ABSTRACT:Objective To investigate the effects of Xiefei Lishui recipe on left ventricle remodeling in rats with heart failure.Methods Heart failure rat model was induced by intraperitoneal injections of doxorubicin. Rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (sham group),model group,traditional Chinese medicine group (TCM group),captopril group,and digoxin group.Distilled water,TCM [22 g/(kg · d)],captopril [19 mg/(kg·d)],and digoxin [32μg/(kg·d)]were administered by gastrogavage in rats in different groups for 35 days,respectively.Indices of ventricle remodeling and cardiac function,plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP),rennin (REN),angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ)and aldosterone (ALD)were measured.Cardiomyocyte apoptosis index and collagen volume fraction (CVF)were analyzed.We also assayed myocardial mRNA expressions of MMP-2/9 and TIMP-1/2,and their tissue inhibiting factors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2.Results Compared with those in sham group,in model group cardiac function was significantly decreased,which could be significantly increased by TCM or captopril or digoxin,indices of cardiac remodeling were significantly increased,which could be significantly decreased by TCM or captopril (P<0.01 or P<0.05).Plasma levels of BNP,REN,AngⅡ and ALD,cardiomyocyte apoptosis index and CVF in model group were significantly increased,could be significantly decreased by TCM or captopril (P<0.01 or P<0.05).Myocardial mRNA expressions of MMP-2,MMP-9,TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in model group were significantly upregulated compared with those in sham group, which could be significantly downregulated by TCM (P<0.01 or P<0.05).Conclusion Xiefei Lishui recipe can attenuate left ventricle remodeling and improve cardiac function in rats with heart failure, which may be related to downregulating myocardial mRNA expressions of MMP-2 ,MMP-9 ,TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in the left ventricle as well as inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis and myocardial fibrosis.

AIM:To investigate the effects of Xinkang recipe on myocardial miR-25-3p expression and sarco-plasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 2a ( SERCA2a) activity in heart failure rats .METHODS:Male SD rats were randomly divided into normal group , sham group , model group , Xinkang recipe group ( Xinkang group ) , and captopril group .The heart failure rat model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin .Distilled water , Xinkang recipe and capto-pril were administrated by gastric gavage for 35 d, respectively .The indexes of cardiac function and plasma level of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured.The SERCA2a activity was determined by the inorganic phosphorus method . The myocardial protein expression of SERCA 2a and phospholamban ( PLB) was detected by Western blot .The myocardial expression of miR-25-3p was detected by stem-loop RT-qPCR.RESULTS:Cardiac output (CO), left ventricular fraction-al shortening ( LVFS) and left ventricular ejection fraction ( LVEF) in Xinkang group and captopril group were significantly higher while the plasma levels of BNP were significantly lower than those in model group (P<0.01).The myocardial ex-pression levels of miR-25-3p in Xinkang group and captopril group were significantly lower while the myocardial protein le -vels of SERCA2a and PLB were significantly higher than those in model group (P<0.01).The SERCA2a/PLB ratio and SERCA2a activity in Xinkang group were significantly higher than those in model group (P<0.05), and no significant change was observed between captopril group and model group .CONCLUSION:Xinkang recipe therapy may improve car-diac function in heart failure rats , which may be related to inhibiting the expression of miR-25-3p, increasing the SER-CA2a/PLB ratio and enhancing SERCA 2a activity in the myocardium .

Objective: To observe the effect of bisoprolol on cardiac function in heart failure (HF) rats and to explore the mechanism. Methods: The experimental rats were divided into 6 groups: Control group, with normal healthy rats, Sham group, the rats received intraperitoneal injection of normal saline; chronic heart failure (CHF) model was successfully established in 40 rats and divided into 4 groups: CHF group, CHF+bisoprolol (Bis) group, CHF+captopril (Cap) group and CHF+Bis and Cap group.n=10 in each group. The cardiac function was observed among different groups; plasma BNP level was measured by ELISA, myocardial miR-25-3p expression was examined by RT-PCR, protein expressions of SERCA2a and phospholamban (PLB) were detected by Western blot analysis and SERCA2a activity was determined by inorganic phosphorus method. Results: Compared with Control group, CHF group showed decreased cardiac output (CO), left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), reduced expression of cardiac SERCA2a, PLB, the ratio of SERCA2a/PLB and SERCA2a activity; while increased plasma BNP and miR-25-3p expression, allP<0.01. Compared with CHF group, CHF+Bis, CHF+Cap and CHF+Bis and Cap groups had increased CO, LVFS, LVEF, elevated expression of cardiac SERCA2a, PLB, the ratio of SERCA2a/PLB and SERCA2a activity; while decreased plasma BNP and miR-25-3p expression, allP<0.05.Conclusion: Bisoprolol could improve cardiac function in HF rats, which might be related to down regulating myocardial miR-25-3p expression, up regulating myocardial protein expressions of SERCA2a, PLB and enhancing SERCA2a activity.

Objective To investigate the effects of bisoprolol on myocardial SERCA2a activity in rats with heart fail-ure.Methods Male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group (control group), sham operation group ( sham group ) , model group , bisoprolol group ( Bis group ) , captopril group ( Cap group ) and bisoprolol plus captopril group[(Bis+Cap)group], heart failure rat model was induced by intraperitoneal injections of doxorubicin .Distilled water, bisoprolol, captopril or bisoprolol plus captopril were administrated by gastrogavage for 35 days, respectively. Indices of cardiac function and plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide ( BNP) were measured , myocardial expres-sion of miR-25-3p was detected by Stem-loop RT-qPCR, myocardial levels of SERCA2a and phospholamban (PLB) were detected by Western blot , myocardial SERCA2a activity was determined by the inorganic phosphorus method . Results Cardiac function in model group decreased significantly while plasma levels of BNP were significantly higher than those of control group ( P<0.01 ) .Myocardial expression of miR-25-3p in model group was significantly higher while myocardial levels of SERCA 2a and PLB,SERCA2a activity were significantly lower than those of con-trol group(P<0.01).Cardiac function in Bis group , Cap group and Bis +Cap group improved significantly while plasma levels of BNP were significantly lower than those of model group ( P<0.01 ) .Myocardial expression of miR-25-3p in Bis group, Cap group and Bis +Cap group were significantly lower while myocardial levels of SERCA2a and PLB were significantly higher than those in model group (P<0.01).The SERCA2a/PLB ratio and SERCA2a activity in Bis group and Bis +Cap group were significantly higher than those of model group ( P<0.05 ) .Conclu-sions Bisoprolol therapy improves cardiac function in rats with heart failure , which may be related to inhibition of myocardial miR-25-3p, increasing myocardial SERCA2a and PLB levels, enhancing SERCA2a activity.

Objective:Use the droplet digital PCR (ddRCR) technology to establish, optimize and evaluate the method of EGFR-T790M mutation detection.Methods:The relevant probes and primers were designed for EGFR-T790M mutations. The ddPCR reaction system was established, the optimal annealing temperature was set and the basic performance of the method was tested. On this basis, from January 2019 to October 2019, 72 cell-free DNA (cfDNA) samples from NSCLC patients were collected from Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, and clinically verified. The consistency of the gene mutation detections with Bole ddPCR products was analyzed using Kappa test.Results:The ddPCR reaction system was established and optimized. Linear evaluation showed the R2 value was greater than 0.99. Using ddPCR, the blank detection limit was determined to be the numbers of mutant droplets≥2, with excellent specificity. For the sensitivity analysis, the lower limit of mutation detection was determined to be at least 0.05%. In the repeatability and inter-assay precision tests, the results had a coefficient of variation( CV)<20%. The relative deviation of the results was within the range of±10% for the accuracy analysis. Using the established T790M mutation detection method, 72 samples from the NSCLC patients were tested for genetic mutation in cfDNA, and the overall agreement with the Bole ddPCR products was 91.67% (66/72, Kappa=0.749; P<0.001). Conclusion:Using ddPCR, the method of EGFR-T790M mutation detection for NSCLC was successfully established.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of premenstrual syndrome( PMS) on the quality of life( QOL) of female medical staffs. METHODS: By convenient sampling method,1 007 female medical workers from three Grade A class 3 hospitals were selected as study subjects and investigated by PMS Scale,World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument Brief Version,Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire and Social Support Rating Scale. RESULTS: The detection rate of PMS among medical staffs was 52. 0%,and the total score of QOL of PMS medical staffs was lower than that of non-PMS medical staffs [( 84. 3 ± 12. 4) vs( 90. 5 ± 11. 6),P < 0. 01]. The multivariate linear logistic regression analysis results showed that the PMS medical staffs who often stay up late,with higher degree of dysmenorrhea,higher job stress,lower positive coping style score,higher negative coping style score,and poor support have lower QOL( P < 0. 05). The coping style and social support of PMS medical staffs can directly affect the QOL. The social support can also indirectly affect the QOL through coping style. CONCLUSION: Coping style is a mediator of social support and QOL.Adopting coping style can improve the QOL of PMS medical staffs.

Testicular adrenal rest tumor (TART) is frequently complicated by congenital adrenal hyperplasia, which is a benign tumor of the testes frequently found in adolescents and adults.Palpation and scrotal ultrasound are the main diagnostic methods for TART.Poorly managed TART often results in testicular dysfunction or even infertility due to tumor compression.This article reviews the pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, differential diagnosis and treatment of TART, thus improving the understanding of the disease to achieve early diagnosis, early treatment, and improved prognosis.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution and liver-targeting properties of quercetin (QT)/coumarin 6 (C6)-loaded polylactic-co-glycolic acid-D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (PLGA-TPGS) nanoparticles (QCPTN) in a hepatocarcinoma ectopic transplantation solid tumor model using HCa-F cell-bearing mice.Methods The QT concentrations in biological samples were determined using reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) analysis.After intravenous administration to mice in the QCPTN and QTS groups,the QT concentration in plasma and in different tissues was simultaneously analyzed at the different time points.Detection indexes (relative targeting efficiency,Re;targeting efficiency,Te) and fluorescence inversion microscopy images of the frozen tissue (liver,solid tumor,spleen,lungs,kidneys,and heart) slices were used for quantitatively and qualitatively evaluating the liver-targeting properties of QCPTN in solid tumor-bearing mice.Results Te of the QCPTN group in the plasma,liver,solid tumor,spleen,lungs,kidneys,and heart were all greater than 3,indicating that the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of liver was more than three times that of the plasma and other organs.Fluorescence inversion microscopy images showed that the green fluorescence of QCPTN was mostly observed in the liver.Conclusion Using HCa-F cell-beating mice,QCPTN was found to have better in vivo liver-targeting properties in hepatocarcinoma ectopic transplantation solid tumor.

Background: Chronic exposure to elevated levels of saturated fatty acids results in pancreatic β-cell senescence. However, targets and effective agents for preventing stearic acid-induced β-cell senescence are still lacking. Although melatonin administration can protect β-cells against lipotoxicity through anti-senescence processes, the precise underlying mechanisms still need to be explored. Therefore, we investigated the anti-senescence effect of melatonin on stearic acid-treated mouse β-cells and elucidated the possible role of microRNAs in this process. Methods: β-Cell senescence was identified by measuring the expression of senescence-related genes and senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining. Gain- and loss-of-function approaches were used to investigate the involvement of microRNAs in stearic acid-evoked β-cell senescence and dysfunction. Bioinformatics analyses and luciferase reporter activity assays were applied to predict the direct targets of microRNAs. Results: Long-term exposure to a high concentration of stearic acid-induced senescence and upregulated miR-146a-5p and miR- 8114 expression in both mouse islets and β-TC6 cell lines. Melatonin effectively suppressed this process and reduced the levels of these two miRNAs. A remarkable reversibility of stearic acid-induced β-cell senescence and dysfunction was observed after silencing miR-146a-5p and miR-8114. Moreover, V-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog A (Mafa) was verified as a direct target of miR-146a-5p and miR-8114. Melatonin also significantly ameliorated senescence and dysfunction in miR-146a-5pand miR-8114-transfected β-cells. Conclusion These data demonstrate that melatonin protects against stearic acid-induced β-cell senescence by inhibiting miR-146a- 5p and miR-8114 and upregulating Mafa expression. This not only provides novel targets for preventing stearic acid-induced β-cell dysfunction, but also points to melatonin as a promising drug to combat type 2 diabetes progression.

Objective:To investigate the effects of biologics on psychological status and quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 42 hospitals in 22 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government) from September 2021 to May 2022. General clinical information and the use of biologics were obtained from adult patients diagnosed with IBD who voluntarily participated in the study. Psychological status was evaluated using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) assessment tools. Counts were analyzed via the Chi-square test, and datasets that were not normally distributed were analyzed via nonparametric tests. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:A total of 2 478 valid questionnaires were collected. The GAD-7 score of the biologics group was significantly lower than that of the non-use group [6 (2, 9) vs. 7 (3, 10), Z=-3.49, P<0.001]. IBDQ scores [183 (158, 204) vs. 178 (152, 198), Z=-4.11, P<0.001], intestinal symptom scores [61 (52, 67) vs. 58 (49, 65), Z=-5.41, P<0.001], systemic symptom scores [28 (24, 32) vs. 27 (23, 31), Z=-2.37, P=0.018], emotional ability scores [69 (58, 77) vs. 67 (56, 75), Z=-3.58, P<0.001] and social ability scores [26 (22, 29) vs. 25 (22, 29), Z=-2.52, P=0.012] in the biologics group were significantly higher than in the non-use group. GAD-7 scores [5 (2, 9) vs. 6 (3, 10), Z=-3.50, P<0.001] and PSQI scores [6 (4, 9) vs. 6 (4, 9), Z=-2.55, P=0.011] were significantly lower in the group using infliximab than in the group not using it. IBDQ scores were significantly higher in patients using vedolizumab than in those not using it [186 (159, 205) vs. 181 (155, 201), Z=-2.32, P=0.021] and were also significantly higher in the group treated with adalimumab than in the group not treated with adalimumab [187 (159, 209) vs. 181 (155, 201), Z=-2.16, P=0.030]. However, ustekinumab had no significant effect on any of the scores. Conclusion:The use of biologics is strongly associated with improvements in anxiety status and quality of life in IBD patients.