The purpose of this study was to investigate how Zuogui pills from the Kidney-tonifying and Nourishing Yin formula, in combination with the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonist cetrorelix, affected the ovarian local oxidative stress response in decreasing ovarian reserve (DOR) mice. All animal experiments were carried out in accordance with the guidelines and standards established by Jinan University's Experimental Animal Management Committee. Cyclophosphamide (CTX)-treated DOR mice were given Zuogui pills, cetrorelix, or a combination of the two drugs intragastrically. After treatment, there were changes in the estrous cycle, serum sex hormone levels, oxidative stress-related indexes, growth biochemical factor levels, and SIRT1/P53/P21 expression. In comparison to the model group, the Zuogui pills and the cetrorelix+Zuogui pills group had significantly prolonged estrous periods and shortened interestrous periods, and the cetrorelix+Zuogui pills group had a significantly shortened cycle length. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) decreased and estradiol (E₂) increased in all treatment groups compared to the model group, oxidative stress indexes nitric oxide synthase (NOS), nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) decreased, growth biochemical factors brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9) concentrations increased significantly, and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) showed no significant change. SIRT1/P53/P21 immunohistochemical results revealed that, when compared to the model group, the expression of SIRT1 increased while the expression of P53 and P21 proteins decreased in all treatment groups, with the cetrorelix+Zuogui pills group having the largest decrease, with significant differences in all indicators. We conclude that cetrorelix combined with Zuogui pills for kidney nourishing and Yin recipe improved the oxidative stress response in the follicle by regulating the SIRT1/P53/P21 pathway, reducing peroxide product production, protecting ovarian function, and regulating ovarian hormone secretion, and its efficacy is superior to that of cetrorelix or Zuogui pills alone.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and aspirin treatment on the functions of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in children with Kawasaki disease (KD) and possible mechanisms.

METHODSBlood samples were obtained in 10 children with KD before and 7 days after the treatment by IVIG and aspirin. MTT method, modified Boyden chamber method and cell culture plate adhesion method were used to assess the functions of EPCs, including proliferation, adhension and migration activities. The plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) were also measured.

RESULTSThe functions of circulating EPCs 7 days after IVIG and aspirin treatment were significantly improved. IVIG and aspirin treatment significantly reduced plasma TNF-α and hs-CRP concentrations. There was a significant linear regression relationship between the reduced plasma TNF-α and hs-CRP levels and the increased functions of circulating EPCs.

CONCLUSIONSIVIG and aspirin treatment can improve the functions of circulating EPCs, possibly through reducing plasma concentrations of TNF-α and hs-CRP.

Aspirin ; administration & dosage ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; administration & dosage ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; blood ; drug therapy ; Stem Cells ; physiology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of different melatonin treatment regimens on the proliferation of neural stem cells (NSCs) and long-term histopathology in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD), and to identify better melatonin treatment regimens. METHODS: A total of 96 Sprague-Dawley rats aged 7 days were randomly divided into normal control, HIBD, single-dose immediate melatonin treatment (SDIT), and 7-day continuous melatonin treatment (7DCT) groups, with 24 rats in each group. The rat model of HIBD was prepared by isolation and electrocoagulation of the right common carotid artery as well as hypoxic treatment in a hypoxic chamber (oxygen concentration 8.00% ± 0.01%) for 2 hours. On day 7 after modeling, proliferating cell nuclear antigen/Nestin double-labeling immunofluorescence was used to measure the proliferation of endogenous NSCs in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) region in 8 rats in each group, and Western blot was used to measure the protein expression of Nestin in brain. On day 28 after modeling, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Nissl staining were used to observe the changes in the histopathology and the number of pyramidal cells in the hippocampal CA1 region in 8 rats in each group. RESULTS: Immunofluorescent staining showed that compared with the HIBD group, the SDIT and 7DCT groups had a significant increase in the number of PCNA+Nestin+DAPI+ cells, and the 7DCT group had a significantly higher number than the SDIT group (P<0.01). Western blot showed that the SDIT and 7DCT groups had significantly higher protein expression of Nestin than the HIBD group, and the 7DCT group had significantly higher expression than the SDIT group (P<0.05). HE staining showed that the SDIT and 7DCT groups had alleviated cell injury, and Nissl staining showed that compared with the HIBD group, the SDIT and 7DCT groups had a significant increase in the number of pyramidal cells, and the 7DCT group had a significantly higher number than the SDIT group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Both single-dose immediate melatonin treatment and 7-day continuous melatonin treatment can promote the proliferation of endogenous NSCs and alleviate long-term histological injury in the brain of neonatal rats with HIBD. A 7-day continuous melatonin treatment has a better effect than single-dose immediate melatonin treatment.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain ; Cell Proliferation ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Melatonin ; Neural Stem Cells ; Neurons ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the function of circulating endothelial progenitor cells and its relationship with serum concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) in children with Kawasaki disease.

