Demonstration of charge-hold-vent (CHV) and no-vent-fill (NVF) in a simulated propellent storage tank during tank-to-tank cryogen transfer in microgravity.

The space exploration from a low earth orbit to a high earth orbit, then to Moon, Mars, and possibly asteroids and moons of other planets is one of the biggest challenges for scientists and engineers for the new millennium. The enabling of in-space cryogenic rocket engines and the Lower-Earth-Orbit (LEO) cryogenic fuel depots for these future manned and robotic space exploration missions begins with the technology development of advanced cryogenic thermal-fluid management systems for the propellant transfer line and storage tank system. One of the key thermal-fluid management operations is the chilldown and filling of the propellant storage tank in space. As a result, highly energy efficient, breakthrough concepts for quenching heat transfer to conserve and minimize the cryogen consumption during chilldown have become the focus of engineering research and development, especially for the deep-space mission to Mars. In this paper, we introduce such thermal transport concepts and demonstrate their feasibilities in space for cryogenic propellant storage tank chilldown and filling in a simulated space microgravity condition on board an aircraft flying a parabolic trajectory. In order to maximize the storage tank chilldown thermal efficiency for the least amount of required cryogen consumption, the breakthrough quenching heat transfer concepts developed include the combination of charge-hold-vent (CHV) and no-vent-hold (NVF). The completed flight experiments successfully demonstrated the feasibility of the concepts and discovered that spray cooling combined with hold and vent is more efficient than the pure spray cooling for storage tank chilldown in microgravity. In microgravity, the data shows that the CHV thermal efficiency can reach 39.5%. The CHV efficiency in microgravity is 6.9% lower than that in terrestrial gravity. We also found that pulsing the spray can increase CHV efficiency by 6.1% in microgravity.

Study on the Distribution Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Types in Girls with Idiopathic Central Precocious Puberty from Hainan Province / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To investigate the distribution characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndromes in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty(ICPP)from Hainan province.Methods A total of 216 cases of ICPP girls admitted to Hainan Women and Children's Medical Centre from January 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively collected.The frequency statistics and grading of TCM syndromes in the included ICPP girls were carried out,and the distribution characteristics of TCM syndromes were discussed on the basis of the analysis of the three TCM syndrome types of yin deficiency and fire exuberance syndrome,qi and blood insufficiency syndrome and incoordination between heart and kidney syndrome.Results(1)The age of ICPP onset in 216 girls were between 4 and 10 years old,with an average onset age of(7.15±1.06)years.The highest incidence rate of ICPP was found in the girls aged over 7 years old while less than 8 years old,which was 49.54%.(2)Of the three TCM syndrome types,yin deficiency and fire exuberance syndrome accounted for the highest proportion(147 cases,68.06%),followed by the qi and blood insufficiency syndrome(41 cases,18.98%)and the incoordination between heart and kidney syndrome(28 cases,12.96%).(3)The common 16 TCM symptoms(frequency＞25.0%)in descending order of frequency were aversion to heat and night sweating,feverish sensation in soles and palms,breast distension and pain,irritability,thready and rapid pulse,dry stools,dry throat and mouth,hot flushes,excessive intake of fat and sweet food,red tongue with less fur,depression,mental weakness,flushed cheeks,insomnia and dreaminess,red tongue with yellow fur,and bitterness and dryness in the mouth.(4)The distribution of the age in ICPP girls with various syndromes was as follows:yin deficiency and fire exuberance syndrome and qi and blood insufficiency syndrome were more common in the ICPP girls aged over 7 years old while less than 8 years old(accounting for 58.50%and 51.22%),and incoordination between heart and kidney syndrome was more common in ICPP girls aged over 8 years old while less than 9 years old(accounting for 89.29%).Conclusion Yin deficiency and fire exuberance syndrome is the common TCM syndrome that accounts for the highest proportion in ICPP girls from Hainan province.The study of the distribution of TCM syndromes in girls with precocious puberty will be helpful for the observation of the early clinical symptoms of precocious puberty and early diagnosis of the disease,and can provide clues and evidence for the clinical diagnosis and medication for girls with ICPP.

Risk factors analysis of postoperative adverse events in newborns under the integrated management of internal and external departments in the ward / 局解手术学杂志

Objective To summarize the occurrence of postoperative adverse events in neonatal surgery under the integrated manage-ment of internal and external departments in the ward of West China Second University Hospital,Sichuan University,and analyze the risk factors affecting postoperative adverse events.Methods A total of 272 newborns who underwent surgical procedures in West China Second University Hospital,Sichuan University from January 2019 to December 2021 were included.The occurrence of postoperative comprehen-sive adverse events was recorded,and the newborns were divided into the symptomatic group and the asymptomatic group according to the occurrence of complications.The high-risk factors that affecting postoperative adverse events in neonatally surgical procedures were analyzed by univariate analysis and multivariate analysis.Results There were 108 newborns experienced comprehensive adverse events after surgery.The results of univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in the proportion of male newborns,gestational age,birth weight,Apgar score 1 minute postpartum,the proportion of newborns with preoperative diagnosis of necrotizing small enteritis or/and gastrointestinal perforation,premature infants and low birth weight infants,the proportion of newborns with respiratory control when admitted to the operating room and mean arterial pressure(MAP),the proportion of newborns underdoing emergency surgery,and intraoperative infusion of red blood cell suspension between the two groups(P<0.05).The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the small gestational age(OR=0.972,95%CI=0.950～0.994,P=0.014)and low MAP when admitted to the operating room(OR=0.955,95%CI:0.919～0.993,P=0.019)were the independent risk factors affecting the occurrence of postoperative adverse events in newborns.Conclusion Under the integrated management of internal and external departments in the ward,the small gestational age and low MAP when admitted to the operating room are the independent risk factors for the occurrence of postoperative adverse events in newborns.Improving the prenatal diagnostic measures and optimizing the time of fetal growth in and out of utero to reduce the associated effects of gestational age,and increasing the neonatal blood pressure when admitted to the operating room may reduce the incidence of postoperative adverse events in newborns and improve long-term prognosis.

Iodine-125 brachytherapy for a desmoid tumor in the abdomen-thorax: A retrospective study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of iodine-125 seed implantation in the treatment of abdomen-thorax desmoid tumors (DTs). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Data from 14 DT patients who received brachytherapy with iodine-125 seeds were retrospectively collected from 2014 to 2020. The operation was completed using CT guidance and the treatment plan system (TPS). The number of lesions and the target dosimetry parameters were recorded. After brachytherapy, the lesions were evaluated using response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST). RESULTS: Fourteen patients with 18 lesions were enrolled in this study; eleven lesions were in the thorax, seven were in the abdomen, and the lesion gross tumor volume (GTV) was 82.10 cc (interquartile range [IQR]: 40.37, 203.42 cc). The median number of seeds was 88 (IQR: 35, 158), and the median prescription dose was 120 Gy (IQR: 115, 120 Gy). The D90 was 123 ± 16.7 Gy, the V90 was 97% (IQR: 95.00, 97.25%), and the V200 was 27% (IQR: 14.50, 33.00%). The median follow-up time for each lesion was 34 (IQR: 23, 67) months, and the local response rate was 100%. Following brachytherapy, the overall survival was 52.3 ± 30.72 months. One year after brachytherapy, one patient experienced persistent worsening of a brachial plexus injury; another received a ureteral stent. No brachytherapy-related complications were observed in the remaining patients. CONCLUSIONS: Iodine-125 brachytherapy is a novel treatment option for DT of the abdomen and thorax. Although it is a safe and effective treatment, the radiation dose of iodine-125 brachytherapy for DT-embedded organs at risk must be investigated further.

Research progress on wide-field multimodal image of peripheral retinal degeneration / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Peripheral retinal degeneration is a typical lesion in ophthalmic clinical practice. Each type of degeneration affects distinct retinal layers and may lead to sight-threatening complications. Due to its specific location, where current ophthalmic imaging technologies have difficulties observing, the pathogenesis remains unclear despite previous works. This review outlines the characteristics of peripheral retinal degeneration by different wide-field imaging technologies, including ultra-wide field fundus imaging, wide field spectral domain optical coherence tomography, optical coherence tomography angiography and fundus fluorescein angiography, as well as new perspectives on their pathogenesis or pathological characteristics so as to provide new ideas for clinical diagnosis and management. Due to the small size of sample and the lack of prospective and long-term observation of multimodal imaging, it is still impossible to comprehensively evaluate the progression and risk of different types of degeneration. Therefore, it is expected that wide-field multimodal imaging technology will be more widely applied to study the mechanism of peripheral retinal degeneration and guide the clinical practice options.

Application of the theory of equal emphasis on muscle and bone in percutaneous vertebroplasty of lumbar osteoporotic compression fracture / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the clinical efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty(PVP) combined with nerve block in the treatment of lumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures under the guidance of traditional chinese medicine "theory of equal emphasis on muscle and bone".@*METHODS@#Total of 115 patients with lumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty from January 2015 to March 2022, including 51 males and 64 females, aged 25 to 86 (60.5±15.9) years. Among them, 48 cases were treated with PVP operation combined with erector spinae block and joint block of the injured vertebral articular eminence (intervention group), and 67 cases were treated with conventional PVP operation (control group). The visual analogue scale(VAS) and Oswestry disability index(ODI) before operation, 3 days, 1 month and 6 months after operation between two groups were evaluated. The operation time, number of punctures and intraoperative bleeding between two groups were compared.@*RESULTS@#The VAS and ODI scores of both groups improved significantly after operation compared with those before operation(P<0.05). Moreover, the VAS and ODI scores of 3 days and 1 month after operation of the intervention group improved more significantly than that of the control group(P<0.05). The difference of VAS and ODI scores before operation and 6 months after operation between two groups had no statistical significances(P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the number of punctures and intraoperative bleeding between the two groups (P>0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Based on the theory of "equal emphasis on muscles and bones", PVP combined with nerve block can effectively relieve paravertebral soft tissue spasm and other "muscle injuries", which can significantly improve short-term postoperative low back pain and lumbar spine mobility compared to conventional PVP treatment, and accelerate postoperative recovery, resulting in satisfactory clinical outcomes.

Research progress in imaging features of pachychoroid spectrum diseases / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Pachychoroid spectrum diseases(PSD)have been defined as a group of diseases with similar choroidal features and pathological processes, such as central serous chorioretinopathy(CSC), polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy(PCV), etc. The main features are the changes in the thickness of vascular layers of the choroid and increasing vascular permeability. The development of modern ophthalmic imaging devices represented by optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)allowed intuitive investigation of the changes in the choroidal vascular layers, which gives a new insight into the pathogenesis of this spectrum diseases. This article summarizes the common clinical characteristics of healthy individuals and PSD and reviews the latest imaging findings. Whether each type of PSD is a phenotype of the same disease at different stages or other with similar characteristics was discussed from different perspectives, such as genetic background and anatomical structure, providing a reference for the study of pathogenesis, early clinical diagnosis, and prevention and treatment of this disease.

Virtual Screening and Testing of GSK-3 Inhibitors Using Human SH-SY5Y Cells Expressing Tau Folding Reporter and Mouse Hippocampal Primary Culture under Tau Cytotoxicity

Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) is an important serine/threonine kinase that implicates in multiple cellular processes and links with the neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this study, structure-based virtual screening was performed to search database for compounds targeting GSK-3β from Enamine’s screening collection. Of the top-ranked compounds, 7 primary hits underwent a luminescent kinase assay and a cell assay using human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells expressing Tau repeat domain (TauRD) with pro-aggregant mutation ΔK280. In the kinase assay for these 7 compounds, residual GSK-3β activities ranged from 36.1% to 90.0% were detected at the IC50 of SB-216763. In the cell assay, only compounds VB-030 and VB-037 reduced Tau aggregation in SH-SY5Y cells expressing ΔK280 TauRD-DsRed folding reporter. In SH-SY5Y cells expressing ΔK280 TauRD, neither VB-030 nor VB-037 increased expression of GSK-3α Ser21 or GSK-3β Ser9. Among extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT), mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (P38) and mitogenactivated protein kinase 8 (JNK) which modulate Tau phosphorylation, VB-037 attenuated active phosphorylation of P38 Thr180/ Tyr182, whereas VB-030 had no effect on the phosphorylation status of ERK, AKT, P38 or JNK. However, both VB-030 and VB-037 reduced endogenous Tau phosphorylation at Ser202, Thr231, Ser396 and Ser404 in neuronally differentiated SH-SY5Y expressing ΔK280 TauRD. In addition, VB-030 and VB-037 further improved neuronal survival and/or neurite length and branch in mouse hippocampal primary culture under Tau cytotoxicity. Overall, through inhibiting GSK-3β kinase activity and/or p-P38 (Thr180/Tyr182), both compounds may serve as promising candidates to reduce Tau aggregation/cytotoxicity for AD treatment.

Individualized red-cell transfusion strategy for non-cardiac surgery in adults: a randomized controlled trial / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Red-cell transfusion is critical for surgery during the peri-operative period; however, the transfusion threshold remains controversial mainly owing to the diversity among patients. The patient's medical status should be evaluated before making a transfusion decision. Herein, we developed an individualized transfusion strategy using the West-China-Liu's Score based on the physiology of oxygen delivery/consumption balance and designed an open-label, multicenter, randomized clinical trial to verify whether it reduced red cell requirement as compared with that associated with restrictive and liberal strategies safely and effectively, providing valid evidence for peri-operative transfusion.@*METHODS@#Patients aged >14 years undergoing elective non-cardiac surgery with estimated blood loss > 1000 mL or 20% blood volume and hemoglobin concentration <10 g/dL were randomly assigned to an individualized strategy, a restrictive strategy following China's guideline or a liberal strategy with a transfusion threshold of hemoglobin concentration <9.5 g/dL. We evaluated two primary outcomes: the proportion of patients who received red blood cells (superiority test) and a composite of in-hospital complications and all-cause mortality by day 30 (non-inferiority test).@*RESULTS@#We enrolled 1182 patients: 379, 419, and 384 received individualized, restrictive, and liberal strategies, respectively. Approximately 30.6% (116/379) of patients in the individualized strategy received a red-cell transfusion, less than 62.5% (262/419) in the restrictive strategy (absolute risk difference, 31.92%; 97.5% confidence interval [CI]: 24.42-39.42%; odds ratio, 3.78%; 97.5% CI: 2.70-5.30%; P <0.001), and 89.8% (345/384) in the liberal strategy (absolute risk difference, 59.24%; 97.5% CI: 52.91-65.57%; odds ratio, 20.06; 97.5% CI: 12.74-31.57; P <0.001). No statistically significant differences were found in the composite of in-hospital complications and mortality by day 30 among the three strategies.@*CONCLUSION@#The individualized red-cell transfusion strategy using the West-China-Liu's Score reduced red-cell transfusion without increasing in-hospital complications and mortality by day 30 when compared with restrictive and liberal strategies in elective non-cardiac surgeries.@*TRIAL REGISTRATION@#ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01597232.

The role of bronchoscopy in slide tracheoplasty in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To study the role of bronchoscopy in slide tracheoplasty.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was conducted on the diagnosis and treatment of four children with tracheal stenosis admitted to Hunan Provincial People's Hospital from 2017 to 2020. The role of bronchoscopy was summarized in the preoperative evaluation, intraoperative positioning and measurement, and postoperative wound evaluation and treatment during slide tracheoplasty.@*RESULTS@#Bronchoscopy evaluation before slide tracheoplasty showed that 3 of the 4 children had complete trachea rings, 2 had pulmonary artery sling, and 2 had multiple stenosis. Slide tracheoplasty was performed in the hospital on 3 children, and the midpoint of the stenosis segment was judged under bronchoscopy, and the length of the stenosis segment was measured, which assisted in the resection of the stenosis segment of the trachea. The pathogens were identified by lavage after the surgery. One child who developed scar traction 9 months after slide tracheoplasty in another hospital was improved by interventional treatment under bronchoscopy. Mucosal changes were found under bronchoscopy in 2 children 4 days after surgery, and the treatment plan was adjusted. One month after surgery, 2 children had granulation hyperplasia, which was improved by cryotherapy under bronchoscopy. One child abandoned treatment due to anastomotic necrosis and died. Three survivors were followed up for over 6 months with good prognosis, but all had tracheobronchial malacia.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Bronchoscopy can be used for the management of slide tracheoplasty in children with tracheal stenosis, which is helpful to postoperative rehabilitation and follow-up.

Regulation of CD100 to monocytes cytotoxicity in patients with non-small cell lung cancer / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective:To analyze the effect of CD100 to monocyte cytotoxicity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.Methods:Thirty-five NSCLC patients and thirteen healthy controls were included from Zhengzhou Central Hospital between March 2018 and September 2018. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) (both tumor site and non-tumor site) was collected from NSCLC patients, while PBMC was collected from healthy controls. Monocytes were purified from PBMC and BALF. Membrane-bound CD100 (mCD100) and CD72 expression on monocytes was measured by flow cytometry. Monocytes from NSCLC patients were stimulated with recombinant human CD100, anti-CD72, matrix metalloproteinase 14(MMP14), or anti-CD100, and were co-cultured with NCI-H1882 cells for 48 h. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), granzyme A, granzyme B level in the supernatants, CD16 expression on monocytes, and percentage of target cell death was assessed. Student t test or paired t test was used for comparison. Results:There were no significant differences of peripheral CD14 + mCD100 + percentage, CD14 + CD72 + percentage, CD100 mean fluorescence intensity (MFI), CD72 MFI between NSCLC patients and healthy controls ( P>0.05). CD14 + mCD100 + percentage, CD14 + CD72 + percentage, CD100 MFI, CD72 MFI was remarkably elevated in tumor site compared with in non-tumor site in NSCLC patients ( P<0.05). There was no remarkable difference of peripheral monocytes-induced NCI-H1882 cell death between NSCLC group and control group [(13.95±3.16)% vs (13.22±2.40)%, P=0.451]. Lung-resident monocytes-induced NCI-H1882 cell death was reduced in tumor site when compared with non-tumor site [(11.61±2.81)% vs (14.19±3.57)%, P=0.008 7]. TNF-α, IL-1β, granzyme A, granzyme B level was also decreased in the supernatants of monocytes from tumor site compared with non-tumor site in NSCLC patients( P<0.05). However, there was no statistical difference of CD16 level between two groups( P=0.666). Recombinant human CD100 stimulation promoted NCI-H1882 cell death induced by monocytes from tumor site when compared with unstimulated cells ( P<0.000 1). TNF-α, IL-1β, granzyme A, granzyme B level was also increased ( P<0.05). However, Monocytes, which were pretreated with anti-CD72, induced decreased NCI-H1882 cell death and TNF-α, IL-1β, granzyme A, granzyme B secretion in response to recombinant human CD100 stimulation ( P<0.05). Recombinant human MMP14 stimulation decreased CD14 + mCD100 + percentage and increased soluble CD100 (sCD100) level. NCI-H1882 cell death and TNF-α, IL-1β, granzyme A, granzyme B level was elevated when compared with unstimulated cells ( P<0.05). Anti-CD100 administration decreased sCD100 level. NCI-H1882 cell death and TNF-α, IL-1β, granzyme A, granzyme B level was elevated when compared with MMP14 stimulated cells ( P<0.05). Conclusions:CD100 shedding was insufficient in tumor infiltrating monocytes in NSCLC patients, leading to decreased cytotoxicity. MMP14 might elevate cytotoxicity of tumor infiltrating monocytes via promoting CD100 shedding and sCD100 formation.

Discovery of 4-arylthiophene-3-carboxylic acid as inhibitor of ANO1 and its effect as analgesic agent

Anoctamin 1 (ANO1) is a kind of calcium-activated chloride channel involved in nerve depolarization. ANO1 inhibitors display significant analgesic activity by the local peripheral and intrathecal administration. In this study, several thiophenecarboxylic acid and benzoic acid derivatives were identified as novel ANO1 inhibitors through the shape-based virtual screening, among which the 4-arylthiophene-3-carboxylic acid analogues with the best ANO1 inhibitory activity were designed, synthesized and compound

[Herbalogical study on olibanum(Ruxiang)].

As a representative foreign medicinal material, olibanum(Ruxiang) was imported to China since the Qin and Han Dynasties. Olibanum was first described as a medicinal by the name "Xunluxiang" in Miscellaneous Records of Famous Physicians(Ming Yi Bie Lu). This study investigated historical records on olibanum and conducted the herbalogical study. It was found that olibanum came from the resin mainly obtained from the bark of Pistacia lenticus before the Tang Dynasty. With the prosperity of the Maritime Silk Road, instead, the resin obtained from the bark of Boswellia carterii was mainly used as olibanum. In ancient time, the oleo-gum-resin secreted from the cut bark was collected in spring and summer, and the quality was judged based on transparency and shape. The processing methods of olibanum went through many evolutions, which changed from simple methods such as grinding and frying to complex methods such as levigating and grinding with wine, and now to frying and processing with vinegar. The usage of olibanum included alchemy, folk and religious incense, bathing, cosmetic and medicinal since ancient times. From the Song Dynasty, olibanum had been mainly used as medicinal because of its good effect to treat wounds. In traditional Chinese medicine, olibanum unblocks menstruation, relieves pain and reduces swelling and generated muscles. The medicinal efficacy of olibanum is not much different from ancient to modern. Only the efficacy of replenishing energy and promoting the movement of Qi was rarely mentioned in modern reference. In this article, the historical evolutions of olibanum about original plants, processing and medicinal efficacy were sorted out. The results could provide historical basis for the further development and clinical utilization of olibanum.

Sub-millimeter variation in human locus coeruleus is associated with dimensional measures of psychopathology: An in vivo ultra-high field 7-Tesla MRI study.

The locus coeruleus (LC) has a long-established role in the attentional and arousal response to threat, and in the emergence of pathological anxiety in pre-clinical models. However, human evidence of links between LC function and pathological anxiety has been restricted by limitations in discerning LC with current neuroimaging techniques. We combined ultra-high field 7-Tesla and 0.4 × 0.4 × 0.5 mm quantitative MR imaging with a computational LC localization and segmentation algorithm to delineate the LC in 29 human subjects including subjects with and without an anxiety or stress-related disorder. Our automated, data-driven LC segmentation algorithm provided LC delineations that corresponded well with postmortem anatomic definitions of the LC. There was variation of LC size in healthy subjects (125.7 +/- 59.3 mm3), which recapitulates histological reports. Patients with an anxiety or stress-related disorder had larger LC compared to controls (Cohen's d = 1.08, p = 0.024). Larger LC was additionally associated with poorer attentional and inhibitory control and higher anxious arousal (FDR-corrected p's<0.025), trans-diagnostically across the full sample. This study combined high-resolution and quantitative MR with a mixture of supervised and unsupervised computational techniques to provide robust, sub-millimeter measurements of the LC in vivo, which were additionally related to common psychopathology. This work has wide-reaching applications for a range of neurological and psychiatric disorders characterized by expected LC dysfunction.

Retrospective Clinical Analysis on Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 with Traditional Chinese Medicine Lianhua Qingwen / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To analyze the clinical effect of traditional Chinese medicine Lianhua Qingwen in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and provide the basis for medication guides through a retrospective study in a cohort of COVID-19 confirmed patients. Method:A retrospective analysis of clinical records was conducted in COVID-19 confirmed patients at The Ninth Hospital of Wuhan and CR&WISCO General Hospital including the treatment group (21 patients, basic treatment in combination with Lianhua Qingwen granules, 1 packet/time, 3 times/day) and the control group (21 patients, basic treatment). Comparison between the two groups was made in terms of the disappearance rates of cardinal symptoms (fever, cough and weakness), duration of fever, and disappearance rates of other symptoms (muscle pain, expectoration, nasal obstruction, running nose, dry throat, pharyngalgia, shortness of breath, chest distress, dyspnea, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and diarrhea). Result:The baseline data were similar between the two groups. When compared with the control group, patients in the treatment group had the higher clinical effect, including the disappearance rate of fever (85.7% vs 57.1%, χ2=4.200, P=0.040), the disappearance rate of cough (46.7% vs 5.6%, P=0.012), the disappearance rate expectoration (64.3% vs 9.1%, P=0.012), the disappearance rate of shortness of breath (77.8% vs 0, P=0.021), and the duration of fever [(4.6±3.2) d vs (6.1±3.1) d, P=0.218]. Conclusion:Lianhua Qingwen can significantly relieve cardinal symptoms in COVID-19 confirmed patients by inhibiting fever and cough, reducing their duration, as well as improving individual symptoms. All these results provide preliminary clinical evidence for Lianhua Qingwen granules in the COVID-19 treatment.

Detection of respiratory pathogens and clinical features in 225 children with acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the respiratory pathogens and clinical features in children with acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma.@*METHODS@#Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 225 children with acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma, aged <14 years, who attended the outpatient service or were hospitalized from August 2017 to August 2019. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect 12 pathogens, i.e., respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human rhinovirus (HRV), influenza virus A (IFVA), influenza virus B (IFVB), parainfluenza virus types 1-3 (PIV1-3), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), adenovirus (ADV), Bordetella pertussis (BP), Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP), and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP).@*RESULTS@#The overall detection rate of virus was 46.2% (104/225), and 7 kinds of viruses were detected, i.e., HRV (19.6%, 44/225), ADV (16.0%, 36/225), IFVB (5.8%, 13/225), RSV (4.9%, 11/225), IFVA (3.6%, 8/225), PIV3 (1.8%, 4/225), and HMPV (0.4%, 1/225). Of all pathogens, BP had the highest detection rate of 28.4% (64/225), and the detection rates of MP and CP were 16.4% (37/225) and 0.4% (1/225), respectively. The mild exacerbation group had a higher detection rate of BP than the severe exacerbation group (P<0.05), while the severe exacerbation group had significantly higher detection rates of RSV and MP than the mild exacerbation group (P<0.05). There were significant differences in the proportion of children with paroxysmal cough, spasmodic cough, fever, lung rales and abnormal lung imaging findings among the simple BP infection, simple virus infection and simple MP infection groups (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#BP, HRV, and MP are common respiratory pathogens detected in children with acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma, and respiratory virus infection is an important pathogen of acute exacerbation of asthma in children. Acute exacerbation of asthma caused by different pathogens has different clinical features and severities.

Herbalogical study on original plant and medicinal and edible values of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus / 中国中药杂志

Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus is a both medicinal and edible species specified by the China Ministry of Health, with a long history in China. According to the ancient monographs about materia medica, it was found that the records of the Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus on the original plants were confused. This paper reviewed the ancient monographs about materia medica, and made a summarization and textual research on the name, origin, habitat, processing methods, medicinal properties and clinicacy efficacy of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus based the comprehensive analysis on modern literatures and authoritative books of Chinese herbal medicine. The results indicated that there were many bynames of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus. Before the Yuan Dynasty, there was a mixed use of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus and Citri Fructus, which were not distinguished from each other in terms of nature and taste until the Yuan dynasty. Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus was a varietas of Citri Fructus. The main shape of the original plant of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus is "like a human hand with fingers" as recorded in ancient monographs about materia medica. The main places of origin of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus were Guangdong, Zhejiang, Fujian, Sichuan, which were relatively stable. There were fewer records about medicinal proces-sing methods of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus. Only steaming and baking methods were found in ancient monographs about materia medica, and the steaming method could reduce the irritability of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus. The processing of therapeutic dietary of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus was widely used in folk, which was represented by Chaozhou Laoxianghuang, a traditional succade made of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus. According to the 2015 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus had effects in soothing liver and regulating gas, relieving pain in the stomach, eliminating dampness and resolving phlegm, which was basically consistent with the descriptions in ancient monographs about materia medica. This paper defined the original plant of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus, and sorted out and summarized the processing methods, nature and taste of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus, so as to provide data support for the standardization of the processing technology and the development and utilization of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus.

Historical evolution of Coicis Semen processing methods / 中国中药杂志

Coicis Semen is widely used as a raw material which can be used as both medicine and food among people. According to the ancient monographs on materia medica and relevant documents on the processing specifications in various provinces and cities, herba logical study on the historical evolution of the processing methods of Coicis Semen was conducted in this paper from the aspects of collecting and processing methods of Coicis Semen, the processing methods in the past dynasties and the nature, flavour and efficacy of Coicis Semen. The results showed that the processing methods of Coicis Semen recorded in monographs on materia medica mainly included stir-frying, glutinous rice stir-frying, salt processing(including salt cooking and salt stir-frying), stir-frying with the earth scraped from the wall facing east, and ginger juice stir-frying, etc. Among them, stir-frying, and stir-frying with the earth scraped from the wall facing east are still used nowadays. The bran stir-frying is the improved version of glutinous rice stir-frying in order to be adaptive to the modern-day situation and the needs of the present. In addition, the ancient shell removal and kernel keeping method are also included in the processing procedures in modern local processing specifications, which are combined with frying to form a new method named "Fazhi" processing( "Fazhi" means a processing method of multiple procedures). The 2015 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia records that Coicis Semen is helpful to clear dampness and promote diuresis, strengthen the spleen and prevent diarrhea, eliminate impediment, discharge pus, resolve toxin and a mass, etc., which are consistent with those contained in ancient monographs on materia medica. After the "Fazhi" processing, the cold nature of Coicis Semen has been removed and its nature,flavour and meridian tropism have been changed, so its application scopes expanded. The results of this study clearly traced the history of the collecting and proces-sing of Coicis Semen, summarized the nature, flavour and efficacy of Coicis Semen contained in both ancient and modern literature, and provided a historical basis for the standardization of the subsequent processing technology of Coicis Semen, the clinical application of various processed products, and the further development and utilization of medicinal materials.

Herbalogical study on olibanum(Ruxiang) / 中国中药杂志

As a representative foreign medicinal material, olibanum(Ruxiang) was imported to China since the Qin and Han Dynasties. Olibanum was first described as a medicinal by the name "Xunluxiang" in Miscellaneous Records of Famous Physicians(Ming Yi Bie Lu). This study investigated historical records on olibanum and conducted the herbalogical study. It was found that olibanum came from the resin mainly obtained from the bark of Pistacia lenticus before the Tang Dynasty. With the prosperity of the Maritime Silk Road, instead, the resin obtained from the bark of Boswellia carterii was mainly used as olibanum. In ancient time, the oleo-gum-resin secreted from the cut bark was collected in spring and summer, and the quality was judged based on transparency and shape. The processing methods of olibanum went through many evolutions, which changed from simple methods such as grinding and frying to complex methods such as levigating and grinding with wine, and now to frying and processing with vinegar. The usage of olibanum included alchemy, folk and religious incense, bathing, cosmetic and medicinal since ancient times. From the Song Dynasty, olibanum had been mainly used as medicinal because of its good effect to treat wounds. In traditional Chinese medicine, olibanum unblocks menstruation, relieves pain and reduces swelling and generated muscles. The medicinal efficacy of olibanum is not much different from ancient to modern. Only the efficacy of replenishing energy and promoting the movement of Qi was rarely mentioned in modern reference. In this article, the historical evolutions of olibanum about original plants, processing and medicinal efficacy were sorted out. The results could provide historical basis for the further development and clinical utilization of olibanum.

Ferroptosis was involved in the oleic acid-induced acute lung injury in mice / 生理学报

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of ferroptosis in acute lung injury (ALI) mouse model induced by oleic acid (OA). ALI was induced in the mice via the lateral tail vein injection of pure OA. The histopathological score of lung, lung wet-dry weight ratio and the protein content of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were used as the evaluation indexes of ALI. Iron concentration, glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the lung tissues were measured using corresponding assay kits. The ultrastructure of pulmonary cells was observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM), and the expression level of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) mRNA was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR). Protein expression levels of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), ferritin and transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) in lung tissues were determined by Western blot. The results showed that histopathological scores of lung tissues, lung wet-dry weight ratio and protein in BALF in the OA group were higher than those of the control group. In the OA group, the mitochondria of pulmonary cells were shrunken, and the mitochondrial membrane was ruptured. The expression level of PTGS2 mRNA in the OA group was seven folds over that in the control group. Iron overload, GSH depletion and accumulation of MDA were observed in the OA group. Compared with the control group, the protein expression levels of GPX4 and ferritin in lung tissue were down-regulated in the OA group. These results suggest that ferroptosis plays a potential role in the pathogenesis of ALI in our mouse model, which may provide new insights for development of new drugs for ALI.