OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of Qingda Granule (QDG) in ameliorating hypertension-induced cardiac damage and investigate the underlying mechanisms involved. METHODS: Twenty spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were used to develope a hypertension-induced cardiac damage model. Another 10 Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were used as normotension group. Rats were administrated intragastrically QDG [0.9 g/(kg•d)] or an equivalent volume of pure water for 8 weeks. Blood pressure, histopathological changes, cardiac function, levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory response markers were measured. Furthermore, to gain insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the protective effects of QDG against hypertension-induced cardiac injury, a network pharmacology study was conducted. Predicted results were validated by Western blot, radioimmunoassay immunohistochemistry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. RESULTS: The administration of QDG resulted in a significant decrease in blood pressure levels in SHRs (P<0.01). Histological examinations, including hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson trichrome staining revealed that QDG effectively attenuated hypertension-induced cardiac damage. Furthermore, echocardiography demonstrated that QDG improved hypertension-associated cardiac dysfunction. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and colorimetric method indicated that QDG significantly reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory response levels in both myocardial tissue and serum (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Both network pharmacology and experimental investigations confirmed that QDG exerted its beneficial effects in decreasing hypertension-induced cardiac damage by regulating the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)/angiotensin II (Ang II)/Ang II receptor type 1 axis and ACE/Ang II/Ang II receptor type 2 axis.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Hypertension/pathology* ; Renin-Angiotensin System/drug effects* ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Male ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Blood Pressure/drug effects* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Rats ; Inflammation/pathology*

Objective To compare the differences of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided non-invasive measurement of portal venous pressure and EUS-guided portal pressure gradient(EUS-PPG) in measurement of portal venous pressure on animals and their correlation. Methods Twenty-four miniature pigs were selected and fed with carbon tetrachloride and phenobarbital sodium combined with high-fat,low-protein and low-choline diet for 16 weeks to establish a liver cirrhotic portal hypertension model. The changes of biochemical indexes of liver function and liver pathology in the experimental pigs were observed to evaluate whether the model was successful. After the model was successfully established,the hemodynamic parameters of the portal venous trunk were measured non-invasively under EUS guidance,including portal venous blood flow and splenic artery pulsatility index,thereby calculating portal venous pressure. Then,taking EUS-PPG,the portal vein,hepatic vein,and inferior vena cava were punctured with an 18G puncture needle under general anesthesia guided by the translinear endoscopic ultrasound,and the PPG was calculated through the central venous pressure monitoring system.The Pearson correlation analysis,Kappa test,ICC intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman plot were used for consistency analysis. Results All the 24 pigs survived 16 weeks after modeling.The serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT),aspartate transaminase (AST),albumin (ALB),globulin (GLB),total bilirubin (TBIL) and indirect bilirubin (IBIL)after modeling were higher than those before modeling(P<0.05). HE staining and Sirius red staining showed abnormal liver morphology and increased collagen fibers after modeling,suggesting that the experimental pig model of liver cirrhotic portal hypertension was successfully established. The results of EUS-guided non-invasive measurement of portal venous pressure showed that the mean splenic artery pulsatility index was (2.03±0.68),the mean portal vein flow was (17.27±4.31)cm/s,and the mean portal venous pressure was (15.97±3.65)mmHg. The measurement results of the mean portal venous pressure,hepatic venous pres-sure and PPG of EUS-PPG were (20.68±4.71)mmHg,(4.07±2.14)mmHg and (16.38±4.28)mmHg respectively. Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the portal venous pressures measured by the two methods (r=0.902,P<0.001);the consistency tests of Kappa test and ICC intraclass correlation coefficient showed that the measurement results of the two methods were highly consistent (Kappa=0.699,P<0.001;ICC=0.945);Bland-Altman plot analysis showed that most of the points fell within 95％ limits of agreement. Conclusion EUS-guided non-invasive measurement of portal venous pressure has a high correlation and consistency with the measurement results by EUS-PPG,which has high success rate,and accurate reflection of portal venous pressure,with low cost and good safety.

Objective To explore the effect of PSMA gene on the biological behavior of prostate cancer cells and its molecular mechanism.Methods The expression of PSMA in prostate cancer and its relationship with prognosis were analyzed based on the GEPIA database.The mRNA and protein expression levels of PSMA in normal prostate epithelial cell RWPE-2 and prostate cancer cells DU145 and PC-3 were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot,respectively.DU145 cells were used to construct knockdown cell lines,which were transfected with PSMA lentiviral knockdown plasmid and its negative control,serving as the sh PSMA group and the sh NC group,respectively;PC-3 cells were used to construct overexpression cell lines,which were transfected with PSMA lentiviral overexpression plasmid and its negative control,serving as the OE PSMA group and the OE NC group.CCK-8 assay and clone formation assay were used to detect the cell proliferation ability,wound healing assay and Transwell assay were used to detect the cell migration and invasion abilities,flow cytometry was used to detect the cell apoptosis,and Western blot was used to detect the expression of PI3K,Akt,BAX and Bcl-2 proteins.Prostate cancer cells of DU145 cell line were inoculated into the left armpit of BALB/c nude mice to form tumors,the tumor size was observed,and the tumor weight was measured;HE staining was used to evaluate the degree of damage;and the expression of PSMA was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results GEPIA database analysis showed that PSMA gene was highly expressed in prostate cancer and was related to the prognosis of prostate cancer.The results of RT-qPCR and Western blot showed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of PSMA in PC-3 and DU145 cells were higher than those in RWPE-2 cell(P<0.01).Compared with the sh NC group,the sh PSMA group showed decreased cell proliferation,migration and invasion abilities(P<0.05),and increased cell apoptosis rate(P<0.05).Compared with the OE NC group,the OE PSMA group demonstrated increased cell proliferation,migration and invasion abilities(P<0.05),and decreased apoptosis rate(P<0.05).Compared with the sh NC group,the protein expression of PI3K,Akt and Bcl-2 in the sh PSMA group decreased(P<0.05),and the protein expression of BAX increased(P<0.05).Compared with the OE NC group,the protein expression of PI3K,Akt and Bcl-2 in the OE PSMA group increased(P<0.05),and the protein expression of BAX decreased(P<0.05).Results of subcutaneous transplantation of prostate cancer in nude mice showed that the tumor weight of nude mice decreased(P<0.05),tumor cells exhibited irregular shapes,nuclei were deeply stained,and PSMA expression was weakly positive,after knocking down the PSMA.Conclusion PSMA gene may participate in regulating the proliferation,invasion,migration,and apoptosis of prostate cancer cells through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the effect of PSMA gene on the biological behavior of prostate cancer cells and its molecular mechanism.Methods The expression of PSMA in prostate cancer and its relationship with prognosis were analyzed based on the GEPIA database.The mRNA and protein expression levels of PSMA in normal prostate epithelial cell RWPE-2 and prostate cancer cells DU145 and PC-3 were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot,respectively.DU145 cells were used to construct knockdown cell lines,which were transfected with PSMA lentiviral knockdown plasmid and its negative control,serving as the sh PSMA group and the sh NC group,respectively;PC-3 cells were used to construct overexpression cell lines,which were transfected with PSMA lentiviral overexpression plasmid and its negative control,serving as the OE PSMA group and the OE NC group.CCK-8 assay and clone formation assay were used to detect the cell proliferation ability,wound healing assay and Transwell assay were used to detect the cell migration and invasion abilities,flow cytometry was used to detect the cell apoptosis,and Western blot was used to detect the expression of PI3K,Akt,BAX and Bcl-2 proteins.Prostate cancer cells of DU145 cell line were inoculated into the left armpit of BALB/c nude mice to form tumors,the tumor size was observed,and the tumor weight was measured;HE staining was used to evaluate the degree of damage;and the expression of PSMA was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results GEPIA database analysis showed that PSMA gene was highly expressed in prostate cancer and was related to the prognosis of prostate cancer.The results of RT-qPCR and Western blot showed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of PSMA in PC-3 and DU145 cells were higher than those in RWPE-2 cell(P<0.01).Compared with the sh NC group,the sh PSMA group showed decreased cell proliferation,migration and invasion abilities(P<0.05),and increased cell apoptosis rate(P<0.05).Compared with the OE NC group,the OE PSMA group demonstrated increased cell proliferation,migration and invasion abilities(P<0.05),and decreased apoptosis rate(P<0.05).Compared with the sh NC group,the protein expression of PI3K,Akt and Bcl-2 in the sh PSMA group decreased(P<0.05),and the protein expression of BAX increased(P<0.05).Compared with the OE NC group,the protein expression of PI3K,Akt and Bcl-2 in the OE PSMA group increased(P<0.05),and the protein expression of BAX decreased(P<0.05).Results of subcutaneous transplantation of prostate cancer in nude mice showed that the tumor weight of nude mice decreased(P<0.05),tumor cells exhibited irregular shapes,nuclei were deeply stained,and PSMA expression was weakly positive,after knocking down the PSMA.Conclusion PSMA gene may participate in regulating the proliferation,invasion,migration,and apoptosis of prostate cancer cells through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Objective To compare the differences of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided non-invasive measurement of portal venous pressure and EUS-guided portal pressure gradient(EUS-PPG) in measurement of portal venous pressure on animals and their correlation. Methods Twenty-four miniature pigs were selected and fed with carbon tetrachloride and phenobarbital sodium combined with high-fat,low-protein and low-choline diet for 16 weeks to establish a liver cirrhotic portal hypertension model. The changes of biochemical indexes of liver function and liver pathology in the experimental pigs were observed to evaluate whether the model was successful. After the model was successfully established,the hemodynamic parameters of the portal venous trunk were measured non-invasively under EUS guidance,including portal venous blood flow and splenic artery pulsatility index,thereby calculating portal venous pressure. Then,taking EUS-PPG,the portal vein,hepatic vein,and inferior vena cava were punctured with an 18G puncture needle under general anesthesia guided by the translinear endoscopic ultrasound,and the PPG was calculated through the central venous pressure monitoring system.The Pearson correlation analysis,Kappa test,ICC intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman plot were used for consistency analysis. Results All the 24 pigs survived 16 weeks after modeling.The serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT),aspartate transaminase (AST),albumin (ALB),globulin (GLB),total bilirubin (TBIL) and indirect bilirubin (IBIL)after modeling were higher than those before modeling(P<0.05). HE staining and Sirius red staining showed abnormal liver morphology and increased collagen fibers after modeling,suggesting that the experimental pig model of liver cirrhotic portal hypertension was successfully established. The results of EUS-guided non-invasive measurement of portal venous pressure showed that the mean splenic artery pulsatility index was (2.03±0.68),the mean portal vein flow was (17.27±4.31)cm/s,and the mean portal venous pressure was (15.97±3.65)mmHg. The measurement results of the mean portal venous pressure,hepatic venous pres-sure and PPG of EUS-PPG were (20.68±4.71)mmHg,(4.07±2.14)mmHg and (16.38±4.28)mmHg respectively. Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the portal venous pressures measured by the two methods (r=0.902,P<0.001);the consistency tests of Kappa test and ICC intraclass correlation coefficient showed that the measurement results of the two methods were highly consistent (Kappa=0.699,P<0.001;ICC=0.945);Bland-Altman plot analysis showed that most of the points fell within 95％ limits of agreement. Conclusion EUS-guided non-invasive measurement of portal venous pressure has a high correlation and consistency with the measurement results by EUS-PPG,which has high success rate,and accurate reflection of portal venous pressure,with low cost and good safety.

Animal drugs have been used in the treatment of uro-andrological diseases since ancient times.At present,the clini-cal use of animal drugs is mostly based on the experience of doctors.From the perspective of the diversified theories of traditional Chi-nese medicine(TCM),this paper summarizes the experience of predecessors in the use of animal drugs,and believes that under the guidance of the TCM theories,the application of animal drugs in the treatment of uro-andrological diseases has achieved multi-dimen-sional and diversified development,as in the treatment of chronic prostatitis based on the theories of"heat poison","stasis poison"and"aromatherapy through the orifice",and in the management of ED from the perspective of"kidney deficiency","qi-blood dishar-mony"and"collateral disease",which accords with the mainstream thought of current scholars in the differentiation and treatment of uro-andrological diseases.At the same time,it pointed out the problems to be attended to in the clinical use of animal drugs,aiming to provide some reference ideas for the clinical treatment of uro-andrological diseases with animal drugs.

Objective: To analyze the immunological characteristics and antibody changes of patients infected with the Omicron BA.1 and evaluate the possibility of secondary infection. Methods: A total of 104 patients infected with Omicron BA.1 in the Jinnan District of Tianjin from January 8 to February 2, 2022, were included in the study. The control group and case group were matched 1∶1 based on age, sex and vaccination status. Serum was collected from the case group and control group at 3, 6 and 9 months after infection. The serum levels of interleukin4 (IL-4), IL-5 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), as well as the positive rates of IgG, IgG1 and IgG2, were detected by ELISA. Results: The highest concentration of IFN-γ in the case group at 6 months after infection was 145.4 pg/ml, followed by a decrease in concentration. The concentrations of IL-4 and IL-5 began to decrease at 6 months after infection (all P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the IgG2 positive rate between the case group and the control group at 6 months after BA.1 infection. However, at 9 months, there was a significant decrease compared to the control group (P=0.003). The ratio of IFN-γ/IL4 at 3 months after infection in the case group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the ratio between the case group and the control group at 9 months after infection. Conclusion: The cellular immune function has been impaired at 3 months after infection with BA.1, and the specific cellular immune and humoral immune functions decrease significantly after 6 months, and the risk of secondary infection increases.
Adult ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral ; Coinfection ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Immunoglobulin G ; Interferon-gamma

Objective: To analyze the immunological characteristics and antibody changes of patients infected with the Omicron BA.1 and evaluate the possibility of secondary infection. Methods: A total of 104 patients infected with Omicron BA.1 in the Jinnan District of Tianjin from January 8 to February 2, 2022, were included in the study. The control group and case group were matched 1∶1 based on age, sex and vaccination status. Serum was collected from the case group and control group at 3, 6 and 9 months after infection. The serum levels of interleukin4 (IL-4), IL-5 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), as well as the positive rates of IgG, IgG1 and IgG2, were detected by ELISA. Results: The highest concentration of IFN-γ in the case group at 6 months after infection was 145.4 pg/ml, followed by a decrease in concentration. The concentrations of IL-4 and IL-5 began to decrease at 6 months after infection (all P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the IgG2 positive rate between the case group and the control group at 6 months after BA.1 infection. However, at 9 months, there was a significant decrease compared to the control group (P=0.003). The ratio of IFN-γ/IL4 at 3 months after infection in the case group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the ratio between the case group and the control group at 9 months after infection. Conclusion: The cellular immune function has been impaired at 3 months after infection with BA.1, and the specific cellular immune and humoral immune functions decrease significantly after 6 months, and the risk of secondary infection increases.
Adult ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral ; Coinfection ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Immunoglobulin G ; Interferon-gamma

Abstract: Objective　This paper aims to explore the effect of live attenuated varicella vaccine on the sensitivity of tuberculin skin test(TST), and to provide reference for tuberculin skin test in the future. Methods　TST and emergency varicella vaccine were administered to students in grade one of a high school in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, who had both TB and varicella cases. Independent-samples t test was used to analyze the mean diameter of induration of TST in day 0, day 83 and day 195. The retrospective cohort study was used to analyze the effect of live attenuated varicella vaccine on TST. 　　Results　The mean induration diameter of 45 students who participated in three TST tests on day 0, day 83 and day 195 were analyzed by independent sample t test. On day 0, there was a difference in the mean diameter of TST induration between the unvaccinated and vaccinated groups(1.630±2.837 vs 5.818±4.530) (t=-3.692, P=0.001). On day 83, there was no difference in the mean diameter of TST induration between the two groups(0.001±0.001 vs 0.114±0.533) (t=-1.000, P=0.329). On day 195, there was a difference in the mean diameter of TST induration between the two groups(1.913±3.774 vs 5.023±5.126) (t=-2.309, P=0.026). Moreover, the retrospective cohort study showed that the mean diameter of TST induration changed more significantly after inoculation with varicella vaccine, RR=6.071, 95%CI (1.667-22.116), P<0.05; After inoculation with varicella vaccine, the mean diameter of TST test did not change significantly from day 0 to day 195 with no statistical significance RR=3.474, 95%CI (0.333-36.240), P>0.05. Conclusions　Live attenuated varicella vaccine may temporarily affect the sensitivity of tuberculin skin test.

Since the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia(NCP), hospitals have taken the fight against the virus as its own responsibility, and keep standing in the front line of epidemic prevention and control. The continuous input of anti-epidemic forces in hospitals also brings challenges to the medical supplies support, including the management of protective supplies and the maintenance of medical equipment. In the face of increasing security pressure, the medical materials support team broke the game on multiple fronts. Firstly, the team implements active material procurement strategy, sets material distribution priority according to risk level, releases materials uniformly based on stock and use, and implements traceability management of donated materials to ensure material supply. Secondly, centralized allocation management of equipment, emergency installation, advanced maintenance and emergency maintenance work is effectively completed. Thirdly, disinfection strategies for items and equipment are developed safely and effectively with the aid of disinfection equipment functions. At last, personnel management and training have been strengthened. These measures have provided strong support for the orderly prevention and control of the epidemic.