Exploration of the profiles of steroidal saponins from Rhizoma Paridis and their metabolites in rats by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS.

INTRODUCTION: Steroidal saponins characterised by intricate chemical structures are the main active components of a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Rhizoma Paridis. The metabolic profiles of steroidal saponins in vivo remain largely unexplored, despite their renowned antitumor, immunostimulating, and haemostatic activity. OBJECTIVE: To perform a comprehensive analysis of the chemical constituents of Rhizoma Paridis total saponins (RPTS) and their metabolites in rats after oral administration. METHOD: The chemical constituents of RPTS and their metabolites were analysed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS). RESULTS: A reliable UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS method was established, and a total of 142 compounds were identified in RPTS. Specifically, diosgenin-type saponins showed the diagnostic ions at m/z 415.32, 397.31, 283.25, 271.21, and 253.20, whereas pennogenin-type saponins exhibited the diagnostic ions at m/z 413.31, 395.30, and 251.20. Based on the characteristic fragments and standard substances, 15 specific metabolites were further identified in the faeces, urine, plasma, and bile of rats. The metabolic pathways of RPTS, including phase I reactions (de-glycosylation and oxidation) and phase II reactions (glucuronidation), were explored and summarised, and the enrichment of metabolites was characterised by multivariate statistical analysis. CONCLUSION: The intricate RPTS could be transformed into relatively simple metabolites in rats through de-glycosylation, which provides a reference for further metabolic studies and screening of active ingredients for TCM.

[Changes in fingerprint and chromaticity values of Mori Cortex during stir-frying process].

This study aims to reveal the dynamics of the HPLC fingerprint, chromaticity values, and main chemical components of Mori Cortex during the stir-frying process. The fingerprints of raw and processed products of Mori Cortex were established. The content of mulberroside A, oxyresveratrol, kuwanon G, and kuwanon H in the samples and the chromaticity values of the samples were determined. Furthermore, the similarity evaluation of fingerprints and the correlation analysis between fingerprints and chromaticity values were carried out. The results showed that the fingerprints of raw and processed products of Mori Cortex had high similarity, and the overall changes in the content of the main chemical components in the stir-frying process were similar. According to the experience, when the stir-frying is moderate, the total chromaticity value difference |ΔE~*_(ab)| is above 1.5. With the extension of stir-frying time, the L~* and E~*_(ab) values keep decreasing, and the a~* value keeps increasing. The results of the correlation analysis between fingerprints and chromaticity values showed that peaks 1(5-hydroxy maltol), 2(mulberroside A), 3, 4, 6, 7, 11(oxyresveratrol), 14, 17(kuwanon G), and 18(kuwanon H) had significant correlations with the chromaticity values. Quantitative analysis of the four components with higher content showed that the content of the four components decreased to varying degrees when the stir-frying was excessive. In addition, 5-hydroxy maltol was produced after stir-frying of Mori Cortex, and the fingerprint and chromaticity values showed regular changes during the stir-frying process. The chromaticity can be included in the evaluation of the stir-frying process of Mori Cortex, which provides a reference for standardizing the quality of stir-fried Mori Cortex.

Novel perspective on qualitative assessment of swine manure compost maturity using organic carbon density fractions.

Mature compost is safe and stable, yet quality assessments are challenging owing to current maturity indicators' limitations. This study employed density fractionation to separate organic carbon into light and heavy fractions, offering a new perspective for assessing maturity. Results showed that light fraction organic carbon progressively transitioned into heavy fraction during composting, reducing the proportion of total organic carbon from 82.82% to 44.03%, while heavy fraction organic carbon increased to 48.58%. During the first seven days, the reduction rate of light fraction organic carbon decreased slowly, while the increase rate of heavy fraction declined sharply, levelling off thereafter. Light/heavy fraction organic carbon ratio was significantly correlated with existing maturity indicators (carbon/nitrogen ratio, humic acid/fulvic acid ratio, biological growth-related indicators), with the ratio below 1.33 serving as a potential compost maturity marker. Thus, given its simplicity and reliability, organic carbon density fractions is an innovative indicator for compost maturity assessments.

[A Retrospective Study of R±DHAX Regimen versus R-CHOP Regimen First-Line Treatment of Elderly Patients with Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy and prognosis of Rituximab combined with DHAX and CHOP regimen in the first-line treatment of elderly patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). METHODS: A total of 36 elderly patients with DLBCL who were admitted and treated with 3 of more courses of treatment from August 2011 to August 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, and they were divided into rituximab±DHAX (R±DHAX) regimen group (18 cases) and rituximab±CHOP (R-CHOP) regimen group (18 cases) according to the treatment plan, and clinical features, efficacy and survival of the patients were observed. RESULTS: Compared with R-CHOP group, patients of the R±DHAX group were older, and had worse performance status and higher IPI score, the differences between two groups in age, ECOG score and IPI score were statistically significant ( P =0.005 P =0.018, P =0.035), but there were no significant differences beween two groups in gender, whether there were B symptoms, whether LDH was elevated, whether there was extranodal involvement, cell origin, bone marrow infiltration, and whether rituximab was combined ( P =0.738, P =1, P =0.315, P =0.305, P =0.413, P =0.177, P =0.711, P =0.229). The efficacy could be evaluated in 36 cases, including CR 14 (38.9%), PR 17 (47.2%), PD 5 (13.9%), and ORR of 86.1% (31/36). There were no statistically significant differences in CRï¼»(27.8%（5/18） vs 50.0%（9/18）; P >0.05ï¼½ and PR ï¼»44.4%（8/18） vs 50.0%（9/18）; P >0.05ï¼½ of R±DHAX group and R-CHOP group, there was statistically significant difference in ORRï¼»72.2%（13/18） vs 100.0%（18/18）; P =0.045ï¼½ between two groups. The 1-year OS of R±DHAX group and R-CHOP group was (38.9±11.5%)% and (94.4±7.4%)%, respectively, 2-year OS was (16.7±8.8)% and (72.2±10.6)%, respectively, and the differences between two groups were statistically significant ( P =0.001, P =0.002). The median survival time in the R±DHAX group was 11 months(95%CI :8.9-13.1), and the median survival time in the R-CHOP group was not reached, and there was a statistically significant difference between the groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: For elderly DLBCL patients, R±DHAX may not be superior to R-CHOP in OS, and ECOG score, IPI score and age may affect the survival of elderly DLBCL patients. However, R±DHAX regimen is safe, tolerable and has a certain efficacy, which can be used as one of the clinical treatment options for elderly DLBCL.

Incorporating body mass index into esophageal manometry metrics and mean nocturnal baseline impedance for the evaluation of gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

This study aims to enhance the effectiveness of high resolution manometry (HRM) and pH-impedance monitoring metrics in distinguishing between gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and non-GERD. A retrospective propensity score matching (PSM) study was conducted on 643 patients with GERD symptoms. PSM matched 134 GERD patients with 134 non-GERD controls. Body mass index (BMI), intra-esophageal pressure (IEP) and intra-gastric pressure (IGP) were significantly higher in the GERD group compared to the non-GERD group. BMI was correlated with IEP and IGP positively. IGP was positively correlated with esophagogastric (EGJ) pressure (EGJ-P) in participants with EGJ type 1 and 2, but not in participants with EGJ type 3. BMI was correlated with distal MNBI negatively. Logistic regression showed BMI as an independent risk factor for GERD. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and decision curve analysis (DCA) showed that BMI adjusted EGJ contractile integral (EGJ-CI) and BMI adjusted MNBI were superior to the corresponding original ones in predicting GERD susceptibility. According to the findings, BMI and IGP are the main factors contributing to the development of GERD. BMI affects IEP through the adaptive response of EGJ-P to IGP. Incorporating BMI into the calculations of EGJ-CI and MNBI can improve their ability in predicting GERD susceptibility.

[Risk Factors and the Effect of Antiviral Prophylaxis for Herpes Zoster in Multiple Myeloma Patients].

OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence and risk factors of herpes zoster in patients with multiple myeloma and to evaluate the preventive effect of antiviral therapy. METHODS: The clinical features of multiple myeloma patients with herpes zoster were retrospectively analyzed, the risk factors of herpes zoster and the effect of antiviral prophylaxis were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 180 patients with multiple myeloma, 23 cases developed herpes zoster (12.8%). The incidence of herpes zoster was 19.1% in patients with renal dysfunction and 23.5% after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The incidence of herpes zoster was higher in patients receiving bortezomib-containing regimens (21/137, 15.3%) than that in those without bortezomib (2/43, 4.7%), but there was no statistical difference (P =0.067). Antiviral prophylaxis was associated with fewer zoster infections, 8/111(7.2%) developed herpes zoster in patients who received antiviral prophylaxis, and 15/69 (21.7%) in those receiving no prophylaxis(P =0.005). 65.2% of patients with herpes zoster did not receive antiviral prophylaxis. Multivariate analysis showed that bortezomib treatment, AHSCT and renal dysfunction were independent risk factors for multiple myeloma with herpes zoster, while antiviral prophylaxis was independently associated with reducing the risk of herpes zoster. Herpes zoster had no effect on OS in patients with multiple myeloma. CONCLUSION: The risk of herpes zoster in multiple myeloma patients was increased. Antiviral prophylaxis can reduce the risk of herpes zoster in patients on bortezomib-based therapy.

Comparison of proximal and distal laparoscopic ureteroureterostomy for complete duplex kidneys in children.

OBJECTIVE: To compare efficacy of proximal and distal laparoscopic ureteroureterostomy (UU) for complete duplex kidneys in children. METHODS: Patients who underwent laparoscopic UU for complete duplex kidneys between December 2016 and July 2022 were reviewed retrospectively. 71 patients who had normal lower pole moiety without vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) were recruited. All of them underwent ultrasound, voiding cystourethrography (VCUG), renal scintigraphy, and magnetic resonance urography preoperatively. Proximal laparoscopic UU was performed in 35 patients and distal laparoscopic UU in 36 patients. Double J stents were placed in normal lower pole moieties. Clinical data, including general information, diagnosis, surgical management, imaging characteristics, clinical symptoms and postoperative complications (classified according to the modified Clavien-Dindo classification), and length of stay were recorded. Measurement date comparisons between groups were performed by t test, counting date were analyzed by chi-square test. RESULTS: The study consisted of 71 patients (56 females and 15 males) with complete duplex kidneys (41 in left kidney and 30 in right kidney). The patients' mean age was 34 m (range 3-161 m) and follow-up ranged from 25 to 81 m. No significant difference was found in age and follow-up time between the two groups. Laparoscopic UU was performed in all patients successfully. The operation time of the two groups was 108.42 ± 26.95 min for distal UU vs 121.46 ± 35.15 min for proximal UU(p = 0.14). No significant difference in postoperative complications was seen between the two groups (22.2% vs 31.4%, p = 0.345). However, in terms of the grading of postoperative complications, the proximal UU group had a higher grade (3 of them had a grade of IV) and more serious complications. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in the overall incidence of complications between distal and proximal UU. Compared with proximal laparoscopic UU, distal laparoscopic UU is easier to perform with less injury to the peripheral tissues. Postoperative complications of proximal UU are more serious and more difficult to manage. We recommend complete duplex kidney ureteral reconstruction with distal UU.