Chinese patent medicine combined with calcium channel blockers in the treatment of essential hypertension:a Bayes network meta-analysis and systematic review.

Backgroud: The co-administration of Chinese patent medicine with calcium channel blockers (CCBs) is a prevalent practice in China for treating essential hypertension (EH). However, robust evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of tailored combinations of different Chinese patent medicines with CCBs, according to individual patient conditions, is still limited. This study sought to elucidate the efficacy and safety of these combinations using a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Materials and methods: Relevant studies were sourced from established databases, incorporating randomized controlled trials published up to 1 February 2023. The ROB2 tool from the Cochrane Collaborative Network was employed to independently assess and cross-verify the quality of the included literature. A network meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020 and PRISMA-Network Meta-Analyses (PRISMA-NMA) guidelines. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was utilized to gauge the efficacy and safety of distinct integrations of Chinese patent medicine and CCBs. Primary outcomes were interpreted using a paired fixed-effect meta-analysis. Publication bias was appraised through Egger's test and represented with funnel plots. All statistical analyses were executed within the R statistical framework. Results: Following rigorous selection, data extraction, and bias evaluation, 36 articles were incorporated. Tianma Gouteng Granule, when combined with CCBs, displayed superior efficacy in reducing systolic blood pressure (SBP). In terms of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) reduction, Songling Xuemaikang Capsule combined with CCBs emerged as the most effective. Regarding enhancement of antihypertensive effective rates, Qinggan Jiangya Capsule paired with CCBs demonstrated optimal results. For diminishing Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome scores, the Qiangli Dingxuan Tablet and CCBs combination proved most beneficial. When aiming to reduce total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, Tianma Gouteng Granule and CCBs showcased superior results. In contrast, the combination of Songling Xuemaikang Capsule and CCBs was more effective in reducing LDL-C, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Conclusion: This study underscores variability in outcomes from combining Chinese patent medicine and CCBs for hypertension, emphasizing the importance of personalized medicinal combinations, especially Tianma Gouteng Granule and Songling Xuemaikang Capsule. The results offer robust evidence to inform clinical guidelines for essential hypertention and significantly aid clinician in seleting appropriate Chinese patent medicines for treatment.

Elucidating the anti-hypertensive mechanisms of Uncaria rhynchophylla-Alisma plantago-aquatica L: an integrated network pharmacology, cluster analysis, and molecular docking approach.

Background: With the increasing global prevalence of hypertension, a condition that can severely affect multiple organs, there is a growing need for effective treatment options. Uncaria rhynchophylla-Alisma plantago-aquatica L. (UR-AP) is a traditional drug pair used for treating hypertension based on the liver-kidney synergy concept. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying its efficacy remain unclear. Methods: This study utilized an integrative approach combining network pharmacology, cluster analysis, and molecular docking to uncover the bioactive components and targets of UR-AP in the treatment of hypertension. Initially, we extracted data from public databases to identify these components and targets. A Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network was constructed, followed by enrichment analysis to pinpoint the bioactive components, core targets, and pivotal pathways. Cluster analysis helped in identifying key sub-networks and hypothesizing primary targets. Furthermore, molecular docking was conducted to validate the interaction between the core targets and major bioactive components, thus confirming their potential efficacy in hypertension treatment. Results: Network pharmacological analysis identified 58 bioactive compounds in UR-AP, notably quercetin, kaempferol, beta-sitosterol (from Uncaria rhynchophylla), and Alisol B, alisol B 23-acetate (from Alisma plantago-aquatica L.), as pivotal bioactives. We pinpointed 143 targets common to both UR-AP and hypertension, highlighting MAPK1, IL6, AKT1, VEGFA, EGFR, and TP53 as central targets involved in key pathways like diastolic and endothelial function, anti-atherosclerosis, AGE-RAGE signaling, and calcium signaling. Cluster analysis emphasized IL6, TNF, AKT1, and VEGFA's roles in atherosclerosis and inflammation. Molecular docking confirmed strong interactions between these targets and UR-AP's main bioactives, underscoring their therapeutic potential. Conclusion: This research delineates UR-AP's pharmacological profile in hypertension treatment, linking traditional medicine with modern pharmacology. It highlights key bioactive components and their interactions with principal targets, suggesting UR-AP's potential as a novel therapeutic option for hypertension. The evidence from molecular docking studies supports these interactions, indicating the relevance of these components in affecting hypertension pathways. However, the study acknowledges its limitations, including the reliance on in silico analyses and the need for in vivo validation. These findings pave the way for future clinical research, aiming to integrate traditional medicine insights with contemporary scientific approaches for developing innovative hypertension therapies.

Effect of Different Carbon Sources on Antioxidant Properties of Exopolysaccharides Produced by Scleroderma areolatum (Agaricomycetes).

Five kinds of exopolysaccharides (EPS) were obtained by fermentation of Scleroderma areolatum Ehrenb. with sucrose, glucose, maltose, lactose, and fructose as carbon sources. Antioxidant abilities of the obtained EPSs were evaluated by inhibiting AAPH, HO·, and glutathione (GS·) induced oxidation of DNA and quenching 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) cationic radical (ABTS· and galvinoxyl radicals. The effects of carbon sources on the antioxidant properties of EPSs could be examined. The results showed that five EPSs can effectively inhibit radicals induced oxidation of DNA, and the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) percentages were 44.7%-80.8%, 52.3%-77.5%, and 44.7%-73.3% in inhibiting AAPH, HO·, and GS· induced oxidation of DNA, respectively. All five EPSs could scavenge ABTS· and galvinoxyh, and exhibit superior activity in scavenging free radicals. Antioxidant abilities of EPS with fructose as carbon source were highest among five EPS.

Sanchi-mediated inactivation of IL1B accelerates wound healing through the NFκB pathway deficit.

Context: Sanchi promotes wound healing by repressing fibroblast proliferation. Objective: This study examined the effect of Sanchi on keratinocytes (KCs) and microvascular endothelial cells (MECs) and rats with skin injury. Materials & methods: Hydrogels containing different concentrations of Sanchi extract were prepared to observe wound closure over 10 days. SD rats were divided into the control, Hydrogel, 5% Hydrogel, 10% Hydrogel, 10% Hydrogel + Ad5-NC, and 10% Hydrogel + Ad5-IL1B groups. KCs and MECs were induced with H2O2 for 24 h. Cell viability, apoptosis, and the levels of inflammation- and oxidative stress-related factors were examined. The effect of IL1B on wound healing was also evaluated. Results: Compared to the Control group (83% ± 7.4%) or Hydrogel without Sanchi extract (84% ± 8.5%), Hydrogel with 5% (95% closure ± 4.0%) or 10% Sanchi extract (98% ± 1.7%) accelerated wound healing in rats and attenuated inflammation and oxidative stress. Hydrogels containing Sanchi extract increased collagen deposition and CD31 expression in tissues. H2O2 (100 µM) induced injury in KCs and MECs, whereas Sanchi rescued the viability of KCs and MECs. Sanchi inhibited cell inflammation and oxidative stress and decreased apoptosis. As Sanchi blocked the NFκB pathway via IL1B, IL1B mitigated the therapeutic effect of Sanchi. Discussion and conclusion: Sanchi demonstrated therapeutic effects on wound healing in rats by promoting KCs and MECs activity. These findings provide valuable information for the clinical application of Sanchi, which needs to be validated in future clinical trials.

Metal element-based adsorbents for phosphorus capture: Chaperone effect, performance and mechanism.

Excessive phosphorus (P) enters the water bodies via wastewater discharges or agricultural runoff, triggering serious environmental problems such as eutrophication. In contrast, P as an irreplaceable key resource, presents notable supply-demand contradictions due to ineffective recovery mechanisms. Hence, constructing a system that simultaneously reduce P contaminants and effective recycling has profound theoretical and practical implications. Metal element-based adsorbents, including metal (hydro) oxides, layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), exhibit a significant chaperone effect stemming from strong orbital hybridization between their intrinsic Lewis acid sites and P (Lewis base). This review aims to parse the structure-effect relationship between metal element-based adsorbents and P, and explores how to optimize the P removal properties. Special emphasis is given to the formation of the metal-P chemical bond, which not only depends on the type of metal in the adsorbent but also closely relates to its surface activity and pore structure. Then, we delve into the intrinsic mechanisms behind these adsorbents' remarkable adsorption capacity and precise targeting. Finally, we offer an insightful discussion of the prospects and challenges of metal element-based adsorbents in terms of precise material control, large-scale production, P-directed adsorption and effective utilization.

[Comprehensive review and prospect of acupuncture and moxibustion discipline: a review of Discipline History of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in China].

After reviewing and evaluating the Discipline History of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in China, the authors concludes that this book has the following characteristics: the scientific research focuses on the combination of internal and external history, and the conclusions are rigorous; the narrative style and structure featured by the division of discipline history of ancient times, modern times and current times are quite characteristic and enlightening; the reference materials are detailed and advanced, which showes profound thoughts and concerns about the difficulties and challenges faced by the development of acupuncture and moxibustion discipline and the internal path selection of acupuncture and moxibustion research. In addition, this book discusses the unique importance of the cultural attribute behind acupuncture and moxibustion technology in the process of theoretical research of acupuncture and moxibustion.

Vitamin B6 Deficiency Induces Autism-Like Behaviors in Rats by Regulating mTOR-Mediated Autophagy in the Hippocampus.

Vitamin B6 (VB6) exhibits therapeutic effects towards autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but its specific mechanism is poorly understood. Rat dams were treated with VB6 standard, VB6 deficiency, or VB6 supplementary diet, and the same treatment was provided to their offspring, with their body weights monitored. Three-chambered social test and open field test were employed to evaluate the effect of VB6 on autism-like behaviors. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) generation and synaptic inhibition of neurons in the hippocampus of rat were detected via immunofluorescence staining, followed by the measurement of GABA concentration through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The role of VB6 in the autophagy and apoptosis of cells was determined via Western blot and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). In order to conduct rescue experiments, the inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) or the activation of GABA was achieved by drug administration to the offspring rats with VB6 deficiency. As a result, no evident difference in weight was observed in the offspring with varied VB6 treatments. VB6 deficiency impaired social interaction; aggravated self-grooming and bowel frequency; decreased GABA concentration, VIAAT, GAD67, vGAT expressions, and LC3 II/LC3 I ratio; increased p62 level and p-mTOR/mTOR ratio; and promoted cell apoptosis. Inhibition of mTOR reversed the effect of VB6 deficiency on cell autophagy. GABA activation or mTOR inhibition offset the role of VB6 deficiency in autism-like behaviors and hippocampal GABA expression. Collectively, VB6 deficiency induces autism-like behaviors in rats by regulating mTOR-mediated autophagy in the hippocampus.

Possible Mechanisms of Oxidative Stress-Induced Skin Cellular Senescence, Inflammation, and Cancer and the Therapeutic Potential of Plant Polyphenols.

As the greatest defense organ of the body, the skin is exposed to endogenous and external stressors that produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). When the antioxidant system of the body fails to eliminate ROS, oxidative stress is initiated, which results in skin cellular senescence, inflammation, and cancer. Two main possible mechanisms underlie oxidative stress-induced skin cellular senescence, inflammation, and cancer. One mechanism is that ROS directly degrade biological macromolecules, including proteins, DNA, and lipids, that are essential for cell metabolism, survival, and genetics. Another one is that ROS mediate signaling pathways, such as MAPK, JAK/STAT, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, NF-κB, Nrf2, and SIRT1/FOXO, affecting cytokine release and enzyme expression. As natural antioxidants, plant polyphenols are safe and exhibit a therapeutic potential. We here discuss in detail the therapeutic potential of selected polyphenolic compounds and outline relevant molecular targets. Polyphenols selected here for study according to their structural classification include curcumin, catechins, resveratrol, quercetin, ellagic acid, and procyanidins. Finally, the latest delivery of plant polyphenols to the skin (taking curcumin as an example) and the current status of clinical research are summarized, providing a theoretical foundation for future clinical research and the generation of new pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Poly(amidoxime)-graft-magnetic chitosan for highly efficient and selective uranium extraction from seawater.

