Caprylic Acid Improves Lipid Metabolism, Suppresses the Inflammatory Response and Activates the ABCA1/p-JAK2/p-STAT3 Signaling Pathway in C57BL/6J Mice and RAW264.7 Cells / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#This study aimed to investigate the effects of caprylic acid (C8:0) on lipid metabolism and inflammation, and examine the mechanisms underlying these effects in mice and cells.@*METHODS@#Fifty-six 6-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly allocated to four groups fed a high-fat diet (HFD) without or with 2% C8:0, palmitic acid (C16:0) or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). RAW246.7 cells were randomly divided into five groups: normal, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), LPS+C8:0, LPS+EPA and LPS+cAMP. The serum lipid profiles, inflammatory biomolecules, and ABCA1 and JAK2/STAT3 mRNA and protein expression were measured.@*RESULTS@#C8:0 decreased TC and LDL-C, and increased the HDL-C/LDL-C ratio after injection of LPS. Without LPS, it decreased TC in mice ( P < 0.05). Moreover, C8:0 decreased the inflammatory response after LPS treatment in both mice and cells ( P < 0.05). Mechanistic investigations in C57BL/6J mouse aortas after injection of LPS indicated that C8:0 resulted in higher ABCA1 and JAK2/STAT3 expression than that with HFD, C16:0 and EPA, and resulted in lower TNF-α, NF-κB mRNA expression than that with HFD ( P < 0.05). In RAW 264.7 cells, C8:0 resulted in lower expression of pNF-κBP65 than that in the LPS group, and higher protein expression of ABCA1, p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 than that in the LPS and LPS+cAMP groups ( P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Our studies demonstrated that C8:0 may play an important role in lipid metabolism and the inflammatory response, and the mechanism may be associated with ABCA1 and the p-JAK2/p-STAT3 signaling pathway.

Clinical study on the efficacy of Shenmai Runmu prescription in the treatment of MGD-related dry eyes by ultrasonic atomization / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM:To investigate the clinical effect of ultrasonic atomization of Shenmai Runmu formula on dry eyes related to meibomian gland dysfunction(MGD). <p>METHODS: Totally 120 cases of MGD related dry eye patients in our hospital patients were randomly divided into two groups: treatment group(ultrasonic atomization of Shenmai Runmu group)and control group(OPT intense pulse phototherapy), 60 cases each, both groups were combined with meibomian gland massage. The ocular surface comprehensive analyzer was used to detect various indicators: average non-invasive tear break-up time(NITBUTav), lower tear meniscus height(LTMH), meibomian gland score, <i>etc</i>. Subjective symptoms of patients' eyes were scored by questionnaire survey, and the clinical data were statistically processed. <p>RESULTS: There was no statistical difference between the treatment group and the control group in terms of gender, age, course of disease before treatment, and the indicators in the period from treatment start to 6mo after the treatment end(<i>P</i>>0.05); The total effective rate was about 94.9% in the treatment group and 96.6% in the control group(<i>P</i>>0.05). <p>CONCLUSION: Ultrasonic atomization combined with meibomian gland massage can improve the subjective symptoms and objective indexes of MGD related dry eyes. Compared with the modern medical treatment, the therapeutic effect of this method is basically the same, safe and effective, but it is more convenient and economic, which is worth popularizing in clinical application.

Handgrip Strength as a Predictor of Nutritional Status in Chinese Elderly Inpatients at Hospital Admission / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess nutritional status and define gender- and age-specific handgrip strength (HGS) cut-point values for malnutrition or nutritional risk in elderly inpatients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A cross-sectional study of 1,343 elderly inpatients was conducted in the Chinese PLA General Hospital. Nutrition Risk Screening (NRS 2002) and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) were administered. Anthropometric measurements and blood biochemical indicators were obtained using standard techniques. The gender- and age-specific receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to evaluate the HGS for nutritional status by SGA and NRS 2002. Sensitivity, specificity, and areas under the curves (AUCs) were calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>According to NRS 2002 and SGA, 63.81% of elderly inpatients were at nutritional risk and 28.22% were malnourished. Patients with higher HGS had an independently decreased risk of malnutrition and nutritional risk. The AUCs varied between 0.670 and 0.761. According to NRS 2002, the optimal HGS cut-points were 27.5 kg (65-74 years) and 21.0 kg (75-90 years) for men and 17.0 kg (65-74 years) and 14.6 kg (75-90 years) for women. According to SGA, the optimal HGS cut-points were 24.9 kg (65-74 years) and 20.8 kg (75-90 years) for men and 15.2 kg (65-74 years) and 13.5 kg (75-90 years) for women.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Elderly inpatients had increased incidence of malnutrition or nutritional risk. HGS cut-points can be used for assessing nutritional status in elderly inpatients at hospital admission in China.</p>

Flavonoids isolated from Sinopodophylli Fructus and their bioactivities against human breast cancer cells / 中国天然药物

Four prenylated flavonoids compounds 1-4, named sinopodophyllines A-D, and a flavonoid glycoside (compound 13), sinopodophylliside A, together with 19 known compounds (compounds 5-12 and 14-24) were isolated from the fruits of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum. The structures of new compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR. Compounds 1-6, 9-11, and 14-17 were tested for their cytotoxicity against human breast-cancer T47D, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro, and compounds 2, 5, 6, 10 and 11 showed significant cytotoxicity (IC values < 10 μmol·L) against T47D cells.

Lignans and diterpenes isolated from Tirpitzia ovoidea and their biological activities / 中国天然药物

A new lignan, tirpitzin A (17) together with 20 known compounds (1-16, and 18-21) were isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Tirpitzia ovoidea. The structure of new compound was elucidated by means of spectroscopic analysis. Of the known compounds, 7-21 were isolated from Linaceae family for the first time. The pharmacological activity of the crude extracts was tested using a mouse inflammation model induced by dimethyl benzene. The results demonstrated that the ethyl acetate soluble fraction had anti-inflammatory activity. Moreover, the cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities of some compounds were studied. The new compound 17 showed moderate cytotoxic effect against BxPC-3 cell line (IC = 19.51μmol·L) and Compound 10 showed significant cytotoxicity against HepG2, HL-60, U87 and BxPC-3 cell lines with IC values in the range 4.2-8.3μmol·L. Additionally, Compounds 2, 10, 11, and 13 exhibited potent inhibitory effects on LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophages at the concentration of 50μmol·L.

The Association of Maternal Body Composition and Dietary Intake with the Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus during the Second Trimester in a Cohort of Chinese Pregnant Women / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association of maternal body composition and dietary intake with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total 154 GDM subjects and 981 controls were enrolled in a prospective cohort study in 11 hospitals from May 20, 2012 to December 31, 2013. Bioelectrical impedance analysis and dietary surveys were used to determine body composition and to evaluate the intake of nutrients in subjects at 21-24 weeks' gestation (WG). Logistic regression analysis was applied to explore the relationships of maternal body composition and dietary intake with the risk of GDM morbidity.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Age, pre-pregnant body weight (BW), and body mass index (BMI) were associated with increased risk of GDM. Fat mass (FM), fat mass percentage (FMP), extracellular water (ECW), BMI, BW, energy, protein, fat, and carbohydrates at 21-24 WG were associated with an increased risk of GDM. In contrast, fat free mass (FFM), muscular mass (MM), and intracellular water (ICW) were associated with a decreased risk of GDM.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Maternal body composition and dietary intake during the second trimester of pregnancy were associated with the risk of GDM morbidity.</p>

PDT combined with intravitreal injection of ranibizumab treatment for age - related macular degeneration with CNV / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To observe the curative effect of PDT combined with intravitreal injection of ranibizumab treatment for age-related macular degeneration with choroidal neovascularization ( CNV) . METHODS:In accordance with the inclusion criteria, by indocyanine green choroidalangiography ( ICGA ) and optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) examination confirmed the diagnosis of macular CNV in 27 patients (27 eyes), treated with PDT 3 ~ 7d professional intravitreal injection of ranibizumab. At 1, 3, 6mo after treatment, the results of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), FFA, ICGA, OCT examination and complications were observed. RESULTS: The BCVA improved in 17 eyes ( 63%) , stable in 6 eyes ( 22%) , and decreased in 4 eyes ( 15%) . Before treatment, the average leakage area was 1 005. 69±105. 47μm, it were 875. 54 ± 103. 27μm, and 423. 37 ±79.68μm at 1 and 3mo after treatment, there were significant differences compared with before treatment ( PCONCLUSION: The method that PDT closed CNV combined with intravitreal injection of ranibizumab can effectively block angiogenesis recurrence, reduce the number of PDT treatment again and complications, improve the therapeutic effect.

Medium-Chain Triglyceride Activated Brown Adipose Tissue and Induced Reduction of Fat Mass in C57BL/6J Mice Fed High-fat Diet / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) stimulated by medium-chain triglyceride (MCT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>30 Male C57BL/6J obese mice induced by fed high fat diet (HFD) were divided into 2 groups, and fed another HFD with 2% MCT or long-chain triglyceride (LCT) respectively for 12 weeks. Body weight, blood biochemical variables, interscapular brown fat tissue (IBAT) mass, expressions of mRNA and protein of beta 3-adrenergic receptors (β3-AR), uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1), hormone sensitive lipase (HSL), protein kinase A (PKA), and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) in IBAT were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Significant decrease in body weight and body fat mass was observed in MCT group as compared with LCT group (P<0.05) after 12 weeks. Greater increases in IBAT mass was observed in MCT group than in LCT group (P<0.05). Blood TG, TC, LDL-C in MCT group were decreased significantly, meanwhile blood HDL-C, ratio of HDL-C/LDL-C and norepinephrine were increased markedly. Expressions of mRNA and protein of β3-AR, UCP1, PKA, HSL, ATGL in BAT were greater in MCT group than in LCT group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our results suggest that MCT stimulated the activation of BAT, possible via norepinephrine pathway, which might partially contribute to reduction of the body fat mass in obese mice fed high fat diet.</p>