OBJECTIVE: To summarize the advance in research on a variety of data processing methods of optimizing drug preparation process. METHODS: On the basis of data processing methods of single index, this paper compares, analyzes and summarizes a variety of data processing methods in relevant literature. RESULTS: Multiple indicator data processing method, such as analysis of variance-comprehensive weighted of multi-index, multiple regression analysis-response surface methodology, artificial neural network, and multi-dimensional space triangle area, has been widely used in the optimization of drug preparation process in a certain scope. CONCLUSION: Analysis of variance-comprehensive weighted of multi-index, multiple regression analysis-response surface methodology, artificial neural networks, and multidimensional spatial triangular area can reveal the principles among multi-factors of multi-levels, thus can provide reference for optimizing drug preparation technology.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) exposure on the behaviors and hippocampal oxidative stress and ATPase in rats and the molecular mechanism of neurobehavioral toxicity of B[a]P.

METHODSA total of 120 male SD rats (21 days old) were randomly and equally assigned to five groups: blank control group, vegetable oil (solvent control) group, and 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg B[a]P exposure groups. The rats in B[a]P exposure groups were injected intraperitoneally with B[a]P once a day for 4 consecutive weeks. Then, Morris water maze and shuttle box were used to evaluate the learning and memory abilities of rats; colorimetric assay was used to measure the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, and Ca(2+)/Mg(2+)-ATPase and the content of malonaldehyde (MDA) in the hippocampus; the concentration of Ca(2+) in the hippocampus was measured by fluorescent labeling.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group and solvent control group, the B[a]P exposure groups exhibited significant increases in escape latency, active avoidance response latency, and passive avoidance response latency and significant decreases in number of platform crossings and active avoidance response frequency in the last test (P < 0.05 for all comparisons), with a dose-effect relationship. In addition, the B[a]P exposure groups had significantly lower activities of SOD, Na(+)/K(+)-AT-Pase, and Ca(2+)/Mg(2+)-ATPase and significantly higher MDA level and Ca(2+) concentration than the blank control group and solvent control group (P < 0.05 for all comparisons), with a dose-effect relationship.

CONCLUSIONThe neurobehavioral toxicity of B[a]P may be related to increased oxidative stress and decreased activities of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)/Mg(2+)-ATPase in the hippocampus of rats.

Animals ; Benzo(a)pyrene ; toxicity ; Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of sleep deprivation on intelligence development in primary school students.

METHODSBetween June 2009 and April 2010, 316 grade 5 students aged 10-11 years were selected from four primary schools in four administrative districts of Changsha, China by stratified random sampling. The intelligence characteristics of children with varying degrees of sleep deprivation were investigated using the Chinese Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.

RESULTSA total of 286 valid questionnaires were received, with a response rate of 90.5%. The survey was comprised of a sleep deprivation group (sleep time <8 hours per night; n=180) and a control group (sleep time ≥8 hours per night; n=106). The sleep deprivation group had significantly lower subtest scores, verbal intelligence quotient (IQ) (VIQ), performance IQ (PIQ) and full scale IQ (P<0.05) and significantly lower verbal comprehension factor score and memory/attention factor score compared with the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the moderate sleep deprivation subgroup had significantly decreased VIQ and full scale IQ as well as verbal comprehension factor score and memory/attention factor score (P<0.05), and the severe sleep deprivation subgroup showed decreases in all scores (P<0.05). The sleep deprivation group and moderate and severe sleep deprivation subgroups had significantly higher proportions of children with VIQ-PIQ imbalance than the control group.

CONCLUSIONSSleep deprivation adversely affects intelligence development, especially VIQ, in primary school students, and the adverse effects of sleep deprivation are mainly seen in students with moderate and severe sleep deprivation.

Child ; Female ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Male ; Sleep Deprivation ; psychology

China has a long history of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma processing with multiple methods available. The pre-sent study collated and summarized the Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma processing methods recorded in 23 related herbal medicine books, all editions of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the 1988 edition of National Regulations for Processing of Chinese Medicine, and 20 current local processing specifications and standards. The results demonstrated various processing methods of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, such as removing residual part of stem, plantlet, or soil, smashing, filing, cutting, decocting, washing with wine, soaking in wine, and stir-frying with wine or blood from pig heart, while raw and wine-processed products are mainly used in modern times. Due to the lack of unified standards, the phenomena of multiple methods adopted in one place and different methods in different places have led to uneven quality of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma pieces, even affecting the safety and effectiveness of its clinical medication. This study is expected to provide a reference for the development of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma processing and its rational medication.
Animals ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Plant Roots ; Rhizome ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; Swine

