The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of monoammonium glycyrrhizinate (MAG) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) -induced acute lung injury (ALI) and its anti-inflammatory mechanism in mice. All male ICR mice were randomly divided into six groups: LPS group; control group; MAG 3, 10, and 30 mg x kg(-1) groups; and dexamethasone (DXM) 5 mg x kg(-1) group. Lung dry weight and wet weight percentage and permeability were detected. Neutrophil infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues was detected by cell count and morphological analysis. The levels of TNF-alpha and IL-10 in lung were detected by ELISA. MPO activity was determined followed the specification. MAG induced a decrease in lung wet weight/dry weight ratio, and significantly decreased in total leucocyte number and neutrophil percentage in the BALF, and MPO activity of lung in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, It could up-regulate the IL-10 level and down-regulate the TNF-alpha level in the lung tissue of ALI mice. These results suggested that the protective effect of MAG in mice on LPS induced ALI was associated with the regulation of TNF-alpha/IL-10 balance, and MAG maybe a potentially treatment for ALI/ARDS.
Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Leukocyte Count ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Neutrophils ; pathology ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of insulin on oxygen-radical induced hepatic injury in severely scalded rats in early stage of severe scald.

METHODSEighty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: i. e, normal group, saline group, and insulin group, with 28 rat in each group. The rats in the latter two groups were subjected to 30% TBSA full-thickness scald on the back, and received intra-peritoneal injection of 40ml/kg isotonic saline, and subcutaneous injection of 3 IU/kg insulin, respectively. The total anti-oxygen capability (T-AOC), the expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) in hepatic tissue, and serum alanine transaminase (ALT) were determined in each group at 6, 12, 24, 48 post-scald hours (PSH) with corresponding methods.

RESULTSThe hepatic T-AOC and SOD content were obviously decreased, while the ROS content were markedly increased at 6 PSH in saline group compared with that in normal group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The expression of ICAM-1 and serum content of ALT were significantly higher than that in normal group at 12 PSH and 48 PSH (P < 0.01). At 24 PSH, the hepatic T-AOC (386 +/- 75) U/g and SOD content (210 +/- 39 ) U/g were obviously higher in insulin group than those in saline group [(124 +/- 18), (111 +/- 9) U/g, respectively, P < 0.01), but the ROS content (154 +/- 29 ) U/g was much lower than that in saline group [(351 +/- 41) U/g, respectively, P < 0.01]. At 48 PSH, the serum content of ALT and hepatic expression of ICAM-1 in insulin group exhibited obvious difference when compared with those in saline group (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, Pathological examination showed that hepatic injury was alleviated by insulin administration after scald.

CONCLUSIONInsulin administration early after severe scald exhibits protective effect on liver function by improving anti-oxygen radical ability of rat liver.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Burns ; metabolism ; pathology ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of intensive insulin treatment on the myocardium of severely scalded rats, and to primarily explore its mechanism.

METHODSEighteen SD rats were divided into three groups, with 6 rats in each group. The rats in burn and intensive insulin group were inflicted with 30% TBSA full-thickness injury on the back. Isotonic saline containing 0.12 U/ml insulin solution, and 100 g/L glucose solution were infused into the rats in the intensive insulin group to keep plasma glucose at the level of 4.0 - 6.6 mmol/L (the total fluid amount was 2 ml x kg(-1) x 8h(-1)). In sham burn group,fluid was given according to physiological demand. The same amount of isotonic saline was infused into the rats in burn group. The venous blood was obtained for the detection of plasma glucose contents, and the left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were recorded via aortic ventricle cannula before scald and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 post-scald hours (PSH). The tissue of the left ventricle was harvested at 6 PSH for the detection of troponin T expression in myocardiocytes.

RESULTSPlasma glucose level was increased to (7.6 +/- 1.7) mmol/L - (8.4 +/- 4.7) mmol/L in burn group during 1-6 PSH, which was significantly higher than that in intensive insulin group (4.5 +/- 0.9) mmol/L - (5.2 +/- 1.3) mmol/L, P < 0.01). Compared with the intensive insulin group, LVSP was markedly decreased in the burn group (60 +/- 11 mm Hg vs 72 +/- 8 mm Hg, P < 0.05) at 1 PSH,whereas LVEDP was increased significantly (21.3 +/- 11.3 mmHg vs 11.7 +/- 5.2 mmHg, P < 0.05). Intensive insulin treatment could significantly inhibit the loss of troponin T protein in myofilaments of myocardium.

CONCLUSIONIntensive insulin treatment possesses a protective effect on myocardia function after severe burns, and it may be related to its preventive effect on the loss of contractile protein in cardiocytes.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Burns ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Insulin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Myocardial Contraction ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Troponin T ; metabolism

In order to investigate the effect of curcumin combined with all-trans retinoid acid (ATRA) on differentiation of ATRA-resistant acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells and its molecular mechanism, the NB4-R1, an ATRA-resistant APL cells, was used as a model, counting of NB4-R1 and cell morphologic observation were performed, the effect of curcumin alone or combined with ATRA on proliferation, differentiation of NB4-R1 cells was detected by flow cytometry (FCM), the change of AKT phosphorylation in cell differentiation was detected by Western blot. The results showed that ATRA had no influence on NB4-R1 cell proliferation, but enhanced the inhibitory effect of curcumin on NB4-R1 cell growth; the curcumin or ATRA alone did not affect NB4-R1 differentiation; curcumin combined with ATRA could obviously induce CD11b expression; the cell morphology showed obvious differentiation characteristics. ATRA could promote phosphorylation of AKT in NB4 cells at short time, but not had effect on phosphorylation of AKT in NB4-R1 cells; the curcumin could enhance the phosphorylation of AKT in NB4-1R cells, the curcumin combined with ATRA could further enhance the phosphorylation of AKT. It is concluded that PI3K/AKT pathway inactivation may be one of the factors of drug resistance in APL and curcumin promotes differentiation of NB4-R1 through activating PI3K/AKT pathway.
Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; pathology ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology

Ischaemic stroke is a common condition leading to human disability and death. Previous studies have shown that oleanolic acid (OA) ameliorates oxidative injury and cerebral ischaemic damage, and miR-186-5p is verified to be elevated in serum from ischaemic stroke patients. Herein, we investigated whether OA regulates miR-186-5p expression to control neuroglobin (Ngb) levels, thereby inhibiting neuronal pyroptosis in ischaemic stroke. Three concentrations of OA (0.5, 2, or 8 μM) were added to primary hippocampal neurons subjected to oxygen–glucose deprivation/ reperfusion (OGD/R), a cell model of ischaemic stroke. We found that OA treatment markedly inhibited pyroptosis. qRT–PCR and western blot revealed that OA suppressed the expression of pyroptosis-associated genes. Furthermore, OA inhibited LDH and proinflammatory cytokine release. In addition, miR-186-5p was downregulated while Ngb was upregulated in OA-treated OGD/R neurons. MiR-186-5p knockdown repressed OGD/R-induced pyroptosis and suppressed LDH and inflammatory cytokine release. In addition, a dual luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-186-5p directly targeted Ngb. OA reduced miR-186-5p to regulate Ngb levels, thereby inhibiting pyroptosis in both OGD/R-treated neurons and MCAO mice. In conclusion, OA alleviates pyroptosis in vivo and in vitro by downregulating miR-186-5p and upregulating Ngb expression, which provides a novel theoretical basis illustrating that OA can be considered a drug for ischaemic stroke.

Objective:To explore the effects of lutein on the adhesion,invasiveness and metastasis of human prostate cancer PC-3M cells and its action mechanism.Methods:We divided human prostate cancer PC-3M cells into a control,a low-dose lutein,a medium-dose lutein and a high-dose lutein group,and treated them with 0,10,20 and 40 μmol/L lutein,respectively.Then we ex-amined the adhesion of the cells to matrix by cell adhesion assay and the changes in cell pseudopodia by Phalloidin staining,detected the expressions of paxillin,matrix metalloproteinase 2(MMP-2),MMP-9,recombinant tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase 1(TIMP-1),E-cadherin,N-cadherin and vimentin by Western blot,determined the invasiveness and migration of the cells by scratch and Tran-swell assays,and observed their dynamic movement by high-intension imaging.Results:Compared with the control,the lutein inter-vention groups showed significant reduction in the number of the cells adhered to matrix,the number of cell pseudopodia,the expres-sions of paxillin,MMP-2,MMP-9,N-cadherin and vimentin,the rates of migration,invasion and metastasis,and the distances of dis-placement and movement of the cells.However,the expressions of TIMP-1 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related E-cadherin were upregulated significantly.Conclusion:Lutein can inhibit cell adhesion,reduce the expressions of MMPs,and suppress cell in-vasion and migration by inhibiting the proeess of epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

OBJECTIVETo contrast single and double balloon-inflated kyphoplasty for vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) and evaluate its clinical efficacy.

METHODSFrom May 2000 to May 2004, 90 consecutive procedures were performed in 58 patients who suffered from painful vertebral compression fractures, transferring tumour and angioma. Ninety vertebrae were inflated while 62 as A group were double balloon and 28 as B group were single balloon, fracture reduction and bone cement augmentation. Preoperative and postoperative symptom levels, variables, complications were recorded and the vertebral height and Cobb angle were measured and analyzed.

RESULTSAll patients' pain was alleviated or disappeared without syndrome, and the vertebral height and Cobb angle of both groups were improved. The average recovery rate was 72.6% (22.9% approximately 100%), Cobb angle from 17.9 degrees (3.1 degrees approximately 31.6 degrees ) were corrected to 9.6 degrees (0.6 degrees approximately 28.2 degrees ), the average angle was 8.7 degrees (0.3 degrees approximately 27.2 degrees ), and the contrast between preoperative and postoperative showed obvious differences (P <0.001). The average recovery rate of A group was 77.6% (55.3% approximately 100%), B group was 64.3% (22.9% approximately 100%). The average postoperative Cobb angle of A group was 9.9 degrees (0.3 degrees approximately 27.2 degrees ), B group was 8.6 degrees (0.6 degrees approximately 19.8 degrees ) (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAs a promising minimally invasive surgery, balloon kyphoplasty can provide early relief of pain and improve the function as well as spinal alignment in treatment of painful compression fracture owing to recovering the vertebral height and Cobb angle of the vertebral body. Single balloon-inflated kyphoplasty can improve VCFs as double balloon.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Cements ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Orthopedic Procedures ; instrumentation ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; complications ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of aspartate-ornithine granules in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

METHODSSeventy-two patients with NASH were included in this multiple-dose parallel controlled clinical trial and received a 12-week course of aspartate-ornithine granule treatment at either high-dose (6 g bid po; n = 38) or low-dose (3 g bid po; n = 34). Clinical efficacy was assessed by monitoring data from urinalysis, serologic tests (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and triglyceride (TG)), and abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan. Safety was assessed by occurrence of adverse events (fatigue, anorexia, abdominal distension, nausea, and vomiting). Statistical analyses were conducted to determine the significance of differences between parameters before (baseline) and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter 12 weeks of treatment, the liver and spleen CT ratios in both the high-dose group (0.89 +/- 0.19) and the low-dose group (0.80 +/- 0.15) were significantly higher than at baseline (S = 329, P less than 0.0001 and S = 246, P less than 0.0001); the overall improvement was more robust in the high-dose group (52.63%) than in the low-dose group (38.23%) (Z = -2.1042, P less than 0.05). After 6 and 12 weeks of treatment, the serum ALT levels in both the high-dose group and the low-dose group were significantly lower than at baseline (6 weeks: S = 324.5, P less than 0.0001 and S = 223, P less than 0.0001; 12 weeks: S = 370.5, P less than 0.0001 and S = 297.5, P less than 0.0001); the overall improvement was more robust in the high-dose group (79.0%) than in the low-dose group (53.0%) (Z = -2.0533, P less than 0.05). Similar trends were seen for the serum levels of AST and GGT after 6 and 12 weeks of treatment (all P less than 0.01) and serum levels of TG after 12 weeks of treatment. The rate of adverse reactions was low and similar between the two groups (high-dose: 4.8% and low-dose: 4.4%; all gastrointestinal).

CONCLUSIONAspartate-ornithine granule therapy was an effective and safe treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, with the higher dose of 6 g bid po providing more robust clinical benefit without affecting the safety profile.

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Dipeptides ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Triglycerides ; blood ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; blood

Hypoxemia is a common complication of pneumonia, asthma, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in children.Rapid identification of hypoxemia is of great significance for the disposal and management of critical children.Pulse oximetry is recognized by the World Health Organization as the best way to monitor hypoxemia in children, and it can monitor pulse oxygen saturation noninvasively and continuously.Based on the related literature at home and abroad, combined with the clinical needs of pediatrics, the " Expert consensus on clinical application of pulse oximetry in children" is formulated to improve the understanding of pediatricians and nurses on the application in pediatric clinical practice, principle, operation techniques, and limitations of pulse oximetry.

Objective　The aim of this study was to compared the clinical effect of ureteroscopic holmium laser incision (USHLI) with that of ureteroscopic cold knife incision (USCKI) in the treatment of ureteral stricture.　Methods　Seventy-eight patients with ureteral stricture underwent USHLI (n = 40) or USCKI (n = 38) in the Armed Police Corps Hospital of Jiangsu Province from January 2010 to December 2016. Comparisons were made between the two surgical strategies in the operation time, postoperative complications, hospital days, short-term effect and long-term effect.Results　Mild postoperative hematuria occurred in all the patients of the USHLI group, which lasted 1-2 days before it disappeared without intervention, but with no other severe complications as adjacent organ injury, ureteral avulsion, or massive hemorrhage. Moderate postoperative hematuria was observed in all the patients of the USCKI group, which was stopped at 2-3 days by administration of hemostatics. Compared with USCKI, USHLI achieved a significantly shorter operation time ([43.4 ± 5.8] vs [35.3 ± 3.8] min, P < 0.05) and postoperative hospital stay ([5.0 ± 1.4] vs [4.0 ± 0.8] d, P < 0.05), lower incidence of postoperative infection (27.3% vs 7.7%, P < 0.05), and higher cure rate (57.6% vs 87.2%, P < 0.05).　Conclusion　USHLI, with its advantages of less damage, lower recurrence rate and fewer complications, is obviously superior to USCKI in the treatment of ureteral stricture.