Child ; Humans ; Pneumonia ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Recurrence

Objective To establish a model of chronic aristolochic acid nephropathy (CAAN) in rats and to investigate the pathogenesis of its renal interstitial fibrosis.Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups. One group received extract of Aristolochia manshuriensis Kom by gavage intermittently as model group. Another group received only tap water by gavage as controls. Six rats in each group were sacrificed at the end of 4th, 8th and 12th week respectively and the kidneys of each rat were separately harvested. The mRNA and protein expression of type I collagen (Col I ), transforming growth factor-?1 (TGF-?1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) was detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining respectively. Results The mRNA expression of Col I, TGF-?1, CTGF, PAI-1 and TIMP-1 in kidney tissue of the rats in model group was significantly upregulated compared to that in controls at the end of 4th week (9.31-, 5.16-, 1.79-, 8.66- and 2.54-fold, respectively) (P

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of bicuculline on the first spike latency of the neurons in the inferior colliculus of mice and investigate the role of GABA inhibition in sound signal processing of the neurons.

METHODSIn vivo extracellular recording was performed on the inferior colliculus of 13 BALB/c mice (4 to 5 weeks old) to record the neuronal response to pure tones. Bicuculline, a GABA-A receptor antagonist, was applied to the neurons iontophoretically through one channel in the three-barrel glass-pipettes. The first spike latency and other response properties of the characteristic frequency were recorded for analysis.

RESULTSA total of 30 well-isolated single neurons were recorded. Increased spike counts characterized 96% of the neurons, with either increased (40%) or decreased (60%) latency of neuronal responses. Characteristic frequency alterations occurred in 50% of the neurons with increased spike latency, and the minimum threshold showed linear changes.

CONCLUSIONGABAergic inhibition may participate in the latency formation and increased frequency selectivity of mouse inferior colliculus neurons by lateral inhibition. The changes in the first spike latency can be indicative of the information integration in GABAergic neurons at the synaptic level.

Acoustic Stimulation ; psychology ; Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Animals ; Bicuculline ; pharmacology ; Female ; GABA Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Inferior Colliculi ; physiology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neurons ; physiology ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; physiology

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Progesterone ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) dispensing is the final step of TCM used for clinical treatment, the stability of TCM dispensing is the guarantee of good clinical effect. Establishment of effect-constituent equivalence for Chinese herbal pieces based on clinical efficacy, can not only guarantee the stability of TCM dispensing, but also relate to the precision of clinical effect. This study chose Coptidis Rhizoma as the model, established effect-constituent equivalence of Coptidis Rhizoma, based on the effect-constituent index already established by our research group, and taking into consideration of homogeneity of clinical dosage and compliance of decoction, the uniformity of dispensing for different specification of Coptidis Rhizoma decoction pieces was studied. This research model was then applied to guide the specification-optimization of Coptidis Rhizoma and its clinical dispensing. The result indicated, effective constituent equivalence could reflect the fluctuation of specification, dosage and decoction to the fluctuation of efficacy; Optimized Coptidis Rhizoma decoction pieces had the characteristic of high homogeneity as for clinical dispensing, good compliance as for decoction, and high effective constituent equivalence. In conclusion, effective constituent equivalence could improve relevance of methods of TCM dispensing control to clinical effect. Preparated Superior-standard Decoction Pieces based on effective constituent equivalence was featured by good quality and a good practice of adjustable dosage, which could promote the development of TCM decoction pieces toward precision medicine.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Therapeutic Equivalency

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the gene expression of hepatic TNF-α and IL-1β by crush injury of rat's soft tissues. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into sham group, crush group, crush+aminoguanidine (AG) group, and crush+L-arginine (L-Arg) group. Activities of ALT and AST as well as NO level in serum were measured. Gene expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β were detected with RT-PCR. RESULTS: Obvious increase in TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA expression was detected in the crush group compared with the sham group (P<0.05). After pretreated L-Arg, expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA were markedly increased (P<0.05). After pretreated AG, those indices obviously decreased (P<0.05). Activities of ALT and AST enhanced and NO level increased in the crush group compared with the sham group (P<0.05). Pretreatment with L-Arg or AG led to substantial increased or reduced activities of ALT and AST as well as NO levels, respectively. CONCLUSION Endogenous NO mediated TNF-α, IL-1β mRNA up expression in liver induced by increased production of NO after crush injury of rat's soft tissues.
Animals ; Gene Expression ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism* ; Liver ; Nitric Oxide/physiology* ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Wounds and Injuries

In order to develop potent antidiabetic agents that have inhibitory effect to a-glucosidase, twelve β-acetamido ketone derivatives such as N-{[(substituted-4-oxo-thiochroman-3-yl)phenyl]-methyl}acetamide are designed and synthesized through one-pot Dakin-West reaction. Their chemical structures are confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR and HR-MS. In vitro α-glucosidase inhibition assays of compounds 4a-41 were carried out using glucose oxidase method. The result indicated that most of them possess inhibitory activity in vitro. Compound 4k showed the most potent inhibitory activity with 87.3% inhibition of α-glucosidase at the concentration of 5.39 mmol x L(-1). The structure-activity relationship of these β-acetamido ketone derivatives was discussed preliminarily. Moreover, the molecular docking method was used to study the interaction mode of compound 4k and α-glucosidase. Our results will be helpful for designing of α-glucosidase inhibitors in the future.
Acetamides ; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; alpha-Glucosidases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo examine the changes of the mechanical properties of 7 different light-cured composite resins after thermal cycling and the correlations between these properties.

METHODSSeven different light-cured composite resins, including 2 microfilled composites (A110:AH and ESTELITE :ET), 3 microhybrid composites (AELITE:AT, Z250:ZS, and CharmFil plus:CP), and 2 nanohybrid composites (Z350:ZH and Grandio:GD), were prepared into test specimens with a diameter of 12 mm and a thickness of 1.0 mm. The specimens were stored in distilled water at 37 degrees celsius; for 24 h prior to 1 000 thermal cycles of 5 degrees celsius; for 15 s and 55 degrees celsius; for 15 s. The biaxial flexural strength (δ(f)) was tested using the ball-on-three-ball method at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min (ISO4049). The fracture surface was observed under scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the remaining specimens underwent Knoop hardness test with a 50-g loading for 10 s.

RESULTSThe highest and lowest Weibull modulus was observed in AH (18.752) and AT (5.290) group, respectively. The highest and lowest biaxial flexural strength was observed in ZS (158.2 MPa) and ET (54.0 MPa) groups, respectively. The δ(f) of the tested materials decreased in the order of microhybrid composite, nanohybrid composite, and microfiller composite, and the δ(f) showed no significant difference between the composites with a similar filler (P>0.05). The fracture number was positively correlated to the strength of the material. The Knoop hardness numbers (H) was the highest in GD group (110.81∓14.77 kg/mm(2)) and the lowest in AH group (42.81∓1.91 kg/mm(2)). SEM showed that the interface region of the matrix and the filler was vulnerable to crack formation.

CONCLUSIONThe nanohybrid composite resins better suit clinical applications than microhybrid composites. The applicability of Knoop hardness test in hardness measurement of the composite resins needs to be further demonstrated.

Composite Resins ; chemistry ; Materials Testing ; Nanocomposites ; Nanoparticles ; Stress, Mechanical ; Temperature ; Tensile Strength

Objective: To establish an echocardiography parameter scoring system for assessing the risk of 1 year re-admission in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD). Methods: A total of 412 chronic LVSD patients treated in our hospital from 2007-01 to 2016-01 were studied and the end point event was 1 year re-admission. The data included in 280 patients from 2007-01 to 2014-12 for establishing the scoring system and 132 patients from 2015-01 to 2016-01 for verifying the system. Based on 7 echocardiography parameters, the patients were divided into 7 sets of groups: ① Left ventricular diameter (LVD): Group0, n=290 and Group1, n=122;② Mitrial regurgitation (MR): Group0, n=203, Group1, n=138 and Group2, n=71; ③ Tricuspid regurgitation (TR): Group0, n=302, Group1, n=90 and Group2, n=20; ④ LVEF: Group0, n=272 and Group1, n=140; ⑤ Pulmonary artery systolic pressure: Group0, n=282 and Group1, n=130; ⑥ Hydropericardium: Group0, n=347 and Group1, n=65; ⑦ Hydrothorax:Group 0, n=261, Group1, n=86 and Group2, n=65. The parameters were identified by COX regression analysis, weighted value of scoring system was calculate by hazard ratio (HR), predictive value for1 year re-admission was assess by ROC curve and finally, scoring integration was verified by validation data group. Results: The integration score was calculated as follows: LVD>60mm=1 point; TR: Group1=1 point and Group2=3 points; MR: Group1=2 points and Group2=4 points; Hydrothorax: Group1=2 points and Group2=3 points;Hydropericardium=1 point. COX regression analysis indicated that for 1 year re-admission: HR=1.552 in Group1 vs Group0, HR=3.374 in Group2 vs Group0 and HR=4.562 in Group3 vs Group0, all P<0.05. The AUC of ROC for establishing the data was 70.0% (95% CI 0.640-0.761) and for verifying the data was 70.4% (95% CI 0.616-0.792); the best integration score was 4 points. Conclusion: Echocardiography parameter scoring system may better predict the risk of 1 year re-admission in LVSD patients which is superior to single echocardiography parameter.

Objective: To explore the mechanism of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion in Crohn disease (CD) treatment by observing the effect of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on protein expressions of colonic M2 macrophage marker CD206, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) 2. Methods: Twenty-six specific pathogen free male rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group and a herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group. The CD model was prepared by enema with the mixture of 5％ (W/V) 2,4,6- trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) and 50％ ethanol at 2:1 (volume ratio). After the model was successfully prepared, rats in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group received herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion at Qihai (CV 6) and bilateral Tianshu (ST 25). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of rat colon; immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expression of colonic CD206 protein; Western blot, immunofluorescence, and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) technologies were used to detect the protein and mRNA expressions of colonic AMPK and TSC2. Results: Compared with the normal group, rats in the model group showed damaged colonic mucosa, missing of the epithelial layer, thickened submucosa, vascular proliferation, massive infiltration of monocytes and lymphocytes, and cracked ulcers that reached the muscle layer. Rats in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group showed reduced intestinal inflammation and healing intestinal epithelium ulcers. Compared with the normal group, rat colonic CD206 protein expression, and the protein and mRNA expressions of colonic AMPK and TSC2 were decreased in the model group (all P<0.01); compared with the model group, rat colonic CD206 protein expression was increased (P<0.01), as well as the protein and mRNA expressions of AMPK and TSC2 in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion can reduce intestinal inflammation in CD rats, increase colonic CD206 protein expression, and up-regulate the protein and mRNA expressions of colonic AMPK and TSC2.