This study aimed to provide scientific evidence for predicting quality markers(Q-markers) of Elephantopus scaber by establishing UPLC fingerprint of E. scaber from different geographical origins and determining the content of 13 major components, as well as conducting in vitro anti-cancer activity investigation of the main components. The chromatographic column used was Waters CORTECS UPLC C_(18)(2.1 mm×150 mm, 1.6 μm), and the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid solution(gradient elution). The column temperature was set at 30 ℃, and the flow rate was 0.2 mL·min~(-1). The injection volume was 1 μL, and the detection wavelength was 240 nm. The UPLC fingerprint of E. scaber was fitted using the Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of Traditional Chinese Medicine(2012 edition) to determine common peaks, evaluate similarity, identify and determine the content of major components. The CCK-8 assay was used to explore the inhibitory effect of the main components on the proliferation of lung cancer cells. The results showed that in the established UPLC fingerprint of E. scaber, 35 common peaks were identified. Thirteen major components, including neochlorogenic acid(peak 1), chlorogenic acid(peak 2), cryptochlorogenic acid(peak 3), caffeic acid(peak 4), schaftoside(peak 6), galuteolin(peak 9), isochlorogenic acid B(peak 10), isochlorogenic acid A(peak 12), isochlorogenic acid C(peak 18), deoxyelephantopin(peak 28), isodeoxyelephantopin(peak 29), isoscabertopin(peak 31), and scabertopin(peak 32) were identified and quantified, and a quantitative analysis method was established. The results of the in vitro anti-cancer activity study showed that deoxyelephantopin, isodeoxyelephantopin, isoscabertopin, and scabertopin in E. scaber exhibited inhibition rates of lung cancer cell proliferation exceeding 80% at a concentration of 10 μmol·L~(-1), higher than the positive drug paclitaxel. These results indicate that the fingerprint of E. scaber is highly characteristic, and the quantitative analysis method is accurate and stable, providing references for the research on quality standards of E. scaber. Four sesquiterpene lactones in E. scaber show significant anti-cancer activity and can serve as Q-markers for E. scaber.
Humans ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Asteraceae/chemistry* ; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy*

To assess the correlation between thyroid function and glucolipid metabolism in type 1 diabetic adults. A retrospective analysis was conducted in 230 type 1 diabetic adults who were hospitalized in the Department of Endocrinology of Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University from January 2008 to January 2020. It showed that thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) was significantly positively correlated with total cholesterol (TC) ( r=0.239), triglycerides (TG) ( r=0.166) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ( r=0.249), respectively (all P<0.05). Free triiodothyronine (FT 3) was significantly negatively correlated with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ( r=-0.272), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ( r=-0.240), TC ( r=-0.197) and LDL-C ( r=-0.220), respectively (all P<0.05). Free thyroxine (FT 4) was negatively correlated with TC ( r=-0.171) and LDL-C ( r=-0.170), respectively (all P<0.05). TC was an independent predictor of TSH, FT 3 and FT 4, FT 3 and FT 4 were independent predictors of HbA1c. TSH was an independent predictor of TC, TG and LDL-C. Thyroid function is closely related to glucolipid metabolism in type 1 diabetic adults.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the occupational exposure limit for trimethyltin chloride(TMT) in workplace air. METHODS:According to the GBZ/T 210.1-2008 Guide for Establishing Occupational Health Standards--Part 1: Occupational Exposure Limits for Airborne Chemicals in the Workplace, the relevant literatures on toxicology, population epidemiology and foreign occupational exposure limit of TMT were collected and analyzed. A total of 276 workers with TMT occupational exposure were selected as the exposure group and 25 workers without TMT occupational exposure were selected as the control group.Worksite survey of occupational health and occupational medical examination were carried out. Combined with the literature data, the occupational exposure limit of TMT in the workplace air was calculated by using the 90% medical reference level(internal exposure limit) of the urine TMT level of workers who exposed to TMT without moderate hypokalemia. RESULTS: The time-weighted average of TMT in the workplace air is 0.100 mg/m~3 and the short-term exposure limit is 0.200 mg/m~3 in the United States based on total organic tin. The highest concentration of TMT in the workplace air in Germany is 0.005 mg/m~3. The literature data analysis results showed that the incubation period of TMT poisoning is mostly 3-6 days, and the main symptoms of TMT poisoning are hypokalemia in the early stage, followed by neuropsychiatric symptoms such as headache, memory loss and aggressive behavior. The median(M) and the 0-100 th percentile(P_0-P_(100)) of exposure to TMT were 8.35(< 0.20-91.40) μg/m~3 in the exposure group. The individual TMT exposure level of workers in different positions from high to low were crushing, granulation, withdrawal and assembly positions. The M(P_0-P_(100)) of urinary TMT level in the exposure group was 16.94(<0.50-591.14) μg/L. There was a positive correlation between the individual TMT exposure level and urine TMT level in the exposure group(Spearman correlation coefficient=0.62, P<0.01). The detection rate of hypokalemia in the exposure group was higher than that in the control group(26.1% vs 4.0%, P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the detection rate of moderate hypokalemia between the two groups(3.3% vs 0.0%, P>0.05). The 90% medical reference value of urine TMT was 89.90 μg/L in workers exposed to TMT without moderate hypokalemia. CONCLUSION: In order to prevent acute hypokalemia damage caused by TMT, we recommended that the occupational exposure limit of TMT in the workplace air should be set at 0.025 mg/m~3 in China, and this limit should be the maximum allowable concentration.

Objective: To determine the association between pulse pressure and the risk of new-onset diabetes in hypertensive patients. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, hypertensive patients from the Kailuan Study, who were diagnosed in 2006-2007 check-up, were screened for enrollment. Participants who finished the biennial follow-up until December 31, 2017 were finally included in this analysis. The primary outcome was incident diabetes development. The pulse pressure variables were divided into quartiles (Q₁-Q₄), and the Kaplan-Meier curve was used to examine and estimate the cumulative incidence of new-onset diabetes among quartiles. Cox proportional hazards regression model was performed to explore the association between pulse pressure and the risk of new-onset diabetes in hypertensive patients. Results: During an average follow-up of 8.17 years, 6 617 new-onset diabetes were identified out of the 32 917 hypertensive patients with no history or evidence of diabetes in 2006-2007 check-up. Participants were classified into quartiles according to pulse pressure levels as follows: Q₁ group(<41 mmHg (1mmHg=0.133kPa))(n=7 995); Q₂ group(41-<51 mmHg) (n=8 196); Q₃ group (51-<61 mmHg) (n= 8 270); Q₄ group (≥61 mmHg) (n=8 456). The cumulative incidences of new-onset diabetes across the quartiles were 16.94%, 19.61%, 21.07%, and 22.33%, respectively, with the incidence density was 20.27, 23.20, 24.92, and 26.10 per 1 000 person-years, respectively. The cumulative incidence of new-onset diabetes increased in proportion with increasing pulse pressure levels (P<0.01 by the Log-rank test). After multivariate adjustment, compared with the first quartile, the hazard ratios for new-onset diabetes in the third and fourth quartiles were 1.13 (95%CI 1.04-1.22, P<0.01) and 1.14 (95%CI 1.05-1.24, P<0.01), respectively. The risk of new-onset diabetes increased 5%(HR=1.05, 95%CI 1.02-1.08, P<0.01) with the fractional pulse pressure increased per 1 SD (0.13). Findings from the three sensitivity analyses were consistent with the main results in this cohort. Conclusions: Pulse pressure at baseline is positively associated with the incidence of new-onset diabetes among hypertensive individuals, and pulse pressure is an independent risk factor for the development of diabetes in hypertensive patients.

Chemical investigation on the rice culture of Corynespora cassiicola J9, an endophyte inhabiting in Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. resulted in isolation of eight compounds, including a new depsidone derivative, corynether C (1), and seven analogues, corynether B (2), corynetherlactone A (3), corynether A (4), diaryl ether (5), corynesidone C (6), corynesidone D (7), and corynesidone A (8). Their structures were deduced based on 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, and HR-ESI-MS data. All of the isolated compounds were evaluated for inhibitory activities against Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel by the leaf spray assay. Unfortunately, none of them showed inhibitory effects.

Realgar is a mineral traditional medicine with definite efficacy. The function of realgar is detoxicating, insecticiding, eliminating dampness and phlegm, etc. It is widely applied in clinical practice by compatibility medicines. However, the safety and scientificalness of clinical application are questioned because of the toxic effect caused by arsenic compounds. At present, there are still many problems in the research of realgar, which are mainly manifested in three areas: the expression of main components and effective substances are inconsistent; the anti-tumor mechanism is difficult to explain at the molecular level; the mechanism of compatibility is not clear. As a result, realgar and realgar-containing Chinese patent medicines are frequently prohibited from entering the international market, and the reputation of traditional Chinese medicine is also damaged. This paper would analyze the research status of realgar at home and abroad as well as its problems from its main components, effective substances, anti-tumor mechanism and compatibility mechanism. In view of these difficulties, quantum chemical calculation method is proposed to solve them, so as to make up for the shortcomings and limitations of experimental technology and experimental conditions, reduce the cost of realgar research and improve research efficiency. Moreover, it provides inspiration for research of other mineral medicine.
Arsenicals ; pharmacology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Minerals ; Sulfides ; pharmacology

The aim of this study is to investigate the epidemic condition of water-related diseases in the eastern route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP).All data were extracted from published literatures in Chinese about water-related diseases in the eastern route of SNWDP.Pooled analysis was used to explore geographical distribution and epidemiology of the disease.A total of 325 articles about water-related diseases were retrieved during 1953 to 2013,and 209 articles were included in this study.Pooling analysis showed that Shandong Province had the largest number of cases for water-related diseases,following by Jiangsu,Hebei,Tianjin,and Anhui.The numbers of cases were relative small before 1960s according to epidemic curve,and the curve peaked in the 1970s,and decreased after the 1980s.A total of 1 383 834 cases of bacillary dysentery was reported,accounting for 84％ of all water-related diseases on these regions of SNWDP,and followed by hepatitis A,hepatitis E,Japanese encephalitis,typhoid and paratyphoid fever and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.Other reported diseases displayed scatter condition and a small numbers of cases.The prevalence of water-related diseases is sporadic and a trend of decline along the regions of the eastern route of SNWDP.

Objective To investigate the main components and antioxidant activity of the extract of corn silk.Methods The extraction of proteins was determined by the Kjeldahl method,total sugar was determined by the phenol-sulfuric acid assay,reducing sugar by 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) assay,respectively.Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis assay (SDS-PAGE) profile was used to show the composition of the protein of the extract of corn silk.The antioxidant activity of the extract of corn silk was evaluated by the ABTS · + radical scavenging rate and oxygen free radical absorption capacity.Results The contents of total sugar,reducing sugar and protein were 51.70％,10.43％ and 21.80％,respectively.SDS-PAGE profile showed that the extract of corn silk contained soluble protein,and its molecular weight was between 9.5 kD and 20 kD.The experimental results showed that the free radical scavenging rate of ABTS · + had reached 70.29％ when the extract concentration was 0.40 mg · mL-1 In the reaction system,the half inhibition rate (IC50) of ABTS free radical scavenging activity was 0.23 mg · mL-1.The total antioxidant activities evaluated by ORAC assay were 3.40 mmol Trolox equivalents · g-1,equivalent to 1/3 of absorption capacity of Vitamin C free radical.Conclusion The extract of corn silk has prominent antioxidant activity.

Objective To study the effect of Alpinia officinarum Hance (A. officinarum) 80% alcohol extract on the primary dysmenorrhea. Methods A. officinarum 80% alcohol extract were enriched by macroporous adsorption resins. Female mice of primary dysmenorrhea model were established by oxytocin induction; the effects of A. officinarum 80% alcohol extract on primary dysmenorrhea were observed by body twist method; and the homogenate level of prostaglandin F