Objective To evaluate the functional changes in the isometric,concentric and eccentric muscle strength of the knee extensors and flexors in patients with knee osteoarthritis,and to explore the relationship among these contractions.Methods A Biodex System-3 isokinetic test system was used to assess the isometric,concentric and eccentric strength of the knee extensors and flexors of the involved and uninvolved limbs of 54 patients suffering from osteoarthritis.Results The strength of the knee extensors and flexors of the involved limbs was significantly less than that of the uninvolved legs in the different contraction modes(P＜0.05).The difference was especially marked in concentric and eccentric contraction at low angular velocity.The hamstrings/quadriceps ratio and the dy- namic control ratio showed abnormalities in the muscle balance of the hamstrings and quadriceps.Conclusion Iso- kinetic testing should be applied and the hamstrings/quadriceps ratio and the dynamic control ratio should be analyzed in evaluating patients with knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathologic features, diagnosis and treatment of biliary intraductal papillary neoplasm (IPN-B).

METHODSThe clinical, histopathological, treatment and prognosis data of 23 patients with IPN-B treated from January 1998 to December 2007 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThere were 13 male and 10 female, aged from 30 to 80 years [mean age was (61 +/- 12) years]. The clinical manifestation included 10 cases with asymptomatic, 7 cases with abdominal pain, 4 cases with jaundice, 1 case with emaciation, and 1 case with acute cholangitis, respectively. Nine patients were also associated with hepatolithiasis. The average diameter of the tumors was (6 +/- 4) cm, 4 lesions were located in the right lobe, 15 in the left lobe, and 4 in the extrahepatic bile duct. Histopathologically, there were 4 adenomas, 1 borderline neoplasm, 6 carcinomas in situ, and 12 carcinomas. All patients received operation;the mean duration of follow-up was (33 +/- 28) months. Overall 3-year and 5-year survival rates of IPN-B were 85.3% and 68.2% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSIPN-B represents a distinct clinicopathologic entity. Favorable prognosis for IPN-B is offered by curative resection.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

Background: and Purpose The rate of donepezil discontinuation and the underlying reasons for discontinuation in Asian patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are currently unknown. We aimed to determine the treatment discontinuation rates in AD patients who had newly been prescribed donepezil in routine clinical practice in Asia. Methods: This 1-year observational study involved 38 institutions in seven Asian countries, and it evaluated 398 participants aged 50–90 years with a diagnosis of probable AD and on newly prescribed donepezil monotherapy. The primary endpoint was the rate of donepezil discontinuation over 1 year. Secondary endpoints included the reason for discontinuation,treatment duration, changes in cognitive function over the 1-year study period, and compliance as assessed using a clinician rating scale (CRS) and visual analog scale (VAS). Results: Donepezil was discontinued in 83 (20.9%) patients, most commonly due to an adverse event (43.4%). The mean treatment duration was 103.67 days in patients who discontinued. Among patients whose cognitive function was assessed at baseline and 1 year, there were no significant changes in scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Trail-Making Test–Black and White scores, whereas the Clinical Dementia Rating score increased significantly (p<0.001). Treatment compliance at 1 year was 96.8% (306/316) on the CRS and 92.6±14.1% (mean±standard deviation) on the VAS. Conclusions In patients on newly prescribed donepezil, the primary reason for discontinuation was an adverse event. Cognitive assessments revealed no significant worsening at 1 year, indicating that continuous donepezil treatment contributes to the maintenance of cognitive function.

Background: and Purpose The rate of donepezil discontinuation and the underlying reasons for discontinuation in Asian patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are currently unknown. We aimed to determine the treatment discontinuation rates in AD patients who had newly been prescribed donepezil in routine clinical practice in Asia. Methods: This 1-year observational study involved 38 institutions in seven Asian countries, and it evaluated 398 participants aged 50–90 years with a diagnosis of probable AD and on newly prescribed donepezil monotherapy. The primary endpoint was the rate of donepezil discontinuation over 1 year. Secondary endpoints included the reason for discontinuation,treatment duration, changes in cognitive function over the 1-year study period, and compliance as assessed using a clinician rating scale (CRS) and visual analog scale (VAS). Results: Donepezil was discontinued in 83 (20.9%) patients, most commonly due to an adverse event (43.4%). The mean treatment duration was 103.67 days in patients who discontinued. Among patients whose cognitive function was assessed at baseline and 1 year, there were no significant changes in scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Trail-Making Test–Black and White scores, whereas the Clinical Dementia Rating score increased significantly (p<0.001). Treatment compliance at 1 year was 96.8% (306/316) on the CRS and 92.6±14.1% (mean±standard deviation) on the VAS. Conclusions In patients on newly prescribed donepezil, the primary reason for discontinuation was an adverse event. Cognitive assessments revealed no significant worsening at 1 year, indicating that continuous donepezil treatment contributes to the maintenance of cognitive function.

Professor
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Angina, Stable ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans ; Moxibustion

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), which catalyzes the conversion from L-phenylalanine to trans-cinnamic acid, is a well-known key enzyme and a connecting step between primary and secondary metabolisms in the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway of plants and microbes. Schisandra chinensis, a woody vine plant belonging to the family of Magnoliaceae, is a rich source of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans exhibiting potent activity. However, the functional role of PAL in the biosynthesis of lignan is relatively limited, compared with those in lignin and flavonoids biosynthesis. Therefore, it is essential to clone and characterize the PAL genes from this valuable medicinal plant. In this study, molecular cloning and characterization of three PAL genes (ScPAL1-3) from S. chinensis was carried out. ScPALs were cloned using RACE PCR. The sequence analysis of the three ScPALs was carried out to give basic characteristics followed by docking analysis. In order to determine their catalytic activity, recombinant protein was obtained by heterologous expression in pCold-TF vector in Escherichia coli (BL21-DE3), followed by Ni-affinity purification. The catalytic product of the purified recombinant proteins was verified using RP-HPLC through comparing with standard compounds. The optimal temperature, pH value and effects of different metal ions were determined. V_max, K_cat and K_m values were determined under the optimal conditions. The expression of three ScPALs in different tissues was also determined. Our work provided essential information for the function of ScPALs.
Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli/metabolism* ; Phenylalanine/metabolism* ; Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase/chemistry* ; Recombinant Proteins ; Schisandra/genetics*

Plant polyphenols have a wide range of pharmacological activities and application prospects. Liquid polyphenol preparations have special physical phases and complex chemical compositions, with problems such as poor stability and easy precipitation during production and marketing. Taking the multi-precipitation mechanism of plant polyphenol liquid preparations as an example,we discuss the chemistry and composition of the precipitation, how it forms, whether precipitationcan be controlled, and the interaction law of three precipitation approaches. An unstable mechanism model is proposed where hydrolyzed tannin hydrolysis and catechin non-enzymatic oxidative polymerization repeatedly induces associative colloid aggregation and precipitation. This study explains the complex physicochemical changes in polyphenol solutions and the microcosmic mechanism of instability in the induced system and proposes a steady state reconstruction of liquid polyphenol preparation consistent with the common law of precipitation and control. It has scientific significance for promoting the development and manufacture of high quality liquid polyphenol preparations.

Objective:To analyze the main chemical components in the supernatant and precipitate of Sanajon oral liquid, so as to provide basis for establishing its quality standard and precipitation control technology. Method:UPLC-Q-TOF-MS^E was used to analyze the chemical components in the supernatant and precipitate of this oral liquid. The analysis was performed on Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C₁₈ column (2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 μm) with the mobile phase of 0.1% formic acid solution (A) and acetonitrile (B) for gradient elution (0-1 min, 2%B; 1-2 min, 2%-5%B; 2-4 min, 5%-7%B; 4-6 min, 7%-24%B; 6-10 min, 24%-42%B; 10-12 min, 42%-54%B; 12-15 min, 54%-76%B; 15-18 min, 76%-100%B), the flow rate was set to 0.3 mL·min^-1, the column temperature was 30 ℃, the injection volume was 2 µL. The mass spectrographic analysis was used with electrospray ionization (ESI), sample MS data was acquired by time-dependent MS^E in negative ion mode, the collection range was m/z 50-1 200 (supernatant) and m/z 50-3 000 (precipitate). Then the chemical constituents were identified by the information of retention time, accurate relative molecular mass and secondary mass spectrum fragment. Result:Totally 61 compounds were identified in the supernatant, including tannins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, amino acids, organic acids, fatty acids, etc. Totally 15 compounds were identified in the precipitate, including tannins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, fatty acids, etc. Conclusion:The hydrolyzed tannin of Sanajon oral liquid may be the potential material basis of its precipitate, and its precipitate is likely to be a complex precipitate mainly composed of ellagic acid and tanned red. The established UPLC-Q-TOF-MS^E can quickly and comprehensively analyze the chemical composition of Sanajon oral liquid, which can provide a scientific basis for the researches of its material basis, precipitation mechanism and quality control.