Berberis amurensis (Berberidaceae) is a traditional Chinese medicine, which is often used to treat hypertension, inflammation, dysentery and enteritis. It contains alkaloids, mainly including berberine, berbamine, magnoflorine, jatrorrhizine and palmatine. Berberis amurensis extracts (BAEs) is often orally taken. Oral herbs might be metabolized by intestinal bacteria in the small intestine. However, the interaction between the herb and the gut microbiota is still unknown. In the current study, UPLC/Q-TOF-MS/MS combined with Metabolitepilot and Peakview software was used to identify the metabolites of BAEs in anti-biotic cocktail induced pseudo germ-free rats and normal rats. As a result, a total of 46 metabolites in normal rats were detected and its main metabolic pathways include demethylation, dehydrogenation, methylation, hydroxylation, sulfation and glucuronidation. Only 29 metabolites existed in pseudo germ-free rats. Dehydrogenated metabolites (M29, M30, M34 and M36), methylated metabolites (M33, M41 and M46) and other metabolites were not detected in pseudo germ-free rats. The result implied that the intestinal bacteria have an influence on the metabolism of BAEs. Furthermore, this investigation might contribute to the understanding of the metabolism of BAEs, and further promote its clinical application.
Alkaloids ; Animals ; Berberis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Rats ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVE: To study the value of body fat mass measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in predicting abnormal blood pressure and abnormal glucose metabolism in children. METHODS: Stratified cluster sampling was used to select the students aged 6-16 years, and a questionnaire survey and physical examination were performed. The BIA apparatus was used to measure body fat mass. Body mass index (BMI), body fat mass index (FMI), and fat mass percentage (FMP) were calculated. Fasting blood glucose level were measured. RESULTS: A total of 14 293 children were enrolled, among whom boys accounted for 49.89%. In boys and girls, the percentile values (P, P, P, P, P, P, P, P) of FMI and FMP fitted by the LMS method were taken as the cut-off values. Based on the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the P values with a better value in predicting abnormal blood pressure and blood glucose metabolism were selected as the cut-off values for excessive body fat. When FMI or FMP was controlled below P, the incidence of abnormal blood pressure or abnormal glucose metabolism may be decreased in 8.25%-43.24% of the children. CONCLUSIONS The evaluation of obesity based on FMI and FMP has a certain value in screening for hypertension and hyperglycemia in children, which can be further verified in the future prevention and treatment of obesity and related chronic diseases in children.
Adipose Tissue ; Adolescent ; Blood Pressure ; Body Composition ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Electric Impedance ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether ginsenoside-Rb1 (Gs-Rb1) improves the CoCl-induced autophagy of cardiomyocytes via upregulation of adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway. METHODS: Ventricles from 1- to 3-day-old Wistar rats were sequentially digested, separated and incubated in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum for 3 days followed by synchronization. Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into 7 groups: control group (normal level oxygen), hypoxia group (500 μmol/L CoCl), Gs-Rb1 group (200 μmol/L Gs-Rb1 + 500 μmol/L CoCl), Ara A group (500 μmol/L Ara A + 500 μmol/L CoCl), Ara A+ Gs-Rb1 group (500 μmol/L Ara A + 200 μmol/L Gs-Rb1 + 500 μmol/L CoCl), AICAR group [1 mmol/L 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR) + 500 μmol/L CoCl], and AICAR+Gs-Rb1 group (1 mmol/L AICAR + 200 μmol/L Gs-Rb1 + 500 μmol/L CoCl). Cells were treated for 12 h and cell viability was determined by methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). AMPK activity was assessed by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) ELISA assay. The protein expressions of Atg4B, Atg5, Atg6, Atg7, microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3), P62, and active-cathepsin B were measured by Western blot. RESULTS: Gs-Rb1 significantly improved the cell viability of hypoxia cardiomyocytes (P<0.01). However, the viability of hypoxia-treated cardiomyocytes was significantly inhibited by Ara A (P<0.01). Gs-Rb1 increased the AMPK activity of hypoxia-treated cardiomyocytes. The AMPK activity of hypoxia-treated cadiomyocytes was inhibited by Ara A (P<0.01) and was not affected by AICAR =0.983). Gs-Rb1 up-regulated Atg4B, Atg5, Beclin-1, Atg7, LC3B II, the LC3B II/I ratio and cathepsin B activity of hypoxia cardiomyocytes (P<0.05), each of these protein levels was significantly enhanced by Ara A (all P<0.01), but was not affected by AICAR (all P>0.05). Gs-Rb1 significantly down-regulated P62 levels of hypoxic cardiomyocytes (P<0.05). The P62 levels of hypoxic cardiomyocytes were inhibited by Ara A (P<0.05) and were not affected by AICAR (P=0.871). CONCLUSION Gs-Rb1 may improve the viability of hypoxia cardiomyocytes by ameliorating cell autophagy via the upregulation of AMPK pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tongxiening Granules (, TXNG) in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with predominant diarrhea (IBS-D). METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, and positive parallel controlled clinical trial was conducted from October 2014 to March 2016. Totally 342 patients from 13 clinical centers were enrolled and randomly assigned (at the ratio of 1:1) to a treatment group (171 cases) and a control group (171 cases) by a random coding table. The patients in the treatment group were administered orally with TXNG (5 g per time) combined with pinaverium bromide Tablet simulator (50 mg per time), 3 times per day. The patients in the control group were given TXNG simulator (5 g per time) combined with pinaverium bromide Tablets (50 mg per time), 3 times per day. The treatment course lasted for 6 weeks. The improvement of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptom Severity Score (IBS-SSS) was used to evaluate the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included adequate relief (AR) rate, Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Quality of Life Questionnaire (IBS-QOL), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), and the recurrence rate at follow-ups. Safety indices including the adverse events (AEs) and related laboratory tests were evaluated. RESULTS: Primary outcome: IBS-SSS at baseline, weeks 2, 4, 6 showed no statistical significance in both full analysis set (FAS) and per protocol set (PPS, P>0.05). After 6 weeks of treatment, the total effective rate of IBS-SSS scores in the treatment group (147/171,86.0%) was higher than the control group (143/171, 83.6%) by FAS (P>0.05). In regard to secondary outcomes, after 6-week treatment, there was no significant difference in AR rate, total score of IBS-QOL, improvement of HAMD and HAMA total scores between the two groups (P>0.05). The recurrence rate at 8-week follow-up was 12.35% (10/18) in treatment group and 15.79% (12/76) in control group, respectively (P>0.05). A total of 21 AEs occurred in 15 cases, of which 11 occurred in 8 cases in the treatment group and 10 AEs in 7 cases in the control group. The incidence of AEs had no statistical significance between the two goups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Tongxiening Granules could relieve the symptoms of patients with IBS-D and the treatment effect was comparable to pinaverium bromide. (No. ChiCTR-IPR-15006415).

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors for the development of congenital anal atresia in neonates.

METHODSA total of 70 neonates who were admitted to 17 hospitals in Foshan, China from January 2011 to December 2014 were enrolled as case group, and another 70 neonates who were hospitalized during the same period and had no anal atresia or other severe deformities were enrolled as control group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the risk factors for the development of congenital anal atresia.

RESULTSThe univariate analysis revealed that the age of mothers, presence of oral administration of folic acid, infection during early pregnancy, and polyhydramnios, and sex of neonates showed significant differences between the case and control groups (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that infection during early pregnancy (OR=18.776) and male neonates (OR=9.304) were risk factors for congenital anal atresia, and oral administration of folic acid during early pregnancy was the protective factor (OR=0.086).

CONCLUSIONSInfection during early pregnancy is the risk factor for congenital anal atresia, and male neonates are more likely to develop congenital anal atresia than female neonates. Supplementation of folic acid during early pregnancy can reduce the risk of congenital anal atresia.

Anus, Imperforate ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors

Objective To understand the condition and relation of the social support and mental disorder of drug addicts,to provide a basis for psychological intervention.Methods 80 drug addicts and 80 health individuals were surveied by SCL-90 and SSRS.Results The total score of SCL-90 for drug addicts (152.57 ± 39.33) was significantly higher than that for the healthy crowds (130.13 ± 28.58) (t =4.13,P ＜0.01).The score of SSRS for drug addicts (30.21 ± 5.10) was significantly lower than the scores for health crowds(41.56 ±6.46)(t =12.33,P ＜0.01);Negative correlation were found between total score of SLC-90 and factors (subjective support,objective support and the usage of the support) in the SSRS (r =-0.340,-0.343,-0.348 ;P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Drug addicts have mental disorder to different extents.Less social support for the drug addicts than health crowds is observed.Improved social support could potentially reduce mental disorder of drug addicts and maintain their psychological health.