ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the effect of modified Dihuangyin on vascular dementia due to kidney empty phlegm and blood stasis syndrome，and its effect on phosphoinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B （PI3K/Akt） signaling pathway ［PI3K，microtuble-associated protein 1 light chain 3（LC3）Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ，Akt，phosphorylatedprotein kinase B（p-Akt）］ in peripheral blood. Method:Totally 100 cases were randomly divided into control group （50 cases） and observation group （50 cases），and were given donepezil，modified Dihuangyin combined with donepezil for 30 d，respectively. The main efficacy indicators ［mini-mental state examination （MMSE），clinical dementia rating （CDR），activity of daily living scale （ADL），traditional Chinese medcine（TCM） syndrome］ were compared in two groups. The cerebral blood flow dynamics ［middle cerebral artery （MCA），basilar artery （BA），anterior cerebral artery （ACA），posterior cerebral artery （PCA）］ speed，serum inflammatory factors ［tumor necrosis factor-<italic>α</italic> （TNF-<italic>α</italic>），interleukin-6 （IL-6），transforming growth factor-<italic>β</italic> （TGF-<italic>β</italic>），C-reactive protein （CRP）］，oxidative stress indicators ［malondialdehyde （MDA），superoxide dismutase （SOD），glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px） ，homocysteine （Hcy）］，peripheral blood PI3K/Akt signaling pathway （PI3K，LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ，Akt，p-Akt） were tested. The efficacy and adverse reactions of the two groups were compared. Result:The total effective rate was 95.9% in observation group was higher than that 72.3% in control group （<italic>χ</italic><sup>2</sup>=5.673，<italic>P</italic><0.05）. Compared with the control group after treatment，the MMSE，ADL，SOD，GSH-Px，TGF-<italic>β</italic>，PI3K，Akt and p-Akt in the observation group were increased （<italic>P</italic><0.05），CDR，MCA，BA，ACA and PCA were increased （<italic>P</italic><0.05），and the TCM syndromes，MDA，Hcy，TNF-<italic>α</italic>，IL-6，CRP，LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ were decreased （<italic>P</italic><0.05）. There was no significant difference incidence of adverse reactions between two groups. Conclusion:Modified Dihuangyin can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of patients with vascular dementia due to kidney empty phlegm and blood stasis syndrome，and the mechanism of action may be related to PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in peripheral blood.
ABSTRACT
Objective @# To study the role of DNA methylation in oral leukoplakia carcinogenesis.@*Methods@# DNA methylation was detected in forty cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), twenty-eight cases of oral leukoplakia (OLK) and forty cases of healthy oral mucosa. Download the expression profile data of OSCC, OLK and healthy oral mucosa from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. DNA methylation data and expression profile data were compared for repeatability, DNA methylation data for difference analysis and corresponding expression profile data for IPA pathway analysis.@*Results @#The data analysis showed that DNA methylation had greater flexibility and instability. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) analysis showed that genes related to OLK differential methylation sites were mainly concentrated in the process of cell movement and differentiation. Genes related to differential methylation sites of OSCC are mainly enriched in cell proliferation, migration, oxidation regulation, and anti-apoptosis processes. The genes associated with OLK and OSCC differential methylation sites are co-enriched in phosphoinositol metabolism and phospholipase C signaling pathway.@* Conclusion@#DNA methylation is involved in the formation of oral squamous cell carcinoma, and the activation of phosphoinositol metabolism may promote oral leukinoma.
ABSTRACT
Background: Prunus dulcis (almond) contains high amounts of Inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) which has proven antidepressant effects. Hence this study was done to evaluate the effects of Prunus dulcis on mice models of depression.Methods: Tails suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST) are usually used to assess the antidepressant activity in animal models. They were employed to analyse the effectiveness of Prunus dulcis before and after two weeks of the study period and the results were compared. The animals were divided into 4 groups of 6 mice each.group-1 (Normal control); group-2 was given fluoxetine 10 mg/kg; group- 3 and group- 4 were given 600 mg/kg and 1200 mg/kg of Prunus dulcis extract respectively. All the animals were on standard chow diet the entire duration of the study.Results: Prunus dulcis (almond) is found to be effective in treating depression, by significantly reducing the immobility period on test group 1 in forced swim test (p<0.05) and test group 2 in tail suspension test (p<0.05).Conclusions: The results clearly indicate the beneficial effects Prunus dulcis (almond) on mice models of depression. Further studies are required to prove its effectiveness in humans.