Problems and thoughts in clinical safety evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

Amid the modernization and internationalization of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), the safety of TCM has attracted much attention. At the moment, the government, scientific research teams, and pharmaceutical enterprises have made great efforts to explore methods and techniques for clinical safety evaluation of TCM. Although considerable achievements have been made, there are still many problems, such as the non-standard terms of adverse reactions of TCM, unclear evaluation indicators, unreasonable judgment methods, lack of evaluation models, out-of-date evaluation standards, and unsound reporting systems. Therefore, it is urgent to further deepen the research mode and method of clinical safety evaluation of TCM. Based on the current national requirements for the life-cycle management of drugs, this study focused on the problems in the five dimensions of clinical safety evaluation of TCM, including normative terms, evaluation modes, judgment methods, evaluation standards, and reporting systems, and proposed suggestions on the development of a life-cycle clinical safety evaluation method that conformed to the characteristics of TCM, hoping to provide a reference for future research.

Evaluation methods of clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

Clinical efficacy is the basis for the development of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), and the evaluation of clinical efficacy of TCM has always been the focus of attention. The technical and methodological difficulties in the evaluation process often restrict the generation of high-level evidence. Therefore, methodological research should be deepened and innovative practice should be carried out to study the application of scientific research methods in the evaluation of the advantages of TCM. After more than ten years of development, the clinical efficacy evaluation of TCM, on the basis of the initially classic placebo randomized controlled trials, has successively carried out a series of meaningful attempts and explorations in N-of-1 trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, cross-sectional studies, real world studies, narrative medicine studies, systematic evaluation, and other aspects, laying the foundation for the transformation of TCM from "experience" to "evidence". This paper focused on the clinical efficacy evaluation of TCM, summarized the main connotation and development status of efficacy evaluation indicators, standards, and methods, and put forward corresponding countermeasures and suggestions for the problems of indicator selection, standard formulation, and methodology optimization in the research process. It is clear that scientific and objective evaluation of the efficacy of TCM is an urgent problem to be solved at present.

Mechanism of tonifying kidney and activating blood therapy for premature ovarian failure:a review / 中国中药杂志

Healthy birth and child development are the prerequisite for improving the overall quality of the population. However, premature ovarian failure(POF) threatens the reproductive health of women. The incidence of this disease has been on the rise, and it tends to occur in the young. The causes are complex, involving genetics, autoimmune, infectious and iatrogenic factors, but most of the causes remain unclear. At the moment, hormone replacement therapy and assisted reproductive technology are the main clinical approaches. According to traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), kidney deficiency and blood stasis are one of the major causes of POF, and TCM with the effects of tonifying kidney and activating blood has a definite effect. Through clinical trials, TCM prescriptions for POF have excellent therapeutic effect as a result of multi-target regulation and slight toxicity. In particular, they have no obvious side effects. A large number of studies have shown that the kidney-tonifying and blood-activating TCM can regulate the neuroendocrine function of hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, improve ovarian hemodynamics and microcirculation, reduce the apoptosis of granulosa cells, alleviate oxidative stress injury, and modulate immunologic balance. The mechanism is that it regulates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt), vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), transforming growth factor(TGF)-β/Smads, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/antioxidant response element(ARE), and nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) signaling pathways. This article summarized the pathological mechanisms of tonifying kidney and activating blood TCM in the prevention and treatment of POF and explored the biological basis of its multi-pathway and multi-target characteristics in the treatment of this disease. As a result, this study is expected to serve as a reference for the treatment of POF with the tonifying kidney and activating blood therapy.

Effects of moxibustion on serum levels of β-EP, SP and expression of IL-1β and COX-2 protein in brainstem in rats with migraine / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effects of moxibustion at "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Dazhui" (GV 14) at different time points on the serum level of β-endorphin (β-EP), substance P (SP) and expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein in brainstem in rats with migraine, and to explore the effect and mechanism of moxibustion in preventing and treating migraine.@*METHODS@#Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a prevention+treatment (PT) group and a treatment group, 10 rats in each group. Except the blank group, the rats in the remaining groups were injected with nitroglycerin subcutaneously to prepare migraine model. The rats in the PT group were treated with moxibustion 7 days before modeling (once a day) and 30 min after modeling, while the rats in the treatment group were treated with moxibustion 30 min after modeling. The "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Dazhui" (GV 14) were taken for 30 minutes each time. The behavioral scores in each group were observed before and after modeling. After intervention, ELISA method was used to detect the serum level of β-EP and SP; the immunohistochemistry method was used to detect the number of positive cells of IL-1β in brainstem; the Western blot method was used to detect the expression of COX-2 protein in brainstem.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the blank group, the behavioral scores in the model group were increased 0-30 min, 60-90 min and 90-120 min after modeling (P<0.01); compared with the model group, in the treatment group and the PT group, the behavioral scores were decreased 60-90 min and 90-120 min after modeling (P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, in the model group, the serum level of β-EP was decreased (P<0.01), while the serum level of SP, the number of positive cells of IL-1β in brainstem and the expression of COX-2 protein were increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, in the PT group and and the treatment group, the serum level of β-EP was increased (P<0.01), while the serum level of SP, the number of positive cells of IL-1β and the expression of COX-2 protein in brainstem were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the treatment group, in the PT group, the serum level of β-EP was increased and COX-2 protein expression was decreased (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Moxibustion could effectively relieve migraine. The mechanism may be related to reduce the serum level of SP, IL-1β and COX-2 protein expression in brainstem, and increase the serum level of β-EP, and the optimal effect is observed in the PT group.

Comparison of Thyroglobulin and Thyroid Function in Pregnant Women between Counties with a Median Urinary Iodine Concentration of 100-149 µg/L and 150-249 µg/L / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#This study explored whether thyroglobulin and thyroid disease prevalence rates were higher in pregnant Chinese women with a median urinary iodine concentration of 100-149 µg/L, compared with those with a median urinary iodine concentration of 150-249 μg/L maintained through sustainable universal salt iodization.@*METHODS@#This was a cross-sectional study in which 812 healthy pregnant women were enrolled to collect samples of their household edible salt, urine, and blood during their routine antenatal care in the 18 counties in Fujian Province, China. The levels of salt iodine concentration, urinary iodine concentration (UIC), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroid hormone (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroglobulin (Tg), thyroid peroxidase antibody and thyroglobulin antibody were assessed during the routine antenatal care visits.@*RESULTS@#The median UIC (mUIC) in pregnant women was 130.8 μg/L (interquartile range = 91.5-198.1 μg/L) in the counties with an mUIC of 100-149 μg/L (Group I), and 172.0 μg/L (interquartile range = 123.5-244.4 μg/L) in the counties with an mUIC of 150-249 μg/L (Group II). Goiter prevalence and thyroid nodule detection rates showed no difference between Group I and Group II ( P > 0.05). Except for FT4 values, the TSH, FT4, FT3, Tg and Tg values > 40 (μg/L) and the thyroid diseases prevalence rate (TDR) showed no significant differences between Group I and Group II ( P > 0.05), whether or not iodine supplementation measures were taken.@*CONCLUSION@#Compared with an mUIC of 150-249 μg/L, not only there was no difference in thyroid morphology, but also the Tg value, rate of Tg values > 40 µg/L, and TDR were not higher in pregnant women in the counties with an mUIC of 100-149 μg/L achieved through sustainable universal salt iodization in Fujian Province, China.

Research progress on the biological effects of HIF-1α on follicle development and ovulation / 生理学报

Hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), as a hypoxia inducible factor, affects women's reproductive function by regulating the development and excretion of follicles. HIF-1α induces glycolysis and autophagy in the granule cells by promoting oocyte development, regulating the secretion of related angiogenic factors, and improving follicle maturity. In addition, HIF-1α promotes the process of luteinization of follicular vesicles, maintains luteal function, and finally completes physiological luteal atrophy through cumulative oxidative stress. Dysfunction of HIF-1α will cause a series of pathological consequences, such as angiogenesis defect, energy metabolism abnormality, excessive oxidative stress and dysregulated autophagy and apoptosis, resulting in ovulation problem and infertility. This article summarizes the previous studies on the regulation of follicle development and excretion and maintenance of luteal function and structural atrophy by HIF-1α. We also describe the effective intervention mechanism of related drugs or bioactive ingredients on follicular dysplasia and ovulation disorders through HIF-1α, in order to provide a systematic and in-depth insights for solving ovulation disorder infertility.

Comparison of 17β-estradiol against retinal light damage in BALB/c or C57BL/6 mice / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM:To investigate the neuroprotective effect of 17β-estradiol(E2)on retina light damage in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice and provide experimental data for the successful construction of a research model for E2 against retinal light damage.METHODS:Totally 40～45 adult female BALB/c or C57BL/6 mice were divided into six groups, 6 for each group: normal control, ovariectomized control, ovariectomized light(mice were stimulated with continuous white light at 10000 lx for 4, 8, 12, 16, and 24h after 14d of ovariectomy), intravitreal administration sham operation, saline and E2 pre-treatment groups(2μL saline or 10-5mol/L E2 were intravitreal injected respectively after 14d of ovariectomy operation and 24h of dark adaptation). The morphological and functional changes of the retina were detected by paraffin section HE staining, TUNEL staining and electroretinogram.RESULTS:In the ovariectomized light group, the thickness of the inner/outer nuclear layer decreased significantly from the 4h stimulation of 10000 lx white light group. Intravitreal administration of E2 significantly inhibited the apoptosis of retinal cells in the two strains of mice(P&#x003C;0.01)and the decrease of amplitudes of a- and b-waves in max-ERG of C57BL/6 mice(P&#x003C;0.05).CONCLUSION:The light loss sensitivity of two strains of mice was different under the same light stimulation. E2 had a protective effect on both morphology and function of the retina in BALB/c mice, and had a significant protective effect on retina function in C57BL/6 mice.

Anterior Cingulate Cortex Mediates Hyperalgesia and Anxiety Induced by Chronic Pancreatitis in Rats / 神经科学通报·英文版

Central sensitization is essential in maintaining chronic pain induced by chronic pancreatitis (CP), but cortical modulation of painful CP remains elusive. Here, we examined the role of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in the pathogenesis of abdominal hyperalgesia in a rat model of CP induced by intraductal administration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). TNBS treatment resulted in long-term abdominal hyperalgesia and anxiety in rats. Morphological data indicated that painful CP induced a significant increase in FOS-expressing neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) and ACC, and some FOS-expressing neurons in the NTS projected to the ACC. In addition, a larger portion of ascending fibers from the NTS innervated pyramidal neurons, the neural subpopulation primarily expressing FOS under the condition of painful CP, rather than GABAergic neurons within the ACC. CP rats showed increased expression of vesicular glutamate transporter 1, and increased membrane trafficking and phosphorylation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunit NR2B and the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptor (AMPAR) subunit GluR1 within the ACC. Microinjection of NMDAR and AMPAR antagonists into the ACC to block excitatory synaptic transmission significantly attenuated abdominal hyperalgesia in CP rats, which was similar to the analgesic effect of endomorphins injected into the ACC. Specifically inhibiting the excitability of ACC pyramidal cells via chemogenetics reduced both hyperalgesia and comorbid anxiety, whereas activating these neurons via optogenetics failed to aggravate hyperalgesia and anxiety in CP rats. Taken together, these findings provide neurocircuit, biochemical, and behavioral evidence for involvement of the ACC in hyperalgesia and anxiety in CP rats, as well as novel insights into the cortical modulation of painful CP, and highlights the ACC as a potential target for neuromodulatory interventions in the treatment of painful CP.

Effect and Mechanism of Xianlian Jiedu Prescription Against Proliferation of Colorectal Cancer Cells in Hypoxic Microenvironment / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo study the effect of Xianlian Jiedu prescription （XLJDP） on the activation of nuclear transcription factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway induced by bromodomain-containing protein 4 （Brd4） in hypoxic microenvironment and to explore its mechanism in inhibiting the proliferation of colorectal cancer HT-29 cells. MethodThe human colorectal cancer HT-29 cells were cultured in a hypoxic incubator or normoxia incubator and treated with XLJDP at 0.8，1，1.2，1.6，3.2，6.4，and 12.8 g·L-1 for 48 h， respectively. Following the detection of cell vitality using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium （MTT） colorimetry， the effects of XLJDP （1.25，2.5，and 5 g·L-1） on the cell mitochondrial membrane potential were determined using a fluorescent probe （JC-1）， and the apoptosis of colorectal cancer HT-29 cells was detected by flow cytometry. The cell colony formation assay and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine （EDU） staining were conducted to test the proliferation of colorectal cancer HT-29 cells. The Western blot was carried out to measure the expression levels of Brd4 and its downstream relevant proteins such as c-Myc and hexamethylene bisacetamide-inducible protein 1 （HEXIM1）， as well as the effects of XLJDP on related proteins in the NF-κB signaling pathway. ResultCompared with the blank control group， XLJDP at 0.8，1，1.2，1.6，3.2，6.4，and 12.8 g·L-1 inhibited the vitality of colorectal cancer HT-29 cells （P<0.05 ， P<0.01）， with the median inhibitory concentration （IC50） under the hypoxic condition higher than that under the normoxia condition. Compared with the blank control group， XLJDP at 1.25，2.5，and 5 g·L-1 significantly decreased the mitochondria membrane potential， enhanced the apoptosis （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and lowered the number of cell colonies and also the EDU-positive cells （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The results of Western blot showed that compared with the blank control group， XLJDP at 1.25，2.5，and 5 g·L-1 down-regulated Brd4， c-Myc， p-NF-κB p65， and p-IκBα protein expression to varying degrees and up-regulated the expression of HEXIM1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionIn the hypoxic microenvironment， XLJDP inhibits the proliferation of colorectal cancer HT-29 cells regulated by Brd4， which may be related to its inhibition of the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway.

Effect of Xianlian Jiedu Prescription on Proliferation and Glycolysis of Human Colorectal Cancer HCT-116 Cells and Mechanism / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Xianlian Jiedu prescription （XLJDP） on the proliferation and glycolysis of human colorectal cancer HCT-116 cells and the underlying mechanism. MethodHCT-116 cells were cultured with XLJDP and then the survival rate was examined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium （MTT） assay. The effect on the HCT116 cell proliferation was detected by colony formation assay and 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine （EDU） incorporation assay. The amount of glucose consumed by HCT-116 cells was measured by glucose test kit， and the amount of produced lactic acid was determined by lactic acid test kit 48 h after the treatment with XLJDP. The expression of glycolysis-related proteins mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）， phosphorylated mTOR （p-mTOR）， glucose transporter 1 （GLUT1）， and lactate dehydrogenase （LDHA） was detected by Western blot. ResultThe half-maximal inhibitory concentration （IC50） of XLJDP against HCT-116 cells was 6.82 g·L-1. Compared with the blank group， XLJDP （1.625， 3.25， 6.50 g·L-1） inhibited the proliferation of HCT-116 cells （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Moreover， compared with the blank group， XLJDP （1.625， 3.25， 6.50 g·L-1） suppressed glucose uptake and lactic acid production in a dose-dependent manner （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The expression of p-mTOR/mTOR， LDHA， and GLUT1 was down-regulated by XLJDP （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionXLJDP can significantly inhibit the proliferation and the Warburg effect of glycolysis in colorectal cancer cells by regulating the mTOR signaling pathway and the down-regulating the expression of LDHA， GLUT1， and other key proteins and enzymes in glycolysis.

Transcriptome Analysis of Xianlian Jiedu Prescription in Intervention of Colorectal Carcinoma Due to Dampness， Heat， Stasis， and Toxin in Mice / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo analyze the transcriptome characteristics of Xianlian Jiedu prescription （XLJDP） in the intervention of colorectal carcinoma by high-throughput cDNA-sequencing （RNA-seq）. MethodNinety male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the control group， colorectal carcinoma due to dampness， heat， stasis， and toxin model group， and XLJDP group， with 30 mice in each group. Mice in the model group and XLJDP group were fed a high-fat diet and provided with azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate （AOM/DSS） for inducing colorectal carcinoma. Those in the XLJDP group were further treated with intragastric administration of 12.9 g·kg-1 XLJDP since the day of modeling for 112 days. The colorectal tissues were collected from each group 4 h after the last drug treatment and stained with hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and methylene blue for observing the pathological changes. The total RNA was extracted from colorectal tissues for RNA-Seq-based transcriptome profiling， followed by gene oncology （GO） and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis and the screening and verification of differentially expressed genes. ResultCompared with the model group， XLJDP significantly relieved the colorectal congestion and edema and decreased tumor number and volume in mouse colorectal tissues. The methylene blue staining results indicated that XLJDP significantly suppressed the development of aberrant crypt foci （ACF，P<0.01）. As revealed by HE staining， XLJDP significantly alleviated the injury and dysplasia of colorectal tissues. Transcriptome analysis identified 615 differentially expressed genes （446 up-regulated and 169 down-regulated） between the model group and the blank group and 54 differentially expressed genes （29 up-regulated and 25 down-regulated） between the XLJDP group and model group. XLJDP mainly affected the expression of NIMA-related protein kinase 7 gene （Nek7， P<0.01）， Mucin 16 （Muc16， P<0.01）， SiahE3 ubiquitin protein ligase family member 3 （Siah3， P<0.01）， regenerating islet-derived protein 3-gamma （Reg3g， P<0.01）， RNA polymerase Ⅱ elongation factor-associated factor 2 （Eaf2， P<0.01）， transforming growth factor‐alfa gene （TGF-α， P<0.05）， secretoglobin family 1A member 1 （Scgb1a1， P<0.05）， family with sequence similarity 227 member B （Fam227B， P<0.05）， cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily c polypeptide 40 （Cyp2c40， P<0.01）， and ankyrin repeat and EF-hand domain containing protein 1 （Ankef1， P<0.05）. Enrichment analysis showed that intestinal epithelial cell proliferation， metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450， and arachidonic acid metabolism signaling pathway were significantly enriched. ConclusionXLJDP is able to interfere with colorectal tumorigenesis and development due to dampness， heat， stasis， and toxin in mice， which has been proved by transcriptome analysis to be related to the regulation of metabolism-related pathways.

Advances in morphological and functional studies on the paraventricular thalamic nucleus / 解剖学报

Paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT) is an essential component of the midline thalamus, which has been regarded as a transmit relay nucleus and an integrated center in multiple behaviors including wakefulness, food intake, addiction, reward and fear memory. PVT is predominantly populated with glutaminergic excitatory neurons expressing vesicular glutamate transporter-2 (VGluT2) but without GABAergic inhibitory neurons. Therefore, based on the paradox of its multiplexed roles in different behaviors and its comparatively simplex excitatory nature, more specific subclassification of excitatory PVT neurons is required in studies in this field. In the present review, morphological and electrophysiological characteristics, efferent and afferent connections, and morphological and functional distinctions in anterior subregion and posterior subregion of PVT are summarized. In addition, neural connections and neurochemical properties are used as subclassification criteria in PVT neurons. This review might explain the integrated role of PVT in different behaviors, which would be helpful for further studies on the PVT.

Apigenin inhibits liver fibrosis through PDK1/AKT signaling pathway in mice / 中国药理学通报

Aim To evaluate the therapeutic effect of apigenin on liver fibrosis in mice anrl the pharmacologi¬cal mechanism.Methods Carbon tetrachloride ( CC14) -induced liver fibrosis mouse model was estab¬lished.The mice were divided into six groups of con¬trol, model, silibinin(55 mg • kg 1 • d 1 ) , apigenin in high dosage (60 mg • kg 1 • d 1 ) , apigenin in mid¬dle dosage( 30 mg • kg 1 • d 1 ) and apigenin in low dosage( 15 mg • kg 1 • d 1 ).The general life status, body weight and liver coefficient of the mice in every group were recorded.HE staining, Masson staining, immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to e- valuate the effect of apigenin on the pathological chan¬ges, the markers related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition and signaling pathways of liver tissues.Re¬sults In CCI4-induced liver fibrosis mice, middle and high-dosage of apigenin could improve the general life status, increase body weight, decrease liver coeffi¬ cient, and significantly improve liver lesions.Middle and high-dosage of apigenin significantly increased the expression of the epithelial marker protein E-cadherin and significantly decreased the expression of the mes¬enchymal marker protein Vimentin in liver tissues of mice with the disease.The further results showed that middle and high-dosage apigenin could significantly in¬hibit the expression of phosphorvlated PDK1 and phos- phorvlated AKT protein in liver tissues of model mice.Conclusions Apigenin can inhibit EMT by inhibiting PDK1/AKT signaling pathway, which plays an anti-fi- brosis role.The apigenin has the potential to be further developed as a drug to protect the liver and treat liver fibrosis.

Mediating effect of mental resilience between work stress and sleep quality of psychiatrists / 中国职业医学

@#Objective To analyze the mediating effect of mental resilience on the relationship between work stress and sleep quality in psychiatrists. Methods A total of 221 front-line psychiatrists from four mental health centers in Shannxi Province were selected as the study subjects using convenience sampling method. The questionnaires of Scale for Occupational Stressors on Clinician，Chinese Version of Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale were used to investigate the work stress，mental resilience and sleep quality of the psychiatrists. We conducted Bootstrap mediation test to analyze the mediating effect of mental resilience using SPSS PROCESS V3.5 macro program. Results The total score of work stress of psychiatrists was 97.0±17.5，and the medium（P25，P75）of mental resilience and sleep quality scores were 84.0（75.5， 94.0）and 6.0（5.0，9.0）respectively. The detection rate of sleep disorders among psychiatrists was 33.9%（75/221）. The total score of work stress of psychiatrists was negatively correlated with the total score of mental resilience ［rank correlation coefficient（rS ）=−0.34，P<0.01］，and was positively correlated with the total score of sleep quality（rS =0.48，P<0.01）. The total score of mental resilience was negatively correlated with that of sleep quality （rS = − 0.39，P<0.01）. The work stress of psychiatrists had a positive predictive effect on sleep quality［standardized regression coefficient（β）=0.41.P<0.01］，and a negative predictive effect on mental resilience（β）=−0.38，P<0.01）. Mental resilience had a negative predictive effect on sleep quality（β）=−0.24，P<0.01. Mental resilience played a partial mediating role between work stress and sleep quality，and the mediating effect accounted for 22.0% of the total effect. Conclusion Both work stress and mental resilience of psychiatrists can directly affect their sleep quality，and the mental resilience has a partial mediating role in the effect of work stress on sleep quality.

Systemic Inflammatory Biomarkers, Especially Fibrinogen to Albumin Ratio, Predict Prognosis in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Purpose@#Systemic inflammatory response is a critical factor that promotes the initiation and metastasis of malignancies including pancreatic cancer (PC). This study was designed to determine and compare the prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) in resectable PC and locally advanced or metastatic PC. @*Materials and Methods@#Three hundred fifty-three patients with resectable PC and 807 patients with locally advan-ced or metastatic PC were recruited in this study. These patients were classified into a training set (n=758) and a validation set (n=402). Kaplan-Meier survival plots and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to analyze prognosis. @*Results@#Overall survival (OS) was significantly better for patients with resectable PC with low preoperative PLR (p=0.048) and MLR (p=0.027). Low FAR, MLR, NLR (p < 0.001), and PLR (p=0.003) were significantly associated with decreased risk of death for locally advanced or metastatic PC patients. FAR (hazard ratio [HR], 1.522; 95% confidential interval [CI], 1.261 to 1.837; p < 0.001) and MLR (HR, 1.248; 95% CI, 1.017 to 1.532; p=0.034) were independent prognostic factors for locally advanced or metastatic PC. @*Conclusion@#The prognostic roles of FAR, MLR, NLR, and PLR in resectable PC and locally advanced or metastatic PC were different. FAR showed the most prognostic power in locally advanced or metastatic PC. Low FAR was positively correlated with OS in locally advanced or metastatic PC, which could be used to predict the prognosis.

BRCA1 Reversion Mutation Confers Resistance to Olaparib and Camrelizumab in a Patient with Breast Cancer Liver Metastasis / 한국유방암학회지

Reversion mutations are associated with clinical resistance to poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi). Here, we describe the detection of a BRCA1 reversion mutation in a 39-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer harboring a heterozygous germline BRCA1 exons 7–8 deletion who received PARPi olaparib combined with immune checkpoint inhibitor camrelizumab as third-line therapy. During progression from the olaparib and camrelizumab combination therapy, we identified via genomic sequencing a novel 7-base pair somatic deletion in BRCA1 (c.617_623delACAAATC). Sequence analyses indicated that this mutation realigned the reading frame of BRCA1, which potentially led to the reversal of its normal function and conferred resistance to PARPi.

Study on the regulatory effect of herbal cake- partitioned moxibustion on colonic CD206, AMPK and TSC2 in rats with Crohn disease / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To explore the mechanism of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion in Crohn disease (CD) treatment by observing the effect of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on protein expressions of colonic M2 macrophage marker CD206, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) 2. Methods: Twenty-six specific pathogen free male rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group and a herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group. The CD model was prepared by enema with the mixture of 5％ (W/V) 2,4,6- trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) and 50％ ethanol at 2:1 (volume ratio). After the model was successfully prepared, rats in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group received herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion at Qihai (CV 6) and bilateral Tianshu (ST 25). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of rat colon; immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expression of colonic CD206 protein; Western blot, immunofluorescence, and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) technologies were used to detect the protein and mRNA expressions of colonic AMPK and TSC2. Results: Compared with the normal group, rats in the model group showed damaged colonic mucosa, missing of the epithelial layer, thickened submucosa, vascular proliferation, massive infiltration of monocytes and lymphocytes, and cracked ulcers that reached the muscle layer. Rats in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group showed reduced intestinal inflammation and healing intestinal epithelium ulcers. Compared with the normal group, rat colonic CD206 protein expression, and the protein and mRNA expressions of colonic AMPK and TSC2 were decreased in the model group (all P<0.01); compared with the model group, rat colonic CD206 protein expression was increased (P<0.01), as well as the protein and mRNA expressions of AMPK and TSC2 in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion can reduce intestinal inflammation in CD rats, increase colonic CD206 protein expression, and up-regulate the protein and mRNA expressions of colonic AMPK and TSC2.

Effect of CBS-derived H2S from mouse nerve cells on proliferation and migration of brain microvascular endothelial cells and its relationship with VEGFR2 / 中国药理学通报

Aim To study the effect of H2S synthase CBS-derived H2S from mouse nerve cells on the proliferation and migration of the brain vascular endothelial cells and its relationship with VEGFR2. Methods CCK-8 method was used to detect cell proliferation, cell scratch method and Transwell method were used to detect cell migration, methyl blue method was used to detect H2S content, and calcium fluorescence imaging method was used to detect intracellular free Ca2 + concentration. HT22 cells were co-cultured with bEnd. 3 cells by using Transwell system. Results The H2S donor NaHS( 1 xlO"8-1 X 10"3'5 mol • L'1) significantly increased the proliferation and migration of HU- VEC cells and bEnd. 3 cells, while the VEGFR2 blocker SU5416 (10 (xmol • L"1) markedly inhibited the NaHS- increased proliferation and migration; in the co-culture system,the substrate of H2S synthase CBS, L-Cys (100 |xmol • L"1) , significantly promoted the proliferation and migration of bEnd. 3 cells, and increased intracellular Ca2 + fluorescence intensity in bEnd. 3 cells and the H2S content in the co-culture. However, CBS inhibitor AO A A (1 mmol • L"1 ) and SU5416 significantly attenuated the effects of L-Cys on the proliferation and migration and intracellular Ca2 + fluorescence intensity. Conclusions The CBS-derived H2S from neurons can promote the proliferation and migration of mouse cerebral vascular endothelial cells, which may be related to activation of VEGFR2 and subsequently increase of intracellular free Ca2+ concentration.

Research on in vivo metabolites of Longxue Tongluo Capsules by liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid ion trap/time-of-flight mass spectrometry / 中国中药杂志

Longxue Tongluo Capsules(LTC) has good efficacy against blood stasis syndrome during the recovery period of ischemic stroke. Its main active ingredient is the phenolic extract of Chinese dragon's blood. In our previous study, the primary mass fragmentation pathways of phenolic derivatives from LTC were clarified. Herein, the metabolites in rat plasma were characterized following the oral administration of loureirin A and loureirin C using liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid ion trap/time-of-flight mass spectro-metry(LC-IT-TOF-MS), with 18 and 55 metabolites identified, respectively. On this basis, with the help of the obtained accurate molecular weight, characteristic fragment ions, reference comparison, combined with LTC database and natural products database self-created in our group, 18 prototypes and 106 metabolites were tentatively identified in rat plasma after oral gavage of LTC at a dose of 500 mg·kg~(-1). Glucuronidation, sulfonation, and methylation were major biotransformation pathways of LTC. This study preliminarily clarified the LTC constituents absorbed into blood and laid the foundation for clarifying the effective substances of LTC.

Identification of active components of Dendrobium inhibit growth of gastric cancer cells based on component-activity relationship / 中国中药杂志

Three cancer cell lines including gastric cancer SGC-7901, HGC-27, and MGC-803 cells were employed to evaluate the bioactivity of seven Dendrobium species. Simultaneously, these Dendrobium species were assessed with UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, and 504 common peaks were found. Based on the hypothesis that biological effects varied with differences in components, multivariate relevance analysis for chemical component-activity relationship of Dendrobium, including grey relation(GRA) and partial least squares(PLS) analysis were performed to evaluate the contribution of each identified component. The target peaks were identified by standards toge-ther with databases of Dendrobium, Nature Chemistry, MassBank, etc. Finally, four active components, including 3,5,9-trihydroxy-23-methylergosta-7,22-dien-6-one, diacylglycerol(14∶1/22∶6/0∶0), pipercitine, and 22-tricosenoic acid, might have negative effect on the growth of gastric cancer cells.