Overcoming chemoresistance in non-angiogenic colorectal cancer by metformin via inhibiting endothelial apoptosis and vascular immaturity / 药物分析学报

The development of chemoresistance which results in a poor prognosis often renders current treatments for colorectal cancer(CRC).In this study,we identified reduced microvessel density(MVD)and vascular immaturity resulting from endothelial apoptosis as therapeutic targets for overcoming chemoresistance.We focused on the effect of metformin on MVD,vascular maturity,and endothelial apoptosis of CRCs with a non-angiogenic phenotype,and further investigated its effect in overcoming chemoresistance.In situ transplanted cancer models were established to compare MVD,endothelial apoptosis and vascular maturity,and function in tumors from metformin-and vehicle-treated mice.An in vitro co-culture system was used to observe the effects of metformin on tumor cell-induced endothelial apoptosis.Transcriptome sequencing was performed for genetic screening.Non-angiogenic CRC developed inde-pendently of angiogenesis and was characterized by vascular leakage,immaturity,reduced MVD,and non-hypoxia.This phenomenon had also been observed in human CRC.Furthermore,non-angiogenic CRCs showed a worse response to chemotherapeutic drugs in vivo than in vitro.By suppressing endo-thelial apoptosis,metformin sensitized non-angiogenic CRCs to chemo-drugs via elevation of MVD and improvement of vascular maturity.Further results showed that endothelial apoptosis was induced by tumor cells via activation of caspase signaling,which was abrogated by metformin administration.These findings provide pre-clinical evidence for the involvement of endothelial apoptosis and subsequent vascular immaturity in the chemoresistance of non-angiogenic CRC.By suppressing endothelial apoptosis,metformin restores vascular maturity and function and sensitizes CRC to chemotherapeutic drugs via a vascular mechanism.

Intermittent heat exposure induces thoracic aorta injury in spontaneously hypertensive rats by activating the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effects of different manners of heat exposure on thoracic aorta injury in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and explore the underlying mechanism.@*METHODS@#Normal 6 to 7-week-old male SHRs were randomized into control group (cage at room temperature), intermittent heat exposure group (SHR-8 group, exposed to 32 ℃ for 8 h daily for 7 days) and SHR-24 group (with continuous exposure to 32 ℃ for 7 days). After the treatments, the pathologies of the thoracic aorta of the rats were observed with HE staining, and the expressions of Beclin1, LC3B and p62 were detected with Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay; TUNEL staining was used to observe cell apoptosis in the thoracic aorta, and the expressions of caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 were detected using Western blotting. The effects of intraperitoneal injections of 3-MA (an autophagy agonist), rapamycin (an autophagy inhibitor) or compound C 30 min before intermittent heat exposure on the expressions of proteins associated with autophagy, apoptosis and the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway in the aorta were examined with immunohistochemistry.@*RESULTS@#In SHR-8 group, the rats showed incomplete aortic intima with disordered cell distribution and significantly increased expressions of Beclin1, LC3II/LC3I and Bax, lowered expressions of p62 and Bcl-2, and increased apoptotic cells in the thoracic aorta (P < 0.05). Pretreatment with 3-MA obviously inhibited the expressions of autophagy- and apoptosis-related proteins, whereas rapamycin promoted their expressions. Compared with the control group, the rats in SHR-8 group had significantly down-regulated p-mTOR and up-regulated p-AMPK and p-ULK1 expression of in the aorta; Treatment with compound C obviously lowered the expressions of p-AMPK and p-ULK1 and those of LC3B and Beclin1 as well.@*CONCLUSION@#In SHRs, intermittent heat exposure causes significant pathologies and promotes autophagy and apoptosis in the thoracic aorta possibly by activating the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway.

Therapeutic effect of ursodeoxycholic acid-berberine supramolecular nanoparticles on ulcerative colitis based on supramolecular system induced by weak bond / 中国中药杂志

Ulcerative colitis(UC) is a recurrent, intractable inflammatory bowel disease. Coptidis Rhizoma and Bovis Calculus, serving as heat-clearing and toxin-removing drugs, have long been used in the treatment of UC. Berberine(BBR) and ursodeoxycholic acid(UDCA), the main active components of Coptidis Rhizoma and Bovis Calculus, respectively, were employed to obtain UDCA-BBR supramolecular nanoparticles by stimulated co-decocting process for enhancing the therapeutic effect on UC. As revealed by the characterization of supramolecular nanoparticles by field emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM) and dynamic light scattering(DLS), the supramolecular nanoparticles were tetrahedral nanoparticles with an average particle size of 180 nm. The molecular structure was described by ultraviolet spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and hydrogen-nuclear magnetic resonance(H-NMR) spectroscopy. The results showed that the formation of the supramolecular nano-particle was attributed to the mutual electrostatic attraction and hydrophobic interaction between BBR and UDCA. Additionally, supramolecular nanoparticles were also characterized by sustained release and pH sensitivity. The acute UC model was induced by dextran sulfate sodium(DSS) in mice. It was found that supramolecular nanoparticles could effectively improve body mass reduction and colon shortening in mice with UC(P<0.001) and decrease disease activity index(DAI)(P<0.01). There were statistically significant differences between the supramolecular nanoparticles group and the mechanical mixture group(P<0.001, P<0.05). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6(IL-6), and the results showed that supramolecular nanoparticles could reduce serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels(P<0.001) and exhibited an obvious difference with the mechanical mixture group(P<0.01, P<0.05). Flow cytometry indicated that supramolecular nanoparticles could reduce the recruitment of neutrophils in the lamina propria of the colon(P<0.05), which was significantly different from the mechanical mixture group(P<0.05). These findings suggested that as compared with the mechanical mixture, the supramolecular nanoparticles could effectively improve the symptoms of acute UC in mice. The study provides a new research idea for the poor absorption of small molecules and the unsatisfactory therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine and lays a foundation for the research on the nano-drug delivery system of traditional Chinese medicine.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors for early-onset necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants with very/extremely low birth weight / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors for early-onset necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants with very/extremely low birth weight (VLBW/ELBW).@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 194 VLBW/ELBW preterm infants with NEC who were admitted to Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from January 2014 to December 2021. These infants were divided into early-onset group (onset in the first two weeks of life; n=62) and late-onset group (onset two weeks after birth; n=132) based on their onset time. The two groups were compared in terms of perinatal conditions, clinical characteristics, laboratory examination results, and clinical outcomes. Sixty-two non-NEC infants with similar gestational age and birth weight who were hospitalized at the same period as these NEC preterm infants were selected as the control group. The risk factors for the development of early-onset NEC were identified using multivariate logistic regression analysis.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the late-onset group, the early-onset group had significantly higher proportions of infants with 1-minute Apgar score ≤3, stage III NEC, surgical intervention, grade ≥3 intraventricular hemorrhage, apnea, and fever or hypothermia (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that feeding intolerance, blood culture-positive early-onset sepsis, severe anemia, and hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus were independent risk factors for the development of early-onset NEC in VLBW/ELBW preterm infants (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#VLBW/ELBW preterm infants with early-onset NEC have more severe conditions compared with those with late-onset NEC. Neonates with feeding intolerance, blood culture-positive early-onset sepsis, severe anemia, or hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus have a higher risk of early-onset NEC.

Recent advances of antiviral drugs based on multispecific binding strategy / 药学学报

To address the continuous emergence of drug-resistant strains of viruses and the outbreaks of novel virus infections, developing new antiviral drugs based on novel strategies has become an important and urgent research topic. In recent years, the rapidly developing multi-specific binding strategy has become a focus and been widely applied in antiviral. This review summarizes the recent progress of the multi-specific binding strategy in the antiviral field from the perspective of medicinal chemistry and discusses existing challenges as well as future opportunities for antiviral drug discovery.

Recent advances of small molecule inhibitors directly targeting HBV / 药学学报

Hepatitis B virus infection is a serious threat to human life and health. The approved anti-HBV drugs including interferons and nucleos(t)ide analogues have serious adverse effect, rebound phenomena after drug withdrawal, and drug resistance. And the cccDNA cannot be completely eliminated by both of them, which is the reason why a complete cure for hepatitis B cannot be achieved. Therefore, developing anti-HBV drugs directly targeting protein or nucleic acid of HBV remains a current public health priority. Based on the analysis of representative literature from the last decade, this article reviews recent developments in small molecule inhibitors directly targeting HBV from a medicinal chemistry perspective.

Advances in research on small molecule regulators targeting HBV cccDNA generation and transcription / 药学学报

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) represents a significant global public health challenge. Despite the availability of several approved drugs for hepatitis B treatment, the persistence of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) renders HBV eradication elusive, thereby leading to disease relapse after drug withdrawal. This paper reviews the regulatory mechanisms of cccDNA formation, transcription and replication, and summarizes the research progress of related small molecule regulators from the perspective of medicinal chemistry.

Application of Optical Genome Mapping Technology in Detecting Complex Chromosomal Rearrangement / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectiveTo investigate the application of optical genome mapping （OGM） technology in detecting complex chromosomal rearrangement. MethodsWe recruited five patients who were diagnosed as complex chromosomal rearrangement at the Reproductive Medicine Center of the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2022 to June 2023. They underwent OGM， nanopore sequencing and pre-implantation genetic testing （PGT）. The results were compared with the results of karyotype and chromosomal microarray analysis （CMA）/ copy number variation sequencing （CNV-Seq）. ResultsOGM could detect translocation， invert inversion， and triplet translocation， which were consistent with the results of OGM and CMA/ CNV-Seq. But OGM could not detect Robertsonian translocation. ConclusionBecause of its ultra-long reads， OGM realizes the detection across repetitive regions， and it has great advantages when applied in patients with complex chromosome rearrangement or uncertain karyotype analysis. It can accurately locate breakpoints.

Research progress of natural products for the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout / 药学学报

Although current synthetic anti-gout drugs have significant therapeutic effects in reducing serum uric acid levels, they have serious side effects such as allergic reactions and liver and kidney damage. Natural products with a wide range of uric acid-lowering and high safety have played a critical role in anti-gout drug discovery and development. This paper reviews the natural products with uric acid-lowering or anti-gout pharmacological effects and the investigation on their mechanisms of action, to provide information for drug discovery and development.

Association between duration of fever before treatment and intravenous immunoglobulin resistance in Kawasaki disease / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To examine the association between duration of fever before intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment and IVIG resistance in children with Kawasaki disease (KD).@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 317 children with KD who were admitted from January 2018 to December 2020. According to the duration of fever before IVIG treatment, they were divided into two groups: short fever duration group (≤4 days) with 92 children and long fever duration group (>4 days) with 225 children. According to the presence or absence of IVIG resistance, each group was further divided into a drug-resistance group and a non-drug-resistance group. Baseline data and laboratory results were compared between groups. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the influencing factors for IVIG resistance.@*RESULTS@#In the short fever duration group, 19 children (20.7%) had IVIG resistance and 5 children (5.4%) had coronary artery aneurysm, and in the long fever duration group, 22 children (9.8%) had IVIG resistance and 19 children (8.4%) had coronary artery aneurysm, suggesting that the short fever duration group had a significantly higher rate of IVIG resistance than the long fever duration group (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in the incidence rate of coronary artery aneurysm between the two groups (P>0.05). In the short fever duration group, compared with the children without drug resistance, the children with drug resistance had a significantly lower level of blood sodium and significantly higher levels of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide before treatment (P<0.05). In the long fever duration group, the children with drug resistance had significantly lower levels of blood sodium and creatine kinase before treatment than those without drug resistance (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a reduction in blood sodium level was associated with IVIG resistance in the long fever duration group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#IVIG resistance in children with KD varies with the duration of fever before treatment. A reduction in blood sodium is associated with IVIG resistance in KD children with a duration of fever of >4 days before treatment.

