Aim To investigate the effect of gelsemium alkaloids on chloride channels and cell volume in he-patic carcinoma cells. Methods The time-lapse live cell imaging and whole-cell patch clamp techniques were used respectively to detect the volume changes and currents induced by gelsemium alkaloids in HepG2 cells. Results It was found that the cell volume was decreased by (12. 48 ± 2. 2) % (P<0. 01) when ex-posed to gelsemium alkaloids for 50 min and this phe-nomenon could be inhibited by the chloride channel blocker tamoxifen. It was shown by whole-cell patch clamping that a chloride current could be evoked by extracellular application of gelsemium alkaloids ( 2μmol·L-1 ) . The current was outward-rectified with-out obvious voltage- and time-dependent inactivation. The reversal potential of the current was ( -3. 21 ± 0. 67) mV ,which was close to the equilibrium poten-tial of chloride. The extracellular application of the chloride blockers, tamoxifen and 5-notro-2-(3-phenyl-propylamino)benzoic acid (NPPB), and 47% hyper-tonic solution inhibited the current significantly ( P <0. 01 ) . Conclusion Gelsemium alkaloids could acti-vate chloride channels and induce a volume decrease ( named apoptotic volume decrease, AVD) , and these effect could be inhibited by chloride channel blockers. The results suggest that the chloride channel can be one of the targets of gelsemium alkaloids in their anti-cancer action.

Aim To clarify the effect of Borneol on the chloride channels and cell volume in poorly differentia-ted nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE-2Z cells.Methods The technique of whole-cell patch clamp was used to detect the chloride currents and analyze the character-istics of the currents in CNE-2Z cells.The volume changes caused by Borneol were measured by the meth-od of time-lapse live cell imaging.Results The chlo-ride currents were induced by extracellular application of Borneol (20 μmol·L -1 )isotonic condition.The currents showed a characteristic of outward rectification and did not show voltage-dependent or time-dependent inactivation.The reversal potential of the currents was close to the CI-equilibrium potential. The currents were inhibited by the chloride channel blocker tamox-ifen.The currents were also inhibited by 47% hyper-tonic solution.Borneol decreased the cell volume by 9.4% in 30 min.Tamoxifen completely inhibited the Borneol-induced cell volume decrease.Conclusion Borneol can activate volume-sensitive chloride channels and induce volume decrease in CNE-2Z cells.Chloride channels play a pivotal role in the process of volume decrease caused by Borneol.

OBJECTIVE:To establish the method for simultaneous determination of the content of berberine hydrochloride, baicalin and osthole in Jinchan zhiyang capsules. METHODS:HPLC method was adopted. The determination was performed in Hypersil BDS C18 column with mobile phase consisted of methanol-acetonitrile-0.1%phosphoric acid-three triethylamine(50∶30∶19∶1, V/V/V/V) at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The detection wavelengths were set at 265 nm (berberine hydrochloride),280 nm (baicalin)and 322 nm(osthole). The column temperature was set at 30 ℃,and sample size was 10 μL. RESULTS:The linear range of berberine hydrochloride,baicalin and osthole were 80-800 ng(r＝0.999 8),60-600 ng(r＝0.999 9),60-600 ng(r＝0.999 6),respectively. RSDs of precision,stability and reproducibility tests were all lower than 2.0%. The limits of quantitation were 80,60,60 ng,respectively,and the limits of detection were 24,20,20 ng,respectively. The recovery rates were 97.4%-98.3%(RSD＝0.33%,n＝6),98.4%-99.6%(RSD＝0.42%,n＝6)and 96.9%-99.0%(RSD＝0.92%,n＝6),respectively. RSDs of durability tests were all lower than 1.2%. CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple, accurate, precise, stable, reproducible and durable. It can be used for simultaneous determination of berberine hydrochloride,baicalin and osthole in Jinchan zhiyang capsules.

OBJECTIVE：To establish the method for content determination of related substances in Paracetamol tablets. METHODS：HPLC method was adopted. The determination was performed on Agilent 5HC-C8 column with mobile phase A consisted of methanol-water-glacial acetic acid （50 ∶ 950 ∶ 1，V/V/V）and mobile phase B consisted of methanol-water-glacial acetic acid（500 ∶ 500 ∶ 1，V/V/V）（gradient elution ）at the flow rate of 0.9 mL/min. The detection wavelength was set at 254 nm，and column temperature was 40 ℃. The sample size was 5 μL. RESULTS：Under the chromatographic condition ，the resolutions of main component （paracetamol），6 known impurities （p-aminophenol，p-chloroacetanilide，impurity A ，B，D，F），3 specific excipients（methyl hydroxybenzoate ，ethyl hydroxybenzoate ，propyl hydroxybenzoate ）and 1 unknown impurity were all higher than 1.5. The linear range of 6 known impurities were 0.539-1.617，0.026-0.384，0.237-17.799，0.257-19.271，0.239-17.955， 0.246-18.462 μg/mL（r≥0.999 8），respectively. Correction factors of impurity A ，B，D，F were 2.9，1.0，1.2，6.2. The limits of detection were 0.009 6，0.024 2，0.164 0，0.051 1，0.055 9，0.422 0 ng；the limits of quantitation were 0.032 0，0.080 6，0.546 0，0.170 0，0.186 0，1.406 0 ng. Average recoveries were 95.96％-111.09％（RSDs were 0.05％-2.42％）. The RSDs precision test were low than 15％，and the durability were good. p-aminophenol（all were 0.006％），impurity B （0.016％-0.017％）and unknown impurity（0.002 0％-0.002 1％）were detected in 3 batches of sample. p-choroacetanilide，impurity A ，D and F were not detected. CONCLUSIONS：The method is specific ，accurate and suitable for the determination of related substance in Paracetamol tablets.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between intrahepatic triglyceride content (IHTC) and glucose metabolism in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) diagnosed by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1H-MRS). Methods:A total of 239 subjects without diabetes mellitus were previously enrolled and underwent 1H-MRS scans. Anthropometric indexes including height, weight, waist and blood pressure, and laboratory findings as plasma glucose (PG), insulin (INS), C-peptide (CP), liver enzymes [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT)] and lipid profiles were collected. According to IHTC levels, participants were divided into three groups: the non-NAFLD group (IHTC<5.56%), the mild NAFLD group (IHTC 5.56%-<33%), and the moderate and severe NAFLD group (IHTC ≥ 33%). The clinical characteristics of each group were analyzed, and the correlation between IHTC and glucose metabolism were assessed. Results:Compared with those in the non-NAFLD group, male proportion, waist, 120 min postprandial PG (PG120), CP, liver enzymes and total cholesterol (TC) levels were greater in the NAFLD group, whereas insulin sensitivity index-Cederholm (ISI-Cederholm) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were lower in the NAFLD groups. Subjects in the moderate and severe NAFLD group had higher levels of 120 min postprandial INS (INS120) and Stumvoll indexes, and lower ISI-Cederholm than those in the mild NAFLD group [80.37 (57.68, 112.70) mU/L vs.110.50(71.78, 172.80)mU/L, 1453(1178, 1798)vs.1737(1325, 2380), 358(297, 446) vs.441(318, 594), 2.27(2.01, 2.53) vs.2.06(1.81, 2.39), respectively, all P<0.05]. Correlation analyses showed that IHTC was significantly positively correlated with waist hip ratio (WHR), PG120, INS120, HOMA insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), Stumvoll 1st-insulin secretion, Stumvoll 2nd-insulin secretion, ALT, AST, GGT and TC ( r=0.197, 0.274, 0.334, 0.162, 0.199, 0.211, 0.406, 0.361, 0.215, and 0.196, respectively, all P<0.05), and negatively correlated with ISI-Cederholm and HDL-C ( r=-0.334, and-0.237, respectively, all P<0.05). Furthermore, a multiple linear stepwise regression analysis indicated that ISI-Cederholm (Standardized β =-0.298, P<0.001) and Stumvoll 1st insulin secretion (Standardized β = 0.164, P = 0.024) were independent factors of IHTC. Conclusions:Peripheral insulin resistance occurs in the early stage of NAFLD and becomes worse with the progression of the disease. IHTC was independently associated with insulin sensitivity and first-phase insulin secretion.

There are so many biomechanical risk factors related with glaucoma and their relationship is much complex. This paper reviewed the state-of-the-art research works on glaucoma related mechanical effects. With regards to the development perspectives of studies on glaucoma biomechanics, a completely novel biomechanical evaluation factor -- Fractional Flow Reserve (FPR) for glaucoma was proposed, and developing clinical application oriented glaucoma risk assessment algorithm and application system by using the new techniques such as artificial intelligence and machine learning were suggested.
Algorithms ; Artificial Intelligence ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Glaucoma ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Machine Learning ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors