Mechanisms and Efficacy of Chinese Herbal Medicines in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common diseases in elderly men, the incidence of which gradually increases with age and leads to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) are widely used for the treatment of BPH in China and some other countries. To explore the molecular mechanisms of CHMs for BPH, we conducted a review based on peer-reviewed English-language publications in PubMed and Web of Science databases from inception to December 31, 2023. This article primarily reviewed 32 papers on the use of CHMs and its active compounds in the treatment of BPH, covering animal and cell experiments, and identified relevant mechanisms of action. The results suggest that the mechanisms of action of CHMs in treating BPH may involve the regulation of sex hormones, downregulation of cell growth factors, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects, inhibition of cell proliferation, and promotion of apoptosis. CHMs also exhibit α-blocker-like effects, with the potential to relax urethral smooth muscle and alleviate LUTS. Additionally, we also reviewed 4 clinical trials and meta-analyses of CHMs for the treatment of BPH patients, which provided initial evidence of the safety and effectiveness of CHMs treatment. CHMs treatment for BPH shows advantages as a multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway therapy, which can mitigate the severity of the disease, improve LUTS, and may become a reliable treatment option in the future.

Identification and Functional Analysis of Odorant Binding Proteins in Apriona germari (Hope).

Apriona germari (Hope) presents a significant threat as a dangerous wood-boring pest, inflicting substantial harm to forest trees. Investigating the olfactory sensory system of A. germari holds substantial theoretical promise for developing eco-friendly control strategies. To date, however, the olfactory perception mechanism in A. germari remains largely unknown. Therefore, we performed transcriptome sequencing of A. germari across four distinct body parts: antennae, foreleg tarsal segments, mouthparts (maxillary and labial palps), and abdomen terminals, pinpointing the odorant binding protein (OBP) genes and analyzing their expression. We found eight AgerOBPs (5, 19, 23, 25, 29, 59, 63, 70) highly expressed in the antennae. In our competitive binding experiments, AgerOBP23 showed strong binding abilities to the pheromone component fuscumol acetate, eight plant volatiles (farnesol, cis-3-hexenal, nerolidol, myristol acetate, cis-3-hexenyl benzoate, (-)-α-cedrene, 3-ethylacetophenone, and decane), and four insecticides (chlorpyrifos, phoxim, indoxacarb, and cypermethrin). However, AgerOBP29 and AgerOBP63 did not show prominent binding activities to these tested chemicals. Through homology modeling and molecular docking, we identified the key amino acid sites involved in the binding process of AgerOBP23 to these ligands, which shed light on the molecular interactions underlying its binding specificity. Our study suggests that AgerOBP23 may serve as a potential target for future investigations of AgerOBP ligand binding. This approach is consistent with the reverse chemical ecology principle, establishing the groundwork for future studies focusing on attractant or repellent development by exploring further the molecular interactions between OBP and various compounds.

PANX1-mediated ATP release confers FAM3A's suppression effects on hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is an important signal molecule. In previous studies, intensive research had revealed the crucial roles of family with sequence similarity 3 member A (FAM3A) in controlling hepatic glucolipid metabolism, islet ß cell function, adipocyte differentiation, blood pressure, and other biological and pathophysiological processes. Although mitochondrial protein FAM3A plays crucial roles in the regulation of glucolipid metabolism via stimulating ATP release to activate P2 receptor pathways, its mechanism in promoting ATP release in hepatocytes remains unrevealed. METHODS: db/db, high-fat diet (HFD)-fed, and global pannexin 1 (PANX1) knockout mice, as well as liver sections of individuals, were used in this study. Adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses were utilized for in vivo gene overexpression or inhibition. To evaluate the metabolic status in mice, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), pyruvate tolerance test (PTT), insulin tolerance test (ITT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were conducted. Protein-protein interactions were determined by coimmunoprecipitation with mass spectrometry (MS) assays. RESULTS: In livers of individuals and mice with steatosis, the expression of ATP-permeable channel PANX1 was increased (P < 0.01). Hepatic PANX1 overexpression ameliorated the dysregulated glucolipid metabolism in obese mice. Mice with hepatic PANX1 knockdown or global PANX1 knockout exhibited disturbed glucolipid metabolism. Restoration of hepatic PANX1 rescued the metabolic disorders of PANX1-deficient mice (P < 0.05). Mechanistically, ATP release is mediated by the PANX1-activated protein kinase B-forkhead box protein O1 (Akt-FOXO1) pathway to inhibit gluconeogenesis via P2Y receptors in hepatocytes. PANX1-mediated ATP release also activated calmodulin (CaM) (P < 0.01), which interacted with c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) to inhibit its activity, thereby deactivating the transcription factor activator protein-1 (AP1) and repressing fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression and lipid synthesis (P < 0.05). FAM3A stimulated the expression of PANX1 via heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) in hepatocytes (P < 0.05). Notably, FAM3A overexpression failed to promote ATP release, inhibit the expression of gluconeogenic and lipogenic genes, and suppress gluconeogenesis and lipid deposition in PANX1-deficient hepatocytes and livers. CONCLUSIONS: PANX1-mediated release of ATP plays a crucial role in maintaining hepatic glucolipid homeostasis, and it confers FAM3A's suppressive effects on hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis.

Creation of memory-memory entanglement in a metropolitan quantum network.

Towards realizing the future quantum internet1,2, a pivotal milestone entails the transition from two-node proof-of-principle experiments conducted in laboratories to comprehensive multi-node set-ups on large scales. Here we report the creation of memory-memory entanglement in a multi-node quantum network over a metropolitan area. We use three independent memory nodes, each of which is equipped with an atomic ensemble quantum memory3 that has telecom conversion, together with a photonic server where detection of a single photon heralds the success of entanglement generation. The memory nodes are maximally separated apart for 12.5 kilometres. We actively stabilize the phase variance owing to fibre links and control lasers. We demonstrate concurrent entanglement generation between any two memory nodes. The memory lifetime is longer than the round-trip communication time. Our work provides a metropolitan-scale testbed for the evaluation and exploration of multi-node quantum network protocols and starts a stage of quantum internet research.

Biotransformation and disposition characteristics of HSK7653, a novel long-acting dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

AIM: To investigate the metabolism and disposition characteristics of HSK7653 in healthy male Chinese participants. METHODS: A single oral dose of 80 µCi (25 mg) [14C]HSK7653 capsules was administered to six healthy participants, and blood, plasma, urine and faeces were collected. Quantitative and qualitative analysis was conducted to investigate the pharmacokinetics, blood-to-plasma ratio, mass balance and metabolism of HSK7653. RESULTS: The drug was well absorbed and reached a maximum concentration at 1.25 h. The drug-related components (HSK7653 and its metabolites) were eliminated slowly, with a half-life (t1/2) of 111 h. Unchanged HSK7653 contributed to more than 97% of the total radioactivity in all plasma samples. The blood-to-plasma ratio (0.573-0.845) indicated that HSK7653 did not tend to distribute into blood cells. At 504 h postdose, up to 95.9% of the dose was excreted, including 79.8% in urine and 16.1% in faeces. Most of the radioactivity (75.5% dose) in excreta was unchanged HSK7653. In addition, nine metabolites were detected in urine and faeces. The most abundant metabolite was M6-2, a dioxidation product of HSK7653, which accounted for 4.73% and 2.63% of the dose in urine and faeces, respectively. The main metabolic pathways of HSK7653 in vivo included oxidation, pyrrole ring opening and sulphonamide hydrolysation. CONCLUSION: HSK7653 was well absorbed, slightly metabolized and slowly excreted in humans. The high plasma exposure and long t1/2 of HSK7653 may contribute to its long-lasting efficacy as a long-acting dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor.

Correlation of serum and local CXCL13 levels with disease severity in patients with non-traumatic osteonecrosis of femoral head.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of the present study was to explore the potential correlation of serum / local CXCL13 expressions and disease severity in non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (NT-ONFH). METHODS: In total, NT-ONFH patients (n = 130) together with healthy controls (HCs, n = 130) were included in this investigation. Radiographic progression was evaluated based on the imaging criteria outlined in the ARCO classification system. To assess the diagnostic value of serum CXCL13 in relation to radiographic progression, Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted. Serum CXCL13 levels were quantified utilizing ELISA in all participants. Furthermore, local protein/mRNA expressions of CXCL13 were examined employing immunohistochemistry, western blot, as well as RT-PCR techniques. Clinical severity was appraised using the visual analogue scale (VAS), Harris Hip Score (HHS), and Western Ontario as well as McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). RESULTS: The findings revealed a significant reduction in serum CXCL13 levels among NT-ONFH patients in contrast with HCs. Moreover, both mRNA and protein expressions of CXCL13 were markedly decreased in the necrotic area (NA) than the non-necrotic area (NNA) as well as the healthy femoral head tissues. Additionally, serum CXCL13 levels were substantially lower among patients classified as ARCO stage 4 than those at ARCO stage 3. The concentrations of CXCL13 in stage 3 patients were notably diminished relative to those at ARCO stage 2. Notably, serum CXCL13 levels demonstrated a negative association with ARCO grade. Furthermore, these levels were also inversely linked to VAS scores as well as WOMAC scores while displaying a positive association with HHS scores. The findings of ROC curve suggested that reduced serum CXCL13 levels could be an underlying indicator for ARCO stage. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced levels of either serum CXCL13 or local CXCL13 were intricately linked to disease severity for patients with NT-ONFH.

Constructing polynomial libraries for reservoir computing in nonlinear dynamical system forecasting.

Reservoir computing is an effective model for learning and predicting nonlinear and chaotic dynamical systems; however, there remains a challenge in achieving a more dependable evolution for such systems. Based on the foundation of Koopman operator theory, considering the effectiveness of the sparse identification of nonlinear dynamics algorithm to construct candidate nonlinear libraries in the application of nonlinear data, an alternative reservoir computing method is proposed, which creates the linear Hilbert space of the nonlinear system by including nonlinear terms in the optimization process of reservoir computing, allowing for the application of linear optimization. We introduce an implementation that incorporates a polynomial transformation of arbitrary order when fitting the readout matrix. Constructing polynomial libraries with reservoir-state vectors as elements enhances the nonlinear representation of reservoir states and more easily captures the complexity of nonlinear systems. The Lorenz-63 system, the Lorenz-96 system, and the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation are used to validate the effectiveness of constructing polynomial libraries for reservoir states in the field of state-evolution prediction of nonlinear and chaotic dynamical systems. This study not only promotes the theoretical study of reservoir computing, but also provides a theoretical and practical method for the prediction of nonlinear and chaotic dynamical system evolution.

Generic and accurate prediction of retention times in liquid chromatography by post-projection calibration.

Retention time predictions from molecule structures in liquid chromatography (LC) are increasingly used in MS-based targeted and untargeted analyses, providing supplementary evidence for molecule annotation and reducing experimental measurements. Nevertheless, different LC setups (e.g., differences in gradient, column, and/or mobile phase) give rise to many prediction models that can only accurately predict retention times for a specific chromatographic method (CM). Here, a generic and accurate method is present to predict retention times across different CMs, by introducing the concept of post-projection calibration. This concept builds on the direct projections of retention times between different CMs and uses 35 external calibrants to eliminate the impact of LC setups on projection accuracy. Results showed that post-projection calibration consistently achieved a median projection error below 3.2% of the elution time. The ranking results of putative candidates reached similar levels among different CMs. This work opens up broad possibilities for coordinating retention times between different laboratories and developing extensive retention databases.

Breast ultrasound image despeckling using multi-filtering DFrFT and adaptive fast BM3D.

Improving the quality of breast ultrasound images is of great significance for clinical diagnosis which can greatly boost the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography. However, due to the influence of ultrasound imaging principles and acquisition equipment, the collected ultrasound images naturally contain a large amount of speckle noise, which leads to a decrease in image quality and affects clinical diagnosis. To overcome this problem, we propose an improved denoising algorithm combining multi-filter DFrFT (Discrete Fractional Fourier Transform) and the adaptive fast BM3D (Block Matching and 3D collaborative filtering) method. Firstly, we provide the multi-filtering DFrFT method for preprocessing the original breast ultrasound image so as to remove some speckle noise early in fractional transformation domain. Based on the fractional frequency spectrum characteristics of breast ultrasound images, three types of filters are designed correspondingly in low, medium, and high frequency domains. And by integrating filtered images, the enhanced images are obtained which not only remove some speckle noise in background but also preserve the details of breast lesions. Secondly, for further enhancing the image quality on the basis of multi-filter DFrFT, we propose the adaptive fast BM3D method by introducing the DBSCAN-based super pixel segmentation to block matching process, which utilizes super pixel segmentation labels to provide a reference on how similar it is between target block and retrieval blocks. It reduces the number of blocks to be retrieved and make the matched blocks with more similar features. At last, the local noise parameter estimation is also adopted in the hard threshold filtering process of traditional BM3D algorithm to achieve local adaptive filtering and further improving the denoising effect. The synthetic data and real breast ultrasound data examples show that this combined method can improve the speckle suppression level and keep the fidelity of structure effectively without increasing time cost.

A strategy for the preparation of super-hydrophilic molybdenum disulfide composites applied to remove uranium from wastewater.

Due to the radioactivity of uranium, the discharged nuclear wastewater not only causes certain damage to the ecology, but also causes certain harm to human life and health. Adsorption is considered to be one of the most effective ways to remove uranium. In this paper, a kind of MoS2 adsorbent was prepared by the solid phase synthesis method and functionalized with NiCo-LDH. The raw materials of MoS2 are cheap and easy to obtain, and the preparation conditions are simple, and large quantities can be obtained without limitations. MoS2 functionalized with NiCo-LDH provides more adsorption sites for the adsorbent and at the same time improves the hydrophilicity of the adsorbent, so that the active sites can fully combine with uranyl ions. The maximum adsorption capacity of the Langmuir isothermal adsorption model is 492.83 mg g-1. The selective adsorption capacity of uranium can reach 76.12% in the multi-ion coexistence system. By analyzing the adsorption mechanism with FT-IR and XRD, it is believed that on the one hand, UO22+ forms a covalent bond with Mo in MoS2 and coordinates with S on the surface of MoS2. On the other hand, UO22+ enters the NiCo-LDH layer for ion exchange with NO3- and coordinates with -OH on the surface of NiCo-LDH. The successful preparation of the MoS2/NiCo-LDH composite provides a certain application prospect for the uranium adsorption field.

Ursolic acid alleviates chronic prostatitis via regulating NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated Caspase-1/GSDMD pyroptosis pathway.

Ursolic acid (UA) is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid widely found in fruits and vegetables. It has been reported that UA has anti-inflammatory effects. However, its efficacy and mechanism of action in the treatment of chronic prostatitis (CP) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of UA treatment in CP and further explore the underlying mechanism. CP rat and pyroptosis cell models were established in vivo and in vitro, respectively. The efficacy of UA in inhibiting CP was evaluated via haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and measurement of inflammatory cytokines. RNA sequencing and molecular docking were used to predict the therapeutic targets of UA in CP. The expression of pyroptosis-related proteins was examined using various techniques, including immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry. UA significantly ameliorated pathological damage and reduced the levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the CP model rats. RNA sequencing analysis and molecular docking suggested that NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD may be key targets. We also found that UA decreased ROS levels, alleviated oxidative stress, and inhibited p-NF-κB protein expression both in vivo and in vitro. UA improved pyroptosis morphology as indicated by electron microscope and inhibited the expression of the pyroptosis-related proteins NLRP3, Caspase-1, ASC, and GSDMD, reversed the levels of IL-1ß, IL-18, and lactate dehydrogenase in vivo and in vitro. UA can mitigate CP by regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway. Therefore, UA may be a potential for the treatment of CP.

Circulating lung cancer biomarkers: From translational research to clinical practice.

Fundamental studies on biomarkers as well as developed assays for their detection can provide valuable information facilitating clinical decisions. For patients with lung cancer, there are established circulating biomarkers such as serum progastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and cytokeratin-19 fragment (CYFRA21-1). There are also molecular biomarkers for targeted therapy such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene, KRAS gene, and BRAF gene. However, there is still an unmet need for biomarkers that can be used for early detection and predict treatment response and survival. In this review, we describe the lung cancer biomarkers that are currently being used in clinical practice. We also discuss emerging preclinical and clinical studies on new biomarkers such as omics-based biomarkers for their potential clinical use to detect, predict, or monitor subtypes of lung cancer. Additionally, between-method differences in tumor markers warrant further development and improvement of the standardization and harmonization for each assay.

Strategies and methods for dynamic parking management under the conditions of ensuring both hospi-tal operation and campus expansions / 现代医院

In the aftermath of the pandemic,the government is accelerating the development of top-tier medical resources to broaden the supply and deliver superior healthcare services.However,during this transitional phase,hospitals are experiencing operational challenges due to concurrent construction activities.Notably,a shortage of parking facilities and increased traffic con-gestion continue to impactmedial consultation experience of patients.This paper tries to explore strategies and methods for dynam-ic parking management during hospital campus expansions,offering insights for other medical institutions into grappling with pa-tient parking issues.

Textual Analysis of Classic Formulas Yinchenhao Tang Based on Ancient and Modern Literature / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Yinchenhao Tang has definite clinical efficacy. It has been inherited and documented since the ancestor of Shanghanlun in the Eastern Han dynasty and is a classical formulas for clearing away heat， promoting diuresis， and eliminating jaundice adopted by medical experts of successive generations. It has been included in the Catalogue of Ancient Classical Formulas （the Second Batch of Han Medicine） published by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM） in 2023. By means of bibliometrics， 801 pieces of ancient literature data related to Yinchenhao Tang were collected， and 36 pieces of effective data were selected， involving 36 ancient books of TCM. The origin， name， composition， efficacy， formula and meaning analysis， drug origin， dosage， preparation method and usage， indications， and modern clinical application of Yinchenhao Tang were analyzed. It was suggested that the modern dosage and application of Yinchenhao Tang should be as follows： The 82.8 g of Artemisiae Scopariae Herba， 12.6 g of Gardeniae Fructus， and 27.2 g of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma. The formulas was prepared by firstly adding 2 400 mL of water into Artemisiae Scopariae Herba and boiling it to about 1 200 mL， then adding Gardeniae Fructus and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma to boil it for 600 mL， and removing the residue. It could be orally taken for 200 mL each time in warm conditions， three times a day. Yinchenhao Tang has the effect of clearing away heat， promoting diuresis， and eliminating jaundice， and it mainly treats symptoms of hygropyretic jaundice. In the formulas， Yinchenhao Tang is the monarch drug， which is mainly to remove dampness and jaundice. Gardeniae Fructus is the ministerial drug， which is mainly responsible for clearing the triple energizer and facilitating urination. Rhei Radix et Rhizoma is an adjuvant， mainly responsible for clearing away heat and eliminating jaundice. The modern application of this formulas involves the hepatobiliary system， skin system， endocrine system， digestive system， etc.， and it has more advantages in treating jaundice， icteric hepatitis， and hepatitis B. In this study， the ancient literature related to Yinchenhao Tang was sorted out to determine its key information， so as to provide a scientific reference for clinical application of classic formulas and new drug development.

Analysis of the pre-metabolic disease state based on the theory of "overflow of Wu Qi" / 国际中医中药杂志

The pre-metabolic disease state is the body state of substance metabolism disorder that has not yet reached the physical and chemical indicators of the disease, and abnormal glucose metabolism is often the key link of metabolic disorder. In TCM, the healthy function of the spleen is the cornerstone of the production and distribution of fine substances. This article discussed the pre-metabolic disease state based on the theory of "overflow of Five Qi" in the Nei Jing, taking the loss of spleen preparedness as the starting point, in order to provide new ideas and directions for the prevention and treatment of clinical metabolic diseases.

Efficacy of simple aspiration combined with PTH rapid measurement on non-functional parathyroid cysts / 中华内分泌外科杂志

Currently, the main treatments for nonfunctional parathyroid cysts (NFPC) are fluid aspiration,sclerosing injection and surgical removal. The choice of treatment method is controversial. Eight patients with NFPC who were treated by simple aspiration combined with parathyroid hormone (PTH) rapid determination in General Surgery Department of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from Dec. 2020 to Oct. 2022 are reported to provide a reference for the choice of treatment, which can also reduce surgical pain and accidental sclerosing injury.

Effects of recombinant human collagen supplementation on extracellular matrix remodeling in mouse skeletal muscle after eccentric exercise / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Collagen is the most abundant extracellular matrix component,which is closely related to the structure and function of the extracellular matrix of skeletal muscle,but the effect and mechanism of recombinant human collagen(rhC)produced by bioengineering technology on the extracellular matrix of skeletal muscle are unclear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of rhC supplementation on the remodeling of skeletal muscle extracellular matrix after eccentric exercise,thereby revealing the possible mechanism by which rhC improves the injury of skeletal muscle extracellular matrix and promote the recovery after exercise. METHODS:A total of 104 healthy male C57 mice aged 8 weeks old were randomly divided into control group(normal saline),low-dose rhC group(0.2 g/kg),medium-dose rhC group(1.0 g/kg),and high-dose rhC group(2.0 g/kg).Two mice in each group were selected after continuous 7 days of intragastric intervention,and organs were dissected for hematoxylin-eosin staining to determine inflammatory infiltrates.On the 8th day,the remaining mice were subjected to eccentric exercise.The structural changes of the skeletal muscle extracellular matrix were observed under scanning electron microscopy immediately(0),24,48,and 96 hours after eccentric exercise.Meanwhile,grip strength,creatine kinase activity,and protein levels of matrix metalloproteinases 2,9,14 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 in skeletal muscle were detected by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Hematoxylin-eosin staining results indicated that short-term rhC supplementation showed no significant effects on the morphology of the heart,liver,spleen and kidney.After one-time eccentric exercise,the recovery rate of grip strength in the medium-and high-dose rhC groups was significantly increased(P＜0.01).The trend of creatine kinase changes was consistent in all groups and there was no significant difference between groups.The recovery process of the extracellular matrix in the low-dose rhC group was faster than that in the control group,and the muscle tract membrane in the medium-and high-dose rhC groups was more complete.The protein level of matrix metalloproteinase 9 in the high-dose rhC group was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The protein levels of matrix metalloproteinase 14 in the medium-and high-dose rhC groups were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The protein levels of matrix metalloproteinase 2 in the medium-and high-dose rhC groups were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 protein levels in the medium-and high-dose rhC groups were significantly increased(P＜0.05).The ratio of matrix metalloproteinase 2 to tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 in each rhC group was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).To conclude,pre-supplementation of 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg rhC for 7 days can inhibit extracellular matrix degradation in skeletal muscle after exercise by modulating matrix metalloproteinases and matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors,thereby promoting recovery of skeletal muscle strength in mice.

Analysis of amino acid and protein components of commercial swim-bladders / 中成药

AIM To study the amino acids and proteins in 16 batches of commercial fish swim-bladders with different origins.METHODS A high performance liquid chromatography method based on pre-column derivatization using 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate(AQC)was developed for the determination of contents and components of 17 amino acids in fish swim-bladders.Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE)was performed to analyze the molecular weight distribution of proteins from different fish swim-bladders,and proteins in fish swim-bladders were identified by proteomics method.RESULTS The result showed that the determination of 17 amino acids had a good linear relationship(R2≥0.998 0).The average recovery rate was 85.62%-109.60%and the relative standard deviations of precision,stability and repeatability were less than 3.5%.The total content of the 17 amino acids in 16 batches of fish swim-bladders ranged from 468.31 mg/g to 620.05 mg/g.A total of 688 proteins including 11 collagens were identified from 16 batches of fish swim-bladder samples and a plenty of low-abundance proteins at 52-95 kDa were also detected in fish swim-bladders by SDS-PAGE.CONCLUSION This study provides a good reference for the quality evaluation and further utilization of fish swim-bladders.

HBV serological characteristics between NRR samples and OBI samples of from blood donors in Hefei / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To analyze the correlation of HBV serological characteristics between non-reproducible reactivity (NRR) samples and occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) samples for blood screening. 【Methods】 A total of 144 samples with negative ELISA (HBV, HCV and HIV test) results and reactive nucleic acid tests(NAT) were collected from January 2021 to January 2023 in Anhui Blood Center, including 92 reactive samples by TMA method (combined ID-NAT) and 52 HBV DNA reactive samples by PCR method (ID-NAT). Supplementary differential testing and ID-NAT by PCR were performed on the reactive samples of the combined ID-NAT, samples that were non-reactive by both differential testing and ID-NAT by PCR were included in the NRR group, and samples that were reactive for HBV DNA detected by either method were included in the OBI group. Supplemented with HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe and anti-HBc tests, the differences in serological pattern and positive rate between NRR samples and OBI samples were analyzed. 【Results】 A total of 53 samples were negative for differential testing and ID-NAT and were included in the NRR group, 91 samples were detected as HBV DNA reactive in either method and were included in the OBI group. HBsAg and HBeAg were not detected by serological testing in either group. The detection rates of anti-HBs, anti-HBc and anti-HBe in the NRR group and the OBI group were 64.15% vs 47.25%, 86.79% vs 94.51%, 35.85% vs 52.75%, respectively. Comparison of serological patterns between the two groups: the most frequent pattern in the NRR group was anti-HBs (+ ) and anti-HBc (+ ) (32.08%), and the most frequent pattern in the OBI group was anti-HBe (+ ) and anti-HBc (+ ) (37.36%). 【Conclusion】 There were differences in some of the test results between the NRR samples and the OBI samples in HBV serological testing, and higher anti-HBc positive rate in the NRR samples suggests a higher possibility of HBV infection.