Perceived physical and mental fatigability in older adults with and without multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Fatigue stands out as a prevalent and debilitating symptom in both Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and the aging population. Traditional methods for measuring perceived fatigue may not adequately account for individual activity differences, leading to varied prevalence rates. Perceived fatigability anchors fatigue to specific activities with predetermined intensity and duration, thereby mitigating self-pacing bias. Despite its potential, perceived fatigability is poorly understood in older adults, particularly those with neurological conditions, including MS. This study thus aimed to (1) investigate whether, among older adults, MS was associated with worse perceived physical and mental fatigability; (2) evaluate whether, among older adults with MS (OAMS), greater patient-reported disease-related disability was associated with worse perceived physical and mental fatigability. METHODS: Participants were 96 older adults with a physician-confirmed diagnosis of MS (mean age: 64.6 ± 4.2) and 110 healthy controls (mean age: 68.2 ± 7.2), all confirmed to be dementia-free through established case conference procedures. Physical and mental fatigability were measured using the Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale, a 10-item questionnaire (score range: 0 to 50) designed to assess fatigue levels that individuals expect to feel after engaging in a range of typical activities for older adults. MS disease-related disability was assessed with the Patient Determined Disease Steps scale, which ranges from 0 (normal) to 8 (bedridden), with scores ≥ 2 indicating worse MS-related disability after a median split. Separate linear regression models were performed to investigate associations between group status (MS vs. Control) as the predictor and perceived physical and mental fatigability scores as the outcome variables. Within the MS group, additional linear regression models were performed to explore the relationship between disease-related disability and fatigability levels. All models adjusted for age, sex, race, education, global health, general cognitive function, and depressive symptoms levels. RESULTS: The fully adjusted models yielded the following key findings: OAMS reported significantly higher levels of perceived physical fatigability (M = 25.11 ± 9.67) compared to controls (M = 17.95 ± 8.35) (p = 0.003). Similarly, the perceived mental fatigability in OAMS (M = 16.82 ± 11.79) was significantly greater than that in controls (M = 9.15 ± 7.12) (p = 0.003). Within the MS group, individuals with greater disease-related disability reported significantly greater levels of both physical (M = 30.13 ± 7.71 vs. 18.67 ± 8.00, p < 0.001) and mental fatigability (M = 20.31 ± 12.18 vs. 12.33 ± 9.69, p = 0.009) compared to those with lower MS-related disability. Of note, the significance of these findings persisted in models that adjusted for depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Our study provides compelling evidence that OAMS exhibit significantly higher perceived physical and mental fatigability compared to healthy controls. Additionally, worse MS-related disability correlates with worse physical and mental fatigability. These results persist after adjusting for confounders including depressive symptoms. Our findings underscore the necessity of holistic management strategies that cater to both physical and psychological aspects of MS, laying a foundation for future studies to uncover the pathophysiological mechanisms of fatigability in older adults with and without MS.

A Study on the Protective Impact of Resveratrol on Liver Damage in Rats with Obstructive Jaundice.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive Jaundice (OJ) is a common clinical condition with potential outcomes, including hepatocyte necrosis, bile duct hyperplasia, significant cholestatic liver fibrosis, and, in severe cases, liver failure. Resveratrol (RES), a polyphenol present in grapes and berries, has demonstrated efficacy in improving OJ. However, the precise mechanism of its action remains unclear. METHODS: In this study, we employed network pharmacology to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism of RES in the treatment of OJ. The targets of RES were identified using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), SuperPred, and SwissTargetPrediction database. The targets related to OJ were gathered from the DisGeNET, GeneCards, DrugBank, and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) databases, and the intersection of these targets was determined using Venny2.1.0. Subsequently, an active component-target network was constructed using Cytoscape software. The Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network was generated using the String database and Cytoscape software. Following this, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were conducted using the Bioconductor platform. Finally, quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR), Western Blotting (WB), and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) were employed to assess RNA and protein expression levels in related pathways. RESULTS: The findings revealed a selection of 56 potential targets for RES, and a search through the online database identified 2,742 OJ-related targets with overlapping in 27 targets. In the PPI network, mTOR, CYP2C9, CYP1A1, CYP3A4, AHR, ESR1, and HSD17B1 emerged as core targets. KEGG analyses demonstrated that the primary pathways of RES in treating OJ, particularly those related to lipid metabolism, include linoleic acid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450, lipid and atherosclerosis, tyrosine metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and pentose and glucuronate interconversions signaling pathways. Furthermore, in vivo experiments indicated that RES significantly ameliorated liver injury induced by Common Bile Duct Ligation (CBDL) in rats with OJ. It lowered serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, reduced liver tissue MDA levels, increased glutathione (GSH) content, and enhanced activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), alleviating liver damage. Metabolomics analysis revealed that the therapeutic effect of RES in OJ involved alterations in lipid metabolic pathways, hinting at the potential mechanism of RES in treating OJ. ELISA, qRTPCR, and WB analyses confirmed lower expression levels of mTOR, CYP1A1, and CYP2C9 in the RES group compared to the model group, validating their involvement in the lipid metabolism pathway. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, RES exhibited a protective effect on liver function in rats with OJ. The underlying mechanism appears to be linked to antioxidant activity and modulation of lipid metabolism pathways.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection Increases High Risk Rate of Down Syndrome Screening Test by Reducing Alpha-Fetoprotein.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been a significant global health issue in recent years. Numerous studies indicate that COVID-19 during pregnancy is associated with an increased likelihood of pregnancy complications. Additionally, pregnancy itself is known to elevate the risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. To explore the potential impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the probability of Down syndrome in fetuses, we conducted serological testing of Down syndrome markers in pregnant women who had contracted the virus. METHODS: Serological experiments were conducted utilizing a particle chemiluminescence test. The cohort of pregnant women was categorized into three groups: a control group with no infection, a group infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron within the first six weeks of gestation, and a group infected beyond the sixth week of gestation. RESULTS: In the group of individuals infected within 6 gestational weeks, the infection resulted in a decrease in alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels and a higher positive rate of Down syndrome screening tests (p ˂ 0.05). However, in this study, SARS-CoV-2 infection did not lead to an increase in the occurrence of Down syndrome in the fetus. The positive rate of women infected beyond 6 gestational weeks was slightly higher than the non-infected group (6.2% vs. 5.7%), but these differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Within the group infected beyond 6 gestational weeks, there was, compared to the control group, a decrease in free beta human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG) levels (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study presents a novel investigation into the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on AFP and ß-hCG levels. It has been observed that pregnant women who contract SARS-CoV-2 may exhibit an increased likelihood of positive results in serum tests conducted for Down syndrome screening. However, it is important to note that the occurrence of Down syndrome in the developing fetus does not appear to be elevated. To validate these findings, additional research involving larger and diverse cohorts is necessary.

An Efficient Robotic Pushing and Grasping Method in Cluttered Scene.

Pushing and grasping (PG) are crucial skills for intelligent robots. These skills enable robots to perform complex grasping tasks in various scenarios. These PG methods can be categorized into single-stage and multistage approaches. Single-stage methods are faster but less accurate, while multistage methods offer high accuracy at the expense of time efficiency. To address this issue, a novel end-to-end PG method called efficient PG network (EPGNet) is proposed in this article. EPGNet achieves both high accuracy and efficiency simultaneously. To optimize performance with fewer parameters, EfficientNet-B0 is used as the backbone of EPGNet. Additionally, a novel cross-fusion module is introduced to enhance network performance in robotic PG tasks. This module fuses and utilizes local and global features, aiding the network in handling objects of varying sizes in different scenes. EPGNet consists of two branches dedicated to predicting PG actions, respectively. Both branches are trained simultaneously within a Q -learning framework. Training data is collected through trial and error, involving the robot performing PG actions. To bridge the gap between simulation and reality, a unique PG dataset is proposed. Additionally, a YOLACT network is trained on the PG dataset to facilitate object detection and segmentation. A comprehensive set of experiments is conducted in simulated environments and real-world scenarios. The results demonstrate that EPGNet outperforms single-stage methods and offers competitive performance compared to multistage methods, all while utilizing fewer parameters. A video is available at https://youtu.be/HNKJjQH0MPc.

New method for calculating the windward area of irregular fragments.

Average windward area is an important index for calculating the trajectory, velocity attenuation and terminal effect of explosive fragments. In order to solve the problems that existing theoretical method cannot calculate windward area of irregular fragment and experiment method is not convenient for automatic calculation and has low accuracy, a Monte Carlo subdivision projection simulation algorithm is proposed. The average windward area of arbitrary shaped fragments can be obtained with coordinate translation, random rotation, plane projection, convex-hull triangulation, concave boundary searching and sorting with maximum edge length constraint, subdivision area calculation, and averaging by thousands of cycles. Results show that projection area obtained by the subdivision projection algorithm is basically the same as that obtained by software method of computer aided design. Moreover, the maximum calculation error of the algorithm is less than 7%, and its accuracy is much higher than that of the equivalent ellipsoid method. The average windward area calculated by the Monte Carlo subdivision projection simulation algorithm is consistent with theoretical formula for prefabricated fragments, and the error is less than 3%. The convergence and accuracy of the Monte Carlo subdivision projection algorithm are better than those of the icosahedral uniform orientation method.

Intelligent diagnostic model of keratoconus based on deep learning algorithm / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To establish an intelligent diagnostic model of keratoconus for small-diameter corneas by data mining and analysis of patients' clinical data.METHODS: Diagnostic study. A total of 830 patients(830 eyes)were collected, including 338 male(338 eyes)and 492 female(492 eyes), with an average age of 14-36(23.19±5.71)years. Among them, 731 patients(731 eyes)had undergone corneal refractive surgery at Chongqing Nanping Aier Eye Hospital from January 2020 to March 2022, and 99 patients had a diagnosed keratoconus from January 2015 to March 2022. Corneal diameter ≤11.1 mm was measured by Pentacam in all patients. Two cornea specialists classified patients' data into normal corneas, suspect keratoconus, and keratoconus groups based on the Belin/Ambrósio enhanced ectasia display(BAD)system in Pentacam. The data of 665 patients were randomly selected as the training set and the other 165 patients as the validation set by computer random sampling method. Seven parametric corneal features were extracted by convolutional neural networks(CNN), and the models were built by Residual Network(ResNet), Vision Transformer(ViT), and CNN+Transformer, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of models was verified by cross-entropy loss and cross-validation method. In addition, sensitivity and specificity were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve.RESULTS: The accuracy of ResNet, ViT, and CNN+Transfermer for the diagnosis of normal cornea and suspect keratoconus was 85.57%, 86.11%, and 86.54% respectively, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)was 0.823, 0.830 and 0.842 respectively. The accuracy of models for the diagnosis of suspect keratoconus and keratoconus was 97.22%, 95.83%, and 98.61%, respectively, and the AUC was 0.951, 0.939, and 0.988 respectively.CONCLUSION: For corneas ≤11.1 mm in diameter, the data model established by CNN+Transformer has a high accuracy rate for classifying keratoconus, which provides real and effective guidance for early screening.

Effect of Xuanfu Daizhe decoction on stemness of esophageal cancer cells / 中国应用生理学杂志

Objective: To investigate the effect of Xuanfu Daizhe decoction on the stemness of esophageal cancer cells. Methods: The BALB/c nude mice were randomly divided into the control group and experimental group, 5 mice in each group, which were continuously administered with normal saline and Xuanfu Daizhe decoction (9.89 g/kg) by gastrogavage, respectively. Human esophageal carcinoma cells ECA-109 (5×106) were subcutaneously injected into the mice on the 8th day. Tumor volume was measured twice a week. The mice were sacrificed 4 weeks after injection, and the tumor tissue and mouse serum were collected. The expressions of the major stemness-regulating transcription factors, i.e., NANOG, OCT4 and SOX2, were detected by RT-qPCR, Western Blot and immunohistochemistry. ECA-109 cells were treated with 10% fetal bovine serum and serum from the above two groups of mice for 48 hours respectively, and three replicate wells were set in each group, and the expressions of NANOG, OCT4, SOX2 and the levels of AKT and p-AKT were detected by RT-qPCR and Western Blot, respectively. ALDH activity in tumor cells was detected by flow cytometry; the number of spheroids of tumor cells was detected by the spheroidization experiment. Results: Compared with the control group, the growth and size of esophageal cancer tumors were significantly inhibited by Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction; the expressions of NANOG, OCT4, SOX2, the ALDH activity, the number of spheroids, and the levels of AKT and phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT) in esophageal cancer cells were significantly reduced by Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction both in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion: Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction inhibits the stemness of esophageal cancer cells, it may be a potentially effective drug for the treatment of esophageal cancer and provides a theoretical basis for the exploration of new effective drugs for the treatment of esophageal cancer.

Modified Xiaochaihu Decoction () Promotes Collagen Degradation and Inhibits Pancreatic Fibrosis in Chronic Pancreatitis Rats / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of Modified Xiaochaihu Decoction (MXD, ) on collagen degradation in rats with chronic pancreatitis (CP).@*METHODS@#Rats were injected dibutyltin dichloride (DBTC, 7 mg/kg of body weight) into the right caudal vein to induce CP model. Thirty heallhy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups by a random number table: the control, the model and the treatment groups. Rats of treatment group were administered MXD (10 g/kg of body weight) orally once daily starting from the day post-model establishment. Pancreatic tissues were harvested after 28-day feeding and fibrosis was evaluated by picro-sirius red staining. The contents of collagen type I and III were detected using enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1) was analyzed by Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).@*RESULTS@#The fibrosis scoring of pancreatic tissues, the concentrations of collagen type I and III, the expression levels of MMP13 and TIMP1 proteins and mRNA in the model group were all increased compared with the control group (P0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#MXD could promote collagen degradation and reverse pancreatic fibrosis in CP rats via a mechanism involve up-regulation of MMP13 expression.

Modified Da-chai-hu Decoction regulates the expression of occludin and NF-κB to alleviate organ injury in severe acute pancreatitis rats / 中国天然药物

Modified Da-chai-hu Decoction (MDD), a traditional Chinese medicinal formulation, which was empirically generated from Da-chai-hu decoction, has been utilized to treat severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) for decades. The aim of the present study was to explore its potential organprotective mechanism in SAP. In the present study, rat SAP model was induced by retrograde injection of 3.5% sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic duct, MDD (23.35 g/kg body weight, twelve times the clinical dose) were orally given at 2 h before and 10 h after injection. At 12 h after model induction, blood was taken from vena cava for analysis of amylase, diamine oxidase (DAO), pulmonary surfactant protein-A (SP-A), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Histopathological change of pancreas, ileum and lung was assayed by H&E staining, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were determinated using colorimetric assay, and the expressions of occludin and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) were detected by real-time RT-PCR and western blot, respectively. In addition, the tissue concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that in SAP rats, MDD significantly alleviated histopathological damage, depressed the MPO activity and the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, and MCP-1 of pancreas, ileum and lung, and reduced the serum levels of amylase [(3283.4 ± 585.5) U·Lvs (5626.4 ± 795.1)U·L], DAO [(1100.1 ± 334.3) U·Lvs (1666.4 ± 525.3) U·L] and CRP [(7.6 ± 1.2) μg·mLvs (17.8 ± 3.8) μg·mL]. However, the serum SP-A concentration [(106.1 ± 16.6) pg·mLvs (90.1 ± 14.9) pg·mL] was elevated when treated SAP rats with MDD. Furthermore, MDD increased the occludin expression and reduced the NF-κB expression in pancreas, ileum and lung of SAP rats. Our findings suggested that MDD administration was an effective therapeutic approach for SAP treatment. It could up-regulate occludin expression to protect intercellular tight junction and down-regulate NF-κB expression to inhibit inflammatory reaction of pancreas, ileum and lung.

Modified Xiaochaihu Decoction () prevents the progression of chronic pancreatitis in rats possibly by inhibiting transforming growth factor-β1/Sma- and mad-related proteins signaling pathway / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of modified Xiaochaihu Decoction (, MXD) on transforming growth factor-β1/Sma- and Mad-related proteins (TGF-β1/Smads) signaling pathway in rats with chronic pancreatitis (CP) induced by dibutyltin dichloride.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, CP group and CP+MXD-treated group. CP was induced by injection of dibutyltin dichloride (DBTC, 7 mg/kg of body weight) into the right caudal vein, and the control rats were treated with vehicle. MXD was given daily by gavage at a dose of 10 g/kg of body weight, starting from the day after CP induction. After 28-day treatment, the n-benzoyl-tyrosyl para-aminobenzoic acid (NBT-PABA) test was carried out to evaluate exocrine pancreatic function. Then, rats were sacrificed, and pancreatic tissues were harvested for histological evaluation. In addition, the mRNA expression of TGF-β1, TGF-β1 type II receptor (TGFβRII), Smad3 and Smad7 was determined in pancreatic tissues by using real-time polymerase chain reaction.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Treatment of CP with MXD improved the PABA recovery, decreased the histological lesion, and reduced the mRNA expression of TGF-β1, TGFβRII and Smad3 (P<0.05). However, MXD had no effect on Smad7 mRNA level.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MXD could protect the pancreas against chronic injury and improve pancreatic exocrine function in DBTC induced rat CP model. Its mechanism may involve inhibition of the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway.</p>

Acute infantile diarrhea treated with infantile Tuina: a multicentre randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To generalize the application of Tuina in treating infantile diseases and evaluate the validity and safety of Tuina.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>By a multicentre randomized controlled study, 240 patients were randomly divided into an observation group (n = 180) and a control group (n = 60). The observation group was treated by tonifying Pijing and clarifying Dachangjing, and Tuina on Lanmen, Qi, Fu Shangqijiegu, Guiwei and Zusanli (ST 36), etc. Banmen and Sanguan were used as the supplementary point according to the syndrome differentiation. The control group was treated by oral administration of Smecta. After 5 day treatments, Chinese syndrome score and the clinical effect were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After the third and fifth treatment, the Chinese syndrome score of both groups descended obviously. The decline of the observation group was superior to that of the control group (all P < 0.01). The cured rate of 75.6% (136/180) in the observation group was better than 21.7% (13/60) in the control group (P < 0.001). The clinical cured rate of 95.0% (171/180) according to Chinese syndrome score in the observation group was better than 58.3% (35/60) in the control group (P < 0.001). There was no adverse reaction in both groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Infantile Tuina has a better therapeutic effect in the treatment of acute infantile diarrhea than oral administration of Smecta.</p>

Hypocholesterolemic effect of stilbene extract from Cajanus cajan L. on serum and hepatic lipid in diet-induced hyperlipidemic mice / 药学学报

Cajanus cajan L. is a natural plant, which contains a lot of potential active components. In the present study, we identified the effects of the stilbene extract from Cajanus cajan L. (sECC) on hepatic cholesterol metabolism in diet-induced (for 4 weeks) hyperlipidemic Kunming mice. All experimental mice were divided into 5 groups: control group, high lipid model group, sECC-treated with 200 or 100 mg kg(-1), and simvastatin (Sim, 12 mg kg(-1)) treated group. The mice were fed with fat and cholesterol-enriched chow except control mice that were fed with standard diet. The effects of sECC were investigated by monitoring serum and liver lipid profile (i. e. cholesterol homeostasis) in mice. To further explore the mechanism of sECC, hepatic cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor expressions in cholesterol homeostasis were analyzed by reverse transcription PCR. After 4 weeks pretreatment, the mice in the high lipid model group showed markedly higher serum and hepatic lipid contents than control group (P< 0.01). Compared with high lipid model group, the increased serum and hepatic lipid contents were markedly attenuated by sECC (200 mg kg(-1)), the serum and hepatic total cholesterol were reduced by 31.5% and 22.7% (P<0.05), respectively. The triglyceride contents of serum and liver were also lowered by 23.0% and 14.4%, respectively. At the same times, serum LDL cholesterol decreased by 53.0% (P<0.01). The mRNA expressions of hepatic CYP7A1 and LDL-receptor were significantly enhanced in the mice administered with sECC (200 mg kg(-1)), whereas those expressions were suppressed by the fat and cholesterol-enriched diet. These data indicate that sECC reduces the atherogenic properties of dietary cholesterol in mice. It is indicated that expression enhancement of hepatic LDL-receptor and cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase may be responsible for the hypercholesterolemic effect.

Effects of the extracts of Cajanus cajan L. on cell functions in human osteoblast-like TE85 cells and the derivation of osteoclast-like cells / 药学学报

The cajanine (longistylin A-2-carboxylic acid) is isolated and identified from extracts of Cajanus cajan L. (ECC) , which structure is similar to diethylstilbestrol. The regulation properties of the cajanine and other four extracts of Cajanus cajan L. (32-1, 35-1, 35-2, and 35-3) were tested in human osteoblast-like (HOS) TE85 cells and marrow-derived osteoclast-like cells. By using MTT assay to test the change of cell proliferation, 3H-proline incorporation to investigate the formation of collagen, and by measuring alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, bone formation in HOS TE85 cell was evaluated after pretreated for 48 hours. Bone marrow cells were cultured to examine the derivation of osteoclast cells (OLCs), which were stained with tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). The long term effect (pretreated for 18 days) on promoting mineralized bone-like tissue formation was tested by Alizarin red S staining in HOS TE85 cells. After the treatment with cajanine (1 x 10(-8) g x mL(-1)) for 48 hours, cell number increased significantly (57.7%). 3H-Proline incorporation also statistically increased (98.5%) in those cells. Significant change of ALP activity was also found (P < 0.01) in 35-1 and 35-3 treated cells (they were 66.2% and 82.4% in the concentration of 1 x 10(-8) g x mL(-1), respectively). The long term (18 days) effects of 32-1 and 35-3 on promoting mineralized bone-like tissue formation in HOS TE85 cell were obvious. There were much more red blots over the field of vision compared with that of control group. After the treatment of cajanine, derived-osteoclast cells appeared later and much less compared with control. The inhibition of cajanine was 22.8% while it was 37.9% in 32-1 treated cells in the dose of 1 x 10(-7) g x mL(-1). It is obvious that cajanine and ECCs promoted the osteoblast cells proliferation and mineralized bone-like tissue formation in HOS TE85 cells, while inhibited derivation of osteoclast cells. All of these suggested that cajanine has the estrogen-like action on osteoblast and osteoclast, which could be developed as anti-osteoporosis drugs.

Effects of the stilbene extracts from Cajanus cajan L. on ovariectomy-induced bone loss in rats / 药学学报

The Cajanus cajan L. is a natural plant, which contains lots of potential active components. The effects of the stilbene extracts from Cajanus cajan L. (sECC) on ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss in rats were identified. All experimental female rats were divided into 6 groups, i. e. sham-operated rats, OVX rats, 17beta-estradiol (E2)-treated rats, sECC-treated rats with three dosages, 50, 100, and 200 mg x kg(-1), separately. Two weeks after the operation, different dosage of sECC, E2 or deionized water were given to the 6 groups of rats, respectively for another 8 weeks through stomach. Then, all rats were killed. The body weight and uterus wet weight were measured. Contents of serum E2, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured by radioimmunoassay. Femoral morphology was observed by HE stain. The results showed that there were no changes of the uterine weight and serum E2 concentration in sECC-treated rats compared with OVX rats. However, the serum FSH and LH concentrations reduced by 11.5% and 15.2% (P < 0.05), respectively. By HE staining, it is found that the 60% of the femur structure had been significantly improved in OVX rats treated with 200 mg x kg(-1) of sECC. The trabeculae were thicker and larger than that of OVX rats. It is clear that sECC improved femoral morphological structure and decreased FSH and LH contents without affecting serum E2 level and uterine weight in OVX rats. The results suggested that sECC had potential action in treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

A preliminary study of an inherited macrothrombocytopenia disorder with abnormal large granules / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the platelet morphology and function of an inherited macrothrombocytopenia disorder with abnormal large granules.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Platelet size and structure were investigated by both light microscopy and electron microscopy. The platelet membrane expression of GP I b, GP II b, GPIII a, P-selectin and CD63 were analyzed by using respective monoclonal antibodies. Platelet 5-hydroxy-tryptamine was measured with spectrophotofluorometer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Both the patient and her father had large granules in their platelets, with exocytosis being easily observed. The expressions of GP I b, GP II b and GP II a on the platelets were in normal range, while P-selectin and CD63 were somewhat increased. The abnormal large granules were not the alpha granules, lysosomes or dense bodies.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both morphological and functional abnormalities of the platelets from the patient are clearly distinguishable from other hereditary giant platelet disorders. It would probably represent a novel platelet disorder.</p>

