Objective To study the pathological characteristics and outcomes of IgA nephropathy(IgAN)presented with nephrotic syndrome (NS) and its relationship with prognosis. Methods From 1987 to 2002,clinical and pathological characteristics of IgAN presented with NS and its response to glucocorticoids therapy were reviewed and compared to non-nephrotic group. Results 7 ^1%(51/723) of IgAN presented as NS.The prevalence of hypertension and renal insufficiency was significantly higher in nephrotic group than that of non-nephrotic group(35 ^3% vs 13 ^8% and 47 ^1% vs 19 ^2%, P

OBJECTIVE:To study the interaction of baicalin with berberine for intestinal absorption in rats. METHODS: The mode was induced by in situ intestinal perfusion to observe the absorptive kinetics characteristic in rats’ intestine before and after mixing. RESULTS: The absorption rate constant (ka) and absorption rate (A) of baicalin alone were (0.068?0.002)h-1 and (5.92?1.39)% while those of baicalin mixed with berberine were (0.060?0.002)h-1 and (4.27?1.23)% , respectively. ka and A of berberine alone were (0.044?0.003)h-1 and (3.47?0.64)% while those of berberine mixed with baicalin were (0.057?0.006) h-1 and (5.18?0.83)%, respectively. There were significant difference in the absorption rate constant of baicalin after mixing(P

AIM: To test the effect of ERK1/2 on ischemic preconditioning (IPC) in diabetic rat hearts. METHODS: The diabetic rat model was made with alloxan. After eight weeks, 24 rats were divided into 4 groups: non-diabetic IPC rats (group A); non-diabetic non-IPC rats (group B); diabetic IPC rats (group C); diabetic non-IPC rats (group D). ECGⅡ lead, left ventricular development pressure (LVDP), and first derivative of LVDP ~(?dp/dt_~max ) were recorded. Myocardial phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulated kinases1/2 (ERK1/2) was detected by Western-blotting. RESULTS: (1) The ventricular arrythmia score was significantly lower in group A than that in group C (P

Objective To explore the relations between pulse pressure and LDL-C for elderly patients with hyperten-sion. Methods A total of 451 elderly patients with hypertension were selected and divided into four groups. Group A was 65 to 69 years of age, group B was 70 to74 years of age, group C was 75 to 79 years of age, and group D was ≥80 years of age. They were also divided into four groups according to PP levels: PP1 group ≤40 mm Hg, PP2 group 41 to 60 mm Hg, PP3 group 61 to 80 mm Hg, and PP4 group>80 mm Hg. They were divided into LDL-C group 1 (≥2.6 mmol/L) and LDL-C group 2 (<2.6 mmol/L) according to their LDL-C levels. Distribution of different age groups in four PP groups and the effects of different levels of LDL-C on pulse pressure were analyzed. Results (1) The propor-tions of PP2 group among the four age groups were 59.41%, 48.84%, 55.45% and 51.67%. The proportions of PP4 a-mong the four age groups were 4.95%, 3.88%, 3.96% and 7.50%. (2) Compared with PP1 group, the proportion of LDL-C ≥2.6 mmol/L in PP2 group, PP3 group and PP4 group was significantly increased. Conclusion (1) PP levels in different ages groups are concentrated on 41-60 mmHg. Among elderly patients with hypertension>80 mmHg, the pro-portion of patients with advanced age (≥years of age) is relatively higher. (2) LDL-C is the risk factor of increased pulse pressure for elderly patients with hypertension.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of psychological health intervention in the elderly urban residents living on minimum subsistence allowances, and to search for a suitable psychological health intervention strategy. Methods The 112 elderly persons living on minimum subsistence allowances in Xuzhou were selected by stratified cluster sampling, and they were matched with 112 controls. The elderly persons living on minimum subsistence allowances were divided into intervention group and control group. A general intervention based on community involved psychological health and care lecture, psychodrama treatment and psychological consultancy was made on the intervention. The SCL-90 was used to evaluate the psychological health status and effectiveness of psychological health intervention. Results The elderly persons living on minimum subsistence allowances had higher SCL-90 scores compared with other residents, and their psychological health status was serious. After the psychological health intervention, the SCL-90 scores were all lower in intervention group than in control group [ interpersonal relationship sensitiveness: (1.13 ± 0. 39) vs.(1.26±0.26), t=2.12, P=0.04; gloom: (1.23±0.66) vs. (1.43±0.24), t=2.08, P=0.04;anxiety: (1. 18±0.50) vs. (1.38±0.34), t=2.17, P=0.03; hostility: (1.24±0.49) vs. (1.40±0.28), t=2.03, P=0.04; other factor: (1. 31±0.56) vs. (1.49±0.31), t=2.04, P=0.04; total score: (115.89± 17.21) vs. (122.64± 10.41), t=2.42, P=0.02]. Conclusions The psychological health parameters are improved by psychological health intervention.

OBJECTIVETo prepare ursolic acid ethosomes and investigate the penetration characteristics of ursolic ethosomes as a transdermal vehicle.

