AIM: To determine astragaloside Ⅳ in Qixiu Granule (Radix Astragali seu Hedysari, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, etc.) by HPLC ELSD. METHODS: HPLC ELSD was used in the quantitative analysis by using Alltima C 18 chromatography column and acetonitril water (34∶66) as a mobile phase. The flow rate of mobile phase was 1mL?min -1 . The tube temperature of the detector was 100?C. The flow rate of pure air was 2.7L?min -1 . RESULTS: The regressione quation was Y=-4.40?105+2.07?105X, r=0.9992 (3.73～13.59?g). The average recovery of astragaloside Ⅳ was 100.73%, RSD was 3.97%. CONCLUSION: The method is simple, reliable, accurate and can be regard as the quantity control method of Qixiu Granule.

BACKGROUND:There are various methodstoinduceadipogenic differentiation ofbone marrow mesenchymal stem cels, and the main componentfor adipogenic induction isindomethacin or rosiglitazone. However, there is a lack of comparative studyonthe induction efficiency and mechanism among these methods.
OBJECTIVE:Tocompare the adipogenic responses ofhuman bone marrow mesenchymal stem celsto different induction methods, and to analyze the mechanismunderlyingdifferent induction efficiency.
METHODS:After isolation and purification,the adipogenic abilitiesof human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels in threedifferentculture systemswere comparedby oil red O staining and lipogenic geneassay. At 0, 1, 3 and 7 days of adipogenensis, mRNA expressionsof PPARγ, C/EBPα, Adiponectin and Leptin were detected.At7 daysofadipogenensis, protein expressionsof PPARγ and C/EBPβ were detectedby western blot assay,andeffects ofDIMIversusDIMRonphosphorylationofPPARγatSer273were compared.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Findings from oil red O staining andreal-time PCRshowedthat DIMR significantlyinducedadipogenicdifferentiation of bonemarrow mesenchymal stem cels compared with DIM and DIMI at 7 daysofinduction. Western blot showed thattheprotein expressionsof PPARγ and C/EBPβ in the DIMIgroupwere significantly higher than those in the DIMRand DIM at 7days ofinduction. In addition, the ratio ofPPARγphosphorylation atSer273was lowerin the DIMR group thantheDIMI group.To conclude,DIMR has the most potential to induce early adipogenesis ofhumanbone marrow mesenchymal stem cels by weakening the phosphorylationof PPARγ-Ser273.

BACKGROUND:Recently, the effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cel s (hUCMSCs) and placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cel s (PDMSCs) on treatment of acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) have been confirmed in some in vitro studies or animal models. But there are stil no reports comparing the therapeutic effects of these two cel types. OBJECTIVE:To compare the immunosuppressive function of hUCMSCs and PDMSCs in vitro or in a mouse aGVHD model. METHODS:(1) In vitro experiment. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cel s (PBMCs) were isolated and divided into four groups:PBMCs cultured alone, PBMCs stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), PHA stimulated-PBMCs cocultured with hUCMSCs, PHA stimulated-PBMCs cocultured with PDMSCs. After 5 days, PBMCs proliferation and interferon-γlevel in cel supernatant were measured. (2) In vivo experiment. Fifty-seven BABL/C(H-2d) mice exposed to 8.5 Gy irradiation were randomly divided into five groups:only saline injection group, syngeneic bone marrow transplantation group, al ogeneic bone marrow transplantation group, aGVHD group, hUCMSCs treatment group, PDMSCs treatment group. The clinical aGVHD score, histopathology of skin, liver, and smal intestine, and survival time were analyzed at days 11, 14, 21 after transplantation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) In vitro test:compared with the hUCMSCs, PDMSCs had stronger anti-inflammatory function. (2) In vivo test:The clinical scores on acute graft versus host disease were significantly lower in the hUCMSCs and PDMSCs treatment groups than that in the aGVHD group (P<0.05). The survival rates of mice were significantly increased in the hUCMSCs and PDMSCs treatment groups compared to the aGVHD group (P<0.05). Evident skin lesions were not found in al groups. Although smal intestine mucosal lesions were found in al groups, the damage level seemed similar. Notably, significant difference was found in the liver that multifocal necrosis and a large number of inflammatory cel s were seen in the aGVHD group, but less necrosis and inflammatory cel s in the hUCMSC and PDMSC treatment groups. In conclusion, hUCMSC and PDMSC are comparably effective in the treatment of aGVHD in mice.

Objective:To evaluate the application value of electrical impedance tomography(EIT)imaging combining bedside bronchoscopy sputum suction by observing the changes of pulmonary ventilation, tidal volume and dynamic pulmonary compliance after bedside bronchoscopy sputum suction in elderly stroke-associated pneumonia(SAP).Methods:A randomized controlled study was conducted.Patients with SAP admitted to the respiratory intensive care unit of Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2017 to December 2018 were enrolled as research objects.They were divided into the control group versus observation group with the only difference in receiving bedside bronchoscope sputum suction replacing control's receiving conventional sputum suction.Impedance imaging region of interest 4(ROI4)values collected by using EIT at admission and 1, 3, 5 days after fiberoptic bronchoscope sputum suction were compared between the two groups.Meanwhile, the tidal volume, dynamic lung compliance, the duration of mechanical ventilation and hospitalization time in intensive care unit were recorded in the two groups.Results:A total of 78 patients meeting an inclusion and exclusion criterion were enrolled, with 37 cases in the control group and 41 cases in the observation group.Compared with control group, the bronchoscope sputum suction group showed the significantly increased regional gas distribution values(2.24±0.77% vs.0.49±0.65%, 7.05±0.77% vs.2.49±0.87%, 12.34±1.47% vs.5.57±0.50%, t=10.85, 24.56 and 26.54, respectively, all P<0.001)at 1, 3, 5 days after fiberoptic bronchoscope sputum suction.The tidal volume and dynamic lung compliance were significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group at 1, 3, 5 days after fiberoptic bronchoscope sputum suction.The duration of mechanical ventilation and hospitalization time in the intensive care unit were shorter in the observation group than in the control group(12.22±0.88 d vs.14.65±0.92 d, 18.41±1.12 d vs.21.14±1.06 d, t=11.91 and 11.01, both P< 0.001). Conclusions:For patients with SAP, an intermittent bedside fiberoptic bronchoscope sputum suction can effectively improve the pulmonary ventilation in the dorsal area, optimize pulmonary respiratory dynamics, facilitate the early withdrawal of the mechanic ventilation, and shorten the hospitalization time in the intensive care unit.

Objective:To systematically analyze the influence of early removal of urinary catheters on urinary complications in middle-aged and elderly patients after transurethral resection of the prostate.Methods:Randomized controlled trials or clinical controlled trials on early removal of urinary catheters in patients after transurethral resection of the prostate were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, the Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP database and CBM.RevMan 5.3 was used to analyzed the data.Results:Nine randomized controlled trials and one controlled clinical trial involving a total of 1529 patients were included.The results of meta-analysis showed that there was a significant difference between catheter removal within three days after surgery and removal 4-7days after surgery in the incidence of urinary tract infections[ OR=0.34, 95% CI(0.20-0.58), P<0.01], but there was no significant difference in secondary hemorrhage[ OR=0.86, 95% CI(0.44-1.66), P>0.05].There was no significant difference in the incidence of re-catheterization or secondary hemorrhage between ≤24 hours and 2-3 days after surgery[ OR=1.32, 95% CI(0.57-3.06), P>0.05; OR=3.18, 95% CI(0.32-31.56), P>0.05]. Conclusions:Early postoperative catheter removal(within 3 days)has a clear advantage in reducing the incidence of urinary tract infections, and urinary catheter removal within 24 hours does not increase the incidence of re-catheterization or secondary hemorrhage compared with removal after 24 hours.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics of skeletal muscle cells gene markers in septic patients by using bioinformatics. METHODS: The differential gene expression of marker microarrays (GSE13205) in skeletal muscle tissue of patients with sepsis was obtained from gene expression omnibus (GEO) database of National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Gene differential expression analysis was carried out using online GEO2R provided by NCBI. Data processing, analysis and mapping were carried out using online bioinformatics array research tool (BART) and Cytoscpe software, the software of the national resource for network biology. Functional annotation and pathway analysis of differential expression genes were performed using Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) and gene ontology (GO) provided by the database for annotation, visualization and integrated discovery (DAVID), and protein interaction analysis was further performed in search tool for the retrieve of interacting genes/proteins (STRING-DB). RESULTS: The TOP250 genes were extracted from the GSE13205 dataset. A total of 242 differentially expressed genes were included in the analysis. Among them, 78 up-regulated genes and 164 down-regulated genes were identified. After extensive data analysis, these differentially expressed genes were enriched into different biological processes or subsets of molecular functions, mainly enriched in the positive and negative regulation of growth, mineral absorption and other pathways. The 14 most closely related genes among differentially expressed genes were identified from the protein interaction network. CONCLUSIONS The differential expression genes in patients with sepsis were mainly concentrated on cell growth and apoptosis and mediating tumor-related immune function regulation.
Computational Biology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Ontology ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Genetic Markers ; Humans ; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism* ; Sepsis/genetics*

Objective　To explore the clinical effect of dl-3-N-butylphthalide（NBP）injection combined with antiplatelet drug therapy and the influence on stroke recurrence of minor stroke patients. Methods　A retrospective analysis was performed on 95 patients with minor stroke that admitted to the stoke center of the second affiliated hospital of Harbin Medical University from January to July 2019.It included 45 patients in the combined treatment group （NBP plus antiplatelet treatment group） and 50 patients in the control group （antiplatelet treatment group）. The mRS score，NIHSS score and BI of the two groups were analyzed at 14 days，1 month，3 months and 6 months after treatment. The stroke recurrence events at 1 month，3 months，and 6 months after treatment in both groups will be recorded too. We used multivariate analysis to analyze the factors that might influence stroke recurrence in minor stroke patients. Results　①There was no significant difference in baseline information between the two groups（P>0.05），which was comparable. ②At 14 days，1 month，3 months and 6 months after treatment，the mRS scores and NIHSS scores of the patients in the two groups were significantly lower than that at admission，while the Barthel index were significantly higher than that at admission （P<0.01）. ③In the combined treatment group at 1 month，3 months and 6 months after treatment，the mRS scores were significantly lower than those in the control group （P=0.033，0.031，0.013）. ④The number of the combined treatment group patients with stroke recurrence at 3 months and 6 months after treatment was significantly lower than that in the control group（P=0.033，0.039）. ⑤The results of multivariate analysis showed that using NBP was an independent protective factor in stroke recurrence at 3 months （OR=0.060，95%CI 0.005～0.778，P=0.031） and 6 months （OR=0.163，95%CI 0.028～0.968，P=0.028） for minor stroke. Conclusion　NBP combined with antiplatelet drugs can significantly improve the neurological function and reduce the stroke recurrence of minor stroke patients.

Objective To evaluate the predicting value of circulating miRNAs for sepsis secondary to pneumonia in elderly patients.Methods From April 2016 to January 2017,44 cases with sepsis secondary to pneumonia,52 elderly patients with pneumonia and 21 healthy older adults as control were involved in this study.The expression levels of MiRNA-150 5p,miRNA-25-3p,miRNA-122 5p and miRNA-223-3p in plasma were evaluated by fluorescence quantitative PCR.The demographic characteristics,sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA)scores,prognosis and days stayed in ICU were recorded.The area under the receiver operating charaeteristic(ROC)curve was used to calculated the specificity and sensitivity of miRNA in identifying sepsis-associated pneumonia.Results There were significantly differences among levels of circulating miRNA-223-3p in pneumonia,sepsis and healthy control groups(F =36.441,P =0.000),△CT values were 2.39 ± 1.36,1.44± 1.43,and 4.58 ± 0.91,respectively.The relative expression levels of miRNA-223-3p in the three groups were significantly different (P =0.000),which were 0.189 (0.107,0.367),0.361 (0.221,0.735),and 0.044 (0.022,0.061),respectively.The AUC of miRNA-223-3p for predicting sepsis from pneumonia was 0.964(95 ％CI =0.925 1.000).At a cutoff value of 2.759,miRNA-223-3p yielded a sensitivity of 82.9％ and a specificity of 100.0％.Conclusions MiRNA-223-3p expression is up-regulated in patients with sepsis secondary to pneumonia compared to that of patients with pneumonia,and it could be used to predict sepsis associated pneumonia.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of HACOR score [heart rate (H), acidosis (A), consciousness (C), oxygenation (O), and respiratory rate (R)] on the clinical outcome of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation in patients with pulmonary encephalopathy due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods:A prospective study was conducted. The patients with COPD combined with pulmonary encephalopathy who were admitted to Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 1, 2017 to June 1, 2021 and initially received non-invasive positive pressure ventilation were enrolled. Besides non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, standard medical treatments were delivered to these patients according to guidelines. The need for endotracheal intubation was judged as failure of non-invasive ventilation treatment. Early failure was defined as the need for endotracheal intubation within 48 hours of treatment, and late failure was defined as the need for endotracheal intubation 48 hours and later. The HACOR score at different time points after non-invasive ventilation, the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, the total length of hospital stay, and the clinical outcome were recorded. The above indexes of patients with non-invasive ventilation were compared between successful and failed groups. The receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was drawn to evaluate the predictive effect of HACOR score on the failure of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation in the treatment of COPD with pulmonary encephalopathy.Results:A total of 630 patients were evaluated, and 51 patients were enrolled, including 42 males (82.35%) and 9 females (17.65%), with a median age of 70.0 (62.0, 78.0) years old. Among the 51 patients, 36 patients (70.59%) were successfully treated with non-invasive ventilation and discharged from the hospital eventually, and 15 patients (29.41%) failed and switched to invasive ventilation, of which 10 patients (19.61%) were defined early failure, 5 patients (9.80%) were late failure. The length of ICU and the total length of hospital stay of the non-invasive ventilation successful group were significantly longer than those of the non-invasive ventilation failure group [length of ICU stay (days): 13.0 (10.0, 16.0) vs. 5.0 (3.0, 8.0), total length of hospital stay (days): 23.0 (12.0, 28.0) vs. 12.0 (9.0, 15.0), both P < 0.01]. The HACOR score of patients at 1-2 hours in the non-invasive ventilation failure group was significantly higher than that in the successful group [10.47 (6.00, 16.00) vs. 6.00 (3.25, 8.00), P < 0.05]. However, there was no significant difference in HACOR score before non-invasive ventilation and at 3-6 hours between the two groups. The ROC curve showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 1-2 hour HACOR score after non-invasive ventilation for predicting non-invasive ventilation failure in COPD patients with pulmonary encephalopathy was 0.686, and the 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 0.504-0.868. When the best cut-off value was 10.50, the sensitivity was 60.03%, the specificity was 86.10%, positive predictive value was 91.23%, and negative predictive value was 47.21%. Conclusions:Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation could prevent 70.59% of COPD patients with pulmonary encephalopathy from intubation. HACOR score was valuable to predict non-invasive positive pressure ventilation failure in pulmonary encephalopathy patients due to COPD.

Objective:To investigate the effects of extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO 2R) combined with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) on respiratory efficiency and diaphragm function in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) received mechanical ventilation. Methods:A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted. Sixty patients with mild to moderate ARDS admitted to the department of respiratory and critical care medicine of Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2019 to January 2021 were enrolled, and they were divided into observation group and control group according to the random number table method, with 30 cases in each group. All patients received antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, and mechanical ventilation therapy. On this basis, the observation group received ECCO 2R and CRRT, while the control group received bedside CRRT. Baseline data including gender, age, etiology, acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ), etc., were recorded. Arterial blood gas analysis [including arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO 2), and oxygenation index (PaO 2/FiO 2)] was performed at 12 hours and 24 hours during the treatment, and respiratory mechanics parameters [including tidal volume, respiratory rate, maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), and maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP)] were recorded, and rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI) was calculated. The levels of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Diaphragm thickness and diaphragm activity were measured by ultrasonography at 24 hours during the treatment. Results:There were no significantly differences in age, gender, etiology, and APACHEⅡ score between the two groups, indicating that the baseline data of the two groups were balanced and comparable. Compared with the 12 hours after treatment, the PaO 2 and PaO 2/FiO 2 in the observation group significantly increased, PaCO 2 significantly decreased, RSBI significantly decreased, MEP and MIP significantly increased, and serum GSH-Px and MDA significantly decreased, while SOD significantly increased at 24 hours during the treatment. In the control group, only PaCO 2 significantly decreased. Compared with the control group, the PaCO 2 significantly decreased in the observation group at 12 hours and 24 hours [mmHg (1 mmHg≈0.133 kPa): 55.05±7.57 vs. 59.49±6.95, 52.77±7.88 vs. 58.25±6.92, both P < 0.05], but no significantly differences in PaO 2 and PaO 2/FiO 2. Compared with the control group, the observation group showed significant decreases in RSBI at 12 hours and 24 hours (times·min -1·L -1: 85.92±8.83 vs. 90.38±3.78, 75.73±3.86 vs. 90.05±3.66, both P < 0.05), significant increases in MEP and MIP [MEP (mmH 2O, 1 mmH 2O≈0.01 kPa): 86.64±5.99 vs. 83.88±4.18, 93.70±5.59 vs. 85.04±3.73; MIP (mmH 2O): 44.19±6.66 vs. 41.17±3.13, 57.52±5.28 vs. 42.34±5.39, all P < 0.05], and significant decreases in serum GSH-Px and MDA [GSH-Px (mg/L): 78.52±8.72 vs. 82.10±3.37, 57.11±4.67 vs. 81.17±5.13; MDA (μmol/L): 7.84±1.97 vs. 8.71±0.83, 3.67±0.78 vs. 8.41±1.09, all P < 0.05], as well as a significant increase in SOD (U/L: 681.85±49.24 vs. 659.40±26.47, 782.32±40.56 vs. 676.65±51.97, both P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group showed significant increases in diaphragm thickness and diaphragm activity at 24 hours of treatment [diaphragm thickness (cm): 1.93±0.28 vs. 1.40±0.24, diaphragmatic thickening fraction: (0.22±0.04)% vs. (0.19±0.02)%, quiet breathing diaphragm displacement (cm): 1.42±0.13 vs. 1.36±0.06, deep breathing diaphragm displacement (cm): 5.11±0.75 vs. 2.64±0.59, all P < 0.05]. Conclusion:ECCO 2R combined with CRRT can reduce work of breathing and oxidative stress levels in ARDS patients receiving non-invasive ventilation, and protect diaphragm function.