Background::The preferred therapeutic regimen for Toxoplasma encephalitis (TE) is a combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) plus azithromycin is the widespread alternative therapeutic regimen. The synergistic sulfonamides tablet contains TMP, sulfadiazine, and SMX and hypothetically could be used for TE treatment. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of synergistic sulfonamides plus clindamycin (regimen B) with TMP-SMX plus azithromycin (regimen A) for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) associated TE.Methods::This was an open-labeled, multi-center randomized controlled trial recruited from 11 centers. Each recruited patient was randomly assigned to receive regimen A or regimen B for at least 6 weeks. The overall response was evaluated by assessment of the clinical response of TE-associated clinical features and the radiological response of TE-associated radiological findings. The overall response rate, clinical response rate, radiological response rate, and adverse events were assessed at 2, 6, and 12 weeks. Death events were compared between the two regimens at 6, 12, and 24 weeks.Results::A total of 91 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)/TE patients were included in the final analysis (44 in regimen A vs. 47 in regimen B). The overall response rate, which refers to the combined clinical and radiological response, was 18.2% (8/44) for regimen A and 21.3 % (10/47) for regimen B at week 6. The results of clinical response showed that, in comparison with regimen A, regimen B may perform better with regards to its effect on the relief of clinical manifestations (50.0% [22/44] vs. 70.2% [33/47], P = 0.049). However, no significant differences in radiological response, mortality events, and adverse events were found between the two regimens at week 6. Conclusions::Synergistic sulfonamides plus clindamycin, as a novel treatment regimen, showed no significantly different efficacy and comparable safety in comparison with the TMP-SMX plus azithromycin regimen. In addition, the regimen containing synergistic sulfonamides may exhibit advantages in terms of clinical symptom alleviation.Trial Registration::ChiCTR.org.cn, ChiCTR1900021195.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism by which dripping pills (STDP) improves coronary microcirculation disorder (CMD) and cardiac dysfunction in a porcine model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: Fourteen minipigs were randomly selected for interventional balloon occlusion of the middle left anterior descending branch to induce CMD, and another 7 pigs received sham operation. The pig models of CMD were randomized equally into the model group and STDP-treated group. All the animals were fed with common feed for 8 weeks, and in STDP-treated group, the pigs were given STDP at the daily dose of 3 mg/kg (mixed with feed) for 8 weeks. Before and at the 8th week after the operation, the pigs underwent coronary angiography and echocardiography to determine the vessel lumen diameter and TIMI frame count (CTFC). The pathologies of the myocardium and the microvessels were examined with HE staining at the 8th week. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of silencing information regulator (Sirt1), peroxidase proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERKI/2), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) in myocardial tissue. RESULTS: Before and at the 8th week after the operation, the diameter of the anterior descending vessel in the 3 groups did not differ significantly ( > 0.05). At the 8th week, the number of CTFC frames in the model group increased significantly compared with that in the sham-operated group, but was obviously lowered by treatment with STDP ( < 0.05). Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury significantly increased the interventricular septal thickness at end-diastole, left ventricular end-diastole dimension, end-diastole volume, interventricular septal thickness at end-systole and left ventricular mass at 8 weeks after the modeling ( < 0.05), but such changes were significantly alleviated by treatment with STDP (P < 0.05). STDP treatment markedly alleviated myocardial microvascular congestion, thrombosis and peripheral inflammatory cell infiltration induced by myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, but atrophy of the myocardial muscle fiber remained distinct. STDP obviously suppressed the down-regulation of Sirt1, PGC-1α, and PPARα and the up-regulation of ERK1/ 2, TLR4, and UCP2 in the myocardial tissues induced by myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. CONCLUSIONS STDP has anti-inflammatory effects and regulates energy metabolism in the myocardium through modulating Sirt1, PGC-1α, PPARα, ERKI/2, TLR4, and UCP2 to improve CMD and cardiac dysfunction after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Microcirculation ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; Myocardium ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Swine

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) patients with renal involvement. Methods PAN patients admitted to the department of rheumatology, department of pediatrics, department of nephrology, general internal medicine department and department of vascular surgery at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from June 2012 to August 2018 were enrolled in this study and were divided into two groups according to renal involvement or not. The clinical characteristics were analyzed. Results A total of 94 PAN patients were finally enrolled and 57 (60.64%) presented kidney manifestation. The mean age of onset was (37.76±17.40) years old and the interval from onset to diagnosis was 10 (0 to 240) months. Forty patients were misdiagnosed once or more times. In patients with renal involvement, 9 cases suffered from renal ischemia or infarction, 31 with microscopic haematuria, 26 with proteinuria, renal artery or its branch involved in 17 cases, renal vein thrombosis in 1 case, 4 cases with pyeloureterectasis, one case with renal fascia thickening, 33 cases with impaired renal function (serum creatinine>84 μmol/L) including creatinine>140 μmol/L in 10 patients. Renal artery branch stenosis was the most common presentation [9 cases (52.94%)] of renal vascular involvement, other abnormalities including nodular dilatation [4 cases (23.53%)], occlusion [3 cases (17.65%)]. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the PAN patients with and without renal involvement in the following: age of onset [(33.72±16.13) years vs. (43.97±17.66)years, t2=2.901, P=0.005], weight loss(≥4kg since PAN onset) [25(43.86%) vs. 7(18.92%), χ2=6.216, P=0.013], elevation of diastolic blood pressure [22(38.60%) vs. 7 (18.92%), χ2=4.072, P=0.044], acromegaly gangrene [18(31.58%) vs. 21(56.76%), χ2=5.859, P=0.015], and gastrointestinal artery involvement [20(35.09%) vs. 6(1.22%), χ2=3.993, P=0.046]. Laboratory parameters and the application of glucocorticoid and cyclophosphamide therapies were similar in two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion Young PAN patients are more likely to be associated with renal involvement, especially gastrointestinal arteries.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) patients with renal involvement. Methods: PAN patients admitted to the department of rheumatology, department of pediatrics, department of nephrology, general internal medicine department and department of vascular surgery at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from June 2012 to August 2018 were enrolled in this study and were divided into two groups according to renal involvement or not. The clinical characteristics were analyzed. Results: A total of 94 PAN patients were finally enrolled and 57 (60.64%) presented kidney manifestation. The mean age of onset was (37.76±17.40) years old and the interval from onset to diagnosis was 10 (0 to 240) months. Forty patients were misdiagnosed once or more times. In patients with renal involvement, 9 cases suffered from renal ischemia or infarction, 31 with microscopic haematuria, 26 with proteinuria, renal artery or its branch involved in 17 cases, renal vein thrombosis in 1 case, 4 cases with pyeloureterectasis, one case with renal fascia thickening, 33 cases with impaired renal function (serum creatinine>84 μmol/L) including creatinine>140 μmol/L in 10 patients. Renal artery branch stenosis was the most common presentation [9 cases (52.94%)] of renal vascular involvement, other abnormalities including nodular dilatation [4 cases (23.53%)], occlusion [3 cases (17.65%)]. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the PAN patients with and without renal involvement in the following: age of onset [(33.72±16.13) years vs. (43.97±17.66) years, t²=2.901, P=0.005], weight loss(≥4kg since PAN onset) [25(43.86%) vs. 7(18.92%), χ²=6.216, P=0.013], elevation of diastolic blood pressure [22(38.60%) vs. 7(18.92%), χ²=4.072, P=0.044], acromegaly gangrene [18(31.58%) vs. 21(56.76%), χ²=5.859, P=0.015], and gastrointestinal artery involvement [20(35.09%) vs. 6(1.22%), χ²=3.993, P=0.046]. Laboratory parameters and the application of glucocorticoid and cyclophosphamide therapies were similar in two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion Young PAN patients are more likely to be associated with renal involvement, especially gastrointestinal arteries.

Aim To study the effect of resveratrol on proliferation of liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells and the relevant mechanism.Methods SMMC-7721 cells were treated with different concentrations of resveratrol.Cell proliferation was tested by cell proliferation assay and colony-forming experiment.The effect of resveratrol on cell cycle of SMMC-7721 cells was detected by flow cytometry.The activation of mTOR/p-mTOR proteins was detected by Western blot.Results Compared with control group, resveratrol inhibited SMMC-7721 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.01);cell cycle detection showed that SMMC-7721 cells were arrested at G0/G1 phase by resveratrol;Westren blot assay showed that resveratrol down-regulated p-mTOR expression.Conslusion Resveratrol inhibits human SMMC-7721 cell proliferation and arrests the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase, while the inhibition mechanism may be related to activation of mTOR signaling pathway by resveratrol.

Objective To investigate the effect of scalp acupuncture on cerebral blood flow and gross motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Methods From January to November, 2016, 79 children with spastic cerebral palsy were randomly divided into con-ventional group (n=40) and scalp acupuncture group (n=39). Both groups received conventional rehabilitation treatment, and the scalp acu-puncture group was given scalp acupuncture in addition, for five months. The systolic blood flow velocity (Vs), mean flow velocity of cere-bral artery (Vm) and vascular resistance index (RI) of anterior cerebral artery (ACA), middle cerebral artery (MCA) and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) before and after treatment were assessed with color transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD). The clinical effect was evaluated with the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Results Five cases dropped out during the follow-up, three cases in the con-ventional group and two cases in the scalp acupuncture group. There was no significant difference in all the indexes between two groups be-fore treatment (P>0.05). After treatment, the Vs and Vm of ACA, MCA and PCA improved (t>2.051, P<0.05), no improvement was found in the RI of ACA, MCA and PCA in the conventional group (t<1.1631, P>0.05), and they decreased in the scalp acupuncture group (t>2.659, P<0.05). After treatment, the Vs and Vm of ACA, MCA and PCA were higher in the scalp acupuncture group than in the conventional group (t>2.098, P<0.05), the RI of ACA was lower in the scalp acupuncture group than in the conventional group (t=2.375, P<0.05), and no signifi-cant difference was found in the RI of MCA and PCA between two groups (t<1.637, P>0.05). The total effective rate was higher in the scalp acupuncture group than in the conventional group (χ2=6.887, P<0.05). Conclusion Scalp acupuncture facilitates to increase the cerebral blood flow, decrease the vascular resistance, and improve gross motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

AIM:To investigate the changes of connexin 43 (Cx43) via establishing a model of sympathomi-metic atrial fibrillation ( AF) .METHODS:The mongrels ( n=15) were randomly divided into control group , rapid atrial pacing (RAP) group and isoprenaline (ISO) perfusion+RAP group (ISO+RAP group).All mongrels’ hearts were taken out rapidly by median sternotomy to establish the cardiac model with Langendorff perfusion in vitro.The atrial effective re-fractory period ( AERP) and AF inducability were tested .The expression and distribution of tyrosine hydroxylase ( TH) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry .Total protein level of Cx 43 and phosphorylation of Cx 43 were determined by West-ern blot.The distribution of Cx43 were also observed by immunofluorescence staining .The cell apoptosis was analyzed by TUNEL staining.The generation of reactive oxygen species ( ROS) in the mitochondria was measured by fluorescence spec-trophotometry .RESULTS:No significant change of AERP was found between control group and RAP group , while that in ISO+RAP group was significantly decreased (P<0.05) and induced AF.Compared with control group, the expression of TH, apoptotic index and the generation of ROS increased gradually (P<0.05), while the content of Cx43 decreased grad-ually both in the total protein and the phosphorylation levels in RAP group and ISO +RAP group (P<0.05).The fluores-cence intensity of Cx43 was also attenuated and Cx43 were lateralized apparently in RAP group , while Cx43 were character-ized as punctate distribution in ISO +RAP group.CONCLUSION:Sympathetic nerves may activate autophagosome at in-tercalated discs and trigger cell apoptosis , resulting in remodeling and downregulation of Cx 43 via oxidative stress , thus having effects on mediating and maintaining AF .

