OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of astaxanthin on oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction in rats with traumatic brain injury （TBI）. METHODS Male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group， model group， astaxanthin low-dose group （20 mg/kg）， astaxanthin high-dose group （40 mg/kg）， astaxanthin+ML385 group [astaxanthin 40 mg/kg+ nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2） inhibitor ML385 30 mg/kg]， with 14 rats in each group. Except for the sham operation group， TBI model was induced by the modified Feeney free-fall impact method in other groups. The rats in each drug group were given the corresponding drug intragastrically or intraperitoneally， and the rats in the sham operation group and model group were intragastrically given a constant volume of normal saline. The neurological function of rats in each group was scored on the 1st， 3rd and 7th day after drug intervention； on the 7th day of drug intervention， the changes of cerebral histomorphology and inflammatory infiltration score were observed in each group， and the ultrastructure of nerve cells in brain tissue was also observed. The contents of oxidative stress indexes [superoxide dismutase （SOD）， catalase （CAT）， glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， nitric oxide （NO）] and inflammatory reaction indexes [tumor necrosis factor-α， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， IL-6， inducible nitric oxide synthase] as well as protein and mRNA expressions of Nrf2， heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1） and NAD（P）H： quinone oxidoreductase 1 （NQO1） were detected in cerebral tissue. RESULTS Compared with the sham operation group， the brain edema of rats in the model group was obvious， accompanied by a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrated， the shape of organelles was damaged and their number was reduced， and the ultrastructure of nerve cells was seriously damaged. The neurological function score， the contents of SOD， CAT， GSH-Px and NO and the relative expression levels of Nrf2， HO-1 and NQO1 protein and mRNA in brain tissue were significantly decreased， while the inflammatory infiltration scores， the contents of MDA and inflammatory reaction indexes were significantly increased （P＜0.05）. Compared with the model group， low-dose and high-dose astaxanthin could significantly improve the pathological status of brain tissue and nerve cells and neurological function scores （except for the first day of drug intervention in the astaxanthin low-dose group）， increase the contents of SOD， CAT， GSH-Px and NO and the relative expression levels of Nrf2， HO-1， NQO1 protein and mRNA in brain tissue in a dose-dependent manner， and reduce inflammatory infiltration scores， the contents of MDA and inflammatory reaction indexes （P＜0.05）. ML385 could significantly inhibit the above effects of astaxanthin （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Astaxanthin may reduce the oxidative stress of TBI model rats， alleviate the neurological damage and reduce the level of inflammation reaction by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the inhibitory effects of silencing long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) HIF1A-AS2 on epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor stem cell-like phenotype in cervical cancer cells. METHODS: We designed 3 shRNA constructs for silencing HIF1A-AS2 in CaSki cells, and the shRNA with the strongest interference effect was selected for subsequent experiment. CaSki cells were transfected with shRNA-NC or Sh-HIF1A-AS2, and the changes in cell viability, invasion ability, EMT, expressions of EMT-related proteins, formation of cell spheres and expressions of stem cell markers were detected. RESULTS: Transfection with shRNA-NC and Sh-HIF1A-AS2 did not significantly affected the viability of CaSki cells ( CONCLUSIONS Silencing HIF1A-AS2 can inhibit proliferation, invasion and migration of cervical cancer cells
Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement/genetics* ; Cell Proliferation/genetics* ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/genetics* ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/genetics*

Objective To assess the effect of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on preoperative staging of endometrial carcinoma and depth of myometrial invasion. Methods Fifty-six patients with endometrial carcinoma were underwent conventional and contrast-enhanced MR scan. The results of pathology , MRI examinations of preoperative staging and depth of myometrial invasion were assessed and compared. Results The accurate rate of MRI diagnosis in preoperative staging diagnosis was 82.1% (46/56) and the consistency check as Kappa was 0.771 (P < 0.001). Conclusions MRI may be a good diagnostic tool with high sensitivity and specificity for assessing myometrial invasion and detecting tumour extension and should be considered as a routine part of the preoperative assessment in all patients with endometrial carcinoma.

Objective To investigate the differences of hepatic pathology between the chronic hepatitis B (CHB) with pulmonary tuberculosis patients and CHB patients.Methods Seventy-nine treatment-naive patients with CHB complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis (co-infection group) were collected from January 2009 to December 2014,and 79 CHB patients were selected randomly during the same period as CHB group.Hepatic tissue inflammation and fibrosis between the two groups were compared according to Ishak scoring system.Comparison between two groups were conducted by t test when the variance was equal and Mann-Whitney U test when the variance was unequal.Categorical data were compared by x2 test.Results A total of 59 (74.7％) patients in co-infection group had inflammation≥ G2,compared to 59.5％ in the CHB group.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (x2=4.128,P=0.042).Forty-one (51.9％) patients in co-infection group had fibrosis≥S2,compared with 44.3％ in the CHB group.The difference was not statistically significant (x2 =0.913,P=0.339).Ishak scoring system showed that piecemeal necrosis,portal area inflammation score and totalscore in co-infection group were all significantly higher than those in CHB group (2.45± 1.19 vs 2.05± 1.28,2.70±1.22 vs 2.32±1.08,13.16±6.51 vs 11.22±5.72,respectively),with all the differences statistically significant (t=2.055,2.068 and 1.984,respectively;P=0.042,0.040 and 0.049,respectively).However,the confluent necrosis in co infection group was 2.60±1.91 compared to 2.13± 1.68 in CHB group (Z=1.137,P=0.257),focal (dot) soluble necrosis was 2.35± 1.06 versus 2.16± 0.86 (Z=-1.148,P=0.251),and fibrosis was 3.03±1.63 versus 2.45±1.53 (Z=I.541,P=0.125).Conclusion The liver damage in co-infection patients is more severe compared with CHB patients.

Objective: To investigate the changes of C-reactive protein(CRP), fibrinogen(FIB) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS), and their relationship with sleep respiratory parameters. Methods: From June 2015 to August 2018, 70 OSAHS patients[observation group, apnea hypopnea index(AHI)≥5/h]and 20 persons in the snoring control group(control group, AHI<5/h) who received the monitor of polysomnography in the Pingxiang People′s Hospital were enrolled.The levels of CRP, FIB and ESR were measured and compared between the two groups.The correlations were analyzed between the levels of inflammatory markers and sleep breathing parameters. Results: The two groups had no statistically significant differences in age, gender and BMI(all P>0.05). The CRP, FIB and ESR of the observation group were (4.5±3.0)mg/L, (3.3±0.9)g/L, (11.4±5.4)mm/h, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the control group[(2.0±1.5)mg/L, (2.9±0.5)g/L, (7.6±2.6)mm/h](t=5.12, 2.68, 4.36, all P<0.05). The level of CRP was positively correlated with AHI, oxygen desaturation index(ODI)(r=0.285, P<0.05 and r=0.282, P<0.05), and negatively correlated with the lowest SaO₂ and the average SaO₂(r=-0.257, P<0.05 and r=-0.259, P<0.05). The level of FIB was positively correlated with AHI, ODI(r=0.430, P<0.01 and r=0.311, P<0.01), and negatively correlated with the lowest SaO₂(r=-0.287, P<0.01). There were no correlations between ESR and sleep breathing parameters. Conclusion The levels of CRP, FIB and ESR are increased in OSAHS patients, and the levels of CRP and FIB are proportional to the severity of OSAHS, suggesting that OSAHS patients has systemic inflammatory response.

