Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Rheumatic Diseases ; diagnosis ; drug therapy

Objective To investigate the effects of Ruangan granule on transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)/Smads signaling pathway in liver fibrosis in rats. Methods A total of 105 Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model group and colchicine, Dahuang-Zhechong pill group, high-, medium- and low-dose Ruangan granule groups (n=15 in each group). Liver fibrosis was induced by carbon tetrachloride and a high-cholesterol diet. After modeling, the low-, medium- and high-dose Ruangan granule groups were intragastric administrated Ruangan granule mixed suspension 3.6, 7.2, 14.4 g/(kg?d), respectively;Dahuang-Zhechong pill group was administrated with Dahuang-Zhechong pellets mixed suspension of 0.18 g/(kg?d);the colchicine group was intragastric administrated with colchicine mixed suspension of 0.108 mg/(kg?d);and the normal control group and the model group were intragastric administrated with the equal volume of distilled water. All rats were intragastric administrated for 8 weeks. The expressions of TGF-β1, Smad3 and Smad7 proteins in the liver tissue were detected with immunohistochemical staining method. The expressions of TGF-β1, Smad3, Smad7 mRNAs in the liver tussue were detected by RT-PCR. Results The expressions of TGF-β1 (2.59 ± 0.99 vs. 0.43 ± 0.21) and Smad3 (2.56 ± 0.67 vs. 0.41 ± 0.18) proteins and TGF-β1 mRNA (2.25 ± 0.21 vs. 0.71 ± 0.09) and Smad3 (2.34 ± 0.03 vs. 0.78 ± 0.12) mRNAs in the model group were significantly increased than those in the normal control group (all P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expressions of TGF-β1 (1.12 ± 0.27 vs. 2.59 ± 0.99) and Smad3 (1.05 ± 0.34 vs. 2.56 ± 0.67) proteins in the high-dose Ruangan granule group decreased significantly, the expression of Smad7 increased significantly (2.33 ± 0.62 vs. 0.36 ± 0.18), and the expressions of TGF-β1 (1.09 ± 0.11 vs. 2.25 ± 0.21) and Smad3 (1.10 ± 0.02 vs. 2.34 ± 0.03) mRNAs decreased significantly, the expression of smad7 mRNA (1.18 ± 0.13 vs. 0.38 ± 0.11) increased significantly (P<0.05). Conclusions Ruangan granule can regulate the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway via down-regulation of TGF-β1, Smad3 and up-regulation of Smad7 in liver fibrosis in rats.

Objective To observe theRuangan granule on liver fibrosis in rats liver pathology change, the influence of hepatic function and hepatic fibrosis indexes, and to discusses the mechanism of its action to provide the basis for clinical prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis.Methods A total of 105 Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal control group, a model group and a colchicines group, and Dahuang-Zhechong pill group, high-, medium- and low-doseRuangan granule groups (n=15 in each group). Liver fibrosis was induced by carbon tetrachloride and a high-cholesterol diet. After modeling, the low-, medium- and high-doseRuangan granule groups were intragastric administratedRuangan granule mixed suspension 3.6, 7.2, 14.4 g/(kg?d), respectively;Dahuang-Zhechong pill group was administrated with Dahuang-Zhechong pellets mixed suspension of 0.18 g/(kg?d); the colchicine group was intragastric administrated with colchicine mixed suspension of 0.108 mg/(kg?d); and the normal control group and the model group were intragastric administrated with the equal volume of distilled water. All rats were intragastric administrated for 8 weeks. HE staining and Masson trichromatic collagen staining were used to observe the pathological changes of liver While the change of AST, ALT, PH, TP and serum HA, LN, C-Ⅳ, PCⅢin blood serum were detected. Results Masson trichromatic collagen staining showed that, the percentage of liver collagen fiber area in rats of theRuangan granule high-dose group was significantly decreased (7.06 ± 1.18) % compared with model group (23.49 ± 1.34) %, colchicine group (11.35 ± 1.83) %, rhubarb worm pill group (15.27 ± 1.22) %,Ruangan granule medium-dose group (14.52 ± 1.75) %, and low dose group (16.08 ± 1.56) % (P<0.05 orP<0.01). Compared with model group,Ruangan granule high-dose group rats serum AST (75.86 ± 5.23 U/Lvs. 157.62 ± 24.04) U/L, the ALT (80.15 ± 5.94 U/Lvs. 160.58 ± 26.47) U/L, PH (52.58 ± 4.98μg/Lvs. 98.66 ± 6.75)μg/L significantly reduced, TP (74.19 ± 3.56 g/Lvs. 51.73 ± 5.92)g/L increased significantly (P<0.01).Ruangan granule high-dose group rats serum HA (277.22 ± 106.34 ng/mlvs. 553.19 ± 172.38 ng/ml), LN (89.82 ± 5.68 ng/mlvs. 134.25 ± 10.64 ng/ml), C-Ⅳ (47.94 ± 8.65 ng/mlvs. 84.18 ± 13.83 ng/ml), PCⅢ (16.53 ± 4.88 ng/mlvs.31.57 ± 5.35 ng/ml) decreased significantly in the model group (P<0.01).ConclusionRuangan granule has obvious effects for resisting liver fibrosis.

Objective To evaluate the usefulness of diffusion-weighted MR combined with routine T2 WI in finding the possible residual foci in uterine cervical cancers after radical chemo-radiation therapy.Methods This was a retrospective study including 25 consecutive cervical cancer patients who received hysterectomy after radical chemo-radiation therapy.All of them underwent MR examinations post-chemoradiation and just before operation.Images of T2 WI alone and those of T2 WI combining DWI were evaluated respectively by 2 senior radiologists,in order to decide whether there were residual tumors.ADC values were also measured.Taking the post-operation pathological results as the gold standard,the accuracies,sensitivities and specificities of T2 WI alone,T2 WI combining DWI,and ADC values were all calculated.Results In those 25 patients,9 were found with foci of residual cancer in operative pathology,while no cancer cells were found in the other 1 6 patients.The accuracy,sensitivity and specificity in finding the positive residual cancer using T2 WI alone were 56.0%,77.8% and 43.8%,comparing with 72.0%,66.7% and 75.0% in T2 WI combining DWI.The accuracy and specificity increased with statistical significance after combining DWI (P =0.01 6 for accuracy,P =0.031 for specificity),while the sensitivity decreased but did not reach statistically significant level (P =0.099).No difference in ADC values was found.Conclusion DWI can be used as a supplementary sequence in finding the existence of residual tumors of cervical cancer after radical chemo-radiation therapy.Routine T2 WI combing DWI increased the specificity and accuracy,but still facing the risk of decreasing sensitivity.

This study taking gestodene (GEST) as a model, investigated the factors affecting reservoir-type intravaginal ring (IVR)'s drug release. This paper reported a gestodene intravaginal ring of reservoir design, comprising a gestodene silicone elastomer core encased in a non-medicated silicone sheath, separately manufactured by reaction injection moulding at 80 degrees C and heating vulcanization at 130 degrees C is reported. The test investigated the factors affecting drug release through a single variable method, taking the drug release rates of 21 days as standards. When changing the thickness of the controlling sheath outside, the ratio of the first day of drug release and mean daily release (MDR), named the relatively burst effect, is closing to 1 with the thickness of controlling sheath increasing, while the 1.25 mm sheath corresponding to 1.04 controlled the burst release effectively; a positive correlation (r = 0.992 2) existed between the average drug release (Q/t) and drug loading (A) within a certain range. The C6-165 controlling sheath with high solubility of GEST is easier to achieve controlled release of the drug; GEST crystalline power is more effective to implement controlled release of drugs among difficent states of the drug. A 1/4 fractional segment core gives a relatively burst effect of 1.76, while the 1/1 and 1/2 are 1.93 and 1.87 separately, at the same drug loading, concluding that use of a fractional segment core would allow development of a suitable GEST reservoir IVR. In summary, GEST reservoir-type IVR could be adjusted by the thickness of controlling sheath, the loading of drug, the material properties of controlling sheath, the dispersion state of drug, the additive composition and structure of intravaginal ring, to control the drug release behavior and achieve the desired drug release rate.
Administration, Intravaginal ; Contraceptive Agents, Female ; administration & dosage ; Contraceptive Devices, Female ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Delivery Systems ; methods ; Norpregnenes ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Silicone Elastomers ; chemistry ; Solubility

Background The main cause of filtering surgery failure is over proliferation of fibroblasts in filtering channels,leading to excessive fibrosis and scar formation.Researches determined that p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signaling pathway plays an important role in fibroblast phenotype transition. Objective The present study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of p38 MAPK inhibitor on myofibroblasts transdifferentiation and the extracellular matrix synthesis after filtration surgery in rabbit eyes. Methods Trabeculectomy was performed on 24 eyes of 12 clean New Zealand white rabbits to establish the filtering operative models.The models were randomized into model group,SB203580 group and mitomycin C ( MMC ) group.1 ml SB203580 ( 0.2 g/L) was conjunctively injected at the end of operation in the rabbits of the SB203580 group,and the cotton piece with 0.2 g/L MMC solution was placed on the operative area for 3 minutes intraoperatively in the rabbits of the MMC group.The bleb appearances were examined under the slit lamp microscope,and intraocular pressure(IOP) was measured with Icare tonometer I,3,7,10,14 days after operation.0.2 ml aqueous humor was extracted and the conjunctive tissue at the filtering area was obtained 14 days after operation for the detection of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and fibronectin protein by ELISA.Expression of ACTA2 mRNA,connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) mRNA and alpha2 chain of type Ⅰ collagen( COL1A2 )mRNA in conjunctive tissue was assayed with fluorescence real-time PCR. Results Vascularization of fibrosis of filtering bleb were obvious in the eyes of the model group,and the bleb was flat and diffuse in the eyes of the SB203580 group and MMC group on 14 days following operation.No significant difference was seen in IOP before trabeculectomy among these three groups( F=0.065,P=0.937 ).IOP was gradually elevated with the increase of time after operation ( F =32.873,P =0.030 ).ELISA assay showed that α-SMA level in conjunctiva was lower in the SB203580 group and MMC group compared with the model group,and that of MMC group was significant lower than the SB203580 group( P＜0.05 ).Fibronectin level in conjunctiva was lower in the SB203580 group and MMC group compared with the model group,and that of MMC group was significant lower than the SB203580 group (P＜0.05).Fluorescence real-time PCR showed that expressions of the ACTA2 mRNA,CTGF mRNA and COL1A2 mRNA were significantly different among the three groups( P＜0.01 ),with the highest expression in model group and the lowest expression in the MMC group ( P ＜ 0.05 ). Conclusions Fibrotic reaction after trabeculectomy can be suppressed by inhibiting p38 MAPK signal pathway.The mechanism of SB203580 is to reduce the synthesis of myofibroblasts transdiffercntiation and extracellular matrix.

Objective To explore the polysomnography(PSG) characteristice of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome(OS-AHS) and primary snoring(PS) in children and clinical value of PSG in children with sleep disorders. Methods We analyzed 74 children with OSAHS and 62 with PS, every patient being monitored with PSG for 7 hours at night for 16 parameters, including apnea hypopnea index(AHI), periodic leg movement index(PLMI),and the lowest oxygen saturation(LSaQ2) etc. The parameters of the 2 groups were comparaed. Results Comparaed with PS group, there was statistically significant difference in parameters such as PLMI, AHI,LSaQ2,the moderate oxygen saturation(MSaO2).AHI in non- rapid eye movement (NREM)(P

Objective To explore effect of probiotics on improving the feeding intolerance in very low birth weight infants(VLBWI). Methods Sixty cases of VLBWI were randomly divided into two groups, 30 infants as therapy group,another 30 infants as control group.All infants in two groups were given aggressive intravenous nutrition and enteral feeding with preterm formulars. At the same time, probiotics were administered combined with preterm formulars to infants in therapy group. Milk amount, gastric residual, initial time of enteral feeding, time required for full enteral feeding and body weight on day 21 after birth were all recorded.Results Rate of no gastric residual increased significantly in therapy group compared with that of control group(t=6.24 P

Objective To investigate the effect of different cryopreservation time on energy metabolism and reperfusion injury in rat to rat liver transplantation and the mechanism of liver function recovery in early period after operation.Methods The cryopreservation time of donor livers from 90 Wistar rats were 30 min,6 or 12 h in 4 ℃ UW solution.Then orthotopic liver transplantation were performed in another 90 Wistar rats.Another 6 rats served as normal controls.At 12 h,24 h,3 d,5 d,7 d after portal vein reperfusion,blood and liver tissue were obtained to determine the levels of ALT,AST,SOD,ATPase and ATP,and the pathologic changes of liver tissue were observed.Results At 12 h after operation,the levels of ALT and AST were significantly higher(P

Objective To study the influencing factors,treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolic (VTE) in elderly patients with malignant tumor.Methods The clinical findings in forty elderly patients with malignant tumor combined with VTE from our hospital within 5 years were analyzed retrospectively.The risk,site,time,prevention and treatment of VTE in these tumor patients were analyzed and summarized.Results After active treatment,the positive efficacy response was obtained in 26 cases (65.0％),no-response in 14 cases (35.0％).Specifically,14 cases died,7 cases cured,and 19 cases were improved.Besides cancer and aging,the elderly tumor patients were considered as the high-risk group because of the risk factors including hypertension,diabetes,hyperlipidemia,pulmonary infection,surgery,radiation,chemotherapy and so on.D-dimer level was significantly increased in elderly malignant tumor patients with VTE.Venous thrombosis could occur at any stage.Venous thrombosis was found before tumor in 1 case.The most common site of DVT was the lower limbs,especially the left lower extremities (14 cases,35％).Most of internal carotid vein and upper limb vein thrombosis were associated with peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) Conclusions The elderly patients with malignant tumor is the extremely high risk groups for venous thrombosis,and their quality of life and survival will be seriously impacted.Anticoagulant therapy through the whole process of treatment in patients with VTE is beneficial.The prevention and treatment of VTE play an important role in the tumor patients with risk factors such as chronic diseases,high D dimer level,radiation and chemotherapy,which should attract the attention of clinicians.