Determination of ammonia nitrogen by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and DFT studies.

Ammonia nitrogen is one of the most important indicators for evaluating the quality of water bodies. It is very difficult to determine ammonia nitrogen directly by Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) in practice. In order to realize SERS determination of ammonia nitrogen, in this paper, SERS combined with density functional theory (DFT) was used to investigate why ammonia nitrogen needs to be derivatized to hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) and why HMTA can be determined using SERS. The molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) results exhibit that there was no adsorption site on the surface of ammonia nitrogen, whereas its derivate HMTA had four available adsorption sites. This provides a basic guarantee for the SERS detection of HMTA. The molecular adsorption state of HMTA on the gold nanoparticles surface was concluded from the binding energies, the bond length, and the Raman activity spectra. Among them, the HMTA-Au4 complex has the lowest bond energy (-586.873 Kcal/mol) and the shortest bond length (2.161 Å), which is the most stable state and its Raman activity spectrum is the closest to the experimental data. Calculations results of frontier molecular orbital (FMO) demonstrate that the energy gap of HMTA and HMTA-Au4 complex are 0.30258 eV and 0.10947 eV, respectively, with a really obvious difference between them, which indicates that the HMAT-Au4 complex possessed higher chemical reactivity. In addition, charge transfer phenomenon on the MEP of HMTA-Au4 complex was deduced due to the change in the symmetry of its charge distribution, which can be explained the mechanism of chemical enhancement in the detection of HMTA by SERS. The selective enhancement at 1048 cm-1 peaks in theoretical spectrum and at 1044 peaks cm-1 in experimental spectrum provided theoretical and practical basis for indirect determination of ammonia nitrogen by SERS. The obtained results will help to better understand the reasons why some components are difficult to be directly determined by SERS, and why these components need to be derivatized. It provides a new method for components that are difficult to detect by SERS.

Effects of early postnatal immune activation on autism-like behaviors and glial cells in mice / 中国儿童保健杂志

【Objective】 To observe the effects of early postnatal immune activation (EPIA) on social behaviors of male and female mice, and to explore the possible role of the functional state of astrocytes and microglia in this process. 【Methods】 Using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced EPIA mice as study subjects, mice were divided into the male-control, male-model, female-control, and female-model groups, each containing 10 mice (n=10). Behavioral tests were performed at 25 - 32 days of age, and the social behavior ability of mice was evaluated by open field test, three-chamber sociability test, and marble burying test. The expression levels of GFAP, IBA-1, TLR4, and NFκB p65 in the cortex and hippocampus were detected by Western blot (n=3). 【Results】 In behavioral tests, social index significantly decreased in LPS treatment group (F=14.907, P<0.05). The interaction effect between treatment and sex was significant in the residence time (F=5.260, P<0.05) and the number of buried marbles (F=7.788, P<0.05). LPS treatment decreased the retention time of the central region in male mice (F=4.261, P<0.05), and increased the number of buried marbles in males (F=20.645, P<0.05). Western blot results showed that LPS treatment increased the expression of GFAP protein in the hippocampus (F=50.443, P<0.05) and cortex (F=30.116, P<0.05), as well as the expression of IBA-1 protein (F=21.844. P<0.05) and TLR4 protein (F=6.215, P<0.05) in the cortex. The results of NFκB p65 showed a significant interaction between treatment and sex in the cortex (F=6.558, P<0.05), and LPS increased the expression of NFκB p65 protein in the cortex in female mice (F=16.317, P<0.05). 【Conclusions】 EPIA is sufficient to induce sex-specific autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-like behavior and enhance astroglial and microglial reactivity in mice. ASD-like behavior induced by EPIA may be related to the TLR4/NFκB signaling pathway in the cortex.

Distribution characteristics of sIgE antibodies against four components of egg white in children with egg allergy / 临床检验杂志

Objective To investigate the distribution characteristics of serum sIgE antibodies against four allergenic protein components of egg white in children with egg allergy,and then clarify the clinical application value of single component-resolved diagnostics of egg allergy.Methods Serum samples from 197 children with egg allergy were collected.The levels of serum sIgE antibodies against four major allergenic protein components of egg white,including ovomucin,ovalbumin,ovotransferrin,and lysozyme,were detected by the light-excited chemiluminescence assay(LiCA),and the distribution characteristics of sIgE antibodies were analyzed.Results The positive rates of serum sIgE antibodies against ovalbumin,ovomucin,ovotransferrin,and lysozyme in 197 chlidren with egg allergy were 77.16%(152/197),70.56%(139/197),35.02%(69/197),and 18.27%(36/197),respectively.The positive rate of serum sIgE antibody against both ovomucin and ovalbumin was 30.45%.There was a weak correlation between the levels of sIgE antibodies against egg and the cumulative levels of sIgE antibodies against four allergenic protein components(r=0.266 8,P＜0.05).There were signifi-cant individual differences in the levels of serum sIgE antibodies against four allergenic protein components of egg white in the children with egg allergy.Conclusion There is individual heterogeneity in the levels of serum sIgE antibodies against four components of egg white in the children with egg allergy.The detection of sIgE antibodies against egg white components can distinguish different forms of egg allergies,which is of great value for the accurate diagnosis and precise desensitization of children's egg allergy.

Influence analysis and promotion countermeasures of green finance policy in China-Traceability based on grounded theory and validation using the csQCA method.

Green finance is closely related to sustainable energy development. Using the NVivo12plus software, a governance model of China's green finance policy was constructed using 22 green finance policy texts at the central level as research objects. Furthermore, based on the csQCA method, Tosmana software was used to develop and verify a theoretical model of 19 policy text cases. The research results demonstrate that policy belief, policy objectives, policy tools, policy feedback, and policy cycle are the main components of China's green finance policy governance. Furthermore, policy instruments are the fundamental factors affecting the governance effectiveness of China's green finance policy. Policy goals and policy feedback dominate the influence pattern of green finance policy in China. There are three modes driving the influence of green finance policies: regulation-oriented, collaborative-driven, and tool-guided. Finally, for the optimization and improvement of green finance policies, three forces must be improved: stimulus force, driving force, and promotion force.

Analysis of distribution characteristics of specific immunoglobulin E in 8 092 children with eczema and urticaria in a hospital of pediatric in Tianjin City / 中华预防医学杂志

To investigate the common specific immunoglobulin E(sIgE) in children with eczema and urticaria, compare the allergies in children with different diseases, genders and ages, and provide the scientific basis for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment. A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the children who were suspected of eczema and urticaria and tested for serum sIgE in the Tianjin Children's Hospital from December 2019 to August 2021. A total of 8 092 serum samples were tested for ten food allergens and ten inhaled allergens. The method was the enzyme-linked immune capture assay. The allergen epidemiological characteristics were statistically analyzed by Chi square test based on the children's characteristics and factors such as different sexes and ages and by the mass data. The results showed that the positive rate of eczema was 64.42%(5 213/8 092), and the urticaria was 35.58%(2 879/8 092). The positive rate of specific IgE was 66.65%(5 393/8 092), the food allergens was 61.74%(4 996/8 092), and the inhaled allergens was 34.85%(2 820/8 092). The top three positive rates of food allergens were egg 46.65%(3 775/8 092), milk 32.64%(2 641/8 092) and wheat flour 15.08%(1 220/8 092). The top three positive rates of inhaled allergens were house dust 21.40%(1 732/8 092), Alternaria 11.78%(953/8 092) and Dermatophagoides farinae 7.33%(593/8 092). The positivity of food allergens and inhaled allergens was significantly different in different age groups. The positive rates of food allergens in different age groups were 48.92%(947/1 936) in<1 year old, 72.28%(2 680/3 708) in 1-3 years old, 64.58%(919/1 423) in 4-6 years old and 43.90%(450/1 025) in>6 years old. The positive rates of inhaled allergens in different age groups were 17.67%(342/1 936) in<1 year old, 36.35%(1 348/3 708) in 1-3 years old, 46.38%(660/1 423) in 4-6 years old and 45.85%(470/1 025) in>6 years old. The top six positive rates of allergens of eczema were the same with urticaria, which were egg, milk, house dust, wheat flour, Alternaria and Dermatophagoides farinae. The allergens (greater than or equal to grade 4) differed in children with eczema and urticaria. Moreover, there were significant differences in the positive rates of Alternaria, egg, wheat flour, crab and shrimp. In conclusion, this study can reflect the epidemic characteristics of allergens in children with eczema and urticaria to a certain extent. There were significant differences in the positive rates of allergens between different age groups. It is necessary to reasonably avoid the high-risk allergens according to the epidemiological characteristics and clinical symptoms, which provide valuable information for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases.

Analysis of distribution characteristics of specific immunoglobulin E in 8 092 children with eczema and urticaria in a hospital of pediatric in Tianjin City / 中华预防医学杂志

To investigate the common specific immunoglobulin E(sIgE) in children with eczema and urticaria, compare the allergies in children with different diseases, genders and ages, and provide the scientific basis for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment. A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the children who were suspected of eczema and urticaria and tested for serum sIgE in the Tianjin Children's Hospital from December 2019 to August 2021. A total of 8 092 serum samples were tested for ten food allergens and ten inhaled allergens. The method was the enzyme-linked immune capture assay. The allergen epidemiological characteristics were statistically analyzed by Chi square test based on the children's characteristics and factors such as different sexes and ages and by the mass data. The results showed that the positive rate of eczema was 64.42%(5 213/8 092), and the urticaria was 35.58%(2 879/8 092). The positive rate of specific IgE was 66.65%(5 393/8 092), the food allergens was 61.74%(4 996/8 092), and the inhaled allergens was 34.85%(2 820/8 092). The top three positive rates of food allergens were egg 46.65%(3 775/8 092), milk 32.64%(2 641/8 092) and wheat flour 15.08%(1 220/8 092). The top three positive rates of inhaled allergens were house dust 21.40%(1 732/8 092), Alternaria 11.78%(953/8 092) and Dermatophagoides farinae 7.33%(593/8 092). The positivity of food allergens and inhaled allergens was significantly different in different age groups. The positive rates of food allergens in different age groups were 48.92%(947/1 936) in<1 year old, 72.28%(2 680/3 708) in 1-3 years old, 64.58%(919/1 423) in 4-6 years old and 43.90%(450/1 025) in>6 years old. The positive rates of inhaled allergens in different age groups were 17.67%(342/1 936) in<1 year old, 36.35%(1 348/3 708) in 1-3 years old, 46.38%(660/1 423) in 4-6 years old and 45.85%(470/1 025) in>6 years old. The top six positive rates of allergens of eczema were the same with urticaria, which were egg, milk, house dust, wheat flour, Alternaria and Dermatophagoides farinae. The allergens (greater than or equal to grade 4) differed in children with eczema and urticaria. Moreover, there were significant differences in the positive rates of Alternaria, egg, wheat flour, crab and shrimp. In conclusion, this study can reflect the epidemic characteristics of allergens in children with eczema and urticaria to a certain extent. There were significant differences in the positive rates of allergens between different age groups. It is necessary to reasonably avoid the high-risk allergens according to the epidemiological characteristics and clinical symptoms, which provide valuable information for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases.

Discussion on the Correlation Between Histamine Receptor and Liver Storage in Traditional Chinese Medicine / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

The theory of Zang Xiang is the core of the theory of traditional Chinese medicine,and its content mostly comes from the comparison of images.Among them,the liver Zang of"main drainage"and"main blood storage"involves many systems such as nerve,digestion,circulation,hematopoiesis,reproduction and so on.It is difficult to find the corresponding anatomical organs or tissues in western medicine.The author analyzes and believes that the collection of the functional system of the liver system of traditional Chinese medicine,compares the physiological function and pathological changes of the liver system with the histamine receptor distributed in multiple systems of the whole body,as well as the main symptoms and adverse reactions of the drugs regulating the histamine receptor,and believes that the functional system composed of histamine receptors may carry the important functions of the liver system of traditional Chinese medicine.

The mediating effect of attentional bias of negative information between fatalism and death anxiety in lung neoplasms patients / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective:To explore the mediating effect of attentional bias of negative information between fatalism and death anxiety in lung neoplasms patients.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. It was convenient to select 312 lung neoplasms patients treated in the Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital and Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University the Chinese People′s Liberation Army, from April 2021 to April 2022 as the research subjects. Questionnaires were conducted with Fatalism Scale, Attention to Negative Information Scale, and Templer′s Death Anxiety Scale. Structural equation model were constructed based on self-regulatory executive function models.Results:The total score of fatalism, attentional bias of negative information, and death anxiety of 312 lung neoplasms patients were (61.68 ± 11.92) points, (39.57 ± 5.19) points, and (61.23 ± 9.30) points, respectively. Attentional bias of negative information was significantly positively correlated with fatalism ( r = 0.594, P<0.01). Death anxiety was significantly positively correlated with fatalism and attentional bias of negative information ( r = 0.494, 0.558, both P<0.01). Attentional bias of negative information played a partial mediating role between fatalism and death anxiety, and the mediating effect accounted for 37.7% of the total effect. The value of each fitness index of the mediation effect model was within the acceptable range. Conclusions:Attentional bias of negative information is an intermediary variable between fatalism and death anxiety of lung neoplasms patients. Nursing staff should pay attention to the level of attentional bias of negative information of lung neoplasms patients and carry out targeted nursing interventions from the emotional processing process to reduce the level of death anxiety in patients with lung neoplasms.

LC-MS analysis of 2-(2-phenylethyl) chromones in sodium chloride-treated suspension cells of Aquilaria sinensis / 中国中药杂志

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of 2-(2-phenylethyl) chromones in sodium chloride(NaCl)-treated suspension cells of Aquilaria sinensis was conducted by UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS and UPLC-QQQ-MS/MS. Both analyses were performed on a Waters T3 column(2.1 mm×50 mm, 1.8 μm) with 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution(A)-acetonitrile(B) as mobile phases at gradient elution. MS data were collected by electrospray ionization in positive ion mode. Forty-seven phenylethylchromones was identified from NaCl-treated suspension cell samples of A. sinensis using UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS, including 22 flindersia-type 2-(2-phenylethyl) chromones and their glycosides, 10 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-(2-phenylethyl) chromones and 15 mono-epoxy or diepoxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-(2-phenylethyl) chromones. Additionally, 25 phenylethylchromones were quantitated by UPLC-QQQ-MS/MS. Overall, the rapid and efficient qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenylethylchromones in NaCl-treated suspension cells of A. sinensis by two LC-MS techniques, provides an important reference for the yield of phenylethylchromones in Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum using in vitro culture and other biotechnologies.

Preliminary experience of metabolic syndrome in patients with de-novo non-alcoholic fatty liver disease after liver transplantation / 中华内分泌外科杂志

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with de-novo non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (de-novo NAFLD) and patients with de-novo NAFLD combined with metabolic syndrome (MS) after liver transplantation (LT) , and to determine the related risk factors.Methods:Patients who underwent LT at the Organ Transplantation Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, from Jan. 2016 to Oc. 2020 and were monitored until Oct. 2021 were gathered. The recipients were divided into the group with/without de-novo NAFLD, and LT recipients with de-novo NAFLD were divided into the group with/without combined MS. Clinical characteristics of the LT recipients with de-novo NAFLD combined with MS were analyzed. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for LT recipients with de-novo NAFLD and those with combined MS.Results:A total of 324 LT recipients with a median follow-up of 2.9 years (range: 2.0-4.3 years) were included in the study. De-novo NAFLD was diagnosed in 21.0% (68/324) of the LT recipients, and MS was diagnosed in 44.1% (30/68) of these patients. Compared with LT recipients without de-novo NAFLD, those with de-novo NAFLD had higher preoperative body mass index (BMI) , blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin levels and lower platelet levels, and longer postoperative follow-up, higher BMI, waist circumference, albumin, triglycerides (TG) , low-density lipoprotein (LDL) , blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin levels, and the incidence of MS (all P<0.05) . Preoperative platelets, glucose, postoperative albumin, LDL and BMI were independent risk factors for predicting de-novo NAFLD after LT (all P<0.05) . Preoperative glucose performed well in predicting the occurrence of de-novo NAFLD (threshold: 5.5mmol/L, P<0.001, AUC=0.678) . The differences in Pre-LT blood glucose, post-LT BMI, waist circumference, prevalence of prediabetes or diabetes, fatty liver index (FLI) , and NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) between de-novo NAFLD LT recipients with and without combined MS were significantly different (all P<0.05) . Conclusions:The incidence of de-novo NAFLD after LT is noteworthy, and LT recipients with de-novo NAFLD are more likely to have a combination with MS. In preoperative treatment, keeping blood glucose to 5.5 mmol/L or below trends helps to lower the risk of de-novo NAFLD following LT. LT recipients’ nutritional state and lipid levels require prompt care. High albumin levels might not be a desirable thing. De-novo NAFLD LT recipients with concomitant prediabetes or diabetes may imply an increased risk of developing comorbid MS during the post-LT follow-up. Controlling FLI levels in LT recipients with de-novo NAFLD may reduce the risk of developing comorbid MS.

Aqueous extract of Epimedium sagittatum mitigates pulmonary fibrosis in mice / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to investigate the intervention effect of the aqueous extract of Epimedium sagittatum Maxim on the mouse model of bleomycin(BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis, so as to provide data support for the clinical treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. Ninety male C57BL/6N mice were randomized into normal(n=10), model(BLM, n=20), pirfenidone(PFD, 270 mg·kg~(-1), n=15), and low-, medium-, and high-dose E. sagittatum extract(1.67 g·kg~(-1), n=15; 3.33 g·kg~(-1), n=15; 6.67 g·kg~(-1), n=15) groups. The model of pulmonary fibrosis was established by intratracheal instillation of BLM(5 mg·kg~(-1)) in the other five groups except the normal group, which was treated with an equal amount of normal saline. On the day following the modeling, each group was treated with the corresponding drug by gavage for 21 days. During this period, the survival rate of the mice was counted. After gavage, the lung index was calculated, and the morphology and collagen deposition of the lung tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) and Masson staining, respectively. The levels of reactive oxygen species(ROS) in lung cell suspensions were measured by flow cytometry. The levels of glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD), and malondialdehyde(MDA) the in lung tissue were measured. Terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase-mediated nick-end labeling(TUNEL) was employed to examine the apoptosis of lung tissue cells. The content of interleukin-6(IL-6), chemokine C-C motif ligand 2(CCL-2), matrix metalloproteinase-8(MMP-8), transforming growth factor-beta 1(TGF-β1), alpha-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA), E-cadherin, collagen Ⅰ, and fibronectin in the lung tissue was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The expression levels of F4/80, Ly-6G, TGF-β1, and collagen Ⅰ in the lung tissue were determined by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA levels of CCL-2, IL-6, and MMP-7 in the lung tissue were determined by qRT-PCR. The content of hydroxyproline(HYP) in the lung tissue was determined by alkaline hydrolysation. The expression of α-SMA and E-cadherin was detected by immunofluorescence, and the protein levels of α-SMA, vimentin, E-cadherin in the lung tissue were determined by Western blot. The results showed the aqueous extract of E. sagittatum increased the survival rate, decreased the lung index, alleviated the pathological injury, collagen deposition, and oxidative stress in the lung tissue, and reduced the apoptotic cells. Furthermore, the aqueous extract of E. sagittatum down-regulated the protein levels of F4/80 and Ly-6G and the mRNA levels of CCL-2, IL-6, and MMP-7 in the lung tissue, reduced the content of IL-6, CCL-2, and MMP-8 in the alveolar lavage fluid. In addition, it lowered the levels of HYP, TGF-β1, α-SMA, collagen Ⅰ, fibronectin, and vimentin, and elevated the levels of E-cadherin in the lung tissue. The aqueous extract of E. sagittatum can inhibit collagen deposition, alleviate oxidative stress, and reduce inflammatory response by regulating the expression of the molecules associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition, thus alleviating the symptoms of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice.

