A method based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was established to analyze the changes of intracellular metabolites and study the toxic mechanisms of different concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5) effecting the lung tissues in mice.Nasal drip experiments of PM2.5 suspensions (0, 7.5, 20.0, 37.5 g/L) for mice were carried out, and the intracellular metabolites in lung tissues were extracted, pretreated and analyzed.Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were employed for pattern recognition, and an obvious distinction among different conditions was found.According to the PLS-DA loading diagram and variable important factor (VIP) value, 7 kinds of potential biomarkers, alanine, valine, leucine, ornithine, fumaric acid, citric acid and purine (p<0.01), were determined with significant differences between four different concentrations of PM2.5.Metabolic pathway analysis indicated that the oxidative stress reactions were enhanced, and the TCA cycle and the purine metabolism in lung cells were restrained after dripping PM2.5 to the lung tissues in mice.This study could provide a new perspective and theoretical basis for the further analysis on toxic mechanisms by PM2.5.

Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; secretion ; Endothelins ; secretion ; Humans ; Polyphenols ; pharmacology ; Propanolamines ; pharmacology ; Tea ; chemistry ; Weightlessness Simulation

Objective:To characterize the clinical and epidemiological changes, treatments, and prognoses of primary esophageal small cell carcinoma (PESC). Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted using the clinical epidemiology data of 529 PESC patients se-lected from the clinical databases of 500,000 esophageal and gastric cardiac carcinomas of the Henan Key Laboratory for Esophageal Cancer Research (1992-2015). Among these patients, 241 cases were included in the survival analysis. The five-year survival rate was calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis, and the differences in survival rates were compared using the Log-rank analysis model. Re-sults:All 529 PESC cases were analyzed, which accounted for 0.2%of esophageal cancers diagnosed in the same period. The incidence of PESC increased annually (R2=0.574). The survival rates for 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year of 241 PESC patients were 55%, 40%, 29%, and 9%, respectively, and the median survival time was 21.9 months. On the basis of the VALSG criteria of lung small cell carcinoma, a statisti-cal difference was observed in the overall survival rates for limited and extensive diseases (P=0.003), with the median survival time of 24.3 and 17.5 months, respectively. Furthermore, significant differences were observed on survival with various treatment modalities (P=0.004). The median survival time of PESC patients treated with combined surgery and radiochemotherapies (28.8 months) was lon-ger than those with either chemotherapy (17.8 months, P=0.015) or chemoradiotherapy (14.5 months, P=0.004). In limited disease pa-tients, the median survival time was longer in patients treated with surgery (27.7 months) than in those without surgery (16.2 months, P=0.007). Notably, the biopsy diagnosis before surgery for PESC was only 40.8%. Conclusion:PESC is a rare malignant carcinoma with increasing incidence. PESC presents poor prognosis, and the survival rate can be improved through combined therapies based on sur-gery. A high misdiagnosis rate for PESC is observed before surgery with biopsy.

Volatile oil components and the contents and types of amino acid in spica of Prunella vulgaris were analysed by GC-MS and amino acid analyzer. Esters, fatty acids, aromatic hydrocarbon, ketone and several alcohol compounds were identified by mass spectrum comparison. In these ingredients, beta-ionone smelled aroma of cedar, raspberry, nerolidol showed weak sweet soft orange blossom flavor, neroli tasted sweet and fresh, nerolidol tasted sweet with light aroma of wood, hexadecanal showed a weak aroma of flowers and wax, alpha-sinensal had rich and fresh sweet orange flavor. To some extent, these types of aromatic substances can affect the taste of herbal tea or decoction made of Spica Prunellae. Among amino acids detected, natural amino acids accounted for a larger proportion, and those natural amino acids showed bitterness, slight bitterness, sourness (freshness), sweetness, slight sweetness, sourness (slight freshness). The results indicated that bitter and slightly bitter amino acids have the greatest impacts on the sense of Spica Prunellae.
Amino Acids ; analysis ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; Prunella ; chemistry ; Taste

OBJECTIVETo analyze the incidence and mortality of lung cancer patients among residents in Yangpu District of Shanghai from 2002 to 2010.

METHODSThe data of lung cancer cases in permanent residents of Yangpu district were collected from the database of the registration and management system in Shanghai city. Temporal trend in the incidence of lung cancer was analyzed by using annual percent change (APC) mode1. The survivals were calculated using SPSS 16.0 and Joinpoint Regression Program 3.5.1 software.

RESULTSA total of 5726 cases of lung cancer were diagnosed from January 2002 to December 2010. Of those, 3865 were males with an average age of onset 70.08 years, and 1861 were females with an average age of onset 70.88 years. The crude incidence rate was 77.36/10(5) in men, significantly higher than 39.31/10(5) in women (U = 24.84, P < 0.01). The standardized incidence rate was 25.23/10(5) in men, significantly higher than 13.47/10(5) in women (U = 13.24, P < 0.01). A total of 5248 cases died of the disease in this period. Of those, 3586 were men. The crude mortality was 71.77/10(5) in men, significantly higher than 35.11/10(5) in women (U = 24.67, P < 0.01). The standardized mortality was 21.72/10(5) in men, significantly higher than 11.08/10(5) in women (U = 13.01, P < 0.01). Both the incidence and mortality rates increased apparently in those older than 45 years. The 1- to 5-year survival rates in all cases were 37.42%, 22.71%, 15.73%, 12.32%, and 10.53%, respectively. The 1- to 5-year survival rates in male cases were significantly lower than those in female cases (P < 0.05 for each comparison). The 1- to 5-year survival rates of the patients whose tumor had been surgically removed were significantly higher than those in the patients without surgery (P < 0.05 for each comparison).

CONCLUSIONSThe incidence of lung cancer is close to the mortality in the residents of Yangpu District of Shanghai city. Surgical resection treatment improves the prognosis of lung cancer.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; mortality ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Distribution ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the incidence and survival rates of primary liver cancer (PLC) among residents in Yangpu district of Shanghai.

METHODSA total of 9 730 736 permanent residents (male 4 996 390 and female 4 734 346) of Yangpu district in Shanghai were recruited in the study between year 2002 and 2010; among whom 2726 PLC cases were diagnosed and 2427 death cases were certified. The incidence and mortality of PLC were calculated under the analysis of the new PLC cases and death cases between year 2002 and 2010. The rates were standardized by the demographic composition developed in the Fifth Nationwide Census in year 2000, in order to analyze the survival condition of PLC patients and explore the prognosis of surgical excision treatment.

RESULTSAmong the new PLC cases between year 2002 and 2010, 1966 cases were male, whose average age of onset was 59.81; while 760 cases were female, whose average age of onset was 68.93. The crude incidence rate was 39.35/100 000 in male, which was higher than it in female, as 16.05/100 000. The difference showed statistical significance (U = 7.32, P < 0.01). The standardized incidence rates were 21.98/100 000 and 6.96/100 000 in male and female, respectively. The difference showed statistical significance (U = 221.76, P < 0.01). There were 2427 PLC death cases in total, including 1734 male death cases and 693 female death cases. The crude mortality rate was 34.71/100 000 in male and 14.64/100 000 in female, whose difference were statistically significant (U = 6.68, P < 0.01). The standardized mortality rate was 19.16/100 000 in male and 6.06/100 000 in female, whose difference were statistically significant (U = 207.18, P < 0.01). The incidence and mortality rates both increased apparently since males aging over 35 and females over 45. The 1 - 5 year survival rates of PLC patients were 33.95%, 23.11%, 17.04%, 14.42% and 12.29%, respectively. In the surgical excision treatment group (321 cases), the 1 - 5 year survival rates were separately 66.78%, 52.87%, 41.88%, 33.57% and 32.64%; while in the non-surgical treatment group (2405 cases), the 1 - 5 year survival rates were separately 29.04%, 18.58%, 13.30%, 11.16% and 9.01%. The differences in 1 - 5 year survival rates between surgical and non-surgical groups all showed statistical significance (U = 12.78, 10.52, 8.28, 5.56 and 5.12, respectively, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of PLC was close to its mortality in Yangpu district of Shanghai. The male incidence and mortality rates were significantly higher than female corresponding rates. The surgical excision treatment could improve the prognosis of PLC.

Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; mortality ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

Serum pharmacochemistry of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is designed to screen the efficacy material base of TCMs from the constituents absorbed into the blood after oral administration. The theory and method is in accordance with the effect characteristics of TCMs, and reflects the interaction between the body and the drugs, has become an effective pathway for researching the efficacy material base of TCMs which has been recognized and used widely. In the paper, the previous research contents and methods of the serum pharmacochemistry of TCM were reviewed, and on the basis of the further validity of the special administration form of the TCM formula and the corresponding property to TCM syndrome, the new strategy of serum pharmacochemistry of TCM integrating the metabonomics technologies was put forward. According to the strategy, we take the biological characters of TCM syndrome as a research starting point, taking TCM formula as object, using the metabolic biomarkers of syndromes or disease to evaluate the therapeutic effect of formula and screen the compounds of TCMs in serum which are highly correlated with the metabolic biomarkers through the correlation analysis, and by further biological validation to finally confirm the efficacy material basis of TCMs. Integrating with the systems biology technologies, the theory and method of serum pharmacochemistry of TCM will further develop, and open a new chapter in the interpretation of the theory of TCM.
Animals ; Drug Therapy ; trends ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Metabolomics ; Serum ; chemistry

Objective To explore the correlation between TCM constitution and sleep status in escort troops. Methods Standardized TCM Constitution Questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to investigate escort troops. Factors of PSQI and constitution types were analyzed. Results The results of PSQI showed the number of escort troops who had bad sleeping (PSQI>7) was 64, which accounted for 46%of the escort troops, among which, 45 people (70.3%) were justified as biased constitution, while 19 were normal constitution (29.7%). The top three biased constitution in bad sleeping were:qi deficiency, phlegm-dampness and dampness-heat. PSQI factors such as sleep disorder, daytime dysfunction and total score had positive correlation with qi deficiency, yang deficiency, yin deficiency, dampness-heat and blood stasis, and negative correlation with normal constitution. Conclusion Sleep condition of escort troops has correlation with TCM constitution, which indicates that sleep status could be improved by regulating TCM constitution.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in the world. Drugs and surgery can be used to control intraocular pressure, however, they can't reverse the apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells effectively. With the development of genetics and molecular biology, a large amount of research on the pathogenesis of glaucoma has been conducted. This review discusses the potential role of Rho/ROCK, TGF-β/Smad, PI3K/Akt, Nrf2/Keap1/ARE and BDNF/TrkB signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of glaucoma, and expects to provide new ideas and methods for the treatment of glaucoma.

OBJECTIVETo study the role of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signal transduction pathway in the course of asthma airway remodeling, to explore whether IL-1beta participates in asthma airway remodeling mediated by JNK signal transduction pathway.

METHODSTotally 72 male Sprague-Dawlay rats (6 - 8 weeks old, weighing about 120 g) were randomly divided into control groups (36 rats) and asthma groups (36 rats). The rats were sensitized for inducing asthma by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin and AL(OH)3 and were repeatedly exposed to aerosolized ovalbumin for 4, 8, 12 weeks (A4, A8, or A12 group), each had 12 rats, and correspondingly control rats were intraperitoneally injected with 0.9% NaCl, then were repeatedly exposed to 0.9% NaCl for 4, 8, 12 weeks (C4, C8, or C12 group), each had 12 rats. The ultrastructural changes of pulmonary tissues were observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). The total bronchial wall thickness (Wat) and the airway smooth muscle thickness (Wam) were measured by an image analysis system. The concentrations of IL-1beta in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were tested by a "sandwich" ELISA. The protein expressions of P-JNK and P-c-Jun were detected by immunohistochemical technique. Lung tissue extracts were analyzed for phosphorylation of JNK by Western blotting. Linear correlation analysis showed the correlation between Wat and P-JNK protein, Wam and P-JNK protein, levels of IL-1beta in serum and P-JNK protein, levels of IL-1beta in BALF and P-JNK protein.

RESULTSIn asthma groups, TEM showed alveolar septal proliferation and alveolus type II epithelial cells swelling. Wat and Wam in all asthma groups were significantly higher than those in corresponding control groups (P < 0.01, respectively), and compared with group A4 and group A8, Wat and Wam of group A12 significantly increased (P < 0.01). The concentrations of IL-1beta in serum and BALF of asthma groups were all significantly higher than those of the corresponding control groups (P < 0.01, respectively), and compared with group A4 and group A8, the concentrations of IL-1beta in BALF of group A12 significantly increased (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), but the levels of IL-1beta in serum were not significantly different among them (P > 0.05). Mean absorbance values (by immunohistochemistry) of P-JNK and P-c-Jun in asthma groups were significantly higher than those in corresponding control groups (P < 0.01, respectively), and compared with group A4 and group A8, those of group A12 significantly increased (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The absorbance (by Western Blot) of P-JNK in A4, A8, A12 group was significantly higher than that in C4, C8, C12 groups (P < 0.01, respectively), and compared with group A4, that of P-JNK of A12 significantly increased (P < 0.01), and compared with group A8, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). Strong positive correlations were found between Wat or Wam and P-JNK (r = 0.823 and r = 0.818, P < 0.01, respectively, n = 68) and between P-JNK and concentration of IL-1beta in serum or BALF (r = 0.717 and r = 0.803, P < 0.01, respectively, n = 68).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of P-JNK and its downstream P-c-Jun in rats of asthma airway remodeling is increased, which implicates that JNK signal transduction pathway plays an important role in the course of asthma airway remodeling. IL-1beta participates in asthma airway remodeling possibly partly through activating JNK signal transduction pathway.

Airway Remodeling ; Animals ; Asthma ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction