OBJECTIVE To study the improvement effects of Shangke xiaoyan hydrogel plaster on osteoarthritis （OA） model rats. METHODS Rats were randomly divided into blank group， model group， voltaren group （200 mg/rat）， Shangke xiaoyan ointment group （500 mg/rat， containing Shangke xiaoyan fluid extract 50 mg） and Shangke xiaoyan hydrogel plaster group （200 mg/rat， containing Shangke xiaoyan fluid extract 50 mg）， with 8 rats in each group. Except for blank group， OA model was established in the other groups by injecting papain and L-cysteine into the right knee joint cavity of the rats； they applied the corresponding drugs， and changed the dressing once a day， for 14 consecutive days. The degree of knee joint swelling in rats was detected， and the magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of the knee joint in rats were observed； the levels of interleukin 1β （IL-1β）， IL-6， IL-18 and tumor necrosis factor （TNF- α） in rat serum were detected； the pathological and morphological characteristics of knee joint tissue were observed， and the histopathological and cartilage Mankin scores were performed； the protein expressions of IL-1β， IL-6 and TNF-α in knee joint tissue were all detected. RESULTS Compared with blank group， severe joint swelling， obvious joint effusion and patchy wear of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus were observed in model group； the serum levels of IL-1β， IL-6， IL-18 and TNF- α and histopathological score and Mankin score were significantly increased （P＜0.05）； protein expressions of IL-1β， IL-6 and TNF-α in knee joint tissue were increased. Compared with model group， the knee swelling degree of the rats in Shangke xiaoyan hydrogel plaster group was reduced， a small amount 　　 of joint cavity effusion could be seen， and the shape of the meniscus was completely normal； the histopathological score E-mail：frankyan@cpu.edu.cn and Mankin score were significantly reduced （P＜0.05）levels of inflammatory factors in serum were reduced （P＜0.05） and those of knee tissue were decreased. CONCLUSIONS Shangke xiaoyan hydrogel plaster can improve OA of rats， the mechanism of which may be associated with reducing the levels of inflammatory factors in joint and serum.

【Objective】 Dyslipidemia has shown to be associated with cardiovascular, metabolic and renal diseases. This study aimed to investigate the association between residual cholesterol and the risk of subclinical renal damage (SRD). 【Methods】 A total of 2 342 participants were recruited from the previously established Hanzhong Adolescent Hypertension Study cohort. According to estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR) and urinary albumin-to-creatine ratio(uACR), the subjects were divided into SRD group and non-SRD group. The associations of residual cholesterol with eGFR, uACR, and the risk of SRD were analyzed by multiple linear and Logistic regression analyses. 【Results】 Residual cholesterol was positively correlated with uACR(r=0.081, P<0.001) but negatively correlated with eGFR (r=-0.091, P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that residual cholesterol was an influencing factor of uACR (β=0.075, P<0.001) and eGFR (β=-0.027, P<0.001) after adjustment for gender, age, smoke, alcohol, exercise, BMI, hypertension, diabetes and serum uric acid. In addition, Logistic regression analysis revealed that residual cholesterol was significantly associated with the risk of SRD independently of potential confounders [OR(95% CI)=1.387 (1.113-1.728), P<0.001]. Further subgroup analysis showed that residual cholesterol was significantly associated with the risk of SRD in women but not in men. 【Conclusion】 Residual cholesterol is a contributing factor in the risk of subclinical renal damage with gender-specific association.

【Objective】 4-like protein with down-regulated expression and development in neural precursor cells (NEDD4L) plays an important role in blood pressure (BP) regulation and sodium homeostasis by regulating epithelial sodium channel protein. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship of NEDD4L gene polymorphisms with BP responses to sodium and potassium intake. 【Methods】 In 2004, 514 subjects from 124 families in Meixian County, Shaanxi Province, were recruited to establish a salt-sensitive hypertension study cohort. All the subjects received a 3-day baseline survey, a 7-day low-salt diet, a 7-day high-salt diet, and finally a 7-day high-salt and potassium supplementation. Their BP was measured and peripheral blood samples were collected at different intervention periods. The 14 gene polymorphisms of NEDD4L gene were genotyped and analyzed by MassARRAY platform. 【Results】 BP decreased on a low-salt diet, and significantly increased on a high-salt diet, and decreased again after potassium supplementation. NEDD4L SNPs rs74408486 were significantly associated with systolic BP, diastolic BP and mean arterial pressure responses to the low-salt diet. SNPs rs292449 and rs2288775 were significantly associated with pulse pressure response to the high-salt diet. In addition, SNPs rs563283 and rs292449 were significantly associated with diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure, and pulse pressure responses to high-salt and potassium supplementation diet. 【Conclusion】 NEDD4L gene polymorphisms were significantly associated with BP responses to sodium and potassium intake, suggesting that NEDD4L gene may be involved in the development of salt sensitivity and potassium sensitivity.

【Objective】 Based on our previously established salt-sensitive hypertension cohort, we aimed to examine the association of genetic variants in uromodulin with blood pressure(BP) responses to dietary interventions of sodium and potassium intake. 【Methods】 In 2004, 514 subjects from 124 families in Mei County, Shaanxi Province, were recruited to establish the salt-sensitive hypertension study cohort. Among them, 333 non-parent subjects were selected and sequentially maintained on a normal-diet for 3 days, low-salt diet for 7 days, then a high-salt diet for 7 days and a high-salt diet with potassium supplementation for another 7 days. Thirteen single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) in the uromodulin gene were genotyped on the MassARRAY platform. 【Results】 BP levels decreased from the baseline to low-salt diet, increased from low-salt to high-salt diet, and decreased again from the high-salt diet to the high-salt plus potassium supplementation intervention. SNPs rs77875418 and rs4997081 of the uromodulin gene were significantly associated with diastolic BP(DBP) and mean arterial pressure(MAP) responses to high-salt diet. In addition, SNPs rs77875418, rs79245268, rs4293393, rs6497476, rs4997081, rs13333226, and rs12917707 were significantly associated with systolic BP(SBP), DBP, and MAP responses to high-salt diet with potassium supplementation. 【Conclusion】 Genetic variants in uromodulin gene are significantly associated with BP responses to sodium and potassium supplementation, suggesting that uromodulin may be mechanistically involved in BP sodium-sensitivity and potassium-sensitivity.

【Objective】 M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor(M3 receptor), encoded by CHRM3 gene, is widely distributed in the cardiovascular system and plays an important role in cardiac regulation. The aim of this study was to assess the association of genetic variants in M3 receptor with blood pressure(BP) responses to controlled dietary sodium and potassium interventions. 【Methods】 A total of 333 subjects from 124 families were recruited from the rural areas of northern China. After a three-day baseline observation, they were sequentially on a seven-day low-salt diet, a seven-day high-salt diet, and a seven-day high-salt diet plus potassium supplementation. Thirteen CHRM3 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) were selected for analysis. 【Results】 SNP rs10802811 of the CHRM3 was significantly associated with diastolic BP(DBP) and mean arterial pressure(MAP) responses to both low-salt and high-salt diets while SNPs rs6429147, rs373288072, rs114677844 and rs663148 showed significant associations with systolic BP(SBP) and MAP responses to high-salt diet. In addition, SNP rs6692904 was significantly associated with SBP, DBP and MAP responses to high-salt diet with potassium supplementation. 【Conclusion】 Genetic variants in M3 receptor are significantly associated with BP responses to sodium and potassium intervention, suggesting that M3 receptor may be mechanistically involved in BP salt and potassium sensitivity.

Aim To elucidate the mechanism by which Rg3 regulates the function of CD8

Objective:To investigate the prognostic value and related factors of heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) in patients with heart failure.Methods:A total of 877 consecutive patients who were admitted to heart failure care unit of Fuwai hospital and diagnosed as heart failure from July 2015 to July 2017 were enrolled in this study. Baseline serum H-FABP concentration was measured by fluorescence lateral flow immunoassay. According to serum H-FABP levels, patients were divided into three groups: low H-FABP group (H-FABP≤4.04 ng/ml, n=292), middle H-FABP group (H-FABP 4.04-7.02 ng/ml, n=292) and high H-FABP group (H-FABP≥7.02 ng/ml, n=293). The general clinical characteristics were collected and compared among the three groups. According to whether heart failure was caused by coronary artery disease or not, patients with heart failure were divided into ischemic heart failure and non-ischemic heart failure. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to explore the independent risk factors of H-FABP. The primary endpoint events were the composite of all-cause death or heart transplantation. Multivariate Cox regression analyses, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, risk prediction tests with multivariate Cox regression model and Kaplan-Meier analyses were conducted to investigate the relationship between H-FABP and the prognosis of heart failure. Results:Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that age, coronary artery disease, alanine aminotransferase, uric acid and N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were positively associated with H-FABP (β=0.012, 0.238, 0.001, 0.345 and 0.063 respectively,all P<0.05), while female, hemoglobin, albumin, sodium, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were negatively associated with H-FABP (β=-0.184, -0.006, -0.016, -0.034 and -0.006 respectively, all P<0.05). One hundred and nineteen patients (13.6%) lost to follow-up, and 246 patients (32.5%) suffered from all-cause death or heart transplantation during the median follow-up duration of 931 (412-1 185) days. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that baseline H-FABP (log 2H-FABP) level was the independent predictor of all-cause death or heart transplantation in patients with heart failure ( HR=1.39, P<0.001). ROC curves showed that baseline H-FABP was a predictor of all-cause death or heart transplantation in patients with heart failure within 3 months, 1 year and 2 years (areas under the curves were 0.69, 0.69 and 0.71 respectively), and the best cut-off values were 5.85 ng/ml, 6.54 ng/ml and 6.54 ng/ml respectively. Risk prediction test with multivariate Cox regression model showed that baseline H-FABP could provide additional prognostic value in predicting all-cause death or heart transplantation for patients with heart failure on top of basic model and baseline NT-proBNP ( P<0.001). Taking 6.54 ng/ml and trisected levels of H-FABP as cut-off values respectively, Kaplan-Meier analyses showed that the survival rates were significantly different among the two or three groups ( P<0.001). Subgroup analyses showed that baseline H-FABP (log 2H-FABP) level was an independent predictor of all-cause death or heart transplantation in patients with ischemic heart failure ( HR=1.74, P<0.001), as well as in patients with non-ischemic heart failure ( HR=1.28, P=0.027). Conclusions:Age, sex, coronary artery disease, hemoglobin, albumin, alanine aminotransferase, sodium, eGFR, uric acid and NT-proBNP are associated with H-FABP level. Baseline H-FABP level is an independent predictor of all-cause death or heart transplantation in patients with heart failure. On top of basic model and baseline NT-proBNP, baseline H-FABP could provide additional prognostic value in predicting adverse events for patients with heart failure.

Objective:To investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) trajectories in children and adolescents and subclinical renal damage (SRD) in adulthood.Methods:4 623 participants aged 6-18 years old were recruited from the ongoing cohort of Hanzhong adolescent hypertension study in 1987, and the subjects were followed up in 1989, 1992, 1995, 2005, 2013 and 2017, respectively. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify distinct BMI trajectories in longitudinal analysis. Generalized linear model was applied to examine the association between different BMI trajectories and SRD incidence in adulthood.Results:A total of 2 678 subjects from childhood to adulthood were enrolled in this study. All subjects were divided into three groups according to three distinct BMI trajectories: low-increasing BMI group ( n=1 017), moderate-increasing BMI group ( n=1 353), and high-increasing BMI group ( n=308). Over follow up for 30 years, a total of 248 participants (9.3%) developed SRD. Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) in low to high-increasing BMI group was 0.9(0.6, 1.4), 1.0(0.7, 1.7), 1.6(0.8, 3.2), respectively ( P trend<0.001), and estimated glomerular filtration rate was 98.5(87.6, 111.6) , 96.2(86.4, 109.7), 95.3 (87.5, 125.0) ml·min -1·(1.73 m 2) -1, respectively ( P trend=0.025). The generalized linear model analysis showed that uACR was increased linearly from low to high-increasing BMI group [ β=3.16(95% CI 1.02-5.31), Ptrend=0.004]. There was no correlation or linear trend between BMI trajectory and estimated glomerular filtration rate [ β=-2.30(95% CI-5.18-0.57), Ptrend=0.117]. Compared with the low-increasing BMI group, the high-increasing BMI group had greater odds of experiencing SRD in adulthood after adjusting for multiple confounders such as age, gender, medical history and lifestyle ( OR=2.83, 95% CI 1.84-4.36, Ptrend<0.001). Conclusions:Higher BMI trajectorie is correlated with higher level of uACR and risk of SRD in middle age. Identifying long-term BMI trajectorie from early age may assist in predicting individuals′ renal function in later life.

