深部热疗配合输卵管通水术治疗继发性不孕症的疗效研究

目的:探析对继发性不孕症患者行以深部热疗配合输卵管通水术治疗的疗效。方法:于2018年1月~2019年1月择取某院收治的40例继发性不孕症患者,按照数字奇偶法将其分成对照组和研究组,对照组20例患者予以输卵管通水术治疗,研究组20例患者予以输卵管通水术配合深部热疗治疗,对照分析两组临床效果。结果:从临床总有效率上来看,研究组高于对照组(P<0.05);治疗前两组TNF-α、IL-6对比无统计学差异,治疗后研究组TNF-α、IL-6均优于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:对继发性不孕症患者来说,深部热疗配合输卵管通水术治疗的效果显著。     

不同氮源对丹参和藏丹参毛状根有效成分积累的影响

目的氮素是中药材有效成分积累的重要影响元素,为探讨不同氮源对丹参Salviamiltiorrhiza和藏丹参Salvia castanea毛状根生长和活性成分积累的影响。方法分别采用硝酸铵、水解乳蛋白、蛋白胨、牛肉浸膏、酪蛋白和酵母提取物6种氮源处理对丹参和藏丹参毛状根的影响,分析毛状根生长及活性成分积累的变化。结果硝酸铵最有利于2种丹参毛状根的生长。水解乳蛋白能够显著促进丹酚酸类成分的积累,与硝酸铵对照相比,丹参迷迭香酸和丹酚酸B含量分别提高了2.94倍和3.27倍,藏丹参二者含量分别提高了13.74倍和2.01倍。酵母提取物对2种丹参毛状根二氢丹参酮Ι和隐丹参酮积累的促进效果最为显著,水解乳蛋白能显著促进丹参根中丹参酮IIA的积累,牛肉浸膏则对藏丹参中丹参酮IIA积累的促进作用最为显著。结论硝酸铵是2种丹参毛状根生长的最佳氮源,水解乳蛋白是丹酚酸积累的最佳氮源,不同氮源对4种丹参酮的影响不一致,丹参和藏丹参对不同氮源的响应也不一致。该研究不仅对丹参毛状根规模化培养及活性成分工业化生产具有一定指导意义,也对藏丹参资源的开发利用提供了借鉴作用。     

Antimycobacterial action of a new glycolipid‐peptide complex obtained from extracellular metabolites of Raoultella ornithinolytica

In this paper, an antimycobacterial component of extracellular metabolites of a gut bacterium Raoultella ornithinolytica from D. veneta earthworms was isolated and its antimycobacterial action was tested using Mycobacterium smegmatis. After incubation with the complex obtained, formation of pores and furrows in cell walls was observed using microscopic techniques. The cells lost their shape, stuck together and formed clusters. Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy analysis showed that, after incubation, the complex was attached to the cell walls of the Mycobacterium. Analyses of the component performed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrated high similarity to a bacteriocin nisin, but energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy analysis revealed differences in the elemental composition of this antimicrobial peptide. The component with antimycobacterial activity was identified using mass spectrometry techniques as a glycolipid–peptide complex. As it exhibits no cytotoxicity on normal human fibroblasts, the glycolipid–peptide complex appears to be a promising compound for investigations of its activity against pathogenic mycobacteria.     

Atrial functional tricuspid regurgitation: An underappreciated cause of secondary tricuspid regurgitation

Secondary tricuspid regurgitation (TR) caused by right ventricular enlargement in the setting of left heart disease/pulmonary hypertension has been well described. In contrast, that associated with right atrial enlargement—atrial functional TR (AF‐TR)—remains largely underappreciated. AF‐TR most often occurs in the setting of lone atrial fibrillation, although it is also seen in its absence (idiopathic AF‐TR). Several recent studies have found that the prevalence, hemodynamic significance, and prognosis of AF‐TR are not inconsequential, suggesting increased physician awareness of this novel clinical entity is warranted. This article discusses the pathogenesis, echocardiographic findings, and treatment of this underappreciated cause of secondary TR.     

Premature Ticagrelor Discontinuation in Secondary Prevention of Atherosclerotic CVD: JACC Review Topic of the Week

Ticagrelor is a cornerstone of modern antithrombotic therapy alongside aspirin in patients with acute coronary syndrome and after percutaneous coronary intervention. Adverse effects such as bleeding and dyspnea have been associated with premature ticagrelor discontinuation, which may limit any potential advantage of ticagrelor over clopidogrel. The randomized trials of ticagrelor captured adverse events, offering the opportunity to more precisely quantify these effects across studies. Therefore, a meta-analysis of 4 randomized clinical trials of ticagrelor conducted between January 2007 and June 2017 was performed to quantify the incidence and causes of premature ticagrelor discontinuation. Among 66,870 patients followed for a median 18 months, premature ticagrelor discontinuation was seen in 25%; bleeding was the most common cause of discontinuation followed by dyspnea. Versus the comparators, the relative risk of dyspnea-related discontinuation during follow-up was 6.4-fold higher, the relative risk of bleeding was 3.2-fold higher, and the relative risk of discontinuation due to any adverse event was 59% higher for patients receiving ticagrelor. Understanding these potential barriers to adherence to ticagrelor is crucial for informed patient-physician decision making and can inform future efforts to improve ticagrelor adherence. This review discusses the incidence, causes, and biological mechanisms of ticagrelor-related adverse effects and offers strategies to improve adherence to ticagrelor.     

Using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to determine 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels for clinical assessment of vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D is responsible for multiple metabolic functions in humans. Rickets are the most common disease caused by vitamin D deficiency. It is caused by poor calcium intake resulting in poor serum-ionized calcium. The purpose of this study is to develop a rapid, sensitive, and feasible method to determine the 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) levels in blood samples for clinical assessment. In this study, gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry with trimethylsilyl derivatization (TMS-GC-MS) is the most suitable protocol for quantitative analyses of 25(OH)D3. Performance of method was evaluated and compared with liquid chromatography and immunoassay. Method validation has been carried out with plasma specimens. The limit of quantitation of TMS-GC-MS method is 1.5 ppb with good linear correlation. Furthermore, the dietary intake and nutritional status of vegetarian and non-vegetarians in Taiwan were assessed by our validated method. As a result, this vitamin D nutrition survey demonstrates that most Taiwanese people have insufficient vitamin D. Due to dietary habits; the male vegans may have the highest risk of vitamin D deficiency.     

Metabolic profiles of corydaline in rats by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

1. Corydaline, an isoquinoline alkaloid obtained from the rhizomes of Corydalis yanhusuo, exhibits anti-acetylcholinesterase, anti-angiogenic, anti-allergic and gastric-emptying activities. In this study, a rapid and reliable ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS) method was developed and employed for the comprehensive study of the metabolites of corydaline in rats.

2. Altogether, 43 metabolites were identified in the plasma (11), bile (9), urine (34) and feces (21) of rats after oral administration of corydaline at a dose of 4.5mg/kg.

3. It was demonstrated that demethylation, hydroxylation, sulfation and glucuronidation were the major metabolic transformation pathways. Among these, two metabolites were identified as tetrahydropalmatine and isocorybulbine, and 33 phase I and phase II products were inferred to be new metabolites arising from the in vivo metabolism of corydaline.

4. Importantly, this research provides scientific and reliable support for full understanding of the metabolic profiles of corydaline and the results could help to elucidate its safety and efficacy.     

Plant-derived secondary metabolites as the main source of efflux pump inhibitors and methods for identification

The upsurge of multiple drug resistance (MDR) bacteria substantially diminishes the effectiveness of antibiotic arsenal and therefore intensifies the rate of therapeutic failure. The major factor in MDR is efflux pump-mediated resistance. A unique pump can make bacteria withstand a wide range of structurally diverse compounds. Therefore, their inhibition is a promising route to eliminate resistance phenomenon in bacteria. Phytochemicals are excellent alternatives as resistance-modifying agents. They can directly kill bacteria or interact with the crucial events of pathogenicity, thereby decreasing the ability of bacteria to develop resistance. Numerous botanicals display noteworthy efflux pumps inhibitory activities. Edible plants are of growing interest. Likewise, some plant families would be excellent sources of efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) including Apocynaceae, Berberidaceae, Convolvulaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, and Zingiberaceae. Easily applicable methods for screening plant-derived EPIs include checkerboard synergy test, berberine uptake assay and ethidium bromide test. In silico high-throughput virtual detection can be evaluated as a criterion of excluding compounds with efflux substrate-like characteristics, thereby improving the selection process and extending the identification of EPIs. To ascertain the efflux activity inhibition, real-time PCR and quantitative mass spectrometry can be applied. This review emphasizes on efflux pumps and their roles in transmitting bacterial resistance and an update plant-derived EPIs and strategies for identification.