Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Houpu Paiqi mixture in treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD)with abdominal distension symptom.Methods From July 2014 to June 2015 , in nine centers,a total of 162 FD patients with abdominal distension symptom and met Rome Ⅲpostprandial distress syndrome (PDS)diagnostic criteria were enrolled.All patients were randomly divided into trial group and control group,81 patients in either group.The patients of trial group and control group took Houpu Paiqi mixture or placebo,respectively,25 mL per time,twice daily,and both the courses of treatment were two weeks.Before and after the treatment,the improvement of main symptoms,total clinical efficacy rate and efficacy of traditional medicine between two groups were compared.Chi square test,Fisher exact probability method and Wilcoxon test were performed for statistical analysis.Results According to the results of per-protocol (PP)analysis,the total efficacy rate of trial group and control group was 69.4% (50/72)and 59.2% (42/71),respectively,and there was no statistically significant difference in total efficacy rate between the two groups (χ2 =1 .650,P =0.199 ). And there was no statistically significant difference in the improvement of PDS main symptoms(postprandial fullnessand early satiety)between the two groups (56.3% ±27.9% vs 54.4% ±32.1%,t =0.606,P =0.727 ).For those with baseline symptom score over 14,median early satiety score of trial group after the treatment was 0,which was lower than that of control group,and the difference was statistically significant (Z =-2.370,P =0.018).The total efficacy rate of traditional medicine of trial group was 80.8% (59/73 )and that of control group was 72.0% (54/75 ),and the difference was not statistically significant (χ2 = 0.676,P =0.411 ).Conclusion Houpu Paiqi mixture has certain efficacy in FD with abdominal distension,and could be used for the treatment of PDS-predominant FD.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the alternation of biological characteristics of residual ear chondrocytes when proliferating in vitro, and study the effects of CDMP-1 on proliferation and differentiation of residual ear chondrocytes.

METHODSResidual ear chondrocytes were cultured in vitro. Then we observed the effect of CDMP-1 on differentiation by immunohistochemistry of collagen type II and dyeing with toluidine blue, investigated proliferation effects of CDMP-1 by method of MIT, and analysis cell cycle changes by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe quantity of GAG gradually decreased along with the increase of the doubling time of chondrocytes in vitro. The quantity of chondrocytes with positive expression of collagen type II were significantly more in the experimental group used with CDMP-1 than the contrast. And the most efficient concentration of CDMP-1 was 100 ng/ml.

CONCLUSIONSCDMP-1 had a good effect on proliferating and could maintain morphology of the residual ear chondrocytes of microtia cultured in vitro.

Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Ear Deformities, Acquired ; Female ; Growth Differentiation Factor 5 ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male

Objective To investigate the effect Angiontensin(1-7) [Ang(1-7)] on left ventricular dysfunction and myocardial apoptosis on rat model of adriamycin-induced dilated cardiomyopthy ( ADR-DCM ).Methods Weight-matched adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:( 1 )the ADR-DCM group (n =25 ),in which 2.5 mg/kg of ADR was weekly intravenously injected for 10 weeks.( 2 ) Ang ( 1-7 ) group ( n =25 ),in which ADR rats were simultaneously treated with angiotensin-(1-7) (24 μg · kg-1 · h-1,ip.) for 12 weeks.(3) normal control group (n =10).Hemodynamics and echocardiography examination were performed at 12 weeks.The malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured by TBA methods.The plasma concentration of Ang Ⅱ was determined by immunoradiometric assay.The pathological change was analyzed by histological hematoxylin-eosin staining.Myocardial apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL method.The protein expression of pro-apoptotic protein caspase-3,Bax and antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xl in cardiomyocytes were detected by Western blot.Results Mortality was significantly lower in Ang(1-7) group than in ADR-DCM group (16％ vs.40％,P ＜0.01 ).Compared to the control group,left ventricular end-diastolic diameter ( LVEDD),left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were significantly increased in ADR-DCM group ( all P ＜ 0.01 ) while fractional shorting ( FS), + dp/dtmax and - dp/dtmax were significantly reduced in ADR-DCM group ( all P ＜0.01 ).LVEDD,LVESD and LVEDP were significantly reduced while FS,+ dp/dtmax and -dp/dtmax were significantly higher in Ang( 1-7 ) group compared to the ADR-DCM group,but still higher than the control group ( all P ＜ 0.01 ).The concentrations of Ang Ⅱ and MDA were higher in the ADR-DCM group than in the control group ( P ＜ 0.01 ),which were significantly reduced by Ang(1-7) treatment (P ＜ 0.01 ).The TUNEL-positive cells and apoptosis index,the expression of proapoptotic protein caspase-3 and Bax were significantly higher while the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xl was significantly lower in the ADR-DCM group than in the control group (all P ＜ 0.01 ) which could all be partially reversed by Ang(1-7) treatment ( all P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusion Ang (1-7) could significantly attenuate left ventricular dysfunction and myocardial apoptosis in this model by downregulating pro-apoptotic protein caspase-3 and Bax and upregulating anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xl expression.

BACKGROUNDThe role of gastro-protecting agents on symptomatic chronic gastritis is unclear. This multicenter, open, randomized trial was designed to compare the comprehensive effects of gefarnate with sucralfate on erosive gastritis with dyspeptic symptoms.

METHODSTotally 253 dyspepsia patients confirmed with erosive gastritis were enrolled from six centers in China. They randomly received either daily 300 mg gefarnate or 3 g sucralfate for six weeks. The primary endpoint was the effective rate of both treatments on endoscopic erosion at week six.

RESULTSGefarnate showed an effective rate of 72% and 67% on endoscopic score and dyspeptic symptom release, which is statistically higher than sucralfate (40.1% and 39.3%, P < 0.001, intension-to-treat). For histological improvement, gefarnate showed both effective in decreasing mucosal chronic inflammation (57.7% vs. 24.8%, P < 0.001, intension-to-treat) and active inflammation (36.4% vs. 23.1%, P < 0.05, intension-to-treat) than the control. A significant increase of prostaglandins and decrease of myeloperoxidase in mucosa were observed in gefarnate group. Severity of erosion is non-relevant to symptoms but Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) status does affect the outcome of therapy.

CONCLUSIONSGefarnate demonstrates an effective outcome on the mucosal inflammation in patients with chronic erosive gastritis. Endoscopic and inflammation score should be the major indexes used in gastritis-related trials.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Ulcer Agents ; therapeutic use ; Dyspepsia ; drug therapy ; Female ; Gastritis ; drug therapy ; Gefarnate ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sucralfate ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

A 28-year-old female patient was admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, with sudden headache and vomiting for 1 day. CT scan conducted at emergency revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage, whereas digital subtraction angiography demonstrated a wide-neck aneurysm located at A1 segment of the left anterior cerebral artery. The aneurysm was totally coiled using stent assistance, which, however, was recanalized at 3 month follow-up. This patient was then subjected to aneurysm and parent artery occlusion after bypass of the bilateral A3 segments, who recovered well and discharged without ischemic complications.
Adult ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; surgery ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Anterior Cerebral Artery ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; surgery ; Recurrence ; Stents ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; complications ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Cerebral Infarction ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; therapy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Arabidopsis thaliana is an important and long-established model species for plant molec-ular biology,genetics,epigenetics,and genomics.However,the latest version of reference genome still contains a significant number of missing segments.Here,we reported a high-quality and almost complete Col-0 genome assembly with two gaps(named Col-XJTU)by combining the Oxford Nanopore Technologies ultra-long reads,Pacific Biosciences high-fidelity long reads,and Hi-C data.The total genome assembly size is 133,725,193 bp,introducing 14.6 Mb of novel sequences compared to the TAIR1 0.1 reference genome.All five chromosomes of the Col-XJTU assembly are highly accurate with consensus quality(QV)scores＞60(ranging from 62 to 68),which are higher than those of the TAIR10.1 reference(ranging from 45 to 52).We completely resolved chro-mosome(Chr)3 and Chr5 in a telomere-to-telomere manner.Chr4 was completely resolved except the nucleolar organizing regions,which comprise long repetitive DNA fragments.The Chr1 cen-tromere(CEN1),reportedly around 9 Mb in length,is particularly challenging to assemble due to the presence of tens of thousands of CEN180 satellite repeats.Using the cutting-edge sequencing data and novel computational approaches,we assembled a 3.8-Mb-long CEN1 and a 3.5-Mb-long CEN2.We also investigated the structure and epigenetics of centromeres.Four clusters of CEN180 monomers were detected,and the centromere-specific histone H3-like protein(CENH3)exhibited a strong preference for CEN 180 Cluster 3.Moreover,we observed hypomethylation patterns in CENH3-enriched regions.We believe that this high-quality genome assembly,Col-XJTU,would serve as a valuable reference to better understand the global pattern of centromeric polymorphisms,as well as the genetic and epigenetic features in plants.

This is a policy brief article on the prediction of Covid-19 outbreak and its prevention and control for the possible second wave in the Lao PDR. Compartmental dynamic modeling was created to reflect the natural history of Covid-19. This included susceptible, symptomatic and asymptomatic states and recovery or death. The simulation was done for one year and with two scenarios: 1) high transmission level (R0=5.2) and 2) mid -transmission level (R0=2.0). The model output showed that the size of the outbreak depended on the transmission level, and could reach to 85% of the Lao population with high transmission scenario. However, disease burden was predicted to be smaller with the interventions. Among these, voluntary home quarantine was found to be the most effective, but the predication reverses in the mid-level transmission scenario. Social distancing is much more effective. If there are imported COVID-19 cases, a new wave could occur in two weeks to 2 months, depending on the size of pandemic and efficacy of the rest of interventions. Mid-level lockdown would result in new epidemic starting by July 2020, but the number of infected people would be less if travel bans and social distancing are maintaining. Only high-level lockdown would be able to stop community transmission in the country.

AIM: To study the chemical constituents of stems of Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) Schult. METHODS: Chromatographic techniques using silica gel, C18 reversed phase silica gel, and prep-HPLC were used. The structures were elucidated on the basis of MS and spectroscopic analysis (1D and 2D NMR), as well as chemical methods. RESULTS: Seven compounds were isolated and their structures were elucidated as conduritol A (1), stigmasterol (2), lupeol (3), stigmasterol-3-O-β-D-glucoside (4), the sodium salt of 22α-hydroxy-longispinogenin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glu-curono-pyranosyl-28-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (5), oleanolic acid-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), and the sodium salt of 22α-hydroxy-longispinogenin 3-O-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl-28-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (7). The inhibition activities of compounds 1, 5-7 on non-enzymatic glycation of protein in vitro were evaluated. CONCLUSION Compound 7 is a new triterpenoid saponin. It was shown that compounds 1, 5-7 have weak inhibition activities for non-enzymatic glycation of protein in vitro.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Gymnema sylvestre ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Stems ; chemistry

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of plumbagin as a novel ferroptosis inducer in bladder cancer inhibition. MethodBladder cancer T24 cells were used in this study. The effect of different concentrations of plumbagin （0.1， 1， 2， 3， 6， 12， 24， 48 μmol·L^-1） on the viability of T24 cells was detected by cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8）. The effect of different concentrations of plumbagin （1.5， 3， 6 μmol·L^-1） on the apoptosis of T24 cells was detected by annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate （Annexin V FITC）/PI apoptosis kit. Different inhibitors （ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1， apoptosis inhibitor VAD， and necroptosis inhibitor Nec-1） were used in combination with plumbagin （6 μmol·L^-1）. Reactive oxygen species （ROS） fluorescent probe （DCFH-DA）， malonaldehyde （MDA）， and glutathione （GSH） kits were used to detect the effects of different concentrations of plumbagin （1.5， 3， 6 μmol·L^-1） on the level of ROS and the content of MDA and GSH in T24 cells， respectively. The effect of different concentrations of plumbagin （1.5， 3， 6 μmol·L^-1） on peroxide levels in T24 cells was detected by C11-BODIPY fluorescent probe. Western blot was used to detect the effect of different concentrations of plumbagin （1.5， 3， 6 μmol·L^-1） on the protein expression of solute carrier family 7 member 11 （SLC7A11）， glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4）， nuclear factor E₂-related factor-2 （Nrf-2）， and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 （Keap1）. ResultCompared with the blank group， plumbagin could inhibit the activity of T24 cells （P<0.05） with IC₅₀ of 3.52 μmol·L^-1. At the concentrations of 1.5， 3， 6 μmol·L^-1， plumbagin significantly promoted the apoptosis of T24 cells （P<0.05） as compared with the blank group. Compared with the plumbagin group at 6 μmol·L^-1， the ferroptosis inhibitor and apoptosis inhibitor groups could reverse the inhibitory effect of 6 μmol·L^-1 plumbagin on the proliferation of T24 cells （P<0.05）. Compared with the blank group， the plumbagin groups at 1.5， 3， 6 μmol·L^-1 showed increased content of ROS， MDA， and lipid peroxides in T24 cells， decreased GSH level， and reduced SLC7A11， GPX4， and Nrf-2/Keap1 （P<0.05）. Conclusionplumbagin can induce ferroptosis， and its mechanism is related to the Nrf-2/Keap1 signaling pathway.