As one of the major geriatric syndromes,frailty exerts adverse effects on life expectancy and quality of life of the elderly.Because of its importance,a number of methods and tools have been introduced for the assessment of frailty.Malnutrition,as an independent risk factor,interacts with frailty and is involved in its progression.This article reviews recent studies on frailty and malnutrition.

Objective To explore the feasibility of quantitative assessment of pancreatic perfusion using dynamic contrastenhanced MRI (DCE-MRI).Methods Totally 68 healthy volunteers were divided into youth,middle and old groups according to ages.All volunteers underwent pancreas DCE-MRI examination.Images were transmitted to Research-DCE MRI Tool workstation to calculate the quantitative parameters,including volume transfer constant (Ktrans),interstitium-toplasma rate constant (Kep),interstitial volume (Ve) and plasma volume (Vp).Independent sample t test and one-way ANOVA test were used to evaluate the differences of pancreatic perfusion.Results There were no significant differences of Ktrans,Kep, Ve and Vp between male and female;Ve in old group was higher than that in youth and middle groups (P =0.036,0.001);Vp of pancreatic head was higher than that of pancreatic body and tail (P=0.011,0.023).Conclusion DCE-MRI can be applied to provide a reliable quantitative assessment of pancreatic perfusion noninvasively.The parameters of DCE-MRI of pancreatic perfusion are independent of gender but vary with age and pancreatic sites.

Objective To explore the effects of oral care on improving cough reflex sensitivity and prolonging time span of recurrent pneumonia. Methods Oral care was conducted among 19 pateints with recurrent pneumonia. Using capsaicin-induced cough reflex method, cough reflex thresholds were measured in 19 patients with recurrent pneumonia before the study began, at the 20th day and the twelfth month after the study began. The recorrent time spans were recorded before and after the oral care at the same time. Results Cough reflex threshold was (1.54±0.06) mmol at the 20th day after the oral care began, which was significantly lower than (2.13±0.05) mmol before the the oral care began (P<0.05); There was no significant difference between the cough reflex thresholds at the 20th day and the twelfth month (1.61±0.08) mmol (P>0.05). Pneumonia recurrent time span (210±54)days was significandy longer after performing the oral care than that (143±71)days of before performing the oral care (P<0.05). Conclusions Oral care may improve the cough reflex sensitivity among pateints with recurrent pneumonia. It can prolong the time span of recurrent pneumonia.

Objective To study miRNA expression differences in ovalbumin(OVA)- induced murine asthma models of mice and mast cells stimulated by inflammatory cytokines stimulation,and to better understand asthma deve-lopment so as to provide potential target for its prevention and treatment. Methods OVA - induced murine asthma models were validated by detecting cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)and histopathology. And miRNA ex-pression differences in the lung tissues between the model group and the normal control group were detected by real -time polymerose chain reaction PCR . After tumor necrosis factor - α(TNF - α),interleukin 12(IL - 12)stimulation, miRNA expression differences in murine mast cells P815 were detected. Results The number of total cells and eosino-phil cells both increased in BALF of the model group[(12. 8 ± 2. 2)x 107 / L vs(5. 6 ± 2. 5)x 107 / L,t = 4. 760,P ﹤0. 05;(6. 6 ± 1. 9)x 107 / L vs(0. 8 ± 0. 8)x 107 / L,t = 8. 068,P ﹤ 0. 05]. In addition,histopathology showed more inflammatory cell infiltration in the model group than that in the normal control group,indicating that the models were validated. The expression of miRNA - 155 was up - regulated approximately 5. 0 - fold in the lung tissues of the model group(P ﹤ 0. 05),while miRNA - 192 showed no differences compared with the controls. After TNF - α and IL - 12 stimulated P815 mast cells,miRNA - 192 expressions in P815 were expression in P815 was up - regulated approximate-ly 1. 9 - fold and 1. 7 - fold after TNF - α and IL - 12 stimulation,respectively(P ﹤ 0. 05). Conclusions It is conclu-ded that miRNAs are differentially expressed in the presence of OVA - induced murint asthma models and mast cells stimulated by inflammatory cytokines. These differentially expressed miRNAs may regulate the function of mast cells and involved in the pathogenesis of asthma.

Objective: To observe the effect of the intravenous infusion of vasostatin-2 (VS-2) on hemodynamics in experimental rats with spontaneous hypertension (SH).
Methods: A total of 36 (14-16) weeks male SH rats with the mean body weight at (160-250) g were randomly divided into 6 groups:①Control group, the rats received normal saline (100μl/kg),②Catestatin (20μg/kg) group,③VS-2 (5μg/kg) group,④VS-2 (10μg/kg) group,⑤VS-2 (20μg/kg) group and⑥VS-2 (40μg/kg) group. n=6 in each group. The average blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and barorelfex sensitivity (BRS) were monitored and compared upon VS-2 treatment and between VS-2 and catestatin treatments in conscious and freelance rats.
Results: Compared with prior treatment, VS-2 (20μg/kg) and VS-2 (40μg/kg) could obviously decrease the HR, BP and BRS in SH rats. In VS-2 (20μg/kg) group, HR by bpm was (341.3 ± 19.3) vs (365.5 ± 25.5), BP by mmHg was (133.0 ± 8.9) vs (147.5 ± 11.2) and BRS by ms/mmHg was (0.52 ± 0.18) vs (0.37 ± 0.12);in VS-2 (40μg/kg) group, HR was (348.8 ± 30.8) vs (374.5 ± 34.8), BP was (131.5 ± 9.3) vs (151.7 ± 10.8) and BRS was (0.53 ± 0.05) vs (0.38 ± 0.03), all P<0.01. Catestatin treatment could also decrease the HR as (318.7 ± 13.4) vs (365.5 ± 25.5), BP as (119.7 ± 7.3) vs (147.5 ± 11.2) and BRS as (0.58 ± 0.15) vs (0.35 ± 0.11), all P<0.01. Compared with catestatin (20μg/kg), the rats received VS-2 (20μg/kg) had the weaker reduction of HR as (318.7 ± 13.4) vs (341.3 ± 19.3), BP as (119.7 ± 7.3) vs (133.0 ± 8.9), all P<0.01, while BRS was similar as (0.58 ± 0.15) vs (0.52 ± 0.18), P>0.05.
Conclusion: Intravenous infusion of VS-2 may obviously affect HR, BP and BRS in experimental SH rats;compared with the same dosage of catestatin, VS-2 had the weaker reduction of HR, BP and BRS.

Objective To study the renal toxicity of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) with therapeutic dose in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in childhood. Methods Renal toxicity of 37 APL was monitored. The examinations of urinary routine, urinary microproteins[αt1-microglobulin (α1-MG), microalbumin (mAlb),β2-microglobulin (β2-MG), transferrin(TRF)] and renal function were performed. Results Five cases with leukocyturia, three cases with hematuria, six cases with proteinuria were observed before therapy. Ketonuria occurred in six cases associated with fever and less diet; overall abnormality disappeared in the first week. No significant changes of blood uric nitrigen(BUN), serum creatinine(Cr) and uric acid (UA) were founded in induction remission. Compared with tests before As2O3 infusion, obvious increase of uric α1-MG occurred in second week with arsenic trioxide, obvious increase of uric β2-MG in third week (P ＜0.01), slow recovery of uric α1-MG and β2-MG in fifth week. No significant changes of uric mAlb and TRF were seen in induction remission. Conclusion The renal toxicity of As2O3 was gentle in general therapeutic dose, renal tubercular damage could be seen. The important monitoring period were the second to fifth week in induction remission.Influence of As2O3 cumulant on renal function was not serious in the near future in childhood. The combined detection of urinary microproteins with dynamic variety could detect early renal damage with As2O3.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of alcohol extracts from Pharbitidis Semen on the proliferation and metastasis of Lewis lung cancer, and study its anti-tumor mechanism.

METHODIn vitro, MTT assay and scratch assay were adopted to detect the effect of alcohol extracts from Pharbitidis Semen on the proliferation and metastasis of Lewis lung cancer cells. The cell autophagy was detected by the acridine orange staining. The gap-junction intercellular communication (GJIC) was investigated by the fluorescent yellow transfer. The expression of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) was analyzed by the Western blotting. In vivo, the subcutaneous implant model and the experimental pulmonary metastasis model of Lewis lung cancer in mice were established to evaluate the anti-tumor and anti-metastasis effects of alcohol extract from Pharbitidis Semen. The serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and beta2 microglobulin (beta2-MG) of mice bearing Lewis lung cancer were detected by the electrochemiluminesence immunoassay. The expressions of lung AQP1 and Connexin 43 (Cx43) were examined by the immunohistochemical method.

RESULTIn vitro, alcohol extracts from Pharbitidis Semen inhibited the cell proliferation in a dose-dependent matter, significantly prevented the cell migration, down-regulated AQP1 proteins of cells, promoted GJIC, and decreased the serum-free autophagy of tumor cells. In vivo, compared with untreated model mice, alcohol extracts from Pharbitidis Semen inhibited the tumor growth in a dose-dependent matter, prevented the tumor metastasis and prolonged the life span of mice bearing Lewis lung cancer, while decreasing serum CEA and beta2-MG of mice bearing Lewis lung cancer, enhancing the immumohistochemical staining intensity of Cx43 and weakening aquaporins AQP1 positive intensity.

CONCLUSIONAlcohol extracts from Pharbitidis Semen could prevent the proliferation and metastasis in Lewis lung cancer cells. Its mechanism may be related to the promotion of GJIC and the down-regulation of AQP1.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Aquaporin 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Lewis Lung ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Connexin 43 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Ipomoea ; chemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Seeds ; chemistry

Currently, rapid detection of effective components in synthetic drugs and herbal medicine remains an important and difficult issue of medicine research. A novel ionization technique, called dielectric barrier discharge ionization ( DBDI ) , has strong ionization ability, and is suitable for weak polar substances. Besides, this technique possesses many intrinsic advantages, such as simplicity, rapidity, no complicated sample pretreatment, etc. In this study, a new DBDI ion source, based on single electrode technique, was used to detect four weak polar synthetic drugs. The results showed that the protonated molecular ions [ M+H]+of four weak polar synthetic drugs were observed obviously. What′s more, the DBDI ion source was also used for the rapid analysis of Radix Aconiti and Radix Aconiti Preparata pieces without any sample pretreatment. The result showed that the protonated molecular ions [M+H]+ and fragment ions [M+H-60]+of aconitine, hypaconitine, and mesaconitine were detected in Radix Aconiti. And only the fragment ions [M+H-60]+were detected in Radix Aconiti Preparat. The researches indicated that diester aconitine and monoester aconitine were the main effective components of Radix Aconiti Radix and Aconiti Preparat, respectively. The new DBDI ion source provided a fast and reliable method to identify effective components of medicine, showing a broad application prospects in synthetic drugs and herbal medicine research.

OBJECTIVETo investigate molecular mechanisms underlying in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease by Pulsatilla decoction.

METHODSWistar male rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, model + positive control group (mesalazine), traditional Chinese medicine treatment group, in addition, the Chinese medical treatment group was divided into middle and high dose group ( n = 8). Intragastric administration was used in the positive control group and traditional Chinese medicine treatment group. The expression of Smad7 and p-Smad3 in the colons were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, positive medicine and traditional Chinese medicine group, especially high-dose group, could effectively inhibit the expression of Smad7, while enhancing the p-Smad3 expression.

CONCLUSIONThe activation of TGF-beta1/Smad3 signaling pathway may be the molecular mechanism underlying in the anti-inflammatory effect of inflammatory bowel disease by Pulsatilla decoction.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; drug therapy ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Pulsatilla ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Smad3 Protein ; metabolism ; Smad7 Protein ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

The roots of Pittosporum glabratum Lindl. (Pittosporaceae) have been used as a folk medicine for the treatment of rheumatic arthritis, insomnia and hypertension. Only a few chemical or biological studies on P. glabratum have been reported. As part of our ongoing phytochemical research on this plant, four compounds were isolated. Their structures were identified as 3beta, 6beta, 19alpha, 21alpha, 24-pentahydroxy-12-en-28-oleanolic acid (1), 3-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl siaresinolic acid (2), 3, 4, 5-trimethoxyphenyl-1-O-beta-D-(5-O-syringoyl)-apiofuranosyl-(1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3) and 3, 4, 5-trimethoxyphenol-1-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4) on the basis of physical evidence and spectroscopic analysis. Among them, compound 1 is a new triterpenoid, and compounds 2-4 are isolated from the genus Pittosporum for the first time.
Molecular Structure ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rosales ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification