Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Musculoskeletal Manipulations ; Periarthritis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Tendons ; physiopathology

Age-related macular degeneration( AMD) is one of the major reasons of blindness among the elderly in the developed countries. As AMD patients are increasing year by year, AMD has become one of the important topics of ophthalmic research to prevent blindness. Its pathogenesis is not fully understood, but many studies have shown that vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF ) plays an important role in the pathogenesis. With the development and application of anti - VEGF drugs, there are a variety of drugs applied to the disease. This article introduces conbercept for the treatment of AMD.

The Tongmai Yangxin pill (TMYX) has potential clinical effects on no-reflow (NR); however, the effective substances and mechanisms by which this occurs remain unclear. This study evaluates the cardioprotective effects and molecular mechanisms of TMYX against NR. We used a myocardial NR rat model (2 h after myocardial ischemia and 2 h after reperfusion) to confirm the effect and mechanism of action of TMYX in alleviating NR. In vitro studies in isolated coronary microvasculature of NR rats and in silico network pharmacology analyses were performed to reveal the underlying mechanisms of TMYX and determine the main components, targets, and pathways of TMYX, respectively. The experiment was approved by the Ethics Committee of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine (LLBH-202212160001). TMYX showed therapeutic effects on NR by improving cardiac structure and function, reducing NR, ischemic areas, and cardiomyocyte injury, and decreasing the content of cardiac troponin I (cTnI). Moreover, the mechanism of TMYX predicted by network pharmacology is related to the hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathways. TMYX increased the expression of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK), and HIF-1α. In vitro, TMYX enhanced the diastolic function of coronary microvascular cells; however, this effect was inhibited by GPER inhibitor (G-15), eNOS inhibitor (L-NAME), and sGC inhibitor (ODQ). This study integrates pharmacology and experimental evaluation to reveal that TMYX activates HIF-1α/eNOS signaling pathway by upregulating GPER to relax coronary microvessels, thereby significantly alleviating NR.

Background:More and more evidences suggest that microRNA plays an important role in the development of gastric cancer (GC).Expression of miR-129 in GC tissues is found abnormal, however, the mechanism of miR-129 in cell proliferation and invasion is still undefined.Aims:To investigate the expression of miR-129 in GC tissue and GC cell lines and the mechanism of miR-129 in proliferation and invasion of SGC-7901 cells.Methods:Eighty-two GC tissues and corresponding paracancerous tissues were collected, human gastric epithelial cell line and different GC cell lines were cultured, qPCR was conducted to assess miR-129 expression.SGC-7901 cells were transfected with miR-129 mimic or miR-NC, and then were transfected with overexpressed HMGA2 plasmid.Colony formation assay was used to detect cell proliferation ability, and Transwell chamber was used to assess cell invasion ability.Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between miR-129 and HMGA2 mRNA expression.Luciferase assay was performed to determine the activity of luciferase.mRNA and protein expressions of miR-129, HMGA2 were determined by qPCR and Western blotting, respectively.Results:Compared with paracancerous tissues, expression of miR-129 was significantly decreased in GC tissues (P<0.05);when compared with human gastric epithelial cells, expression of miR-129 was significantly decreased in GC cell lines (P<0.05).Compared with miR-NC group, proliferation and invasion abilities of SGC-7901 cells were inhibited in miR-129 mimic group (P<0.05).HMGA2 mRNA expression in GC tissues was significantly upregulated (P<0.05), and was negatively correlated with miR-129 expression (r=-0.543 9, P<0.01).Luciferase activity in wild-type miR-129 mimic group was significantly lower than that in miR-NC group (P<0.05);mRNA and protein expressions of HMGA2 were decreased after transfection with miR-129 mimic (P<0.05).Compared with miR-129+vector group, proliferation and invasion of SGC-7901 cells were significantly increased in miR-129 mimic+HMGA2 group (P<0.05).Conclusions:The expression of miR-129 is decreased in GC tissue and cells;miR-129 inhibits SGC-7901 cells proliferation and invasion by negatively regulating HMGA2.

Background: Esophageal variceal bleeding is a clinical emergency and the major cause of death in patients with liver cirrhosis.Aims: To assess the value of platelet count (PC)/spleen diameter (SD) ratio in predicting the presence of esophageal varices (EV) in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis in China.Methods: A total of 91 consecutive HBV-related cirrhosis patients with EV from Aug.2013 to Dec.2015 at Renji Hospital (South Campus),School of Medicine,Shanghai Jiao Tong University were enrolled.Thirty-two HBV-related cirrhosis patients without EV were enrolled as controls.Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy,routine laboratory examinations and abdominal ultrasonography were performed and the related parameters were collected.Binary Logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify independent risk factors associated with EV.ROC curve was used to evaluate the predictive performance of PC/SD ratio for the presence of EV.Results: The PC/SD ratio was significantly lower in EV group than in non-EV group (538.2±327.0 vs.1 105.9±426.6,P=0.001).Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that the PC/SD ratio was independently associated with the presence of EV (OR=57.29,95％ CI: 15～214,P=0.000).In ROC curve analysis,the area under the curve (AUC) of PC/SD ratio in predicting the presence of EV was 0.853;the optimal cutoff value was 842,and the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 85.7％,75.0％,90.7％,and 64.9％,respectively.Conclusions: PC/SD ratio can be used as a non-invasive tool for prediction of the presence of EV in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis.It may reduce the number of unnecessary endoscopy.

Biopsy ; Brain ; pathology ; Frozen Sections ; methods ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo observe protective effects of Schisandra extract (SE) on embryotoxicity and reproductive toxicity of early pregnant rats exposed to Benzo[a]pyrene (Bap).

METHODSPregnant rat model was prepared using periodic screening cage method. Totally 50 female pregnant SD rats were divided into five groups by randomized block design according to the weight, i.e., the BaP model group, the low dose SE group, the middle dose SE group, the high dose SE group, the normal control group, 10 rats in each group. Rats in the BaP model group were administered with BaP at a daily dose of 2 mg/kg by gastrogavage. Rats in low, middle, and high dose SE groups were administered by gastrogavage with BaP (at a daily dose of 2 mg/kg) plus SE at a daily dose of 40, 200, and 1 000 mg/kg, respectively. Equal volume of olive oil was administered to rats in the normal control group by gastrogavage. All medication was performed for 8 successive days. Changes of rat body weight in each period were observed. The uterus embryonic total quality and ovary quality were measured, and organ index calculated. The number of corpus luteum, the number of embryo implantation, and the number of absorbed embryo were statistically calculated respectively. The implantation rate and the absorbed embryos rate were calculated. Serum levels of human chorionic gonadotrophin β (β-HCG) and progesterone (PROG) were detected by ELISA.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the weight of 9-day pregnant rats, the number of embryo implantation, the uterus embryonic total index, ovary index, serum levels of β-HCG and PROG all decreased in the Bap model group with significant difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the Bap model group, body weight, the uterus embryonic total index, and the PROG level increased in 3 dose SE groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Ovary index and serum β-HCG increased in middle and high dose SE groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The number of implantation obviously increased in the high dose SE groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSE could reduce the embryotoxicity and reproductive toxicity of early pregnant rats exposed to Benzo[a]pyrene.

Animals ; Benzo(a)pyrene ; toxicity ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; blood ; Embryo Implantation ; drug effects ; Female ; Ovary ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Pregnancy ; Progesterone ; blood ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; Schisandra ; chemistry ; Uterus ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of Yanshu Injection (YI) for overcoming multidrug resistance in breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells.

METHODSHuman breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells and doxorubicin-resistant MCF-7/DOX cells were treated with YI. Its inhibition on the cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay. The fluorescence intensity of doxorubicin was detected by flow cytometry. The expression of apoptosis related protein and P-glycoprotein were examined by immunoblotting after treated by YI.

RESULTSThe inhibitory action of YI on MCF-7/DOX cells was similar to that of MCF-7 cells, indicating no cross resistance (P > 0.05). 1/16 YI could obviously induce the apoptosis of MCF-7 cells and DOX cells. 1/256 YI +5 nmol/L doxorubicin and 1/128 YI +5 nmol/L doxorubicin could reduce the survival rate of MCF-7/ DOX resistant cells from 86.8% to 74.6% (P < 0.05) and 71.6% (P < 0.01) respectively, showing obvious synergistic effect. Besides, the accumulation of doxorubicin was increased after treated by YI in the MCF-7/ DOX cells. Results of immunoblotting indicated that reduction of P-glycoprotein expression was detected in MCF-7/DOX cells after exposure to YI.

CONCLUSIONYI could overcome the multidrug resistance in breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells possibly through reducing the expression of P-glycoprotein.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture combined with rehabilitation exercises on swallowing function and cerebral perfusion in dysphagic stroke patients.Methods Sixty-two stroke pa- tients with dysphagia were randomly divided into a treatment group(n=32)and a control group(n=30).The treat- ment group received electroacupunture,rehabilitation exercise and conventional medical treatment,while the control group received only rehabilitation exercise and conventional medical treatment.They were treated once a day,6 times a week for 4 weeks.Water drinking test,stethocatharsis scores and swallowing fluorography were used to assess the swallowing function before and after treatment.Single photon emission computed tomography(SPECT)was also em- ployed to observe the status of cerebral perfusion before and after treatment.Results It was shown that the swallo- wing function and cerebral perfusion in the treatment group were significantly better than the control group after treat- ment.The effective rate in the treatment group was 96.88% while that of the control group was 66.67%.Conclu- sion Electroacupuncture combined with rehabilitation exercises is effective in treating the dysphagic stroke patients, and can significantly improve the brain perfusion of these patients.

Neurotransmitter release is controlled by groups of proteins associated with the membranes of synaptic vesicles and the presynaptic membranes.It is a highly dynamic process which is spatially and temporally regulated via a cascade of protein-protein interactions.These proteins participate in each step of the synaptic vesicle circulation at nerve terminals including the formation of soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor-attachment protein receptors complex,the targeted trafficking of synaptic vesicles,the vesicle docking,the neurotransmitter release and finally the reuse of the proteins.This article focuses on the physiological function and the interactions of these regulating proteins.