[Constructing the Bayesian network models to explore the factors related to glomerular and tubular injury].

Objective: To construct Bayesian network (BN) models to explore the factors related to glomerular injury (GI) and tubular injury (TI). Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out. From April to November 2019, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital performed an opportunistic screening for chronic kidney disease in 10 counties of Shanxi Province. The general data and laboratory results of blood and urine samples were collected. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to explore the related factors of GI and TI, which were included in the construction of BN models with max-min hill-climbing (MMHC) algorithm. Results: A total of 12 269 participants were included, there were 5 198 males and 7 071 females, with a median age of 58 (40-91) years. The prevalence of GI and TI was 12.7% (1 561/12 269) and 11.6% (1 425/12 269), respectively. The BN model consisted of 8 nodes and 10 edges for GI, and 11 nodes and 17 edges for TI, respectively. BN models showed that age and glycated hemoglobin were direct related factors for GI, while gender and fasting blood glucose were indirect related factors for GI. Age, gender, fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin were direct related factors for TI. Additionally, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.761 (95%CI: 0.746-0.777) and 0.753 (95%CI: 0.736-0.769) for GI and TI BN models, respectively. Conclusions: BN models allow for identifying the complex network relationships among the factors related to GI and TI. Meanwhile, Bayesian risk reasoning can provide reference value for the clinical prevention of GI and TI.

[Analysis of clinicopathological features of patients with simple breast cancer and breast cancer with thyroid cancer].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between breast cancer and thyroid cancer. Methods: A cohort of 747 female patients with stage Ⅰ-Ⅲ invasive breast cancer were enrolled in this retrospective study. The differences of clinical and pathological data were compared between the simple breast cancer group (723 cases) and the breast cancer with thyroid cancer group (24 cases), to analyze the relevant factors of second primary thyroid cancer in patients with breast cancer. Results: There were significant differences in the menstrual status and estrogen receptor (ER) status between the group of patients with breast cancer only and breast cancer patients with secondary primary thyroid cancer (P<0.05). Breast cancer patients with secondary primary thyroid cancer were more likely to be premenopausal (75%) and ER-positive (83.3%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the patient's menstrual status (compared with premenopausal patients, peri-menopausal odds ratio=0.53, 95% CI 0.07-4.25; post-menopausal odds ration=0.23, 95%CI 0.08-0.65) and body mass index (BMI, odds ratio=1.14, 95%CI 1.02-1.28) were independent risk factors for secondary primary thyroid cancer in patients with breast cancer. Conclusion: Thyroid cancer is associated with breast cancer, and is more likely to occur in obesity patients and premenopausal patients.

Validation of reference genes for the normalization of RT-qPCR expression studies on human laryngeal cancer and hypopharyngeal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Selecting stably expressed reference genes is crucial for evaluating real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) data via the relative quantification method. In the present-day study, our aim was to select optimal reference genes (RGs) for the investigation of target gene (TG) expression profiling in cancerous human laryngeal and hypopharyngeal tissues. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 12 cancerous laryngeal tissues and 10 cancerous hypopharyngeal tissues were investigated. The expression characteristics of 11 reference genes (18S rRNA, GAPDH, B2M, ACTB, TBP, ALAS1, RPL29, HMBS, HPRT1, GUSB, and PUM1), which were commonly used in RT-qPCR for the analysis of gene expression, were investigated using the geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper algorithm programs. RESULTS: HMBS, ALAS1, and B2M were suggested as optimal RGs for studying human laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancerous tissues together, laryngeal cancerous tissue by itself, and hypopharyngeal cancerous tissue by itself, respectively. If 2 or more reference genes are needed to achieve better standardization, 3 reference genes can optimally be used in combination to improve the accuracy of relative quantitation normalization. The recommended combinations for studying human laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancerous tissues together, laryngeal cancerous tissue by itself, and hypopharyngeal cancerous tissue by itself were HMBS + HPRT1 + GUSB, ALAS1 + GUSB + HMBS, and B2M + HPRT1 + TBP, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The recommended reference genes could be used to improve the accuracy of gene expression studies on the molecular mechanisms of cancerous human laryngeal and hypopharyngeal tissues. The selected combination of reference genes can effectively improve the accuracy of the relative quantitative diagnosis of gene expression levels, such as messenger RNA, circular RNA, and long-noncoding RNA.

[Separation and quantitative determination of seven aqueous depsides in Salvia miltiorrhiza by HPTLC scanning].

A new analytical method for the separation and determination of seven aqueous depsides in salvia miltiorrhiza by HPTLC has been developed. The seven depsides are protocatechualdehyde, caffeic acid, methyl rosmarinate, rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid A, B and C. Using chloroform-ethyl acetate-benzene-formic acid(2.4:2:1:0.6) as developing solvent A, protocatechualdehyde was separated; using chloroform-ethyl acetate-benzene-formic acid-methanol (1.5:2:1:1:0.1) as developing solvent B, the other six constituents were well separated. The aqueous depsides were detected at the wave lengths of lambda S = 300 nm and lambda R = 240. This method is simple, rapid, sensitive and accurate. The contents of seven depsides in several Salvia species were determined.

[Studies on the structure of gnetifolin A of Gnetum parvifolium (Warb.) C.Y. Cheng].

A new component, gnetifolin A, was isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of the stem of Gnetum parvifolium (Warb.) C.Y. Cheng together with three known components isorhapontigenin, resveratrol and beta-sitosterol. The structure of gnetifolin A has been established as 2-(3',5'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyphenyl)-3-methoxy-5-hydroxybenzofuran by spectroscopic methods (UV, IR, MS, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, 2D-NMR).

[Determination of the active ingredients in Chinese drug wuweizi (Schisandra chinensis) by TLC-densitometry].

A method of TLC densitometry was developed to determine the active ingredients (Wuweizisu A, B, C; Wuweizichun A, B; Wuweizi ester and schisanhenol) in Schisandra kernels. The samples were extracted with hexane (3 X 5 ml) for 8, 4 and 4 h respectively. The hexane extract was evaporated to dryness and then dissolved in 1 ml of methanol. Standard solutions and sample solutions were spotted on a silica gel GF254 plate, and developed with toluene-ethyl acetate (9:1) for 18 cm (for Wuweizisu A, B, C) and with toluene-ethyl acetate (4:6) for 18 cm (for Wuweizichun A, B, Wuweizi ester and schisanhenol). On examining the chromatogram under UV light the ingredients appeared as dark spots. A Shimadzu TLC model 910 was used for scanning at lambda s 260 nm and lambda R 350 nm by reflection mode. Linear calibration curves were obtained for the 7 constituents in the range of 1-5 micrograms. The average recoveries of the 7 constituents were 92.4-101.6%; the variation coefficients were 1.62-5.28%. The spots were stable for more than 24 h. This method is sufficiently simple, rapid and accurate for routine analysis.

[Studies on the structure of scuteamoenin from the root of Scutellaria amoena].

In containing our studies on the flavonoids from Scutellaria amoena C.H. Wright, a new flavanone (I) and six known compounds (II-VII) were isolated from the roots of this plant. On the basis of spectroscopic analysis (UV, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS and CD) and chemical evidence, the structure of the new compound was elucidated as (2S) -2',5,6'-trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone (I) and named scuteamoenin, the other six known compounds were identified as (2R,3R) -3,5,7-trihydroxyflavanone (II), 2',3,5,6,7-pentahydroxyflavone (III), 2',5,7-trihydroxy-6-methoxyflavone (IV), skullcaflavone II (V), chrysin (VI) and beta-sitosterol (VII) respectively. Compounds II-VII were obtained from this plant for the first time.

[Determination of Lignans in the fruits of Schisandra chinensis (Trucz.) Baill. and S. Sphenanthern Rehd. et Wils. using HPLC and their chromatograms].

The lignans contained in the fruits of Schisandra chinensis and S. sphenanthern were determined by HPLC. Their chromatograms are different. 7 samples of S. chinensis from 6 habitats contain the same lignans, but in different quantity, while 16 samples of S. sphensnthern contain lignans different both in quality and quantity.

[Studies on the medicinal plants of Magnoliaceae tu-hou-po of Manglietia].

Data from a survey of the drug market and investigation of the original plant of "Tu-hou-po", after careful botanical examinations, showed that the drugs were derived from 5 species of the genus Manglietia of Magnoliaceae, viz. Manglietia chingii Dandy, M. insignis (Wall.) Bl., M. duclouxii Finet et Gagnep., M. yuyuanensis Law and M. szechuanica Hu. Comparisons of the main characteristics of the plants, Tu-hou-po and Hou-po crude drugs and chemical components showed that Manglietia is taxonomically the closest to Magnolia and contained similar components (tab 1-2 and fig 1). The results of HPLC analysis demonstrated that they contained magnolol, honokiol, magnocurine and salicifoline, in different quantities. However, no magnosprengerine was detected. Besides, it was also found that the percentage of magnolol and honokiol contents were higher, while that of magnocurine was lower in Hou-po. On the contrary, the content of magnocurine was higher, while that of magnolol and honokiol were lower in Tu-hou-po. Manglietia chingii (Tu-hou-po) is being used as the Chinese traditional drug "Hou-po" in the clinic in Guangxi. Therefore, M. chingii is noteworthily exploited as a new resource of Hou-po for further research.