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BACKGROUND: Ultrashort wave can inhibit the inflammatory response and is often used in symptomatic treatment of pulmonary infection. Uncontrolled inflammatory response is an important pathogenesis of acute lung injury. Inhibiting inflammation is an important strategy for controlling acute lung injury. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of ultrashort wave on inflammatory response and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in rats with acute lung injury. METHODS: Twenty-four 3-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group, acute lung injury group (model group) and ultrashort wave group (n=8 per group). Rats in the acute lung injury group and the ultrashort wave group were given intratracheal lipopolysaccharide to replicate the acute lung injury model. Rats in the control group were given intratracheal infusion of the same amount of normal saline. In the ultrashort wave group, rats were given ultrashort wave intervention immediately, 4 and 8 hours after lipopolysaccharide infusion, once for 15 minutes. Experimental animals were sacrificed 24 hours after intratracheal infusion of lipopolysaccharide or normal saline. The lung tissues of rats were compared by hematoxylin-eosin staining, lung histopathological semi-quantitative score and lung wet/dry weight ratio (W/D). Serum levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1β were detected by ELISA, and mRNA and protein expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β were detected by RT-PCR and western blot, respectively. The study protocol was approved by the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanhua University, approved No.202002100009. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Lung W/D ratio in the acute lung injury group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01), whereas the ratio in the ultrashort wave group was lower than that in the acute lung injury group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. Pathological manifestations: In the model group, the lung tissue structure was obviously damaged, with different sizes of alveolar septa, the alveolar wall was incomplete, thickened and fractured, a large number of neutrophils were seen in the lung interstitium, and some red blood cells were exudated. In the ultrashort wave group, compared with the model group, the alveolar structure was relatively complete and clear, and the infiltration of inflammatory cells and red blood cell exudation from the lung interstitium were reduced. Semi-quantitative histopathological score of the lung was significantly higher in the model group than the control group (P < 0.01), but significantly reduced in the ultrashort wave group compared with the model group (P < 0.01). Serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels in the model group were significantly higher than those in the control group (both P < 0.01). After ultrashort wave exposure, the levels of serum TNF-α and IL-1β significantly decreased compared to the model group (both P < 0.05). After ultrashort wave exposure, the mRNA and protein expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β significantly decreased compared to the model group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). To conclude, ultrashort wave may inhibit the inflammatory response of the lung tissue in rats with acute lung injury by down-regulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-1β. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the substrate enzyme activity, germination rate, seedling root length and seedling height of Brassica pekinensis seeds, Triticum aestivum seeds and Vigna radiate seeds, through the methanol extract the shell and embryo of Euscaphis japonica, with different original extract concentrations of 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% and extracted and separated the endogenous inhibitors in methanol leaching liquid of shell and embryo, the activity and ingredients of endogenous inhibitors in Euscaphis japonicaseeds. The results showed that with the increase of leaching solution concentration, the acid phosphatase activity and germination rate of Brassica pekinensis seeds significantly decreased(P<0.05), the inhibitory effects were showed increasing, and the inhibitory effects of shell were less than that of embryo; the root length and seedling heights promotion in low concentrations and inhibitory in high concentrations, and the maximum at the concentration of 10%, the promotion of shell less than embryo. The amylase activity, germination rate, root length and seedling height of Triticum aestivum seeds decreased gradually(P<0.05), the inhibitory effects were showed increasing gradually, while the germination rate was not significantly different at the concentration less than 20%(P>0.05)and it significantly decreased at 20% concentration(P<0.05), it was 0 at 40% concentration, the inhibitory effects of shell were than that of embryo. The protease activity, germination rate and seedling root length and shoot height of Vigna radiata seeds significantly decreased in the leaching solution concentration higher than 20%(P<0.05), and the effects of shell less than embryo. The results of extraction and separation of endogenous inhibitors showed that there were more phenolic acids and less alkaloids in shell than in embryo. It was concluded that high activating endogenous inhibitors existed in shell and embryo of Euscaphis japonica, which showed differences on properties, composition and content. Endogenous inhibitors in shell were mainly starchy materials, which in embryo mainly affected oil and protein materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: There are many treatment methods for knee osteoarthritis, among which electroacupuncture, as an important non-drug treatment, is effective in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, but its exact mechanism is not clear. OBJECTIVE: Effect of electroacupuncture on the expression of p53 and P21 in articular cartilage and subchondral bone of aged rats with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: Eight 6-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were included in the young group and sixteen 24-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into old group (n=8) and electroacupuncture group (n=8). The rats in the electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture stimulation once a day, 5 days a week, for 8 continuous weeks, and the other two groups did not do any treatment. Eight weeks later, the level of type II collagen C-terminal peptide in peripheral blood was detected by ELISA, the morphology of left knee cartilage and subchondral bone was observed by safranin O-fast green staining, the degree of knee cartilage degeneration was evaluated by modified Mankin’s score, the microstructure of left knee cartilage and subchondral bone was detected by micro-CT, and the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 13, P53, P21 mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and western blot respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the young group, the level of C-terminal peptide of type II collagen in the peripheral blood was increased in the old group (P < 0.05). The micro-CT results showed that the bone volume fraction, bone mineral density and the number of bone trabeculae were decreased in the old group compared with the young group (P < 0.05), while the trabecular separation increased (P < 0.05). Safranin O-fast green staining showed that in the old group, the surface layer of cartilage was uneven with fissures, the morphology of chondrocytes was irregular and stained unevenly, the boundary between the cartilage and subchondral bone was blurred, and the matrix loss was serious. The Mankin’s score was higher in the old group than the young group (P < 0.05). The expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13, P53, P21 at mRNA and protein levels increased in the old group compared with the young group (P < 0.05). Compared with the old group, electroacupuncture decreased the level of C-terminal peptide of type II collagen (P < 0.05), increased the bone volume fraction, bone mineral density and the number of bone trabeculae (P < 0.05), and decreased the trabecular separation (P < 0.05). Safranin O-fast green staining showed that in the electroacupuncture group, the surface of cartilage was smooth and red staining was uniform, and the cell morphology and structure were between the young group and the old group. Following electroacupuncture treatment, the Mankin’s score (P < 0.05), matrix metalloproteinase 13 and P21 mRNA expression (P < 0.05), and matrix metalloproteinase 13 and P53 protein expression decreased (P < 0.05), while there was a decreasing trend of P53 mRNA and P21 protein expression, but with no statistical significance (P > 0.05). To conclude, electroacupuncture may delay articular cartilage degeneration and subchondral osteoporosis in aged rats by inhibiting the expression of P53 and P21, so as to protect joints and delay joint aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]