Objective: To explore the lipid-lowering effect and potential mechanism of the couplet medicines of Flastem Milkvetch Seed and Tribulus terrestris on hyperlipidemia rats. Methods: Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, normal control group, high-fat model group, simvastatin group, Tribulus terrestris group, Flastem Milkvetch Seed group, and couplet medicines of Flastem Milkvetch Seed and Tribulus terrestris group, with 8 rats in each group. The normal control group was fed with basal diet, and the other groups were fed with high-fat diet to establish a hyperlipidemia rat model. At the same time, different group rats were treated with different drug respectively. 6 weeks later, the body weight and visceral index of the rats were measured. Levels of serum cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. The mRNA and protein expression of HMG coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR), cholesterol 7-alpha hydroxy-lase (CYP7A1) and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) were detected by RT-PCR and western blot. Results: Compared with model group, the serum levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C were significantly decreased in all Chinese medicine groups, and the serum level of HDL-C was significantly increased in Flastem Milkvetch Seed group and couplet medicines of Flastem Milkvetch Seed and Tribulus terrestris group. Moreover, the mRNA and protein expression of HMGCR, CYP7A1, and LDL-R in rat liver also significantly increased in all Chinese medicine treatment groups. And couplet medicines of Flastem Milkvetch Seed and Tribulus terrestris group shows more significantly effect. Conclusion: Couplet medicines of Flastem Milkvetch Seed and Tribulus terrestris significantly regulate the serum lipid levels on hyperlipidemia rat model, and its mechanism may be related to the regulating expressions of HMGCR, CYP7A1, LDL-R gene.

Objective To investigate the levels of T helper cell 17 (Th17), Th17-related cytokines in-terleukin 17 (IL-17) and interleukin 23 (IL-23) and regulatory T cell (Treg) in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Methods In a case-control study, plasma was collected from RRMS patients (n=20) and healthy subjects as control group (n=20). The percentages of Th17 and Treg cells and the levels of IL-17 and IL-23 were tested. The levels of Th17, Treg, IL-17 and IL-23 of the two groups were compared. Patients were treated with methylprednisolone. The levels of Th17, Treg, IL-17 and IL-23 of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients b efore and after treatment were compared. Expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score and the number of Gd-enhancing lesions were evaluated in the case group. Statistical analysis was made by body mass index (IBM) statistical program for social sciences (SPSS) 17.0 software. Independent sample t test was conducted to compare the measurement data of the case group and the healthy control group, and enumeration data were compared by χ2 test; paired sample t test was performed to compare the data of the case group before and after treatment; Pearson correlation analysis was made forthe variables of the MS group before treatment. Results In the RRMS group, the percentage of Th17 cells in peripheral blood was significantly higher than the control group [(2.10±0.45)％vs (1.09±0.20)％](t=9.130, P<0.01), the levels of Th17-related cytokines IL-17 and IL-23 were remarkably higher than the control group (IL-17:t=19.843, P<0.01;IL-23:t=22.747, P<0.01), and the percentage of Treg cells was significantly lower than the control group [(1.33 ±0.30)％vs (2.52±0.30)％], (t=12.422, P<0.01). The levels of Th17 and IL-17 were positively associated with EDSS score (Th17: r=0.458, P<0.05; IL-17: r=0.480, P<0.05), there was no significant-correlation between the level of IL-23 and EDSS score (r=0.368, P>0.05), and Th17, IL-17 and IL-23 were positively correlated with the number of Gd-enhancing lesions (Th17: r=0.446, P<0.05; IL-17: r=0.544, P<0.05; IL-23: r=0.461, P<0.05). The levels of Th17, IL-17 and IL-23 in the RRMS group after the treatment with methylprednisolone were obviously decreased than before treatment (Th17: t=5.747, P<0.01; IL-17: t=9.967, P<0.01; IL-23: t=14.697, P<0.01), while that of Treg was apparently increased (t=10.050, P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the levels of Th17, IL-17 and IL-23 in the RRMS group after treatment were higher (Th17: t=6.889, P<0.01;IL-17:t=7.185, P<0.01;IL-23:t=13.284, P<0.01), and the percentage of Treg was lower (t=7.622, P<0.01). EDSS score of the RRMS group after treatment was remarkably decreased than before treatment(t=6.190, P<0.01), but the number of Gd-enhanced lesions after treatment was no significantiy changed (t=1.453, P>0.05). Conclusion Th17/Treg expression imbalance and Th17-related cytokines IL-17, IL-23 may participate in the pathological process of MS, and they might be therapeutic target for MS.

Objective To analyze the feasibility of six-minute walk test (6MWT) before pulmonary lobectomy and prediction for postoperative outcome. Methods A total of 580 patients who were hospitalized in the department of lung surgery from May, 2017 to May, 2019 were reviewed, and 274 eligible patients were selected, who underwent first surgery and the surgical method was pulmonary lobectomy. They were divided into two groups based on the results of 6MWT before operation. The cut-off value of six-minute walk distance (6MWD) was obtained by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) area under curve (AUC). The postoperative outcome and the occurrence of cardiopulmonary complications in the two groups were analyzed. Results Compared to patients with 6MWD > 449 meters, the age was significantly older (P < 0.001), the forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) was poor in patients with 6MWD ≤ 449 meters (P < 0.05), and other factors such as surgical resection site, pathological stage, gender, etc., were not significantly different (P > 0.05). The incidence of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications was significantly higher (OR = 2.672, 95%CI 1.488 to 4.798, P = 0.002), and the postoperative extubation time and hospital stay was longer in patients with 6MWD ≤ 449 meters than in patients with 6MWD > 449 meters (P < 0.05). 6MWD ≤ 449 meters was an independent risk factor for postoperative cardiopulmonary complications (OR = 2.395, 95%CI 1.299 to 4.415, P = 0.005). Conclusion As a simple function test, 6MWT can be routinely used to assess the physiological function of patients undergoing pulmonary lobectomy. Patients with 6MWD ≤ 449 meters may be in higher risks of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications.

Objective To investigate the displacement characteristics of intraoperative and postoperative positions of electrodes on CT imaging for bilateral subthalamic nucleus-deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) in Parkinson's disease (PD).Methods A retrospective analysis on preoperative MR imaging,intraoperative and postoperative CT images of 35 patients with PD treated with STN-DBS in our hospital from January 2014 to June 2018 was performed.A three-dimensional coordinate system was established based on preoperative MR imaging.MR imaging/CT fusion technique was used to fuse intraoperative and postoperative CT images with preoperative MR imaging to locate intraoperative and postoperative electrode positions.The displacement characteristics of intraoperative and postoperative electrodes were analyzed.Results The spatial distance between intraoperative and postoperative positions of bilateral electrodes was about 1 mm,and the depth displacement was minimal.The postoperative position of the first side electrode on lateral axis was shifted outwardly from intraopemtive position,and the second side electrode was shifted internally with a small degree;on anterior-posterior axis,the first side electrode obviously shifted backward,and the second side electrode slightly shifted backward.For bilateral electrodes,corresponding coordinate deviation of three axis between intraoperative electrode-preoperative target and postoperative electrode-preoperative target,showed a significant positive linear correlation,therefore,leading out the coordinate deviation regression function model.Conclusions The displacement of electrodes between intraoperative and postoperative positions has obvious rules after STN-DBS in PD,which can guide the adjustment of intraoperative electrode position and predict the postoperative position of electrode.