An observational study on the safety of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with myasthenia gravis

OBJECTIVE

There is concern that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine may trigger or worsen autoimmune diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the impacts of COVID-19 vaccination on symptom severity in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG).

METHODS

A total of 106 enrolled patients with MG who were vaccinated against COVID-19 were followed up, and a questionnaire was used to document in detail the exacerbation of muscle weakness after vaccination and all other uncomfortable reactions after vaccination. Demographic, clinical characteristics, medication, and vaccination data were collected by follow-up interview. The main observation outcome was whether the MG symptoms of patients were exacerbated. The definition of exacerbation is according to the subjective feeling of the patient or a 2-point increase in daily life myasthenia gravis activity score relative to before vaccination, within 30 days after vaccination.

RESULTS

Of 106 enrolled patients [median age (SD) 41.0 years, 38 (35.8%) men, 53 (50.0%) with generalized MG, 74 (69.8%) positive for acetylcholine receptor antibody, and 21 (19.8%) with accompanying thymoma], muscle weakness symptoms were stable in 102 (96.2%) patients before vaccine inoculation. Muscle weakness worsened in 10 (9.4%) people after vaccination, of which 8 patients reported slight symptom worsening that resolved quickly (within a few days). Two (1.9%) of patients showed serious symptom aggravation that required hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that inactivated virus vaccines against COVID-19 may be safe for patients with MG whose condition is stable. Patients with generalized MG may be more likely to develop increased muscle weakness after vaccination.

[Analysis of clinical characteristics and related genetic variation of juvenile myasthenia gravis]

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and related genetic variation of juvenile myasthenia gravis (MG) patients. Methods: We collected the clinical data of adolescent MG patients who were treated in the Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from June 2019 to May 2020. After obtaining the patient's informed consent, the blood samples were collected. The Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) was performed on peripheral blood samples. And use biological information software and SPSS 22.0 for data processing and result analysis. Results: According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 54 patients with juvenile MG were included, 28 males and 26 females. And the average age of onset was (3.79±0.89) years. Among the enrolled patients, there were 52 (96.3%) patients with ocular MG, the MG-ADL scores of 54 patients were (3.44±0.44) points, and the titer of AChR antibody was (5.88±2.45) nmol/L. Two patients had thymic hyperplasia, and 5 patients had a family history of MG.A total of 169 variant genes were found in 54 patients, of which TTN gene variants had the largest number, with a total of 17 variants (31.5%). In the TTN gene variant group, 7(41.2%) patients had eye fixation symptoms, and 4 (10.8%) patients in the non-mutation group had eye fixation symptoms. And The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P=0.016). In addition, the synaptic nucleus envelope protein-1 (SYNE1) and the ryanodine receptor-1 (RYR1) gene variations were also found in 7 cases (13.2%), and no clear relationship between these gene variations and clinical manifestations of MG was found. Conclusions: The incidence of juvenile MG was preschoolers with no gender difference, and ocular MG was more common. The proportion of TTN gene variation in adolescent MG was higher, suggesting that this gene may be a potential therapeutic target for juvenile MG patients.

[Clinical characteristics and outcomes of myasthenia gravis patients with double positive antibodies against acetylcholine receptor and muscle-specific tyrosine kinase]

Objective: To investigate the clinical manifestations, treatment characteristics and outcomes of myasthenia gravis (MG) dually positive for anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR-Ab) and anti-muscle-specific tyrosine kinase antibody (MuSK-Ab). Method: MG patients hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from August 2017 to November 2020 were retrospectively collected. Thirty-four MuSK-Ab positive MG (MuSK-MG) patients, 11 double-antibodies positive MG (DP-MG) patients, and 80 AChR-Ab positive MG (AChR-MG) patients were included and allocated to three different groups. The clinical data of patients in the three groups were collected, and the differences of demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations and treatment outcomes between DP-MG patients and AChR-MG and MuSK-MG patients were analyzed. Result: The proportion of female and male patients in DP-MG group was 7/11 and 4/11 respectively, and the onset age of DP-MG was (41±27) years.The difference in gender distribution between DP-MG and AChR-MG groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The proportion of extraocular muscle involvement in the DP-MG and MuSK-MG groups (8/11 and 52.9%) was lower than that in the AChR-MG group (83.8%), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The incidence of myasthenia crisis in DP-MG and MuSK-MG groups (54.5% and 61.8%) were higher than that in AChR-MG group (20.0%), with astatistically significant difference(P<0.05). The positive rate of neostigmine test in DP-MG and MuSK-MG groups(8/11 and 74.2%) were lower than that of AChR-MG group (96.8%), and the positive rate of low frequency repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) in DP-MG group (5/10) was lower than that in AChR-MG group (85.1%), with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). MuSK-Ab titer was positively correlated with the course of disease (r=0.466, P<0.05), and antibody titer decreased after symptom improvement (P<0.05). The response of patients in DP-MG and MuSK-MG groups to cholinesterase inhibitors (2/11 and 9.1%) was worse than that in the AChR-MG group (66.3%), and the incidence of side effects in the two groups (5/11 and 39.4%) was higher than that in the AChR-MG group (15.0%), with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). There were 4 DP-MG patients underwent thymectomy, and the pathological results detected two cases of thymoma and two cases of thymic hyperplasia. Subsequent follow-up showed that 5 (5/11) DP-MG patients achieved minimal manifestation status or better status. Conclusion: The gender distribution, age of onset, pharmacological characteristics and electrophysiological examination of DP-MG patients were similar to those of MuSK-MG patients, but the severity of DP-MG patients was between that of AChR-MG and MuSK-MG patients.

Studying the relationship between clinical features and mental health among late-onset myasthenia gravis patients

BACKGROUND

Mental disorders are common comorbidities among individuals with neurological diseases, and the prevalence of depressive and anxiety-related symptoms in newly referred patients at neurology outpatient clinics is high. There have been few studies on the mental health of patients with late-onset myasthenia gravis (MG).

AIM

To examine the relationship between clinical features and the mental health symptoms within late-onset MG patients.

METHODS

A total of 105 patients diagnosed with MG were recruited consecutively from a neuromuscular outpatient clinic between December 2020 and February 2021. Patients were classified into two groups: early-onset MG (age at onset < 50 years, n = 63) and late-onset MG (age at onset ≥ 50 years, n = 42). Social demographic data and information about marital status, education level, clinical symptoms, serum antibody levels, and therapies used were collected for all participants. Participants were also evaluated using the Myasthenia Gravis Composite scale, the Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living scale, the Myasthenia Gravis Quality of Life 15 (MG-QOL-15) questionnaire, the 17-item version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). The relationship between clinical features and mental health in late-onset MG patients was examined using multivariate logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Late-onset MG patients were more prone to dyspnea, had higher levels of serum anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies, and higher total scores on the MG-QOL-15, HAM-D, and HAM-A questionnaires, than early-onset MG patients had (P < 0.05). Among those with late-onset MG, female patients had higher total HAM-D and HAM-A scores than male patients had (P < 0.05). High scores on the QOL-15 questionnaire were associated with higher incidences of anxiety and depression, and the association was found to be independent after adjusting for confounding risk factors. In the late-onset subgroup, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the MG-QOL-15 score-based diagnostic accuracy for anxiety and depression state were 0.816 (P = 0.001) and 0.983 (P < 0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Higher MG-QOL-15 scores were a risk factor for anxiety and depression in late-onset MG, and women with late-onset MG were more likely to have anxiety and depression than men were.

Molecular basis of the silkworm mutant rel causing red egg color and embryonic death

The coloration and hatchability of insect eggs can affect individual and population survival. However, few genetic loci have been documented to affect both traits, and the genes involved in regulating these two traits are unclear. The silkworm recessive mutant re^l shows both red egg color and embryo mortality. We studied the molecular basis of the re^l phenotype formation. Through genetic analysis, gene screening and sequencing, we found that two closely linked genes, BGIBMGA003497 (Bm-re) and BGIBMGA003697 (BmSema1a), control egg color and embryo mortality, respectively. Six base pairs of the Bm-re gene are deleted in its open reading frame, and BmSema1a is expressed at abnormally low levels in mutant re^l . BmSema1a gene function verification was performed using RNA interference and clustered randomly interspersed palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associate protein 9. Deficiency of the BmSema1a gene can cause the death of silkworm embryos. This study revealed the molecular basis of silkworm re^l mutant formation and indicated that the Sema1a gene is essential for insect embryo development.

[Construction of ecological network in Qinling Mountains of Shaanxi, China based on MSPA and MCR model.]

Rapid urbanization destroys the ecological network connectivity among habitat patches. The research on the construction of regional ecological network at the patch level is obviously insufficient. The morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) and minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) were used to identify ecological sources and to extract potential ecological corridors in Qinling Mountains, respectively. The ecological network was effectively constructed. We analyzed the structural characteristics and landscape compositions of the network. Based on the gravity model, the importance of patches in the ecological network was graded and the structural characteristics and landscape composition of the network were analyzed. The results showed that there were 10 ecological sources, 45 potential ecological corridors and 38 stepping stones in the ecological network of Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi Province, with a total area of 29686.15 km². There were good connectivity in potential ecological corridors and ecological network nodes as indicated by network closure (0.11), line point rate (1.18), network connectivity (0.42) and cost ratio (0.99). The connectivity between ecological source was low, but the cost of network reconstruction was high. The important ecological corridors were mainly composed of forest, grassland, and cultivated land. Fore-sts accounted for 89.2% of the total corridor area (571.00 km²), indicating the good landscape structure in Qinling Mountains. The protection of ecological source areas must be strengthened, and priority should be given to the establishment and protection of important ecological corridors and ecological nodes. Our results would provide the scientific reference and basis for the ecological environment protection and high-quality development in Qinling Mountains.

On the Image Sensor Processing for Lane Detection and Control in Vehicle Lane Keeping Systems

Lane keeping systems for a keeping a vehicle in the desired lane is key to advanced driving assistance system in autonomous vehicles. This paper presents a cost-effective image sensor with efficient processing algorithm for lane detection and lane control applications to autonomous delivery systems. The algorithm includes (1) lane detection by inverse perspective mapping and random sample consensus parabola fitting and (2) lane control by pure pursuit steering controller and classical proportional integral speed controller based on a nonholonomic kinematic model. The image sensor experiments conducted on a 1/10 scale model car maneuvering in a straight⁻curve⁻straight lane validate the better processing performance before, during, and after the turning section over previous work. The image sensor with the processing algorithm achieves the average lane detection error within 5% and maximum cross-track error within 9% in real-time. The development shall pave the way to cost-effective autonomous delivery systems.

Microarray analysis of New Green Cocoon associated genes in silkworm, Bombyx mori

Green cocoons in silkworm, Bombyx mori, are caused by flavonoids accumulation in the silk proteins, fibroin and sericin. Despite the economic value of natural green cocoon and medical value of flavonoids, there is limited understanding of the molecular mechanism regulating flavonoids uptake in silkworm, which is tightly associated with the trait of green cocoon. The purpose of this study is to perform a comprehensive analysis to understand the molecular mechanisms of flavonoids uptake in silkworm based on microarray analyses. The study subject was the New Green Cocoon from the silkworm strains, G200 and N100, a new spontaneous dominant green cocoon trait identified in the 2000s. The genes regulating this trait are independent of other green cocoon genes previously reported. Genome-wide gene expression was compared between the New Green Cocoon producing silkworm strains, G200 and N100, and the control sample, which is the white cocoon producing strain 872B. Among these strains, N100 and 872B are near-isogenic lines. The results showed that 130 genes have consistently changing expression patterns in the green cocoon strains when compared with the white cocoon strain. Among these, we focused on the genes related to flavonoids metabolism and absorption, such as sugar transporter genes and UDP-glucosyltransferase genes. Based on our findings, we propose the potential mechanisms for flavonoids absorption and metabolism in silkworm. Our results imply that silkworm might be used as an underlying model for flavonoids in pharmaceutical research.

Determination of carrier-envelope phase of relativistic few-cycle laser pulses by Thomson backscattering spectroscopy

A method is proposed to determine the carrier-envelope phase (CEP) of a relativistic few-cycle laser pulse via the frequency of the Thomson backscattering (TBS) light. We theoretically investigate the generation of a flying mirror when a few-cycle drive pulse with relativistic intensity interacts with a target combined with a thin and a thick foil. The frequency of the TBS light generated from the flying mirror shows a sensitive dependence on the CEP of the drive pulse. The obtained results are verified by one-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations and are explained by an analytical model.

Laser shaping of a relativistic intense, short Gaussian pulse by a plasma lens

By 3D particle-in-cell simulation and analysis, we propose a plasma lens to make high intensity, high contrast laser pulses with a steep front. When an intense, short Gaussian laser pulse of circular polarization propagates in near-critical plasma, it drives strong currents of relativistic electrons which magnetize the plasma. Three pulse shaping effects are synchronously observed when the laser passes through the plasma lens. The laser intensity is increased by more than 1 order of magnitude while the initial Gaussian profile undergoes self-modulation longitudinally and develops a steep front. Meanwhile, a nonrelativistic prepulse can be absorbed by the overcritical plasma lens, which can improve the laser contrast without affecting laser shaping of the main pulse. If the plasma skin length is properly chosen and kept fixed, the plasma lens can be used for varied laser intensity above 10(19) W/cm(2).

The deuteron injector progress of the Peking University Neutron Imaging Facility project

A deuteron radio frequency quadrupoles injector h has been developed at Peking University. A permanent magnetic electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source is used in the injector system. A 50 keV 100 mA proton beam has been extracted from the ECR ion source and the measured normalized rms emittance is 0.11-0.14pi mm mrad. A deuteron beam has also been extracted at 50 kV with 83 mA total current and its emittance is less than 0.18pi mm mrad. The proton beam transmission has been investigated on a low energy beam transport test bench, and up to 93% transmission can be reached. The new injector with two solenoids has been designed and is being constructed. All the development results will be presented in this paper.

Upgrade of the extraction system of permanent magnet electron cyclotron resonance ion source

A set of new ion extraction electrodes have been designed for the permanent magnetic electron cyclotron resonance ion source at Peking University to improve beam quality and transmission. PBGUNS has been used to optimize the extraction electrodes and simulate the beam behavior at the extraction region. The experiments showed that with the new system, the beam half divergence angle can be less than 40 mrad and the normalized rms emittance is about 0.13pi mm mrad when the extracted current is 100 mA at 50 keV in pulse mode. The voltage of the suppression electrode has great effect on beam divergence. The effect of the microwave power and gas flow is also studied.

Studies on long-term infection of human cells with Porcine endogenous retrovirus

A major concern in pig-to-human xenotransplantations is the potential risk of transmission of Porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) integrated in the pig genome. Our previous work has shown that PERV provirus genes and gag protein can be detected in human embryonic kidney HEK-293 cells during a long-term infection with PERV (Yu et al., Transplant. Proc. 37, 496-499, 2005). In this study, we continued studying the long-term (>6 months) PERV infection of HEK-293 cells. The results showed no significant differences in morphology, growth, apoptosis, and [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation between PERV-infected and uninfected cells. The PERV LTR sequence showed only an insignifcant mutation after the long-term infection. PERV infection had no effect on the transcription of genes of Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) naturally occurring in HEK-293 cells. Summing up, this study indicated that a long-term PERV infection of HEK-293 cells in vitro does not result in any significant changes in host cells as well as in PERV LTR sequence.

Immortalization of mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow of rhesus monkey by transfection with human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene

INTRODUCTION

Our previous experiments indicated that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of rhesus monkey (RhBMSCs) have a low proliferative ability with a finite life span, which will hamper their application in biomedical research. Establishing an immortalized RhBMSC lineage might solve the problem.

METHODS

RhBMSCs isolated from the bone marrow of rhesus monkeys using density gradient centrifugation were purified using adherence separation. Then, the cells were steadily transfected by plasmid containing human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (pCI-neo-hTERT). We analyzed expression of hTERT, proliferation, phenotype (SH-2, SH-3, SB-10, CD29, CD34, CD45, and HLA-DR), differentiation toward osteogenic lineage, karyotype, and tumorigenesis of transfected cells.

RESULTS

After transfection, the RhBMSCs proliferated vigorously, undergoing more than 50 population doublings (PDs). Apoptotic rate of transfected RhBMSCs at PD40 was only 4.5%, versus untransfected RhBMSCs at PD15, which was more than 33.5%. Compared with normal RhBMSC, the life span of transfected RhBMSCs was prolonged, retaining similar morphology, karyotype, and potential to differentiate into an osteogenic lineage. More than 99% of transfected RhBMSCs were positive for stem cell markers, including SH-2, SH-3, SB-10, and CD29, and negative for CD34, CD45, and HLA-DR. Furthermore, the transfected cell line was benign in nude mice tumor formation.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated that hTERT gene had been transfected into RhBMSCs. The transfected RhBMSCs proliferated vigorously. Phenotype, differentiation, and karyotype of transfected RhBMSC showed no significant difference from untransfected cells. The transfected RhBMSCs are a potential cell source for transplantation as well as tissue engineering.

Generating high-current monoenergetic proton beams by a circularly polarized laser pulse in the phase-stable acceleration regime

A new ion acceleration method, namely, phase-stable acceleration, using circularly-polarized laser pulses is proposed. When the initial target density n(0) and thickness D satisfy a(L) approximately (n(0)/n(c))D/lambda(L) and D>l(s) with a(L), lambda(L), l(s), and n(c) the normalized laser amplitude, the laser wavelength in vacuum, the plasma skin depth, and the critical density of the incident laser pulse, respectively, a quasiequilibrium for the electrons is established by the light pressure and the space charge electrostatic field at the interacting front of the laser pulse. The ions within the skin depth of the laser pulse are synchronously accelerated and bunched by the electrostatic field, and thereby a high-intensity monoenergetic proton beam can be generated. The proton dynamics is investigated analytically and the results are verified by one- and two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations.

The influence of magnetic field configuration on an electron cyclotron resonance ion source

In an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source, the magnetic field along the axis of the plasma chamber and extraction system is a key parameter. At Peking University, a new 2.45 GHz ECR ion source (PMECR III), dedicated to proton production, has been developed to investigate the influence of the magnetic field on the gas discharge and beam characteristics. The magnetic configuration is provided by two permanent magnet rings independently tunable along the source axis. Moreover, the beam extraction position changes by moving the whole magnetic system along the source axis and by using different lengths of plasma electrode. A brief description of the source is reported and the magnetic field influence results are presented.

Transmission of porcine endogenous retrovirus to human cells in nude mouse

Xenotransplantation is associated with the risk of Porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) transmission, since it has been shown that PERV can infect human cells in vitro (Specke et al., Virology 285, 177-180, 2001). We evaluated the possibility of PERV infection of human cells in nude mice model. Porcine kidney cells PK15 carrying PERV and human liver cancer cells SMMC-7721 were injected separately into the right and left axilla of nude mice, respectively. Two months later, pig cytochrome oxidase II (COII) gene, PERV DNA, PERV mRNA, and PERV-Gag protein were detected in the mass formed in both axillas and in several organs of nude mice. The pig COII genes were detected in the right and left axilla, but not in other organs of nude mice implicating that the microchimerism of pig cells occurred in human SMMC-7721 cells and induced the formation of the mass. PERV gene and gag protein were detected in all mouse tissues except liver. These data indicated that (i) PERV may be transmitted from porcine to mouse cells, (ii) PERV genes and proteins were detectable in the mass formed by injection of human cells and consequently (iii) there was a possibility of PERV transmission to human cells after xenotransplantation.

Individual and combined effects of physicochemical parameters on ellagitannin acyl hydrolase and ellagic acid production from ellagitannin by Aspergillus oryzae

The individual and interactive effects of physicochemical parameters on ellagitannin acyl hydrolase activity and ellagic acid production by Aspergillus oryzae using ellagitannins from acorn fringe of oak as substrate were studied. Ellagitannins concentration, incubation time were identified as important physicochemical parameters influencing the enzyme synthesis and the production accumulation, and the substrate concentration with initial pH was determined to has an interactive effect on the enzyme synthesis, while ellagitannins concentration and initial pH with incubation time were found to have interactions on the production accumulation. Furthermore, the parameters were optimized by quadratic programming. Under optimum condition, the fermentation run lasted 84 h with 4 g L(-1) ellagitannins concentration, yielding 17.7% ellagic acid. However, the maximum enzyme activity was obtained in 96 h with 5 g L(-1) substrate concentration. The research demonstrated a possible way to develop an efficient approach for recovery of higher added-value product (ellagic acid) from forestry byproduct (acorn fringe of oak).

Immunogenicity and immune modulation of osteogenic differentiated mesenchymal stem cells from Banna minipig inbred line

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent a good choice for cell transplantation due to their multilineage differentiation ability and low immunogenicity. Our previous in vitro studies indicated that undifferentiated swine MSCs show low immunogenicity suppressing the proliferative responses of human peripheral blood lymphocyte to several antigens. In this study, we investigated the immunogenicity and immune modulation ability of osteogenic differentiated MSCs. SLA class I (P1, P14) was detectable by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction on both differentiated and undifferentiated MSCs. SLA class II (SLA-DRA, SLA-DQA) was only detectable on differentiated MSCs mixed lymphocyte reaction assays demonstrated that both differentiated and undifferentiated MSCs failed to stimulate proliferative responses by human peripheral blood lymphocytes (hPBLs). Furthermore, as undifferentiated MSCs, osteogenic differentiated MSCs also suppressed hPBL proliferation to phytohemaglutinin.

Long-term effects on HEK-293 cell line after co-culture with porcine endogenous retrovirus

Xenotransplantation of pig organs, tissues, and cells bears the risk of interspecies transmission of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV). To evaluate the long-term effect of PERV infection on human cells, human embryonic kidney cell line HEK-293 cells were co-cultured with PERV produced by the porcine kidney PK15 cell line for 24 hours and the infected HEK-293 cells were continually cultured for 6 months. PERV-gag, pol gene and gag protein were detected in infected HEK-293 cells by PCR and immunofluorescent staining. PERV from the supernatant of infected HEK-293 cells was same as that from PK15 in morphology. The concentration of reverse transcriptase in the supernatant of infected HEK-293 cells was almost 200 times lower than that of PK15 cells. Except that infected HEK-293 cells doubled a little earlier than the control and infected cells grew in serum-free medium poorly, further study for cell morphology and growth showed no significant difference between infected HEK-293 cells and uninfected control. These results suggested although PERV from PK15 could infect human cells in vitro, there was no significant acute effect attributable to PERV infection on the growth of HEK-293 cells by 6 months culture.

Suppression of human peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation by immortalized mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow of Banna Minipig inbred-line

This study sought to investigate whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) derived from Banna Minipig Inbred-line (BMI-MSC) suppressed human peripheral blood lymphocyte (hPBLs) proliferation in a one-way mixed lymphocyte reaction system. BMI-MSC failed to stimulate proliferative responses by hPBLs, which were activated by allogenic endothelial cells, BMI-PBLs and non-specific mitogenic stimuli. Furthermore, BMI-MSC also suppressed proliferation of hPBLs stimulated by mismatched allogenic, as well as xenogenic PBLs, and the mitogenic stimulus ConA. The suppression occurred in dose-dependent fashion when the ratio of hPBLs to BMI-MSC varied from 1 to 5 fold; fewer, BMI-MSC (0.001 to 0.01 times) showed no obvious suppression. When BMI-MSC were added to hPBLs stimulated for 72 hours, the proliferative suppression was still evident. Addition of anti-FasL or anti-TGF-beta1 antibody attenuated the proliferative suppression, while antibody against IL-10 had no effect on it. Further immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that FasL and TGF-beta1 constitutively expressed BMI-MSC. These findings suggest that BMI-MSC suppress hPBLs proliferation relying on FasL and TGF-beta1 mediated pathways.

[Studies on antiviral flavonoids in yinqiaosan powder]

OBJECTIVE

To study the chemical constituents in Yinqiaosan Powder that have antiviral action on influenza.

METHOD

Isolation of the constituents by different kinds of column chromatography and elucidation of their structures by chemical and spectral methods.

RESULTS

Seven flavonoids were obtained, and six of them were identified as linarin, acacetin, hesperidin, isoquiritigenin, isoquiritin and hyperoside respectively.

CONCLUSION

Linarin and acacetin were isolated from Yinqiaosan Powder for the first time.

[Analysis of tannins in Fructus Chebulae and its confusion varieties by HPCE]

AIM

To analyze the hydrolyzable tannins-chebulinic acid (I) and chebulagic acid(II) in Fructus Chebulae and its confusion varieties by using high performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) method.

METHODS

Using a capillary (375 microns OD x 50 microns ID; 81.5 cm x 61.5 cm) and a power supply set at 24 kV, with phosphate-borate buffer containing 20 mmol.L-1 Na2HPO4-60 mmol.L-1 boric acid and a UV detector at 280 nm, sample solution was loaded in decompression mode at the positive end of the capillary, the loading time was 5 s.

RESULTS

The linear ranges of I and II were 0.0842-0.842 and 0.842 and 0.0940-0.940 mg.mL-1 respectively, the correlation coefficient were 0.9966 and 0.9957, the average recoveries were 95.6% (RSD = 4.0%, n = 5) and 95.0% (RSD = 4.4%, n = 5), the RSDs (n = 5) of measurement precision test were 2.2% and 1.7%, the RSDs (n = 6) of reproduction test were 5.4% and 4.0% respectively. The contents of I and II were obviously interrelated with the variety and characteristics of Fructus Chebulae, the contents of I and II in the confusion varieties of Fructus Chebulae were very low.

CONCLUSION

It is suitable to use I and II as the criterion in quality evaluation of Fructus Chebulae, and the HPCE method is effective for quality evaluation of the crude Fructus Chebulae.

[Blunted growth hormone response to hGRF 1-29 NH2 in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus]

Basal serum growth hormone and response of GH to GRF in 10 patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes and in 10 control subjects were studied. The basal GH level in NIDDM was higher than that in control subjects. There was a significant difference. After an intravenous bolus of hGRF 1-29 NH2 with the dose of 1 microgram/kg body weight, GH (Peak level-basal level) decreased in NIDDM patients in comparing with control group (P < 0.05). These findings may suggest that the pituitary GH reserve is reduced in patients with NIDDM. There exists some defect in central GH control in diabetics with enhanced somatostatin secretion and abnormal sensitivity of the GH secretion cells to a variety of regulatory factors including GRF, glucose, amino-acids, free fat acid.

[Changes of the sex hormones in female type II diabetics, coronary heart disease, essential hypertension and its relations with kidney deficiency, cardiovascular complications and efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine or qigong treatment]

In this study 31 normal child-bearing women, 62 postmenopausal women, 93 cases of female type II diabetes (18 child-bearing and 75 postmenopausal cases), 53 cases of coronary heart disease (11 child-bearing and 42 postmenopausal cases) and 38 cases of essential hypertension (8 child-bearing and 30 postmenopausal cases) were investigated. The average score of Kidney deficiency was 22.9-8. 5 before treatment with the combination of TCM and WM. With the treatment of TCM in diabetes and coronary heart disease and of Qigong in essential hypertension, the score decreased to 11.5-4. 4 (P less than 0.001). Serum/saliva estradiol (E2), the ratio of E2 to testosterone (T, E2/T) and progesterone (P) decreased before treatment of TCM or Qigong. After treatment E2 and P value increased; the ovarian endocrine function was improved; the special symptoms of the diseases relieved, fasting blood glucose levels in diabetics, the frequency and severity of angina pectoris in coronary heart disease and the blood pressure in essential hypertension significantly decreased respectively (P less than 0.01). The study suggested that there are certain relations between ovarian endocrine disfunction and Kidney deficiency. The more severe the "Kidney deficiency" was, the more significant the changes of sex hormone were.