The folate metabolic pathway plays important roles in cellular physiology by participating in nucleotide synthesis, DNA repair and methylation, and maintenance and stability of the genome. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a key regulatory enzyme involved in folate metabolism. Polymorphisms of MTHFR may change the level of homocysteine and affect DNA synthesis and methylation, leading to an increased oxidative stress and disturbed methylation reactions and consequently affecting reproductive function. This article presents an overview on MTHFR gene polymorphisms, proposing that multicentered, large-sample and long-term prospective studies are needed to reveal the relationship between MTHFR gene polymorphisms and infertility.
DNA ; biosynthesis ; DNA Methylation ; DNA Repair ; Folic Acid ; metabolism ; Homocysteine ; metabolism ; Humans ; Infertility ; enzymology ; genetics ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo understand the epidemiologic features and etiology of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in China so as to provide evidence for the development of preventive measures on H. pylori infection and related diseases.

METHODSMeta-analysis was used to evaluate the data extracted from 1990 - 2002 published papers on the epidemiology of H. pylori infection in China.

RESULTSThe average infection rate of H. pylori infection in China was 58.07%, with 50% in 10 to 20 year-olds. Significant intrafamilial clustering was observed. H. pylori infection was a risk factor to develop gastrointestinal disease.

CONCLUSIONSH. pylori infections in Chinese were common and extensively distributed, which might due to close contact between family members.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Family ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections ; complications ; epidemiology ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Astragalus membranaceus extract (AME) in regulating the immune function of human peripheral blood immune cells (PBIC) in vitro.

METHODSEffects of AME on the proliferation activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and the tumor cell phagocytosis of peripheral blood adherent monocytes (PBAM) were measured by using 3H-TdR incorporation. Effect of the tumor-killing activity of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) was determined by using 51Cr-releasing assay. Effects on production of IgG by peripheral blood B cells (PBBC) and IL-6 by PBAM were tested by means of ELISA, and effect on production of TNF-alpha by PBAM was studied by means of biological method. Besides, the protein elements of AME were analysed by SDS-PAGE.

RESULTSAME could promote the proliferation of human PBMC, elevate the tumor cell-killing activity of CTL, strengthen the tumor cell phagocytosis and cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-6) production of PBAM, and promote the IgG production of PBBC. AME contained multiple protein elements.

CONCLUSIONAME has effect in enhancing human immuno-function and anti-tumor activity, it could be applied in clinical practice for immuno-modulation and tumor treatment.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; immunology ; Phagocytosis ; drug effects ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

The study is to prepare taste masking and enteric-coated clarithromycin granules by melting and fluid bed coating technology. Clarithromycin and matrix materials were melted at a certain temperature, and then made into particles by fluidized bed coating. X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to identify the crystal and morphology of drug loading granules. In vitro dissolution method was used for the observation of the drug release behavior. The results showed that the drug particles size range was 0.2 - 0.6 mm; the crystal form of clarithromycin in the granule did not change; enteric-coated granules accumulated release in 0.1 mol L(-1) hydrochloric acid in 2 h was less than 10%, while in pH 6.8 phosphate buffer in 1 h was more than 80%. The taste masking and enteric-coated clarithromycin granules not only have good taste masking effect, but also have a good release behavior. It is expected to have better clinical application.
Clarithromycin ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Crystallization ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Excipients ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Particle Size ; Tablets, Enteric-Coated ; Taste ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; X-Ray Diffraction

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic effect and safety of fire needling on rat with rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODSForty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a methotrexate (MTX) group and a fire needling group, 10 rats in each group. The 0.1 mL of normal saline was subcutaneously injected in rat's right back paw in the normal group, while the other groups received subcutaneous injection of 0.1 mL of complete Freund's adjuvant to establish the model. The pricking method was applied in the fire needling group at "Jiaji" (EX-B 2), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and Ashi points with a depth of 5 mm, once every three days, and totally eight times were required. In the MTX group, with intragastric administration of 2.0 mg/kg per rat, the treatment was given once every seven days, and totally four times were required. The weight, swelling rate of foot, joint pain score and polyarthritis index of rats in each group as well as the pathological change of liver tissue under light microscope were observed.

RESULTSThe weight, swelling rate of foot, joint pain score and polyarthritis index in the model group were significantly higher than those in the normal group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), after the treatment, the above-mentioned indexes in the two treatment groups were obviouly dereased as componed with those in the model group (all P < 0.01), and there were statistical differences between the fire needling group and MTX group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the normal group, inflammatory cells were appeared with a cluster distribution in the liver cells of rats in the model group. The inflammatory cells were reduced in the MTX group and fire needling group, and liver cells had degenerative edema and cell nucleus were largen and deformed in the MTX group.

CONCLUSIONThe fire needling has significant efficacy for rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA) without any damage to the liver, which coud have a better control of disease progression of rheumatoid arthritis .

Acupuncture Therapy ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective:To explore the clinical effect of robot-assisted core decompression combined with bone grafting in the treatment of early-stage osteonecrosis of femoral head.Methods:The data of 49 patients (84 hips) who attended the Department of Orthopedics and Joint Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from August 2019 to February 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients suffering Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO) II stage of osteonecrosis of femoral head underwent core decompression and bone grafting. Among the patients undergoing surgery, 30 patients (54 hips), including 19 males and 11 females, aged 44.3±5.4 years (range, 21 to 59 years) were treated with conventional surgical methods, and 19 patients (30 hips), including 12 males and 7 females, aged 41.4±7.2 years (range, 20 to 58 years), were assisted by the orthopedic robot navigation system. All operations were performed by the same operator. All patients were informed of the conventional and robotic surgical options by the surgeon at admission, and the patients made the decision. The baseline data of the two groups of patients, the time of unilateral operation, the number of unilateral X-ray fluoroscopy, the Harris hip score at the last follow-up after surgery, the visual analog score (VAS), and the collapse rate at the last follow-up were collected and compared.Results:A total of 41 patients (70 hips) were followed up, including 24 cases (42 hips) in the conventional surgery group and 17 cases in the robot-assisted group (28 hips). The average follow-up time of all cases was 14.6±4.8 months (range, 3 to 21 months). At the last follow-up, a total of 13 patients (13 hips) suffered femoral head surface collapse, including 11 patients in the conventional surgery group (11 hips) and 2 patients in the robot-assisted group (2 hips). The rate of femoral head collapse between the two groups had statistical difference ( P=0.045). The average operation time of unilateral hip in the conventional operation group was 21.3±5.4 min, and 16.8±3.3 min in the robot-assisted group, with significant difference ( t=3.94, P<0.001). The number of X-ray fluoroscopy of unilateral hip in the conventional operation group was 14.4±3.8 times, and 9.6±2.1 times in the robot-assisted group, with significant difference ( t=6.08, P<0.001). The Harris hip score before surgery in the conventional surgery group was 68.4±4.5 points, and 85.1±3.8 points at the last follow-up, while the preoperative Harris hip score of the robot-assisted surgery group was 67.2±3.9 points, and 86.5±4.4 points at the last follow-up. The Harris hip scores at the last follow-up of the two groups were significantly different from those before the operation, but there was no difference between the two groups after surgery ( t=1.09, P=0.283). The preoperative VAS of the conventional surgery group was 4.8±1.7 points, and 1.7±0.8 points at the last follow-up. The preoperative VAS of the robot-assisted surgery group was 5.1±1.5 points, and 0.9±0.3 points at the last follow-up. Τhere were significant differences between the two groups regarding the VAS in the last follow-up ( t=3.92, P<0.001). Conclusion:Core decompression combined with bone grafting have a definite effect in the treatment of osteonecrosis of ARCO II stage of osteonecrosis of femoral head. Compared with conventional surgery, robot-assisted surgery can achieve better short-term results and head preservation rate.

Objective To explore the relocation stress in families of patients transferred from ICU, and the influence of social comparison orientation and family function on it. Methods There were 168 participants recruited from Critical Medical Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University by convenience sampling method between June 2017 and February 2018. The ICU patients′Family Relocation Stress Scale, Chinese version of the Iowa-Netherland Social Comparison Orientation Measure and Family Adaptation and Cohesion Evaluation Scale Ⅱ were used. Results The score of relocation stress and social comparison orientation were 58.47±7.66 and 37.83±9.11. The score of family real cohesion was 65.85 ± 7.83, which was higher than norms (t=-2.067, P<0.05). The score of dissatisfaction of adaptation was 9.22±4.41, which was higher than norms (t=-3.093, P<0.05). The results of regression analysis showed that the time of patient staying in ICU, education level, religion, social comparison orientation, family real cohesion and dissatisfaction of adaptation could influence relocation stress. Conclusion Health professionals should pay attention to the relocation stress in families, provide emotional support and effective information support, guide family members to correctly understand the patients′ condition and prognosis, respect their religious beliefs, give full play to their family functions, help them adapt to the role changes quickly and reduce the level of relocation stress.

Objective To investigate in vivo pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of Meloxicam Chewable Tablets in healthy Beagle's dogs.Method Twelve healthy adult Beagle's dogs were randomized into two groups.Using the double-preparation,double-cycle,cross-over method and administering orally of testing and reference tablet (2 mg) respectively.The plasma concentration of meloxicam was determinated by RP-HPLC.The 3P97 software was adopted to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters and evaluate the bioequivalence of two preparations.Results The area under the curves (AUC0-96 h) of the testing tablets and innovator tablets were (2.85±0.64) and (2.79±0.48) μg/mL·h.The peak time (Tmax) was (4.33±0.65) and (4.16±0.71) h.The peak concentration (Cmax) was (0.091±0.017) and (0.086±0.021) μg/mL.The half time (t1/2) was (26.08±3.64) and (26.94± 4.21) h.After the double unilateral t test,there was no statistical significance in the difference of lnAUC and lnCmax between the testing tablets and innovator tablets.Conclusion The testing tablets and innovator tablets are bioequivalent.The relative bioavailability of generic tablet is (98.0±9.76)％.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the process and HPLC fingerprint of Charred Radix Scutellariae, and lay a foundation of Charred Radix Scutellariae quanlity control mode.

METHODSelect HPLC-UV fingerprint. Chromatogram condition: Hypersil C18 column (5.0 mm x 200 mm, 5 microm), mixtures of methanol, 0.4% phosphoric acid and acetonitrile as mobile phase in a gradient mode. Flow rate: 1.0 mL x min; Detection wavelength was set at 277 nm.

RESULTThere were no evident differences among Charred Radix Scutellariae that were normatively manufactured and processed.

CONCLUSIONThis test proves the process is feasible, this method recurs well and can be used to provide scieitific basis for the normative process and quanlity control mode of Charred Radix Scutellariae.

Charcoal ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Flavanones ; analysis ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Hot Temperature ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

To establish a sensitive and specific HPLC method for quality control of Radix Paeoniae Alba, HPLC method was applied for quality assessment of Radix Paeoniae Alba. HPLC analysis was performed on a Symmetry C18 column (250 mm x 4. 6 mm ID, 5 microm, Waters, USA). The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile (solvent A) and water containing 0.1% (v/v) phosphoric acid (solvent B) at a constant flow rate of 0.8 mL x min(-1). An increasing linear gradient (v/v) of solvent A was used (t/min, % A): (0,10), (5,10), (25,15), (45, 22), (46, 65), (50, 80) and (60, 80). The column temperature was set at 25 degrees C. The chromatograms were monitored at 230 nm and the on-line UV spectra were recorded in the range of 190 - 400 nm. The HPLC chromatographic fingerprinting of Radix Paeoniae Alba, showing 11 characteristic peaks, was established from 28 lots of Radix Paeoniae Alba. The areas of main chromatographic peaks were found to complied with the following rule: paeoniflorin > 1, 2, 3, 4, 6-penta-O-galloyl-glucos > albiflorin > methyl gallate > other compounds. The chromatographic fingerprinting of Radix Paeoniae Alba with high specificity can be used to control its quality and assure lot-to-lot consistency.
Benzoates ; analysis ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; analysis ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Ecosystem ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Monoterpenes ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results