Progress on biomarkers of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia / 国际儿科学杂志

Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia is an important component of community-acquired pneumonia, which can cause severe extrapulmonary complications of digestive, cardiovascular, blood, urinary and other systems.Accurate and effective biomarkers are significant for the diagnosis and treatment of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.Recent studies have shown that new biomarkers such as IL-35, IL-17, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio(NLR) and S100 protein are involved in the development of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.In order to provide reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, this paper reviews the progress of new biomarkers in Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.

Attach great importance to the significance of serum anti-müllerian hormone and androgen in the evaluation of polycystic ovary syndrome / 中华预防医学杂志

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disease in women of childbearing age, which seriously affects women's reproductive health. In recent years, more and more studies have found that serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has certain significance in the diagnosis and treatment evaluation of PCOS. In addition, with the improvement of detection methods, more attention has been paid to the significance of female androgens and AMH in the evaluation of PCOS. This article reviews the recent research progress of serum AMH and androgens in the evaluation of PCOS.

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.

A molecular brake that modulates spliceosome pausing at detained introns contributes to neurodegeneration

Emerging evidence suggests that intron-detaining transcripts (IDTs) are a nucleus-detained and polyadenylated mRNA pool for cell to quickly and effectively respond to environmental stimuli and stress. However, the underlying mechanisms of detained intron (DI) splicing are still largely unknown. Here, we suggest that post-transcriptional DI splicing is paused at the Bact state, an active spliceosome but not catalytically primed, which depends on Smad Nuclear Interacting Protein 1 (SNIP1) and RNPS1 (a serine-rich RNA binding protein) interaction. RNPS1 and Bact components preferentially dock at DIs and the RNPS1 docking is sufficient to trigger spliceosome pausing. Haploinsufficiency of Snip1 attenuates neurodegeneration and globally rescues IDT accumulation caused by a previously reported mutant U2 snRNA, a basal spliceosomal component. Snip1 conditional knockout in the cerebellum decreases DI splicing efficiency and causes neurodegeneration. Therefore, we suggest that SNIP1 and RNPS1 form a molecular brake to promote spliceosome pausing, and that its misregulation contributes to neurodegeneration.

Intervention effect of injury control orthopedic strategy on fat embolism syndrome associated with long shaft fracture of lower limb / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the intervention effect of damage control orthopaedic(DCO) strategy on fat embolism syndrome(FES) associated with long shaft fracture of lower limbs.@*METHODS@#Retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 163 patients with FES associated with lower limb long shaft fractures admitted from January 2015 to May 2021. They were divided into two groups based on the time point of implementing DCO strategy in January 2018. Total of 92 patients were admitted from January 2015 to December 2017 as the control group, and other 71 patients were admitted from January 2018 to May 2021 as the intervention group. The hospital mortality, arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and oxygenation index (OI), hemoglobin (Hb), platelet count(PLT), Harris score of hip joint, HSS score of knee joint, AOFAS score of ankle joint, clinical efficacy and complications were observed and compared between two groups.@*RESULTS@#Total of 163 patients were followed up for 12 to 18 months with an average of (16.91±1.22) months. The in-hospital mortality rate in the intervention group was 2.82% (2/71), and that in the control group was 16.30% (15/92), the difference between two groups was statistically significant(χ2=6.455, P<0.05). After the intervention, SaO2, PaO2 and OI in two groups were higher than those before the intervention(P<0.05), and after the intervention, SaO2, PaO2 and OI in two groups were statistically significant(P<0.05). Hb and PLT in two groups after intervention were higher than those before intervention (P<0.001), and there was statistically significant difference in Hb and PLT between two groups after intervention (P<0.05). The Harris score of hip joint, HSS score of knee joint and AOFAS score of ankle joint in both groups after 3 months of treatment were better than those before treatment (P<0.05). The total clinical effective rate of the intervention group was higher than that of the control group(χ2=4.194, P<0.05). The total incidence of complications in the intervention group was lower than that in the control group(χ2=4.747, P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#DCO strategy is helpful to reduce the in-hospital mortality of patients with FES associated with long shaft fracture of lower extremities, eliminate FES symptoms and stabilize vital signs, gain time advantage for phase Ⅱ definitive surgery, and has significant clinical intervention effect, which is worth popularizing.

A new bibenzyl derivative from stems of Dendrobium officinale / 中国中药杂志

Eleven compounds were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of the stems of Dendrobium officinale after water extraction by various modern chromatographic techniques, such as silica gel column chromatography(CC), octadecyl-silica(ODS) CC, Sephadex LH-20 CC, preparative thin layer chromatography(PTLC) and preparative high performance liquid chromatography(PHPLC). According to spectroscopic analyses(MS, 1D-NMR, 2D-NMR) combined with optical rotation data and calculated electronic circular dichroism(ECD), their structures were identified as dendrocandin Y(1), 4,4'-dihydroxybibenzyl(2), 3-hydroxy-4',5-dimethoxybibenzyl(3), 3,3'-dihydroxy-5-methoxybibenzyl(4), 3-hydroxy-3',4',5-trimethoxybibenzyl(5), crepidatin(6), alternariol(7), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxypropiophenone(8), 3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethoxypropiophenone(9), auriculatum A(10) and hyperalcohol(11). Among them, compound 1 was a new bibenzyl derivative; compounds 2 and 7-11 have not been previously reported from Dendrobium plants; compound 6 was reported from D.officinale for the first time. Compounds 3-6 exhibited potent antioxidant activity with IC_(50) values of 3.11-9.05 μmol·L~(-1) in ABTS radical scavenging assay. Compound 4 showed significant inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase, with IC_(50) value of 17.42 μmol·L~(-1), indicating that it boasted hypoglycemic activity.

Research on the anti-tumor effect of nordihydroguaiaretic acid targeting MyD88 / 药学学报

This study mainly explores the role of myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88) in tumorigenesis and development, to identify active compounds targeting MyD88. CRISPR/Cas9 system and xenograft tumor model were used to detect the effect of MyD88 deletion on tumor growth, and the experimental animal ethics review number was PZSHUTCM200828006. Microscale thermophoresis technology (MST) was used to identify compounds directly bind to MyD88 and further detect the impact of candidate small molecules on cell proliferation. Results showed that depletion of MyD88 significantly inhibited xenograft tumor growth of colon cancer, pancreatic cancer and skin cancer and the activity of NF-κB signaling pathway. MST showed that nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) bound to MyD88, with the binding dissociation constant Kd of 14.61 µmol·L-1. NDGA inhibited NF-κB reporting system activation and phosphorylation of p65, the key factor in NF-κB signal pathway. In addition, the results of colony formation assay showed that NDGA suppressed the proliferation of tumor cells. The above results show that, MyD88 is a potential therapeutic target for colon cancer, pancreatic cancer and skin cancer, NDGA directly binds to MyD88 and inhibits the activity of NF-κB signaling pathway, as well as inhibits the proliferation of pancreatic cancer, skin cancer and colon cancer cells.

Study on Mechanism of Action of Matrine in Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Based on Zebrafish Model and Network Pharmacology / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo study the mechanism of matrine in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease （IBD） based on the zebrafish model and network pharmacology. MethodThe IBD model of zebrafish was established using 2，4，6-trinitro-benzenesulfonicacid （TNBS）， and the intestinal phagocytic function， goblet cell secretion， and neutrophil aggregation were evaluated using neutral red staining， alcian blue staining， and neutrophil number changes. Changes in tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α and cholecystokinin （CCK） content in zebrafish were determined by using relevant reagent kits. Network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques were used to predict the potential mechanism of matrine in the treatment of IBD. Gene expression of relevant targets was verified through Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultCompared with the model group， the matrine administration group can increase the neutral red staining area in a dose-dependent manner and improve intestinal phagocytic function（P<0.05，P<0.01）. It can reduce the staining area of alcian blue and affect the secretion of intestinal goblet cells（P<0.01）. It can reduce the number of neutrophil granulocytes， relieve its aggregation， significantly reduce TNF-α content（P<0.01）， and increase the CCK content. Network pharmacology analysis identifies 28 potential targets for matrine in the treatment of IBD. The top five targets by protein-protein interaction （PPI） network analysis are CHRNA7， DRD1， CHRNA4， SLC6A3， and GRM5. The Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes （KEGG） results show that the treatment of IBD with matrine may be related to neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction， cholinergic synapse， and neutrophil extracellular trap formation. Real-time PCR results show that matrine can affect the expression level of related target genes. Conclusionmatrine has a certain therapeutic effect on IBD and can affect the inflammatory response of IBD. Its therapeutic effect may be related to neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and other pathways.

Comparison of two types of flaps based on dorsal cutaneous branch of proper palmar digital artery for repair of wound of fingertip or finger-pulp / 中华显微外科杂志

Objective:To compare the clinical effectiveness of propeller flap and vascular chain flap based on dorsal cutaneous branch of proper palmar digital artery for repair of wounds of fingertip or finger-pulp.Methods:From April 2018 to May 2021, a total of 55 patients (55 fingers) with wounds of fingertip or finger-pulp in the 2nd-5th fingers were treated in emergency surgery in the Department of Hand Surgery, the Second Hospital of Tangshan. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups by the method of drawing lots. The wounds of 29 patients (29 fingers) were repaired by propeller flaps based on dorsal cutaneous branch of proper palmar digital artery (propeller group) and that of 26 patients(26 fingers) were treated by vascular chain flaps based on dorsal cutaneous branch of proper palmar digital artery(vascular chain group). Survival of the flaps and the skin grafts at donor sites were observed between the 2 groups. The operation and follow-up time in both groups were recorded. Postoperative follow-up included outpatient clinic visits, telephone reviews and WeChat video-clips. At final follow-up, the static TPD of the flaps, patient satisfaction with the appearance of flaps and donor sites and the Range of motion(ROM) of the injured fingers were recorded. The measurement and count data of both groups were compared by independent sample t-test, χ2 tests or Fisher's exact test, respectively. P<0.05 was considered a statistically significant. Results:All the flaps and skin grafts survived primarily in both groups. The operation time in propeller group was 57.55 minutes±4.35 minutes. It was less than what in the vascular chain group (61.12 minutes±4.58 minutes) and with statistically significant difference( P<0.05). The follow-up period was 14.55 months±2.89 months in propeller group and 15.15 months±3.78 months in the vascular chain group. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups( P>0.05). At final follow-up, the static TPD and patient satisfaction with the appearance of flaps in propeller group were 6.55 mm±1.24 mm and 4.59±0.50, which were better than 7.46 mm±1.27 mm and 4.31±0.47 in the vascular chain group with a statistically significant difference( P<0.05). The patient satisfaction with the appearance of donor sites and ROM of the injured digital joints in propeller group were 4.45±0.57 and 190.86°±8.56°, while what in the vascular chain group were 4.35±0.56 and 185.96°±10.58°. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups( P>0.05). Conclusion:The propeller flap and vascular chain flap are both based on dorsal cutaneous branch of proper palmar digital artery and are both suitable for repair of wounds of fingertip or finger-pulp. Compared with the vascular chain flap, the propeller flap has the advantages in shorter operation time, better flap sensation and appearance.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors for concurrent infection in adult patients with hypopituitarism / 中国医师杂志

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and risk factors of concurrent infection in adult patients with hypopituitarism (HP).Methods:Clinical data of patients diagnosed with HP in Fuyang People′s Hospital from October 2016 to August 2020 were collected. Patients were divided into infected group and non-infected group according to whether they were co-infected, and the differences in clinical characteristics between the two groups were compared. The risk factors of infection in HP patients were analyzed by binary logistic regression.Results:The top three clinical manifestations of 64 HP patients were decreased libido; lack of energy, fear of cold, and poor appetite; hyponatremia. Etiological analysis of 64 HP patients: 23 cases of Sheehan′s syndrome, 14 cases of postoperative brain tumors (pituitary adenoma, craniopharyngioma, meningioma), 8 cases of idiopathic, 7 cases of pituitary adenoma, 8 cases of pituitary volume and morphology changes, and 4 cases of empty sella turcica. 40.32%(25/62) of patients with adrenal axis dysfunction received glucocorticoid replacement therapy, with 80%(20/25) receiving prednisone and 20%(5/25) receiving hydrocortisone. The replacement dose was 2.5-25(6.77±3.90)mg of prednisone equivalent dose. 37.70%(23/61) of patients with low thyroid axis function received thyroid hormone replacement therapy, of which 52.17%(12/23) free thyroxine (FT4) levels were still lower than the lower normal limit. 20%(2/10) of males ≤60 years old and 5.56%(1/18) of females≤50 years old received hormone replacement therapy for patients with hypogonadism of the gonadal axis. Among 64 HP patients included, 29 were co-infected (infected group) and 35 were not co-infected (non infected group). There was no significant difference between the infected group and the non infected group in gender, etiology, number of pituitary axis involved, glucocorticoid replacement therapy dose, thyroid hormone replacement therapy dose, and sex hormone replacement therapy rate (all P>0.05). Compared with the non infected group, the infected group was older, had a longer course of disease, lower diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and albumin levels, with statistically significant difference (all P<0.05), while the other indicators showed no statistically significant difference (all P>0.05). The results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that age, course of disease, occupation, and albumin level were the influencing factors of HP complicated infection (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The most common cause of pituitary dysfunction in adults is Sheehan′s syndrome; Adult HP patients who are older, have a longer course of disease, work as farmers, and have hypoalbuminemia are more likely to develop concurrent infections.

Treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer with driver mutations: current applications and future directions / 医学前沿

With the improved understanding of driver mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), expanding the targeted therapeutic options improved the survival and safety. However, responses to these agents are commonly temporary and incomplete. Moreover, even patients with the same oncogenic driver gene can respond diversely to the same agent. Furthermore, the therapeutic role of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in oncogene-driven NSCLC remains unclear. Therefore, this review aimed to classify the management of NSCLC with driver mutations based on the gene subtype, concomitant mutation, and dynamic alternation. Then, we provide an overview of the resistant mechanism of target therapy occurring in targeted alternations ("target-dependent resistance") and in the parallel and downstream pathways ("target-independent resistance"). Thirdly, we discuss the effectiveness of ICIs for NSCLC with driver mutations and the combined therapeutic approaches that might reverse the immunosuppressive tumor immune microenvironment. Finally, we listed the emerging treatment strategies for the new oncogenic alternations, and proposed the perspective of NSCLC with driver mutations. This review will guide clinicians to design tailored treatments for NSCLC with driver mutations.

Application of task-driven teaching method combined with Sandwich teaching method in standardized residency training of oral general practitioners / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Objective:To explore the application effect of task-driven teaching method combined with Sandwich teaching method in the standardized residency training of oral general practitioners.Methods:A total of 40 trainees of the standardized residency training of the Teaching and Research Section of Oral General Practice in Chongqing Medical University were randomly divided into experimental group and control group. The experimental group ( n=20) adopted task-driven teaching method combined Sandwich teaching method, and the control group ( n=20) adopted the traditional teaching method. The theory assessment, skills assessment and the teaching satisfaction questionnaire survey were conducted to evaluate the teaching effects. SPSS 19.0 software was used for t-test. Results:The theoretical test scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group [(85.85±25.61) points vs. (74.35±10.53) points], and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t=8.56, P < 0.001). The skill test scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group [(86.50±18.20) points vs. (73.40±16.57) points], and the difference was statistically significant ( t=9.94, P<0.001). The results of the teaching satisfaction questionnaire showed that the experimental group had significantly higher scores than control group in such seven aspects as improving students autonomous learning ability and interest in learning, teamwork and interpersonal relationships, diagnostic ability of cases and the accuracy, doctor-patient expression and communication ability, ability to find and solve problems, stimulating interest in scientific research and teaching, mastering and understanding the oral theoretical knowledge and so on ( t=10.40, 10.40, 9.95, 5.43, 7.66, 8.08, 9.60, respectively, all P<0.001). Task-driven teaching combined with Sandwich teaching method stimulated the learning interest of trainees and improved their comprehensive ability. Conclusion:Task-driven teaching combined with Sandwich teaching method has greatly improved the teaching effect of standardized residency training of oral general practitioners.

Molecular basis and clinical prospect of the miR-34 family for the treatment of gastric cancer / 国际肿瘤学杂志

The miR-34 family plays an important role in gastric cancer, and the inactivation or reduced expression of the miR-34 family is detected in gastric cancer cell lines and gastric cancer tissues compared with normal gastric mucosa tissues, indicating it is associated with the occurrence and development of gastric cancer. Studies have shown that miR-34 plays a key role in inhibiting gastric cancer progression by regulating IGF2BP3, survivin, Bcl-2 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related pathway, indicating that miR-34 is an important target for gastric cancer treatment. In terms of clinical treatment, miR-34 has not only been proved to have radiochemotherapy sensitization, but also achieved good curative effect in tumor clinical trials. With the emergence of miR-34 vectors targeting gastric cancer, it is possible to use it for gastric cancer treatment. Deep understanding of the molecular basis and clinical efficacy of miR-34 for gastric cancer treatment can help to evaluate the potential of the miR-34 family as a new therapeutic target for gastric cancer.

A Prospective Phase Ⅰ Clinical Study of Docetaxel with Concurrent Late-course Hyperfractionated Radiotherapy After Breast-conserving Surgery for Stage T1-T2 Breast Cancer / 肿瘤防治研究

Objective To evaluate prospectively the side effects and tolerance of docetaxel with concurrent late-course hyperfractionated radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery for stage T1-T2 breast cancer, and to assess the value of this treatment in shortening the treatment time and reducing the economic burden among patients. Methods A total of 20 patients with T1-T2 breast cancer were recruited after they underwent breast-conserving surgery. The acute radiation response classification, treatment completion rate, disease-free survival, hospital stays, and treatment costs were observed. Radiotherapy for all patients was started before the last single-agent docetaxel chemotherapy. Results The completion rate of treatment and the good rate of cosmetic effect reached 100%. The main adverse reactions were hematological toxicity (leukopenia) and skin reactions, which were tolerated. The median follow-up time was 30.1 months, and the follow-up rate was 100%. The average total treatment time of this hyperfractionated radiotherapy with concurrent docetaxel was four weeks, and the total hospitalization cost savings was approximately 10, 000 yuan. The 21-month disease-free survival rate was 100%. Conclusion Stage T1-T2 breast cancer can tolerate hyperfractionated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy after a breast-conserving operation. The procedure results in good local control and satisfactory cosmetic effects, with high health and economic value.

Research Progress on Anti-Tumor Mechanism of Theaflavins Natural Products / 肿瘤防治研究

Theaflavins are a class of natural products extracted from black tea or green tea, with significant anti-tumor effects on gastric cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer and other tumors. Theaflavins were once considered as the new products for anticancer therapy. However, the anti-tumor mechanism of theaflavins involves a variety of biological processes, and the regulation is complex. Therefore, this article summarizes the role of theaflavins in promoting tumor cell apoptosis, inducing tumor cell mitotic arrest and regulating tumor immunity, and reviews the inhibition of tumorigenesis and growth through MAPK, PI3K/AKT, Hedgehog, NF-κB, JAK/STAT and Wnt/β-Catenin signal pathways, in order to provide new ideas for cancer treatment and anti-cancer drug development.

Correlation between human immunodeficiency virus reservoir and poor immune reconstitution of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients / 中华传染病杂志

Objective:To analyze the correlation between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 reservoir and poor immune reconstitution of HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients, and to investigate the influence of HIV-1 reservoir on the immune reconstitution.Methods:Cross-sectional survey was conducted to measure HIV-1 RNA and T lymphocyte subsets from 219 patients with HIV/AIDS who had been treated with anti-retroviral therapy (ART) for more than two years with HIV RNA lower than the limit of detection. Among them, there are 195 patients from the Sixth People′s Hospital of Zhengzhou, 12 patients from Shangqiu Municipal Hospital and 12 patients from Zhoukou Infectious Diseases Hospital. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were collected and HIV-1 DNA was detected. The measurement data of normal distribution were analyzed by two independent sample t-test. The measurement data of skewness distribution were analyzed by rank sum test. Spearman′s rank correlation was used for correlation analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to predict the predictive value of occurrence of poor immune reconstitution AIDS patients. Results:There were 121 patients with poor immune reconstitution and 98 patients with healthy immune reconstitution. HIV-1 DNA was (2.50±0.52) copies/1×10 6 PBMC in the group with poor immune reconstitution, which was significantly higher than the healthy immune reconstitution group ((2.11±0.66) copies/1×10 6 PBMC, t=4.78, P<0.001). The CD4 + T lymphocyte counts in the group with poor immune reconstitution was 192(139, 227)/μL, which was lower than that in the healthy immune reconstitution group (573(457, 730)/μL). The difference was statistically significant ( Z=12.68, P<0.001). HIV-1 DNA was reversely correlated with CD4 + T lymphocyte counts and CD4 + /CD8 + T lymphocyte ratio (after adjusting the influence of age and ART time, r=-0.277 and -0.316, respectively, both P<0.001). The area of ROC curve for HIV-1 DNA to predict poor immune reconstitution was 0.679(95% confidence interval ( CI) 0.604 to 0.750). The HIV-1 DNA threshold value was 100 copies/1×10 6 PBMC with the sensitivity of 90.13% and specificity of 42.91%. The area of ROC curve of CD4 + /CD8 + T lymphocyte ratio to predict poor immune reconstitution was 0.905 (95% CI 0.863 to 0.942). The threshold value of CD4 + /CD8 + T lymphocyte ratio was 0.536 with the sensitivity of 77.68% and specificity of 89.84%. Conclusions:There is correlation between HIV-1 DNA and poor immune reconstitution in HIV/AIDS patients. The value of HIV-1 DNA higher than 100 copies/1×10 6 PBMC and CD4 + /CD8 + T lymphocyte ratio lower than 0.536 could be used as predictor of poor immune reconstitution.

Quantification analysis of macular microcirculation in early diabetic patients and its correlation with visual acuity / 中华实验眼科杂志

Objective:To analyze the change of macular microcirculation in early diabetic patients and its correlation with visual acuity.Methods:A cross-sectional study was performed.Seventy-five eyes from 75 patients with non-diabetic retinopathy (NDR) and 33 eyes from 33 patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) were included in Subei People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University from December 2019 to September 2020.The patients were divided into the NDR group and NPDR group according to their condition.Another 35 eyes from 35 healthy subjects served as the control group.Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images were acquired over 3 mm×3 mm regions centered on the fovea using RTVue XR OCTA device and the data were quantified with Angio Vue software.The area, perimeter and acircularity index (AI) of the macular foveal avascular zone (FAZ), the grading of abnormal superficial and deep FAZ contour, as well as the vessel density of superficial capillary plexuses (SCP), deep capillary plexuses (DCP) and a 300 μm ring area beside FAZ (FD300) were analyzed and compared among the three groups.The correlations between these indexes and visual acuity were analyzed.This study protocol adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by an Ethics Committee of Subei People's Hospital affiliated to Yangzhou University (No.2018KY-167). Written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to any medical examination.Results:No statistically significant differences were found in the FAZ area, FAZ perimeter and AI among the three groups ( F=1.948, P=0.146; F=2.632, P=0.075; H=5.582, P=0.061). The proportions of superficial and deep FAZ contour abnormality were 54.5%(18/33) and 87.9%(29/33) in the NPDR group, 37.3%(28/75) and 70.7%(53/75) in the NDR group, 22.9%(8/35) and 42.9%(15/35) in the control group, respectively, the proportions of superficial and deep FAZ contour abnormality in the NPDR group were significantly higher than those in the control group (both at P<0.05). With the aggravation of the condition, there were more eyes with high grades of abnormal superficial and deep FAZ contours ( χ2=9.827, 9.030; all at P<0.05). The vessel density of parafoveal DCP was (52.50[50.70, 54.80]), (50.40[48.40, 52.60]), (48.30[43.60, 51.55])%, and the vessel density of DCP was (49.90[47.70, 51.80]), (47.30[45.20, 50.10]), (45.80[41.30, 48.60])% in the control group, NDR group and NPDR group respectively, and there were statistically significant differences among the three groups ( H=21.719, 21.652; both at P<0.001), and statistically significant differences were found in pairwise comparisons among the three groups (all at P<0.05). The vessel densities of foveal SCP, foveal DCP and FD300 in the NPDR group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all at P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in vessel densities of parafoveal SCP and SCP found in the overall comparison among the three groups ( H=5.290, 5.534; both at P>0.05). In diabetic mellitus patients, there were negative correlations between the vessel density of parafoveal SCP and LogMAR best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and between the vessel density of SCP and LogMAR BCVA ( rs=-0.305, -0.330; both at P<0.05), and there was a positive correlation between the superficial FAZ contour grading and LogMAR BCVA ( rs=0.353, P<0.05). Conclusions:Abnormal parafoveal DCP and DCP vessel density, as well as FAZ contour, appear in diabetic mellitus patients before the occurrence of visible fundus lesion, and the vessel density of parafoveal SCP and SCP, and superficial FAZ contour grading in diabetic mellitus patients are correlated with visual acuity.OCTA can help monitor disease progression and identify microcirculation parameters that affect visual function.

Cinobufagin disrupts mitosis and microtubule polymerization via targeting KATNB1 in cancer cells / 药学学报

Huachansu is a traditional Chinese medicine widely used in the clinic for cancer therapy, while the underlying mechanism is not fully clarified. This study was to investigate the targets and mechanisms of cinobufagin (CBG), an active component of Huachansu, in terms of blocking mitosis of cancer cells. Propidium iodide (PI) DNA staining was used to analyze the effect of CBG on cell cycle. The effect of CBG on mitosis of cancer cells was examined by α-tubulin and pericentrin staining after synchronization by a double thymidine block. Tubulin turbidity, tubulin polymerization and α‍-tubulin immunofluorescence assays were used to evaluate the effect of CBG on microtubule polymerization. CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology was used to knockout microtubule-severing protein Katanin regulatory subunit B1 (KATNB1) in HCT116 cells, and the inhibitory effect of CBG on wild-type cells and knockout cells was measured by CCK-8. The engagement of CBG with KATNB1 was measured by CETSA and DARTS assays. The effect of CBG on KATNB1 protein and mRNA level was examined by Western blot and real-time PCR, respectively. Our data showed that CBG arrested HCT116 cell cycle at the G2/M phase, disrupted mitosis and induced centriole overduplication. CBG significantly inhibited tubulin polymerization in vitro and in vivo. The cytotoxicity of CBG inhibition on HCT116 was significantly attenuated upon KATNB1 depletion. Moreover, CBG bound to KATNB1 and decreased its protein level, while mutated KATNB1 weakened this effect. In conclusion, CBG inhibited microtubule polymerization via targeting KATNB1, thereby disrupting mitosis in cancer cells.

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.

Establishment and application of quality evaluation method for Xiaochaihu Granules based on calibrator samples / 中国中药杂志

With reference to the production process documented in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, this paper prepared the calibrator samples of Xiaochaihu Granules from multiple batches and established a method for fingerprint analysis and content determination that could be used to evaluate Xiaochaihu Granules available in market. Multiple batches of Chinese herbal pieces contained in Xiaochaihu Granules were collected for preparing the calibrator samples according to the process in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Following the establishment of fingerprints for calibrator samples by UHPLC, the method for determining the contents of saikosaponin B2, saikosaponin B1, baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, liquiritin, glycyrrhizin G2 and glycyrrhizic acid in Xiaochaihu Granules was established. The experimental results showed that the fingerprints of calibrator samples had 26 common peaks, covering the chemical compounds of main herbs Bupleuri Radix, Scutellariae Radix, Changii Radix, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens. The similarity of fingerprints for 47 batches of Xiaochaihu Granules from 31 companies with the calibrator sample fingerprint ranged from 0.74 to 0.99, indicating good applicability of the established fingerprint. The contents of main components baicalin, saikosaponin B2, and glycyrrhizic acid in Xiaochaihu Granules were within the ranges of 22.917-49.108 mg per bag(RSD 19%), 0.28-2.19 mg per bag(RSD 62%), and 0.897-6.541 mg per bag(RSD 41%), respectively. The quality difference in saikosaponin B2, and glycyrrhizic acid among different manufacturers was significant. The fingerprint analysis and content determination method for calibrator samples of Xiaochaihu Granules prepared according to the production process in Chinese Pharmacopoeia has been proved suitable for evaluating the quality of Xiaochaihu Granules from different manufacturers. Saikosaponin B2, glycyrrhizic acid, and liquiritin should be added as content control indicators for Xiaochaihu Granules, aiming to further improve the product quality.