Adsorbents with highly efficient and selective recovery performance towards uranium are significantly demanded for the sustainable nuclear power production. Herein, poly(amidoxime)-graft-magnetic chitosan (P(AO)-g-MC) was synthesized through functionalizing magnetic chitosan with polyacrylonitrile followed by amidoximation process. Under magnetic field, P(AO)-g-MC can be separated from the solution in 10 s. Owing to the strong affinity of high-density amidoxime groups towards uranium, P(AO)-g-MC showed remarkable adsorption capacity, rapid kinetics and good regeneration performance in uranium spiked aqueous solution. Notably, the 7-day uranium adsorption capacity of P(AO)-g-MC from natural seawater in column mode was up to 5.14 mg/g, 12 times that of vanadium. The excellent uranium uptake performance over vanadium originated from the strong coordination by N and O in amidoxime groups according to theoretical simulation. The advantages of easy separating and high selectivity make P(AO)-g-MC a very potential uranium adsorbent in natural seawater.

Effect of Supplementary Levels of Rumen-Protected Lysine and Methionine on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, and Meat Quality in Feedlot Yaks (Bos grunniens).

Yak, a unique bovine species on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, has provided pastoralists with the basic materials of production and life for thousands of years. Existing literature showed that yak meat is of high nutritional value for humans whereas the growth performance is relatively low. As it has been demonstrated, lysine and methionine are the two key limiting amino acids in ruminants. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of supplementary levels of rumen-protected lysine (RPL) and methionine (RPM) on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality in feedlot yaks. Thirty-two male yaks, with initial body weight (IBW) of 237.5 ± 13.99 kg were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (n = 8), including control group (CON; basal diet without adding rumen-protected amino acid (RPAA)), low RPAA supplementation group (Group Low; basal diet supplemented with RPL (30.0 g/animal/day) and RPM (7.5 g/animal/day)), medium RPAA supplementation group (Group Medium; basal diet supplemented with RPL (50.0 g/animal/day) and RPM (12.5 g/animal/day)), and high RPAA supplementation group (Group High; basal diet supplemented with RPL (70.0 g/animal/day) and RPM (17.5 g/animal/day)). The average daily gain was increased linearly (p < 0.001) and quadratically (p < 0.01) while feed to gain ratio was decreased linearly (p < 0.001) and quadratically (p < 0.001) with the increasing RPAA supplementation, and the average daily gain was higher while feed to gain ratio was lower in RPAA than CON (p < 0.001). Meat color L* values and b* were decreased linearly (p < 0.01) with the increase of RPAA supplementation, and b* was lower in RPAA than CON (p < 0.05). Meat color a* value was increased linearly (p < 0.05) with the increasing RPAA supplementation, and a* was higher in RPAA than CON (p < 0.05). The 24 h drip loss and shear force were decreased quadratically (p < 0.01) with the increasing RPAA supplementation, and drip loss and shear force values were lower in RPAA than CON (p < 0.05). The glycine concentration in longissimus dorsi (LD) increased linearly (p < 0.05) with the increasing RPAA supplementation. These results demonstrated that both the growth performance and meat quality characteristics were improved in feedlot yaks as an effect of the dietary supplementation with RPL and RPM, and the medium supplementary level is recommended, since it showed the most promising results.

First report of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia causing root soft rot of Sanqi (Panax notoginseng) in China.

Sanqi (Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen) is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant with a long planting cycle of 2-3 years that makes it vulnerable to root diseases caused by several pathogens, including Fusarium solani, Alternaria panax, Phytophthoracactorum, and Pseudomonas sp. In April 2019, root soft rot samples of Sanqi were collected from a plantation site in Songming, southwest of China. Typical symptoms included root softening and necrosis, yellow leaf, and stem wilting. Ten diseased roots samples were collected and sterilized with 0.1% HgCl2 for 1 min, 75% ethanol for 2min, and then rinsed thrice with sterile water. Sterilized roots were cut into small pieces of 5 × 5 mm and cultured on the nutrient agar (NA) medium for 48 h at 28°C. From the root cultures, a total of thirteen bacterial strains were obtained. Three strains, SM 2-5, SM 2-13, and SM 2-14 were selected for further study. These three strains were gram-negative, short rod-shaped (1～2×0.5～1µm), non-spore-forming and had polar tufted flagella as observed under a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Also, the strains were positive for oxidase, beta-galactosidase, arginine dihydrolase, and lysine decarboxylase while negative for amylase and urease tested by biochemical methods (Wang 2017). To further determine the pathogenic species, genomic DNA of these three strains was extracted using a Genomic DNA Kit (Tsing Ke, Beijing, China), to PCR amplify 16S rDNA using universal primers 27F/1492R (Wang et al. 2017). Also, S. maltophilia 23S rDNA specific primers SM1/SM4 (Whitby et al. 2000) were used for PCR amplification to confirm the species. 16S rDNA sequence analysis showed that SM 2-5 (GenBank Accession No. MW555227), SM 2-13 (GenBank Accession No. MW555228), and SM 2-14 (GenBank Accession No. MW555229) shared the highest identity (>99.9%) with the S. maltophilia strains (GenBank Accession No. MT323142, MH669295, MN826555). Furthermore, 23S rDNA sequence analysis of SM 2-5 (GenBank Accession No. MZ707732), SM 2-13 (GenBank Accession No. MZ645941) and SM 2-14 (GenBank Accession No. MZ707733) revealed their high identity (>99.8%) with the S. maltophilia species. 16S and 23S rDNA phylogenetic analysis (Mega6.06) using the neighbor-joining (NJ) method with 1,000 bootstrap replicates revealed the three strains clustering with the other S. maltophilia strains. Therefore, based on morphology, metabolic profile, and sequence analysis, the three strains were identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. To test pathogenicity, the strains were grown in the nutrient broth (NB) medium for 48h at 28°C until bacterial suspension reached to OD600≈1.0 (2.0×109CFU/mL). Then, healthy roots of one-year-old Sanqi plants, pre-washed with sterilized water and -poked with a sterilized needle, were soaked in bacterial suspension (2.0×109CFU/mL) of the three strains separately for inoculation 10min. Sterilized water treatment was used as a control. Subsequently, bacteria-inoculated plants were planted in sterile soil pots and cultured in a greenhouse at 28°C with shading rate of 70%. Each treatment group included 3 plants with 3 replicates. Ten days post inoculation, symptoms similar to the ones in natural conditions were observed in the bacteria-inoculated plants. Based on the disease index (Li et al. 2020), we found that among the three strains, SM 2-13 displayed the highest virulence, while no symptoms were observed in the control plants. The same bacterial strains were re-isolated from these inoculated roots and identified by the methods described above. Previous studies showed that some Stenotrophomonas species cause plant diseases such as rice white stripe (Singh et al. 2001), strawberry leaf black spot (Wang et al. 2017), Cyclobalanopsis patelliformis leaf spot (Bian et al. 2020), and Jatropha curcas L. seed borne and stem necrosis (Wang et al. 2018). To our knowledge, this is the first report confirming Stenotrophomonas maltophilia causing root soft rot of Panax notoginseng in China.

Extremely stable amidoxime functionalized covalent organic frameworks for uranium extraction from seawater with high efficiency and selectivity.

Uranium extraction from seawater is of strategic significance for nuclear power generation. Amidoxime-based functional adsorbents play indispensable roles in the recovery of seawater uranium with high efficiency. Nevertheless, balancing the adsorption capacity and selectivity is challenging in the presence of complicated interfering ions especially vanadium. Herein, a polyarylether-based covalent organic framework functionalized with open-chain amidoxime (COF-HHTF-AO) was synthesized with remarkable chemical stability and excellent crystallinity. Impressively, the adsorption capacity of COF-HHTF-AO towards uranium in natural seawater reached up to 5.12 mg/g, which is 1.61 times higher than that for vanadium. Detailed computational calculations revealed that the higher selectivity for uranium over vanadium originated from the specific bonding nature and coordination pattern with amidoxime. Combining enhanced adsorption capacity, excellent selectivity and ultrahigh stability, COF-HHTF-AO serves as a promising adsorbent for uranium extraction from the natural seawater.

Multifunctional flexible free-standing titanate nanobelt membranes as efficient sorbents for the removal of radioactive (90)Sr(2+) and (137)Cs(+) ions and oils.

For the increasing attention focused on saving endangered environments, there is a growing need for developing membrane materials able to perform complex functions such as removing radioactive pollutants and oil spills from water. A major challenge is the scalable fabrication of membranes with good mechanical and thermal stability, superior resistance to radiation, and excellent recyclability. In this study, we constructed a multifunctional flexible free-standing sodium titanate nanobelt (Na-TNB) membrane that was assembled as advanced radiation-tainted water treatment and oil uptake. We compared the adsorption behavior of (137)Cs(+) and (90)Sr(2+) on Na-TNB membranes under various environmental conditions. The maximum adsorption coefficient value (Kd) for Sr(2+) reaches 10(7) mL g(-1). The structural collapse of the exchange materials were confirmed by XRD, FTIR and XPS spectroscopy as well as Raman analysis. The adsorption mechanism of Na-TNB membrane is clarified by forming a stable solid with the radioactive cations permanently trapped inside. Besides, the engineered multilayer membrane is exceptionally capable in selectively and rapidly adsorbing oils up to 23 times the adsorbent weight when coated with a thin layer of hydrophobic molecules. This multifunctional membrane has exceptional potential as a suitable material for next generation water treatment and separation technologies.

Development of a Novel Urine Alzheimer-Associated Neuronal Thread Protein ELISA Kit and Its Potential Use in the Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related chronic degenerative disease that damages the nervous system. A noninvasive and simple method for early detection of AD is extremely important for the diagnosis and prognosis of AD. Thus, we aimed to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit to detect urine Alzheimer-associated neuronal thread protein (AD7C-NTP), and to evaluate its clinical value for the diagnosis of AD. METHODS: Immunogenic AD7C-NTP peptide fragments were synthesized by the solid-phase method and used for immunizing mice or rabbits to generate anti-AD7C-NTP antibodies. The urine AD7C-NTP ELISA kit was then established; the generated mouse anti-AD7C-NTP antibody was used as a capture antibody, the biotin-labeled rabbit anti-AD7C-NTP antibody was used as a detection antibody, and avidin labeled by horseradish peroxidase was used as a substrate. The first morning urine specimens of 121 AD patients and 118 age-matched controls were collected, and the urine AD7C-NTP levels were detected by the above ELISA kit. RESULTS: Mouse and rabbit anti-AD7C-NTP antibody ELISA titer was found to be 1:8,000 and 1:32,000, respectively. A single band with a relative molecular mass of 41 kDa was found in human brain specimens by Western blot assay, which was identified as AD7C-NTP antibody. The urine AD7C-NTP concentration of the AD patients was higher than that of the age-matched controls, the sensitivity was 89.3% and the specificity was 84.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that our newly developed urine AD7C-NTP ELISA kit has suggested potential for diagnosing AD in a Chinese population, suggesting it may be a useful diagnostic kit for detecting early AD.

Bone mineral density of the spine in 11,898 Chinese infants and young children: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Bone mineral density (BMD) increases progressively during childhood and adolescence and is affected by various genetic and environmental factors. The aim of this study was to establish reference values for lumbar BMD in healthy Chinese infants and young children and investigate its influencing factors. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Healthy children aged 0 to 3 years who underwent regular physical examinations at the Child Health Care Clinic of Hubei Maternal and Child Health Hospital (N = 11,898) were recruited for this study. We also chose 379 preterm infants aged 0 to 1 years to preliminarily explore the development of BMD in this special population. BMD (g/cm(2)) measurements of the lumbar spine (L2-L4) were carried out with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and a questionnaire was administered to full-term children's parents to gather information on various nutritional and lifestyle factors as well as mothers' nutritional supplement use during pregnancy. Lumbar BMD significantly increased with age among both boys and girls (p<0.05), with fastest growth observed during the first postnatal year. There was no significant difference in lumbar BMD between boys and girls of similar age (p>0.05), either among healthy reference children or preterm infants. However, BMD values in preterm infants were significantly lower than those in term infants 3 to 8 months old (p<0.05) after adjustment for gestational age. Multivariable linear regression analysis indicated significant positive associations between lumbar BMD of healthy children and the child's age and current weight, mother's weight gain during pregnancy, birth weight, children's outdoor activity duration and children's physical activity duration. CONCLUSION: Our study provides reference values of lumbar BMD for healthy Chinese children aged 0 to 3 years and identifies several influencing factors.

[Danhong injection, ligustrazine injection, combined adsorbable biomembranes prevented adhesion of tendons after the repair operation: a clinical research].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect and the mechanism of Danhong Injection (DI), Ligustrazine Injection (LI), and adsorbable biomembranes in preventing the adhesion of tendons and tissues. METHODS: Totally 120 patients all suffering from simple flexor digitorum tendon rupture on the hand zone two damaged by sharp weapons were randomly assigned to Group A (Dikang adsorbable biomembrane), Group B (Tianxinfu adsorbable biomembrane), Group C (Tianxinfu adsorbable biomembrane + Ligustrazine group), and Group D (Tianxinfu adsorbable biomembrane + DI group) in accordance with random digit table, 30 cases in each group. Indicators such as total active movement (TAM) of the hand tendon, Minnesota manual dexterity test (MMDT), and finger flex strength test (FFST) were observed. RESULTS: The TAM and the favorable rate were higher in Group C and D than in Group A and B at post-operative 4 and 8 week (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference between Group C and D (P > 0.05). Each index of MMDT was lower in Group C and D than in Group A and B (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in FFST among all the 4 groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Combined application of LI or DI with Tianxinfu adsorbable biomembranes could effectively prevent the adhesion of tendons. DI showed equivalent effect as LI did. Besides, the combined application was superior in preventing adhesion to using Xintianfu adsorbable biomembrane or Dikan adsorbable biomembrane alone.

In vitro investigation on the magnetic thermochemotherapy mediated by magnetic nanoparticles combined with methotrexate for breast cancer treatment.

Cancer comprehensive treatment has been fully recognized as it can provide an effective multimodality approach for fighting cancers. In therapeutic oncology, hyperthermic adjuvant chemotherapy termed as thermochemotherapy plays an increasing role in multimodality cancer treatment. Currently, targeted nanothermotherapy is one of the effective hyperthermia approach based on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), which can be achieved by applying biocompatible nanoscaled metallic particles that convert electromagnetic energy into heat, for instance, magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) mediated by superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). Upon exposure under alternative magnetic field (AMF), SPIONs can generate heat through oscillation of their magnetic moment. Nowadays, clinical trials at phase II are now under investigations for MFH on patients in Germany and Japan and demonstrate very inspiring for cancer therapy. In this work we explore the feasibility and effectiveness of magnetic thermochemotherapy mediated by magnetic nanoparticles combined with methotrexate, an anti-cancer drug, for breast cancer comprehensive treatment. Amino silane coated MNPs as agent of MFH were prepared by the chemical precipitation method. Physiochemical characterizations on MNPs have been systematically carried out by various instrumental analyses. Inductive heating property of the MNPs was evaluated by monitoring the temperature increase of the MNPs suspension under AMF. The in-vitro cytotoxicity results on human breast cancer cell MCF-7 by CCK-8 assay indicated the bi-modal cancer treatment approach for combined MFH and chemotherapy is more effective than mono-modal treatment, indicating a thermal enhancement effect of hyperthermia on drug cytocoxicity. The magnetic thermochemotherapy mediated by MNPs combined with methotrexate can realize cancer comprehensive treatment thus has great potential in clinical application.

Pre-treating algae-laden raw water by silver carp during Microcystis-dominated and non-Microcystis-dominated periods.

Performance of pre-treating algae-laden raw water by silver carp during a non-Microcystis-dominated period (period I) and a Microcystis-dominated period (period II) was investigated in terms of algae cell concentration, total phosphorus content, chlorophyll a and phytoplankton species structure. During period I the ineffective filter-feeding for small green algae resulted in the increase of small single algae, which led to the negative removal of chlorophyll a, and when the biomass was higher, the negative was more significant. However, due to the effective filter-feeding of silver carp for Microcystis flos-aquae, the average removal efficiency exceeded 50% at all stocking biomass levels (20-120 g/m(3)) used in experiments during period II. Total phosphorus removal efficiencies could exceed 50% at silver carp biomass stocking levels of 60-80 g/m(3) during both period I and period II. The experimental results indicated that silver carp stocking contributed to the removal of colony-forming cyanobacteria, but led to the increase of single-cell algae (mainly green algae and diatoms) during both period I and period II. The initial phytoplankton community structure and the control of nutrient level were important factors in the choice of silver carp stocking biomass when used to purify algae-loaded water.

[Perioperative intervention of tetramethylpyrazine on free skin flap transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To study the impacts of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) intervention on hemorheology and blood coagulation before and after free skin flap transplantation, in order to provide new clues of applying Chinese drugs for activating blood circulation and removing stasis in microsurgery. METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing free skin flap transplantation were randomly and equally assigned to two groups, the treatment group administered with tetramethylpyrazine, the control group with low molecular dextran, both were treated for 7 days. The survival rate of transplanted flap, hemorrheologic parameters and four blood coagulation associated indices (prothrombin time, thrombin time, activated prothrombin time and fibrinogen) were detected before and after treatment. RESULTS: Comparisons of clinical efficacy and hemorrheologic indices showed no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05), but TMP showed less impacts on the four blood coagulation associated indices at the 24, 48 and 72 h after operation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TMP could prevent blood vessel crisis after free skin flap transplantation, so it is valuable in microsurgical clinical application.

[Effect of GEPT extracts on spatial learning ability of APPV717I transgenic mice at early stage of dementia and its possible mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of GEPT extracts on spatial learning ability of the APPV717I transgenic mice at the early stage of dementia and its possible mechanism. METHOD: Thirty APPV717I transgenic mice were randomly divided into three GEPT groups by intragastric administration at doses of 0.075, 0.15, 0.3 g x kg(-1) x d(-1), and a donepezil group by intragastric administration of 0.92 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), a APPV717I transgenic model group and a normal group by intragastric administration of distilled water. A four-month treatment regimen with GEPT extracts was administered to APPV717I transgenic mice. Results showed that Spatial memory ability was measured in Morris water maze. The total area covered by shank1 and integral optical density in CA1 subfield within the hippocampus were determined using immunohistochemical stains and Image-Pro plus analysis. The ultrastructure of synapses in the hippocampal CA1 region was observed by electronic microscope. RESULT: After a four-month of GEPT treatment regimen, the mean escape latency period were significantly shortened (P < 0.05), and the target quadrant search time were significantly increased (P < 0.05) compared to the APPV717I transgenic model mice. There was a significant higher level in the expression of shank1 detected in the hippocampal CA1 area of APPV717I transgenic mice associated with an increase in the number of synapses treated with GEPT than the levels in the APPV717I transgenic model mice alone. The total area of positive cells covered by shank1 and their integral optical density in the hippocampal CA1 area of the APPV717I transgenic mice treated with GEPT were significantly increased more than those of the APPV717I transgenic model mice. CONCLUSION: GEPT extracts can obviously improve the spatial memory ability of APPV717I transgenic mice at the early stage of dementia through enhancing the number of synapses and the expression of shank1, and this might lead to development of novel treatment therapies for the memory loss associated with AD.