Objective To investigate the expressions of Toll-like receptors and NOD-like receptor (TLR/NLRP) in septic rats with acute kidney injury (AKI) and influence of Radix notoginseng. Methods One hundred and fifty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were selected, and they were divided into three groups: sham operation group, model group and Radix notoginseng pretreatment group with 50 rats in each group. Sepsis rats with AKI models were established by cecal ligation puncture (CLP); only was laparotomy performed in the sham operation group without ligation. The rats in Radix notoginseng pretreatment group were given Radix notoginseng (3 g/kg) for consecutive 3 days by gastric perfusion before treatment, and the sham operation group and sepsis model group rats were given equal amount of normal saline by gastric perfusion. After their blood was collected, at each following time points 6, 12 and 24 hours after modeling, 10 rats in each group were sacrificed, and the kidney specimens were collected. The endotoxin levels were detected by limulus assay; the levels of serum creatinine (SCr) and urea nitrogen (BUN) were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer; serum levels of interleukins (IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); the expression levels of NLRP1/3 and TLR2/4 mRNA and protein in renal tissue were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western Blot, respectively; the pathological changes of renal tissues were observed by optical microscope. The 4-day and 7-day survival rates were observed in the remaining 20 rats in each group. Results The levels of endotoxin, SCr, BUN, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α and the expressions of NLRP1/3, TLR2/4 mRNA and proteins in sepsis model group and Radix notoginseng pretreatment group were significantly higher than those in sham operation group, and the levels of endotoxin, IL-18, and the expressions of NLRP1/3, TLR2/4 mRNA and proteins showed statistically significant differences at 6-hour after operation [endotoxin (kU/L): 61.3±25.7, 56.9±18.6 vs. 0.2±0.1, IL-18 (ng/L): 16.7±5.0, 13.8±2.9 vs. 10.6±2.8, NLRP3 mRNA (2-ΔΔCt): 6.3±1.9, 4.0±1.2 vs. 1.1±0.4, TLR mRNA (2-ΔΔCt): 5.7±1.3, 2.0±0.8 vs. 0.9±0.3, TLR4 mRNA (2-ΔΔCt): 4.4±1.2, 2.3±0.7 vs. 0.6±0.2, NLRP3/β-actin: 38.2±9.3, 26.1±7.2 vs. 18.3±5.1, TLR4/β-actin: 21.9±6.1, 16.2±4.4 vs. 10.9±2.8, TLR4/β-actin: 18.3±6.7, 12.0±3.9 vs. 7.5±2.0, all P < 0.05], the levels of SCr, BUN, IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 showed statistically significant differences at 12-hour after operation [SCr (μmol/L): 62.3±21.6, 38.1±13.9 vs. 36.0±11.9, BUN (mmol/L): 16.5±7.2, 6.9±2.6 vs. 6.8±2.5, IL-1β (ng/L): 37.6±10.9, 31.2±9.3 vs. 20.3±6.5, TNF-α (ng/L): 15.6±3.9, 10.2±2.8 vs. 7.3±2.1, IL-6 (ng/L):9.3±2.5, 6.8±1.7 vs. 5.0±1.3, all P < 0.05], the levels of expressions of NLRP3 mRNA and protein were obviously lower than those in sham operation group, and there were statistical significant differences immediately after 6-hour after operation [NLRP1 mRNA (2-ΔΔCt): 0.5±0.1, 0.8±0.2 vs. 1.6±0.5, NLRP3/β-actin: 8.0±2.1, 16.8±5.0 vs. 35.6±10.5, all P < 0.05], and the amplitude changes of the above indexes in Radix notoginseng pretreatment group were obviously smaller than those in sepsis model group (all P < 0.05); the survival rates of 4-day and 7-day in sepsis model group were significantly lower than those in sham operation group [4-day: 25% (5/20) vs. 95% (19/20), 7-day: 15% (3/20) vs. 95% (19/20), both P < 0.05], while the survival rate in Radix notoginseng pretreatment group was significantly higher than that in sepsis model group [respectively 65% (13/20) vs. 25% (5/20), 60% (12/20) vs. 15% (3/20), both P < 0.05]. Conclusions TLR2/4 and NLRP1/3 may be involved in the pathogenesis of AKI of septic rats. Traditional Chinese medicine Radix notoginseng possibly via regulating the expressions of TLR2/4 and NLRP1/3 can reduce the inflammatory response, in turn ameliorate kidney injury in septic rats and improve their renal functions.

Objective To investigate the effect of Pin1 novel depressor all-transretinoic acid (ATRA) in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.Methods CIA model mice were established,then the qualified ones were treated with ATRA and other medicines respectively.Paw thickness and volume were measured once a week in each group.The production of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum.Pathological changes of joints tissues were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining.Western blot was used to detect the expression of Pin1 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) between different groups.The measurement date were compared with single factor analysis of variance and independent sample t test.Results Compared with healthy control group,the paw thickness,volume and arthritis scores were significantly increased in CIA mice,compared with disease control group,joints swelling and arthritic score index were reduced in both treatment groups;TNF-α and IL-6 expression were significantly increased in CIA mice [(50.1±1.3) pg/ml,(67.6±8.3)) pg/ml] when compare with health control group [(47.1±0.6) pg/ml,(43.0± 5.2) pg/ml] (t=-9.0,P＜0.01;t=-6.9,P＜0.01),and both were decreased in treatment groups compare with disease control group (TNF-α,F=35.5,P＜0.05;IL-6,F=17.15,P＜0.01);HE staining study demonstrated that ATRA and Dexamethasone could significantly suppressthe pathological changes of joints tissues;Western blot assay demonstrated that the higher arthritis scores was,the more synovial pin1 expressed in mice,moreover ATRA and Dexamethasone decreased Pin1 and NF-κB expression in CIA mice synovial.Conclusion ATRA can successfully decrease inflammation scores and joints pathology damage in CIA mice via weaken the synovial Pin1 expression.

ObjectiveTo investigate the difference of ultrasound characteristics between pure mucinous carcinoma （PMC） and fibroadenoma （FA） of the breast. MethodsUltrasound data of 50 continuous patients with breast PMC from January 2012 to January 2021 and 100 continuous patients with breast FA from June 2018 to January 2019 in Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were retrospectively reviewed. The ultrasound characteristics of the two groups were evaluated according to the 2013 BI-RADS Ultrasound Atlas， and the differences in age， maximum diameter and ultrasound characteristics between the two groups were compared. ResultsThe median age of PMC patients was 47 years and that of FA patients was 33 years. The age of PMC patients was higher than that of the FA group， and the difference between the two groups of patients was statistically significant （P<0.001）. The median maximum diameter of PMC patients was 2.4 cm， which was greater than that of the FA group （1.8 cm）， and the difference was statistically significant （P=0.001）. Of the PMC， 70% （35/50） were irregular， 82% （41/50） were parallel to the skin， 92% （46/50） had no circumscribed margin， 72% （36/50） were hypoechoic， and 68% （34/50） had enhanced posterior echo. Of the FA， 69% （69/100） were oval or round， 98% （98/100） were parallel to the skin， 54% （54/100） had circumscribed margin， 98% （98/100） were hypoechoic， and 75% （75/100） had no posterior features. The differences in the above ultrasound characteristics between the PMC and FA groups were statistically significant （P<0.001， P=0.001， P<0.001， P<0.001， P<0.001）. There was no significant difference between calcifications and blood flow. ConclusionsCompared with the FA group， patients with PMC are older and the diameter of the lesions are larger. On ultrasound， the morphology and margin of most breast PMC still show the growth characteristics of invasive cancer. Meanwhile， the posterior echo of PMC is enhanced， which is a unique manifestation.