Objective To investigate the mental states of the community-dwelling elderly in Beijing ,and to explore their relationship with depression using multivariate analysis ,in order to provide evidence for strategies to prevent depression in the elderly. Methods A total of 400 community elderly residents in Chaoyang District of Beijing were recruited in this cross-sectional study. The mental states of older adults were assessed by using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS) ,the Medical Outcomes Study(Mos)36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) ,and the Social Support Rating Scale(SSRS).The correlations of the mental state with demographic data ,quality of life and social support were examined via multivariate analysis. Results Of 400 questionnaires ,364 were valid.Depression occurred in 64 older adults ,and the detection rate was 17.6% (64/364).Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that depression was closely correlated with age ( P = 0.049 ) , physiological function(P=0.009) ,vitality(P=0.028) ,mental health(P＜0.001) ,self-reported health transition(P=0.003) ,objective support(P=0.001)and subjective support(P=0.001)in community-dwelling elderly residents in Beijing.Bivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that five factors , including vitality (OR = 0.595 ,P= 0.036 ) ,mental health (OR = 0.548 ,P = 0.021 ) ,self-reported health transition(OR=1.597 ,P= 0.048) ,objective support (OR= 0.524 ,P= 0.018)and subjective support(OR=1.787 ,P=0.027) ,were influencing factors for depression in the elderly.Self-reported health transition and subjective support had the greatest impact on depression in the elderly . Conclusions Critical approaches to preventing depression in the elderly include a focus on the mental health and social needs as well as measures to enhance self-confidence in the health of these individuals.

Objective To investigate the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on hippocampal chemokine cys-x-cys receptor 4 (CXCR4) and interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) in rats with depression disorder.Methods The rat model of depression disorder was induced by unpredictable chronic-mild stimulation.Forty male rats were randomly divided into normal,model,EA and fluoxetine groups.Rats in EA group received electro-acupuncture at GV20 (Baihui) and GV29 (Yintang).Rats in fluoxetine group were administered with fluoxetine by oral gavage.On the 28th day,the expression of hippocampal CXCR4 and IP-10 were detected by using antibody microarrays technology.Fold change and ratio of the density of the proteins were used to investigate alteration of the differential protein expression.Results Compared with the normal group,unpredictable chronic-mild stimulation up-regulated the expression of hippocampal CXCR4 and IP-10 in model group (fold change =1.21,1.50).Compared with the model group,EA and fluoxetine reversed the up-regulation of hippocampal CXCR4 and IP-10 (EA group:fold change =0.65,0.72;fluoxetine group:fold change =0.57,0.62).Conclusion Effects of electro-acupuncture on depression disorder may be achieved by regulating the expression of hippocampal CXCR4 and IP-10.

Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture(EA)on the expression of central and peripheral cysteine aspartic acid protease-12 via JNK signal transduction pathway in rats with chronic stress depression and to explore anti-depression mechanism of electro-acupuncture.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into blank group,stress model group,acupuncture group,fluoxetine group,model+DMSO(dimethyl sulfoxide,soluble organic solvent)group, model+JNK pathway blocker SP600125 (hereinafter abbreviated as SP)group, acupuncture +SP group, and fluoxetine +SP group(n=9 in each group).The combination of chronic stress and solitary raising was used to establish chronic unpre-dictable mild stress model in seven groups except the control group.The investigated intervention was EA at"Neiguan(PC6)"and"Sanyinjiao(SP6)"points,20 min for each session,once a day,for 21 con-secutive days.The positive control group was treated with fluoxetine 5 mg/kg by oral gavage for 21 days. Open field test was used to observe the rats' behaviors.The expression of caspase-12 protein in hippo-campus and serum was measured by using ELISA.Results Before the experiment,there was no statistic difference in rat behaviors of all groups(P>0.05).At Day 21 of the experiment,the horizontal crossing lattice and frequency of vertical movements markedly decreased compared to the blank group(P <0.01).Compared with the model group,EA increased the horizontal crossing lattice(P<0.05).Com-pared with the blank group,the expression of caspase-12 protein in the model group increased significant-ly(P<0.01).Compared with the model group, the expression of caspase-12 protein in the model +DMSO group,fluoxetine group,fluoxetine+SP group,acupuncture group and SP group all decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the blank group,the expression of caspase-12 protein in the model group de-creased.Compared with the model group, the expression of caspase-12 protein in the model +DMSO group,model+SP group, fluoxetine group and acupuncture +SP group(P>0.05)decreased, while the expression of caspase-12 in fluoxetine+SP group and acupuncture group was higher than that in the control group,but all the differences were not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion Acu-puncture treatment may reduce the expression of caspase-12 protein in the hippocampus of chronic stress rats by effectively inhibiting the JNK signal transduction pathway activity and reducing the apoptosis of hippocampal neuron,which contributes to its anti-depression mechanism.

Objective To study the correlation between serum prealbumin level before liver resection and prognosis of patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods The clinical data of patients with HCC who underwent liver resection at the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from August 2007 to October 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.The previous albumin of 200 mg/L and the pre-albumin as predicted by the maximum selection rank statistic method were used as the bounding group,and reduced groups and the correlation between pre-operative serum pre-albumin levels and clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the overall survival rate of patients with the different cutoff levels.The Cox proportional regression model was used to analyze,and cirrhosis,alpha-fetoprotein levels and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging were used to adjust the relationship between serum prealbumin and prognosis of liver resection for HCC patients.Analysis of stratified variables was performed and their interactions with serum prealbumin were analyzed.Results Of the 2 022 patients included in this study,there were 1 739 males and 283 females.Their age was 49.5 ± 11.2 years.The median follow-up was 37.4 months.The optimal cutoff value of prealbumin predicted by the maximum selection rank statistic method was 166 mg/L.Regardless of the cutoff values of previous albumin 200 mg/L or prealbumin 166 mg/L,multivariate analysis showed that preoperative serum prealbumin level was an independent prognostic risk factor for patients (P ＜0.05).The prognosis of patients with ＞200 mg/L (＞ 166 mg/L) serum prealbumin before surgery was significantly better than that of patients with ≤200 mg/L (≤166 mg/L) prealbumin,the differences were significant (all P ＜ 0.05).After adjusting for confounding factors,the prealbumin level correlated with prognosis of patients with HCC [cutoff value 200 mg/L:HR (95％ CI) was 1.59 (1.35-1.86),cutoff value 166 mg/L:HR (95％ CI) was 1.69 (1.44-1.98),all P ＜ 0.05].The results of stratified analysis showed that the relationship between prealbumin levels and the prognosis of HCC patients became more robust.Conclusions Preoperative serum prealbumin was an independent risk factor for prognosis of HCC patients,and it had predictive value on prognosis of HCC patients.

OBJECTIVE To study the anti-inflammatory effect and mechanism of the ethanol extract and the drug-containing serum of Zhuang medicine Stahlianthus involucratus on lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced RAW264.7 cell inflammation. METHODS The drug-containing serum or blank serum was obtained by intragastrical administration of ethanol extract of S. involucratus （75.35 g/kg） or purified water. Using RAW264.7 cells as objects， RAW264.7 cells were divided into normal control group， LPS group （1 μg/mL）， S. involucratus ethanol extract high-dose， medium-dose and low-dose groups （50， 25， 12.5 μg/mL）， 4% or 15% blank serum groups， 4% or 15% blank serum+LPS groups， 4% or 15% drug-containing serum groups， 4% or 15% drug-containing serum+LPS groups. After culturing for 24 h， cell viability， the contents of nitric oxide tumor necrosis factor α （TNF-α）， interleukinand IL-6 as well as mRNA expressions of Toll-like eceptor 4 （TLR4） and nuclear factor κB （NF- κB） and protein expressions of nitric oxide synthase （NOS） and cyclooxygenase 2 （COX-2） were all detected in each group. 0771-4953513。E-mail：zhuhuagx@163.com RESULTS After culturing for 24 h， there was no statisticalsignificance in the difference of cell viability. Compared with normal control group， the contents of NO， TNF-α， IL-1β and IL-6， mRNA expressions of TLR4 and NF-κB， and protein expressions of NOS and COX-2 were increased significantly in LPS group （P＜0.05）. Compared with 4% or 15% blank serum groups， the levels of above indexes were increased significantly in 4% or 15% blank serum+LPS groups （P＜0.05）. Compared with LPS group， the levels of above indexes were decreased significantly in S. involucratus ethanol extract groups （P＜0.05）. Compared with 4% or 15% blank serum+LPS groups， the levels of above indexes were decreased significantly in 4% or 15% drug-containing serum+LPS groups （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS The ethanol extract and the drug-containing serum of S. involucratus can significantly alleviate LPS-induced inflammatory reaction， the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting the activity of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway， down-regulating the protein expressions of COX-2 and NOS， and reducing the release of inflammatory factors.

OBJECTI VE To optimize the extraction technology of the leaves of Dimocarpus longan according to flavonoids and phenolic acids. METHODS The contents of gallic acid ，protocatechuic acid ，ethyl gallate ，quercetin，luteolin and kaempferol in the leaves of D. longan were determined by HPLC. Based on single factor test ，with the ethanol volume fraction ，solid-liquid ratio and extraction time as factors ，using comprehensive scores of the contents of above six components as indexes ，the extraction technology of the leaves of D. longan was optimized by Box-Behnken response surface methodology. RESULTS The optimal extraction technology included ethanol volume fraction of 100％，solid-liquid ratio of l ∶ 7（g/mL），extraction time of 90 min， extraction temperature of 80 ℃. After 3 times of validation tests ，the average comprehensive score was 97.54（RSD＝0.33％，n＝ 3），relative error of which with predicted score （99.05）was 1.55％. CONCLUSIONS Box-Behnken response surface methodology combined with multi-index comprehensive score can be used for the extraction technology of the leaves of D. longan ，and the optimized extraction technology is stable and feasible.

OBJECTIVE To establish the quality standard of the leaves of Litchi chinensis Sonn.. METHODS The identification of medicinal properties, microscopic characteristics, TLC and content determination method of the leaves of Litchi chinensis Sonn. was conducted. The moisture, total ash, acid insoluble ash and extract of the leaves of Litchi chinensis Sonn. were determined according to Chinese Pharmacopoeia(Volume IV), 2020. RESULTS The leaves of Litchi chinensis Sonn. under forest exhibited specific properties in characteristics, microscopic features and TLC results. The moisture content of the medicinal materials was 2.66%-6.42%, the total ash content was 2.96%-4.52%, the acid insoluble ash content was 0.17%-0.94%, the water soluble extract was 15.38%-19.87%, and the alcohol soluble extract was 24.94%-30.33%. The eight components of gallic acid, protocatechin, catechin, epicatechin, rutin, astragalin, quercetin and kaempferol had a good linear relationship in 0.003 3-0.052 0 mg·mL-1, 0.006 9-0.109 6 mg·mL-1, 0.013 0-0.208 0 mg·mL-1, 0.057 5-0.920 0 mg·mL-1, 0.013 4-0.213 6 mg·mL-1, 0.013 2-0.211 2 mg·mL-1, 0.002 9-0.045 6 mg·mL-1, 0.003 6-0.056 8 mg·mL-1(r>0.999). The average sample recovery rate was 97.43%-102.97% and the RSD was 1.70%-2.90%. CONCLUSION The established quality standard of the leaves of Litchi chinensis Sonn. medicinal material has good specificity, accuracy and reproducibility, which can be used for quality control research of the leaves of Litchi chinensis Sonn..

OBJECTIVE To provide reference for basic analysis of the pharmacodynamic substance in Stahlianthus involucratus. METHODS Overall 24 SD male rats were randomly divided into blank group （purified water）， and administration group （ethanol extract of S. involucratus， 15.75 g/kg， calculated by crude drug）， with 12 rats in each group. They were given drug liquid/purified water intragastrically， twice a day， every 6-8 h， for consecutive 3 days. After medication， the blood， urine and fecal samples were collected from two groups of rats. UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS technology was used to identify the chemical constituents in the ethanol extract of S. involucratus， and metabolites in the blood， urine and fecal of rats after intragastrical administration of the ethanol extract of S. involucratus. Multivariate statistical analysis was employed to screen various serum metabolites. Metabolic pathways were analyzed by MetaboAnalyst 5.0 platform. RESULTS A total of 38 chemical constituents were identified from the ethanol extract of S. involucratus， including fourteen prototype components and three metabolites identified from 5 urine samples， nine prototype components identified from fecal samples， and ten prototype components and one metabolite identified from serum samples. A total of 71 differential metabolites were screened from two groups of rat serum samples， of which 44 differential metabolites， such as ferulic acid， glycyrrhizin， were up-regulated and 27 differential metabolites， such as arachidonic acid， phenylacetylglutamine， were down-regulated. The 71 differential metabolites were mainly enriched in 11 metabolic pathways， including phenylalanine metabolism， linoleic acid metabolism， arachidonic acid metabolism， and tryptophan metabolism. CONCLUSIONS Ferulic acid， liquiritigenin， isofraxidin and formononetin may be the material basis that directly exert pharmacological effects of S. involucratus. S. involucratus may exert anti-inflammatory effects by affecting metabolic pathways， including arachidonic acid metabolism and tryptophan metabolism.

Candida albicans is the most abundant fungal species in oral cavity. As a smart opportunistic pathogen, it increases the virulence by switching its forms from yeasts to hyphae and becomes the major pathogenic agent for oral candidiasis. However, the overuse of current clinical antifungals and lack of new types of drugs highlight the challenges in the antifungal treatments because of the drug resistance and side effects. Anti-virulence strategy is proved as a practical way to develop new types of anti-infective drugs. Here, seven artemisinins, including artemisinin, dihydroartemisinin, artemisinic acid, dihydroartemisinic acid, artesunate, artemether and arteether, were employed to target at the hyphal development, the most important virulence factor of C. albicans. Artemisinins failed to affect the growth, but significantly inhibited the hyphal development of C. albicans, including the clinical azole resistant isolates, and reduced their damage to oral epithelial cells, while arteether showed the strongest activities. The transcriptome suggested that arteether could affect the energy metabolism of C. albicans. Seven artemisinins were then proved to significantly inhibit the productions of ATP and cAMP, while reduced the hyphal inhibition on RAS1 overexpression strain indicating that artemisinins regulated the Ras1-cAMP-Efg1 pathway to inhibit the hyphal development. Importantly, arteether significantly inhibited the fungal burden and infections with no systemic toxicity in the murine oropharyngeal candidiasis models in vivo caused by both fluconazole sensitive and resistant strains. Our results for the first time indicated that artemisinins can be potential antifungal compounds against C. albicans infections by targeting at its hyphal development.
Animals ; Mice ; Candida albicans ; Candidiasis, Oral/drug therapy* ; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology* ; Hyphae ; Artemisinins/pharmacology*