OBJECTIVE: The study explores the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at the governing vessel (GV) on proteomic changes in the hippocampus of rats with cognitive impairment. METHODS: Healthy male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham, model and EA. Cognitive impairment was induced by left middle cerebral artery occlusion in the model and EA groups. Rats in the EA group were treated with EA at Shenting (GV24) and Baihui (GV20) for 7 d. Neurological deficit was scored using the Longa scale, the learning and memory ability was detected using the Morris water maze (MWM) test, and the proteomic profiling in the hippocampus was analyzed using protein-labeling technology based on the isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ). The Western blot (WB) analysis was used to detect the proteins and validate the results of iTRAQ. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the neurological deficit score was significantly reduced, and the escape latency in the MWM test was significantly shortened, while the number of platform crossings increased in the EA group. A total of 2872 proteins were identified by iTRAQ. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified between different groups: 92 proteins were upregulated and 103 were downregulated in the model group compared with the sham group, while 142 proteins were upregulated and 126 were downregulated in the EA group compared with the model group. Most of the DEPs were involved in oxidative phosphorylation, glycolipid metabolism and synaptic transmission. Furthermore, we also verified 4 DEPs using WB technology. Although the WB results were not exactly the same as the iTRAQ results, the expression trends of the DEPs were consistent. The upregulation of heat-shock protein β1 (Hspb1) was the highest in the EA group compared to the model group. CONCLUSION EA can effect proteomic changes in the hippocampus of rats with cognitive impairment. Hspb1 may be involved in the molecular mechanism by which acupuncture improves cognitive impairment.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Electroacupuncture ; Proteomics ; Cognitive Dysfunction/therapy* ; Hippocampus

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of mangiferin combined with bortezomib on the proliferation, invasion, apoptosis and autophagy of human Burkitt lymphoma Raji cells, as well as the expression of CXC chemokine receptors (CXCRs) family, and explore the molecular mechanism between them to provide scientific basis for basic research and clinical work of Burkitt lymphoma. METHODS: Raji cells were intervened with different concentrations of mangiferin and bortezomib alone or in combination, then cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay, cell invasion ability was detected by Transwell chamber method, cell apoptosis was detected by Annexin V/PI double-staining flow cytometry, apoptosis, autophagy and Akt/mTOR pathway protein expression were detected by Western blot, and the expression changes of CXCR family was detected by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). RESULTS: Different concentrations of mangiferin intervened Raji cells for different time could inhibit cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner (r =-0.682, r =-0.836). When Raji cells were intervened by combination of mangiferin and bortezomib, compared with single drug group, the proliferation and invasion abilities were significantly decreased, while the apoptosis level was significantly increased (P <0.01). Mangiferin combined with bortezomib could significantly up-regulate the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax and down-regulate the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 after intervention in Raji cells. Caspase-3 was also hydrolyzed and activated, and then induced the apoptosis of Raji cells. Mangiferin combined with bortezomib could up-regulate the expression of LC3Ⅱ protein in Raji cells, and the ratio of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ in cells was significantly up-regulated compared with single drug or control group (P <0.01). Mangiferin combined with bortezomib could significantly inhibit the phosphorylation levels of Akt and mTOR, inhibit the proliferation and invasion of Raji cells by inhibiting Akt/mTOR pathway, and induce cell autophagy and apoptosis. Mangiferin and bortezomib could down-regulate the expressions of CXCR4 and CXCR7 mRNA after single-agent intervention in Raji cells, and the down-regulations of CXCR4 and CXCR7 mRNA expression were more significant when the two drugs were combined (P <0.01). Mangiferin alone or combined with bortezomib had no significant effect on CXCR5 mRNA expression in Raji cells (P >0.05), while the combination of the two drugs could down-regulate the expression of CXCR3 (P <0.05). CONCLUSION Mangiferin combined with bortezomib can synergistically inhibit the proliferation and invasion of Raji cells, and induce autophagy and apoptosis. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, down-regulation of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and up-regulation of pro-apoptotic protein Bax, and the inhibition of the expression of CXCR family.
Humans ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins/immunology* ; Autophagy/immunology* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/immunology* ; Bortezomib/therapeutic use* ; Burkitt Lymphoma/immunology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; Receptors, CXCR/immunology* ; RNA, Messenger ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; Xanthones/therapeutic use*

Objective: To analyze the clinical epidemiological characteristics including composition of pathogens , clinical characteristics, and disease prognosis acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) in Chinese children. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical and laboratory data of 1 610 children <15 years of age with ABM in 33 tertiary hospitals in China from January 2019 to December 2020. Patients were divided into different groups according to age,<28 days group, 28 days to <3 months group, 3 months to <1 year group, 1-<5 years of age group, 5-<15 years of age group; etiology confirmed group and clinically diagnosed group according to etiology diagnosis. Non-numeric variables were analyzed with the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, while non-normal distrituction numeric variables were compared with nonparametric test. Results: Among 1 610 children with ABM, 955 were male and 650 were female (5 cases were not provided with gender information), and the age of onset was 1.5 (0.5, 5.5) months. There were 588 cases age from <28 days, 462 cases age from 28 days to <3 months, 302 cases age from 3 months to <1 year of age group, 156 cases in the 1-<5 years of age and 101 cases in the 5-<15 years of age. The detection rates were 38.8% (95/245) and 31.5% (70/222) of Escherichia coli and 27.8% (68/245) and 35.1% (78/222) of Streptococcus agalactiae in infants younger than 28 days of age and 28 days to 3 months of age; the detection rates of Streptococcus pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus agalactiae were 34.3% (61/178), 14.0% (25/178) and 13.5% (24/178) in the 3 months of age to <1 year of age group; the dominant pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae and the detection rate were 67.9% (74/109) and 44.4% (16/36) in the 1-<5 years of age and 5-<15 years of age . There were 9.7% (19/195) strains of Escherichia coli producing ultra-broad-spectrum β-lactamases. The positive rates of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and blood culture were 32.2% (515/1 598) and 25.0% (400/1 598), while 38.2% (126/330)and 25.3% (21/83) in CSF metagenomics next generation sequencing and Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen detection. There were 4.3% (32/790) cases of which CSF white blood cell counts were normal in etiology confirmed group. Among 1 610 children with ABM, main intracranial imaging complications were subdural effusion and (or) empyema in 349 cases (21.7%), hydrocephalus in 233 cases (14.5%), brain abscess in 178 cases (11.1%), and other cerebrovascular diseases, including encephalomalacia, cerebral infarction, and encephalatrophy, in 174 cases (10.8%). Among the 166 cases (10.3%) with unfavorable outcome, 32 cases (2.0%) died among whom 24 cases died before 1 year of age, and 37 cases (2.3%) had recurrence among whom 25 cases had recurrence within 3 weeks. The incidences of subdural effusion and (or) empyema, brain abscess and ependymitis in the etiology confirmed group were significantly higher than those in the clinically diagnosed group (26.2% (207/790) vs. 17.3% (142/820), 13.0% (103/790) vs. 9.1% (75/820), 4.6% (36/790) vs. 2.7% (22/820), χ²=18.71, 6.20, 4.07, all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the unfavorable outcomes, mortility, and recurrence between these 2 groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The onset age of ABM in children is usually within 1 year of age, especially <3 months. The common pathogens in infants <3 months of age are Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae, and the dominant pathogen in infant ≥3 months is Streptococcus pneumoniae. Subdural effusion and (or) empyema and hydrocephalus are common complications. ABM should not be excluded even if CSF white blood cell counts is within normal range. Standardized bacteriological examination should be paid more attention to increase the pathogenic detection rate. Non-culture CSF detection methods may facilitate the pathogenic diagnosis.
Adolescent ; Brain Abscess ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Escherichia coli ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Meningitis, Bacterial/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Subdural Effusion ; beta-Lactamases

Objective:To apply real-time shear wave elastography to observe the effect of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) on Achilles tendons for healthy adults. Methods:From July to December, 2020, 52 healthy adults were assigned into control group (n = 15) and experimental group (n = 37) randomly. The experimental group received IASTM on left Achilles tendons, once another day for two weeks, while the control group received no treatment. The thickness and elastic modulus of the left Achilles tendons were measured with high-frequency ultrasound and shear wave ultrasound elastography on all the subjects, before treatment, immediately after the first treatment and three days after treatment, respectively. Results:Five cases dropped down in the experimental group. There was no significant difference in thickness and elastic Young's modulus of the left Achilles tendons between two groups before treatment (t < 0.630, P > 0.05). The thickness of the left Achilles tendons was less in the experimental group than in the control group immediately after the first treatment (t = 2.149, P < 0.05), while average and maximum elastic Young's modulus was less three days after treatment (t > 2.134, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Real-time shear wave elastography could quantify the thickness and elasticity of Achilles tendon, to evaluate the effect of IASTM.

Platycodonis Radix, which was first recorded in the Agriculture God's Canon of Materia Medica. It is a multi-functional drug with a wide range of applications. The processing of Platycodonis Radix has been recorded as early as in the Jin dynasty, and has a long history of processing. Today, in addition to the washing, cutting and stir-frying with honey, there have also been more than 20 kinds of processing methods, such as stir-frying with wine, stir-frying with bran, stir-frying with Lilii Bulbus juice and so on. The ancients believed that Platycodonis Radix could enhance the effect of diffusing the lung, promoting pharynx and relieving cough by processing. In terms of the chemical compositions in Platycodonis Radix, more than 100 compositions, like triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids, phenols, sterols, polysaccharides and polyacetylenes, have been isolated and identified from it. Among them, triterpenoid saponins are the essential compositions. In addition, Platycodonis Radix has the pharmacological effects of expectorant, antitussive, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, etc. The medicinal ingredients of Platycodonis Radix are mainly triterpenoid saponins and polysaccharides. Among them, triterpenoid saponins have diverse biological activities, which lead it to be one of the hotspots of current researches. Platycodonis Radix has a good role in promoting lung and removing phlegm. After being processed, its medicinal effects are enhanced. It is complex and diverse in compositions of Platycodonis Radix so that has rich pharmacological activities. On the basis of sorting out the literature, this paper discusses the processing history, chemical composition and pharmacological effect of Platycodonis Radix, in order to provide reference for the special processing and modern research of Platycodonis Radix. Furtherly, it provides a theoretical basis for the research of its processing mechanism and quality control.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of naloxone combined with aminophylline in the treatment of acute respiratory failure in children.Methods A total of 120 children with acute respiratory failure were randomly divided into the control group and the treatment group,with 60 cases in each group.The control group was given conventional treatment (3 mg nikethamide + 500 mL of normal saline or 5％ glucose solution for intravenous infusion,50 mL · h-1,bid).The treatment group was additionally treated with intravenous injection of naloxone 0.01 ～ 0.05 mg kg-1 combined with aminophylline 4 ～8 mg,50 mL · h-1,bid,on the basis of the control group.Both groups were treated for 7 d.The clinical efficacy,blood gas parameters before and after treatment and the incidence of adverse drug reactions were compared between the two groups.Results After treatment,the total effective rates of the treatment group and the control group were 85.00％ (51 cases/60 cases) and 66.67％ (40 cases/60 cases),respectively (P ＜ 0.05).After treatment,there were significant differences between the treatment group and the control group in the power of hydrogen (pH) [(7.01 ±0.06) vs (7.11 ±0.29)],arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) [(68.99 ± 11.44) vs (59.34 ± 10.30) mmHg],arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) [(63.24 ± 10.54) vs (70.69 ± 18.98) mmHg],arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) [(85.57 ± 13.79) vs (69.01 ± 10.03) mmHg] and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) [(40.43 ± 12.47)％ vs (35.07 ± 11.83)％] (P ＜0.05).The adverse drug reactions of the treatment group mainly included rash,vomiting and convulsions while adverse drug reactions of the control group mainly included rash,vomiting,convulsions and arrhythmia.The incidence rates of adverse drug reactions in the treatment group and the control group were 11.67％ (7 cases/60 cases) and 26.67％ (16 cases/60 cases),respectively (P ＜0.05).Conclusion Naloxone combined with aminophylline exerted considerable clinical efficacy with high safety profile in the treatment of acute respiratory failure in children.

OBJECTIVETo identify potential markers for predicting invasion, metastasis, and prognosis of gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC).

METHODSThe expressions of Slug, ZEB1 and KISS-1 were detected immunohistochemically in 261 GAC tissues and 80 normal gastric tissues.

RESULTSThe positivity rates of Slug, ZEB1, and KISS-1 in gastric tissues were 2.5%, 1.3%, and 87.5%, respectively, significantly different from the rates of 62.1%, 28.4%, and 41.1% in GAC tissues (P<0.05). The expression level of Slug was significantly correlated with the depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, and pTNM stages; the positivity rates of both ZEB1 and KISS-1 were significantly correlated with the tumor grade, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis and pTNM stages. Slug expression was positively correlated with ZEB1 expression, and KISS-1 expression was inversely correlated with Slug and ZEB1 expressions. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the overall survival time of patients with positive expressions of Slug and ZEB1 was significantly shorter than that of the negative patients, and the survival time of patients positive for KISS-1 was significantly longer than the negative patients. COX multivariate analysis showed that positive Slug, ZEB1 and KISS-1 protein expressions and pTNM stages were independent prognostic factors of GAC (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe abnormal expressions of Slug, ZEB1 and KISS-1 may contribute to the tumorigenesis of GAC and are related with lymph node metastasis, pTNM stages, and prognosis of GAC. The combined detection of Slug, ZEB1, and KISS-1 expression has an important value in predicting the progression and prognosis of GAC.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Disease Progression ; Homeodomain Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Kisspeptins ; metabolism ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Grading ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Snail Family Transcription Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1

Gardeniae Fructus contains volatile ingredients, however, the species and proportions in different processed products of Gardeniae Fructus are different. In this experiment, volatile ingredients were separated by steam distillation with content of 1.2, 1.0, 0.9, 0.7 µL · g(-1) in Gardeniae Fructus, fried Gardeniae Fructus, stir-baked Gardeniae Fructus, Gardeniae Fructus fried into carbon respectively. One hundred and twenty-four kinds of volatile components were identified by GC-MS. Fifty-three kinds of volatile ingredients consisted in Gardeniae Fructus accounting for 93.85%, 54 kinds in fried Cardeniae Fructus accounting for 92.01%, 32 kinds in stir-baked Cardeniae Fructus accounting for 91.59% and 43 kinds in Gardeniae Fructus fried into carbon accounting for 90.81%. In this paper, analysis of Gardeniae Fructus by GC-MS provides a scientific basis for elucidating the mechanism of different processed products.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) in a murine model of inflammatory bowel disease, and its potential mechanism.

METHODSMurine colitis mouse model of Crohn's disease(CD) was created by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS)-induced colitis. Seventy-five 6-8 weeks female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group, TNBS group and ADMSC group. To verify the therapeutic effect of ADMSC, real-time PCR and immunohistochemical staining were performed to measure inflammatory cytokines levels in colon tissues. The 10-day survival statuses were recorded after the infusion of ADMSCs.

RESULTSIntraperitoneal injection of ADMSCs alleviated the clinical and histopathologic severity of intestinal inflammation, and increased survival(60% vs. 30%, P<0.05) in the TNBS-induced mouse model of CD. Compared with TNBS group, proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-12 and VEGF of ADMSC group were significantly reduced, with significant increase of IL-10 expression.

CONCLUSIONADMSCs can effectively repair the injury of colonitis through down-regulation of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-12 and VEGF expression, and up-regulation of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 expression, which may be a potential new alternative of cell-based therapy for CD.

Adipocytes ; Animals ; Colitis ; Crohn Disease ; Cytokines ; Disease Models, Animal ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid ; Up-Regulation

Objective To explore the efficacy of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) in a murine model of inflammatory bowel disease, and its potential mechanism. Methods Murine colitis mouse model of Crohn′s disease (CD) was created by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis. Seventy-five 6-8 weeks female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group, TNBS group and ADMSC group. To verify the therapeutic effect of ADMSC, real-time PCR and immunohistochemical staining were performed to measure inflammatory cytokines levels in colon tissues. The 10-day survival statuses were recorded after the infusion of ADMSCs. Results Intraperitoneal injection of ADMSCs alleviated the clinical and histopathologic severity of intestinal inflammation, and increased survival(60% vs. 30%, P<0.05) in the TNBS-induced mouse model of CD. Compared with TNBS group, proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-12 and VEGF of ADMSC group were significantly reduced, with significant increase of IL-10 expression. Conclusion ADMSCs can effectively repair the injury of colonitis through down-regulation of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-12 and VEGF expression, and up-regulation of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 expression, which may be a potential new alternative of cell-based therapy for CD.