Objective : To explore the effect on children's occlusion and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) after placement of preformed metal crowns and provide a reference for the restoration of defective primary molars. Methods : A total of 39 children who underwent all primary molar metal crown restorations under general anesthesia were enrolled. The participants underwent occlusal contact area, percentage of total occlusal force, asymmetric ratio of occlusal force and occlusal contact time examinations with the T-scan computerized occlusal analysis system. Vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO) was measured using a dental vertical dimension gauge. TMJ dysfunction signs were recorded using the modified clinical dysfunction index (Di), and TMJ dysfunction symptoms were recorded using questionnaires. All data were collected at pretreatment, 1-week, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up visits. Results: The occlusal contact area at the 3-month and 6-month follow-up visits returned to the occlusal contact area of pretreatment, and the difference was statistically significant (P>0.05). Compared with pretreatment, the percentage of total occlusal force at the 3-month and 6-month follow-up visits increased significantly, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The asymmetric ratio of occlusal force and the occlusal contact time were significantly decreased at the 6-month follow-up visit (P<0.05). The vertical dimension of occlusion recovered after one month of treatment (P>0.05). The final statistical analysis of the TMJ assessment showed that there was no significant difference in the clinical disorder index and TMJ dysfunction symptoms before and after treatment (P>0.05). Conclusions After undergoing all primary molar metal crown restorations, occlusal re-equilibrations were attained after approximately one month. The percentage of total occlusal force and occlusal stability were significantly increased after six months of treatment, without significant temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

【Objective】 To explore the effects of dietary salt intake on serum and urinary levels through the chronic salt loading intervention. 【Methods】 Eighty adults （18 to 65 years old） were screened from two villages in Liquan and Lantian counties to participate in a 2-week chronic salt intervention， including a 3-day baseline survey， a 7-day low-salt diet， and a 7-day high-salt diet. Uromodulin levels in serum and urine were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） kits. According to the baseline blood pressure levels， all subjects were divided into normotensive and hypertensive groups. Pearson or Spearman correlation analyzed the associations of 24 h urinary sodium excretions with serum and urinary levels of uromodulin. 【Results】 At the baseline， serum uromodulin in hypertensive subjects was significantly lower than that in normotensive subjects （26.7±9.9 vs. 57.9±9.7 ng/mL， P=0.033）. Serum uromodulin levels were significantly lower on a high-salt diet than on a baseline diet ［（54.9±8.8 vs. 28.3±4.5） ng/mL， P=0.007］. In addition， daily urinary excretions of uromodulin were lower on a high-salt diet ［（28.4±6.6） ng/mL］ than on a baseline diet ［（282.1±70.0） ng/mL］ and on a low-salt diet ［（154.1±21.3） ng/mL］. The 24 h urinary sodium excretions were inversely correlated with urinary uromodulin excretions （r=-0.40， P<0.001） on both low-salt and high-salt diets， but not correlated with serum uromodulin levels. 【Conclusion】 Variations in dietary salt intake significantly affect plasma and urine uromodulin levels.