Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory function of Eupatorium adenophora Spreng leaves (EASL) on human intestinal Caco-2 cells treated with tert-butyl hydroperoxide.

Chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) pose a significant public health challenge. Addressing this issue, there has been a notable breakthrough in the prevention and mitigation of NCDs through the use of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. In this study, we aim to explore the effectiveness of Eupatorium adenophora Spreng leaves (EASL) as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, and its potential applications. To construct a cellular model of oxidative damage and inflammation, Caco-2 cells were treated with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP). The biocompatibility of EASL-AE with Caco-2 cells was assessed using the MTT assay, while compatibility was further verified by measuring LDH release and the protective effect against oxidative damage was also assessed using the MTT assay. Additionally, we measured intracellular oxidative stress indicators such as ROS and 8-OHdG, as well as inflammatory pathway signalling protein NFκB and inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1ß using ELISA, to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity of EASL-AE. The scavenging capacity of EASL-AE against free radicals was determined through the DPPH Assay and ABTS Assay. Furthermore, we measured the total phenolic, total flavonoid, and total polysaccharide contents using common chemical methods. The chemical composition of EASL-AE was analyzed using the LC-MS/MS technique. Our findings demonstrate that EASL-AE is biocompatible with Caco-2 cells and non-toxic at experimental levels. Moreover, EASL-AE exhibits a significant protective effect on Caco-2 cells subjected to oxidative damage. The antioxidant effect of EASL-AE involves the scavenging of intracellular ROS, while its anti-inflammatory effect is achieved by down-regulation of the NFκB pathway. Which in turn reduces the release of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1ß. Through LC-MS/MS analysis, we identified 222 compounds in EASL-AE, among which gentianic acid, procaine and L-tyrosine were the compounds with high antioxidant capacity and may be the effective constituent for EASL-AE with antioxidant activity. These results suggest that EASL-AE is a natural and high-quality antioxidant and anti-inflammatory biomaterial that warrants further investigation. It holds great potential for applications in healthcare and other related fields.

Factors influencing pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists' membership in professional organisations: an international survey.

BACKGROUND: Professional organisations exist as international or national organisations, with each country establishing at least one national professional association. There remains a knowledge gap about factors that influence professional organisational involvement of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists. This study aims to explore the motivators and barriers of pharmacy professionals holding organisation membership from a global perspective. METHODS: An online questionnaire was developed and disseminated between May and July 2021. The survey was open to all pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists. The survey consisted of four sections; demographic information, questions about professional organisations, about the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and its impact on the members. Data were analysed descriptively. RESULTS: A total of 1033 complete survey responses were received and included in the analysis. Of all respondents, 761 (73.7%) respondents were current members of a professional organisation and 272 (26.3%) were not members of any professional organisation. Overall, findings demonstrated networking, education, training and professional development opportunities as the main interests and anticipated activities, while the lack of clarity or need to join organisation, time, and financial constraints as the main barriers of pharmacy professionals holding membership. The majority of FIP members are satisfied with current FIP activities, and anticipate further networking opportunities, educational resources and grants made available to members. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the perceptions and needs, as well as factors that influence engagement of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists is the key to enhancing membership. Professional organisations are highly encouraged to strengthen and target activities according to the identified motivators and barriers.

[Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for 30-Day Mortality in Patients with Hematologic Diseases Infected by Carbapenem-Resistant Organisms].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics of hospitalized patients with hematologic diseases complicated with carbapenem-resistant organisms (CRO) infection and analyze the risk factors of 30-day all-cause mortality. METHODS: The clinical data and laboratory test data of 77 hospitalized patients with hematologic diseases complicated with CRO infection in department of hematology of the Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2015 to December 2020 were retrospectively analysed, the risk factors of 30-day all-cause mortality after CRO infection were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Among the total of 77 patients with hematologic diseases complicated with CRO infection, 29 died and 48 survived within 30 days of infection, with a case fatality rate of 37.66%. A total of 93 strains of CRO were isolated from these patients, of which Acinetobacter baumannii had the highest detection rate (25.81%, 24/93), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18.28%, 17/93). The lung was the most common site of CRO infection. The detected pathogens were highly resistant to carbapenems, and 64.52% (60/93) of the pathogens were resistant to imipenem with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)≥16 µg/ml. The results of the univariate analysis showed that albumin concentration <25 g/L (P =0.048), serum creatinine concentration≥120 µmol/L (P =0.023), age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI) (P =0.037) and primary treatments (supportive treatment, immunosuppressive therapy, chemotherapy, HSCT) (P =0.048) were significantly associated with 30-day all-cause mortality after infection. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that when CRO infection confirmed, albumin concentration <25 g/L (P =0.014, OR=6.171), serum creatinine concentration≥120 µmol/L (P =0.009, OR=10.867) were independent risk factors for 30-day mortality of patients with hematologic diseases complicated with CRO infection. CONCLUSION: The mortality rate of CRO-infected patients with hematologic diseases is high. The detected pathogenic bacteria are highly resistant to imipenem. The albumin concentration <25 g/L and the serum creatinine concentration≥ 120 µmol/L at diagnosis of CRO infection were independent risk factors for 30-day mortality of the patients with hematologic diseases.

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer function of Engleromyces goetzei Henn aqueous extract on human intestinal Caco-2 cells treated with t-BHP.

High body mass index (high BMI, obesity) is a serious public health problem, and "obesity-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and cancer" have become modern epidemic diseases. We carried out this study to explore a functional beverage that may protect against obesity-induced diseases. The Engleromyces goetzei Henn herbal tea is such a candidate. For this study, we carried out LC-MS analysis of E. goetzei Henn aqueous extract (EgH-AE); then used the Caco-2 cell line for the model cells and treated the cells with t-BHP to form an oxidative stress system. An MTT assay was used for testing the biocompatibility and cytoprotective effects; reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde determination was used for evaluating the antioxidative stress effect; TNF-α and IL-1ß were used for observing the anti-inflammatory effect, and 8-OHdG for monitoring anticancer activity. The results of this study demonstrate that the EgH-AE has very good biocompatibility with the Caco-2 cell line and has good cytoprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. It is clear that EgH-AE, a kind of ancient herbal tea, may be used to develop a functional beverage that can be given to people with a high BMI to protect against obesity-induced diseases.

Pharmacists as patient advocates: A series of case studies illustrating the impacts of a regular pharmacist service in residential aged care (nursing homes).

Background: Medicine-related problems are common in older people living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Recognising the significant medicine-related problems, the Australian government has announced a $345 million funding package to employ on-site pharmacists in RACFs starting in 2023. The new on-site pharmacists are to provide a range of clinical services to reduce medicine-related adverse events, promote quality use of medicines, and improve clinical governance and education. Underpinning these services, the authors argue that pharmacists play the critical role as resident advocates. Objective: This study aims to demonstrate how pharmacists can enhance their advocacy responsibility within and beyond the clinical environment to not only reduce medicine-related adverse events but also improve residents' overall health and quality of life. Methods: This study uses a case series methodology to demonstrate pharmacists' diverse roles in advocating for residents and their families. The case studies were based on participants enrolled in the Reducing Medicine-Induced Deterioration and Adverse Reactions (ReMInDAR) trial, a randomised controlled trial testing the effects of a regular pharmacist service across the Australian RACFs. Results: Pharmacists' advocacy ranged from persistence in follow-up with a resident's general practitioner (GP) to ensure the GP was aware that a patient was experiencing bleeding and bruising while on an anticoagulant, to advocating for a new bed for a resident with peripheral oedema who had been sleeping in his chair due to fear of falling out of his current bed. Conclusions: Our trial focussed on pharmacists serving as the residents' advocate to improve their overall health and quality of life, rather than just addressing a list of medicine-related problems. The pharmacist model used in the ReMInDAR trial supports pharmacists to work to their full scope of practice, helps guide the Australian government's new on-site pharmacist program, and serves as an exemplar pharmacist in aged care model internationally.

Local treatment improves survival in patients with stage IVB cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of local treatment in stage IVB cervical cancer (CC). METHODS: Patients diagnosed with stage IVB CC between 2010 and 2015 were included using the data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the clinicopathological variables of patients. Multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to analyze the risk factors associated with cause-specific survival (CSS). RESULTS: We identified 960 patients in this study, all patients had received chemotherapy. Of these patients, 818 patients were treated with local treatment (85.2%), including 724 (88.5%) and 94 (11.5%) patients receiving radiotherapy (RT) alone and surgery ± RT, respectively. Local treatment was the independent prognostic factor associated with better CSS. Before PSM, patients who received RT (hazard ratio [HR] 0.633, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.517-0.775, P < 0.001) or surgery (HR 0.391, 95% CI 0.277-0.552, P < 0.001) were independently associated with a better CSS compared to those with no local treatment. The 3-years CSS rate was 14.4%, 32.4%, and 54.8% in no local treatment, RT alone, and surgery groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Similar results were found after PSM. Patients receiving RT (HR 0.643, 95% CI 0.436-0.947, P = 0.025) and surgery (HR 0.146, 95% CI 0.052-0.410, P < 0.001) had better CSS compared to patients with no local treatment after PSM. While similar CSS was shown between RT alone cohort and the surgery cohort (HR 0.756, 95% CI 0.454-1.260, P = 0.284). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of local surgery or RT to chemotherapy appears to confer improved survival outcomes in patients with stage IVB CC.

The metaplastic effects of cordycepin in hippocampal CA1 area of rats.

Metaplasticity is referred to adjustment in the requirements for induction of synaptic plasticity based on the prior history of activity. Synaptic plasticity, including long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD), has been considered to be the neural processes underlying learning and memory. Previous observations that cordycepin (an adenosine derivative) improved learning and memory seemed to be contradictory to the findings that cordycepin inhibited LTP. Therefore, we speculated that the conflicting reports of cordycepin might be related to metaplasticity. In the current study, population spike (PS) in hippocampal CA1 area of rats was recorded by using electrophysiological method in vivo. The results showed that cordycepin reduced PS amplitude in hippocampal CA1 with a concentration-dependent relationship, and high frequency stimulation (HFS) failed to induce LTP when cordycepin was intrahippocampally administrated but improved LTP magnitude when cordycepin was pre-treated. Cordycepin increased LTD induced by activating N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and subsequently facilitated LTP induced by HFS. Furthermore, we found that 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX), an adenosine A1 receptors antagonist, could block the roles of cordycepin on LTD and LTP. Collectively, cordycepin was able to modulate metaplasticity in hippocampal CA1 area of rats through adenosine A1 receptors. These findings would be helpful to reconcile the conflicting reports in the literatures and provided new insights into the mechanisms underlying cognitive function promotions with cordycepin treatment.

Application of Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy combined with GC in rapid and simultaneous determination of essential components in Amomum villosum.

A method is described using rapid and sensitive Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy combined with Gas Chromatograpy internal standard method detection for the simultaneous identification and determination of three bioactive compounds in Amomum villosum samples. Partial least squares regression is selected as the analysis type and multiplicative scatter correction, second derivative, and SNV were adopted for the spectral pretreatment. The correlation coefficients (R) of the calibration models were above 0.95 and the root mean square error of predictions were under 0.8. The developed models were applied to unknown samples with satisfantory results. The established method was validated and can be applied to the intrinsic quality control of Amomum villosum.

The effects of anticholinergic medications on cognition in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cognitive side effects of anticholinergic medications in older adults are well documented. Whether these poor cognitive outcomes are observed in children has not been systematically investigated. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the associations between anticholinergic medication use and cognitive performance in children. Systematic review was conducted using Medline, PsychInfo, and Embase, identifying studies testing cognitive performance relative to the presence versus absence of anticholinergic medication(s) in children. We assessed effects overall, as well as relative to drug class, potency (low and high), cognitive domain, and duration of administration. The systematic search identified 46 articles suitable for meta-analysis. For the most part, random effects meta-analyses did not identify statistically significant associations between anticholinergic exposure and cognitive performance in children; the one exception was a small effect of anticholinergic anti-depressants being associated with better cognitive function (Hedges' g = 0.24, 95% CI 0.06-0.42, p = 0.01). Anticholinergic medications do not appear to be associated with poor cognitive outcomes in children, as they do in older adults. The discrepancy in findings with older adults may be due to shorter durations of exposure in children, differences in study design (predominantly experimental studies in children rather than predominantly epidemiological in older adults), biological ageing (e.g. blood brain barrier integrity), along with less residual confounding due to minimal polypharmacy and comorbidity in children.

Cordycepin Ameliorates Synaptic Dysfunction and Dendrite Morphology Damage of Hippocampal CA1 via A1R in Cerebral Ischemia.

Cordycepin exerted significant neuroprotective effects and protected against cerebral ischemic damage. Learning and memory impairments after cerebral ischemia are common. Cordycepin has been proved to improve memory impairments induced by cerebral ischemia, but its underlying mechanism has not been revealed yet. The plasticity of synaptic structure and function is considered to be one of the neural mechanisms of learning and memory. Therefore, we investigated how cordycepin benefits dendritic morphology and synaptic transmission after cerebral ischemia and traced the related molecular mechanisms. The effects of cordycepin on the protection against ischemia were studied by using global cerebral ischemia (GCI) and oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) models. Behavioral long-term potentiation (LTP) and synaptic transmission were observed with electrophysiological recordings. The dendritic morphology and histological assessment were assessed by Golgi staining and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, respectively. Adenosine A1 receptors (A1R) and adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR) were evaluated with western blotting. The results showed that cordycepin reduced the GCI-induced dendritic morphology scathing and behavioral LTP impairment in the hippocampal CA1 area, improved the learning and memory abilities, and up-regulated the level of A1R but not A2AR. In the in vitro experiments, cordycepin pre-perfusion could alleviate the hippocampal slices injury and synaptic transmission cripple induced by OGD, accompanied by increased adenosine content. In addition, the protective effect of cordycepin on OGD-induced synaptic transmission damage was eliminated by using an A1R antagonist instead of A2AR. These findings revealed that cordycepin alleviated synaptic dysfunction and dendritic injury in ischemic models by modulating A1R, which provides new insights into the pharmacological mechanisms of cordycepin for ameliorating cognitive impairment induced by cerebral ischemia.

Treatment with or without bevacizumab as a first-line and maintenance therapy for advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Pemetrexed and bevacizumab as monotherapies, or in combination, have been approved for maintenance therapy following platinum-based induction in patients with advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The differences in the benefits of bevacizumab for treatment during early or late NSCLC have not yet been characterized. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from 35 patients with advanced naïve NSCLC who had received pemetrexed/platinum with or without bevacizumab followed by maintenance therapy with pemetrexed alone or pemetrexed plus bevacizumab. The data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression adjusted for risk factors. Patients were grouped according to treatment conditions. Group A received pemetrexed plus platinum followed by pemetrexed alone (Pem-Pt/Pem). Group B received pemetrexed plus platinum followed by pemetrexed and bevacizumab (Group B; Pem-Pt/Pem + Bev). Group C received pemetrexed, platinum, and bevacizumab during induction therapy, and pemetrexed as maintenance therapy (Group C; Pem-Pt + Bev/Pem + Bev). We assessed the significance of introduction of bevacizumab at different stages of treatment. RESULTS: A total of 13 (37.1%) patients were included in Group A, nine patients (25.7%) were included in Group B, and 13 patients (37.1%) were included in Group C. Among the 35 patients, 69.2% were male, and the median age was 59 years (range 40-75). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.7 months (231 days, range 134-410 days) in Group A, 9.3 months (280 days, range 84-565 days) in Group B, and 8.0 months (241 days, range 108-665 days) in Group C. The median PFS was not significantly different among the three groups (P = 0.233). Similarly, bevacizumab did not significantly affect PFS (P = 0.630). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of bevacizumab into induction chemotherapy or maintenance therapy provided limited benefits to PFS in our study, but previous studies suggested that bevacizumab may improve disease control. In that way, we presume that early use of bevacizumab may provide a greater benefit.

Do Overweight Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) Patients Have an Increased Perioperative Risk for Posterior Spinal Fusion (PSF) Surgery?: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis of 374 AIS Patients.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the perioperative outcome of posterior spinal fusion (PSF) between overweight (OW) adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients and the healthy-weight (HW) patients using propensity score matching analysis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Obesity was found to increase postoperative surgical complications compared with the nonobese group. In scoliosis correction surgery, association of OW and perioperative risks had been explored, but most studies were retrospective in nature. METHODS: From 374 patients, two comparable groups were matched using propensity score matching analysis with one-to-one nearest neighbor matching and a caliper of 0.2. There were 46 HW and OW patients in each group. The main outcome measures were intraoperative blood loss, use of allogeneic blood transfusion, operative time, duration of hospital stay post-surgery, total patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) morphine usage, perioperative complications, side bending flexibility (SBF), and correction rate (%). RESULTS: The mean age was 13.3 ±â€Š1.7 and 13.2 ±â€Š1.7 years for HW and OW groups, respectively. The majority of the patients were Lenke 1 curves; 32.6% (HW) and 26.1% (OW) with an average Cobb angle of 69.0 ±â€Š19.1° and 68.8 ±â€Š18.4° for each group, respectively. The two groups were comparable. The operation time was 145.2 ±â€Š42.2 and 154.4 ±â€Š48.3 minutes for HW and OW groups, respectively (P > 0.05). The intraoperative blood loss was almost similar in both groups; 955.1 ±â€Š497.7 mL (HW group) and 1011.8 ±â€Š552.7 mL (OW group) (P > 0.05). Total PCA morphine used was higher in OW group (30.4 ±â€Š22.7 mg) than in the HW group (16.2 ±â€Š11.3 mg). No complication was observed in HW group, while in OW group, one patient (2.2%) developed intraoperative seizure. CONCLUSION: OW AIS patients (≥85th percentile) had similar mean operative time, intraoperative blood loss, allogeneic transfusion rate, length of stay, and perioperative complications compared with HW AIS patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

L-type VDCCs participate in behavioral-LTP and memory retention.

Although L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) have been reported to display different even contrary actions on cognitive functions and long-term potentiation (LTP) formation, there is little information regarding the role of L-type VDCCs in behavioral LTP, a learning-induced LTP model, in the intact brain of freely behaving animals. Here we investigated the effects of verapamil, a non-selective blocker of L-type VDCCs, on behavioral LTP and cognitive functions. Population spikes (PS) were recorded by using electrophysiological methods to examine the role of verapamil in behavioral LTP in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) region. Y-maze assay was used to evaluate the effects of verapamil on learning and memory. Electron microscope was used to observe the changes on synaptic ultrastructural morphology in hippocampal DG area. We found that intrahippocampal verapamil treatments had no significant changes on the PS amplitude during a 90min recordings period. However, intrahippocampal applications of verapamil, including pre- or post-training, reduced behavioral LTP magnitude and memory retention but did not prevent the induction of behavioral LTP and the acquisition of learning. The saline group with behaving trainings showed obvious increases in the number of smile synapses, the length of active zones and the thickness of postsynaptic density as compared to the baseline group, but verapamil with pre-training treatment almost returned these changes to the baseline levels except for the synaptic interface curvature. In conclusion, our results suggest that L-type VDCCs may only contribute to the magnitude of behavioral LTP and the memory maintenance with an activity-independent relationship. L-type VDCCs may be critical to new information long-term storage rather than acquisition in hippocampus.

[Effects and mechanism of two Streptomyces strains on promoting plant growth and increasing grain yield of maize]. / ä¸¤æ ªé“¾éœ‰èŒå¯¹çŽ‰ç±³çš„ä¿ƒç”Ÿå¢žäº§ä½œç”¨åŠæœºç†.

This paper was mainly to explore the effects of two Streptomyces strains (S. roche D74 and S. pactum Act12) and their mixed actinomycetes agent on maize growth. Petri dish germination test, sand culture trial and plot trial were performed to determine the biological properties, leaf inducible enzyme activities, photosynthesis, ear characteristics, grain yield and quality of maize after seed soaking with acellular culture filtrate of D74 or Act 12 and seed coating with the mixed actinomycetes agent of two Streptomyces stains. The result showed that the seed soaking treatment significantly contributed to hypocotyls, radical and seedling growth, and increased the leaf inducible enzyme activities of maize seedlings. The 1000-fold dilution of D74 improved hypocotyl length, radicle length, and fibrous root number by 43.4%, 26.4%, and 100.7% (P<0.05), respectively, whereas the undiluted solution of D74 improved leaf polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity by 40.2% (P<0.05). The 1000-fold dilution of Act12 improved hypocotyl length, radicle length, and fibrous root number by 36.3%, 36.3%, and 117.5% (P<0.05), the total fresh mass and root fresh mass by 31.1% and 36.6%, respectively (P<0.05). The 10-fold and 1000-fold dilutions of Act12 improved leaf PPO activity by 38.1% and 39.5%, respectively (P<0.05). The seed coating treatment showed the following significant effects, compared with the control: 1) Improving the root development. 2) Enhancing the leaf photosynthesis. 3) Improving the ear characteristics and grain yield. 4) Promoteing the grain filling. 5) Improving the leaf inducible enzyme activities. The results indicated that seed coating with the mixed actinomycetes agent of two Streptomyces strains could significantly affect the biological characteristics, photosynthesis and biochemical metabolism of maize seedlings, stimulate root development, promote plant growth, and improve grain yield of maize.

Prevalence and associations of neuropathic pain in a cohort of multi-ethnic Asian low back pain patients.

The prevalence of neuropathic low back pain differs in different ethnic populations. The aims of the study are to determine its frequency and associations in a multi-ethnic cohort of Asian low back pain patients. This was a cross-sectional study of low back patients seen at the University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Neuropathic low back pain patients were identified using the painDETECT questionnaire and compared with non-neuropathic (unclear or nociceptive) low back pain patients, in terms of socio-demographic and clinical factors, pain severity (numerical pain rating scale, NPRS), disability (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire, RMDQ), as well as anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS). Of 210 patients, 26 (12.4%) have neuropathic low back pain. Neuropathic pain is associated with non-Chinese ethnicity, higher body mass index and pain radiation below the knee. Patients with neuropathic pain have significantly higher NPRS and RMDQ scores, and there are more subjects with anxiety on HADS. However, there are no differences between the groups in age, gender, pain duration or underlying diagnosis of low back pain. The prevalence of neuropathic low back pain in a multi-ethnic Malaysian cohort is lower than previously reported in other populations with possible differences between ethnic groups. It is associated with greater pain severity, disability and anxiety.

Prevalence of and risk factors for the occurrence of symptomatic osteoarthritis in rural regions of Shanxi Province, China.

AIM: To determine the prevalence of symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) in rural regions of Shanxi Province, China, and to identify factors increasing the prevalence of OA. METHOD: Residents over 16 years of age of targeted towns and villages in rural regions of Shanxi Province were sampled using a stratified multi-stage cluster method. Those exhibiting symptoms of rheumatism were referred to rheumatologists and those in whom rheumatism was suspected were X-rayed within 10 days of interview. OA was diagnosed by consensus (two or three rheumatologists). Factors associated with the presence of OA were identified. RESULTS: A total of 7126 permanent residents were surveyed and 1734 (24.3%) had OA. Knee OA was the most prevalent form of OA (13.8%), followed by lumbar (7.4%), cervical (3.4%), hand (3.3%), shoulder (3.0%), elbow (2.9%), ankle (0.7%), hip (0.6%), wrist (0.5%), thoracic (0.5%) and foot OA (0.5%). All of knee, ankle, shoulder and hand OA exhibited a gender bias. Advanced age, a sweet tooth, poor home ventilation, poor home heating, separation, divorce, or death of a partner, low-grade occupation, low educational level, high body mass index and the presence of concomitant cardiovascular disease, were associated with the presence of OA. CONCLUSION: Symptomatic OA is very prevalent in rural regions of Shanxi Province. Many factors increase the prevalence of the condition. Primary and secondary prevention programs seeking to improve living conditions, to reduce obesity, and to effectively treat concomitant cardiovascular disease, are required.

Tenuigenin enhances hippocampal Schaffer collateral-CA1 synaptic transmission through modulating intracellular calcium.

BACKGROUND: Tenuigenin (TEN), a natural product from the Chinese herb Polygala tenuifolia root, has been reported to improve cognitive function and exhibits neuroprotective effects in pharmacological studies of the central nervous system. Synaptic transmission is the essential process of brain physiological functions such as learning and memory formation, and TEN has been shown to facilitate the basic synaptic transmission. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: Although our previous work has demonstrated that TEN is able to potentiate the basic synaptic transmission, the potential mechanism remains unclear. Here we investigated the effect of TEN on the synaptic transmission and analysed the potential mechanism. We hope that these findings will contribute to explain the role of TEN as a nootropic product or neuroprotective drug in the future. METHODS: Field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs), spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) and miniature spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) were recorded, by using in vitro field potential electrophysiology and whole-cell patch clamp techniques in acute hippocampal slices from rats. RESULTS: TEN perfusion significantly enhanced the slope of fEPSPs and reduced the ratio of paired-pulse facilitation. Moreover, TEN increased the frequency and amplitude of sEPSCs but only improved the frequency of mEPSCs rather than amplitude in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. With removal of extracellular calcium, TEN treatment also enhanced the mEPSCs frequency without affecting amplitude. Interestingly, the increase of mEPSCs frequency caused by TEN was blocked by chelation of intracellular calcium with BAPTA-AM. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that TEN enhances the basic synaptic transmission via stimulating presynaptic intracellular calcium.

Association between tongue coating thickness and clinical characteristics among idiopathic membranous nephropathy patients.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Tongue coating diagnosis is a useful tool to examine the changes of a human body in Chinese Medicine. Tongue coating varies in thickness in kidney disease. However, little information exists regarding the association between clinical characters and tongue coating thickness in CKD patients. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study was carried out to determine whether there is an association between tongue coating thickness and laboratory, histological variables in idiopathic membranous nephropathy patients: one group with thin tongue coating, the other with thick tongue coating. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During July 2012-March 2014, idiopathic membranous nephropathy patients(CKD 1-2 stage) with tongue coating thickness Score ≤7, or ≥11, were enrolled as thin tongue coating group or thick tongue coating group, from Hangzhou Hospital of TCM. Laboratory variables (Hemoglobin (Hb), albumin (Alb); eGFR; alanine transferase (ALT); aspartate aminotransferase (AST); triglyceride (TG); total cholesterone (TC); high density lipoprotein (HDL); low density lipoprotein (LDL); immunoglobin A, G, M; Complement 3, 4) and renal histological data (glomerular lesions; tubular-interstitial damage) were compared, between these two groups. RESULTS: 12 idiopathic MN patients (CKD 1-2 stage) with thin tongue coating (tongue coating thickness score ≤7) and 11 with thick tongue coating (tongue coating thickness score ≥11) were enrolled in our study. We found a significant lower level of TC and LDL, a significant lower level of AST, ALT in those thick tongue coating patients, compared with thin. No significant difference was observed in pathological lesion between thick and thin tongue coating patients. CONCLUSION: Tongue coating thickness is associated with lipid metabolism in idiopathic MN patients (CKD 1-2 stages).

Individualized perfusion of sargent gloryvine decoction for clinical severe acute pancreatitis treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To observe the effects of Sargent gloryvine decoction (SGD) on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) treatment and to evaluate its clinical value. METHODOLOGY: 112 patients of SAP in our hospital from January, 2005 to December, 2012 were recruited for retrospective analysis. They were divided into two groups, SGD group (62 patients) and control group without treated with SGD (50 patients). Inflammation factor, CT grade and Ranson grade were used to estimate the severity of SAP, and were compared in these two groups. In addition, peripancreatic infection, incidence of pseudo pancreatic cyst, time of anal exsufflation and duration of fever were used to evaluate the effect of SGD treatment. After perfusion of SGD for different time, hospitalization days and cost were recorded to evaluate clinical value of SGD. RESULTS: After perfusion, many indexes in SGD were remarkably superior to those of control group, such as duration of fever, incidence of pseudo pancreatic cyst, peripancreatic infection and Ranson grade. Meanwhile, SGD can sharply down-regulate inflammation reaction levels of SAP patients, so that the hospitalization days and costs can be obviously saved. CONCLUSION: According to comparison, perfusion of SGD is a potential candidate for SAP treatment and is valuable in clinical application.

Schizandrin ameliorates ovariectomy-induced memory impairment, potentiates neurotransmission and exhibits antioxidant properties.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Schizandrin (SCH) has been reported to prevent or reduce learning and memory defects. However, it is not known whether SCH ameliorates cognitive impairments induced by oestrogen deficiency. In the present study, we investigated the effect of SCH on memory in ovariectomized (OVX) and non-OVX rats. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: A passive avoidance test was used to evaluate the effect of SCH on memory. Field EPSPs were recorded in hippocampal slices using an electrophysiological method. In OVX rats, biochemical parameters in the bilateral hippocampus were measured; these included superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and AChE. Also, the number of NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) positive neurons was counted by NADPH-d histochemistry staining technique. KEY RESULTS: Oral SCH improved the memory and facilitated the induction of long-term potentiation in non-OVX and OVX rats; this effect was more obvious in OVX rats. Similarly, SCH perfusion enhanced synaptic transmission in hippocampal slices from both non-OVX and OVX rats. However, SCH perfusion reduced the ratio of paired-pulse facilitation only in OVX but not in non-OVX rats. In addition, SCH decreased AChE activity and MDA level and increased SOD activity and the number of NADPH-d-positive neurons in OVX rats. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: SCH improves memory in OVX rats and its potential mechanisms may include a reduction in the loss of hippocampal NADPH-d positive neurons, an increase of antioxidant properties and a potentiation of synaptic transmission that possibly involves to enhance cholinergic function. Overall, our findings indicate that SCH has potential as a therapeutic strategy for the cognitive dysfunctions associated with the menopause.