Objective:To explore the expression and clinical meaning of plasma soluble receptor of advanced glycation end product (sRAGE) in patients with gestational hypertension heart disease.Methods:Our research included in 2 groups:Observation group,n=57 patients with gestational hypertension heart disease who were diagnosed and treated in our hospital from 2013-06 to 2016-07;Control group,n=57 healthy pregnant women at the same period of time.Based on cardiac function,the patients in Observation group was divided into 4 subgroups as NYHA Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and ⅣV;according to 28-day surviving,the patients were divided into another set of 2 subgroups as Survival subgroup,n=49 and Death subgroup,n=8.Plasma levels of sRAGE and BNP were examined within 24h of admission.The changes of sRAGE were compared among different groups and the impact of sRAGE on gestational hypertension heart disease prognosis was analyzed.Results:Compared with Control group,Observation group had increased plasma sRAGE (939.2±184.3) pg/mL vs (467.3±116.2) pg/mL,P＜0.05;sRAGE level was positively related to NYHA grading (r=0.76,P＜0.001),sRAGE had an elevating trend upon NYHA grade increasing accordingly,P＜0.05.Compared with Survival subgroup,Death subgroup had increased plasma sRAGE (1647.6±249.7) pg/mL vs (776.9±146.2) pg/mL,P＜0.05.The areas of sRAGE and BNP under ROC curve were 0.91 and 0.88 respectively,P＜0.05.Conclusion:Plasma sRAGE was increased in patients with gestational hypertension heart disease;it was related to severity of heart failure (HF) and could be used for predicting the early prognosis in HF patients.

Multilateral mechanisms are important platforms and vehicles for cooperation in traditional medicine.Relying on multilateral platforms,China is able to enhance the international influence of the domestic traditional Chinese medicine and form synergies with other member countries to enhance regional or cross-regional radiation effects in order to promote sustainable development of traditional medicine around the world.This paper focuses on China's participation in major multilateral health cooperation mechanisms,including global initiatives(WHO-led global cooperation framework,the Belt and Road Initiative),regional multilateral mechanisms(ASEAN countries,China-Japan-Korea Health Cooperation Mechanism,Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO),The Greater Mekong Subregion(GMS)),and cross-regional multilateral mechanisms(BRICS,Forum On China-Africa Cooperation(FOCAC),G20),and sorts out the cooperation policies and actions in traditional medicine under different mechanisms,to analyze the characteristics and challenges of the existing mechanisms in traditional medicine cooperation,and to provide evidence for China's promotion on multilateral cooperation in traditional medicine.

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between blood pressure control status and patients' knowledge on hypertension prevention and control among hypertensive patients.

METHODSA total of 726 hypertensives were selected from four community health service centers (2 urban and 2 rural) in Beijing. All subjects were investigated by questionnaires and their blood pressures were measured at the same time.

RESULTSThe rate for blood pressure under control (< 140/90 mm Hg, 1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) in the rural and urban patients were 46.4% and 23.9% respectively. The control rate increased with the increase of patients' knowledge on prevention and control of hypertension in both urban and rural patients. The cumulative effect of knowledge on hypertension control status could contribute 30.0% to the difference in hypertension control rate between rural and urban patients.

CONCLUSIONPatients' knowledge on hypertension control was significantly related to the rate on hypertension control. Health education should be helpful to improve the rate on hypertension control.

Aged ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; China ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Outpatients ; education ; Patient Education as Topic ; organization & administration ; Rural Population ; Social Class ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Treatment Outcome ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Notoginseng Radix on hepatic expression of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in rats with alcoholic liver disease (ALD), in order to discuss its protective effect on alcoholic cirrhosis.

METHODFifty SD male rats were divided into the normal control group, the model group, the high-dose and low-dose Notoginseng Radix groups (3.0, 12.0 g x kg(-1)) and the magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate group (24 mg x kg(-1)), with 10 rats in each group. Apart from the control group, other groups were administered with ethanol-cornoil-pyrazole for 14 weeks to establish the alcoholic liver disease model. During the establishment of the model, the high-dose and low-dose Notoginseng Radix groups were administered with 12 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) Notoginseng Radix for 14 weeks, once everyday. Efforts were made to detect liver function, pathology with Masson staining, and the expressions of TGF-beta1, Smad3, Smad7 and CTGF mRNA.

RESULTCompared with the rats in model group, rats in Notoginseng Radix groups showed significant reduction in liver ALT, AST, collagen fiber deposition, and TGF-beta1, Smad3 and CTGF mRNA expressions in liver tissues, with the increase in the expression quantity of Smad7 mRNA. There were differences between the Notoginseng Radix groups. No significant difference was observed between the high-dose Notoginseng Radix group and the magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate group.

