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Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (Ginseng) has traditionally been used to treat diabetes. Polysaccharide is the main active component of ginseng, and has been proved to have hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects, but its mechanism remains unclear.This study aimed to evaluate the effect and the potential mechanism of rhamnogalacturonan-I enriched pectin (GPS-1) from steamed ginseng on lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats.GPS-1 was prepared by water extraction, ion-exchange and gel chromatography. High-glucose/high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin was used to establish T2DM rat models, and lipid levels in serum and liver were tested. 16S rRNA sequencing and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were used to detect the changes of gut microbiota and metabolites. The protein and mRNA levels of lipid synthesis-related genes were detected by Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.The polyphagia, polydipsia, weight loss, hyperglycaemia, hyperlipidaemia and hepatic lipid accumulation in T2DM rats were alleviated after GPS-1 intervention. GPS-1 modulated the gut microbiota composition of T2DM rats, increased the levels of short-chain fatty acids, and promoted the secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 and peptide tyrosine tyrosine. Further, GPS-1 activated AMP-activated protein kinases, phosphorylated acetyl-CoA carboxylase, reduced the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c and fatty acid synthases in T2DM rats.The regulation effects of GPS-1 on lipid metabolism in T2DM rats are related to the regulation of gut microbiota and activation of AMP-activated protein kinase pathway.

The excretion of neurotransmitter metabolites in normal individuals is of great significance for health monitoring. A rapid quantitative method was developed with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The method was further applied to determine catecholamine metabolites vanilymandelic acid (VMA), methoxy hydroxyphenyl glycol (MHPG), dihydroxy-phenyl acetic acid (DOPAC), and homovanillic acid (HVA) in the urine. The urine was collected from six healthy volunteers (20-22 years old) for 10 consecutive days. It was precolumn derivatized with dansyl chloride. Subsequently, the sample was analyzed using triple quadrupole mass spectrometry with an electrospray ion in positive and multireaction monitoring modes. The method was sensitive and repeatable with the recoveries 92.7-104.30%, limits of detection (LODs) 0.01-0.05 μg/mL, and coefficients no less than 0.9938. The excretion content of four target compounds in random urine samples was 0.20 ± 0.086 μg/mL (MHPG), 1.27 ± 1.24 μg/mL (VMA), 3.29 ± 1.36 μg/mL (HVA), and 1.13 ± 1.07 μg/mL (DOPAC). In the urine, the content of VMA, the metabolite of norepinephrine and adrenaline, was more than MHPG, and the content of HVA, the metabolite of dopamine, was more than DOPAC. This paper detected the levels of catecholamine metabolites and summarized the characteristics of excretion using random urine samples, which could provide valuable information for clinical practice.

Panax ginseng was employed in the treatment of “Xiao-Ke” symptom, which nowadays known as diabetes mellitus, in traditional Chinese medicine for more than a thousand years. Ginsenoside Re was the major pharmacologic ingredient found abundantly in ginseng. However, the anti-diabetic of Ginsenoside Re and its underlying mechanism in metabolic level are still unclear. Serum and urine metabolomic method was carried out to investigate the anti-diabetic pharmacological effects and the potential mechanism of Ginsenoside Re on high-fat diet combined streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole exactive orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS). Serum and urine samples were collected from the control group (CON), T2DM group, metformin (MET) treatment group, and ginsenoside Re treatment group after intervention. The biochemical parameters of serum were firstly analyzed. The endogenous metabolites in serum and urine were detected by UHPLC-MS. The potential metabolites were screened by multivariate statistical analysis and identified by accurate mass measurement, MS/MS, and metabolite databases. The anti-diabetic-related metabolites were analyzed by KEGG metabolic pathway, and its potential mechanism was discussed. The treatment of ginsenoside Re significantly reduced the blood glucose and serum lipid level improved the oxidative stress caused by T2DM. Biochemical parameters (urea nitrogen, uric acid) showed that ginsenoside Re could improve renal function in T2DM rats. Respective 2 and 6 differential metabolites were found and identified in serum and urine of ginsenoside Re compared with T2DM group and enriched in KEGG pathway. Metabolic pathways analysis indicated that the differential metabolites related to T2DM were mainly involved in arachidonic acid metabolism, Vitamin B6, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and bile secretion metabolic pathways. This study verified the anti-diabetic and anti-oxidation effects of ginsenoside Re, elaborated that ginsenoside Re has a good regulation of the metabolic disorder in T2DM rats, which could promote insulin secretion, stimulated cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1), and CaMKK β to activate AMPK signaling pathway, inhibited insulin resistance, and improved blood glucose uptake and diabetic nephropathy, so as to play the role of anti-diabetic.

