Chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, processing and clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine Scrophulariae Radix: a review / 中国中药杂志

Traditional Chinese medicine Scrophulariae Radix, which is also called Yuan Shen, black Shen, is the dried root of Scrophularia ningpoensis of the Scrophulariaceae family. Research has indicated that the chemical constituents of Scrophulariae Radix mainly include terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, organic acids, volatile oils, steroids, sugars, flavonoids, alkaloids and phenols, among which iridoids and phenylpropanoids were the main active constituents. It has been reported that extracts of Scrophulariae Radix or its active substances have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-tumor, anti-fatigue, uric acid-lowering, anti-depression, myocardial cell-protective and other pharmacological activities, and can regulate cardiovascular system, central nervous system and immune system. This paper reviewed the present research achievements of Scrophulariae Radix in chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, processing methods, toxicity and other aspects, and the clinical application of Scrophulariae Radix in ancient and modern times was illustrated. This paper aimed to provide reference for further research of Scrophulariae Radix and facilitated its clinical application.

Rubus chingii Hu: an overview of botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology / 中国天然药物

Rubus chingii Hu, a member of the rosaceae family, is extensively distributed in China and Japan. Its unripe fruits (Fupenzi in Chinese) have a long history of use as an herbal tonic in traditional Chinese medicine for treating various diseases commonly associated with kidney deficiency, and they are still in use today. Phytochemical investigations on the fruits and leaves of R. chingii indicate the presence of terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, phenylpropanoids, phenolics, and organic acids. Extracts or active substances from this plant are reported to have various pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antifungal, antithrombotic, antiosteoporotic, hypoglycemic, and central nervous system-regulating effects. This review provides up-to-date information on the botanical characterizations, traditional usages, chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, toxicity, and quality control of R. chingii. Possible directions for future research are also briefly proposed. This review aims to supply fundamental data for the further study of R. chingii and contribute to the development of its clinical use.

Influence of mandibulotomy approaches on oral function following radical resection of tongue carcinoma / 华西口腔医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#This study aimed to compare the influences of postoperative oral function in patients with median or paramedian mandibulotomy during the radical resection of tongue carcinoma and to provide evidence for the choice of osteotomy location for mandibulotomy.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 126 patients who underwent combined radical neck dissection with mandibulectomy and glossectomy followed by simultaneous reconstruction were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups according to the position of mandibulotomy: median mandibulotomy group (median group, n=60) and paramedian mandibulotomy group (paramedian group, n=66). The fourth edition of the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire (UW-QOL) was used to compare the differences in oral functions, such as swallowing, mastication, and speech, between the two groups during regular follow-up. SPSS 24.0 software package was used for statistical analysis, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.@*RESULTS@#Six months after the operation, no significant differences in swallowing, mastication, and speech functions were found between the median and paramedian groups. However, the swallowing and speech functions in the paramedian group were better than those in the median group 1 year after the operation (P<0.05), whereas no statistical difference in mastication function was observed between the two groups.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Evaluation of the postoperative oral function results showed that paramedian mandibulotomy was a better surgical approach than median mandibulotomy. Paramedian mandibulotomy is worth prioritizing in the radical resection of tongue carcinoma.

[Study on interventions based on urban - rural integration system construction to consolidate achievements of schistosomiasis control in hilly schistosomiasis endemic areas].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of comprehensive schistosomiasis control interventions based on urban-rural integration system construction to carry out the schistosomiasis control in hilly schistosomiasis endemic areas, so as to offer a new mode to consolidate the achievements of schistosomiasis control in the new situation. METHODS: Shouan Town and Changqiu Township in Pujiang County in hilly schistosomiasis endemic regions were selected as demonstration areas. The comprehensive schistosomiasis control interventions based on urban-rural integration system construction were implemented, including the land consolidation, centralized residence and so on. The effectiveness the interventions was evaluated. RESULTS: In Shouan Town and Changqiu Township, the transformed environments with Oncomelania hupensis snail habitats were 1 330.61 hm2 and 1 456.84 hm2, the areas with snails decreased from 94.31 hm2 and 83.00 hm2 in 2000 to both 0 in 2015, the positive rates of serological tests for schistosomiasis decreased from 11.8% and 7.53% in 2000 to 1.01% and 1.86% in 2015, and the positive rates of parasitological tests decreased from 0.18% and 0.15% in 2000 to both 0 in 2015 respectively. The numbers of cattle decreased from 358 and 368 in 2000 to 4 and 6 in 2015 respectively. In 2000, the schistosome infection rates of cattle were 3.63% and 6.51% in Shouan Town and Changqiu Township respectively, and from 2004, no infected cattle were found. CONCLUSIONS: The comprehensive schistosomiasis control interventions based on urban-rural integration system construction can decrease the schistosome infection rate and area with snails effectively, providing a new mode for schistosomiasis elimination.

4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl) -1-butanone induces circulating microRNA deregulation in early lung carcinogenesis / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the alteration of circulating microRNAs in 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl) -1-butanone (NNK)-induced early stage lung carcinogenesis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A lung cancer model of male F344 rats was induced with systemic NNK and levels of 8 lung cancer-associated miRNAs in whole blood and serum of rats were measured by quantitative RT-PCR of each at weeks 1, 5, 10, and 20 following NNK treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No lung cancer was detected in control group and NNK treatment group at week 20 following NNK treatment. The levels of some circulating miRNAs were significantly higher in NNK treatment group than in control group. The miR-210 was down-regulated and the miR-206 was up-regulated in NNK treatment group. The expression level of circulating miRNAs changed from week 1 to week 20 following NNK treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression level of circulating miRNAs is related to NNK-induced early stage lung carcinogenesis in rats and can therefore serve as its potential indicator.</p>

Detection of human bocavirus in children with acute respiratory tract infections in Lanzhou and Nanjing, China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The aim of this study was to explore the prevalent characteristics of HBoV1 and its co-infection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PCR was used to detect HBoV1-DNA (HBoV1) and other viruses. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to explore possibility of co-detected for related viruses.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positivity rates in Nanjing and Lanzhou were 9.38% (74/789) and 11.62% (161/1386), respectively (P>0.05). The HBoV1 positive group was younger than negative group (P<0.05). Seasonal differences were noted, with a higher frequency of infection in December and July. HBoV1-positive children [72.34% (169/235)] were co-infected with other respiratory viruses. Multifactorial analysis showed no correlations between HBoV1 and the clinical classification, region, gender, age, or treatment as an outpatient or in a hospital. Correlations were identified between HBoV1 infections with ADV (OR=1.53, 95% CI 1.03-2.28), RSV (OR=0.71, 95% CI 0.52-0.98), and IFVA (OR=1.77, 95% CI 1.00-3.13).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Presence of HBoV1 in nasopharyngeal aspirates did not correlate with region or gender, although the prevalence of HBoV1 was higher in younger children. There were no correlations between HBoV1 and other variables, except for the season and ADV, RSV, or IFVA infections.</p>

Protective mechanism of insulin on paraquat-induced PC12 cells / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To investigate the protective mechanism of insulin on paraquat-induced PC12 cells. Methods Based on the Part (insulin can protect the paraquat-induced PC12 cells), immunoprecipitation and Western blotting were employed to observe the protein expressions of INR Tyr~(1162/1163) and AktSer~(473) in the group of normal PC12 cells, group of insulin interfered PC12 cells, group of PQ-induced PC12 cells and group of PQ combined with insulin interfered PC12 cells, respectively. Results Group of insulin interfered PCI2 cells and group of PQ combined with insulin interfered PC12 cells showed expression of phosphorylation protein INR Tyr~(1162/1163), while the other groups without insulin intervention did not show the expression of that. The expression of phosphorylation protein INR Tyr~(1162/1163) in the group of insulin interfered PC12 cells was higher than that in the group of PQ combined with insulin interfered PC12 cells, but statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the 2 groups (P>0.05). Meanwhile, the expression of phosphorylation protein AktSer~(473) in the group of insulin interfered PC 12 cells was obviously higher than that in the group of PQ combined with insulin interfered PC12 cells (P<0.05). Conclusion The increased expression of phosphorylation protein INR Tyr~(1162/1163) and AktSer~(473) might be one of the clues in proving that insulin may have the protective effect on PC12 cells.

Estrogen receptor expression in adrenocortical carcinoma / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare but highly malignant tumor, and its diagnosis is mostly delayed and prognosis is poor. We report estrogen receptor (ER) expression in this tumor and our clinical experiences with 17 ACC cases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The data of the 17 patients (9 females and 8 males, age range from 16 to 69 years, mean age of 42.6 years) with ACC were reviewed, and symptoms, diagnostic procedures, treatment, and results of follow-up were evaluated. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect ER expression in tumor samples from the 17 patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the time of diagnosis, 4 tumors were classified as Stage I, 4 as Stage II, 3 as Stage III, and 6 as Stage IV. Eight patients demonstrated positive nuclear immunostaining of ER. The prognosis of patients with ER positive was significantly better (P<0.05) than that of patients with ER negative, with 1- and 5-year survival rates at 86% and 60% for ER-positive patients, and 38% and 0% for ER-negative patients, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ER-positivity may be one of the factors associated with a worse prognosis of ACC.</p>

Application of Monte Carlo Techniques in designing compensatory scheme of new cooperative medical system / 中华流行病学杂志

[Introduction] To design a workable compensatory scheme of new cooperative medical system (NCMS) in rural China, 'Monte Carlo Simulation Techniques' is developed based on the data of a multistage random sampling survey. The total compensation rate, the decreased percentages of poverty caused by diseases and the deficit ratio of fund a 0.3782, 0.6540 and -0.0794 respectively, when the main strategy of inpatient reimbursement is recognized as 'serious illness'. The deficit ratios of funding appeared to be 0.4840, 0.4091 and -0.3789 when the main strategy of outpatient reimbursement is recognized on minor diseases. Compensation for minor diseases is more important than that of serious diseases. Considering the further impact of minor diseases on peasants, we should incorporate compensation for minor diseases into the compensatory scheme of NCMS.

Therapeutic effect of microencapsulated porcine retinal pigmented epithelial cells transplantation on rat model of Parkinson's disease / 神经科学通报·英文版

<p><b>OBJECT</b>To investigate the therapeutic effect of microencapsulated porcine retinal pigmented epithelial cells (RPE-M) transplantation on rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Primary porcine RPE cells were harvested by enzyme digestion and expanded in culture medium. Determine the levels of dopamine (DA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) by high performance liquid chromatography electrochemical (HPLC) assay, and the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) were detected by ELISA. Alginate-polylysine-alginate (APA) microencapsulated cells were produced by using a high voltage electrostatic system. PD rat model was established by unilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the medial forebrain bundle (MFB). After that, the RPE-M was transplanted into the corpus striatum of PD rat, and then the rotation test scores were recorded and biochemical changes of the corpus striatum were tested.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of DA, HVA, BDNF and GDNF secreted by RPE were stable in the RPE culture supernatant and were not changed by the microencapsulation. Eighty-three percent rats developed PD by unilateral lesion of 6-OHDA in the MFB. The RPE-M transplantation had therapeutic effect on 33% PD rats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Porcine RPE cells grow actively in vitro and could secrete DA, HVA, BDNF, and GDNF constantly, which does not be affected by the passage culture and the APA miroencapsulation. RPE-M transplantation of may be a curative therapy for PD.</p>