In general EU legislation on pharmaceutical products for human use also applies to herbal medicines.In 2004 EU adopted a Directive to introduce a new pathway for marketing traditional herbal medicinal products,the "simplified registration" procedure.Subject to satisfying certain conditions,it allows the registration of traditional herbal medicinal products without requiring particulars and documents on tests and trials on safety and efficacy,provided that there is sufficient evidence of a minimum 30 years medicinal use,including at least 15 years in the EU.Accordingly pharmaceutical companies should to be able in theory to save considerable expenditure of time,effort and money when applying for marketing authorization.But in practice the new pathway doesn't work out as smoothly as expected.This article analyze the various pieces of European legislation that affect the development of both modern and traditional herbal medicine,the continued growth of their demand,EU's response to the latest market trend,and how Chinese herbal medicine companies should grasp the opportunities to penetrate into the European market.It also stresses the fact that publication of Chinese medicine scientific research articles in international medical journals will be the key to the sector's future success.

Herbal products,either in the form of drugs,cosmetics or health food are increasingly popular in Europe.There are wide variations throughout Europe with regard to the quality and safety control of these products.In recent years EU begins to adopt a new wave of legislation aiming at harmonizing the law.While small and medium herbal companies may feel very difficult to tackle the legal restriction problems newly imposed upon them,some large pharmaceutical companies with adequate capital and technical know-how are showing keen interest in investing in herbal products for supply to the European market.Strategic alliance,merger and acquisitions,and industry restructuring activities will frequently take place in the foreseeable future.This article argues that although facing fierce market competition Chinese herbal companies are well positioned to expand their business in Europe.Besides it makes an in-depth analysis of a set of important rules and regulations concerning borderline products,labeling,packaging,health and nutrition claims;all of which are important legal issues deserving special attention of Chinese herbal companies.

Objective To investigate the value of roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA) in assessing early migration of femoral implant after total hip arthroplasty (THA) with modular prostheses.Methods From May 2009 to April 2010,37 patients underwent THA with modular prostheses inour hospital,including 25 males and 12 females,aged from 58 to 72 years (average,60.23±5.64 years).There were 32 cases of degenerative osteoarthritis,3 cases of femoral neck fracture and 2 cases of developmental dysplasia of the hip.The Harris hip score and RSA were used to assess the clinical results and the migration of femoral implant at 3,6,12,24 months postoperatively,respectively.Results The average Harris hip score improved from preoperative 26.36 ±10.56 to 78.24±12.72,84.51±16.05,86.72±9.34,and 87.55±8.97 at 3,6,12,and 24 months after operation,respectively,and the differences between pre-and post-operative Harris score were significant.There was no prosthetic revision,and slight thigh pain occurred in 3 patients.According to RSA,the degree of initial migration of femoral implant had large individual differences,and the initial migration was higher from 3 to 6 months after operation.Clinical and biological stabilization was achieved in 36 patients,while progressive migration was found in 1 patient.There was a positive correlation between the distal migration and posterior migration within 24 months after operation (r=0.3,P=0.01).The distal migration and posterior migration/rotation mainly occurred within 3 months after operation.There was no correlation between prosthetic size/offset and degree of migration of implant.Conclusion RSA provides an objective reference for assessing the migration of femoral implant after THA with modular prostheses,which is a reliable method to evaluate early implant stability.

Low shear stress is a component of the tumor microenvironment in vivo and plays a key role in regulating cancer cell migration and invasion. The integrin, as a mechano-sensors mediating and integrating mechanical and chemical signals, induce the adhesion between cells and extracellular matrix (ECM). The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of low shear stress (1.4 dyn/cm2)on the migration of HepG2 cells and the expression of integrin. Scratch wound migration assay was performed to examine the effect of low shear stress on the migration of HepG2 cells at 0 h, 1 h, 2 h and 4 h, respectively. F-actin staining was used to detect the expression of F-actin in HepG2 cells treated with low shear stress at 2 h and 4 h. Western blot analysis was carried out to determine the effect of low shear stress on the expression of integrin at different durations. The results showed that the migrated distance of HepG2 cells and the expression of F-actin increased significantly compared with the controls. The integrin alpha subunits showed a different time-dependent expression, suggesting that various subunits of integrin exhibit different effects in low shear stress regulating cancer cells migration.
Actins ; physiology ; Cell Movement ; Extracellular Matrix ; physiology ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Integrins ; physiology ; Stress, Mechanical

We report a fetus with recurrent intraparenchymal hemorrhage and cystic leukomalacia during pregnancy who was postnatally detected with a de novo mutation in the COL4A1 gene by genetic testing of umbilical cord blood. Multiple fresh hemorrhagic foci were detected in the fetal brain parenchyma and cerebellar hemisphere by ultrasound at 25 gestational weeks. Regular re-examination of the nervous system's ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicated recurrent multiple intraparenchymal hemorrhages followed by cystic leukomalacia. However, karyotyping and chromosomal microarray analysis of amniotic fluid showed no abnormality. The newborn was born by cesarean section at 37 +3 gestational weeks with an Apgar score of 10 at 1 and 5 min. Repeated apnea occurred after birth. MRI detected new intraparenchymal hemorrhage and cystic leukomalacia on the six-day of life. The infant's limb muscle tone remained low on the 90-day follow-up. The patient was lost to follow up. Whole-exome sequencing of the cord blood identified a de novo heterozygous mutation- c.4738G>A in the COL4A1 gene (NM_001845.4; p.G1580S) neither parent carried. It suggests that the genetic test of the COL4A1 mutation should be considered for fetuses with intracranial hemorrhage in the prenatal diagnosis, especially those with recurrent fetal intraparenchymal hemorrhage followed by cystic leukomalacia. Genetic tests could help analyze the fetal prognosis, and guide the delivery mode.

Pulpitis is an infectious disease characterized by persistent inflammation of dental pulp and severe pain of patients, root canal treatment increases the risk of tooth fracture, discoloration and reinfection. Therefore, pulp injury repair and pulp regeneration become the new targets of pulpitis treatment. Autophagy is considered as an important defense and protective mechanism, thus plays an important role in preventing the host from excessive inflammatory reaction. There are few reports on the regulative mechanisms and therapeutic strategies of autophagy on pulp inflammation progression, therefore, this paper reviewed the role of autophagy on the progression of pulpitis, also reviewed the research progress of autophagy on dental pulp injury repair and regeneration, aiming to provide theoretical support for further research and clinical application.

Objective: To investigate the status and prognostic significance of TERT and IDH1/2 genes mutations in diffusely infiltrating gliomas. Methods: Hot spot mutations of TERT and IDH1/2 genes were detected by DNA sequencing in 236 cases of gliomas at West China Hospital from 2012 to 2016, including pilocytic astrocytoma (WHO grade Ⅰ, 16 cases), diffuse astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma (WHO grade Ⅱ, 89 cases), anaplastic astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma (WHO grade Ⅲ, 72 cases) and glioblastoma (WHO grade Ⅳ, 59 cases). The prognostic significance of TERT and IDH1/2 hot spot mutations was evaluated. Results: No IDH or TERT mutations were detected in pilocytic gliomas. TERT promoter mutation frequency was higher in patients aged ≥40 years(60.8%, 93/153) than in patients aged <40 years (32.8%, 22/67; P<0.01). TERT promoter mutation rate was also significantly higher in oligodendroglioma (87.5% , 56/64) than that in astrocytoma(37.8%, 59/156; P<0.01). Young age (<40 years), oligodendroglioma and IDH1 mutation were favorable prognostic factors for diffusely infiltrating astrocytic and oligodendroglial tumors. TERT mutation alone was not of prognostic significance. Diffusely infiltrating astrocytic and oligodendroglial tumors were divided into four molecular subtypes according to TERT and IDH1 mutation status: IDH(+ )/TERT(+ ), IDH(+ )/TERT(-), IDH(-)/TERT(-) and IDH(-)/TERT(+ ). There was significant prognostic difference among the 4 subtypes. Conclusions Combined IDH and TERT gene mutation analysis may be useful for prognostic subgrouping. Notably, IDH1 wild-type cases can be further subdivided into TERT(+ ) or (-) subgroups with significant prognostic difference.

Objective:To study the clinical characteristics of growth development and metabolic disorders in obese children and adolescents with insulin resistance (IR).Methods:Normal weight or obese children and adolescents who hospitalized at the Department of Children′s Health Care of Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from September 2015 to April 2018 were recruited.Children′s height, body weight and waist circumference were measured, and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and body mass index (BMI) were calculated.Puberty process was determined by Tanner stage.Blood glucose, blood lipid and insulin were measured in fasting state, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated based on fasting blood glucose and insulin levels.IR was considered when HOMA-IR was over 2.69.Non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound.Results:(1) A total of 691 subjects were included, including 183 cases with the age of (9.73±2.38) years in the normal weight group/normal group, and 508 cases with the age of (10.24±2.05) years old in the obese group.The rate of IR was higher in obese group than that in normal group (55.71% vs. 10.38%), and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001). (2)HOMA-IR was positively correlated with age ( r=0.256, P<0.001), BMI ( r=0.426, P<0.001), waist circumference ( r=0.454, P<0.001), and WHtR ( r=0.321, P<0.001). After the adjustment for age, sex, and puberty stage, HOMA-IR was also positively correlated with BMI ( r=0.418, P<0.001), waist circumference ( r=0.419, P<0.001) and WHtR ( r=0.375, P<0.001). (3) During puberty, HOMA-IR in both of obese group and normal group was increased, and HOMA-IR in obese group was more particularly serious compared to normal group[TannerⅠ: 2.60(1.49, 3.94) vs.1.28(0.80, 1.90); Tanner Ⅱ: 3.07(1.75, 5.17) vs.1.80(1.16, 2.96); Tanner Ⅲ: 4.33(2.80, 6.57) vs.2.47(1.41, 3.68); Tanner Ⅳ-Ⅴ: 3.49(1.04, 5.78) vs.1.91(0.54, 2.60)], and the differences were all statistically significant(all P<0.05). (4)Compared with the obese objects without IR, obese children and adolescents with IR had higher systolic blood pressure[112(104, 124) mmHg vs.109(98, 121) mmHg, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa], triglyceride level [1.27(0.95, 1.81) mmol/L vs.1.09(0.79, 1.61) mmol/L], fas-ting blood glucose level [4.80(4.46, 5.01) mmol/L vs.4.48(4.16, 4.76) mmol/L] and fasting insulin level [21.27(16.21, 28.56) mmol/L vs.7.62(4.43, 10.83) mmol/L], and the differences were all statistically significant(all P<0.05). IR was a risk factor for NAFLD in obese children( OR=1.536, 95% CI: 1.049-2.247, P<0.05). Conclusions:Serious and abdominal obesity in children and adolescents is a major risk factor for the development of IR.HOMA-IR of obese children and adolescents is particularly serious during puberty.The obese children with IR are more likely to have metabolic disorders in blood glucose, serum lipid and blood pressure, and have the risk of NAFLD development.

Objective:To establish and validate reference intervals of serum vitamin K for healthy children in China.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2020 to May 2023, involving 807 healthy children aged 0 to 14 years, selected by stratified random sampling based on the population distribution of children in eastern, central, western, and northeastern China. Sample collection was carried out in 16 hospitals across 12 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. Basic information of the children was collected using a standardized self-design questionnaire. Serum levels of vitamin K 1 and vitamin K 2 (menaquinone-4 (MK-4), menaquinone-7 (MK-7)) were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The reference intervals was established by direct approach. The children were divided into different groups by age. Inter-group comparisons were conducted using the Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test, and the reference intervals ( P2.5- P97.5) were determined using non-parametric methods. Screening 40 healthy children for small sample validation based on age groups within the reference range(25 from eastern, 10 from central, and 5 from western regions). Results:The age of the 807 children was 5.00 (2.00, 9.81) years, and 495 (61.3%) were males and 312 (38.7%) females. Reference intervals were established for 795 children, of whom 303 children were aged 1 month to 3 years and 492 were aged 4 to 14 years. The reference intervals for serum vitamin K 1 were 0.09-4.54 μg/L for children aged 1 month to 3 years, and 0.10-1.73 μg/L for 4-14 years. For MK-7, the intervals were 0.07-1.42 μg/L for 1 month to 3 years and 0.19-2.03 μg/L for 4-14 years. The reference intervals for MK-4 in children aged 1 month to 14 years were 0-0.42 μg/L. The measured values of serum vitamin K 1, MK-4, and MK-7 in the validation samples did not exceed the reference limit in more than 2 samples. Conclusion:Reference intervals for vitamin K 1, MK-4, and MK-7 in healthy children aged 1 month to 14 years have been established and validated, and can be used to assess vitamin K nutritional status in children.

Objective: To investigate the regulatory mechanism of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) 53106 in the apoptosis model of MIN6 cells stimulated by cytokines. Methods: The stimulation model of cytokines 10 ng/ml interleukin-1β, 50 ng/ml tumor necrosis factor-α, 50 ng/ml interferon-γ in MIN6 islet cell lines were established. The apoptosis rate was measured by flow cytometry and the expression levels of lncRNA53106 and (C-X-C motif) ligand (CXCL)10 were detected by realtime quantitative PCR (qPCR). LncRNA53106 smart silencer and CXCL10 siRNA were constructed, and lncRNA53106 and CXCL10 were knocked down respectively. Then inflammatory cytokines were combined to stimulate, and their roles in the apoptosis of min6 cells were detected by flow cytometry, qPCR, and Western blotting. Results: In the apoptosis model of MIN6 cells stimulated by cytokines, the apoptosis rate of cytokines group was significantly increased and reached statistical significance. The apoptosis rate of the knocked down lncRNA53106 group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). The expression of CXCL10 was also decreased in the knockdown group by qPCR and Western blotting, the expressions of the apoptosis-related factors Bax and Caspase3 mRNA were decreased. The apoptosis rate in the knocked down CXCL10 group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the expression of lncRNA53106 was slightly increased, but the difference was not significant (P=0.61). Conclusion LncRNA53106 may promote the expression of apoptosis factor by upregulation of CXCL10, and promote the apoptosis of β cells of the pancreas, which may lead to the occurrence of type 1 diabetes.