AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effects of endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS) and TRAIL on hepatic stellate cells in vitro and how their interaction affect the apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells. METHODS: Take thapsigargin (TG) as the endoplasmic reticulum stress-inducing agents, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) for the endoplasmic reticulum stress inhibitors, SP600125 as a c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK) inhibitor, HSC-T6 cells were divided into normal control group, DMSO group, TRAIL group, TG group, UDCA group, siCHOP group and SP600125 group. The apoptosis rate of HSC-T6 cell was detected by flow cytometry. Small interference RNA was applied to silence C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP) gene. The protein expression levels of Caspase-8 were detected by immunohistochemistry method. The ERS marker protein CHOP and TRAIL receptor DR5 expression levels were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS:TG (1 μmol/L, 2 μmol/L, 4 μmol/L, 8 μmol/L, 16 μmol/L) increased cell apoptosis rate of HSC-T6. RT-PCR and Western blot showed that the endoplasmic reticulum stress protein marker CHOP could induce the upregulation of TRAIL receptor DR5 and Caspase-8. Moreover, siCHOP and the JNK inhibitor SP600125 could reduce the expression of DR5 and Caspase-8 in HSC cells. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that CHOP and JNK may be a potential factor regulating DR5 expression, and play an important role in the process of apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells.

With the intensified aging problem, the study of age-related diseases is becoming more and more significant. Alzheimer's disease is a kind of dementia, with senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles as the main pathological features, and has become one of the major diseases that endanger the health of the elderly. This review is concentrated on the research of the early assessment of Alzheimer's disease. The current situation of early diagnosis of the disease is analyzed, and a prospect of the future development of early assessment means of the disease is also made in the paper.
Aged ; Aging ; Alzheimer Disease ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Neurofibrillary Tangles ; pathology ; Plaque, Amyloid ; pathology

Objective To analyze the influence of mode of delivery on post-neonatal gut microbiota using polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) technology.Methods From April to August in 2013,thirty healthy urban full-term neonates in Nanjing City were enrolled in the study,including fifteen exclusive breastfed ones (seven born of caesarean section and eight born vaginally) and fifteen mixed feeding ones (eight born of cesarean section and seven born vaginally).Stool specimens were collected on the 28th day after birth and bacterial genomic DNA was extracted and examined by PCR on 16S rDNA V3 variable region.Bacterial community profiles were obtained by DGGE.Diversity and similarity differences of the gut microbial community structures were analyzed.Two independent sample t test or Chi-square tests were used for stastistical analysis.Results (1)Diversity analysis showed that among exclusive breastfeeding infants,the Strip number and Shannon-Weaver Diversity Index of gut microbiota in infants born abdominally were significantly lower than those born vaginally [9.71 ±4.27 vs 15.12±4.19,2.13±0.39 vs 2.61±0.32,both P＜0.05],but the Simpson index of gut microbiota was significantly higher [0.13 ± 0.04 vs 0.08± 0.03,P＜0.05],and no significant difference was shown in Pielou Index (P＞0.05).In the mixed feeding group,the Strip number and Shannon-Weaver Diversity Index of gut microbiota in infants born abdominally were significantly lower than those born vaginally [10.88±3.23 vs 16.29±5.38,2.26±0.37 vs 2.66±0.31,both P＜0.05],the Simpson index was higher,but together with the Pielou Index,neither showed significant difference (both P＞0.05).(2) Similarity analysis found that gut microbiota from neonates born of same mode of delivery mostly gathered together and had much more similar structures.Conclusions In the post-neonatal period,the species and numbers of gut microbiota in infants born abdominally are all behind of those born vaginally.The predominant microbiota in babies born of cesarean section are more prominent,and gut microbiota in vaginal delivered babies are more uniformly distributed.

Objective: To investigate the expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)H19 in gallbladder cancer and its relationship with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis. Methods: 74 cases of allbladder cancer resected in our hospital were collected and studied. At the same time, 66 cases of benign gallbladder lesions were selected as benign lesion group. The expression of lncRNA H19 in tissues was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The correlation between lncRNA H19 expression and clinicopathological parameters of gallbladder cancer patients was analyzed.The patients were followed up for 3 years and COX was used to analyze the prognostic factors affecting the survival rate.The survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curve. The survival differences of lncRNA H19 expression groups were detected by Log-Rank method. Results: The expression level of lncRNA H19 in gallbladder cancer was significantly higher than that in benign lesions (P<0.05). The expression of lncRNA H19 was correlated with stage, differentiation and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Age, sex, histological grade, stage and depth of invasion of gallbladder cancer had no significant correlation with 3-year survival rate (P>0.05). The survival rate of patients with differentiated tumors and non-metastatic lymph nodes were higher (P<0.05). The survival rate of patients with low expression of lncRNA H19 was significantly higher than those with high expression of lncRNA H19 (P<0.05). Tumor differentiation, lymph node metastasis and lncRNA H19 expression were independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients with gallbladder cancer. Conclusions LncRNA H19 is highly expressed in gallbladder cancer, which is closely related to the degree of differentiation, lymph node metastasis and survival rate of patients.

To refine and analyze the characteristics and laws of acupoint selection in treatment of hyperlipidemia with acupuncture and moxibustion. By retrieving the main databases of Chinese and English version, the clinical research literature is included on the definite acupoints for hyperlipidemia treated with acupuncture and moxibustion, and the characteristics and laws are analyzed on the acupoint selection for hyperlipidemia treated with acupuncture and moxibustion. It is found out that the special points have been mainly used in treatment of hyperlipidemia. The first five top acupoints of high frequency use include Fenglong (ST 40), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Neiguan (PC 6) and Tianshu (ST 25). Totally 10 meridians are involved in acupoint prescriptions. The meridians of higher frequency use include the Stomach Meridian, the Spleen Meridian, the Conception Vessel, the Bladder Meridian and the Pericardium Meridian. The specific points are mainly from the Stomach Meridian, the Spleen Meridian, the Conception Vessel, the Bladder Meridian and the Pericardium Meridian in the treatment of hyperlipidemia. The acupoint prescription of acupuncture and moxibustion for hyperlipidemia is characterized as determining the treating principle based on the spleen theory, selecting the acupoints along the running courses of the spleen and stomach meridians, combining the nearby acupoints with the distal ones, selecting the acupoints for adjusting the deficiency and excess of zangfu and syndrome differentiation, collaborating the acupoints located in the front and on the back, as well as supplementing the acupoints based on symptoms.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; therapy ; Moxibustion

AIM:To detect the endogenous expression of B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 6 member B (BCL6B) in FHC and LoVo cells, and to investigate the effects of BCL6B on proliferation and migration of LoVo cells for further explo-ring the underlying mechanism .METHODS:The endogenous expression of BCL 6B in the FHC and LoVo cells was detec-ted by RT-PCR and Western blot .The methods of MTT assay , colony formation assay , wound healing assay and Transwell chamber experiment were employed to examine the biological functions of BCL 6B in the LoVo cells.The mRNA and protein levels of BCL6B, cyclin D1 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 ( MMP-9) were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot , re-spectively.The level of phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT) was detected by Western blot.RESULTS:BCL6B ex-pression was notably repressed in the LoVo cells as compared with the FHC cells , which were significantly increased by transfection with pcDNA3.1-BCL6B.The abilities of proliferation and migration of the LoVo cells at 72 h were inhibited by 28.33%(P<0.01) and 36.11%(P<0.05) in BCL6B group.The mRNA levels of cyclin D1 and MMP-9 in the cells of BCL6B group were decreased by 39.90%(P<0.01) and 77.36% (P <0.05), and the protein levels of cyclin D1, MMP-9 and p-AKT were reduced by 44.00%(P<0.05), 47.06%(P<0.01) and 32.88% (P<0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION:BCL6B inhibits proliferation and migration of the LoVo cells , and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is in-volved in this process .

This study was aimed to investigate the comprehensive ecological factors of Hippophae rhamnoides L. and their regional suitability in China. Based on field survey, specimen examination and literature investigation, ecologi-cal factors and appropriate production areas were analyzed by Traditional Chinese Medicine Geographic Information System (TCMGIS-II). The results showed that the proper region (with similarity of 95%~100%) of H. rhamnoides L. accounts for 737 994.71 km2, including 15 provinces/municipalities and 387 counties/cities. The largest area among them is Tibet autonomous region with area of 313 857.73 km2 (42.53%), followed by Sichuan province (223 987.02 km2, 30.35%), Gansu province (66 314.43 km2, 8.99%) and Shanxi province (4 237.79 km2, 0.57%). There are also certain appropriate production areas distributed in Liaoning province, Beijing, Chongqing and Hubei province. It was concluded that this system is much valuable to the recognition of the formation of the producing area, the division of adaptive area, introduction and acclimatization of medicinal materials. It also provided a scientific reference for the introduction and cultivation of H. rhamnoides L. Through further field study and experiments, these new areas have the potential to be developed into suitable production region of H. rhamnoides L. in the future.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of multiple drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection in respiratory elderly patients.Methods A total of 102 elderly patients infected with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii were enrolled in our hospital from January 2014 to December 2015.At the same time,no multiple drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection elderly patients was selected as a control group.The gender,age,antimicrobial use,white blood cell count,mechanical ventilation time and other differences between the two groups of elderly patients were compared.Results There were significant differences in the days of hospitalization [(18.7±7.5) d vs.(10.0±2.7)d],the time of application of invasive ventilator[(24.6±10.3) d vs.(11.6±6.9)d] and the time of application of antimicrobial agents[(26.2±13.1) d vs.(8.0±2.6)d] (t=19.463、15.436、26.905,all P＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in immunosuppressant use,white blood cell count,serum protein level and APACHEⅡ score (all P＞0.05).Conclusions Reasonable scientific application of antimicrobial agents,reducing invasive mechanical ventilation time and improving patient immunity can help to reduce the risk of respiratory infection in elderly patients with multiple drug resistance to Acinetobacter baumannii.

Objective:To establish a method to determine the content of bacterial endotoxin in iodixanol. Methods:The standard curve of kinetic turbidimetric method was established and the dilution ratio was optimized by interference test. Bacterial endotoxin in the samples was determined. Results:The dilution ratio of 1 ∶12 did not interfere with the test. The recovery rate of bacterial endotox-in was 50%-200%. Conclusion:The kinetic turbidimetric method is suitable for the determination of bacterial endotoxin in iodixanol.

Aim To investigate the protective effects of total triterpenoid from Prunella vulgaris L. ( TTP) on CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats and its mecha-nism. Methods Rat liver fibrosis was induced by 50% CCl4 twice a week for 12 weeks. From the 5th week, all the therapeutic groups were treated with the TTP(25, 50, 100 mg·kg-1 ) and the colchicine (0. 1 mg· kg-1 ) respectively once a day for 8 weeks. At the end of the twelfth week, the levels of ALT, AST, HA, PCⅢ, CⅣ, MDA, SOD, GSH-Px, Hyp were measured . HE and Masson staining were used to evalu-late the degree of hepatic fibrosis. The mRNA expres-sion ofα-SMA, procollagen I, Smad2, Smad3, Smad7 in liver was detected by RT-PCR, and the p-ERK pro-tein expression was evaluated by Western blot. Results Compared with the model group, TTP(25, 50, 100 mg·kg-1 ) not only reduced serum content of ALT, AST, HA, PCⅢ, CⅣand Hyp, MDA in liver tissue, improved the morphologic changes of hepatic fibrosis, but also increased SOD and GSH-Px activity. Moreo-ver, it decreased the α-SMA, procollagen I, Smad2, Smad3 mRNA expression and increased Smad7 mRNA expression in liver tissues obviously. Furthermore, TTP reduced the protein expression of p-ERK. Conclusions TTP can protect rats from CCl4-induced liver fibro-sis. The mechanism of this process may involve inhibi-ting the expression of p-ERK and interference with TGF-β1/Smad signal transduction pathway.