Objective: To explore the solid fermentation process of Panax ginseng by Monascus purpureus, which can transfer some major ginsenoside into rare ginsenoside Rg3 with stronger biological activity. Methods: The static dark culture method was used to perform microbial fermentation; Vanilline-glacial acetic acid method was used to detect the total saponins before and after fermentation, and the ginsenoside Rg3 was detected by HPLC. Results: The optimum process parameters of Monascus purpureus fermentation was fermentation 6 d, fermentation temperature 32 ℃, pH 7.0, and water content of substrate 50%. After 6 d of fermentation, the content of total saponins in fermentation products increased by 40%, and the content of ginsenoside Rg3 was 6.047 mg/g, which was 2.3 times as much as that of non-fermented P. ginseng. According to the change of monomer saponin content along with the fermentation time, it was deduced that the transformation path was Rb1 (Rb2)→Rd→Rh2→Rg3. Conclusion: The solid fermentation process of Monascus purpureus established in this study is reasonable, which not only lays a foundation for the directional production of rare saponins Rg3 but provides a theoretical support for preparing rare ginsenoside in vitro.

Aim To investigate the role of GC in indu-cing apoptosis of amygdaloid neurons.Methods Cul-turing primary neurons of amygdala,the neurons were identified by immunefluorescence techniques with anti-body against microtubule associated protein-2 (MAP2 ) and antibody against GC receptor.Using flow cytome-try to detect the effects of different concentrations of dexamethasone on the amygdala neuron apoptosis. Then the experiment was divided into four groups:CON ,DEX ,DEX +MIF and MIF .The rate of apopto-sis of the four groups was detected by TUNEL tech-nique and the expressions of BAX mRNA of four groups by Real-time PCR technique.Results (1 )Compared with the control group, the percentage of apoptotic cells increased significantly with DEX(10 -8 mol·L-1~10 -6 mol · L-1 )treatment in a concentration-de-pendent manner.(2)the TUNEL test showed that the percentage of apoptotic cells of DEX group increased significantly,compared with control group.While it decreased significantly in DEX+MIF group,compared with DEX group.There was no difference between MIF group and control group.(3 )Compared with control group,the expressions of BAX mRNA of DEX group increased significantly.While the expressions of BAX mRNA of DEX +MIF group decreased significantly, compared with the DEX group.There was no difference between MIF group and control group.Conclusion GC can independently induce the apoptosis of primary cultured neurons in the amygdala by combining with GC receptor.

Objective To evaluate the quality of the portal images acquired by computed radiography(CR)system and conventional screen-film system,respectively.Methods imaging plates (IP)and X-ray films of a home-devised lead phantom with a leakage of 6.45% were acquired,and modulation transfer function(MTF)curves of the both images were measured using edge method.Portal images of 40 nasopharyngeal cancer patients were acquired by IP and screen-film system respectively.Two doctors with similar experience evaluated the damage degree of petrosa] bone,the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve of CR images and general images were drawn according to two doctors evaluation results.Results The identification frequency of CR system and screen-film system were 1.159 and 0.806 Lp/mm respectively.For doctor one,the area under ROC curve of CR images and general images were 0.802 and 0.742 respectively.For doctor two,the area under ROC curve of CR images and general images were 0.751 and 0.600 respectively.The MTF curve and ROC curve of CR are both better than those of screen-film system.Conclusion The image quality of CR portal imaging is much better than that of screen-film system.The utility of CR in linear accelerator for portal imaging is promising in clinic.

BACKGROUNDSevoflurane is currently used as a volatile inhalation anesthetic with many clinical advantages. A representative degradation product, compound A, was quantitatively measured to investigate whether there are different reactions between two kinds of water content sevoflurane formulations with different carbon dioxide (CO2) absorbents.

METHODSA closed-circle breathe bag with the Dräger Fabius GS anesthesia apparatus was used as an artificial rubber lung. The experiments were grouped according to different sevoflurane formulations: group A: higher-water sevoflurane (Ultane); group B: lower-water sevoflurane (Sevoness). During the experiment, CO2 (200 ml/min) was continually perfused to keep the end-tidal pressure of CO2 (P(ET)CO2) at 35 - 45 mmHg. The artificial ventilation was set to 6 L/min, and the breathing rate at 12 breaths/min. The circuit was operated with constant fresh gas flow rate (1 L/min) and the sevoflurane concentration was kept at 1.0 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) for 240 minutes. At 0, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 and 240 minutes, gas was collected from the Y-piece. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to quantify the major degradation product, compound A, with different water content sevoflurane. PETCO2 and sevoflurane concentration, and the temperature of the canister were continuously monitored during the experiment.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in P(ET)CO2 and sevoflurane concentrations between the two groups. Drägersorb 800 plus produced the highest concentrations of compound A compared with other sodalimes, and Sevoness in Drägersorb 800 plus generated more compound A than Ultane (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in the peak and average compound A concentrations between Ultane and Sevoness with Drägersorb 800 plus (P < 0.05), while the compound A concentration produced by Sodasorb grase and sofonolime in the two groups showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). In the same group, the peak and average of compound A concentration produced by Sodasorb grase and sofonolime showed significant difference with Drägersorb 800 plus (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe water content of sevoflurane and potassium hydroxide in CO2 absorbent can influence compound A production.

Absorption ; Carbon Dioxide ; chemistry ; Ethers ; chemistry ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated ; chemistry ; Methyl Ethers ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive technique used to alter cortex excitability that has been proposed as an efficient method for treating brain hyperexcitability or hypoexcitability disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate whether high-frequency rTMS could have any beneficial effects in restless legs syndrome (RLS).

METHODSFourteen patients with RLS were given high-frequency rTMS (15 Hz, 100% motor threshold) to the leg representation motor cortex area of the frontal lobe for 14 sessions over 18 days. Patients were diagnosed according to the international criteria proposed by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group in 2003. The International RLS Rating Scale (IRLS-RS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and Hamilton Depression Scale were used to evaluate the severity of RLS, sleep quality, anxiety and depression, respectively. The scale scores were evaluated at four-time points (baseline, end of the 14 th session, and at 1- and 2-month posttreatment). One-way analysis of variance was used to compare scale scores at different time points.

RESULTSThere was significant improvement in the IRLS-RS (from 23.86 ± 5.88 to 11.21 ± 7.23, P < 0.05), PSQI (from 15.00 ± 4.88 to 9.29 ± 3.91, P < 0.05), and HAMA (from 17.93 ± 7.11 to 10.36 ± 7.13, P < 0.05) scale scores at the end of 14 th session, with ongoing effects lasting for at least 2 months.

CONCLUSIONSHigh-frequency rTMS can markedly alleviate the motor system symptoms, sleep disturbances, and anxiety in RLS patients. These results suggest that rTMS might be an option for treating RLS.

Aged ; Anxiety ; therapy ; Depression ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Restless Legs Syndrome ; therapy ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ; methods

OBJECTIVESTo understand the value of measuring neonatal cerebral regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in assessing cerebral oxygenation, to establish the normal range of neonatal cerebral rSO2 and to collect data of the changes of cerebral rSO2 under certain disease status.

METHODSNine large hospitals participated in the multicenter randomized clinical trial from Jan 2007 to Apr 2008. Using the NIRS human tissue oximeter (TSAH-100) independently developed in China, the cerebral rSO2 of 223 normal full-term and 95 otherwise healthy preterm neonates without any special disease, was detected at 1, 2 and 3 days after birth, respectively. The cerebral rSO2 of 102 neonates with diseases which may affect the cerebral oxygenation, was also detected during the severe phases. The pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) measured at the finger tip, and also the arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) measured by blood gas analysis, which could indicate the oxygen supply of the whole body, were obtained simultaneously. The correlations among cerebral rSO2, pulse SpO2 and arterial SaO2 were analyzed.

RESULTS(1) The cerebral rSO2 of the normal full-term neonates was (62+/-2)%. Cerebral hypoxia was defined as rSO2 lower than 58%. The cerebral rSO2 of the normal full-terms was steady at 1, 2 and 3 days after birth respectively, without any significant differences among them (F=0.610, P>0.05). The cerebral rSO2 of the neonates with diseases was (55+/-7)%, which was significantly lower than that of the normal full-term neonates (t=15.492, P<0.05). (2) The cerebral rSO2 was positively correlated with the SpO2 (r=0.74, P<0.01) and the SaO2 (r=0.71, P<0.01). (3) Under some special diseases, the changes of cerebral rSO2 was asynchronous with those of the SpO2: (1) For 18 cases under severe cerebral damages or under relatively low hemoglobin concentration, the cerebral rSO2 was significantly low (50%-58%), but the SpO2 was still normal (above 90%). (2) During the recovery of some critically ill neonates, the increase of cerebral rSO2 was lagged as compared with that of pulse SpO2. Especially, during the severe phases of 6 cases with multi-organ failure, the SpO2 and the cerebral rSO2 were both significantly low (55%-80% for SpO2, and 44%-50% for cerebral rSO2); when the diseases were alleviated, although the SpO2 recovered to above 85%, the cerebral rSO2 was still significantly low (around 50%). (3) In 3 cases, during the severe phases of serious hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), the cerebral rSO2 significantly increased to 70%-72%, which was significantly higher than the normal value (62%).

CONCLUSIONSThe range of cerebral rSO2 of the normal full-term neonates was (62+/-2)%. Cerebral oxygenation can be externally indicated by the rSO2 noninvasively and continuously measured by NIRS, which was positively correlated with traditional pulse SpO2 and arterial SaO2. In some special diseases, the rSO2 measured by NIRS can be helpful for clinical diagnoses and treatments.

Birth Weight ; Brain ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia, Brain ; diagnosis ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Oximetry ; methods ; Oxygen ; analysis ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared

Objective （ ） To explore the feasibility of using generalized estimating equation GEE to analyze the influencing - （ ） factors of high frequency hearing loss HFHL among noise exposed workers in an air conditioner manufacturing enterprise. Methods - The noise exposed workers in an air conditioner manufacturing industry who had been tested for pure tone hearing threshold twice or more from 2015 to 2019 were selected as the research subjects using the judgment sampling method. Data ， ， ， ， ， （ ） such as age length of service gender smoking alcohol consumption body mass index BMI and HFHL were collected. The Results influencing factors of HFHL were analyzed using the GEE. The detection rates of HFHL from 2015 to 2019 were ， ， ， ， ， 22.2% 23.8% 24.2% 24.1% and 20.9% respectively. Among them the detection rate of HFHL in 2019 was lower than that （ P ） ， ， in 2017 and 2018 all <0.001 . The GEE analysis results showed that the risks of HFHL in 2015 2016 2017 and 2018 were （ P ）， higher than that in 2019 all <0.01 regardless of interaction effects and after adjusting for confounding factors such as ， ［OR（ CI）］ （ - duration of noise exposure smoking and BMI. The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals 95% were 1.19 1.07 ）， （ - ）， （ - ） （ - ）， 1.33 1.26 1.13 1.39 1.30 1.18 1.43 and 1.27 1.15 1.39 respectively. The risk of HFHL was higher in males than in （P ）， OR（ CI） （ - ） ， （P ）， OR females <0.01 and 95% was 3.78 3.00 4.77 . The older the age the higher the risk of HFHL <0.01 and （ CI） （ - ） Conclusion - 95% was 1.07 1.05 1.09 . The influencing factors of HFHL among noise exposed workers in the air conditioner industry are age and gender. GEE can be used to analyze the factors influencing the longitudinal data of HFHL in workers with noise exposure.

Hepatotoxicity induced by bioactive constituents in traditional Chinese medicines or herbs,such as bavachin(BV)in Fructus Psoraleae,has a prolonged latency to overt drug-induced liver injury in the clinic.Several studies have described BV-induced liver damage and underlying toxicity mechanisms,but little attention has been paid to the deciphering of organisms or cellular responses to BV at no-observed-adverse-effect level,and the underlying molecular mechanisms and specific indicators are also lacking during the asymptomatic phase,making it much harder for early recognition of hepatotoxicity.Here,we treated mice with BV for 7 days and did not detect any abnormalities in biochemical tests,but found subtle steatosis in BV-treated hepatocytes.We then profiled the gene expression of hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells at single-cell resolution and discovered three types of hepatocyte subsets in the BV-treated liver.Among these,the hepa3 subtype suffered from a vast alteration in lipid metabolism,which was characterized by enhanced expression of apolipoproteins,carboxylesterases,and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1(Scd1).In particular,increased Scd1 promoted monounsaturated fatty acids(MUFAs)syn-thesis and was considered to be related to BV-induced steatosis and polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFAs)generation,which participates in the initiation of ferroptosis.Additionally,we demonstrated that mul-tiple intrinsic transcription factors,including Srebf1 and Hnf4a,and extrinsic signals from niche cells may regulate the above-mentioned molecular events in BV-treated hepatocytes.Collectively,our study deciphered the features of hepatocytes in response to BV insult,decoded the underlying molecular mechanisms,and suggested that Scd1 could be a hub molecule for the prediction of hepatotoxicity at an early stage.

An HPLC method was developed for the determination of iridoid glycosides (loganin acid, loganin, sweroside) and saponins (asperosaponin Ⅵ) in the wild Dipsacus asper. A total of 108 samples consecutive growing 12 month were collected in 9 plots in Wulong district of Chongqing. Subsequent analysis of the content of loganin acid, loganin, sweroside and asperosaponin Ⅵ was performed by HPLC to evaluate the quality. In addition, 20 climate data provided by the world climate database (http://www.worldclim.org/) was analyzed to deduce the correlation between the growing environment factors and the active ingredient content accumulation of D. asperoides and choose the apposite growing environment for D. asper. The range of active ingredient content in wild D. asper were 0.01%-3.80%(loganin acid), 0.08%-0.62%(loganin), 0.12%-0.78%(sweroside), 0.64%-5.26%(asperosaponin Ⅵ). The highest content of these active ingredients was concentrated from February to April, with 2.64% of loganin acid, 0.36% of loganin), 0.57% of sweroside, and 3.09% of asperosaponin Ⅵ. The method used for determination of the active ingredient content in D. asper was simple and convenient with accurate result. The selection of the quadrats is scientific and reasonable and can be used for the analysis of the contents of the wild D. asper, thus provide a reference for quality evaluation of D. asper and protection of D. asper resources.