[Non-targeted metabolomics of spleen and liver metabolism in mice treated with Pruni Semen processed with different methods].

Ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was employed to investigate the impacts of Pruni Semen processed with different methods(raw and fried) on the liver and spleen metabolism in mice. A total of 24 male mice were randomly assigned to three groups: raw Pruni Semen group, fried Pruni Semen group, and control(deionized water) group. Mice in the three groups were orally administrated with 0.01 g·mL~(-1) Pruni Semen decoction or deionized water for one week. After that, the liver and spleen tissues were collected, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS)-based metabolomic analysis was carried out to investigate the impact of Pruni Semen on the liver and spleen metabolism in mice. Compared with thte control group, the raw Pruni Semen group showed up-regulation of 11 metabolites and down-regulation of 57 metabolites in the spleen(P<0.05), as well as up-regulation of 15 metabolites and down-regulation of 58 metabolites in the liver(P<0.05). The fried Pruni Semen group showed up-regulation of 31 metabolites and down-regulation of 10 metabolites in the spleen(P<0.05), along with up-regulation of 26 metabolites and down-regulation of 61 metabolites in the liver(P<0.05). The differential metabolites identified in the raw Pruni Semen group were primarily associated with alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, purine metabolism, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, and D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism. The differential metabolites identified in the fried Pruni Semen group predominantly involved riboflavin metabolism, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, purine metabolism, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, and glutathione metabolism. The findings suggest that both raw and fried Pruni Semen have the potential to modulate the metabolism of the liver and spleen in mice by influencing the glutamine and glutamate metabolism.

The necessity of routine postoperative laboratory tests after total hip arthroplasty for hip fracture in a semi-urgent clinical setting.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that routine postoperative laboratory tests are not necessary after primary elective total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study aims to evaluate the utility of routine postoperative laboratory tests in patients undergoing THA for hip fracture in a semi-urgent clinical setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 213 consecutive patients who underwent primary unilateral THA for hip fractures. Patient demographics, clinical information, and laboratory tests were obtained from the electronic medical record system. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors associated with abnormal laboratory test-related interventions. RESULTS: A total of 207 patients (97.18%) had abnormal postoperative laboratory results, which were mainly due to anemia (190/213, 89.20%) and hypoalbuminemia (154/213, 72.30%). Overall, 54 patients (25.35%) underwent a clinical intervention, 18 patients received blood transfusion, and 42 patients received albumin supplementation. Factors associated with blood transfusion were long operative time and low preoperative hemoglobin levels. Factors associated with albumin supplementation were long operative time and low preoperative albumin levels. Of the 33 patients with abnormal postoperative creatinine levels, 7 patients underwent a clinical intervention. For electrolyte abnormalities, sodium supplementation was not given for hyponatremia, three patients received potassium supplementation, and one patient received calcium supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a high incidence of abnormal postoperative laboratory tests and a significant clinical intervention rate in patients who underwent THA for hip fracture in a semi-urgent clinical setting, which indicates that routine laboratory tests after THA for hip fracture are still necessary for patients with certain risk factors. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III. Trial registration Clinical trial registry number ChiCTR1900020690.

The necessity of routine postoperative laboratory tests in enhanced recovery after surgery for primary hip and knee arthroplasty: A retrospective cohort study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Over the last few decades, the concepts of minimally invasive surgery and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have been introduced into the field of total joint arthroplasty (TJA), and tranexamic acid (TXA) has been widely used in TJA. Modern-day surgical techniques and perioperative care pathways of TJA have experienced unexpected improvements. Recently, the necessity of the practice of ordering routine postoperative laboratory tests for patients undergoing primary TJA has been challenged, especially in the context of implementation of ERAS protocols in TJA. These studies have consistently suggested that routine postoperative laboratory tests are not necessary in modern-day primary, unilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and laboratory tests after surgery should only be obtained for patients with risk factors. However, it remains unclear whether routine postoperative laboratory tests after THA and TKA remains justified in the Chinese patient population. Therefore, we developed this study to address this issue. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This retrospective cohort study will include adult patients who underwent primary unilateral THA or TKA and received multimodal perioperative care pathways according to ERAS protocols. The following patient data will be collected from the electronic medical record system: patients' demographics, preoperative and postoperative laboratory values, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, TXA use, tourniquet use, postoperative length of stay, and any medical intervention directly related to abnormal laboratory values. The main study outcomes are the incidence of acute anemia requiring transfusion and incidence of hypoalbuminemia requiring albumin supplementation. The secondary outcomes are the rates of acute kidney injury, incidence of abnormal serum sodium level, incidence of abnormal serum potassium level, and incidence of abnormal serum calcium level. These clinical data will be analyzed to determine the incidence of abnormal postoperative laboratory values following primary unilateral THA and TKA; to clarify the frequency of any medical intervention directly related to abnormal postoperative laboratory values; and to identify risk factors that predispose patients to have abnormal postoperative laboratory results. STUDY REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn): ChiCTR1900020690.

Seasonal variation of pheophorbide a and flavonoid in different organs of two Carpinus species and its correlation with immunosuppressive activity.

The genus Carpinus of Betulaceae is the most widely distributed in the European landscape. This study reports a comparative study based on the pheophorbide a and flavonoid content from the two main species of the genus Carpinus, Carpinus betulus and Carpinus turczaninowii, respectively, in Nanjing, China. The pheophorbide a and flavonoid content depends on the organ, species, and season. HPLC analysis showed that the pheophorbide a and flavonoid levels were the highest in May and June, respectively, from the leaves of C. betulus 'Fastigiata.' In contrast, the content of pheophorbide a and flavonoid in the stems of C. betulus 'Fastigiata' or in other species was low. The immunosuppressive effects of the ethyl acetate extracts and methanol extracts from the two Carpinus species were also evaluated. The ethyl acetate extracts of C. betulus 'Fastigiata' in May and the methanol extracts of C. betulus 'Fastigiata' in June showed better immunosuppressive activity than in other seasons, which coincided with the content of pheophorbide a and flavonoid, respectively. Our findings indicated that C. betulus 'Fastigiata' can serve as a medicinal plant against inflammation because of its pheophorbide a and flavonoid content.

Apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation of cancer cells induced by cordycepin.

Cordycepin, a 3-deoxyadenosine, is the predominant functional component of the fungus Cordyceps militaris, a traditional Chinese medicine. Previous studies investigating the inhibition of cancer cells by cordycepin identified that it not only promotes cell apoptosis, but also controls cell proliferation. Furthermore, studies have elucidated the molecular mechanisms of inhibiting cell proliferation by cordycepin binding the A3 adenosine receptor, activating G protein, inhibiting cAMP formation, decreasing glycogen synthase kinase-3ß/ß-catenin activation and suppressing cyclin D1 and c-myc expression. The most significant signaling pathway in which cell apoptosis is induced by cordycepin is the caspase pathway. Cordycepin induces cell apoptosis via binding the DR3 receptor and consequently activating caspase-8/-3. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that cordycepin may be used as a natural medicine, as it can not only control tumor cell proliferation, but also induce cancer cell apoptosis.