Objective:To discuss the clinical efficacy of treating lumbar muscle strain(LMS)with Tuina(Chinese therapeutic massage)plus Chinese medication hot compress. Methods:A total of 147 LMS patients were randomized into a Tuina group,a Chinese medication hot compress group,and a combined group,each consisting of 49 cases.The Tuina group received Tuina treatment;the Chinese medication hot compress group received Chinese medication hot compress treatment;and the combined group received the forementioned two therapies alternately.The three groups of patients were assessed using the visual analog scale(VAS)and Oswestry disability index(ODI)before treatment and after 2 weeks of treatment.A 2-month follow-up was also conducted to observe the relapse rate. Results:The VAS and ODI scores dropped significantly after treatment in all three groups compared with their baseline(P<0.05),and the combined group surpassed the other two groups in comparing the ODI score(P<0.05).The 2-month follow-up showed that the combined group had the lowest relapse rate among the three groups(P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared to each therapy used alone,Tuina plus Chinese medication hot compress can relieve pain,improve daily living function,and reduce the short-term relapse rate better in treating LMS patients.

Objective To explore the protective mechanism of glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK-3β) inhibitor TDZD-8 on acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) associated kidney injury in rats. Methods SPF male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 20): sham operation group (Sham group), ANP model group, TDZD-8 intervention group and TDZD-8 control group. The rat ANP model was prepared by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the bile duct; the same volume of normal saline was injected into the pancreatic duct of the Sham group. The TDZD-8 intervention group and the TDZD-8 control group were injected with GSK-3β inhibitor TDZD-8 (1 mL/kg) via the femoral vein 30 minutes before the model or sham operation; the ANP model group and the Sham group were injected equal volume of 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Rats in each group were sacrificed at 12 hours after operation to measure the serum amylase (AMY), blood lipase (LIPA), serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels and to observe the pathological changes of pancreatic tissues and kidney tissues. Ultrastructural change of renal cells was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Serum interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were evaluated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The activation of nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry assay. The protein expressions of GSK-3β, phospho-GSK-3β (Ser 9), tumor necrosis factor -α (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the kidney were determined by Western Blot. Results Compared with the Sham group, the serum and inflammatory factors levels of the ANP model group were significantly increased, the pathological damage of the pancreas and kidney tissues were severe, the histopathological score was significantly increased, the expression of NF-κB p65 was enhanced in the nucleus of the kidney tissue, and the expressions of GSK-3β, TNF-α, ICAM-1 and iNOS were significantly enhanced, and the expressions of p-GSK-3β(Ser 9) and IL-10 were significantly attenuated. Compared with the ANP model group, TDZD-8 pretreatment significantly reduced serum and inflammatory factor levels in the ANP model group [AMY (kU/L): 5.60±0.30 vs. 10.07±0.34, LIPA (U/L): 1 111.0±110.8 vs. 2 375.0±51.1, SCr (μmol/L): 47.38±1.48 vs. 72.50±2.43, BUN (mmol/L): 17.6±1.0 vs. 26.0±1.0, IL-1β (ng/L):195.90±5.50 vs. 332.40±38.29, IL-6 (ng/L): 246.10±26.74 vs. 385.30±32.19, all P < 0.01]; pathological damage of pancreas and kidney tissue (histopathological score: 7.1±0.4 vs. 12.1±0.3, 301.2±7.5 vs. 433.5±13.8, both P < 0.01) and ultrastructural damage of renal cells were alleviated; the expression of NF-κB p65 in the nucleus was significantly decreased; the expression of p-GSK-3β(Ser 9) was significantly increased, and blocking GSK-3β activity could inhibit the expressions of TNF-α, ICAM-1, iNOS and increase the expression of IL-10, while the expression of GSK-3β in renal tissues was not statistically significant. There were no significant differences between the TDZD-8 control group and the Sham group. Conclusions Blockade of GSK-3βactivity by TDZD-8 exerts the protective effect against kidney injury by inhibiting the inflammation signaling pathway in ANP. It can alleviate histopathological and ultrastructural changes in kidney injury, which protection mechanism is mediated by NF-κB and its related inflammatory mediators.

Objective To observe the pathological changes of pituitary tissue in rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis and to explore the mechanism of pituitary tissue injury in rats.Methods 24 SD rats were randomly divided into normal group (N group,n=8),sham operation group (SO group,n=8),and acute necrotizing pancreatitis group (ANP group,n=8).ANP model was established by retrograde injection of 5％ sodium taurocholate into the biliopancretic duct.The serum levels of amylase(AMY) and lipase (LIP) were detected by automatic biochemical.The serum levels of growth hormone (GH),adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH),thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured by radioimmunoassay.The pathological changes of pancreatic tissue and pituitary tissue were observed by the light microscope.The expression of Casepase3,Caspasel2 and CHOP in pituitary tissue were determined by immunohistochemical method.Results Compared to SO group,the serum levels of AMY(8679.16±307.60) U/L and LIP(9376.83±380.92) U/L were significantly higher in ANP group (P＜0.05).The serum levels of ACTH (0.92±0.41) pg/ml,TSH (0.14±0.06) pg/ml,and FSH (2.01±0.38) pg/ml were significantly lower in ANP group(P＜0.05).The expression of Caspse 3 (65.66±7.58),Caspase12(70.66±4.76) and CHOP(143.16±19.05) in pituitary tissue were significantly increased in ANP group (P＜0.05).The pancreatic injury was more severe in ANP group under light microscope (P＜0.05).The degree of hyperemia of pituitary tissue of ANP group was aggravated.Conclusion Pathological changes occur in rat pituitary tissues and endoplasmic reticulum stress injury plays a role in pituitary injury during ANP.

Objective To investigate the role of Toll-like receptor 4 ( TLR4 ) and NOD-like receptor 3 (NLRP3)inflammasome in the liver injury of acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) rat with obesity. Methods Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, ANP group, obesity group and obesity ANP group. The obesity rat model was established by continuously feeding high fat diet and the ANP model was induced by retrograde infusion of 5％ sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic duct. Rats were killed at 12 h after model establishment, and automatic biochemical immune analyzer were used for detecting serum AMY, LIP, ALT, AST, TG and TC. Pathological changes of pancreas and liver tissue samples were observed by miscroscopy and pathological score was recorded. The levels of MPO, CD68 , TLR4, NLRP3 and IL-1βin liver tissue were detected by immunofluorescence, and NF-κB and caspase-3 in liver tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results The serum ALT and AST in obesity ANP group were significantly increased than those in ANP group (233. 00 ± 34. 44 U/L vs 102. 83 ± 8. 90 U/L,388. 00 ± 41. 60 U/L vs 282. 00 ± 21. 06 U/L);and liver pathologic score was also significantly higher than ANP group (6. 66 ± 1. 21 vs 3. 33 ± 1. 03);and CD68 + /TLR4 +, CD68 + /NLRP3 +, TLR4 + /NLRP3 +, MPO, NF-κB, IL-1β and caspase-3 level were all greatly higher in obesity ANP than those in ANP group, respectively (24. 16 ± 1. 47 vs 6. 66 ± 1. 21, 25. 00 ± 2. 60 vs 7. 00 ± 1. 41, 14. 16 ± 1. 47 vs 5. 50 ± 1. 04, 35. 33 ± 6. 88 vs 20. 83 ± 2. 48, 58. 80 ± 6. 75 vs 37. 63 ± 2. 96, 50. 00 ± 2. 36 vs 35. 00 ± 2. 82, 66. 00 ± 4. 04 vs 55. 00 ± 2. 60); and all the differences were statistically significant (all P<0. 05). Conclusions Liver injury was more severe in ANP rats with obesity, which may be related to the fact that obesity may enhance the activation of TLR4/NLRP3 signal pathway and result in the release of more inflammatory factors.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common and severe disease causing multiple organ dysfunction. With the deepening of research on AP pathogenesis, it has been found that macrophages play an important role in the initiation and progress of AP. The systemic innate macrophage populations, such as the pancreatic macrophages, Kupffer cells, peritoneal macrophages and pulmonary macrophages, can be activated by inflammatory mediators in different stages of pancreatitis, triggering inflammatory cascade reaction and systemic inflammatory response syndrome. This review focused on the recent progress in the role of macrophages in AP.

Acute liver injury is a kind of acute liver damage induced by a variety of factors. Severe or persistent acute liver injury leads to the development of acute liver failure with a range of complications. The liver is rich in macrophages, including resident macrophages and monocyte-derived macrophages. The polarization of hepatic macrophages, the secretion of inflammatory factors, the activation of inflammasomes, and the interactions between hepatic macrophages and hepatocytes contribute to disease progression. In addition, with in-depth studies of immune cell metabolism, it has been found that metabolic alterations and metabolites of hepatic macrophages play an important role in regulating their activation and differentiation. In this paper, the mechanisms of hepatic macrophages during acute liver injury are reviewed.

Objective: To investigate the effect and underlying mechanisms of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor SB203580 on fetal lung injury in a rat model of acute pancreatitis in late pregnancy. Methods: Twenty-four pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats in last gestation were randomly(random number) divided into the SO group, APILP group, and SB203580 treatment (SB) group. APILP model was induced by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the biliary-pancreatic duct. SB203580 administration (10 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneal injection) was performed 0.5 h before surgery. All the rats in the SO and APILP groups received intraperitoneal injection of equivoluminal solvent at the same time point. Animals were sacrificed at 12 h after the induction of APILP, then the blood and tissue samples were harvested. Serum levels of AMY and TNF-α were analyzed. Histopathological changes of maternal pancreas and fetal lung were observed and evaluated. The expression and location of NF-κB in fetal lungs were detected by immunohistochemistry and MPO expression in fetal lungs was examined by immunofluorescence. The expression of p-p38MAPK, p38MAPK, TNF-α and ICAM-1 was determined by Western blot. One-way ANOVA and Tukey's multiple comparison tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: The levels of AMY and TNF-α in maternal serum were markedly increased after APILP [(7 871.3±623.5) vs (1 915.3±452.3), (193.8±25.4) vs (107.0±13.3), (P<0.05)]. Obvious pathological changes presented in maternal pancreas and fetal lung after the attack of APILP, and their pathological scores were significantly higher than those of the SO group [(12.44±1.08) vs (1.56±0.56), (2.50±0.53) vs (0.88±0.64), (P<0.05)]. The number of NF-κB and MPO positive cells in fetal lungs were significantly higher than those in the SO group [(150.63±34.58) vs(29.50±8.80), (53.38±8.30) vs (11.75±3.33); P<0.05)]. In addition, the expression and nuclear translocation were pervasive in fetal lungs in the APILP group. Furthermore, the levels of p-p38MAPK [(0.6367±0.0386) vs (0.2282±0.0220)], TNF-α [(0.6313±0.0395) vs (0.0725±0.0076)], ICAM-1 [(0.8958±0.0776) vs (0.1372±0.0388)] and HMGB1 [(0.6478±0.0209) vs (0.2825±0.0533)] expression in fetal lungs were significantly increased after the establishment of APILP model (P<0.05). However, with the pre-administration of SB203580, the pathological scores of maternal pancreases (9.38±1.58) and fetal lungs (1.63±0.52) were decreased significantly (P<0.05), as well as the levels of AMY (4162.1±642.1) and TNF-α (139.6±21.1) in maternal serum (P<0.05). The number of NF-κB (93.00±18.88) and MPO (27.38±4.75) positive cells in fetal lungs were dramatically reduced (P<0.05) and fewer nuclear translocation was observed in the SB group. Interestingly, the expression levels of p-p38MAPK (0.2578±0.0170), TNF-α (0.3240±0.0326), ICAM-1 (0.4177±0.0823) and HMGB1 (0.4923±0.0457) in fetal lungs were markedly decreased with the treatment of SB203580 (P<0.05). Conclusions P38MAPK and its downstream inflammatory signaling pathway were involved in the process of APILP-related fetal lung injury; SB203580 administration could significantly attenuate fetal lung injury induced by APILP, which may be closely related to the inhibition of p38MAPK phosphorylation and inflammatory cascade caused by the activation of downstream signal pathways.