Two pairs of phloroglucinol enantiomers from Hypericum wightianum and their stereochemical structures / 中国中药杂志

The chemical constituents in the ethanol extract of Hypericum wightianum(Hypericaceae) were purified by column chromatography and identified via magnetic resonance imaging(NMR), high-resolution mass spectrum, and circular dichroism. A total of 22 compounds were identified, including eight polyprenylated phloroglucinols(1-8), three chromones(9-11), and three terpenoids(14-16) and so on. Among them, compounds 16 and 17 were first reported in the genus Hypericum, and compounds 1-11, 14, 15, and 19 were first isolated from H. wightianum. Compounds 1-4 were previously reported as two pairs of enantiomers. This study reported the chiral resolutions and absolute configurations of compounds 1-4 for the first time.

Construction of TRAF6 ubiquitin site 331 mutant colorectal cancer cell stable line and its effect on biological behavior of colorectal cancer cells / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To investigate the effect of ubiquitin mutation at position 331 of tumor necrosis factor receptor related factor 6 (TRAF6) on the biological characteristics of colorectal cancer cells and its mechanism. Methods: lentivirus wild type (pCDH-3×FLAG-TRAF6) and mutation (pCDH-3×FLAG-TRAF6-331mut) of TRAF6 gene expression plasmid with green fluorescent protein tag were used to infect colorectal cancer cells SW480 and HCT116, respectively. The infection was observed by fluorescence microscope, and the expressions of TRAF6 and TRAF6-331mut in cells was detected by western blot. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and plate cloning test were used to detect the proliferation ability of colorectal cancer cells in TRAF6 group and TRAF6-331mut group, cell scratch test to detect cell migration, Transwell chamber test to detect cell migration and invasion, immunoprecipitation to detect the ubiquitination of TRAF6 and TRAF6-331mut with ubiquitinof lysine binding sites K48 and K63. Western blot was used to detect the effects of TRAF6 and TRAF6-331mut over expression on the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and mitogen activated protein kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/activating protein-1(AP-1) signal pathway. Results: The successful infection of colorectal cancer cells was observed under fluorescence microscope. Western blot detection showed that TRAF6 and TRAF6-331mut were successfully expressed in colorectal cancer cells. The results of CCK-8 assay showed that on the fourth day, the absorbance values of HCT116 and SW480 cells in TRAF6-331mut group were 1.89±0.39 and 1.88±0.24 respectively, which were lower than those in TRAF6 group (2.09±0.12 and 2.17±0.45, P=0.036 and P=0.011, respectively). The results of plate colony formation assay showed that the number of clones of HCT116 and SW480 cells in TRAF6-331mut group was 120±14 and 85±14 respectively, which was lower than those in TRAF6 group (190±21 and 125±13, P=0.001 and P=0.002, respectively). The results of cell scratch test showed that after 48 hours, the percentage of wound healing distance of HCT116 and SW480 cells in TRAF6-331mut group was (31±12)% and (33±14)%, respectively, which was lower than those in TRAF6 group [(43±13)% and (43±7)%, P=0.005 and 0.009, respectively]. The results of Transwell migration assay showed that the migration numbers of HCT116 and SW480 cells in TRAF6-331mut group were significantly lower than those in TRAF6 group (P<0.001 and P<0.002, respectively). The results of Transwell invasion assay showed that the number of membrane penetration of HCT116 and SW480 cells in TRAF6-331mut group was significantly lower than those in TRAF6 group (P=0.008 and P=0.009, respectively). The results of immunoprecipitation detection showed that the ubiquitin protein of K48 chain pulled by TRAF6-331mut was lower than that of wild type TRAF6 in 293T cells co-transfected with K48 (0.57±0.19), and the ubiquitin protein of K63 chain pulled down by TRAF6-331mut in 293T cells co-transfected with K63 was lower than that of wild type TRAF6 (0.89±0.08, P<0.001). Western blot assay showed that the protein expression levels of NF-κB, p-NF-κB and p-AP-1 in TRAF6-331mut-HCT116 cells were 0.63±0.08, 0.42±0.08 and 0.60±0.07 respectively, which were lower than those in TRAF6-HCT116 cells (P=0.002, P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). The expression level of AP-1 protein in TRAF6-HCT116 cells was 0.89±0.06, compared with that in TRAF6-HCT116 cells. The difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The protein expression levels of NF-κB, p-NF-κB and p-AP-1 in TRAF6-331mut-SW480 cells were 0.50±0.06, 0.51±0.04, 0.48±0.02, respectively, which were lower than those in TRAF6-SW480 cells (all P<0.001). There was no significant difference in AP-1 protein expression between TRAF6-331mut-SW480 cells and TRAF6-SW480 cells. Conclusion: The ubiquitin site mutation of TRAF6 gene at 331 may prevent the binding of TRAF6 and ubiquitin lysine sites K48 and K63, and then affect the expressions of proteins related to downstream NF-κB and MAPK/AP-1 signal pathways, and inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells.

A medium-and long-term comparative observation on volumetric changes of cervical disc herniation after symmetrically or asymmetrically decompression and conservative treatment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy / 中华外科杂志

Objective: To compare the volumetric changes of cervical disc herniation (CDH) after cervical microendoscopic laminoplasty(CMEL),expansive open-door laminoplasty (EOLP) and conservative treatment. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted involving 101 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy(CSM),at the Department of Orthopaedics,the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from April 2012 to April 2021. The patients included 52 males and 49 females with an age of (54.7±11.8) years(range:25 to 86 years). Among them, 35 patients accepted CMEL treatment,33 patients accepted EOLP treatment,while 33 patients accepted conservative treatment. Volume data of CDH were measured by three-dimensional analysis of the initial and follow-up MRI images. The absorption rate and reprotrusion rate of CDH were calculated. The happening of resorption or reprotrusion was defined when the ratio was greater than 5%. The clinical outcomes and quality of life were evaluated by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and the neck disability index (NDI).Quantitative data was analyzed by one-way ANOVA with post LSD-t test (multiple comparison) or Kruskal-Wallis test. Categorical data was analyzed by χ2test. Results: The follow-up time of the CMEL group,EOLP group and the conservative treatment group were (27.6±18.8)months,(21.6±6.9)months and(24.9±16.3)months respectively with no significant difference(P>0.05). Changes of CDH volume in patients:(1) There were 96 CDH of 35 patients in the CMEL group,among which 78 showed absorption. The absorption frequency was 81.3%(78/96) and the absorption rate was ranged 5.9% to 90.9%;9 CDH showed reprotrusion,the reprotrusion frequency was 9.4% (9/96) and the reprotrusion rate was 5.9% to 13.3%;(2) There were 94 CDH of 33 patients in the EOLP group,of which 45 showed absorption. The absorption prevalence was 47.9% (45/94) and the absorption rate was 5.0% to 26.7%;20 CDH showed reprotruded,with the reprotrusion frequency of 21.3% (20/94) and the reprotrusion rate was 5.8% to 28.3%;(3) There were 102 CDH in 33 patients of the conservative group. Among them, 5 showed absorption. The absorption frequency was 4.9% (5/102),and the absorption rate was 7.2% to 14.3%;58 CDH showed reprotruded with the re-protrusion ratio of 56.9% (58/102) and the re-protrusion rate was 5.4% to 174.1%. The absorption ratio and reprotrusion ratio of the CMEL group were statistically different from EOLP group or the conservative group (P<0.01).The absorption ratio and reprotrusion ratio of the EOLP group was different from conservative group (P<0.01). In terms of clinical outcomes, the excellent/good rate of the JOA score and NDI scores in the CMEL group were different from that of conservative group (P<0.01) but not from that of the EOLP group(P>0.05). Conclusions: CMEL is an effective method for the treatment of CSM,making CDH easier to resorption compared to the EOLP or conservative treatment,thus making a better decompression effect on the nerves. This study enlightened on a new strategy for the clinical treatment of CSM.

Total Saponins of Panax notoginseng Activate Akt/mTOR Pathway and Exhibit Neuroprotection in vitro and in vivo against Ischemic Damage / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To reveal the neuroprotective effect and the underlying mechanisms of a mixture of the main components of Panax notoginseng saponins (TSPN) on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) of cultured cortical neurons.@*METHODS@#The neuroprotective effect of TSPN was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, flow cytometry and live/dead cell assays. The morphology of dendrites was detected by immunofluorescence. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was developed in rats as a model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. The neuroprotective effect of TSPN was evaluated by neurological scoring, tail suspension test, 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) and Nissl stainings. Western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to measure the changes in the Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway.@*RESULTS@#MTT showed that TSPN (50, 25 and 12.5 µ g/mL) protected cortical neurons after OGD/R treatment (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Flow cytometry and live/dead cell assays indicated that 25 µ g/mL TSPN decreased neuronal apoptosis (P<0.05), and immunofluorescence showed that 25 µ g/mL TSPN restored the dendritic morphology of damaged neurons (P<0.05). Moreover, 12.5 µ g/mL TSPN downregulated the expression of Beclin-1, Cleaved-caspase 3 and LC3B-II/LC3B-I, and upregulated the levels of phosphorylated (p)-Akt and p-mTOR (P<0.01 or P<0.05). In the MCAO model, 50 µ g/mL TSPN improved defective neurological behavior and reduced infarct volume (P<0.05). Moreover, the expression of Beclin-1 and LC3B in cerebral ischemic penumbra was downregulated after 50 µ g/mL TSPN treatment, whereas the p-mTOR level was upregulated (P<0.05 or P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#TSPN promoted neuronal survival and protected dendrite integrity after OGD/R and had a potential therapeutic effect by alleviating neurological deficits and reversing neuronal loss. TSPN promoted p-mTOR and inhibited Beclin-1 to alleviate ischemic damage, which may be the mechanism that underlies the neuroprotective activity of TSPN.

Efficacy and safety of IAC regimen for relapse/refractory acute myeloid leukemia: a prospective randomized controlled study / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity profiles of idarubicin, cytarabine, and cyclophosphamide (IAC) in relapse/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) . Methods: This study was a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial with the registration number NCT02937662. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group was treated with an IAC regimen, and the regimen of the control group was selected by doctors according to medication experience. After salvage chemotherapy, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) was conducted as far as possible according to the situation of the patients. We aimed to observe the efficacy, safety, and toxicity of the IAC regimen in relapse/refractory AML and to explore which is the better regimen. Results: Forty-two patients were enrolled in the clinical trial, with a median age of 36 years (IAC group, 22 cases and control groups, 20 cases) . ①The objective response rate was 71.4% in the IAC group and 40.0% in the control group (P=0.062) ; the complete remission (CR) rate was 66.7% in the IAC group and 40.0% in the control group (P=0.121) . The median follow-up time of surviving patients was 10.5 (range:1.7-32.8) months; the median overall survival (OS) was 14.1 (range: 0.6-49.1) months in the IAC group and 9.9 (range: 2.0-53.8) months in the control group (P=0.305) . The 1-year OS was 54.5% (95%CI 33.7%-75.3%) in the IAC group and 48.2% (95%CI 25.9%-70.5%) in the control group (P=0.305) , with no significant difference between these two regimens. ②The main hematologic adverse events (AEs) were anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia. The incidence of grade 3-4 hematologic AEs in the two groups was 100% (22/22) in the IAC group and 95% (19/20) in the control group. The median time of neutropenia after chemotherapy in the IAC group and control group was 20 (IQR: 8-30) and 14 (IQR: 5-50) days, respectively (P=0.023) . ③The CR rate of the early relapse (relapse within 12 months) group was 46.7% and that of the late relapse (relapse after 12 months) group was 72.7% (P=0.17) . The median OS time of early recurrence was 9.9 (range:1.7-53.8) months, and that of late recurrence patients was 19.3 (range: 0.6-40.8) months (P=0.420) , with no significant differences between the two groups. The 1-year OS rates were 45.3% (95%CI 27.2%-63.3%) and 66.7% (95%CI 40.0%-93.4%) , respectively (P=0.420) . Survival analysis showed that the 1-year OS rates of the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation group and non-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation group were 87.5% (95%CI 71.2%-100%) and 6.3% (95%CI 5.7%-18.3%) , respectively. The OS rate of the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation group was significantly higher than that of the non-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation group (P<0.001) . Conclusion: The IAC regimen is a well-tolerated and effective regimen in relapsed/refractory AML; this regimen had similar efficacy and safety with the regimen selected according to the doctor's experience for treating relapsed/refractory AML. For relapsed/refractory patients with AML, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation should be attempted as soon as possible to achieve long-term survival.

Comparison of the efficacy of IA and HAD induction regimens in the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia: a single-center study / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To compare the efficacy of two induction regimens, namely, idarubicin combined with cytarabine (IA) versus the combination of homoharringtonine, daunorubicin, and cytarabine (HAD) , in adult patients with newly diagnosed de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) . Methods: From May 2014 to November 2019, 199 patients diagnosed with AML receiving either the IA or HAD regimens were assessed for overall survival (OS) , relapse-free survival (RFS) , as well as the CR rate and the MRD negative rate after induction therapy. The differences in prognosis between the two induction therapy groups was assessed according to factors, including age, white blood cell (WBC) count, NPM1 mutation, FLT3-ITD mutation, 2017 ELN risk stratification, CR(1) transplantation, and the use of high-dose cytarabine during consolidation therapy, etc. Results: Among the 199 patients, there were 104 males and 95 females, with a median age of 37 (15-61) years. Ninety patients received the IA regimen, and 109 received the HAD regimen. Comparing the efficacy of the IA and HAD regimens, the CR rates after the first induction therapy were 71.1% and 63.3%, respectively (P=0.245) , and the MRD negative rates after the first induction therapy were 53.3% and 48.6%, respectively (P=0.509) . One patient in the IA group and two in the HAD group died within 60 days after induction. The two-year OS was 61.5% and 70.6%, respectively (P=0.835) , and the two-year RFS was 51.6% and 57.8%, respectively (P=0.291) . There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups. Multivariate analysis showed that the ELN risk stratification was an independent risk factor in both induction groups; CR(1) HSCT was an independent prognostic factor for OS and RFS in the IA patients and for RFS in the HAD patients but not for OS in the HAD patients. Age, WBC level, NPM1 mutation, and FLT3-ITD mutation had no independent prognostic significance. Conclusion: The IA and HAD regimens were both effective induction regimens for AML patients.

Relationship between body mass index and sexual development in Chinese children / 中华儿科杂志

Objective: To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and sexual development in Chinese children. Methods: A nationwide multicenter and population-based large cross-sectional study was conducted in 13 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of China from January 2017 to December 2018. Data on sex, age, height, weight were collected, BMI was calculated and sexual characteristics were analyzed. The subjects were divided into four groups based on age, including ages 3-<6 years, 6-<10 years, 10-<15 years and 15-<18 years. Multiple Logistic regression models were used for evaluating the associations of BMI with sexual development in children. Dichotomous Logistic regression was used to compare the differences in the distribution of early and non-early puberty among normal weight, overweight and obese groups. Curves were drawn to analyze the relationship between the percentage of early puberty and BMI distribution in girls and boys at different Tanner stages. Results: A total of 208 179 healthy children (96 471 girls and 111 708 boys) were enrolled in this study. The OR values of B2, B3 and B4+ in overweight girls were 1.72 (95%CI: 1.56-1.89), 3.19 (95%CI: 2.86-3.57), 7.14 (95%CI: 6.33-8.05) and in obese girls were 2.05 (95%CI: 1.88-2.24), 4.98 (95%CI: 4.49-5.53), 11.21 (95%CI: 9.98-12.59), respectively; while the OR values of G2, G3, G4+ in overweight boys were 1.27 (95%CI: 1.17-1.38), 1.52 (95%CI: 1.36-1.70), 1.88 (95%CI: 1.66-2.14) and in obese boys were 1.27 (95%CI: 1.17-1.37), 1.59 (95%CI: 1.43-1.78), and 1.93 (95%CI: 1.70-2.18) (compared with normal weight Tanner 1 group,all P<0.01). Analysis in different age groups found that OR values of obese girls at B2 stage and boys at G2 stage were 2.02 (95%CI: 1.06-3.86) and 2.32 (95%CI:1.05-5.12) in preschool children aged 3-<6 years, respectively (both P<0.05). And in the age group of 6-10 years, overweight girls had a 5.45-fold risk and obese girls had a 12.54-fold risk of B3 stage compared to girls with normal BMI. Compared with normal weight children, the risk of early puberty was 2.67 times higher in overweight girls, 3.63 times higher in obese girls, and 1.22 times higher in overweight boys, 1.35 times higher in obese boys (all P<0.01). Among the children at each Tanner stages, the percentage of early puberty increased with the increase of BMI, from 5.7% (80/1 397), 16.1% (48/299), 13.8% (27/195) to 25.7% (198/769), 65.1% (209/321), 65.4% (157/240) in girls aged 8-<9, 10-<11 and 11-<12 years, and 6.6% (34/513), 18.7% (51/273), 21.6% (57/264) to 13.3% (96/722), 46.4% (140/302), 47.5% (105/221) in boys aged 9-<10, 12-<13 and 13-<14 years, respectively. Conclusions: BMI is positively correlated with sexual development in both Chinese boys and girls, and the correlation is stronger in girls. Obesity is a risk factor for precocious puberty in preschool children aged 3-<6 years, and 6-<10 years of age is a high risk period for early development in obese girls.

Direct-to-implant breast reconstruction following nipple-sparing mastectomy: predictive factors of adverse surgical outcomes in Asian patients

Background@#Direct-to-implant (DTI) breast reconstruction after nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) with the use of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) provides reliable outcomes; however, the use of ADM is associated with a higher risk of complications. We analyzed our experiences of post-NSM DTI without ADM and identified the predictive factors of adverse surgical outcomes. @*Methods@#Patients who underwent NSM and immediate DTI or two-stage tissue expander (TE) breast reconstruction from 2009 to 2020 were enrolled. Predictors of adverse endpoints were analyzed. @*Results@#There were 100 DTI and 29 TE reconstructions. The TE group had a higher rate of postmastectomy radiotherapy (31% vs. 11%; P=0.009), larger specimens (317.37±176.42 g vs. 272.08±126.33 g; P=0.047), larger implants (360.84±85.19 g vs. 298.83±81.13 g; P=0.004) and a higher implant/TE exposure ratio (10.3% vs. 1%; P=0.035). In DTI reconstruction, age over 50 years (odds ratio [OR], 5.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.50–19.74; P=0.010) and a larger mastectomy weight (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.08–2.51; P=0.021) were associated with a higher risk of acute complications. Intraoperative radiotherapy for the nipple-areolar complex increased the risk of acute complications (OR, 4.05; 95% CI, 1.07–15.27; P=0.039) and the likelihood of revision surgery (OR, 5.57; 95% CI, 1.25–24.93; P=0.025). @*Conclusions@#Immediate DTI breast reconstruction following NSM is feasible in Asian patients with smaller breasts.

Identification of factors affecting Oncomelania hupensis density in Eastern Dongting Lake regions / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To evaluate the impact of water pollutants, water levels and meteorological factors on the Oncomelania hupensis density in Eastern Dongting Lake regions, so as to provide insights into schistosomiasis control. Methods O. hupensis snails were surveyed using a systematic sampling method in snail-infested marshlands in Eastern Dongting Lake regions from 2007 to 2014, and data pertaining to water pollutants, water levels and meteorological factors were collected. The duration of submergence and the date of the start of submergence were calculated. The snail density and its influencing factors were descriptively analyzed, and a linear mixed model was generated to examine the impacts of variables on the snail density. In addition, smooth curves were fitted to investigate the relationship between snail density and variables. Results The snail density appeared a fluctuation in Eastern Dongting Lake regions during the period from 2007 to 2014, with the highest density on October, 2010 (52.79 snails/0.1 m2) and the lowest density on January 2009 (2.15 snails/0.1 m2). Linear mixed-model analysis showed that permanganate index, total phosphorus and the date of the start of submergence affected the snail density (t = 6.386, −2.920 and −3.892, all P values < 0.01). Smooth curve analysis revealed that the associations of the snail density with the permanganate index and total phosphorus appeared an approximately quadratic curve. After the end of April, the earlier date of the start of submergence resulted in a higher snail density. Conclusion Permenganate index, total phosphorus and the date of the start of submergence affect the O. hupensis snail density in Eastern Dongting Lake regions.

Effect of Short-term Complications After D2 Radical Gastrectomy on Long-term Survival Rate of Gastric Cancer Patients / 肿瘤防治研究

Objective To investigate the effect of short-term complications after D2 radical gastrectomy on long-term survival rate of gastric cancer patients. Methods A retrospective case-control study was conducted on 421 patients with gastric cancer who underwent D2 radical gastrectomy. According to the short-term postoperative complications, they were divided into experimental group (complication group, n=76) and control group (without complication group, n=345). In order to reduce the selection bias, the long-term survival rate of the two groups was tested by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis method after balancing the variables by propensity score matching (PSM). Log rank method was used for univariate analysis and Cox multivariate analysis was used for prognostic factors. Results There was no significant difference in long-term survival rate between the experimental group and the control group (P > 0.05). Histological type, lymph node metastasis rate and pTNM stage were independent risk factors for long-term survival. Conclusion The short-term complications after D2 radical gastrectomy have no significant impact on the long-term survival rate of gastric cancer patients, but it has certain clinical significance to actively prevent and control complications.

Direct-to-implant breast reconstruction following nipple-sparing mastectomy: predictive factors of adverse surgical outcomes in Asian patients

Background@#Direct-to-implant (DTI) breast reconstruction after nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) with the use of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) provides reliable outcomes; however, the use of ADM is associated with a higher risk of complications. We analyzed our experiences of post-NSM DTI without ADM and identified the predictive factors of adverse surgical outcomes. @*Methods@#Patients who underwent NSM and immediate DTI or two-stage tissue expander (TE) breast reconstruction from 2009 to 2020 were enrolled. Predictors of adverse endpoints were analyzed. @*Results@#There were 100 DTI and 29 TE reconstructions. The TE group had a higher rate of postmastectomy radiotherapy (31% vs. 11%; P=0.009), larger specimens (317.37±176.42 g vs. 272.08±126.33 g; P=0.047), larger implants (360.84±85.19 g vs. 298.83±81.13 g; P=0.004) and a higher implant/TE exposure ratio (10.3% vs. 1%; P=0.035). In DTI reconstruction, age over 50 years (odds ratio [OR], 5.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.50–19.74; P=0.010) and a larger mastectomy weight (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.08–2.51; P=0.021) were associated with a higher risk of acute complications. Intraoperative radiotherapy for the nipple-areolar complex increased the risk of acute complications (OR, 4.05; 95% CI, 1.07–15.27; P=0.039) and the likelihood of revision surgery (OR, 5.57; 95% CI, 1.25–24.93; P=0.025). @*Conclusions@#Immediate DTI breast reconstruction following NSM is feasible in Asian patients with smaller breasts.

A novel dammarane-type saponin from Gynostemma pentaphyllum and its neuroprotective effect / 中国中药杂志

One new and two known dammarane-type saponins were isolated from the leaves of Gynostemma pentaphyllum using various chromatographic methods. Their structures were identified by HR-ESI-MS,~( 1)H-NMR, ~(13)C-NMR, 2 D-NMR spectra as 2α,3β,12β,20,24(S)-tetrahdroxydammar-25-en-3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-20-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside(1, a new compound, namely gypenoside J5) and 2α,3β,12β,20,24(R)-tetrahdroxydammar-25-en-3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-20-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside(2) and 2α,3β,12β,20-tetrahydroxy-25-hydroperoxy-dammar-23-en-3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)][β-D-glucopyranosyl]-20-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl(1→6)]-β-D-glucopy-ranoside(3), respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 were a pair of C-24 epimers. All compounds showed weak cytotoxicity agxinst H1299, HepG2, PC-3, SH-SY5 Y cancer cell lines. However, they exerted protective effect against SH-SY5 Y cellular damage induced by H_2O_2 dose-dependently, of which compound 1 displayed the strongest antioxidant effect. The present study suggested that G. pentaphyllum has antioxidative potential and the saponins from G. pentaphyllum are considered as the active compounds with neuroprotecitve effect.

Clinical value of PCR-flow Fluorescence Hybridization in Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis of Thalassemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the value of PCR-flow fluorenscence immunmicrobeads assay in prenatal gene diagnosis of thalassemia.@*METHODS@#A total of 1001 pregnant women and their couples checked in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from January 2016 to August 2019 were selected. Both pregnant women and their spouses were the carriers of thalassemia gene. Samples such as amniotic fluid, were used to extract genomic DNA at the right time. Parallel detection of α- and β- thalassemia genes to samples should be carried out by PCR-flow cytometric fluorescence hybridization and traditional multiple Gap-PCR and PCR-RDB techniques. The consistency of two methods in gene diagnosis of thalassemia was evaluated by analyzing the results of detection.@*RESULTS@#389 normal genotypes (38.86%, 389/1001) and 59 abnormal genotypes (61.14%, 612/1001) was cheked out by the two methods, including 416 cases of α-thalassemia, 162 cases of β-thalassemia and 34 cases of αβ- complex thalassemia. The main genotypes of α-thalassemia were --@*CONCLUSION@#Guangzhou is a area with high incidence of thalassemia, and the genetic types of thalassemia are complex and diverse. Prenatal diagnosis is the final barrier to the prevention of thalassemia. PCR flow-cytometric fluorescence hybridization, as a simple and fast technique, combined with traditional techniques in parallel contributed to the accuracy of prenatal gene diagnosis of thalassemia.

Traditional medicinal knowledge in Lancang-Mekong River:a case study in Lancang Lahu autonomous county / 中国中药杂志

Lancang Lahu autonomous county, where the Lancang-Mekong River flows by, was selected as the case site to investigate the traditional medicinal knowledge(TMK). A comparison of TMK between Lancang county and other places in the Lancang-Mekong sub-region was conducted. Research on TMK has been seldom reported although there are abundant medicinal resources in this sub-region. The key informant interview and other methods have been adopted in the field surveys in the past six years. The investigation revealed that there was rich TMK and various herbal medicine resources in Lancang county. A total of 220 folk prescriptions have been collected, which were normally simple with easy processing methods and usages, and most raw materials were freshly used. As for medicinal plants, 121 species in 67 families have been documented. Other findings included that TMK in Lancang county was remained at the level of medication based on experience only. The processing methods of herbal medicines were simple and the bioactive ingredients were not clear. Without text and cultural support for self-teaching, coupled with conservative inheritance, it resulted in massive losses of TMK. The folk doctors have accumulated their factions based on self-study or ancestral experience. There was different treatment experience among folk doctors, but the safety and effectiveness should be paid attention to. The folk doctors used various herbal medicines, but there was a lack of standards or specifications for quality control. Given the problems existing in inheritance and development, conservation strategies were proposed in the present study.

A retrospective study to compare the treatment outcomes with and without surgical navigation for fracture of the orbital wall / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

PURPOSE@#To evaluate the outcomes with and without aid of a computer-assisted surgical navigation system (CASNS) for treatment of unilateral orbital wall fracture (OWF).@*METHODS@#Patients who came to our hospital for repairing unilateral traumatic OWF from 2014 to 2017 were included in this study. The patients were divided into the navigation group who accepted orbital wall reconstruction aided by CASNS and the conventional group. We evaluated the surgical precision in the navigation group by analyzing the difference between actual postoperative computed tomography data and preoperative virtual surgical plan through color order ratios. We also compared the duration of surgery, enophthalmos correction, restoration of orbital volumes, and improvement of clinical symptoms in both groups systemically. Quantitative data were presented as mean ± SD. Significance was determined by the two-sample t-test using SPSS Version 19.0 A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.@*RESULTS@#Seventy patients with unilateral OWF were included in the study cohort. The mean difference between preoperative virtual planning and actual reconstruction outcome was (0.869 ± 0.472) mm, which means the reconstruction result could match the navigation planning accurately. The mean duration of surgery in the navigation group was shorter than it is in the control group, but not significantly. Discrepancies between the reconstructed and unaffected orbital-cavity volume and eyeball projection in the navigation group were significantly less than that in the conventional group. One patient had remnant diplopia and two patients had enophthalmos after surgery in the navigation group; two patients had postoperative diplopia and four patients had postoperative enophthalmos in the conventional group.@*CONCLUSION@#Compare with the conventional treatment for OWF, the use of CASNS can provide a significantly better surgical precision, greater improvements in orbital-cavity volume and eyeball projection, and better clinical results, without increasing the duration of surgery.

Triterpenoids from leaves of Ilex guayusa / 中国中药杂志

The chemical constituents from the leaves of Ilex guayusa were investigated. Sixteen triterpenoids were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of dried leaves of I. guayusa by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and ODS column chromatographies and semi-prepa-rative HPLC. Those triterpenoids were identified by NMR, HR-MS, and literature analysis: 3β-hydroxy-11α,12α-epoxy-24-nor-urs-4(23)-ene-28,13β-olide(1), 3β-hydroxy-24-nor-4(23),12-oleanadien-28-methyl ester(2), oleanolic acid(3), 3β,28-dihydroxy-12-oleanene(4), 2α,3β-dihydroxy-11α,12α-epoxy-24-'nor-olean-4(23)-ene-28,13β-olide(5), ursolic acid(6), 3β,23-dihydroxy ursolic acid(7), 3β,28-dihydroxy-12-ursene(8), 3β-28-nor-urs-12-ene-3,17-diol(9), 3β-hydroxyurs-11-ene-28,13β-olide(10), 13β,28-epoxy-3β-hydroxy-11-ursene(11), 3β-hydroxy-28,28-dimethoxy-12-ursene(12), 3β-hydroxy-24-nor-urs-4(23),12-dien-28-oic acid(13), 3β-hydroxy-24-nor-urs-4(23),12-dien-28-methyl ester(14), 2α,3β-dihydroxy-11α,12α-epoxy-24-nor-urs-4(23)-ene-28,13β-olide(15) and 2α,3β-dihydroxy-11α,12α-epoxy-24-nor-urs-4(23),20(30)-dien-28,13β-olide(16). Compounds 1-2 were new compounds, and compounds 4-5, 7 and 9-16 were isolated from I. guayusa for the first time.

