Objective: There are some anthraquinones, anthraquinones and flavonones in Sennae Folium which exhibited significant acidity, such as sennoside A/B and sennoside C/D. The current strategies used in separating these components are mainly based on conventional column chromatography which is time consuming, laborious and costly. This study is aimed at exploring a method of precipitation extraction of acid components in Sennae Folium. Using alkaloid as a “hook”, it is reasonable to use the principle of “acid-alkali complexation” to "fish" the acidic components in Sennae Folium. Methods: Isothermal titration calorimeter (ITC) was used to measure the extraction efficiency of different alkaloids. Then, alkaloid determined by ITC was mixed with extracting solution of Sennae Folium to form complex. High performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS2) was used to investigate the ingredients “fished” by berberine (Ber). The mechanism of “fishing” process was explained by ITC, optical activity, fluorescence spectrometry and scanning electron microscope. Results: The ITC results proved that the choice of “hook” was particularly important in the process of “fishing”. Among the hooks, the fishing efficiency of the isoquinoline alkaloids (Ber) was the highest, reaching 10.3%. Nine ingredients were detected and determined by HPLC-MS2, and the main components were sennoside A/B and sennoside C/D. Based on ITC test of Ber and sennoside A, the combination mechanism of the two ingredients was a chemical reaction with a nearly binding ratio (2:1). Fluorescence and optical properties of the active ingredients were changed after complexation. By scanning electron microscope, we found that two types of components had obviously self-assembled behavior during the formation process. Conclusion: Ber successfully “fished” the main acidic components, sennoside A/B and sennoside C/D, from Sennae Folium. Combined with different characterizations, the “fishing” process was determined as a chemical association reaction induced by electrostatic interaction or π-π stacking. Therefore, with special identification ability, the “fishing” process had the potential of practical application.

AIM and METHODS: To study the culture met ho d of human neural stem/progenitor cells, these cells derived from human fetal fo rebrains were maintained and expanded in serum-free defined medium containing ba sic fibroblast growth factors (bFGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and B27. Whe n they formed neurosphere, these three factors and supplemented FBS were removed to induce differentiation. Cell were cultured for 12-14 d, then fixed for immun ocytochemistry examination. RESULTS: This period of expansion resulted in a 107-fold incre ase in this heterogeneous population of cells. Upon differentiation, they form n eurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, the three main phenotypes in the CNS. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate the feasibility of long-t erm in vitro expansion of human neural progenitor cells. The advantages of s uch a population of neural precursors for allogeneic transplantation, including t he ability to provide an expandable, well-characterized, defined cell source, ca n form specific neuronal or glial subtypes.

Recently, the Chinese materia medica (CMM) compatibility theory research was focused on aspect of chemical composition, which is an important strategy to explain the principle of prescriptions. There are various chemical compositions in a compound prescription of CMM, including alkaloids, glycosides, organic acids, tannins, protein, micro elements and so on. Complex interactions always inevitably occur during the water decoction process of CMM prescription after the dissolution of active ingredients, most significantly, it also generates the precipitation. Clinically, traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) treat diseases with both precipitation and decoction. Precipitation generated process might contain the scientific connotation of CMM compatibility. Thus, the scientists had been studying the precipitation from this process. Through summarizing the results of related researches in recent years, this review introduces different interactions of various active ingredients in compound prescriptions and research progress of precipitation in decoction, aiming to lay a foundation for further study on the precipitation from CMM decoction and provide a new idea to explain the theory of CMM compatibility.

Objective To study the characteristics of dynamic susceptibility-contrast(DSC)MR perfusion curves,color images and perfusion values in pre-operative brain metastasis.Methods Twenty- eight brain metastases underwent DSC MR perfusion imaging by using a first-pass T_2~* echo-planar sequence. The patients' data were transferred to on-line workstation.Time-signal intensity curves,color perfusion maps and rCBV,rMTT values in both tumor parenchyma and peri-tumor edema were analyzed,and independent t- test was used and P0.05).Conclusion Different originated brain metastases have nearly same characteristics in DSC MR perfusion imaging.

