT-PCR for detection of the mRNA expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and collagen type I (COL I), Western blotting for detection of the protein expression of Smad7 and Smad3, and immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining for detection of the protein expression of phosphorylated Smad3 (p-Smad3), CTGF and COLI. The results showed that TGF-β1 induced the expression of CTGF, COL I, p-Smad3 and Smad7 in a time-dependent manner. The mRNA expression of CTGF and COL I was significantly increased 24 h after TGF-β1 stimulation (P<0.01 for all). The protein expression of p-Smad3 and Smad7 reached a peak 1 h after TGF-β1 stimulation, much higher than the baseline level (P<0.01 for all). Pretreatment with high concentration of TSN A resulted in a decrease in the expression of p-Smad3, CTGF and COL I (P<0.01). The protein expression of Smad7 was substantially upregulated after pretreatment with two concentrations of TSN II A as compared with that at 2 h post TGF-β1 stimulation (P<0.05 for low concentration of TSN I IA; P<0.01 for high concentration of TSN II A). It was concluded that TSN II A may exert an inhibitory effect on cardiac fibrosis by upregulating the expression of Smad7, suppressing the TGF-β1-induced phosphorylation of Smad3 and partially blocking the TGF-β1-Smads signaling pathway.

This study examined the effect of tanshinone II A (TSN II A) on the cardiac fibrosis induced by transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and the possible mechanisms. Cardiac fibroblasts were isolated from cardiac tissues of neonatal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats by the trypsin digestion and differential adhesion method. The cells were treated with 5 ng/mL TGF-β1 alone or pretreated with TSN II A at different concentrations (10(-5) mol/L, 10(-4) mol/L). Immunocytochemistry was used for cell identification, RT-PCR for detection of the mRNA expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and collagen type I (COL I), Western blotting for detection of the protein expression of Smad7 and Smad3, and immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining for detection of the protein expression of phosphorylated Smad3 (p-Smad3), CTGF and COLI. The results showed that TGF-β1 induced the expression of CTGF, COL I, p-Smad3 and Smad7 in a time-dependent manner. The mRNA expression of CTGF and COL I was significantly increased 24 h after TGF-β1 stimulation (P<0.01 for all). The protein expression of p-Smad3 and Smad7 reached a peak 1 h after TGF-β1 stimulation, much higher than the baseline level (P<0.01 for all). Pretreatment with high concentration of TSN A resulted in a decrease in the expression of p-Smad3, CTGF and COL I (P<0.01). The protein expression of Smad7 was substantially upregulated after pretreatment with two concentrations of TSN II A as compared with that at 2 h post TGF-β1 stimulation (P<0.05 for low concentration of TSN I IA; P<0.01 for high concentration of TSN II A). It was concluded that TSN II A may exert an inhibitory effect on cardiac fibrosis by upregulating the expression of Smad7, suppressing the TGF-β1-induced phosphorylation of Smad3 and partially blocking the TGF-β1-Smads signaling pathway.
Animals ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; pharmacology ; Fibrosis ; metabolism ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the changes of corneal biomechanics of intrastromal correction (INTRACOR) femtosecond technique to treat presbyopia.Methods A prospective,clinical self-control clinical trial was designed.Twenty-four presbyopic patients with emmetropia or mild hyperopia were enrolled in this study.The INTRACOR procedure was performed using the Technolas femtosecond laser in the nondominant eye.Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCDVA),uncorrected near visual acuity (UCNVA) and spherical equivalent (SE) were recorded in preoperation and postoperative 12 months,and the quality of life of postoperative patients was evaluated.The corneal deformation parameters including highest concavity deformation amplitude (HC-DA),highest concavity peak distance (HC-PD),highest concavity radius (HC-R),non-contact intraocular pressure and the central corneal thickness (CCT) were measured using the Corvis ST visualization biomechanical analyzer in preoperation and postoperative 1 month,3,6 and 12 months,respectively.This study followed the Declaration of Helsinki.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to entering study cohort.This study protocol was approved by Ethic Committee of Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (No.SDZYYDXYKYYLL2011.06).Results Compared with preoperation,UCNVA of all 24 (100％) eyes was improved at 12 months postoperatively with minimal or no change in UCDVA.The mean spherical equivalent was (+0.35± 0.29)D and (-0.37 ± 0.29)D before and 12 months after operation,with a significant difference beteeen them (t=-7.39,P＜0.01).No significant differences were seen in the intraocular pressure,CCT and HC-PD values between preoperation and postoperative 1 month,3,6,12 months (F =1.273,1.347,2.434;all at P ＞ 0.05).Compared with preoperation,the postoperative 1 month,3,6,12 months HC-R values were significantly declined,HC-DA values were significantly increased,with significant differences between them (all at P＜0.05),and no significant differences were found in HC-R and HC-DA between the postoperative adjacent time points (all at P＞0.05).Corneal aspherical index (Q Value) was-0.28±t0.10 at 12 months postoperatively,which was increased compared with the preoperation,and the maximum value added value (diff-K) of the central corneal curvature was (2.55±0.81)D.Conclusions INTRACOR treatment of presbyopia can effectively improve near vision,increase postoperative corneal biomechanical maximum HC-R and HC-DA,negatively increase the corneal central curvature increased aspheric index,which suggests that corneal biomechanics of central cornea is weakened after intrastromal femtosecond presbyopic treatment,and the hyperprolate mutifocal corneal shape is formed under normal intraocular pressure.

Pulmonary blast injury has become the main type of trauma in modern warfare, characterized by externally mild injuries but internally severe injuries, rapid disease progression, and a high rate of early death. The injury is complicated in clinical practice, often with multiple and compound injuries. Currently, there is a lack of effective protective materials, accurate injury detection instrument and portable monitoring and transportation equipment, standardized clinical treatment guidelines in various medical centers, and evidence-based guidelines at home and abroad, resulting in a high mortality in clinlcal practice. Therefore, the Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association and the Editorial Committee of Chinese Journal of Trauma organized military and civilian experts in related fields such as thoracic surgery and traumatic surgery to jointly develop the Clinical treatment guideline for pulmonary blast injury ( version 2023) by combining evidence for effectiveness and clinical first-line treatment experience. This guideline provided 16 recommended opinions surrounding definition, characteristics, pre-hospital diagnosis and treatment, and in-hospital treatment of pulmonary blast injury, hoping to provide a basis for the clinical treatment in hospitals at different levels.