Syringa pinnatifolia, belonging to the family Oleaceae, is a species endemic to China. It is predominantly distributed in the Helan Mountains region of Inner Mongolia and Ningxia of China. The peeled roots, stems, and thick branches have been used as a distinctive Mongolian medicinal material known as "Shan-chen-xiang", which has effects such as suppressing "khii", clearing heat, and relieving pain and is employed for the treatment of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases and joint pain. Over the past five years, significant increase was achieved in research on chemical constituents and pharmacological effects. There were a total of 130 new constituents reported, covering sesquiterpenoids, lignans, and alkaloids. Its effects of anti-myocardial ischemia, anti-cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, sedation, and analgesia were revealed, and the mechanisms of agarwood formation were also investigated. To better understand its medical value and potential of clinical application, this review updates the research progress in recent five years focusing on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of S. pinnatifolia, providing reference for subsequent research on active ingredient and support for its innovative application in modern medicine system.
Medicine, Mongolian Traditional ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Syringa/chemistry*

Objective:To investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics of a male carrier of exceptional complex chromo-some rearrangement(CCR)and the outcome of preimplantation genetic testing for chromosomal structural rearrangement(PGT-SR).Methods:Using the modified high resolution G banding technique and whole-genome low-coverage sequencing(WGLCS),we analyzed the cellular karyotype and molecular karyotype of a male carrier of CCR,performed an analysis of the single-sperm chromosome copy number and conducted PGT-SR for the patient by next-generation sequencing(NGS).In addition,we reviewed the literature on repor-ted male carriers of CCRs and summarized their normal/balanced sperm ratios and PGT-SR outcomes.Results:The karyotype of the patient was 46,XY,der(5)inv(5)(q14.3q23.2)t(5;14;11)(q23.2;q31.1;q21),der(11)t(5;14;11);der(14)t(5;14;11),with the translocation breakpoints located in the intergenic region.Single-sperm sequencing revealed 20.0%(7/35)of normal haploids in the male's spermatozoa,and the results PGT-SR showed a proportion of 25.0%(4/16)of normal/balanced embryos.After thawing and transferring of 2 euploid blastocysts,a healthy male infant was successfully delivered.Conclusion:The proportion of normal hap-loids in the spermatozoa of male CCR carriers may be higher than theoretically predicted,and PGT-SR can effectively improve the preg-nancy outcome in male CCR carriers and provide valuable data for genetic counseling.

Objective: To identify the risk factors in mortality of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Methods: Second analysis of the data collected in the "efficacy of pulmonary surfactant (PS) in the treatment of children with moderate to severe PARDS" program. Retrospective case summary of the risk factors of mortality of children with moderate to severe PARDS who admitted in 14 participating tertiary PICU between December 2016 to December 2021. Differences in general condition, underlying diseases, oxygenation index, and mechanical ventilation were compared after the group was divided by survival at PICU discharge. When comparing between groups, the Mann-Whitney U test was used for measurement data, and the chi-square test was used for counting data. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the accuracy of oxygen index (OI) in predicting mortality. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for mortality. Results: Among 101 children with moderate to severe PARDS, 63 (62.4%) were males, 38 (37.6%) were females, aged (12±8) months. There were 23 cases in the non-survival group and 78 cases in the survival group. The combined rates of underlying diseases (52.2% (12/23) vs. 29.5% (23/78), χ²=4.04, P=0.045) and immune deficiency (30.4% (7/23) vs. 11.5% (9/78), χ²=4.76, P=0.029) in non-survival patients were significantly higher than those in survival patients, while the use of pulmonary surfactant (PS) was significantly lower (8.7% (2/23) vs. 41.0% (32/78), χ²=8.31, P=0.004). No significant differences existed in age, sex, pediatric critical illness score, etiology of PARDS, mechanical ventilation mode and fluid balance within 72 h (all P>0.05). OI on the first day (11.9(8.3, 17.1) vs.15.5(11.7, 23.0)), the second day (10.1(7.6, 16.6) vs.14.8(9.3, 26.2)) and the third day (9.2(6.6, 16.6) vs. 16.7(11.2, 31.4)) after PARDS identified were all higher in non-survival group compared to survival group (Z=-2.70, -2.52, -3.79 respectively, all P<0.05), and the improvement of OI in non-survival group was worse (0.03(-0.32, 0.31) vs. 0.32(-0.02, 0.56), Z=-2.49, P=0.013). ROC curve analysis showed that the OI on the thind day was more appropriate in predicting in-hospital mortality (area under the curve= 0.76, standard error 0.05,95%CI 0.65-0.87,P<0.001). When OI was set at 11.1, the sensitivity was 78.3% (95%CI 58.1%-90.3%), and the specificity was 60.3% (95%CI 49.2%-70.4%). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age, sex, pediatric critical illness score and fluid load within 72 h, no use of PS (OR=11.26, 95%CI 2.19-57.95, P=0.004), OI value on the third day (OR=7.93, 95%CI 1.51-41.69, P=0.014), and companied with immunodeficiency (OR=4.72, 95%CI 1.17-19.02, P=0.029) were independent risk factors for mortality in children with PARDS. Conclusions: The mortality of patients with moderate to severe PARDS is high, and immunodeficiency, no use of PS and OI on the third day after PARDS identified are the independent risk factors related to mortality. The OI on the third day after PARDS identified could be used to predict mortality.
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Child ; Critical Illness ; Pulmonary Surfactants/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome/therapy*

The peeled stems of Syringa pinnatifolia(SP) is a representative Mongolian folk medicine with the effects of anti-depression, heat clearance, pain relief, and respiration improvement. It has been clinically used for the treatment of coronary heart disease, insomnia, asthma, and other cardiopulmonary diseases. As part of the systematic study on pharmacological substances of SP, 11 new sesquiterpenoids were isolated from the terpene-containing fractions of the ethanol extract of SP by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance(~1H-NMR) guided isolation methods. The planar structures of the sesquiterpenoids were identified by MS, 1D NMR, and 2D NMR data analysis, and were named pinnatanoids C and D(1 and 2), and alashanoids T-ZI(3-11), respectively. The structure types of the sesquiterpenoids included pinnatane, humulane, seco-humulane, guaiane, carryophyllane, seco-erimolphane, isodaucane, and other types. However, limited to the low content of compounds, the existence of multiple chiral centers, the flexibility of the structure, or lack of ultraviolet absorption, the stereoscopic configuration remained unresolved. The discovery of various sesquiterpenoids enriches the understanding of the chemical composition of the genus and species and provides references for further analysis of pharmacological substances of SP.
Syringa ; Sesquiterpenes ; Terpenes ; Asthma ; Chromatography, Liquid

Aim To explore the effects of cinnamaldehyde on the proliferation and stemness of pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells, and its possible mechanism of action.Methods CCK8 assay was used to detect the effect of cinnamaldehyde treatment on cell viability at different concentrations(0, 5, 15, 20, 30, 50, 70, 100, 150 μmol·L-1)and different intervention time(24, 48, 72 h).CFSE proliferation assay was used to detect the inhibitory effects of cinnamaldehyde on PANC-1 cells.Colony formation assay was employed to determine the colony-forming ability of PANC-1 cells after cinnamaldehyde treatment.The sphere formation assay was employed to detect the effects of cinnamaldehyde on sphere-forming ability in PANC-1 cells.Western blot analysis and qRT-PCR analysis were applied to determine the expression levels of Nanog, Sox-2 and Oct-4.Flow cytometry was used to detect the percentage of CD44+CD24+ cells and ALDH+ cells in cinnamaldehyde treated and untreated PANC-1 cells.Western blot analysis was used to detect the effects of cinnamaldehyde on the expression of CD44s, p-STAT3 and STAT3 in PANC-1 cells.Results Cinnamaldehyde suppressed cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and inhibited tumor-cell proliferation and colony forming ability significantly in a dose-dependent manner in PANC-1 cells.Sphere-forming assay showed that cinnamaldehyde could significantly inhibit sphere-forming ability in suspension culture of PANC-1 cells.The mRNA and protein expression levels of three stemness-related genes were down-regulated after cinnamaldehyde treatment.In addition, cinnamaldehyde treatment significantly decreased the proportion of CD44+CD24+ cells and ALDH+ cells.Western blotting showed that cinnamaldehyde inhibited the expression of CD44s and p-STAT3, while it had no effect on the expression of STAT3.With the addition of STAT3 activator(Colivelin TFA), the inhibition of cinnamaldehyde on proliferation and tumor-cell stemness in PANC-1 cells was partially rescued.Conclusions Cinnamaldehyde significantly inhibits the proliferation and tumor-cell stemness of pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells, and the mechanism could be related to the modulation of CD44s/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Objective To compare the effects of levo-praziquantel (L-PZQ) and dextro-praziquantel (D-PZQ) on the proliferation and activation of the human hepatic stellate cell line LX-2 in vitro. Methods LX-2 cells were stimulated with transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). LX-2 cell proliferation was measured using the CCK-8 assay after 24 h stimulation with 0 to 50 μg/mL concentrations of praziquantel, and the gene and protein expression of type Ⅰ collagen (collagen Ⅰ), type Ⅲ collagen (collagen Ⅲ) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was quantified in LX-2 cells using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and Western blotting assays 24 h and 48 h following stimulation with 15 μg/mL praziquantel to detect LX-2 cell activation. Results There were significant differences in the survival rate of LX-2 cells between L-PZQ and D-PZQ treatments at all concentrations (F = 6.119 and 79.180, both P values < 0.05). Either L-PZQ or D-PZQ at a concentration of < 30 μg/mL showed no remarkableeffectsonthe LX-2 cell proliferation (both P values > 0.05), and L-PZQ at a concentration of > 50 μg/mL and D-PZQ at a concentration of > 40 μg/mL inhibited the LX-2 cell proliferation (both P values < 0.05), while D-PZQ at concentrations of 40 μg/mL and 50 μg/mL showed greater inhibition on LX-2 cell proliferation than L-PZQ (t = 3.419 and 8.776, both P values < 0.05). There were significant differences in the collagen Ⅰ, collagen Ⅲ and α-SMA expression in LX-2 cells at both transcriptional (F = 21.55, 79.99 and 46.70, all P values < 0.05) and translational levels (F = 20.12, 30.29 and 32.93, all P values < 0.05) among the blank control group, TGF-β stimulation group, L-PZQ treatment group and D-PZQ treatment group. L-PZQ treatment resulted in remarkable inhibition on collagen Ⅲ and α-SMA gene expression in LX-2 cells (both P values < 0.05); however, the treatment showed no remarkable inhibition collagen Ⅰ gene expression or collagen Ⅰ, collagen Ⅲ or α-SMA protein expression in LX-2 cells (all P values > 0.05). In addition, D-PZQ treatment resulted in significant inhibition on collagen Ⅰ, collagen Ⅲ and α-SMA expression in LX-2 cells at both translational and transcriptional levels (all P values < 0.05), and D-PZQ showed higher inhibition on collagen Ⅰ, collagen Ⅲ and α-SMA gene expression in LX-2 cells than L-PZQ (all P values < 0.05). Conclusions Both L-PZQ and D-PZQ inhibit the proliferation and activation of LX-2 cells, and D-PZQ shows a higher inhibitory activity than L-PZQ.

Objective To test the activity of aromatic pyrrole-based compounds against cercariae of Schistosoma japonicum and test their acute toxicity to fish. Methods A series of aromatic pyrrole-based compounds were synthesized using 4-benzyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrrole-3-nitrile as the lead compound. The synthesized compounds were prepared into solutions at concentrations of 10.00, 1.00, 0.10, 0.01 mg/L, and the activity of these solutions against S. japonicum cercariae was tested in 30 min, while 0.10 mg/L and 0.01 mg/L niclosamide solutions served as a positive control and dechlorinated water with 1% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was used as a negative control, with 10 to 30 cercariae of S. japonicum in each group. In addition, the compounds were prepared into solutions at concentrations of 0.50, 0.25, 0.12, 0.06, 0.03 mg/L, and their toxicity to zebrafish was tested in 72 h, while 0.15 mg/L and 0.30 mg/L niclosamide solutions served as a positive control and dechlorinated water with 1% DMSO was used as a negative control, with 10 zebrafishes in each group. Results A total of 7 aromatic pyrrole-based compounds were successfully synthesized. Treatment with compounds 102, 104 and 106 at a concentration of 0.01 mg/L for 30 min killed all S. japonicum cercariae, and compounds 105 and 107 showed no activity against cercariae. No death of cercariae was found in the blank control group, while treatment with 0.10 mg/L niclosamide for 10 min caused a 100% mortality rate of S. japonicum cercariae and 0.01 mg/L niclosamide failed to kill S. japonicum cercariae. No zebrafish death was found 72 h post-treatment with compounds 101, 104 and 105 at a concentration of 0.03 mg/L, and exposure to compounds 102, 103 and 106 at a concentration of 0.03 mg/L for 12 h resulted in a 100% mortality rate of zebrafish. No zebrafish death occurred 72 h post-treatment with 0.50 mg/L Compound 104, and no zebrafish death was found in the blank control group, while treatment with 0.30 mg/L niclosamide for 24 h resulted in a 100% mortality rate of zebrafish. Conclusions Compound 104 achieves a 100% mortality rate against S. japonicum cercariae at a concentration of 0.01 mg/L for 30 min, and causes no death of zebrafish at a concentration of 0.50 mg/L for 72 h, which may serve as a cercaricide candidate.

Immune checkpoints (ICs) are immunosuppressive molecules expressed on immune cells, which can regulate immune cells' activation. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) which can block the interaction of immune checkpoints and their ligands, improve the cytotoxic effect of the immune system on tumor cells. Immunotherapy such as employing ICIs has gradually become a conventional therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. However, the low response rate and the emergence of drug resistance have seriously affected the clinical efficacy of ICIs. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are electronic reduction products of active oxygen, as well as natural by-products of cell metabolism, which can be used as regulators of intercellular signals. Tumor microenvironment (TME) is often in the state of oxidative stress (OS), which is the imbalance between oxidative system and antioxidant system. ROS can affect the interaction with its ligands by regulating the expression and activity of immune checkpoints in TME, thus affecting the anti-tumor effect of immune cells. Accumulating studies have shown that ROS could regulate tumor immune checkpoints through several pathways. Due to different types and stages of tumor, it would be clinical beneficial to understand the mechanistic link of ROS on tumor immune checkpoint, and choose appropriate ROS regulators combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors to maximize anti-tumor effects. This article reviews the common metabolic sources and characteristics of ROS, the regulatory effect and mechanism of ROS on tumor immune checkpoints and its therapeutic application.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the storage stability of metabolites from actinomycetes Streptomyces nigrogriseolus XD 2-7 and the mollcuscicidal activity against Oncomelania hupensis in the laboratory, and to preliminarily explore the mechanisms of the molluscicidal activity. METHODS: The fermentation supernatant of S. nigrogriseolus XD 2-7 was prepared and stored at -20, 4 °C and 28 °C without light for 10 d; then, the molluscicidal effect was tested against O. hupensis following immersion for 72 h. The fermentation supernatant was boiled in a 100 °C water bath for 30 min and recovered to room temperature, and then the molluscicidal effect was tested against O. hupensis following immersion for 72 h. The pH values of the fermentation supernatant were adjusted to 4.0, 6.0 and 9.0 with concentrated hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide, and the fermentation supernatant was stilled at room temperature for 12 h, with its pH adjusted to 7.0; then, the molluscicidal effect was tested against O. hupensis following immersion for 72 h. The fermentation product of S. nigrogriseolus XD 2-7was isolated and purified four times with macroporous resin, silica gel and octadecylsilane bonded silica gel. The final products were prepared into solutions at concentrations of 10.00, 5.00, 2.50, 1.25 mg/L and 0.63 mg/L, and the molluscicidal effect of the final productswas tested against O. hupensis following immersion for 72 h, while dechlorination water served as blank controls, and 0.10 mg/L niclosamide served as positive control. The adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) levels were measured in in O. hupensis soft tissues using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) following exposure to the final purified fermentation products of S. nigrogriseolus XD 2-7. RESULTS: After the fermentation supernatant of S. nigrogriseolus XD 2-7 was placed at -20, 4 °C and 28 °C without light for 10 d, immersion in the stock solution and solutions at 10- and 50-fold dilutions for 72 h resulted in a 100% (30/30) O. hupensis mortality. Following boiling at 100 °C for 30 min, immersion in the stock solution and solutions at 10- and 50-fold dilutions for 72 h resulted in a 100.00% (30/30) O. hupensis mortality. Following storage at pH values of 4.0 and 6.0 for 12 h, immersion in the fermentation supernatant of S. nigrogriseolus XD 2-7 for 72 h resulted in a 100.00% (30/30) O. hupensis mortality, and following storage at a pH value of 9.0 for 12 h, immersion in the fermentation supernatant of S. nigrogriseolus XD 2-7 for 72 h resulted in a 33.33% (10/30) O. hupensis mortality (χ² = 30.000, P < 0.05). The minimum concentration of the final purified fermentation products of S. nigrogriseolus XD 2-7 was 1.25 mg/L for achieving a 100% (30/30) O. hupensis mortality. The ATP level was significantly lower in O. hupensis soft tissues exposed to 0.10 mg/L and 1.00 mg/L of the final purified fermentation products of S. nigrogriseolus XD 2-7 than in controls (F = 7.274, P < 0.05), while no significant difference was detected in the ADP level between the treatment group and controls (F = 2.485, P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The active mollcuscicidal ingredients of the S. nigrogriseolus XD 2-7 metabolites are maintained stably at -20, 4 °C and 28 °C for 10 d, and are heat and acid resistant but not alkali resistant. The metabolites from S. nigrogriseolus XD 2-7 may cause energy metabolism disorders in O. hupensis, leading to O. hupensis death.
Adenosine Diphosphate/pharmacology* ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Molluscacides/pharmacology* ; Silica Gel/pharmacology* ; Snails ; Streptomyces ; Water

Objective: To explore the heterogeneity and correlation of clinical phenotypes and genotypes in children with disorders of sex development (DSD). Methods: A retrospective study of 1 235 patients with clinically proposed DSD in 36 pediatric medical institutions across the country from January 2017 to May 2021. After capturing 277 DSD-related candidate genes, second-generation sequencing was performed to analyzed the heterogeneity and correlation combined with clinical phenotypes. Results: Among 1 235 children with clinically proposed DSD, 980 were males and 255 were females of social gender at the time of initial diagnosis with the age ranged from 1 day of age to 17.92 years. A total of 443 children with pathogenic variants were detected through molecular genetic studies, with a positive detection rate of 35.9%. The most common clinical phenotypes were micropenis (455 cases), hypospadias (321 cases), and cryptorchidism (172 cases) and common mutations detected were in SRD5A2 gene (80 cases), AR gene (53 cases) and CYP21A2 gene (44 cases). Among them, the SRD5A2 mutation is the most common in children with simple micropenis and simple hypospadias, while the AMH mutation is the most common in children with simple cryptorchidism. Conclusions: The SRD5A2 mutation is the most common genetic variant in Chinese children with DSD, and micropenis, cryptorchidism, and hypospadias are the most common clinical phenotypes. Molecular diagnosis can provide clues about the biological basis of DSD, and can also guide clinicians to perform specific clinical examinations. Target sequence capture probes and next-generation sequencing technology can provide effective and economical genetic diagnosis for children with DSD.
3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase/genetics* ; Child ; China/epidemiology* ; Cryptorchidism/genetics* ; Disorders of Sex Development/genetics* ; Female ; Genital Diseases, Male ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypospadias/genetics* ; Male ; Membrane Proteins/genetics* ; Penis/abnormalities* ; Phenotype ; Retrospective Studies ; Steroid 21-Hydroxylase/genetics*