Aim To observe the expression of MRTF-A in rat glomerular mesangial cells(GMCs) induced by advanced glycation end products(AGEs) and its effect on ICAM-1 and FN;to explore whether MRTF-A is involved in the process of diabetic nephropathy by affecting NF-κB pathway.Methods Under the condition of AGEs, CCG-1423 and anti-MRTF-A small interfering RNA were used to knock down MRTF-A and MRTF-A plasmid was used to activatt MRTF-A, The expression level of MRTF-A, ICAM-1, FN and p65 in nucleus were detected by Western blot.Results The protein expressions of MRTF-A was increased in AGEs-induced GMCs.The expressions of FN and ICAM-1 and p65 in nucleus were downregulated by knocking down MRTF-A.However, the expressions of FN, ICAM-1 and p65 in nucleus were upregulated by overexpressing MRTF-A.Conclusions AGEs can upregulate the expression of MRTF-A in GMCs, and MRTF-A mediates the protein expressions of FN and ICAM-1 by affecting NF-κB signaling pathway in AGEs-induced GMCs.

[ABSTRACT]AIM:ToinvestigatethedifferenteffectsofERK1/2/PPARα/SCAD(short-chainacyl-CoAdehy-drogenase) signal pathways on the cardiac hypertrophy induced by insulin-like growth factors 1 ( IGF-1) or phenylephrine ( PE) .METHODS:The neonatal rat cardiomyocytes induced by IGF-1 were used as the model of physiological cardiac hypertrophy , and those induced by PE were used as the model of pathological cardiac hypertrophy .The surface area of the cardiomyocytes, the expression of p-ERK1/2, PPARαand SCAD, the activity of SCAD and the content of free fatty acid in the cardiomyocytes were measured .RESULTS:Compared with the control cells , the surface area of the cardiomyocytes in-duced by IGF-1 and PE were both increased .Compared with the controls , the expression of SCAD and PPARα, and the activity of SCAD in the cardiomyocytes induced by IGF-1 were increased , while the expression of p-ERK1/2 was de-creased.However, the cardiomyocytes treated with PE showed decreased expression of SCAD and PPARα, decreased activ-ity of SCAD and increased expression of p-ERK1/2.Meanwhile, the decrease in free fatty acid in IGF-1-induced cardio-myocytes and the increase in PE-induced cardiomyocytes indicated that the fatty acid utilization was increased in the cardio -myocytes induced by IGF-1, but decreased in the cardiomyocytes induced by PE .CONCLUSION: The changes of p-ERK1/2, PPARαand SCAD in the cardiac hypertrophy induced by IGF-1 or PE indicate that the effects of ERK 1/2/PPARα/SCAD signal pathways are different between physiological cardiac hypertrophy and pathological cardiac hypertro -phy , and that SCAD may be a molecular marker of these 2 different cardiac hypertrophies and a potential therapeutic target for pathological cardiac hypertrophy .

OBJECTIVE:To investigate in vitro antibacterial effect of extracts from Miao medicine Rubus multibracteatus leaves. METHODS:The aqueous extract and 80% ethanol extracts from R. multibracteatus leaves were used to prepare solution with mass concentration of 200 mg/mL. Using ampicillin and fluconazol as positive control (50 mg/mL),cup plate method was used to determine antibacterial effects of the extracts from R. multibracteatus leaves to Staphylococcus aureus,Staphylococcus epi-dermidis,Escherichia coli,Shigella dysenteriae,Proteus vulgaris,Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. The petroleum ether,acetic ether and n-butyl alcohol were used to extract 80% ethanol extracts in turns. After obtaining relevant extracts (50 mg/mL),cup plate method was used to investigate antibacterial effects of them to above 7 bacterial strains. The parts with antibacte-rial effects and bacterial strains sensitive to drug were screened. Micro-broth dilution method and agar culture medium plate method were used to determine minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC)and minimum bactericidal concentration(MBC). RESULTS:The aqueous extract of R. multibracteatus leaves almost had no inhibitory effect while 80% ethanol extract showed different degrees of antibacterial effect to tested bacterial strains,and it also had higher activity against 5 bacterial stains than 2 fungus. The ethyl ace-tate and n-butyl alcohol fractions of 80% ethanol extracts showed good effect while the petroleum ether and water layer fractions had no antibacterial effect,and all the fractions of 80% ethanol extracts showed no inhibitory effect on fungus. To 5 bacterial stains,MIC and MBC of 80% ethanol extract were 6.25-12.5,12.5-25 mg/mL,those of ethyl acetate fractions were 3.13,6.25 mg/mL and those of n-butyl alcohol fraction were 3.13-6.25,6.25-12.5 mg/mL,respectively. CONCLUSIONS:80% ethanol ex-tract of Miao medicine R. multibracteatus leaves and its ethyl acetate and n-butyl alcohol fractions have obvious in vitro antibacteri-al effect to bacteria.

Objective To determine the electrocardiographic (ECG) characteristics of myocardial infarction (MI) evolution in rats and the intervention effect of Chinese herbs, and to provide basis for the establishment of the criteria for ECG diagnosis and assessment of drug therapeutic effects of rats MI. Methods Totally 140 male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, replenishing qi group, activating blood group, replenishing qi and activating blood (1∶2) and (2∶1) group as well as Tongxinluo group, each group with 20 rats. The rat MI model was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. The treatment groups were administrered with corresponding drugs by gavage from the first day after operation. The sham operation group and model group were given the same volume of distilled water. The 12-lead ECGs were recorded before, immediately after, 1st and 2nd week after operation respectively. The voltage value of ST segment deviation, the time limit of QRS complex and the number of animals with pathologic Q wave were evaluated for statistical analysis. Results Model group showed the elevation of ST segment, significantly prolonged time limit of QRS complex (P<0.01), and no pathologic Q wave showed immediately after operation compared with sham operation group. And all above observational indexes reached the peak at 1st week and declined at 2nd week after operation. Compared with model group at 2nd week after operation, replenishing qi and activating blood (1∶2) group and (2∶1) group all presented remarkable dropping of ST segment, shortening in time limit of QRS complex and reduction in number of rats with pathologic Q wave, of which 2∶1 group showed the most (P<0.01). Activating blood group only displayed decreases in time limit of QRS and number of rats with pathologic Q wave (P<0.05), and no significant decline in ST segment. Replenishing qi group demonstrated no significant changes in above three observational indexes (P>0.05). Thus, we proposed the criterion for the ECG diagnosis of rats MI as well as the criterion for the ECG assessment of drug therapeutic effects of rats MI. Conclusion ECG can overall and sensitively evaluate the evolution and drug therapeutic effects of MI in rats, thus providing a relatively objective and available assessment method for the experimental studies of myocardial ischemic diseases.

OBJECTIVE:To optimize the hypoglycemic active parts from the leaves of Dimocarpus longan for type 2 diabetes mellitus mice,and to provide reference for material basis study of it. METHODS:Total extract was obtained from the leaves of D. longan with 95% ethanol percolation extraction. After confirming hypoglycemic effect of total extract,extract was suspended with water. Relevant extract was obtained by using petroleum ether,ethyl acetate and n-butanol in turn(respectively marked as ST,YT,ZT and WT). The model of type 2 diabetes mellitus mice was established by high glucose and high fat diet combined with STZ. Model mice were randomly divided into model group(distilled water),positive control group(metformin,0.1 g/kg), ST low-dose,medium-dose and high-dose groups(22.2,29.6,44 g/kg,calculated by crude drug,similarly hereinafter),YT low-dose,medium-dose and high-dose groups(10.7,16,32 g/kg),ZT low-dose,medium-dose and high-dose groups(10.5, 15.8,31.6 g/kg),WT low-dose,medium-dose and high-dose groups(18.5,24.6,37 g/kg),with 10 mice in each group. Other 10 normal mice were included in normal group(distilled water). Those groups were given relevant medicine intragastrically,once a day,for consecutive 28 d.The growth of mice and the change of body weight were observed and recorded. Fasting blood glucose(FBG)of mice was detected,and glucose tolerance test of mice was conducted. The contents of TC,TG,HDL-C and LDL-C in serum of mice were also determined. RESULTS:Compared with normal group,body weight and serum content of HDL-C in model group were decreased;FBG and the blood sugar after giving glucose for 0.5,1,2 h and area under glucose tolerance curve of mice were increased,and serum contents of TC,TG and LDL-C were alse increased,with statistical significance(P<0.01). compared with model group,body weight of mice in YT high-dose group after administration of 25 d was increased,FBG of mice in YT groups and ZT medium-dose,high-dose groups were decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01);blood sugar of mice in YT medium-dose,high-dose groups and ZT high-dose group after giving glucose for 1 h as well as blood sugar of mice in YT high-dose group after giving glucose for 2 h were all decreased;area under glucose tolerance curve of mice and serum content of TC were decreased in YT groups and ZT high-dose group,while serum content of HDL-C was increased. Serum content of TG and LDL-C in YT high-dose group and ZT high-dose group as well as serum content of TG in YT medium-dose group were all decreased,serum content of HDL-C in ZT medium-dose group was increased,with statistical significance(P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS:The ethyl acetate part and n-butanol part from the leaves of D. longan show good hypoglycemic effect on type 2 diabetes mellitus mice.

Objective:To describe the real experience of the elderly who has felt happy during the time they stayed at nursing homes, and discuss the meaning which is behind their experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, to provide scientific basis for improving their subjective well-being.Methods:Qualitative explanatory phenomenological analysis methods, and semi-structured in-depth interviews were used to interview 21 elderly people living in Guangzhou Songhe Nursing Home. Data analysis and subject extraction were carried out with reference to the Colaizzi 7-step analysis.Results:The real experience of subjective well-being of the elderly in nursing homes has six themes: be satisfied with the nursing home management service, be satisfied with harmonious interpersonal relationship, be satisfied with good health, be satisfied with family support, grateful and expectations for the social support system, be satisfied with and grateful for the epidemic prevention work during the COVID-19 epidemic.Conclusions:The elderly who live in a nursing home with perfect management and service, care for each other, are healthy, receive family and social support, are grateful, and understand family and social support will be more likely to feel happy. Improving the subjective well-being of the elderly in nursing homes requires the coordination and support of nursing homes, the elderly, families, society and other aspects.

Objective: To observe the material basis and mechanism of action of Kai-Xin-San (KXS) in regulating antidepression of neurotrophic factors. Methods: KXS eluted by ethanol on macroporous resin was prepared. The antidepressive effect of different components was compared by tailing suspension test and forced swimming test of mice. The levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hippocampus were determined by ELISA. The rat astrocyte glioma C6 cell line and the rat adrenal pheochromocytoma PC12 cell line were used to evaluate the effects of different ethanol elution sites on the expression of NGF and BDNF and the differentiation of PC12 cells.Results: All of the ethanol elution components from KXS exerted anti-depressive effects by shorting the immobile time of tailing suspension and forced swimming of mice and 70％ ethanol elution components exerted best efficacy. This site also could increase expressions of NGF and BDNF on C6 glioma cell line. The 10％ ethanol elution site had the strongest ability to promote PC12 cell differentiation. Ginsenosides were the main effectuve ingredients for promoting the expression of neurotrophic factors. Conclusion: Regulation of neurotrophic factors might be the prominent action mechanism of KXS exerting anti-depressive effects.

BackgroundNowadays， idolatry is an important part of the spiritual life of secondary school students， making a significant impact on their physical and mental development. Previous research has examined the two-by-two relationship between idolatry， peer attachment， life satisfaction and perceived social support， but the potential mediating mechanisms between these variables remain to be explored. ObjectiveTo explore the mediating role of peer attachment and life satisfaction between idolatry and perceived social support， so as to provide references for mental health education for secondary school students. MethodsIn June 2022， 1 059 students currently enrolled in secondary school in Qiannan State， Guizhou Province were selected according to stratified random sampling method. In this study， assessment was performed using Celebrity Attitude Scale （CAS）， Peer Attachment Subscale from Revised Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment （IPPA-R）， Satisfaction with Life Scale （SWLS） and Perceived Social Support Scale （PSSS）. Pearson correlation analysis was used for correlation test. Model 6 in the SPSS Macro Process 3.3 was used to examine the mediating effect of peer attachment and life satisfaction between idolatry and perceived social support in secondary school students. Results①CAS score indicated positive correlation with scores of IPPA-R Peer Attachment Subscale， SWLS and PSSS （r=0.117， 0.097， 0.115， P<0.01）. IPPA-R score indicated positive correlation with scores of SWLS and PSSS （r=0.279， 0.421， P<0.01）. SWLS score was positively correlated with PSSS score （r=0.552， P<0.01）. ②The direct effect of idolatry on perceived social support was significant （β=0.059， P<0.05）. Both separate and chain mediating effects of peer attachment and life satisfaction between idolatry and perceived social support were significant （95% CI： 0.007~0.130， 0.004~0.054， 0.001~0.016， P<0.01）. The three effects above respectively accounted for 33.56%， 13.54% and 3.93% of the total effect. ConclusionIdolatry can affect secondary school students' perceived social support both directly and indirectly through peer attachment and life satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between the blood oxygenation T₂* values of resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs) and tumor stages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 48 ESCC patients and 20 healthy participants who had undergone esophageal T₂*-weighted imaging to obtain T₂* values of the tumors and normal esophagi. ESCC patients underwent surgical resections less than one week after imaging. Statistical analyses were performed to identify the association between T₂* values of ESCCs and tumor stages. RESULTS: One-way ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls tests revealed that the T₂* value could differentiate stage T1 ESCCs (17.7 ± 3.3 ms) from stage T2 and T3 tumors (24.6 ± 2.7 ms and 27.8 ± 5.6 ms, respectively; all p(s) < 0.001). Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis showed the suitable cutoff T₂* value of 21.3 ms for either differentiation. The former statistical tests demonstrated that the T₂* value could not differentiate between stages T2 and T3 (24.6 ± 2.7 ms vs. 27.8 ± 5.6 ms, respectively, p > 0.05) or between N stages (N1 vs. N2 vs. N3: 24.7 ± 6.9 ms vs. 25.4 ± 4.5 ms vs. 26.8 ± 3.9 ms, respectively; all p(s) > 0.05). The former tests illustrated that the T₂* value could differentiate anatomic stages I and II (18.8 ± 4.8 ms and 26.9 ± 5.9 ms, respectively) or stages I and III (27.3 ± 3.6 ms). ROC analysis depicted the same cutoff T₂* value of 21.3 ms for either differentiation. In addition, the Student's t test revealed that the T₂* value could determine grouped T stages (T0 vs. T1–3: 17.0 ± 2.9 ms vs. 25.2 ± 6.2 ms; T0–1 vs. T2–3: 17.3 ± 3.0 ms vs. 27.1 ± 5.3 ms; and T0–2 vs. T3: 18.8 ± 4.2 ms vs. 27.8 ± 5.6 ms, all p(s) < 0.001). ROC analysis indicated that the T₂* value could detect ESCCs (cutoff, 20 ms), and discriminate between stages T0–1 and T2–3 (cutoff, 21.3 ms) and between T0–2 and T3 (cutoff, 20.4 ms). CONCLUSION: The T₂* value can be an additional quantitative indicator for detecting ESCC except for stage T1 cancer, and can preoperatively discriminate between some T stages and between anatomic stages of this tumor.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Epithelial Cells* ; Esophagus ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Oxygen* ; ROC Curve

Objective:To investigate the iodine nutritional status among children aged from 8 - 10 and pregnant women in Xiamen City before and after adjustment of salt iodine concentration, and scientifically evaluate the suitability of the new standard iodized salt adjustment policy for Xiamen City.Methods:In the pre-adjustment period (2011) and the post-adjustment period (2018), cross-sectional research methods and stratified cluster sampling methods were adopted in six districts of Xiamen City. The salt samples of residents and pregnant women, urine samples of children aged from 8 - 10 and pregnant women were collected to determine the iodine level; thyroid of children aged from 8 - 10 was examined. Changes in salt iodine, urine iodine and goiter prevalence before and after adjusting iodine content of salt were compared.Results:The median of salt iodine in residents after the adjustment (23.5 mg/kg) was significantly lower than that of before (28.9 mg/kg, Z = - 10.512, P < 0.05), the median of salt iodine in pregnant women after the adjustment (23.7 mg/kg) was significantly lower than that of before (29.2 mg/kg, Z = - 12.622, P < 0.05); the consumption rate of qualified iodized salt in residents after the adjustment (95.7%, 1 196/1 250) was significantly lower than that of before (97.1%, 1 608/1 656; χ 2 = 4.250, P < 0.05); before and after adjustment of salt iodine concentration, the consumption rate of qualified iodized salt in pregnant women was 94.7% (124/131) and 95.9% (579/604), respectively. No significant difference was found when comparing the consumption rate of qualified iodized salt in pregnant women (χ 2 = 0.015, P > 0.05). There was significant difference in median urinary iodine (from 204.2 to 183.9 μg/L, detected in 652, 1 250 urine samples, respectively) of children aged 8 - 10 years ( Z = - 3.583, P < 0.05); the difference of iodine nutritional status in pregnant women before and after adjustment of salt iodine concentration(130.2, 130.8 μg/L, detected in 132, 604 urine samples, respectively) was not significant ( Z = - 1.715, P > 0.05). The thyroid goiter rate of children aged 8 - 10 years had reduced from 1.1% (14/1 239) to 0.2% (2/1 253), the difference was statistically significant (χ 2 = 9.195, P < 0.05). Conclusions:As a whole, the measure of control and prevention of iodine deficiency disorders through iodized salt is implemented well in Xiamen City. After adjustment of salt iodine concentration, the iodine status of children aged from 8 to 10 is adequate, but the pregnant women has showed iodine deficiency.