Artemisia argyi extract subfraction exerts an antifungal effect against dermatophytes by disrupting mitochondrial morphology and function / 中国天然药物

Artemisia argyi (A. argyi), a plant with a longstanding history as a raw material for traditional medicine and functional diets in Asia, has been used traditionally to bathe and soak feet for its disinfectant and itch-relieving properties. Despite its widespread use, scientific evidence validating the antifungal efficacy of A. argyi water extract (AAWE) against dermatophytes, particularly Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Microsporum gypseum, remains limited. This study aimed to substantiate the scientific basis of the folkloric use of A. argyi by evaluating the antifungal effects and the underlying molecular mechanisms of its active subfraction against dermatophytes. The results indicated that AAWE exhibited excellent antifungal effects against the three aforementioned dermatophyte species. The subfraction AAWE6, isolated using D101 macroporous resin, emerged as the most potent subfraction. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of AAWE6 against T. rubrum, M. gypseum, and T. mentagrophytes were 312.5, 312.5, and 625 μg·mL-1, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results and assays of enzymes linked to cell wall integrity and cell membrane function indicated that AAWE6 could penetrate the external protective barrier of T. rubrum, creating breaches ("small holes"), and disrupt the internal mitochondrial structure ("granary"). Furthermore, transcriptome data, quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), and biochemical assays corroborated the severe disruption of mitochondrial function, evidenced by inhibited tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and energy metabolism. Additionally, chemical characterization and molecular docking analyses identified flavonoids, primarily eupatilin (131.16 ± 4.52 mg·g-1) and jaceosidin (4.17 ± 0.18 mg·g-1), as the active components of AAWE6. In conclusion, the subfraction AAWE6 from A. argyi exerts antifungal effects against dermatophytes by disrupting mitochondrial morphology and function. This research validates the traditional use of A. argyi and provides scientific support for its anti-dermatophytic applications, as recognized in the Chinese patent (No. ZL202111161301.9).

99Tc m-DTPA SPECT/CT imaging in the diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid leakage / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic efficacy and clinical application value of 99Tc m-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) SPECT/CT imaging in cerebrospinal fluid leakage (CSFL). Methods:A total of 23 patients (11 males, 12 females; age (44.2±15.1) years) who underwent endoscopic repair surgery for suspected CSFL in Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People′s Hospital between April 2018 and January 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients performed 99Tc m-DTPA SPECT/CT imaging, paranasal sinus high resolution CT (HRCT) and MRI before surgery. The diagnostic efficacies of 3 imaging techniques were calculated according to the result of surgery regarded as the golden standard. χ2 test was used to compare the qualitative and localized diagnostic efficacies of 3 imaging techniques for CSFL. Results:Of 23 patients, 21 were finally confirmed with CSFL and 24 leak locations were identified according to the results of surgery; the other 2 patients had no obvious CSFL and no leak location was found during the operation. The sensitivity and accuracy of 99Tc m-DTPA SPECT/CT, MRI and HRCT for the diagnosis of CSFL were 100%(21/21) and 95.7%(22/23), 85.7%(18/21) and 82.6%(19/23), 76.2%(16/21) and 69.6%(16/23), respectively. The accuracy of 99Tc m-DTPA SPECT/CT, MRI and HRCT for the diagnosis of leak location was 79.2%(19/24), 50.0%(12/24) and 45.8%(11/24), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference of diagnostic efficacies for CSFL among 3 imaging techniques ( χ2 values: 0.451-3.453, all P>0.05). For leak location, the diagnostic efficacy of 99Tc m-DTPA SPECT/CT was significantly better than that of MRI and HRCT ( χ2 values: 4.463, 5.689, both P<0.05). Conclusion:99Tc m-DTPA SPECT/CT imaging shows an excellent diagnosis efficacy not only for CSFL but also for leak location, which is helpful for guiding surgery.

Stady on the expression of miRNA-21 in renal tubular epithelial cells / 中国生化药物杂志

To describe the relationship between miRNA-21 and renal fibrosis.Methods NRK-52E cells cultured in vitro,then constructed fibrosis model induced by transforming growth factorβ1 ( TGF-β1 ) , then bone morphogenetic protein-7 ( BMP-7 )-containing lentivirus vector was used to transfect the NRK-52E cells to anti-fibrosis, SMAD1, SMAD6, FN1, rno-miR-21-5p gene expression were detected.Results After TGF-β1 treatment, the BMP-7 mRNA and protein expressions were significantly decreased, FN1 mRNA and protein expressions were significantly increased ( P<0.05 ) . After transfected by BMP-7-containing lentivirus vector, BMP-7 mRNA expression significantly increased(P<0.05), FN1, SMAD6 and rno-miRNA-21-5p mRNA decreased, SMAD1 mRNA increased(P<0.05).Conclusion Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is positively correlated with the miRNA21 and TGF-beta 1, its maybe related to the changes of BMP-7, SMAD1 and SMAD6.