Recent advances in lamellar liquid crystal emulsification methods encapsulating natural active substances for functional cosmetics / 药学学报

Due to the high similarity with the lipid layer between human skin keratinocytes, functional cosmetics with layered liquid crystal structure prepared by liquid crystal emulsification technology encapsulating natural active substances have become a hot research topic in recent years. This type of functional cosmetic often has a fresh and natural skin feel, excellent skin barrier repair function and efficient moisturizing effect, etc., showing great potential in cosmetic application. However, the present research on the application of liquid crystal emulsification technology to functional cosmetics is still in the initial stage, and there are fewer relevant reports with reference values. Based on the mentioned above, this review provides a comprehensive summary of functional cosmetics with layered liquid crystal structures prepared by liquid crystal emulsification technology from the following aspects: the structure of human skin, the composition of lamellar liquid crystal, the advantages of liquid crystal emulsification technology containing natural active substances used in the field of functional cosmetics, the preparation process, main components, influencing factors during the preparation and the market functional cosmetics with lamellar liquid crystal structure. Finally, the prospect of the application of liquid crystal emulsification technology in functional cosmetics is presented, to provide useful references for those engaged in the research of liquid crystal emulsification technology-related functional cosmetics.

Effects of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG on Activated Microglia and Tau Phosphorylation in the Hippocampus of Aged Mice Induced by Anesthesia and Surgery / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG （LGG）on microglia and Tau phosphorylation in the hippocampus of aged mice induced by anesthesia and surgery. MethodsA total of thirty 18-month-old C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into three groups： control group， anesthesia surgery group， and anesthesia surgery + LGG group （10 mice/group）. The aged mice were oral administered by NS or LGG 109 CFU 150 μL once a day for 20 days. Then anesthesia surgery group and anesthesia surgery +LGG group received anesthesia with isoflurane and exploratory laparotomy. The activation status of microglia in the hippocampus was detected by immunofluorescence staining 12 hours after surgery. IL-6 concentration changes was detected by ELISA. The expression changes of Tau protein phosphorylation site （Tau-pS202/pT205） and total Tau protein was detected by western blot. ResultsThe microglia in the hippocampus of the control group were in a resting state， and the concentration of inflammatory factor IL-6 was （82.08 ± 12.07） pg/mL in control group. Compared to the control group， the anesthesia surgery group showed microglial cell Microglia were activated， the concentration of inflammatory factors IL-6 increased significantly to （123.7±5.72） pg/mL （P=0.000）， and the expression of phosphorylated Tau-pS202/pT205 increased the hippocampus （P=0.002）. Compared to the anesthesia surgery group， the activated microglia were inhibited， the concentration of IL-6 decreased to （96.68±9.59） pg/mL （P=0.008）， and the expression of phosphorylated Tau-pS202/pT205 reduced significantly in the AS+LGG group （P=0.002）. While there were no significant changes in total Tau protein among 3 groups. ConclusionPreoperative administration of probiotic LGG can alleviate the activation of microglia， increased secretion of inflammatory factors， and increased Tau protein phosphorylation levels in the hippocampus of elderly mice caused by anesthesia surgery.

Age Estimation Based on DNA Methylation and Its Application Prospects in Forensic Medicine / 法医学杂志

With the improvement of DNA methylation detection techniques, studies on age-related methylation sites have found more age-specific ones across tissues, which improves the sensitivity and accuracy of age estimation. In addition, the establishment of various statistical models also provides a new direction for the age estimation of tissues from different sources. This review summarizes the related studies of age estimation based on DNA methylation from the aspects of detection technology, age-related cytosine phosphate guanine site and model selection in recent years.

Altered microRNA expression profiles of human spermatozoa in normal fertile men of different ages / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are mediators of the aging process. The purpose of this work was to analyze the miRNA expression profiles of spermatozoa from men of different ages with normal fertility. Twenty-seven donors were divided into three groups by age (Group A, n = 8, age: 20-30 years; Group B, n = 10, age: 31-40 years; and Group C, n = 9, age: 41-55 years) for high-throughput sequencing analysis. Samples from 65 individuals (22, 22, and 21 in Groups A, B, and C, respectively) were used for validation by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). A total of 2160 miRNAs were detected: 1223 were known, 937 were newly discovered and unnamed, of which 191 were expressed in all donors. A total of 7, 5, and 17 differentially expressed microRNAs (DEMs) were found in Group A vs B, Group B vs C, and Group A vs C comparisons, respectively. Twenty-two miRNAs were statistically correlated with age. Twelve miRNAs were identified as age-associated miRNAs, including hsa-miR-127-3p, mmu-miR-5100_L+2R-1, efu-miR-9226_L-2_1ss22GA, cgr-miR-1260_L+1, hsa-miR-652-3p_R+1, pal-miR-9993a-3p_L+2R-1, hsa-miR-7977_1ss6AG, hsa-miR-106b-3p_R-1, hsa-miR-186-5p, PC-3p-59611_111, hsa-miR-93-3p_R+1, and aeca-mir-8986a-p5_1ss1GA. There were 9165 target genes of age-associated miRNAs. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of the target genes identified revealed enrichment of protein binding, membrane, cell cycle, and so on. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of age-related miRNAs for target genes revealed 139 enriched pathways, such as signaling pathways regulating stem cell pluripotency, metabolic pathways, and the Hippo signaling pathway. This suggests that miRNAs play a key role in male fertility changes with increasing age and provides new evidence for the study of the mechanism of age-related male fertility decline.

Proteomic Difference Analysis of Whole Blood and Bloodstains / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To study the changes of protein levels in peripheral blood after it dried.@*METHODS@#The proteins from whole blood and bloodstains were detected by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and normalized by the label-free quantification (LFQ) method. The differential proteins were analyzed by using R 4.2.1 software, limma and edgeR package. The analysis of biological function, signaling pathway and subcellular localization for the differential proteins was then performed.@*RESULTS@#A total of 623 and 596 proteins were detected in whole blood and bloodstains, respectively, of which 31 were statistically significant in the quantitative results, including 10 up-regulated and 21 down-regulated proteins in bloodstains.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The protein abundances in whole blood and bloodstains are highly correlated, and the variation of protein abundances may be related to the changes of endogenous and structural proteins in cells. The application of proteomics technology can assist the screening and identification of protein biomarkers, thereby introducing new biomarkers for forensic research.

Cross-Platform Application of DNA Methylation Age Estimation Model in Eastern Chinese Han Population / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To evaluate the forensic application value of an age estimation model based on DNA methylation in eastern Chinese Han population, and to provide a theoretical basis for exploring age estimation models suitable for different detection platforms.@*METHODS@#According to the 6 age-related methylation sites in the published blood DNA methylation age estimation models of Chinese Han population, the DNA methylation level of 48 samples was detected by pyrosequencing and next-generation sequencing (NGS). After submitting DNA methylation levels to the age estimation model, the DNA methylation ages were predicted and compared with their real ages.@*RESULTS@#The 6 DNA methylation sites in both detection techniques were age-related, with an R2 of 0.85 and a median absolute deviation (MAD) of 4.81 years when using pyrosequencing；with an R2 of 0.84 and MAD of 4.41 years when using NGS.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The blood DNA methylation age estimation model can be used under pyrosequencing and multi-purpose regional methylation enrichment sequencing technology based on NGS and it can accurately estimate the age.

Study on the correlation between dietary inflammatory index and reflux esophagitis / 中华消化杂志

Objective:To evaluate the correlation between inflammatory diet and reflux esophagitis (RE) with the dietary inflammatory index (DII), and to provide scientific evidence for the prevention and treatment of RE at the level of dietary guidance.Methods:From December 2021 to September 2022, 145 RE patients (RE group) who visited the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University were recruited. During the same period, 145 subjects who underwent check-ups at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University were selected as the healthy control group, and age and gender were matched according to the ratio of 1 to 1. The baseline data of the 2 groups, including body mass index, the history of smoking and drinking, poor dietary habits, and physical activity intensity were collected. Dietary intake of the patients was assessed by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and the overall DII was calculated to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory effects of diet. According to the tertiles of the DII of the healthy control group (33.3% and 66.7% as the cut-off), dietary inflammatory potential was divided into low (<-0.06), moderate (-0.06 to 1.11) and high pro-inflammatory potential diet (>1.11). Logistic regression model was performed to analyze the correlation between DII and RE risk. Linear trend test was used to compare the overall change trend of RE risk OR value along with the increase of DII. Independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results:The body mass index of RE group was higher than that of healthy control group( (24.11±2.57) kg/m 2 vs. (23.38 ±2.60) kg/m 2), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-2.41, P=0.017). The proportions of smoking, drinking, over-eating, and eating within 3 h before bedtime of RE group was higher than those of the healthy control group (42.8%, 62/145 vs. 31.0%, 45/145; 31.0%, 45/145 vs. 16.6%, 24/145; 33.1%, 48/145 vs. 17.9%, 26/145; 52.4%, 76/145 vs. 13.1%, 19/145), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=4.28, 8.39, 8.78 and 50.86, P=0.039, 0.004, 0.003 and<0.001). While the proportions of night snacking and moderate to severe physical activity of RE group were lower than those of the healthy control group (14.5%, 21/145 vs. 24.1%, 35/145; 22.8%, 33/145 vs.37.2%, 54/145), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=4.34 and 7.24, P=0.037 and 0.007). The DII of RE group was higher than that of the healthy control group (1.05 (0.03, 1.62) vs. 0.34(-0.61, 1.35)), and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=8 661.50, P=0.010). Compared with the low pro-inflammatory potential diet, high pro-inflammatory potential diet had a 1.30-fold increased the risk of RE ( OR=2.30, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.29 to 4.09, P=0.005). After adjusting for total energy intake, age, gender, ethnicity, body mass index, education level, and physical activity intensity, the high pro-inflammatory potential diet was still positively correlated with the risk of RE ( OR=2.58, 95% CI 1.16 to 5.76, P=0.020). In the continuous DII, the risk of RE increased by 36% for each 1 increase in DII ( OR=1.36, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.68, P=0.003). After adjusting for major confounding factors, the continuous DII was still positively correlated with the risk of RE ( OR=1.41, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.85, P=0.012; OR=1.42, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.93, P=0.023). The results of trend test showed that the higher the DII, the greater the risk of RE ( P=0.039). Conclusions:Pro-inflammatory diet is correlated with the increased risk of RE, and there is a certain dose-response relationship. Reasonable reduction of the intake of pro-inflammatory food may be beneficial to reduce the risk of RE.

Analysis of 141 cases clinically misdiagnosed as melanoma / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective:To analyze 141 cases clinically misdiagnosed as melanoma, and to improve the understanding and diagnosis of diseases.Methods:Totally, 141 cases preliminarily diagnosed as melanoma, which was finally excluded according to histopathological examination results, were collected from the pathological database of Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University from November 2001 to September 2019, and their clinical and histopathological data were analyzed retrospectively.Results:Among the 141 cases clinically misdiagnosed as melanoma, 64 were males and 77 were females. Their median age at the time of misdiagnosis was 51 years, and the average disease duration was 103.4 months. The patients mainly presented with patches and papules, most of which were black in color. Based on histopathological manifestations, 35 patients were diagnosed with pigmented nevi, 29 with basal cell carcinoma, 15 with seborrheic keratosis, 7 with Bowen′s disease, 6 with nail melanin spots, 5 with epidermal cysts, 4 with poroma, 4 with hemorrhage, 4 with dermatofibroma, and 23 with other skin diseases.Conclusions:In clinical practice, some diseases with characteristics of melanoma are liable to be misdiagnosed. It is necessary to grasp their clinical features and actively carry out auxiliary examinations such as dermoscopy and histopathological examinations to confirm the diagnosis and reduce the misdiagnosis rate.

Literature analysis on the status quo of performance appraisal of pharmacy intravenous admixture services in China / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To analyze the status quo of performance appraisal of pharmacy intravenous admixture services （PIVAS） in China based on literature analysis， and provide reference for the implementation of performance management of PIVAS in China. METHODS Retrieved from domestic and foreign databases such as CNKI， VIP， Wanfang， PubMed， Embase， the Cochrane Library and CBM， the literature on the status quo evaluation of performance appraisal of PIVAS in China was included from the inception to Sept. 2022. The descriptive analysis was carried out on performance appraisal measures， performance appraisal indicators， performance appraisal achievement， etc. RESULTS Twelve pieces of literature were included， involving 8 before-and-after controlled studies and 4 experience sharing. The performance appraisal subjects of 10 pieces of literature were all staff and those of 2 pieces of literature were nurses. The measures of PIVAS performance appraisal were roughly the same， mainly involving contents and indicators of workload， work quality （including errors）， clinical service satisfaction， labor discipline， department contribution， personal comprehensive evaluation， and so on， but the main accounting proportion was different. Performance appraisal indicators mainly included the rate of medical order review， dispensing rate， check rate， delivery rate， finished product review rate， etc. The performance appraisal achievement mainly included the improvement of work efficiency， the improvement of work quality， the reduction of error rate， and the improvement of clinical satisfaction and employee satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS By building performance appraisal system and adopting corresponding performance management measures of PIVAS， it can improve the work efficiency and quality， reduce the error rate， ensure the safety of patients’ medication， and promote the standardized management of PIVAS in China.

Analysis of clinical phenotypes and genetic variants in two children with sporadic cleidocranial dysplasia / 中华医学遗传学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the clinical phenotypes and genetic diagnosis of 2 sporadic cases for cleidocranial dysplasia.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of two cases of CCD admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University on December 16, 2021 and December 9, 2021 were analyzed retrospectively, and the whole exome sequencing (WES), chromosome microarray analysis and copy number variation sequencing were performed.@*RESULTS@#The main ultrasonographic findings of the fetus had included poorly calcified skull bones, budging of parieto-occipital area, compression and deformation of skull, and loss of nasal bone. The infant's clinical phenotypes included delayed closure of anterior fontanelle, recurrent respiratory tract infection, growth retardation, and clavicular hypoplasia. By WES analysis, the fetus was found to harbor a heterozygous c.911_914delinsTTT variant of the RUNX2 gene, whilst the infant was found to harbor a heterozygous c.1008delT variant of the RUNX2 gene. Both variants were verified by Sanger sequencing to have occurred de novo.@*CONCLUSION@#For sporadic cases featuring cleidocranial dysplasia, prenatal ultrasonography is particularly important. Hypoplastic clavicle, skull calcification and nasal bone absence are the main features. Diagnosis should also be suspected for infants featuring growth retardation, recurrent respiratory tract infections and clavicular dysplasia. The identification of the c.911_914delinsTTT and c.1008delT variants of the RUNX2 gene has facilitated genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis, and also expanded the mutational spectrum of the RUNX2 gene.

Clinical phenotype and genetic analysis of twelve children with ring chromosomes / 中华医学遗传学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the prevalence and clinical manifestations of ring chromosomes among children featuring abnormal development.@*METHODS@#From January 2015 to August 2021, 7574 children referred for abnormal development were selected, and their peripheral blood samples were subjected to G-banded chromosomal karyotyping analysis.@*RESULTS@#Twelve cases of ring chromosomes were detected, which have yielded a prevalence of 0.16% and included 1 r(6), 2 r(9), 1 r(13), 1 r(14), 2 r(15), 1 r(21) and 3 r(X). The children had various clinical manifestations including growth and mental retardation, limb malformation, and congenital heart disease. For two children with r(9) and two with r(15) with similar breakpoints, one child with r(9) and one with r(15) only had growth retardation, whilst another with r(9) and another with r(15) also had peculiar facies and complex congenital heart disease. The r(X) has featured some manifestations of Turner syndrome.@*CONCLUSION@#Ring chromosomes are among the common causes for severe growth and mental retardation in children with diverse clinical phenotypes. Clinicians should pay attention to those with developmental anomalies and use chromosomal analysis to elucidate their genetic etiology.

Application value of CNV-seq for the prenatal diagnosis of women with high-risk pregnancies / 中华医学遗传学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the application value of copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) for women with a high risk for fetal anomalies.@*METHODS@#Based on the results of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), 271 high-risk pregnant women were divided into NIPT positive group (n = 83) and other anomaly group (advanced age, high risk by serological screening, repeated NIPT failure, adverse pregnancy history, abnormal ultrasound finding, and abnormal phenotype) (n = 188). CNV-seq was carried out to detect copy number variations (CNVs) in amniocytic DNA from the two groups of pregnant women, and karyotyping analysis of the amniotic cells was carried out for verification and comparison.@*RESULTS@#The amniocytes from 271 pregnant women were detected. The detection rate was 20.66% (56/271) for pathogenic CNVs by CNV-seq and 19.19% (52/271) for pathogenic karyotypes by karyotyping analysis. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CNV-seq had shown that, compared with NIPT positive group, the detection rates for likely pathogenic CNVs and variants of unknown significance (VUS) in other abnormality group were significantly higher [2.41%(2/83) vs. 5.32%(10/188)](P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#CNV-seq can well suit the first-tier diagnosis for pregnant women suspected for fetal abnormality. In prenatal diagnosis settings, CNV-seq can identify additional and clinically significant cytogenetic abnormalities. In those with other abnormalities, the detection rates for likely pathogenic CNVs and VUS are higher than with the NIPT positive cases.

Mechanism of Qiwei Guibao Granules in treatment of premature ovarian failure based on proteomics / 中国中药杂志

In this study, the underlying mechanism of Qiwei Guibao Granules(QWGB) in the treatment of premature ovarian fai-lure(POF) was explored by the proteomics technique. Firstly, the POF model was induced in mice by intragastric administration of Tripterygium wilfordii glycosides solution at 50 mg·kg~(-1) for 14 days. Ten days prior to the end of the modeling, the estrous cycle of mice was observed every day to evaluate the success of modeling. From the 1st day after modeling, the POF model mice were treated with QWGB by gavage every day and the treatment lasted four weeks. On the 2nd day after the end of the experiment, blood was collected from the eyeballs and the serum was separated by centrifugation. The ovaries and uterus were collected and the adipose tissues were carefully stripped. The organ indexes of the ovaries and uterus of each group were calculated. The serum estrogen(E_2) level of mice in each group was detected by ELISA. Protein samples were extracted from ovarian tissues of mice, and the differential proteins before and after QWGB intervention and before and after modeling were analyzed by quantitative proteomics using tandem mass tags(TMT). As revealed by the analysis of differential proteins, QWGB could regulate 26 differentially expressed proteins related to the POF model induced by T. wilfordii glycosides, including S100A4, STAR, adrenodoxin oxidoreductase, XAF1, and PBXIP1. GO enrichment results showed that the 26 differential proteins were mainly enriched in biological processes and cellular components. The results of KEGG enrichment showed that those differential proteins were involved in signaling pathways such as completion and coalescence cascades, focal adhesion, arginine biosynthesis, and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis. The complement and coalescence cascades signaling pathway was presumably the target pathway of QWGB in the treatment of POF. In this study, the proteomics technique was used to screen the differential proteins of QWGB in the treatment of POF in mice induced by T. wilfordii glycosides, and they were mainly involved in immune regulation, apoptosis regulation, complement and coagulation cascade reactions, cholesterol metabolism, and steroid hormone production, which may be the main mechanisms of QWGB in the treatment of POF.

Complete chloroplast genome sequencing and phylogeny of wild Atractylodes lancea from Yuexi, Anhui province / 中国中药杂志

This study investigated the choroplast genome sequence of wild Atractylodes lancea from Yuexi in Anhui province by high-throughput sequencing, followed by characterization of the genome structure, which laid a foundation for the species identification, analysis of genetic diversity, and resource conservation of A. lancea. To be specific, the total genomic DNA was extracted from the leaves of A. lancea with the improved CTAB method. The chloroplast genome of A. lancea was sequenced by the high-throughput sequencing technology, followed by assembling by metaSPAdes and annotation by CPGAVAS2. Bioiformatics methods were employed for the analysis of simple sequence repeats(SSRs), inverted repeat(IR) border, codon bias, and phylogeny. The results showed that the whole chloroplast genome of A. lancea was 153 178 bp, with an 84 226 bp large single copy(LSC) and a 18 658 bp small single copy(SSC) separated by a pair of IRs(25 147 bp). The genome had the GC content of 37.7% and 124 genes: 87 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 29 tRNA genes. It had 26 287 codons and encoded 20 amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Atractylodes species clustered into one clade and that A. lancea had close genetic relationship with A. koreana. This study established a method for sequencing the chloroplast genome of A. lancea and enriched the genetic resources of Compositae. The findings are expected to lay a foundation for species identification, analysis of genetic diversity, and resource conservation of A. lancea.

Rapid detection technology of chemical component content in Lycii Fructus based on hyperspectral technology / 中国中药杂志

