Preventive effect of Qianggan-Rongxian Decoction on rat liver fibrosis

AIM: To study the preventive effects of Qianggan-Rongxian Decoction on liver fibrosis induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) in rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into hepatic fibrosis model group, control group and 3 treatment groups (12 rats in each group). Except for the normal control group, all the rats received 1% DMN (10 μL/kg body weight, i.p), 3 times a week for 4 wk. The rats in the 3 treatment groups including a high-dose DMN group (10 mL/kg), a medium-dose DMN group (7 mL/kg), and a low-dose DMN group (4 mL/kg) were daily gavaged with Qianggan-Rongxian Decoction, and the rats in the model and normal control groups were given saline vehicle. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the changes in serum hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), and type IV collagen levels. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were measured using routine laboratory methods. Pathologic changes, particularly fibrosis, were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Sirius red staining. Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) were examined by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Compared with the model control group, the serum levels of HA, LN, type Ⅳ collagen, ALT and AST were decreased markedly in the other groups after treatment with Qianggan-Rongxian Decoction, especially in the medium-dose DMN group (P < 0.05).Moreover, the area-density percentage of collagen fibrosis was lower in the Qianggan-Rongxian Decoction treatment groups than in the model group, and a more significant drop was observed in the medium-dose DMN group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Qianggan-Rongxian Decoction can inhibit hepatic fibrosis due to chronic liver injury, delay the development of cirrhosis, and notably ameliorate liver function. It may be used as a safe and effective thera-peutic drug for patients with fibrosis.

Localization of ANP-synthesizing cells in rat stomach

AIM: To study the morphological positive expression of antrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-synthesizing cells and ultrastructural localization and the relationship between ANP-synthesizing cells and microvessel density in the stomach of rats and to analyze the distribution of the three histologically distinct regions of ANP-synthesizing cells. METHODS: Using immunohistochemical techniques, we studied positive expression of ANP-synthesizing cells in rat stomach. A postembedding immunogold microscopy technique was used for ultrastructural localization of ANP-synthesizing cells. Microvessel density in the rat stomach was estimated using tannic acid-ferric chloride (TAFC) method staining. Distribution of ANP-synthesizing cells were studied in different regions of rat stomach histochemically. RESULTS: Positive expression of ANP-synthesizing cells were localized in the gastric mucosa of rats. Localization of ANP-synthesizing cells identified them to be enterochrochromaffin cells (EC) by using a postembedding immunogold electron microscopy technique. EC cells were in the basal third of the cardiac mucosa region. ANP-synthesizing cells existed in different regions of rat stomach and its density was largest in the gastric cardiac region, and the distribution order of ANP-synthesizing cells in density was cardiac region, pyloric region and fundic region in mucosa layer. We have also found a close relationship between ANP-synthesizing cells and microvessel density in gastric mucosa of rats using TAFC staining. CONCLUSION: ANP-synthesizing cells are expressedin the gastric mucosa. EC synthesize ANP. There is a close relationship between ANP-synthesizing cells and microvessel density in gastric mucosa of rats.The distribution density of ANP-synthesizing cells is largest in the gastric cardiac region.

Effects of aging treatment processes on microstructures and mechanical properties of AZ63 casting magnesium alloy

The effects of three different aging treatment processes,namely single-stage,double-stage,and reverse double-stage aging treatment processes,on the microstructures and mechanical properties of the AZ63(Mg-6Al-3Zn-0.25Mn)casting magnesium alloy were investigated and compared.The results indicate that the microstructures of all the aged alloys under the three treatment processes are mainly composed ofα-Mg,Mg17Al12),and Al4Mn phases,indicating that the double-stage and reverse double-stage aging treatments have no obvious effect on the type of alloy phases.However,as compared with the single-stage and double-stage processes,the reverse double-stage process has a great effect on the quantity of the Mg17Al12phases.After the reverse double-stage aging treatment,which results in a stronger drive for decomposition of the supersaturated solid solution,the number of Mg17Al12phases precipitated in the grains significantly increases.In addition,as compared with the single-stage aged alloy,the tensile properties at room temperature for both the double-stage and reverse double-stage aged alloys are significantly improved.Among them,the reverse double-stage aged alloy achieves the highest tensile strength,yield strength,and elongation of 295 MPa,167 MPa,and 8.6%,respectively.

