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Abstract Background Dai-Huang-Fu-Zi-Tang (DHFZT) is a famous traditional Chinese prescription with intestinal obstruction, acute pancreatitis and cholecystalgia for thousands of years. Our previous work found that DHFZT could act against pulmonary and intestinal pathological injury in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). But the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. The aim of present study was to investigate whether DHFZT could relieve pulmonary and intestinal injury by regulating aquaporins after SAP induced by sodium taurocholate in rats. Methods Forty of SD rats were used for dose dependant experiments of DHFZT.Accurate-mass Time-of-flight liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for qualitative screening of chemical compositions of DHFZT. Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham group (n = 8), model group (SAP, n = 8), DHFZT group (SAP with DHFZT treatment, n = 8). SAP models were established by retrograde injections of 5% sodium taurocholate solutions into rat pancreaticobiliary ducts. Blood samples were taken at 0, 12, 24, 48 h post-operation for detecting serum amylase, lipase, endotoxin, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10. Protein expression and location of aquaporin (AQP)1, 5, 8 and 9 were assessed by immunohistochemistry, western blot and immunofluorescence respectively. Results The study showed that 27 kinds of chemical composition were identified, including 10 kinds in positive ion mode and 17 kinds in negative ion mode. The results showed that AQP1, AQP5 of lung, and AQP1, AQP5, AQP8 of intestine in model group were significantly lower than that of sham group (P

Context Oridonin exhibits various pharmacological and physiological activities, including antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, pro-apoptotic, anticancer and neurological effects. However, its role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is yet to be revealed. Objective We evaluated the effects of oridonin on the survival and autophagy of RA-fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). Materials and methods RA-FLSs were treated with oridonin at serial concentrations of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 µg/mL for 24, 48 and 72 h. Then, cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured. A GFP-LC3 plasmid was transfected into the cells to determine autophagy. Results Oridonin suppressed RA-FLS proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. The half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of oridonin at 24, 48 and 72 h were 8.28, 7.88 and 8.35 µg/mL, respectively. Treatment with oridonin for 24 h increased apoptosis by 4.1%, and increased the protein levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 but significantly decreased the levels of IL-1β in the culture supernatant (p

Many studies have demonstrated that leukoaraiosis is associated with impaired cerebrovascular reserve function. However, the definitive hemodynamic changes that occur in leukoaraiosis are not clear, and there are many controversies. This study aimed to investigate hemodynamic changes in symptomatic leukoaraiosis using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography and the breath-holding test in a Chinese Han population, from northern China. A total of 203 patients who were diagnosed with ischemic stroke or clinical chronic progressive ischemic symptoms were enrolled in this study, including 97 males and 106 females, with an age range of 43–93 years. The severity of leukoaraiosis was evaluated according to the Fazekas grading scale, and patients were divided into four groups accordingly. Grade 0 was no leukoaraiosis, and grades I, II, and III were mild, moderate, and severe leukoaraiosis, respectively, with 44, 79, 44, and 36 cases in each group. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography and the breath-holding test were performed. The mean blood flow velocity of the bilateral middle cerebral artery was measured and the breath-holding index was calculated. The breath holding index was correlated with leukoaraiosis severity and cognitive impairment. Patients with a low breath holding index presented poor performance in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and executive function tests. That is, the lower the breath holding index, the lower the scores for the MoCA and the higher for the trail-making test Parts A and B. These results indicate that the breath-holding index is a useful parameter for the evaluation of cerebrovascular reserve impairment in patients with leukoaraiosis. In addition, the breath-holding index can reflect cognitive dysfunction, providing a new insight into the pathophysiology of leukoaraiosis. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Fifth People’s Hospital of Shenyang, China (approval No. 20160301) and registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: ChiCTR1800014421).

Background To investigate protective effects of pyruvate-enriched peritoneal dialysis solution (P-PDS), compared with lactate-PDS (L-PDS), on the intestinal mucosal barrier in peritoneal resuscitation (PR) from severe hemorrhagic shock (HS) in rats. Materials and methods Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 10): group sham, group control (HS without fluid resuscitation), group intravenous resuscitation (IVR) (HS with IVR only), group L-PDS (HS with IV infusion plus PR with L-PDS), and group P-PDS (HS with IV infusion plus PR with P-PDS). HS was induced by hemorrhage with mean arterial pressure 40 mm Hg for 60 min. In three groups with fluid rehydration, IVR included shed blood and dl-lactate Ringer solution equal to two times the volume of shed blood during 60 min; in two groups with PR, 20 mL of L-PDS, or P-PDS were infused when IV infusion started after HS into the peritoneal cavity in 20 min, respectively. Blood samples were taken for determinations of pH, base excess, PaCO2, PaO2, and D-LA 60 min post fluid resuscitation. After rats were sacrificed, a segment of intestine was harvested for the detection of expressions of intestinal barrier proteins: zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and phosphorylated vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (p-VASP) by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Intestinal morphologic alterations were also observed. Results Blood pH, base excess, and PaO2 were higher, whereas PaCO2 and D-LA were lower in group P-PDS than in other three HS groups (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Severe acidosis was nearly corrected in group P-PDS. Intestinal barrier proteins ZO-1 and p-VASP were significantly preserved in group P-PDS than in group L-PDS (P < 0.05) although they were improved in group L-PDS in comparison with other two HS groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Expressions of barrier proteins by Western blotting in group P-PDS were reversed to normal. The score of intestinal epithelial damage index was reduced in group L-PDS, compared with other two HS groups (P < 0.05), however, it was significantly lower in group P-PDS than in group L-PDS (P < 0.05). Conclusions Pyruvate was superior to lactate in PDS in the correction of severe acidosis with PR. P-PDS was more preservative of expressions of intestinal ZO-1 and p-VASP and mucosal barrier function, compared with L-PDS in PR from severe HS in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Neuroinflammation plays a critical role in the onset and development of neurodegeneration disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. The immune activities of the central nervous system are profoundly affected by peripheral immune activities. Immune tolerance refers to the unresponsiveness of the immune system to continuous or repeated stimulation to avoid excessive inflammation and unnecessary by-stander injury in the face of continuous antigen threat. It has been proved that the immune tolerance could suppress the development of various peripheral inflammation-related diseases. However, the role of immune tolerance in neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases was not clear. Methods Rats were injected with repeated low-dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.3 mg/kg) intraperitoneally for 4 days to induce peripheral immune tolerance. Neuroinflammation was produced using intracranial LPS (15 μg) injection. Inflammation cytokines were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Microglial activation were measured using immunostaining of Iba-1 and ED-1. Dopaminergic neuronal damage was evaluated using immunochemistry staining and stereological counting of TH-positive neurons. Behavioral impairment was evaluated using amphetamine-induced rotational behavioral assessment. Results Compared with the non-immune tolerated animals, pre-treatment of peripheral immune tolerance significantly decreased the production of inflammatory cytokines, suppressed the microglial activation, and increased the number of dopaminergic neuronal survival in the substantia nigra. Conclusions Our results indicated that peripheral immune tolerance attenuated neuroinflammation and inhibited neuroinflammation-induced dopaminergic neuronal death.

Background: To investigate the effects of treatment with Multi component Chinese Medicine Jinzhida (JZD) on behavioral deficits in diabetes-associated cognitive decline (DACD) rats and verify our hypothesis that JZD treatment improves cognitive function by suppressing the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and improving insulin signaling transduction in the rats' hippocampus. Methods: A rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was established using high fat diet and streptozotocin (30 mg/kg, ip). Insulin sensitivity was evaluated by the oral glucose tolerance test and the insulin tolerance test. After 7 weeks, the T2DM rats were treated with JZD. The step-down test and Morris water maze were used to evaluate behavior in T2DM rats after 5 weeks of treatment with JZD. Levels of phosphorylated proteins involved in the ERS and in insulin signaling transduction pathways were assessed by Western blot for T2DM rats' hippocampus. Results: Compared to healthy control rats, T2DM rats initially showed insulin resistance and had declines in acquisition and retrieval processes in the step-down test and in spatial memory in the Morris water maze after 12 weeks. Performance on both the step-down test and Morris water maze tasks improved after JZD treatment. In T2DM rats, the ERS was activated, and then inhibited the insulin signal transduction pathways through the Jun NH2-terminal kinases (JNK) mediated. JZD treatment suppressed the ERS, increased insulin signal transduction, and improved insulin resistance in the rats' hippocampus. Conclusions: Treatment with JZD improved cognitive function in the T2DM rat model. The possible mechanism for DACD was related with ERS inducing the insulin signal transduction dysfunction in T2DM rats' hippocampus. The JZD could reduce ERS and improve insulin signal transduction and insulin resistance in T2DM rats' hippocampus and as a result improved the cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) is an effective treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD), the predictive effect of levodopa responsiveness on surgical outcomes was confirmed by some studies, however there were different conclusions about that through long- and short-term follow-ups. We aimed to investigate the factors which influence the predictive value of levodopa responsiveness, and discover more predictive factors of surgical outcomes. Methods Twenty-three PD patients underwent bilateral STN-DBS and completed our follow-up. Clinical evaluations were performed 1 week before and 3 months after surgery. Results STN-DBS significantly improved motor function of PD patients after 3 months; preoperative levodopa responsiveness and disease subtype predicted the effect of DBS on motor function; gender, disease duration and duration of motor fluctuations modified the predictive effect of levodopa responsiveness on motor improvement; the duration of motor fluctuations and severity of preoperative motor symptoms modified the predictive effect of disease subtype on motor improvement. Conclusions The intensity of levodopa responsiveness served as a predictor of motor improvement more accurately in female patients, patients with shorter disease duration or shorter motor fluctuations; PD patients with dominant axial symptoms benefit less from STN-DBS compared to those with limb-predominant symptoms, especially in their later disease stage.

Cognitive impairment is one of the most common non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) and a major influencing factor on patients' daily living ability. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a cognitive state between normal aging and dementia, and the living capability of MCI patients relatively remains. MCI often occurs in PD, with its clinical features presenting as the impairment in working memory and (or) attention, executive function, language ability, memory and visuospatial function. Here we try to depict the general picture of PD-MCI from the view of epidemiology, pathology, clinical presentation, imaging and diagnostic criteria.

DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2010.03.011

Implementation of well completions enabling multiple hydrocarbon reservoirs to be produced by a single well can save production cost and enhance recovery. Aiming at the characteristics of the three types of oil and gas reservoirs in the Jabung block in Indonesia, namely, gas cap oil-rim reservoirs, multiple hydrocarbon reservoirs, and heterogeneous multiple-sand reservoirs, this article puts forward optimized completion methods by using conventional technology and down-hole equipment. The new methods are able to develop multireservoir sands at the same time or successively without additional completion jobs. In addition, the novel completion enables water injection wells to selectively control injection and improve the recovery of hydrocarbons. The above strategies have been applied to different types of reservoirs, providing an effective mean for maximizing hydrocarbon recovery, controlling operating expenditures, and improving the overall benefit of development wells. Key words: one time completion, reservoir characteristics, optimized completion, downhole operation, overall benefit

Background and Objectives: Several studies have shown that glutamine (Gln) may play an important role in energy metabolism, inflammatory reactions, and immune processes in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Nevertheless, the results of individual randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on Gln nutrition support for SAP are contradictory. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the clinical benefit of Gln-supported early enteral nutrition (G+EEN) in patients with SAP.Methods and Study Design: Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, CNKI, Wan Fang, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database were searched for relevant studies published before December 2018. RCTs of G+EEN versus standard early enteral nutrition (EEN) for SAP were selected, with both started within 48 h of admission.Results: Seven clinical RCTs including a total of 433 patients (EEN group: 218 patients; G+EEN group: 215 patients) were included. Compared with EEN, G+EEN increased serum albumin (standard mean difference [SMD]=0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.33-1.15; p<0.01), reduced serum hypersensitive C-reactive protein (SMD=-1.62; 95% CI, -1.98 to -1.26; p<0.01) and risks of mortality risk (risk ratio= 0.38; 95% CI, 0.16-0.90; p=0.03) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS)(risk ratio=0.37; 95% CI, 0.15-0.94; p<0.01), and shortened length of hospital stay (SMD=-1.19; 95% CI, -1.88 to 0.49; p<0.01); moreover, it did not significantly increase the incidence of infection-related complications, operative interventions, or APACHE II scores.Conclusions: G+EEN is beneficial in SAP management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveIncreasing evidence shows that TGF-β1 is a key mediator in diabetic nephropathy (DN) and induces renal fibrosis positively by Smad3 but negatively by Smad7. However, treatment of DN by blocking the TGF-β/Smad pathway remains limited. The present study investigated the anti-fibrotic effect of a traditional Chinese medicine, Chaihuang-Yishen granule (CHYS), on DN.Research design and methodsProtective role of CHYS in DN was examined in an accelerated type 1 DN induced by streptozotocin in uninephrectomized Wistar rats. CHYS, at a dose of 0.56 g/kg body weight, was administered by a daily gastric gavage for 20 weeks and the therapeutic effect and potential mechanisms of CHYS on diabetic kidney injury were examined.ResultsTreatment with CHYS attenuated diabetic kidney injury by significantly inhibiting 24-h proteinuria and progressive renal fibrosis including glomerulosclerotic index, tubulointerstitial fibrosis index, and upregulation of extracellular matrix (collagen I, IV, and fibronectin), despite the same levels of blood glucose. Further studies revealed that inhibition of renal fibrosis in CHYS-treated diabetic rats was associated with inhibition of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling as demonstrated by upregulation of Smad7 but downregulation of TGF-β1, TGF-β receptors, activation of Smad3, and expression of miRNA-21.ConclusionsCHYS may be a therapeutic agent for DN. CHYS attenuates DN by blocking TGF-β/Smad3-mediated renal fibrosis.