Objective: To study the in vivo metabolic pathways of 3-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA) in rats. Methods: An HPLC-QTRAP-MS method was applied to identifying the metabolites of AKBA in bile, urine, and feces after ig administration of AKBA 60 mg/kg to rats. Results: A total of 15 metabolites were found in rats. The major metabolic pathways of AKBA were deacetylation, mono-hydroxylation, dehydrogenation, and glucuronide conjugates. Conclusion: AKBA undergoes the extensive phases I and II metabolism in rats; The metabolites produced mainly excrete through feces and bile; The information-dependent acquisition (IDA) and enhanced product ion (EPI) scan were used on a linear ion trap mass spectrometer to get high quality MS2 picture and provide an effective method for identifying the metabolites of AKBA.

Electrospinning is a very effective way to prepare scaffolds for biomedical applications. However, conventional electrospinning technique has shortcomings for this purpose. Modification studies on electrospinning technique have been conducted by more and more researchers. This paper summaries the research progress in electrospinning technique for biomedical materials.
Biocompatible Materials ; chemical synthesis ; Elasticity ; Electrochemistry ; instrumentation ; methods ; Materials Testing ; Nanostructures ; chemistry ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds ; chemistry

The technology of synthesis, extraction and modification of biodegradable polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is introduced briefly in this article. It is also summarized that the research progress in application of PHB in drug delivery and tissue engineering.
Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Hydroxybutyrates ; chemistry ; Tissue Engineering

After over five decades of vigorous development in China, integrative medicine (IM) has developed into an academic discipline with some overlaps but independent from both Chinese medicine (CM) and Western medicine (WM). CHEN Zhu, the Minister of the Ministry of Health pointed out that IM represents the developing direction for future medicine at the conference commemorating the 50th anniversary of Chairman MAO Zedong' s important instructions on WM doctors learning from CM, which was sponsored by State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese Association of Integrative Medicine in Beijing on November 27,2008. In this article, the author stresses basic research should be paid attention to in developing IM from the concepts and connotation, development and evolution, achievements and problems, layers and pathways of IM.
Integrative Medicine ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Research

Objective: To study the use of high flow nasal cannula oxygenation (HFNCO) on the respiratory function of patients with acute lung injury after liver transplantation. Methods: This is a randomized controlled interventional study. Among 200 adults who underwent liver transplantation from Jan 2015 to Dec 2015 in the Department of Transplant Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital, 80 patients who did not meet the criteria for acute lung injury were excluded. Of the remaining 120 patients who were included in the study, they were divided into the HFNCO group and the nasal catheter group by the random number table method, with 60 patients in each group. The respiratory rate (RR), oxygenation index (PaO₂/FiO₂) and PaCO₂ were recorded immediately after extubation, 2 h after extubation, 1st day after extubation and 2nd day after extubation. The reintubation rate and duration of ICU stay were compared. Results: The incidence of acute lung injury after liver transplantation was 60.0%(120/200). There was no reintubation in the HFNCO group, and 6 patients (10.0%) in the nasal catheter group were reintubated. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The RR of the HFNCO group was lower than that of the nasal catheter group [(19.4±4.5) breaths/min vs. (21.7±5.1) breaths/min], [(18.9±4.2) breaths/min vs. (22.5±4.4) breaths/min], [(19.0±3.7) breaths/min vs. (23.2±4.7) breaths/min] (all P<0.05) 2 h after extubation, on the 1st and 2nd day after extubation. The oxygenation index of the HFNCO group was significantly higher than that of the nasal catheter group [(242.6±65.0)mmHg vs. (206.6±44.2)mmHg], [(245.6±70.4)mmHg vs. (211.1±62.8)mmHg], [(238.2±62.8)mmHg vs. (210.4±57.1)mmHg] (all P<0.05). There was no statistically difference in the PaCO₂ and the duration of ICU stay between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions Compared with the conventional nasal catheter oxygen inhalation, HFNCO was more effective in improving oxygenation index, reducing RR, improving respiratory function and reducing reintubation rate in patients with acute lung injury after liver transplantation. HFNCO is a more suitable oxygen therapy for patients with acute lung injury after liver transplantation.

Hepatolenticular degeneration (HLD) is an autosomal recessive liver disease associated with copper metabolism disorders. Mutations in the ATP7B gene on chromosome 13 result in impaired transmembrane transport of copper ions, which in turn leads to excessive deposition of copper in the liver, brain, cornea, kidney, and bone joints (mainly in the liver and the brain). Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly reduce tissue damage and improve the prognosis of patients. American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases issued the guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of HLD in 2008, and the European Association for the Study of the Liver released such guidelines in 2012. This article summarizes the recent research advances in China and foreign countries to give an overview of the treatment of HLD.

OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of Xiaoyaosan in improving the abnormal glucose metabolism in chronic sleep deprivation(CSD) mice based on tyrosine hydroxylase/alpha-2a adrenergic receptor(TH/ADRA2A) signal pathway. METHODS Fifty six-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into two groups: 10 in the control group and 40 in the model group. The rats in the model group were deprived of sleep for 4 weeks by the method of multi-platform water environment. Fasting plasma glucose(FPG) and body mass were measured once a week for three consecutive weeks. Then, according to FPG, they were randomly divided into four groups, namely model group, guanethidine group(30 mg·kg-1·d-1) and Xiaoyaosan low and high dose groups(33.88, 101.64 g·kg-1·d-1). After grouping, continue modeling for a week. Then the drug was administered for 4 weeks. The control group and model group were treated with pure water of the same volume. Modeling continued during the administration period. On the 53rd day, blood was collected from the tail vein for the glucose tolerance test. On the 56th day, the expression of insulin(INS), noradrenaline(NE) and corticosterone(CORT) in serum was detected by ELISA. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of pancreatic islets. Detection of co expression of TH and INS in pancreatic tissues by immunofluorescence staining. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of ADRA2A mRNA and protein in the pancreas. RESULTS In the process of CSD modeling, compared with the initial body mass, the body mass of the model group mice decreased significantly at the end of the first week of modeling(P<0.05), and FPG increased significantly(P<0.01). After administration, compared with the control group, the glucose tolerance of the model group was significantly abnormal. The levels of NE, CORT and INS increased significantly(P<0.01), the expression level of ADRA2A mRNA and protein in the pancreas was significantly increased(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, Xiaoyaosan groups had better glucose tolerance, the levels of NE, CORT and INS decreased significantly(P<0.05), and the expression of ADRA2A mRNA and protein in the pancreas decreased significantly(P<0.05 or P<0.01). HE staining results showed that the number of cells in the islets of the model group was significantly reduced compared with the control group, and the situation was improved in all drug groups. The results of immunofluorescence staining showed that the protein content of TH in the model group increased, and the expression of TH in each group decreased after administration. CONCLUSION Xiaoyaosan can improve the abnormal glucose metabolism induced by CSD, and its mechanism may be related to the reduction of TH/ADRA2A expression.

Objective: To detect potential mutation in a Chinese pedigree affected with congenital limb malformations. Methods: Clinical data was collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of family members. The zone of polarizing activity regulatory sequence (ZRS) were amplified by PCR and subjected to direct sequencing. Results: Among the 13 individuals in this pedigree, there were 4 PPD patients, who were characterized by varying degrees of deformity. The female patients suffered triphalangeal thumb and preaxial polydactyly, while the male patients only had preaxial polydactyly. Only one patient had foot involvement. TA heterogeneous mutations was discovered in the ZRS (105C>G) in all patients, the same mutation was not detected in 2 healthy family members. Conclusion The inheritance pattern of PPD was autosomal dominant inheritance. There was a significant variability of symptoms among family patients. The heterozygous mutation of the ZRS (105C>G) probably underlie the disease.

OBJECTIVETo detect potential mutation in a Chinese family affected with succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency.

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood samples of the proband, her family members and 100 healthy controls. All exons and flanking intronic regions of the ALDH5A1 gene were amplified by PCR and subjected to direct sequencing.

RESULTSThe proband was found to have compound heterozygous mutations of the ALDH5A1 gene, namely c.398_399delAA (p.N134X) and c.638G>T (p.R213L), for which her parents were both heterozygous carriers. The same mutations were not found among the 100 healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONThe novel mutations of the ALDH5A1 gene probably underlie the pathogenesis of the disease in the infant, which also enriched the mutation spectrum of the ALDH5A1 gene.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; ethnology ; genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; methods ; Developmental Disabilities ; ethnology ; genetics ; Exons ; genetics ; Family Health ; Female ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Infant ; Introns ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Succinate-Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase ; deficiency ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To study the application of surgical locating guides based on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technique on extraction of impacted supernumerary teeth. METHODS: This study included 15 patients with impacted supernumerary teeth in anterior maxillary. Surgical approach was determined by CBCT. Surgical locating guides of labial approach or palatal approach were designed and fabricated by CAD/CAM technique. Impacted supernumerary teeth were extracted under the location of surgical locating guides. RESULTS: Surgical locating guides were well attached in the operation. The impacted supernumerary teeth were located and exposed rapidly, and the adjacent important anatomical structures were avoided. CONCLUSIONS Surgical locating guides benefit the accurate detection and reduction of trauma in extraction of impacted supernumerary teeth.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Tooth Extraction ; Tooth, Impacted ; Tooth, Supernumerary