[Quality status of Bombyx Batryticatus and suggestions for Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2025)].

To understand the current quality status and rearing situation of Bombyx Batryticatus, the authors collected 102 batches of Bombyx Batryticatus from different main producing areas and five major Chinese medicine markets from 2016 to 2018, and measured the properties and quality of the silk gland, to clarify the quality status of Bombyx Batryticatus from different producing areas and markets. In addition, 35 batches of Bombyx Batryticatus from 2019 to 2022 were used to verify the silk gland after revision. Moreover, Beauveria Bassiana was inoculated in the silkworm of 4-5 instars, and standardized rearing was carried out until they die. The death rate and the quality of Bombyx Batryticatus were measured to determine the differences in Bombyx Batryticatus of different instars, and explore the rationality of the infection age of Bombyx Batryticatus in Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020). The results revealed that in the 102 batches of Bombyx Batryticatus, the qualification rate of silk gland was low; the content of total ash far exceeded the standard; the content of beauvericin varied greatly. The qualification rate of the silk gland of the 35 batches of Bombyx Batryticatus was only 47.49%, which could be increased to 73.00% if the number of silk gland was 2 to 4. The death rate of Bombyx Batryticatus at different infection ages was quite different, with uneven quality. Generally, the yield of Bombyx Batryticatus inoculated on the first day of the fifth instar was high with good quality. Therefore, in combination with the quality and actual production of Bombyx Batryticatus, the following suggestions were proposed for revision of Bombyx Batryticatus in Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2025): The number of silk gland should be revised as 2-4 bright brown or bright black silk glands, after which, the quality of Bombyx Batryticatus could be guaranteed, and the "quality identification based on character" could also be reflected scientifically; the content determination index that the content of beauvericin shall not be less than 0.017% should be added to better control the quality of Bombyx Batryticatus; the infection age should be revised as the first day of the fifth instar to narrow the age span, which could better fit the actual production and ensure the quality of Bombyx Batryticatus.

A Comparison between Intermittent Peritoneal Dialysis and Automatic Peritoneal Dialysis on Urgent Peritoneal Dialysis.

BACKGROUND: Urgent-start dialysis is a major problem for incident dialysis population. Urgent start on hemodialysis is associated with an increased risk of infectious or mechanical complications, and its mortality is equal to or higher than that of urgent start on peritoneal dialysis (PD). However, compared to patients starting PD in a planned setting, those on urgent-started PD have an increased risk of mechanical complications and lower technique survival. METHODS: In this study, 101 adult incident dialysis patients (≥18 years old) who underwent Tenckhoff catheter implantation were enrolled. All of the patients were grouped according to the urgent PD mode: the intermittent PD (IPD) or automatic PD (APD) group, and patients were followed for 1 year. The paired or independent t test was used to analyze the change of laboratory variables. Pearson chi-square test was applied to compare the short outcome between the 2 groups. RESULTS: When PD was treated for 7 days and 1 month, the APD group has the lower serum potassium and phosphorus levels than the IPD group. The incidence of catheter dysfunction was significantly lower in the APD group. The morbidity of infection associated with PD in the first year was lower in the APD group despite no significant difference existing. The technique survival and patient survival rate have no evident difference between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Compared to IPD, urgent start on APD could reduce the risk of mechanical complication, which could be considered a gentle, safe, and feasible alternative to urgent start on IPD.

Managing the water-energy-food nexus in China by adjusting critical final demands and supply chains: An input-output analysis.

The rapid population growth in China has increased the demand for limited water, energy and food resources. Because the resource supply is constrained by future uncertainties such as climate change, it is necessary to examine the connections among water, energy and food resources from the perspective of the relevant final demands. Based on an input-output model and structural path analysis, this study aims to explore the hidden connections among water, energy and food resources by identifying important final demands and examine how these resources are embodied in upstream production and downstream consumption processes along the supply chain. The water-energy-food nexus approach in this research identifies where and how these resources intersect in economic sectors. By simultaneously considering the water, energy and food footprints, synergistic effects can be maximized among these resource systems. The results reveal that urban household consumption and fixed capital formation have large impacts on water-energy-food resources. Besides, agriculture, construction and service sectors have the largest water-energy-food footprints. For each resource, we rank the top-20 supply chain paths from the final demands to the upstream production sectors, and six critical supply chain paths are identified as important contributors to the consumption of all these resources. Compared with independent approach to manage water, energy and food resources, the nexus approach identifies the critical linkages of the water, energy and food systems and helps to formulate integrated policies to effectively manage these resources across sectors and actors. Synergistic strategies for conserving water, energy, and food resources can be achieved through avoiding unnecessary waste in end uses and improving resource use efficiency along critical supply chains. This research can help consumers, industries and the government make responsible consumption and production decisions to conserve water, energy and food resources.

Benefit of an operating vehicle preventing peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients: a retrospective, case-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Peritonitis, which is one of the leading complications of peritoneal dialysis (PD) worldwide, severely affected morbidity and mortality of the PD patients. Although many efforts have been made to prevent PD-related peritonitis, it seems impossible to prevent it completely. Many causes have been reported to lead to peritonitis, and contamination during bag exchange is one of the important risk factors for peritonitis. METHODS: Here, we introduce an operating vehicle, which we invented to provide a sterile and safe space for bag exchange. A single-center, retrospective, case-control study was undertaken to determine whether this operating vehicle has a protective role in preventing peritonitis. In total, 462 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients were included in this study from October 2014 to March 2017. According to their personal will, these patients chose to use operating vehicle or traditional method during their bag exchange. The demographic, clinical and laboratory data of these patients in the two groups were collected, analyzed and compared. RESULTS: Of 462 patients with home dialysis, operating vehicle group consisted of 61 patients, and control group consisted of 401 patients. In the control group, over 677 patient-years, peritonitis occurred in 69 of 401 patients (17.2%), while in the operating vehicle group, over 60 patient-years, only 4 of 61 patients (6.6%) had episodes of peritonitis. The number of patients suffered from peritonitis was significantly decreased in the operating vehicle group (P = 0.034). Besides, there were a total of 99 episodes of peritonitis, and the rate was 1 episode every 7.2 patient-years in control group and 1 episode every 12 patient-years in the operating vehicle group. There was significant difference between the two groups (0.013). Positive dialysate cultures were obtained in majority of the peritonitis episodes (60.6%). CONCLUSION: Operating vehicle might help to reduce PD-related peritonitis by preventing contamination during bag exchange. Further studies are still needed to demonstrate the protective role of the operating vehicle in preventing peritonitis.

[Effects of eight environmental endocrine disruptors on insulin resistance in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a preliminary investigation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between 8 endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the serum and insulin resistance in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: This study was conducted among 60 patients with PCOS, including 23 with insulin resistance (PCOS-IR) and 37 without insulin resistance (PCOS-NIR), and 29 non-PCOS women seeking medical attention for infertility or menstrual disorder (control group). The serum levels of 6 phthalic acid esters (PEAs), bisphenol A (BPA) and octylphenol (OP) were measured in all the subjects. RESULTS: The levels of PAEs, BPA and OP showed no significant differences between PCOS patients and the control group (P>0.05). The serum level of OP was significantly lower in patients PCOS-IR than in those with PCOS-NIR (47.89 ng/ml vs 60.24 ng/ml, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: PEAs and BPA do not produce obvious effect on the pathogenesis of PCOS or contribute to insulin resistance, but OP may play a role in insulin resistance in PCOS patients.

[Distribution and partition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Gaoyao section of Xijiang River].

To obtain the seasonal and vertical distribution and partition of PAHs between dissolved phase and particle phase in Xijiang River basin, water columns were collected during flood seasons (August, 2003 and July, 2004) and dry seasons (November, 2003 and Mar, 2004) from Gaoyao section of Xijiang River. The average PAHs concentrations in dissolved phase and particle phase were 21.7-138 ng x L(-1), 40.9-664.8 microg x kg(-1), respectively. Total PAHs concentrations (both particle phase and dissolved phase) were higher in flood seasons than that in dry seasons. No variation was found for dissolved PAHs in vertical distribution. However, a same trend of vertical distribution was observed for particle PAHs with the maximum concentration in middle layer and minimum in surface layer of water column. With increasing of content of suspended particle matter (SPM), both dissolved and particle PAHs concentration increased. In the dissolved phase, the predominant PAHs were 3 ring PAHs. While in the particle phase, 3-4 ring PAHs were the dominant PAHs. The partition coefficient (K(p)) had no correlation with the particle organic carbon content of SPM (R2 0.000 1-0.2), but influenced by concentrations of suspended particle matters and dissolved organic carbon, especially black carbon in dissolved phase (R2 0.15 -0.36). A majority of values of lg K(oc) in different seasons exceeded upper limit based on typical model of equilibrium distribution. Except the season of November 2003 (R2 0.000 4-0.12, p < 0.001), the organic carbon normalized distribution coefficients (K(oc)) computed for the PAHs were correlated well with their octanol-water partition coefficient (K(ow))(R2 0.29-0.91, p < 0.05). The lipophilic ability of SPM was stronger in flood seasons than that in dry seasons.