Aim To study the effects of 2 ,3 ,4 ’ ,5-tet-rahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D glucoside ( TSG ) on myo-cardial fibrosis ( MF) induced by isoproterenol ( ISO) in mice and its possible mechanism. Methods MF in mice was induced by subcutaneous injection of isoprot-erenol for 14 days. TSG (30,60,120 mg·kg-1 ) and captopril ( 40 mg · kg-1 ) were then administered by gavage to mice. The experiment was stopped 12 h after the last administration of the drugs. Hematoxylin-eosin ( HE) and Masson staining were used to estimate the extent of MF. Level of hydroxyproline in myocardial tissues was measured. Protein expressions of collagenⅠ, collagen Ⅲ and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in myocardial tissues were measured. Lev-els of superoxide dismutase ( SOD ) and glutathione peroxidase ( GSH-Px ) were determined. Results Compared with control mice, the level of hydroxypro-line in myocardial tissues was significantly increased in isoproterenol treated mice. Histological sections of iso-proterenol-treated hearts showed extensive myocardial fibrosis. And protein expressions of collagenⅠand col-lagen Ⅲwere markedly increased in isoproterenol trea-ted mice. However, therapy with TSG decreased the level of hydroxyproline in myocardial tissues, ameliora-ted the degree of myocardial fibrosis, and reduced the collagen expressions induced by isoproterenol adminis-tration. Moreover, treatment with TSG decreased TGF-β1 protein expression and elevated the myocardial SOD and GSH-Px activity. Conclusion TSG can inhibit MF formation induced by ISO in mice which might be due to regulating TGF-β1 protein expression and its an-tioxidant effect.

ObjectiveTo investigate the neuroprotective mechanism of edaravone for cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.MethodsThirty-six healthy adult male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: a sham operation group, an ischemic model group, and an edaravone group (n=12 in each group).A focal cerebral ischemia model was induced by the suture method.Reperfusion was resumed after 2 h of ischemia;then the animals were sacrificed at 24 h after reperfusion.Edaravone 3 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally immediately after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in the edaravone group.The rats in the model group were injected equal volume normal saline.HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes.TUNEL staining was used to detect apoptotic cells in the ischemic cortex.Western blot and immunofluorescent staining were used to detect the expression levels of LIM domain protein 4 (LMO4) and LMO4 positive cells.Results HE staining showed that cellular morphology was basically normal in the sham operation group;both the model group and edaravone group had cell necrosis, but the latter was less severe.The number of morphologically normal cells in the edaravone group was significantly more than that in the model group (P<0.01).TUNEL staining showed that no TUNEL positive cells in the sham operation group were observed.The TUNEL positive cells in the edaravone group was significantly less that in the model group (P<0.01).Immunofluorescence staining showed that the expression level of LMO4 in the ischemic cortex in the edaravone group was significantly higher than that in the model group (P<0.01).ConclusionsEdaravone can alleviate the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and inhibit neuronal apoptosis.Its mechanism may be associated with the upregulation of LMO4 expression.

Angiomyoma ; pathology ; Ear Auricle ; pathology ; Ear Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To investigate the clinical effects of sound therapy and psychological counseling on chronic tinnitus .Methods Two hundred and thirty - two cases of chronic tinnitus patients were treated with sound therapy and psychological counseling in this study .The time course of treatment was 12 months .Tinnitus Evalua‐tion Questionnaire(TEQ) was filled out before sound therapy ,3 ,6 and 12 months after the therapy to evaluate the effects .Results After the therapy ,the patients had a significant improvement in tinnitus symptoms .Before the therapy ,178 patients had severe tinnitus ,while after the therapy ,this number decreased obviously .In the end of treatment there were only 36 cases ,with severe tinnitus(15 .52% ) .After the 6 months treatment ,the effective rate was 79 .31% ,after 12 months the effective rate was 86 .21% .Conclusion Sound therapy and psychological counse‐ling are effective treatments for chronic tinnitus ,and the effects are stable and durable .

Objective: To learn the health literacy level and its influencing factors among junior high school students in Jiaxing, so as to provide basis for health promotion of adolescents. Methods: The junior high school students who had been studying and living in Jiaxing for more than six months were selected by multistage cluster random sampling method. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect general information and health literacy level (including basic knowledge and concept, healthy lifestyle and behaviors, and basic skills) of these selected students. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors for health literacy. Results : Of 1 773 questionnaires collected, 1 738 were valid, accounting for 98.03%. The level of health literacy in the junior high school students in Jiaxing was 22.84% ( 95%CI: 20.87%-24.82% ), The levels of basic knowledge and concept, healthy lifestyle and behaviors, and basic skills were 55.29% ( 95%CI: 52.95%-57.63% ), 21.75% ( 95%CI: 19.81%-23.69% ), 53.05% ( 95%CI: 50.70%-55.40%), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the second grade and above ( OR: 1.609-1.835, 95%CI: 1.195-2.459 ), mother's educational level of technical secondary school/senior high school and above ( OR: 1.965-1.976, 95%CI: 1.276-3.357 ), and self-rated academic achievement of medium and above ( OR: 1.881-2.441, 95%CI: 1.359-3.335 ) were the promoting factors for health literacy level of junior high school students; self rated health status as unhealthy ( OR=0.254, 95%CI: 0.089-0.721 ) was an obstructive factor. Conclusions The health literacy level of the junior high school students in Jiaxing was 22.84%. The level of healthy lifestyle and behaviors was the lowest in three aspects. Grade, mother's educational level, self-rated academic performance and self-rated health status may have impacts on health literacy level of junior high school students.

Objective: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on cognitive function in D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aging rats, and the correlation between the effect and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)-ASC-Caspase-1 signaling pathway. Methods: Forty-six male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a control group (n=10), a model group (n=12), an EA-7 d group (n=12) and an EA-21 d group (n=12). Except the control group, the other three groups received 42 consecutive days of intraperitoneal injection of D-gal to establish aging rat models with cognitive dysfunction. The control group received the same amount of normal saline via intraperitoneal injection. Two EA groups were given EA therapy for 21 consecutive days (began from the 22nd day of modeling) or 7 consecutive days (began from the 36th day of modeling) accordingly at Dazhui (GV 14), Baihui (GV 20), Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36). After modeling/ intervention, all four groups received behavioral evaluations by Morris water maze (MWM) test, novel object recognition (NOR) test and step-down passive avoidance (SDPA) test followed by the Western blot (WB) detection of the expression levels of hippocampal NLRP3 inflammasome-associated proteins NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1. Results: MWM (place navigation test, PNT) results showed that the escape latency in the model group was significantly longer than that in the other three groups (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference among the other three groups on the 1st day of the test (P>0.05). From the 2nd day to the 4th day of the test, there was no significant difference between the EA-21 d group and the control group (P>0.05) in the escape latency; the escape latency was significantly shorter in the EA-21 d group than in the model group and the EA-7 d group (P<0.05). MWM (spatial probe test, SPT) results showed that the time spent in the target quadrant was significantly shorter and platform crossover number was significantly lower in the model group than in the other three groups (P<0.05). The time spent in the target quadrant was longer in the EA-7 d group than in the model group (P<0.05), but was shorter than that in the control group and the EA-21 d group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the swimming speed among the four groups (P>0.05). NOR results showed that there was no significant difference in the recognition ratio between the EA-7 d group and the EA-21 d group (P>0.05), and the recognition ratio was significantly higher in the two EA groups than in the model group (P<0.05), but was lower than in the control group (P<0.05). SDPA results showed that the electric shock number was higher in the model group than in the other three groups (P<0.05), and the differences among the other three groups were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The model group had the shortest step-down latency, followed by the EA-7 d group, the EA-21 d group and the control group in order (P<0.05). The WB results indicated that the expression level of NLRP3 was significantly lower in the control group and the EA-21 d group than in the model group and the EA-7 d group (P<0.05). The expression levels of ASC and Caspase-1 were significantly higher in the model group than in the other three groups (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference among these three groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: NLRP3 inflammasome may be involved in the development of cognitive decline in aging rats; 7 consecutive days of EA intervention can partially improve the cognitive impairment in aging rats though the effect is rather limited; 21 consecutive days of EA intervention may improve the learning and memory abilities in aging rats via downregulating the expression levels of NLRP3 inflammasome-associated proteins in hippocampus.

OBJECTIVETo observe the curative effect of porous tantalum rod and Gugutou Huaisiyu Capsule (GHC) for steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head (SONFH).

METHODSA total 60 hips of 50 SONFH patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group according to grouping time, 25 in each group (30 hips). Patients in the control group were implanted with porous tantalum rod, while those in the treatment group additionally took GHC (5 pills each time, three time per day for 2 successive months; and then twice per day for 4 successive months). Then all patients were followed-up to observe Harris hip score. The curative effect and the femoral head survival time were assessed.

RESULTSA total of 49 patients (59 hips) were followed-up. The Harris hip score of the two groups at the final follow-up was significantly improved after treatment, with statistical difference when compared with before treatment (P < 0.01). Besides, it was higher in the treatment group than in the control group. The curative effect and the survival time were superior in the treatment group, with statistical difference when compared with the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPorous tantalum rod combined GHC got better effect in treating SONFH. It could significantly improve the function of affected hips and prolong the survival time of femoral head.

Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Femur Head Necrosis ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Prostheses and Implants ; Steroids ; adverse effects ; Tantalum

Objective To explore the clinical implication of serum Dectin-1 level in the non-agranulocytic patients with pulmonary aspergillosis. Methods Serum specimen were collected from the non-agranulocytic patients with pulmonary aspergillosis to determine the serum level of Dectin-1 with ELISA.The relationship between serum Dectin-1 level,the results of G test and galactomannan (GM)test of Aspergillus,and white blood cell count was analyzed.Results The serum Dectin-1 level was (427.2 ± 42.6)pg/mL in the patients with Aspergillus infection,and (280.8 ± 39.4)pg/mL in the control patients (P<0.05 ).Dectin-1 level was not correlated to white blood cell count,or the result of G test,or GM test. Conclusions Serum Dectin-1 level increases significantly in the non-agranulocytic patients with pulmonary aspergillosis, suggesting that Dectin-1 is an important anti-Aspergillus immune molecule.

Objective To explore the changing levels of serumIL-17 and Dectin-1 and their implication in non-neutropenic pa-tients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA).Methods The clinical data were reviewed for 23 non-neutropenic patients with clinical diagnosis of IPA (IPA group),31 patients with clinical diagnosis of pneumonia (pneumonia group)and 51 healthy subjects(control group).The peripheral serum was collected to analyze IL-17 level by ELISA.Serum Dectin-1 level was also determined at the same time.Serum G test,GM test,WBC and CRP level were also assayed for the patients in IPA group.Pa-tient outcome was followed up and analyzed in terms of serum IL-17.Results The serum IL-17 level of the patients in IPA group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P <0.05).The serum IL-17 level in the pneumonia group was not significantly different from that in the control group (P >0.05).The serum Dectin-1 level in IPA group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P <0.05).For the patients in IPA group,serum IL-17 level was positively correlated to serum Dectin-1 level (r=0.81 ,P <0.05),while serum IL-17 and Dectin-1 levels were not correlated to the results of G test, GM test, WBC,CRP or patient outcome (P > 0.05 ). Conclusions Dectin-1 may be produced and Th17 cell immunity activated in response to Aspergillus fumigatus in-fection in non-neutropenic patients.And,serum Dectin-1 level is correlated with Th17 response.

Objective To develop the scale of volume-management for peritoneal dialysis(PD) patients.Methods The item pool was formulated based on literature review and in-depth interviews.An initial scale was constructed through two rounds of Delphi expert consultation and preliminary test.Totally 125 PD patients from Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai area were investigated to test the reliability and validity of the scale.Results 2 factors were extracted by exploratory factor analysis,which contained 8 items and could explain 66.07％ of the total variance.The content validity index was 1.0,the Cronbach α was 0.870,and test-retest reliability was 0.930.Conclusions The scale is proved to be a reliable and valid tool for the volume-management assessment of PD patients.