Objective To investigate the effect of Xinma Granules on respiratory mucosal immune function in chronic asthmatic mice.Methods Fifty female BALB/C mice were randomly divided into normal group,model group,low-dose Xinma Granules group,high-dose Xinma Granules group and Dexamethasone group,with 10 mice in each group.Except for the normal group,the mice in the other groups were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin(OVA)to establish a chronic asthma model.After corresponding treatment,the levels of secretory immunoglobulin A(sIgA)and immunoglobulin E(IgE)in bronchial lavage fluid were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The pathological changes of lung tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.The expression of E-cadherin in lung tissue was detected by Western Blot.Results HE staining showed obvious airway inflammation in asthmatic mice.The concentration of sIgA in the bronchial lavage fluid of the model group was lower than that of the normal group(P＜0.05);the concentration of sIgA in the high-dose and the low-dose of Xinma Granules groups and the Dexamethasone group was higher than that in the model group(P＜0.05);the concentration of IgE in bronchial lavage fluid of model group was higher than that of normal group(P＜0.05);the concentration of IgE in the high-dose and the low-dose Xinma Granules groups and the Dexamethasone group was lower than that in the model group(P＜0.05).The relative expression of E-cadherin protein in lung tissue of the model group was lower than that of the normal group(P＜0.05);the relative expression of E-cadherin protein in lung tissue of mice in the high-dose and low-dose Xinma Granules groups and Dexamethasone group was higher than that in model group(P＜0.05).The improvement effect on above various indexes in high-dose Xinma Granules group and Dexamethasone group were superior to that in low-dose Xinma Granules group(P＜0.05),the differences between the both groups were statistically insignificant(P＞0.05).Conclusion Xinma Granules may improve the airway mucosal immune function of asthmatic mice by improving airway inflammation,increasing the concentration of sIgA in the respiratory tract,and enhancing the expression of E-cadherin protein in the respiratory tract.

AIM To explore the clinical effects of comprehensive treatment regimen of traditional Chinese medicine on patients with refractory rhinosinusitis.METHODS One hundred and sixty-four patients were randomly assigned into control group(82 cases)for 3-month intervention of comprehensive treatment regimen of western medicine(Physiological Seawater Nasal Spray,Budesonide Nasal Spray,Clarithromycin Tablets),and observation group(82 cases)for 3-month intervention of comprehensive treatment regimen of traditional Chinese medicine(Xinzhi Tongqiao Granules,Xinbai Nasal Fumigation Powder,acupuncture of sphenopalatine ganglion).The changes in clinical effects,subjective disease indices(clinical symptom scores,SNOT-20 score,Lung Meridian Heat Accumulation Syndrome score),objective disease indices(Lund-Kennedy score,T&T olfactory score,MTT,MTR),inflammatory indices(LTC4,IL-17a,IL-33,ECP),immune indices(CD4+,CD8+,Treg,Th17,CD4+/CD8+,Th17/Treg)and safety indices were detected.RESULTS The observation group demonstrated higher total control rate than the control group(P＜0.05).After the treatment and at 3-month follow-up,the two groups displayed decreased clinical symptom scores,inflammatory indices,CD8+,Th17,Th17/Treg,SNOT-20 score,Lung Meridian Heat Accumulation Syndrome score,Lund-Kennedy score,T&T olfactory score(P＜0.05),increased CD4+,Treg,CD4+/CD8+,MTR(P＜0.05),and shortened MTT(P＜0.05),especially for the observation group(P＜0.05).No obvious adverse reactions were observable in the two groups.CONCLUSION For the patients with refractory rhinosinusitis,the comprehensive treatment regimen of traditional Chinese medicine can safely and effectively improve inflammatory responses,immune functions and mucociliary motor functions,repair the status and functions of nasal mucosa,alleviate subjective and objective symptoms,and enhance life quality.

Background/Aims: The histological characteristics and natural history of precirrhotic primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) with portal hypertension (PH) are unclear. Our aim was to clarify the prevalence, risk factors, and histological characteristics of precirrhotic PBC patients with PH. Methods: This retrospective study compared the clinical features, histological characteristics, and response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) between the PH and non-PH groups of precirrhotic PBC patients. Results: Out of 165 precirrhotic PBC patients, 40 (24.2%) also had PH. According to histological stage 1, 2 and 3 disease, 5.3% (1/19), 17.3% (17/98), and 45.8% (22/48) of patients also had PH, respectively. Precirrhotic PBC with PH was significantly positively correlated with bile duct loss, degree of cytokeratin 7 positivity, and degree of fibrosis in the portal area, but significantly negatively correlated with lymphoid follicular aggregation. Compared to the non-PH group, patients in the PH group showed a higher prevalence of obliterative portal venopathy, incomplete septal fibrosis, portal tract abnormalities and non-zonal sinusoidal dilatation (p<0.05). In addition, patients with PH were more likely to present with symptoms of jaundice, ascites, epigastric discomfort, a poorer response to UDCA, and more decompensation events (p<0.05). High alkaline phosphatase levels, low white blood cell counts, high Mayo scores, and high FIB-4 index values were risk factors for precirrhotic PBC with PH. Conclusions Approximately 24.2% of precirrhotic PBC patients have PH, which is histologically related to the injury of bile ducts. High alkaline phosphatase levels, low white blood cell counts, high Mayo scores, and high FIB-4 index values are associated with increased risk of precirrhotic PBC with PH.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the anti-inflammatory effect of grape seed extract (GSE) in animal and cellular models and explore its mechanism of action. METHODS: This study determined the inhibitory effect of GSE on macrophage inflammation and Th1 and Th17 polarization in vitro. Based on the in vitro results, the effects and mechanisms of GSE on multiple sclerosis (MS)-experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice model were further explored. The C57BL/6 mice were intragastrically administered with 50 mg/kg of GSE once a day from the 3rd day to the 27th day after immunization. The activation of microglia, the polarization of Th1 and Th17 and the inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF- α), interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β), IL-6, IL-12, IL-17 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secreted by them were detected in vitro and in vivo by flow cytometry, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence staining and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: GSE reduced the secretion of TNF-α, IL-1 β and IL-6 in bone marrow-derived macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (P<0.01), inhibited the secretion of TNF-α, IL-1 β, IL-6, IL-12, IL-17 and IFN-γ in spleen cells of EAE mice immunized for 9 days (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and reduced the differentiation of Th1 and Th17 mediated by CD3 and CD28 factors (P<0.01). GSE significantly improved the clinical symptoms of EAE mice, and inhibited spinal cord demyelination and inflammatory cell infiltration. Peripherally, GSE downregulated the expression of toll-like-receptor 4 (TLR4) and Rho-associated kinase (ROCKII, P<0.05 or P<0.01), and inhibited the secretion of inflammatory factors (P<0.01 or P<0.05). In the central nervous system, GSE inhibited the infiltration of CD45⁺CD11b⁺ and CD45⁺CD4⁺ cells, and weakened the differentiation of Th1 and Th17 (P<0.05). Moreover, it reduced the secretion of inflammatory factors (P<0.01), and prevented the activation of microglia (P<0.05). CONCLUSION GSE had a beneficial effect on the pathogenesis and progression of EAE by inhibiting inflammatory response as a potential drug and strategy for the treatment of MS.
Mice ; Animals ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental/pathology* ; Grape Seed Extract/therapeutic use* ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukin-1beta ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Th1 Cells ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Interferon-gamma/therapeutic use* ; Th17 Cells/metabolism* ; Interleukin-12/therapeutic use* ; Cytokines/metabolism*

Objective: To describe the distribution characteristics of hyperlipidemia in adult twins in the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) and explore the effect of genetic and environmental factors on hyperlipidemia. Methods: Twins recruited from the CNTR in 11 project areas across China were included in the study. A total of 69 130 (34 565 pairs) of adult twins with complete information on hyperlipidemia were selected for analysis. The random effect model was used to characterize the population and regional distribution of hyperlipidemia among twins. The concordance rates of hyperlipidemia were calculated in monozygotic twins (MZ) and dizygotic twins (DZ), respectively, to estimate the heritability. Results: The age of all participants was (34.2±12.4) years. This study's prevalence of hyperlipidemia was 1.3% (895/69 130). Twin pairs who were men, older, living in urban areas, married,had junior college degree or above, overweight, obese, insufficient physical activity, current smokers, ex-smokers, current drinkers, and ex-drinkers had a higher prevalence of hyperlipidemia (P<0.05). In within-pair analysis, the concordance rate of hyperlipidemia was 29.1% (118/405) in MZ and 18.1% (57/315) in DZ, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Stratified by gender, age, and region, the concordance rate of hyperlipidemia in MZ was still higher than that in DZ. Further, in within-same-sex twin pair analyses, the heritability of hyperlipidemia was 13.04% (95%CI: 2.61%-23.47%) in the northern group and 18.59% (95%CI: 4.43%-32.74%) in the female group, respectively. Conclusions: Adult twins were included in this study and were found to have a lower prevalence of hyperlipidemia than in the general population study, with population and regional differences. Genetic factors influence hyperlipidemia, but the genetic effect may vary with gender and area.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; Diseases in Twins/genetics* ; Hyperlipidemias/genetics* ; Metabolic Diseases ; Twins, Dizygotic ; Twins, Monozygotic/genetics*

The stability of internal fixation of femoral neck fractures can be obtained through surgical techniques, the configuration of screws and bone grafting, etc. However, the blood supply injury caused by fractures could not be completely reversed by the current medical management. Hence, the comprehensive evaluation of the residual blood supply of the femoral neck, to perioperatively avoid further iatrogenic injury, has become a hotspot. The anatomy of the extraosseous blood supply of the femoral neck has been widely reported, while its clinical application mostly involved the assessment of the medial circumflex femoral artery and retinacular arteries. However, further studies are needed to explore the prognosis of patients with these artery injuries, with different degrees, caused by femoral neck fractures. Direct observations of nutrient foramina in vivo are not possible with current clinical technologies, but it is possible to make reasonable preoperative planning to avoid subsequent femoral head necrosis based on the distribution features of nutrient foramina. The anatomy and clinical application studies of the intraosseous blood supply focused on the junction area of the femoral head and neck to probe the mechanism of femoral head necrosis. Thus, the intraosseous blood supply of other regions in the femoral neck remains to be further investigated. In addition, a blood supply evaluation system based on a three-level structure, extraosseous blood vessels, nutrient foramina, and intraosseous vascular network, could be explored to assist in the treatment of femoral neck fractures.
Humans ; Femur Head Necrosis ; Femoral Neck Fractures/surgery* ; Femur Neck ; Femur Head/surgery* ; Femoral Artery ; Fracture Fixation, Internal

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of bis (2-butoxyethyl) phthalate (BBOP) on the onset of male puberty by affecting Leydig cell development in rats. METHODS: Thirty 35-day-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to five groups mg/kg bw per day that were gavaged for 21 days with BBOP at 0, 10, 100, 250, or 500 mg/kg bw per day. The hormone profiles; Leydig cell morphological metrics; mRNA and protein levels; oxidative stress; and AKT, mTOR, ERK1/2, and GSK3β pathways were assessed. RESULTS: BBOP at 250 and/or 500 mg/kg bw per day decreased serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone levels mg/kg bw per day (P < 0.05). BBOP at 500 mg/kg bw per day decreased Leydig cell number mg/kg bw per day and downregulated Cyp11a1, Insl3, Hsd11b1, and Dhh in the testes, and Lhb and Fshb mRNAs in the pituitary gland (P < 0.05). The malondialdehyde content in the testis significantly increased, while Sod1 and Sod2 mRNAs were markedly down-regulated, by BBOP treatment at 250-500 mg/kg bw per day (P < 0.05). Furthermore, BBOP at 500 mg/kg bw per day decreased AKT1/AKT2, mTOR, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and GSK3β and SIRT1 levels mg/kg bw per day (P < 0.05). Finally, BBOP at 100 or 500 μmol/L induced ROS and apoptosis in Leydig cells after 24 h of treatment in vitro (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: BBOP delays puberty onset by increasing oxidative stress and apoptosis in Leydig cells in rats. UNLABELLED The graphical abstract is available on the website www.besjournal.com.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Leydig Cells/metabolism* ; Testosterone ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta/pharmacology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sexual Maturation ; Testis ; Oxidative Stress ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Apoptosis

italic>Rehmannia glutinosa belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family with important medicinal value. In order to effectively explore the transcriptome information of R. glutinosa and identify the genes encoding enzymes involved in phenylethanol glycoside (PhGs) biosynthesis, the leaves, stems and tuberous roots of R. glutinosa were used for transcriptome sequencing using Pacific Biosiences RS II platform. A total of 27 773 transcripts were generated with an average length of 2 380 bp, and 27 236 coding sequences (CDS) were predicted. Using BLAST software, non-redundant transcript sequences were annotated with NR, NT, GO, COG, KEGG, SwissProt and Interpro databases and a total of 27 399 annotated genes were obtained. Among them, the number of genes related to Sesamum indicum in the NR database was the highest (81.44%), which is consistent with their evolutionary relationship. Enzymes likely involved in the biosynthesis of isoacteoside, echinacoside, cistanosides A, cistanosides F, 2′-acetylacteoside and leonoside F were identified, and 143 genes were identified in R. glutinosa full-length transcriptome. The expression levels of 19 genes correlated with acteoside content in twelve tissues of R. glutinosa, and most showed higher expression levels in leaf tissues and floral organs. This study provides more reliable transcriptome data for screening R. glutinosa for functional genes and provides a foundation for the study of the molecular mechanisms of PhGs biosynthesis.

Hypoxemia is a common complication of pneumonia, asthma, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in children.Rapid identification of hypoxemia is of great significance for the disposal and management of critical children.Pulse oximetry is recognized by the World Health Organization as the best way to monitor hypoxemia in children, and it can monitor pulse oxygen saturation noninvasively and continuously.Based on the related literature at home and abroad, combined with the clinical needs of pediatrics, the " Expert consensus on clinical application of pulse oximetry in children" is formulated to improve the understanding of pediatricians and nurses on the application in pediatric clinical practice, principle, operation techniques, and limitations of pulse oximetry.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the application effect of microwave digestion - vacuum filtration - automated scanning electron microscopy (MD-VF-Auto SEM) method and plankton gene multiplex PCR system in the diagnosis of drowning. METHODS: Lung, liver and kidney tissue of 10 non-drowning cases and 50 drowning cases were prepared for further MD-VF-Auto SEM method analysis and plankton gene multiplex PCR system analysis. The positive detection rate of the two methods in each tissue was calculated. RESULTS: The positive rate of the MD-VF-Auto SEM method detecting diatoms in drowning cases was 100%, and few diatoms were detected in the liver and kidney tissues of 6 non-drowning cases. By using the plankton gene multiplex PCR system, the diatom positive rate of drowning cases was 84%, and all the non-drowning cases were negative. There were significant differences in the positive rate of the liver, kidney tissues between MD-VF-Auto SEM method and plankton gene multiplex PCR system (P<0.05), as well as the total positive rate of cases. However, no significant differences were found in the positive rates of lung tissues (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS MD-VF-Auto SEM method is more sensitive than plankton gene multiplex PCR system in diatom test. But the plankton gene multiplex PCR system can also detect plankton other than diatoms. Combination of the two methods can provide a more reliable basis for the diagnosis of drowning.
Diatoms/genetics* ; Drowning/diagnosis* ; Humans ; Liver ; Lung ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Plankton/genetics*