Structural mechanism of a dual-functional enzyme DgpA/B/C as both a C-glycoside cleaving enzyme and an O- to C-glycoside isomerase

The C-glycosidic bond that connects the sugar moiety with aglycone is difficult to be broken or made due to its inert nature. The knowledge of C-glycoside breakdown and synthesis is very limited. Recently, the enzyme DgpA/B/C cascade from a human intestinal bacterium PUE was identified to specifically cleave the C-glycosidic bond of puerarin (daidzein-8-C-glucoside). Here we investigated how puerarin is recognized and oxidized by DgpA based on crystal structures of DgpA with or without substrate and biochemical characterization. More strikingly, we found that apart from being a C-glycoside cleaving enzyme, DgpA/B/C is capable of efficiently converting O- to C-glycoside showing the activity as a structure isomerase. A possible mechanistic model was proposed dependently of the simulated complex structure of DgpB/C with 3″-oxo-daidzin and structure-based mutagenesis. Our findings not only shed light on understanding the enzyme-mediated C-glycosidic bond breakage and formation, but also may help to facilitate stereospecific C-glycoside synthesis in pharmaceutical industry.

Visual function changes of dysthyroid optic neuropathy and ROC curve analysis for early diagnostic indicators / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVES@#Dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON) is a class of diseases that makes seriously endanger to the vision of patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy. This study aims to observe the visual function changes in patients with DON, and to evaluate the diagnostic value of indicators diagnosing DON.@*METHODS@#A retrospective study was conducted on 98 eyes of 49 patients with dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON) who were treated in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from January 2017 to December 2019. All patients were received the examination of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Humphrey visual field, visual evoked potential (VEP), and contrast sensitivity. Ninety-eight eyes were divided into a DON group (45 eyes) and a non-DON group (53 eyes). T-test was used to compare the related indicators between the 2 groups. The sensitivity and specificity of each indicator were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.@*RESULTS@#The BCVA and visual field index (VFI) of the DON group were significantly lower than those of the non-DON group (all P<0.05). The mean deviation (MD) and pattern standard deviation (PSD) of the DON group were significantly higher than those of the non-DON group (all P<0.05). The low frequency contrast sensitivity (CSL), medium frequency contrast sensitivity (CSM), and high frequency contrast sensitivity (CSH) of the DON group were significantly lower than those of the non-DON group (all P<0.05), with CSH being particularly prominent. Compared with the non-DON group, at spatial frequencies of 15°, 30°, and 60°, the amplitude of N135 wave was significantly reduced, and the latency of N75 wave, P100 wave, and N135 wave was significantly prolonged in the DON group (all P<0.05); at spatial frequencies of 15° and 30°, the amplitude of P100 wave was significantly reduced in the DON group (P<0.05). The ROC curve analysis results showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of VFI, CSL, CSM, CSH and 15° P100 amplitude diagnosing DON were 0.812, 0.841, 0.880, 0.784, and 0.791, respectively, with CSM possessing the highest sensitivity and specificity.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The visual function of patients with DON is decreased. VFI, contrast sensitivity of low, medium, and high frequency, and 15° P100 wave amplitude might be effective indicators for early diagnosis of DON.

Effect of sleep on brain clearing metabolites: thinking based on lymphoid system / 中华神经科杂志

Disruption of the structure of regular sleep is a common cause of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer′s disease and Parkinson′s disease, and its pathogenesis may be related to the deposition of waste products in the central nervous system. The glymphatic pathway, which is essentially a periarterial cerebrospinal fluid inflow pathway and peripheral venous clearance pathway, is functionally dependent on interstitial bulk flow coupling supported by aquaporin-4 on the astrocyte end-foot, also known as the lymphoid glial system. The glymphatic pathway, which removes waste proteins from the brain, is active primarily during sleep, and sleep quality declines with age, while the glymphatic pathway system also deteriorates with age, suggesting a relationship between sleep disturbances and symptom progression in neurodegeneration, and glymphatic system as a link closely links the two. The interaction of sleep, aging, metabolic waste and glymphatic pathway reticulation provides new clues to the pathogenesis of central nervous system degenerative diseases, and the glymphatic pathway may constitute a new target on treatment. The recent research progress on the effects of sleep and sleep disorders on the circulation of the glymphatic system, and proposes the possibility of sleep intervention to slow down the impairment of the lymphoid system function or even restore the function of the lymphoid system and thus improve the disease development process were reviewed in this paper.

Comparative analysis of clinical diagnosis application of two intrauterine adhesion scoring criteria / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective:To explore the similarities and differences of China Society of Gynecology Endoscopy (CSGE) and American Fertility Society (AFS) intrauterine adhesion (IUA) scoring criteria on IUA grading and their predictive value of reproductive prognosis.Methods:From January 2016 to January 2019, a total of 1 249 patients were diagnosed with IUA by hysteroscopy at Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. Totally, 378 patients with complete clinical data were enrolled, and the results diagnosed by CSGT and AFS scoring criteria were compared and analyzed.And follow-up for 2 years, the pregnancy rate and live birth rate were statistical analysis.Results:(1) The grade of IUA according to AFS and CSGE scoring criteria was less consistent ( κ=0.295, P<0.001). Compared with AFS, the proportion of severe IUA cases diagnosed by CSGE was significantly lower [45.8% (173/378) vs 15.1% (57/378); RR=0.22, 95% CI: 0.15-0.30, P<0.01); the proportions of both mild and moderate IUA cases were significantly higher ( RR=4.16, 95% CI: 2.38-7.14; RR=2.38, 95% CI: 1.75-3.23; both P<0.01). (2) The pregnancy rates of mild, moderate and severe IUA diagnosed according to CSGE were 11/13, 64.5% (147/228), 31.8% (7/22), live birth rates were 11/13, 54.8% (125/228) and 22.7% (5/22), respectively; there were statistically significant differences between the groups (all P<0.01). The pregnancy rates of mild, moderate and severe IUA diagnosed based on AFS were 3/3, 66.9% (97/145) and 56.5% (65/115), respectively, with no statistically significant difference between the groups ( P>0.05). (3) IUA grades based on both CSGE and AFS criteria were significantly negatively correlated with pregnancy rates and live birth rates (CSGE: r=-0.210, r=-0.226; AFS: r=-0.130, r=-0.147; all P<0.05). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that CSGE had higher OR for both pregnancy rates and live birth rates compared to AFS (3.889 vs 1.657, 3.983 vs 1.554, respectrvely). Conclusions:Compared with AFS, the IUA grade based on CSGE is better related with reproductive prognosis, suggesting that the CSGE standard might be more objective and comprehensive and has better predictive value for reproductive prognosis, thus avoiding overdiagnosis and overtreatment.

Characteristics of metachronous gastric neoplasms after curative endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric neoplasms / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#With the wide application of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric neoplasms, metachronous gastric neoplasms (MGN) have gradually become a concern. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of MGN and evaluate the treatment and follow-up outcomes of MGN patients.@*METHODS@#A total of 814 patients were retrospectively enrolled. All these patients were treated by ESD for early gastric cancer or gastric dysplasia between November 2006 and September 2019 at The First Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital. The risk factors for MGN were analyzed using Cox hazard proportional model. Moreover, the cumulative incidence, the correlation of initial lesions and MGN lesions, and the treatment and follow-up outcomes of MGN patients were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#A total of 4.5% (37/814) of patients had MGN after curative ESD. The 3-, 5-, and 7-year cumulative incidences of MGN were 3.5%, 5.1%, and 6.9%, respectively, and ultimately reaching a plateau of 11.3% at 99 months after ESD. There was no significant correlation between initial lesions and MGN lesions in terms of gross type (P = 0.178), location (long axis: P = 0.470; short axis: P = 0.125), and histological type (P = 0.832). Cox multivariable analysis found that initial multiplicity was the only independent risk factor of MGN (hazard ratio: 4.3, 95% confidence interval: 2.0-9.4, P < 0.001). Seventy-three percent of patients with MGN were treated by endoscopic resection. During follow-up, two patients with MGN died of gastric cancer with lymph node metastasis. The disease-specific survival rate was significantly lower in patients with MGN than that in patients without MGN (94.6% vs. 99.6%, P = 0.006).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The MGN rate gradually increased with follow-up time within 99 months after curative gastric ESD. Thus, regular and long-term surveillance endoscopy may be helpful, especially for patients with initial multiple neoplasms.

Textual Research on Ancient and Modern Literature of Classical Prescription Wandaitang / 中国实验方剂学杂志

The Wandaitang，recorded in an ancient medical book named Fu Qingzhu's Obstetrics and Gynecology，is one of the Classical Prescriptions. The detailed discussion and record on Wantaitang by later medical scholars can be also regarded as the inheritance and development of the original academic thought from Fu Qingzhu's Obstetrics and Gynecology. By referring to recent literatures，we have found that there are a few reports on Wandaitang from the perspective of ancient literature，but such reports are not systematic or comprehensive enough. Under the premise of inheriting but not rigidly adhering to the ancients，investigation and analysis would be made in this paper from the aspects of the origin，efficacy，dose conversion between ancient and modern uses，usage and dosage form，modern clinical application，contraindications and others based on ancient and modern literatures，in order to further promote the textual research work on Wandaitang and provide reference for its secondary research and development. The research results showed that the origin of Wandaitang can be traced back to the Bianzhenglu（Collecting Record of Differentiation of Symptoms and Signs），and its effect can be summarized as invigorating Qi and spleen，soothing liver-Qi stagnation，elevating yang and arresting leucorrhoea. In view of the great difference between the dose of the original prescription of Wandaitang and the recommended dose in the pharmacopoeia，the author recommended that the clinical dosage of Wandaitang should be 30 g Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma，30 g Dioscoreae Rhizoma，6 g Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma，15 g Paeoniae Radix Alba，10 g Plantaginis Semen，10 g Atractylodis Rhizoma，3 g Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma，3 g Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium，3 g Schizonepetae Spica Carbonisata，and 3 g Bupleuri Radix. The main indications included leucorrhea，vulva pruritus，diarrhea，stranguria，anorexia，eczema，vertigo and so on. This prescription should be used with caution in pregnant women or those with excessive phlegm and dampness，Qi stagnation of spleen and stomach，or deficiency of Yin-fluid and blood. The research and development of Wandaitang compound preparation can be inclined to the direction of compound granules，to give full play to its clinical value and market value. The above studies，based on the textual research of ancient and modern literatures，are of great significance for clarifying the origin and clinical application of Wandaitang，and provide a new idea and basis for the secondary development of Wandaitang.

Textual Research of Persicae Semen / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Textual research on Chinese herbs is the preliminary work for the preparation of famous classical prescriptions. Through literature review，it was found that the researches of Persicae Semen focused on chemical compositions，pharmacological mechanism and medical record analysis in the recent years，and few researches based on the ancient literature were about the origin，concocting methods，flavor，meridian tropism，effects and indications. Textual research shows that the most commonly used names are Taoren and Taoheren，with a wide range of producing areas. The plant origin of Persicae Semen has not changed much since ancient times. Before the Qing dynasty，the plant origin of Persicae Semen was from the seeds of a kind of fruit named Shantao or Maotao，and in modern times，the seeds of Amygdalus persica or A. davidiana have become the major source. While different books have different views on Latin names for the origin of the Persicae Semen. We suggest that the Latin names of A. persica and A. davidiana should be more reasonable for Tao and Shantao respectively .In the concocting methods of Persicae Semen for activating vital energy and blood circulation，raw Persicae Semen should be used with peel and tip，while for moisturizing dryness，it should be fried into yellow without peel. Therefore，in the concocting methods of Persicae Semen for Taohe Chengqitang and Taohong Siwutang，the raw materials should be fried into yellow without peel or tip，while for Shentong Zhuyutang，raw Persicae Semen materials should be used with peel and tip. The indications of Persicae Semen include amenorrhea，lump，parasite，obstruction of chest，cough and asthma，constipation，etc.，and the people with blood deficiency，blood dryness and the pregnant women should use it with caution or should not use it. The modern clinical application of Persicae Semen is only a partial inheritance of ancient literature，which means that the Persicae Semen still has many effects to be verified and studied，and it is worthwhile for further exploration in order to expand its clinical application. The records of ancient literature on flavor，meridian tropism，and quality evaluation of Persicae Semen were consistent with those in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Because of the similar appearance，it is especially difficult to distinguish Persicae Semen and Armeniacae Semenis Amarum after crushing ，requiring much time and money for identification. It is recommended that medical institutions should purchase Persicae Semen without crushing as far as possible，then decide the best concocting methods according to the clinical requirement.

Secondary metabolites of endophyte Alternaria sp. W-1 from Laminaria japonica / 药学学报

Six compounds were isolated from the crude extract of the liquid culture of Alternaria sp. W-1 by silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 gel column chromatography, and HPLC. They were identified as 6-iso-tricycloalternarene 6a (1), tricycloalternarene 6a (2), tricycloalternarene B (3), uracil (4), 5-methyluracil (5), and lumichrome (6) through HR-MS, NMR and literature comparison. 6-iso-Tricycloalternarene 6a (1) is a new compound which has never been reported in the literature. In cytotoxicity assay, compounds 1-3 showed weak inhibition activity to human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721 and human gastric cell line SGC-7901.

Emerging relationship between RNA helicases and autophagy / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

RNA helicases, the largest family of proteins that participate in RNA metabolism, stabilize the intracellular environment through various processes, such as translation and pre-RNA splicing. These proteins are also involved in some diseases, such as cancers and viral diseases. Autophagy, a self-digestive and cytoprotective trafficking process in which superfluous organelles and cellular garbage are degraded to stabilize the internal environment or maintain basic cellular survival, is associated with human diseases. Interestingly, similar to autophagy, RNA helicases play important roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis and are related to many types of diseases. According to recent studies, RNA helicases are closely related to autophagy, participate in regulating autophagy, or serve as a bridge between autophagy and other cellular activities that widely regulate some pathophysiological processes or the development and progression of diseases. Here, we summarize the most recent studies to understand how RNA helicases function as regulatory proteins and determine their association with autophagy in various diseases.

A new cytochalasan compound from endophyte Chaetomium globosum WQ in Imperata cylindrical / 药学学报

italic>Chaetomium globosum WQ, an endophyte derived from Imperata cylindrical, can produce abundant cytochalasan compounds through solid state fermentation. Based on previous research and guided by 1H NMR spectrum and TLC, a new cytochalasan compound was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of a solid culture of C. globosum WQ using silica gel column chromatography, gel filtration over Sephadex LH-20 and HPLC. The new compound was characterized as 20-iso-chaetoglobosin E (1) by a combination of spectroscopic (HR-MS, 1D and 2D NMR) analyses.

Morphologic evolution of recent small sub-cortical infarcts and adjacent white matter in the basal ganglia in a Chinese cohort / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Data on the evolution of recent small sub-cortical infarcts are limited, especially in the Chinese. Previous studies have reported a large heterogeneity in cavitation and infarct location; therefore, the present study assessed the morphology of small sub-cortical infarcts in the basal ganglia in a Chinese cohort.@*METHODS@#Patients who had experienced a recent, single, small sub-cortical infarct in the basal ganglia and received at least one follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan were retrospectively identified from January 2014 to June 2018. Time to follow-up imaging, baseline infarct size, vascular risk factors, and other clinical data, as well as the morphologic changes of the index infarct and surrounding white matter were recorded. Demographic, clinical and MRI characteristics were respectively compared among three groups (white matter hyper-intensitie [WMH] vs. cavitation vs. absent) and between with and without new WMH formation groups. In addition, logistic regression analyses were performed in investigating the determinate independent predictors for new WMH formation.@*RESULTS@#Seventy-eight subjects were included with a median follow-up time of 304 days (range: 124-552 days). We found a significant reduction in infarct size at follow-up: 46 of 78 (59.0%) infarctions showed some degree of cavitation, 19 of 78 (24.4%) index lesions resembled non-cavitated WMH, and 13 of 78 (16.7%) infarcts had disappeared at follow-up MRI. No factors were found to be associated with differential outcomes of the infarcts. In addition, 8 of 78 (10.3%) patients demonstrated new WMH formation surrounding the index infarct; white matter progression (odds ratio = 15.95, 95% confidence interval = 1.65-153.99; P = 0.017) was an independent risk factor of new WMH formation.@*CONCLUSIONS@#More than half of the small sub-cortical infarcts in the basal ganglia progressed to cavities, demonstrating that these infarcts can be reduced and go undetected. The presence of new WMH around the infarct may be indicative of the worsening progression of cerebral small vessel diseases. Additionally, white matter progression is an independent risk factor, which may be a potential therapeutic target.

Urodynamic assessment of bladder storage function after radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#After radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer, the most common complication is lower urinary tract symptoms. Post-operatively, bladder capacity can alter bladder function for a prolonged period. This study aimed to identify factors affecting bladder storage function.@*METHODS@#A multicenter, retrospective cohort study was conducted. Information of patients with stages IA2 to IIB cervical cancer with urodynamic study results were retrospectively collected from nine hospitals between June 2013 and June 2018 according to the inclusion criteria. Demographic, surgical, and oncological data were collected. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify clinical factors associated with bladder storage function.@*RESULTS@#Two hundred and three patients with cervical cancer had urodynamic testing post-operatively. Ninety-five (46.8%) patients were diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The incidence of low bladder compliance (LBC) was 23.2%. Twenty-seven (13.3%) patients showed detrusor overactivity (DO). Fifty-seven patients (28.1%) presented with a decreased maximum cystometric capacity (DMCC). The probability of composite bladder storage dysfunction was 68.0%. Multivariate analysis confirmed that laparoscopy represents a protective factor for SUI with an odds ratio of 0.498 (P = 0.034). Patients who underwent a nerve-sparing procedure were less odds to experience SUI (P = 0.014). A significant positive correlation between LBC and DO was observed (P < 0.001). A greater length of the resected vagina and chemoradiotherapy were common risk factors for LBC and DO, while radiotherapy exerted a stronger effect than chemotherapy. Additionally, patients who received chemoradiotherapy frequently developed a DMCC. The follow-up time was not correlated with bladder storage function.@*CONCLUSION@#A nerve-sparing procedure without longer resected vagina is recommended for protecting the bladder storage function.

Clinical characteristics of 512 cases of cosmetics-related skin adverse reactions and analysis of allergenic components of cosmetics / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective:To analyze clinical characteristics of cosmetics-related adverse reactions and main allergenic components of cosmetics, to provide guidance for cosmetics-related adverse reaction monitoring, and to provide an objective basis for risk assessment.Methods:A total of 512 patients with suspected cosmetic adverse reactions were collected from the outpatient clinic of Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from March 2018 to October 2019, including 14 males and 498 females. A uniform cosmetic adverse reaction report card was filled in, and medical history of patients and related information about the used cosmetics were recorded; 103 patients (3 males and 100 females) were subjected to patch test with their own cosmetics or cosmetic ingredients, and 48- and 72-hour patch test results were combined for comprehensive determination and analysis.Results:Among the 512 cases of suspected cosmetic adverse reactions, contact dermatitis (495 cases, 96.7%) was the most common manifestation. Cosmetic adverse reactions mainly manifested as erythema (501 cases, 97.9%), papules (313, 61.1%), edema (249, 48.6%), and scaling (166, 32.4%) ; main symptoms included itching (480, 93.8%), burning sensation (359, 70.1%), and tense sensation (297, 58.0%). Patch test with cosmetic ingredients showed positive reactions in 71 of 103 cases, and thimerosal was the allergen mostly liable to cause adverse reactions (31 cases, 30.1%), followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate (29 cases, 28.2%), Peru balsam (17 cases, 16.5%), bronopol (12 cases, 11.7%) and triethanoamine (10 cases, 9.7%). The cosmetic allergens were divided into 14 categories, and the top 4 categories with high positive patch test rates were emulsifiers (54 cases, 45.8%), preservatives (47 cases, 39.8%), fragrances (17 cases, 14.4%) and surfactants (10 cases, 8.5%). Positive patch test reactions were observed in 2 males and 69 females, and there was no significant difference in the positive rate between males and females (2/3 vs. 69/100, χ2 = 0.01, P > 0.05) ; there was also no significant difference in the positive rate among the groups aged 18 - 29 years (34%), 30 - 49 years (34%) and 50 - 70 years (32.4%; χ2 = 0.693, P > 0.05) . Conclusions:Contact dermatitis is the most common adverse reaction to cosmetics. Among the diverse allergenic components of cosmetics, thimerosal is the allergen that is mostly liable to cause adverse reactions, followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate, Peru balsam, bronopol and triethanoamine.

Screening and evaluation of sunscreen cosmetics for sensitive facial skin / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective:To screen and evaluate sunscreen cosmetics for sensitive facial skin.Methods:From June to August in 2019, 40 subjects with positive lactic acid sting test were recruited from the staff of Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, and subjected to human skin closed patch testing with 4 kinds of sunscreen cosmetics for sensitive skin (marked as products Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ respectively) separately. Then, the 40 subjects were equally divided into 2 groups to apply 2 sunscreen products with relatively higher safety (according to the above closed patch testing results) on the face respectively. Erythema, edema and desquamation were evaluated at baseline, 2 and 4 weeks after application of the 2 products, and non-invasive measurement methods were used to detect transepidermal water loss (TEWL) , stratum corneum hydration, skin melanin content and skin sebum content. In additon, the 2 products were applied on the back of the subjects separately, and an ultraviolet solar simulator was used to determine the sun protection factor (SPF, n = 12) and protection factor of UVA (PFA, n = 11) . Measurement data were compared using paired t test and one-way analysis of variance, and nonparametric data were compared using Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results:Patch testing showed that only 1 subject developed a grade 1 reaction to the sunscreen product Ⅲ, no subjects showed positive reactions to the product Ⅳ, and the safety of products Ⅲ and Ⅳ was higher than that of the other 2 products. Subjective safety evaluation revealed that the degree of erythema after 4-week application of products Ⅲ and Ⅳ was significantly lower than that before application (Wilcoxon signed rank test, Z = 4.73, 4.82 respectively, both P < 0.05) . Objective efficacy evaluation revealed that the TEWL, stratum corneum hydration and skin melanin content significantly differed among different time points (baseline, after 2- and 4-week application of products Ⅲ and Ⅳ, all P < 0.05); after 4-week application of products Ⅲ and Ⅳ, the TEWL (30.05 ± 1.47, 30.37 ± 1.28 respectively) and skin melanin content (112.58 ± 7.34, 103.47 ± 5.48 respectively) were significantly lower than those before application (all P < 0.05) , and the stratum corneum hydration (62.35 ± 2.67, 63.72 ± 2.54 respectively) was significantly higher than that before application (both P < 0.05) . At week 4, the skin melanin content was significantly lower in the product Ⅳ group (103.47 ± 5.48) than in the product Ⅲ group (112.58 ± 7.34, t = 8.45, P < 0.05) . The SPF and PFA values of the product Ⅳ (51.8 ± 2.9, 10.1 ± 1.2 respectively) were both significantly higher than those of the product Ⅲ (31.5 ± 2.6, 7.4 ± 0.7, t = 15.34, 24.66, respectively, both P < 0.05) . Conclusion:Comprehensive application of closed patch testing, long-term application test and sun protection index determination can be used to screen and evaluate the safety and efficacy of sunscreen cosmetics for sensitive facial skin.

Expression and significance of chemokine CXCL12 and receptor CXCR4 in adenomyosis / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective:To observe the expression, correlation and significance of chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12) and chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4) in endometrium and myometrium of adenomyosis.Methods:Totally 38 patients were selected in this study, who underwent hysterectomy for adenomyosis at Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital from October 2017 to December 2018 as the adenomyosis group, and, in the same period, selected 31 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia Ⅲ or cervical cancer undergoing hysterectomy served as control group. The expression levels of mRNA and protein for CXCL12, CXCR4 in the endometrium and myometrium of the two groups were detected by immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR.Results:(1) The protein levels of CXCL12 and CXCR4 in endometrium in uterus with adenomyosis (0.229±0.025 and 0.226±0.016) were significantly higher than those in endometrium in uterus without adenomyosis (0.153±0.018 and 0.178±0.026); compared with each other, the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). And the expressions of CXCL12 and CXCR4 proteins in uterine myometrium of adenomyosis were 0.222±0.045 and 0.126±0.058, respectively, which were higher than those in the control group (0.091±0.029 and 0.099±0.020); compared with each other, the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). (2) The expression levels of CXCL12 and CXCR4 mRNA in endometrium of patients with adenomyosis were 6.31±0.12 and 8.49±0.21, respectively, which were higher than those in the control group (1.23±0.10 and 1.36±0.13); compared with each other, the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Moreover, the expression levels of CXCL12 and CXCR4 mRNA in myometrium of patients with adenomyosis were 9.11±0.12 and 8.45±0.16, respectively, which were higher than those in the control group (1.18±0.08 and 1.46±0.13); compared with each other, the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). (3) In endometrium and myometrium of uterus with adenomyosis, CXCL12 and CXCR4 mRNA expression levels were positively associated ( r=0.478, 0.542, all P<0.05). Conclusions:The levels of CXCL12 and CXCR4 in the endometrium and myometrium of adenomyosis are increased and positively correlated. The two chemokine may be involved in the development of adenomyosis.

Research on improving the core competency of ophthalmological residents by lecturer training / 中华医学教育探索杂志

The lifelong teaching and learning abilities based on training the core competency of ophthalmology residents is a new hot spot in the curriculum design of ophthalmological standardized residency training. In the standardized residency training base of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Ophthalmic Center, a graded lecturer training curriculum with residents as core has been designed to train the critical thinking, active learning, summarizing and presenting skills of residents at all levels. According to the different tasks, the residents can present themselves through online and offline platforms so that they can gradually grow into different levels of lecturers. Through the graded training of lecturers from low level to high level, step by step, the residents are trained as active learners from the thinking mode, become student-instructors or lecturers from the teaching ability, and be more competent for future study and work.

Preparation and characterization of glycyrrhetinic acid-modified nano graphene oxide drug delivery system / 中国中药杂志

In this study,a nano drug delivery system GA-DTX-NGO which could be used for liver tumor photothermal and chemotherapy was prepared and characterized,with docetaxel(DTX) as model drug,glycyrrhetinic acid(GA) as the target molecule,and nano graphene oxide(NGO) as the photosensitizer. Firstly,GA-NGO nanocomposites were synthesized by the amidation reaction,and then GA-DTX-NGO was prepared by ultrasonic dispersion method. The encapsulation efficiency and drug loading ratio were determined by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) and ultracentrifugation; the morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy(TEM). The photothermal conversion test was carried out by laser irradiation at 808 nm and the drug release test in vitro was performed using reverse dialysis. Finally,the effect of GA-DTX-NGO on SMMC-7721 liver tumor cells proliferation was determined by using MTT assay. The results showed that GA-DTX-NGO had good water dispersibility,and TEM results showed a lamellar structure with about 200 nm in diameter. The encapsulation efficiency and drug loading ratio of GA-DTX-NGO were(98. 89 ± 0. 07) % and(64. 74±0. 26) %,respectively. GA-DTX-NGO had strong photothermal conversion performance under 808 nm of laser irradiation. The drug release test in vitro results showed GA-DTX-NGO had obvious sustained-release effects and temperature-dependent release characteristics. The results of cell assay showed that GA-DTX-NGO could effectively inhibit the proliferation of SMMC 7721 cells in a concentration-and time-dependent manner,and the inhibitory effect was enhanced after combination with the near-infrared therapy. In conclusion,the preparation process of GA-DTX-NGO nano drug delivery system is feasible,which could provide some theoretical basis for further study of photothermal and chemotherapy on liver tumor.

Grade Standard of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To explore the correlation between the characters and chemical constituents of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma through the analysis of characters and main chemical constituents of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,and establish the grade evaluation criteria of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, so as to provide reference for the quality evaluation and quality control of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. Method:Correlation analysis,principal component analysis and cluster analysis were carried out for appearance and intrinsic indexes of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. Result:Class Ⅰ of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma:the diameter of big end was more than 1.60 cm,middle circumference was more than 3.76 cm,inner core chromaticity b* was more than13.88,outer skin chromaticity a* was more than 37.61,glycyrrhizin content was more than 1.13%,with no worm,rot and impurity. Class Ⅱ of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma:the diameter of big end was 1.39-1.60 cm,the middle circumference was 3.09-3.76 cm,the inner core chromaticity b* was 10.22-13.88,the skin chromaticity a* was 35.57-37.61,glycyrrhizin content was 0.69%-1.13%,with no worm,rot and impurity. Class Ⅲ of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma:the diameter of the big end was 1.08-1.39 cm,the middle circumference was 2.41-3.09 cm,the inner core chromaticity b* was 5.16-10.22,the skin chromaticity a* was 29.19-35.57,glycyrrhizin content was 0.55%-0.69%,with no worm and rot. Substandard Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma:the diameter of the big end was lower than 1.08 cm,the central circumference was lower than 2.41 cm,the inner core color b* was lower than 5.16,the outer skin color a* was lower than 29.19, and glycyrrhizin content was lower than 0.55%. Conclusion:The grade evaluation standards established in this paper include appearance and intrinsic indexes, with scientific,comprehensive and practical characteristics. It can be used for the grade evaluation of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma medicinal materials.

Grade Standard of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Pieces / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: On the basis of traditional experience identification,and appearance characteristics and intrinsic index components of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma pieces,a comprehensive evaluation was carried out to explore the method of grading Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma pieces and establish grading standards. Method: Based on the investigation of 44 batches of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma pieces,including their properties,glycyrrhizin content and ammonium glycyrrhizinate content,Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma pieces were classified according to the market grading to establish the grading standards. Result: Based on the above data,the Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma pieces were classified into four grades. First-class:average diameter>1.66 mm,average weight>0.54 g,glycyrrhizin content>1.10%,glycyrrhizic acid content>2.12%. Second-class:the average diameter is between 1.40-1.66 mm,the average weight is between 0.42-0.54 g,the content of glycyrrhizin is between 0.74%-1.10%,and the content of glycyrrhizic acid is between 1.95%-2.12%. Third-class:the average diameter is between 1.07-1.40 mm,the average weight is between 0.29-0.42 g,the content of glycyrrhizin is between 0.65%-0.74%,and the content of glycyrrhizic acid is between 1.88%-1.95%. Substandard:the average diameterConclusion: This experiment combines the traditional experience and modern analysis method,in order to develop a scientific,reasonable and accurate classification method.

Umbelliferone ameliorates renal function in diabetic nephropathy rats through regulating inflammation and TLR/NF-κB pathway / 中国天然药物

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a leading cause of renal failure, contributing to severe morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Umbelliferae (Umb) has been well characterized to exert protective effects in diabetes. However, the action and mechanism of Umb in DN remains unclear. In this work, we studied the effect of Umb in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DN rat model and explore its underlying mechanism. DN rats were treated withUmb (20, 40 mg·kg) orirbesartan (15 mg·kg) for 4 weeks. Levels of serum glucose, insulin, blood uric acid, creatinine, triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were measured bycommercial assay kits, respectively. Histopathological changes andinflammatory cytokine levels including IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α in the kidney were also evaluated. Alterations in the expression of podocin, CD2AP and TLR/NF-κB were assessed by western blotting. Our results showed that Umb reduced renal injury in DN rat model, as evidenced by the decrease in blood glucose, 24 h urinary protein, serum creatinine, and blood uric acid. Umb also significantly ameliorated the renal histopathological alteration, and down-regulated the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-related molecular markers podocin and CD2AP. Moreover, Umb inhibited TLR2, TLR4, MyD88 expressions, NF-κB activation and considerably reduced levels of other downstream inflammatory molecules (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β). These findings indicated that Umb improved renal function through regulating inflammation and TLR/NF-κB pathway, suggesting the potential efficacy of Umb in DN treatment.