Background and Objectives: This study was to investigate the role of microRNA-29a-3p (miR-29a-3p) in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs), and its relationship with steroid-associated osteonecrosis. Methods: and Results: The online tool GEO2R was used to screen out the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in GSE123568 dataset. Quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect the expression of miR-29a-3p, forkhead box O3 (FOXO3), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone gamma-carboxyglutamate protein (OCN) and RUNX family transcription factor 2 (Runx2) in the hBMSCs isolated from the patients with steroid-associated osteonecrosis. CCK-8 assay was executed to measure cell viability; western blot assay was utilized to detect FOXO3, ALP, Runx2, OCN and β-catenin expression. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry. Immunofluorescence assay was used to detect the sub-cellular localization of β-catenin. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter gene assay were performed to confirm whether miR-29a-3p can combine with FOXO3 3’UTR. MiR-29a-3p was markedly up-regulated in the hBMSCs of patients with steroid-associated osteonecrosis, while FOXO3 mRNA was significantly down-regulated. Transfection of miR-29a-3p mimics significantly inhibited the hBMSCs’ proliferation, osteogenic differentiation markers’ expressions, including ALP, Runx2, OCN, and repressed the ALP activity, as well as promoted cell apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest. FOXO3 was identified as a target gene of miR-29a-3p, and miR-29a-3p can inhibit the expression of FOXO3 and β-catenin, and inhibition of miR-29a-3p promoted translocation of β-catenin to the nucleus. Conclusions MiR-29a-3p can modulate FOXO3 expression and Wnt/β-catenin signaling to inhibit viability and osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs, thereby promoting the development of steroid-associated osteonecrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the composite acoustic therapy is effective to treat tinnitus in patients with sudden deafness and to explore the mechanisms. METHOD: Ninety-six cases (96 ears) were divided into experimental group and control group, and all the patients underwent drug treatment. The patients in experimental group were given personalized composite acoustic therapy in the first 30 days, music therapy in next 31-90 days, however, the patients in control group were not given sound therapy. Additionally, pure tone audiogram, tinnitus pitch and loudness as well as questionnaires (including THI, VAS, and SAS) were conducted for each patient before treatment, at day 30 and day 90 posttreatment. RESULT: Eighty-nine patients (n = 47 for experimental group and n = 42 for control group) completed the trial. The results of day 30 posttreatment showed there were no significant differences in VAS and hearing recovery rate between these two groups, but THI and SAS showed significant differences. The results of day 90 posttreatment showed significant differences in VAS (P < 0.05), THI (P < 0.01) and SAS (P < 0.01), and no significant difference of hearing recovery rate was detected. The most significant changes of VAS appeared in the first 30 days of treatment. The hearing and tinnitus recovery in experimental group were better for the first 30 days of treatment than for the next 31-90 days, and similar results were obtaind in control group. (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Composite acoustic treatment combined with drug therapy can improve the tinnitus and anxiety symptoms of patients with sudden deafness, and the effect on hearing recovery still need to be confirmed in further studies.
Acoustics ; Anxiety ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; complications ; therapy ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tinnitus ; complications ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To explore the clinical significance and the dynamic changes of serum anti-inflam-mation factor interleukin-10(IL-10)and inflammatory factor interleukin-8(IL-8)in cerebral infarction.Methods The serum levels of IL-10 and IL-8 in 30 patients were measured by double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked inunu-nosorbent assay(ELISA)on days 1.3,7 and 14 respectively after infarction.Results The serum levels of IL-10 and IL-8 were higher in patients than those in control group on days 1,3 and 7(P<0.05).Conclusion IL-10 and IL-8 are involved in the pathophysiology of acute cerebral infarction.

In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to co-infection with hepatitis B virus and mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is characterized by a high incidence, as well as the changes in the progression, prognosis, and treatment outcome of original diseases, toxic or side effects, and even the drug resistance of pathogens. This article reviews the incidence, pathogenesis, and therapeutic progress in patients with chronic hepatitis B complicated by pulmonary tuberculosis, so as to provide new ideas for further research.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of tinnitus complaint. METHOD: The information of 628 patients with subjective tinnitus was collected using questionnaires from October, 2013 to June, 2014. Among them, 453 cases were included in this study, whose quality of life and sleep were significantly affected. Then we elucidated the features of tinnitus, tinnitus incentives and systemic diseases and analyzed their relationship. RESULT: The proportion of the patients complaint was highest in gruop ≤ 30 y. The patients with tinnitus complaint were more likely to have persistent tinnitus with higher loudness VAS scores than their counterparts. 65.4% of the total patients had at least one treatment (52.2% of patients can tolerate, and only 13. 2% can not tolerate). More patients had cranial Ming on the left than on the right ear. The proportion of patients with polyphony in bilateral tinnitus was higher than those with unilateral tinnitus (P < 0.05). Moreover, 59% patients had tinnitus inducing factors, and 44% patients had systemic comorbidities (The three most frequently involved systems were otolaryngologic, cardiovascular and digestive system). There was no significantly statistical difference of the tinnitus severity between patients with other systematic diseases and those without. CONCLUSION Patients with tinnitus complaint were younger in age (≤ 30 y) and more likely to have persistent tinnitus with higher loudness VAS scores Predisposing factors are closely associated with mental or physical trauma. The accompanied diseases can be classified by organ system.
Humans ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tinnitus ; diagnosis ; physiopathology