The Effect of Female Sex on Short-Term Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Off-Pump Versus On-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

ABSTRACT Introduction: According to the American Heart Association guideline for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), female patients undergoing on-pump CABG (ONCAB) are at higher risk of short-term adverse outcomes than male patients. However, whether off-pump CABG (OPCAB) can improve the short-term outcome of female patients compared to ONCAB remains unclear. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis to study the effect of the female sex on short-term outcomes of OPCAB vs. ONCAB. A total of 31,115 patients were enrolled in 12 studies, including 20,245 females who underwent ONCAB and 10,910 females who underwent OPCAB. Results: The in-hospital mortality in female patients who underwent OPCAB was significantly lower than in those in the ONCAB group with (2.7% vs. 3.4%; odds ratio [OR] 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65-0.89) and without (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.52-0.89) adjustment for cardiovascular risk factor. The incidence of postoperative stroke in female patients who underwent OPCAB was lower than in those in the ONCAB group (1.2% vs. 2.1%; OR 0.59; 95% CI 0.48-0.73) before cardiovascular risk factor adjustment but was not significant (OR 0.87; 95% CI 0,66-1.16) after adjustment. There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative myocardial infarction between women who underwent OPCAB and those in the ONCAB group (1.3% vs. 2.3%; OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.54-1.43). Conclusion: In contrast to the American Heart Association CABG guideline, female patients who had OPCAB don't have unfavorable outcomes compared with the ONCAB group.

Co-occurrence trend of overweight,obesity and elevated blood pressure and its association with lifestyle factors among students in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To explore the epidemiological trend of overweight and obesity, elevated blood pressure and their comorbidities in children and adolescents from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region during 2016-2021, and to analyze its association with lifestyle, so as to provide reference for formulating prevention and control strategies of regional common comorbidities in schools.@*Methods@#A total of 8 908, 8 222, 9 448, 127 068, 100 778, and 138 540 students aged 10-18 years in Inner Mongolia were selected by stratified random cluster sampling in September each year from 2016 to 2021. Physical examination and questionnaire survey were conducted on the included students. The prevalence trends of overweight，obesity, elevated blood pressure and their co-occurrence were analyzed. Logistic regression was used to compare the prevalence of elevated blood pressure in different body mass index (BMI) groups. After excluding individuals without lifestyle information in 2021, Logistic regression analysis was used on 136 374 subjects to analyze the association between overweight，obesity, elevated blood pressure and their co-occurrence and lifestyle factors.@*Results@#During 2016 to 2021, the prevalence of comorbidity of overweight, obesity with elevated blood pressure among students in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were 5.04%，5.14%，4.99%，7.51%，7.60% and 9.45%， respectively . The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 26.94%, 28.07%, 29.62%, 34.19%, 36.71% and 37.53%, respectively. The prevalence of elevated blood pressure were 16.05%, 11.54%, 13.12%, 14.85%, 14.12% and 18.40%, respectively. Except for 2016, the risk of elevated blood pressure in overweight and obese people was higher than that in normal BMI group in other years, and there was a positive correlation between overweight and obesity and elevated blood pressure after gender and urban and rural areas ( P < 0.05 ). In 2021, the detection rate of comorbidity of overweight and obesity with elevated blood pressure among children and adolescents in urban areas was higher than that in suburban counties, and the reporting rate of healthy lifestyle was lower than that in suburban counties ( P <0.05).Skipping breakfast ( OR =1.11，95% CI =1.07-1.16) and non daily moderate and high intensity physical activity( OR =1.27，95% CI =1.20-1.34) were positively correlated with the co-occurrence of overweight，obesity and elevated blood pressure among children and adolescents in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Non daily moderate and high intensity physical activity ≥60 min was positively correlated with elevated blood pressure ( OR =1.11，95% CI =1.07-1.16), and insufficient sleep was positively correlated with overweight，obesity ( OR =1.04, 95% CI =1.01-1.06)（ P ＜0.05）.@*Conclusion@#The prevalence of overweight，obesity, elevated blood pressure and their co-occurrence among children and adolescents in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is relatively high. Overweight/obesity is an important risk factor for elevated blood pressure, and unhealthy lifestyles are risk factors for co-occurrence of overweight，obesity and elevated blood pressure. Region specific lifestyle interventions are indispensable for the prevention and control of regional common comorbidities. Urban areas may be a key focus for lifestyle interventions.

LncRNA LINC01857 drives pancreatic adenocarcinoma progression via modulating miR-19a-3p/SMOC2

Abstract Objectives Emerging evidence has demonstrated that LINC01857 exerts a pivotal function in many cancers. However, its function in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) still remains unclear. This study was designed to investigate the regulatory character of LINC01857 in PDAC. Methods Bioinformatic tools and databases were used to seek potential miRNAs and mRNAs. Gene expression was evaluated by Reverse Transcription quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR), and western blot was used for protein level detection. A subcellular fraction assay was done to ascertain the location of LINC01857 in PANC-1 and BxPC-3 human pancreatic cancer cells. CCK-8, EdU, wound healing and Transwell assays were performed to inquire into the influence of LINC01857, and SPARC -related Modular Calcium-binding protein-2 (SMOC2) on cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion, respectively. The interaction between LINC01857 and its downstream genes was explored by RNA immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays. Results LINC01857 levels were significantly elevated in PDAC. Knockdown of LINC01857 significantly restrained the proliferation, migration, invasion, and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) process of PDAC cells. MiR-19a-3p was a downstream target of LINC01857, and miR-19a-3p levels were significantly decreased in PDAC cells. In addition, SMOC2 expression had a negative correlation with that of miR-19a-3p, and SMOC2 was a downstream target of miR-19a-3p. Furthermore, SMOC2 upregulation partially abolished the inhibitive influence of LINC01857 downregulation on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and the EMT process. Conclusion LINC01857 promotes malignant phenotypes of PDAC cells via upregulation of SMOC2 by interacting with miR-19a-3p. HIGHLIGHTS LINC01857 is upregulated in PAAD and promotes malignant cellular behaviors. LINC01857 interacts with miR-19a-3p to regulate SMOC2 expression. LINC01857 promotes malignant cellular phenotypes by upregulating SMOC2.

Preparation and in vitro evaluation of fused deposition modeling 3D printed compound tablets of captopril and hydrochlorothiazide / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the feasibility of preparing compound tablets for the treatment of hypertension by fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing technology and to evaluate the quality of the printed compound tablets in vitro.@*METHODS@#Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) filaments were used as the exci-pient to prepare the shell of tablet. The ellipse-shaped tablets (the length of major axes of ellipse was 20 mm, the length of the minor axes of ellipse was 10 mm, the height of tablet was 5 mm) with two separate compartments were designed and printed using FDM 3D printer. The height of layer was 0.2 mm, and the thickness of roof or floor was 0.6 mm. The thickness of shell was 1.2 mm, and the thickness of the partition wall between the two compartments was 0.6 mm. Two cardiovascular drugs, captopril (CTP) and hydrochlorothiazide (HCT), were selected as model drugs for the printed compound tablet and filled in the two compartments of the tablet, respectively. The microscopic morphology of the tablets was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The weight variation of the tablets was investigated by electronic scale. The hardness of the tablets was measured by a single-column mechanical test system. The contents of the drugs in the tablets were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the dissolution apparatus was used to measure the in vitro drug release of the tablets.@*RESULTS@#The prepared FDM 3D printed compound tablets were all in good shape without printing defects. The average weight of the tablets was (644.3±6.55) mg. The content of CTP and HCT was separately (52.3±0.26) mg and (49.6±0.74) mg. A delayed in vitro release profile was observed for CTP and HCT, and the delayed release time for CTP and HCT in vitro was 20 min and 40 min, respectively. The time for 70% of CTP and HCT released was separately 30 min and 60 min.@*CONCLUSION@#CTP and HCT compound tablets were successfully prepared by FDM 3D printing technology, and the printed tablets were of good qualities.

Suanzaoren Tang and Its Modified Formulas on Prevention and Treatment of Anxiety Disorders： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Suanzaoren Tang， as documented in the Synopsis of the Golden Chamber （《金匮要略》），consists of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen， Poria， Anemarrhenae Rhizoma， Chuanxiong Rhizoma， and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， and is indicated for dysphoria， consumptive disease， and insomnia. In modern clinical practice，in addition to sleep disorders，Suanzaoren Tang and its modified formulas can also be used to treat anxiety disorders， as well as insomnia，cardiac intervention，myocardial infarction， and other diseases combined with anxiety. It is also used in combination with other Chinese medicinal formulas （such as Zhizichi Tang，Ganmai Dazaotang，Baihe Zhimu Dihuangtang，and Jinlingzi San），western medicines （such as paroxetine，zopiclone，enalapril，amlodipine，metformin，and sertraline hydrochloride）， acupuncture， and acupoint application to treat anxiety， as well as cardiovascular neurosis，cancer，hypertension，type 2 diabetes， and other diseases combined with anxiety. As revealed by clinical treatment results， Suanzaoren Tang and its modified formulas can significantly reduce anxiety scores such as Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale（HAMA） and Self-rating Anxiety Scale（SAS），and improve anxiety symptoms with significant efficacy and few side effects. As reported by experimental pharmacological studies， Suanzaoren Tang can regulate the content of neurotransmitters such as dopamine（DA），homovanillic acid（HVA），γ-aminobutyric acid（GABA），noradrenaline （NE），5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid （5-HIAA），glutamic acid（Glu），β-endorphin（β-EP），5-hydroxytryptamine（5-HT）， and nitric oxide （NO）in the brain， and mediate immune function by reducing the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β（IL-1β）and tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α），enhancing the proliferation of B lymphocytes，phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophages， and down-regulating the proliferation of T lymphocytes. Besides， it can also regulate the endocrine level to allow the homeostasis of nervous system， endocrine system， and immune system by increasing adrenocorticotropic hormone（ACTH）and corticosterone（CORT）levels and up-regulating glucocorticoid receptor（GR）expression， finally achieving the effect of anxiety prevention and treatment. The present study systematically reviewed the clinical and basic research progress on the prevention and treatment of anxiety with Suanzaoren Tang to provide references for the research on the mechanism and material basis of Suanzaoren Tang and the development of new drugs for anxiety.

Effect of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells on the Proliferation and Apoptosis of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of acute myeloid leukemia cells in leukemia-microenvironment on proliferation and apoptosis of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSC).@*METHODS@#Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) murine models overexpressing MLL-AF9 were established. The number of BM-MSC of wild type (WT) and AML-derived mice were analyzed by flow cytometry. Morphology and growth differences between WT and AML-derived BM-MSC were analyzed by inverted fluorescence microscope. Proliferation and apoptosis of BM-MSC between these two groups were detected by Brdu and Annexin V/PI.@*RESULTS@#Compared with WT-derived BM-MSC, the number and proliferation rate of AML-derived BM-MSC significantly increased (P<0.01, P<0.001), while apoptosis rate decreased (P<0.05). When cultured in vitro, BM-MSC grew faster under conditional medium.@*CONCLUSION@#AML cells can promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of BM-MSC.

Exploration and reflection on evaluation methodology of human use experience for new Chinese drug development / 中国中药杂志

The "triple combination" review system provides an opportunity for the transformation of human use experience into new Chinese drugs. However, there are some methodological and technical limitations in the assessment of human experience. Hence, the efficacy and safety evaluation methods should be established in accordance with the characteristics of Chinese herbs. This study summarized some evidence-based methodology to promote the transformation of human use experience to new Chinese drugs, mainly including the individualized pragmatic randomized controlled trial(RCT), cluster RCT, single-case RCT, single arm RCT with objective performance criteria, and partially nested RCT. As the real world data can be used to support the transformation of human experience, attention should be paid to convenient and efficient collection of data, prudent selection of design types, and adoption of appropriate ana-lysis methods to deal with confounding bias, including multi-factor regression model and propensity score. The newly proposed mixed research method can also be utilized to assess the human use experience, which is suitable for mining the theory of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and expert experience from different aspects. Meanwhile, considering the study design requirements and TCM cha-racteristics, this study put forward the common problems and solutions in the development of new Chinese drugs based on human use experience, including how to select the feasible outcome indicators, how to collect prescription data in the case of herb and dosage adjustment, and how to evaluate the comprehensive effectiveness of TCM from the perspective of "combination of disease and syndrome".

