Correlation of emotional abnormalities with the effectiveness of bariatric surgery in obese patients / 四川精神卫生

BackgroundBariatric surgery has emerged as an important tool in the management of obesity. Some patients undergoing bariatric surgery are prone to develop emotional abnormalities and have abnormally elevated concentrations of inflammatory factors level in peripheral blood， whereas current domestic research focusing on the impact of preoperative emotional states and peripheral blood inflammatory factors level on weight loss effect remains limited. ObjectiveTo explore the correlation of preoperative emotional abnormalities with the effectiveness of bariatric surgery in obese patients， and to provide theoretical basis for improving the clinical efficacy of bariatric surgery. MethodsEighty-one obese patients scheduled for bariatric surgery at gastrointestinal surgery Department of West China Hospital， Sichuan University from December 30， 2022 to June 30， 2023 were enrolled and assessed using Hamilton Depression Scale-17 item （HAMD-17） and Hamilton Anxiety Scale （HAMA）. Patients who scored 7 or above on HAMD-17 or HAMA or had a history of previous depression or anxiety diagnoses were classified into emotional abnormality group （n=34）， and samples who scored less than 7 on HAMD-17 and HAMA and were free of history of previous depression and anxiety diagnoses were set as non-emotional abnormality group （n=47）. The data were collected by the self made questionnaire. Patients were subjected to complete the assessment of Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation-Chinese Version （BSI-CV）， Eating Disorder Inventory （EDI） and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index （PSQI）. Laboratory tests including peripheral blood C-reactive protein （CRP） and interleukin-6 （IL-6）. Body weight and height assessed in the early morning after an overnight fasting period were recorded in all participants at 1- and 6-month after surgery through outpatient clinic visits or telephone follow-up. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to examine relationship among body mass index （BMI）， preoperative emotional states and peripheral blood inflammation mediators. ResultsAmong 81 obese patients， 62 completed the study， including 27 cases in emotional abnormality group and 35 cases in non-emotional abnormality group. Emotional abnormality group scored higher on BSI-CV （current）， BSI-CV （worst）， EDI and PSQI， and detected higher levels of CRP and IL-6 compared with non-emotional abnormality group （Z=2.677， 2.975， t=3.573， 4.035， 1.990， 2.799， P<0.05 or 0.01）. For BMI， there was no significant group effect and time×group interaction effect （P>0.05）， but a significant time effect （F=227.740， P<0.01）. Within emotional abnormality group， BMI at the baseline， 1- and 6-month after surgery showed a positive correlation with IL-6 level （r=0.419， 0.510， 0.559， P<0.05 or 0.01）， BMI at 6-month after surgery was positively correlated with HAMD-17 total score （r=0.390， P<0.05）， and ΔBMI% at 6-month after surgery was negatively correlated with HAMD-17 total score （r=-0.421， P<0.05）. Within non-emotional abnormality group， baseline BMI was positively correlated with IL-6 level （r=0.338， P<0.01）. ConclusionThe short-term effect of bariatric surgery may be comparable in obese patients with or without emotional abnormalities， while it cannot be ruled out whether the outcome of bariatric surgery is related to the severity of preoperative depression.

Study of discrepancy in subjective and objective cognitive function in patients with depressive disorder / 四川精神卫生

BackgroundThere exist differences in the subjective and objective cognitive functions of patients with depressive disorder， ane there are limited research on influencing factors of such phenomenon currently. ObjectiveTo explore the differences in subjective and objective cognitive function in patients with depressive disorder as well as influencing factors， and to provide references for further understanding of cognitive impairment in patients with depressive disorder. MethodsA total of 77 patients with depressive disorder who received outpatient or inpatient treatment in the Fourth People's Hospital of Chengdu from January 13， 2022 to December 11， 2023 were selected for the study. These patients also met the diagnostic criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders， fifth edition（DSM-5）. Various tools were employed to assess patients in this study： Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale （MADRS） for the depressive symptoms， Perceived Deficits Questionnaire for Depression （PDQ-D） and Chinese Version of Brief Neurocognitive Test Battery （C-BCT） for the subjective and objective cognitive function， Sheehan Disability Scale （SDS） for the social function， and Clinical Global Impression-Severity of Illness（CGI-SI） for the severity of patient's condition. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the correlation of subjective and objective cognitive function and their differences with age， years of education， MADRS total score， SDS total score， and CGI-SI score. Multiple linear regression was used to explore the influencing factors of the differences between subjective and objective cognitive function. ResultsThere was a statistically significant difference in the total PDQ-D scores and the difference of subjective and objective cognitive function （D value） between depressive patients with and without medication （t=-4.228， -2.392， P<0.05 or 0.01）. There was no statistically significant correlation in subjective and objective cognitive function in patients with depressive disorder （r=-0.148， P>0.05）. Negative correlations can be observed between the PDQ-D total score and age or years of education （r=-0.333， -0.369， P<0.01）. The PDQ-D total score was positively correlated with MADRS total score， SDS total score and CGI-SI score （r=0.487， 0.637， 0.434， P<0.01）. D value was negatively correlated with age and years of education （r=-0.411， -0.362， P<0.01）， while positively correlated with MADRS total score， SDS total score and CGI-SI score （r=0.259， 0.468， 0.299， P<0.05 or 0.01）. Age （β=-0.328， P<0.01） and SDS total score （β=0.409， P<0.01） were two predictive factors for D value. ConclusionThe difference between subjective and objective cognitive function among patients with depressive disorder is related to several factors including age， years of education， severity of symptoms and impairment of social function. ［Funded by Surface Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China （number， 62173069）； Technological Innovation 2030-Major Project of "Brain Science and Brain-Like Research" （number， 2022ZD0211700）； Key R&D Support Program and Major Application Demonstration Project of Chengdu Science and Technology Bureau （number， 2022-YF09-00023-SN）］

Whole-process individualized pharmaceutical care for a case of melioidosis sepsis / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To provide reference for the adjustment of antibiotic treatment regimens， identification of adverse reactions， and individualized pharmaceutical care for melioidosis sepsis （MS）. METHODS Clinical pharmacists participated in the intensive and eradicating therapeutic processes for an MS patient by using blood concentration and gene detection. Based on the literature， antibiotic treatment regimens of MS were adjusted by determining the blood concentrations of β-lactam and trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole （TMP/SMZ） and calculating PK/PD parameters. The causes of adverse drug reactions were analyzed and addressed by detecting drug-related gene polymorphisms through high-throughput sequencing. RESULTS Clinical pharmacists used blood concentration and genetic testing methods to propose adjustments to imipenem-cilastatin sodium dosage and analyze the causes of various adverse drug reactions. PK/PD targets were calculated by measuring the blood concentrations of β-lactam and TMP/SMZ. Clinical pharmacists explained to clinical doctors the compliance status of patients with melioidosis in sepsis and non- sepsis stages through reviewing guidelines and literature； the results of blood concentration and genetic test were used to analyze the correlation of neurotoxicity of MS patients with B14） IMP cmin， and it was found that nephrotoxicity was not related to the cmax of TMP/SMZ， but to the patient’s water intake. After whole-process antibiotic treatment， the patient’s condition improved and was discharged， and the adverse reactions were effectively treated. CONCLUSIONS Clinical pharmacists use blood concentration and genetic tests to assist clinicians in formulating MS treatment regimens， and provide whole-course pharmaceutical care for a MS patient. This method has improved the safety and effectiveness of clinical drug therapy.

bFGF and IGF-1 promotes differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells into cardiomyocyte-like cells and its related mechanisms / 中国药理学通报

Aim To elucidate the biological effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 ( IGF-1 ) and basic fibro-blast growth factor (bFGF) alone or in combination on the differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into cardiomyocytes (CMs), and to explore the mechanism in the differentiation process of BMSCs into CMs induced by IGF-1 or bFGF. Methods After four weeks of BMSCs induced by induction differentiation medium ( with or without LY294002) containing IGF-1 and/or bFGF, the expression levels of proteins associated with the cardiomyogenic phenotype in BMSCs were detected via immunocytochemistry, immuno-fluorescence staining, and Western blot. Meanwhile, the expression levels of pathway related proteins were detected by Western blot. The cell ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) . The expression levels of myocardial specific genes were measured via RT-qPCR. Results Compared with the control group, the expression levels of myocardial specific proteins and genes significantly increased in the IGF-1, bFGF and combination groups and were the highest in the coinduction group. The TEM of the conduction group showed parallel myofilaments, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and so on. The additon of LY294002 decreased the expression levels of myocardial specific proteins, genes and phosphorylation Akt. Conclusions The effect of IGF-1 combined with bFGF on the differentiation of BMSCs into CMs is markedly better than that induced by IGF-1 or bFGF a-lone, and the differentiation process may depend on the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Scutellaria baicalensis: a promising natural source of antiviral compounds for the treatment of viral diseases / 中国天然药物

Viruses, the smallest microorganisms, continue to present an escalating threat to human health, being the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Over the decades, although significant progress has been made in the development of therapies and vaccines against viral diseases, the need for effective antiviral interventions remains urgent. This urgency stems from the lack of effective vaccines, the severe side effects associated with current drugs, and the emergence of drug-resistant viral strains. Natural plants, particularly traditionally-used herbs, are often considered an excellent source of medicinal drugs with potent antiviral efficacy, as well as a substantial safety profile. Scutellaria baicalensis, a traditional Chinese medicine, has garnered considerable attention due to its extensive investigation across diverse therapeutic areas and its demonstrated efficacy in both preclinical and clinical trials. In this review, we mainly focused on the potential antiviral activities of ingredients in Scutellaria baicalensis, shedding light on their underlying mechanisms of action and therapeutic applications in the treatment of viral infections.

Prevalence and risk factors of hookworm infections among vegetable growers in Anhui Province from 2018 to 2019 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of hookworm infections among vegetable growers in Anhui Province, so as to provide the evidence for formulating the control strategy and interventions for hookworm human infections.. Methods A total of 1 179 vegetable growers were randomly sampled from 7 counties in Anhui province according to the natural ecological function areas in 2018 and 2019, and the basic features and risk factors of hookworm infections were collected from all subjects using a self-designed questionnaire, including living environment, vegetable planting and fertilization, type of household crops, animal feeding, hygiene and labor habits. In addition, stool samples were collected from all participants, and each stool sample was subjected to twice tests with the Kato-Katz technique. The risk factors of hookworm infections were identified among vegetable growers with the Bayesian log-binomial regression model. Results The prevalence of hookworm infection was 3.90% among the 1 179 vegetable growers. The prevalence of hookworm infection was 10.07% (15/149) among unemployed subjects, 5.32% (31/583) among farmers, and 0 among full-time vegetable growers (0/377) and subjects with other occupations (0/70), and there was a significant difference among subjects in terms of occupation (χ2=36.37, P < 0.01). Bayesian log-binomial regression analysis showed that fertilization with human feces [relative risk (RR)=18.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): (4.31, 77.17)], barefoot labor in vegetable fields [RR=2.86, 95% CI: (1.43, 5.70)], and living in plain ecological areas along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River [RR=4.19, 95% CI: (1.19, 14.81)] were independent risk factors of hookworm infections among vegetable growers. Stratified analysis showed that fertilization with human feces, barefoot labor in vegetable fields, drinking well water or mountain spring, and living in plain ecological areas along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River were independent risk factors of hookw, orm infection among farmers, and living in plain ecological areas along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and growing rice were independent risk factors of hookw, orm infection among unemployed individuals. Conclusions The prevalence of hookworm infection is high among vegetable growers in Anhui Province, and fertilization with human feces, barefoot labor in vegetable fields and living in plain ecological areas along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River are risk factors of hookw, orm infections among vegetable growers.

Effect of moxibustion on ureteral stent-related symptoms after ureteroscopic lithotripsy / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVES@#To observe the clinical efficacy of moxibustion combined with western medication on ureteral stent-related symptoms after ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URL).@*METHODS@#One hundred and fifty patients with upper urinary tract calculus implanted with ureteral stents after URL were randomly divided into a moxibustion group (50 cases, 1 case dropped out), a placebo moxibustion group (50 cases, 3 cases dropped out) and a blank control group (50 cases). No intervention was performed in the blank control group. On the basis of oral administration with tamsulosin hydrochloride sustained release capsule (starting from the first day after surgery, once a day, 0.2 mg each time, continuously for 4 weeks), in the moxibustion group, moxibustion was operated at Guanyuan (CV 4) and bilateral Shenshu (BL 23); the sham-moxibustion was delivered at the same acupoints in the placebo moxibustion group, once daily, 6 times a week, for 15 min in each treatment. The duration of treatment was 4 weeks. Before treatment, and after 1, 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, the scores of lower urinary tract symptoms, body pain, general health, work performance and satisfaction of sexual matters were compared among the 3 groups. The tract calculus clearance rate, urinary infection and the oral administration of painkillers were compared after 4 weeks of treatment in the 3 groups.@*RESULTS@#The scores of lower urinary tract symptoms, body pain and general health after 1 week of treatment, and the scores of lower urinary tract symptoms, body pain, general health and work performance after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment were lower than those before treatment in the 3 groups (P<0.01). The scores of lower urinary tract symptoms and body pain in the moxibustion group after 1, 2 and 4 weeks of treatment were lower than those in the blank control group and the placebo moxibustion group (P<0.01, P<0.05) respectively. The score of general health in the moxibustion group was lower than that in the blank control group after 1 week of treatment (P<0.01), and lower than those of the blank control group and the placebo moxibustion group after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05). Regarding the score of work performance, it was lower in the moxibustion group after 1 and 2 weeks of treatment compared with those in the blank control group (P<0.05, P<0.01), and lower than those of the blank control group and the placebo moxibustion group after 4 weeks of treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05). The tract calculus clearance rate in the moxibustion group was 95.9% (47/49), higher than that in the blank control group (80.0%, 40/50, P<0.05). The proportion of oral administration of painkillers in the moxibustion group (28.6%, 14/49) and the placebo moxibustion group (40.4%, 19/47) was lower than that in the blank control group (76.0%, 38/50, P<0.01) respectively.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Moxibustion combined with western medication relieves lower urinary tract symptoms and body pain, and accelerate the recovery of general health and work performance in the patients after URL.

Viral selection pressure and CD4+T cell epitope in HLA-DRB1 * 11:01 of HCV infected patients / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 HLA-DRB1 * 11:01, as a class HLA-Ⅱ gene, was reported to be associated with spontaneous clearance of HCV in Han and Li population. Our study was to investigate the effects of viral selection pressure and CD4+T cell epitope on the natural outcome of HCV infection in HLA-DRB1 * 11:01 positive infected patients. 【Methods】 The positive selection sites and population growth of E1E2 and NS3 genes of common HCV 6a in HLA-DRB1 * 11:01 positive and negative groups in Guangdong were respectively analyzed. The peptide library covering the conserved regions of common HCV genotypes was used to stimulate HCV spontaneous clearance group and chronic infection group using ELISPOT method. Reactive peptides were obtained according to the number of spot-forming cells per well and the frequency of occurrence in different groups. 【Results】 The positive selection sites (PSSs) of E1E2 and NS3 of common HCV 6a in HLA-DRB1 * 11:01 negative group were greater than those in HLA-DRB1 * 11:01 positive group. Furthermore, the number of PPSs in CD4+T cell peptide in HLA-DRB1 * 11:01 negative group were also greater than those in HLA-DRB1 * 11:01 positive group; Both groups of HCV 6a had a population growth in Guangdong, and the expansion trend of HLA-DRB1 * 11:01 negative group was significantly higher than that of HLA-DRB1 * 11 :01 positive group. Compared to HCV chronic infection group, the response rate of HCV spontaneous clearance group to five peptides (C-52 E2691-707, C-119 NS31545-1560, C-134 NS4A1669-1684, C-154 NS4B1912-1927, C-159 NS4B1929-1944) was higher. However, the HCV chronic infection group showed a higher response rate to two of the peptides(C-111 NS31497-1512, C-130 NS31650-1665). When HLA-DRB1 * 11:01 typing was considered, there was no significant difference in HCV-specific immune response generated by PBMCs between HLA-DRB1 * 11:01 positive and HLA-DRB1 * 11:01 negative groups. 【Conclusion】 This study revealed the relationship between viral selection pressure of HLA-DRB1 * 11:01 HCV infected persons and CD4+T cell antigen epitopes. At the same time, CD4+ T cell antigen epitopes of HCV pan-genotype were obtained, providing basic data for the development of T cell vaccine suitable for HCV pan-genotype.

Detection and analysis of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in blood donors at different periods in Guangzhou / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To detect the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in blood donors in Guangzhou, so as to provide laboratory data support for the collection and clinical use of convalescent plasma. 【Methods】 Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were measured by ELISA in qualified donors. Among them, 326 donors who gave blood in February 2023 were tested for IgG antibodies, 444 donors were tested for neutralizing antibodies. In July 2023, 398 donors were tested for IgG and IgM. 【Results】 399 of 724 blood samples diluted with normal saline (1∶160) were IgG reactive, with a reactive rate of 55.11%. Chi-square test showed that there was a significant difference in the reactive rate of IgG among samples collected at different times (25.46% in February vs 79.40% in July, χ2=210.74, P<0.01, 95%CI: 7.97, 15.98), but there was no significant difference in the reactive rate between different genders and different age groups. IgM was detected in 5 of 398 blood samples, with a reactive rate of 1.26%. The IgG test results of these five blood donors were all reactive, whereas the nucleic acid test results were negative. Neutralizing antibody was detected in 440 of 444 blood samples, with a reactive rate of 99.10%, and 71.59% of the reactive donors had a neutralizing antibody level of 10 μg/mL or more. 【Conclusion】 Blood donors in Guangzhou have a high level of SARS-CoV-2 antibody, which is sufficient to provide convalescent plasma for clinical treatment.

Analysis and Modeling of Risk Factors for Children with Intestinal Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze factors associated with intestinal acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT) in children and to develop a prediction model for intestinal aGVHD after allo-HSCT in children.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 62 children who underwent allo-HSCT at the Department of Hematology of the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from February 2018 to September 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Intestinal aGVHD was evaluated according to the Mount Sinai Acute GVHD International Consortium (MAGIC) grading criteria, the variables were screened by LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) regression analysis with 10-fold cross-validation, and developed a model for predicting intestinal aGVHD after allo-HSCT in children.@*RESULTS@#A total of 33 (53.2%) of the 62 children developed intestinal aGVHD, of which 25 were degree II and 8 were degree III-IV. The results of screening variables by 10-fold cross-validated LASSO regression showed that the significant variables included ethnic minorities (OR =7.229; 95%CI: 2.337-22.354), platelet (PLT) (OR =0.971; 95%CI: 0.932-0.993), uric acid (UA) (OR =0.971; 95%CI: 0.935-0.988), C-reactive protein (CRP) (OR =1.217; 95%CI: 1.053-1.545), and viral infection (OR =10; 95%CI: 3.021-32.668), and these variables were independently associated with intestinal aGVHD in children (all P <0.05). A prediction model was constructed based on above variables. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of the model was calculated, and the AUC value was 0.985 (0.966-1), the Brier score was 0.055. The evaluation showed that the model has a high degree of discrimination and calibration.@*CONCLUSION@#Ethnic minorities, low PLT, low UA, high CRP, and viral infections are independently associated with intestinal aGVHD in children, and early attention should be paid to these high-risk children.

Melatonin-Mediated Inhibitory Effect on Hyperimmune Status of Acquired Aplastic Anemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the expression level of melatonin and its effects on immune function in aplastic anemia (AA) patients.@*METHODS@#The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the plasma levels of melatonin in AA patients, and the correlation between melatonin levels and laboratory indexs was analyzed. The activation, proliferation, and apoptosis of T cells from AA patients were analyzed by flow cytometry with or without melatonin in vitro.@*RESULTS@#The plasma levels of melatonin in AA patients were significantly lower compared with healthy controls (HC) (12.23 pg/ml vs 20.04 pg/ml, P < 0.01), while the plasma melatonin levels of AA patients in remission group after immunosuppressive therapy (IST) were significantly higher than those in non-remission group (29.16 pg/ml vs 11.73 pg/ml, P =0.04). Moreover, the melatonin levels were positively correlated with platelets (r =0.49), the absolute reticulocyte count (r =0.45), and the percentage of neutrophils (r =0.43). Meanwhile, there was a negative correlation between melatonin levels and the percentages of lymphocytes (r =-0.45). The expressions of CD25 and CD69 in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from AA patients were remarkably inhibited by melatonin in vitro (all P < 0.05). When cultured with melatonin, the proliferation rates of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from AA patients were markedly suppressed (P =0.01 andP < 0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#The plasma levels of melatonin were decreased in AA patients, which might play an important role in the mechanism of immunological abnormalities. The hyperimmune status of AA patients could be partially ameliorated by melatonin in vitro.

Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in the diagnosis and treatment of refractory pneumonia in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To investigate the clinical application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in the etiological diagnosis and treatment of refractory pneumonia (RTP) in children.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed on 160 children with RTP who were admitted to the Department of Pediatric Internal Medicine, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, from January 2020 to March 2023. According to whether mNGS was performed, they were divided into two groups: mNGS (n=80) and traditional testing (n=80). All children received the tests of inflammatory markers and pathogen tests after admission. Traditional pathogenicity tests included microbial culture (sputum specimen collected by suction tube), nucleic acid detection of respiratory pathogens, and serological test (mycoplasma, tuberculosis, and fungi). For the mNGS group, BALF specimens were collected after bronchoscopy and were sent to the laboratory for mNGS and microbial culture. The two groups were analyzed and compared in terms of the detection of pathogens and treatment.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the traditional testing group, the mNGS group had a significantly higher detection rate of pathogens (92% vs 58%, P<0.05), with more types of pathogens and a higher diagnostic rate of mixed infections. Compared with the traditional testing group, the mNGS group had a significantly higher treatment response rate and a significantly lower incidence rate of complications during hospitalization (P<0.05). Treatment was adjusted for 68 children in the mNGS group according to the results of mNGS, with a treatment response rate of 96% (65/68) after adjustment.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Compared with traditional pathogen tests, BALF mNGS can significantly improve the detection rate of pathogens and find some rare pathogens. In clinical practice, when encountering bottlenecks during the diagnosis and treatment of children with RTP, it is advisable to promptly perform the mNGS to identify the pathogens.

Two new phenylpropanoids from wine-processed Corni Fructus / 中国中药杂志

Six compounds were isolated from aqueous extract of wine-processed Corni Fructus through silica gel, ODS column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 gel column chromatography, reverse phase preparative HPLC and other chromatographic separation technologies. Their structures were identified with multiple spectroscopical methods including HR-ESI-MS, UV, IR, NMR and ECD and so on. Their structures were established as pinoresinoside B(1), cornusgallicacid A(2),(+)-isolariciresinol-9'-O-β-glucopyranoside(3),(-)-isolariciresinol 3α-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(4),(7R,8S)-dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 9-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(5), and(-)-seco isolariciresinol-9'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(6). Among them, compounds 1 and 2 were two new compounds. The biological activity evaluation results showed that compounds 2 and 6 had strong DPPH free radical scavenging ability, with EC_(50) values of(4.18±1.96) and(21.45±1.19) μmol·L~(-1), respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 had protective effects on H_2O_2-induced oxidative damage in NRK-52E cells in a dose-dependent manner, and the cell survival rate of compound 2 at 100 μmol·L~(-1) was 96.09%±1.77%.

Research progress on natural guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids and their biological activities / 中国中药杂志

Guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids are a class of terpenoids with [5,7] ring-fused system as the basic skeletal structure composed of three isoprene units, which are substituted by 4,10-dimethyl-7-isopropyl. According to the difference in functional groups and degree of polymerization, they can be divided into simple guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids, sesquiterpene lactones, sesquiterpene dimers, and sesquiterpene trimers. Natural guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids are widely distributed in plants, fungi, and marine organisms, especially in families such as Compositae, Zingiberaceae, Thymelaeaceae, Lamiaceae, and Alismataceae. Guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids have good antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and neuroprotective effects. In this paper, the novel guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids isolated and identified in recent 10 years(2013-2022) and their biological activities were reviewed in order to provide refe-rences for the research and development of guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids.

A new norsesquiterpenoid from Arctium lappa leaves / 中国中药杂志

Chemical constituents were isolated and purified from ethyl acetate fraction of Arctium lappa leaves by silica gel, ODS, MCI, and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Their structures were identified with multiple spectroscopical methods including NMR, MS, IR, UV, and X-ray diffraction combined with literature data. Twenty compounds(1-20) were identified and their structures were determined as arctanol(1), citroside A(2), melitensin 15-O-β-D-glucoside(3), 11β,13-dihydroonopordopicrin(4), 11β,13-dihydrosalonitenolide(5), 8α-hydroxy-β-eudesmol(6), syringin(7), dihydrosyringin(8), 3,4,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-δ-truxinate(9),(+)-pinoresinol(10), phillygenin(11), syringaresinol(12), kaeperferol(13), quercetin(14), luteolin(15), hyperin(16), 4,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid(17), 1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde(18), benzyl-β-D-glucopyranoside(19), and N-(2'-phenylethyl) isobutyramide(20). Among them, compound 1 is a new norsesquiterpenoid, and compounds 2-5, 7-8, and 18-20 are isolated from this plant for the first time.

Discovery, isolation and structural identification of alkaloid glycosides in six traditional Chinese medicine such as Coptis chinensis / 中国中药杂志

Alkaloids are important active ingredients occurring in many traditional Chinese medicines, and alkaloid glycosides are one of their existence forms. The introduction of saccharide units improves the water solubility of alkaloid glycosides thus presenting better biological activity.Because of the low content in plants, alkaloid glycosides have been not comprehensively studied. In this study, ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) was employed to identify and analyze the alkaloid glycosides in Coptis chinensis, Phellodendron chinense, Menispermum dauricum, Sinomenium acutum, Tinospora sagittata and Stephania tetrandra. The results showed that except Tinospora sagittata, the other five herbal medicines contained alkaloid glycosides. Furthermore, the alkaloid glycosides in each herbal medicine were identified based on UV absorption spectra, quasimolecular ion peaks in MS, fragment ions information in the MS/MS, and previous literature reports. A total of 42 alkaloid glycosides were identified. More alkaloid glycosides were identified in C. chinensis and Menispermum dauricum, and eleven in C. chinensis were potential new compounds. Furthermore, the alkaloid glycosides in the water extract of C. chinensis were coarsely se-parated by macroporous adsorption resin, purified by column chromatography with D151 cation exchange resin, ODS and MCI, combined with semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography. Two new alkaloid glycosides were obtained, and their structures were identified by mass spectrometry and NMR data as(S)-7-hydroxy-1-(p-hydroxybenzyl)-2,2-N,N-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-6-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and(S)-N-methyltetrahydropalmatubine-9-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, respectively. This study is of great significance for enriching the information about the chemical composition and the in-depth development of C. chinensis. Meanwhile, it can provide a reference for rapid identification and isolation of alkaloid glycosides from other Chinese herbal medicines.

New steroidal saponins from aerial parts of Paris polyphylla var. chinensis / 中国中药杂志

The shortage of Paridis Rhizoma promotes comprehensive utilization and development research of waste aerial parts of the original plant. The chemical compositions of the aerial parts of Paris polyphylla var. chinensis were clarified based on the ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupoles time of flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) in the previous investigation, and a series of flavonoids and steroidal saponins were isolated. The present study continued the isolation and structure identification of the new potential compounds discovered based on UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. By using silica gel, ODS, flash rapid preparation, and other column chromatography techniques, combined with prepared high performance liquid chromatography, five compounds were isolated from the 75% ethanol extract of the aerial parts of P. polyphylla var. chinensis, and their structures were identified by spectral data combined with chemical transformations, respectively, as(23S,25R)-23,27-dihydroxy-diosgenin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranoside(1),(25R)-26-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-furost-5-en-3β,22α,26-triol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)]-β-D-glucopyranoside(2),(25R)-27-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-5-en-3β,27-dihydroxyspirost-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)]-β-D-glucopyranoside(3),(25R)-27-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-5-en-3β,27-dihydroxyspirost-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranoside(4), and aculeatiside A(5). Among them, compounds 1-4 were new ones, and compound 5 was isolated from P. polyphylla var. chinensis for the first time.

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of different parts of Prunella vulgaris by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and UPLC / 中国中药杂志

Prunellae Spica is the dried spica of Prunella vulgaris belonging to Labiatae and it is widely used in pharmaceutical and general health fields. As a traditional Chinese medicine cultivated on a large scale, it produces a large amount of non-medicinal parts, which are discarded because they are not effectively used. To analyze the chemical constituents in the different samples from spica, seed, stem, and leaf of P. vulgaris, and explore the application value and development prospect of these parts, this study used ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupoles time of flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) to detect chemical constituents in different parts of P. vulgaris. As a result, 117 compounds were detected. Among them, 87 compounds were identified, including 32 phenolic acids, 8 flavonoids, and 45 triterpenoid saponins. Some new triterpenoid saponins containing the sugar chain with 4-6 sugar units were found. Further, multivariate statistical analysis was conducted on BPI chromatographic peaks of multiple batches of different parts, and the results showed that spica had the most abundant chemical constituents, including salviaflaside and linolenic acid highly contained in the seed and phenolic acids, flavonoids, and triterpenoid saponins in the stem and leaf. In general, the constituents in the spica were composed of those in the seed, stem, and leaf. UPLC was used to determine the content of 6 phenolic acids(danshensu, protocatechuic acid, protocatechuic aldehyde, caffeic acid, salviaflaside, and rosmarinic acid) in different parts. The content of other phenolic acids in the seed was generally lower than that in the spica except that of salviaflaside. The content of salviaflaside in the spica was higher than that in the stem and leaf, but the content of other phenolic acids in the spica was not significantly different from that in the stem. The content of protocatechuic aldehyde and caffeic acid in the spica was lower than that in the leaf. DPPH free radical scavenging method was used to detect the antioxidant activity of four parts, and there was no significant difference in the antioxidant activity between the spica and the stem and leaf, but that was significantly higher than the seed. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of these parts was correlated with the content of total phenolic acids. Based on the above findings, the stem and leaf of P. vulgaris have potential application value. Considering the traditional medication rule, it is feasible to use the whole plant as a medicine. Alternatively, salviaflaside, occurring in the seed, can be used as a marker compound for the quality evaluation of Prunellae Spica, if only using spica as the medicinal part of P. vulgaris, as described in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition).

Research progress in quality control of Bufonis Venenum in preparations / 中国中药杂志

Bufonis Venenum, an animal medicinal material, is widely used for treating cardiovascular diseases and pain induced by rheumatics or malignant tumors. In view of the high activity and high toxicity, it is of great significance to pay attention to the quality control of Bufonis Venenum to ensure the safety and effectiveness of its preparations. China's drug standards involve 102 preparations(474 batch numbers) containing Bufonis Venenum approved for sale, including 14 preparations in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition) and 68 preparations in the standards issued by the Ministry of Health Drug Standard of the People's Republic of China. Bufonis Venenum is mostly used in pill and powder preparations in the form of raw powder, with the main functions of clearing heat, removing toxin, relieving swelling and pain, replenishing qi, activating blood, opening orifice, and awakening brain. Except the high level of quality control for Bufonis Venenum in the preparations in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition), the quality control standards of Bufonis Venenum in other preparations are low or even absent. Therefore, it is urgent to conduct research on the improvement of quality standards for the preparations containing Bufonis Venenum. This study retrieved the reports focusing on the quality evaluation and quality control of the preparations containing Bufonis Venenum from CNKI, PubMed, and Web of Science. Qualitative and quantitative analysis methods for 64 preparations containing Bufonis Venenum have been reported, mainly including thin-layer chromatography, HPLC fingerprint, and multi-component content determination. The index components mainly involved bufadienolides, such as gamabufalin, arenobufagin, bufotalin, bufalin, cinobufagin, and resibufogenin. According to the literature information, this paper suggests that attention should be paid to the correlations between the analysis methods and detection indexes of medicinal materials, decoction pieces and preparations, the monitoring of indole alkaloids, and the content uniformity inspection for further improving the quality standards for the preparations containing Bufonis Venenum.

Association between vitamin D level and blood eosinophil count in healthy population and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its association with blood eosinophil count in healthy population and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).@*METHODS@#We analyzed the data of a total 6163 healthy individuals undergoing routine physical examination in our hospital between October, 2017 and December, 2021, who were divided according to their serum 25(OH)D level into severe vitamin D deficiency group (< 10 ng/mL), deficiency group (< 20 ng/mL), insufficient group (< 30 ng/mL) and normal group (≥30 ng/mL). We also retrospectively collected the data of 67 COPD patients admitted in our department from April and June, 2021, with 67 healthy individuals undergoing physical examination in the same period as the control group. Routine blood test results, body mass index (BMI) and other parameters were obtained from all the subjects, and logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between 25(OH)D levels and eosinophil count.@*RESULTS@#The overall abnormal rate of 25(OH)D level (< 30 ng/mL) in the healthy individuals was 85.31%, and the rate was significantly higher in women (89.29%) than in men. Serum 25(OH)D levels in June, July, and August were significantly higher than those in December, January, and February. In the healthy individuals, blood eosinophil counts were the lowest in severe 25(OH)D deficiency group, followed by the deficiency group and insufficient group, and were the highest in the normal group (P < 0.05). Multivariable regression analysis showed that an older age, a higher BMI, and elevated vitamin D levels were all risk factors for elevated blood eosinophils in the healthy individuals. The patients with COPD had lower serum 25(OH)D levels than the healthy individuals (19.66±7.87 vs 26.39±9.28 ng/mL) and a significantly higher abnormal rate of serum 25(OH)D (91% vs 71%; P < 0.05). A reduced serum 25(OH)D level was a risk factor for COPD. Blood eosinophils, sex and BMI were not significantly correlated with serum 25(OH)D level in patients with COPD.@*CONCLUSION@#Vitamin D deficiency is common in both healthy individuals and COPD patients, and the correlations of vitamin D level with sex, BMI and blood eosinophils differ obviously between healthy individuals and COPD patients.