Objective To analyze the genetic diversity of Psammosilene tunicoides,an endangered and endemic medicinal plant,in southwest China.Methods The genetic diversity of seven representational populations of P.tunicoides including 137 individuals had been investigated by amplified fragment length polymorphisms(AFLP)maker technique.Results The genetic diversity had been revealed as follow:the Nei's genetic diversity index(He),Shannon's information index(I),percentage of polymorphic loci(PPB)were 0.243 4?0.179 1,0.373 5?0.248 5,and 82.30%,respectively at the species level;and 0.091 8?0.161 0,0.140 2?0.236 2,and 30.48%,respectively at population level.The genetic differentiation index(Gst)was 0.624 6 and genetic differentiation coefficient by Shannon's diversity(Ist)was 0.624 6.The result of dendrogram of seven populations indicated that Lijiang and Gejiu of Yunnan populations shared the maximum genetic identity,though they distributed in a relatively great geographical distance;Kunming population of Yunnan had the greater genetic distance from other populations.Nine characteristic fingerprint bands that can distinguish the different populations had been acquired.Conclusion The genetic diversity of P.tunicoides is relatively higher at the species levels,while lower within population levels,and a significant degree of genetic differentiation occurrs among the populations.There is little relativity between the relationship of populations and geographical distance.The combination of characteristic fingerprint bands between intraspecies and populations provide important basis data for germplasm resources diagnostics and plant breeding by AFLP maker technique.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of prehypertension among postmenopausal women.Methods2 592[(43±12)years old] health women were collected as the research object in Saihan District of Hohhot in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in April 2015,including 697[(58±6)years old] postmenopausal subjects and 1 895[(37±8)years old] premenopausal subjects.T test was used to compare means of blood pressure, fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood lipid, and body massive index (BMI) between postmenopausal group and premenopausal group and to compare prevalence of prehypertension, hyperglycemias, dyslipidemias, overweight, and obesity between two groups.Logistic Regression was implemented to analyze the relationship between different risk factors and prehypertension among postmenopausal women.Results Compared with premenopausal women, the systolic pressure, diastolicpressure, BMI, FBG, triacylglycerol (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) in postmenopausal women were significantly higher(P<0.05).Prevalence of prehypertension, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), diabetes, TG abnormalities, LDL abnormalities, overweight, and obesity in postmenopausal women were significantly higher than in premenopausal women(P<0.05).Age 55 to 59, 60 to 64 and above 65 years overweight, obesity, IFG and diabetes were independent risk factors of prehypertension among postmenopausalwomen.Conclusions Age 55 yearsand above, overweight, obesity, IFG and diabetes are the independent risk factors of prehypertension among postmenopausal women.

Objective To screen the genes most relevant to lymph node metastasis of cervical cancer and identify the genes at the key knots of the regulatory network to provide the potential targets for cervical cancer intervention.Methods The transcriptional profiling database of TCGA was used, and random forests algorithm was adopted to rank the genes related to lymph node metastasis extracted from GeneCards database.STRING and Cytospace tolls were used to build the interactive regulatory network and identify the most weighted genes localized in the central of the network.DAVID platform was used to perform a functional annotation for the whole geneset.Results We ranked 2784 genes in respect to their potential contributions to lymph node metastasis of cervical cancer and identified the genes at the key knob.The genes related to cancer metastasis were enriched to cytokines pathway, MAPK pathway, wnt pathway, intercellular interaction, adhesive conjunction, cellular skeleton regulation, etc.Some of the identified key genes, like EGFR, NOTCH1, RHOA, etc. have been verified to be closely related cervical cancer metastasis in the basic and clinical research. Conclusion Random forests algorithm is useful, taking advantages of TCGA database, in enriching the genes playing significant role in cervical cancer metastasis.A majority of the genes in the analyzed geneset were indicated to be significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of Scrophularia ningpoensis granules combined with fosinopril in treatment of congestive heart failure.Methods 60 congestive heart failure patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, 30 patients in the treatment group and 30 patients in the control group.Besides the conventional therapy, the control group was treated with fosinopril and the treatment group received Scrophularia ningpoensis granules plus fosinopril for 90 days.Left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and serum B-type brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured before and after treatment.Results The total effective rate in the treatment group and the control group were 90%, but significantly effective number in the treatment group was higher than the control group.The levels of BNP, LVEDD and LVESD in both groups were decreased, while LVEF was increased after the treatment.The difference was statistically significant (P<0.01).The degree of improvement of heart function in the treatment group was better than that in the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion The combination therapy of Scrophularia ningpoensis granules and fosinopril is efficacious in treating CHF.

Objective To establish a high-throughput in-vitro screening cell model for anti-atherosclerosis leading compounds.Methods Hypoxia response element (HRE) was cloned into a luciferase reporter vector, pGL3-Enhancer, to construct pGL3-HIF-1α-HRE.The THP-1human monocyte cell line was infected with the pGL3-HIF-1α-HRE and a stable cell line, THP-1-HIF-1α-HRE, was screened.Results Real-time PCR assay showed that HIF-1αexpression and luciferase activity in THP-1-HIF-1α-HRE cells was effectively upregulated by hypoxia.The increase of HIF-1αexpression and luciferase activity induced by hypoxia was significantly inhibited by lovastatin or curcumin.Conclusion THP1-HIF-1α-HRE, an in-vitro cell model for high-throughput screening lead compounds for anti-atherosclerosis (AS) was successfully established.

To develop a blue cap anticoagulant tube blood volume measuring card of to solve the problem of insufficient or excessive blood collection in clinical coagulation specimens.The device was composed of a measuring card,a transparent housing with a base and a tube holder.The measuring card was divided into qualified and unqualified areas,the housing was used to insert the card,the tube holder was used to place blood collection tubes.The device was used by clinical nurses to judge the adequacy of blood collection volume in blue cap anticoagulant tube.After the use of the device,the failure rate of clinical blue cap anticoagulation tube specimens submission was reduced from 6.71‰ to 2.73‰,shortened the time limit for specimen submission.At the same time,the device made the rejection judgment of department specimens more standardized and avoided the acceptance of unqualified specimens caused by subjective judgment errors.The device has simple structure,convenient operation and strong practicability,and has promotion value.

Objective:To explore the protective effect of AGK2, a selective inhibitor of sirtuin 2 (SIRT2), on the mitochondria of L02 hepatocytes induced by thioacetamide (TAA) and its related mechanism.Methods:Human-derived hepatocyte line L02 cells were cultured in vitro. Different concentrations of SIRT2 inhibitor AGK2 were used as intervention drugs. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) was used to detect the effects of different concentrations of AGK2 on the activity of L02 cells, and the appropriate concentration was selected as the AGK2 intervention group. The normal group was not given any drug intervention. The model group was given 90 mmol/L TAA for modeling. Low, medium and high dose AGK2 groups were added with 1, 2 and 4 μmol/L AGK2, respectively 2 h before modeling. CCK8 was used to detect cell activity in each group. Morphological changes of cells were observed under inverted light microscope. The relative protein expression levels of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1), malate dehydrogenase (MDH1), SIRT2 and fission protein 1 homologue (FIS1) were detected by Western blot. The expression of SIRT2 in cells of each group was observed by confocal laser scanning microscope. The mitochondrial membrane potential of cells in each group was observed under a fluorescence microscope. Results:When AGK2 concentration was 1, 2 and 4 μmol/L, the survival rate of cells were 98.05%, 95.76% and 91.65%, respectively, with no statistical significance compared with normal group (all P>0.05). When AGK2 concentration was 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 μmol/L, the cell survival rate was significantly decreased compared with normal group (all P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the L02 cells in low, medium and high AGK2 groups had better activity and adherence, and the floating cells were significantly reduced. The higher the concentration of AGK2, the better the cell activity and adherence, and the less floating cells. Compared with the model group, the red fluorescence of L02 cells in AGK2 group was enhanced, while the green fluorescence was weakened. The higher the AGK2 concentration was, the stronger the red fluorescence was, and the weaker the green fluorescence was. Compared with the model group, the fluorescence of SIRT2 in L02 cells of low, medium and high AGK2 groups was weakened, and the higher the concentration of AGK2, the weaker the fluorescence of SIRT2. The protein expressions of IDH1 and MDH1 in L02 cells of low, medium and high AGK2 groups were significantly higher than those of model group (all P<0.05), and were positively correlated with the concentration of AGK2 ( r=0.818, P<0.05; r=0.960, P<0.05); the protein expressions of SIRT2 and FIS1 were significantly lower than those of the model group (all P<0.05), and were negatively correlated with the concentration of AGK2 ( r=-0.992, P<0.05; r=-0.998, P<0.05). Conclusions:AGK2 can reduce the mitochondrial membrane potential stimulated by TAA in L02 cells, increase the protein expression of IDH1 and MDH1, and inhibit the protein expression of SIRT2 and FIS1 in L02 cells in a dose-dependent manner.

Objective: To study the epidemiological characteristics of tsutsugamushi disease, and to confirm the existence of the disease's epidemic foci in Taizhou. Methods: From 2013 to 2014, Dongxing town hospital and Xingqiao town hospital were selected as specimen collection sites in Jingjiang city. Blood samples (5 ml) were collected from 40 patients with acute tsutsugamushi disease. A total of 59 rodents were captured with cage night method in the survey sites at 5, 7, 9, 10, and 11 months in 2013, from which, the spleen, liver, and kidney specimens were selected. Chigger mites were captured by small blackboard method and from the ears of the captured rodents. A total of 226 small blackboards were laid, 27 mites were captured, and the samples were grounded into suspension. Nested-polymerase chain reaction and cell and tissue culture techniques were used to test the specimen from the probable patients, host animals and chigger mites. Results: Among the 40 acute tsutsugamushi disease blood samples, 29 were found to meet the test requirements, 17 were positive for orientia tsutsugamushi nucleic acid with 59% of the positive rate, and 1 stran orientia tsutsugamushi was isolated. 59 rats were captured and the density of mice was 5.5%. Among them, there were 26 Mus musculus (2.4%), 18 Rattus flavipectus (1.7%) and 15 Smelly shrew (density 1.4%). 1 Smelly shrew was tested positive for orientia tsutsugamushi nucleic acid, and the negative results were found in the other rodent specimens. 27 Chigge mites were collected by small blackboard method and the density of mites was 0.12 for each blackboard, among which 3 larvae and 24 nymphs were found. 33 Chigger mites were collected from the ears of 3 Smelly shrew, and the density of the mite was 11 per mouse. All the captured Chigger mites were identified as Leptotrombidium scutellare and 1 group of specimens of Chigger mites from the external environment were positive for orientia tsutsugamushi nucleic acid. Conclusion There was a high density of mice in the epidemic area from May to November and the species of the chigger mites were Chigger mites in Taizhou. The nucleic acid of the oriental tsutsugamushi was detected in the patients with acute scrub typhus, rodents and vectors. According to the above-mentioned results, it was considered that the scrub typhus epidemic area of Taizhou city has the natural foci of scrub typhus.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether dynamic monitoring of citrulline (Cit) has guiding value for early enteral nutrition (EN) in patients with severe gastrointestinal injury. METHODS: A observational study was conducted. A total of 76 patients with severe gastrointestinal injury admitted to different intensive care units of Suzhou Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from February 2021 to June 2022 were enrolled. Early EN was performed in 24-48 hours after admission as recommended by the guidelines. Those who did not terminate EN after 7 days were enrolled in the early EN success group, and those who terminated EN within 7 days due to persistent feeding intolerance or deterioration of general condition were enrolled in the early EN failure group. There was no intervention during the treatment. Serum Cit levels were measured by mass spectrometry at admission, before EN starting and EN 24 hours, respectively, and the changes in Cit within EN 24 hours (ΔCit) were calculated (ΔCit = EN 24-hour Cit-Cit before EN starting). Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was plotted to investigate the predictive value of ΔCit for early EN failure, and the optimal predictive value was calculated. Multivariate unconditional Logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors for early EN failure and death at 28 days. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients were enrolled in the final analysis, of which 40 succeeded in early EN and 36 failed. There were significant differences in age, main diagnosis, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score at admission, blood lactic acid (Lac) before EN initiation and ΔCit between the two groups. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age [odds ratio (OR) = 0.929, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 0.874-0.988, P = 0.018], ΔCit (OR = 2.026, 95%CI was 1.322-3.114, P = 0.001) and increased feeding rate within 48 hours (OR = 13.719, 95%CI was 1.795-104.851, P = 0.012) were independent risk factors for early EN failure in patients with severe gastrointestinal injury. ROC curve analysis showed that ΔCit had a good predictive value for early EN failure in patients with severe gastrointestinal injury [area under the ROC curve (AUC) = 0.787, 95%CI was 0.686-0.887, P < 0.001], and the optimal predictive value of ΔCit was 0.74 μmol/L (sensitivity was 65.0%, specificity was 75.0%). Combined with the optimal predictive value of ΔCit, "overfeeding" was defined as ΔCit < 0.74 μmol/L and increased feeding within 48 hours. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR = 0.825, 95%CI was 0.732-0.930, P = 0.002), APACHE II score (OR = 0.696, 95%CI was 0.518-0.936, P = 0.017) and early EN failure (OR = 181.803, 95%CI was 3.916-8 439.606, P = 0.008) were independent risk factors for 28-day death in patients with severe gastrointestinal injury. The new variable "overfeeding" was also associated with an increased risk of death at 28 days (OR = 27.816, 95%CI was 1.023-755.996, P = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS Dynamic monitoring of Cit has guiding value for early EN in patients with severe gastrointestinal injury.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Enteral Nutrition ; Citrulline ; APACHE ; Abdominal Injuries ; Cognition ; Thoracic Injuries

OBJECTIVE： To study release behavior in vitro of Risperidone sustained-release tablets and its pharmacokinetics in rabbits. METHODS： Risperidone sustained-release tablets were prepared by using mesoporous silica as matrix. Release rates in vitro within 12 h （Q12 h） of commercially available Risperidone tablets， Risperidone sustained-release tablets and its physical mixture in 0.1 mol/L HCl fluid were investigated with basket method. The release model of Risperidone sustained-release tablets were fitted. Using clozapine as an internal standard， HPLC method was used to determine blood concentration of risperidone and 9-hydroxyrisperidone in rabbits 48 h （n＝6） after intragastric administration of commercially available Risperidone tablets and Risperidone sustained-release tablets 2 mg. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by using non-compartmental model of Kinetica 4.4 software. RESULTS： Compared with commercially available Risperidone tablets （Q12 h＝97％） and physical mixtures （Q12 h＝95％）， release rate of Risperidone sustained-release tablets （Q12 h＝83.7％） slowed down significantly， and the release of Risperidone sustained-release tablets in 0.1 mol/L HCl fluid was closed to first-order release （R2＝0.998 9）， with diffusion as the main factor and dissolution as the supplement. By risperidone， the pharmacokinetic parameters of commercially available Risperidone tablets and Risperidone sustained-release tablets included that t1/2 were （4.64±0.93），（6.65±0.92） h； cmax were （34.46±7.75） and （8.57±6.91） ng/mL； MRT were （11.48±1.23）， （17.46±2.10） h； AUC0-48 h were （314.39±10.33），（192.98±49.14） ng·h/mL， respectively. By 9-hydroxyrisperidone， the pharmacokinetic parameters of them included that t1/2 were（7.08±0.93），（10.45±0.78） h； cmax were （98.08±5.43），（54.55±4.88） ng/mL； MRT were （11.48±1.23）， （17.46±2.10） h； AUC0-48 h were （894.71±131.15）， （1 227.99±112.12） ng·h/mL （n＝6）， respectively. Compared with commercially available Risperidone tablets， t1/2 and MRT of Risperidone sustained-release tablets prolonged significantly， while cmax decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS： Risperidone loaded in mesoporous silica has sustained release effect and prolong the time of drug efficacy.