Application and significance of mixed methods research in traditional Chinese medicine and narrative medicine / 中国中药杂志

Since narrative medicine was introduced in China, it has been widely used in medical education and clinical practice. The research on narrative medicine in China is especially characterized by its combination with traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). At present, the research on narrative medicine in China is still in the stage of small-scale practicing and theory advocating. Besides, there is also a lack of guidance on experimental design methodology for clinical application, which leads to few high-quality studies in this field. The present study reviewed the current high-quality research on narrative medicine to discuss the value and prospects of mixed methods research in narrative medicine. In addition, the common design, application procedures, and notes of mixed methods research were explained to provide references for the extensive applications of narrative medicine in the medical field, especially TCM clinical practice, education, and scientific research.

YU Tian-yuan's experience in the clinical application of Danzhong (CV 17) for mental illness / 中国针灸

To summarize YU Tian-yuan's experience of applying Danzhong (CV 17) for mental illness in acupuncture and tuina. YU Tian-yuan uses Danzhong (CV 17) alone or in combination with other acupoints to treat mental illnesses such as insomnia, palpitation and chest distress. Professor YU emphasizes 4 tips when treating diseases, nourishing the heart to tranquilize by light stimulation; regulating spirit by combined stimulation; leaving the acupoints and holding on the meridian for a wide range of stimulation; using rubbing and pushing manipulation in several directions for regulating qi to soothe the chest. And in clinical practice, formed a unique therapy to treat mental illness.

Computer simulation of molecular docking between methylene blue and some proteins of Porphyromonas gingivalis / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To study the binding target of photosensitizer and bacteria in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy with computer-simulated target prediction and molecular docking research methods and to calculate the binding energy.@*METHODS@#The protein names of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) were obtained and summarized in Uniprot database and RCSB PDB database; the structure diagrams of methy-lene blue were screened in SciFinder database, PubChem database, ChemSpider database, and Chemical Book, and ChemBioDraw software was used to draw and confirm the three-dimensional structure for target prediction and Cytoscape software was used to build a visual network diagram; a protein interaction network was searched and built between the methylene blue target and the common target of Pg in the String database; then we selected FimA, Mfa4, RgpB, and Kgp K1 proteins, used AutoDock software to calculate the docking energy of methylene blue and the above-mentioned proteins and performed molecular docking.@*RESULTS@#The target prediction results showed that there were 19 common targets between the 268 potential targets of methylene blue and 1 865 Pg proteins. The 19 targets were: groS, radA, rplA, dps, fabH, pyrG, thyA, panC, RHO, frdA, ileS, bioA, def, ddl, TPR, murA, lepB, cobT, and gyrB. The results of the molecular docking showed that methylene blue could bind to 9 sites of FimA protein, with a binding energy of -6.26 kcal/mol; with 4 sites of Mfa4 protein and hydrogen bond formation site GLU47, and the binding energy of -5.91 kcal/mol, the binding energy of LYS80, the hydrogen bond forming site of RgpB protein, was -5.14 kcal/mol, and the binding energy of 6 sites of Kgp K1 protein and the hydrogen bond forming site GLY1114 of -5.07 kcal/mol.@*CONCLUSION@#Computer simulation of target prediction and molecular docking technology can initially reveal the binding, degree of binding and binding sites of methylene blue and Pg proteins. This method provides a reference for future research on the screening of binding sites of photosensitizers to cells and bacteria.

C/EBPb converts bovine fibroblasts to adipocytes without hormone cocktail induction

BACKGROUND: Adipogenesis and fibrogenesis can be considered as a competitive process in muscle, which may affect the intramuscular fat deposition. The CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (C/EBPb) plays an important role in adipogenesis, which is well-characterized in mice, but little known in bovine so far. RESULTS: In this study, real-time qPCR revealed that the level of C/EBPb was increased during the developmental stages of bovine and adipogenesis process of preadipocytes. Overexpression of C/EBPb promoted bovine fibroblast proliferation through mitotic clonal expansion (MCE), a necessary process for initiating adipogenesis, by significantly downregulating levels of p21 and p27 (p < 0.01). Also, the PPARc expression was inhibited during the MCE stage (p < 0.01). 31.28% of transfected fibroblasts adopted lipid-laden adipocyte morphology after 8 d. Real-time qPCR showed that C/EBPb activated the transcription of early stage adipogenesis markers C/EBPa and PPARc. Expression of ACCa, FASN, FABP4 and LPL was also significantly upregulated, while the expression of LEPR was weakened. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded C/EBPb can convert bovine fibroblasts into adipocytes without hormone induction by initiating the MCE process and promoting adipogenic genes expression, which may provide new insights into the potential functions of C/EBPb in regulating intramuscular fat deposition in beef cattle.

Preparation and in vitro evaluation of fused deposition modeling 3D printed verapa-mil hydrochloride gastric floating formulations / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the feasibility of preparing gastric floating formulations by fused de-position modeling (FDM) 3D printing technology, to evaluate the in vitro properties of the prepared FDM 3D printed gastric floating formulations, and to compare the influence of different external shapes of the formulation with their in vitro properties.@*METHODS@#Verapamil hydrochloride and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were used as the model drug and the excipient, respectively. The capsule-shaped and hemisphere-shaped gastric floating formulations were then prepared by FDM 3D printing. The infill percentages were 15%, the layer heights were 0.2 mm, and the roof or floor thicknesses were 0.8 mm for both the 3D printed formulations, while the number of shells was 3 and 4 for capsule-shaped and hemisphere-shaped formulation, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the morpho-logy of the surface and cross section of the formulations. Gravimetric method was adopted to measure the weights of the formulations. Texture analyzer was employed to evaluate the hardness of the formulations. High performance liquid chromatography method was used to determine the drug contents of the formulations. The in vitro floating and drug release behavior of the formulations were also characterized.@*RESULTS@#SEM showed that the appearance of the FDM 3D printed gastric floating formulations were both intact and free from defects with the filling structure which was consistent with the design. The weight variations of the two formulations were relatively low, indicating a high reproducibility of the 3D printing fabrication. Above 800.0 N of hardness was obtained in two mutually perpendicular directions for the two formulations. The drug contents of the two formulations approached to 100%, showing no drug loss during the 3D printing process. The two formulations floated in vitro without any lag time, and the in vitro floating time of the capsule-shaped and hemisphere-shaped formulation were (3.97±0.41) h and (4.48±0.21) h, respectively. The in vitro release of the two formulations was significantly slower than that of the commercially available immediate-release tablets.@*CONCLUSION@#The capsule-shaped and hemisphere-shaped verapamil hydrochloride gastric floating formulations were prepared by FDM 3D printing technology successfully. Only the floating time was found to be influenced by the external shape of the 3D printed formulations in this study.

Effect of moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) on myocardial remodeling and function in exercise-induced fatigue rats / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To explore the effect of moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) on myocardial structure and function in exercise-induced fatigue rats. Methods: A 12-week treadmill running training was performed to create an exercise-induced fatigue rat model. Sixty eligible male specific-pathogen-free grade Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a control group, a model group, a non-meridian non-acupoint group, a Zusanli (ST 36) group and a Shenque (CV 8) group, with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the blank group did not receive treadmill running training or moxibustion. Rats in the control group did not receive treadmill running training but received mild moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8). Rats in the model group received treadmill running training but no moxibustion. Rats in the non-meridian non-acupoint group, the Zusanli (ST 36) group and the Shenque (CV 8) group received moxibustion at the non-meridian non-acupoint points, Zusanli (ST 36) or Shenque (CV 8) immediately after each treadmill running training, 15 min each time, once a day for 5 consecutive days a week at a 2-day interval, 60 times of moxibustion in total. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESd), left ventricular diastolic volume (LVDv), left ventricular systolic volume (LVSv), ejection fraction (EF), stroke volume (SV), early diastolic peak flow velocity of mitral valve (E) and late diastolic peak flow velocity of mitral valve (A) of each group before and after the last treadmill running training were measured. Blood was collected 6 h after the last treadmill running training, and serum C-reactive protein (CRP), myoglobin (Mb), creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB), cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) levels were detected. Finally, the heart was separated, the heart mass (HM) was measured, the cTnT level of the myocardial tissue was detected, the ultrastructural changes of the left ventricular myocardium were observed by transmission electron microscope, the left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS), E/A and heart mass index (HMI) were calculated. Results: Compared with the same group before treatment, the rat cardiac LVEDd, LVESd, LVDv, LVSv, SV, E and A were significantly increased (all P<0.01), and the rat LVFS, E/A and EF were significantly decreased (all P<0.01) in the model group and the non-meridian non-acupoint group after treatment; the rat cardiac SV, LVDv, LVSv, E and A were all increased (all P<0.01), while E/A and EF were decreased (all P<0.01) in the Zusanli (ST 36) group after treatment; the rat cardiac LVDv, E and A were significantly increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05), and E/A was significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the Shenque (CV 8) group after treatment. After treatment, compared with the blank group, the rat cardiac LVEDd, LVESd, SV, LVDv, LVSv, E, A, the serum CRP, Mb, CK-MB, cTnI, cTnT and HMI, and the myocardial cTnT were increased (all P<0.01), and the LVFS, E/A and EF were all reduced (all P<0.01) in the model group; compared with the model group and the non-meridian non-acupoint group, rats in the Zusanli (ST 36) group and the Shenque (CV 8) group showed decreased LVEDd, LVESd, SV, LVDv, LVSv, E, A, serum CRP, Mb, CK-MB, cTnI, cTnT and HMI, and myocardial cTnT (P<0.01 or P<0.05), along with increased LVFS, E/A and EF (all P<0.01); compared with the Zusanli (ST 36) group, Mb and A of the Shenque (CV 8) group were decreased (both P<0.01), while both E/A and EF were increased (P<0.01, P<0.05). Transmission electron microscopy examination showed that myofibrils in the blank group and the control group were neatly arranged with clear light and dark bands; the model group and the non-meridian non-acupoint group showed different degrees of myofibril disintegration and breakage, increased and aggregated mitochondria of different sizes, and increased electron density. The myofibrils in the Shenque (CV 8) group and Zusanli (ST 36) group were arranged neatly with clear light and dark bands, and compensatory hyperplasia of mitochondria. Conclusion: Moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) and Zusanli (ST 36) both can effectively improve the occurrence of myocardial remodeling in exercise-induced fatigue rats, and the effect of moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) is better in improving cardiac function.

Predicting the grades of Astragali radix using mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and machine learning / 药物分析学报

Astragali radix(AR,the dried root of Astragalus)is a popular herbal remedy in both China and the United States.The commercially available AR is commonly classified into premium graded(PG)and ungraded(UG)ones only according to the appearance.To uncover novel sensitive and specific markers for AR grading,we took the integrated mass spectrometry-based untargeted and targeted metabolomics ap-proaches to characterize chemical features of PG and UG samples in a discovery set(n=16 batches).A series of five differential compounds were screened out by univariate statistical analysis,including arginine,calycosin,ononin,formononetin,and astragaloside Ⅳ,most of which were observed to be accumulated in PG samples except for astragaloside Ⅳ.Then,we performed machine learning on the quantification data of five compounds and constructed a logistic regression prediction model.Finally,the external validation in an independent validation set of AR(n=20 batches)verified that the five com-pounds,as well as the model,had strong capability to distinguish the two grades of AR,with the pre-diction accuracy＞90％.Our findings present a panel of meaningful candidate markers that would significantly catalyze the innovation in AR grading.

Research advances in drug resistance mechanisms of bacterial biofilm and natural drug intervention / 中国中药杂志

Drug resistance resulting from bacterial biofilms can invalidate antibacterial agents. Therefore,eradicating bacterial biofilms to reverse drug resistance is a hotspot in the pharmaceutical research. In recent years,numerous studies have revealed the complicated mechanism of bacterial biofilm formation and strong drug resistance with multiple influential factors involved. This paper gives a comprehensive review on the process of biofilm formation and intervention by natural drugs,which can provide some reference and evidence for the following studies.

Clinical Significance of EBV-DNA Copy Number in EBV Positive Lymphoma Patients / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of EBV-DNA copy number on the prognosis of patients with EBV positive lymphoma.@*METHODS@#Clinical data of 109 patients diagnosed as EBV positive lymphoma in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from January 2010 to January 2020 were enrolled and analyzed retrospectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used for survival analysis, Log-rank was used to compare the clinical characteristics between the patients in different groups, and Cox regression was used for multivariate analysis.@*RESULTS@#Among the 109 patients with EBV-positive lymphoma, the medium age were 56 (range 15 to 83) years old. 29 patients at Ann Arbor stage I-II while 80 patients at stage III-IV. The average value of EBV-DNA was 1 023 510 IU/ml, 7 patients were higher than the average value, while 102 patients were lower. KM survival analysis showed that OS and PFS in patients with EBV-DNA above average level were shorter than those in patients with EBV-DNA below average level (OS: P=0.048, PFS: P=0.001), EBV-DNA copy number was a factor affecting the prognosis of patients. In addition, LDH level showed positive correlation with EBV-DNA copy number (r=0.650), which was also one of the factors affecting OS (P=0.053).@*CONCLUSION@#EBV-DNA copy number and LDH level can influence the prognosis of EBV positive lymphoma patients. Therefore, detection of EBV-DNA copy number in peripheral blood is important for evaluate the prognosis the patients.

Characteristics and outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve replacement in China: a report from China aortic valve transcatheter replacement registry (CARRY) / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#The past decade has witnessed an ever-increasing momentum of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and a subsequent paradigm shift in the contemporary management of severe aortic stenosis (AS). We conducted a multi-centric TAVR registry based on Chinese patients (the China Aortic valve tRanscatheter Replacement registrY [CARRY]) to delineate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of Chinese patients who underwent TAVR and compare the results between different valve types in different Chinese regions.@*METHODS@#CARRY is an all-comer registry of aortic valve disease patients undergoing TAVR across China and was designed as an observational study that retrospectively included all TAVR patients at each participating site. Seven hospitals in China participated in the CARRY, and 1204 patients from April 2012 to November 2020 were included. Categorical variables were compared using the chi-squared test, and continuous variables were analyzed using a t test or analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. The Kaplan-Meier curve was used to estimate the risk of adverse events during follow-up.@*RESULTS@#The mean age of the patients was 73.8 ± 6.5 years and 57.2% were male. The median Society of Thoracic Surgeon-Predicted Risk of Mortality score was 6.0 (3.7-8.9). Regarding the aortic valve, the proportion of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) was 48.5%. During the hospital stay, the stroke rate was 0.7%, and the incidence of high-degree atrioventricular block indicating permanent pacemaker implantation was 11.0%. The in-hospital all-cause mortality rate was 2.2%. After 1 year, the overall mortality rate was 4.5%. Compared to patients with tricuspid aortic valve (TAV), those with BAV had similar in-hospital complication rates, but a lower incidence of in-hospital mortality (1.4% vs. 3.3%) and 1 year mortality (2.3% vs. 5.8%).@*CONCLUSIONS@#TAVR candidates in China were younger, higher proportion of BAV, and had lower rates of post-procedural complications and mortality than other international all-comer registries. Given the use of early generation valves in the majority of the population, patients with BAV had similar rates of complications, but lower mortality than those with TAV. These findings further propel the extension of TAVR in low-risk patients.@*TRIAL REGISTRATION@#https://www.chictr.org.cn/ (No. ChiCTR2000038526).