This Fructus,study including and aimed to construct a rapid and nondestructive detection flavonoid,model betaine,for and of the content vitamin of(Vit four four quality C).index components Lycium barbarum polysaccharide,of inL ycii rawma total and C Hyperspectral data quantitative of terials modelswere powder developed Lycii using Fructus partial were squares effects collected,regression raw based LSR),on the support content vector the above components,the forest least(P regression compared,(SVR),the and effects random three regression(RFR)were algorithms.also The Four spectral predictive commonly data of the materialsand powder were were applied and of spectral quantitative for models reduction.compared.used were pre-processing screened methods feature to successive pre-process projection the raw algorithm data(SPA),noise competitive Thepre-processed for bands using adaptive reweigh ted sampling howed(CARS),the and maximal effects relevance based and raw minimal materials redundancy and(MRMR)were algorithms Following to optimize multiplicative the models.scatter The correction Based resultss(MS that prediction SPA on feature the powder prediction similar.PLSR C)denoising sproposed and integrated for model,screening the the coefficient bands,determination the effect(R_C~2)of(MSC-SPA-PLSR)coefficient was optimal.of on(R_P~2)thi of of calibration flavonoid,and and of all determination greater prediction0.83,L.barbarum inconte nt prediction of polysaccharide,total mean betaine,of Vit C were than smallest In the compared study,root with mean other prediction content squareserror models of the calibration(RMSEC)residual and deviation root squares was error2.46,prediction2.58,(RMSEP)and were the,and prediction(RPD)2.50,developed3.58,achieve respectively.rapid this the the quality mod el(MSC-SPA-PLSR)fourcomponents based Fructus,on hyperspectral which technology was approach to rapid and effective detection detection of the of Lycii in Lycii provided a new to the and nondestructive of of Fructus.

A Case Report of Nevus Trichilemmocysticus / 罕见病研究

This article reports a case of nevus trichilemmocysticus. The patient, a 48-year-old man, presented with multiple filiform keratoses and nodules. Physical examination identified multiple subcutaneous papules and nodules on the scalp, filiform keratoses on the face and bilateral ears, in addition to linear blackheads on trunk and limbs. The patient also exhibited hair loss and hypoplastic tooth. Histopathology revealed trichilemmal cyst. Nevus trichilemmocysticus is a rare organoid nevus. We reviewed literature in order to raise the awareness of the syndrome.

Preparation, physicochemical characterization and cytocompatibility study of self-assembled silk fibroin nanoparticles / 药学学报

This study aimed to prepare silk fibroin nanoparticles (SF-NPs) and assess the physicochemical properties and biocompatibility of the formulation. An optimized and simplified solvent displacement method was employed to obtain SF-NPs. Single-factor prescription screening, such as silk fibroin (SF) solution concentration, the ratio of SF solution to organic solvent, ultrasonication power and time, and different types of organic phases, was used to optimize the formulation. The characterization of the optimal formulation included particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, morphology, and stability. The in vitro cell compatibility of the nanoparticles was evaluated using CCK-8 and Calcein-AM/PI cell viability staining. The results showed that when SF concentration was 20 mg·mL-1, volume ratio of aqueous phase to acetone was 1∶6, ultrasonic power was 80 W and ultrasonic time was 3 min, the best SF-NPs was obtained. The nanoparticles prepared in this study exhibit a near-spherical shape, with a uniform size distribution, having an average size of 144.8 nm, a PDI of 0.174, and a zeta potential of -27.35 mV. Results from in vitro cell experiments demonstrate excellent cell compatibility of SF-NPs, showing the ability to promote cell proliferation. The SF-NPs which were successfully prepared in this study exhibit uniform particle size and excellent biocompatibility.

Effects and mechanism of Morus alba L. (Sangzhi) alkaloids combined with metformin on glucose metabolism in diabetic KKAy mice / 药学学报

To investigate the effects and mechanism of the combination of Morus alba L. (Sangzhi) alkaloids(SZ-A) and metformin (Met) on glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetic mice, KKAy mice were divided into four groups according to the glucose and lipid indexes: control group (control), Morus alba L. (Sangzhi) alkaloids group (SZ-A, 100 mg·kg-1), metformin group (Met, 100 mg·kg-1) and combined administration group (combination, Comb, 100 mg·kg-1 SZ-A + 100 mg·kg-1 Met). All groups were administered by gavage once daily for 7 weeks accompanied with monitoring food intake, water intake, body weight as well as glycemia. Additionally, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), insulin tolerance test (ITT) and oral sodium pyruvate tolerance test (OPTT) were performed at week 2, week 5, week 6, respectively. The experiments were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (00004332). We determined the weight and lipid content of liver, and then performed the histopathological analysis after sacrificed. Furthermore, Western blot assay was used to detect the protein levels of key molecules of PI3K/PDK1/Akt/GLUT signaling pathway in liver, muscle and adipose tissue. Compared to the SZ-A or Met monotherapy group, SZ-A + Met significantly improved the glucose metabolism disorder, which was showed in reduced food intake, water intake, the level of fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of KKAy mice, as well as improved glucose tolerance, enhanced insulin sensitivity and inhibited gluconeogenesis. In addition, SZ-A + Met obviously up-regulated the protein expression levels in PI3K/PDK1/Akt/GLUT signaling pathway in liver, muscle and adipose tissue of KKAy mice. Moreover, the liver lipid accumulation and blood aminotransferase level of KKAy mice in the combined administration group were significantly reduced. Therefore, we concluded that the combination of SZ-A and Met improved glucose metabolism and inhibited the occurrence and development of T2DM via promoting glucose uptake and utilization, suggesting that the combination of SZ-A and Met is a more useful treatment for T2DM.

Pharmacokinetic effects of metformin hydrochloride, food and alcohol on Ramulus Mori (Sangzhi) alkaloids / 药学学报

Ramulus Mori (Sangzhi) alkaloids (SZ-A) are a group of polyhydroxy alkaloids extracted and isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine mulberry twig, which is mainly used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In addition to acting as a glycosidase inhibitor in the small intestine after oral administration, SZ-A can also be absorbed into blood and widely distributed to target organs related to diabetes, exerting multiple pharmacological effects. It is important to elucidate the possible pharmacokinetic influences of SZ-A for its clinical rational applications, such as drug interactions, the effects of food and alcohol on the absorption of SZ-A. However, studies in this area are limited. Therefore, the pharmacokinetic interactions between orally administrated SZ-A (50 mg·kg-1) and metformin hydrochloride (Met, 200 mg·kg-1) in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were examined. Then, the effect of food (standard feed) on the pharmacokinetics of SZ-A was investigated using fasting administration of SZ-A (50 mg·kg-1) in rats as a control. Finally, we investigated the pharmacokinetic characteristics of SZ-A (50 mg·kg-1) in different concentrations alcohol solutions using aqueous solution of SZ-A administered to rats as a control to evaluate the effect of alcohol on the bioabsorption of SZ-A. The results showed no significant pharmacokinetic interactions between SZ-A and Met after combination treatment. The standard feed had little effect on the pharmacokinetic profile of SZ-A. Alcohol retarded the absorption of SZ-A, resulting in a significant decrease in the Cmax of SZ-A. The decrease was greater at higher alcohol concentrations; however, no significant difference was observed in the AUC0-t. These results support the clinical rational applications of SZ-A. All animal protocols were approved by the Ethics Committee of Kangtai Medical Laboratory Service Hebei Co., Ltd. (Hebei, China) (No. MDL2022-01-17-1).

Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial syndrome in a newborn: a case report and literature review / 中国新生儿科杂志

Objective:To study the clinical features, treatment, and prognostic features of Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial syndrome.Methods:The clinical characteristics of a newborn with Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial syndrome admitted to the neonatal unit of Guiyang Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital was reported. Using "Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial syndrome", "Blepharophimosis-ptosis-intellectual disability syndrome" and "UBE3B gene" as keywords, databases including CNKI, VIP database, Wanfang database, Chinese medical journals full-text database, PubMed, Web of Science database and Embase database were searched from the date of establishment to June 2022. The clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial syndrome from published literature were summarized.Results:The proband was a boy presenting with small lid fissure, wide eye spacing and feeding difficulties. Whole exome sequencing revealed compound heterozygous mutation in the UBE3B gene, c.1445_1448dupTCAC inherited from his father and c.1703dupA inherited from his mother, both variants had not been reported in the domestic and foreign literature thus far. A total of 34 newborn cases were summarized from 11 case reports, including this report. The main clinical manifestations were developmental delay (35/35), peculiar facial features (35/35), narrow eye slits (35/35), feeding difficulties (33/35), ear abnormalities (33/35), hypotonia (32/35), mouth abnormalities (31/35), breathing difficulties (26/35), small jaws (25/35) and low birth weight (16/35).There is no effective treatment available, and a total of 4 cases followed up to over 16 years old have been reported, all of which have severe mental retardation, language deficiency, along with other serious neurological diseases.Conclusions:when children exhibit symptoms such as narrow eye fissures, feeding difficulties, hypotonia, developmental delays, and peculiar facial features in the neonatal period, whole exome sequence can be used to aid diagnosis and evaluate for Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial syndrome. Families with children of Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial syndrome may undergo prenatal diagnosis based on genetic findings.