To further uncover the scientific significance and molecular mechanism of the Chinese herbs with pungent hot or warm natures, endogenous and exogenous expression systems were established by isolation of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and transfection of HEK293 cells with TRPV1 channel gene separately. On this basis, the regulation action of capsaicin, one main ingredient from chili pepper, on TRPV1 channel was further explored by using confocal microscope. Besides, the three-sites one-unit technique and method were constructed based on the brown adipose tissue (BAT), anal and tail skin temperatures. Then the effect of capsaicin on mouse energy metabolism was evaluated. Both endogenous and exogenous TRPV1 channel could be activated and this action could be specifically blocked by the TRPV1 channel inhibitor capsazepine. Simultaneously, the mice's core body temperature and BAT temperature fall down and then go up, accompanied by the increase of temperature of the mice's tail skin. Promotion of the energy metabolism by activation of TRPV1 channel might be the common way for the pungent-hot (warm) herbs to demonstrate their natures.
Adipose Tissue, Brown ; drug effects ; physiology ; Animals ; Capsaicin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Energy Metabolism ; Ganglia, Spinal ; cytology ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Mice ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; TRPV Cation Channels ; physiology ; Temperature ; Thermogenesis

To explore the prevention effect of the joint combination of Yindanxinnaotong soft capsule (YDXNT) and exercise (swimming) on atherosclerotic rats. The method of 3 x 3 factorial design, including two factors (YDXNT and swimming) and three levels (0, 1, 2 g x kg(-1) YDXNT; 0, 0.5, 1 h swimming), was mainly adopted. The atherosclerotic rat model was established by ligating their left common carotid arteries and feeding high-fat diet. After 8 weeks, blood samples were collected from their thoracic aorta to determine blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, fibrinogen (FIB), nitric oxide (NO), 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) endothelin (ET) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2). The tissues of left common carotid arteries of the rats were collected to detect the positive expression of SM22alpha and determine the semi-quantitation through the immunohistochemical staining. The result showed that the combination of YDXNT and swimming can significantly decrease the plasma viscosity (F = 3.241, P = 0.017), the high and low shear blood viscosity (F = 6.444, P = 0.001; F = 3.002, P = 0.024) and FIB (F = 4.046, P = 0.005). The increased NO and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) and the decreased ET and TXB2 indicated a significant interaction (P < 0.05). The swimming showed an obvious main effect in the expression of up-regulated protein SM22alpha (F = 8.088, P = 0.001). The study suggested that the combined administration of YDXNT and swimming could improve the hemorheological parameters of atherosclerotic rats, protect the vascular endothelium, inhibit the vascular remodeling in atherosclerosis and positively prevent the atherosclerosis.
Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Blood Viscosity ; drug effects ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Exercise Therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Microfilament Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Muscle Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Swimming

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Suanzao nacute hepatic failure in mice.

METHODAcute liver failure was induced in male Kunming strain mice by enterocoelia injecting the animals with D-Gal-N and LPS. The mice in treatment groups were given corresponding drug 2 h before administration of D-Ga1-N and LPS, and the mice in control group were given the same dose of distilled water. The 24 h survival rate, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were compared. Serum the levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1 and the levels of SOD, MDA, GR, GSH, NO and NOS in the liver were determined.

RESULTTreatment with suanzaoren decoction could increase the survival rate and improve the liver histological feather. Suanzaoren decoction inhibited the serum the levels of ALT, AST, TNF-alpha and IL-1, and reduced the levels of MDA, NO and NOS and increased the levels of GR and SOD in the liver.

CONCLUSIONTreatment with Suanzaoren decoction can suppress the D-Gal-N/LPS-induced acute hepatic failure. It may be the mechanism that Suanzaoren decocotion regulate the production of inflammatory cytokines and free radicals.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Free Radicals ; metabolism ; Galactosamine ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Failure, Acute ; blood ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the protected effect of Yindan Xinnaotong capsule (YDXNTC) and main components compatibility on myocardium ischemia/reperfusion injury.

METHODGlobal ischemia/reperfusion was adopted to induce myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI) in isolated rat heart. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into control, model, YDXNTC, Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) group, ethanol extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM-E) group, aqueous extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM-H) group, mixed compatibility of other components in YDXNTC (MC), GBE and SM-E compatibility (GSEC), GBE and SM-H compatibility (GSHC), and SM-E and SM-H compatibility (SEHC). During the experiment, electrocardiogram was recorded to observe cardiac arrest time, heart resuscitation time, regaining normal rhythm time, the incidence and duration of arrhythmias (VT/VF). At the end of reperfusion, hearts were arrested and homogenated to assay the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), cardiac troponin I.

RESULT(1) YDXNTC, SM-E, SM-H and MC elevated cardiac arrest time, also reduced rebeating time, restoring normal rhythm time as well as the duration of arrhythmia, but no remarkable impact on VT/VF occurrence. GBE was effective for incidence of VT/VF, also achieved good effect on shortening rebeating time, restoring normal rhythm time and arrhythmia duration. Likewise, obviously reduced rebeating time, restoring normal rhythm time and arrhythmia duration, and evaluated cardiac arrest time were also exhibited in compatibility groups except that no lengthened cardiac arrest time was detected in GSHC. And the incidence of VT/VF was decreased by GSEC. (2) YDXNT, ginkgo biloba extract (GBE), ethanol extract of salvia miltiorrhiza (SM-E), GBE and SM-E compatibility (GSEC), and SM-E and aqueous extract of salvia miltiorrhiza (SM-H) compatibility (SEHC) could improved SOD and decreased MDA level SM-H, mixed compatibility of other elements in YDXNTC (MC) and GBE and SM-H compatibility (GSHC) showed a role on MDA reduction. (3) LDH was declined by YDXNT and SM-H. CK-MB was reduced by GBE, SM-E, SM-H, and GSEC. (4) The release of cTnI was only inhibited by GSEC.

CONCLUSIONYDXNTC, primary materials and main components compatibility has a certain protection effect on MIRI, its mechanism may be related to antioxidant and calcium overload reduction.

Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Capsules ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Electrocardiography ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; In Vitro Techniques ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Troponin I ; metabolism

Objective To describe the status of duration of ICU delirium and to analyze its influencing factors.Methods We studied patients who were delirium positive from April 2016 to January 2017 in ICU in Peking Union Medical College Hospital.We collected general information and clinical information including mechanical ventilation,usage of sedation,analgesia and antipsychotics,hypoxia,infection,internal environment and types of delirium after initial onset of delirium.We also recorded management of delirium patients until resolution of delirium or patients were discharged from ICU.We analyzed data by Kaplan-Meier single factor analysis and Cox multiple-factors analysis.Results The average duration of ICU delirium was(5.06±4.59) days.APACHE Ⅱ score(x2=4.670,P=0.031),persistent delirium or not(x2=5.801,P=0.016),duration of hypoxia(x2=14.438,P＜0.001),and duration of usage of antipsychotics(x2=13.360,P＜0.001)were influencing factors of delirium duration.Conclusion Duration of ICU delirium has huge variation.To decrease duration of ICU delirium and improve outcomes of patients,medical workers should pay attention to patients with high APACHE score,persistent delirium and hypoxia,and be cautious when using antipsychotics.

Objective To learn the status of disabled elderly in community,and to analyze the influencing factors on activities of daily living. Methods With the method of cluster stratified random sampling, a self -designed questionnaire and Modified Barthel Index (MBI)was used in investigation of survival status and activities of daily living (ADL)of the elderly in community of Sijiqing Street,Jianggan District,Hangzhou City,and the logistic regression model was used to analyze its influencing factors.Results A total of 883 valid questionnaires were completed and analyzed,and 1 91 interviewees was found to be with disability according to the disability standards with the percentage 21 . 6%.Logistic regression analysis suggested that age(OR=4. 99,95%CI:4. 52-5. 66),chronic disease situation(OR=2. 1 9,95%CI:1. 74-2. 72),stroke(OR=3. 78,95%CI:2. 65 -5. 06),osteoarthritis(OR=1. 87,95%CI:1. 55 -2. 39),chronic bronchitis(OR=2. 1 7,95%CI:1 . 73-2. 91 ),visual(OR=1 . 73,95%CI:1 . 37 -2. 28),dementia(OR=1 . 92,95%CI:1 . 23-2. 69 ),lumbocrural pain (OR =2. 04,95%CI:1 . 47 -2. 89 )were the risk factors of disability.Educational background(OR=0. 87,95%CI:0. 82-0. 95),income(OR=0. 81 ,95%CI:0. 76 -0. 87),outdoor activity(OR=0. 69, 95%CI:0. 63-0. 81 ),physical exercise(OR=0. 67,95%CI:0. 56 -0. 79)were protective factors.Conclusion The status of disabled in community of Hangzhou affected by various factors,and it is necessary to provide them health management and comprehensive intervention.

OBJECTIVETo screen childhood ALL related microRNAs (miRNAs), analyze association of miRNAs expression profiles with prognosis and relapse in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and explore new indicator for predicting relapse and prognosis.

METHODSmiRNAs expression profile was analyzed by gene chip in 49 newly diagnosed childhood ALL and 12 primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) cases (as control group). Abnormal expression of miRNAs was verified by qRT-PCR. The correlation of miRNAs expression pattern with indicators predicting early prednisone response and relapse within a year was analyzed.

RESULTSSpecific expression of miRNAs profiles associated with prednisone response and early relapse in childhood ALL was identified. Eight miRNAs (miR-18a, miR-532, miR-218, miR-625, miR-193a, miR-638, miR-550 and miR-633) could distinguish prednisone sensitive from insensitive. The early relapse of newly diagnosed patients with either high-risk or non-high-risk clinical types had some characteristics of abnormal expression of miRNAs, including miR-7, miR-216 and let-7i upregulated, while miR-486, miR-191, miR-150, miR-487 and miR-342 downregulated.

CONCLUSIONSThe initial screening reveals miRNAs differentially expressed from normal in ALL suggesting the potential roles of them in leukemogenesis. MiRNAs expression signatures may be useful for predicting prognosis and relapse in childhood ALL and directing personalized treatment.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; genetics ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Transcriptome

OBJECTIVETo compare and analyze the MRI features of different renal cell carcinoma (RCC) subtypes.

METHODSThe MR images of 81 surgically and pathologically confirmed renal cell carcinomas from 79 patients were reviewed retrospectively. The MR imaging features of lesions in plain scan, the degree and patterns of lesion enhancement (homogeneous, heterogeneous, peripheral), and tumor spreading patterns were analyzed. In order to evaluate the diagnostic validity of differentiating RCC subtypes using signal enhancement, receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were generated. The cutoff value of post-contrast signal intensity to noise ratios (SNR) of the tumor parenchyma were also generated in order to differentiate clear cell RCC from other subtypes.

RESULTSOf the 81 lesions, 58 were clear cell carcinomas, 10 chromophobe cell carcinomas, 8 papillary cell carcinomas, and 5 unclassified RCC. All the chromophobe cell subtype tumors showed a homogeneous density (P < 0.05). The clear cell subtype tumors were likely heterogenous, and also showed heterogenous enhancement with mixed signal than other subtypes (P < 0.05). The cutoff value of SNR, which was used to differentiate clear cell subtype from the other subtypes, were 616 (corticomedullary phase), 579 (nephrographic phase) and 278 (excretory phase), retrospectively. The nephrographic phase is the most appropriate for differentiation, with a sensitivity of 62.1%, specificity of 91.3%, positive predictive value of 94.7%, negative predictive value of 48.8% and an accuracy value of 70.3%. No significant difference was found in tumor spreading patterns among all subtypes of RCC.

CONCLUSIONMR imaging features, particularly tumor heterogeneity and degree of enhancement are useful in differentiation of the renal cell carcinoma subtypes, and in choosing an individualized therapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; methods ; Kidney Neoplasms ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDA few recent studies have reported that inflammation is associated with the prognosis of acute aortic dissection (AD). There is, however, no systemic investigation regarding the role of plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) levels in predicting in-hospital clinical events of acute type A AD.

METHODSThe levels of high-sensitivity CRP and WBC counts were systemically determined after admission in 36 patients with acute type A AD. The variations of plasma CRP and WBC levels in different time windows (admission, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 days) in patients with acute type A AD were analyzed between patients with events and without events.

RESULTSDuring hospitalization, five patients died, and increased levels of CRP and WBC were found in patients died with acute type A AD compared with patients survived (P < 0.01, respectively). Medical treatment may significantly decrease inflammatory response in survived patients with acute type A AD. Additionally, patients with complication of pleural effusion showed higher CRP and WBC levels (P = 0.046, P = 0.018, respectively). Lower WBC levels were found in survived patients treated medically (P = 0.001). Moreover, mean CRP and WBC levels had positive correlations with aortic diameter (r = 0.364, P = 0.000; r = 0.333, P = 0.000, respectively) and age (r = 0.270, P = 0.000, respectively), while negative correlations with the time from onset of symptoms to hospital admission (r = -0.229, P = 0.000, r = -0.200, P = 0.002, respectively). Univariate analysis showed that age ≥ 65 years, CRP ≥ 12.05 mg/L, WBC ≥ 12.16 × 10(9)/L, aortic diameter ≥ 48 mm, pleural effusion and diastolic blood pressure ≥ 105 mmHg were associated with hospital mortality. While CRP ≥ 12.05 mg/L, WBC ≥ 12.16 × 10(9)/L, aortic diameter ≥ 48 mm were strongly associated with hospital mortality in multiple Logistic regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggested that CRP and WBC were preferred markers for predicting the clinical events in patients with acute type A AD, especially death during hospitalization. Therefore, further study enrolling larger cohort, prospective study would be warranted.

Adult ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; blood ; diagnosis ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; blood ; diagnosis ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; methods ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of biochemical marker detection in risk stratification in hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODSA total of 264 consecutive patients (180 male and 84 female patients) admitted for complaint of chest tightness or/and pain were evaluated for a decision of coronary angiography (CAG) within 24 h after admission. The patients were divided into two groups to receive emergency or elective CAG. The venous blood samples were taken from the patient immediately after admission for detection of amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1), soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin 27 (IL-27) and creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) were detected.

RESULTSNo significant differences in NT-proBNP, hs-CRP, MPO, sCD40L, and MMP-9 were found between emergency CAG group and elective CAG group (P<0.05). Logistic regression identified significant differences in NT-proBNP, hs-CRP, MPO, IL-27 and CK-MB between the two groups, and a predictive model for risk stratification of ACS was established using these biomarkers. The ROC curves of this predictive model showed an area under the curve of 98.1, suggesting a high predictive value of this model in assessment of the changes or progression of ACS.

CONCLUSIONCombined detection of the biochemical markers can be helpful for risk stratification of the hospitalized patients with ACS early after admission.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; Aged ; Biomarkers ; blood ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Statistical ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Peroxidase ; blood ; Predictive Value of Tests ; ROC Curve ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors