Atherosclerosis （AS） is a vascular disease primarily affecting large and medium-sized arteries. It serves as the pathological basis for many cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and is associated with a relatively high incidence of complications and mortality worldwide. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of AS， demonstrating unique therapeutic advantages through multiple targets and pathways. Ligusticum chuanxiong， a commonly used Chinese medicine in clinical practice， contains key active components against AS， including ligustrazine， senkyunolide， ligustilide， quercetin， ferulic acid， vanillic acid， chlorogenic acid， gallic acid， protocatechuic acid， caffeic acid， chrysophanol， and β-sitosterol. Recent literature indicates that these active components can regulate AS through multiple mechanisms， including improving endothelial cell dysfunction， alleviating lipid metabolism disorders， inhibiting macrophage foam cell formation， suppressing the invasion， proliferation， and migration of smooth muscle cells， inhibiting apoptosis， exerting anticoagulant effects and inhibiting platelet activation， protecting mitochondrial function， and modulating intestinal flora and its metabolites， demonstrating significant pharmacological activity and clinical potential. Clinically， L. chuanxiong is often combined with Salvia miltiorrhiza， Paeonia lactiflora， Angelica sinensis， and borneol to form compound formulations， enhancing therapeutic effects and achieving synergistic anti-AS activity. Compound treatment with L. chuanxiong primarily focuses on promoting blood circulation and shows significant efficacy for different AS syndrome types. This article provides an in-depth review of the active components， drug pairs， and compound preparations of L. chuanxiong in the prevention and treatment of AS， aiming to lay a foundation for subsequent theoretical research and clinical applications in managing AS and its related complications.

Diabetic foot(DF)is a common chronic complication in patients with diabetes.Fibrosis and degeneration occurred in fasciae in long term hyperglycemia and inflammatory environment.Fibrosis in fasciae may aggravate the development of diabetic foot due to the special cellular and molecular structure,physiological and biomechanical effects.Thus,we aimed at reviewing the research progress of fascial fibrosis in diabetic foot.

Objective:To seek specific response points on the body surface of patients with primary dysmenorrhea(PD)by observing blood perfusion unit(PU)at different points of the three Yin meridians of foot using laser speckle contrast imaging(LSCI). Methods:Eighty PD patients were recruited as a PD group,and 80 healthy female undergraduates were taken as a normal group.During one menstrual cycle(before menstruation,during menstruation,and 3 d after menstruation),each participant was examined using the LSCI system to determine PU at bilateral Taixi(KI3),Taibai(SP3),Taichong(LR3),Shuiquan(KI5),Diji(SP8),Zhongdu(LR6),Sanyinjiao(SP6),and Xuehai(SP10)and non-acupuncture points.The researchers in charge of point location,operation,and statistical analysis were not aware of grouping.PU at the detection spots was taken as the outcome measure. Results:Compared with the normal group,the PD group showed increases in PU at right Taixi(KI3)before menstruation(P<0.05)and at bilateral Zhongdu(LR6)and right Diji(SP8)during menstruation(P<0.05).At the other time points,significance was not found between the two groups in comparing PU at the detected spots. Conclusion:Compared with healthy participants,PD patients present specific changes in PU at Taixi(KI3),Diji(SP8),and Zhongdu(LR6)at specific time points during the menstrual cycle,which provides a reference for acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of PD in clinical settings.

OBJECTIVETo study the factors that affect the sex ratio of live births in procedures of assisted reproductive technology (ART).

METHODSThe clinical data were collected from 4348 IVF-ET/freeze-thawed embryo transfer cycles that led to the birth of 5606 babies of known gender between 2008 and 2014. We assessed the impact of maternal age, paternal age, insemination method, the type of embryo transferred, stage of embryo transferred, single and twin births, previous abortion following ART, and cause of infertility on the sex ratio of the live births.

RESULTSThe total cohort included 3019 male and 2588 female babies, with a general sex ratio of 116:100. The sex ratio was 117:100 among singleton deliveries and 116:100 among twin deliveries. The sex ratio was 117:100 among the first births with ART treatment and 117:100 among the second births. For singleton deliveries, an advanced maternal age or paternal age was significantly correlated with an elevated sex ratio of births (58.4% vs 52.8%, P=0.012; 56.4% vs 52.3%, P=0.026), while ICSI was significantly correlated with a decreased sex ratio of births (45.7% vs 55.6%, P<0.001); for twin deliveries, none of the these factors was significantly correlated with the sex ratio of birth. For the first baby born after ART treatment, an advanced maternal age was significantly related to an increased sex ratio of births (57.4% vs 53.0%, P=0.009), while ICSI was significantly related to a decreased sex ratio of births (48.6% vs 55.4%, P=0.001); for the second baby born with ART treatment, none of these factors was significantly correlated with the sex ratio of birth. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the maternal age (OR:0.836, 95% CI 0.731-0.955, P<0.05) and insemination method (OR:1.151, 95% CI 1.027-1.289, P<0.05) were significantly related to the sex ratio of birth, but in multivariable logistic regression analysis, after controlling for compounding factors, none of these factors was identified as independent predictive factors for sex ratio of births.

CONCLUSIONSAn advanced maternal age is related to a higher live birth sex ratio, while ICSI is related to a decreased percentage of male babies. For singleton deliveries, an advanced paternal age is related to a higher sex ratio of births.

Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infertility ; Live Birth ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Sex Ratio

Objectives To study the factors that affect the sex ratio of live births in procedures of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Methods The clinical data were collected from 4348 IVF-ET/freeze-thawed embryo transfer cycles that led to the birth of 5606 babies of known gender between 2008 and 2014. We assessed the impact of maternal age, paternal age, insemination method, the type of embryo transferred, stage of embryo transferred, single and twin births, previous abortion following ART, and cause of infertility on the sex ratio of the live births. Results The total cohort included 3019 male and 2588 female babies, with a general sex ratio of 116:100. The sex ratio was 117:100 among singleton deliveries and 116:100 among twin deliveries. The sex ratio was 117:100 among the first births with ART treatment and 117:100 among the second births. For singleton deliveries, an advanced maternal age or paternal age was significantly correlated with an elevated sex ratio of births (58.4%vs 52.8%, P=0.012;56.4%vs 52.3%, P=0.026), while ICSI was significantly correlated with a decreased sex ratio of births (45.7%vs 55.6%, P<0.001);for twin deliveries, none of the these factors was significantly correlated with the sex ratio of birth. For the first baby born after ART treatment, an advanced maternal age was significantly related to an increased sex ratio of births (57.4%vs 53.0%, P=0.009), while ICSI was significantly related to a decreased sex ratio of births (48.6%vs 55.4%, P=0.001);for the second baby born with ART treatment, none of these factors was significantly correlated with the sex ratio of birth. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the maternal age (OR:0.836, 95% CI 0.731-0.955, P<0.05) and insemination method (OR:1.151, 95% CI 1.027-1.289, P<0.05) were significantly related to the sex ratio of birth, but in multivariable logistic regression analysis, after controlling for compounding factors, none of these factors was identified as independent predictive factors for sex ratio of births. Conclusions An advanced maternal age is related to a higher live birth sex ratio, while ICSI is related to a decreased percentage of male babies. For singleton deliveries, an advanced paternal age is related to a higher sex ratio of births.

Objectives To study the factors that affect the sex ratio of live births in procedures of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Methods The clinical data were collected from 4348 IVF-ET/freeze-thawed embryo transfer cycles that led to the birth of 5606 babies of known gender between 2008 and 2014. We assessed the impact of maternal age, paternal age, insemination method, the type of embryo transferred, stage of embryo transferred, single and twin births, previous abortion following ART, and cause of infertility on the sex ratio of the live births. Results The total cohort included 3019 male and 2588 female babies, with a general sex ratio of 116:100. The sex ratio was 117:100 among singleton deliveries and 116:100 among twin deliveries. The sex ratio was 117:100 among the first births with ART treatment and 117:100 among the second births. For singleton deliveries, an advanced maternal age or paternal age was significantly correlated with an elevated sex ratio of births (58.4%vs 52.8%, P=0.012;56.4%vs 52.3%, P=0.026), while ICSI was significantly correlated with a decreased sex ratio of births (45.7%vs 55.6%, P<0.001);for twin deliveries, none of the these factors was significantly correlated with the sex ratio of birth. For the first baby born after ART treatment, an advanced maternal age was significantly related to an increased sex ratio of births (57.4%vs 53.0%, P=0.009), while ICSI was significantly related to a decreased sex ratio of births (48.6%vs 55.4%, P=0.001);for the second baby born with ART treatment, none of these factors was significantly correlated with the sex ratio of birth. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the maternal age (OR:0.836, 95% CI 0.731-0.955, P<0.05) and insemination method (OR:1.151, 95% CI 1.027-1.289, P<0.05) were significantly related to the sex ratio of birth, but in multivariable logistic regression analysis, after controlling for compounding factors, none of these factors was identified as independent predictive factors for sex ratio of births. Conclusions An advanced maternal age is related to a higher live birth sex ratio, while ICSI is related to a decreased percentage of male babies. For singleton deliveries, an advanced paternal age is related to a higher sex ratio of births.

OBJECTIVETo achieve early diagnosis for inheritable hearing loss and determine carrier rate of deafness causing gene mutations in order to provide information for premarital, prenatal and postnatal genetic counseling.

METHODSA total of 17 000 dried heel blood spots of normal newborns in Chengdu were collected with informed consent obtained from their parents. Genomic DNA was extracted from dried blood spots using Qiagen DNA extraction kits. Microarrays with 9 common mutation loci of 4 deafness-associated genes in Chinese population were used. Nine hot mutations including GJB2 (35delG, 176del16, 235delC and 299delAT), GJB3 (538C> T), SLC26A4 (IVS 7-2A> G, 2168A> G), and mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA (1555A> G, 1494C> T) were detected by PCR amplification and microarray hybridization. Mutations detected by microarray were verified by Sanger DNA sequencing.

RESULTSOf the 17 000 new-borns, 542 neonates had mutations of the 4 genes. Heterozygous mutations of GJB2, at 235delC, 299delAT, and 176del16 were identified in 254, 55, and 15 newborns, respectively. Two newborns had homozygous mutation of GJB2, 235delC. Heterozygous mutations at 538C> T of GJB3, 2168A> G and IVS 7-2A> G of SLC26A4 were found in 23, 17 and 128 newborns, respectively. For mutation analysis of mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA, 1494C> T and 1555A> G were homogeneous mutations in 4 and 42 neonates, respectively. In addition, 6 complexity mutations were detected, which demonstrated that one newborn had heterozygous mutations at GJB2 235delC and SLC26A4, IVS7-2A> G, one had heterozygous mutation GJB2 235delC and 12S rRNA homogeneous mutation, 1555 A> G, one heterozygous mutations at GJB2, 299delAT, and GJB3, 538C> T, one at GJB2, 299delAT and 12S rRNA, 1555 A> G, two at GJB2, 299delAT, and SLC26A4, IVS7-2A> G. All mutations as above were confirmed by DNA sequencing.

CONCLUSIONThe total mutation carrier rate of the 4 deafness genes is 3.19% in healthy newborns at Chengdu. Mutations of GJB2 and SLAC26A4 are major ones (86.5% of total). The mutation rate of mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA is 2.71‰, which may have deafness induced by aminoglycoside antibiotics. Newborn screening for mutation of genes related to hereditary deafness plays an important role in the early detection and proper management for neonatal deafness as well as genetic counseling for premarital, prenatal and postnatal diagnosis.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; Connexin 26 ; Connexins ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; chemistry ; genetics ; Deafness ; diagnosis ; ethnology ; genetics ; Dried Blood Spot Testing ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; ethnology ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; methods ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Microarray Analysis ; methods ; Mutation ; Neonatal Screening ; methods ; RNA, Ribosomal ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the hasubanan type alkaloids in Stephania hernandifolia.

METHODThe dried herbs of S. hernandifolia. were extracted with 95% ethanol. After removal of the solvent, the residue was first partitioned between acid water and petroleum ether, then the aqueous layer was basified and extracted with chloroform to obtain crude alkaloids. Column chromatograghic methods with on silica gel, Rp-18, MCI CHP 20P, Sephadex LH-20 were applied for the isolation and purification of the crude alkaloid fraction. The structures were elucidated by their physicochemical properties and spectral data.

RESULTNine hasubanan type alkaloids were obtained and identified as aknadinine(1), longanone(2), stephasunoline (3), N-methylstephuline(4), epistephamiersine(5), prostephabyssine(6), aknadilactam(7), dihydroepistephamiersine(8), hasubanonine(9).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 2-8 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Alkaloids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Chemical Phenomena ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Stephania ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the alkaloids in the stems and leaves of Stephania cepharantha.

METHODThe dried stems and leaves of S. cepharantha were percolated with 95% ethanol and the solvent was removed by rotary evaporation to give a concentrate, and the concentrate was extracted by petroleum ether and chloroform. Column chromatograghy on MCI CHP 20P, silica gel, Rp-18, Sephadex LH-20 and polyamide were applied for the isolation and purification of the chloroform fraction. The structures were elucidated by their physicochemical properties and spectral data.

RESULTEleven alkaloids were obtained and identified as lysicamine (1), tetrahadropalmatine (2), palmatine (3), isocorydione (4), corydalmine (5), corypalmine (6), sinoracutine (7), sinoacutine (8), cepharamine (9), isocorydine (10) and corydine (11).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 2-7 were isolated from S. cepharantha for the first time, and compound 7 was isolated from the genus Stephania for the first time, compound 4 was isolated from the Menispermaceae family for the first time.

Alkaloids ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Stephania ; chemistry

BACKGROUND: Nanosphere, an ideal nonviral gene delivery vector, is not excellence of immunogenicity and oncogenicity. Nanotechnology and gene interference are used to block hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) expression in esophageal squamous carcinoma tissue and decrease tolerance of malignant cells to chemotherapeutics. Theoretically, they become effective methods to inhibit malignant cell growth of esophageal squamous carcinoma. OBJECTIVE: To study the inhibitory effect of small interference RNA targeting HIF-1α (siRNA-HIF-1α) nanospheres on human esophageal squamous cancer TE-1 cell growth. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Based on in vitro cultured esophageal squamous cancer TE-1 cells, a completely randomized controlled study was performed at the Central Laboratory, the Third Hospital Affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University from January 2007 to December 2008. MATERIALS: siRNA-HIF-1α was synthesized by Shanghai Bioengineering Company; siRNA-HIF-1α nanospheres were prepared using solvent evaporation technique; human esophageal squamous cancer TE cell strain was provided by Shanghai Cell Bank of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. METHODS: TE-1 cells cultured in vitro were assigned into four groups: saline, gene-free nanospheres, siRNA-HIF-1α, and siRNA-HIF-1α nanospheres groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: HIF-1α mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR; HIF-1α protein expression was detected by Western blot; apoptosis of TE-1 cells was determined by flow cytometry; TE-1 cell growth was examined by MTT. RESULTS: At 72 hours after treatment, both HIF-1α mRNA expression and HIF-1α protein expression in the siRNA-HIF-1α nanospheres group were significantly less than other three groups (P < 0.01), but apoptotic rate was significantly greater than other three groups (P < 0.01). TE-1 cell growth was remarkably inhibited in the siRNA-HIF-1α nanospheres group, which was significantly different compared with other three groups (P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: siRNA-HIF-1α nanospheres can specifically reduce both HIF-1α mRNA and HIF-1α protein expressions in esophageal squamous carcinoma TE-1 cells, significantly increase tumor cell apoptosis, and remarkably inhibit TE-1 cell growth.