Objective:To investigate the changes of ROS/TXNIP/NLRP3 signaling pathway in pyroptosis of human embryonic trophoblast cells induced by high glucose.Methods:Human embryonic trophoblast cells were cultured in vitro to establish high glucose injury model, and they were randomly divided into control group, high glucose (HG) group and HG + ROS inhibitor N-acetyl-L-cysteine (HG + NAC) group. MTT assay was used to detect the cell survival rate. The level of ROS in each group was detected by dihydroethidine ROS fluorescence probe. Expression of TXNIP and NLRP3 mRNA was detected by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression levels of TXNIP, NLRP3, Caspase-1, interleukin (IL) -1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and GSDMD proteins. In addition, pyroptosis was detected by flow cytometry.Results:The optimal glucose concentration for high glucose-induced injury of human embryonic trophoblast cells was 30 mmol/L. Compared with the control group (96.27±3.10) %, the survival rate of human embryonic trophoblast cells in HG group (55.44±2.15) % was significantly lower ( P<0.05), while the fluorescence intensity (ROS level) of 7 'dichlorofluorescein (DCF), the expression levels of TXNIP and NLRP3 proteins, the number of pyroptosis, expression levels of Caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-1β and TNF-α proteins were significantly higher ( P<0.05) ; Compared with HG group, the survival rate of human embryonic trophoblast cells in HG+NAC group (84.75±2.33) % was significantly higher ( P<0.05), the fluorescence intensity (ROS level) of DCF, the expression levels of TXNIP and NLRP3 proteins, the number of pyroptosis, and expression levels of Caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-1β and TNF-α proteins were significantly lower ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:Inhibition of ROS level in human embryonic trophoblast cells induced by high glucose may promote cell proliferation and reduce the occurrence of pyroptosis by inhibiting TXNIP/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Objective:To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of concise health status questionnaire (SF-36 scale) in evaluating the quality of life of patients with chronic Keshan disease, and to provide a scientific basis for studying the quality of life and the evaluation of treatment and rehabilitation of this population.Methods:In the August 2017, using cluster random sampling method, 175 patients with chronic Keshan disease treated by self-management of family beds in Pingliang City, Gansu Province in 2017 were selected as survey subjects, and demographic and disease data were collected. The Chinese version of SF-36 scale was used to investigate the quality of life. Split-half reliability and Cronbach's α coefficient were used to evaluate the reliability of the SF-36 scale; the factor analysis, correlation and differences between groups were used to evaluate the validity of the SF-36 scale.Results:The split-half reliability value of SF-36 scale was 0.916, and the Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.869. Factor analysis extracted 3 common factors from 8 dimensions of SF-36 scale, and the cumulative contribution rate of the 3 common factors to the total variance was 72.08%. In addition to the correlation coefficient ( r) between Role-Emotional and Bodily Pain dimension, the r value between total score and the scores of each dimension, and the scores of each dimension of SF-36 scale were 0.140 - 0.769. Except for the Bodily Pain dimension, there were statistically significant differences in the scores of Physiological Functioning, Role-Physical, General Health, Vitality, Social Functioning, Role-Emotional, and Mental Health dimension of the quality of life of patients with different grades of cardiac function ( F = 4.66, 10.73, 6.77, 14.61, 5.58, 9.57, 7.10, P < 0.05). Conclusion:The Chinese version of SF-36 scale has good reliability and validity in evaluating the quality of life of patients with chronic Keshan disease, and can be used to evaluate the quality of life of the patients.

Objective:To analyze the detective value of placental tissue resistin, human lipid carrier protein (LCN) and blood glucose and lipid metabolism in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) complicated with preeclampsia (PE) , providing guidance for the early treatment of GDM complicated with preeclampsia.Methods:96 pregnant women with GDM complicated with PE (GDM-PE group) admitted to Yantai Yantaishan Hospital from Jan. 2017 to Jan. 2020 were selected and retrospectively studied. According to the ratio of 2:1, the pure GDM pregnant women (GDM group) and 48 normal pregnant women (the control group) were selected. The placenta tissue resistin and LCN levels were determined by immunohistochemistry. Blood samples were collected to determine the glucose and lipid metabolism. The pregnancy outcomes of each group were compared and the relationship between resistin, LCN, glucose and lipid metabolism and GDM complicated with PE was analyzed.Results:Fasting blood-glucose (FBG) was (4.57±0.66) mmol/L in GDM group and (5.23±0.61) mmol/L in GMD-PE group. FINS (11.97±1.5) mIU/L, (15.12±3.52) mIU/L were higher than those of control group (4.11±0.23) mmol/L, (6.75±1.34) mIU/L ( P<0.05) . FBG, FINS, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in GDM-PE group were higher than those in GDM group. TC) (6.71±1.63) mmol/L, triglyceride, TG (6.59±0.87) mmol/L was higher than that of control group (5.87±0.73) mmol/L, (4.57±0.59) mmol/L and GDM group (6.02±1.55) mmol/L, (4.71±0.63) mmol/L ( P<0.05) . high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (1.21±0.34) was lower than that of control group (1.54±0.39) and GDM group (1.55±0.43) ( P<0.05) . The positive rates of resistin 85.42%, 60.42%, LCN 81.25%, 56.25% in GDM-PE group and GDM group were higher than those in control group 39.58%, 31.25% ( χ2=32.096, 4.167; 34.975, 6.095, both P<0.05) . The positive rates of resistin and LCN in GDM-PE group were higher than those in GDM group ( χ2=11.322, 11.257, both P<0.01) . The gestational age of delivery in GDM-PE group was (37.11±2.06) weeks earlier than that in GDM group (38.21±1.75) weeks and control group (38.36±1.42) weeks ( F=9.836, P<0.05) . The birth weight of neonates (2 905.45±356.79) g was lower than that of control group (3 321.52±366.46) g and GDM group (3 425.14±269.87) g ( F=46.606, P<0.05) . Postpartum blood loss (415.34±126.75) ml was significantly higher than that of GDM group (338.65±105.63) ml and control group (298.42±75.26) ml ( F=19.932, P<0.05) . The preterm birth rate of 20.83% was higher than that of the GDM group (8.33%) and the control group (4.17%) ( χ2=9.075, P<0.05) . The postpartum blood loss of the GDM group was higher than that of the control group ( t=-2.148, P<0.05) . The incidences of fetal distress, premature rupture of membranes, fetal growth restriction and postpartum hemorrhage in GDM-PE group were higher than those in control group ( χ2=4.571, 6.867, 5.941, 5.123, P<0.05) . The protein expressions of resistin and LCN in placenta of pregnant women with GDM-PE were positively correlated with FBG, FINS, TC and TG ( r=0.517, 0.463, 0.559, 0.521, 0.485, 0.497, 0.557, 0.571, P<0.05) . Was negatively correlated with HDL-C ( r=-0.317, -0.357, P<0.05) . Conclusions:The positive rate of resistin and LCN in the placenta tissue of pregnant women with GDM complicated with PE is higher than that of GDM and normal pregnant women, their disorder of glucose and lipid metabolism is more obvious, and the incidence of adverse maternal and infant outcomes is higher. It is speculated that resistin and LCN may synergistically affect the metabolism of glucose and lipids causing adverse pregnancy outcomes in GDM complicated with PE.

Objective:To investigate the related factors that affect the timing and prognosis of early tracheostomy in patients with multiple rib fractures.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted on medical data of 222 patients with multiple rib fractures who underwent tracheostomy in Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University from February 2013 to October 2019，including 160 males and 66 females，with the age of 18 to 85 years ［（49.5 ± 16.3）years］. According to the practice management guidelines for tracheostomy timing and the use of propensity score matching technology，there were 118 patients with tracheostomy within 7 days of tracheal intubation （early group） and 104 patients with tracheostomy after 7 days of tracheal intubation （late group） before matching，and there were 87 patients in early group and 87 patients in late group after matching. Data were compared between groups including the gender，age，underlying disease，injury severity score （ISS），Glasgow coma score （GCS），number of fractured ribs，total number of rib fractures （NTRF），first rib fracture，flail chest，traumatic brain injury，combined injuries （spine，maxillofacial，sternum），acute respiratory distress syndrome （ARDS），volume fraction of pulmonary contusion（VPC），blood lactic acid （within 24 hours of admission），hemothorax，pneumothorax，mechanical ventilation time，duration of tracheostomy，time from tracheal intubation to incision，length of hospital stay，length of stay in ICU，closed thoracic drainage，number of fiberoptic bronchoscopy，multi-drug resistant bacteria infection，ventilator-associated pneumonia，antibiotic use time，duration of sedative and analgesic drugs used and 28-day mortality. The multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to predict independent risk factors for early tracheostomy. The Pearson method was used to compare the relationship between multiple factors. The receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve was used to predict indicators that affect the prognosis of patients with early tracheostomy，and calculate the best cut-off value. The Kaplan-Meier single factor and COX multivariate survival were used to analyze the relevant factors affecting the 28-day mortality of patients.Results:（1） In early group，the NTRF，ARDS and VPC were higher than those in late group，and the time from tracheal intubation to incision and 28-day mortality rate were lower than those in late group （ P < 0.05），while the two groups showed no significant differences in the gender，age，underlying diseases and ISS （ P > 0.05）. （2） The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that there was statistical significance in NTRF （ OR = 1.775，95% CI 1.439-2.188），ARDS（ OR = 3.740，95% CI 1.441-9.711），VPC （ OR = 1.087，95% CI 1.052-1.124） （ P < 0.05）； the Pearson method analysis showed a significant correlation between VPC and NTRF （ r = 0.369， P < 0.05） and a low degree of correlation between ARDS and VPC （ r = 0.179， P < 0.05），but there was no significant correlation between ARDS and NTRF （ r = 0.132， P > 0.05）. （3） The ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve （AUC） of the VPC and NTRF ［AUC = 0.832 （95% CI 0.770-0.893），AUC = 0.804 （95% CI 0.740-0.868）］ were significantly higher than those of the number of rib fractures ［AUC = 0.437（95% CI 0.352-0.523），GCS ［AUC = 0.519 （95% CI 0.432-0.605）］ and ISS ［AUC = 0.484 （95% CI 0.398-0.571）］ （ P < 0.05）. After calculating the Yorden index，the best cut-off value for VPC was 23.9，and the best cut-off value for NTRF was 8.5. （4） The Kaplan-Meier single factor and multivariate COX model survival analysis showed that the 28-day survival ratio of patients with early tracheostomy was significantly better than that of late tracheostomy （ P < 0.05）. Conclusions:The NTRF，ADRS and VPC are independent risk factors for the timing and prognosis of early tracheostomy. There is a significant correlation between VPC and NTRF. The VPC ≥ 23.9% and or NTRF ≥ 8.5 can be used to predict early tracheostomy in patients with multiple rib fractures. Early tracheostomy may benefit the 28-day survival of patients with multiple rib fractures.

Objective:To investigate the expressions of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) /NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) pathway in placental tissues of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) patients and its role in the migration and invasion of placental trophoblast cells.Methods:The placenta tissues of 25 GDM pregnant women (GDM group) and 25 normal glucose tolerance pregnant women (normal group) were collected. The cultured human chorionic trophoblast cells were divided into control group (untransfected) , siNC group (negative control) , siTXNIP group (siRNA-TXNIP) , siTXNIP+pcDNA group (co transfected with siRNA-TXNIP and pcDNA3.1 empty vector plasmids) and siTXNIP + NLRP3 group (co transfected with siRNA-TXNIP and pcDNA3.1-Flag-NLRP3 over expression plasmids) . The expressions of TXNIP and NLRP3 mRNAs were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, and the expressions of TXNIP and NLRP3 proteins were detected by Western blot. Cell viability was measured by thiazole blue method. Cell migration ability was detected by scratch test, and cell invasion was detected by Transwell’s cell experiment.Results:Compared with those in the normal group, mRNA and protein expression levels of TXNIP and NLRP3 in the placenta of patients in GDM group were significantly higher ( P<0.05) . Compared with those in the control group or siNC group, mRNA and protein expression levels of TXNIP in siTXNIP group were significantly lower, however, the cell viability and migration rate were significantly higher, and the number of transmembrane cells was significantly higher ( P<0.05) ; but there was no significant difference in the above indexes between siNC group and the control group ( P>0.05) . Compared with those in siTXNIP group or siTXNIP + pcDNA group, mRNA and protein expression levels of NLRP3 in siTXNIP + NLRP3 group were significantly higher, however, the cell viability and migration rate were significantly lower, and the number of transmembrane cells was significantly lower ( P<0.05) ; but there was no significant difference in the above indexes between siTXNIP + pcDNA group and siTXNIP group ( P>0.05) . Conclusions:TXNIP/NLRP3 pathway is closely related to the occurrence and development of GDM. TXNIP can inhibit the migration and invasion of placental trophoblast cells by activating NLRP3.

