Metabolic Changes of Acanthopanax senticosus Fruits During Development / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo study the changes of primary metabolites and phenols in the fruits of Acanthopanax senticosus at different development stages, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the rational utilization of A. senticosus fruit resources. MethodThe primary metabolites and phenols in the fruits at different development stages were determined via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and then compared by multivariate statistical analysis. ResultA total of 274 chromatographic peaks were obtained by GC-MS-based non-targeted metabonomics and 24 differential metabolites were screened out by multivariate statistical analysis. The differential metabolites were mainly concentrated in pentose phosphate pathway, galactose metabolism, ascorbic acid and aldose metabolism pathways. After color conversion, the pentose phosphate pathway and galactose metabolism were activated and increasing sugars were accumulated. The ascorbic acid and aldose metabolism pathways were active before color conversion, with high accumulation of the end product ascorbic acid. The ultra-high liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) identified 28 phenols in the fruits at different development stages. Flavonoids were accumulated mainly at the green ripening stage before color conversion, and phenolic acids were accumulated mainly after color conversion. ConclusionThe accumulation of primary metabolites and phenols in A. senticosus fruits varies significantly among different development stages

SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy is associated with robust inflammatory response at the maternal-fetal interface

Pregnant women appear to be at increased risk for severe outcomes associated with COVID-19, but the pathophysiology underlying this increased morbidity and its potential impact on the developing fetus is not well understood. In this study of pregnant women with and without COVID-19, we assessed viral and immune dynamics at the placenta during maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection. Amongst uninfected women, ACE2 was detected by immunohistochemistry in syncytiotrophoblast cells of the normal placenta during early pregnancy but was rarely seen in healthy placentas at full term. Term placentas from women infected with SARS-CoV-2, however, displayed a significant increase in ACE2 levels. Using immortalized cell lines and primary isolated placental cells, we determined the vulnerability of various placental cell types to direct infection by SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Yet, despite the susceptibility of placental cells to SARS-CoV-2 infection, viral RNA was detected in the placentas of only a subset ([~]13%) of women in this cohort. Through single cell transcriptomic analyses, we found that the maternal-fetal interface of SARS-CoV-2-infected women exhibited markers associated with pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia, and robust immune responses, including increased activation of placental NK and T cells and increased expression of interferon-related genes. Overall, this study suggests that SARS-CoV-2 is associated with immune activation at the maternal-fetal interface even in the absence of detectable local viral invasion. While this likely represents a protective mechanism shielding the placenta from infection, inflammatory changes in the placenta may also contribute to poor pregnancy outcomes and thus warrant further investigation.

Velocity vector imaging assessment of early epirubicin-induced myocardial damage / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the left ventricular (LV) longitudinal systolic and diastolic function in patients treated by epirubicin by velocity vector imaging (VVI) and to discuss the important clinical value of VVI in quantitatively evaluating the regional longitudinal function.@*METHODS@#Thirty patients with breast cancer treated with epirubicin chemotherapy and 30 normal controls were included in the study. Dynamic images of apical long axis, four-chamber and two chamber view were obtained in all subjects, and the longitudinal systolic and diatolic parameters were measured in all subjects, including systolic maximum velocity (Vs), systolic maximum strain (SS), systolic maximum strain rate (SSR), diastolic maximum velocity (Vd), and diastolic maximum strain rate (DSR). The parameters were compared between the 2 groups. The conventional echcardiographic parameters were also obtained.@*RESULTS@#There was no significant change in all baseline parameters before the chemotherapy in 30 breast cancer patients compared with the normal controls (P>0.05). After the second chemotherapy cycle, DSR was lower in every segment, Vd was lower in the free wall, mainly the lateral, anterior and inferior wall (P0.05). After the third chemotherapy cycle, Vd, DSR and SSR decreased significantly in all segments (P0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#VVI can monitor the epirubicin cardiotoxicity early and is more sensitive than echocardiograph.

Distribution and accumulation of vindoline, catharanthine and vinblastine in Catharanthus roseus cultivated in China / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The content of vindoline, catharanthine and vinblastine in the root, stem, leaf, flower and fruit of Catharanthus roseus at various developmental stages were determined, and the biomass allocation was also determined to find the best harvest time.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The content of vindoline, catharanthine and vinblastine in the root, stem, leaf, flower and fruit of C. roseus were determined by HPLC.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The content of these alkaloids were influenced by season and it varied in the different tissues of the plant. The content of vindoline and catharanthine in the leaves were the highest, and there was no vindoline detected in the root, but the content of vinblastine in the flower was the highest; the content of vindoline and catharanthine reached the maximum between the August and September, and the content of vinblastine reached the highest after the September. The biomass was the highest in the initial stage of September.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The best harvest time was in the initial stage of September.</p>

Fiberoptic ductoscopy in 1,025 cases of nipple discharge / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the value of fiberoptic ductoscopy (FDS) in the diagnosis of nipple discharge.@*METHODS@#Clinical records of 1,025 patients with nipple discharge undergoing FDS from February 2006 to March 2008 were reviewed.@*RESULTS@#There were obviously differences in the FDS diagnosis of various nipple discharge traits. The diagnosis by FDS was pathologically confirmed in 93.7%of patients with nipple discharge (404/431).@*CONCLUSION@#FDS can effectively improve the diagnosis of nipple discharge,and has great clinical significance.

Clinic Analysis of 121 Young Women with Breast Cancer / 中国医师杂志

Obiective To study the clinic characteristics of young women with breast cancer, and analyse the reason of delayed diagnosis and treatment. Methods A retrospective review was made in 121 cases of young women with breast cancer (age ≤35 years as young group) and 40 cases of breast cancer patients of control group (age≥40 years), who all underwent definitive surgical treatment. Results There were significant differences in the positive rate of invasive tumor and the positive rate of axillary lymph node between the two groups(P

Clincal significance of expression of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA in human breast carcinoma tissue / 中国普通外科杂志

0.05). The expression of VEGF121 mRNA and VEGF165mRNA in BC with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than that in BC without lymph node metastasis(P=0.033,0.004).Conclusions The expression of VEGF121 mRNA and VEGF165mRNA in BC tissues is upregulated, and VEGF121mRNA is likely to play the major role. A high level expression of VEGF mRNA in BC patient indicates the likelihood of lymph node metastasis.

Primary breast lymphoma:an analysis of 36 cases / 中国普通外科杂志

Objective To explore the clinico-pathological characteristics of primary breast lymphoma(PBL).Methods The clinical data of 36 cases of PBL were analyzed retrospectively.Results Among the 36 cases of PBL,16 patients presented with stage Ⅰa disease,14 patients with stage IIa disease,2 patients with stageⅡb disease,and 4 patients with stage Ⅳ.All of the patients underwent surgery and chemotherapy,and 20 cases had radiotherapy.Thirty three patients(91.7%) were followed up for 3-193 months,during which time,12 patients died,including 2 patients died of brain metastases,five patients died of bone metastasis,and five patients died of diffuse hepatic and pulmonary metastasis.In the 21 surviving patients,the survival time was 3～192 months,and the median survival time was 43.5 months.The overall 3-and 5-year survival rate was 70.1% and 49.0%,respectively.Conclusions Most PBL are NHL.PBL is diagnosed basically by methods of pathology and immunohistochemistry,and operation combined with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy is the best treatment method.

Correlation of microvessel density and the aggressiveness of breast cancer in young women / 中国普通外科杂志

Objective To determine the relationship between the microvessel density and the aggressiveness in breast cancer(BC) in young women (≤35years).Methods Immunohistochemical method (SABC) was used to study the expression of MVD on paraffin embedded sections in 40 young women BC patients(age≤35years) and 30 past menstrual BC patients.The relation between axillary lymph node metastasis and the clinicopathological parameters was analyzed and compared.Results The mean value of MVD and the positive rate of axillary lymph node in the young women group(65.28?15.06,70%)were higher than that in the past menstrual group(51.91?15.06,40%)(P

Analysis of Hashimoto disease and its concurrent thyropathy / 中国普通外科杂志

Objective To sum up the experience on diagnosis and treatment of Hashimoto disease and its concurrent thyropathy. Methods Clinical data were analyzed on 52 cases of Hashimoto disease(HD) surgically found to have concurrent thyropathy from Jan 1984 to Jun 2001 out of 138 HD cases undergoing surgery. Results Thyroid nodules were found in all 52 HD cases, among which 17 were with thyroid cancer, 2 with malignant lymphoma, 5 with thyroid adenoma, 2 with hyperthyroidism, and 26 with nodular goiter. Thyroidectomy of different extent was performed. Postoperatively all cases were given thyroxine. On follow-up a patient with malignant lymphoma died, and one patient suffered hypothyroidism. Conclusion HD is a ubiquitous disease. The clinical diagnosis of is still difficult. HD cases complicated with thyroid nodules should be treated surgically to exclude malignant tumors. Intraoperative frozen section is a reliable diagnostic method and may guide the surgical modality.