In the present study, terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) technique was applied to assess the diversity and tissue distribution of the fungal endophyte communities of Alpinia officinarum collected from Longtang town in Xuwen county, Guangdong province, China, at which the pharmacological effect of the medicine plant is traditional considered to be the significantly higher than that in any other growth areas in China. A total of 28 distinct Terminal-Restriction Fragment (T-RFs) were detected with HhaI Mono-digestion targeted amplified fungal nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region sequences (rDNA ITS) from the root, rhizome, stem, and leaf internal tissues of A. officinarum plant, indicating that at least 28 distinct fungal species were able to colonize the internal tissue of the host plant. The rDNA ITS-T-RFLP profiles obtained from different tissues of the host plant were obvious distinct. And the numbers of total T-RFs, and the dominant T-RFs detected from various tissues were significantly different. Based on the obtained T-RFLP profiles, Shannon's diversity index and the Shannon's evenness index were calculated, which were significantly different among tissues (P < 0.05). Furthermore, two types of active chemicals, total volatile oils by water vapor distillation method and galangin by methanol extraction-HPLC method, were examined in the each tissue of the tested plant. Both of tested components were detected in all of the four tissues of the medicine plant with varying contents. And the highest was in rhizome tissue. Correlation analysis revealed there were significant negative correlations between both of the tested active components contents and calculated Shannon's diversity index, as well as the Shannon's evenness index of the fungal endophyte communities of the host plant (P = 0, Pearson correlation coefficient ≤ -0.962), and significant positive correlations between both of the tested active components contents and 325 bp dominant T-RF linkage to Pestalotiopsis (P = 0, Pearson correlation coefficient ≥ 0.975). In conclusion, A. officinarum is colonized by diverse fungal endophytes communities. The diversity of the fungal endophytes was found in the A. officinarum varied with differences of the tissue types of the host plants and was closely correlated with the accumulation of main active components, total volatile oils and galangin contents in the host plant tissue.
Alpinia ; chemistry ; microbiology ; Biodiversity ; China ; DNA, Fungal ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Endophytes ; classification ; genetics ; growth & development ; isolation & purification ; Fungi ; classification ; genetics ; growth & development ; isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; microbiology ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effect of atlantoaxial pedicle screw internal fixation for treatment of atlantoaxial dislocation.

METHODSSixteen patients with atlantoaxial dislocation were treated from Dec. 2005 to June 2007, included 10 males and 6 females, aged from 38 to 45 years old (means 40.5 years). Among them 12 patients combined with nerve injury, according to ASIA grade: there were 3 cases in grade B, 5 cases in grade C, 4 cases in grade D. All patients received preoperative CT, radiograph and skull traction. Intraoperative posterior approach general spine pedicle screw-rod orthopaedics fixation system used and iliac bone block were implanted in space of posterior atlantal arch and axial vertebral plate. The outcome and complications were observed in the near future.

RESULTSThere was no vascular or neural injury found. The patients were followed up for 12 to 24 months (means 18 months). All head pain, acid storm symptoms were improved after operation. According to the Odom's clinical efficacy evaluation standard, 12 cases were excellent, 4 were good. Eleven cases of 12 with nerve injury recovered significantly. By ASIA classification: 1 cases was in grade B, 2 cases were in grade C, 5 cases were in grade D, 4 cases were in grade E. No looseness or breakage of screw occurred. Bony fusion was achieved in all cases.

CONCLUSIONPosterior approach atlantoaxial pedicle screw internal fixation have the advantages of direct screw placement, short-segment fusion, intraoperative reduction, fixation reliable, high fusion rate, and it can restablish the upper cervical vertebrae stability and help to recover the spinal cord and nerve function.

Adult ; Atlanto-Axial Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the value of the serum heart fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) in the assessment of cardiac function in patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD).Methods Forty-five RHD patients hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from January 2016 to December 2016 were selected as the observation group.In addition,45 subjects with normal cardiac function in the same period were selected as control group.The levels of serum H-FABP,B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP),left ventricular end-diastolic dimension(LVEDD),left ventricular end-systolic dimension(LVESD) and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) were compared in the groups.The correlation between serum H-FABP and BNP,cardiac function classification was analyzed.Results The serum H-FABP and BNP levels and LVEDD,LVESD in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P ＜ 0.05),but the LVEF in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P ＜ 0.05).There were significant differences in the serum H-FABP,BNP levels and LVEDD,LVESD,LVEF among the patients with class Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ of heart function (P ＜0.05).The serum H-FABP,BNP levels and LVEDD,LVESD in the patients with class Ⅲ and Ⅳ of heart function were significantly higher than those in the patients with class Ⅱ of heart function(P ＜ 0.05);but the LVEF in the patients with class Ⅲand Ⅳ of heart function was significantly lower than that in the patients with class Ⅱ of heart function(P ＜0.05).Compared with the patients with class Ⅲ of heart function,the serum H-FABP,BNP levels and LVEDD,LVESD in the patients with class Ⅳ of heart function were significantly higher(P ＜ 0.05);but the LVEF in the patients with class Ⅳ of heart function was significantly lower(P ＜ 0.05).The serum H-FABP level was positively correlated with serum BNP level,LVEDD and LVESD in the observation group (r =0.579,0.743,0.740;P ＜ 0.05).but it was negatively correlated with LVEF (r =-0.801,P ＜0.05).Conclusion The serum H-FABP level increases with the aggravation of heart failure in patients with RHD.It can be used as an important index to evaluate the heart function and prognosis of RHD patients.

OBJECTIVETo observe effect of Shufeng Xuanfei Recipe (SXR) and Jiebiao Qingli Recipe (JQR) on mRNA and protein expressions of Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in mice infected with influenza virus FM1.

METHODSOne hundred and eight mice were randomly divided into nine groups, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the Oseltamivir group (at the daily dose of 2.5 g/mL), the high dose SXR group (at the daily dose of 3.762 g/kg), the middle dose SXR group (at the daily dose of 1.881 g/kg), the low dose SXR group (at the daily dose of 0.941 g/kg), the high dose JQR group (at the daily dose of 4.368 g/kg), the middle dose JQR group (at the daily dose of 2.184 g/kg), and the low dose JQR group (at the daily dose of 1.092 g/kg), 12 in each group. All mice were mildly anesthetized by ether. Mice in the normal control group were treated by nasal drop of 0.05 mL normal saline, while mice in the rest groups were infected by nasal drop of 0.05 mL influenza virus strain FM1 (LD50). The successful modeling rate was 100%. All medication was performed by gastrogavage 2 h after infection. Distilled water was given by gastrogavage to mice in the normal control group and the model group at the daily dose of 0.2 mL, each time per day for 4 successive days. mRNA expressions of TLR7, MyD88, and NF-kappaB in the lung tissue were determined by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, mRNA expressions of TLR7, MyD88, and NF-kappaB increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, mRNA and protein expressions of TLR7, MyD88, and NF-kappaB decreased in the Oseltamivir group, the high, middle, and low dose SXR groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); mRNA and protein expressions of TLR7 and NF-kappaB decreased in the high and middle dose JQR groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); mRNA expressions of MyD88 decreased in the high and middle dose JQR groups (P < 0.05); protein expressions of MyD88 decreased in the middle dose JQR group (P < 0.05); protein expressions of TLR7 and NF-kappaB decreased in the low dose JQR group (P < 0.05). Compared with the Oseltamivir group, protein expressions of MyD88 decreased in the low dose SXR group (P < 0.05); protein expressions of NF-kappaB decreased in the middle and low dose SXR groups (P < 0.01); mRNA and protein expressions of TLR7 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and protein expressions of MyD88 (P < 0.01) decreased in the high, middle, and low dose JQR groups; mRNA and protein expressions of NF-kappaB decreased in the low dose JQR group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSEach dose SXR and middle dose JQR could down-regulating the activity of NF-kappaB through adjusting MyD88 dependent TLR signal pathway, thus fighting against influenza virus. SXR was more effective than JQR.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 ; genetics ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Orthomyxoviridae Infections ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Pneumonia, Viral ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Toll-Like Receptor 7 ; genetics ; metabolism

To observe the effects of blood serum from rats with radiation injury, thermal injury and combined radiation-thermal lesions on growth of hematopoietic progenitor cells and the change of their serum cytokine levels, total body irradiation of rats was performed with 12 Gy gamma ray from a (60)Co source, and 30% total body surface area III degree thermal lesion on the back was inflicted with a 5 kW bromotungsten lamp. The blood serum from these animals was collected at 3, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after injury. Then the blood serum was added to the culture medium of erythrocyte progenitor cells (CFU-E, BFU-E) or granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (CFU-GM) at final concentration of 10 microg/ml. The results showed that the colony number of CFU-E, BFU-E and CFU-GM formed after addition of the blood serum from rats with thermal or combined radiation-thermal injury was significantly higher than that from normal rats at 3, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after injury and reached its peak value at 24 hours after injury (342.8, 261.6 and 228.4% respectively from burned rats, 252.4, 205.1 and 174.2% respectively from rats with combined radiation-thermal injury as compared with that of normal rats). However, a few CFU-E, BFU-E or CFU-GM formation was found after addition of the blood serum from irradiated rats. At the same time, the level of TNF alpha and IL-6 in serum of burn group and combined radiation-thermal injury group was markedly higher than that of normal group, even more higher than that of irradiation injury group (P < 0.01). It is concluded that the blood serum from rats with thermal lesion or combined radiation-thermal injury improves the growth of erythrocyte and granulocyte progenitor cells. On the contrary, the blood serum from the irradiated rats shows the inhibiting effects, definitely related to their serum cytokines changes.
Animals ; Burns ; blood ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Multiple Trauma ; blood ; Radiation Injuries ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Serum ; chemistry ; Time Factors

