AIM: Investigated the relationship between NF-κB activation and cell apoptosis in mouse macrophages treated with 7-ketochesterol (7-KC). METHODS: Cell apoptosis was detected by MTT assay, DNA fragmentation assay and flow cytometric analysis. NF-κB activation was detected by western blot and immunohistochemistry. Inhibitory assay was used to show the effect of the activation of NF-κB on the apoptosis induced by 7-KC. RESULTS: 7-KC inhibited macrophages proliferation, and then induced apoptosis, which is associated with NF-κB activation. Moreover, cell apoptosis with NF-κB activation was inhibited by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), an inhibitor of NF-κB. CONCLUSION: 7-KC induced the activation of NF-κB and following cell apoptosis.

OBJECTIVETo screen the allergens in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) in Yibin, Zhaotong and some areas of the Changjiang River, and to study the distribution characteristics of inhaled allergens. METHODSThe clinical data of 661 patients with allergic rhinitis who diagnosed by skin prick test from March 2013 to June 2015 in the First people's Hospital of Yibin City were studied.RESULTSIn 661 patients, the top 5 allergens and their positive rates of skin prick test were Dermatophagoides farinae (76.5%), house dust mites (72.01%), Roach (35.85%), cat hair (11.35%) and dog hair (8.62%) respectively. There were no statistical difference of the positive rates of allergens among different seasons (χ2=4.568, 0.206). With the increasing age of the patients, the positive rate of allergens was decreased. CONCLUSION The dominated allergens in patients with AR are dust mites, house dust mites and cockroaches in Yibin, Zhaotong and and some areas of the Changjiang River. The prevention and control of AR in children should be toke more attention.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate mRNA expression of GABAa receptor(GABAaR) subunits in the rat cochlear spiral ganglion neurons (SGN) and explore the effect of sodium salicylate (SS) on the expression of GABAaR subunits. METHOD: The realtime fluorescent quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR) was used to detect mRNA expression of twelve GABAaR subunits in the newborn rat SGN and then investigate mRNA expression of GABAaR subunits after treatment with 5 mmol/L SS for 15 min, 30 min, 1 h, 3 h and 6 h in the primary culture SGN. RESULT: (1) GABAaR subunits of α1-6, β1-3, and γ1-3 were detected in the SGN, and the expression of GABAaR subunits was lower than those in the cerebral cortex. In the subunit α family of GABAaR, the expression rank was α2>α3/α5>α4>a1>α6, and the expression of α3 and α5 had no difference (P>0. 05). In the subunit β family, the expression rank was β3>β2>β1. In the subunit γ family, the expression rank was γ1>γ2>γ3. (2) The expression of all subunits of GABAa receptor was obviously fluctuated excepting subunit α5 after treatment with SS. At 15 min post-SS, α1, α2 , β1 and γ1-3 were upregulated, and α3 was downregulated; At 30 min post-SS, α3, β1 and β3 were upregulated, and γ1 was downregulated; At 1 h post-SS, β2 was upregulated and γ3 was downregulated; At 3 h post-SS, β1 and β2 were upregulated, and α3 and γ2 were downregulated; At 6 h post-SS, αl, α3 ,β2, β3 and γ1 were upregulated, and α2, α4 and β1 were downregulated. CONCLUSION The mRNA of GABAaR was expressed in the rat SGN, and the expression of GABAaR subunits was lower in SGN than the cerebral cortex. SS could alter the GABAaR expression quantity in rat SGN; Most of the subunits expression were elevated obviously in the early post SS (15 min), followed by a slight fluctuation.
Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cochlea ; cytology ; In Situ Hybridization ; Neurons ; drug effects ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Receptors, GABA-A ; metabolism ; Sodium Salicylate ; pharmacology ; Spiral Ganglion ; drug effects

Objective:Based on the National Patent Database, this paper analyzes the medication rule of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) compound patents for the treatment of colorectal cancer in the past 10 years.Methods:By searching for and extracted screening out TCM compound patents for the treatment of colorectal cancer and after the dada selection, data entry , data specifications, the compound patents database for the treatment of colorectal cancer was established. then used IBM SPSS Modeler and IBM SPSS Statistics software to perform frequency analysis, attribute analysis, association analysis and cluster analysis of TCM.Results:A total of 97 compound patents were included, including 411 TCM, among which the core medicines are Atractylodis macrocephalae rhizoma, Hedyotis diffusa, Astragali radix, Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizoma, Scutellariae barbatae herba, Poria, etc. The medicine is mainly cold and warm; The medicine mainly tastes bitter and sweet; The spleen meridian is the main meridian. The cluster analysis result shows there are 7 categories, and the paired TCM with strong correlation includes Hedyotis diffusa- Scutellariae barbatae herba, Atractylodis macrocephalae rhizoma- Curcumae rhizoma, Astragali radix- Codonopsis radix and so on. Conclusions:Treating colorectal cancer should take those medicine which could invigorate the spleen and nurture the deficiency, such as Atractylodis macrocephalae rhizoma, Astragali radix, Codonopsis radix, while for clearing away heat, detoxifying, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, such as Hedyotis diffusa, Scutellariae barbatae herba, and Curcumae rhizoma. At the same time, it can be combined as appropriate, attacking and replenishing simultaneously, regulating qi and blood.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical application of 256 multi-slice spiral computed tomography angiography (MSCTA) technique in the preoperative evaluation of mesenteric angiography in order to provide a reference to vessel anatomy and dissociation in laparoscopic radical operation for colorectal carcinoma.

METHODSClinical data of 50 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent preoperative MSCTA+FDCT and laparoscopic curative operation at our hospital from October 2013 to March 2015 were collected (MSCTA group). The evaluation item was visualization of mesenteric artery, which was compared with the findings under laparoscopic surgery. Meanwhile, another 50 colorectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic radical operation by the same surgeon team without preoperative MSCTA examination were used as control(control group). Clinical data were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSMSCTA precisely and correctly demonstrated anatomy and variations of the mesenteric artery and relative nutrient vessel in carcinoma. The angiography reconstruction images were consistent with the visual anatomy and variation from laparoscopic findings, whose diagnostic conformity rate of 100%. As compared to control group, operative time was shorter [(195.0±23.2) minutes vs.(218.0±19.6) minutes, t=8.326, P=0.015], and blood loss was less[(168.1±18.8) ml vs. (206.5±14.3) ml, t=-19.369, P=0.002] in MSCTA group. Differences of number of harvested lymph node, postoperative complication morbidity, postoperative hospital stay and hospitalization cost were not significant between two groups(all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONPreoperative MSCTA can demonstrate anatomy and variations of the mesenteric artery precisely and correctly, thus it is beneficial to shorten the operation time and to reduce blood loss.

Angiography ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Laparoscopy ; Lymph Nodes ; Mesenteric Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; Operative Time ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

BACKGROUND:Yougui Pill is a famous formula of the Chinese traditional medicine,which has good efficacy for lumbar disc herniation due to kidney yang insufficiency. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the potential targets and mechanism of action of Yougui Pill in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation by using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology,and verified by animal experiments. METHODS:(1)Network pharmacological analysis:We obtained the active ingredients and targets of Yougui Pill from TCMSP and other databases,collected genes related to lumbar disc herniation from GeneCards database,and took the intersection of the two for the topological analysis to derive the main active ingredients and core therapeutic targets.Gene ontology function analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway enrichment analysis were performed using R software.(2)Molecular docking:Autodock and Pymol software were utilized for the prediction of molecular binding energy of TCM active ingredients to core therapeutic targets.(3)Animal experiments:Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group,a degeneration group and a Yougui Pill group,with 6 rats in each group.A rat model of intervertebral disc degeneration was prepared by fiber puncture method in the degeneration and Yougui Pill groups.At 2 weeks after modeling,Yougui Pill was given by gavage in the Yougui Pill group,once a day for 2 consecutive weeks.The level of tumor necrosis factor-α in serum was detected by the ELISA method,and morphological changes of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus cells were observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There were 90 active ingredients and 64 targets,and the main active ingredients were found to be quercetin,kaempferol,β-carotene,soybean flavonoid,and 4'-O-methylnyasol.The core targets of Yougui Pill for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation were interleukin 6,tumor necrosis factor-α,AKT1,interleukin 1B,and vascular endothelial growth factor A.Enrichment analysis revealed that the intersecting genes might be expressed through the interleukin-17 signaling pathway,tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway,MAPK signaling pathway,PI3K-AKT signaling pathway,and other signaling pathways to improve intervertebral disc degeneration.The molecular docking test verified that quercetin,kaempferol,and β-carotene had strong binding ability to the core targets.Animal experiments showed that the level of serum tumor necrosis factor α in the degeneration group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05),and the level of serum tumor necrosis factor α in the Yougui Pill group was lower than that in the degeneration group(P<0.05).Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the fibrous annulus of the intervertebral discs and the structure of the nucleus pulposus in the degeneration group were destroyed,and the number of nucleus pulposus cells was reduced;there was a tendency to reconstructing the fibrous annulus of the intervertebral discs in the Yougui Pill group,and the number of nucleus pulposus cells increased compared with the degeneration group.To conclude,Yougui Pill may treat lumbar disc herniation by improving disc degeneration through the effects of quercetin,kaempferol,beta-carotene and other key active ingredients on core targets such as tumor necrosis factor.

BACKGROUND:It has been found in recent observational studies that assessing localized fat mass is crucial in the evaluation of disc degeneration.Although obesity has been recognized as a risk factor for disc degeneration,the causal relationship between fat mass,which is a key factor in obesity,and intervertebral disc degeneration has been unclear in previous studies. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the causal risk factors of intervertebral disc degeneration associated with different distributions of fat mass,thereby enhancing the understanding of the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration and contributing to the development of preventive,therapeutic,and prognostic strategies. METHODS:Genetic markers associated with trunk and lower limb fat mass were extracted as instrumental variables from the publicly available IEU Open GWAS under the conditions of strong correlation and fulfillment of linkage disequilibrium.These markers were combined with the Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the relationship between body fat and intervertebral disc degeneration.We used the latest version 9 database of FinnGen and assessed the results using several regression models,including inverse variance weighting,MR-Egger regression,simple mode,weighted mode,and weighted median estimator.We also assessed the heterogeneity of the genetic markers using Cochran's Q test,and multiplicity was assessed using the MR-Egger intercept test.Additionally,we used the leave-one-out method to determine the sensitivity of individual genetic markers to the causal effect of the exposure and outcome.The results were presented as odds ratios(OR)and 95%confidence intervals(CI). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The results from the inverse variance weighting method revealed that there was a positive causal relationship between trunk fat mass and the risk of developing intervertebral disc degeneration(OR=1.25,95%CI:1.15-1.35,P＜0.001).Additionally,there was an inverse causal relationship between bilateral lower limb fat mass and the risk of developing intervertebral disc degeneration(OR=0.7,95%CI:0.63-0.78,P＜0.001;OR=0.69,95%CI:0.62-0.76,P＜0.001).Furthermore,the MR-Egger intercept analysis did not detect any potential horizontal pleiotropy.No bias single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected,while heterogeneity tests were present,and the leave-one-out sensitivity analysis suggested reliable results.The results above demonstrate a positive causal relationship between trunk fat mass and intervertebral disc degeneration.As trunk fat mass increases,the risk of intervertebral disc degeneration rises.With an increase in both lower limb fat mass,the risk of intervertebral disc degeneration decreases.Fat content and distribution affects the risk of developing intervertebral disc degeneration and should be given more attention.