Objective: To explore the expression of myocardial levels of connexin 43(Cx43), Cx40 in experimental dog model of sympathomimetic atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: 15 mongrels dogs were randomly divided into 3 groups: Control group, Rapid atrium pacing (RAP) group and RAP+isoprenaline (ISO) perfusion group. n=5 in each group. The hearts were taken to establish in vitro langendorff cardiac perfusion model. Atrial effective refractory period (AERP) and AF inducing rate were tested;intracellular expression and distribution of nerve growth factor (NGF) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) were examined by immunohistochemistry, total protein contents of Cx43 and Cx40 were measured by Western blot analysis, mitochondria morphology was observed by transmission electron microscope and mitochondria reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was detected by fluorescent colorimetric method. Results: AERP was similar between Control group and RAP group (166±5.1) ms vs (160±3.2) ms which cannot induce AF; while it was shortened in RAP+ISO group (148±3.7) ms, P<0.05 which may successfully induce AF.Compared with Control group, mitochondria was slightly swollen in RAP group and the matrix was intact, while mitochondria was obviously swollen in RAP+ISO group and part of matrix was transparent; total protein contents of Cx43 and Cx40 were lower in both RAP group and RAP+ISO group, P<0.05; in addition, they were even lower in RAP+ISO group than RAP group, P<0.05. Compared with Control group and RAP group, RAP+ISO group had increased expression and distribution of NGF, TH and mitochondria ROS generation, P<0.05; NGF, TH and ROS in RAP group were higher than Control group, P<0.05. Conclusion: Sympathetic AF has been related to the contents and changes of myocardial levels of CX43 and Cx40; sympathetic nerve might trigger AF by oxidative stress induced down-regulation of myocardial CX43 and Cx40 in experimental dog model.

Objective To study the effect and mechanism of down-regulating Silt2/Robo 1 signaling pathway on rabbit iliac artery after angioplasty restenosis. Methods The 30 male New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into 3 groups , namely the blank group , the control group , and the experimental group , 10 rabbits in each group. Hign-fat feeding , the rabbits were produced endothelial denudation of iliac artery stenosis model. Another 4 weeks of feeding , percutaneous balloon angioplasty was performed. Then R5 antibody was injected into the abdominal cavity. After 4 weeks of feeding ,angiography again. The results of angiography was analysied by image workstation. The concentrations of Slit2 and Robo1 was detected by ELISA. The iliac artery tissue examined by HE staining. Results The rabbit iliac artery after angioplasty restenosis animal model was set up successfully. Compared with the control group and the experimental group , the serum concentration of Slit2 and Robo1 were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than the blank group. But in the experimental group, the Slit2 and Robo1 serum concentrations were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05) after R5 antibody intervention. The area ratio stenosis and diameter stenosis rate of iliac artery were reduced that confirmed by angiography. Conclusion The expression of Slit2/Robo1 was significantly higher in the rabbit model of vascular restenosis. R5 antibody can effectively inhibit the expression of Slit2/Robo1. Down regulation of Slit2/Robo1 signaling pathway in the treatment of restenosis after angioplasty in rabbits.

Objective To study the effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on the cardiac function and arrhythmias of patients with chronic heart failure and left ventricular systolic dyssynchrony. Methods Thirty-two cases of patients with chronic heart failure and left ventricular systolic dyssynchrony underwent CRT therapy. And LEVESV, LVEDV, LVEF, LVEDD, MRA, LAA, MRA/LAA were detected by echocardiography while the cardiac function was kept stable. Then the left ventricular systolic 12 segment peak time (Ts) was measurements by tissue doppler in all patients, the poor (Ts-maxD) and standard deviation (Ts-SD) were also calculated. The 24-hour ambulatory 12-lead ECG was took postoperation. All the patients were treated by anti-heart failure drugs after CRT pacemeker implantantion. All these indicators were assessed again at 12 weeks later. Results Compared with the previous CRT pacemaker implantation, LVEF, LV dp/dpsignificantly increased (P < 0.05). LEVESV, Ts-maxD, Ts-SD, MRA, MRA/LAA markedly declined (P < 0.05). But no statistical significance was found between the preoperative and postoperative CRT (P>0.05). Atrial premature beats and paroxysmal atrial tachycardia were significantly reduced in the preoperative CRT (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in atrial fibrillation, ventricular premature beats and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia between the preoperative and postoperative CRT (P > 0.05). Conclusion CRT resynchronization therapy can improve left ventricular systolic function, and reduce the MRA and Ts. The mechanism may be associated with the improvement of left ventricular synchrony, reducing mitral regurgitation, and reducing the occurrence of atrial arrhythmias.