Endothelin-3 (ET-3) is aberrantly expressed in both metastatic melanoma tissues and cultured melanoma cells. Our previous work showed that ET-3 could promote survival of metastatic melanoma cells via its altered expression. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms responsible for these gene-induced phenotypes in melanoma cells. An ET-3 gene sequence-specific shRNA vector pLVTHM-ET3-RNAi was constructed and transfected into human malignant melanoma cells A375 and MMRU, and the resultant molecular events and cellular changes were examined. As compared with the empty-vector group, cell proliferation was slowed down, and the growth inhibition rates were 38.9% in A375 cells and 38.4% in MMRU cells after transfection. In addition, cell invasion capability was also inhibited, with a reduction of 62.2% in A375 cells and 54.3% in MMRU cells. The percentage of apoptotic cells was found to increase. Meanwhile, in both cell lines, secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) levels were down-regulated together with inhibition of its upstream signaling molecule, NF-κB. Thus, the current results suggested that down-regulated expression of ET3 attenuates the malignant behaviors of human melanoma cells partially by decreasing the expression of SPARC and NF-κB.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Endothelin-3 ; genetics ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; Melanoma ; genetics ; pathology ; Osteonectin ; genetics

Objective To indentify the cognitive status of Chinese patients to acne and the influencing factors to theirs' cognitive status,so as to provide solid evidences for the prevention and treatment of acne.Methods A self-designed questionnaire was made to conduct this survey of 16,156 acne patients,who seeked to the treatment in the dermatological departments from 112 hospitals in China.The survey consisted of several parts,including the general status of patients,the patients' cognition of occurrence,development and risk factors of acne,whether the first choice was seeking treatment at the hospital when the patients had acne and the condition of selection of skin care products.The factors were analyzed,which could impact the cognition of the patients' behavior of treatment,how did the patients' cognition to influence their medical behavior and skin care as well as the consistency of assessment of the severity of acne by doctors and patients themselves.Results The acne patients studied had the best knowledge of "acne is a skin disease","it not only occurs in the period of adolescence" and "the disease can be prevented and cured",which accordingly accounted for 80.65％,69.16％ and 65.49％ of the total patients respectively.However,the awareness of acne patients to heredity,high sugar and dairy products as risk factors for acne was insufficient,which accounted for 48.72％,42.40％ and 18.25％ of the total patients,respectively.Gender,age,educational level,occupation and health knowledge were the main factors affecting the cognitive level of patients;the survey also found that men,patient with educational level of junior high or even lower educational condition,occupation of labor workers or farmers and patients were lack of health education with poor knowledge of the genetics and dietary were risk factors for acne;patients with age over 36 years or with mild illness had poor knowledge of dietary risk factors for acne;the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).The analysis of the influence of cognitive status on medical treatment behavior and skin care showed that the better the cognition,the higher the probability of patients would choose medical treatment as the first choice as well as choosing functional skin care products;the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).The consistency of assessment of the severity of acne by doctors and patients was poor (Kappa value ＜0.4),and the assessment of severity of acne by patients was more serious than doctors' assessment.Conclusions Patient's cognitive status will affect their medical behavior and skin care,and there is also a phenomenon that patients have a more serious assessment of their acne condition.It is suggested that health education for acne patients should be strengthened in clinical medicine so as to improve their knowledge of acne as well as preventing from acne effectively.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the eff ects of hypoalbuminemia and human albumin supplementation on patients with acute kidney injury （AKI）after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting （OPCABG）. METHODS From December 2018 to January 2020，clinical information of 484 patients with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease who underwent selective OPCABG in Tianjin Chest Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. The basic data ，American Society of Anesthesiologists （ASA）grading，the number of coronary artery bypass grafting ，amount of intraoperative bleeding ，use of artificial colloid ，minimum value of hemoglobin within 7 days after operation ，hypoalbuminemia occurred after operation ，monitoring time in postoperative intensive care unit ，drainage volume of thoracic catheterization ，perioperative blood transfusion ，amount of human albumin after operation were summarized. All patients were divided into non-AKI group （414 cases）and AKI group （70 cases）according to the occurrence of AKI. The differences of the above indexes between the two groups were compared. Multiple Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the risk factor of AKI when selecting the indexes with P＜0.1. According to whether hypoalbuminemia occurred after operation ，all patients were divided into normal protein group （347 cases）and hypoalbuminemia group （137 cases）. Hierarchical analysis was carried out to explore the correlation between human albumin supplementation and AKI. RESULTS The results of multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that there was no significant effect on AKI in postoperative hypoalbuminemia （P＞0.05），but there were significant effect in body mass index and the dosage of postoperative human serum albumin （P＜0.05）. The risk of AKI would increase by 12.7％ every time the body mass index increases by 1 unit；the risk of AKI increased by 17.3％ for every 10 g increase in the dosage of human albumin. Stratified analysis showed that the risk of AKI would increased by 26.9％ for every 10 g increase in postoperative human albumin supplementation in normal protein group and 14.0％ for every 10 g increase in postoperative human albumin supplementation in hypoalbuminemia group. CONCLUSIONS Hypoalbuminemia is not a risk factor fo r the development of AKI after OPCABG ，but human albumin supplementation is a risk factor for AKI after OPCABG.

Objective:To summarize the patient profiles and therapeutic efficacies of ABO-incompatible living-related kidney transplantations at 19 domestic transplant centers and provide rationales for clinical application of ABOi-KT.Methods:Clinical cases of ABO-incompatible/compatible kidney transplantation (ABOi-KT/ABOc-KT) from December 2006 to December 2009 were collected. Then, statistical analyses were conducted from the aspects of tissue matching, perioperative managements, complications and survival rates of renal allograft or recipients.Results:Clinical data of 342 ABOi-KT and 779 ABOc-KT indicated that (1) no inter-group differences existed in age, body mass index (BMI), donor-recipient relationship or waiting time of pre-operative dialysis; (2) ABO blood type: blood type O recipients had the longest waiting list and transplantations from blood type A to blood type O accounted for the largest proportion; (3) HLA matching: no statistical significance existed in mismatch rate or positive rate of PRA I/II between two types of surgery; (4) CD20 should be properly used on the basis of different phrases; (5) hemorrhage was a common complication during an early postoperative period and microthrombosis appeared later; (6) no difference existed in postoperative incidence of complications or survival rate of renal allograft and recipients at 1/3/5/10 years between ABOi-KT and ABOc-KT. The acute rejection rate and serum creatinine levels of ABOi-KT recipients were comparable to those of ABOc-KT recipients within 1 year.Conclusions:ABOi-KT is both safe and effective so that it may be applied at all transplant centers as needed.

This study aims to investigate the effect of Huaier aqueous extract on the growth and metastasis of human non-small cell lung cancer NCI-H1299 cells and its underlying mechanisms. MTT assay was used to detect the effect of Huaier aqueous extract on the proliferation of NCI-H1299 cells. Flow cytometry was used to examine the effect of Huaier aqueous extract on the apoptosis, cell cycle, and ROS level of NCI-H1299 cells. Wound healing assay was used to evaluate the effect of Huaier aqueous extract on the migration ability of NCI-H1299 cells. Western blot was used to detect the levels of proteins involving apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT), and MAPK signaling pathway in NCI-H1299 cells exposed to Huaier aqueous extract. The results showed that Huaier aqueous extract inhibited the proliferation of NCI-H1299 cells, and induced cell-cycle arrest at the phase S. Huaier aqueous extract promoted the apoptosis of NCI-H1299 cells by down-regulating the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Moreover, Huaier aqueous extract increased ROS level and induced ferroptosis in NCI-H1299 cells. EMT played a critical role in cancer metastasis. Huaier aqueous extract reduced the migration ability of NCI-H1299 cells by inhibiting EMT of NCI-H1299 cells. In addition, this study revealed that Huaier aqueous extract inhibited MAPK signaling pathway in human non-small cell lung cancer NCI-H1299 cells, which may be one of Huaier's mechanisms in inhibiting growth and metastasis of NCI-H1299 cells. This study provides a new theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of lung cancer with Huaier, and important reference significance for further studies on the anti-tumor mechanisms of Huaier.
Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Complex Mixtures ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Trametes

As a traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese dragon's blood has multiple effects, such as activating blood to remove blood stasis, softening and dispelling stagnation, astringent and hemostasis, clearing swelling and relieving pain, regulating menstruation and rectifying the blood, so it is called "an effective medicine of promoting blood circulation". It has been widely used clinically to treat a variety of diseases. With the further research on Chinese dragon's blood, its anti-tumor medicinal value is gradually emerging. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that Chinese dragon's blood exerts anti-tumor effects mainly by inhibiting cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis, inducing DNA damage and cell cycle arrest, inducing senescence and autophagy of tumor cells, inhibiting metastasis and angiogenesis, as well as reversing multidrug resistance. This article focuses on the research progress on anti-tumor effects of Chinese dragon's blood extract and its chemical components, with a view to provide new references for the in-depth research and reasonable utilization of Chinese dragon's blood.
China ; Dracaena ; Female ; Plant Extracts ; Resins, Plant