Clinical features of intestinal polyps and risk factors for secondary intussusception in children: an analysis of 2 669 cases / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To study the clinical features of intestinal polyps and the risk factors for secondary intussusception in children.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed for the medical data of 2 669 children with intestinal polyps. According to the presence or absence of secondary intussusception, they were divided into two groups: intussusception (n=346) and non-intussusception (n=2 323). Related medical data were compared between the two groups. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for secondary intussusception.@*RESULTS@#Among the children with intestinal polyps, 62.42% were preschool children, and the male/female ratio was 2.08∶1; 92.66% had hematochezia as disease onset, and 94.34% had left colonic polyps and rectal polyps. There were 346 cases of secondary intussusception, with an incidence rate of 12.96% (346/2 669). Large polyps (OR=1.644, P<0.001), multiple polyps (≥2) (OR=6.034, P<0.001), and lobulated polyps (OR=93.801, P<0.001) were the risk factors for secondary intussusception.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Intestinal polyps in children often occur in preschool age, mostly in boys, and most of the children have hematochezia as disease onset, with the predilection sites of the left colon and the rectum. Larger polyps, multiple polyps, and lobulated polyps may increase the risk of secondary intussusception, and endoscopic intervention is needed as early as possible to improve prognosis.

Discussion on the essential thought of Ma's warm moxibustion technique for "unblocking fu-organs" / 中国针灸

"Unblocking fu organs" is one of the essential principles of Ma's warm moxibustion technique, characterized as "dredging" and "harmonizing" for either deficiency or excess condition. Under the guidance of this therapeutic thought, the acupoints for moxibustion are mainly selected from the middle and lower parts of the body. Regarding the therapeutic approach, the acupoint prescription for moxibustion should be formed in line with warming and promoting circulation of fu organs; the moxibustion degree should be specially considered, in which, the mild moxibustion is recommended to induce promoting action; and the systematic moxibustion technique should be the root for dredging fu organs and regulating zang organs. Ma's mild moxibustion technique stresses on removing the obstruction of fu organs and emphasizes promoting the qi activity of sanjiao (triple energizer) and regulating the balance of five zang organs.

Piceatannol alleviates host inflammation in chronic kidney disease model mice through regulating gut microbiota / 药学学报

The purpose of this research is to study the effect of small molecule compound piceatannol (PIC) on host inflammation in adenine induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) mice, and then to explore its mechanism based on the regulation of gut microbiota. All procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine. The level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); UPLC-TQ/MS technology was used to monitor the level of proinflammatory uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate (IS) and p-cresol sulfate (PCS); the expression of occludin was tested by Western blot; in vitro anaerobic culture of gut bacteria was used to produce indole; the abundance of gut microbiota was evaluated by 16S rDNA sequencing. The results showed that PIC had no effect on inflammatory infiltration in kidney tissue of CKD mice, but could decrease IL-6 level in blood and IL-6/TNF-α level in colon tissue. PIC did not improve intestinal occludin protein expression in CKD mice; while it could significantly reduce the levels of IS and PCS in blood and liver of CKD mice. Further mechanism studies showed that PIC could inhibit the synthesis of IS precursor indole in gut bacteria. Moreover, PIC could decrease the abundance of gut bacteria which producing uremic toxin, such as reducing the abundance of indole and p-cresol producing gut bacteria. In conclusion, PIC could regulate gut microbiota and inhibit the synthesis of uremic toxin precursor, thereafter reducing the accumulation of IS and PCS in vivo, ultimately relieving the inflammation of CKD mice.

Regulatory effect of Flos Abelmoschus manihot in mice with inflammatory bowel disease based on gut microbiota sequencing and untargeted lipidomics / 药学学报

In this study, the ameliorative effects of Flos Abelmoschus manihot on mice with chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were investigated and its effects on the structure of the intestinal flora as well as the lipid profile in feces of IBD mice were analyzed. All animal welfare and experimental procedures followed the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Nanjing University of Chinese medicine. A mouse model with chronic IBD induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was used to evaluate changes in body weight, disease activity index (DAI), colonic histopathological damage as well as gene expression levels of inflammatory factors in the colon. Fecal samples from mice in each group were collected and subjected to Illumina high-throughput sequencing to detect the abundance of intestinal flora; samples were analyzed by UHPLC-Q-Exactive® HF Quadrupole-Orbitrap® of untargeted lipidomics, which detects lipid content in feces. Administration of Flos Abelmoschus manihot could significantly restore the body weight and ameliorate colonic histopathological damage in IBD mice. Sequencing of the gut microbiota revealed that the species diversity and richness of the gut microbiota in IBD mice were decreased, with a significant increase in the abundance of Verrucomicrobia and a significant decrease in the abundance of Bacteroidetes; Flos Abelmoschus manihot significantly increased the richness and diversity of intestinal microbiota in IBD mice, increased the number of taxa species at each level, and restored the abundance of bacteria in the phylum Bacteroidetes. Analysis of fecal lipid profiles identified the most significant changes in sphingolipid and glycerophospholipid metabolic pathways in IBD mice, with Flos Abelmoschus manihot inhibiting ceramide and sphingomyelin synthesis in sphingolipid metabolism. In summary, Flos Abelmoschus manihot can effectively improve the disease condition of mice with chronic IBD, and it has the effect of regulating intestinal flora homeostasis and lipid metabolism, but the related mechanism between the two still needs to be deeply explored.

The effect of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. on intestinal function and gut microbiota homeostasis in aging mice / 药学学报

Aging can cause degenerative changes in the function of multiple tissues and organs in the body. Gastrointestinal diseases and intestinal dysfunction are very common in the elderly people. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of the total extract of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. on intestinal function and gut microbiota homeostasis in natural aging mice, which will provide clues for further mechanism study. The natural aging mice model is established and animal experiments follow the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The overall health of the mice was evaluated by the "frailty index" scoring method. The intestinal absorption and transport function were measured by detecting intestinal glucose absorption capacity, transport time, lipase and amylase activities of aging mice. Intestinal inflammation was assessed by detecting inflammatory cytokines by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The pathological changes in the intestines of aging mice were tested by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and alizarin blue (AB) staining. The qRT-PCR method was used to explore the gene transcription level related with the proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem cells. Microbiota analysis based on 16S rDNA were used to evaluate the composition of gut microbiota. The results showed that Astragalus had a tendency to reduce the "frailty index" of aging mice, but did not show a significant difference. In some indicators of aging phenotype, Astragalus has the most significant effect on hair loss and physical fitness. In terms of intestinal function, Astragalus could increase intestinal glucose absorption capacity, shorten intestinal transportation time and promote lipase secretion in aging mice. The levels of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-‍α) in the aging intestinal tissue were reduced after Astragalus administration. Astragalus also ameliorated the pathological degeneration of the intestinal tissue of aging mice by increasing the length of small intestinal villi, the thickness of colonic mucosa and goblet cell number. In addition, Astragalus elevated the expression of genes associated with the proliferation and differentiation in jejunum and modulated gut microbiota, especially restoring the abundance of Lachnospiraceae. Taken together, the above research results demonstrate the total extract of Astragalus as a key factor improving the intestinal function and gut microbiota homeostasis of aging mice.

NOX4/Src regulates ANP secretion through activating ERK1/2 and Akt/GATA4 signaling in beating rat hypoxic atria

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidases (NOXs) are the major enzymatic source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). NOX2 and NOX4 are expressed in the heart but its role in hypoxia-induced atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secretion is unclear. This study investigated the effect of NOX on ANP secretion induced by hypoxia in isolated beating rat atria. The results showed that hypoxia significantly upregulated NOX4 but not NOX2 expression, which was completely abolished by endothelin-1 (ET-1) type A and B receptor antagonists BQ123 (0.3 µM) and BQ788 (0.3 µM). ET-1-upregulated NOX4 expression was also blocked by antagonists of secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2; varespladib, 5.0 µM) and cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2; CAY10650, 120.0 nM), and ET-1-induced cPLA2 expression was inhibited by varespladib under normoxia. Moreover, hypoxia-increased ANP secretion was evidently attenuated by the NOX4 antagonist GLX351322 (35.0 µM) and inhibitor of ROS N-Acetyl-D-cysteine (NAC, 15.0 mM), and hypoxia-increased production of ROS was blocked by GLX351322. In addition, hypoxia markedly upregulated Src expression, which was blocked by ET receptors, NOX4, and ROS antagonists. ET-1-increased Src expression was also inhibited by NAC under normoxia. Furthermore, hypoxiaactivated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and protein kinase B (Akt) were completely abolished by Src inhibitor 1 (1.0 µM), and hypoxia-increased GATA4 was inhibited by the ERK1/2 and Akt antagonists PD98059 (10.0 µM) and LY294002 (10.0 µM), respectively. However, hypoxia-induced ANP secretion was substantially inhibited by Src inhibitor. These results indicate that NOX4/Src modulated by ET-1 regulates ANP secretion by activating ERK1/2 and Akt/GATA4 signaling in isolated beating rat hypoxic atria.

NOX4/Src regulates ANP secretion through activating ERK1/2 and Akt/GATA4 signaling in beating rat hypoxic atria

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidases (NOXs) are the major enzymatic source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). NOX2 and NOX4 are expressed in the heart but its role in hypoxia-induced atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secretion is unclear. This study investigated the effect of NOX on ANP secretion induced by hypoxia in isolated beating rat atria. The results showed that hypoxia significantly upregulated NOX4 but not NOX2 expression, which was completely abolished by endothelin-1 (ET-1) type A and B receptor antagonists BQ123 (0.3 µM) and BQ788 (0.3 µM). ET-1-upregulated NOX4 expression was also blocked by antagonists of secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2; varespladib, 5.0 µM) and cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2; CAY10650, 120.0 nM), and ET-1-induced cPLA2 expression was inhibited by varespladib under normoxia. Moreover, hypoxia-increased ANP secretion was evidently attenuated by the NOX4 antagonist GLX351322 (35.0 µM) and inhibitor of ROS N-Acetyl-D-cysteine (NAC, 15.0 mM), and hypoxia-increased production of ROS was blocked by GLX351322. In addition, hypoxia markedly upregulated Src expression, which was blocked by ET receptors, NOX4, and ROS antagonists. ET-1-increased Src expression was also inhibited by NAC under normoxia. Furthermore, hypoxiaactivated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and protein kinase B (Akt) were completely abolished by Src inhibitor 1 (1.0 µM), and hypoxia-increased GATA4 was inhibited by the ERK1/2 and Akt antagonists PD98059 (10.0 µM) and LY294002 (10.0 µM), respectively. However, hypoxia-induced ANP secretion was substantially inhibited by Src inhibitor. These results indicate that NOX4/Src modulated by ET-1 regulates ANP secretion by activating ERK1/2 and Akt/GATA4 signaling in isolated beating rat hypoxic atria.

Investigation on population dynamics and Echinococcus infections in small rodents around human settlement in Yushu City, Qinghai Province / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To investigate the population dynamics and Echinococcus infections in small rodents around human settlement in Yushu City, Qinghai Province. Methods Rodents were captured using the mouse trap method in pastures from Batang Township and Longbao Township of Yushu City, Qinghai Province on May, August and October, 2018. The body weight and snout-vent length of all captured rodents were measured, and the species was identified according to the rodent morphology. Genomic DNA was extracted from rodent liver specimens and lesion specimens, and the mitochondrial cox1 gene of Echinococcus was amplified using PCR assay for identification of parasite species. In addition, the tissue specimens positive for PCR assay were sampled for pathological examinations. The prevalence of Echinococcus infections was estimated in rodents, and a phylogenetic tree was created based on Echinococcus cox1 gene sequences. Results A total of 285 small rodents were captured, including 143 Ochotona curzoniae (50.2%), 141 Lasiopodomys fuscus (49.5%), and 1 Neodon irene (0.3%), and there was a remarkable variation in habitat selection among these three rodent species. The number of L. fuscus correlated positively with vegetation coverage (r = 0.350, P = 0.264), with the greatest number seen in August, and the number of O. curzoniae negatively with vegetation coverage (r = −0.371, P = 0.235), with the highest number seen in August and the lowest number in May. The female/male ratios of O. curzoniae and voles were 1:0.96 and 0.82:1, respectively. The body weight (r = 0.519, P < 0.01) and snout-vent length (r = 0.578, P < 0.01) of O. curzoniae showed a tendency towards a rise with month, while the body weight (r = −0.401, P < 0.01) and snout-vent length (r = −0.570, P < 0.01) of voles presented a tendency towards a reduction with month. No Echinococcus infection was detected in voles, while 2.1% prevalence of E. shiquicus infection was seen in O. curzoniae. Phylogenetic analysis revealed consistent sequences of cox1 gene from E. shiquicus in Yushu City of Qinghai Province and Shiqu County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province. Conclusions The small rodents around the human settlement in Yushu City of Qinghai Province mainly include O. curzoniae and L. fuscus, with the greatest numbers seen in May and August, respectively. Following the concerted efforts for echinococcosis control, the prevalence of Echinococcus infections is low in small rodents around the human settlement in Yushu City; however, there is still a risk of echinococcosis transmission.

Strategy to delay the progression of chronic kidney disease by targeting gut microbiota and uremic toxins metabolism pathway / 药学学报

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a serious chronic disease with high incidence, poor prognosis, and a variety of complications. Indoxyl-sulfate (IS) and p-cresol sulfate (PCS) are two typical gut-derived uremic toxins, which are produced by the co-metabolism of intestinal microbes and the host. With the progression of CKD, gut-derived uremic toxins such as IS and PCS accumulate in patients with CKD and thereafter accelerate the progression of CKD. Gut microbiota is closely related with CKD, and targeting gut microbiota to regulate gut-derived uremic toxins synthesis and metabolic pathways may be a promising strategy to delay the progression of CKD. In this paper, the relationship between gut microbiota, gut-derived uremic toxins, and CKD was analyzed, and the strategy to delay the progression of CKD by targeting gut microbiota and uremic toxins metabolism pathway was proposed.

Analysis of the strategy to intervene the progress of inflammatory bowel disease by targeting intestinal bacterial respiration and energy metabolism / 药学学报

Gut microbiota dysbiosis is closely related to a variety of host diseases. Recently, targeting the metabolic pathways of gut microbiota for the prevention and treatment of host diseases has become a frontier strategy and research hotspot. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic progressive intestinal inflammatory diseases of unknown etiology. The relationship between IBD and gut microbiota disorders and bacterial respiratory/energy metabolism has been confirmed in recent research. This article will introduce the relationship among them, and propose a new treatment strategy to alleviate host gut inflammation by regulating gut microbiota respiration and energy metabolism based on the latest research progress. In the progression of IBD, the gut microbiota homeostasis is disturbed. The main reasons include two aspects: on the one hand, when the intestinal inflammation of the host occurs, with increasing of oxygen concentration in the intestinal cavity, facultative anaerobic bacteria, especially Enterobacteriaceae bacteria would proliferate abnormally; while the growth of absolute anaerobic bacteria such as Firmicutes is inhibited. On the other hand, intestinal inflammation by-products also support the expansion of facultative anaerobic bacteria, which ultimately exacerbates the imbalance of gut microbiota. Dysregulated intestinal flora will further disturb intestinal immune homeostasis and exacerbate intestinal inflammation. The latest research proposed the possibility that IBD can be alleviated by interfering with the respiration of bacteria, inhibiting the abnormal proliferation of bacteria, or increasing the level of "beneficial" metabolites of gut microbiota. The above studies suggest that alleviating host intestinal inflammation can be explored by focusing on the metabolic pathways of gut microbiota and regulating the intestinal bacterial respiration and energy metabolism, which is of great significance for the clinical treatment of IBD and the research of innovative drugs.

Effect of moxibustion at Feishu (BL 13) on airway inflammation in asthma model rats / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the effect of moxibustion at Feishu (BL 13) on related inflammatory cells and inflammatory factors in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of asthma model rats, and to explore the mechanism of moxibustion in treating asthma. Methods: A total of 48 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a moxibustion group and a medication group, with 12 rats in each group. Except for the normal group, the rats in the other three groups were subjected to ovalbumin sensitization to stimulate the asthma. At the same time, rats in the moxibustion group received moxibustion at bilateral Feishu (BL 13), and rats in the medication group received dexamethasone by intragastric administration. Rats in the normal and the model groups only received the same fixation and normal saline by intragastric administration. After the interventions, the inspiratory resistance, the expiratory resistance, and the pulmonary compliance were measured for rats in each group; the numbers of the inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were counted; the levels of the involved inflammatory factors in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were detected; the pathological morphologies of the lung tissues were observed under light microscope. Results: After modeling, compared with the normal group, the rats in the model group showed obvious asthma attack-like response, significantly increased inspiratory resistance and expiratory resistance (both P<0.01), and significantly reduced pulmonary compliance (P<0.01); thickened tracheal wall and the narrowed tracheal lumen observed under the light microscope; infiltration of inflammatory cells and increased eosinophils in and around the tracheal wall; significantly increased total number of inflammatory cells and proportion of eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (all P<0.01); significantly reduced levels of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12 and interferon (IFN)-γ (all P<0.01), and significantly increased levels of IL-4, IL-5 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (all P<0.01) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. After intervention, compared with the model group, rats in the moxibustion and the medication groups showed significantly reduced asthma-like reaction, pathological morphological damage of lung tissue, inspiratory resistance and expiratory resistance (all P<0.01); significantly increased pulmonary compliance (P<0.01); significantly reduced total number of inflammatory cells, proportion of eosinophils, levels of IL-4, IL-5 and TNF-α in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while significantly increased IL-12 and IFN-γ levels (all P<0.01) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; rats in the medication group also showed a significantly reduced IL-10 level in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (P<0.01); there was no statistically significant difference between the moxibustion and the medication groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Both moxibustion at Feishu (BL 13) and intragastric administration of dexamethasone can improve the asthma attack-like symptoms of ovalbumin-sensitized rats; regulating the inflammatory cell numbers and the inflammatory factor contents in the lung may be one mechanism of moxibustion in treating asthma.

Dopamine D1 receptor in ventrolateral periaqueductal gray modulates propofol anesthesia in rats / 医学研究生学报

ObjectiveVentrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) locates in ascending reticular activating system, which plays a key role in the sleep-wake circle. However, the role of vlPAG in general anesthesia has not been identified. To investigate the effect of the dopamine receptor in vlPAG neurons on propofol anesthesia, we used real-time in vivo fiber photometry, microinjection and EEG.MethodsTo observe the alteration of neuronal activity in the vlPAG throughout propofol anesthesia, 10 Sprague-Dawley rats were used for calcium fiber photometry recording. 50 vlPAG bilateral microinjection models were established and assigned into five groups randomly, including D1R agonist group, D1R antagonist group, D2R agonist group, D2R antagonist group, and control group (n=10). Under propofol anesthesia, 1 μL of D1R agonist, D1R antagonist, D2R agonist, D2R antagonist, and isotonic saline were microinjected into the vlPAG of animals in the corresponding groups, respectively. The induction time, recovery time and the changes in electroencephalogram (EEG) before and after microinjection were recorded and analyzed.ResultsThe neuronal activity in the vlPAG was significantly inhibited during the induction period and markedly recovered during the recovery period from propofol anesthesia (P<0.05). Subsequently, the microinjection of D1R agonist into the vlPAG notably prolonged the induction time and reduced the emergence time of propofol anesthesia with a decrease of δ-band ratio. While the microinjection of D1R antagonist accelerated the induction time and prolonged the emergence time of propofol anesthesia with an increase of δ-band ratio and a decrease in β-band ratio in cortical EEG (P<0.05). The induction and recovery time of D2R agonist /antagonist group did not differ with those of control group. As well, EEG before and after microinjection in D2R agonist /antagonist group did not different.ConclusionThese results indicate that vlPAG modulates the process of propofol anesthesia via D1R.

