This study aims to explore the improvement and the mechanism of the Alisma plantago-aquatica Linn. (ApL) on chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN). All animal experiments were followed the regulation of the Experimental Animal Ethical Committee of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. CGN mouse model was established by a single tail-vein injection of doxorubicin (Dox) (20 mg·kg^-1). One week after Dox administration, the mice received water extract of ApL (85 and 255 mg·kg^-1) by gavage once a day for 14 days. At the end of experiment, the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), serum albumin (ALB), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr) were detected, kidney histopathological H&E staining was analyzed. Active ingredients and action targets of ApL were collected from TCMSP database, and CGN-related targets were obtained from Genecards database. STRING platform was employed to perform protein-protein interaction (PPI), and Metascape platform was used for KEGG pathway and GO enrichment analysis. The results of experiments demonstrated that ApL (85 and 255 mg·kg^-1) could reduce the ACR and the content of SCr and BUN, and increase the content of ALB in mice. Network pharmacology results predicted that nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB)-related pathway and biological process of oxidoreductase activity regulation may be involved in the ApL-provided amelioration on CGN. The verification results showed that ApL could inhibit the activation of NF-κB and the expression of inflammatory factors in mice, and reduce the activity of renal myeloperoxidase (MPO). Meanwhile, ApL promoted the activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and increased the expression of its downstream gene mRNA, and reduced the level of renal malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and further elevated renal glutathione (GSH) level. Based on network pharmacology combined experiments, this study found that ApL may improve CGN in mice through multiple targets and multiple pathways, in which the inhibition of NF-κB signaling and the activation of Nrf2 signaling may be important mechanisms involved.

?AlM:To observe the eye complications in the cases of acute chlorine gas poisoning.
?METHODS:A retrospective review of 121 cases of acute chlorine gas poising with eye irritation, dry eye and other eye complications in Linyi People’s Hospital from February 2009 to February 2013 was performed.
?RESULTS: Among 121 patients, 117 cases ( about 96. 7%) had complications of eye irritation and conjunctival and corneal epithelial damage, and the ocular surface damage was aggravated with the increasing level of chlorine gas poisoning. After 3, 6mo being discharged, 32 and 7 patients respectively occurred dry eye among 115 patients followed up. One mild chlorine poisoning patient, during the hormonotherapy of pulmonary complication, complicated with bullous retinal detachment, of which symptoms and physical signs had been improved after stopping hormonotherapy and adding drugs facilitating fluid absorption. One severe chlorine poisoning patient with loss of consciousness during the treatment, had corneal ulcer and after ulcer being healed with drug and conjunctival flap covering surgery, was left permanent leukoma cornea.
?CONCLUSlON: Acute chlorine poisoning can cause corneal and conjunctival epithelial damage and dry eye. Ocular complications like bullous retinal detachment associated with hormone application should be paid more attention to in the hormonotherapy. For some patients with severe poisoning, the therapy of corneal and conjunctival epitheliums should be taken seriously in case of irreparable damage in rescuing patient’s life.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation can effectively improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction. However, few reports have been issued on myocardial electrophysiology after BMSCs transplantation. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of BMSCs transplantation on voltage-gated K+channel protein and myocardial infarction-related cytokines, thereby providing basic evidence for further exploration on the mechanism underlying arrhythmia in myocardial infarction due to BMSCs transplantation. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats, SPF grade, were randomly divided into four groups: sham group, model group, cell culture medium group and BMSCs group. The myocardial infarction model was created in rats by permanent ligation of the left descending coronary artery. At 15-20 minutes after surgery, BMSCs (100 μL, 1×106) or cell culture medium (100 μL) was injected at four sites in the peri-infarct zone. Four weeks after cell therapy, cardiac samples were taken, the pathological morphology of the infarcted myocardium was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the infarct size was calculated; the expression levels of voltage-gated K+channel proteins Kv1.2 and Kv1.5 and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) were measured by western blot assay; and the expression levels of apoptotic factor (Caspase-3), autophagy factor (Bcl-2), nitric oxide and superoxide dismutase were tested by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the model group and cell culture medium group, the infarct size decreased in the BMSCs group (P < 0.05); the expression levels of cTnT, Kv1.5 and superoxide dismutase increased (P < 0.05), and the expression levels of Caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Kv1.2 decreased (P < 0.05) in the BMSCs group. In summary, BMSCs transplantation can promote the expression of voltage-gated K+channel proteins, and improve anti-oxidation capacity of the myocardium and decrease apoptosis and autophagy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of incidental focal (18)F-FDG uptake in the colon and rectum and characteristics of functional anatomic form for differential diagnosis of colorectal benign or malignant diseases.

METHODSClinical data and images of incidental focal hypermetabolism focus in colon and rectum of 37 individuals undergoing (18)F-FDG PET-CT were analyzed retrospectively. According to the eventual outcomes of pathological examination and clinical follow-up, these cases were divided into four subgroups: malignant disease, benign tumor (including precancerous change), inflammation and physiological uptake. Radioactive uptake level (SUVmax) and change of delayed imaging (RI) of focal hypermetabolism focus were compared between groups. The data analysis was performed using variance analysis.

RESULTSThe average SUVmax was 6.3±3.7, 8.8±6.5, 5.2±1.4, and 3.8±0.9 in malignant disease (n=11), benign (precancerous) tumor (n=9), inflammation (n=9) and physiological uptaking (n=8) respectively. The average SUVmax was 7.6±5.6 in benign and malignant tumor, and 4.7±1.5 in inflammation and physiological uptake. The distinction of average SUVmax was not statistically significant between benign and malignant tumor or inflammation and physiological uptake. But it was higher in tumors as compared to inflammation or physiological uptake with a statistically difference (P<0.05). The RI was 0.3±0.2, 0.4±0.1, 0.3±0.2, 0.4±0.2 in above 4 groups respectively, and the differences were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONSThe incidental focal hypermetabolism focus in the colon the rectum during (18)F-FDG PET-CT may indicate potential colorectal malignant diseases and precancerous lesions. SUVmax value in focal hypermetabolism focus in the colon and rectum can help to distinguish tumor from inflammation or physiological uptake. But there is no diagnostic value for distinguishing malignant disease from benign tumor.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colonic Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Rectal Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To study the stress distributions of the surrounding bone during the dynamic implantation of micro-implants,a finite element model of self-attacking orthodontic micro-implant dynamic implantation was proposed and established.Methods A three-dimensional(3D)oral model was constructed using CBCT data.The local model around the implant and the 3D finite element model of the micro-implant were established using ABAQUS software.The micro-implant was implanted into the jaw with an axial propulsion force of 40 N at a constant speed of 0.5 r/s.Results The 3D finite element model was successfully established to simulate dynamic self-attacking orthodontic micro-implant implantation in the jaw bone.The results showed that implantation stage and thread position had significant effects on bone stress distribution and the stress states of different bones had obvious differences:the maximum stress on the cortical bone was 167 MPa,and the maximum stress at the stable stage was approximately 50 MPa.The maximum stress on cancellous bone was 30 MPa.Conclusions The implantation stage and thread position have apparent influences on stress distribution.The stress difference between the cortical and cancellous bones was evident.The stress characteristics can judge the bone type,and whether the jaw is in a suitable implantation state can be judged by the bone stress distributions around the implant.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) and hyperuricemia with macrovascular atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients.

METHODSNinety-seven type 2 diabetic patients were divided into two groups according to the UAER, namely group A with UAER between 20 and 200 microg/min (n=63) and group B with UAER > or = 200 microg/min (n=34); the patients were also classified into hyperuricemia group (group C, n=59) and normal blood uric acid (BUA) group (group D, n=38). The disease course, BUA, fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), UAER and arteria carotis intima-media thickness (IMT) were determined in these patients. The relationship of UAER and hyperuricemia with carotid arterial IMT was analyzed statistically.

RESULTSThe levels of TG, TC, LDL and HDL showed no significant differences between the 4 groups (P>0.05). The disease course, BUA, UAER, and FBG levels and IMT in groups A and C were significantly higher than those in groups C and D (P<0.05), but no such differences were found between groups A and C or between groups B and D (P>0.05). Arotid arterial IMT was independently correlated to the disease course, BUA and UAER (r=0.201, 0.1999, 0.211, respectively, P<0.05), and a significant positive correlation was noted between BUA and UAER (r=0.221, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONMacrovascular atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients is significantly correlated to the disease course, BUA and UAER levels, which can be used to evaluate and predict macrovascular atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Albuminuria ; complications ; Atherosclerosis ; complications ; pathology ; Carotid Arteries ; pathology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperuricemia ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between methylation of the CDH1 gene promoter on the expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin, and to evaluate the correlation with clinicopathological characteristics of the colonic carcinoma.

METHODSMethylation specific PCR (MSP) was used to detect CDH1 gene promoter methylation in the cancer tissue, adjacent tissues and normal tissues in 68 patients. The expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin was determined by immunohistochemistry staining.

RESULTSThe positive rate of CDH1 gene promoter methylation was 32.4% in adjacent tissues and 57.4% in cancer tissue, while no detectable methylation was found in all the normal tissues. The difference was statistically significant. The positive rate of E-cadherin was 92.6% in the normal tissues, 66.2% in the adjacent tissues and 44.1% in the cancer tissues. In all normal tissues, β-catenin was expressed only at the cellular membrane but not in the cytosol or nucleus, while the expression of β-catenin was present in the cytosol or nucleus in 29.4% of the adjacent tissues and 50.0% of the cancer tissues. The positive rate of CDH1 gene promoter methylation was negatively correlated with E-cadherin expression(r=-0.312, P=0.01) and positively correlated with β-catenin cytosolic/nucleus expression(r=0.309, P=0.018). The differentiation and metastasis of colonic carcinoma were associated with the aberrant expression of E-cadherin, β-catenin, and methylation of CDH1 promoter (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONCDH1 gene promoter methylation may lead to aberrant expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin in colonic carcinoma, and may play an important role in promoting the invasion of tumor.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Colonic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role and significance of FHIT genes depletion, p53 overexpression and HPV16/18 infection in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical carcinoma (CC).

METHODSTumor samples taken from 52 cases of CIN and 69 cases of CC were processed by immunohistochemistry (SP) to determine the expression of FHIT genes and p53 protein, by in situ hybridization to detect HPV16/18 infection, and were compared with those in 18 cases of normal cervical tissues as control.

RESULTS(1) The FHIT expression was positive in normal cervical tissue with no depletion occurred, and was 30.8% in CIN. It was significantly higher in CIN III and carcinoma groups than that in normal and CIN I/II groups (P < 0.01). The depleted expression of FHIT in infiltrating cervical carcinoma group was 66.7% (46/69), significantly higher than that in normal and CIN groups (P < 0.01). Along with the decreasing of cell differentiation, the negative rate of FHIT raised. (2) The positive expression of p53 in CC group was 56.5% (39/69) and the HPV16/18 was 84.1% (58/69), both higher than that in CIN and normal groups (P < 0.05). (3) In CIN and CC groups, the positive rate of p53 in cases with positive or negative FHIT expression was similar (P > 0.05). (4) There is a negative correlation between FHIT and p53 expression. The rate of HPV16/18 infection in the depleted expression of FHIT group was significantly higher than that in FIHT normal expression group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION(1) The FHIT-depletion is related with cervical carcinogenesis. It may be used as a marker to serve mass screening of CIN-high risk subjects and diagnostic indicator for early cervical carcinoma. (2) Depleted expression of FHIT is frequently associated with p53 over-expression in CIN and CC subjects, but there is no direct correlation between them. (3) HPV16/18 infection may probably be the common cause leading to altered FHIT and p53 expression.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; virology ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; metabolism ; virology ; Female ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; genetics ; Human papillomavirus 18 ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Papillomavirus Infections ; metabolism ; virology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; metabolism ; virology

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between polymorphisms of FAS and FASL genes and genetic susceptibility of silicosis.

METHODSA case-control study was conducted. The case group was 183 male patients with silicosis and the control group was 111 male silica-exposed but without silicosis miners. Data on total dust concentrations was collected to estimate cumulative total dust exposure (CTE) of each subject and each person's characteristics and work history were obtained from questionnaire. Polymerase chain reaction re-strained fragment length polymorphism technique (PCR-RFLP) was applied to detect the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of FAS-1377, FAS-670 and FASL-844. Associations between polymorphisms and risk of silicosis and stages, interactions between polymorphisms, between polymorphisms and CTE and smoking and haplotypes were analyzed.

RESULTSThere were no differences in the FAS-1377, FAS-670 and FASL-844 genotypes between the case group and the control group (P > 0.05). No association was observed between FAS-1377, FAS-670 and FASL-844 polymorphisms and silicosis and stages (P > 0.05). The frequencies of FAS-1377G/-670G haplotype in the cases (9.6%) were higher than those in the controls (3.6%) (P < 0.05). No interactions between the polymorphisms of different genes, the gene polymorphism and the total accumulative total dust, the gene polymorphism and smoking were observed (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFAS-1377, FAS-670 and FASL-844 polymorphisms are not susceptible factors of silicosis. The FAS-1377G/-670G haplotype might be a susceptibility marker of silicosis.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Fas Ligand Protein ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Silicosis ; genetics ; fas Receptor ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of nucleophosmin/B23 (B23) in tumor cells of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its clinicopathologic significance.

METHODSMouse monoclonal antibodies against B23 were raised by recombinant protein and hybridoma technology. Immunohistochemical study for B23 was performed on 103 cases of HCC, 12 cases of focal nodular hyperplasia and 17 cases of native liver tissue adjacent to hepatic hemangioma. Fresh specimens from 10 cases of HCC and the adjacent liver tissue were also collected for reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. The expression of B23 was analyzed and compared with that of proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in these specimens.

RESULTSRT-PCR and Western blot analysis showed that B23 expression in HCC was higher than that in adjacent liver tissue. Statistically significant difference in expressions of B23 and PCNA were also noted in the four groups studied (P < 0.01). B23 and PCNA expressions in HCC were higher than those in the other three groups (P < 0.01). There was also a statistically significant correlation between B23 and PCNA expressions amongst the four groups (r = 0.4769, P < 0.01). Besides, B23 expression in HCC correlated with pathologic tumor grading, serum alpha-fetal protein levels and cirrhotic status (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSB23 expression in HCC was significantly higher than that in liver tissues with non-malignant diseases. B23 may be used as a marker for neoplastic changes in liver cells and thus has potential clinicopathologic application.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Focal Nodular Hyperplasia ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nuclear Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction