Objective To observe the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Baoyuan Decoction for chronic heart failure model rat.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,Baoyuan Decoction group,Captopril group,Baoyuan Decoction+CCT020312[protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase(PERK)activator]group,15 rats in each group.Except for the blank group,the rats in the other groups were induced by Adriamycin to construct a chronic heart failure model.After corresponding drug intervention,cardiac function indexes[left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricular fractional shortening(LVFS),brain natriuretic peptide(BNP),cardiac troponin I(cTnI)],inflammation-related factors[tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α),interleukin 1β(IL-1β)],oxidative stress factors[malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD)]were detected in each group.Changes in apoptosis-related indicators[B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2),B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X protein(Bax),Caspase-3]and PERK/transcription activator 4(ATF4)signaling pathway-related proteins glucose-regulated protein 78(GRP78),PERK,ATF4,C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP)levels.Results Compared with the blank group,LVEDD,BNP,cTnI,TNF-α,IL-1β,MDA levels,protein expression levels of Bax,Caspase-3,GRP78,PERK,ATF4,CHOP in the model group were significantly increased,LVEF,LVFS,SOD levels and Bcl-2 protein expression level were significantly decreased(all P＜0.05).Compared with the model group and Baoyuan Decoction+CCT020312 group,LVEDD,BNP,cTnI,TNF-α,IL-1β,MDA levels,protein expression levels of Bax,Caspase-3,GRP78,PERK,ATF4,CHOP in Baoyuan Decoction group and Captopril group were significantly decreased,LVEF,LVFS,SOD levels and Bcl-2 protein expression level were significantly increased(all P＜0.05).Compared with the Captopril group,there was no significant change in the above indexes(except CHOP protein expression level)in the Baoyuan Decoction group(P＞0.05).Conclusion Baoyuan Decoction can delay the progression of chronic heart failure rats,and its mechanism may be related to inhibiting the PERK/ATF4 signaling pathway to alleviate cardiomyocyte apoptosis,further reducing the degree of inflammatory response and oxidative stress,thereby promoting the repair of cardiac function and myocardial injury.

Aim To investigate the protective effect of digoxin (Dig) on the bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice and the underlying mechanism. Methods Pulmonary fibrosis model was established by intratracheal instillation of BLM (5 mg · kg

Objective This study was designed to determine the methylation profile of four CpGs and the genotypes of two CpG-SNPs located in promoter region of DIO2 in patients with Kashin-Beck disease (KBD). We also analyzed the interaction between the CpGs methylations and CpG-SNPs. Methods Whole blood specimens were collected from 16 KBD patients and 16 healthy subjects. Four CpGs and two CpG-SNPs in the promoter regions of DIO2 were detected using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The CpGs methylation levels were compared between samples from KBD patients and healthy subjects. The methylation levels were also analyzed in KBD patients with different CpG-SNP genotypes. Results The mRNA expression of DIO2 in whole blood of KBD patients was significnatly lower than in healthy controls (P <0.05). The methylation levels of DIO2-1_CpG_3 in KBD patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (P <0.05). The methylation levels of four CpGs were not significantly different between KBD patients and healthy controls. The methylation level of DIO2-1_CpG_3 in the promoter region of DIO2 in KBD patients with GA/AA genotype was significantly higher than that of KBD patients with GG genotype (P <0.05). Conclusion The methylation level of DIO2 increases in KBD patients. Similar trends exist in KBD carriers of variant genotypes of CpG-SNPs DIO2 rs955849187.
Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Iodide Peroxidase/genetics* ; Kashin-Beck Disease/genetics* ; Methylation ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect and mechanism of a novel emodin derivative YX-18 on Burkitt lymphoma (BL) cells. METHODS: MTT assay was used to detect the effect of YX-18 on the proliferation of BL cell lines CA46 and Raji. Annexin V-PE/7-AAD double staining assay was used for detecting the effect of YX-18 on the apoptosis of CA46 and Raji cells. PI/RNase staining was used to test the effect of YX-18 on CA46 and Raji cell cycle. JC-1 method was used to measure the changes of mitochondrial membrane potential after YX-18 treatment, and DAPI staining was used to detect the morphology of apoptotic cells. Western blot was used to analyze the distribution changes of NF-κB pathway protein (P65, P-P65, IκB, P-IκB) in the cytoplasm and cell nucleus, and also the expression changes of cyclin-related protein P21, CDK2, P-CDK2, Cycling D1, Cycling E1, and the apoptosis-related protein Caspase-3, Caspase-8, Caspase-9 and the proliferation-related protein C-MYC, BCL-2 by YX-18. Real-time fluorescence-quantitative PCR was used to evaluate the effects of YX-18 on mRNA levels of C-MYC and Ki-67 genes in CA46 and Raji cells, and EBNA-1 and EBER genes of EBV in Raji (EBV RESULTS: Novel Emodin derivative YX-18 could effectively inhibit the proliferation of BL cell lines CA46 and Raji, showing a time-dependent effect (24, 48 and 72 h: r CONCLUSION The novel emodin derivative YX-18 can significantly inhibit the proliferation of Burkitt lymphoma cells, and induce the cell apoptosis and cycle arrest. The inhibitory effect of YX-18 on the proliferation of Burkitt lymphoma cells may be related with the effect of Caspase apoptosis pathway, the proliferation and apoptosis-related molecules, such as C-MYC and Ki-67, and also to the inhibition of NF-κB pathway.
Apoptosis ; Burkitt Lymphoma ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Emodin/pharmacology* ; Humans ; NF-kappa B

Objective:To observe the difference in drying dampness between Scutellariae Radix and Atractylodis Rhizoma in model rats with spleen-stomach dampness-heat syndrome and clarify their property-efficacy relationship. Method:Sixty-four healthy male SD rats were randomized into the blank group， model group， high-， medium-， and low-dose Scutellariae Radix groups， as well as high-， medium-， and low-dose Atractylodis Rhizoma groups. The rats were exposed to high-fat and high-sugar diet and external dampness-heat environment for 20 days for inducing the spleen-stomach dampness-heat syndrome. The macroscopic manifestations of rats were observed and the morphological changes in stomach and colon were detected under a light microscope after hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， followed by the calculation of pathological scores. The serum tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-4 （IL-4）， and interferon-γ （IFN-γ） levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The protein and mRNA expression levels of aquaporin-4 （AQP4） in the gastric tissue were measured by Western blot and Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， respectively. Result:Rats in the model group presented with the manifestations of dampness-heat syndrome. The inflammatory reaction in stomach and colon was obvious， and the pathological score was significantly increased （P<0.01）. The serum IFN-γ， IL-4， and TNF-α levels were elevated （P<0.05）， and so were the AQP4 protein and mRNA expression levels in the gastric tissue except that there was no statistical difference. The clinical symptoms of rats in the medication groups were alleviated. Scutellariae Radix significantly relieved the gastric and colonic inflammation in model rats. Atractylodis Rhizoma inhibited the colonic inflammation in model rats to a certain extent， but it had no obvious effect on gastric inflammation. The pathological score of each Scutellariae Radix group was decreased. In terms of the pathological score of gastric tissue， only the high-dose Scutellariae Radix produced a significant difference （P<0.01）， and the pathological scores of the three Atractylodis Rhizoma groups were not significantly different from that in the model group. As for the pathological score of colonic tissue， all the medication groups except for the low-dose Atractylodis Rhizoma group exhibited a significant difference in comparison with that of the model group （P<0.01）. Scutellariae Radix and Atractylodis Rhizoma at each dose reduced not only the serum IFN-γ， IL-4， and TNF-α levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， but also the AQP4 protein expression in gastric tissue of model rats （P<0.01）. The AQP4 mRNA expression in the gastric tissue of model rats declined in the high- and low-dose Scutellariae Radix groups， while that in the medium-dose Scutellariae Radix group and each Atractylodis Rhizoma group rose without statistical difference. Conclusion:Scutellariae Radix and Atractylodis Rhizoma display a certain property-efficacy relationship in drying dampness of rats with spleen-stomach dampness-heat syndrome. Specifically， the efficacy of drying dampness is related to their cold/heat property， and the resulting outcome of bitter-cold Scutellariae Radix is better than that of bitter-warm Atractylodis Rhizoma.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics* ; Computational Biology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/genetics* ; Prognosis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen

ObjectiveCardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with hemodialysis (HD) end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This paper analyzes and discusses the relationship between neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio (NLR) and heart valve calcification (CVC) in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients to provide theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of CVC.MethodsThe demographic data, relevant clinical indicators and laboratory examination results of 135 patients with MHD in the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University were retrospectively analyzed to calculate the NLR value. Echocardiography was used to detect the incidence of CVC in the patients, and they were divided into calcification group and non-calcification group. The correlation between NLR value and CVC in MHD patients was analyzed, and the independent risk factors of CVC were discussed by using Logistic regression.ResultsAmong the 135 MHD patients, CVC was found in 59 cases (43.7%). Compared with the non-calcification group, patients in the calcification group showed significant increases in age, dialysis age, high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (HsCRP), ALP and NLR, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that CVC was positively correlated with dialysis age, age, HsCRP, ALP and NLR (P<0.05). Logistic regression showed that dialysis age (OR=1.017, P=0.030), ALP (OR=1.001, P=0.043) and NLR>5.02 (OR=17.709, P=0.046) were independent risk factors for heart valve calcification in MHD patients.ConclusionThe incidence of heart valve calcification is high in MHD patients, and NLR is an independent risk factor for it.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy between acupoint selection of meridian diagnosis and regular acupoint selection for chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). METHODS: A total of 70 cases of CAG were randomly divided into an observation group (35 cases, 5 cases dropped off) and a control group (35 cases, 5 dropped off). In the observation group, according to the hand diagnosis of meridians and the results of 80-channels energy determinator, based on the principle of child-mother relation acupoint combination, the -connecting point and back- points were added for excess syndrome, and the -primary point, front- points and -sea point of foot meridians were added for deficiency syndrome; in addition, the acupoints of the eight extraordinary meridians were added based on the nature of acupoints. In the control group, Zhongwan (CV 12), Neiguan (PC 6), Zusanli (ST 36) and Gongsun (SP 4) were selected as the primary acupoints, and additional acupoints were added according to syndrome differentiation. The two groups were treated twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday, respectively), totally for 6 months. Six months after treatment, the follow-up was conducted. The clinical symptom score, gastroenteropathy patient reported outcomes (PRO) scale score before treatment, after treatment and during follow-up as well as the score of pathological changes of gastric mucosa before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment and during follow-up, the clinical symptom scores and gastroenteropathy PRO scale scores were decreased in the two groups (<0.01, <0.001); at the follow-up, the gastroenteropathy PRO scale score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (<0.01). After treatment, the scores of pathological changes of gastric mucosa in the two groups were decreased (<0.01), and the score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (<0.05). CONCLUSION The acupoint selection of meridian diagnosis is superior to regular acupoint selection for CAG, which has better efficacy, more significant improvement on gastric mucosa pathology, and more stable long-term effect.

To evaluate the relationship of volumetric changes and endoleaks after endovascular aneurysm repair(EVAR)for abdominal aortic aneurysms(AAAs). We retrospectively evaluated the clinical and imaging data of 54 patients who had underwent EVAR within 1 month after their aneurysms were detected.All patients received abdominal and pelvic enhanced computed tomography(CTA)for two follow-up visits in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from July 2014 to February 2019.Three-dimensional volumes and maximum diameters on axial CT of the aortic aneurysms were calculated by dedicated semi-automated 3D segmentation software before surgery(V and D),in the 4 postoperative month(Vand D),and in the 12 postoperative month(Vand D),respectively.The presence or absence of endoleak for each patient with the V/V,V/V,and V/V were calculated to assess the significance of volume changes with respect to endoleaks and the correlation between volume changes and maximum diameter changes on axial CT images. Of the 54 patients,endoleaks were found in 11 patients at the first follow-up visit(4 months after surgery),among whom 8 patients were arranged a second follow-up visit(12 months after surgery),during which endoleaks were found in 5 patients.Fifteen of 43 non-leaked patients underwent a second CTA examination,which revealed endoleak in one case.Patients who did exhibit endoleaks[ =11,V/V=1.086(1.033,1.116)]showed significant increases in aneurysm volume when compared with those who did not exhbit endoleaks[ =43,V/V=1.019(0.970,1.065)]at the first follow-up visit(=-2.695,=0.007),although no significant difference was found with regard to volume changes between endoleaks(=6,V/V=1.1±0.2,V/V=1.0±0.1)and non-endoleaks(=17,V/V=1.0±0.1,V/V=1.0±0.1)at the second follow-up visit(=0.725,=0.476)as well as between these two follow-up visits(=-0.021,=0.984).V and D were moderately correlated with V and D,respectively(=0.5,<0.001)and strongly correlated with V and D,respectively(=0.8,<0.001).V and D were strongly correlated with V and D,respectively(=0.8,<0.001). The changes of aneurysm volume cannot reliably reflect the occurrence of endoleaks.The change of maximum axial diameter of aneurysm has certain correlation with the changes of aneurysm volume.

Objective To study the anatomical variations of the origin of uterine artery(UA)by three-dimensional(3D)reconstructed computed tomography angiography(CTA)and facilitate the preoperative evaluation for gynecological surgeries or interventional therapies. Method The CTA findings of 112 patients with an average age of(31.4±6.6)years old who had received a pelvic CTA and undergone 3D reconstruction of the uterine artery were retrospectively analyzed. Results The average uterine volume was(95.6±26.8)cm .Of the UA 224 sides,144 sides(64.3%)arose from the interior gluteal artery and 51(22.8%)from internal iliac artery;in 29 sides(12.9%),the uterine artery,the inferior gluteal and the superior gluteal arteries arising as a trifurcation.The origin of UA was consistent between left and right sides in 68 patients(60.7%)and not in 44 patients(39.3%). Conclusion As a rapid,noninvasive,and economic technique,CTA can effectively display the anatomical variations of the origin of UA and thus can be used to guide interventional therapies and gynaecological surgeries.
Adult ; Computed Tomography Angiography ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Pelvis ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Artery ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; Uterus