Establishment and validation of a nomogram-based predictive model for idiopathic aldosteronism / 中华内科杂志

Objective: To establish and validate a nomogram-based predictive model for idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with the collected clinical and biochemical data of patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) including 249 patients with unilateral primary aldosteronism (UPA) and 107 patients with IHA, who were treated at the Department of Endocrinology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from November 2013 to November 2022. Plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and plasma renin concentration (PRC) were measured by chemiluminescence. Stepwise regression analysis was applied to select the key predictors of IHA, and a nomogram-based scoring model was developed. The model was validated in another external independent cohort of patients with PA including 62 patients with UPA and 43 patients with IHA, who were diagnosed at the Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. An independent-sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and χ2 test were used for statistical analysis. Results: In the training cohort, in comparison with the UPA group, the IHA group showed a higher serum potassium level [M(Q1, Q3), 3.4 (3.1, 3.8) mmol/L vs. 2.7 (2.1, 3.1) mmol/L] and higher PRC [4.0 (2.1, 8.2) mU/L vs. 1.5 (0.6, 3.4) mU/L] and a lower PAC post-saline infusion test (SIT) [305 (222, 416) pmol/L vs. 720 (443, 1 136) pmol/L] and a lower rate of unilateral adrenal nodules [33.6% (36/107) vs. 81.1% (202/249)]; the intergroup differences in these measurements were statistically significant (all P<0.001). Serum potassium level, PRC, PAC post-SIT, and the rate of unilateral adrenal nodules showed similar performance in the IHA group in the validation cohort. After stepwise regression analysis for all significant variables in the training cohort, a scoring model based on a nomogram was constructed, and the predictive parameters included the rate of unilateral adrenal nodules, serum potassium concentration, PAC post-SIT, and PRC in the standing position. When the total score was ≥14, the model showed a sensitivity of 0.65 and specificity of 0.90 in the training cohort and a sensitivity of 0.56 and specificity of 1.00 in the validation cohort. Conclusion: The nomogram was used to successfully develop a model for prediction of IHA that could facilitate selection of patients with IHA who required medication directly.

Imaging study on safety of deep needling at Dachangshu (BL 25) / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#Based on magnetic resonance imaging technology, the dangerous depth of straight needling and the safety of deep needling at Dachangshu (BL 25) are discussed, and data support is provided for standardizing deep needling at Dachangshu (BL 25).@*METHODS@#The horizontal cross-sectional images of 148 healthy adult subjects under the spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra were collected by magnetic resonance instrument, the anatomical structure was analyzed, and the dangerous depth of straight needling at Dachangshu (BL 25) was measured.@*RESULTS@#The dangerous depth of straight needling at Dachangshu (BL 25) was (11.2±1.3) cm and (11.0±1.2) cm on the left and right sides of males, and (9.8±1.3) cm and (9.7±1.3) cm on the left and right sides of females. There was a positive correlation between the dangerous depth of straight needling at Dachangshu (BL 25) and body mass index (BMI). In the case of similar body size, the dangerous depth of straight needling at Dachangshu(BL 25) in males was greater than that in females (P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#At present, the deep needling at Dachangshu (BL 25) used in clinic is safe. In clinical application of the deep needling at Dachangshu (BL 25), the depth of needle insertion can be determined according to body size and gender.

Extraction, purification and identification of type II collagen from Agkistrodon acutus / 中国中药杂志

The object of the research was to extract, purify and identify the type II collagen of Agkistrodon acutus. Type II collagen of A. acutus was extracted by enzyme decomposition method, and purified by ion exchange column chromatography. It was characterized by SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis, ultraviolet spectrophotometry, infrared absorption spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy. The results showed that the size of C II was about 130 kDa. It absorbed at 223 nm. IR spectrum obtained showed that the triple helical domains of amino-acid sequences were characterized by the repetition of triplets Gly-X-Y. The MS spectrum graphically stated that C II extracted from cow and A. acutus have the similar peptides. The C II of A. acutus was obtained by extraction and purification. Appraisal analysis by SDS-PAGE, UV, IR and MS, C II of A. acutus was consistent with the standard C II of cow. It was proved that the extracted protein was C II.

Study on intervention effect of Jieduquyuziyin prescription systemic lupus erythematosus by HPLC-Q-TOF/MS / 中国中药杂志

To establish a metabonomic method based on high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF/MS), in order to study the changes in serum metabolites of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) mice after treatment of Jieduquyuziyin prescription, the pathogenesis of SLE and mechanism of drug action. The orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS) was applied for the pattern recognition of experimental data, finding a significant difference in the control group, the SLE model group, the Jieduquyuziyin prescription-treated group and the prednisone acetate-treated group. According to the OPLS load diagram, 12 differential metabolites, including traumatic acid, PAF, 12 (S)-HEPE, 15(S)-HETrE and Hepoxilin B3 were identified by using accurate mass combined with MS/MS data After treatment with Jieduquyuziyin prescription, the relative contents of PAF, 12 (S)-HETE were close to the level of the control group. According to the analysis on metabolic pathway, SLE could cause significant changes in unsaturated fatty acid and amino acid metabolism pathway, while Jieduquyuziyin prescription has a effect in regulating disorder of unsaturated fatty acid metabolism pathway.

Electrochemical behaviour of the adriamycin on the cobalt nanoparticles modified ITO electrode / 药学学报

A cobalt nanoparticles modified ITO electrode (NpCo/ITO) was prepared by casting cobalt nanoparticles onto ITO electrode and the cobalt nanoparticles were synthesized by NaHB4 reduction. The electrochemical behaviors of adriamycin (ADM) on NpCo/ITO were studied. The modified ITO electrode was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). In a 0.01 mol L(-1) PBS (pH 8.0) buffer solution, a sensitive reduction peak of ADM was obtained. A linear relationship is held between the peak current and ADM concentration in the range of 1.0 x 10(-8) - 2.0 x 10(-6) mol L(-1) with detection of 5.0 x 10(-9) mol L(-1)- by cyclic voltammetry (CV) response. The reduction process was irreversible with adsorption at the NpCo/ITO electrode. The modified electrode showed an excellent electrocatalytic activity for the ADM electrochemical reduction.