Objective To investigate the value of serum markers in the early diagnosis of liver cirrhosis with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). Methods A prospective analysis was performed for 81 patients who were hospitalized and treated in General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from April 2020 to February 2022, and all these patients were diagnosed with hepatitis B cirrhosis based on clinical manifestation, laboratory examination, and radiological examination or liver biopsy. According to digital connection test A (NCT-A) and digital symbol test (DST), these patients were divided into simple cirrhosis group with 45 patients and MHE group with 36 patients. Related indices were measured, including liver function [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin (TBil)], albumin, blood ammonia, cholinesterase, and prothrombin time. The independent samples t -test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups; the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison between multiple groups; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. The logistic regression analysis and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) were used to investigate the predictive factors for MHE. Results Compared with the simple cirrhosis group, the MHE group had a significant increase in NCT-A score ( Z =-7.110, P < 0.001) and a significant reduction in DST score ( t =12.223, P < 0.001). The univariate analysis showed that there were significant changes in AST, albumin, prothrombin time, cholinesterase, and blood ammonia in the patients with MHE ( Z =-2.319, -2.643, -1.982, -6.594, and -5.331, all P < 0.05), while the multivariate analysis showed that only cholinesterase and blood ammonia were significant predictive factors (all P < 0.05) and were correlated with Child-Pugh score (all P < 0.05). Cholinesterase, blood ammonia, and their combination had an AUC of 0.925, 0.845, and 0.941, respectively, in the diagnosis of MHE, with an optimal cut-off value of 2966, 60, and 0.513, respectively. Conclusion Blood ammonia, cholinesterase, and their combined measurement have a potential clinical value in the early diagnosis of liver cirrhosis with MHE.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the metabolite characteristics in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) by METHODS: A total of 46 patients with the first-episode schizophrenia (FES), 49 people with clinical high risk (CHR), 61 people with genetic high risk (GHR), and 58 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled. The levels of N-acetylaspartylglutamate+N-acetylaspartate (tNAA), choline-containing compounds (Cho) and myo-inositol (MI), glutamate+glutamine (Glx) in medial prefrontal cortex were measured by single-voxel RESULTS: There were significant differences in Glx, tNAA, and MI concentrations among 4 groups (all CONCLUSIONS The decreased levels of MI and Glx in the FES patients suggest that there may be glial functional damage and glutamatergic transmitter dysfunction in the early stage of the disease. The compensatory increase of metabolites may be a protective factor for schizophrenia in the genetic individuals.
Aspartic Acid ; Glutamic Acid ; Glutamine ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Schizophrenia

Objective: To investigate the expression of TTK (tyrosine and threonine protein kinase) in the process of colorectal cancer (CRC) development and its relationship to prognosis in CRC patients. Methods: Colitis-associated colon cancer model was induced by azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in C57BL/6 mice. Mice at four different stages of colon cancer development were obtained, named AD1 (inflammation of the recovery), AD2 (mild dysplasia), AD3 (adenoma) and AD4 (adenocarcinoma), as well as negative control (no treatment). The expression of TTK was measured by real time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qPCR) and immunohistochemical staining in mouse colon tissues and 24 pairs of CRC specimens. The relationship between TTK and prognosis was analyzed in a set of CRC genome-wide gene expression microarray data that was obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) of National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Results: The genome-wide microarray data from mouse AOM-DSS model indicated that the expression of TTK mRNA was gradually elevated during the development of colon cancer. The subsequent qPCR results showed that TTK mRNA levels in negative control, AD1, AD2, AD3 and AD4 groups were 1.05±0.42, 1.10±0.03, 1.38±0.15, 1.33±0.17 and 2.12±0.22, respectively. And TTK expression in AD2, AD3 and AD4 groups were significantly higher than that in negative control (P<0.05). The protein expression of TTK showed by immunohistochemical staining had similar tendency as the results of TTK mRNA. Besides that, the TTK mRNA levels in tumor tissues (0.71±0.10) from 24 CRC patients were significantly higher than those in paired adjacent normal tissues (0.18±0.04; P<0.001). The positive expression rate of TTK protein in 5 pairs of CRC clinical samples was 80.0%, and it was significantly higher than that in adjacent normal tissues (30.8%, P=0.014). Furthermore, according to a public transcriptomic data (GSE17536), the high levels of TTK were associated with poor prognosis in CRC patients. Conclusions Elevated expression of TTK is related to colonic carcinogenesis in both of mouse model and human CRC samples. TTK is a poor prognostic factor in CRC.

Objective To discuss the safety and advantages of prone-straddle position applied in transvaginal hysteromyomectomy of the posterior wall of the uterus. Methods The clinical data of patients who were admitted into our hospital from March 2013 to Janaury 2015 and received transvaginal hysteromyomectomy were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into group A ( prone-straddle position, 30 cases) and group B (traditional lithotomy position,24 cases). The exposure of operative field, convenience of operation, time of the placement, time of operation, patient satisfaction, as well as patients’ heart rate, blood pressure, and oxyhemoglobin saturation were observed and ana-lyzed. Results Compared with the lithotomy position, there were significant differences in the time of the placement and the time of opera-tion in the patients treated by prone-straddle position. The patients with prone-straddle position cooperated well, and there was no obvious discomfort. Their vital signs were stable during the operation. The operative field during prone-straddle position exposed better and it was more convenient which make the operation became easier for both the operators and nurses. Conclusion Prone-straddle position applied in transvaginal hysteromyomectomy of the posterior wall of the uterus is safe and practicable, and it is valuable for clinical application.

This study was aimed to observe effects of different doses of D-galactosamine (D-GalN) plus lipopoly-saccharide (LPS) and blood coagulation changes among rat model of acute liver failure, in order to establish an ideal model of acute liver failure in rats. SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, D-GalN high, medium and low dose groups, with 10 rats in each group. Except the normal group, rats in other groups were injected with D-GalN plus LPS at different doses to induce acute liver failure. The mortality of rats was observed. The liver function and blood coagulation were detected from rat serum at 0 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. HE stain was used in the observa-tion of changes on liver pathological changes. The results showed that the mortality of D-GalN high, medium and low dose groups within 72 h were 60%, 30%, 10%, respectively. There were significant differences on the serum content level of ALT, AST, TBIL, PT, INR, FIB from different dose groups at different time points and the normal group (P<0.05). However, the comparison among D-GalN high, medium and low dose groups showed no statistical difference on ALT and AST; while there were statistical differences on TBIL, PT, INR and FIB (P < 0.05). It was concluded that coagulation index was more stable in the liver failure model. Through observation on the liver function, blood coagulation and pathological morphology, the model of acute liver failure induced with medium dose of D-GalN plus LPS in SD rats at 48 h was more similar to the clinical symptom of acute liver failure. Therefore, the medium dose was the ideal model inducing dose.

Objective To investigate the value of X-ray,CT and MRI in diagnosing early spinal tuberculosis by constructing lum-bar vertebra tuberculosis model in New Zealand rabbits.Methods Forty healthy New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into the infected group (n=30)and the control group (n= 10).All rabbits were performed lumbar vertebra surgery,and then underwent imaging and histopathologic examination at 4,6,8 weeks respectively.Results The sensitivity of X-ray,CT and MRI in detecting tuberculosis lesions were 46.13%,76.3%,and 92.3%,respectively.MRI and CT were better than X-ray for displaying the de-struction range limited in a single vertebra (P <0.05).Combination with routine MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)could find the vertebra tuberculosis at the early stage.According to the HE staining,pus cells,epithelioid cells or necrosis were seen in the tissue sections of vertebra and paraspinal soft tissues in the infected group.Conclusion X-ray,CT and MRI could provide some information for the early diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis,and MRI is more sensitive.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Sanhuangyinchi decoction (SHYCD) pretreatment on acute hepatic failure (AHF) induced by D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats and explore the possible mechanisms involving antioxidant stress and cell apoptosis-related protein expression.

METHODSForty-eight SD rats were randomized equally into control group, AHF model group, high-, medium- and low-dose SHYCD groups, and Bicyclol group. Five days after administration of the corresponding drugs, the rats were challenged with peritoneal D-galactosamine (700 mg/kg) plus LPS (10 ug/kg) injections to induce AHF acute hepatic failure except for those in the control group. At 48 h after the injections, blood samples were collected from the rats to detect the levels of ALT, AST, TBIL, PT, INR and FIB, and pathological changes and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the liver were examined; immunohistochemistry and western blotting were used to detect caspase-3 protein expression in the liver.

RESULTSThe levels of ALT, AST, TBIL, TP and INR in the 3 SHYCD groups and Bicyclol group significantly decreased (P<0.05) while FIB significantly increased in comparison with those in the model group. SHYCD obviously ameliorated the pathological changes, enhanced SOD activity (P<0.05), and decreased MDA levels (P<0.05) and caspase-3 expression (P<0.05) in the liver tissue. SHYCD at the medium dose produced similar effects to Bicyclol (P>0.05) and showed better effects at the high dose than Bicyclol (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHYCD pretreatment can dose-dependently ameliorate AHF in rats possibly by suppressing antioxidant stress and caspase-3 expression to decrease hepatic cell apoptosis.

Animals ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Liver Failure, Acute ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Objective To observe the effects of Sanhuangyinchi decoction (SHYCD) pretreatment on acute hepatic failure (AHF) induced by D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats and explore the possible mechanisms involving antioxidant stress and cell apoptosis-related protein expression. Methods Forty-eight SD rats were randomized equally into control group, AHF model group, high-, medium- and low-dose SHYCD groups, and Bicyclol group. Five days after administration of the corresponding drugs, the rats were challenged with peritoneal D-galactosamine (700 mg/kg) plus LPS (10μg/kg) injections to induce AHF acute hepatic failure except for those in the control group. At 48 h after the injections, blood samples were collected from the rats to detect the levels of ALT, AST, TBIL, PT, INR and FIB, and pathological changes and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the liver were examined; immunohistochemistry and western blotting were used to detect caspase-3 protein expression in the liver. Results The levels of ALT, AST, TBIL, TP and INR in the 3 SHYCD groups and Bicyclol group significantly decreased (P<0.05) while FIB significantly increased in comparison with those in the model group. SHYCD obviously ameliorated the pathological changes, enhanced SOD activity (P<0.05), and decreased MDA levels (P<0.05) and caspase-3 expression (P<0.05) in the liver tissue. SHYCD at the medium dose produced similar effects to Bicyclol (P>0.05) and showed better effects at the high dose than Bicyclol (P<0.05). Conclusion SHYCD pretreatment can dose-dependently ameliorate AHF in rats possibly by suppressing antioxidant stress and caspase-3 expression to decrease hepatic cell apoptosis.

Objective To observe the effects of Sanhuangyinchi decoction (SHYCD) pretreatment on acute hepatic failure (AHF) induced by D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats and explore the possible mechanisms involving antioxidant stress and cell apoptosis-related protein expression. Methods Forty-eight SD rats were randomized equally into control group, AHF model group, high-, medium- and low-dose SHYCD groups, and Bicyclol group. Five days after administration of the corresponding drugs, the rats were challenged with peritoneal D-galactosamine (700 mg/kg) plus LPS (10μg/kg) injections to induce AHF acute hepatic failure except for those in the control group. At 48 h after the injections, blood samples were collected from the rats to detect the levels of ALT, AST, TBIL, PT, INR and FIB, and pathological changes and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the liver were examined; immunohistochemistry and western blotting were used to detect caspase-3 protein expression in the liver. Results The levels of ALT, AST, TBIL, TP and INR in the 3 SHYCD groups and Bicyclol group significantly decreased (P<0.05) while FIB significantly increased in comparison with those in the model group. SHYCD obviously ameliorated the pathological changes, enhanced SOD activity (P<0.05), and decreased MDA levels (P<0.05) and caspase-3 expression (P<0.05) in the liver tissue. SHYCD at the medium dose produced similar effects to Bicyclol (P>0.05) and showed better effects at the high dose than Bicyclol (P<0.05). Conclusion SHYCD pretreatment can dose-dependently ameliorate AHF in rats possibly by suppressing antioxidant stress and caspase-3 expression to decrease hepatic cell apoptosis.

The fragmentation pathways of two taxanes drugs have been studied in positive ion mode by Q-TOF with the advantages of high mass accuracy and high resolution analysis. The [M+H] + ions were observed by ESI-MS, from which the molecular weights were obtained. Using the protonated pseudo-molecular ions [M+H]+ as internal reference compounds, the accurate mass and element composition of the fragment ions were determined. The collision induced dissociation (CID) data of the [M+H] ions provided fragmentation pathways of related compounds. Results showed that the major cleavage pathways of paclitaxel and docetaxel were the same that the cleavage of C-O bond between the side chain and taxol skeleton easily occurred, then stripping of the functional groups on the parent ring. Some common fragments were formed, such as m/z 105.033 7, 291.137 3, 309.148 5, 327.159 7, 387.181 2 and 509.217 4, which would provide a basis for future qualitative and quantitative analysis of taxanes in vitro and in vivo.