Objective To elucidate the molecular mechanism of sirtuin-3 (SIRT3) in regulating mitochondrial biogenesis in human renal tubular epithelial cells. Methods Cells were stimulated with different concentrations of H₂O₂ and divided into four groups: control (NC), 50 μmol/L H₂O₂, 110 μmol/L H₂O₂ and 150 μmol/L H₂O₂. SIRT3 protein expression was then measured. SIRT3 was knocked down with siRNA, and cells were further assigned to five groups: control (NC), negative-control siRNA (NCsi), SIRT3-siRNA (siSIRT3), NCsi+H₂O₂, and siSIRT3+H₂O₂. After 24 h, cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and mitochondrial superoxide anion (O₂•⁻) levels were determined, together with mitochondrial expression of SIRT3, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1), mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), acetylated-SOD2 and adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase α1 (AMPKα1). Results The 110 and 150 μmol/L H₂O₂ decreased SIRT3 protein (both P<0.05). ATP and mitochondrial O₂•⁻ did not differ between NC and NCsi groups (both P>0.05). Compared to the NCsi group, the siSIRT3 group exhibited elevated O₂•⁻ level, decreased SIRT3 protein and increased expression levels of SOD2 and acetylated SOD2 protein (all P<0.05). Compared to the NCsi group, the NCsi+H₂O₂ group exhibited decreased cellular ATP levels, elevated mitochondrial O₂•⁻ levels, and reduced protein expression levels of SIRT3, SOD2, TFAM, AMPKα1, PGC-1α and NRF1 (all P<0.05). Compared with the siSIRT3 group, the siSIRT3+H₂O₂ group showed a decrease in cellular ATP levels, an increase in mitochondrial O₂•⁻ levels, a decrease in SIRT3, SOD2, TFAM, AMPKα1, PGC-1α and NRF1 protein expression levels and a decrease in acetylated SOD2 protein expression levels (all P<0.05). Compared with the NCsi+H₂O₂ group, the siSIRT3+H₂O₂ group showed a decrease in cellular ATP levels, an increase in mitochondrial O₂•⁻ levels, a decrease in SIRT3, AMPKα1, PGC-1α and NRF1, TFAM protein expression levels, and an increase in SOD2 and acetylated SOD2 protein expression levels (all P<0.05). Conclusions SIRT3 promotes mitochondrial biogenesis in tubular epithelial cells via the AMPK/PGC-1α/NRF1/TFAM axis, representing a key mechanism through which SIRT3 ameliorates oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction.

Objective To explore the challenges faced by online appointment nurses during nasogastric intubation and to provide a reference for improvement of the quality and safety of the services provided by online appointment nursing.Methods A purposive sampling was employed to select 13 online appointment nurses from our hospital who had previously provided home nasogastric intubation services for patients.Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the online appointment nurses.The results acquired from the interviews were analysed using Colaizzi's method.Results Two themes were identified.Theme 1 covered the increased risks of nasogastric intubation due to the patients themselves and home environment,which included 4 sub-themes of difficulties in identification and response due to complex conditions of patient,high risk of a sudden asphyxia with poor resuscitation facility,psychological stress from unfamiliar home environment,and more challenges in risk identification due to limited conditions for performing home-based intubation procedures;Theme 2 covered the coping strategies of online-scheduled nurses,which included the improvement of knowledge and skills in emergency nursing to improve comfidence and judge ability of intubation,the strengthening of nurse-patient communication to build a trust and cooperation,the conduct of thorough assessment to ensure procedural safety,and the use of alternative tools and collaboration with family members.Conclusion Online appointment nurses face challenges and risks from both of the procedures and patients themselves during home based nasogastric intubation.Hospitals and relevant management should actively implement corresponding strategies,provide training and guidance for online appointment nurses,develop relevant regulations,and improve the management mechanisms of the internet platform to ensure the safety of home based nasogastric intubation for online appointment nurses and improve the quality of the"Internet Plus Nursing Services."