CONCLUSIONNotoginseng Radix can affect TGF-beta1/Smads signaling pathway and reduce the expression of CTGF.

Animals ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Smad3 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Smad7 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Schistosoma japonicum cysteine protease inhibitor (rSjCystatin) for treatment of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis in mice.

METHODSAfter a week of adaptive feeding, 54 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal control group (group A), sepsis group (group B), and rSjCystatin intervention group (group C). The mice in group A received an intraperitoneal injection of PBS (100 µL), and those in groups B and C were injected with PBS (100 µL) containing LPS (10 mg/kg); the mice in group C were also intraperitoneally injected with 25 µg sjCystatin in 100 µL PBS 30 min after LPS injection. From each group, 10 mice were randomly selected 24 h after PBS or LPS injection for detecting serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 using ELISA and the levels of ALT, AST, BUN, and Cr using automatic biochemical analyzer; the pathological changes in the liver, lung and kidney were observed with HE staining. The remaining 8 mice in each group were used for observing the changes in the general condition and the 72-h survival.

RESULTSThe 72-h survival rates of the mice was 100% in group A, 0 in group B, and 36% in group C, showing a significant difference among the 3 groups (P<0.05). Compared with those in group A, the mice in group B exhibited obvious liver, lung, and renal pathologies with increased levels of ALT, AST, BUN, Cr, IL-6, and TNF-α (P<0.05). Treatment with sjCystatin significantly lessened LPS-induced organ pathologies, lowered the levels of liver and renal functional indexes and the pro-inflammatory cytokines, and increased the serum level of IL-10 in the mice (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSjCystatin can produce a significant therapeutic effect on sepsis induced by LPS in mice.

High expression of Bcl-2 is associated with the development of pancreatic cancer, and downregulation of Bcl-2 is an effective approach for the treatment of pancreatic malignancy. In the present study exosomes were isolated from the cultured medium of human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) by ultracentrifugation and exosome-coated Bcl-2 siRNA (exosiBcl-2) was synthesized using electroporation. The results showed that the particle size of exosiBcl-2 was 67.3 ± 9.7 nm and the morphology of exosomes displayed a concave ring structure as determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Western blot analysis indicated that exosomal proteins including CD9, CD81, CD63 and TSG101 were highly expressed. Confocal microscopy revealed that exosiBcl-2 was widely distributed in Miapaca-2 cells, and the transfection efficiency of exosiBcl-2 in Miapaca-2 was 77.2% as determined by flow cytometry. Treatment with exosiBcl-2 at a concentration of 100 nmol·L^-1 resulted in an inhibitory effect on the growth of Miapaca-2 cells with an inhibition rate of 63%. ExosiBcl-2 treatment can downregulate Bcl-2 and upregulate Bax protein. This study provides evidence that exosiBcl-2 is able to inhibit the growth of pancreatic cancer cells and the nanoparticles have potential to be developed as a novel anticancer agent.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Fuzi Lizhongwan alleviating the damage of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy （CIPN） mice caused by cisplatin based on mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） signaling pathway. MethodA total of 40 female KM mice were randomized into blank group （distilled water， ig）， model group （distilled water， ig）， Fuzi Lizhongwan group （3.5 g·kg^-1， ig）， and aspirin group （0.026 g·kg^-1， ig）. Cisplatin （3 mg·kg^-1， ip， 5 days） was used to induce CIPN in mice. Administration began while modeling and lasted 12 days. The general conditions and behaviors of mice were observed. After the last administration， samples were collected. Pathological changes of the soles were observed based on hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Biochemical assay was employed to determine the levels of serum superoxide dismutase （SOD）， hydrogen peroxide （H₂O₂）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， and nitric oxide （NO）， enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） the content of interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， and glutathione peroxidase-3 （GPX-3） in kidney tissue， and Western blotting the expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 （ERK1/2）， phosphorylated-ERK1/2 （p-ERK1/2）， p38 MAPK， and phosphorylated-p38 MAPK （p-p38 MAPK） in kidney tissue. ResultCompared with the blank group， model group demonstrated obvious pathological damage on the soles， hyperkeratosis of the epidermis with a basketweave pattern， atrophy of stratum spinosum， reduction of cells， and intracellular edema. Compared with the model group， Fuzi Lizhongwan significantly alleviated the pathological damage of the skin tissue of the soles. The model group showed lower body weight， mechanical pain threshold， thermal pain threshold （P<0.01）， and SOD activity （P<0.05）， higher content of H₂O₂， MDA， and NO （P<0.01）， and higher expression of IL-6， IL-1β， and TNF-α （P<0.01） than the blank group. Fuzi Lizhongwan group demonstrated higher body weight， mechanical pain threshold， thermal pain threshold （P<0.01）， and SOD activity （P<0.05）， lower content of H₂O₂， MDA， and NO （P<0.05）， and lower expression of IL-6， IL-1β， and TNF-α （P<0.01） than the model group. The expression of ERK1/2， p-ERK1/2， p38 MAPK， and p-p38 MAPK increased significantly （P<0.01） in the model group compared with that in the blank group， while the expression decreased significantly （P<0.01） in the Fuzi Lizhongwan group compared with that in the model group. ConclusionFuzi Lizhongwan can relieve the neurological injury of cisplatin-induced CIPN mice and increase the pain threshold of mice， possibly by regulating the MAPK signaling pathway and inhibiting inflammatory response and oxidative stress.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antidepressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Body Mass Index ; Depression ; microbiology ; Diarrhea ; microbiology ; Duloxetine Hydrochloride ; therapeutic use ; Feces ; microbiology ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Middle Aged ; Pilot Projects ; Probiotics ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; genetics ; Young Adult

Background: The exact relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) is far from clarification. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of GERD in a region with high prevalence of ESCC in China. Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in a high ESCC prevalent area, Anyang, Henan, China. All subjects fulfilled questionnaires and underwent gastroendoscopy with routine esophageal biopsy. The subjects were divided into GERD subtypes (reflux esophagitis [RE] and non-erosive reflux disease [NERD]) and controls. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to examine risk factors for RE and NERD. Results: A total of 2844 subjects were finally enrolled. The prevalence of GERD (RE + NERD) was 17.3%. Among them, 271 (9.53%) adults were diagnosed with RE. The prevalence of RE increased with age (7.09% in 45–50 years, 8.00% in 51–60 years, and 9.53% in 61–69 years, χ² = 62.216, P < 0.001). Sixty-seven (2.36%) subjects were diagnosed with the silent RE. A total of 221 (7.77%) subjects were diagnosed with NERD. Frequent liquid food consumption (OR [95% CI]: 1.502 [1.076–2.095]) was independent risk factor for RE as well as age, male gender, high body mass index (BMI), ever smoking. Age was independent risk factor for NERD. For silent RE, age, male gender, and frequent liquid food consumption were risk factors. Conclusions In the population with high prevalence of ESCC, a high prevalence of GERD and inverted proportion of RE/NERD were presented. Age was an independent risk factor for GERD. The male gender, high BMI, smoking, and frequent liquid food consumption may be risk factors for RE but not for NERD.

BACKGROUND: Functional dyspepsia (FD) has rarely been investigated in areas with a high prevalence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This study aims to reveal the epidemiological and clinical features of FD and organic dyspepsia (OD) in such a population. METHODS: A middle-aged and elderly population-based study was conducted in a region with a high incidence of ESCC. All participants completed the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire and Functional Gastrointestinal Disease Rome III Diagnostic Questionnaire, and they underwent gastroscopy. After exclusion of gastroesophageal reflux disease, uninvestigated dyspepsia (UID) was divided into OD and FD for further analyses. RESULTS: A total of 2916 participants were enrolled from July 2013 to March 2014 in China. We detected 166 UID cases with questionnaires, in which 17 patients with OD and 149 with FD were diagnosed via gastroscopy. OD cases presented as reflux esophagitis (RE), ESCC, and duodenal ulcer. Heartburn (52.94%) and reflux (29.41%) were common in OD, but no symptomatic differences were found between FD and OD. Male sex, low education level, and liquid food were the risk factors for OD, while frequent fresh vegetable consumption was a protective factor. FD included 56 (37.58%) cases of postprandial distress syndrome (PDS), 52 (34.89%) of epigastric pain syndrome (EPS), nine (6.04%) of PDS + EPS, and 32 (21.48%) of FD + functional esophageal disorders. The Helicobacter pylori infection rate in FD patients was not higher than that in the control group (34.23% vs. 42.26%, P = 0.240). Frequent spicy food consumption was associated with PDS (odds ratio [OR]: 2.088, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.028-4.243), while consumption of deep well water was protective for PDS (OR: 0.431, 95% CI: 0.251-0.741). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of FD was 5.11% in the studied population. Gastroscopy should be prescribed for dyspepsia patients in case that ESCC and RE would be missed in UID cases diagnosed solely by the Rome III questionnaire. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01688908; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT01688908.
Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Dyspepsia/epidemiology* ; Esophageal Neoplasms/epidemiology* ; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma ; Helicobacter Infections ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged