Protective effect of pinocembrin from Penthorum chinense Pursh on hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury via regulating HMGB1/TLR4 signal pathway

Hepatic ischemia–reperfusion injury (HIRI) is of common occurrence during liver surgery and transplantation. Pinocembrin (PIN) is a kind of flavonoid monomer extracted from the local traditional Chinese medicine Penthorum chinense Pursh (P. chinense). However, the effect of PIN on HIRI has not determined. We investigated the protective effect and potential mechanism of PIN against HIRI. Model mice were subjected to partial liver ischemia for 60 min, experimental mice were pretreated with PIN orally for 7 days, and H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage model in AML12 hepatic cells was established in vitro. Histopathologic analysis and serum biochemical levels revealed that PIN had hepatoprotective activities against HIRI. The variation of GSH, SOD, MDA, and ROS levels indicated that PIN treatments attenuated oxidative stress in tissue. PIN pretreatment obviously ameliorated apoptosis, and restrained the expression of HMGB1 and TLR4 in vivo. In vitro, compared with H₂O₂ group, the contents of ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential, apoptotic cells, and Bcl-2 protein were decreased, while the Bax protein expression was increased. Moreover, HMGB-1 small interfering RNA test and western blotting showed that PIN pretreatment reduced HMGB1 and TLR4 protein levels. In conclusion, PIN pretreatment effectively protected hepatocytes from HIRI and inhibited the HMGB1/TLR4 signaling pathway.     

How do the Growth and Metabolic Activity of Aquatic fungi Geotrichum Candidum and Aspergillus Niger Respond to Nanoplastics?

In this study, exposure experiments were conducted to assess the effects of polystyrene nanoparticles (PS) and amine-modified polystyrene nanoparticles (APS) at environmental concentrations (1, 10, and 100 µg L^??1) on two fungal species (Geotrichum candidum and Aspergillus niger), isolated from leaf litter in streams, concerning their growth and metabolic activity. Results showed that PS at 1 and 10 µg L^??1 have hormesis effects on G. candidum growth. Compared with G. candidum, A. niger had higher sensitivity to nanoplastic exposure. Besides, the peroxidase and cellobiohydrolase activities of A. niger were significantly inhibited by nanoplastics (except 1 µg L^??1 PS), which would weaken its metabolic activity in carbon cycling. These results provided a new thought on how the growth and functions of aquatic fungi cope with the stress induced by nanoplastics. Overall, the study provided evidence for the different responses of aquatic fungi to nanoplastics in streams.

     

Efficacy and tolerability of anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention in adult patients with moderate-severe allergic asthma

BACKGROUND: Chinese herbal medicine has a long history of human use. A novel herbal formula, anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention (ASHMI), has been shown to be an effective therapy in a murine model of allergic asthma. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy, safety, and immunomodulatory effects of ASHMI treatment in patients with moderate-severe, persistent asthma with prednisone therapy. METHODS: In a double-blind trial, 91 subjects underwent randomization. Forty-five subjects received oral ASHMI capsules and prednisone placebo tablets (ASHMI group) and 46 subjects received oral prednisone tablets and ASHMI placebo capsules (prednisone group) for 4 weeks. Spirometry measurements; symptom scores; side effects; and serum cortisol, cytokine, and IgE levels were evaluated before and after treatment. RESULTS: Posttreatment lung function was significantly improved in both groups as shown by increased FEV(1) and peak expiratory flow findings (P<.001). The improvement was slightly but significantly greater in the prednisone group (P<.05). Clinical symptom scores, use of beta(2)-bronchodilators, and serum IgE levels were reduced significantly, and to a similar degree in both groups (P<.001). T(H)2 cytokine levels were significantly reduced in both treated groups (P<.001) and were lower in the prednisone-treated group (P<.05). Serum IFN-gamma and cortisol levels were significantly decreased in the prednisone group (P<.001) but significantly increased in the ASHMI group (P<.001). No severe side effects were observed in either group. CONCLUSION: Anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention appears to be a safe and effective alternative medicine for treating asthma. In contrast with prednisone, ASHMI had no adverse effect on adrenal function and had a beneficial effect on T(H)1 and T(H)2 balance.     

儿童臀肌挛缩症免疫发病机理的研究

本文对４１例儿童臀肌挛缩症患者外周血及３２例儿童臀肌挛缩症臀肌进行了系统的免疫学研究。结果表明：儿童臀肌挛缩症患者免疫调节功能紊乱，红细胞免疫功能低下，臀肌组织免疫复合物沉积，臀肌小血管数目减少及管壁损伤。由此认为免疫病理因素是儿童臀肌挛缩症的主要发病机理。     

米索前列醇应用于晚期妊娠引产的临床研究

目的 :研究孕激素受体拮抗剂米索前列醇对妊娠晚期引产的效果。方法 :采用双盲对照法 ,选择晚期妊娠无米索前列醇禁忌证 6 0例为研究组 ,采用阴道给药总量 1 0 0mg ;另选择有关参数相同的 6 0例 ,应用催产素 ,两组观察相关指标体系进行比较。结果 :引产效果 ,分娩时间 ,宫颈评分等指标研究组均优于对照组。结论 :米索前列醇用于晚期妊娠引产效果优 ,安全     

重视校级教学研究课题的组织与实施

在高等教育教学改革的进程中 ,校级教学研究课题的组织与实施值得重视与加强。校级教学研究课题参与人数多 ,课题设计的自主性、针对性较强 ,有利于形成高校整体的教学研究氛围 ,直接促进教学改革的发展和教学效益的提高。本文对校级教学研究课题的特点及组织、实施中应注意的导向作一探讨 ,阐明校级教学研究课题在方法上应注意科学性 ,内容上应注重先进教学手段 ,结题时应注意具体、物化的成果形式。     

行为干预及生物反馈治疗对老年高血压患者降压疗效的影响

目的 研究应用行为干预治疗及生物反馈治疗对老年高血压患者降压药物的影响。方法 在应用降压药物的基础上,增加行为干预及生物馈治疗,观察综合性行为干预措施对降压疗效的影响。结果 增加行为干预及生物反馈治疗后,降压和情绪障碍矫正的效果比单用药物明显改善。结论 老年高血压患者给予综合性行为干预措施可增加降压药物的疗效。