The accumulation of uremic toxins such as urea nitrogen, blood creatinine, and uric acid of patients with renal failure in vivo would lead to aggravated kidney damage. In this study, coated aldehyde oxy-starch (CAO) was used as an adsorbent to investigate its in vitro adsorption performance on renal failure indexes for urea, indoxyl sulfate (INS), monomethylamine (MMA), dimethylamine (DMA), uric acid (UA), and creatinine (Cr). The effects of variables such as pH, temperature, concentration, dosage, and time on the adsorption capacity of CAO were systematically investigated, employing analytical techniques of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC). The results revealed that CAO exhibited a strong adsorption capacity for urea, INS, and MMA, alongside a moderate adsorption capacity for DMA, UA, and Cr. The adsorption kinetics and thermodynamic studies indicated that the adsorption of urea and UA by CAO were fitted in pseudo-first-order kinetics, and the adsorption isotherm aligned with the Freundlich adsorption model. The enthalpy change ΔH of urea in adsorption was in the range of 40 to 60 kJ·mol^-1, which demonstrated the presence of strong adsorption force due to the interactions of coordinating groups. The ΔH of UA was greater than 80 kJ·mol^-1, indicating the generation of chemical bonds during the adsorption. Both of them, Gibbs free energy ΔG was less than 0, within the range of -20 to 0 kJ·mol^-1, suggested that the adsorption of urea and UA by CAO occurred spontaneously as physical adsorption process. The adsorption entropy ΔS of urea and UA was > 0, which indicated an increase in entropy throughout the adsorption. The infrared spectroscopygram showed the formation of a chemical bond, specifically the imine bond, following the adsorption of urea by CAO, thereby indicating a chemical reaction during the adsorption. This study elucidates the adsorption mechanism of CAO on various indexes of renal failure, providing a scientific basis for its clinical usage.

Objective To construct a machine learning prediction model for postoperative liver injury in patients with non-liver surgery based on preoperative and intraoperative medication indicators.Methods A case-control study was conducted on 315 patients with liver injury after non-liver surgery selected from the databases developed by 3 large general hospitals from January 2014 to September 2022.With the positive/negative ratio of 1 ∶3,928 cases in corresponding period with non-liver surgery and without liver injury were randomly matched as negative control cases.These 1243 patients were randomly divided into the modeling group(n=869)and the validation group(n=374)in a ratio of 7∶3 using the R language setting code.Preoperative clinical indicators(basic information,medical history,relevant scale score,surgical information and results of laboratory tests)and intraoperative medication were used to construct the prediction model for liver injury after non-liver surgery based on 4 machine learning algorithms,k-nearest neighbor(KNN),support vector machine linear(SVM),logic regression(LR)and extreme gradient boosting(XGBoost).In the validation group,receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,precision-recall curve(P-R),decision curve analysis(DCA)curve,Kappa value,sensitivity,specificity,Brier score,and F1 score were applied to evaluate the efficacy of model.Results The model established by 4 machine learning algorithms to predict postoperative liver injury after non-liver surgery was optimal using the XGBoost algorithm.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUROC)was 0.916(95%CI:0.883～0.949),area under the precision-recall curve(AUPRC)was 0.841,Brier score was 0.097,and sensitivity and specificity was 78.95%and 87.10%,respectively.Conclusion The postoperative liver injury prediction model for non-liver surgery based on the XGBoost algorithm has effective prediction for the occurrence of postoperative liver injury.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of transurethral resection of bladder tumor(TURBT)in treating cystitis glandularis(CG),and to explore the influencing factors.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 243 CG patients treated with TURBT during Jan.2013 and Dec.2020 in our hospitals.Postoperative efficacy was assessed using global response assessment(GRA).The correlation between GRA score and the demographic characteristics,comorbidities,initial complaints,and postoperative recurrence was determined with logistic regression analysis.Results Among the 243 patients,3.70％(9/243)had dysplasia,2.47％(6/243)had exuberant hyperplasia of Brinell's nest,and 2.06％(5/243)had intestinal metaplasia.The mean GRA score was(2.02±0.72)after a follow-up of(47.10±28.53)months.Re-operation was performed in 10.29％(25/243)of the patients due to recurrence,and the improvement of hydronephrosis and dysuria was 70.59％(12/17)and 50.00％(15/30),respectively.Pelvic fat increase developed in 1 patient(0.41％)after surgery.Logistic regression analysis showed that postoperative GRA score was not significantly correlated with demographic characteristics,body mass index,comorbidities,alcoholism and postoperative recurrence(P＞0.05).Conclusion TURBT is an effective method in the treatment of CG,which can significantly improve patients'hydronephrosis and dysuria.However,approximately 10％of the patients experience recurrence,necessitating further surgery,which suggests the need for vigilance regarding potential recurrence during treatment.

Objective To clarify the understanding of types of laboratories and manufacturers for GB 9706.1-2020 Medical electrical equipment-Part 1:General requirements for basic safety and essential performance by laboratory proficiency testing for creepage distance and electrical clearance test.Methods An operation guide was formed according to the testing program in GB 9706.1-2020,and the homogeneity and stability of the samples were evaluated according to CNAS-GL003:2018 Guidance on Evaluating the Homogenneity and Stability of Samples Used for Proficiency Testing.Robust statistic methods were used to assess the quantitative parameters of the test results of the participating laboratories according to the requirements in GB/T 28043-2019 Statistical methods for use in proficiency testing by interlaboratory comparison;the results reported by the expert laboratories were used as the specified values of the qualitative parameters.SPSS 25.0 statistical software was used for data analysis.Results All the results of the crreepage distance and electrical clearance tests met the requirements for homogeneity and stability.Of the 46 laboratories involved in,37 ones did have comprehensive satisfactory determinations while the remained 9 ones not.Conclusion Some laboratories don't behave well in understanding the standard,which have to be reformed accordingly to enhance their proficiencies.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(10):54-59]

Objective To investigate the effects of α1-antitrypsin(AAT)on motor function in adult mice with immature brain white matter injury.Methods Five-day-old C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to the sham surgery group(n=27),hypoxia-ischemia(HI)+ saline group(n=27),and HI+AAT group(n=27).The HI white matter injury mouse model was established using HI methods.The HI+AAT group received intraperitoneal injections of AAT(50 mg/kg)24 hours before HI,immediately after HI,and 72 hours after HI;the HI+saline group received intraperitoneal injections of the same volume of saline at the corresponding time points.Brain T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed at 7 and 55 days after modeling.At 2 months of age,adult mice were evaluated for static,dynamic,and coordination parameters using the Catwalk gait analysis system.Results Compared to the sham surgery group,mice with HI injury showed high signal intensity on brain T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging at 7 days after modeling,indicating significant white matter injury.The white matter injury persisted at 55 days after modeling.In comparison to the sham surgery group,the HI+saline group exhibited decreased paw print area,maximum contact area,average pressure,maximum pressure,paw print width,average velocity,body velocity,stride length,swing speed,percentage of gait pattern AA,and percentage of inter-limb coordination(left hind paw → left front paw)(P<0.05).The HI+saline group showed increased inter-paw distance,percentage of gait pattern AB,and percentage of phase lag(left front paw → left hind paw)compared to the sham surgery group(P<0.05).In comparison to the HI+saline group,the HI+ AAT group showed increased average velocity,body velocity,stride length,and swing speed(right front paw)(P<0.05).Conclusions The mice with immature brain white matter injury may exhibit significant motor dysfunction in adulthood,while the use of AAT can improve some aspects of their motor function.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(2):181-187]

Aim To investigate the effect of vanillin on the regulation of cyclic guanylate adenylate synthetase(cGAS)/stimulator of interferon gene(STING)signa-ling pathway on hepatic tissue injury in rats with intra-hepatic cholestasis(IC).Methods SD rats were randomly divided into normal group,IC group,vanillin group,cGAS overexpression group,and vanillin+cGAS overexpression group,with continuous adminis-tration for seven days.The body weight,liver weight and liver to body weight ratio of rats were measured.Liver function(ALT,AST,ALP,LDH),IC(TBIL,TBA)and liver fibrosis(HA,LN,PC Ⅲ)index were determined by ELISA.Liver pathology and fibrosis were observed using HE and Masson staining,and col-lagen volume fraction was calculated.The expression of cGAS/STING pathway related proteins in liver tissue was detected by Western blot.Results Vanillin could improve liver pathology and fibrosis,increase body weight,and decrease liver weight,ALT,AST,ALP,LDH,TBIL,TBA,HA,LN,PC Ⅲ,collagen volume fraction,cGAS,STING protein in IC rats(P＜0.05).Overexpression of cGAS could reverse the effects of vanillin on the above indicators in IC rats(P＜0.05).Conclusions Vanillin may improve liver function,IC,liver fibrosis,and liver tissue damage in IC rats by downregulating the cGAS/STING signaling pathway.

Objective:To explore the relationship of glutathione S-transferase P1(GSTP1)and X-ray repair cross-complemen-tation group 1(XRCC1)gene polymorphisms with chemotherapy sensitivity and prognosis in patients with prostate cancer(PCa).Methods:A total of 103 PCa patients underwent androgen-deprivation therapy+double-agent chemotherapy from May 2018 to May 2021.We collected the clinical data from the patients,determined their genotypes using the PCR-PFLP method,analyzed the associa-tion of the locus polymorphisms of GSTP1-rs1695 and XRCC1-rs25487 with chemotherapy sensitivity,and investigated the correlation of GSTP1 and XRCC1 gene polymorphisms with the 3-year survival rate of the patients.Results:The distribution of GSTP1-rs1695 and XRCC1-rs25487 loci in the 103 PCa patients receiving chemotherapy was consistent with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium(x2=9.794,P＞0.05).At the GSTP1-rs1695 locus,the AA genotype accounted for 65.05％(67/103),the AG genotype 23.30％(24/103)and the GG genotype 11.65％(12/103);at the XRCC1-rs25487 locus,the A A genotype accounted for 29.13％(30/103),the AG genotype 50.49％(52/103)and the GG genotype 20.39％(21/103).Chemotherapy sensitivity was significantly lower in the patients with the GSTP1-rs1695 AA type than in those with the AG/GG types(35.82％vs 58.33％,P＜0.05),but showed no statistically significant difference between the XRCC1-rs25487 AA and AG/GG types(40.00％vs 45.21％,P＞0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the 3-year progression-free survival rate between the patients with different GSTP1-rs1695 and XRCC1-rs25487 phenotypes(P＞0.05).The 3-year overall survival rate was lower in the patients with the GSTP1-rs1695 AA type than in those with the AG/GG types,and so was it in those with the XRCC1-rs25487 AA type than in those with the AG/GG types(P＜0.05).Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that the GSTP1-rs1695 AA and XRCC1-rs25487 AA types were inde-pendent factors affecting the 3-year overall survival of the patients after chemotherapy.Conclusion:Both GSTP1-rs1695 and XRCC1-rs25487 gene polymorphisms have some influence on chemotherapy sensitivity and prognosis in PCa patients.The A allele mu-tations of GSTP1-rs1695 and XRCC1-rs25487 can decrease the 3-year survival rate,while their G allele mutations may help improve chemotherapy sensitivity and survival.

AIM: To investigate the effects of primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction(PANDO)on the tear film and ocular surface using LipiView ocular surface interferometer and Keratograph 5M anterior segment analyzer.METHODS: A self-controlled clinical trials. A total of 40 patients diagnosed with unilateral PANDO for at least 6mo who were admitted to our department from September 2021 to March 2022 were enrolled in the study, and the healthy eyes of the patients were assessed as control group. The LipiView ocular surface interferometer and Keratograph 5M anterior segment analyzer were used to measure the changes in related parameters of the tear film and ocular surface in both eyes.RESULTS: The non-invasive tear meniscus height(NITMH), stimulated NITMH, loss rate of upper meibomian gland, nasal and temporal ciliary redness index, temporal conjunctival redness index of the affected eyes were higher than healthy eyes(P<0.05), but there were no statistical differences in the non-invasive break-up time(NIBUT), loss rate of lower meibomian gland, nasal conjunctival redness index, dry eye grading, blink responses, partial blink rate and lipid layer thickness(LLT)between the both eyes(P>0.05).CONCLUSION: PANDO may lead to the aggravation of ocular surface inflammation and the loss of upper meibomian gland, and damage the ocular surface of patients. Attention should be paid to the early treatment of PANDO.

This study aimed to observe the effect of terpinen-4-ol(T4O) on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs) exposed to high glucose(HG) and reveal the mechanism via the Krüppel-like factor 4(KLF4)/nuclear factor kappaB(NF-κB) signaling pathway. The VSMCs were first incubated with T4O for 2 h and then cultured with HG for 48 h to establish the model of inflammatory injury. The proliferation, cell cycle, and migration rate of VSMCs were examined by MTT method, flow cytometry, and wound healing assay, respectively. The content of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin(IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) in the supernatant of VSMCs was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA), Cyclin D1, KLF4, NF-κB p-p65/NF-κB p65, IL-1β, and IL-18. The KLF4 expression in VSMCs was silenced by the siRNA technology, and then the effects of T4O on the cell cycle and protein expression of the HG-induced VSMCs were observed. The results showed that different doses of T4O inhibited the HG-induced proliferation and migration of VSMCs, increased the percentage of cells in G_1 phase, and decreased the percentage of cells in S phase, and down-regulated the protein levels of PCNA and Cyclin D1. In addition, T4O reduced the HG-induced secretion and release of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α and down-regulated the expression of KLF4, NF-κB p-p65/NF-κB p65, IL-1β, and IL-18. Compared with si-NC+HG, siKLF4+HG increased the percentage of cells in G_1 phase, decreased the percentage of cells in S phase, down-regulated the expression of PCNA, Cyclin D1, and KLF4, and inhibited the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway. Notably, the combination of silencing KLF4 with T4O treatment further promoted the changes in the above indicators. The results indicate that T4O may inhibit the HG-induced proliferation and migration of VSMCs by down-regulating the level of KLF4 and inhibiting the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway.
NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Interleukin-18/metabolism* ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/genetics* ; Cyclin D1/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Cell Proliferation ; Signal Transduction ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Glucose/metabolism*

The pharmaceutical manufacturing model is gradually changing from intermittent manufacturing to continuous manufacturing and intelligent manufacturing. This paper briefly reviewed the supervision and research progress in continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing in China and abroad and described the definition and advantages of continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing. The continuous manufacturing of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) at the current stage was summarized in the following three terms: the enhancement of the continuity of intermittent manufacturing operations, the integration of continuous equipment to improve physical continuity between units, and the application of advanced process control strategies to improve process continuity. To achieve continuous manufacturing of TCM, the corresponding key technologies, such as material property characterization, process modeling and simulation, process analysis technology, and system integration, were analyzed from the process and equipment, respectively. It was proposed that the continuous manufacturing equipment system should have the characteristics of high speed, high response, and high reliability, "three high(H~3)" for short. Considering the characteristics and current situation of TCM manufacturing, based on the two dimensions of product quality control and production efficiency, a maturity assessment model for continuous manufacturing of TCM, consisting of operation continuity, equipment continuity, process continuity, and quality control continuity, was proposed to provide references for the application of continuous manufacturing technology for TCM. The implementation of continuous manufacturing or the application of key continuous manufacturing technologies in TCM can help to systematically integrate advanced pharmaceutical technology elements and promote the uniformity of TCM quality and the improvement of production efficiency.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Reproducibility of Results ; China ; Quality Control ; Pharmaceutical Preparations