In this study, five polysaccharides from Lycium barbarum(LBPs)(LBP-1-LBP-5) were selectively extracted by different extraction methods, and the chemical composition, structural characteristics, and biological activities of LBPs were explored. The results of chemical composition analysis showed that alkaloids were not detected in the five LBPs. The total polysaccharide content was(81.95%±1.6%)-(92.96%±0.76%), the uronic acid content was(8.26%±0.46%)-(24.81%±0.46%), and the protein content was(0.06%±0.03%)-(1.35%±0.13%). The monosaccharide compositions of the five LBPs were basically same, mainly including glucose, xylose, and galactose. However, there was significant difference in the content ratio of different monosaccharide. The results of infrared spectra analysis indicated that the five LBPs had typical infrared spectral characteristics of polysaccharides. The results of nuclear magnetic resonance characteristic spectrum analysis revealed that the five LBPs had two configurations of α and β. Meanwhile, there were triple helix structures in LBP-2, LBP-3, and LBP-4, which enhanced the activities of polysaccharides. The results of activities screening suggested that the biological activities of the five LBPs were significantly different. LBP-3 showed the highest lipid oxidation clearance rate, and its antioxidant activity was equivalent to that of the positive control group. The inhibitory rate of LBP-4 on α-amylase and its activation rate of alcohol dehydrogenase were better than those of other fractions, and the inhibitory rate of LBP-4 on α-amylase was slightly higher than that of the positive control group when the mass concentration was 10 g·L~(-1). LBP-2 showed stronger inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase and hyaluronidase. This study provides references for the precise development and utilization of LBPs.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Lycium/chemistry* ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Polysaccharides/chemistry* ; Monosaccharides

Adaptation, Psychological ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Beijing/epidemiology* ; Breast Neoplasms/psychology* ; Case-Control Studies ; Educational Status ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors

Objective:Endometriosis is a common gynecologic disease that frequently leading to chronic pelvic pain,severe dysmenorrhea,and subfertility.As first-line hormonal treatment can interfere with ovulation and may cause recurrent pelvic pain,exploration of new non-hormonal therapeutic approaches becomes increasingly necessary.This review aimed to evaluate the pre-clinical and clinical efficacy and safety of non-hormonal treatment for endometriosisData sources:Databases including PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,SINOMED,ClinicalTrials.gov,and Google Scholar were searched up to October 2019,using search terms "endometriosis" and "non-hormonal therapy."Study selection:Twenty-four articles were reviewed for analysis,including nine animal studies and 15 human trials;all were published in English.Results:Twenty-four articles were identified,including 15 human trials with 861 patients and nine animal studies.Some agents have been evaluated clinically with significant efficacy in endometriosis-related pelvic pain and subfertility,such as rofecoxib,etanercept,pentoxifylline,N-palmitoylethanolamine,resveratrol,everolimus,cabergoline (Cb2),and simvastatin.Other drugs with similar pharmacological properties,like parecoxib,celecoxib,endostatin,rapamycin,quinagolide,and atorvastatin,have only been tested in animal studies.Conclusions:Clinical data about most of the non-hormonal agents are not sufficient to support them as options for replacement therapy for endometriosis.In spite of this,a few drugs like pentoxifylline showed strong potential for real clinical application.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of 2-month course of sleeping position correction in the treatment of positional plagiocephaly in infants aged <8 months.

METHODSA total of 73 infants with positional plagiocephaly between January 2015 and June 2016 were divided into treatment group (n=46) and control group (n=27) according to parents' wishes. The treatment group received sleeping position correction, while the control group received sleep curve mattress. The oblique diameters A and B in the two groups were measured and the cranial vault asymmetry (CVA) was calculated before and after treatment. The severity of positional plagiocephaly based on CVA was compared between the two groups before and after treatment. The Gesell Developmental Scale was used to determine the developmental quotients (DQs) in the motor, adaptive, language, and social domains in the two groups before and after treatment.

RESULTSBefore treatment, there were no significant differences in oblique diameters A and B, CVA, and DQs in the four specific domains between the two groups (P>0.05). After 2 months of treatment, the treatment group had a significantly greater oblique diameter B and a significantly smaller CVA than the control group (P<0.05); there were no significant differences in DQs in the four specific domains between the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment, both groups had significant improvements in oblique diameters A and B, CVA, and DQs in the motor and adaptive domains (P<0.01); moreover, the treatment group showed a significant improvement in the DQs in the social domain (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the severity of positional plagiocephaly between the two groups before and after treatment (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFor infants with positional plagiocephaly, sleeping position correction has better efficacy and is more convenient and economical than the sleep curve mattress, so it holds promise for clinical application.

Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Plagiocephaly, Nonsynostotic ; etiology ; therapy ; Posture ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sleep

Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Phenotype ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics ; immunology

INTRODUCTIONThis study aimed to determine the early growth patterns of preterm infants who required prolonged hospitalisation in terms of body weight Z-score, and to explore the influencing factors and predictors of their growth.

METHODSThe criteria of enrolment included preterm birth, singleton pregnancy, hospitalisation within the first 24 hours of life, hospital stay ≥ 28 days and clinical follow-up beyond 91 days of corrected age. Body weight Z-scores and the incidence of underweight infants were reviewed periodically, and the influencing factors and possible predictors of growth analysed.

RESULTSBody weight Z-scores of all infants of gestational age (GA) groups kept decreasing, with a trough seen at 36 weeks corrected gestational age (CGA). At corrected full-term, body weight Z-scores for all birth weight groups achieved birth level and were higher than that at 36 weeks CGA. Body weight Z-scores at 61 days corrected age was (-0.300 × GA [weeks] + 0.210 × birth weight [g] + 0.682 × body weight Z-score) at 40 weeks CGA. The cut-off values for body weight Z-score at birth (cut-off, -1.79; sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 91.3%) and 61 days corrected age (cut-off, -1.95; sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 97.1%) were selected to predict the risk of being underweight at 183 days corrected age.

CONCLUSIONEarly growth restriction is a practical problem in preterm infants with prolonged hospitalisation. Body weight Z-scores at 40 weeks CGA and 61 days corrected age can be used to predict body weight gain prior to 183 days corrected age in these infants.

Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gestational Age ; Growth Disorders ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; growth & development ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Length of Stay ; trends ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; epidemiology

BACKGROUNDSpontaneous attack of variant angina (VA) is a unique component of coronary artery disease (CAD), and associated with severe cardiac events. However, no data are available regarding sex differences in Chinese patients with spontaneous attacks of VA. Accordingly, the present retrospective study was initiated to evaluate the Clinical characteristics of Chinese female patients with spontaneous attacks of VA.

METHODSFrom January 2003 to January 2008, a total of 209 patients were diagnosed to have had a spontaneous attack of VA at Fu Wai Hospital. Of them, 27 were female, and their clinical findings were collected and compared with male patients for aspects of risk factors, clinical features and angiographical findings.

RESULTSSpontaneous attacks of VA was relatively uncommon in female (12.9%) compared with male patients. The female patients were less likely to have a history of smoking (14.8% vs. 79.7%, P < 0.001), more likely to have a family history of CAD (33.3% vs. 11.0%, P < 0.01), and to have had a greater incidence of ventricular fibrillation during attack (11.1% vs. 2.2%, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in other characteristics between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONChinese female patients who experienced a spontaneous attack of VA had the characteristics of less smoking history, more family history of CAD and higher occurrence of ventricular fibrillation than male patients.

Adult ; Angina Pectoris, Variant ; pathology ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Coronary Angiography ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Factors

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the incidence of intra- and extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) and growth restriction in premature infants, and to illustrate the growth pattern of them in postnatal and infantile period.

METHODSAll premature infants were admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during the recent 7 years. The criteria for enrollment were (1) gestational age < 37 weeks; (2) single fetus; (3) admitted within the first 24 hours of life; (4) hospitalization period ≥ 14 days; (5) clinical follow-up persisted till ≥ 3 months of corrected gestational age. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), EUGR and growth restriction were defined as having a measured growth value (weight) that was ≤ 10(th) percentile of Chinese infants' growth curve in corrected age on admission, discharge and follow-up period. Results were analyzed by using SPSS 12.0 statistical software package by chi-square test, rank-sum test, and t test.

RESULTSTwo hundred and thirty nine infants were involved, 134 were boys and 105 girls. The incidence of IUGR and EUGR assessed by weight was 25.5% and 40.6%, respectively. The lower the birth weight was, the higher the incidence of IUGR and EUGR was. The percentile of body weight in the growth curve at discharge was lower than that at birth (Z = -7.784, P = 0.000). The incidence of growth restriction assessed by weight was 20.5%, 15.0%, 8.8%, 17.0%, 10.4%, 10.1%, 11.9%, 7.0% at corrected gestational age of 38 - 40 weeks, corrected age of 28 d, 61 d, 91 d, 122 d, 152 d, 183 d, and 274 d, respectively. The incidences of growth restriction were stable when the corrected age was older than 91 days. The incidence of growth restriction in female premature infants at 183 days' corrected age was higher than that in male children (χ(2) = 6.181, P = 0.017), the incidence was 19.3% and 3.8% respectively. During the follow-up period, most of the average body weight of premature infants whose gestational age was < 32 weeks or birth weight ≤ 1500 g were lower than the 50(th) percentile of the growth curve except the average body weight of boys whose gestational age < 32 weeks at corrected age of 2 and 4 months.

CONCLUSIONSPremature and/or low birth weight infants are at high risk of growth restriction, especially very low birth weight infants. The incidence of growth restriction decreased with growth. Long-term prognosis requires further investigation.

Body Weight ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; growth & development ; Male ; Weight Gain

BACKGROUNDStroke and traumatic injury to the nerve system may trigger axonal destruction and the formation of scar tissue, cystic cavitations and physical gaps. Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) can secrete neurotrophic factors to promote neurite growth and thus act as a prime candidate for autologous transplantation. Biological scaffolds can provide a robust delivery vehicle to injured nerve tissue for neural cell transplantation strategies, owing to the porous three-dimensional structures (3D). So transplantation of the purposeful cells seeded scaffolds may be a promising method for nerve tissue repair. This study aimed to evaluate the compatibility of a novel collagen-heparan sulfate biological scaffold with olfactory ensheathing cells in vitro.

METHODSCollagen-heparan sulfate (CHS) biological scaffolds were made, and then the scaffolds and OECs were co-cultured in vitro. The viability of OECs was tested by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay at days 1, 3, 5 and 7. Statistical analysis was evaluated by student's t test. Significance was accepted at P < 0.05. OECs were labeled with carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE), and the CFSE-labeled OECs were seeded into CHS scaffolds. The attachment and growth of OECs in CHS scaffolds were observed and traced directly by fluorescent microscopy and environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM).

RESULTSCHS biological scaffolds had steady porous 3D structures and no cytotoxicity to OECs (F = 0.14, P = 0.9330). CHS biological scaffolds were good bridging materials for OECs attachment and proliferation, and they promoted the axonal growth.

CONCLUSIONThe compatibility of CHS biological scaffolds with OECs is pretty good and CHS biological scaffold is a promising cell carrier for the implantation of OECs in nerve tissue bioengineering.

Animals ; Cell Adhesion ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen ; chemistry ; Flow Cytometry ; Heparitin Sulfate ; chemistry ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Olfactory Pathways ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds ; adverse effects ; chemistry

Objective To observe the curative effect of Shuxuetong injection on intracerebral hemorrhage at acute phase. Methods Sixty patients with intracerebral hemorrhage at acute phase were randomly divided into treatment group and control group (n=30). The treatment group intravenously received 6 mL Shuxuetong daily for 15 consecutive d and control group was treated with routine treatment. CT was performed to evaluate the volumes of hematomas, the changes of low-density areas surrounding the hematomas on the 1st, 7th and 15th d of treatment, respectively. The neurologic impairment evaluation scores were recorded with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Monitor on plasma fibrinogen level was performed in both groups. Results No significant differences on the volumes ofhematomas, low-density areas surrounding the hematomas, neurologic impairment evaluation scores, and plasma fibrinogen level were noted between the 2 groups on the admission day (P＞0.05). On the 7th and 15th d of treatment, volumes of hematomas, low-density areas surrounding the hematomas and neurologic impairment evaluation scores in the treatment group reduced significantly as compared with those in the control group (P＜0.05), however, plasma fibrinogen level was not statistically different between the 2 groups (P＞0.05). Conclusion Shuxuetong injection is superior to routine treatment in reduction of volumes of hematomas, low-density areas surrounding the hematomas, neurologic impairment evaluation scores, but not in reduction of plasma fibrinogen level.