OBJECTIVE To explore the action mechanism of kushenol F （KSCF） in treating ulcerative colitis （UC） in mice. METHODS The potential targets of KSCF intervening in UC were predicted with network pharmacology and molecular docking. C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided by body weight into model group， positive control group （sulfasalazine， 703 mg/kg）， KSCF group （100 mg/kg）， and normal group， with 6 mice per group. The UC model of mice was induced by dextran sulfate sodium solution. During the modeling period， the mice were given relevant medicine intragastrically， once a day， for 7 consecutive days. After the last administration， the disease activity index （DAI） of the mice was scored； the length of the mice’s colon was measured； pathological changes in the colon tissue of mice were observed； the levels of lipopolysaccharide （LPS） in serum， myeloperoxidase （MPO）， nitric oxide （NO） and superoxide dismutase （SOD） in the colon were detected in mice； the expression levels of occludin and ZO-1 in colon tissue of mice were detected； the proportions of CD3+T， CD4+T， and CD8+T lymphocytes in the spleen and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ were detected； changes in colonic microbiota were analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing. RESULTS Results of network pharmacology indicated that KSCF may treat UC by regulating signaling pathways such as phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/protein kinase B （PI3K/AKT） and nuclear factor kappa B （NF- κB）. Molecular docking results showed that KSCF bound most stably with NF-κB p65 protein. Animal experiment results demonstrated that， compared with the model group， the pathological characteristics of colon tissue in mice were improved in KSCF group. DAI scores， serum levels of LPS， the levels of MPO，NF-κB p65 phosphorylation and NLRP3 protein expression in the colon， and the proportion of CD8+T lymphocytes in the spleen were reduced significantly （P＜0.05）. Body weight， SOD levels， expression levels of occludin and ZO-1 in the colon， proportions of CD3+T and CD4+T lymphocytes， and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the spleen were significantly increased （P＜0.05）； the abundance of Firmicutes， Actinobacteria， Akkermansia， and Lactobacillus genera were increased， while Proteobacteria decreased； the microbial community structure tended towards that of the normal group. CONCLUSIONS KSCF alleviates UC by restoring intestinal microbial imbalance， enhancing immune response， and inhibiting colonic inflammatory responses， thereby improving intestinal barrier integrity.

Objective:To investigate the facilitators and hindrances of smoking cessation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to provide a basis for developing individualized smoking cessation intervention strategies for COPD patients.Methods:Based on the health ecology theory and using a phenomenological approach in qualitative research, purposive sampling was used to select 15 COPD patients with smoking history who were admitted to Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital from March to May 2023 and face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted. Colaizzi seven-step analysis was used to analyze the interview content.Results:A total of 15 COPD patients were interviewed, including 13 males and 2 females, aged 61-75 years old. The facilitators of smoking cessation in COPD patients included complications, sequelae of novel coronavirus infection, fear of death, smoking cessation counseling by medical staff, heavy family financial burden, and smoke-free environment. The hindrances of smoking cessation in COPD patients included milder disease symptoms of COPD, higher levels of nicotine dependence, false disease-related perceptions, family supervision and control, and occupational experience.Conclusions:Smoking cessation in COPD patients is influenced by five factors: personal characteristics, behavioral characteristics, interpersonal network, living and working conditions, and policy environment. Medical staff and relevant national institutions should formulate corresponding smoking cessation strategies according to address the facilitators and hindrances of smoking cessation in COPD patients, so as to further reduce the smoking prevalence of COPD patients, promote the health of patients and reduce the burden of disease.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of infantile neuroblastoma (NB) and the factors that affect prognosis.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data collected from 44 cases of NB who received treatment in The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University from March 2008 to March 2017 to summarize the clinical characteristics of NB and the factors that affect prognosis.Results:Among the 44 cases, 21 were male and 23 were female, with a median age of 5.5 months (range, 0 days-12 months). Four cases had stage I NB, seven cases stage II NB, five cases stage III NB, 15 cases stage IV NB, and 13 cases stage IVs NB. The tumors were located in the adrenal glands and retroperitoneum ( n = 26, 59.1%), posterior mediastinum ( n = 15, 34.1%), pelvis ( n = 2, 4.5%), and neck ( n = 1, 2.3%). The median follow-up time was 90 months (range, 2-144 months). The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 93.2% and 90.9%, respectively. Among 35 cases who survived more than 5 years, 30 cases survived healthily, 5 cases survived with tumor, and 4 cases died. Bone marrow metastasis, bone metastasis, and the extent of tumor resection greatly affect the prognosis of NB ( χ2 = 6.92, 12.19, 4.70, all P < 0.05). Conclusion:The overall prognosis of NB is good in infants. NB mainly occurs in the abdomen. The survival rate of infants with stage IVs NB is lower than that of infants with stages I, II, and III NB. The prognosis of NB occurring in the abdomen is poorer than that occurring in other regions. Bone marrow metastasis, bone metastasis, and the extent of tumor resection are adverse factors affecting the prognosis.

AlM: To investigate the effect of C. sinensis extracts on HBx (Hepatitis B virus X protein) induced cell proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation and the underlying mechanism in cultured human mesangial cells (HMCs). METHODS: Human mesangial cells were stable transfected with pCMV-HBx to establish an HBx over-expression model, and a control group was transfected with an empty vector. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay and DNA synthesis assay. Western blotting was used to measure the expression of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway-related proteins and extracellular matrix. RESULTS: HBx transfection induced cell proliferation, matrix accumulation. HBx-transfected mesangial cells had increased activity of the PI3K/Akt pathways, and treatment with C. sinensis suppressed this effect. CONCLUSlON: C.sinensis attenuates the HBx-induced human mesangial cell proliferation and matrix production in human mesangial cells via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathways.

Objective To examine the clinical effects of intravenous lyophilize recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (rhBNP) in patients with refractory heart failure caused by coronary artery disease.Methods Seven patients with refractory heart failure caused by coronary artery disease were treated with rhBNP.The rhBNP nea grade,symptoms and signs,24 hours urine output,heart rate,blood pressure and central venous pressure were evaluated at 0,15,30 min and 1,2,4,8,12,24,and 48 h.Serum potassium,sodium,creatinine and plasma BNP before and after treatment were measured.Results After rhBNP therapy,dyspnea grade were improved in 5 patients.Symptoms and signs got better in 6 patients.Systolic blood pressure at 15 min of treatment distolic blood pressure was decreased slightly from (112.00±10.42) mm Hg to (105.14±7.76) mm Hg (P＜0.05) and became (108.71±6.63)mm Hg at 30 rain which was the same with that before treatment.There was no statistical significance in heart beat[ ( 88.57±16.92 ) vs.( 86.00±16.21 ) ] beat/min,serum sodium [ ( 133.57±5,38 ) mmol/Lvs.( 133.57±8.16) mmol/L ],serum potassium [ (3.83±0.37) mmol/L vs.(4.19±0.58 ) mmol/L ],ereatinine [ (93.11±27.90) μmol/L vs ( 123.01±93.01 ) μmol/L ] before and after treatment,and BNP[ ( 1218.43±847.83) vs.(1433.71±676.08)ng/L] before treatment and at24 h treatment,as well as urine output [(2329±1573 ) vs.(2126±1074) ml ] ( P ＞ 0.05 ).Urine output was increased during the treatment,but the usage of diuretic was remarkably decreased.Central venous pressure was gradually decreased from 30 rain to 48 h( P ＜ 0.05 ).Condusion rhBNP can decrease central venous pressure and increase urine output with exerts little side effects on electrolytes and renal function.Therefore rhBNP has positive clinical effects on refractory heart failure which is caused by coronary artery disease.

Objective To investigate the effect of 9-cis retinoid acid(c-RA),a retinoid X receptor(RXR)agonist,on hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)induced apoptosis in cultured rat neonatal cardiomyoeytes,and to explore the mechanism.Method Cultured cardiomyocpes were randomly divided into three groups:normal group treated with vehicle(N group),H2O2 group treated with 100 μmol/L H2O2(H group),and c-RA group pretreated with 100nmol/L c-RA(H+R group).Cell viability was detected by MTT.Morphological changes of apoptotic cardiomyocytes were observed by Hoechst 33258 staining under fluorescence microscope.The apoptotic rate was determined by flow cytometry.Mitochondrial membrane potential(△(ψ)m)was measured by JC-1 dye.Cellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)production was detected by CM-H2DCFDA fluorescent probe.All measurement data wIe expressed as(x±s),and statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA analysis and Dunnett test.Differences were considered significant when P was＜0.05.Results Treatment with c-RA significantly enhanced cell viability,reduced apoptosis ratio,stabled mitoehondrial membrane potential and reduced level of cellular reactive oxygen species.Conclusions RXR agonist c-RA inhibits H2O2-induced myocyte apoptosis in cultured rat neonatal cardiomyocytes,which may be related to alleviate oxidative stress injury.

OBJECTIVETo explore the diagnostic value of MRI and SPECT in early postburn brain edema in severely burned dogs.

METHODSTwenty-six mongrel dogs were randomized into control (n = 6) and burned groups in which every 5 dogs were allotted to each of following time points: 6, 12, 18 and 24 postburn hours (PBHs). The dogs in burn groups were inflicted with 50% TBSA of III degree skin burn and were infused with 5% glucose solution after 6 PBHs, so that severe early postburn brain edema was produced. MRI and SPECT were employed to observe dynamically the brain of dogs in all groups. The results were collected and compared with one another.

RESULTSThe results indicated that with MRI brain morphological change of early brain edema could be shown as early as within 12 PBH and diffuse brain edema became more obvious with elapse of time. The changes might be difficult to be found by MRI when T(1)WISIR decreased below 10%. T(2)WI SIR increased by 8.29% at 24 PBH with blurred demarcation between the brain gray and white matters. There was diffused and progressive nuclide ((99)TCm-ECD) concentration in the brain tissue as shown by SPECT at 6 PBH. The radio-nuclide taking ratio increased significantly after 12 PBH, especially at 24 PBH (P < 0.01) when compared with that before burn.

CONCLUSIONCombined application of MRI and SPECT could evidently increase sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of early postburn brain edema.

Animals ; Brain Edema ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Burns ; complications ; Dogs ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Objective: To investigate the correlation between MRI features and pathology in brain edema at the early stage of severe burn (50％ TBSA Ⅲ degree) in dogs.Methods: Fifty-two dogs were randomized into control, simple burn (SB), burn plus sodium lactate (BSL), and burn plus glucose solution groups (BGS). The manifestation of the brain of control group was compared with that of burn groups at 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours postburn with MRI and pathological examination (gross appearance, electron microscopy and light microscopy).Results: The earliest findings of brain edema were seen at 12 hours after burn in BGS group, in which brain swelling was the main feature of MRI. The decrease of SIR on T1WI was not observed until it was exceeded 10％.Signal of T2WI increased by 8.29％ at 24 hours after burn.It was difficult to distinguish the gray matter from the white matter at the boundary line, which became blurred later. Histological changes of brain edema were observed as early as 6 hours after burn, being accompanied by swelling of endothelial cells and peri-vescular astrocytes, and vacuolation took place in neurons at 12 hours after burn, with different degrees of necrosis of capillary endothelimn,neurons, and axons. These changes became more marked with elapse of time. The BGS group showed the most obvious changes mentioned above at 24 hours after burn.Conclusions: The model of the brain edema after severe burn has the feature of both vasogenic edema and cytotoxic edema on the MRI and pathology. Positive MRI findings lagged behind that of the pathomorphological changes.

Objective To study the finding and patterns of chronic inflammatory sinonasal disease on CT. Methods All of 93 patients with chronic inflammatory sinonasal disease by clinical observations and operation,the appearances and patterns of chronic inflammatory sinonasal disease were analyszed.Results Six radiological patterns of inflammatory sinonasal disease were identified:( 1) infundibular,16/93 or 17%;( 2) osteaomeatal unit,27/93 or 28% ; (3) sphenoethmoidal recess,5/93 or 6%;(4) sinonasal polyposis,17/93 or 18%;(5) sporadic ( unclassifiabal ) ,13/93 or 14%;(6) mixing pattern,15/93 or 16% .Conclusion Assignment of patients to radiological patterns allows tailored endoscopic sinonasal surgical approach.