Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is associated with tumor and (or) anti-tumor treatment,which has a high incidence and seriously affects the life quality of patients.The etiology of CRF involves psychology,physiology and social factors.There are various hypothesis of pathogenesis and the inflammatory system may play an important role in the generation and development of CRF.A variety of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α,CRP are significantly correlated with CRF.

Objective Recently, a series of studies demonstrated that activation of local renin angiotensin system (RAS) may be related to tissue fibrosis, but the role of RAS in hepatic fibrogenesis has not been evaluated. The present study was designed: (1) to assess the effect of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist in preventing hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl 4 administration in rats; (2) to investigate whether or not there are expression of AT1 receptors on hepatic stellate cells. Methods Study was conducted in male Sprague Dawley rats. Except for control group, three treated groups, either enalapril (10 mg/kg), losartan (10 mg/kg) or a combination of enalapril and losartan were given to the fibrotic rats (daily gavage), and saline vehicle was given to the control rats. After 6 weeks, liver fibrosis was assessed directly by hepatic morphometric analysis, which have been considered the gold standard for the quantitative measurement of fibrosis. The expression of AT1 receptors and ? smooth muscle actin (? SMA) in liver tissue were detected by immunohistochemical techniques. Results Compared to the rats of control groups, either enalapril or losartan, or a combination of two drugs can limit the expansion of the interstitium ( P 0.05). Expression of AT1 receptors was found in abundance in hepatic fibrotic interstitium of fibrotic rats, whereas only limited in vasculature in rats of control group to a very slight degree. Conclusions The present results demonstrated that: (1) activation of RAS is related to hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl 4; (2) angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and AT1 blocker might slow the propression of hepatic fibrosis; (3) activated hepatic stellate cell expresses AT1 receptors.

Objective To investigate the effects of different doses of angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ) on hepa tic stellate cells(HSC) proliferation and collagen synthesis in rats. Methods The pronase E and collagen Ⅰ were used to isolate HSC, 3H TdR, 3H Leu and 3H Pro incorporation methods were used to evaluate the effects of different doses of AngⅡ on HSC DNA, protein and proline synthesis. Results It showed that 10 -9 ～10 -6 mol/L AngⅡ could significantly increase the 3H TdR incorporation rate of HSC ( P

Objective:To investigate the effects and mechanisms of Xuebijing injection on early sepsis induced acute lung injury and explore a new therapy.Methods:Thirty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:Sham group(n=10),NS group (NS 4mL/kg n=10),Xuebijing Group(Xuebijing 4mL/kg n=10).Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was used to duplicate severe sepsis model.At 6h after CLP,the rats were sacrificed,the lungs were resected and histopathological characteristic was observed by transmission electron microscopy technique.The change of the lung wet/dry (W/D) weight ratio were studied.Meanwhile,the lungs were resected for detection of ET-1,iNOS,MMP-9,TIMP-1 mRNA with reverse transcription-polymerase chain raction (RT-PCR).Results:The changes of pulmonary alveoli and the interstitial edema as well as lung tissue in Xuebijing group were better than those of NS group.The change of lung wet/dry (W/D) weight ratio in septic rats showed was significantly increased at 6 h after CLP (vs Sham group:5.37± 0.12 vs 4.33± 0.06,P＜0.01).The lung W/D was significantly decreased in XBJ group (vs NS group:4.67± 0.09 vs 5.37± 0.12,P＜0.05).The expressions in XBJ group lung tissue of ET-1 (0.511 ± 0.111 vs 0.705± 0.122,P＜0.01),iNOS(0.45610.075 vs 0.548± 0.098,P＜0.05)、MMP-9 (0.617± 0.079 vs 0.732± 0.131,P＜0.05),TIMP-1 (0.438± 0.043 vs 0.515± 0.049,P ＜0.01) mRNA were significantly decreased than those in NS group.And the expressions of ET-1 (0.705± 0.122vs 0.400± 0.033,P＜0.01),iNOS (0.548± 0.098 vs 0.334± 0.027,P＜0.01),MMP-9(0.732± 0.131 vs 0.352± 0.061,P＜0.01),TIMP-1(0.515± 0.049 vs 0.365± 0.068,P＜0.01) mRNA in NS group were significantly increased compared with those in the sham group.Conclusions:Xuebijing could protect against sepsis induced acute lung injury,which might be related with the decrease ofET-1,iNOS,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 mRNA expressions.

Objective To explore the protective effect of Xuebijing on the endothelium and extracellular matrix in sepsisinduced acute kidney injury (AKI) rats for providing a new clinical treatment strategy.Methods The method of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was used to duplicate severe sepsis model.Thirty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:Sham group (n=10),NS group (normal saline 4ml/kg,n=10),Xuebijing group (Xuebijing 4ml/kg,n=10).6h after CLP,the rats were sacrificed and their kidneys were resected and histopathological characteristic was observed by light microscopic and transmission electron microscopic techniques.The expressions ofET-1 mRNA,iNOS mRNA,MMP-9 mRNA,TIMP-1 mRNA in the renal tissues were measured semiquantitatively by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results The histopathological changes in renal tissue were observed by light microscope.The changes of renal glomerulus and renal tubuli in Xuebijing group were better than NS group.The ultrastructural changes in renal tissue were observed under electron microscope.Compared with NS group,ultrastructural changes of renal glomerulus and proximal convoluted tubule were smaller in Xuebijing group.The expressions of ET-1mRNA (0.631 ± 0.169vs 0.770 ± 0.154,P＜0.05),iNOS mRNA (0.507 ± 0.071 vs 0.587 ± 0.073,P＜0.05),MMP-9mRNA (0.641 ± 0.082 vs 0.742 ± 0.116,P＜0.05) and TIMP-1 mRNA (0.434 ± 0.052 vs 0.520 ± 0.049,P＜0.01) were significantly lower in XBJ group renal tissues than in NS group.The expressions of ET-1 mRNA(0.770 ± 0.154 vs 0.394 ± 0.105,P＜0.01),iNOS mRNA (0.587 ± 0.073 vs 0.326 ± 0.085,P＜0.01),MMP-9 mRNA (0.742 ± 0.116 vs 0.356 ± 0.055,P＜0.01) and TIMP-1 mRNA (0.520 ± 0.049 vs 0.351 ± 0.041,P＜0.05) in renal tissues were more significantly increased in NS group compared with sham group.Conclusions Xuebijing could reduce the levels of ET-1,iNOS,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 mRNA,protect the stability of endothelium and extracellular matrix,and reduce tissue injury in septic rats.

Objective To investigate the role of r-aminobutyric acid B receptor in the development of liver fibrosis.Methods Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into four groups including a control group,a model group,a baclofen group,and a CGP35348 group.Liver fibrosis was then induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).Baclofen and CGP35348 treatment were carried out after the formation of liver fibrosis,followed by complete extraction of the eyeball to obtain blood sample to test liver function.Liver tissue specimens were cut and stored for histological staining,histochemistry,real-time polymerase chain-reaction (RT-PCR),and western blot analysis.Results Histological staining indicated that the degree of liver fibrosis was more severe in the CGP35348 group than in the baclofen group (P＜0.001).The levels of alanine transaminase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST),gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT),total bilirubin (TBil),and direct bilirubin (DBil) were significantly lower in the baclofen group than in the CGP35348 group (P＜0.01).The levels of ALT,AST,GGT,TBil,and DBil were significantly higher in the CGP35348 group than in the model group (P＜0.05).Immunofluorescence results show that the hepatic cell migration was inhibited in the baclofen group.Western blot results showed that the expression levels of α-SMA protein were significantly lowered in the baclofen group when compared to that of the CGP35348 group and model group (P＜0.01).Conclusion GABAB receptor might play a role in the liver protection by inhibition of migration of hepatic cells in liver fibrosis.Further studies into the mechanism behind this function are further needed and may be a potential source of future anti-fibrotic treatment.

Objective To investigate the expressions of miR-21 in carcinoma tissue and serum of the patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), and to clarify its clinical significance.Methods Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression levels of miR-21 in carcinoma tissue and serum of 46 PTC patients,thyroid tissue and serum of 35 cases of nodular goiter and 18 healthy people. The correlations of miR-21 expression level with the clinicopathological features of PTC patients were analyzed.Results The relative expression levels of miR-21 in carcinoma tissue and serum of the PTC patients were 2.74±1.53 and 0.21±0.08,and they were 0.92±0.81 and 0.08±0.05 in carcinoma tissue and serum of the patients with nodular goiter,0.86 ± 0.39 and 0.07 ± 0.03 in normal papillary thyroid tissue and serum of 18 healthy people.The expression levels of miR-21 in carcinoma tissue and serum of the patients with PTC were higher than those of the patients with nodular goiter and healthy people (P<0.05).The expression level of miR-21 in serum and carcinoma tissue of PTC patients had a positive correlation with the extraglandular invasion,distant metastasis,lymph node metastasis,and TNM stages (P<0.05);and it had no correlation with gender and tumor sizes.Conclusion The expression levels of miR-21 in carcinoma tissue and serum of the PTC patients are increased. The up-regulated expression of serum miR-2 1 is correlated with the clinicopathological features of PTC patients, which indicates that miR-2 1 could be used as a potential marker for early detection of PTC.

AIM: To investigate the effects of octreotide (Oct) on the proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). METHODS: HSCs were isolated from normal male Sprague-Dawley rat liver by a combination of pronase-collagenase perfusion and density gradient centrifugation. The concentration of 2.5 ?g/L transforming growth factor ?1 (TGF?1) was used in all the experiment settings. Oct at concentrations of 0.01 mg/L ,0.1 mg/L,1 mg/L and 10 mg/L,respectively,or 0.01 mg/L Oct + TGF?1,0.1 mg/L Oct+TGF?1,1 mg/L Oct+TGF?1,10 mg/L Oct+TGF?1 were respectively added to the cultured HSCs. Effects of Oct on HSC proliferation and ECM synthesis were respectively determined by MTT method,-TdR and -proline incorporation,or radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Oct inhibited MTT intake by cultured hepatic stellate cells and down-regulated -TdR incorporation,compared with control group. The concentrations of hyaluronic acid,laminin,collagen type IV in the culture supernatant and -proline incorporation in HSCs were decreased by Oct. TGF?1 obviously up-regulated proliferation and ECM synthesis in cultured HSCs,and Oct significantly blocked these actions. CONCLUSION: Oct inhibited proliferation and ECM synthesis in cultured HSCs,and elicited the effects of anti-hepatofibrogenesis.

AIM:To observe the clinical effect of different concentration of fluorometholone eye drops on severe mixed vernal keratoconjunctivitis in children.METHODS: A total of 50 cases(100 eyes)of children with severe mixed vernal keratoconjunctivitis treated in the outpatient department of our hospital from March to September, 2022 were selected and randomly divided into two groups. Group A consisted of 25 cases(50 eyes)who were treated with 0.1% fluorometholone eye drops combined with 0.05% cyclosporine eye drops(Ⅱ), while 25 patients(50 eyes)in group B were treated with 0.02% fluorometholone eye drops combined with 0.05% cyclosporine eye drops(Ⅱ). After 1mo of treatment, SPEED questionnaire score, corneal fluorescein staining(FL)score, tear break-up time(TBUT), Schirmer I test(SⅠt), R-scan, non-invasive tear meniscus height(NIKTMH), corneal optical density and other ocular parameters of the two groups were observed, and the occurrence of adverse reactions were recorded.RESULTS: After 1mo of treatment, there were significant differences in SPEED score, FL score and R-scan results between the two groups(all P<0.05), and no differences in TBUT, SⅠt and NIKTMH results(all P>0.05). However, there were statistical significance in corneal optical density in different corneal depth and diameter ranges(all P<0.05). After 1mo of treatment, there was no significant difference in intraocular pressure between the two groups(16.21±2.90mmHg vs. 16.05±2.75mmHg, P>0.05), and no obvious adverse reactions occurred during treatment.CONCLUSION: The 0.1% fluorometholone eye drops can effectively treat severe mixed vernal keratoconjunctivitis in children, and its effect is better than 0.02% fluorometholone eye drops.

Objective To detect the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the upstream promoter region of chemokine like factor (CKLF) gene and analyze their possible associations with asthma and asthma-related phenotypes.Methods Direct Sequence of the 1553bp upstream promoter region of CKLF gene was performed in 245 Chinese Han human genomic DNAs (119 asthmatics and 126 controls).The frequencies of alleles, genotypes, and haplotypes were determined and the association of these SNPs with asthmawere further analyzed.Results Fournovel SNPs,SNP88 (T>C),SNPI96 (T>C),SNP568 (C> G) ,and SNP1047 (C > G) were found in the promoter region of CKLF.The frequency of rare allele was 0.168 (SNP88C), 0.168 (SNP196C), 0.352 (SNP568G) and 0.167 (SNP1047G), respectively.Haplotypes,their frequencies and the linkage disequilibrium coefficients between SNPs were constructed.Complete linkage disequilibrium (LDs) were observed between SNP88 and SNP196,SNP88 and SNP1047, as well as SNPI96 and SNP1047 ,respectively (D1 = 1.000,r2 = 1.000).SNP568 was in partial LD with the other three SNPs (r2 = 0.366).No association between asthma and the SNPs was observed.Conclusions Four SNPs in the regulatory region of CKLF in Chinese Han population were firstly identified.Although no significant correlation with asthma was revealed, the SNP and haplotype information is useful for other disease association studies in the future.