Objective To screen the main environmental factors affecting the growth of Prunella vulgaris L.based on MaxEnt model and ArcGIS;To predict its potential suitable habitats in China;To provide reference for the artificial cultivation of Prunella vulgaris L.Methods Totally 346 pieces of sample point data of Prunella vulgaris L.were collected.Combined with data of 38 ecological factors,the main environmental factors affecting the distribution of Prunella vulgaris L.were screened using MaxEnt model.ArcGIS software was used to evaluate the habitat suitability of Prunella vulgaris L.and analyze the distribution of suitable areas for Prunella vulgaris L.worldwide and in China.Results The main ecological factors affecting the distribution of Prunella vulgaris L.were upper(0-30 cm)soil gravel volume percentage,soil effective water content,upper(0-30 cm)soil exchangeable sodium salt,specific soil types related to agricultural use in soil units and upper(0-30 cm)soil sand content.The highly suitable areas of Prunella vulgaris L.were mainly in Yunnan,Heilongjiang,eastern Inner Mongolia and central Sichuan.Conclusion The predicted results can provide a reference for the introduction of cultivation and sustainable resource utilization of Prunella vulgaris L.

Objective Some colorectal cancer patients still face high recurrence rates and poor prognoses even after they have undergone the surgical treatment of radical resection.Identifying potential biochemical markers and therapeutic targets for the prognostic evaluation of patients undergoing radical resection of colorectal cancer is crucial for improving their clinical outcomes.Recently,it has been reported that the T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain protein 3(Tim-3)and its ligand galactose lectin 9(galectin-9)play crucial roles in immune dysfunction caused by various tumors,such as colorectal cancer.However,their expressions,biological functions,and prognostic value in colorectal cancer are still unclear.This study aims to investigate the relationship between Tim-3 and galectin-9 expression levels and the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of patients undergoing radical resection of colorectal cancer.Methods A total of 171 patients who underwent radical resection of colorectal cancer at Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital between February 2018 and March 2019 were selected.Immunohistochemistry was performed to assess the expression levels of Tim-3 and galectin-9 in the cancer tissue samples and the paracancerous tissue samples of the patients.The relationship between Tim-3 and galectin-9 expression levels and the baseline clinical parameters of the patients was analyzed accordingly.Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to assess the association between Tim-3 and galectin-9 expression levels and the relapse-free survival(RFS)and the overall survival(OS)of colorectal cancer patients.Cox regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with adverse prognosis in the patients.Results The immunohistochemical results showed that the high expression levels of Tim-3 and galectin-9 were observed in 70.18%(120/171)and 32.16%(55/171),respectively,of the colorectal cancer tissues,whereas the low expression levels were 29.82%(51/171)and 67.84%(116/171),respectively.Furthermore,the expression score of Tim-3 was significantly higher in colorectal cancer tissues than that in the paracancerous tissues,while the expression score of galectin-9 was lower than that in the paracancerous tissues(P＜0.05).Further analysis revealed that the expression of Tim-3 and galectin-9 was associated with the depth of tumor infiltration,vascular infiltration,and clinical staging(P＜0.05).During the follow-up period of 14-63 months,7 out of 171 patients were lost to follow-up.Among the remaining patients,49 and 112 cases presented abnormally low expression of Tim-3 and galectin-9,respectively,whereas 115 and 52 cases presented high expression of Tim-3 and galectin-9,respectively.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that patients with high Tim-3 expression in colorectal cancer tissues had significantly lower RFS and OS than those with low expression did(RFS:log-rank=22.66,P＜0.001;OS:log-rank=19.71,P＜0.001).Conversely,patients with low galectin-9 expression had significantly lower RFS and OS than those with high expression did(RFS:log-rank=19.45,P＜0.001;OS:log-rank=22.24,P＜0.001).Cox multivariate analysis indicated that TNM stage Ⅲ(HR=2.26,95%CI:1.20-5.68),high expression of Tim-3(HR=0.80,95%CI:0.33-0.91),and low expression of galectin-9(HR=1.80,95%CI:1.33-4.70)were independent risk factors affecting RFS and OS in patients(P＜0.05).Conclusion Aberrant expression of Tim-3 and galectin-9 is observed in colorectal cancer tissues.High expression of Tim-3 and low expression of galectin-9 are closely associated with adverse clinico-pathological characteristics and prognosis.They are identified as independent influencing factors that may trigger adverse prognostic events in patients.These findings suggest that Tim-3 and galectin-9 have potential as new therapeutic targets and clinical indicators.

Endogenously eliminating the hematoma is a favorable strategy in addressing intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). This study sought to determine the role of retinoid X receptor-α (RXR-α) in the context of hematoma absorption after ICH. Our results showed that pharmacologically activating RXR-α with bexarotene significantly accelerated hematoma clearance and alleviated neurological dysfunction after ICH. RXR-α was expressed in microglia/macrophages, neurons, and astrocytes. Mechanistically, bexarotene promoted the nuclear translocation of RXR-α and PPAR-γ, as well as reducing neuroinflammation by modulating microglia/macrophage reprograming from the M1 into the M2 phenotype. Furthermore, all the beneficial effects of RXR-α in ICH were reversed by the PPAR-γ inhibitor GW9662. In conclusion, the pharmacological activation of RXR-α confers robust neuroprotection against ICH by accelerating hematoma clearance and repolarizing microglia/macrophages towards the M2 phenotype through PPAR-γ-related mechanisms. Our data support the notion that RXR-α might be a promising therapeutic target for ICH.

Endogenously eliminating the hematoma is a favorable strategy in addressing intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). This study sought to determine the role of retinoid X receptor-α (RXR-α) in the context of hematoma absorption after ICH. Our results showed that pharmacologically activating RXR-α with bexarotene significantly accelerated hematoma clearance and alleviated neurological dysfunction after ICH. RXR-α was expressed in microglia/macrophages, neurons, and astrocytes. Mechanistically, bexarotene promoted the nuclear translocation of RXR-α and PPAR-γ, as well as reducing neuroinflammation by modulating microglia/macrophage reprograming from the M1 into the M2 phenotype. Furthermore, all the beneficial effects of RXR-α in ICH were reversed by the PPAR-γ inhibitor GW9662. In conclusion, the pharmacological activation of RXR-α confers robust neuroprotection against ICH by accelerating hematoma clearance and repolarizing microglia/macrophages towards the M2 phenotype through PPAR-γ-related mechanisms. Our data support the notion that RXR-α might be a promising therapeutic target for ICH.
Anilides/pharmacology* ; Cerebral Hemorrhage/drug therapy* ; Hematoma/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Macrophages ; Microglia ; Neuroprotection ; PPAR gamma ; Retinoid X Receptor alpha

Sepsis is one of the critical illnesses caused by burns, trauma, shock, infection, and so on. In patients with sepsis, vascular permeability is prone to develop through various pathophysiological mechanisms and thus could result in accumulation of tissue fluid, insufficient intravascular fluid, and finally cause septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Recent studies have shown that various factors and mediators involved in the regulation of vascular permeability in sepsis are expected to become targets for clinical treatment of sepsis. In this paper, we have reviewed the research advances on some molecules which are significantly associated with vascular permeability in sepsis, such as vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin, sphingosine-1-phosphate, heparin-binding protein, and Slit2.

Objective To evaluate the consistency among the results of preoperative midstream urine culture (PMUC), renal pelvis urine culture (RPUC) and renal stone (RSC) culture in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) and their relationship with postoperative infection. Methods This was a multicenter prospective study. From September 2014 to November 2017, 115 patients undergoing standard channel PNL or microchannel PNL in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and Yancheng Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were selected. The PMUC, RPUC and RSC were detected. Samples for RPUC and RSC were obtained during PNL. The clinical data, stone configuration, stone burden and results of cultures were recorded. Results In the 115 patients, PMUC positive was in 4 cases (3.5%), RPUC positive was in 17 cases (14.8%), and RSC positive was in 16 cases (13.9% ); both RPUC and RSC positive were in 7 cases (6.1% ), among whom consistent pathogenic bacterium was in 6 cases, and inconsistent pathogenic bacterium was in 1 case; all the 3 cultures were positive in 1 case, but the types of pathogenic bacterium of PMUC were totally different with RPUC and RSC. At least one positive of the 3 cultures was in 29 cases (25.2% ). The types of pathogenic bacterium of PMUC were multidrug susceptible Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus , and the types of pathogenic bacterium of RPUC and RSC were multidrug resistant pathogens and/or fungus. The consistency of pathogenic bacterium between PMUC and RPUC, RSC was very low; while the consistency of pathogenic bacterium between RPUC and RSC was very high (6/7). Postoperative infection occurred in 8 of 115 patients (7.0% , 5 cases of infective fever and 3 cases of urinary sepsis). In the 8 patients, PMUC was negative, PRUC positive in 4 cases, RSC positive in 7 cases, and both PRUC and RSC positive were in 3 cases. Conclusions PMUC can not accurately reflect the true situation of upper urinary tract renal calculi and pyelo-urine pathogenic bacterium. In patients with PNL postoperative infectious complications, the result of PMUC is often negative, but the results of RPUC and RSC are mostly positive. RPUC and RSC are helpful to detecting pathogenic bacterium in time, guiding the application of sensitive antibiotics, preventing and treating PNL postoperative infection.

Objective To study the effect of puncture length per cubic centimeter of prostate biopsy on the detection rate of prostate cancer. Methods The clinical data of 254 prostate cancer patients who had underwent the first prostate biopsy by transrectal ultrasound guidance from September 2013 to November 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into prostate cancer group and non prostate cancer group according to biopsy pathologic results. The total prostate specific antigen (TPSA), prostate volume, puncture length per needle, puncture length per cubic centimeter of prostate, volume of per needle and percentage of the sampled prostate volume were compared between 2 groups, and the relationship between puncture length per cubic centimeter of prostate and prostate cancer detection rate were analyzed. Results Among the 254 patients, the prostate cancer was in 67 cases (prostate cancer group), and the benign lesion was in 187 cases (non prostate cancer group). The prostate cancer detection rate was 26.4% (67/254). There were no statistical differences in age, puncture length per needle and volume of per needle between 2 groups (P＞0.05). The TPSA, puncture length per cubic centimeter of prostate and percentage of the sampled prostate volume in prostate cancer group were significantly higher than those in non prostate cancer group: (13.8 ± 6.8)×103 ng/L vs. (8.5 ± 3.9)×103 ng/L, (3.42 ± 0.12) mm/cm3 vs. (2.83 ± 0.18) mm/cm3 and (2.75 ± 0.31)% vs. (2.24 ± 0.25)%, the prostate volume was significantly lower than that in non prostate cancer group: (45.8 ± 15.5) cm3vs. (56.3 ± 13.8) cm3, and there were statistical differences (P＜0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that area under the curve was 0.628, 95% CI 0.561 to 0.695. The cutoff value of puncture length per cubic centimeter of prostate was 3.40 mm/cm3, with the sensitivity of 59.8% and the specificity of 64.8% . Conclusions The puncture length per cubic centimeter of prostate and percentage of the sampled prostate volume are important morphometric parameters in the determination of prostate cancer. The detection rate of prostate cancer is the highest , when puncture length per cubic centimeter of prostate is≥3.40 mm/cm3.

Objective To evaluate and compare the effectivity and safety of mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mPNL) and flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy (FURL) for diameter 10 to 20 mm renal stone in obese patients. Methods This was a multicenter prospective study. One hundred and ten obese patients (body mass index≥28.0 kg/m2) with diameter 10 to 20 mm kidney stone from January 2015 to May 2017 were selected. The patients were divided into mPNL group (58 cases) and FURL group (52 cases) according to the patients′ will. The operation time, hospitalization time, complication, one-stage stone removal rate and ultimate stone removal rate were compared between 2 groups. Results The operation time, hospitalization time and incidence of complication in FURL group were significantly lower than those in mPNL group: (66.7 ± 21.9) min vs. (85.7 ± 33.4) min, (72.5 ± 23.7) h vs. (120.8 ± 33.5) h and 9.6% (5/52) vs. 31.0% (18/58), and there were statistical differences (P＜0.05). There were no statistical differences in the one-stage stone removal rate and ultimate stone removal rate between 2 groups (P＞0.05). In aspect of postoperative bleeding, hemoglobin decreased after operation (15.8 ± 9.7) g/L in mPNL group; no hemorrhage occurred in FURL group, and no significant changes in hemoglobin were observed before and after operation. Conclusions Both mPNL and FURL achieve satisfactory stone-free rates in obese patients with diameter 10 to 20 mm renal stone. Compared with mPNL, FURL has shorter operation time and lower incidence of complication.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have shown that integrins alpha5beta1 (ITGA5B1) gene-modified rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) could prevent cell anoikis and increase the nitric oxide (NO) production. Here we examined the capability of rBMSCs/ITGA5B1 on the phenotype modulation of Human Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cell (HPASMC) in vitro. METHODS AND RESULTS: The synthetic (dedifferentiated) phenotype of HPASMC was induced by monocrotaline (MCT, 1μM) for 24 h and then co-cultured with rBMSCs/ITGA5B1 in a transwell culture system. The activation of NO/cGMP (nitric oxide/Guanosine-3′, 5′-cyclic monophosphate) signaling was investigated in HPASMC. The changes of pro-inflammatory factors, oxidative stress, vasodilator, vasoconstrictor, contractile and synthetic genes, and the morphological changes of HPASMC were investigated. The results of this study showed that the NO/cGMP signal, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression, the expression of the vasoprotective genes heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1) and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) were increased, but the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins delta (Cebpd), Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), and activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) were reduced in MCT treated HPASMC co-cultured with rBMSCs/ITGA5B1. The synthetic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) phenotype markers thrombospondin-1, epiregulin and the vasoconstrictor endothelin (ET)-1, thromboxane A2 receptor (TbxA2R) were down-regulated, whereas the contractile SMCs phenotype marker transgelin expression was up-regulated by rBMSCs/ITGA5B1. Furthermore, rBMSCs/ITGA5B1 promoted the morphological restoration from synthetic (dedifferentiation) to contractile (differentiation) phenotype in MCT treated HPASMC. CONCLUSIONS: rBMSCs/ITGA5B1 could inhibit inflammation and oxidative stress related genes to promote the HPASMC cell differentiation by activation NO/cGMP signal.
Activating Transcription Factor 4 ; Animals ; Anoikis ; Bone Marrow ; Cell Differentiation ; Endothelins ; Epiregulin ; Genes, Synthetic ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Inflammation ; Integrins ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Monocrotaline ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Nitric Oxide ; Oxidative Stress ; Phenotype ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Pulmonary Artery ; Rats ; Receptors, Thromboxane A2, Prostaglandin H2

The purpose of education is to cultivate talents who can master the ability of self-learning lifelong. With the rapid development of multimedia technology, the knowledge carrier represented by micro curriculum plays a very important role in improving students' self-learning ability. In traditional Chinese medicine college, due to the short of time, weak learning foundation, the ability of self-learning is hard to improve in the modern medical courses such as biochemistry. This is not conducive to the cultivation of modern talents of Chinese medicine. In this paper, we chose the biochemistry teaching in TCM college as an example, and discuss how we can make the application of micro courses reasonably in the teaching process. This study was regarded as a starting to improve the students' self-learning ability effectively.