The Zuo Jin Wan Formula increases chemosensitivity of human primary gastric cancer cells by AKT mediated mitochondrial translocation of cofilin-1 / 中国天然药物

Resistance to cisplatin (DDP)-based chemotherapy is a major cause of treatment failure in human gastric cancer (GC). It is necessary to identify the drugs to re-sensitize GC cells to DDP. In our previous research, Zuo Jin Wan Formula (ZJW) has been proved could increase the mitochondrial apoptosis via cofilin-1 in a immortalized cell line, SGC-7901/DDP. Due to the immortalized cells may still difficult highly recapitulate the important molecular events in vivo, primary GC cells model derived from clinical patient was constructed in the present study to further evaluate the effect of ZJW and the underlying molecular mechanism. Immunofluorescent staining was used to indentify primary cultured human GC cells. Western blotting was carried out to detect the protein expression. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to evaluate cell proliferation. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to assess cell apoptosis. ZJW inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in primary DDP-resistant GC cells. Notably, the apoptosis in GC cells was mediated by inducing cofilin-1 mitochondrial translocation, down-regulating Bcl-2 and up-regulating Bax expression. Surprisingly, the level of p-AKT protein was higher in DDP-resistant GC cells than that of the DDP-sensitive GC cells, and the activation of AKT could attenuate ZJW-induced sensitivity to DDP. These data revealed that ZJW can increase the chemosensitivity in DDP-resistant primary GC cells by inducing mitochondrial apoptosis and AKT inactivation. The combining chemotherapy with ZJW may be an effective therapeutic strategy for GC chemoresistance patients.

Function of microglia in diabetic retinopathy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#Diabetic retinopathy(DR), one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus, is the leading cause of blindness in working-age population. DR, previously regarded as a microvascular disease, is also considered as neuronopathy and low-to-moderate inflammation in retina with research progression. Microglias, the resident macrophage in the inner retina, are responsible for surveillance of the microenvironment in retina. Under abnormal conditions, microglias are activated and interact with different types of cells in retina. In DR, microglias become activated, as evidenced by the activation of the key molecules or signal transduction pathways, such as the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells(NF-κB)and extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)signaling pathways, which lead to the increased production of pro-inflammatory factors, chemokines,<i> etc.</i> At the same time, the proliferation and migration of activated microglia are enhanced, and microglias migrate to the outer retina. The over-activation of microglias causes neuronal cell apoptosis and blood-retinal barrier breakdown, resulting in vision loss.

Study on Inclusion Behavior and Properties of Cordycepin with Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin / 分析化学

The inclusion complex of cordycepin ( COR ) with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin ( HPβCD ) was prepared by the method of saturated solution. The inclusion of HPβCD with COR in aqueous solution was studied by UV-vis spectroscopy, and the inclusion ratio of COR/HPβCD complex was determined with the Job plots. The COR/HPβCD complex was characterized and determined by means of 1 H NMR and 2D NMR, differential scanning calorimetry ( DSC ) , thermogravimetric analysis ( TG ) , X-ray diffraction ( XRD ) , Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy ( FTIR) and scanning electron microscope ( SEM) . The results showed that the COR/HPβCD complex ratio was 1:1 and the water solubility and stability of COR were obviously increased in the inclusion complex with HPβCD. The COR/HPβCD complex will be potentially useful for its medical application.

Study on Inclusion Behavior and Properties of Cordycepin with Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin / 分析化学

The inclusion complex of cordycepin ( COR ) with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin ( HPβCD ) was prepared by the method of saturated solution. The inclusion of HPβCD with COR in aqueous solution was studied by UV-vis spectroscopy, and the inclusion ratio of COR/HPβCD complex was determined with the Job plots. The COR/HPβCD complex was characterized and determined by means of 1 H NMR and 2D NMR, differential scanning calorimetry ( DSC ) , thermogravimetric analysis ( TG ) , X-ray diffraction ( XRD ) , Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy ( FTIR) and scanning electron microscope ( SEM) . The results showed that the COR/HPβCD complex ratio was 1:1 and the water solubility and stability of COR were obviously increased in the inclusion complex with HPβCD. The COR/HPβCD complex will be potentially useful for its medical application.

Inhibitory effect of flavonoids from Glycyrrhiza uralensis on expressions of TGF-β1 and Caspase-3 in thioacetamide-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the inhibitory effect of flavonoids from Glycyrrhiza uralensis on thioacetamide-induced chonic hepatic fibrosis in rats and the effect on the protein expressions of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and Caspase-3 in livers.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into totally seven groups: the normal control group, the model group, LF groups s (400, 200, 100, 50 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1)) and the silymarin positive control group (30 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1)). The hepatic fibrosis model was induced in the rats through intraperitoneal injection with 3% thioacetamide (TAA) at a dose of 150 mg · kg(-1) body weight twice a week for 12 weeks. During the course, the control group and the model group were orally administered with saline (1 mL · kg(-1) · d(-1)). After the modeling and drug intervention, the pathologic changes and fibrosis in liver tissues were observed by HE staining and Masson's Trichrome staining. The serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and liver hydroxyproline (HYP) contents were assayed by biochemical process. The serum hyaluronic acid (HA) was assessed by radioimmunoassay. In addition, the protein expressions of liver TGF-β1 and Caspase-3 were examined by immunohistochemical method. The mRNA expression of TGF-β1 in hepatic tissues was examined by quantitative Real-time PCR analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with the model group, flavonoids can protect the integrity of the structure of liver tissues, significantly reduce the hepatic cell degeneration and necrosis and the proliferation of fibrous tissues, notably reduce the serum AST, ALT, ALP and HA and HYP in hepatic tissues and down-regulate the protein expressions of liver TGF-β1 and Caspase-3 and the mRNA expression of TGF-β1 in hepatic tissues.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The licorice flavonoids can resist the thioacetamide-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. Its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of the protein expressions of TGF-β1 and Caspase-3.</p>

Molecular bonding characteristics of Self-plasticized bamboo composites

Bamboo biomass fibers were gradually separated, prepared, and then self-plasticized for immune composites

The molecular bonding characteristics of the self-plasticized bamboo composites were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy [FT-IR], nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy [NMR], and thermo gravimetric analysis [TG]

The important results were as follows

[1] During self-plasticizing of bamboo biomass, the cross-linking between celluloses mainly depended on carboxylic acid anhydrides and carboxylic acid esters, that between cellulose and lignin depended on carboxylic acid esters and C=O groups of aliphatic hydrocarbons, and that of hemi cellulose had a ether bond and ester bond bridging effect between lignin and cellulose. The cross-linking effects of hemi cellulose, lignin, and cellulose could be stacked and coupled

[2] After self-plasticization, the crystallinity of the lingo cellulosic biomass, lignin cellulose, and cellulose were increased by 5.8%, 2.28%, and 11.67%, respectively

While the TG curves of all samples were basically similar in shape, the weight loss rate turning points of the self-plasticized samples were delayed compared with those of the bamboo biomass fibers

This result demonstrated that the molecular integration of the bamboo biomass was increased after self-plasticization, and confirmed that bond cross-linking between the hemi cellulose, lignin and cellulose of the bamboo biomass had occurred

Immune effects of extractives on bamboo biomass self-plasticization

Bamboo is a fast-growing renewable bioresource

However, bamboo resources are wasted, and bamboo products release toxic gases. Bamboo biomass was therefore extracted and self-plasticized, and the immune effects of bamboo extractives were determined and investigated using nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] and Fourier-transform infrared [FT-IR] spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction [XRD], and scanning electron microscopy [SEM]

The results showed the following

[1] The !H-NMR signals at -5.5, 4-8, 7.4-10.2, and 12.22-12.37 ppm were attributed to the chemical shifts of active protons on carbons adjacent to R-OH, RAr-OH, oximes, and -COOH, respectively

This showed that there were highly reactive hydrogen atoms in bamboo benzene/ethanol extractives

The [13]C-NMR spectrum gave further confirmation

[2] The extents of the effects of key process parameters were different: temperature > hot pressure > time. The optimal self-plasticizing conditions were temperature 170°C, hot pressure 9 MPa, time 40 min, and extraction of bamboo

[3] SEM, FT-IR, and XRD showed that contact and linkages among bamboo cells were significantly decreased by extractives, so the internal bond strengths of the self-plasticized samples were all higher after bamboo extraction. It was also found that the extractives created a significant barrier to bamboo self-plasticization as a result of their structure and chemical linkage reactions