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Objectives: Toad venom, called Chan-Su, is a traditional Oriental medicine secreted from the auricular and the skin glands of the Bufo bufo gargarizanz Cantor or B. melanosticus Schneider and has been widely used in China, Korea and other parts of Asia for the treatment of pain, heart conditions, and cancer. We examined the concentrations of the main chemical constituents within a commerciallyavailable toad venom product and compared the levels for different extraction methods. Methods: Toad venom was extracted using either cold or hot water, ethanol (EtOH), methanol (MeOH), or ethyl acetate (EtOAc), was fractionated using precipitation or reflux, and was then analyzed using thin layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HTLC), and liquid chroma-tography - mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Individual components were identified by comparisons of the retention times, the ultraviolet spectra, and mass spectras and differences in chemical constituents for different solvents and extraction methods are presented. Results:Components with authentic standards, including serotonin and bufodienolides (cinobufagen, bufalin, cinobufalin, and resibufogenin), were detected. The water extract of toad venom contained the greatest amount of serotonin (75.7 ± 0.1 mg/g), but very small amounts of bufodienolides (3.8 ± 0.0 mg/g). In contrast, the use of MeOH or EtOH extraction solutions resulted in 5-26 times higher concentrations of bufodienolides, with only trace amounts of serotonin. The relative and the absolute concentrations of the component also varied based on the extraction method; i.e., EtOH extracts yielded the greatest total amounts of bufodienolides, and EtOAc precipitation had the lowest amounts of bufodienolides. Conclusions: Toad venom consists of serotonin and several bufodienolides, and the choice of solvent to extract chemical the constituents is important as a way to enrich the purported active components for treating different conditions.

Perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) contributes to the high prevalence of chronic infection in China and many other countries. In a placebo-controlled trial among 166 infants, the 12-month efficacy of active postexposure prophylaxis to prevent chronic perinatal HBV infection varied by vaccine (range, 45%-89%). In a 5-year follow-up study, 2 additional infants became chronically infected with HBV, and the efficacy of active prophylaxis was estimated to be 38% and 72% for the two vaccines at 5 years. In addition, 80% of immunized infants continued to have protective levels of antibody at the end of 5 years. However, among 27 infants who received passive-active immunoprophylaxis with high-dose hepatitis B immune globulin, only 60% (11/19) had protective antibody levels. These data indicate that active postexposure immunization initiated soon after birth continues to provide protection during early childhood when there is a high risk of chronic HBV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Newborn genetic screening (NBGS) based on next-generation sequencing offers enhanced disease detection and better detection rates than traditional newborn screening. However, challenges remain, especially around reporting the NBGS carrier results. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the NBGS carrier parents' views on NBGS and NBGS reports in China., Methods: We distributed a survey querying demographic information, knowledge and perceptions of NBGS, the impact of NBGS on a total of 2930 parents, and their decision-making to parents of newborns reported as carriers in NBGS in Nanjing, China in 2022., Results: The average age of the survey respondents was 30.7 years (standard deviation = 3.6). Most (68.38%) felt informed about NBGS, especially women, the highly educated, and high earners. Nearly all (98.74%) saw NBGS as crucial for early disease detection, with 73.18% believing it positively impacts their future. However, 19.16% felt it might cause anxiety, especially among the less educated. Concerns included potential discrimination due to exposed genetic data and strained family ties. Many suggested NBGS coverage by medical insurance to ease financial burdens., Conclusions: Through our study, we gained insights into parents' perspectives and concerns regarding the NBGS carrier result reporting, thus providing relevant information for further refinement and clinical promotion of the NBGS project., Competing Interests: Disclosure of interest: The authors completed the ICMJE Disclosure of Interest Form (available upon request from the corresponding author) and disclose no relevant interests., (Copyright © 2024 by the Journal of Global Health. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To study the leptin resistance mechanism of Xiaoyan Decoction (XD) in lung cancer cachexia (LCC) rats., Methods: An LCC rat model was established. Totally 40 rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, the LCC model group, the XD group, and the positive control group, 10 in each group. After LCC model was set up, rats in the LCC model group were administered with normal saline, 2 mL each time. Rats in the XD group were administered with XD at the daily dose of 2 mL. Those in the positive control group were administered with Medroxyprogesterone Acetate suspension (20 mg/kg) by gastrogavage at the daily dose of 2 mL. All medication lasted for 14 days. The general condition and tumor growth were observed. Serum levels of leptin and leptin receptor in the hypothalamus were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Contents of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and anorexia for genomic POMC were detected using real-time PCR technique., Results: Serum leptin levels were lower in the LCC model group than in the normal control group with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Compared with the LCC model groups, serum leptin levels significantly increased in the XD group (P < 0.01). Leptin receptor levels in the hypothalamus increased significantly in the LCC model group (P < 0.01). Increased receptor levels in the LCC model group indicated that either XD or Medroxyprogesterone Acetate could effectively reduce levels of leptin receptor with statistical significance (P < 0.01). There was also statistical difference between the XD group and the positive control group (P < 0.05). Contents of NPY was higher in the LCC model group than in the other groups with statistical difference (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in NPY between the normal control group and the rest 2 treatment groups (P > 0.05). There was statistical difference in POMC between the normal control group and the LCC model group (P < 0.05). POMC could be decreased in the XD group and the positive control group with statistical significance (P < 0.05), and it was more obviously decreased in the XD group (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Leptin resistance existed in LCC rats. XD could increase serum leptin levels and reduce leptin receptor levels in the hypothalamus. LCC could be improved by elevating NPY contents in the hypothalamus and reducing POMC contents, promoting the appetite, and increasing food intake from the periphery pathway and the central pathway.

Objective: To determine if miniprostheses would form a capsule of significantly different biophysical, biochemical and histologic properties than the conventional silicone implant., Methods: Four miniprostheses (experimental group) and one big silicone implants (control 1 group) were separately implanted beneath the panniculus carnosus muscle of 30 rabbits. After 3 months, measures related to contracture and capsular histology were performed on anesthetized animals., Results: Baker ranking, capsular incision width and capsular thickness of the control groups were evidently higher than that of experimental groups (P < 0.01). Implant compression of the control groups was evidently lower than that of the experimental group. Histology revealed a thinner, more flexed capsule around the miniprostheses as compared with big silicone implants., Conclusions: The miniprostheses form a looser and thinner capsule than the conventional silicone implant.

Objective: To explore the use of triamcinolone acetonide for the prevention of implant capsular contracture., Methods: 20 rabbits were randomly undivided into 2 groups of 10 animals each. Every 10 ml silicone implant was implanted beneath the panniculus carnosus muscle of one rabbit. At the same time, a modified expander catheter was mounted on the implant. This catheter has many lateral holes and the end was blind. Triamcinolone acetonide (10 mg/3 ml) was infused through the expander pot and catheter as the experimental groups. On the other hand, 3 ml saline was used as the control group at 1, 2, and 3 months. At 6 months, measures related to contracture and capsular histology examinations were performed on anesthetized animals., Results: Baker scores, capsular incision width and capsular thickness of the saline groups were evidently higher than that of triamcinolone acetonide groups (P < 0.01). Implant compression of the saline groups was evidently lower than that of triamcinolone acetonide group. Histology revealed a thinner capsules and less fibrous tissue deposition around the triamcinolone acetonide group, as compared with saline group., Conclusions: It is effective to deliver triamcinolone acetonide to reduction of capsular contracture through the catheter and its pot.

Objective: To evaluate a new technique for breast reconstruction with multiple miniprostheses,, Methods: Each silicone miniprosthesis(10 approximately 15 ml) was implanted one by one beneath the prepared muscle pocket until the desired volume was achieved., Results: Seven patients were treated with the above mentioned technique, including five after gland fibroadenoma excision, one hemangioma excision and one reduction mammoplasty. The results were satisfactory., Conclusion: The above mentioned technique with the miniprostheses may be another good way for breast augmentation and breast reconstruction with many advantages such as smaller incision, easy intraoperative assessment of the ideal size of the breast, easy handling the technique, perhaps low incidence of capsular contracture.