Objective Based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF/MS),the potential biomarkers and metabolic mechanisms of adult calcium oxalate urolithiasis were identified to guide the diagnosis and treatment of calcium oxalate lithiasis.Methods Blood samples of 36 patients diagnosed with bilateral upper urinary tract calcium oxalate stones and 36 healthy controls admitted to our hospital during Oct.2017 and Jul.2018 were collected.Metabolic fingerprints were analyzed with UPLC-Q-TOF/MS.The multivariate data were analyzed with principal component analysis(PCA)and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA).Potential biological markers were identified by comparing human metabolome datasets.Finally,the metabolic pathways of the identified compounds were analyzed and the metabolic network map was constructed.Results PCA and OPLS-DA showed significant differences in blood metabolites between patients and healthy controls,and identified 29 blood-related metabolites,including linoleic acid,citric acid,uric acid and so on.The most relevant blood metabolic pathways were bile acid synthesis pathway,fatty acid biosynthesis pathway,glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway,sphingolipid metabolism pathway and purine metabolism pathway.Conclusion Blood metabolomics analysis based on the UPLC-Q-TOF/MS platform identified 29 potential blood biomarkers of adult calcium oxalate urolithiasis,and purine and lipid metabolism may be related to the genesis of calcium oxalate stones.

MHNTs@PDA@ZIF-8 with rod-shaped core-shell structures was synthesized and used as sorbent in magnetic solid phase extraction(MSPE).MHNTs@PDA@ZIF-8-MSPE method coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)was employed to analyze sixteen kinds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs)in tea beverages.Vibrating sample magnetometer(VSM),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR),X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and nitrogen adsorption-desorption techniques were used to characterize the MHNTs@PDA@ZIF-8.The results demonstrated that the MHNTs@PDA@ZIF-8 exhibited significant magnetic properties and a large specific surface area.The experimental conditions that could affect MSPE were investigated,including adsorbent dosage,extraction time,desorption time,ionic strength,desorption solvent type,and desorption solvent volume.The optimal conditions were 10 mg of MHNTs@PDA@ZIF-8 as adsorbent,90 s under vortex extraction,and ultrasonic desorption for 60 s with 1 mL ofn-hexane.The sixteen kinds of PAHs showed good linearity in the concentration range of 5-500 μg/L(r2≥0.995).The limits of detection(S/N=3)and quantitation(S/N=10)were in the range of 0.1-0.8 μg/L and 0.3-2.6 μg/L,respectively.The recoveries of the method ranged from 60.9%to 114.7%,with relative standard deviations(n=3)ranging from 0.2%to 9.2%when the addition levels of sixteen kinds of PAHs were 10,50,and 100 μg/L.The method was simple,fast,sensitive and environmentally friendly,and suitable for detecting sixteen kinds of PAHs in tea beverages.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of incision and drainage with Holmium laser under flexible ureteroscope in the treatment of parapelvic cysts.Methods:The clinical data of 21 patients with parapelvic cysts in Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2018 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, including 10 males and 11 females. The average age was (62.86±5.38) years, and median age was 63.0 years, aged from 36-72 years. The maximum diameter of the cyst was 33-71 mm, with an average of (53.46±9.68) mm. There were 15 cases with homolateral hydronephrosis and 6 cases with homolateral renal calculus. The patients included in the study were treated with incision and drainage with Holmium laser under flexible ureteroscope. The double J ureteral catheter was removed and the urinary system ultrasound was repeated one month after surgery. CT on bilateral kidney was repeated every 6 months until 12 months after surgery. Subsequently, ultrasound on bilateral kidney was reviewed regularly every year. Prognostic indexes sunch as operation time, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative time of getting out of bed, intraoperative blood loss, recurrence and shrinkage of renal cysts were recorded.Results:Of the 21 patients who underwent incision and drainage with Holmium laser under flexible ureteroscope, 9 cases (42.9%) underwent the one-stage operation and 12 cases (57.1%) underwent the two-stage operation. The mean operative time was (41.57±10.86) min, the mean postoperative hospitalization time was (2.90±1.06) d, the mean time of getting out of bed was (0.53±0.30) d, and the mean intraoperative blood loss was (6.52±2.15) mL. No significant recurrence of cysts was observed in all patients after 6-60 months of follow-up, and the cysts disappeared completely or shrank significantly.Conclusion:Incision and drainage with Holmium laser under flexible ureteroscope is safe and reliable in patients with parapelvic cysts, with short operation time, minor blood loss, rapid postoperative recovery and low recurrence rate, which is one of the ideal treatment options for parapelvic cysts.

Objective:To investigate the effect of astragaloside A (AS-A) on the photoreceptor degeneration induced by sodium iodate (NaIO 3) and its related mechanism. Methods:Sixty healthy male C57BL/6J mice, aged 6-8 weeks, were randomly divided into normal control (NC) group, NaIO 3 group, and ASA group, with twenty mice in each group. 30 min before modeling, AS-A group mice were intraperitoneally injected with 100 μl AS-A at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. 30 min later, mice in NaIO 3 group and AS-A group were intraperitoneally injected with 100 μl NaIO 3 at a dose of 30 mg/kg body weight. Subsequently, AS-A group mice were administered AS-A twice daily at 12 h intervals until the end of the experiment. On day 1 post-modeling, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) immunohistochemistry was performed to observe the structure of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells; real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was conducted to detect the mRNA expression of various retinal chemokine ligand-2 ( Ccl2), interleukin-1 beta ( Il-1β), mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein ( Mlkl), receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 ( Ripk3), and tumor necrosis factor ( Tnf). On day 3 post-modeling, immunohistochemistry was performed to observe the expression of ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) in the retina; TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay was used to detect photoreceptor cell death in each group. On day 4 post-modeling, fundus morphology of mice in each group was observed by fundus color photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE) was used to observe the morphological structure of the retina in each group. Inter-group comparisons between two groups were conducted using independent samples t-test, while comparisons among three groups were performed using one-way ANOVA. Results:Fundus color photography and OCT examination showed that a large number of scattered yellow-white subretinal nodular structures in the fundus of NaIO 3 group mice, and a large number of strong reflection areas in the RPE layer. The number of strong reflection areas in the RPE layer was reduced in the AS-A group. Immunohistochemical analysis of ZO-1 showed that ZO-1 was largely lost on the RPE cell membrane in that NaIO 3 group; whereas in the AS-A group, ZO-1 was evenly distributed on the RPE cell membrane. HE staining results showed circular black deposits were visible in the RPE layer of the NaIO 3 group, and the inner and outer segments of photoreceptors were severely damaged, with a significant decrease in the number of outer nuclear layer (ONL) cell nuclei; whereas in the AS-A group, the RPE layer pigments were orderly, the inner and outer segments of photoreceptors were intact, and the number of ONL cell nuclei significantly increased. The results of TUNEL staining show that numerous TUNEL-positive cell nuclei were observed in the ONL of the retina in the NaIO 3 group, while the number of TUNEL-positive cell nuclei in the ONL of the retina was significantly reduced in the AS-A group, with statistically significant differences ( t=2.66, P<0.05). The analysis of qPCR data showed that compared with the AS-A group, the relative expression levels of Mlkl, Ripk3, Ccl2, Il-1β and Tnf mRNA in the retina were significantly increased in the NaIO 3 group, with statistically significant differences ( F=39.18, 10.66, 53.51, 41.40, 24.13; P<0.001). Immunohistochemical staining results showed that compared with NC group and AS-A group, the positive expression of GFAP in retina of NaIO 3 group was significantly increased, and the difference was statistically significant ( F=9.62, P<0.05). Conclusion:AS-A antagonizes NaIO 3-induced photoreceptor degeneration in part by inhibiting photoreceptor cell death and neuroinflammation. Meanwhile, AS-A treatment protects against NaIO 3-triggered perturbation of retinal homeostasis.

Acupuncture-moxibustion is remarkably effective on encephalopathy, but its mechanism is unclear. With the continuous development of imaging technology, the in vivo brain imaging technology has been used increasingly in life science research and it also becomes a more effective tool for the basic research of acupuncture-moxibustion in treatment of encephalopathy. The paper summarizes the application of its technology in the basic research of acupuncture-moxibustion for encephalopathy and the characteristics of imaging, as well as the advantages and shortcomings. It is anticipated that the references may be provided for the basic research of acupuncture-moxibustion in treatment of encephalopathy and be conductive to the modernization of acupuncture-moxibustion.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture ; Brain Diseases/therapy* ; Neuroimaging

Humans ; Consensus ; Hypersensitivity ; Desensitization, Immunologic/adverse effects* ; Immunotherapy/adverse effects* ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Allergens

OBJECTIVE: To identify specific Chinese medicines (CMs) that may benefit patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and explore the action mechanism. METHODS: Domestic and foreign literature on the treatment of GERD with CMs was searched and selected from China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, Wanfang Database, and PubMed from October 1, 2011 to October 1, 2021. Data from all eligible articles were extracted to establish the database of CMs for GERD. Apriori algorithm of data mining techniques was used to analyze the rules of herbs selection and core Chinese medicine formulas were identified. A system pharmacology approach was used to explore the action mechanism of these medicines. RESULTS: A total of 278 prescriptions for GERD were analyzed, including 192 CMs. Results of Apriori algorithm indicated that Evodiae Fructus and Coptidis Rhizoma were the highest confidence combination. A total of 32 active ingredients and 66 targets were screened for the treatment of GERD. Enrichment analysis showed that the mechanisms of action mainly involved pathways in cancer, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, advanced glycation end product (AGE), the receptor for AGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, bladder cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis. CONCLUSION Evodiae Fructus and Coptidis Rhizoma are the core drugs in the treatment of GERD and the potential mechanism of action of these medicines includes potential target and pathways.
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Network Pharmacology ; Data Mining ; Gastroesophageal Reflux/drug therapy*

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by an intracellular protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. We report here a diabetic patient who was diagnosed as toxoplasmosis with multiple cranial nerve palsies and cavernous sinusitis. A 37-year-old male presented with an 11-day history of gingival pain, one day history of ptosis and diplopia. He has been having diabetes mellitus for 6 years, and has a history of contact with cats. After admission, his symptoms worsened with right 3rd to 7th cranial nerve palsies. The brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed cavernous sinusitis in the right sellar region. Serology for toxoplasma was positive for IgM and negative IgG. The patient was treated with oral clindamycin (900 mg/day) and dexamethasone (15 mg/day). The right visual acuity and lid-conjunctival swelling improved after 3 days. At follow-up after a month, the movement of the right eye significantly improved. This case demonstrate the rare occurrence of multiple cranial nerve (3rd to 7th) palsies from toxoplasmosis cavernous sinusitis, which is a potentially treatable condition.

In this study, a method for rapid identification of three kinds of honey and four kinds of syrup by microwave plasma torch mass spectrometry ( MPT-MS) without sample pretreatment was established. Under the positive ion mode, honey and syrup were ionized by MPT-MS and analyzed by quadrupole mass spectrometry ( QMS). The MS data were analyzed with chemometrics methods. Consequently, principal component analysis ( PCA) showed that PC1, PC2 and PC3 had a total contribution rate of 91. 2％ , and cluster analysis (CA) indicated when the critical value was 7, this method could distinguish honey and syrup in addition to clover honey and inulin syrup. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis ( PLS-DA) also manifested that honey and syrup could be effectively distinguished. Discriminant analysis (DA) demonstrated that the discriminant accuracy of honey and syrup was 100％ . Accordingly, all the results showed that the method of MPT-MS combined with chemometrics could identify honey and syrup rapidly. In brief, this method has the advantages such as fast analysis speed, accurate information extraction, high recognition accuracy and without sample pretreatment, and can be used for the identification of honey and main adulterated syrup.

Objective To investigate protective effect of tribulus terrestris L (TTL) on photoreceptor in the model of light-induced retinal degeneration.Methods BALB/c mice were exposed to bright light at the intensity of 10 000 lux for 30 minutes to establish the retinal light damage models.The BALB/c mice were divided into normal control group,model group and treatment group,6 cases in each group.TTL decoction was intraperitoneally administered to mice 30 minutes prior to illumination in the treatment group.Saline vehicle was administered in the normal control group and model group.Photoreceptor protection of TTL was assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) at 3 hours and 7 days after illumination.Gross histology and immunohistochemistry approaches were also taken to examine the retinal protection conferred by TTL at 7 days after bright light exposure.Results Compared to normal retinal morphology in the normal control group,prominent photoreceptor loss and diminished rod and cone photoreceptors evidenced by attenuated retinal expression of rhodopsin and M-opsin were observed in the model group.In contrast,TTL treatment resulted in significant protection against bright light-induced photoreceptor degeneration and remarkable preservation of rod and cone photoreceptor cells.The outer retinal nuclear layer in the model group was thinner than that in the normal control group (P ＜ 0.05),but the treatment group was thicker than the model group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Bright light induces obviously degeneration in photoreceptors in BALB/c mice.Moreover,TTL is shown for the first to significantly protect the photoreceptors from bright light-induced degeneration.