METHODUrsolic acid ethosomes were prepared by injection method, and the shape and particle size of the ethosomes were analyzed. Ursolic acid permeation tests in vitro through the skin of rats were performed in TP-3 diffusion cell. The accumulated permeation amounts of ursolic acid 10% isopropanol solution, ursolic acid liposomes, ursolic acid ethosomes were compared.

RESULTThe average encapsulation percentage, particle size, and Zeta potential of the ethosomes were (95.83 +/- 0.86)%, (87.5 +/- 7.5) nm and - (38.4 +/- 3.6) mV, respectively. The accumulated permeation amount of the ethosomes in 12 h was 146.49 microg x cm(-2), and its transdermal permeability in 12 h was 12.17 microg x cm(-2) x h(-1).

CONCLUSIONThe encapsulation percentage of the ethosomes is good, and the stability of the ursolic acid ethosomes is fine. Ethosomes can significantly enhance the diffusion rate of ursolic acid through the skin of rats.

Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Particle Size ; Permeability ; Rats ; Skin ; metabolism ; Skin Absorption ; Solubility ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics

The recent research progress of the utilization of natural drugs for the treatment of liver fibrosis in China and other countries was reviewed. Forty reported remedies were summarized and classified into 3 categories, that is, the single herbal drugs (rhizome, leaf, fruit, bark, peel, flower, whole plants, and oil), traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions and animal drugs. The future directions of the R&D of new natural drugs against liver fibrosis were discussed and some suggestions were provided.
Animals ; Biological Products ; therapeutic use ; Biomedical Research ; methods ; trends ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; trends ; Phytotherapy

Objective:To investigate the awareness and attitude towards living wills among community-dwelling elderly in Taiyuan.Methods:A total of 540 residents aged 60 years or older were selected from six communities of Taiyuan city for face-to-face questionnaire survey from November 2018 to March 2019. Chi-square test and logistic regression model were used to analyze the influencing factors for awareness and attitude towards living wills.Results:The awareness rate of living wills in responders was 44.1%(226/513); and the awareness was significantly associated with age (χ 2=11.09, P=0.001), education level (χ 2=7.95, P=0.005), and daily living abilities (χ 2=8.10, P=0.017) of the residents. After the knowledge popularization, 49.9%(256/513) of responders were willing to sign the living order documents. The multivariate logistics analysis showed that residents with age of 60-74 years ( OR=2.151, 95% CI:1.380-2.941), with bachelor degree or above ( OR=3.048, 95% CI:1.571-5.913), with severely impaired activities of daily living ( OR=2.849, 95% CI:1.223-6.638), with multimorbidity ( OR=1.654, 95% CI:1.138-2.404), and with knowledge of living will ( OR=1.596, 95% CI:1.098-2.322) were more likely to sign a living will document. Conclusion:The awareness and acceptance of living wills among the community-dwelling elderly in Taiyuan city is not so high, and it is necessary to further strengthen the promotion of living wills in the city.

Preeclampsia, a serious complication in pregnancy, is a "placental disease" in obstetrics. The growth and development of human and other mammalian embryos are closely related to the placenta. This review summarizes several models for studying preeclampsia including in vitro cell models, placental explants, organoid models, rodent models and primates models, contributing to a deeper understanding of placental development and related pregnancy disorders.

Objective To explore the effects of vascular risk factors on cognitive function among the elderly in community. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1 269 elderly people ( aged 65 and over) who were randomly selected from three communities. Through face-to-face interview, cognitive function was assessed by mini-mental state examination(MMSE),and blood samples were collected for labo-ratory examination. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the vascular risk factors affecting cogni-tive function. Results Age (( 73. 1 ± 6. 6), ( 71. 3 ± 4. 9),t=4. 603,P<0. 05),education level ( χ2=12. 727,P<0. 05),hypertension (χ2=9. 106,P<0. 05) and LDL-C (χ2=5. 157,P<0. 05) were significantly different in the elderly with or without mild cognitive impairment(MCI). After controlling age,gender and ed-ucation,the logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension(β=0. 378,P=0. 006,OR(95%CI)=1. 44 (1. 10-1. 91)),systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg( β=0. 350,P=0. 011,OR( 95% CI)= 1. 42( 1. 08-1. 86),1 mmHg=0. 133 kPa),and high LDL-C( β=0. 355,P=0. 014,OR(95%CI)=1. 43( 1. 08-1. 89)) were the risk factors of MCI in the elderly in the community. Hypertension alone or high LDL-C (β=0. 365, P=0. 029,OR(95%CI)=1. 44(1. 04-2. 00)) alone was risk factor for mild cognitive impairment in the eld-erly in the community. The risk of mild cognitive impairment in the elderly with hypertension and high LDL- C was 2. 00 times higher than that in the healthy elderly ( β=0. 696,P<0. 05,OR( 95%CI)= 2. 00( 1. 36-2. 97)). Conclusion Mild cognitive impairment in the elderly is closely related to hypertension and elevat-ed LDL-C levels. Multiple vascular risk factors can further increase the risk of cognitive impairment.