This study was aimed to investigate the effect of modifiedYin-Chen-Hao (YCH) decoction on the expression of aquaporin-8 (AQP8) mRNA and protein in rats with estrogen-induced cholestasis, in order to explore the potential mechanism of YCH decoction in the treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis during pregnancy. A total of 50 SD female rats, which were weighed between 180 g to 200 g, were randomly divided into the normal group (N,n = 10) and the model group (M’,n = 40). The animal model of intrahepatic cholestasis was induced by subcutaneous injection of 17-α-ethinylestradiol (5 mg·kg-1·d-1) for 5 days of rats in M’ group. The same volume of propylene glycol was subcutaneously injected to rats in N group. Five days later, rats in M’ group were divided into the model group (M,n = 10), high-dose (Zg,n = 10), middle-dose (Zz,n = 10) and low-dose (Zd,n = 10) modified YCH decoction group. The intragastric administration of normal saline, high-dose, middle-dose and low-dose modified YCH decoction were given to each group for 7 days, respectively. Then, rats were sacrificed and the liver tissues were removed and stored in liquid nitrogen. The expression of AQP8 mRNA and protein were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting analysis. The results showed that compared with the normal group (N), the expression of AQP8 mRNA and protein in liver tissues of rats in the model group (M) were decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group (M), the high-dose, middle-dose and low-dose modified YCH decoction can increase the expression of AQP8 mRNA and protein in liver tissues (P < 0.05). Moreover, along with the dose increasing of modified YCH decoction, the upregulation of AQP8 mRNA and protein was increased. It was concluded that the molecular mechanism of modified YCH decoction in treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis during pregnancy may be through the increasing of AQP8 mRNA and protein in liver tissues.

Objective To identify the crucial gene implicated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis by comparing microarray-based gene expression profiles of synovial fibroblast in arthritis patients and that in control.Methods The public datasets were obtained from NCBI GEO and EBI ArrayExpress.The qualified microarray-based gene expression profiles were integrated and normalized using the method implemented in GeneSpring software.Furthermore,the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using significance analysis of microarrays (SAM) method.The online tool DAVID and STRING were applied to conduct the enrichment analysis and gene product interaction analysis respectively.Results There were two datasets that were qualified and analyzed in the present study.A total of 336 significant DEGs were identified by comparing the whole-genome gene expression profiles from synovial fibroblast of RA patients and control group.Among these DEGs,261 were significantly downregulated and 75 upregulated.About 13.6％ of the downregulated genes were associated with extracellular matrix degradation.The COL9A3 and COL4A5,indispensable component of hyaline cartilage and basement membrane respectively,were significantly downregulated,as well as genes in WNT family,including WNT2,WNT11,and WNT16.In contrast,matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) was found to be significantly upregulated in RA patients.MMP13 is a matrix metallopeptidase that degrade extracellular matrix and hyaline cartilage,and it could possibly interact with other proteins to regulate morphogenesis.Conclusion Molecular mechanisms underlying RA pathogenesis were investigated by analyzing the public datasets.A few genes that associated with extracellular matrix degradation,construction and regulation,including MMP13,WNT2,WNT11,WNT16,COL9A3 and COL4A5,could be regarded as therapeutic targets in RA treatment.

Objective:To construct a small interfering RNA(siRNA)expression vector(psiRNA-VEGFR-3)targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3(VEGFR-3)and to investigate the effects of VEGFR-3 siRNA on the adherence and invasion of human colon cancer cells.Methods:A siRNA expression vector(psiRNA-VEGFR-3)targeting VEGFR-3 were constructed and was used to transfect LoVo cells via lipofectamine 2000.The mRNA and protein expression of VEGFR-3 were examined after transfection by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and Western blotting,respectively.The tumor adhesion ability was detected by cell-matrix adhesion experiment and the invasion ability of tumor cells was evaluated by millicell chamber model.Results:The VEGFR-3 siRNA expression vector was successfully constructed.The expression of VEGFR-3 mRNA and protein was inhibited after psiRNA-VEGFR-3 transfection.Seventy-two hours after psiRNA-VEGFR-3 transfection,Western blotting assay showed that the expression of VEGFR-3 protein was decreased from(1.26?0.19)to(0.39 s0.12)(P

Three key ethical issues in neurotherapeutics research are discussed: the ethical challenges arising from changes in the financial incentive of researchers and their institutions,risk-benefit analysis on testing innovative interventions,and the research for informed consent.

One hundred and seven patients with lumbar disc hefniation and lumbar stenosis with poor operative results are presented in this paper. According to clinical manifestation and imaging features, appropriate treatment modality was selected for each patient. Seventy-two cases were reoperated, among which excellent and good results were obtained in 60 cases (83.3%). Thirty-five patients were treated with conservative method, 28 cases improved and 7 cases exhibited no changes.The causes of operative failure and diagnostic criteri on of lumbar disc herniaton and lumbar spinal stenosis are described in detail. The indications for re-operation were discussed.

Objective To investigate the nosocomial infection status in adult patients after cardiac surgery , who suffered cardiac shock and were supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO).Methods The data of this retrospec-tive analysis were collected from adult patients of postoperative cardiac shock supported with veno-arterial( VA) ECMO from January 2011 to December 2013 in the Center for Cardiac Intensive Care, Beijing Anzhen Hospital.Results 125 patients were enrolled and nosocomial infection occured in 44 patients(51 episodes), infection rate was 35.2% or 71.8 episodes per 1 000 ECMO day.Respiratory tract infection occured most(27.2%), and then bloodstream infection(12.8%).The infection increased in the extension of time.The cultivation of the phlegm and blood specimen showed that the major pathogens were gram-negative bacteria.The patients were divided into the infection and the non-infection groups, the incidence of remedially continuous renal replacement therapy were significantly higher in the infection group than that in the non-infection group and the duration of ECMO support, the lenth of postoperative hospital stay, and the lenth of ICU stay were significantly longer in the in-fection group than those in the non-infection group[40.9% vs.22.2%, P<0.05; (7.2 ±4.6) d vs.(4.9 ±2.1) d, P<0.01;(12.5 ±6.2) d vs.(9.1 ±4.9) d, P<0.01和24(13, 36) d vs.15(11,20) d, P<0.01; respectively].The pa-tients in the infection group had higher mortality compared with the patients in the non-infection group(53.5% vs.17.1%, P<0.01).Conclusion Nosocomial infection is one of the common complications of the ECMO treatment and affects the prognosis of patients.The strict aseptic technique and rational application of antibiotics may reduce the mortality .

To explore the status of HER-2 gene amplification and protein expression in Chinese esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients and its relationship with the clinicopathological parameters.Methods The HER-2 gene amplification was detected by FISH and protein expression by IHC in 96 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma that would be followed up for 3 years.Results Three cases presented with 3 +,15 cases with 2 +,11 cases with 1 +,and 67 with negative by HER-2 immunohistochemical staining;2 of 3 cases presented with HER-2 amplification in in 3 +,1 case presented with over 6 HER-2 copy numbers.HER-2 amplification and HER-2 overexpression had significant correlation (P ＜ 0.000 1).HER2 amplification or overexpression was associated with clinicopathological parameters,such as,carcinomas without necrosis (P =0.012) and lower stage (P =0.040).There was better DFS or OS trend in patients with HER-2 overexpression or amplification,but the significant difference did not reached.Conclusion This research has demonstrated the correspondence between gene amplification and protein overexpression of HER-2 in ESCC.HER-2 gene overexpression or amplification is a potential better predictive parameter in ESCC,but needs further study.

Objective: To conduct a scoping review on prognostic prediction models for patients with comorbidity of chronic diseases, and understand modeling methods, predictive factors and predictive effect of the models, so as to provide the reference for prognostic evaluation on patients with comorbidity of chronic diseases. Methods: Literature on prognostic prediction models for patients with comorbidity of chronic diseases was collected through SinoMed, CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science published from the time of their establishment to November 1, 2023. The quality of literature was assessed using prediction model risk of bias assessment tool (PROBAST), then modeling methods, predictive factors and predictive effects were reviewed. Results: Totally 2 130 publications were retrieved, and nine publications were finally enrolled, with an overall high risk of bias. Thirteen models were involved, with three established using machine learning methods and ten established using logistic regression. The prediction results of four models were death, with main predictive factors being age, gender, body mass index (BMI), Barthel index and pressure ulcers; the prediction results of nine models were rehospitalization, with main predictive factors being age, BMI, hospitalization frequency, duration of hospital stay and hospitalization costs. Eleven models reported the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), ranging from 0.663 to 0.991 6; two models reported the C-index, ranging from 0.64 to 0.70. Eight models performed internal validation, one model performed external validation, and four models did not reported verification methods. Conclusions The prognostic prediction models for patients with comorbidity of chronic diseases are established by logistic regression and machine learning methods with common nursing evaluation indicators, and perform well. Laboratory indicators should be considered to add in the models to further improve the predictive effects.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone at "Ganshu" (BL 18) on liver furiction and morphology in rat with precancerous lesion of hepatic cellular cancer MCC).

METHODSA total of 60 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group (10 rats), a model group (20 rats), a 20-day treatment group (15 rats) and a 40-day treatment group (15 rats). HCC model was established by intraperitoneal injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Rats in the normal group received no treatment. Rats in the model group were treated with fixation. Rats in the 20-day treatment group and 40-day treatment group were treated by moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone at "Ganshu" (BL 18), once every other day, for 20 days and 40 days, respectively. Blood sample in each group was collected 1 d before model establishment, 20 d, 40 d and 84 d after model establishment. Chemical method was applied to test the activity of ALT (alamine aminotransferase), AST (aspartate transaminase) and GGT (glutamyl transpeptidase); at the end of model establishment, all the rats were sacrificed to observe the liver morphology changes.

RESULTSAfter the first therapeutic course, the. content of ALT and AST in the 20-day treatment group was significantly lower than that in the model group (all P<0. 05); after the second therapeutic course, the content of ALT, AST and GGT in the 40-day treatment group was insignificantly lower than that in the model group (all P>0. 05). Under light microscope, the slice of liver tissue indicated that primary tumor was induced in the model group, and the tumor cells were stained and irregular; the cytoplasm in the 20-day treatment group was even, and the tumor cells were few with several nodules alone. In the 40-day treatment group the liver morphology was normal and the staining was even; the tumor cells were few without nodules or a few. Conclusion Moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone at "Ganshu" (BL 18) could reduce the serum content of ALT, AST and GGT in rats with HCC, which could protect the liver and: delay the DEN-induced precancerous lesion on some levels.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; blood

Objective To investigate the effects of rapamycin on tumor growth and mTOR/4E-BP1 signaling pathway in xenograft of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma ( ESCC ) EC9706 cells. Methods The expression of factors in mTOR/4E-BP1 signaling pathway of the tumor tissues was analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blot. Results Both rapamycin and cisplatin significantly inhibited the growth of transplantable tumors as compared to control group ( P < 0. 05 ) and their combination had a synergestic effect. The results of RT-PCR and Western blot show that rapamycin significantly decreased the expression of Mtor and p-4E-BP1 but increased the expression of 4E-BP1. Conclusion Rapamycin inhibits the mTOR/4E-BP1 signalling pathway, resulting in the growth inhibition of xenograft of EC9706 cells.