Objective To investigate the relationship between abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) and outcomes in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods One hundred and seventy MHD patients in the dialysis center of the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from June 2014 and October 2014 were enrolled prospectively. Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) was measured using AAC score (AACS) by abdominal lateral plain radiography. According to the AACS, the patients were divided into mild AAC (AACS<5) group and severe AAC (AACS≥5) group for comparison, and Kaplan?Meier analysis was used to compare their survival rates. Multivariable COX regression models were used to determine the risk factors of all?cause mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality in MHD patients. Results Severe AAC (AACS≥5) was present in 28.2%(48/170) patients. The median follow?up duration was 25.6 (22.0, 26.0) months. During the follow?up, 6 patients (4.9%) in AACS<5 group and 14 patients (29.2%) in AACS≥5 group died. Kaplan?Meier analysis showed that patients in AACS≥5 group had higher all?cause mortality rate and cardiovascular disease mortality rate as compared with patients in AACS<5 group (χ2=9.746 ,P=0.002; χ2=9.697 ,P=0.002). Multivariate COX regression analysis demonstrated that high AACS (HR=4.373, 95%CI 1.562?7.246, P=0.005) and hypoproteinemia (HR=0.886, 95%CI 0.797?0.985, P=0.025) were independent risk factors for all?cause mortality, while hypoproteinemia (HR=0.829, 95%CI 0.718?0.956, P=0.010) and low 1,25(OH)D3 (HR=0.769, 95% CI 0.627 ? 0.944, P=0.012) were independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease mortality. Conclusions AAC is significantly associated with overall survival in MHD patients. To further evaluate the relationship between AAC and outcomes in MHD patients, multi?center and long term follow up studies of large sample size are necessary.

Humans ; Lipoma ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Thymus Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The genetic diversity of three Tibetan herbs, i. e., Sang-Di, E-Dewa and Ye-Xingba (Tibetan names), was studied based on the field collection, specimen identification and DNA sequence analysis. Swertia hispidicalyx, Gentiana lhassica and Scrophularia dentata, as the original plants of the three Tibetan herbs, were collected and identified. The regions of ITS, matK, rbcL, rpoC1, trnL(UAA), psbA-trnH, atpB-rbcL, trnS (GCU)-trnG(UCC), rpl20-rps12, trnL(UAA)-trnF(GAA) and nadl 2nd intron were amplified and sequenced. The ITS regions of S. hispidicalyx and S. dentata were cloned and sequenced, and the sequences were classified into different genotypes. All the sequences were analyzed and compared with those of closely related species. Our studies may provide reference for the genetic diversity analysis and molecular identification of the three Tibetan herbs.
Genetic Variation ; Gentiana ; classification ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics ; Scrophularia ; classification ; genetics ; Swertia ; classification ; genetics ; Tibet

A fusion protein of glucagons-like peptide-1 and human serum albumin (GLP-1/HSA) was expressed and secreted into the fermentation broth with recombinant Pichia pastoris. The productivity of expressed GLP-1/HSA could reach 63.6mg/L in 10L fermentor. After concentrated with hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane, GLP-1/HSA was purified from fermentation broth by hydrophobic chromatography, negative ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography in turn. The HPLC analysis showed that the purified GLP-1/HSA had an overall purity of 95.8%. Furthermore, the analysis of in vivo activity indicated that GLP-1/HSA had the bioactivity of native GLP-1, and could significantly reduce blood glucose level 4h after intraperitoneal administration. It was concluded that a great deal of GLP-1/HSA with higher purity could be harvested by Pichia pastoris expression system and the established purification methods. Preliminary studies show a new potential for developing the long-acting GLP-1 analogs for clinical applications.

The stable and controllable quality of decoction pieces is an important factor to ensure the efficacy of clinical medicine. Considering the dilemma that the existing standardization of processing mode cannot effectively eliminate the variability of quality raw ingredients, and ensure the stability between different batches, we first propose a new strategy for Chinese medicine processing technologies that coupled with individuation processed and cybernetics. In order to explain this thinking, an individual study case about different grades aconite is provided. We hope this strategy could better serve for clinical medicine, and promote the inheritance and innovation of Chinese medicine processing skills and theories.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; standards ; Cybernetics ; standards ; Drug Therapy ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; toxicity ; Humans ; Quality Control

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a genetic heterogeneous disease in which primordial and juvenile myeloid cells proliferate or accumulate abnormally in bone marrow, peripheral blood and other tissues, resulting in damage to normal hematopoietic function. Studies have shown that about 30% of AML patients have FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3), FLT3 abnormal regulation is closely related to the occurrence and development of AML. At present, FLT3 has become an important target for developing small molecular targeted drugs. Currently, a variety of FLT3 inhibitors and FLT3 degraders have been developed targeting FLT3, and some compounds have exhibited good anti-AML activity. This article summarizes and sorts out the current mainstream drugs for AML therapeutic targeting FLT3, in order to provide a reference for the development and design of AML drugs.

This paper is to report the analysis of the main chemical constituents of Shuanghuanglian injection powder and determination of their origin. The sample solution was analyzed by a Zorbax C18 column with a gradient mobile phase comprised of methanol and 0.25% acetic acid solution. Both UV and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry detector were used simultaneously, -Q1-scan detection mode was evaluated for the identification of the LC peaks. To analyze the mass spectrum of every LC peaks, 43 molecular mass from the ion chromatogram of Shuanghuanglian injection powder were identified and among them, structure of 20 compounds were elucidated, and the data were sorted to the three component herbs, separately.
Chlorogenic Acid ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Forsythia ; chemistry ; Glycosides ; analysis ; Injections ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Powders ; Scutellaria ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; methods ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

Objective To explore the effects of polymorphisms of Crohn's disease related NOD2 gene and human beta-defensin 2 (hBD-2) on transcription of hBD-2 gene and its mechanism. Methods HEK293T cells were transfected with hBD-2 gene and NOD2 eukaryotic expression plasmid, and were then stimulated with LPS, TNF-α, or BAY 11-7082 (antagonist of NF-κB), respectively. Transcriptional activity of hBD-2 was detected afterwards. Results LPS could suppress transcription of hBD-2 (P=0. 020), which was increased by TNF-α in a dose-dependent manner (P =0. 004). In the presence of LPS, there was sig-nificant difference in transcriptional activity of hBD-2 between wild-NOD2 transfected group and mutated NOD2 (P268S) transfected group (P=0. 008), but there was no significant difference between wild hBD-2 transfected group and mutated hBD-2 transfected group (P=0. 053). With the stimulation of TNF-α (5 ng/ml), there was a significant difference between mutated hBD-2 transfected group and wild hBD-2 transfected group (P=0. 006), but no significant difference between wild-NOD2 transfected and mutated NOD2 transfected group was defected (P = 0. 064). Pretreatment with BAY 11-7082 before TNF-α (5 ng/ml) significantly inhibited the transcriptional activity of hBD-2 (P < 0. 001). Conclusion The poly-morphism of NOD2 affects the innate expression of hBD-2, the polymorphism of site in hBD-2 promoter (-233) may lead to significant decline of the inducible expression of hBD-2, and NF-κB might be a key pathway that NOD2 protein mediates the expression of defensin.

Objective To investigate the association of two single nuclear peptides(SNPs)polymorphisms(rs11209026 and rs11805303)which lies in interleukin-23 receptor(IL23R)gene with susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).Methods The target SNPs were directly sequenced by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and gene polymorphisms of 50 healthy and 81 patients with IBD (Crohn's disease in 41 patients and ulcerative colitis in 40 patients)were analyzed using chromassoftware.Results The geno-type frequency and allelic frequency of rs11209026 were 7.3%and 3.7%in patients with Crohn's disease respectively,15.0%and 7.5%in patients with ulcerative colitis respectively as well as 14.0%and 7.0%in normal population respectively(all P value＞0.05).The geno-type frequency and allelic frequency of rs11805303 were 22.0%and 52.4%in patients with Crohn's disease respectively,15.0% and 41.2% in patients with ulcerative colitis respectively as well as 34.0%and 59.0%in normal population respectively(all P value＞0.05).But in allelic frequency there was significant difference between ulcerative colitis patients and normal population(P=0.018).The polymorphisms of rs11805303 loci did not correlate with age,gender,disease duration.activity and site in patients with ulcerative colitis.Conclusions IL23R gene polymorphism is not associated with the susceptibility to Crohn's disease.rs11805303 allele may be related with susceptibility to ulcerative colitis.But no correlation was found between the SNP polymorphisms and the clinical characteristic of ulcerative colitis.

Hemangioma ; pathology ; Humans ; Joint Diseases ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Synovial Membrane ; pathology