Although current synthetic anti-gout drugs have significant therapeutic effects in reducing serum uric acid levels, they have serious side effects such as allergic reactions and liver and kidney damage. Natural products with a wide range of uric acid-lowering and high safety have played a critical role in anti-gout drug discovery and development. This paper reviews the natural products with uric acid-lowering or anti-gout pharmacological effects and the investigation on their mechanisms of action, to provide information for drug discovery and development.

AIM:To observe the effect of simvastatin on myocardial tissue after renal ischemia-reperfusion in-jury and its mechanism .METHODS:A rat model of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury was prepared by clamping the bilat-eral renal arteries for 45 min.The rats (n=36) were randomly divided into sham operation group , renal ischemia-reperfu-sion (I/R) group and simvastatin group with 12 rats in each group.The content of serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea ni-trogen ( BUN) and myocardial tissue malondialdehyde ( MDA) , the myocardial activity of lactate dehydrogenase ( LDH) , creatine kinase (CK) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the myocardial protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were de-tected.RESULTS:Compared with sham operation group , the content of SCr , BUN and myocardial MDA , and the myo-cardial activity of LDH and CK in I/R group were significantly increased (P<0.05), and the activity of SOD was signifi-cantly decreased (P<0.05).Compared with I/R group, the content of SCr, BUN and myocardial MDA, and the myocar-dial activity of LDH and CK in simvastatin group were significantly decreased ( P<0.05 ) , while SOD activity was en-hanced (P<0.05).The protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in sham operation group was less than that in I/R group (P<0.05), and the protein level of Bax in simvastatin group was significantly lower than that in I /R group (P<0.05), while the protein level of Bcl-2 was increased (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Simvastatin has a protective effect on the my-ocardium of the rats with renal ischemia-reperfusion injury , and the protective mechanism may be related to the elimination of free radicals by simvastatin , increase in the protein expression of Bcl-2 and decrease in the protein expression of Bax .

The Hospital Statistics Management System is built on an Office Automation Platform of Shandong provincial hospital system. Its workflow, role and popedom technologies are used to standardize and optimize the management program of statistics in the total quality control of hospital statistics. The system's applications have combined the office automation platform with the statistics management in a hospital and this provides a practical example of a modern hospital statistics management model.
Hospital Administration ; Hospital Information Systems ; Office Automation ; Statistics as Topic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the ratio of Th17 cells and CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T (Treg) cells in peripheral blood from patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and explore its pathological effects.

METHODS70 MM patients were divided into three groups: newly diagnosed group (n=30), plateau stage group (n=23) and relapsed/refractory group (n=17). The controls consisted of 20 healthy donors. The frequencies of Th17 and Treg cells were detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTSCompared with controls [(0.72±0.33)%] and plateau stage group [(0.74±0.29)%], frequencies of Th17 cells were higher in newly diagnosed group [(1.62±0.65)%] and relapsed/refractory group [(1.45±0.51)%], respectively (P<0.05). Compared with controls [(2.33±0.90)%] and plateau stage group [(1.69±0.70)%], frequencies of Treg cells were significantly lower in newly diagnosed group [(0.55±0.23)%] and relapsed/refractory group [(0.82±0.54)%], respectively (P<0.05). The ratios of Th17/Treg in newly diagnosed group and relapsed/refractory group were higher than those in controls (P<0.05). There were no differences of the frequencies of CD3⁺CD4⁺ T cells and Th17 cells between plateau stage group and controls. The frequencies of Treg cells were significantly lower in plateau stage group than that in controls (P<0.05), and the ratio of Th17/Treg was significantly higher in plateau stage group than that in controls (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe remarkable abnormality of T cells subsets was reduction of CD4⁺ T cells in MM. Higher frequency of Th17 and lower ratio of Treg could lead to imbalance of Th17/Treg, which may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of MM.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; immunology ; pathology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology ; Th17 Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVEThis study was to explore the cytotoxic effect and the related injury mechanism of deoxynivalenol (DON) on articular chondrocytes in human embryo.

METHODSArticular cartilage cells were isolated from knees of human embryo and cultured in DMEM/F12 medium. The cells of the 4th generation were divided into five groups and incubated with varying concentrations of DON as the followings: control group and group with DON of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 1.0 µg/ml. The effects of DON were observed 72 hours after incubation. Cell apoptosis was assayed by flow cytometry (FCM) with Annexin V-FITC/PI staining; MMP-13 and PGE2 were detected by ELISA kits; NO was measured by Griess assay with spectrophotometer. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and collagen II in cells were detected by FCM. The expression levels of iNOS, mRNA and collagen II mRNA were measured with RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe rates of cell apoptosis in DON groups were 6.78% - 19.05%, which were significantly higher than that in control (1.20%, F = 174.761, P < 0.05). The levels of NO in DON groups were 20.8 - 40.7 µmol/L, which were significantly higher than that in control (10.2 µmol/L, F = 91.966, P < 0.05). The levels of MMP-13 in DON groups were 0.25 - 0.56 µmol/L, which were significantly higher than that in control (0 µmol/L, F = 78.420, P < 0.05). The levels of PGE2 in DON groups were 3.2-20.6 µmol/L, which were significantly higher than that in control (11.6 µmol/L, F = 276.453, P < 0.05). The proportions of cells with positive iNOS in DON groups were 14.8% - 56.8% which were significantly higher than that in controls (7.1%, F = 214.614, P < 0.05). The proportions of cells with positive collagen II in groups with DON of 0.4 µg/ml and 1.0 µg/ml were 56.7% and 52.7%, which were significantly lower than that in control (62.2%, F = 5.134, P < 0.05). The relative absorbance values of iNOS mRNA in DON groups were 1.07 - 1.33, which were significantly higher than that in control (0.62, F = 8.358, P < 0.05). The levels of collagen II mRNA in groups with DON of 0.4 µg/ml and 1.0 µg/ml were 0.83 and 0.82, which were significantly lower than that in control (1.14, F = 7.887, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDON could promote anabolism of NO in articular cartilage cells by which up-regulated the expression of PGE2 and MMP-13, which both promoted resolution of articular cartilage matrix such as collagen II. DON induced apoptosis in articular cartilage cells.

Cartilage, Articular ; cytology ; embryology ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Dinoprostone ; metabolism ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Trichothecenes ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of doxapram on the respiratory rhythmical discharge activity (RRDA) in the brainstem slices of neonatal rats.

METHODSThirty neonatal SD rats (of either sex, 0-3 days old) were randomly divided into 6 equal groups (groups I-VI), and the brainstem slices which contained the medial region of the nucleus retrofacialis (mNRF) were prepared. All the slices were perfused with modified Kreb's solution (MKS), and in group I (control group), the slices were perfused with MKS only; in groups II to IV, the slices were perfused with doxapram in MKS continuously at the concentrations of 2, 5, and 10 micromol/L, respectively; in groups V and VI, the slices were perfused with 20 micromol/L propofol and 20 micromol/L propofol plus 5 micromol/L doxapram, respectively. The RRDA in the hypoglossal nerve was recorded by suction electrode. The discharge time course of the inspiratory (TI), expiratory (TE), respiratory cycle (RC) and integral amplitude of the inspiratory discharge (IA) were recorded at 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 30 min after the application of the drugs.

RESULTSThe hypoglossal nerve in groups I, II and VI showed no significant changes of RRDA in the entire course of the experiment (P>0.05). In groups III and IV, the TI, IA increased and TE decreased significantly 5 min after doxapram application (P<0.05), and the RC was shortened only at 10 min. In group V, the TI and IA decreased and the RC and TE increased significantly after the drug application (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONDoxapram (>5 micromol/L ) can directly stimulate the RRDA and prevent propofol-induced inhibitory effects in the brainstem slice of neonatal rats, and the effects are mediated by its actions upon the inspiratory neurons in the mNRF.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Doxapram ; pharmacology ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; drug effects ; Female ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiration ; drug effects ; Respiratory System Agents ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo establish the computer aided design (CAD) software platform of individualized abutment for the maxilla central incisor.

METHODSThree-dimentional data of the incisor was collected by scanning and geometric transformation. Data mainly included the occlusal part of the healing abutment, the location carinae of the bedpiece, the occlusal 1/3 part of the artificial gingiva's inner surface, and so on. The all-ceramic crown designed in advanced was "virtual cutback" to get the original data of the abutment's supragingival part. The abutment's in-gum part was designed to simulate the individual natural tooth root. The functions such as "data offset", "bi-rail sweep surface" and "loft surface" were used in the process of CAD.

RESULTSThe CAD route of the individualized all-ceramic abutment was set up. The functions and application methods were decided and the complete CAD process was realized.

CONCLUSIONSThe software platform was basically set up according to the requests of the dental clinic.