A new phloroglucinol compound from Dryopteris fragrans / 中国中药杂志

Two phloroglucinol compounds(1-2) were isolated and purified from 95% ethanol extract of Dryopteris fragrans through various column chromatographies on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, medium pressure column chromatography, and preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated as 2',4',6'-trihydroxy-5'-methyl acetate-3'-methyl-1'-butyrophenone(1) and aspidinol B(2) based on their chemical and physicochemical methods and spectroscopic data. Compound 1 is a new phloroglucinol compound named "dryofraginol".

Modern Clinical Applications and Type of Disease Prevention and Treatment of Guipitang： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

The Chinese herbal medicines contained in Guipitang （GPT） were retrieved in the databases， including traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform （TCMSP）， encyclopedia of traditional Chinese medicine （ETCM）， bioinformatics analysis tool for molecular mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine （BATMAN-TCM）， and database for associated traditional Chinese medicine， gene， and disease information using text mining （TCMGeneDIT）， and the compounds and their potential targets were obtained. Disease enrichment analysis on the potential targets of GPT was carried out to obtain the diseases potentially treated by GPT using MetaCore. Disease enrichment results showed that the potential diseases treated by GPT included encephalopathy， gastrointestinal diseases， nutritional/metabolic diseases， tumors/cancers， cardiovascular system diseases， endocrine system diseases， immune system diseases， drug-related side effects/adverse reactions， and congenital/hereditary diseases. On these grounds， the diseases treated by GPT were reviewed. The results of the previous research on diseases treated by GPT were consistent with analysis results of network pharmacology. The modern applications of GPT clinically went beyond its original indications， but its applications were based on the clinical manifestation of qi and blood deficiency in the heart and spleen， presenting the characteristic of "same treatment for different diseases". This study is expected to provide a reference for the further research and development of GPT.

Systematic review and Meta-analysis of efficacy and safety of Compound Glycyrrhizin Injection in improving chronic hepatitis B liver damage / 中国中药杂志

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Compound Glycyrrhizin Injection(CGI) in improving liver damage in chronic hepatitis B(CHB). PubMed, Web of Science, SinoMed, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP databases were retrieved from their inception to February 10, 2020. The randomized controlled trial(RCT) of CGI in the treatment of CHB was included. Data were independently extracted by two authors, and the methodological quality was evaluated using the Cochrane bias risk assessment tool by other two authors. Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. A total of 18 two-armed RCTs were included, involving 1 915 participants. The methodological quality of all studies included was generally low. In the comparison between CGI and diammonium glycyrrhizinate, the results showed that CGI was superior to the control group in improving the overall clinical effectiveness, but there was no statistical difference between the two groups in increasing ALT normalization rate, reducing ALT and AST level. In the comparison between CGI and diammonium glycyrrhizinate+other general hepatoprotective drugs, the results showed that CGI was superior to the control group in reducing AST level, while there was no statistical difference between the two groups in reducing ALT level and increasing overall clinical effectiveness. In the comparison between CGI+other commonly used drugs(including energy mixture, glutathione, vitamins, potassium magnesium aspartate) and diammonium glycyrrhizinate+other commonly used drugs, the results showed that CGI combined with other commonly used drugs was better than the control group in reducing ALT and AST level and improving the clinical total effective rate, and there was no statistical difference between the two groups in increasing the rate of ALT normalization. In the comparison between CGI+other commonly used drugs and other commonly used drugs, the results showed that CGI combined with other commonly used drugs was superior to the control group in reducing ALT and AST level and improving the overall clinical effectiveness. In the comparison between CGI+vitamins and diammonium glycyrrhizinate+potassium magnesium aspartate+vitamins, the results showed no statistical difference between the two groups in reducing AST level. A small number of studies included reported that CGI caused mild adverse reactions when used alone or in combination with other drugs. Based on the results, CGI has a certain effect in improving CHB liver damage, but the evidence is not enough to prove that CGI would cause serious adverse events. In the future, more well-designed and strictly-enforced RCT with an adequate sample size are needed to further evaluate the effect CGI in alleviating CHB liver damage.