Two new pyranonaphthoquinones from Mansoa alliacea / 中国中药杂志

Mansoa alliacea,commonly known as garlic vine,is native to the tropical rain forests of South America and widely cultivated in South China. As a popular folk medicine with various biological activities,however,this plant remains to be fully elucidated in terms of its phytochemical constituents. In this study,two new pyranonaphthoquinones were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of the leaves and twigs of M. alliacea by various chromatographic approaches including silica gel,octadecyl silica( ODS),Sephadex LH-20,and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography( PHPLC). Their structures were determined to be 8,9-dimethoxy-α-lapachone( 1) and 7-hydroxy-8,9-dimethoxy-α-lapachone( 2) by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses and therefore respectively named as mansonin A( 1) and mansonin B( 2).

Observation of herniated cervical intervertebral disc volume based on quantitative volume measurement “monitoring” based on PACS software / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Herniated cervical intervertebral disc volume measurement is an important parameter for quantitative evaluation of cervical disc degeneration, but it faces a lot of problems such as different measurement standards and the undefined measurement error range. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the accuracy of PACS software in measuring cervical disc volume, provide reliable measurement methods and accurate data support for clinical observation and research on cervical disc volume change and degeneration. METHODS: The error rate was obtained by repeated measurements of the normal saline with a known volume of 5.0 mL by means of PACS software. With reference to this error rate, volume changes of cervical disc herniation before and after cervical microendoscopic laminoplasty were “monitored” and analyzed in 30 cases. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (approval No. 2019-KY-274) on September 26, 2019. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) For the measurement of normal saline with known volume, it was found that the error rate of measurement by PACS software was ±5%, suggesting that the measurement of cervical disc volume by PACS software is a simple and accurate method. (2) After cervical microendoscopic laminoplasty, there were 70 patients with reduced cervical disc volume reduction absorption rate of 5%-100%, and the absorption ratio was 76.1% (70/92). The volume increased by 11, but the increase was not more than 5% in the patients with cervical disc herniation after treatment. (3) The spontaneous disappearance or reduction of the herniated cervical disc after cervical microendoscopic laminoplasty was as early as 7 days, and the longest was 76 months. (4) The effects were excellent in 11 cases, good in 15 cases, and fair in 4 cases. The excellent and good rate was 86.7%.

Positron emission computed tomography/single photon emission computed tomography in Parkinson disease / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Parkinson disease (PD) is the second-most common neurodegenerative disorder. Its main pathological mechanism is the selective degeneration and deletion of dopaminergic neurons in the dense part of the substantia nigra and the damage of dopaminergic neurons caused by the abnormal deposition of a Lewy body, leading to a decreased dopamine level. Positron emission computed tomography (PET)/single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a molecular imaging technology that can directly or indirectly reflect changes in molecular levels by using a specific tracer. With the research and development on the tracers of related enzymes for labeling dopamine transporter and dopamine receptor and for being involved in dopamine formation, this imaging technology has been applied to all aspects of PD research. It not only contributes to clinical work but also provides an important theoretical basis for exploring the pathological mechanism of PD at a molecular level. Therefore, this review discusses the application value of PET/SPECT in PD in terms of early diagnosis, disease severity evaluation, clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis, and pathological mechanism.

Impact of water body environments on the microbial community of Oncomelania hupensis snails in marshlands around the eastern Dongting Lake / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To evaluate the effects of water body environments on the microbial community of Oncomelania hupensis snails in marshlands of the eastern Dongting Lake where natural extinction of O. hupensis snails are found, so as to explore the correlation between the natural extinction of O. hupensis snails and the microbial community in snails. Methods Snails were caged water bodies in the Qianliang Lake marshland (Qianliang Lake regions) where natural extinction of snails was found and in the Junshan Park marshland (Junshan Park regions) in the eastern Dongting Lake for 30 days, and then all snails were collected and identified for survival or death. DNA sequencing of the fungi and bacteria was performed in snails before and after immersion in waters, and the biodiversity and abundance were analyzed. Results The survival rates of O. hupensis snails were 28.0% (70/250) and 64.8% (162/250) in Qianliang Lake regions and Junshan Park regions 30 days after immersion in waters, respectively (χ2 = 81.365, P < 0.01). The number of the fungal community and the biodiversity of the bacterial community were both greater in snails caged in Qianliang Lake regions post-immersion than pre-immersion, and there was a significant difference in the structure of the fungal and bacterial communities. The microbial community with a significant difference included Flavobacteriaceae,which was harmful to O. hupensis snails. Conclusion The water body environment affects the composition of the microbial community in O. hupensis snails in marshlands with natural snail distinction around the eastern Dongting Lake; however, further studies are required to investigate whether the natural distinction of snails is caused by water body environments-induced changes of the microbial spectrum in O. hupensis snails.