Efficacy of flexible ureterorenoscopy with holmium laser in the management of calyceal diverticular calculi.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of flexible ureteroscopy with holmium laser lithotripsy in the management of calyceal diverticular calculi. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 27 patients with calyceal diverticular calculi admitted to the Department of Urology of the Zigong First People's Hospital from May 2018 to May 2021. Intraoperatively, the diverticular neck was found in all 27 patients, but flexible ureterorenoscopy lithotripsy was not performed in 2 cases because of the slender diverticular neck, and the success rate of the operation was 92.6%. Of the 25 patients with successful lithotripsy, the mean operative time was 76.9 ± 35.5 (43-200) min. There were no serious intraoperative complications such as ureteral perforation, mucosal avulsion, or hemorrhage. Postoperative minor complications (Clavien classification I-II) occurred in 4 (16%) patients. The mean hospital stay was 4.4 ± 1.7 (3-12) days. The stone-free rate was 80% at the 1-month postoperative follow-up. After the second-stage treatment, the stone-free rate was 88%. In 22 cases with complete stone clearance, no stone recurrence was observed at 5.3 ± 2.6 (3-12) months follow-up. This retrospective study demonstrated that flexible ureterorenoscopy with holmium laser is a safe and effective choice for the treatment of calyceal diverticular calculi, because it utilizes the natural lumen of the human body and has the advantages of less trauma, fewer complications, and a higher stone-free rate.

Preparation and characterization of linolenic acid-chitosan micelle for doxorubicin oral delivery and its in situ intestinal absorption in rats / 药学学报

In this study, a novel oral drug delivery system based on linolenic acid-modified chitosan (CS-LA) micelle was developed to improve the oral bioavailability of doxorubicin (DOX), which was proven by its in vivo intestinal absorption in rats. The DOX-loaded CS-LA micelles (CS-LA@DOX) were prepared by the dialysis method. The synthesized micelle material was identified by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). A series of the micelle properties, including particle size distribution, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency (EE), drug loading (DL), micromorphology, polymorphy, and critical micelle concentration (CMC) were characterized or tested. The in vitro release of micelles was observed by the dialysis method, and the absorption-promoting effect of micelles was investigated by intestinal circulation experiments in rats. The animal welfare and experimental procedures were in accordance with the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Guilin Medical University. The results of 1H-NMR and FT-IR showed that CS and LA were covalently bound via an amide linkage. The DOX encapsulated in the micelle core was in an amorphous state. The as-prepared micelles in the transmission electron microscope (TEM) image showed regular spherical shapes and uniform sizes with a series of excellent characteristics including (119.2 ± 2.1) nm of mean particle size [polymer dispersity index (PDI), 0.190 ± 0.08], +12.1 mV of zeta potential, (70.23 ± 0.74) % of EE, (8.77 ± 0.02) % of DL and 51.75 μg·mL-1 of CMC. Compared with the reference, DOX hydrochloride, the proposed micelle drug delivery system showed an obvious sustained-release effect in vitro release; and enhanced drug absorption in the small intestine of rats.

Rare neonatal malignant primary orbital tumors: Three case reports.

BACKGROUND: Aggressive malignant primary orbital tumors are extremely rare in newborns. The current cases further clarify the clinical features of malignant primary orbital tumors in neonates. CASE SUMMARY: At the time of presentation at the Seventh Center of People's Liberation Army General (PLAG) Hospital, the children were 1-, 2- and 5-mo-old, respectively, and included 2 boys and 1 girl. All three cases had unilateral proptosis at birth, and underwent mass excision and histopathologic examination. A peripheral primary neuroectodermal tumor, an aggressive infantile fibromatosis and an embryonic rhabdomyosarcoma were diagnosed, respectively. The first case underwent routine chemotherapy following surgery but died within three months due to worsening condition as the tumor spread throughout the body. The other two children were treated by surgery, and at the follow-up visits 6 mo and 1 year after surgery, respectively, the wound was completed healed, and they had normal growth and development without radiotherapy or chemotherapy. A review of highly uncommon orbital tumors in newborns is also provided. CONCLUSION: Malignant primary tumors should be considered in the presence of unilateral proptosis in newborns.

Establishment of rat heart-kidney insomnia model consistent with traditional Chinese medicine syndrome and its serum metabolomics / 中国中药杂志

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and metabolomics were used to analyze and compare two animal models of heart-kidney insomnia, in order to explore a more ideal animal model and preliminarily explore the essence of heart-kidney insomnia. Based on the clinical symptoms and disease characteristics of heart-kidney insomnia, the animal model of heart-kidney insomnia was reproduced through intraperitoneal injection with p-chlorophenylalanine(PCPA) and multi-factor interaction. The animal model of disease-syndrome combination was evaluated by behavioral observation, ELISA and metabolomics. Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal group, PCPA group and compound model group(FH). The rats' behavior, body weight, adrenal index and spleen index were recorded. The levels of corticotropin releasing hormone(CRH) and adrenocorticotropin(ACTH) in serum were detected by ELISA, and the differential metabolites in serum were detected by UPLC-QE-MS. The body weight and adrenal index in FH group were significantly lower than those in PCPA group(P<0.05); whereas ACTH and CRH in FH group were significantly higher than those in PCPA group by ELISA; nine potential biomarkers were identified by serum sample statistics. There were four main metabolic pathways in cardiorenal insomnia: pentose phosphate metabolism, alanine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid metabolism, histidine metabolism, and taurine and subtaurine metabolism. PCPA and multi-factor interaction method can successfully replicate the insomnia model, but multi-factor modeling method is more similar to clinical traditional Chinese medicine syndrome. Animal behavior, ELISA and metabolomics were used to evaluate the rat model of cardiorenal insomnia from in vitro to in vivo, from macro to micro, and from individual to the whole.

Review of chemical constituents, pharmacological effects and clinical applications of Jiaotai Pills and predictive analysis of its quality marker(Q-marker) / 中国中药杂志

Jiaotai Pills is a traditional medical prescription to treat the incompatibility of heart and kidney. It has the distinctive functions of heart and kidney communication, sedation and hypnosis, anti-anxiety and depression, as well as the improvement of insulin resistance. However, this pill is broadly used to cure insomnia, anxiety, depression, and diabetes in the contemporary clinical trials. Based on the article, it illustrates the research progress of the chemical ingredients, pharmacological actions, and clinical applications of Jiaotai Pills. With respect to the "five principles" of Q-marker in Chinese medicine, the Q-marker of Jiaotai Pills is comprehensively predicted and analyzed, noting that berberine, epiberberine, coptisine chloride, palmatine chloride, berberine chloride, berberrubine chloride, ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, cinnamaldehyde, proanthocyanidin B2 can be treated as the Q-marker of Jiaotai Pills. In addition, these components of Q-marker have been selected as indicators to provide a significant reference for the quality control and surveillance research of Jiaotai Pills.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel tanshinone IIA derivatives for treating pain / 中国天然药物

Due to ineffectiveness and side effects of existing analgesics, chronic pain has become one of the most complex and difficult problems in the clinic. Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is an essential hydrolase in the endocannabinoid system and has been identified as a potential target for the treatment of pain. In the present study, we designed and synthesized twelve tanshinone IIA analogs and screened their activity against MAGL. Selected compounds were tested for analgesic activity in vivo, with the acetic acid writhing test model. Among the test compounds, compound III-3 (IC 120 nmol·L) showed significant activity against MAGL and ameliorated the clinical progression in the mouse pain model. Additionally, compound III-3, substitution with N-methyl-2-morpholinoacetamide, demonstrated improved solubility relative to tanshinone IIA.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel tanshinone IIA derivatives for treating pain / 中国天然药物

Due to ineffectiveness and side effects of existing analgesics, chronic pain has become one of the most complex and difficult problems in the clinic. Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is an essential hydrolase in the endocannabinoid system and has been identified as a potential target for the treatment of pain. In the present study, we designed and synthesized twelve tanshinone IIA analogs and screened their activity against MAGL. Selected compounds were tested for analgesic activity in vivo, with the acetic acid writhing test model. Among the test compounds, compound III-3 (IC 120 nmol·L) showed significant activity against MAGL and ameliorated the clinical progression in the mouse pain model. Additionally, compound III-3, substitution with N-methyl-2-morpholinoacetamide, demonstrated improved solubility relative to tanshinone IIA.