[Variations of glucose content in Massa Medicata Fermentata during processing based on quantitative proton nuclear magnetic resonance].

A quantitative proton nuclear magnetic resonance(qHNMR) method was established to determine the glucose content in commercially available Massa Medicata Fermentata(MMF) products and explore the variations of glucose content in MMF products during processing. The qHNMR spectrum of MMF in deuterium oxide was obtained with 2,2,3,3-d_4-3-(trimethylsilyl) propionate sodium salt as the internal standard substance. With the doublet peaks of terminal hydrogen of glucose with chemical shift at δ 4.65 and δ 5.24 as quantitative peaks, the content of glucose in MMF samples was determined. The glucose content showed a good linear relationship within the range of 0.10-6.44 mg·mL~(-1). The relative standard deviations(RSDs) of precision, stability, repeatability, and recovery for determination were all less than 2.3%. The glucose content varied in different commercially available MMF samples, which were associated with the different fermentation days, wheat bran-to-flour ratios, and processing methods. The glucose content in MMF first increased and then decreased over the fermentation time. Compared with the MMF products fermented with wheat bran or flour alone, the products fermented with both wheat bran and flour had increased glucose. The glucose content of bran-fried MMF was slightly lower than that of raw MMF, while the glucose content in charred MMF was extremely low. In conclusion, the qHNMR method established in this study is simple, fast, and accurate, serving as a new method for determining the glucose content in MMF. Furthermore, this study clarifies the variations of glucose content in MMF during processing, which can not only indicate the processing degree but also provide a scientific basis for revealing the fermentation mechanism and improving the quality control of MMF.

Maternal, placental and neonatal outcomes after asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in the first trimester of pregnancy: A case report.

The effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the first trimester on the pregnant woman and the fetus remain unclear. We describe the complete follow-up of a pregnant woman with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in the first trimester. The woman tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in nasopharyngeal swabs in her seventh week of gestation and was admitted to a local hospital for treatment. Although the woman had a BMI above 28 and a total gestational weight gain of 21 kg, no pregnancy complications or severe complications related to SARS-CoV-2 were reported. An ultrasound scan identified no fetal abnormalities at 22 weeks. The pregnancy ended at term (37 weeks), and the newborn's birth weight was 3100 g. Placental insufficiency was revealed by placental histology examination but this appeared not to be related to the SARS-CoV-2 infection. In-situ hybridisation and immunohistochemical tests for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, spike protein 1, and nucleocapsid proteins were negative. However, ACE-2 was positive in samples of the placenta, umbilical cord and fetal membrane. The baby was followed up through to 10 days after birth and grew normally. Our results suggest that asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in the first trimester of pregnancy might not have significant harmful effects on the mother and the developing fetus. This finding may be of interest to the general public, midwives and general practitioners. However, large population studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Forsythiaside A protects against focal cerebral ischemic injury by mediating the activation of the Nrf2 and endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways.

Ischemic stroke is a common type of stroke with a high mortality and morbidity rate. Preventing and controlling cerebral ischemic injury is particularly important. Forsythiaside A (FA) has been reported to have anti­inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The aim of the present study was to explore the impact of FA on middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)­induced cerebral ischemic injury in rats. The results indicated that FA markedly increased the percent survival and decreased the neurological deficit score in rats with cerebral ischemic injury. Furthermore, cell apoptosis was significantly inhibited by FA administration, which was accompanied by decreased caspase­3 and caspase­9 expression. A marked increase in the expression levels of nuclear factor­erythroid 2­related factor 2 (Nrf2), NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 and glutathione­s­transferase was detected in FA­treated rats. In addition, treatment with FA reduced malonaldehyde expression, and enhanced the expression of superoxide dismutase and glutathione. Furthermore, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was vastly alleviated by FA treatment, as evidenced by the increased expression of B­cell lymphoma 2, apoptosis regulator and the downregulated expression of phosphorylated (phospho)­protein kinase RNA­like ER kinase (PERK)/PERK, phospho­inositol­requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1α)/IRE1α and CCAAT­enhancer­binding proteins homologous protein. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that FA attenuated cerebral ischemic damage via mediation of the activation of Nrf2 and ER stress pathways. These data may provide ideas for novel treatment strategies of cerebral ischemic damage.

[Diagnostic value of serum islet autoantibody in hepatogenic diabetes mellitus].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic value of serum islet autoantibody-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody (GADA) and islet cell antibody (ICA) in patients with hepatogenic diabetes. METHODS: Serum GADA and ICA were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 217 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CH) or liver cirrhosis (LC). The positivity rate of GADA and ICA in different phases of CH and LC and their relations with diabetes mellitus were analyzed. RESULTS: The positivity rate of the islet autoantibody in the circulation was 72% in CH and LC patients with diabetes mellitus and 30% in patients with normal glucose level, showing significant difference between the two patient groups (Chi2=36.620, P=0.000). CH patients with diabetes had much higher positivity rate for the antibody [52% than type 2 diabetic patients with liver dysfunction [8%, P<0.05]. The positivity rate was also much higher in CH and LC patients with lowered C peptide level [70%] than in those with normal C peptide level [40%, P<0.005]. CONCLUSION: Both GADA and ICA have important value in the diagnosis of hepatogenic diabetes and may serve as indexed in laboratory test for distinguishing hepatogenic diabetes from type 2 diabetes.