A high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS/MS) method was established for simultaneous determination of seven characteristic components from the active fraction of Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma in rat plasma, including galangin, kaempferol, kaempferide, pinocembrin, 1,7-diphenyl-4-en-3-heptanone, 5-hydroxy-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3-heptanone(DHPA), and 7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-4-en-3-heptanone(DPHB). The new developed HPLC-MS/MS method was applied to study the pharmacokinetics of the 7 characteristic components in rats with Helicobacter pylori gastritis. A Waters Sunfire C_(18) column(2.1 mm×150 mm, 3.5 μm) was used. The acetonitrile-aqueous solution(containing 0.1% formic acid) was adopted as the mobile phase for gradient elution. Seven components and internal standard(chlorogenic acid) were separated within 12 min. Mass spectrometric detection was performed in multiple reaction monitoring(MRM) mode using electrospray ionization(ESI) source with fast switching between positive and negative ions. The method was verified by specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, recovery, matrix effect, and stability and met the requirements of pharmacokinetic study on the 7 components in rat plasma. Pharmacokinetic results showed that the average peak time(T_(max)) of the 7 components was 0.31-2.19 h, their elimination half-life(t_(1/2)) was 5.26-16.65 h, and the average residence time(MRT) was 6.29-31.03 h after the oral administration of the active fraction of Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma to rats with H. pylori gastritis. The plasma exposure levels of galangin and DHPA were higher than those of the other components. The concentration-time curves of four detected flavonoids showed obvious double peaks. This study elucidated the pharmacokinetic characteristics of 7 characteristic components from the active fraction of Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma in rats with H. pylori gastritis, providing a scientific basis for the identification of the pharmacodynamic substances of Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma for treatment of H. pylori gastritis and the clinical application of Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma in the prevention and treatment of H. pylori gastritis.
Animals ; Rats ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Male ; Helicobacter pylori/drug effects* ; Alpinia/chemistry* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Gastritis/metabolism* ; Helicobacter Infections/metabolism* ; Flavonoids/blood* ; Rhizome/chemistry* ; Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

A 4-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital with a 3-day history of rash and intermittent abdominal pain, during which abnormal results from routine blood tests were discovered. Initially, he presented with acute jaundice hepatitis and pancytopenia. The patient's condition progressed rapidly, with recurrent fever, worsening jaundice of the skin and sclera, and progressively worsening hepatosplenomegaly. Liver function impairment and bone marrow failure continued to deteriorate, while cytokine levels continued to rise. After excluding infections, autoimmune diseases, tumors, genetic metabolic disorders, and toxicities, the patient was diagnosed with hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia (HAAA) complicated by hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Following treatment with corticosteroids, plasma exchange, intravenous immunoglobulin, and liver protection therapy, the patient's symptoms partially alleviated. Aplastic anemia complicated by HLH is relatively uncommon, and HAAA complicated by HLH is even rarer, often presenting insidiously and severely. This paper presents a case of HAAA complicated by HLH and summarizes previously reported cases in the literature, providing references for the early diagnosis and treatment of this condition.
Humans ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic/therapy* ; Male ; Anemia, Aplastic/complications* ; Child, Preschool ; Hepatitis/complications*

Objective:To investigate the effects of SINC, a novel secreted protein of Chlamydia psittaci, on the apoptosis of host cells and the regulatory role of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) signaling pathway in it. Methods:HeLa cells were treated with recombinant SINC. The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 at protein level and the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 were analyzed by Western blot. Hoechst 33258 staining was used to detect the apoptosis of HeLa cells after SINC stimulation. Moreover, HeLa cells were pretreated with MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126 (50 μmol/L), and then stimulated with different concentrations of SINC for different time. Flow cytometry was used to detect the changes in cell apoptosis rates and Western blot was performed to detect the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 at protein level.Results:Treating HeLa cells with 10 μg/ml of SINC for 18 h resulted in down-regulated Bax and up-regulated Bcl-2 at protein level. Besides, the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 was the lowest and a significant increase in the ratio of phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) to ERK1/2 was observed. Hoechst 33258 staining showed that the number of apoptotic bodies decreased significantly after stimulating HeLa cells with 5, 10 and 15 μg/ml of SINC. In the presence of MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126, the expression of Bcl-2 at protein level was down-regulated, while the expression of cleaved PARP was significantly up-regulated. Flow cytometry showed a significantly enhanced apoptosis of HeLa cells.Conclusions:SINC can inhibit the apoptosis of HeLa cells through activating the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway.

Objective - To analyze the relationship between cobalt level of post shift urine and individual exposure level of ， cobalt and its compounds in cobalt exposed workers and to explore the feasibility of using urine cobalt as a biomarker. Methods - A total of 148 occupational cobalt exposed workers from a new material company were selected as the exposed ， - - group and 44 non occupational cobalt exposed workers from the company were selected as the control group using the typical sampling method. The exposure concentration of time weighted average of cobalt and its compounds in the workplace air of the - two groups was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry as the individual exposure level. The cobalt levels - - of pre shift and post shift urinary samples of the two groups were detected by this method. The linear relationship between the - cobalt level of post shift urine and the individual exposure level of cobalt and its compounds in the air of the workplace was Results - 3 analyzed. The individual exposure level of cobalt and its compounds in the exposed group was 1.10 131.71 μg/m with （M） 3 the median of 12.23 μg/m. No cobalt and its compounds were detected in the workplace air in the control group. The cobalt - - levels of pre shift and post shift urines in exposed group were higher than those in the control group at the same time point （M： vs ， vs ， P ） - - 1.54 0.56 μg/L 8.77 0.83 μg/L all <0.01 . The cobalt level of post shift urine was higher than that in pre shift （M： vs ，P ）， urine in the exposed group 8.77 1.54 μg/L <0.01 and it was positively correlated with the individual exposure level （ ，P ） ， of cobalt and its compounds Spearman correlation coefficient=0.86 <0.01 . After common logarithm conversion the linear regression equation of the cobalt level of post shift urine and the common logarithm of individual exposure level of cobalt and （x） ：ŷ x（ ；F ， its compounds in the exposed group was as follows = −0.178 + 0.988 coefficient of determination=0.72 =374.75 P ；t ， P ） Conclusion - <0.01 = - 19.36 <0.01 . There was a linear correlation between cobalt level of post shift urine and occupational cobalt exposure level of cobalt exposed workers. Urinary cobalt can be used as a biomarker of occupational cobalt

Aim To explore the apoptosis of small eell lung eancer ( SCLC ) eells HI688 and H446 induced by nitidine chloride and its possible mechanism.Methods The effect of nitidine chloride or cisplatin ( DDP ) on the activity of SCLC cells was detected by j J MTT method; the morphological changes of cells trea¬ted with nitidine chloride or DDP were observed by in- verted fluorescence microscope and HE staining; the effect of nitidine chloride or DDP on apoptosis was de¬tected by flow cytometry; the effect of apoptosis inhibi¬tor Z-VAD-FMK on apoptosis induced by nitidine chlo¬ride or DDP was detected by MTT method.The expres¬sions of Bax , Bcl-2, caspase-3 , PARP, p-PI3K and p- Akt in the cells treated with nitidine chloride or DDP were detected by Western blot.Results MTT results showed that the viability of SCLC cells was significantly reduced after 48 hours of treatment with nitidine chlo¬ ride; compared with DDP, nitidine chloride could in¬hibit SCLC cells with less IC50; inverted fluorescence microscope and HE staining showed that nitidine chlo¬ride could induce apoptosis in SCLC cells, similar to DDP; flow cytometry showed that nitidine chloride J J could induce apoptosis in SCLC cells.The results of MTT assay showed that the inhibitory effect of nitidine chloride on apoptosis of SCLC cells could be partially antagonized by apoptosis inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK.West¬ern blot results showed that, similar to DDP, nitidine chloride could inhibit the expression of PI3K and Akt, increase Bax, inhibit Be 1-2, and promote the cleavage of caspase-3 and PAH P.Conclusion Nitidine chlo¬ride can induce apoptosis of SCLC cells by inhibiting the activation of P13K and Akt.

Objective: To investigate hypertriglyceridemia and hepatomegaly caused by Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus (FSS) and Schisandra chinensis Fructus (FSC) oils in mice. Methods: Mice were orally administered a single dose of Schisandrae Fructus oils. Serum and hepatic triglyceride (TG), triglyceride transfer protein (TTP), apolipoprotein B48 (Apo B48), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), alanine aminotransfease (ALT) and liver index were measured at 6-120 h post-dosing. Results: FSS and FSC oil caused time and dose-dependent increases in serum and hepatic TG levels, with maximum increases in the liver (by 297% and 340%) at 12 h post-dosing and serum (244% and 439%) at 24-h post-dosing, respectively. Schisandrae Fructus oil treatments also elevated the levels of serum TTP by 51% and 63%, Apo B48 by 152% and 425%, and VLDL by 67% and 38% in mice, respectively. FSS and FSC oil treatments also increased liver mass by 53% and 55% and HGF by 106% and 174%, but lowered serum ALT activity by 38% and 22%, respectively. Fenofibrate pre/ co-treatment attenuated the FSS and FSC oil-induced elevation in serum TG levels by 41% and 49% at 48 h post-dosing, respectively, but increased hepatic TG contents (by 38% and 33%, respectively) at 12 h post-dosing. Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence to support the establishment of a novel mouse model of hypertriglyceridemia by oral administration of FSS oil (mainly increasing endogenous TG) and FSC oil (mainly elevating exogenous TG).

Objective:To automatically synthesize Al 18F-1, 4, 7-triazacyclononane-1, 4, 7-triacetic acid (NOTA)-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI)-04, perform PET/CT imaging in vivo, and evaluate its diagnostic efficacy on tumors. Methods:Al 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 was produced in All-in-one automatic synthesis module and its quality control was conducted by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with a radioactive detector. Al 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging was performed in normal BALB/c mice ( n=3) and 4T1 breast cancer models ( n=3) to determine its biodistribution. Then Al 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 and 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging were performed in a hepatocellular carcinoma patient (male, 51 years old). Results:The synthesis time of Al 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 was about 35 min, and the radiochemical yield was (25.2±1.9)% (attenuation correction, n=3). The product was colorless transparent solution with pH value of 7.0-7.5, and the specific activity was (46.11±3.07) GBq/μmol (attenuation correction, n=3). The radiochemical purity was above 99.0% and was still above 98.0% at room temperature after 6 h. PET/CT imaging in mice showed that physiological uptake of Al 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 was mainly in biliary system and bladder, and Al 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 highly concentrated in tumor xenografts. PET/CT imaging in the patient showed that Al 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 obtained high tumor background ratio (TBR) values of 4.1, 8.9, 5.4, 4.8, 2.2 in parasternal lymph nodes, anterior diaphragmatic lymph nodes, hilar lymph nodes, pancreaticoduodenal ligament lymph nodes, abdominal aortic lymph nodes, respectively, while TBR values were 1.0, 2.8, 5.0, 2.1, 1.1 by 18F-FDG. Conclusions:Al 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 can be synthesized with short time, high radiochemical yield and good stability using All-in-one module. Al 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging has high contrast and excellent diagnostic efficacy on tumors.

BACKGROUND: It is crucial to differentiate accurately glioma recurrence and pseudoprogression which have entirely different prognosis and require different treatment strategies. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) as a tool for distinguishing glioma recurrence and pseudoprogression. METHODS: According to particular criteria of inclusion and exclusion, related studies up to May 1, 2019, were thoroughly searched from several databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Chinese biomedical databases. The quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies was applied to evaluate the quality of the included studies. By using the "mada" package in R, the heterogeneity, overall sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio were calculated. Moreover, funnel plots were used to visualize and estimate the publication bias in this study. The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was computed to display the diagnostic efficiency of DCE-MRI. RESULTS: In the present meta-analysis, a total of 11 studies covering 616 patients were included. The results showed that the pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio were 0.792 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.707-0.857), 0.779 (95% CI 0.715-0.832), and 16.219 (97.5% CI 9.123-28.833), respectively. The value of the area under the SROC curve was 0.846. In addition, the SROC curve showed high sensitivities (>0.6) and low false positive rates (<0.5) from most of the included studies, which suggest that the results of our study were reliable. Furthermore, the funnel plot suggested the existence of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS While the DCE-MRI is not the perfect diagnostic tool for distinguishing glioma recurrence and pseudoprogression, it was capable of improving diagnostic accuracy. Hence, further investigations combining DCE-MRI with other imaging modalities are required to establish an efficient diagnostic method for glioma patients.
Glioma/diagnostic imaging* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/diagnostic imaging* ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Resident microglia are the principal immune cells of the brain, and the first to respond to the pathophysiological changes induced by ischemic stroke. Traditionally, it has been thought that microglial activation is deleterious in ischemic stroke, and therapies to suppress it have been intensively explored. However, increasing evidence suggests that microglial activation is also critical for neurogenesis, angiogenesis, and synaptic remodeling, thereby promoting functional recovery after cerebral ischemia. Here, we comprehensively review the dual role of microglia during the different phases of ischemic stroke, and the possible mechanisms controlling the post-ischemic activity of microglia. In addition, we discuss the dynamic interactions between microglia and other cells, such as neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and endothelial cells within the brain parenchyma and the neurovascular unit.

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the expression and mechanism of microRNA (miRNA)-613 in breast cancer. Methods: A total of 91 specimens of breast cancer tissue were collected from Nanchong Central Hospital between May 2017 and May 2018. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to estimate miRNA-613 expression levels in breast cancer and adjacent tissues and breast cancer ( cells MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, and MCF-7) and normal breast epithelial (HBL-100) cell lines. Based on these data, the relationship between miRNA-613 expression and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in breast cancer patients were analyzed using the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) database. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to detect the binding of miRNA-613 to the 3'UTR of SOX9. Effects on cell proliferation and cell invasion and migration upon transfection of MDA-MB-231 cells with miRNA-613 mimics were detected by the CCK-8 assay and Transwell invasion and migration assays, respectively. In addition, Western blot was used to estimate the expression levels of SOX9, β-catenin, E-cadherin, and Vimentin in the transfected cells. Results: The expression of miRNA-613 in breast cancer tissues was significantly lower than that in adjacent tissues (P<0.05) and was found to be closely related to TNM stage and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). TCGA survival data showed that miRNA-613 expression was not related to the overall survival rate of breast cancer patients (P>0.05 ). The expression of miRNA-613 in breast cancer cell lines was significantly lower than that in the normal breast epithelial cell line (P<0.05). Similarly, the expression of miRNA-613 in highly invasive metastatic breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468) was significantly lower than that in the metastatic breast cancer cell line MCF-7 with lower invasion ability (P<0.05). The dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that miRNA-613 could specifically bind to the 3'UTR of SOX9. Upregulation of miRNA-613 expression could inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and migration of MDA-MB-231 cells (P<0.05). This was associated with the downregulated expression of SOX9, β-catenin, and Vimentin (P<0.05) and upregulation of E-Cadherin expression (P<0.05). Conclusions: The expression of miRNA-613 was decreased in breast cancer tissues and cell lines. MiRNA-613 may inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of breast cancer cells and epithelial-mesenchymal transition by regulating the SOX9 and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways.