BACKGROUND:Troxerutin has been found to have a significant ameliorative effect on brain disorders,but there are fewer studies on the effects of troxerutin on the treatment of cerebral infarction and on neuronal cells. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the mechanism by which troxerutin regulates nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway to reduce brain injury and neuronal apoptosis in cerebral infarction rats. METHODS:Fifty clean grade rats were randomized into healthy group,model group,and troxerutin+nuclear factor-κB agonist group,troxerutin group,and nuclear factor-κB inhibitor group.Except for the healthy group,all other groups were used to establish a rat model of cerebral infarction by arterial ligation.The healthy and model groups were treated once a day with an equal amount of physiological saline by gavage.The troxerutin+nuclear factor-κB agonist group was intervened with 72 mg/kg troxerutin by gavage+20 mg/kg RANK intraperitoneally.The troxerutin group was treated with 72 mg/kg troxerutin by gavage.The nuclear factor κB inhibitor group was intervened intraperitoneally with 120 mg/kg nuclear factor κB inhibitor pyrrolidine disulfiram.Administration in each group was given once a day for 30 continuous days.Zea-longa was used to detect neurological damage in rats,hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe pathological changes,TUNEL was used to detect neuronal apoptosis,and immunoblotting and PCR were used to detect the expression of nuclear factor-κB p65 and nuclear factor-κB p50 at protein and mRNA levels,respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the healthy group,the neurological function score,neuronal apoptosis rate,nuclear factor-κB p65,nuclear factor-κB p50 mRNA and protein expression levels were elevated in the model group(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the neurological function score,neuronal apoptosis rate,nuclear factor-κB p65 and nuclear factor-κB p50 mRNA and protein expression levels were decreased in the troxerutin+nuclear factor-κB agonist group(P＜0.05).Compared with the troxerutin+nuclear factor-κB agonist group,the neurological function score,neuronal apoptosis rate,nuclear factor-κB p65 and nuclear factor-κB p50 mRNA and protein expression levels were reduced in the troxerutin group and nuclear factor-κB inhibitor group(P＜0.05).In addition,there was no difference between the troxerutin group and the nuclear factor-κB inhibitor group(P＞0.05).In the model group,there was a large number of cytoplasmic vacuolation,obvious edema and necrosis,and a large number of inflammatory cell infiltrations.In the troxerutin+nuclear factor-κB agonist,the swelling of brain tissue was reduced,and reticulate structures and condensed cells were reduced,still with some edema.In the troxerutin group and nuclear factor-κB inhibitor group,brain tissue swelling,neuronal edema degeneration,cytoplasmic vacuolation and neuronal nucleus consolidation were reduced,and the inflammatory cell infiltration was significantly decreased.To conclude,troxrutin can reduce the expression of neurological impairment,inhibit neuronal apoptosis and improve the pathological injury of brain tissue in rats with cerebral infarction,and its mechanism of action may be related to the modulation of nuclear factor-κB expression and related signaling pathways.

Objective:To investigate the mechanism of curcumin affecting HIV-1 infection co-receptor CCR5 by regulating transcription factor FOXP3.Methods:Binding sites of transcription factor FOXP3 on CCR5 promoter were predicted and analyzed by bioinformatics method.AutoDock 4.2 software was used to connect curcumin and FOXP3 flexibly.MTT assay was used to detect cyto-toxcity of curcumin on activity of Jurkat cells.qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect expression levels of CCR5 and FOXP3 mRNA and protein in Jurkat cells that were treated with different concentrations of curcumin.pcDNA3.1-FOXP3 expression vector was built and combined with the prediction results of transcription factors.The mutant CCR5 gene fragment was amplified by Overlap PCR,and the mutant CCR5 promoter recombinant vector pFireRluc-Mt-CCR5 was constructed.Binding site between transcription fac-tor FOXP3 and CCR5 promoter was verified by double luciferase reporter gene assay.Results:Results of JASPAR transcription factor prediction showed that there was a binding site between CCR5 promoter and transcription factor FOXP3;molecular docking results showed that curcumin could bind to the active region of FOXP3;MTT results showed that curcumin inhibited the activity of Jurkat cells after 24 hours,and the IC50 was 34.48 μmol/L.qRT-PCR and Western blot showed that expression levels of CCR5 and FOXP3 mRNA and protein were decreased in a dose-dependent manner after different concentrations of curcumin treated Jurkat cells;double luciferase reporter gene confirmed that FOXP3 could bind to CCR5 promoter,and the transcription factor FOXP3 could regulate the activity of CCR5 promoter;results of the recovery experiment of FOXP3 on curcumin showed that when the curcumin concentration was 60 μmol/L,relative value of luciferase activity in HEK293T cells with pcDNA3.1-FOXP3 and pFireRluc-Wt-CCR5 was signifi-cantly higher than that in pFireRluc-Wt-CCR5+curcumin-60 group(P<0.01).Conclusion:FOXP3 can regulate the activity of CCR5 promoter,and the mechanism may be that curcumin affects activity of CCR5 promoter by acting on binding site of FOXP3 and CCR5 promoter.