Objective To explore the challenges faced by online appointment nurses during nasogastric intubation and to provide a reference for improvement of the quality and safety of the services provided by online appointment nursing.Methods A purposive sampling was employed to select 13 online appointment nurses from our hospital who had previously provided home nasogastric intubation services for patients.Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the online appointment nurses.The results acquired from the interviews were analysed using Colaizzi's method.Results Two themes were identified.Theme 1 covered the increased risks of nasogastric intubation due to the patients themselves and home environment,which included 4 sub-themes of difficulties in identification and response due to complex conditions of patient,high risk of a sudden asphyxia with poor resuscitation facility,psychological stress from unfamiliar home environment,and more challenges in risk identification due to limited conditions for performing home-based intubation procedures;Theme 2 covered the coping strategies of online-scheduled nurses,which included the improvement of knowledge and skills in emergency nursing to improve comfidence and judge ability of intubation,the strengthening of nurse-patient communication to build a trust and cooperation,the conduct of thorough assessment to ensure procedural safety,and the use of alternative tools and collaboration with family members.Conclusion Online appointment nurses face challenges and risks from both of the procedures and patients themselves during home based nasogastric intubation.Hospitals and relevant management should actively implement corresponding strategies,provide training and guidance for online appointment nurses,develop relevant regulations,and improve the management mechanisms of the internet platform to ensure the safety of home based nasogastric intubation for online appointment nurses and improve the quality of the"Internet Plus Nursing Services."

Background: Acne vulgaris (AV) is a common adolescent skin condition which is mainly caused by Cutibacterium acnes overcolonization and subsequent inflammation. Objective: Our previous studies demonstrated that ethanol extracts of Meconopsis quintuplinervia Regel (EMQ) possess significant antimicrobial properties. However, their protective effects and potential mechanisms against AV remain unclear. Methods: In the present study, the EMQ treatment potential for AV was evaluated in a C.acnes-induced mouse ear edema model, and the EMQ anti-inflammatory mechanism was evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Results: The results showed that EMQ alleviated edema formation and inflammatory cell infiltration in an acne mouse model by suppressing inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor α expression. Moreover, EMQ inhibited the phosphorylation of MAP kinases (MAPKs) such as p38, JNK, and ERK, the phosphorylation and degradation of IκB-α and the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Conclusion These findings suggest the potent anti-inflammatory activity of EMQ is possibly through the regulation of the MAPKs and NF-κB signaling pathways. Inhibition of C. acnes activity combined with a powerful anti-inflammatory effect of EMQ indicated its potential as a novel therapeutic option for AV.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between the distribution of eosinophils(Eos) of nasal secretion and serum specific IgE(sIgE) titer in patients with allergic rhinitis, and to evaluate the diagnostic value of Eos in nasal secretion for allergic rhinitis. METHODS A total of 60 allergic rhinitis patients from Department of Otolaryngology, Beijing Shunyi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine during Jan.2016 to June 2017 were selected as treatment group, and another 60 cases of non-allergic rhinitis and 30 normal persons in the corresponding time period were chosen as control group. Eos in nasal secretions and serum sIgE were measured in all the subjects and the relationship between Eos distribution and serum sIgE level was analyzed. RESULTS The Eos distribution and serum level of sIgE was consistent(κ=0.264, P=0.000) and statistical significance was found. The area of ROC of the Eos in nasal secretion was 0.881, the standard deviation was 0.025 and 95％ confidence interval was 0.841 to 0.924. The Udden index of ROC reached the maximum when the Eos in nasal secretion smear was graded as level 3, the sensitivity was 88.5％ and specificity was 99.4％. CONCLUSION Eos cytological examination of nasal secretions has some auxiliary value in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. It is a cheap, simple and rapid method, which can be used as an effective reference index for diagnosing allergic rhinitis in primary hospital.

Background:Pancreatitis is the main complication of ERCP,and a variety of risk factors will increase its risk. Studies showed that temporary pancreatic duct stent can reduce the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). Aims:To study the efficacy and safety of prophylactic pancreatic duct stenting on preventing PEP in patients with risk factors. Methods:Patients undergone ERCP and accompanied with one or more PEP-associated risk factors from November 2013 to November 2016 at Huaibei People's Hospital were enrolled,and were divided randomly into pancreatic duct stenting group (observation group)and non-stenting group (control group). Serum levels of amylase at 4,24 and 48 hours after the procedure and incidence of PEP were compared between the two groups. Results:A total of 297 patients were enrolled, and 147 patients were in observation group,and 150 patients in control group. No significant differences in gender,age and ERCP disease spectrum were found between the two groups (P > 0. 05). Incidence of PEP was significantly decreased in observation group than in control group (6. 1％ vs. 16. 0％,P < 0. 05). Serum levels of amylase at 4,24 and 48 hours after the procedure were significantly decreased in observation group than in corresponding control group (P < 0. 05), however,no significant difference in incidence of hyperamylasemia was found between the two groups (59. 2％ vs. 54. 7％, P > 0. 05). Conclusions:Prophylactic pancreatic duct stenting may decrease the incidence of PEP in patients accompanied with PEP-associated risk factors, especially could decrease the severity of PEP. However, the incidence of hyperamylasemia is not decreased.

Aim To construct 3 D structure model of cardiac Cav1.2 channel and check its accuracy and re-liability.Methods Homology model of Cav1.2 chan-nel α1 subunit was constructed using SWISS-MODEL server.The model was submitted to an online testing server built by University of California and scored by it.The binding of Cav1.2 channel with blocker or drug was simulated by MOE software molecular docking pro-gram to check the model′s accuracy and reliability.Re-sults Both the target sequence Cav1.2 α1 C and the template sequence Cav1.1 α1 S searched by SWISS-MODEL server belonged to L-type Ca2+channel.Since the homology was 7 1.5% revealed by sequence align-ment,homology modeling was performed using automa-ted mode.L-type Ca2+ channel blockers Verapamil, Nifedipine and Diltiazem could bind to the 3 D structure model of Cav1.2 channel,while sodium channel bloc-ker TTX could not.Furthermore,active ingredient of traditional Chinese drug Praeruptorin A and Berberine could also bind to the 3D structure model of Cav1.2 channel.Conclusion The 3 D structure model of Cav1.2 channel was constructed successfully,which provides reliable materials for further studies and estab-lishes the foundation for the application of homology modeling in the study of 3 D structure prediction of ion channels.

Objective To construct expression vectors of calmodulin(CaM)mutants N2 and C2,and to express,purify,and identify the mutant proteins,in order to study the interactions between CaM and calcium channels. Methods The cDNA of N?lobe and C?lobe of CaM were used to prepare the cDNA of N2 and C2. Next,the recombinant cDNAs were cloned into a pGEX?6p?3 plasmid,and the recombinant plasmids were trans?ferred into E.coli BL21 cells. The transfected BL21 cells were stimulated with IPTG. The fusion proteins were extracted by ultrasonication and puri?fied by using GS?4B beads. Finally,protein activity was identified by the pull?down assay. Results Both the restriction digestion map and the DNA sequence identification results confirmed that the recombinant plasmids were successfully constructed. SDS?PAGE results showed high purity and concentration of N2 and C2 proteins. Their activities and binding abilities with the calcium channel fragment were confirmed by the pull?down assay.Conclusion In this study,expression vectors of N2 and C2 are successfully constructed,and physiologically active N2 and C2 CaM mutant proteins are obtained.

Objective To construct a recombinant plasmid vector containing the distal fragment of the distal C-terminus (dDCT) of the Cav 1.2 channel,and express,extract,and purify dDCT protein and characterize its biological activity.Methods dDCT cDNA was ligated into the pGEX-6p-1 vector to create a recombinant plasmid that was subsequently transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 competent cells.Expression of GST-dDCT fusion protein from this plasmid was induced with isopropy-β-D-thiogalactoside,and the resulting protein was purified using glutathione-sepharose 4B beads.The biological activity of dDCT was analyzed by GST pull-down assay.Results The recombinant plasmid was verified by restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing.The concentration and purity of the dDCT protein,which was extracted by ultrasonication,were high enough to detect dDCT activity.The binding of dDCT to CT1 was determined to be concentration-dependent.Conclusion The recombinant dDCT plasmid was successfully constructed,providing the fundamental basis for future studies on mechanisms of Cav 1.2 channel autoregulation.

Objective To construct plasmid vectors of calmodulin(CaM)Mg2+binding site mutants,and to express,purify and identify the mutant proteins. Methods Three kinds of cDNAs coding for the mutated CaM were cloned into pGEX?6P?3 plasmid vectors. These recombinant plasmids were transfected into Escherichia coli BL21 to express GST fusion proteins of CaM mutants. The fusion proteins were purified with Glutathione?Sep?harose 4B beads and PreScission protease. Results Both enzyme digestion analysis and DNA sequence identification proved the successful con?struction of the CaM mutant plasmids. SDS?PAGE results showed the high purity of each CaM mutant protein. The concentrations of three CaM mu?tants were around 1.0 mg/mL. Conclusion Prokayotic expression vectors of CaM Mg2+binding site mutants were successfully developed,and the eli?gible CaM mutant proteins were obtained. This study provided an important basis for further study on CaM’s biological function.