OBJECTIVES: To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Danzhi Jiangtang Capsule (DZJTC) for repairing renal vascular endothelial injury in rats with diabetic nephropathy (DN). METHODS: Fifty male SD rat models of DN, established by left nephrectomy, high-sugar and high-fat diet and streptozotocin injection, were randomized into DN model group, low-, medium-, and high-dose DZJTC treatment groups, and DAPT (a γ-secretase inhibitor) treatment group, with 10 rats with normal feeding as the control group. DZJTC was administered by daily gavage at 0.315, 0.63, or 1.26 g/kg, and DAPT (20 mg/kg, dissolved in 50% CMC-Na solution) was given by gavage every other day for 4 weeks; normal saline was given in the control and model groups. After treatment, the levels of creatinine (CRE), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and microalbuminuria (mALB) were detected with ELISA, and renal pathologies were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Renal expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were measured by immunohistochemistry, and the protein expressions of CD31 and Notch signaling pathway components were detected using Western blotting. RESULTS: The rat models of DN showed significantly increased CRE, BUN, and mALB levels, obvious renal pathologies under electron microscopy, increased renal VEGF, ET-1 and CD31 expressions, and upregulated Notch1, NICD, and MAML1 protein levels. Treatment with DZJTC at the 3 doses and DAPT significantly reduced CRE, BUN, and mALB levels, improved renal pathology, decreased VEGF, ET-1 and CD31 expressions, and lowered Notch1, NICD and MAML1 levels, and the effects were the most pronounced with high-dose DZJTC. CONCLUSIONS DZJTC ameliorates hyperproliferation and dysfunction of renal vascular endothelium in DN rats possibly by regulating renal VEGF and ET-1 levels via inhibiting NICD- and MAML1-mediated Notch signaling pathway.
Animals ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Diabetic Nephropathies/drug therapy* ; Receptor, Notch1/metabolism* ; Kidney/blood supply* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; Down-Regulation ; Endothelium, Vascular/metabolism* ; Nuclear Proteins/metabolism*

Objective To observe the correlations of pontine biological indicators on fetal brain median sagittal MRI with gestational week.Methods Data of head MRI of 226 normal fetuses without obvious abnormalities of central nervous system(normal group)and 17 fetuses with abnormalities(abnormal group)at gestational age of 23 to 38 weeks were retrospectively analyzed.Pontine biological indicators based on median sagittal MRI were obtained,including pons anteroposterior diameter(PAD),total pons area(TPA),pontine basal anteroposterior length(AP),pontine basal cranio-caudal length(CC),basis pontis area(BPA)and pontine angle of midbrain(MAP).According to the gestational week,the fetuses of normal group were divided into 8 subgroups.The distributing ranges of pontine biological indicators at different gestational weeks were analyzed,and the correlations of pontine biological indicators with gestational week in normal group were explored,and the developmental status of fetal pons in abnormal group were assessed.Results In normal group,PAD,TPA,AP,CC and BPA all showed linear positive correlation(r=0.887,0.914,0.787,0.866,0.865,all P＜0.001),while MAP was not significantly correlated with gestational week(P＞0.05).Among 17 fetuses in abnormal group,abnormal PAD or TPA was found each in 8 fetuses,abnormal AP was observed in 14,abnormal CC was noticed in 3 and abnormal BPA was found in 11 fetuses.Conclusion Fetal pontine biological indicators such as PAD,TPA,AP,CC and BPA on median sagittal MRI were positively correlated with gestational week,hence being able to be used for evaluating fetal pontine development.

Objective:To develop an artificial intelligence (AI) quality control model of fetal heart in the first trimester and verify its effectiveness.Methods:A total of 18 694 images of the four-chamber view(4CV) and three-vessel and tracheal view(3VT) of fetal heart in the first trimester were selected from Shenzhen Maternal and Child Health Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University since January 2022 to December 2022. A total of 14 432 images were manually annotated. The one-stage target detection algorithm YOLO V5 was used to train the AI quality control model in the first trimester of fetal heart, and 4 262 images (golden standard set by expert group) were used to evaluate the application effectiveness of AI quality control model. Kappa consistency test was used to compare the results of section classification and standard degree judgment from AI quality control model, Doctor 1(D1) and Doctor 2(D2).Results:①Precision of the AI quality control model was 0.895, recall was 0.852, mean average precision (mAP 50) was 0.873.The average precision(AP) of the AI quality control model for section classification was 0.907 (4CV) and 0.989 (3VT), respectively. ②Compared with the gold standard, the overall coincidence rate and consistency of section classification of AI quality control model, D1 and D2 were 99.91% (Kappa=0.998), 100% (Kappa=1.000), 100% (Kappa=1.000), respectively. The coincidence rate and consistency of the plane standard degree evaluation from the AI quality control model, D1 and D2 were 97.46% (Weighted Kappa=0.932), 93.73% (Weighted Kappa=0.847), and 93.12% (Weighted Kappa=0.832), respectively. Strong consistency was displayed. Moreover, AI quality control model showed the highest coincidence rate and the strongest consistency in judging section standard degree, which was superior to manual quality control. The time-consuming of AI quality control (0.012 s/sheet) was significantly less than the way of manual quality control (4.76-6.11 s/sheet)( Z=-8.079, P<0.001). Conclusions:The use of artificial intelligent fetal heart quality control model in the first trimester can effectively and accurately control the image quality.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) capsule for replenishing qi, nourishing yin and activating blood on Notch/Hes1 signaling pathway in the renal tissue and vascular endothelial CD34 and CD144 expressions in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy. METHODS: Rat models of early-stage diabetic nephropathy were established by left nephrectomy and high- fat and high- sugar feeding combined with intraperitoneal injection of STZ. The rats were randomized into model group, benazepril group, and high-, moderate-, and low-dose TCM capsule groups for corresponding treatments, with 6 normal rats as the control group. After 8 weeks of drug treatment, blood glucose and 24-h urinary albumin of the rats were measured, and the renal histopathology was observed with HE staining; Hes1 expression in the renal tissue was detected with immunohistochemical staining, and the renal expressions of CD34 and CD144 were detected using Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the rat models of diabetic nephropathy showed obvious abnormalities in 24- h urinary albumin and expressions of Hes1, CD34 and CD144d. The TCM capsule at both the high and moderate doses significantly reduced 24-h urinary albumin in the rats; the renal expressions of Hes1 and CD34 was significantly reduced in all the dose groups, and the expression of CD144 was significantly reduced in the high- dose group. Compared with benazepril group, the TCM capsule obviously reduced CD34 expression at all the 3 doses and lowered CD144 expression at the low dose. Histopathologically, the rats in the model group showed glomerular hypertrophy, increased mesenteric matrix, thickening and widening of the mesenteric membrane, and nodular hyperplasia. These pathologies were obviously alleviated by treatment with the TCM capsule at the high and moderate doses. CONCLUSIONS The Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) capsule for replenishing qi, nourishing yin and activating blood can reduce Hes1, CD34 and CD144 in kidney tissue of model rats, play a protective role on kidney function and delay the development of DN.
Animals ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Qi ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factor HES-1

Objective To investigate the status quo of application of fall risk factors assessment scale in nurses of different position in geriatric ward . Method Eighty-six nurses in different position were investigated by fall risk factors assessment scale . Results About 89 . 5%of the nurses could assess the fall risk factors on time and 80 . 2%could do it accurately , and only 62 . 8%of them worked out their nursing orders based on the possible falls. In terms of the accuracy in using fall risk factors assessment, the primary nurses was poorer than the senior nurses, with statistically significant difference between them (P<0.05). Yet there were no significant differences between them in timeliness and pertinence at working out nursing orders (P>0.05). Conclusion We should strengthen the training to the clinical nurses in correctly using the fall assessment scale , in order to exert the diagnostic value of the fall assessment scale, reduce the incidence of falls and ensure the safety of the patients.