Comparative study of permeation effects between vibrating microneedle and low-frequency sonophoresis systems.

Microneedle transdermal administration and low-frequency ultrasound represent two important physical penetration-promoting methods for enhancing drug penetration. This article aims to investigate and compare the effects of drug penetration enhancement through transdermal administration using vibrating microneedles versus low-frequency sonophoresis. In Vitro permeation studies were conducted using Valia-Chien double chamber diffusion cells to evaluate the transdermal delivery of tetramethylpyrazine hydrochloride (TMPH). The TMPH concentration in the receiving compartment was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Several combinations of microneedles and ultrasound settings were investigated, including different needle heights, vibration frequencies, exposure times, and assorted distances of ultrasound horn and skin. The results revealed the vibrating microneedle system as the most efficacious treatment to increase the TMPH permeability into the rat skin. The combination of a larger needle, higher frequency, and a 3-min exposure led to a 41.92-fold increase in cumulative permeability compared to the control group. The ultrasound treatment exhibited a moderate enhancement effect on TMPH skin penetration. Using a horn-to-skin distance of 3 mm and a 3-min exposure resulted in a 4.34-fold increase in TMPH cumulative permeation compared to the control group. It could be concluded that while both the vibrating microneedle and the low-frequency ultrasound systems act as penetration enhancers for promoting the TMPH permeation through the skin, the vibrating microneedle system notably demonstrates a more effective penetration-promoting effect.

Butyrate Protects against SARS-CoV-2-Induced Tissue Damage in Golden Hamsters.

Butyrate, produced by gut microbe during dietary fiber fermentation, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on chronic inflammation diseases, yet it remains to be explored whether butyrate has protective effects against viral infections. Here, we demonstrated that butyrate alleviated tissue injury in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected golden hamsters supplemented with butyrate before and during the infection. Butyrate-treated hamsters showed augmentation of type I interferon (IFN) response and activation of endothelial cells without exaggerated inflammation. In addition, butyrate regulated redox homeostasis by enhancing the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) to inhibit excessive apoptotic cell death. Therefore, butyrate exhibited effective prevention against SARS-CoV-2 by upregulating antiviral immune responses and promoting cell survival.

Clinical, Radiographic, and MRI Evaluation of All-Inside Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Repair via Suture Fixation to the Posterior Cruciate Ligament Versus Partial Meniscectomy: Results at 3-Year Follow-up.

Background: Medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRTs) disrupt the integrity and hoop tension of the meniscus, leading to cartilage degeneration and accelerated osteoarthritis (OA) progression. The management of patients with MMPRT is controversial, and the efficacy of different treatment options is unclear. Purpose: To compare the clinical, radiographic, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes of patients with MMPRT between trans-posterior cruciate ligament (trans-PCL) all-inside repair and partial meniscectomy. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: We identified patients with MMPRT who underwent trans-PCL all-inside repair (group AR) or partial meniscectomy (group PM) between 2015 and 2019 at a single institution. The trans-PCL all-inside repair was performed by suturing the torn meniscus root to the PCL fibers. Patient-reported outcomes as well as radiographic and MRI outcomes were collected at baseline and final follow-up. Clinical failure was defined as conversion to total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to investigate the survival rates of patients with different surgical procedures. Results: Included were 29 patients in group AR and 31 patients in group PM (mean age, 62.69 and 60.68 years, respectively; mean follow-up, 2.91 ± 1.33 and 3.45 ± 1.50 years, respectively). There were no differences in baseline patient characteristics between the groups. All patient-reported outcome scores improved significantly in both groups at the final follow-up. When we compared final outcomes between the groups, group AR had less joint space narrowing (P = .010), less Kellgren-Lawrence OA grade progression (P = .002), and less medial meniscal extrusion (MME; P = .002) than group PM. In addition, group AR showed less progression of bone marrow lesions and cartilage lesions (P < .05) than group PM. The rate of conversion to TKA was 6.90% in group AR and 29.0% in group PM. The 5-year survival rates in the AR and PM groups were 82.6% and 59.8%, respectively (P = .153). Conclusion: Trans-PCL all-inside repair for MMPRTs was associated with greater improvement in clinical function, better radiographic results, less MME and cartilage degeneration, and a lower rate of subsequent TKA compared with partial meniscectomy.

Preparation and characterization of zein-lecithin-total flavonoids from Smilax glabra complex nanoparticles and the study of their antioxidant activity on HepG2 cells.

Total flavonoids from Smilax glabra (TFSG) exhibit several biological activities; however, their poor stability limits their application. In this work, zein-lecithin-TFSG complex nanoparticles (Z-L-TFSG NPs) were prepared using the anti-solvent coprecipitation technique. The prepared Z-L-TFSG NPs were spherical with an encapsulation efficiency of 98.0%. Differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and morphology tests revealed that the TFSG were successfully encapsulated by Z-L NPs. Z-L-TFSG NPs showed superior stability and better controlled release characteristics in simulated gastrointestinal digestion. The encapsulation of TFSG by Z-L NPs could improve their antioxidant capacity in vitro. Moreover, Z-L-TFSG NPs could enhance the protective effects of TFSG against H2O2-induced oxidative damage to HepG2 cells. The results indicated that the Z-L self-assembled NPs could serve as a promising drug delivery system through the integrated encapsulation of multiple flavonoids.

Integrated bioinformatics and in silico approaches reveal the biological targets and molecular mechanisms of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D against COVID-19 and diabetes mellitus.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are two major diseases threatening human health. The susceptibility of DM patients to COVID-19 and their worse outcomes have forced us to explore efficient routes to combat COVID-19/DM. As the most active form of Vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) has been shown a beneficial effect in the treatment of COVID-19/DM. However, the anti-COVID-19/DM mechanisms of 1,25(OH)2D remain unclear. In this study, an approach combining network pharmacology and molecular docking was performed to reveal the potential hub target genes and underlying mechanisms of 1,25(OH)2D in the treatment of COVID-19/DM. The hub targets and interaction pathways related to 1,25(OH)2D were identified by integrating the key 1,25(OH)2D-target-signaling pathway-COVID-19/DM networks. Fifteen hub targets of 1,25(OH)2D against COVID-19DM were determined, including EGFR, PIK3R1, PIK3CA, STAT3, MAPK1, ESR1, HSP90AA1, LCK, MTOR, IGF1, AR, NFKB1, PIK3CB, PTPN1, and MAPK14. An enrichment analysis of the hub targets further revealed that the effect of 1,25(OH)2D against COVID-19/DM involved multiple biological processes, cellular components, molecular functions and biological signaling pathways. Molecular docking disclosed that 1,25(OH)2D docked nicely with the hub target proteins, including EGFR, PIK3R1, and PIK3CA. These findings suggested that the potential mechanisms of 1,25(OH)2D against COVID-19/DM may be related to multiple biological targets and biological signaling pathways.

Influence of heat processing on the anti-inflammatory activity of fresh Smilax glabra based on PDE4 inhibition.

Smilax glabra Roxb. (SG) is widely used as functional food with various beneficial effects. Fresh SG without processing has been eaten directly for anti-inflammation from ancient China, while the underlying mechanism remains underexplored. This study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of fresh SG by using metabolites profiles, affinity ultrafiltration mass spectrometry, PDE4 enzyme inhibition assay, and in silico analysis. Encouragingly, fresh SG showed promising anti-inflammatory effect with IC50 value (0.009 µg/µL) on PDE4 was about 12 times higher than that of processed SG (0.110 µg/µL). Astilbin was identified as the main bioactive compound of fresh SG responsible for PDE4 inhibitory activity. We found that heat processing strongly affected astilbin isomerization, leading to significant changes in contents and PDE4 inhibitory activities of four astilbin isomers, resulting in decreased anti-inflammatory activity of fresh SG. This finding will provide theoretical basis for systematic research and food/nutraceutical applications of fresh Smilax glabra in the future.

Deformation twinning via the motion of adjacent dislocations in a nanostructured CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy.

Deformation twinning was observed in a nanostructured CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy processed by cold rolling. A three-layer twin with two incoherent twin boundaries was identified using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and its twinning mechanism was analyzed. Twinning is formed by dissociated dislocations meeting on the adjacent slip plane. This twinning mechanism possibly works for low-SF materials with high dislocation density.

The Hematopoietic Function of Medicinal Wine Maoji Jiu Revealed in Blood Deficiency Model Rats.

Maoji Jiu (MJ), a medicinal wine, has been used commonly by the Chinese to enrich and nourish the blood. In this study, the aim is to examine the hematopoietic function of MJ and investigate its hematopoietic regulation mechanism. Thirty-six female Sprague-Dawley rats (200 ± 20 g) were randomly divided into six groups with six rats in each group. The blood deficiency model was induced by injecting hypodermically with N-acetylphenylhydrazine (APH) and injecting intraperitoneally with cyclophosphamide (CTX), and treatment drugs were given by oral gavage twice a day for continuous 10 days from the start of the experiments. The administration of MJ improved the levels of white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin (HGB), and hematocrit (HCT) in the blood deficiency model rats. Hematopoietic effect involves regulating the antioxidant activity in the liver and the levels of Bcl-2, Bax, erythropoietin (EPO), transforming growth factor-beta-1 (TGF-ß1), and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) mRNA in spleen tissues to enhance extramedullary hematopoiesis. This study suggests that MJ has a beneficial effect on blood deficiency model rats.

Trans-Posterior Cruciate Ligament All-Inside Root Repair Versus Partial Meniscectomy for Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Tears: Comparison of Semiquantitative and Quantitative MRI Outcomes in Cartilage Degeneration and Osteoarthritic Progression.

OBJECTIVE: To perform conventional, morphological, and T2 mapping compositional MRI imaging to assess the cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritic progression in patients with medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRTs) who underwent trans-posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) all-inside repair or partial meniscectomy. DESIGN: Patients with MMPRTs after trans-PCL all-inside repair (group AR) or partial meniscectomy (group PM) between 2015 and 2018 were retrospectively identified. Preoperative and postoperative conventional MRI were collected to assess medial meniscus extrusion (MME) and the whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging score (WORMS). Postoperative morphological MRI and T2 mapping compositional MRI were collected to evaluate the quantitative cartilage thickness/volume and cartilage composition. RESULTS: The final cohort consisted of 21 patients in group AR and 22 patients in group PM, with no differences in demographic data and baseline patient characteristics between the 2 groups. Group AR demonstrated less progression of articular cartilage wear (P < 0.05) and decreased meniscal extrusion (P = 0.008) than group PM at the final follow-up. In addition, group AR demonstrated less extracellular matrix degeneration in the cartilage subregion of the medial compartment (P < 0.05) than group PM with lower T2 relaxation times in the superficial layer of the articular cartilage. CONCLUSION: Trans-PCL all-inside repair of MMPRTs could delay the initial cartilage deterioration and morphological cartilage degeneration compared with partial meniscectomy. However, the amount of residual meniscal extrusion is clinically important, and an improved root repair fixation method should be investigated.

Metabonomics Study of the Hematopoietic Effect of Medicinal Wine Maoji Jiu on a Blood Deficiency Rat Model by Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry and a Pattern Recognition Approach.

Maoji Jiu (MJ) is a kind of medicinal wine that has been widely used by Chinese people for many years to nourish and promote blood circulation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the hematopoietic effect of MJ on the metabolism of blood deficient rats and to explore the underlying hematopoietic regulation mechanisms. Blood deficiency model rats were induced by subcutaneous injection of N-acetylphenylhydrazine (APH) and intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (CTX). The plasma metabolic fingerprints of blood deficiency model rats with and without MJ treatment were obtained by using metabonomics based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF/MS). Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was used to evaluate the hematopoietic effect of MJ and identify potential biomarkers in the plasma of blood deficiency model rats. The levels of white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC) and hemoglobin (HGB) and the activity of antioxidant capacity showed a recovery trend to the control group after MJ treatment, while the dose of 10 mL/kg showed the best effect. In this study, thirteen potential biomarkers were identified, which were mainly related to seven metabolic pathways, including linoleic acid metabolism, d-glutamine and d-glutamate metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism and arginine biosynthesis. Metabolomics was applied frequently to reflect the physiological and metabolic state of organisms comprehensively, indicating that the rapid plasma metabonomics may be a potentially powerful tool to reveal the efficacy and enriching blood mechanism of MJ.

[Clinical observation of transforaminal endoscopy combined with interspinous fusion in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis with instability in the elderly].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of transforaminal endoscopy combined with interspinous fusion in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis with instability in the elderly. METHODS: From February 2018 to February 2019, 82 elderly patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and instability were divided into control group and observation group. In the control group, there were 23 males and 18 females;the age was (68.9±4.1) years;the course of disease was (14.1±5.7) months;there were 5 cases of single segment lesions and 36 cases of multi segment lesions;simple bacfuse interspinous fusion was used. In the observation group, there were 22 males and 19 females;the age was (69.1±4.0) years;the course of diseasewas (14.4±5.5) months;there were 6 cases of single segment lesions and 35 cases of multi segment lesions;they were treated with transforaminal endoscopic surgery combined with Bacfuse interspinous fusion. The clinical efficacy, visual analogue scale (VAS), Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores (JOA), Oswestry disability index (ODI), Lehmann lumbar function score, posterior disc height and intervertebral foramen height, complication rate and recurrence rate of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: The clinical efficacy of the observation group was better than that of the control group;the VAS score of the observation group was lower than that of the control group, the JOA score was higher than that of the control group, and the ODI index at 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up was lower than that of the control group, the Lehmann lumbar function score was higher than that of the control group;the posterior edge height of intervertebral disc and intervertebral foramen height were higher than those of the controlgroup;the incidence of complications and recurrence rate (4.9% and 0.0%) of the observation group were lower than those of the control group (19.5%, 9.8%), the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The clinical effect of transforaminal endoscopy combined with interspinous process fusion in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis with instability in the elderly is ideal. It can reduce postoperative pain, improve lumbar function, improve the height of posterior edge of intervertebral disc and intervertebral foramen, and reduce the incidence and recurrence rate. It is worthy of clinical promotion.

Perceived health-care quality in China: a comparison of second- and third-tier hospitals.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate disparity in service quality between second- and third-tier hospitals and explore factors that affect patients' perception of service quality in China. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: Twelve hospitals in China. PARTICIPANTS: 5714 patients. INTERVENTION: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Total score of the SERVQUAL scale and each of its five dimensions. RESULTS: Patients from third-tier hospitals rated significantly higher scores overall and in all the five dimensions of the SERVQUAL scale. Those with lower education, urban residents and those who had higher degree of life satisfaction and attention paid to health perceived higher service quality. Inpatients perceived higher service quality compared with outpatients. CONCLUSION: We found a significant gap in patient's perceived service quality between second- and third-tier hospitals in China. A variety of demographic and personality factors were found to significantly influence patient's perceived service quality.

Relationship between fatty pancreas and hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype: a cross-sectional study.

Hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype (HTWP) and its quantitative indicator, waist circumference-triglyceride index (WTI), are common quantitative indices of visceral obesity and are closely related to metabolic diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between fatty pancreas (FP) and HTWP in China. FP was diagnosed using trans-abdominal ultrasonography in all participants. According to the waist circumference and serum triglyceride levels, the participants were divided into four phenotype groups: normal waist circumference-normal triglyceride, normal waist circumference-elevated triglyceride, elevated waist circumference-normal triglyceride, and elevated waist circumference-elevated triglyceride (indicating HTWP). Clinical characteristics and biochemical indices were compared among the groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the utility of WTI as a reference factor for FP screening. The HTWP group had a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome (84.2%), FP (10.4%), fatty liver (64.5%), and hypertension (15.8%) than the other three phenotype groups. The occurrence rate of HTWP and the median WTI were significantly higher in participants with FP than in those without FP (54.7% vs 21.0%, 222 ± 135 vs 142 ± 141, p < 0.001). In the ROC curve analysis, when the maximum area under the curve was 0.746, the WTI was 107.09 and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 90.6% and 51.9%, respectively. HTWP is closely associated with FP and can be used as a reference factor for FP screening.

Serum hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase as an early predictive marker of the severity of acute pancreatitis: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the value of serum hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBDH) level, an isozyme of lactate dehydrogenase, in evaluating the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). METHODS: Patients diagnosed with AP from January 2013 to December 2018 were included in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into the normal serum HBDH levels group (n-HBDH group) and the high serum HBDH levels group (h-HBDH group) according to the criteria HBDH ≥ 182 U/L after admission. The demographic parameters, laboratory data and the severity of AP in the two groups were compared. The receiver operating curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the efficacy of serum HBDH in predicting persistent organ failure and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). RESULTS: A total of 260 AP patients were enrolled, including 176 cases in the n-HBDH group and 84 cases in the h-HBDH group. The incidence of SIRS and organ failure in the h-HBDH group were significantly higher than those in n-HBDH group (both P < 0.001). In addition, the HBDH level was significantly decreased in 110 patients who were re-measured after AP treatment. The serum HBDH levels were positively correlated with Atlanta classification, Ranson score, and BISAP score (all P < 0.05). ROC analysis showed that a serum HBDH cut-off point of 195.0 U/L had optimal predictive value for the development of persistent organ failure (AUC = 0.778) and 166.5 U/L for the development of SIRS (AUC = 0.724). CONCLUSION: The elevated serum HBDH in early stage of AP is closely related to the adverse prognosis of AP patients, which can be used as a potential early biomarker for predicting the severity of AP.

Salidroside downregulates microRNA­133a and inhibits endothelial cell apoptosis induced by oxidized low­density lipoprotein.

Vascular endothelial cell apoptosis is regulated by microRNA­133a (miR­133a), which participates in the formation of atherosclerotic (AS) plaques, leading to the development of several cardiovascular diseases. Salidroside (SAL), the main component of Rhodiola, is considered to exert anti­AS effect; however, its mode of action remains unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to determine whether SAL inhibits endothelial cell apoptosis through the miR­133a pathway. Cultured human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) were exposed to oxidized low­density lipoprotein (ox­LDL). Cell viability and cytotoxicity were monitored by MTT assay. In parallel, the mRNA expression levels of miR­133a and Bcl­xL, and the protein levels of anti­apoptotic Bcl­xL and activated caspase­3 were measured. The apoptotic levels were examined by flow cytometry. Furthermore, the effects of silencing and overexpressing miR­133a on the parameters mentioned above were evaluated. Exposure to ox­LDL induced an increase in the expression of miR­133a, with a concomitant decrease in the level of Bcl­xL in the HCAECs; these effects were reversed by treatment with SAL. Importantly, the effects of SAL were impaired upon the silencing of miR­133a, whereas the overexpression of miR­133a partly restored the effects of SAL. On the whole, the findings of the present study demonstrate that SAL inhibits the ox­LDL­induced upregulation of miR­133a expression, while promoting the expression of Bcl­xL, thereby preventing endothelial cell apoptosis.

Chemical profiles, antioxidant activity and acute toxicity of raw and sulfur-fumigated Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma (SGR), known as Tu-fu-ling in the China, Japan and Korea, is an herb that has been used for clearing damp and detoxification in traditional Chinese medicine for many years. The post-harvest drying of SGR has traditionally been done by the sun, but sometimes sulfur fumigation is used instead due to its low cost and high efficiency. Recent reports show that sulfur fumigation can change the chemical constitution of herbal medicines and decrease their biology activity. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study will investigate the changes to the chemical constitution, acute toxicity and antioxidant potential of SGR that occur after sulfur fumigation. To date, no studies have investigated these aspects simultaneously. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An ultra-performance liquid chromatography fingerprint method was developed for analysing changes to SGR's chemical constitution caused by sulfur fumigation. The chromatography conditions were as follows: all samples were analysed on a Waters Acquity UHPLC HT3 C18 column; the linear gradient elution was conducted with a mobile phase prepared from acetonitrile and water. All calibration curves showed good linear regression (R > 0.9991) within the tested range. The method was validated for precision, accuracy, limit of detection and quantification. Total flavonoids of the raw and sulfur-fumigated samples were also determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The antioxidant properties of the extracts were evaluated using both DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays. The acute toxicities of the raw and sulfur-fumigated samples were investigated. RESULTS: The results demonstrate that the amounts of astilbin, neoastilbin, neoisoastilbin, isoastilbin, resveratrol and total flavonoids were lower in sulfur-fumigated samples than in raw samples. The antioxidant activity of the sulfur-fumigated samples was also significantly lower. Therefore, sulfur fumigation may cause chemical transformation, alter the chemical constitution, and decrease the bioactivity of SGR. Orally-administered doses did not cause mortality or changes in the general behaviour of tested mice. The LD50 was > 5000 mg/kg DW. However, the high-dose S-SGR mice had significant liver damage and high levels of plasma biochemical parameters (ALT, AST, DBIL, TBIL). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study suggest that sulfur fumigation can decrease antioxidant activity in vitro; and that orally-administrated S-SGR is unsafe at doses > 3000 mg/kg dried materia medica. Therefore, sulfur-fumigation processing should be forbidden for SGR until its efficacy and safety has been demonstrated. An alternative method of sulfur fumigation for the post-harvest processing of SGR should also be developed.

Corrigendum to "Formononetin Administration Ameliorates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Acute Colitis by Inhibiting NLRP3 Inflammasome Signaling Pathway".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2018/3048532.].

