The effects of an aqueous extract of Dracocephalum tanguticum Maxim. (DtM ) on p, b.b-1/ H. Hct. ESR. ESR-kand EPT of rats were studied by ip route. The animals were divided into three groups: normal pressure control group (NCG ). iowpressure treatment group (LTG )and lowpressure control group (LCG ). A11 p,b. Het. ESR-k increased stignificantly in rats exposed to stimulated altitude of 6500m for 10 days (8h/day),and the platelet and the ratio of left to ri1ght ventricle weights were obviously decreased in comparison with NPG. The above parameters of LTG .except Het.have noobvious difference as compared with NCG, Het in LTG increased obviously but lower than LCG. These results suggested that DtM may be used as an inhibitory agent against the changes of induced-hypoxia blood rheology, decreased platelet and hypertrophic right ventricle. In addition,the observation of tissue morphology showed that DtM possesses sometherapeutic effects to injuries of lung. liver and kidney of hypoxia rats.

Objective To construct a full-length cDNA library of human normal kidney tissues and identify the quality of the library. Methods By using the template-switching mechanism at 5′end of mRNA technique to construct the library, a powerscript reverse transcriptase was used to transcribe, and a 5′-oligo fragment as an extended template was added to 5′ end of mRNA to enrich full-length cDNAs. After amplification, the ds cDNAs digested by sfi I and size-fractionated by columns were recombined into ?TripIEx 2 vectors. After package, the recombinant vectors were titered and the recombinant rate (blue/white) was determined,then the library was amplified. We identified the library using PCR reaction to determine the size of the inserts. Results The titer of cDNA library was 2.6?10 6pfu?mL -1, the rate of recombinant was above 95%, and the titer of amplified library was 9?10 11pfu?mL -1. The insert size ranged from 0.7 to 2 kb. Conclusion The cDNA library of human normal kidne we constructed is a highly efficient one and can be used for screening by probe and antibody to find the genes related to kidney diseases.

Objective To establish the analytical method for the fingerprint of Flos Chrysanthemi by HPLC and estimate the quality of Flos Chrysanthemi in various species from different habitats. Methods The gradient elution mode was applied in chromatographic separation,data can be treated by competitive layer neural network(NN) and pattern recognition be made for Flos Chrysanthemi samples of various species from different habitats.Results The analytical method of fingerprint for Flos chrysanthemi by HPLC was established,samples can be classified into five categories according to the recognition result.Conclusion The established fingerprint can be used for the identification and quality control of Flos Chrysanthemi.

Objective To study the relationship and clinical significance of hepatitis B genotype distribution in Xi'an City and clinical relative indicators.Methods The nested PCR was used to amplify HBV DNA in 389 serum samples from HBV infected pa-tients in Xi'an City ,then polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RLFP) was used to identify HBV genotypes.Results Among 389 cases of HBV Infection in Xi'an City ,58 cases of HBV B genotype accounted for 14.9% (58/389) ,326 cases of HBV C genotype accounted for 83.8% (326/389) and 5 cases of HBV B/C mixed type accounted for 1.2% (5/389).The gender ,HBeAg positive rate ,HBV DNA load level ,ALT and AST had no statistical difference between HBV genotype B and C with the patients(P>0.05);There was no statistically significant in the distribution of B and C genotypes between the pa-tients with chronic hepatitis B and HBV carriers (P>0.05) ,but it had statistical difference between liver cirrhosis and hepatocellu-lar carcinoma(P<0.05).HBV genotype C was easier to develop liver cirrhosis even liver cancer than genotype B.Conclusion The three kinds of HBV genotype B ,C and B/C exist in the HBV infected persons in Xi'an City ,with the genotype C as the main geno-type ,genotype B takes the second and mixed genotype B/C is minimal.The liver cirrhosis occurrence has a certain relationship with the genotype C ,which suggesting that the genotype C is more likely to develop liver cirrhosis.

Objective:To explore the clinical value of T 1 mapping/indexed extracellular volume fraction (iECV) quantified with cardiac MR (CMR) parameters, and its correlation with traditional indicators of myocardial dysfunction in aortic insufficiency (AI) patients. Methods:A total of 36 patients clinically and radiologically diagnosed with chronic AI in our hospital between May 2012 and February 2016 were retrospectively selected. All AI patients underwent conventional CMR protocol, native and post T 1 mapping. CMR parameters, such as aortic regurgitant fraction (RF), late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) mass fraction, myocardial extracellular volume fraction (ECV) and iECV. Based on the values of aortic RF, AI patients were divided into mild AI group (9 cases), moderate AI group (14 cases) and severe AI group (13 cases). The clinical characteristics were teased from the patients′ electronic medical records. Univariate analysis of variance was used to compare the measurement data of native T 1 mapping, post-contrast T 1 mapping, ECV, and iECV. LSD test was used for pair wise comparison between the mild AI, moderate AI and severe AI groups. Data about cardiovascular history, New York Heart Association (NYHA) heart function classification, and LGE were compared by chi-square test or Fisher exact test. The correlation between left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) and iECV was evaluated by Spearman correlation analysis. Results:There was no difference in age, sex, cardiovascular history among the three groups. Comparison of patients with different severity of AI in the three groups: (1) There was statistically significant difference in the LGE positive rate among the three groups ( P=0.023), while the myocardial replacement of fibrosis increased with the grade of aortic regurgitation. (2) There was no statistically significant difference in the measurement data of native T 1 mapping, post-contrast T 1 mapping, ECV among the three groups ( H=1.815, 0.929, 2.496, all P values>0.05), while the diffuse myocardial fibrosis tended to increase with the degree of aortic regurgitation. There was statistically significant difference in iECV among the three groups ( H=16.725, P<0.001). The measurement data of iECV in the severe AI group was significantly higher than those in the other two groups ( P<0.05). LVEF value was inversely correlated with iECV ( r=-0.649, P<0.001). Conclusions:Quantitative T 1 mapping/iECV can serve as a parameter to noninvasively identify diffuse myocardial fibrosis in AI patients of different severities. It changes with LVEF and can manifest the reversible stage of left ventricular decompensation.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common and serious complication of diabetes mellitus. Shionone (SH), an important triterpenoid compound in the root extract of Aster, might exert a protective effect in DN mice and high glucose cultivated glomerular podocytes. The current study aimed to unravel the underlying mechanism by which SH mitigates DN. We postulate that SH stimulates the expression of sestrin-2 (SESN2), a pivotal stress-inducible protein in the anti-inflammasome machinery. Methods: We utilized high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin (55 mg/kg intraperitoneal) for DN mice model, and high glucose (30 mM, 48 hours) cultured glomerular podocytes for DN cell model to evaluate the effect of SH. We also preformed experimentation on SESN2 deficiency models (SESN2 knockout mice and SESN2 siRNA in cells) to further prove our hypothesis. Results: The results demonstrated that SH effectively suppressed glomerular fibrosis, induced adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation, and inhibited NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) activation. Furthermore, our findings revealed that SH exerted its anti-inflammatory effect through Sesn2-dependent nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) nuclear translocation and subsequent activation of its downstream target heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Conclusion In summary, our findings suggest that SH serves as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of DN-related glomerular fibrosis. SH enhances the expression of SESN2, attenuates α-smooth muscle actin accumulation, and suppresses NLRP3-related inflammation through the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common and serious complication of diabetes mellitus. Shionone (SH), an important triterpenoid compound in the root extract of Aster, might exert a protective effect in DN mice and high glucose cultivated glomerular podocytes. The current study aimed to unravel the underlying mechanism by which SH mitigates DN. We postulate that SH stimulates the expression of sestrin-2 (SESN2), a pivotal stress-inducible protein in the anti-inflammasome machinery. Methods: We utilized high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin (55 mg/kg intraperitoneal) for DN mice model, and high glucose (30 mM, 48 hours) cultured glomerular podocytes for DN cell model to evaluate the effect of SH. We also preformed experimentation on SESN2 deficiency models (SESN2 knockout mice and SESN2 siRNA in cells) to further prove our hypothesis. Results: The results demonstrated that SH effectively suppressed glomerular fibrosis, induced adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation, and inhibited NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) activation. Furthermore, our findings revealed that SH exerted its anti-inflammatory effect through Sesn2-dependent nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) nuclear translocation and subsequent activation