Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVETo explore the analgesic effect of Zhixin Formula (ZF) and its effects on spinal glial fibrillary acidic protein (glial fibillary acidic protein, GFAP, a marker of astrocyte) , CD11b (a maker of microglia), Toll like receptors (TLR2 and TLR4) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in bone cancer pain model rats.

METHODSTotally 20 male SD rats were randomly divided into the blank control group and the bone cancer pain group, 10 in each group. The bone cancer pain model was induced by injecting ascites tumor fluid containing 3 x 10(3) Walker256 cell line from the left tibia. Ethological tests, X-ray test, and HE staining were performed to confirm a successful modeling. After model was successfully established, 70 male SD rats were randomly divided into seven groups, 10 in each group: the blank control group, the bone cancer pain group (as the model group), the Western medicine (WM) group (Tramadol Hydrochloride), the high dose ZF group, the middle dose ZF group, the low dose ZF group, and the Chinese medicine (CM) group (Wulin Zhitong Capsule). Fourteen days after modeling, rats in the high, middle, and low dose ZF groups were administrated by gastrogavage with 9, 4.5, and 2.25 g/kg ZF water condensed preparation respectively, once a day for seven consecutive days. On day 21 MS typical protein expressions including GFAP, CD11b, TLR (2,4) and NF-κB from cornu dorsal medullae spindis L4-L5 were detected by immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot.

RESULTSCompare with the blank control group, increased weight in the model group was slow and showed a decreasing trend (P < 0.01), spontaneous ambulatory pain score (SAPS) obviously increased (P < 0.01), paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) obviously decreased in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Results of lateral tibial X-ray and HE staining showed obvious changes and damage occurred in bone structures of rats in the model group. Immunohistochemistry showed that GFAP expression significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.05). Protein levels of NF-κB also significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, CD11b expressions obviously decreased in the middle and high dose ZF groups (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, protein expressions of TLR2 and TLR4, as well as NF-κB also obviously decreased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONZF had analgesic effect, which might be probably related to inhibiting proliferation and activation of gliocytes, as well as activation of TLRs and NF-κB.

Animals ; Astrocytes ; Bone Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Male ; Microglia ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Osteosarcoma ; Pain ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the relationship of the serum level of IL-23 and MMP-9 with the clinicopathologic features in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods 48 pathologically confirmed ESCC patients and 30 Endoscopic biopsy of benign were included in this study. The serum levels of IL-23 and MMP-9 were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Serum IL-23 level in patients with ESCC was significantly higher than that in controls (t = 26.66, 16.89, P<0.05). Furthermore, Pearson′s correlation analysis revealed that serum IL-23 was positively correlated with the serum MMP-9 level in ESCC patients (r = 0.790, P < 0.05). Statistical analysis showed that enhanced serum IL-23 significantly correlated with the degree of differentiation and lymph node metastasis. Conclusion Overexpression of IL-23 may involve in the occurrence and development of ESCC. IL-23 may contribute to tumorinvasion and metastasis by stimulating the expression of MMP-9.

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of reinforcing Shen method (RSM) and activating blood method (ABM) in treating osteoarthritis (OA) at the molecular level.

METHODSThe physical and chemical characteristics of components from respective recipes of RSM and ABM, and network features of component-target interaction network were analyzed by computer simulation methods including chemical space, molecular docking, and biological network, etc.

RESULTSThe chemical components of RSM and ABM were scarcely scattered with larger overlapping. Among established networks, the distribution of network features was partially similar in RSM and ABM. The average target number correlated with each component was 1.86 in RSM and 2.11 in ABM respectively. Each average target number was respectively correlated with 4.46 compounds and 3.93 compounds, reflecting multi-component and multi-target actions.

CONCLUSIONComputer simulation could intuitively trace out similarities and differences of two different methods and their interaction with targets, which revealed that the compatibility of RSM and ABM could have broader protein targets and potential synergism at the molecular level.

Computer Simulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Osteoarthritis ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; methods

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play a crucial role in T cell dysfunction, which is related to poor outcome in patients with severe trauma. Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) contributes to immune disorder in trauma and infection via production of prostaglandin E2. However, the role of Cox-2 in the accumulation and function of MDSCs after traumatic stress has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we treated murine trauma model with NS398, a selective Cox-2 inhibitor. Then the percentages of CD11b+/Gr-1+ cells, proliferation and apoptosis of CD4+ T cells were determined. Arginase activity and arginase-1 (Arg-1) protein expression of splenic CD11b+/Gr-1+ cells, and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response were analyzed. The results showed that Cox-2 blockade significantly decreased the percentages of CD11b+/Gr-1+ cells in the spleen and bone marrow 48 and 72 h after traumatic stress. NS398 inhibited arginase activity and down-regulated the Arg-1 expression of splenic CD11b+/Gr-1+ cells. Moreover, NS398 could promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of CD4+ T cells. It also restored DTH response of traumatic mice. Taken together, our data revealed that Cox-2 might play a pivotal role in the accumulation and function of MDSC after traumatic stress.

Purpose:Taking tuberculosis as an example, this paper aims at to analyzing the level of reimburse-ment for infectious diseases care, and clarifying the government responsibility. Methods:In order to achieve the ob-jective of this research, UHC framework was used to analyze the security level. Result:The findings of this research reveal that TB in-patients' Compensation Ratio of the New Cooperative Medical Scheme ( NCMS) was lower than aver-age level of all the NCMS patients, the out-patients' was even lower. The categories of anti-tuberculotic for free was limited, the utilization was not as expected. Medical assistance covered few people in spite of its high level of reim-bursement. Conclusion:Based on the findings of this review, it has been revealed that the medical insurance didn't make a big difference in financial protection for patients with infectious diseases. As the treatment for of infectious diseases is a quasi-public good, the government has to shoulder the responsibility of improving the compensation ratio of the patients.

AlM: To investigate the association between the degree of anterioruveitis and related factors including inflammatory markers as well as sacroiliac joint imaging in patients with ankylosing spondylitis ( AS) .
METHODS: Anterior changes evaluated by slit lamp, erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( ESR ) , C - reactive protein ( CRP ) and magnetic resonance imaging of 55 cases with AS associateduveitis were retrospectively analyzed. A modified endotoxin-induced uveitis ( ElU ) clinical standard was used for uveitis grading. SPARCC sacroiliac scoring was used to evaluate bone edema of sacroiliac joint. The correlation between the degree of uveitis and sacroiliitis was assessed.
RESULTS: ln the 55 patients with AS, ElU grading scored 2-10, and SPARCC index scored 0-22. Further analysis showed that the severity of uveitis was significantly correlated with ESR (r=0. 869, P<0. 001) and CRP (r=0. 485, P<0. 001). The degree of anterior uveitis in AS patients was not correlated with inflammation of sacroiliac joint (r=0. 237, P=0. 081).
CONCLUSlON: Local autoimmunity of uveitis and sacroiliac joint inflammation with subsequent bone formation in AS might be mutually independent processes.

OBJECTIVESTo observe the effects of renal ischemic postconditioning (RI-Post) on myocardial apoptosis in rabbits with acute myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.

METHODSAll rabbits were subjected to 60 minutes ischemia by left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion (LADO) and 6 hours reperfusion. The rabbits are randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 8 in each group): (1) Ischemia-reperfusion (IR): LADO and reperfusion without additional intervention; (2) RI-Post: after 60 minutes of LADO, the left renal artery was occluded for 30 seconds and reperfused for 30 seconds and repeated 3 times, then the coronary artery was reperfused for 6 hours; (3) Medication intervention (MI): 10 minutes before coronary reperfusion, rabbits were treated with PKC antagonist GF109203X (0.05 mg/kg, IV), followed by RI-Post treatment and 6 hours coronary reperfusion. Myocardial apoptosis was measured by TUNEL and the myocardial Bcl-2 and Bax protein expressions were assessed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCompared with the IR group and the MI group, myocardial apoptosis was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) and the Bcl-2 protein expression increased (P < 0.01) while the Bax protein expression decreased (P < 0.05) in the RI-Post group.

CONCLUSIONSRemote renal postconditioning applied right before the onset of coronary artery reperfusion can reduce the myocardial apoptosis induced by myocardial ischemia and reperfusion and up-regulate Bcl-2 while down-regulate Bax expression possibly by activation of protein kinase C.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Female ; Ischemia ; metabolism ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Kidney Diseases ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

To investigate the effects of conducting electrodes implanted into the penicillin-induced epilepsy foci in rats on seizures, 30 male SD rats were randomly divided into experimental group (EG) and control group (CG). Afer penicillin(PNC) administration, metal electrode was implanted into the epilepsy focus in EG. Behavior evaluations were given after PNC injection in both groups and electroencephalogram recordings were taken respectively. Immunohistochemical methods were used to test the expressions of P38 and Calcium channel a 1A subunit (CACNA1A) at the serial time-point. We found that EG showed reduction of epileptic discharge frequency than did CG at time-point 3 h and 6 h, and that P38 expressions of EG were lower than those of CG in the injected side, and the expressions of Calcium channel a 1A subunit (CACNA1A) were downregulated in EG at time-point 6 h and 24 h. This evidence suggests that the metal electrode implanted into the penicillin-induced epilepsy focus may reduce the epileptic discharges and downregulate the expressions of P38 and CACNA1A. This new idea might be used in antiepileptic field in future.
Animals ; Calcium Channels ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Electrodes, Implanted ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; chemically induced ; therapy ; Male ; Penicillins ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDIntracranial aneurysm (IAN) is a protruding bubble or a sac on a brain artery that balloons out over time, which may lead to spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), ultimately disability and mortality. Current research indicates that the disease is due to multiple causes, including environmental factors and various congenital abnormalities of blood vessels. Apart from congenital predisposition, various high-risk factors such as sex, age, hypertension, and atherosclerosis are involved in the formation of intracranial aneurysms. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors associated with the formation of sporadic intracranial aneurysms in Chinese Han ethnic patients.

METHODSA total of 251 patients with intracranial aneurysm and 338 patients with other cerebral diseases (control group) were enrolled in this study. Single factor and logistic regression model were used to analyze the association of intracranial aneurysms with age; sex; cigarette smoking; alcohol or cocaine consumption; history of hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus and inherited connective tissue disease; and the levels of fasting blood glucose and blood fat. The data expressed as mean +/- standard deviation were processed with the statistical software SPSS13. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed by the independent-sample t test, and the chi-square test respectively. Logistic regression method was used to analyze the multiple factors.

RESULTSIn the 251 patients, 163 (64.94%) were at age of 40 to 60 years. Sex (OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.01 - 1.96), cigarette smoking (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.06 - 3.10), hypertension (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.30 - 4.16) and fasting blood glucose were significantly associated with intracranial aneurysm (P < 0.05). Intracranial aneurysm was correlated with alcohol consumption, coronary artery disease, and the level of blood lipids (P > 0.05). Using logistic regression analysis, we identified female sex and advanced age as significant risk factors for sporadic intracranial aneurysms.

CONCLUSIONSSporadic intracranial aneurysms mostly occur in people aged 40 to 60 years. Feminine, cigarette smoking, and hypertension are independent risk factors for the disease, and the gender is the most significant factor. Advanced age can increase the effect of these risk factors.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Atherosclerosis ; complications ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; etiology ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects