Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bile Duct Diseases ; diagnosis ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cytodiagnosis ; Cytological Techniques ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Diseases ; diagnosis ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate performance of a biotinylated imaging probe 3a for targeted imaging of breast cancer cells.

METHODSUltraviolet absorption spectrum and fluorescence spectrum were employed to analyze the spectral characteristics of 3a. The fluorescence spectrums of 3a treated with different concentrations of glutathione (GSH) were obtained to determine the sensibility of 3a to GSH. Flow cytometry was used to determine the cellular uptake of 3a by MCF-7 cells, MDA-MB-231 cells and Hs 578Bst cells in the presence or absence of biotin, and the imaging performance of 3a in the 3 cell lines was assessed under an inverted fluorescent microscope. The toxicity of 3a to the cells was evaluated using MTT method.

RESULTS3a showed the strongest absorption peak at 510 nm, and its fluorescence emission signal was the strongest at 544 nm. As the concentration of GSH increased (0-6 mmol/L), 3a exhibited an increasing fluorescence signal at 544 nm. The cellular uptake of 3a was markedly higher in MDA-MB-231 cells and MCF-7 cells than in Hs 578Bst cells. The imaging studies showed that 3a had a good breast cancer cell-targeting property and produced clear images under fluorescent microscope. MTT assay demonstrated no obvious toxicity of 3a in Hs 578Bst cells even at the concentration of 20 µmol/L, but MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells exposed to 2-20 µmol/L 3a showed a lowered cell viability.

CONCLUSION3a is capable of targeted imaging of breast cancer cells mediated by biotin. 3a at the concentration of 2-20 µmol/L has minimal cytotoxicity to normal breast cells but can lower the viability of breast cancer cells.

Objective: To assess the risk of public health emergencies in Zhejiang Province, March 2021. Methods: An expert counsel was conducted to assess the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ) , enteritis due to norovirus, chicken pox and influenza by professionals in Zhejiang CDC, based on the information from infectious disease and public health emergency surveillance in Zhejiang Province, domestic health administrative departments, World Health Organization, and European CDC. Results: In March 2021, the risk of imported COVID-19 epidemic will be high in Zhejiang Province, and the possibility of local spread could not be ruled out. The possibility of a large-scale outbreak of enteritis due to norovirus and a small-scale outbreak of chickenpox in schools and kindergartens could not be ruled out after the new term begins. An increased risk of influenza epidemic is predicted in collective units such as schools and kindergartens, yet the risk of a large-scale one will be low. Conclusion High attention should be paid to COVID-19 and enteritis due to norovirus, and general attention should be paid to chicken pox and influenza outbreak.

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the protective effects of Sapindus saponins in spontaneously hypertensive rats, and the possible cellular and molecular mechanisms.

METHODSThirty-two 16-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomly divided into four groups (8 in each group): model group (placebo), positive control group (27 mg/kg of Captopril Tablets), Sapindus saponins groups (27 mg/kg and 108 mg/kg, respectively). Another 8 healthy Wistar-Kyoto strain (WKY) rats were used as the normal group. The animals were treated for 8 weeks. Blood pressure of rats was determined by non-invasive blood pressure meter (BP-6). Furthermore, the contents of angiotensin II (Ang II) in plasma and myocardial tissue were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the gene expression of receptor angiotensin type 1 (AT1R) in aorta was determined by quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The protein expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and AT1R in heart was determined by immunohistochemical staining. The protein expression of p-phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38MAPK) was determined by Western blotting. The contents of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in serum were determined by radioimmunoassay. And the histopathological and morphological changes of aorta and heart tissue samples were assessed semi-quantitatively by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) or Masson staining.

RESULTSThirty minutes after single or continuous treatment, systolic blood pressure (SBP) was reduced significantly in Sapindus saponins groups. And the contents of AngII, IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α in serum, the expression of AT1R mRNA, p-p38MAPK and TGF-β1 were significantly suppressed dose-dependently (P<0.05 or P<0.01). With the Sapindus saponins treatment, compared with those of the model group, the cardiac and aortic pathological changes were ameliorated significantly.

