Hyaluronic acid is widely used in biomaterials, cosmetics, clinical medicine and other fields due to its good biocompatibility, degradability, hydrophilicity, tumor targeting, viscosity and other characteristics. Pharmacodynamic activities of natural small molecular products which derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are significant, but their low solubility and poor targeting limit the clinical application. Based on supramolecular properties of hyaluronic acid, in this review, numerous studies were reviewed on the improvement of solubility, bioavailability, targeting and suitable dosage forms of small molecular compounds in TCM by domestic and foreign scholars using hyaluronic acid as carrier. It provides new ideas and inspirations for exploring the potential application value of small molecule compounds in TCM and even for the research and development of new drugs.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influencing factors of low back pain and the relationship of the influence of bad working posture, weight load and frequency of load and the dose-response relationship among the occupational workers of key industries in China. METHODS: A total of 57 501 employees from 15 key industries in China were selected as research subjects using stratified cluster sampling method. The occurrence of low back pain in the past one year, as well as occupational factors such as job type, labor organization and work posture were investigated by using the Chinese version Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of low back pain in the occupational population of key industries in China was 16.4%(9 448/57 501). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of low back pain in females was higher than that in males(P<0.01). Married, obese, occasional and frequent smokers, and a history of lower back disease were associated with increased risk of low back pain(all P<0.05). The risk of low back pain was associated with older age, higher education level, and lower frequency of physical exercise(all P<0.01). The risk of low back pain was higher with longer working time, greater back curvature, and the high frequency of long standing and sitting position work, uncomfortable working posture, repeated operation per minute, and lifting>5 kg weight(all P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The influencing factors of low back pain in the occupational population of key industries in China include bad working posture, high frequency load, weight load and other individual factors. There is a dose-response relationship with low back posture load and frequency of load.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of liver transplantation (LT) and liver resection (LR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) and to investigate risk factors affecting prognosis. Materials and Methods: A total of 94 HCC patients with PVTT type I (segmental PVTT) and PVTT type II (lobar PVTT) were involved and divided into LR (n=47) and LT groups (n=47). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared before and after inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). Prognostic factors for RFS and OS were explored. Results: Two treatment groups were well-balanced using IPTW. In the entire cohort, LT provided a better prognosis than LR. Among patients with PVTT type I, RFS was better with LT (p=0.039); OS was not different significantly between LT and LR (p=0.093). In subgroup analysis of PVTT type I patients with α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels >200 ng/mL, LT elicited significantly longer median RFS (18.0 months vs. 2.1 months, p=0.022) and relatively longer median OS time (23.6 months vs. 9.8 months, p=0.065). Among patients with PVTT type II, no significant differences in RFS and OS were found between LT and LR (p=0.115 and 0.335, respectively). Multivariate analyses showed treatment allocation (LR), tumor size (>5 cm), AFP and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels to be risk factors of RFS and treatment allocation (LR), AFP and AST as risk factors for OS. Conclusion LT appeared to afford a better prognosis for HCC with PVTT type I than LR, especially in patients with AFP levels >200 ng/mL.

Corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19) has brought untold human sufferings and economic tragedy worldwide. It causes acute myocardial injury and chronic damage of cardiovascular system, which has attracted much attention from researchers. For the immediate strategy for COVID-19, "drug repurposing" is a new opportunity for developing drugs to fight COVID-19. Artemisinin and its derivatives have a wide range of pharmacological activities. Recent studies have shown that artemisinin has clear cardiovascular protective effects. This paper summarizes the research progress on the pathogenesis the pathogenesis of COVID-19 in cardiovascular damage by 2019 novel coronavirus(2019-nCoV) virus from myocardial cell injury directly by 2019-nCoV virus,viral ligands competitively bind to ACE2 and then reduce the protective effect of ACE2 on cardiovascular disease, "cytokine storm" related myocardial damage, arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death induced by the infection and stress, myocardial injury by hypoxemia, heart damage side effects from COVID-19 drugs and summarizing the cardiovascular protective effects of artemisinin and its derivatives have activities of anti-arrhythmia, anti-myocardial ischemia, anti-atherosclerosis and plaque stabilization. Then analyzed the possible multi-pathway intervention effects of artemisinin-based drugs on multiple complications of COVID-19 based on its specific immunomodulatory effects, protective effects of tissue and organ damage and broad-spectrum antiviral effect, to provide clues for the treatment of cardiovascular complications of COVID-19, and give a new basis for the therapy of COVID-19 through "drug repurposing".
Artemisinins ; COVID-19 ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; SARS-CoV-2

Plasmodium culture in vitro is often used as an antimalarial drug evaluation model, but the lifecycle of P. falciparum culture in vitro tends to be disordered, which affects the research and evaluation of antimalarial drug mechanism in vitro. By combining magnetic bead separation method with sorbitol synchronization method, a synchronization method was constructed to quickly acquire different lifecycles of P. falciparum and obtain large amounts of parasite with a narrow synchronization window in a short period. Furthermore, the dihydroartemisinin(DHA) was used to treat the early trophozoite phase of P. falciparum 3 D7 for 4 h. Then mRNA was extracted and RNA-seq was conducted to analyze the differential expression of mRNA after drug treatment and obtain the differential gene expression profile. Differential expression of up-regulated genes and down-regulated genes was analyzed according to the screening criteria of |log_2FC|>1 and P<0.05. There, 262 genes were up-regulated and 77 genes were down-regulated. GO functional enrichment analysis of all the differentially expressed genes showed that the enrichment items mainly included cell membrane components, transporter activity, serine/threonine kinase activity, Maurer's clefts(MCs), rhoptry, antigen variation and immune evasion. The enrichment of KEGG pathway included malaria, fatty acid metabolism and peroxisome. Protein-protein interaction(PPI) analysis showed that the down-regulated genes in the modules with high degree of association included rhoptry, myosin complex, transporter and other genes related to the important life activities of malaria invasion and immune escape; the up-regulated genes were mainly related to various toxic exportins of malaria, such as PfSBP1 of MCs. qRT-PCR was used to verify the expression level of some genes, and most of the results were the same as the sequencing results. SBP1 was significantly up-regulated, while some antigenic protein expression levels were down-regulated. Above all, key molecules of DHA therapy were mainly involved in the parasites' rhoptry, transporter, antigenic variation, plasmodium exportin. These results offer us many hints to guide the further studies on mechanism of artemisinin and provide a new way for development of new antimalarial drugs.
Animals ; Antimalarials ; Artemisinins ; Erythrocytes ; Plasmodium falciparum ; Transcriptome

Objective To evaluate the value of heart rate variability (HRV ) and sympathetic skin response (SSR) in differential diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) .Methods We selected 36 PD ,17 essential tremor (ET) and 59 Parkinsonism-Plus (PD-plus) patients diagnosed in our department .We recorded HRV during the period of quiet breath ,deep breath and Vasaval as well as SSR incubation period of the upper limbs and lower limbs . Results ① During the period of quiet breath ,HRV decreased significantly in PD group compared with that in ET group (P< 0 .05) ,and abnormality rate of HRV in PD group was higher than that in ET group .HRV did not significantly differ between PD and PD-plus .HRV did not significantly differ among the three groups during the period of deep breath and Vasaval .② SSR incubation period showed no significant difference among PD ,PD-plus and ET groups .③ The specificity and sensibility of HRV in PD and PD-plus differential diagnosis were 22 .8% and 82 .6% , while for PD and ET differential diagnosis the values were 66 .9% and 82 .6% . The specificity and sensibility of SSR in PD and PD-plus differential diagnosis were 39 .0% and 52 .6% , 29 .4% and 52 .6% , respectively ,for PD and ET differential diagnosis .Conclusion Compared with those in ET patients ,HRV in PD patients decreases and HRV abnormality rate increases .HRV is of great value in differential diagnosis of PD and ET but not in differential diagnosis of PD and PD-plus .Determining SSR incubation period does not have much value in differential diagnosis of PD ,PD-plus and ET .

Objective To explore the efficacy of ganoderma lucidum preparation(Ling Zhi) in treating APP/PS-1 transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease(AD).Methods APP/PS-1 transgenic mice of 4 months were randomly divided into model group,ganoderma lucidum treatment groups,including high [2250 mg/(kg·d)] and middle [750 mg/(kg·d)] dose groups,i.e.LZ-H and LZ-M groups,and the positive control group(treated with donepezil hydrochloride [2 mg/(kg·d)]).In addition,C57BL/6J wild mice were selected as normal group.The animals were administered for 4 months.Histopathological examinations including hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining,immunohistochemistry,special staining,and electron microscopy were applied,and then the pathological morphology and structures in different groups were compared. Results The senile plaques and neurofibrillar tangles in the cerebrum and cerebellum were dissolved or disappeared in LZ-H and LZ-M groups.Decrease of amyloid angiopathy was found in LZ-H and LZ-M groups.The immature neurons appeared more in hippocampus and dentate nucleus of LZ-H and LZ-M groups than those in AD model and donepezil hydrochloride groups(hippcampus:F=1.738,P=0.016;dentate nucleus:F=1.924,P=0.026),and these immature neurons differentiated to be neurons.More Purkinje cells loss occurred in AD model mice than that in LZ-H and LZ-M groups(F=9.46,P=0.007;F=9.46,P=0.010).The LZ-H and LZ-M groups had more new neuron stem cells grown up in cerebellum.Electromicroscopic examination showed the hippocampal neurons in LZ-H and LZ-M group were integrated,the nuclear membrane was intact,and the mitochondria in the cytoplasm,endoplasmic reticulum,Golgi bodies,microtubules,and synapses were also complete.The microglial cell showed no abnormality.No toxicity appeared in the pathological specimens of mice treated with ganoderma lucidum preparation.Conclusion The ganoderma lucidum preparation can dissolve and decline or dismiss the senile plaques and neurofibrillar tangles in the brain of AD mice and also reduce the amyloid angiopathy.

Objective To study the inactivation kinetics and injury mechanism of Escherichia coli under UV disinfection in drinking water.Methods The inactivation kinetics of E.coli ATCC 25922 was determined by plate count methods in the UV disinfection experiment.The morphology,cell membrane permeabilization and injury of biological macromolecules were observed under a transmission electron microscope (TEM).The rate of ONPG hydrolysis and changes in activities of antioxidant enzymes were observed Raman spectroscopy.Results the changes of damaged cells involved morphological damage such as loss of the structural integrity of the wall and membrane,condensation of cellular material and leakage of significant amounts of cytoplasmic material,a more than four-fold increase of cell membrane permeabilization and damage to the structure of protein,nucleic acids and phospholipid.Conclusion UV disinfection can lead to a multi-target damage.

Objective To summarize the experiences in the diagnosis and treatment of delayed rupture of spleen.Methods The clinical data of 26 patients with traumatic delayed rupture of spleen who were admitted to the Dachang Hospital from January 2005 to December 2013 were analyzed retrospectively.The medical history,clinical presentation,results of laboratory examinations were analyzed,and the splenic trauma was graded.Surgical procedures were selected according to the condition,severity of the splenic trauma and time of injury.Patients were followed up via outpatient examination or telephone interview till June 2014.Results Twenty-six patients had the history of injury of the left hypochodriac region,and were accompanied by slight abdominal pain and a short period of pain alleviation,and then pain in all regions of the abdomen at postoperative hour 48.All thepatients had pale face,tenderness,rebound tenderness or tonus.The pulse above 100 per minute was observed in 20 patients,and 15 patients had blood pressure under 90/60 mmHg (1 mmHg =0.133 kPa).The level of hemoglobin under 5 g/L was observed in 3 patients,and 5-10 g/L in 21 patients.All the 26 patients received abdominal paracantesis,non-coagulating blood was extracted in 25 patients.Twenty-six patients received B ultrasonography,and 24 had splenic rupture.Nineteen patients received computed tomography (CT),and 19 had splenic rupture.Ten patients had type Ⅰ splenic rupture,12 had type Ⅱ splenic rupture,3 had type Ⅲ splenic rupture and 1 had type Ⅳ splenic rupture.All the 26 patients received operation,including 2 received suture of the ruptured spleen,2 received resection of the lower part of the spleen,9 received total splenic resection,and 13 received total splenic resection + autogeneous transplantation of greater omentum.Two patients died of hemorrhagic shock intraoperatively,and the other 24 patients were cured.The operation time and volume of hemoperitoneum were (90 ± 15)minutes and (1 500 ± 700) mL,respectively.Twenty-four patients received blood transfusion,with the volume of transfused blood of 1 200 mL.The mean duration of hospital stay was 16.7 days.Two patients had complications after the operation,which were left pleural effusion and splenic fossa effusion,and they were cured by symptomatic treatment.No infection or other complications were observed.All the 24 patients were followed up for 6-108 months (median,46 months).One patient died of myocardial infarction at postoperative year 5,and the other 23 patients survived.Conclusions B sonography and computed tomography are important methods for the treatment of delayed rupture of spleen.Traumatic delayed rupture of spleen should be considered when the patient had symptoms including history of injury of the left hypochondriac region,the course of abdominal pain,abdominal pain alleviation,abdominal pain recurrence,time for abdominal pain alleviation longer than 48 hours,interperitoneal hemorrhage and the signs of splenic rupture indicated by B ultrasonography and computed tomography.The indication of spleen-preservation surgery or splenectomy for patients with delayed rupture of spleen should be strictly controlled and optimal surgical procedure should be designed according to the condition of the patient.

To explore the effects of protocatechuic acid (PCA) and its derivants on angiogenesis of the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and scavenging DPPH radical in vitro. The protection of benzyl and alkaline hydrolysis of benzyl ester were employed. The structures of PCA-1, PCA-2 and PCA-3, the derivates of PCA, were elucidated by 1H, 13C-NMR and MS data The bioactivity of PCA and its derivants was evaluated on the models of DPPH radical and chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), respectively. PCA and PCA-1 showed the best activity of scavenging DPPH radical among all the compounds. In contrast to PCA-2, PCA and PCA-3 displayed inhibition to angiogenesis (P < 0.001). Pyrocatechol hydroxyl is the active site of PCA on scavenging DPPH radical in vitro. PCA with carboxyl and without pyrocatechol hydroxyl seems to show promotion to angiogenesis, but it needs more evidences.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; antagonists & inhibitors ; chemistry ; Animals ; Biphenyl Compounds ; Catechols ; chemistry ; Chick Embryo ; Chorioallantoic Membrane ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Free Radical Scavengers ; chemistry ; Hydroxybenzoates ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Picrates