Objective To observe the effects of metformin on expression of Adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK),nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells (MCs),and explore its renoprotective mechanisms.Methods MCs were cultured in the medium with normal glucose (group NG,5.6 mmol/L),high glucose (group HG,25mmol/L) and different concentrations of metformin (group M1,M2,M3).After 48 h exposure,the supernatants and MCs were collected.The expression of NF-κB and TGF-β1 mRNA was analyzed by real time-PCR.Total-AMPK,phospho-Thr-172 AMPK (p-AMPK),NF -κB p65 and TGF-β1 were visualized by Western blot.Results The real time-PCR and Western blot result showed MCs could express AMPK,NF-κB and TGF-β1 mRNA and protein.After stimulated by HG,the levels of intracellular NF-κB and TGF-β1 expressions were significantly increased compared with group NG (P ＜ 0.05); The levels of NF-κB and TGF-β1 were significantly decreased in group M1,M2 and group M3 compared with group HG in a dose-dependent manner.After stimulated by HG,the level of intracellular p-AMPK were down-regulated compared with group NG(all P ＜ 0.05); The expression of p-AMPK increased with the rising of metformin concentration,presenting the opposite trend (P ＜ 0.05),while the level of total-AMPK protein was unchanged with exposure to HG or different concentrations of mefformin(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Metformin can suppress the expression of NF-κB and TGF-β1 of glomerular MCs induced by HG via AMPK activation,which may partly contribute to its reno-protection.

status.Conclusion HPV6 and HPV-16 were the most two popular HPV types in the whole population,while HPV-16 was the most common type in CIN2+ population.HPV-16 seroprevalence increased with severity of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Objective To get well-informed of the current status of emergency training in primary hospitals in Sichuan Province and to find weaknesses in the system in order to provide scientific basis for emergency knowledge and skills training.Methods A stratified random cluster sampling method as adopted and an anonymous questionnaire survey method was conducted to investigate the basic circumstances of the current training and the training needs of 1 000 emergency medical staff in 9 regions throughout Sichuan Province.Results The scope of the survey covered emergency doctors,nurses and technicians in hospitals of Grade Ⅱ,Grade Ⅲ and below.A total of 1 000 surveys were sent out and 983 were recovered.The questionnaire completion rate was 98.3％.The respondents mainly worked for more than 10 years,most of which with Bachelor degree,junior and intermediate titles.Results of the survey showed,63.1％ Most respondents have only one or two training opportunities per year.The training methods are mainly continuing education (59.0％,580 trips),training organized within the unit (58.5％,575 trips),and training organized by health administrative units (39.3％,386 trips).The main contents of the training are:basic professional skills learning (66.7％,655 trips),basic professional theoretical study (59.2％,582 trips),and new emergency technology (42.5％,418 trips),only 32.0％ of the respondents believe that these methods meet the practical needs.The main factors that influence participation in the training were:not be arranged by employer (36.2％,356 trips);the training was different from actual work (31.6％,311 trips);no replacement for work so they couldn't join training (29.8％,293 trips).The survey showed that the most desirable way of training is:practical application (60.1％,591 trips) and the most desirable training content is:emergency first aid knowledge (73.7％,724 trips).There were significant differences in case discussion,technical observation,academic lectures,special study trainingand learning methods in hospitals of different levels (P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference in the choice of professional practice methods (P＞0.05),and the selection of training contents was in emergency first aid knowledge,general medical knowledge and prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.There was no statistical difference in the selection of training contents of knowledge,infectious disease knowledge and department management knowledge (P＞0.05).There were significant differences in the choice of nursing knowledge training (P＜0.05).Conclusion The current situation showed a lack of first-aid knowledge and skills training for emergency personnel in Sichuan Province.The present situation of skill training can't satisfy the need of their desire to participate in training.It is urgent to develop a standardized,systematic and scientific training mode to improve the emergency first aid ability of primary medical and emergency personnel.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prognosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1 (CIN1) at different follow-up time points in Chinese women and the relationship with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection.

METHODSBiopsy-confirmed CIN1 women were followed up from cervical cancer screening cohorts established during 1999 to 2008 in Xiangyuan county, Yangcheng county, Qinxian county and Wuxiang county, Shanxi Province.In each follow-up visit, participants were examined by visual inspection with acetic acid, liquid-based cytology and HR-HPV DNA testing. Those with any positive results received colposcope and biopsies. The cumulative incidence rates of CIN grade 2 or worse (CIN2+) and CIN grade 3 or worse (CIN3+), regression rates and persistent rates were calculated using pathological findings as a gold standard. The risks of progression related with HR-HPV were evaluated stratified by baseline and follow-up HR-HPV status.

RESULTSA total of 228, 224, 261 and 105 CIN1 women received the 1-year, 2-year, 6-year and 11-year follow-up exams, respectively. The cumulative incidence rate of CIN2+ among baseline HR-HPV positive women was 4.8% (6/126), 10.7% (16/150), 16.9% (29/172) and 35% (19/55) in the above follow-up visits, respectively, and their risk of progression was 2.7(95%CI:0.3-22.0), 2.9 (95%CI:0.7-12.1), 12.0 (95%CI:1.7-86.2) and 30.6 (95%CI:1.9-493.5) times higher than baseline HR-HPV negative women. Moreover, the cumulative incidence of CIN2+ among women with positive HR-HPV both at baseline and follow-up visit was 11% (6/55), 14% (6/42), 17% (10/60) and 50% (13/26) in the above follow-up visits, respectively.No new CIN2+ cases were found among those with negative HR-HPV both at baseline and follow-up visits.

CONCLUSIONGiven that CIN1 progression is related to HR-HPV infection, different follow-up intervals and strategies for CIN1 should be taken according to HR-HPV infection status.

Aged ; Biopsy ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; Papillomavirus Infections ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Objective:To evaluate the effect of acupuncture with invigorating viscera and purging fu, replenishing qi and nourishing yin for the T2DM patients with qi and yin deficiency syndrome.Methods:A total of 59 patients who met the inclusion criteria from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020 in the Endocrinology Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine were divided into the acupuncture group with 30 cases and a control group with 29 cases, according to the random number table method. The control group received conventional hypoglycemic treatment. And the acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture on the basis of the control group treatment. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. TCM syndrome scores were performed before and after treatment, respectively. Serum IL-6 was measured by ELISA, serum CRP by immunoturbidimetry, and serum fasting blood glucose (FPG), 2 hPG, HbAlc, TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C levels by spectrophotometry. The BMI, clinical effect rates were calculated.Results:The total effective rate was 96.7% (29/30) in acupuncture group and 75.9% (22/29) in control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=5.96, P<0.01). After treatment, the scores of fatigue, dryness of mouth and pharynx, spontaneous sweating and night sweating, shortness of breath and lazy speech in acupuncture group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t values were 6.02, 4.31, 4.34, 3.63, respectively, all Ps<0.01). The serum CRP level in acupuncture group was significantly lower than that of the control group at 21, 48 d after treatment ( t values were -4.36, -3.75, respectively, all Ps<0.01), and IL-6 level was significantly lower than that of the control group at 14, 21, 28 d after treatment ( t values were -2.92, -5.35, -8.71, respectively, all Ps<0.01). After treatment, the serum TC [(4.62±0.68) mmol/L vs. (5.56±0.72) mmol/L, t=5.16], TG [(1.48±0.42) mmol/L vs. (2.12±0.89) mmol/L, t=3.55], LDL-C [(2.48±0.84) mmol/L vs.(3.02±0.95) mmol/L, t=2.32] in the acupuncture group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.05), HDL-C [(1.39±0.27) mmol/L vs. (1.26±0.22) mmol/L, t=-2.02] in the acupuncture group was significantly higher than that of the control group ( P<0.05). The serum FPG level at 21 d [(6.12±0.67) mmol/L vs. (6.57±0.61) mmol/L, t=-4.96], 28 d [(5.78±0.52) mmol/L vs. (6.49±0.58) mmol/L, t=-2.70] in acupuncture group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01). The 2h PG level at 14 d after treatment [(10.23±1.06) mmol/L vs. (11.76±1.34) mmol/L, t=-4.87], 21 d [(9.05±0.98) mmol/L vs. (10.53±1.24) mmol/L, t=-5.10], 28 d [(7.45±0.69) mmol/L vs. (9.31±0.78) mmol/L, t=-9.71] in the acupuncture group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01), and HbA1c level were decreased 14 d [(7.93±0.86)% vs. (8.52±0.97)%, t=-2.47], 21 d [(7.63±0.85)% vs. (8.15±0.92)%, t=-2.26], 28 d [(6.47±0.51)% vs. (7.51±0.62)%, t=-7.05] significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01), BMI [(22.13±1.57) kg/m 2vs. (24.16±1.82) kg/m 2, t=-4.59] 28 d after treatment was significantly lower than that of the control group ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Acupuncture therapy of nourishing viscera and purging fu, nourishing qi and nourishing yin can regulate the disorder of glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with T2DM and syndrome of qi and yin deficiency.

Objective:To investigate the effects of caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome on the Leptospira interrogans ( L. interrogans)-induced secretion of inflammatory cytokines in J774A.1 cells. Methods:Murine mononuclear macrophage cells (J774A.1) were infected with L. interrogans strain 56601. Expression of caspase-11, IL-1β, IL-1α and IL-18 at mRNA level in J774A.1 cells were detected by real-time RT-PCR. The levels of caspase-11, IL-1β, IL-1α and IL-18 in the culture supernatants of J774A.1 cells were detected by ELISA. Results:Real-time RT-PCR showed that caspase-11 expression at mRNA level was 5.12, 14.21, 8.94, 14.06, 18.58 and 0.93 times of that in uninfected cells after 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h of L. interrogans infection, and respectively decreased to 0.10, 0.07, 0.10, 0.09, 0.07 and 0.45 times after caspase-11 inhibitor intervention ( P<0.05). Expression of IL-1β, IL-1α and IL-18 at mRNA level was significantly increased after infection ( P<0.05). After the intervention with caspase-11 inhibitor, IL-1β mRNA decreased to 0.05, 0.03, 0.02, 0.05, 0.06 and 0.02 times ( P<0.05); IL-1α mRNA decreased to 0.14, 0.07, 0.15, 0.10, 0.03 and 0.06 times ( P<0.05); IL-18 mRNA decreased to 0.08, 0.10, 0.16, 0.18, 0.10 and 0.07 times ( P<0.05). ELISA results showed that the expression of caspase-11, IL-1β, IL-1α and IL-18 at protein level was significantly increased. After the intervention with caspase-11 inhibitor, caspase-11 level decreased to 43.07, 41.64, 51.96, 86.56, 105.36, and 129.95 pg/ml ( P<0.05); IL-1β level decreased to 15.01, 14.19, 68.02, 31.20, 173.13 and 104.98 pg/ml ( P<0.05); IL-1α level decreased to 12.14, 15.40, 38.01, 21.97, 24.48 and 27.09 pg/ml ( P<0.05); IL-18 level decreased to 96.27, 102.21, 85.34, 116.28, 155.36 and 114.03 pg/ml ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome was involved in the mediation of IL-1β, IL-1α and IL-18 secretion in mouse mononuclear macrophages after L. interrogans infection.

BACKGROUNDThe renoprotective mechanisms of adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) agonist - metformin have not been stated clearly. We hypothesized that metformin may ameliorate inflammation via AMPK interaction with critical inflammatory cytokines. The aim of this study was to observe the effects of metformin on expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) induced by high glucose (HG) in cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells (MCs).

METHODSMCs were cultured in the medium with normal concentration glucose (group NG, 5.6 mmol/L), high concentration glucose (group HG, 25 mmol/L) and different concentrations of metformin (group M1, M2, M3). After 48-hour exposure, the supernatants and MCs were collected. The expression of NF-κB, MCP-1, ICAM-1, and TGF-β1 mRNA was analyzed by real time polymerase chain reaction. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of AMPK, phospho-Thr-172 AMPK (p-AMPK), NF-κB p65, MCP-1, ICAM-1, and TGF-β1 protein.

RESULTSAfter stimulated by HG, the expression of NF-κB, MCP-1, ICAM-1, TGF-β1 mRNA and protein of MCs in group HG increased significantly compared with group NG (P < 0.05). Both genes and protein expression of NF-κB, MCP-1, ICAM-1, TGF-β1 of MCs induced by high glucose were markedly reduced after metformin treatment in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The expression of p-AMPK increased with the rising of metformin concentration, presenting the opposite trend, while the level of total-AMPK protein was unchanged with exposure to HG or metformin. Conlusion Metformin can suppress the expression of NF-κB, MCP-1, ICAM-1 and TGF-β1 of glomerular MCs induced by high glucose via AMPK activation, which may partly contribute to its reno-protection.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Glomerular Mesangium ; cytology ; Glucose ; pharmacology ; Mesangial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Metformin ; pharmacology ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Rats