[Analysis of mutations of 4 common genes among 216 patients with non-syndromic hearing impairment].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristics of mutations 4 common deafness-related genes among 216 patients from Shanghai area with non-syndromic hearing impairment (NSHI). METHODS: Thirteen mutation sites in the four genes, namely GJB2 (c.35delG, c.176del16, c.235delC, c.299delAT, and c.155delTCTG), SLC26A4 (c.IVS7-2A>G, c.2168A>G, and c.1229C>T), mtDNA 12SrRNA (m.1494C>T, m.1555A>G, m.7445A>G, and m.12201T>C) and GJB3 (c.538C>T) were detected among the 216 patients and 41 individuals with normal hearing. The frequency and types of mutations were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Among the 216 NSHI patients, the total detection rate was 16.20% (35/216). GJB2 mutations were found in 17(7.87%) of the 216 patients, which included 5 cases with homozygous c.235delC mutation, 5 with homozygous c.235delC mutation, 1 with homozygous c.299delAT mutation, and 1 with homozygous c.299delAT mutation. c.235delC and 299delAT mutations were found in 5 cases. SLC26A4 mutation was found in 12(5.56%) of the 216 patients, which included 2 cases with homozygous c.IVS7-2A>G mutation, 9 with homozygous c.IVS7-2A>G mutation, and 1 with homozygous c.2168A>G mutation. Homogeneous mtDNA 12SrRNA m.1555A>G mutation was found in 6(2.78%) of the 216 patients. No GJB3 gene mutation was detected. No mutation of the 4 genes were detected in the 41 individuals with normal hearing. In 2 cases of the 12 patients with SLC26A4 gene mutation, CT scan of the temporal bone has confirmed expansion of vestibular aqueduct. CONCLUSION: Above results indicated that GJB2 and SLC26A4 were the major genes involved with hearing loss in Shanghai area.

Rapid discrimination of raw and sulfur-fumigated Smilax glabra based on chemical profiles by UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS coupled with multivariate statistical analysis.

Smilax glabra (SG) is commonly used as a traditional edible herb in eastern Asia. Recently, sulfur-fumigation has been frequently used in order to obtain better color and a longer storage lifetime. However, the chemical alterations caused by this process remain unknown. The aim of this research was to explore potential chemical differences between non-fumigated and sulfur-fumigated SG samples. A novel approach was developed by using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) with principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial squared discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Fifty-eight compounds were unambiguously characterized or tentatively identified in the chemical profiles for the first time. Six newly generated sulfur-containing compounds, namely glucosyringic acid sulfate, 5-O-caffeoylshikimic acid sulfite, 3-O-caffeoylshikimic acid sulfite, 5-O-caffeoylshikimic acid sulfate, 3-O-caffeoylshikimic acid sulfate and astilbin sulfate, were screened out to be the most characteristic markers for distinguishing non-fumigated and sulfur-fumigated SG. This newly proposed approach can not only be applied for exploring chemical markers but can also be used to investigate the chemical transformation mechanism associated with sulfur for other edible herbs.

Formononetin Administration Ameliorates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Acute Colitis by Inhibiting NLRP3 Inflammasome Signaling Pathway.

Formononetin is a kind of isoflavone compound and has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties. In this present study, we aimed to explore the protective effects of formononetin on dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS-) induced acute colitis. By intraperitoneal injection of formononetin in mice, the disease severity of colitis was attenuated in a dose-dependent manner, mainly manifesting as relieved clinical symptoms of colitis, mitigated colonic epithelial cell injury, and upregulations of colonic tight junction proteins levels (ZO-1, claudin-1, and occludin). Meanwhile, our study found that formononetin significantly prevented acute injury of colonic cells induced by TNF-α in vitro, specifically manifesting as the increased expressions of colonic tight junction proteins (ZO-1, claudin-1, and occludin). In addition, the result showed that formononetin could reduce the NLRP3 pathway protein levels (NLRP3, ASC, IL-1ß) in vivo and vitro, and MCC950, the NLRP3 specific inhibitor, could alleviate the DSS-induced mice acute colitis. Furthermore, in the foundation of administrating MCC950 to inhibit activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, we failed to observe the protective effects of formononetin on acute colitis in mice. Collectively, our study for the first time confirmed the protective effects of formononetin on DSS-induced acute colitis via inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway activation.