OBJECTIVETo study the biomass structure of Epimedium acuminatum Franch in the different ecological environments for the development and protection.

METHODThrough the scientific investigation in four typical habitats, the sampling spots were set up, the functional modules' biomass structure and relationship of E. acuminatum were researched.

RESULTThe average of rhizome, as the largest biomass, and the average total biomass had the same pattern: the open areas of forest edge > shrub lumber > shrub-weed > stream drains. The ratio of the functional modules' biomass had different rates under different habitat conditions. By analyzing and combining investigation, the aerial part of E. acuminatum in the shrub-weed were comparative advantage, and the roots of nutrient accumulation of E. acuminatum in the open areas of forest edge were the highest efficient. Under different ecological condition, the distribution of water metabolism was different strategies.

CONCLUSIONIn the open areas of forest edge, E. acuminatum growing well, followed by shrub-weed. These two habitats are the ideal ecological environments while the rhizome or the whole plant used as medicine, but also the protection of E. acuminatum.

Objective To understand the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and related risk factors in residents aged 18-65 years in Beijing and provide scientific evidence for the prevention and control of hypercholesterolemia.Methods The data were collected from Beijing Non-communicable and Chronic Disease Survey and stratified cluster sampling method was used to select study subjects,and questionnaire investigation,physical measurement and laboratory examination were conducted to collect information.Results The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and borderline hypercholesterolemia was 6.26％ and 21.34％ respectively in 17 662 residents surveyed,the average total cholesterol level was (4.69 ± 0.95) mmol/L.The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 6.33％ in men and 6.20％ in women,the difference was not significant (Z=1.64,P=0.10).The prevalence was higher inurban area than in suburb (6.73％ vs.5.59％;Z=-7.27,P＜0.01).The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia increased with age (trend x2=308.85,P＜0.01).The trend was observed in men (trend x2=81.65,P＜0.01),in women (trend x2=318.04,P＜0.01),in urban area (trend x2=201.77,P＜0.01) and in suburb (trend x2=114.65,P＜0.01).Multiple logistic regression showed age,being female (OR=1.23,95％CI:1.04-1.45),overweight (OR=1.56,95％CI:1.34-1.81),obesity (OR=1.82,95％CI:1.54-2.16),smoking (OR=1.24,95％CI:1.03-1.50),alcohol use (OR=1.40,95％CI:1.12-1.75),beef and mutton intake ＞ 1 time per week (OR=1.19,95％CI:1.02-1.39) were risk factors.Conclusion The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in Beijing was lower than national level,and age,gender,location,BMI,smoking,alcohol use,beef and mutton intake were main influencing factors.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) and risk factors among middle-aged and elderly residents in Beijing.Methods:In August-December of 2017, 6 549 residents aged 45-79 years old were randomly selected in the study by stratified multi-stage cluster sampling method. The investigation was performed by questionnaire, physical examination and laboratory tests. The contents of questionnaire included the demographic characteristic and prevalence of chronic disease. Blood pressure was tested. Fasting venous blood was collected to test the level of total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HLDL), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), triglyceride (TG), fasting blood-glucose (FBG), blood creatinine (Cr) and serum uric acid (UA). The Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation was used to estimate GFR(eGFR). The decreased GFR was defined as eGFR less than 60 ml/min per 1.73 m 2. The statistical software SPSS 20.0 was used for analysis. The general linear model, test of independence of rows and columns, logistic regression for complex samples were generalized. The weighted mean and weighted rate were analyzed. Results:The average level of eGFR was (100.51±0.54) ml/min per 1.73 m 2. The rate of decreased GFR was 1.28%, and it showed a higher rate in subjects aged 70-79 years-old, living in urban area, with history of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperuricemia (4.53%, 1.57%, 2.90%, 2.27%, 2.12% and 4.62%; F=30.827, 10.588, 11.466, 34.693, 6.788,51.643, all P<0.05) . Logistic regression analysis of complex sampling showed that 70-79 years old ( OR=4.435, 95 %CI:2.402-8.191), living in urban area ( OR=3.145, 95 %CI: 1.540-6.420), hypertension ( OR=4.663, 95 %CI:2.177-9.988), hyperuricemia ( OR=6.751, 95 %CI:3.363-13.553) were associated with decreased GFR (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The prevalence of the decreased eGFR among middle-aged and elderly residents in Beijing is higher than the average level in the eastern part of China. Hypertension, hyperuricemia, the old age and living in urban are risk factors of decreased GFR.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Yiqi Huoxue Tongluo prescription （YHTP） in the treatment of diabetic neuropathic pain （DNP）. MethodNinety SPF-grade SD male rats were randomized into blank， model， low- （2.25 g·kg^-1）， medium- （4.5 g·kg^-1）， and high-dose （9 g·kg^-1） YHTP， and mecobalamin （0.175 mg·kg^-1） groups. Except those in the blank group， the rats in the remaining 5 groups were fed with a high-fat and high-glucose diet and subjected to intraperitoneal injection of low-dose （35 mg·kg^-1） streptozotocin （STZ） to establish the model of DNP. The sciatic nerve conduction velocity in DNP rats was measured by the neurophysiological method， and the levels of interleukin-6 （IL-6）， IL-1β， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was employed to measure the mRNA levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein （GFAP） and extracellular signal-regulated kinase （ERK） in the spinal cord. Western blot was employed to measure the protein levels of GFAP and phosphorylated ERK （p-ERK）， and immunofluorescence staining to measure the fluorescence intensity of GFAP and p-ERK in the spinal cord. In the cell experiments， 100 mmol·L^-1 high glucose was used to induce the activation of astrocytes （CTX-TNA2） for the modeling of nerve cell injury. The cells were randomized into the normal， model， drug-containing serum （10% YQHT）， inhibitor ［10 mol·L^-1 corynoxeine （COR）］， drug-containing serum + inhibitor （10% YHTP + 10 mol·L^-1 COR） groups. The levels of pro-inflammatory factors （TNF-α and IL-1β） and the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 in CTX-TNA2 cells were determined by ELISA， and the protein levels of GFAP and p-ERK in CTX-TNA2 cells by Western blot. ResultThe animal experiments showed that compared with the blank group， the model group presented reduced mechanical withdrawal threshold （MWT）， thermal work limit （TWL）， and nerve conduction velocity， elevated levels of fasting blood glucose， IL-1β， TNF-α， and IL-6， and up-regulated protein levels of GFAP and p-ERK， and mRNA levels of ERK1， ERK2， GFAP （P<0.01）. Compared with model group， YHTP increased the MWT， TWL， and sciatic nerve conduction velocity （P<0.01）， lowered the levels of IL-1β， TNF-α， and IL-6 （P<0.01）， and down-regulated the protein levels of GFAP and p-ERK， and mRNA levels of ERK1， ERK2， GFAP in the spinal cord （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The cell experiments showed that compared with the blank group， the model group had decreased survival rate， elevated levels of pro-inflammatory factors， and up-regulated protein levels of ERK and GFAP （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the YHTP-containing serum lowered the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α （P<0.05， P<0.01）， elevated the level of IL-10 （P<0.01）， and down-regulated the protein levels of ERK and GFAP （P<0.01）. ConclusionYHTP may inhibit the activation of astrocytes by inhibiting the ERK signaling pathway to reduce inflammation and thus relieve DNP.

The seventh article of Measures for the Ethical Review of Biomedical Research Involving Humans (2016) stipulated that medical and health institutions without an ethics committee shall not carry out biomedical research involving Humans. The Opinions on Strengthening the Governance of Ethics in Science and Technology, issued in March 2022, clearly stated that the institutions that do not meet the conditions for establishing a scientific and technological ethics (review) committee should entrust other institutions to conduct the review. The fourteenth article of Measures for Ethical Review of Life Science and Medical Research Involving Humans (2023) proposes that if an institution, which carries out life science and medical research involving humans, has not established an ethics committee or its ethics committee is not competent for ethics review, it can entrust a competent ethics committee or regional ethics committee in writing to carry out ethical review. Most medical institutions at or above the second level in China have set up ethics committees. While most universities and colleges, scientific research institutions, enterprises and grass-roots medical and health institutions have not set up ethics committees, which lack a working system to protect the safety and interests of the participants, and is difficult to conduct life sciences and medical research involving humans. At present, there is a need for some research institutions that do not have the conditions to establish ethics committees to entrust their projects of life science and medical research involving humans to other institutions for ethical review. The entrusted review is still in the exploratory stage, and there is no relevant specification. The hasty implementation of entrusted review may not achieve the goal of effectively protecting the safety and interests of the participants, and even cause legal disputes. Based on the thematic discussion, with reference to the relevant laws and regulations, departmental rules, ethical standards, and the experience of the ethics committees of some domestic institutions in implementing the entrusted review, the guideline was formulated for the reference of the current entrusted review to ensure the safety and interests of the participants.

The passing of ethical review is a necessary conditions and prerequisite for the development of life science and medical research involving humans. At present, some medical and health institutions have no or insufficient ethical review capabilities. The lack of ethical review ability has become a bottleneck restricting the development of life science and medical research involving humans. According to documents such as Opinions on Deepening the Reform of the Review and Approval System and Encouraging the Innovation of Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices, Opinions on Strengthening the Ethical Governance of Science and Technology, institutions can entrust competent institutional ethics review committees or regional ethics review committees in writing to conduct ethical review. Entrustment ethical review provides a viable solution for institutions that need to carry out life science and medical research involving humans but do not have an ethics (review) committee or the ethics (review) committee is not competent to review. To conduct the entrustment ethical review, the entrustment between the principal and the trustee is required. According to The Measures for Ethical Review of Life Sciences and Medical Research Involving Humans, if medical and health institutions and their ethical review committees do not accept the formal entrustment to provide the ethical review opinions for other institutions, the local health authorities at or above the county level will impose administrative penalties and sanctions on the relevant institutions and personnel in accordance with the law. Signing the entrustment ethical review contract, implementing legal compliance entrusted ethical review to protect the rights and interests of the trustee and the principal, and protect the research participants.