AIM: To observe the supplementation action of the crude and processed Epimedium Sapittatum Maxim. METHODS: The effects of different extracts of Epimedium Sagittatum Maxim. on the castrated mice were observed. RESULTS: The aqueous and alcohol extracts of the crude and processed Epimedium Sagittatum maxim. showed same marked inhibition on atrophy of castrated mice. CONCLUSION: The crude and processed Epimedium Sagittatum maxim. both have the supplementation action and show no marked difference in action.

Objective To isolate and identify exosomes from serum samples of the patients with polymyositis / dermatomyositis (PM/ DM),and analyze their protein composition preliminarily.Methods Exosomes from serum samples of the patients with PM/DM were isolated and purified by the ExoQuickTM kit.The morphological characteristics and particle size of exosomes were determined by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and NanoSight analyzer,respectively.The surface markers of exosomes such as CD9,CD81 and Flotillin-2 were identified by western blot.The concentration and composition of exosome protein were determined by the BCA method and SDS-PAGE,respectively.Results The exosomes from serum samples of PM/DM patients displayed round or oval vesicles with membrane structure under TEM,and their diameter range was about (92 ± 67) nm.western blot showed that these exosomes expressed CD9,CD81 and Flotillin-2.The total protein concentrations of exosomes in the patients with PM/DM and healthy controls were 14.68 (6.00,32.55) μg/μL and 14.09 (8.00,23.28) μg/μL,respectively.SDS-PAGE showed that high-abundance proteins enriched in 55-70 kD in both PM/DM patients and healthy controls,and that there were different bands in 40-55 kD between them.Conclusion Exosomes are isolated from serum samples of the patients with PM/DM successfully,and their protein concentration and composition are analyzed preliminarily,which provides the experimental evidences for further finding differential proteins.

Objective To investigate the changes of interleukin-18 (IL-18), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels of liver cirrhosis induced by the composite factors of carbon tetrachloride (CCl_4) in SD rats and their significance. Methods Totally 80 male SD rats of clean class were randomly divided into normal control group (20 rats) and model groups, the latter of which were further divided into three groups according to the length of administration time, namely, 2-week group (2 wk group), 4-week group (4 wk group) and 6-week group (6 wk group), with 20 rats in each. Six rats were killed after 2 wk, 4 wk and 6 wk administration time, respectively. The rat serum levels of IL-18, TNF-α and IFN-γ and the hepatic homogenate supernatant of IL-18 were detected by ELISA; pathological changes of liver tissues were observed by HE staining. Results ① Pathological observation revealed that in the model groups hepatic cells degenerated and swelled at week 2 while large amounts of fibrosis and pseudolobules of some liver tissues occurred at week 6. ② The serum levels of IL-18, TNF-α and IFN-γ were gradually increased with the modeling time, and they were significantly higher in 6-week group than in normal control group (P<0.01). ③ The levels of hepatic homogenate supernatant of IL-18 in the model groups were elevated with liver damage, and they were significantly higher in 6-week group than in normal control group (P<0.01). Conclusion During the formation of liver cirrhosis induced by composite factors of CCl_4 in rats, IL-18, TNF-α and IFN-γ levels gradually increase, suggesting that the three cytokines play a certain role during the occurrence of liver cirrhosis in rats.

Background and purpose:Papillary renal cell carcinomas (PRCC) is relatively infrequent, and there are few related researches in China. This study aimed to summarize the clinical and pathological features of PRCC, and evaluate prognostic factors for patients treated with surgery.Methods:A total of 64 patients who under-went surgery for PRCC were retrospectively assessed. PRCC tissue slides from each patient were reviewed for type (ⅠorⅡ), grade, TNM stage, coagulative tumor necrosis and microvascular invasion. We estimated overall survival using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate analysis was done according to the Cox proportional hazards model of factors statistically signiifcant on univariate analysis. Results:The incidence rate of ENE was 6.04%in RCC, the median age was 55 (range 22 to 78) years. The comparison of the 22 (534.4%) typeⅠPRCCs and 42 (65.6%) typeⅡPRCCs revealed that typeⅡtumors were associated with a greater stage and grade more often. The median follow-up was 46 months (range 19 to 133). Of the 64 patients, 14 died, (4.5%) with typeⅠand 13 (31.0%) with typeⅡtumors (P=0.018). The overall survival rate was 85.7%in typeⅠtumors and 55.8%in typeⅡtumors, respectively. Univariate analysis identiifed symptoms at presentation, tumor type, TNM stage and grade as prognostic factors. On multivariate analysis only metastatic RCC remained associated with decreased overall survival (HR:14.78, P=0.004). Conclusion:The per-centage of PRCC is lower and typeⅡPRCC is relatively common compared with foreign data. Metastasis at diagnosis is an independent predictive parameter of overall survival in Chinese patients with PRCC.

Objective To evaluate the effects of CHOICE management mode on adherence of adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Methods A total of 49 adolescents with T1DM were elected using convenience sampling method, and divided into the experimental group (26 cases) and the control group (23 cases) by random number table. The experimental group received the CHOICE management for 1 year, while the control group received traditional education management. The patients′self-management behaviors and HbA1c were evaluated before the intervention and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the intervention. Results The scores of Control Problems, Attitude Toward Diabetes and Understanding Management Knowledge after 12-months intervention were (2.71 ± 0.43), (3.89 ± 0.60), (3.05 ± 0.71)points in the experimental group, (2.49 ± 0.33),(4.20 ± 0.40),(3.51 ± 0.70)points in the control group, there were significant differences (t=-2.101, 2.129, 2.289, P<0.05). The scores of Diet Adherence after 1 month and 3 months intervention were (2.85 ± 0.0.67), (2.79 ± 0.66)points in the experimental group, (2.39 ± 0.70), (2.38 ± 0.67)points in the control group, there were significant differences (t=2.170, 2.338, P<0.05). HbA1c was(8.29 ± 0.76)％ in the experimental group, (8.85 ± 1.14)％ in the control group, there was significant difference (t=-2.041, P<0.05). There were no significant differences at the others times between two groups (t=- 1.556-- 0.527, P>0.05). Conclusions CHOICE management mode can effectively improve the self-management behavior of adolescents with T1DM.

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF2B, the guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for eIF2, catalyzes conversion of eIF2·GDP to eIF2·GTP. The eIF2B is composed of five subunits, α, β, γ, δ and ɛ, within which the ɛ subunit is responsible for catalyzing the guanine exchange reaction. Here we present the crystal structure of the C-terminal domain of human eIF2Bɛ (eIF2Bɛ-CTD) at 2.0-Å resolution. The structure resembles a HEAT motif and three charge-rich areas on its surface can be identified. When compared to yeast eIF2Bɛ-CTD, one area involves highly conserved AA boxes while the other two are only partially conserved. In addition, the previously reported mutations in human eIF2Bɛ-CTD, which are related to the loss of the GEF activity and human VWM disease, have been discussed. Based on the structure, most of such mutations tend to destabilize the HEAT motif.
Amino Acid Motifs ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Catalytic Domain ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2B ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Protein Subunits ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; Sequence Alignment ; Structural Homology, Protein ; Surface Properties

Objective To analyze the factors influencing the occurrence of post-embolization syndrome(PES)after transhepatic arterial chemoembolization(TACE).Methods A total of 107 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),who received TACE treatment at authors'hospital between February 2021 and March 2023,were included in the study.Among them,56 patients developed PES(PES group)and 51 patients did not develop PES(non-PES group).The demographic data,medical history,pathological findings,laboratory indicators and operation-related materials were compared between the two groups,and the risk factors for PES were analyzed.Results There were statistically significant differences in tumor diameter,albumin(ALB)level,preoperative physical condition(ECOG)score,type of embolization agent,drug-loaded microspheres,number of microspheres,and dosage of loaded drug between the two groups(all P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic analysis revealed that drug-loaded microspheres,number of microspheres,and dosage of loaded drug were the independent risk factors for PES occurring after TACE(all P＜0.05).Conclusion HCC patients treated with TACE using drug-loaded microspheres,large amount of microspheres and high dosage of loaded drug have a higher risk of PES occurring after TACE.For patients having the above risk factors,the formulation of corresponding perioperative intervention strategies is necessary so as to avoid the occurrence of PES and to improve the safety of TACE.

Objective To assess the impact of statins combined with sorafenib(SRF)therapy on survival outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma(mRCC).Methods Clinical data of mRCC patients treated in the 908th Hospital of the Joint Security Force from November 2019 to November 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.They were categorized into statin group and non-statin group according to whether they used statins or not,and the differences in the primary endpoint of overall survival(OS),secondary endpoints of progression-free survival(PFS),objective response rate(ORR),and disease control rate(DCR)were compared between the two groups.Results A total of 80 patients were included in the study,with 27 in the statin group and 53 in the non-statin group.There were no statistically significant differences in partial remission,stable disease,disease progression,and DCR between the two groups(P＞0.05);complete remission and ORR were significantly higher in the statin group than in the non-statin group(P＜0.05).Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that,compared with the non-statin group,the median PFS and OS of the statin group were prolonged,and the difference in median PFS between the two groups was statistically significant(P＜0.05).In terms of safety,the incidence of other adverse events was similar in both groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion Statins combined with SRF treatment regimen can improve ORR and DCR and prolong median PFS and OS in patients with mRCC.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficiency,safety and prognostic factors of secondline chemotherapy regimen with gemcitabine combined with rituximab in the treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.Methods A total of 157 patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell nonHodgkin lymphoma were selected from July 2008 to February 2015 in Xi'an Central Hospital.Among them,87 patients were given GEMOX regimen (gemcitabine + oxaliplatin) combined with rituximab,and 70 patients were given GDP program (gemcitabine + cisplatin + dexamethasone) combined with rituximab.The chemotherapy efficacies of the two groups were evaluated.At the same time,the patients were grouped according to whether rituximab was applied or not,and the total objective response rate (ORR) difference was compared.The relevant prognostic factors affecting overall survival (OS) were found.The adverse reactions of patients after treatment were observed.Results The ORR of the GEMOX regimen combined with rituximab group was 65.5％,and the ORR of the GDP regimen combined with rituximab group was 55.7％,but the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (x2 =1.58,P =0.210).The ORR was 75.2％ in 105 patients who had not used rituximab,and the ORR was 32.7％ in 52 patients who had previously received rituximab.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (x2 =29.50,P ＜ 0.001).Univariate analysis showed that middle-high risk or high risk of the lymphoma international prognostic index (IPI) score (x2 =69.21,P ＜0.001),lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) increased (x2 =16.90,P ＜0.001),refractory patients (x2 =14.43,P =0.001),large mass (x2 =4.57,P =0.030),and failure to achieve CR or PR after salvage chemotherapy (x2 =50.85,P ＜ 0.001) were risk factors for OS.Cox multivariate analysis showed that middle-high risk or high risk of IPI (HR =2.138,95％ CI:1.301-3.512,P =0.001),refractory patients (HR =3.157,95％CI:1.001-10.644,P =0.014),failure to achieve CR or PR after salvage chemotherapy (HR=3.017,95％CI:2.218-7.366,P＜0.001),LDH increased (HR =2.236,95％ CI:1.797-2.781,P =0.001),large mass (HR =1.792,95％ CI:1.255-2.558,P ＜ 0.001) were independent risk factors affecting OS.Adverse reactions to chemotherapy were neutropenia,thrombocytopenia,nausea and vomiting,liver damage and cardiotoxicity,with no treatment-related death.Conclusion The second-line chemotherapy regimen containing gemcitabine combined with rituximab has a better curative effect on relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma,and the safety is good.Middle-high risk or high risk of IPI,refractory patients,failure to achieve CR or PR after salvage chemotherapy,elevated LDH and large mass were independent risk factors for OS.In patients with relapsed or refractory disease after rituximab treatment,re-application of rituximab was not effective.

Objective To establish normal reference values for left ventricular trabecular and papillary muscle mass(TPMM)in Chinese adults using MRI and to explore its impact factors.Methods A total of 168 healthy Chinese adults were retrospectively included,and compacted and total left ventricular myocardial mass(LVM)were measured using traditional and dedicated methods,respectively.TPMM was calculated from the difference between total and compacted LVM.Independent sample t-tests and analysis of variance were used to explore the differences in TPMM among genders and age groups,while multiple linear regression was used to explore the independent correlation between TPMM and age,gender,heart rate,systolic blood pressure(SBP),fasting blood glucose(FBG),and body mass index(BMI).Results TPMM for men was significantly larger than that for female(P<0.001).TPMM in the elderly group was significantly larger in female(P<0.05),but not in men.Multiple linear regression showed that BMI and SBP were both independently positively correlated with TPMM,and female and heart rate were independently negatively correlated with TPMM(P<0.05).Conclusion This study provides age-and gender-specific normal reference values for TPMM in Chinese adults.Gender,heart rate,BMI,and SBP are all independently associated with TPMM.