Objective:To study the correlation between serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level and echocardiographic parameters in patients with chronic Keshan disease, providing reference for diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of chronic Keshan disease.Methods:Ninety-nine patients with chronic Keshan disease who received standardized treatment at Jingchuan County People's Hospital in Pingliang City, Gansu Province from January to December 2020 were selected. Among them, 16 patients were classified as cardiac function grade Ⅱ according to New York Heart Association (NYHA), 69 as grade Ⅲ and 14 as grade Ⅳ. The patients underwent echocardiography and their serum NT-proBNP level was measured using fluorescence immunochromatography. The differences in serum NT-proBNP levels among patients with different cardiac function grades were compared, and the correlation between cardiac function grades, serum NT-proBNP level and echocardiographic parameters was analyzed.Results:The serum NT-proBNP levels in patients with cardiac function grades Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ were (1 107.26 ± 268.03), (2 125.98 ± 293.02), and (8 268.59 ± 2 659.50) pg/ml, respectively. The differences among the three groups were statistically significant ( F = 13.94, P < 0.001). The serum NT-proBNP level was positively correlated with cardiac function grades ( r = 0.44, P < 0.001), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, and left atrial diameter ( r = 0.45, 0.52, 0.38, P < 0.001), and negatively correlated with fractional shortening and left ventricular ejection fraction ( r = - 0.39, - 0.46, P < 0.001). Conclusions:The serum NT-proBNP level in patients with chronic Keshan disease with different cardiac function grades is different, and is positively correlated with echocardiographic parameters reflecting the degree of cardiac structural and functional impairment. The NT-proBNP level may become an early diagnostic, grading, and prognostic indicator for chronic Keshan disease.

Objective: This study was devoted to identifying natural thrombin inhibitors from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and evaluating its biological activity in vitro and binding characteristics. Methods: A combination strategy containing molecular docking, thrombin inhibition assay, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and molecular dynamics simulation were applied to verify the study result. Results: Gallic acid was confirmed as a direct thrombin inhibitor with IC

The dosage-efficacy/toxicity relationship of the 50% alcohol extracts of Polygonum multiflorum was comparatively investigated on either normal or CCl4-induced chronic liver injury rats, by determining the general condition, serum biochemical indices and liver histopathology, coupled with the factor analysis. The dosages were 10 and 20 g raw materials per kg body weight. Compared with the normal control group, the normal high dose group showed significant increases of the serum alanine transaminase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBIL), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB-1) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), as well the frequent incidences of inflammatory cell infiltration, hepatic sinus enlargement and fiber stripes formation in histopathological sections. Compared with the model control group, the model low dose group showed significant declines of serum ALT, aspartate transaminase (AST) and total bile acid (TBA) (P < 0.05), as well the alleviation of vacuoles of hepatocytes, but no amelioration of the inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrous tissue hyperplasia; moreover, the model high dose group showed significant degeneration declines of serum HMGB-1, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IL-1β (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), as well the evident alleviation of vacuoles degeneration of hepatocytes, inflammatory cells infiltration and fibrosis degree. The factor analysis showed that the low dosage treatment had almost neither injuring effect on the normal rats nor protective effect on the model rats; while the high dosage treatment showed observable injuring effect on the normal rats, expressed by the significant increases of the factor-1 (HMGB-1, TNF-α and IL-1β as the main contributors) and factor-2 (TBIL, ALT and TBA as the main contributors) relative to the normal control group. The liver protective effect of the high dosage treatment could be observed with the significant reduction of the factor-1, indicating the effective alleviation of the expression of inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, it could illustrated the phenomenon of symptom-based prescription theory of Polygonum multiflorum on rat livers: the high dosage of the herb had either an injuring effect on normal rats, or a therapeutic effect on the rats with chronic liver injury.

The liver injury induced by Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (PM) was investigated based on idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity model co-treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at a non-hepatotoxic dose. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were intragastrically administered with three doses (18.9, 37.8, 75.6 g crude drug per kg body weight) of 50% alcohol extracts of PM alone or co-treated with non-toxic dose of LPS (2.8 mg·kg(-1)) via tail vein injection. The plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were assayed and the isolated livers were evaluated for histopathological changes. The dose-toxicity relationships of single treatment of PM or co-treatment of LPS were investigated comparatively to elucidate the idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity of PM. The results showed that no significant alterations of plasma ALT and AST activities were observed in the groups of solo-administration of LPS (2.8 mg·kg(-1), i.v.) or different dosage (18.9, 37.8 and 75.6 g·kg(-1), i.g.) of PM, compared to normal control group (P > 0.05); while significant elevations were observed in the co-administration groups of PM and LPS. Treatment with LPS alone caused slight infiltration of inflammatory cells in portal area but no evident hepatocytes injury. Co-treatment with LPS and PM (75.6 g·kg(-1), i.g.) caused hepatocyte focal necrosis, loss of central vein intima and a large number of inflammatory cell infiltration in portal areas. When further reduce the dosage of PM, significant increases of plasma ALT and AST activities (P < 0.05) were still observed in co-administration groups of LPS and PM (1.08 or 2.16 g·kg(-1)), but not in LPS or PM solo-administration groups. Nevertheless, the co-treatment of low dosage of PM (0.54 g·kg(-1)) with LPS did not induce any alteration of plasma ALT and AST. In conclusion, intragastric administration with 75.6 g·kg(-1) of PM did not induce liver injury in normal rats model; while the 2 folds of clinical equivalent dose of PM (1.08 g·kg(-1)) could result in liver injury in the LPS-based idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity model, which could be used to evaluate the idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity of PM.

Objective To evaluate a rapid biochip system for the determination of muhidrugresistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates. MethodsA total of 1 186 clinical strains, including 800 rifampin (RFP) resistant isolates, 797 isoniozid (INH)resistant isolates, 791 MDR-TB and 380 susceptible strains, were selected from Beijing Chest Hospital, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital and Guangzhou Chest Hospital respectively using stratified sampling method. Biochips were used to detect loci of rpoB 511 (T→C), 513 (A→C, C→A), 516 (G→T, A→T, A→G) , 526 (C→T, C→G, A→T, A→G), 531 (C→T, C→G), 533 (T→C), katG 315 ( G→C, G→A) and inhA -15 (C→T). Absolute concentration drug susceptibility test of RFP and INH were performed to serve as the gold standard to calculate susceptibility, specificity and overall concordance of biochip test. All polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were sequenced to confirm the mutations. ResultsThe concordances between the biochip system and absolute concentration drug susceptibility test were 93.7％ ( 1 108/1 183 ) for RFP, 83. 8％(994/1 186) for INH and 82.4％ (975/1 183) for MDR-TB. Compared with absolute concentration drug susceptibility test, the biochip method displayed a sensitivity of 92. 0％ (733/797) and 77. 4％ (617/797)and a specificity of 97. 2％ (375/386) and 96. 9％ (377/389) for RIF and INH, respectively. For MDR-TB, the biochip system reached a sensitivity of 74. 6％ ( 588/788 ) and a specificity of 98.0％ ( 387/395 ).Among rpoB mutants, mutations were mostly detected at codon 531[64. 5％ (480/744)]. In stains with mutations in katG or inhA, 77.4％ ( 487/629 ) had mutation at codon 315 ( TCG ) of katG only. The sequencing results had a high concordance with that of the biochip method. There were slight differences in 5 strains, among which one strain was detected by biochip as katG 315(G→C) mutant, but was identified by sequencing as wild type, and mutation types other than those detected by the biochip were confirmed in the other 4 strains by sequencing. Conclusion This biochip system is adapted for extensive application in clinical diagnosis, as it allows fast and reliable detection of resistance to isoniazid and rifampin in tuberculosis clinical isolates.

Objective To discuss the application value of treating functional dyspepsia with mental intervention.Methods All patients were randomly recruited into a control group and a treatment group. The control group was treated with omeprazole, one granule/time, twice daily; while on this basis, the treatment group was treated with self-made Suganjianpi formula and mental intervention. Results The total effective rate was 90% and 70% in the treatment group and the control group respectively. There was statistical difference between the two groups (χ2=5.69, P＜0.05). Conclusion It was effective to treat functional dyspepsia with mental intervention together with traditional Chinese and western medicines.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of combined electroacupuncture and nerve growth factor (NGF) injection at acupoints in the treatment of common fibular nerve paralysis and provide evidences for integrative Chinese & western medicine against diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Methods: Forty subjects were randomized into two groups and NGF injection; and control group was given herbal suffocation, oral Dibazol and compound vitamin B and Mecobalamin Injection. The clinical symptoms and nerve conduction velocity were observed and compared. Results: The cure rate was higher in treatment group than in control group (P<0.05); after treatment, the nerve conduction velocity was improved in both groups (P<0.01), with a significant improvement in treatment group than in control group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Combined electro-acupuncture and NGF injection at acupoints is quite effective in the treatment of common fibular nerve paralysis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of beta-carotene in rats against the development of chronic bronchitis induced by cigarette smoking.

METHODSForty-two Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three study groups: (1) control (n = 15), animals underwent no treatment; (2) cigarette smoking (n = 15), animals developed chronic bronchitis through long-term cigarette smoking twice a day for 75 d; (3) beta-carotene plus cigarette smoking animals (n = 12) were given 1 ml or 15 mg/kg beta-carotene orally every day just before cigarette smoking. The levels of IL-6, IL-8, NO, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipoperoxide (LPO) in serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were measured and the pathological changes to lung tissue were analyzed using light microscopy.

RESULTSLong-term cigarette smoking caused an obvious increase in the amount of IL-6, IL-8 and LPO and a sharp decrease in the levels of NO and SOD in smoking animals compared to controls. beta-carotene intake reversed all the changes induced by smoking and alleviated the pathological changes caused by chronic bronchitis.

CONCLUSIONSQuantitative oral intake of beta-carotene had protective effects against chronic bronchitis induced by long-term cigarette smoking, which was associated with the increased production of NO, the clearance of some oxidative free radicals (OFR) and the alleviation of chronic inflammation.

Animals ; Bronchitis ; blood ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; beta Carotene ; pharmacology

AIM: To reproduce hypercapnic models and approach some pathophysiological changes in rats. METHODS: The mixed gases of high concentrated carbon dioxide (8% CO 2, 21% O 2, 71% N 2) were given to wistar rats 7 hours a day for 28 days. The various indexes were compared between control group (group A) and hypercapnic group (group B). RESULTS: The PaCO 2 [(55.90?4.34) mmHg] and the lipid peroxides (LPO) contents in plasma, lung tissue and right ventricle were significantly higher in group B than those in group A ( P