Objective To investigate the relationship between the steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome(SSNS) and interleukin-18(IL-18) and to approach the inhibitive role of dexamethasone(DEX) on expression of IL-18 of peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) in children with SSNS in vitro.Methods IL-18 levels of serum, urine and supernatants of PBMC cultured in vitro were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in 23 children with SSNS who were either before or after treatment. Fifteen age-matched healthy children served as normal control group, and another 18 children with respiratory infections as infectious control group.Results There were signi-ficant differences of IL-18 in serum and urine before and after treatment in children with SSNS (t=15.072,16.149 Pa

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of interleukin (IL)-27 on INF and IL-4 activities in children with asthma.

METHODSThe levels of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in culture supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 23 asthmatic children were measured using ELISA. PBMCs were cultured with recombinant IL-27 (5 ng/mL or 0.5 ng/mL) for 12 hrs in vitro.

RESULTSIFN-gamma levels in both 5 ng/mL and 0.5 ng/mL IL-27 treatment groups (85.9+/-12.2 and 8.9+/-2.3 microg/L, respectively) increased compared with those in the cytokine stimulated control group (P<0.01, P<0.05 respectively). The group treated with 5 ng/mL IL-27 had decreased significantly IL-4 levels compared with the cytokine stimulated control group (15.0+/-1.9 microg/L vs 77.0+/-15.6 microg/L; P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIL-27 may be involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. It may affect Th1/Th2 cell activities and might be a new option for the treatment of asthma.

Asthma ; immunology ; Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Interferon-gamma ; biosynthesis ; Interleukin-17 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-4 ; biosynthesis ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; immunology ; Male ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVENephrotic syndrome (NS) is characterized by marked urinary excretion of albumin and other intermediated-size plasma proteins such as transferrin. The aim of this study was to determine the changes of serum iron and transferrin and the relationship between the serum and urinary transferrin.

METHODSThe indexes related to iron metabolism, including serum iron, ferritin, transferrin, total iron-binding capacity, transferrin saturation and hematological parameters (Hb, MCV, MCH), and urinary transferrin were measured in 37 children with NS before treatment and at the remission stage. Thirty-five age-matched healthy children served as controls.

RESULTSSerum iron levels (18.8 +/- 3.8 micromol/L) in NS patients before treatment were significantly lower than in the healthy controls (22.2 +/-3.8 micromol/L) and those measured at the remission stage (21.0 +/- 3.5 micromol/L) (P < 0.01). Serum transferrin levels in NS patients before therapy (1.9 +/- 0.3 g/L) also decreased compared with those in the healthy controls (3.1 +/- 0.5 g/L) and those measured at the remission stage (2.9 +/- 0.6 g/L) (P < 0.01). In contrast, serum total iron-binding capacity and transferrin saturation were noticeably higher in NS patients before treatment than those in the healthy controls (total iron-binding capacity 56.4 +/- 9.2 micromol/L vs 50.7 +/- 6.8 micromol, P < 0.01; transferrin saturation 55.7 +/- 9.2 % vs 46.4 +/- 8.2%, P < 0.01) and were also higher than those measured at the remission stage (51.9 +/-7.7 micromol/L and 47.4 +/- 13.3%) (P < 0.01). Serum transferrin positively correlated to serum albumin (r = 0.609, P < 0.01) and negatively correlated to urinary transferrin (r = -0.550, P < 0.01) in NS patients before treatment.

CONCLUSIONSSerum iron and transferrin levels markedly decreased in NS patients, which may be partially related to the urinary loss of transferrin.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; blood ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; blood ; Transferrin ; analysis ; urine

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the behavioral responses of pregnant women during the early stage of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Methods: We recruited 1,099 women to complete an online questionnaire survey from February 10 to February 25, 2020. The subjects were divided into two groups (the pregnant women group and the control group). Results: Concerns about infection: most of the participants watched the COVID-19 news at least once a day. Protective behaviors: the utilization rate of pregnant women (often using various measures) was higher than that of nonpregnant women. Exercise: 30.6% of the pregnant women continued to exercise at home, whereas in the control group, this percentage was 8.4%. Spouse relationship: 38.8% of the subjects’ relationship improved, whereas only 2.3% thought the relationship was getting worse. Conclusion Pregnant women had some unique behavioral responses different from that of nonpregnant women. It is important to understand the behavioral responses of pregnant women in this network era.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the behavioral responses of pregnant women during the early stage of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Methods: We recruited 1,099 women to complete an online questionnaire survey from February 10 to February 25, 2020. The subjects were divided into two groups (the pregnant women group and the control group). Results: Concerns about infection: most of the participants watched the COVID-19 news at least once a day. Protective behaviors: the utilization rate of pregnant women (often using various measures) was higher than that of nonpregnant women. Exercise: 30.6% of the pregnant women continued to exercise at home, whereas in the control group, this percentage was 8.4%. Spouse relationship: 38.8% of the subjects’ relationship improved, whereas only 2.3% thought the relationship was getting worse. Conclusion Pregnant women had some unique behavioral responses different from that of nonpregnant women. It is important to understand the behavioral responses of pregnant women in this network era.

Based on the ancient Chinese medical literature and modern clinical application literature， Mahuangtang was systematically analyzed， including its origin， composition， processing requirements and others， in order to provide support for the development of this famous classical formula. It was found that there were some doubts about Mahuangtang， such as the original variety， the processing of decoction pieces， and the dose conversion ratio. On the basis of fully considering the actual needs of the development of famous classical formula preparations and the usage habits of modern clinical practice， the development suggestions of the author were as follows：Ephedrae Herba should be selected Ephedra sinica without removing knots， Cinnamomi Ramulus should be selected from Cinnamomum cassia， Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma should select Glycyrrhiza uralensis and be roasted with honey， and Armeniacae Semen Amarum should be selected as Dan-processed products. The total dose of Mahuangtang was 24 g after conversion according to 1 Liang equal to 3 g as following the transition phenomenon and law. The preparation and usage method was as follows：took 1.8 L of water， first added Ephedrae Herba in water for decocting， evaporated 400 mL of water， removed the upper foam， then added the other three drugs， cooked over gentle heat to 500 mL， filtered the residue， took three times a day， about 160 mL warm decoction once. The major function recorded of Mahuangtang in ancient books was exterior sthenia syndrome of exogenous wind cold， it often used in the clinical treatment of cold， acute bronchitis， bronchial asthma and other diseases through the flexible application of the later doctors.

This study aimed to establish the HPLC characteristic chromatogram and content determination method for index components with the primary standard substances of the classical prescription Mahuang Decoction, and to provide data basis for the establishment of its quality standard and the development and utilization of compound preparations. First, HPLC was used to establish the material reference chromatograms of Mahuang Decoction, and 15 batches of standard samples of Mahuang Decoction were determined. Their similarity was calculated by the median method. Secondly, the content of the standard substances was determined and a simplecontent determination method was established by HPLC. Relevant methodology was investigated, and the extraction ratio, index component transfer rate and moisture content of 15 batches of primary standard samples were calculated. The results showed that the two sets of HPLC methods had their own characteristics. The six chromatographic peaks identified from the 10 common peaks in the former characteristic chromatogram covered all the herbal medicines in the standard substances, which can better indicate the quality characteristics of the standard substances of Mahuang Decoction. The latter method(content determination method) was simple and practical, so it was suitable for establishing the quality standard of its compound preparation. Two sets of methods were jointly used to evaluate the quality of 15 batches of Mahuang Decoction. The results were as follows: the similarity of 15 batches of samples was greater than 0.90; the average extraction ratio was 18.1%; the average moisture content was 9.7%; the average content and transfer rate of the standard ingredients ephedrine hydrochloride and total pseudoephedrine hydrochloride were 2.3% and 26.7% respectively, and the average content and transfer rate of amygdalin were 2.2% and 48.3% respectively. None of the data showed dispersion(beyond 70%-130% of the mean value), which met the application data requirements for the substance standards of ancient classical Chinese herbal compound preparations(draft for comments). Based on the above research, the primary substance quality standard of Mahuang Decoction was established in order to provide reference for the development and research of the compound preparation of Mahuang Decoction.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Ephedra sinica ; Prescriptions ; Quality Control ; Reference Standards

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effects of low- and intermediate-dose factor Ⅷ (F Ⅷ) prophylaxis in Chinese adult patients with severe hemophilia A. Methods: Thirty adult patients with severe hemophilia A who received low- (n=20) /intermediate-dose (n=10) F Ⅷ prophylaxis at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital affiliated with Nanjing University Medical College were included in the study. The annual bleeding rate (ABR), annual joint bleeding rate (AJBR), number of target joints, functional independence score of hemophilia (FISH), quality of life score, and health status score (SF-36) before and after preventive treatment were retrospectively analyzed and compared. Results: The median follow-up was 48 months. Compared with on-demand treatment, low- and intermediate-dose prophylaxis significantly reduced ABR, AJBR, and the number of target joints (P<0.05) ; the improvement in the intermediate-dose prophylaxis group was better than that in the low-dose prophylaxis group (P<0.05). Compared with on-demand treatment, the FISH score, quality of life score, and SF-36 score significantly improved in both groups (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05) . Conclusion: In Chinese adults with severe hemophilia A, low- and intermediate-dose prophylaxis can significantly reduce bleeding frequency, delay the progression of joint lesions, and improve the quality of life of patients as compared with on-demand treatment. The improvement in clinical bleeding was better with intermediate-dose prophylaxis than low-dose prophylaxis.
Humans ; Hemophilia A/drug therapy* ; Factor VIII/therapeutic use* ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Hemarthrosis/prevention & control* ; Hemorrhage/drug therapy*

Aim To explore the effeets of Salvianolie aeirl A (SAA) on platelet recruitment, activation and neutrophils in heart of myocardial infarction ( Ml ) mice.Methods C57BL/6 mice were randomly divid¬ed into: Sham operation group.Ml model group, SAA (5, 10 mg • kg 1 ) group, tirofiban (Tirofiban, 0.87 mg • kg ' ) group, using tail vein injection for 3 d.Echocardiography and HE staining were used to detect mouse heart function and infarct area; 1HC, FCS, ELISA, Western blot and other methods were used to explore the inhibitory effect of SAA on platelet and neutrophil activation.Results Compared with Ml group, SAA could improve the cardiac function and cardiac physiology changes of Ml mice, reduce the ex¬pression of CD42c in myocardial tissue and CD62p in peripheral blood without affecting tail bleeding time, reduce ADP-induced platelet activation and increase p- VASP/VASP ratio, reduce the ratio of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT, reduce the expression of CD45, Ly6G, CXCL1 and CXCL2 in myocardial tissue, re¬duce the expression of complement component C3aR in myocardial tissue, and reduce C3a-induced NE and MPO, MMP9, LF level.Conclusions SAA has an anti-platelet activation effect by inhibiting the PI3K/ AKT and VASP pathways and an anti-neutrophil acti¬vation effect by inhibiting the expression of C3aR and C3a.

The central nervous system (CNS) plays a key regulatory role in glucose homeostasis. In particular, the brain is important in initiating and coordinating protective counterregulatory responses when blood glucose levels fall. This may due to the metabolic dependency of the CNS on glucose, and protection of food supply to the brain. In healthy subjects, blood glucose is normally maintained within a relatively narrow range. Hypoglycemia in diabetic patients can increase the risk of complications, such as heart disease and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The clinical research finds that the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a positive effect on the treatment of hypoglycemia. Here the authors reviewed the current understanding of sensing and counterregulatory responses to hypoglycemia, and discuss combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine and the theory of iatrogenic hypoglycemia in diabetes treatment. Furthermore, the authors clarify the feasibility of treating hypoglycemia on the basis of TCM theory and CNS and have an insight on its clinical practice.
Brain ; metabolism ; Central Nervous System ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus ; metabolism ; therapy ; Hormones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; metabolism ; therapy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional