S-nitrosation, which involves the formation of an S-nitroso function group on a protein cysteine residue, is a prototypic redox-based post-translational modification of proteins, and thereby conveys a large part of the ubiquitous influence of nitric oxide on cellular signal transduction. A purview of this modification was given mainly concerning the characteristics, the detection methods, the functional effects, the relevant diseases and the perspectives.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of moxa smoke versus tobaccosmoke on autonomous behaviors and hippocampal expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in apolipoprotein E gene knockout (ApoE-/-) mice.Method Thirteen 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice constituted a blank control group. Twenty-seven ApoE-/-mice of the same age were randomized into ApoE-/-model, moxa smoke and tobacco smoke groups. The tobacco smoke and moxa smoke groups of mice were exposed to smoke 5-15 mg/m3circumstances. Every group of mice was intervened in 20 min. daily, six days a week, for atotal of 12 weeks. A behavioral test was conducted in week 13. The animals were then sacrificed to take the materials. Hippocampal GFAP in the brain was measured by an immunohistochemical method.ResultAutonomous activities were significantly more in theblank group than in the model group (P<0.05) and significantly fewer in the tobacco smoke group than in the blank group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in autonomous activities between the tobacco smoke group and the model or moxa smoke group (P>0.05). Moving distance was longer in the moxa smoke group than in the model group (P<0.05). Standing-up number was smaller in the moxa smoke group than in the blank group (P<0.05). Integral optical density of GFAP immune reaction products in the hippocampus was significantlyhigher in the model group of mice than in the blank and moxa smoke groups (P<0.05). Hippocampal GFAP expression was significantly higher in the group of mice than in the moxa smoke and blank groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Moxa smoke can increase the excitability of central nervous system in mice and reduce hippocampal GFAP expression in a mice model of Alzheimer disease.

Emerging data indicated that HCV subverts the antiviral activity of interferon (IF); however,whether HCV core protein contributes to the process remains controversial. In the present study, we examined the effect of HCV core protein on interferon-induced antiviral gene expression and whether the effect is involved in the activation and negative regulation of the Jak/STAT signaling pathway. Our results showed that, following treatment with IFN-α, the transcription of PKR, MxA and 2'-5'OAS were down-regulated in HepG2 cells expressing the core protein. In the presence of HCV core protein,ISRE-dependent luciferase activity also decreased. Further study indicated that the core protein could inhibit the tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT1, whereas the level of STAT1 expression was unchanged.Accordingly, SOCS3, the negative regulator of the Jak/STAT pathway, was induced by HCV core protein. These results suggests that HCV core protein may interfere with the expression of some interferon-induced antiviral genes by inhibiting STAT1 phosphorylation and induction of SOCS3.

Objective To observe the clinical effect and complications of intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG)in the treatment of severe adenovirus pneumonia(SAP)in children. Methods Clinical data of 210 hospitalized children with SAP from June 2009 to June 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into IVIG group (109 cases) and control group (101 cases) to compare the therapeutic effects, duration of fever, length of stay in hospital, duration of mechanical ventila-tion, and complications between the two groups. Results There was no difference in the severity of illness on admission and un-derlying diseases between the two groups. Both groups were given antiviral, antibacterial and comprehensive supporting thera-py, and in the IVIG group IVIG 250-400mg/(kg.d) were administered for 3-5 d. The mean hospital stay and fever time of the IVIG group were significantly shortened comparing to that of the control group, and the time of mechanical ventilation on the IVIG group is less than that of the non-IVIG group. Incidence rate of pleural effusion, atelectas is, myocarditis and toxic enceph-alopathy in the IVIG group is lower than the control group, and the cure rateand effective therapy of the IVIG group is higher than control group, all of the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). No adverse drug reaction was observed. Conclu-sions IVIG is safe and effective in the treatment of SAP in children.

OBJECTIVE:To prepare Puerarin polymeric micelles and establish a method to determine its entrapment efficiency. METHODS:Puerarin polymeric micelles were prepared by film dispersion method. The polymeric micelles and free drug were sepa-rated by centrifugal-millipore filter filtration method. The entrapment efficiency of puerarin polymeric micelles was determined by HPLC. Diamonsil C18(2)column was used with 1% citric acid solution-methanol(65∶35)at the flow rate of 1 ml/min. The detec-tion wavelength was set at 250 nm,and column temperature was room temperature. RESULTS:The prepared polymeric micelles were spherical and spherical-like in shape with a mean particle size of 54.12 nm,polydispersity index of 0.122,Zeta potential of -13.60 mV;the linear range of puerarin was 2-10μg/ml(R2=0.999 4)with average recovery rate of 99.2%(RSD=0.9%,n=3). The re-covery rate of free drug was 95.3%(RSD=1.7%,n=3). The mean entrapment efficiency and drug-loading amount of puerarin were(35.5±2.12)% and(0.3±0.07)%,respectively(n=3). CONCLUSIONS:Film dispersion method is suitable for the prepara-tion of Puerarin polymeric micelles. Established method is convenient,accurate and reliable for the content and entrapment efficien-cy determination of Puerarin polymeric micelles.

or older during the outbreak epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant in Sanya City, Hainan Province, August-September 2022, and to provide scientific and effective basis for formulating strategies for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in the elderly in the future. Methods　The data of 1 785 COVID-19 cases aged ≥60 years reported from August 1 to September 8, 2022 in Sanya City, and 537 local COVID-19 inpatients aged ≥60 years treated in Sanya Central Hospital were collected and analyzed using WPS Office 2018 software for data cleaning, database assistance, and drawing, and SPSS 22.0 software was used to statistically describe and analyze the counting data. Results　A total of 1 785 local COVID-19 cases aged ≥60 years were reported in China's Disease Prevention and Control Information System, including 1 509 confirmed cases (84.54%) and 276 asymptomatic cases (15.46%). Of the confirmed cases, 1 448 were mild cases (95.96%), 40 were common cases (2.65%), 10 were severe cases (0.66%), and 11 were critical cases (0.73%), and no deaths were reported. The ratio of male to female was 0.88∶1. The youngest was 60 years old, the oldest age was 107 years old, with a median age of 67 years old. Most of them (1 559 cases, 87.34%) were non-social employed personnel. Among them, 952 (53.33%) were from Tianya District and 733 (41.06%) from Jiyang District. Among the 537 COVID-19 elderly infected patients hospitalized in Sanya Central Hospital, infected patients with underlying diseases accounted for 287 (53.45%) cases of hypertension, diabetes and other types of basic diseases (chronic kidney disease, hyperlipidemia, chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, etc.), and there were serious infections. Conclusions　Most of the elderly infected with Omicron variants were mild cases with few symptoms, but the elderly infected with Omicron variants were difficult to recover or even worsen the condition due to old age and underlying diseases. Therefore, by analyzing the various aspects of elderly infected cases, scientific and effective basis can be provided to prevent and control the epidemic situation in the future, and reduce the occurrence of severe, critical and death cases of COVID-19 in the elderly.

Objective To study the clinical features and differential diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH).Methods A case of LCH was reported and the literatures were reviewed.Results The of multisystem LCH patient,presented with a diabetes insipidus (DI) and panhypopituitarism,was 44 years old,and developed costal,tibial and femoral multiple lesions.The final diagnosis as LCH was made based on biopsy of tibia and lymph nodes.The biopsy specimen showed that the cells were infiltrated exhibiting the characteristic morphologic features of Langerhans cell (LC) with a convoluted shape,elongated nuclei exhibiting longitudinal grooves,and immunohistochemistry results revealed positive LC for the S-100,CD1a and Langerin immunostaining.Conclusions LCH may range from a solitary lytic bone lesion (for example eosinophilic granuloma) with a favorable course to a fatal disseminated leukaemia-like form.LCH typically involves the bone,lesions almost can be found in all organs.DI and CNS involvement often present as a puzzling syndrome,which renders the diagnosis problematicly,and often delays the diagnosis of LCH.The damage to the pituitary/hypothalamus axis results in life-long hormonal replacement therapy.

To study the effect of steaming and baking process on contents of alkaloids in Aconite Lateralis Radix (Fuzi), 13 alkaloids were analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS equipped with ESI ion source in MRM mode. In steaming process, the contents of diester-diterpenoid alkaloids decreased rapidly, the contents of monoester-diterpenoid alkaloids firstly increased, reached the peak at 40 min, and then deceased gradually. The contents of aconine alkaloids (mesaconine, aconine and hypaconine) increased all the time during processing, while the contents of fuziline, songorine, karacoline, salsolionl were stable or slightly decreased. In baking process, dynamic variations of alkaloids were different from that in the steaming process. Diester-diterpenoid alkaloids were degraded slightly slower than in steaming process. Monoester-diterpenoid alkaloids, aconine alkaloids and the total alkaloids had been destroyed at different degrees, their contents were significantly lower than the ones in steaming Fuzi at the same processing time. This experiment revealed the dynamic variations of alkaloids in the course of steaming and baking. Two processing methods which can both effectively remove the toxic ingredients and retain the active ingredients are simple and controllable, and are valuable for popularization and application.
Aconitine ; analogs & derivatives ; isolation & purification ; Aconitum ; chemistry ; Alkaloids ; isolation & purification ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Stability ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; Hot Temperature ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification ; Steam ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether inhalable particulate matters can cause the damage of chromosome or mitotic apparatus to produce micronucleus, and to evaluate genetic toxicology of moxa smoke on chromosome.

METHODSBy MTT method, the 24 h half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of moxa smoke condensation (MSC) on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells was 0.087 mg/mL. CHO cells, which were cultured in vitro, were divided into a solvent control group, a positive control group (cyclophosphamide as solvent), a low concentration group, a moderate concentration group and a high concentration group. The low concentration group, moderate concentration group and high concentration group were set approximately 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 of IC50, respectively. Whether micronucleus had dose-effect response induced by the damage of chromosome or mitotic apparatus was observed after CHO cells were contaminated by MSC in the low concentration group, moderate concentration group and high concentration group.

RESULTSThe rate of micronucleus induced by MSC in the low concentration group, moderate concentration group and high concentration group was higher than that in the solvent control group (all P < 0.05), which presented dosage-effect response. The experiment was repeated 3 times, indicating it was repeatable with statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONHigh concentration of MSC shows toxicity to induce chromosome damage, which disappears at low concentration. The genetic toxicology is also dependent on concentration, and the concentration of moxa smoke is essential. In clinical treatment, it is noted to control the level of moxa smoke, while the clinical safety standard of moxa smoke concentration is in need of further study.

Air Pollutants ; adverse effects ; Animals ; CHO Cells ; Cell Nucleus ; drug effects ; genetics ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Inhalation Exposure ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Micronucleus Tests ; Moxibustion ; adverse effects ; Particulate Matter ; adverse effects ; Smoke ; adverse effects ; analysis

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating late-life dementia that produces progressive loss of memory and mental faculties in elderly people. It is important to identify the earliest evidence of AD and to monitor the development of this disease for us to make positive response to its management. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is powerful to image the tissue or organ without damnification. MRI can be employed to diagnose the early AD development and monitor the key biomarker development in AD. MRI may be helpful not only in diagnosing early AD, but also in evaluating its development. This article reviews the progress of MRI on the diagnosis and detection of AD, and makes comments on its therapeutic application.
Alzheimer Disease ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Animals ; Atrophy ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways