In chronic kidney disease (CKD), inflammatory responses during the progression of renal tissue and tissue injury related causes its progression to end-state renal disease. Among them, nuclear factor (nuclear factor, NF)-kappaB signaling pathway by regulating the corresponding nuclear expression of target gene transcription, as well as affecting the synthesis of inflammatory mediators, induction of inflammation lead to kidney damage and renal fibrosis. Some single herbs and their extracts (such as Astragali Radix, Scutellariae Radix, Ginkgo Folium) and some traditional Chinese medicine (such as Danggui Buxue decoction, Qilian decoction) can reduce the inflammatory damage induced by renal tissue NF-kappaB signaling pathway and delay the progression of CKD.
Animals ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; pathology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

PURPOSE: High-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV) are a critical etiologic factor behind cervical cancer. Adolescents are a vulnerable group for HPV infection. However, the literature on adolescent women for HPV infection and cervical cancer is limited. This study was to investigate HPV-related knowledge and perceived risk of HPV infection and cervical cancer among Taiwanese adolescent women in order to assess intervention strategies for prevention of cervical cancer and maintenance of reproductive health. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was implemented. There were 610 adolescent women from three colleges in Southern Taiwan who participated in this study. Data were collected using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey. RESULTS: The results showed that the percentage of appropriate answers to HPV-related knowledge questions was only 36.8%, and smoking as the leading cause of cervical cancer received the lowest mean score for appropriate answers among the HPV-related knowledge items. The perceived risk of HPV infection and cervical cancer were moderate, with relatively lower susceptibility to infection with HPV than to cervical cancer (P < .001). Only 11.5% of the participants reported that they had received information about HPV vaccination from healthcare professionals. CONCLUSIONS: Participants lacked a comprehensive understanding of cervical cancer prevention and were not aware of their susceptibility to HPV infection. Adolescent women rarely obtained HPV-related information from healthcare professionals. Appropriate education strategies should be developed and conducted by healthcare professionals to reduce the risk of cervical cancer threat from adolescence.
Adolescent ; Adolescent Behavior/*psychology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Papillomavirus Infections/*epidemiology/*psychology ; Risk Factors ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral/*psychology ; Students/*psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Taiwan ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/*epidemiology/*psychology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents of Pyrola calliatha.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated by various column chromatographic methods. The structures were identified by spectral data.

RESULTTen compounds were isolated and identified as chimaphilin (1), uvaol(2), ursolic acid (3), 2beta,3beta,23-trihydroxy-12-ene-28-ursolic acid (4), daucosterol (5), 2alpha,3beta,23,24-tetrahydroxy-12-ene-28-ursolic acid (6), emodin (7), gallic acid (8), monotropein (9), adenosine (10).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 2,4,6,7,10 were obtained from this genus for the first time, compounds 5, 9 were obtained from this species for the first time. Antifungal activity of compounds 1-4, 6-9 were evaluated. Compound 1 showed the strong activity.

Antifungal Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; drug effects ; Iridoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Naphthoquinones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pyrola ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the applicability of PDLLA/nano-HA compound plates used in internal fixation of mandibular fractures.

METHODSRabbit mandibular fracture model was used in this study. Clinical observation, the amount of callus, histological observation were studied and compared with PDLLA plates.

RESULTSAll fractures were fixed rigidly. There was 1 animal experienced local inflammation and then forming fistula in the side of PDLLA plate at postoperative 2 and 3 weeks. No side-effects were found in the side of compound plates. During the early stage of bone healing, the quality of callus in the side of compound plates was apparently more than that in the other side, and histological study showed that the osteoblasts and fibroblasts were more active in the side of compound plate in the early healing stage.

CONCLUSIONSPDLLA/nano-HA compound plate has a proper degradation time. Compared with PDLLA plates, it is more effective and safer when used in mandibular fracture.

Animals ; Bone Plates ; Durapatite ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Male ; Mandibular Fractures ; surgery ; Polyesters ; Rabbits

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been proposed as a key role leading to the progressive tubulo-interstitial fibrosis (TIF). The tubular EMT is an highly regulated process involving four key steps including: loss of epithelial cell adhesion, de novo smooth muscle actin expression and actin reorganization, disruption of tubular basement membrane,and enhanced cell migration and invasion. These crucial processes are closely connected to the relative actions on many signaling pathways in EMT. Additionally, increasing evidences suggest that some Chinese herbal medicines and their extracts, such as Astragali Radix, Cordyceps, Salvia miltiorrhiza, as well as Chinese. herbal prescriptions including Astragalus Angelica mixture and Supplementing Qi and activating blood circulation decoction, could intervene the related events controlling EMT both in vitro and in vivo. Chinese herbal medicines could ameliorate TIF by intervening the course of EMT.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Kidney Tubules ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the roles of different cells in the pulmonary lesions in the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients.

METHODSThe monoclonal antibodies of CD8, CD20, CD34, LCA, CD56, CD68, and AE1/AE3 are used to demonstrate the different cells in the lung specimens of SARS patients in order to study the patterns of cell responses in this new disease. Meanwhile the HE stained slides were also carefully studied to compare with the results of immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSThe number of capillaries increased and the capillaries clearly outlined the contour of alveolar wall from beginning to early stage of organization, the number of lymphocytes decreased sharply while the number of macrophage remarkably increased, together with proliferation of type II pneumocytes. The numbers of blood vessels decreased in the fibrotic and consolidated lung tissue, and the vessel cavities enlarged, losing the normal contour of alveolar septa.

CONCLUSIONSThe lesions in the lung from SARS patients are consisted of the tissue reaction to the inflammatory injury, including extensive exudation, capillary proliferation, fibrosis, and obvious infiltration of macrophages which may play a key role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary lesions of SARS.

Adult ; Antigens, CD ; immunology ; Antigens, CD20 ; immunology ; Antigens, CD34 ; immunology ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; immunology ; Capillaries ; pathology ; Edema ; pathology ; Female ; Fibrosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; blood supply ; pathology ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; pathology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; pathology

Osteoporosis and chronic psychological stress are two serious chronic degenerative diseases that cause disability and impact population health. Patients with osteoporosis often present with heavier psychological burden, lower quality of life, and frequent symptoms of depression and anxiety. There are potential common pathogenic factors, cellular mechanisms and signaling pathways between them. Considering that the number of patient with these diseases is huge and growing rapidly, it is particularly important to explore the pathogenic link between these two diseases as well as cross-effect therapeutics for osteoporosis and mental health disorders.

Objective To determine the radioactive enrichment level in marine biological media around Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant and to evaluate the impact of effluent on marine biological media in the surrounding sea area based on the discharge of effluent from the nuclear power plant over the years and the monitoring level of surrounding marine media. Methods The monitoring data of ³H, ¹⁴C, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, and ^110mAg in the environmental media monitored in Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant from 2008 to 2017 were collected, and the data were processed and analyzed by IBM SPSS Statistics 26. Results The activity concentrations of tritium in mullet and oyster in the sea area around Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant were 0.5-2.9 Bq/kg and 0.55-8.2 Bq/kg, respectively, and the activity concentrations of tritium in both increased generally under the influence of effluent from the nuclear power plant. The activity concentrations of ¹⁴C, ¹³⁷Cs, and ⁹⁰Sr in the monitored organisms were lower than the background values. The results of correlation analysis showed that the effluent from the nuclear power plant had almost no effect on ¹⁴C. The activity level of ^110mAg decreased significantly year by year in oyster, and remained below the background level in mullet. Conclusion Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant is the longest operating nuclear power plant in mainland China. Most of the nuclides in biological media in the surrounding sea area are lower than the background levels, and the effluents from the nuclear power plant have little influence on marine biological media in the surrounding sea area.

OBJECTIVESeven cases of autopsy from SARS patients are studied to investigate the pathogenesis and the pathologic changes of the major organs.

METHODSDetailed gross and microscopic examination of the autopsy specimen is performed, including lung, heart, liver, kidney, spleen and lymph nodes.

RESULTSAll of the lungs are markedly enlarged and consolidated. Microscopically, pulmonary edema is a prominent finding, especially at the early stage of the disease (5 days after the onset). The alveolar spaces are filled with fibrinous exudates and lined with hyaline membrane. In 5 cases that undergo over 3 weeks of the course, the main pattern is organization of intra-alveolar deposit, along with fibroblastic proliferation in the alveolar septa, which leads to obliteration of alveolar space and pulmonary fibrosis. All of the lungs show bronchopneumonia, scattered hemorrhage, and proliferation of alveolar epithelial cells with desquamation. Microthrombi are seen in 6 cases. Fungal infection is noted in 2 cases. One of them is disseminative, involving bilateral lungs, heart, and kidney; the other one is diagnosed in hilar lymph nodes. In immune system, hilar and abdominal lymph nodes are usually congested and hemorrhagic, with depletion of lymphocytes, and accompanied with subcapsular sinus histiocytosis. One of the cases shows enlargement of abdominal lymph nodes, which have reduced number of germinal centers. Spleen exhibits atrophy of white pulps, and even lost of white pulps in some areas. The red pulp is markedly congested and hemorrhagic. In 5 cases, cardiomegale is prominent. Thrombosis (2 cases), focal myocarditis (1 case), and fungal myocarditis (1 case) are observed. In addition, liver shows massive necrosis (1 case) and nodular cirrhosis (1 case).

CONCLUSIONSLung is the major organ affected by SARS, demonstrated as diffuse alveolar damage. It is postulated that viral infection induces severe damage of alveolar epithelial and capillary endothelial cells, leads to pulmonary edema, intra-alveolar fibrin deposit, and hyaline membrane formation. Consequently, intra-alveolar organization and alveolar septal fibrosis causes loss of alveolar spaces, eventually, pulmonary fibrosis and atelectasis. The immune system is often affected, and presented as depletion of lymphoid tissue in lymph nodes and spleen. Secondary infection is a common complication, which should be paid close attention in the management of SARS patients.

Adrenal Glands ; pathology ; Adult ; Autopsy ; Bone Marrow ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; Liver ; pathology ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; pathology ; Spleen ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the morphological features of the lungs obtained from autopsies of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients.

METHODSBilateral lungs from 7 patients died from SARS were carefully studied grossly and microscopically. All tissues from these cases were routinely processed and carefully studied.

RESULTSAll lungs from these cases were extremely expanded and became solid. Microscopically, the edema and fibrin exudates in the alveoli was the most common findings, especially in the early phase of the disease. The hyaline membrane was almost always present in the lungs of these cases. The organization of intra-alveolar fibrin exudates along with the interstitial fibrosis led to obliteration of alveoli and consolidation of lungs. The desquamation and hyperplasia of alveolar lining cells was also apparent. Foci of haemorrhage and lobular pneumonia, even diffuse fungal infection were frequently seen in these specimens. Micro-thrombus were easily found in these lungs.

CONCLUSIONSThe lung of SARS from autopsy is characterized by edema, intra-alveolar fibrin exudates, hyaline membrane formation, organization of intra-alveolar exudates and fibrosis, which lead to the obliteration of alveoli and consolidation of lungs.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; pathology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; pathology