Objective To investigate the effect of rosiglitazone on p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) pathway in polycystic kidney cyst-lining epithelial cells. Methods The cyst-lining epithelial cells (PKD cells) from human polycystic kidney were treated with rosiglitazone (10 μmol/L), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) inhibitor GW9662 (10 μmol/L), rosiglitazone (10 μmol/L) +GW9662 (10 μmol/L), p38MAPK specific inhibitor SB203580 (10 μmol/L), SB203580 (10 μmol/L)+ rosiglitazone(10 μmol/L) for 2 hours followed by epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation. Protein expressions of p38, phuspho-p38 (p-p38) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were detected by Western blot. p38 mRNA was examined by RT-PCR. Expression of c-fos and c-jun was observed by immunocytochemistry. Results (1) EGF markedly up-regulated the expressions of p38, p-p38, PCNA, c-fos anti c-jun compared with control group (P<0.01). (2) Compared with EGF treated group, rosiglitazone significantly reduced p38 activation and mRNA expression (P<0.01, respectively). Rosiglitazone, rosiglitazone+SB203580 could significantly down-regulated p-p38, PCNA, c-fos and c-jun expression (P<0.01, respectively) with no significant difference between these two groups. (3) GW9662 partially reversed the reduction effect of rosiglitazone. Conclusions Rosiglitazone can inhibit proliferation of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease cyst-lining epithelial cells partially through down-regulating p38 activation and reducing c-fos, c-jun and PCNA expression. The above effect of rosiglitazone is in part PPARγ-independcnt.

Cutaneous Fistula ; Digestive System Abnormalities ; therapy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Treatment Outcome

Abstract: Objective　This article summarizes the clinical characteristics and diagnosis and treatment experience of an elderly patient infected with Omicron variant BA.5.1.3 of COVID-19 in Hainan Province. Methods　The clinical data and treatment of an elderly patient infected with Omicron variant BA.5.1.3 of COVID-19 admitted to Haikou designated hospital on August 15, 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Results　A 107-year-old female patient was admitted to the hospital with "fever and cough for 1 day". Two of her family members have infected with COVID-19. The patient initially developed fever, accompanied by cough, expectoration, a little white sticky sputum, accompanied by sore throat, muscle pain, fatigue. Nucleic acid test was positive in throat swab, indicating Omicron variant BA.5.1.3 infection. The patient was diagnosed as mild COVID-19 and treated with antiviral therapy, Chinese medicine conditioning, anticoagulation, electrolyte disorder regulation and symptomatic treatment for 9 days. The patient's clinical symptoms were relieved, and she was cured and discharged after two negative nucleic acid tests. One week later, the patient recovered well. Conclusions　Omicron variant BA.5.1.3 is highly infectious, and comprehensive treatment such as antiviral treatment and traditional Chinese medicine treatment has achieved good efficacy. For elderly patients, attention should be paid to maintaining the stability of organ function and internal environment, which is helpful to improve the prognosis of patients.

The change of the effective components (liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid, liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin) contents of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (GRR) before and after compatibilities in Sini decoction was studied in this paper. Taking single GRR decoction, GRR-Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (ALRP) decoction, GRR-Zingiberis Rhizoma (ZR) decoction and Sini decoction as test samples, the contents changing of the four effective components of GRR were measured by HPLC. The results showed that the contents of the four effective components of GRR in the single GRR decoction was higher than that in other samples, and the sequence was single GRR decoction > GRR-ZR decoction > GRR-ALRP decoction > Sini decoction. The contents of liquiritin were 11.18, 9.89, 9.67, 9.17 mg · g(-1); the contents of glycyrrhizic acid were 20.76, 15.58, 11.30, 8.52 mg · g(-1); the contents of liquiritigenin were 0.66, 0.57, 0.45, 0.24 mg · g(-1); the contents of isoliquiritigenin were 0.14, 0.07, 0.03, 0.01 mg · g(-1). Therefore, the effective components of GRR decreased obviously after GRR compatibility with ZR providing scientific basis for GRR relieving the strong nature of ZR. The effective components of GRR decreased sharply after GRR compatibility with ALRP providing scientific support for the material foundation research of GRR reducing the toxicity of ALRP. The effective components of GRR decreased further in Sini decoction indicating that the three medicines in Sini decoction were interactional, which reflecting the scientific connotation of the mutual-restraint/mutual-detoxication, mutual-promotion/mutual-assistance compatibilities in Sini decoction.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo assess the pharmacodynamical actions of Danqi capsule which was reported to promote blood circulation by removing blood stasis, regulation Danqi and relieving pain so as to be used to treat thoracic obstruction, headache, menstrual pain in clinic.

METHODTo compare the pharmacologic effects of Danqi capsule Danqi tablet in the rats with acute myocardial ischemia and the mice with the increased oxygen-consumption induced by isoproterenol injected subcutaneously. The pain models were prepared by injection of acetic acid and uterospasm model in the female mouse was induced by diethylstilbestrol and pitocin. A hyperlipidemia model was also made in the rats.

RESULTDanqi capsule could significantly improve ECG in myocardial ischemia of rats induced by isoproterenol and prolong the mice survival time under hypoxic situation. In the experiment to observe the pain response with body twist as a index induced by acetic acid and uterospasm induced by diethylstilbestrol and pitocin, Danqi capsule could significantly shorten the latency and the time course of body twist. The contents of triglyceride(TG) and total cholesterol(TC) were decreased, while the level of high-density liporotein-cholesterol(HDL-c) was increased after treatment of Danqi capsule in in the rats with hyperlipidemia. Hemorheological data showed that the blood viscosity, blood reductive viscosity, erythrocyte rigidity index and electrophoresis time were significantly decreased by Danqi capsule in the animal model mentioned above as compared with control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). In addition, the dose of Danqi capsule is less than that of Danqi tablet for producing equivalent effect.

CONCLUSIONDanqi capsule plays a good role in improving myocardial ischemia, increasing the tolerant ability against oxygen-deficiency, alleviating pain and descending the levels of blood fat and blood viscosity.

Animals ; Blood Viscosity ; drug effects ; Capsules ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Electrocardiography ; drug effects ; Erythrocyte Aggregation ; drug effects ; Female ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Myocardial Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Pain ; physiopathology ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Triglycerides ; blood

The quality markers (Q-markers) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have become a topic of interest in TCM research in recent years. Nonetheless, there is still no consensus on how to scientifically characterize TCM Q-markers. Our study establishes an identification method for TCM Q-markers based on the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and the entropy weight comprehensive method. By constructing an evaluation system encompassing the target layer, the factor layer and the control layer, AHP can be used to analyze the weight of three core TCM quality attributes, including effectiveness, testability and specificity. Following that, the entropy weight method is employed to analyze the specific indicators for each attribute based on the literature and experimental data. Finally, the comprehensive weight of each index is obtained by combining the two weights, and the comprehensive weight and the specific value of each component is multiplied and summed to obtain the integrated score ranking, and thereby identify the TCM Q-markers. Taking Shaoyao Gancao decoction as an example, the analysis revealed that the top 8 components are as follows: paeoniflorin > quercetin > albiflorin > glycyrrhizic acid > naringenin > liquiritin > oxypaeoniflorin > benzoylpaeoniflorin, and can be identified as Q-markers of Shaoyao Gancao decoction. This study not only provides support for the establishment of quality standards and process quality control of TCM formulae, but also provides innovative ideas and methods for quantitative evaluation and accurate identification of TCM Q-markers.

Objective To survey the arsenic content of drinking water in Jingzhou City, to provide basis for prevention and control of endemic arsenic disease. Methods According to historical data, the .arsenic content of water was detected in 357 villages from 6 counties of Jianglin, Songzi, Gongan, Shishou, Jianli, Honghushi in Jinzhou City in 2007 and 2008, The past have been found to have high arsenic water villages, villages known to have high concentration of arsenic were put into census. Villages not found to have high-arsenic wells were sampled 10 percent of the whole water resources at five directions of east, west, south, north and the center. Using sampling investigation, water arsenic was determined by half -quantitative fast reagent kit. All samples of water with arsenic exceeding the standard were re-determined using silver diethyl dithiocarbamate using silver diethyl dithiocarbamate colorimetric mothod. Survey on the disease was carried out in the villages with arsenic exeeeding the standard. Results All 6074 water samples was inspected. Arsenic in 210 samples outnumbered 0.05 mg/L, 51 natural villages were high arsenic areas;The maximum level of arsenic content in drinking water was 0.7 mg/L 3.2% (152/4784) of the wells no deeper that 30 meters and 4.9%(58/1184) between 30 to 100 m had arsenic exceeding the standard The water arsenic content was normal when the wells was deeper that 100 m. The abnormal percentages of water arsenic was related with the depth of wells with a significant difference(χ2 = 12.29,P < 0.01). Medical examination 84 064 residents in 51 villages having high arsenic water 31 neighboring villages was made, No Patients was found suffering from endemic arsenic poisoning. Conclusions High arsenic source has been found in Jingzhou City ,but no endemic arsenic poisoning patient in Jingzhou City. It is suggested that necessary preventive measures should be taken in high arsenic area, low-arsenic water should be spotted or high arsenic water improved. Moreover, wells should be drilled for more than 100 meters or more in depth.

Objective To evaluate the role of cerebral state index(CSI),burst suppression (BS)and electromyograph(EMG)in monitoring coma/consciousness depth and damage degree of brain. Methods CSM was done in 50 cases with brain injury and coma to analyze its relation with physical reflection,auditory evoked potential(AEP),Glasgow coma score(GCS)and Glasgow outcome scale (GOS).Results As scale range meaning from consciousness to deep coma and to brain death,CSI 0- 100 was positively correlated with coma depth,coma score of GCS and physical reflection.CSI changes under invariable ache stimulation in combination with BS and EMG can accurately estimate prognosis and quantify changes of brain function.Conclusions The quantifiable digit of coma/consciousness depth and damage degree in brain function by CSM can attain real time judgment of dynamic evolvement course of coma and objective guide clinical therapy and assure prognosis,as will change absolutely scoring coma/ consciousness depth and prognosis under current state of artificial diversity and lacking objective evi- dences.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Changji'an Capsule (CA) on mRNA expressions of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the hypothalamus and colon and serum levels of adreno-cortico-tropic hormone (ACTH) in rats of diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) model rats.

METHODSTotally 48 SD rats were randomly divided into six groups, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the Pinaverium Bromide group (PB, 0.018 g/kg), the high dose CA group (2.812 g/kg), the medium dose CA group (1.406 g/kg), and the low dose CA group (0.703 g/kg), 8 in each group. The IBS-D rat model was established by using separation of breast milk + stimulation of acetic acid + constraint of four limbs. Normal saline was given to rats in the normal control group and the model group. All medication lasted for 14 successive days by gastrogavage. The serum content of ACTH was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expressions of NPY mRNA in the colon and the hypothalamus were detected using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the serum ACTH content significantly increased (P < 0.01), the NPY mRNA expression in the colon and the hypothalamus obviously decreased (P < 0.01) in the model control group. Compared with the model group, the serum ACTH obviously decreased in the high dose CA group, the medium dose CA group, and the PB group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The NPY mRNA expression in the colon and the hypothalamus were obviously up-regulated in the high dose CA group, the medium dose CA group, the low dose CA group, and the PB group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCA could modulate the abnormity of brain-gut axis of IBS-D rats possibly by up-regulating NPY mRNA expressions in the hypothalamus and the colon and down-regulating the ACTH content in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; blood ; Animals ; Colon ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; metabolism ; Male ; Neuropeptide Y ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo assess the effectiveness of complementary food supplements with protein and multi-micronutrients on hemoglobin and anemia in infants and young children.

METHODSIn 5 poor counties of Gansu, 984 children aged 6-12 months were enrolled and divided into two groups. In addition to the usual home-made complementary food, all the children were fed one sachet of either Formula I or Formula II supplements each day. Protein and micronutrients were provided in Formula I, while the same energy intake was secured in Formula II as in Formula I. A massive dose of vitamin A was supplemented to all the children every 6 months. Hemoglobin test was done at the same time.

RESULTSPrevalence of anemia was about 35% in both Formula I and Formula II group at baseline, and there were no differences in hemoglobin concentration between the two groups. During the 6-month and 12-month supplementation, hemoglobin of children in Formula I group was higher than that in Formula II group (P < 0.05), and hemoglobin increase in Formula I group was significantly higher than that in Formula II group (P < 0.001). After 6- and 12-month supplementation, the prevalence of anemia in Formula I group dropped to 19.1% and 8.2% respectively, and it was 28.0% and 12.4% in Formula 2 group. The prevalence of anemia in Formula I group was significantly lower than that in Formula II group (P < 0.05). After adjusting age and hemoglobin level at baseline, the hemoglobin increase at age of 24 months in formula 1 group was higher (10.7 g/L vs 7.9 g/L, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONMicronutrient fortified complementary food supplements, with large-dose vitamin A, is effective for children aged 6-12 months in terms of iron deficiency prevention.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; blood ; prevention & control ; China ; Dietary Supplements ; Food, Fortified ; analysis ; Hemoglobins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Food ; analysis ; Iron, Dietary ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Poverty ; Rural Population