ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the dynamic changes in general body parameters, blood glucose, and blood lipid profiles in obese cynomolgus monkeys, exploring the correlations among these parameters and providing a reference for research on the obese cynomolgus monkey model. Methods30 normal male cynomolgus monkeys aged 5 - 17 years old (with body mass index < 35 kg/m² and glycated hemoglobin content < 4.50%) and 99 spontaneously obese male cynomolgus monkeys (with body mass index ≥35 kg/m² and glycated hemoglobin content < 4.50%) were selected. Over a period of three years, their abdominal circumference, skinfold thickness, body weight, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and four blood lipid indicators were monitored. The correlations between each indicator were analyzed using repeated measurement ANOVA, simple linear regression, and multiple linear regression correlation analysis method. Results Compared to the control group, the obese group exhibited significantly higher levels of abdominal circumference, skinfold thickness, body weight, body mass index, and triglyceride (P＜0.05). In the control group, skinfold thickness increased annually, while other indicators remained stable. Compared with the first year, the obese group showed significantly increased abdominal circumference, skinfold thickness, body weight, body mass index, triglyceride, and fasting blood glucose in the second year(P＜0.05), with this increasing trend persisting in the third year (P＜0.05). In the control group, the obesity incidence rates in the second and third years were 16.67% and 23.33%, respectively, while the prevalence of diabetes remained at 16.67%. In the obese group, the diabetes incidence rates were 29.29% and 44.44% in years 2 and 3, respectively. Among the 11-13 year age group, the incidence rates were 36.36% and 44.68%, while for the group older than 13 years, the rates were 28.13% and 51.35%. Correlation analysis revealed significant associations (P＜0.05) between fasting blood glucose and age, abdominal circumference, skinfold thickness, body weight, and triglyceride in the diabetic monkeys. Conclusion Long-term obesity can lead to the increases in general physical indicators and fasting blood glucose levels in cynomolgus monkeys, and an increase in the incidence of diabetes. In diabetic cynomolgus monkeys caused by obesity, there is a high correlation between their fasting blood glucose and age, weight, abdominal circumference, skinfold thickness, and triglyceride levels, which is of some significance for predicting the occurrence of spontaneous diabetes.

Jiuwei Xifeng Granules have become a Chinese patent medicine in the market. Because the formula contains Os Draconis, a top-level protected fossil of ancient organisms, the formula was to be improved by replacing Os Draconis with Ostreae Concha. To evaluate whether the improved formula has the same effectiveness and safety as the original formula, a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, equivalence clinical trial was conducted. This study enrolled 288 tic disorder(TD) of children and assigned them into two groups in 1∶1. The treatment group and control group took the modified formula and original formula, respectively. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks, and follow-up visits were conducted at weeks 2, 4, and 6. The primary efficacy endpoint was the difference in Yale global tic severity scale(YGTSS)-total tic severity(TTS) score from baseline after 6 weeks of treatment. The results showed that after 6 weeks of treatment, the declines in YGTSS-TSS score showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The difference in YGTSS-TSS score(treatment group-control group) and the 95%CI of the full analysis set(FAS) were-0.17[-1.42, 1.08] and those of per-protocol set(PPS) were 0.29[-0.97, 1.56], which were within the equivalence boundary [-3, 3]. The equivalence test was therefore concluded. The two groups showed no significant differences in the secondary efficacy endpoints of effective rate for TD, total score and factor scores of YGTSS, clinical global impressions-severity(CGI-S) score, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) response rate, or symptom disappearance rate, and thus a complete evidence chain with the primary outcome was formed. A total of 6 adverse reactions were reported, including 4(2.82%) cases in the treatment group and 2(1.41%) cases in the control group, which showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. No serious suspected unexpected adverse reactions were reported, and no laboratory test results indicated serious clinically significant abnormalities. The results support the replacement of Os Draconis by Ostreae Concha in the original formula, and the efficacy and safety of the modified formula are consistent with those of the original formula.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Tic Disorders/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

A variety of chromatographic techniques, including silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20, and HPLC, were employed to isolate and purify the fermentation products of rice with Monascus sanguineus. A total of 38 compounds were isolated, and their structures were identified by UV, IR, NMR, MS, calculated ECD, and comparison with literature data. Compounds 1-4 were identified as new natural products, and other compounds were isolated from this fungus for the first time. A RAW264.7 macrophage model of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammation was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activities of all the compounds. The results showed that compound 6 exhibited a certain inhibitory effect on the production of nitric oxide in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, with an inhibition rate of 53.08%.
Monascus/chemistry* ; Mice ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/isolation & purification* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Macrophages/immunology* ; Nitric Oxide/immunology* ; Oryza/metabolism* ; Fermentation

A previous study showed that the length of the foreskin plays a role in the risk of sexually transmitted infections and chronic prostatitis, which can lead to poor quality of sexual life. Here, the association between foreskin length and sexual dysfunction was evaluated. A total of 5700 participants were recruited from the andrology clinic at The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (Hefei, China). Clinical characteristics, including foreskin length, were collected, and sexual function was assessed by the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) and Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT) questionnaires. Men with sexual dysfunction were more likely to have redundant foreskin than men without sexual dysfunction. Among the 2721 erectile dysfunction (ED) patients and 1064 premature ejaculation (PE) patients, 301 (11.1%) ED patients and 135 (12.7%) PE patients had redundant foreskin, respectively. Men in the PE group were more likely to have redundant foreskin than men in the non-PE group ( P = 0.004). Logistic regression analyses revealed that the presence of redundant foreskin was associated with increased odds of moderate/severe ED (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.31, adjusted P = 0.04), moderate PE (aOR = 1.38, adjusted P = 0.02), and probable PE (aOR = 1.37, adjusted P = 0.03) after adjusting for confounding variables. Our study revealed a positive correlation between the presence of redundant foreskin and the risk of sexual dysfunction, especially in PE patients. Assessment of the length of the foreskin during routine clinical diagnosis may provide information for patients with sexual dysfunction.
Humans ; Male ; Foreskin ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adult ; Erectile Dysfunction/epidemiology* ; Premature Ejaculation/epidemiology* ; Middle Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/epidemiology* ; Young Adult

Using methylated pyrroloxicam as a starting material and following the principles of drug design such as bioisosterism and active site binding,we designed and synthesized ten structurally novel target compounds,whose structures were characterized by 1H NMR and MS analysis.The in vitro antitumor activity of these title compounds was evaluated by measuring their inhibitory activity against pancreatic cancer cells Capan-1,leukemia cells L1210,and human liver cancer cells SMMC-7721.The results showed that compound 6f(IC50=4.8±0.5 μmol/L)exhibited good inhibitory activity against Capan-1 pancreatic cancer cells,that compound 6b(IC50=2.6±0.3 μmol/L)showed good inhibitory activity against L1210 leukemia cells,and that compound 6c(IC50=2.1±0.2 μmol/L)displayed good inhibitory activity against SMMC-7721 human liver cancer cells.These preliminary results from the antitumor activity experiments suggest that the introduction of benzothiazine derivatives plays a certain role in enhancing the antitumor activity of this class of compounds.

Objective:To study the current status of longitudinal extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) in extremely preterm infants (EPIs) and to develop a prediction model based on clinical data from multiple NICUs.Methods:From January 2017 to December 2018, EPIs admitted to 32 NICUs in North China were retrospectively studied. Their general conditions, nutritional support, complications during hospitalization and weight changes were reviewed. Weight loss between birth and discharge > 1SD was defined as longitudinal EUGR. The EPIs were assigned into longitudinal EUGR group and non-EUGR group and their nutritional support and weight changes were compared. The EPIs were randomly assigned into the training dataset and the validation dataset with a ratio of 7∶3. Univariate Cox regression analysis and multiple regression analysis were used in the training dataset to select the independent predictive factors. The best-fitting Nomogram model predicting longitudinal EUGR was established based on Akaike Information Criterion. The model was evaluated for discrimination efficacy, calibration and clinical decision curve analysis.Results:A total of 436 EPIs were included in this study, with a mean gestational age of (26.9±0.9) weeks and a birth weight of (989±171) g. The incidence of longitudinal EUGR was 82.3%(359/436). Seven variables (birth weight Z-score, weight loss, weight growth velocity, the proportion of breast milk ≥75% within 3 d before discharge, invasive mechanical ventilation ≥7 d, maternal antenatal corticosteroids use and bronchopulmonary dysplasia) were selected to establish the prediction model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the training dataset and the validation dataset were 0.870 (95% CI 0.820-0.920) and 0.879 (95% CI 0.815-0.942), suggesting good discrimination efficacy. The calibration curve indicated a good fit of the model ( P>0.05). The decision curve analysis showed positive net benefits at all thresholds. Conclusions:Currently, EPIs have a high incidence of longitudinal EUGR. The prediction model is helpful for early identification and intervention for EPIs with higher risks of longitudinal EUGR. It is necessary to expand the sample size and conduct prospective studies to optimize and validate the prediction model in the future.

Objective To design a novel oxygenator to solve the existing problems of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)machine in high transmembrane pressure difference,low efficiency of blood oxygen exchange and susceptibility to thrombosis.Methods The main body of the oxygenator vascular access flow field was gifted with a flat cylindrical shape.The topology of the vascular access was modeled in three dimensions,and the whole flow field was cut into a blood inlet section,an inlet buffer,a heat exchange zone,a blood oxygen exchange zone,an outlet buffer and a blood outlet section.The oxygenator was compared with Quadrox oxygenator by means of ANSYS FLUENT-based simulation and prototype experiments.Results Simulation calculations showed the oxygenator designed was comparable to the clinically used ones in general,and gained advantages in transmembrane pressure difference,blood oxygen exchange and flow uniformity.Experimental results indicated that the oxygenator behaved better than Quadrox oxygenator in transmembrane pressure difference and blood oxygen exchange.Conclusion The oxygenator has advantages in transmem-brane pressure difference,temperature change,blood oxygen ex-change and low probability of thrombosis.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(3):23-28]

Objective We aimed to study the protective effect of total glucosides of paeony (TGP) on chemical liver injury with pattern of liver yin deficiency in rats and determine whether it exerts these effects through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway.Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the following four groups: (i) the blank group, (ii) the model group, (iii) the Yiguan Jian group, and (iv) the TGP group (10 rats per group). For 6 weeks, rats in all groups except for the blank group were injected intraperitoneally with 20％ carbon tetrachloride olive oil solution and were given thyroid tablets (30mg/kg) by gavage in order to establish the model of chemical liver injury with pattern of liver yin deficiency. During the modeling period, rats in the blank and model groups were gavaged daily with distilled water, while rats in the Yiguan Jian group and the TGP group were gavaged with 635mg/kg of Yiguan Jian decoction and 50mg/kg of TGP suspension, respectively. During the administration period, the body weight and rectal temperature of rats were measured every 2 weeks. After the administration, 24-hour food intake, 24-hour water intake, and moisture capacity in tongue surface were recorded. Serum cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) contents were measured by ELISA and the cAMP/cGMP ratio was calculated. Changes in the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alanine transaminase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TBIL), and total bile acids (TBA) were detected using colorimetric method. Masson staining was performed to observe the degree of liver fibrosis and to calculate the relative collagen area. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were conducted to determine the PI3K, AKT, and mTOR mRNA and protein expression levels in rat liver.Results Compared with the blank group, rats in the model group had a lower body weight at weeks 2, 4, and 6, a higher rectal temperature at weeks 2, 4, and 6, and a higher 24-hour food intake; the cAMP level was elevated, the cGMP level was decreased, and the cAMP/cGMP ratio was elevated; the contents of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α were elevated, and the contents of IL-10 and IL-1Ra were decreased; ALT, AST, γ-GT, ALP, TBIL, and TBA levels were elevated; the percentage of collagen area in the liver was increased; and the mRNA and protein phosphorylation levels of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR were elevated ( P<0.05). Compared with the model group, rats in the TGP group showed a decrease in rectal temperature at weeks 2, 4, and 6, a decrease in 24-hour food intake and water intake, and an increase in the moisture capacity in tongue surface; rats in the Yiguan Jian and TGP groups showed a decrease in cAMP, an increase in cGMP, and a decrease in the cAMP/cGMP, the contents of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α were decreased and the content of IL-10 was increased, the percentage of collagen area in the liver was decreased; ALT, AST, γ-GT, ALP, and TBIL levels were decreased in the TGP group, and PI3K, AKT, and mTOR were downregulated at the mRNA and protein levels(P<0.05).Conclusion TGP has a good protective effect on chemical liver injury with pattern of liver yin deficiency in rats. TGP may regulate the balance of yin and yang by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, reducing the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and increasing the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) combined with Flexi-bar exercise training on postpartum diastasis recti abdominis (DRA). Methods A total of 120 postpartum DRA patients were selected and randomly divided into observation group (60 cases) and control group (60 cases). Patients in the control group received NMES treatment, while those in the observation group received NMES treatment combined with Flexi-bar exercise therapy. The therapeutic effects between the two groups were compared after 6 weeks of continuously treatment. Results Before treatment, there was no significant difference in the distance between the rectus abdominis muscles at 4 cm above and below the umbilicus, or at the level of the umbilicus between two groups (P>0.05); after treatment, those distances were significantly reduced, and the distance between the rectus abdominis muscles at 4 cm above and below the umbilicus in the observation group were smaller than control group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of upper abdominal circumference, middle abdominal circumference, lower abdominal circumference, rectus abdominis root mean square (RMS), maximum muscle strength of classⅠmuscle fibers of pelvic floor, average muscle strength of class Ⅱ muscle fibers of pelvic floor, and 36-item Shot-form Health Status Survey(SF-36) scores before treatment (P>0.05); after treatment, the upper abdominal circumference, middle abdominal circumference and lower abdominal circumference of the two groups were decreased than those before treatment, and were lower in the observation group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The rectus abdominis RMS, maximum muscle strength of class Ⅰ muscle fibers of pelvic floor, average muscle strength of class Ⅱ muscle fibers of pelvic floor, and SF-36 scores of the two groups were increased than those before treatment, and were higher in the observation group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion NMES combined with Flexi-bar exercise training on postpartum DRA has significant therapeutic effect, which is helpful to enhance the abdominal muscle strength and improve the quality of life of patients.