Objective To explore the feasibility of phase-contrast CT for three-dimensional visualization of in vitro intrahepatic vessels and necrotic foci in mouse model of acute liver injury(ALI).Methods Six clean grade male wild-type C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into model group and control group(each n=3).The mice in model group were fed with overdose of acetaminophen to induce ALI,while those in control group were fed with the same amount of distilled water.After 24 h,the mice were all sacrificed,the livers were harvested and then fixed and dehydrated.Phase-contrast CT images of in vitro liver were acquired,sectional and three-dimensional images were reconstructed.The effect of phase-contrast CT for displaying the outline of liver and internal vessels and necrotic foci were observed,the maximum diameter and volume of necrotic foci were quantitatively analyzed,and the results of phase-contrast CT were compared with pathological findings.Results The original projection and sectional images of phase-contrast CT clearly showed the outline of in vitro liver and internal vasculatures.Necrotic foci within the liver were found in model group,but not in control group.The findings of phase-contrast CT corresponded accurately to those of pathology.Three-dimensional reconstruction images of phase-contrast CT clearly displayed intrahepatic portal vein system and hepatic vein system in both groups,and discontinuous punctate necrotic foci within the liver were found in model group,mainly distributed around hepatic vein,with a median maximum diameter of 18.50 μm and a median volume of 5 870.11 μm3,but was not observed in control group.Conclusion Phase-contrast CT could be used in three-dimensional visualization of intrahepatic vessels and necrotic foci of in vitro liver in mouse model of ALI.

Objective:To verify mechanism of Dunhuang Ruicao ointment in frostbite treatment through network pharmacology and experiment.Methods:Targets of Dunhuang Ruicao ointment in intervention of frostbite was screened through network pharmacology.Dunhuang Ruicao ointment was used to treat rat model of frostbite.Effect of drug was observed and results of network pharmacological enrichment analysis were verified.Results:A total of 239 active drug components,186 disease targets and 36 common targets were screened.KEGG pathway enrichment screened out 96 pathways,mainly enriched in Toll-like receptor signaling pathway,IL-17 signaling pathway,tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway,AGE-RAGE signaling pathway,Th17 cell differentiation pathway,suggesting Toll-like receptor signaling pathway may play an important role in treatment of frostbite by Dunhuang Ruicao ointment.Animal experiments showed that compared with model group,skin frostbite of rats treated with different doses of Dunhuang Ruicao ointment group was significantly improved,wound healing rate was increased,swelling rate was decreased,wound tissue epithelialization was obvious,inflammatory infiltration was reduced,angiogenesis was increased,and collagen fiber content was increased.mRNA and protein expressions of TLR4,MyD88 and NF-κB p65 in local skin lesions were decreased to different degrees,and middle-dose group had the best effect.Conclusion:Dunhuang Ruicao ointment in treatment of frostbite has characteristics of multiple components,multiple targets,multiple pathways synergy,probably playing a role in treatment of frostbite by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling path-way activated to reduce frostbite rats serum proinflammatory media release,reduce inflammation,improve rate of tissue remodeling,promote healing of frostbite,providing a theoretical basis for further study of complex mechanism of Dunhuang Ruicao ointment in treatment of frostbite.

Objective:To verify mechanism of Dunhuang Ruicao ointment in frostbite treatment through network pharmacology and experiment.Methods:Targets of Dunhuang Ruicao ointment in intervention of frostbite was screened through network pharmacology.Dunhuang Ruicao ointment was used to treat rat model of frostbite.Effect of drug was observed and results of network pharmacological enrichment analysis were verified.Results:A total of 239 active drug components,186 disease targets and 36 common targets were screened.KEGG pathway enrichment screened out 96 pathways,mainly enriched in Toll-like receptor signaling pathway,IL-17 signaling pathway,tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway,AGE-RAGE signaling pathway,Th17 cell differentiation pathway,suggesting Toll-like receptor signaling pathway may play an important role in treatment of frostbite by Dunhuang Ruicao ointment.Animal experiments showed that compared with model group,skin frostbite of rats treated with different doses of Dunhuang Ruicao ointment group was significantly improved,wound healing rate was increased,swelling rate was decreased,wound tissue epithelialization was obvious,inflammatory infiltration was reduced,angiogenesis was increased,and collagen fiber content was increased.mRNA and protein expressions of TLR4,MyD88 and NF-κB p65 in local skin lesions were decreased to different degrees,and middle-dose group had the best effect.Conclusion:Dunhuang Ruicao ointment in treatment of frostbite has characteristics of multiple components,multiple targets,multiple pathways synergy,probably playing a role in treatment of frostbite by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling path-way activated to reduce frostbite rats serum proinflammatory media release,reduce inflammation,improve rate of tissue remodeling,promote healing of frostbite,providing a theoretical basis for further study of complex mechanism of Dunhuang Ruicao ointment in treatment of frostbite.

Objective To explore the feasibility of phase-contrast CT for three-dimensional visualization of in vitro intrahepatic vessels and necrotic foci in mouse model of acute liver injury(ALI).Methods Six clean grade male wild-type C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into model group and control group(each n=3).The mice in model group were fed with overdose of acetaminophen to induce ALI,while those in control group were fed with the same amount of distilled water.After 24 h,the mice were all sacrificed,the livers were harvested and then fixed and dehydrated.Phase-contrast CT images of in vitro liver were acquired,sectional and three-dimensional images were reconstructed.The effect of phase-contrast CT for displaying the outline of liver and internal vessels and necrotic foci were observed,the maximum diameter and volume of necrotic foci were quantitatively analyzed,and the results of phase-contrast CT were compared with pathological findings.Results The original projection and sectional images of phase-contrast CT clearly showed the outline of in vitro liver and internal vasculatures.Necrotic foci within the liver were found in model group,but not in control group.The findings of phase-contrast CT corresponded accurately to those of pathology.Three-dimensional reconstruction images of phase-contrast CT clearly displayed intrahepatic portal vein system and hepatic vein system in both groups,and discontinuous punctate necrotic foci within the liver were found in model group,mainly distributed around hepatic vein,with a median maximum diameter of 18.50 μm and a median volume of 5 870.11 μm3,but was not observed in control group.Conclusion Phase-contrast CT could be used in three-dimensional visualization of intrahepatic vessels and necrotic foci of in vitro liver in mouse model of ALI.

Intestinal injury is a common adverse reaction of clinical chemotherapy drugs, which limits the further application of chemotherapy drugs and causes serious physical and mental burden to patients. At present, the mechanism of chemotherapy-induced intestinal injury is complex, and traditional Chinese medicine has an excellent preventive effect. This article reviews the related mechanisms of intestinal flora imbalance, oxidative stress, inflammatory response, cell apoptosis, and immune damage caused by chemotherapy, and summarizes the role of traditional Chinese medicine in prevention and treatment of oxidative stress, inflammatory response, cell apoptosis, and immune damage.

Objective To reveal the effect of fasting insuline(FINS) and insuline resistance(IR) in the process of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH). Methods One hundred and seventeen outpatients( ≥60 ys)with BPH from geriatric department were enrolled into the study. The patients were divided into groups according to their FINS and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). The indices of BPH, including volume of prostate ( PV ),prostate specific antigen( PSA ), international prostate symptom score (IPSS), course of BPH were analyzed in both groups. Results The PV ( [ 56. 46 ± 26. 88 ] ml vs [ 44. 84 ± 17.66 ] ml, P = 0. 017 ) and the course ( [ 18. 00 ± 6. 91 ] years vs [ 13.93 ± 7. 74 ] years, P = 0. 031 ) were significantly greater in BPH combined hyperinsulinemias(HINS) group than the BPH with normal FINS group;but we found no significant differences in the comparisons of serum PSA level or IPSS between two groups. The PV( [54. 17 ± 25.38 ] ml vs [42. 26 ±14. 15]ml,P =0. 004)and the course([ 16.58 ±7. 65] years vs [13.49 ±7. 59] years,P = 0. 036) were also significantly greater in BPH combined insuline resistance gruop than the insulin sensitivity group, again we found no significant differences in the comparisons of serum PSA level or IPSS between two groups. Conclusion FINS and IR are risk factors of progressed BPH and can promote the progress of BPH.

Even though mutations in LMNA have been reported in patients with typical dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and atrioventricular block (AVB) previously, the purpose of this study was to disclose this novel genetic abnormality in one Chinese family with the atypical phenotype of progressive AVB followed by DCM with normal QRS interval. Genome-wide linkage analysis mapped the AVB gene in this family to a marker at chromosome 1q21.2, where the LMNA gene was located. Direct DNA sequence analysis revealed a heterozygous G to A transition at nucleotide 244 in exon 1 of LMNA, which resulted in an E82K mutation. The E82K mutation co-segregated with all affected individuals in the family, and was not present in 200 normal controls. Further clinical evaluation of mutation carriers showed that 5 of 6 AVB patients exhibited mild DCM with a late onset of age in the fourth and fifth decades. Ejection fractions were documented in 5 patients with DCM, but 4 showed a normal value of [Symbol: see text]50%. Echocardiography showed that atrial dilatation occurred earlier than ventricular dilatation in the patients. This study suggests that progressive AVB with normal QRS interval and accompanying DCM at later stages may represent a distinct type of DCM. The molecular mechanism by which the E82K mutation causes AVB as the prominent phenotype in DCM may be a focus of future studies.

Even though mutations in LMNA have been reported in patients with typical dilated cardio-myopathy(DCM)and atrioventricular block(AVB)previously,the purpose of this study was to disclose this novel genetic abnormality in one Chinese family with the atypical phenotype of progressive AVB followed by DCM with normal QRS interval.Genome-wide linkage analysis mapped the AVB gene in this family to a marker at chromosome 1q21.2,where the LMNA gene was located.Direct DNA sequence analysis revealed a heterozygous G to A transition at nucleotide 244 in exon 1 of LMNA,which resulted in an E82K mutation.The E82K mutation co-segregated with all affected individuals in the family,and was not present in 200 normal controls.Further clinical evaluation of mutation carriers showed that 5 of 6 AVB patients exhibited mild DCM with a late onset of age in the fourth and fifth decades.Ejection fractions were documented in 5 patients with DCM,but 4 showed a normal value of ≥50%.Echocardiography showed that atrial dilatation occurred earlier than ventricular dilatation in the patients.This study suggests that progressive AVB with normal QRS interval and accompanying DCM at later stages may represent a distinct type of DCM.The molecular mechanism by which the E82K mutation causes AVB as the prominent phenotype in DCM may be a focus of future studies.