Objective To investigate the clinical significance of plasma presepsin levels in patients with sepsis. Methods 92 patients who were admitted to the ICU of the affiliated hospital of Jiangsu University from October 2011 to March 2013 and 30 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into three groups: sepsis, SIRS, and control. Plasma presepsin and serum procalcitonin (PCT) were measured, APACHEⅡscore were calculated at enrollment, and ROC curve was used to analyze the performance index for the diagnosis of sepsis. Results Serum levels of presepsin, PCT and APACHEⅡscore were significantly higher in the death group than in the SIRS group and the control group (P<0.01). Serum levels of presepsin and PCT were higher in the sepsis group than in the SIRS group and the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant statistical difference between the SIRS group and the sepsis group in the APACHEⅡ score (detailed in table 1). Level of plasma presepsin was significantly correlated with serum PCT (r = 0.82); plasma presepsin level was related with the APACHEⅡ score (r = 0.69). The area under the curve (AUC) of presepsin was 0.908 (95%CI 0.848~0.967), greater than the AUC of PCT 0.862 (95%CI 0.787~0.937). The cutoff value of presepsin for discrimination of bacterial and nonbacterial infectious diseases was determined to be 629 pg/mL, of which the clinical sensitivity and specificity were 68.6% and 90%, respectively; when the cutoff value of PCT was 1.98 ng/mL, the clinical sensitivity and specificity were 92%and 65%. Conclusions Level of presepsin increases in patients with sepsis, and an elevated presepsin may suggest the severity of sepsis.

Objective:To provide reference for clinical pharmacists through pharmaceutical care for patients with hyponatremia en-cephalopathy caused by pituitrin. Methods: Clinical pharmacists provided pharmaceutical care for one patient with hyponatremia en-cephalopathy caused by pituitrin. It was suggested by clinical pharmacists that 3% hypertonic saline and 20% mannitol be used in the patient with sodium ions and renal function monitoring. The patient was also told to increase salt in diets and limit water uptake. Re-sults:The ion levels of the patient returned to normal after the pharmaceutical care. Conclusion:Clinical pharmacists play an impor-tant role in the prevention and treatment of hyponatremia encephalopathy caused by pituitrin.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease. Moxibustion treatment for RA has significant efficacy, with high security and without dependency. It can alleviate the symptoms and make the body gradually return to normal level of immunity at the same time. This article reviewed the study on mechanism of moxibustion for the treatment of RA in recent years from the aspects of innate immunity, humeral immunity, cellular immunity, cytokines and immune organs, discussed the existing problems in relevant study, and provided a basis for clinic and future research.

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum osteocalcin and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in elderly patients.Methods A total of 55 T2DM patients (diabetic group) and 50 non-diabetic subjects (control group) aged ≥60 years were enrolled in this study.The levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG),glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc),insulin resistance index (HOMA IR),osteocalcin (OC),body mass index (BMI) and bone mineral density (BMD) in groups were compared.The correlations between serum osteocalcin and the above indicators were analyzed.Results The levels of OC and BMD were higher in control group than in diabetic group [(11.2±3.2)μg/Lvs.(4.1±3.0)μg/L,(-1.3±0.3) vs.(-2.6±0.5),respectively,both P＜0.05].The levels of FBG,HbAlc,FINS,HOMA-IR were lower in control group than in diabetic group [(4.7±2.0) mmol/L vs.(9.4±2.1) mmol/L],[(4.8±1.5) ％ vs.(7.6±1.6)％,(7.4±3.2) U/L vs.(23.7±3.0) U/L,(1.5±0.7) vs.(9.9±1.2),respectively,all P＜0.05].Serum osteocalcin concentration was negatively correlated with the levels of FBG,HbAlc,FINS and HOMA-IR in elderly patients with T2DM (r=-0.739,-0.713,-0.613,-0.092,all P＜0.01).Conclusions Serum osteocalcin concentration is correlated with the levels of blood sugar and insulin resistance index in elderly patients with T2DM.A further study on the correlation between osteocalcin and T2DM may provide a new target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

This study investigated the effect of prolonged walking with load carriage on body posture, muscle fatigue, heart rate and blood pressure of the tested subjects. Ten healthy volunteers performed 30 min walking trials on treadmill (speed = 1.1 m/s) with different backpack loads [0% body weight (BW), 10% BW, 15% BW and 20% BW]. The change of body posture, muscle fatigue, heart rate and blood pressure before and after walking and the recovery of muscle fatigue during the rest time (0, 5, 10 and 15 min) were collected using the Bortec AMT-8 and the NDI Optotrak Certus. Results showed that the forward trunk and head angle, muscle fatigue, heart rate and blood pressure increased with the increasing backpack loads and bearing time. With the 20% BW load, the forward angle, muscle fatigue and systolic pressure were significantly higher than with lighter weights. No significantly increased heart rate and diastolic pressure were found. Decreased muscle fatigue was found after removing the backpack in each load trial. But the recovery of the person with 20% BW load was slower than that of 0% BW, 10% BW and 15% BW. These findings indicated that the upper limit of backpack loads for college-aged students should be between 15% BW and 20% BW according to muscle fatigue and forward angle. It is suggested that backpack loads should be restricted to no more than 15% BW for walks of up to 30 min duration to avoid irreversible muscle fatigue.
Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Exercise Test ; Healthy Volunteers ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Muscle Fatigue ; Posture ; Walking ; physiology ; Weight-Bearing

Objective To observe the effect of oxidized low-density lipoproteins (Ox-LDL),15-Deoxy-△ 12,14-prostaglandin J2 ( 15d-PGJ2 ),leukotrienes B4 ( LTB4 ) on mRNA expressions of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ2 ( PPARγ2 ),receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL),alkaline phosphatase ( ALP),and osteoprotegerin(OPG) in osteoblastic cells of rats; and to investigate the influence of these PPARγ2 endogenous ligands on bone metabolism.Methods Rat osteoblastic cells were cultured in vitro for 24 h in medium with different PPARγ2 endogenous ligands at various concentrations ( the final concentrations of Ox-LDL were 0,12.5,25,50μg/ml; the final concentrations of 15 d-PGJ2 were 0,10,20,30 μmol/L; the final concentrations of LTB4 were 0,0.1,1.0,10 μ mol/L).RT-PCR was performed to determine the mRNA expressions of PPARγ2,RANKL,ALP,and OPG in osteoblastic cells.Results RT-PCR analysis showed that Ox-LDL,15d-PGJ2,and LTB4 all down-regulated the mRNA expressions of RANKL,ALP,and OPG,while up-regulated the mRNA expressions of PPARγ2 in osteoblastic cells in a dose-dependent manner.Significant differences were found in interclass comparisons( P＜0.05 or P＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions These findings suggest that Ox-LDL,15d-PGJ2,and LTB4 suppress the expressions of osteogenic genes through activating the transcription activity of PPARγ2,and this may be a plausible mechanism of senile osteoporosis.

Objective To observe the influence of Qizhi Yifei containing serum on the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 mRNA in lung fibroblasts, and explore its mechanism. Methods Trypsin digestion method was used to extract fibroblasts from lung tissue in rats. All fibroblasts were cultured and trained to the fourth generation. Then they were randomly divided into control group, model group and drug serum group. The model group and drug serum group were firstly treated by DMEM with 0.002 5 μg/mL TGF-β1. The control group was treated by DMEM only. The control group and model group were then treated by DMEM with blank drug serum in concentration of 5%, and the drug serum group was treated by DEME with Qiahi Yifei containing serum in same concentration. After 48 and 72 hours, RT-PCR was performed to test the expression of MMP-9 mRNA and TIMP-1 mRNA of each group. Results After 48 hours, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 mRNA were significantly increased in model group and drug serum group compared with control group. There was no difference between model group and drug serum group. After 72 hours, MMP-9 mRNA was up-regulated in model group and was decreased in drug serum group compared with control group. There was no significant difference among the three groups on the expression of TIMP-1 mRNA. Conclusion Qizhi Yifei containing serum can decrease the up-regulated expression of MMP-9 mRNA in lung fibroblasts stimulated by TGF-β1.

Objective To study the effects of Panax Notoginseng Saponins (PNS) on the damaged expression of ZO-1 of brain microvascular endothelial cells caused by Aβ42.MethodsBrain microvascular endothelial cells were divided into normal control group, model group, PNS low-, medium- and high concentration groups. They were incubated for 24h in 5% CO2 incubator at 37℃ . Then cell vitality was detected by MTT colorimetric method and ZO-1 protein expression was tested by Western blot.Results Stimulation of Aβ42 reduced the activity of microvascular endothelial cells (P<0.01) and suppressed the expression of ZO-1 protein (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the activity of microvascular endothelial cells of PNS groups, especially the high and medium dose groups (P<0.05), and increased the ZO-1 protein expression. Conclusion PNS can partly recover the barrier function of blood brain barrier through inhibiting the decrease of the activity of microvascular endothelial cells caused by Aβ42.

Xingnaojing injection has been widely used in the treatment of cerebral vascular diseases, through the following mechanisms: improving the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, anti-oxidant free radical damage, inhibition of excitatory amino acids (EAA) toxicity and calcium overload, inhibition of apoptosis, reducing cerebral edema and inhibition of autophagy. Thus, the paper summarized its progress.

Objective To observe the effects of Fuzheng Huayu Capsule on the expressions of the main roles, Rock1 and Rock2, in RhoA/Rock signal transduction pathway in rats with myocardial infarction (MI);To explore the possible mechanism of Fuzheng Huayu Capsule to improve ventricular remodeling in myocardial fibrosis. Methods The MI model was induced by ligation of the left coronary artery. Rats with MI were randomly divided into the model group, Fuzheng Huayu group and Fasudil hydrochloride group. A sham-operation group threading without ligation was setting as a control group, with eight rats in each group. The rats were treated with corresponding medicine for 4 weeks from the second day after modeling. The expression of Rock1, Rock2 and its mRNA were detected by immunohistochemical and real-time PCR method. Results The protein expression of Rock1 and Rock2 in model group were significantly higher than those in the sham-operation group (P<0.05). The protein expression of Rock1 and Rock2 in the Fuzheng Huayu group and Fasudil hydrochloride group were lower than those in the model group. The mRNA expression of Rock2 was significantly higher in the model group than that in the sham-operation group (P<0.05). The mRNA expression of Rock1 in the Fasudil hydrochloride group was lower than that in the model group (P<0.05). The mRNA expression of Rock2 in the Fuzheng Huayu group and Fasudil hydrochloride group was lower than that in the model group (P<0.05). Conclusion Fuzheng Huayu Capsule can decrease the expression of Rock1, Rock2 and Rock2 in the marginal zone of myocardial infarction in rats with MI. The anti ventricular remodeling mechanism of Fuzheng Huayu Capsule maybe related with this.