Objective To establish the standard for quality control ofQingyan Granule. Methods The chief components of the preparation, Sophora Tonkinensis radix et rhizoma, Adenophorae radix, Lonicera japonica caulis, and Ophiopogonis radix were identified by TLC qualitatively. The contents of licorice glycosides and glycyrrhizic acid were determined by HPLC. The separation was performed on Thermo Syncronis C18 column (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5μm) with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile with 0.05% phosphoric acid solution (A)-0.05% phosphoric acid solution (B), and gradient elution (0-8 min, 19%A;8-35 min, 19%→50%A). Detection wavelength was 237 nm, and flow rate was 1 mL/min.Results The spots in TLC were clear. There were spots with same color on the corresponding location of reference substance and reference herbal, negative control without interference. The linear range for licorice glycosides was 0.05-0.5μg (r=0.999 9). The average recovery was 99.97%, RSD=1.74% (n=9). The linear range for glycyrrhizic acid was 0.1-2μg (r=0.999 9). The average recovery was 99.74%, RSD=1.28% (n=9). Conclusion The method is simple, accurate, with high reproducibility, which can be used for quality control ofQingyan Granule.

Objective To investigate the clinical features of gynecological malignant tumor related multiple primary malignant neoplasms (MPMN).Methods Apply retrospective and comprehensive analysis to the clinical data of 30 patients with gynecological malignant tumor related MPMN.Results Synchronous MPMN were found in 9 patients.Their average age was 50.2 years old and their median age was 49 years old.The neoplasms were located at ovary,uterus,cervix,breast and intestine.Metachronous MPMN were found in 21 patients.Their average age was 57.7 and their median age was 57 years old.The median interval between the first and the second primary malignant neoplasm was 4.0 years.The neoplasms were located at breast,ovary,uterus,gastrointestinal tract,uterine cervix,lung etc.In 30 cases,26 of them were treated by surgical operation and further adjunctive treatment of chemotherapy and (or) radiotherapy was conducted as per the neoplasm staging and its pathological results.The rest 4 patients (first primary malignant neoplasms were excised from 3 of them and another one was not treated by surgical operation) received adjunctive treatment of chemotherapy and (or) radiotherapy.Followed ups,which varied from 6 to 60 months,were made to 29 patients and 20 out of the 29 were alive.5-year survival rate of patients with gynecological malignant tumor related MPMN was 47.8％,2-year survival rate was 73.9％,and 1-year survival rate was 88.6％.Conclusion Pay more attention to the patients with gynecological malignant tumor related MPMN,examine the high-risk patients with malignant tumor comprehensively,identify whether it is recurrence,metastasis or new growth of malignant neoplasm,and further ensure early diagnosis and proper treatment,avoiding misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.

More than 80% of all cases of deafness are related to the death or degeneration of cochlear hair cells and the associated spiral ganglion neurons, and a lack of regeneration of these cells leads to permanent hearing loss. Therefore, the regeneration of lost hair cells is an important goal for the treatment of deafness. Atoh1 is a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor that is critical in both the development and regeneration of cochlear hair cells. Atoh1 is transcriptionally regulated by several signaling pathways, including Notch and Wnt signalings. At the post-translational level, it is regulated through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. In vitro and in vivo studies have revealed that manipulation of these signaling pathways not only controls development, but also leads to the regeneration of cochlear hair cells after damage. Recent progress toward understanding the signaling networks involved in hair cell development and regeneration has led to the development of new strategies to replace lost hair cells. This review focuses on our current understanding of the signaling pathways that regulate Atoh1 in the cochlea.
Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/physiology* ; Cell Differentiation ; Cochlea/physiology* ; Hair Cells, Auditory/physiology* ; Hearing Loss/etiology* ; Humans ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex/physiology* ; Signal Transduction/physiology* ; Transcription Factors/physiology* ; Ubiquitin/metabolism* ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; beta Catenin/physiology*

Hearing impairment has become one of the most common sensory disabilities. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 466 million people were living with disabling hearing loss in 2018, and that number could rise to 900 million by 2050. Conductive hearing loss, which predominantly involves the sound-transmitting route of the outer and middle ear, has been well handled by antibiotics and surgery. However, sensorineural hearing loss, which involves the inner ear and structures further within the auditory pathway, has very limited biological treatment options (current treatment options include only hearing amplification and cochlear implants). Part of the reason for the paucity of therapeutics is due to the complexity of the auditory system and the limited regenerative ability of the hearing sensory cells, hair cells, and connected nerve.

The changes in potassium currents of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) isolated from saphenous arteries and the 2nd-6th order branches of the mesenteric arteries of 4-week tail-suspended rats (SUS) were examined using whole cell patch clamp technique. The resting potential (RP) of the VSMCs from SUS group was more negative compared with that of the control group (CON).The whole cell potassium current densities of VSMCs isolated from the saphenous arteries and small mesenteric arteries in SUS group were significantly larger than those of the CON group.The BK(Ca) and K(V) current densities of VSMCs from saphenous arteries and small mesenteric arteries from SUS group were also significantly larger than those from the CON group.It is speculated that the hyperpolarization of VSMCs and decreased calcium influx through voltage-dependent calcium channels might be one of the electrophysiological mechanisms involved in the depressed vasoreactivity of hindquarter arteries induced by simulated weightlessness.
Animals ; Arteries ; cytology ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; metabolism ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium ; metabolism ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Weightlessness Simulation

This paper introduces an automatic control system for the cylindrical rotating medicine-storage which is composed of a microcontroller, a motion control chip, a motor driver, the memory, the watch dog, etc. This system is able to restore a larger amount of medicine, and the user can take the medicine more quickly, more accurately and more easily.
Automation ; instrumentation ; Drug Storage ; Equipment Design ; Pharmacies ; Software Design

OBJECTIVECoronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common causes of death in the world. Some studies suggested that CHD begins in childhood. Obesity and dyslipidemia are important risk factors of coronary heart disease. Apolipoprotein (apo)E gene associated with dyslipidemia and coronary heart disease. The present study was designed to investigate the expression status of apoE gene in peripheral blood monocyte and association of apoE gene expression with lipids in children with obesity.

METHODSAmong 32 children with obesity and 32 healthy children without obesity or overweight, ApoE gene expressions were determined by competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in peripheral blood monocyte. The concentrations of plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, lipoprotein(a), apoA I, apoB(100) and apoE were measured.

RESULTSExpression of apoE gene was detected in peripheral blood monocyte. Expression of apoE gene was significantly reduced in children with obesity as compared with control group (0.29 +/- 0.14 moles/mole GAPDH mRNA vs. 0.36 +/- 0.10 moles/mole GAPDH mRNA, t = 2.15, P < 0.05). The more severe was the degree of obesity, the more significantly reduced the expression of apoE gene; the degree of obesity was negatively correlated with the levels of expression of apoE gene (correlation coefficient = -0.40, P < 0.05). Compared with control group, the levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and apoB(100) were higher, and those of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, apoA I and apoE were lower in children with obesity [(1.68 +/- 0.50) mmol/L vs. (0.99 +/- 0.54) mmol/L, (4.47 +/- 0.91) mmol/L vs. (3.33 +/- 0.90) mmol/L, (2.23 +/- 0.71) mmol/L vs. (1.13 +/- 0.96) mmol/L, (94.48 +/- 9.97) mg/dl vs. (83.81 +/- 15.64) mg/dl, (1.47 +/- 0.39) mmol/L vs. (1.73 +/- 0.36) mmol/L, (112.71 +/- 27.86) mg/dl vs. (134.80 +/- 45.36) mg/dl, (24.50 +/- 10.92) mg/L vs.(35.07 +/- 9.79) mg/L, respectively, P < 0.05]. ApoE gene expression was associated with plasma lipids metabolism in children with obesity. The quantity of apoE gene expression was inversely associated with low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, positively correlated with apoE (correlation coefficient = -0.33, 0.35, respectively, P < 0.05). The quantity of apoE gene expression was not associated with total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, lipoprotein(a), apoA I, and apoB(100) (correlation coefficient = -0.19, -0.11, 0.16, 0.09, 0.18, 0.22, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONExpression of apoE gene was significantly reduced in peripheral blood monocyte in children with obesity. The quantity of apoE gene expression was associated with degree of obesity and abnormality of blood lipids.

Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Child ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Gene Expression ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Male ; Obesity ; blood ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Triglycerides ; blood

Objective To synthesize a lipophilic prodrug of triptolide (TP) and improve its druggability .Methods Trip-tolidestearate (TP-SA)was synthesized via the DMAP-catalyzed DCC method and identified by MS ,1H-NMR and 13C-NMR. The shake-flask method was used to study the oil/water partition coefficient .The preparations of TP and TP-SA liposomes and emulsions were compared .Their encapsulation efficiency and stability were investigated .Results TP-SA was synthesized suc-cessfully .Its log P in octanol/water system was 2 .33 .It was difficult to prepare TP liposome or emulsion .By contrast ,TP-SA liposome and emulsion can be prepared successfully with the same formulation process .The particle size of TP-SA lipo-somes were about 90 nm and TP-SA emulsions were about 110 nm .The encapsulation efficiency was above 95% .Their stabili-ty were studied at 4℃ and 25℃ .The preparation parameters ,such as particle size and encapsulation efficiency ,had no signif-icant change in a week .Conclusion Triptolide stearate enhanced drug lipophilicity .Its druggability was improved significant-ly .These data can be used for the TP related drug design and development .

Objective To investigate the mechanism of renal injury induced by changes in flow shear stress (FSS) during renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R).Methods 1.In vitro,HUVECs were divided into 4 groups:(1) HUVECs were loaded with 12 dyn/cm2 force for 30,45,and 90 min by using plate fluid chamber system.(2) Cells were loaded with FSS for 2 h,and then cultured for 1,3,8 and 12 h respectively;(3) HUVECs were pretreated with 0,1,2,4 and 8 mmol metformin and cultured for 24 h.(4) HUVECs in control group were cultured normally.The expression of p-AMPK/AMPK protein was detected by Western blotting in each group.2.In vivo,16 SD rats with successful establishment of IR model were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =4 in each group):(1) static cold storage (CS) group:isolated kidneys were stored for 4 h;(2) hypothermia machine perfusion (HMP) group:isolated kidneys were continuously perfused with 0 ℃ lactated Ringer's solution for 4 h;(3)metformin treatment group (Met-CS):metformin was intraperitoneally injected 3 days before surgery,and the isolated kidneys were obtained after cold preservation for 4 h;(4)rat kidneys of control group were just subjected to thermal ischemia for 30 min.The injury of renal tissue in each group was observed by TUNEL and HE staining.The expression and distribution of p-AMPK protein in renal tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry.The correlation between FSS loss and AMPK expression in kidney tissue was analyzed.Results The expression of p-AMPK in HUVECs could be up-regulated by FSS,and the expression of p-AMPK protein increased with the prolongation of time.After stopping FSS,the expression of p-AMPK protein in HUVECs gradually decreased with time (P＜0.05).Metformin could activate AMPK activity in a concentration-dependent manner (P＜0.05).The content of p-AMPK in renal tissue of HMP group was significantly higher than that of CS group (P＜0.05).The expression of p-AMPK in renal tissue of HMP group mainly distributed in the renal tubules,and few in glomerular endothelial cells and blood vessels.The apoptosis rate of renal tissue in HMP group was significantly lower than that in CS group (P＜0.05).In the HMP group,the damage of the renal tissue was mild,there was no swelling,and the renal tubules were slightly expanded.In the CS group,the renal tissue was severely damaged and the renal tubules were markedly swollen.Conclusion During the course of renal IR in rats,changes in FSS may affect renal tissue damage through the AMPK pathway.

Isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase (IDI) is a key enzyme in the regulation of triterpenes biosynthesis and plays an important role in ginsenoside biosynthesis. In this study, two IDI genes, PvfIDI1 (GenBank No. MZ736417) and PvfIDI2 (GenBank No. MZ736418) were cloned from Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus. The open reading frame of both PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 was 924 bp encoding 307 amino acids. The molecular weights of PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 were 34.84 kDa and 34.66 kDa, respectively, with theoretical pIs of 6.01 and 5.66. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 contained two conserved sequences: TNTCCSHPL and WGEHELDY. Phylogenetic analysis showed that PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 were closely related to Panax notoginseng IDI. Expression analysis showed that both PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 genes are expressed in root, rhizome, stem and leaf of P. vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus. However, PvfIDI1 is highly expressed in the rhizome and PvfIDI2 is highly expressed in the stem. PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 recombinant proteins were expressed in E. coli; a functional coloration experiment showed that PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 could promote the accumulation of lycopene, indicating that both PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 encode functional IDI enzymes. The cloning and functional studies on PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 provide a foundation for the further study of IDI and the regulation of ginsenoside biosynthesis in P. vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus.