Objective:To investigate the protective effects of a sunscreen lotion containing Calendula extracts on children′s skin against sun exposure, as well as to evaluate its safety and tolerability when applied to children.Methods:A single-center, randomized, split-body/face study was conducted on 200 healthy children aged 3 - < 18 years, who were enrolled from Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University from July to August 2022. The participants were randomly and equally divided into Group A (the left side of the body/face topically treated with the test sunscreen, and the right side with the control sunscreen) and Group B (the right side of the body/face topically treated with the test sunscreen, and the left side with the control sunscreen) at a ratio of 1∶1. After applying the sunscreen, they were engaged in outdoor activities under sunlight. Skin tests were conducted on the temporal area, the extensor aspect of the upper arm and forearm before and after sun exposure. The test product was a mild sunscreen lotion containing Calendula extracts with the sun protection factor (SPF) being 50+ and the long-wave ultraviolet protection factor (PA) being +++, and the control product was a baby sunscreen containing licorice extracts (SPF35, PA++). Bilateral differential scales were used to assess clinical symptoms after sun exposure, erythema values to clinically evaluate erythema after sun exposure, and the multifunctional skin testing platform MPA10 to measure melanin and erythema values, stratum corneum hydration, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) at the tested sites. Related adverse events were observed and recorded during the study. The paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for the comparison of quantitative data, and chi-square test (Fisher′s exact test) for the comparison of count data. Results:Totally, 198 children completed the study and visits, including 100 males (50.5%) and 98 females (49.5%), aged from 3 to 17 years (8.11 ± 0.23 years), and there were 99 cases each in the Group A and Group B. The numbers of participants with more obvious sunburn symptoms after sun exposure in the 3 tested areas were all higher on the control side than on the test side (the temporal area: 11 cases vs. 4 cases; the extensor aspect of the upper arm: 16 cases vs. 2 cases; the extensor aspect of the forearm: 33 cases vs. 3 cases), with significant differences between the bilateral sides (all P<0.001). No significant differences were observed in the erythema values between the test side and control side in the 3 tested areas (all P > 0.05). In the extensor aspect of the upper arm and forearm, the difference in the melanin value before and after sun exposure was significantly smaller on the test side (3.57 ± 2.41, 1.74 ± 1.68, respectively) than on the control side (9.50 ± 2.21, 8.13 ± 1.87, respectively, both P < 0.001) ; in the temporal region and the extensor aspect of the upper arm and forearm, the difference in the stratum corneum hydration level before and after sun exposure was significantly greater on the test side (7.72[-2.19, 19.44], 9.56 ± 1.37, 9.05 ± 1.37, respectively) than on the control side (-3.25[-13.54, 9.94], 3.63 ± 1.32, 3.73 ± 1.31, respectively, all P < 0.001) in the temporal region and the extensor aspect of the upper arm and forearm. However, there were no significant differences in the changes in the erythema or TEWL values before and after sun exposure between the test side and control side in either of the 3 tested areas (all P > 0.05). During this study, 1 case (0.51%) experienced transient urticaria on the control side, and no serious adverse events occurred. Conclusion:The mild sunscreen lotion containing Calendula extracts demonstrated superior efficacy to the control product in improving skin symptoms after sun exposure such as hyperpigmentation among healthy children aged 3 - < 18 years, with good tolerability and a relatively low incidence of adverse reactions.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of daily use of a test emollient combined with topical glucocorticoids applied at the weekend for delaying the recurrence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children during the maintenance period.Methods:A randomized, blank-controlled, multicenter clinical study was conducted in children with moderate AD from Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University, Children′s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University and Shenzhen Children′s Hospital from March 2021 to February 2022. A total of 127 children aged 0 - 12 years with moderate AD were treated with topical glucocorticoids combined with emollients during the run-in period, 112 out of them achieved the investigator′s global assessment (IGA) score ≤ 1 point, and then the 112 patients were randomly divided into a test group (56 cases) and a control group (56 cases) at a ratio of 1∶1. Patients in the test group received treatment with a test emollient twice a day in combination with topical glucocorticoids applied at the weekend, and those in the control group were only treated with topical glucocorticoids at the weekend. Patients in the two groups were followed up at baseline, week 2 (± 3 d), week 4 (± 5 d), and week 12 (±7 d), as well as at the time of AD relapse, and the effect of the test emollient on the remission rate of AD in children during the maintenance period was evaluated, so were its effects on the dosage of topical glucocorticoids, pruritus, sleep, and skin pH. The occurrence of treatment-related adverse events was evaluated and recorded at the same time. Study endpoints were defined as AD relapse during the maintenance period, end of 12-week follow-up, or occurrence of serious adverse events. Comparisons of efficacy indicators between groups were conducted by using chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Satterthwaite t′ test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results:In the full-analysis set, 45 (80.36%) patients with AD maintained remission in the test group (56 cases) and 30 (53.57%) in the control group (56 cases), and the remission rate difference between the two groups was 26.79% (95% confidence interval [ CI]: 10.09%, 43.49%; χ2 = 9.11, P = 0.003) ; the 12-week follow-up during the maintenance period showed that the time to first relapse was 75.05 ± 25.07 days in the test group, which was significantly longer than that in the control group (49.55 ± 33.92 days, t′ = 4.52, P < 0.001). At the study endpoint, the test group showed significantly decreased AD disease severity score (eczema area and severity index [EASI] score: 0.00 [0.00, 1.20] points vs. 0.60 [0.00, 4.00] points), pruritus visual analog scale (VAS) score (0.00 [0.00, 2.00] points vs. 2. 00 [0.00, 10.00] points), and sleep VAS score (0.00 [0.00, 0.00] points vs. 1.00 [0.00, 4.00] points) compared with the control group ( Z = -2.77, 2.43, 3.48, P = 0.006, = 0.015, < 0.001, respectively), while there was no significant difference in the pH value at the lesional sites between the test group and control group ( t = 0.97, P = 0.335). For the group aged 0 - 2 years, the average daily glucocorticoid dosage at the weekend in AD children during the maintenance period was significantly lower in the test group than in the control group ( Z = -1.97, P = 0.049) ; for the group aged >2 - 12 years, there was no significant difference in the average daily glucocorticoid dosage at the weekend between the two groups ( Z = -0.25, P = 0.802). During the study period, no significant difference was observed in the incidence of treatment-related adverse events between the test group (2/56, 3.57%) and control group (3/56, 5.36%; P = 1.000), and no serious adverse events occurred. Conclusion:Compared with the weekend treatment with topical glucocorticoids alone, the daily use of the test emollient combined with topical glucocorticoids at the weekend could markedly improve the remission rate of AD, prolong the time to relapse, and reduce the disease severity at relapse in children with AD during the maintenance period, which provides a new option for maintenance treatment of children with AD.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of crisaborole 2% ointment in the treatment of childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) at the early stage, and to compare the efficacy of every-other-day (Qod) regimen versus twice-a-week (Biw) regimen against recurrence in the remission stage of AD.Methods:A multicenter, randomized, open-label clinical trial was conducted. Totally, 150 children with mild to moderate AD aged 2 - < 18 years were enrolled from 6 hospitals (including Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University, etc), and randomly divided into the Qod group (76 cases) and the Biw group (74 cases). In the acute stage of AD, both groups were treated with topical crisaborole 2% ointment on skin lesions twice a day for 2 - 4 weeks, as well as with emollients throughout the whole body. The improvement of early clinical symptoms was evaluated, and the occurrence of adverse reactions was recorded in the follow up. Once the investigator′s static global assessment (ISGA) scores decreased to 1 point or less, the patient would be enrolled into the remission stage. In the remission stage of AD, patients in the Qod group and Biw group were treated with crisaborole ointment every other day and twice a week respectively; the recurrence rate of AD in the remission stage was evaluated, as well as the severity of skin lesions, itching, life quality, and the occurrence of adverse reactions at weeks 4, 8, and 12. Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS 23.0 software by using t test for comparisons of normally distributed continuous data between two groups, Mann-Whitney U test for non-normally distributed data, chi-square test for enumeration data, and Kaplan-Meier method for analysis of survival rates. Results:A total of 142 patients were enrolled in the modified intention-to-treat population, including 71 in the Qod group and 71 in the Biw group. In the acute stage of AD, the improvement of itching and skin lesions self-reported by the children or their family members occurred on days 1.9 (1.0, 3.0) and 2.0 (1.0, 4.1) after the application of crisaborole ointment, respectively. At the end of treatment in the acute stage, 89 children (62.7%) achieved ISGA 0/1 and successfully transferred into the remission stage. The follow-up in the remission stage was completed in 83 patients (44 in the Qod group and 39 in the Biw group). In addition, recurrence occurred in 19 (43.2%) and 12 (30.8%) patients in the Qod group and Biw group respectively, and there was no significant difference in the recurrence rate between the two groups ( χ2 = 1.36, P = 0.243) ; the average time to recurrence was 64.25 (95% CI: 53.33 - 75.17) days and 75.78 (95% CI: 65.46 - 86.10) days in the Qod group and Biw group respectively. Among the patients who were in the remission stage and had not yet experienced relapse at weeks 4, 8, and 12, there were no significant differences in the eczema area and severity index (EASI) scores, ISGA scores, pruritus numerical rating scale (NRS) scores, or quality-of-life scores between the two groups (all P > 0.05) at any time points, except for the ISGA scores at week 12 (Biw group: 0 [0, 1] point vs. Qod group: 1 [0, 1] point; Z = -2.31, P = 0.021). A total of 146 patients were enrolled in the safety set. During the study period, 70 adverse events occurred in 65 patients, with an incidence rate of 44.5%, and all were mild or moderate adverse events; 55 (37.7%) patients experienced discomfort at the medication site, which mainly referred to pain (45 cases, 30.8%) and mostly occurred in the tender and skinfold areas. Conclusions:Crisaborole 2% ointment could effectively relieve clinical symptoms in children with mild to moderate AD in the early stage, and intermittent treatment could continuously relieve clinical symptoms in the remission stage. The common adverse reaction was discomfort at the application site in the early stage of AD. There was no significant difference in the impact on AD recurrence in the remission stage between the Qod regimen and Biw regimen.

Objective:To investigate short-term efficacy and safety of subcutaneous injection of dupilumab in the treatment of moderate-to-severe childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) .Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on clinical data from children who were diagnosed with moderate-to-severe AD and subcutaneously injected with dupilumab in Department of Dermatology, Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University from March 2021 to August 2021. Changes in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), itch Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score, SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index, and Dermatology Family quality of life Index (DFI) were analyzed before and 4 weeks after the first subcutaneous injection of dupilumab. Adverse events were collected during the first injection to the first follow-up visit at week 4 after the start of treatment. Normally distributed measurement indices were compared by using paired t test, non-normally distributed measurement indices were compared by using signed rank test, and logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the effects of disease duration, eosinophil counts, IgE levels, personal and family history of allergic diseases on EASI50 (≥ 50% decrease in the EASI score) after dupilumab treatment. Results:A total of 39 children were enrolled in this study, including 21 males and 18 females. Twenty-one patients were aged 2 to < 6 years, 18 were aged 6 to < 18 years, and their median age ( Q1, Q3) was 65.0 (53.0, 111.0) months. Four weeks after the single-dose subcutaneous injection of dupilumab, 18 patients (84.85%) achieved ≥ 50% decrease in EASI score, 13 (60.61%) ≥ 75% decrease in EASI score; 18 (75.76%) experienced a decrease of ≥ 4 points in peak NRS, and 20 (81.82%) ≥ 3 points in peak NRS; the SCORAD score decreased by ≥ 50% in 15 (68.75%) patients, and by ≥ 75% in 7 (18.75%). Neither common adverse events such as conjunctivitis, skin infections, injection site reactions, nor serious adverse events were observed in any of the children from the first injection to the first follow-up visit at week 4. Logistic regression analysis showed no significant effect of the disease duration, eosinophil counts, IgE levels, personal or family history of allergic diseases on EASI50 (all P > 0.05) . Conclusion:A single-dose subcutaneous injection of dupilumab can markedly improve pruritus and severity of skin lesions in children with moderate-to-severe AD, and enhance the family quality of life, with favorable short-term safety.

