Objective: Yupingfeng Powder (YPF), a kind of preventative patent medicine, is chosen for treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to its high frequency application in respiratory tract diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, respiratory tract infections, and pneumonia, with the advantage of reducing the relapse rate and the severity. However, the active components of YPF and the mechanisms of components affecting COVID-19 are unclear. This study aimed to determine active constituents and elucidate its potential mechanisms. Methods: Ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS) and liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-QQQ-MS) were used to determine the components and absorbable constituents of YPF. Secondly, TCMSP, Drugbank, Swiss and PharmMapper were used to search the targets of absorbable bioactive constituents of YPF, and the targets of COVID-19 were identified based on GeneCards and OMIM databases. STRING database was used to filter the possible inter-protein interactions. Thirdly, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways analysis were performed to identify molecular function and systemic involvement of target genes. Results: A total of 61 components of YPF and 36 absorbable constituents were identified through UPLC-Q/TOF-MS. Wogonin, prim-O-glucosylcimifugin, 5-O-methylvisamminol, astragaloside IV and 5-O-methylvisamminol (hydroxylation) were vital constituents for the treatment of COVID-19, and RELA, TNF, IL-6, MAPK14 and MAPK8ere recognized as key targets of YPF. The major metabolic reactions of the absorbed constituents of YPF were demethylation, hydroxylation, sulfation and glucuronidation. GO and KEGG pathway analysis further showed that the most important functions of YPF were T cell activation, response to molecule of bacterial origin, cytokine receptor binding, receptor ligand activity, cytokine activity, IL-17 signaling pathway, Chagas disease, lipid and atherosclerosis, etc. Conclusion: The approach of combining UPLC-Q/TOF-MS with network pharmacology is an effective tool to identify potentially bioactive constituents of YPF and its key targets on treatment of COVID-19.

Purpose To analyze the clinical pathological characteristics and pathological diagnosis and prognosis of spindle cell carci-noma of the breast. Methods Three cases of spindle cell carcinoma of the breast were studied by morphological and immunohisto-chemical EnVision techniques. Results The females were 48, 63 and 71 years old. The tumors located in the right breast with 4. 0 cm × 3. 0 cm × 3. 0 cm, 3. 0 cm × 2. 0 cm × 2. 0 cm and 3. 5 cm × 2. 8 cm × 2. 3 cm in size and showed cystic lesion. The neoplasm was composed of bland spindle cells and mimicking fibromatosis. Immunohistochemical staining showed that spindle cells were positive for CK(AE1/AE3), CK(34βE12), CK14, CK5/6, p63 and vimentin, negative for ER, PR and c-erbB-2. Ki-67 was positive in 20%, 25% and 20% of the cells. Conclusion Spindle cell carcinoma of the breast is a rare subtype of the metaplastic carcinoma which tend to show cystic changes. It is important to make a definite diagnosis which combine histopathologic features and immunophe-notyping.

Cryptococcosis ; Groin ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; microbiology ; Lymphadenitis ; microbiology

Objective To investigate the association of serum leptin (LEP) levels during the first postpartum year with the occurrence of postpartum thyroiditis (PPT).Methods Fifty-seven PPT patients consisted of 34 with overt PPT and 23 subclinical PPT.37 healthy postpartum women were used as controls.Serum samples were obtained at 4 postpartum date points,i.e.3-days and 3,6,12-months postpartum.LEP level was determined by radioimmunoassav.Results Compared with control women,PPT patients were maintaining significantly higher levels of LEP and LEP/body mass index (BMI) ratio during the first postpartum year.There was no significant difference in serum LEP level or LEP/BMI ratio between overt PPT and subclinical PPT groups.In PPT patients,LEP and LEP/BMI ratio were negatively correlated with serum TSH,and positively correlated with serum FT4 and FT3.Conclusion Sustained high levels of serum LEP after delivery may favor the occurrence of PPT.Further studies are needed to clarify the specific role played by LEP in PPT.

ObjectiveTo investigate the cumulative incidence of persistent hypothyroidism in patients who were diagnosed as postpartum thyroiditis ( PPT),and to determine the factors associated with the development of persistent hypothyroidism in those patients.MethodsThe present study was performed as the continuous study followed by the former epidemiological survey on PPT,in which 58 patients with PPT (35 overt PPT and 23 subclinical PPT) were diagnosed.The 58 patients were followed up at 12th month postpartum,and then for every 6 months until 24 months postpartum.Fasting blood samples were taken for testing serum TSH,thyroid peroxidase antibody ( TPOAb),and thyroglobulin antibody ( TgAb ).Free T3 ( FT3 ),free T4 ( FT4 ),and TSH receptor antibody ( TRAh ) were detected if TSH was abnormal.50 healthy postpartum women were used as control group.ResultsOf the total 58 PPT patients,91,4％ ( n =53 ) were successfully followed.Five patients with overt PPT and 6 patients with subclinical PPT developed persistent hypothyroidism,and the cumulative incidence of persistent hypothyroidism in the studied PPT patients was 20.8％.Among 15 PPT patients who had a classical biphasic course (a thyrotoxic phase followed by a hypothyroid phase),persistent hypothyroidism was seen in 26.7％ (n =4 ).Among 11 PPT patients with hypothyroidism only,persistent hypothyroidism was seen in 63.6％ ( n =7).On the contrary,none of the patients with thyrotoxicosis only had persistent hypothyroidism.All of the patients who developed persistent hypothyrodism had a higher TSH levels than 4.8 mU/L at 6th month postpartum.Before delivery,TSH levels of the patients developed persistent hypothyroidism were significantly higher than those of the patients with transient hypothyroidism,and this was the case at the 12th month postpartum ( all P＜0.01 ).PPT patients maintained a relatively higher rate of thyroid autoantibodies.The positive rate of TPOAb at the 12th,18th,and 24th month postpartum was 56.6％,50.9％,and 52.8％,respectively; and the positive rate of TgAb being 35.8％,30.2％,and 30.2％,respectively.Both the positive rate and titer of TPOAb in patients with overt PPT were higher than those in patients with subclinical PPT at the 18th and 24th month postpartum (P＜0.05).Conclusions 20.8％ patients with PPT developed persistent hypothyroidism at the 24th month postpartum.Whether a patient with PPT would develop persistent hypothyroidism depends on his clinical feature and TSH level.

Objective To verify the criteria proposed by National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry(NACB)guidelines in investigating the factors that affect serum TSH determination, and to determine the reference range of serum TSH in iodine-sufficient areas of China. Methods In 2007, 5 348 inhabitants were enrolled from 3 iodine-sufficient areas of Liaoning Province, and were asked to fulfill the questionnaire. Serum TSH, thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPOAb), and thyroglobulin antibody(TgAb)were determined, and thyroid ultrasonography was carried out. Results The distribution of TSH levels was skewed in healthy people and closely fit the curve of Gaussian distribution after logarithmic transformation. The levels of TSH in subjects of 12-19 years of age were significantly higher than those of other age groups(P＜0.01), and no significant difference was found among the latter groups. TSH level in females [(1.68±1.90)mIU/L] was higher than in males[(1.45±1.92)mIU/L, P＜0.01]. The reference range of TSH was 0.43-4.74 mIU/L in males, and 0.48-5.39 mIU/L in females. Family history of thyroid disease, abnormal thyroid ultrasonography, and positive thyroid antibodies were the factors that influenced TSH level. Conclusion The reference range of serum TSH in iodine-sufficient areas of China is established.

Objective To assess the effects of maternal subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) during the first trimester on neuropsychological development of the offspring by 20-30 months. Methods In this study, 1 761 pregnant women from 10 hospitals with about 8 weeks of gestation were enrolled. Urinary iodine excretion and serum thyrotropin ( TSH ), free thyroxine ( FT4 ), and thyroid peroxidase antibody ( TPOAb ) levels were determined in all subjects. Pregnant women with SCH (TSH≥2.5 mIU/L) were divided into two subgroups using trimester-specific thyroid function reference: group A (2.5 mIU/L≤TSH＜3.93 mIU/L, 18 cases), and group B (TSH ≥3.93 mIU/L, 20 eases). Thirty euthyroid and TPOAb-negative women from the same cohort were selected as controls. Intellectual and motor development score evaluations were performed in the children by 20-30 months of age. Results Children of women with SCH and subgroups A and B had lower mean intelligence scores 6.55,3.39, and 9.40 points compared with those of the control group (P=0. 001, P=0. 125, and P＜0. 001 ); the respective mean motor scores were 6.31,4.35, and 8.07 points being lower than that of the control ( P=0. 003,P=0. 070, and P=0. 001 ). Intelligence scores and motor scores were negatively correlated with TSH levels (r=-0.425, P＜0. 001 and r=-0. 394, P=0. 001 ). Multiple group comparisons revealed that differences of TSH affected intelligence and motor scores (F=9. 277, P＜0. 001 and F=5. 909, P=0. 004). Ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that possibilities for the reduction of filial mental development index ( MDI ) and psychomotor development index ( PDI ) scores in SCH with maternal TSH levels≥3.93 mIU/L were 8.66 and 6.27 times that of controls ( OR = 8.66,95% CI 2.72-27.57, OR =6.27,95% CI 2.03-19.34 ). Conclusion Maternal elevated TSH levels diagnosed by trimester-specific reference during early gestation are independently associated with lowered filial neurodevelopment scores by 20-30 months.

A total of 1 870 patients who had undergone thyroidectomy were investigated.The mean TSH level in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) was significantly higher than that in patients with benign thyroid nodules[(1.95±1.69 vs 1.40±1.98)mIU/L,P＜0.01].DTC patients who had lymphatic metastasis or the diameter of tumor more than 10 mm had higher serum TSH level.Serum thyrotropin is an independent risk predictor for DTC.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of non-toxic goiter and non-toxic thyroid nodules in the regions with different iodine intakes and the factors influencing the occurrence, development and outcome of goiter and thyroid nodules. Methods 3 385 subjects, who had taken part in the previous survey in 1999 with the ultrasonic examination of thyroid, were composed of individuals in Panshan with chronic mild iodine deficiency,in Zhangwu with more than adequate iodine "after iodine supplementation and in Huanghua with excessive iodine. These 3 groups of subjects were followed up in 2004. Results (1) The cumulative incidences of diffuse goiter in Panshan ,Zhangwu and Huanghua were 7.1% ,4.4% and 6.9% ,respectively ,being the lowest in Zhangwu (P<0.01) and those of nodular goiter were 5.0% ,2. 4% and 0.8%, respectively, being the highest in Panshan (P<0.01). (2) The incidences of single nodule were 4.0% ,5.7% and 5.6%, respectively, and those of multiple nodules 0.4%, 1.2% and 1.0%, respectively. (3)The result of logistic analysis showed that iodine deficiency,iodine excess and positive thyroid autoantibodies (TAA) were the independent risk factors for the occurrence of goiter. (4)In Zhangwu ,the incidence of non-toxic goiter in the group with positive TAA was higher than that in the group with negative TAA(P<0.01) ,while there were no such differences in Panshan and Huanghua. (5)In these three regions, the rates of positive TAA in the individuals with diffuse non-toxic goiter were higher than those in the healthy subjects (P<0.05). And in Huanghua,the rate of positive TAA in subjects with non-toxic nodular goiter was also higher than that in the healthy individuals (P<0.05). Conclusion Iodine deficiency and iodine excess may both induce the raising incidence of goiter. Nodular goiter is prevalent in iodine deficient district and diffuse goiter is the predominant form in places with iodine excess. Thyroid autoimmunity is associated with occurrence and maintenance of goiter, and this phenomenon is more obvious in the community with previous iodine deficiency followed then by treatment with more than adequate iodine.

Thyrocytes expressing MHC class Ⅱ molecules were separated from transgenic mice and were co-cultured with autologous spleen T lymphocytes. T cells did not proliferate and were not activated, but CD4+ T cells were promoted into apoptosis.