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Objective@#To explore the correlation between obesity and first ejaculation in boys aged 11-18 years old in Ningxia in 2019, and to provide the theoretical reference for puberty development among obese boys.@*Methods@#Using the method of stratified random cluster sampling, 5 240 boys aged 11- 18 were selected from Yinchuan, Zhongwei, Wuzhong and Guyuan in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Height, weight, and first ejaculation were obtained.Body mass index (BMI) was calculated to determine nutritional status, and the χ 2 test was used to compare the differences between groups of nutritional status; the probability unit regression method was used to calculater the soth percentile age at ejaculation, and the U test was applied to compare the differences in age at ejaculation between groups.@*Results@#The rates of overweight and obesity among boys aged 11 to 18 years in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in 2019 were 15.5% and 8.8%. The detection rate of overweight and obesity among urban boys was 17.8% and 10.5% and the detection rate of overweight and obesity among rural boys was 12.9% and 6.9%,respectively. The 50 th percentile age at half ejaculation among urban boys aged 11 to 18 years was 14.94 years; the 50 th percentile age at ejaculation among rural boys was 15.33 years( P <0.01). The 50 th percentile age at ejaculation was 15.61, 15.10, 15.05 and 15.05 years for boys in the wasted, normal weight, overweight and obese groups, respectively.@*Conclusion@#Nutritional status was not associated with age at first ejaculation in the present study,but warrants farther investigation.
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Objective: To analyze the situation and influencing factors of school meals leftover among primary and secondary school students in the area of the Nutrition Improvement Program for Rural Compulsory Education Students, improve the quality of school meals, develop healthy dietary behavior, and reduce food waste. Methods: In 2019, among the 50 monitoring counties that implemented the Compulsory Education Student Nutrition Improvement Program, two primary schools and two junior schools were randomly selected according to different food supply patterns.This study randomly selected one or two classes from grade 3 to grade 9. Basic information and school meals of 26 778 students were collected by using a student questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of leftovers rate. Results: 54.93% (14 709) of students wasted school meals, in which the highest rate was the staple food, with the main reason as "not in favor". 11.87% (1 743) of the students wasted school meals 6-7 days a week, with 54.20% (7 957) of students wasted but in less amount. The leftover rate of staple food was the highest (29.78%), followed by vegetables and meat. The main reason of leftovers was that they didn't like this kind of food (33.52%). The rate of school meal waste was higher for girls (OR=1.19,95%CI:1.13-1.25), junior high school students (OR=1.17, 95%CI: 1.11-1.25), resident students (OR=1.06, 95%CI: 1.00-1.12), lower economic level (OR=1.06, 95%CI: 1.00-1.12), parents working outside their houses (OR=1.22, 95%CI: 1.13-1.30), health education classes (OR=1.70, 95%CI: 1.40-2.06), company-based meals (OR=1.89, 95%CI: 1.71-2.07) and school meals were not as good as home food(OR=1.89, 95%CI: 1.78-2.00)(P<0.05). Conclusions: It is common for poor rural primary and middle school students in central and western China to waste school meals, and the reasons were affected by many factors. Reducing food waste requires the joint efforts of individuals, families, schools and society.
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Female , Food Services , Humans , Meals , Refuse Disposal , Schools , StudentsABSTRACT
Objective: To analyze anemia prevalence and its influencing factors of students involved in the Nutritional Improvement Program for Rural Compulsory Education Students in 2019. Methods: From the 2019 surveillance system of the Nutrition Improvement Program for Rural Compulsory Education Students, 47 297 primary and middle school students aged 6-17 were included in the study. Hemoglobin level was tested according to the criteria of WHO 2011. Anemia prevalence of different genders, ages, and regions was analyzed. Results: The average hemoglobin level was 135.19 g/L, with the prevalence of anemia as 8.7% in the children aged 6-17. The prevalence of anemia was 10.0% in girls, higher than that in boys (7.4%). The prevalence rates in western and central areas were 9.8% and 7.1%, respectively. From northwest, southwest, central and south, east, north to northeast areas of China, the anemia rate appeared gradually decreasing (10.2%, 9.7%, 8.3%, 7.5%, 5.7% and 3.5%). The anemia prevalence rates were 8.0%, 8.3%, and 10.9% in children from the 6-, 11-, and 14-17 years age groups, respectively. Logistic regression models revealed that students from schools not using catering software (OR=1.482, 95%CI:1.296-1.694,P<0.001), schools not serving lunch (OR=1.241, 95%CI:1.103-1.395,P<0.001), and from relatively low-income families (OR=1.297, 95%CI:1.211-1.389, P<0.001) showed as risk factors for anemia. After supplementing students' dietary factors, the results showed that students who ate meat three or more times a week had a lower risk of anemia (OR=0.907, 95%CI:0.832-0.989, P=0.026). Conclusions: The Nutritional Improvement Program for Rural Compulsory Education Students had an essential impact on improving the anemia prevalence of primary and middle school students. Family income, school location, economic factors, school feeding, and students' diet programs all impacted the prevalence of anemia.
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Anemia/epidemiology , Child , China/epidemiology , Female , Hemoglobins , Humans , Male , Prevalence , Rural Population , StudentsABSTRACT
Objective: To understand the growth retardation among primary and secondary school students in areas covered by the Nutrition Improvement Program for Rural Compulsory Education Students and its influencing factors to provide evidence for improving the nutrition status of rural students in China. Methods: The multi-stage cluster random sampling method selected 1 550 969 primary and secondary school students aged 6-15 years from China's central and western regions. The ratio of male and female students was balanced. The height was measured, and the growth retardation of students was determined according to the Screening Criteria for School-age Children and Adolescents malnutrition (WS/T 456-2014), from the school and county questionnaire survey related factors. The number of cases and percentages described the growth retardation of students, and the χ2 test was used for comparison between groups. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze students' growth retardation factors. Results: In 2019, the growth retardation rate of primary and secondary school students in areas covered by the Nutrition Improvement Program for Rural Compulsory Education Students was 5.7% (88 631/1 550 969), the growth retardation rate in the western part (7.1%, 66 167/927 954) was higher than that in the central part (3.7%,19 511/533 973) with difference statistically significant (P<0.001). The growth retardation rate of the boys (6.3%,50 665/803 851) were higher than that of girls (5.1%, 37 966/747 118), the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). The growth retardation rate of primary school students in central China was 3.9%(14 914/380 598), higher than that of junior middle school students (3.0%,4 597/153 375, P<0.001). In contrast, the growth retardation rate of the western junior high school students (7.2%, 21 494/297 217) were higher than that of elementary school students (7.1%, 44 673/630 737), with a difference statistically significant (all P=0.009). Multi-factor logistic regression results showed that, in high income area (OR=0.829, 95%CI: 0.816-0.842, P<0.001), parents providing part of the meal cost (OR=0.948, 95%CI: 0.931-0.965, P<0.001), enterprises providing meals (OR=0.845, 95%CI: 0.805-0.887, P<0.001), schools providing milk (OR=0.780, 95%CI: 0.767-0.793, P<0.001), health education courses (OR=0.702, 95%CI: 0.682-0.723, P<0.001) and other local nutrition improvement efforts (OR=0.739, 95%CI: 0.720-0.758, P<0.001) were negatively correlated with the occurrence of growth retardation, The growth retardation rate of the students was lower. Conclusions: There appeared significant regional, gender, and age differences in the growth retardation rate of primary and middle school students in areas covered by the Nutrition Improvement Program for Rural Compulsory Education Students. Appropriate food supply in schools, health education courses, and parental participation in nutritional improvement was related to children's lower growth retardation rate.
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Adolescent , Child , China/epidemiology , Female , Growth Disorders , Humans , Male , Nutritional Status , Rural Population , Schools , Students , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
To investigate the efficacy and value of optical genome mapping (OGM) in detecting chromosomal structural variations. In a clinical study about high-precision analysis of genomic structural variation for complex genetic diseases, a retrospective study was performed on the cases with karyotyping at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Endocrinology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January to December 2021. Ten cases with abnormal karyotype was detected by OGM. Partial cases were verified by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), SNP array or CNV-seq. Results of ten cases, nine were detected with abnormality by OGM, including unbalanced chromosomal rearrangements (n=3), translocation (n=5) and paracentric inversion (n=1), and the results were in concordance with other standard assays. However, one case with breakpoint and reconnected at centromere has not been detected. In conclusion, ten samples were comprehensively analyzed by karyotyping, FISH, SNP array or CNV-seq, and OGM, and results demonstrated that optical genome mapping as a new technology can not only detect unbalanced rearrangements such as copy number variants as well as balanced translocations and inversions, but more importantly, it can refine breakpoints and orientation of duplicated segments or insertions. So it can contribute to the diagnosis of genetic diseases and prevent birth defect. However, the current technology is not yet capable of detecting breakpoints of balanced structural variations lying within unmapped regions.
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Chromosome Mapping , Female , Humans , In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence , Karyotyping , Pregnancy , Retrospective Studies , Translocation, GeneticABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the value of octreotide suppression test(OST) in predicting the efficacy of somatostatin receptor ligands(SRLs) in the treatment of active acromegaly.Methods:The clinical data of 76 patients with active acromegaly from 2011 to 2020 was retrospectively analyzed. OST was carried out as follows: After an overnight fasting and baseline sampling of growth hormone(GH), 100 μg octreotide was subcutaneously injected, and sampling for GH was obtained every 2 hours for 8 hours. All patients were treated with SRLs for at least 3 months. A good GH response is defined as a post-treatment random GH<1 μg/L or >80% fall compared with the baseline GH. A good insulin-like growth factor Ⅰ(IGF-Ⅰ) response is defined as IGF-Ⅰ<1.3 upper limit of normal(ULN) or >50% reduction compared with the baseline. If both GH and IGF-Ⅰ fulfill the criteria of a good response, it is defined as a good GH and IGF-Ⅰ response.Results:The baseline level of GH during OST was 15.00(6.38, 34.20) μg/L, the median time to reach the nadir GH was(3.65±1.65) hours, and the nadir GH level was 1.47(0.50, 4.19) μg/L. The median GH suppression rate was 89.12%(72.71%, 95.09%). When the cutoff value of GH suppression rate in predicting a good GH response was 89.32%, the area under the curve(AUC) was 0.74, with a sensitivity of 81.80% and specificity of 66.00%. When the cutoff value of GH suppression rate in predicting a good IGF-Ⅰ response was 93.14%, the AUC was 0.64, with a sensitivity of 50.00% and specificity of 75.60%. When the GH suppression rate was 90.71%, the AUC was 0.78, with the sensitivity of 83.30% and specificity of 70.00% in predicting a good GH and IGF-Ⅰ response. Compared with GH/IGF-Ⅰ non-responders, GH/IGF-Ⅰ responders displayed lower nadir GH during OST, higher GH suppression rate and IGF-Ⅰ reduction rate, and lower ratio of IGF-1 to ULN( P<0.05). Conclusion:GH suppression rate during the OST is a valuable predictor to evaluate the efficacy of SRLs in patients with acromegaly, with the highest sensitivity and specificity when the cutoff value is 90.71%.
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Objective:To report the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of 2 cases of X-linked acrogigantism(X-LAG).Methods:The clinical information of two patients were retrospectively reported, and peripheral blood DNA was collected for copy number variations detection.Results:Both patients had onset at age of two, with common clinical characteristics including linear growth acceleration, mild facial coarsening, enlargement of hands and feet, increased appetite, and snoring, etc. The heights Z scores of the two patients before treatment were + 6.86 and + 6.53, respectively. Growth hormone(GH) glucose inhibition test showed that GH nadir values were over 1 ng/mL and insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ(IGF-Ⅰ) were 586.0 ng/mL and 1 042.0 ng/mL, respectively. Patient 1 received three cycles of octreotide microspheres therapy followed by surgery, and achieved clinical and biochemical remission. Patient 2 had lanreotide for 5.5 years but failed biochemical remission. Microduplication of Xq26.3, which contained pathogenic gene G-protein coupled receptor 101(GPR101), was found in germline DNA of two patients through copy number variation detection, leading to the diagnosis of X-LAG.Conclusion:It should be cautious of X-LAG when children below 2 years old presents symptoms such as overgrowth and so on. Medication combined with surgery is effective.
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Peking Union Medical College Hospital, as one of the most stressful medical institutions in China, is facing the problem of emergency department overcrowding. In order to effectively alleviate the emergency overcrowding, improve the medical quality and patients′ medical experience, the hospital firmly grasped the two incremental links of " throughput" and " output" factors, established a multidisciplinary and multi-department cooperation team, constructed a close medical alliance cooperation mode, and innovated and explored a harmonious emergency overcrowding relief mode with the goal of unblocking the " exit" of patients. The practice showed that the comprehensive measures could effectively alleviate the problem of emergency overcrowding, and improve the medical environment and medical quality.
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Since the performance appraisal of national tertiary public hospitals was carried out, higher requirements have been put forward for the operation and management of hospitals. Under the premise of ensuring the quality of medical service and medical safety, how to save hospital operating costs and improve the efficiency is an urgent problem for hospital managers. Supported by information upgrading, a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou reformed the treatment process and carried out pre-hospitalization in surgical departments. Data showed that pre-hospitalization can significantly shorten the length of stay, reduce hospitalization costs, and improve the operation efficiency of the hospital.
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The aim of this study was to assess the effects of orlistat or metformin treatment on lipid and glucose metabolism, and gonadal function in obese/overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A total of 39 patients diagnosed with PCOS were randomly (digital table method) divided into orlistat treatment group (20 cases) and metformin treatment group (19 cases). Compared with those before, treatment with either orlistat or metformin significantly reduced body weight, body mass index (BMI), hip circumferences, and serum insulin levels of the PCOS patients both at the end of 3 months and 6 months ( P<0.05). No significant differences could be viewed between orlistat and metformin treated subjects. Moreover, orlistat treatment significantly lowered the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) ( P<0.05), while there were no significant changes in above parameters with metformin treatment. The improvement of menstrual cycle was observed after 6-month treatment in both groups ( P<0.05). However, changes in polycystic ovarian morphology by ultrasound were only observed in orlistat treated group. In conclusion, orlistat is comparable with metformin in weight loss and improvement of insulin resistance and menstrual cycle, and is superior to metformin in improvement of lipid metabolism in overweight/obese PCOS patients.
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To compare changes in platelet related parameters in obese patients before and after sleeve gastrectomy (SG), we retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 31 obese patients who underwent SG in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from December 2012 to September 2020. Results showed that compared with those before surgery, platelet count (PLT) decreased significantly at 2-12 weeks of follow-up ( P=0.009), while platelet distribution width (PDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), and large platelet ratio (P-LCR) increased significantly at the same periods of follow-up after operation ( P<0.001). However, the levels of PDW, MPV, and P-LCR began to decrease at 16-55 weeks when compared with those at 2-12 weeks of follow-up ( P<0.01). PLT was positively correlated with white blood cells and neutrophils at 2-12 weeks of follow-up and positively correlated with high sensitivity C-reactive protein at 16-55 weeks of follow-up after operation ( P<0.05).
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Aging begins in the early stages of life and is an irreversible process in which wide-ranging and gradual functional declines occur with age in various organs of the body.Vascular aging, as a part of the overall aging process, plays an important role in the occurrence and development of vascular senescence-related diseases.Autophagy maintains homeostasis of the intracellular environment via degradation of damaged, denatured, or senescent proteins and organelles.Studies have found that basal autophagy is critical in regulating normal vascular function.However, abnormal autophagy may contribute to vascular aging and diseases associated with it.The purpose of this paper is to review recent progress on autophagy in vascular aging and its related diseases.
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OBJECTIVE@#To observe the regulatory effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on small airway function and exercise tolerance in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).@*METHODS@#A total of 62 patients with stable COPD were randomized into an observation group (31 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a control group (31 cases, 5 cases dropped off). On the base of routine medication and aerobic exercise, the patients of the two groups all received EA at Danzhong (CV 17), Rugen (ST 18), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25) and Yingchuang (ST 16). In the observation group, filiform needles were used and inserted perpendicularly, 3 mm in depth. In the control group, the placebo needling method was performed, in which the needle was not inserted through skin at each point. In both groups, electric stimulation with low-frequency electronic pulse instrument was exerted, with continuous wave, 2 Hz in frequency, lasting 30 min each time in the two groups. The treatment was given once every other day, 3 times a week, for 14 treatments totally. Before and after treatment, the following indexes were compared in patients between the two groups, i.e. the lung function indexes (forced expiratory volume in first second [FEV1], forced vital capacity [FVC], the ratio of FEV1 to FVC [FEV1/FVC], maximal voluntary ventilation [MVV], the percentage of maximal expiratory flow [MEF] at 25% of FVC exhaled [MEF25], MEF50 and MEF75 in predicted value), cardiopulmonary exercise test indexs (metabolic equivalent [METS], oxygen uptake per kg body weight [VO@*RESULTS@#After treatment, FVC%, MVV%, MEF75%, MEF50%, VO@*CONCLUSION@#Electroacupuncture can improve the respiratory function and exercise tolerance in COPD patients through removing small airway obstruction and increasing ventilation.
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Electroacupuncture , Exercise Tolerance , Forced Expiratory Volume , Humans , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/therapy , Respiratory Function TestsABSTRACT
Peking Union Medical College Hospital has carried out the practical exploration of a new system of medical risk prevention and control based on the integration of medical and law, broken the traditional practice of legal counsel only handling medical disputes after the event, explored the pre-management and control mode of medical risks. The hospital established a whole process medical risk management mode in which legal counsel, medical administrators and clinical medical staff cooperated and participated, further standardized the medical behavior, legal concept and legal practice awareness of medical personnel, realized standardized management and formed a long-term mechanism. It could not only effectively integrate the fragmented clinical legal service needs and extensively enhance the sense of occupational security of clinical medical staff, but also effectively improve the operation quality of medical safety indicators and promote the high-quality development of the hospital.
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Alongside the social and economic development in China, medical risks, economic risks, and legal risks rise as well in the management of public hospitals. However, the capabilities of these hospitals in prevention and control of medical risks and disposal of legal affairs fall far behind the increasingly complex legal affairs. In this consideration, the authors introduced their innovative practice in taking legal actions for prevention and control of medical risks in the hospital, analyzed the problems found in medical legal affairs, and put forward specific suggestions to promote the standardization and modernization of hospital legal affairs.
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Objective:To investigate the clinical features and pathological classification of patients with nonfunctional pituitary adenomas(NFPAs)in single medical center according to 2017 World Health Organization.Methods:The clinical and pathological characteristics of 166 patients with NFPAs diagnosed by neurosurgery in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from April 2019 to January 2020 were analyzed retrospectively.Results:In 166 patients, the ratio of male to female was almost equal(1.05∶1). Their average operation age was(49.9±12.3) years, which was significantly higher than that of functional pituitary tumor patients in the same period. Headache, visual acuity decline, and visual field defect were the most common causes for the first visit. All the maximum diameter of tumors was more than 10 mm, and 15 cases(9.0%)were giant tumors. 18 patients(10.8%)were recurrent cases. According to the results of immunohistochemistry for anterior pituitary hormones and transcriptional factors, the most common pathological type was gonadotroph adenomas(50.6%), followed by corticotroph adenomas(24.7%), plurihormonal pituitary adenomas(11.4%), PIT-1-positive adenomas(6.6%), and null cell adenomas(6.6%). Gonadotroph adenomas were more common in men(male∶female ratio=4.1∶1), while corticotroph adenomas occurred mainly in women(male∶female ratio=1∶12.7). The average age of patients with gonadotroph adenomas was the highest, while those of patients with PIT1-positive adenomas and rare combining IHC plurihormonal pituitary adenoma were significantly lower than that of the former. There were no significant differences in the mean diameters of tumors, the proportion of giant adenomas, and recurrent cases among different pathological types of tumors. However, the mean Ki-67 index of PIT-1-positive adenomas was significantly higher than those of other groups( P=0.001). Conclusion:Although the clinical manifestations of NFPAs were similar, their pathological classifications were different. Gonadotroph adenomas occurs mainly in male patients while corticotroph adenomas is more common in women. The prognosis may be different among various pathological types of NFPAs.
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Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of four McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS) patients associated with growth hormone(GH)-prolactin(PRL) pituitary adenoma, and explore more effective clinical treatment and management methods.Methods:The clinical data of four patients with MAS and GH-PRL pituitary adenoma diagnosed by Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively analyzed, including clinical manifestations, biochemical parameters, radiographic characteristics, as well as treatment and prognosis. Literature review was also conducted to analyze the efficacy of surgical operations and drug intervention.Results:Clinical characteristics: 3 females and 1 male, all of whom had onset before the age of 7 years. The types of fibrous dysplasia of bone were all polyosseous and involved craniofacial region. There were obvious gigantism/acromegaly manifestations in all cases, 3 cases had evident visual impairment and 1 case with optic chiasm compression. There was no spontaneous or triggered lactation in all 4 patients. Laboratory examination: GH and insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ(IGF-Ⅰ) levels were significantly increased in 4 patients, GH levels were not inhibited by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), PRL levels were over 100 ng/ml, ALP levels were significantly increased in 4 patients, while serum calcium and phosphorus levels were remained normal. Imaging features: All pituitary adenomas in 4 patients were macroadenomas, with unilateral cavernous sinus enclosure in cases 2 and 3, and recurrence of macroadenoma with bilateral cavernous sinus enclosure in case 4 after the first operation. Four cases of skull CT showed multiple FD in craniofacial bone and skull base. Treatment and outcome: All 4 patients underwent pituitary adenoma resection and bisphosphonate therapy, and somatostatin analogues, dopamine receptor agonists and other treatments were selected according to the situation. Two patients with early diagnosis and initial treatment achieved partial remission after treatment, while the other two patients did not.Conclusions:Patients with MAS and GH-PRL pituitary adenoma had earlier onset age and were more likely to suffer from optic nerve damage. Early diagnosis and reasonable surgical treatment may help to improve biochemical indicators (GH, IGF-Ⅰ, and PRL, etc.) rapidly, and combined drug therapy (somatostatin analogues and dopamine receptor agonists) can better maintain or close to normal biochemical indicators, and ultimately improve the prognosis of patients.
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Objective:To establish the fingerprint of standard decoction of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium and evaluate its quality. Method:According to the preparation conditions of the standard decoction,15 batches of standard decoction of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium were prepared.HPLC was employed to determine the content of hesperidin in this standard decoction.Ultraviolet spectroscopy(UV) and infrared spectroscopy(IR) were used to establish the fingerprint of standard decoction of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium.The correlation coefficient method and double index sequence analysis method were used to compare and analyze the spectra of different batches of this standard decoction. Result:The content of hesperidin in 15 batches of this standard decoction were 0.82%-2.60%,and the measured value of dry extract rate was 32.02%-46.11%.Compared with ultraviolet and infrared control fingerprint,the fingerprint similarities of the standard decoction of each batch were > 0.897 and > 0.942,respectively.The double index analysis results showed that the common peak ratio was more than 62.50%,variation peak ratio was less than 46.67%. Conclusion:The quality evaluation method established in this study can be used for systematic evaluation of standard decoction of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium,and it can provide theoretical reference for the formulation of quality standard of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium dispensing granules and other related preparations.
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Objective: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in a variety of biological phenomena and serve both deleterious and beneficial roles. ROS quantification and assessment of reaction networks are desirable but difficult because of their short half-life and high reactivity. Here, we describe a pro-oxidative model in a single human lung carcinoma SPC-A-1 cell that was created by application of extracellular H2O2 stimuli. Methods: Modified microfluidics and imaging techniques were used to determine O2•− levels and construct an O2•− reaction network. To elucidate the consequences of increased O2•− input, the mitochondria were given a central role in the oxidative stress mode, by manipulating mitochondria-interrelated cytosolic Ca2+ levels, mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, auto-amplification of intra-cellular ROS and the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Results and conclusions: Results from a modified microchip demonstrated that 1 mmol/L H2O2 induced a rapid increase in cellular O2•− levels (>27 vs. >406 amol in 20 min), leading to increased cellular oxidizing power (evaluated by ROS levels) and decreased reducing power (evaluated by glutathione (GSH) levels). In addition, we examined the dynamics of cytosolic Ca2+ and mitochondrial Ca2+ by confocal laser scanning microscopy and confirmed that Ca2+ stores in the endoplasmic reticulum were the primary source of H2O2-induced cytosolic Ca2+ bursts. It is clear that mitochondria have pivotal roles in determining how exogenous oxidative stress affects cell fate. The stress response involves the transfer of Ca2+ signals between organelles, ROS auto-amplification, mitochondrial dysfunction, and a caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway.
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Compared with acupuncture research, moxibustion research has made slow progress with great obstacles. With randomized controlled trials as the widely accepted gold standard for the evaluation of clinical effect, moxibustion therapy is facing a great challenge: how to establish a reasonable placebo control group. This article reviewed the current application of placebo moxibustion, analyzed the difficulties in setting up placebo moxibustion, and explored corresponding solutions, in order to attract more attention to moxibustion therapy among traditional Chinese medicine practitioners.