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This study was to determine the association between several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the dedicator of cytokinesis 7 ( DOCK7 ), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 ( PCSK9 ) and polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 2 ( GALNT2 ) and serum lipid levels. Genotyping of 9 SNPs was performed in 881 Jing subjects and 988 Han participants. Allele and genotype frequencies of the detected SNPs were different between the two populations. Several SNPs were associated with triglyceride (TG, rs10889332, rs615563, rs7552841, rs1997947, rs2760537, rs4846913 and rs11122316), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (rs1997947), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (rs1168013 and rs7552841), apolipoprotein (Apo) A1 (rs1997947), ApoB (rs10889332 and rs7552841) and ApoA1/ApoB ratio (rs7552841) in Jing minority; and with TG (rs10889332, rs615563, rs7552841, rs11206517, rs1997947, rs4846913 and rs11122316), HDL cholesterol (rs11206517 and rs4846913), LDL cholesterol (rs1168013), ApoA1 (rs11206517 and rs4846913), ApoB (rs7552841) and ApoA1/ApoB ratio (rs4846913) in Han nationality. Strong linkage disequilibria were noted among the SNPs. The commonest haplotype was G-C-G-C-T-G-C-C-G (>10%). The frequencies of C-C-G-C-T-G-T-C-G, G-C-A-C-T-G-C-C-G, G-C-G-C-T-A-C-C-A, G-C-G-C-T-G-C-C-A, G-C-G-C-T-G-T-C-A haplotypes were different between the two populations. Haplotypes could explain much more serum lipid variation than any single SNP alone especially for TG. Differences in lipid profiles between the two populations might partially attribute to these SNPs and their haplotypes.

The apolipoprotein (Apo) B gene (APOB) is a susceptible gene for dyslipidemia. The purpose of this investigation was to explore the relationship between the APOB rs1042034 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and serum lipid levels in the Maonan and Han populations. A total of 598 Maonan participants and 609 Han participants were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism, and the genotypes were also verified by sequencing. There were no differences in genotype and allele frequencies between the 2 ethnic groups or between males and females. The levels of triglyceride (TG) in Maonans were higher and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was lower in the A allele carriers than the A allele noncarriers; the A allele carriers in Hans had higher TG levels and lower ApoA1/ApoB ratio than the A allele noncarriers (P < .05 for all). Subgroup analysis showed that the A allele carriers in Maonan females had higher TG levels and the A allele carriers in Han females had higher TG levels and lower ApoA1/ApoB ratio than the A allele noncarriers (P < .05 for all). In our study populations, there may be ethnicity- and/or sex-specific associations between the APOB rs1042034 SNP and serum lipid levels.

Acute alcohol exposure induces unconscious condition such as coma whose main physical manifestation is the loss of righting reflex (LORR). Xingnaojing Injection (XNJI), which came from Chinese classic formula An Gong Niu Huang Pill, is widely used for consciousness disorders in China, such as coma. Although XNJI efficiently shortened the duration of LORR induced by acute ethanol, it remains unknown how XNJI acts on ethanol-induced coma (EIC). We performed experiments to examine the effects of XNJI on orexin and adenosine (AD) signaling in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) in EIC rats. Results showed that XNJI reduced the duration of LORR, which implied that XNJI promotes recovery form coma. Microdialysis data indicated that acute ethanol significantly increased AD release in the LHA but had no effect on orexin A levels. The qPCR results displayed a significant reduction in the Orexin-1 receptors (OX1R) expression with a concomitant increase in the A1 receptor (A1R) and equilibrative nucleoside transporter type 1 (ENT1) expression in EIC rats. In contrast, XNJI reduced the extracellular AD levels but orexin A levels remained unaffected. XNJI also counteracted the downregulation of the OX1R expression and upregulation of A1R and ENT1 expression caused by EIC. As for ADK expression, XNJI but not ethanol, displayed an upregulation in the LHA in EIC rats. Based on these results, we suggest that XNJI promotes arousal by inhibiting adenosine neurotransmission via reducing AD level and the expression of A1R and ENT1.

This study is expected to investigate the association of ATP/GTP binding protein-like 4 (AGBL4), LDL receptor related protein 8 (LRP8) and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) gene single nucleotide variants (SNVs) with lipid metabolism in 2,552 individuals (Jing, 1,272 and Han, 1,280). We identified 12 mutations in this motif. The genotype and allele frequencies of these variants were different between the two populations. Multiple-locus linkage disequilibrium (LD) elucidated the detected sites are not statistically independent. Possible integrative haplotypes and gene-by-gene (G × G) interactions, comprising mutations of the AGBL4 , LRP8 and PCSK9 associated with total cholesterol (TC, AGBL4 G-G-A, PCSK9 C-G-A-A and G-G-A-A-C-A-T-T-T-G-G-A), triglyceride (TG, AGBL4 G-G-A, LRP8 G-A-G-C-C, PCSK9 C-A-A-G, A-A-G-G-A-G-C-C-C-A-A-G and A-A-G-G-A-G-C-C-C-G-A-A), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C, AGBL4 A-A-G and A-A-G-A-A-G-T-C-C-A-A-G) and the apolipoprotein(Apo)A1/ApoB ratio (A1/B, PCSK9 C-A-A-G) in Jing minority. However, in the Hans, with TG ( AGBL4 G-G-A, LRP8 G-A-G-C-C, PCSK9 C-A-A-G, A-A-G-G-A-G-C-C-C-A-A-G and A-A-G-G-A-G-C-C-C-G-A-A), HDL-C ( LRP8 A-A-G-T-C), LDL-C ( LRP8 A-A-G-T-C and A-A-G-A-A-G-T-C-C-A-A-G) and A1/B ( LRP8 A-C-A-T-T and PCSK9 C-A-A-G). Association analysis based on haplotype clusters and G × G interactions probably increased power over single-locus tests especially for TG.

Background and Objective Taohong Siwu Decoction (TSD) is a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound with pharmacological effects such as vasodilation and hypolipidemia. Paeoniflorin (PF) is one of the active ingredients of TSD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of PF in herbal extracts and their purified forms in rats. Method A sensitive and rapid high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS-MS) method for the determination of PF in rat plasma was developed. Rats were divided into three groups, and given PF solution, water extract of white peony root (WPR), or TSD by gavage. At different predetermined timepoints after gavage, blood was collected from the orbital vein. The pharmacokinetic parameters of PF in the plasma of rats in the three groups was determined. Results The pharmacokinetic studies showed that the time to reach maximum concentration ( T max ) of PF in the purified forms group was relatively high, while the half-lives ( T ½ ) of PF in the TSD and WPR groups were longer. Among the three groups, PF in the purified forms group had the maximum area under the concentration–time curve ( AUC 0- t  = 732.997 µg/L·h) and the largest maximum concentration ( C max  = 313.460 µg/L), which showed a significant difference compared with the TSD group ( P  < 0.05). Compared with the purified group, the clearance ( CL z /F = 86.004 L/h/kg) and the apparent volume of distribution ( V z /F = 254.787 L/kg) of PF in the TSD group increased significantly ( P  < 0.05). Conclusions A highly specific, sensitive, and rapid HPLC–MS-MS method was developed and applied for the determination of PF in rat plasma. It was found that TSD and WPR can prolong the action time of paeoniflorin in the body.

Objective： To observe the clinical effect of combined intermittent traction with warm needling for cervical radiculopathy. Methods： A total of 100 cases with cervical radiculopathy were randomly allocated into an observation group and a control group. Cases in the observation group were treated with intermittent traction coupled with warm needling, whereas cases in the control group were treated with warm needling alone. The therapeutic efficacy was observed after 20-day treatment. Results： The markedly effective rate in total was 90.0% in the observation group, versus 78.0% in the control group, showing a statistically significant difference （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Combining intermittent traction with warm needling is safe, convenient and significantly effective for cervical radiculopathy. It is worth further popularization in clinical practice.

The association between the phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) gene rs4810479 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and serum lipid levels is largely unknown. This investigation aimed to evaluate the relationship between the PLTP rs4810479 SNP, several environmental risk factors, and serum lipid parameters in the Chinese Maonan and Han nationalities. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, gel electrophoresis, and direct sequencing were employed to determine the PLTP rs4810479 genotypes in 633 Maonan and 646 Han participants. The frequencies of CC, CT, and TT genotypes and the C allele were different between Maonan and Han groups (29.07%, 53.08%, 17.85%, and 55.61% vs. 35.60%, 49.70%, 14.70%, and 60.45%, respectively, P<0.05). The C allele carriers in the Maonan group had higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than the C allele noncarriers, but this finding was only found in Maonan males but not in females. The C allele carriers in Han males had lower total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than the C allele noncarriers. Serum lipid profiles were also affected by several traditional cardiovascular risk factors in both populations. There might be an ethnic- and/or sex-specific association between the PLTP rs4810479 SNP and serum lipid traits.

The apolipoprotein (Apo) B gene ( APOB ) is a susceptible gene for dyslipidemia. The purpose of this investigation was to explore the relationship between the APOB rs1042034 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and serum lipid levels in the Maonan and Han populations. A total of 598 Maonan participants and 609 Han participants were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism, and the genotypes were also verified by sequencing. There were no differences in genotype and allele frequencies between the 2 ethnic groups or between males and females. The levels of triglyceride (TG) in Maonans were higher and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was lower in the A allele carriers than the A allele noncarriers; the A allele carriers in Hans had higher TG levels and lower ApoA1/ApoB ratio than the A allele noncarriers ( P < .05 for all). Subgroup analysis showed that the A allele carriers in Maonan females had higher TG levels and the A allele carriers in Han females had higher TG levels and lower ApoA1/ApoB ratio than the A allele noncarriers ( P < .05 for all). In our study populations, there may be ethnicity- and/or sex-specific associations between the APOB rs1042034 SNP and serum lipid levels.

Huoxue Rongluo Tablet was made of tall gastrodis tuber, dahurian angelica root, honeysuckle stem, grassleaf sweetflag rhizome, common flowering quince fruit, figwort root, red peony root and peach seed at a ratio of 3：2：6：2：3：3：3：3. Huoxue Rongluo Tablet is a well-established and common pre- scription for the treatment of cerebral infarction. In this study, a rat model of cerebral ischemia was established and the animals were intragastrically administered Huoxue Rongluo Tablet. This treat- ment reduced infarct volume, decreased matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression, and improved neurological function. Moreover, the effects of Huoxue Rongluo Tablet were better than those of buflomedil pyridoxal phosphate. These results indicate that Huoxue Rongluo Tablet is effective in treating cerebral infarction by regulating matrix metalloproteinase-9 protein expression.

Stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) is a common complication leading to death and disability after a stroke. Currently, more studies tend to focus on stroke-associated pneumonia in patients with ischemic stroke, while there are few studies on predictors of intracerebral hemorrhage-associated pneumonia (ICHAP). It is necessary to discover new predictors to build more accurate prediction models for ICHAP. We continuously collected 498 patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage and then divided them into ICHAP and non-ICHAP groups. Then we conducted univariate analyses and multivariate regression analyses on the collected data. Afterward, the new predictors of ICHAP were found and the predictive model was designed. Of the 498 patients, 158 were diagnosed with ICHAP. Advanced age (odds ratio =  1.031; 95% confidence interval, 1.015–1.047; P <  0.001), high NIHSS score (odds ratio =  1.081; 95% confidence interval, 1.038–1.126; P <  0.001), dysphagia (odds ratio =  4.191; 95% confidence interval, 2.240–7.841 P <  0.001), and fast pulse (odds ratio =  1.038; 95% confidence interval, 1.019–1.057; P <  0.001) were risk factors for ICHAP. The predictive model (P <  0.001) included age, NIHSS, dysphagia, and pulse. After that, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the corresponding area under the curve (AUC) were used to measure their predictive accuracy. The prediction ability of the model (AUC: 0.819) which contained age, NIHSS, dysphagia, and pulse was higher than that of advanced age (AUC = 0.670), high NIHSS score (AUC = 0.761), and fast pulse (AUC = 0.609). The predictive accuracy of the model was 81.5%. These findings might help identify high-risk patients for ICHAP and provide a reference for the timely preventive use of antibiotics.