OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Yufeining, a traditional Chinese medicine, on induced sputum interleukin-8 (IL-8) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at the stable phase.

METHODSThirty-six patients with COPD were divided into trial group (18 cases) and control group (18 cases) randomly. The trial group was treated with Yufeining pills taken orally for half a year; the control group was not given any medicine. Routine lung function was recorded before and after treatment. Total cell count (TCC), differential cell counts (DCCs) and IL-8 in induced sputum were determined at the baseline and 6 months later.

RESULTSThe indices of lung function improved significantly after 6 months' treatment in trial group (P < 0.05); TCC and absolute neutrophil count decreased significantly compared with baseline in the trial group (P < 0.05); Sputum IL-8 concentration dropped significantly after 6 months' treatment, from a mean of 5.216 +/- 2.914 microg/L to 4.222 +/- 2.140 microg/L (P < 0.05). There were insignificant changes in the parameters in the control group between baseline and 6 months later.

CONCLUSIONYufeining could improve lung function, decrease sputum TCC, absolute neutrophil count and IL-8 concentration, and relieve airway inflammation in patients with COPD in the stable phase.

Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; analysis ; immunology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Sputum ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway in bronchial epithelial actin stress fiber (F-actin) rearrangement induced by house dust mite (HDM).

METHODSNormal human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE) were stimulated with HDM with or without pretreatment with AG-1478, an EGFR inhibitor. The levels of phospho(p)-EGFR, F-actin, E-cadherin and β-catenin in the cell cultures were detected with Western blotting. The localizations of F-actin, E-cadherin and β-catenin in the bronchial epithelial cells were determined with immunofluorescence assay, and the transmembrane electrical resistance (TER) and FITC-dextran flux (FITC-DX) in the cells were measured to assess the barrier function of the bronchial epithelia.

RESULTSHDM stimulation of the cells for 10 min resulted in significantly increased p-EGFR expression (P<0.05) without causing obvious changes in the expression of E-cadherin (P>0.05) or β-catenin (P>0.05). Immunofluorescence assay revealed delocalization of E-cadherin and β-catenin in HDM-treated 16HBE cells, shown by their diffusion from the cell membrane to the cytoplasm. In HDM-treated cells, the TER was significantly decreased to (70.00∓4.33)% and the FITC-DX was significantly increased to (115.98∓4.34)%; Inhibition of EGFR reversed the delocalization of E-cadherin and β-catenin, improved the TER to (90.00∓3.75)% and lowered the FITC-DX to (101.10∓2.10)%. HDM induced increased expression and rearrangement of F-actin, which was obviously inhibited by pretreatment of the cells with AG-1478 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEGFR signaling pathway mediates HDM-induced F-actin rearrangement in human bronchial epithelial cells to contribute to epithelial barrier dysfunction.

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of Qianlieantong Tablets in the treatment of chronic prostatitis.

METHODSA multi-center, self-controlled open clinical trial was conducted. A total of 280 subjects with chronic prostatitis were enrolled and treated by Qianlieantong Tablets, 3 times a day, 5 tablets each time. Before and after 2 and 4 weeks after the administration, NIH-CPSI scores and white blood cell counts in the prostate secretion were recorded.

RESULTSOf the 273 subjects evaluated, the rates of excellence, effectiveness and ineffectiveness were 35.2% (n = 96), 47.6% (n = 130) and 17.2% (n = 47), respectively, with a total effectiveness rate of 82.8%. After 4 weeks'medication, the scores of the subjects on NIH-CPSI pain, voiding and quality of life and white blood cell counts in prostate secretion were significantly decreased compared with pre-treatment (P < 0.01). No adverse events or laboratory abnormality related to the medication were observed.

CONCLUSIONQianlieantong Tablets has a significant effect on chronic prostatitis with high safety, particularly indicated in chronic prostatitis with pelvic pain.

Adult ; Chronic Disease ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; Quality of Life ; Tablets ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo identify the active material of anti-hepatic fibrosis from Amydae Carapax.

METHODSMembrane separation technology was adopted to screen active fraction in Amydae Carapax, and the active components were isolated from the active fraction using gel chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. The purified active components in Amydae Carapax were further analyzed using 4700 series time-of-flight mass spectrometer.

RESULTSProteins and peptides of Amydae Carapax with molecular weight less than 6000 were proved to have biological activity. 8 components (Bj1-Bj8) were isolated from the active fraction. Bj4, Bj6 and Bj7 were screened as active components. Bj7 was further purified, resulting in 7 components (Bj701-Bj707). Bj704 and Bj707 showed significant biological activity. Mass spectrometry showed three molecular ion peaks with highest abundance, i.e. m/e 526, 542 and 572, i.e. m/e 526, 542 and 572, in Bj707 -A The amino acid sequences of above three peptide compounds were NDDY (Asn-Asp-Asp-Tyr), NPNPT (Asn-Pro-Asn-Pro-Thr), and HGRFG (His-Gly-Arg-Phe-Gly), respectively. And M572 was the most abandunt components.

CONCLUSIONThree active peptide compounds of anti-hepatic fibrosis of Amydae Carapax were identified.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Tissue Extracts ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) in regulating the expression of MUC5AC and mucus production in a mouse model of toluene diisocyanate (TDI)?induced asthma.

METHODSBALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group, vehicle (AOO) group, TDI?induced asthma group and RAGE inhibitor (FPS?ZM1) group. PAS staining, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze the changes in mucus production and MUC5AC expression in the airway of the mice, and the expression of p?ERK was detected with Western blotting. In vitro cultured human bronchial epithelial cell line 16HBE was transfected with lentiviral vector carrying short hairpin RNA targeting RAGE (shRNA?RAGE) and subsequently challenged with a TDI?human serum albumin (TDI-HSA) conjugate, and the changes in cellular MUC5AC mRNA expression as detected using RT-PCR; the protein expressions of ERK and p?ERK in the cells were examined with Western blotting. The effect of ERK inhibitor U0126 pretreatment on MUC5AC mRNA expression was also analyzed in the cells.

RESULTSCompared with the control mice, TDI-induced asthmatic mice showed significantly higher rates of PAS positivity and increased MUC5AC and p?ERK expressions in the airway (P<0.05). Treatment with FPS?ZM1 significantly decreased PAS positivity and lowered MUC5AC and p?ERK expressions in the airway of the asthmatic mice (P<0.05). Exposure of 16HBE cells to TDI?HSA caused a significant increase in MUC5AC mRNA expression and p?ERK protein expression (P<0.05), while RAGE knockdown obviously suppressed TDI?HSA-induced upregulation of p-ERK and MUC5AC mRNA (P<0.05). Treatment with the ERK inhibitor U0126 also lowered TDI?HSA?induced up?regulation of MUC5AC mRNA in the cells (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONRAGE signaling induces MUC5AC expression via extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway to promote mucus overproduction in mice with TDI-induced asthma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the imaging effect of a near-infrared fluorescent targeted probe ICG-NP41 on the neurovascular bundles (NVB) around the prostate in rats. METHODS: A near-infrared fluorescent targeted probe ICG-NP41 was synthesized. An animal model for NVB imaging was established using Sprague-Dawley rats (250-400 g). Experiments were conducted using a custom-built near-infrared windowⅡ(NIR-Ⅱ) small animal in vivo imaging system, and images collected were processed using ImageJ and Origin. The fluorescence signal data were statistically analyzed using GraphPad Prism. The signal-to-background ratio (SBR) for NVB was quantitatively calculated to explore the effective dosage and imaging time points. Finally, paraffin pathology sections and HE staining were performed on the imaging structures. RESULTS: Except for rats in the control group (n=2), right-sided NVB of the rats injected with ICG-NP41 (n=2 per group) were all observed in NIR-Ⅱ fluorescence mode 2 h and 4 h after administration. At 2 h and 4 h, average SBR of cavernous nerve in 2 mg/kg group in fluorescence mode was 1.651±0.142 and 1.619±0.110, respectively, both higher than that in white light mode (1.111±0.036), with no significant difference (P>0.05); average SBR of 4 mg/kg group in fluorescence mode were 1.168±0.066 and 1.219±0.118, respectively, both higher than that in white light mode (1.081±0.040), with no significant difference (P>0.05). At 2 h and 4 h, the average SBR of 2 mg/kg and 4 mg/kg groups in fluorescence mode were higher than that of the control group (SBR=1), the average SBR of the 2 mg/kg group was higher than that of the 4 mg/kg group, and all the above with no significant difference (P>0.05). The average diameter of the nerve measured by full width at half maxima method was about (178±15) μm. HE staining of paraffin sections showed the right major pelvic ganglion. CONCLUSION The near-infrared fluorescent targeted probe ICG-NP41 can be used for real-time imaging of the NVB around the prostate in rats, providing a potential feasible solution for localizing NVB in real time during nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy.
Male ; Rats ; Animals ; Prostate/diagnostic imaging* ; Paraffin ; Indocyanine Green ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Fluorescent Dyes

Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.
Female ; Humans ; Adolescent ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Smell ; COVID-19/complications* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; COVID-19 Vaccines ; Incidence ; Olfaction Disorders/etiology* ; Taste Disorders/etiology* ; Prognosis