Blapsimidazolium A: A new imidazolium carboxylate derivative with anti-inflammatory activity from medicinal insect Blaps rynchopetera.

Blaps rynchopetera Fairmaire is a medicinal insect of Yi-nationality medicine used for a long time in Yunnan, China. In the present study, a new blapsimidazolium A (1), together with twelve known N-containing compounds (2-13), were isolated from this insect. The structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses (1D and 2D NMR, HR-MS) and comparisons with the reported literature. Blapsimidazolium A was identified as racemic mixture by optical rotation and chiral analysis. Blapsimidazolium A (1) has a unique architecture containing an imidazolium carboxylate moiety. The results of molecular docking showed that blapsimidazolium A bound well to IL-1ß, IL-6 and iNOS. The racemates of (±)-blapsimidazolium A (1) exerted anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells by significantly decreasing the production of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6 and iNOS. This is the first report describing the anti-inflammatory activity of this type imidazolium carboxylate derivative.

Using Service Design Tools in Community Nutrition Research: A Case Study in Developing Dietary Guidelines for Young Adults / 대한지역사회영양학회지

Objectives@#Recent epidemiological data reported that young adults in their 20 ~ 30s are a vulnerable population with unhealthy dietary practices and a few signs of deteriorated health indicators. However, there are no dietary guidelines that are specifically developed for the young adult population. This study introduces some data collection tools that are mostly used in the service design field, and demonstrates how these tools can be used in nutrition research for developing dietary guidelines for specific target groups. @*Methods@#To understand the context of food choices among young people, 39 people were enrolled to complete a probes booklet. Thematic analysis and word cloud were performed to capture the main themes from the probes and a persona was developed based on the findings. @*Results@#Data from the probes enabled us to grasp the various contextual meanings of eating practices among young people. Most participants understand what a healthy diet is and often have a willingness to practice it. However, there were very few participants who were following the practices. We created four types of persona for developing dietary guidelines: healthy eating, emotional eating, convenient eating, and trendy eating. @*Conclusions@#Probes and persona were used in order to understand the lives of young adults and develop targeted messages. We hope that this introduction will be helpful to researchers who are looking for new ways of understanding their target population in the field of community nutrition.

Four new polyynes from Codonopsis pilosula collected in Yunnan province, China.

Choushenpilosulynes D-G (1-4): four new polyynes were isolated from the roots of Codonopsis pilosula (Campanulaceae) cultivated in Yunnan province, China. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods. Bioactive evaluation showed that choushenpilosulynes E (2) and F (3) demonstrated potent inhibitory effect on lipid formation induced by 100 µM oleic acid stimulation. In addition, choushenpilosulyne F (3) uncovered inhibitory activity against the expression of human 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) and squalene monooxygenase (SQLE) gene transcript in HepG2 cells.

[Correlation study on Tibetan medicine Pterocephalus hookeri of bitter taste receptors based on molecular docking technology].

In order to study the interaction between Pterocephalus hookeri and bitter taste receptors,three-dimensional structural models of bitter taste receptors TAS2 R16,TAS2 R14 and TAS2 R13 were established by homology modeling in this paper. Maestro software was used for docking the chemical constituents of P. hookeri with bitter taste receptors. The results showed that 25 chemical components of P. hookeri can regulate three bitter taste receptors. And these components were mainly iridoid glycosides and phenolic acids.This research focused on the comprehensive application of homology modeling and molecular docking technology to explore the interaction between bitter chemical constituents of P. hookeri and bitter taste receptors. This study provided assistance in revealing pharmacodynamic basis of bitter Tibetan medicine at molecular level. It also provided new ideas and methods for the study of Tibetan medicine.

[Investigation on intestinal absorption ingredients and their absorption characteristics in Pterocephali Herba by everted intestinal sac method].

The intestinal absorption characteristics of ten iridoid glycosides and phenolic acids in the Pterocephali Herba were evaluated via rat intestinal valgus model. The intestinal sac fluids at different time after administration of high,medium and low concentrations of Pterocephali Herba extract were collected and ten chemical components in fluid samples were detected by UPLC-PDA. Accumulative absorbed doses( Q) and absorption rate constants( Ka) of ten chemical constituents were calculated,while proportions between Pterocephali Herba extract and intestinal absorption liquid were compared. The results showed that the intestinal absorption of 10 chemical components was linear absorption( R2>0. 9) at different concentrations,which accorded with the zero-order absorption rate. The absorption rate constant was related to the concentration of the drug and the intestinal site,which indicated that intestinal adsorption mechanism of the components were passive diffusion and active transport. Proportions of chemical constituents in intestinal sac fluid were different from those in Pterocephali Herba extract. Therefore,those ten chemical components in Pterocephali Herba extract can be absorbed in whole intestine. Everted intestinal sac model can be used to evaluate intestinal absorption characteristics of ingredients in Pterocephali Herba extract effectively.

[Correlation between flavonoids contents in Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. inensis leaf and ecological factors, and ecological suitability analysis of H. rhamnoides subsp. sinensis].

The study aims at providing a new suitable way to promote artificial cultivation, solving the problem of resources increasingly endangered wild medicine, and protecting the wild resources of Tibetan medicine. The content of quercetin,kaempferol and isorhamnetin was determined by HPLC. The correlation between flavonoids components and ecological factors was analyzed using partial least-squares regression (PLSR). Based on Maxent model combining using ArcGIS software, suitable regionalization for H.rhamnoides subsp. sinensis was studied.The results showed that the difference of quercetin,kaempferol and isorhamnetin content in samples from different regions were obvious. The main factors effecting quercetin content accumulation were the altitude andthe average monthly precipitation in January and August. The main factors effecting kaempferol accumulation were the altitude andthe average monthly precipitation in the coldest quarter and December. The main factors effecting isorhamnetin accumulation were the average monthly precipitation in August, January and the coldest quarter.The regional distribution suitability index for H.rhamnoides subsp. sinensis was 0-0.708. The suitable area 590 500 km², accounting for 6.13% of the total area. The preferably suitable area was 552 500 km², accounting for 5.73% of the total area.The methods used in the study is simple and feasible, the result is reliable which provide a new approach for Tibetan medicine resources sustainable exploitation and utilization.

[Potential distribution of the traditional Tibetan herb Pterocephalus hookeri by Maxent model].

In order to study the ecology suitability of Pterocephalus hookeri, and provide a reference for GAP planting location and regional development, the Maxent model and GIS technology were used to investigate ecology suitability regions for P. hookeri based on the distribution points collected from Chinese virtual herbarium, the references and field trips. The potential distribution areas mainly concentrated in the eastern Tibet, western Sichuan, southern Qinghai, northwest Yunnan, and southern Gansu. There were 7 major environmental factors to have obvious influence on ecology suitability distributions of P. hookeri, including altitude (contribution rate of 62%), precipitation of warmest quarter (contribution rate of 14.4%), coefficient of variation of precipitation seasonality (contribution rate of 7.2%), mean temperature of driest quarter (contribution rate of 3.5%), the electrical conductivity of top and sub-soil (contribution rate of 3%), the total exchangeable bases in the top- and subsoil (contribution rate of 2.4%) and SD of temperature seasonality (contribution rate of 2.2%). The study of the ecological suitability regionalization of P. hookeri based on Maxent model can provide scientific basis for the selection of artificial planting base and GAP planting location.

[Resource investigation about Tibetan medicine Rhodiola kirilowii].

The investigation aims to better understand the resource status of Rhodiola kirilowii, analysis the suitable habitat of wild Rh. kirilowii and protect the wild resources of Rh. Kirilowii, promoting the sustainable utilization of Rh. kirilowii resources. In this paper, we investigated the wild resources of Rh. kirilowii in 16 counties of Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan by means of investigation and sampling investigation combined with interview. The results showed that the population densities of wild Rh. kirilowii in 4 provinces were very different and the reserve of wild resources decreased gradually in many areas. According to the survey results, the current total reserve of Rh. kirilowii in four provinces was about 1 100 t. The reserve of wild Rh. kirilowii in Sichuan province was the largest. Simultaneously, the Rh. kirilowii had a certain ecological value. We found that a sand control base with planting Rh. kirilowii was set up in Hongyuan County of Sichuan Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. The investigation provides a scientific basis for the development and sustainable utilization of Rh. kirilowii resources.

[Endangered situation and conservation strategy of Tibetan medicine in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau].

With the rapid development of Tibetan medicine industry, the study on plateau medicinal plants' endangered status is not enough, measures to protect is weak and the plateau ecological environment' inherent vulnerability, resulted in the shortage of Tibetan medicinal resources and affect the sustainable development . According to the existing endangered information of Tibetan medicine resources, how to formulate feasible protection plan, is an urgent problem of the rational development and utilization of Tibetan medicine resources to be solved. To find out the endangered Tibetan medicines in Qinghai Tibet Plateau, the Grade division method of Chinese Rare and Endangered Plants was applied, the endangered species were sorted out, which divided into class one (threatened) eleven species, class two (rare) twenty-one species, and class three (fading) forty-two species,a total of seventy-four species.In addition to national protection list in "Chinese rare and endangered plants". It's proposed to increase the endangered Tibetan medicinal species. Finally, according to the endangered status of the resources,from the survey of endangered Tibetan medicinal species regularly, the germplasm repository establishment of endangered Tibetan medicine, in situ conservation, artificial cultivation research and renew the idea, reasonable development and utilization, a total of 5 aspects to discussed the protection strategy, to provide a scientific basis for the protection and sustainable utilization of Tibetan medicine resources in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Treatment of postoperative infectious complications in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotics are widely given for surgical patients to prevent infection. Because of the lack of study on the rational use of antibiotics in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) -infected during surgical procedures, we analyzed the risk factors affecting postoperative infectious complications in HlV-infected patients and explore the rational use of perioperative antibiotics. METHODS: This retrospective study consisted of 308 HlV-infected patients, 272 males and 36 females, who had undergone operation at the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center from November 2008 to April 2012. The patients were divided into postoperative infection and non-infection groups. Their age and clinical variables were compared. The correlation between surgical incision, surgical site infection (SSI) and postoperative sepsis was analyzed. Prophylactic antibiotics were used for patients with type I and II incisions for less than 2 days. Patients with type III incisions were given antibiotics until the infection was controlled. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) was prescribed preoperatively for patients whose preoperative CD4 count was <350 cells/µL. For those patients whose preoperative CD4 count was <200 cells/µL, sulfamethoxazole and fluconazole were given preoperatively as prophylactic agents controlling Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and fungal infection. RESULTS: A total of 196 patients developed postoperative infectious complications, and 7 patients died. Preoperative CD4 counts, ratio of CD4/CD8 cells, hemoglobin level, and postoperative CD4 counts, hemoglobin and albumin levels were risk factors of perioperative infection in HIV-infected patients. Patients with a preoperative CD4 count <200 cell/µL, anemia, a postoperative CD4 count <200 cell/µL or albumin levels <35 g/L were correlated with a higher rate of perioperative infection. There was a significant correlation between SSI and the type of surgical incision. The rate of SSI in patients with type I surgical incision was 2% and in those with type II surgical incision was 38%. All the patients who received type III surgical incision developed SSI, and they were more likely to develop postoperative sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-infected patients are more likely to develop postoperative infectious complications. The rational use of antibiotics in HIV-infected patients could help to reduce the rate of postoperative infectious complications in these patients.

Preoperative CD4 count or CD4/CD8 ratio as a useful indicator for postoperative sepsis in HIV-infected patients undergoing abdominal operations.

BACKGROUND: CD4 count or CD4/CD8 ratio has been found to be a valuable marker of disease progression in HIV and AIDS. Our objective was to evaluate preoperative CD4 count or CD4/CD8 ratio as a useful indicator for postoperative sepsis in HIV-infected patients undergoing abdominal operations. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 35 HIV-infected patients (four females, 31 males) undergoing abdominal operations. All patients were divided into postoperative sepsis group (A) and non-sepsis group (B). Demographic and clinical information were entered into a database and included: type of surgical procedure, age, peripheral blood cells, plasma albumin, CD4 counts, and CD4/CD8 ratios. Furthermore, we stratified and compared the incidence of postoperative sepsis according to the preoperative CD4 counts with breakpoint value of 200 cells/µL and preoperative CD4/CD8 ratios with breakpoint value of 0.15. RESULTS: Overall postoperative sepsis morbidity in our study was 51.43% (18/35). In sepsis group, the mean preoperative and postoperative CD4 counts, CD4/CD8 ratios, and postoperative platelet count were found significantly lower, respectively, than those in non-sepsis group (P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative sepsis in the patients with preoperative CD4 counts ≤ 200 cells/µL was markedly higher than those with CD4 counts > 200 cells/µL (83.3% versus 17.65%; P = 0.000). Likewise, the incidence of postoperative sepsis in the patients with preoperative CD4/CD8 ratios ≤ 0.15 was dramatically higher than those with CD4/CD8 ratios > 0.15 (90% versus 36%; P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary study showed that HIV-infected patients with preoperative CD4 count ≤ 200 cells/µL or CD4/CD8 ratio ≤ 0.15 had overall higher postoperative sepsis morbidity. Preoperative CD4 count or CD4/CD8 ratio may be used as a useful indicator for postoperative sepsis in HIV-infected patients undergoing abdominal operations.

Dietary patterns based on carbohydrate nutrition are associated with the risk for diabetes and dyslipidemia

Several studies have been conducted on dietary patterns based on carbohydrate nutrition in Asian populations. We examined the cross-sectional associations in dietary patterns based on carbohydrate nutrition, including the glycemic index (GI) with dyslipidemia and diabetes among the Korean adult population. We analyzed 9,725 subjects (3,795 men and 5,930 women, > or = 20 years) from the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Dietary information was collected using single 24-hour recall. Reduced rank regression was used to derive dietary patterns from 22 food groups as predictor variables and four dietary factors related to the quantity and quality of carbohydrates as response variables. Two dietary patterns were identified: 1) the balanced pattern was characterized by high intake of various kinds of foods including white rice, and 2) the rice-oriented pattern was characterized by a high intake of white rice but low intake of vegetables, fruits, meat, and dairy products. Both patterns had considerable amounts of total carbohydrate, but GI values differed. The rice-oriented pattern was positively associated with hypertriglyceridemia in men and low high density lipoprotein-cholesterol in both men and women. The balanced pattern had no overall significant association with the prevalence of dyslipidemia or diabetes, however, men with energy intake above the median showed a reduced prevalence of diabetes across quintiles of balanced pattern scores. The results show that dietary patterns based on carbohydrate nutrition are associated with prevalence of dyslipidemia and diabetes in the Korean adult population.

New Around-the-clock Radiology Coverage System for the Emergency Department: A Satisfaction Survey among Clinicians

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the clinician satisfaction of a newly introduced around-the-clock radiology coverage system for the emergency department. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen emergency physicians (8 board certified physicians, 9 residents) were invited to fill out a survey pertaining to the newly introduced radiology coverage system for the emergency department. The questionnaire included 10 questions covering three major topics. The first topic related to the around-the-clock radiology coverage by two full-time radiology residents. The second topic focused on the preliminary interpretations of radiology residents. The last topic included the interpretation assistance system by board-certified radiologists. The answers to each question were assessed using a scoring system of 1 to 5. RESULTS: The mean satisfaction score of the around-the-clock radiology coverage system by the two full-time radiology residents was 4.6 (range 3-5). The mean score for the preliminary interpretation system by the radiology residents was 4.8 (range 4-5). The score for the reliability of the preliminary versus the final interpretations was 4.1 (range 4-5). Lastly, the mean score for the interpretation assistance system by board-certified radiologists was 4.9 (range 4-5). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate a high satisfaction rating among clinicians' of the new around-the-clock radiology coverage system for the emergency department.

A Case of Limb Reduction Defect after Chorionic Villus Sampling at 9 Gestational Weeks / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Since it has been proposed that chorionic villus sampling could be an etiology of limb reduction defect, the relation between limb defect and chorionic villus sampling remains controversial. We experienced a case of limb reduction defect after chorionic villus sampling at 9 gestational weeks and report the case with brief review of literature.