OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) level and the risk of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) recurrence in hypertensive patients. METHODS: This retrospective case-control study was conducted among 211 hypertensive patients with AIS treated in Foshan First People's Hospital, including 35 patients with recurrence of AIS during the 1-year follow-up as confirmed by head CT/MR. In the overall patients, 60 had grade 1 hypertension (including 5 recurrent cases), 76 had grade 2 hypertension (with 11 recurrent cases), and 75 had grade 3 hypertension (with 19 recurrent cases). Univariate analysis, multivariate logistic regression analysis, trend analysis, and smooth curve fitting analysis were performed to explore the correlation between serum Lp-PLA2 level within 24 h after admission and the risk of AIS recurrence. The predictive efficacy of serum Lp-PLA2 level for AIS recurrence in different hypertension grades was evaluated using ROC curve analysis. RESULTS: Serum Lp-PLA2 level, age, NIHSS score at admission, mRS scores at 7 days, homocysteine level and smoking status differed significantly between patients with and without AIS recurrence (P < 0.05). After adjustment for confounding factors, multivariate regression analysis showed that the highest tertile of Lp-PLA2 level was associated with a 4.13-fold increase of AIS recurrence risk compared with the lowest tertile (OR=5.13, 95% CI: 1.35-19.40), and each 1 ng/mL increase of Lp-PLA2 level was associated with a 1% increase of AIS recurrence risk (OR= 1.01, 95% CI: 1.01-1.02). Serum Lp-PLA2 level was shown to positively correlate with AIS recurrence risk, and in patients with grade 3 hypertension, its areas under the ROC curve for predicting AIS recurrence was 0.869 with a specificity of 0.893 and a sensitivity of 0.737. CONCLUSION Serum Lp-PLA2 concentration is an independent risk factor and potentially an effective predictor for AIS recurrence in patients with grade 3 hypertension.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; 1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase ; Acute Disease ; Biomarkers ; Brain Ischemia/etiology* ; Case-Control Studies ; Cerebral Infarction ; Hypertension/complications* ; Ischemic Stroke/complications* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stroke

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Increased levels of uremic toxins and decreased antioxidant capacity have a significant impact on the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, it remains unclear whether they interact with each other to mediate the damage of kidney function. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether uremic toxins (i.e., homocysteine and indoxyl sulfate [IS]), as well as glutathione-dependent antioxidant enzyme activities are dependently or independently associated with kidney function during different stages of CKD patients. SUBJECTS/METHODS: One hundred thirty-two patients diagnosed with CKD at stages 1 to 5 participated in this cross-sectional study. RESULTS: Patients who had reached an advanced CKD stage experienced an increase in plasma uremic toxin levels, along with decreased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity.Plasma homocysteine, cysteine, and IS concentrations were all positively associated with each other, but negatively correlated to GSH-Px activity levels after adjusting for potential confounders in all CKD patients. Although plasma homocysteine, cysteine, IS, and GSHPx levels were significantly associated with kidney function, only plasma IS levels still had a significant association with kidney function after these parameters were simultaneously adjusted. In addition, plasma IS could interact with GSH-Px activity to be associated with kidney function. CONCLUSIONS IS plays a more dominant role than homocysteine and GSH-Px activity in relation to kidney function.

Chronic hypoxic lung diseases are major causes of disability and mortality worldwide, which are typically aggravated by hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.The pathogenesis of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension is complex, and its mechanism has not been fully elucidated.The previous studies have shown abnormally elevated levels of free Ca + in the cytoplasm of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells to be the predominant drivers of pulmonary hypertension , causing continuous contraction and remodeling of the pulmonary vessels.This article briefly summarizes the mechanism of hypoxia-induced imbalance in calcium homeostasis in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells, together with its related drug research, based on the existing literature.Hypoxia induces an imbalance in calcium homeostasis in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells by regulating hypoxia-inducible factor-1, K+ , store-operated calcium channel, receptor-operated calcium channel, the Ca +-sensing myosin contractile mechanism by binding to calmodulin, leading to pulmonary vasoconstriction.Ca + can also activate PKC/ MAPKs and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways, leading to pulmonary vascular remodeling.

The aim of this paper was to investigate the effect of Huoxiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid on intestinal barrier functions in rats with dampness obstructing spleen-stomach syndrome and primarily explore the mechanism. The rat model of dampness obstructing spleen-stomach syndrome was established, and then the modeled rats were randomly divided into the model control group, Huoxiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid high and low dose groups, and natural recovery group according to gender and body weight, with 10 rats in each group. Another 10 rats were taken as blank control group. After each group received the corresponding treatment for 7 days, rat serum was isolated. D-lactic acid content was detected by the MTT method, and diamine oxidase(DAO) activity was detected by the rate method. Colon tissues of the rats were isolated to detect Na~+-K~+-ATPase activity and Ca~(2+)-Mg~(2+)-ATPase activity by phosphate determination method, glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) activity was detected by spectrophotometry, catalase(CAT) activity was detected by ammonium molybdate, superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity was detected by hydroxylamine, the expression of occludin protein and ZO-1 protein was detected by immunofluorescence, and the expression levels of occludin protein and ZO-1 protein were detected by Western blot. RESULTS:: showed that low dose Huoxiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid could improve the body weight, diet, stool and urine state of rats with dampness obstructing spleen-stomach syndrome obviously. The D-lactic acid content and the DAO activity in the serum of rats with dampness obstructing spleen-stomach syndrome were reduced obviously. The activities of Na~+-K~+-ATPase, Ca~(2+)-Mg~(2+)-ATPase, GSH-Px, CAT and SOD in rat colon tissues were increased obviously. The occludin proteins and ZO-1 protein expression levels in rat colon tissues were raised obviously. The differences in the above indexes between Huoxiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid group and the model control group were statistically significant(P<0.05). Huoxiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid could effectively restore the intestinal barrier function in rats with dampness obstructing spleen-stomach syndrome and its mechanism may be related to the repair of intestinal mechanical barrier function.
Animals ; Colon ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Rats ; Spleen ; Stomach

Vinpocetine (VP) has been widely used to treat cerebrovascular disorders and nerve injury. Borneol (BN), as an important traditional Chinese medicine, is commonly used to promote the absorption and distribution of central nervous system drugs. In this work, a LC-MS/MS method was developed to determine the level of VP in rat plasma and tissues, and to evaluate the effect of co-administration of BN with VP by oral gavage on the absorption and tissue distribution of VP in rats. Rats were divided into VP (10 mg·kg^-1), VP (10 mg·kg^-1) + BN (75 mg·kg^-1) and VP (10 mg·kg^-1) + BN (150 mg·kg^-1) groups for pharmacokinetic study, and divided into VP (10 mg·kg^-1) and VP (10 mg·kg^-1) + BN (150 mg·kg^-1) groups for tissue distribution study. The animal experiment was approved by Ethics Committee of Hubei University, and complied with the guideline for caring and using of laboratory animals. Compared to VP group, the AUC_0-∞, MRT_0-∞ and t_1/2z of VP + BN (150 mg·kg^-1) group increased significantly, by 1.98-, 1.22- and 1.42-fold respectively, and the exposure in plasma, liver, kidney and brain increased by 2-, 1.5-, 1.5- and 1.3-fold respectively. The pharmacokinetic results suggested that co-administration of BN with VP is beneficial for overcoming the undesirable pharmacokinetic characteristics of VP, such as short residence time, low oral bioavailability and brain exposure in clinical usage.

The pharmacological activity of active ingredients from Chinese medicine depends greatly on the microecological environment of probiotics in the human body. After effective ingredients from traditional Chinese medicines are metabolized or biotransformed by probiotics, their metabolites can increase pharmacological activity, and can be absorbed more easily to improve the bioavailability. Therefore, the combination of Chinese medicines with probiotics is the innovation point in R&D of functional food and Chinese medicines, and also a new thinking for the modernization of Chinese medicine.This review summarizes and analyses the research progress on metabolism effects of gut microbiota on Chinese medicines components, the regulating effect of effective ingredients from Chinese medicine on intestinal probiotics, the application status of probiotics in traditional Chinese medicines, and the main problems and prospects in the research and development of Chinese medicines products with probiotic, aiming to provide theoretical guidance and practical value for the fermentation engineering of Chinese herbal medicine.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; metabolism ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Probiotics

Objective The aim of this work was to study whether PM2. 5 induces oxidative stress and histopatholog-ical changes in uterine tissue of rats. Methods Thirty 4-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group (normal saline), the low dose of PM2.5 group (1. 5 mg/kg) and the high dose of PM2.5 group (37. 5 mg/kg) . After exposed to PM2. 5 for 10 days, the rats were sacrificed to examine the histopathological changes in uterine tissues using H&E staining. The contents of SOD, GSH, MDA and LDH were also determined in the uterine tissues. Results Compared with the control group, PM2. 5 caused changes in the uterine structure, showing a thinner endometrial epithelium and reduction of stromal cells and blood vessels. The assessment of oxidative stress parameters showed that the levels of MDA and LDH in the high dose group were (6. 53 ± 1. 24) nmol/mg prot and (265. 62 ± 24. 65) U/g prot, significantly higher than those in the control group ( P<0. 05 ) . Compared with the control group, the levels of SOD and GSH in the high dose and low dose groups were significantly decreased (P<0. 05). Conclusions PM2.5 exposure can cause damages in the rat uterus by inducing oxidative stress.

OBJECTIVETo explore the characteristics of Chinese medicine (CM) syndromes of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Sichuan area, thus providing referential evidence for objective research of CHB.

METHODSAccording to the CRF chart, 1 064 CHB patients' four diagnostic information from 8 clinical units were recorded in Sichuan region using cross-sectional method. The laws of CHB syndrome characteristics were explored using the K-means clustering analysis method.

RESULTSBased on the K-means cluster analysis, we found 8 categories that fulfill the clinical practice combined professional knowledge with experts' opinions. They were Pi-Wei dampness heat (326 cases, 30.6%), Gan and gallbladder dampness heat (193 cases, 18.1%), Gan and Pi dampness heat (158 cases, 14.8%), Gan depression and Pi deficiency (92 cases, 8.6%), Gan depression transforming into heat (89 cases, 8.4%), Pi deficiency with dampness encumbrance (74 cases, 7.0%), dampness-heat combined with yin deficiency of Gan and Shen (73 cases, 6.9%), yang deficiency mingled with blood stasis (59 cases, 5.5%).

CONCLUSIONThe results of cluster analysis showed Pi-Wei dampness heat, Gan and gallbladder dampness heat, Gan and Pi dampness heat, Gan depression and Pi deficiency, Gan depression transforming into heat, Pi deficiency with dampness encumbrance, dampness-heat combined with yin deficiency of Gan and Shen, yang deficiency mingled with blood stasis were mainly syndromes of CHB patients in Sichuan area.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cluster Analysis ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Yang Deficiency ; diagnosis ; Yin Deficiency ; diagnosis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore different microRNA expression profiles between chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients of Pi-Wei dampness-heat syndrome (PWDHS) and Gan depression Pi deficiency syndrome (GDPDS).

METHODSBy applying gene chip technology, blood samples from CHB patients of PWDHS (3 cases), GDPDS (3 cases), and healthy volunteers (3 cases) were withdrawn and microRNA detected. The microRNA was screened and functional analyses performed by using SAS system.

RESULTSTotally 77 microRNAs with differential expression were screened from CHB patients of PWDHS and healthy volunteers, including 60 up-regulated microRNAs and 17 down-regulated microRNAs. Functions of target genes were mainly associated with transcription factors, gas exchange, adverse stimulating, regulation of enzyme activities, developing of the immune system, and the process of actin filaments. Totally 41 microRNAs with differential expression were screened from CHB patients of GDPDS and healthy volunteers, including 32 up-regulated microRNAs and 9 down-regulated microRNAs. Functions of target genes were mainly associated with binding to nucleotide or chromatin, inhibition and activation of transcription, biosynthesis, regulation of metabolic process, regulation of enzyme activities, developing of the immune system, the process of actin filaments, and IL-12. Totally 6 microRNAs with differential expression were screened from CHB patients of PWDHS and CHB patients of GDPDS, including 1 up-regulated microRNA and 5 down-regulated microRNAs. Functions of target genes were mainly associated with transmembrane transport, regulation of transcription factors, metabolism of hormones, developing of the immune system, the process of actin filaments, regulation of metabolic process, response to exterior stimulation, and so on.

CONCLUSIONThere existed differentially expressed microRNAs (spectrum) between CHB patients of PWDHS and CHB patients of GDPDS.

Depression ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; metabolism ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Research ; Syndrome

Objective Toinvestigatethestatusoftick-borneRickettsiaeinfectionsamongmurine-likeanimalsin differentareasofZhejiangprovince.Methods Liverandspleensamplesofmurine-likeanimalscapturedthroughnight trapping method were collected from Anji,Jinhua and Tiantai County according to their geographic locations and historical detection of Rickettsiae .Nest-PCR tests were used to determine the presence of the 16S rRNA genes of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia ,and the heat shock protein genes (groEL)of Rickettsiae (including typhus and spotted fever group)and Orientiainthesesamples.Results Atotalof851murine-likeanimalsbelongingto14specieswerecaptured.The predominant species were Rattus confucianus (30.32%),Apodemus agrarius (18.80%) and Thallomys paedulcus (1 1.75%)and they were significantly different among three areas (P<0.05 ).48 Rickettsia positive were found in 562 tested samples with the positive rate of 8.54%,among which the percentage of Anaplasma,typhus group Rickettsia, Orientia,Ehrlichia and spotted fever group Rickettsia were 3.38%,1.78%,1.78%,1.07% and 0.53% respectively. The positive rates of Anaplasma in Jindong (4.76%)and Anji (4.27%)were significantly higher than that in Tiantai (P<0.05 )while the spotted fever group Rickettsia were found only in Tiantai County.Moreover,Rattus confucianus-the predominant species of Zhejiang Province-had the highest infection rate of tick-borne Rickettsiae up to 14.97%.Co-infections with several Rickettsiae were existed among the same species.Conclusion Rickettsiae infections exist widely among different areas of Zhejiang province and the positive rates are significantly different among species.