OBJECTIVEA quantitative method was developed for the determination of tenuifolin in Tianwang Buxinwan and Guipiwan by HPLC.

METHODThe samples were separated by Alltima C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) using methanol--0.05% phosphoric acid (65:35) as a mobile phase, flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) and wavelength was set at 202 nm.

RESULTTenuifolin was detected in both Chinese preparations. The number of theoretical plates calculated by tenuifolin peak was 2 500. The regression equation of tenuifolin was Y = 5.239 x 10(6) X-6.247 x 10(5) (r = 0.9994) and the liner range was 10-500 g x mL(-1). The average recovery of tenuifolin was 97.5% (RSD less than 3.0%). The LOD of tenuifolin was 5.50 g x mL(-1).

CONCLUSIONThe method is sensitive, rapid and accurate.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Codonopsis ; chemistry ; Diterpenes, Kaurane ; analysis ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polygala ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Saponins ; analysis ; Triterpenes ; analysis

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. As an amplifier of the inflammatory response, TREM-1 is mainly involved in the production of inflammatory mediators and the regulation of cell survival. TREM-1 has been studied in infectious diseases and more recently in non-infectious disorders. More and more studies have shown that TREM-1 plays an important pathogenic role in kidney diseases. There is evidence that TREM-1 can not only be used as a biomarker for diagnosis of disease but also as a potential therapeutic target to guide the development of novel therapeutic agents for kidney disease. This review summarized molecular biology of TREM-1 and its signaling pathways as well as immune response in the progress of acute kidney injury, renal fibrosis, diabetic nephropathy, immune nephropathy, and renal cell carcinoma.

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of super-antigen (SAg) of group A Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS), isolated from patients with scarlet fever or pharyngeal infections in Beijing between 2015-2017. Methods: Throat swab specimens from patients with scarlet fever or pharyngeal infections were collected and tested for GAS. Eleven currently known SAg genes including SpeA, speC, speG, speH, speI, speJ, speK, speL, speM, smeZ and ssa were tested by real-time PCR while M protein genes (emm genes) were amplified and sequenced by PCR. Results: A total of 377 GAS were isolated from 6 801 throat swab specimens, with the positive rate as 5.5%. There were obvious changes noticed among speC, speG, speH and speK in three years. A total of 45 SAg genes profiles were observed, according to the SAgs inclusion. There were significant differences appeared in the frequencies among two of the highest SAg genes profiles between emm1 and emm12 strains (χ(2)=38.196, P<0.001; χ(2)=72.310, P<0.001). There also appeared significant differences in the frequencies of speA, speH, speI and speJ between emm1 and emm12 strains (χ(2)=146.154, P<0.001; χ(2)=52.31, P<0.001; χ(2)=58.43, P<0.001; χ(2)=144.70, P<0.001). Conclusions: Obvious changes were noticed among SAg genes including speC, speG, speH and speK from patients with scarlet fever or pharyngeal infections in Beijing between 2015-2017. SAg genes including speA, speH, speI and speJ appeared to be associated with the emm 1 and emm 12 strains. More kinds of SAg genes profiles were isolated form GAS but with no significant differences seen in the main SAg genes profiles, during the epidemic period.
Antigens, Bacterial/genetics* ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; Bacterial Proteins ; Beijing/epidemiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Exotoxins ; Female ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; Pharyngitis/microbiology* ; Pharynx/microbiology* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/microbiology* ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Scarlet Fever/microbiology* ; Streptococcal Infections ; Streptococcus pyogenes/isolation & purification* ; Superantigens/genetics*

Objective: To analyze and reveal the distribution, research hotspots and study trend of worldwide published articles correlated with HIV/AIDS post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and provide information for related studies in China. Methods: CiteSpace software 5.1 was used to visualize all related papers in the web of science database published during 2000-2017. Results: The average growth rate of international PEP-related papers was 10.78%,and number of published papers in 2016 was highest (n=34), relevant research hotspots have shifted from the prevention of occupational HIV exposure to the prevention of non-occupational HIV exposure in group at high risk, such as MSM, in recent years. Clustering analysis classified research hotspots into three categories, including risk reduction through enhanced intervention, current status of global HIV PEP and German-Austrian Recommendation. Conclusions: Non-occupational HIV PEP in groups at high-risk, especially MSM, has received increasing attention in recent years, the research of PEP mainly focus on improving the awareness and use of PEP in MSM and compliance in the course of medication. In the context of severe HIV epidemic in MSM without effective control in China, PEP should be strengthened to assess and explore the risk of HIV infection in MSM to provide reference for medical personnel and related departments to implement HIV non-occupation exposure blockade and formulate PEP medication.
Anti-HIV Agents/administration & dosage* ; Bibliometrics ; Biomedical Research ; China ; HIV ; HIV Infections/prevention & control* ; Homosexuality, Male ; Humans ; Male ; Periodicals as Topic ; Post-Exposure Prophylaxis/methods*

Biliary fibrosis (BF) is the result of pathological repair of bile tract injury, characterized by thickening and sclerosis of the bile duct wall and progressive stricture of the lumen, which may ultimately lead to serious adverse outcomes such as biliary obstruction, biliary cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatobiliary malignancies. Current research describes BF as a pathological feature of certain bile tract diseases, lacking a systematic summary of its etiology, pathophysiology, molecular mechanisms, and treatment. BF is a common but easily neglected disease state in biliary system, which may promote the development and progression of hepatobiliary diseases through abnormal repair mechanism after pathological biliary tract injury. Based on the latest research progress from both domestic and international perspectives, the authors review the concept, clinical manifestation, etiology, pathogenesis, and therapeutic strategies of BF to provide a reference for clinical physicians.

INTRODUCTIONPostoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is a serious complication following transsphenoidal surgery for which elevated body mass index (BMI) has been implicated as a risk factor, albeit only in two recent North American studies. Given the paucity of evidence, we sought to determine if this association holds true in an Asian population, where the BMI criteria for obesity differ from the international standard.

METHODSA retrospective study of 119 patients who underwent 123 transsphenoidal procedures for sellar lesions between May 2000 and May 2012 was conducted. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the impact of elevated BMI and other risk factors on postoperative CSF leak.

RESULTS10 (8.1%) procedures in ten patients were complicated by postoperative CSF leak. The median BMI of patients with postoperative leak following transsphenoidal procedures was significantly higher than that of patients without postoperative CSF leak (27.0 kg/m vs. 24.6 kg/m; p = 0.018). Patients categorised as either moderate or high risk under the Asian BMI classification were more likely to suffer from a postoperative leak (p = 0.030). Repeat procedures were also found to be significantly associated with postoperative CSF leak (p = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONElevated BMI is predictive of postoperative CSF leak following transsphenoidal procedures, even in an Asian population, where the definition of obesity differs from international standards. Thus, BMI should be considered in the clinical decision-making process prior to such procedures.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anthropometry ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak ; diagnosis ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Obesity ; classification ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Regression Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Singapore ; Young Adult

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological, immunophenotypic, and genetic features of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST). Methods: Twenty-three cases of MPNST were diagnosed at the Jiangsu Province Hospital (the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University), China, between January 2012 and December 2022 and thus included in the study. EnVision immunostaining and next-generation sequencing (NGS) were used to examine their immunophenotypical characteristics and genomic aberrations, respectively. Results: There were 10 males and 13 females, with an age range of 11 to 79 years (median 36 years), including 14 cases of neurofibromatosis type I-associated MPNST and 9 cases of sporadic MPNST. The tumors were located in extremities (7 cases), trunk (4 cases), neck and shoulder (3 cases), chest cavity (3 cases), paraspinal area (2 cases), abdominal cavity (2 cases), retroperitoneum (1 case), and pelvic cavity (1 case). Morphologically, the tumors were composed of dense spindle cells arranged in fascicles. Periphery neurofibroma-like pattern was found in 73.9% (17/23) of the cases. Under low magnification, alternating hypercellular and hypocellular areas resembled marbled appearance. Under high power, the tumor cell nuclei were irregular, presenting with oval, conical, comma-like, bullet-like or wavy contour. In 7 cases, the tumor cells demonstrated marked cytological pleomorphism and rare giant tumor cells. The mitotic figures were commonly not less than 3/10 HPF, and geographic necrosis was often noted. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells were positive for S-100 (14/23, 60.9%) and SOX10 (11/23, 47.8%). The loss of the CD34-positive fibroblastic network encountered in neurofibromas was observed in 14/17 of the MPNST cases. The loss of H3K27me3 expression was observed in 82.6% (19/23) of the cases. Moreover, SDHA and SDHB losses were presented in one case. NGS revealed that NF1 gene loss of function (germline or somatic) were found in all 5 cases tested. Furthermore, four cases accompanied with somatic mutations of SUZ12 gene and half of them had somatic mutations of TP53 gene, while one case with germline mutation in SDHA gene and somatic mutations in FAT1, BRAF, and KRAS genes. Available clinical follow-up was obtained in 19 cases and ranged from 1 to 67 months. Four patients died of the disease, all of whom had the clinical history of neurofibromatosis type Ⅰ. Conclusions: MPNST is difficult to be differentiated from a variety of spindle cell tumors due to its wide spectrum of histological morphology and complex genetic changes. H3K27me3 is a useful diagnostic marker, while the loss of CD34 positive fibroblastic network can also be a diagnostic feature of MPNST. NF1 gene inactivation mutations and complete loss of PRC2 activity are the common molecular diagnostic features, but other less commonly recurred genomic aberrations might also contribute to the MPNST pathogenesis.
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Child ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Neurofibrosarcoma ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Histones ; Genes, p53 ; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of physical activity and its influencing factors in rural residents in Shanxi and Chongqing. Methods: In four counties (districts) of Shanxi and Chongqing, local residents aged ≥18 who lived there for more than one year and had no plan to migrate to other areas in 2 years were surveyed through face to face questionnaire interviews to collect the information about their daily physical activity time, sedentary time, related knowledge and attitude, and others. Results: The physical inactivity rate of the residents was 14.9%, and 88.7% of residents never took daily physical activity. The average sedentary time was (3.91±2.06) hours. The results of multivariate analysis showed that education level, per capita monthly income and activity degree were the factors influencing physical inactivity. Conclusion: The proportion of people who never took daily physical activity in the survey area was higher than the average level in rural areas in China, so measures should be taken to improve the overall rate of physical activity. For people who have exercise willingness, but have no practice, and those who have already increased their physical activities, targeted guidance is needed on the basis of strengthened health education.
China ; Educational Status ; Exercise ; Health Education ; Humans ; Income ; Motivation ; Motor Activity ; Physicians ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUNDFirst generation drug-eluting stents (DES) were associated with a high incidence of late stent thrombosis (ST), mainly due to delayed healing and re-endothelization by the durable polymer coating. This study sought to assess the safety and efficacy of the Nano polymer-free sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) in the treatment of patients with de novo coronary artery lesions.

METHODSThe Nano trial is the first randomized trial designed to compare the safety and efficacy of the Nano polymer-free SES and Partner durable-polymer SES (Lepu Medical Technology, Beijing, China) in the treatment of patients with de novo native coronary lesions. The primary endpoint was in-stent late lumen loss (LLL) at 9-month follow-up. The secondary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction or target lesion revascularization.

RESULTSA total of 291 patients (Nano group: n = 143, Partner group: n = 148) were enrolled in this trial from 19 Chinese centers. The Nano polymer-free SES was non-inferior to the Partner durable-polymer DES at the primary endpoint of 9 months (P < 0.001). The 9-month in-segment LLL of the polymer-free Nano SES was comparable to the Partner SES (0.34 ± 0.42) mm vs. (0.30 ± 0.48) mm, P = 0.21). The incidence of MACE in the Nano group were 7.6% compared to the Partner group of 5.9% (P = 0.75) at 2 years follow-up. The frequency of cardiac death and stent thrombosis was low for both Nano and Partner SES (0.8% vs. 0.7%, 0.8% vs. 1.5%, both P = 1.00).

CONCLUSIONSIn this multicenter randomized Nano trial, the Nano polymer-free SES showed similar safety and efficacy compared with the Partner SES in the treatment of patients with de novo coronary artery lesions. Trials in patients with complex lesions and longer term follow-up are necessary to confirm the clinical performance of this novel Nano polymer-free SES.

Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Sirolimus ; therapeutic use