Abstract To explore the effects and mechanisms of benzoylaconitine and paeoniflorin on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats. Weight, paw swelling, arthritis index and joint pathologic changes were examined in each group after CIA induction. PGE2, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, VEGF, MMP-3, IgG and anti-CII Ab were assessed by ELISA; STAT1 and STAT3 expressions were analyzed immunohistochemically, and the ultrastructure of synovial cells was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Therapeutic effects were determined in CIA rats via injecting benzoylaconitine and paeoniflorin, which could alleviate the degree of swelling and arthritis index (AI) and pathological lesions of the sacroiliac gland; decrease the levels of PGE2, IL-1β, TNF-α, VEGF and IgG in serum; reduce STAT1 and STAT3 expression in the membrane tissue; and inhibit the secretion and proliferation of synovial cells. These results showed that benzoylaconitine and paeoniflorin could significantly palliate the arthritic symptoms of CIA rats, and better therapeutic effects could be achieved if the two components were used in combination.

Abstract In this study we extracted hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) from safflower and investigate its preventive effect on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) in rats. HSYA with 89.78% purity was extracted from safflower. Ninety rats were divided into sham-operated, model, low-dose HSYA, high-dose HSYA and nimodipine groups. The CIRI model was established in latter three groups. After 30 min from ischemia beginning, the low-dose and high-dose HSYA groups were treated with 2 and 4 mg/kg HSYA via tail-vein injection, respectively. The nimodipine group was treated with 2 mg/kg nimodipine. Results showed that, at 24 h after ischemia, compared with model group, in high-dose HSYA and nimodipine groups the neurological symptom score was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), the brain water content was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), the brain infarction area percentage was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), the serum IL-6 and IL-1β levels were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the brain tissue phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38 MAPK) and phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa B (p-NF-κB) p65 protein expression levels were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). In conclusion, HSYA can inhibit the p38 MAPK/NF-κB pathway and reduce the inflammatory response, thus exerting the preventive effect on CIRI in rats.

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to determine the phytochemical composition and evaluate the nutritional value of qamgur (Brassica rapa L., a characteristic crop in Xinjiang). The fresh qamgur was processed with hot air drying and freeze drying and then sliced into FD qamgur slices and ground into qamgur powders. The results show that qamgur powders and FD qamgur slices are rich in the nutrients essential for human health, such as total sugar (41.4 and 44.8 g/100 g), polysaccharide (16.3 × 103 and 20.4 × 103 g/100 g), Vitamin C (39.3 and 46.5 g/100 g), flavonoids (45.0 and 33.0 g/100 g) and total saponins (46.0 and 30.0 g/100 g) compared with the fresh qamgur. Moreover, major elements and micro elements analysis were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), and the results showed that an abundant number of mineral elements (e.g. K, Na, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn) were found in qamgur. The content of Ca was 4.5×103 mg/kg, 15.7 mg/kg for Zn, and 81.1 mg/kg for Fe. Similarly, the highest protein value was observed in the qamgur powders (12.4 g/100 g), whereas the fresh samples contained only 2.78 g/100 g. In addition, the proportion of essential amino acids (EAA) and nonessential amino acids (NEAA) of the powders were 59.7% and 40.3%, whereas for the FD slices, they were 61.0% and 39.0%. Overall, the nutritional value of qamgur was significantly improved through processing. So, in this paper, we provide the theoretical basis for the study on the nutritional value of qamgur and the development of medicinal foods and functional foods.

Abstract Background Acute osteomyelitis has great harmfulness. To conduct comparative analysis on the difference of clinical effect of CT diagnosis and X-ray plain film diagnosis in children with acute osteomyelitis during emergency treatment, to provide guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Methods The study subjects were 32 children with acute osteomyelitis. All the children were examined by X-ray and CT before surgery. Image characteristics and detection rates of bone destruction, changes in periosteum and cortex were compared. Funding X-ray scanning image: for the children with acute osteomyelitis in the early stage, the symptoms were demonstrated as that the submuscular space disappeared, and the boundary between subcutaneous and muscle tissues was blurred. CT scanning image: the images in early stage showed hyperemia and edema of soft tissue, with a slightly lower density of lesion, disappearance of interfascicular space, and a low-density abscess cavity in the center. The detection rate of bone destruction in CT scan was obviously higher than that in plain X-ray, in terms of bone destruction in special morphology, bone shell destruction in residual expansion, circular bone destruction, and peripheral bone defect, and the detection rate of periosteum and cortex changes was higher than that in plain X-ray, The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of CT in children with acute osteomyelitis during emergency treatment were better than that of X-ray plain film. Interpretation CT scan has good diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity during emergency treatment of this disease.

Abstract Paired basic amino acid-cleaving enzyme 4 (PACE4), a proprotein convertase, is involved in the activation of aggrecanases (ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5) in osteoarthritic and cytokine-stimulated cartilage. Activated aggrecanases cause aggrecan degradation and thus, contribute to osteoarthritis (OA). In this study, we investigated the association between PACE4 gene polymorphisms and OA risk. One single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs4965833) in the PACE4 gene was genotyped in 432 OA patients and 523 healthy controls using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to determine the relative expression of PACE4 in blood samples from 90 OA patients (30 for each genotype). The relative expression level of PACE4 mRNA was higher in the GG genotype as compared to the AA/AG group. Moreover, the PACE4 rs4965833 polymorphism was associated with increased risk of OA, especially among individuals aged ≥55 years and with a body mass index ≥25. There was no significant association between the PACE4 rs4965833 polymorphism and clinical parameters of OA patients, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, Visual Analog Scale for pain and Lequesne’s index. In conclusion, the rs4965833 polymorphism in the 3’-UTR of PACE4 is associated with OA susceptibility.

OBJECTIVES: Minimally invasive paracentetic suprapubic cystostomy is a technique that should be learned by all surgical trainees and residents. This study aimed to develop a self-made training model for paracentetic suprapubic cystostomy and placement of the suprapubic catheter and then to evaluate its effectiveness in training fourth-year medical students. METHODS: Medical students were divided into an experimental group receiving comprehensive training involving literature, video, and model use and a control group receiving all the same training protocols as the experimental group except without hands-on practice using the model. Each student’s performance was video-recorded, followed by subjective and objective evaluations by urology experts and statistical analysis. RESULTS: All students completed the surgical procedures successfully. The experimental group’s performance scores were significantly higher than those of the control group (median final performance scores of 91.0 vs. 86.8, respectively). Excellent scores were achieved by more students in the experimental group than in the control group (55% vs. 20%), and fewer poor scores were observed in the experimental group than in the control group (5% vs. 30%). CONCLUSIONS: Based on its cost-effectiveness, reusability, and training effectiveness, this paracentetic suprapubic cystostomy training model is able to achieve goals in teaching practice quickly and easily. Use of the model should be encouraged for training senior medical students and resident physicians who may be expected to perform emergent suprapubic catheter insertion at some time.

Abstract The embrittlement and softening behaviors in heat affected zone of X90 pipeline steel were studied, and the influence of weld thermal cycle on microstructure and mechanical properties were discussed by combining the effect of peak temperature on the phase transition point (Ar3). Results show that there are embrittlement and softening zones existed in heat affected zone of X90 pipeline steel. The peak temperature greatly affected the austenitizing and its grain size, thereby affected phase transition during cooling process. The embrittlement in critical heat affected zone at 750 °C was caused by brittle bainite and M /A islands formed during cooling, because little austenite was formed during heating. While, the embrittlement in coarse grain heat affected zone was caused by austenite grain coarsen, which transformed to the coarse bainite after cooling. The softening zone attributed to the polygonal ferrite and granular ferrite after cooling, which came from fine and ununiformed austenite formed during reheating process. Ar3 decreased with the increase of Cu, Cr or Mo content in steel, and the BF content in CGHAZ and GB and AF content in FGHAZ increased.

ABSTRACT Agronomy practices aimed at wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain Zn biofortification are important to alleviate Zn deficiency in humans, especially for those resource-poor people owing to subsistence on diets dominated by cereal-based foods with low concentrations and bioavailability of Zn. To promote understanding of source-sink flow processes affecting biofortification of wheat with Zn, effects of different source/sink manipulations on grain Zn accumulation by wheat were examined in pot and field at two locations. Treatments included foliar applications of deionized water, sucrose, ZnSO4, sucrose + Zn, defoliation, spike shading or partial removal of spikes. Results showed sucrose + Zn significantly increased grain Zn concentration more than Zn alone. Grain Zn concentration with sucrose + Zn averaged 66 mg kg-1 for ‘Kenong 9204’ and 59 mg kg-1 for ‘Liangxing 99’ in pot, and ranged from 42 to 58 mg kg-1 for ‘Liangxing 99’, ‘Jinan 17’, ‘Jimai 20’, ‘Jimai 22’, and ‘Luyuan 502’ under field, approaching the field-grown target 60 mg kg-1 proposed by World Health Organization. Molar ratios of phytic acid/Zn and phytic acid × Ca/Zn of ‘Jinan 17’, ‘Jimai 20’ or ‘Luyuan 502’ with sucrose + Zn were reduced to be < 15 and < 200, respectively, suggesting higher Zn bioavailability. Defoliation or spike shading decreased grain weight, Zn concentration and content. It is concluded that grain Zn accumulation of wheat can be affected by the source-sink relationship of Zn and/or carbohydrate, and the foliar spray ‘sucrose + Zn’ is recommended for increasing concentration and bioavailability of Zn in wheat grains.

Obesity and its consequent type 2 diabetes are significant threats to global health. Emerging evidence indicates that ginsenosides from ginseng (Panax ginseng) have anti-diabetic activity. We hypothesized that ginsenosides Rg1 could suppress dietary-induced obesity and improve obesity-related glucose metabolic disorders. Our results showed that ginsenoside Rg1 attenuated dietary-induced body weight gain and fat accumulation in white adipocyte tissue of mice fed a high-fat diet. Furthermore, we found that ginsenosides Rg1 not only decreased fasting glucose concentration and the 2-h postprandial glucose concentration, but also improved insulin resistance and glucose intolerance in those mice. Ginsenoside Rg1 also activated the AMPK pathway in vitro and in vivo and increased plasma membrane translocation of GLUT4 in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. In conclusion, our observations suggested that ginsenoside Rg1 inhibited dietary-induced obesity and improved obesity-related insulin resistance and glucose intolerance by activation of the AMPK pathway.

The autoimmune regulator (AIRE), a transcriptional regulator expressed in medullary thymic epithelial cells, plays an important role in thymocyte education and negative selection. Several citations studying the association between the rs878081 exon polymorphism of the AIRE gene and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in different populations have yielded conflicting findings. Thus, this case-control study involving 300 RA cases and 300 controls was aimed to identify whether such association existed in a Chinese Han population from East China. The rs878081 polymorphism of the AIRE gene was genotyped. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using the chi-squared test, genetic model analysis, and stratification analysis. Genetic model analysis showed significant correlations between the TT genotype and the risk of RA (OR: 1.89, 95%CI: 1.03-3.47 in TT vs CC; OR: 1.84, 95%CI: 1.02-3.31 in TT vs CC+TC). Stratification analyses of sex, age, smoking, and alcoholism suggested that the rs878081 polymorphism of the AIRE gene increased RA risk among non-smokers. In conclusion, rs878081 polymorphism of AIRE gene increases the risk of RA in a Chinese Han population.

Aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been shown to be involved in early observations of depression. The aim of this study was to determine if serum levels of miRNA-451a, miRNA-34a-5p, and miRNA-221-3p can serve as indicators of disease progression or therapeutic efficacy in depression. We collected data from 84 depressed patients and 78 control volunteers recruited from the medical staff at the West China Hospital. Depression severity was rated using the 24-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD). Serum miRNA-451a, miRNA-34a-5p, and miRNA-221-3p levels were determined in samples from the depressed patients before and 8 weeks after antidepressant treatment as well as in samples from controls. Compared with the controls, the patients had lower miRNA-451a levels, higher miRNA-34a-5p and miRNA-221-3p levels, and increased HAMD scores whether they underwent antidepressant treatment or not. Eight weeks after antidepressant treatment, the patients exhibited increased miRNA-451a levels, decreased miRNA-34a-5p and miRNA-221-3p levels, and reduced HAMD scores. The serum level of miRNA-451a was negatively correlated with HAMD scores of the patients, while the serum levels of miRNA-34a-5p and miRNA-221-3p were positively correlated with HAMD scores whether the patients underwent antidepressant treatment or not. Paroxetine was markedly effective in 50 patients who also displayed an increased level of miRNA-451a but reduced levels of miRNA-34a-5p and miRNA-221-3p. In contrast, paroxetine was moderately effective or ineffective in 34 patients. In conclusion, depressed patients had lower serum miRNA-451a but higher serum miRNA-34a-5p and miRNA-221-3p, and these miRNAs are potential predictors of the efficacy of antidepressants.

Salt stress is one of major problem hampering plant growth and development to a significant level. In present study, 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) was exogenously applied to Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel. plants at various concentrations (10, 50, and 100 mg L-1) to assess its effects on morphology, physiology, and biochemistry under salt stress conditions (150 mmol NaCl L-1) as compared with control. The results indicated that salt stress substantially impaired growth, physiology and biochemistry of L. chinensis plants; nonetheless, ALA application alleviated the adverse effects of salt stress. Application of ALA improved the leaf length, leaf area, leaf conductance, plant dry biomass, water contents, and root activity of L. chinensis under stress and no stress conditions. Additionally, biosynthesis of chlorophyll, carotenoids, free proline, soluble sugars and proteins of L. chinensis plants was also increased following ALA application as compared to control, under salt stress conditions. Moreover, we also observed an enhanced activity of antioxidant defense system in L. chinensis in response to ALA application. ALA elevated the activity of enzymatic antioxidants viz. ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) significantly scavenged reactive oxygen species thus reduced the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) under salt stress as compared to control under both normal and stressed conditions. The effect of ALA on all growth and biochemical attributes was concentration dependent and application of 50 as well as 100 mg L-1 ALA proved better. The results concluded that salt stress tolerance in L. chinensis plants can be increased by exogenously applied ALA at appropriate concentration. It was suggested that L. chinensis plants were treated with ALA application of 50-100 mg L-1 was more beneficial under both normal and saline conditions.

Plant growth regulating substances are involved in the physiological and metabolic processes of plants and enable them to cope with numerous environmental stresses. The effect of exogenously applied brassinolide (BR) with various concentrations (0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mg L-1) was studied on morphological and physiological traits of Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvelev under room and high temperatures in pots. The experimental results revealed that high temperature stress substantially perturbed growth, photosynthetic pigments, and root activity of L. chinensis; however, the deleterious effects of high temperature were partially ameliorated by the foliar application of BR. Compared to room temperature, high temperature stress decreased the plant height, leaf area, plant fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll a and b content, chlorophyll a/b ratio as well as root activity, while exacerbated the membrane damage as indicated by enhanced production of malondialdehyde (MDA). Accumulation of proline content, soluble protein and sugar content in L. chinensis improved by heat stress, compared with normal temperature; application of BR further improved their production thus aiding in the attainment of tolerance against heat stress. Elevated levels of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR) were observed under heat stress compared to room temperature, however, application of BR further proved beneficial in this regard. Our results indicated that BR could improve the growth and development of L. chinensis by enhancing the biosynthesis of photosynthetic pigments, osmolytes and antioxidant enzymes system in plants under both room and high temperature.

The effects of Dangguibuxue Tang (DBT) on growth performance and immunity response in immunosuppressed broiler chicks were investigated in this study. 240 one-d-old broiler chicks (DaHeng S01) were randomly divided into 4 groups, 2.0% DBT-treatment (A), 0.5% DBT-treatment (B), cyclophosphamide-control (C), and control group (D). From 4 d to 7 d of age, chicks in group A, B and C were given cyclophosphamide (CY) at a dosage of 100mg/kg body weight (BW) daily by intraperitoneal injection to induce immunosuppression. Chicks in group D were given an equal volume of physiological saline daily by intraperitoneal injection and considered normal chicks. Groups A and B were supplemented with 2.0% or 0.5% of DBT in the drinking water from 8 d to 42 d of age. Groups C and D did not receive any additional medication. The results revealed that chicks from group B had lower feed:gain rate (FGR), lower total mortality, higher immunity organ indexes, higher levels of Newcastle disease (ND) antibody and infectious bursal disease (IBD) antibody, higher interleukin-2 and interleukin-6 levels, and greater lymphocyte proliferative responses to concanavalin A (ConA) during the experiment than those from group C. However, no significant difference in the immunity status in the two levels of DBT-treatment was observed. These results indicate that supplementation of 0.5% of DBT can improve both cellular immunity and humoral immunity in immunosuppressed broiler chicks.

Thymosin alpha 1 (Tα1) has been shown to have beneficial effects on numerous immune system parameters, but little is known about the effects of Tα1 on patients with gastric carcinoma. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Tα1 on subpopulations of Th1, Th2, Th17, and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in vitro, and to evaluate its efficacy as an immunoregulatory factor in patients with gastric carcinoma. We compared the effect of Tα1 on the frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, especially the CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from gastric carcinoma patients (N = 35) and healthy donors (N = 22). We also analyzed the changes in the proliferation of PBMCs in response to treatment with Tα1, and examined the production of Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines by PBMCs and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. The treatment of PBMCs from gastric cancer patients, with Tα1 (50 µg/mL) alone increased the percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ (suppressive antitumor-specific Tregs) from 1.68 ± 0.697 to 2.19 ± 0.795% (P < 0.05). Our results indicate that Tα1 increases the percentage of Tregs and IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 in vitro.