Mechanism of Qiyu Sanlong Prescription in Inhibiting "Addiction" of Lung Cancer A549 Cells to miRNA21 / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the molecular mechanism of Qiyu Sanlong prescription （QYSL） in inhibiting the "addiction" of lung cancer A549 cells to miRNA21. Method:The human lung cancer A549 cells were routinely passaged and divided into the blank group， blank serum group， QYSL-containing serum group， and siRNA group. The prepared QYSL-containing serum was used for intervention， with the optimal concentration and action time determined in previous studies. The protein and mRNA expression levels of miRNA21 and related molecules in its target phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 （PTEN）/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K） signaling pathway were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot assay. Result:The comparison with the blank serum group revealed that the mRNA expression levels of miRNA21 in the QYSL-containing serum group and the siRNA group were decreased， while the PTEN mRNA expression in the QYSL-containing serum group was increased， showing significant differences （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with the blank serum， the QYSL-containing serum and siRNA significantly down-regulated PI3K and mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR） mRNA expression （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， whereas the QYSL-containing serum did not change the mRNA expression of protein kinase B （Akt）. The protein expression levels of PTEN in the QYSL-containing serum group and the siRNA group were obviously elevated in contrast to that in the blank serum group （<italic>P</italic><0.05）. Meanwhile， the protein expression levels of phosphorylated Akt （p-Akt） and phosphorylated mTOR （p-mTOR） evidently declined in the QYSL-containing serum group （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， but there was no significant reduction in total Akt and mTOR protein expression. The PI3K protein expression was slightly down-regulated， with no statistical significance. Conclusion:QYSL inhibits the transcription of miRNA21， increases the expression of PTEN， and reduces the expression of key molecules in PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway， thus mildly inhibiting the "addiction" of lung cancer cells to oncogenes and blocking their proliferation.

Regulatory Effect of Modified Liu Junzitang on Immune Function, Nutritional Status and Intestinal Microecology in Advanced Gastric Cancer Patients with Syndrome of Deficiency of Qi and Blood / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To explore the regulatory effect of modified Liu Junzitang on the immune function， nutritional status and intestinal microecology in advanced gastric cancer patients with syndrome of deficiency of Qi and blood. Method:The 86 advanced gastric cancer patients with syndrome of deficiency of Qi and blood were randomly divided into control group and observation group according to their admission numbers， with 43 cases in each group. The control group was given Yiqi Yangxue oral liquid on the basis of basic treatment while the observation group was given modified Liu Junzitang. After 4 weeks， compare the clinical efficacy of two groups of patients， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome score， gastrointestinal function recovery， adverse reaction and quality of life， immune function， T cell subsets CD3⁺， CD4⁺， CD8⁺， C₃ and C₄ levels， immunoglobulin A （IgA）， immunoglobulin G （IgG）， immunoglobulin M （IgM）， nutritional status： albumin （propagated）， prealbumin （PA）， serum total protein （TP） and hemoglobin （Hb） content changes， the intestinal micro ecology： <italic>Bifidobacterium</italic>， <italic>Lactobacillus</italic>， <italic>Enterococcus aureus</italic>， <italic>Escherichia coli</italic> content changes. Result:The total effective rate of the observation group was 95.35% （41/43）， which was significantly higher than 79.07% （34/43） of the control group （<italic>χ²</italic>=5.108，<italic>P</italic><0.05）， after treatment， the TCM syndromes such as dizziness， pale complexion， palpitation， shortness of breath and fatigue in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， the bowel sound recovery， exhaust and defecation time of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， the quality of life scores in the observation group， such as the nature-to-human correspondence， form and spirit integration， specific modules， functional areas， and overall health score， were significantly higher than those in control group （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， the CD3⁺， CD4⁺， CD4⁺/CD8⁺， C₃， C₄， IgA， immune function indexes such as IgG and IgM were significantly higher than those of the control group， and the CD8⁺ level was lower than which of control group （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， the nutritional status levels such as Alb， PA， TP and Hb in the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， <italic>Bifidobacterium</italic>， <italic>Lactobacillus</italic>， and <italic>E. faecalis </italic>in the observation group were higher than those in the control group， and <italic>E. coli</italic> was lower than the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， the adverse reaction rate of the observation group was 11.63% （5/43） and the control group was 16.28% （7/43） ， and there was no statistical difference between two groups. Conclusion:Modified Liu Junzitang has a good clinical effect on advanced gastric cancer patients with syndrome of deficiency of Qi and blood. It can improve TCM syndromes and gastrointestinal function， improve quality of life， and its mechanism is related to improving immune function， enhancing nutritional status， and improving intestinal microecology， and it has good safety.

Effect of Qiyu Sanlong Decoction in Inducing Autophagy of A549 Cells by Regulating Molecular Expression Related to Signal Axis of mTOR-Beclin1-LC3 / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the effect of Qiyu Sanlong decoction （QYSL） on the expressions of key molecules in signal axis of mammalian rapamycin target protein （mTOR）/yeast Atg6 homologous （Beclin1）/ microtubule-associated protein1 light chain3 （LC3） in A549 cells. Method:With A549 cells as the research object， the effect of QYSL medicated serum on cell viability of A549 cells were detected by cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） method. The effect of QYSL decoction on A549 cell apoptosis， autophagosome formation and the expression of autophagy markers were detected by Terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling （TUNEL） method， transmission electron microscope （TEM）， Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot. Result:QYSL medicated serum could inhibit the viability of A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Compared with the blank serum group， the number of apoptotic A549 cells in the QYSL medicated serum group was significantly increased （P<0.01）， and the formation of autophagosome was significantly increased. Compared with the blank serum group， the mRNA and protein expressions of mTOR in A549 cells in the QYSL serum group were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， while mRNA and protein expressions of Beclin-1， autophagy related genes 5 （ATG5）， autophagy related genes 13 （ATG13） were significantly increased （P<0.01）. Conclusion:QYSL decoction can induce autophagy in A549 cells， and its specific mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of mTOR expression， the up-regulation of Beclin1， ATG5， ATG13 and LC3 expression， and the promotion of LC3Ⅰ conversion to LC3Ⅱ.

Adenovirus pneumonia with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in children: a clinical analysis of 7 children / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the clinical features of children with adenovirus pneumonia and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed on the mediacal data of 7 children with adenovirus pneumonia and HLH from March to September, 2019.@*RESULTS@#The age of these children ranged from 11 months to 5 years, and among these children, 5 were aged <2 years and 5 were boys. None of these children had underlying diseases. All children were hospitalized due to persistent high fever and cough, and the peak temperature of fever was 39°C to 41°C. With disease progression, 7 children developed hepatomegaly and 6 developed splenomegaly. Routine blood test results showed reductions in two or three lineages of blood cells, with increases in serum ferritin (SF), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Phagocytosis of blood cells was observed in 6 children. Radiological examination of lungs showed pneumonia changes. All 7 children were diagnosed with human adenovirus type 7 infection based on pathogenic metagenome detection. No abnormality was found by HLH gene detection and the children were diagnosed with secondary HLH. All children received intravenous immunoglobulin. Among these children, 4 received dexamethasone and etoposide chemotherapy, 3 received dexamethasone alone, and 4 received plasma exchange. Of the 7 children, 2 died and 5 were recovered. Compared with those who survived, the children who died had significantly greater reductions in the three lineages of blood cells and significantly greater increases in serum levels of CRP, PCT, SF, and LDH.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The children with adenovirus pneumonia and HLH have main clinical features of persistent high fever, progressive reductions in two or three lineages of peripheral blood cells, and involvement of other organ systems, including hepatosplenomegaly. Significant increases in serum levels of CRP, PCT, SF, and LDH may suggest a poor prognosis.

Long non-coding RNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 6 aggravates pancreatic cancer through upregulation of far upstream element binding protein 1 by sponging microRNA-26a-5p / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly deadly malignancy with few effective therapies. We aimed to unmask the role that long non-coding RNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 6 (SNHG6) plays in PC cells by targeting far upstream element binding protein 1 (FUBP1) via microRNA-26a-5p (miR-26a-5p).@*METHODS@#SNHG6 expression was predicted by bioinformatics, followed by verification via reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Then, the interactions among SNHG6, miR-26a-5p, and FUBP1 were detected through online software analysis, dual luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down. After that, cells were treated with different small interfering RNAs and/or mimic to determine the interactions among SNHG6, miR-26a-5p, and FUBP1 and their roles in PC cells. Finally, the role of SNHG6 in tumor growth in vivo was evaluated by measuring the growth and weight of transplanted tumors in nude mice. A t-test, one-way and two-way analysis of variance were used for data analysis.@*RESULTS@#Compared with that in normal tissues, SNHG6 was highly expressed in PC tissues (1.00 ± 0.05 vs. 1.56 ± 0.06, t = 16.03, P < 0.001). Compared with that in human pancreatic duct epithelial cells (HPDE6-C7), SNHG6 showed the highest expression in PANC-1 cells (1.00 ± 0.06 vs. 3.87 ± 0.13, t = 34.72, P < 0.001) and the lowest expression in human pancreatic cancer cells (MIAPaCa-2) (1.00 ± 0.06 vs. 1.41 ± 0.07, t = 7.70, P = 0.0015). Compared with the levels in the si-negative control group, SNHG6 (0.97 ± 0.05 vs. 0.21 ± 0.06, t = 16.85, P < 0.001), N-cadherin (0.74 ± 0.05 vs. 0.41 ± 0.04, t = 8.93, P < 0.001), Vimentin (0.55 ± 0.04 vs. 0.25 ± 0.03, t = 10.39, P < 0.001), and β-catenin (0.62 ± 0.05 vs. 0.32 ± 0.03, t = 8.91, P < 0.001) were decreased, while E-cadherin (0.65 ± 0.06 vs. 1.36 ± 0.07, t = 13.34, P < 0.001) was increased after SNHG6 knockdown or miR-26a-5p overexpression, accompanied by inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. SNHG6 overexpression exerted the opposite effects. SNHG6 upregulated FUBP1 expression by sponging miR-26a-5p. Silencing SNHG6 blocked the growth of PC in vivo.@*CONCLUSION@#Silencing SNHG6 might ameliorate PC through inhibition of FUBP1 by sponging miR-26a-5p, thus providing further supporting evidence for its use in PC treatment.

Inhibitory Effect and Mechanism of Yiqi Jianpi Huayu Recipe Combined with 5-FU on Gastric Cancer / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective::To observe the synergistic effect and mechanism of Yiqi Jianpi Huayu (YQJPHY) recipe combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on inhibiting gastric cancer growth, and investigate its possible mechanism through polarization direction of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in tumor micro-environment. Method::A total of forty 615 mice were randomly divided into four groups including control group, YQJPHY(25 g·kg-1) group, 5-FU (25 mg·kg-1) group and combined group (YQJPHY plus 5-FU), with 10 mice in each group. The gastric cancer transplantation model was induced by axillary inoculation of MFC gastric cancer cells. Changes in tumor pathology were observed with hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE) method. The contents of M1 and M2 TAMs in tumor tissues were determined with flow cytometry, while the expression of CD206 in tumor was observed with immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expressions of TAM-related genes including interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-12(IL-12), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), arginase-1(Arg1), and chitinase 3-like 3(Ym1) were detected by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related epithelial calcium adhesion protein(E-cadherin), nervous calcium adhesion protein(N-cadherin), Zinc finger transcription factor Slug, Snail and Waveform protein (Vimentin) were detected with Real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. Result::The gastric cancer cells in tumors were distributed in nest and/or flaky shape, with fibroblastic connective tissue reaction and inflammatory cells infiltrated in interstitium. Coagulative necrosis of tumor was observed in various treatment groups. The amount of residual cancer cells in mouse was as follows from largest to smallest: control group>YQJPHY group>5-FU group>combined group. Immunohistochemical studies showed that all treatment groups can reduce the expression of CD206 in the tumor, and the effect was most obvious in the combined group. The contents of M2-TAM in all treatment groups were lower than those in control group(P<0.05, P<0.01), and the most significant difference in the content of M2-TAMs was shown between the control group and the combined group. The contents of M1 TAMs were increased in YQJPHY and combined groups(P<0.05, P<0.01), with the largest incremental range in YQJPHY group. The expressions of Arg1 and Ym1 in YQJPHY and combined groups were lower, while IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-12 levels were higher than those in control group(P<0.05). The mRNA expressions of IL-1β, IL-12 and TNF-α in the combined group were significantly higher, while Arg1 and Ym1 mRNA expression levels were lower than those in the 5-FU group(P<0.05). As compared with the control group, the mRNA and protein expression levels of E-cadherin were up-regulated(P<0.05), while the mRNA expression levels of N-cadherin and Vimentin were down-regulation in the YQJPHY group (P<0.05), E-cadherin mRNA and protein expression levels were up-regulated, while N-cadherin, Slug, Snail, Vimentin mRNA expression as well as N-cadherin and Slug protein expression levels were down-regulated in the combined group(P<0.05). As compared with the 5-FU group, the mRNA and protein expression levels of E-cadherin were up-regulated(P<0.05), while the mRNA and protein expression levels of N-cadherin, Slug and Vimentin were down-regulated in the combined group(P<0.05). Conclusion::YQJPHY has an inhibitory effect on the growth of gastric cancer, and after being combined with 5-FU, it has a good synergistic effect on inhibiting the growth of gastric cancer and decreasing EMT. The mechanism may be related to promoting the conversion from M2-TAMs to M1-TAMs in gastric tumor micro-environment.

Effect of Qiyu Sanlong Decoction in Inhibiting Growth of Lung Cancer by Regulating Expressions of Beclin1, Atg5 and LC3B / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective::To study the effect of Qiyu Sanlong decoction on the growth of subcutaneous tumor in lung cancer mice and the expressions of key autophagy molecule, yeast Atg6 homologous (Beclin1), autophagy related genes5 (Atg5), and microtubule-associated protein1 light chain3 (LC3B). Method::Lewis lung carcinoma cells (LLC) were used to reproduce the lung cancer mice transplanted model. After the modeling, the mice were randomly divided into model group, Qiyu Sanlong decoction group, chemotherapy group and combination group, with 18 transplanted mice in each group. In model group, mice were fed with 0.9% saline 20 mL·kg-1 daily. In Qiyu Sanlong decoction group, mice were fed with Qiyu Sanlong decoction 80.48 g·kg-1 daily. The chemotherapy group was intraperitoneally injected with 0.4 mL cisplatin solution (DDP) at the 1st, 3rd and 5th day. The combination group was orally given the drugs at the concentration of 80.48 g·kg-1, and 0.4 mL DDP solution was intraperitoneally injected at the 1st, 3rd and 5th day. After 21 days of continuous treatment, tumor tissue was exfoliated and weighed, and the tumor inhibition rate was calculated. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the histological changes of tumor. The expressions and localizations of Beclin1 and LC3B in tumor tissues were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Protein expressions of Beclin1, Atg5, LC3B-Ⅰand LC3B-Ⅱ were determined by Western blot, and the ratio of LC3B-Ⅱ/LC3B-Ⅰ was calculated. The transcription levels of Beclin1, Atg5 mRNA in tumor tissues were detected by Real-time PCR. Result::Qiyu Sanlong decoction had a mild inhibitory effect on transplanted tumor, with an inhibitory rate of 31.2%. Under microscope, patchy necrotic tumor cells were observed in the tumor tissues of Qiyu Sanlong decoction group. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis showed that Qiyu Sanlong decoction could up-regulate the expressions of Beclin1, Atg5 and LC3B protein (P<0.01), and promote the conversion from LC3B-Ⅰ into LC3-Ⅱ compared with the model group. Real-time PCR results showed that Qiyu Sanlong decoction could promote the transcription of Beclin1 mRNA and Atg5 mRNA compared with the model group (P<0.01). Conclusion::Qiyu Sanlong decoction has a mild inhibitory effect on lung tumors, and its mechanism may be related to up-regulating the expressions of autophagy key proteins Beclin1, Atg5 and LC3B, and promoting the conversion from LC3B-Ⅰ to LC3B-Ⅱ.

Effect of Jianpi Yangzheng Recipe on Apoptosis and EMT of HCT116 Cells in Colorectal Cancer by Inhibiting Aerobic Glycolysis Regulated by PKM2 / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the mechanism of Jianpi Yangzheng recipe in inhibiting aerobic glycolysis by down-regulating the expression of pyruvate kinase isoenzyme M2 (PKM2) protein, in order to promote apoptosis and inhibite epithelial-mesenchymal transition（EMT）in HCT116 cells of colorectal cancer. Method:The effect of different concentrations of Jianpi Yangzheng recipe on HCT116 cell proliferation was detected by methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide（MTT）colorimetry. Flow cytometry was used to detect the effect of different concentrations of Jianpi Yangzheng recipe（2.0, 4.0, 8.0 g·L-1） on HCT116 cell apoptosis. The effect of Jianpi Yangzheng recipe（2.0, 4.0, 8.0 g·L-1） on the migration and invasion ability of HCT116 cells was observed by cell scratch and cell invasion assay (Transwell). The effect of different concentrations of Jianpi Yangzheng recipe（2.0, 4.0, 8.0 g·L-1） on glycolysis metabolism of HCT116 cells were detected by lactic acid (LD) test kit and glucose assay kit, respectively. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins, like B lymphocyte tumor-2 gene (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 related X protein (Bax) and EMT-related proteins, like epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin)，neurogenic cadherin（N-cadherin）, Vimentin, and PKM2, the key protein of glycolysis, in each group. Result:MTT assay showed that, compared with the blank group, HCT116 cells were treated with Jianpi Yangzheng recipe for 48 h. With the increase of drug concentration, the inhibitory effect of Jianpi Yangzheng recipe on the proliferation of HCT116 cells was also increased; and when the concentration was 4.0 g·L-1, the inhibition rate of HCT116 cells was about 53.87%. Therefore, 2.0，4.0，8.0 g·L-1 were selected as low, medium and high-dose groups for the study. The cell flow cytometry results indicated that, compared with the blank group, the low, medium and high-dose groups all significantly induced the apoptosis of HCT116 cells (P<0.05), and the effect in inducing apoptosis was more obvious with the increase of drug concentration (P<0.05). Cell scratch and Transwell showed that, compared with the blank group, all the groups had an inhibitory effect on migration and invasion of HCT116 cells (P<0.05), and the effect was more significant with the increase of drug concentration (P<0.05). The determination of lactic acid and glucose indicated that compared with the blank group, with the increase of drug concentration, the amount of lactic acid produced by cells in each group gradually decreased (P<0.05), while the glucose dosage also gradually decreased (P<0.05). Western blot showed that, compared with the blank group, the protein expressions of E-cadherin and Bax were up-regulated in groups with different concentrations, whereas the protein expressions of N-cadherin, Vimentin, Bcl-2 and PKM2 were down-regulated (P<0.05). Conclusion:Jianpi Yangzheng recipe can effectively induce the apoptosis of HCT116 cells and inhibit EMT in colorectal cancer. The possible mechanism may be related to the inhibition of aerobic glycolysis pathway of HCT116 cells by down-regulating PKM2 protein expression.

Observation on Effect of Atractylodesin Ⅱ on Gastric Cancer Cells Based on Macrophage Polarization / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the anti-tumor effect mechanism of atractylenolide Ⅱ by studying its effect on macrophage polarization. Method:Phorbol myristate acetate （PMA） was used to induce THP-1 cells differentiation into macrophages， and methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide（MTT）colorimetric assay was used to detect the effect of different concentrations of atractylenolide Ⅱ on macrophage growth at different time points to screen out the safe concentration of atractylenolide Ⅱ. The macrophages were treated with different concentrations of atractylenolide Ⅱ for 24 hours and then were co-cultured with gastric cancer cells. The survival of the two types of cells was observed under light microscope. The proliferation of gastric cancer cells was detected by MTT assay to determine the effective administration concentrations of atractylenolide Ⅱ. Cells were divided into blank group， model group， atractylenolide Ⅱ high dose group （200 mg·L-1）， atractylenolide Ⅱ medium dose group （100 mg·L-1）， and atractylenolide Ⅱ low dose group（50 mg·L-1）. Wound healing assay was carried out to observe the effects of different concentrations of atractylenolide Ⅱ on the migration and morphology of gastric cancer cells. The expression levels of M1 and M2 macrophage surface markers CD86 and CD206 were detected by flow cytometry analysis（FCM）. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR）and Western blot were used to detect M1， M2 macrophage-associated tumor necrosis factor （TNF） -α， human leukocyte antigen 2 （HLA-DRA）， CD80， transforming growth factor （TGF）-β， interleukin （IL） -10 and IL-6 genes and protein expression. Western blot was used to detect intracellular phosphatidyl inositol kinase （PI3K） and p-PI3K protein expression in macrophages. Result:When the concentration of atractylenolide Ⅱ was 1， 10， 50， 100， 200 mg·L-1， it showed no inhibition on macrophage growth. As compared with the model group， macrophages treated with 50， 100， 200 mg·L-1 atractylenolide Ⅱ significantly inhibited tumor cell proliferation （P<0.01）. As compared with the model group， the migration rate of tumor cells in the atractylenolide Ⅱ （200，100 mg·L-1） groups decreased （P<0.05）. The expression levels of CD86 on M1 macrophage surfacen in the atractylenolide Ⅱ （200，100，50 mg·L-1） groups were increased（P<0.05，P<0.01）， and the expression levels of CD206 on M2 macrophagen in the atractylenolide Ⅱ （200 mg·L-1） group were decreased （P<0.05）. The expression levels of M1 macrophage-associated cytokines TNF-α， HLA-DRA， CD80 mRNA in the atractylenolide Ⅱ （200，100 mg·L-1） groups were increased（P<0.05，P<0.01）， and TNF-α protein expression in the atractylenolide Ⅱ （200 mg·L-1） group was increased （P<0.05）， M2 type macrophage-associated cytokine TGF-β mRNA expression levels in the atractylenolide Ⅱ （50 mg·L-1） group were decreased， and IL-10， IL-6 protein expression levels in the atractylenolide Ⅱ （200 mg·L-1） group were decreased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The expression levels of p-PI3K protein in the atractylenolide Ⅱ （200，100 mg·L-1） groups were also decreased（P<0.05，P<0.01）. Conclusion:Atractylenolide Ⅱ could induce the polarization of macrophages to M1 type by reducing the expression of p-PI3K in macrophages and inhibiting the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells.

Efficacy of Jianpi Shugan Fomula on Intestinal Flora of Patients with Diarrhea Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Its Effect on Intestinal Flora / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the effect of Jianpi Shugan decoction combined with acupuncture on the clinical symptoms of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) with liver depression and spleen deficiency and the intestinal flora. Method:Seventy patients with IBS-D with liver depression and spleen deficiency were randomly divided into two groups by the random number table. The treatment group was given Jianpi Shugan decoction combined with acupuncture for 4 weeks, the control group was treated with Pivavironium bromide for 4 weeks, and 30 healthy people were used as healthy control. The total effective rate, IBS bowel symptom severity scale (IBS-BSS), IBS quality of life questionnaire (IBS-QOL) and traditional Chinese medicine pattern curative effect scoring system (TCM-PES) were evaluated. The counts of Bacillus bifidus, B.acidi lactici, Enterobacteria, and Bacteroides in feces and the colonization resistance (CR) were observed by Real-time PCR. Result:The IBS-SSS scale showed that the TCM treatment group could reduce the scores at the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks (Pth and 8th weeks (Pth week scores of TCM treatment group were better than that of control group (PPth, 8th, and 12th weeks, and the control group increased the scores at the 4th week (PPB.bifidus and B.acidi lactici increased after 4 weeks of TCM treatment, and the count of Enterobacteria decreased (PB. bifidus increased, while Enterobacteria decreased in the TCM treatment group (PBacteroides after treatment in each group. Conclusion:Jianpi Shugan decoction combined with acupuncture has a reliable curative effect on IBS-D patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of intestinal flora imbalance.

Clinical and genetic characteristics of a young child with combined pituitary hormone deficiency type I caused by POU1F1 gene variation / 中国当代儿科杂志

This paper reports the clinical and genetic characteristics of a case of combined pituitary hormone deficiency type I (CPHD1) caused by POU domain, class 1, transcription factor 1 (POU1F1) gene variation. A 2 years and 3 months old girl mainly presented with short stature, special facial features of prominent forehead, enophthalmos, and short mandible, loose skin, central hypothyroidism, complete growth hormone deficiency, and anterior pituitary hypoplasia. Gene analysis identified a novel heterozygous mutation, c.889C>T (p.R297W), in POU1F1 gene, and this locus of her parents was wild-type. This mutation was analyzed as a possible pathogenic variant according to the guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, which has not been previously reported in the literature and conforms to the autosomal dominant inheritance. This child was diagnosed with CPHD1. Her height increased by 19.8 cm and showed a catch-up growth trend after one year of combined treatment with growth hormone and euthyrox. This study enriches the mutation spectrum of POU1F1 gene and has important significance for the diagnosis and classification of combined pituitary hormone deficiency.

Development of an environment-friendly and sterile four- blade vaginal dilator for LEEP surgery / 中国医学装备

Objective: To develop an environment-friendly and sterile four- blade vaginal dilator so as to resolve the problem of polluting environment that petroleum-based plastics released hydrogen chloride, dioxin and other poisonous and cancerogenic substance. Methods: The lower blade of the environment-friendly and sterile four-blade vaginal dilator was used as fixed blade, and upper blade, left blade and right blade were extensible and closable. And in the left and right blades, there were built-in smog exhaust tubes. And based on the previous invention of the twin-blades vaginal dilator, the device has been redesigned and developed by adding the left blades, right blades, locating sleeve and other related parts. Results: When the device expanded, both of left and right blades could extend out, and when it closed, both of them could be folded into the upper and lower blades. Therefore, it was safety and effective. Besides, the built-in smoking tubes of left and right blades could quickly exhaust harmful smog by the closest distance, and the plastics used in this device was not only environmentally friendly, but also it was insulation and cost-effective. Conclusion: The environment-friendly and sterile four-blades vaginal dilator used in LEEP surgery resolved two problems included the constructs of imported four-blades vaginal dilator were complex and the left and right blades couldn't extend out. And it effectively enhance the expand distance between left and right blades, and it enlarges operation field and surgery space. Besides, the use of the environmentally friendly plastics avoids the environmental pollution caused by the release of hydrogen chloride, dioxins and other toxic and carcinogenic substances when built-out smoking tubes and petroleum base plastics were incinerated. Therefore, it enhances the surgical quality.

The effect of physicians' occupational risk cognition on defensive medical behavior in China / 中国卫生政策研究

Objective:The aim of this paper is to explore the influence of physician's occupational risk cogni-tion on defensive medical behavior. Methods:Semi-structured interview was applied for data collection from in-serv-ice doctors. A grounded theory was used to analyze and develop the relationship between physicians'occupational risk cognition and defensive medical behavior. Results:This study shows that the cognition of various occupational risks may lead to a series of psychological effects on doctors,such as mental stress,anxiety and depression,professional i-dentity decrease,fear of adventure and innovation,job enthusiasm decrease and probability of malpractice increase. Adverse defensive medical behaviors, such as ordering more tests, treatments and consultations, selective treatment of patients,shirking responsibility through informed consent, and favorable defensive medical behaviors, such as to improve service attitude,being more cautious during work and to improve professional skills,should be in response to occupational risks. Conclusions:Physicians'occupational risk cognition is the primary motivation of defensive medical behavior,and the relationship between physicians'occupational risk cognition and defensive medical behavior may al-so be mutually causal and effect.

Association between Genetic Variants of Transforming Growth Factor-β1 and Susceptibility of Pneumoconiosis: A Meta-analysis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) and gene variants have been extensively studied in various human diseases. For example, TGF-β1 polymorphisms were associated with fibrosis and pneumoconiosis, but the data remained controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the association between TGF-β1 -509 C>T [rs1800469], +869 T>C [rs1800470], and +915 G>C [rs1800471] polymorphisms and pneumoconiosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A comprehensive literature search was conducted through searching in PubMed, Embase, the Chinese Biomedical Database, and the Wei Pu (Chinese) Database by the end of April 2016. Eleven publications with 21 studies were included in this meta-analysis, covering a total of 4333 patients with pneumoconiosis and 3478 controls. Study quality was assessed, and heterogeneity and publication bias were measured. All statistical analyses were performed using STATA version 12.0 (StataCorp, College Station, TX, USA) software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The data showed significant associations between TGF-β1 -509 C>T polymorphism and the risk of pneumoconiosis development (T vs. C, odds ratio [OR] = 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00-1.81, P = 0.046); between TGF-β1 +915 G>C polymorphism and the pneumoconiosis risk (C vs. G, OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.19-2.40, P = 0.004; CG vs. GG, OR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.23-2.60, P = 0.002; CC+CG vs. GG, OR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.24-2.61, P = 0.002). In addition, the subgroup analysis of ethnicity versus pneumoconiosis types indicated a significant association of silicosis among Asian populations but not that of coal workers' pneumoconiosis in Caucasian populations. In contrast, no significant association was exhibited between TGF-β1 +869 T>C polymorphism and risk of pneumoconiosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The polymorphisms of both TGF-β1 -509 C>T and +915 G>C are associated with increased risk of pneumoconiosis.</p>

Effect of Jianpi Yangzheng Xiaozheng Recipe on Apoptosis and Autophagy of Subcutaneous Transplanted Tumor in Nude Mice: an Experimental Study on Mechanism / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Jianpi Yangzheng Xiaozheng Recipe (JYXR) on the tumor inhibition rate of subcutaneous transplanted tumor gastric cancer cell line MGC-803 in BALB/c nude mice, and to study its molecular mechanism of apoptosis and autophagy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Gastric cancer cell line MGC-803 was subcutaneously inoculated to nude mice for preparing transplanted gastric cancer models. Totally 32 BALB/c nude mice were randomly divided into 4 groups according to random digit table, i.e., the negative control group, the positive control group, the high dose JYXR group, the low dose JYXR group, 8 in each group. Normal saline was administered to mice in the negative control group by gastrogavage. 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) at 2. 5 mg/kg was administered to mice in the positive control group by gastrogavage. JYXR at 85 and 43 g/kg was administered to mice in the high dose JYXR group and the low dose JYXR group by gastrogavage, once per day for 10 successive days. The effect of JYXR on the tumor inhibition rate of subcutaneous transplanted tumor was observed. Effects of JYXR on gene expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, Fas, Cyclin D1, Cyclin D2, and Cyclin D3 in transplanted tumor were observed by real-time PCR. Effects of JYXR on protein expression levels of Procaspase-3, Procaspase-8, Procaspase-9, cleaved-PARP, Beclin-1, and LC3B were detected using Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Compared with the negative control group, the tumor weight was obviously reduced in the rest three groups (P <0. 05). The tumor weight was higher in the high dose JYXR group and the low dose JYXR group than in the positive control group (P <0. 05). (2) Results of RT-PCR indicated that, compared with the negative control group, expression levels of Bax were up-regulated, but expression levels of Bcl-2, Cyclin D1, Cyclin D2, and Cyclin D3 were down-regulated in the positive control group and JYXR groups (P <0. 05). The expression level of Fas was up-regulated in the positive control group and the high dose JYXR group (P <0. 05). Compared with the positive control group, expression levels of Fas, and Bax were all down-regulated, but expression levels of Bcl-2, Cyclin D2, and Cyclin D3 were all up-regulated in the high dose JYXR group and the low dose JYXR group (all P <0. 05). The expression level of Cyclin D1 was down-regulated in the high dose JYXR group, but it was up-regulated in the low dose JYXR group ( both P <0. 05). (3) Results of Western blot showed, compared with the negative control group, expression levels of Procaspase-3, Procaspase-8, and Procaspase-9 were down-regulated, but expression levels of cleaved-PARP, Beclin-1, and LC3B II were up-regulated in the high dose JYXR group and the low dose JYXR group (all P <0.05). Compared with the negative control group, expression levels of Procaspase-3, Procaspase-8, Procaspase-9, and LC3B II were down-regulated, but expression levels of cleaved-PARP, Beclin-1, and LC3B I were up-regulated in the positive control group (all P <0. 05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>JYXR showed significant inhibition on subcutaneous transplanted tumor gastric cancer cell line MGC-803 in BALB/c nude mice. Its mechanism might be associated with activating apoptosis and autophagy correlated factors.</p>

Prenatal exposure to lipopolysaccharide results in vascular renin-angiotensin system dysfunction in offspring rats / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the impact of prenatal exposure to lipopolysaccharide on renin-angiotensin system of offspring rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Six pregnant SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups. The rats in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group were treated with LPS 0.79 mg/kg (i.p.) on the 8th, 10th and 12th day of gestation, and rats in the control group were treated with saline at the same time points. The blood pressure of offspring rats was measured by the tail cuff method. Protein expression of Angiotensin II (AngII) in thoracic aorta vessel was determined by immunohistochemistry. Protein expressions of AngII type 1 and type 2 receptor in thoracic aorta vessel were detected by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Blood pressure of 12-week-old offspring rats of LPS group was significantly higher than that of 12-week-old offspring rats of control group (P < 0.01). The protein expression of AngII and AngII type 1 receptor in thoracic aorta vessel were significantly higher while protein expression of AngII type 2 receptor was lower in 15-week-old offspring rats of LPS group than in control group, resulting in a significant increase in the ratio of AngII type 1 receptor/AngII type 2 receptor in the aorta at 15-week-old of offspring rats than in 15-week-old offspring rats of control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Prenatal lipopolysaccharide exposure results vascular renin-angiotensin system dysfunction, which may play an important role on the pathogenesis of hypertension development in offspring rats.</p>