Sclerostin regulation:a promising therapy for periodontitis by modulating alveolar bone

Periodontitis is one of the most prevalent epidemics affecting human health and life recently,and exploration of the pathogenesis and treatment of periodontitis has been valued by scholars.In recent years,sclerostin,a new factor on bone resorption and reconstruction caused by inflammation and mechanical stimulation,has been a research hotspot.This article summarizes the researches on sclerostin in periodontitis development in recent years.Among them,sclerostin has been shown to be a critical negative regulator of bone formation,thereby inhibiting bone remodeling in periodontitis development,and is closely associated with tooth movement.Besides,evidence indicates that the removal of sclerostin seems to reasonably protect the alveolar bone from resorption.Regulation of sclerostin expression is a novel,promising treatment for periodontitis and addresses several complications seen with traditional therapies;accordingly,many drugs with similar mechanisms have emerged.Moreover,the application prospect of sclerostin in periodontal therapy combined with orthodontic treatment is another promising approach.There are also a lot of drugs that regulate sclerostin.Anti-sclerostin antibody(Scl-Ab)is the most direct one that inhibits bone resorption caused by sclerostin.At present,drugs that inhibit the expression of sclerostin have been applied to the treatment of diseases such as multiple myeloma and osteoporosis.Therefore,the application of sclerostin in the oral field is just around the corner,which provides a new therapeutic bone regulation strategy in oral and general health.

胰岛素粉末无针注射的给药效率和皮肤刺激性评价(英文)

研究目的:胰岛素在临床上广泛用于糖尿病的治疗,但需要注射方式给药,给患者带来不便。本文报道了一种胰岛素粉末无针注射给药的新方法,并对其给药效率和皮肤刺激性进行评价。创新要点:首次报道了胰岛素粉末无针注射给药方法,有望为糖尿病患者长期自我给药提供便捷。研究方法:自主设计便携式自动无针粉末注射给药装置,采用计算机辅助方法计算给药装置的主要空气动力学参数;采用家兔评价无针粉末注射对皮肤的刺激性,并分析与空气动力学参数的相关性;采用四氧嘧啶诱导家兔糖尿病模型,评价不同无机盐载药的胰岛素粉末的无针注射给药降糖效果。重要结论:采用自主设计便携式自动无针粉末注射给药装置,递送以无机盐为载体的胰岛素粉末具有显著的降血糖作用,而递送胰岛素原料药粉末无降血糖作用,说明无机盐载体对胰岛素粉末无针注射给药效果具有重要作用。皮肤刺激性实验表明,储气室气压、容积以及喷管与皮肤的间距三个参数显著影响无针粉末注射装置的皮肤损伤程度,优化后的注射条件对皮肤几乎没有损伤。优化给药条件下以磷酸盐载体的胰岛素粉末无针注射给药,相对给药效率为72.25%。研究结果表明无针粉末注射技术用于胰岛素或其它生物制品的无针给药具有良好应用前景。

Identification of a serum three-microRNA signature for cervical cancer diagnosis

To the Editor:Cervical cancer(CC)is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in women around the world.[1]In clinical practice,screening methods such as human papillomavirus testing and cytology-based detection have the disadvantages of having a high false rate,being hysteretic or ineffective.[2]Novel non-invasive biomarkers that can help diagnose CC with higher specificity and sensitivity are in great demand.MicroRNA(miRNA)is a type of non-coding small RNA of 18 to 25 nucleotides in length.Circulating miRNAs show the great potential of being cancer biomarkers for the stable existence in peripheral serum or plasma.[3]In this study,we performed a four-stage experiment using a total of 108 CC and 108 normal control(NC)serum samples to explore the diagnostic potential of serum miRNAs in CC.The schematic diagram of the experimental procedure was shown in Supplementary Figure 1,http://links.lww.com/CM9/A429.