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

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is the pillar for the development of motherland medicine, and animal medicine has a long history of application in China, characterized by wide resources, strong activity, definite efficacy, and great benefits. It has significant potential and important status in the consumption market of raw materials of TCM. In the context of global climate change, farming system alterations, and low renewability, the depletion of wild medicinal animal resources has accelerated. Accordingly, the conservation and sustainable utilization of wild resources of animal medicinal materials has become a problem that garners increasing attention and urgently needs to be solved. This paper summarizes the current situation of domestic and foreign medicinal animal breeding and research progress in industrial application in recent years and points out the issues related to standardized breeding, germplasm selection and breeding, and quality evaluation standards for medicinal animals. Furthermore, this paper discusses standardized breeding, quality standards, resource protection and utilization, and the search for alternative resources for rare and endangered medicinal animals. It proposes that researchers should systematically carry out in-depth basic research on animal medicine, improve the breeding scale and level of medicinal animals, employ modern technology to enhance the quality standards of medicinal materials, and strengthen the research and development of alternative resources. This approach aims to effectively address the relationship between protection and utilization and make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of medicinal animal resources and the animal-based Chinese medicinal material industry.
Animals ; Breeding ; China ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Conservation of Natural Resources

The patient, an 11-year-old girl, was admitted with recurrent fever for 20 days, worsening with abdominal distension for 7 days. Upon admission, she presented with recurrent fever, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, polyserositis, and multiple organ dysfunction. Lymph node pathology and clinical manifestations confirmed the diagnosis of idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease-TAFRO syndrome. Treatment with siltuximab combined with glucocorticoids was initiated, followed by maintenance therapy with tocilizumab. The patient is currently in complete clinical remission. Therefore, once a child is diagnosed with idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease -TAFRO syndrome, early use of siltuximab should be considered for rapid disease control, followed by tocilizumab for maintenance therapy.
Humans ; Castleman Disease/drug therapy* ; Child ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/administration & dosage* ; Female ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/administration & dosage*

Objective:To understand the effect of collagen peptides on the function of mouse lymphocytes under simulated microgravity.Methods:The splenocytes of mice were isolated,and the rotary cell culture system was used to simulate the microgravity.The T lymphocytes were stimulated with mitotic agents,concanavalin A(ConA),and the cells were treated with different concentrations of collagen peptides.The proliferation of lymphocytes and the levels of cytokines in the supernatant were detected.Results:Simulated microgravity could inhibit the proliferation of spleen T lymphocytes and decrease the level of cytokines in the supernatant.Collagen peptides could promote the lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production in cells cultured under simulated microgravity.Conclusion:Collagen peptides may attenuate the inhibitory effect of simulated microgravity on T lymphocytes by regulating the cell proliferation and the secretion of cytokines.

Purpose/Significance The load balancing scheduling method is proposed to shorten the waiting time and balance the load of each machine in additive manufacturing of customized medical devices.Method/Process By analyzing the influencing factors in the time dimension,the mathematical model of the two-objective multi-constraint optimization problem is established.The load balancing operator is introduced and the load balancing scheduling algorithm is used to solve the model.Result/Conclusion The load balancing scheduling method with load balancing operators is superior to other algorithms in terms of task waiting time and load balancing perform-ance,especially for large-scale tasks.This method can effectively shorten task waiting time and realize machine load balancing.

Objective To study the clinical characteristics of children with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody(ANCA)-associated vasculitis(AAV).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 25 children diagnosed with AAV at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from January 2010 to June 2022.Results Among the AAV children,there were 5 males and 20 females,with a median age of onset of 11.0 years.Involvement of the urinary system was seen in 18 cases(72%);respiratory system involvement in 10 cases(40%);skin involvement in 6 cases(24%);eye,ear,and nose involvement in 5 cases(20%);joint involvement in 4 cases(16%);digestive system involvement in 2 cases(8%).Eleven cases underwent kidney biopsy,with 5 cases(46%)showing focal type,2 cases(18%)showing crescentic type,2 cases(18%)showing mixed type,and 2 cases(18%)showing sclerotic type.Immune complex deposits were present in 5 cases(45%).Seven cases reached chronic kidney disease(CKD)stage Ⅴ,with 2 cases resulting in death.Two cases underwent kidney transplantation.At the end of the follow-up period,2 cases were at CKD stage Ⅱ,and 1 case was at CKD stage Ⅲ.Of the 16 cases of microscopic polyangiitis(MPA)group,13(81%)involved the urinary system.Of the 9 cases of granulomatosis with polyangiitis(GPA),6 cases(66%)had sinusitis.Serum creatinine and uric acid levels were higher in the MPA group than in the GPA group(P<0.05),while red blood cell count and glomerular filtration rate were lower in the MPA group(P<0.05).Conclusions AAV is more common in school-age female children,with MPA being the most common clinical subtype.The onset of AAV in children is mainly characterized by renal involvement,followed by respiratory system involvement.The renal pathology often presents as focal type with possible immune complex deposits.Children with MPA often have renal involvement,while those with GPA commonly have sinusitis.The prognosis of children with AAV is poor,often accompanied by renal insufficiency.

Objective To study the correlation of anti-C1q antibodies with active systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)and lupus nephritis(LN)in children,as well as their diagnostic value for active SLE and LN.Methods A retrospective selection of 90 hospitalized children with SLE at the Children's Medical Center of Second Xiangya Hospital,Central South University from January 2016 to March 2019 as the SLE group,all of whom were tested for anti-C1q antibodies.A control group was formed by collecting 70 hospitalized children with other autoimmune diseases(OAD)during the same period.The differences in anti-C1q antibody levels were compared between two groups.The correlation of anti-C1q antibodies with various indicators of SLE and LN was analyzed,and the diagnostic value of anti-C1q in SLE and LN was evaluated.Results The serum levels of anti-C1q antibodies in the SLE group were higher than those in the OAD group(P<0.05).The SLE disease activity index score was positively correlated with anti-C1q antibodies(rs=0.371,P<0.001)and positively correlated with anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies(rs=0.370,P<0.001).The sensitivity and specificity of anti-C1q antibodies for diagnosing active SLE were 89.90%and 53.90%,respectively,with an area under the curve of 0.720(P<0.05)and a critical value of 5.45 U/mL.The sensitivity and specificity of anti-C1q antibody levels for diagnosing active LN were 58.50%and 85.00%,respectively,with an area under the curve of 0.675(P<0.05)and a critical value of 22.05 U/mL.Conclusions Anti-C1q antibodies can serve as non-invasive biomarkers for evaluating the activity of SLE or predicting the activity of LN in children.

Objective To study the risk factors and prognostic characteristics of pediatric silent lupus nephritis(SLN)with class Ⅲ to V.Methods A retrospective study was conducted to collect clinical data from 30 children diagnosed with SLN at the Department of Pediatrics,Second Xiangya Hospital,Central South University,from May 2007 to April 2023.Based on renal pathological classification,the patients were divided into a class Ⅱ group(12 cases)and a class Ⅲ to Ⅴ group(18 cases).The risk factors for the occurrence of class Ⅲ to Ⅴ SLN were analyzed,and the prognostic characteristics were summarized.Results Among the 30 SLN patients,the median follow-up time was 61.50 months.There were no statistically significant differences in the proportions of patients who discontinued glucocorticoids or achieved low disease activity status,nor in the annual decline rate of estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)between the class Ⅱ and class Ⅲ to V groups(P>0.05).However,three patients in the class Ⅱ group progressed to stage 1 chronic kidney disease(CKD),while eight patients in the class Ⅲ to Ⅴ group reached stage 1 CKD,and four patients reached stage 2 CKD.Among the 26 female SLN patients,serum complement C3 levels in the class Ⅲ to Ⅴ group were lower than those in the class Ⅱ group(P<0.05).Serum C3 levels in SLN patients,as well as in female SLN patients,were negatively correlated with the fluorescence intensity of IgA,IgG,and C3 immune complexes in the kidneys(P<0.05).Additionally,serum C3 levels in female SLN patients were negatively correlated with the renal pathological activity index(P<0.05).Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that being female and having low serum complement C3 levels were risk factors for the occurrence of class Ⅲ to Ⅴ SLN in children(P<0.05).Conclusions Class Ⅲ to Ⅴ SLN is not uncommon among SLN children,and there remains a risk of long-term renal function progression.Being female and having low serum complement C3 levels are identified as risk factors for class Ⅲ to Ⅴ SLN in children.

