Genetics of intervertebral disc disease: A review

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a common musculoskeletal disease affecting about 5% of all individuals. It is characterized by lumbar disc herniation, which causes nerve root irritation, either mechanically or via inflammatory mediators, and results in radiating pain, known as sciatica. Numerous studies have been conducted to identify the causes and risk factors for IVDD. Lifting heavy loads, torsional stress, and motor vehicle driving are among the best-identified environmental risk factors. However, it has become evident recently from family and twin studies that genetic factors may also be important in IVDD. This hypothesis was strengthened by the identification of two collagen IX alleles associated with sciatica and lumbar disc herniation. In addition, disc degeneration has been shown to be related to an aggrecan gene polymorphism, a Vitamin D receptor and matrix metalloproteinase-3 gene alleles. This review highlights the genetic role and occupational aspects of IVDD.     

Study on chemical constituents of Folium Artemisiae argyi Carbonisatum,toxicity evaluation on zebrafish and intestinal hemostasis

Folium Artemisiae argyi Carbonisatum (FAAC) is a traditional medicine widely used in clinic. It has the effect of hemostasis by warming meridians. In order to further explore the chemical composition and biological activity of FAAC, the methanol extract of FAAC was isolated and purified by open column and high- performance liquid chromatography. and the complete structure was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and LREI-MS for the first time, namely rutin, quercetin and octacosanol respectively. Initially the toxic effect of methanol extract of FAAC on zebrafish was evaluated by observing the phenotypic characteristics, spontaneous twitch times, heart rate, hatching rate, the distance of SV-BA and cardiomyocyte apoptosis of zebrafish. The results showed that FAAC has embryonic development toxicity and cardiotoxicity when it was higher than 62.5 μg/mL. Meanwhile, the hemostatic effect of methanol extract of FAAC was compared with FAA (Folium Artemisia argyi) by zebrafish intestinal bleeding model originally. The results showed that the hemostatic effect of the medium and high concentration dose groups (3.0 and 30.0 μg/mL) was enhanced for both FAAC and FAA. This study provided an experimental basis for the clinical application of FAAC.     

The impact of canister geometry on chemical biological radiological and nuclear filter performance: A computational fluid dynamics analysis

Steady-state axisymmetric simulations using the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations have been carried out in order to optimize the performance of a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) canister filter for its use in a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR). Alterations have been made to the shape of the canister, the spacing of the rear wall of the canister with regard to the carbon filter, and the bracketing between (i) the particulate filter and the carbon bed and (ii) the carbon bed and the canister wall. The pressure drops across the canister and the residence time distribution at the rear of the carbon bed have been analyzed in detail based on an extensive parametric analysis involving the aforementioned variations. It has been demonstrated that the non-uniform porosity profile of the carbon bed resulted in alternating regions of high and low velocity close to the canister wall, providing a possible route for breakthrough. Designs, which included a bracket at the rear of the carbon bed, blocked this route and consequently had a longer minimum mean residence time than those, which did not. It has also been shown that the spacing between the carbon bed and the canister rear wall had a large impact on both residence time and pressure drop. In cases where the carbon backed directly onto the canister rear wall flow in the axial direction from the outside wall toward the canister axis resulted in far greater pressure drop and a reduction in minimum mean residence time within the carbon bed.     

原料配比对胆南星成分及药效影响

目的考察原料配比对胆南星成分和药效作用的影响。方法采用UPLC⁃MS/MS法及负离子多反应监测(MRM)模式进行不同原料配比的胆南星中鹅去氧胆酸、猪去氧胆酸、猪胆酸、牛磺鹅去氧胆酸、牛磺猪去氧胆酸、甘氨鹅去氧胆酸的含有量测定。胆南星甲醇溶液的分析采用Waters Acquity UPLC BEH C18柱(50 mm×2.1 mm,1.7μm);流动相乙腈⁃0.1%甲酸水,梯度洗脱;体积流量0.25 mL/min;柱温45℃。药效学采用大鼠酵母致热实验、小鼠气管段酚红法和小鼠氨水引咳实验考察不同原料配比对胆南星药效作用影响。结果不同原料配比的胆南星中胆汁酸含有量差异明显,胆汁占原料比大于1∶1时,胆南星的解热、祛痰、止咳作用有统计学差异(P<0.05),胆汁占配比为1∶2时解热、祛痰作用较差(P>0.05)。结论胆汁比例对胆南星的成分和药效作用有显著影响,胆汁占原料比不应低于1∶1。     

基于UPLC-Q/TOF-MS分析淫羊藿炮制前后黄酮组分的变化规律

目的基于UPLC-Q/TOF-MS技术建立淫羊藿炮制前后指纹图谱,对其全成分进行分析并找出标志性化学成分,以明确淫羊藿炮制前后黄酮组分的变化规律。方法采用UPLC-Q/TOF-MS技术,在正离子模式下采集淫羊藿生品及炮制品样品数据,并在此基础上根据正交-偏最小二乘判别分析(OPLS-DA)整体探究9个不同产地、批次的淫羊藿炮制前后化学成分的差异。结果从淫羊藿生品及炮制品中寻找并鉴定出9个标志性化学成分,即8-乙烯-山柰酚、淫羊藿素、淫羊藿次苷I、淫羊藿素-3-O-葡萄糖苷、异戊醇基箭藿苷B、1,3-异戊二烯基朝藿定C、1,3-异戊二烯基-箭藿苷B-7-O-葡萄糖醛酸、3-O-(4-乙酰氧基)鼠李糖-2-O-(间二乙酰氧基)葡萄糖-淫羊藿苷及其同分异构体。结论淫羊藿炮制后黄酮组分结构发生变化,次级糖苷增加,多级糖苷减少,淫羊藿黄酮组分总体向低糖苷组分转化,进一步阐明了淫羊藿加热炮制后黄酮组分的变化规律。