ObjectiveThis study aims to compare the modeling effects of submaxillary gland antigen and salivary gland antigen in the establishment of Sjögren syndrome (SS) mouse models, and to characterize the phenotypic and immunological features of these models in comparison with spontaneous SS-prone non-obese diabetic (NOD)/LtJ mice. MethodsAdult C57BL/6J mice (equal numbers of males and females) were immunized with submaxillary gland antigen or salivary gland antigen, respectively, combined with Freund's adjuvant to induce SS models. Mice immunized with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) combined with Freund's adjuvant served as the control group. Immunization was induced via multiple subcutaneous injections in the back with antigen combined with Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) on Days 1 and 7. A booster immunization was administered via multiple subcutaneous injections in the back with antigen combined with Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA) on Day 14. Female NOD/LtJ mice were used as the spontaneous SS model group, with ICR mice as the corresponding control strain for comparative analysis. Body weight, water intake, and salivary flow rate of mice were dynamically monitored for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, tissue and serum samples were collected, the weights of submaxillary glands, thymus, and spleen were measured, and organ indices (organ-to-body weight ratios) were calculated. Pathological morphological analysis of the submaxillary gland and spleen was performed with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Serum interleukin-17 (IL-17) level was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of SS type A (SSA) and SS type B (SSB) in submaxillary gland tissues. ResultsFemale mice in the submaxillary gland antigen group exhibited significantly increased water intake (P<0.05) and reduced salivary flow rate (P<0.05) compared with the female control group. No statistically significant differences were observed in the submaxillary gland index, thymus index and spleen index (P>0.05). Focal lymphocytic infiltration was observed in the submaxillary glands, and the splenic marginal zone was enlarged. Serum IL-17 levels were significantly increased (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in submaxillary gland SSA/SSB expression levels (P>0.05). Compared with the female control group, female mice in the salivary gland antigen group showed no statistically significant differences in water intake, salivary flow rate, submaxillary gland index, and spleen index (P>0.05), whereas the thymus index was significantly reduced (P<0.01). Mild inflammatory cell infiltration and glandular atrophy were observed in the submaxillary glands, and the splenic white pulp and marginal zone were slightly enlarged. Serum IL-17 levels and submaxillary gland SSB mRNA expression levels were significantly increased (P<0.01), whereas no significant change was observed in submaxillary gland SSA expression levels (P>0.05). Compared with the male control group, mild submaxillary gland atrophy was observed in male mice in the submaxillary gland antigen group, whereas no obvious changes were found in other modeling-related indicators (P>0.05). Compared with the ICR control group, NOD/LtJ model mice exhibited elevated water intake (P<0.05), significantly reduced salivary flow rate (P<0.01), no significant differences in the submaxillary gland index or spleen index (P>0.05), but a significantly increased thymus index (P<0.05). Marked focal infiltration was observed in the submaxillary glands, the splenic marginal zone was obviously enlarged, and serum IL-17 concentrations as well as submaxillary gland SSA/SSB expression levels were significantly increased (P<0.05). ConclusionSubmaxillary gland antigen and salivary gland antigen can induce SS-related features in female C57BL/6J mice. The SS-related phenotype is more pronounced in the submaxillary gland antigen group than in the salivary gland antigen group, but weaker than that in spontaneously SS-prone female NOD/LtJ mice. Immunization of male C57BL/6J mice with submaxillary or salivary gland antigens fails to induce an obvious SS phenotype.

ObjectiveBy starting with the combination of Os Draconis， Bupleuri Radix， and Ostreae Concha， the role of mineral medicine Os Draconis in the combination of the Bupleuri Radix-containing tri-herbal medicines was preliminarily explored from the perspective of supramolecular system formation. Method① The appearance and Tyndall phenomenon of single decoction of Os Draconis， Bupleuri Radix， and Ostreae Concha， as well as co-decoction of Bupleuri Radix-Os Draconis， Bupleuri Radix-Os Draconis-Ostreae Concha， and Bupleuri Radix-Ostreae Concha were observed， and the average particle size， dispersion coefficient， and Zeta potential of suspension particles in each decoction were determined. The micromorphology of supramolecular structures was observed by scanning electron microscope （SEM）. ② The pH of different compatibility systems， liquid viscosity coefficient， liquid surface tension， freeze-dried powder yield rate， and other physical properties were determined， and the interaction of different compatibility systems was detected by infrared absorption spectroscopy （FTIR） and UV-visible spectrophotometry （UV-Vis）. ③ The composition and content difference of different compatible systems were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography （HPLC） and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry （UPLC-Q-TOF-MS）. ResultCompared with the single decoction， the co-decoction had more obvious turbidity and Tyndall phenomenon. The particles in the co-decoction suspension were smaller and more evenly distributed， and the Zeta potential was reduced， indicating a more stable system. Under SEM， Bupleuri Radix was irregularly lamellar， and Bupleuri Radix-Os Draconis and Bupleuri Radix-Os Draconis-Ostreae Concha were mainly spherical nanoparticles. Bupleuri Radix-Ostreae Concha was irregularly lamellar， with a small number of spherical nanoparticles. The pH of the single decoction of Bupleuri Radix and co-decoction increased， and the viscosity coefficient increased. The liquid surface tension decreased. The freeze-dried powder yield rate of the Bupleuri Radix-Os Draconis co-decoction was the highest， followed by Bupleuri Radix-Ostreae Concha decoction and Bupleuri Radix-Os Draconis-Ostreae Concha decoction， and the yield rate of Bupleuri Radix single decoction was the lowest. The main change of FTIR was the stretching vibration of -OH， and the co-decoction moved to the low-frequency direction obviously. UV-Vis showed that the maximum absorption occurred at 295.8 nm for all groups， and the absorption intensity was different （Bupleuri Radix-Os Draconis>Bupleuri Radix-Os Draconis-Ostreae Concha>Bupleuri Radix-Ostreae Concha>Bupleuri Radix）. The components of Bupleuri Radix were used as the indexes， and the content of methanol extract determined by HPLC was higher than that of water extract， and the components of Bupleuri Radix single decoction were mainly saikosaponin a （SSa） and saikosaponin c （SSc）， which were slightly higher after co-decoction compatibility. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS could identify 37 compounds in both single decoction and co-decoction. ConclusionThe combination of Bupleuri Radix， Os Draconis， and Ostreae Concha can form a smaller， more uniform， and stable nano-sized supramolecular system， which is conducive to the dissolution of the main components of Bupleuri Radix， and the Os Draconis contributes the most in this process.

Objective To investigate clinical features and risk factors for recurrent syncope in children with orthostatic intolerance.Methods Patients with orthostatic intolerance and syncope admitted in the Second Hospital of Lanzhou University from January 2014 to June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed by using t test,Chi -square test,and Fisher′s exact probability method.According to frequency of syncope,all cases were divided into 2 groups,the occasio-nal syncope group and the recurrent syncope group.All risk factors including age,gender,body mass index(BMI),in-ducement,the history of motion sickness,family history,syncope -related injuries,performance of head -up tilt table test,and outcomes of head -up tilt table test were studied statistically and compared within 2 different groups.Results A total of 83 cases were enrolled in this study.Among these children,33 cases(39.76%)were assigned as occasio-nal syncope group,in which 17 cases were male and 16 cases were female and the age ranged from 6 to 18 years with the average age of (9.70 ±2.87)years;50 cases(60.24%)were assigned as recurrent syncope group,in which 27 ca-ses were male and 23 cases were female and the age ranged from 6 to 18 years with the average age of (11.24 ±2.83) years.Of all the investigated risk factors,the BMI and the history of motion sickness were significantly different between 2 groups[(18.84 ±3.49)kg/m2 vs (18.16 ±3.68)kg/m2 ,t =4.82,P =0.001;39.39%(13 /33 cases)vs 70.00%(35 /50 cases),χ2 =7.64,P =0.006].No significant difference was found in age distribution(6 -9 years,10 -14 years,15 -18 years)between 2 groups(P =0.428).There were no significant differences in gender (male /female), family history,or syncope -related injuries between 2 groups[17 /16 cases vs 27 /23 cases;3.03%(1 /33 cases)vs 10.00%(5 /50 cases);15.15%(5 /33 cases)vs 20.00%(10 /50 cases),all P >0.05].And no significant difference was found in inducement (prolonged standing,body posture change,emotional stress/emotional stimuli,muggy environ-ment,movement)between 2 groups [78.79% (23 /33 cases)vs 72.00% (36 /50 cases);9.09% (3 /33 cases)vs 14.00%(7 /50 cases);3.03%(1 /33 cases)vs 6.00%(3 /50 cases);12.12% (4 /33 cases)vs 10.00% (5 /50 cases);3.03%(1 /33 cases)and 12.00%(6 /50 cases),all P >0.05].And performances of head -up tilt table test (blurred vision/blacked out,nausea/vomiting,sweating,dizzy/headache,palpation,anhelation /chest tightness,hot, weak)between 2 groups showed no significant differences[18.18%(6 /33 cases)vs 12.00%(6 /50 cases);36.36%(12 /33 cases)vs 50.00%(25 /50 cases);24.24%(8 /33 cases)vs 26.00%(13 /50 cases);51.52%(17 /33 cases) vs 58.00%(29 /50 cases);6.06%(2 /33 cases)vs 16.00%(8 /50 cases);27.27%(9 /33 cases)vs 22.00%(11 /33 cases);33.33%(11 /33 cases)vs 32.00%(16 /50 cases);12.12%(4 /33 cases)vs 16.00%(8 /50 cases),all P >0.05].Also there were no significant differences in outcomes of head -up tilt table test between 2 groups(P =0.589). Conclusions The risk factors for recurrent syncope in children with orthostatic intolerance were low BMI and the his-tory of motion sickness for such children,and more positive and effective clinical intervention can improve the living quality of children with orthostatic intolerance to some extent.