Development and evaluation of short form of constitution in Chinese medicine questionnaire: a national epidemiological survey data of 21 948 case.

OBJECTIVE: To develop the best short form of constitution in Chinese medicine questionnaire (CCMQ) and evaluate its psychometric properties in Chinese population. METHODS: A total of 21 948 subjects were used to refine the short form. Correlation coefficient, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Cronbach's alpha coefficient were used to analyze and select items to form the short form. Separate sample of 205 subjects were collected to further evaluate the short from. EFA, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), item-scale correlation, discriminant validity, internal consistency reliability and split-half reliability were carried out to evaluate the short form. RESULTS: The short form CCMQ included 26 items. Seven common factors of characteristic root > 1 were extracted to explain 58.488% of the total variation. Result of CFA was consistent with the 9-factors structure. The mean differences of Blood-stasis body constitution and Qi-stagnation body constitution had statistical significance in body mass index differentiation. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of short form CCMQ was 0.863. The split-half reliability of total scale was 0.813, and each scale was 0.568-0.770. The item-scale correlations ranged from 0.620-0.849. CONCLUSION: The short form CCMQ consisted of 26 items with good psychometric properties. The short form should be recommended for the measurement of health of Chinese population in any clinical trial.

[Case series analysis of Professor Wang Qi's prescriptions for oligoasthenospermia].

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a case series analysis on Professor Wang Qi's prescriptions for oligoasthenospermia and a preliminary discussion on the clinical application of the pathogenesis theory of "kidney deficiency with dampness, heat, stasis, toxin and parasites" so as to provide some reference for the diagnosis and treatment of oligoasthenospermia by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). METHODS: We selected 13 representative cases of oligoasthenospermia treated by Professor Wang Qi, analyzed the basic conditions of the patients, changes of the disease and prescriptions used, and investigated the treatment of oligoasthenospermia in view of Professor Wang Qi's TCM theory on andrology. RESULTS: Excellent therapeutic effect was achieved in 7, indefinite effect in 5 and no effect in 1 of the 13 cases. Totally 38 prescriptions were employed in the treatment, of which Bajitian was used in 30, Tusizi in 27, Gouqizi in 25, Sangshen in 25, Shuizhi in 24 and Danggui in 22. The drugs used in the treatment of 10 or more patients included Bajitian in 12, Sangshen in 11, Shuizhi in 11, Tusizi in 10 and Gouqizi in 10 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Professor Wang Qi's prescriptions are effective for the treatment of oligoasthenospermia and the pathogenesis theory of "kidney deficiency with dampness, heat, stasis, toxin and parasites" is valuable in guiding the clinical diagnosis and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine.

[Critical quality attribute assessment of big brand traditional Chinese medicine: quality control method of Huangjing Zanyu Capsules based on chemical properties of characteristic components].

The chemical properties of characteristic components are significant to the manufacturing quality control of big brand traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, the Huangjing Zanyu Capsules were used as the research carrier to determine the content of five characteristic components including icraiin, emodin, schisandrin A, 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-ß-D-glucoside, and osthole simultaneously by high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). The results showed that the chemical properties of five cha-racteristic components had a good linear relationship(r>0.999 9) within the quantitative range; the relative standard deviations(RSD) was 0.11%-2.0% and 0.25%-2.8% respectively for intra-day and inter-day precision; the RSD of repeatability was 1.8%-2.6%; the RSD of stability within 48 hours was 0.19%-2.8%, and the average recovery rate was 95.52%-100.1%, all meeting the requirements of pharmaceutical quantitative analysis. Additionally, the interval estimation method was used to directly reflect the distribution of samples with abnormal chemical properties of characteristic components, and the results showed ten samples were detected beyound the 95% control line of confidence level. Multivariate statistical process control(MSPC) method was used to monitor the abnormal samples of Huangjing Zanyu Capsules collectively, and the results showed that two samples were beyond the 95% control line of Hotelling's T~2 and three samples beyond the 95% control line of squared prediction error(SPE), indicating consistent quality control of Huangjing Zanyu Capsules. In conclusion, the proposed method is not only accurate and efficient but also a compensation for the traditional single-component quality control method, providing a scientific basis for the quality control in manufacturing process of Huangjing Zanyu Capsules. Furthermore, it could also serve as a reference method for the quality control in manufacturing big brand traditional Chinese medicine.

[Medication experience of TCM Master Academician Wang Qi in the treatment of premature ejaculation: Data mining and analysis].

Objective: To analyze the academic thought, medication experience and prescription rules of Academician Wang Qi in the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE) using the TCM inheritance support platform (V2.5). METHODS: We collected and sorted out the medical records on the treatment of PE from Academician Wang Qi's Clinic. We established a database of medical records on the TCM inheritance support platform, analyzed the drugs and prescriptions in the database and explored new prescriptions using "statistical reports" and "data analysis" systems on the platform. RESULTS: A total of 91 effective prescriptions were recorded, involving 148 TCM drugs, with Phellodendron, Amomum Villosum, Polygala Tenuifolia, Tuckahoe, Lodestone, Oyster, Acanthopanax Senticosus, Uncaria, Tribulus, and Keel as the top 10 with the highest frequency of use, which were featured mainly by "warm" and "cold" concerning the four natures, "sweet", "bitter" and "pungent" relating to the five flavors, and acting on "kidney meridian", "liver meridian" and "heart meridian" in terms of the meridian tropisms. In addition, 5 new prescriptions were obtained through unsupervised entropy hierarchical clustering. CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of PE, Academician Wang Qi employs tranquilizing the mind and consolidating the kidney (An Zhi Gu Shen) as the primary strategy, taking into account the three organs of heart, liver and kidneys, focusing on the phase of calming the mind or regulating the liver or clearing the kidney or controlling fire, and adding or reducing drugs according to different conditions and syndromes, which conforms to his diagnosis and treatment mode of "body differentiation－disease differentiation－syndrome differentiation". The analysis of the potential new prescriptions also accords with Academician Wang Qi's rules of medication, which can provide some ideas for the clinical treatment of and scientific researches on premature ejaculation in the future.

[Academician Wang Qi's medication rules for oligoasthenozoospermia: An analysis based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Auxiliary Platform].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the medication rules for oligoasthenozoospermia (OAZ) observed by Wang Qi, an academician, master of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and initiator of andrology in TCM. METHODS: We collected the outpatient cases of OAZ treated by Wang Qi and established a database of clinical medical records using the TCM Inheritance Auxiliary Platform. Employing the integrated rule-based system for analysis of the software, we modified the mutual information method, complex system entropy clustering analysis and other data mining methods, and summarized the medication rules Wang Qi followed in the treatment of OAZ. RESULTS: A total of 134 prescriptions made by Wang Qi for the treatment of OAZ were collected, involving 110 TCM drugs, which are mainly neutral and warm in nature and taste sweet and mostly act through the liver and kidney meridians. The core formula ingredients of the prescriptions included Morinda officinalis, Cuscuta chinensis, Lycium barbarum, Mulberry, Angelica sinensis, Astragalus mongholicus and Fish Maw, and most frequently Morinda officinalis, Cuscuta chinensis, Lycium barbarum and Mulberry. CONCLUSIONS: Wang Qi holds that kidney deficiency, dampness-heat, blood stasis and toxin are the main pathogenic factors for OAZ. The basic treatment of OAZ is to invigorate the kidney and replenish the essence, and meanwhile activate blood circulation, dissipate stasis and eliminate dampness-heat.

Relationship Between Aqueous Humor Levels of Cytokines and Axial Length in Patients With Diabetic Retinopathy.

PURPOSE: A negative relationship between intraocular vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGFA) and axial length was found, which may help explain why myopia with long axial length was a protective factor for development of diabetic retinopathy (DR). The aim of this study is to further assess the relationship between the aqueous humor levels of interlukin (IL)-8, IL-10, VEGFA, vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), basic fibroblast growth factor, VEGFB, and placental growth factor (PLGF) and axial length in eyes with DR. DESIGN: Retrospective, single-center, unmasked study. METHODS: Patients with age-related cataract and with/without DR who visited the Department of Ophthalmology at the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University were enrolled. The level of IL-8, IL-10, VEGFA, VCAM-1, and basic fibroblast growth factor were measured by cytometric bead array, and VEGFB and PLGF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Axial length was measured by biometry. RESULTS: Totally 65 eyes of 65 patients were enrolled, including 14 patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, 16 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), and 35 patients with age-related cataract as control. In the nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy group, the aqueous level of PLGF was negatively correlated with axial length (r = -0.576, P = 0.031), whereas the aqueous levels of IL-10 (r = 0.533, P = 0.049) and VCAM-1 (r = 0.566, P = 0.035) were positively correlated with axial length. In the proliferative diabetic retinopathy group, all cytokines did not significantly correlate with axial length. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with diabetic retinopathy, we further found that aqueous levels of PLGF were negatively correlated with axial length, whereas VCAM-1 and IL-10 were positively correlated with axial length. These findings may suggest that these cytokines play a role in the development of DR, and further explain the relationship between the axial length and DR.

[Study on famous prescription of prestigious traditional Chinese medicine based on QbD concept: optimization of extraction process and granule forming process of Tuomin Dingchuan Prescription].

The quality of compound traditional Chinese medicine is the prerequisite and foundation for its stable efficacy. Based on the quality by design( QbD) concept,the controllable extraction times,extraction time and the ratio of water were the critical process parameters( CPPs) in the Tuomin Dingchuan Prescription extraction process. The CQAs corresponding to CPPs were screened from the four potential critical quality attributes( p CQAs),namely the extraction amount of solid matter,the content of amygdalin,the content of cimicifugoside and the content of 5-O-methylvisammioside by orthogonal experiment. The extraction amount of solid matter and the content of amygdalin were determined as CQAs in the extraction process by the variance analysis of Box-Behnken experimental. The optimal extraction process based on the linear model between CQAs and CPPs of the extraction process was immersion in water for 30 minutes,extraction for three times,extraction for 100 minutes each time and 10 times of water volume. The control space was established for the extraction amount of solid matter and the content of amygdalin,and both of them could be controlled simultaneously to achieve the optimization objective. The molding ratio of Tuomin Dingchuan granules was regarded as CQA in forming process. On the basis of the single factor investigation,the ratio of dry extract powder to excipient and the ratio of ethanol were determined as CPPs. The central composite design( CCD) was used to optimize the forming process of Tuomin Dingchuan granules. The results showed that the dextrin was used as the filler; the ratio of dry paste to dextrin was 1 ∶1; and 0. 3 m L·g-1 of 70% ethanol was added as binder. The soft material and granules conformed to the actual production requirements.

[Huatan Qushi Decoction improves lipid metabolism and semen quality in obese rats with oligoasthenozoospermia: Effects and mechanisms].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the regulatory effect of Huatan Qushi Decoction (HTQSD) on lipid metabolism and semen quality in obese rats with oligoasthenozoospermia (OA) and its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Ninety-six 8-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups of equal number: blank control, OA model control, Wuzi Yanzong Pills (WZYZP), and high-, medium- and low-dose HTQSD, the blank controls fed with a normal diet and the others with a high-fat diet, all for 8 weeks. Meanwhile, the rats in the blank control and OA model control groups were treated intragastrically with normal saline, those in the WZYZP group with WZYZP at 1.07 g/kg, and those in the high-, medium- and low-dose HTQSD groups with HTQSD at 26.25, 13.125 and 6.5625 g/kg, respectively. The body weights of the animals were obtained at 1, 4 and 8 weeks of modeling and intervention, the levels of serum TG, TC, HDL-C and LDL-C, the liver and testis indexes and semen quality detected at 4 and 8 weeks, and the expression of HO-1 mRNA determined at 8 weeks. RESULTS: At 8 weeks of modeling and intervention, the rats in the model control group, compared with the blank controls, showed significant increases in the body weight (ï¼»523.1 ± 25.54ï¼½ vs ï¼»451.50 ± 27.53ï¼½ g, P < 0.01) and levels of serum TG (ï¼»8.58 ± 0.39ï¼½ vs ï¼»2.18 ± 0.28ï¼½ nmol/L, P < 0.001), TC (ï¼»4.41 ± 1.44ï¼½ vs ï¼»1.68 ± 0.18ï¼½ nmol/L, P < 0.01) and LDL-C (ï¼»2.06 ± 0.17ï¼½ vs ï¼»0.48 ± 0.57ï¼½ nmol/L,P<0.01), but decreases in the level of serum HDL-C (ï¼»27.92 ± 0.40ï¼½ vs ï¼»57.47 ± 1.52ï¼½ nmol/L,P < 0.01), sperm motility (ï¼»11.31 ± 4.87ï¼½% vs ï¼»39.66 ± 2.77ï¼½%, P < 0.01), sperm concentration (ï¼»31.07 ± 10.52ï¼½ vs ï¼»65.37 ± 6.30ï¼½ ×106/ml, P < 0.01) and the expression of HO-1 mRNA (0.16 ± 0.03 vs 1.06 ± 0.20, P < 0.01). The rats in the medium-dose HTQSD group, in comparison with the model controls, exhibited remarkable decreases in the body weight (ï¼»445.13 ± 34.19ï¼½ vs ï¼»523.1 ± 25.54ï¼½ g, P < 0.01) and levels of serum TG (ï¼»2.05 ± 0.27ï¼½ vs ï¼»8.58 ± 0.39ï¼½ nmol/L,P < 0.01), TC (ï¼»1.63 ± 0.21ï¼½ vs ï¼»4.41 ± 1.44ï¼½ nmol/L,P < 0.01) and LDL-C (0.45 ± 0.07) vs ï¼»2.06 ± 0.17ï¼½ nmol/L, P < 0.01), but increases in the level of serum HDL-C (ï¼»48.35 ± 3.63ï¼½ vs ï¼»27.92 ± 0.40ï¼½ nmol/L, P < 0.01), sperm motility (ï¼»32.84 ± 6.22ï¼½% vs ï¼»11.31 ± 4.877ï¼½%, P < 0.01) and sperm concentration (ï¼»46.90 ± 6.39ï¼½ vs ï¼»31.07 ± 10.52ï¼½ ×106/ml, P < 0.05), and the low-dose HTQSD group showed a significantly up-regulated expression of HO-1 mRNA (0.76 ± 0.13 vs 0.16±0.03, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: HTQSD can regulate the blood lipid level and improve semen quality in obese rats with oligoasthenozoospermia by promoting serum anti-oxidation and reducing oxidative stress.

Extraction and Antioxidant Activities of Magnolia kwangsiensis Figlar & Noot. Leaf Polyphenols.

Microwave-assisted extraction was employed to extract polyphenols from the leaf of Magnolia kwangsiensis Figlar & Noot. The yield of polyphenols was 2.44±0.02 % under the optimal conditions of RSM: acetone concentration of 70 %, ratio of solvent to material of 21 mL⋅g-1 and extraction time of 16 min. The antioxidant activities were evaluated in terms of total antioxidant ability, reducing power, DPPH⋅ and ⋅ OH scavenging activity. Results showed the polyphenols presented potential antioxidant activities, especially the stronger scavenging activity on ⋅ OH. In term of ⋅ OH scavenging activity, the IC50 value of NKA-9 purification was 0.335 mg mL-1 , equivalent to 35.23 % of VC . The IC50 values of crude extract and ethyl acetate extract were 0.580 and 0.828 mg mL-1 , equivalent to 60.99 % and 87.07 % of VC . Results indicated that M. kwangsiensis leaf polyphenols present potential antioxidant activities that make it beneficial for human health by preventing or reducing oxidative damage.

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Children: The Gobi Desert Children Eye Study.

Purpose: Because there is a paucity of population-based data on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) for children, we measured the RNFLT and its associations in schoolchildren. Methods: The population-based Gobi Desert Children Eye Study included all schoolchildren aged 6 to 21 years living in Ejina, Inner Mongolia. The children underwent a comprehensive ocular examination with cycloplegic refractometry and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography of the optic nerve head. The peripapillary RNFLT was measured on the optical coherence tomography images of a circular scan with a diameter of 3.4 mm. Results: Out of 1565 participants, RNFLT data were available for 1440 (92.5%) children. The mean global RNFLT was 101.3 ± 9.2 µm in right eyes. The RNFLT was thickest in the temporal inferior sector (157.3 µm), followed by the temporal superior sector (143.8 µm), the nasal inferior sector (109.7 µm), the nasal superior sector (106.9 µm), temporal sector (85.2 µm), and the nasal sector (61.7 µm). In multivariate analysis, the RNFLT decreased with higher myopic refractive error (P < 0.001), male sex (P = 0.001), higher intraocular pressure (P = 0.002), and lower birth weight (P = 0.03). It was not significantly associated with age (P = 0.19), body mass index (P = 0.57), mean arterial blood pressure (P = 0.33), pulse rate (P = 0.28), and subfoveal choroidal thickness (P = 0.11). Conclusions: The RNFLT in children showed a regional distribution, with the thickest part in the temporal inferior sector and the thinnest part located in the nasal sector. The overall RNLFT significantly decreased with higher myopic refractive error and male sex. In schoolchildren, in contrast to adults, the RNFLT did not decrease with older age. These findings may be considered when interpreting RNFLT data in children.

[Bazi Granules improves sperm quality in rats with oligoasthenozoospermia induced by multi-glycosides of tripterygium wilfordii].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Bazi Granules on sperm quality in male rats with oligoasthenozoospermia (OAS) induced by multi-glycosides of tripterygium wilfordii (GTW). METHODS: Thirty-six SD male rats were randomly divided into six groups of equal number: normal control, OAS model control, Wuziyanzong Pills (WYP), and low-, medium- and high-dose Bazi. The OAS model was established in the rats except those of the normal control group by intragastrical delivery of GTW at 30 mg/kg/d for 40 days. From the 41st day, the animals of the normal and OAS model control groups were fed with distilled water, those of the WYP group treated by gavage with WYP at 1.02 g/kg/d, and those of the low-, medium- and high-dose Bazi groups intragastically given Bazi Granules 3 (5.27 g/kg), 6 (10.54 g/kg) and 12 (21.08 g/kg) times, respectively, that of the human-equivalent dose. Semen parameters and the contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the testis tissue were determined after 28 days of treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the rats of the of the high-, medium- and low-dose Bazi groups, compared with the OAS model controls, showed significant increases in sperm concentration (ï¼»1 050.71 ± 203.71ï¼½, ï¼»1 370.06 ± 166.01ï¼½ and ï¼»1 302.53 ± 476.51ï¼½ vs ï¼»617.01 ± 237.08ï¼½ ×106/ml, P < 0.05), sperm motility (ï¼»0.56 ± 0.24ï¼½%, ï¼»0.73 ± 0.14ï¼½% and ï¼»0.70 ± 0.23ï¼½% vs ï¼»0.07 ± 0.05ï¼½%, P < 0.05), sperm average path velocity (ï¼»85.71 ± 30.35ï¼½, ï¼»83.83 ± 10.31ï¼½ and ï¼»75.06 ± 19.70ï¼½ vs ï¼»43.45 ± 38.74ï¼½ µm/s, P < 0.05), sperm curvilinear velocity (ï¼»101.76 ± 23.28ï¼½, ï¼»119.60 ± 21.22ï¼½ and ï¼»102.11 ± 32.89ï¼½ vs ï¼»53.63 ± 47.91ï¼½ µm/s, P < 0.05), sperm straight line velocity (ï¼»62.75 ± 7.63ï¼½, ï¼»67.80 ± 5.05ï¼½ and ï¼»64.11 ± 12.03ï¼½ vs ï¼»40.18 ± 36.86ï¼½ µm/s, P < 0.05), and the SOD level (ï¼»380.23 ± 75.07ï¼½, ï¼»349.53 ± 97.48ï¼½ and ï¼»415.07 ± 72.01ï¼½ vs ï¼»304.62 ± 27.17ï¼½ U/mg, P < 0.05), but a remarkable decrease in the MDA level (ï¼»0.33 ± 0.16ï¼½, ï¼»0.22 ± 0.05ï¼½ and ï¼»0.34 ± 0.22ï¼½ vs ï¼»0.73 ± 0.20ï¼½ nmol/mg, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Bazi Granules can significantly improve the sperm quality of OAS rats, which may be related to its abilities of repairing oxidative stress injury and enhancing oxidation resistance.

