Objective To investigate the reasons for the inconsistent results between the vertical auto profile(VAP)method and bio-chemical homogeneous phase(BHP)method in detecting plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),and provide experimen-tal basis for the accurate and quantitative detection of plasma LDL-C levels.Methods A total of 360 plasma samples from diabetes mellitus patients combined with carotid plaque admitted to the Department of Endocrinology of Ningbo Yinzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine during January,2022 and January,2023 were collected.The LDL-C levels of these samples were detected by the VAP method and BHP method,respectively.The VAP method uses software to automatically calculate the area under the LDL-C curve after centrifugation of the sample as the LDL-C level(LDL-CVAP)and the BHP method directly detects the LDL-C level(LDL-CBHP)by the special surfactant method.360 samples were divided into the consistent group(group A)and inconsistent group(group B)ac-cording to the relative deviation between the LDL-CBHP and LDL-CVAP methods.Group B was further divided into the LDL-CBHP on the high side group(Group B1)and LDL-CBHP on the low side group(Group B2).Groups B1 and B2 were divided into B1-1,B1-2,B1-3 and B2-1 groups based on the degree of relative deviation.The percentages of samples and levels of lipoprotein a cholesterol[Lp(a)-C],intermediate-density lipoprotein cholesterol(IDL-C),Lp(a)-C and IDL-C[Lp(a)-C+IDL-C],very low-density lipo-protein cholesterol(VLDL-C),total cholesterol(TC)and total triglyceride(TG)in each group were compared.Results The LDL-CBHP levels of 360 samples were significantly higher than that of LDL-CVAP(P＜0.01).The percentage of samples in group B was significantly higher than that in group A,and that of group B1 was significantly higher than that of group B2(P＜0.05).The levels of Lp(a)-C,IDL-C and Lp(a)-C+IDL-C in groups B1-1,B1-2,and B1-3 were significantly higher than those in group A(P＜0.01).The relative deviation between LDL-CBHP and LDL-CVAP in 360 samples was significantly positively correlated with the levels of Lp(a)-C,IDL-C,and Lp(a)-C+IDL-C(P＜0.01).The maximum correlation coefficient was found in Lp(a)-C+IDL-C.Conclusion The results of plasma LDL-C in diabetes mellitus patients combined with carotid plaque detected by the BHP method are significantly different from those detected by the VAP method,which mainly shows that the results of the BHP method are on the high side.The higher the level of plasma Lp(a)-C+IDL-C,the greater the relative deviation between the BHP method and VAP method.The reason for the high results of LDL-C detected by the BHP method may be related to the fact that LDL-CBHP contains irremovable Lp(a)-C and cholesterol carried by IDL-C.The VAP method can be used as an accurate method for detecting real LDL-C without Lp(a)-C and IDL-C.

Danggui Liuhuangtang is the 47^th of the 100 famous classical formulas published by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine， and is known as the holy medicine for night sweat. By bibliometrics， the authors collected the ancient books on Danggui Liuhuangtang and screened out 269 valid data， involving 156 ancient books of traditional Chinese medicine. The analysis on the historical origin， disease syndromes， pathogenesis， composition， dosage， preparation， usage， and processing of Danggui Liuhuangtang found that this famous classical formula originated from Secret Book of the Orchid Chamber （《兰室秘藏》） written by LI Dongyuan， and is composed of Angelicae Sinensis Radix， Rehmanniae Radix， Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata， Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex， Scutellariae Radix， Coptidis Rhizoma and Astragali Radix. It has the functions of nourishing Yin， reducing fire， consolidating exterior and stopping sweating， and mainly treats night sweat due to Yin deficiency and fire exuberance. In the later generations， disease syndromes are mostly treated based on LI Dongyuan's theory， and have expanded to more than 30 kinds （339 in total）， among which night sweat （208） was the most， accounting for 61.36% of the total disease syndromes， followed by spontaneous sweating （38）， accounting for 11.21%. Additionally， it was found that Danggui Liuhuangtang was widely used in modern clinical practice for various disease syndromes. Among them， endocrine disease （77， 28.21%） was predominant， followed by gynecological disease （48， 17.58%）， and pediatric disease （24， 8.79%）. Although Danggui Liuhuangtang treats many disease syndromes， their pathogenesis was always yin deficiency and fire exuberance. Through the systematic excavation of the ancient books on Danggui Liuhuangtang and the analysis of its modern clinical application， this paper probed into the historical evolution and confirmed the key information of the formula， providing detailed literature basis for the research and development application of famous classical formulas.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of adult Chinese patients with syncope.Methods:This is a cross-sectional survey study. Patients with preliminary diagnosis of syncope in the Emergency Department, Geriatrics and Cardiology Outpatient Department, or Syncope Unit of 37 hospitals in 19 provinces, autonomous regions and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from June 2018 to March 2021 were included in this study. The clinical features of these patients with syncope were analyzed.Results:A total of 4 950 consecutive patients with syncope were included in this study. The age was (56.3±16.8)years, and 2 604 cases (52.6%) were male. The most common type of syncope was neurally mediated syncope (2 345 (47.4%)), followed by cardiac syncope (1 085 (21.9%)), orthostatic hypotensive syncope (311 (6.3%)), and unexplained syncope accounted for nearly one third (1 155 (23.3%)). Predisposing syncope was more common in patients under 65 years of age(2 066(72.4%) vs. 786(27.6%),χ 2=136.5, P<0.001). Presyncope was more common in patients with neurally mediated syncope (1 972(79.0%) vs.1 908(73.9%), χ 2=17.756, P<0.001). Premonitory symptoms were more common in women(1 837(80.0%) vs. 1 863(73.0%),χ 2=33.432, P<0.001). Presyncope syndrome was more common in patients under 65 years of age (2 482(77.8%) vs. 1 218(73.4%),χ 2=17.523, P=0.001). Cyanosis was more common in ≥65 years old patients (271(18.2%) vs. 369(12.7%), χ 2=23.235, P<0.001). Urinary incontinence was more common in old patients aged ≥65 years(252(15.2%) vs. 345(10.8%), χ 2=19.313, P<0.001). Family history was more common in patients with cardiogenic syncope compared with other types of syncope (264(24.3%) vs. 754(19.5%), χ 2=11.899, P=0.001). Hypertention(1 480(30.5%)), coronary heart disease(1 057(21.4%)), atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation(359(7.2%)), second degree atrioventricular block(236(4.8%)) were common complications of syncope. The proportion of patients with coronary heart disease was significantly higher in cardiac syncope than that of other types of syncope(417(38.4%) vs. 640(16.6%), χ 2=241.376, P<0.001). Other common complications included cerebrovascular diseases (551 (11.1%)) and diabetes mellitus (632(12.8%)). Conclusions:Neurally mediated syncope is the most common syncope in adult Chinese population. Patients with predisposing conditions and premonitory conditions are younger. Presyncope is more common in women. The proportion of family history and coronary heart disease is higher in patients with cardiogenic syncope.

Objective:To evaluate the value of combined measurement of urinary insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) and urinary metalloproteinase inhibitor-2 (TIMP-2) in the early diagnosis and prognosis of cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI).Methods:From March 2018 to June 2018, cardiac surgery patients admitted to the cardiac macrovascular surgery department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were prospectively included, and the blood creatinine was monitored to observe the presence of acute kidney injury (AKI). The prognostic information of the patients was collected, including in-hospital dialysis, in-hospital death, complete recovery of kidney function at discharge, death in one year after surgery, and progression to chronic kidney disease. The levels of urine IGFBP7 and TIMP-2 at 6 h, 24 h and 48 h after cardiac surgery were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the urine creatinine (Cr) was also measured. Moreover, receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were plotted and the areas under the curves ( AUC) were calculated to evaluate the predictive value and prognostic value of urinary [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7] (T*I for short) and urine T*I/urine Cr 2 in CSA-AKI. Results:A total of 74 patients with age of (58.43±10.91) years old and 47 males, were enrolled in this study, of which 24 cases (32.4%) had AKI and 10 cases (13.5%) had stage 2-3 AKI. Compared with the non-AKI group, the AKI group had significantly higher levels of urine T*I levels at 6 h and 24 h (both P<0.05). The AUC of T*I at 24 h predicting for AKI was 0.71(95% CI 0.59-0.81, P=0.001, cutoff value 0.020, sensitivity 79.2%, specificity 56.0%), while the AUC for stage 2-3 AKI was 0.85 (95% CI 0.75-0.92, P<0.001, cutoff value 0.083, sensitivity 70.0%, specificity 90.6%). Urinary T*I normalized for urinary creatinine excretion did not show better predictive value. In addition, of T*I at 24 h predicting for poor hospitalization outcome, renal recovery, and one year postoperative death, the AUC was 0.82(95% CI 0.71-0.90, P=0.001), 0.80(95% CI 0.66-0.86, P<0.001), and 0.81(95% CI 0.70-0.89, P=0.047), respectively. Conclusion:The combined detection of TIMP-2 and IGFBP7 in urine is expected to be a biomarker for early diagnosis of CSA-AKI and has certain clinical value in predicting the prognosis of CSA-AKI.

BACKGROUND: Despite improvements in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, breast cancer is still a leading cause of cancer death for women. Compelling evidence suggests that targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs) have a crucial impact on overcoming the current shortcomings of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In the present study, we aimed to study the effects of T cells and a critical anti-tumor cytokine, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), on breast cancer stem cells. METHODS: BALB/c mice and BALB/c nude mice were subcutaneously injected with 4T1 tumor cells. Tumor growth and pulmonary metastasis were assessed. ALDEFLOUR™ assays were performed to identify aldehyde dehydrogenasebright (ALDHbr) tumor cells. ALDHbr cells as well as T cells from tumor-bearing BALB/c mice were analyzed using flow cytometry. The effects of CD8+ T cells on ALDHbr tumor cells were assessed in vitro and in vivo. The expression profiles of ALDHbr and ALDHdim 4T1 tumor cells were determined. The levels of plasma IFN-γ were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and their associations with the percentages of ALDHbr tumor cells were evaluated. The effects of IFN-γ on ALDH expression and the malignancy of 4T1 tumor cells were analyzed in vitro. RESULTS: There were fewer metastatic nodules in tumor-bearing BALB/c mice than those in tumor-bearing BALB/c nude mice (25.40 vs. 54.67, P < 0.050). CD8+ T cells decreased the percentages of ALDHbr 4T1 tumor cells in vitro (control vs. effector to target ratio of 1:1, 10.15% vs. 5.76%, P < 0.050) and in vivo (control vs. CD8+ T cell depletion, 10.15% vs. 21.75%, P < 0.001). The functions of upregulated genes in ALDHbr 4T1 tumor cells were enriched in the pathway of response to IFN-γ. The levels of plasma IFN-γ decreased gradually in tumor-bearing BALB/c mice, while the percentages of ALDHbr tumor cells in primary tumors increased. IFN-γ at a concentration of 26.68 ng/mL decreased the percentages of ALDHbr 4T1 tumor cells (22.88% vs. 9.88%, P < 0.050) and the protein levels of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A1 in 4T1 tumor cells (0.86 vs. 0.49, P < 0.050) and inhibited the abilities of sphere formation (sphere diameter <200 μm, 159.50 vs. 72.0; ≥200 μm, 127.0 vs. 59.0; both P < 0.050) and invasion (89.67 vs. 67.67, P < 0.001) of 4T1 tumor cells. CONCLUSION CD8+ T cells and IFN-γ decreased CSC numbers in a 4T1 mouse model of breast cancer. The application of IFN-γ may be a potential strategy for reducing CSCs in breast cancer.
Aldehydes ; Animals ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplastic Stem Cells

To screen the pathogenic mutation location in a genetic family with the neurofibromatosis (NF1) by the next generation sequencing and analyze the clinical phenotype,Illumina Miseq sequencing was applied to capture and analyze the target regions of NF1 family's probands,and furtherly find out the suspicious mutations,as well as to verify the family members by Sanger sequencing.Two rare variants were identified in proband,including the heterozygous missense mutation c.C3649T (p.P1217S) in KIF1B gene and the missense mutation c.T6311C (p.L2104P) on exon 41 of NF1 gene (NM_000267.3).The amino acid at position 2104 was found to be changed from leucine to proline in NF1.The protein prediction SIFT and Polyphen-2 values were 0,0.997,which predicted a conformational change in the encoded protein and eventually affected its function.The mutation c.T6311C in NF1 gene was detected in all patients in this family,which showed genetic co-segregation.The clinical phenotype was neurofibroma in the spinal canal.There were no café au lait spots,iris Lisch nodules,scoliosis,tinnitus,heating loss,or elevated intracranial pressure.The missense mutation c.T6311C (p.L2104P) in NF1 gene might be the genetic cause of this hereditary disease of neurofibromatosis.

Objective: To evaluate the oncolytic effect of herpes simplex virus type 1 which carried recombined human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (HSV1-hGM-CSF) on the mouse breast cancer cell line 4T1 and compare the anticancer effects of HSV1-hGM-CSF, doxorubicin alone or combination on the breast cancer in mice. Methods: We investigated the cytotoxic effect on 4T1 cells in vitro, the cell growth, cell apoptosis and cell cycle of 4T1 cells treated with oncolytic HSV1-hGM-CSF at different MOIs (0, 0.5, 1 and 2) and doxorubicin at different concentrations (0, 2, 4 and 8 μg/ml). The effects of oncolytic HSV1-hGM-CSF and doxorubicin on the tumor growth, survival time and their side effects on the mouse breast cancer model were observed. Results: Both oncolytic HSV1-hGM-CSF and doxorubicin significantly inhibited the proliferation of 4T1 cells in vitro. Doxorubicin induced the G₂/M phase arrest of 4T1 cells, while the cytotoxicity of oncolytic HSV1-hGM-CSF was no cell cycle-dependent.At day 16 after treatment with doxorubicin and HSV1-hGM-CSF, the tumor volume of 4T1 tumor bearing mice were (144.40±27.68)mm^3, (216.80±57.18)mm^3, (246.10±21.90)mm^3, (327.50±44.24)mm^3, (213.30±32.31)mm³ and (495.80±75.87)mm³ in the groups of doxorubicin combined with high dose HSV1-hGM-CSF, doxorubicin combined with low dose HSV1-hGM-CSF, doxorubicin alone, high dose HSV1-hGM-CSF alone, low dose HSV1-hGM-CSF alone and control, respectively.Compared with the control group, both doxorubicin and HSV1-hGM-CSF treatment exhibited significant reduction of primary tumor volume in vivo (P<0.001). The median survival times were 48, 50, 40, 42, 43 and 37 days in the six groups mentioned above, respectively. The median survival period of doxorubicin alone, high dose HSV1-hGM-CSF alone and low dose HSV1-hGM-CSF alone were significantly longer than that of control (P<0.05). Conclusion Synergistic effect of sequential treatment with doxorubicin and oncolytic HSV1-hGM-CSF is observed in 4T1 mouse breast cancer.

Objective To explore the rule of the Nrf2-ARE in renal interstitial fibrosis and the mechanism of butylphthalide on renal protective effect.Methods Seventy-two male CD-1 mice were divided into 4 groups,Sham group,UUO group,NBP group,ACEI group.The Sham group and UUO group were gavaged with physiological saline.The NBP group was gavaged with butylphthalide.The ACEI group was gavaged with benazepril.After 3,7,14 days,6 mice were executed and collection of kidney tissue.The expression of Nrf2,γ-GCS and type Ⅰ collagen were detected by immunohistochemisty,RT-PCR and Western blot.The correlation of Nrf2 and γ-GCS was assessmented by linear regression.Results The expression of type Ⅰ collagen in UUO group was increased compared with the Sham group,However,the expression of Type Ⅰ collagen in NBP group or ACEI group were reduced compared with the UUO group.Compared with Sham group,the expression of Nrf2mRNA,γ-GCSmRNA and type Ⅰ collagen mRNA in uuogroup were increased in 3,7,14 days after surgery.Compared with UUO group at 7th,14u day,the lelve of Nrf2 mRNA were apparently increased in NBP group (P＜0.05).It was a positive correlation between the Nrf2 and γ-GCS and negative correlation between the γ-GCS and Type Ⅰ collagen.Conclusion The renal protective effect of butylphthalide in the renal interstitial fibrosis was more predominant than benazepril.The roles maybe occurred through increased the expression of Nrf2 and γ-GCS and alleviated the expression of Type Ⅰ collagen in nephridial tissue.

Objective To determine the association of-429T/C and G1704T polymorphisms in the receptor for advanced glycation end products gene with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).Methods Case-control study.From the Beijing Desheng Diabetic Eye Study cohort of 1467 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM),a total of 97 patients with PDR and 105 diabetic patients without retinopathy (DWR,duration of diabetes 15 years) were included for this study.Questionnaires were collected and general ophthalmologic examinations were performed.Biochemical analysis was conducted.DNA was extracted from peripheral venous blood.The-429T/C and G1704T single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected by the means of PCR-restrication fragment length polymorphisms.Results The frequency distribution of-429T/C in DWR group was 81.0％ in TT,16.1％ in TC,2.9％ in CC.The frequency distribution of-429T/C in PDR group was 77.3％ in TT,20.6％ in TC,2.1％ in CC.There was no significant statistical difference between the two groups (x2 =0.40,P＞0.05).Frequency of the-429T/C minor allele C in the DWR and PDR group were 11.0％ and 12.4％,respectively,with no significant statistical difference between the two groups (x2 =0.20,P＞0.05).The frequency distribution of G1704T in DWR group was 66.7％ in GG,29.5％ in GT,3.8％ in TT.The frequency distribution of G1704T in PDR group was 78.4％ in GG,21.6％ in GT.There was no significant statistical difference between the two groups (x2 =3.44,P＞0.05).Frequency of the G1704T minor allele T in the DWR and PDR group were 18.6 ％ and 10.8 ％,respectively,in which significant difference was found within the two groups (x2 =4.79,OR=1.88,95％CI:1.06-3.33,P＜0.05).Conclusions G1704T polymorphism is associated with PDR presence and 1704G allele may increase the risk of PDR.

Objective To evaluate the effect of rhubarb on intestinal mucosal damage in septic rats by comparing with ulinastatin.Methods A total of 84 healthy Sprague-Dawley rats (half male,half female),aged 3 months,weighing 200-330 g,were randomly divided into 5 groups according to the random number table:control group (group C,n =6),sham operation group (group S,n =6),sepsis group (group Sep),rhubarb group (group R,n=24) and ulinastatin group (group U,n=24).Sepsis was induced by cecum ligation and puncture.In group R,rhubarb 1.2 g/100 g was dissolved in normal saline at room temperature,3 and 4 h later the filtrate about 2-3 ml was obtained and injected through a gastric tube into stomach once every 12 h,and 72 h later sepsis was induced.In group U,ulinastatin 50 000 U/kg (in 2 ml of normal saline) was injected once every 24 h,and 72 h later sepsis was induced.In Sep,R and U groups,at 6,12,24 and 48 h after ligation (T1 4),blood samples were collected from the orbital venous plexus for determination of plasma diamine oxidase (DAO) activity.Results The activity of plasma DAO was significantly higher at T1-4 in Sep,R and U groups than in C and S groups.The activity of plasma DAO was significantly lower at T3,4 in R and U groups than in Sep group.There was no statistical difference in the plasma DAO activity between R group and U group.Conclusion Rhubarb can reduce intestinal mucosal damage in septic rats,which is similar to that of ulinastatin.