BACKGROUND:Aerobic exercise has an anti-atherosclerosis effect and some Chinese herbal components have some interventional effects on the atherosclerosis vulnerable plaque. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects on lipid metabolism and adhesion molecules of atherosclerotic elderly rats after the interventions of Poria compound and aerobics exercise, and explore the mechanism and prevention of hyperlipidemia-induced atherosclerosis. METHODS:Forty Spraque-Dawley elderly rats, of specific pathogen free level, were randomly divided into four groups: control group, model group, medication group, and intervention group, with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the control group were normaly fed, while rats in the other groups were intraperitonealy injected with vitamin D3 and high-fat forage for 16 weeks, to establish atherosclerosis model. During the model establishment, rats in the medication and intervention groups were given 20 g/kg Poria compound and Poria compound + 1-hour swimming, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group, total cholesterol, serum triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein expression, intercelular cel adhesion molecule-1 and lymphocyte function association antigen-1 concentrations were increased in the model group. Compared with the model group, these indexes were obviously increased in the medication and intervention groups. The serum triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein expression in the intervention group were lower than those in the medication group, while the serum high-density lipoprotein expression was higher than the medication group. Experimental findings indicate that, the combined interventions of Poria compound and aerobics exercise is better than Poria compound alone, and multi-factor treatment of atherosclerosis should be taken to enhance the efficacy of colaborative approach.

Objective To investigate the prognostic value of plasma thrombomodulin(TM)in patients with septic shock.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 180 patients with septic shock admitted to the intensive care unit of the 908th Hospital from May 2018 to November 2022.The patients were divided into survival group(106 cases)and death group(74 ca-ses)based on the 30-day follow-up outcomes.Propensity score matching(PSM)was used to match 57 surviving patients with 57 de-ceased patients in a 1∶1 ratio,based on confounding factors such as age,gender,underlying diseases,primary infection site,laborato-ry results and disease severity scores.TM and other coagulation molecular markers were compared between the two groups,and logistic regression,receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,survival and correlation analyses were performed.Results After PSM,the TM levels in the death group(18.3[13.2,22.3]TU/mL)were significantly higher than those in the survival group(13.7[9.0,18.3]TU/mL)(P＜0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that TM was an independent risk factor for 30-day mortality in the patients with septic shock(OR=1.137,95％CI:1.023-1.262,P＜0.005).ROC curve analysis revealed that the areas under the curve(AUCs)for predicting 30-day mortality were 0.665,0.627 and 0.600 for TM,Acute Physiology and Chronic Health EvaluationⅡ(APACHE Ⅱ)and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA)scores,respectively.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis stratified by the optimal TM cut-off value(17.9 TU/mL)showed that the 30-day survival rate of the TM＜17.9 TU/mL group was 1.56 times that of the TM≥17.9 TU/mL group(Log-Rank test,P＜0.000 1).Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated that TM levels were positively correlated with APACHE Ⅱ(r=0.10,P＜0.005)and SOFA scores(r=0.35,P＜0.005).Conclusion Plasma TM has showed a good predictive value for assessing the prognosis of patients with septic shock and may serve as a potential biomarker for determining the prognosis of septic shock.

Objective To examine the association between self-rated filial piety and depression among the elderly,in order to provide evidence for improving the intervention programs on mental health in the elderly.Methods Descriptive,correlative and multiple logistic regression models were used to analyze the elderly aged 60 years or over relationship between self-rated filial piety and depressive symptoms.Source of data was from the 2010 Sample Survey of the Aged Population in Urban/Rural China (n=18 234).Results Twenty-two point five zero and 1.66％ of the respondents reported having had depression with poor self-rated filial piety.Findings from multiple logistic regression showed that poor self-rated filial piety was associated with higher risk of depression when comparing to those under ‘so-so self-rated filial piety’ (OR=1.88,95％ CI:1.71-2.07) or good self-rated filial piety (OR=3.15,95％ CI:2.41-4.12) among the elderly,after adjusting for factors related to socio-demographic and familiar characteristics.Conclusion Poor self-rated filial piety was associated with depression among the elderly.Programs including support to the elderly and reinforcing publicity on filial piety plus intervention for the elderly with poor self-rated filial piety should be implemented to protect the mental health in the elderly.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia seen in clinical settings, which has been associated with substantial rates of mortality and morbidity. However, clinically available drugs have limited efficacy and adverse effects. We aimed to investigate the mechanisms of action of andrographolide (Andr) with respect to AF. We used network pharmacology approaches to investigate the possible therapeutic effect of Andr. To define the role of Andr in AF, HL-1 cells were pro-treated with Andr for 1 h before rapid electronic stimulation (RES) and rabbits were pro-treated for 1 d before rapid atrial pacing (RAP). Apoptosis, myofibril degradation, oxidative stress, and inflammation were determined. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to investigate the relevant mechanism. Andr treatment attenuated RAP-induced atrial electrophysiological changes, inflammation, oxidative damage, and apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. RNA-seq indicated that oxidative phosphorylation played an important role. Transmission electron microscopy and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content assay respectively validated the morphological and functional changes in mitochondria. The translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) to the nucleus and the molecular docking suggested that Andr might exert a therapeutic effect by influencing the Keap1-Nrf2 complex. In conclusions, this study revealed that Andr is a potential preventive therapeutic drug toward AF via activating the translocation of Nrf2 to the nucleus and the upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) to promote mitochondrial bioenergetics.
Animals ; Rabbits ; Atrial Fibrillation/metabolism* ; Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/pharmacology* ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Oxidative Stress ; Energy Metabolism ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Inflammation/metabolism* ; Heme Oxygenase-1