Clinical characteristics of severe pre-eclampsia in a single tertiary referral center of Xiamen City / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective: To explore the key points for preventing and reducing severe pre-eclampsia (SPE) and its severe complications in the tertiary medical referral system of a second-tier city by analyzing the clinical characteristics of SPE. Methods: The clinical data of 341 patients with SPE who terminated pregnancy in Women and Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, and the pre-eclampsia (PE) risk factors, clinical characteristics and severe complications of SPE between the patients referred from primary hospitals (referral group) and the patients received regular prenatal care in the tertiary referral center (central group) were compared, as well as the influence of the referral timing on the maternal and perinatal outcomes. Results: Among the 341 cases of SPE, 92 cases were in the referral group and 249 cases were in the central group. (1) Analysis of PE risk factors: there was no statistical difference in the proportion of risk factors of PE between these two groups [75.0% (69/92) vs 71.9% (179/249); χ2=0.328, P=0.567]. (2) Analysis of clinical features: the gestational ages at the PE early warning factors onset, at the PE first symptom onset and at SPE diagnosed, pregnancy terminated and onset of SPE severe complications in the referral group were significantly earlier than those in the central group (all P<0.05), the proportions of terminating pregnancy before 32 weeks of gestation, between 32 and 34 weeks of gestation, intensive care unit (ICU), neonatal ICU hospitalization and fetal growth restriction in single pregnancies were higher than those in the central group, while the live birth rate was lower than that in the central group (all P<0.05). (3) Analysis of SPE severe complications: the rates of SPE severe complications in the referral group was higher than that in the central group [28.3% (26/92) vs 13.7% (34/249); χ2=9.885, P=0.002]. Among them, the rates of placental abruption [7.6% (7/92) vs 2.8% (7/249); χ2=3.927, P=0.048] and still birth [6.5% (6/92) vs 0.4% (1/249); χ2=9.656, P=0.002] in the referral group were significantly higher than those in the central group. (4) Analysis of referral timings: the timings included referral after onset of SPE severe complications (9.8%, 9/92), referral after SPE diagnosed (63.0%, 58/92), referral after detection of SPE early warning signs (20.7%, 19/92) and referral after detection of PE risk factors (6.5%, 6/92). The gestational ages at SPE diagnosed and pregnancy terminated in group of referral after onset of SPE severe complications and group of referral after SPE diagnosed were significantly earlier than those in group of referral after detection of PE early warning signs and group of referral after detection of PE risk factors (P<0.05). The earlier the referral, the higher the live birth rates (P<0.05). Conclusions: The tertiary referral center of the second-tier city plays an important role in reducing the maternal and perinatal damage of PE. The timing of referral in primary medical institutions is the key point of reducing the occurrence of SPE severe complications and maternal, perinatal damage of PE. It is necessary for medical institutions of all levels in all regions to improve the ability of early identification and early intervention for PE, to enhance the awareness of SPE and its severe complications prevention and control. Primary medical institutions should especially pay attention to raise the consciousness of PE risk factors and early warning signs, and to improve the ability of PE risk factors and early warning signs screening.

CircFhit Modulates GABAergic Synaptic Transmission via Regulating the Parental Gene Fhit Expression in the Spinal Dorsal Horn in a Rat Model of Neuropathic Pain / 神经科学通报·英文版

Effective treatments for neuropathic pain are lacking due to our limited understanding of the mechanisms. The circRNAs are mainly enriched in the central nervous system. However, their function in various physiological and pathological conditions have yet to be determined. Here, we identified circFhit, an exon-intron circRNA expressed in GABAergic neurons, which reduced the inhibitory synaptic transmission in the spinal dorsal horn to mediate spared nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain. Moreover, we found that circFhit decreased the expression of GAD65 and induced hyperexcitation in NK1R+ neurons by promoting the expression of its parental gene Fhit in cis. Mechanistically, circFhit was directly bound to the intronic region of Fhit, and formed a circFhit/HNRNPK complex to promote Pol II phosphorylation and H2B monoubiquitination by recruiting CDK9 and RNF40 to the Fhit intron. In summary, we revealed that the exon-intron circFhit contributes to GABAergic neuron-mediated NK1R+ neuronal hyperexcitation and neuropathic pain via regulating Fhit in cis.

Congenital Fibrinogen Deficiency Caused by Novel FGG Gene Mutation / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To detect and analyze coagulation related indexes and genotypes of a patient with congenital fibrinogen deficiency and his family members, and to investigate the possible molecular pathogenesis.@*METHODS@#Four peripheral blood samples (proband and 3 family members) were collected and the prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), fibrinogen (Fg), D-Dimer and eight coagulation factor indicators were detected. All exons and flanking sequences of the FGA, FGB, and FGG genes encoding the three peptide chains of fibrinogen were sequenced and analyzed by bioinformatics.@*RESULTS@#Among the eight coagulation factors of the proband and the elder sister, F Ⅴ and F Ⅷ were slightly higher, TT was significantly prolonged, and Fg was significantly reduced. Sequencing results showed that c.901C>T heterozygous mutation existed in the FGG gene. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the mutation changed the original protein structure and reduced the number of hydrogen bonds.@*CONCLUSION@#The fibrinogen gamma chain c.901C>T heterozygous mutation is the main cause of congenital fibrinogen deficiency in this family. This mutation is reported for the first time at home and abroad.

Quantitative proteomics of inhibitory mechanism of Dendrobium denneanum ether extract on lung cancer cells / 中国中药杂志

Dendrobium denneanum have been used for a long time as rare medicinal herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. Our previous works found that ether extract of D. denneanum had higher anticancer activities than alcohol or water extract,thus with better development prospects. Quantitative proteomics based on SILAC technique was used to investigate the anticancer mechanism of D. denneanum on lung tumor cell line A549,and 4 855 proteins were detected in A549 cells. Quantitative proteomics experiments found that 193 proteins of A549 cells were up-regulated,and 44 proteins were down-regulated by ether extract of D. denneanum. Those proteins are associated with synthesis,transport and metabolism of biological macromolecules,chaperone,DNA repair,oxidoreductase,cell adhesion,cell cycle,apoptosis and autophagy. Through the function analysis of differentially expressed proteins,it was inferred that ether extract of D. denneanum caused cell protein metabolism disorder,endoplasmic reticulum stress response,abnormal self-repair mechanism of cells,damage of cell adhesion and proliferation; besides,it caused a dramatic increase in ROS level in A549 cells,and upset the balance of intracellular oxidation reduction system. Affected by the above factors,lung cancer cells initiated apoptosis and autophagy,which accelerated cell death. This research explains the anticancer mechanism of D. denneanum from the perspective of quantitative proteomics,and lays a foundation for future research and development of new anticancer drugs based on ether extract of D. denneanum.

Effects of warming yang-dispelling turbidity-dredging collaterals method on renal interstitial fibrosis in rats with chronic renal failure and mechanisms involved / 中草药

Objective To investigate the effects of warming yang-dispelling turbidity-dredging collaterals method on renal interstitial fibrosis in rats with chronic renal failure caused by 5/6 nephrectomy and explore its mechanisms. Methods Eight rats were randomly chosen as sham operation group (Sham), while the remaining 24 rats underwent 5/6 nephrectomy were divided into model group (5/6Nx), warming yang-dispelling turbidity-dredging collaterals method group (WDD) and Niaoduqing group (NDQ), and the rats in each group were administrated with corresponding drugs. After the intervention of 12 weeks, all the rats were sacrificed and the kidneys were then removed. HE, PAS Masson, Picrosirius red staining were conducted to assess kidney pathological changes and renal fibrosis. The protein expression of Collagen was tested by both immunofluorescence and Western blotting, and the mRNA expression was evaluated using qRT-PCR. The expression of protein related with the process of EMT, including α-SMA, E-Cadherin and Vimentin, were tested with immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Results Compared with the model group, warming yang-dispelling method alleviated kidney pathological injury and renal fibrosis, and significantly down-regulated the protein and mRNA expression of Collagen . Moreover, warming yang-dispelling turbidity-dredging collaterals method regulated the process of EMT by decreasing the high expression of α-SMA and Vimentin, and increasing the low expression of E-Cadherin. Conclusion Warming yang-dispelling turbidity-dredging collaterals method can effectively attenuate renal fibrosis and injury and its underlying mechanisms may be related with its inhibitory effects on Collagen expression and regulation of EMT.

Advances in chemical compounds and pharmacological effects of Dendrobii Caulis / 中草药

Dendrobium represents one of the most important orchid genera with ornamental and medicinal values. The stems of Dendrobium species have been used as Dendrobii Caulis in traditional Chinese medicine for a thousand years, which manifest a diversity of medicinal effects including tonic, analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory. In recent decades, about 100 compounds have been found and identified from the medicinal parts of more than 40 Dendrobium species, which include polysaccharide, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, amino acids, trace elements, coumarin, tanning, sterols, etc. This review focus on main research conducted during the last decade on Dendrobii Caulis and their constituents, which have been studied on their pharmacological effects involving immunomodulatory activities, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-oxidant, anti-aging, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, cardiovascular protective, enterogastric strengthening, anti-angiogenesis, allergic dermatitis symptoms improving, antifatigue, antiplatelet aggregation, etc. Simultaneously, the key research problems and the future development on Dendrobium are prospected.

Sesquiterpenoids from rhizome of Homalomena occulta / 中国中药杂志

Twelve compounds were isolated from alcohol extracts of the rhizome of Homalomena occulta by using various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography onsilica gel and C₁₈ reverse-phase silica gel, and semi-preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified by physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic data analysis as 3α, 7α-dihydroxy-cadin-4-ene (1), 3-oxofabiaimbricatan (2), 3β, 4α-dihydroxy-7-epi-eudesm-11(13)-ene (3), integrifonol A(4), 1β, 6β-dihydroxy-7-epi-eudesm-11(13)-ene (5), 4β, 7β, 11-enantioeudesmantriol (6), epi-guaidiol (7), oplopanone(8), (-)-1β, 4β, 6α-trihydroxy-eudesmane (9),2α-hydroxyhomalomenol(10), (-)-T-muurolol (11) and hamalomenol A(12). Compounds 1-7 were obtained from the genus Homalomena for the first time and 11-12 were firstly reported from the species. Additionally, compounds 3, 5 and 8 displayed inhibitory effects against the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells with IC₅₀ values of 6.51, 3.25, 7.78 μmol•L⁻¹, respectively.

Isopropyl myristate molecular gels and drug-loaded transdermal capability / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To prepare of isopropyl myristate (IPM) molecular gels and investigate of its transdermal capability.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Microstructure of IPM gels was studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and optical microscope (OM). The rheology and thixotropy of IPM gels were investigated by viscosity. Triptolide was used as model drug to investigate its transdermal capability.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The microstructure of IPM gels was a three-dimension network formed by the aggregation of Span 60 in IPM, which was rod-like tubular aggregate. It has good rheology and thixotropy. There was a good linear correlation between the accumulative permeated amount per unit area and the time for triptolide-loaded IPM gels. The permeation process agreed with zero order pharmacokinetics. The average permeability through rat skin for triptolide was 19.26 ng x cm(-2) x h(-1), which was 2.92 times of triptolide unguents obtained commercially available.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Isopropyl myristate molercular gel can be formed by span 60 assemblies. Transdermal capability drug-loaded IPM gels was better than that of triptolide unguents.</p>

Quantitative determination of ginkgolides by liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This paper reports a method based on liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray mass spectrometry for the analysis of terpenoids in ginkgo laminae.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The analysis was performed on ZORBAX RX-C18 (2.1 mm x 150 mm) column with methanol-water(with gradient) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.25 mL x min(-1), and column temperature of 25 degrees C. Analyses were carried out in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Ginkgolides (GA, GB and GC) and bilobalide were quantitatively detected by external standardization with linear in the range of 4.04-1.012 x 10(2) ng, with coefficient and relative standard deviations being 0.993 7-0.999 8 and 2.50%-4.73%. LC-ESI-MS shows a greatly increased sensitivity compared with other methods. The detection limit of this method by SIM was 1.47 x 10(-3)-0.320 microg x mL(-1).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This method is specific, reproducible, rapidly and permits quantitative analyses of ginkgolides and bilobalide in different samples with simple pre-purification steps.</p>

Application of long distance-PCR to hemophilia A carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish an effective laboratory examination system for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A (HA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-five carriers of severe HA were directly detected by long-distance PCR (LD-PCR) in search of the factor FVIII (FVIII) gene inversion. Prenatal diagnosis was carried out using pregnant woman's venous blood sample, husband's venous blood sample and fetal navel venous sample at 20-24 weeks of gestation. The plasma coagulation factor VIII activity (FVIII:C) was detected by one-stage method. The concentration of von Willbrand factor (Vwf) was assayed by ELISA. Prenatal diagnosis was finally made by LD-PCR. The results of LD-PCR were proved by DNA sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eight out of 25 cases were diagnosed as having FVIII geneinversion. Four of these 8 carriers underwent the LD-PCR for prenatal diagnosis, and 2 of them had to terminate pregnancy because their fetuses were diagnosed as having HA. The other two carriers were finally diagnosed to have normal fetuses by combined use of LD-PCR with plasma FVIII:C, vWF in pregnant woman's venous blood, husband's venous blood and fetal navel venous blood, and the one-year follow-up study demonstrated that the babies were normal and living well.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>LD-PCR technique was adopted in this study to detect the factor VIII gene inversion; it could accurately and rapidly diagnose the severe cases of HA and could be used for the HA carriers in need of pregnant diagnosis.</p>

Long distance-PCR for detection of factor VIII gene inversion in patients with severe hemophilia A / 中国实验血液学杂志

The aim of current study was to detect intron 22 inversion of factor VIII gene in severe hemophilia A (HA) patients and screen the carriers of the gene inversion. Fifty-five cases of severe HA were involved and factor VIII gene inversion was detected and identified by long distance-PCR (LD-PCR) and 0.6% agarose gel electrophoresis. The 11 kb and 12 kb bands indicate the factor VIII gene inversion and non-inversion, respectively. Occurring of both 11 kb and 12 kb bands indicates a carrier of the inversion. The results showed that factor VIII gene inversion existed in 22 out of 55 cases, which accounted for about 40% of total detected patients. Five carriers of factor VIII gene inversion were diagnosed from the members in 15 families. In conclusion, LD-PCR assay is a simple, rapid and accurate method for detection of factor VIII gene inversion, and this approach is helpful in screening, carrier testing, and prenatal diagnosis of severe hemophilia A.