Choroidal thickness in school children: The Gobi Desert Children Eye Study.

PURPOSE: To investigate choroidal thickness (CT) and its associations in children in a school-based study. METHODS: The cross-sectional school-based Gobi Desert Children Eye Study included 1565 out of 1911 (81.9%) eligible children from all schools in the oasis region of Ejina in the Gobi Desert. A detailed ophthalmic examination was performed, including spectral-domain optical coherence tomography with enhanced depth imaging for CT measurement. RESULTS: CT measurements were available for 1463 (93.5%) students (mean age: 11.8±3.5 years; range:7-21 years). Mean subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) was 282±49µm. CT was thickest at 1000µm temporal to the fovea (286±49µm), followed by the subfoveal region (282±49 µm; P<0.001), the region at 2500µm temporal to the fovea (278±49µm), the region at 1000µm nasal to the fovea (254±49µm;P<0.001), and the region at 2500µm nasal to the fovea (197±50µm;P<0.001). In cross-sectional analysis, the mean SFCT increased with age from 288µm at 7 years of age to 304µm at 11 years, and then decreased to 258 µm at 18 years. In multivariate analysis, thicker SFCT was associated (regression coefficient r:0.38) with higher hyperopic refractive error (P<0.001;standardized regression coefficient beta:0.31;non-standardized regression coefficient B:7.61;95% confidence intervals (CI):6.29,8.93), younger age (P<0.001;beta:-0.10;B:-1.39;95%CI:-2.14,-0.64), male gender (P = 0.03;beta:-0.05;B:-5.33;95%CI:-10.1,-0.53), higher corneal refractive power (P<0.001;beta:0.12;B:3.68;95%CI:2.12,5.24), and non-Han Chinese ethnicity (P = 0.03;beta:0.05;B:6.16;95%CI:0.50,11.8). Ratio of CT(1000µm nasal to fovea)/SFCT (0.90±0.06;range:0.66,1.23) and ratio of CT(2500µm nasal to fovea)/SFCT (0.70±0.13;range:0.28,1.23) decreased with older age (P = 0.01;and P = 0.001, respectively), while ratio of CT(1000µm temporal to fovea)/SFCT (1.02±0.06;range:0.56,1.37) and ratio of CT(2500µm temporal to fovea)/SFCT (0.99±0.11;range:0.54,1.84) increased with older age (both P<0.001). Time spent outdoors or indoors was not significantly associated with CT-related parameter in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to SFCT in adults and despite elongating axial length, SFCT in children increased in cross-sectional analysis with older age (up to 11 years of age) and then started to decrease with further ageing. It suggests an increase in choroidal volume up to the age of 11 years. In children, the choroid was thickest at 1000µm temporal to the fovea, followed by the subfoveal region, and this difference significantly increased with older age. In contrast, CT nasal to the fovea in relationship to SFCT decreased with older age. CT was independent of lifestyle-associated parameters.

Correlation of rs9331888 polymorphism with Alzheimer's disease among Caucasian and Chinese populations: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

Clusterin polymorphism (rs9331888) was reported to be associated with the susceptibility to alzheimer's disease (AD). Nevertheless, the results were inconclusive. To derive a more precise estimation of this association, this meta-analysis was conducted. We've conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, CNKI and AlzGene database for case-control studies published throughout October, 2016 that evaluated the role of rs9331888 gene variants in AD patients. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the strength of associations between the rs9331888/C > G polymorphism and AD disease. A total of 9 studies were enrolled in the Meta Analysis. The overall analysis revealed a significant association between the rs9331888/C > G polymorphism and AD disease in the recessive model (GG vs. GC + CC: OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.05-1.18; P < 0.01). Sub-group analysis revealed that the Caucasian populations which with recessive model (GG vs. GC + CC: OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.06-1.2; P < 0.01) were dramatically related to AD, while no significant association was found in the Chinese populations among the five genetic models. Our meta-analysis demonstrated that the rs9331888/C > G polymorphism in the clusterin gene might contribute to AD susceptibility especially in Caucasian populations. Whereas the relationship of the polymorphism to the disease in Chinese populations was still in controversial. Additional well-designed studies, with larger sample sizes, are required to further elucidate this association.

Bioactivities and Chemical Constituents of Essential Oil Extracted from Artemisia anethoides Against Two Stored Product Insects.

The chemical constituents of the essential oil extracted from Artemisia anethoides and the bioactivities of essential oil against Tribolium castaneum and Lasioderma serricorne were investigated. The main components of the essential oil were 1,8-cineole (36.54%), 2-isopropyl-5-methyl-3-cyclohexen-1-one (10.40%), terpinen-4-ol (8.58%), 2-isopropyltoluene (6.20) and pinocarveol (5.08%). The essential oil of A. anethoides possessed contact and fumigant toxicities against T. castaneum adults (LD50 = 28.80 µg/adult and LC50 = 13.05 mg/L air, respectively) and against L. serricorne (LD50 = 24.03 µg/adult and LD50 = 8.04 mg/L air, respectively). The crude oil showed repellent activity against T. castaneum and L. serricorne. Especially, the percentage repellency of essential oil was same level with DEET (positive control) against T. castaneum. The results indicated that the essential oil of A. anethoides had the potential to be developed as insecticide and repellent for control of T. castaneum and L. serricorne.

DNase I aggravates islet ß-cell apoptosis in type 2 diabetes.

Deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) is an endonuclease responsible for the destruction of chromatin during apoptosis. However, its role in diabetes remains unclear. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of DNase I combined with high glucose levels in ß­cell apoptosis. Human samples were collected and the DNase I activity was examined. High glucose­cultured INS­1 cells were transfected with DNase I small interfering RNA (siRNA) and the cell apoptosis was examined by western blotting and flow cytometry. Cell viability was analyzed by the Cell Counting Kit­8 assay. Cell apoptosis resulting from 50 mU/µl DNase I was also observed by flow cytometry, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick­end labeling stain and western blotting. Compared with healthy controls, the serum DNase I activity of patients with diabetes was significantly increased (P<0.05). In addition, DNase I expression was observed to be significantly increased in human pancreatic tissues. The addition of high glucose upregulated the cell apoptotic rate, whereas DNase I knockdown significantly reduced apoptosis in cells treated with high glucose. In addition, the western blotting results indicated that caspase­3 was increased subsequent to treatment of cells with 30 mM high glucose, however, this increase can be reversed by transfection with DNase I siRNA (P<0.05). Compared with cells cultured in normal conditions and high glucose, 50 mU/µl DNase I was able to significantly increase the cell apoptotic rate and level of caspase-3. DNase I activity was observed to be increased in type 2 diabetes, and high glucose combined with increased DNase I is suggested to aggravate ß-cell apoptosis.

Extraction of polysaccharides and its antitumor activity on Magnolia kwangsiensis Figlar & Noot.

The crude polysaccharides from the leaves of Magnolia kwangsiensis Figlar & Noot. were extracted by hot water extraction, the yield was 5.09%. Two polysaccharide fractions (P-2 and P-3) were isolated by DEAE-52 cellulose chromatography and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography in order, respectively. P-2 and P-3 were characterized by IR, HPGPC and GC-MS. P-2 was comprised of only glucose. Its molecular weight was 11.2×10(3) Da and the formula was C414H690O345. P-3 was comprised of xylose and rhamnose in the ratio of 1:4. Its molecular weight was 7.8×10(3)Da, and the formula was C319H528O220. The antitumor activities of P-2 and P-3 on the growth of human lung cancer (A549) cells and human gastric carcinoma (SGC7901) cells in vitro were evaluated. The results indicated that P-3 exhibited marked antitumor activities with IC50 value of 8.48 and 5.66 µg/mL.

Comparative analysis of essential oil composition from flower and leaf of Magnolia kwangsiensis Figlar & Noot.