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of Perillae Folium with aqueous extract (PFAE) on some key factors of Adriamycin (ADR)-induced oxidative injury in human renal tubular epithelial cells(HK-2), including the survival rate, oxidative injury indexes and cell apoptosis,in order to define the underlying mechanism. Method: A model of ADR-induced HK-2 cells oxidative injury was established in vitro, then cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) after intervention with positive reference N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or PFAE (5,15,45 g·L^-1) at different concentrations. According to the morphological changes under microscopy, the optimum concentration of PFAE was screened out for the follow-up experiments. Then, the experiments were divided into six groups:blank group, ADR (0.05 g·L^-1) group, PFAE (15 g·L^-1) group, ADR+PFAE (0.05+15) g·L^-1 group, NAC (0.81 g·L^-1) group, and ADR+NAC (0.05+81) g·L^-1 group. After that, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity(TAC) were measured in the cell homogenate after 24 h administration. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by 2',7'-dichloroflurescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) fluorescence probe. Flow cytometry and TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) were used to monitor the cell apoptosis. Western blot was used to observed the expressions of mitochondrial apoptosis-associated proteins, like B lymphocyte tumor-2 gene (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 related X protein (Bax), cysteine aspartate protease-9 (Caspase-9), cysteine aspartate protease-3 (Caspase-3) and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), as well as their shear bodies. In addition, the phosphorylation protein expressions of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling transduction pathway were detected by Western blot. Result: Compared with blank group, ADR group showed a decreased cell viability (P<0.01), and lower SOD level (P<0.01), but higher expressions of MDA and ROS (P<0.01), and an increased apoptotic rate (P<0.01). The ADR group also increased in rate of Bax/Bcl-2, cleaved Caspase-9/Caspase-9, cleaved Caspase-3/Caspase-3, and cleaved PARP/PARP (P<0.01), as well as the phosphorylation protein expressions of p38 MAPK, ERK and JNK (P<0.05,P<0.01). Compared with the ADR group, both ADR+PFAE groups and ADR+NAC group had higher cell proliferation rates (P<0.01). In addition, the protective effect of PFAE on cells was the most obvious at the concentration of 15 g·L^-1. The ATC and SOD levels were increased in ADR+PFAE group and ADR+NAC group (P<0.01), while their content of MDA and ROS, cell apoptosis, relative ratio of apoptotic protein expression, and phosphorylation protein expressions of p38 MAPK and ERK were all decreased (P<0.01). However, there was no effect on the expression of phosphorylated JNK protein. Conclusion: PFAE could alleviate the oxidative injury of HK-2 cells induced by ADR, and have an antioxidant effect, which inhibited cell apoptosis through mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and ERK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Trimethylamine N-oxide(TMAO), a metabolite of gut microbiota, is closely associated with chronic kidney disease(CKD). It can aggravate the kidney injury and promote the occurrence of complications of CKD mainly by inducing renal fibroblast activation, vascular endothelial inflammation, macrophage foaming, platelet hyperreactivity, and inhibition of reverse cholesterol transport. Thus it is of great significance for clinical treatment of CKD to regulate circulating TMAO and alleviate its induced body damage. Currently, therapeutic strategies for TMAO regulation include dietary structure adjustment, lifestyle intervention, intestinal microflora regulation, and inhibition of intestinal trimethylamine synthesis and liver trimethylamine oxidation. Chinese medicinal herbs have the clinical advantage of multi-component and multi-target effects, and application of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) to synergistically regulating TMAO and improving CKD via multiple pathways has broad prospects. This study systematically reviewed the clinical relevance and mechanism of TMAO in aggravating CKD renal function deterioration and complication progression. In addition, the effect and mechanism of TCM in improving TMAO-induced kidney injury, cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, thrombosis and osteoporosis were summarized. The results provided a theoretical basis for TCM in attenuating gut microbiota-derived metabolite TMAO and improving CKD, as well as a basis and direction for in-depth clinical development and mechanism research in the future.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/drug therapy*

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of nucleos(t)ide analogues in the treatment of HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B with normal alanine aminotransferase and high level of HBV DNA. Methods: Treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B patients who were followed up at the Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2019 to January 2020 were selected as subjects. Demographic characteristics, the results of laboratory examination before treatment and one year after treatment were retrospectively collected. Patients were divided into tenofovir dipivoxil (TDF) and propofol fumurate tenofovir (TAF) treatment group according to different types of medication. The changes of serum HBV DNA level, HBeAg serological conversion and HBsAg quantitative level were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Results: A total of 38 cases were enrolled. Among them, there were 16 and 22 cases in the TDF and TAF group, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in demographic characteristics, baseline HBV DNA levels and HBsAg quantitative levels between the two groups. Virological response was achieved in 60.5% (23/38) of patients after one year of antiviral therapy. Serum HBV DNA levels below the lower limit of detection [68.2% (15/22) vs. 50.0% (8/16), P=0.258] and higher HBeAg seroconversion rate [18.2%] (4/22) vs. 6.3% (1/16), P=0.374] was obtained in TAF than TDF group; however, there was no statistically significant differences between the two. Serum HBsAg quantitative level was significantly reduced with TDF and TAF treatment. In addition, alanine aminotransferase elevation was reduced in TAF than TDF treated group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that patient age was an independent predictor of a virological response to antiviral therapy. Conclusion: HBeAg-positive CHB patients with normal alanine aminotransferase, and high HBV DNA level can obtain better curative effect after TDF and TAF treatment.
Alanine Transaminase ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use* ; DNA, Viral ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Tenofovir/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome