Extraction and separation technologies appeared in recent years are particularly reviewed in the principles, features, latest research and application results, and existing problems as well. These new techniques include ultrahigh pressure extraction (UPE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), pressurized solvent extraction (PSE), smashing tissue extraction (STE), heating-free extraction (HFE), high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC), and molecular imprinting technique (MIT). Further research topics and application prospects of these extraction and separation technologies are also suggested, so as to provide the reference for the research and production of modern Chinese materia medica.

The mechanism of triggering and maintaining atrial fibrillation (AF) is still not clear. There are different understandings about triggering and maintenance of AF, and therapeutic strategies relevant to them could not reach an agreement. In recent years, basic researches on AF have made greater progress. For example, the atrial rotor and autonomic nerve plexus theories has also been identified clinically, and it changed the strategies of radiofrequency ablation treatment for AF. This article summarizes the mechanism and current status of AF ablation.

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the ultrahigh pressure extraction (UPE) process of effective constituents from Jinqiao Reduqing granules by Box-Behnken design-response surface methodology. METHODS: On the basis of single factor screening, a three-factor and three-level Box-Behnken experimental design was employed, with solvent ratio (X1), extraction pressure (X2) and extraction time(X3) as independent variables. Dependent variables were transformed into desirabilities mathematically by Hassan's method. Data of overall desirabilities were fitted to a second order polynomial equation, through which three dimensional response surface graphs were produced. Optimum experimental conditions were selected from the stationary point of the response surfaces. RESULTS: Regression coefficient of binomial fitting complex model was as high as 0.9878. The optimum conditions of UPE were as follows: the materials were extracted for 38 s with 24 times amount of water, the extraction pressure was 112.1 MPa, and the extraction was performed for one tine. The bias between observed and predicted values was 5.27%. CONCLUSION: As a novel extraction technology for Chinese herbal medicine, the UPE procedure has higher extraction yield, lower extracting temperature, shorter extracting time and less power consumption. The UPE has provided a brand new method for extraction of chlorogenic acid and forsythiaside from Jinqiao Reduqing granules.

The digital intelligent medical technology such as three dimensional visualization, three dimensional printing,enhanced/virtual reality technology, indocyanine green molecular imaging are widely used in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases and showed a booming trend. Perihepatic hilar biliary tract diseases with complex anatomical structure, special physiological pathology character and lower efficiency of diagnosis and treatment are the major and difficult disease in the field of surgery. Efficient preoperative evaluation is the key to improve the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment. The digital intelligent medical technology can be used to obtain the comprehensive, individualized image diagnostic information,and comprehensive analysis the anatomy relations of the hepatic artery, portal vein, bile duct and lesions, and quantitatively measure the liver volume, formulate the reasonable operation scheme, determine the best approach of surgery, predict intraoperative injury risk and improve the surgical treatment effect.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between expression of ADAM17 and cetuximad resistance in human colorectal cancer SW480 cells. METHODS: The expression of ADAM17 was detected using Western blotting in different human colorectal cancer cell lines, and the cells highly expressing ADAM17 were selected as the target cells. SW480 cells were transfected with ADAM17-siRNA 1 and ADAM17-siRNA 2 and the changes in the expression of ADAM17 protein were detected using Western blotting. SW480 cells were exposed to cetuximad for 24 h and the cell apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometry. Transwell assay was used to examine the migration ability of SW480 cells with different expression levels of ADAM17; Western blotting was used to analyze the changes in the expressions of AKT signaling pathway-related proteins in the treated cells. RESULTS: The baseline expressions of ADAM17 were significantly higher in SW480 cells than in the other human colorectal cancer cell lines tested ( < 0.05). Both ADAM17-siRNA 1 and 2 effectively reduced the expression of ADAM17 protein in SW480 cells. Knockdown of ADAM17 with siRNA 1 significantly increased the sensitivity of SW480 cells to tocetuximad ( < 0.05), obviously inhibited the cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and significantly reduced the expressions of p-EGFR and p-AKT in the cells ( < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS ADAM17 knockdown obviously inhibits EGFR-AKT signaling pathway and increases the sensitivity of SW480 cells to tocetuximad.
ADAM17 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cetuximab ; pharmacology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; genetics ; ErbB Receptors ; metabolism ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Humans ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Oncogene Protein v-akt ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection ; methods

Lorlatinib (PF-06463922) is a highly selective and potent third generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor with dual activity against c-ros oncogene 1, a receptor tyrosine kinase (ROS1). In November 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration approved lorlatinib for treatment of disease progression in ALK-positive and late-stage NSCLC patients who receive the treatment with crizotinib and at least one of other ALK inhibitors; and those with disease progression after treatment of alectinib or ceritinib as the first ALK inhibitor. The results of phase I/II clinical trials showed that it has effective initial anti-tumor activity, strong intracranial therapeutic activity, with less tolerance and safety issues. This paper systematically reviewed the chemical structure, mechanism of action, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, usage and dosage, clinical research, safety and upcoming research fields of lolatinib, to provide an update on clinical or laboratory research and clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of vitamin D (VD) against hyperoxia-induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in newborn mice and explore the mechanism. METHODS: Thirty-six newborn mice were randomly divided into air + VD group, air + saline group, hyperoxia + VD group, and hyperoxia + saline group. In all the groups, saline or VD was administered on a daily basis intramuscular injection. After 3 weeks of treatment, the mice were weighed and cardiac blood was collected for measurement of serum VD level using ELISA, and histological examination of the lungs was performed. Radial alveolar counting (RAC) and alveolar secondary interval volume density were measured using image analysis software. The expression levels of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in the lung tissues were detected using Western blotting. RESULTS: The weight gain rate of the mice and the weight of the lungs were significantly higher in air + saline group and air + VD group than in the hyperoxia + saline group. The RAC was significantly lower in hyperoxic+saline group than that in hyperoxia+VD group ( < 0.001), and was significantly higher in hyperoxic+VD (125 times) than in hyperoxia + VD (1250 times) group ( < 0.01). The alveolar secondary protrusion count was significantly higher in hyperoxic+VD (1250 times) group than in hyperoxic+saline group ( < 0.001), and was significantly higher in hyperoxia+VD (125 times) group than in hyperoxia + VD (1250 times) group ( < 0.01). Compared with that in air + saline group, VEGFR2 expression was significantly lowered in hyperoxia+saline group ( < 0.05) and in air+VD group ( < 0.05); VEGFR2 expression was significantly higher in hyperoxia+VD (1250 times) group than in hyperoxia+saline group ( < 0.001) and hyperoxia+VD (125 times) group ( < 0.001); VEGFR2 expression was significantly higher in hyperoxia+VD (125 times) group than in hyperoxia+ saline group ( < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS In newborn mice with BPD, VD supplement can increase the weight of the lungs and promote lung maturation, and a higher concentration of VD can better protect the lungs and promote the growth of pulmonary blood vessels.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Hyperoxia ; Lung ; Mice ; Vitamin D

ObjectiveTo evaluate the applicability of modified formulas based on plasma creatinine levels in Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). MethodsA total of 327 CKD patients were investigated. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated with Chinese equations and Ruijin equation. The accuracy of estimated GFR was compared with 99mTc-DTPA-GFR (sGFR) in CKD patients. ResultsBland-Ahman analysis demonstrated that Ruijin equation was more consistent with sGFR than the other equations. But all the equations were not well consistent with sGFR. Linear regression showed that the slopes of Ruijin equation and MDRD-1 equation were closer to the identical line. 15%, 30% and 50% accuracy of Ruijin equation were higher than the other equations. But 30% accuracy of Ruijin equation was still less than 70%. When the accuracy of estimated GFRs was compared with sGFR in different stages of CKD, GFR estimated by Ruijin equation showed good results. ConclusionsWhen plasma creatinine is checked with enzymatic method, modified GFR estimation equations may show great bias in Chinese CKD patients. More clinical trails should be carried out to evaluate and identify the application of modified GFR estimation equations in Chinese patients with CKD.

Objective To investigate if Rac1 GTPase activation plays an important role in hyperpermeability and tyresine phosphorylation of tight junction induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in glomertdar endothelial cells (GEnCs). Methods Primary cultured rat endothelial cells were used as experimental model. The effect of VEGF at different concentrations (5 or 50 μg/L) on endothelial permeability was investigated by transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER). The permeability of GEnCs transfected with wild type Rac1 (wtRacl) or dominant negative Racl (N17Rac1) was also detected. Immune precipitation and immune blotting were used to detect the tyrosine phosphor-occludin in GEnCs. Results VEGF at high concentration (50 μg/L) induced hyperpermeability in GEnCs (P<0.05). At the same time, GTP-binding and membrane-bound Racl GTPase significantly increased(P<0.01)in GEnCs. Tyrosine phosphor-occludin was also increased (P<0.05) under VEGF stimulation. However, transfection of GEnCs with N17Rac1 dramatically attenuated the effect of VEGF on tyrosine phospho-occludin and endothelial cell permeability. Conclusions Increased VEGF can induce hyperpermeability in glomerular endothelial cells, which is related to occludin tyrosine phosphorylation through Racl activation. It provides a framework for understanding the role of VEGF-induced Racl-phospho-occludin pathway in the integrity of barrier function in the diabetic milieu.

Objective To investigate the effects of supernatant of cultured mesangial vcells with serum IgA1 from [gA nephropathy patients on apoptosis of podocyte. Methods Jacalin affinity chromatography and Sephacryl S-200 molecular sieve chromatography were used to isolate IgA1. Apoptosis rate of podocyte was assessed by flow cytometer. Monomeric IgA1 (mIgA1) was transformed to aggregated IgA1(aIgA1) by heating. IgA-mesangial cell supernatant was prepared by collecting spent medium in which growth-arrested mesangial cells were incubated with different aIgA1, then the medium with RPMI 1640 containing 0.5%FBS was cultured with growth-arrested podocyte. Real time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of Bcl-2, Bax, Fas and Fas-L. Results Apoptosis rate of podocyte by supematant of cultured mesangial cell with algal from IgAN patients was higher than that from healthy and control groups [(28.5±5.9 ) % vs (22.5± 5.8)%, (20.5±4.5)%, all P<0.05]. Fas mRNA expression of podocyte exposed to supematant of cultured mesangial cells with aIgA1 from IgAN patients increased significantly and was 1.89 folds of control (P<0.05), while Bcl-2 mRNA expression significantly decreased and was 72% of control (P<0.05). The concentrations of Ang Ⅱ and TGF-β in supernatant of cultured mesangial cells with IgA1 from IgA nephropathy were significantly higher than those from healthy control [(13.2±3.4) ng/L vs (8.2±2.3) ng/L, /'<0.05; (15.4±3.4) ng/L vs (10.8±3.2) ng/L, P<0.05]. Conclusion Supernatant of cultured mesangial cells with IgA1 from IgA nephroapthy patients can induce apoptosis of podocyte, which may play a role in the progression of IgAN.