Transsphenoidal surgery for prolactinomas in male patients: a retrospective study / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Male patients with prolactinomas usually present with typical hyperprolactinemia symptoms, including sexual dysfunction and infertility. However, clinical factors related to sexual dysfunction and surgical outcomes in these patients remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of male patients with prolactinomas after transsphenoidal surgery and the risk factors affecting sexual dysfunction. This study was conducted on 58 male patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery for prolactinomas between May 2014 and December 2020 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. We evaluated the sexual function of patients before and after surgery through International Index of Erectile Function-5 scores, libido, and frequency of morning erection. Of the 58 patients, 48 (82.8%) patients had sexual intercourse preoperatively. Among those 48 patients, 41 (85.4%) patients presented with erectile dysfunction. The preoperative International Index of Erectile Function-5 scores in patients with macroprolactinomas were significantly higher than those in patients with giant prolactinomas (17.63 ± 0.91 vs 13.28 ± 1.43; P = 0.01). Postoperatively, the incidence of erectile dysfunction was 47.9%, which was significantly lower than that preoperatively (85.4%; P = 0.01). Twenty-eight (68.3%) patients demonstrated an improvement in erectile dysfunction. Tumor size and invasiveness were significantly correlated with the improvement of erectile dysfunction. Preoperative testosterone <2.3 ng ml-1 was an independent predictor of improvement in erectile dysfunction. In conclusion, our results indicated that tumor size and invasiveness were important factors affecting the improvement of sexual dysfunction in male patients with prolactinoma. The preoperative testosterone level was an independent predictor related to the improvement of erectile dysfunction.

Effect of superfine powder and aqueous extract of Polygonati Rhizoma on rats with natural perimenopausal syndrome / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to examine the effect of superfine powder and aqueous extract of Polygonati Rhizomaon on natural perimenopausal syndrome in rats and explore the underlying mechanism. To be specific, a total of 60 female SD rats(14-15 months old) with estrous cycle disorder were screened by the vaginal smear and randomized into model control group, β-estradiol 3-benzoate group(0.1 mg·kg~(-1)), superfine powder of Polygonati Rhizoma group(0.25, 0.5 g·kg~(-1)) and aqueous extract of Polygonati Rhizoma group(0.25, 0.5 g·kg~(-1)), and another 10 female SD rats(14-15 months old) were selected as the youth control group. The administration lasted 6 weeks. Then the perimenopausal syndrome-related indexes such as body temperature, microcirculatory blood flow of face and ear, vertigo period, salivary secretion, grip force, and bone strength were determined and open field test was conducted. The immune system-related indexes such as the wet weight and index of thymus and spleen, percentage of T lymphocytes and subgroups in peripheral blood, and hematological indexes were measured. In addition, the ovary-related indexes such as estrous cycle, the wet weight and index of uterus and ovary, ovarian tissue morphology, and cell apoptosis were determined. Moreover, hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis(HPO)-related indexes such as serum sex hormone levels, cytochrome P450 family 11 subfamily A member 1(CYP11A1), cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily A member 1(CYP19A1), and cytochrome P450 family 17 subfamily A member 1(P450 17A1) in ovarian tissue were measured. The results showed that the superfine powder and aqueous extract of Polygonati Rhizoma significantly decreased body temperature(anal, facial and dorsal temperature), microcirculatory blood flow in the ear, and vertigo period, increased salivary secretion, grip force, bone strength, total distance and total speed in the open field test, wet weight and index of thymus and spleen, lymphocyte ratio, CD3~+ level, and CD4~+/CD8~+ ratio, reduced neutrophil number and ratio, estrous cycle disorder ratio, and number of ovarian apoptotic cells, raised wet weight and index of uterus, wet weight of ovary, levels of inhibin B(INHB), estradiol(E_2), anti-müllerian hormone(AMH), and ovarian CYP11A1 and CYP19A1, decreased follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) and luteinizing hormone(LH) content, and improved ovarian tissue morphology. It is suggested that the superfine powder and aqueous extract of Polygonati Rhizoma can improve the symptoms associated with natural perimenopausal syndrome in rats and enhance ovarian function and immune function. The mechanism is that they regulate HPO axis function by increasing estrogen synthesis.

Establishment of a nomogram model for predicting the risk of postpartum stress urinary incontinence based on pelvic floor ultrasound and clinical data / 现代泌尿外科杂志

【Objective】 To analyze the risk factors of postpartum stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and to establish a nomogram model. 【Methods】 A total of 278 puerpera who gave birth at our hospital during Dec.2018 and Aug.2020 were selected as the modeling group, and 132 puerpera who gave birth during Sep.2020 and Sep.2021 were involved in the verification group. Factors affecting postpartum SUI were identified with univariate and multivariate logistic regression, and a nomogram prediction model was constructed with R software. The predictive effectiveness and discrimination of the model were assessed, and the decision curve analysis (DCA) was drawn to evaluate the clinical application value of the model. 【Results】 A total of 84 cases (30.22%) in the modeling group developed SUI 2 months after delivery. Fetal weight, delivery method, maternal age, mobility (Δhy) and rotation Angle (Δβ) were factors affecting postpartum SUI (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that increased fetal weight, normal delivery, increased Δhy, and increased Δβ were independent risk factors of postpartum SUI (P<0.05). The constructed nomogram fitted well. The H-L fit curve of the modeling group and verification group were (χ2=7.514, P=0.312) and (χ2=6.157, P=0.267), respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the modeling group and verification group were 0.815 and 0.760, respectively, indicating high specificity and consistency. DCA indicated that when the high-risk threshold probability of the model was between 0.06-0.80, the nomogram model had a high clinical value. 【Conclusion】 Increased fetal weight, normal delivery, increased Δhy and elevated Δβ are independent risk factors that affect postpartum SUI. The nomogram model constructed has good predictive effectiveness and discrimination, and high clinical application value.

Development and Evaluation of Healthcare Food Based on "State Adjustment" Strategy / 中国实验方剂学杂志

With the acceleration of aging and the changes of people's lifestyle and environment， the incidence of chronic non-communicable diseases （chronic diseases） in China is increasing， which has become a major public health problem. The number of sub-health people is even more and rising. The thought of treating disease before its onset emphasizes taking precautions against disease and preventing change after disease onset， which is one of the core contents of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） theory. According to the theory of TCM， health as a dynamic balance of yin and yang and diseases can be prevented and treated by maintaining this balance. The "state adjustment" strategy suggests to treat diseases by adjusting the state of exuberance or decline based on recognizing and distinguishing "state"， which has important guiding significance for developing and evaluating the healthcare food produced with Chinese medicinal materials. Healthcare food plays a vital role in health promotion， chronic disease prevention， and quality of life improvement. At present， the healthcare food produced with Chinese medicinal materials in China generally lacks TCM guidance and fails to fully reflect the advantages of TCM. In this study， the development strategy， functional claims， evaluation methods， and existing problems of healthcare food were discussed. Furthermore， with diabetes as an example， the "state adjustment" strategy was introduced into product development and evaluation to provide ideas for promoting the rapid growth of healthcare food with TCM characteristics.

Development and Evaluation of Healthcare Food Based on "State Adjustment" Strategy / 中国实验方剂学杂志

With the acceleration of aging and the changes of people's lifestyle and environment， the incidence of chronic non-communicable diseases （chronic diseases） in China is increasing， which has become a major public health problem. The number of sub-health people is even more and rising. The thought of treating disease before its onset emphasizes taking precautions against disease and preventing change after disease onset， which is one of the core contents of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） theory. According to the theory of TCM， health as a dynamic balance of yin and yang and diseases can be prevented and treated by maintaining this balance. The "state adjustment" strategy suggests to treat diseases by adjusting the state of exuberance or decline based on recognizing and distinguishing "state"， which has important guiding significance for developing and evaluating the healthcare food produced with Chinese medicinal materials. Healthcare food plays a vital role in health promotion， chronic disease prevention， and quality of life improvement. At present， the healthcare food produced with Chinese medicinal materials in China generally lacks TCM guidance and fails to fully reflect the advantages of TCM. In this study， the development strategy， functional claims， evaluation methods， and existing problems of healthcare food were discussed. Furthermore， with diabetes as an example， the "state adjustment" strategy was introduced into product development and evaluation to provide ideas for promoting the rapid growth of healthcare food with TCM characteristics.

Effects of different extracts of Dendrobium officinale on rats with chronic pharyngitis induced by pepper water combined with ammonia / 中国中药杂志

Dendrobium officinale can serve as Chinese medicinal material effective in nourishing yin, clearing heat, and producing fluid, and is used to treat throat diseases, but its active substances and mechanism are not clear. To clarify the active fraction and underlying mechanism of D. officinale against chronic pharyngitis(CP), the present study induced a CP model in rats by pepper water combined with low-concentration ammonia, and crude polysaccharides of D. officinale(DOP), non-polysaccharides of D. officinale(DON), and total extract of D. officinale(DOT)(0.33 g·kg~(-1), calculated according to the crude drug) were administered by gavage for six weeks. The changes in oral secretions and pharyngeal conditions of rats with CP were observed and rated. The hematological indicators were determined by an automatic hematology analyzer. The serum levels of pro-inflammatory factors, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α), interleukin 1β(IL-1β), and interleukin 6(IL-6), and T-lymphocyte cytokines, including interferon γ(IFN-γ), interleukin 4(IL-4), interleukin 17(IL-17), and transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1) were detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The proportions of CD3~+, CD4~+, and CD8~+cells in peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets were determined by the flow cytometry. The histomorphological changes of the pharynx were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The protein expression of nuclear factor-κB P65(NF-κB P65), cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), F4/80, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1) in the pharynx were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The results showed that DOP and DON could significantly relieve pharyngeal lesions, reduce white blood cells(WBC) and lymphocytes(LYMP), decrease the levels of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, and inhibit the protein expression of NF-κB P65, COX-2, F4/80, and MCP-1 in the pharynx. DOP was superior in reducing oral secretions and serum IL-17 level and inferior in increasing CD4~+/CD8~+ratio to DON. It is suggested that both polysaccharides and non-polysaccharides of D. officinale have anti-PC effects and the anti-inflammatory mechanism may be related to the regulation of T lymphocyte distribution and inhibition of the inflammatory signaling pathways mediated by NF-κB P65. The anti-inflammatory effect of DOP may be related to the regulation of Th17/Treg balance, while that of DON may be related to the regulation of the Th/Tc ratio.

Crotalaria ferruginea extract attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice by inhibiting MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways

Objective: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of Crotalaria ferruginea extract (CFE) and its mechanism. Methods: An intratracheal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) instillation-induced acute lung injury (ALI) model was used to study the anti-inflammatory activity of CFE in vivo. The LPS-induced shock model was used to analyze the effect of CFE on survival. LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cell model was used to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of CFE in vitro and the effects on mitogen-Activated protein kinase (MAPK) or nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways. Results: CFE administration decreased the number of inflammatory cells, reduced the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-A), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interferon-γ, and diminished protein content in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of mice. CFE also reduced lung wet-To-dry weight ratio, myeloperoxidase, and lung tissue pathological injury. CFE pre-Administration improved the survival rate of mice challenged with a lethal dose of LPS. CFE reduced LPS-Activated RAW264.7 cells to produce nitric oxide, TNF-α, MCP-1, and IL-6. Furthermore, CFE inhibited nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of NF-κB P65, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-Terminal kinases, and P38 MAPKs. Conclusions: CFE exhibits potent anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-induced ALI mice, LPS-shock mice, and RAW264.7 cells, and its mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Crotalaria ferruginea may be a useful therapeutic drug for the treatment of ALI and other respiratory inflammations.

Crotalaria ferruginea extract attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice by inhibiting MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways

Objective: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of Crotalaria ferruginea extract (CFE) and its mechanism. Methods: An intratracheal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) instillation-induced acute lung injury (ALI) model was used to study the anti-inflammatory activity of CFE in vivo. The LPS-induced shock model was used to analyze the effect of CFE on survival. LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cell model was used to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of CFE in vitro and the effects on mitogen-Activated protein kinase (MAPK) or nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways. Results: CFE administration decreased the number of inflammatory cells, reduced the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-A), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interferon-γ, and diminished protein content in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of mice. CFE also reduced lung wet-To-dry weight ratio, myeloperoxidase, and lung tissue pathological injury. CFE pre-Administration improved the survival rate of mice challenged with a lethal dose of LPS. CFE reduced LPS-Activated RAW264.7 cells to produce nitric oxide, TNF-α, MCP-1, and IL-6. Furthermore, CFE inhibited nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of NF-κB P65, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-Terminal kinases, and P38 MAPKs. Conclusions: CFE exhibits potent anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-induced ALI mice, LPS-shock mice, and RAW264.7 cells, and its mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Crotalaria ferruginea may be a useful therapeutic drug for the treatment of ALI and other respiratory inflammations.

Value of CD4/CD8 ratio and total B lymphocytes before radiotherapy in predicting radiation pneumonitis in patients with esophageal cancer and lung cancer / 国际肿瘤学杂志

Objective:To investigate the value of CD4/CD8 ratio and total B lymphocytes before radiotherapy in predicting the occurrence of radiation pneumonitis (RP) in patients with esophageal cancer and lung cancer.Methods:The clinicopathological data of 28 patients with esophageal and 16 patients with lung cancer undergoing radiotherapy from April 2018 to March 2020 in Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences were retrospectively analyzed, and the patients were divided into RP group ( n=16) and non-RP group ( n=28) according to whether RP occurred during and after treatment. The CD4/CD8 ratio and total B lymphocytes before radiotherapy between the two groups, and the CD4/CD8 ratio and total B lymphocytes before and after radiotherapy in the RP group were compared. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the value of CD4/CD8 ratio and total B lymphocytes before radiotherapy in predicting RP. Results:The CD4/CD8 ratio before radiotherapy in the RP group was significantly lower than that in the non-RP group (0.993±0.179 vs. 1.708±0.170), with a statistically significant difference ( t=2.706, P=0.009); the total B lymphocytes in the RP group was significantly lower than that in non-RP group [(4.409±0.823)% vs. (8.153±1.017)%], with a statistically significant difference ( t=0.986, P=0.015). The CD4/CD8 ratio in the RP group was lower than that before radiotherapy when RP occurred (0.785±0.167 vs. 0.993±0.179), with no statistically significant difference ( t=1.376, P=0.189). The total B lymphocytes in the RP group was lower than that before radiotherapy when RP occurred [(3.487±1.018)% vs. (4.409±0.823)%], with no statistically significant difference ( t=0.804, P=0.433). The critical values of CD4/CD8 ratio and total B lymphocytes predicted RP were 0.580 and 0.357, respectively. The areas under the curve (AUC) of CD4/CD8 for predicting RP was 0.802 (95% CI: 0.653-0.932), the sensitivity was 89.29%, and the specificity was 68.75%. The AUC of total B lymphocytes for predicting RP was 0.694 (95% CI: 0.483-0.814), the sensitivity was 85.71%, and the specificity was 50.00%. The AUC of the two combined diagnostic method for RP was 0.834 (95% CI: 0.697-0.932), the sensitivity and specificity were 81.25% and 89.29%. AUC of the two combined tests was significantly higher than that of the single test, with statistically significant differences ( Z=1.115, P=0.046; Z=1.992, P=0.026). Conclusion:The CD4/CD8 ratio and total B lymphocytes in the RP group are lower than those in the non-RP group. The CD4/CD8 ratio and total B lymphocytes in the serum are of great significance in predicting the occurrence of RP in patients with malignant tumors receiving chest radiotherapy.

Research progress in the role of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in diabetic retinopathy / 中华眼底病杂志

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most common and serious diabetic complications, which is the main cause of vision loss in adults. The specific vascular and neuropathology mechanism of DR is not clear. It has been demonstrated that Inflammatory reaction might be take effects in the development and progression of DR. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), as an important chemokine in the inflammatory response process, promotes chemotactic and activating factors, destroys the blood-retinal barrier, causes retinal vascular disease, and activates microglia, which is related to the severity of the disease. With further research on MCP-1, it is possible to use chemokines and their receptors as target cells to control or slow down the progression of DR by reducing or inhibiting the production of MCP-1 in diabetic patients in the early stages of the disease. This study can provide new ideas and new methods about preventing and treating DR.

Effect of Dendrobium officinale on Yin deficiency constipation induced by warm-drying medicine in mice / 中国中药杂志

Dendrobium officinale is a sacred product for nourishing Yin and has a clear "thick gastrointestinal" effect. Modern pharmacological studies had found that it could improve gastrointestinal function. This study observed the improvement effect of D. officinale on constipation model mice with Yin deficiency caused by warm-drying medicine. It provided experimental basis for the treatment of Yin deficiency constipation. The male and female ICR mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group, D. officinale high, medium and low dose groups(0.6, 0.4, 0.2 g·kg~(-1)), and phenolphthalein tablets group. The model mice of Yin deficiency constipation were established by gavage with warm-drying medicine. The overall state and body temperature of the mice were observed and recorded. The number of feces, feces weight, fecal moisture content and intestinal propulsion were measured. The morphological damage of colon tissue was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) in the colon was detected by Western blot and immunohistochemical method. The expression of iNOS mRNA in the colon was detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, and the serum cyclic guanosine phosphate(cGMP) level was detected the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The results showed that D. candidum could reduce the body temperature of mice with Yin deficiency constipation, increase the number of feces, wet feces, dry feces and intestinal propulsion ability, reduce the expression of iNOS protein and mRNA in the colon, and reduce the content of cGMP in the serum. It showed that D. candidum could improve the symptoms of Yin deficiency constipation mice caused by warm-drying medicine, and the mechanism may be related to reducing the expression of iNOS in the colon and increasing intestinal motility.

Protective effects of Dendrobium officinale superfine powder against LPS-induced intestinal mucosal injury in mice / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to investigate the preventive effect of Dendrobium officinale in LPS-induced intestinal mucosal damage. Forty SPF-grade C57 BL/6 J male mice were randomly divided into normal group(NC), model group(LPS), and two superfine powder groups of Dendrobium officinale(DOF)(DOF-L, 0.30 g·kg~(-1)and DOF-H, 0.60 g·kg~(-1), respectively), with 10 mice in each group. DOF superfine powder suspension was given via oral administration to mice for 7 days, while the mice in NC and LPS groups received the same volume of saline for 7 days. On the eighth day, the mice in LPS group and DOF treatment groups were injected with LPS(5 mg·kg~(-1)) by intraperitoneal injection to establish the intestinal mucosal injury model, while the mice in NC group were injected with the same volume of sterile saline in the same manner. Six hours after injection with LPS or saline, plasma and the intestinal tissue were collected. The diamine oxidase(DAO) and D-lactate levels in plasma were detected with a biochemical method. The levels of proinflammatory factors interleukin-6(IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in plasma were detected by ELISA. The histomorphology and ultrastructure of mouse ileum tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining in optical microscope and transmission electron microscope(TEM). The expression and distribution of tight junction(TJ) proteins claudin-1, occludin and F4/80 were detected by immunohistochemistry while the protein expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR-4) and nuclear factor kappa B p65(NF-κB p65) in jejunum were detected by Western blot. The experimental results showed that continuous intragastric administration of D. officinale superfine powder for 7 days obviously alleviated the damage and ultrastructural changes of intestinal mucosa induced by LPS; significantly decreased DAO and D-lactate levels in plasma in model group(P<0.05); up-regulated the protein expression of claudin-1 and occludin in ileum tissues; down-regulated the protein expression of TLR-4 and NF-κB p65 in jejunum tissues(P<0.01); significantly decreased TNF-α and IL-6 levels in plasma(P<0.05); and decreased the infiltration of F4/80~+ macrophage cells. Our results suggested that D. officinale had significant protective effects on LPS-induced intestinal mucosal damage and reduced intestinal permeability. The mechanism might be related to its effects of inhibiting inflammation via TLR-4/NF-κB p65, and up-regulating the expression of tight junction proteins.

Effect of Dendrobii officinalis superfine powder on overeating greasy-induced metabolic hypertension in rats / 中国中药杂志

Dendrobii officinalis, with a definite effect of nourishing Yin and clearing heat, has been a folk habit for drinking after being mixed with water. Because its superfine powder has the advantages of high dissolution and convenient drinking, we observed the effect of D. officinalis superfine powder on metabolic hypertension model rats and its possible mechanism in this experiment, which can be used as a reference for its clinical application for hypertension. The overeating greasy-induced metabolic hypertension model was established with high-fat, high-sugar and high-purine diet. These rats were orally administered with 400 mg·kg~(-1) and 200 mg·kg~(-1) of D. officinalis superfine powder for 20 consecutive weeks. During this period, blood pressure, blood lipid, blood glucose, insulin and other related indexes of glucose and lipid metabolism were monitored; the levels of lipopolysaccharide(LPS), C-reactive protein(CRP), interleukin 6(IL-6) and other inflammatory mediators were measured; the levels of nitric oxide(NO) and endothelin-1(ET-1) were detected, and the histomorphological and ultrastructural changes of aorta were observed. In addition, the expression of LPS/TLR4 pathway-related molecules in aorta was determined. The results showed that long-term administration of D. officinalis superfine powder significantly reduced the levels of systolic blood pressure(SBP), diastolic blood pressure(DBP) and mean arterial pressure(MBP) in metabolic hypertension model rats, decreased the levels of total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-c), glucose(Glu), and insulin(INS) levels in blood, increased the contents of high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-c),decreased the LPS, CRP, IL-6 and ET-1 levels in blood and increased NO content. Furthermore, it improved the abnormality of aortic histomorphology and endothelial ultrastructure, and inhibited the protein expression of TLR4, myeloid differentiation factor(MyD88), IL-6, interleukin-1 β(IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) as well as mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-1β in aorta. In conclusion, D. officinalis superfine powder may improve the abnormal function and structure of blood vessels by inhibiting the activation of LPS/TLR4 pathway, thus playing a role against metabolic hypertension.

Effect of Dendrobium officinale superfine powder on stomach Yin deficiency model mice induced by "spicy overeating" / 中国中药杂志

Dendrobium officinale is a traditional Chinese medicine for nourishing Yin and benefiting stomach. Its superfine powder has many advantages, such as good dissolution, high utilization rate, strong integrity and easy to use. However, the researches on effect of D. officinale superfine powder on stomach Yin deficiency model are still not sufficient. In this experiment, we explored the effect of D. officinale superfine powder in mice model with stomach Yin deficiency caused by "spicy overeating", and provided certain reference value for its application in gastrointestinal diseases. Male ICR mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group, Yiweitang group, omeprazole group, and D. officinale superfine powder high, medium and low dose groups. The mixture of wine and pepper liquid was given by gavage administration for 30 d, and the corresponding drug was given for 60 d while the model was conti-nued. The body weight, food intake, water intake, fecal moisture content and particle number, foot temperature of mice were measured. The levels of serum gastrin(Gas), motilin(MTL) and somatostatin(SS) were measured by ELISA. Gastric histomorpho-logy was observed by HE staining. The expression levels of nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB) and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) were determined by immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2) and Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax) in gastric tissues were detected by Western blot. The results showed that D. officinale superfine powder could increase the food intake, water intake, fecal moisture content and particle number, reduce the foot temperature, improve the pathological changes of gastric mucosa, reduce the expression of NF-κB, COX-2 protein in gastric tissues, and increase the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2. D. officinale superfine powder can "nourish Yin and benefit the stomach", improve the syndrome of stomach Yin deficiency, such as "hunger but not want to eat, dry mouth but not want to drink, hand and feet hot, constipation", and reduce the damage of gastric mucosa. The mechanism may be related to regulating the secretion of gastrointestinal hormones, inhibiting the inflammation of gastric tissues and promoting the apoptosis of abnormal cells in gastric tissues.

Improvement effect and mechanism of ethanol extract from Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium on triglyceride in hyperlipidemia model rat / 中国中药杂志

The aim of this paper was to study the improvement effect of ethanol extract from Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium(CRP) on triglyceride of hyperlipidemia model rats, and to explore the possible mechanism. SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, positive control group, and high, medium and low-dose CRP ethanol extract groups, with 10 rats in each group. During the experiment, except for the normal group that was fed with distilled water and ordinary feed, rats in the other groups were given different concentrations of alcohol and fed with high-sugar and fat diets. All rats were given free diets. While being modeled, each group was administered with 0.01 mL·g~(-1) by gavage once a day for six weeks. Blood samples were collected after two weeks, four weeks and six weeks of drug treatment. After the completion of the experiment, blood, liver and adipose tissue were collected. Triglyceride(TG), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alkaline phosphatase(ALP) in serum, TG in liver tissue and TG in fecal were detected. Free fatty acid(FFA) and triglyceride-related hydrolase, such as adipose tiglyceride lipase(ATGL), lipoprotein lipase(LPL), hepatic lipase(HL), hormone-sensitive triglyceride lipase(HSL) were detected by ELISA. The mRNA expressions of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors(PPARγ), sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 c(SREBP-1 c) and farnesoid X receptor(FXR) were determined by RT-PCR. Compared with the model group, each administration group could reduce TG levels in serum and liver to varying degrees, reduce serum ALT, AST, ALP activities, significantly reduce free fatty acid content in serum, significantly increase triglyceride metabolism-related enzymes, including fat ATGL, LPL and liver HL content, and significantly reduced the content of fat HSL. According to the study of transcriptional regulation genes relating to triglyceride metabolism, extract from CRP could significantly increase the mRNA expressions of PPARγ and FXR. In conclusion, ethanol extract from CRP could ob-viously reduce the TG level of hyperlipidemia model rats, and might reduce plasma TG content by increasing PPARγ-LPL/ATGL and FXR-HL triglyceride hydrolysis pathways.

Clinical study of curative effect of compound Qinjiao Pill on palmoplantar pustulosis and its effect on neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of compound Qinjiao Pill in the treatment of pustulosis palmaris and plantaris and the effect on the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Methods:A total of 100 patients with palmoplantar pustulosis who met the inclusion criteria from June 2017 to June 2018 were randomly divided into two groups, 50 in each group. The control group was treated with 308 nm excimer laser twice a week, and the treatment group was treated with one compound Qinjiao Pill once and twice a day. Both groups were treated for 8 weeks and followed up for 3 months. The disease severity was evaluated by the Palmoplantar pustulosis area and severity index (PPPASI), the quality of life was evaluated by the dermatology life quality index (DLQI), the changes of serum NLR were observed, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results:The total effective rate was 88.0% (44/50) in the treatment group and 70.0% (35/50) in the control group. The PPPASI scores ( t=6.813, 3.091, 3.582, 5.622) and DLQI scores ( t=5.713, 4.616, 6.262, 1.824) in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01). After treatment, NEU (4.13 ± 1.42 ×10 9/L vs. 6.56 ± 1.65 ×10 9/L, t=7.893), NLR (1.75 ± 0.98 vs. 2.60 ± 0.87, t=4.592). During the treatment, the incidence of adverse reactions was 20.0% (10/50) in the treatment group and 18.0% (9/50) in the control group ( χ2=1.680, P=0.089). The recurrence rate of the treatment group was 9.1% (4/44) and that of the control group was 20.0% (7/35). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( χ2=2.893, P=0.003). Conclusions:Compound Qinjiao Pill combined with 308 nm excimer laser can reduce the NLR in peripheral blood, improve the clinical efficacy and reduce the risk of recurrence.

Advances in Studies on Plants of Trollius / 中国实验方剂学杂志

There are 16 species and 7 varieties of medicinal plants of Trollius in China, with effects in clearing heat, detoxification and swelling, they are used for the treatment of acute and chronic tonsillitis, acute otitis media, chronic bronchitis and urinary tract infections. Through retrieval of literatures on nasturtium from 1972 to 2019 in a number of databases, such as CNKI, Wanfang Database, Baidu Academic and PubMed, the cultivation and quality control methods, extraction and purification processes, chemical composition, pharmacological effects, pharmacokinetics and metabolism of medicinal plants of the genus nasturtium were summarized. The researches of cultivation mainly focus on the establishment of seed treatment and tissue culture system. Quality control is mainly based on orientin and flavonoids. Research on extraction and purification technology mainly focused on the extraction and purification of total flavonoids. In terms of chemical composition, there are currently more than 100 major compounds isolated from this genus, including flavonoids, organic acids, alkaloids, coumarins and styrenes. Among them, there are 80 flavonoids, 12 organic acid monomers, 3 alkaloid monomers, 4 coumarin monomers and 14 styrene monomers. In terms of pharmacological action, there are mainly in vitro experiments of crude extracts of medicinal materials. The data of pharmacokinetics and metabolism mainly focus on the study of flavone monomers.

Result of carrier screening for spinal muscular atrophy among 3049 reproductive-age individuals from Yunnan region / 中华医学遗传学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To perform carrier screening for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) among 3049 reproductive-age individuals from Yunnan region and determine the copy number of survival motor neuron (SMN) gene and carrier frequencies.@*METHODS@#Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was used to determine the copy number of exon 7 of SMN1 and SMN2 genes and identify those with a single copy of SMN1 gene. Prenatal diagnosis was performed for couples whom were both found to be SMA carriers.@*RESULTS@#In total 62 SMA carriers were identified among the 3049 subjects, which yielded a carrier frequency of 1 in 49 (2.03%). No statistical difference was found in the carrier frequency between males and females (1.91% vs. 2.30%, P>0.05). Respectively, 1.3% (41/3049) and 0.69% (21/3049) of the carriers were caused by heterozygous deletion and conversion of the SMN1 gene. The average copy number for SMN1 alleles was 1.99. Two couples were found to be both as SMA carriers, for whom the birth of an affected fetus was avoided by prenatal diagnosis.@*CONCLUSION@#No difference was found in the carrier frequency of SMA-related mutations between the two genders in Yunnan region, which was in keeping to an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. Determination of the carrier frequency for SMA and SMN gene variants may provide a basis for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for the disease.

Effect of Wubi Shanyao Pills on sexual dysfunction in rats with adenine-induced kidney-Yang deficiency / 中国中药杂志

The aim of this paper was to study the effect of Wubi Shanyao Pills on sexual dysfunction in rats with kidney-Yang deficiency and to investigate its possible mechanism. Adenine(100 mg·kg~(-1)) was administered to male SD rats for 8 weeks to establish kidney-Yang deficiency model, and at the same time, Wubi Shanyao Pills(2, 1, 0.5 g·kg~(-1)) were administered to rats for 8 weeks. The syndrome manifestation of kidney-Yang deficiency was observed in rats and the scores of symptoms were evaluated. Sexual behavior indexes(incubation period and times of capture, straddle and ejaculation) were measured by mating experiment. The levels of serum testosterone(T), estradiol(E_2), follicle stimulating hormone(FSH), luteinizing hormone(LH), and gonadotropin releasing hormone(GnRH) were measured by radioimmunoassay. The wet weights of testis and seminal vesicle were measured. The content of fructose in seminal plasma was detected by UV spectrophotometry. The pathological changes of testis and epididymis were observed by HE staining. The expression levels of transforming growth factor(TGF-β1) and cytochrome P450 aromatase(CYP19) in testis were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The results showed that Wubi Shanyao Pills could significantly reduce the score of kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome, improve the symptoms of kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome, shorten capture, straddle and ejaculation latency, increase capture and straddle times, increase serum T, LH, FSH, E_2 and GnRH levels, increase the wet weight of testis and seminal vesicle and fructose content in seminal plasma, improve the pathological structure of testis and epididymis, and inhibit the expression of TGF-β1 and increase CYP19 in testis of the model rats. Therefore, Wubi Shanyao Pills can significantly improve sexual dysfunction in rats with kidney-Yang deficiency, and its mechanism may be related to regulating the low function of hypothalamus pituitary gonad(HPG) axis and improving the disorder of sex hormone secretion. In addition, it may be also related to inhibiting the expression of testicular TGF-β1, increasing the expression of CYP19 protein, and then regulating the amount of T converted to E_2.

Analysis of alcohol drinking among school-aged children in Beijing in 2015 / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To analyze the phenomenon of alcohol drinking among school-aged children in Beijing, and to provide a reference for making measures for possible preventive interventions.@*Methods@#Data were from the Beijing Students’ Nutrition and Health Surveillance among 3 776 school-aged children in Beijing in 2015. Prevalence, frequency and pattern of drinking, daily consumption of alcoholic drinks, as well as influencing factors were described.@*Results@#Drinking was found in 11.2% of school-aged children, the drinking differences of students of different genders, grades, areas were of statistical significance(χ2=8.49, 126.91, 18.36, P<0.01), and the average age of the 423 drinking students was (10.5±1.6)years old. 290 children reported alcohol drinking once or twice in the past 1 week, accounting for 68.6% of the drinking children. 93 children reported drinking for three to six times, accounting for 22.0%, 40 students reported drinking for more than 7 times. Blending wine(58.2%) ranked as the most preferred, followed by beer(33.3%).Drinking was more likely reported among school-aged children who were boys, in higher grade, living in suburbs of Beijing, while children whose parents were more likely to drink in the past month, or from family with lower income and lower education level were also more likely to drink(P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#Drinking among school-aged children in Beijing in the past 1 is common, but their drinking amount per day was relatively low. Drinking was influenced by age, gender, living place, family and other factors. It is recommended that non-alcoholic intervention should be carried out as soon as possible for them.