The toad, known for its various medicinal properties including parotid gland secretion (toad venom), dried skin, and gallbladder (toad bile), holds considerable medicinal applications as a valuable traditional Chinese animal medicine. Currently, in-depth attentions have been paid to the chemical composition and pharmacological properties of toad venom and skin; however, a lesser number of detailed analyses were concentrated on the toad bile. This review provides an overview of the chemical constituents in the bile of the Bufo genus, with a special focus on the cholestane and bufadienolides, and highlights the progress in their biosynthetic pathway and pharmacological activities. The analysis uncovers a distinct category of unsaturated Δ²² or Δ²³-C₂₇/C₂₈ bile acids in the toad gallbladder, potentially acting as key intermediaries in forming C-17 α-pyrone of bufadienolides. Furthermore, the high presence of 3α-OH configured bufadienolides in toad bile, in contrast to the common 3β-OH configured found in toad venom or skin, indicates a possible link between their minimal toxicity and the toad's self-defensive or physiological control. This review provides scientific basis for the development and utilization of toad bile resources, and provides useful reference for the discovery of lead compounds, analysis of the biosynthetic pathway of bufadienolides, and research on toad physiology.

Peptide is a compound consisting of 2-50 amino acids, which is intermediate between small molecule and protein. It is characterized by a variety of biological activities, easy absorption, strong specific targeting, and few side effects and has become one of the hotspots in biomedical research in recent years. Chinese medicine contains a large number of peptides. The traditional processing methods such as decocting and boiling can effectively boost peptides to exert their due biological activities. At present, however, the research on Chinese medicinal components in laboratory generally employs high-concentration alcohol extraction method, which may cause the peptides to be ignored in many natural Chinese medicines. Substantial studies have revealed that the peptides in Chinese medicine are important material basis responsible for the traditional efficacy. Based on years of research and literature retrieval, this study put forward the concept of "traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)-peptides", referring to the components consisting of two or more amino acids with molecular weight between small molecules and proteins that can express the efficacy of Chinese medicine. Furthermore, this study also summarized the extraction and separation of TCM-peptides, and structure determination methods and routes, predicted the research prospect of modern research methods of TCM-peptides based on "holistic view" and big data. The artificial intelligence prediction was combined with high-throughput screening technology to improve the discovery efficiency and accuracy of TCM-peptides, and holographic images between TCM-peptides and biological targets were established to provide references for the innovative drug design and related health product development of TCM-peptides based on TCM theories.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Artificial Intelligence ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Research Design ; Peptides ; Proteins ; Amino Acids

Objective: BMI may play a protective role in reducing the mortality rate of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but its effect on acute exacerbation of COPD remain unclear. Methods: Subjects were selected from the COPD patients registration system established in 2014 in Pudong new district, Shanghai. COPD patients from 8 communities were selected by cluster sampling and follow up was conducted prospectively for 18 months. Basic information and BMI were obtained from baseline survey, and acute exacerbations were collected during follow-up. The association between BMI and risk of acute exacerbation was evaluated by using multiple negative binomial regression. Results: Among 328 community COPD patients, 295 who completed the follow up were included in the analysis, in whom 96.3% (284/295) were mild COPD patients. During the follow-up, 11.1% (33/295) of the patients reported acute exacerbation. The results of multiple negative binomial regression suggested that, the risk for acute exacerbation decreased with the increase of BMI (IRR=0.85, 95%CI:0.73-0.98), overweight patients with BMI ≥25.0 kg/m² (IRR=0.36, 95%CI:0.13-0.91) or moderate BMI (T₂ vs. T₁, IRR=0.31, 95%CI:0.11-0.77) had lower risk for acute exacerbation compared with the patients with normal or low BMI. BMI had a linear correlation with the risk of acute exacerbation. Conclusion: The risk for acute exacerbation in patients with mild or moderate COPD in communities decreased with the increase of BMI, and being overweight might be a protective factor for the acute exacerbation of COPD.
Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Overweight/complications* ; Prospective Studies ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/complications*