The essential oils from Magnolia kwangsiensis Figlar & Noot. were obtained using hydrodistillation, and analysed by GC and GC-MS. A total of 31, 27 and 26 constituents were identified in the oils from male flower, female flower and leaf of M. kwangsiensis, and they comprised 99.2, 98.5 and 96.2% of the oils, respectively. Monoterpene hydrocarbons predominated in the oils and accounted for 48.3% of male flower oil, 54.0% of female flower oil and 44.6% of leaf oil. The compositions of flower oils were quite similar but with different content, and were different from those of leaf oil.

Protective effect of L-carnitine in cyclophosphamide-induced germ cell apoptosis.

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a widely used anti-cancer agent; however, it can also induce serious male infertility. There are currently no effective drugs to alleviate this side-effect. L-Carnitine has been used to treat male infertility, but whether it can be used to protect against CP-induced male infertility is still unclear. This study aims to explore the effect and mechanism of L-carnitine in male infertility induced by CP. CP was used to establish an animal model. After three weeks of treatment, rats were sacrificed and testis and serum were harvested for further evaluation. Testosterone and estrogen levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Testicular injury was examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) staining, and germ-cell apoptosis was evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). The expression of LC3 and Beclin-1 was examined by immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively. Compared with the CP group, L-carnitine significantly increases sperm motility, viability, and testosterone level (P<0.05). Western blot and real-time PCR results showed that L-carnitine treatment can significantly up-regulate the LC3-II and Beclin-1 expression in the CP+L-carnitine group when compared with the control group (P<0.05). In addition, TUNEL-positive cells were also more numerous in the CP group; however, L-carnitine can effectively retard cell apoptosis in the CP+L-carnitine group. In conclusion, L-carnitine contributes to the inhibition of cell apoptosis and the modulation of autophagy in protecting CP-induced testicular injury. These results suggest the applicability of L-carnitine in the treatment of male infertility.

Intracameral interleukin 1ß, 6, 8, 10, 12p, tumor necrosis factor α and vascular endothelial growth factor and axial length in patients with cataract.

OBJECTIVE: To assess associations between the aqueous humour concentration of interleukin IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-12p, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and axial length in eyes with cataract. METHODS: The hospital-based investigation included patients who underwent cataract surgery between March 2014 and April 2014. Using aqueous humour collected at the start of cataract surgery, the interleukins IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-12p, TNF-α and VEGF were examined using a cytometric bead array. Axial length was determined by partial coherence laser interferometry (IOL Master). RESULTS: The study included 33 patients with cataract (33 eyes) with a mean age of 69.2±10.8 years (range: 50-87 years) and a mean axial length of 24.7±1.9 mm (range: 22.6-31.5 mm). Lower aqueous concentration of VEGF was significantly associated with longer axial length (VEGF concentration (pg/mL) = -5.12 x Axial Length (mm) + 163; correlation coefficient r = -0.41; P<0.001) and more myopic refractive error (VEGF concentration (pg/mL) = 1.27 x spherical equivalent (diopters) + 44.8; r = 0.383; P = 0.002). The aqueous concentrations of all other substances were not significantly (all P>0.10) associated with axial length or refractive error. CONCLUSIONS: Higher intravitreal concentrations of VEGF were measured in eyes with a longer axial length, while the intraocular concentrations of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p and TNF-α were not correlated with axial length. The lower concentration of VEGF in axially elongated eyes may be one of the reasons for the lower prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy in myopic eyes.

Allergic constitution theory of Chinese medicine and its assessment criterion and related studies.

Constitution factor plays an important role in the occurrence, development, and transformation of diseases. The occurrence of allergic diseases is mainly caused by the disorganized physiological function and suitability regulation of patients, except for their exposure to outside allergens. Moreover, it represents susceptibility and hypersensitivity to allergens. The current study expresses the concept of allergic constitution from the perspective of Chinese medicine (CM) and presents the criterion of allergic constitution. In addition, the distribution of allergic constitution in population, its factors, and its relation to health-related quality of life (HRQOL) were investigated. The HRQOL scores of allergic constitution were found to be lower than those of the Pinghe constitution. After making a study on the gene expression profile of allergic constitution, the characteristics of up-regulated or down-regulated genes were found. Finally, CM drug was researched and developed to improve allergic constitution. Based on clinical trials and animal experiments, CM is found to have good regulatory effects on allergic constitution.