The thymus is a site of mast cell development in chicken embryos

Thymic mast cells were studied by light and transmission electron microscopy in chicken embryos during organogenesis. Mast cells made their first appearance at day 15. At days 16 and 17, there was a burst of mast cell development with a peak of 278 ± 54 cells/mm² at day 16. Then, mast cell density decreased until hatching. During the whole embryonic period, about 80% of mast cells localized to the thymic medulla. In the cortex, they were less numerous, and some rare mast cells could be identified in the capsule and septa. Thymic mast cells could be recognized in association with hematopoietic foci, but frequently they grew independently from areas of hematopoiesis and appeared as single cells interspersed among thymocytes, thymic epithelial cells, and interdigitating cells. They were often recognized in close relationship with the scanty and delicate extracellular matrix of the developing gland. Viewed by electron microscopy, mast cells were relatively small cells, with a few secretory granules. Exocytosis was never seen, but, notably, granules emptied in a piecemeal degranulation fashion. This study demonstrates that the chicken thymus is a site of mast cell development during embryogenesis. The high mast cell density we found suggests a possible role for these cells during thymus organogenesis.     

Langerhans cells and serum precipitating antibodies against fungal antigens in bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma: possible association with pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma

In an ultrastructural study of 37 cases of bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma (BAC), we identified seven cases (19%) in which Langerhans cells (LC) were closely associated with tumor cells. Serum precipitating antibodies against Aspergillus species and/or thermophilic actinomyces were present in five BAC patients whose tumors contained LC and in six patients whose tumors lacked LC. In a simultaneous study we identified marked atypical bronchiolar and alveolar lining cell hypertrophy and hyperplasma in pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma (PEG). Our data plus current information suggesting that PEG is a form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis support our hypothesis that those cases of BAC in which LC are present may arise in localized or diffuse pulmonary scars caused by PEG.     

Crystal-Deficient Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma

Classically, ultrastructural examination of alveolar soft part sarcoma reveals large, dramatic, rhomboid to needlelike crystals with a characteristic substructure. In this study of four cases of alveolar soft part sarcoma, only two exhibited large crystals, which were rare. All four cases, however, exhibited round, electron-dense granules, and in the two cases without large crystals these granules rarely exhibited elongation with the characteristic substructure of alveolar soft part sarcoma that permits definitive diagnosis. Two of these cases had been previously studied at other institutions, where crystals were not identified ultrastructurally and electron microscopy was considered noncontributory. Large crystals, then, may be rare or absent in alveolar soft part sarcoma. Careful search may be necessary to find granules with the characteristic periodic substructure.     

Ewing's Sarcoma with Neuroblastoma-like Features

Four tumors with the clinical and light microscopic features of Ewing's sarcoma contained cells that possessed to varying degrees ultrastructural features suggestive of neuroblastoma. These neoplasms were considered to be Ewing's sarcoma of bone by radiologic examination and on clinical grounds, and light microscopy was consistent with the diagnosis in every case. It is suggested that the ultrastructural morphology of Ewing's sarcoma is broader than had been supposed and that the presence of dendritic processes in a small cell tumor of bone should not exclude the diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma.     

山药配方颗粒溶化性差的原因分析与解决策略

山药配方颗粒由山药饮片经水煎煮提取、分离、浓缩、干燥、制粒而成,具有调剂简单、使用方便、免煎易服等优势。然而,因山药富含淀粉与黏液质类成分,其提取物粉末与配方颗粒溶化性差,在5 min内难以完全溶化或分散,不溶物即使在水中静置24 h也难以完全溶散,影响了配方颗粒的质量评价与患者的服药心理。因此,通过研究山药提取物及其配方颗粒的溶化过程与机制,发现山药特殊的化学组成、高温提取过程中淀粉的变性及其与蛋白质等物质的复合、喷雾干燥过程中“衣膜”的收缩形成等因素综合叠加,最终形成“衣膜”包覆淀粉粒的特殊微观结构,是山药配方颗粒溶化性差的根本原因。基于课题组前期对粉体结构-性质-功能的研究,笔者提出采用粉体改性工艺改善山药配方颗粒溶化性的技术策略,并通过实验证明改性处理后的山药配方颗粒能在2 min内实现全部溶散,解决了该技术难题,可为其他类似品种的溶化性改善提供借鉴,推动中药配方颗粒产业的高质量发展。     

补肾益智方治疗阿尔兹海默病的研究进展

阿尔茨海默病（AD）是最常见的痴呆形式,目前缺少疾病修饰性的治疗药物。中医理论认为肾精亏虚是AD发生发展的内在机制,补肾益精是中医治疗AD的基本原则,贯穿AD治疗的始终。补肾益智方是治疗AD的临床经验方。补肾益智方治疗AD已有大量文献报道,但补肾益智方缺乏临床应用安全性评价,同时其基础研究薄弱,有效成分不明、多靶点作用机制不清。为阐明补肾益智方多成分、多靶点、多途径治疗AD的作用机制,该文综述了补肾益智方治疗AD的研究进展。进一步收集了16个基于高效液相色谱指纹图谱的补肾益智方主要化学成分,并对其成药性与安全性进行评价。利用基于AD重要病理生理学过程的网络药理学与文献综述相结合的方法,深入分析了补肾益智方靶向胆碱能系统、AD神经病理学特征的有效成分及可能机制。该研究为AD对症治疗、疾病修饰性治疗的药物研发提供了一系列有潜力的先导化合物,并为深入拓展补肾益智方的临床应用提供了理论依据。     

补肾生血方联合西药治疗再生障碍性贫血早期疗效预测指标

目的：探讨补肾生血方联合西药治疗再生障碍性贫血（AA）早期疗效的预测指标,为中医补肾治法联合西药治疗AA提供预后参考指标。方法：本研究为回顾性研究,选取2018年9月至2021年3月于中国中医科学院西苑医院等19家医院就诊并采用补肾生血方联合西药治疗6个月有效的126例患者,评价其治疗4个月时的疗效,根据治疗4个月时的疗效评价结果将其分为4个月有效组和4个月无效组,分析比较两组患者治疗前在年龄、性别、疾病分型[包括重型AA(SAA)、非重型AA(NSAA)]、病程、骨髓有核细胞增生程度及基线血象水平[包括白细胞（WBC）、中性粒细胞（ANC）、血红蛋白（HGB）、血小板（PLT）、网织红细胞（RET）]、T淋巴细胞及亚群、T-box转录因子（T-bet）、GATA家族转录因子-3(GATA-3)表达水平指标上的差异。结果：4个月有效组在20岁≤年龄<40岁及60岁≤年龄<80岁患者占比较高（P<0.05）;两组患者在性别、疾病分型（SAA/NSAA）、病程、有无合并症等方面均差异无统计学意义。4个月有效患者治疗前HGB、WBC、ANC、PLT基线水平明显高于治疗4个月...     

补肾养经汤治疗PCOS患者的临床研究

目的：探讨补肾养经汤对多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）患者卵巢功能及血清内脏脂肪素及半乳糖凝集素–3的影响。方法：选取平顶山市中医医院2020年12月至2021年12月期间收治的78例PCOS患者,随机分为对照组与观察组,各39例。对照组患者口服炔雌醇环丙孕酮片治疗,观察组患者口服炔雌醇环丙孕酮片联合补肾养经汤治疗,两组患者均连续治疗3个月经周期,比较两组患者的临床疗效、中医证候积分、卵泡体积及直径2～8 mm的卵泡数、血清激素水平、血清内脏脂肪素及半乳糖凝集素–3水平以及不良反应发生情况。结果：观察组患者治疗总有效率为94.87%,高于对照组的79.49%,差异具有统计学意义（P <0.05）。观察组患者中医证候积分总改善率为76.92%,高于对照组的48.72%,差异具有统计学意义（P <0.05）。治疗后两组患者的卵泡体积及直径2～8 mm的卵泡数均低于治疗前,且治疗后观察组患者的卵泡体积及直径2～8 mm的卵泡数均低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P <0.05）。治疗后两组患者的雌二醇（E2）、睾酮（T）、黄体生成素（LH）水平均低于治疗前,且治疗后观察组患者的E2...     

益元止泻颗粒对脾虚泄泻小鼠肠道菌群的影响

目的 探讨以四君子汤加味研制而成的益元止泻颗粒治疗脾虚泄泻的作用机制。方法 观察益元止泻颗粒对大黄煎剂所致脾虚泄泻小鼠肠道菌群的影响。结果 益元止泻颗粒对实验性脾虚泄泻小鼠的肠道菌群有调节作用,能增加有益菌如双歧杆菌、乳酸杆菌的数量。结论 益元止泻颗粒能调节肠道微生态平衡,从而对脾虚泄泻的恢复有重要影响。