OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for simultaneously determination of glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid in Yaotongning capsule. METHODS:HPLC was performed on the column of Agilent TC-C18 with mobile phase of methanol-0.2 mol/L ammonium acetate(gradient elution) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min;detection wavelength was 250 nm and column temperature was 25 ℃ and injection volume was 10 μl. RESULTS:The linear range was 0.007 1-0.178 0 mg/ml(r=0.999 8)for glycyrrhizin acid and 0.354 8-8.720 0 μg/ml of glycyrrhetinic acid(r=0.999 8);RSDs of precision,stability and reproducibility tests were no more than 1.74%,average recoveries were 95.49%-100.62%(RSD=1.98%,n=9)and 96.80%-102.26%(RSD=1.83%,n=9),respec-tively. CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple,reproducible,accurate and reliable,and can be used for the simultaneous determi-nation of glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid in Yaotongning capsule.

Objective To explore whether PPARαtransgenic mice are more sensitive animal models in the evalua-tion of toxicity of PPARαagonists.Methods Twenty-eight 8-week old PPARαtransgenic mice (Tg) and 28 C57BL/6J mice (WT) with half males and half females were randomly divided into high dose group (400 mg/kg of clofibrate), low dose group (30 mg/kg of clofibrate) and solvent control group (10%sodium carboxymethyl cellulose ).The time of gavage administration lasted 28 days.The blood biochemistry , organ coefficient and pathological changes of the heart , liver, kid-neyweretestedafterthedrugadministration.Thegrowthofmicewasalsorecorded.Results ①Bloodbiochemistry:Com-pared with the WT male administration group , in the Tg male administration group , the levels of blood creatinine ( CREA) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were markedly increased (P<0.01, P<0.05).② Organ coefficient: Compared with the Tg control group, the kidney coefficients of Tg administration group were significantly increased (P<0.01,P<0.05).③Histopathology:Compared with the WT administration group , the pathological damages of liver and kidney were more serious in the Tg administration group .Conclusions Compared with C57BL/6J mouse, PPARαtransgenic mice are more sensitive in evaluation of hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity of PPARαagonists .It is a new animal model .

Objective To evaluate the rehabilitation effects of walk exercise training on the heart function rehabilitation in the patients with heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFPEF) .Methods A total of 142 cases of HFPEF were randomly assigned to 2 groups on the basis of medication therapy ;the control group (70 cases) was given only routine medica‐tion therapy without the exercise prescription;On the bases of control group ,the exercise group (72 cases) conducted the rehabilita‐tion training according to the exercise prescription .After 24 weeks follow up ,6 min walking distance ,plasma NT‐proBNP level and left ventricular diastolic function were compared between the two groups .Results The 6 min walking distance after walk exercise training in the exercise group was significantly increased compared with before walk exercise training and the control group ,while the level of NT‐proBNP was significant decreased(P<0 .01) .Conclusion The walking exercise training mode according to the ex‐ercise prescription can significantly improve the exercise tolerance in the HFPEF .

Objective To establish a new murine model of experimental autoimmune myositis by immunizing with MYBPC2 protein. Methods The purified Myosin-binding protein C, fast type (MYBPC2) was emulsified with complete Freundˊs adjuvant, then C57BL/6 mice were immunized by multi-point subcutaneous injection (0, 7 days), and intraperitoneal injection of pertussis toxin 2 μg simultaneously. The pathological changes of mice with different immunizing dose at the preconceived time were ex-plored. Mean-while, mice were immunized with 600 μg each time, and the muscle endurance was tested on the 21th day. The expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-Ⅰ and the surface biomarkers of the inflammatory cells in muscle tissues were observed. Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis. Results ① With the increase of immunizing dosage, muscle damage and inflammation tended to be more serious. On the 21th and 28th day, muscle lesions were most significant. Muscle fiber degeneration and necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration could be seen in the experimental group. ② Compared with the control group, muscle endurance of mice in the experimental group decreased significantly [(6.1 ±1.3) min versus (9.2±1.6) min, U=2.00, P=0.017]. The MHC class-Ⅰ on the muscle fiber surface of the experimental group was positive, scattered infiltration of CD4 +, CD8+ T ly-mphocytes and CD68 + macrophages between muscle fibers and around the vascular areas could be observed, and CD20+B lymphocytes mainly distributed in the area around the blood vessels, nevertheless rarely seen between muscle fibers. Conclusion Exper-imental autoimmune myositis models of mice have been successfully induced by immunizing with MYBPC2 in China for the first time, and similar clinical and pathological features of human polymyositis could be observed. This new model can be used for studying the pathogenesis of autoimmune myositis.

The inhibiting mechanisms of brucine to cancer cells included inducing the apoptosis of cancer cells, inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells, preventing cell adhesion and transfer. This paper reviews the function of brucine and its anti-tumor preparations, and compares the efficacy and adverse reactions between brucine related preparations and traditional drugs to evaluate its anti-tumor effects. Furthermore, more exploration on the inhibiting mechanisms is necessary for the patients to obtain safe and effective drugs.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of iron deficiency(ID)and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in pregnant women in urban areas of China. Methods The study was a national cross-sectional survey conducted from September 19th, 2016 to November 20th, 2016. According to the classification of the National Bureau of Statistics, all survey sites were set up in 6 regions of the country. Pregnant women were continuously selected using multistage stratified sampling. A total of 12 403 pregnant women were collected and examined for serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels. Results The median serum ferritin level during pregnancy was 20.60 μg/L(11.78-36.98 μg/L), the hemoglobin level was(118±12)g/L. With the progress of pregnancy, the levels of serum ferritin and hemoglobin decreased gradually. The median serum ferritin levels in the first, second trimester and third trimester were 54.30 μg/L(34.48-94.01 μg/L), 28.60 μg/L(16.40-50.52 μg/L), and 16.70 μg/L(10.20-27.00 μg/L)respectively(P<0.01). The mean hemoglobin levels were(127 ± 10)g/L,(119 ± 11)g/L and(117 ± 11)g/L respectively(P<0.01). The prevalence of ID in urban pregnant women was 48.16%(5 973/12 403), and IDA prevalence was 13.87% (1 720/12 403). The prevalence of IDA in the first, second trimester and third trimester were 1.96% (20/1 019), 8.40%(293/3 487)and 17.82%(1 407/7 897), respectively(P<0.01). The prevalence of standardized ID and IDA were significantly different in various regions of China(P<0.01). The standardized prevalence of ID were relatively higher in East China and Northeast China, 57.37% and 53.41% respectively, while it was the lowest in Southwest China, 30.51%. The standardized prevalence of IDA in South Central, Northwest, and East China were relatively high, 21.30%, 16.97% and 17.53% respectively, and the standardized prevalence of IDA in Southwest China was the lowest, 5.44%,the differents in various regions were significant(all P<0.01). Conclusion The current phenomenon of ID and IDA in pregnant women is still very common,and nutrition and health care during pregnancy should be strengthened.

The p21 activated kinase 4 (PAK4) is serine/threonine protein kinase that is critical for cancer progression. Guided by X-ray crystallography and structure-based optimization, we report a novel subseries of C-3-substituted 6-ethynyl-1H-indole derivatives that display high potential and specificity towards group II PAKs. Among these inhibitors, compound 55 exhibited excellent inhibitory activity and kinase selectivity, displayed superior anti-migratory and anti-invasive properties against the lung cancer cell line A549 and the melanoma cell line B16. Compound 55 exhibited potent in vivo antitumor metastatic efficacy, with over 80% and 90% inhibition of lung metastasis in A549 or B16-BL6 lung metastasis models, respectively. Further mechanistic studies demonstrated that compound 55 mitigated TGF-β1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

BACKGROUND: The onset and clinical presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are sex-related. Few studies have investigated the distinctions in clinical characteristics and treatment preferences in male and female SLE patients in the initial cohort. This study aimed to improve the understanding of Chinese SLE patients by characterizing the different sexes of SLE patients in the inception cohort. METHODS: Based on the initial patient cohort established by the Chinese SLE Treatment and Research Group, a total of 8713 patients (795 men and 7918 women) with newly diagnosed SLE were enrolled between April 2009 and March 2021. Of these, 2900 patients (347 men and 2553 women) were eligible for lupus nephritis (LN). A cross-sectional analysis of the baseline demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory parameters, organ damage, initial treatment regimens, and renal pathology classification was performed according to sex. RESULTS: In the SLE group, as compared to female patients, male patients had a later age of onset (male vs. female: 37.0 ± 15.8 years vs. 35.1 ± 13.7 years, P  = 0.006) and a higher SLE International Collaborative Clinic/American College of Rheumatology damage index score (male vs. female: 0.47 ± 1.13 vs. 0.34 ± 0.81, P  = 0.015), LN (male vs. female: 43.6% vs. 32.2%, P < 0.001), fever (male vs. female: 18.0% vs. 14.6%, P  = 0.010), thrombocytopenia (male vs. female: 21.4% vs. 18.5%, P  = 0.050), serositis (male vs. female: 14.7% vs. 11.7%, P  = 0.013), renal damage (male vs. female: 11.1% vs. 7.4%, P < 0.001), and treatment with cyclophosphamide (CYC) (P < 0.001). The frequency of leukopenia (male vs. female: 20.5% vs. 25.4%, P  = 0.002) and arthritis (male vs. female: 22.0% vs. 29.9%, P < 0.001) was less in male patients with SLE. In LN, no differences were observed in disease duration, SLE Disease Activity Index score, renal biopsy pathological typing, or 24-h urine protein quantification among the sexes. In comparisons with female patients with LN, male patients had later onset ages (P  = 0.026), high serum creatinine (P < 0.001), higher end-stage renal failure rates (P  = 0.002), musculoskeletal damage (P  = 0.023), cardiovascular impairment (P  = 0.009), and CYC use (P  = 0.001); while leukopenia (P  = 0.017), arthritis (P  = 0.014), and mycophenolate usage (P  = 0.013) rates were lower. CONCLUSIONS Male SLE patients had more severe organ damage and a higher LN incidence compared with female SLE patients; therefore, they may require more aggressive initial treatment compared to female patients.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Sex Characteristics ; East Asian People ; Severity of Illness Index ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/diagnosis* ; Lupus Nephritis/pathology* ; Registries ; Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use* ; Thrombocytopenia ; Leukopenia/drug therapy* ; Arthritis