of its downstream target heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Conclusion In summary, our findings suggest that SH serves as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of DN-related glomerular fibrosis. SH enhances the expression of SESN2, attenuates α-smooth muscle actin accumulation, and suppresses NLRP3-related inflammation through the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common and serious complication of diabetes mellitus. Shionone (SH), an important triterpenoid compound in the root extract of Aster, might exert a protective effect in DN mice and high glucose cultivated glomerular podocytes. The current study aimed to unravel the underlying mechanism by which SH mitigates DN. We postulate that SH stimulates the expression of sestrin-2 (SESN2), a pivotal stress-inducible protein in the anti-inflammasome machinery. Methods: We utilized high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin (55 mg/kg intraperitoneal) for DN mice model, and high glucose (30 mM, 48 hours) cultured glomerular podocytes for DN cell model to evaluate the effect of SH. We also preformed experimentation on SESN2 deficiency models (SESN2 knockout mice and SESN2 siRNA in cells) to further prove our hypothesis. Results: The results demonstrated that SH effectively suppressed glomerular fibrosis, induced adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation, and inhibited NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) activation. Furthermore, our findings revealed that SH exerted its anti-inflammatory effect through Sesn2-dependent nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) nuclear translocation and subsequent activation of its downstream target heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Conclusion In summary, our findings suggest that SH serves as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of DN-related glomerular fibrosis. SH enhances the expression of SESN2, attenuates α-smooth muscle actin accumulation, and suppresses NLRP3-related inflammation through the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common and serious complication of diabetes mellitus. Shionone (SH), an important triterpenoid compound in the root extract of Aster, might exert a protective effect in DN mice and high glucose cultivated glomerular podocytes. The current study aimed to unravel the underlying mechanism by which SH mitigates DN. We postulate that SH stimulates the expression of sestrin-2 (SESN2), a pivotal stress-inducible protein in the anti-inflammasome machinery. Methods: We utilized high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin (55 mg/kg intraperitoneal) for DN mice model, and high glucose (30 mM, 48 hours) cultured glomerular podocytes for DN cell model to evaluate the effect of SH. We also preformed experimentation on SESN2 deficiency models (SESN2 knockout mice and SESN2 siRNA in cells) to further prove our hypothesis. Results: The results demonstrated that SH effectively suppressed glomerular fibrosis, induced adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation, and inhibited NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) activation. Furthermore, our findings revealed that SH exerted its anti-inflammatory effect through Sesn2-dependent nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) nuclear translocation and subsequent activation of its downstream target heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Conclusion In summary, our findings suggest that SH serves as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of DN-related glomerular fibrosis. SH enhances the expression of SESN2, attenuates α-smooth muscle actin accumulation, and suppresses NLRP3-related inflammation through the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Objective: In this study, we used HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells to study the effects of Compound Xishu Granule (CXG) on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and the cell cycle in vitro. We also used a xenograft tumor model to study the anti-tumor effects of CXG and related mechanisms in vivo.Methods: The effect of CXG on cell viability was measured using Cell Counting Kit-8 and a colony for-mation assay. The effect of CXG on apoptosis and the cell cycle was analyzed using flow cytometry. The in vivo anti-tumor effect of CXG was assessed by measuring the volume change in xenograft tumors after drug administration. The CXG anti-tumor mechanism was studied using western blotting assay to detect cell cycle and apoptotic associated proteins. Results: CXG suppressed HepG2 cell proliferation in a time-and dose-dependent manner in vitro. Colony formation experiments showed that CXG administration for 24 h significantly reduced HepG2 cell for-mations (P<.01). Flow cytometric analysis showed that CXG treatment for 48 h promoted apoptosis and blocked HepG2 cells in the G2/M phase. Western blotting results showed that Bax was significantly up-regulated and Bcl-2 was down-regulated in graft tumor tissues and HepG2 cells after CXG administra-tion, which increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. PLK1, CDC25C, CDK1, and Cyclin B1 expression were up-regulated. CXG had a good inhibitory effect on graft tumor growth in vivo. Conclusion: CXG has good anti-tumor effects in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, CXG promoted HepG2 cell apoptosis and induced G2/M phase arrest. In vivo, CXG significantly inhibited graft tumor growth. The CXG mechanism in treating hepatocellular carcinoma may be that CXG can induce abnormal apoptotic and cell cycle associated protein expression, leading to mitotic catastrophe and apoptosis.