Cogan syndrome following SARS-COV-2 infection

Clinical Rheumatology -     

Berberine improves airway inflammation and inhibits NF-κB signaling pathway in an ovalbumin-induced rat model of asthma

Objectives: Berberine has been reported for its various activities including anti-inflammatory effects and has been used in treating many diseases. However, its effects on airway inflammation in asthma have not been investigated. This study mainly aimed to detect its effects on the airway inflammation and the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway activity in a rat model of asthma. Methods: Asthma was induced by ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge. The asthmatic rats were respectively treated with vehicle PBS or berberine (100 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg) for 28 days. The control rats were treated with PBS. Inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were counted and the lung inflammation was scored. Levels of NF-κB p65 (mRNA and protein), phosphorylated NF-κB p65 (p-NF-κB p65), inhibitory κB alpha (IκBα) (mRNA and protein) and phosphorylated IκBα (p-IκBα), as well as NF-κB p65 DNA-binding activity, were measured to assess the activity of NF-κB signaling pathway. Levels of the downstream inflammatory mediators of NF-κB signaling, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13 and IL-17 in BALF, were measured. Besides, the serum levels of OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E were measured. Results: Results showed that OVA increased the number of inflammatory cells in BALF, elevated lung inflammation scores, enhanced the NF-κB signaling activity and promoted the production of IgE in rats. Berberine dose-dependently reversed the alterations induced by OVA in the asthmatic rats. Conclusions: The findings suggested a therapeutic potential of berberine on OVA- induced airway inflammation. The ameliorative effects on the OVA-induced airway inflammation might be associated with the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway.     

Double-stranded DNA homology produces a physical signature

DNA is found in the cell largely as a negatively supercoiled molecule. This high-energy form of the genetic material can engender sequence-dependent structures, such as cruciforms, Z-DNA, or H-DNA, even though they are not favored by conventional conditions in relaxed DNA. A key feature of DNA in living systems is the presence of homology. We have sought homology-dependent structural phenomena based on topological relaxation. Using two-dimensional electrophoresis, we demonstrate a structural transition in supercoiled plasmid molecules containing homologous segments. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) reveals a dumbbell structure in molecules whose linking difference is beyond the transition point. The position of the dumbbell shaft is a function of the site of homology, and its extent is proportional to the linking difference. Second-site-reversion electrophoresis data support the notion that the shaft contains PX-DNA. Predicted cross-linking patterns generated in vivo suggest that homology-dependent structures can occur within the cell.     

Discovery, modeling, and human pharmacokinetics of N-(2-acetyl-4,6-dimethylphenyl)-3-(3,4-dimethylisoxazol-5-ylsulfamoyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide (TBC3711), a second generation, ETA selective, and orally bioavailable endothelin antagonist

Sitaxsentan (1) (Wu et al. J. Med. Chem. 1997, 40, 1690) is our first endothelin antagonist being evaluated in clinical trials. It has demonstrated biological effects in an acute hemodynamic study in CHF (Givertz et al. Circulation 2000, 101, 2922), an open-label 20-patient pulmonary hypertension trial (Barst et al. Chest 2002, 121, 1860-1868), and a 31-patient trial in essential hypertension (Calhoun et al. AHA Scientific Sessions 2000). In a phase 2b/3 pulmonary arterial hypertension trial, once a day treatment of 100 mg of sitaxsentan statistically significantly improved 6-min walk distance and NYHA class at 12 weeks (Barst et al. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2004, 169, 441). We have since reported on our efforts in generating follow-up compounds (Wu et al. J. Med. Chem. 1999, 42, 4485) and recently communicated that an ortho acyl group on the anilino ring enhanced oral absorption in this category of compounds (Wu et al. J. Med. Chem. 2001, 44, 1211). Here we report an expansion of this work by substituting a variety of electron-withdrawing groups at the ortho position and evaluating their effects on oral bioavailability as well as structure-activity relationships. As a result, TBC3711 (7z) was identified as our second endothelin antagonist to enter the clinic due to its good oral bioavailability (approximately 100%) in rats, high potency (ET(A) IC(50) = 0.08 nM), and optimal ET(A)/ET(B) selectivity (441 000-fold). Compound 7z has completed phase-I clinical development and was well tolerated with desirable pharmacokinetics in humans (t(1/2) = 6-7 h, oral availability > 80%).     

人精浆对抗原抗体反应免疫抑制作用的研究

本文采用体外实验的方法,研究人精浆对抗原抗体特异性反应的抑制作用。运用酶联免疫吸附试验原理检测人精浆对AsAb、A-dsDNA、A-TG、A-TM、RF五种自身抗体反应的抑制,抑制率分别为61.5±23.1(％)、57.1±19.4(％)、56.7±25.8(％)、42.0±28.2(％)、41.8±25.1(％),说明均有明显的抑制作用。经生育组与不孕组、流产组对比分析,发现不孕组精浆对RF反应的抑制率明显高于生育组,其它各组之间对比均无显著差异。本文还对精浆的免疫抑制作用进行了探讨。     

中药体外抗滴虫试验与临床观察

目的：观察中药“滴康灵”对阴道滴虫的作用,并对134例患者进行临床试验。方法：对“滴康灵”的制备、毒理及杀滴虫效果研究的基础上,对134例滴虫感染者用本药治疗14天,并与用灭滴灵治疗的67例作对照比较。结果：本药抑杀阴道滴虫作用明确,治疗组与对照组的有效率差异有显著性意义,P＜0．05。结论：“滴康灵”对阴道滴虫感染作用明确,疗效满意。     

开展读书报告会实现知识共享的做法与效果

目的　加强护士对业务理论的学习 ,提高护士的业务水平。方法　开展读书报告会 ,实现一人读书 ,知识共享。结果　促进了临床学习 ,指导了临床教学 ,提高了撰写科研论文的能力。结论　开展读书报告会是以最简单的方法、在最短的时间内获取大量的知识及信息 ,对护士业务水平及护理质量的提高起到了较好的作用。     

核黄素阻抑致畸作用的效果观察

为研究核黄素的新功能,进行了核黄素阻抑动物致畸作用的实验。大鼠分为三个剂量组,各组动物分别以每日每头一次剂量50μg,250μg,和1000μg的核黄素灌胃一周,妊娠后各组包括对照组一律按0.75mg/kg体重的农药“敌枯双”每天灌胃染毒一次,并继续按上述方法给予核黄素。研究结果表明,核黄素对“敌枯双”染毒后孕鼠的影响,在250μg和1000μg组其吸收胎率和活胎率与对照组相比有非常显著的差异(P<0.01);50μg和1000μg组的着床率与脑畸形率也明显低于对照组。各剂量组的外观畸形率和内脏畸形率虽低于对照组,但经统计分析没有显著差异。核黄素对染毒后孕鼠的其他各项观察指标与对照组相比,差别也无统计学意义。     

青少年颈椎病变的调查与研究

目的：了解青少年颈椎病变的现状，探讨青少年颈椎病变的发病原因，为青少年颈椎病变的预防和治疗提供依据。方法：以中学生为调查研究对象，分为初一组和高一组。初一组170人；高一组58人。两组人员均采用实际调查和摄取颈椎侧位X线平片的方法。结果：初一组颈椎影像异常者为37人，占调查人数的21％；高一组颈椎影像异常者为22人，占调查人数的38％。结论：青少年颈椎病变的特点是以生理曲度改变为主。长时间操作电脑、执笔方法不规范导致写字姿势不正确以及学习任务繁重等是青少年颈椎病变的主要发病原凶。     

承德县2002-2006年已婚育龄妇女乳腺疾病患病分析

目的通过调查使妇女乳腺疾病得以早发现、早诊断、早治疗,探讨今后乳腺疾病的防治方法和重点。方法2002年-2006年在妇女病普查普治中,对3658例妇女进行手触诊、红外线乳腺透照仪、B超、冷强光透照仪和手术后病理诊断。结果查出乳腺疾病718例,患病率19.63%,患病主要以乳腺增生为主,占85.79%,其次为乳腺纤维瘤病例,占9.47%,乳腺结核、副乳腺增生、乳腺炎和乳腺癌所占比例较小。结论加大防治乳腺疾病的宣传力度,提高妇女自身保健意识,是做好妇女病预防保健的重要途径。