Remote ischemic preconditioning promotes mitochondrial biosynthesis and protects cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats via AMPK/PGC-1α signaling pathway / 国际脑血管病杂志

Objective:To investigate the protective mechanism of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.Methods:Forty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, RIPC group, I/R group, RIPC+I/R group, and compound C group ( n=9 in each group). The neurological function score, cerebral infarction volume (TCC staining) and neuronal apoptosis rate (TUNEL staining) were measured. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) 2 and malondialdehyde level in homogenate of brain tissue were detected. Expression levels of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator (PGC)-1α signaling pathway-related proteins in brain tissue were detected by Western blot. Results:The neurological deficit score, cerebral infarction volume and neuron apoptosis rate in the I/R group were significantly higher than those in the sham operation group (all P<0.05). Compared with the I/R group, the neurological deficit score, cerebral infarction volume and neuron apoptosis rate in the RIPC+I/R group were significantly decreased (all P<0.05). Compared with the RIPC+I/R group, the neurological deficit score, cerebral infarction volume and neuron apoptosis rate in the compound C group were significantly increased (all P<0.05). Compared with the sham operation group, the SOD activity in the I/R group was significantly decreased, and the malondialdehyde content was significantly increased (all P<0.05). Compared with the I/R group, the SOD activity in the RIPC+I/R group was significantly increased, and the malondialdehyde content was significantly decreased (all P<0.05). Compared with the RIPC+I/R group, the SOD activity in the compound C group was significantly decreased, and the malondialdehyde content was significantly increased (all P<0.05). Compared with the sham operation group, the expressions of AMPK, p-AMPK, PGC-1α, nuclear respiratory factor (NRF)-1, mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), SOD2, uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), cytochrome C (CytC), and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) in the brain tissue of the I/R group were significantly increased (all P<0.05). Compared with the I/R group, the expressions of AMPK, p-AMPK, PGC-1α, NRF-1, TFAM, SOD2 and UCP2 in the ischemic brain tissue of the RIPC+I/R group were significantly increased, while the expressions of CytC and AIF were significantly decreased (all P<0.05). Compared with the RIPC+I/R group, the expressions of AMPK, p-AMPK, PGC-1α, NRF-1, TFAM, SOD2 and UCP2 in the brain tissue of the compound C group were significantly decreased, while the expressions of CytC and AIF were significantly increased (all P<0.05). Conclusions:RIPC has a protective effect on I/R injury. Its mechanism may be associated with the activation of AMPK/PGC-1α signaling pathway and maintaining mitochondrial biogenesis.

Engineering a folic acid-decorated ultrasmall gemcitabine nanocarrier for breast cancer therapy: Dual targeting of tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages

Combination of passive targeting with active targeting is a promising approach to improve the therapeutic efficacy of nanotherapy. However, most reported polymeric systems have sizes above 100 nm, which limits effective extravasation into tumors that are poorly vascularized and have dense stroma. This will, in turn, limit the overall effectiveness of the subsequent uptake by tumor cells via active targeting. In this study, we combined the passive targeting via ultra-small-sized gemcitabine (GEM)-based nanoparticles (NPs) with the active targeting provided by folic acid (FA) conjugation for enhanced dual targeted delivery to tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). We developed an FA-modified prodrug carrier based on GEM (PGEM) to load doxorubicin (DOX), for co-delivery of GEM and DOX to tumors. The co-delivery system showed small particle size of ∼10 nm in diameter. The ligand-free and FA-targeted micelles showed comparable drug loading efficiency and a sustained DOX release profile. The FA-conjugated micelles effectively increased DOX uptake in cultured KB cancer cells that express a high level of folate receptor (FR), but no obvious increase was observed in 4T1.2 breast cancer cells that have a low-level expression of FR. Interestingly, in vivo, systemic delivery of FA-PGEM/DOX led to enhanced accumulation of the NPs in tumor and drastic reduction of tumor growth in a murine 4T1.2 breast cancer model. Mechanistic study showed that 4T1.2 tumor grown in mice expressed a significantly higher level of FOLR2, which was selectively expressed on TAMs. Thus, targeting of TAM may also contribute to the improved in vivo targeted delivery and therapeutic efficacy.

Serum uric acid levels among physical examination populations in Balikun County / 预防医学

Objective@#To investigate the serum uric acid levels among residents living in Balikun County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from 2018 to 2021, so as to provide insights into local hyperuricemia control.@*Methods@#The residents at ages of 20 to 69 years undergoing physical examinations in Balikun County Hospital during the period from 2018 to 2021 were enrolled. Their age, gender, and history of medication and disease were collected, and serum uric acid levels were measured. The gender- and age-specific prevalence of hyperuricemia and hypouricemia was descriptively analyzed.@*Results@#A total of 3 097 subjects were enrolled, which included 1 210 males ( 39.07% ) and 1 887 females ( 60.93% ) and had a mean age of ( 46.12±12.84 ) years. The overall mean serum uric acid was ( 260.41±71.99 ) μmol/L, and the mean serum uric acid was ( 298.22±69.57 ) μmol/L in men and ( 236.17±62.44 ) μmol/L in women. The serum uric acid level appeared a tendency towards a rise with ages both in whole study subjects and in women ( P<0.05 ). The overall prevalence of hyperuricemia was 4.26%, with 4.63% prevalence in men and 4.03% in women. The prevalence of hyperuricemia appeared a tendency towards a rise with ages both in whole study subjects and in women ( P<0.05 ). The overall prevalence of hypouricemia was 0.71%, with 0.25% prevalence in men and 1.01% in women; the prevalence of moderate hypouricemia was 11.11%, with 2.56% prevalence in men and 16.59% in women.@*Conclusions@#Low level of serum uric acid and prevalence of hyperuricemia is detected among residents living in Balikun County. Monitoring of serum uric acid is recommended to be intensified among men.

Study on the mediating effect of fatalism in family resilience and self-management of lung neoplasms patients undergoing chemotherapy / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective:To explore the relevance of family resilience, fatalism, and self-management of lung neoplasms patients undergoing chemotherapy, and the mediating effect of fatalism in family resilience and self-management.Methods:The study was a cross-sectional study, and it was convenient to select 376 lung cancer patients who underwent chemotherapy in the Oncology Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University from August 2020 to August 2021 as the research subjects. A questionnaire survey was conducted on the patients by using general information questionnaire, Chinese Family Resilience Assessment Scale, Chinese Version of Fatalism Scale, and Cancer Patient Self-management Assessment Scale to establish and test the mediating model of fatalism between family resilience and self-management in lung neoplasms patients undergoing chemotherapy.Results:The total score of family resilience of lung neoplasms patients undergoing chemotherapy was (102.01 ± 33.29) points, the total score of fatalism was (63.99 ± 9.41) points, and the total score of self-management was (87.95 ± 27.65) points. Family resilience was negatively correlated with fatalism ( r=-0.418, P<0.01), positively correlated with self-management ( r=0.476, P<0.01), and fatalism was negatively correlated with self-management ( r=-0.557, P<0.01). Fatalism played a partial mediating role between family resilience and self-management, and the mediating effect accounted for 26.2% of the total effect. The value of each fitness index of the mediation effect model was within the acceptable range Conclusions:Family resilience, fatalism and self-management of lung neoplasms patients undergoing chemotherapy are closely related. Family resilience can not only directly affect self-management, but also indirectly affect self-management through fatalism. In clinical nursing, targeted intervention can be carried out on fatalism, which affects the role of family resilience on self-management, thereby promoting the improvement of self-management level of lung neoplasms patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Effects of Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction on the immune inflammation and intestinal flora in asthmatic rats / 药学学报

The study aims to explore the intervention mechanism of Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction on asthma from the perspective of immune inflammation and intestinal flora, providing a theoretical basis for guiding clinical medication. The ovalbumin (OVA) asthmatic rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of OVA sensitization solution and aerosol challenge, and divided into control (CON), model (M), dexamethasone group (DEX, 0.075 mg·kg-1) and Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction (TLDZ, 3.5 g·kg-1). Firstly, the effects of Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction on asthma symptoms of rats, lung and trachea pathological changes of asthmatic rats were observed by inducing cough and asthma experiment, phenol red excretion, hematoxylin-eosin staining (H&E), Masson and periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining; the levels of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), interleukin (IL) 6 and IL-10 in rat serum and the levels of interferon γ (IFN-γ), immunoglobulin E (IgE), IL-4, IL-17A and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected by ELISA; the mRNA levels of IL-5, IL-13 and IL-33 in the lung were determined by qRT-PCR; the levels of macrophages and neutrophils in the spleen and the levels of natural killer cell (NK), helper T cell (Thc), dendritic cell (DC), regulatory T cell (Treg) and T helper cell 17 (Th17) in the peripheral blood were measured by flow cytometry combined with immunohistochemistry; the intestinal flora of asthmatic rats were analyzed by 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. Pathology and inflammatory results showed that Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction could effectively alleviate the asthma symptoms in rats, improve the pathological changes of lung tissue, reduce the production of goblet cells and collagen fibers, and reduce the inflammatory response in asthmatic rats; the results of immune cells showed that Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction could effectively increase the levels of NK, Thc, DC and Treg cells and reduce the levels of macrophages, neutrophils and Th17 cells in asthmatic rats; the results of intestinal flora showed that Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction could increase the levels of Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus, Christensenellaceae, Bifidobacterium and Eubacterium]_xylanophilum-group, and decrease the levels of Firmicutes, Desulfovibrio, Mucispirillum and Romboutsia in asthmatic rats. Therefore, it is speculated that Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction can improve the symptom of asthmatic rats by regulating the immune inflammation and intestinal flora in the asthmatic rats. All animal experiments in this article were approved by the Ethics Committee of Henan University of Chinese Medicine.

Cloning, expression and functional identification of cytochrome P450 reductase gene in Aquilaria sinensis / 药学学报

Cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) is essential for the electron transport chain of cytochrome P450s, playing an indispensable role in electron transfer in vivo. In this study, one cDNA encoding cytochrome P450 reductase (Ascpr1) was identified from the callus of Aquilaria sinensis. Ascpr1 contains an open reading frame of 2 124 bp. The deduced protein is composed of 707 amino acids, with a predicted molecular weight of 78.82 kD. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that AsCPR1 is a type Ⅱ CPR protein closely related to the CPR from Theobroma cacao. Transmembrane prediction using TMHMM 2.0 indicated that the amino acids 52-71 of AsCPR1 comprise a transmembrane region. After truncating of 67 amino acid residues from N-terminal, the truncated AsCPR1 was successfully expressed in E. coli Transetta (DE3). Further purification of the recombinant AsCPR1 by affinity chromatography and determination of the enzymatic activity allowed the reducing ability of AsCPR1 to cytochrome C in vitro. The results pave the way for further study on the synthesis of defensive chemicals involved in P450s and the functions of CPR in self-defense of A. sinensis.

Arbutin isolated from Chinese yam inhibits LPS-induced NRK-52e cell apoptosis by ERp / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the effect of arbutin on apoptosis of NRK-52e cells induced by LPS and the potential mechanism.Methods The model of NRK- 52e cells injury was constructed by LPS, and NRK-52e cells were divided into control, LPS ( 1 mg • L 1 ) , low dose arbutin (LPS, 1 mg • L 1 + arbutin, 5 (xmol • L_l ) , high dose arbutin ( LPS, 1 mg • L 1 + arbutin , 10 (xmol • L 1 ) and its corresponding inhibitor THC group ( 1 (xmol • L 1).The cell viability was detected ; the levels of ROS, apoptosis, Ca~' concentration and mitochondrial membrane potential ( MMP ) were detected by flow cytometry; the levels of key apoptosis proteins were detected by in cell western; the binding activity of arbutin with ER(3 was imitated by molecular docking technology, and verified by in cell western.Results Arbutin could effectively regulate the levels of ROS, Ca"+ , apoptosis proteins and ER(3 in NRK-52e cells induced by LPS and inhibit the de- cline of MMP, which is blocked by estrogen receptor inhibitor THC.In addition, arbutin has good binding activity with ERf}.Conclusion This study confirms that arbutin could inhibit LPS-induced apoptosis of NRK-52e cells through ER£.

Anti-breast Cancer Activities in Vitro of Oxymatrine Combined with Bevacizumab： An Exploration Focusing on EMT Regulation Through Wnt/β-catenin / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the effect of oxymatrine （OM） combined with bevacizumab （ BV ） on the proliferation， invasion， and migration of breast cancer MCF-7 cells and explore the mechanism of OM in regulating BV-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） based on the Wnt/<italic>β</italic>-catenin signaling pathway. Method:The effect of different concentrations of OM（0， 0.5， 1.0， 2.0， 4.0， 8.0， 16.0 mmol·L^-1）and BV（0， 0.25×10^-4， 0.50×10^-4， 1.00×10^-4， 2.00×10^-4， 4.00×10^-4， and 8.00×10^-4 mmol·L^-1）on the proliferation of MCF-7 cells were detected by cell counting kit-8（CCK-8）assay. The effect of OM（4.0 mmol·L^-1） combined with BV（2.00×10^-4 mmol·L^-1）on the invasion and migration of MCF-7 cells were observed in transwell and scratch repair tests. Western blot was conducted to investigate the effect of OM（4.0 mmol·L^-1）combined with BV （2.00×10^-4 mmol·L^-1） on proliferation-related proteins in MCF-7 cells， followed by the detection of the expression levels of Wnt/<italic>β</italic>-catenin signaling pathway- and EMT-related proteins. Result:Compared with the blank group， OM （2.0，4.0，8.0，16.0 mmol·L^-1） inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， while BV did not show the inhibitory effect against the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. The inhibitory effect of the combination of the two drugs on the proliferation of MCF-7 cells was not significantly different from that of OM. Compared with the blank group， OM significantly reduced the migration distance of MCF-7 cells and the number of invaded cells（<italic>P</italic><0.01）， while BV increased the migration distance of MCF-7 cells and the number of invaded cells （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with BV， its combination with OM significantly inhibited the invasion and migration of MCF-7 cells induced by BV （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with the blank group， both OM and the combined medication obviously inhibited the phosphorylation of proliferation-related protein kinase B（Akt） and extracellular-signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 （ERK1/2）in MCF-7 cells （<italic>P</italic><0.01） and down-regulated the protein expression levels of <italic>β</italic>-catenin， proto-oncogene （c-Myc）， CD44， and G₁/S-specific cyclin D₁ in Wnt/<italic>β</italic>-catenin signaling pathway （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Besides， OM and the combination of two drugs both significantly reduced the protein expression levels of calcium-dependent cell adhesion protein <italic>N</italic>-cadherin and Vimentin in EMT， whereas increased the expression of calcium-dependent cell adhesion protein E-cadherin（<italic>P</italic><0.01）. However， the expression of the above-mentioned proteins in the BV group was reversed （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:After the combination with BV， OM plays an anti-breast cancer role by effectively inhibiting the activation of Wnt/<italic>β</italic>-catenin pathway induced by BV and reversing EMT.

The relationship between three-dimensional right ventricular longitudinal deformation and myocardial fibrosis in patients with end-stage heart failure / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective:To investigate the values of right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (RVFWLS) by three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D-STE) in predicting the degree of RV myocardial fibrosis (MF) in patients with end-stage heart failure (HF).Methods:A total of 102 consecutive patients with end-stage HF undergoing heart transplantation were enrolled in the Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from June 2018 to December 2019. Echocardiographic examinations were performed in these patients before heart transplantation. The conventional RV function parameters were obtained, including fractional area change, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE), myocardial performance index, tricuspid lateral annular systolic velocity(Tricuspid s′). Two-dimensional (2D) RVFWLS was calculated by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE). Right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic volume (RVEDV), RV end-systolic volume (RVESV), RV stroke volume (RVSV), RV ejection fraction (RVEF) and 3D-RVFWLS were measured by 3D-STE. The degree of MF was quantified using Masson′s trichrome stain in RV myocardial samples after heart transplantation. Patients were divided into mild, moderate, and severe groups according to the degree of MF on histology, then echocardiographic parameters were compared among the 3 groups. Pearson correlation analysis and the multiple linear regression analysis between echocardiographic parameters and RV MF were analyzed.Results:Compared with patients with mild and moderate MF, 3D-RVFWLS, 2D-RVFWLS and conventional parameters of RV function were significantly decreased in patients with severe MF.RV MF strongly correlated with 3D-RVFWLS ( r=-0.71, P<0.01), modestly correlated with 2D-RVFWLS ( r=-0.53, P<0.01), and weakly correlated with RVFAC, TAPSE, RVEF, Tricuspid s′, RVSV ( r=-0.47, -0.44, -0.35, -0.29, -0.38; all P<0.01). 3D-RVFWLS correlated best with the degree of MF compared with 2D-RVFWLS and conventional RV function parameters ( r=-0.71 vs r=-0.29~-0.53, all P<0.05). A stepwise multivariate analysis showed that 3D-RVFWLS was independently associated with RV MF (β=1.554, P<0.01, adjusted R2=0.539). Conclusions:3D-RVFWLS can provide an important imaging reference for detecting the degree of RV MF in patients with end-stage HF.