Objective: To gain a clear idea on the resources and pharmacognostic identification of medicinal plant Xanthium in China. Method: Identification of botanical origin, analysis of fruit shapes and properties, microscopic characteristics, TLC and UV. Result: ldentification criteria have been worked out for Xanthium and its confused species. Conclusion: The resources of medicinal plant Xanthium may be appropriately expanded.

OBJECTIVESpinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common and fatal autosomal recessive disorder. Approximately 94% of SMA patients are caused by homozygous deletion of SMN1 gene. SMA carrier screening is recommended considering the high carrier frequency (1 in 35-50) as well as severity of the disease.

METHODSA prospective population-based cohort study was carried out on 4719 pregnant women from Shanghai region. Copy numbers of SMN1 and SMN2 genes were effectively determined with denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) technique. The method has detected 94% of SMA cases with deletion or conversion of the SMN1 genes.

RESULTSNinety SMA carriers with only one copy of the SMN1 gene were identified among the 4719 pregnant woman. The carrier rate was 1.9%. Respectively, 1.2% and 0.6% of the carriers were caused by SMN1 gene deletion and SMN1 gene conversion.

CONCLUSIONThrough this study, we have determined the frequency of SMA mutation carriers in a population of pregnant women. The result may provide a basis for genetic counseling in order to reduce the rate of SMA affected births.

Adult ; China ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Genetic Testing ; methods ; Humans ; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; Prospective Studies ; Survival of Motor Neuron 1 Protein ; genetics ; Survival of Motor Neuron 2 Protein ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the expression of TEIF protein in human tumors of soft tissue and its significance.

METHODSAnti-TEIF polyclonal antibody was generated by immunization of E.coli expressed His-TEIF protein. The expression of TEIF in 166 cases of sarcomas and 28 case benign tumors or tumor-like lesions of soft tissue arranged in tissue chip was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSPolyclonal antibody obtained from immunized rabbit was verified in Western blot to prove its specific reactivity with native TEIF protein. The immunohistochemical staining of TEIF showed that about 58% (97/166) of sarcomas were positive and significantly different from that of benign tumors or tumor-like lesions (11%, 3/28). The positive staining was predominantly in synovial sarcoma 94% (16/17), primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) 91% (21/23), both of which were significantly higher than 43% (6/14) of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, 38% (6/16) of myxofibrosarcoma, 36% (8/22) of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, 32% (6/19) of liposarcoma, (P < 0.05, respectively), but not higher than 75% (15/20) of malignant fibrous histiocytoma, 70% (7/10) of rhabdomyosarcoma or 64% (9/14) of leiomyosarcoma. Meanwhile, strong positive staining of TEIF (>or= 2+) was frequently observed in PNET (83%, 19/23) and synovial sarcoma (76%, 13/17). With respect to FNCLCC grading, 19 cases of grade I sarcoma TEIF was 32% (6/19) and strong positive was 11% (2/19), 44 cases of grade II sarcoma was 48% (21/44) and 32% (14/44), and 70 of grade III was 84% (59/70) and 70% (49/70). The rate of either positive or strong positive in grade III sarcoma was significantly different from that of either grade I or II (P < 0.05), but no difference between the latter two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTEIF protein could be detected in large part of soft tissue sarcomas, and it not only over-expressed in most of PNET, synovial sarcomas, but also correlated with histological grading.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; HeLa Cells ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infant ; Leiomyoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; metabolism ; pathology ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tissue Array Analysis ; Transcription Factors ; biosynthesis ; Young Adult

Objective This thesis analyze the current situation of scientific research and the proposals of development of the county level public hospitals.Methods Questionnaires were used to collect the data of the scientific research situation of county-level public hospitals,and SWOT analysis was employed to develop a better understanding of the situation and development of scientific research of county-level public hospitals.Results The number of papers published by hospitals is bound up with the number of scientific and technical staff in the county-level public hospitals,the number of laboratories,tissue banks and the proportion of the postgraduate students to the public hospitals.The achievements above municipal level in scientific research are also strongly linked with the professional scientific and management personnel,the number of laboratories and tissue banks and the proportion of postgraduate students to the hospital.There are distinct features of the advantages,disadvantages,plans and challenges of the scientific research work of county-level public hospitals.Conclusions The most important ways of improving the ability of scientific research and the quality of service in country level public hospitals are that:attach great importance to scientific research,intensify the efforts for the introduction and cultivation of scientific research talents,formulate a reasonable reward system,enable professional scientific research management for its delicacy research etc.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of evodiamine (Evo), a component of Evodiaminedia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth, on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) and further explore the potential mechanisms.

METHODSCardiomyocytes from neonatal Sprague Dawley rats were isolated and characterized, and then the cadiomyocyte cultures were randomly divided into control, model (Ang II 0.1 μmol/L), and Evo (0.03, 0.3, 3 μmol/L) groups. The cardiomyocyte surface area, protein level, intracellular free calcium ([Ca]) concentration, activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and content of nitric oxide (NO) were measured, respectively. The mRNA expressions of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), calcineurin (CaN), extracellular signal-regulated kinase-2 (ERK-2), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) of cardiomyocytes were analyzed by real-time reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction. The protein expressions of calcineurin catalytic subunit (CnA) and mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) were detected by Western blot analysis.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, Ang II induced cardiomyocytes hypertrophy, as evidenced by increased cardiomyocyte surface area, protein content, and ANF mRNA expression; increased intracellular free calcium ([Ca]) concentration and expressions of CaN mRNA, CnA protein, and ERK-2 mRNA, but decreased MKP-1 protein expression (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with Ang II, Evo (0.3, 3 μmol/L) significantly attenuated Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, decreased the [Ca] concentration and expressions of CaN mRNA, CnA protein, and ERK-2 mRNA, but increased MKP-1 protein expression (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Most interestingly, Evo increased the NOS activity and NO production, and upregulated the eNOS mRNA expression (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEvo signifificantly attenuated Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and this effect was partly due to promotion of NO production, reduction of [Ca]i concentration, and inhibition of CaN and ERK-2 signal transduction pathways.

Angiotensin II ; Animals ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; metabolism ; Calcineurin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hypertrophy ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Quinazolines ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Quality marker(Q-marker) is a new concept and pattern for quality control of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),which will lead the development direction for quality control of TCM.Among them,how to characterize the overall quality attribute of TCM and its biological effect,is a critical scientific problem in the study of Q-marker.In this paper,integrated pharmacology is utilized to screen out and confirm the Q-marker from the complex system of TCM,so as to solve the critical scientific problem.System biology in vivo is firstly applied to establish the correlation of chemical fingerprints of TCM,their metabolic fingerprints,network targets,biological effects and efficacy of TCM,which is used to preliminary screen out Q-marker of TCM.Following that,a pharmacological method in vitro,including intestinal absorption in vitro coupled with bioactivity assessment,is employed to simultaneously determine the absorbed doses of TCM and evaluate their biological activity.Furthermore,data mining is utilized to establish the exact quantitative mathematic model between Q-marker of TCM and bioactivity.Meanwhile,two representative examples,including Yuanhu Zhitong tablets,Xinsuning capsules,are introduced to identify Q-marker of TCM and establish their quality standards related with bioactivity,which will be beneficial to improve the level of quality control of TCM and ensure the effectiveness and safety of clinical applications.

Objective: Several COVID-19 patients have overlapping comorbidities. The independent role of each component contributing to the risk of COVID-19 is unknown, and how some non-cardiometabolic comorbidities affect the risk of COVID-19 remains unclear. Methods: A retrospective follow-up design was adopted. A total of 1,160 laboratory-confirmed patients were enrolled from nine provinces in China. Data on comorbidities were obtained from the patients' medical records. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio ( Results: Overall, 158 (13.6%) patients were diagnosed with severe illness and 32 (2.7%) had unfavorable outcomes. Hypertension (2.87, 1.30-6.32), type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (3.57, 2.32-5.49), cardiovascular disease (CVD) (3.78, 1.81-7.89), fatty liver disease (7.53, 1.96-28.96), hyperlipidemia (2.15, 1.26-3.67), other lung diseases (6.00, 3.01-11.96), and electrolyte imbalance (10.40, 3.00-26.10) were independently linked to increased odds of being severely ill. T2DM (6.07, 2.89-12.75), CVD (8.47, 6.03-11.89), and electrolyte imbalance (19.44, 11.47-32.96) were also strong predictors of unfavorable outcomes. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease on admission (5.46, 3.25-9.19), while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes (6.58, 1.46-29.64) within two weeks. Conclusion Besides hypertension, diabetes, and CVD, fatty liver disease, hyperlipidemia, other lung diseases, and electrolyte imbalance were independent risk factors for COVID-19 severity and poor treatment outcome. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease, while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes.
Adult ; Aged ; COVID-19/virology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome