Effective constituents of essential oil from Gleditsiae Fructus Abnormalis and anti-cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury mechanism: based on GC-MS, network pharmacology, and experimental verification / 中国中药杂志

Based on GC-MS and network pharmacology, the active constituents, potential targets, and mechanism of essential oil from Gleditsiae Fructus Abnormalis(EOGFA) against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) injury were explored, and the effective constituents were verified by experiment. To be specific, GC-MS was used identify the constituents of the volatile oil. Secondly, the targets of the constituents and disease were predicted by network pharmacology, and the drug-constituent-target network was constructed, followed by Gene Ontology(GO) term enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment of the core targets. Molecular docking was performed to investigate the binding affinity between the active constituents and the targets. Finally, SD rats were used for experimental verification. The I/R injury model was established, and the neurological behavior score, infarct volume, and pathological morphology of brain tissue were measured in each group. The content of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), and the protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) by Western blot. A total of 22 active constituents and 17 core targets were screened out. The core targets were involved in 56 GO terms and the major KEGG pathways of TNF signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway, and sphingolipid signaling pathway. Molecular docking showed that the active constituents had high affinity to the targets. The results of animal experiment suggested that EOGFA can alleviate the neurological impairment, decrease the cerebral infarct volume and the content of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and down-regulate the expression of VEGF. The experiment verified the part results of network pharmacology. This study reflects the multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway characteristics of EOGFA. The mechanism of its active constituents is related to TNF and VEGF pathways, which provides a new direction for in-depth research on and secondary development of Gleditsiae Fructus Abnormalis.

Epididymis cell atlas in a patient with a sex development disorder and a novel NR5A1 gene mutation / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

This study aims to characterize the cell atlas of the epididymis derived from a 46,XY disorders of sex development (DSD) patient with a novel heterozygous mutation of the nuclear receptor subfamily 5 group A member 1 (NR5A1) gene. Next-generation sequencing found a heterozygous c.124C>G mutation in NR5A1 that resulted in a p.Q42E missense mutation in the conserved DNA-binding domain of NR5A1. The patient demonstrated feminization of external genitalia and Tanner stage 1 breast development. The surgical procedure revealed a morphologically normal epididymis and vas deferens but a dysplastic testis. Microfluidic-based single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis found that the fibroblast cells were significantly increased (approximately 46.5%), whereas the number of main epididymal epithelial cells (approximately 9.2%), such as principal cells and basal cells, was dramatically decreased. Bioinformatics analysis of cell-cell communications and gene regulatory networks at the single-cell level inferred that epididymal epithelial cell loss and fibroblast occupation are associated with the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. The present study provides a cell atlas of the epididymis of a patient with 46,XY DSD and serves as an important resource for understanding the pathophysiology of DSD.

Acupuncture Improves Intestinal Absorption of Iron in Iron-deficient Obese Patients: A Randomized Controlled Preliminary Trial / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Obesity has an adverse effect on iron status. Hepcidin-mediated inhibition of iron absorption in the duodenum is a potential mechanism. Iron-deficient obese patients have diminished response to oral iron therapy. This study was designed to assess whether acupuncture could promote the efficacy of oral iron supplementation for the treatment of obesity-related iron deficiency (ID).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty ID or ID anemia (IDA) patients with obesity were screened at Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and were randomly allocated to receive either oral iron replacement allied with acupuncture weight loss treatment (acupuncture group, n = 30) or oral iron combined with sham-acupuncture treatment (control group, n = 30). Anthropometric parameters were measured and blood samples were tested pre- and post-treatment. Differences in the treatment outcomes of ID/IDA were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 8 weeks of acupuncture treatment, there was a significant decrease in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and waist/hip circumference ratio of patients in the acupuncture group, while no significant changes were observed in the control group. Oral iron supplementation brought more obvious improvements of iron status indicators including absolute increases in serum iron (11.08 ± 2.19 μmol/L vs. 4.43 ± 0.47 μmol/L), transferrin saturation (11.26 ± 1.65% vs. 1.01 ± 0.23%), and hemoglobin (31.47 ± 1.19 g/L vs. 21.00 ± 2.69 g/L) in the acupuncture group than control group (all P < 0.05). Meanwhile, serum leptin (2.26 ± 0.45 ng/ml vs. 8.13 ± 0.55 ng/ml, P < 0.05) and hepcidin (3.52 ± 1.23 ng/ml vs. 6.77 ± 0.84 ng/ml, P < 0.05) concentrations declined significantly in the acupuncture group than those in the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture-based weight loss can enhance the therapeutic effects of iron replacement therapy for obesity-related ID/IDA through improving intestinal iron absorption, probably by downregulating the systemic leptin-hepcidin levels.</p>

Analgesic effect of fentanyl in neonates during mechanical ventilation / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the analgesic effect and safety of fentanyl in neonates receiving mechanical ventilation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty neonates receiving mechanical ventilation between December 2010 and February 2011 were randomized into drug intervention group and control group (n=15 each). In addition to the conventional treatment for both groups, the drug intervention group received fentanyl as the analgesic treatment. Heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure changes, and premature infant pain profile (PIPP) score before treatment and at 30 minutes, 2 hours, and 4 hours after treatment were recorded in both groups. Follow-up visits were performed for these infants after discharge, and the CDCC intellectual development scale for infants was applied to measure mental development index (MDI) and psychomotor development index (PDI) at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of age.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The respiratory rate and heart rate decreased in the drug intervention group after fentanyl treatment compared with the control group (P<0.05), and the PIPP scores in the drug intervention group was significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.05). The results of follow-up visits showed no significant differences in MDI and PDI at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age between the drug intervention and control groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Fentanyl can relieve the pain response in neonates receiving mechanical ventilation, with no long-term adverse effects on neurodevelopment.</p>

Association between glutathione S-transferase pi gene polymorphism and adverse reaction of high-dose methotrexate in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective:To investigate the association between glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTP1) gene polymorphism and toxici-ties related to high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methods:GSTP1 genotypes and allelic frequencies in 51 children with ALL were determined by Nest PCR, denaturing gel gradient electrophoresis (DGGE), and DNA sequencing. HD-MTX adverse reactions were analyzed using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCICTC). Results:We identified three SNPs of GSTP1, including rs1695 (A313G), rs1138272 (G439T), and rs4891 (T555C). The wild types, het-erozygous types, and homozygous types of GSTP1 rs1695/rs4891 polymorphisms were detected in 32 cases (62.7%), 16 cases (31.4%), and 3 cases (5.9%), respectively. GSTP1 rs1695/rs4891 polymorphisms included only one heterozygous type and one homozygous type. The allele frequencies of the three SNPs were 21.6%, 2.9%, and 21.6%. The AG+GG/TC+CC genotype of GSTP1 rs1695/rs4891 was associated with decrease in the odds of peripheral hemoglobin (OR=0.25, 95%CI=0.06-1.00, P=0.049). The AG+GG/TC+CC genotype of GSTP1 rs1695/rs4891 in standard and intermediate-risk ALL children was significantly correlated with higher odds of gastrointesti-nal toxicity (OR=0.125, 95%CI=0.02-0.78, P=0.026). Conclusion:GSTP1 rs1695 (A313G)/rs4891 (T555C) gene polymorphism is as-sociated with the reduction of peripheral hemoglobin in ALL children and with the odds of gastrointestinal toxicity in standard and inter-mediate-risk ALL children who receive high-dose methotrexate.

Correlations between the polymorphisms of serine hydroxymethyl-transferase 1 gene and the adverse reactions of high-dose methotrexate in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective:To investigate the correlation between polymorphisms of serine hydroxymethyltransferase1 gene and the adverse reactions of high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methods:A total of 51 patients with ALL were treated with HD-MTX, and clinical manifestations after HD-MTX treatment were evaluated retrospectively. cD-NA was obtained from mRNA. The polymorphisms of SHMT1 gene containing rs1979277, rs3783, rs1979276, and rs12952556 sites were tested by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and direct sequencing. Effects of SHMT1 gene polymorphisms on HD-MTX ad-verse reactions were evaluated. Results:Severe adverse reactions in ALL patients treated with HD-MTX appeared to be mainly neutro-penia and hepatoadverse reactions. The frequency distributions of rs3783 (C>G), rs1979276 (C>T), rs12952556 (A>G), and rs1979277 (C>T) were the same. The polymorphisms of rs1979277 showed no correlation with neutropenia (P>0.05) but rs1979277 CT and TT genotypes were correlated with hepatoadverse reactions (CT: OR=0.129, 95% CI: 0.020 to 0.817, P=0.03; TT: OR=0.103, 95% CI:0.017 to 0.620, P=0.013). Conclusion: No correlation was found between the combination of rs1979277, rs3783, rs1979276, rs12952556, and neutropenia, but one or more of these loci may reduce the risk of hepatoadverse reactions.

Correlations between 6-mercaptopurine treatment-related adverse reactions in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and polymorphisms of thiopurine methyltransferase gene / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) treatment-related adverse reactions in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and to assess the association between the polymorphisms of thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) gene and these 6-MP related toxicities.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Total RNA was extracted from bone marrow samples of 46 children with ALL and was then reversed to cDNA. TPMT(*)1S and (*)3C were screened by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) combining with DNA sequencing. Drug toxicities were classified according to national cancer institute-common toxicity criteria version 3.0 (NCI CTC 3.0). The relationship between TPMT gene polymorphisms and the adverse reactions of 6-MP treatment was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>During the maintenance treatment period, 22% (10/46) of children discontinued 6-MP treatment because of serious adverse reactions. Two children with TPMT(*)3C genotypes presented severe adverse reactions, including 1 child with homozygotic mutation who had 6-MP dose-related myelosuppression and hepatotoxicity. The main side effects of 6-MP were myelosuppression, hepatotoxicity and gastrointestinal reaction. And there were no significant differences between TPMT(*)1S genotypes and severe myelosuppression or hepatotoxicity caused by 6-MP (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TPMT(*)3C may correlate with severe adverse reactions caused by 6-MP.</p>

Analysis of a G1793A polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene in children with acute leukemia / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate the distribution of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene G1793A genotype and allele frequency in children with acute leukemia (AL),and to analyze the association between MTHFR gene polymorphism and the risk of AL.Methods Bone marrow samples from 109 childhood patients with AL and peripheral blood samples from 120 control children were obtained to prepare complementary DNAs (cDNAs).The cDNAs were analyzed for MTHFR G1793A polymorphism by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and sequencing.Results The frequencies of 1793 GG,GA and AA genotyp(s) in MTHFR of the AL patients,acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) patients,acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients and the control children were 83.5％,15.6％,0.9％ ;82.8％,16.1％,1.1％ ;86.4％,13.6％,0％ and 89.2％,7.5％,3.3％,respectively.While the A allele frequency of MTHFR G1793A in those group were 8.7％,9.2％,6.8％ and 7.1％,respectively.However,no significant difference was observed in MTHFR G1793A genotypes or A allele frequency between the patients and controls (all P ＞0.05).The MTHFR 1793 GA + AA genotype was linked with an increased risk of AL,ALL and AML (AL:OR =1.71,95％ CI:0.77-3.80,P =0.19;ALL:OR =2.00,95％ CI:0.85-4.49,P =0.12;AML:OR =1.36,95％CI:0.33-5.62,P =0.67),but no significant difference in our population(all P ＞ 0.05).The A allele frequency of MTHFR G1793A in the study was 7.9％,significantly different from those reported in Ashkenazi Jewish,African-American,Brazilian,Austrian,Irau and Harbin populations (all P ＜0.05).Conclusion MTHFR G1793A may be not a genetic susceptibility factor for pediatric AL,but may exhibit an ethnic difference.

Relationship between the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism and adverse reactions of high-dose methotrexate in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms and toxicities after high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) infusion in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MTHFR variants in 52 children with ALL were determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and sequencing. Toxicities of children who received HD-MTX chemotherapy were evaluated according to the National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The children carrying MTHFR 1298AC had a higher risk of developing thrombocytopenia compared with the carriers of the 1298 AA genotype (OR=13.7, 95%CI=1.18-159.36, P=0.036). There was no significant difference in HD-MTX chemotherapy-related adverse effects between the patients with different MTHFR C677T or G1793A genotypes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MTHFR A1298C polymorohism may associate with the toxicity of HD-MTX chemotherapy in children with ALL.</p>

Association of single nucleotide polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene with susceptibility to acute leukemia / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess whether polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene is associated with susceptibility to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in Chinese Han children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The study has included 87 patients with ALL, 22 patients with AML and 120 healthy controls. All subjects were analyzed with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A 677CT genotype of the MTHFR gene was associated with decreased risk of ALL (OR=0.23, 95%CI: 0.07-0.79). However, MTHFR A1298C genotypes were not associated with the risk of either disease. 677TT/1298AA and 677CC/1298AC genotypes were associated with increased risk of ALL(OR=3.78, 95% CI: 1.38-10.40; OR=3.17, 95% CI: 1.18-8.53, respectively), whereas the genotype 677CT/1298AA was associated with susceptibility to AML (OR=0.23, 95% CI: 0.06-0.97).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our data suggested that C677T polymorphism of MTHFR gene may increase the risk of childhood AML.</p>

Analysis of a 452C/T single nucleotide polymorphism in γ-glutamyl hydrolase gene in children with acute leukemia / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the distribution of γ-glutamyl hydrolase gene (GGH) 452C/T genotype and allele frequency in children with acute leukemia (AL) and healthy children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Bone marrow samples from 92 children with AL and peripheral blood samples from 124 healthy children were obtained to prepare complementary DNAs (cDNAs). The cDNAs were analyzed for a GGH 452C/T polymorphism by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (RT-PCR-DGGE) and direct sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequencies of the AL patients with TT, CT and CC genotypes were 2.2%, 13.0% and 84.8%, and the frequencies of the control children were 1.6%, 16.9% and 81.5%, respectively. There was no significant difference in GGH genotype or T allele frequency between the two groups (P> 0.05). However, the T allele frequency in Han Chinese children was significantly different from those reported in Japanese, Mexican and African-American populations.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The frequency of 452C/T polymorphism of GGH gene in Han Chinese children has been determined. The results suggested that an ethnic difference may exist.</p>

Effects of electroacupuncture on the function of respiration chain in hippocampal mitochondria of SAMP8 mice / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>from the perspective of mitochondria.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Tweleve SAMP8 mice aged 8 months were randomly divided into a model group (n = 6) and an electroacupuncture group (n = 6), and six SAMR1 mice aged 8 months were selected as a control group. The electroacupuncture group was treated with electroacupuncture at "Baihui" (GV 20), "Dazhui" (GV 14), "Shenshu" (BL 23) and "Taixi" (KI 3) for 20 min, once each day, 10 days for a course, and lasted for 3 courses. The other two groups were grasped and fixed in the same way at the same time without the other treatment. After the end of treatment, the learning and memory abilities of the mice were measured by Morris water maze, the activity of hippocampal mitochondrid respiratory chain enzyme complex was performed by spectrophotometry, and the levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were detected by a reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the average escape latency significantly lengthened, the residence time on the plateau phase shortened, the activity of respiratory chain enzyme complexe I, II, III, and IV was decreased, and ATP concentration was decreased in the model group. Compared with the model group, the average escape latency significantly shortened, the residence time on the plateau phase lengthened, the activity of hippocampal mitochondrid respiratory chain complexes I, II, III, and IV was significantly increased, and ATP concentration was increased in the electroacupuncture group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture can increase the activity of hippocampal mitochondrid respiratory chain enzyme complexe and ATP concentration and improve mitochondrial function, which may be one of underlying mechanisms of electroacupuncture in treatment of AD.</p>

Professor He Pu-ren: the founder of Santong method of acupuncture and moxibustion / 中国针灸

Professor He Pu-ren, the founder of Santong method of acupuncture and moxibustion, is a well known acupuncturist at home and abroad. His main contributions include combined martial arts and Chinese medicine, showing obvious therapeutic effect; taking part in establishment of The Department of Acupuncture, Beijing Chinese Medicine Hospital; creating Santong method of acupuncture and moxibustion; advocating fire needle therapy; writing medical books and teaching students; advocating the culture of acupuncture; making the metal model of acupuncture and moxibustion, and others. His achievements have become an important part of acupuncture and moxibustion science.

Clinical anatomy study on the acupuncture safety of tiantu (CV 22) and qishe (ST 11) / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study on the relation between the regional anatomy and safety of acupuncture at Tiantu (CV 22) and Qishe (ST 11).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In forty-six adult corpses, 92 sides were dissected to observe the partial anatomy structure of acupuncture path of Tiantu (CV 22) and Qishe (ST 11) and structure characteristics by the steel needle marked method and lay-by-lay dissection method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The bilateral the pleura returning lines behind the manubrium sterni interacted at the sternal angle plane accounted for 50.0% of the total specimens and at the first ribs plane accounted for 6.5% of the specimens; for needling the point Tiantu (CV 22), left brachiocephalic vein was at the same level or close to the manubrium sterni upper fringe in 43.5% of the specimens, the left brachiocephalic vein and the middle of manubrium sterni were at the same level in 56.5% of the specimens; for needling the point Qishe (ST 11), in 68 sides of the specimens, internal jugular vein were pierced, accounting for 73.9%, and in 24 sides of the specimens the left common carotid artery were pierced, accounting for 26.1%; in 50 sides of specimens the vagus nerve were touched by the steel needle, accounting for 54.3.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In acupuncture of Tiantu (CV 22) and Qishe (ST 11), the needle not only easily injure the upper pleural cavity, but also damage the big blood vessel and the vagus nerve in the mediastinum and the cervical root.</p>

Clinically anatomic study on the relation between the form of pleural cupula and its surrounding commonly-used acupoints / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relation of the form of pleural cupula of the normal adult with safety of acupuncture at commonly-used acupoints around the pleural cupula.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The safe depth for the commonly-used acupoints around the pleural cupula and the relation with the form of pleural cupula were investigated in 46 adult corpses with small Kirschner wire location and arrangement dissection.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The width of the pleural cupula projection equal to clavicle medial 1/3 accounted for 32. 6% of all the corpses, and the width of the pleural cupula projection more than clavicle medial 1/3 accounted for 59. 8% of all the corpses, the width of the pleural cupula projection less than clavicle medial 1/3 and pleural cupula medial margin located at the sternoclavicular joint medial accounted for 7.6% of all the corpses. The observed points such as Tiantu (CV 22), Qishe (ST 11), Jianjing (GB 21), Dingchuan (EX-B1), Dazhu (BL 11) which were considered be not related to the pleural cupula. When acupuncture is carried out according to criteria of acupoint location and needling direction, and the needle exceeded a limit, the pleural menbrane will be broken and induce destruction.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Position and form of the pleural cupula have anatomical relation to acupuncture accident for needling the points around the superior pleural cupula, which should be played attention to.</p>