Objective To observe the course and diameter of facial artery branches and its adjacent structures in nasolabial groove area and the positional relationship,so as to provide reference for clinicians to carry out facial cosmetic repair surgery.Methods A total of 40 adult head and neck specimens were dissected on the spot,and the course and position of the facial artery branches,facial vein and facial nerve in the nasolabial groove area were observed,their diameters were measured,and relevant data were recorded.Results There were 4 types of facial artery branches in the nasolabial groove area:type Ⅰ(upper lip type)accounted for 12.5%,type Ⅱ(nasal type)accounted for 62.5%,type Ⅲ(classical type)accounted for 20.0%,and type Ⅳ(double severe type)accounted for 5.0% .There were 4 kinds of positional relationship between the facial artery and the facial vein in the nasolabial groove area:42.5% of the orofacial artery was located on the medial side of the facial vein,32.5% of the orofacial artery was located on the lateral side of the facial vein,17.5% of the two were close to and wrapped in a fascial sheath,7.5% of the orofacial artery and the main trunk of the facial vein were crossed,and the vein was located in the deep surface of the artery.There were 3 kinds of positional relationship between the facial artery and the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve:87.5% of the facial artery was deep on the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve,7.5% of the facial artery was superficial on the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve,and 5.0% of the facial artery was held or surrounded by two branches of the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve on the superficial or deep surface.Conclusion The positional relationship among facial artery,facial vein and facial nerve in the nasolabial groove area is complicated.Familiarity with its positional relationship can avoid damaging blood vessels and nerves during the nasorabial groove surgery,reduce surgical complications and improve surgical safety.

Sucrose synthase plays a crucial role in the plant sugar metabolism pathway by catalyzing the production of uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glucose, which serves as a bioactive glycosyl donor for various metabolic processes. In this study, a sucrose synthase gene named CtSus was cloned from Cistanche tubulosa, a traditional Chinese medicine known for its rich content of diverse glycosides, based on transcriptome analysis results. The open reading frame of CtSus was 2 418 bp long encoding 805 amino acids. Sequence analysis revealed conserved domains associated with the plant sucrose synthase family at both the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of CtSus protein. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that CtSus shares a close evolutionary relationship with sucrose synthases from other plants within the same order. Functional identification of CtSus was performed through whole-cell catalysis coupling with UGT71BD1, a characterized glycosyltransferase enzyme. The results showed that the introduction of CtSus significantly enhanced the conversion rate of glycosylation catalyzed by UGT71BD1. The soluble expression of CtSus in Escherichia coli was further achieved using the pCold^TM TF expression vector. In vitro enzymatic assay indicated the activity of CtSus to catalyze the formation of UDP-glucose in the presence of sucrose and UDP. Real-time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction results showed that the expression patterns of CtSus gene in different parts of C. tubulosa and the suspension cell cultures of C. tubulosa under drought stress correlated with the accumulation patterns observed for phenylethanol glycosides, respectively. Furthermore, key amino acids and their interactions between enzyme and substrate were explored based on protein structure prediction and molecular docking results. Overall, our findings identify a sucrose synthase CtSus responsible for the supply of the active glycosyl donor UDP-glucose during the biosynthesis of glycoside products in C. tubulosa and have also provided a gene element that can be utilized in engineering strain construction for glycoside products production.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of 2-(2-phenylethyl) chromones in sodium chloride(NaCl)-treated suspension cells of Aquilaria sinensis was conducted by UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS and UPLC-QQQ-MS/MS. Both analyses were performed on a Waters T3 column(2.1 mm×50 mm, 1.8 μm) with 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution(A)-acetonitrile(B) as mobile phases at gradient elution. MS data were collected by electrospray ionization in positive ion mode. Forty-seven phenylethylchromones was identified from NaCl-treated suspension cell samples of A. sinensis using UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS, including 22 flindersia-type 2-(2-phenylethyl) chromones and their glycosides, 10 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-(2-phenylethyl) chromones and 15 mono-epoxy or diepoxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-(2-phenylethyl) chromones. Additionally, 25 phenylethylchromones were quantitated by UPLC-QQQ-MS/MS. Overall, the rapid and efficient qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenylethylchromones in NaCl-treated suspension cells of A. sinensis by two LC-MS techniques, provides an important reference for the yield of phenylethylchromones in Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum using in vitro culture and other biotechnologies.
Chromones ; Sodium Chloride ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Flavonoids ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Thymelaeaceae

Lysine decarboxylase is a key enzyme involved in the upstream biosynthesis of lycopodium alkaloids (LAs) such as huperzine A, contributing to the decarboxylation of lysine to 1,5-pentanediamine (cadaverine). Three lysine decarboxylase genes (HsLDC-L1, HsLDC-L2, HsLDC-L3) were successfully cloned from Huperzia serrata using transcriptomic sequence data mining strategy combined with reverse transcription PCR. The physicochemical properties, secondary and tertiary structures, amino acid identities, and evolutionary relationship of the three LDCs were analyzed by online bioinformatics analysis platforms and DNAMAN, MEGA 7.0 software, revealing that all of these proteins had the conserved PLP binding domain and active site residues were completely conserved in LDCs. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these LDCs were located in the same branch as other known LDCs from LA-producing plants. Accordingly, the ORFs of these three HsLDCs were inserted into different expression plasmids for further expression in E. coli. However, only HsLDC-L1 was successfully expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) by inserting into a pCold TF vector. The recombinant protein was purified by Ni²⁺ affinity chromatography purification. HsLDC-L1 contains 469 amino acid residues, with a calculated molecular weight of 50.50 kDa. HsLDC-L1 expectedly catalyzed the decarboxylation of lysine to produce cadaverine. In addition, HsLDC-L1 can also catalyze the generation of putrescine from ornithine. However, it cannot catalyze the decarboxylation of tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan and histidine. The results not only provide insight into the biosynthesis of LAs including huperzine A, but also provide a critical genetic element for the overproduction of Δ¹-piperideine and pelletierine, the essential biosynthetic precursors of LAs, using synthetic biology strategies.

Objective To forecast the future burden and its attributable risk factors of infective endocarditis (IE). Method We analyzed the disease burden of IE and its risk factors from 1990 to 2019 using the Global Burden of Disease 2019 database and projected the disease burden from 2020 to 2030 using a Bayesian age-period-cohort model. Results By 2030, the incidence of IE will increase uncontrollably on a global scale, with developed countries having the largest number of cases and developing countries experiencing the fastest growth. The affected population will be predominantly males, but the gender gap will narrow. The elderly in high-income countries will bear the greatest burden, with a gradual shift to middle-income countries. The incidence of IE in countries with middle/high-middle social-demographic indicators (SDI) will surpass that of high SDI countries. In China, the incidence rate and the number of IE will reach 18.07 per 100,000 and 451,596 in 2030, respectively. IE-associated deaths and heart failure will continue to impose a significant burden on society, the burden on women will increase and surpass that on men, and the elderly in high-SDI countries will bear the heaviest burden. High systolic blood pressure has become the primary risk factor for IE-related death. Conclusions This study provides comprehensive analyses of the disease burden and risk factors of IE worldwide over the next decade. The IE-associated incidence will increase in the future and the death and heart failure burden will not be appropriately controlled. Gender, age, regional, and country heterogeneity should be taken seriously to facilitate in making effective strategies for lowering the IE disease burden.
Male ; Humans ; Female ; Aged ; Global Burden of Disease ; Bayes Theorem ; Global Health ; Risk Factors ; Cost of Illness ; Endocarditis ; Heart Failure

Objective:To observe the activation of microglia and the expression of inflammatory factors in hippocampus of mice with depression-like behavior after mother-infant separation （MS） combined with lipopolysaccharide （LPS） stress， and to explore the possible anti-depression mechanisms of Wenyang （WY）， Jieyu （JY）， and Wenyang Jieyu （WYJY） prescriptions from the perspective of warming Yang and relieving depression. Method:Seventy offspring mice were randomly divided into a normal group （n=10）， a LPS stress group （n=10）， and a modeling group （n=50）. After undergoing 8 h·d^-1 mother-infant separation during postnatal day 5 （PD₅）–PD₁₄， mice in the modeling group were further divided into the MS + LPS group， WY group， JY group， WYJY group， and fluoxetine （FLU） group， with 10 in each group. The birth date of the offspring mice was recorded as PD₀. The mice in the normal， LPS， and MS + LPS groups were fed a normal diet during PD₂₁–PD₉₀， while those in the other groups were treated with the mixtures of corresponding drugs and feed， followed by seven-day intraperitoneal injection of LPS since PD₉₁ for inducing depression. The depression-like behavior of mice in each group was detected in the open-field， O-maze， and social interaction tests. The protein expression of microglia-specific ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 （Iba-1） in the hippocampus was assayed by immunohistochemistry， and the mRNA expression of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， Iba-1， and glucocorticoid receptor （GR） by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR （Real-time PCR）. Result:Compared with the normal group， the LPS group exhibited significantly reduced residence time at the central area within 5 min （P<0.01） and shortened total exercise distance （P<0.01）. In the MS + LPS group， the open-arm activity time and the total activity distance decreased significantly （P<0.01， P<0.05）， whereas the training， discrimination and exploration time increased significantly （P<0.01）. The expression of Iba-1 in hippocampal CA1 region of mice in the LPS and MS + LPS groups was remarkably elevated （P<0.01）. Compared with the LPS group， the MS + LPS group displayed significantly prolonged distance of 5-min exercise （P<0.05）， increased training， discrimination and exploration time （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and up-regulated Iba-1 expression in hippocampal CA1 area （P<0.01）. As revealed by comparison with the MS + LPS group， both the total 5-min exercise distance （P<0.01） and the training and discrimination time （P<0.01， P<0.05） of mice in each administration group was significantly shortened. The discrimination and exploration time of mice in the JY， WYJY， and FLU groups was significantly reduced （P<0.01）， and the expression of Iba-1 in hippocampal CA1 region of mice in each administration group was significantly down-regulated （P<0.01）. Conclusion:The warming Yang and relieving depression method helps to inhibit the occurrence and development of depression due to its efficacy in activating microglia in hippocampus of depression mice and lowering the expression of IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α.

Objective:To observe the activation of microglia in hippocampus of depressed and anxious mice induced by maternal separation with acute restraint stress and the expression of interleukin-1β（IL-1β），interleukin-6（IL-6），tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α）， investigating the mechanism of Wenyang Jieyu prescription in treating anxiety and depression. Method:Eighty four male C57BL offspring were randomly divided into control group， acute restraint stress group and model group on postnatal day 0（PD0）. Maternal separation combined with acute restraint stress was used to prepare anxious and depressed model mice， dividing the model mice into model group， Wenyang， Jieyu， Wenyang Jieyu and fluoxetine group according to random number table method. During the period of PD21-PD90， the control， acute restraint stress and model mice were fed with normal diet， with the other groups fed with corresponding medicine mixed diet. The Wenyang， Jieyu and Wenyang Jieyu groups were given 5.85， 12.03 and 16.71 g·kg^-1·d^-1 respectively. The fluoxetine group was given 2.60 mg·kg^-1·d^-1. Open field， zero maze test and social interaction tests were used to evaluate the anxiety and depression of model mice. The expression of Iba-1 in hippocampal microglia was detected by immunohistochemistry（IHC）. The mRNA expression of IL-1β， IL-6， TNF-α， Iba-1 and glucocorticoid receptor（GR）were detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. Result:Compared with the control group， total movement distance and time spent in central zone in 5 min of the model mice significantly decreased（P<0.01）， time spent in opened arm and total movement distance decreased significantly（P<0.05，P<0.01）， investigation time during testing and training increased significantly（P<0.01）. The expression of Iba-1 protein and mRNA，IL-1β，IL-6，TNF-α mRNA significantly increased（P<0.01）， the expression levels of GR mRNA significantly decreased（P<0.01）. The result of IHC staining showed that microglia were over activated. Compared with the model group， total movement distance and time spent in central zone in 5 min of mice in the Wenyang Jieyu and fluoxetine group significantly increased（P<0.05，P<0.01）.Time spent in opened arm significantly increased（P<0.01）. Investigation time during testing and training significantly decreased（P<0.05，P<0.01）. The expression of Iba-1 protein and mRNA，IL-1β，IL-6，TNF-α mRNA significantly decreased（P<0.05，P<0.01）. The expression of GR mRNA increased significantly（P<0.05，P<0.01）. IHC staining showed the microglia recovered. Time spent in opened arm of mice in the Wenyang group and Jieyu group significantly increased （P<0.01）， time spent investigating during testing decreased significantly （P<0.05）， the expression levels of Iba-1 protein and mRNA，IL-6 mRNA significantly decreased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The expression of GR mRNA of mice in the Wenyang group significantly increased （P<0.05）， the expression of TNF-α mRNA significantly decreased （P<0.05）. Total movement distance of mice in the Jieyu group increased significantly （P<0.01）， time spent investigating during training decreased significantly （P<0.05），the expression level of IL-1β mRNA significantly decreased （P<0.05）. IHC staining showed that microglia recovered partly in both groups. Conclusion:The comprehensive curative effect and pharmacological action of Wenyang Jieyu prescription were better than Wenyang prescription and Jieyu prescription. Wenyang Jieyu prescription can treat anxiety and depression in maternal separation and acute restraint stress mice， its possible mechanism may be related to the decreased activation of microglia， down-regulation of IL-1β，IL-6，TNF-α expression and up-regulation of GR expression.

Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and western medicine have their respective advantages and limitations in the diagnosis and treatment of common otorhinolaryngology head and neck diseases. Although the integrated TCM and western medicine exhibits definite curative effects， there is no consensus on the otorhinolaryngology head and neck diseases responding specifically to TCM or integrated TCM and western medicine， as well as the diagnosis and treatment schemes. The China Association of Chinese Medicine （CACM） thus organized the otorhinolaryngology head and neck specialists of both TCM and western medicine to discuss the etiology， pathogenesis， and clinical diagnosis and treatment methods of common otorhinolaryngology head and neck diseases with the results of multiple clinical trials taken into account. The acute pharyngitis， chronic pharyngolaryngitis， paraesthesia pharyngis， hysterical aphasia， allergic rhinitis， subjective tinnitus， and otogenic vertigo were confirmed to respond specifically to TCM or integrated TCM and western medicine. Then a mutually agreed diagnosis and treatment scheme and recommendation with integrated TCM and western medicine was formulated as a reference for clinical practice， thus benefiting more patients.

BACKGROUNDData on the epidemiology of hypertension in Chinese non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the non-dialysis CKD patients through a nationwide, multicenter study in China.

METHODSThe survey was performed in 61 tertiary hospitals in 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China (except Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). Trained physicians collected demographic and clinical data and measured blood pressure (BP) using a standardized protocol. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg, and/or use of antihypertensive medications. BP < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg were used as the 2 thresholds of hypertension control. In multivariate logistic regression with adjustment for sex and age, we analyzed the association between CKD stages and uncontrolled hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients.

RESULTSThe analysis included 8927 non-dialysis CKD patients. The prevalence, awareness, and treatment of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients were 67.3%, 85.8%, and 81.0%, respectively. Of hypertensive CKD patients, 33.1% and 14.1% had controlled BP to < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg, respectively. With successive CKD stages, the prevalence of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients increased, but the control of hypertension decreased (P < 0.001). When the threshold of BP < 130/80 mmHg was considered, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension in CKD 2, 3a, 3b, 4, and 5 stages increased 1.3, 1.4, 1.4, 2.5, and 4.0 times compared with CKD 1 stage, respectively (P < 0.05). Using the threshold of < 140/90 mmHg, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased in advanced stages (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of hypertension Chinese non-dialysis CKD patients was high, and the hypertension control was suboptimal. With successive CKD stages, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased.

Adult ; Aged ; Awareness ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; complications

OBJECTIVETo explore the incidence of various types of mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) and their clinical characteristics.

METHODSA total of 75 children highly suspected as having MPS underwent quantitative and electrophoretic analysis of urinary glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and enzymatic analysis of seven types of MPS from January 2009 to December 2011. Fluorescence assay was used to measure the activities of α-L-iduronidase, iduronate-2-sulfatase, α-N-acetylglucosaminidase, galactosamine-6-sulfatase, β-galactosidase, arylsulfatase B and β-glucuronidase in the white blood cells.

RESULTSA total of 52 cases were confirmed with MPS based on clinical, radiological, and enzymatic examinations. The 52 cases, with a mean age of 4.0 ± 2.2 years, included 5 cases of MPS I (10%), 20 cases of MPS II (38%), 20 cases of MPS IVA (38%), 6 cases of MPS VI (12%) and 1 case of MPS VII (2%). No MPS IV B cases or MPS IIIB cases were found. Compared with healthy children of the same age, the GAG/Cr ratio was significantly elevated in 50 confirmed cases of MPS (two MPS IVA cases having no increased ratio). All children with increased urinary GAGs had a confirmed diagnosis of MPS. The age of onset was between 1 and 2 years after birth in most cases, and often complicated by hernia and valvular heart disease. Children with MPS I, MPS II, and MPS VI presented with ugly and unsmooth face, short stature, joint stiffness, and limitation of motion, while children with MPS IVA presented with short stature, skeletal dysplasia, and joint laxity.

CONCLUSIONSType IVA and type II are the most common in MPS cases, followed by type VI and type I. MPS children are characterized by special appearances including ugly and unsmooth facial appearance, short stature and skeletal dysplasia. Quantitative analysis of urinary GAG, as a simple, rapid, and reliable method, is recommended for screening of MPS.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Creatinine ; urine ; Female ; Glucuronidase ; blood ; Glycosaminoglycans ; urine ; Humans ; Iduronidase ; blood ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mucopolysaccharidoses ; diagnosis ; enzymology ; pathology ; beta-Galactosidase ; blood