Allergic reactions caused by traditional Chinese medicine injections (TCMIs) become a greatest concern in the clinic application safety. The integral animal evaluation method commonly used in the preclinical evaluation for allergic reactions of TCMIs was not sensitive, specific, quick and objective in observation indexes. Therefore, more researchers have paid attention to the in vitro test method for evaluating allergic reactions induced by TCMIs. Currently, the methods for evaluating allergic reactions induced by TCMIs are mainly targeted at type I allergic reaction and anaphylactic reaction, with only a few in vitro methods for evaluating type II allergic reaction. In this paper, researchers summarized relevant literatures published about evaluation methods for allergic reactions induced by TCMIs in recent years.
Animals ; Complement Activation ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Humans ; Injections ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; adverse effects

Objective To investigate the value of myocardial contrast echocardiography(MCE)combined with high-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography(DSE)in the early diagnosis of coronary artery disease(CAD).Methods The dobutamine stress MCE and SonoVue contrast infusion were performed before an elective percutaneous coronary intervention in 38 patients with suspected CAD.The total and regional perfusion were scored as normal or abnormal and attributed to the three main epicardial coronary arteries using a 16-segment left ventricular model.Results An intermediate stress level was obtained in 22(58%)patients,and 9(24%)patients were obtained with peak stress.Twenty seven of 38 patients were diagnosed as CAD by quantitative coronary angiography.A perfusion defect was detected in 89% of the patients at peak stress,compared to 37% at baseline,there was significant difference(χ2=15.565,P<0.01).ConclusionsThe MCE combined with DSE can increase the sensitivity of myocardial ischemia detection.As a new non-invasive method,MCE combined with DSE could be used in the early diagnosis of CAD.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of hydrodynamics-mediated RNAi for Mfn2 gene expression in liver and the levels of blood sugar and fat in mice.

METHODSFifty-six male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal control group (NC, n = 8), negative control group (HK, n = 24) and transfection group (Mfn2, n = 24) according to random digits table. 1.5 ml plasmid (negative control or Mfn2 shRNA, 75mug for each mouse) diluted into phosphate buffered solution (PBS) was injected into the HK and Mfn2 groups mice via hydrodynamic intravascular injection. Mfn2 mRNA and protein expression in hepatic tissue was detected by RT-PCR and Western-blot 24 hours, 72 hours and 120 hours respectively after injection. At the same time, the levels of fasted blood sugar (FBS) and triglyceride (TG) were measured.

RESULTSCompared with HK mice, the expressions of Mfn2 mRNA (1.00+/-0.03 vs 1.14+/-0.07, t = 4.027, P = 0.007; 1.01+/-0.053 vs 1.18+/-0.07, t = 4.234, P = 0.006) and protein (7.81+/-0.80 vs 8.01+/-0.08, t = 2.941, P = 0.042; 8.05+/-0.15 vs 8.56+/-0.014, t = 4.883, P = 0.039) decreased markedly in Mfn2 mice in 72 and 120 hours after injection. In the fasting state, in 24 hours after injection, FBS in Mfn2 group was significantly lower than that in HK group [(2.65+/-0.70 vs 5.28+/-0.82) mmol/L, t = 6.879, P value less than 0.01] and TG was also significantly higher than that in HK group [(1.96+/-0.32 vs 1.12+/-0.16) mmol/L, t = -6.711, P value less than 0.01]. No statistical differences found between the NC and HK groups for FBS and TG (F = 1.412, P = 0.26; F = 2.711, P = 0.14). The plasma glucose level in Mfn2 mice was significantly higher than that in HK mice [(7.23+/-0.82 vs 5.18+/-0.69) mmol/L, t = 2.050, P value less than 0.01; (7.00+/-0.67 vs 6.05+/-0.76) mmol/L, t = 3.57, P = 0.023] in 72 and 120 hours after injection. However, no differences found between the two groups for blood TG [(1.53+/-0.27 vs 1.37+/-0.18) mmol/L, t = 0.160, P = 0.23; (1.84+/-0.30 vs 1.52+/-0.37) mmol/L, t = 0.330, P = 0.503].

CONCLUSIONThe data indicate that hydrodynamics- mediated RNAi for Mfn2 gene can effectively inhibit the expression of target gene in mice liver in 72 and 120 hours after shRNA administration, and the inhibition of hepatic Mfn2 can induce glycometabolic and fat metabolic disorder.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; GTP Phosphohydrolases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Hydrodynamics ; Lipids ; blood ; Liver ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

BACKGROUNDMammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is involved in a caspase independent form of programmed cell death called autophagy. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of rapamycin and 3-methyladenine (3-MA) on autophagy, proliferation, apoptosis, and cell-cycle parameters of rat bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).

METHODSMononuclear cells isolated from rat bone marrow were treated with rapamycin (0.01, 0.1, 1, or 10 µg/L) or 3-MA (1.25, 2.5, 5, or 10 mmol/L) for 24 hours. Expression of the autophagy marker protein LC3-II was analyzed by Western blotting. Apoptosis and cell-cycle progression were analyzed by flow cytometry. Cell proliferation was measured using the MTT assay.

RESULTSRapamycin treatment of EPCs induced apoptosis and autophagy and inhibited proliferation and cell-cycle progression in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with 5 mmol/L 3-MA promoted cell proliferation; in contrast, treatment with 10 mmol/L 3-MA promoted apoptosis and induced S-phase arrest.

CONCLUSIONSRapamycin treatment of EPCs induced apoptosis and autophagy. Low concentrations of 3-MA had no significant effect on the proliferation and apoptosis of EPCs; The 5 mmol/L group promoted cell proliferation, but had no effect on the apoptosis; the 10 mmol/L group inhibited the proliferation and promoted apoptosis through the cell cycle.

Adenine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Autophagy ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Rats ; Sirolimus ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo design and construct a kind of dermal regeneration template with mesh, and to preliminarily evaluate its biological characteristics.

METHODSPLGA mesh was integrated into CCS with freeze-drying method for constructing PLGA mesh/CCS composite (PCCS). The micromorphologies and mechanical properties among PLGA mesh, CCS, and PCCS were compared. PCCS and CCS was respectively implanted into subcutaneous tissue of SD rats (PCCS and CCS groups, 9 rats in each group). The tissue samples were collected at post operation week (POW) 1, 2, and 4 for histopathological and immunohistochemical observation. Protein levels of CD68, MPO, IL-1beta, IL-10 were examined by Western blot, with expression of gray value. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and t test.

RESULTSThree-dimensional porous structure of PCCS was similar to that of CCS. Mechanical property of PLGA mesh and PCCS was respectively (3.07 +/- 0.10), (3.26 +/- 0.15) MPa, and they were higher than that of CCS [(0.42 +/- 0.21) MPa, F = 592.3, P < 0.0001)]. The scaffolds were filled with newly formed tissue in PCCS group at POW 2, while those in CCS group were observed at POW 4. A large accumulation of macrophages was observed in both groups, especially at POW 2, and more macrophage infiltration was observed in CCS group. The protein level of IL-10 in PCCS group at POW 2 was obviously higher than that in CCS group, while the protein levels of CD68, MPO, IL-1beta were significantly decreased as compared with those in CCS group (with t value from -4.06 to 2.89, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSPCCS has excellent mechanical property with appropriate three-dimensional porous structure. Meanwhile, it can rapidly induce formation of new tissue and vascularization, and it has a prospect of serving as a dermal substitute.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; Collagen ; chemistry ; Extracellular Matrix ; chemistry ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Male ; Materials Testing ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Prosthesis Design ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Regeneration ; Skin, Artificial ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds

Objective To understand the status of health literacy among residents in Lishui City,and to analyze its influencing factors. Methods Multistage stratified cluster sampling was used to recruit 2 813 residents aged 15 to 69 years old. Influencing factors of health literacy were also analyzed by logistic regression. Results A total of 2 071 valid questionnaires were collected. The general health literacy rate among residents was 15. 25%,and the standardized rate was 16. 26%. The proportion of residents with basic knowledge and health concept,healthy lifestyle and behavior and health related skills were 19. 33%,8. 63% and 22. 99% respectively. The proportion of scientific view,prevention of infectious disease,prevention of chronic disease,safety and emergency treatment,acquisition of basic health care and information were 42. 69%, 29. 43%, 9. 11%, 53. 31%, 18. 29% and 24. 81% respectively. Logistic regression showed that education,occupation and income were the influencing factors of health literacy. Conclusion It is important to improve the health literacy of residents in Lishui City. Education,occupation and income were associated with health literacy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of slow vertex response (SVR) for forensic appraisement of hearing dysfunction by comparing the thresholds acquired with SVR and pure tone audiometry (PTA). METHODS: Forty-six subjects with normal hearing were tested with PTA (0.125-8 kHz) and SVR (0.5-4 kHz). Paired t-test analysis was performed on the thresholds of SVR and PTA at each frequency (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz), and analysis of variance was performed on the difference between the pure tone audiometry threshold and the evoked potential threshold among different frequency. RESULTS: At each frequency(0.5, 1, 2 kHz and 4 kHz), difference between the thresholds acquired with SVR and PTA was statistically significant(P < 0.05). The mean difference of the two thresholds were (5.98 +/- 6.72) dB HL at 0.5 kHz, (3.86 +/- 6.12) dB HL at 1 kHz, (7.12 +/- 6.56) dB HL at 2 kHz, (8.53 +/- 7.90) dB HL at 4kHz, and the mean difference at 1 kHz was the smallest. This variation between frequencies was also statistically significant. CONCLUSION The thresholds acquired with SVR were higher than those acquired with PTA. The adjusted thresholds should be established at each frequency, when the SVR thresholds are used to evaluate the behavioural hearing thresholds.
Acoustic Stimulation ; Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; Audiometry, Evoked Response/methods* ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Auditory Cortex/physiology* ; Auditory Threshold/physiology* ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory ; Female ; Hearing Disorders/diagnosis* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reaction Time ; Young Adult

Slow vertex response (SVR) is one of long latency auditory evoked potentials. It is a biological and electric response originating from brain cortical neuron evoked by sound stimulus with the latency from 50 to 500 milliseconds. Of all the neuroelectric physiological audiometries, it is the earliest method applied in assessing the function of the auditory neural conduction pathway. The concept, neural generators of SVR have been introduced in this article. Influencing factors on SVR were discussed such as stimulus parameters, consciousness state, age, maturation of the subject. Applications of SVR in clinical and forensic medicine identification were also discussed.
Acoustic Stimulation/methods* ; Audiometry, Evoked Response/methods* ; Auditory Cortex/physiology* ; Auditory Pathways/physiology* ; Auditory Threshold ; Cerebral Cortex/physiology* ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Hearing Disorders/diagnosis* ; Humans ; Reaction Time

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Buyang Huanwutang in regulating macrophage polarization based on the Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4） / nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） / nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor 3 （NLRP3） pathway. MethodRAW264.7 macrophages were intervened with lipopolysaccharide （LPS） of different concentrations （0， 1.25， 2.5， 5， 10， 20， 40， and 80 mg·L^-1） for 24 hours. Cell Counting Kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was used to determine the cell viability of RAW264.7 macrophages. The optimal concentration was chosen to establish an in vitro inflammation model induced by LPS. Cells were divided into a blank group （20% blank serum）， a model group （20% blank serum + 10 mg·L^-1 LPS）， a model control group （20% FBS + 10 mg·L^-1 LPS）， low-， medium-， and high-dose （5%， 10%， and 20%） Buyang Huanwutang-containing serum groups， a high-dose （20%） Buyang Huanwutang combined with NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 （50 μmol·L^-1） group， a high-dose （20%） Buyang Huanwutang combined with reactive oxygen species （ROS） inhibitor NAC （10 μmol·L^-1） group， and a high-dose （20%） Buyang Huanwutang combined with NF-κB inhibitor PDTC （10 μmol·L^-1） group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the expression of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-18 （IL-18）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in RAW264.7 macrophages. Flow cytometry was employed to measure ROS levels in macrophages. Western blot was used to determine the protein expression of M1-type macrophage-related factors inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） and TNF-α， M2-type macrophage-related factors arginase-1 （Arg-1） and interleukin-10 （IL-10）， as well as the proteins in the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway. ResultCCK-8 results indicated that under 10 mg·L^-1 LPS stimulation， RAW264.7 macrophages exhibited the highest cell viability （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， the model group showed significantly increased levels of IL-1β， IL-18， and TNF-α （P<0.05，P<0.01）， increased ROS expression （P<0.05，P<0.01）， increased protein expression of M1-type macrophage factors iNOS and TNF-α （P<0.01）， decreased protein expression of M2-type macrophage factors Arg-1 and IL-10 （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and upregulated expression levels of TLR4， myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）， phosphorylated inhibitor of NF-κB （p-IκB）/NF-κB inhibitor （IκB）， phosphorylated NF-κB （p-NF-κB） p65/NF-κB p65， NLRP3， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD （ASC）， and pro-Caspase-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， all Buyang Huanwutang-treated groups and inhibitor groups significantly reduced levels of IL-1β， IL-18， and TNF-α （P<0.01）， suppressed the expression of inflammatory factors in RAW264.7 macrophages， decreased cellular ROS expression levels （P<0.01）， downregulated M1-type macrophages iNOS and TNF-α protein expression （P<0.01）， upregulated M2-type macrophages Arg-1 and IL-10 protein expression （P<0.01）， and lowered protein expression levels of TLR4， MyD88， p-IκB/IκB， p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65， NLRP3， ASC， and pro-Caspase-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionBuyang Huanwutang can improve macrophage inflammation， potentially by reducing macrophage ROS levels， inhibiting RAW264.7 macrophage polarization， and downregulating the protein expression levels of the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway.

BACKGROUNDAtopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by chronic recurrent dermatitis with profound itching. Most patients have personal and/or family history of atopic diseases. Several criteria have been proposed for the diagnosis of AD. Although the clinical features of childhood AD have been widely studied, there has been less large-scale study on adult/adolescent AD. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical features of adult/adolescent patients with chronic symmetrical eczema/AD and to propose Chinese diagnostic criteria for adult/adolescent AD.

METHODSA hospital-based study was performed. Forty-two dermatological centers participated in this study. Adult and adolescent patients (12 years and over) with chronic symmetrical eczema or AD were included in this study. Questionnaires were completed by both patients and investigators. The valid questionnaires were analyzed using EpiData 3.1 and SPSS 17.0 software.

RESULTSA total of 2662 valid questionnaires were collected (1369 male and 1293 female). Of all 2662 patients, 2062 (77.5%) patients had the disease after 12 years old, while only 600 (22.5%) patients had the disease before 12 years old, suggesting late-onset eczema/AD is common. Two thousand one hundred and thirty-nine (80.4%) patients had the disease for more than 6 months. One thousand one hundred and forty-four (43.0%) patients had a personal and/or family history of atopic diseases. One thousand five hundred and forty-eight (58.2%) patients had an elevated total serum IgE and/or eosinophilia and/or positive allergen-specific IgE. Based on these clinical and laboratory features, we proposed Chinese criteria for adult/adolescent AD. Of all 2662 patients, 60.3% were satisfied with our criteria, while only 48.2% satisfied with Hanifin Rajka criteria and 32.7% satisfied with Williams criteria, suggesting a good sensitivity of our criteria in adult/adolescent AD patients.

CONCLUSIONLate-onset of eczema or AD is common. The clinical manifestations of AD are heterogeneous. We have proposed Chinese diagnostic criteria for adolescent and adult AD, which are simple and sensitive for diagnosis of adult/adolescent AD.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Eczema ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires