To optimize the water extraction process for glycyrrhiza. Methods: HPLC was used to determine the con-tents of glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin. The comprehensive index included the contents of glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin and the yield of dry extract. The water amount and the extraction time were selected as the independent variables, and the comprehensive index was set as the dependent variable. Design-expert 8. 06 software was used to fit multivariate linear or quadratic multinomial models for the experimental values. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the water extraction process. The prediction was carried out through comparing the observed and predicted values. Results:The regression coefficient of binomial fitting complex model was as high as 0. 979 7. The optimum conditions of extraction process were as follows:12-fold amount of water, extracting 3 times with 90 min for each time. The deviation between the observed and predicted values was -1. 72%. Conclusion: Central composite design-response surface methodology is convenient and highly predictive in optimizing the water extraction process for glycyrrhiza, which can be applied in the further membrane separation and purification.

Objective: To evaluate the cold and hot characteristics of Curcumae longae Rhizoma, Curcumae Radix and Curumae Rhizoma, and study the relationship between the content of curcumin in the three herbs and the hot and cold characteristics.Methods: MTT assay was used to investigate the effect of the three herbs on the growth of SGC-7901 in vitro.Trypan-blue staining was used to analyze the cytotoxicity, and the content of curcumin was detected by HPLC.Results: Curcumae longae Rhizoma and Curumae Rhizoma could promote the proliferation of SGC-7901 at the dose of 5 μg·ml-1 and showed hot characteristics;Curcumae Radix could inhibit the growth and proliferation of SGC-7901 within the concentration range of 5-800 μg·ml-1.Trypan-blue staining showed the three herbs had no cytotoxicity on SGC-7901.The content of curcumin in Curcumae Longae Rhizoma, Curcumae Radix and Curumae Rhizoma was 4.88%, 0.15% and 0.042%, respectively.Conclusion: The content of curcumin in the three herbs affects the hot and cold characteristics, and curcumin may be the important material basis for the hot and cold characteristics.

Objective To establish a new canine model of ureter trauma to observe the protective effect of biodegradable ureteral stent on renal function following traumatic ureter injury. Methods A self-made device was used to make firearm fragment wounds unilaterally on the ureters in nine Beagle dogs (model group). The wounds were debrided and sutured and the results were evaluated by using intravenous pyelography (IVP) and radioactive renography at 40, 80 and 120 days postoperatively. Firearm fragment wounds were made to the bilateral ureters of nine Beagle dogs in the positive control group, in which a biodegradable stent was placed in one side and a double-J stent placed in the other side. Results In model group, hydronephrosis and hydroureter occurred and got worse postoperatively on the wounded side in all nine Beagle dogs, while none of these symptoms were found in any animals in the control group. The ratios of biodegradable stent side to double-J stent side were increased in renal patial concertration index and half time of kidney washout, but neither showed significant differences. However,vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) was not found in the biodegradable stent side, but in the double -J stent side. Conclusions A new canine model of firearm fragment wounds is successfully developed. Both the biodegradable and double-J stent play important roles in support and drainage and show no significant difference in aspects of renal uptake and half time of kidney washout. The biodegradable stent can effectively prevent VUR.

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes of soluble interleukin-2 receptor(sIL-2R) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning (DEACMP).

METHODSThere were 31 patients with DEACMP, 32 patients with other encephalopathy and 31 controls in this study. The levels of sIL-2R in serum and CSF were detected by ELISA.

RESULTSSerum sIL-2R in patients with DEACMP[(329.21 +/- 160.99)U/ml] was significantly higher than that in control[(115.67 +/- 89.58) U/ml, P < 0.05)], but not significantly different from that in the other encephalopathy group[(367.50 +/- 123.14) U/ml, P > 0.05)]. CSF sIL-2R in patients with DEACMP[(54.48 +/- 43.04) U/ml] measured a little before discharge was significantly lower than that in patients with the other encephalopathy[(110.24 +/- 76.56) U/ml, P < 0.05)], but not significantly different from that in the control group[(34.96 +/- 22.70)U/ml, P > 0.05)]. At the pre-discharged period, CSF sIL-2R in patients with DEACMP[(100.26 +/- 93.65) U/ml] was significantly higher than that at the early stage of hospitalization[(52.28 +/- 43.31) U/ml, P < 0.05)]. No significant difference in serum sIL-2R was found between early stage of hospitalization[(338.34 +/- 161.53) U/ml] and pre-discharge [(351.31 +/- 175.93) U/ml, P > 0.05)].

CONCLUSIONThe occurrence of DEACMP may be related with immunopathological damage. The sIL-2R levels in serum and CSF may give information about the state of immunological function of the patients with DEACMP and may contribute to determining the patient's condition and prognosis.

Brain Diseases ; cerebrospinal fluid ; immunology ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ; cerebrospinal fluid ; immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Receptors, Interleukin-2 ; analysis ; blood

Objective:To optimize the extraction technology and evaluate antioxidant activity of total flavonoids from Hedyotis dif-fusa. Methods:The content of kaempferol was detected by an HPLC method,and spectrophotometry was used to detect the content of total flavonoids. Results: The optimum extraction conditions were investigated by orthogonal design with the extraction quantities of kaempferol and total flavonoids as the evaluation indices. The antioxidant activities of the extracts were detected based on the clearance of hydroxyl radical and DPPH·model. The optimum extraction conditions were as follows:10-fold amount of 80% methanol and with ultrasonic extraction for 15 min. The clearance rate of 1ml methanol extract for scavenging DPPH· and ·OH was 73.89% and 91.27%,respectively.Conclusion:The optimum technology is stable and feasible for the extraction of Hedyotis diffuse. The extract shows good in vitro antioxidant properties, which provides powerful reference for the future development of relevant antioxidant prod-ucts.

With the broad application of high-resolution computed tomography (CT) and high rates of early lung cancer screening, the number of patients diagnosed with synchronous multiple primary lung cancer (sMPLC) has been increasing. It becomes of great prominence to distinct sMPLC from intrapulmonary metastases in clinical practice. An increasing number of studies have developed high-throughput sequencing based genetic approaches to specify the molecular characteristics of sMPLC, which contributes to a better understanding of its tumorigenesis. The genetic profile of sMPLC also benefits its diagnosis, which mainly relies on its clinicopathological criteria. Here, we summarize the progresses on the diagnostic criteria for sMPLC, and also molecular features of sMPLC from the perspective of clonality analysis.

【Objective】 To explore the effect of Zhikepipa Mixture on the treatment of COVID-19 through network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking technology. 【Methods】 First, we performed the network pharmacology method to screen active compounds and targets so as to explore the mixture’s potential mechanisms in the treatment of COVID-19. In line with ADME screening index, like oral bioavailability (OB) ≥30% or drug likeness index (DL) ≥0.18, the active compounds against COVID-19 related targets were selected to construct the 'herb-compound-target’ network. Mechanism prediction of Zhikepipa mixture in the treatment of COVID-19 was analyzed by the interaction of the target sites, the bioinformatic annotation, and the metabolic pathway. Then, we used a molecular docking model to evaluate the binding ability between active compounds and 2019-nCoV (SARS-CoV-2) 3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease (3CL^pro) receptor-binding domain (PBD ID 6LU7), which was involved in mediating viral replication and transcription functions. 【Results】 The'herb-compound-target’ network showed 34 key compounds and 30 disease targets after overlapping with disease targets. The network topology analysis showed that those selected compounds with higher degree would produce marked anti-inflammatory effects by regulating 30 targets like PTGS1, IL1B, IL6, IL10, CXCL8 and JUN. AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway were involved in regulating hepatitis B and diabetic complications. In addition, Folium eriobotryae and Radix stemonae played important roles in the network. The molecular docking results showed that nine compounds were identified with higher docking score rank against 2019-nCoV 3CL^pro protease, and most of them were attributed to flavonoids. 【Conclusion】 Zhikepipa Mixture could exhibit both anti-inflammatory and anti-virus actions through multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway.

【Objective】 To investigate the active ingredients of Zizyphi Spinosae Semen (ZSS) in relieving benzodiazepine (BDZ) dependence and its molecular mechanism based on the integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and chemical drugs idea of "enhancing effect and reducing toxicity" via the approach of network pharmacology and the technique of molecular dynamics simulation. 【Methods】 First, literature search was undertaken to find the main components of ZSS. Then, the major effective constituents of ZSS in relieving BDZ dependence and its target of action were explored on the basis of network pharmacology and molecular docking. Finally, the relationship between core components of ZSS and key proteins was further verified through the technique of molecular dynamics simulation. 【Results】 After literature search, a total of 24 chemical components in ZSS were found to act on 731 targets. Through establishing the network of "ingredients-targets-pathways" , topology analysis was performed to obtain nine core components such as linoleic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, tetradecanoic acid, spinosin, oleanolic acid and jujuboside A, as well as five key targets including AR, PTGS2, PPARG, RXRA and CYP19A1. Bioinformation enrichment analysis was made to obtain critical pathways such as calcium signaling pathway, cAMP signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway and TNF signaling pathway. The results of molecular docking revealed that there was a good combination between core components of ZSS and key targets, and it was mainly dominated by hydrogen bonding. Furthermore, the molecular dynamics simulation experiments indicated that the combinations between jujuboside A and RXRA, oleanolic acid and RXRA, spinosin and PPARG were stable, and these three active ingredients played an important role in improving BDZ dependence. 【Conclusion】 The active components in ZSS may exert multi-target and multi-pathway intervention effects on BDZ dependence by means of processes such as immunoregulation, anti-anxiety, and anti-insomnia.