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Dermatomyositis (DM) is characterized by skin lesions, skeletal muscle inflammation, and involvement of other organs. The pathogenesis of DM includes susceptibility genes, environmental stressors, immune and non⁃immune inducing mechanisms. DM usually presents as subacute progressive proximal muscle weakness, skin rash, or both. Other common extramuscular findings include various heart abnormalities, interstitial lung disease (ILD), and malignant tumors. The auxiliary examination of DM includes the examination of myositis autoantibodies, myoenzymes and electromyography (EMG). Skin treatments for DM include photosensitivity inhibition drugs and antimalarial drugs. If the DM is associated with muscle involvement, systemic corticosteroids is the first line of treatment, and immunosuppressants are used for refractory diseases or as corticosteroids sparing agents in the event of side effects. Other treatments include oral calcineurin inhibitors, cyclophosphamide, biologic agents and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor.

An electrochemical precipitation system utilizing a square wave pulsed power supply instead of DC power was designed and investigated for phosphorus recovery- The effects of power supply modes on P,Ca removal rate and specific energy consumption were reported. The process of electrochemical precipitation of CaP was studied and a possible precipitation mechanism was revealed. The results showed that under the optimal conditions for pulsed electrochemical precipitation of -2 200 mV and 5 X 10 2 Hz,the removal rate of P and Ca reached 78. 54% and 50. 10% with only 185. 84 kWh/kg specific energy consumption, which increasing the removal rate and reduced the energy consumption by 48. 91% compared with DC electrochemical precipitation, indicating that the power supply modes has a significant impact on the electrochemical precipitation of phosphorus recovery. The periodic on/off characteristic of the pulsed power lowers the concentration polarization between the bulk solution and the solution near the cathode, reduces the mass transfer resistance of ions and thus has obvious energy-saving advantages in the wastewater treatment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To evaluate the oviposition and feeding preferences of adult female Henosepilachna pusillanima (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), an economic pest of cucurbitaceous vegetables, for the leaves of squash (Cucurbita moschata), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), and ridged gourd (Luffa acutangula). [Methods] Adults and larvae of H. pusillanima often exhibit trenching behavior prior to feeding on leaves. Under laboratory conditions of (26± 1) °C, 60%±5% RH and a photoperiod of 14L: 10D, one 24-h-starved gravid female was exposed to the top five leaves of a plant counted basipetally from the growing point. After 24 hours, the number of eggs, the trenched area and the feeding area, were determined on the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of each leaf. Oviposition, trenching, and feeding preferences for different leaves and leaf surfaces were recorded. [Results] Adult female H. pusillanima fed exclusively within trenches cut by themselves on leaves. Among the three cucurbitaceous vegetables tested, both the total daily trenched area and feeding area per female were smallest on squash. The oviposition preferences for abaxial or adaxial leaf surfaces varied depending on host plant species, but females strongly preferred the abaxial leaf surfaces on all three host plants fir trenching or foraging. Females did not prefer 1st and 2nd leaves for oviposition. Although females preferred the 2nd and 3rd leaves of both squash and ridged gourd for trenching and foraging, they did not have any clear preference for specific leaves on cucumber. [Conclusion] Adult females did not prefer young leaves for oviposition, and preferred abaxial leaf surfaces for trenching and feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the clinical significance of balloon dilatation angiography during cerebral venous sinus stenosis stenting to predict the reflux of perforator veins after operation. Methods A total of 93 patients (including 51 with cerebral venous sinus stenosis and intracranial hypertension and 42 with intractable pulsatile tinnitus caused by cerebral venous sinus stenosis) who were treated by stent implantation were analyzed retrospectively. Among those patients, the diameter of transverse and sigmoid sinuses of 63 cases were measured based on angiography, and stent was selected according to the measurement result. The other 30 cases were given angiography on ipsilateral carotid artery or vertebral artery when the balloon was dilated in the venous sinus to confirm the reflux of perforator veins. If the venous reflux decreased in the angiography, stent with diameter 1-2 mm less than that of venous sinus could be selected. Results The success rate of stenting was 100% (93/93). In 63 cases, 45 cases were planted 9 mm x 40 mm stents, 15 were planted 8 mm x 40 mm stents, 3 were planted 7 mm x 40 mm stents. The average diameter of stents was (8.67 ± 0.68) mm. There were 11 cases (17.46%) with slow perforator venous reflux after operation. In the other 30 cases, 3 cases were planted 8 mm x 40 mm stents, 11 were planted 7 mm X 40 mm stents, and 16 were planted 6 mm x 40 mm stents. The average diameter of stents was (7.57 ± 0.67) mm. There was only one case (3.33%) with slow perforator venous reflux after operation. The difference of stent diameter between 2 groups was statistically significant (t = 15.632, P = 0.001). The occurrence rate of perforator vein occlusion after operation between 2 groups was significantly different (adjusted χ² = 60.065, P = 0.001). Conclusions Perforator vein occlusion after cerebral venous sinus stenting is common complication. Balloon dilatation angiography could predict the possibility of perforator vein occlusion effectively. This method could choose the stent with appropriate diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the relationship between apolipoprotein E ε4 (ApoEε4) allele and blood lipid, and the relationship between ApoE ε 4 allele and the prognosis of acute ischemic stroke. Methods The study included 786 patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted in Tianjin Huanhu Hospital from December 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014. The ApoE genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low - density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high - density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), ApoA, ApoB levels were also measured. The relationship between ApoE ε 4 allele and blood lipid was analyzed. All patients were assessed by National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) on discharge, and they were divided into 2 groups according to NIHSS score: favorable prognosis group (NIHSS ≤ 10) and unfavorable prognosis group (NIHSS > 10). The relationship between ApoE ε 4 allele and the outcome was analyzed by univariate and forward multivariate Logistic regression analysis. Results The ApoE ε 4 allele carriers had significantly higher LDL-C and ApoB levels than the non-ApoEε4 allele carriers [(3.25 ± 0.85) mmol/L vs (3.00 ± 0.83) mmol/L, P = 0.008; (1.20 ± 0.30) mmol/L vs (1.09 ± 0.25) mmol/L, P = 0.000]. Forward multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed NIHSS score on admission and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) on discharge were the major influencing factors for prognosis of acute ischemic stroke (P = 0.000, for all). The ApoE ε 4 had no significant outstanding influence on the outcome of acute ischemic stroke (P = 0.343). Conclusions The presence of ApoE ε 4 allele do not predict a worse outcome of acute ischemic stroke, but it is associated with increased LDL-C and ApoB in acute ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the intervention effect and mechanism of regulating miR-155 on young rats with dysfunction of blood coagulation., Methods: Twenty-six healthy and clean SD male rats were selected to establish the coagulopathy models. Twenty-four rats successfully established models and were randomly divided into three groups: model group, up-regulated miR-155 group and down-regulated miR-155 group, with 8 rats in each group. The expression of miR-155 was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The changes of coagulation factors and coagulation indicators were observed. Liver pathological tissues were observed by HE staining. The expressions of HMGB1-RAGE/TLRs-NF-κB signaling pathway related proteins were detected by Western blot., Results: Compared with model group, the expressions of HMGB1, RAGE, TLR2, TLR4 and NF-κB were significantly increased in up-regulated miR-155 group (all P < 0.05), while decreased in down-regulated miR-155 group (all P < 0.05). Compared with model group, the expressions of coagulation factor Ⅱ, Ⅶ, Ⅸ, and Ⅹ were significantly decreased in up-regulated miR-155 group (all P < 0.05), while increased in down-regulated miR-155 group ( P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression of coagulation factor Ⅺ among the three groups ( P >0.05). Compared with model group, the levels of prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were lower and fibrinogen (FIB) was higher in up-regulated miR-155 group (all P < 0.05), while in the down-regulated miR-155 group they were opposite., Conclusion: Down-regulation of miR-155 can effectively improve coagulation factors and coagulation indexes and inhibit inflammation in young rats with dysfunction of blood coagulopathy, and the mechanism may be related to HMGB1-RAGE/TLRs-NF-κB signaling pathway.

Chrysanthemi Indici Flos(CIF), the capitulum of Chrysanthemum indicum, is widely used in proprietary Chinese medicine and daily chemical products. At present, CIF is mainly produced from wild resources and rarely cultivated. This study aims to reveal the correlations between linarin content in CIF and climatic factors in different habitats, and provide a theoretical basis for suitable zoning and rational production of medicinal materials. The content of linarin in CIF was determined by HPLC. Grey relational analysis and Pearson correlation analysis were carried out for linarin content with climatic factors. The results showed that the content of linarin in CIF was significantly different among different habitats. The grey relational degrees of climatic factors with linarin content was in an order of average annual precipitation&gt;annual average sunshine hours&gt;annual average temperature&gt;longitude&gt;annual frost-free period&gt;latitude&gt;altitude. Longitude, annual average temperature and average annual precipitation had significantly positive correlations with the content of linarin in CIF, whereas latitude and altitude showed negative correlations with it. The annual frost-free period and annual average sunshine hours had no significant correlation with the content of linarin in CIF. The content of linarin in CIF varied significantly in different habitats. High longitude, low latitude, low altitude, high annual average temperature and high annual average precipitation could be used as indicators for the habitats of high-quality Ch. indicum. This study provides a reference for selecting suitable producing areas of Ch. indicum and establishing artificial cultivation system.

To provide theoretical basis for the formation of Chrysanthemum indicum resource and quality,the differences in biology,ecology,yield and quality of Ch. indicum population in the wild tending,the cultivated and the wild were analyzed and compared in this study. The results showed that in the aspect of biology,there was no significant difference between the condition of wild tending and cultivated Ch. indicum at the height of plant,both were significantly higher than wild Ch. indicum. In the aspect of ecology,in the condition of wild tending is less likely to occur water logging than cultivated Ch. indicum. In the condition of wild tending is less likely to occur plant diseases and insect pests than Ch. indicum in the condition of wild. In the aspect of production,the average output of the sample of the condition of wild tending was significantly higher than that the condition of artificial cultivation and wild quadrat. There was no significant difference between the three kinds of condition on the traits of capitulum dichasium,the content of buddleoside of the wild tending Ch. indicum was significantly higher than that of 0. 80% required by the Chinese Pharmacopoeia( 2015 edition). Therefore,the artificial supplement and the appropriate artificial management of wild tending is a mode of production to increase the population density of Ch. indicum and obtain high quality and high yield medicinal materials.

DNA barcode technology was used to establish a rapid identification method of Chrysanthemum indicum and Ch. morifolium based on psbA-trn H,mat K and trn L sequences. The total DNA was extracted from 21 samples collected,and the psbA-trn H,mat K,trn L sequences were amplified by PCR and sequenced. The information of these sequences were obtained. We aligned all 63 sequences,calculated the intraspecific and interspecific distances,analysed the SNPs distribution of psbA-trn H+mat K+trn L combination sequences and constructed the Neighbor-joining( NJ) Tree,using MEGA 7. 0. The results showed that the genetic distances of Ch. indicum,Ch. indicum( Juhuanao)and Ch. morifolium were overlapped. The SNPs analysis of psbA-trn H+mat K+trn L combination sequences showed that there were 19 nucleotide polymorphism loci( SNPs) and nine parsim-informative sites in the combination sequences. In addition,Ch. indicum showed more obvious sequence polymorphism than those of Ch. indicum( Juhuanao) and Ch. morifolium. The psbA-trn H sequences showed obvious length variation.The NJ Tree showed that Ch. morifolium numbered C2-C5 were clustered into a single subbranch with a bootstrap value of 62%,and Ch.morifolium could be distinguished from Ch. indicum and Ch. indicum( Juhuanao). Moreover,Ch. indicum numbered Z9 and Z10 collected from Gansu province were singly clustered into one branch with a bootstrap value of 77%. It was also found that the changes of psbA-trn H and trn L sequences information of Ch. indicum samples from the northwest were obviously related to the geography and environment. Moreover,Ch.indicum and Ch. indicum( Juhuanao) had obvious differentiation,were also regarded as the evolutionary sources of Ch. morifolium. Therefore,psbA-trn H+mat K+trn L combination sequences as DNA barcode can identify Ch. indicum and Ch. morifolium accurately and rapidly,which provides an important basis for germplasm resources identification and species identification.

The Cd stress of Chrysanthemum indicum was treated by different concentrations of Cd Cl2 solution in the culture substrate. The content of Cd in different parts of Ch. indicum and the content of buddleoside and the total flavonoids in Ch. indicum were determined. The absorption characteristics of Cd elements in Ch. indicum were analyzed. And the influence of Cd elements on the quality of the herbs. The results showed that the application of soil Cd in the range of 0-100 mg·kg~(-1) had no significant effect on the biomass of Ch. indicum,and the root-shoot ratio showed a decreasing-increasing-decreasing trend. The content of Cd in different parts of Ch. indicum was significantly different,and the content of aboveground part was higher than that of underground part. The enrichment factors of Cd elements in different parts of Ch. indicum are different. The enrichment coefficient of aboveground parts is larger than that of underground parts. The whole parts and plants show an increase first and then decrease,and the overall enrichment factor is greater than1. The transfer coefficient of the aerial part/underground part of Ch. indicum showed a decreasing-increasing-decreasing-increasing trend with the increase of the amount of Cd applied in the soil,and the transfer coefficient was higher than 1. The contents of buddleoside and total flavonoids in Ch. indicum after Cd stress treatment were lower than the control,and the overall performance was lower and then increased,but it was still significantly lower than the control,indicating that Cd pollution directly led to the decrease of chemical quality of Ch. indicum.

ICP-MS was used to determine the contents of five heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) and copper (Cu) in Chrysanthemum indicum and soil samples. Pearson correlation and path analysis were used to analyze the effects of latitude and longitude and altitude on the content of heavy metal elements in Ch. indicum. To explore the relationship between geographical location of heavy metal content in Ch. indicum and the content of heavy metal elements in soil. The results showed that the Ch. indicum had high enrichment of Cd and had a synergistic effect on the absorption of five heavy metal elements. Elevation directly affected the accumulation of Pb and Cd in Ch. indicum and was a positive effect. The direct positive effect of latitude acts on the accumulation of Hg and Cu in Ch. indicum. The effect of longitude on the Cd content was the negative effect of longitude. The geographical location had different effects on the accumulation of heavy metal elements in Ch. indicum. There was a certain interaction between direct and indirect effects. Ch. indicum had different absorption and enrichment characteristics for different heavy metal species. When controlling the heavy metal content and medicinal material quality of Ch. indicum, we must fully consider the influence of geographical location on the quality of medicinal materials, select suitable geographic regions to carry out acquisitions, and choose a good ecological environment. Regional establishment of Chinese herbal medicine planting bases, or adopting certain agricultural measures to reduce the absorption of heavy metal elements in Ch. indicum herbs, while conducting research on chemical composition, strengthening the research on the effective forms of heavy metals, and paying attention to the safety of medicinal herbs., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.)

Disinfection byproduct(DBP) precursors during the wastewater regeneration processes were separated into hydrophilic fraction(HPI), hydrophobic fraction(HPO) and transphilic fraction(TPI) with macroporous resin. DBP precursors in these water samples were characterized with fluorescence excitation emission matrix, Fourier transformation infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance, and were further tested for their DBP formation potential(DBPFP) after chlorination. The results indicated that main DBP precursors in sewage were humic acid and aliphatic hydrocarbons, and were mainly dominated by HPI. Primary treatment(sedimentation) could effectively remove hydrophobic humic acid through the mutual exclusion between HPO and water. The removal of humic acid would lead to the obvious reduction of carbonaceous disinfection byproduct formation potential(C-DBPFP). In addition, nitrogenous disinfection byproduct formation potential(N-DBPFP) was found to be increased due to the increase of DON/DOC value. Although secondary treatment(biotreatment) was effective in removing humic acid and aliphatic hydrocarbons, it could produce a large amount of soluble microbial products(SMP), which led to the enhancement of HPO percentage. And the accumulation of SMP resulted in the significant increase of C-DBPFP and N-DBPFP. Humic acid and hydrophobic SMP could be removed by the advanced treatment(cloth filtration), leading to the reduction of HPO percentage and the increase of HPI percentage. The decrease of humic acid and hydrophobic SMP would cause the reduction of C-DBPFP and N-DBPFP in the advanced treatment.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence rate of childhood asthma in 2010 in urban Baotou, China, as well as the characteristics of attacks and the status of diagnosis and treatment of childhood asthma., Methods: More than 10 000 children (0-14 years) were selected from 3 secondary schools, 3 primary schools, 6 kindergartens, and 4 community vaccination sites in urban Baotou by cluster random sampling between September 2009 and August 2010. A standardized preliminary questionnaire was used for screening out suspected cases, which were then confirmed or excluded by a clinician; the confirmed cases underwent further questionnaire survey. Double entry and validation was adopted for all data using Epi-Info software, and analysis was performed using SPSS 13.0., Results: A total of 11 323 children were surveyed. Asthma was diagnosed in 127 cases (including 121 children with typical asthma and 6 children with cough variant asthma), with a prevalence rate of 1.12%. The prevalence rate of asthma in male children was significantly higher than that in female children (1.51% vs 0.72%; P<0.01). The prevalence rate of asthma in 2010 was significantly increased compared with that in 1990 (0.55%) and 2000 (0.88%) (P<0.05). Systemic glucocorticoid use decreased significantly from 60.2% in 2000 to 25.9% in 2010 (P<0.01); inhaled corticosteroid use increased significantly from 13.6% in 2000 to 85.8% in 2010 (P<0.01); antibiotic use decreased from 98.1% in 2000 to 66.9% in 2010 (P<0.01). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that family history of allergy, allergic rhinitis, chronic cough, and recurrent respiratory tract infection were independent risk factors for childhood asthma., Conclusions: The prevalence rate of childhood asthma in urban Baotou shows an increasing trend. Inhaled corticosteroids have been widely used.

Objective: To construct the recombinant plasmid of human cardiac C protein (CCP) peptide with immunogenicity and to express, purification and renature fusion protein. The fusion protein was injected to Lewis rats to establish experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) model., Methods: Total RNA was extracted from human heart and used as the template for reverse transcriptase-directed cDNA synthesis. The cDNA was then amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using oligonucleotide primers specific for CCP peptide with immunogenicity. Subsequently, the purified CCP peptide gene was cloned into PEASY-T1 vector and the ligated product was identified by PCR and DNA sequence analysis. Then the CCP target gene of positive clone was inserted into the pQE30, a prokaryotic expression vector, and the inserting plasmid was transformed into Escherichia coli. host M15. The positive clone extracted from the bacterium liquid was sieved by insertional inactivation sieve method and identified by PCR of bacterium liquid, CCP immunological peptide was purified and renatured in semipermeable membrane. EAM model in Lewis rats was induced by injection of mixture of 100 µg CCP fusion protein immunological peptide and 2.5 g/L completed Freund adjuvant from two double foot pad and subsequent abdominal injection of 0.5 µg pertussis toxin. Two, four, six, and eight weeks after immunization, hemodynamic evaluation was made and hearts underwent histological examination., Results: The DNA sequence analysis for cloning vector extraction revealed that the CCP target gene was cloned into pQE30 exactly. The DNA of 1000 bp length was obtained by PCR examination of bacterium liquid with transformation of express recombinants which were consistent with the expected size. Purified fusion protein in vertical slab gel electrophoresis showed 35 000 as expected. The recombinant CCP fusion protein existed in inclusion bodies of E. coli and amounted to 80% - 90% of the total protein. Hemodynamic and histological evaluations showed typical acute inflammatory responses at 2 weeks, subacute inflammatory and fibrosis changes at 4 weeks after injection, and signs of chronic dilated cardiomyopathy at 6 weeks post injection., Conclusion: Combination of gene clone technique and histidine tag protein purification technique can be used to synthesize human cardiac C protein to induce EAM model in Lewis rat.

Objective: To investigate the inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) (2R)-2-[5-[4-[ ethyl-methylamino] phenyl [thiophene-2-sulfonylamino]-3-methylbutyric acid (TISAM) therapeutic effect on experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) in Lewis rats., Methods: Treatment protocol of oral administration of 5 mg/kg TISAM once a day for 14 days was performed on EAM Lewis rats. EAM Lewis rats were divided into 3 groups: treatment in early, middle and later stage respectively (n = 20). After experiment at the designate time point, the rats were euthanatized and hearts were harvested. Cardiac inflammatory score, fibrosis score and content, and infiltration of macrophages and T lyminflammatory score, fibrosis score and content, and infiltration of macrophages and T lymphocytes, message RNA (mRNA) expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 and protein activity of gelatinase were determined., Results: TISAM treatment in early phase was invalid (treatment started from the creation of the model), treatment in middle and later phase was effective (treatment started from 7 and 14 day after the creation of the model)., Conclusion: Inhibitor of MMP-2 can block ventricular remodeling in middle stage in EAM Lewis rats. The mechanism maybe alleviate the inflammatory cell cardiac infiltration, decrease the mRNA expression of MMP-2 at transcript level and downregulate gelatinase activity at protein level.

Objective: To shed light on changes in the gene expression of T helper lymphocyte (Th) subpopulation, Th1, Th2 and Th17 in autoimmune myocarditis and to gain insight into the immunological mechanisms underlying the essence of myocarditis., Methods: An experimental Lewis rat autoimmune myocarditis model was induced by immunization with cardiac C protein and completed Freund adjuvant in double foot pads and subsequent intraperitoneal injection of pertussis toxin. Two groups of normal rats without immunological injection acted as control group. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed and subsequently hearts and spleens were obtained from EAM rats at 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks after immunization. The pathological sections of heart samples were prepared, the inflammatory score was determined by hematoxylin and eosin stain, the fibrosis score was determined by picrosirius red stain. The ratio of Th1, Th2 and Th17 subpopulation in spleen cells were measured by flow cytometry, and enzyme linked immunoabsorption assay (ELISA) was used to determine the serum level of Th1 related cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), Th2 related cytokine interleukin (IL)-4 and Th17 related cytokine IL-17., Results: In EAM rats, cardiac ejection fraction remained normal until 4th week, and left ventricular end systolic diameter and left ventricular end diastolic diameter decreased. However, cardiac ejection fraction decreased obviously and left ventricular end systolic diameter and left ventricular end diastolic diameter rose until 8th week. Inflammatory score increased rapidly at 2nd week after immunization and remained peek level until 4th week and then gradually decreased at 6th and 8th week. Fibrosis score and fibrosis content increased from 4th week and maintained the peek level until 8th week. Ratio of Th1 in spleen cells of EAM rats and its related cytokine in serum, IFN-gamma, increased at 1st week, arrived at the peek level until 4th week and gradually decreased at 6th week. Ratio of Th17 and IL-17 rose from 2nd-4th week and remained until 6th to 8th week. Ratio of Th2 showed no change in the previous four weeks, ratio of IL-4 increased from 4th week, and both rose at 6th week rapidly and remained until 8th week., Conclusions: In EAM Lewis rats, The time duration from 2nd to 4th week was inflammatory stage of myocarditis while during the period of 4th week to 8th week myocarditis develops into fibrotic stage. Imbalance of Th1/Th2 takes part in the occurrence of ventricular remodeling, cellular immunity mediated by Th1 and Th17 being preponderant at inflammatory myocarditis stage while humoral immunity mediated by Th2 and Th17 being preponderant at fibrotic carditis stage.

Background: The demand for effective intervention for subhealth conditions is growing with increasing numbers of people being in a state of subhealth with a poor quality of life. Future research and evaluation of the treatment methods for subhealth conditions from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may provide an important direction for developing effective management of these conditions., Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xiaopi Yishen herbal extract granules (XPYS-HEG), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine for relieving fatigue and promoting a cheerful spirit for the treatment of people with fatigue-predominant subhealth due to liver-qi stagnation and spleen-qi deficiency. DESIGN, SETTING PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: A multi-center, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical study was undertaken. The study period was 18 weeks, including 6 weeks for intervention and 12 weeks for follow-up. Participants were recruited from medical center and outpatient clinics of three hospitals in China, i.e. Xiaotangshan Hospital of Beijing, the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of TCM and the Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of TCM. Two hundred participants who met the criteria of fatigue-predominant subhealth and liver-qi stagnation and spleen-qi deficiency in TCM were allocated randomly to the treatment group (XPYS, n=100) and control group (placebo, n=100)., Main Outcome Measures: The total score of Fatigue Scale-14 (FS-14) was used to evaluate the fatigue status of subjects and the extent of liver-qi stagnation and spleen-qi deficiency syndrome was also recorded., Results: Three cases in the XPYS group withdrew from the trial. There were 200 subjects who entered to full analysis set (FAS) analysis and 197 subjects fitted in the per-protocol set (PPS) analysis. (1) According to the score changes of FS-14, the effectiveness rates in the XPYS and placebo group were as follows: 14.0% vs 9.0% (FAS) and 14.4% vs 9.0% (PPS) for complete remission, 19.0% vs 15.0% (FAS) and 19.6% vs 15.0% (PPS) for obvious effects, 39.0% vs 26.0% (FAS) and 39.2% vs 26.0% (PPS) for effective, and 72.0% vs 50.0% (FAS) and 73.2% vs 50.0% (PPS) for complete efficacy. The efficacy of XPYS-HEG was superior to the placebo statistically (P<0.05). (2) According to the score changes of TCM syndrome, the effectiveness rates in the XPYS group and placebo group were as follows: 1.0% vs 0.0% (FAS) and 1.0% vs 0.0% (PPS) for complete remission, 20.0% vs 7.0% (FAS) and 19.6% vs 7.0% (PPS) for obvious effects, 29.0% vs 24.0% (FAS) and 29.9% vs 24.0% (PPS) for effective, and 50.0% vs 31.0% (FAS) and 50.5% vs 31.0% (PPS) for complete efficacy. The efficacy of XPYS-HEG was superior to that of placebo statistically (P<0.05). (3) The follow-up results at 12 weeks and 18 weeks showed that the efficacy of XPYS-HEG was superior to that of placebo statistically (P<0.05). (4) No adverse effects were found in the XPYS group., Conclusion: It can be concluded that XPYS-HEG is effective and safe for the treatment of people with fatigue-predominant subhealth due to liver-qi stagnation and spleen-qi deficiency.

Objective: To investigate the effects of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) inhibitor minocyclin hydrochloride in Lewis rats with experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM)., Methods: EAM was induced by injection of cardiac C protein emulsified in completed Freund adjuvant in double footpad and intraperitoneal injection of pertussis toxin on 6- to 8-week old Lewis rats. Sixty EAM Lewis rats were divided into 3 groups (early, middle and late intervention groups, n = 20 each: 10 minocyclin treated and 10 control rats). In early intervention group, rats in treatment group received intraperitoneal injection of minocyclin hydrochloride from 1(st) to 21(st) day after immunization; in middle intervention group, rats were treated from 8(th) to 28(th) day after immunization and in late intervention group, rats were treated from 15(th) to 35(th) day after immunization (50 mg/kg body weight, once daily). Control rats received intraperitoneal injection of same volumetric physiological saline at corresponding time periods. At the end of intervention, rats were euthanatized and hearts were harvested. Paraffin sections were used for hematoxylin and eosin stain to determine the inflammatory score, for picrosirius stain to determine fibrosis score and collagen content, and for immunohistological stain to determine macrophages and T lymphocytes. Real time PCR was used to detect mRNA expression of myocardial MMP-2 and MMP-9. Cryostat sections were used for in situ zymography to detect protein activity of gelatinase., Results: Inflammatory score in cardiac paraffin slides, number of cardiac macrophages and T lymphocytes, cardiac interstitial fibrosis score and content, expression of MMP-2, 9 mRNA and activity of gelatinase in treatment group were all significantly lower than in control group for early and middle intervention groups (inflammatory score: early control group vs. treatment group: 3.03 ± 1.35 vs.1.51 ± 0.36, P < 0.05, middle control group vs. treatment group: 3.75 ± 0.29 vs. 2.11 ± 0.82, P < 0.01; cardiac interstitial fibrosis score, early control group vs. treatment group: 2.75 ± 0.29 vs.1.51 ± 0.35, P < 0.01, middle control group vs. treatment group: 2.50 ± 0.41 vs. 1.61 ± 0.42, P < 0.05; gelatinase, early control group vs. treatment group: 162 367 ± 5095 vs. 62 366 ± 2131, P < 0.01, middle control group vs. treatment group: 184 256 ± 5427 vs. 113 197 ± 4809, P < 0.01) while these parameters were similar between minocyclin-treated and control rats in late intervention group (all P > 0.05)., Conclusions: MMP-9 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune myocarditis. Inhibition of MMP-9 in early and middle stage could significantly attenuate inflammatory responses and myocardial fibrosis in this experimental EAM model.

