Autoimmune diseases (AID) are characterized by autoimmune disorder, as autologous tissue is attacked by the autoimmune system. It is reported that the imbalance of autoimmune tolerance and ingrained inflammatory response are the core events of AID undoubtedly. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) which belongs to the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily is a ligand activated transcription factor. PPARγ combines with retinoid X receptor (RXR) to form heterodimer. When PPARγ is activated, the complex regulates gene expression by binding to a specific peroxisome proliferator response element (PPRE). In addition, PPARγ has diversified biological functions, playing important roles in regulating metabolism, controling inflammation, modulating glucose and lipid metabolism, ameliorating atherosclerosis, anti-tumor, and regulating immune response. However, recently researches indicate that PPARγ participates in the pathogenesis of AID. PPARγ plays key roles in regulating activation and polarization of macrophages, function of dendritic cells, proliferation and differentiation of T cells, and modulation of the function of related stromal cells. This article summarizes the biological functions and signal transduction pathways of PPARγ and the protective effects of agonists of PPARγ on AID, aiming to provide theoretical support for the research of mechanism and prevention and treatment of AID.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture of intraorbital and extraorbital acupoints on apoptosis and expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 proteins of retinal ganglion tissue in rabbits with nonarteritis anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), so as to reveal its mechanism underlying improvement of NAION. METHODS: Female New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: model, intraocular needling (ION), extraocular needling (EON), ION＋EON groups (n＝5 per group), and the 5 healthy eyes of those rabbits in the model group were selected to be used as the control group. The NAION model of the right eye was established by photodynamic stroke method. For ION group, acupoints "Jingming" (BL1), "Chengqi" (ST1) and "Qiuhou" (EX-HN7) were needled, and for EON group, "Cuanzhu" (BL2), "Yuyao" (EX-HN4) and "Qiaoming" (EX) were needled with filiform needles, followed by retaining the needles for 30 min. For ION＋EON group, the 6 acupoints were needled simutaneously. The treatment was conducted once daily for 3 days. The apoptosis of retinal ganglion tissue was detected by using TUNEL fluorescence labeling, and the expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and active Caspase-3 in the retinal ganglion were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Following modeling and compared with the control group, the number of the apoptotic cells, and the expression levels of Bax and Caspase-3 proteins, as well as the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.01), while the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly decreased (P<0.01). After intervention, the number of the apoptotic cells in the ION, EON and ION＋EON groups, and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in EON and ION＋EON groups, and the expression of Caspase-3 proteins in the ION and ION＋EON groups were significantly down-regulated (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the expression levels of Bcl-2 in both EON and ION＋EON groups were significantly up-regulated in comparison with the model group (P<0.01). No significant changes were found in the expression levels of Bax in the 3 needling groups relevant to the model group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture of intraorbital and extraorbital acupoints can reduce apoptosis of retinal ganglion in NAION rabbits via inhibiting the activation of Caspase-3 protein and ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, and up-regulating the expression of Bcl-2 protein.

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal diseases in the digestive system. The morbidity of this disease is high and increasing year by year. FD has become an important disease which causes serious damage to children's health. The etiology and pathogenesis of this disease are not yet clear. Western medicine treatment of FD is mainly symptomatic treatment, but has not been satisfied with the efficacy, and there are many side effects. The long-term use of Western medicine will cause a certain adverse reaction. Chinese medicine treatment of FD is effective, and can effectively improve the patient's body state, and fewer side effect is in the treatment of the disease. In this paper, we reviewed the treatment of FD in children with monomer of Chinese materia medica (CMM), single CMM, CMM compound, and integrative Chinese and Western medicine, and analyzed the development prospect and problems of CMM in treating FD.

Objective To evaluate the value of ultrasound (US) in assessment knee joint inflammation in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis(JRA).Methods US scans of the knees obtained in 30 children at clinically active stage; JRA was compared with those obtained in 30 healthy children and 10 JRA patients in clinical remission.Results Changes in synovial membrane thickness and presence of fluid in suprapatellar bursa showed statistically significant differences between JRA patients with active disease and the other subjects.Alterations in contour of the articular cartilage were demonstrated in 10 knees of patients with JRA.Conclusion US is a simple sensitive and reliable methods for the assessment and monitoring of knee joint involvement in JRA.

Objective To investigate the presence of occult brain tissue damage in patients with relapsing neuromyelitis optica(RNMO)and its possible mechanism by using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).Methods DTI scans were performed in 16 patients with RNMO and 16 sex-and age-matched healthy controls.Histogram analysis of mean diffusivity (MD)and fractional anisotropy (FA)was performed in brain tissue (BT),white matter (WM)and gray matter (GM)to detect the presence of occult brain tissue damage in RNMO patients.Region of interest(ROI )analysis of MD and FA was also performed in 6 dedicated regions with or without direct connection with spinal cord or optic nerve to determine the relationship between occult brain tissue damage and the damage of spinal cord and optic nerve.Results Patients with RNMO had a significantly higher average MD of the BT[RNMO(0.95?0.02)? 10~(-3)mm~2/s,controls (0.91?0.03)?10~(-3)mm~2/s,t = 3.940,P

Pro-inflammatory macrophages play key regulatory role in the occurrence and development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we constructed a celastrol (Cel)-loaded polyamide-amine dendrimer (PAMAM) drug delivery system, which could target folate receptor and mitochondria. It could target inflammatory macrophages and realize chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy. Using PAMAM as the nano-carrier, folate receptor-targeting group folic acid (FA) and mitochondria-targeting group IR808 (also known as the photothermal agent) were conjugated with PAMAM through amide reaction, and then complexed with anti-inflammatory drug Cel to prepare the FA-PAMAM-IR808/Cel nanocomplex. In vitro characterization results showed that the drug loading efficiency of the nanocomplex was 50.90%, particle size was between 130 and 160 nm, average potential was between 1.0 and 3.5 mV, the drug release showed pH sensitivity, temperature reached to 42.5 ℃ after near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation for 10 min. In vitro cellular uptake experiments showed that the nanocomplex had obvious folate receptor-targeting and mitochondria-targeting ability. Following irradiation with NIR light, the cytotoxicity and cellular apoptosis enhanced. The secretion of pro-inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and nitric oxide (NO) decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. This study provided insights for the development of novel anti-RA nanomedicines.

