Advances in surface plasmon resonance for analyzing active components in traditional Chinese medicine

The surface plasmon resonance(SPR)biosensor technology is a novel optical analysis method for studying intermolecular interactions.Owing to in-depth research on traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)in recent years,comprehensive and specific identification of components and target interactions has become key yet difficult tasks.SPR has gradually been used to analyze the active components of TCM owing to its high sensitivity,strong exclusivity,large flux,and real-time monitoring capabilities.This review sought to briefly introduce the active components of TCM and the principle of SPR,and provide historical and new insights into the application of SPR in the analysis of the active components of TCM.

TLR4 upregulates CBS expression through NF-κB activation in a rat model of irritable bowel syndrome with chronic visceral hypersensitivity

AIM:To investigate the roles of toll-like receptor 4(TLR4) and nuclear factor(NF)-κB on cystathionine βsynthetase(CBS) expression and visceral hypersensitivity in rats.METHODS:This study used 1-7-wk-old male SpragueDawley rats.Western blot analysis was employed to measure the expression of TLR4,NF-kB and the endogenous hydrogen sulfide-producing enzyme CBS in colon dorsal root ganglia(DRG) from control and "irritable bowel syndrome" rats induced by neonatal colonic inflammation(NCI).Colon-specific DRG neurons were labeled with Dil and acutely dissociated to measure excitability with patch-clamp techniques.Immunofluorescence was employed to determine the co-expression of TLR4,NF-kB and CBS in Dil-labeled DRG neurons.RESULTS:NCI significantly upregulated the expression of TLR4 in colon-related DRGs(0.34 ± 0.12 vs 0.72 ±0.02 for the control and NCI groups,respectively,P <0.05).Intrathecal administration of the TLR4-selective inhibitor CLI-095 significantly enhanced the colorectal distention threshold of NCI rats.CLI-095 treatment also markedly reversed the hyperexcitability of colonspecific DRG neurons and reduced the expression of CBS(1.7 ± 0.1 vs 1.1 ± 0.04,p < 0.05) and of the NF-kB subunit p65(0.8 ± 0.1 vs 0.5 ± 0.1,P< 0.05).Furthermore,the NF-KB-selective inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate(PDTC) significantly reduced the upregulation of CBS(1.0 ± 0.1 vs 0.6 ± 0.1,P< 0.05)and attenuated visceral hypersensitivity in the NCI rats.In vitro,incubation of cultured DRG neurons with the TLR4 agonist lipopolysaccharide significantly enhanced the expression of p65(control vs 8 h:0.9 ± 0.1 vs1.3 ± 0.1;control vs 12 h:0.9 ± 0.1 vs 1.3 ± 0.1,P< 0.05;control vs 24 h:0.9 ± 0.1 vs 1.6 ± 0.1,P <0.01) and CBS(control vs 12 h:1.0 ± 0.1 vs 2.2 ±0.4;control vs 24 h:1.0 ± 0.1 vs 2.6 ± 0.1,P< 0.05),whereas the inhibition of p65 via pre-incubation with PDTC significantly reversed the upregulation of CBS expression(1.2 ± 0.1 vs 0.6 ± 0.0,P< 0.01).CONCLUSION:Our results suggest that the activation of TLR4 by NCI upregulates CBS expression,which is mediated by the NF-kB signaling pathway,thus contributing to visceral hypersensitivity.

Pseudothrombus deposition accompanied with minimal change nephrotic syndrome and chronic kidney disease in a patient with Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia: A case report

BACKGROUND Waldenstr?m’s macroglobulinemia(WM) is a rare lymphoid neoplasia, which can have renal complications. These rarely occur, and most common renal manifestations are mild proteinuria and microscopic hematuria. Herein we describe a case of WM that presented with pseudothrombi depositing in capillaries associated with minimal change nephrotic syndrome and chronic kidney disease(CKD).CASE SUMMARY A 52-year-old man presented with features suggesting nephrotic syndrome.Extensive workups were done, and there were elevated serum levels of interleukin-6 and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), capillary pseudothrombus accumulation associated with minimal change nephrotic syndrome, CKD, and WM. Treatment was directed at the patient’s WM with bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone whereby serum immunoglobulin M(IgM) decreased. The damage of IgM on the kidney was corrected; thus, the patient’s proteinuria and serum creatinine had improved. The patient is still under clinical follow-up.CONCLUSION It is essential for clinicians to promptly pay more attention to patients presenting with features of nephrotic syndrome and do extensive workups to come up with a proper therapy strategy.

Therapeutic experience of an 89-year-old high-risk patient with incarcerated cholecystolithiasis:A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND The global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia poses a particular challenge to the emergency surgical treatment of elderly patients with high-risk acute abdominal diseases.Elderly patients are a high-risk group for surgical treatment.If the incarceration of gallstones cannot be relieved,emergency surgery is unavoidable.CASE SUMMARY We report an 89-year-old male patient with acute gangrenous cholecystitis and septic shock induced by incarcerated cholecystolithiasis.He had several coexisting,high-risk underlying diseases,had a history of radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer,and was taking aspirin before the operation.Nevertheless,he underwent emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy,with maintenance of postoperative heart and lung function,successfully recovered,and was discharged on day 8 after the operation.CONCLUSION Emergency surgery for elderly patients with acute abdominal disease is safe and feasible during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic,the key is to abide strictly by the hospital's epidemic prevention regulations,fully implement the epidemic prevention procedure for emergency surgery,fully prepare before the operation,accurately perform the operation,and carefully manage the patient postoperatively.

The association of Serum Klotho with the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and prognosis in general population:results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2016

Background Previous studies have extensively investigated traditional predictors of cardiovascular disease(CVD)development,progression,and prognosis.However,the influence of novel indicators such as Klotho,on CVD prevalence and prognosis in the general population remains unclear.Method This was an observational study that utilized cross-sectional and longitudinal methods to examine the general population in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES)2007-2016.The participants were divided into four groups according to the Klotho quartiles.Primary outcome was CVD[coronary artery disease(CAD),congestive heart failure,and stroke],secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality.Survey-weighted binary logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between Klotho and the prevalence of primary outcome,and the restricted cubic spline(RCS)curve was used to further analyze the nonlinear relationship.Subgroup analyses were conducted to investigate the association between Klotho values and CVD prevalence using survey-weighted binary logistic regression.The incidence of the secondary outcomes among four groups was assessed through Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.Additionally,the relationship between Klotho values and secondary endpoints was explored using survey-weighted Cox proportional hazards regression across various patient subpopulations.Results A total of 12,146 participants(56.8±10.7 years,48.5%male)were included in our study.The total incidence of CVD was 9.9%(n=1201),of which 4.7%(n=574)were CAD,3.7%(n=454)were congestive heart failure,and 4.1%(n=497)were stroke.Binary logistics regression analysis showed that higher Klotho quartiles were associated with the decreased prevalence of CVD[Quartile 4 vs.Quartile 1:odds ratio(OR)(95%CI):0.77(0.64-0.93),P=0.006]and congestive heart failure[Quartile 4 vs.Quartile 1:0.75(0.56-0.99),P=0.048],However,no significant associations were found between Klotho levels and the outcomes of CAD or stroke.RCS curve illustrated a high Klotho value was negatively correlated with the prevalence of CVD(nonlinear P=0.838),congestive heart failure(nonlinear P=0.110)and stroke(nonlinear P=0.972).No significant interactions were observed in any subgroups regarding the associations between Klotho and prevalence of CVD.After a median follow-up period of 93 months(range:from 1 to 160 months),there were 1228 cases(10.1%)of all-cause mortality in the general population,including 296 cases(2.4%)of cardiovascular mortality.The Kaplan-Meier curves indicated that lower Klotho levels were associated with a significant increase in all-cause mortality across the general population,CVD population,and non-CVD population.As Klotho levels decreased,there was also a notable rise in cardiovascular mortality in both the general population and the CVD population.In the overall population,Cox regression analyses demonstrated that higher Klotho values were associated with a decreased risk of both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.And no significant interaction was observed in the CVD subgroup regarding the association between Klotho and mortality.Conclusion High Klotho level was associated with low prevalence of CVD and low risk of mortality in general population.

Eruptive Cutaneous Collagenoma: Report of Two Cases

Introduction:Eruptive cutaneous collagenoma is non familial connective tissue nevi of unknown etiology presented with an abrupt onset.To date,the literatures on eruptive cutaneous collagenoma are extremely rare in china.Case present:Two women presented with multiple asymptomatic,skin-colored papules and nodules on the trunk and extremities with no systemic involvement.Histopathology revealed dense,coarse collagen fibers by hematoxylin-esoin stain and decreased,fragmented elastic fibers by Elastic stain compared with the normal skin.Basing on these findings,the diagnosis of eruptive cutaneous collagenoma was made.No specific treatment was given.Discussion:Eruptive cutaneous collagenoma is a very rare dermatosis that is often misdiagnosed as other connective tissue nevi.The pathogenesis is unclear,and also no efficient treatment is available.It is usually diagnosed based on clinical and histopathological findings.Conclusion:The present cases are relatively rare type of eruptive cutaneous collagenoma that provide more experience for clinician,and may be helpful for them to make correct diagnosis for suspicious cases.

Tetracyclic triterpenoids isolated from semi-mangrove plant Hibiscus tiliaceus

A continuing phytochemical study on the semi-mangrove plant Hibiscus tiliaceus yielded two new tetracyclic triterpenoids （3β,24S）-19（10→9）-abeo-8α,9β,10α-eupha-5,25（26）-dien-3,24-diol （tiliacol A, 1 ）, and （3β,23Z）-19（10→9）-abeo-8α,9β,10α-tircalla-5,23-dien-3,25-diol （tiliacol B, 3）, together with one known analog （2）. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectral analyses （MS, IR, 1D NMR and 2D NMR） and comparison with literature compounds. Compound 2 showed potent cytotoxicity against both P388 and HeLa cells with ICon values of 11.2 μmol/L and 11.5 μmol/L, resoectively.

Crystallization and Phase Behavior in Block Copolymer Solution:An in Situ Small Angle X-ray Scattering Study

Amphiphilic diblock copolymers self-assemble into a variety of micellar structures with diverse shapes in selective solvents. Here, we study the concentration and temperature dependence of the packing structure of spherical micelles of a polyisoprene-b-poly(2- vinylpyridine)(PI-b-P2VP) diblock copolymer in toluene using synchrotron radiation small angle X-ray scattering (SR-SAXS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. Randomly packed spherical micelles are detected in dilute solutions, while in concentrated solutions, face-centered cubic (FCC), body-centered cubic (BCC) mixed crystal structures, and pure BCC crystal structures are observed with an increase in concentration. In situ SAXS experiments on the FCC/BCC mixed crystal structures reveal a novel FCC/BCC → BCC → Disorder → BCC phase behavior during the thermal annealing process. These results demonstrated that the BCC phase is apparently more stable than the FCC phase in the current sphere-packing system and FCC/BCC is a metastable state. The incompatibility of the PI and P2VP blocks decreases at a higher temperature and renders the variation of domain spacing.