This study aims to investigate the effect of total flavones of Fructus Chorspondiatis (TFFC) on the mRNA and protein expression of collagen type I and III of rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) induced by angiotensin II (Ang II), and explore its anti-myocardial fibrosis molecular mechanism. Neonatal rat CFs were prepared from Sprague-Dawley rats (1-3 d after birth). The expression of collagen type I and III mRNA and protein were measured by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The study showed that stimulation of neonatal rat CFs with 100 nmol.L-1 of Ang II for 72 h resulted in a significant increase of the expression of collagen type I and III mRNA and protein. The changes on the expression level were blocked by TFFC. The results demonstrated that TFFC can inhibit myocardial fibrosis induced by Ang II in rats, which is probably associated with the collagen type I and III mRNA and protein levels up-regulated by Ang II, and TFFC was shown to decrease the expression levels of collagen type I and III mRNA and protein.
Anacardiaceae ; chemistry ; Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Collagen Type III ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Flavones ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Myocardium ; cytology ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To explore the pulse diagram parameter changes of chronic renal insufficiency patients with five symptoms types(spleen kidney qi deficiency ,spleen kidney Yang deficiency ,kidney liver Yin deficiency and the deficiency of Yin and Yang ) , and to establish the differentiation mode of each symptoms type for assisting the clinical diagnosis .Methods The DS01-C pulse manifestation instrument made by the Shanghai Daosh company was adopted to detect and analyze the pulse manifestations in the healthy control group and the chronic renal insufficiency group .Results The healthy control group was dominated by the normal pulse manifestation .The chronic renal insufficiency group was dominated by the taut pulse and its concurrent pulse .Along with the progress of the disease ,the pulse manifestations also appeared the corresponding changes .The patients with spleen kidney qi defi-ciency and spleen kidney Yang deficiency were dominated by the taut pulse .Comparing the patients with liver kidney Yin deficiency and Qi Yin deficiency ,the taut pulse and concurrent rapid pulse were common ,in addition ,the former also had the deep pulse .The patients with Yin and Yang deficiency showed the slow pulse and the taut pulse or the taut pulse and rapid pulse .Conclusion The pulse manifestation change in the patients with chronic renal insufficiency is dominated by the taut pulse and the concurrent pulse , the pulse manifestation change of various symptoms types are complex .

The evolution of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a compound process which involves many kinds of genes and transductional pathways. The expression of the peptidyl-proplyl-isomerase PIN1 gene, the mutation in exon 3 of beta-catenin and its correspondent abnormal expression and their roles in the hepatocellular carcinogeneisis were investigated. Among 29 pair cases of HCC and non-carcinoma tissues, the expression of PIN1 gene was detected by immunochemical staining. Mutations in exon 3 of beta-catenin gene and differential expression of beta-catenin gene were investigated by the methods of PCR-SSCP, direct sequencing and immunohistochemical technique as well. The results indicated: (1) 44.8% (13/29) cases of HCC presented higher level of PIN1 gene expression than non-cancerous tissues (chi2=32.63, P<0.05), especially in cytoplasm and nucleus, while there was lower level of PIN1 expression in non-cancerous tissues; (2) 58.6% (17/29) HCC tissues showed beta-catenin protein accumulation in cytoplasm and nucleus. 46.2% (6/13) HCC tissues indicated beta-catenin protein accumulation with higher level of PIN1 expression, while 53.8% (7/13) HCC tissues indicated beta-catenin protein accumulation with lower level or trace of PIN1 expression (chi2=0.00, P>0.05); (3) 24.1% (7/29) of primary tumor lesions carried gene mutations in exon 3 of beta-catenin, and accompanied by beta-catenin protein accumulation. There was no mutation in non-cancerous tissues. All the mutation presented in tissues with low level of PIN1 expression. There was no mutation of beta-catenin gene in tissues with high PIN1 expression level (chi2=58.12, P<0.05). So it was postulated that the increase of PIN1 gene expression could promote hepatocellular carcinogenesis via a way different from beta-catenin gene mutation.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Cerebral Infarction ; blood ; genetics ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the amount of variance in the coping strategies of patients with brain tumors that could be accounted for by resilience. Methods: This cross-sectional survey involved 95 patients who had experienced surgical, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy therapies for their brain tumors at least 1 month before data collection. The investigator collected data using the scales of the Ways of Coping Checklist-Revised and Resilience Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t tests, analysis of variance, Pearson product–moment correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression. Results: The results revealed that resilience was significantly positively associated with patients' problem-focused coping (r = .65, p < .001) and total coping (r = .49, p < .001). In addition, resilience accounted for 27% (R2inc = .27, p < .001) and 16% ((R2inc = .16, p < .001) of the distinct variances in predicting patients’ problem-focused coping and total coping. Conclusion The current results provide evidence to support the importance of resilience in shaping the coping strategies of relevant patients. As resilience shows a crucial element in patient coping with brain tumors, health team members should develop and employ appropriate strategies to improve the resilience of patients with brain tumors.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the amount of variance in the coping strategies of patients with brain tumors that could be accounted for by resilience. Methods: This cross-sectional survey involved 95 patients who had experienced surgical, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy therapies for their brain tumors at least 1 month before data collection. The investigator collected data using the scales of the Ways of Coping Checklist-Revised and Resilience Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t tests, analysis of variance, Pearson product–moment correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression. Results: The results revealed that resilience was significantly positively associated with patients' problem-focused coping (r = .65, p < .001) and total coping (r = .49, p < .001). In addition, resilience accounted for 27% (R2inc = .27, p < .001) and 16% ((R2inc = .16, p < .001) of the distinct variances in predicting patients’ problem-focused coping and total coping. Conclusion The current results provide evidence to support the importance of resilience in shaping the coping strategies of relevant patients. As resilience shows a crucial element in patient coping with brain tumors, health team members should develop and employ appropriate strategies to improve the resilience of patients with brain tumors.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Dachengqi Decoction (大承气汤, DCQD) on morphological changes in the network of enteric nerve-interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs)-smooth muscle cells (SMC) of enteric deep muscular plexuses (DMP) in the rats with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).

