BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot is a complex condition with high incidence, recurrence, mortality, and disability rates. Current treatments for diabetic foot ulcers are often insufficient. This study was conducted to identify potential therapeutic targets for diabetic foot. METHODS: Datasets related to diabetic foot and diabetic skin were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using R software. Enrichment analysis was conducted to screen for critical gene functions and pathways. A protein interaction network was constructed to identify node genes corresponding to key proteins. The DEGs and node genes were overlapped to pinpoint target genes. Plasma and chronic ulcer samples from diabetic and non-diabetic individuals were collected. Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed to verify the S100 calcium binding protein A9 (S100A9), inflammatory cytokine, and related pathway protein levels. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to measure epidermal layer thickness. RESULTS: In total, 283 common DEGs and 42 node genes in diabetic foot ulcers were identified. Forty-three genes were differentially expressed in the skin of diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. The overlapping of the most significant DEGs and node genes led to the identification of S100A9 as a target gene. The S100A9 level was significantly higher in diabetic than in non-diabetic plasma (178.40 ± 44.65 ng/mL vs. 40.84 ± 18.86 ng/mL) and in chronic ulcers, and the wound healing time correlated positively with the plasma S100A9 level. The levels of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin [IL]-1, and IL-6) and related pathway proteins (phospho-extracellular signal regulated kinase [ERK], phospho-p38, phospho-p65, and p-protein kinase B [Akt]) were also elevated. The epidermal layer was notably thinner in chronic diabetic ulcers than in non-diabetic skin (24.17 ± 25.60 μm vs. 412.00 ± 181.60 μm). CONCLUSIONS S100A9 was significantly upregulated in diabetic foot and was associated with prolonged wound healing. S100A9 may impair diabetic wound healing by disrupting local inflammatory responses and skin re-epithelialization.
Calgranulin B/therapeutic use* ; Diabetic Foot/metabolism* ; Humans ; Datasets as Topic ; Computational Biology ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Animals ; Mice ; Protein Interaction Maps ; Immunohistochemistry

Objective To explore the application effects of levator ani sitting method on alleviating perineal pain of puerperae in sitting position on the first day after vaginal delivery.Methods Method of self contrast was used.A total of 401 puerpera undergoing vaginal delivery were asked to sit according to traditional sitting posture method,and then levator ani sitting method.Their perineal pain index,and psychological fear of sitting were observed.Results By sitting according to levator ani sitting method,the pain index was lower than that of the traditional sitting method (P ＜ 0.05);by sitting according to levator ani sitting method,less puerperae felt fear by sitting position than that of the traditional sitting method (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Simple,convenient,easy to master and effective,levator ani sitting method can alleviate perineal pain and reduce fear of puerpera's in their sitting position,which is benefit for puerperium recovery.

BACKGROUND:. Until now modern science cannot explain clearly aboutthe mechanism of acute alcoholic liver injury. Besides such methods as givingup drinking, or symptomatic treatment, there is no specific therapy and remedy. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has obvious advantages for this: Itcannot only improve the clinical symptoms, but also adjust organism immunefunction, and has very good development future. OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of radix bupleuri and radix scutellariae incompatibility with the ratio of different dosage (2:1, 1:1, 1:2) on acute alcoholicliver injury by regulating the system of endocrine-immunity network in rats. DESIGN: Groups are divided randomly and experiments are made underblank conditions. SETTING: TCM Clinical Laboratory of Pharmaceutical School, Henan University of TCM. MATERIALS: From September to November 2002 in TCM Clinical Laboratory of Pharmaceutical School, Henan University of TCM, the general condi tion of the animals were as follows: 96 healthy Wistar rats were divided into 8groups: blank group, model group, radix bupleuri group, radix scutellariaegroup, xiao-chaihu group, radix bupleuri-radix scutellariae 2:1 group, radix bupleuri-radix scutellariae 1:1 group, radix bupleuri-radix scutellariae 1:2 group. METHODS: ① According to the ratio of 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, radix bupleuri andradix scutellariae were taken respectively (480 g, 240 g; 360 g, 360 g; 240 g, 480 g) to produce the water decocting nedicine. Except the blank group(duplicated by saline of the same volume through consecutive gastric infusion), the other groups are duplicated through consecutive gastric infusionby 56 degrees of Er-Guotou White Spirit (7 mL/kg) two times a day for tendays until the model-making is finished. From the first day, the medicine wasgiven two times a day. The blank group and the model group were given thedistilled water of the same volume. The other groups were given the properwater decocting medicine. The dosage in xiao-chaihu group was 10 g/kg andin the other was all 12 g/kg. ② 16 hours later after the last time when thewhite spirit was given, blood was taken from stomach aorta to produceserum. Liver, spleen, chest gland, adrenal gland were quickly removed. Thecalculating formula of an organ index: An organ index= The weight of an organ (g)/The weight of a body (g) ×100%. The calculating formula of vitamin C content in adrenal gland (mg/g): Content of vitamin C= [(The Avalue of the testing tube-The A value of the blank tube)/ (The A value ofthe standard tube-The A value of the blank tube)] ×density of the standardtube (6 mg/L)×dilution times of the sample before tested/protein content(g/L). ③ Comparison between the groups was shown by using variancesimilar test and single-factor variance analysis.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Index of rats' liver, spleen, chest gland, and adrenal gland (on the right side); the determination of vitamin C content in rats' right adrenal gland.RESULTS: During the experiment, 3 rats in the model group died. Tworats died in radix scutellariae group and radix bupleuri-radix scutellariae group respectively, In each of the other groups only one rat died. The condition of the number of the rats which were used for analyzing results:There were 12 in blank group; 9 in model group; 10 in radix bupleuri group, radix bupleuri-radix scutellariae 1:1 group respectively; 11 in each of the other groups. ① Comparison of index of rats in liver, spleen, chest gland, adrenal gland (right side) between different groups: There was no significant difference between the indexes of rats' liver in different groups.The index of spleen, chest gland, adrenal gland in the model group were all greatly less than in blank group (P ＜ 0.05-0.01). The index of spleen in the radix bupleuri group wcre greatly higher than in the model group, it could make the reduced spleen index return to normal (P ＜ 0.05); The index of chest in radix scutellariae group, radix bupleuri-radix scutellariae 1:1 group, radix bupleuri-radix scutellariae 1:2 group and xiao-chaihu group were greatly higher than in model group (P ＜ 0.05); The index of adrenal gland in radix bupleuri-radix scutellariae 1:2 group and xiao-chaihu group were greatly higher than in model group (P ＜ 0.05). ② Comparison of vitamin C content in rats' right adrenal gland between the groups: Compared with blank group, the vitamin C content of adrenal gland in the model group had no significant difference. While that of radix bupleuri group, xiao-chaihu group, radix bupleuri-radix scutellariae groups were greatly less than that of model group (P ＜ 0.05-0.01), especially radix bupleuri-radix scutellariae 1:1 group had the most significant influence (P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Interfering functional injuries of liver, spleen and suprarenal gland is one of the mechanisms of acute alcoholic liver injury.Generally speaking, bupleuri-radix scutellariae 1:2 group has the greatest effect on the testing index.