固溶态和挤压态Mg-xLi-3Al-2Zn-0.5Y(x=4,8,12)合金的显微组织和腐蚀行为

研究固溶态和挤压态Mg-xLi-3Al-2Zn-0.5Y(x=4,8,12,质量分数,%)合金的显微组织和腐蚀行为。结果表明,当锂含量从4%增加到12%,合金基体由α-Mg单相转变为α-Mg+β-Li双相,再转变为β-Li单相。Mg-4Li-3Al-2Zn-0.5Y和Mg-12Li-3Al-2Zn-0.5Y合金具有晶间腐蚀和点蚀的混合腐蚀特征,前者与沿晶界析出的AlLi相有关,后者与第二相与基体之间的高电位差有关。挤压态合金的耐蚀性优于固溶态合金。挤压态Mg-8Li-3Al-2Zn-0.5Y合金具有最低腐蚀速率(P_(W)=(0.63±0.26)mm/a),主要归因于该合金的第二相分布更均匀、通过牺牲β-Li相形成的保护性α-Mg相和相对完整的更均匀分布的氧化膜。

Jianpi Bushen Recipe affects epithelial-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma through TGF-β and Twist

Backgroud:To explore the effects of Jianpi Bushen Recipe on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)of nude mice with transplanted human liver cancer SK-HEP-1 cells.Methods:To establish models with transplanted liver cancer cells,nude mice were divided randomly into three groups:blank group,traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)group and control group.They were given normal saline,Jianpi Bushen Recipe and solafeni through administration by gavage for four weeks.The expression of TGF-β and twist mRNA were detected by real-time PCR.The expression of E-cadherin was detected by Western blot.Results:Compared with the blank group,the expression of transforming growth factor-P(TGF-β)mRNA and twist mRNA in the TCM group and the control group decreased significantly(P<0.05).There was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).The expression of E-cadherin protein in TCM group and control group increased significantly(P<0.01).There was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:Jianpi Bushen Recipe can inhibit the EMT of liver cancer SK-HEP-1 cells in vivo by down-regulating the expression of TGF-β/twist signaling and indirectly up-regulating E-cadherin expression in transplanted liver cancer tissue,indicating the potential of Jianpi Bushen Recipe to inhibit invasion and metastasis of liver cancer.

The effects of Chinese herbal medicines on Madopar dose and adverse reaction during the maintenance phase of Parkinson's disease:a systematic review with meta-analysis

Background:Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease,and is usually treated with levodopa combined with dopa decarboxylase inhibitor like Madopar.In order to improve the efficacy and reduce adverse reactions,Chinese herbal medicines are usually applied with Madopar to treat Parkinson’s disease in clinic.According to the results of certain randomized controlled trials,levodopa drugs combined with Chinese herbal medicines could achieve better effects like the improvement of clinical symptoms,the reduced incidence of adverse reactions,and the reduced dose of levodopa drugs(especially in the maintenance phase).However,not all the randomized controlled trials showed favorable effect on Parkinson’s disease.Therefore,it is necessary to find out how to effectively combine Chinese herbal medicines with Madopar.In order to evaluate the effects of Chinese herbal medicines on Madopar dose and adverse reaction during the maintenance phase of Parkinson’s disease,a meta-analysis was conducted.Methods:A systematic research was carried out for randomized controlled trials of combined Chinese herbal medicines and Madopar treatment for Parkinson’s disease during the maintenance phase published till August 2019.The primary outcome was the Madopar dose and secondary outcome was the incidence of adverse reaction.Data were pooled and analyzed with RevMan 5.3.Results:A total of 18 studies were included with 1,169 cases.However,study quality evaluation showed low methodological quality.Meta-analyses showed that the dose of Madopar in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group,and the incidence of adverse reactions in the treatment group was also significantly lower than that in the control group.However,the correlation analysis showed that the reduction of Madopar dose was not related to the reduction of incidence of adverse reactions(P>0.05).There existed publication bias on the primary outcome and secondary outcome.Conclusions:Chinese herbal medicines could reduce the Madopar dose and adverse reaction during the maintenance phase of Parkinson’s disease treatment.This conclusion must be considered cautiously,for lack of studies of high quality.

Predicting the nephrotoxicity of Chinese herbal medicines based on a Bayesian network model

Objective:Based on a Bayesian network model(BNM),we constructed and evaluated a predictive model of Chinese herbal medicines(CHMs)nephrotoxicity,explored its influencing factors,and provided a reference for the prevention and control of nephrotoxicity.Methods:We searched for CHMs with nephrotoxicity through academic journals and academic works,screened non-nephrotoxic CHMs,and then tested the correlation between nephrotoxic and non-nephrotoxic CHMs and their four properties,five flavours,and channel tropism.The screened variables were used to construct the Bayesian network model(BNM),predict important factors affecting the nephrotoxicity of Chinese herbal medicines(CHMs),draw the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve of the model,and calculate the area under the curve(AUC)to evaluate the forecasting effect of the model.Results:Medicinal property theory(four properties and five flavours)are important factors affecting the nephrotoxicity of CHMs.Nephrotoxic and non-nephrotoxic CHMs are related to their four propertiesand five flavours(P<0.05).BNM showed that sweetness and flatness wereimportant protective factors for nephrotoxicity of CHMs;the prediction accuracy was 77.92%,the AUC result of the model ROC curve was 0.661(95%CI:0.620-0.701),and the best sensitivity(0.736)and specificity(0.571)were obtained at 0.65.Discussion:Modern mathematical statistics and modeling methods have certain reference significance and application value for the prediction of CHMs nephrotoxicity and toxicology research.

To set up a logistic regression prediction model for hepatotoxicity of Chinese herbal medicines based on the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicines

In our previous research,a logistic regression prediction model for hepatotoxicity of Chinese herbal medicines based on the four properties,five flavors and channel tropism has been successfully established.However,could Chinese herbal medicines efficacy also be applied to predict the hepatotoxicity of Chinese herbal medicines?Therefore,a logistic regression prediction model for hepatotoxicity of Chinese herbal medicines based on Chinese herbal medicines efficacy has been tentatively set up to study the correlations of hepatotoxic and nonhepatotoxic Chinese herbal medicines with efficacy by using a chi-square test for two-way unordered categorical data.Logistic regression prediction model was established and the accuracy of the prediction by this model was evaluated.It has been found that the hepatotoxicity and nonhepatotoxicity of Chinese herbal medicines were weakly related to the efficacy,and the coefficient was 0.295.There were 20 variables from Chinese herbal medicines efficacy analyzed with unconditional logistic regression,and 6 variables,rectifying Qi and relieving pain,clearing heat and disinhibiting dampness,invigorating blood and stopping pain,invigorating blood and relieving swelling,killing worms and relieving fright were chosen to establish the logistic regression prediction model,with the optimal cutoff value being 0.250.Dissipating cold and relieving pain(DCRP),clearing heat and disinhibiting dampness,invigorating blood and relieving pain(IBRP),invigorating blood and relieving swelling,killing worms,and relieving fright were the variables to affect the hepatotoxicity and the established logistic regression prediction model had predictive power for hepatotoxicity of Chinese herbal medicines to a certain degree.

Efficacy and Safety of Chinese Herbal Medicines Combined with Chemical Drugs for Alzheimer's Disease:A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicines(CHMs)combined with chemical drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease(AD).Materials and Methods:Databases were searched to retrieve randomized controlled trials(RCTs)of CHMs combined with tacrine,galantamine,rivastigmine,donepezil,or memantine,following strict inclusion and exclusion criteria.Only research papers published in English,Chinese,and Japanese were considered.The primary outcome was the mini-mental state examination(MMSE)score and the secondary outcomes were AD assessment scale cognitive subscale(ADAS-Cog)score and safety evaluation.Meta-analysis was carried out using Rev Man 5.3 and subgroup analysis was conducted to identify the sources of heterogeneity.Results:A total of 15 RCTs with 1386 participants were included in this study.Only donepezil was used in the retrieved literature.Meta-analyses showed that the combination of CHMs with donepezil led to significant improvement in the MMSE score(Z=9.45;P<0.00001;weighted mean difference[WMD]=2.68,95%confidence interval[CI]:2.12-3.24)and a significant decrease in the ADAS-Cog score(Z=5.53;P<0.00001;WMD=-3.79;95%CI:-5.13--2.44).Safety evaluation demonstrated that these combination treatments relieved adverse events such as insomnia(risk ratio[RR]=0.20,95%CI:0.06-0.68;P=0.01)and hive(RR=0.10;95%CI:0.01-0.73;P=0.02).Conclusions:The combination of CHMs with a chemical drug like donepezil led to significant improvements in patient cognition as well as a better safety profile when compared to the application of a chemical drug alone.

Persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection in asymptomatic young adults

Dear Editor,While most of the patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)cleared the virus within a few weeks of infection,some people have a persistent infection or persistent shedding viral RNA in the long term.The persistent detection of viral RNA in clinical specimens is unlikely to reflect either relapse or reinfection in most cases because the replication-competent virus is generally not recoverable after ten days following symptom onset in mild to moderate cases of COVID-191 and after 20 days in severe or immunocompromised cases.

A Rare Case of Lupus Vulgaris with Papulonecrotic Tuberculid and Discoid Lupus Erythematosus

To the Editor：A 48-year-old woman presented with a plaque on her left helix that had persisted for 20 years,erythemas and scales on both earlobes present for 9 months,and papules on both thighs present for 6 months.Neither she nor her family had any special history.Physical examination revealed a well-circumscribed,dark-red plaque on her left helix,and red erythema on both her earlobes,with adherent scales and red papules symmetrically distributed on both thighs with crust and scale [Figure 1 a].Routine examinations showed no abnormal findings.Pathological examination of the left helix showed that the epidermis was thin,with flattening of the rete ridges and many epithelioid granulomas with local caseous necrosis,accompanied by infiltration of lymphocytes into the dermis,multinucleated giant cells were not remarkable [Figure 1 b].In addition,acid-fast staining yielded negative results.The earlobe biopsy showed epidermal hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis,liquefaction degeneration of the basal cells,and follicular keratotic plugging,and the blood vessels and skin appendages surrounded by lymphocytes in the dermis [Figure lc].The thigh biopsy showed epidermal hyperkeratosis and local parakeratosis,and palisading granuloma in the dermis,accompanied by progressive necrosis of the central collagen with mucin deposition [Figure 1 d].A tuberculin （purified protein derivative [PPD]） test performed on the forearm was strongly positive.Polymerase chain reaction for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in both the left helix plaque and the thigh papule was negative.Therefore,a diagnosis of lupus vulgaris was made for the left helix;both earlobes were diagnosed with discoid lupus erythematosus,and both thighs with papulonecrotic tuberculid.