Objective To explore the clinical significance of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1)in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis(HSPN).At the same time compare the association between serum and urine MCP-1,to investigate the impact of the both on them in children with HSPN.Methods Serum and urine MCP-1 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in 50 children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP)(25 cases of them patients with renal injures),and 25 healthy children,the changes of serum and urine MCP-1 were compared;at the same time serum urea nitrogen,creatinine,urinary albumin,urine N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase(NAG),urine ?2-MG,24 hours urinary levels of protein were investigated in children with HSPN by analyzing the correlation between these indicators and serum and urine MCP-1;urine MCP-1 in HSPN group were measured in recovery period,and were compared with urine MCP-1 in HSP group and HSPN group in acute period.Results 1.The expressions of urine MCP-1 was significantly higher in HSPN group than those in HSP group and healthy controls(P0.05).2.Urine MCP-1 levels were associated with proteinuria in children with HSPN,but serum MCP-1 levels had nothing to do with HSPN.3.There was a close correlation between urine MCP-1 expression and urinary albumin,urine NAG,urine ?2-MG and 24 hours urinary levels of protein,but the expression of urine MCP-1 levels were not correlated with the serum urea nitrogen and creatinine.4.There was statistical significance in urine MCP-1 in acute and recovery periods with HSPN group(P

Objective To evaluate the respiratory mechanics and inflammatory status in elderly patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD).Methods The arterial blood gases (ABGs),respiratory drive and its derivatives,mechanics of respiratory muscles,resistance and compliance of airway,interleukin-8 (IL-8)and interferon-?(IFN-?)were measured in 42 cases withstable COPD and 40 subjects of normal control.Results The elderly patients with stable COPD had great changes in the following parameters while compared with the control group:peak inspiratory pressure(PIMAX) [(4.48?2.11)vs(6.10?2.91)kPa],maximum expiratory pressure (PEMAX)[(6.30?3.20)vs(9.15?93.30)kPa],0.1s mouth occlusion pressure(P_(0.1)) with its correction index,airway resistance,compliance,ABGs,the levels of IL-8[(218.46?91.14) vs (161.84?14.40)ng/L]and IFN-?[(2435.82?639.92)vs(1652.40?95.08)ng/L],which might aggravate the progress of COPD consistently.Conclusions The elderly patiends with stable COPD has marked changes in respiratory drive,airway resistance,and airway compliance,respiratory mechanic and inflammatory status.The intervention should be performed in the elderly stable COPD patients.

OBJECTIVETo explore correlation between lung and large intestine and the two meridians under pathological condition in the view of meridian theory.

METHODSNinety-six cases of bronchial asthma were applied palpation at the running course of 12 regular meridians under the elbow and knees and back-shu points. And abnormal reactions were recorded, the affected meridians and back-shu points were discovered.

RESULTSThe abnormal reactions most frequently appeared on the Lung Meridian, followed by the Large Intestine Meridian, the Spleen Meridian, the Liver Meridian, the Stomach Meridian and the Triple Energizer Meridian. And the unusual reaction of the back-shu points most frequently appeared on Feishu (BL 13), and Dachangshu (BL 25) and Pishu (BL 21) followed as the next two.

CONCLUSIONThe existence of correlation between the Lung Meridian and the Large Intestine Meridians under pathological condition can be proved through meridian and acupoint palpation on bronchial asthma patients.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asthma ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Intestine, Large ; physiopathology ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of triptolide (TPL) on the renal tissue of diabetic rats and its possible mechanisms.

METHODSSD rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (as the normal group), the diabetic model group (the model group), the low dose TPL treatment group (the low dose TPL group, TPL 0.2 mg/kg by gastrogavage), the high dose TPL treatment group (the high dose TPL group, TPL 0.4 mg/kg by gastrogavage). Equal volume of normal saline was given to rats in the normal group and the model group. Five rats were randomly selected from each group at week 4, 8, and 12 of the experiment to detect body weight, kidney weight, 24 h urinary albumin (24 h UAL), plasma glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), total triglyeride (TG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), white blood cell (WBC), and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The mRNA and protein expression of regulated upon activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) in the renal tissue was assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The renal tissue was pathologically stained by HE, PAS, and Masson staining. The glomerular and renal tubular interstitial lesions were observed at each time point. The glomerular sclerosis index (GSI) was observed by PAS staining, and the renal interstitial filrosis index (RIFI) was calcutated.

RESULTSCompared with the same group at week 4, the expression of 24 h UAL, RANTES, GSI, and RIFI at week 12 significantly decreased in two TPL groups (P <0.01). Compared with the same group at week 8, the expression of 24 h UAL, RANTES, GSI, and RIFI at week 12 also significantly decreased in the two TPL groups (P <0. 05, P <0.01). Compared with the normal group, body weight and the kidney weight obviously decreased at week 4, 8, and 12 in the model group (P <0. 01); 24 h UAL, FBG, TG, TC, HbA1c, RANTES, GSI, and RIFI were obviously elevated (P <0.01). Compared with the model group, 24 h UAL, RANTES, GSI, and RIFI also decreased in the two TPL treatment groups (P <0.01). Compared with the low dose TPL group, they were attenuated in the high dose TPL group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01).

CONCLUSIONTPL could not only inhibit the over-expression of RANTES, but also improve the glomerular sclerosis and renal interstitial fibrosis in the renal tissue of diabetic rats.

Animals ; Chemokine CCL5 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; metabolism ; Epoxy Compounds ; pharmacology ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; metabolism ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; pharmacology ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Kidney Diseases ; drug therapy ; Kidney Glomerulus ; metabolism ; Kidney Tubules ; metabolism ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats

This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of "Trichosanthis Fructus-Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus" (GX) on phlegm and blood stasis syndrome (PBSS) rats combining the methods of network pharmacology and experimental verification. Animal experiment ethical requirements were approved by the Ethical Committee Experimental Animal Center of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine (grant number: AHUCM-rats-2021070). Based on the HPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis and database, 69 chemical constituents of GX and 163 targets of GX for the treatment of phlegm and blood stasis-related cardiovascular diseases were obtained. Then, key targets such as serine/threonine kinase 1 (Akt1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 6 (IL6), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), cellular tumor antigen p53 (Tp53) were screened. Pathway analysis showed that the targets of GX in the treatment of phlegm and blood stasis-relate cardiovascular diseases were mainly involved in PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, sphingolipid metabolism, platelet activation, hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), ras-proximate-1 (rap1) and other signaling pathways. In addition, molecular docking analysis showed that apigenin, cucurbitacin D, linolenic acid and kaempferol and other key components had potential binding ability with Akt1, TNF, IL6, VEGFA and Tp53. In the animal experiments, compared to the phlegm and blood stasis syndrome group, GX could significantly improve the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, blood lipid, vascular endothelial structure disorders and reduce serum endothelin-1 (ET-1) level, increase serum nitric oxide (NO) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) levels, which could restore aortic endothelial function. In addition, the expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in aorta could be significantly reduced, which could improve the vascular endothelial injury of aorta. Western blot revealed that GX could significantly decrease the phosphorylation levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt in aorta. This study revealed the mechanism of GX in treatment of phlegm and blood stasis-relate cardiovascular diseases is consistent with the characteristics of multiple ingredients, multiple targets and multiple pathways. In addition, this study also clarified that the reversal of pathological of phlegm and blood stasis syndrome rats may be related to GX inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which could improve vascular inflammation and vascular endothelial function injury.

OBJECTIVETo explore the distribution rules of proximal and distal focus of muscle meridian region in scapulohumeral periarthritis.

METHODSThree hundred and six shoulder joints of affected side were selected in 216 patients of scapulohumeral periarthritis. Under the guidance of muscle meridian theory, with the anatomical characteristics of muscle meridian focuses, the frequency and location where proximal and distal focus appeared were calculated by palpation.

RESULTSThe percentages of the frequency that the focus of muscle meridian of Hand-Yangming, Hand-Shaoyang, Hand-Taiyang, and three yin meridians of hand appeared at proximal points of shoulder joint were 25.6% (1 146/5 657), 30.9% (1 749/5 657), 19.0% (1 075/5 657), and 24.5% (1 387/5 657), respectively, the focuses of muscle meridian region were Jianyuci, Juguci, Xiaoshuoci, Naohuici, etc. The percentages of the frequency that the focus of muscle meridian region appeared at distal points of shoulder joint were 31.77% (287/905), 23.2% (210/905), 10.9% (99/905), and 34.1% (304/905), the focuses of muscle meridian were Yangxici, Shousanlici, Yangchici, etc.

CONCLUSIONThe location and frequency of proximal and distal focus of muscle meridian in scapulohumeral periarthritis are closely related with the anatomical structure and biomechanical characteristics of the shoulder joints, thus new therapy for scapulohumeral periarthritis is implied.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Palpation ; Periarthritis ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Shoulder Joint ; anatomy & histology

Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Paraffin Embedding ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; Quantum Dots ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology

The individual intervention control of risk factors in high-risk population is one of key preventive measures of chronic disease.A total of 312 volunteers consulted physicians in one selected community.And 23 high-risk individuals of chronic disease were screened.The physicians customized the limit or requirement of diet,activity,tobacco and alcohol for each individual and made interventions of life behaviors according to the plans.The results showed that physical state of 20 (87％) of them converted from high-risk to health after interventions.Therefore customized control plan of individual risk factors is an effective control method of chronic disease.

Objective To investigate the relative percentage of normal cognitive function (NCF),age associated memory impairment (AAMI),mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the elderly,and the correlation between cognitive function and ApoE genotypes.Methods A total of 2666 elderly people aged ≥65 years (2132 males and 534 females)were divided into 3 groups according age:65-74-year age group (925 cases),75-84 year age group (1054 cases) and 85-100-year age group (687 cases).ApoE genotypes were determined in the controls and patients with AAMI and MCI.The degrees of fundus arteriosclerosis were detected in all subjects except for patients with AD.Results There were 867 cases with NCF,860 cases with AAMI and 782 cases with MCI.The incidence of AAMI was higher in 65-74-year age group than in the other two groups (42.0％ vs.31.1,20.96).The incidences of MCI and AD were higher in 85-100-year age group than in the other groups (42.5％,13.3％).The major degrees of fundus arteriosclerosis were Ⅰ+,Ⅰ-Ⅱ°,Ⅱ in subjects with AAMI (34.7％,x2=10.02,P＜0.01) and were Ⅱ °/ Ⅱ + / Ⅲ° in subjects with MCI (34.9 ％,x2 =23.39,P＜0.001).The APOEε4 allele frequency was significantly higher in patients with MCI than in the controls (x2=8.31,P＜0.05).However,no significant differences in APOEε4 allele frequency were found between patients with AAMI and the controls.Conclusions The incidence of AAMI is highest in 65-74-year age group,while the incidences of MCI and AD are highest in 85-100-year age group.Compared to patients with AAMI,the more serious fundus arteriosclerosis and higher allele frequency of APOEε4 appear in patients with MCI.

Objective To study effects of low molecular weight heparin on liver fibrosis and the serum levels of TGF-?_1 in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus.Methods 45 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus were randomized into control group(the routine strategy)and trial group(the routine strategy + low molecular weight heparin).The period of treatment is 3 weeks.Serum hepatic fibrosis indices before and after heparin treatment were examined by RIA,the levels of serum TGF-?_1 before and after heparin treatment were examined by ELISA.Results Hepatic functions became significantly better in trial groups,serum PⅢP and type IV collage levels and the levels of serum TGF-?_1 in trial group decreased significantly after treatment.Conclusions The mechanism of anti-fibrosis action of LMWH may inhibited production of TGF-?_1 in patients with HBV.