Six compounds were isolated from the roots of Ephedra sinica Stapf using various chromatographic techniques such as silica gel column chromatography, thin layer chromatography and semi-preparative HPLC. Their chemical structures were identified by analysis of physicochemical properties and spectral data, and determined as (Z)-docosanylferulate (1), (E)-docosanylferulate (2), bis (2-ethylheptyl) phythalate (3), 2,2′-oxybis (1,4-di-tert-butylbenzene) (4), diisobutyl phthalate (5), bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (6). Among them, compound 1 is a new compound, compounds 2-4 were first isolated from Ephedra. A corticosterone-induced PC-12 cell injury model was used for compound activity screening. The results showed that compounds 1 and 5 significantly improved corticosterone-induced PC-12 cell injury and significantly increased 5-HT₇ receptor protein expression in the cells, indicating potential antidepressant activity.

SARS-CoV-2 infection causes complicated clinical manifestations with variable multi-organ injuries, however, the underlying mechanism, in particular immune responses in different organs, remains elusive. In this study, comprehensive transcriptomic alterations of 14 tissues from rhesus macaque infected with SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed. Compared to normal controls, SARS-CoV-2 infection resulted in dysregulation of genes involving diverse functions in various examined tissues/organs, with drastic transcriptomic changes in cerebral cortex and right ventricle. Intriguingly, cerebral cortex exhibited a hyperinflammatory state evidenced by significant upregulation of inflammation response-related genes. Meanwhile, expressions of coagulation, angiogenesis and fibrosis factors were also up-regulated in cerebral cortex. Based on our findings, neuropilin 1 (NRP1), a receptor of SARS-CoV-2, was significantly elevated in cerebral cortex post infection, accompanied by active immune response releasing inflammatory factors and signal transmission among tissues, which enhanced infection of the central nervous system (CNS) in a positive feedback way, leading to viral encephalitis. Overall, our study depicts a multi-tissue/organ transcriptomic landscapes of rhesus macaque with early infection of SARS-CoV-2, and provides important insights into the mechanistic basis for COVID-19-associated clinical complications.
Animals ; COVID-19/genetics* ; Macaca mulatta ; SARS-CoV-2/genetics* ; Transcriptome

The infectious disease outpatient service as a frontier is an important fulcrum of public health service. Its standardized construction is an important support for ensuring medical safety, reducing nosocomial infections, and controlling the epidemic of infectious diseases. The sub-specialty outpatient service of infection diseases includes fever outpatient service, intestinal outpatient service, tuberculosis outpatient service, AIDS outpatient service, liver disease outpatient service, etc. According to the characteristics of each subspecialty outpatient service and combining with clinical practice, we elaborated the setting norms of subspecialty outpatient service for common infectious diseases from the perspective of planning and design, building layout, equipment and facilities configuration, staffing, daily management and demonstration.

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied to this study to detect heavy metal contents in Coptidis Rhizoma from different habitats, for a comprehensive understanding of heavy metal residues in Coptidis Rhizoma. Decocting method and artificial gastrointestinal digestion model were used to determine transfer rates of heavy metals in assessment of health risk of heavy metals using the target hazard quotient (THQ) developed by the US EPA (1989). The results showed that excess rates of Cu, Pb, As, Cd and Hg of 17 batches of Coptidis Rhizoma were 0, 12%, 0, 0 and 0, respectively, under the ISO international standard of Chinese medicine-Chinese herbal medicine heavy metal. The transfer rates of Cu, Pb, As, Cd and Hg were 3.63%, 1.69%, 37.17%, 20.86% and 0 in decoction solution, respectively, and 59.15%, 29.98%, 67.55%, 104.59% and 0 in artificial gastrointestinal solution, respectively. The values of THQ under the two ways of administration in adults and children were 0.001 0, 0.005 3 and 0.000 7, 0.003 6, respectively, and the maximum residue limits (MRL) of heavy metals in Coptidis Rhizoma were higher than the contents of samples in this study. The research showed that the contents of heavy metals in Coptidis Rhizoma were in the safe ranges with no obvious risks to human body, indicating that the excessive of heavy metals in Coptidis Rhizoma might be attributed to the unduly strict standard. The contents of heavy metals in Coptidis Rhizoma of different habitats was estimated for health risks using international risk assessment model, which provides a reference for establishment of heavy metal standards in Coptidis Rhizoma.

OBJECTIVETo assess the larvicidal effects of recombinant Escherichia coli expressing scorpion neurotoxin AaIT or Bacillus thuringiensis subsp israelensis (B.t.i) toxin Cyt2Ba against the second instar larvae of Culex pipiensquinquefasciatus and Aedes albopictus and compare different formulations for their larvicidal effects.

METHODSThe AaIT- or Cyt2Ba-coding sequences were cloned into pET28a(+) and the recombinant plasmids were transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3). After induction with IPTG, the recombinant proteins expressed by the recombinant E. coli were detected and identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, respectively. The larvicidal activity of the bacterial suspension was tested at different concentrations against mosquitoes. The effective engineered bacteria were prepared into dry powder with different formulations, and their larvicidal activity was tested.

RESULTSAaIT and Cyt2Ba proteins were successfully expressed in E. coli. The recombinant AaIT protein showed no virulence to the mosquito larvae. The suspension of the recombinant E. coli expressing Cyt2Ba protein exhibited a stronger killing effect on Aedes albopictus larvae than on Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus larvae at 48 h (P<0.001) with LCof 3.00×10cells/mL and 1.25×10cells/mL, respectively. The dry powder of the engineered bacteria formulated with yeast extract, wheat flour or white pepper powder at the mass ratio of 1:1 showed the strongest killing effect on mosquito larvae (P=0.044), and the formulation with white pepper powder produced a stronger killing effect than formulations with yeast extract or wheat flour (P=0.002).

CONCLUSIONThe B.t.i Cyt2Ba protein expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) shows a good larvicidal activity against mosquitoes, and appropriate formulations of the engineered bacteria can enhance its efficiency in mosquito control.

Basically, Dao-di hers are produced in specific area which has a long history, good quality, good medicine, curative effect. However genuine medicinal material area in history is not static, this makes the establishment of genuine medicinal material origin and the in-depth research be very difficult. This paper has profoundly analyzed the origin of different historical periods taking Astragalus membranaceus and Salvia miltiorrhiza as examples, and then summarized the reasons of herbal origin changes from the humanities, social and natural three aspects. This paper provides a basis for establishment and the further research of high-quality genuine producing area.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical characteristics of Wolman disease and diagnostic methods using enzymatic and molecular analysis.

METHODLysosomal acid lipase activity was measured using 4-methylumbelliferyl oleate in the leukocytes of an infant suspected of Wolman disease and LIPA gene mutational analysis was performed by PCR and direct sequencing in the proband and his parents. After the diagnosis was confirmed, the clinical, biochemical, radiological and histopathological findings in this case of Wolman disease were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTThe sixteen-day-old boy was failing to thrive with progressive vomiting, abdominal distention and hepatosplenomegaly. Abdominal X-ray revealed adrenal calcifications which were confirmed on abdominal CT scan. Xanthomatosis were observed on enlarged liver, spleen and lymph nodes during abdominal surgery. Liver and lymph node biopsy showed foamy histiocytes. The lysosomal acid lipase activity in leukocytes was 3.5 nmol/(mg·h) [control 35.5 - 105.8 nmol/(mg·h)]. Serum chitotriosidase activity was 315.8 nmol/(ml·h) [control 0 - 53 nmol/(ml·h)]. The patient was homozygote for a novel insert mutation allele c.318 ins T, p. Phe106fsX4 in exon 4 on LIPA gene. His both parents were carriers of the mutation.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical features of Wolman disease include early onset of vomiting, abdominal distention, growth failure, hepatosplenomegaly and bilateral adrenal calcification after birth. A plain abdominal X-ray film should be taken to check for the typical pattern of adrenal calcification in suspected cases of Wolman disease. The enzymatic and molecular analyses of lysosomal acid lipase can confirm the diagnosis of Wolman disease.

Adrenal Gland Diseases ; etiology ; pathology ; Exons ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Leukocytes ; enzymology ; Lipase ; blood ; genetics ; Liver ; pathology ; Lysosomes ; enzymology ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Splenomegaly ; pathology ; Sterol Esterase ; genetics ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Wolman Disease ; diagnosis ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology

Objective To evaluate the relationship between bacterial biofilm (BBF) and chronic rhinosinusitis(CRS).Methods The database on line was searched to collect the studies on BBF and CRS.The method of meta analysis was used to analyze the data of suitable studies.Results Fourteen studies were included.System evaluation indicated that the BBF detection rate in CRS group was significantly higher than that in the control group (OR =17.01,P ＜0.01),and the nasal surgery's rate of BBF positive group was significantly higher than the negative group (OR=3.99,P ＜ 0.01).Preoperative Lund-Kennedy endoscopic score,Lund-MacKay CT score,symptom severity score,postoperative Lund-Kennedy score after six months showed no difference between BBF positive group and negative group.Conclusion The presence of BBF is related to the pathogenesis of CRS and the history of nasal surgery.

Objective The choice of surgical approaches for salvage surgery based on the location and invasion of recurrent and residual lesions of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC),surgical results,complications,and survival were assessed.Methods Thirty-seven cases with recurrent and residual lesions of NPC underwent salvage surgery between March 1991 and January 2005 were analysed retrospectively.Of 37 patients,23 were men and 14 women,with a median age of 46.5 years (26 -57 years) ;4 were at stage Ⅰ,10 at stage Ⅱ,14 at stage Ⅲ,and 9 at stage Ⅳ; 5 cases were with cervical metastasis,including 3 cases of N1 and 2 cases N2.All recurrent and residual lesions of NPC were determined by biopsy.On the location and invasion of recurrent and residual lesions of NPC,8 cases underwent endoscopic resection of lesions,12 cases of the palate nasopharyngectomy,5 cases of maxillary swing,4 cases of maxillary swing plus preronal approach,2 cases of lateral rhinotomy plus coronalflap approach,and 6 cases transfacial plus nasal pyramid swing approach.Five cases with cervical metastasis received neck dissection in addition to the operations for recurrent and residual lesions of NPC. Postoperatively 31 cases received radiotherapy with dosage of 60 Gy,among them 15 cases with concurrent chemoradiation therapy,and 6 cases with clear surgical margin did not received radiotherapy or chemotherapy. The cases were followed up for 12 - 72 months,with a median of 45 months.Results Total resection for the recurrent and residual lesions of NPC acounted for 91.8% (34/37) and subtotal resection for 8.2% (3/37). The accidence of perioperative complications was 24.3% (9/37). The 3- and 5-year overall disease-free survival rates (DFSR) were 62.1% and 43.3%,respectively. The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates (OSR) were 72.9% and 51.3%,respectively.The 5 year DFSR of cases at stage Ⅰ - Ⅳ were 100%,40%,28% and 11% (χ2 =10.0,P ＜0.01＝,respectively.The 5 year OSR were 100%,70%,35% and 28% (χ2 = 11.5,P ＜0.01),respectively.Conclusions Salvage surgery is a justified treatment for the recurren and residual lesions of NPC,by which some patients with recurren and residual lesions of NPC can be salvaged.

Objective To investigate the current situation of health promoting behaviours among the maintenance hemodialysis patients(MHD) and explore the related factors of health promoting behaviours among the MHD patients. Methods A total of 120 MHD patients were investigated with a set of questionnaires, including demographic data, Health-promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP), Self Rated Abilities for health Practices Scales (SRAS), Short Form 36 Health survey Questionnaire (SF-36) and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS). Results The mean score of overall health-promoting lifestyles was 63.18, which was significantly positively correlated with demographic characteristics, education and economic status. The health promotion behaviors was positively correlated with self-efficacy of health behaviours, perceived health status and social support. Conclusions The health-promoting behaviours among the MHD patients is at medium level. Better health promoting are found among the MHD patients with higher education and better economic status. Better health promoting behaviours are found among the MHD patients with high self-efficacy of health behaviours,better perceived health status and more social support.