Objective To compare the polysaccharide content of pseudostellaria heterophylla which produced in various areas and in different parts of them. Methods The polysaccharide content of pseudostellaria heterophylla was determined by phenol-sulfuric acid method. Results The polysaccharide content of pseudostellaria heterophylla produced in Fujian is the highest, Jiangsu and Guizhou are second-class. The polysaccharide content has some disparity in the bodies and in the roots of pseudostellaria heterophylla. Conclusions The polysaccharide content in the bodies differs 1.96% with that in the roots. This experiment provides theory foundation for scientific preparation of pseudostellaria heterophylla.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of berberine for the treatment of insulin resistance (IR) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Methods Sixty PCOS-IR women were randomized into treatment group and control group,30 cases in each group.At the end of the trial,26 cases in the treatment group (4 cases dropped out) and 29 cases in the control group (one case dropped out) completed the trial.The treatment group was treated with berberine orally,and the control group was treated with metformin orally,the treatment for the two groups lasting 3 months.Before and after treatment,we observed the parameters of body mass index (BMI),homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR),fasting plasma glucose (FPG),fasting insulin (FINS),2-hour postprandial glucose after oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT2hPG) and 2-hour postprandial insulin after OGTT (OGTT2hINS),blood lipid levels of total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C),and sexual hormones of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH),luteotropic hormone (LH),testosterone (T) and LH/FSH ratio.Results BMI,HOMA-IR,TC,TG and LDL-C of the two groups were decreased after treatment (P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01 compared with those before treatment),but the differences between the two groups were insignificant(P ＞ 0.05).Serum levels of T and LH as well as LH/FSH ratio in the treatment group were also decreased (P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01 compared with those before treatment and those in the control group after treatment).Conclusion Berberine can improve HOMA-IR,decrease serum sexual hormones levels,and regulate the blood metabolism in PCOS-IR women,and its effect is similar to that of metformin.

Objective:This study aimed to explore the effects ofnesfatin-1 on gastric distension (GD)-sensitive neurons in the basomedial amygdala (BMA) and the potential mechanism for nesfatin-1 to regulate gastric motility through the arcuate nucleus (Arc).Methods:The projection of nerve fiber and expression of nesfatin-1 were observed by retrograde tracing and fluo-immunohistochemistry staining;The nuclei microinjection and nuclei electrical stimulation,extracellular discharges of single unit neuron were used to observe the effects ofnesfatin-1 on the GD neurons;Gastric motility recording in vivo were used to monitor the effects ofnesfatin-1 on the amplitude of constriction and frequency of gastric motility in conscious rats.Results:NUCB2/Nesfatin-1/fluorogold-double labeled neurons were from ARC to BMA;Nesfatin-1 could excited the firing rate of most of the GD-E neurons (4.25± 1.02 Hz vs.5.32± 1.17 Hz,P＜0.01) and decreased the firing rate of most of the GD-I neurons (3.73± 0.92 Hz vs.2.64± 0.86 Hz,P＜0.01),inhibited the gastric motility,amplitude and frequency,SHU9119 could weaken the responses induced by nesfaton-1;Electrical stimulation of the Arc,the firing rate of nesfatin-1-induced GD-response neurons (GD-E:5.14± 1.32 Hz vs.6.75± 1.84 Hz,P＜0.05;GD-I:2.84± 0.86 Hz vs.4.05± 1.12 Hz,P ＜0.05) and the gastric amplitude and frequency were increase.Conclusion:It was suggested that nesfatin-1 in the BMA plays an important role in decreasing gastric motility and the Arc may be involved in this regulation process.

Objective To investigate the detection rate and diagnostic value of multi-slice spiral CT scan in detecting fish bone impaction in the esophagus.Methods Experimental group: 30 fresh water fish bones from three variety classes were divided into three groups with length of(23.36±0.15), (28.51±0.07) and (30.89±0.10) mm, and diameter of (4.49±0.31), (1.78±0.09) and (0.49±0.07) mm.The fish bones were put into esophagus models in three different types including parallel, perpendicular and oblique.MSCT with axial scan combined with three dimensional reconstruction technique and plain X-ray film (CR and DR) were used to examine the model.The relations of the number and rate of fish bones were compared between MSCT and X-ray film.Clinical group: MSCT imaging were performed in 20 cases proved by esophageal endoscope or clinical operation, among which 11 cases received plain X-ray film (CR and DR), 15 cases received Barium-soaked cotton and 17 cases received endoscope.Paired Chi-square test was used to compare the differences of detection of fishbone by the different ways.Results In experimental group: All the 90 cases(100%) fish bones of three different species were clearly revealed on MSCT image; only 60 cases(66.7%) fish bones were revealed by plain X-ray film(CR and DR).The number and rate of fish bones detected by MSCT was higher than that of plain X-ray film (CR and DR) (X2=28.03, P < 0.01).In clinical group: 20 cases were made right diagnosis by MSCT, and the location and size of fish bone in the esophagus, the surrounding and complications of esophagus could be clearly demonstrated on MSCT image.Two cases detected by plain X-ray film(CR and DR) ;9 cases detected by Barium-soaked cotton;14 cases detected by endoscopy.The number and rate of fish bones detected by MSCT was higher than that of plain Xray film (CR and DR) (X2=7.11, P < 0.05) and Barium-soaked cotton (X2=4.17, P < 0.05).Conclusions The sensitivity and detection rate of fish bone with MSCT was high and could evaluate the surrounding and complications of the esophagus.MSCT could be used as the first examination of impacted fish bones in the esophagus.

0.05),but there was significant difference between group A and group C,the rate of hypoglycemia of group A was less than group C(P

Objective To develop an ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide(USPIO)based MR probe targeting CD40 mutant and investigate its biological and chemical properties and its targeting effect on ovarian cancer cells in vitro.Methods To prepare immunologically competent probe,the monoclonal antibody was conjugated with USPIO particles modified by DMSA based on chemical crosslinking method.The USPIO labeled anti-human CD40 mutant monoclonal antibody 5H6(5H6-USPIO)was the experimental probe,and the USPIO labeled anti-human CD40 monoclonal antibody 5C11(5C11-USPIO)and USPIO served as control agents.The flow cytometry,confocal microscopy and Prussian blue staining were employed to assess the magnetic performance and analyze its bioactivity of the probe.The probe's cell MR imaging in vitro was carried out using ovarian caner cells(HO8910)with high CD40 mutant expression.The analysis of signal data of different groups was conducted by using one-way ANOVA andLSD test.The probe's effect on ovarian caner cells' growth was measured by CCK-8 kit.Results The stable molecular probe carrying nanoparticles and CD40 mutant antibody was built and purified successfully.The probe had similar magnetic property compared with original USPIO.Immunofluorescence and Prussian blue staining confirmed that the molecular probe could recognize CD40 mutant on ovarian cancer cells(HO8910)with high specificity.The probe had no effect on the growth of HO8910 cells.MR cell imaging in vitro showed that the value of T2 and T2 * decreased significantly after the probe binding with HO8910 cells and T2WI became darker than control groups.The T2 and T2* relaxation time of 5H6-USPIO group was(40.05 ± 1.62)ms and(3.08 ± 0.11)ms,respectively.The T2 and T2 * relaxation time of 5H6-USPIO group was shorter than 5C11-USPIO [(85.38 ± 4.74)and(11.82 ± 1.00)ms,respectively]and USPIO[(91.62 ± 3.35)and(13.60 ± 1.92)ms,respectively]groups with statistical significance(F =196.29,60.73,P ＜0.01).The difference of T2 and T2* relaxation time between 5C11-USPIO and USPIO groups showed no statistical significance (P ＞0.05).Conclusions CD40 mutant antibody can conjugate with ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide particles to form MR molecular probe using chemical crosslinking method.The probe has good magnetic characters and high bioactivity.The probe can specifically bind with HO8910 cells.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of baseline clinical characteristics and pretherapeutic histogram parameters derived from T2 mapping of the extraocular muscles (EOMs) in the prediction of treatment response to intravenous glucocorticoid (IVGC) therapy for active and moderate-to-severe thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and to investigate the effect of fat-suppression (FS) in T2 mapping in this prediction. Materials and Methods: A total of 79 patients clinically diagnosed with active, moderate-to-severe TAO (47 female, 32 male;mean age ± standard deviation, 46.1 ± 10 years), including 43 patients with a total of 86 orbits in the responsive group and 36 patients with a total of 72 orbits in the unresponsive group, were enrolled. Baseline clinical characteristics and pretherapeutic histogram parameters derived from T2 mapping with FS (i.e., FS T2 mapping) or without FS (i.e., conventional T2 mapping) of EOMs were compared between the two groups. Independent predictors of treatment response to IVGC were identified using multivariable analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive performance of the prediction models. Differences between the models were examined using the DeLong test. Results: Compared to the unresponsive group, the responsive group had a shorter disease duration, lower kurtosis (FSkurtosis), lower standard deviation, larger 75th, 90th, and 95th (FS-95th) T2 relaxation times in FS mapping and lower kurtosis in conventional T2 mapping. Multivariable analysis revealed that disease duration, FS-95th percentile, and FS-kurtosis were independent predictors of treatment response. The combined model, integrating all identified predictors, had an optimized area under the ROC curve of 0.797, 88.4% sensitivity, and 62.5% specificity, which were significantly superior to those of the imaging model (p = 0.013). Conclusion An integrated combination of disease duration, FS-95th percentile, and FS-kurtosis was a potential predictor of treatment response to IVGC in patients with active and moderate-to-severe TAO. FS T2 mapping was superior to conventional T2 mapping in terms of prediction.

Many studies have shown that endovascular recanalization is feasible for the treatment of non-acute symptomatic intracranial large artery occlusion. However, its incidence of perioperative complications is relatively high. Appropriate imaging evaluation can better observe the occluded segments of the vessels before procedure, thereby guiding the choice of clinical treatment.

Objective:Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis(MDR-TB)has a high mortality and is always one of the major challenges in global TB prevention and control.Analyzing the factors that may impact the adverse outcomes of MDR-TB patients is helpful for improving the systematic management and optimizing the treatment strategies for MDR-TB patients.For follow-up data,the Cox proportional hazards regression model is an important multifactor analysis method.However,the method has significant limitations in its application,such as the fact that it is difficult to deal with the impacts of small sample sizes and other practical issues on the model.Therefore,Bayesian and conventional Cox regression models were both used in this study to analyze the influencing factors of death in MDR-TB patients during the anti-TB therapy,and compare the differences between these 2 methods in their application. Methods:Data were obtained from 388 MDR-TB patients treated at Lanzhou Pulmonary Hospital from November 1,2017 to March 31,2021.Survival analysis was employed to analyze the death of MDR-TB patients during the therapy and its influencing factors.Conventional and Bayesian Cox regression models were established to estimate the hazard ratios(HR)and their 95% confidence interval(95% CI)for the factors affecting the death of MDR-TB patients.The reliability of parameter estimation in these 2 models was assessed by comparing the parameter standard deviation and 95% CI of each variable.The smaller parameter standard deviation and narrower 95% CI range indicated the more reliable parameter estimation. Results:The median survival time(1st quartile,3rd quartile)of the 388 MDR-TB patients included in the study was 10.18(4.26,18.13)months,with the longest survival time of 31.90 months.Among these patients,a total of 12 individuals died of MDR-TB and the mortality was 3.1%.The median survival time(1st quartile,3rd quartile)for the deceased patients was 4.78(2.63,6.93)months.The majority of deceased patients,accounting for 50%,experienced death within the first 5 months of anti-TB therapy,with the last mortality case occurring within the 13th month of therapy.The results of the conventional Cox regression model showed that the risk of death in MDR-TB patients with comorbidities was approximately 6.96 times higher than that of patients without complications(HR=6.96,95% CI 2.00 to 24.24,P=0.002)and patients who received regular follow-up had a decrease in the risk of death by approximately 81% compared to those who did not receive regular follow-up(HR=0.19,95% CI 0.05 to 0.77,P=0.020).In the results of Bayesian Cox regression model,the iterative history plot and Blue/Green/Red(BGR)plot for each parameter showed the good model convergence,and parameter estimation indicated that the risk of death in patients with a positive first sputum culture was lower than that of patients with a negative first sputum culture(HR=0.33,95% CI 0.08 to 0.87).Additionally,compared to patients without complications,those with comorbidities had an approximately 6.80-fold increase in the risk of death(HR=7.80,95% CI 1.90 to 21.91).Patients who received regular follow-up had a 90% reduction in the risk of death compared to those who did not receive regular follow-up(HR=0.10,95% CI 0.01 to 0.30).The comparison between these 2 models showed that the parameter standard deviations and corresponding 95% CI ranges of other variables in the Bayesian Cox model were significantly smaller than those in the conventional model,except for parameter standard deviations of receiving regular follow-up(Bayesian model was 0.77;conventional model was 0.72)and pulmonary cavities(Bayesian model was 0.73;conventional model was 0.73). Conclusion:The first year of anti-TB therapy is a high-risk period for mortality in MDR-TB patients.Complications are the main risk factors of death in MDR-TB patients,while patients who received regular follow-up and had positive first sputum culture presented a lower risk of death.For data with a small sample size and low incidence of outcome,the Bayesian Cox regression model provides more reliable parameter estimation than the conventional Cox model.

Objective:To observe the changes of skeletal muscle indexes in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes complicated with sarcopenia treated with sitagliptin and acarbose.Methods:A total of 60 patients over 60 years old with type 2 diabetes complicated with sarcopenia in Dalian Municipal Central Hospital from January 2019 to January 2020 were selected and divided into two groups by random number table method.One group received sitagliptin and metformin,and the other group received acarbose and metformin. The changes of skeletal muscle indexes, glucagon-like peptides-1 (GLP-1), insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) and inflammatory indexes were compared between the two groups at baseline and 36 weeks after treatment.Results:After treatment, the skeletal muscle index (SMI) of sitagliptin group was increased (5.94 ± 1.52 vs. 5.99 ± 1.52), and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Muscle strength and SMI decreased in acarbosse group (18.75 ± 4.64 vs. 17.72 ± 4.44, 6.09 ± 1.74 vs. 6.00 ± 1.71), with statistical significance ( P<0.05). GLP-1 increased in sitagliptin group, 0 min: (10.65 ± 1.68) pmol/L vs. (12.41 ± 1.88) pmol/L; 60 min: (22.79 ± 2.85) pmol/L vs. (25.51 ± 2.79) pmol/L; 120 min: (24.26 ± 2.94) pmol/L vs. (29.49 ± 2.91) pmol/L; 180 min: (11.68 ± 1.84) pmol/L vs. (12.88 ± 1.83) pmol/L. There were significant differences ( P<0.05). HOMA-IR and CRP decreased: 4.73 ± 3.04 vs. 3.16 ± 2.41, (2.39 ± 0.50) mg/L vs. (2.33 ± 0.43) mg/L, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). HOMA-IR in acarbose group decreased after treatment (5.80 ± 3.94 vs. 4.00 ± 1.63), and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Comparison between the two groups after treatment, the decreased value of muscle strength in sitagliptin group was less than that in acarbose group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). GLP-1 and overall GLP-1 area under the curve in sitagliptin group were higher than those in acarbose group (67.64 ± 6.81 vs. 58.98 ± 6.72), with statistical significance ( P<0.05). HOMA-IR and CRP in sitagliptin group were lower than those in acarborose group: 3.16 ± 2.42 vs. 4.00 ± 1.63, (2.33 ± 0.43) mg/L vs. (2.41 ± 0.70) mg/L, with statistical significances ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Sitagliptin therapy improves muscle mass and protects muscle strength in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and sarcopenia.