OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Astragalus mongholicus (AM) on the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in SD rats with unilateral ureteral occlusion (UUO) and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the renoprotective effects of AM.

METHODFifty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham-operation group, the UUO group and AM treatment group. After administration of AM (10 g kg(-1) d(-1)) for 3, 7 and 14 days, the dynamic histological changes of renal interstitial tissues were observed and renal damage including tubular impairment and interstitial fibrosis were quantified on HE and Masson stained tissue sections. The expression of TGF-beta1 and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) was measured by immunohistochemistry staining sections. The mRNA of TGF-beta1 and alpha-SMA were reverse transcribed and quantified by real-time PCR. The expression of TGF-beta1 protein were assessed by Western blot.

RESULTRenal damage was exacerbated and the expression of alpha-SMA and TGF-beta1 were all significantly increased in UUO group compared with those of sham-operation group (P<0.05) at each time point. Tubular impairment and interstitial fibrosis were alleviated, and up-regulations of expressions of TGF-beta1 and alpha-SMA were significantly suppressed by AM treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAM can ameliorate renal interstitial fibrosis induced by UUO in vivo. The mechanisms of its antifibrotic effects might be related with the down-regulation of TGF-beta1 expression and suppression of tubular epithelial myofibroblast transdifferentiation in the progress of renal interstitial fibrosis.

Actins ; genetics ; Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Kidney Tubules ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; Ureteral Obstruction ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control

This study sought to assess the effect of Ginsenoside Rg1 on streptozocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in rats and to unveil the underlying mechanism. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin (STZ). Eight weeks after drug administration, the rats from each group were sacrificed. Serum creatine (Scr) and 24 hours urine protein, cross reaction protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured at the end of the study. The histological changes of renal interstitial tissues were observed by periodic acid-Schiff staining (PAS). Immunohistochemical method was used to examine the expression levels of ectodermal dysplasia (ED-1). The mRNA of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) was measured by real-time PCR (RT-PCR), and the protein expression of TGF-beta1 was surveyed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The renal pathological changes in DN rats given ginsenoside Rg1 treatment were ameliorated, and the expression levels of 24 h urine protein, serum creatinine, CRP, TNF-alpha, ED-1 and TGF-beta1 were significantly lower than those in the diabetic nephropathy group (P < 0.05). So, we reach a conclusion that, in the experiment, Ginsenoside Rg1 obviously reduced TGF-beta1 expression and the already-mentioned inflammatory reaction factors in the renal tissues and improved the renal pathological changes in DN rats.
Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; complications ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Ginsenosides ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective: To observe the effects of different frequencies of pricking-bloodletting at auricular points plus auricular point sticking therapy on the levels of the serum immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), testosterone (T), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in patients with acne vulgaris (AV). Methods: Ninety patients with AV were randomly assigned to treatment group 1, treatment group 2, and treatment group 3 according to the random number remainder grouping method, with 30 cases in each group. All three groups received pricking-bloodletting at auricular points plus auricular point sticking therapy. Treatment group 1 was treated once a week, treatment group 2 was treated twice a week, and treatment group 3 was treated 3 times a week. Four-week treatment was taken as 1 treatment course, and 3 treatment courses were observed. On the day before the start of the study and on the day next to the end of each course, the global acne grading system (GAGS) score was recorded, and 3 mL of blood from the median cubital vein was collected to test the serum levels of IgG, IgM, T, and IGF-1. After 3 courses of treatment, the efficacy index was calculated according to the GAGS score, and the serum indicators in patients with effective treatment (efficacy index ≥20％) and complete sampling were analyzed. Results: A total of 60 patients were included in the final blood indicator analysis. After 3 courses of treatment, the intra-group comparisons showed that the serum IgG level increased significantly in patients in treatment group 1 (P<0.01); the serum T level decreased significantly in the female patients in treatment group 2 (P<0.05); the IGF-1 level significantly decreased in the patients in all three groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). There were no significant differences in the serum levels of IgG, IgM, T, and IGF-1 among the three groups at each time point (P>0.05). Conclusion: Pricking-bloodletting at auricular points plus auricular point sticking therapy can affect the levels of serum IgG, T, and IGF-1 in AV patients. The level of the serum IGF-1 can be reduced by treatment once a week, twice a week, or 3 times a week. Treatment once a week can increase the patients' serum IgG level, and treatment twice a week can significantly decrease the serum T level in female patients. Reducing the serum IGF-1 level may be one of the action mechanisms of pricking-bloodletting at auricular points plus auricular point sticking therapy in treating AV.

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of local cytokines profile in human gastric cancer lesions and offer guides for immunotherapy of gastric cancer.

METHODSThe cytokines profile in isolated CD4+, CD8+ T subsets and epithelial cells from cancer tissue, contrasted with benign gastric mucosa of 15 gastric cancer patients were analyzed by a highly sensitive radioactivity labeled semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique.

RESULTSThe predominance of increased Th2 and reduced Th1 immune response in both CD4+ and CD8+ T subsets from cancer tissue, compared with benign gastric mucosa, were observed. IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha in CD8+ T cells from cancer tissue showed statistical higher levels than those from benign gastric mucosa (P = 0.029, P = 0.022, P = 0.002), so did IL-10, TGF-beta, TNF-alpha in T cells and epithelial cells.

CONCLUSIONA shift of Th1/Th2 cytokines to Th2 is found in T cells from local tumor lesion of gastric cancer, which suggests an immune suppressive status in local tumor lesion. The obvious change of cytokine profile in CD8+ T cell suggests they play a main role in immune suppression. To study the cytokine expression of different cell subsets, we are able to offer guides for immunotherapy for patients with gastric cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; immunology ; metabolism ; therapy

Objective:To seek specific response points on the body surface of patients with primary dysmenorrhea(PD)by observing blood perfusion unit(PU)at different points of the three Yin meridians of foot using laser speckle contrast imaging(LSCI). Methods:Eighty PD patients were recruited as a PD group,and 80 healthy female undergraduates were taken as a normal group.During one menstrual cycle(before menstruation,during menstruation,and 3 d after menstruation),each participant was examined using the LSCI system to determine PU at bilateral Taixi(KI3),Taibai(SP3),Taichong(LR3),Shuiquan(KI5),Diji(SP8),Zhongdu(LR6),Sanyinjiao(SP6),and Xuehai(SP10)and non-acupuncture points.The researchers in charge of point location,operation,and statistical analysis were not aware of grouping.PU at the detection spots was taken as the outcome measure. Results:Compared with the normal group,the PD group showed increases in PU at right Taixi(KI3)before menstruation(P<0.05)and at bilateral Zhongdu(LR6)and right Diji(SP8)during menstruation(P<0.05).At the other time points,significance was not found between the two groups in comparing PU at the detected spots. Conclusion:Compared with healthy participants,PD patients present specific changes in PU at Taixi(KI3),Diji(SP8),and Zhongdu(LR6)at specific time points during the menstrual cycle,which provides a reference for acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of PD in clinical settings.

Objective To investigate the effect of FAM83A on the stem cell-like phenotype, chemosensitivity and radiosensitivity of PANC-1 cells, aiming to provide new ideas for clinical combination therapy of pancreatic cancer. Methods The PANC-1 cells with stable silencing FAM83A were constructed by using lentivirus and validated by qPCR and Western blot. Flow cytometry was used to detect the number of CD133 positive cells and cellular apoptosis; the sphere formation assay was used to test the ability of sphere formation of PANC-1 cells;the effect of gecitabine on the cell viability was detected by MTT assay;the effect of radiation on the proliferation of PANC-1 cells was detected by colony formation assay; the effect of FAM83A on Wnt/β-catenin pathway was examined by Western blot. Results The expressions of FAM83A protein ( 0.83 ± 0.08 ) and mRNA ( 0.29 ± 0.03 ) in PANC-1 cells with stable silencing FAM83A were significantly lower than those in the scrambled control group, respectively (1.95 ± 0.19, 0.98 ± 0.09;t=9.410, 12.600, P<0.05). After silencing FAM83A, the expression of stem cell marker CD133 (8.97 ± 0.62) and the sphere formation ability (8 ± 1) also decreased significantly compared with the scrambled group, respectively (21.60 ± 2.60, 25 ± 3; t=8.184, 9.311, P<0.05), and the stem cell-like phenotype of PANC-1 cells was also significantly inhibited. When PANC-1 cells were silenced by FAM83A and further treated with 50 μmol/L gecitabine at 72 h, the activity of FAM83A-silenced PANC-1 cells (32.33 ± 3.05)％ was significantly lower than that of the gecitabine alone treated group (63.06 ± 5.98)％ (t=6.378, P<0.05), and the apoptosis rate of FAM83A-silenced PANC-1 cells (76.52 ± 8.34) ％ was significantly higher than that of gemcitabine alone group (40.88 ± 4.91)％(t=7.929, P<0.05). After silencing FAM83A combined with IR irradiation, the activity of PANC-1 cells (43.25 ±4.21)％ was significantly lower than that of IR alone (78.13 ± 7.98)％ (t=6.694, P<0.05), and the apoptosis rate (44.56 ± 5.32)％ was significantly increased compared with IR alone (15.15 ±1.95)％ (t = 8.990, P < 0.05). After silencing FAM83A, the expression of Active-β-catenin was significantly decreased while the expression of p-β-catenin was significantly increased, the expression of β-catenin in the nucleus was significantly reduced, although total β-catenin had no significant change, and the activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was significantly inhibited. Conclusions Silencing FAM83A could significantly reduce the stem cell-like traits and enhance the chemosensitivity and radiosensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine and radiation via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which may provide a new target for targeted and combination therapy of pancreatic cancer.

Objective To study the effect of inhibiting the expression of FOXD1 gene on the radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells. Methods The expressions of FOXD1 mRNA and protein in human colorectal cancer tissues and cells were detected by Real-time PCR ( qRT-PCR) and Western blot. The colorectal cancer cell line HCT116 was irradiated with 0, 2, 4 and 6 Gy of X-rays. The expression of FOXD1 in each groups were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. HCT116 cells were transfected with FOXD1 siRNA and its negative control and termed as si-FOXD1 group and si-NC group. When these cells were irradiated with 4 Gy X-rays, they were termed as si-FOXD1+4 Gy group and si-NC+4 Gy group. Cell proliferation was detected with MTT method, cell survival fraction was measured with colony formation assay, and DNA-PK activity was detected by TECT DNA-PK kit. The siRNA-transfected colorectal cancer cells were inoculated into BALB/c nude mice to establish the xenograft model. After irradiation, the volume and quality of the subcutaneous transplanted tumors were measured every 5 days. Results The expression of FOXD1 mRNA and protein in colorectal cancer tissues was higher than that in adjacent normal tissues (t=5. 579, 4. 816, P<0. 05). The mRNA(t=5. 85-17. 62, P<0. 05)and protein(t=9. 04-11. 42, P<0. 05) expression of FOXD1 in different colorectal cancer cell lines was higher than that in colonic mucosa epithelial cell line NCM460. The expression of FOXD1 in colorectal cancer cells HCT116 was increased after radiation in a dose dependent manner(t=9. 13-44. 15, P<0. 05). Transfection of si-FOXD1 effectively inhibited the expression of FOXD1 (t=10. 51, P<0. 05), decreased proliferation (t=10. 41, P <0. 05), increased radiosensitivity with a radiosensitization ratio of 1. 797, and reduced the radiation-induced DNA-PK activity ( t = 6. 20, P < 0. 05 ) in colorectal cancer cells. After localized irradiation, the tumor volume and weight in nude mice transplanted with si-FOXD1 HCT116 cells were significantly smaller than those in HCT116 (t=11. 29, 3. 69, P<0. 05). Conclusions Knock-down of FOXD1 gene increases the radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells and inhibits the growth of colorectal cancer xenograft in nude mice, which provides a potential target gene in improving the effect of radiotherapy on colorectal cancer.

Peking Union Medical College Hospital, as one of the most stressful medical institutions in China, is facing the problem of emergency department overcrowding. In order to effectively alleviate the emergency overcrowding, improve the medical quality and patients′ medical experience, the hospital firmly grasped the two incremental links of " throughput" and " output" factors, established a multidisciplinary and multi-department cooperation team, constructed a close medical alliance cooperation mode, and innovated and explored a harmonious emergency overcrowding relief mode with the goal of unblocking the " exit" of patients. The practice showed that the comprehensive measures could effectively alleviate the problem of emergency overcrowding, and improve the medical environment and medical quality.

  Objective  To understand the current status of surgical treatment for hemophilia osteoarthropathy (HO) in China.  Methods  Using an online questionnaire, select domestic hospitals that partici-pated in the compilation of the 'Guideline for perioperative management of hemophilia patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery in China ', in addition to members of the National Joint Surgery Group, and the Orthopedic Branch of the Chinese Medical Association for targeted investigation and analysis.  Results  A total of 17 domestic hospitals were included, all of which were general hospitals. Hospitals that started HO surgery treatment before 2000 accounted for 35.29%. A total of 3057 surgical cases of HO were reported by those hospitals. The most commonly performed surgical procedures were hip and knee joint replacement. The most commonly used coagulation factor replacement regimen was recombinant coagulation factor preparation. Ten hospitals reported finding patients with transfusion-related infectious diseases. Bleeding and hematoma formation were the most frequently reported surgical complications. Excessive length of hospital stay and high economic costs were the most frequently reported problems.  Conclusions  Surgical treatment for HO in 17 hospitals is mainly carried out in some large comprehensive medical centers in the eastern region. Compared with the patient base, the popularity and number of surgeries are still relatively insufficient. It is necessary to further standardize the treatment system by standardizing factor replacement and strengthening rehabilitation to improve surgical treatment outcomes.