The relationship of polluted air and drinking water sources with the prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus: a provincial population-based study.

Environmental exposures interact with genetic factors has been thought to influence susceptibility of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) development. To evaluate the effects of environmental exposures on SLE, we conducted a population-based cohort study across Jiangsu Province, China, to examine the associations between the living environment including air and water pollution, population density, economic income level, etc. and the prevalence and mortality of hospitalized SLE (h-SLE) patients.

Effects of Jian Pi Qing Chang Hua Shi decoction on mucosal injuries in a 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid-induced inflammatory bowel disease rat model.

Context: Jian Pi Qing Chang Hua Shi decoction (JPQCHSD) has been considered as an effective remedy for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Chinese traditional medicine.

Objective: We evaluated the efficacy of JPQCHSD on 2-4-6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)-induced IBD rats and the responsible mechanisms.

Materials And Methods: Except the rats of the control group (50% ethanol), Sprague-Dawley rats (180 ± 20 g) induced by TNBS (150 mg/kg in 50% ethanol), received water extract of JPQCHSD daily at 0, 9.

Protective effects of sodium ferulate on flap transplantation via anti-inflammatory modulation and oxidative stress inhibition.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) has brought attention to flap failure in reconstructive surgery. To improve the prognosis of skin transplantation, we performed experimental IRI by surgical obstruction of blood flow and used sodium ferulate (SF) to prevent IRI in rats. After SF treatment, the morphological and histological changes of the skin flaps were observed by H&E and Masson's trichrome staining.

MiR-664-3p suppresses osteoblast differentiation and impairs bone formation via targeting Smad4 and Osterix.

Osteoporosis is a metabolic disorder characterized by low bone mass and deteriorated microarchitecture, with an increased risk of fracture. Some miRNAs have been confirmed as potential modulators of osteoblast differentiation to maintain bone mass. Our miRNA sequencing results showed that miR-664-3p was significantly down-regulated during the osteogenic differentiation of the preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells.

Bupi Yishen Formula Versus Losartan for Non-Diabetic Stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) might have benefits in patients with non-diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD), but there is a lack of high-quality evidence, especially in CKD4. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of Bupi Yishen Formula (BYF) vs. losartan in patients with non-diabetic CKD4.

Regulating T Cell Population Alleviates SLE by Inhibiting mTORC1/C2 in MRL/lpr Mice.

It's well known that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) exerts a critical role in the regulator of immune cells and is associated with T cells dysfunction in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Antigen-induced T-cell proliferation via mTORC1 suppressed by Rapamycin has been used to improve SLE primarily. Previously it has showed that INK128, a highly potent, specific orally inhibitor of mTORC1 and mTORC2, significantly attenuates SLE in pristine-induced lupus mice.

YQWY Decoction Improves Myocardial Remodeling via Activating the IL-10/Stat3 Signaling Pathway.

Heart failure (HF) has been known as a global health problem, and cardiac remodeling plays an essential role in the development of HF. We hypothesized that YQWY decoction might exert a cardioprotective effect against myocardium inflammation, fibrosis, and apoptosis via activating the interleukin-10 (IL-10)/Stat3 signaling pathway. To test this hypothesis, the HF model in rats was established by pressure overload through the minimally invasive transverse aortic constriction (MTAC).

Mitochondrial Complex I Core Protein Regulates cAMP Signaling via Phosphodiesterase Pde2 and NAD Homeostasis in .

The cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway of responds to nutrient availability to coordinate a series of cellular processes for its replication and survival. The elevation of cAMP for PKA signaling must be both transitory and tightly regulated. Otherwise, any abnormal cAMP/PKA pathway would disrupt metabolic potential and ergosterol synthesis and promote a stress response.

Relationship between the pyroptosis of fibroblast‑like synoviocytes and HMGB1 secretion in knee osteoarthritis.

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an important downstream product of pyroptosis in macrophages, and it serves a vital role in numerous inflammatory diseases. Previous studies have reported that HMGB1 is released by fibroblast‑like synoviocytes (FLSs) that are activated by inflammatory cytokines in knee osteoarthritis (KOA); however, the mechanism via which FLS promotes HMGB1 secretion in KOA remains unknown. According to our previous study, pyroptosis occurs in FLSs of patients with KOA and is mediated by Nod‑like receptor protein (NLRP)1 or NLRP3 inflammasomes.

Electroacupuncture vs Prucalopride for Severe Chronic Constipation: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled, Noninferiority Trial.

Introduction: This multicenter, randomized, noninferiority trial compared electroacupuncture with prucalopride for the treatment of severe chronic constipation (SCC).

Methods: Participants with SCC (≤ 2 mean weekly complete spontaneous bowel movements [CSBMs]) were randomly assigned to receive either 28-session electroacupuncture over 8 weeks with follow-up without treatment over 24 weeks or prucalopride (2 mg/d before breakfast) over 32 weeks. The primary outcome was the proportion of participants with ≥3 mean weekly CSBMs over weeks 3-8, based on the modified intention-to-treat population, with -10% as the noninferior margin.

Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicine on Acute Exacerbations of COPD: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study.

Purpose: Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is an essential occurrence in COPD management and is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Chinese herbal medicine is widely used in the treatment of AECOPD, but high quality randomized controlled trials are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine as adjuvant therapy for patients with AECOPD.

Iron overload is related to muscle wasting in patients with cachexia of gastric cancer: using quantitative proteome analysis.

The incidence of gastric cancer cachexia is high and the clinical management is poor, so the study aimed to clarify the mechanism of muscle wasting to better screen patients with gastric cancer cachexia. Gastric cancer patients undergoing radical gastrectomy were divided into cachexia with sarcopenia (CS, n = 13) and normal (N, n = 10) two groups. The possible mechanism of skeletal muscle reduction was explored through Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) technique, Perls staining, Western blot analysis and measurement of oxidative stress indicators.

Fecal Microbiome Alteration May Be a Potential Marker for Gastric Cancer.

Although intestinal microbial dysbiosis was confirmed to be associated with many chronic diseases and health status through complicated interaction with the host, the effect on gastric cancer was less studied. In this study, we sequenced the 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA genes of fecal bacteria and fungi, respectively, in 134 gastric cancer patients and 58 healthy controls matched by age and gender. Propensity score matching (PSM) was adopted for adjusting diet habits and lifestyle, and 44 patients and 44 healthy controls (matching population) were enrolled.

Genetic variants in N6-methyladenosine are associated with bladder cancer risk in the Chinese population.

Recently N-Methyladenosine (mA) has been identified to guide the interaction of RNA-binding protein hnRNP C and their target RNAs, which is termed as mA-switches. We systematically investigated the association between genetic variants in mA-switches and bladder cancer risk. A two-stage case-control study was performed to systematically calculate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 2798 mA-switches with bladder cancer risk in 3,997 subjects.

Effect and mechanism of asiatic acid on autophagy in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and .

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) is a major cause of heart failure in patients with coronary heart disease. The excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during MIRI induces the overactivation of an autophagic response, which aggravates myocardial cell damage. Asiatic acid (AA) is a triterpenoid compound, which is extracted from and exhibits a variety of pharmacological effects such as hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and antioxidant.

Effect of "Tonifying Kidney and Invigorating Brain" acupuncture in children with spastic cerebral palsy analyzed by multi-modality MRI combined with dynamic electroencephalogram.

Introduction: Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability of childhood. Spastic cerebral palsy accounts for 60% to 70% of cases. Research has shown that acupuncture can improve the quality of life of children with cerebral palsy, but the mechanism of action remains unclear.

Antidepression and Prokinetic Effects of Paeoniflorin on Rats in the Forced Swimming Test via Polypharmacology.

Paeoniflorin, an organic compound extracted from the roots of the white peony () plant, has previously been shown to exert antidepression and prokinetic effects. The traditional Chinese prescription Si-Ni-San, of which paeoniflorin is a constituent, is often used in treating depression and functional gastrointestinal disorders. The effectiveness of Si-Ni-San has been shown to be less effective in a paeoniflorin-deleted form.

Sodium Butyrate-Modulated Mitochondrial Function in High-Insulin Induced HepG2 Cell Dysfunction.

The liver plays a pivotal role in maintaining euglycemia. Biogenesis and function of mitochondria within hepatocytes are often the first to be damaged in a diabetic population, and restoring its function is recently believed to be a promising strategy on inhibiting the progression of diabetes. Previously, we demonstrated that the gut microbiota metabolite butyrate could reduce hyperglycemia and modulate the metabolism of glycogen in both db/db mice and HepG2 cells.

Neuroprotective effect of Umbelliferone against Cerebral ischemia/Reperfusion induced neurological deficits: and studies.

Inflammatory pathway is the significant marker of neuro-inflammation and plays a significant role in the expansion of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Umbelliferone (UF), 7-hydroxy coumarin, has been already proved for its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects against ischemic brain injury in the rodent model, but its underlying pharmacological mechanism for neuro-protection remain unclear. In this study, we try to explore the neuro-protective effect of umbelliferone against ischemia/Reperfusion induced neurological deficits in rats and explore the underlying mechanism.

Simultaneous determination of nineteen compounds of Dahuang zhechong pill in rat plasma by UHPLC-MS/MS and its application in a pharmacokinetic study.

Dahuang zhechong pill (DHZCP) is a famous traditional Chinese medicine prescription, which is widely used in the treatment of liver diseases. However, due to the lack of a dynamic DHZCP profile, the in vivo pharmacokinetics of active ingredients within this medicine remains unknown. In this paper, a rapid, sensitive and reliable UHPLC-MS/MS method was used to determine the content of 19 characteristic constituents of DHZCP in rat plasma, including rhein, emodin, chrysophanol, physcion, aloeemodin, p-methoxyphenylacetic acid, hypoxanthine nucleoside, wogonin, wogonoside, baicalin, norwogonin, naringenin, nutmeg acid, paeoniflorin, verbascoside, rhodiola glucoside, forsythoside A, formononetin, and glycyrrhizic acid.

GreenLight Laser photoselective vapo-enucleation of the prostate with front-firing emission versus plasmakinetic resection of the prostate for benign prostate hyperplasia.

Background: Although the conventional, monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) has proven to be an effective and relatively safe treatment for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), many new endoscopic technologies have been introduced to treat BPH. With the development of laser, there are several alternative transurethral procedures embracing laser therapies. Herein, this study sought to explore the efficacy, safety and follow-up of GreenLight laser photoselective vapo-enucleation of the prostate (PVEP) with front-firing emission compared with plasmakinetic resection of the prostate (PKRP) used to surgically manage BPH.

Loss of a Negative Feedback Loop between IRF8 and AR Promotes Prostate Cancer Growth and Enzalutamide Resistance.

In incurable castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), resistance to the novel androgen receptor (AR) antagonist enzalutamide is driven mainly by AR overexpression. Here we report that the expression of interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) is increased in primary prostate cancer but decreased in CRPC compared with normal prostate tissue. Decreased expression of IRF8 positively associated with CRPC progression and enzalutamide resistance.