CONCLUSIONSOur findings suggest that Sapindus saponins might have protective effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of which might be relevant to the regulation of inflammatory responses mediated by p-p38MAPK signal pathway based on activated Ang II and AT1R.

Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Female ; Hypertension ; blood ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 ; metabolism ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects ; Sapindus ; chemistry ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

This study was purposed to explore the apoptotic effect of gambogic acid on Raji cells and the role of death inducer-obliterator 1 (DIO-1) in this process. Annexin V-fluorescein-isothiocyanate/propidium iodide was used to detect apoptosis of Raji cells. Western blot was used to determine the expressions of DIO-1, Bcl-xL, pro-caspase 3 and 2 activated subunits: P17 and P20. The subcellular localization of DIO-1 in untreated and treated Raji cells was checked by immunofluorescence and Hoechst 33258 double staining. The results showed that the Gambogic acid dose-dependently induced the apoptosis of Raji cells, downregulated the expression of Bcl-xL, upregulated the expressions of DIO-1 and pro-caspase 3, induced the cleavage of pro-caspase 3 and DIO nuclear translocation. It is concluded that gambogic acid induces the apoptosis of Raji cells through DIO-1 upregulation, nuclear translocation, Bcl-xL downregulation and caspase 3 activation.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Xanthones ; pharmacology ; bcl-X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of capsule endoscopy in children with small intestinal diseases with hematochezia as the chief complaint. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data and capsule endoscopy findings of 93 children with hematochezia who were admitted to Children's Hospital of Fudan University from May 2015 to January 2019 and underwent capsule endoscopy. According to the capsule endoscopy findings of the jejunum and the ileum, they were divided into a positive lesion group with 39 patients and a negative lesion group with 54 patients. Related clinical data and the features of lesion on capsule endoscopy were analyzed for the two groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, sex, duration of capsule endoscopy, gastric transit time, and small intestinal transit time between the positive lesion and negative lesion groups (P>0.05). The positive lesion group had a significantly lower level of hemoglobin than the negative lesion group (P<0.05). Hemoglobin level was negatively correlated with the rate of positive lesions on capsule endoscopy (r=-0.342, P=0.001). Among the 39 patients with positive lesions on capsule endoscopy, the detection of Meckel's diverticulum was the highest (41%), followed by inflammatory bowel disease (21%). CONCLUSIONS Capsule endoscopy has a certain value in detecting small intestinal diseases, especially diseases in the jejunum and the ileum, in children with lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
Capsule Endoscopy ; Child ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases ; Jejunum ; Meckel Diverticulum ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To observe the effect of tuina exercise on simple obesity in college students.Methods:Fifty-seven college students with simple obesity were divided into two groups according to the stratified randomization method.Twenty-eight in the tuina exercise group were trained in tuina exercise;while 29 in the auricular acupoint sticking group were treated with acuricular acupoint sticking.The tuina exercise group was trained once every other day,and 10 times made one course.The auricular acupoint sticking was replaced once every 4 d,and 5 times made one course.After 2-course treatment,the total therapeutic effect,weight,body mass index (BMI),waist and hip circumferences,serum total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were assessed.Results:The total therapeutic effect was 86.2％ in the auricular acupoint sticking group and 85.7％ in the tuina exercise group.There was no significant difference between the two groups (P＞0.05).After treatment,the weight,BMI,waist and hip circumferences were decreased and the differences were statistically significant (all P＜0.05).The waist and hip circumferences in the tuina exercise group were lower than those in the auricular acupoint sticking group,showing statistically significant differences (all P＜0.05).After treatment,there were no significant intra-group differences in TC,TG,HDL-C and LDL-C in the two groups (all P＞0.05),and the between-group differences were not significant (all P＞0.05).Conclusion:Tuina exercise has reliable effect in treating obesity.It can produce more significant improvements in waist and hip circumferences than auricular acupoint sticking.But no obvious effect is shown in blood lipid indicators.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of sapindus saponins on myocardial inflammation mediated by Ang II/ p38MAPK signal pathway and cardiac hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats. And also to explore the correlation of cardiac hypertrophy and inflammation.

METHODThirty-two 16-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were randomly divided into four groups, one with placebo as model group, one with captopril tablets (27 mg x kg(-1)) as positive control, one with low-dose sapindus saponins (27 mg x kg(-1)), one with high-dose (108 mg x kg(-1)). And another eight healthy Wistar-Kyoto strain (WKY) rats were used as the normal group. The animals were treated for eight weeks, and the indicators detected were as follows: (1) left ventricular mass index (LVMI); (2) the content of Ang II and hs-CRP in plasma were determined by ELISA; (3) the protein expression of AT1R and VEGF were determined by immunohistochemical method; (4) the protein expression of p-p38MAPK in myocardial cells was determined by Western blot.

RESULTSapindus saponins reduced LVMI, and blocked the expression level of Ang II, AT1R, p-p38MAPK, VEGF and hs-CRP in myocardial tissue. Vs the SHR model group, there were significant differences (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOur findings suggested that sapindus saponins could inhibited cardiac hypertrophy, the possible mechanisms may be related to the inhibition on inflammatory response mediated by Ang II/p38MAPK pathway.

Angiotensin II ; immunology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; drug therapy ; etiology ; immunology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Rats, Wistar ; Sapindus ; chemistry ; Saponins ; administration & dosage ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulation on endothelial function of sapindus saponins in spontaneously hypertensive rats by studying the reactivity on different vasoconstrictor and dilator, and the content of the active substances.

METHODForty 16-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomly divided into five groups, one with placebo as model group, one with captopril tablets (27 mg x kg(-1)) as positive control, one with low-dose sapindus saponins (27 mg x kg(-1)), one with medium-dose (54 mg x kg(-1)), one with high-dose (108 mg x kg(-1)). And another eight healthy Wistar-Kyoto strain (WKY) rats were used as the normal group. The animals were treated for eight weeks, and the indicators to be detected were as follows: (1) the response of thoracic aorta on different vasoconstrictors Ang II (1 x 10(-9) -1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1)), PE (1 x 10(-8) 1 x 10(-4) mol x L(-1)), KCl (20 -120 mmol x L(-1)); (2) the endothelium-dependent or non-endothelium-dependent vasodilation response of thoracic aorta on Ach (1 x 10-(10)-1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1)) or SNP (1 x 10(-8)-1 x 10(-3) mol x (L(-1); (3) the content of NO, 6-KPG1alpha, ET-1 and TXB2 in serum was determined by Elisa.

RESULTIn SHR model group, the response of thoracic aorta on Ang II, PE and KCl was increased, the endothelium-dependent vasodilation on Ach was reduced, but the effects on SNP was not obvious, the content of ET-1 and TXB2 was increased, and the content of NO and 6-KPG1alpha was reduced, Vs the normal control group, there were significant differences (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); in the treatment groups, the response of thoracic aorta on Ang II, PE and KCl was reduced, the endothelium-dependent vasodilation of thoracic aorta on Ach was improved, the content of ET-1 and TXB2 was reduced, and the content of NO and 6-KPG1alpha was increased, Vs the SHR model group, there were significant differences (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOur findings suggested that sapindus saponins protected the endothelial function in SHR, the mechanisms were relevant to the protection of endothelial function.

Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; drug effects ; physiology ; Endothelin-1 ; analysis ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; physiology ; Female ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Sapindus ; chemistry ; Saponins ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pathology, diagnosis and treatment of a patient with hemotidrosis.

METHODSCoagulation tests, coagulation factor activities, von Willebrand factor concentration, bleeding time and platelet aggregation were measured. The bloody exudates from the skin was examined under light microscopy. The involved skin area biopsy was examined histologically.

RESULTSThe bloody exudates contained all kinds of normal blood cells mixed with sweat-like fluid, rather than true-sweat. Histopathologic examination showed normal sweat gland structure without blood cells. The patient was successfully treated with propranolol.

CONCLUSIONSympathetic nerve activation in the vasculature might play a role in hemotidrasis, and beta-blockers might be an effective drug for treatment.

Bleeding Time ; Blood Coagulation Tests ; Humans ; Platelet Aggregation ; von Willebrand Diseases ; von Willebrand Factor