To identify the active constituents in vitro and blood-absorbed ingredients in vivo from Yin Chen Hao decoction provides scientific evidence for probing its prevention and treatment mechanism on acute liver injury. An ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) method was applied for analysis of Yin Chen Hao decoction and the serum samples of mice with con-A induced acute liver injury after preventive oral administration for 14 days (the use of all laboratory animals in this study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Naval Medical University, 19YF1459400). A total of 90 chemical constituents were identified from Yin Chen Hao decoction, mainly were flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, quinones. 5 prototype compounds were identified in the serum, including chrysophanol, deoxyrhapontin-8-O-gallate, mussaenosidic acid, herniarin, emodin. The established UPLC-QTOF/MS method could efficiently and sensitively identify the constituents in vitro and blood-absorbed ingredients of Yin Chen Hao decoction, primarily clarify the material basis of its hepatoprotective effect, and provided a scientific basis for the quality marker selection and the pharmacodynamic material basis research on the decoction.

The epidemic of COVID-19 has brought great challenges to the global public health prevention and control system combined with clinical diagnosis and treatment system, and it makes the development of effective antiviral drugs an important task in current pharmaceutical research. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has played an important role in the prevention and control of COVID-19. Due to its numerous chemical components and various structural types, TCM becomes a natural library for searching for lead compounds against SARS-CoV-2. In this study, a novel dual-target surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor was developed for S protein receptor binding domain (SRBD) and angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) which are two key proteins in the process of SARS-CoV-2 invading cells according to characteristics of synergistic effects of multiple components and comprehensive regulation of multiple targets of TCM. The SPR biosensor was applied to screen and identify active components from six TCMs, and daidzin from Puerariae Lobatae Radix was identified to bind with SRBD and ACE2. The affinity constant (K_D) of daidzin and ACE2 was 5.18 μmol·L^-1 through the SPR affinity assay. Competitive ELISA assay showed that daidzin could inhibit the binding of SRBD and ACE2, and the inhibition rate of daidzin (20 μmol·L^-1) was 38.6%. Molecular docking experiments further confirmed that daidzin had the best binding near the binding region of SRBD-ACE2 complex. This study shows that the dual-target SPR screening system is accurate and efficient, and is particularly suitable for screening of complex drug systems and effective substances study of TCM. It provides a material basis for exploring the mechanism of TCM active constituents against SARS-CoV-2, and provides a source of lead compounds for the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs.

Objective To investigate the effect of silencing E6-associated protein(E6AP)on the level of p53 protein in human papilloma virus(HPV)negative cervical cancer cells(C33A cells).Methods The siRNA sequence silencing E6AP(siE6AP)and silencing control disordered siRNA sequence(siControl)were transfected into C33A cells with the mediation of LipofectamineTM2000 transfection reagent respectively.The silencing effect of siRNA on E6AP and the expression of p53and cleaved-caspase-3 proteins were detected by Western blot.Results The levels of E6AP protein in C33A cells of siE6AP group were significantly lower(t =-4.597,P<0.05),while the levels of p53 and cleaved-caspase-3 proteins were significantly higher than those of siControl group(t = 4.533 and 7.099 respectively,each P<0.05).Conclusion Silencing of E6AP significantly increased the expression of p53 protein in C33A cells,indicating that silencing of E6AP may restore the activity and function of p53 protein in C33A cells.

OBJECTIVETo assess bone health in epileptic children who have been treated with topiramate (TPM) or carbamazepine (CBZ).

METHODSSixty-three epileptic children who received TPM or CBZ treatment and 36 eileptic children who did not receive any drug treatment (control group) were enrolled. Bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar vertebrae (L1-L4) and radius-ulna was evaluated by the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry method. Biochemical indices of bone metabolism, including serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase contents were measured.

RESULTSThe serum calcium content was higher in the TPM group (2.41+/-0.17 mmol/L), but it was lower in the CBZ group (2.15+/-0.26 mmol/L) than that (2.26+/-0.11 mmol/L) in the control group (p<0.05). The serum phosphorus content in both the TPM (1.55+/-0.17 mmol/L) and the CBZ groups (1.52+/-0.26 mmol/L) was significantly lower than that in the control group (1.70+/-0.30 mmol/L) (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in the serum content of alkaline phosphatase between three groups. BMD was significantly reduced in both the TPM and the CBZ groups when compared to the control group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTPM and CBZ may result in alterations in serum contents of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase as well as BMD reduction.

Adolescent ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Anticonvulsants ; adverse effects ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Bone and Bones ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Calcium ; blood ; Carbamazepine ; adverse effects ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Female ; Fructose ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Humans ; Male ; Phosphorus ; blood

Geldanamycin (GA), an ansamycin antibiotic specifically binding heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), exhibits a broad-spectrum antiviral effect. Herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV-1) replication in vitro was significantly inhibited by GA treatment. To explore the antiviral mechanism of GA against HSV-1, the 7267-spot human long oligonucleotide microarrays were applied to investigate the genes which might involved in the antiviral activity of GA in HeLa cells infected by HSV-1. Meanwhile, the reverse regulation of GA and HSV-1 on ACTG1, RAN, SOD1, HYAL1 were validated by using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. It is the first report of gene expression profile in cells infected by virus with GA treatment. The general impact of GA on cellular transcription may help to gain an insight into mechanism of its antiviral effect.
Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Benzoquinones ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; HeLa Cells ; Herpesvirus 1, Human ; drug effects ; genetics ; growth & development ; Humans ; Lactams, Macrocyclic ; pharmacology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Virus Replication ; drug effects ; genetics

Penile squamous cell carcinoma has been commonly reported in the past decades. We describe a rare case of a huge squamous cell carcinoma of the penis in a 65-year-old patient with a 4-year history of tumor growth, for which total penectomy, perineal urethrostomy and bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy were carried out. We suggest that aggressive surgical intervention should be recommended for those with well-differentiated penile carcinoma regardless of the size of the tumor.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Neoplasms ; etiology ; surgery ; Penis ; surgery ; Phimosis ; complications

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pollution of hexavalent chromium in the electroplating workplace and screen the biomarkers of chromium exposure.

MATERIALField occupational health investigation was conducted in 25 electroplating workplaces. 157 electroplating workers and 93 healthy unexposed controls were recruited. The epidemiological information was collected with face to face interview. Chromium in erythrocytes was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

RESULTSThe median of short-term exposure concentration of chromium in the air at electroplating workplace was 0.06 mg/m(3) (median) and ranging from 0.01 (detect limit) to 0.53 mg/m(3)). The median concentration of Cr (VI) in erythrocytes in electroplating workers was 4.41 (2.50 ∼ 5.29) µg/L, which was significantly higher than that in control subjects [1.54 (0.61 ∼ 2.98) µg/L, P < 0.01]. After stratified by potential confounding factors such as gender, age, smoking status and alcohol consumption, significant differences still existed between electroplating workers and control subjects, except for the subjects of age less than 30 years old (P = 0.11).

CONCLUSIONThere was hexavalent chromium pollution in electroplating workplace. Occupational hazards prevention measures should be taken to control the chromium pollution hazards.

Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Chromium ; blood ; Electroplating ; Environmental Monitoring ; Erythrocytes ; chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Workplace ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDRetinopathy of prematurity (ROP) has become one of the leading causes of visual loss in children. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) is the principal stimulator of angiogenesis. VEGF was differentially spliced from exon 8 to exons 8a and 8b to form two families: the pro-angiogenic VEGFxxx family and the anti-angiogenic VEGFxxxb family. Previous research has shown variable effeteness of bevacizumab in inhibiting retinal neovascularization in ROP. This study aimed to investigate whether the effectiveness of this inhibition depends on the relative ratio of the two VEGF isoforms.

METHODSIntravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVB) was performed in the oxygen-induced-retinopathy (OIR) mice on postnatal day 12 (P12) (intravitreal phosphate buffered saline (PBS) injection as control). The Evans blue perfused retina were used to test the retinal neovascularization-leakage (NVL) area and non-perfusion (NP) area.

RESULTSThe retinal NVL and NP area in the IVB group were significantly smaller than the intravitreal PBS injection group (IVP group). On P17, the protein level of total VEGF isoforms was significantly inhibited compared to IVP group (P < 0.05) while VEGF(165)b isoform was slight reduced (P > 0.05). The switch from pro-angiogenic isoforms to anti-angiogenic isoforms after IVB could be found. The relative protein expression of VEGF(165)b isoform was significantly higher in IVB group than in IVP group (P < 0.05) on P17 which was correlated with the reduced ischemia-induced angiogenesis in OIR mice after IVB.

CONCLUSIONSThe anti-angiogenic effectiveness might depend on the relative high expression of VEGF(165)b after intravitreal bevacizumab injection. Anti-angiogenic therapy is a more effective therapy for ROP.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; administration & dosage ; Bevacizumab ; Disease Models, Animal ; Intravitreal Injections ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Protein Isoforms ; analysis ; Retinal Neovascularization ; prevention & control ; Retinopathy of Prematurity ; drug therapy ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis

Objective:To observe and analyze the image characteristics of eyes with choroidal osteoma using swept-source OCT (SS-OCT).Methods:Seventy-three eyes of 61 patients with choroidal osteoma were enrolled in the study, including 17 males (20 eyes) and 44 females (53 eyes) with an average age of 33.5±12.7 years. Single tumor was found in 71 eyes and multiple tumors were found in 2 eyes. All patients received examinations of slit lamp ophthalmoscope, color fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, fluorescein angiography and/or indocyanine green angiography, B-scan ultrasonography and/or computerized tomography. Tumor features were characterized using SS-OCT.Results:Among 75 tumors of 73 eyes, the osteoma was completely calcified in 7 tumors, completely decalcified in 5 tumors and all the other tumors were composed of calcified and decalcified portions. SS-OCT revealed normal inner retina in all the calcified areas of tumors and abnormal outer retina including external limiting membrane, ellipsoid zone, interdigitation zone and RPE in some cases. Whereas the outer retina and RPE showed abnormality in the decalcified areas of all cases. The choriocapillaris was invisible in all cases and most of the medium and large caliber vessels showed thinning or nonvisibility. Choroidal osteoma revealed a sponge-like appearance ( n=39), loofah sponge appearance ( n=11), lamellar pattern ( n=10), mixed ( n=12) and irregular patterns ( n=5). Other unique features included horizontal lamellar lines ( n=71), hyperreflective horizontal lines ( n=47) and hyporeflective tubules (horizontal: n=39, vertical: n=42, circular: n=41) within choroidal osteoma. Hyperreflective tumor-like tissues were also detected above the disrupted Bruch’s membrane. The sclero-choroidal junction was detectable in all tumors and a posterior ciliary vessel penetrating the sclera was also seen. Conclusions:SS-OCT clearly reveals characteristic appearances of choroidal osteoma as sponge-like, loofah sponge, lamellar pattern, mixed and irregular patterns, with unique features of horizontal lamellar lines, hyperreflective horizontal lines and hyporeflective tubules within osteoma. Hyperreflective tumor-like tissues were detected to grow above the disrupted Bruch’s membrane.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the treatment of 42 patients with acute methanol poisoning because of drinking alcohol containing methanol.

METHODSClinical data of 42 cases of methanol poisoning were collected and analyzed. Methanol concentration in drinking alcohol and blood was determined by gas chromatography (GC). National standard for occupational medicine (GBZ53-2002) was used to diagnose the cases.

RESULTSThe methanol concentration in the alcohol was 16% approximately 46%. 42 Patients (40 males, 2 females), at age of 46.1 (22 approximately 80), took 588.1 ml (50 approximately 2,000 ml) of the alcohol. The average methanol concentration in blood was 1.61 mmol/L (0.03 approximately 23.60 mmol/L). According to clinical diagnosis, there were 17 observed cases, 9 mild acute toxication, and 16 severe acute toxication. Among them, 35 (83.3%) patients were recovered, 2 (4.8%) blind, 4 (9.5%) with neuropsychic sequela and 1 (2.4%) dead after adopting 8 cure measures.

CONCLUSIONTo start using emergency plan for public health events suddenly happened, designate a special treatment hospital, clear blood methanol as soon as possible, correct acidosis, adequately administer folacin and hormone, protect optic nerve and retina, and take comprehensive symptomatic treatment as well as strict monitoring are the keys of clinical cure.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methanol ; poisoning ; Middle Aged ; Poisoning ; therapy ; Public Health Practice