Diagnostic validation and development of an algorithm for identification of intussusception in children using electronic health records of Ningbo city in China.

BACKGROUND: Monitoring the risk of intussusception after the introduction of rotavirus vaccines is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Although the validity of intussusception monitoring using electronic health records (EHRs) has been confirmed previously, no similar studies have been conducted in China. We aimed to verify the diagnosis and determine an algorithm with the best performance for identification of intussusception using Chinese EHR databases. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Using the Regional Health Information Platform in Ningbo, patients aged 0-72 months from 2015 to 2021 with any related visits for intussusception were included. The algorithms were based on diagnostic codes or keywords in different clinical scenarios, and their performance was evaluated with positive predictive value (PPV) and sensitivity in line with the Brighton guidelines. RESULTS: Brighton level 1 intussusception was confirmed in 2958 patients with 3246 episodes. Fine-tuned algorithms combining the appearance of the relevant ICD-10 codes or the Chinese keyword 'Chang Tao' in any diagnostic reports with the results of enema treatments or related surgeries showed the highest sensitivity, while the highest PPV was obtained by further criteria based on typical radiographic appearances. CONCLUSION: Intussusception could be identified and validated internally using EHRs in Ningbo.

Transfer Behaviors of 30 Pesticide Residues during the Common Processing of Ginseng.

To reduce safety issues of ginseng products caused by excessive pesticide levels, this paper systematically elucidates the transfer rules of pesticides during processing by calculating the transfer rates and processing factors (PFs). The common methods of ginseng processing (water extraction, alcohol extraction, concentration, water extraction and alcohol precipitation, vacuum drying, freeze drying, spray drying) and 30 pesticides frequently occurring in ginseng were used as research objects. The results indicate that the pesticide residues in alcohol extract are much higher than those in water extract. During water extraction and alcohol precipitation, 93.2% of pesticides are transferred to the upper ethanol solution. Besides, drying could reduce the total amount but increase the concentration of pesticide residues. Water extraction-concentration-spray drying (PF ranges from 0.01 to 0.36) and alcohol extraction-concentration-vacuum drying (PF ranges from 1.10 to 3.70) are the processing methods with the lowest and highest pesticide processing factors, respectively.

Neuroprotective effect of Da Chuanxiong Formula against cognitive and motor deficits in a rat controlled cortical impact model of traumatic brain injury.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Da Chuanxiong Formula (DCXF) is one of the famous herb pairs that contains dried rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. and Gastrodia elata Bl. in the mass ratio of 4:1. This classic representative traditional Chinese medicine has been widely used to treat brain diseases like headache and migraine caused by blood stasis and wind pathogen. However, the therapeutic effect of DCXF on traumatic brain injury (TBI) has not been reported yet. AIM OF STUDY: The present study was performed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of DCXF and its underlying mechanisms in the controlled cortical impact (CCI)-induced TBI rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: Sham, TBI control, 1X DCXF (520.6 mg/kg) and 5X DCXF (2603.0 mg/kg). Two treatment groups (1X and 5X DCXF) were intragastrically administered daily for 7 days before CCI-induced TBI and then DCXF treatments were continued post-TBI until the animal behavioral tests, including Morris water maze test, acceleration rotarod motor test and CatWalk quantitative gait analysis test, were done. The brain water content and blood brain barrier (BBB) integrity were measured by wet-dry weight method and Evans blue method, respectively. The number of neuron cells, neural stem cells (NSCs), GFAP positive cells (astrocyte) as well as Iba-1 positive cells (microglia) were determined by histology and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Treatment with DCXF significantly improved the learning ability and memory retention in Morris water maze test, and remarkably enhanced motor performances in acceleration rotarod motor test and catwalk quantitative gait analysis test after TBI. Moreover, DCXF treatment was able to reduce BBB permeability, brain edema, microglia and astrocyte activation, improve the proliferation of NSCs and decrease neurons loss in the brain with TBI. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that DCXF treatment could decrease BBB leakage and brain edema, reduce neuron loss, microglia and astrocyte activation, and increase NSCs proliferation, which may contribute to the cognitive and motor protection of DCXF in the TBI rats. It is the first time to provide potentially underlying mechanisms of the neuroprotective effect of DCXF on TBI-induced brain damage and functional outcomes.

Phytochemistry and pharmacology of the genus Leonurus: The herb to benefit the mothers and more.

Plants belonging to the genus Leonurus, also named motherwort, are traditionally used for anti-gynecological disorder in East Asia, and for sedative in Europe. Chemical investigation of the genus Leonurus not only enriched the natural products library, but also enlarged the pharmacological application of this traditional herb. In this review, we systematically summarized the structures of 259 compounds isolated from the genus Leonurus, featured with 147 labdane diterpenoids. The reported bioactivity studies up to 2017 are presented in the second part, with the main focus on the isolated compounds and also concerning the extracts. In addition to the traditional uterine contraction and sedative activity, recently the cardiovascular protection effect of leonurine has drawn most attention. Other than that, neuroprotection, anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, anti-platelet aggregation and many other activities have been assigned to various compounds from the genus Leonurus. Among 70 bioactivity references cited in this review, 57% of them were concentrated on two alkaloids (leonurine and stachydrine), whereas only 20% are about the 147 diterpenoids. Anti-inflammation is the major bioactivity discovered so far for the labdane diterpenoids from the genus Leonurus, whose further therapeutic potential still remains for exploration.

A traditional Chinese formula composed of Chuanxiong Rhizoma and Gastrodiae Rhizoma (Da Chuanxiong Formula) suppresses inflammatory response in LPS -induced RAW 264.7 cells through inhibition of NF-κB pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Da Chuanxiong Formula (DCXF) which origins from Jin Dynasty is a famous classical 2-herb Chinese medicinal prescription. It is composed of dried rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma, CR) and Gastrodia elata (Gastrodiae Rhizoma, GR) at the ratio of 4:1 (w/w). It has been used to treat headache which is caused by wind pathogen and blood stasis for thousands of years in China. AIM OF STUDY: The present study was performed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of DCXF and elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms using LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-inflammatory effect of DCXF was evaluated using LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Generation of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were measured by the Griess colorimetric method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The gene expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Furthermore, the effect of DCXF on NF-κB activation was measured by western blot assay. RESULTS: Treatment with DCXF significantly suppressed the productions of NO and PGE2 through inhibitions of iNOS and COX-2 expressions in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. DCXF significantly decreased IκBα phosphorylation, inhibited p65 expression and reduced p-p65 level. These results suggested the anti-inflammatory effect of DCXF was associated with the reduction of inflammatory mediators through inhibition of NF-κB pathway. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that DCXF inhibited inflammation in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells through inactivation of NF-κB pathway.