Objective To observe the effects of Radix Angelica Sinensis ( RAS) on depression be-havior and cytokines,TNF-αand IL-6,in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of depression model rats in-duced by chronic unpredictable mild stress ( CUMS) .Methods 32 adult male rats weighting 140-160 g were randomly divided into 4 groups: Control,CUMS,CUMS+fluoxetine and CUMS+RAS groups.CUMS procedure went on 5 consecutive weeks and during the last 3 weeks the rats in CUMS+fluoxetine and CUMS+RAS groups were taken RAS or fluoxetine via intragastric administration.After 5-week CUMS procedure, rats were subjected to sucrose preference test,forced swimming test and open field test.After behavioral tests were finished,all rats were anesthetized with 10%chloral hydrate (350 mg/kg,intraperitoneal injection) and then decapitated.The hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of rats were separated and ELISA was used to detect the expression of TNF-αand IL-6 in these regions.Results Comparing with control rats, rats exposed to CUMS showed decreased sucrose preference ratio((42±15)%),prolonged immobility time ((68.28±16.50) s),decreased crossing numbers (31.25±21.56) and increased TNF-α((206.14±30.53)pg/ml) and IL-6 ((369.51±103.81)pg/ml) expression in hippocampus and TNF-α((199.33±25.67)pg/ml) and IL-6 ((347.74±81.04) pg/ml) expression in prefrontal cortex ( P<0.01).However,RAS treated rats reversed the behavioral changes such as sucrose preference ratio((66±21)%),immobility time ((32.53±10.26)s) and crossing numbers ( 83.00 ±23.25 ) , meanwhile reduced TNF-α( ( 53.42 ±12.43 ) pg/ml ) and IL-6 ((93.84±13.19)pg/ml) expression in hippocampus,TNF-α((57.58±8.33)pg/ml) and IL-6((91.18± 17.37) pg/ml) expression in prefrontal cortex among stress rats ( P<0.01) .Conclusion RAS can amelio-rate CUMS induced depression behaviors of rats through regulating hippocampus and prefrontal cortex cyto-kines ( TNF-α,IL-6) .

Objective To investigate the involvement of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)-uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) pathway in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and whether berberine exerts its effects by regulating this pathway. Methods Male SD rats were divided into three groups: normal control group, high-fat diet group, and berberine supplement group. The rats in the normal control group were given normal diet while the rats in the other two groups were fed with high-fat diet. Rats in the berberine supplement group were concurrently given berberine (100 mg/kg body weight) once daily. After 16 weeks, the levels of serum, liver lipids, and serum aminotransferase were measured using an automatic biochemical analyzer. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the liver were measured using commercial kits. Histopathological changes of liver tissues were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and Oil Red O staining. The hepatic mRNA and protein levels of SIRT1 and UCP2 were assayed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or Western blotting. Results Berberine supplement could significantly decrease the serum and liver lipid contents in rats fed with high-fat diet. Meanwhile, SOD level was significantly elevated, but MDA level was reduced in the liver. The results of HE and Oil Red O staining showed that the hepatic steatosis was alleviated in berberine supplement group. Furthermore, berberine induced an increase in SIRT1 expression but a decrease in UCP2 expression. Conclusion The regulation of hepatic SIRT1-UCP2 pathway may be an important mechanism by which berberine exerts the beneficial effects in NAFLD rats.

Objective To investigate in vitro porcine myocardial shear modulus using real-time shear wave elastography.Methods Shear wave elastography was used on four in vitro porcine hearts.The probe was placed parallel to the long or short-axis of the heart on the anterior wall of the left ventricle,and myocardial shear modulus were measured in subepicardial,middle,subendocardial layers,respectively.Results Shear modulus of subepicardial,middle,subendocardial myocardium were (46.04 ± 17.07)kPa,(87.70 ± 29.67) kPa,( 115.73 ± 30.04) kPa,respectively,when the probe was placed parallel to the long-axis of the heart; whereas those were (78.71 ± 26.48) kPa,(77.08 ± 34.00)kPa,(70.69 ± 41.38) kPa,respectively,when the probe was placed parallel to the short-axis of the heart.Conclusions By using realtime shear wave elastography,the shear modulus values measured in subepicardial,middle,subendocardial myocardium of the left ventricle are different,even myocardium in the same location appears different shear modulus values when the probe orientation are different.

AIM: To determine the optimal protocol and condition in which macaca irus mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are induced to differentiate into neuron-like cells by cryptotanshinone in vitro. METHODS: MSCs from macaca irus bone marrow were generated in vitro and induced with cryptotanshinone. The morphological changes of MSCs were evaluated by microscope. The positive percentages of neurofilament (NF), neuron specific enolase (NSE) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression were measured by immunocytochemistry with ABC staining. RESULTS: The result showed that MSCs were positive for CD29, CD44, CD105, CD166, and negative for CD34, CD71, CD80 and CD86. After induced with cryptotanshinone, MSCs began to display neuronal morphologies, such as contracted multipolar cell body and formed extensive networks. The percentages of positive NSE, NF expression were 68.3%?3.5%, 70.3%?1.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Macaca irus MSCs could be induced to differentiate into neuron-like cells in vitro by cryptotanshinone and might be applied in cell transplantation and gene therapy in nervous system disorders.

Objective To prospectively investigate the association between serum uric acid concentration and the risk of brain infarction in Chinese adults.Methods In this prospective cohort study,a total of 95 738 participants (aged 18-98 years old) were included and were categorized into sex-specific quintiles according to serum uric acid concentration which were collected during 2006-2007 by health examinations.The study was followed up for an average of 4 years.We used Cox regression models to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and their 95％ confidence intervals (CI).Results (1) Higher concentrations of serum uric acid were associated with older age,obesity,higher blood pressure,higher serum concentrations of total cholesterol,triglycerides,and high sensitivity C-reactive protein,smoking,alcohol drinking,history of hypertension,hyperlipidemia and atrial fibrillation,and antihypertensive medication use.(2) The incidence of brain infarction for sex-specific quintiles were 0.84％ (33/3913),0.35％ (14/3985),0.44％(17/3888),0.54％ (21/3909),0.91％ (35/3860) in women (x2 =15.676,P =0.003) and 1.18％(180/15 238),1.26％ (191/15 170),1.11％ (170/15 323),1.45％ (221/15 216),1.82％ (277/15 236)in men (x2 =36.641,P =0.000).(3) After adjusting for potential confounders,including age,body mass index,blood pressure,fasting plasma glucose,total cholesterol,triglyceride,smoking,alcohol,and medical history of major chronic conditions and antihypertensive medication use,the HR (95％ CI) of brain infarction across serum uric acid quintiles were 2.06 (1.14-3.72),0.91 (0.45-1.84),1.00 (ref),1.11 (0.58-2.09),1.31(0.73-2.34) in women and 1.07 (0.86-1.34),1.02 (0.47-2.25),1.00 (ref),1.23(1.00-1.52),1.24(1.01-1.52) in men.Conclusions In this prospective cohort study,we find a U-shaped relationship between serum uric acid concentrations and brain infarction,a higher risk of developing brain infarction in association with low or high serum uric acid concentrations.Women with lowest or highest serum uric acid concentrations and men with higher serum uric acid concentrations are more likely to develop brain infarction.This probably because women have lower serum uric acid concentrations relative to men.Confirmation of our findings in larger cohorts with longer follow-up duration is warranted.

Objective To establish the method of combined hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) with epidermal growth factor (EGF) cultured human gallbladder epithelial cells(HGBECs) in vitro .Methods The epithelial layer was peeled away from human gallbladder ,epithelial layer were digested with collagenase Ⅳ and scraped repeatedly .HGBECs were isolated and seeded in cell cul-ture plates containing medium supplemented with or without 10 ng/mL EGF or with 10 ng/mL HGF and 10 ng/mL EGF respec-tively .Then the morphologic changes of the cells were observed and taken photos with inverted phase contrast microscope ,and counted number of cells ,MTT assay detected vigor of cells in different groups .Results The number of the HGBECs of the HGF+EGF group was obviously more than the EGF group ,the duration of the HGBECs of the HGF+ EGF group was obviously longer than the EGF group(19 .3 ± 2 .5)d vs .(14 .2 ± 2 .4)d ,P< 0 .05 .And the HGBECs of the group with HGF+ EGF had better cell vigor .Conclusion HGF combines with EGF added to medium can obviously promote the proliferation of HGBECs and prolong the duration and stabilize morphology of HGBECs in vitro .

Objective It's not clear why the severity of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) caused by enterovirus 71 (EV71) was varied clinically.In this study,the relation between the virus load of EV71 and the severity of HFMD was analyzed and the foundation for HFMD control and treatment were laid.Methods Two hundred and fortyseven patients with HFMD caused by EV71 from Jan.2012 to Sep.2013 in Xi'an Children's Hospital were enrolled and clinical data were collected,including age,gender,clinical symptoms,signs,routine blood count,fasting glucose,C-reactive protein and enterovirus.The EV71 virus loads of 247 patients with HFMD were measured by real-time PCR assay.Meanwhile,the effect of EV71 RNA on the severity of HFMD was analyzed.Results In this study,121 mild cases and 126 severe cases with HFMD limb shaking,fasting glucose,lymphocyte and neutrophil percentage were statistically significant between the 2 groups (all P ＜ 0.05).The counts of EV71 RNA from all of the 247 throat swab samples were more than 100 copies/mL,and the highest virus load was 1.1 × 105 copies/mL.The highest value of EV71 RNA was 9.32 × 104 copies/mL and 1.1 × 105 copies/mL in mild and severe cases,respectively,there was no significant difference between the 2 groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The results of EV71 RNA by RT-PCR are visualized and convenient.The virus loads of EV71 are not associated with the severity of HFMD,but further studies need to analyze.

AlM: To examine the retinal nerve fiber layer ( RNFL ) changes in early primary open angle glaucoma ( POAG ) by comparing the superior half of the optic disc with the inferior disc half.METHODS: lt was a clinical observational study. The study included 30 patients ( 39 eyes ) with POAG and 20 normal subjects ( 40 eyes ) . Visual field was tested by Zeiss Humphrey750 and the optic disc topographic parameters and RNFL thickness were measured by Zeiss Cirru HD-OCT. Collecting information included visual field mean defect ( MD ) , glaucoma hemifield test ( GHT ) , intraocular pressure ( lOP ) , C/D ratio and RNFL thickness. Data were analyzed by statistic software SPSS18. 0. The differences between two groups were assessed using t test.RESULTS: The differences of superior RNFL minus inferior RNFL thichness on the corresponding clock-hour locations were caculated in two groups. There was a significant difference in superonasal- inferonasal RNFL thickness between two groups (t=2. 526, P=0. 014), and there were no significant differences in the others ( all P>0. 05).CONCLUSlON: The asymmetry of optic disc hemifield RNFL is found in early primary open angle glaucoma patients. The superonasal RNFL ( 1 o’clock for right eye, and 11 o’clock for left eye ) is more fragile to loss than inferonasal RNFL (5 o’clock for right eye, and 7 o’clock for left eye) .

Objective:To study the relationship between the level of high mobility group protein 1(HMGB1)and the severity of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).Methods:A total of 150 children with enterovirus 71(EV71) HFMD admitted to Xi′an Children′s Hospital from April 2018 to December 2019 were selected as the study objects, including 100 mild cases(normal group) and 50 severe cases(severe group). Meanwhile, 50 healthy children during the same period were selected as control group.The level of HMGB1 in plasma was detected by ELISA.The clinical data and laboratory examination of the case group were collected.The factors that may affect the conversion of HFMD to severe were analyzed by single factor and multi-factor Logistic regression analysis.The risk factors of conversion of HFMD to severe and the correlation between the level of HMGB1 in plasma and the severity of HFMD were discussed.Results:The level of HMGB1 in EV71 HFMD children in the acute stage[(13 700±3 036)pg/mL] was significantly higher than that in the control group[(10 116±2 435) pg/mL]( t=5.913, P<0.05). After treatment, the level of HMGB1 decreased in the convalescence period[(10 658±2 349) pg/mL], and the difference was not statistically significant compared with the control group ( t=2.515, P>0.05). Blood glucose, white blood cell count and HMGB1 level in the severe group were all higher than those in the normal group (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis found that the levels of blood glucose >8.3 mmol/L, peripheral blood leukocyte >15×10 9/L, and HMGB1≥ 13 110 pg/mL were the risk factors for severe aggravation of HFMD in children.The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that when HMGB1 was 13 110 pg/mL, the Yoden index was the highest, with a sensitivity of 81.6% and a specificity of 72.0%. Conclusion:WBC>15×10 9/L, blood glucose>8.3 mmol/L and HMGB1≥13 110 pg/mL are the risk factors of HFMD.When HMGB1 is higher than, it suggests that HFMD may develop to severe.

The paper aimed to elucidate the specific impact of supramolecular chemistry on the Chinese medicine theories (CMT) in their modernization, after had summarized up the research status of supramolecular chemistry and analyzed the possible supramolecular forms of Chinese medicine (CM), as well as considered the problems in modernization of CM theories. On comparison of the classical chemistry that delt with chemical bonds among atoms, the supramolecular chemistry was rather concerned with varietes of weak noncovalent bonds intermolecules, and reflected the macro-apparent chemical properties of each molecules, and was the most appropriate chemical theories to explain the CMT and microcosmic materials. The molecules in the human body and Chinese material medica (CMM) formed supramolecules by way of self-assembly, self-organization, self-recognition and self-replication, with themselves or with complexation, composition, chelation, inclusion, neutralization etc. Meridian and Zang-fu viscera in CMT might be a space channel structure continuously consisted of unique molecules cavity that was imprinted with the supramolecularly template inside and outside of cells, through which the molecules in CMM interacted with the meridian and Zang-fu viscera. When small molecules in human body imprinted with macromolecules in meridian and Zang-fu viscera, in other words, they migrated along within imprinting channels of meridian and Zang-fu viscera on behavior of "Qi chromatography" impulsed by the heart beat, finally showed up on macroscopic the anisotropy of tissue and organ, as described namely as visceral manifestation in Chinese medical science. When small molecules in CMM interacted with imprinting channel on meridian and Zang-fu viscera, the natural properties and efficacy regularities of CMM was reflected on macroscopic. Therefore, the special representation forms of basic CMT is based on the macroscopic expression of "Qi chromatography" abided by imprinting effect regularities, and on whether the imprinted template of small molecules matched with cavity template of macromolecules in meridian and Zang-fu viscera, only is the adequate representation of supramolecular chemistry for them. The CMM materials is the mixture including single molecules and supramolecules. The compatibility for CM prescriptions can significantly change the function rules. Therefore in the study of basic CMT, we should pay special attention to the laws of supramolecular chemistry. It is the most essential differences of the CMT from the modern medicine which established by the laws of single molecular theories.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Meridians ; Nanotechnology