AIM To explore the effect of Heidihuang Pills on renal fibrosis in a rat model of chronic renal failure(CRF)and its mechanism.METHODS Wistar rats were randomly divided into the blank group for normal feeding and the model group for the establishment of CRF rat models by 5/6 nephrectomy.Subsequently,the successfully established rat models were randomly divided into the model group,the Heidihuang Pills group(10.43 g/kg),and the Heidihuang Pills+IGF-1R blocker(JB1)group for a regimen of 7-day subcutaneous injection of 18 μg/kg JB1 followed by gavage of 10.43 g/kg Heidihuang Pills.Eight weeks after the administration,the rats had their serum levels of Scr and BUN detected;their pathological changes of renal tissue observed by HE and Masson staining;their renal protein expressions of TGF-β,HIF-1α and α-SMA detected by immunohistochemistry;their renal protein expressions of IGF-1R and TGF-β detected by Western blot;and their renal mRNA expressions of IGF-1R and TGF-β detected by RT-qPCR.RESULTS Compared with the blank group,the model group displayed increased serum levels of Scr and BUN(P＜0.05);increased,degree of renal fibrosis,and renal fibrosis area(P＜0.05);increased renal expressions of TGF-β,HIF-1α,α-SMA proteins and TGF-β mRNA(P＜0.05);and decreased expressions of IGF-1R mRNA and protein(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the Heidihuang Pills group displayed decreased serum Scr and BUN levels(P＜0.05);decreased inflammatory cells in renal interstitium and the fibrosis degree(P＜0.05);decreased renal expressions of TGF-β,HIF-1α,α-SMA proteins and TGF-β mRNA(P＜0.05);and increased expressions of IGF-1R mRNA and protein(P＜0.05).However,the administration of JB1 could weaken the improvement effect of Heidihuang Pills on renal fibrosis in CRF rats(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION Heidihuang Pills can inhibit the renal fibrosis in CRF rats,and the inhibition process is related to up-regulated IGF-1 expression and promoted combination of IGF-1 and IGF-1R.

Quantity is the key factor to ensure the safety and effectiveness of medicines. It is very important to study and determine the traditional measuring units and their quantity values of Tibetan medicine. Based on the literature records of Tibetan medicine and combined with modern experimental verification and investigation research, this study determined the reference, name, and conversion rate of traditional measuring units of Tibetan medicine. Meanwhile, through large sample sampling and repeated quantification of refe-rence of basic units, its weight and volume were clarified. The modern SI volume and weight unit values corresponding to the traditional volume and weight units of Tibetan medicine were deduced, and the correctness, reliability, and practicability of these determination results were demonstrated. This study also put forward some specific suggestions and reference values for formulating the standards of measuring units of weight and volume of Tibetan medicine. It is of great significance in guiding the processing, production, and clinical treatment of Tibetan medicine, and promoting the standardization and standardized development of Tibetan medicine.
Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence of extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) and its risk factors in very preterm infants (VPIs) during hospitalization in China. METHODS: A prospective multicenter study was performed on the medical data of 2 514 VPIs who were hospitalized in the department of neonatology in 28 hospitals from 7 areas of China between September 2019 and December 2020. According to the presence or absence of EUGR based on the evaluation of body weight at the corrected gestational age of 36 weeks or at discharge, the VPIs were classified to two groups: EUGR group (n=1 189) and non-EUGR (n=1 325). The clinical features were compared between the two groups, and the incidence of EUGR and risk factors for EUGR were examined. RESULTS: The incidence of EUGR was 47.30% (1 189/2 514) evaluated by weight. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher weight growth velocity after regaining birth weight and higher cumulative calorie intake during the first week of hospitalization were protective factors against EUGR (P<0.05), while small-for-gestational-age birth, prolonged time to the initiation of total enteral feeding, prolonged cumulative fasting time, lower breast milk intake before starting human milk fortifiers, prolonged time to the initiation of full fortified feeding, and moderate-to-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia were risk factors for EUGR (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS It is crucial to reduce the incidence of EUGR by achieving total enteral feeding as early as possible, strengthening breastfeeding, increasing calorie intake in the first week after birth, improving the velocity of weight gain, and preventing moderate-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia in VPIs.
Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Gestational Age ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

As an effective antipyretic medicine,Indigo Naturalis has a long history of application in the field of Chinese medicine.The content of organics,mainly indigo and indirubin,is about 10%. However,the active ingredients and mechanism of its antipyretic effect have not yet been fully elucidated. In view of this,they were investigated in this study with the rectal temperature change as an indicator and 2,4-dinitrophenol-induced fever rats as subjects. The content of PGE2 and c AMP in the hypothalamus and the serum levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 were determined by ELISA. Moreover,the plasma samples of fever rats were analyzed by metabonomics in combination with UPLC-Q-TOF-MS for the exploration of potential biomarkers and the discussion on the antipyretic mechanism of Indigo Naturalis and its active ingredients. The results showed that the rising trend of rectal temperature in rats was suppressed 0. 5 h after the treatment with Indigo Naturalis,organic matter,indigo or indirubin as compared with the rats of model group( P < 0. 05),among which Indigo Naturalis and organic matter had better antipyretic effect. ELISA results showed that organic matter and indigo can inhibit the expression of PGE2 and c AMP( P<0. 01),while Indigo Naturalis and organic matter were effective in curbing the increase in TNF-α( P<0. 05). A total of 21 endogenous metabolites were identified from the plasma samples of the Indigo Naturalis,organic matter,indigo and indirubin groups,which were mainly involved in glycerophospholipid metabolism.
2,4-Dinitrophenol ; Animals ; Antipyretics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Indigo Carmine ; Indigofera ; Rats

Anal Canal ; Endoscopy ; Hemorrhoids/therapy* ; Humans ; Ligation ; Sclerotherapy ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, affecting about 0.6% of the Chinese population. Many patients are not well controlled by conventional treatments, thus there is need for new treatment regimens. In this study, we assessed the efficacy and safety of secukinumab in Chinese patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. METHODS: This study was a 52-week, multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, Phase 3 trial. A sub-population of study participants (≥18 years) of Chinese ethnicity were randomized to receive subcutaneous injections of 300 or 150 mg secukinumab, or placebo. The co-primary endpoints were psoriasis area severity index (PASI) 75 and Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) 0/1 at Week 12. RESULTS: A total of 441 Chinese patients were enrolled in this study. Co-primary outcomes were achieved; 300 and 150 mg secukinumab were superior to placebo as shown in the proportion of patients that achieved PASI 75 (97.7% and 87.2% vs. 3.7%, respectively; P < 0.001), and IGA 0/1 (82.3% and 69.7% vs. 2.7%; P < 0.001) at Week 12. Treatment efficacy was maintained until Week 52. There was no increase in overall adverse events with secukinumab relative to placebo throughout the 52-week period. CONCLUSION: Secukinumab is highly effective and well tolerated in Chinese patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03066609; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT03066609.
Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use* ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; China ; Double-Blind Method ; Humans ; Psoriasis/drug therapy* ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome

Chinese ferret badger (FB)-transmitted rabies is a serious threat to public health in southeast China. Although mostly associated with dogs, the rabies virus (RABV) presents genetic diversity and has a significantly wide host range in China. Instead of the dog- and wildlife-associated China II lineage in the past decades, the China I lineage has become the main epidemic group hosted and transmitted by dogs. In this study, four new lineages, including 43 RABVs from FBs, have been classified within the dog-dominated China I lineage since 2014. FB RABVs have been previously categorized in the China II lineage. Moreover, FB-hosted viruses seem to have become the main independent FB-associated clade in the phylogenetic tree. This claim suggests that the increasing genetic diversity of RABVs in FBs is a result of the selective pressure from coexisting dog rabies. FB transmission has become complicated and serious with the coexistence of dog rabies. Therefore, apart from targeting FB rabies, priority should be provided by the appropriate state agencies to perform mass immunization of dog against rabies.
Animals ; Brain ; virology ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Reservoirs ; veterinary ; virology ; Dog Diseases ; epidemiology ; transmission ; virology ; Dogs ; Ferrets ; virology ; Genetic Linkage ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; Rabies ; epidemiology ; transmission ; veterinary ; virology ; Rabies virus ; genetics

BACKGROUND: Posterior lumbar interbody fusion is the main repair method for senile degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. For elderly patients with osteoporosis, single screw rod system fixation regularly results in dislocation. The incidence of implant loosening is high, and therefore, effective internal fixation is not achieved. OBJECTIVE: This study will use the modified posterior lumbar interbody fusion procedure combined with bone cement augmentation for the treatment of senile degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis so as to increase the stability of the vertebral body, make the fixator firm, and to maximize the recovery of postoperative motor function. METHODS: Totally 113 patients with senile degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis, aged 65-70 years, irrespective of sex, will be recruited from the Department of Orthopedics of Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University of China. The patients will be treated with modified posterior lumbar interbody fusion combined with bone cement augmentation. Follow-up will be performed at 3 and 12 months. The primary outcome measure is recovery of motor function as indicated by the postoperative Oswestry Disability Index score at 12 months. The secondary outcome measures are the change in the rate of excellent and good Oswestry Disability Index scores (comparing preoperative scores with the 4-month postoperative scores), Visual Analogue Scale scores, intervertebral space height, foraminal height, the preoperative and 4 and 14 months postoperative slip distance and slip angle, incidence of adverse reactions, success rate of vertebral fusion, and incidence of secondary slip 4 and 14 months postoperatively. This trial has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University of China(approval number:QHY023G).The study protocol will be proformed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, formulated by the World Medical Association. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. This trial was designed in October 2017. The recruitment of subjects and data collection will begin in June 2018. The recruitment will be finished in December 2018. Outcome measures will be analyzed in January 2020. This trial will be completed in February 2020. The results of the trial will be reported in a scientific conference or disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal. This trial had been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: ChiCTR1800015335). Protocol version (1.0). DISCUSSION: This trial aims to observe the efficacy of modified posterior lumbar interbody fusion combined with bone cement augmentation in the treatment of senile degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis and to validate whether the procedure is safe and reliable.

Objective To investigate the effect and its mechanism of targeted inhibition of the expression of chemokine receptor 4(CXCR4) gene by small interfering RNA (siRNA) on the invasion and proliferation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.Methods Forty-two nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissue and its adjacent tissues in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from January 2014 to December 2016 were collected.The expression of CXCR4 mRNA and protein in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissue and its adjacent tissues were detected by real time-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot.The human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE-2Z were divided into blank control group,negative control group and CX-CR4 transfection group.The cells in blank control group were not given any treatment;the cells in negative control group were transfected nonsense siRNA sequence;the cells in CXCR4 transfection group were transfected CXCR4 targeting siRNA sequence.The protein expression of CXCR4,matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2),MMP-9,β-catenin,Cyclin D1 were detected by Western bloting after 48 h of transfection.The proliferation and invasion ability of the cells were detected by cell counting kit and Transwell chamber.Results The expression of CXCR4 mRNA in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissue and adjacent tissues was 5.526 ±0.143,0.953 ±0.091 respectively;the expression of CXCR4 protein in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissue and adjacent tissues was 0.522 ± 0.047,0.053 ± 0.011 respectively.The expression of CXCR4 mRNA and protein in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissue were significantly higher than those in adjacent tissues (P ＜ 0.05).The protein expression of CXCR4,MMP-2,MMP-9,β-catenin,Cyclin D1 in cells,cell survival rate and the number of cell invasion in CXCR4 transfection group were significantly lower than those in the blank control group and negative control group (P ＜ 0.05);however,there was no significant difference in above indexes between the blank control group and negative control group (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Inhibiting of CXCR4 gene expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE-2Z cells can significantly decrease the proliferation and invasion ability of cancer cells,and the mechanism may be related to down regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.