Effects of dialysis adequacy,microinflammation and residual renal function on nutritional status in hemodialysis patients / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To study the effect of dialysis adcquacy,microinflammation and residual renal function on nutritional status of hemodialysis patients.Methods One hundred and fourteen patients were enrolled in this study.Kt/V,?_2-MG and serum iPTH were measured as markers of hemodialysis adequacy.Nutritional evaluation included MQSGA,Alb,Hb,TF,IGF-1,IGFBP-3 and anthropometrics such as HGS,BSF,TSF,MAC,MAMC and AMA.Serum IL-6,TNF-?and CRP were detected to assess microinflammation.Urinary volume of 24 hours was measured to investigate the residual renal function (RRF).Results (1)There were different correlations and regressive associations of Kt/V,iPTH and?_2-MG with HGS,MAMC,AMA,Alb,Hb,nPCR,IGF-1 and MQSGA respectively.(2) There were significant correlations and regressive associations of RRF to HGS,TSF,MAMC,Alb,nPCR and IGF-1 within the first year of hemodialysis.(3) There were different correlations and regression relationships of IL-6,TNF-?and CRP with HGS、MAMC、AMA、Alb、TSF、Hb、nPCR、IGF-1 respectively.(4) Multivariate analysis showed that Kt/V,iPTH,IL-6, TNF-?,?_2-MG and RRF were influencing factors,among them,Kt/V,iPTH,IL-6 and TNF-?were independent predictors of nutritional status.Conclusions Hemodialysis adequacy and micruinflammation may impact on nutritional status.Residual renal function may be involved in nutritional status in the first year of hemodialysis.Kt/V,iPTH,IL-6 and TNF-?are independent factors affecting nutritional status.

Comparative study of barium enema, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in preoperative diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the diagnostic value of barium enema (BE), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) in primary colorectal carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 64 patients with suspected colorectal carcinoma received BE (n=39), spiral CT (n=31) and MRI (n=42). The detective results were compared with the surgical results.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 64 patients, 54 cases were pathologically proved as colorectal carcinoma. The diagnostic sensitivity of BE,CT and MRI was 96.9% ,96.2% and 97.1% ,and the overall accuracy was 92.3% 83.9 % and 90.5% respectively. The overall accuracy of CT and MRI for tumor T staging was 73.1% and 82.9% respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>BE can be considered as a primary approach for diagnosing colorectal carcinoma, CT and MRI be necessary diagnostic approaches. Combined BE with MRI is the best choice for diagnosing of colorectal carcinoma.</p>

Comparison of therapeutic effects of acupoints selected along different meridians on restless legs syndrome / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare therapeutic effects of different acupoints selected on restless legs syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-one cases were randomly divided into a treatment group (n=41) treated by acupoint selection method according to nerve anatomy and combination of positive findings with neurobiological theory, and a control group (n=40) treated by traditional acupoint selection method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The effective rate and the markedly effective rate were 97.6% and 90.3% in the treatment group, and 75.0% and 60.0% in the control group with significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.01), and there was a significant difference between the two groups in the needed treatment times for the cured cases (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The acupoint selection method according to nerve anatomy, positive findings and neurobiological theory has a better therapeutic effect on restless legs syndrome as compared with the traditional method.</p>

Studies on the chemical constituents from the aerial parts of Cimicifuga dahurica / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To seek for new bioactive constituents from the aerial parts of Cimicifuga dahurica.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Various column chromatographic techniques were employed for the isolation and purification of the ingredients. The structures were elucidated on the basis of 1H, 13CNMR, 1H-1H COSY, HMQC, NOESY and HMBC spectra and chemical reactions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two cyclolanostanol xylosides, cimidahuside C and D were isolated from the EtOAc section of EtOH extracts.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cimidahuside C(1) and D(2) are new triterpenoid xylosides.</p>

Studies on the new triterpenoid saponin of the aerial part of Cimicifuga foetida / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To find new active constituents from the aerial part of Cimicifuga foetida.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Various column chromatographic techniques were used for the isolation and purification of the principles. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data and chemical evidences.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Four 9,19-cycloartane triterpenoid saponins were obtained and identified as Cimifoetiside III (25-anhydrocimigenol-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside, 1), 25-O-acetyl-cimigenol xylopyranoside (2), 25-O-acetyl-cimigenol galactopyranoside (3), 7 beta-hydrocimigenol xylopyranoside (4).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compound 1 is new and compound 4 was isolated from this plant for the first time.</p>