Objective To investigate the expression of prolyl 4-hydroxylase β-polypeptide(P4HB)in glioblastoma multiforme(GBM)and its impact on clinical prognosis,as well as on the proliferation and migration of U87 cells.Methods(1)According to the Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)database,GTEx database and GEPIA2 database,the difference expression of P4HB in GBM and normal brain tissues were analyzed by R software.(2)A total of 52 patients with GBM who underwent surgical treatment from February 2017 to December 2019 were collected from Department of Neurosurgery,the Second People's Hospital of Guiyang.The normal brain tissues of 10 patients were selected as controls.Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression level of P4HB in tumor tissues and normal tissues.The Kaplan-Meier method with the log-rank test was employed for survival analysis.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the predictive valuable of P4HB expression in survival rate of GBM.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to identify the expression of P4HB and related clinicopathological factors affecting the survival and prognosis of the patients.(3)Human GBM U87 cells were randomly assigned into three groups:control group,NC-siRNA group and P4HB-siRNA group.P4HB expression was interfered with by the transfection of siRNA in P4HB-siRNA group.Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)was used to detect the content of P4HB mRNA in U87 cells.Cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)and immunofluorescence assay were used to analyze the effects of P4HB on the proliferation of U87 cells.Scratch test was used to analyze the effects of P4HB on cell migration.Results The expression of P4HB was significantly upregulated in GBM tissues compared with normal brain tissues(P<0.05).The γδ T cells(r=-0.227)and follicular helper T cells(r=-0.226)were negatively correlated with the expression of P4HB,while natural killer cell(r=0.417),macrophages(r=0.374),neutrophils(r=0.344),and immature dendritic cells(r=0.263)were positively correlated with the expression of P4HB.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the progression-free survival and disease-specific survival of GBM patients with high P4HB expression were significantly lower than those with low expression(P<0.05).ROC curve showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of P4HB in predicting overall survival rate of GBM patients was 0.982,and 1-year,3-year,and 5-year survival was 0.655,0.724,0.861,respectively.The immunohistochemistry results suggested that P4HB protein was significantly highly expressed in GBM tumors.Survival analysis indicated that high expression of P4HB was associated with bad prognosis in GBM patients(P<0.05).Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that high expression of P4HB and TERT promoter mutations were the independent prognostic risk factors for GBM(P<0.05).Compared with control group and NC-siRNA group,the expression levels of P4HB were decreased significantly after transfected with siRNA in U87 cells of P4HB-siRNA group(P<0.01),and the proliferation ability and the wound healing rate were decreased significantly in P4HB-siRNA group(P<0.001).Conclusions P4HB is significantly highly expressed in GBM,which indicates that the prognosis of patients is poor.Knockout of P4HB could inhibit cellular proliferation and migration of GBM U87 cells.P4HB may be used as the relevant predictive marker and potential therapeutic target in GBM.

Natural compounds demonstrate unique therapeutic advantages for cancer treatment, primarily through direct tumor suppression or interference with the tumor microenvironment (TME). Glycyrrhizic acid (GL), a bioactive ingredient derived from the medicinal herb Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., and its sapogenin glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), have been recognized for their ability to inhibit angiogenesis and remodel the TME. Consequently, the combination of GL with other therapeutic agents offers superior therapeutic benefits. Given GL's amphiphilic structure, self-assembly capability, and liver cancer targeting capacity, various GL-based nanoscale drug delivery systems have been developed. These GL-based nanosystems exhibit angiogenesis suppression and TME regulation properties, synergistically enhancing anti-cancer effects. This review summarizes recent advances in GL-based nanosystems, including polymer-drug micelles, drug-drug assembly nanoparticles (NPs), liposomes, and nanogels, for cancer treatment and tumor postoperative care, providing new insights into the anti-cancer potential of natural compounds. Additionally, the review discusses existing challenges and future perspectives for translating GL-based nanosystems from bench to bedside.
Animals ; Humans ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Glycyrrhizic Acid/therapeutic use* ; Liposomes/chemistry* ; Micelles ; Nanoparticles/chemistry* ; Neoplasms/pathology* ; Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects* ; Nanoparticle Drug Delivery System/therapeutic use*