Quality grade evaluation of Nvjin Pills based on traditional Chinese medicine reference drug and network pharmacology of target-focused compounds.

To improve the effectiveness of marketed drugs related to active ingredients, it is necessary to designate a more unified quality evaluation standard. Taking Nvjin Pills as an example, this study reported the development of a novel principle of analysis in traditional Chinese medicine. The core of the experiment is to prepare three batches of traditional Chinese medicine reference drugs by high-quality Chinese materia medica. The active ingredients identified in the herbal formula including glycyrrhizic acid, cinnamaldehyde, paeonol, baicalin, hesperidin, paeoniflorin, and ferulic acid were analyzed in traditional Chinese medicine reference drugs by the high-performance liquid chromatography method combined with wavelength switching. The simple prediction results of network pharmacological analysis verified the feasibility and reliability of the established quantitative analysis method for seven target-focused compounds in Nvjin Pills, which were recommended as candidate indicators for quality evaluation ultimately. Using the seven target-focused compounds as the scientific ruler, quality grade specifications of Nvjin Pills were proposed by comprehensive analysis. Accordingly, 16, 47, and 13 batches of samples were primarily graded as first grade, second grade, and unqualified grade, respectively. This study will provide a chemical basis for quality control of Nvjin Pills, which is necessary for the production process of pharmaceutical development.

Hydroxychloroquine ameliorates immune functionality and intestinal flora disorders of IgA nephropathy by inhibition of C1GALT1/Cosmc pathway.

BACKGROUND: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has emerged as a potential and secure antiproteinuric agent in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). This study endeavored to explore the impact of HCQ on the immune functionality and intestinal flora disorders in IgAN rats, as well as to elucidate the underlying mechanisms through in vivo and in vitro experiments. METHODS: IgAN model was established in Sprague-Dawley rats through the administration of BSA, LPS, and CCl4, and the IgAN rats received a continuous 8-week treatment with HCQ. Moreover, the human glomerular mesangial cells (HMCs) were incubated with IgA1 to establish an in vitro cellular model of IgAN. At the end of experimental period, samples were collected for further analysis. RESULTS: HCQ ameliorated the elevated levels of 24hUTP, SCr, BUN, the number of urinary RBC, and the activation of inflammation-related proteins within the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. In the IgAN rat group, there was a pronounced escalation in IgA deposition, mesangial matrix hyperplasia, and glomerular inflammatory cell infiltration, while the administration of HCQ effectively mitigated these pathological changes. In addition, the reduced production of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg in the IgAN group was effectively reversed by HCQ. Furthermore, HCQ has the capacity to restore the compromised state of the intestinal mucosal barrier induced by IgAN and mitigate the circumstances of intestinal permeability and disruption in the intestinal flora. CONCLUSION: HCQ diminishes IgA aberrant glycosylation levels, ameliorates renal and intestinal histopathological damage, and attenuates intestinal flora disorders and immune dysfunction in IgAN rats by means of activating the C1GALT1/Cosmc pathway.

A Synergetic Strategy for Brand Characterization of Colla Corii Asini (Ejiao) by LIBS and NIR Combined with Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis.

A synergetic strategy was proposed to address the critical issue in the brand characterization of Colla corii asini (Ejiao, CCA), a precious traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In all brands of CCA, Dong'e Ejiao (DEEJ) is an intangible cultural heritage resource. Seventy-eight CCA samples (including forty DEEJ samples and thirty-eight samples from other different manufacturers) were detected by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR). Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) models were built first considering individual techniques separately, and then fusing LIBS and NIR data at low-level. The statistical parameters including classification accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated to evaluate the PLS-DA model performance. The results demonstrated that two individual techniques show good classification performance, especially the NIR. The PLS-DA model with single NIR spectra pretreated by the multiplicative scatter correction (MSC) method was preferred as excellent discrimination. Though individual spectroscopic data obtained good classification performance. A data fusion strategy was also attempted to merge atomic and molecular information of CCA. Compared to a single data block, data fusion models with SNV and MSC pretreatment exhibited good predictive power with no misclassification. This study may provide a novel perspective to employ a comprehensive analytical approach to brand discrimination of CCA. The synergetic strategy based on LIBS together with NIR offers atomic and molecular information of CCA, which could be exemplary for future research on the rapid discrimination of TCM.

Quality consistency evaluation on three species of North Patrininae herba by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry and network pharmacology approaches.

North Patrininae herba, a perennial herbaceous plant, has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat appendicitis, enteritis, and dysentery. Sonchus arvensis L., Sonchus oleraceus L., and Ixeris chinensis (Thunb.) Nakai are used as substitutes for North Patrininae in different regions, but the consistency of chemical composition and efficacy of these three species is still unknown. In this study, a detailed chemical analysis was carried out of the extract obtained from Sonchus arvensis L., Ixeris chinensis (Thunb.) Nakai and Sonchus oleraceus L. and a chemical component not previously reported in Ixeris chinensis (Thunb.) Nakai was found-Luteolin-7-O-(6''-malonylglucoside). The mechanism of action of the extract against inflammation and type II diabetes was investigated using network pharmacology and analysis of blood-absorbed components following oral dosing of rats. Finally, a highly accurate and reliable method was established for quality control purposes. The results showed that Sonchus arvensis L. and Sonchus oleraceus L. may be considered potential resources of a medicinal compound, whereas Ixeris chinensis (Thunb.) Nakai requires further evaluation.

Comparison of Geqingpi and Sihuaqingpi based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry combined with multivariate statistics, network pharmacology analysis, and molecular docking.

Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride is used in traditional Chinese medicine as Geqingpi and Sihuaqingpi varieties. We used the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-Exactive Orbitrap-mass spectrometry method and high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole-tandem mass spectrometry to analyze the chemical compounds in these varieties. Principal components analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were used to analyze the quantitative results. Network pharmacology and molecular docking technology were used to forecast Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride treatment mechanisms in irritable bowel syndrome. We identified 44 main compounds in Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride. Compared to Sihuaqingpi, Geqingpi had higher narirutin, didymin, naringenin, and hesperetin, and lower hesperidin, isosinensetin, nobiletin, 3,5,6,7,8,3',4'-hexamethoxyflavone, tangeretin. Tangeretin, nobiletin, narirutin, didymin, and isosinensetin were the main compounds distinguishing Geqingpi from Sihuaqingpi. We found that the MAPK signaling pathway, which is closely related to irritable bowel syndrome, was an important target pathway. TP53, HRAS, MAPK1, AKT1, and EGFR were important targets in this pathway. Eriodictyol-7-O-rutinoside, narirutin, limonin, and hesperidin showed a good binding ability to the five targets. Orientin, unique to Sihuaqingpi, bound well to TP53, MAPK1, AKT1, and EGFR, while rhoifolin bound well to TP53, HRAS, MAPK1, AKT1, and EGFR. Hesperetin, unique to Geqingpi, bound well to TP53, HRAS, and MAPK1, while naringenin bound well to HRAS. Hesperidin and didymin bound well to TP53, MAPK1, AKT1, and EGFR.

Study of the metabolism of myricetin in rat urine, plasma and feces by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography.

Myricetin is a common natural flavonoid compound with various pharmacological activities. However, the metabolite characterization of this substance remains inadequate. In this study, a simple and rapid system strategy based on UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry combining parallel reaction monitoring mode was established to screen and identify myricetin metabolites in rat urine, plasma and feces after oral administration. A total of 38 metabolites were fully or partially characterized based on their accurate mass, characteristic fragment ions, retention times, corresponding cLogP values, etc. These metabolites were presumed to be generated through glucuronidation, glucosylation, sulfation, dihydroxylation, acetylation, hydrogenation, hydroxylation and their composite reactions. In addition, the characteristic fragmentation pathways of flavonoids with more metabolites were summarized for the subsequent metabolite identification. The study provides an overall metabolic profile of myricetin, which would be of great help in predicting the in vivo pharmacokinetic profiles and understanding the action mechanism of this active ingredient.

Analyses of Physical and Chemical Compositions of Different Medicinal Specifications of CRPV by Use of Multiple Instrumental Techniques Combined with Multivariate Statistical Analysis.

Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride (CRPV) is the processed product of Citrus reticulata Blanco. We systematically analyzed two CRPV types, Geqingpi (GQP) and Sihuaqingpi (SHQP), based on powder color, microscopic characteristics, and chemical composition. In addition, we characterized their constituents via ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS). Both showed significant differences in their powder color and microscopic characteristics. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic analysis results showed that the C=O peak absorption of carboxylic acids and their carbonyl esters in SHQP was higher than that of GQP, while the C-OH and C-H plane bending peaks of polysaccharides were lower than those of GQP. We analyzed these data via similarity analysis, PCA, and OPLS-DA. GQP and SHQP had large distinct differences. Based on the mass measurements for molecular and characteristic fragment ions, we identified 44 main constituents from CRPV, including different flavonoid glycosides and flavonoid aglycones in SHQP and GQP, respectively. We found luteolin-6-C-glucoside, orientin, rhoifolin, and pilloin solely in SHQP, and naringenin and hesperetin only in GQP. The peak area measurements showed GQP having a higher flavonoid glycoside (narirutin, hesperidin, etc.) content, whereas SHQP had a higher polymethoxyflavone (nobiletin, tangeretin, etc.) content. Since we holistically analyzed two CRPV types, the results can not only support future pharmacological research, but also provide a scientific basis for formulating more reasonable CRPV quality standards and guide its clinical potential as a precision medicine.

Peptide Biomarkers Discovery for Seven Species of Deer Antler Using LC-MS/MS and Label-Free Approach.

Deer antler is a globally widely used precious natural medicine and the material of deer horn gelatin. However, identification of deer antler species based on traditional approaches are problematic because of their similarity in appearance and physical-chemical properties. In this study, we performed a comprehensive antler peptidome analysis using a label-free approach: nano LC-Orbitrap MS was applied to discover peptide biomarkers in deer adult beta-globin (HBBA), and HPLC-Triple Quadrupole MS was used to verify their specificity. Nineteen peptide biomarkers were found, on which foundation a strategy for antlers and a strategy for antler mixtures such as flakes or powder are provided to identify seven species of deer antler including Eurasian elk (Alces alces), reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus viginianus), white-lipped deer (Przewalskium albirostris), fallow deer (Dama dama), sika deer (Cervus nippon), and red deer (Cervus elaphus) simultaneously. It is worth noting that our search found that the HBBA gene of sika deer, red deer, and North American wapiti (Cervus canadensis) in China may have undergone severe genetic drifts.

The Analytical Strategy of "Ion Induction and Deduction Based on Net-Hubs" for the Comprehensive Characterization of Naringenin Metabolites In Vivo and In Vitro Using a UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer.

Naringenin (5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavanone), belonging to the flavanone subclass, is associated with beneficial effects such as anti-oxidation, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic effects. Drug metabolism plays an essential role in drug discovery and clinical safety. However, due to the interference of numerous endogenous substances in metabolic samples, the identification and efficient characterization of drug metabolites are difficult. Here, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry was used to obtain mass spectral information of plasma (processed by three methods), urine, feces, liver tissue, and liver microsome samples. Moreover, a novel analytical strategy named "ion induction and deduction" was proposed to systematically screen and identify naringenin metabolites in vivo and in vitro. The analysis strategy was accomplished by the establishment of multiple "net-hubs" and the induction and deduction of fragmentation behavior. Finally, 78 naringenin metabolites were detected and identified from samples of rat plasma, urine, feces, liver tissue, and liver microsomes, of which 67 were detected in vivo and 13 were detected in vitro. Naringenin primarily underwent glucuronidation, sulfation, oxidation, methylation, ring fission, and conversion into phenolic acid and their composite reactions. The current study provides significant help in extracting target information from complex samples and sets the foundation for other pharmacology and toxicology research.

Discovery and Biological Evaluation of New Selective Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors with Anti-Aß Aggregation Activity through Molecular Docking-Based Virtual Screening.

Discovery of novel multifunctional inhibitors targeting acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has becoming a hot spot in anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) drug development. In the present study, four potent small molecule inhibitors (A01, A02, A03 and A04) of AChE with new chemical scaffold were identified. Inhibitor A03 displayed the most potent inhibition activity on AChE at enzymatic level with IC50 value of 180 nM, and high selectivity towards AChE over butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) by more than 100-fold. The binding modes of compounds A01-A04 were carefully analyzed by molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to provide informative clues for further structure modification. Finally, the anti-amyloid beta (Aß) aggregation and neuroprotective activity were also well investigated. Our findings highlighted the therapeutic promise of AChE inhibitors A01-A04 for AD treatment.

Sexual dysfunction and its impact on quality of life in Chinese patients with schizophrenia treated in primary care.

PURPOSE: Sexual dysfunction in schizophrenia patients is common. In China, maintenance treatment for clinically stable patients with schizophrenia is usually provided by primary care physicians. Illness- or treatment-related sexual dysfunction in this patient population has been never studied. This study describes the prevalence and correlates of sexual dysfunction and its impact on quality of life (QOL) in patients with schizophrenia treated in primary care in China. METHOD: A total of 607 patients with schizophrenia treated in 22 randomly selected primary care services in China formed the study sample. Patients' socio-demographic and clinical characteristics including sexual function and QOL were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection. RESULTS: Sexual dysfunction was present in 69.9% of all patients; 60.7% in males and 80.6% in females. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that female gender, being single, older age and use of first-generation antipsychotics were independently and significantly associated with more sexual dysfunction accounting for 23.5% of its variance (P<0.001). Unexpectedly, sexual dysfunction was not associated with lower QOL. CONCLUSIONS: High rate of sexual dysfunction was reported in the majority of patients with schizophrenia treated in primary care in China. Given its negative impact on social adjustment, QOL and treatment adherence, efforts should be made to address sexual dysfunction in this patient population.

Antipsychotic polypharmacy and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia treated in primary care in China.

OBJECTIVE: In China, maintenance treatment for clinically stable patients with schizophrenia is usually provided by primary care physicians, but their prescribing patterns have not been studied. This study examined the frequency as well as demographic and clinical correlates of antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP) and its impact on quality of life (QOL) in patients with schizophrenia treated in primary care in China. METHOD: A total of 623 community-dwelling patients from 18 randomly selected primary care services were interviewed. Patients' socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, including number of hospitalizations, antipsychotic drug-induced side effects, and QOL were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure. RESULTS: The rate of APP prescription was 31% (193/623). Of the patients on APP, 89.6% received 2 antipsychotics, 10.4% received 3 or more antipsychotics. Clozapine (35.6%) was the most commonly prescribed second generation antipsychotic (SGA), while perphenazine (17.8%) was the most commonly prescribed first generation antipsychotic (FGA). Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that patients on APP were more likely to receive SGAs and anticholinergics, had fewer hospitalizations, younger age of onset, and higher doses of antipsychotics. There were no significant differences between the two groups in any of the QOL domains. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately a third of Chinese patients with schizophrenia in primary care receive APP. Further examination of the rationale and appropriateness of APP and its alternatives is warranted.

Comorbid Moderate-Severe Depressive Symptoms and their Association with Quality of Life in Chinese Patients with Schizophrenia Treated in Primary Care.

This study described the prevalence and correlates of comorbid moderate-severe depressive symptoms (comorbid depression thereafter) and their association with quality of life (QOL) in schizophrenia patients treated in primary care. 623 schizophrenia patients were enrolled. Patients' socio-demographic and clinical characteristics including comorbid depression [defined as a total score of 18 or above on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)] were recorded. Depressive symptoms (defined as a total score of 9 or above on the MADRS) were present in 54.1 % of patients, while 17.7 % had comorbid depression. Analysis of covariance revealed that comorbid depression was significantly associated with lower mental QOL. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that more severe positive and negative symptoms, anxiety symptoms, use of first-generation antipsychotics and antidepressants, were independently associated with comorbid depression. Given the negative association between comorbid depression and QOL, attempts to address comorbid depression in schizophrenia patients treated in primary care should be made.

Protective Effects of Dihydromyricetin against •OH-Induced Mesenchymal Stem Cells Damage and Mechanistic Chemistry.

As a natural flavonoid in Ampelopsis grossedentata, dihydromyricetin (DHM, 2R,3R-3,5,7,3',4',5'-hexahydroxy-2,3-dihydroflavonol) was observed to increase the viability of •OH-treated mesenchymal stem cells using a MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl] assay and flow cytometry analysis. This protective effect indicates DHM may be a beneficial agent for cell transplantation therapy. Mechanistic chemistry studies indicated that compared with myricetin, DHM was less effective at ABTS⁺• (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical) scavenging and reducing Cu(2+), and had higher •O2(-) and DPPH• (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical) scavenging activities. Additionally, DHM could also chelate Fe(2+) to give an absorption maximum at 589 nm. Hence, such protective effect of DHM may arise from its antioxidant activities which are thought to occur via direct radical-scavenging and Fe(2+)-chelation. Direct radical-scavenging involves an electron transfer (ET) pathway. The hydrogenation of the 2,3-double bond is hypothesized to reduce the ET process by blocking the formation of a larger π-π conjugative system. The glycosidation of the 3-OH in myricitrin is assumed to sterically hinder atom transfer in the •O2(-) and DPPH• radical-scavenging processes. In DHM, the Fe(2+)-chelating effect can actually be attributed to the 5,3',4',5'-OH and 4-C=O groups, and the 3-OH group itself can neither scavenge radicals nor chelate metal.

Research Progress on Surface Damage and Protection Strategies of Armature-Rail Friction Pair Materials for Electromagnetic Rail Launch.

Electromagnetic rail launch technology has attracted increasing attention owing to its advantages in terms of range, firepower, and speed. However, due to electricity-magnetism-heat-force coupling, the surface of the armature-rail friction pair becomes severely damaged, which restricts the development of this technology. A series of studies have been conducted to reduce the damage of the armature-rail friction pair, including an analysis of the damage mechanism and protection strategies. In this study, various types of surface damage were classified into mechanical, electrical, and coupling damages according to their causes. This damage is caused by factors such as mechanical friction, mechanical impact, and electric erosion, either individually or in combination. Then, a detailed investigation of protection strategies for reducing damage is introduced, including material improvement through the use of novel combined deformation and heat treatment processes to achieve high strength and high conductivity, as well as surface treatment technologies such as structural coatings for wear resistance and functional coatings for ablation and melting resistance. Finally, future development prospects of armature-rail friction pair materials are discussed. This study provides a theoretical basis and directions for the development of high-performance materials for the armature-rail friction pair.

Network pharmacology and experimental validation to investigate the mechanism of Nao-Ling-Su capsule in the treatment of ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Nao-Ling-Su Capsule (NLSC) is a traditional prescription, which is composed of fifteen herbs such as epimedium, Polygala tenuifolia, and Schisandra chinensis. It has the effect of strengthening the brain, calming nerves, and protecting the kidney, which has been used clinically for many years to strengthen the brain and kidney. However, the effect of NLSC in the treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI) is still unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study aims to elucidate the pharmacological actions of NLSC in the treatment of AKI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Molecular targets for NLSC and AKI were obtained from various databases, and then we built networks of interactions between proteins (PPI) by employing string databases. Additionally, we employed the DAVID database to conduct gene ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. Molecular docking was conducted to analyze the interaction between core components and their corresponding core targets. Next, the C57BL male mice model of ischemia/reperfusion damage (IRI) was developed, and the nephridial protective effect of NLSC was evaluated. The accuracy of the expected targets was confirmed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The renal protective effect of NLSC was assessed using an immortalized human kidney tubular (HK-2) cell culture produced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). RESULTS: Network pharmacology analysis identified 199 common targets from NLSC and AKI. STAT3, HSP90AA1, TP53, MAPK3, JUN, JAK2, and VEGFA could serve as potential drug targets and were associated with JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, etc. The molecular docking analysis confirmed significant docking activity between the main bioactive components and core targets, including STAT3 and KIM-1. Moreover, the AKI mice model was successfully established and NLSC pretreatment could improve renal function and alleviate renal damage. NLSC could alleviate renal inflammation and tubular cell apoptosis, and decrease the expression of STAT3 and KIM-1 in AKI mice. In vitro, both NLSC and drug-containing serum may protect HK-2 cells by inhibiting STAT3 signaling, especially STAT3-mediated apoptosis and KIM-1 expression. CONCLUSION: NLSC could alleviate renal inflammation and apoptosis, exerting its beneficial effects by targeting the STAT3/KIM-1 pathway. NLSC is a promising candidate for AKI treatment and provides a new idea and method for the treatment of AKI.

Discovery and identification of interspecies peptide biomarkers in the seahorse species using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and chemometrics.

Seahorses have important edible and medicinal values including strengthening the body, tonifying the liver and kidneys, and reducing swelling. And there are abundant seahorse species on Earth. Many seahorses have large price differences due to the scarcity of resources, and some seahorses with similar appearances appear to be confused for use. While in market trading, Hippocampus is susceptible to loss of specialized morphology characteristics, making it difficult to distinguish between specific species. Here we report an effective method based on peptide biomarkers for the identification of seahorse species. Peptide biomarkers for each species were predicted using nano-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (Nano-LC-MS/MS) combined with chemometrics software. One unique biomarker peptide for each species was synthesized and verified, and finally developed a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) multiple reaction monitoring method. The results indicate that the method has great potential for species-specific identification of seahorses and their preparations, among others.

Effectiveness, safety, and treatment pattern of sodium zirconium cyclosilicate in Chinese patients with hyperkalemia: interim analysis from a multicenter, prospective, real-world study (Actualize Study).

Introduction: Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC) is a nonabsorbed cation-exchanger approved in China for the treatment of hyperkalemia [HK; serum potassium (sK+) levels >5.0 mmol/L]. This is the first real-world study aimed to assess the effectiveness, safety, and treatment patterns of SZC in Chinese patients with HK. Here we present the results of the first interim analysis. Methods: This multicenter, prospective, cohort study included patients aged ≥18 years with documented HK within 1-year before study enrollment day. These patients were followed up for 6 months from the enrollment day after initiating SZC treatment. The treatment was categorized into correction phase (FAS-P1) and maintenance phase (FAS-P2 new and ongoing users). Subgroup analysis was performed in patients on hemodialysis (FAS-H). The primary objective was evaluation of safety profile of SZC; secondary objectives included assessment of treatment patterns of SZC and its effectiveness. Results: Of 421 screened patients, 193, 354, and 162 patients were enrolled in the FAS-P1, FAS-P2, and FAS-H groups, respectively. sK+ levels were reduced significantly from 5.9 mmol/L to 5.0 mmol/L after the correction phase. For the maintenance phase, the mean sK+ levels were maintained at 5.2 mmol/L and 5.0 mmol/L in the FAS-P2 new and ongoing user, respectively, and 5.3 mmol/L in the FAS-H subgroup. A considerable proportion of patients showed normokalemia after 48 h of SZC treatment (FAS-P1:51.3%) which was maintained up to 6 months in the maintenance phase (FAS-P2:44%). SZC was well-tolerated. Conclusion: SZC was effective and safe for the treatment of HK in real-world clinical practice in China.

Gut microbiota mediated the effects of high relative humidity on lupus in female MRL/lpr mice.

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between humidity and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has yielded inconsistent results in prior research, while the effects of humidity on lupus in animal experiments and its underlying mechanism remain inadequately explored. METHODS: The present study aimed to investigate the impact of high humidity (80 ± 5%) on lupus using female and male MRL/lpr mice, with a particular focus on elucidating the role of gut microbiota in this process. To this end, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was employed to transfer the gut microbiota of MRL/lpr mice under high humidity to blank MRL/lpr mice under normal humidity (50 ± 5%), allowing for an assessment of the effect of FMT on lupus. RESULTS: The study revealed that high humidity exacerbated lupus indices (serum anti-dsDNA, ANA, IL-6, and IFN- g, and renal pathology) in female MRL/lpr mice but had no significant effect on male MRL/lpr mice. The aggravation of lupus caused by high humidity may be attributed to the increased abundances of the Rikenella, Romboutsia, Turicibacter, and Escherichia-Shigella genera in female MRL/lpr mice. Furthermore, FMT also exacerbated lupus in female MRL/lpr mice but not in male MRL/lpr mice. CONCLUSION: In summary, this study has demonstrated that high humidity exacerbated lupus by modulating gut microbiota in female MRL/lpr mice. The findings underscore the importance of considering environmental factors and gut microbiota in the development and progression of lupus, particularly among female patients.

Validation of the developmental, dimensional and diagnostic interview -short version (3Di-sv) for diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in Chinese children.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric features of the Chinese version of the developmental dimensional diagnostic interview-short version (3Di-sv). A total sample of 138 children including 79 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 59 typically developing children completed the 3Di-sv interview. The Chinese version of the 3Di-sv has a good internal consistency (0.94). Test-retest analysis confirmed the instrument's time stability (0.89). The instrument's concurrent validity with the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and clinical diagnosis was verified; the correlation between total scores was 0.72, 0.82 and 0.90, respectively. The 3Di-sv significantly distinguished between autistic children and non-autistic children in every area of autism symptoms. Optimal cutoffs were derived using receiver operating characteristics curves. Using clinical diagnosis as criterion, overall sensitivity was 98 % and specificity was 90 %. The study determined that the Chinese version of 3Di-sv can well distinguish autistic children from typically developing children.