Valeriana jatamansi (syn. V. wallichii), a traditional Chinese medicine recorded in Chinese Pharmacopeia (1977 and 2010 edition), has been used for treatment of a variety of conditions including sleep problems, obesity, nervous disorders, epilepsy, insanity, snake poisoning, eye trouble, and skin diseases. Also, it was used as an important substitute for the European V. officinalis, whose root preparation, popularly known as valerian, has been employed as a mild sedative for a long time. In recent years, much attention has been draw to the iridoids, one of the major bioactive constituents of V. jatamansi, leading to the discovery of a series of new iridoids with anti-tumor and neuroprotective activities. Their action machnism also has been discussed. This paper summerized the iridoids and their bioactivities from V. jatamansi in recent years, which could provide basic foundation for development and research of V. jatamansi.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Iridoids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Valerian ; chemistry

Objective To evaluate the tests in differential diagnosis of subtypes in patients with primary aldosteronism. Methods Fifty-seven patients in the past 7 years chnically diagnosed as primary aldosteronism [22cases of aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA), 26 idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA) and 9 primary adrenal hyperplasia (PAH)] were selected. The plasma potassium, basic and upright plasma renin activity, plasma and urinary aldosterone were determined. 19 patients with essential hypertension served as control. All patients with primary aldosteronism underwent adrenal CT, postural stimuhtion test (PST) and adrenal venous sampling (AVS) to differentiate the subtypes. The clinical and laboratory data were followed up during survey. Results (1) The patients with APA had higher blood pressure and aldosterone level in plasma or urine, but lower plasma potassium and plasma renin activity than those with IHA. In PAH group, these parameters were in the ranges between APA group and IHA group. For the diagnosis of APA, IHA and PAH, the coincidences were 86.4%, 73.1% and 22.2% by adrenal CT, 86.4%, 80.8% and 77.8% by the ratio of aldosterone in both sides of AVS and 95.5%,92.3% and 100.0% by the ratio of aldosterone to cortisol in beth sides, respectively. (2) The plasmaaldosterone, systohc and diastolic blood pressure were decreased after operation in the patients of APA and PAH,and no significant changes were found in patients with IHA. Conclusion The abnormal laboratory findings in patients with APA axe more evident than those in IHA. The result of PST is overlapping considerably in cases ofAPA and IHA. Adrenal venous samphng yields a high coincidence, which should be done in patients with negative CT scanning. The ratio of aldosterone to eortisol in AVS is more reliable. The clinical and laboratory data,especially plasma potassium will be improved after operation in patients with APA and PAH. But there is no change in patients with IHA during the follow-up period.

Forty-eight patients with subclinical Cushing's syndrome(SCS)were evaluated.Eleven of them underwent adrenalectomy(Group 1)and the other 37 cases did not(Group 2).Serum and urine corticosol, plasma ACTH and parameters related to metabolic syndrome(such as waist circumference,blood pressure,blood lipids and fasting plasma glucose)were measured.The data at diagnosis were compared with those during the survey.The results indicated that patients with SCS had a significantly high prevalence of metabolic syndrome.The symptoms and signs of metabolic syndrome could be improved after removing the tumor.Otherwise there is no improvement,some patients will even develop into overt Cushing's syndrome.

y screen and prevent CAD in these people before diabetes sets in.

Objective To investigate the effect of interferon-γ(IFN-γ) on the expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase(IDO),and tryptophanyl-tRNA-synthetase (TTS) in thyrocytes; and to study the relevant immunopathological significance in Graves' disease.Methods The expressions of IDO and TTS genes in IFN-γ stimulated Nthy-ori3-1 cell line and human thyrocytes,as well as in human thyroid tissues were determined by realtime quantitative PCR.Results IDO and TTS genes were expressed slightly in both Nthy-ori3-1 cell line and human thyrocytes,and were significantly up-regulated after IFN-γ stimulation(P＜0.01).Compared to healthy controls,TTS mRNA level was higher in thyroid tissues of patients with Graves' disease (P =0.018 2),while IDO mRNA level showed no difference,but was notably correlated with IFN-γ mRNA level (R2 =0.716,P =0.002).Conclusion In the early stage of Graves' disease,thyrocytes may decompose local tryptophan by enhancing the expression of IDO and TTS under IFN-γstimulation,thus inhibit auto-reactive function of lymphocytes and balance excessive autoimmune reaction.

Objective To investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics in two patients with androgen insensitivity syndrome. Methods Clinical features and laboratory data were collected from the patients and their families. All exons of the androgen receptor gene were amplified by PCR and PCR products were sequenced. Results Patient 1 presented with unambiguous female external genitalia, unilateral gynecomastia and primary amenorrhea. He did not have axillary hairs or pubic hairs. Patient 2 presented with undervirilization including scanty body hairs, gynecomastia and hypospadias. A missense mutation of

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the efficacy and safety of simultaneous bilateral endoscopic surgery (SBES) for bilateral upper urinary tract calculi, and to summarize the initial experience. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with bilateral upper urinary tract calculi who underwent SBES in the Department of Urology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital from January 2019 to January 2020 were enrolled retrospectively. The demographic and clinical data of the patients were recorded, and the operation status, stone free rate (SFR) and peri-operative complications were analyzed. The primary end point was SFR, and second end point was peri-operative complications. RESULTS: A total of 23 patients underwent SBES, of which SBES was completed in 19 patients (12 males, and 7 females). The mean age was (41.3±12.0) years. Fourteen patients underwent modified supine position surgery and 4 patients in prone split-leg position. There was no statistical difference in the demographic and baseline clinical data of the patients in different positions. One patient underwent right percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and left endoscopic combined intra-renal surgery (ECIRS) in the prone split-leg position, while 18 patients received simul-taneous surgery with PCNL and contralateral retrograde intra-renal surgery (RIRS). The mean anesthesia and operation time was (128.7±26.5) min and (70.7±20.3) min, respectively, which was significantly longer in the patients with prone split-leg position than in the patients with modified supine position, anesthesia time in the patients with prone split-leg position and modified supine position: (148.4±20.4) min vs. (121.6±25.3) min, respectively, t=－2.121, P=0.049, while the operation time in the patients with prone split-leg position and modified supine position: (86.4±21.1) min vs. (65.1±17.4) min, respectively, t=－2.222, P=0.040. There was no significant difference between the two groups in indwelling of nephrostomy [prone split-leg position and modified supine position: (2.6±0.9) d vs. (2.1±1.0) d, respectively; t=－0.880, P=0.391] and the length of hospital stay [prone split-leg position and modified supine position: (6.0±2.7) d vs. (5.2±1.8) d, respectively; t=－0.731, P=0.475]. One month after the operation, the SFR was 78.9%, and 3 patients had minor peri-operative complications (Clavien-Dindo grades Ⅰ/Ⅱ) without any serious complications (Clavien-Dindo grades Ⅲ/Ⅳ/Ⅴ). CONCLUSION The simultaneous bilateral endoscopic surgery would decrease the operation time and anesthesia exposure under the premise of ensuring the SFR, which is helpful to reduce the risk of peri-operative complications, especially to the patients who can not tolerate the second-stage or long-time operation.
Adult ; Calcinosis/surgery* ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrolithotomy, Percutaneous ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Urologic Diseases/surgery*

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of three antithrombotic agents on venous thromboembolism (VTE) after unilateral total knee arthroplasty.

METHODSFrom November 2011 to March 2014, 149 patients undergoing unilateral total knee arthroplasty for knee osteoarthritis were reviewed. Among them, there were 66 males and 83 females, ranging in age from 48 to 76 years old. All the cases were randomly divided into three groups including Aspirin group, low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) group, and rivaroxaban group, according to antithrombotic agents. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE) and bleeding complication (including wound ecchymosis, hematoma and other local complications, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, urinary hemorrhage and other major bleeding events) of antithrombotic agents were observed and analyzed statistically at the 6 week, 8 week, and 12 week after operation.

RESULTSAmong patients who received Aspirin (48 cases), 4 patients had DVT, in 1 patient had PE, and 2 patients had bleeding complication. Among 54 patients in low-molecular-weight heparin group, 3 patients had DVT, 1 patient had PE, and 3 patients had bleeding complication. While among those patients received the rivaroxaban (47 cases), 3 patients had DVT, 0 patient had PE, and 11 patients had bleeding complication. There were no statistically differences among three groups on DVT, and PE (P>0.05). The incidence of bleeding complication in rivaroxaban group was higher than the other two antithrombotic agents, and the difference among the three groups was statistically significant (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAspirin, low-molecular-weight heparin, and rivaroxaban could effectively reduce the incidence of VTE after total knee arthroplasty, and their efficacy was similar. Rivaroxaban has a higher incidence of bleeding complication and further clinical trials are required to be conducted to assess the safety of rivaroxaban in clinical.

Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; adverse effects ; Aspirin ; therapeutic use ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Rivaroxaban ; therapeutic use ; Venous Thromboembolism ; prevention & control

Objective To explore the effect of salubrinal (sal,an endoplasmic reticulum stress inhibitor) on radiosensitivity of human head and neck squamous carcinoma cells (HNSCC).Methods Cells were divided into two groups of sal treatment and its control.For drug treatment group,cells were treated with 10 mmol/L sal for different time (12,24,36 h) and then irradiated.The levels of a core protein GRP78 of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in HNSCC (KB,Fadu,and Detroit 562 cells)were analyzed by Western blot assay at different time (0,20 min,1 h,3 h,6 h,12 h,24 h and 48 h) after irradiation.Cell survival was measured with colony formation assay.Results Western blot assay revealed that the protein levels of GRP78 in three kinds of HNSCC significantly increased from 20 min to 1 h and peaked at 3 h after radiation (t =12.72,13.37,18.31,P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the control group,treatment of cells with sal decreased GRP78 protein levels (t =14.25,5.34,3.12,P ＜ 0.05) in three cell lines and also significantly enhanced radiation damage and reduced cell viability.The sensitization enhancement ratios (SER) of sal in three cell lines were 1.16,1.05 and 1.06,respectively.Conclusions Rradiosensitivity of HNSCC could be effectively enhanced by sal treatment.

Objective To explore more suitable calculation method of the insulin dosage in insulin hypoglycemia-growth hormone stimulation test(insulin tolerance test, ITT). Methods Fifty-six subjects suspected of growth hormone deficiency were divided into primary and secondary onset groups. All the patients took oral glucose tolerance test and ITT. Homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance index ( HOMA-IR) and insulin sensitivity index ( ISI), area under insulin curve ( AUCINS ) and the area under glucose curve ( AUCPG ) were calculated. The insulin dosages during ITT between two groups were compared and the main factors influencing the insulin dosage were analyzed. Results There was no difference in the insulin dosage during ITT between primary and secondary groups. The actual dosage of insulin in this cohort study revealed a significant difference from the initial insulin dosage recommended by the guideline. Multiple linear regression analysis found that AUCINS and body mass index were the independent factors affecting the insulin dosage. Then the optimized coefficient of ITT ( γ) were found. Conclusion The insulin dosage used in our study was inconsistent with the guidelines-recommended ones. In order to make ITT more efficient and safer, a more optimized calculation method to improve the successful rate of insulin-induced hypoglycemia in ITT is proposed.