Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Sprains and Strains ; therapy ; Young Adult

Objective To study the association of insulin resistance ( IR ) with aortic compliance impairment in patients with essential hypertension (EH). Methods Thirty-five patients with EH and 35 healthy control subjects were enrolled. The two groups were matched by sex, age and weight Blood pressure was measured and high resolution color Doppler examination was performed. Pressure-strain elastic modulus ( EP) and stiff index were calculated to reflect the change of aortic compliance in all subjects. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was assayed with oxidase technique, serum fasting insulin ( Fins) was assayed with chemoluminescent technique, Calculate insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated using FPG and FINS. Results In the EH group, Fins, HOMA-IR and EP of ascending aorta were ( 10. 15 ± 1.03) mU /L, 2. 21 ± 0. 68, (250. 79 ± 85. 52 ) kN/m2, respectively,and the stiff index( β) was 15. 60 ±7. 55. In the control group, Fins,HOMA-IR, EP and stiff index β were (6. 80 ± 3. 05) mU/L, 1. 48 ± 0. 16, (183. 90 ± 64. 65 ) kN/m2 and 10. 86 ± 4. 92, respectively. There were significant difference on these above mentioned indices between the two groups (P < 0. 05 ). In the EH group, HOMA-IR were positively correlated with the ascending aorta EP and stiff index β ( r = 0.558 and 0.601 respectively, P < 0. 05 ). Conclusions Aortic compliance impairment and IR are found in patients with EH. There is significant association of IR with aortic compliance impairment Hyperinsulinemia related to insulin resistance might be an important influential factor which promote large artery remodeling in patients with EH.

To explore the applicability of interleukin 8(IL 8)to determination of wound age in the incised and stabbed human skin samples,an immunohistochemical study on the temporal expression of IL 8 was performed on 52 human skin wounds at different posttraumatic intervals.Expression of IL 8 was detectable in polymorphonuclear cells(PMNs)in the wound specimens aged 4h.In the wound specimens aged from 12～24h after injury,IL 8 was identified in a large number of infiltrating PMNs and part of mononuclear cells(MNCs).Afterwards,the MNCs and fibroblastic cells(FBCs)accounted in the most part of the IL 8 positive cells.Morphometrically,the ratio of the number of the IL 8 stained PMNs,MNCs and FBCs to total number of the cells in the wounds was evaluated and calculated.The ratio of the IL 8 positive cells was low in the wound specimens aged 4 and 6h(16 0?10 1%),and maximized in the wound specimens aged between 1 and 4 days(59 6%?8 7%).Thereafter,the ratio decreased and minimized in the specimens aged from 19 to 21 days(27 5?5 9%).The results suggest that IL 8 can be used as a marker for the wound age determination in both incised and stabbed human skin.

By means of comparing biomasses of biodegradation fungi,Fusarium sp.HG-P-01 for ?-cypermethrin,a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide used widely in China,in five different media,the Czapek-Dox medium was selected as the best medium for mycelia growth.Furthermore,an experiment of central composite rotatable design(CCRD) was used to optimize the content of nutrient components.The optimal composition of C,N and P in media for HG-P-01 were 20.94 g/L,1.82 g/L and 1.66 g/L,respec-tively,in which an expectant or real rate of ?-cypermethrin-degradation got to 96.34% or 93.78% by HPLC for a concentration of 50 mg/L after 24 h treatment.The predicted value in degradation rate model was con-sistent with that from HPLC method.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility of real-time screening and diagnosing fundus diseases with Wild Field Imaging System (WFIS SW-8000) in the eyes with dense cataract patients.Methods:A series of case-observational study was carried out.Ninety-six dense cataractous eyes of 90 patients with suspected fundus diseases were included in Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from April to July 2019.Lens phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation was performed after the opacity lens was removed, and fundus examination was performed with WFIS SW-8000.Super field lens, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) was used to verify the fundus findings after surgery, which were compared with WFIS SW-8000.This study protocol was approved by Ethics Committee of Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University and followed the Declaration of Helsinki.Written informed consent was obtained from each patient prior to any medical examination.Results:Among 96 eyes, fundus diseases were detected in 40 eyes with the detection rate of 41.67% by WFIS SW-8000 examination, including dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 2 eyes, wet AMD in 3 eyes, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in 1 eye, high myopia retinopathy (HMR) in 7 eyes, central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) with macular edema (ME) in 1 eye, mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) in 12 eyes, moderate NPDR in 7 eyes, severe NPDR in 4 eyes and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in 3 eyes.Fundus diseases were detected in 45 eyes with detection rate of 46.88% after surgery by a super field lens, OCT and FFA.The detectable rate of digital retinal camera examination and super field lens, OCT and FFA showed no significant difference between intraoperation and postoperation (χ 2=0.528, P=0.468). Twenty-two eyes with fundus neovascular disease or macular edema requiring drug intervention were identified intraoperatively, and intravitreal anti-inflammatory and/or anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs were injected in 11 eyes during the operation. Conclusions:WFIS SW-8000 is a useful tool for the accurate and convenient method in real-time fundus examination during phacoemulsification, which is feasible and helpful for timely intervention in and treatment of fundus diseases.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the anti-aging effects and reveal the underlying mechanism of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi ethanol extract (SBG) in D-galactose-induced rats. Fifty rats were randomly divided into five groups: vehicle control group, D-galactose group, and D-galactose combined with 50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1) SBG. A rat aging model was induced by injecting subcutaneously D-galactose (100 mg x kg(-1)) for ten weeks. At the tenth week, the locomotor activity (in open-field test) and the learning and memory abilities (in Morris water maze test) were examined respectively. The urine was collected using metabolic cages and analyzed by high-resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy combined with multivariate statistical analyses. The SBG at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg x kg(-1) treatments groups could significantly ameliorate aging process in rats' cognitive performance. The 50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1) SBG regulated citrate, pyruvate, lactate, trimethylamine (TMA), pantothenate, β-hydroxybutyrate in urine favorably toward the control group. These biochemical changes are related to the disturbance in energy metabolism, glycometabolism and microbiome metabolism, which is helpful to further understanding the D-galactose induced aging rats and the therapeutic mechanism of SBG.
Aging ; drug effects ; Animals ; Galactose ; Memory ; drug effects ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacokinetics ; urine ; Rats ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of newly identified single-chain DNA virus (SENV) infection in Shenzhen.

METHODSNested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) was established using primers from ORF1 region of SENV genome. Six hundred and one sera samples from different populations were detected for SENV DNA (D and H subtype) by nPCR. Products of PCR were cloned into T-vector and sequenced.

RESULTSThe positive rates of SENV DNA in different populations were as followed: 27.8% in patients with hepatitis B, 22.2% in patients with hepatitis C, 26.9% in hemodialysis patients and 39.3% in IDUs. Among blood donors, the positive rates of SENV DNA were 28.1% in unqualified blood donors, 31.3% in blood donors with an elevated ALT levels and 15.1% in qualified blood donors. The infection rates of SENV in unqualified blood donors and blood donors with an elevated ALT levels were obviously higher than in qualified blood donors (chi(2) = 8.29, P < 0.01 and chi(2) = 6.03, P < 0.01). There was a 6.8% difference of nucleotide between SENV-D standard subtype and 6 isolates with 13.5% difference of nucleotide between SENV-H standard subtype and 4 isolates from Shenzhen.

CONCLUSIONResults suggested that SENV infection was common in high-risk groups in Shenzhen.

Base Sequence ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA Virus Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; DNA Viruses ; classification ; isolation & purification ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protection effects of electroacupuncture on injury of lipid peroxidation induced by liver ischemia in septic rats.

METHODSForty-eight male SD rats were subjected to sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and were randomly divided into a Sham operation group (group A), a CLP model group (group B), a CLP model plus electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) group (group C), a CLP model plus electroacupuncture at the shame acupoint (group D), a vagotomy plus CLP model group (group E) and CLP model plus electroacupuncture group after vagotomy (group F), 8 rats in each group. CLP was performed in group E and group F after the abdominal vagotomy. Bilateral "Zusanli"(ST 36) points and the shame acupoint were electroacupunctured (2 mA, 2/100 Hz) for 1 hour in group C, group F and group D, respectively. The hepatic blood flow (HBF) was detected by a laser-Doppler flowmetry at 6 h after CLP. The plasma activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was also determined and specimens of liver were harvested for evaluation of malondialdehyde (MDA), xanthine oxidase (XOD) and assessment of the rate of water content.

RESULTSThe blood flow of the liver was (56.97 +/- 11.95) U in group C which was significantly lower than (80.12 +/- 19.57) U in group A but higher than (42.61 +/- 10.97) U in group B, (44.53 +/- 9.23) U in group D, (30.05 +/- 4.46) U in group E and (30.46 +/- 6.38) U in group F (all P < 0.05) 6 h after CLP. Meanwhile, the levels of MDA, XOD, ALT and the rates of water content in liver in group C were all significantly higher than those in group A, but lower than those in the other four groups (all P < 0.05). The levels of MDA, XOD, ALT and the rates of water content in liver in group E and group F were all significantly higher than those in group D (all P < 0.05), while the blood flow of the liver lower than that in group D (P < 0.05), and with no significant differences in all above measurements between group E and group F (all P > 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) can promote hepatic blood flow, inhibit lipid peroxidation and alleviate hepatic edema and dysfunction in septic rats, which might be related with the completeness of cranial nerve.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver Circulation ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sepsis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Xanthine Oxidase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of rhein on the development of hepatic fibrosis.

METHODSThe animal models were made with carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) mixed with vegetable oil (3/2, v/v), which was injected subcutaneously twice a week for 6 weeks, and with 5% ethanol for free drinking water. At the same time, Rhein was administrated at the dose of 25 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg once a day for 6 weeks. The changes of both biochemical markers, such as the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hyaluronic acid (HA), procollagen type III (PCIII) in serum and SOD, malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver, and related histopathological parametres were determined.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, there were three kinds of changes in the larger quantity of rhein treated group. (1) The levels of ALT, HA, PCIII in serum and MDA in liver homogenate were decreased significantly (from 150 U/L +/- 16 U/L to 78 U/L +/- 18 U/L, 321 microg/L +/- 97 microg/L to 217 microg/L +/- 75 microg/L, 31 microg/L +/- 14 microg/L to 16 microg/L +/- 6 microg/L and 3.67 nmol/mg +/- 0.68 nmol/mg to 1.88 nmol/mg +/- 0.34 nmol/mg, respectively, t > or 2.977, P<0.01). However the level of SOD in liver was increased (from 62.45 NU/mg +/- 8.74 NU/mg to 91.26 NU/mg +/- 14.04 NU/mg, t=4.453, P<0.01). (2) The expressions of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) in liver were markedly reduced (P<0.05 and P<0.01). (3) The collagen staining positive area was decreased and the grade of fibrosis was reduced significantly in liver (P<0.05 and P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONRhein can protect hepatocyte from injury and prevent the progress of hepatic fibrosis in rats, which may associate with that rhein plays a role in antioxidation, anti-inflammation, inhibiting the expression of TGF-beta1 and suppressing the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Animals ; Anthraquinones ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Collagen ; analysis ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) on proteins related to apoptosis in INS-1 cells with exposure to intermittent high glucose.

METHODSINS-1 cells cultured in vitro were divided into control group, persistent high glucose group (PHG), intermittent high glucose group (IHG), CoPP + intermittent high glucose group (CoPP+IHG), and ZnPP+ intermittent high glucose group (ZnPP+IHG). After 72 h of treatment with the corresponding protocols, the cells were examined for expressions of HO-1 protein by Western blotting and for expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 by immunocytochemistry.

RESULTSIn comparison with the control group, the cells in both PHG group and IHG group showed significantly increased expressions of HO-1 (P<0.01) and decreased Bcl-2/Bax ratios (P<0.05). The cells in CoPP+ IHG group exhibited a greater HO-1 protein expression but a lower Bcl-2/Bax ratio than those in IHG group (P<0.05) The ZnPP+IHG group demonstrated opposite changes in terms of HO-1, Bax and Bcl-2 expressions compared with the CoPP+IHG group.

CONCLUSIONIntermittent high glucose can lower Bcl-2/Bax ratio in INS-1 cells, and HO-1 may protect INS-1 cells against apoptosis possibly by up-regulating the Bcl-2/Bax ratio.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Glucose ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; metabolism ; Islets of Langerhans ; cytology ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism