Objective:To establish HPLC fingerprint and methods for determining the contents of four iridoid glycosides of Gentiana rigescens; To evaluate the quality of Gentiana rigescens from different origins; To improve the quality control level of Gentiana rigescens medicinal materials.Methods:Using 15 batches of Gentiana rigescens from the main production areas and authentic production areas as raw materials, the common mode of HPLC fingerprints of Gentiana rigescens was established, and the chemical components of the common peaks were identified. Referring to the common mode of fingerprints, similarity analysis was conducted on the fingerprints of Gentiana rigescens from different origins. Using chemometric methods, cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (HCA), and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were performed on 15 batches of Gentiana rigescens, with the common peak area of fingerprint as the variable. The contents of four types of iridoid glycosides in Gentiana rigescens were determined. Combined with the fingerprints and the content results of four types of iridoid glycosides, the quality of Gentiana rigescens from different origins was evaluated.Results:The fingerprints of Gentiana rigescens contained 9 common peaks, with 4 identified iridoid glycosides. The similarity of the fingerprints of 15 batches of Gentiana rigescens ranged from 0.962 to 0.999. HCA and PCA divided the 15 batches of Gentiana rigescens into two categories. OPLS-DA analyzed 3 significantly different components, namely gentiopicroside, peak 7, and loganic acid. The content determination results showed that the average contents of loganic acid, swertiamarin, and gentiopicroside in Gentiana rigescens from Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture and Yunnan Province were the highest, and the total amount of four iridoid glycosides was also significantly higher than that from other regions, indicating that the overall quality of Gentiana rigescens from Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture and Yunnan Province was relatively good.Conclusion:This method is simple, fast, accurate, and can provide reference for improving the quality standards of Gentiana rigescens.

Objective:To explore the values of peripheral blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in the differential diagnosis of cytopenic diseases.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. The clinical data of 105 newly diagnosed patients with aplastic anemia (AA), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who were admitted to Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School from August 2017 to November 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 42 patients with MDS (13 cases of hypoplastic MDS, 23 cases of non-hypoplastic MDS, 6 cases could not be classified), 42 patients with ITP, and 21 patients with AA. The peripheral blood lymphocyte count, neutrophil count, monocyte count, and platelet count of each untreated patient at the time of initial diagnosis were recorded, the NLR, MLR and PLR were calculated, and the differences of NLR, MLR and PLR among different diseases were compared; the differential diagnostic values of each index for AA, MDS and ITP were evaluated by using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results:The NLR [ M (IQR)] in ITP, AA and MDS groups was 3.08 (2.42), 0.57 (0.66) and 0.83 (1.27) ( χ2 = 56.84, P<0.001), the MLR was 0.26 (0.15), 0.13 (0.14) and 0.20 (0.33) ( χ2 = 18.71, P<0.001), and the PLR was 5.12 (9.97), 8.67 (14.21) and 49.32 (78.66) ( χ2 = 47.07, P<0.001). The best cut-off value of NLR for distinguishing ITP from MDS was 1.757, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.833 (95% CI: 0.811-0.955), while the sensitivity and specificity were 78.6% and 83.3%, respectively. The best cut-off value of NLR for distinguishing ITP from AA was 1.350, and the AUC was 0.993 (95% CI: 0.981-1.000), while the sensitivity and specificity were both 95.2%. The best cut-off value of PLR for distinguishing AA from MDS was 23.542, and the AUC was 0.841 (95% CI: 0.739-0.944), while the sensitivity and specificity were 85.7% and 73.8%, respectively. The best cut-off value of NLR for distinguishing AA from MDS was 0.764, and the AUC was 0.687 (95% CI: 0.556-0.891), while the sensitivity and specificity were 71.4% and 64.3%, respectively. The best cut-off value of MLR for distinguishing AA from MDS was 0.148, and the AUC was 0.736 (95% CI: 0.614-0.859), while the sensitivity and specificity were both 71.4%. Conclusions:The peripheral blood NLR, MLR and PLR have certain reference values for differential diagnosis of AA, MDS and ITP.

Objective To investigate the effect of afferent blockade of visceral adipose tissue(VAT)on cardiac function and cardiac neural remodeling in rats after myocardial infarction(MI).Methods After 30 healthy SPF-grade male SD rats were subjected,12 of them were randomly divided into control group(n=6)and activation group(n=6).In the activation group,low-dose capsaicin(1 mmol/L)was used to activate VAT afferent nerves,while in the control group,an equal amount of normal saline was injected,and real-time blood pressure and heart rate were monitored for 30 min.The other 18 rats were randomly assigned into sham group(n=6),MI group(n=6),and high-dose capsaicin blockade group(n=6).The MI model was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery.After MI modeling,the high-dose capsaicin blockade group was give 33 mmol/L capsaicin to block VAT afferent nerve,and the sham opera-tion group and MI group were injected with the same amount of normal saline.After 2 weeks,car-diac function was measured by echocardiography,infarct size was measured by TTC staining,heart rate variability was analyzed,and myocardial tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)was measured.The levels of myocardial superoxide dismutase(SOD)and malondialdehyde(MDA)were measured by biochemical methods.Results More significant changes in blood pressure and heart rate were observed in the activation group than the control group(P＜0.01).The MI group had obviously larger infarct size,higher LVEDD and LVESD,and increased myocardial TH density and MDA level,but lower LVEF and myocardial SOD activity than the sham group(P＜0.05).However,the infarct size,LVEDD(9.15±0.37 mm vs 10.1±0.85 mm),LVESD(6.33±0.40 mm vs 7.87±0.86 mm)were obviously decreased,while LVEF[(67.04±3.34)％vs(47.10±3.89)％]and myocar-dial FS[(33.26±2.50)％vs(20.81±2.14)％]activity were greatly increased in the high dose capsaicin group than the MI group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Activation of VAT afferent nerve can increase blood pressure and heart rate;while its blockade can reduce the infarct size,protect cardiac function and inhibit cardiac nerve remodeling in MI rats,possibly by reducing oxidative stress.

Objective:To investigate the effect of tocilizumab (TCZ) on ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) after myocardial infarction (MI) in Sprague-Dawley rats and explore its potential mechanism.Methods:The random number table method was used to divide 32 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats into 4 groups: Sham group, TCZ group, MI group and MI+TCZ group, with 8 rats in each group. The MI model was established by ligation of the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery in the MI and MI+TCZ groups, and only sutured without ligation in the Sham and TCZ groups. TCZ was injected into the left superior cervical ganglion (SCG) of rats in the TCZ and MI+TCZ groups after successful modeling or sham operation, and the same amount of normal saline was injected in the Sham and MI groups. 24 h after successful modeling, ECG of rats in each group was recorded, heart rate variability (HRV, including low frequency power (LF), high frequency power (HF), LF/HF ratio), QT interval, QTc interval were calculated, and left ventricular effective refractory period (ERP) and VA inducibility were measured. Myocardial infarct size and tissue changes were observed with triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining and HE staining. Real-time PCR analysis was used to detect the messager RNA (mRNA) expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 in SCG and potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily D member 2 (Kcnd2) in myocardial infarction periphery. The expression of c-fos in SCG was detected by immunofluorescence staining.Results:Compared with Sham group and MI+TCZ group, rats in MI group had higher LF and LF/HF ratio, longer QT interval and QTc interval, more VAs induced, lower HF and shorter ERP ( P all<0.05). Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining and HE staining showed that rats in the Sham and TCZ groups had normal myocardial tissue structure, those in the MI group had severe myocardial injury, and those in the MI+TCZ group had less myocardial injury than those in the MI group. Real-ime PCR analysis showed that compared with Sham group and MI+TCZ group, mRNA expression levels of IL-6 and STAT3 in SCG of rats in MI group were higher, and mRNA expression level of myocardial Kcnd2 was lower ( P all<0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed that the content of c-fos in SCG of rats in MI group was higher than that of Sham group and MI+TCZ group ( P all<0.05). Conclusions:TCZ may reduce neural activity of the SCG after MI by inhibiting the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby alleviating myocardial injury and inhibiting VAs.

Objective To discuss the clinical features,differential diagnosis and complication treatment of a patient with genetic visceral myopathy.Methods Medical history,physical examination and laboratory results of the patient were collected in detail.The pathology of previous surgery was reviewed.The patient's peripheral blood DNA was extracted and submitted for whole-exome sequencing.Subsequent Sanger sequencing was used to complete the pedigree verification of the mutation site.Results The patient was a young female presented with repeated in-complete intestinal obstruction since early childhood.She used to be misdiagnosed as Hirschsprung's disease for a long period and underwent multiple gastrointestinal segment resections.Her intestinal obstruction symptoms were temporarily relieved by surgeries,but severe diarrhea,mucus and bloody stools and malnutrition gradually occurred after the last operation.The patient had bacterial overgrowth in small intestinal tract and followed by intestinal op-portunistic infections secondary to chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction.The symptoms improved after anti-infection and enteral element diet treatment.Further pathological consultation and whole-exome gene sequencing confirmed the diagnosis of visceral myopathy related to ATCG2 R148L mutation.Conclusions Patients with early onset of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction and have poor response to conventional treatment are recommended to perform genetic test.The patients with hereditary visceral myopathy are susceptible to opportunistic intestinal infection.At-tentions should also be paid to the prevention and treatment of complications to avoid unnecessary surgery.

Refractory acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), which is characterized by a low sensitivity to conventional induction therapy and poor prognosis, poses significant challenges during treatment. This study reported a case of refractory T-ALL patient with mutations in the JAK1, JAK3, and STAT5B genes from Nanjing University’s Gulou Hospital. Following an unsuccessful course of standard VDLP regimen chemotherapy, the treatment was modified to include ruxolitinib in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine. Subsequent to this therapy, the patient achieved bone marrow minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity. Notably, pleural effusion and mediastinal mass significantly improved the post-chest cavity infusion of dexamethasone combined with etoposide at the same stage. The patient also underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation upon achieving bone marrow remission and was followed up until January 2024. Ruxolitinib combined with venetoclax and azacytidine has shown promising efficacy and safety in treating refractory T-ALL harboring the JAK1, JAK3, and STAT5B mutations, providing a novel therapeutic approach for such patients.

Abstract: Objective　To construct HepG2, Huh7 cell lines stably express hepatitis B virus X (HBx) mutant (C1653T, T1753C), and explore their effect on the biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Methods　The lentivirus plasmid of pLVX-HBxC1653T-IRES-tdTomato, pLVX-HBxT1753C-IRES-tdTomato were obtained by PCR site mutagenesis according to wild type ayr HBx. Double enzyme digestion and Sanger sequencing were performed for accuracy of plasmid. Blank HepG2 and Huh7 cells were used as the control group, HepG2, Huh7 cells were infected by pLVX-HBx-IRES-tdTomato, pLVX-HBxC1653T-IRES-tdTomato, and pLVX-HBxT1753C-IRES-tdTomato lentivirus solution, then monoclonal cell was selected by 0.6 μg/mL puromycin. Immunostaining and Western Blot were performed for the verification of stable strains. CCK8 assay was performed for the proliferation capacity of stable strains. Western Blot was performed for expression of EMT-related signal molecules in cells. The independent samples t-test was used for comparison between two groups. Results Double enzyme digestion and Sanger sequencing showed that that the size of the cut fragments of recombinant lentiviral plasmids was correct, and the point mutation location and base substitution were correct, suggesting that the plasmid of pLVX-HBx-IRES-tdTomato, pLVX-HBxC1653T-IRES-tdTomato, pLVX-HBxT1753C-IRES-tdTomato were constructed successfully. Immunostaining and Western blot showed that HBX were expressed in stable strains, while there was no HBX expression in the blank control group, indicating that the HepG2 and Huh7 cell lines stably expressing HBx, HBxC1653T, HBxT1753C were successfully constructed. CCK8 assay showed that the proliferation capacity of HBx and mutant were enhanced compared to the control group (P<0.01), HBx C1653T displayed further additive the effect compared to HBx (P<0.05). Moreover, HBxC1653T mutation also significantly upregulated N-cadherin expression and downregulated E-cadherin expression, thus promoting the occurrence of EMT. Conclusions　HepG2 and Huh7 cell lines stably expressing HBx, HBxC1653T, HBxT1753C were successfully constructed, HBxC1653T mutation significantly enhanced the proliferation of HCC cells and epithelial to mesenchymal transition occurrence.

Objective:To establish the quality evaluation method of Prunellae spica dispensing granules based on three quality indexes of standard decoction. Methods:Fourteen batches of Prunellae spica were collected from different habitats. According to technical requirements, fourteen batches of Prunellae spica standard decoction and three batches of formula granules were prepared and the paste-forming rates were calculated. The fingerprints of Prunellae spica standard decoction and formula granules were established by Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC). The similarity values of fingerprints between dispensing granules and standard decoction were calculated. The content and transferring rate of Rosmarinic acid were determined and calculated. Results:The average paste-forming rate of Prunellae spica was (12.59±2.32)%. The paste-forming rates of the three batches were 11.14%, 10.78% and 10.39% respectively. The average content of Rosmarinic acid in standard decoction was (18.99±9.74)mg/g. The average transferring rate was (60.58±7.87)%. The contents of three batches were 7.40 mg/g, 7.49 mg/g and 7.09 mg/g. The transferring rates were 52.06%, 50.10% and 50.40% respectively. Nine common fingerprint peaks were identified in the fingerprints of standard decoction and formula granules, two of which were identified as Rosmarinic acid and Caffeic acid by comparison of reference substance. The fingerprints similarity of Prunellae spica dispensing granules and standard decoction were 0.954, 0.973 and 0.952, respectively. Conclusions:The quality indexes of three batches of formulation granules are consistent with standard decoction. This method could provide reference for the establishment of quality standard of Prunellae spica dispensing granules.

Objective:To investigate the molecular pathogenesis of two coagulation factor Ⅺ (FⅪ) deficiency patients.Methods:Coagulant assays: activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT), normal pooled-plasma corrected APTT test, PT, PT-INR and one-stage assay of coagulation factors activities were validated to diagnose coagulation factor Ⅺ deficiency. The patients’ DNA samples were extracted and all exons and flanking sequences of F11 gene were amplified using PCR. After purified, the products of PCR were sequenced directly, the mutations were detected by comparing with wild sequences and analyzed using some bio-informatics softwares. Results:The two patients were diagnosed with coagulation factor Ⅺ deficiency due to prolonged APTT, corrected APTT and low activities of coagulation factor FⅪ. The results of APTT, FⅪ∶C were 88.1s, 1.1% and 107.1s, 3.8% , and the prolonged APTT could be corrected to normal range 32.9s and 31.5s, respectively. Through genetic analysis, we discovered compound heterozygous mutations g. 1305-1G>A and g. 1325delT in patient 1 and the sequencing results of TA plasmid clones showed that the two mutations were located on different strands of chromosomes. Compound heterozygous mutations g. 1124A>G and g. 1550C>G were detected in patient 2 resulting in Lys357Arg and Cys482Trp. Software analysis indicated the mutations probably brought amino acid sequence changed, protein features affected and splice site changed.Conclusion:Compound heterozygous mutations g. 1305-1G>A, g. 1325delT and g. 1124A>G, g. 1550C>G had been identified in two coagulation factor Ⅺ deficiency patients which might be responsible for their prolonged APTT and low FⅪ∶C. To the best of our knowledge, g. 1325delT and g. 1550C>G have been reported, while g. 1124A>G and g. 1305-1G>A are reported for the first time in the literature.

Calcific uremic arteriopathy (CUA), termed calciphylaxis, is a rare but highly fatal clinical syndrome. There is no clearly laboratory diagnostic criteria for CUA. The medium and small arterial calcification and microthrombosis discovered by skin biopsy, radiologic imaging，bone scan and the evidence of activation of the bone morphogenetic protein signal (BMPs) transduction pathway are useful for early diagnosis of this disease. The common therapies (including intravenous sodium thiosulfate (STS) and bisphosphonates, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and other symptomatic supports) are used for the management of wounds, pain, nutrition, dialysis and so on. Controlling the chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) and some complications of dialysis and drugs (such as warfarin, active vitamin D) can prevent CUA. However, CUA patients still have poor prognosis and high mortality. Since some patients progress rapidly, it is of great importance to make early diagnosis and provide effective treatments with multidisciplinary management.
Calciphylaxis ; diagnosis ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Renal Dialysis ; Uremia ; Warfarin