Osteoporosis is a prevalent skeletal condition characterized by reduced bone mass and strength, leading to increased fragility. Buqi-Tongluo (BQTL) decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, has yet to be fully evaluated for its potential in treating bone diseases such as osteoporosis. To investigate the mechanism by which BQTL decoction inhibits osteoclast differentiation in vitro and validate these findings through in vivo experiments. We employed MTS assays to assess the potential proliferative or toxic effects of BQTL on bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) at various concentrations. TRAcP experiments were conducted to examine BQTL's impact on osteoclast differentiation. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses were utilized to evaluate the relative expression levels of osteoclast-specific genes and proteins under BQTL stimulation. Finally, in vivo experiments were performed using an osteoporosis model to further validate the in vitro findings. This study revealed that BQTL suppressed receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast resorption activity in vitro in a dose-dependent manner without observable cytotoxicity. The inhibitory effects of BQTL on osteoclast formation and function were attributed to the downregulation of NFATc1 and c-fos activity, primarily through attenuation of the MAPK, NF-κB, and Calcineurin signaling pathways. BQTL's inhibitory capacity was further examined in vivo using an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model, demonstrating a strong protective effect against bone loss. BQTL may serve as an effective therapeutic TCM for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and the alleviation of bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency and related conditions.
Animals ; NFATC Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Ovariectomy ; Osteoclasts/metabolism* ; Female ; Osteogenesis/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; NF-kappa B/genetics* ; Osteoporosis/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Bone Resorption/genetics* ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Humans ; RANK Ligand/metabolism* ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics* ; Transcription Factors

Objective: To estimate the incidence of HIV-1 infection in men who have sex with men (MSM) in key areas of China through HIV-1 limiting antigen avidity enzyme immunoassay (LAg-Avidity EIA), analyze the deviation from the actual results and identify influencing factors, and provided reference for improving the accuracy of estimation results. Methods: Based on the principle of the cohort randomized study design, 20 cities were selected in China based on population size and the number of HIV-positive MSM. The sample size was estimated to be 700 according to the HIV-1 infection rate in MSM. MSM mobile phone app. was used to establish a detection appointment and questionnaire system, and the baseline cross-sectional survey was conducted from April to November 2019. LAg-Avidity EIA was used to identify the recent infected samples. The incidence of HIV-1 infection was calculated and then adjusted based on the estimation formula designed by WHO. The influencing factors were identified by analyzing the sample collection and detection processes. Results: Among the 10 650 blood samples from the participants, 799 were HIV-positive in initial screening, in which 198 samples (24.78%) missed during confirmation test. Only 621 samples were received by the laboratory. After excluding misreported samples, 520 samples were qualified for testing. A total of 155 samples were eventually determined as recent infection through LAg-Avidity EIA; Based on the estimation formula , the incidence of HIV-1 infection in MSM in 20 cities was 4.06% (95%CI:3.27%-4.85%), it increased to 5.53% (95%CI: 4.45%-6.60%)after the adjusting for sample missing rate. When the sample missing rate and misreporting rate were both adjusted, the incidence of HIV-1 infection in the MSM increased to 5.66% (95%CI:4.67%-6.65%). The actual incidence of HIV-1 infection in MSM in the 20 cities might be between 4.06% and 5.66%. Conclusions: Sample missing and misreporting might cause the deviation of the estimation of HIV-1 infection incidence. It is important to ensure the sample source and the quality of sample collection and detection to reduce the deviation in the estimation of HIV-1 infection incidence.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; HIV Infections/epidemiology* ; HIV-1 ; Homosexuality, Male ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Incidence ; Male ; Sexual and Gender Minorities

Objective: To investigate the distribution of HIV-1 genetic subtypes and pretreatment drug resistance (PDR) among men who have sex with men (MSM) from 19 cities of 6 provinces in China. Methods: From April to November 2019, 574 plasma samples of ART-naive HIV-1 infected MSM were collected from 19 cities in Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong provinces, total ribonucleic acid (RNA) was extracted and amplified the HIV-1 pol gene region by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after reverse transcription. Then sequences were used to construct a phylogenetic tree to determine genetic subtypes and submitted to the Stanford drug resistance database for drug resistance analysis. Results: A total of 479 samples were successfully amplified by PCR. The HIV-1 genetic subtypes included CRF01_AE, CRF07_BC, B, CRF55_01B, CRF59_01B, CRF65_cpx, CRF103_01B, CRF67_01B, CRF68_01B and unrecognized subtype, which accounted for 43.4%, 36.3%, 6.3%, 5.9%, 0.8%, 0.8%, 0.4%, 0.4%, 0.2% and 5.5%, respectively. The distribution of genetic subtypes among provinces is statistically different (χ²=44.141, P<0.001). The overall PDR rate was 4.6% (22/479), the drug resistance rate of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and protease inhibitors were 3.5% (17/479), 0.8% (4/479) and 0.2% (1/479), respectively. The PDR rate of recent infections was significantly higher than that of long-term infections (χ²=4.634, P=0.031). Conclusions: The HIV-1 genetic subtypes among MSM infected with HIV-1 from 19 cities of 6 provinces in China are diverse, and the distribution of subtypes is different among provinces. The overall PDR rate is low, while the PDR rate of recent infections was significantly higher than that of long-term infections, suggesting the surveillance of PDR in recent infections should be strengthened.
China/epidemiology* ; Cities ; Drug Resistance ; Drug Resistance, Viral/genetics* ; Female ; Genotype ; HIV Infections/epidemiology* ; HIV Seropositivity/drug therapy* ; HIV-1/genetics* ; Homosexuality, Male ; Humans ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Sexual and Gender Minorities

OBJECTIVETo analyze the inpatient cost of AIDS related opportunistic infection in a high HIV epidemic area of China.

METHODSInformation was collected and analyzed from 158 inpatients with AIDS related opportunistic infection, including demographic characteristics of patients, types of opportunistic infection and treatment cost (median) from 2008 to 2010 in a high HIV epidemic area.

RESULTSThe inpatient cost per visit for AIDS related opportunistic infection was 2935.7 yuan. The fee per visit for examination, laboratory test, medicine, diagnosis and treatment, nursing, bed was 132.5, 269.0, 1485.5, 367.3, 302.5 and 264.0 yuan, respectively. The inpatient cost per visit for AIDS related opportunistic infection was 4383.1 yuan for male and 3418.6 yuan for female inpatient (U = -1.279, P = 0.201). The cost per visit for AIDS related opportunistic infection was 4703.1 yuan for Han nationality and 3475.9 yuan for minority patient (U = -1.025, P = 0.305). The inpatient cost per visit for AIDS related opportunistic infection was respectively 3429.3, 5022.2, 6705.5 and 2396.7 yuan for farmers, individual businessmen, employees of enterprise and public institution and jobless (H = 28.633, P = 0.000). The cost per visit was lowest for illiteracy patients (2590.2 yuan), 3626.5 yuan for primary school, 4214.3 yuan for junior high school and 6865.8 yuan for high school and higher education (H = 10.828, P = 0.013). The cost per visit for AIDS related opportunistic infection was respectively 2873.6, 4534.3, 3077.8 and 3208.1 yuan for under the age of 29, 30-39 years old, 40-49 years old and beyond the age of 50 (H = 1.515, P = 0.679). The AIDS related opportunistic infection cost per visit for inpatients infected through sex (4621.3 yuan) was higher than that of intravenous drug users (3208.6 yuan, U = -2.588, P = 0.010). Among various types of opportunistic infections, the cost was highest for neurological diseases (5819.7 yuan), 4300.8, 2806.8, and 2083.9 yuan for respiratory diseases, digestive system diseases and skin and mucous membrane diseases, respectively (H = 15.142, P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONThe study shows difference of inpatient cost per visit between subgroups, the cost of public institution was higher than that of other professions, the cost of illiteracy patients was lower than other education level, the cost of inpatients infected through sex was higher than that of intravenous drug users, the cost of neurological diseases was higher than that of other types of opportunistic infections.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections ; economics ; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; economics ; Adult ; Female ; Health Care Costs ; Hospitalization ; economics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To observe the effects of lithium chloride (LiCl) on neural cell apoptosis, inflammatory response and expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) protein in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods Fifty-four male SD rats were randomized into sham-operated, ICH and LiCl treatment groups (n=18), and in the latter two groups, ICH was induced by injection of collagenase Ⅳ into the internal capsule, and phosphate buffer solution was injected in the sham-operated group. Seven days before ICH, the rats in LiCl group received intraperitoneal injection of 1 mmol/kg LiCl once daily till the rats were sacrificed. Brain tissue specimens were collected at 1, 3, and 7 d after ICH to observe neural cell apoptosis, inflammatory response and expression of NF-κB in rat brain using terminal dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL), HE staining and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Results Compared with the ICH model group, the rats in LiCl treatment group showed significantly reduced number of TUNEL-positive cells in the brain tissues around the hematoma at 1, 3, and 7 days after ICH (P<0.05). NF-κB protein expression was observed 1 day after ICH, which reached the peak level on day 3 and lowered 7 days after ICH. LiCl treatment significantly lowered the expression of NF-κB protein in comparison with that in ICH group (P<0.05) and obviously ameliorated the inflammatory responses in the brain tissues. Conclusion LiCl provides neuroprotection against ICH by inhibiting neural cell apoptosis and reducing inflammatory response through down-regulation of NF-κB expression.

Objective To observe neural stem cell activation and proliferation in situ afterintracerebal hemorrhage (ICH) and its effect on the neurological function of the injured adult rats.Methods Seventy-two adult rats were randomized into ICH and sham operation groups (n=36). In theICH group, type Ⅳ collagenase was injected into the internal capsule through a microinfusion pump toinduce intracerebral hemorrhage, and the rats in the sham operation group received only phosphate buffersolution injection. The neurological functions of the rats were observed by rotarod motor test on days 1, 7,14, 21, 28, and 35 after the injection. One day before sacrifice, the rots were subjected to intraperitonealBrdU injection to label the regenerated cells, and immunohistochemistry was used to detect theexpressions of nestin and BrdU in the brain tissue. Results No nestin- or BrdU-positive cells werefound in the brain of the rats in the sham operation group. In rats with ICH, nestin- and BrdU-positivecells were found predominantly in the basal ganglion around the hematoma, in the ependyma and near thesubventricular zone (SVZ) in the brain; the number of the positive cells increased significantly 7 daysafter ICH, peaked on day 14 and then significantly reduced on day 28. The rats exhibited no obviousimprovement of the impaired motor function over the period from day 1 to 35 after ICH. Activation andproliferation of the neural stem cells was not obviously related to the recovery of the neurologicalfunctions. Conclusion Endogeneous neural stem cells in the brain are activated in rats after ICH, butthese stem cells possess rather limited capacity of proliferation and can not sufficiently compensate forICH-induced neurological function impairment.