OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Artesunate(Art) on the LX-2 cell.

METHODSThe cultured hepatic stellate cells were divided into control group and Art-treated groups with 250,350,450 µmol/L. The rate of cellular proliferation was detected by MIT assay, the content of ceramide (Cer)was determined by HPLC method, the content of hydroxyproline (Hyp) was determined by enzyme digestion method, the expressions of PPAR-γ, p53 and Caspase 3 were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with control group, IX-2 treated with Art were inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner(P < 0.01). Art could significantly increase the content of cerarnide in LX-2 ( P <0.01), and the content of Hyp was significantly decreased (P <0.05, P <0.01). The expressions of PPAR-γ, p53 and Caspase 3 were increased compared with that of control group(P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONArtesunate could inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells through upregulating ceramide.

Apoptosis ; Artemisinins ; pharmacology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Ceramides ; metabolism ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism

Biomarkers, Tumor ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Neoplasms

AIM:To explore whether histamine can regulate the expression of early growth response factor-1 (Egr-1) in the cerebral cortex astrocytes.METHODS:Normal wild-type (WT) mice, histidine decarboxylase knockout ( HDC-KO) mice and histamine treated HDC-KO mice were sacrificed for extracting the total RNA of the cerebral cortex. Primary cultured rat cortical astrocytes were treated with histamine at concentrations of 10 -8 , 10 -7 , 10 -6 , 10 -5 or 10 -4 mol/L for 15, 30, 60, 120 or 240 min.H1 or H2 receptor antagonists were pretreated for 15 min before histamine treat-ment.After histamine treatment, the cell total RNA or protein was extracted.The expression of Egr-1 at mRNA and protein levels was determined by real-time PCR and Western blot.RESULTS:The mRNA level of Egr-1 in cerebral cortex of HDC-KO mice was significantly lower than that in WT mice, while exogenous histamine induced the mRNA expression of Egr-1 in HDC-KO mice.In cultured astrocytes, histamine induced the mRNA expression of Egr-1.The maximum increase in the mRNA level of Egr-1 was produced by histamine at concentration of 10 -5 mol/L.In addition, histamine-induced Egr-1 mRNA accumulation peaked at 30 min after commencing stimulation, while histamine significantly increased Egr-1 protein expression at 60 min.Furthermore, histamine-induced Egr-1 expression was inhibited by H1 receptor antagonist but not H2 receptor antagonist.CONCLUSION:Histamine up-regulates the Egr-1 expression in cerebral cortex and cultured astrocytes, which may attribute to H1 receptor activation.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between prolactin (PRL) cleavage and the occurrence of hypertension, heart failure (HF) in post-menopausal female patients.
Methods: A total of 216 post-menopausal female subjects were enrolled in our study and they were divided into 3 groups: Hypertension group,n=80 patients with essential hypertension, Hypertension + HF group,n=76 and Control group,n=60 post-menopausal women form regular physical examination. The full length (23 kD PRL), 16 kD PRL fragment, lipid peroxide (LPO), total antioxidant status (TAS), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), NT-proBNP, creatinine, uric acid, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and BMI were examined and compared among different groups.
Results:①There were no real differences in age, creatinine, uric acid, FBG and BMI among groups,P>0.05.②Compared with Control group, Hypertension group had increased LPO and decreased TAS; compared with Control group and Hypertension group, Hypertension + HF group had increased LPO and decreased TAS.③Compared with Control group, Hypertension + HF group showed lower level of 23KD PRL, higher level of 16KD PRL and the higher ratio of 16KD PRL/23KD PRL,P<0.05-0.01.④Pearson correlation analysis indicated that LPO was negatively related to 23KD PRL (r=-0.784,P<0.01), positively related to 16KD PRL (r=0.807, P<0.01); TAS was positively related to 23KD PRL (r=0.768, P<0.01), negatively related to 16KD PRL (r=-0.777P<0.01); 23KD PRL was positively related to LVEF (r=0.852, P<0.01), negatively related to NT-proBNP (r=-0.832P<0.01); 16KD PRL was negatively related to LVEF (r=-0.850,P<0.01), positively related to NT-proBNP (r=0.814,P<0.01).
Conclusion: PRL cleavage was highly related to the occurrence of hypertension and HF in post-menopausal female patients.

Executive impairment is one of the common sequelae of stroke, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Repeti-tive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), as a new type of electrophysiological technique, has been used in the clinical treatment of Post-Stroke Executive Impairment (PSEI). This paper summarized the survey of PSEI, the basic principle and mechanism of rTMS, clinical application of rTMS for PSEI and its safety. Clinical studies showed that high frequency stimulation, low frequency stimulation, and combi-nation with other therapeutic methods were effective in PSEI. However, there was no unified theory about the mechanism and the best treat-ment plan of rTMS for PSEI.

OBJECTIVETo observe the differential effect of joint ultrasound on the syndrome differentiation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by observing the high frequency ultrasound performances among inactive stage and different syndromes in active stage.

METHODSTotally 83 RA patients in the active stage were assigned to the dampness heat syndrome group (DHS, 59 cases)and the cold dampness syndrome group (CDS, 24 cases) according to Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome typing. Besides, 20 RA patients in the remission stage were recruited as the control group (abbreviated as the remission group). By using high frequency ultrasound and power Doppler ultrasound technology, a comparative observation of synovitis, tenosynovitis, synovial blood flow, and bone erosion in the 2nd-5th metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints, wrist joints, knee joints, the second and the fifth metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints (a total of 24 joints) was performed in all patients. Correlation analyses were performed between the ultrasound performance, laboratory indices, and the disease activity. Ultrasound data of each RA patient were analyzed by their total scores. Χ2 test was used for enumeration data. The measurement data was expressed as x ± s. One-way ANOVA was used for data of normal distribution, while non- parametric test was used for data of non-normal distribution. Correlation analysis of two variables was performed for clinical indicators and ultrasound indicators. Its significance was detected using Pearson correlation.

RESULTSCompared with the remission group, the severity degree of synovitis, tenosynovitis, synovial blood flow, and bone erosion significantly increased in the DHS group (P < 0.01). There was statistical difference in ESR, CRP, anti-CCP, DAS28 score, and the positive rate of RF (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was statistical difference in the severity degree of synovitis and synovial blood flow, and DAS28 score in the CDS group (P < 0.05). Compared with the CDS group, there was statistical difference in the four ultrasound indices (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), ESR, CRP, anti-CCP, DAS28 score, and the positive rate of RF in the DHS group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in G, IgG, IgA, or IgM among the three groups (P > 0.05). There existed positive correlation between ESR and the synovitis degree, synovial blood flow, and bone erosion in the DHS group (r = 0.444, 0.397, 0.486, P < 0.05).There existed positive correlation between ESR and the synovitis degree, bone erosion, and synovial blood flow in the DHS group (r = 0.378, 0.270, P < 0.05). There existed positive correlation between the DAS28 score and the synovitis degree and synovial blood flow in the DHS group (r = 0.304, 0.351, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe inflammation degree was the most severe in RA patients of DHS. High frequency ultrasound could provide better evidence for Chinese medical syndrome differentiation of RA patients.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metacarpophalangeal Joint ; ultrastructure ; Syndrome ; Synovitis ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography

G protein-coupled inward rectifier K(+) channel 4(GIRK4) is a G protein-coupled inward rectifier potassium channel family member. Encoded by the KCNJ5, it is widely distributed in the mammalian heart, brain, and other tissues and organs. Recent studies have demonstrated that the abnormal expression of GIRK4 gene is associated with atrial fibrillation, and meanwhile may be closely related to obesity, metabolic syndrome, and many other clinical conditions. Further research on the role the GIRK4 gene in the pathophysiology of these clinical conditions will definitely facilitate their clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Atrial Fibrillation ; genetics ; G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels ; genetics ; Humans ; Metabolic Syndrome ; genetics

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of radial ultrasound (EBUS) combined with virtual navigation (VBN) in peripheral pulmonary nodules.Methods Two hundreds and forty cases of peripheral pulmonary nodules(0.8 cm≤diameter≤3 cm) in the respiratory department of our hospital from July 2014 to July 2015 were included and according to the different guide de vices,which were divided into the radial ultrasound combined with virtual navigation group (EBUS+ VBN group),radial ultrasound group (EBUS group),virtual navigation group (VBN group) and control group.The diagnostic rates were compared among the four groups and among different sizes of lesion.The time of lesion location and operating time were also compared between the EBUS+ VBN group and EBUS group.Results Among 240 cases,the diagnostic rate in the EBUS+VBN group was highest(81.67％),and the diagnostic rates had statistically significant difference among the four groups (x2=19.344,P=0.00);the diagnostic rates of lesions less than 2 cm in diameter were lower than that of lesions ＞2 cm in the EBUS+-VBN group and EBUS group,but without statistically significant difference (x2 =2.04,3.40,P =0.15,0.07);the locating lesions time and operating times in the EBUS+ VBN group were shorter than those in the EBUS group,but the difference between them was not statistically significant (P=0.03,0.04).Conclusion EBUS combined with VBN could improve the diagnostic rate of peripheral pulmonary nodules and shorten the time of lesion location and operating time.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of electric acupuncture (EA) on the Nogo receptors (NgR) protein expression in the cerebral cortex, the medulla oblongata, and the spinal cord of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) stroke-prone renovascular hypertensive rats (RHRSP) with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) at different time points, and to investigate its possible mechanisms for remote-organ injury of acute cerebral infarction (ACI).

METHODSThe RHRSP model was duplicated in male SPF grade SD rats. Then the MCAO model was prepared by a thread stringing method. Rats were divided into the hypertension group,the sham-operation group, the MCAO group, the EA group, and the sham-acupoint group by random number table method, 60 in each group. Rats in the MCAO group only received MCAO reperfusion treatment. Those in the sham-operation group only received surgical trauma. Baihui (DU20) and Dazhui (DU14) were needled in the EA group, once daily for a total of 28 days.The needles were acupunctured at the skin one cun distant from Baihui (DU20) and Dazhui (DU14) and then the same EA treatment was performed in the sham-acupoint group. At day 1, 7, 14, 28 after treatment, six rats were executed from each group, and their right cortex and medulla oblongata, and the left spinal cord were isolated. The infarct volume was detected by Nissl's staining method. The NgR expression was detect by Western blot.

RESULTS(1) In the cortex area: compared with the hypertension group,the NgR expression increased in the MCAO group at day 1,7,14,and 28 after MCAO (P < 0.05). Compared with the MCAO group, the NgR expression of the EA group and the sham-acupoint group were equivalent at 1 day af ter MCAO (P > 0.05). At day 7, 14,and 28 after MCAO, the NgR expression decreased in the EA group (P < 0.05), it was quite similar to that in the sham-acupoint group (P > 0.05). (2) In the medulla oblongata area: compared with the hypertension group, the NgR expression was equivalent in the sham-operation group. the MCAO group,the EA group, and the sham-acupoint group at 1 day after MCAO (P > 0.05). At day 7.14, and 28 after MCAO, the NgR expression increased in the MCAO group (P < 0.05). Compared with the MCAO group,the NgR expression decreased in the EA group at day 7, 14, and 28 after MCAO (P < 0.05), whereas it was similar in the sham-acupoint group (P > 0.05). (3) In the spinal cord area: compared with the hypertension group, the NgR expression was equivalent in the sham-operation group, the MCAO group,the EA group, and the sham-acupoint group at day 1 and 7 after MCAO (P > 0.05). At day 14 and 28 after MCAO, the NgR expression increased in the MCAO group (P < 0.05). Compared with the MCAO group, the NgR expression decreased in the EA group at day 14 and 28 after MCAO (P < 0.05), whereas it was equivalent in the sham-acupoint group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIncreased NgR expression in the cerebral cortex, the medulla oblongata, and the spinal cord of cerebral infarct rats was an important reason for involving remote-organ injury of ACI. The protective effect of EA on hypertensive I/R cerebral injury rats might be closely related to down-regulating central nervous system myelin growth inhibition mediated factors Nogo-A receptor NgR protein expression.

Animals ; Cerebral Infarction ; metabolism ; therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electroacupuncture ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; metabolism ; Hypertension, Renal ; metabolism ; therapy ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata ; metabolism ; Myelin Proteins ; metabolism ; Nogo Receptor 1 ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; metabolism ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism

There have been many studies on the nutrition and the growth status of children from rural and remote western regions of China,whereas researches on children from urban low-income families are scarce.This study aimed to investigate the growth and nutritional status of children under five years of age from urban low-income families in China.There were 169 children aged 25-60 months recruited from Xiangtan and Jilin,two cities with a population of 2.81 million and 4.26 million respectively,in China in this cluster cross-sectional study.Data were collected on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics,the feeding practices and the incidence of anemia and diarrhea.The results showed that the prevalence of low birth weight and macrosomia was 7.l％ and 9.5％ for the two cities,respectively,which was higher than that for other cities in China (1.5％ and 5.9％).Of all the sampled children,14.6％ and 8.2％ suffered anemia and diarrhea,respectively.Multivariate analysis showed that legumes or nuts fed in a 24-h recall increased the risk of anemia (OR=4.9).Children whose caregivers began to introduce complementary foods relatively late would have high diarrhea prevalence (OR=1.4).In conclusion,the prevalence of anemia and diarrhea in under-five children from urban low-income families in China is relatively high.The growth and nutritional status of these children is greatly affected by feeding practices.A series of measures should be taken by relevant government departments to improve the health of these children.