The experiment aimed to study the toxic effect of oral ricin on gastrointestinal tract and immune organs of mice with the dose of 1/5 LD50.In early days of intoxication,there was an obviously decrease in daffy weight and relative weight of thymus and spleen,fllowing the excretion of toxin,they had a trend of recovering to the normal state.Also,results of pathological section,scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope showed that ricin would induce a series of pathological reaction in intestines,meanwhile,the splenocytes displayed significant symptom of apoptosis and necrosis.

Objective:To observe the effect of different iodine intake on the thyroid function in euthyroid adult persons.Methods:One hundred and sixty-one euthyroid healthy volunteers aged 18-24 years were randomly divided into 7 groups.Each group was assigned to receive 500 μg,750 μg,1 000 μg,1 250 μg,1 500 μg,and 2 000 μg iodide/day for four weeks.Serum concentrations of free triiodothyronine(FT3),free thyroxin(FT4)and sensitive thyroid-stimulating hormone(sTSH)were measured by chemolumineseenee assays.Results:Serum FT3 concentration was found a small decline within the normal range in all the iodide supplemented groups(P ＜ 0.05).The level of FT4 was significantly lower,when the dose was up to 1 500 μg (P ＜ 0.05).The level of serum sTSH was increased after 2 weeks iodide supplement in all groups,and after 4 weeks in 500 μg and 750 μg groups(P ＜ 0.05).No significant changes were observed in FT3,FT4 and sTSH between groups(P＞ 0.05).Conclusion:The thyroid function of normal people showed a rise in serum sTSH at a short time and a high-dose of iodine intake.

This study was aimed to establish a method for the rapid content determination of Ixerin Z and 11,13α-dihydroixerin Z in Ku-Die-Zi (KDZ) injection by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The separation was performed on a Waters ACQUITY BEH C18 column (2.1 mm × 50 mm, 1.7μm) by using a gradient elution with the mobile phase of acetonitrile-water at the flow rate of 0.4 mL·min-1. The column temperature was set at 40℃. Multi-reaction moni-toring (MRM) scanning was employed for quantification in ESI negative mode. The results showed that two sesquit-erpene lactones in KDZ injection were totally separated within 2 min. The linear range of Ixerin Z was 5.70-182.50 ng·mL-1, and the linear range of 11,13α-dihydroixerin Z was 4.60-131.25 ng·mL-1. The correlation coefficient r was more than 0.999 0. The recovery rates (n = 6) were 98.18% and 97.52%, with RSDs < 1.5%. The established method was successfully applied for simultaneous content determination of Ixerin Z and 11,13α-dihydroixerin Z in 6 batches of KDZ injection from 2 factories, which had some variations on the content determination results. It was concluded that the method was rapid, accurate and sensitive, which can be used for the content determination of two sesquiterpene lactones in KDZ injection.

Objective To evaluate the effect of schistosomiasis control in Yunnan Province since achieving the transmission control standards,so as to provide the evidence for formulating the next prevention and control strategy. Methods The schistoso-miasis epidemic monitoring reports,annual reports,relevant information about Oncomelania hupensis snails,and schistosomiasis patient conditions were collected and analyzed for epidemic condition and characteristics of schistosomiasis in Yunnan Province from 2009 to 2012. Results The various epidemic monitoring indicators all decreased. In 2012,compared with 2009,the preva-lence reduced by 33.33%after correction;the number of villages with schistosomiasis patients reduced by 55.56%;the adjusted positive rate of livestock stool tests reduced by 45.45%;the number of villages with infected cow reduced by 42.25%;the actual area with snails reduced by 13.58%;the density of living snails reduced by 25.66%,and no schistosome infected snails were found in 2012. Conclusion There still exist schistosome infections in human and animals in some local areas of Yunnan Prov-ince,and it is difficult to achieve the standard of schistosomiasis transmission interrupted in a short period.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism underlying the effects exerted by the Qizhu prescription (QZP) in breast cancer (BC), and the respective targets. Methods: Expression data from the ArrayExpress and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in BC. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed on the DEGs to identify genes involved in protein–protein interactions. Molecular docking was used to explore the dynamic relationship between active molecules and targets. Cell function experiments and animal studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of hub genes and active QZP compounds on BC cell behavior. Results: Among the 25 evaluated BC-related targets of QZP, matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP1) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exhibited the highest degrees of dysregulation. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that the anti-BC targets of QZP primarily affected drug responses and pathways in cancer cells. Molecular docking analysis suggested potential interactions between EGFR and quercetin/luteolin, as well as between MMP1 and luteolin/kaempferol/quercetin. Quercetin significantly reduced BC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor development in vivo. Treatment of BC cells with quercetin decreased the expression or activation of several associated proteins. Conclusion The findings of our study provide new insights into the therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine against BC, with particular reference to QZP.

Objective To set up the trimester-specific reference ranges of thyroid hormones for normal pregnant women to provide reference criteria for diagnosis, treatment and monitoring or screening of thyroid disease during pregnancy and related research. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in pregnant and non-pregnant women in iodine sufficient areas. A total of 505 normal pregnant women and 153 normal non-pregnant women (as control) were selected for establishing trimester-specific reference ranges of thyroid hormones after rigorous screening through the survey questionnaire and laboratory tests. Thyroid hormones were measured by Bayer automated chemiluminescence immunoassay, and the reference range of each hormone was calculated as median (the 50th percentile value) and two-sided limits (the 2.5th and 97.5th percentile values). Results All women investigated were in iodine sufficient status within optimal urine iodine level. The serum TSH level during the 1st trimester was obviously declined compared with that in the non-pregnant individuals (P < 0.01), and started to rise during the 2nd trimester, but was still not restored to non-pregnant level until the 3rd trimester. Serum FT4 and FT3 levels gradually decreased from the 2nd trimester to the 3rd (P < 0.01), and the TT4 and TT3 levels were markedly elevated since early pregnancy (P < 0.01) and reached peak levels at the 2nd trimester approximately making up to 1.5 times of those in the non-pregnant individuals. Conclusion The thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy differ completely from those of the non-pregnant individuals, and also differ during different gestation periods. Therefore, to establish trimester-specific reference data of thyroid hormones during normal pregnancy may be important for clinical practice.

Human with bi-allelic WNT10A mutations and epithelial Wnt10a knockout mice present enlarged pulp chamber and apical displacement of the root furcation of multi-rooted teeth,known as taurodontism;thus,indicating the critical role of Wnt10a in tooth root morphogenesis.However,the endogenous mechanism by which epithelial Wnt10a regulates Hertwig's epithelial root sheath(HERS)cellular behaviors and contributes to root furcation patterning remains unclear.In this study,we found that HERS in the presumptive root furcating region failed to elongate at an appropriate horizontal level in K14-Cre;Wnt10afl/flmice from post-natal day 0.5(PN0.5)to PN4.5.EdU assays and immunofluorescent staining of cyclin D1 revealed significantly decreased proliferation activity of inner enamel epithelial(IEE)cells of HERS in K14-Cre;Wnt10afl/flmice at PN2.5 and PN3.5.Immunofluorescent staining of E-Cadherin and acetyl-α-Tubulin demonstrated that the IEE cells of HERS tended to divide perpendicularly to the horizontal plane,which impaired the horizontal extension of HERS in the presumptive root furcating region of K14-Cre;Wnt10afl/flmice.RNA-seq and immunofluorescence showed that the expressions of Jag1 and Notch2 were downregulated in IEE cells of HERS in K14-Cre;Wnt10afl/fl mice.Furthermore,after activation of Notch signaling in K14-Cre;Wnt10afl/flmolars by Notch2 adenovirus and kidney capsule grafts,the root furcation defect was partially rescued.Taken together,our study demonstrates that an epithelial Wnt10a-Notch signaling axis is crucial for modulating HERS cell proper proliferation and horizontal-oriented division during tooth root furcation morphogenesis.

We report a case of a male patient who developed persistent fever and central nervous system symptoms after eating raw snails for 10 days. The patient was diagnosed with Angiostrongyliasis depended on the clinical presentation, epidemiological history, and etiological results. The patient recovered after receiving albendazole anthelmintic and dexamethasone anti-inflammatory therapy. This article incorporates literature review to sort out the diagnosis and treatment of this patient, in order to provide feasible reference for clinicians.

Objective: To explore the association between sleep quality and dry eye symptoms in adolescents,so as to provide the evidence for reducing the prevalence of dry eye symptoms. Methods: The study population was adolescents aged 12-24 years from the Psychology and Behavior Investigation of Chinese Residents (PBICR) survey, which was conducted from 20 June to 31 August 2022. A stratified random sampling and quota sampling method was used to select 6 456 adolescents within mainland China. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and Brief version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (B-PSQI) were used to assess dry eye symptoms and sleep quality. Multiple Logistic regression model was used to explore the relationship between sleep quality and dry eye symptoms in adolescents. The influence of gender on the association was explored by using interaction terms. Results: A total of 2 815 adolescents reported having dry eye symptoms, with a prevalence of 43.6%. Logistic regression analysis results showed an increased risk of exacerbation of dry eye symptoms in adolescents with poor sleep quality. The OR (95% CI ) for mild, moderate, and severe dry eye symptoms groups were 1.39(1.16-1.67), 1.52(1.28-1.81), and 2.35(2.02-2.72), respectively, compared with the ocularly normal group ( P <0.05). There was a significant interaction between sleep quality and gender on dry eye symptoms in adolescents ( P <0.01). Conclusions Sleep quality is associated with dry eye symptoms in adolescents, and those with poor sleep quality have a higher risk of dry eye symptoms. The effect of sleep quality on dry eye symptoms is greater in boys.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of sarcopenia (SAR) in hospitalized patients with lung malignant tumor and to identify the risk factors, so as to inform the nutritional management of lung malignant tumor patients.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. Adult patients admitted into the lung cancer ward of a Class A tertiary hospital in Beijing from December 2021 to March 2022 were screened for enrollment. Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS) 2002 was applied for eligible patients within 24 hours of admission. Medical history was obtained via questionnaire survey, laboratory test results prior to any intervention were extracted from Hospital Information System and muscle mass was measured using bio-impedance analysis. SAR was diagnosed according to the recommendation from Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) in 2019.Results:Among the enrolled 126 hospitalized patients with lung cancer, the prevalence of SAR was 19.8% (25/126). The prevalence was 19.6% in males and 21.4% in females, with no significant difference. Patients aged 65 years or above showed significantly higher SAR prevalence of 27.4% than those who were young or middle-aged (9.4%, P = 0.013). Older age (OR = 4.43, P = 0.048), lower BMI (OR = 0.644, P = 0.001), lower serum creatinine (OR = 0.931, P = 0.008), comorbidity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, OR = 13.748, P = 0.007) and comorbidity of coronary artery disease (OR = 13.748, P = 0.007) were risk factors for SAR in lung cancer patients. SAR risk was significantly increased in patients ≥ 65 years old and in those with COPD or coronary artery disease. Conclusions:Lung cancer patients showed high prevalence of SAR. For hospitalized patients with lung cancer, especially the elderly, a moderate BMI level and good management of comorbidities including COPD and coronary artery disease may help delay SAR development.