Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton immunotherapy for cervical high-risk HPV persistent infection / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton (Nr-CWS) in the treatment of persistent cervical high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection. Methods: A randomized, double blind, multi-center trial was conducted. A total of 688 patients with clinically and pathologically confirmed HR-HPV infection of the cervix diagnosed in 13 hispital nationwide were recruited and divided into: (1) patients with simple HR-HPV infection lasting for 12 months or more; (2) patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) Ⅰ and HR-HPV infection lasting for 12 months or more; (3) patients with the same HR-HPV subtype with no CINⅡ and more lesions after treatment with CINⅡ or CIN Ⅲ (CINⅡ/CIN Ⅲ). All participants were randomly divided into the test group and the control group at a ratio of 2∶1. The test group was locally treated with Nr-CWS freeze-dried powder and the control group was treated with freeze-dried powder without Nr-CWS. The efficacy and negative conversion rate of various subtypes of HR-HPV were evaluated at 1, 4, 8, and 12 months after treatment. The safety indicators of initial diagnosis and treatment were observed. Results: (1) This study included 555 patients with HR-HPV infection in the cervix (included 368 in the test group and 187 in the control group), with an age of (44.1±10.0) years. The baseline characteristics of the two groups of subjects, including age, proportion of Han people, weight, composition of HR-HPV subtypes, and proportion of each subgroup, were compared with no statistically significant differences (all P>0.05). (2) After 12 months of treatment, the effective rates of the test group and the control group were 91.0% (335/368) and 44.9% (84/187), respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ2=142.520, P<0.001). After 12 months of treatment, the negative conversion rates of HPV 16, 18, 52, and 58 infection in the test group were 79.2% (84/106), 73.3% (22/30), 83.1% (54/65), and 77.4% (48/62), respectively. The control group were 21.6% (11/51), 1/9, 35.1% (13/37), and 20.0% (8/40), respectively. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.001). (3) There were no statistically significant differences in vital signs (body weight, body temperature, respiration, pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, etc.) and laboratory routine indicators (blood cell analysis, urine routine examination) between the test group and the control group before treatment and at 1, 4, 8, and 12 months after treatment (all P>0.05); there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions related to the investigational drug between the two groups of subjects [8.7% (32/368) vs 8.0% (15/187), respectively; χ2=0.073, P=0.787]. Conclusion: External use of Nr-CWS has good efficacy and safety in the treatment of high-risk HPV persistent infection in the cervix.

Prognosis analysis of radical or modified radical hysterectomy and simple hysterectomy in patients with stage Ⅱ endometrial cancer / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective: To compare the prognosis and perioperative situation of patients with stage Ⅱ endometrial cancer (EC) between radical hysterectomy/modified radical hysterectomy (RH/mRH) and simple hysterectomy (SH). Methods: A total of 47 patients diagnosed EC with stage Ⅱ [International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2009] by postoperative pathology, from January 2006 to January 2021 in Peking University People's Hospital, were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were (54.4±10.7) years old, and the median follow-up time was 65 months (ranged 9-138 months). They were divided into RH/mRH group (n=14) and SH group (n=33) according to the scope of operation. Then the prognosis of patients between the groups were compared, and the independent prognostic factors of stage Ⅱ EC were explored. Results: (1) The proportions of patients with hypertension in RH/mRH group and SH group were 2/14 and 45% (15/33), the amounts of intraoperative blood loss were (702±392) and (438±298) ml, and the incidence of postoperative complications were 7/14 and 15% (5/33), respectively. There were significant differences (all P<0.05). (2) The median follow-up time of RH/mRH group and SH group were 72 vs 62 months, respectively (P=0.515). According to Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank method, the results showed that there were no significant difference in 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate (94.3% vs 84.0%; P=0.501), and 5-year overall survival rate (92.3% vs 92.9%; P=0.957) between the two groups. Cox survival analysis indicated that age, pathological type, serum cancer antigen 125 (CA125), and estrogen receptor (ER) status were associated with 5-year PFS rate (all P<0.05). But the scope of hysterectomy (RH/mRH and SH) did not affect the 5-year PFS rate of stage Ⅱ EC patients (P=0.508). And level of serum CA125 and ER status were independent prognostic factors for 5-year PFS rate (all P<0.05). Conclusions: This study could not find any survival benefit from RH/mRH for stage Ⅱ EC, but increases the incidence of postoperative complications. Therefore, the necessity of extending the scope of hysterectomy is questionable.

Research progress on an autophagy-mediating AMPK pathway involving bone metabolism-related cells that regulate bone homeostasis in periodontitis / 口腔疾病防治

@#Osteoclasts are the only cells responsible for bone resorption in the body, and osteoblasts are the main cells responsible for bone regeneration in the body. Under physiological conditions, these cells maintain a dynamic balance to maintain bone homeostasis. It was widely believed that the imbalance of bone metabolism is mainly affected by the expression of related inflammatory factors. However, with the gradual expansion of related studies in recent years, autophagy has been shown to be closely related to the differentiation, apoptosis and functions of osteoclasts and osteoblasts. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an important regulator of energy metabolism in vivo and is involved in the regulation of autophagy and bone homeostasis in bone metabolism-related cells. Periodontitis is a chronic infectious disease, and its typical symptoms are alveolar bone resorption. At present, controlling the level of periodontal inflammation and alveolar bone resorption more effectively in clinical practice remains a challenge. The detection of AMPK and autophagy levels in bone metabolism-related cells shows certain prospects for the clinical prevention and treatment of periodontitis in the future. Therefore, this article reviews the regulation of periodontal inflammation levels and bone homeostasis through cell autophagy related to AMPK-mediated bone metabolism.

Clinical outcomes analysis of fertility-preserving therapy for atypical endometrial hyperplasia and early endometrial carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To analyze the clinical efficacy of fertility-preserving therapy in patients with atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) and early endometrial carcinoma (EC). Methods: The general condition, pathological type, treatment plan, tumor outcomes and pregnancy outcomes of 110 patients with AEH and EC treated with fertility-preserving therapy in Peking University People's Hospital from December 2005 to September 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Kaplan-Meier and Log rank tests were used for survival analysis. Results: The response rate of 110 cases of AEH (62 cases) and EC (48 cases) was 94.5% (104/110) after fertility-preserving therapy. There were 93 cases (84.5%) achieved complete response and 11 cases (10.0%) achieved partial response, and the recurrence rate was 29.0% (27/93). The complete response rates of AEH and EC were 90.3% (56/62) and 77.1% (37/48), respectively, without significant difference (P=0.057). The recurrence rates of EC were significantly higher than that of AEH (40.5% vs 21.4%; P=0.022). Forty-one patients with complete response had pregnancy intention, the pregnancy rate was 70.7% (29/41), and the live birth rate was 56.1% (23/41). The live birth rate of AEH was 68.2% (15/22) and that of EC was 42.1% (8/19), the difference was statistically significant (P=0.032). The pathological type was related with the recurrence (P=0.044). Conclusions: Patients with AEH and EC can obtain high complete response rate and pregnancy rate after fertility-preserving therapy. The recurrence rate of EC is higher than that of AEH, while the live birth rate of AEH is higher than that of EC.

Simultaneous determination of 10 components in Guanxinshutong capsules by quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker / 药学学报

This study establishes a quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker (QAMS) method for the simultaneous determination of gallic acid, sodium danshensu, protocatechuic acid, protocatechuic aldehyde, vanillin, rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid B, eugenol, cryptotanshinone and tanshinone IIA in Guanxinshutong capsules (Bambusae Concretio Silicea, Salvia miltiorrhiza, clove, borneol, Bambusae Concretio Silicea) by HPLC. Sample was loaded onto an Agilent C18 (ZORBAX Extend-RP C18, 250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) column and eluted with methanol-0.4% aqueous formic acid solution as a flow phase gradient, flow speed 1.0 mL·min-1, detection wavelength 280 nm, column temperature 35 ℃ and sample intake of 5 µL. Using protocatechuic acid as the internal reference, a relative correction factor was calculated and the durability was investigated, and the content of 10 components was calculated by QAMS and external standard method (ESM). The results show that the specificity, linear relationship, precision, repeatability, and stability of the 10 components were good. The average recovery was 98.20%-103.47% and RSD was 1.26%-2.84%. The relative positive factors and contents of the other nine components were calculated as gallic acid (0.759, 227.381), sodium tanshinol (3.630, 3.283), protocatechualdehyde (0.185, 0.150), vanillin (0.532, 65.213), rosmarinic acid (4.240, 1.035), salvianolic acid B (3.245, 18.204), eugenol (1.729, 9.265), cryptotanshinone (0.691, 1.449), and tanshinone ⅡA (0.702, 1.939). The results of QAMS were consistent with ESM analysis, and the relative error was between -3% and 3%. This method is stable and reliable, and can be used for the determination of 10 components in Guanxinshutong capsules.

A 14-year multi-institutional collaborative study of Chinese pelvic floor surgical procedures related to pelvic organ prolapse / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#It has been a global trend that increasing complications related to pelvic floor surgeries have been reported over time. The current study aimed to outline the development of Chinese pelvic floor surgeries related to pelvic organ prolapse (POP) over the past 14 years and investigate the potential influence of enhanced monitoring conducted by the Chinese Association of Urogynecology since 2011.@*METHODS@#A total of 44,594 women with POP who underwent pelvic floor surgeries between October 1, 2004 and September 30, 2018 were included from 22 tertiary academic medical centers. The data were reported voluntarily and obtained from a database. We compared the proportion of each procedure in the 7 years before and 7 years after September 30, 2011. The data were analyzed by performing Z test (one-sided).@*RESULTS@#The number of different procedures during October 1, 2011-September 30, 2018 was more than twice that during October 1, 2004-September 30, 2011. Regarding pelvic floor surgeries related to POP, the rate of synthetic mesh procedures increased from 38.1% (5298/13,906) during October 1, 2004-September 30, 2011 to 46.0% (14,107/30,688) during October 1, 2011-September 30, 2018, whereas the rate of non-mesh procedures decreased from 61.9% (8608/13,906) to 54.0% (16,581/30,688) (Z = 15.53, P < 0.001). Regarding synthetic mesh surgeries related to POP, the rates of transvaginal placement of surgical mesh (TVM) procedures decreased from 94.1% (4983/5298) to 82.2% (11,603/14,107) (Z = 20.79, P < 0.001), but the rate of laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC) procedures increased from 5.9% (315/5298) to 17.8% (2504/14,107).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The rate of synthetic mesh procedures increased while that of non-mesh procedures decreased significantly. The rate of TVM procedures decreased while the rate of LSC procedures increased significantly.@*TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER@#NCT03620565, https://register.clinicaltrials.gov.

Urodynamic assessment of bladder storage function after radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#After radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer, the most common complication is lower urinary tract symptoms. Post-operatively, bladder capacity can alter bladder function for a prolonged period. This study aimed to identify factors affecting bladder storage function.@*METHODS@#A multicenter, retrospective cohort study was conducted. Information of patients with stages IA2 to IIB cervical cancer with urodynamic study results were retrospectively collected from nine hospitals between June 2013 and June 2018 according to the inclusion criteria. Demographic, surgical, and oncological data were collected. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify clinical factors associated with bladder storage function.@*RESULTS@#Two hundred and three patients with cervical cancer had urodynamic testing post-operatively. Ninety-five (46.8%) patients were diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The incidence of low bladder compliance (LBC) was 23.2%. Twenty-seven (13.3%) patients showed detrusor overactivity (DO). Fifty-seven patients (28.1%) presented with a decreased maximum cystometric capacity (DMCC). The probability of composite bladder storage dysfunction was 68.0%. Multivariate analysis confirmed that laparoscopy represents a protective factor for SUI with an odds ratio of 0.498 (P = 0.034). Patients who underwent a nerve-sparing procedure were less odds to experience SUI (P = 0.014). A significant positive correlation between LBC and DO was observed (P < 0.001). A greater length of the resected vagina and chemoradiotherapy were common risk factors for LBC and DO, while radiotherapy exerted a stronger effect than chemotherapy. Additionally, patients who received chemoradiotherapy frequently developed a DMCC. The follow-up time was not correlated with bladder storage function.@*CONCLUSION@#A nerve-sparing procedure without longer resected vagina is recommended for protecting the bladder storage function.

Consistency Evaluation of in vitro Quality of Nitroglycerin Tablet Reference Preparation and Imitative Preparation / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE：To investigate the in vitro quality consistency of domestic Nitroglycerin table t imitative preparation and reference preparation （original drug ）. METHODS ：The contents of nitroglycerin and related substances in 1 batch of Nitroglycerin tablet reference preparation （manufacturer A ）and 4 batches of imitative preparation （manufacturer B ，C，D，E） were determined according to Nitroglycerin Tablet Import Drugs Registration Standard JX 20010267. The paddle method of dissolution determination method was adopted ，with the rotating speed of 50 r/min. HPLC method was adopted to determine the dissolution amount of 5 batches of above preparations in 4 kinds of dissolution mediums （pH 1.2 hydrochloric acid solution ，pH 4.0 acetate buffer solution ，pH 6.8 phosphate buffer solution ，water） within 10 min.The accumulative dissolution rate was calculated，and dissolution curves of samples were drawn.The similarity of the dissolution curves was evaluated by calculating similarity factor （f2）of 2，5，8 min accumulative dissolution rate. RESULTS ：The contents of nitroglycerin in the preparations from manufacturer A ，B，C，D，E were 99.8％，98.3％，94.0％，93.3％，96.7％，respectively（n＝2）；the contents of related substance were 0.46％，0.55％，0.63％，0.72％，0.49％，respectively（n＝2）. Using reference preparation of manufacturer A as control，f2 of imitative preparation from manufacturer B ，C，D，E were 74，28，25，67 in pH 1.2 hydrochloric acid solution ；76， 26，28，84 in pH 4.0 acetate buffer solution ；79，39，35，71 in pH 6.8 phosphate buffer solution ；69，32，37，62 in water ， respectively. CONCLUSIONS ：The method is suitable for in vitro quality consistency evaluation of Nitroglycerin table timitative preparation. Compared with reference preparation ，the contents of main components in the imitative preparations from manufacturer C，D are lower ；in vitro dissolution curves of those imitative preparation are not similar to reference preparation .

Intra-tumor heterogeneity for endometrial cancer and its clinical significance / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Background@#Management of tumors has become more complex owing to tumor heterogeneity. Fewer studies have been performed on intra-tumor heterogeneity of endometrial cancer (EC) until now. Therefore, it is of great clinical value to explore the intra-tumor heterogeneity of EC based on clinical features and gene expression profiles.@*Methods@#A total of 1688 patients with EC were screened and 114 patients were finally selected, including specimens from 84 patients with primary EC without relapse (PE) and the paired metastases (P-M) specimens, as well as specimens from 30 patients with primary EC with relapse (RPE) and the paired relapsed EC (P-RE) specimens. Microarray and RNA-seq were used to detect gene expression of EC samples. Clinicopathological characteristics and molecular data were compared between PE and P-M groups and between RPE and P-RE groups to explore the intra-tumor heterogeneity of EC.@*Results@#The clinical intra-tumor spatial heterogeneity of pathological type, grade, ER status, and PR status between PE and P-M were 17.9%, 13.1%, 28.6%, and 28.6%, respectively. The clinical intra-tumor spatiotemporal heterogeneity of pathological type, grade, ER status, and PR status between RPE and P-RE were 16.7%, 33.3%, 25.0%, and 37.5%, respectively. Cluster analysis sorts EC samples based on progression type of lesion and their pathological type. There were differentially expressed genes between PE and P-M and between RPE and P-RE, of which gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis were mainly enriched in cell proliferation, the p53 signaling pathway, etc.@*Conclusions@#Clinical and molecular data showed that there was spatiotemporal heterogeneity in intra-tumor of EC, which may add to the complexity of diagnosis and therapeutics for EC. Considering the intra-tumor heterogeneity, sequential chemotherapy and precision medicine may be a more suitable treatment plan for EC.

Identification of new fusion genes and their clinical significance in endometrial cancer / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Background@#Fusion genes may play an important role in tumorigenesis, prognosis, and drug resistance; however, studies on fusion genes in endometrial cancer (EC) are rare. This study aimed to identify new fusion genes and to explore their clinical significance in EC.@*Methods@#A total of 28 patients diagnosed with EC were enrolled in this study. RNA sequencing was used to obtain entire genomes and transcriptomes. STAR-comparison and STAR-fusion prediction were applied to predict the fusion genes. Chi-square tests and Student t tests were used to verify the clinical significance with SPSS 13.0 software.@*Results@#New fusion genes were found, and the number of fusion genes varied from 3 to 110 among all patients with EC. The type of fusion genes varied and included messenger RNA (mRNA)-mRNA, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-lncRNA, and lncRNA-mRNA. There were six fusion genes with high fusion rates, namely, RP11–123O10.4–GRIP1, RP11–444D3.1–SOX5, RP11– 680G10.1–GSE1, NRIP1–AF127936.7, RP11–96H19.1–RP11–446N19.1, and DPH7–PTP4A3. Further studies showed that these fusion genes are related to stage, grade, and recurrence, in which NRIP1–AF127936.7 and DPH7–PTP4A3 were found only in stage III patients with EC. DPH7–PTP4A3 was found in grades 2 and 3, and recurrent patients with EC.@*Conclusion@#Fusion genes play an essential role in EC. Six genes that are overexpressed with high fusion rates are identified. NRIP1– AF127936.7 and DPH7–PTP4A3 might be related to stage, and DPH7–PTP4A3 be related to grade and recurrence.

Study on Dissolution in vitro of Cyclosporine Soft Capsules from 3 Domestic Manufacturers / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE： To investigate the similarity of in vitro dissolution curve between the generic drugs and the reference preparation （original drugs） of the domestic Cyclosporine soft capsules in 6 dissolution mediums. METHODS： The dissolution test was performed with paddle method. 2％ SDS water solution， 2％ SDS pH 1.2 hydrochloric acid solution， 2％ SDS water solution， 2％ SDS pH 4.5 acetate buffer solution， 2％ SDS pH 5.5 acetate buffer solution， 2％ SDS pH 6.8 phosphate buffer solution and 2％ SDS simulated gastric fluid were used as the dissolution medium， and the rotation speed was 50 r /min. HPLC method was used. The determination was performed on Agilent Eclipse XDB-C18 column with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile phosphate solution （73 ∶ 27 ∶ 0.25，V/V/V），the flow rate was 1.0 mL/min. The detection wavelength was set at 226 nm， the column temperature was 60 ℃， and sample size was 20 μL. The dissolution curves in 6 medium were drawn and the similarity factor （f2） was used to investigate the similarity between the samples from 3 domestic manufacturers （5 batches） and a batch of original drugs. RESULTS： The linear range of cyclosporine was 5-250 μg/mL （r＝0.999 6-0.999 9）； RSDs of precision， stability （12 h） and reproducibility tests were lower than 2.0％ （n＝6 or 7）； the recoveries were 98.4％-99.7％ （RSD＜2.0％， n＝9）. The cumulative dissolution of 6 batches of samples within 15 min reached 85％ in 2％ SDS pH 1.2 hydrochloric acid solution and 2％ SDS simulated gastric juice. f2 of the dissolution curve of 5 batches of generic and original drugs of Cyclosporine soft capsules were 75， 45， 57， 42， 83 in 2％ SDS water solution and 44， 76， 38， 32， 76 in 2％ SDS pH 4.5 acetate buffer solution 76， 47， 49， 40， 79 in 2％ SDS pH 5.5 acetate buffer solution and 52， 49， 55， 48， 80 in 2％ SDS pH 6.8 phosphate buffer solution， respectively. CONCLUSIONS： There have differences in the similarity of the dissolution curve between the domestic generic and the original drugs of 5 batches of Cyclosporin soft capsule from 3 domestic manufacturers.

Intra-tumor heterogeneity for endometrial cancer and its clinical significance / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Management of tumors has become more complex owing to tumor heterogeneity. Fewer studies have been performed on intra-tumor heterogeneity of endometrial cancer (EC) until now. Therefore, it is of great clinical value to explore the intra-tumor heterogeneity of EC based on clinical features and gene expression profiles.@*METHODS@#A total of 1688 patients with EC were screened and 114 patients were finally selected, including specimens from 84 patients with primary EC without relapse (PE) and the paired metastases (P-M) specimens, as well as specimens from 30 patients with primary EC with relapse (RPE) and the paired relapsed EC (P-RE) specimens. Microarray and RNA-seq were used to detect gene expression of EC samples. Clinicopathological characteristics and molecular data were compared between PE and P-M groups and between RPE and P-RE groups to explore the intra-tumor heterogeneity of EC.@*RESULTS@#The clinical intra-tumor spatial heterogeneity of pathological type, grade, ER status, and PR status between PE and P-M were 17.9%, 13.1%, 28.6%, and 28.6%, respectively. The clinical intra-tumor spatiotemporal heterogeneity of pathological type, grade, ER status, and PR status between RPE and P-RE were 16.7%, 33.3%, 25.0%, and 37.5%, respectively. Cluster analysis sorts EC samples based on progression type of lesion and their pathological type. There were differentially expressed genes between PE and P-M and between RPE and P-RE, of which gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis were mainly enriched in cell proliferation, the p53 signaling pathway, etc. CONCLUSIONS:: Clinical and molecular data showed that there was spatiotemporal heterogeneity in intra-tumor of EC, which may add to the complexity of diagnosis and therapeutics for EC. Considering the intra-tumor heterogeneity, sequential chemotherapy and precision medicine may be a more suitable treatment plan for EC.

Identification of new fusion genes and their clinical significance in endometrial cancer / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Fusion genes may play an important role in tumorigenesis, prognosis, and drug resistance; however, studies on fusion genes in endometrial cancer (EC) are rare. This study aimed to identify new fusion genes and to explore their clinical significance in EC.@*METHODS@#A total of 28 patients diagnosed with EC were enrolled in this study. RNA sequencing was used to obtain entire genomes and transcriptomes. STAR-comparison and STAR-fusion prediction were applied to predict the fusion genes. Chi-square tests and Student t tests were used to verify the clinical significance with SPSS 13.0 software.@*RESULTS@#New fusion genes were found, and the number of fusion genes varied from 3 to 110 among all patients with EC. The type of fusion genes varied and included messenger RNA (mRNA)-mRNA, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-lncRNA, and lncRNA-mRNA. There were six fusion genes with high fusion rates, namely, RP11-123O10.4-GRIP1, RP11-444D3.1-SOX5, RP11-680G10.1-GSE1, NRIP1-AF127936.7, RP11-96H19.1-RP11-446N19.1, and DPH7-PTP4A3. Further studies showed that these fusion genes are related to stage, grade, and recurrence, in which NRIP1-AF127936.7 and DPH7-PTP4A3 were found only in stage III patients with EC. DPH7-PTP4A3 was found in grades 2 and 3, and recurrent patients with EC.@*CONCLUSION@#Fusion genes play an essential role in EC. Six genes that are overexpressed with high fusion rates are identified. NRIP1-AF127936.7 and DPH7-PTP4A3 might be related to stage, and DPH7-PTP4A3 be related to grade and recurrence.

Rapid discovery and identification of the anti-inflammatory constituents in Zhi-Shi-Zhi-Zi-Chi-Tang / 中国天然药物

The anti-inflammatory active ingredients of Zhi-Shi-Zhi-Zi-Chi-Tang (ZSZZCT), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, were predicted and identified using an approach based on activity index, LC-MS, semi-preparative LC and NMR. Firstly, the whole extract of ZSZZCT was analyzed using liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight-mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS) and liquid chromatography - ion trap mass spectrometry (LC-IT-MS), 79 constituents were detected and 39 constituents were identified unambiguously or tentatively. Subsequently, the whole extract of the formula was separated into multiple components and the activity index method was used to calculate index values of the 79 constituents by integrating the chemical and pharmacological information of multiple components. Four polymethoxyl flavones were predicted as the major active constituents according to the activity index values. Furthermore, three polymethoxyl flavones were prepared using the strategy with semi-preparative LC guided by LC-MS, and their anti-inflammatory activities were validated. The results show that three polymethoxyl flavones with higher positive index values, i.e., 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 3', 4'-heptamethoxyflavone, 3-hydroxynobiletein and tangeretin had significant anti-inflammatory effects. In conclusion, the predicted results indicated that the activity index method is feasible for the accurate prediction of active constituents in TCM formulae.

Role of hippocampus NMDAR subunits in electroacupuncture at "Zhongwan" (CV 12) and "Weishu" (BL 21) for gastric motility / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on gastric motility, protooncogene c-fos and hippocampus N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits in rats with functional dyspepsia (FD), and to discuss the molecular mechanism of hippocampal in EA at "Zhongwan" (CV 12) and "Weishu" (BL 21) for gastric motility.@*METHODS@#Eighty-four Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a Zhongwan group, a Weishu group, an acupoint combination group and a non-acupoint group, 14 rats in each one. Except for the normal group, FD model were established by moderate tail-clipping infuriation method and irregular feeding. The rats in the Zhongwan group, Weishu group, acupoint combination group and non-acupoint group were treated with EA at corresponding acupoints, 20 min per treatment, once a day for 7 days. The rats in the normal group and the model group received no treatment; grabbing and fixation were applied in the model group. The stress transducer was used to record gastric motion waveforms; immunohistochemistry method was used to detect the expression of c-fos in hippocampus; Western blot method was used to detect the expression of NMDA receptor subunits NR1, NR2A and NR2B in hippocampus.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the normal group, the gastric motility range was decreased (0.05). Compared with the model group, the gastric motility range was increased, the expression of hippocampus c-fos and expression of hippocampus NR2A was increased but expressions of NR1 and NR2B were reduced in the Weishu group, Zhongwan group and acupoint combination group (0.05). Compared with the Zhongwan group and the Weishu group, the gastric motility range was increased, the expression of hippocampus c-fos and NR2A was increased but the expression of NR1 and NR2B was reducedin the acupoint combination group (0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#EA at "Zhongwan" (CV 12) and "Weishu" (BL 21) could increase gastric motility of FD rats, which is likely to be related with activating hippocampal neurons, upregulating the level of NR2A and downregulating NR1 and NR2B.

Optimization of Paeonol NLC Thermosensitive Gel Formulation by Box-Behnken Response Surface Methodology / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To optimize the formulation of paeonol nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) thermosensitive in situ gel through Box-Behnken response surface method; To investigate its release properties in vitro to provide references for the study of transdermal drug delivery system. Methods Taking mass fraction of poloxamer 407 and poloxamer 188 as the factors, the gelling temperature as the index, the mathematical relationship between the gelling temperature and two factors was established by binomial model and multivariate linear regression model. The Box-Behnken response surface method was used to optimize the formulation of paeonol NLC thermosensitive in situ gel, and the in vitro release characteristics of the preparation was investigated. Results There was a credible quantitative relationship between the gelling temperature and the 2 factors, and the binomial model was more reliable than the multivariate linear model. The best prescriptions of paeonol NLC thermosensitive in situ gel were 22.90% poloxamer 407 and 3.34% poloxamer 188; gelling temperature was (33.4±0.1)℃, and the cumulative release amount of paeonol in situ gel in 24 h was 51.19%. Conclusion This method is suitable for the formulation optimization of paeonol NLC thermosensitive in-situ gel, and the established mathematical model has good predictability. The optimized formulation can provide references for the development of paeonol transdermal preparation.

Effect of Optimized Concentrations of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor and Epidermal Growth Factor on Proliferation of Fibroblasts and Expression of Collagen: Related to Pelvic Floor Tissue Regeneration / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Background@#Fibroblasts were the main seed cells in the studies of tissue engineering of the pelvic floor ligament. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were widely studied but at various concentrations. This study aimed to optimize the concentrations of combined bFGF and EGF by evaluating their effects on proliferation and collagen secretion of fibroblasts.@*Methods@#Fibroblasts were differentiated from rat adipose mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs). Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry were used for cell identification. The growth factors were applied at concentrations of 0, 1, 10, and 100 ng/ml as three groups: (1) bFGF alone, (2) EGF alone, and (3) bFGF mixed with EGF. Cell proliferation was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 assays. Expression of Type I and III collagen (Col-I and Col-III) mRNAs was evaluated by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS software and GraphPad Prism using one-way analysis of variance and multiple t-test.@*Results@#ADSCs were successfully isolated from rat adipose tissue as identified by expression of typical surface markers CD29, CD44, CD90, and CD45 in flow cytometry. Fibroblasts induced from ADSC, compared with ADSCs, were with higher mRNA expression levels of Col I and Col III (F = 1.29, P = 0.0390). bFGF, EGF, and the mixture of bFGF with EGF can enhanced fibroblasts proliferation, and the concentration of 10 ng/ml of the mixture of bFGF with EGF displayed most effectively (all P < 0.05). The expression levels of Col-I and Col-III mRNAs in fibroblasts displayed significant increases in the 10 ng/ml bFGF combined with EGF group (all P < 0.05).@*Conclusions@#The optimal concentration of both bFGF and EGF to promote cell proliferation and collagen expression in fibroblasts was 10 ng/ml at which fibroblasts grew faster and secreted more Type I and III collagens into the extracellular matrix, which might contribute to the stability of the pelvic floor microenvironment.

Effect of exercise on adiponectin in aged obese rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore effects of exercise on the expression of adiponectin mRNA and protein in visceral adipose tissue, plasma adiponectin concentration, and insulin resistance of aged obese rats.@*METHODS@#Male SD rats age to 21 days old were fed with high-fat diet (fat percentage was 36.3% to 40.0%) for three stages of adolescence, maturity and old age to establish elderly obesity rats model. When the rats aged to 60 weeks old, natural growing elderly rats were randomly divided into control group (C) and aged exercise group (AE), =6; elderly obesity rats were randomly divided into obesity control group (OC) and obesity exercise group (OE), =6. The treadmill grade was 0°, the exercise speed and time were 15 m/min×15 min, 4 groups each time, between consecutive groups the rats had 5 minutes rest, the rats were exercised for 60 minutes every day, five days a week, continuous exercise for 8 weeks. Then, the expressions of adiponectin mRNA and protein in visceral adipose tissue were determined. The concentrations of blood glucose, plasma adiponectin and insulin were measured. Insulin resistance was calculated.@*RESULTS@#Comparison with control group, the expressions of adiponectin mRNA and protein were obviously decreased, the concentration of blood glucose and insulin resistance were significantly increased in obesity control group, while the expressions of adiponectin mRNA and protein were obviously increased. Comparison with obesity control group, the expressions of adiponectin mRNA and protein, the concentration of plasma adiponectin were obviously increased, the concentration of blood glucose and insulin resistance were significantly decreased in obesity exercise group.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Adiponectin mRNA and protein expression in visceral adipose tissue is decreased and accompanied by high blood glucose and insulin resistance in elderly obesity rats. Exercise can increase the adiponectin mRNA and protein expression in visceral adipose tissue, elevate levels of plasma adiponectin, and decrease the level of blood glucose and insulin resistance in elderly obesity rats.

A Sj(o)gren's syndrome patient with prominent aortic valve involvement: a case report / 北京大学学报(医学版)

Sj(o)gren's syndrome is a systemic autoimmune disease which is characterized by xerosis,and multiple organs can be affected,causing interstitial lung disease,renal tubular acidosis,blood system involvement,peripheral neuropathy,and liver damage,but cardiac involvement is rare.Here we report a case of Sj(o)gren's syndrome with prominent aortic valve involvement.A 66-year-old woman was admitted for exertional dyspnea,and the ultrasonic cardiogram showed severe aortic stenosis with moderate regurgitation.Preoperative examination for valve replacement found that the patient had elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and positive rheumatoid factor,so she was referred to the rheumatology outpatient department for further examination and treatment.Further questions about medical history found that the patient had dry eyes and dry mouth for more than ten years,and had obvious caries.Further laboratory examination showed elevated serum immunoglobulin levels and positive anti-nuclear antibody.The findings of ophthalmologic examination and labial gland biopsy also supported the diagnosis of Sj(o)gren's syndrome.After treatment of glucocorticoids and hydroxychloroquine for ten months,her dyspnea symptoms were obviously improved in the patient,and the rheumatoid factor had become negative while her erythrocyte sedimentation rate normal.Repeated ultrasonic cardiogram examination showed that her aortic stenosis was also improved.The patient has been followed up for four years,and her condition kept stable.Cardiac involvement in Sj(o)gren's syndrome can affect all parts of the heart,but valve involvement is relatively rare.The specific relationship between cardiac involvement and Sj(o)gren's syndrome and the mechanisms behind these associations both need further research.

Effects of berberine extracted from Chinese Goldthread Rhizome on the expression of claudin-1 in ulcerative colitis mice / 预防医学

Objective To investigate the effect of berberine (BBR) extracted from Chinese Goldthread Rhizome on the expression of claudin-1 in ulcerative colitis mice. Methods UC model was established by dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) . Sixty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into a blank control group, a model control group, a low dose BBR group, a high dose BBR group and a salazosulfapyridine (SASP) positive control group. Then daily gavage administration was given for 7 days. During the course of experiment, the general conditions of mice were observed, and disease activity index (DAI) were assessed. At the end of treatment, colon tissue were dissected, its macroscopic damage index (CMDI) and tissue damage index (TDI) were evaluated, and the contents of claudin-1 protein and mRNA were detected by immunohistochemical method and real-time PCR separately. Results Compared with model control group, the clinical and pathological symptoms of colitis in BBR groups and SASP group were improved to various degrees, the DAI, CMDI and TDI in high dose BBR group and SASP group were all reduced (P<0.01) . The expression levels of claudin-1 mRNA in five groups were 1.00±0.03、 0.12±0.02、 0.21±0.02、 0.63±0.03 and 0.81±0.03, respectively. The expression levels of claudin-1 and its mRNA of colonic tissue in UC mice were all markedly lower than normal mice (P<0.01), which were all increased after BBR or SASP treatment when comparing with blank control group, whose difference was statistically significant. Conclusion Berberine can effectively relieve the colitis in UC mice by raising the expression of claudin-1, but the therapeutic effect was a little weaker than SASP.