Objective:To investigate the value of combined detection of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin(NGAL), cystatin C(CysC)and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)in the early diagnostic of acute kidney injury(AKI)caused by acute paraquat poisoning(APP)in elderly patients.Methods:One hundred and two elderly APP patients admitted to the emergency department of our hospital from May 2015 to June 2019 were assigned to the observation group, and 50 patients who took physical examinations served as the control group.The observation group was divided into the AKI sub-group(n=59)and the non-AKI sub-group(n=43)based on whether AKI occurred within 72 h of admission.Serum levels of NGAL, CysC, HO-1 and creatinine(Scr)were detected in all APP patients at 0 h(admission), 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. Measurements of the same parameters were made on the day of physical examination for the control group.The correlations of serum levels of NGAL, CysC and HO-1 with the occurrence of AKI were analyzed.Relative operating characteristic curve(ROC)was drawn to analyze the diagnostic value of NGAL, CysC, HO-1 and the combination of the three for the early diagnosis of renal injury in APP patients.Results:Serum levels of NGAL, CysC, HO-1 and Scr at admission showed no significant difference between the AKI sub-group, non-AKI sub-group and control group( P>0.05). After admission, all the parameters showed an upward trend in the observation group.Serum levels of NGAL, CysC and HO-1 at 12 h after admission( P<0.05)and Scr levels at 72 h after admission( P<0.05)were significantly different between the AKI sub-group and the non-AKI sub-group.Correlation analysis showed that serum NGAL, CysC and HO-1 levels were positively correlated with the occurrence of AKI in APP patients at 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after admission, with the best correlation at 48 h after admission(NGAL: r=0.203, 0.545, 0.707 and 0.560, P<0.05; CysC: r=0.242, 0.340, 0.754 and 0.467, P<0.05; HO-1: r=0.249, 0.536, 0.677 and 0.509, P<0.05). The area under ROC curve predicted by NGAL, CysC, HO-1, Scr and NGAL+ CysC+ HO-1 for AKI at 48 h after admission was 0.777, 0.718, 0.888, 0.602 and 0.969, respectively. Conclusions:Serum levels of NGAL, CysC and HO-1 are significantly elevated at 12 h after admission in elderly APP patients, and reach the peak at 48 h after admission.Each of them can give an earlier diagnosis for AKI than Scr, and the combination of the three provides a higher diagnostic accuracy for AKI.

Objective To discuss the effect of α-asarone on the expression level of Cyt-c,Smac,Caspase3 mRNA and protein in human esophageal carcinoma Eca-109 cell mitochondria. Methods The Eca-109 cells were cultured in vitro,and divided into the negative control group and the α-asarone treatment groups(final concentration:25,50,100 μg·mL-1).After 48 h,the morphological changes of Eca-109 cells were observed by fluorescence inversion microscope.The total RNA of cells were extracted by TRIzol method,the expressions of Cyt-c、Smac and Caspase3 were measured by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Results After Eca-109 cells were treated with different concentrations of α-asarone for 48 h,and obvious changes in the morphology were observed,the expressions of Cyt-c,Smac and Caspase3 genes and protein were increased significantly compared to the negative control group( P<0.05). Conclusion α-asarone can induce the human Eca-109 cells apoptosis by regulating expressions of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway correlation genes such as Cyt-c,Smac and Caspase3.

[Absract] Objective To investigate the imaging features of CT and MRI of echinococcosis, and improve the imaging knowledge of the disease. Methods Clinical and radiological findings of echinococcosis of ribs were retrospectively analyzed by reviewing the seventeen cases confirmed by clinical and pathological findings. All patients had CT scan, eight had X?ray plain film and five had MR examination, while 4 patients underwent additional contrast?enhanced CT examination. Results All lesions were unilateral. There were 33 ribs involved, and single involved rib was seen in 7 cases. On CT scans, 10 cases showed cystic, swelling and osteolytic bone destruction, and 7 cases showed moth?eaten osteolytic bone destruction. There were 13 cases of hydatid cyst, 3 cases of a single sac watery density shadow and 10 cases of polycystic separating wheels form. There were 4 cases of fractured ribs, 2 cases of the longitudinal fracture and 2 cases of the transverse fracture. On MRI, there was one case of rib medullary cavity expansion destruction. It was a single cyst with hypointensity on T1WI, hyperintensity on T2WI and hyperintensity on short time inversion recovery (STIR) images. There were one case of rib medullary cavity expansion destruction and 3 cases of hydatid erosion ribs cortex among 4 cases of polycystic type. Polycystic type echinococcosis appeared hypointensity on T1WI, hyperintensity on T2WI and hyperintensity on STIR images. Polycystic type had mother sac and ascus structure, and signal intensity of ascus was higher. STIR sequence showed more clearly polycystic structure. Conclusions CT and MRI can clearly show location of echinococcosis of ribs. There are the imaging features of cystic, swelling and osteolytic bone destruction or complicating cyst of polycystic type which can help the qualitative diagnosis of rib echinococcosis.

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of extract of Ginkgo biloba, Ginaton, on cerebral oxygen utilization coefficients (O2UCc) and lactate clearance rate (LCR) in patients with delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning (DEACMP).Methods The 196 patients with DEACMP admitted to Harrison International Peace Hospital Affiliated to Hebei Medical University from January 2011 to March 2016 were enrolled, and they were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, 98 cases in each groups. The control group received routine treatments such as hyperbaric oxygen, measures to prevent and treat cerebral edema, and promote brain cell metabolism, etc routine therapies: while in the observation group, besides the above routine treatments, additionally intravenous drip of Ginaton 70 mg (with 0.9% sodium chloride injection 250 mL added), once a day, for consecutive 2 weeks to complete one therapeutic course. At ambient air, before treatment and 6, 24 and 72 hours after treatment, the O2UCc and LCR and the changes of mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score, clinical efficacy and hospital mortality were observed and compared between two groups. Pearson correlation test was used to analyze the correlations between O2UCc, LCR and MMSE score.Results On the day of admission before treatment, there were no differences in O2UCc, lactate and MMSE score between the two groups (allP > 0.05). At 6 hours, 24 hours after treatment, the levels of O2UCc in observation group were obviously lower than those in control group [6 hours: (40.64±9.50)% vs. (45.78±7.94)%, P = 0.000; 24 hours: (30.51±6.76)% vs. (33.34±8.19)%,P = 0.009], while the levels of LCR were significantly higher than those in control group [6 hours: (14.93±2.27)% vs. (11.45±1.88)%,P = 0.000; 24 hours: (19.86±3.42)% vs. (13.73±2.35)%,P = 0.009]. There were no statistical significant differences in O2UCc and LCR at 72 hours after treatment between the two groups (P > 0.05). The MMSE scores at 6, 24 and 72 hours after treatment in observation group were higher than those in control group (6 hours: 15.52±3.61 vs. 11.60±2.49, 24 hours: 20.05±5.79 vs. 14.85±5.71,72 hours: 23.87±5.96 vs. 18.07±6.97, allP < 0.05). The total effective rate in observation group was significantly higher [77.55% (76/98) vs. 61.22% (60/98),P < 0.05], and the mortality [3.06% (3/98) vs. 10.20% (10/98),P < 0.05] was obviously lower than their own counterparts in control group. The correlation analysis showed that at different time points, the levels of O2UCc were negatively correlated to the corresponding MMSE scores (r6 h = -0.153,r24 h = -0.158, P6 h = 0.032,P24 h = 0.027), and there were positive correlations between the levels of LCR and MMSE scores (r6 h = 0.473, r24 h = 0.242,P6 h = 0.000,P24 h = 0.001) in patients with DEACMP.Conclusions The treatment of Ginaton in patients with DEACMP can effectively elevate the LCR and MMSE score, reduce O2UCc, decrease mortality and improve the prognosis, thus the clinical curative effect is distinct.

BACKGROUND:Different races, genders, heredity, geographical environment can cause different bone ages. Therefore, an assessment of hand-wrist bone age has been done in the Han and Uygur adolescents and children in Xinjiang region.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the actual conditions of hand-wrist bone age in Han and Uygur adolescents and children in Urumqi.
METHODS: 760 children and adolescents (aged 4.0-4.0 years) of Uighur and Han nationalities were enroled in this study. Two years acted as an age group. The hand-wrist bone age was estimated by hand-wrist X-ray using theChinese Wrist Skeletal Development Standard CHN Method. The correlation between bone age and chronological age was analyzed statisticaly as wel as difference in the bone age and chronological age between two ethnic groups.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) A close correlation was found between hand-wrist bone age and chronological age for two ethnic groups (P < 0.05). (2) Thirteen age group showed higher bone ages than chronological ages, including four age groups of Han nationality girls aged 4.0-11.9 years, three age groups of Han nationality boys aged 4.0-9.9 years, three age groups of Uygur girls aged 4.0-9.9 years, and three age groups of Uygur boys aged 4.0-9.9 years. (3) The bone and chronological ages were higher in the Han girls aged 10-11.9 year than the Uygur girls aged 10-11.9 years as wel as in the Han boys aged 12-13.9 years than the Uygur boys aged 12-13.9 years. Results show that the two ethnic groups of children and adolescents exhibit the early mature trend of skeletal development in multiple age groups; and there is a difference in skeletal and chronological age between Han and Uygur adolescents in some age groups.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of rhubarb as the main composition in the therapy for patients with acute paraquat poisoning (APP).MethodsA prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted. 128 patients with APP admitted to Harrison International Peace Hospital from March 2011 to December 2013 were randomly divided into western medicine control group (n = 64) and western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combination group (n = 64). All the patients were treated with repeated gastric lavage and oral kaolin. The patients in western medicine control group were given 20% mannitol and (or) magnesium sulfate for catharsis, early (within 8 hours of admission) hemoperfusion (HP), and also given the routine combined therapy. In TCM combination group, in addition to the above treatment patients were given oral paraquat poisoning detoxification prescription No.1 every 2 hours for catharsis, which was composed of rhubarb 10 g, glauber salt 12 g, agrimony 12 g, and licorice 6 g. When green stool disappeared, detoxification therapy was changed to No. 2 compound once a day for 14 days, which was consisted of rhubarb 10 g, ginseng 6 g, agrimony 15 g, rhizoma chuanxiong 10 g, licorice 6 g. The poison volume, first dose of oral drug, time for the first HP, time of the first defecation, the time of last green stool, decontamination time, white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), arterial blood gas analysis, blood lactic acid (Lac), liver and kidney functions, myocardial enzyme spectrum, chest CT, adverse reaction, days of hospitalization, and mortality rate were observed in both groups. The levels of paraquat in plasma and urine were determined before treatment and 12 hours after poisoning in both groups. Sixty days after discharge, chest CT was taken for observation of pulmonary fibrosis. ResultsThere were no significant differences in the poison volume, ingestion time and the time for the first HP between the two groups. Compared with western medicine control group, the first defecation time (hours: 3.94±1.14 vs. 6.17±1.52), the last time of green stool (hours: 36.90±4.10 vs. 51.63±4.91), and poison clean-up time from plasma (hours: 19.48±3.63 vs. 23.84±3.29) in combination with TCM group were significantly earlier (allP< 0.01). WBC, CRP, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (SCr) levels were gradually increased after admission in combination with TCM group, and they peaked on 5th day [WBC (×109/L): 15.35±2.17 vs. 17.47±2.09, CRP (mg/L): 32.62±2.76 vs. 39.51±2.45, ALT (U/L): 270.88±11.06 vs. 334.67±7.85, BUN (mmol/L): 13.29±1.90 vs. 17.63±1.42, SCr (μmol/L): 203.54±18.40 vs. 251.53±14.38, allP< 0.05], and then they declined; Lac after admission was gradually increased, and peaked at 7 days (mmol/L: 3.53±0.21 vs. 3.82±0.14, P< 0.05), and then it was decreased. Myocardial enzyme spectrum was increased after admission, and peaked on 3rd day [creatine kinase (CK, U/L): 192.09±16.26 vs. 216.20±11.96, creatine kinase isoenzyme enzyme (CK-MB, U/L):39.03±3.75 vs. 47.22±5.84, bothP< 0.05), and then they declined gradually. Arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and base excess (BE) were gradually decreased after admission, down to trough on the 7th day after admission [PaO2 (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 87.04±2.37 vs. 84.93±2.44, BE (mmol/L): -7.31±2.31 vs. -9.18±2.49, bothP< 0.05], and then they were increased. At 12 hours after poisoning, paraquat contents in plasma and urine in combination with TCM group were significantly lower than those of the western medicine control group [plasma (ng/L):0.83±0.08 vs. 0.96±0.10, urine (ng/L): 0.88±0.09 vs. 0.97±011, bothP< 0.05]. The injury to lung tissue was significantly improved in combination with TCM group compared with that in the western medicine control group, and no serious adverse reactions was found, and the hospital stay time (days: 20.46±6.07 vs. 29.73±9.16) was significantly shortened (P< 0.01), and the mortality rate [35.9% (23/64) vs. 45.3% (29/64)] was significantly lowered compared with western medicine control group (P< 0.05). In the combination with TCM group pulmonary fibrosis was lighter than that in the western medicine control group during the 60-day follow-up. ConclusionThe sequential treatment of No. 1 and No. 2 detoxification of APP, using rhubarb as the main drug, can effectively eliminate paraquat, reduce absorption of the toxin, prevent the development of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) induced by the toxin, shorten the hospital stay days, and improve the prognosis of APP.

