OBJECTIVE To evaluate the comprehensive quality of Houttuynia cordata from different producing areas. METHODS Using total flavonoids， water-soluble extract， moisture， total ash and acid-insoluble ash as indicators， the entropy weight method was used to objectively weigh each indicator， and the relative correlation degree （r）i calculated by grey correlation method was used as a measure to comprehensively evaluate the quality of H. cordata. RESULTS The weights of total flavonoids， total ash， moisture， acid-insoluble ash， and water-soluble extract were 0.295 5， 0.227 3， 0.188 7， 0.145 1， and 0.143 4， respectively. The weights of total flavonoids and total ash were relatively large. The ri of 30 batches of H. cordata ranged from 0.233 2 to 0.673 9； the average ri of samples from Quanzhou County and Ziyuan County of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region were the highest， which were 0.638 3 and 0.598 7， respectively， followed by samples from Lingchuan County of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region （0.556 1） and Jianshui County of Yunnan Province （0.452 8）. The quality of medicinal materials produced in the above producing areas was generally good and stable. CONCLUSIONS Entropy weight method combined with the grey correlation method can be used to comprehensively evaluate the quality of H. cordata. The overall quality of H. cordata produced in Quanzhou County of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is the best.

Objective To investigate the value of the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk model REAL-B score in predicting the risk of HCC in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients receiving antiviral therapy in comparison with mPAGE-B, aMAP and PAGE-B scores. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 1160 CHB patients who received entecavir or tenofovir treatment for more than 1 year from January 2013 to December 2015 in Tianjin Second Peolple's Hospital, and the events of HCC were recorded. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the value of REAL-B, mPAGE-B, aMAP, and PAGE-B scores in predicting HCC. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate the cumulative incidence rate of HCC at different time points, and the log-rank test was used to compare the incidence rate of HCC between the groups with different scores. The independent samples t -test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. Results Among the 1160 CHB patients, 108 (9.8%) progressed to HCC within a median follow-up time of 5.3 (5.0-6.3) years. REAL-B score had an AUC of 0.848 (95% confidence interval [ CI ]: 0.816-0.880) in predicting the onset of HCC within 5 years, followed by aMAP score (AUC=0.823, 95% CI : 0.786-0.860), mPAGE-B score (AUC=0.822, 95% CI : 0.788-0.857), and PAGE-B scores (AUC=0.780, 95% CI : 0.736-0.824). The 5-year cumulative incidence rate of HCC was 0.8% in the low-risk group (with a REAL-B score of 0-3 points), which was significantly lower than the incidence rate of 11.8% in the medium-risk group (with a REAL-B score of 4-7 points) and 35.6% with the high-risk group (with a REAL-B score of 8-13 points) ( P < 0.05). In the low-risk group, REAL-B score had a negative predictive value of 100% and 99.67%, respectively, in predicting HCC within 3 and 5 years. Conclusion REAL-B score accurately predicts the risk of HCC in CHB patients receiving antiviral therapy, with a better predictive value than the other risk models within 3 years of antiviral therapy.

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) has devastating effects on patients′ physical and mental health. Autophagy is widely involved in various physiological and pathological processes of the body and plays a key role in spinal cord injury. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is the main regulator of autophagy. mTOR regulation of autophagy is closely related to the pathological process of spinal cord injury, and can effectively promote the recovery of spinal cord injury. Therefore, mTOR is a promising target for treatment of spinal cord injury. This article reviews the role of mTOR signal transduction pathway in the regulation of autophagy in spinal cord injury, in order to provide reference for follow-up research.

Objective To investigate the value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), red blood cell distribution width-to-lymphocyte ratio (RLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in predicting the prognosis of early small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for 132 patients newly diagnosed with early HCC who underwent RFA in Tianjin Second People's Hospital from September 2011 to December 2020. Preoperative data were collected and the patients were followed up to observe recurrence and overall survival (OS). The X-tile tool was used to determine the optimal cut-off values of NLR, RLR, and LMR based on 5-year survival rate and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate, and then the patients were divided into N-R-L 0 group with 92 patients, N-R-L 1 group with 29 patients, and N-R-L 2 group with 11 patients. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between the three groups. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot the survival curve, and the log-rank test was used to compare RFS and OS rates between groups. The factors with statistical significance in the log-rank test were included in the multivariate Cox regression analysis to determine the risk factors for RFS and OS rates. Results There were significant differences in Child-Pugh class and albumin between the N-R-L 0, N-R-L 1, and N-R-L 2 groups ( χ 2 2=10.992 and 5.699, both P < 0.05). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates of the three groups were 100%/96.3%/90.7%, 96.6%/60.4%/41.3%, and 81.8%/46.8%/15.6%, respectively ( χ 2 =38.46, P < 0.000 1), and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year RFS rates of the three groups were 76.9%/52.5%/33.3%, 42.9%/13.1%/0, and 11.1%/0/0, respectively ( χ 2 =35.345, P < 0.000 1). The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that tumor diameter ≥ 2 cm (hazard ratio[ HR ]=2.10, 95% confidence interval[ CI ]: 1.28-3.43, P =0.003; HR =3.67, 95% CI : 1.58-8.52, P =0.002), N-R-L score of 1 point ( HR =3.14, 95% CI : 1.81-5.46, P < 0.000 1; HR =8.27, 95% CI : 3.15-21.71, P < 0.000 1), and N-R-L score of 2 points ( HR =2.61, 95% CI : 1.06-6.42, P =0.037; HR =14.59, 95% CI : 3.96-53.78, P < 0.000 1) were independent predictive factors for RFS and OS. Conclusion N-R-L, a systemic inflammatory response marker composed of NLR, RLR, and LMR, is an independent risk factor for recurrence and survival of early small HCC after RFA, and it can be used as a useful noninvasive biomarker in combination with tumor features to predict the recurrence and survival of early HCC after RFA.

Objective:In the context of COVID-19 pandemic, the epidemic severities, non-pharmaceutical intervention intensities, individual behavior patterns and vaccination coverage vary with countries in the world. China has experienced a long period without indigenous cases, unfortunately, multi local outbreaks caused by imported cases and other factors have been reported, posing great challenges to COVID-19 prevention and control in China. Thus it is necessary to explore the mechanisms of the re-emerged COVID-19 epidemics and their differences.Methods:Based on susceptible exposed infectious recovered (SEIR) epidemic dynamics model, we developed a set of novel evolution equations which can describe the dynamic processes of integrated influence of interventions, vaccination coverage and individual behavior changes on the re-emergency of COVID-19 epidemic. We developed methods to calculate the optimal intervention intensity and vaccination rate at which the size of susceptible population can be reduced to less than threshold for the re-emergency of COVID-19 epidemic.Results:If strong interventions or super interventions are lifted too early, even a small cause can lead to the re-emergence of COVID-19 epidemic at different degrees. Moreover, the stronger the early control measures lifted are, the more severe the epidemic is. The individual behavior changes for the susceptibility to the epidemic and the enhancement or lifting of prevention and control measures are key factors to influence the incidence the multi outbreaks of COVID-19. The optimist early intervention measures and timely optimization of vaccination can not only prevent the re-emergency of COVID-19 epidemic, but also effectively lower the peak of the first wave of the epidemic and delay its arrival.Conclusion:The study revealed that factors for the re-emergence of COVID-19 epidemics included the intensity and lifting of interventions, the change of individual behavior to the response of the epidemic, external incentives and the transmissibility of COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To improve the quality standard of Folium Mahoniae. METHODS: TLC was used for qualitative identification. The contents of moisture, ash and ethanol extract were determined. The content of berberine hydrochloride was determined by HPLC. The determination was performed on WondaSil C18 column with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-0. 05 mol/L monopotassium phosphate solution (25: 75, V/V) at the flow rate of 1. 0 mL/min. The detection wavelength was 264 nm, column temperature was 30 ℃, and sample size was 10 μL. RESULTS: TLC spots were clear and well-separated. The contents of moisture, total ash, acid-insoluble ash and ethanol extract were 3. 92％-7. 03％, 3. 65％-6. 95％, 0. 05％-1. 03％ and 10. 87％-33. 14％, respectively. The linear range of berberine hydrochloride was 0. 183-0. 915 μg(r=0. 999 9); quantitation limit and detection limit was 0. 143, 0. 095 μg, respectively. RSDs of precision, stability and reproducibility tests were lower than 2. 0％ (n=6); recovery was 95. 21％ -103. 10％ (RSD = 2. 95％, n=6). CONCLUSIONS: The content of moisture, total ash and acid-insoluble ash of medicinal materials is not exceed 8. 0％, 6. 0％ and 0. 4％, respectively. The content of ethanol extract and berberine hydrochloride is not less than 16. 0％ and 1. 0％, respectively. Established standard can be used for quality control of Folium Mahoniae.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of co-expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) and Sox9 on chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vitro and provide experimental evidence for tissue engineering of cartilage.

METHODSMouse embryonic bone marrow MSC C3H10T1/2 cells were infected with recombinant adenovirus expressing BMP2, Sox9 and green fluorescent protein (GFP) for 3-14 days, with cells infected with the adenovirus carrying GFP gene as the control. The mRNA expression of the markers of chondrogenic differentiation, including collagen type II (Col2a1), aggrecan (ACAN), and collagen type X (Col10a1), were determined by real-time PCR. Alcian blue staining was used for quantitative analysis of sulfated glycosaminoglycan in the cellular matrix. The expression of Col2a1 protein was assayed by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis.

RESULTSAdenovirus-mediated BMP2 expression induced chondrogenic differentiation of C3H10T1/2 cells. Overexpression of Sox9 effectively enhanced BMP2-induced expression of the chondrogenic markers Col2a1, aggrecan and Col10a1 mRNAs, and promoted the synthesis of sulfated glycosaminoglycan and Col2a1 protein in C3H10T1/2 cells.

CONCLUSIONCo-expression of BMP2 and Sox9 can promote chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs in vitro, which provides a new strategy for tissue engineering of cartilage.

Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cartilage ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Mice ; SOX9 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tissue Engineering

Objective To investigate the effect of co-expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) and Sox9 on chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vitro and provide experimental evidence for tissue engineering of cartilage. Methods Mouse embryonic bone marrow MSC C3H10T1/2 cells were infected with recombinant adenovirus expressing BMP2, Sox9 and green fluorescent protein (GFP) for 3-14 days, with cells infected with the adenovirus carrying GFP gene as the control. The mRNA expression of the markers of chondrogenic differentiation, including collagen type II (Col2a1), aggrecan (ACAN), and collagen type X (Col10a1), were determined by real-time PCR. Alcian blue staining was used for quantitative analysis of sulfated glycosaminoglycan in the cellular matrix. The expression of Col2a1 protein was assayed by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis. Results Adenovirus-mediated BMP2 expression induced chondrogenic differentiation of C3H10T1/2 cells. Overexpression of Sox9 effectively enhanced BMP2-induced expression of the chondrogenic markers Col2a1, aggrecan and Col10a1 mRNAs, and promoted the synthesis of sulfated glycosaminoglycan and Col2a1 protein in C3H10T1/2 cells. Conclusion Co-expression of BMP2 and Sox9 can promote chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs in vitro, which provides a new strategy for tissue engineering of cartilage.

Objective To investigate the effect of co-expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) and Sox9 on chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vitro and provide experimental evidence for tissue engineering of cartilage. Methods Mouse embryonic bone marrow MSC C3H10T1/2 cells were infected with recombinant adenovirus expressing BMP2, Sox9 and green fluorescent protein (GFP) for 3-14 days, with cells infected with the adenovirus carrying GFP gene as the control. The mRNA expression of the markers of chondrogenic differentiation, including collagen type II (Col2a1), aggrecan (ACAN), and collagen type X (Col10a1), were determined by real-time PCR. Alcian blue staining was used for quantitative analysis of sulfated glycosaminoglycan in the cellular matrix. The expression of Col2a1 protein was assayed by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis. Results Adenovirus-mediated BMP2 expression induced chondrogenic differentiation of C3H10T1/2 cells. Overexpression of Sox9 effectively enhanced BMP2-induced expression of the chondrogenic markers Col2a1, aggrecan and Col10a1 mRNAs, and promoted the synthesis of sulfated glycosaminoglycan and Col2a1 protein in C3H10T1/2 cells. Conclusion Co-expression of BMP2 and Sox9 can promote chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs in vitro, which provides a new strategy for tissue engineering of cartilage.

OBJECTIVESeed dormancy mechanisms, breaking dormancy and the optimal germinating conditions were studied to improve reproductive efficiency and quality standard of Pseudostellaria heterophylla.

METHODThe P. heterophylla seeds were stratified into wettish sand for 65 days under the temperature of -2-3 degrees C, embryo length and germination dynamic change of seeds were measured in prophase every other 10 days and in middle every other 5 days. The influences on seed germination and seedling growth under different temperatures, germination beds were investigated.

RESULTThe P. heterophylla seeds embryo morphology was unchanged in stratification. The seeds could not germinate at stratification within the first 35 days. The germination rate and germination energy of seeds increased with the stratification time after 35 days. Germination rate, germination energy, plant height and fresh weight under the 10 degrees C were significantly higher than those under other temperatures. Germination rate, germination energy, plant height, fresh weight and dry weight of plant in sand bed were higher than those of plant in other beds, and seed mildew rate and abnormal seedling proportion of plant in sand bed were less than those of plant in other beds.

CONCLUSIONThe dormancy of P. heterophylla seeds is mainly the physiological post-maturation. The optimal germination conditions of seeds is 10 degrees C the culture of sand. The dormancy was broke under -2-3 degrees C of wettish sand for 45-50 days in practice.

Caryophyllaceae ; growth & development ; Germination ; Light ; Plant Dormancy ; physiology ; Seeds ; physiology ; Temperature