Objective To investigate the effects of atorvastatin calcium on thyroid function, immune response and C-Jun N-terminal kinase/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (JNK/p38 MAPK) signaling pathway in rats with hypothyroidism. Methods A total of 30 healthy adult male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, hypothyroid group (PTU group) and atorvastatin calcium treatment group (ACT group), with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the PTU group and the ACT group were injected with PTU subcutaneously at the dorsum of the neck every day for 28 consecutive days; instead of PTU, rats in the control group were injected subcutaneously with 0.3 mL of saline. After 2 weeks of PTU treatment, rats in the ACT group were gavaged with 3 mL of atorvastatin calcium saline solution (containing 5 mg/kg of atorvastatin calcium), which was administered once daily; the control group was gavaged with an equal amount of saline in the same way. The body weight, food intake and water intake of rats were measured weekly. The histopathological changes of the thyroid gland were observed in histopathological sections of rats in each group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to determine the levels of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), interferon γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in serum; quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect the mRNA expression levels of IFN-γ, IL-10, Foxp3 and IL-4; western blot was performed to determine the levels of p-JNK/JNK and p-p38/p38 MAPK. Results Compared with control group, PTU-induced hypothyroidism rats showed a significant decrease in body mass and food and water consumption (P < 0.05). After 2 weeks of treatment with atorvastatin calcium, the body mass loss of PTU rats was inhibited, food and water consumption was improved, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Atorvastatin calcium was able to significantly increase the serum T3 and T4 levels and decrease the serum TSH level in hypothyroid rats (P < 0.05). Atorvastatin calcium treatment was able to significantly alleviate histopathological changes such as follicular cell proliferation and related hypertrophy induced by PTU, and increase follicular size (P < 0.05). After treatment with atorvastatin calcium, the spleen mass of PTU rats increased significantly, and the expression of IFN-γ mRNA in hypothyroid rats decreased significantly, but the expression levels of IL-10 mRNA, Foxp3 mRNA and IL-4 mRNA increased significantly (P < 0.05). After treatment with atorvastatin calcium, the levels of p-JNK/JNK and p-p38/p38 MAPK in thyroid tissue of hypothyroid rats decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Conclusion Atorvastatin calcium treatment for hypothyroidism has the function of promoting the normalization of thyroid hormone imbalance, balancing Th1/Th2 cytokines, and inhibiting the activation of JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Objective To compare the efficacy, safety, and survivability of TCbHP versus AC-THP in the neoadjuvant therapy of HER2-positive breast cancer in real-world. Methods Clinical data of patients with HER2 positive breast cancer, who have received TCbHP or AC-THP as neoadjuvant therapy and completed surgery in 11 third-class hospitals in various cities of Hebei Province, were retrospectively collected.The total pathological complete remission (tpCR) rate, the incidence of grade 3 or higher adverse reactions and the completion rate of the given approaches were compared. Results A total of 110 cases were collected, including 78 cases in the TCbHP group and 32 cases in the AC-THP group.The tpCR rate of the TCbHP group was higher than that of the AC-THP group, but the difference was not statistically significant (64.10% vs. 56.25%, P=0.441).No significant difference was found in the breast pathologic complete response (bpCR) and axillary pathologic complete response (apCR) rates between the TCbHP group and the AC-THP group (70.51% vs. 56.25%, P=0.150;78.21% vs. 84.38%, P=0.462).Exploratory analysis revealed that the tpCR rate of the TCbHP group was significantly higher than that of the AC-THP group in patients with HR-positive breast cancer (51.11% vs. 22.22%, P=0.036).As for the patients with HR-negative breast cancer, the tpCR rate of the AC-THP group tended to be higher than that of the TCbHP group (100% vs. 81.82%, P=0.088).The incidence of grade 3 or higher adverse reactions in the TCbHP group was slightly higher than that in the AC-THP group (12.82% vs. 9.38%, P=0.753).No deaths occurred in the whole group.Moreover, no significant difference was observed in the completion rate of the given approaches between the TCbHP group and the AC-THP group (92.31% vs. 90.63%, P=0.718). Conclusion In real-world clinical practice, the neoadjuvant therapy of TCbHP and AC-THP are effective, safe, and well tolerated among patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.The tpCR rate between the two approaches was not significantly different.The AC-THP regimen could also be considered as one of the optimal regimens for HER2-positive breast cancer in neoadjuvant therapy.

Osteoarthritis (OA), a chronic joint degenerative disease, is the significant cause of the loss of joint function in middle-aged and older people. Bone destruction, synovial hyperplasia, osteophyte formation, and subchondral bone sclerosis are the main features of osteoarthritis, and the typical symptom is severe joint pain. Consequent to unprecedented global population aging, osteoarthritis remains a leading cause of disability, and the treatment often comes at a high cost. With an in-depth understanding of related research, osteoarthritis is proven to be a multifactorial disease whose onset is not simply a cartilage lesion, and the immune plays an essential role in the development of the disease. Some studies proposed that chondrocytes are capable of altering gene expression and mediating osteoarthritis progression by regulating immune responses. Previous studies showed that the extent of immune dysregulation significantly correlates with the severity of osteoarthritis, revealing an association between immunity response and clinical manifestations. The study of immune infiltration, genetic alterations, and pathogenesis of osteoarthritis may provide new perspectives and methods for the treatment of osteoarthritis in the future. Therefore, this review, combined with the recent decade of literature, provides an overview of the research progress of the main immune cells and related cytokines in OA, which may provide a new direction of thinking for diagnosing and preventing this disease.

Identifying and comparing the chemical constituents of wild silkworm cocoon and silkworm cocoon is of great significance for understanding the domestication of silkworm. In this study, we used high temperature and high pressure and methanol-water system to extract cocoon chemical constituents. We used UHPLC-MS to identify and compare cocoon chemical constituents of wild silkworm and domestic silkworm Dazao and Haoyue strains. The cocoon metabolic fingerprints of wild silkworm and domestic silkworm Dazao and Haoyue strains were obtained by using the UHPLC-MS in the positive ion mode and negative ion mode. By annotation, we found that cocoon chemical compounds with high abundances contained amino acids, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenes, organic acids, and lignans. PLS-DA showed that the cocoon components were significantly different among the wild silkworm and two domestic silkworm strains Dazao and Haoyue. Proline, leucine/isoleucine and phenylalanine showed significantly higher abundances in the cocoon of domestic silkworm Dazao strain than in those of wild silkworm and domestic silkworm Haoyue strain. The flavonoid secondary metabolites are abundant in the Dazao cocoon, including quercetin, isoquercetin, quercetin 3-O-sophoroside, quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnoside, quercetin-3-O- rutinoside, and kaempferol. The other secondary metabolites, alkaloids, terpenes and lignans, showed higher abundances in the wild silkworm cocoon than in the domestic silkworm cocoon, including neurine, candicine, pilocarpidine, artemisiifolin, eupassopin, and eudesobovatol. By exposing cocoons to UV light and observing the green fluorescence of flavonoids, we found that Dazao cocoon had the most flavonoids, and Haoyue cocoon had least flavonoids and wild silkworm cocoon had mediate flavonoids. Alkaloids and organic acids are good anti-insect and antimicrobial agents, which have high abundance in the wild silkworm cocoon and could enhance the defense ability of wild silkworm cocoon. Flavonoids are abundant in the cocoon of domestic silkworm Dazao strain, which the main factors are leading to the yellow-green cocoon of Dazao.
Animals ; Bombyx ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Flavonoids ; Mass Spectrometry

Objective To investigate the expression of oxytocin ( OXT ) and oxytocin receptor (OXTR) in the prefrontal cortex of postpartum depression (PPD) rats induced by restraint stress during pregnancy and to observe the antidepressant effect of oxytocin and its analogue capitoxin and its mechanism. Methods Twenty-four adult female SD rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into control group,PPD +saline group,PPD + oxytocin group and PPD + captopril group with 6 rats in each group. Rats were subjec-ted to restraint stress for 2 hours every day on the 8th to 21st day of pregnancy to establish PPD model. While the rats in control group were not given any treatment. Rats in PPD + saline,PPD + oxytocin and PPD +captopril were injected bilaterally into prefrontal cortex (PFC) at 10 days postpartum (1 μl/side),oxytocin (30 ng/side) and captopril (45 ng/side) respectively once a day for 5 days. The depressive behaviors of rats were detected by sugar-water preference experiment. Rats were sacrificed 18 days after delivery. The ex-pression of OXT was detected by ELISA method,OXTR by Western blot,Iba-1 by immunofluorescence,and IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α by qRT-PCR. Results (1) The sucrose consumption of the PPD + saline group ((67. 1±10. 4)%) was significantly lower than that of the control group((92. 6± 3. 9)%,t=-5. 31,P<0. 01). (2) The expression of oxytocin in prefrontal cortex in PPD group was significantly lower than that in control group ((0. 03±0. 01) ng/mg) vs (0. 08 +0. 05) ng/mg,t=-2. 67,P<0. 05). However,there was no significant difference in the expression of oxytocin receptor between PPD group and control group ((0. 90 ±0. 06) vs (0. 90±0. 05),t=0. 709,P=0. 517). (3) The sucrose consumption of PPD+saline group de-creased than that of control group((65. 6±16. 9)% vs (91. 5±3. 5)%,t=3. 35,P<0. 001). Compared with PPD+saline group,the sucrose consumption of PPD+oxytocin group ((81. 8±8. 4)%) and PPD+carbetocin group ((78. 4±9. 4)%) increased(t=1. 98,1. 68,both P<0. 05). (4) The expression of Iba-1 in the pre-frontal lobe of PPD + saline group was higher than that of control group ((1. 15±0. 05) vs (1. 04 +0. 06), t=3. 50,P<0. 01). Compared with PPD + saline group,the expression of Iba-1 in PPD + oxytocin group (1. 03±0. 06) and in PPD + captopril group (1. 00±0. 02) were lower (t=-3. 50,-6. 55,both P<0. 01). (5) The expression of inflammatory factors IL-1β mRNA (1. 0±0. 1),IL-6 mRNA (1. 1±0. 1) and TNF-α mRNA (1. 7±0. 4) in the prefrontal cortex of rats in the PPD group were higher than that in the control group (IL-1β mRNA (0. 7± 0. 3),IL-6 mRNA (0. 9± 0. 1),TNF-α mRNA ( 1. 1± 0. 3),t=1. 92,3. 19, 2. 43 respectively,all P<0. 05). The expression of inflammatory factors IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA of the PPD+oxytocin group(IL-1β mRNA (0. 6±0. 1),IL-6 mRNA (0. 9±0. 1),TNF-α mRNA (1. 2±0. 4) )and the PPD+carbetocin group ( IL-1β mRNA ( 0. 7± 0. 1),IL-6 mRNA ( 0. 9 ± 0. 1),TNF-α mRNA ( 1. 0 ± 0. 2))in the prefrontal cortex were lower than that in the PPD group(t=-3. 17,-2. 78,-1. 84,t=-2. 76,-2. 40,-2. 94 respectively,all P<0. 05). Conclusion Oxytocin and capitoxin injected into prefrontal cortex can effectively improve depression-like behaviors in PPD model rats. Activation of microglia and decrease of inflammatory factors in prefrontal cortex may be the potential antidepressant mechanism.

Objective To assess the clinical efficacy of percutaneous iliosacral screwing versus reconstruction plating in the treatment of pelvic posterior ring fractures of Tile C.Methods The authors retrieved the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical controlled trials (CCTs) comparing percutaneous iliosacral screwing versus reconstruction plating for Tile C pelvic posterior ring fractures from the Cochrane library,Medline,Embase,CNKI,Wanfang Data and Chinese Biomedical Database by computer and from major Chinese orthopedic journals by hand.Qualified data were extracted by statistical software Revman 5.2 for meta-analysis.Results 334 cases were included in this Meta-analysis from one RCT and 3 CCTs.Of them,162 underwent percutaneous iliosacral screwing and 172 reconstruction plating (including 66 cases of percutaneous reconstruction plating and 106 ones of anterior reconstruction plating).There was no significant difference between percutaneous iliosacral screwing and reconstruction plating in operation time (P =0.16).Percutaneous reconstruction plating consumed significantly less operation time than anterior reconstruction plating (P ＜ 0.001).Percutaneous iliosacral screwing decreased significantly incision length and intraoperative blood loss than both methods of reconstruction plating (P ＜ 0.001),but significantly increased times of X-ray exposure than percutaneous reconstruction plating (P ＜ 0.001).There were no significantly differences in the good to excellence rates by Matta scores and Majeed scores between percutaneous iliosacral screwing and percutaneous reconstruction plating (P ＞ 0.05),but percutaneous iliosacral screwing performed significantly better than anterior reconstruction plating (P ＜ 0.001).Percutaneous reconstruction plating led to significantly fewer postoperative complications than anterior reconstruction plating (P ＜ 0.001) but similar incidence of postoperative pain at the sacroiliac joint compared with percutaneous reconstruction plating (P =0.30).Conclusion Compared with anterior reconstruction plating,pereutaneous iliosacral screwing and percutaneous reconstruction plating may lead to better clinical efficacy and fewer complications.Percutaneous iliosacral screwing may be superior in incision length and intraoperative blood loss,but it requires more intraoperative X-ray exposure and more demanding technical skills.

Objective To detect the protein expression changes of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway during the reverse effects of lipid emulsion on bupivacaine cardiotoxicity, so as to investigate the probable mechanism concerning the reverse effect of lipid emulsion on bupivacaine cardiotoxicity.Methods The ventricular muscles of 15 healthy SD neonatal mice (1-3 d) were chosen to conduct primary culture in vitro.And the cardiomyocytes were cultivated in a medium containing bupivacaine for 24 hours to establish its bupivacaine poisoning model.The cultured cardiomyocytes were divided into three groups: control group (group C);bupivacaine group (group B);and bupivacaine+lipid emulsion group (group BL).Flow cytometry was applied to examine the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, and the Western blot was employed to detect the protein expression variation of cytochrome C (Cyto-C) and cleaved casepase-3.Results Compared with group C, the apoptosis rate was remarkably increased in both group B and group BL and that of the group B was dramatically higher than that of the group BL, with a statistical significance (P<0.05).Compared with group C, the protein expression levels of both Cyto-C and cleaved casepase-3 were significantly increased in groups B and BL (P<0.05), and the protein expression levels of both Cyto-C and cleaved casepase-3 in group B were significantly higher than those in group BL (P<0.05).Conclusion Lipid emulsion can regulate apoptosis through inhibiting the release of mitochondrial Cyto-C and reducing casepase-3 activation, thus it protects cardiomyocytes.

Objective To discuss the safety and effectiveness of robot-assisted thyroidectomy using Da Vinci system.Methods Endoscopic thyroidectomy assisted by Da Vinci system was performed in 20 patients,including 5 cases of thyroidadenoma,4 cases of nodular goiter,and 11 cases of thyroid carcinoma.The max diameter of thyroid lump is 5.33 cm.Among 9 cases of benign thyroid neoplasm,5 cases underwent unilateral subtotal lobectomy,and 4 cases underwent unilateral near total thyroidectomy.Among 11 cases of thyroid carcinoma,7 cases underwent bilateral near total thyroidectomy,and 4 cases underwent bilateral total thyroidectomy,at the same time,all the 11 cases underwent central region lymph node dissection.Results The robot-assisted endoscopic thymidectomy was successfully carried out in 20 cases.The mean operation time was 206.4 (105～372)min.The mean operative blood loss was 27.3 ml.The draining tube was moved 3 to 6 days after surgery.The mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.9 days.The mean hospital expense was 60 172 yuan RMB.No complication occurred.20 patients were satisfied with the cosmetic effect and compararive curative effect.Conclusions The robot-assisted endoscopic thymidectomy is an efective method for thyroid diseases.The methed can get more clear vision,higher safety,and good cosmetic efect.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of three injections fat soluble drugs to dissolve fat.Methods 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were treated with 5％ phosphatidyl choline (PC),4.5％ deoxycholate salts (DC) and lipostabil,respectively; thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method was used to measure the different fat cell proliferation activity,the enzyme assay to measure liquid triglyceride (TG) content in culture media and to evaluate the degree of dissolution of the fat cells.16 Hartley white guinea pigs were randomly divided into four groups:shoulder (group a),scapular region (group b),hips (group c),and back (control group) were injected with fat soluble drug 0.5 ml in different parts of the guinea pig fat layer,and at different time points tissues were cut for pathological analysis.Results The proliferative activity of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were significantly decreased after treatment with three types of fat soluble drugs compared with control group (P＜0.05),and their effects on dissolution of fat cells were also significant:the contents were 5％ PC (4.14±0.92)mmol/L,4.5％ DC (3.91 ±0.67) mmol/L,and lipostabil (4.23± 0.76) mmol/L,respectively,which were significantly higher than that of the control (1.91±0.12) mmol/L (P＜0.05); guinea pigs in vivo showed that the three types of fat soluble drugs on dissolving adipose tissue at the injection site had varying degrees of swelling,lymphocytic infiltration,and fat cell degeneration,fusion and decrease in number.Conclusions Three fat soluble injections could dissolve the fat cells in some degree,in whichi lipostabil is stronger than other fat soluble drugs,but their effect on adipose tissue is nonspecific,and therefore clinical application of those fat soluble drugs should be in high caution.