Objective To analyze the clinical features and diagnosis-treatment of pancreatic lymphoma presenting as acute pancreatitis.Methods The clinical records of 7 patients including laboratory findings were retrospectively reviewed.Some related medical literatures were reviewed.Results Seven patients presented acute abdominal pain.Laboratory findings revealed significant increase of serum amylase and lipase levels.CT scan of the abdomen or PET-CT showed a diffuse swelling of the pancreas or masses in the body or tail.Extrapancreatic spread such as bone,bone marrow,spleen infiltrate was found out in 5 patients.Of the 7 patients,6 were diagnosed as the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma,1 as the anaplastic large cell lymphoma.Six patients underwent systematic chemotherapy.Two died and the others received complete or part remission.Conclusion Pancreatic lymphoma is uncommon and represents a rare cause of acute pancreatitis.It needs to be confirmed by histopathologic examination.The standard treatment is not only for acute pancreatitis,but also for NHL including CHOP or CHOP-like chemotherapy.

Objective To explore the role of homocysteine(Hcy)on angiogenesis at peri infarct region after focal cere-bral ischemia in rats, to elucidate inhibitory factors of angiogenesis, and to establish a clinic foundation for clinical brain functional recovery. Methods Spragur-Dawley (SD) male rats (n=36) were randomly divided into three groups with 12 rats in each group including Sham Operation (SO) group, Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) group and MCAO+Hcy group. The rats in Sham and MCAO groups were intra-peritoneally injected with 5 mL/(kg·d) saline and rats in MCAO+Hcy group were injected with 2%5 mL/(kg·d) Hey solution from the same route. MCAO was introduced by intraluminal filament meth-od after 7 d Hcy intervention. Rat brains were harvested on the 7th day after MCAO. BrdU(50 mg/kg, as a marker of cell pro-liferation)was intraperitoneally injected three days before the rats were killed. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)was used to measure serum Hcy concentration in rats. Brain infarction size was observed by TTC staining. Immuno-fluorescence staining was used to detect the number of BrdU+/laminin+cells at the thalamus of infarction side. Results Se-rum Hcy concentration significantly higher in MCAO+Hcy group than in SO and MCAO groups(P<0.05). Brain damage increased and the number of BrdU+/laminin+cells decreased in MCAO+Hcy group compared with those of MCAO group (P<0.05). Conclusion Increased Hcy concentration in rats lead to more severe damage of cerebral infarction as well as to inhibit the angiogenesis at surrounding ischemia area.

Objective To observe the changes of STAT3 signaling transduction pathway and autophagy activity in human glomerular mesangial cells cultured in high glucose, as well as the effect of STAT3 on autophagy, exploring whether SAT3 further influence extracellular matrix proteins type IV collagen secretion through the regulation of autophagy. Methods Culture human renal mesangial cells under different conditions, STAT3 pathway was inhibited with specific blocking agent S3I?201 and siRNA respectively. The experiment was divided into: (1) Control group: normal glucose concentration; (2) High glucose group: divided into 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h incubation group. (3) High glucose+S3I?201 group: pretreated cells with 30 μmol/L S3I?201 (Selleck S1155) for 1 h, then incubation with high glucose for another 24 hours. (4) High glucose+STAT3?siRNA group: siRNA transfection firstly, then incubation with high glucose for 24 hours. (5) High glucose+S3I?201+3?MA group: pretreated cells with 2 mmol/L 3?MA (Selleck S2767) and 30 μmol/L S3I?201 for 1 h, then incubation with high glucose for another 24 hours. Western blot was employed to detect the protein of STAT3, p?STAT3 and autophagy related protein LC3, p62 expressions. The changes of autophagosome quantity was observed with transmission electron microscope. The extracellular matrix protein collagen IV expression was measured with ELISA. Results Compared with the control group, glomerular mesangial cells cultured with high glucose for 24h, the expressions of STAT3 and p?STAT3 increased (P<0.01), while the expression of autophagy related proteins LC3II/LC3I decreased. The expression of p62 increased and the number of autophagosome reduced under transmission electron microscope, which all indicated the decrease of autophagy activity (P<0.05). Blocking STAT3 signaling pathway with S3I?201 and STAT3?siRNA respectively, compared with high glucose group, LC3II/LC3I was up?regulated and p62 was down?regulated, and the number of autophagosome was increased significantly, which all indicated the increase of autophagy activity (P<0.05). Extracellular matrix proteins collagen IV expression of cells cultured with high glucose was higher than the control group (P<0.05), and the application of S3I?201 blocking STAT3 pathway caused type IV collagen expression to decrease (P<0.05). The application of the autophagy inhibitor 3?MA could convert the result and lead to an increase of type IV collagen expression (P<0.01). Conclusions High glucose could active STAT3 signaling pathway of human renal mesangial cell and increase STAT3, p?STAT3 expression. High glucose could inhibit autophagy activity of human renal mesangial cells. Inhibition of STAT3 pathway activation may reduce the inhibitory effect of high glucose on autophagy of human renal mesangial cells. High glucose leads to an increase of type IV collagen secretion of human glomerular mesangial cells. The activation of STAT3 pathway may increase type IV collagen secretion through negative regulation of autophagy, which eventually leads to diabetic nephropathy.

This study aimed to investigate the involved immunologic mechanism of pure total flavonoids from Citrus (PTFC) on the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). C57BL/6 mice were fed with high .fat diet for 16 weeks to induce the NASH model, and from the 7th week three dosages (25, 50 and 100 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) of PTFC were administrated intragastric for 10 weeks respectively. Serum TG, CHOL, ALT, AST were determined by biochemical assay, histopathological changes of the liver tissue were observed by HE staining, expression of RORyt and Foxp3 mRNA of the liver tissue was detected by Real-time PCR, and serum IL-17, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-4 were determined by.Cytometric Beads Array. As a result, we find that after the administration of PTFC, the in- flammation of the liver tissue of NASH mice was attenuated, liver function was improved, and the expression of RORgammat mRNA was higher in the liver tissue while which was lower of Foxp3 mRNA, the level of proinflammatory cytokines IL-17 and IL-6 decreased and the level of suppressive cytokines IL-10 and IL-4 increased. These data show that PTFC protects the development of NASH through regulating the Th17/Treg balance and attenuating inflammation.
Animals ; Citrus ; chemistry ; Cytokines ; blood ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; immunology ; prevention & control ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; drug effects ; Th17 Cells ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect mechanism of warm acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking therapy and its efficacy on insomnia by monitoring the level of brain neurotransmitters in the insomnia patients.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty patients with insomnia were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 65 cases in each one. In the observation group, based on the treating principle of warming yang and benefiting qi, acupuncture was applied to Xinshu (BL 15), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Baihui (GV 20), Neiguan (PC 6) and Shenmen (HT 7). Warm acupuncture was supplemented at Xinshu (BL 15), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23) and Yaoyangguan (GV 3). The treatment was given once every day. In the control group, estazolam tablets, 0. 5 to 1 mg were prescribed for oral administration, 30 min before sleep at night. The treatment of 14 days was taken as one session and 2 sessions were required in the two groups. The encephal of luctuograph technology was used to observe the sleep quality and brain neurotransmitters before and after treatment in the two groups and the efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 83.1% (54/65) in the observation group and 87.7% (57/65) in the control group. The efficacy was similar between the two groups (P > 0.05). In the observation group, after treatment, 5-HT and GABA/Glu were all increased compared with those before treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and norepinephrine (NE) was reduced compared with that before treatment (P < 0.05). The level of each index did not change significantly before and after treatment in the control group (all P > 0.05). The regulations of 5-HT, GABA/Glu in the observation group were superior to those in the control group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of warm acupuncture and auricular point sticking method for warming yang and benefiting qi effectively improves brain neurotransmitters and essentially improves sleep quality of the patients with insomnia differentiated as yang deficiency pattern.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; metabolism ; Serotonin ; metabolism ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; metabolism ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Yang Deficiency ; metabolism ; therapy ; Young Adult ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of pure total flavonoids from Citrus (PTFC) on the hepatic fatty degeneration, inflammation, oxidative stress and SIRT1/PGC-1alpha expressions in mice with non-alcohol steatohepatitis (NASH), and discuss the action mechanism of PTFC on NASH.

METHODMice were given high-fat diet for 16 weeks to induce the NASH model. Since the seventh week after the model establishment, the mice were intervened with 100, 50 and 25 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) PTFC for 10 weeks. The pathologic changes in hepatic tissues were observed with HE staining. The contents of TG, CHOL in hepatic tissue, as well as the levels of AST, ALT in serum were detected by using the biochemical process. The expression of SIRT1, PGC-1alpha and MnSOD mRNA in hepatic tissues were detected with Real-time PCR assay. SIRT1, PGC-1alpha protein and 8-OHdG expressions were determined with the immunohistochemical method. The SOD level in hepatic tissues was tested by the xanthine oxidase method. The MDA content in hepatic tissues was examined by the thiobarbituric acid method.

RESULTThe contents of TG, CHOL, NAFLD activity scores and ALT level in serum in hepatic tissues of mice in the model induced by fat-rich diet were obviously higher than that of the normal group (P < 0.010. The SIRT1, PGC-1alpha, MnSOD mRNA and protein expression in hepatic tissues were significantly lower than that of the normal group (P < 0.01). The expression of 8-OHdG and the content of MDA in hepatic tissues were obviously higher than that of the normal group (P < 0.01). After the intervention with different doses of PTFC, the NAFLD activity scores, the content of TG and the level of AST in serum were notably lower than that of the normal group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); whereas the SIRT1, PGC-1alpha, MnSOD mRNA and protein expression were obviously higher than that of the normal group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), with the significant decrease in the expression of 8-OHdG and the content of MDA (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOxidative stress/lipid peroxidation enhancement in in NASH mice induced by high-fat diet may be related to the changes in SIRT1/PGC-1alpha signal transduction pathway. PTFC could enhance the anti-oxidant capacity in liver, relieve the damage of reactive oxygen during the fatty acid metabolic process, and prevent NASH from the occurrence and development by regulating the SIRT1/PGC-1alpha signal pathway.

Animals ; Citrus ; chemistry ; Fatty Liver ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; genetics ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha ; Sirtuin 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

Acupuncture has remarkable effects of pain relieving and functional restoration on injuries of soft tissue and joint due to military training. As more and more attention has been attached to the impact of psychological states and biorhythm disorder on the fighting ability of military staff, acupuncture has found its place in treating chronic fatigue, combat stress reaction, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder as well as regulating circadian rhythms. The therapeutic effect of acupuncture in military training-related physical damage and psychological trauma has already been proved by numerous clinical practices and researches. It is held that using acupuncture as an alternative could not only save medical resources, but also enhance the fighting ability of the army. However, the current clinical studies is facing the problem of limited sample size. Therefore, randomized controlled trials in large scale and multiple centers should be further carried out toward military staff, so as to provide more speaking evidences to the prevention and treatment of physical and psychological diseases.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Military Personnel ; psychology ; Pain Management ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; therapy ; Wounds and Injuries ; therapy ; Young Adult

Through protein-protein BLAST of homologous sequences in different species in NCBI database and preliminary simulating molecular docking and molecular dynamics by computer software discovery studio 3.1, three amino acids R25K26K27 of natural human parathyroid hormone (1-34) with Q25E26L27 were mutated and the biological activity of the mutant peptide was evaluated. Result showed that: root mean superposition deviation RMSD value between PTH (1-34)-(RKK-QEL) and PTH (1-34) peptide main chain was 2.509 3, indicating that the differences between the two main chain structural conformation was relatively small; the interaction energy between PTH (1-34)-(RKK-QEL) and its receptor protein PTH1R had been enhanced by 7.5% compared to nature PTH (1-34), from -554.083 kcal x mol(-1) to -599.253 kcal x mol(-1); the number of hydrogen bonds was increased from 32 to 38; PTH (1-34)-(RKK-QEL) can significantly stimulate the RANKL gene expression (P < 0.01) while inhibiting the OPG gene expression (P < 0.01) in UAMS-32P cells; in the co-culture system of UAMS-32P cells and mouse primary femur bone marrow cells, PTH (1-34)-(RKK-QEL) stimulated the formation of osteoclasts (P < 0.01) and had a higher biological activity than PTH (1-34) standard reagents.

Objective: To observe the effects of Yanggan Lidan Granule (YGLDG), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on insulin resistance in guinea pigs with induced cholesterol gallstones. Methods: Eighty guinea pigs were randomly divided into normal control group, untreated group, YGLDG group and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) group, with 20 guinea pigs in each group. Except the normal control group, gallstones were induced by high-cholesterol diet in the guinea pigs. The guinea pigs in the normal control group and the untreated group were administered with normal saline. UDCA and YGLDG were given to the guinea pigs in the corresponding groups for seven weeks. Eight guinea pigs of each group were used to measure the glucose infusion rate (GIR) by using hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique. At the end the guinea pigs were killed and their gallstone formation was observed. Results: The gallstones in guinea pigs were identified as cholesterol stones by qualitative analysis through infrared spectrum. The incidence rate of cholelithiasis of the untreated group was 82.35% . The GIR of guinea pigs in the untreated group was obviously lowered down as compared with the normal control group. Compared with the untreated group, the GIRs of the YGLDG group and the UDCA group were obviously increased, especially in the YGLDG group. Conclusion: YGLDG may improve insulin resistance in guinea pigs with cholesterol gallstones by elevating GIR obviously.

Abstract: Objective　To analyze the nucleic acid detection results of severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and compare with the detection results of real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), so as to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of detection, and to provide data support for optimizing the nucleic acid detection scheme of SARS-CoV-2. Methods　According to the SARS-CoV-2 specific primer probe published by the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a ddPCR detection method for SARS-CoV-2 was designed. One sample was selected for sensitivity test after gradient dilution; six respiratory virus nucleic acid positive samples including seasonal H3N2 influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 positive samples were selected for specificity test; five SARS-CoV-2 positive samples were selected for repeatability test; in addition, 30 positive and 20 negative SARS-CoV-2 samples were selected for multiple clinical samples testing, and the results were analyzed and compared with those of qRT-PCR. Results　The ddPCR method can specifically detect SARS-CoV-2, and directly obtain the original copy number of the sample target gene to achieve accurate quantification; the sensitivity test of gradient dilution positive samples showed that qRT-PCR detected target genes in part of the 10-5 dilution of samples, and no target genes were detected in 10-6 dilution, while ddPCR detected all target genes in both 10-5 and 10-6 dilution of samples. The detection limit of ddPCR was two orders of magnitude higher than that of qRT-PCR, and the sensitivity was higher than that of qRT-PCR; in the comparison of the repeatability test results of the two methods, the coefficient of variation of ddPCR was 1.266%-11.814%, lower than 1.729%-26.174% of qRT PCR, and the repeatability was higher than qRT-PCR; among 50 clinical samples, 30 positive samples of confirmed cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) were detected by both methods, SARS-CoV-2 was successfully detected by both methods, and 20 negative samples of COVID-19 were detected by both methods, and the results were negative, with a coincidence rate of 100.00% (50/50). Conclusion　The ddPCR method can accurately quantify SARS-CoV-2 with strong specificity, and its sensitivity and repeatability are higher than those of qRT-PCR, but it also has certain detection limitations and is more suitable for the detection of low load samples. In the actual detection, the two methods can be reasonably combined to improve the detection accuracy.