ObjectiveBased on the traditional quality evaluation methods summarized in previous dynasties， this paper systematically contrasted cultivated Astragali Radix（CA） and wild-simulated Astragali Radix（WA） from the aspects of character， microstructure and chemical composition by modern technological means. MethodThe collected CA and WA were compared in characters and microscopic characteristics in cross section， and comparative analysis were performed on the contents of cellulose， extracts， carbohydrate， total flavonoids， total saponins， etc. Then ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometer（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS） and desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging（DESI-MSI） were used to comparatively analyze the secondary metabolites and their spatial distributions in the xylem and phloem of CA and WA. ResultIn terms of characters， the characters and sectional features of WA was consistent with the characteristics of high-quality Astragali Radix， while the CA was quite different from the traditional high-quality Astragali Radix. In terms of microscopy， the phellem layer of CA was thin， and the section fissures were mostly distributed through the cambium in a long strip shape without obvious growth ring characteristics. The cork layer of WA was thick， and the cracks in the section were distributed in the center of the xylem and the outer edge of the phloem in an irregular cavity shape. The cambium was tight without cracks， and had obvious characteristics of a growth ring. In terms of chemical composition， the contents of water-soluble extract， 80% ethanol extract and sucrose of CA was significantly higher than those of WA， while the contents of total saponins， lignin and hemicellulose were significantly lower than those of WA. And the contents of 100% ethanol extract， total polysaccharides and total flavonoids in both of them were generally similar， but slightly higher in WA. The contents of 2 kinds of monoacyl-substituted flavonoid glycosides in the xylem of WA was significantly higher than those of CA， while the contents of 2 kinds of flavonoid aglycones and one flavonoid glycoside were on the contrary. The contents of 7 saponins in phloem of WA were significantly higher than those of CA. ConclusionThere are significant differences between CA and WA in characters， microstructure and chemical components， in which CA has a fast growth rate and a short planting period， and the primary metabolites such as water-soluble extracts and sucrose are more enriched， which is the reason for its firm texture and sweetness being significantly higher than those of WA. However， the contents of lignin， hemicellulose and some secondary metabolites in WA are significantly higher than those in the CA， which are close to the traditional description of characters and quality. Based on the results of this study， it is suggested to strengthen the production of WA， improve the supply capacity of WA， and gradually upgrade the current standard. It is recommended to increase the contents of monoacyl-substituted flavonoid glycosides， total saponins and other indicators that can characterize different production methods， so as to guide the high-quality production of Astragali Radix.

Starting with the relationship between mulberry leaves and silkworm droppings as food and metabolites, this study systematically compared the chemical components, screened out differential components, and quantitatively analyzed the main differential components based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and UPLC-Q-TRAP-MS combined with principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA). Moreover, the in vitro enzymatic transformation of the representative differential components was studied. The results showed that(1) 95 components were identified from mulberry leaves and silkworm droppings, among which 27 components only exist in mulberry leaves and 8 components in silkworm droppings. The main differential components were flavonoid glycosides and chlorogenic acids.(2) Nineteen components with significant difference were quantitatively analyzed, and the components with significant differences and high content were neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, and rutin.(3) The crude protease in the mid-gut of silkworm significantly metabolized neochlorogenic acid and chlorogenic acid, which may be an important reason for the efficacy change in mulberry leaves and silkworm droppings. This study lays a scientific foundation for the development, utilization, and quality control of mulberry leaves and silkworm droppings. It provides references for clarifying the possible material basis and mechanism of the pungent-cool and dispersing nature of mulberry leaves transforming into the pungent-warm and dampness-resolving nature of silkworm droppings, and offers a new idea for the study of nature-effect transformation mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine.
Animals ; Bombyx ; Morus/chemistry* ; Chlorogenic Acid/analysis* ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Plant Leaves/chemistry*

Objective: To explore the protective effects of anthrahydroquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AH 2 QDS) on the kidneys of paraquat (PQ) poisoned rats via the apelin-APJ pathway. Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four experimental groups: control, PQ, PQ+sivelestat, and PQ+AH 2 QDS. The PQ+sivelestat group served as the positive control group. The model of poisoning was established via intragastric treatment with a 20% PQ pesticide solution at 200 mg/kg. Two hours after poisoning, the PQ+sivelestat group was treated with sivelestat, while the PQ+AH 2 QDS group was given AH 2 QDS. Six rats were selected from each group on the first, third, and seventh days after poisoning and dissected after anesthesia. The PQ content of the kidneys was measured using the sodium disulfite method. Hematoxylin-eosin staining of renal tissues was performed to detect pathological changes. Apelin expression in the renal tissues was detected using immunofluorescence. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of the following proteins in the kidney tissues: IL-6, TNF-α, apelin-APJ (the apelin-Angiotensin receptor), NF-κB p65, caspase-1, caspase-8, glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), and the C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). In in vitro study, a PQ toxicity model was established using human tubular epithelial cells treated with standard PQ. Twenty-four hours after poisoning, sivelestat and AH 2 QDS were administered. The levels of oxidative stress in human renal tubular epithelial cells were assessed using a reactive oxygen species fluorescence probe. Results: The PQ content in the kidney tissues of the PQ group was higher than that of the PQ+AH 2 QDS group. Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed extensive hemorrhage and congestion in the renal parenchyma of the PQ group. Vacuolar degeneration of the renal tubule epithelial cells, deposition of crescent-like red staining material in renal follicles, infiltration by a few inflammatory cells, and a small number of cast formation were also observed. However, these pathological changes were less severe in the PQ+sivelestat group and the PQ+AH 2 QDS group (P<0.05). On the third day after poisoning, immunofluorescence assay showed that the level of apelin in the renal tissues was significantly higher in the PQ+AH 2 QDS group than in the PQ group. Western blotting analysis results showed that IL-6, TNF-α, NF-κB p65, caspase-1, caspase-8, GRP78, and CHOP protein levels in the PQ group were higher than in the PQ+AH 2 QDS group (P<0.05). The expression of apelin-APJ proteins in the PQ+AH 2 QDS group was higher than in the PQ+sivelestat and PQ groups (P<0.05); this difference was significant on Day 3 and Day 7. The level of oxidative stress in the renal tubular epithelial cells of the PQ+AH 2 QDS group and the PQ+sivelestat group was significantly lower than in the PQ group (P<0.05). Conclusions: This study confirms that AH 2 QDS has a protective effect on PQ-poisoned kidneys and its positive effect is superior to that of sivelestat. The mechanism of the protective effects of AH 2 QDS may be linked to reduction in cellular oxidative stress, PQ content of renal tissue, inflammatory injury, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis. AH 2 QDS may play a role in the treatment of PQ poisoning by upregulating the expression of the apelin-APJ.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the change trends of sperm quality with seasonal variations among the volunteers of sperm donors in Beijing area, as well as the relationship between two parameters. METHODS: Semen data from the volunteers of sperm donors in Human Sperm Bank of Peking University Third Hospital were collected using a retrospective study method. The subjects were divided into 4 seasonal groups based on the lunar solar terms and the time of sperm donation. The data were assessed to find whether there were differences in semen parameters among different seasonal groups, and to analyze the change trends and the influence of seasonal factors on semen parameters. RESULTS: A total of 21 174 semen parameter data were analyzed. Firstly, to analyze all data as a whole, in spring, summer, autumn and winter groups, sperm concentration was (106.04±59.67)×10⁶/mL, (97.61±47.41)×10⁶/mL, (100.18±47.17)×10⁶/mL, (100.59±38.68)×10⁶/mL, respectively, and the spring group was significantly higher than the other 3 seasonal groups (P < 0.001); proportion of progressive motility sperm (PR) was 56.49%±12.76%, 58.02%±13.65%, 58.05%±12.36%, and 57.66%±12.61%, respectively, spring group was lower than the other three seasonal groups, and summer group was better among the latter (P < 0.001). There was no difference in normal rate of sperm morphology among the four seasonal groups. The qualified rate of sperm donors in the winter group was higher than that in the other three seasons groups (P < 0.01), while the qualified rate in the summer group was lower than that in the other three seasons groups. In addition, the semen parameters of the volunteers during the screening period and the official sperm donation period were analyzed respectively, which revealed that sperm concentration of spring group was higher than that of summer and winter groups, and PR was lower than that of summer and autumn groups. On account of the semen parameters of official sperm donation period, multiple linear regression analysis found that season was the main factor affecting sperm concentration, the average sperm concentration in spring group was about 6×10⁶/mL higher than in winter group, but PR was 2.9% lower in spring group compared with autumn group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Season was the influencing factor of semen quality of sperm donors in Beijing area. We recommend spring and winter may be the preferred seasons for sperm donation.
Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa

Objective:To investigate the effect of melatonin (MEL) influence on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced long-term anxiety-like behavior and activation of astrocytes in septic neonatal rats.Methods:Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly(random number) assigned to the control group, LPS group and LPS+MEL group. Sepsis model was intraperitoneally injected with LPS (1 mg/kg), and neonatal rats in the MEL group were administered with MEL (10 mg/kg) 30 min after LPS injection. At different time points after injection, rats in each group were divided into three subgroups: 3 d, 7 d and 28 d. The expression of GFAP and TNF-α in the corpus callosum was detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot. Open-field test was applied to observe anxiety-like behaviors. In vitro, cultured neonatal SD rat astrocytes were divided into the control group, LPS group, LPS+MEL group, and LPS+MEL+luzindole group. Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the expression of GFAP and TNF-α. Expression of GFAP, TNF-α, p-NF-κBp65, NF-κBp65 protein in astrocytes were assessed by Western blot. RT-qPCR was used to investigate the mRNA expression of GDNF and BDNF. One-way ANOVA and two-way ANOVA were used for comparison of multiple groups of variables. A P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:LPS reduced the duration of movement in the central area and distance in the central area/total distance in open-field test, while melatonin evidently reversed the LPS-induced anxiety-like behavior. Compared with the LPS group, the expressions of GFAP and TNF-α were significantly decreased in the corpus callosum at 3 d and 7 d in the MEL group ( P< 0.05). Compared with the LPS group, MEL could significantly decrease the expression of GFAP, TNF-α and p-NF-κBp65 in astrocytes ( P< 0.05), which could be blocked by Luzindole. In addition, compared with the LPS group, MEL pretreatment could reverse the down regulation of GDNF and BDNF induced by LPS ( P<0.05). Conclusions:MEL can relieve LPS-induced long-term anxiety-like behavior in septic neonatal rats. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of astrocyte activation and inflammatory reaction through NF - κ B pathway.

Objective: Although single port laparoscopic surgery has achieved good clinical results, many surgeons are discouraged by the difficulties of operation, conflict of instruments, lack of antagonistic traction, and straight-line perspective. Therefore, some surgeons have proposed a single incision plus one hole laparoscopic surgery (SILS+1) surgical method. This study explored the safety and feasibility of SILS+1 for radical resection of colorectal cancer. Methods: A descriptive cohort study was carried out. The clinical data, including the operation, pathology and recovery situation, of 178 patients with colorectal cancer undergoing SILS+1 at Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University from March 2018 to January 2019 were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. Clavien-Dindo criteria was used for postoperative complication evaluation and visual analog scale was used for pain standard. Follow-up studies were conducted through outpatient service or telephone and the follow-up period was up to May 2019. Results: A total of 178 patients with colorectal cancer underwent SILS+1, including 111 male patients (62.4%) with an average age of 59 years. Eleven (6.2%) patients received added 1-3 operation ports during operation, and 1 patient was converted to open surgery due to ileocolic artery hemorrhage. The operative time was (135.2±42.3) minutes. The intraoperative blood loss was (34.6±35.5) ml. The number of harvested lymph nodes was 33.1±17.6. The distal margin was (4.7±17.8) cm. The proximal margin was (10.2±5.3) cm. Operation-related complications were observed in 16 patients (9.0%) within 30 days after the operation, of whom 6 had Clavien-Dindo III complications (3.4%). The postoperative pain scores were lower than 3. The average postoperative hospital stay was (5.6±2.6) days. Three patients (1.7%) returned to hospital within 30 days after operation due to intestinal obstruction and infection around stoma. The cosmetic evaluation of all the patients was basically satisfied. Conclusion: SILS+1 is safe and feasible in the treatment of colorectal cancer, and can reduce the postoperative pain.
Colorectal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy/methods* ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain, Postoperative/prevention & control* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To investigate the spectrum of pathogenic agents in pediatric patients with acute respiratory infections (ARI) during the outbreak of coronavirus infectious diseases 2019 (COVID-19).Methods:Three groups of children were enrolled into the prospective study during January 20 to February 20, 2020 from Capital Institute of Pediatrics, including children in the exposed group with ARI and epidemiological history associated with COVID-19 from whom both pharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected, children in the ARI group without COVID-19 associated epidemiological history and children in the screening group for hospital admission, with neither COVID-19 associated epidemiological history nor ARI. Only nasopharyngeal swabs were collected in the ARI group and screening group. Each group is expected to include at least 30 cases. All specimens were tested for 2019-nCoV nucleic acid by two diagnostic kits from different manufacturers. All nasopharyngeal swabs were tested for multiple respiratory pathogens, whilst the results from the ARI group were compared with that in the correspondence periods of 2019 and 2018 used by t or χ 2 test. Results:A total of 244 children were enrolled into three groups, including 139 males and 105 females, the age was (5±4) years. The test of 2019-nCoV nucleic acid were negative in all children, and high positive rates of pathogens were detected in exposed (69.4%, 25/36) and ARI (55.3%, 73/132) groups, with the highest positive rate for mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) (19.4%, 7/36 and 17.4%, 23/132, respectively), followed by human metapneumovirus (hMPV) (16.7%, 6/36 and 9.8%, 13/132, respectively). The positive rate (11.8%, 9/76) of pathogens in the screening group was low. In the same period of 2019, the positive rate of pathogens was 83.7% (77/92), with the highest rates for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) A (29.3%, 27/92), followed by influenza virus (Flu) A (H1N1) (19.6%, 18/92) and adenovirus (ADV) (14.1%, 13/92), which showed significant difference with the positive rates of the three viruses in 2020 (RSV A: χ 2=27.346, P<0.01; FluA (H1N1): χ 2=28.083, P<0.01; ADV: χ 2=7.848, P=0.005) . In 2018, the positive rate of pathogens was 61.0% (50/82), with the highest rate for human bocavirus (HBoV) (13.4%, 11/82) and followed by ADV (11.0%, 9/82), and significant difference was shown in the positive rate of HBoV with that in 2020 (χ 2=6.776, P=0.009). Conclusions:The infection rate of 2019-nCoV is low among children in Beijing with no family clustering or no close contact, even with epidemiological history. The spectrum of pathogens of ARI in children during the research period is quite different from that in the previous years when the viral infections were dominant. MP is the highest positively detected one among the main pathogens during the outbreak of COVID-19 in Beijing where there is no main outbreak area.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the expression of myofibroblast in gingival after orthodontic loading. METHODS: Eight patients were selected as experimental group and treated with orthodontic force for 4 months. Ten patients were selected as the control group, were not loaded. The gingival protein expressions of collagen typeⅠ, collagen type Ⅲ, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry method. RESULTS: Positive expressions of collagen typeⅠ, collagen type Ⅲ were founded, while no positive staining for α-SMA in the gingival tissue except vascular epithelium before loading. In experimental group, collagen type I and collagen type Ⅲ were increased after orthodontic loading (P<0.05), the expression of α-SMA was detected and statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The myofibroblast exists in gingival tissue after orthodontic loading, and it may be concerned with orthodontic teeth relapse.
Actins ; Cell Differentiation ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Fibroblasts ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Myofibroblasts

BACKGROUNDHuman rhinoviruses (HRVs) are divided into three genetic species: HRV-A, HRV-B, and HRV-C. The association of different HRV species with asthma in children in China has not yet been evaluated. This preliminary study aimed to assess the associations between different HRV species, particularly HRV-C, and asthma in young children in China.

METHODSA total of 702 nasopharyngeal aspirates were obtained from 155 children with asthma (asthma group), 461 children with acute respiratory infection (ARI) without asthma (nonasthma ARI group), and 86 children from the control group. Semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect HRVs, and PCR products were sequenced for species identification. Epidemiological characteristics of HRV-positive cases were analyzed.

RESULTSHRVs were the most common pathogen (15.4%; 108/702) in the patients in this study. The prevalence of HRV was significantly different (F = 20.633, P = 0.000) between the asthma (25.8%) and nonasthma ARI groups (11.1%). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that in the 108 cases positive for HRVs, 41 were identified as HRV-A, 8 as HRV-B, and 56 as HRV-C. Comparing the asthma with the nonasthma ARI group, Spearman's rank correlation analysis revealed an association between HRV-A (P < 0.05) and C (P < 0.01) and asthma, confirmed by regression analysis, with odds ratios of 2.2 (HRV-A) and 4.2 (HRV-C).

CONCLUSIONSOur data revealed a high prevalence of HRVs in children in China, regardless of clinical status. HRV-C was the dominant species and may be one of the key factors in the association of HRVs with asthma.

Asthma ; epidemiology ; virology ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Picornaviridae Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhinovirus ; pathogenicity

BACKGROUNDAlthough human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) has been determined as an important viral cause of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in infants and young children, data on long-term investigation are still lacking to disclose the infection pattern of HPIV in China.

METHODSNasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from 25,773 hospitalized pediatric patients with ARIs from January 2004 through December 2012 for respiratory virus screen by direct immuno-fluorescence assay.

RESULTSOut of these specimens, 1675 (6.50%, 1675/25,773) showed HPIV positive, including 261 (1.01%, 261/25,773) for HPIV1, 28 (0.11%, 28/25,773) for HPIV2, and 1388 (5.39%, 1388/25,773) for HPIV3, 2 of the samples were positive for both HPIV1 and HPIV3, and 36 were co-detected with other viruses. The positive rates of HPIVs were higher in those younger than 3 years old. HPIV3 was detected from all age groups, predominantly from patients under 3 years of age, and the highest frequency was found in those 6 months to 1-year old (352/4077, 8.63%). HPIV3 was the dominant type in each of the years detected between May and July. HPIV1 showed a peak in every odd year, mainly in August or September. HPIV was detected most frequently from patients with upper respiratory infection (12.49%, 157/1257), followed by bronchitis (11.13%, 176/2479), asthma (9.31%, 43/462), bronchiolitis (5.91%, 150/2536), pneumonia (6.06%, 1034/17,068), and those with underlying diseases (1.0%, 15/1506). HPIV3 is the dominant type in these six disease groups referred above, especially in the asthma group.

CONCLUSIONSHPIV is one of the important viral causes of ARIs in infants and young children in Beijing based on the data from the hospitalized children covering a 9-year term. HPIV3 is the predominant type in all these years and in most of the disease groups. HPIVs with different types show different seasonality.

Beijing ; epidemiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Parainfluenza Virus 1, Human ; pathogenicity ; Parainfluenza Virus 3, Human ; pathogenicity ; Respirovirus ; pathogenicity ; Respirovirus Infections ; diagnosis ; virology