Objective: To study the toxicity of Catharsius molossus and the toxic components in C. molossus. Methods: The toxicities of ethanol and water extracts from C. molossus were measured by acute toxicity experiments in mice. The toxic components in the water extract of C. molossus were isolated by organic solvent precipitation and gel permeation chromatography. Results: The mice were ig administered with the ethanol extract (≤ 34.8 g/kg), which indicated that the oral administration was safe. The water extract had the significant acute toxicity with the LD50 value of 19.01 g/kg, and the symptoms were listlessness, abnormal breathing, lack of exercise, and unresponsive to external acoustic stimulation. The purified water extract contained 13% of protein, and the molecular weight distributed from 1.5 × 103 to 3.0 × 104. The protein (molecular weight of 3.0 × 104) may be one of the toxic components of C. molossus. Conclusion: Herbalogical description is consistent with the modern research on the toxicity of C. molossus.

Objective: To establish capillary electrophoresis (CE) fingerprint of active fraction from the dried body of Catharsius molossus and to explore the feasibility of fingerprint evaluation by total quantum statistical moment method. Methods: Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) was used. The electrophoretic conditions were as follows: fused silica capillary column (60 cm × 75 μm), borate solution (75 mmol/L, pH 9.8) as the running buffer, applied voltage of +20 kV, and the detection wavelength of 200 nm. Fingerprint was evaluated by similarity analysis software of Pharmacopeia Committee and total quantum statistical moment method. Results: The CE fingerprint of active fraction from the dried body of C. molossus was established. The similarities in six batches of the active fractions evaluated by similarity analysis software of Pharmacopeia Committee and total quantum statistical moment method had no significant difference. Conclusion: The method is accurate, simple, and reproducible. It could be used for the quality control of active fraction from the dired body of C. molossus. The total quantum statistical moment method could be used to analyze the fingerprint.

Objective To investigate the effect of intrathecal gastrodin on skin cancer pain in mice.Methods Thirty-two female Balb/c mice,aged 8 weeks,weighing 20-25 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=8 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group S),skin cancer pain group (group SCP),gastrodin group (group G),and artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) control group (group ASCF).Skin cancer pain was produced by injecting phosphate buffer solution 20 μl containing about 2 ×105 4T1 breast cancer cells into the plantar surface of the left hindpaw.At 14th day after inoculation of cancer cells,ASCF 5 μl was injected intrathecally in S and ACSF groups,and gastrodin 150 μg/kg (5 μl) was injected intrathecally in group G.Before inoculation,at 30 min before intrathecal injection,and at 15,30,60,90,120 and 150 min after intrathecal injection,the thermal paw withdrawal latency (TWL) was measured.The expression of acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC)-3 mRNA in the spinal dorsal horn was detected using the real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction after the last measurement of the pain threshold.Results Compared with group S,the TWL was significantly decreased at each time point before and after intrathecal injection in SCP,ACSF and G groups,and the expression of ASIC-3 mRNA in the spinal dorsal horn was significantly down-regulated in group G (P＜0.05).Compared with group SCP,the TWL was significantly increased at each time point after intrathecal injection,and the expression of ASIC-3 mRNA in the spinal dorsal horn was significantly down-regulated in group G (P＜0.05),and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group ACSF (P＞0.05).Conclusion Intrathecal gastrodin can reduce skin cancer pain and down-regulate ASIC-3 expression in the spinal dorsal horn which is helpful in maintaining the analgesic effect in mice.

Aim To compare cardioprotection effects between carvedilol and metoprolol in canine late reperfusion of acute myocardial infarction.Methods Eighteen anesthetized dogs were randomly divided into three groups: late reperfusion group(LR,n=6),late reperfusion after metoprolol treatment group(LR+M,n=6),and late reperfusion after carvedilol treatment group(LR+C,n=6),respectively orally giving physiological saline,metoprolol(1 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1)),and carvedilol(1 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1)) for seven days,and then late reperfusion of acute myocardial infarction model was made by ligating the coronary for 6 h,followed by reperfusion for 6 h.SOD,GR activity and MDA content of infarction brim myocardium were detected by colorimetry,Fas/FasL were detected by immunohistochemistry,apoptosis index(AI) were detected by TUNEL.Results Compared with LR,Myocardial MDA content in LR+C was decreased,and SOD and GR activities were significantly higher,but LR+M did not change.The expression of Fas/FasL and apoptosis index were significantly lowered in LR+M and LR+C,especially in LR+C.Conclusion Carvedilol and metoprolol have cardioprotection on late reperfusion of acute myocardial infarction,and carvedilol is superior to metoprolol and the pharmacological effects may due to its antioxidant effect.

Objective To observe the changes of cerebrovascular reactivity(CVR)in cerebral infarct, and ascertain the correlation between them. Methods Breath-holding index (BHI) was obtained with transcranial Doppler combined breath-holding test in 193 subjects with cerebral infarct and 113 controls. Results The BHI in cerebral infarct patients was significantly lower than that in controls(P=0.000),and CVR was a independent influential factor for cerebral infarct(P=0.000). Conclusion Impaired CVR is associated with cerebral infarct, which should be paid more attention to.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of gray-scale ultrasonography (GSU) combined with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and real-time elastography imaging (EI) in solid thyroid nodules.Methods A total of 124 solid nodules were collected from Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University from September 2011 to November 2014, including 49 benign nodules and 75 malignant nodules conifrmed by surgical pathology. The data of multimodal imaging were retrospectively analyzed and compared with the pathological results. The parameters among the groups were compared byχ2 test. Four diagnostic models including the statistically signiifcant independent variables were established accord to different combinations of routine ultrasound examination. The binary Logistic regression equation using the pathological results as the dependent variable Y and the ultrasound features of thyroid nodules as independent variableX was established for calculating the area under the receiver operator curve (ROC) and multiple regression analysis furthermore.Results There were statistically significant differences in aspect ratio, margin condition, echo type, CEUS features, elastic imaging score and elastic strain rate of benign and malignant thyroid nodules(χ2=13.966, 7.106, 24.215, 17.250 and 27.158,P<0.05).The four Logistic regression models were statistically signiifcant (χ2=5.37, 5.37, 8.155, 8.155, allP<0.05). By using modelⅠ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ andⅣ, the diagnostic sensitivity, speciifcity and accuracy of malignant nodules were (73.8%, 75.9%, 79.7%, 83.3%), (67.5%, 70.7%, 85.2%, 86.7%), and (71.8%, 74.2% 81.8%, 84.4%) respectively. The area under the ROC of logistic equation predicted values were (0.778, 0.809, 0.875 and 0.898, allP<0.01). Multivariate categorical analysis showed that aspect ratio, margin condition and the elastic strain rate ratio (χ2=13.73, 7.541 and 11.461, allP<0.05) of thyroid nodules were effective diagnostic indicators. Conclusions Our study indicated that CEUS and EI could be helpful modality for GSU to improve the diagnostic accuracy of thyroid nodules. The combined application of multi mode ultrasound examination has a high diagnostic value.

Objective To assess the diagnostic value of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS),elastography and their combined use in diagnosing thyroid nodules of thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS) 4. Methods From November 2011 to August 2016, 159 TI-RADS 4 nodules diagnosed by conventional ultrasound were prospectively enrolled and examined by CEUS and elastography before surgery. Multivariate logistic regression models were established for CEUS and CEUS combined with elastography to diagnose thyroid malignancy. The diagnostic performances of CEUS, elastography and their combined use were evaluated with the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The sensitivity,specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and omission diagnostic rate of CEUS, elastography and their combined use were compared by Chi-square test. Results The CEUS features significantly predicting malignancy were heterogeneous enhancement, hypoenhancement, without or incomplete ring-enhancement and later time to peak than the surrounding parenchyma (χ2=24.378, 69.194,29.434 and 7.375, all P < 0.01). Furthermore, the multivariate logistic regression for CEUS combined with elastography showed that heterogeneous enhancement, ring enhancement and elasticity score were the independent predictors of thyroid malignancy. The area under the ROC curve of CEUS combined with elastography was (0.921±0.023) which was higher than that of CEUS and elatography (0.88±0.029 and 0.80±0.038, respectively; both P < 0.05). Moreover, the sensitivity, accuracy and negative predictive value of CEUS combined with elastography were 92.1%, 86.2% and 84.6%, respectively. The omission diagnostic rate of CEUS combined with elastography (7.9%) was reduced. And the diagnostic accuracy of CEUS combined with elastography was significantly higher than that of CEUS and elastography (P < 0.05). While the diagnostic accuracy of CEUS was close to the elastography, the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion The diagnostic value of CEUS combined with elastography was remarkably significant in the differential diagnosis of TI-RADS 4 nodules.

Bilirubin ; blood ; Child Development ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Neuropsychological Tests

Bacterial N-Acyl-L-homoserine lactones (AHLs)-mediated quorum sensing is involved in the regulation of diverse biological functions. As the bacterial pathogen population density increases, AHLs concentration secreted by pathogen reaches a threshold and then interacts with their intercellular receptor and triggers expression of virulence genes. It is a promising approach to biologically control bacterial disease in plants and animals by manipulating bacterial AHL-quorum sensing with AHLs-degrading enzyme and AHL analogue.