[Burden of disease and risk factors among children under 5 years in China from 1990 to 2019: a perspective of international comparison].

Based on the Global Burden of Disease study 2019, the standardized mortality rate and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rate of children under 5 years old were selected as evaluation indicators to compare and analyze the current situation and differences of disease burden of children under 5 years old between China and other regions from 1990 to 2019. The change trend and difference of disease burden of children under 5 years old in China were analyzed by sexes. From 1990 to 2019, the all-cause standardized mortality rate of children under 5 years old in China decreased from 1 153.81/100 000 to 160.39/100 000, and the all-cause standardized DALY rate decreased from 104 426.40/100 000 to 16 479.01/100 000. In 2019, neonatal preterm birth, congenital heart anomalies and lower respiratory infections ranked the top three disease burden of children under 5 years old in China. Except that the disease burden of neonatal preterm birth was lower than that in North America, they were much higher than that in Western Europe and North America in the same period. The burden of unintentional injury diseases, including pulmonary aspiration and foreign body in airway and drowning, was higher than that in Western Europe and North America. The standardized mortality and DALY rate of the top ten diseases and injuries in boys and girls under 5 years old in China showed a downward trend (P<0.05), and most of them were higher in boys than girls (P<0.05). From 1990 to 2019, the disease burden of children under 5 years old in China decreased significantly. However, compared other regions, it is still necessary to strengthen the prevention and control of neonatal premature birth, birth defects and unintentional injuries, and take different sex-specific interventions to improve the overall health of children.

p38-MAPK pathway is activated in retinopathy of microvascular disease of STZ-induced diabetic rat model.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) in diabetic retinopathy of microvascular disease and the potential mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The diabetic rat model was constructed by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The expression of CRH in the retina of diabetic rats and wild-type rats was detected by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). CRH shRNA or Scr shRNA adenovirus was injected into the eyes of diabetic rats and wild-type rats, respectively. The effect of down-regulated CRH on visual electrophysiology in rats was evaluated. Protein expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and inflammatory factors that were related to the microvascular lesion after CRH downregulation were detected by Western blot. Furthermore, p38 expression was detected by Western blot to explore whether mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was involved in the function of retinal endothelial cells regulated by CRH. RESULTS: The expression of CRH was significantly up-regulated in the retina of diabetic rats. RT-PCR results showed that the mRNA level of CRH in the retina of diabetic rats injected with CRH shRNA was decreased. However, no significant change in CRH level was observed in rats injected with Scr shRNA adenovirus. The down-regulated CRH could improve the diabetes-induced visual impairment and retinal inflammatory response. Moreover, the down-regulated CRH led to a decreased phosphorylation level of p38. CONCLUSIONS: CRH improves the diabetic retinopathy of microvascular disease via the p38-MAPK pathway, which is expected to be a new target for the treatment of diabetic microangiopathy.

[The clinical impact of artery-first approach combined with vascular resection and reconstruction in the treatment of pancreatic head carcinoma].

Objective: To evaluate the application of artery first, combined vascular resection and reconstruction in the treatment of pancreatic head carcinoma. Methods: The clinical data of 13 patients with pancreatic head cancer were retrospectively analyzed from February 2014 to March 2016 in the Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University. Preoperative computed tomography of high resolution layer or magnetic resonance imaging examination demonstrated pancreatic head carcinoma, as well as close adhesion, stenosis, compression or displacement of superior mesenteric vein or portal vein wall. In the operation, the artery first approach was used and the whole arterial blood supply in the head of the pancreas was fully exposed and interdicted. Finally, en block resection and vascular resection and reconstruction was adopted. Results: 12 of 13 patients had pancreatoduodenectomy synchronously with vascular resection and reconstruction; the other patient had these two surgery sequentially. Four patients received blood vessel wedge resection, five had segmental resection combined with end to end suture, and four had segmental resection combined with artificial vascular graft reconstruction. Operation time was (327.2±65.5) minutes, and the amount of blood loss was (472.6±226.4) millilitres. One patient suffered from delayed gastric emptying, and two patients had pancreatic fistula. All patients recovered from postoperative complications by conservative treatment. No patients developed biliary fistula, gastrointestinal fistula, abdominal infection, pulmonary infection, diarrhea, hypoglycemia or other complications, and none died in perioperative period. Postoperative pathological findings confirmed the diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Mean tumor diameter was (4.2±1.5)cm, and (3.8±1.5) metastasis were found in (13.6±2.5) resected lymph nodes. In 11 cases, the tumor cells were found in the outer membrane of blood vessels, 2 cases were found to have tumor invasion in the inner membrane, and all the resection margins were negative. All patients were followed up, and 2 patients died of liver metastasis 11 months and 18 months after operation, respectively. One patient survived with local recurrence of tumor 13 months after surgery. Other patients had no tumor recurrence and metastasis. Conclusions: The artery first approch combined vascular resection and reconstruction is safe effective and feasible in the treatment of pancreatic head carcinoma. It can improve the ablation rate of pancreatoduodenectomy.

Diamagnetic measurements based on the compensation of TF current diffusion in J-TEXT.

Due to the existence both of toroidal ripples and toroidal field (TF) current diffusion, the toroidal flux changes with time when the TF current is at the flat-top. A diamagnetic measurement based on the compensation of TF current diffusion has been built in J-TEXT to solve this problem. The measurement system includes a double-loop installed in the vacuum vessel and an array of small printed circuit board (PCB) magnetic probes placed on the mid-plane of one TF coil. A model was proposed to analyze and compensate the effect of TF current diffusion. Experiment results show that the residual flux is about 1 × 10-4 Wb after the compensation and it can meet the need of diamagnetic measurement in J-TEXT.

[Application and progress of miRNA in chronic rhinosinusitis].

Chronic rhinosinusitis(CRS) is one of upper respiratory inflammatory diseases, with a high incidence. It affects the patient's work efficiency and quality of life seriously. However, the pathogenesis of disease is not definite. In recent years, some reports have proved miRNA play an important role in the development and occurrence of CRS. This paper reviewed the role of miRNA in pathogenesis,diagnosis and treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis.

Adsorption of phosphate from aqueous solutions and sewage using zirconium loaded okara (ZLO): Fixed-bed column study.

This study explores the potential of removing phosphorus from aqueous solutions and sewage by Zr(IV)-loaded okara (ZLO) in the fixed-bed column. Soybean residue (okara) was impregnated with 0.25M Zr(IV) solution to prepare active binding sites for phosphate. The effect of several factors, including flow rate, bed height, initial phosphorus concentration, pH and adsorbent particle size on the performance of ZLO was examined. The maximum dynamic adsorption capacity of ZLO for phosphorus was estimated to be 16.43mg/g. Breakthrough curve modeling indicated that Adams-Bohart model and Thomas model fitted the experimental data better than Yoon-Nelson model. After treatment with ZLO packed bed column, the effluent could meet the discharge standard for phosphorus in Australia. Successful desorption and regeneration were achieved with 0.2 NaOH and 0.1 HCl, respectively. The results prove that ZLO can be used as a promising phosphorus adsorbent in the dynamic adsorption system.

ß-ODAP accumulation could be related to low levels of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide in Lathyrus sativus L.

Level of the neuroexcitatory ß-N-oxalyl-L-α,ß-diaminopropionic acid (ß-ODAP) in grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) varies with development and environmental stress. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) (mainly O(2)ⁱ- and H(2)O(2)) are frequently reported to play important roles in plant development and in response to various stresses. To investigate the possible inter-relationship between contents of ß-ODAP and ROS, grass pea leaves have been analyzed for contents of ß-ODAP, O(2)ⁱ- and H(2)O(2). The results showed that leaves containing high levels of ß-ODAP, exhibited low levels of O(2)ⁱ- and H(2)O(2), while leaves with high contents of O(2)ⁱ- and H(2)O(2) accumulated little ß-ODAP. The application of pyridine or ABA which inhibit the production of O(2)ⁱ- or H(2)O(2) led to an increase in ß-ODAP contents in intact or detached young leaves, whereas inhibition of catalase activity using AT (3-amino-1,2,4-triazole), leading to an increase in H(2)O(2) content, result in significant decrease in ß-ODAP levels of detached young leaves. In addition, inoculation of Rhizobium to young seedlings enhanced O(2)ⁱ- and H(2)O(2) levels, but reduced ß-ODAP contents in shoots. These results suggest that ß-ODAP accumulation could be related to low levels of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide in grass pea tissues.

Factors affecting ß-ODAP content in Lathyrus sativus and their possible physiological mechanisms.

A neuroexcitatory non-protein amino acid, ß-N-oxalyl-L-α,ß-diaminopropionic acid (ß-ODAP), present in the seeds of the hardy legume crop grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.), was considered responsible for human lathyrism. The levels of ß-ODAP were reported to vary in different tissues during plant development, and to be affected by a wide range of environmental stresses. In this paper, dynamic changes in ß-ODAP level at specific stages of plant development as well as the influences of various environmental factors, including nutrient deficiency, drought, salinity, toxic heavy metals, and Rhizobium symbiosis on ß-ODAP levels were analyzed, highlighting the relationship between changes in ß-ODAP concentrations and Rhizobium growth. Possible mechanisms underlying ß-ODAP accumulation are proposed and future research is suggested.

Using pseudo amino acid composition to predict protein subnuclear location with improved hybrid approach.

The subnuclear localization of nuclear protein is very important for in-depth understanding of the construction and function of the nucleus. Based on the amino acid and pseudo amino acid composition (PseAA) as originally introduced by K. C. Chou can incorporate much more information of a protein sequence than the classical amino acid composition so as to significantly enhance the power of using a discrete model to predict various attributes of a protein, an algorithm of increment of diversity combined with the improved quadratic discriminant analysis is proposed to predict the protein subnuclear location. The overall predictive success rates and correlation coefficient are 75.4% and 0.629 for 504 single localization proteins in jackknife test, and 80.4% for an independent set of 92 multi-localization proteins, respectively. For 406 single localization nuclear proteins with < or =25% sequence identity, the results of jackknife test show that the overall accuracy of prediction is 77.1%.

Osteoblastic proliferative activity of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim.

The effect of the extracts of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim. was investigated on proliferative activity in vitro. The osteoblast-like UMR106 cells was employed as an osteoblast model. The EtOH extract and the n-butanol fraction from the crude extract were found to show proliferation stimulating activity. Three flavonoid compounds (icariin, epimedin B and epimedin C) were isolated from this fraction by activity-guided assay, and the effects on cell proliferation were studied. Icariin produced the most significant promoting effect on the proliferation in osteoblast-like UMR106 cells. The results suggested that E. brevicornum Maxim. extracts might have potential activity against osteoporosis, and flavonoids such as icariin might be the active constituents stimulating osteoblasts.

[HPCE determination of trimebutine maleate in rat plasma and its pharmacokinetics].

AIM: To develop a method for the determination of trimebutine maleate in rat plasma by using high performance capillary electrophoresis. The method was employed to pharmacokinetic analysis of trimebutine maleate. METHODS: Plasma samples were deproteinized with acetonitrile (containing ephedrine hydrochloride as internal standard) and the supernatant was dried under N2 stream at 50 degrees C. The residue was dissolved with methanol-water (1:1) and injected into the capillary by siphon. The electrophoresis was performed in uncoated fused-silica capillary and the voltage was 10 kV. The running buffer was 0.03 mol.L-1 NaH2PO4(pH 6.0). The eluate was detected at 214 nm by UV detection. RESULTS: The recovery for trimebutine maleate in rat plasma was 72.8%-87.9%. The calibration curve in plasma was linear over the range 5-200 micrograms.L-1. The limit of quantitation was 5 micrograms.L-1. The intraday relative standard deviation (n = 6) and the interday relative standard deviation (n = 18) were less than 14%. The highest concentration in plasma was observed at 30 min after ig trimebutine maleate to rats. The pharmacokinetic results were AUC0-infinity = 8 micrograms.min.mL-1, T1/2(Ke) = 173 min and Ke = 5.6 x 10(-3) min-1. CONCLUSION: The method is accurate, sensitive and suitable for pharmacokinetic study of trimebutine maleate.

[Investigation on the excited state dynamics properties of hemicyanine molecules].

In this paper, the excited state dynamics properties of hemicynine were investigated by using time-resolved fluorescence and 3D fluorescence spectra techniques. The interaction of hemicyanine molecules caused formation of H-aggregates and a blue shift of the 3D fluorescence spectra in interleaving hemicyanine/arachidic acid multilayers. The peak of fluorescence was a red shift along with the time decay. The lifetime of the LB fluorescence was much shorter and the difference of beginning luminescence was less than that of the hemicyanine solution due to the stronger intermolecule interactions in the aggregates.

[Spectroscopic study on the high voltage fast pulsed discharge of nitrogen, ammonia or their mixture].

The emission spectra from the pulsed discharge plasma of nitrogen, ammonia or their mixture were measured. In the discharge of pure nitrogen gas, as the pressure increased, the discharge volume decreased and more dissociation of nitrogen molecules occurred due to the higher energy density. In the discharge of ammonia, N,N+ and NH+ were observed, but no NH2 and NH3 were detected, indicating that ammonia, which has the lower dissociation and ionization energies as compared to nitrogen, was highly dissociated. The discharge of the mixture of N2 and NH3 was also studied. The dependence of the dissociation of nitrogen on the ratio of nitrogen to ammonia was investigated by emission spectra. The optimal ratio for nitrogen dissociation was obtained. The advantage of using the mixture of nitrogen and ammonia in the synthesis of nitrides was discussed.

[Determination of bifonazole in cream by high performance liquid chromatography].

An accurate method for the determination of bifonazole in cream is described. The analytical column was packed with Hypersil ODS. The mobile phase was a mixture of 0.08 mol/L aqueous triethylamine (TEA) phosphate solution(pH 7.0)-acetonitrile-methanol (20:10:70, V/V) and the detection wavelength was 254 nm. This method is simple, accurate and can be used for the quality control of bifonazole in cream.

[Determination of puerarin in three traditional Chinese patent medicines by high performance liquid chromatography].

A simple and accurate reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method to determine puerarin in three traditional Chinese patent medicines, namely "Xiao'er qingganling" tablet, "Buchang xinnaoxintong" capsulae and "Ganmao qingre" granule is described. "Xiao'er qingganling" tablet and "Buchang xinnaoxintong" capsulae were extracted with methanol in an ultrasonic bath and "Ganmao qingre" granule was extracted with water and ethanol. After being centrifuged and filtered, the samples were separated on an ODS column with a mobile phase of 100 mmol/L ammonium acetate buffer (pH 5.0)-methanol(75:25, volume ratio). The flow rate was 0.8 mL/min, and the detection wavelength was 250 nm. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 2 mg/L-20 mg/L puerarin (r = 0.9999). The average recoveries were 99.0%, 93.4% and 97.5% for "Xiao'er qingganling" tablet, "Buchang xinnaoxintong" capsulae, "Ganmao qingre" granule respectively. The average contents of puerarin in the medicines were 3.48 mg/g, 1.08 mg/g and 1.52 mg/g (sucrose), and the relative standard deviations were 1.9%, 1.4% and 1.4% respectively.

[Determination of unbound concentration of drug in drug-human serum albumin mixture by high performance frontal analysis].

A high performance frontal analysis(HPFA) method was developed to determine the unbound concentration of drugs in drug-human serum albumin (HSA) mixture under binding equilibrium. The sample was injected directly onto an internal-surface reversed-phase silica column (ISRP). The mobile phase was 67 mmol/L phosphate buffer (pH 7.4, I = 0.17 mol/L). When a large volume of sample solution under drug-HSA binding equilibrium was directly injected, the drug was eluted as a trapezoidal peak with a plateau, and the drug concentration in this region was the same as that of the unbound drug in the sample solution. The eluate of plateau region was collected and a small volume was injected onto a reversed-phase HPLC column. This HPFA-HPLC method was employed in the determination of unbound concentration in both ketoprofen (KP)-HSA and cefoperazone (CP)-HSA mixtures. The unbound concentrations of drugs obtained by using HPFA-HPLC were compared with those determined with ultrafiltration-HPLC. The effects of sample volume and flow rate of mobile phase on the plateau formation were investigated. It was found that the minimum injection volume to achieve a trapezoidal peak varied with drugs. The flow rate showed no effect on the trapezoidal peak formation. The unbound concentrations of KP and CP obtained were about the same by using HPFA-HPLC or ultrafiltration-HPLC and precisions were similar for both methods.

[Determination of ecdysterone in Achyranthes bidentata Bl. and its activity promoting proliferation of osteoblast-like cells].

AIM: To study the activity of ecdysterone from Achyranthes bidentata Bl. (AB) promoting proliferation of osteoblast-like (OB-like) UMR106 cells and to determine its content in AB by HPLC method. METHODS: Ecdysterone isolated from AB was cultured with OB-like cells UMR106 together in vitro and the proliferation of OB-like cells was determined by MTT assay. The chromatographic conditions for determining ecdysterone included an ODS column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microns), a mobile phase consisting of a mixture of water-acetontrile-tetrahydrofuran (86:11:3), detection wavelength of 243 nm, and column temperature of 27 degrees C. Phenacetin was used as the internal standard. RESULTS: The ecdysterone from AB had significant activity promoting proliferation of OB-like cells, the proliferation was promoted by 41% (n = 3). The average recovery of ecdysterone was 96.2% (RSD = 2.1%), the calibration was linear in the range of 30-300 micrograms.mL-1 (gamma = 0.9998). CONCLUSION: Ecdysterone was screened quickly by cultivating with OB-like cells together in vitro. The HPLC method is accurate, fast and reproducible for the determination of ecdysterone in AB.

[Determination of three principal components in chuanjing tablets by using high performance liquid chromatography].

Uniform design method was employed to optimize the mobile phase of HPLC in order to determine simultaneously three principal components, theophylline, amobarbital and methylephedrine hydrochloride, in Chuanjing tablet, a compound preparation for asthma and cough. The stationary phase was ODS and the optimal mobile phase composition was V (0.015 mol/L phosphate buffer containing 0.3% triethylamine, pH 4.9): V (methanol) = 35:65. The detection was performed at 215 nm and the sensitivity was time programmed for simultaneous determination of minor and major components. Caffeine was selected as the internal standard. A baseline separation was achieved within 10 min. The linear ranges for theophylline, amobarbital and methylephedrine hydrochloride were 0.03 g/L-0.20 g/L, 7.5 mg/L-50.0 mg/L and 7.5 mg/L-50.0 mg/L, recoveries 99.7%-102.6%, 98.5%-100.2% and 98.0%-102.7%, inter-day RSDs 0.23%-1.2%, 0.35%-2.5%, 0.33%-1.6% respectively. This HPLC method is rapid and accurate, and suitable for the quality control of the preparation.

[Isolation and identification of three steroid compounds from Mauremys mutics plastron].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the steroids components from extract of Mauremys mutics. METHOD: The steroid compounds were isolated by using vacuum liquid chromatography and PTLC. The structures of three compounds were determined by spectral, chromatographic and chemical analysis. RESULTS: Three steroids were isolated from M. mutics and identified as cholesterol, elcosenoic acid cholesterol ester, cholester-4-ene-3-one. CONCLUSION: All the three compounds were isolated from M. mutics for the first time.