Objective To investigate the changes of sympathovagal balance and the effects of va- gus stimulation on sympathovagal balance in endotoxemia rats.Methods Twenty-four Spragne Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups.The frequency domain of heart rate variability(HRV)com- ponent was analyzed at 0 min,2 ,4 and 6 hours after intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide(LPS, 5mg/kg)or physiologic saline,and cervical vagal nerve was stimulated(5mv,2ms,1Hz,5 min lasted, 20 min interval)when LPS or physiologic saline was injected.The levels of Noepinephine(NE)and Ace- tylcholin(ACh)were measured in liver tissues.Results Normalized low frequency(LFnm),hormali- zed high frequency(HFnm),very low frequency(VLF),LF/HF values and liver ACh were significantly increased(P＜0.05)and the level of liver NE was significantly decreased (P＜0.05)after LPS admin- istration.Vagal nerve stimulation markedly increased HFnm but decreased LFnm,VLF,LF/HF values, and the liver ACh also significant increased(P＜0.05 ).Conclusion The results suggest that the ac- tivity of sympathetic and vagal nerve was increased during endotoxemia,but the sympathetic activity was more excitable than that of vagal nerve.Vagal nerve stimulation increased the tone of vagus nerve while the tone of sympathetic nerve was decreased in this study.This may be beneficial for anti-inflammatory activity of vagal nerve.

BACKGROUNDTissue factor (TF) is overexpressed in many malignant tumours and is linked to the pathogenesis and prognosis of such malignancies. In vitro studies have proved that reduced expression of TF has inhibitory effect on the angiogenesis and cell proliferation of the malignant tumour. Therefore, TF suppression has been raised as a possible treatment for malignant tumours. Here we investigated the effect of celecoxib on TF expression induced by tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) in PANC-1 cells and a possible molecular mechanism underlying the celecoxib effect.

METHODSVarious doses of celecoxib solution were added to standard cell numbers of PANC-1 cells mixed with equal dose of TNFalpha for 6 hours. The expression of tissue factor was detected quantitatively by Western blot, whilst the activation of nuclear factor kappaB was tested by electromobility shift assay.

RESULTSAs the doses of celecoxib increased, the tissue factor expression was decreased in PANC-1 cells and so was the activation of nuclear factor kappaB.

CONCLUSIONSCelecoxib can downregulate the expression of tissue factor induced by TNFalpha in PANC-1 cells. This antitumour effect of celecoxib can be explained indirectly via its suppressive role in activation of nuclear factor kappaB.

Celecoxib ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology ; Thromboplastin ; genetics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; antagonists & inhibitors

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of stimulation of intact vagus nerve (IVNS) on systemic inflammatory response in rats.

METHODSThe model of systemic inflammatory response was reproduced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). One hundred Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into A group (with intravenous injection of LPS), B group (with stimulation of efferent nerve trunk of vagus nerve after intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide and vagotomy), C group (with stimulation of intact vagus nerve after intravenous injection of LPS), D group (with vagus nerve stimulation after injection of equivalent isotonic saline), E group (with intravenous injection of equivalent isotonic saline), with 20 rats in each group. Five rats of each group were used to determine mean aortic pressure (MAP) before injection and l0 min, 0.5 h, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h and 6 h after injection. The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha and interleukin (IL) 10 were determined with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay before injection and 2, 4 and 6 hour after injection.

RESULTSThe level of MAP rose in A, B, C groups at 10 min after injection, especially in A group (134.40 +/- 7.3 mm Hg, l mm Hg = 0.033 kPa, P < 0.05), but it dropped in above groups at 30 min after injection. The level of MAP in A group was obviously lower than that in B, C groups during 10 min -6 h after injection. The serum level of TNF-alpha in A group was significantly higher than that in B, C groups at 2, 4, 6 hours after injection (P < 0.05). Compared with that in C group, the serum level of IL-10 in A, B groups lowered markedly at 4, 6 hours after injection (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIVNS can stabilize hemodynamics and exert have anti-inflammatory effects at early stage of systemic inflammatory response.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Endotoxemia ; blood ; therapy ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in breast precancerous lesions . Methods Retrospectively analyzed the contrast-enhanced ultrasound model and angiographic predictive model of 465 cases of the A prospective multicenter study of breast nodules contrast-enhanced ultrasound" that led the Sichuan Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2016 to April 2017 ,which included 69 cases of breast precancerous lesions and 396 other types benign lesions ,and the sensitivity ,specificity and accuracy of the diagnosis of breast precancerous lesions were calculated . Results The sensitivity of ultrasound predictive model for the diagnosis of precancerous lesions was 60 .9％ and AUC was 0 .681 . Precancerous lesions mainly showed non-concentricity , increased homogeneity , and increased lesions;other types of benign lesions mainly showed non-centripetal ,high uniformity enhancement and lesion size unchanged . Conclusions Contrast-enhanced ultrasound shows a potential value in the differential diagnosis of precancerous lesions and other types of benign lesions ,that can help clinicians to take early intervention measures for breast precancerous lesions ,but there are still many problems to be solved .

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of long-term therapy with entecavir and Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablet in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-associated fibrosis and explore the synergistic therapy that accelerates the reversion of liver fibrosis.

METHODSA total of 197 patients with CHB-associated fibrosis were recruited from Nanfang Hospital between June, 2010 and June, 2015. The patients were divided into two groups after matching for age, gender and liver stiffness measurement (LSM), namely group A (n=98) treated with Fufang Biejia Ruangan Tablet plus entecavir, and group B (n=99) to receive entecavir only. HBV DNA quantification, HBV serological indicators, blood biochemical indexes, and results of abdominal ultrasound and FibroScan were recorded every 12 weeks. FibroScan values were converted to Metavir staging.

RESULTSBoth groups showed significant decreases in serum levels of HBV DNA, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and LSM value from baseline (all P<0.05). The median time to achieve Metavir fibrosis staging improvement were 72 weeks in group A and 96 weeks in group B (P<0.05), and the median time to achieve ALT and AST normalization were 12 and 24 weeks in Group A, respectively, significantly shorter than the time in group B (P<0.05). No significant difference was found between the two groups in HBV DNA undetectable rate and HBeAg seroconversion rate.

CONCLUSIONThe combination therapy with Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablet and entecavir produces a stronger efficacy than entecavir alone in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B patients with liver fibrosis, and Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablet shows an obvious hepatoprotective effect in these patients.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Guanine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; Tablets

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the role of suPAR in the pathogenesis of podocyte injury in FSGS. Methods① The sera of primary FSGS patients （17 cases） were collected. Healthy volunteers （10 cases） and patients with other types of primary nephrotic syndrome （10 cases） were set as normal and disease controls. SuPAR levels were detected by ELISA； ② Podocytes were stimulated by suPAR in vitro， and cells were collected to analyze apoptosis by flow cytometry and for RNAseq analysis； ③ Differentially expressed genes （DEGs） were screened from RNAseq data. Both up-regulated and down-regulated genes were analyzed by KEGG and GO enrichment analysis. Heat map was used to show expression of genes related to podocyte focal adhesion， slit diaphragm and actin dynamics and endocytosis. Differentially expressed genes were verified by qPCR. Results① The level of suPAR in FSGS patients was significantly increased， and that in other nephrotic syndrome（NS） patients was also significantly increased； ② suPAR stimulation significantly altered the transcriptome pattern of human podocytes. A total of 272 up-regulated genes and 288 down-regulated genes were screened； ③ KEGG and GO enrichment analysis of up-regulated and down-regulated genes showed that Focal adhesion and DNA replication and DNA repair related pathways were significantly down-regulated； ④ suPAR did not increase podocyte apoptosis. ConclusionThe level of suPAR is significantly increased in patients with primary FSGS. SuPAR may promote podocyte injury by interfering with genomic homeostasis and disrupting focal adhesion， slit diaphragm， actin dynamics and endocytosis-related functional molecules of podocytes.

Alpinia oxyphylla is mainly produced in Hainan,and also one of the four famous traditional Chinese medicines in South China with increasing importance in traditional Chinese medicine industry. Field surveys and literatures show that A. oxyphylla has widely used as a medicinal and edible plant,it is an important raw material for many Chinese patent medicines,health products and food,with a long history of artificial cultivation and application. The future development is prospected on health market. But A. oxyphylla industry has faced a lot of problems,including unreasonable planting layout,lack of good varieties,imperfect seed breeding system,low level of standardization,inconsistent quality of medicinal materials,low level of industry,and so on. The suggestions for sustainable development are listed below.First,it is essential to strengthen the research on the basis and application technology of A. oxyphylla,speed up the selection and breeding of improved varieties,and popularize standardized cultivation techniques. Secondly,it is important to strengthen the research on quality standards,improve the quality evaluation system of medicinal materials. Thirdly,it is necessary to take full advantage of the functional components to develop functional products with Hainan characteristics,find out the unique product characteristics of A. oxyphylla,build a famous brand and improve the product competitiveness in the market. It is also important to strengthen policy support and industrial supervision,promote the healthy and rapid development of A. oxyphylla industry.
Alpinia ; chemistry ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; trends ; Plant Breeding ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Seeds

OBJECTIVE: To follow up the participants of the randomized clinical trial "Efficacy and Safety of Niaoduqing Particles () for Delaying Moderate-to-Severe Renal Dysfunction", and assess the long-term effects of Niaoduqing Particles on delaying the progression of renal dysfunction. METHODS: Participants, who had previously been randomly assigned to receive Niaoduqing Particles or placebo for 24 weeks (146 cases in each group), were invited to follow-up and all were administered Niaoduqing Particles 5 g thrice daily and 10 g before bedtime for 24 weeks. The primary endpoints were changes in baseline serum creatinine (Scr) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after completion of the open-label treatment period. RESULTS: After the double-blind period, the median (interquartile range) changes in Scr were 1.1 (-13.0-24.1) and 11.7 (-2.6-42.9) μmol/L for the Niaoduqing Particle and placebo groups, respectively (P=0.008), and the median changes in eGFRs were-0.2 (-4.3-2.7) and-2.21 (-5.7-0.8) mL•min•1.73 m, respectively (P=0.016). There were significant differences in the double-blind period changes in renal function between groups. After the open-label period, the median changes in Scr were 9.0 (-10.0-41.9) and 17.5 (-6.0-50.0) μmol/L for the Niaoduqing Particle and placebo groups according to baseline grouping, respectively (P=0.214), and the median changes in eGFRs were-2.3 (-6.4-1.9) and-3.7 (-7.5-1.1) mL•min•1.73 m, respectively (P=0.134). There were no statistical differences in the open-label period changes in renal function between groups. The eGFR reduction of participants who accepted Niaoduqing Particle treatment for 48 weeks was projected to 2.5 mL•min•1.73 m per year. CONCLUSION Niaoduqing Particles appear to have long-term efficacy for patients with moderate-to-severe renal dysfunction. Although there was no statistical difference, the early use of Niaoduqing Paticles seems to ameliorate the worsening of renal function. (Trial registration No. ChiCTR-TRC-12002448).
Adult ; Disease Progression ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; drug effects ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care)