Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Megakaryocytes ; cytology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Thrombopoietin ; pharmacology

Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Biology

Animal models with kidney disease are generally divided into two types. One belongs to the models which imitate human kidney disease by the artificial operations, such as anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody nephritis, Heymann nephritis, anti-Thyl. 1 antibody nephritis, BSA nephritis and puromycin nephropathy. The other one pertains to the models which make themselves kidney disease, and appear the pathological characteristics naturally as like as human, such as HIGA mice with IgA nephropathy and NZB/WF1 and MRL/1pr mice with lupus nephritis. In addition,the transgenic animal models with kidney disease can also be established by the modern molecular biologic techniques including gene knockout and siRNA transfection. As for the studies related with kidney disease in pharmacodynamics and pharmacology of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), it is important to understand deeply the features of each animal model with kidney disease, and select accurately the proper models according to the different experimental objectives, and then, build the special models provided with the combination of disease with syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Therefore,it is the developmental direction for the further study to establish animal models with kidney disease, which should possess the characteristics of syndrome in TCM.
Animals ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; etiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Streptozocin

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of maternal prenatal education on promoting breastfeeding rate for preterm infants in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Methods Gravidas who were admitted to Peking University First Hospital for any risk of preterm delivery from November 2013 to December 2014 and preterm infants admitted to the NICU (length of stay ≥ 5 d) of the same hospital during the same period were involved.All the gravidas received prenatal education and completed questionnaires.Two hundred and ninety-five preterm infants who met the inclusion criteria were divided into two groups including education group (n=125) and non-education group (n=170) according to whether their mothers received prenatal education or not.Conditions of the preterm infants during hospitalization and after discharge and breastfeeding rates were comparatively analyzed between the two groups.T test,Chi-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used for statistical analysis.Results (1) There were 380 gravidas received questionnaires.Among them,346 (91.1％)completed the questionnaires and were recruited in this study.Only 31.8％ (110/346) of these gravidas were active in learning more about breastfeeding and 46.2％ (160/346) of them lacked confidence in breastfeeding after the appearance of preterm delivery signs.There were significant improvements in their attitudes towards considering breastfeeding seriously and discussing with their family,confidence in breastfeeding,the importance of colostrum and how to breastfeed a preterm infant in hospital after maternal prenatal education (all P＜0.001).Prenatal education was thought to be helpful in 77.5％ (268/346) of the gravidas.(2) The two groups of preterm infants showed good homogeneities in gestational age,gender,birth weight and other basal conditions as well as in incidences of in-hospital complications and conditions after discharge (all P＞0.05).Proportions of breast milk intake (breast milk intake over total dairy intake) in preterm infants were higher in education group than those in non-education group within 5 d after birth [0.0 (0.0-16.5)％ vs 0.0 (0.0-2.5)％,Z=-3.422],＞5-≤ 7 d [33.7 (0.0-82.8)％ vs 0.0 (0.0-50.3)％,Z=-3.070],＞7-≤ 14 d [75.2(23.5-96.4)％ vs 47.6(0.0-92.2)％,Z=-2.345] and during hospitalization [58.4 (21.0-78.8)％ vs 31.9 (0.0-71.7)％,Z=-3.902] (all P＜0.05).Breastfeeding rates were higher in education group than those in non-education group at the age of 5 d [47.2％(59/125) vs 27.1％ (46/170),x2=12.747],7 d [70.4％ (88/125) vs 51.2％ (87/170),x2=11.031],three months [83.3％(65/78) vs 56.1％ (60/107),x2=15.297] and six months [64.5％ (49/76) vs 49.1％ (53/108),x2=4.282] (all P＜0.05).Exclusive breastfeeding rates in the first,third and sixth months after birth were higher in education group [45.7％(53/116),42.3％ (33/78) and 36.9％ (28/76)] than those in non-education group [21.3％ (32/150),28.0％ (30/107)and 22.2％ (24/108)] (22=17.847,4.091 and 4.703,all P＜0.05),respectively.Conclusions Most gravidas with risk factors of preterm delivery have no confidence on breastfeeding.Prenatal maternal education is an effective and feasible intervention to improve breastfeeding rate for preterm infants in NICU from early hospitalization till six months after birth.

Objective:To investigate the electrocardiographic characteristics of left and right ventricles origin of premature ventricular contractions(PVCs) during V3 transition of precordial leads, right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) anterior septum and right coronary sinus (RCC), and RVOT middle-posterior septum and left coronary sinus (LCC).Methods:From January 2017 to September 2019, 91 patients with ventricular extrasystole of outflow tract who had V3 transition in precordial lead and had successful radiofrequency ablation in RVOT anterior septum, middle posterior septum, LCC and RCC were selected for retrospective case control study.The electrocardiography measurements of PVCs were compared between the anteroseptal RVOT group and RCC group, as well as the middle-posterior septal RVOT group and the LCC group, respectively.The measurements included the R-wave amplitude in lead Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ and aVF, R amplitude ratio in leads Ⅲ to Ⅱ, Q-wave amplitude in lead aVL and aVR, Q amplitude ratio in leads aVL to aVR, R-wave and S-wave amplitude from leads V1 to V3, the V2S/V3R index, the transition zone index, and the V2 transition ratio.Results:Thirty-six cases originated from the anteroseptal RVOT, and 11 from the LCC.Lead I R-wave amplitude in anterior septal RVOT was higher than LCC group((0.22±0.25) mV vs.(-0.17±0.33) mV; P=0.003). R-wave amplitude in lead Ⅱ was lower than that in the LCC group((1.59±0.35) mV vs.(1.76±0.27) mV; P=0.035). R-wave amplitude in lead aVF was lower compared with the LCC group((1.53±0.35) mV vs.(1.78±0.39) mV; P=0.050). The V2S/V3R index showed a significant difference between these two groups(1.99±0.66 vs.0.76±0.38; P<0.001). The V2 transition ratio also appeared a significant difference between the two groups(0.69±0.43 vs.1.05±0.35; P=0.005). PVCs arose from the middle-posterior septal RVOT in 32 cases, and from the RCC in 12 cases.Compared with RCC group, lead Ⅰ R-wave amplitude showed lower ((0.25±0.31) mV vs.(0.57±0.12) mV; P<0.001); R amplitude ratio in leads Ⅲ to Ⅱ higher (0.89±0.14 vs.0.72±0.18; P=0.002); Q amplitude in lead aVL((0.72±0.24) mV vs.(0.51±0.16) mV; P=0.002)higher, and Q amplitude ratio in leads aVL to aVR higher in the middle-posterior septal RVOT(0.76±0.23 vs.0.50±0.21; P=0.002). Conclusion:Among the cases with lead V3 transition, PVCs originated from the anteroseptal RVOT show significantly different R wave in lead Ⅰ, Ⅱ, aVF, V2S/V3R index, and the V2 transition ratio compared with those from the LCC.The PVCs from the middle-posterior septal RVOT and the RCC have different R wave in lead Ⅰ, R amplitude ratio in leads Ⅱ and Ⅲ, Q amplitude ratio in leads aVL and aVR.Combined with its different characteristics, it can help to identify the origin of left and right ventricles.

Objective To observe the effect of bilateral movement training on upper extremities dysfunction in stroke patients in convalescent phase. Methods 52 patients with hemiplegia were randomly divided into treatment group (n=26) and control group (n=26). The treatment group accepted bilateral upper extremities movement training, and the control group accepted routine neurodevelopment training mainly with affected upper extremities, for 6 weeks. They were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment upper-extremity section (FMA-UE) and modified Barthel Index (MBI) before and after treatment. Results The FMA-UE and MBI scores improved in both groups after treatment (P<0.01), and improved more in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.001). Conclusion Bilateral movement training may improve upper extremity function and activities of daily living more effectively for stroke patients in convalescent phase.

OBJECTIVETo explore the intervention of baicalin on signal transduction and activating transcription factor expression of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients.

METHODSRecruited were UC patients at Outpatient Department of Digestive Disease, Inpatient Department of Digestive Disease, Center for Digestive Endoscopy of College City Branch, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Southern Hospital affiliated to Southern Medical University from June 2010 to January 2011. They were assigned to the UC group (33 cases) and the diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) group (30 cases). Another 30 healthy subjects were recruited as a healthy control group. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro intervened by different concentrations baicalin were taken from UC patients. IL23R gene expressions in vitro intervened by different concentrations baicalin were detected using Q-PCR. Expressions of signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) , STAT6, phosphorylated-STAT4 (p-STAT4), and p-STAT6 were detected using Western blot. Serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 were measured by ELISA. Effects of different concentrations baicalin on expressions of PBMCs, and levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 of UC patients were also detected.

RESULTSCompared with the negative control group, 40 µmol baicalin obviously decreased IL23R gene expression of UC patients (P <0. 01). Compared with the healthy control group and the IBS-D group, p-STAT4/STAT4 ratios increased, p-STAT6/STAT6 ratios decreased, levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 all increased in the US group (all P <0. 05). Compared with the negative control, 5 and 10 µmol baicalin groups, 20 and 40 moL baicalin obviously decreased p-STAT4/STAT4 ratios (all P <0. 05); 20 and 40 µmoL baicalin obviously increased p-STAT6/STAT6 ratios (all P <0. 05); 20 and 40 µmoL baicalin obviously lowered levels of IFN-γ and IL-4, and elevated IL-10 levels (all P <0. 05).