METHODSOne hundred Wistar rats of both sexes weighing 200 to 250 g were randomly divided into the control group, MODS group, and DCQD group. The morphologic changes of enteric nerve-ICC-SMC network in the DMP of intestine was observed using c-Kit and vesicular acetylcholine transporter/neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunohistochemical double-staining with whole-mount preparation technique, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and electron microscopy.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the distribution and densities of cholinergic/nitrergic nerves and ICC in the DMP (ICC-DMP) of intestine in the MODS group were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the network of cholinergic nerve-ICC-SMC was disrupted; and the ultrastructural features of ICC-DMP, enteric nerve, and SMC were severely damaged. After treatment with DCQD, the damage in the network of enteric nerve-ICC-SMC was significantly recovered. Compared with the MODS group, the distribution and densities of cholinergic/nitrergic nerves and ICC-DMP in the DCQD group were significantly increased (P<0.01); and the ultrastructural features of ICC-DMP, enteric nerve, smooth muscle cells were significantly recovered.

CONCLUSIONSDCQD can improve the gastrointestinal motility in MODS. The mechanism may be related to the effect of repairing the damages in the network of enteric nerve-ICC-SMC.

Animals ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal ; cytology ; Intestines ; innervation ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Multiple Organ Failure ; physiopathology ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Rats

Purpose: Nurse practitioners (NPs) are increasingly important in healthcare as they play a key role in leading advanced nursing practices. Assessing their professional competence is essential. The aim of this study was to evaluate NPs' professional competencies based on at a collaborative model around NP self and compare different methods of assessment. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, and a purposive sample of 211 participants in the teaching hospital was used. Methods used were self-assessment (nurse practitioners), peer assessment (physicians and nurses) and supervisor assessment (head nurses). Results: The competence of nurse practitioners was rated as moderate (mean score = 3.45 of a possible 5; SD = 0.59). However, each method resulted in differences in competence for total scores and dimensions. The highest competence was in direct patient care (mean = 3.55, SD = 0.53), and the lowest score was in monitoring the quality of patient care (mean = 3.30, SD = 0.82). post hoc analysis shown that supervisor assessment rated professional competence significantly lower than the method of self-assessment and peer assessment (F = 10.07, p < .001). Conclusion NPs require an increased effort to continuous learning for enhancing professional competencies. Moreover, using multiple methods for assessment to obtain a more comprehensive and accurate evaluation of NPs’ professional competence.

Purpose: Nurse practitioners (NPs) are increasingly important in healthcare as they play a key role in leading advanced nursing practices. Assessing their professional competence is essential. The aim of this study was to evaluate NPs' professional competencies based on at a collaborative model around NP self and compare different methods of assessment. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, and a purposive sample of 211 participants in the teaching hospital was used. Methods used were self-assessment (nurse practitioners), peer assessment (physicians and nurses) and supervisor assessment (head nurses). Results: The competence of nurse practitioners was rated as moderate (mean score = 3.45 of a possible 5; SD = 0.59). However, each method resulted in differences in competence for total scores and dimensions. The highest competence was in direct patient care (mean = 3.55, SD = 0.53), and the lowest score was in monitoring the quality of patient care (mean = 3.30, SD = 0.82). post hoc analysis shown that supervisor assessment rated professional competence significantly lower than the method of self-assessment and peer assessment (F = 10.07, p < .001). Conclusion NPs require an increased effort to continuous learning for enhancing professional competencies. Moreover, using multiple methods for assessment to obtain a more comprehensive and accurate evaluation of NPs’ professional competence.

We revisited the "Xiao Chaihu Decoction event (XCHDE)" occurred in late 1980s in Japan and the Bupleuri Radix related adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports in China After careful review, comparison, analysis and evaluation, we think the interstitial pneumonitis, drug induced Liver injury (DILI) and other severe adverse drug envents (ADEs) including death happened in Japan is probably results from multiple factors, including combinatory use of XCHDE with interferon, Kampo usage under modern medicine theory guidance, and use of XCHD on the basis of disease diagnosis instead of traditional Chinese syndrome complex differentiation. There are less ADE case reports related to XCHD preparation in China compared to Japan, mostly manifest with hypersensitivity responses of skin and perfuse perspiration. The symptoms of Radix Bupleuri injection related ADEs mainly manifest hypersensitivity-like response, 2 cases of intravenous infusion instead of intramuscular injection developed hypokalemia and renal failure. One case died from severe hypersensitivity shock. In Chinese literatures, there is no report of the interstitial pneumonitis and DILI associated with XCHDG in Japan. So far, there is no voluntary monitoring data and large sample clinical research data available. The author elaborated the classification of "reevaluation" and clarified "re-evaluation upon events" included the reaction to the suspected safety and efficacy events. Based on the current status of the clinical research on the Radix Bupleuri preparations, the author points out that post-marketing "re-evaluation upon suspected event" is not only a necessity of continuous evaluation of the safety, efficacy of drugs, it is also a necessity for providing objective clinical research data to share with the international and domestic drug administrations in the risk-benefit evaluation. It is also the unavoidable pathway to culture and push the excellent species and famous brands of TCM to the international market, in that it enhances the pharmaceutical manufactures the ability to control enterprise risk and eliminate the negative impact on traditional Chinese medicine. With the widely used and ADR report concentrated Radix Bupleuri injection as an example, the author provide a new approach to post-marketing clinical research.
Bupleurum ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing ; methods ; Safety