Citri Fructus identification by fingerprint and chemometrics was investigated in this paper. Twenty-three Citri Fructus samples were collected which referred to two varieties as Cirtus wilsonii and C. medica recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. HPLC chromatograms were obtained. The components were partly identified by reference substances, and then common pattern was established for chemometrics analysis. Similarity analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) , partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and hierarchical cluster analysis heatmap were applied. The results indicated that C. wilsonii and C. medica could be ideally classified with common pattern contained twenty-five characteristic peaks. Besides, preliminary pattern recognition had verified the chemometrics analytical results. Absolute peak area (APA) was used for relevant quantitative analysis, results showed the differences between two varieties and it was valuable for further quality control as selection of characteristic components.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Citrus ; chemistry ; classification ; Discriminant Analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fruit ; chemistry ; classification ; Mass Spectrometry ; Principal Component Analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of ASPP gene family, and to explore its relationship with the survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSTumor samples collected from 91 pathologically confirmed NSCLC patients treated in the Cancer Hospital of Guiyang Medical University from September 1997 to December 2005 were used in this study. The expression of ASPP1, ASPP2, iASPP, and p53 in the tumor samples were examined by immunohistochemistry. The relevance of ASPP family proteins and survival of the patients was analyzed.

RESULTSIn the stage III and IV NSCLC patients, the median survival period of ASPP2-positive group was 18 months and that of negative group was 7 months (P = 0.002). The median survival of stage I NSCLC patients with iASPP-negative group was 22 months and that of the positive group was 2 months (P = 0.00 3). The median survival of patients with stage III NSCLC in the iASPP-negative group was 19 months and that of the positive group was 7 months (P = 0.014 1). In the 54 cases of wild type P53 expression, there were 15 patients with stage III NSCLC patients. Among them, the median survival of ASPP2-positive cases was 22 months and that of the negative cases was 11 months (P = 0.029 3). The median survival period of iASPP-negative cases of stage I NSCLC patients was 41 months and that of positive cases was 7 months (P = 0.021 6). Among the stage III NSCLC patients, the median survival period of iASPP-negative cases was 21 months and that of the positive cases was 2 months (P = 0.001 1). Fifteen patients with stage III NSCLC of the 37 patients with mutant P53 expression, the survival period of the ASPP2-positive cases was significantly longer than that of negative cases (P = 0.019 2). The multivariate analysis showed that expression levels of ASPP2 and iASPP were correlated with prognosis of the patients (P < 0.05 for both).

CONCLUSIONSExpression of ASPP2 and iASPP is a predictor of survival in NSCLC patients. Expression of ASPP2 is a good prognostic factor, while expression of iASPP is an unfavourable prognostic factor in NSCLC patients.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Repressor Proteins ; metabolism ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo develop an HPLC method for determining flavoniod-glycosides in Yixintong pills.

METHODAgilent ZORBAX Extend-C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) was used with tetrahydrofuran-methanol-acetonitrile-water-acetic acid (30:3:4:120:3) as mobile phase. Detection wavelength was 330 nm.

RESULTGood linearities of rhamnosylvitexin and vetexin-glucoside were obtained within the range of 0.044-1.78 microg (r = 0.9999) and 0.042-0.85 microg (r = 0.9999); the average recoveries were 100.0% and 99.2%; RSD were 0.92% and 1.8%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThis method can be used for quality control of Yixintong pills.

Apigenin ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Crataegus ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control

Objective To study the effect of [Gly14]-Humanin on oxidative stress and neuron apoptosis after focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in rats. Methods A rat model of acute middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)and reperfusion was established by suture embolism. Ninety-six healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, model group, normal saline group and HNG group. And 5 μL HNG(100 nmol/L)in the rats of the HNG group, normal saline in the rats of the sham-operation group and normal saline group were given to rats 3 days before operation respectively(iv, three times, qd). After cerebral ischemia 3 h and 24 h of reperfusion, neurological deficit score(NDS) were performed for each group, and the activity of sod, levels of GSH and MDA in cerebral tissue were detected. TUNEL staining were used to detect neuronal apoptosis. Results Median(Interquartile range)of NDS was 0(0)in sham-operation group, 1.5(1)in model group, 3(1)in normal saline group and 3(1)in HNG group, respectively, and the NDS of sham-operation group was significantly lower than the other three groups. The NDS of HNG group was significantly lower than the model group and normal saline group(all P<0.05). Compared with sham-operation group, the activity of SOD of model group, normal saline group and HNG group rats[(11.65±1.66),(12.15±1.56)and (19.43±1.47)U/mL]and levels of GSH[(8.84±1.23),(7.51±1.16)and (11.17±1.67)mg/L]were decreased, and levels of MDA[(42.61±1.79), (40.33±1.24)and (35.39±1.29)nmol/mL]were increased(P<0.05). The activity of SOD and levels of GSH of HNG group were significantly higher than model group and normal saline group, but the levels of MDA was significantly lower than model group and normal saline group(all P<0.05). Compared with sham-operation group[(0.13±0.01)%], percentage of neuronal apoptosis of model group, normal saline group and HNG group rats[(0.59 ±0.07)%,(0.51 ±0.08)% and (0.22 ±0.03)%, respectively]were increased(P<0.05), and percentage of neuronal apoptosis of HNG group was significantly lower than model group and normal saline group(all P<0.05). Conclusion By increasing the activity of SOD and levels of GSH,[Gly14]-Humanin can resist focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury, and can decrease the neuro apoptosis of ischemic area, thus mitigate the neurologic deficit.

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and surgical effects of thyroid-stimulating hormone pituitary adenomas (TSH-omas).

METHODSThe clinical data of 19 patients (14 female and 5 male) with TSH-omas were analyzed retrospectively in this study from January 2001 to December 2008. The patients ranged from 20 to 70 years old (average 40.5 years old) and had disease histories from 1 to 228 months (average 55 months). Among these patients, 15 of them complained of thyrotoxicosis symptoms, while the other 4 patients' symptoms were associated with headache and/or visual disturbance caused by the tumor mass effect. Initially, 12 of the 15 patients with thyrotoxicosis symptoms were misdiagnosed with Grave's disease. As a result 2 of them received (131) Iodine, and one received subtotal thyroidectomy. All of these patients underwent transsphenoidal microsurgery.

RESULTSAverage follow-up period was 3.6 years (6 months-7 years). Pathological analysis of the surgical specimen showed pituitary adenoma in all patients, immunohistochemistry were positive for TSH in 17 cases, negative for TSH in 2, positive for growth hormone in 2, positive for prolactin in 1, and positive for adrenocorticotrophic hormone in 1. Postoperative MRI revealed that the tumors in 15 patients were removed totally, though 4 patients still had residual tumors. The thyroid hormone level tests suggested that 13 patients could be considered normal 3 months after their tumors were removed, though 2 of patients with normal postoperative MRI and thyroid hormones showed increased levels of TSH. For these 2 patients, tumors did not recur and their thyroid hormone levels returned to normal after pituitary radiotherapy. The cure rate was 11/19 after surgery and 13/19 after surgery plus pituitary radiotherapy.

CONCLUSIONSThe screening test for hyperthyroidism patients with high TSH levels is a key point to improve the accuracy rate in early diagnoses of TSH-omas. The transsphenoidal microsurgery is first choice to treat TSH-omas, while pituitary radiotherapy and somatostatin analogs are beneficially adjunctive therapies.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyrotropin ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of a recombinant human tumor necrosis factor:Fc fusion protein (rhTNFR:Fc,with a trade name of Yisaipu) in the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis vulgaris.Methods A multicentre,randomized,double blind,and parallel-controlled trial was performed.One hundred and forty-four patients with moderate to severe psoriasis vulgaris from four centres were randomly assigned and treated with either once-weekly subcutaneous injection of rhTNFR:Fc (50 mg) or oral methotrexate (MTX)(7.5 mg) for 12 weeks.Patients were followed up at 2,4,8,12 weeks after the treatment.Results One hundred and twenty-four patients finished the 12-week course of treat- ment.At 12 weeks after the treatment,a 50%,75%,90% improvement in psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) was achieved by 86.11%,76.39%,52.78% respectively of rhTNFR:Fc-treated patients,and by 63.89%,44.44%,22.22% respectively in MTX-treated patients,and all the three improvement rates were of significant difference between the two groups of patients (all P0.05).Conclusion Compared with MTX,rhTNFR:Fc acts more quickly with a higher cure rate and less toxic reactions in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.

BACKGROUNDUnregulated commercial blood/plasma collection among farmers occurred between 1992 and 1995 in central China and caused the second major epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in China. It is important to characterize HIV-1-infected former blood donors and to study characteristics associated with disease progression for future clinical intervention and vaccine development.

METHODSA cross-sectional study was performed on HIV-1-infected former blood donors (FBDs) and age-matched HIV-seronegative local residents. Demographic, epidemiologic, clinical and key laboratory data were collected from all study participants. Both unadjusted and adjusted multivariate linear regressions were employed to analyze the association of the decrease of CD4(+) T-cell counts with other characteristics.

RESULTSTwo hundred and ninety-four HIV-1-infected FBDs and 59 age-matched HIV-seronegative local residents were enrolled in this study. The unregulated blood/plasma collection occurred more than a decade (10.8 - 12.8 years) ago, which caused the rapid spread of HIV-1 infection and the high prevalence of co-infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV, 89.5%); hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection was observed in only 11 HIV(+)participants (3.7%). Deterioration in both clinical manifestation and laboratory parameters and increase of viral loads were observed in parallel with the decrease of CD4(+) T-cell counts. The decrease of total lymphocyte counts (P < 0.001) and hemoglobin levels (P < 0.001) and the appearance of dermatosis (P = 0.03) were observed in parallel with the decrease of CD4(+) T-cell counts whereas viral loads (P < 0.001) and CD8(+) T-cell counts (P = 0.01) were inversely associated with CD4(+) T-cell counts.

CONCLUSIONSCo-infection with HCV but not HBV is highly prevalent among HIV-1-infected FBDs. CD4(+) T-cell counts is a reliable indicator for disease progression among FBDs. Total lymphocyte counts, hemoglobin level and appearance of dermatosis were positively associated with CD8(+) T-cell counts and viral loads were inversely associated with the decreased CD4(+) T-cell counts.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Donors ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; HIV Infections ; complications ; epidemiology ; immunology ; HIV-1 ; Hepatitis C ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUNDIn central precocious puberty (CPP), the pulse secretion and release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) are increased due to early activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, resulting in developmental abnormalities with gonadal development and appearance of secondary sexual characteristics. The CPP without organic disease is known as idiopathic CPP (ICPP). The objective of the study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of domestic leuprorelin (GnRH analog) in girls with ICPP.

METHODSA total of 236 girls with ICPP diagnosed from April 2012 to January 2014 were selected and were randomized into two groups. One hundred fifty-seven girls in the test group were treated with domestic leuprorelin acetate, 79 girls in the control group were treated with imported leuprorelin acetate. They all were treated and observed for 6 months. After 6-month treatment, the percentage of children with peak luteinizing hormone (LH) ≤3.3 U/L, the percentage of children with peak LH/peak follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio <0.6, the improvements of secondary sexual characteristics, gonadal development and sex hormone levels, the change of growth rate of bone age (BA) and growth velocity, and drug adverse effects between two groups were compared.

RESULTSAfter the treatment, the percentage of children with a suppressed LH response to GnRH, defined as a peak LH ≤3.3 U/L, at 6 months in test and control groups were 96.80% and 96.20%, respectively, and the percentage of children with peak LH/FSH ratio ≤0.6 at 6 months in test and control groups were 93.60% and 93.70%, respectively. The sizes of breast, uterus and ovary of children and the levels of estradiol (E 2 ) were significantly reduced, and the growth rate of BA was also reduced. All the differences between pre- and post-treatment in each group were statistically significant (P < 0. 05), but the differences of the parameters between two groups were not significant (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDomestic leuprorelin is effective and safe in the treatment of Chinese girls with ICPP. Its effectiveness and safety are comparable with imported leuprorelin.

Body Height ; drug effects ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Leuprolide ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Puberty, Precocious ; blood ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To investigate the effect and regulation of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) on islets function and NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) and autophagy in type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) mice.Methods:Experimental study. Twenty, 8-week-old, male C57BL/6J mice were selected and divided into a normal control group ( n=5) and a high-fat feeding modeling group ( n=15). The model of T2DM was established by high-fat feeding combined with intraperitoneal injection of low-dose streptozotocin. After successful modeling, those mice were divided into a diabetes group ( n=7) and a UC-MSCs treatment group ( n=7). The UC-MSCs treatment group was given UC-MSCs (1×10 6/0.2 ml phosphate buffer solution) by tail vein infusion once a week for a total of 4 weeks; the diabetes group was injected with the same amount of normal saline, and the normal control group was not treated. One week after the treatment, mice underwent intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests and intraperitoneal insulin tolerance tests, and then the mice were sacrificed to obtain pancreatic tissue to detect the expressions of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX-1) by immunofluorescence. The bone marrow-derived macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and adenosine triphosphate (experimental group) in vitro, then co-cultured with UC-MSCs for 24 h (treatment group). After the culture, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the secretion level of IL-1β in the supernatant, and immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome, and related autophagy proteins. Statistical analysis was performed using unpaired one-way analysis of variance, repeated measure analysis of variance. Results:In vivo experiments showed that compared with the diabetes group, the UC-MSCs treatment group partially repaired islet structure, improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity (all P<0.05), and the expression of PDX-1 increased and IL-1β decreased in islets under confocal microscopy. In vitro experiments showed that compared with the experimental group, the level of IL-1β secreted by macrophages in the treatment group was decreased [(85.9±74.6) pg/ml vs. (883.4±446.2) pg/ml, P=0.001], the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and autophagy-related protein P62 was decreased, and the expressions of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3β (LC3) and autophagy effector Beclin-1 were increased under confocal microscopy. Conclusions:UC-MSCs can reduce the level of pancreatic inflammation in T2DM mice, preserving pancreatic function. This might be associated with the ability of UC-MSCs to inhibit the activity of NLRP3 inflammasomes in macrophages and enhance autophagy levels.

Objective: To investigate the epidemiology and hospitalization costs of pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Shanghai. Methods: A retrospective case summary was conducted on 63 614 hospitalized children with CAP in 59 public hospitals in Shanghai from January 2018 to December 2020. These children's medical records, including their basic information, diagnosis, procedures, and costs, were extracted. According to the medical institutions they were admitted, the patients were divided into the children's hospital group, the tertiary general hospital group and the secondary hospital group; according to the age, they were divided into <1 year old group, 1-<3 years old group, 3-<6 years old group, 6-<12 years old group and 12-18 years old group; according to the CAP severity, they were divided into severe pneumonia group and non-severe pneumonia group; according to whether an operation was conducted, the patients were divided into the operation group and the non-operation group. The epidemiological characteristics and hospitalization costs were compared among the groups. The χ² test or Wilcoxon rank sum test was used for the comparisons between two groups as appropriate, and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was conducted for comparisons among multiple groups. Results: A total of 63 614 hospitalized children with CAP were enrolled, including 34 243 males and 29 371 females. Their visiting age was 4 (2, 6) years. The length of stay was 6 (5, 8) days. There were 17 974 cases(28.3%) in the secondary hospital group, 35 331 cases (55.5%) in the tertiary general hospital group and 10 309 cases (16.2%) in the children's hospital group. Compared with the hospitalizations cases in 2018 (27 943), the cases in 2019 (29 009) increased by 3.8% (1 066/27 943), while sharply declined by 76.2% (21 281/27 943) in 2020 (6 662). There were significant differences in the proportion of patients from other provinces and severe pneumonia cases, and the hospitalization costs among the children's hospital, secondary hospital and tertiary general hospital (7 146 cases(69.3%) vs. 2 202 cases (12.3%) vs. 9 598 cases (27.2%), 6 929 cases (67.2%) vs. 2 270 cases (12.6%) vs. 9 397 cases (26.6%), 8 304 (6 261, 11 219) vs. 1 882 (1 304, 2 796) vs. 3 195 (2 364, 4 352) CNY, χ²=10 462.50, 9 702.26, 28 037.23, all P<0.001). The annual total hospitalization costs of pediatric CAP from 2018 to 2020 were 110 million CNY, 130 million CNY and 40 million CNY, respectively. And the cost for each hospitalization increased year by year, which was 2 940 (1 939, 4 438), 3 215 (2 126, 5 011) and 3 673 (2 274, 6 975) CNY, respectively. There were also significant differences in the hospitalization expenses in the different age groups of <1 year old, 1-<3 years old, 3-<6 years old, 6-<12 years old and 12-18 years old (5 941 (2 787, 9 247) vs. 2 793 (1 803, 4 336) vs. 3 013 (2 070, 4 329) vs. 3 473 (2 400, 5 097) vs. 4 290 (2 837, 7 314) CNY, χ²=3 462.39, P<0.001). The hospitalization cost of severe pneumonia was significantly higher than that of non-severe cases (5 076 (3 250, 8 364) vs. 2 685 (1 780, 3 843) CNY, Z=109.77, P<0.001). The cost of patients who received operation was significantly higher than that of whom did not (10 040 (4 583, 14 308) vs. 3 083 (2 025, 4 747) CNY, Z=44.46, P<0.001). Conclusions: The number of children hospitalized with CAP in Shanghai decreased significantly in 2020 was significantly lower than that in 2018 and 2019.The proportion of patients from other provinces and with severe pneumonia are mainly admitted in children's hospitals. Hospitalization costs are higher in children's hospitals, and also for children younger than 1 year old, severe cases and patients undergoing operations.
Infant ; Female ; Male ; Humans ; Child ; Retrospective Studies ; China/epidemiology* ; Hospitalization ; Community-Acquired Infections/therapy* ; Hospitals, Pediatric ; Pneumonia/therapy*