In the treatment of hypertensive crisis, the novel Rho kinase inhibitor DL0805-2 can rapidly lower systematic blood pressure, reduce pulmonary artery pressure, and has a significant protective effect on lung injury. This experiment intends to evaluate the efficacy of DL0805-2 against pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and preliminarily reveals its underlying mechanism. Animal welfare and experimental procedures are in accordance with the provision of the Animal Ethics Committee of the Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into DL0805-2 low, medium, and high dose groups (1, 3, and 10 mg·kg^-1), bosentan positive control group, model group, and blank control group. The drug was administered daily on the 7th day after model establishment by monocrotaline injection. On the 25th day of the experiment, relevant indicators were examined to observe the therapeutic effect of DL0805-2 on pulmonary hypertension. DL0805-2 significantly relieved the abnormal changes in the physiological parameters related to PAH induced by monocrotaline, including reducing right ventricular systolic pressure, alleviating cardiac damage caused by pressure overload, and reducing the levels of endothelin-1 and inflammatory factors in lung tissues. DL0805-2 also attenuated pulmonary arteries remodeling. It was preliminarily discovered that DL0805-2 exerts preventive and therapeutic effect on PAH through Rho-kinase pathway. Our results suggested that DL0805-2 had good therapeutic effects on monocrotaline-induced PAH rat model. It intervened early in the disease process, effectively prevented the development of the disease, and reduced the mortality of the diseased animals. The mechanism is related to Rho-kinase pathway.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Deferasirox on the micro-angiogenesis in narrow pedicle flap through Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition.

METHODS32 male rats were randomly divided into group I and II which were subdivided into Ia and Ib, IIa and IIb, 8 rats in each group. The rats were administrated intragastrically for 7 days with Deferasirox 100 mg/kg in group Ia and IIa, with the same dose of N. S. in group Ib and IIb. After that, narrow pedicle flaps were formed on the rats back. In group I, the subcutaneous vascular network was observed intraoperatively. The flap survival rate was recorded. In group II , specimens were collected at the distal end of flaps 3 days after operation. IHC and Western Blot were done to examine the expression of CD34, E-cadherin, Vimentin. The microvessel density was also calculated.

RESULTSThe subcutaneous micro-angiogenesis in group Ia was more exuberant than that in group Ib. The narrow pedicle flaps in group Ia survived completely, while the survival rate was 62.5% in group Ib (P < 0.05). The percentage of flap survival area for Ia and Ib was (100 +/- 0.00) % and (84.06 +/- 4.42)% (P < 0.05). The expression of E-cadherin in IIa was lower than that in IIb, while the expression of Vimentin and CD34 were higher in IIa, showing statistically difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDeferasirox can improve the flap micro-angiogenesis through inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition, so as to improve the survival rate of narrow pedicle flap.

Animals ; Benzoates ; pharmacology ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Triazoles ; pharmacology

Objective To discuss the clinical effect of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy(PELD) in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation and calcification.Methods The clinical data of 52 patients with lumbar disc herniation and calcification in orthopedic department of general hospital of Fushun mining bureau from June 2015 to June 2016 were retrospectively reviewed.The data included medical records,out-patient review,telephone follow-up was collected.The VAS,ODI and modified MacNab criteria were used to assess the clinical effects.Results There were significant improvement in VAS and ODI score at 6 week,6 months,1 year after surgery compared with before.According to the modified MacNab criteria,the rate of excellent and good result was 94.3％,the improvement rate was 98.1％.Conclusion PELD is an effective method to treat lumbar disc herniation and calcification,with advantages of less injury,rapid recovery,it is worth popularizing application in clinic.

UNLABELLED: OBJECTIVE To investigate the time-dependent expression of c-jun during the healing of incised wound in mice skin. METHODS: The expression of c-jun in different stages after the incised wound were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. RESULTS: There was a low level expression of c-jun in normal mice skin. Expression of c-jun was mainly detected in neutrophils from 3 h to 12h after injury. The c-jun positive cells were almost mononuclear cells (MNCs) and fibroblasts between 1 d and 5 d after injury. The c-jun positive cells were mostly fibroblasts between 7 d and 14 d after injury. The ratio of the c-jun positive cells increased in the wound specimens from 3 h to 12 h, peaked at 12 h, declined partially from 1 d to 5 d, and reached the peak secondly at 7 d, then decreased from 10 d to 14 d. The expression of c-jun was observed throughout the wound healing stages by Western blot with two peaks occurring at 12 h and 7 d after injury. CONCLUSION The c-jun may play a potential role in inducing apoptosis of neutrophils, MNCs and fibroblasts during skin wound healing, and it may be used as the marker for wound age determination.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Fibroblasts/metabolism* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Neutrophils/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun/metabolism* ; Random Allocation ; Skin/metabolism* ; Time Factors ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries/metabolism*