Objective To develop the characteristic ESI-MS spectra of five Bulbus Fritillariae species and to be used for identification of Bulbus Fritillariae species.Methods The Bulbus Fritillariae medicinal materials were dipped in 18% ammonia solution,then the alkaloids were extracted by ultrasonic using the mixed solvent of ether-chloroform-ethanol(25∶8∶2.5).The extracts were analyzed directly by ESI-MS in positive ion mode.Results Bulbus alkaloids easily formed molecular ions(~+) in MS and dimerized easily in alcohol solution,which did not dimerize in acidity solution.Collision induced dissociation(S-CID) made these alkaloids easily lose a molecule of H_2O.The MS spectra of the extracts of five Bulbus Fritillariae species indicated that the major molecular ions were similar to each other,but different varieties showed very different relative abundances of these molecular ions.Conclusion The total alkaloid extracts of five Bulbus Fritillariae species have strong characteristic ESI-MS spectra and these spectra are of good reproducibility and precision,respectively.These characteristic spectra are useful for the identification of Bulbus Fritillariae species.

Objective:To discuss the effect of curcumin on ameliorating doxorubicin(DOX)-induced cytotoxicity in the H9c2 cardiomyocytes,and to clarify its mechanism.Methods:The H9c2 cardiomyocytes were treated with DOX to establish the cardiotoxicity model.The H9c2 cells were divided into normal group,DOX group,DOX+curcumin group,and DOX+curcumin+silent information regulator 3(SIRT3)inhibitor-3(3-TYP)group.After 24 h,the morphology of the cells in various groups were observed;CCK-8 method was used to detect the viabilities of the cells in various groups;TUNEL staining was used to detect the apoptotic rates of the cells in various groups;enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method was used to detect the activities of catalase(CAT)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)and the levels of malondialdehyde(MDA)in the cells in various groups;2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate(DCFH-DA)staining was used to detect the levels of reactive oxygen species(ROS)in the cells in various groups;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax),nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate(NADPH)oxidase 2(NOX2),NADPH oxidase 4(NOX4),SIRT3,acetylated superoxide dismutase 2(Ac-SOD2),and superoxide dismutase 2(SOD2)proteins in the cells in various groups.Results:Compared with normal group,the H9c2 cells in DOX group exhibited swelling,the activity of the cells was decreased(P＜0.05),the CAT and SOD activities were decreased(P＜0.05),the MDA and ROS levels were increased(P＜0.05),the expression levels of NOX2,and NOX4 proteins were increased(P＜0.05),the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and the expression level of SIRT3 protein were decreased(P＜0.05),and the expression levels of SOD2 and Ac-SOD2 proteins were increased(P＜0.05).Compared with DOX group,the H9c2 cells in DOX+curcumin group showed improved morphology,the activity of the cells was increased(P＜0.05),the CAT and SOD activities were increased(P＜0.05),the MDA and ROS levels were decreased(P＜0.05),the expression levels of NOX2,and NOX4 proteins were decreased(P＜0.05),the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and the expression level of SIRT3 protein were increased(P＜0.05),and the expression levels of SOD2 and Ac-SOD2 proteins were decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with DOX+curcumin group,the cells in DOX+curcumin+3-TYP group exhibited swelling,the activity of the cells was decreased(P＜0.05),the apoptotic rate of the cells was significantly increased(P＜0.05),the CAT and SOD activities were decreased(P＜0.05),the MDA and ROS levels were significantly increased(P＜0.05),the expression levels of NOX2 and NOX4 proteins were increased(P＜0.05),the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and the expression level of SIRT3 protein were decreased(P＜0.05),and the expression levels of SOD2 and Ac-SOD2 proteins were increased(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Curcumin suppresses the oxidative stress and apoptosis by activating the SIRT3/SOD2 signaling pathway,improving the cell activity and alleviating the DOX-induced cytotoxicity in the H9c2 cells.

OBJECTIVE:To improve the quality standard for Qiwei maqianzi pills.METHODS:TLC was used for the qualitative identification of Chebulae Fmctus and Aucklandiae Radix in the preparation.HPLC method was used for the content determination of hydroxy safflor yellow A,brucine and strychnine in preparation.The determination was performed on Phenomenex Prodigy C18 column with mobile phase consisted of methanol-acetonitrile-0.7％ phosphoric acid soulution(26 ∶ 2 ∶ 72,V/V/V,for hydroxy safflor yellow A),acetonitrile-0.01 mol/L sodium heptanesulfonate mixed with same quantity of 0.02 mol/L potassium dihydrogen phosphate (pH adjusted to 2.8 using 10％ phosphoric acid,21 ∶ 79,V/V,for brucine and strychnine) at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min.The detection wavelengths were 403 nm (for hydroxy safflor yellow A) and 260 nm (for brucine and strychnine).The column temperature was 25 ℃C,and the injection volume was 10 μL.RESULTS:TLC spots of Chebulae Fructus and Aucklandiae Radix were clear and well-separated without interference from negative control.The linear range was 6.29-62.94 μg/mL for hydroxy safflor yellow A(r=0.999 3),1.83-18.30 μg/mL for brucine(r=0.999 4) and 2.11-21.11 μg/mL for strychnine (r=0.999 6).RSDs of precision,stability and reproducibility tests were lower than 2.0％.The recoveries were 101.66％-104.91％(RSD=1.14％,n=6),99.58％-104.55％ (RSD=1.75％,n=6) and 101.22％-104.04％ (RSD=0.99％,n=6),respectively.CONCLUSIONS:Improved standard can be better used for quality control of Qiwei maqianzi pills.

Objective:To investigate the expression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission-related receptors angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) in human conjunctival tissue and its clinical significance.Methods:Fifty human conjunctival tissue specimens from 50 patients including 10 normal conjunctival tissues, 15 conjunctival papilloma tissues, 15 conjunctival nevus tissues and 10 conjunctival cyst tissues were collected from June 2019 to June 2020 at Xi'an People's Hospital.Ten corneal tissue samples from 10 patients with eyes removed due to trauma were collected as control.The distribution of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in different corneal tissues was detected by the immunohistochemistry.The expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 was scored and compared.Reuse of the human samples and the research protocol was approved by an Ethics Committee of Xi'an People's Hospital (No.20190022). Written informed consent was obtained from each patient.Results:ACE2 and TMPRSS2 were both expressed in normal conjunctival epithelium, epithelial cells in conjunctiva papilloma and conjunctival nevus, and cells in conjunctiva cyst wall.ACE2 was mainly distributed in the superficial and intermediate cells of conjunctival epithelium, but not in the basal cells and goblet cells.TMPRSS2 was found in different layers of cells.The positive expression rates of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in conjunctiva were both 100%.There was no significant difference in the expression intensity of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 among normal conjunctival tissue, conjunctival papilloma, conjunctival nevus and conjunctival cyst (all at P>0.05). Weakly expressed in corneal tissues, ACE2 and TMPRSS2 were more moderately and strongly expressed in conjunctival tissues.There were significant differences in the number of differently graded ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression between normal conjunctival tissues, conjunctival papilloma, conjunctival nevus, conjunctival cyst and corneal tissues (ACE2: Z=-3.473, -4.183, -3.970, -3.873, all at P<0.01; TMPRSS2: Z=-4.119, -4.472, -4.443, -4.147, all at P<0.001). Conclusions:COVID-19 transmission-related receptors ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are expressed in human conjunctival tissue, which provides organological evidence for ocular surface transmission of COVID-19.

AIM: To explore the clinicopathological and immunohistochemistry(IHC)characteristics of meibomian gland carcinoma(MGC).METHODS: Patients who were pathologically diagnosed as MGC from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2020 in our hospital were enrolled, and their clinicopathological information was retrospectively analyzed. Cancer tissues from all the cases were IHC stained. En Vision two-step method, DAB staining, as well as hematoxylin re-staining were applied in the IHC assay.RESULTS: A total of 50 patients with 21 males and 29 females(1:1.38)were enrolled in the study, ranging from 26 to 80 years old, with a median age of 60 years. The upper eyelid, which was the predilection site, accounting for 66%(33/50). Histopathologically, moderately or poorly differentiated was in the majority(35/50, 70%). The expression rates of IHC parameters of MGC patients were as follows: GATA-3(49/50, 98%), EMA(49/50, 98%), CAM5.2(42/50, 84%), AR(41/50, 82%), MSH2(50/50, 100%), MSH6(50/50, 100%), MLH1(50/50, 100%), PMS2(50/50, 100%), Ki67(positive, 50%-90%). All the patients were followed up for 12 to 72 mo, with 5 cases of recurrence and 0 deaths.CONCLUSION: Pathological diagnosis of MGC should focus on observing cancer cells' cytoplasm to find relevant clues for cortical gland differentiation. Comprehensive analysis of multiple indicators is required when using IHC to assist diagnosis. For most MGC cancer cells, positive expressions of GATA-3, EMA, AR, CAM5.2 and a high Ki67 proliferation index could be always found. In addition, screening for Muir-Torre syndrome related IHC indicators could be also performed in diagnosing MGC simultaneously.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of nutrition combined with exercise intervention on stroke patients with sarcopenia. MethodsFrom January to June, 2022, 60 stroke patients with sarcopenia were randomly divided into control group (n = 15), nutrition group (n = 15), exercise group (n = 15) and combined group (n = 15). All the groups received routine rehabilitation training, while the nutrition group received nutrition intervention, the exercise group received exercise intervention, and the combined group received both the nutrition and exercise intervention, for four weeks. Before and after intervention, the muscle index was measured with bioelectrical impedance analysis, gripping strength of the healthy and the affected side was measured with gripping strength meter, and the patients were assessed with modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). ResultsFour cases in the control group, two in the nutrition group, one in the exercise group, and three in the combined group dropped down. The muscle index, gripping strength, and the scores of MBI and BBS improved in all the groups after intervention (|t| > 3.004, P < 0.05), while all improved more in the combined group than in the other three groups (P < 0.05), and the grip strength of the healthy side was more in the exercise group than in the nutrition group (P < 0.05). ConclusionNutrition or exercise intervention alone can improve the muscle quality, grip strength, activities of daily living and balance of stroke patients with sarcopenia, while the combination is more effective.