Objective:To investigate the association between sleep quality and the risk of acute exacerbation in mild and moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD） patients in Pudong New Area of Shanghai. Methods:This was a prospective study involving eligible mild and moderate COPD patients from 10 communities randomly selected in Pudong New District of Shanghai. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic characteristics， clinical information and information on acute exacerbation. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index （PSQI） in Chinese. Multiple negative binomial regression was used to estimate the association between sleep quality and risk of exacerbation. Results:Altogether 212 mild/moderate COPD patients participated and completed the entire survey， of whom the majority （95.8%） were mild COPD patients， 110 persons female and over half （54.2%） over 65 years old. 32.9% of the patients had poorer sleep quality at baseline. 18.9% of the patients reported exacerbation over the past year during follow-ups. Multiple negative binomial regression suggested that increased PSQI was related to higher risk of exacerbation （RR_ad=1.12， 95%CI：1.02-1.24）， and patients with poorer sleep efficiency had a higher risk of exacerbation （RR_ad=1.66， 95%CI：1.17-5.43）. Conclusion:Poorer sleep quality is associated with a higher risk of exacerbation in community mild/moderate COPD patients， especially in those with problem of sleep efficiency. More attention to sleep disorders is warranted in community management or self-management of patients with COPD.

Objective:To investigate the association between serum trace elements and dyslipidemia in Pudong New Area. Methods:A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out. A stratified， cluster sampling approach was used for sampling. In total 1 814 community residents aged above 35 years old were recruited in Pudong New Area， Shanghai. A face-to-face investigation was conducted and blood samples were collected. Serum levels of 16 trace elements， including boron， vanadium， chromium， manganese， iron， cobalt， nickel， copper， zinc， arsenic， selenium， strontium， molybdenum， tin， antimony， and barium were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry （ICP-MS）. The relationship between serum trace elements and dyslipidemia was analyzed with single and multiple Logistic regression models. Results:Prevalence of dyslipidemia is higher among participants of more than 45 years old with high BMI， hypertension or diabetes．Serum iron leveled the highest， followed by copper， zinc， selenium， strontium， boron and other trace elements. After adjusting for potential confounders， the odds ratios of dyslipidemia associated with the highest quartile of trace elements concentrations were 1.41 （95%CI： 1.12-1.78）， 0.77 （95%CI： 0.61-0.96）， 1.65 （95%CI： 1.31-2.09）， 1.27 （95%CI： 1.02-1.58）， and 1.32 （95%CI： 1.06-1.66） for chromium， cobalt， zinc， arsenic， and tin， respectively， compared with that associated with the other three quartiles. Conclusion:Some serum trace elements are potentially associated with dyslipidemia in community residents.

To address the increasing need for detecting and validating protein biomarkers in clinical specimens, mass spectrometry (MS)-based targeted proteomic techniques, including the selected reaction monitoring (SRM), parallel reaction monitoring (PRM), and massively parallel data-independent acquisition (DIA), have been developed. For optimal performance, they require the fragment ion spectra of targeted peptides as prior knowledge. In this report, we describe a MS pipe-line and spectral resource to support targeted proteomics studies for human tissue samples. To build the spectral resource, we integrated common open-source MS computational tools to assemble a freely accessible computational workflow based on Docker. We then applied the workflow to gen-erate DPHL, a comprehensive DIA pan-human library, from 1096 data-dependent acquisition (DDA) MS raw files for 16 types of cancer samples. This extensive spectral resource was then applied to a proteomic study of 17 prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Thereafter, PRM validation was applied to a larger study of 57 PCa patients and the differential expression of three proteins in prostate tumor was validated. As a second application, the DPHL spectral resource was applied to a study consisting of plasma samples from 19 diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients and 18 healthy control subjects. Differentially expressed proteins between DLBCL patients and healthy control subjects were detected by DIA-MS and confirmed by PRM. These data demonstrate that the DPHL supports DIA and PRM MS pipelines for robust protein biomarker discovery. DPHL is freely accessible at https://www.iprox.org/page/project.html?id=IPX0001400000.

Objective To investigate the genetic toxicity of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) to lymphocytes and to provide reference for establishing the occupational population exposure limit of MTBE. Methods The human B lymphocytes in the logarithmic growth phase were respectively exposed to MTBE at concentrations of 0, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10 and 12.5 μmol/L. The percentage of tail DNA and Olive tail moment of human B lymphocytes were evaluated after 24 h exposure by using comet assay. Apoptosis was tested by Annexin V-FITC/PI double-staining flow cytometry. The contents of MDA and 8-OHdG, as well as GSH-Px activity were measured by ELISA kit. Sixty workers from a petrochemical factory in Zhejiang were selected as the occupational exposure population, and 55 non-occupational exposure workers were selected as the control population. And 5 mL heparin anticoagulant peripheral blood was collected, and the number of micronucleus of peripheral blood lymphocytes was measured by micronucleus test, and the percentages of tail DNA as well as Olive tail moment of peripheral blood lymphocytes were measured by comet assay. The contents of MDA and 8-OhdG and GSH-Px activity in peripheral blood plasma were measured by ELISA kit. Results After 24 h exposure, the percentage of tail DNA and Olive tail moment in human B lymphocytes at concentrations of 10-12.5 μmol/L were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the percentage of early apoptosis cells was significantly increased at concentrations of 10-12.5 μmol/L (P <0.01) . The results of population-based study indicated no statistically significant difference in micronucleus positive rate, and the contents of MDA and 8-OhdG, and GSH-Px activity between the exposure group and the control group, but the Olive tail moment was significantly higher in the exposure group compared with the control group (P=0.000) . Conclusion The results of vitro study showed that exposure to 10-12.5 μmol/L MTBE could cause genetic toxicity to human B lymphocytes. Olive tail moment of peripheral blood lymphocytes of occupational exposure workers was significantly higher than that of non-occupational exposure group.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for recurrence of cerebral infarction and to propose secondary prevention methods . Methods Data of 628 patients with cerebral infarction from Jan.2012 to Dec.2014 were collected by the community reported network into a cohort study .The prevalence of recurrence and associated risk factors of cerebral infarction were investigated . Results Recurrence rate of cerebral infarction was 9.08%.History of hypertension (OR=4.797, P=0.001), long term of tobacco use ( OR=2 .844 , P=0 .005 ) , abdominal obesity or overweight ( OR=2 .421 , P=0.041) and farming(OR=3.723, P<0.001)were the independent risk factors for recurrence of cerebral infarction. Conclusion The recurrence rate of cerebral infraction is high , which is affected by various factors.

Objective To investigate the occurrence characteristics and general rule of quinolone adverse drugs reactions.Methods Selected randomly 180 cases of adverse reactions of fluoroquinolone drugs occurred in 2014 in Wuhan by Adverse Drug Reactions Monitoring Network and analyzed the drug variety, quantity, administration route, occurrence time of adverse drugs reactions and its rational use systematically. Results The most common clinical appearances of 180 adverse drugs re-actions cases are gastrointestinal reactions and nervous system reactions, 35.55 %and 37.78%each.Conclusion Use quinolones rationally in clinical medicine and master administration route, its indication and con-traindication disinfection coupled with the patient's allergies to improve medication safety.

Objective To investigate epidemic characteristics and risk factors of hypertension among residents aged above 15 years in Pudong New Area of Shanghai. Methods We selected the subjects through a multistage stratified cluster sampling procedure; all thirty towns of Pudong New Area were stratified into three levels according to their economic status and 10 657 people selected as survey subjcets from each economic level.A questionnaire survey was conducted in conjunction with measurements of body height and weight, fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose, blood lipid and blood pressure among 10 657 inhabitants aged above 15 years.Multivariate unconditional regression model was employed to analyze the influence factors of hypertension. Results The crude prevalence rate of hypertension in the residents was 41.3%.The prevalence rates of male was high than female (P<0.001). With the increment of age, the hypertension prevalence rate of all residents were obviously elevated.The residents with lower education had a higher hypertension prevalence rate.There was no significant difference in hypertension prevalence between rural and urban.The results of logistic regresssion showed that the risk factors of hypertension were age,gender,educational level,family history of hypertension,central obesity, body mass index, C-reactive protein, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio(P<0.05). Conclusion The results indicated that hypertension was highly prevalent in Pudong New Area.Body mass index ( BMI) and central obesity were related factors for hypertension which were changeable.