Erhuang quzhi compounds is one of the protecting liver and inhibiting toxin prescriptions series summarized by Jinqi Yuan and other famous doctors of traditional Chinese medicine during the long-term clinical practice. It is very effective for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but its mechanism is not clear. This research investigated mechanism of Erhuang quzhi granules (EQG) in the treatment of NAFLD. All the animal welfare and experimental procedures are in accordance with the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University. Mouse models of NAFLD were established by feeding with methionine and choline deficient diet (MCDD) for five weeks. While feeding MCDD, the treatment groups were given EQG (16.25 g·kg^-1·d^-1) and atorvastatin (ATO, 7.20 mg·kg^-1·d^-1) by gavage. The effects of EQG on serum biochemical indices, liver pathological changes, and inflammatory cytokines in mice of NAFLD were investigated. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), immunocytochemistry (ICH) and Western blot assays were used to detect the levels of mRNA and protein associated with nuclear factor kappa B/Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NF-κB/NLRP3) in liver. The results showed that EQG significantly reduced the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and improved the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The result of hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining showed that EQG reduced lipid deposition in livers of mice. Meanwhile, EQG notably decreased the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-18 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and mRNA levels of NF-κB, NLRP3, IL-1β, TNF-α, down-regulated the expression of F4/80, IκB kinase β (IKKβ), NLRP3 and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) and inhibited the activation of NF-κB and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (caspase-1). These findings announced that EQG could improve NAFLD via NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway possibly, which provides a theoretical basis for the further development and utilization of EQG in clinic.

Objective To investigate the urothelial carcinoma in patients with chronic aristolochic acid nephropathy(CAAN). Methods The clinical data of urothelial carcinoma were analyzed in 4 cases among 102 patients with CAAN. Results (1)Chronic renal insufficiency caused by CAAN was diagnosed in 4 patients after intermittently taking the medicine containing aristolochic acid(AA) for a long time (from 3 years to 24 years). (2) Urinary examination of these 4 cases showed the red cells with uniformed shape. Two of them experienced an episode of macroscopic haematuria. (3) Three of them had papillary transitional cell carcinomas on the bladder wall by the cystoscopy and pathological examination. The other one had carcinoma of the left renal pelvis by the retrograde urography and pathological examination after surgical operation. Conclusion CAAN is associated with the developing urothelial tumours when a patient with CAAN has an episode of macroscopic or obvious microscopic hematuria with red cells of uniformed shape.

The thioredoxin system consists of thioredoxin(Trx),thioredoxin reductase(TrxR)and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleo-tide phosphate.Trx is a small redox-active multifunctional protein.Thioredoxin 2,which is localized in the matrix mitochondria,has been shown involved in not only oxidative stress,nucleic acid metabolism,cell grow and apoptosis,but also many diseases such as organism growth and development,oxidative stress damage,cancer and ischemical reperfusion injury.It participates in redox reactions by reversible oxidation of its active center dithiol to disulfide and catalyzes dithio-disulfide exchange reactions involving many thiol-dependent processes.As signaling molecule,Trx2 participates in many signaling pathways.

Specialists in the south of the five Ridges LUO Zhi-yuan think that upper-jiao syndrome of bubonic plague appears in the second and third days,middle-jiao syndrome in the period of the third to the sixth days,and lower-jiao syndrome appears at the seventh day.Upper-jiao syndrome of bubonic plague is the most complicated,including the severe syndrome,the critical syndrome,the deadly syndrome.They summarize the six symptoms and signs in middle-jiao of bubonic plague,including "extreme heat and thirst,black and prickly tongue,abdominal distention and pain,stercoroma and delirium,heat accumulation with watery diarrhea,cold feeling of the whole body and hidden pulse",and the four symptoms and signs in middle-jiao,including "pain,distention,stercoroma,heat accumulation with watery diarrhea".They also pointed out that preserving body fluid is key for treating lower-jiao syndrome of bubonic plague.