Feasibility analysis of coronavirus disease 2019 co-treated by Zedoary Turmeric Oil Injection / 中草药

Because of no specific drug for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a number of treatment plans for COVID-19 had been released by national medical treatment authorities. The efficacy of zedoary turmeric oil and its preparation for antiviral and pulmonary fibrosis treatment had been confirmed by many basic studies and clinical applications. It was speculated that Zedoary Turmeric Oil Injection could be used in the clinical diagnose and treatment of COVID-19, especially in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis caused by pulmonary interstitial changes, antidiarrheal and fever. In addition, the compatibility of Zedoary Turmeric Oil Injection with other antiviral and antibiotic drugs suggested that it could be used to reduce drug-induced liver injury in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, and improve the therapeutic effect, which provided a theoretical basis for the scientific use of zedoary turmeric oil and its injection in the treatment of COVID-19.

The research of serotoninergic pathway function of dorsal raphe nucleus / 医学研究生学报

The 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus(DRN) project to a wide area of the brain and are associated with many physiological processes and the occurrence of mental disorders, such as sleep-arousal, anxiety, reward, depression, neuroplasticity, et al. . However, the mechanisms of there functions on 5-HT neurons are unclear. This article start from neural network and review the relative signaling pathway of 5-hydroxytryptamine neurons in anxiety, reward and drug addiction.

The effects of microRNA-1224-5p on hepatocellular carcinoma tumor endothelial cells

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of microRNA-1224-5p (miR-1224-5p) on tumor endothelial cells (TECs) of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Subjects and Methods: Oligonucleotides were chemically synthesized and transfected into TECs using Lipofectamine 2000. TECs were divided into three groups, namely a control (CON) group without transfection, a negative control (NC) group transfected with negative control oligonucleotides and green fluorescent protein (GFP), and a micro-up (MU) group transfected with miR-1224-5p mimic and GFP. The expression of miR-1224-5p was quantified via quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The proliferation of TECs was detected using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and the optical density value at 490 nm was measured after every 24 h. Apoptosis was detected via flow cytometry using a 7-aminoactinomycin/APC Annexin V kit. The migration and invasion of TECs were detected using transwell assay. The tube formation ability was evaluated using the tube formation assay. Results: Oligonucleotides were successfully transduced into TECs, and the expression of miR-1224-5p was specifically upregulated. The results of qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of miR-1224-5p was significantly upregulated in the MU group (2–ΔΔCt = 3.27 ± 0.15) than in the CON group (2–ΔΔCt = 1) and NC group (2–ΔΔCt = 1.08 ± 0.11) (P < 0.01). The results of MTT assay showed that the cell proliferation was significantly inhibited in the MU group at four time points than in the CON and NC groups (P < 0.01). Flow cytometry analysis revealed the significant increase in apoptosis of cells from the MU group (19.29% ± 0.95%) than those from the CON (8.73% ± 0.64%) and NC (9.51% ± 0.56%) (P < 0.01) groups. The migration ability was significantly inhibited in MU group (51.0 ± 3.6) as compared with CON (77.7 ± 2.5) and NC (79.2 ± 3.5) groups (P < 0.01). The invasion ability of TECs was significantly inhibited in MU group (9.8 ± 1.3) than in CON (15.8 ± 0.8) and NC (15.4 ± 0.9) groups (P < 0.01). The ability of tube formation of TECs was completely inhibited in MU group but remained unaffected in CON and NC groups. Conclusions: miR-1224-5p may serve as a potential tumor suppressor in HCC. Upregulation in miR-1224-5p expression may decrease proliferation, induce apoptosis, inhibit migration and invasion, and suppress tube formation in TECs of human HCC

Risk assessment and genomic characterization of Zika virus in China and its surrounding areas / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Background@#Zika virus (ZIKV) has emerged as a global pathogen causing significant public health concerns. China has reported several imported cases where ZIKV were carried by travelers who frequently travel between China and ZIKV-endemic regions. To fully characterize the ZIKV strains isolated from the cases reported in China and assess the risk of ZIKV transmission in China, comprehensive phylogenetic and genetic analyses were performed both on all ZIKV sequences of China and on a group of scientifically selected ZIKV sequences reported in some of the top interested destinations for Chinese travelers.@*Methods@#ZIKV genomic sequences were retrieved from the National Center for Biotechnology Information database through stratified sampling. Recombination event detection, maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis, molecular clock analysis, selection pressure analysis, and amino acid substitution analysis were used to reconstruct the epidemiology and molecular transmission of ZIKV.@*Results@#The present study investigated 18 ZIKV sequences from China and 70 sequences from 16 selected countries. Recombination events rarely happens in all ZIKV Asian lineage. ZIKV genomes were generally undergone episodic positive selection (17 sites), and only one site was under pervasive positive selection. All ZIKV imported into China were Asian lineage and were assigned into two clusters: Venezuela-origin (cluster A) and Samoa-origin cluster (cluster B) with common ancestor from French Polynesia. The time of most recent common ancestors of Cluster A dated to approximately 2013/11 (95% highest posterior density [HPD] 2013/06, 2014/03) and cluster B dated to 2014/08 (95% HPD 2014/02, 2015/01). Cluster B is more variable than Cluster A in comparison with other clusters, but no varied site of biological significance was revealed. ZIKV strains in Southeast Asia countries are independent from strains in America epidemics.@*Conclusions@#The genetic evolution of ZIKV is conservative. There are two independent introductions of ZIKV into China and China is in danger of autochthonous transmission of ZIKV because of high-risk surrounding areas. Southeast Asia areas have high risk of originating the next large-scale epidemic ZIKV strains.

Effect and mechanism of Huangkui capsuleon reduction of uremic toxin accumulation in an animal model of chronic kidney disease / 药学学报

Uremic toxins are harmful substances that accumulate in the body when the renal function declines in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is an important factor contributing to accelerated progression of CKD. There is no effective treatment for reducing uremic toxins. As an extensively used medicine for treatment of CKD in the clinic, Huangkui capsule is effective but the mechanism of its action remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of Huangkui on the accumulation of uremic toxins in CKD rats, with the discussion about its mechanism of action. UPLC-TQ/MS was used to detect the accumulation of uremic toxins in CKD rats after oral gavage with Huangkui. 16S rDNA sequencing technology was used to analyze the gut bacteria composition in rats. HPLC-FLD was used to detect the uremic toxins and their molecular precursors in feces. The effect and mechanism of Huangkui on the uremic toxin precursor in gut bacteria were studied by anaerobic culture system in vitro. All procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine. The results showed that Huangkui (0.675 g·kg-1) could effectively inhibit the accumulation of uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate (IS) in CKD rats, with IS concentration in rat's plasma, liver and kidney decreased by 49.5%, 68.9% and 40.6%, respectively. Huangkui didn't affect the metabolic pathway of IS in host liver, didn't intervene the process of the IS precursor molecule indole conversion to IS. Instead, Huangkui significantly decreased the indole content in gut, with the indole in CKD rat's feces decreased by 46.4%, suggesting that the gut bacteria may be a target for intervene IS biosynthesis by Huangkui. Huangkui didn't affect the abundance of enterobacteriaceae bacteria (the main gut flora of indole synthesis) in CKD rats, suggesting that Huangkui didn't interfere with indole biosynthesis by directly affecting the abundance of indole synthesis related bacteria. Huangkui at 4 000, 400, 40, and 4 μg·mL-1 showed a dose-dependent inhibition of the indole production by gut bacteria in vitro. The bacteria tryptophan transport concentration decreased from 83.4 μmol·L-1 to 43.6 μmol·L-1 after co-incubated with Huangkui for 12 h, suggesting that Huangkui inhibited indole production of gut bacteria by interfering with tryptophan transportation. These results indicate that gut bacteria may be a potential target for alleviation of uremic toxin accumulation and for delaying CKD progression.