Ceramics ; Computer-Aided Design ; Crowns ; Dental Implants ; Dental Porcelain ; Dental Prosthesis Design ; Humans ; Incisor ; Maxilla

BACKGROUND: Mechanisms undelying diagnosis and treatment of arthritis can be analyzed by metabonomics to study the metabolites. The combination of metabonomics and bibliometrics can systematically clarify the research status of osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE: To analyze and summarize the research status of metabonimics in arthritis, and to prospect the future tendency. METHODS: CNKI, VIP, WanFang, CBM, PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science and Elsevier databases were searched for the articles addressing the metabonimics in arthritis published before May 2017. The keywords were "metabolomics and arthritis" in English and Chinese, respectively. Initially 201 articles were retrieved, and finally 59 articles were included based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria for basic information and result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Literature of metabonomics on arthritis began to be reported from 2007, and the number of literature increased with time. (2) The first author's affiliations were concentrated in universities 37(63%), hospitals 15 (25%) and institutes 7 (12%). (3) The articles included 44 articles from journals (75%), 12 dissertation (19%), 4 conference papers (7%), and the 44 papers were published in 38 kinds of journals. (4) Totally 36 articles were funded, 29 articles (49%) funded by the National Natural Science Foundation, 18 (31%) funded by department-level foundation, 10 (17%) funded by provincial foundation, 5 (8%) foreign foundation and 5 (8%) funded by school foundation. (5) The types of arthritis were mainly rheumatoid arthritis 40 (68%), osteoarthritis 7 (12%), gouty arthritis 6 (10%) and others 6 (10%). (6) The main research directions were metabonomis on treatment effectiveness 30 (51%), pathogenesis of arthritis 17 (29%), Chinese medicine syndromes 6 (10%) and research progress 6 (10%). (7) Metabolomics samples in the literature included the body fluid samples 53 (90%) and tissue samples 6 (10%). (8) Metabonomics analysis techniques included liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry 33 (56%), nuclear magnetic resonance technology 15 (25%), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry 10 (17%), NMR combined with GC-MS 1 (2%). In summary, metabonomics has been extensively applied in arthritis and has been an issue of concern. Understanding the side events in Chinese medicines for arthritis based on metabonomics can provide reference for the following prospective study and clinical application.

BACKGROUND: Metabolomics is a branch of systems biology taking systematic study, high-throughput detection and data processing as means, information modeling and systematic integration as targets, which can be used for recognizing metabolic indexes, provide evidence for individualized diagnosis and treatment and guide syndrome differentiation in the clinic. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the literature features and research status of metabolomics applied in the field of Chinese medicine syndromes so as to provide reference for its application in Chinese medicine syndromes. METHODS: Databases of CNKI, WanFang, CBM, PubMed, Web of Science and Medline were retrieved for the articles addressing metabolomics applied in Chinese medicine syndromes published before June 2017. The literature database was established, and then the literature and research features were analyzed using bibliometrics and data mining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Totally 499 articles were enrolled, including 371 journal articles from journals (74.35%), 30 conference papers (6.01), 98 dissertations (19.64), and the 371 journal papers were published in 124 journals (32 of Chinese core journals (45.28%), and 10 SCI cited journals (3.77%)). In the articles, 7 types of disease systems (mainly in digestive system and circulatory system) were classified according to the statistics, involving 23 diseases and 39 interventions. In summary, there is still a lack of standardized classification for metabolomics applied in Chinese medicine syndromes and the quality of literature is poor. We should conduct more animal experiments and explore the essence and intervention measurements of syndromes, thereby controlling the disease occurrence and development.

Objective:To compare the different follow-up methods on compliance and prognosis of non-selective beta blockers (NSBBs) for out-patients with secondary prevention of esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB).Methods:A total of 72 patients with portal hypertension and esophageal gastric varices (EGV), who were admitted to the department of gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from July 2018 to April 2019 were randomly included in the traditional outpatient follow-up group (group A, 24), remote platform follow-up group (group B, 23) and combined follow-up group (group C, 25) according to the random number table. The patient′s medication compliance, heart rate response, condition change and treatment were recorded. NSBBs medication compliance, influencing factors and prognosis of patients in different groups were analyzed.Results:Forty (40/72, 55.6%) patients had good compliance with NSBBs, among which 34 (34/40, 85.0%) achieved heart rate response. The medication compliance of the group B (15/23, 65.2%) and the group C (17/25, 68.0%) was higher than that of the group A (8/24, 33.3%; χ2=4.778, P=0.029; χ2=5.889, P=0.015, respectively). There was no significant difference in the medication compliance between the group B and the group C ( χ2=0.042, P=0.838). In the group A, the subgroup of good compliance had higher proportion of local patients than that of poor compliance subgroup [7/8 VS 37.5% (6/16), P=0.033]. Patients with good drug compliance had higher proportion of gastroscopy review than that of poor compliance patients [75.0% (30/40) VS 21.9% (7/32), χ2=20.085, P<0.001] and less patients with EGVB [5.0% (2/40) VS 21.9% (7/32), P=0.073]. Conclusion:Patients with portal hypertension and EGV have poor compliance with NSBBs. Remote platform follow-up is a better way to improve compliance of drug prevention. Patients with good NSBBs compliance have a higher compliance of gastroscopy review. The risk assessment of variceal bleeding and endoscopic sequential therapy based on the results of gastroscopy review are expected to reduce the risk of EGVB.