OBJECTIVES: To investigate the expression of soluble factor-related apoptosis ligand (sFasL) in peripheral blood and microRNA-147b (miR-147b) in monocytes in children with sepsis and their value in assessing prognosis. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on 124 children with sepsis (sepsis group), 60 children with common infections (infection group), and 60 healthy children undergoing physical examinations (healthy control group). The independent risk factors for poor prognosis in children with sepsis were analyzed, and the value of serum sFasL and monocyte miR-147b in predicting poor prognosis in children with sepsis was assessed. RESULTS: The serum level of sFasL and the relative expression of miR-147b in monocytes were highest in the sepsis group, followed by the infection group and the healthy control group (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the serum level of sFasL and the relative expression of miR-147b in monocytes were closely associated with the poor prognosis of children with sepsis (P<0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the combination of serum sFasL level and relative expression of miR-147b in monocytes had a larger area under the curve compared to each indicator alone in predicting the prognosis of children with sepsis (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There are significant increases in the level of sFasL in peripheral blood and the relative expression of miR-147b in monocytes in children with sepsis. The combined use of these two indicators has relatively high clinical value in assessing the prognosis of children with sepsis.
Humans ; Sepsis/diagnosis* ; MicroRNAs/blood* ; Male ; Female ; Monocytes/metabolism* ; Prognosis ; Child, Preschool ; Prospective Studies ; Child ; Infant ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand/blood* ; Logistic Models

Interactions among the nervous, the endocrine and the immune systems enable the gut to respond to the dietary products, pathogens and microbiota, which maintains the homeostasis of the body. However, dysbiosis may induce or aggravate the gastrointestinal (GI) and extra-GI diseases through changing the activities of enteric nervous system (ENS), enteroendocrine cells and enteric immune cells. Here we review recent advances in the understandings on how intestinal flora may impact the enteric neuro-endocrine-immune system in the gut, thereby contributing to the regulation of pathophysiological processes.
Enteric Nervous System ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Immune System

To observe therapeutic effect of early use of nicorandil on patients with myocardial infarction (MI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and its influence on cardiac function .Methods : A total of 124 MI patients undergoing PCI in our hospital from 2016 to 2018 were randomly and equally divided into PCI group and nicorandil + PCI group (received nicorandil based on PCI group ) , both groups were treated for 28d. Therapeutic effect , incidence of adverse , LVEF , LVEDd and cardiac index (CI) before and three months after PCI were recorded and compared between two groups .Results : Compared with PCI group , there was significant rise in total effective rate (72.6% vs .90.3%) , and significant reductions in incidence rates of recurrent angina pectoris (25.8% vs.11.3%) and malignant arrhythmia (22.6% vs.8.1%) in nicorandil + PCI group , P＜0. 05 all.Compared with before PCI , there were significant rise in LVEF and CI , and significant reduction in LVEDd in two groups on three months after PCI ;compared with PCI group , there were significant rise in LVEF [ (40.52 ± 4.38)% vs.(46.81 ± 4.53)%] and CI [ (2.43 ± 0.35) L·min－1 ·m－2 vs.(2.66 ± 0.38) L·min－1 ·m－2 ] , and significant reduction in LVEDd [ (54. 32 ± 6.23) mm vs.(48. 24 ± 5.34) mm] in nicorandil + PCI group on three months after PCI , P＝0.001 all.There was no significant difference in incidence rate of adverse drug reactions dur‐ing treatment between two groups , P＝0.753. Conclusion : Early use of nicorandil can significantly improve thera‐peutic effect , contribute to recovery of cardiac function with good safety in MI patients undergoing PCI , which is worth extending .

The chemical constituents of Viburnum taitoense Hayata were investigated using column chromatography silica gel and Sephadex LH-20, etc. Seven pentacyclic triterpenoids were isolated and their structures were elucidated by spectral data and physicochemical properties as 3β,6β-dihydroxy olean-11,13(18)-dien-28-acid (1), 3β-hydroxy olean-11,13(18)-diene-28-acid (2), 12-ene-olean-28-acid-3β-palmitate (3), 3β-acetylcocodiol (4), corosolic acid (5), uvaol (6) and ursolic acid (7). Among them, compound 1 is a new oleanane type triterpenoid and its absolute configuration was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Compounds 2-5 were isolated from this genus for the first time. All the compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activities in vitro, and compound 5 showed significant inhibitory activity against nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells with an IC₅₀ of 25.52 ± 0.56 μmol·L^-1 when compared to the positive control, quercetin (IC₅₀ of 25.46 ± 0.62 μmol·L^-1).

OBJECTIVETo determine the mechanisms underlying the anti-depressant effects of Kaixin Jieyu Decoction (, KJD) by investigating the effects of KJD on behavior, monoamine neurotransmitter levels, and serotonin (5-HT) receptor subtype expression in the brain in a rat model of depression.

METHODSThe rat depression model was established using chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Forty-eight Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, depression model (CUMS), CUMS+KJD (7.7 g/kg(-1)·d(-1) of crude drug), and CUMS+fluoxetine (2.4 mg/kg(-1)·d(-1)) groups (n=12 in each group), and the treatments lasted for 21 days. We regularly evaluated body weight, sucrose consumption, and horizontal and vertical activity scores in open-field tests. The content of the monoamine neurotransmitters 5-HT, norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA) and the DA metabolite homovanillic acid in the cerebral cortex, and 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor mRNA in the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus, were determined respectively by high-performance liquid chromatography-coularray electrochemical detector and real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, CUMS rats showed a variety of depression-like behavioral changes, including a significant reduction in body weight, sucrose consumption, and horizontal and vertical activity scores in open-field tests (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and a significant decrease in 5-HT and NE levels and 5-HT2A receptor mRNA expression. In contrast, they showed a significant increase in 5-HT1A receptor mRNA expression in the cerebral cortex. In the hippocampus, 5-HT1A receptor mRNA expression was lower whereas 5-HT2A receptor mRNA expression was higher than in the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Treatment with KJD or fluoxetine partially attenuated these changes (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONKJD could normalize the levels of 5-HT and NE and adjust the balance of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor expression in rat cerebrum, and this may be one of mechanisms of antidepressant effects of KJD.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Biogenic Monoamines ; metabolism ; Depression ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Serotonin ; classification ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of triangle drugs as ginseng, Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim, and rhubarb on the levels of blood lipids as [total cholesterol (TC), triglyeride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)] and pro-inflammatory cytokines as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and high sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP) during the process of treating atherosclerosis.

METHODSTwenty New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three groups after one-week adaptive feeding, i.e., the normal control group (n=6), the model group (n=6), and the triangle drugs group (n=8). High fat diet was fed to rabbits in the triangle drugs group and the model group at the daily dose of 100 g for six weeks. Iliac artery was injured in the model group and the triangle drugs group at the seventh week using balloon injury. High fat diet was successively fed to those after surgery for six weeks. At the same time of modeling, preventive medication (at the daily dose of dry ginseng 0.64 g/kg, Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim 2.14 g/kg, and prepared Radix et Rhizoma Rhei with wine 0.43 g/kg, with the volume of 2 mL/kg) was administered by gastrogavage to rabbits in the triangle drugs group. Changes of blood lipids levels and related pro-inflammatory cytokines were dynamically observed.

RESULTSOn the 7th week (before surgery), the levels of TC, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C in the model group, TC, HDL-C, and LDL-C in the triangle drugs group significantly increased, showing significant difference when compared with those of the normal control group (P < 0.05). The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the model group and the triangle drugs group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group (P < 0.05). Levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C were lower in the triangle drugs group than in the model group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). After the 8th week the levels of blood lipids and ICAM-1 in the model group, and levels of TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and ICAM-1 in the triangle drugs group were significantly higher than those of the normal control group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). After the 12th week levels of blood lipids in the model group, LDL-C and HDL-C in the triangle drugs group were significantly higher than those of the normal control group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The LDL-C level was lower in the triangle drugs group than in the model group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The levels of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and hs-CRP in the model group were obviously higher than those in the triangle drugs group and the normal control group, showing statistical significance (P < 0.05). The hs-CRP level was higher in the triangle drugs group than in the normal control group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe triangle drugs may postpone the process of atherosclerosis by lowering blood lipids levels, especially by lowering the elevating levels of TC and LDL-C. Its roles in decreasing the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines might be associated with lipids lowering and anti-inflammation. Its roles may also be associated with improvement of the endothelial function and inhibition of the smooth muscle proliferation.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Male ; Panax ; Phytotherapy ; Rabbits ; Rheum ; Trichosanthes ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood

Objective To explore the current prevalence of human echinococcosis in Qinghai Province and to lay the basis for establishing the preventing and controlling strategies.Methods Clustered random sampling was performed in selected survey spots.The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)and ultrasound techniques were used for detecting human echinococcosis.Results 95 out of 5274 hydatid cases were found from 6 counties of Qinghai Province,with a prevalence of 1.80%.The immunological postitive rates examined by ELISA were 12.01%(198/1649)and 16.37%(383/2340)in male and female,respectively.The positive rate in female was significantly higher than that in male(χ2=14.78,P＜0.01).The infection and prevalence 1evels were generally increased among Tibetan[18.54%(446/2405),2.54%(78/3070)],herders[24.97%(239/957),4.78%(50/1046)]and people aged 60～＜70 years old[15.8l%(34/215),6.52%(18/276)],and were higher in Gonghe County[24.44%(240/982),3.95%(41/1037)]and Yushu County[20.59%(161/782),2.99%(32/1070)].Conclusions Echinococcosis was found in any surveyed area in Qinghai Province.The echinococcosis was severe in the pastoral areas such as the south plateau of Qinghai and places around Qinghai-lake. It is suggested that a strengthened control program should be conducted in the pastoral areas in Qinghai Province,targeting at females,Tibetan and herders people.

OBJECTIVETo present the clinical application of composite graft of acellular allo-dermis matrix (ADM) with thin auto-microskin on burn wound.

METHODS8 inpatients with 18 full thickness skin burn wounds were transplanted with allo-ADM after eschar was excised, then the auto-microskin and allo-human skin were covered on the area of the matrix, the wound where no allo-ADM grafting were covered as control groups only with auto-microskin and allo-human skin. The area of donor to wound is 1:5 - 1:8.

RESULTSSurvived rate of 18 pieces composite skin that allo-ADM with auto-microskin were grafted were 94%. After following up for 3 to 13 months, the skins of complex grifting had well elastic and smooth texture compared to auto-microskin grafted, they appeared less cicatrisation and ulceration. 3 months after operation, it was indicated by histological examination that tightknit the epithelial-dermal conjunction and epidermal papilla structure could be identified in the allo-ADM skin and there were orderly collagenous fibres, but scar skin structure was observed in that auto-microskin grifted area.

CONCLUSIONThe graft effectiveness of allo-ADM and auto-microskin was better than that of auto-microskin, and this method could be used on major deep burn wound healing.

Adult ; Burns ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Treatment Outcome