Objective: To explore the mechanisms of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) expression regulated by recombinant human erythropoietin (rh-EPO) in a premature rat model of periventricular white matter damage. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats aged three days were randomly divided into five groups: sham group without hypoxia-ischemia (HI), HI group (HI with saline administration), HI+erythropoietin (EPO) group, HI+erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) antagonist group and HI+EPO+EPOR antagonist group. Rat pups were either subjected to permanent ligation of the right common carotid artery and 6% O₂+94% N₂ for two hours (HI) or sham operated and exposed to normal air (sham). After the operation, rats in the HI+EPOR antagonist and HI+EPO+EPOR antagonist groups received a single intraventricular injection of EPOR antagonist (5 μl). Four hours after the operation, rats in the HI+EPO and HI+EPO+EPOR antagonist groups received a single intraperitoneal injection of rh-EPO (5 U/g). Western-blot was performed to detect EPOR, phosphorylated EPOR (p-EPOR), extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) and phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK) at 60 and 90 minutes after the models were established successfully, and also used to analyze the expression of VECFR2 on day 2 and 4. Analysis of variance and SNK test were used as statistical methods. Results: At 60 and 90 minutes after model establishment, the expression of EPOR protein in rat brain tissues was increased in HI (1.717±0.206 and 1.416±0.242), HI+EPO (2.557±0.222 and 2.111±0.159) and HI+EPO+EPOR antagonist (1.547±0.170 and 1.452±0.250) groups as compared with that in sham group (1.095±0.182 and 0.751±0.136), that in HI+EPO group was higher than that in HI and HI+EPO+EPOR antagonist groups, and that in HI+EPOR antagonist group (1.088±0.160 and 1.020±0.174) was lower than that in HI group. All differences were statistically significant (F=30.154 and 20.265, both P<0.05). The expressions of p-EPOR, p-ERK and VEGFR2 in the five groups were consistent with the expression of EPOR, and the differences were also statistically significant (all P<0.05). In addition, the expression of VEGFR2 in HI+EPO+EPOR antagonist group was lower than that in HI group on day 4 (1.053±0.118 vs 1.439±0.074, F=54.248, P<0.05). No statistically significant difference in ERK expression was found among all groups at 60 or 90 minutes after modeling (F=1.117 and 0.734, both P>0.05). Conclusions ERK signaling pathways will be affected by EPO binding to EPOR. As a result, VEGFR2 expression was increased leading to enhanced angiogenesis in a premature rat model of periventricular white matter damage.

To discover the novel compounds with biological activity, N-hetercycle substituted derivatives were synthesized based on the structure of benzofuran. A series of novel N-hetercycle substituted benzofuran derivatives(2a-2j)were synthesized by the reaction of 2-(4′-florobenzoyl)benzofuran with N-heterocyclic compounds. And the structures were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS. Their anti-tumor activities were studied in vitro against a panel of human tumor cell lines(HeLa, A549 and H1975)by the MTT assay. The results indicate that compounds 2a, 2f and 2j are the most potent within this series of compounds against human tumor cell lines, showing that they are promising lead compounds for further structural modifications and biological evaluation.

Objective To explore the effects of Sodium Ferulateon treating patients with plateau derived chronic cor pulmonale in acute ecacerbation phase at high altitude.Methods Forty-one cases with plateau derived chronic cor pulmonale were randomly divided into treatment group (22 cases) and control group (19 cases).All the patients in the two groups were given the same routine treatments including anti-infection,expectorant,balancing hydro-electrolytic discord,persistent inspiration of low-flow oxygen and inhalation by ultrasonic nebulization.Patients in treatment group were plus given the Sodium Ferulate at dose of 300 mg by intravenous drop once daily for 2 weeks.Hemorrheology,hepatic and renal function were examined.Results After treatment,the level of whole blood viscosity and plasma viscosity in treatment group were (4.91 ± 1.60) mPa · s and (1.56 ± 0.49) mPa · s,lower than that before treatment ((5.78 ± 1.65) mPa · s and (1.87 ± 0.65) mPa · s,P =0.042,0.041).There were no significant difference in the control group in terms of whole blood viscosity and plasma viscosity.There was not abnormal change of hepatic and renal function of two groups after treatment.Conclusion Sodium Ferulate therapy was effective to treatment of the plateau derived chronic cor pulmonale in acute ecacerbation phase.

Objective To investigate CT features of solitary fibrous tumor of the mediastinum(SFTM),and to analyze the causes of misdiagnosis of this disease.Methods CT features of 5 patients of SFTM confirmed operatively and pathologically were retrospec-tively analyzed.All patients underwent before operation but were misdiagnosed.Results 3 cases were located in right mediastinum with oval-shap,well-defined margin,and “pleural tail sign”,2 cases were located in right thoracis cavity with unwell-defined margin, and in the adjacent lung were oppressed.In all 5 patients,the mean median of tumors was 1 1.5 cm(8.6-1 5 cm),non-homogeneous density of tumors were seen on plain CT scans,and obvious non-homogeneous enhancement with“geographic pattern”on contrast-en-hanced CT.Conclusion CT can clearly reveal the size and the appearance of SFTM,adjacent architectures,the final diagnosis de-pends on histopathological and immunohistochemical findings of the tumors.To un-know is the main caused of misdiagnosis of medi-astinal SFT.

OBJECTIVEIn order to get the method to improve the salt resistance of seeds and seedlings for Cassia obtusbifolia under NaCl stress, seed germination and physiological characteristics of C. obtusifolia seedlings were studied.

METHODSeveral physiological indexes of C. obtusifolia seeds treated with exogenous carbon monoxide donor hematin under NaCl stress like the germination vigor, germination rate, germination index and vigor index were measured. And other indexes like the relative water content, the contents of photosynthetic pigment, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, the contents of soluble sugar, protein and proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), the activities of superoxide (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) were also measured.

RESULTThe germination indexes of C. obtusifolia seeds under NaCl stress had been inhibited obviously. But after the treatment of hematin, every germination indexes were all increased. The result showed that the treatment of exogenous CO donor hematin obviously improved the germination vigor, germination rate, germination index and vigor index, increased the content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, improved the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), photochemical efficiency (Fv'/Fm'), PS II actual photochemical efficiency (phiPS II), photochemical quench coefficient (qP), decreased non-photochemical quenching coefficient (NPQ) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) , increased the relative water content of leaves and the content of soluble surge, protein and proline. Meanwhile, the results also indicated that CO improved the activities of superoxide (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT). The effects of CO could be reversed when CO scavenger Hb is added.

CONCLUSIONExogenous CO donor hematin with appropriate concentration could significantly alleviate the damages to the seeds and seedlings of C. obtusifolia under NaCl stress and promote the salt resistance of the seeds and seedlings through improving the germination indexes, the photochemical efficiency and the antioxidase activities of the seedlings.

Carbohydrates ; analysis ; Carbon Monoxide ; metabolism ; Cassia ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Chlorophyll ; metabolism ; Germination ; drug effects ; physiology ; Hemin ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Photosystem II Protein Complex ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Proline ; metabolism ; Seedlings ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Sodium Chloride ; pharmacology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Time Factors ; Water ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the validity and reliability of the Chinese version HCL-32(CV-HCL-32) in the patients with bipolar disorder(BP) and the best cut-off between the patients with BP and patients with major depression disorder (unipolar depression disorder, UP). Methods The English version HCL-32 was translated into Chinese version after the agreement of the author of the HCL-32. 300 consecutive patients with BP and 156 consecutive patients with UP in outpatients and inpatients departments diagnostically interviewed with DSM-Ⅳ were rated by CV-HCL-32. The test-retest reliability with interval of eight to fourteen days was investigated in 155 patients (51.7%) with BP in the bipolar patients. Results A two-factor solution was preferred by the factors analysis. The Eigenvalues of the two factors were 6.32, 3.00 respectively. The two factors together accounted for 29.1% of the total variance. The internal consistency( Cronbach's alpha) of the CV-HCL-32 was 0.86.The test-retest reliability of the CV-HCL-32 was 0.62(P＜ 0.01 ). The frequency of positive responses to various items ranged from 11.6% to 89.7%. The mean score of CV-HCL-32 was statistically higher in patients with BP( 16.6 ± 6.2) than that of UP ( 10.9 ± 6.4). A CV-HCL-32 screening score of 14 was chosen as the optimal cutoff between the patients with BP and UP, as it provided good sensitivity (0.74) and specificity (0.66). The positive and negative predictive power for this cut-off was 0.81 and 0.57. Conclusions The study demonstrated the suitable validity and reliability of CV-HCL-32, suggested that the CV-HCL-32 is useful questionnaire for screening bipolar disorder in China.