Anti-tumor Effect and Mechanism of Betulinic Acid： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Betulinic acid （BA） is a lupane pentacyclic triterpene extracted from a variety of Chinese herbs such as Betulae Platyphyllae Cortex， Astragali Radix， Paeoniae Radix Alba， Jujubae Fructus， Sanguisorbae Radix， Eucommiae Cortex， Glycrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， Aucklandiae Radix， and Ziziphi Spinosae Semen. It has attracted wide attention from doctors because of its low toxicity， high efficacy， and multiple functions. BA has been found to possess a significant anti-tumor biological activity， and it is expected to become a potential drug for the treatment of malignant tumors. So far， a number of studies have shown that BA is able to promote apoptosis， inhibit proliferation， metastasis and invasion， and induce cell cycle arrest via multiple mechanisms， thus resisting various malignant tumors such as ovarian cancer， breast cancer， gastric cancer， lung cancer， colorectal cancer， and prostate cancer. It exerts the anti-tomor effect by regulating the expression of cancer suppressor genes p53 and p21， triggering the generatoipn of reactive oxygen species （ROS）， down-regulating the expression of nuclear transcription factor-κB （NF-κB）， adjusting the B lymphocytoma-2 （Bcl-2） family to cause tumor cell apoptosis， and regulating transcription factor Sp1/3/4 to induce apoptosis. Its anti-proliferative activity is mainly achieved via the regulation of cyclin B， cyclin D and cyclin dependent kinases CDK and CDC. Its efficacy in inhibiting metastasis and invasion is mainly realized by regulating matrix metalloproteinase （MMP） and matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor （TIMP）， up-regulating E-cadherin， down-regulating N-cadherin and blocking the epithelial-mesenchymal transformation （EMT）. In addition， BA also induces cell cycle arrest， affects tumor metabolic reprogramming， and activates autophagy to inhibit tumor. Although there are a large number of studies on BA against tumors and its efficacy has been proved strong， the systematic review on its anti-tumor effect is still lacking. Therefore， this study reviewed the anti-tumor effect and mechanism of BA， in order to provide reference for its subsenquent research.

Anti-tumor Effect and Mechanisms of Calycosin： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Calycosin （CA）， a functional phytoestrogenic isoflavone extracted from Chinese herb Astragali Radix， is characterized by high efficiency， low toxicity， and multiple targets and has multiple pharmacological activities such as anti-oxidation， anti-radiation， anti-bacteria， cardio-cerebrovascular protection， and immunity enhancement. A number of studies have proved its significant anti-tumor effect， making it expected to become a potential component for the treatment of malignant tumors. Research shows that CA exerts the anti-tumor effect via multiple mechanisms like inducing tumor cell apoptosis and inhibiting tumor cell proliferation， migration， and invasion. It has been proved to be effective in suppressing breast cancer， colorectal cancer， lung cancer， cervical cancer， ovarian cancer， nasopharyngeal cancer， and other common malignant tumors. Its anti-tumor activity is mainly related to the regulation of B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2） family genes， microRNA （miRNA）， and estrogen receptor β （ERβ） to trigger tumor cell apoptosis. Its anti-proliferation activity is mainly reflected in the regulation of cyclin family， WD repeat-containing protein 7 （WDR7-7）， and Ewing sarcoma-associated transcript 1 （EWSAT1）. By blocking the epithelial mesenchymal transformation （EMT）， vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF）， matrix metalloproteinases （MMPs）， CA inhibits tumor cell metastasis and invasion. In addition， it inhibits tumors by regulating autophagy marker Beclin-1 induced tumor cell autophagy and increases the sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs， thus improving the treatment effect. Although there are many reports about the wide range of applications and good effects of CA in anti-tumor， the systematic review of its anti-tumor mechanism is still lacking. Therefore， this study reviewed the anti-tumor effects and mechanisms of CA， aiming to provide reference for researchers and clinical workers.

Effect of polydimethylsiloxane matrix elasticity on osteogenic differentiation of rat marrow stromal cells / 中华口腔医学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the effect of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix elasticity on osteogenic differentiation of rat marrow stromal cells (rBMSC).@*Methods@#A series of PDMS composite substrates with different elastic modulus were constructed by adjusting the relative concentrations of cross-linking agent. The Young's modulus was used to describe the elasticity of PDMS after measurement by atomic force microscope (AFM). After surface modification, rBMSC was seeded on PDMS matrix, and 7 days after rBMSC was cultured on the five different Young's moduli matrix, the differences of osteogenic differentiation of rBMSC were observed by the method of real-time PCR, Western blotting, and alkaline phosphatase assay.@*Results@#The PDMS was suitable for cell culture after surface modification, and by altering the concentration of cross-linking agent, PDMS could mimic the majority of the tissues' elasticity in vivo. The related osteogenic differentiation markers expression showed significant difference between the five matrixes (P<0.05), including type Ⅰ collagen (Col-Ⅰ), osteocalcin (OCN), osteopontin (OPN) and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2). The expression of osteogenic markers was up-regulated in the group that the Young's modulus was (354.1±40.9) kPa (P<0.05).@*Conclusions@#PDMS is a tunable elasticity matrix which could be used in the investigation of inducing rBMSCs into osteoblastic lineages. PDMS substrate stiffness has an obvious influence on rBMSC osteogenic differentiation.

Applications of lasers in dental implantology / 中国医学科学院学报

With the constant progress of laser physics, medical laser technology has been widely applied in clinical practices and basic researches. In this article, we reviewed the relevant articles on the laser applications in dental implantology and concluded that lasers provides promising solutions in the treatment technology of dental implants and in the treatment of soft and hard tissue conditions.

Effects of intrathecal injection of ginsenoside Rg1 on the level of glutamate transporter in the arthritis rats with chronic morphine tolerance / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of intrathecal injection of ginsenoside Rg1 at different doses on the changes of the behavior and the expressions of excitatory amino-acid transporter 1 (EAAT1), i. e., glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST) in the spinal dorsal horn of the arthritis rats with chronic morphine tolerance, and further to explore its mechanisms for morphine tolerance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>After successful intrathecal injection, an adjuvant arthritis model was established in 36 healthy male SD rats. They were randomly divided into 6 groups, 6 in each group. They were intrathecally injected with 10 microL normal saline (Group NS), 10 microg morphine (Group M), 10 microg morphine + 50 microg ginsenoside Rg1 (Group MG50), 10 microg morphine +100 microg ginsenoside Rg1 (Group MG100), 10 microg morphine + 200 microg ginsenoside Rg1 (Group MG200), and 100 microg ginsenoside Rg1 (Group G100), respectively. The normal saline and morphine were intrathecally injected twice daily, while ginsenoside Rg1 at different doses was intrathecally injected once daily, for 7 successive days. Fifty percent mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) was dynamically detected to evaluate their behaviors. The rats were sacrificed on day 7 after medication. The L3-L5 segment of the spinal cord was isolated for determining the expression of GLAST in the spinal dorsal horn using immunofluorescence staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The PWT of Group M was significantly higher than that of Group NS on the 1st and 3rd day after medication (P < 0.05). But it was gradually shortened along with the increasing days of medication. There was no statistical difference between Group M and Group NS on the 7th day (P > 0.05), indicating the formation of morphine tolerance. The PWT of Group MG100 also showed a decreasing tendency, but obviously slower than that of Group M (P < 0.05). The PWT of Group G100 was higher than that of Group NS (P < 0.05). Compared with Group NS, the expression of GLAST in the spinal dorsal horn of rats in Group M was down-regulated (P < 0.01). Compared with Group M, the expression of GLAST in the spinal dorsal horn of rats in Group MG100 and Group G100 was up-regulated (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Single application of ginsenoside Rg1 showed mild antinociceptive effect in adjuvant-induced arthritis rats. Intrathecal injection of 100 microg ginsenoside Rg1 could attenuate the formation of morphine tolerance. Its mechanisms might be correlated with up-regulating of the expression of GLAST.</p>

BHMT gene polymorphisms as risk factors for cleft lip and cleft palate in a Chinese population / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Convincing evidence suggests a link between increased risk of nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) and low intake of folic acid by the mother during pregnancy. The present study was designed to explore if genetic variation in the betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) gene contributes to NSCL/P.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DNA was obtained from 166 individuals with NSCL/P and 285 healthy subjects. Three known single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) present in the BHMT gene (rs651852, rs3797546, and rs3733890) were investigated by real-time PCR-based TaqMan genotyping.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Neither allelic nor genotypic association was found between NSCL/P and SNPs rs651852 and rs3733890. SNP rs3797546 did not show allelic association with NSCL/P; however, a higher proportion of NSCL/P patients carry the CC genotype compared with the TT+CT genotype (P=0.020, OR=2.10, 95% CI=1.11-3.95).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our study suggests that polymorphism rs3797546 in the BHMT gene may confer genetic risk of NSCL/P in a recessive manner.</p>

Restoration of nasal deformity in unilateral cleft lip with conchal cartilage transplantation / 实用口腔医学杂志

Objective:To explore a good method which might be used to reconstruct the nasal deformity after unilateral complete cleft lip has been repaired. Methods: After being folded into a small column, the conchal cartilage was transplanted into nasal columella to reconstruct the frame of the nasal columella so that the nasal tip was supported strongly. Then the bilateral columella cartilages were raised to its normal and symmetrical position and then sutured to the conchal cartilage column. After that, a "Z" plasty was made on the ridge of nasal mucosa under nostril on the side of the cleft. Results: A total of 44 cases were treated by the method above, and above 90% of cases were evaluated as satisfactory. Conclusion:It is a good method to reconstruct the nasal deformity by transplanting conchal cartilage into nasal columella.