CONCLUSION40 µmoL baicalin could in vitro inhibit p-STAT4/STAT4 ratios, adjust p-STAT6/STAT6 ratios and related cytokines, thereby balancing the immunity and relieving inflammatory reactions of UC.

Activating Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; therapeutic use ; Blotting, Western ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phosphorylation ; STAT6 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; enzymology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peroxidase ; blood

OBJECTIVETo demonstrate the effects and mechanisms of Huangkui capsule (HKC) on renal fibrosis in rats with diabetic nephropathy (DN).

METHODRats were randomly divided into 5 groups, the sham-operated group (Sham group, n = 5), the vehicle-given group (Vehicle group, n = 7), the low dose of HKC-treated group (L-HKC group, n = 7), the high dose of HKC-treated group (H-HKC group, n = 7) and the lipoic acid (LA)-treated group (LA group, n = 7). DN models were induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ,35 mg x kg(-1)) twice and unilateral nephrectomy. After models were successfully established, the rats in HKC and LA groups were daily administrated with HKC suspensions (0.75, 2 g x kg(-1)) or LA suspensions (60 mg x kg(-1)) respectively, and at the same time, the rats in Vehicle group were daily administrated with distilled water (2 mL) for 8 weeks. All rats were sacrificed at the end of week 8 to collect blood and renal tissues. UAlb, renal function, renal fibrotic morphologic characteristics, as well as oxidative stress (OS)-related markers, the protein expressions of the key signaling molecules in p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) signaling pathway, fibrogenic cytokines and inflammatory factors were examined respectively.

RESULTHKC, similar to LA, improved the general state of health, body weight, UAlb, BUN, UA and Alb in DN model rats. Of note, renal fibrosis was ameliorated in HKC groups,especially in H-HKC group which was better than that in LA group. In addition, HKC not only improved the main indexes of OS in the kidney like LA, but also down-regulated the protein expressions of phosphorylated-p38MAPK (p-p38MAPK), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α in the kidney, whereas, LA only decreased the protein expression of TNF-α in the kidney in DN model rats.

CONCLUSIONHKC, similar to LA, has the actions of anti-OS in vivo. Moreover, HKC could attenuate renal fibrosis by suppressing the activation of p38MAPK signaling pathway and the protein expressions of fibrogenic cytokines and inflammatory factors in the kidney in DN model rats, which is different from LA.

Abelmoschus ; chemistry ; Animals ; Capsules ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibrosis ; Kidney ; drug effects ; pathology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects and mechanisms of multi-glycoside of Tripterygium wilfordii (GTW) on improving glomerular inflammatory lesion in rats with diabetic nephropathy (DN).

METHODDN model was induced by unilateral nephrectomy and intraperitoneal injection of STZ (35 mg x kg(-1)) twice. The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, the sham-operated group (Sham group, n = 5), the vehicle-given group (Vehicle group, n = 5 ) and GTW-treated group (GTW group, n = 5). After the model was successfully established, the rats in GTW group were daily oral administrated with GTW suspension (50 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), meanwhile, the rats in Vehicle group were daily oral administrated with distilled water (2 mL) for 8 weeks. From the beginning of the administration, all rats were killed 8 weeks later. Blood and renal tissues were collected,and then UAlb, renal function, glomerular morphology characteristics and glomerular macrophages (ED1 + cells) infiltration, as well as the protein expressions of inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α and interleukin(IL)-lβ, and the key molecules in p38MAPK signaling pathway including p38 mitogenactivated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphorylated p38 (p-p38MAPK) and transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1 were investigated respectively.

RESULTGTW not only ameliorated the general state of health and body weight,but also attenuated UAlb, glomerulosclerosis, the infiltration of glomerular ED1 + cells and the protein expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, p-p38MAPK and TGF-β1 in the kidney in DN model rats.

CONCLUSIONBy means of DN model rats, we demonstrated that GTW has the protective effect on renal inflammatory damage in vivo via inhibiting inflammatory cells infiltration and inflammatory cytokines expression. Furthermore, GTW could improve renal inflammatory lesion through down-regulating the expressions of the key signaling molecules in p38MAPK pathway such as p-p38MAPK and TGF-β1 ,and inhibiting the activation of p38MAPK signaling in the kidney.

Animals ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glomerulonephritis ; drug therapy ; Glycosides ; pharmacology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; analysis ; Tripterygium ; chemistry ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; physiology