In practice of forensic medicine, potential disease can be associated with fatal asphyxia in restraint position. Research has demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) are plentifully distributed in skeletal muscle, contributing to the regulation of contractile and relaxation. In the current study, respiratory functions, indices of diaphragmatic biomechanical functions ex vivo, as well as NO levels in serum, the expressions of diaphragmatic inducible NOS (iNOS) mRNA, and the effects of L-NNA on contractility of the diaphragm were observed in sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) under the condition of restraint position. The results showed that in the CLP12-18h rats, respiratory dysfunctions; indices of diaphragmatic biomechanical functions (Pt, +dT/dt(max), -dT/dt(max), CT, Po, force over the full range of the force-frequency relationship and fatigue resistance) declined progressively; the NO level in serum, and iNOS mRNA expression in the diaphragm increased progressively; force increased significantly at all stimulation frequencies after L-NNA pre-incubation. Restraint position 1 h in CLP12 h rats resulted in severe respiratory dysfunctions after relative stable respiratory functions, almost all the indices of diaphragmatic biomechanical functions declined further, whereas little change took place in NO level in serum and diaphragmatic iNOS mRNA expression; and the effects of L-NNA were lack of statistical significance compared with those of CLP12 h, but differed from CLP18 h group. These results suggest that restraint position and sepsis act together in a synergistic manner to aggravate the great reduction of diaphragmatic contractility via, at least in part, the negative modulation of NO, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of positional asphyxia.
Animals ; Asphyxia ; Diaphragm/physiology* ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Rats ; Respiration Disorders ; Restraint, Physical ; Sepsis

Objective To determine the effect of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) on endothelia cell (EC) proliferation in vitro,TNP-470 and dexamethasone (Dex) and explore the possible mechanisms of FGF stimulating EC proliferation. Methods Cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) was divided into two groups: control group (Group DMEM) and experimental groups (Group FGF,Group Dex,Group TNP-470,Group FGF+Dex,Group FGF+TNP-470). The EC proliferation was quantified by a colorimetric assay using MTT reagent,the relative cell numbers at every time point of EC cycle analyzed with flow cytometer,and the expression of nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (NF-?B p65) and ki-67 detected with immunohistochemical method of SABC. Results FGF stimulated significantly EC proliferation,raised proliferation index (PI) and enhanced the expressions of NF-?B p65 and ki-67 in nuclear. TNP-470 reduced PI and TNP-470 and Dex suppressed EC proliferation and finally decreased the expressions of NF-?B p65 and ki-67 in nuclear. FGF could facilitate the inhibitory effect of TNP-470 and Dex. Conclusions The possible mechanism of EC proliferation stimulated by FGF is that FGF can activate NF-?B to promote the synthesis of DNA and EC mitosis. TNP-470 and Dex suppress proliferation and differentiation of EC but FGF may reverse such suppressive effect.

