AIM:To investigate the protective effect of hyperoside (Hyp) on Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) pneumonia (MPP) mice and the underlying regulatory mechanism.METHODS:BALB/c mice (n=40) were randomly divided into control group, model group, low-dose (12.5 mg/kg) Hyp group and high-dose (50 mg/kg) Hyp group.The MPP model was established using MP standard strains (MPFH) through nasal dripping.The treatment started on the second day, and the follow-up experiments were performed after 3 d.The lung histopathology were detected by HE staining.The levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB) in the serum, and the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) in the lung tissues were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer.ELISA and Western blot were used to detect interleukine-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-18 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels in the serum and lung tissues, respectively.The expression of NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 at mRNA and protein levels was evaluated by RT-qPCR and Western blot.RESULTS:Compared with control group, the inflammation and alveolar interstitial widening were observed in the lung tissues of model mice, and the CRP, ALT, AST, LDH and CK-MB levels were significantly up-regulated (P<0.05).The ROS level was increased, while SOD and GSH levels were significantly decreased (P<0.05).The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18 and TNF-α were markedly up-regulated (P<0.05).The protein expression of NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 was also obviously increased (P<0.05) in model group.Compared with model group, the symptoms above were significantly relieved in Hyp group, and the effect of high-dose Hyp was more apparent than that of the low-dose one.CONCLUSION:Hyperoside suppresses the injury in MPP mice, which may be related to the inhibition of oxidative stress and NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Objective: To compare the efifcacy and safety of circumferential pulmonary vein antecourt isolation (CPVAI) ablation and stepwise linear (SL) ablation in treating the patients with atrial ifbrillation (AF) Methods: A total of 136 AF patients with catheter ablation under EnSite 3000 guidance in our hospital were retrospectively summarized. The patients included 93 paroxysmal AF and 43 persistent AF and divided into 4 groups. Paroxysmal AF with CPVAI ablation,n=45, Paroxysmal AF with SL ablation,n=48 and persistent AF with CPVAI ablation, n=18, persistent AF with SL ablation,n=25. The differences of left atrium diameter, ablation time, X-ray exposure time, the success rate and complication were compared among different groups. Results: For 12 months follow-up study, the success rate and complication were similar between 2 ablation methods for treating both Paroxysmal AF and persistent AF patients. For Paroxysmal AF patients, both ablation methods could effectively reduce left atrium diameter,P<0.01. The SL ablation had less procedural time than CPVAI ablation,P<0.01, while the X-ray exposure time was similar between 2 ablation methods. Conclusion: Both CPVAI and SL ablation methods were effective and safe for treating AF patients.

Objective To investigate the use of laparoscopic ultrasound to exclude cystic duct obstruction and its related risk factors in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Methods The data of 28 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in our department for cystic duct obstruction from February 2008 to April 2010 were analyzed.Subtotal resection of gallbladder and exclusion of cysticduct were carried out when the gallbladder triangle anatomy was not clear.An abdominal drain was used.Results All the patients were cured and there was no bleeding,abdominal infection,or jaundice.On univariate analysis,risk factors for cystic duct obstruction were adhesions in Calot triangle,gallbladder atrophy,acute cholecystitis,cystic duct stone incarceration,gallbladder wall thickening and white bile.Adhesion in Calot triangle,acute cholecystitis and white bile were independent risk factors on multivariate analysis.Conclusion Excluding cystic duct obstruction by laparoscopic ultrasound for patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cystic duct obstruction is safe and effective.

Hepatic artery reconstruction is one of the key procedures in liver transplantation. Accidental dissection of the hepatic artery to be reconstructed caused by donor and recipient factors or surgical factors will disrupt the surgical plan, increase the difficulty of arterial reconstruction, significantly prolong the operation time, increase the risk of postoperative arterial stenosis and thrombosis and probably lead to acute allograft failure, which requires emergency surgical interventions or even secondary liver transplantation. Understanding of how to avoid dissection of the artery to be anastomosed during liver transplantation and corresponding treatment will contribute to preventing the incidence of artery-related complications during liver transplantation and improving clinical prognosis of liver transplant recipients. In this article, the causes, prevention and treatment of hepatic artery dissection and hepatic artery reconstruction in donors and recipients during liver transplantation were illustrated.

Objective:To investigate the factors influencing phytohemagglutinin (PHA) response in the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection by gamma interferon release assay (IGRA). Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted on 360 hospitalized patients who received IGRA in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2019 to December 2021. According to PHA response (IFN-γ level), they were divided into three groups: negative mitogen response group (IFN-γ<2 pg/ml), weak positive mitogen response group (IFN-γ: 2-100 pg/ml), and normal mitogen response group (IFN-γ>400 pg/ml).Results:Immune diseases were independently associated with negative (OR=0.34, 95%CI: 0.17-0.72, P=0.004) and weak positive mitogen responses (OR=0.29, 95%CI: 0.16-0.55, P<0.001). Infections caused by pathogens other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis was independently associated with negative mitogen response (OR=0.266, 95%CI: 0.09-0.83, P=0.023), while immunodeficiency was independently associated with weak positive mitogen response (OR=0.280, 95%CI: 0.12-0.63, P=0.002). Mitogen response was significantly correlated with the levels of albumin and hemoglobin in serum and the counts of neutrophils and lymphocytes ( P<0.001). Conclusions:Immune diseases and immunodeficiency can affect mitogen response. Therefore, clinicians should give attention to mitogen response in the interpretation of IGRA test results to prevent misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis. Besides, to a certain extent, mitogen response can reflect the infection status of hospitalized patients.

Objective To investigate the application value of artery approach in the lower colon region combined with portal vein (PV) resection and allograft vascular grafts in radical pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer combined with vascular invasion.Methods The retrospective descriptive study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 13 patients with pancreatic cancer involving in PV,splenic vein or junction who were admitted to the Beijing Chao Yang Hospital of Capital Medical University from March 2014 to June 2015 were collected.The superior mesenteric artery (SMA),tumors and soft tissues (including involved vessels) in the right of the celiac trunk were resected after exploring SMA and evaluating resectability of tumors.Patients underwent PV-splenic vein resection and reconstruction with allogenic vein.Observation indicators:(1) surgical situations;(2) postoperative situations;(3) follow-up situation.Follow-up using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect survival of patients and tumor recurrence and metastasis up to April 2016.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as (x)±s.Results (1) Surgical situations:13 patients successfully underwent radical pancreaticoduodenectomy via artery approach in the lower colon region combined with PV,splenic vein resection and allograft vascular grafts.Operation time and volume of intraoperative blood loss were respectively (489 ± 31) minutes and (407 ± 96) mL,without intra-and post-operative deaths.(2)Postoperative situations:of 13 patients,3 and 1 patients were respectively complicated with pancreatic fistula (2 in grade A and 1 in grade B) and gastroplegia,and cured by conservative treatment.There was no occurrence of bleeding,intraperitoneal infection,diarrhea,anastomotic stenosis and thrombus.The median duration of postoperative hospital stay was 12 days.Results of postoperative pathological examination:of 13 patients,high-,moderate-and low-differentiated adenocarcinoma was detected in 2,7 and 4 patients respectively.Three patients had negative vascular margin,2 had tunica intima invasion and 8 had tumor cell invasion in vascular adventitia.One,2,6,4 patients were detected in Ⅰ B,Ⅱ A,Ⅱ B and Ⅲ staging,respectively.The negative margin rate by postoperative pathological examination was 11/13.(3) Follow-up situation:13 patients were followed up 10 months postoperatively,with good survival and without tumor recurrence or metastasis.Conclusion The radical pancreaticoduodenectomy via artery approach in the lower colon region combined with PV/SMV resection and allograft vascular grafts is safe and feasible for pancreatic cancer involving in PV,splenic vein or junction,it can also evaluate early resectability of tumors,with good operative efficacy.

OBJECTIVES: Cough variant asthma (CVA) is the main cause of obstinate cough. This study aimed to observe the therapeutic effect of Xiaochuan pill on CVA in a rat model, and to explore the mechanisms. METHODS: The rats were sensitized and challenged with 4% ovaibumin (OA) and 2% Al(OH) to establish the CVA models. They were treated with Xiaochuan pill (at the dose of 0.9, 1.8, 3.6 g/kg) or montelukast sodium once a day for 14 days. After 7 and 14 days of intervention, 5 and 10 rats were randomly selected from each group to collect bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), trachea, and lungs. The number of white blood cells (WBC) and eosinophils (EOS), and the levels of IL-1β, TNF- α, and IFN-γ in BALF were detected. Histopathological examination of lung tissue was performed to observe the histomorphological changes. The expressions of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κBp65, and p-p65 in lung tissue were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: The numbers of WBC and EOS in BALF of CVA rats were significantly decreased by Xiaochuan pill (<0.05 or <0.01). The hyperplasia of tracheal, bronchial mucosa and the infiltration of inflammatory cells in lung were alleviated obviously. After 14 d of intervention, high dose of Xiaochuan pill significantly increased the level of IFN- γ (<0.01), reduced the levels of IL-1β (<0.05) and TNF-α (<0.05), and decreased the expressions of TLR4, MyD88, p65, and p-p65 (<0.05 or <0.01). CONCLUSIONS Xiaochuan pill exerts the significant therapeutic effect on obstinate cough in rats. The mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of TLR4-MyD88-NF-κBp65 signaling pathway as well as the inflammation and immune response.
Animals ; Cough ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 ; NF-kappa B ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Objective To establish a weightlessness simulation animal model using miniature pigs, leveraging the characteristic of multiple systems’ tissue structures and functions similar to those of humans, and to observe pathophysiological changes, providing a new method for aerospace research. Methods Nine standard-grade miniature pigs were selected and randomly divided into an experimental group (n=7) and a control group (n=2). The experimental group was fixed using customized metal cages, with canvas slings suspending their hind limbs off the ground, and the body positioned at a -20° angle relative to the ground to simulate unloading for 30 days (24 hours a day). Data on body weight, blood volume, and blood biochemistry indicators were collected at different time points for statistical analysis of basic physiological changes. After the experiment, the miniature pigs were euthanized and tissue samples were collected for histopathological observation of the cardiovascular, skeletal and muscle systems HE and Masson staining. Statistical analysis was also conducted on the thickness of arterial vessels and the diameter of skeletal muscle fibers. Additionally, western blotting was employed to detect the expression levels of skeletal muscle atrophy-related proteins, including muscle-specific RING finger protein 1 (MuRf-1) and muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx, as known as Atrogin-1), while immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), an indicator of astrocyte activation in the brain, reflecting the pathophysiological functional changes across systems. Results After hindlimb unloading, the experimental group showed significant decreases in body weight (P<0.001) and blood volume (P<0.01). During the experiment, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cell count levels significantly decreased (P<0.05) but gradually recovered. The expression levels of alanine aminotransferase and γ-glutamyltransferase initially decreased (P<0.05) before rebounding, while albumin significantly decreased (P<0.001) and globulin significantly increased (P<0.01). Creatinine significantly decreased (P<0.05). The average diameter of gastrocnemius muscle fibers in the experimental group significantly shortened (P<0.05), with a leftward shift in the distribution of muscle fiber diameters and an increase in small-diameter muscle fibers. Simultaneously, Atrogin-1 expression in the gastrocnemius and paravertebral muscles significantly increased (P<0.05). These changes are generally consistent with the effects of weightlessness on humans and animals in space. Furthermore, degenerative changes were observed in some neurons of the cortical parietal lobe, frontal lobe, and hippocampal regions of the experimental group, with a slight reduction in the number of Purkinje cells in the cerebellar region, and a significant enhancement of GFAP-positive signals in the hippocampal area (P<0.05). Conclusion Miniature pigs subjected to a -20° angle hind limb unloading for 30 days maybe serve as a new animal model for simulating weightlessness, applicable to related aerospace research.

Objective: To investigate the effect of cell-to-cell communication amongst single-cell clones from healthy periodontium with different osteogenic differentiation potentials on change of osteogenic differentiation capabilities and the role histone acetyltransferase partaken in this process. Methods: In order to research the change of osteogenic differentiation ability via cell-to-cell communication, indirect co-culture method was used by placing two single-cell clones with different osteogenesis potentials in each of the 6-well plates. Blank control, weak and strong osteogenic groups were set up, corresponding to Transwell chambers with blank, cells of weak osteogenesis ability and cells of strong osteogenesis ability, respectively. Each group was made in triplicate. After co-culture for four days, Transwell chamber was removed. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and alizarin red staining were employed to detect the change of osteogenic differentiation ability. The acetylation level of H3 was measured by using Western blotting. Histone acetyltransferases were detected by qPCR. Results: Single-cell clones were ensured from mesenchymal stem cells by flow cytometer, the positive expression of CD29, CD90, CD105, CD146 was (99.80±0.02)%, (99.36±0.18)%, (99.41±0.05)% and (95.10±2.11)%, respectively. And CD31 and CD34 expression were (0.29±0.11)% and (0.22±0.13)%, respectively. Alizarin red and oil red O staining confirmed that single-cell clones had the abilities of adipogenesis and osteogenesis. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alizarin red staining indicated that different single-cell clones were heterogeneity in osteogenesis differentiation. Indirect co-culture indicated that the mRNA expression of osteocalcin (OCN) were 14.24±5.60 and 4.78±2.90, respectively and Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) were 2.75±1.44 and 1.61±0.44, respectively, in strong and weak osteogenic groups. They were significantly higher compared to the blank group (the mRNA expression of OCN and RUNX2 were 1.00±0.47 and 1.00±0.39, respectively). The expression of OCN and RUNX2 were also higher in strong osteogenic group than that in weak osteogenic group (P<0.05). The mean gray level of the acetylation of H3 in strong osteogenic group (0.76±0.09) and weak osteogenic group (0.54±0.12) were also higher than that in the blank group (0.30±0.04)(P<0.05). qPCR results showed that KAT6A in strong osteogenic group exhibiting higher expression (P<0.05) compared to weak osteogenic group and the blank group, which were corresponding to the changes of acetylation levels. Conclusions Single-cell clones from healthy periodontium showed heterogeneity in osteogenic differentiation abilities. Single-cell clones with strong osteogenesis abilities had an advantage over others by promoting others' osteogenesis differentiation and this change mediated by cell-to-cell communication might be caused by modulating KAT6A to affect the acetylation level of histone.