Objective:To establish a method for the determination of specnuezhenide in traditional decoction and granules of Zish-enwufa formula, and compare the content between them. Methods:HPLC was used for the determination. The samples were analyzed on a Waters Symmetry C18 column (150 mm × 3. 9 mm,5 μm) with acetonitrile-water (16 ∶84) as the mobile phase. The flow rate was 1. 0 ml·min-1 and the detection wavelength was 224nm. Results: A good linearity of specnuezhenide was within the range of 0.179 2-3.316 μg(r=0.999 9),and the average recovery of berberine hydrochloride was 101.65% with RSD of 1.49%(n=6). Conclusion:The determination method is simple, accurate and sensitive with good reproducibility,which can be used for the determi-nation of specnuezhenide in the preparation. The content of specnuezhenide in the traditional decoction and granules of Zishenwufa for-mula is similar.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases. The clinical pathway is the therapeutic program for disease-specific treatment and its implementation may reduce both the duration and cost of the hospital stay. This study aims to construct and evaluate the efficacy of clinical pathways (CPs) based on integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine for patients with AMI.

Objectiv: To observe the efficacy of long-term indwelling of gastrointestinal tube with 125I seeds chains in patients with advanced esophageal cancer. Methods: Long-term indwelling of gastrointestinal tube with 125I seeds chains were performed on 11 patients with advanced esophageal cancer. The success rate of operation was recorded. Eating difficulty classification (Stooler grade), wall thickness of esophageal lesions in the largest layer, effective rate and adverse reactions such as chest pain, bleeding were calculated before and 2 months after operation. Results: The success rate of operation was 100% (11/11). Two months after operation, the 11 patients' eating difficulty improved at different degree, the Stooler grade of dysphagia decreased from preoperative (3.55±0.52)grade to (1.09±0.70)grade. The maximum wall thickness of esophageal lesions decreased from preoperative (21.65±4.50)mm to (11.38±4.20)mm after operation, and the wall thickness contraction rate was (48.89±10.50)%. The effective rate was 90.91% (10/11), without severe complications such as esophageal fistula and hemorrhage. No rupture, loss or displacement of 125I seeds was found on the recovered gastrointestinal tube. Conclusion: Long-term indwelling of gastrointestinal tube with 125I seeds chains is effective in the treatment of advanced esophageal cancer.

ObjectiveTo establish the mathematical model of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) and total serum bilirubin (TSB) after phototherapy in neonates.MethodsNeonates with pathological jaundice were enrolled from October 2013 to June 2014. The neonates were divided into three groups by gestational age: full-term neonates (gestation age of 37-42 weeks), late preterm neonates (gestation age of 34-36+6 weeks), early and mid-preterm neonates (gestation age of 28-33+6 weeks). The neonates received single or double sided phototherapy. During the phototherapy, the forehead and chest were covered by opaque material. The TcB was measured at forehead, mid sternum, perineum area three times each before and after phototherapy. Mean-while the TSB was tested.Results Two hundred and sixty-one neonates with hyperbilirubinemia were enrolled, among whom there were 169 full-term neonates, 63 late preterm neonates and 29 early and mid-preterm neonates. Before phototherapy, there were signiifcantly correlation of TSB with TcB on forehead, mid sternum and perineum (r=0.813, 0.827, 0.754;P<0.001) and the best correlation was with TcB on mid sternum. The linear regression equation was TSB=1.35TcB-5.50. After phototherapy, there were signiifcantly correlateion of TSB with TcB on forehead, mid sternum, and perineum (r=0.751, 0.807, 0.683;P<0.001) and the best correlation was with TcB on mid sternum. The linear regression equation was TSB=1.01×TcB-0.62. Among three groups, the full-term neonates had the best correlation.ConclusionsAfter phototherapy, the TcB measured on mid sternum which was covered by opaque material is well correlated with TSB. The linear regression model can be established.

Current patent protection of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compounds is far from being satisfactory with increasing research and development achievements. As patent protection of traditional Chinese medicine compounds is closely related with many fields such as research and development of new TCM drugs, industrial development and TCM internationalization, the development of research and harmonious development of TCM compounds and their patent protection is bound to have a far-reaching influence on domestic and even international societies.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; economics ; legislation & jurisprudence ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; economics ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; economics ; Patents as Topic

AIM: In this study,we tested the hypothesis that remote postconditioning induced by a single 5-min episode of femoral artery occlusion and reperfusion applied immediately before the onset of coronary artery reperfusion protects the myocardium from reperfusion injury.METHODS: Thirty healthy New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups(n=10 in each group): control,myocardial ischemic postconditioning(MIP) and Limb ischemic postconditioning(LIP).Myocardial infarct size and tissue myeloperoxidase(MPO) activity were determined at the end of the experiment.Plasma creatine kinase(CK) activity and malondialdehyde(MDA) levels were measured at baseline,the end of ischemia,and after 180 min of reperfusion,respectively.RESULTS: Myocardial infarct size was significantly reduced in MIP and LIP as compared to control(P

Objective To investigate the dynamic characteristics of the pacemaker current of canine sino-atrial node cells and compare them with the wild type mHCN2 pacemaker current overexpressed in neonatal rat myocardial cells.Methods Fresh canine sino-atrial node cells were enzymatically isolated in a calcium-free solution containing collagenase and elastase,and the funny current was recorded and compared with the mHCN2 current overexpressed in cultured neonatal rat myocardial cells under the same experimental conditions.Results The canine sinus node cells were elongated,spindle-shaped or polygonal,with well-defined boundaries,and showed spontaneous beating.The elicited pacemaker current was an inward current and its rise in amplitude quickened as the hyperpolarization potential increased.At V ＝-75 mV,the canine sinus atrial node pacemaker current was (-2.1±0.3) pA/pF and had the same activation kinetics as those of the mHCN2 channel current overexpressed in neonatal rat myocardial cells [τact:(728±137) ms vs.(530±65) ms,P＞0.05].Conclusions Within the physiological range,the pacemaker current in canine sino-atrial node cells and the wild type mHCN2 pacemaker current over expressed in neonatal rat myocardial cells have similar activation kinetics.

14 aged patients received radiofrequency current ablation(RFCA)to treat drug-refractory tachycardia. The success rate was 97%(13/14).In conjunction with the charcteristicaof aged patients often with long clinical history and apt to be complicated,the paper especially discussed the distinctive feature of application of RFCA to aged patients.

Objective:To evaluate the application value of three-dimensional shear wave elastography(3D-SWE) with quantitative parameters and qualitative analysis of stiff rim sign in differentiating benign and malignant breast masses.Methods:One hundred and seventeen female patients (121 breast masses) admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2020 to February 2021 were examined by conventional ultrasound, two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) and 3D-SWE. Surgical or puncture pathology were used as the gold standard, the ROC curves of 2D-SWE and 3D-SWE were drawn to obtain the optimal qualitative and quantitative indicators. Afterwards, BI-RADS category was adjusted according to the optimal indicators, which could be used to evaluate the diagnostic value in differentiating benign and malignant breast masses.Results:The area under ROC curve (AUC) of BI-RADS category was 0.846, the sensitivity and specificity were 89.6% and 79.6%, respectively. The AUC value of mass-to-fat elasticity ratio(Eratio) of coronal plane was 0.869, which was the highest among all quantitative parameters and was significantly higher than that of 2D-SWE ( P<0.05). In addition, the AUC value of stiff rim sign of coronal plane was significantly higher than those of 2D-SWE, sagittal plane and transverse plane (All P<0.05). The AUC of combination of stiff rim sign of coronal plane and conventional US was 0.901, which was significantly higher than that using conventional ultrasound alone( P<0.05). Conclusions:Compared with 2D-SWE, Eratio and stiff rim sign of coronal plane of 3D-SWE yield better diagnostic efficiency.Adjusting stiff rim sign coronal plane to BI-RADS category can effectively improve the diagnostic efficiency.

Objective: To investigate the effects of hypoxia on the phenotype transformation of human dermal fibroblasts to myofibroblasts and the mechanism. Methods: The third passage of healthy adult human dermal fibroblasts in logarithmic phase were cultured in DMEM medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum for the following five experiments. (1) In experiments 1, 2, and 3, cells were divided into normoxia group and hypoxia group according to the random number table, with 10 dishes in each group. Cells of normoxia group were cultured in incubator containing 21% oxygen, while those of hypoxia group with 1% oxygen. At post culture hour (PCH) 0 and 48, 5 dishes of cells were collected from each group, respectively. mRNA expressions of markers of myofibroblasts including alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), type Ⅰ collagen, and type Ⅲ collagen of cells were determined with real time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in experiment 1. Protein expressions of α-SMA, type Ⅰ collagen, and type Ⅲ collagen of cells were determined with Western blotting in experiment 2. The protein expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) of cells was determined with Western blotting in experiment 3. (2) In experiment 4, cells were divided into normoxia group, hypoxia group, and hypoxia+ pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) group according to the random number table, with 5 dishes in each group. Cells in the former two groups were treated the same as those in experiment 1. Cells in hypoxia+ PDTC group were treated the same as those in hypoxia group plus adding 4 mL PDTC with a final molarity of 10 μmol/L in the culture medium. At PCH 48, the protein expression of NF-κB of cells was determined with Western blotting. (3) In experiment 5, cells were divided into normoxia group, hypoxia group, hypoxia+ PDTC group, and normoxia+ PDTC group according to the random number table, with 5 dishes in each group. Cells in the former three groups were treated the same as those in experiment 4. Cells in normoxia+ PDTC group were treated the same as those in normoxia group plus adding 4 mL PDTC with a final molarity of 10 μmol/L in the culture medium. At PCH 48, protein expressions of α-SMA, type Ⅰ collagen, and type Ⅲ collagen of cells were determined with Western blotting. Data were processed with analysis of variance of factorial design, one-way analysis of variance, and LSD-t test. Results: (1) Compared with those of normoxia group at corresponding time point, mRNA expressions and protein expressions of α-SMA, type Ⅰ collagen, and type Ⅲ collagen and the protein expression of NF-κB in fibroblasts of hypoxia group were not changed obviously at PCH 0 (with t values from -1.21 to 2.04, P values above 0.05), while mRNA expressions and protein expressions of α-SMA, type Ⅰ collagen, and type Ⅲ collagen and the protein expression of NF-κB significantly increased at PCH 48 (with t values from -12.57 to -3.44, P values below 0.01). (2) At PCH 48, the protein expression of NF-κB in fibroblasts of hypoxia group was 0.83±0.12, significantly higher than that of normoxia group (0.17±0.06, t=-16.96, P<0.001). The protein expression of NF-κB in fibroblasts of hypoxia+ PDTC group was 0.31±0.08, significantly lower than that of hypoxia group (t=12.73, P<0.001). (3) At PCH 48, protein expressions of α-SMA, type Ⅰ collagen, and type Ⅲ collagen in fibroblasts of hypoxia group were 0.73±0.09, 1.25±0.10, and 1.16±0.07, respectively, significantly higher than those of normoxia group (0.14±0.06, 0.87±0.08, and 0.77±0.13, respectively, with t values from 9.24 to 11.24, P values below 0.001). The protein expression of α-SMA in fibroblasts of normoxia+ PDTC group was 0.24±0.07, significantly higher than that of normoxia group (t=4.22, P<0.01). Protein expressions of type Ⅰ collagen and type Ⅲ collagen in fibroblasts of normoxia+ PDTC group were 0.25±0.06 and 0.32±0.11, respectively, significantly lower than those of normoxia group (with t values respectively -4.31 and -3.88, P values below 0.01). Protein expressions of α-SMA, type Ⅰ collagen, and type Ⅲ collagen in fibroblasts of hypoxia+ PDTC group were 0.09±0.08, 0.38±0.12, and 0.47±0.08, respectively, significantly lower than those of hypoxia group (with t values from 11.78 to 22.98, P values below 0.001). Conclusions Hypoxia can significantly up-regulate the expressions of α-SMA, type Ⅰ collagen, and type Ⅲ collagen in human dermal fibroblasts, which may promote the phenotype transformation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, and this is likely to be associated with the activation of NF-κB signal pathway.