Objective To observe the effects of Buyang Huanwu decoction(BYHW) on the expression of Cyclin D1 and Cdk2 in rats with post-stroke depression(PSD).Methods The rats model of focal cerebral ischemia was established by means of middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO).Then three weeks of salute-living and chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS) was given to the animal after cerebral stroke to induce the post-stoke depression animal model.The rats were divided into 5 groups:the sham operated group,the midge cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) group,the PSD group,the fluoxetine group and the BYHWD group.The rats were subjected to left MCAO rebuilding in consistent focal cerebral ischemia,followed by an 21-day exposure to chronic mild stress (CMS)and single housing to induce PSD animal model.All rats were killed in 7,14 and 21 day after operation.The expressions of Cyclin D1 and Cdk2 were measured by immunohistochemical staining.Results Pathological changes such as hippocampal nerve cell regression,degeneration and necrosis were observed in the model rats compare with the sham operated group.The expression of Cyclin D1 in normal hippocampus in 7,14 or 21 day after operation was (1.16±0.34)％,(1.62±0.29)％ and (1.60±0.24)％ respectively,and Cdk2 was (1.52±0.26)％,(1.85±0.23)％ and (1.97±0.10)％.After PSD the expression of Cyclin D1 was (49.69±5.68)％,(58.17± 2.89) ％ and (50.87 ± 2.48) ％ respectively,and Cdk2 was (50.63 ± 2.93) ％,(70.34± 1.47) ％ and (61.35 ± 3.04) ％.Compared with model group,Fluoxetine and BYHW significantly reduced the numbers of Cyclin D1 and Cdk2 positive cells,the expression of Cyclin D1 was (16.62±4.27)％,(29.66±5.24)％ and (26.71±1.32)％ at fluoxetine group,and Cdk2 was (18.05±2.26) ％,(33.84±3.12) ％ and (24.51±2.66) ％.The expression of Cvclin D1 was (14.62±2.06)％,(26.89±3.41)％ and (23.68±2.01)％ at BYHWD group,and Cdk2 was (16.60± 2.42) ％,(20.09±3.45) ％ and (22.19± 1.70) ％.Conclusion The abnormal expression of Cyclin D1 and Cdk2 at the PSD rats indicate that they may be involved in the mechanism of neuronal death.Buyang Huanwu decoction may reduce the neuronal apoptosis through down-regulating the expression of Cyclin D1 and Cdk2.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of the modified esophageal capsule endoscopy (stringed esophageal capsule endoscopy,SCE) for esophageal diseases.Methods A total of 80 patients with esophageal related symptoms underwent SCE followed by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).The examination time,detection rate of esophageal lesions,complications and adverse effects were compared.Results All patients completed the study.The mean examination time of SCE and EGD was 226.18 ± 1 10.30 seconds and 21.28 ± 8.01 seconds respectively (t =-16.665,P =0.000).A total of 119 lesions were detected by SCE and EGD,and the diagnostic accordance rate of SCE and EGD was 82.4％ (98/119).Ten lesions of advanced squamous carcinoma,5 lesions of high grade intraepithelial neoplasia and 3 lesions of early squamous carcinoma were detected by both examinations,all of which were confirmed by histopathologic examination.The overall rate of complication in SCE (1.3％,1/80) was significantly lower than that of EGD (8.8％,7/80,x2 =4.238,P =0.040) and the rates of swallow difficulty (P =0.022),throat discomfort (P =0.007) and vomiting (P =0.000) of SCE were significantly lower than those of EGD.Conclusion SCE is a feasible,easy-to-operate,safe,well tolerated and accurate method for detection of esophageal diseases,and could be a non-invasive alternative for conventional EGD.