OBJECTIVETo study the antidiabetic activity of Gynura procumbens (G. procumbens) used in the traditional management of diabetes in Southern Asia.

METHODSG. procumbens leaves were extracted sequentially with graded percentage of ethanol in water (95%, 75%, 50%, 25% and 0%), and the extracts were tested for antidiabetic activity using acute (7 h), subcutaneous glucose tolerance test and sub-chronic (14 d) test in non-diabetic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The extracts were further subjected to phytochemical studies.

RESULTSIn acute dose (1 g/kg), the extracts significantly lowered fasting blood glucose (FBG) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (P<0.05). However, the FBG-lowering effect of the 25% extract compared to the other extracts, was rapid (47% after 2 h) and the highest: 53%, 53% and 60% in the 3rd, 5th, and 7th h, respectively (P<0.05), comparable only to the effect of metformin. Furthermore, the extracts suppressed peak FBG in subcutaneous glucose tolerance test, but only the 0% and 25% extracts, and metformin sustained the decrease until the 90th min (P<0.05). Moreover, in the 14 days study, the 25% extract exerted the highest FBG-lowering effect, namely 49.38% and 65.43% on days 7 and 14, respectively (P<0.05), similar to the effect of metformin (46.26% and 65.42%). Total flavanoid and phenolic contents in the extracts were found to decrease with increase in polarity of extraction solvents. The composition of reference compounds (chlorogenic acid, rutin, astragalin and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside) followed a similar trend.

CONCLUSIONSG. procumbens contains antidiabetic principles, most extracted in 25% ethanol. Interaction among active components appears to determine the antidiabetic efficacy, achieved likely by a metformin-like mechanism.

Animals ; Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Blood Glucose ; drug effects ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Metformin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Phenols ; chemistry ; Phytochemicals ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Rats

Objective: To understand the characteristics of HIV infected persons without long term disease progress [also known as long term non-progressors (LTNPs)], and related factors in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guangxi). Methods: Data of persons living with HIV and receiving no antiretroviral therapy in Guangxi by the end of 2016 were collected from the national HIV/AIDS comprehensive control and prevention information system of China. Results: By the end of 2016, there were 313 LTNPs in Guangxi, accounting for 2.3% of those being reported for more than 10 years, 5.4% of those being reported for more than 10 years and surviving, and 26.6% of those being reported for more than 10 years, surviving and receiving no antiretroviral therapy. Among the LTNPs, 87.2%(273) were men, 94.9% (297) were aged ≤ 40 years, 32.3% (101) were farmers, 55.6% (174) were single, divorced or widowed, 69.3% (217) were of Han ethnic group, 68.1% (213) were injecting drug users, and 52.1% (163) were from custody facilities. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that factors associated with delayed disease progression included age ≤40 years (compared with age >40 years, aOR=1.55, 95%CI: 1.31-3.12) and injection drug use (compared with sexual transmission, aOR=1.23, 95%CI: 1.10-1.74). Conclusions: A number of LTNPs existed in HIV-infected individuals in Guangxi. Further research are needed to identify the related factors, and it is necessary to conduct large sample size studies on host immunology, genetics and the virology of HIV to explore the related mechanism.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; China/epidemiology* ; Drug Users/statistics & numerical data* ; Ethnicity/statistics & numerical data* ; HIV Infections/ethnology* ; Humans ; Male ; Socioeconomic Factors

Animals ; Benzene ; Biomarkers ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Mice ; Solid Phase Extraction ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Objective: To investigate the effect of baseline CD(4)(+) T cell count (CD(4)) on drop-out of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV infected persons. Methods: Retrospective cohort was conducted in this study. HIV infected persons aged≥18 years and receiving free ART for the first time in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guangxi) from 2008 to 2015 were selected from the antiretroviral treatment database of National Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Information System, with follow-up conducted till May 30, 2016. Cause-specific Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate effect of different CD(4) on the drop-out of ART in the HIV infected persons. Results: A total of 58 502 eligible study participants were included in this retrospective cohort study. The average drop-out ratio was 4.8/100 person-years. After controlling the following baseline covariates: age, sex, marital status, route of HIV infection, WHO clinical stage before ART, initial/current ART regiment, ART regiment adjustment, and year of initiating ART for potential confounding, the adjusted HR of drop-out for HIV infected persons with 200- cells/μl, 351-cells/μl and ≥500 cells/μl were 1.110 (95%CI: 1.053-1.171, P<0.001), 1.391 (95%CI: 1.278-1.514, P<0.001) and 1.695 (95%CI: 1.497-1.918, P<0.001), respectively, in risk for drop-out compared with those with baseline CD(4)<200 cells/μl. Among the HIV infected persons, 56.0% (1 601/2 861) of drug withdrawal was due to poor compliance with medication. Conclusions: With the increase of baseline CD(4) when initiating ART, the risk for the drop-out in HIV infected persons increased significantly. To further reduce the drop-out of ART, it is important to take CD(4) into account in initiating ART and to strengthen the health education on treatment compliancy and training for healthcare providers.
Adolescent ; Anti-Retroviral Agents/administration & dosage* ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; China/epidemiology* ; HIV ; HIV Infections/virology* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Medication Adherence ; Retrospective Studies ; T-Lymphocytes

Objective: To evaluate the immunogenicity of inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) in adults aged 18-64 years, through a Meta-analysis. Methods: Literature was retrieved by searching the Medline, Cochrane Library, Science Direct in the past decade. All the studies were under random control trial (RCT) and including data related to immunogenicity which involving sero-protection rate (SPR) and sero-conversion rate (SCR) of the QIV, versus inactivated trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) in the population aged 18 to 64. Revman 5.3 software was employed to manipulate the pooled date of the included literature. Result: A total of 8 studies for the SPR and SCR of the shared strains (two A lineage and one B lineage) were included. There appeared no significant differences in the response rates between the two vaccines. As for QIV versus TIV (B/Yamagata), the pooled RR of the SPR for B/Victoria was 1.28 (95%CI: 1.08-1.51, P<0.05), with the pooled RR of the SCR for B/Victoria as 1.94 (95%CI: 1.50-2.50, P<0.05). For QIV versus TIV (B/Victoria), the pooled RR of the SPR for B/Yamagata as 1.10 (95%CI: 1.02-1.18, P<0.05), and the pooled RR of SCR for B/Yamagata as 1.99 (95%CI: 1.34-2.97, P<0.05). Conclusion: In the population aged 18-64 years, inactivated QIV was equivalently immunogenic against the shared three strains included in the activated TIV while a superior immunogenic effect was noticed in the vaccine strain which did not include the inactivated QIV.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Viral/blood* ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests ; Humans ; Influenza A virus/immunology* ; Influenza B virus/immunology* ; Influenza Vaccines/immunology* ; Influenza, Human/prevention & control* ; Middle Aged ; Vaccines, Inactivated/immunology* ; Young Adult

Objective: To assess the prevalence of blood donation and associated factors in men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. Methods: Our observational study was conducted between January and August, 2017 in 3 cities: Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Wuxi. Eligible participants were MSM (≥18 years old) who had either ≥2 male sex partners or unprotected anal sex with casual partners, or had been diagnosed with STI in the past 6 months. A self-completed tablet-based questionnaire was used to collect the information about MSM's socio-demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors and blood donation history. Results: A total of 603 MSM were enrolled in our study, including 302 in Guangzhou, 152 in Shenzhen and 149 in Wuxi, with a mean age of 27.9 years (SD=7.8). Overall, 29.2% (176/603) of the MSM reported a history of blood donation, and 33.1% (100/302)in Guangzhou, 27.6% (42/152) in Shenzhen and 22.8% (34/149) in Wuxi, the differences were not significant (χ(2)=6.421, P=0.093). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that MSM had ever tested for HIV for ≥2 times in the past 12 months (vs. MSM tested for HIV one time, aOR=1.49, 95%CI: 1.08-2.19) or who had ever used gay dating app (vs. MSM who not used gay dating app, aOR=2.13, 95%CI: 1.12-4.44) were more likely to donate blood. Conclusions: Blood donation was common in MSM in China. Health education about blood donation in MSM should be strengthened to ensure the blood safety.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Donors ; China ; Cities ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Homosexuality, Male/statistics & numerical data* ; Humans ; Male ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexual Partners ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms/surgery* ; Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors/surgery* ; Myxoma/surgery*

Humans ; Mesothelioma, Malignant/diagnosis* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Adenocarcinoma/pathology* ; Mesothelioma/pathology* ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Pleural Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins

Objective: To evaluate the association of family history with risk of major coronary events (MCE) and ischemic heart disease (IHD). Methods: After excluding participants with heart disease, stroke or cancer at baseline survey, a total of 485 784 participants from the China Kadoorie Biobank, who had no missing data on critical variables, were included in the analysis. Cox regression analysis was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HR) and 95% CI. Subgroup analyses were performed according to the baseline characteristics. Results: During a median of 7.2 years of follow-up, we documented 3 934 incident cases of MCE and 24 537 cases of IHD. In multivariable-adjusted models, family history was significantly associated with risk of MCE and IHD. The adjusted HRs (95%CI) were 1.41 (1.19-1.65) and 1.25 (1.18-1.33), respectively. History of disease among siblings was more strongly associated with early-onset MCE than parental history (HR=2.97, 95%CI: 1.80-4.88). Moreover, the association of family history with MCE and IHD was stronger in persons who were overweight or obesive, and the association between family history and MEC was stronger in smokers. Conclusion: This large-scale, prospective study indicated that family history was an independent risk factor for MCE and IHD in China. The intervention targeting major known lifestyle risk factors and the management of chronic diseases should be strengthened for Chinese population, especially for the individuals with family history were at high risk.
Asian People/statistics & numerical data* ; China/epidemiology* ; Coronary Disease/genetics* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myocardial Ischemia/genetics* ; Overweight/ethnology* ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Smoking/ethnology*

Humans ; Sarcoma ; NFATC Transcription Factors ; RNA-Binding Protein EWS