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes and their elements in people with subhealth fatigue., Methods: The TCM symptoms in line with the diagnostic criteria of subhealth fatigue status were collected by clinical investigations and using information collection form based on TCM four diagnostic methods. Referred to Clinical Guidelines of Chinese Medicine on Subhealth and other related standards, the syndrome type was identified in accordance with clinical symptoms of each patient with subhealth fatigue by two physicians. The data of syndrome differentiation were analyzed by descriptive statistical analysis., Results: There were 81 syndrome types from 495 cases of subhealth fatigue. There were 24 syndrome types after separation, and the top ten were liver stagnation and spleen deficiency, stagnation of liver qi, hyperactivity of liver fire, disharmony between liver and stomach, damp obstruction due to spleen deficiency, deficiency of both heart and spleen, yin deficiency of liver and kidney, yang deficiency of spleen and kidney, stagnation of gallbladder and disturbance of phlegm, and internal disturbance of phlegm-heat. There were 17 syndrome elements, including seven disease location elements and ten disease nature elements. The disease location elements were liver, spleen, kidney, stomach, heart, gallbladder and lung. The disease nature elements were qi stagnation, qi deficiency, exuberance of fire (heat), damp obstruction, phlegm obstruction, yin deficiency, adverse flow of qi, yang deficiency, blood deficiency, and blood stasis., Conclusion: Syndrome types of subhealth fatigue involve in deficiency syndrome, excess syndrome, and mixture of deficiency and excess syndromes. The syndrome elements of disease location involve five zang organs and two fu organs, and the liver and spleen were the most frequently involved organs. The syndrome elements of disease nature involve deficiency and excess. Qi stagnation is most frequently involved in the excess syndrome, and qi deficiency is most frequently involved in the deficiency syndrome.

Objective: To investigate the impact of cyclosporine A (CsA) on atrial expression change of L-type calcium channel alpha1c subunit in a canine model of atrial fibrillation (AF)., Methods: AF was induced by rapid atrial pacing (400 beats/min) for 8 weeks in adult male dogs and placebo (n = 6) or CsA (5 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), n = 6) were orally administered to these animals. Sham operated animals served as normal controls (n = 6). The atrial electrophysiological parameters including P wave duration, atrial effective refractory period (AERP) were recorded and analyzed at baseline and 8 weeks later. Animals were scarified at 8 weeks post final electrophysiological examinations and atrial expressions of L-type calcium channel alpha1c subunit were determined by Western blot., Results: Compared to sham group, the P wave duration was significantly prolonged while AERP was significantly decreased in AF and CsA groups (all P < 0.05). AERP was significantly longer in CsA group than that in AF group (P < 0.05). L-type calcium channel alpha1c subunit expression was significantly downregulated in AF group compared to sham group (P < 0.05) and CsA significantly attenuated this downregulation (P < 0.01 vs. AF group)., Conclusion: CsA could attenuate the downregulation of the L-type calcium channel alpha1c subunit expression and improve the atrial electrophysiological remodeling in this canine model of AF.

Objective: To probe into the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes and their element distributions in sub-health status., Methods: Literatures on sub-health in past 20 years were collected, and a data bank was set up by using EpiData 2.0. The frequencies of syndromes and their elements were analyzed using SPSS 12.0., Results: Out of the 50 syndromes obtained from the standardization of syndrome nomenclature, and the top three were stagnation of liver-qi, deficiency of both heart and spleen, and deficiency of liver-yin and kidney-yin. Spleen, liver and kidney were the top three of all the 14 disease locations. Qi-deficiency, qi-stagnation and damp pathogen were the top three pathogenicity types., Conclusion: Although the traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in sub-health status are scattered in the distribution, the main syndromes take up a leading proportion and their elements are concise and concentrated in distribution. Therefore, it is necessary to make a standard study on traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in sub-health status from syndrome elements.

Objective: To clone and identify the cDNA sequence and genomic DNA sequence of Anopheles sinensis defensin gene., Methods: Referring to the published defensin gene sequences of Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae, pairs of primers were designed to amplify the cDNA sequence and genomic DNA sequence of Anopheles sinensis defensin gene with template of Anopheles sinensis total RNA by RT-PCR and genomic DNA by nested PCR, respectively. These amplified fractions were cloned and sequenced, and were further identified and analyzed by relevant bioinformatics softwares., Results: Complete genomic DNA sequence was cloned, including 5' and 3' UTR fraction and two exons separated by a 85 bp intron. Besides, the whole cDNA sequence of Anopheles sinensis defensin gene with 324 bp was also cloned, and its ORF encoded 107 amino acids. The mature peptide had 40 amino acids residues., Conclusion: The whole cDNA sequence and complete genomic DNA sequence of the defensin gene of Anopheles sinensis have been cloned and identified for the first time.