AIM: To compare the main saponins extracted respectively from the fruits and the whole plant of Tribulus terrestris L. and study its marked component. METHODS: Using C 18 ODS column and Refractive Index Detector, we compared the main saponins extracted respectively from the fruits and the whole plant of Tribulus terrestris L. in quantity by RP-HPLC. RESULTS: Tigogeniin contents from herb and its fruit had distinct difference between them (P

Objective To explore the effect of the expressive psychotherapy on the feeling of inadequacy and loneliness of inpatients with chronic schizophrenia.MethodsTotally 120 chronic schizophrenia inpatients met recruited criteria were randomly divided into study group(n=60) and control group(n=60) according to random number table.57 patients in each group finished all the follow-ups finally.The patients in two groups were received normal medications while the patients in intervention group also attended expressive psychotherapy.All the patients were assessed at baseline,6 weeks and 12 weeks of treatment with the feeling of inadequacy scale (FIS) and the status and trait loneliness scale (STLS).Results(1) The FIS score(F=225.19,P<0.01),STLS total score(F=225.20,P<0.01),STLS status score(F=240.40,P<0.01) and STLS trait score(F=106.75,P<0.01) decreased significantly in both groups after intervention.(2) The FIS score of study group was much lower than those of control group at the at 6-week-follow-up(4.93±20.86,57.89±20.48,t=-2.250,P<0.01) and 12-week-follow-up(38.43±17.50,57.21±22.98,t=-4.900,P<0.01).(3) After 6 weeks treatment and 12 weeks treatment,STLS total score(6 weeks:(54.32±12.30) vs (68.46±15.53),t=-5.425,P<0.01,12 weeks:(44.16±10.81) vs (65.75±16.26),t=-8.386,P<0.01),STLS status score (6 weeks:(25.95±6.41) vs (34.31±7.91),t=-6.239,P<0.01,12 weeks:(19.15±5.49) vs (32.58±8.45),t=-10.103,P<0.01) and STLS trait score (6 weeks:(28.37±6.73) vs (34.15±8.45),t=-4.138,P<0.01,12 weeks:(25.00±6.18) vs (33.15±8.22),t=-6.019,P<0.01) in study group were lower than those in control group,and the difference was statistically significant.ConclusionExpressive psychotherapy can effectively improve the loneliness and inadequacy of patients with chronic schizophrenia.

A new definition of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has recently been proposed. We aim to examine the associations of MAFLD, particularly its discordance from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), with the progression of elevated brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and albuminuria in a community-based study sample in Shanghai, China. After 4.3 years of follow-up, 778 participants developed elevated baPWV and 499 developed albuminuria. In comparison with the non-MAFLD group, the multivariable adjusted odds ratio (OR) of MAFLD group for new-onset elevated baPWV was 1.25 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.55) and 1.35 (95% CI 1.07-1.70) for albuminuria. Participants without NAFLD but diagnosed according to MAFLD definition were associated with higher risk of incident albuminuria (OR 1.77; 95% CI 1.07-2.94). Patients with MAFLD with high value of hepamet fibrosis score or poor-controlled diabetes had higher risk of elevated baPWV or albuminuria. In conclusion, MAFLD was associated with new-onset elevated baPWV and albuminuria independently of body mass index, waist circumference, and hip circumference. Individuals without NAFLD but diagnosed as MAFLD had high risk of albuminuria, supporting that MAFLD criteria would be practical for the evaluation of long-term risk of subclinical atherosclerosis among fatty liver patients.
Humans ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Albuminuria ; Ankle Brachial Index ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/diagnosis* ; Vascular Stiffness ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology*