Background: The genus Atractylodes, native to East Asia, encompasses several species that serve as sources for the widely used traditional Chinese medicines Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Atractylodis Rhizoma. However, the international trade arouses concern regarding potential confusion and misidentification of Atractylodes species. Objective: A comprehensive understanding of the chemical diversity is crucial for ensuring the quality and exploring the potential variations in medicinal efficacy of Atractylodes. Methods: The GC-MS/MS-based metabolomics and multivariate statistical analysis identified 589 differentially accumulated metabolites across 5 Atractylodes species. Results: A total of 150 metabolites were predicted as potential chemical markers for species differentiation and quality assessment of Atractylodes. According to the metabolic profiles, the species of Atractylodes can be roughly classified into three categories: A. lancea and A. coreana with the volatile oil components being mainly atractylodin and β-eudesmol; A. macrocephala with the biomarker being atractylon; and A. japonica and A. carlinoides lying between the two categories above. Conclusions: Metabolomic results indicated that the metabolic profiles of A. carlinoides and A. macrocephala were similar and distinct from those of the other three species. Sesquiterpenoids were the main chemical components in the rhizome of A. carlinoides, which indicated the potential medicinal value of this plant.

Background: The genus Atractylodes, native to East Asia, encompasses several species that serve as sources for the widely used traditional Chinese medicines Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Atractylodis Rhizoma. However, the international trade arouses concern regarding potential confusion and misidentification of Atractylodes species. Objective: A comprehensive understanding of the chemical diversity is crucial for ensuring the quality and exploring the potential variations in medicinal efficacy of Atractylodes. Methods: The GC-MS/MS-based metabolomics and multivariate statistical analysis identified 589 differentially accumulated metabolites across 5 Atractylodes species. Results: A total of 150 metabolites were predicted as potential chemical markers for species differentiation and quality assessment of Atractylodes. According to the metabolic profiles, the species of Atractylodes can be roughly classified into three categories: A. lancea and A. coreana with the volatile oil components being mainly atractylodin and β-eudesmol; A. macrocephala with the biomarker being atractylon; and A. japonica and A. carlinoides lying between the two categories above. Conclusions: Metabolomic results indicated that the metabolic profiles of A. carlinoides and A. macrocephala were similar and distinct from those of the other three species. Sesquiterpenoids were the main chemical components in the rhizome of A. carlinoides, which indicated the potential medicinal value of this plant.

Background: The genus Atractylodes, native to East Asia, encompasses several species that serve as sources for the widely used traditional Chinese medicines Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Atractylodis Rhizoma. However, the international trade arouses concern regarding potential confusion and misidentification of Atractylodes species. Objective: A comprehensive understanding of the chemical diversity is crucial for ensuring the quality and exploring the potential variations in medicinal efficacy of Atractylodes. Methods: The GC-MS/MS-based metabolomics and multivariate statistical analysis identified 589 differentially accumulated metabolites across 5 Atractylodes species. Results: A total of 150 metabolites were predicted as potential chemical markers for species differentiation and quality assessment of Atractylodes. According to the metabolic profiles, the species of Atractylodes can be roughly classified into three categories: A. lancea and A. coreana with the volatile oil components being mainly atractylodin and β-eudesmol; A. macrocephala with the biomarker being atractylon; and A. japonica and A. carlinoides lying between the two categories above. Conclusions: Metabolomic results indicated that the metabolic profiles of A. carlinoides and A. macrocephala were similar and distinct from those of the other three species. Sesquiterpenoids were the main chemical components in the rhizome of A. carlinoides, which indicated the potential medicinal value of this plant.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the in vitro antitumor activity and in vivo targeting of nanopolymers co-loaded with arse-nic trioxide(ATO),an active ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine arsenic,and photosensitizer(IR780)to activate the patient's own immune system in the treatment of brain glioma in synergistically with chemotherapy and phototherapy.METHODS PLGA/AI containing ATO and IR780 was prepared by volatilization with multiple emulsion solvent.The particle size,potential and polydispersity index(PDI)were determined by dynamic light scatterometer(DLS)at different feed ratios.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM)was used to detect the morphology of PLGA/AI.Fluorescence spectrophotometer was used to investigate the spectroscopic characteris-tics.UV-vis spectrophotometer was used to determine the drug loading and encapsulation rate of IR780.Under laser irradiation,the physiological release of ATO was measured by dialysis bag method.The uptake of PLGA/AI in GL261 cells was photographed by confo-cal microscopy(CLSM).The cell uptake mechanism of PLGA/AI was investigated by flow cytometry(FCM).3D tumor spheroid mod-el was constructed to simulate the deep penetration of PLGA/AI in solid tumors.The synergistic anti-tumor effects of PLGA/AI in vitro were studied by MTT assay and dying staining.DCFH-DA staining and FCM determination of the co-expression of CD80 CD86 co-stimulatory molecules verified the immune activation induced by PLGA/AI in vitro photochemotherapy.The in vivo targeting of PLGA/AI and the tissue distribution of the main organs were investigated by means of in vivo imaging of small animals after tail vein injection.RESULTS The optimal ratio of ATO to IR780 was 1∶10,its particle size was(134.11±2.19)nm,Zeta potential was(-7.02±0.649)mV,PDI was 0.254±0.059,and it was a uniform spherical shape under TEM.The fluorescence spectra showed that IR780 was successfully loaded onto PLGA,and the drug loading and encapsulation rate of IR780 in PLGA/AI were(2.53±0.02)%and(71.26±0.38)%respectively.The results of in vitro release experiments showed that ATO could be released in response to laser light by IR780-mediated photo-dynamics.Cell uptake experiments showed that the nano-polymer could effectively enter tumor cells under clathrin-mediated endocytosis.In vitro investigation of cell viability,ROS detection and dendritic cell maturation experiment showed that it could effectively kill tumor cells by inducing a large amount of ROS to generate and activate immune cells.In vivo targe-ting and biological distribution study confirmed that PLGA/AI could effectively penetrate BBB into tumor sites.CONCLUSION The active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine arsenic,ATO and IR780,use PLGA as carriers to form nano-polymers through the volatilization of multiple emulsion solvents,which can cross the BBB and effectively accumulate at the tumor site.Based on"strengthe-ning the healthy qi and eliminating pathogenic factors"and combined with chemotherapy and photo-immune activation,it has the po-tential for long-term anti-glioblastoma treatment.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the in vitro antitumor activity and in vivo targeting of nanopolymers co-loaded with arse-nic trioxide(ATO),an active ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine arsenic,and photosensitizer(IR780)to activate the patient's own immune system in the treatment of brain glioma in synergistically with chemotherapy and phototherapy.METHODS PLGA/AI containing ATO and IR780 was prepared by volatilization with multiple emulsion solvent.The particle size,potential and polydispersity index(PDI)were determined by dynamic light scatterometer(DLS)at different feed ratios.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM)was used to detect the morphology of PLGA/AI.Fluorescence spectrophotometer was used to investigate the spectroscopic characteris-tics.UV-vis spectrophotometer was used to determine the drug loading and encapsulation rate of IR780.Under laser irradiation,the physiological release of ATO was measured by dialysis bag method.The uptake of PLGA/AI in GL261 cells was photographed by confo-cal microscopy(CLSM).The cell uptake mechanism of PLGA/AI was investigated by flow cytometry(FCM).3D tumor spheroid mod-el was constructed to simulate the deep penetration of PLGA/AI in solid tumors.The synergistic anti-tumor effects of PLGA/AI in vitro were studied by MTT assay and dying staining.DCFH-DA staining and FCM determination of the co-expression of CD80 CD86 co-stimulatory molecules verified the immune activation induced by PLGA/AI in vitro photochemotherapy.The in vivo targeting of PLGA/AI and the tissue distribution of the main organs were investigated by means of in vivo imaging of small animals after tail vein injection.RESULTS The optimal ratio of ATO to IR780 was 1∶10,its particle size was(134.11±2.19)nm,Zeta potential was(-7.02±0.649)mV,PDI was 0.254±0.059,and it was a uniform spherical shape under TEM.The fluorescence spectra showed that IR780 was successfully loaded onto PLGA,and the drug loading and encapsulation rate of IR780 in PLGA/AI were(2.53±0.02)%and(71.26±0.38)%respectively.The results of in vitro release experiments showed that ATO could be released in response to laser light by IR780-mediated photo-dynamics.Cell uptake experiments showed that the nano-polymer could effectively enter tumor cells under clathrin-mediated endocytosis.In vitro investigation of cell viability,ROS detection and dendritic cell maturation experiment showed that it could effectively kill tumor cells by inducing a large amount of ROS to generate and activate immune cells.In vivo targe-ting and biological distribution study confirmed that PLGA/AI could effectively penetrate BBB into tumor sites.CONCLUSION The active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine arsenic,ATO and IR780,use PLGA as carriers to form nano-polymers through the volatilization of multiple emulsion solvents,which can cross the BBB and effectively accumulate at the tumor site.Based on"strengthe-ning the healthy qi and eliminating pathogenic factors"and combined with chemotherapy and photo-immune activation,it has the po-tential for long-term anti-glioblastoma treatment.

Humans ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Smoke/adverse effects* ; Tobacco ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution

Background Because of high working intensity, high responsibility, and unexpected situations, health care workers may suffer great work pressure, which may lead to health damage. Objective To explore the self-rated health status and its influencing factors such as demographic and occupational-related factors of medical staff in Lanzhou. Methods In-service medical staff were selected by using cluster random sampling method from 18 public hospitals in Lanzhou City and were investigated with a self-made questionnaire and the Self-rated Health Measurement Scale (SRHMS). SRHMS includes 48 items in 10 dimensions, which are divided into three sub-scales of physical health, mental health, and social health, and another independent dimension is overall health. The scores were converted into a percentage scale and expressed as the percentage of measured score to full score; a higher score indicated better health, and >70% was considered good health status. t test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Spearman correlation were used to analyze the scores of SRHMS and the demographic and occupational-related factors affecting the scores of physical, mental, and social health sub-scales. Results A total of 2989 valid questionnaires were recovered. There were statistically significant differences in total score and the scores of physical, mental, and social health among medical staff of different age, educational background, length of service, and weekly working hours groups (P < 0.05). The percentage of total score to full score in the medical staff was 71.41%, but the scores of physical, mental, and social health sub-scales and total scale of selected participants were all lower than the corresponding domestic norms (t=−3.323, −12.283, −7.157, −9.659, P < 0.05); the percentage of psychological symptoms and negative emotions in mental health scale to full score was the lowest, only 58.39%. Educational background, length of service, and weekly working hours were negatively correlated with physical health score (r=−0.061, −0.060, −0.165, P < 0.05); professional title was positively correlated with mental health score (r=0.045, P < 0.05), while educational background and weekly working hours were negatively correlated with it (r=−0.051, −0.172, P < 0.05). Monthly income, professional title, and length of service were positively correlated with social health score (r=0.040, 0.049, 0.071, P < 0.05), while educational background and weekly working hours were negatively correlated with it (r=−0.038, −0.110, P < 0.05). Conclusion The self-rated health status of selected medical staff in Lanzhou is generally good, but lower than that of the norm, especially the mental health score is the lowest. The self-rated health score of total scale is correlated with education, length of service, professional title, and working time per week.

Objective:To explore the effect of coronary injection of recombinant human prourokinase (rhPro-UK) during PCI for ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients.Methods:A total of 124 STEMI patients treated in Tangshan Gongren Hospital, Hebei Province from November 2018 to November 2019 were selected as the research objects.They were simply randomized by random number table method into the observation group(63 cases) and the control group(61 cases). Thrombus aspiration was used.The control group was treated with 25 μg/kg tirofiban, and the observation group was injected with 20 mg rhPro-UK into the coronary arteries.After that, both groups underwent emergency PCI treatment.The bleeding degree, myocardial microcirculation indexes, plasma fibrinolytic factor changes, vascular recanalization, ST segment fall of electrocardiogram and changes in left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), cardiac index (CI) were recorded.Results:The peak value of creatine kinase isoenzymes MB (CK-MB) (184.64±21.47) U/L and the peak time of CK-MB (14.32±2.02) h in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group((258.94±31.64) U/L, (16.58±2.09) h), the differences were statistically significant ( t=15.345 and 6.123, all P<0.001). After treatment, human tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) (0.85±0.28) kU/L in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (0.74±0.24) kU/L, human plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) (0.16±0.05) kU/L.compared with the control group (0.32±0.08) kU/L significantly decreased ( t=2.345, P=0.021; t=13.401, P<0.001); 77.78% (49/63) of the ST-segment complete fall in observation group was significantly higher than 54.10% (33/61) of the control group ( Z=7.758; P=0.005), and 4.76% (3/63) in the observation group without a fall in ST segment was significantly lower than 19.67% (12/61) of the control group ( Z=6.480; P=0.011). The LVEDD at 7 days, 14 days and the LVESD at 7 days and 14 days in the observation group were (49.37±3.14) mm, (48.34±3.03) mm, (33.19±2.23) mm and (32.05±2.23) mm respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group at 7 days, (50.64±3.03) mm, (49.66±2.83) mm, (34.86±1.73) mm and 14 days, (33.74±1.97) mm respectively ( P<0.05 or P<0.001). The LVEF of 7 days and 14 days after treatment were (56.32±4.97)% and (59.23±5.11)%, which were significantly higher than those of the control group (54.46±4.87)% and (57.18±4.33)% ( P<0.05 or P<0.001). CI at 7 days and 14 days after treatment were (3.65±0.22) L/ (min·m 2) and (3.76±0.21) L/(min·m 2), which were significantly higher than those of the control group (3.48±0.25) L/(min·m 2) and (3.56±0.24) L/(min·m 2)( P<0.05 or P<0.001). Conclusion:STEMI patients treated by intraoperative coronary injection of Rhpro-UK versus tirofeban, can further improve the total bleeding rate and the vascular recanalculation rate, and also significantly improve plasma fibrinolysis factor, myocardial microcirculation and cardiac function.This provides an alternative to the treatment of myocardial infarction in patients with STEMI.