Data independent acquisition reveals in-depth serum proteome changes in uremic pruritus.

Introduction: Uremic pruritus (UP) is a prevalent symptom in patients suffering from uremia, yet its underlying etiology and mechanisms remain incompletely elucidated. Given the significant incidence of UP, identifying specific alterations in proteins present in the blood of UP patients could offer insights into the potential biological pathways associated with UP and facilitate the exploration of biomarkers. Methods: In this study, we employed LC-MS/MS-based data-independent acquisition (DIA) mode to analyze serum samples obtained from 54 UP patients categorized as DKD-UP, HN-UP, and GN-UP (n = 18 for each subgroup), along with 18 uremic patients without pruritus (Negative) and 18 CKD patients without pruritus (CKD). Through DIA mode analysis, a total of 7075 peptides and 959 proteins were quantified. Within these, we identified four upregulated and 13 downregulated Differentially Expressed Proteins (DEPs) in DKD-UP versus Negative, five upregulated and 22 downregulated DEPs in HN-UP versus Negative, and three upregulated and 23 downregulated DEPs in GN-UP versus Negative. Furthermore, we conducted an intersection analysis of the DEPs across these three comparison groups to derive a set of common DEPs (COMP). Subsequently, a total of 67 common DEPs were identified in the three UP groups when compared to the CKD group, with 40 DEPs showing upregulation and 27 DEPs displaying downregulation. Results: Following Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) analyses, we observed that the DEPs distinguishing UP from CKD were primarily associated with mitochondrial function (MT-CYB, PRDX2, TOMM22), inflammation (CD59, CSF1), renal injury (WFDC2), and neural function (CAP1, VGF). Discussion: Our findings contribute to a potential molecular comprehension of UP pathogenesis, shedding light on the identification of these DEPs as plausible biomarkers for UP.

Study on accumulation law of peimine in different Fritillaria thunbergii cultivar / 中国中药杂志

In order to study the accumulation of Fritillaria thunbergii cultivar, peimine content in Xiaye, Kuanye, Duozi and Xiaosanzi bulbs of different sizes and parts was determined by HPLC-ELSE. The results indicated that the peimine content varied significantly with the cultivar type, the size and part of bulb. The distribution laws of peimine were as follow: Xiaosanzi > Duozi > Xiaye > Kuanye, small-size bulb > big-size bulb, core bud > scale. The peimine yield per plant in Duozi was the highest.

Effects of exogenous nitric oxide on physiology of seed germination and seedling growth of Silybum marianum under NaCl stress / 中草药

Objective: To investigate the effects of exogenous nitric oxide (NO) on the physiology of the seed germination and seedling growth of Silybum marianum under NaCl stress. Methods: The seeds of S. marianum were treated by sodium nitro prusside (SNP) at the concentration of 0.05-0.60 mmol/L under 0.7% NaCl stress. Some physiological indexes were measured, such as germination energy, germination rate, germination index, and vigor index of the seeds, and contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), photosynthetic pigment, osmosis substances, and the activities of the protective enzymes in leaves. Results: The seed germination and seedling growth of S. marianum were obviously inhibited under NaCl stress. Soaking seeds with 0.05-0.60 mmol/L SNP could alleviate the damage of NaCl stress. Under this treatment, the contents of photosynthetic pigment (including chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotinoid) and osmosis substances (including soluble sugar, soluble protein, and proline), and the activities of protective enzymes (including SOD, POD, and CAT) in the leaves were significantly increased, while the MDA content in the leaves was decreased. Conclusion: Soaking seeds with 0.05-0.60 mmol/L SNP could promote the salt resistance of the seeds and seedlings of S. marianum. The different cultivars of S. marianum differ in the sensitivity to SNP. The optimal concentration of SNP for the seed soaking of S. marianum with white and black skins is 0.10 and 0.40 mmol/L, respectively.

Karyotype and pollen morphology of main Fritillaria thunbergii cultivars / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the differences in pollen morphology and karyotype among main Fritillari thunbergii cultivars.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Pollen morphologies of three F. thunbergii cultivars were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the chromosome numbers and karyotypes were studied by applying traditional squash technique.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The pollen shape of F. thunbergii (Xiaye) was ovoid, while those of the other F. thunbergii (Kuanye, Duozi) were oblong. There were significant differences in mesh ridge width, mesh size among three F. thunbergii cultivars. The karyotype formula ofthree cultivars were as follows: F. thunbergii (Xiaye) was 2n =2x =3m +1sm + 8st(2SAT) + 12t(4SAT), F. thunbergii (Kuanye) was 2n = 2x =2m + 2sm + 10st(2SAT) + 10t (2SAT), F. thunbergii (Duozi) was 2n =2x = 24 =2m +2sm +5st(2SAT) +15t(4SAT). The three cultivars of karyotype belonged to 3B; There were the heterozygosity of homologous chromosome in both F. thunbergii (Xiaye) and F. thunbergii (Duozi).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The genetic diversity of F. thunbergii is very rich, which could enhance the adaptability, and lay the foundations for new variety selection of F. thunbergii.</p>

Dissolution determination of Shuanghuanglian capsules by HPLC analysis assisted with principal component analysis / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a quality analysis method based on self-reference principal for dissolution determination of Shuanghuanglian capsules.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Dissolution of Shuanghuanglian capsules was determined by principal component analysis consociated HPLC method.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The liner of regression equation was good. The average recovery rates of quality assurance samples (QA) and quality control samples (QC) were all no less than 96. 0%. Dissolution curves of Shuanghuanlian capsules of different manufacturers and different batches of the same manufacturer had obvious disparity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method can better evaluate the dissolution conditions of Shuanghuanglian capsules. The prospect of the method is expected for assessing the dissolution of other oral solid dosage of traditional Chinese medicines.</p>

The ability of self-face recognition and its relation to the empathy in patients with schizophrenia / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To explore the self-face recognition and its relationship to empathy in patients with schizophrenia.Methods Sixty-two schizophrenic patients and fifty -four healthy subjects were assessed with the self-face recognition task (SFRT) and the interpersonal reactivity index-C (IRI-C).Results The SFRT reaction time in the patients group( (2188 ± 1138) ms) was significantly longer than that in the control group( ( 1152 ± 326) ms) (P ＜ 0.01 ) ;the accuracy in the patients group ( (80 ± 16) ％ ) was significantly lower than that in the control group ( (88 ± 6) ％ ) (P ＜ 0.01 ).The IRI-C total scores,the subscores in perspective taking,the subscores in fantasy and empathic concern of IRI-C were significantly lower in the patients group(respectively(44.82 ± 10.50),(8.98 ± 3.56),( 11.87 ± 4.38 ),( 14.73 ± 4.00) ) than those in the control group ( respectively (49.85 ± 10.28),( 10.78 ± 3.86),( 14.98 ± 6.12),( 17.39 ± 4.56) ) ; the subscore in personal distress of IRI-C in the patients group(9.37 ± 5.12) was significantly higher than those in the control group(6.52 ± 3.89) ( P＜ 0.01 ).There was significant positive correlation between the accuracy for self-face recognition in SFRT and the subscore in fantasy of IRI-C ( r =0.322,P ＜ 0.05 ),the reaction time of SFRT had significantly positive correlation with the subscore in personal distress.Conclusion Schizophren patients have general impairments of self-face recognition and empathic abilities,and the self-face recognition is related to the empathic abilities.

Emodin induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer cell LNCaP / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To elucidate effects and mechanisms of emodin in prostate cancer cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Viability of emodin-treated LNCaP cells and PC-3 cells was measured by MTT assay. Following emodin treatments, DNA fragmentation was assayed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Apoptosis rate and the expression of Fas and FasL were assayed by flow cytometric analysis. The mRNA expression levels of androgen receptor (AR), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), p53, p21, Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, -8, -9 and Fas were detected by RT-PCR, and the protein expression levels of AR, p53 and p21 were detected by Western blot analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In contrast to PC-3, emodin caused a marked increase in apoptosis and a decrease in cell proliferation in LNCaP cells. The expression of AR and PSA was decreased and the expression of p53 and p21 was increased as the emodin concentrations were increased. In the same time, emodin induced apoptosis of LNCaP cells through the upregulation of caspase-3 and -9, as well as the increase of Bax /Bcl-2 ratio. However, it did not involve modulation of Fas or caspase-8 protein expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In prostate cancer cell line, LNCaP, emodin inhibites the proliferation by AR and p53-p21 pathways, and induces apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway.</p>

Investigation of multi-composition in traditional Chinese medicine by module calculation / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a method for the determination of multi-composition in traditional Chinese medicine by module calculation.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>In view of the law of lambert-beer, the modulue of two compositions was converted on basis of peak area by HPLC.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The modulues of four groups were gotten and the effects of validation were well.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method was feasible and could be used within a certain range.</p>

Study of quality standards on Qianshan Huoxue plaster / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish the methods of identification and assay in Qianshan Huoxue Gao.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Using TLC to identify Sanchi, Dragon's Blood and using HPLC to determine the content of ginsenoside Rg1.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The linear range of ginsenoside Rg1 was from 0.153 9 to 1.026 microg. The average recovery was 97.4%, RSD was 2.1%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The methods are simple and have good reproducibility.</p>

Effects of 9-cis retinoic acid on human homeobox gene NKX3.1 expression in prostate cancer cell line LNCaP / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To study the regulatory effects of 9-cis retinoic acid (RA) on the expression of human homeobox gene NKX3.1 in prostate cancer cell line LNCaP.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Flow cytometry, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were performed to evaluate the effects of 9-cis RA on NKX3.1 expression and cell cycle of LNCaP cells. To identify a regulatory region within the NKX3.1 promoter contributing to the regulation induced by 9-cis RA, we have constructed an NKX3.1 promoter-reporter plasmid, pGL3-1040bp, and its 5'-deletion mutants, which were transfected into LNCaP cells with treatment of 9-cis RA in indicated concentrations.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>With the treatment of 9-cis RA, the NKX3.1 promoter activity was increased in reporter gene assay and NKX3.1 expression was enhanced at both mRNA and protein levels in LNCaP cells. We found that the region between -936 and -921 in the upstream of NKX3.1 gene involved the inducible regulation by 9-cis RA treatment. In flow cytometry, 9-cis RA treatment caused accumulation of cells in the G(1) phase of the cell cycle and a fewer cells pass through to G(2)/M.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our results demonstrated that 9-cis RA as a differentiating agent can arrest prostate cancer cells in G(1) phase and reduce cell mitosis, and upregulate the expression of human homeobox gene NKX3.1, which is thought to play an important role in prostate differentiation and to act as a tumor suppressor gene in the prostate.</p>

Studies on quality control of Xueyakang capsule / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish the quality control standard for Xueyakang capsule.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Radix Rehmanniae, Cacumen Platycladi, Folium Artemisiae Argyi, Folium Nelumbinis were identified by TLC, and the content of quercitrin was determined by HPLC.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The TLC sports developed was fairly clear, the HPLC method showed good repeatability, and the average recovery of quercitrin was 100.7% with RSD 2.0%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method is simple, accurate and can effectively control quality of Xueyakang capsule.</p>

Determination of 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-beta-D-glucoside in yangan oral liquid by HPLC / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish the determination method of 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-beta-D-glucoside in Yangan Oral Liquid.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-beta-D-glucoside was determined by HPLC on C18 column, in acetonitrile-water (14:86) solution as a mobile phase, detection wavelength as 320 nm.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>This method showed a good linear relationship. The average recovery was 99.05% and RSD was 1.31%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method was simple with styong specificity and good repriducibility and can be used for quality control for Yangan Oral Liquid.</p>