Objective:To discuss the type, treatment and results of different therapies of biliary fistula after orthotopic liver tansplantation(OLT).Methods:Data of 24 patients who developed biliary fistula after OLT in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University from January 2000 to March 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with biliary fistula were classified into 4 types according to presence or absence of stricture. All patients were treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or interventional therapy, including endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD), endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) or percuteneous transhepatic cholangial drainage (PTCD). Main outcome measurements were the onset time of biliary fistula, the site of biliary fistula, the complications of ERCP or PTCD, the time of removing abdominal or biliary drainage tube, and the onset of new biliary stricture.Results:Biliary fistula was found in (46.5±36.6) days (6-122 days) after OLT. The numbers of patients in four types of biliary fistula were 6, 14, 2 and 2, respectively. Biliary fistula was cured in 22 patients, with clinical cure rate of 91.7%. All patients underwent ERCP first, and the technical success rate and clinical cure rate were 87.5% (21/24) and 85.7% (18/21), respectively. The clinical cure rates of ERCP forⅠ-Ⅳ biliary fistula were 6/6, 84.6%(11/13), 1/2, and 0, respectively. The clinical cure rates of ENBD and ERBD were 8/10 and 6/8, respectively. Five cases in whom ERCP failed, underwent PTCD, with technical success and clinical cure rates of 4/5 and 3/4 respectively. Eight patients(33.3%)developed cholangitis after treatment, and the incidence rate seemed higher in type Ⅱ biliary fistula than that in type Ⅰ [35.7% (5/14) VS 16.7% (1/6)]. Incidence of cholangitis was higher in patients with non-anastomotic stricture than those with anastomotic stricture [83.3%(5/6) VS 16.7%(3/18)].Conclusion:The first line treatment for biliary fistula after OLT is ERCP, followed by PTCD. The best procedures of biliary fistula typeⅠ-Ⅳ were ENBD, ENBD combined with ERBD, ENBD and PTCD, respectively.

Repeated batch fermentation with Rhizopus arrhizus immobilized by polyurethane was optimized in details including the time to replace, the volume of the replaced medium and the optimal composition of the medium to replace. Immobilized cells showed stability for repeated use. Immobilized cells could be used for 9 batches, lasting 140h in flask and 6 batches in 5L fermenter when the substitute culture medium consisted of (%): soybean flour 3.0, earthnut oil 0.5 and the liquid was replaced by 40% . The time for fermentation was reduced largely and the lipase productivity was 3 - 6 times as high as that in batch fermentation.
Biotechnology ; methods ; Cells, Immobilized ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Lipase ; biosynthesis ; Plant Oils ; Rhizopus ; enzymology ; Soybeans

Objective: To investigate the effects of preoperative sarcopenia on postoperative clinical outcome in patients with gastric cancer. Methods: A prospective study was performed in 93 patients with gastric cancer and the skeletal muscle mass was examined by bioelectrical impedance. The primary outcome was postoperative complications. The secondary outcomes were postoperative length of stay, overall hospital costs, 60 days re-admission and mortality rate. Results: A significant difference (sarcopenia group vs. non-sarcopenia group) was observed in the rates of overall postoperative complications, incidence of pleural effusion and intra-abdominal infection, overall hospital stay and postoperative hospital stay (P ＜ 0. 05). The rates of 60 days readmission, 60 days mortality and hospital costs in sarcopenia group were not different between the two groups (P ＞ 0. 05). By univariate and multivariate analysis, preoperative sarcopenia and preoperative nutritional risk are the risk factors of postoperative complications. Conclusion: Sarcopenia is an independent risk factor for postoperative complications in patients with gastric cancer; preoperative patients with sarcopenia have a worse prognosis and should be screened and optimized before surgery.

Objective To investigate the effect of Micro-class in orthodontic practicum for five-year undergraduate students in stomotology. Methods Experimental comparative method was used on two groups of undergraduate students. A total of 70 students in Grade 2011 were taught with traditional teaching mode as the control group, while 50 students in Grade 2012 were taught with Micro-class lecture as the observation group. The satisfaction questionnaires were distributed to both groups after the course to facilitate the eval-uation of teaching methods, which specifically was done by SPSS 21.0 for t test and Chi-square test. Results The results of survey showed that the satisfaction of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group, which exemplified in the studying interest inspiration, studying efficiency improvement, further development, and overall satisfaction [(4.00±0.73) vs. (3.05±0.77); (4.06±0.65) vs. (3.06±1.01);(4.86±0.35) vs. (2.64±0.80); (4.32±0.47) vs. (2.62±1.08)], (P<0.01). Conclusion Micro-class can improve the teaching quality, and it is meaningful to apply the micro-class in orthodontic practicum.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-based comprehensive minimally invasive treatment for biliary anastomotic stenosis (BAS) after liver transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 60 BAS recipients after liver transplantation were retrospectively analyzed, 54 male and 6 female, aged (48±10) years. ERCP was initially carried out. If it succeeded, plastic or metallic stents were placed into the biliary tract. If it failed, percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage (PTCD) or single-operator cholangioscopy (SpyGlass) was adopted to pass through the stenosis. If all these procedures failed, magnetic anastomosis or other special methods were delivered. The incidence and treatment of BAS after liver transplantation were summarized. The efficacy, stent removal and recurrence were observed. Results The median time of incidence of BAS after liver transplantation was 8 (4, 13) months. Within postoperative 1 year, 1-2 years and over 2 years, 39, 16 and 5 recipients were diagnosed with BAS, respectively. All 60 BAS recipients after liver transplantation were successfully treated, including 56 cases initially receiving ERCP, and 41 completing BAS treatment, with a success rate of 73%. The failure of guide wire was the main cause of ERCP failure. The success rates of PTCD, SpyGlass and magnetic anastomosis were 5/9, 5/7 and 7/8, respectively. Two recipients were successfully treated by percutaneous choledochoscope-assisted blunt guide wire technique and stent placement in the biliary and duodenal fistula. After 3 (3, 4) cycles of ERCP and 13 (8, 18) months of stent indwelling, 38 recipients reached the stent removal criteria, including 25 plastic stents and 13 metallic stents. The indwelling time of plastic stents was longer than that of metallic stents (P < 0.05). Six cases suffered from stenosis recurrence at 12 (8, 33) months after stent removal, and the recurrence rate was 16%. Six patients were treated with ERCP, and 5 of them did not recur after the stents were successfully removed. Multivariate analysis showed that delayed diagnosis of stenosis and frequent ERCP before stent removal were the independent risk factors for BAS recurrence (both P < 0.05). Conclusions ERCP-based comprehensive minimally invasive treatment may improve the success rate of BAS treatment after liver transplantation and yield satisfactory long-term efficacy. Delayed diagnosis of BAS and high frequent ERCP required for stent removal are the independent risk factors for BAS recurrence.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the forces of rotational wall vessel (RWV) bioreactor on small tissue pieces or microcarrier particles and to determine the tracks of microcarrier particles in RWV bioreactor.

METHODSThe motion of the microcarrier in the rotating wall vessel (RWV) bioreactor with both the inner and outer cylinders rotating was modeled by numerical simulation.

RESULTSThe continuous trajectory of microcarrier particles, including the possible collision with the wall was obtained. An expression between the minimum rotational speed difference of the inner and outer cylinders and the microcarrier particle or aggregate radius could avoid collisions with either wall. The range of microcarrier radius or tissue size, which could be safely cultured in the RWV bioreactor, in terms of shear stress level, was determined.

CONCLUSIONThe model works well in describing the trajectory of a heavier microcarrier particle in rotating wall vessel.

Bioreactors ; Computer Simulation ; Microspheres ; Motion ; Porosity ; Rheology ; Rotation ; Stress, Mechanical ; Tissue Engineering ; methods