OBJECTIVE To explore the potential mechanisms of astragalin （AG） in allevating ulcerative colitis （UC） in mice through modulation of the intestinal flora. METHODS Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal group （CON group）， model group [dextran sodium sulfate （DSS） group]， 5-aminosalicylic acid group （5-ASA group）， AG low-dose group and high-dose group （AGL and AGH groups）， with 8 mice in each group. The mice UC model was established by drinking 3% DSS solution continuously for 7 days in all groups except the CON group. After that， 3% DSS solution was replaced by water， and the mice of each drug group were gavaged with the corresponding drug solution. Mice in the CON and DSS groups were gavaged with an equal volume of normal saline， once a day， for 7 days. After the last gavage， the body weight change index， disease activity index （DAI） score， colon length and spleen index， and levels of inflammatory factors （tumor necrosis factor-α， interleukin-1β， interleukin-6） were compared among the mice in each group； pathological changes in colonic tissues of the mice were observed in each group， and the pathological score and the percentage of goblet cells were compared； mRNA expressions of barrier-related factors [occludin and ZO-1] and inflammation-related factors [silencing information regulatory factor 1 （SIRT1）， c-Jun N-terminal kinase （JNK） and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （p38 MAPK）] were detected in each group of mice； the changes in the intestinal flora of mice in each group were analyzed and the contents of intestinal metabolites short-chain fatty acids （SCFAs） was determined. Using DSS and AG-treated fecal bacterial liquid as an intervention， the mechanism of anti-UC effect of AG was further verified by a fecal microbiota transplant experiment. RESULTS Compared with the CON group， the intestinal mucosal structure of mice in the DSS group was severely damaged， with obvious infiltration of inflammatory cells collapsing the wall； their body weight change index， colon length， the percentage of goblet cells， mRNA expressions of occludin， ZO-1 and SIRT1， Chao1 and Shannon indexes， and contents of acetic acid and butyric acid were significantly reduced， shortened or down-regulated （P＜0.05）； however， DAI score， spleen index， levels of inflammatory factors， pathological score， as well as mRNA expressions of p38 MAPK and JNK， were all significantly increased or up-regulated （P＜0.05）. Compared with the DSS group， colon tissue lesions of AG mice in all dose groups showed different degrees of improvement， and the above quantitative indexes were generally regressed （P＜0.05）， and the intervention effect of AG-treated fecal bacterial fluid was basically the same as that of AG. CONCLUSIONS AG can improve relevant symptoms in UC mice and reduce their inflammatory response and colonic histopathological changes. The above effects may be related to regulating the diversity of intestinal flora in mice， increasing the contents of butyric acid and propionic acid， and promoting the repair of the colonic mucosal barrier， thus regulating the expressions of genes related to the SIRT1/p38 MAPK inflammatory pathway.

[Objective] To summarize the clinical manifestations, pathological characteristics, treatment options and prognosis of the world's first case of prostate ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) complicated with prostate mucinous adenocarcinoma (PMA). [Methods] The clinical and follow-up data of a patient with PDA and PMA treated in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University were retrospectively analyzed, and relevant literature in PubMed and CNKI databases was retrieved. [Results] The patient sought medical attention due to dysuria, frequent urination, urinary urgency and urinary pain for more than half a year, and was admitted to hospital 3 times in total.The initial diagnosis upon the first admission was benign prostatic hyperplasia complicated with prostatic abscess.After 2 months, the patient was readmitted due to worsening symptoms, received transurethral bladder neck incision+ cystoscopy+ transurethral plasma resection of the prostate, and postoperative diagnosis confirmed PDA with local PMA.Three months after surgery, the patient had bleeding.After auxiliary examinations revealed extensive metastasis, he received hormonal therapy.After 9 months, the patient died due to multiple lung metastases. [Conclusion] Early diagnosis has a significant impact on the treatment and prognosis, but there have been no previous reports of PDA combined with PMA, so the lack of specific biomarkers in the early stage has led to missed diagnosis or misdiagnoses.There is no specific treatment for PDA with PMA. Radical prostatectomy was not satisfactory in the treatment of this case.

OBJEC TIVE To establish the qu ality standard of Hylocereus undatus ，and to provide reference for its quality control. METHODS The sample of H. undatus medicinal materials was collected for character observation ，powder microscopic identification and thin-layer chromatography （TLC）identification. Moisture content ，total ash ，acid-insoluble ash ，water-soluble extracts and alcohol-soluble extracts were determined according to the corresponding methods in the general provisions of the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia （part Ⅳ）. The contents of kaempferol and isorhamnetin in H. undatus were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS The medicinal materials of H. undatus were in brown or yellowish brown irregular long bundles ；the calyx tubes were twisted in bundles ；the scales on the outside of the flower were shrunken ，and many stamens were inserted on the inside. The powder was brown-green or brown-yellow ，and pollen grains ，ducts and non-glandular hairs were found.In the TLC diagram of test sample ，fluorescent spots of the same color were displayed on the corresponding position of the chromatogram of substance control （kaempferol， isorhamnetin） and reference material. The moisture content ， total ash ， acid-insoluble ash ，water-soluble extract and alcohol-soluble extract of the 15 batches of samples ranged from 10.70％ to 12.23％， 7.48％ to 11.29％，0.25％ to 0.70％，30.34％ to 49.91％，and 25.27％ to 36.92％，respectively. The average values were 11.44％，9.51％，0.46％，40.13％，32.33％，respectively. The contents of kaempferol and isorhamnetin were 1.787-3.785 and 0.597-2.211 mg/g，respectively. CONCLUSIONS This study add microscopic identification ，TLC identification and inspection items such as moisture content ，ash and extract on the basis of the existing quality standards of H. undatus . It is preliminarily proposed that the moisture content in H. undatus shall not exceed 13.0％ and total ash content shall not exceed 12.0％，and the water-soluble extract and alcohol-soluble extract shall not be less than 30.0％ and 25.0％ respectively；the contents of kaempferol and isorhamnetin shall not be less than 1.780 and 0.590 mg/g，respectively. The established quality standard can be used for quality control of H. undatus .

OBJECTIVE： To study the anti-gout effect of aqueous extract from the stems and leaves of Erythropalum scandens （ASLE）. METHODS： The mice were randomly divided into normal group， model group， allopurinol group （positive control， 5 mg/kg）， ASLE low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups （1 300， 2 600， 5 200 mg/kg， by raw material； similarity hereinafter）， with 10 mice in each group. Except for normal group， other groups were given potassium oxonate intragastrically to induce hyperuricemia model. One hour after modeling， normal group and model group were given constant volume of normal saline intragastrically； administration group was given relevant medicine intragastrically， once a day， for consecutive 7 d. One hour after last administration， the levels of serum uric acid （SUA） and serum creatinine （Scr） were detected by colorimetry assay. Another mice were randomly divided into normal group， model group， indomethacin group （positive control， 7.5 mg/kg）， ASLE low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups， with 10 mice in each group. Normal group and model group were given constant volume of normal saline intragastrically； administration group was given relevant medicine intragastrically， once a day， for consecutive 7 d. After last administration， except for normal group， the mice were given sodium microcrystalline urate via toes to induce gouty arthritis model. Before and 1， 2， 4， 6， 8 h after modeling， the circumference of the same part of the inflamed limbs and toes of mice in each group was measured by wire binding method， and the degree of toe swelling was calculated. The number of white blood cell （WBC）， neutrophil （NEU） and lymphocyte （LYM） were detected by animal hematology analyzer. The levels of SUA and Scr were measured by colorimetry assay. The content of NO in toe tissue was determined by Griess method. RESULTS： The experimental results of hyperuricemia model showed that the levels of SUA and Scr in mice were significantly higher in model group than those in normal group （P＜0.01）. Compared with model group， above indexes of mice were decreased significantly in administration group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The experimental results of gouty arthritis model showed that the level of SUA， the degree of toe swelling （2-8 h）， the number of WBC， NEU and LYM， NO content in model group were increased significantly， compared with normal group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with model group， the levels of SUA and Scr （ASLE groups）， the degree of toe swelling [indomethacin group， ASLE high-dose group （2-8 h）， ASLE low-dose group （2， 6 h）， ASLE medium-dose group （6 h）]， the number of WBC and NEU （administration groups）， the number of LYM （indomethacin group） and NO content （administration groups except for ASLE low-dose group） were decreased significantly in administration groups （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS： The anti-gout effect of ASLE may be associated with promoting uric acid metabolism， anti-inflammatory and improving renal function.

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a natural polyphenolic compound that exists in many medicinal species of Boraginaceae and Lamiaceae. The previous studies have revealed that RA had therapeutic effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the H22-xenograft models by inhibiting the inflammatory cytokines and NF-κB p65 pathway in the tumor microenvironment. However, its molecular mechanisms of immunoregulation and pro-apoptotic effect in HCC have not been fully explored. In the present study, RA at 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg was given to H22 tumor-bearing mice via gavage once a day for 10 days. The results showed that RA can effectively inhibit the tumor growth through regulating the ratio of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ and the secretion of interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon-γ, inhibiting the expressions of IL-6, IL-10 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, thereby up-regulating Bax and Caspase-3 and down-regulating Bcl-2. The underlying mechanisms involved regulation of immune response and induction of HCC cell apoptosis. These results may provide a more comprehensive perspective to clarify the anti-tumor mechanism of RA in HCC.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Boraginaceae ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Caspase 3 ; Cytokines ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Lamiaceae ; Mice ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; Therapeutic Uses ; Tumor Microenvironment

Objective To observe the clinical effect of CT-guided percutaneous puncture of stylomastoid foramen and radiofrequency ablation on primary hemifacial spasm. Methods Twenty-seven patients with primary hemifacial spasm, admitted to and accepted CT-guided percutaneous puncture of stylomastoid foramen and radiofrequency ablation in our hospital from August 2018 to May 2019, were chosen in our study. Clinical data and efficacy of the patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results All patients were punctured to the stylomastoid foramen precisely under the guidance of CT localization; 21 could detect facial muscle twitch with 0.1-0.5 mA current, and positive results were also found in 6 patients with 0.5 mA current after adjusting the position of the needle tip. After standard radio frequency ablation (mean 83.3 ℃ for 23.7 seconds), 26 patients had complete disappearance of facial spasm, but left grade II (n=18) or grade III (n=8) facial paralysis; one patient with disappearance of abnormal electromyographic response waveform as the end criterion only partially relieved, but no facial paralysis. No facial hematoma, intracranial hemorrhage, infection, or death occurred. Follow-up for 2-12 months showed no recurrence or aggravation of facial paralysis. Conclusion CT-guided percutaneous puncture of stylomastoid foramen by radio frequency ablation can effectively treat primary hemifacial spasm, but there will be mild facial paralysis.

The aim of this study was to synthesize 1-(5-(hydroxymethyl)-4-methyl-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-pyrazin-2-yl) guanidine (mucunaguanide),a pyrazinone alkaloid compound extracted from the seed of Stizotobium cochinchinensis.Starting from benzyloxy acetaldehyde,following four steps in reaction including condensation,cyclization,substitution and hydrogenation reaction,mucunaguanide was synthesized with total yield of 27.9％,and purity of more than 97.5％.Structures of all the intermediates and target compound were confirmed by IR,1H NMR and MS.This synthetic process was characterized with raw materials available,simple in operation with much milder reaction conditions,and was an ideal method of synthesis of this compound.

Aim To observe the effects of the L-dopa methyl ester (LDME) on the pattern visual evoked potentials (P-VEP) and the expression of c-fos mRNA in neurons of the visual cortex of kittens with strabismic amblyopia, and explore the therapeutic effect of L-dopa methyl ester on amblyopia and its action mechanism.Methods 30 normal kittens were randomly divided into 6 groups: low dose of L-dopa methyl ester (20 mg·kg~(-1)), medium dose of L-dopa methyl ester (40 mg·kg~(-1)), and high dose of L-dopa methyl ester (80 mg·kg~(-1)),positive control (L-dopa 40 mg·kg~(-1)),normal control, and model control group.The surgery for producing iatrogenic convergent strabismus was performed on 4 weeks old kittens(normal control group excluded). After the confirmation of the development of amblyopia by pattern visual evoked potential,L-dopa methyl ester,L-dopa and normal saline were given to the corresponding animals, respectively. The P-VEP of amblyopia eyes was observed after one month, and the technique of in situ hybridization was used to detect the expression of c-fos mRNA.Results L-dopa methyl ester could reduce obviously the length of P100 peak latency of the cat strabismic amblyopes, and increase the amplitude of P100. The positive staining cells of strabismic cat visual cortex were less than those of normal cats, whose difference was significant (P<0.01).Positive staining cells in the treatment group were significantly increased when compared with that of the model group (P<0.01).Conclusion L-dopa methyl ester can significantly improve the conduction and sensory function in the model of strabismic amblyopia cats. The mechanism may be related to the increased amount of L-dopa methyl ester into the cerebral cortex and regulation of the expression of c-fos mRNA.

OBJECTIVE: To study the inhibitory effects of traditional chinese medicine Compound Liuyuexue (CLYX) on hepatitis B surface antigen(DHBsAg) and hepatitis B e-antigen(DHBeAg).METHODS: One-day old guangxi brown spotted ducks infected with DHBV were used as the hepatitis B virus infected animal model. Positive ducks were detected by PCR at 13 days after the infection of DHBV, and were randomly divided into five groups: the high dose group, middle dose group and low dose group of Compound Liuyuexue(CLYX), model group, and positive control group, with 10 ducks in each group. CLYX was given ig.for 14 days. Serum sampling was scheduled at 0, 7, 14 days respectively and 3 days after drug withdrawal, and the contents of DHBsAg and DHBeAg in serum were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The serum DHBsAg and DHBeAg contents in high dose and middle dose groups of CLYX were decreased significantly(P

OBJECTIVE:To optimize the extraction technique for Sidiming capsules.METHODS:The technical conditions for the water decoction and the alcohol precipitation were optimized respectively by the orthogonal experiment design L9(34)with hydrosoluble extract used as the index for the water decoction and the catalpol extract for alcohol precipitation.The content of Catalpol was determined by HPLC.RESULTS:The optimum conditions were as follows:decocting the crude drugs twice with 8-fold water,1 h each time.The physic liquor extracted by water was filtered,mixed and concentrated to 1.0 g?mL-1(crude drug),and then precipitated by 75% concentration of alcohol for 24 h.Then the physic liquor was filtered,concentrated and dried by microwave vacuum concentration dryer to obtain the dry ointment.CONCLUSION:The optimum extraction procedure is stable and reliable,and it can be used as the optimal extraction procedure of Sidiming capsules.