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of chronic emotional stimulation induced by empty bottle stimulation on CXCL12/CXCR4-mediated inflammatory response in rats with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Rat models of anxiety were established by a 21-day stimulation with uncertain empty bottle drinking water, and myocardial infarction was induced by ligating the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery; compound models were established by performing myocardial infarction operation on the 15th day of anxiety modeling. The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: shamoperated group (=6), myocardial infarction group (=6), compound model group (with myocardial infarcted and anxiety; = 6), and inhibitor group (compound models treated daily with 1 mg/kg AMD3100 for 6 days; =7). Echocardiography was used to examine the LVEF and LVFS to evaluate the cardiac function of the rats. Elevated maze test and open field test were used to evaluate the behaviors of the rats. The expressions of CXCL12, CXCR4, IL-1β, IL-18 and neutrophil active protease (NE) in the myocardial tissues and blood samples were detected with ELISA and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The LVEF and LVFS were lower in the compound model group than in the sham group and myocardial infarction group ( < 0.05), and were higher in inhibitor group than in the compound model group ( < 0.05). LVID; d and LVID; s were lower in the inhibitor group than in the compound model group ( < 0.05). Compared to those in the sham group and myocardial infarction group, the rats in the compound model group more obviously preferred to stay in the closed arm ( < 0.05) in EPM; the rats in the inhibitor group had more times of entering and staying in the open arm than the compound model rats ( < 0.05); the horizontal and vertical movements were less in the compound model rats than in those in the sham group and the myocardial infarction group ( < 0.05) in OFT, and the vertical movement of the rats in inhibitor group was higher than those in the compound model group ( < 0.05). The expression of CXCR4 in the marginal zone of myocardial infarction was significantly higher in the compound model group than in the sham-operated group, myocardial infarction group and inhibitor group ( < 0.05). The expressions of IL-1β, IL-18 and NE in the inhibitor group were significantly lower than those in the compound model group ( < 0.05). Compared with at in the sham-operated group, the number of Nissl bodies in the compound model group decreased significantly ( < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Chronic emotional stress induced by empty bottle stimulation can lead to dysfunction of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis, which causes inflammatory cascade after myocardial infarction to worsen myocardial cell necrosis, cardiac function and hippocampal neuronal damage after the infarction.
Animals ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; Coronary Vessels ; Emotions ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardium ; Psychological Distress ; Rats ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; Signal Transduction

Objective To evaluate the efficacy,bleeding profile and safety of low-dose levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS 8) in Chinese healthy women of childbearing age.Methods A multi-center,open-label,single-arm clinical trial conducted at 16 centres in China enrolled 773 healthy women of childbearing age (mean age 31.6 years old,range 18 to 40 years old),who demanded contraception,from April 2006 to June 2013.All women placed LNG-IUS 8 for 3 years and then been followed up at 3,6,9,12,18,24,30,36 months.The efficacy variables including pregnancy rate and expulsion rate were analyzed using life table,while observing adverse events (AE) to evaluate the safety.The bleeding profile happened during the study was assessed using 90-day reference intervals (World Health Organization criteria).Results Eight pregnancies occurred among 773 women,resulting in a overall Pearl index of 0.42 per 100 women years.The 3-year cumulative pregnancy rate was 0.37 per 100 women years and the 3-year cumulative expulsion rate was 1.99 per 100 women years.The number of women with bleeding/spotting reduced and the bleeding/spotting days declined over time.Totally 219 AE were reported related to LNG-IUS 8 placements.The most common AE were vaginal bleeding (8.2％,63/773)and the ovarian cyst (6.2％,52/773).LNG-IUS 8 had an improving effect on dysmenorrhea that the percentage of women with dysmenorrhea as well as the days of dysmenorrhea decreased over time.The percentage of women satisfied or very satisfied with LNG-IUS 8 was 87.2％ (622/713).Conclusion LNG-IUS 8 is highly effective and safe for Chinese healthy women of childbearing age.