OBJECTIVETo study the effect of total flavanones of Sedum sarmentosum (SSTF) on the apoptosis of rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6) and its mechanism.

METHODDifferent concentrations of SSTF and HSC-T6 cells were co-cultured for different period of time. The MTT assay was used to detect the inhibitory effect of SSTF on the proliferation of HSC-T6 cells. The flow cytometry Annexin-V/PI double staining method was adopted to detect SSTF's effect on HSC-T6 cell apoptosis. Western blotting and Real-time PCR methods were applied to observe the effect on the protein and mRNA expressions of apoptosis-related cytokines Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3.

RESULTSSTF significantly inhibited HSC-T6 cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis in a dose and time dependent manner. According to Western blotting result, SSTF promoted apoptosis by inhibiting Bcl-2, Bax and promoting the protein expression of Caspase-3; according to a further Real-time PCR study, Bcl-2 mRNA levels can inhibit Bcl-2 and promote Bax and Caspase-3 expressions.

CONCLUSIONSSTF has the effect of promoting the apoptosis of HSC-T6 mainly by inhibiting Bcl-2 and promoting protein and mRNA expressions of Bax and caspase-3.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Flavanones ; pharmacology ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Sedum ; chemistry

Objective In order to obtain the reference sequences and relative expression of transcription genes and study the genetic base of active ingredients in Penthorum chinense, which were useful for researching functional gene to P. chinense. Methods In this study, by performing Illumina Hiseq 2000 and de novo assembly, the transcriptome of whole plant was sequenced, the data were filtered and assembled, and the unigene was compared and annotated. Meanwhile, the genes related to the synthesis of metabolic pathway of active ingredients in P. chinense were analyzed. Results Totally, 40 005 442 valid short sequences were obtained, and 42 306 unigenes were spliced by de novo. Also, a total of 518 open reading frames (ORF) were obtained by ORF analysis, and 75 ORF of them had transcription factor domains. In addition, by performing KEGG pathway analysis, 33, 32, 59, and 68 unigenes were found to be involved in the pathway of flavonoid biosynthesis, steroid biosynthesis, terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, and 2-oxocarboxylic acid metabolism, respectively. Conclusion The datasets provided in this study will contribute significantly to genetic improvement and study on the genes related to biosynthesis pathway of pharmaceutical active substances from P. chinense.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a one-step esterification derivative analysis method for fatty acids in Cordyceps sinensis. and analyze and compare the composition and content of fatty acids of 12 samples from five counties of Yushu prefecture of Qinghai province. METHODS: Qualitative and quantitative analysis of fatty acids was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in combination with comparison to reference substances, then the data was compared. RESULTS: Thirteen kinds of fatty acids of C14-C20 were found with a total amount of 79.81 - 160.20 mg · g^-1. For a same sample, palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid were the three kinds of fatty acids with the highest contents, the total content of which accounted for 92.81% -95.66% of the total 13 fatty acids. The proportion of unsaturated fatty acid was much higher than that of saturated fatty acids, and the ratio of UFA/SFA was 4.23-6.63. The fatty acids of 18 carbon and 16 carbon were the component with the highest amount and content, and the ratio of C18/C16 ranged from 4.04 to 6.19. Furthermore, the composition of the 13 fatty acids was basically consistent, while the content and proportion of the fatty acids varied greatly in samples from different origins. CONCLUSION: The method of fatty acids determination in Cordyceps sinensis set up by this research is simple, accurate, and reproducible, which is suitable for the fatty acids analysis in natural Cordyceps sinensis. The qualitative and quantitative data of the fatty acids could provide references for better recognition of the value of Cordyceps sinensis and further studies on its quality control.

OBJECTIVE: To establish an HPLC method for simultaneous determination of 15 nucleosides in Cordyceps sinensis, and investigate the differences in the composition and contents of these 15 nucleosides in 12 samples from 5 counties of Yushu prefecture, Qinghai province.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors for hypoglycemia after birth in preterm infants with a gestational age of ≤32 weeks. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 86 neonates with hypoglycemia and a gestational age of ≤32 weeks who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit from January 2017 to June 2020 (hypoglycemia group). A total of 172 preterm infants with normal blood glucose who were hospitalized during the same period were randomly enrolled as the control group. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to screen out the risk factors for hypoglycemia in preterm infants. RESULTS: There were 515 preterm infants during the study, among whom 86 (16.7%) had hypoglycemia. Compared with the control group, the hypoglycemia group had significantly higher percentages of small for gestational age (SGA), cesarean section, maternal hypertension, and antenatal steroid administration (P<0.05), but significantly lower birth weight and rate of intravenous glucose use before blood glucose test (P<0.05). SGA (OR=4.311, 95%CI: 1.285-14.462, P<0.05), maternal hypertension (OR=2.469, 95%CI: 1.310-4.652, P<0.05), and antenatal steroid administration (OR=6.337, 95%CI: 1.430-28.095, P<0.05) were risk factors for hypoglycemia in preterm infants, while intravenous glucose use (OR=0.318, 95%CI: 0.171-0.591, P<0.05) was a protective factor against hypoglycemia in preterm infants. CONCLUSIONS SGA, maternal hypertension, and antenatal steroid administration may increase the risk of early hypoglycemia in preterm infants with a gestational age of ≤32 weeks, and intravenous glucose use is recommended as soon as possible after birth for preterm infants with a gestational age of ≤32 weeks to reduce the incidence rate of hypoglycemia.
Cesarean Section ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia/etiology* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Small for Gestational Age ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of acetylcysteine effervescent tablets in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).Methods One hundred patients with OSAHS were divided into control group and treatment group with 50 cases per group.Control group was given the conventional treatment with low flow oxygen absorption,functional exercise and diet.Treatment group was given acetylcysteine effervescent tablet 600 mg,qd,oral,on the basis of control group.Two groups were treated for 12 weeks.The clinical efficacy,serum endothelin-1 (ET-1),nitric oxide (NO),interleukin-6 (IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and adverse drug reactions were compared between two groups.Results After treatment,the total effective rates of treatment and control groups were 90.00％ (45 cases/50 cases) and 74.00％ (37 cases/50 cases) with significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).After treatment,the main indexes in treatment and control groups were compared:ET-1 were (39.24 ±5.50) and (46.28 ±0.12)ng · L-1,NO were (56.25 ±7.05) and (48.88 ±5.60)μmol · L-1,IL-6 were (41.48 ±4.91) and (65.77 ±9.10)ng · L-1,TNF-α were (28.37 ±3.42) and (42.32 ± 6.21) ng · L-1,the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).There were no adverse drug reactions occurred between two groups.Conclusion Acetylcysteine effervescent tablet has a definitive clinical efficacy and safety in the treatment of OSAHS,which can adjust the levels of ET-1,NO,IL-6 and TNF-α.

Objective To determine the value of spectral karyotyping(SKY)in identification of the marker chromosome.Methods Selected six cases that could not be identified in clinic were studied,using samples of peripheral blood from four cases,and samples of amonic fluid and fetal cord blood for prenatal diagnosis in two cases were investigated.All cases were analyzed with the routine SKY method.and the results with the SKY View software.The SKY results were identified by using fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH).And C-banding technique was used to help diagnose the heterochromatin.Results SKY wag successfully performed on all of 6 cases.The origin of all marker chromosomes was identified by SKY.Except case No.4,the others were confirmed by FISH.It helped determine the pregnancy outcome in two cases of prenatal diagnosis:one case of genetic marker chromosome continued the pregnancy,and another case of de novo marker chromosome was terminated of the pregnancy.Conclusion SKY may be a vahable tool to diagnose the marker chromosome with rapidness,direct-viewing and sensitiveness.It can be used to assess the prognosis and the pregnancy outcome.

Oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT)was performed in 419 first-degree relatives(FDRs)of type 1 diabetes mellitus. GADA, IA-2A, and IAA were determined by radioligand assay, and the positive rates were 7.16%, 1.43%, and 1.26%, respectively. Intravenous glucose tolerance test(IVGTT)and nateglinide-OGTT were performed in 39 controls, 11 first-degree relatives with positive autoantibody(Ab+group), 14 ones with negative autoantibody(Ab-group)during 5-7 days.The first-phase insulin release(FPIR), area under insulin release during 0-10 min [AUC0-10] of IVGTT and the value of(ΔI30/ΔG30)of nateglinide-OGTT in Ab+group were lower than those of control and(2.75±0.37 vs 3.61±1.05)mU/mmol, all P＜0.05]. The 1st min insulin release in Ab+group was lower than that of Ab-group [(3.80±0.30 vs 4.52±0.70)mU/L, P＜0.05]. The HOMA-IR was higher in Ab-group than that in control group(2.92±1.04 vs 1.96±1.22, P＜0.05). The results suggest that the positivity rates of autoantibodies in FDRs of type 1 diabetes mellitus are very close to those of Caucasian. There exist insulin secretion defects in FDRs with positive autoantibody while insulin resistance in FDRs with negative autoantibody.

Objective To investigate the expression of Oct4 in liver cancer, and the interrelation of the Oct4 and Wnt/β-catenin genes in hepatocellular carcinoma( HCC) cell line HepG2. Methods RTPCR technique was used to detect the expression of Oct4 and β-Catenin in HCC specimens; RNAi was used to knock-down the expression of Oct4 in HepG2, and the change of Wnt/β-catenin related genes were detected by Real time-PCR. Results In HCC specimens, the expression of Oct4 and β-Catenin in tumor and cirrhotic liver tissues were stronger than normal liver tissues. In SiRNA Oct4 HepG2 cells, the expression of Oct4 was downregulated, and β-catenin as well as Wnt10b were in a positive correlation with Oct4, TCF3 was in negative correlation with Oct4. Clone formation and move ability of the HepG2 were downregulated. Conclusions The expression of Oct4 was higher in tumor tissues than in normal liver tissues. Silencing Oct4 by SiRNA-0ct4 in HepG2 resulted in decreased ability of clone formation and cell movement.

Objective To explore the status quo and the correlation of professional practice environment and job burnout in head nurses. Methods Totally 646 head nurses from city state hospitals of Hunan Province was selected by cluster sampling method. Participants were investigated by using the Chinese Version of Profession Practice Environment Scale for Head Nurses and Maslach Burnout Inventory. Results The professional environment score was 215.95±22.81, which was in the moderate level. The score of emotional exhaustion (EE) in head nurses was 24.56 ± 10.64, depersonalization (DP) was 8.92 ± 4.17 and personal accomplishment (PA) was 35.55±13.08, all stating moderate burnout. Meanwhile, the scores of EE and DP were negatively correlated with professional practice environment (r=-0.350--0.161, P≤0.01), while the PA was positively correlated with professional practice environment (r=0.078- 0.271, P≤0.01). Conclusions Professional practice environment in head nurses is correlated with job burnout. Hospital leaders should pay more attention to head nurses′professional practice environment to decrease job burnout in head nurses.