To explore the potential mechanism of Qinfei Dayuan Granules for the treatment of pneumonia by the network pharmacology, the potential active ingredients and drug targets of Qinfei Dayuan Granules were obtained through the Integrative Pharmacology-based Research Platform of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCMIP). The "component-target-disease" network and PPI network were constructed by Cytoscape 3.7.2 software, and GO functional enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed on the TCMIP platform to obtain a multi-dimensional network analysis of the "Chinese medicinal materials-chemical components-key targets-action pathways" and to explore the mechanism of its multi-component multi-target multi-action pathways of Qinfei Dayuan Granules for the treatment of pneumonia. A total of 474 active ingredients and 865 drug targets were identified from Qinfei Dayuan Granules; the key core targets of drugs include NF-κB, TNF-α, MAPK3, IL-1β, PTGS and CASP3, etc.. The results of GO functional enrichment analysis showed that drugs may interfere with inflammation through biological pathways such as immune regulation and apoptosis. KEGG signal pathway enrichment analysis showed that it was mainly related to the diabetic complications AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, T cell receptor signaling pathway and tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, etc.. Qinfei Dayuan Granules can exert its effect on the treatment of pneumonia through inflammatory response and immune system with multi-ingredient, multi-target and multi-pathway pharmacological characteristics.

Objective To investigate the effects of agonist of angiotensin-(1-7)(AVE0991) on endothelial function and atherogenesis in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice.Methods Eight-week-old ApoE-/-male mice and C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into 3 groups:a normal diet control group(ND,n=10),a high-fat diet group(HFD,n=10),and a high-fat diet with AVE0991 0.58 μmol · kg-1 · d-1 group(HFD+ AVE0991,n=10).After 12 weeks of treatment,serum levels of lipids and parameters of endothelial function were measured.Atherosclerotic lesions in aorta roots were detected by Oil Red O staining.CD31 levels in the arterial intima were analyzed by immunohistochemistry.Results AVE0991 had no effects on blood lipids (P ＞ 0.05)but lowered serum levels of nitric oxide in high-fat diet mice(76.8±34.4 μmol/L vs.116.8±33.9 μmol/L,P＜0.05).Also,AVE0991 had no effects on the activity of serum nitric oxide synthase(19.5±5.7 U/ml vs.17.9±3.3 U/ml,P＞0.05)but decreased the activity of serum induced nitric oxide synthase(9.0 ±2.3 U/ml vs.12.7 ± 3.2 U/ml,P ＜0.05) and increased the ratio of phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase to induced nitric oxide synthase in the vessel wall in high-fat diet mice(0.8±0.2％ vs.0.6 ± 0.2％,P ＜ 0.05).AVE0991 decreased serum levels of C-reactive protein,tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 (P ＜ 0.05),and decreased the area percentage of atherosclerotic lesions in aorta roots (15.6 ± 3.3 ％ vs.45.4 ± 9.8 ％,P ＜ 0.05) and increased the integrated optical density of CD31 in the arterial intima in high-fat diet mice(54.1±11.0％ vs.28.7±10.6％,P＜0.05)Conclusions AVE0991 can attenuate atherogenesis in ApoE-/-mice fed a high-fat diet,possibly via reducing inflammatory response,regulating the activity of nitric oxide synthases and improving endothelial functions.

Objective To explore the effects of early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1) on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) proliferation and osteogenic differentiation,which is aimed at providing new molecular targets for the treatment of osteoporosis.Methods Bone marrow was collected from adult men and the BMSCs were cultured primarily and observed by microscope.Meanwhile,flow cytometry was used for BMSCs phenotypic identification;After transfection of pcDNA3.1/Egr-1 into BM SCs,the level of BMSCs proliferation was determined by MTT respectively on the 2 d,4 d and 6 d;On the 7 d after transfection,the ALP activity assay was used for testing the ALP activity in BMSCs.And then,alizarin red S-calcium kit was used for measuring the calcified knots respectively on the 7 d,14 d and 21 d;On the 21 d after transfection,real-time qPCR and Western blotting were used respectively for measuring the expression of mRNA and protein of Egr-1,Runx2 and NDRG1;Further,BMSCs were transfected with Egr-1 siRNA,and the content of calcium nodules,ALP activity,the expression of Egr-1,Runx2 and NDRG1 were detected as above methods.Results The cells cultured in vitro showed high level of CD90 and CD29 and very low level of CD34 and CD45,which is accorded with the characteristic of BMSCs.The pcDNA3.1/Egr-1 transfection for BMSCs had no effect on cells prolifera tion.However,the calcified knots,ALP activity and the expression of Egr 1,Runx2 and NDRG1 were increased after transfection of pcDNA3.1/Egr-1 for BMSCs.In addition,Egr-1 siRNA showed the opposite effect with pcDNA3.1/Egr-1 transfection for BMSCs.Conclusion Egr-1 induces osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs by promoting NDRG1 but has no effects on proliferation of BMSCs.

AIM To explore the effects of glycyrrhetinic acid on the gastric ulcer rats infected by Helicobacter pylori (Hp) and its action mechanism.METHODS Gastric ulcer rat models were induced by acetic acid stress and then followed by Hp infection.After treatment with low and high doses of glycyrrhetinic acid,the ulcer index,gastric acid and proteinase activities in gastric ulcer rats were analyzed.The effects of glycyrrhetinic acid on the expressions of BCL2 and Caspase-3,the GSK3β activity in gastric mucosa and gastric epithelial cells,and the cell apoptosis level were then detected.RESULTS Glycyrrhetinic acid reduced the ulcer index,gastric acid and proteinase activities in rats.Besides,the expression of BCL2 was significantly up-regulated by glycyrrhetinic acid in gastric mucosa and gastric epithelial cells,whereas the expression of Caspase-3,level of cell apoptosis,and GSK3β activity were significantly reduced.After the treatment with GSK3 β activator LY294002,the level of BCL2 was down-regulated,Caspase-3 expression was increased,and the level of cell apoptosis was enhanced.CONCLUSION Glycyrrhetinic acid promotes the healing of gastric ulcer infected by Hp via regulating GSK3β activity and inhibiting apoptosis of gastric epithelial cells.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the effect of artemisinin on lipopolysaccharide ( LPS)-induced intestinal epi-thelial barrier damage in IEC-6 cells and its molecular mechanism.METHODS:Cultured IEC-6 cells were divided to 5 groups:control group, LPS (100 mg/L) group and LPS +Artemisinin (30, 50 and 100μmol/L) groups.The cytotoxici-ty was detected by MTT assay.The releases of TNF-α, IL-1βand IL-6 in the IEC-6 cells were measured by ELISA.The transepithelial electrical resistance ( TER) was detected by electrical resistance tester, and the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) flux permeability were analyzed by a microplate reader.The expression of tight junction proteins, ZO-1, claudin-1 and occludin, and the expression of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB at mRNA and protein levels were determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot.RESULTS:Artemisinin alone (up to 100 μmol/L) or in combination with LPS (100 mg/L) was not toxic to IEC-6 cells.Compared with control group, the releases of TNF-α, IL-1βand IL-6 in the culture supernatant of IEC-6 cells significantly increased after treatment with LPS.The expression of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB was activated by LPS.LPS down-regulated the protein expression of ZO-1, claudin-1 and occludin.However, artemisinin treatment decreased the re-leases of TNF-α, IL-1βand IL-6 in the culture supernatant of IEC-6 cells.The expression of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB at mR-NA and protein levels was gradually reduced after treatment with artemisinin.In addition, artemisinin upregulated the pro-tein expression of ZO-1, claudin-1 and occludin significantly (P<0.01) in a dose-dependent manner.CONCLUSION:Artemisinin attenuates LPS-induced intestinal epithelial barrier damage by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB activation in the IEC-6 cells.