This study investigated the role of the nuclear factor of activated T cells c3 (NFATc3) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD) progression and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Cytoplasmic and nuclear NFATc3 levels were elevated in human and mouse AAD. VSMC-NFATc3 deletion reduced thoracic AAD (TAAD) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression in mice, contrary to VSMC-NFATc3 overexpression. VSMC-NFATc3 deletion reduced extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and maintained the VSMC contractile phenotype. Nuclear NFATc3 targeted and transcriptionally upregulated matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and MMP2, promoting ECM degradation and AAD development. NFATc3 promoted VSMC phenotypic switching by binding to eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) and inhibiting its phosphorylation in the VSMC cytoplasm. Restoring eEF2 reversed the beneficial effects in VSMC-specific NFATc3-knockout mice. Cabamiquine-targets eEF2 and inhibits protein synthesis-inhibited AAD development and progression in VSMC-NFATc3-overexpressing mice. VSMC-NFATc3 promoted VSMC switch and ECM degradation while exacerbating AAD development, making it a novel potential therapeutic target for preventing and treating AAD.

OBJECTIVES: At present, there are many studies on Crohn's disease of terminal ileum and colon, but few studies on Crohn's disease of small intestine alone. This study aims to analyze the clinical features and therapeutic effect of small bowel in adult patients with Crohn's disease so as to strengthen the diagnosis and treatment for this disease. METHODS: From July 1, 2015 to October 31, 2018, patients with small bowel Crohn's disease at Department of Gastroenterology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, were enrolled. At the same time, patients' demographics and clinical data were collected. RESULTS: A total of 44 patients were small bowel Crohn's disease. Among them, 40 patients were male. The age at diagnosis was (35.8±10.3) years old and disease duration was (35.2±59.5) months. The subtypes included 29(65.9%) of ileum, 7(15.9%) of jejunum, 8(18.2%) of ileum with jejunum. There were 27(61.4%) of stricture behavior, 4(9.1%) of penetrating behavior, and 13(29.5%) of non-stricture and non-penetrating behavior. Endoscopic visible stricture (29/85, 34.1%) was common, followed by longitudinal ulcers (27/85, 31.8%). Non-caseate granulomatous were found in 2 cases (4.5%). The score of Crohn's disease activity index was correlated to hemoglobin, hematocrit, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (all CONCLUSIONS Patients with ileum account for a large proportion in patients with small bowel Crohn's disease. Stricture is more common in small bowel Crohn's disease. Stricture and longitudinal ulcer are more common under enteroscopy. Crohn's disease activity index is correlated to hemoglobin, red blood cell specific volume, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The most common complication is intestinal obstruction. Mesalazine is less effective on small bowel Crohn's disease.
Adult ; Crohn Disease/drug therapy* ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Humans ; Ileum ; Intestinal Obstruction/etiology* ; Intestine, Small ; Male ; Middle Aged

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) and endoscopic stricturotomy with needle knife (NKSt) in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)-relevant strictures. 
 Methods: From July 2015 to September 2018, 14 patients undergoing double balloon-enteroscopy at the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University were enrolled. There was a total of 16 lesions. Endoscopic intervention was performed for 16 times. EBD was done for 11 times, and 5 stricturotomies were carried out. Regular follow-up and examinations were done to observe whether there was remission or recurrence of clinical symptoms and replacement surgery.
 Results: All 14 patients were successfully treated by endoscopy, and the success rate was 100%. Postoperative clinical symptoms were alleviated, and serious complications, such as perforation or hemorrhaging, did not occur. Obstructive symptoms were effectively alleviated at a median follow-up of 26.1 months (5.9-35.3 months) and 8.3 months (1.6-17.8 months) for patients with balloon dilatation and stricturotomy, respectively. Two patients presented with symptoms of obstruction. These were given conservative symptomatic treatment without surgical intervention.
 Conclusion: Enteroscopic treatments (EBD and NKSt) are safe and effective for intestinal strictures, and can prolong the time before surgical intervention is needed.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Double-Balloon Enteroscopy ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To establish a method for the content determination of naringin and neohesperidin in Weitong pills.Methods: An HPLC method was adopted.The determination was performed on an Agilent TC-C18 column with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-water(20∶80)at the flow rate of 1.0 ml·min-1.The detection wavelength was set at 283nm.The column temperature was 30 ℃.Results: Naringin and neohesperidin respectively within the concentration range of 0.027-4.552 μg (r=0.999 9) and 0.029-4.016 μg(r=0.999 8) had good linear relationship with the peak area, the average recovery was 102.19% and 103.60%,and the RSD was 2.88% and 1.79%(n=9), respectively. Conclusion: The method is simple,accurate and reproducible, and suitable for the content determination of naringin and neohesperidin in Weitong pills.

Baizi Yangxin tablets are common Chinese medicine used for the treatment of heart palpitations, insomnia and irritable forgetful. To evaluate the total amount of heavy metals evaluation, artificial gastric juice was used as juice samples and the extracted soluble heavy metals were extracted by microwave digestion technology. An analytical method of bionic extraction microwave digestion with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry ( ICP-MS ) was established for the determination of trace metals, such as Co, Cr, Cu, Ba, Cd, Mn, Ni, Pb, Hg, Sr and Zn, in 18 batches of Baizi Yangxin tablets. The correlation coefficient of linear regression equation for different elements ranged from 0. 9989 to 1. 0000, the detection limit was 0. 19-5. 6 μg / L, and the repeatability of the method was less than 6. 2% , the precision of the RSD value was less than 5. 6% , and the recovery rate was 87. 7% -101. 9% . According to “the standard of the heavy metal in the standard of import and export of medicinal plants and preparations”, the contents of Cd, Cu and Pb in the 18 batches were not exceed the standard, but the Hg content (7. 68 mg / kg) exceeded the standard value. The bionic extraction-ICP-MS method provide a reference basis for the safety of the proprietary Chinese medicine's study.

Objective To investigate the associations of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) mRNA expressions and their downstream signaling pathways in peripheral blood mononuclear cells with clinical outcomes in patients with cerebral infarction.Methods Ninety patients with cerebral infarction of anterior circulation,admitted to our hospital fiom May 2015 to December 2015,were chosen.Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to measure the expressions ofTLR2,TLR4,TLR3,TLR7,TLR8 and TLR9 and downstream signaling molecules Toll-like receptors related molecule (TRAM),interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF-3),and interferon beta (IFN-β) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.Good functional outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores≤ 2 90 d after onset.National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) on admission was used to evaluate the severity of stroke,and infarct volume 7-14 d after onset was measured on MR imaging.The baseline characteristics (TLRs,population information,risk factors,stroke types,clinical and imaging data) were compared between patients with good and bad functional outcomes.Multi-factor Logistics regression analysis was performed.Results TLR3 and TLR7 mRNA expressions were correlated with good functional outcome at acute cerebral infarction,and only TLR3 expression was correlated with good functional outcome at sub-acute phase.TLR3 mRNA expression,C-reactive protein (CRP) level,and NIHSS scores on admission were positively correlated with good outcome (OR=4.435,P=0.001;OR=l.12,P=0.033;OR=1.961,P=0.000).The expressions of TLR3 and IRF-3 were both inversely correlated with NIHSS scores and cerebral infarction volume;IFN-β mRNA expression was positively correlated to TLR3 expression (r=0.392,P=0.000);IFN-β expression and IRF level were positively correlated (r=0.347,P=0.01).Conclusion The TLR3 expression is correlated with good functional outcome in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with cerebral infarction,which may play a crucial role in the survival of neurons after ischemia through spuring the extraction of anti-inflammatory factor IFN-β.