Objective To observe the effects of Yiqi Huoxue Tongluo Jiedu fang (YHTJF) on pneumocyte apoptosis after lung ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury (LIRI) in mice and to investigate whether c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) is involved in the mechanism of apoptosis.Methods Seventy C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into seven groups:normal control group (C group),carboxyl methyl cellulose-Na+normal control group (CMC-Na+C group),CMC-Na+sham group (CMC-Na+S group),CMC-Na+I/R group (CMC-Na+I/R group) and CMC-Na+YHTJF-low,-middle,-high dose groups (CMC-Na+YL,CMC-Na+YM,CMC-Na+YH groups).C group did not undergo any processing;in CMC-Na+S group,only was chest opened without clipping the lung hilum;in the rest of the four groups,they all underwent opening of the chest and clipping the lung hilum for 30 minutes,then the clipping of artery was relieved and left lung reperfusion was carried out for 3 hours.After operation,the mice were sacrificed,the lung tissues were harvested.Under light and electron microscopes,the lung morphological and ultra-structural changes were observed,and the changes of index of quantitative evaluation for alveolar damage (IQA) were determined.The terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) was applied to evaluate the apoptosis index (AI) of the lung tissues.The protein and mRNA expressions of JNK and glucose regulating protein 78 (GRP78) in lung tissues were detected by Western Blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR);the correlations between lung AI and the expressions of mRNA and protein of JNK and GRP78,IQA were analyzed.Results Compared with CMC-Na+S group,IQA,AI and mRNA and the protein expressions of JNK and GRP78 in CMC-Na+I/R group were obviously higher [IQA:(74.00 ± 7.31)％ vs.(7.00 ± 1.23)％,AI:(64.40 ± 11.97)％ vs.(5.60 ± 1.14)％,JNK mRNA (gray value):1.143 ± 0.284 vs.0.152 ± 0.128,GRP78 mRNA (gray value):0.897 ± 0.129 vs.0.284 ± 0.044,JNK protein (A value):0.428 ± 0.074 vs.0.073 ± 0.052,GRP78 protein (A value):1.075 ± 0.145 vs.0.589 ± 0.060].Compared with CMC-Na+I/R group,the IQA,AI,protein and mRNA expressions of JNK and GRP78 in CMC-Na+YL,CMC-Na+YM,CMC-Na+YH groups were all lower,and the degree of reduction in group CMC-Na+YM was the most remarkable,greater than that in CMC-Na+YL or CMC-Na+YH group [IQA:(26.20 ± 3.35)％ vs.(34.00±5.34)％,(41.20±9.18)％,AI:(29.40±3.05)％ vs.(48.20±3.83)％,(39.20±6.14)％,JNK mRNA (gray value):0.681 ± 0.130 vs.0.804 ± 0.153,0.938 ± 0.11,GRP78 mRNA (gray value):0.450 ± 0.105 vs.0.747 ± 0.231,0.566 ± 0.115,JNK protein (A value):0.188 ± 0.049 vs.0.261 ± 0.065,0.209 ± 0.063,all P ＜ 0.01],compared with the CMC-Na+I/R group,the expression of GRP78 protein was obviously higher in CMC-Na+YH,CMC-Na+YL,CMC-Na+YM groups and the most remarkably high was in CMC-Na+YH group (A value:1.429 ±0.226 vs.1.130±0.169,1.128 ±0.177,all P ＜ 0.01).The apoptosis of each group was mainly in the pulmonary vascular endothelial cells and alveolar epithelial cells,and brown particles were positive cells under light microscope.Under transmission electron microscope:nuclear pyknosis and margination under the nuclear membrane,cytoplasm condensed,lamellar bodies decreased and emptying increased,cell membrane microvilli decreased or disappeared,mitochondria swelling,inflammatory cells increased in alveolar septum and adhering onto the capillary walls could be seen in CMC-Na+I/R group.Compared with CMC-Na+I/R group,the lung tissue ultrastructural damage alleviated,ultrastructure of alveoli clearly seen,nuclear chromatin relatively uniform,cytoplasm increased,type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cell surface microvilli relatively plenty,lamellar corpuscle number increased,mitochondria swelling ameliorated in CMC-Na+YH,CMC-Na+YL,CMC-Na+YM groups and the most remarkable one was CMC-Na+YM group.AI was significantly positive correlated with the mRNA and protein expressions of JNK,GRP78 and IQA (r =0.907,0.928,0.880,0.712,0.911,all P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions YHTJF may effectively alleviate the cell apoptosis in mice LIRI,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of JNK pathway.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of combined therapy with Bailing Capsule (BC) and benazepril on the levels of urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) and C-reactive protein (CRP) for exploring its protective effect on early diabetic nephropathy.

METHODSSixty patients with early diabetic nephropathy were randomly assigned to the control group treated by benazepril alone, and the treated group treated by BC and benazepril, and the treatment lasted for 16 weeks. The changes of UAER and CRP levels were measured to estimate the protective effect of the combined therapy.

RESULTSLevels of 24h urinary protein, UAER, CRP were (0.85 +/- 0.32) g/24 h, (83.34 +/- 38.27) microg/min, (2.67 +/- 1.72) mg/L before treatment in the control group, and (0.43 +/- 0.17) g/24 h, (71.22 +/- 31.12) microg/min, (1.05 +/- 0.78) mg/L after treatment and they were (0.87 +/- 0.31) g/24 h, (81.59 +/- 35.69) microg/min, (2.55 +/- 1.66) mg/L before treatment in treated group, and (0.25 +/- 0.29) g/24 h, (57.32 +/- 31.11) microg/min, (0.49 +/- 0.38) mg/L after treatment respectively, all of them decreased after treatment in both groups, showing significant differences as compared with those before treatment (P<0.05, P< 0.01), and the reduction in the treated group was more significant (P<0.01); meanwhile, levels of serum creatinine, fasting blood glucose and HbA1c had somewhat decrease, showing no statistical difference with those before treatment (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONCombined use of BC and benazepril could significantly lower the UAER and CRP levels in patients with early diabetic nephropathy to alleviate the renal impairment, showing an effect better than that of using benazepril alone.

Adult ; Aged ; Albuminuria ; drug therapy ; Benzazepines ; therapeutic use ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; urine ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; urine ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

Objective:To observe the changes of macular microvessels in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and macular edema (ME) after intravitreal injection of aflibercept (IVA), and analyze its correlation with best corrected visual acuity (BCVA).Methods:A retrospective case study. Thirty patients (30 eyes) with monocular RVO with ME (RVO-ME) who were diagnosed in the clinical examination of Tianjin Eye Hospital from April 2019 to February 2020 were included in the study. Among them, there were 12 males (12 eyes) and 18 females(18 eyes); the average age was 54.30±13.17 years. The average course of disease was3.43±1.97 months. Both eyes were examined by BCVA and optical coherence tomography (OCTA). The on-demand injection was adopted after the first injection in IVA treatment regimen. The macular area 6 mm×6 mm in both eyes was scanned with an OCTA instrument, and the area of the foveal avascular area (FAZ), FAZ circumference (PERIM), and out-of-roundness were measured at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. Index (AI), blood flow density within 300 μm width of FAZ (FD-300), foveal retinal thickness (CMT), superficial retinal capillary plexus (SCP), deep retinal capillary plexus (DCP) blood flow density. The paired t test was used to compare the quantitative parameters of the affected eye and the contralateral healthy eye at baseline; the changes of the quantitative parameters at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between BCVA, retinal perfusion, and macular blood supply parameters at 6 months after IVA treatment. Results:At baseline, compared with the contralateral healthy eye, the FAZ area ( t=-4.091), PERIM ( t=-5.098) and AI ( t=-9.093) of the RVO-ME eye were enlarged, and FD-300 ( t=7.237) and overall SCP and DCP blood flow density ( t=8.735, 9.897) decreased, the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001). Six months after treatment, the BCVA of RVO-ME eyes was significantly increased, CMT decreased, FAZ area expanded, and AI decreased ( t=8.566, 16.739, -6.469, 9.719; P<0.001), the difference was statistically significant. There was no significant change in the blood flow density of FD-300 and overall SCP and DCP, and the difference was not statistically significant ( t=1.017, 1.197, 0.987; P>0.05). Compared with baseline, the FAZ area of RVO-ME eyes gradually expanded at 3 and 6 months after treatment, and the difference was statistically significant ( F=21.979, P<0.001). Correlation analysis results showed that BCVA at 6 months after treatment was positively correlated with the overall SCP and DCP blood flow density at baseline and 6 months after treatment ( r=-0.538, -0.484, -0.879, -0.854; P<0.05). There was a negative correlation with the area of FAZ 6 months after treatment ( r=0.544, P=0.001). The number of ME recurrences was negatively correlated with BCVA and overall SCP and DCP blood flow density 6 months after treatment ( r=0.604, -0.462, -0.528; P<0.05), it was positively correlated with FAZ area ( r=0.379, P=0.043). Conclusion:Within 6 months of IVA treatment in RVO-ME eyes, ME is significantly reduced and visual acuity is improved; SCP blood flow density decreases, and FAZ area expands.

We used metabolomics to investigate the ability of a traditional Mongolian medicine called modified Tabusen-2 (MT-2) to improve kidney yang deficiency (KYD) in rats. All animal experiments were conducted under the guidance and standards of the Medical Ethics Committee of Inner Mongolia Medical University. SD rats were divided into 6 groups of six rats: a normal group, a model group, Jinkuishenqi pill administration group (1.26 g·kg^-1), and MT-2 administration in high-, medium- and low-dose groups (1.512, 0.756, and 0.378 g·kg^-1). KYD was established by intramuscular injection of hydrocortisone (HC) and biochemical indicators and clinical characterization was used to confirm that KYD was established. All groups received intragastrically administered drug (Jinkuishenqi pill or MT-2) or saline. Serum from each group was collected after 8 weeks and analyzed by UPLC-Q-exactive-MS to measure various biochemical indicators. The biomarkers affected by MT-2 were identified and the metabolic pathways of KYD regulated by MT-2 were analyzed by metabolomic analysis. The results show that MT-2 can decrease serum creatinine (Cr) in KYD rats and significantly increase (P<0.05) the content of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). In serum samples, 38 biomarkers such as corticosterone, L-phenylalanine, and DL-tryptophan were measured as possible indicators for disease development in KYD rats. MT-2 lowered 18 biomarkers of KYD, including corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone, and L-phenylalanine, and altered 13 related metabolic pathways including phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism and steroid hormone biosynthesis, resulting in an overall improvement in KYD. MT-2 appears to be important in improving KYD in rats mainly by regulating metabolites such as amino acids, steroids and lipids.

Objective To explore the risk factors of systemic inflammatory response syndrome crisis (SIRS) after percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in China. Methods Databases of CNKI, CBM, WanFan and VIP were searched to retrieve studies about systemic inflammatory response syndrome after percutaneous nephrolithotomy to October, 2016. Results 18 studies involving 5,323 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that:a) univariate analysis indicated that renal insufficiency [O(R) =2.78, 95%CI (1.96 to 3.95), P = 0.000], preoperative positive urine culture [O(R) = 3.41, 95%CI (1.89 to 6.15), P = 0.000], preoperative routine urine leucocyte positive [O(R) = 3.78, 95%CI (3.02 to 4.72), P = 0.000], diabetes mellitus [O(R) = 2.14, 95%CI (1.33 to 3.45), P = 0.002], pelvic positive urine culture [O(R)= 5.14, 95%CI (2.46 to 10.73), P = 0.000] and operation time ≥120 min [O(R) = 2.31, 95%CI (1.40 to 3.82), P = 0.001] were the risk factors of SIRS; b) multivariate analysis showed that, preoperative positive urine culture [O(R) = 6.83, 95%CI (2.82 to 16.57), P = 0.000], preoperative routine urine leucocyte positive [O(R) = 5.43, 95%CI (3.51 to 8.41), P = 0.000], diabetes mellitus [O(R) = 2.85, 95%CI (1.45 to 5.58), P = 0.002], pelvic positive urine culture [O(R) = 4.30, 95%CI (1.30 to 14.21), P = 0.020] and operation time ≥120 min [O(R) = 2.72, 95%CI (1.62 to 4.59), P = 0.000] were the independent risk factors of MCAT. Conclusion The independent risk factors of SIRS for patients after PCNL are diabetes mellitus, preoperative positive urine culture, preoperative routine urine leucocyte positive, pelvic positive urine culture and operation time. However, due to the quantity and low quality of the included literature, the conclusion needs the support from high quality studies.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) combined irradiation on the apoptosis of human lung cancer GLC-82 cells and to study its mechanism.

METHODSThe growth inhibition rate of GLC-82 cells acted by different concentrations DHA was detected using MTT assay at 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Clone forming test was used. With multi-target single-hit model, the radiosensitization effect was assessed by calculating sensitizing enhancement ratio (SER).The effect of DHA combined irradiation on the apoptosis of GLC-82 cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. The protein expression of p53, p21, Bcl-2, and Bax were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSDifferent concentrations DHA (4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 μg/mL) had cytotoxicity on GLC-82 cells. The IC50 for 24, 48, and 72 h was 38.25,20.58, and 10.36 μg/mL, respectively, in obvious dose- and time-dependent manner. The growth inhibition rate was more significantly increased than that of the blank control group (P < 0.01, P<0.05). DHA had sensitization enhancement effect on GLC-82 cells, with SER of 1.4. DHA combined irradiation could obviously change the structure of GLC-82 cells cell cycle and induce apoptosis (with the apoptosis rate of 21.5%), which was significantly different from that of the blank control group (P < 0.05). Western blot showed the expression of p53 and p21 protein could be increased by DHA combined irradiation, and the expression of Bcl-2 protein down-regulated (P <0.01, P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSDHA had stronger cytotoxicity and radiosensitization on GLC-82 cells. Its mechanisms might lie in making the arrest of GLC-82 cells' growth at G0/G1 phase, decreasing the ratio of cells at S phase, restoring the function of p53, decreasing the expression of Bcl-2 protein, and inducing apoptosis in GLC-82 cells.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Artemisinins ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents ; pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Inhalation Exposure ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraquat ; poisoning

Objective To predict the incidence of birth defects in Xi'an using the auto-regressive integrated moving average product seasonal model.Methods In Xi'an,the trend of the incidence of birth defects was analyzed and tested from October 2009 to August 2015.Using the data from September to December 2015,the actual birth defects were compared with the model fitting data to evaluate the predictive performance of the model.Multiple seasonal ARIMA model was then fitted under time series to predict the incidence of birth defects in 2016.Results Seasonal effect was seen in the incidence of birth defects in Xi'an.A multiple seasonal ARIMA(0,0,1) (0,1,1)12 was established.The mean of absolute error and the relative error were 9.5 and 0.084,respectively,when compared to the simulated number of patients from September to December in 2015,suggesting that ARIMA (0,0,1) (0,1,1)12 has a better predictive ability.Results under the prediction of multiple seasonal ARIMA model showed that the number of patients in 2016 was similar to that of 2015 in Xi'an,with a slight increase and a decrease in the peak value.Conclusion Multiple seasonal ARIMA(0,0,1)(0,1,1)12 model could be used to successfully predict the incidence of birth defects in Xi'an.