METHODSTen children with Kawasaki disease and ten healthy children as a control group were enrolled. The peripheral mononuclear cells were induced into endothelial progenitor cells using Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium containing vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor. The proliferative ability, migratory ability and adhesive ability of endothelial progenitor cells were assessed by MTT methods, modified Boyden chamber methods and cell culture plate adhesion method, respectively. The concentrations of serum Hs-CRP were measured by latex enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay.

RESULTSThe proliferative ability, migratory ability and adhesive ability of endothelial progenitor cells in the Kawasaki disease group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). The serum concentrations of Hs-CRP in the Kawasaki disease group were significantly higher than those in the control group (87.1+/-30.2 mg/L vs 5.3+/-3.4 mg/L; P<0.01). The function of circulating endothelial progenitor cells was negatively correlated with serum concentrations of Hs-CRP in the Kawasaki disease group.

CONCLUSIONSThe function of circulating endothelial progenitor cells is decreased in children with Kawasaki disease, which may be associated with the abnormal expression of inflammatory mediators.

C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Child, Preschool ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; blood ; Stem Cells ; physiology

OBJECTIVEThis research aimed to explore the application of ARIMA model of time series analysis in predicting influenza incidence and early warning in Jiangsu province and to provide scientific evidence for the prevention and control of influenza epidemic.

METHODSThe database was created based on the data collected from monitoring sites in Jiangsu province from October 2005 to February 2010. The ARIMA model was constructed based on the number of weekly influenza-like illness (ILI) cases. Then the achieved ARIMA model was used to predict the number of influenza-like illness cases of March and April in 2010.

RESULTSThe ARIMA model of the influenza-like illness cases was (1 + 0.785B(2))(1-B) ln X(t) = (1 + 0.622B(2))ε(t). Here B stands for back shift operator, t stands for time, X(t) stands for the number of weekly ILI cases and ε(t) stands for random error. The residual error with 16 lags was white noise and the Ljung-Box test statistic for the model was 5.087, giving a P-value of 0.995. The model fitted the data well. True values of influenza-like illness cases from March 2010 to April 2010 were within 95%CI of predicted values obtained from present model.

CONCLUSIONThe ARIMA model fits the trend of influenza-like illness in Jiangsu province.

Humans ; Influenza, Human ; prevention & control ; Models, Statistical ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the potential risk factors of human infecting with Streptococcus suis.

METHODS1: M matched case-control study was conducted. 29 human cases of Streptococcus suis infection in the early phase were included in the case group, Patients' family members, neighbors and peoples who had worked together with patients to handle deceased or sick pigs in the last week were recruited as matched controls. There were 147 controls in total. Both cases and controls received questionnaire investigation including the ways to contact sick/dead pigs. Conditional logistic regression was employed to analyze matching data.

RESULTSAccording to the results of multivariate analysis, slaughtering (OR = 11.978, 95% CI: 3.355-42.756), carcasses cutting and processing (OR = 3.008, 95% CI: 1.022-8.849) sick/dead pigs were associated with cases related to human Streptococcus suis infection. The attributable risk proportion were 91.65% and 66.76% respectively. The other types of exposures to sick/ dead pigs, including feeding, selling, burying and eating, were not associated with the human Streptococcus suis infection in our study population.

CONCLUSIONSlaughtering, carcasses cutting and processing sick/dead pigs were important risky behavior for humans to be infected by Streptococcus suis.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; statistics & numerical data ; Risk Factors ; Streptococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; etiology ; microbiology ; Streptococcus suis ; physiology

Objective:To evaluate the consistency of the Gleason scores of PCa patients based on preoperative biopsy with those from postoperative pathology,identify the possible factors influencing results of scoring,and construct a risk scoring model.Meth-ods:We collected the demographic and clinical data on the patients with PCa confirmed by preoperative prostate biopsy or postoperative pathology and treated by radical prostatectomy within 6 months after diagnosis.Using paired sample t-test,we identified the difference between the Gleason scores based on preoperative biopsy and those from postoperative pathology,analyzed the demographic and clinical data on the patients for relevant factors affecting the consistency of the Gleason scores,and calculated and visualized the relative risk values of the factors through Poisson regression.From the continuous variables with statistical significance,we screened independent risk factors for the difference in the Gleason scores by Lasso regression analysis,established a risk scoring model,generated risk coeffi-cients,and evaluated the predictive ability of the model using the ROC curve.Based on the results of imaging examination with statisti-cally significant differences,we constructed a column chart by logistic regression and evaluated the predictive validity of the chart using calibration curves,decision curves and ROC curves.Results:The results of paired sample t-test for 210 PCa patients showed statisti-cally significant differences between the Gleason scores from preoperative biopsy and those from postoperative pathology(P＜0.001).There were significant differences in the body weight,BMI and PSA level as well as in all other factors but prostate calcification be-tween the patients with consistent and those with inconsistent Gleason scores(all P＜0.05).An 8-factor prediction model was suc-cessfully constructed,which could predict the consistency of Gleason scores,with a better predicting performance than the single indi-cator within the model.The nomogram exhibited a C-index value of 0.85,with the calibration curve similar to the standard one,the threshold of the decision curve 0.10-0.92,and the area under the ROC curve higher than other predictive indicators.Conclusion:Based on the demographic and clinical data on PCa patients,a risk prediction model and a column chart were successfully constructed,which could effectively predict the difference between the Gleason scores from preoperative prostate biopsy and those from postoperative pathology.

OBJECTIVETo describe the clinical and epidemiological features of dead cases with human Streptococcus suis infections, and to find the target population for preventing death and the related indicators.

METHODSEpidemiological investigation on human Streptococcus suis infections was implemented used unified questionnaires. Analysis on dead cases and survival cases (as contrast) was done.

RESULTSThe population with highest fatality rate was in 40-49 age group. 97.37% of dead cases had toxic shock syndrome. The mean interval from onset to admission was 0.76 days, and the mean course was 2.11 days. The progression among dead cases was faster than that among survival cases. Chief clinical manifestations of dead cases that are more frequent than survival cases are purpura (73.68%), diarrhea (50.0%), dyspnea (21.05%), conjunctival congestion (34.21%), etc. Renal impairment and liver involvement in dead cases were more significant than that in survival cases. No significant difference between mean incubation period, exposure rates of main risk factors in dead cases and in survival cases was found.

CONCLUSIONPreventing toxic shock syndrome might reduce the fatality rate. The target population for preventing death is aged > or = 40. Liver function and renal function testing might be indicators for monitoring the progression of human Streptococcus suis infections.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Streptococcal Infections ; blood ; microbiology ; mortality ; pathology ; Streptococcus suis ; physiology ; Young Adult

Aim To study the apoptosis of human hep-atoma cell line ( HepG2 ) induced by different polar parts of Arnebia euchroma ( Royle ) Johnst ( AE ) and to verify its anti-hepatoma effect by a mouse orthotopic liver cancer model so as to explore the anti-cancer effect of AE extract. Methods Firstly, MTT method and Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining method were used to detect the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of each polar part of AE on HepG2 cells, and Western blot was used to detect the expression of Bcl-2 apoptosis family proteins incells. Based on the above experimental results, the effective parts with significant pro-apoptotic effect were screened out for anti-in situ liver cancer experiments in mice, and the organ indexes, liver function indexes and tissue sections of mice with orthotopic liver cancer before and after administration were evaluated. Results With the decrease of the polarity of AE extract,the anti-proliferation and pro-apoptotic effects on HepG2 cells were enhanced, and the anti-proliferation and apoptosis-inducing effects of AE petroleum ether fraction ( AEP) were the most significant. When AEP dose was 1.56 (μg • L

Background/Aims: Direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) have been approved for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis. Nevertheless, the complicated comedications and their potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) with DAAs might limit clinical practice in this special population. Methods: The number, class, and characteristics of comedications and their potential DDIs with five DAA regimens were analyzed among HCV-viremic patients from 23 hemodialysis centers in Taiwan. Results: Of 2,015 hemodialysis patients screened in 2019, 169 patients seropositive for HCV RNA were enrolled (mean age, 65.6 years; median duration of hemodialysis, 5.8 years). All patients received at least one comedication (median number, 6; mean class number, 3.4). The most common comedication classes were ESRD-associated medications (94.1%), cardiovascular drugs (69.8%) and antidiabetic drugs (43.2%). ESRD-associated medications were excluded from DDI analysis. Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir had the highest frequency of potential contraindicated DDIs (red, 5.6%), followed by glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (4.0%), sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (1.3%), sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (1.3%), and elbasvir/grazoprevir (0.3%). For potentially significant DDIs (orange, requiring close monitoring or dose adjustments), sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir had the highest frequency (19.9%), followed by sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (18.2%), glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (12.6%), sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (12.6%), and elbasvir/grazoprevir (7.3%). Overall, lipid-lowering agents were the most common comedication class with red-category DDIs to all DAA regimens (n=62), followed by cardiovascular agents (n=15), and central nervous system agents (n=10). Conclusions HCV-viremic patients on hemodialysis had a very high prevalence of comedications with a broad spectrum, which had varied DDIs with currently available DAA regimens. Elbasvir/grazoprevir had the fewest potential DDIs, and sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir had the most potential DDIs.