Analysis of awareness of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and related behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Changsha / 中华疾病控制杂志

@# Objective To understand the awareness of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and characteristics of sexual behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Changsha City. Methods By a snowball sampling method, volunteers were recruited in two social public welfare organizations in Changsha (Qingcai and Zhongda Sunshine) and interviewed by anonymous electronic questionnaires. Data were analyzed using software SPSS 19.0. Results Among 150 MSM, the overall awareness rate of HIV/ AIDS-related knowledge was 86.0% (129/150). For different demographic characteristics, higher age group, higher education level and higher income groups had significantly higher rates of awareness about HIV/AIDS related knowledge, compared with the reference groups, respectively. For the sexual behaviors, 32.7% of the investigated MSM population had their first MSM sexual intercourse at age of <18 years old, the rate of ≥18 years old group was significantly higher than the <18 years old group (2=4.315, P=0.038), 46.7% of the MSM population had more than 1 sexual partner during the past six months, the ratio of MSM used condoms in the sexual intercourse occasionally or never was 29.3% and 6.7%, respectively. Conclusions Young age, relatively low educational level and low income MSM in Changsha had a relative low awareness of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge. MSM in Changsha City had first MSM sexual intercourse at a very younger age. There is an urgent need to take well-targeted measures to improve the HIV/AIDS-related knowledge with special MSM population, and develop effective intervention measures for the high-risk sexual behaviors among MSM.

Risk assessment and genomic characterization of Zika virus in China and its surrounding areas / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Zika virus (ZIKV) has emerged as a global pathogen causing significant public health concerns. China has reported several imported cases where ZIKV were carried by travelers who frequently travel between China and ZIKV-endemic regions. To fully characterize the ZIKV strains isolated from the cases reported in China and assess the risk of ZIKV transmission in China, comprehensive phylogenetic and genetic analyses were performed both on all ZIKV sequences of China and on a group of scientifically selected ZIKV sequences reported in some of the top interested destinations for Chinese travelers.@*METHODS@#ZIKV genomic sequences were retrieved from the National Center for Biotechnology Information database through stratified sampling. Recombination event detection, maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis, molecular clock analysis, selection pressure analysis, and amino acid substitution analysis were used to reconstruct the epidemiology and molecular transmission of ZIKV.@*RESULTS@#The present study investigated 18 ZIKV sequences from China and 70 sequences from 16 selected countries. Recombination events rarely happens in all ZIKV Asian lineage. ZIKV genomes were generally undergone episodic positive selection (17 sites), and only one site was under pervasive positive selection. All ZIKV imported into China were Asian lineage and were assigned into two clusters: Venezuela-origin (cluster A) and Samoa-origin cluster (cluster B) with common ancestor from French Polynesia. The time of most recent common ancestors of Cluster A dated to approximately 2013/11 (95% highest posterior density [HPD] 2013/06, 2014/03) and cluster B dated to 2014/08 (95% HPD 2014/02, 2015/01). Cluster B is more variable than Cluster A in comparison with other clusters, but no varied site of biological significance was revealed. ZIKV strains in Southeast Asia countries are independent from strains in America epidemics.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The genetic evolution of ZIKV is conservative. There are two independent introductions of ZIKV into China and China is in danger of autochthonous transmission of ZIKV because of high-risk surrounding areas. Southeast Asia areas have high risk of originating the next large-scale epidemic ZIKV strains.