Semen raphani (S. raphani) and Panax ginseng (P. ginseng) is one of eighteen counters in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This study was aimed to investigate the antagonistic effect of S. raphani on P. ginseng. Three extractions were obtained with single P.ginseng extraction (GW), mixture of P.ginseng and S. raphani extraction (GWSW) and co-extraction of P.ginseng and S. raphani (GSW). Saponin were detected and fingerprinted after LC-Q-TOF-MS identification. The effect of three extractions on HPA regulation was evaluated through the indicators of plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) in mouse. Results showed that saponin contents in three extractions were 1.236 ± 0.048 mg/mL, 1.220 ± 0.034 mg/mL and 0.966 ± 0.05 mg/mL for GW, GWSW, GSW separately. Twenty-seven saponin monomers were identified in both GW and GWSW while only twenty-four saponin monomers were identified in GSW with saponin monomers decreased on different levels. GW could change levels of CORT and ACTH in quiet and stressed mice (P

The study aims to clarify the structural domain required for the immune enhancement of ginseng neutral polysaccharide (GPN). GPN was first obtained through water extraction and ion-exchange chromatography from Panax ginseng. GPN was hydrolyzed by α-amylase for 24 h and fractionated through gel permeation chromatography to give two final fragments GPNE-I and GPNE-II, with molecular weight of 8.03 × 104 Da for GPNE-I and 3.15 × 104 Da for respectively. FT-IR, methylation and 1D/2D NMR analysis demonstrated that GPNE-I was a heteropolysaccharide consisting mainly of a glucan domain and type I and II arabinogalactans (AG-I and AG-II). GPNE II was a glucan consisting of (1 → 4)-α- d -Glcp backbone with a substitution at O-6 on every two residues. (1 → 3)-α- d -Glcp and (1 → 6)-α- d -Glcp were located at the branches. In the two fractions, both α- and β-t-Glcp as reductive terminals and →4)-α-Glcp as a non-reducing end were detected. The branching degrees of GPNE-I and GPNE-II were 38.17% and 50.78%, respectively. Immunological experiments revealed that GPNE-I exhibited more effectively stimulated lymphocyte proliferation than GPN and GPNE-II, indicating the former showed potential for immunomodulators applications, indicating that GPNE-I might be the core active domain and necessary for GPN to promote lymphocyte proliferation.

Tryptophan (Trp), also known as α-amino β-indolepropionic acid, is an essential amino acid, which is involved in various physiological processes. Studies have shown that tumors, infectious diseases, and neurological diseases are accompanied by Trp-related metabolic disorders. Understanding the excretion of Trp and its metabolites in normal individuals is of great significance for treating Trp-related diseases and monitoring the health. A rapid quantitative method was developed based on ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Further, this method was applied to the simultaneous determination of Trp and its metabolites, including kynurenine (Kyn), kynurenic acid (KA), 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-OH-Kyn), 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3-OH-AA), xanthurenic acid (XA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). The excretion and amount of target compounds in random urine samples collected from healthy participants were studied using this method. Urine samples were collected from healthy male volunteers (between 20-22 years old) without any diet and exercise restrictions. Urine samples were collected between 11∶00-13∶00 daily for 10 d. Thereafter, the urine samples were diluted, centrifuged, and subjected to pre-column derivatization with dansyl chloride (DNS-Cl). Caffeic acid (CA) was used as the internal control. Later, the derivatives were detected using triple quadrupole mass spectrometry with electron pray ionization (ESI) in positive and multi reaction monitoring (MRM) modes. The samples were separated using a Thermo C18 column (50 mm×3 mm, 2.7 μm) with 0.1% aqueous formic acid aqueous solution and methanol as mobile phases at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. The three most abundant ions for each derivative were selected for downstream analysis, and the internal control was used for quantification. The polarity and molecular weight of the compounds were found to be altered effectively after DNS-Cl derivatization treatment. The dansyl group effectively altered the polarities of the derivatives, such that their retention behaviors in the reverse elution system were similar and they were well separated. The interference due to impurities was effectively eliminated using the MRM mode. The results showed significant linear correlation, since the correlation coefficients were greater than 0.9740. The recoveries were between 93.24%-107.65%, and the LODs were 0.005-0.5 ng/mL for the eight compounds. Trp prototype and the seven target metabolites, including 3-OH-Kyn, 3-OH-AA, XA, Kyn, KA, 5-HIAA, and 5-HT generated through Trp-5-HT and Trp-Kyn pathways were detected in the urine samples. These results indicated that Trp was excreted in a prototypic form or after being metabolized. The level of the target compounds in random urine samples of individuals were 0.99-3.72 (3-OH-Kyn), 2.51-21.11 (3-OH-AA), 0.25-1.12 (XA), 0.15-1.53 (Kyn), 0.24-2.58 (KA), 0-0.31 (5-HT), and 2.2-17.94 (5-HIAA) μg/mL. For the same individual, in the state of physical health, the fluctuations of Trp and its metabolites in urine were large. Due to these large fluctuations in the absolute content, the difference between individuals was not significant. The data generated using 70 urine samples revealed that the amount of excreted Trp being metabolized was 124%-268% of prototype, which further indicated that the excretion after metabolism was the major underlying mechanism. Upon comparing the levels of metabolites in the Trp-5-HT and Trp-Kyn pathways, the results indicated that the levels of 3-OH-AA and 3-OH-Kyn generated upon Trp degradation through the Kyn pathway was higher than those of the other products. Trp was degraded via Kyn pathway to produce 3-OH-AA, which was the main metabolite of Trp found to be present in the body. This manuscript detected the levels of Trp and its metabolites, as well as summarized the characteristics of excretion using random urine samples, which could provide valuable information for clinical practice.

Two polysaccharides were obtained from steamed ginseng via ultrafiltration, and their physical–chemical properties, solution properties and antifatigue activities were studied. WSGP-S3 and WSGP-G3 were acid heteropolysaccharides with the molecular weights of 2.03 × 104 and 4.86 × 104, respectively. They were composed of different molar ratios of the monosaccharides Rha, GlcA, GalA, Glc, Gal, and Ara. The results of size-exclusion chromatography–multiangle laser light scattering analysis, Conge red staining and Circular dichroism spectroscopy revealed that WSGP-S3 exhibited a random conformation of branched clusters in solution. By contrast, WSGP-G3 exhibited an ordered conformation, including helix-like conformations in aqueous solution. Antifatigue activity tests proved that WSGP-S3 markedly prolonged the exhaustive swimming time of fatigued mice; increased liver and muscle glycogen levels and superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase activities and decreased blood lactic acid, nitrogen and malondialdehyde levels compared with the control treatment. Moreover, it enhanced spleen cell proliferation in fatigued mice. By contrast, WSGP-G3 had no significant effect on fatigued mice. The results showed that WSGP-S3 might have a major contribution to the antifatigue effects of steamed ginseng polysaccharides and could be a potential anti-fatigue polysaccharide.

We isolated and purified a pectin from Portulaca oleracea L. (P. oleracea), and analysed its structure by high-performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC–MS), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and 1H, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The data indicated that this pectin (designated as POPW-HG) was a linear non-esterified homogalacturonan, which is unique in plants; its molecular weight was around 41.2 kDa. Meanwhile, POPW-HG as an adjuvant was evaluated in the mice immunized with OVA subcutaneously. OVA-specific antibody titres from the sera of immunized mice were tested by ELISA. It showed that POPW-HG significantly enhanced OVA-specific antibody titres (IgG, IgG1, and IgG2b) (p

Two acid polysaccharides were obtained from steamed ginseng (GPS-1 and GPS-2) through water extraction, ion-exchange chromatography and gel chromatography. The structural features and ability of the polysaccharides to inhibit lipid accumulation in oleic acid-induced HepG2 cells were studied. GPS-1 consisted of type I arabinogalactans (AG-I), arabinogalactans-II (AG-II) and rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) domains. GPS-2 was a pectin-like polysaccharide consisting mainly of the homogalacturonan (HG) domain and a small amount of AG domain. Both GPS-1 and GPS-2 had branches attaching on O-3 of (1 → 6)-GalA or O-4 of (1 → 2)-Rha and terminated by either Ara or Gal. An in vitro experiment revealed that GPS-1 treatment at 50–400 μg/ml could dose-dependently decrease intracellular lipid accumulation and cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) levels. GPS-1 exerted a more serious hypolipidemic effect than GPS-2 did. Moreover, GPS-1 considerably increased the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and affected the expression of AMPK downstream targets, including the inhibition of the protein expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) and activation of Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). Results suggest that GPS-1 could inhibit lipid accumulation via the AMPK the signalling pathway.

In this study, we obtained and fractionated systematically the polysaccharides of Fructus mori fruit by the sequential use of water extraction, ethanol precipitation and ion-exchange chromatography. The sugar contents of FPA-1, FPA-2, FPA-4 and FPA-5 were estimated to be 75.70%, 67.15%, 87.78% and 91.63%, respectively. Monosaccharide composition analysis revealed that all the polysaccharides primarily contained Man, GlcA, GalA, Glc, Gal, Xyl, Ara and Fuc. Moreover, a small amount of Rha was detected in FPA-1, FPA-4 and FPA-5. The molecular weight distributions of FPA-1, FPA-2, FPA-4 and FPA-5 were 10.6–49.1 kDa, 22.9–122.7 kDa, 57.1–105.4 kDa and 14.8–19.6 kDa, respectively. According to the in vitro experiment, FPA-1 exhibited the highest activity on enhancing phagocytosis, promoting macrophage to secrete nitric oxide, tumour necrosis factor-α and reactive oxygen species.

Reinforced concrete is one of the most widely used building materials in civil engineering, water conservancy and hydropower engineering, and construction engineering; in the course of its service, due to human or natural factors, reinforced concrete structures will gradually age, or be damaged or even destroyed. Therefore, in order to evaluate the durability of reinforced concrete structures, it is necessary and meaningful to study the problems of bonding and seismic performance. Based on the separation model and nonlinear constitutive relation, the finite element model of reinforced concrete beam specimens is established by using large-scale general finite element simulation software ANSYS. The corrosion rate, failure morphology, bond strength, and stress of steel bars are analyzed. The influence of slippage on the bonding properties of the test piece, and the effects of axial compression ratio, steel reinforcement ratio, steel bar strength, concrete strength, etc., on the seismic performance of the test piece were studied, in order to further utilize ANSYS on the bonding and resistance of reinforced concrete. A comprehensive study of performance provides a reference.

An antioxidant-active polysaccharide (WMP) with a molecular weight of 26.91 kDa was isolated from Mentha haplocalyx Briq by water extraction, ethanol precipitation and gel filtration. According to HPLC, methylation, GC-MS, and 1D/2D nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, WMP is a heteropolysaccharide composed of Gal (84.2 %), Glc (9.8 %), Man (2.8 %) and Ara (3.2 %) with (1→6)-α-d-Galp and (1→4, 6)-α-d-Galp residues in the backbone and (1→6)-α-d-Galp and (1→6)-α-d-Glcp residues in the branch. The branch point was located at C-4 of (1→4, 6)-α-d-Galp residue with a branching degree of 19.71 %. WMP showed remarkably high scavenging ability for 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals, ferrous ion chelating activity and ferric reducing powder in vitro. In vivo result showed that WMP oral administration substantially increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including SOD, GSH-Px and CAT, and decreased MDA levels in the serum and liver of d-Gal-induced aging mice. Therefore, WMP can be an effective natural antioxidant.

During the “Twelfth Five-Year Plan” period, the green building special content was included in the goal of scientific and technological development in the field of housing and urban and rural construction. At the same time, it also issued relevant policies that will clearly establish a financial incentive mechanism, improve standards and evaluation of the identification system, promote relevant scientific and technological progress and industrial development, and strive to achieve more than 30% of new buildings by 2020. This paper first gives an overview of the green building life cycle assessment system. Through the analysis of the advantages of the life cycle assessment system, from the planning, planning, design, construction, operation and demolition stages, the green life cycle assessment strategy is proposed with the help of computer aid.

At present, China’s construction engineering field shows a trend of high output value, low profit input and small output. The main reason for this problem is the serious shortage of construction engineering management, which makes the enterprise have no method to reduce production cost and input. Therefore, the construction and construction industry should apply the fine management in the development, which is of great importance to the production, cost reduction and efficiency enhancement in the actual construction process. Using computer network technology and database technology to construct a computer dynamic network system, based on the system, this paper discusses the application of fine management in the construction process management, and elaborates on the economic management application strategy for cost management and quality management in the project production.

Protein enhancer of sevenless 2B, E(sev)2B, is a key adapter protein in the Ras/MAPK signaling pathway which has been reported to be involved in innate immunity. In this study, the gene that encodes AsE(sev)2B was isolated from A. sinica. It was found to contain a 636 bp open reading frame encoding 211 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 24.357 kDa and a predicted isoelectric point of 5.39. The predicted protein contains a N-terminal Src homology 3 domain (SH3), a central Src homology 2 domain (SH2), and a C-terminal Src homology 3 domain (SH3). Homology analysis revealed that AsE(sev)2B shares 49%–95% identity with E(sev)2B homologs from other species. In this study, the expression pattern and location of AsE(sev)2B during different stages of embryonic development and bacterial challenge were investigated by means of real-time qPCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results showed that the highest expression level of AsE(sev)2B was at 0 h. After challenged by Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria, AsE(sev)2B was remarkably upregulated at 106 cellsL−1 bacterial concentrations. These results suggested that AsE(sev)2B plays a vital role during early embryonic development and in immune responses against bacterial challenge.

Urothelial Carcinoma Antigen 1 (UCA1) is a cell and tissue specific long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) associated with the tumorigenesis and invasion of bladder cancer. However, the mechanism driving the over-transcription of UCA1 in bladder cancer cells remains unclear. It has been reported that C/EBPβ has a significant role of regulation in tumorigenesis. Here we report that the expression of UCA1 was dramatically inhibited in 5637 cells with C/EBPβ down-regulation. Additionally, the function tests indicated that C/EBPβ could promote 5637 cells growth and colony formation by inducing the expression level of UCA1. These data suggest that C/EBPβ was involved in transcriptional regulation of UCA1 and contributed substantially to its high expression and proliferation promoting in bladder cancer cells.

Phase change memory, which is based on the reversible switching of phase change materials between amorphous and crystalline states, is one of the most promising bases of nonvolatile memory devices. However, the transition mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, via in situ transmission electron microscopy with an externally applied DC voltage and nanosecond electrical pulses, for the first time we revealed a reversible structural evolution of Ge2Sb2Te5 thin films from an amorphous state to a single-crystal state via polycrystals as an intermediate state. This transition is different from the traditional understanding of structural changes in Ge2Sb2Te5, i.e., from an amorphous structure to a hexagonal close-packed structure via face-centered cubic as an intermediate structure. In situ observations indicate that this poly-to-single crystal structural transition is caused by coalescence of neighbouring grains induced by an electric field, in which a fast heating/cooling rate is found to be essential. Our study opens a new avenue for the realization of the multi-level operation of phase change materials.

Aim To validate the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines risk stratification system based on the combination of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and proteinuria. Methods This was a cohort study. A total of 1219 study population were recruited. Estimated GFR and proteinuria measured by using 24 h urine protein excretion rate (PER) were predictors. Adverse outcomes included all-cause mortality (ACM) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Follow-up was done by regular visit, telephone interview and electronic medical records. Results Over a median follow-up of 4.6 years, 153 (12.6%) and 43 (3.5%) patients experienced ESRD and ACM, respectively. On multivariable analysis, the adjusted hazard ratio for ESRD and ACM (compared with patients with eGFR > 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2) was of 29.8 and 3.6 for those with eGFR of 15–29 mL/min per 1.73 m2, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio for ESRD and ACM (compared with patients with PER 500 mg/24h. Higher KDIGO guidelines risk categories (indicating lower eGFR or higher proteinuria) were associated with a graded increase in the risk for the ESRD (P

Three acid polysaccharides obtained from Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Markino (named as GPA1, GPA2 and GPA3) using combination of water extraction, ion-exchange and gel permeation chromatography were subjected to composition analysis and valuated for the antioxidant activity. The sugar content of GPA1, GPA2 and GPA3 were 54.55%, 85.70% and 91.34%, respectively. Monosaccharide analysis showed that GPA1, GPA2 and GPA3 were all composed of Man, Rha, GlcA, GalA, Glc, Gal, Ara and Fuc, besides, GPA2 and GPA3 also contained Xyl. The molecular weight of GPA1, GPA2 and GPA3 were 19.6kDa, 10.6 kDa and 6.7 kDa, respectively. In vitro antioxidant assay, GPA1, GPA2 and GPA3 could scavenge 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and hydroxyl radical, chelate ferrous ion and reduce ferric ion. The antioxidant activities of GPA3 were stronger than those of GPA1 and GPA2, suggesting that GPA3 has significant potential as a natural antioxidant agent.

Summary Introduction Prepubertal testicular tumors are fundamentally distinct from their postpubertal and adult counterparts. Racial and ethnic differences contribute to the incidence, characteristics, and histological distribution of prepubertal testicular germ cell tumors (PTGCTs). Objective To elucidate the characteristics and treatment outcomes of PTGCTs in a Chinese cohort. Study design Data were retrospectively reviewed from consecutive PTGCT patients aged 12 years, non-primary testicular germ cell tumors, and para-testicular tumors. Results A total of 167 patients qualified for the study ( Table ). The median age at diagnosis was 20 months (range 1–142). Pathology revealed 87 (50.9%) teratomas, 50 (29.2%) yolk sac tumors (YSTs), 33 (19.3%) epidermoid cysts, and one (0.6%) mixed germ cell tumor. Of the teratomas, 70 (80.5%) mature teratomas (MTs) and 17 (19.5%) immature teratomas (ITs) were detected. ITs manifested at a younger age and were larger in size compared with MTs (P Discussion Racial and ethnic differences were detected in PTGCTs. It is believed that the present study is the largest study detailing the clinicopathologic characteristics and treatment outcomes of PTGCTs in a Chinese cohort. Conclusions Teratoma was the most common subtype of PTGCTs, followed by YST. ITs manifested as benign behavior and were more likely to be present at a younger age and have a larger tumor size compared with MTs. TSS was reliable for benign lesions. For Stage I YST, RO alone was valid. Salvage chemotherapy was effective and preventative retroperitoneal lymph node dissection may not be necessary for YST. The prognosis of PTGCTs was favorable. Summary Table. Pathological characteristics and treatment outcomes of prepubertal testicular germ cell tumors. Histologic Type No.(%) Age(mo), Median (range) Stage (No.) Initial surgery (No.) Adjuvant treatment (No.) Follow-up period (mo), Median (range) Recurrence/Metastasis Outcomes Teratoma 87 (50.9) 16 (9d–139) I (87) None 49.5 (20–125) None NED (74) Lost (13) Mature teratoma 70 20.5 (5–139) sTSS (70) 52.5 (20–125) Immature teratoma 17 5.0 (9d–12) 44.0 (20–115) G1 2 sTSS (2) G2 6 RIO (1) TSS (5) G3 9 RIO (6) TSS (3) Yolk sac tumor 50 (29.2) 15.5 (4–80) I (47) RIO (47) RPLND+PEB chemotherapy (1) 46 (19–121) RPLN(1) NED (44) Lost (3) II (1) RIO (1) Refused to chemotherapy (1) Lung (2) Died (1) IV (2) RIO (2) PEB chemotherapy (2) Brain (1) Died (2) Mixed germ cell tumor 1(0.6) 44 I (1) RIO (1) None 61 None NED (1) sTSS = scrotal testis-sparing surgery; RIO = radical inguinal orchiectomy; RPLND = retroperitoneal lymph node dissection; PEB = cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin; NED = no exist of disease.

The structure and antioxidant activity of a neutral polysaccharide (named as EFPN-1) from Epimedium koreanum Nakai were studied. Based on the results from high performance gel permeation chromatography, methylation GC–MS and 1D/2D nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, EFPN-1 was a branched polysaccharide with a molecular weight of 21.9 kD and containing over 60% of glucose. Its backbone was composed of (1 → 4)-β- d -Glcp and (1 → 3)-β- d -Galp, branched partially at O-6 of both residues, with a degree of branching of 40.4% and terminated mainly with Ara and Gal, as well as trace amount of Gal. Antioxidant tests showed that EFPN-1 exhibited a strong capacity on DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging, ferrous ion chelation and reducing antioxidant powder. EFPN-1 has potential to be developed as a natural antioxidant.

Phellinus pini exopolysaccharide (PPE) is a mannan produced by P. pini when cultured in potato dextroseagar medium. Partial hydrolysis with acid, periodate oxidation and Smith degradation, methylation and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were used to elaborate its structure. Results indicated that PPE contained a backbone of (1 → 2)-linked Man, which was heavily substituted via (1 → 6)-glucosidic bonds with (1 → 3)-linked Man, and terminated mainly with Man, as well as a small amount of Gal and Glc. Immunological tests showed that PPE exhibited high macrophages-activating ability, thereby augmenting phagocytosis and enhancing the production of nitric oxide, tumour necrosis factor-α and reactive oxygen species. Therefor, PPE had potential applications in developing functional food or in serving as a natural immnunostimulant.

To approach the regulatory mechanism of high mobility group box-1 ( HMGB1 ) on the expression of E-selectin in human umbilical vein endothelial cell ( HUVEC ).Homeobox A9 ( HOXA9 ) siRNA was transfected to HUVEC at logarithmic phase, real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction ( real-time qPCR ) and Western Blot were used to determine the HOXA9 mRNA expression and protein expressions; a blank control group and a nonsilence negative control group were set. HUVEC stable transfected with pRNA-u6.1/Neo-HMGB1 shRNA plasmids ( HUVEC with low-expression HMGB1 ) was obtained, and HOXA9 and E-selectin mRNA expressions were determined with real-time qPCR; a nonsilence transfection group served as the negative control. The HOXA9 siRNA was transfected to HUVEC with low-expression HMGB1 as co-transfection group, and the E-selectin expressions was determined with real-time qPCR; a HMGB1 shRNA group and a HOXA9 nonsilence group served as control.(1) HOXA9 mRNA ( 2(-Δ ΔCT) ) and protein expression ( integral A value ) in blank control group were 1.094±0.115 and 1.031±0.060. Compared with nonsilence transfection group, HOXA9 siRNA transfection group could significantly reduced mRNA and protein expression of HOXA9 [ HOXA9 mRNA ( 2(-Δ ΔCT) ): 0.257±0.030 vs. 1.035±0.091, t = 14.010, P = 0.002; HOXA9 protein ( integral A value ): 0.278±0.042 vs. 0.975±0.014, t = 27.310, P = 0.002 ]. (2) Compared with nonsilence transfection group, HMGB1 shRNA transfection could up-regulate HOXA9 mRNA expression in HUVEC ( 2(-Δ ΔCT) : 2.519±0.278 vs. 0.856±0.063, t = 10.100, P = 0.001 ), also could down-regulate E-selectin mRNA expression ( 0.311±0.046 vs. 1.080±0.201, t = 7.415, P = 0.000 ). (3) Compared with HOXA9 nonsilence group and HMGB1 shRNA group, HMGB1 shRNA and HOXA9 siRNA co-transfected HUVEC cells could significantly elevate E-selectin mRNA expression ( 2(-Δ ΔCT) : 3.445±0.428 vs. 1.085±0.212, 1.004±0.104, t(1) = 8.507, t(2) = 9.603, both P0.001 ).HMGB1 may regulate E-selectin expression through the HOXA9 regulation in HUVEC.

To validate the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines risk stratification system based on the combination of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and proteinuria.This was a cohort study. A total of 1219 study population were recruited. Estimated GFR and proteinuria measured by using 24 h urine protein excretion rate (PER) were predictors. Adverse outcomes included all-cause mortality (ACM) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Follow-up was done by regular visit, telephone interview and electronic medical records.Over a median follow-up of 4.6 years, 153 (12.6%) and 43 (3.5%) patients experienced ESRD and ACM, respectively. On multivariable analysis, the adjusted hazard ratio for ESRD and ACM (compared with patients with eGFR 60 mL/min per 1.7 m²) was of 29.8 and 3.6 for those with eGFR of 15-29 mL/min per 1.73 m², respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio for ESRD and ACM (compared with patients with PER 150 mg/24h) was of 15.9 and 3.9 for those with PER 500 mg/24h. Higher KDIGO guidelines risk categories (indicating lower eGFR or higher proteinuria) were associated with a graded increase in the risk for the ESRD (P0.001) and ACM (P0.001). Reclassification of KDIGO guidelines risk categories yielded net reclassification improvements for those with ESRD or ACM event (NRIevents ) of 33.3% or 30.2%.Lower eGFR and higher proteinuria are risk factors for ESRD and ACM in Chinese patients. The KDIGO guidelines risk categorization system assigned patients who went on to have the event to more appropriate CKD risk categories.