Background:Fibroscan is the noninvasive method widely used to evaluate quantitatively the liver fibrosis and monitor the long-term efficacy of anti-fibrosis therapy. Aims:To study the use of Fibroscan for evaluating the efficacy of combined therapy with FuFang BieJia RuanGan tablet and antiviral drugs in patients with hepatitis B virus( HBV)-related cirrhosis. Methods:A total of 90 patients with HBV-related cirrhosis from March 2013 to September 2014 at Shanghai Ren Ji Hospital were recruited,and divided into treatment group and control group. Patients in treatment group received FuFang BieJia RuanGan tablet,and patients in control group received conventional liver-protective drugs,all the patients took nucleoside antiviral drugs at the same time. The treatment courses in both groups were 6 months. Liver stiffness measurement( LSM)was detected by Fibroscan before and after treatment. Biochemical parameters,width of portal vein and clinical symptoms were recorded. Results:After treatment,LSM was significantly decreased in both groups( P <0.05). Liver function,width of portal vein and Child-Pugh score were improved in both groups(P <0. 05),and no significant differences were found between the two groups(P>0. 05). LSM was closely associated with Child-Pugh score both before and after treatment(r=0. 484,P<0. 01;r=0. 523,P<0. 01). Patients with Child-Pugh A had lower LSM than those with Child-Pugh B or Child-Pugh C(P<0. 01). Conclusions:FuFang BieJia RuanGan tablet combined with oral antiviral drugs can remarkably improve the liver function of cirrhotic patients and prevent progression of cirrhosis. Dynamic detection of LSM can be used for monitoring drug efficacy and disease progression in patients with cirrhosis.

Objective To evaluate the safety and rationality of total/near total bilateral thyroidectomy(TBT) for patients with bilateral multinodular goiter(BMG). Methods From January 2003 to December 2006,311 BMG cases were preoperatively divided into two groups, 130 cases in group A underwent TBT, and 181 cases in group B were treated with subtotal/partial bilateral thyroidectomy. Results There were 6 and 2 eases in group A and group B respectively diagnosed by intraoperative frozen biopsy as BMG, but identified as papillary carcinoma by final pathology. Hence the 6 cases in group A avoided reoporation, while the 2 cases in group B underwent a resection of the remnant gland. Transient hoarseness developed in 3 (2.42%, 3/124) and 3 (1.68%, 3/179) eases in group A and group B respectively (P =0.48). Transient hypocalcemia developed in 11 (8.87% ,11/124) and 9(5.03% ,9/179) cases in group A and group B respectively(P =0.16). There was no postoperative goiter recurrence in group A, but recurrence developed in 12 cases (6.70%,12/179) in group B(P=0.02). Conclusions Total bilateral thyroidectomy is safe and rational for the management of bilateral thyroid goiter.

Hepatorenal syndrome is a serious complication of decompensated cirrhosis and has high short -term mortality.There still lacks effective medical treatment at present.Although some drugs are effective, but their effects reported in the literature were different due to a lack of uniform diagnostic criteria.This article introduces the changes in the diagnostic criteria for hepatorenal syndrome and points out that uniform diagnostic criteria will become the basis for clinical research on hepatorenal syndrome and may also help clinicians to understand this serious complication of liver cirrhosis.

Background and Objectives: Galectin-3 promotes fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation and facilitates injury repair. Previous studies have shown that exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSC-ex) promote the differentiation of myocardial fibroblasts into myofibroblasts under inflammatory environment. Whether hucMSC-ex derived Galectin-3 (hucMSC-ex-Galectin-3) plays an important role in fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation is the focus of this study. Methods: and Results: Galectin-3 was knocked-down by siRNA in hucMSCs, and then exosomes were extracted. Fibroblasts were treated with LPS, LPS＋hucMSC-ex, LPS＋negative control-siRNA-ex (NC-ex), or LPS＋ Galectin-3-siRNA-ex (si-ex) in vitro. The coronary artery of the left anterior descending (LAD) branch was permanently ligated, followed by intramyocardial injection with phosphate buffered saline(PBS), hucMSC-ex, hucMSC-NC-ex, or hucMSC-si-ex in vivo. Western blot, RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of markers related to fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation and inflammatory factors. Migration and contraction functions of fibroblasts were evaluated using Transwell migration and collagen contraction assays, respectively. β-catenin expression was detected by western blot and immunofluorescence. The results showed that hucMSC-ex increased the protein expression of myofibroblast markers, anti-inflammatory factors, and β-catenin. HucMSC-ex also reduced the migration and promoted the contractility of fibroblasts. However, hucMSC-si-ex did not show these activities. Conclusions HucMSC-ex-Galectin-3 promoted the differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts into myofibroblasts in an inflammatory environment, which was associated with increased β-catenin levels.

Background and Objectives: Galectin-3 promotes fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation and facilitates injury repair. Previous studies have shown that exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSC-ex) promote the differentiation of myocardial fibroblasts into myofibroblasts under inflammatory environment. Whether hucMSC-ex derived Galectin-3 (hucMSC-ex-Galectin-3) plays an important role in fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation is the focus of this study. Methods: and Results: Galectin-3 was knocked-down by siRNA in hucMSCs, and then exosomes were extracted. Fibroblasts were treated with LPS, LPS＋hucMSC-ex, LPS＋negative control-siRNA-ex (NC-ex), or LPS＋ Galectin-3-siRNA-ex (si-ex) in vitro. The coronary artery of the left anterior descending (LAD) branch was permanently ligated, followed by intramyocardial injection with phosphate buffered saline(PBS), hucMSC-ex, hucMSC-NC-ex, or hucMSC-si-ex in vivo. Western blot, RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of markers related to fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation and inflammatory factors. Migration and contraction functions of fibroblasts were evaluated using Transwell migration and collagen contraction assays, respectively. β-catenin expression was detected by western blot and immunofluorescence. The results showed that hucMSC-ex increased the protein expression of myofibroblast markers, anti-inflammatory factors, and β-catenin. HucMSC-ex also reduced the migration and promoted the contractility of fibroblasts. However, hucMSC-si-ex did not show these activities. Conclusions HucMSC-ex-Galectin-3 promoted the differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts into myofibroblasts in an inflammatory environment, which was associated with increased β-catenin levels.

Objective To examine the correlation between the gene of phosphate and tension homology deleted on chromosometen (PTEN gene) polymorphism and schizophrenia (SCZ) associated with the type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM ) in Shanghai Han population. Methods The study recruited 591 long-stay schizophrenic inpatients including 304 with and 287 without type 2 diabetes mellitus, 206 patients with the type 2 diabetes mellitus and 205 normal subjects from Shanghai Han population. SNPs of PTEN gene (rs1234225, rs12569998, rs1234223) were genotyped by using Taqman genotyping. The frequency distributions of allele, genotype and haplotype between groups were analyzed. Results There were significant differences in the frequency of rs1234223 genotype (P=0.01) and allele distribution (P=0.02) between the SCZ with type 2 diabetes mellitus group and the SCZ without type 2 diabetes mellitus group. The difference of genotype frequencies remained statistically significant (P=0.03) but the allele distribution was not (P=0.06) after Bonferroni correction. Haplotype analysis showed that TTC haplotype was less common in the SCZ with type 2 diabetes mellitus group than in the SCZ without type 2 diabetes mellitus group (P=0.02). Conclusions PTEN gene may be a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Chinese Han population. The TTC haplotype may be a protective factor for schizophrenia with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: Pulmonary infectious diseases (PID) include viral pneumonia (VP) and pulmonary tuberculosis (PT). Mongolian medicine (MM) is an effective treatment option in China, however, the core group medicines (CGMs) in the treatment of PID and their underlying therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, through the method of data mining, the CGMs of MM for the treatment of PID were excavated, and the possible mechanism of action of the CGMs in the treatment of PID was explored by using network pharmacology. Methods: First, 89 MM formulae for the treatment of pulmonary infectious diseases collected from Gan Lu Si Bu, Meng Yi Jin Kui, People's Republic of China Ministry of Health Drug Standards (Mongolian Medicine Volume), Standard of Mongolian Medicine Preparations in Inner Mongolia (2007 Edition), and Standard of Mongolian Medicine Preparations in Inner Mongolia (2014 Edition). The CGMs of MM for PID were excavated through association rule analysis and cluster analysis. Then, the active ingredients and potential targets of the CGMs were obtained from TCMSP, TCMIP, BATMAN-TCM databases. PID targets information was collected from OMIM, GeneCards, and DrugBank databases. The possible targets of CGMs treatment for PID were obtained by intersection. The PPI network was constructed through the STRING database, and the topology analysis of the network was performed. Through the enrichment analysis of the intersection targets by R language, the main action pathways and related target proteins of CGMs in the treatment of PID were screened out. The results were verified by molecular docking. Results: A total of 89 formulae were included, involving 164 MM herbs. The efficacy of the drugs was mainly cough-suppressing and panting-calming herbs, and heat-clearing herbs. The nature and flavor were mainly bitter and cold. The CGMs of MM to treatment of PID was excavated as the classic famous formula Sanzi Decoction (Toosendan Fructus-Chebulae Fructus-Gardeniae Fructus). A total of 28 candidate components and 237 predicted targets of CGMs were collected, and 61 common targets with PID were obtained, including key compounds such as quercetin, kaempferol, β-sitosterol and stigmastero and key targets such as VEGFA, IL6, TP53, AKT1. KEGG enrichment analysis yielded AGE-RAGE signaling pathways, IL-17 signaling pathways, and TNF signaling pathways. Molecular docking results showed that the key targets were well matched with the potential active ingredients of CGMs. Conclusion: This study found that MM commonly used cough-suppressing and panting-calming herbs in combination with heat-clearing herbs to treat PID, and the CGMs for the treatment of PID is “Toosendan Fructus-Chebulae Fructus-Gardeniae Fructus”. CGMs mainly play a role in the treatment of PID by acting on VEGFA, IL6, TP53, AKT1 and other targets, regulating AGE-RAGE signaling pathways, IL-17 signaling pathways, and TNF signaling pathways.

Background Tricresyl phosphate (TCP) is mainly used as a flame retardant. Studies have confirmed that it has cytotoxicity and neurotoxicity, but its reproductive toxicity is not clear. Objective To investigate the reproductive toxicity and potential mechanism of TCP subacute exposure on Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods Caenorhabditis elegans were exposed to solvent control and 0.1, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 μg·L⁻¹ TCP respectively for 72 h. Brood size and number of fertilized eggs in the uterus were detected to evaluate reproductive ability. The number of total germline cells and the relative area of gonad arm were measured to evaluate the development of gonads. The body length and body width of Caenorhabditis elegans were detected to evaluate growth and development. The activities of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in Caenorhabditis elegans, and the mitochondrial active oxygen metabolism genes (mev-1 and gas-1) of N2 nematodes were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to evaluate oxidative stress. WS1433 transgenic nematodes and wild-type nematodes N2 were exposed to solvent control or TCP (0.1, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 μg·L⁻¹) respectively. DNA damage in germ cells of WS1433 transgenic nematodes was detected, the relative expressions of DNA damage-related genes (hus-1, clk-2, cep-1, and egl-1) in N2 nematodes were detected by qRT-PCR to evaluate the effect of TCP exposure on genetic damage. Results Compared with the solvent control group (217.00 ± 12.20), the brood size of N2 nematodes in the 100 μg·L⁻¹ and 1000 μg·L⁻¹ TCP groups decreased (170.80 ± 11.51, 169.60 ± 10.52, P < 0.05). Compared with the solvent control group (18.43 ± 1.69), the number of fertilized eggs of N2 nematodes in the 100 μg·L⁻¹ and 1000 μg·L⁻¹ TCP groups decreased (13.47 ± 0.81, 11.95 ± 0.90, P < 0.05). Compared with the solvent control group (312.46 ± 77.4), the number of total germline cells of N2 nematodes in the 100 μg·L⁻¹ and 1000 μg·L⁻¹ TCP groups decreased (281.80 ± 12.98, 273.50 ± 8.53, P < 0.05). Compared with the solvent control group, the relative area of gonads of N2 nematodes in the 100 μg·L⁻¹ and 1000 μg·L⁻¹ TCP groups decreased by 13.83% and 17.25% respectively (P<0.05). Compared with the solvent control group [(1058.10±80.12) μm, (78.21±14.69) μm], the body length and body width of N2 nematodes in the 100 μg·L⁻¹ and 1000 μg·L⁻¹ TCP groups decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the solvent control group, the relative fluorescence intensity of ROS in nematodes in the 10, 100, and 1000 μg·L⁻¹ TCP groups increased significantly (107.60%±1.02%, 105.90%±1.40%, and 106.40%±1.85%, respectively, P<0.05), and the activities of SOD were reduced (by 20.66%, 15.88%, and 16.44%, respectively, P<0.05). Compared with the solvent control group (1.3±1.3), the number of DNA-damaged germ cells of WS1433 nematodes in the 100 and 1000 μg·L⁻¹ TCP groups increased significantly (2.4±0.3, 2.7±0.3, P<0.05); the expressions of mev-1 and gas-1 genes in N2 nematodes in the 10, 100 and 1000 μg·L⁻¹ TCP groups decreased significantly (P<0.05); the expressions of hus-1 in the 0.1-1000 μg·L⁻¹ TCP groups significantly increased (P<0.05); the expressions of clk-2 and egl-1 in the 100 and 1000 μg·L⁻¹ TCP groups increased significantly (P<0.05); the expressions of cep-1 in the 1, 10, and 100 μg·L⁻¹ TCP groups increased significantly (P<0.05). Conclusion TCP may cause reproductive damage to nematodes through oxidative stress and germ cell DNA damage.