Morin induces autophagy and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells through Akt/mTOR/STAT3 pathway / 中国中药杂志

This study investigated the effect and mechanism of morin in inducing autophagy and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells through the protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)/signal transducer and activator of transcription protein 3(STAT3) pathway. Human hepatocellular carcinoma SK-HEP-1 cells were stimulated with different concentrations of morin(0, 50, 100, 125, 200, and 250 μmol·L~(-1)). The effect of morin on the viability of SK-HEP-1 cells was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8). The effect of morin on the proliferation and apoptosis of SK-HEP-1 cells was investigated using colony formation assay, flow cytometry, and BeyoClick~(TM) EdU-488 with different concentrations of morin(0, 125, and 250 μmol·L~(-1)). The changes in the autophagy level of cells treated with morin were examined by transmission electron microscopy and autophagy inhibitors. The impact of morin on the expression levels of proteins related to the Akt/mTOR/STAT3 pathway was verified by Western blot. Compared with the control group, the morin groups showed decreased viability of SK-HEP-1 cells in a time-and concentration-dependent manner, increased number of apoptotic cells, up-regulated expression level of apoptosis marker PARP, up-regulated phosphorylation level of apoptosis-regulating protein H2AX, decreased number of positive cells and the colony formation rate, an upward trend of expression levels of autophagy-related proteins LC3-Ⅱ, Atg5, and Atg7, and decreased phosphorylation levels of Akt, mTOR, and STAT3. These results suggest that morin can promote apoptosis, inhibit proliferation, and induce autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and its mechanism of action may be related to the Akt/mTOR/STAT3 pathway.

Inhibitory effect and molecular mechanism of sinomenine on human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of sinomenine on proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, and combination with inhibitors in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and SK-HEP-1 cells. The effect of sinomenine on the growth ability of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells were investigated by CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, and BeyoClick~(TM) EdU-488 staining. The effect of sinomenine on DNA damage was detected by immunofluorescence assay, and the effect of sinomenine on apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells was clarified by Hoechst 33258 staining and CellEvent~(TM) Cystein-3/7Green ReadyProbes~(TM) reagent assay. Cell invasion assay and 3D tumor cell spheroid invasion assay were performed to investigate the effect of sinomenine on the invasion ability of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro. The effect of sinomenine on the regulation of protein expression related to the protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3) signaling pathway in HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells was examined by Western blot. Molecular docking was used to evaluate the strength of affinity of sinomenine to the target cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3(caspase-3) and STAT3, and combined with CCK-8 assay to detect the changes in cell viability after combination with STAT3 inhibitor JSI-124 in combination with CCK-8 assay. The results showed that sinomenine could significantly reduce the cell viability of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in a concentration-and time-dependent manner, significantly inhibit the clonogenic ability of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and weaken the invasive ability of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro. In addition, sinomenine could up-regulate the cleaved level of poly ADP-ribose polymerase(PARP), a marker of apoptosis, and down-regulate the protein levels of p-Akt, p-mTOR, and p-STAT3 in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Molecular docking results showed that sinomenine had good affinity with the targets caspase-3 and STAT3, and the sensitivity of sinomenine to hepatocellular carcinoma cells was diminished after STAT3 was inhibited. Therefore, sinomenine can inhibit the proliferation and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and induce apoptosis, and the mechanism may be attributed to the activation of caspase-3 signaling and inhibition of the Akt/mTOR/STAT3 pathway. This study can provide a new reference for the in-depth research and clinical application of sinomenine and is of great significance to further promote the scientific development and utilization of sinomenine.

Anatomical Study of the Accessory Tendon of the Extensor Hallucis Longus Muscle and Its Clinical Application

Background@#The accessory tendon of the extensor hallucis longus (ATEHL) muscle is a common abnormal structure, and its clinical significance remains debatable. In this study, we provide the incidence of the ATEHL and characterize its morphological types in Asian cadavers and investigate its clinical applications. @*Methods@#The tendons from 50 adult cadaveric feet, fixed in 10% formalin, were analyzed. We measured the length and width of both the ATEHL and the extensor hallucis brevis (EHB). @*Results@#All dissected specimens had an ATEHL. The first metatarsophalangeal joint was surrounded by an accessory tendon that inserted onto the joint capsule and the dorsal base of the proximal phalanx. We classified the ATEHL into 3 types based on their directions. Differences in ATEHL type based on sex were not statistically significant. @*Conclusions@#We found an ATEHL in all cadaveric specimens in this study. We surmise that the ATEHL acts as an antagonist with the EHB when the toe is extending, which might help prevent the occurrence of hallux valgus deformity.

Anatomical Study of the Accessory Tendon of the Extensor Hallucis Longus Muscle and Its Clinical Application

Background@#The accessory tendon of the extensor hallucis longus (ATEHL) muscle is a common abnormal structure, and its clinical significance remains debatable. In this study, we provide the incidence of the ATEHL and characterize its morphological types in Asian cadavers and investigate its clinical applications. @*Methods@#The tendons from 50 adult cadaveric feet, fixed in 10% formalin, were analyzed. We measured the length and width of both the ATEHL and the extensor hallucis brevis (EHB). @*Results@#All dissected specimens had an ATEHL. The first metatarsophalangeal joint was surrounded by an accessory tendon that inserted onto the joint capsule and the dorsal base of the proximal phalanx. We classified the ATEHL into 3 types based on their directions. Differences in ATEHL type based on sex were not statistically significant. @*Conclusions@#We found an ATEHL in all cadaveric specimens in this study. We surmise that the ATEHL acts as an antagonist with the EHB when the toe is extending, which might help prevent the occurrence of hallux valgus deformity.

Review on the statistic methods used in the proficiency testing in the drug control field / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To explore the statistical methods for proficiency testing in the drug control field. METHODS: The statistical methods were sorted out with data processing used in inter-laboratory and proficiency testing by various industries both at home and abroad. The Grubbs test and Dixon test in classical statistical method were focused on as well as quartile method and iterative method in the robust statistical method, and the characteristics of the different statistic methods was summarized respectively. RESULTS: Every method has its advantages and application conditions. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that proper statistical method be chosen according to the data characteristics of the test results.

Study of high-risk corneal transplantation rejection and the expression of VEGF-C/D / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM:To investigate the expression and the significance of VEGF-C/D in rat cornea after alkali burning as well as the role of lymphangiogenesis in the high-risk corneal transplantation rejection. ●METHODS:The model of alkali burn corneal was made. Different times corneas were taken to electron microscope for vascularization, and examined the expression of VEGF-C/D and VEGFR-3 in l, 3, 5, 7, 14, 28d. The other rat cornea after alkali burn were divided into four parts to penetrate keratoplasty, containing only blood vessels in the cornea ( group A ) , angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis ( group B ) , lymphangiogenesis degenerating period ( group C ) , angiogenesis degenerating period ( group D ) . ln addition, there are also normal groups ( group N ) to compare the Rl values and survival time of corneal graft. ●RESULTS: Electron microscopy showed that, when the first 7d rat cornea appeared neovascularization after alkali burn, but not lymphangiogenesis. The occurrence of new blood vessels and lymphatic in 2wk. There were no obvious lymphangiogenesis in 5wk and the angiogenesis gradually subside in 8 wk. The expression of VEGF-C/D and VEGFR-3 in the corneas of rats were up-regulated in the third days after the injury, and reached its peaks at 5d. The average survival time of group N, A, B, C, D were (14.25±0.62)d, (9.35±1.02)d, (5.06±1.13)d, (8.71±0.83) d, (9. 44±1. 05)d after transplant cornea. Compared to the rest of the group, group B plant average survival time significantly shortened (P ● CONCLUSION: VEGF - C/D and VEGFR - 3 are expressed significantly after corneal alkali burn. New lymphatic vessels can accelerate high - risk corneal transplantation immune rejection.