ObjectiveTo explore the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndromes in the patients with concurrent knee osteoarthritis （KOA） and postmenopausal osteoporosis （PMOP） and provide a scientific basis for precise TCM syndrome differentiation， diagnosis， and treatment of such concurrent diseases. MethodsA prospective， multicenter， cross-sectional clinical survey was conducted to analyze the characteristics of TCM syndromes in the patients with concurrent PMOP and KOA. Excel 2021 was used to statistically analyze the general characteristics of the included patients. Continuous variables were reported as x¯±s， and binary variables were reported as percentages. UCINET and Gephi were used to construct a complex "isease-syndrome-symptom" network for in-depth mining. Topological structure indicators， edge connection information between nodes， and weighted adjacency matrices were calculated by UCINET and Python. Gephi was used for complex network visualization. ResultsA total of 157 patients with concurrent PMOP and KOA from 12 TCM hospitals or community health service centers were selected for the collection of TCM syndrome and symptom information. A total of 4 main TCM syndromes were obtained， which were kidney-Yang deficiency （47.13%）， liver-kidney Yin deficiency （36.94%）， spleen-kidney Yang deficiency （8.92%）， and kidney Yin-Yang deficiency （7.01%）. In addition， 10 concurrent syndromes （mainly Qi stagnation and blood stasis， Qi and blood deficiency， spleen Yang deficiency， and cold-dampness） were identified. Based on the results of comprehensive frequency statistics and complex network analysis， as well as TCM theoretical knowledge and relevant guidelines， the general characteristics of concurrent PMOP and KOA and the main TCM syndromes in the dimensions of physical symptoms， pain， tongue and pulse manifestations， and defecation and urination were obtained. ConclusionThe main TCM syndromes in the patients with concurrent PMOP and KOA may be kidney Yang deficiency， liver-kidney Yin deficiency， spleen-kidney Yang deficiency， and kidney Yin-Yang deficiency， among which kidney Yang deficiency and liver-kidney Yin deficiency are the core TCM syndromes.

ObjectiveTo explore the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndromes in the patients with concurrent knee osteoarthritis （KOA） and postmenopausal osteoporosis （PMOP） and provide a scientific basis for precise TCM syndrome differentiation， diagnosis， and treatment of such concurrent diseases. MethodsA prospective， multicenter， cross-sectional clinical survey was conducted to analyze the characteristics of TCM syndromes in the patients with concurrent PMOP and KOA. Excel 2021 was used to statistically analyze the general characteristics of the included patients. Continuous variables were reported as x¯±s， and binary variables were reported as percentages. UCINET and Gephi were used to construct a complex "isease-syndrome-symptom" network for in-depth mining. Topological structure indicators， edge connection information between nodes， and weighted adjacency matrices were calculated by UCINET and Python. Gephi was used for complex network visualization. ResultsA total of 157 patients with concurrent PMOP and KOA from 12 TCM hospitals or community health service centers were selected for the collection of TCM syndrome and symptom information. A total of 4 main TCM syndromes were obtained， which were kidney-Yang deficiency （47.13%）， liver-kidney Yin deficiency （36.94%）， spleen-kidney Yang deficiency （8.92%）， and kidney Yin-Yang deficiency （7.01%）. In addition， 10 concurrent syndromes （mainly Qi stagnation and blood stasis， Qi and blood deficiency， spleen Yang deficiency， and cold-dampness） were identified. Based on the results of comprehensive frequency statistics and complex network analysis， as well as TCM theoretical knowledge and relevant guidelines， the general characteristics of concurrent PMOP and KOA and the main TCM syndromes in the dimensions of physical symptoms， pain， tongue and pulse manifestations， and defecation and urination were obtained. ConclusionThe main TCM syndromes in the patients with concurrent PMOP and KOA may be kidney Yang deficiency， liver-kidney Yin deficiency， spleen-kidney Yang deficiency， and kidney Yin-Yang deficiency， among which kidney Yang deficiency and liver-kidney Yin deficiency are the core TCM syndromes.

As one of the hallmarks of cancer, metabolic reprogramming leads to cancer progression, and targeting glycolytic enzymes could be useful strategies for cancer therapy. By screening a small molecule library consisting of 1320 FDA-approved drugs, we found that penfluridol, an antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia, could inhibit glycolysis and induce apoptosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Gene profiling and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis suggested the important role of AMPK in action mechanism of penfluridol. By using drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) technology and proteomics, we identified phosphofructokinase, liver type (PFKL), a key enzyme in glycolysis, as a direct target of penfluridol. Penfluridol could not exhibit its anticancer property in PFKL-deficient cancer cells, illustrating that PFKL is essential for the bioactivity of penfluridol. High PFKL expression is correlated with advanced stages and poor survival of ESCC patients, and silencing of PFKL significantly suppressed tumor growth. Mechanistically, direct binding of penfluridol and PFKL inhibits glucose consumption, lactate and ATP production, leads to nuclear translocation of FOXO3a and subsequent transcriptional activation of BIM in an AMPK-dependent manner. Taken together, PFKL is a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in ESCC, and penfluridol may be a new therapeutic option for management of this lethal disease.

Objective:The investigation and research on the application status of Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient (HVPG) is very important to understand the real situation and future development of this technology in China.Methods:This study comprehensively investigated the basic situation of HVPG technology in China, including hospital distribution, hospital level, annual number of cases, catheters used, average cost, indications and existing problems.Results:According to the survey, there were 70 hospitals in China carrying out HVPG technology in 2021, distributed in 28 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central Government). A total of 4 398 cases of HVPG were performed in all the surveyed hospitals in 2021, of which 2 291 cases (52.1%) were tested by HVPG alone. The average cost of HVPG detection was (5 617.2±2 079.4) yuan. 96.3% of the teams completed HVPG detection with balloon method, and most of the teams used thrombectomy balloon catheter (80.3%).Conclusion:Through this investigation, the status of domestic clinical application of HVPG has been clarified, and it has been confirmed that many domestic medical institutions have mastered this technology, but it still needs to continue to promote and popularize HVPG technology in the future.

Objective:To evaluate the MRI and cone beam CT (CBCT) image registration methods of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and to explore the clinical application of the registered images and clinical diagnostic data for examining the relationship between the articular disc and condyle.Methods:Three patients with TMJ disc disposition were recruited at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, Wuhan University from January to March 2018. One patient was male, aged 30, and the others were females, aged 21 and 26 respectively. Three-dimensional (3D) images of CBCT and MRI of the TMJ were reconstructed and registered by using Mimics software. The images were then evaluated after the registration. The evaluation indicators selected were the area and volume of the articular disc, the position of the articular disc or the distance between the highest point of the condyle (point C) to the center point of the articular disc (point D), the distance between the last point of the joint disc (point P) to point C, as well as the angle between line CD and FH plane (∠DCF) at either opened- or closed-mouth condition.Results:The registration images of TMJ, at the closed- and opened-mouth positions of the 3 patients, showed the anatomical structures and interrelationships of the articular disc, articular nodules, joint fossa and condyle. Combined with clinical diagnosis, the difference of CD distances at the normal articular disc position was the minimum (1.94 mm), the difference of CD distances was small at the anterior disc displacement with non-reduction and larger with reduction. When the joint disc was in the opened-mouth position, ∠DCF angle was minimal (3.81°). The patients with anterior disc displacement with non-reduction showed the largest ∠DCF angle (48.03°).Conclusions:The position of the articular disc relative to the condyle and articular nodules, either at closed- or opened-mouth conditionds, could be accurately displayed after the image registration and fusion. The registration image not only could fully show the shape and position of the articular disc in different status from a 3D perspective, but also might provide basis for clinical study of TMJ disc displacement.

Objective: To establish an ion chromatography (IC) method to determine the content of chloride ion and sulfate ion in ethylparaben, and evaluate the quality status of chloride ion and sulfate ion in ethylparaben at different levels.Methods: Ion chromatograph was used.The column was Dionex IonPac AS 18 (250 mm ×4 mm,5 μm) using potassium hydroxide as the mobile phase with gradient elution, the flow rate was 1.0 ml·min-1 , the injection volume was 25 μl, and the quantitative method was standard curve.Results: The method showed good linear relationship within the range of 0.02-4.00 μg·ml-1 for chloride ion (r=0.999 9) and 0.10-10.00μg·ml-1 for sulfate ion (r=0.999 5).The average recovery was 90.12% (RSD=3.4%) and 85.54% (RSD=6.2%) for chloride ion and sulfate ion, respectively (n =9).The content range of chloride ion and sulfate ion was 0.000 3%-0.015 7% and 0.000 9%-0.024 4% in 63 batches of samples, respectively.Conclusion: The established method is simple, fast and accurate, which can be used to determine the contents of chloride ion and sulfate ion in ethylparaben and is helpful to its quality control.

Objective: To improve the quality standard for Zengguang tablets.Methods: Instead of the microscopic identification, Acorus tatarinowii rhizoma,Lycii Fructus and Polygalae radix were indentified by TLC.The content of schisandrin in Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus was determined by HPLC.The HPLC system consisted of a Hypersil BDS C18(250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm)column, methanol-water (1∶1) was used as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 ml·min-1, and the detection wavelength was at 250 nm.The column temperature was 35℃ and the sample size was 10 μl.Results: The microscopic images were with strong specificity.The developed TLC spots were quite clear, and the method of TLC was simple with strong specificity and good reproducibility.The linear range of schisandrin was 21.17-423.40 ng(r=0.999 9).The average recovery was 99.7% and the RSD was 1.4%(n=6).Conclusion: The method for the quality control of Zengguang tablets is comprehensive and perfect.

Objective:To determine the related substances in benzalkonium chloride used as a pharmaceutical adjuvant, and com-pare the quality at home and abroad. Methods:An HPLC method was used with an ODS-HYPERSIL C18 column(250 mm × 4. 6 mm, 5 μm). The detection wavelength was 210 nm and 257 nm. The flow rate was 1. 0 ml· min-1 and the column temperature was 30℃. The injection volume was 20 ml. The mobile phase was A ( dissolving 1. 09 g sodium1-hexanesulfonate and 6. 9 g sodium dihydrogen phosphate in water, adjusting pH to 3. 5 with phosphoric acid and diluting to 1 000. 0 ml) and B ( methanol) with gradient elution. Results:The content of benzaldehyde in the samples at home and abroad was low. The content of benzyl alcohol in the samples from a-broad was qualified, which was significantly higher than that in the domestic samples. The content of benzyl chloride in the domestic samples was higher than that in the samples from abroad. Conclusion:The method is simple and fast, which is suitable for comparing the related substances of domastic and imported samples. At the same time, the study provides basis for enterprises to choose benzalko-nium chloride rationally.

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method to determine and compare the contents of sodium benzoate in medicinal(phar-maceutical excipients and active pharmaceutical ingredients) and non-medicinal (chemical reagents and food additives) grade. METHODS:HPLC was conducted for content determination,SPSS 18.0 software was adopted to compare the results. The column was Purospher STAR LP RP-18 endcapped with mobile phase of acetotrile-0.02% formic acid(adjusted pH to 4.0 with aqua ammo-nia)(30∶70,V/V)at a flow rate was 1.0 ml/min,the detection wavelength was 230 nm,column temperature was 35 ℃,and vol-ume injection was 20 μl. RESULTS:The linear range of sodium benzoate was 10.5-525.3 μg/ml(r=0.999 9);RSDs of precision, stability,reproducibility and durability tests were lower than 0.5%;recovery was 99.38%-101.26%(RSD=0.56%,n=9). The av-erage contents of sodium benzoate in medicinal and non-medicinal grade were between 99.400%-99.875%,but the average content of non-medicinal grade is lower than the medical grade. CONCLUSIONS:The method is accurate and simple with high specificity and good reproducibility,and can be used to determine and compare the content of sodium benzoate in medicinal and non-medici-nal grade.

Objective:To compare the quality differences in benzalkonium chloride samples from domestic and abroad to provide references for the quality standard revision for benzalkonium chloride in Chinese pharmacopoeia. Methods: The ratio of alkyl compo-nents was determined according to the method described in USP 38, and the total content of benzalkonium chloride was determined ac-cording to the method recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015 edition) and USP 38, respectively. Results:According to the results of composition ratio of alkyl, the fraction defective of domestic samples and imported samples was 100% and 50%, respectively. The content difference between the values calculated by the methods in the two pharmacopoeias showed that the total content of domestic samples changed from 3. 86% to 4. 15%, and that of imported samples changed from 1. 15% to 3. 90%. Conclusion:There are sig-nificant differences in the quality of benzalkonium chloride between domestic samples and imported samples. It is recommended that the ratio of alkyl components should be supplemented in our pharmacopoeia referring to the method in USP 38 and the total content calcula-tion formula for benzalkonium chloride should be revised to improve the quality standard for benzalkonium chloride.