Fermented Barley Extracts with Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 Rich in Vanillic Acid Modulate Glucose Consumption in Human HepG2 Cells / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of fermented barley extracts with Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 (LFBE) for modulating glucose consumption in HepG2 cells via miR-212 regulation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells were treated with palmitate. After 12 h, palmitate-induced HepG2 cells were treated with LFBE and its main components. Changes in glucose consumption, proinflammatory cytokine secretion, and miRNA-212 expression in HepG2 cells was observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Treatment with LFBE rich in vanillic acid (VA) increased glucose consumption and reduced proinflammatory cytokine secretion in HepG2 cells. LFBE and VA normalized the upregulation of miR-212, which led to the upregulation of dual-specificity phosphatase-9 (DUSP9), a direct target of miR-212, at both protein and mRNA levels. Downregulation of miR-212 markedly increased glucose consumption and reduced proinflammatory cytokine secretion by enhancing DUSP9 expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results showed the benefit of LFBE and miR-212 downregulation in modulating glucose consumption and reducing proinflammatory cytokine secretion by targeting DUSP9. VA in LFBE was a strong regulator of palmitate-induced abnormal glucose consumption in HepG2 cells and can be a primary mediator.</p>

Antitumor Activities and Apoptosis-regulated Mechanisms of Fermented Barley Extract in the Transplantation Tumor Model of Human HT-29 Cells in Nude Mice / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>A subcutaneous transplantation tumor model of human HT-29 cells was established in nude mice to study the anticarcinogenic activities and apoptosis-regulatory mechanistic effect of aqueous extract of fermented barley with Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 (LFBE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HT-29 cells were transplanted via subcutaneous injection of 1 × 107cells into the right flank of each nude mouse. Then, nude mice were treated for 30 days with LFBE (high-dose 2 g·kg-1·d-1; low-dose 1 g·kg-1·d-1) and for 7 days with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU, 25 g·kg-1·d-1) by gavage and intraperitoneal injection, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Tumor volume and weight decreased significantly in both groups of nude mice treated with LFBE. In addition, the cell apoptosis rate of the LFBE group was significantly higher than that of the control group and 5-FU groups as measured by the TUNEL assay. Moreover, the real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot methods further confirmed these apoptosis-enhancing and growth-inhibiting effects. The involvement of LFBE in inducing apoptosis was confirmed by the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, and cyclinD1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results showed that LFBE could induce subcutaneous transplantation tumor apoptosis in nude mice and could be used as a natural nutrient supplement or chemopreventive agent in the treatment of human colon cancer.</p>

Antitumor Activities and Apoptosis-regulated Mechanisms of Fermented Wheat Germ Extract in the Transplantation Tumor Model of Human HT-29 Cells in Nude Mice / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>A subcutaneous transplantation tumor model of human HT-29 cells in nude mice was established to evaluate anticarcinogenic activities, and the apoptosis-regulated mechanism effect of aqueous extract of fermented wheat germ with Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 (LFWGE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The HT-29 cells were transplanted via subcutaneous injection of 1×107 cells into the right flank of each nude mouse. Then, nude mice were treated for 30 d with LFWGE (high-dose 2 g/kg/d; low-dose 1 g/kg/d) and for 7 d with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU, 25 mg/kg/d) by gavage and intraperitoneal injection, respectively. An inhibition of tumor growth was observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Tumor volume and weights decreased significantly in both groups of nude mice treated with LFWGE. In addition, the cell apoptosis rate of the LFWGE group (2 g/kg/d, 60.1%±4.4%; 1 g/kg/d, 58.6%±6.9%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (11.5%±1.6%) and 5-FU group (32.1%±3.5%) as measured by the TUNEL assay. Moreover, the real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot method further confirmed these enhancing apoptosis and growth inhibition effects. The involvement of LFWGE in inducing apoptosis was confirmed by the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, and CyclinD1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results showed that LFWGE could induce subcutaneous transplantation tumor apoptosis in nude mice and could be as a natural nutrient supplements or chemopreventive agent in the treatment of human colon cancer.</p>

Influences of intervention on the abilities of detecting pulmonary tuberculosis cases in general hospitals / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the influences of intervention on the abilities of detecting pulmonary tuberculosis cases in general hospitals.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We selected 6 general hospitals at 3 different levels (A, B, and C). The intervened group included hospitals A1, B1, and C1, and the non-intervened group included hospitals A2, B2, and C2. The results after intervention were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The report rate of pulmonary tuberculosis, sputum positive rate of reported cases, and sputum check rate of reported cases were significantly higher in hospital A1 than grouping hospital A2 (P = 0.000, P = 0.045, and P = 0.017, respectively). The report rate and sputum examination rate of reported cases were significantly higher in hospital B1 than grouping hospital B2 (P = 0.000, P = 0.024, respectively). The report rate and sputum examination rate of reported cases were significantly lower in hospital C1 than grouping hospital C2 (P = 0.000, P = 0.001, respectively). In hospital A1, the report rate, sputum positive rate of reported cases, and sputum check rate of reported cases were not significantly different before and after intervention (P = 0.182, P = 0.116, and P = 0.583, respectively). In hospital B1, the report rate were significantly different before and after intervention (P = 0.004), while the sputum positive rate of reported cases and sputum check rate of reported cases were not significantly different (P = 0.909, P = 0.052, respectively). In hospital C1, the report rate was significantly higher after intervention (P = 0.025). In hospital C2, the sputum check rate significantly increased (P = 0.000).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Intervention influences the hospitals abilities to detect pulmonary tuberculosis cases. However, more optimized and long-term intervention mechanism should be established to increase case detection rate of pulmonary tuberculosis.</p>