This study aimed to characterize and identify the non-volatile components in aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the stems and leaves of Rhododendron tomentosum by using sensitive and efficient ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) combined with a self-built information database. By comparing with reference compounds, analyzing fragment ion information, searching relevant literature, and using a self-built information database, 118 compounds were identified from the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of R. tomentosum, including 35 flavonoid glycosides, 15 phenolic glycosides, 12 flavonoids, 7 phenolic acids, 7 phenylethanol glycosides, 6 tannins, 6 phospholipids, 5 coumarins, 5 monoterpene glycosides, 6 triterpenes, 3 fatty acids, and 11 other types of compounds. Among them, 102 compounds were reported in R. tomentosum for the first time, and 36 compounds were identified by comparing them with reference compounds. The chemical components in the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of R. tomentosum leaves and stems showed slight differences, with 84 common chemical components accounting for 71.2% of the total 118 compounds. This study systematically characterized and identified the non-volatile chemical components in the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of R. tomentosum for the first time. The findings provide a reference for active ingredient research, quality control, and product development of R. tomentosum.
Rhododendron/chemistry* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Plant Leaves/chemistry*

Icariin is a pure compound derived from Epimedium brevicornu Maxim, and it helps the regulation of male reproduction. Nevertheless, the role and underlying mechanisms of Icariin in mediating male germ cell development remain to be clarified. Here, we have demonstrated that Icariin promoted proliferation and DNA synthesis of mouse spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Furthermore, surface plasmon resonance iron (SPRi) and molecular docking (MOE) assays revealed that phosphodiesterase 5A (PDE5A) was an important target of Icariin in mouse SSCs. Mechanically, Icariin decreased the expression level of PDE5A. Interestingly, hydrogen peroxides (H 2 O 2 ) enhanced the expression level of phosphorylation H2A.X (p-H2A.X), whereas Icariin diminished the expression level of p-H2A.X and DNA damage caused by H 2 O 2 in mouse SSCs. Finally, our in vivo animal study indicated that Icariin protected male reproduction. Collectively, these results implicate that Icariin targets PDE5A to regulate mouse SSC viability and DNA damage and improves male reproductive capacity. This study thus sheds new insights into molecular mechanisms underlying the fate decisions of mammalian SSCs and offers a scientific basis for the clinical application of Icariin in male reproduction.
Male ; Animals ; Flavonoids/pharmacology* ; Mice ; Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5/drug effects* ; DNA Damage/drug effects* ; Cell Survival/drug effects* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Spermatogonia/drug effects* ; Reproduction/drug effects* ; Adult Germline Stem Cells/metabolism* ; DNA Replication/drug effects*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the genomic characteristics and prognostic factors of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) with RAS mutations. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of JMML children with RAS mutations treated at the Hematology Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from January 2008 to November 2022. RESULTS: A total of 34 children were included, with 17 cases (50%) having isolated NRAS mutations, 9 cases (27%) having isolated KRAS mutations, and 8 cases (24%) having compound mutations. Compared to children with isolated NRAS mutations, those with NRAS compound mutations showed statistically significant differences in age at onset, platelet count, and fetal hemoglobin proportion (P<0.05). Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis revealed that hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and hepatomegaly (≥2 cm below the costal margin) were factors affecting the survival rate of JMML children with RAS mutations (P<0.05); hepatomegaly was a factor affecting survival in the non-HSCT group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Children with NRAS compound mutations have a later onset age compared to those with isolated NRAS mutations. At initial diagnosis, children with NRAS compound mutations have poorer peripheral platelet and fetal hemoglobin levels than those with isolated NRAS mutations. Liver size at initial diagnosis is related to the prognosis of JMML children with RAS mutations. HSCT can improve the prognosis of JMML children with RAS mutations.
Humans ; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Juvenile/therapy* ; Mutation ; Male ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Retrospective Studies ; Child ; Infant ; GTP Phosphohydrolases/genetics* ; Membrane Proteins/genetics* ; Adolescent ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/genetics* ; Prognosis

Radiation-induced thrombocytopenia (RIT) faces a perplexing challenge in the clinical treatment of cancer patients, and current therapeutic approaches are inadequate in the clinical settings. In this research, oxymatrine, a new molecule capable of healing RIT was screened out, and the underlying regulatory mechanism associated with magakaryocyte (MK) differentiation and thrombopoiesis was demonstrated. The capacity of oxymatrine to induce MK differentiation was verified in K-562 and Meg-01 cells in vitro. The ability to induce thrombopoiesis was subsequently demonstrated in Tg (cd41:enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP)) zebrafish and RIT model mice. In addition, we carried out network pharmacological prediction, drug affinity responsive target stability assay (DARTS) and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) analyses to explore the potential targets of oxymatrine. Moreover, the pathway underlying the effects of oxymatrine was determined by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses, Western blot (WB), and immunofluorescence. Oxymatrine markedly promoted MK differentiation and maturation in vitro. Moreover, oxymatrine induced thrombopoiesis in Tg (cd41:eGFP) zebrafish and accelerated thrombopoiesis and platelet function recovery in RIT model mice. Mechanistically, oxymatrine directly binds to toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and further regulates the downstream pathway stimulator of interferon genes (STING)/nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), which can be blocked by C29 and C-176, which are specific inhibitors of TLR2 and STING, respectively. Taken together, we demonstrated that oxymatrine, a novel TLR2 agonist, plays a critical role in accelerating MK differentiation and thrombopoiesis via the STING/NF-κB axis, suggesting that oxymatrine is a promising candidate for RIT therapy.

In recent years， the incidence of pulmonary nodules has kept rising. To give full play to the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） in the treatment of pulmonary nodules and identify the breakthrough points of integrating TCM with Western medicine， the China Association of Chinese Medicine organized medical experts in TCM and western medicine to carry out in-depth discussion regarding this disease. The discussion encompassed the modern medical advances， TCM theories of etiology and pathogenesis， the role and advantages of TCM in the whole course management of pulmonary nodules， contents and methods of research on pulmonary nodules， and science popularization work， aiming to provide a reference for clinical practice and scientific research. After discussion， the experts concluded that the occurrence of pulmonary nodules was rooted in the deficiency of the lung and spleen and triggered by phlegm dampness， blood stasis， and Qi stagnation. TCM can treat pulmonary nodules by controlling and reducing nodules， improving physical constitution， ameliorating multi-system nodular diseases， reducing anxiety and avoiding excessive diagnosis and treatment， and serving as an alternative for patients who are unwilling or unfit for surgical treatment. At present， the optimal diagnosis and treatment strategy for pulmonary nodules has not been formed， which needs to be further studied from multiple perspectives such as clinical epidemiology， biology， and evidence-based medicine. The primary task of current research is to find out the advantages， effective prescriptions， and target populations and determine the effective outcomes of TCM in the treatment of pulmonary nodules. At the same time， basic research should be carried out to explore the etiology and biological behaviors of pulmonary nodules. The expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary nodules with integrated TCM and Western medicine needs to be continuously revised to guide clinicians to conduct standardized， scientific， and accurate effective diagnosis and treatment.

Objective:The incidence of infections in patients with malignant hematologic diseases is extremely high and significantly affects their prognosis.Identifying early and precise biomarkers for infection is crucial for guiding the treatment of infections in these patients.Previous studies have shown that procalcitonin(PCT)can serve as an early diagnostic marker for bloodstream infections in patients with malignant hematologic diseases.This study aims to compare serum PCT levels in these patients with different pathogens,disease types,infection sites,and severity levels. Methods:Clinical data and laboratory results of infected patients with malignant hematologic diseases treated at the Department of Hematology,the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from January 2018 to August 2023 were collected.General patient information was retrospectively analyzed.Serum PCT levels were compared among patients with different pathogens,types of malignant hematologic diseases,infection sites,and infection severity;Receiver operator characteristic(ROC)curves were used to determine the cut-off values and diagnostic value of serum PCT levels in diagnosing bloodstream infections versus local infections and severe infections versus non-severe infections.Mortality rates after 4-7 days of anti-infective treatment were compared among groups with rising,falling,and unchanged PCT levels. Results:A total of 526 patients with malignant hematologic diseases were included.The main pathogens were Gram-negative bacteria(272 cases,51.7%),followed by Gram-positive bacteria(120 cases,22.8%),fungi(65 cases,12.4%),viruses(23 cases,4.4%),and mixed pathogens(46 cases,8.7%).The main types of malignant hematologic diseases were acute myeloid leukemia(216 cases,41.1%),acute lymphoblastic leukemia(107 cases,20.3%),and lymphoma(93 cases,17.7%).Granulocyte deficiency was present in 68.3%(359 cases)of the patients during infection,with severe infection in 24.1%(127 cases).Significant differences in serum PCT levels were found among patients with different types of pathogens(P<0.001),with the highest levels in Gram-negative bacterial infections.Significant differences in serum PCT levels were also found among patients with different types of malignant hematologic diseases(P<0.05),with the highest levels in lymphoma patients.Serum PCT levels were significantly higher in systemic infections and severe infections compared to local infections and non-severe infections(both P<0.001).ROC curve analysis showed that the cut-off values for diagnosing bloodstream infections and severe infections were 0.22 and 0.28 ng/mL,with areas under the curve of 0.670 and 0.673,respectively.After 4-7 days of anti-infective treatment,the mortality rates of the PCT declining,PCT unchanged,and PCT rising groups were 11.9%,21.2%,and 35.7%,respectively,and pairwise comparisons were statistically significant(all P<0.05). Conclusion:PCT can be used as an auxiliary indicator for early identification of different pathogens,infection sites,and severity levels in patients with malignant hematologic diseases combined with infections.Dynamic monitoring of PCT levels after empirical antibiotic treatment provides important guidance for assessing patient's prognosis.

Objective:To analyze the application value of MCV,MCH and HbA2 in screening for thalassemia in the population of childbearing age in Quanzhou area,and to determine the optimal screening cut-off value of relevant indicators in this area. Methods:2725 couples of childbearing age were included in the study and underwent routine blood test,capillary hemoglobin electrophoresis,and α and β thalassemia gene test. Statistical methods were used to analyze the distribution of thalassemia genotypes,and compare the performance of MCV,MCH,and HbA2 in screening various types of thalassemia. According to the ROC curve,the best cut-off values of MCV,MCH and HbA2 in screening for thalassemia in this area were determined. Results:In this study,a total of 1801 thalassemia carriers were detected,including 1341 cases of α-thalassemia,420 cases of β-thalassemia,and 40 cases of αβ compound thalassemia. The most common genotypes of α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia were--SEA/αα and β654/βN,respectively. ROC curves were drawn to evaluate the performance of MCV,MCH and HbA2 in screening for α-thalassemia,mild β-thalassemia,αβ compound thalassemia,silent α-thalassemia,mild α-thalassemia,and intermediate α-thalassemia. The maximum areas under the curves (AUC) were 0.747,0.865,0.724,0.486,0.812,0.841;0.747,0.846,0.703,0.479,0.796,0.903;0.613,0.980,0.909,0.465,0.674,0.996,respectively;and the best cut-off values corresponding to the three screening indicators were 76.15fl,71.95fl,77.35fl,86.15fl,75.41fl,61.15fl;24.35pg,21.51pg,25.45pg,28.65pg,24.01pg,20.51pg;2.45％,3.05％,3.55％,3.25％,2.45％,1.65％,respectively. Conclusion:The levels of MCV,MCH and HbA2 are correlated with the phenotype of thalassemia,and the detection of these indicators is of great significance for the prevention and control of thalassaemia.

Based on the interaction between supramolecule of traditional Chinese medicine and enterobacteria, the material basis of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma was explored. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to characterize the morphological differences of Rhubarb single decoction, Coptis single decoction and Rhubarb and Coptis co-decoction. An in vitro antibacterial model (E. coli, E. faecium and B. subtilis) was established to evaluate the damage effect of the combination of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma on enterobacteria. Ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was used to analyze the changes of chemical components of single decoctions and co-decoctions. The co-decoction of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma was turbid after decocting. The spherical particles of 300-400 nm were observed under SEM, and the co-decoction was more uniform and stable than that of single decoction. The interaction between supramolecules formed after the combination of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma and enterobacteria was significantly different from that of single decoction. In the process of interaction between supramolecules and enterobacteria, the spherical state was maintained, and the medicinal ingredients in Coptidis Rhizoma or Rhei Radix et Rhizoma were blocked, which could effectively alleviate the damage to enterobacteria. This study provided a reference for subsequent studies on the regulation of intestinal flora homeostasis by the combination of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma.

Oral iron is a commonly used preparation for the treatment of iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia in children, but its undesirable taste has become a major factor affecting clinical adherence to the medication. No studies have been conducted to evaluate the palatability of oral iron supplements. Thirteen representative oral iron supplements were selected to evaluate the palatability of oral iron supplements from different perspectives of in vivo and ex vivo by combining the electronic tongue (e-tongue) test, FaceReader facial expression analysis technology and taste interviews. E-tongue test results showed that iron dextran granlues were closest to odorless potassium chloride solution, basically free of bitterness and astringency, which was superior to the other products. FaceReader facial expression results showed that 58.7% of the subjects valued iron dextran granlues for their emotional efficacy higher than that of iron proteinsuccinylate oral solution. Among 43 participants aged ≥ 5 years, the taste preference for iron dextran granlues was 83.7%, and 83.7% of participants chose to take iron dextran granlues again. This study found that iron dextran granlues have a better taste and their flavor is more popular among children, which provides a reference for pediatric clinical use of oral iron supplementation preparations and a new idea for the evaluation of palatability of medications for children. This in vivo palatability evaluation is an investigational clinical trial that was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Beijing Children's Hospital (No. 2021-149-Y).