A Virtual Reality Platform for Context-Dependent Cognitive Research in Rodents / 神经科学通报·英文版

Animal survival necessitates adaptive behaviors in volatile environmental contexts. Virtual reality (VR) technology is instrumental to study the neural mechanisms underlying behaviors modulated by environmental context by simulating the real world with maximized control of contextual elements. Yet current VR tools for rodents have limited flexibility and performance (e.g., frame rate) for context-dependent cognitive research. Here, we describe a high-performance VR platform with which to study contextual behaviors immersed in editable virtual contexts. This platform was assembled from modular hardware and custom-written software with flexibility and upgradability. Using this platform, we trained mice to perform context-dependent cognitive tasks with rules ranging from discrimination to delayed-sample-to-match while recording from thousands of hippocampal place cells. By precise manipulations of context elements, we found that the context recognition was intact with partial context elements, but impaired by exchanges of context elements. Collectively, our work establishes a configurable VR platform with which to investigate context-dependent cognition with large-scale neural recording.

Screening of immune cell activators from Astragali Radix using a comprehensive two-dimensional NK-92MI cell membrane chromatography/C18 column/time-of-flight mass spectrometry system / 药物分析学报

Astragali Radix(AR)is a clinically used herbal medicine with multiple immunomodulatory activities that can strengthen the activity and cytotoxicity of natural killer(NK)cells.However,owing to the complexity of its composition,the specific active ingredients in AR that act on NK cells are not clear yet.Cell membrane chromatography(CMC)is mainly used to screen the active ingredients in a complex system of herbal medicines.In this study,a new comprehensive two-dimensional(2D)NK-92MI CMC/C18 column/time-of-flight mass spectrometry(TOFMS)system was established to screen for potential NK cell acti-vators.To obtain a higher column efficiency,3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane-modified silica was synthesized to prepare the NK-92MI CMC column.In total,nine components in AR were screened from this system,which could be washed out from the NK-92MI/CMC column after 10 min,and they showed good affinity for NK-92MI/CMC column.Two representative active compounds of AR,isoastragaloside Ⅰ and astragaloside Ⅳ,promoted the killing effect of NK cells on K562 cells in a dose-dependent manner.It can thus suggest that isoastragaloside Ⅰ and astragaloside Ⅳ are the main immunomodulatory compo-nents of AR.This comprehensive 2D NK-92MI CMC analytical system is a practical method for screening immune cell activators from other herbal medicines with immunomodulatory effects.

Total Saponin of Dioscorea collettii Attenuates MSU Crystal-Induced Inflammation by Inhibiting the Activation of the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

BACKGROUND: Rhizomes from Dioscorea collettii are extensively used in traditional medicine for the treatment of arthritic diseases, particularly gouty arthritis (GA). This study aims to investigate whether the total saponin of Dioscorea collettii (TSD) can attenuate monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced inflammatory effects by suppressing the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: Seventy-two male Wistar rats and THP-1 cells were used in this study. Pathological examination was used to examine the ankle joints of rats. The expression levels of TLR4, NF-κB, MyD88, and IL-1ß were detected by qRT-PCR, Western blotting, or immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Compared with those in the normal group, the ankle joints of rats in the model group exhibited significant swelling, synovial tissue hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration, and increased expression of IL-1ß protein. The joint swelling degree of rats in the TSD high- and medium-dose groups and the colchicine group was significantly decreased, and the histopathology was obviously improved. TSD and colchicine reduced the levels of IL-1ß and TNF-α in synovial fluid. They also decreased the mRNA expression of TLR4, NF-κB, and IL-1ß in rat joint synovial tissue and the protein expression of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB. NF-κB protein expression in both the cytoplasm and nuclei of THP-1 cells showed the opposite trend. Furthermore, immunofluorescence showed that TSD reduced the nuclear translocation of NF-κBp65 in the model group. CONCLUSION: TSD exhibits an anti-inflammatory effect in the MSU-induced inflammation model, and the mechanism may be to reduce the production of cytokines by inhibiting the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Resveratrol sensitizes A549 cells to irradiation damage via suppression of store-operated calcium entry with Orai1 and STIM1 downregulation.

Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol with multiple positive biofunctions and was found to have potential as a radiosensitizer with an intricate molecular mechanism. Store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) is a novel intracellular calcium regulatory pattern that is mainly mediated by iron channels, such as by the stromal interaction molecule (STIM) and calcium release-activated calcium channel protein (Orai) families. SOCE was recently reported to be suppressed via the downregulation of STIM or Orai families for the promotion of tumor cell death induced by resveratrol. In the present study, resveratrol combined with irradiation treatment were found to induce more evident cell damage compared with irradiation treatment alone, as shown with Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and mitochondrial membrane potential detection with rhodamine 123. Additionally, resveratrol combined with irradiation treatment decreased the expression of STIM1 and Orai1, while it had no effects on STIM2, Orai2 and Orai3. Moreover, resveratrol combined with irradiation treatment lead to alleviated thapsigargin-induced SOCE. In addition, overexpression of STIM1 and Orai1 reversed resveratrol-induced SOCE inhibition and reduced death in A549 cells under irradiation. In summary, the present results revealed that resveratrol can significantly enhance the effect of irradiation damage on lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells, and this effect may be mediated by suppression of SOCE with reduced expression of both STIM1 and Orai1.

Proteins moonlighting in tumor metabolism and epigenetics / 医学前沿

Cancer development is a complicated process controlled by the interplay of multiple signaling pathways and restrained by oxygen and nutrient accessibility in the tumor microenvironment. High plasticity in using diverse nutrients to adapt to metabolic stress is one of the hallmarks of cancer cells. To respond to nutrient stress and to meet the requirements for rapid cell proliferation, cancer cells reprogram metabolic pathways to take up more glucose and coordinate the production of energy and intermediates for biosynthesis. Such actions involve gene expression and activity regulation by the moonlighting function of oncoproteins and metabolic enzymes. The signal - moonlighting protein - metabolism axis facilitates the adaptation of tumor cells under varying environment conditions and can be therapeutically targeted for cancer treatment.

Identifying potential anti-COVID-19 pharmacological components of traditional Chinese medicine Lianhuaqingwen capsule based on human exposure and ACE2 biochromatography screening

Lianhuaqingwen (LHQW) capsule, a herb medicine product, has been clinically proved to be effective in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia treatment. However, human exposure to LHQW components and their pharmacological effects remain largely unknown. Hence, this study aimed to determine human exposure to LHQW components and their anti-COVID-19 pharmacological activities. Analysis of LHQW component profiles in human plasma and urine after repeated therapeutic dosing was conducted using a combination of HRMS and an untargeted data-mining approach, leading to detection of 132 LHQW prototype and metabolite components, which were absorbed

Treatment with ß-elemene combined with paclitaxel inhibits growth, migration, and invasion and induces apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells by activation of STAT-NF-κB pathway.

In this study, we aimed to analyze the anti-cancer effects of ß-elemene combined with paclitaxel for ovarian cancer. RT-qPCR, MTT assay, western blot, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze in vitro and in vivo anti-cancer effects of combined treatment of ß-elemene and paclitaxel. The in vitro results showed that ß-elemene+paclitaxel treatment markedly inhibited ovarian cancer cell growth, migration, and invasion compared to either paclitaxel or ß-elemene treatment alone. Results demonstrated that ß-elemene+paclitaxel induced apoptosis of SKOV3 cells, down-regulated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl gene expression and up-regulated pro-apoptotic P53 and Apaf1 gene expression in SKOV3 cells. Administration of ß-elemene+paclitaxel arrested SKOV3 cell cycle at S phase and down-regulated CDK1, cyclin-B1, and P27 gene expression and apoptotic-related resistant gene expression of MDR1, LRP, and TS in SKOV3 cells. In vivo experiments showed that treatment with ß-elemene+paclitaxel significantly inhibited ovarian tumor growth and prolonged the overall survival of SKOV3-bearing mice. In addition, the treatment inhibited phosphorylated STAT3 and NF-κB expression in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, it inhibited migration and invasion through down-regulation of the STAT-NF-κB signaling pathway in SKOV3 cells. In conclusion, the data suggested that ß-elemene+paclitaxel can inhibit ovarian cancer growth via down-regulation of the STAT3-NF-κB signaling pathway, which may be a potential therapeutic strategy for ovarian cancer therapy.

The clinical study on the relationship between serum albumin concentration and lymphocyte levels in patients with 2019-novel coronavirus pneumonia / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective:To explore the relationship between different serum albumin and lymphocyte levels in patients with 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pneumonia (COVID-19).Methods:A retrospective study was performed to identify the characteristics of the clinical data of 205 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized in the Happy Street of Hanchuan People's Hospital, Xiaogan, Hubei Province from January 24 to February 12, 2020, including their general information, serum albumin (ALB) levels, lymphocyte counts (LYM), percentage of lymphocytes (LYM%) and other laboratory parameter levels. Low ALB group and normal ALB group were demarcated by the concentration of 35 g/L, further to identify the differences of LYM and LYM% levels and the incidence of LYM and LYM% decline at different ALB levels between groups,as well as the correlation between ALB and LYM, LYM% levels in hypoalbuminemia conditions .Results:17.5% of COVID-19 patients were associated with hypoalbuminemia. The levels of LYM and LYM% in the low ALB group were significantly lower than those in the normal ALB group ( P <0.001). The incidence of LYM and LYM% decline in the low ALB group was significantly higher than those in the normal ALB group ( P <0.001). The levels of LYM and LYM% in the low ALB group were significantly positively correlated with serum ALB concentrations ( P <0.05). Conclusions:The decrease of lymphocyte levels in COVID-19 patients may be correlated to hypoalbuminemia. COVID-19 patients complicated by hypoalbuminemia should be actively intervened to maintain serum albumin in the normal range.

Treatment with ß-elemene combined with paclitaxel inhibits growth, migration, and invasion and induces apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells by activation of STAT-NF-κB pathway

In this study, we aimed to analyze the anti-cancer effects of β-elemene combined with paclitaxel for ovarian cancer. RT-qPCR, MTT assay, western blot, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze in vitro and in vivo anti-cancer effects of combined treatment of β-elemene and paclitaxel. The in vitro results showed that β-elemene+paclitaxel treatment markedly inhibited ovarian cancer cell growth, migration, and invasion compared to either paclitaxel or β-elemene treatment alone. Results demonstrated that β-elemene+paclitaxel induced apoptosis of SKOV3 cells, down-regulated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl gene expression and up-regulated pro-apoptotic P53 and Apaf1 gene expression in SKOV3 cells. Administration of β-elemene+paclitaxel arrested SKOV3 cell cycle at S phase and down-regulated CDK1, cyclin-B1, and P27 gene expression and apoptotic-related resistant gene expression of MDR1, LRP, and TS in SKOV3 cells. In vivo experiments showed that treatment with β-elemene+paclitaxel significantly inhibited ovarian tumor growth and prolonged the overall survival of SKOV3-bearing mice. In addition, the treatment inhibited phosphorylated STAT3 and NF-κB expression in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, it inhibited migration and invasion through down-regulation of the STAT-NF-κB signaling pathway in SKOV3 cells. In conclusion, the data suggested that β-elemene+paclitaxel can inhibit ovarian cancer growth via down-regulation of the STAT3-NF-κB signaling pathway, which may be a potential therapeutic strategy for ovarian cancer therapy.

The clinical study on the relationship between serum albumin concentration and lymphocyte levels in patients with 2019-novel coronavirus pneumonia / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective@#To explore the relationship between different serum albumin and lymphocyte levels in patients with 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pneumonia (COVID-19).@*Methods@#A retrospective study was performed to identify the characteristics of the clinical data of 205 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized in the Happy Street of Hanchuan People's Hospital, Xiaogan, Hubei Province from January 24 to February 12, 2020, including their general information, serum albumin (ALB) levels, lymphocyte counts (LYM), percentage of lymphocytes (LYM%) and other laboratory parameter levels. Low ALB group and normal ALB group were demarcated by the concentration of 35g/L, further to identify the differences of LYM and LYM% levels and the incidence of LYM and LYM% decline at different ALB levels between groups,as well as the correlation between ALB and LYM, LYM% levels in hypoalbuminemia conditions .@*Results@#17.5% of COVID-19 patients were associated with hypoalbuminemia. The levels of LYM and LYM% in the low ALB group were significantly lower than those in the normal ALB group (P <0.001). The incidence of LYM and LYM% decline in the low ALB group was significantly higher than those in the normal ALB group (P <0.001). The levels of LYM and LYM% in the low ALB group were significantly positively correlated with serum ALB concentrations (P <0.05).@*Conclusions@#The decrease of lymphocyte levels in COVID-19 patients may be correlated to hypoalbuminemia. COVID-19 patients complicated by hypoalbuminemia should be actively intervened to maintain serum albumin in the normal range.

Effects of Xuesaitong on the Pharmacokinetics of Losartan in Rats Determined by HPLC-MS / 中国药师

Objective:To develop an HPLC-MS determination method for the effects of Xuesaitong on the pharmacokinetics of losartan in rats. Methods:After oral administration of single losartan and combined usage of losartan and Xusaitong in rats,the con-centrations of losartan and EXP3174 in plasma were determined by HPLC-MS. The main pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated and compared by statistical analysis. Results:The calibration curves of losartan and EXP3174 were linear within the range of 2.0-2 000 ng·ml-1(r=0.996 4 and r=0.999 5). The average recovery was 85.19%-109.79%. The results showed that after oral co-ad-ministration with Xuesaitong,t1/2and Vz/F of losartan significantly decreased (P<0.05), Tmaxsignificantly increased (P<0.05), t1/2of EXP3174 significantly decreased(P<0.05),and Tmaxsignificantly increased(P<0.05). Conclusion:The HPLC-MS method is sensitive and selective,and suitable for the detection of losartan and EXP3174 in plasma in vivo. The experiments showed that Xue-saitong can affect the absorption and metabolism of losartan in vivo.

Investigations on the effect of measuring value transfer for human serum samples assigned by the reference laboratory network / 临床检验杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of measuring value transfer for human serum samples assigned by the reference laboratory network on improving the trueness of seven enzyme activities in clinical laboratories,such as ALT,AST,GGT,LDH,CK,AMY and ALP.Methods Depending on the medical imtitutions at all levels contacted by 5 reference laboratories in North China,South China,East China and Southwest China,the corresponding clinical laboratory measuring value transfer/traceability network was established.The frozen human serum samples with good interehangeability and standard material characteristics,including calibrator,sample 1 and sample 2,were provided by Beijing Aerospace General Hospital,and were assigned by 5 reference labotatories in four regiom.These samples were sent to 48 clinical laboratories.These clinical laboratories measured sample 1 and sample 2 according to their standard operating procedures,and then measured.the two samples again after adjusting their measurement system by using the supplied calibrator.The changes of trueness of detection results in these laboratories were evaluated according to the WS/T 403-2012 standard,and the changes of consistency for ALT and AST before and after measuring value tramfer were investigated.Results The results of AMY,ALP,GGT,CK and LDH calibrator,sample 1 and sample 2 assigned by the established network were 138.7 U/L,278.5 U/L and 68.3 U/L,265.3 U/L,94.5 U/L and 134.4 U/L,195.8 U/L,89.0 U/L and 158.9 U/L,393.7 U/L,260.0 U/L and 645.3 U/L,and 302.0 U/L,250.0 U/L and 452.7 U/L,respectively.The percentages of sample 1 and sample 2 which met the bias requirements of the WS/T 403-2012 standard before measuring value transfer for AMY,ALP and GGT were 65.9％ and 61.0％,76.6％ and 78.7％,and 66.7％ and 70.8％,respectively,while after measuring value transfer,they were 89.2％ and 83.8％,86.7％ and 80.0％,and 85.4％ and 91.7％,respectively.The percentages of sample 2 which met the bias requirements of the WS/T 403-2012 standard before measuring value transfer for CK and LDH were 64.6％ and 58.3％,respectively,while after measuring value trander,they were 93.5％ and 84.8％,respectively.The coefficients of variation (consistency) of sample 1 and sample 2 for ALT and AST before measuring value tramfer were 12.9％ and 11.3％,and 10.2％ and 8.9％,respectively,while after measuring value transfer,they were 9.3％ and 8.2％,and 5.6％ and 5.9％,respectively.Conclusion The calibration of routine measurement systems based on the measuring value transfer for human serum samples assigned by the reference laboratory network may improve the comparability of 7 enzyme actvities measurement results in chnical laboratories at all levels obviously,which deserves to be further spread.

Distribution and treatment onintractable epistaxis in concealed sites / 中国耳鼻咽喉头颈外科

OBJECTIVE To drew the map of distribution of concealed sites in epistaxis and optimize the mode of diagnosis and treatment. METHODS We have searched 117 references on intractable/refractory/latent epistaxis treated under nasal endoscopy in the last decade, including 11 708 cases with epistaxis. There were total 11 860 cases in this study plus 152 cases in our hospital. We summed up the experiences of the optimized treatment mode performed on concealed epistaxis, which was searching the accurate bleeding areas by nasal endoscopy and performing minimally invasive radiofrequency treatment without nasal packing. RESULTS We had found that the offending arteries about epistaxis are mainly sphenopalatine artery and anterior or posterior ethmoid artery. The frequency of bleeding areas came as follows: the vault of inferior nasal meatus in 3783 cases(31.90%), the olfactory sulcus of middle turbinate in 3522 cases(29.70%), the posterior regions of middle meatus in 1349 cases(11.37%), the regions of deviation of nasal septum in 1065 cases(8.98%), the foremost regions of nasal cavity in 738 cases(6.22%), and the others or uncertain in 1403 cases(11.83%). Finally, we drew a concise map of distribution about epistaxis on the basis of the concealed bleeding areas and offending vessels. 151 of 152 patients(99.34%) could find out the bleeding sites accurately and stop the bleeding through minimally invasive radiofrequency ablation. CONCLUSION We drew a map of distribution about epistaxis in concealed areas so that it is convenient for us to seek out the bleeding sites. Rational use of nasal endoscopy to explore the sites of intractable epistaxis and minimally invasive radiofrequency are optimized mode of treatment.

An analysis on the result of early detection and treatment of cancer in Zhejiang urban population / 预防医学

Objective To investigate cancer high - risk rate,screening rate,detection rate in Zhejiang urban area and to provide the further evidence for cancer screening,early detection and treatment programs. Methods Epidemiological investigation and cancer risk evaluation were launched among 40 - 69 years old residents in Hangzhou and Ningbo city. People who were at high risk of lung cancer,liver cancer,upper digestive tract cancer,female breast cancer and colorectal cancer could receive clinical screening for free. Cancer high risk rates,screening rate and clinical detection rates were calculated. Results A total of 41 547 residents finished questionnaires and cancer risk evaluation. Cancer high risk rates of lung,liver,upper digestive,female breast and colorectal were 14. 05% ,12. 58% ,23. 28% ,11. 50% and 11. 82% , respectively. The rates of people who encountered single,couple,three,four and five types of cancer high risk were 29. 64% ,10. 97% ,3. 41% ,1. 16% ,0. 38% ,respectively. Screening rates for the five types of cancer were 50. 91% for lung cancer,49. 16% for liver cancer,19. 55% for upper digestive tract cancer,56. 25% for female breast cancer and 21. 75% for colorectal cancer. Lung cancer/ suspected lung cancer detection rate was 2. 42% . Breast cancer screening BI- RADS Grade 4 - 5 detection rate was 6. 71% . Upper digestive tract cancer detection rate was 0. 32% . Liver cancer detection rate was 0. 04% . Colorectal cancer detection rate was 0. 75% . Conclusion Technical solutions and program management should be improved to enhance the effect of cancer screening,early detection and treatment programs.

The clinical efficacy of hydroxyfasudil in senile heart failure caused by coronary heart disease / 实用医学杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of hydroxyfasudil in senile heart failure caused by coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods 110 Patients with heart failure caused by CHD were randomly divided into two groups. 55 patients in control group were given conventional treatment, whereas the remaining patients were assigned into hydroxyfasudil group in the base of conventional treatment. After 6 months, we observed and compared the changes in cardiac function of the two groups. Results The effective rate of treatment group was 96.36% and the control group was 85.45%. There was statistical difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Then we compared the degree of improvement of left ventricular diastolic function using ultrasonic cardiogram and Tei index. Left ventricular ejection fraction of treatment group improved significantly but biochemical indicators of two groups had no statistical difference. Conclusion In patients with heart failure caused by CHD, supplementation of hydroxyfasudil based on conventional therapy could improve diastolic function , potentiate left ventricular remodeling and enhance the life quality. Furthermore, it′s more sensitivity and reasonable to assess cardiac function using Tei index as compared with using ultrasonic cardiogram.

Determination of 13 kinds of bile acid in healthy people and patients with primary liver cancer by HPLC-MS / 药学实践杂志

Objective To develop a method for determination of 13 kinds of bile acid in healthy people and patients with pri-mary liver cancer by HPLC-MS.Methods Acetonitrile was used to precipitate protein in plasma samples .The separation was per-formed on a SHISEIDO MG C18 reverse phase column (3.0 mm ×100 mm,3μm).The mobile phase were acetonitrile and water (con-taining 0.1%formic acid and 0.5%ammonia), gradient elution.The flow rate was 0.4 ml/min, the temperature of column was 25℃and the injection volume was 5 μl.Electrospray ion source (ESI) and selected ion mode (SIM) were applied for quantitative analysis under negative ion mode .Results The calibration curves of 13 kinds of bile acids were linear in the range of 3.3-4 400 ng/ml, intra-day and inter-day precision results were all less than 7%, the average recovery were 82.67%-109.75%.The result showed that the content of conjugated bile acid increased in the plasma of patients with primary liver cancer compared with the healthy control group , especially in TUDCA, TCDCA, TCA, GCA and GCDCA.Conclusion The LC -MS method was sensitive and selective which could be suitable for determination of bile acid in healthy people and patients with primary liver cancer .The study laid a foundation for the me-tabolism of bile acid in vivo and the clinical diagnosis and treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma .

A voxel-based morphometry study of grey matter volume changes in neuromyelitis optica patients / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the grey matter volume (GMV) changes in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patients using a voxel-based morphometry method.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Whole brain structural images were acquired in 16 NMO patients and 16 gender-and age-matched healthy controls. Comparison of GMV between the two groups was analyzed by VBM8 toolbox of statistical parametric mapping 8.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with the controls, NMO patients showed decreased GMV in the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, occipital lobe, limbic lobe, optic tract, caudate nucleus, thalamus, and cerebellum (all P < 0.005).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Regional atrophy of grey matter is found in NMO patients. Voxel-based morphometry can reveal brain volume changes sensitively.</p>

Rapid identification of chemical constituents in Salvia chinensis by HPLC-TOF-MS / 中国中药杂志

It's established a high-performance liquid chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry(HPLC-TOF-MS) method to analyze chemical constituents in Salvia chinensis. The separation was performed on a SHISEIDO MG C18 reverse phase column (3.0 mm x 100 mm, 3 microm). The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile (A) and water (containing 0.1% formic acid, B) was used as gradient elute. The gradient of a phase, 10%-90% (0-33 min), 90% (33-40 min). The flow rate was 0.6 mL x min(-1). Post-column split ratio was 2:1. Temperature of column was 25 degrees C. Time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) and electrospray ion source (ESI) was applied for qualitative analysis under positive ion mode, and mass scan range was m/z 100-1 000. As a result,28 of the major chemical constituents of S. chinensis were identified by HPLC-TOF-MS. In this study, a rapid and efficient method for studying the chemical constituents in S. chinensis by HPLC-TOF-MS was established, which paves a way for the quality control and further studies of the herb in vivo.

Effect of propofol or sevoflurane on the quality of neuromuscular blockade with cisatracurium during comparable depth of anesthesia in elderly patients / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of propofol or sevoflurane on the quality of neuromuscular blockade with cisatracurium during comparable depth of anesthesia in elderly patients.Methods A total of 60 patients aged over 60 years [classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status Ⅰ-Ⅱ] were selected.Patients were randomized into 2 groups:propofol group (induction of anesthesia with propofol) and sevoflurane group (induction of anesthesia with sevoflurane) (n=35,each).Neuromuscular blocking effect was monitored by muscle response to ulnar nerve stimulation.The rates of cisatracurium injection at different time points,time of loss of consciousness and the onset time of cisatracurium neuromuscular block were compared between the two groups.Results The rate of cisatracurium injection was significantly decreased at 60 minutes,90 min,120 min in sevoflurane group(29.82％,42.28％,37.15％),and the onset time of cisatracurium neuromuscular block was significantly shorter in sevoflurane group than in propofol group [(148.62±28.54)s vs (96.53±23.69)s,P＜0.05].Conclusions Compared with propofol,sevoflurane can greatly shorten the onset time of cisatracurium and enhance the effect of cisatracurium neuromuscular block with stable hemodynamics.

Dracorhodin perchlorate suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer cell line PC-3 / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The growth inhibition and pro-apoptosis effects of dracorhodin perchlorate on human prostate cancer PC-3 cell line were examined. After administration of 10-80 μmol/L dracorhodin perchlorate for 12-48 h, cell viability of PC-3 cells was measured by MTT colorimetry. Cell proliferation ability was detected by colony formation assay. Cellular apoptosis was inspected by acridine orange-ethidium bromide fluorescent staining, Hoechst 33258 fluorescent staining, and flow cytometry (FCM) with annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide dual staining. The results showed that dracorhodin perchlorate inhibited the growth of PC-3 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. IC50 of dracorhodin perchlorate on PC-3 cells at 24 h was 40.18 μmol/L. Cell clone formation rate was decreased by 86% after treatment with 20 μmol/L of dracorhodin perchlorate. Some cells presented the characteristic apoptotic changes. The cellular apoptotic rates induced by 10-40 μmol/L dracorhodin perchlorate for 24 h were 8.43% to 47.71% respectively. It was concluded that dracorhodin perchlorate significantly inhibited the growth of PC-3 cells by suppressing proliferation and inducing apoptosis of the cells.