Objective:To establish an HPLC method for the determination of the content of magnolol and honokiol in Cortex mag-noliae Officinalis formula granules and compare the content of the formula granules from different manufacturers. Methods:An HPLC was used to determine the content of magnolol and honokiol in Cortex magnoliae Officinalis formula granules. The analysis was carried out on a Hypersil C18 (250 mm × 4. 6 mm, 5 μm) chromatographic column. Acetonitrile-water was used as the mobile phase with gra-dient elution and the flow rate was 1. 0 ml·min-1 . The detection wavelength was set at 294 nm, the sample size was 20 μl and the column temperature was 25℃. Results:The linear range was 0. 873-26. 190μg·ml-1(r=0. 999 5) for magnolol, the average recov-ery was 99. 24% with RSD of 2. 00%(n=6) and that was 0. 732-21. 980μg·ml-1(r=0. 999 0) for honokiol,and the average recov-ery was 99. 89% with RSD of 1. 33%(n=6). The difference in the content of magnolol and honokiol in Cortex magnoliae Officinalis formula granules from different manufacturers was notable. Conclusion: The method is simple, repeatable and feasible, and can be used for the quality control of magnolol and honokiol in Cortex magnoliae Officinalis formula granules. The content difference in magno-lol and honokiol in Cortex magnoliae Officinalis formula granules from different manufacturers suggests that it is necessary to standardize the planting and selecting of Chinese medicine, and develop scientific and unified production technology and quality standard for the formula granules.

Objective: To summarize the methods of preventing and managing the complications in thoracoscopic lobectomy. Methods:The participants of this study included 317 patients undergoing lobectomy with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the Department of Thoracic Surgery between January 2007 and December 2012. Intra-operative complications were observed, and countermeasures were summarized. Results: Complications occurred 28 times (8.8%), including bleeding in 16 cases because of accidental vascular injury (5.0%), accidental injury/break of bronchus in two cases (0.6%), vascular stump errhysis from cutting stapler in four cases (1.3%), lung stump air leakage in three cases (0.9%), lung injury in two cases (0.6%), and diaphragmatic injury in one case (0.3%). Conversion to thoracotomy was conducted in 17 cases, with a conversion rate of 5.4%. Thoracoscopic repair operation was performed in 14 cases that exhibited bleeding, with a success rate of 70% (14/20). No mortality was reported during the operation. Conclusion:Thoracoscopic lobectomy is a highly difficult method in thoracic surgeries. The procedure requires substantial attention on the timely prevention and correct management of intra-operative complications, particularly the injury and bleeding of major vessels, to reduce the rate of conversion to thoracotomy and the incidence of post-operative complications, as well as to promote the surgery in clinics.

Objective To investigate the antagonistic effect of ω-3PUFAs on cognitive impairment in MK-801-induced schizophrenia (SZ) rats and its mechanism.Methods Rat model of schizophrenia was induced by MK-801.Morris water maze was used to detect the change of cognitive function in rats.The number of neonatal neurons in hippocampus was detected by Brdu staining.CREB,p-CREB,BDNF,TrkB and p-TrkB levels were detected by Weston Blot.Results MK-801 induced schizophrenia-like cognitive impairment (the escape latency in the water maze test was (6.51±3.10)s for Ctr group,(15.27±6.20)s for Mod group;acrossing times was (4.63±1.06) times for Ctr group,(2.00±1.15) times for Mod group),reduced the number of neonatal neurons in hippocampus (the relative level of neonatal neuron number per unit area,Mod/Ctr was 0.656±0.066) and impaired the CREB/BDNF/TrkB pathway (the relative level of gray value,Mod/Ctr:CREB was 0.393±0.065,p-CREB was 0.591±0.015,BDNF was 0.716±0.115,TrkB was 0.787±0.029,p-TrkB was 0.586±0.013).ω-3PUFAs improved the CREB/BDNF/TrkB pathway activity by increasing CREB and TrKB level and their phosphorylation (the relative level of gray value,Pre/Ctr:CREB was 1.139±0.111,p-CREB was 0.845±0.243,BDNF was 0.864±0.133,TrkB was 0.916±0.022,p-TrkB was 0.952±0.047),and then recovered the number of neonatal neurons in hippocampus (the relative level of neonatal neuron number per unit area,Pre/ Ctr was 1.183±0.101),thereby reduced the cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia rats(the escape latency in the water maze was (7.44±4.55)s for Pre;acrossing times was (3.86±1.68) times for Pre).Conclusion ω-3PUFAs can relieve the MK-801-induced schizophrenia-like cognitive impairment.

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical efficacy and safety of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation(APBSCT) in the treatment of pemphigus.MethodsTotally,3 patients with pemphigus vulgaris who responsed poorly to 6-month treatment with glucocorticoids or immunosuppressants or experienced aggrevation of disease and developed treatment-related complications,received APBSCT and were followed up for more than 5 years.There were 1 male and 2 females with an average age of 27.3(21-39) years.The mobilization program included cyclophosphamide (CTX) 4 g/m2,recombinant human granulocyte colonystimulating factors(G-CSF) and Rituximab 375 mg/m2,and the preconditioning regimen included intravenous CTX (50 mg/kg per day on days -6,-5,-4,-3),antithymocyte globulin at 2.5 mg/kg per day(on days -3,-2,-1 and 0) and Rituximab (600 mg/d on days 0 and 7).ResultsAll the 3.patients were successfully engrafted.The mean time for peripheral reconstruction:white blood cells 13.3 days (from day 11 to 16),platelet 16.3 days (from day 16 to 17).Monitoring of immunity indices and related antibodies showed no abnormality and the immune system was well reconstructed.No serious complications occurred during the follow up,and the patients' quality of life was obviously improved.ConclusionAPBSCT may be an effective and safe option for the treatment of pemphigus.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of BATF, a member of the activator protein-1 family, in the renal tissues of mice with lupus nephritis.

METHODSThe renal tissues from 24-week-old female MRL/lpr mice and age- and sex-matched C57BL/6 mice were examined for BATF protein expressions using Western blotting and for expressions of BATF, RORγt and IL-17A mRNA using quantitative real-time PCR. The results of laboratory examinations were analyzed in relation with the histopathology of the mice.

RESULTSThe urinary protein and ds-DNA levels were significantly higher in MRL/lpr mice than in the control mice (P<0.05). Compared to normal control mice, MRL/lpr mice showed obvious glomerular fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltrating with significantly increased BATF protein and mRNA expressions (P<0.05) and RORγt and IL-17 mRNA expressions in the renal tissues (P<0.05). In MRL/lpr mice, the expression of BATF mRNA was positively correlated with the RORγt and IL-17A mRNA expressions in the renal tissues.

CONCLUSIONThe renal expressions of BATF protein and mRNA is increased in MRL/lpr mice. BATF may participate in the immunopathogenesis of lupus nephritis by enhancing Thl7 cell response.

Animals ; Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Female ; Interleukin-17 ; metabolism ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Kidney Glomerulus ; pathology ; Lupus Nephritis ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred MRL lpr ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

This study was to determine the protective effect of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3PUFAs) on MK-801-induced cognitive impairment in schizophrenia (SZ) rats and the underlying mechanism.A rat model of schizophrenia was induced by MK-801.The cognitive function of rats was assessed using a Morris water maze.The number of hippocampal neurons was measured by Nissl staining.The expression of CREB,p-CREB,BDNF,TrkB,p-TrkB,AKT,p-AKT,ERK,and p-ERK in the hippocampus of rats was detected by Western blotting.The results showed that ω-3PUFAs attenuated MK-801-induced cognitive,impairment and hippocampal neurons loss,reversed the injury of the CREB/BDNF/TrtB pathway induced by MK-801,and antagonized MK-801-induced down-regulation of p-AKT and p-ERK in the hippocampus of rats.In conclusion,ω-3PUFAs enhances the CREB/BDNF/TrkB pathway by activating ERK and AKT,thereby increasing the synaptic plasticity and decreashng neuron loss,and antagonizing MK-801-induced cognitive impairment in schizophrenic rats.

Objective: To investigate the influence of hepatitis B virus X gene (HBx) on apoptosis of hepatic cells mediated by Fas in HePG2 cells. Methods: HBx eukaryotic vector pcDNA3.1(+)-X was transfected into HEPG2 cells with lipofectamine, and the null vector pcDNA3.1(+) and untransfected HEPG2 were used as normal controls. The cells were collected 72 h after transfection, and the expression of HBx mRNA and protein was determined using RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA was also determined using RT-PCR. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis were evaluated using CCK-8 and flow cytometry, respectively, after HepG2-HBx and HepG2-3.1 cells were treated with stimulatory monoclonal antibody anti-Fas CH11. The t test was used for pairwise comparison. Results: The cell line HepG2-HBx was successfully established, as confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blot, and RT-PCR results showed that HepG2-HBx cells had significantly higher expression of Bcl-2 mRNA than HepG2-3.1 and HepG2 cells (P < 0.05), but had significantly lower expression of Bax mRNA than HepG2-3.1 and HepG2 cells (P < 0.05); CCK-8 and flow cytometry showed that anti-Fas CH11 had a lower cytotoxicity to HepG2-HBx cells and allowed for a lower apoptosis rate of HepG2-HBx cells compared with HepG2-3.1 and HepG2 cells. Conclusions HBx can inhibit apoptosis of hepatic cells mediated by the Fas pathway.

Objective To investigate the expression of BATF, a member of the activator protein-1 family, in the renal tissues of mice with lupus nephritis. Methods The renal tissues from 24-week-old female MRL/lpr mice and age- and sex-matched C57BL/6 mice were examined for BATF protein expressions using Western blotting and for expressions of BATF, RORγt and IL-17A mRNA using quantitative real-time PCR. The results of laboratory examinations were analyzed in relation with the histopathology of the mice. Results The urinary protein and ds-DNA levels were significantly higher in MRL/lpr mice than in the control mice (P<0.05). Compared to normal control mice, MRL/lpr mice showed obvious glomerular fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltrating with significantly increased BATF protein and mRNA expressions (P<0.05) and RORγt and IL-17 mRNA expressions in the renal tissues (P<0.05). In MRL/lpr mice, the expression of BATF mRNA was positively correlated with the RORγt and IL-17A mRNA expressions in the renal tissues. Conclusion The renal expressions of BATF protein and mRNA is increased in MRL/lpr mice. BATF may participate in the immunopathogenesis of lupus nephritis by enhancing Thl7 cell response.

Objective To investigate the expression of BATF, a member of the activator protein-1 family, in the renal tissues of mice with lupus nephritis. Methods The renal tissues from 24-week-old female MRL/lpr mice and age- and sex-matched C57BL/6 mice were examined for BATF protein expressions using Western blotting and for expressions of BATF, RORγt and IL-17A mRNA using quantitative real-time PCR. The results of laboratory examinations were analyzed in relation with the histopathology of the mice. Results The urinary protein and ds-DNA levels were significantly higher in MRL/lpr mice than in the control mice (P<0.05). Compared to normal control mice, MRL/lpr mice showed obvious glomerular fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltrating with significantly increased BATF protein and mRNA expressions (P<0.05) and RORγt and IL-17 mRNA expressions in the renal tissues (P<0.05). In MRL/lpr mice, the expression of BATF mRNA was positively correlated with the RORγt and IL-17A mRNA expressions in the renal tissues. Conclusion The renal expressions of BATF protein and mRNA is increased in MRL/lpr mice. BATF may participate in the immunopathogenesis of lupus nephritis by enhancing Thl7 cell response.

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes in serum β2-microglobulin,retinolbinding protein,and cystatin C in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients treated with tenofovir or entecavir alone as the anti-HBV therapy,as well as their value in identifying early renal dysfunction.Methods A total of 61 previously untreated CHB patients who were diagnosed and treated in the Department of Infectious Diseases in Henan Provincial People's Hospital from June 2013 to August 2015 were enrolled and divided into tenofovir group and entecavir group.The serum levels of β2-microglobulin,retinol-binding protein,cystatin C,and creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were compared between the two groups at baseline and 4,8,39,52,78,and 104 weeks after antiviral therapy.The independent samples t-test was used for comparison of continuous data,and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data.P ＜ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results A total of 61 CHB patients were enrolled,with 31 in the tenofovir group and 30 in the entecavir group.The two groups had comparable serum levels of β2-microglobulin,retinol-binding protein,and cystatin C at baseline,but there were significant differences in β2-microglobulin and retinol-binding protein over time (both P ＜ 0.05).There was a significant difference in cystatin C at 78 weeks (t =-2.062,P =0.044),but there was no significant difference at 104 weeks (t =-1.544,P=0.128).There were no significant differences in serum creatinine or eGFR at any time point between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).At 104 weeks,there were no significant differences in HBV-DNA clearance rate or the level of virologic breakthrough between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Serum β2-microglobulin,retinol binding protein,and cystatin C are more sensitive than eGFR in the monitoring of early renal dysfunction during the anti-HBV therapy with tenofovir or entecavir alone.