Universal strategies and methodologies in broad-spectrum antiviral drug discovery / 药学学报

Virus infection is a serious threat to human health and social development. The increase in pandemics caused by emerging and re-emerging viruses highlights the urgent need for broad-spectrum antivirals. In this perspective, we highlight recent case studies and summarize the universal strategies and methodologies in broad-spectrum antiviral drug discovery from common targets, common steps in viral life cycle, universal strategies, and broad-spectrum molecules, hoping to provide valuable guidance for the current and future development of antiviral drugs.

Bioinorganic chemistry strategies in antiviral drug discovery / 药学学报

Over the course of human civilization, viral infections have been a part of human life and still represent one of the heaviest burdens for human and society, with a huge devastating socioeconomic impact. Inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry have made important contributions to medical science and human health in the past half century. In this paper, we selected the representative cases in recent years, and reviewed the research progress of antiviral drug discovery from the perspective of bioinorganic chemistry.

Effect of Polysaccharides from Root， Stem， Leaf and Fruit of Schisandra chinensis on Exercise Endurance in D-galactose-induced Aging Mice / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of polysaccharides from root， stem， leaf and fruit of Schisandra chinensis on exercise endurance in the aging mice induced by D-galactose. MethodMale ICR mice were randomly assigned into six groups： blank control group， model group， root polysaccharide group， stem polysaccharide group， leaf polysaccharide group and fruit polysaccharide group. The mice were administrated with distilled water or root， stem， leaf and fruit polysaccharide （total sugar content of 35 mg·kg-1） by gavage. Thirty minutes after the administration， the blank control group was subcutaneously injected with normal saline， and the other groups with D-galactose （300 mg·kg-1）， once daily for 6 weeks. The anti-fatigue effects were evaluated by rotarod test， forelimb grip strength test， and weight-loaded swimming test. The fatigue and oxidation indicators such as blood urea nitrogen （BUN）， serum lactic acid （LD）， lactic dehydrogenase （LDH）， creatine kinase （CK）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px）， and reactive oxygen species （ROS） were measured by chemical colorimetry. The protein levels of pro-apoptotic protein B cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）-associated X protein （Bax）， anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and cleaved cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-3 （cleaved Caspase-3） in mouse skeletal muscle were detected by Western blot. ResultIn the rotarod test， the time on rod was shorter in the model group than in the blank control group （P<0.01） and the root， stem and fruit polysaccharide groups （P<0.01）. In the forelimb grip strength test， the forelimb grip strength in the model group was lower than that in the blank control group （P<0.01） and the root， stem， leaf and fruit polysaccharide groups （P<0.01）. In the weight-loaded swimming test， the weight-loaded swimming time in the model group was shorter than that in the blank control group （P<0.01） and the root， stem， leaf and fruit polysaccharide groups （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the blank control group， the BUN， LD， LDH and CK levels significantly increased in the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The increases in BUN and LDH levels were decreased by the root， stem and fruit polysaccharides （P<0.05， P<0.01） and those in LD and CK by the root， stem， leaf and fruit polysaccharides （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the blank control group， the model group showed decreased SOD and GSH-Px activities （P<0.01） and increased MDA and ROS content （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the root， stem， and fruit polysaccharide increased the SOD activity （P<0.05， P<0.01） and decreased ROS content （P<0.01）. The root and stem polysaccharides decreased the MDA content （P<0.01） and increased the GSH-Px activity （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the blank control group， the model group showed up-regulated protein levels of Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 and down-regulated protein level of Bcl-2 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the root， and stem polysaccharides down-regulated the protein levels of cleaved Caspase-3 （P<0.05） and up-regulated protein level of Bcl-2 （P<0.01）. ConclusionThe polysaccharides from the root， stem， leaf， and fruit of S. chinensis have anti-fatigue effect in D-galactose-induced aging mice. The polysaccharides may exert such effect by improving the antioxidant capacity and inhibiting the apoptosis of skeletal muscle cells.

Anwulignan alleviates liver damages in exhausted mice by activating NRF2 / 药学学报

Excessive exercise makes the body consume more oxygen and produce excessive free radicals. The increased free radicals lead to oxidative stress injury and dysfunctions in liver tissue. Our previous study showed that Anwulignan, an active monomer in Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils. (Schisandra), had anti-fatigue effects in mice. However, whether Anwulignan has a protective effect on liver damage in exhausted mice and the mechanism underlying remain elusive. An exhaustive swimming mice model was used to study the protective effects of Anwulignan on liver damage. The involvement of the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2)/antioxidant responsive element (ARE) antioxidative pathway in Anwulignan-mediated anti-fatigue was analyzed using NRF2 inhibitor ML385 in HepG2 cells treated with H2O2. Animal welfare and experimental process follow the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Beihua University. Anwulignan significantly lowered serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, reduced liver tissue damages, increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT), and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxy-2 deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) contents in the livers of exhausted mice, demonstrating a strong antioxidant effect. Furthermore, Anwulignan up-regulated the NRF2/ARE antioxidant pathway in liver tissue, increased B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expression, and decreased Bcl-2-like protein 4 (Bax) and caspase3 expression. In HepG2 cells, Anwulignan improved the cell viability and SOD activity, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MDA contents, up-regulated the expression of the NRF2/ARE signaling pathway and Bcl-2, and decreased Bax and caspase3 expression in the cells. Furthermore, pretreated ML385 partly abolished all these effects of Anwulignan. Anwulignan protects the liver from damage in the exhausted mice by its antioxidant effects and related to its activation of the NRF2 pathway.

San-Ao Decoction () Regulates Urine Volume on Bronchial Asthma Model Mice / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of San-Ao Decoction (, SAD) on water metabolism of bronchial asthra model mice.@*METHODS@#Forty-five female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control, model and SAD groups by a random number table, 15 mice in each group. A composite method with ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge was developed to establish bronchial asthma model. Mice in the control group were intraperitoneally injected with distilled water without aerosol inhalation challenge. On day 15-22, 0.3 mL SAD was administered via gastric route in SAD group, one time per day, while an equivalent volume of normal saline was used for gastric administration in the control and model groups. Changes in airway resistance in the inspiratory phase (RI-R-Area) were detected using an AniRes2005 system, and 5-h urine output was collected by metabolic cages. Histopathological changes in lung and kidney were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. mRNA expressions of aquaporin (AQP) 1 and AQP2 in kidney were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and the protein expressions of AQP1 and AQP2 in kidney were detected by immunohistochemistry. Enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay was used to detect the OVA-specific endothelium-1 (ET-1), antidiuretic hormone (ADH), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), prostaglandin E@*RESULTS@#Compared with the control group, the serum IgE level in model group increased (P<0.01). Following the pathologic changes in lung tissue, no significant change in kidney tissue was observed among 3 groups. Compared with the control group, the mice in the model group showed elevated airway resistance during inhalation phase, higher mRNA and protein expression levels on AQP1 and AQP2 in kidney tissue and higher ET-1 levels in serum, lung and kidney tissues, ADH and ANP in lung and serum, PGE@*CONCLUSION@#San-Ao Decoction can regulate the urine volume through regulating AQP1 and AQP2 expression, and the expression of these in the kidneys might be regulated by ET-1, NO and Ang II.

The relationship between hemoglobin and serum uric acid / 预防医学

Objective@#To analyze the relationship between hemoglobin ( Hb ) and serum uric acid ( SUA ), so as to provide basis for preventing hyperuricemia ( HUA ) . @*Methods@#As the research subjects, people who underwent physical examination in Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital from January 1, 2017 to October 31, 2020 for 4 years in a row and who were non-HUA in 2017 were selected. The physical examination data were collected, including body mass index, blood pressure, blood routine, blood biochemical tests, etc. The subjects grouped by quartiles of Hb level in 2017. The occurrence of SUA elevation ( SUA increased ≥60 μmol/L from baseline ) , significantly SUA elevation ( SUA increased ≥120 μmol/L from baseline ), HUA ( SUA>420 μmol/L ) and severe HUA ( SUA ≥480 μmol/L ) in the next 3 years were taken as end events. The incidence, occurrence time and risk of end events in different Hb groups were analyzed.@*Results@#A total of 4 073 subjects were selected and divided into 4 groups according to the Hb level from low to high, with 969 subjects in group A, 907 subjects in group B, 1 109 subjects in group C and 1 088 subjects in group D. SUA elevation was in 745 patients ( 18.29% ); significantly SUA elevation was in 105 patients ( 2.58% ); HUA was in 514 patients ( 12.62% ); severe HUA was in 94 patients ( 2.31% ). The incidence of SUA elevation and significantly SUA elevation showed a decreasing trend with the increase of Hb level ( P<0.05 ). The occurrence time of SUA elevation in group A to D was 2.788, 2.817, 2.860 and 2.814 years, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05 ). There were no statistically significant differences in the occurrence time of other end events ( P>0.05 ). The multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that compared with group A, other Hb groups had lower risk ( HR=0.498-0.776, 95%CI:0.253-0.981 ) of SUA elevation, significantly SUA elevation and severe HUA after adjusting for gender, age, ALT, Scr, body mass index, etc.@*Conclusions@#With the increase of Hb level, the incidence of SUA elevation may decrease and the occurrence time is prolonged. Compared with the lowest Hb group, the higher Hb groups had lower risk of SUA elevation, significantly SUA elevation and severe HUA.

Analysis on the trend of overweight and obesity of children and adolescents in 9 provinces of China from 1991 to 2015 / 中华预防医学杂志

To analyze the trends of overweight and obesity of children and adolescents in 9 provinces of China from 1991 to 2015. A total of 14 888 children and adolescents aged 6-17 years with complete data were selected from the China Health and Nutrition Survey from 1991 to 2015. The definitions of overweight and obesity were defined using the international body mass index (BMI) cut-offs for child overweight and obesity established by the International Obesity Task Force in 2000 (hereinafter referred to as 'IOTF Standard'), the growth reference for school-aged children and adolescents established by the World Health Organization in 2007 (hereinafter referred to as 'WHO Standard'), the BMI cut-offs for screening overweight and obesity in Chinese children established by Li Hui et al. in 2009 (hereinafter referred to as 'Expert Standard'), and the screening thresholds for overweight and obesity in Chinese school-age children and adolescents released by the National Health and Family Planning Commission in 2018 (hereinafter referred to as 'Industry Standard'). Multivariable linear regression model was used to examine the trends in BMI values from 1991 to 2015, and multivariable logistic regression model was used to examine the trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity from 1991 to 2015. After adjusting for the age, sex and region, BMI values increased from 17.26 kg/m(2) in 1991 to 18.72 kg/m(2) in 2015 ( value for trend <0.001). The prevalence of overweight defined by the IOTF Standard, WHO Standard, Expert Standard, and Industry Standard increased from 4.06%, 5.37%, 5.16%, and 4.27% in 1991 to 13.58%, 16.23%, 13.30%, and 11.70% in 2015, respectively (all values for trend <0.001), and the prevalence of obesity increased from 1.02%, 1.86%, 2.24%, and 2.41% in 1991 to 7.45%, 10.75%, 12.08%, and 12.74% in 2015, respectively (all values for trend <0.001). The BMI values and prevalence of overweight and obesity increased significantly in Chinese children and adolescents from nine provinces from1991 to 2015.

Does Combined Anterior-Posterior Approach Improve Outcomes Compared with Posterioronly Approach in Traumatic Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures?: A Systematic Review

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the surgical, radiological, and functional outcomes of posterior-only versus combined anterior-posterior approaches in patients with traumatic thoracolumbar burst fractures. The ideal approach (anterior-only, posterior-only, or combined anterior-posterior) for the surgical management of thoracolumbar burst fracture remains controversial, with each approach having its advantages and disadvantages. A systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was performed (registration no., CRD42018115120). The authors reviewed comparative studies evaluating posterior-only approach compared with combined anterior-posterior approaches with respect to clinical, surgical, radiographic, and functional outcome measures. Five retrospective cohort studies were included. Postoperative neurological deterioration was not reported in either group. Operative time, estimated blood loss, and postoperative length of stay were increased among patients in the combined anterior-posterior group in one study and equivalent between groups in another study. No significant difference was observed between the two approaches with regards to long-term postoperative Cobb angle (mean difference, −0.2; 95% confidence interval, −5.2 to 4.8; p =0.936). Moreover, no significant difference in functional patient outcomes was observed in the 36item Short-Form Health Survey, Visual Analog Scale, and return-to-work rates between the two groups. The available evidence does not indicate improved clinical, radiologic (including kyphotic deformity), and functional outcomes in the combined anterior-posterior and posterior-only approaches in the management of traumatic thoracolumbar burst fractures. Further studies are required to ascertain if a subset of patients will benefit from a combined anterior-posterior approach.

Effect and Mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Tang on Atherosclerotic Plaque Based on Treg Cells / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective::To explore the effect and mechanisms of Buyang Huanwu Tang (BYHWT) on atherosclerotic plaque based on regulatory T cells (Treg) and inflammation. Method::Totally 50 ApoE knockout(ApoE-/-)mice aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into model group, low, medium, high-dose BYHWT groups, positive control group, and C57/BL mice were taken as control group. The model group and the BYHWT group were given high-fat diet for 12 weeks, while the control group was given normal diet. After successful modeling, BYHWT groups were given drugs (5, 10, 20 g·kg-1) through intragastric administration, the positive control group was given rapamycin (4 mg·kg-1), while the control group and the model group were given equal doses normal saline through intragastric administration for 4 weeks. Four weeks later, the mice were sacrificed. Manufactured paraffin sections were prepared for the aortic sinus of the heart. The plaque area was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and the number of Treg cells in immunohistochemical staining plaque was detected. Blood was collected from eye canthus of mice, the expression of inflammatory factors in peripheral blood was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) gene expression in peripheral blood was detected by Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Result::Compared with the control group, the area of atherosclerotic plaques in the model group was significantly increased (P<0.01), the contents of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were significantly increased (P<0.05), and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the peripheral blood Fxop3 mRNA expression was decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the plaque areas in middle-dose and high-dose BYHWT groups were significantly reduced(P<0.05), the peripheral blood TNF-α and IL-6 contents were decreased (P<0.01), the TGF-β and IL-10 expressions were increased in the high-dose group (P<0.05, P<0.01), the number of Treg cells in the plaque was increased in the high-dose group (P<0.01), and the peripheral blood Fxop3 mRNA expression was increased in each BYHWT group (P<0.01). Conclusion::BYHWT has an anti-atherosclerosis effect, which may be related to the increase of the number of Treg cells and thereby inhibiting the inflammatory response in vivo.

Medicinal chemistry strategies in seeking coronavirus inhibitors / 药学学报

The epidemic caused by coronavirus poses a serious threat to human health, but there is no specific drug or vaccine for the treatment of this kind of virus infection. Herein, this article selects typical case studies in recent years and reviews the medicinal chemistry strategies of anti-SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and other coronavirus drugs from the perspective of medicinal chemistry, and tries to provide some clues to current drug research againstSARS-CoV-2.