Objective To evaluate whether the prognosis of 6 months major adverse cardiac events(MACE)after acute myocardial infarction,and the reperfusion state of myocardial tissue are related to the white blood cell(WBC)count in elderly patients.Methods A total of 101 consecutive patients aged≥60 years(mean age 70?6 years)who had a primary percutaneous coronary intervention as their first-line therapy for ST-elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI)were enrolled, and both their WBC count on admission and ST-monitoring were available.A prospectively defined cut-off value of WBC count was 10,000/?l,a cut-off 50% measured after 60 min was used as ST -segment resolution(STR).Results The high WBC count group(n=48)showed the significantly higher(52.1% vs 22.6%,P＜0.01)incidence of 6 months major adverse cardiac events(MACE)than did the,low WBC count group(n=53).The low WBC count group had 45 patients with STR≥50%, high WBC count group had 23 patients with STR≥50%,STR after PCI was significantly different between the 2 groups(P＜0.01).Conclusions The WBC count is a predictor of the adverse outcome in elderly patients with STEMI.Furthermore,elevation in WBC count is associated with poor myocardial microcirculatory reperfusion.

Objective To explore the therapeutic effect of Yupingfeng powder in secondary immunodeficiency caused by simple nephrotic syndrome(SNS) in children.Methods Seventy-eight cases of SNS patients were divided into 2 groups randomly.One was control group which were treated with immunosuppressant only.The other group was Yupingfeng powder group which were treated with both immunosuppressant and Yupingfeng powder.The morbidity of infection,the relapse rate of SNS,and serum immunoglobulin IgA and IgG and the T-lymphocytes subtype were detected before and after treatment in two groups.Results The morbidity with infection was 55.3% in Yupingfeng powder group,which shows a remarkable decrease compared with control group(85%).The relapse rate of SNS was 39.5% in Yupingfeng powder group which was much lower than that in control group(67.5%).The level of serum IgA and IgG before treatment were(3.88?1.22) g/L and(0.83?0.14) g/L and rose up to(10.06?1.89) g/L and(1.38?0.10) g/L after treatment in Yupingfeng powder group.Whereas the control group with(6.23?1.55) g/L and(0.85?0.13) g/L was remarkably lower than those in Yupingfeng powder group.CD4+,CD8+ and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ were(37.91?3.89)%,(30.69?3.08)% and(1.24?0.49)% respectively before treatment.They rose up to(42.38?4.89)%,(26.01?2.20)% and(1.63?0.41)% respectively in Yupingfeng powder group,while those in control group were(39.87?3.91)%,(29.76?3.55)% and(1.34?0.24)% respectively after treatment.Conclusion It is feasible to treat the Yupingfeng powder to cure the of secondary immunodeficiency caused by SNS in children.

OBJECTIVE: To fabricate moxifloxacin hydrochloride-loaded polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-sodium alginate (SA) nanofiber using the electrospinning technique and investigate the drug release in vitro. METHODS: Central composite design-response surface methodology was used to investigate the influences of various factors, i.e., PVA content, SA content, the ratio of PVA-SA, on the accumulated release rate of moxifloxacin hydrochloride from the nanofibers. The scaffolds were cross-linked by CaCl2 ethanol solution. Fiber morphology was characterized using optical microscope and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Drug entrapment efficiency was determined, and drug release profiles were tested. RESULTS: Moxifloxacin hydrochloride entrapment efficiencies were well above 65%. Drug was released from the nanofibers as a linear function of the square root of time, suggesting accordance with Fickian kinetics. The relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variables was in accordance with quadratic model. CONCLUSION: The PVA-SA nanofiber presents good release characteristics, and has a good prospect as drug carrier.

Objective: To investigate the in vivo absorptive characteristic of arctiin in small intestine of rats. Methods: The intestine absorption model of arctiin was established by in vivo intestinal perfusion method. The absorption rate constants (Ka), absorption half time (t1/2), absorption percent of per unit of time (P), and apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) were calculated and compared to investigate the absorptive dynamics of arctiin in intestine of rats. Results: At the concentration range of 10-50 μg/mL, Ka, t1/2, P, and Papp showed no significant difference, and had no connection with concentration of arctiin. Conclusion: Arctiin complies with the first-order absorptive kinetics and the absorptive mechanism in intestine may be passive transport.

Objective To explore the perioperative nursing of patients with refractory paroxysmal positional vertigo treated with posterior semicircular canal occlusion. Method A retrospective analysis was performed to the experience of nursing 18 patients with refractory paroxysmal positional vertigo treated with posterior semicircular canal occlusion.Results The treatments for 17 cases were effective.Two of them had postoperative vertigo and then cured after further treatments.During one year follow-up,17 of them reported no occurrence of vertigo except only one care reporting paroxysmal positional vertigo. Conclusion Preoperative mental care and postoperative observation of the disease are critical for the enhanced curative effects.