Vitexin, a naturally occurring flavone glycoside in plants, has many pharmacological effects, which is widely distributed in nature. This paper reviewed the research progress of the distribution of vitexin in the plant resources and its pharmacological effects, and summarized its application prospects, aiming to provide a useful reference for the development of vitexin-enriched plant resources.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Apigenin ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; Plant Dispersal

Objective To investigate the association between the obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS) in hypertension and insulin.Methods A total of 521 patients were divided into 4 groups according to apnea-hypopnea index and OSAHS degrees.The control group ( group Ⅰ ),mild OSAHS group ( group Ⅱ ),moderate OSAHS group ( group Ⅲ ) and severe OSAHS group ( group Ⅳ ) had 89 patients,194 patients,118 patients and 120 patients respectively.Results The BMI[( 30.4 ± 3.8 )kg/m2],apnea-hypopnea index ( AHI,3.8 ± 0.1 ),Fasting insulin (FIns)[(3.08 ± 0.26 ) mU/L]and insulin resistance ( 2.43 ± 0.27 ) of patients in severe OSAHS group were significantly higher than that of in the control,mild OSAHS group and moderate OSAHS group ( P ＜ 0.01 ).The levels of saturation of minimum oxygen from skin of patients in severe OSAHS group was significantly lower ( MSpO2 ) than in that of the control,mild OSAHS group and moderate OSAHS group.Multiple linear regression analysis showed that fasting plasma insulin and insulin resistance was positive correlation with apnea-hypopnea index,while they also negatively associated with saturation of minimum oxygen.Conclusions FIns and insulin resistance strongly associate with AHI and levels of saturation of minimum oxygen from skin.Hypertensive patients with OSAHS have more chances to suffer with insulin resistance.

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between ultrasonic bone mineral density (BMD) of calcaneus and age, height, and body weight, and to establish the normal reference value for stiffness index (SI) of healthy subjects in Guangxi autonomous region and provide scientific foundation for the diagnosis and prevention of osteoporosis.

METHODSSI of calcaneus in 1 816 healthy adults aged 11-90 years (775 men, 1 041 women) were measured with quantitative ultrasound. According to their ages, all the men and women were divided into 13 groups by 5-year age group.

RESULTSSI reached peak values in 21-25 year group in men (range: 111.45 +/- 21.19) and in 16-20 year group in women (range: 101.26 +/- 17.51). Then the SI value began to decline with aging. The SI featured by a typical dual-peak curve in women and the decrease rate of SI was faster in women than in men over 61 years. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed significantly negative correlation between SI and age (P < 0.001), positive correlation between SI and body weight (P < 0.05 for men; P < 0.01 for women), and positive correlation between SI and height in women (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSI correlates with age, height, and weight. The acquired SI value may provide a reference for the diagnosis of osteoporosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Density ; Calcaneus ; diagnostic imaging ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of serum total calcium (Ca) and inorganic phosphate (P) levels during children growth and related factors.

METHODSUsing a stratified-multi-steps-cluster sampling method, we selected 2,342 healthy children aged 10-18 years from urban and suburban areas of Beijing from September 2001 to December 2001 to test the levels of serum Ca and P. Their meal status was also surveyed to analyse the correlation of the leves of serum Ca and P with sex, age, height, weight, and diet on statistic basis.

RESULTSThe Ca levels of Beijing children were (2.39 +/- 0.12) mmol/L, which had a positive correlation with age, height, and weight (P < 0.01). The Ca levels of female children were somewhat higher than those of male [male, (2.38 +/- 0.12) mmol/L; female, (2.39 +/- 0.12) mmol/L; P < 0.05]. The Ca levels of urban children were significantly higher than those of suburban children [urban, (2.40 +/- 0.13) mmol/L; suburban, (2.37 +/- 0.10) mmol/L; P < 0.001]. The P levels of Beijing children were (1.39 +/- 0.18) mmol/L, which had a negative correlation with age, height, and weight (P < 0.01). The P levels of male children were significantly higher than those of female [male, (1.43 +/- 0.18) mmol/L; female, (1.36 +/- 0.17) mmol/L; P < 0.001]. The P levels of urban children were significant higher than those of suburban children [urban, (1.41 +/- 0.19) mmol/L; suburban, (1.38 +/- 0.16) mmol/L; P < 0.001]. The Ca levels of Beijing children had a negative correlation with P levels (r=-0.141, P < 0.01). [Ca] x [P] (mmol/L) of Beijing children were 3.32 +/- 0.44. The value of [Ca] x [P] reached peak by 3.45 +/- 0.46 when Beijing children were of 13-14 years old, and then the value declined with increasing age.

CONCLUSIONThe levels of serum Ca and P correlates with sex, age, growth, and diet. The level of serum Ca goes up while P goes down during the children growth.

Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Body Height ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Calcium ; blood ; Child ; Child Development ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Phosphorus ; blood ; Reference Values ; Sampling Studies ; Sex Factors ; Urban Health

OBJECTIVETo found new interface of human hepatocyte/poly propylene with good cytocompatibility for made polypropylene hollow fibers bioreactor of bioartificial liver in future.

METHODSUsing the macromolecular hydroperoxide groups on the polypropylene membrane surface as initiators, acrylamides were polymerized on the polypropylene membranes, under induction by both UV irradiation and Fe2+ reduction. Growth characteristics of human hepatocyte L-02 were detected when it was cultured on polystyrene, polypropylene and modified polypropylene membrane surface.

RESULTSWater contact angle measurement of the polypropylene and the modified polypropylene membranes decreased from (72 +/- 5) degrees to (30 +/- 4) degrees , which indicated that the hydrophilicity of the membrane was improved obviously after the grafting modification. Human hepatocyte L-02 could not adhere and spread on modified polypropylene membrane surface, and grown in spheroidal aggregate with higher density and higher proliferation ratio measured by MTT method.

CONCLUSIONSAcrylamide polymerized on the polypropylene membranes is a good method which not only improved human hepatocytes cytocompatibility but also found a new simple culture method with spheroidal aggregate culture of human hepatocyte.

Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Division ; Cells, Cultured ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Humans ; Liver, Artificial ; Membranes, Artificial ; Polypropylenes ; chemistry ; Surface Properties ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

BACKGROUND:Stem cells combined with a three-dimensional scaffold have great potential for the treatment of osteoporotic bone defects. OBJECTIVE:To introduce the application of stem cells combined with the three-dimensional scaffold in repairing osteoporotic bone defects. METHODS:A computer-based search of PubMed, Web of Science, Springerlink, Medline, WanFang and CNKI databases was performed for relevant articles published from 2007 to 2017 with "stem cells, scaffold, osteoporosis, bone defects" as key words in English and Chinese, repsectively. Initially, 142 articles were retrieved, and finally 45 articles were included in result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Due to the potential of self-renewal and multilineage differentiation, stem cells can be used to repair or regenerate damaged tissues, which are considered as an ideal cell source for the treatment of diseases in orthopedics. The suitable scaffold can provide a favorable microenvironment for repairing the attachment and growth of the cells related to the bone defect, which can promote the healing without additional side effects. Furthermore, stem cells combined with three-dimensional scaffolds provide a promising clinical application for the treatment of osteoporotic bone defects by regulation of bone metabolism. In addition, gene-modified stem cells with three-dimensional scaffolds bring a huge potential in the treatment of osteoporotic bone defects. In conclusion, the combination of stem cells and three-dimensional scaffolds provides a new approach for the treatment of osteoporotic bone defects, which may be one of the future therapeutic strategies.

BACKGROUND: With the development of chemical synthesis technology, the application of anti-osteoporosis drugs incorporated into scaffolds to promote bone regeneration in osteoporotic bone defects has become a hot issue nowadays. OBJECTIVE: To introduce bone tissue engineering scaffolds, and to discuss and summarize the application of the scaffolds carrying anti-osteoporosis drugs for osteogenesis in osteoporotic bone defects. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Springerlink, Medline, WanFang and CNKI databases were retrieved with "osteoporosis, bone defect, scaffold" as key words for relevant articles published from 2005 to 2017. Initially, 201 articles were retrieved, and finally 64 articles were selected for further analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: With the development of biochemical synthesis technology, various types of tissue-engineered bone scaffolds have been used for the treatment of osteoporotic bone defects. For example, the modified calcium phosphate cement, β-tricalcium phosphate, and hydroxyapatite all can promote bone regeneration. However, the ability of conventional scaffolds to promote bone regeneration is severely damaged under the state of osteoporosis. In this case, an anti-osteoporosis therapy becomes necessary. Considering severe adverse effects of systemic anti-osteoporosis drugs and limited local bone regeneration, the combination of scaffold implantation and local drug delivery can promote osteoporotic bone defect healing. Importantly, to incorporate bone regeneration inducers into scaffolds and steadily release with their biological activity is the key to success. Bisphosphonate, strontium, bone morphogenetic protein 2 and parathyroid hormone, traditional Chinese medicine and mesenchymal stem cells are the drugs commonly combined with tissue-engineered bone scaffolds. With the development of biotechnology, genetically modified stem cell-scaffold composites have gradually appealed to researchers.

BACKGROUND: With the development of chemical synthesis technology, the application of chitosan-based hydrogels as wound dressing has become a hotspot in current research. OBJECTIVE: To generally introduce the chitosan-based hydrogels and to review and summarize the application of chitosan-based hydrogels carrying antimicrobial agents in wound healing.METHODS: A computer retrieval of PubMed, Web of Science, Springerlink and Medline databases was performed with "chitosan hydrogel, wound healing, dressing, antimicrobial agents" as key words for relevant articles published from 2007 to 2016. Initially, 168 articles were retrieved, and finally 76 articles were included in result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Because of their inherent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, chitosan-based hydrogels possess the ability of absorbing exudates and forming thin film between the wound and the external environment, to exert their advantages for chronic, non-healing wounds caused by infection. Furthermore, chitosan-based hydrogels carrying antibacterial agents can inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the wound, accelerating the progress of wound healing. Moreover, the antimicrobial agents, including organic antibacterial agents and inorganic antibacterial agents (especially nano-silver), show unique advantages in wound healing and microbial resistance in combination with chitosan-based hydrogels.

To evaluate the effect of Naoshuantong capsule on the life quality of patients with ischemic stroke in six months of follow-up studies, and observe the adverse events. The results would provide reference for the secondary prevention on the recovery stage of ischemic stroke. 696 patients from 12 Class III Grade I hospitals nationwide were divided into 2 groups by central randomization system. The study group, 344 cases, were treated with Naoshuantong capsule plus Aspirin, and the control group, 352 cases, were treated with Aspirin. The patients were treated for 6 months. At the end of treatment, SS-QOL used for evaluating the quality of life was observed. The safety index was defined by adverse observation event. The incidence of adverse events and laboratory tests results were observed before and after treatment at the same time. The results indicated that compared to the control group, the treatment group had significant statistical difference in the impact of effort, self-care ability and the the work or labor ability of patients (P < 0.05). No serious adverse events were observed. Naoshuantong capsule showed some superiority to Asprin on improving the quality of life on patients with ischemic stroke, and it could be used in secondary prevention on the recovery stage of ischemic stroke. Naoshuantong capsule is safe and effective in the treatment of convalescence ischemic stroke.
Adult ; Aged ; Capsules ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Stroke ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It is essential to develop a reliable predictive serum biomarker for Parkinson's disease (PD). The accumulation of alpha-synuclein (αSyn) and up-regulated expression of Rab35 participate in the etiology of PD. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the combined assessment of serum αSyn and Rab35 is a useful predictive biomarker for PD. METHODS: Serum levels of αSyn or Rab35 were determined in serum samples from 59 sporadic PD patients, 19 progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) patients, 20 multiple system atrophy (MSA) patients, and 60 normal controls (NC). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were calculated to determine the diagnostic accuracy of αSyn or/and Rab35 in discriminating PD patients from NC or atypical parkinsonian patients. RESULTS: The levels of αSyn and Rab35 were increased in PD patients. The serum level of Rab35 was positively correlated with that of αSyn in PD patients. Compared to analyzing αSyn or Rab35 alone, the combined analysis of αSyn and Rab35 produced a larger area under the ROC curve and performed better in discriminating PD patients from NC, MSA patients, or PSP patients. When age was dichotomized at 55, 60, 65, or 70 years, the combined assessment of αSyn and Rab35 for classifying PD was better in the group below the cutoff age than in the group above the cutoff age. CONCLUSIONS: Combined assessment of serum αSyn and Rab35 is a better biomarker for discriminating PD patients from NC or atypical parkinsonian patients, and is a useful predictive biomarker for younger sporadic PD patients.
alpha-Synuclein ; Humans ; Multiple System Atrophy ; Parkinson Disease ; ROC Curve ; Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive