Treatment of Osteoporosis via Regulation of Endocrine System by Traditional Chinese Medicine： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

In recent years， with the changes of population structure and the aggravation of aging， the prevalence of osteoporosis is increasing year by year. Osteoporosis poses great impacts on the body and family life of the patients and increases the burden on the society. Therefore， the research on osteoporosis is urgent and significant. The imbalance between osteoblasts， osteocytes， and osteoclasts causes abnormal bone metabolism， which destroys the fine structure of bone and increases bone fragility， thus increasing the risk of fracture. Although the pathogenesis of osteoporosis is complex， researchers have confirmed that the imbalance of the endocrine system directly or indirectly promotes the occurrence and development of osteoporosis. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） is a treasure of Chinese traditional culture and plays a key role in safeguarding the public health. With unique therapeutic effects and advantages， TCM has been widely accepted. Chinese medicines， moxibustion， acupuncture and other TCM therapies have play a unique role in the treatment of osteoporosis. Particularly， TCM prevention and treatment of osteoporosis by regulating the endocrine system has received extensive attention. By reviewing relevant literature， this paper introduces the research progress in the TCM modulation of bone metabolism and alleviation of bone loss by regulating estrogen， calcitonin， and parathyroid hormone in the endocrine system and affecting the hypothalamus capable of regulating these hormones， aiming to provide ideas for the TCM treatment of osteoporosis.

Chinese Medicines Regulate p38 MAPK， ERK1/2， and JNK in Treatment of Osteoporosis： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

With the aging of population， osteoporosis has become one of the main diseases endangering the health of the elderly in China. Therefore， the research on osteoporosis has become a hot spot. Since Chinese medicines demonstrate significant therapeutic effects on osteoporosis， this issue is attracting increasing attention from researchers， especially in the deciphering of the molecular mechanism. This paper introduces the mechanism of the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis by Chinese medicines via the mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） signaling pathway， aiming to provide a theoretical basis for deciphering the mechanism of Chinese medicines in the treatment of osteoporosis and promoting their clinical application. MAPK signaling pathway mainly involves p38 MAPK， extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 （ERK1/2）， c-Jun N-terminal kinase （JNK）， and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 （ERK5）. Studies have shown that these proteins play a role in the progression of osteoporosis by regulating cell proliferation， differentiation， and apoptosis. Chinese medicines as a unique therapy with Chinese characteristics has definite efficacy， high safety， and mild side effects. Researchers have proved by experiments that the extracts or compounds of Chinese medicines can significantly mitigate osteoporosis by regulating the proteins involved in the MAPK signaling pathway. Therefore， this article reviews the relevant studies with focus on these proteins.

Study on the construction of cognitive training program for elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment based on horticultural therapy theory / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective:To construct a cognitive training program suitable for elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment based on horticultural therapy, so as to effectively slow down the cognitive decline of patients with mild cognitive impairment.Methods:Through searching the Chinese and English database literature of cognitive intervention from July 2000 to July 2020 and field visits to nursing homes, the draft intervention plan was formed. Two rounds of focus group interview were held to consult experts in cognitive impairment and geriatric care, etc., and to revise the intervention plan.Results:In the two rounds of focus group interview, the expert positive coefficient was 100%, the expert judgment basis was 0.84, the expert familiarity degree was 0.84, and the expert authority coefficient was 0.84. In the end, a 10-week cognitive intervention program targeting six cognitive domains -- "visuospatial/executive ability", "memory ability", "language ability", "attention ability", "abstract ability" and "naming ability" was formed, and the implementation steps of the program were improved.Conclusions:The construction process of cognitive training program for patients with mild cognitive impairment based on horticultural therapy theory is rigorous, scientific and feasible, and can be used to guide the cognitive training of patients with mild cognitive impairment.

The relationship between periprocedural thrombus migration and clinical outcomes in patients with acute large vessel occlusion after mechanical thrombectomy / 中华神经科杂志

Objective:To investigate the early predictive factors of periprocedural thrombus migration and the relationship between periprocedural thrombus migration and prognosis after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in stroke patients.Methods:The patients with anterior circulation acute large vessel occlusion stroke (ALVOS) who underwent MT in the Stroke Center of Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College from May 2015 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The baseline characteristics, procedural and clinical outcomes were collected. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis was used to explore the risk factors of thrombus migration and the relationship between thrombus migration and prognosis of patients.Results:There were 302 ALVOS patients [(68.8±11.0) years old and 166 males (55.0%)] included, of whom thrombus migration was identified in 80 patients (26.5%), including 60 cases (75.0%) of proximal migration. Cardiogenic stroke ( OR=2.722, 95% CI 1.367-5.418, P=0.004) and clot burden score (CBS; OR=0.849, 95% CI 0.745-0.968, P=0.015) were independent risk factors of thrombus migration. Proximal migration ( OR=2.822, 95% CI 1.220-6.528, P=0.015) was an independent risk factor of 90-day clinical outcome, while the effect of distal migration on 90-day clinical outcome was not statistically significant. Conclusions:Cardiogenic stroke and lower CBS score are independent predictors of periprocedural thrombus migration in ALVOS patients who underwent MT. Proximal migration is an independent risk factor for the prognosis of patients, which has important clinical intervention significance.

Comprehensive functional annotation of susceptibility variants identifies genetic heterogeneity between lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma / 医学前沿

Although genome-wide association studies have identified more than eighty genetic variants associated with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) risk, biological mechanisms of these variants remain largely unknown. By integrating a large-scale genotype data of 15 581 lung adenocarcinoma (AD) cases, 8350 squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) cases, and 27 355 controls, as well as multiple transcriptome and epigenomic databases, we conducted histology-specific meta-analyses and functional annotations of both reported and novel susceptibility variants. We identified 3064 credible risk variants for NSCLC, which were overrepresented in enhancer-like and promoter-like histone modification peaks as well as DNase I hypersensitive sites. Transcription factor enrichment analysis revealed that USF1 was AD-specific while CREB1 was SqCC-specific. Functional annotation and gene-based analysis implicated 894 target genes, including 274 specifics for AD and 123 for SqCC, which were overrepresented in somatic driver genes (ER = 1.95, P = 0.005). Pathway enrichment analysis and Gene-Set Enrichment Analysis revealed that AD genes were primarily involved in immune-related pathways, while SqCC genes were homologous recombination deficiency related. Our results illustrate the molecular basis of both well-studied and new susceptibility loci of NSCLC, providing not only novel insights into the genetic heterogeneity between AD and SqCC but also a set of plausible gene targets for post-GWAS functional experiments.

Effect Evaluation of Strychnos nux-vomica L. with Integrative Methods for Bortezomib-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Multiple Myeloma Patients: A Self-Controlled Clinical Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the clinical effect and adverse reactions of Strychnos nux-vomica in bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy (BIPN) of patients with multiple myeloma (MM).@*METHODS@#A total of 19 MM patients with BIPN were enrolled and Nux Vomica Capsule (NVC, 0.4 g, thrice daily) were orally administrated for 30 days. Comparative analysis on parameters between pre- and post-therapy, including peripheral neuropathy (PN) grade, neurotoxicity score, Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome score, total neuropathy score (TNS), coagulation function, and serum nerve growth factor (NGF) levels were conducted. The adverse events were monitored.@*RESULTS@#In BIPN of MM patients who received NVC, PN grade was lowered, neurotoxicity score was obviously decreased (P⩽0.01), and both CM syndrome score and TNS were remarkably decreased (P0.05). No evident adverse reactions were observed during the course of treatment.@*CONCLUSION@#Strychnos nux-vomica L. has significantly effect with a good safety in treatment of BIPN in MM patients.

Research progress of anterior circulation tandem lesions / 中华神经科杂志

Tandem lesions are relatively rare type of acute large vascular occlusion. At present, the clinical treatment strategy of tandem lesions is still unclear and lack of definite evidence-based medicine. This article reviews the characteristics, endovascular treatment strategy and clinical prognosis of anterior circulation tandem lesions, and looks forward to the treatment of tandem lesions.

Effect of probiotics Lactobacillus paracasei GKS6, L. plantarum GKM3, and L. rhamnosus GKLC1 on alleviating alcohol-induced alcoholic liver disease in a mouse model

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES@#Heavy alcohol consumption causes the development of alcoholic liver disease (ALD), a neglected but important public health problem. Many studies have pointed out that probiotics could improve gut health, which is also considered to be a cause of ALD. Therefore, this study screened the probiotics, Lactobacillus casei GKC1 (GKC1), L. fermentum GKF3 (GKF3), Bifidobacterium lactis GKK2 (GKK2), L. rhamnosus GKLC1 (GKLC1), L. paracasei GKS6 (GKS6), and L. plantarum GKM3 (GKM3), for their potential benefits in alleviating ALD for applications to disease prevention. @*SUBJECTS/METHODS@#C57BL/6N mice were divided into 8 groups (n = 6 in each): normal control, positive control (alcohol-diet fed), and treatments of feeding probiotics GKC1, GKF3, GKK2, GKLC1, GKS6, and GKM3 under an oral dose 0.82 g/kg B.W. per day by oral gavage. The experiment was conducted for 8 weeks, and the concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) in mice were measured. The glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and histology were analyzed after sacrifice. @*RESULTS@#The results showed a decrease in the serum ALT, liver TG, and liver TC levels in the GKS6, GKM3, and GKLC1 groups compared to the positive control. In addition, the decreasing GSH and CAT levels were inhibited in the GKS6 and GKM3 groups. The histopathological results showed that all probiotics could reduce the accumulation of liver fat. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in GKLC1 with lower stomach damage compared to the alcohol-fed mice without any addition of probiotics. @*CONCLUSIONS@#GKLC1, GKS6, and GKM3 can be used as supplements for alleviating the development of ALD.

Clinical efficacy of endoscopy in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation combined with posterior apophyseal ring separation / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the efficacy and safety of total spine endoscopy in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation combined with posterior apophyseal ring separation.@*METHODS@#From January 2015 to January 2018, a total of 21 patients with lumbar disc herniation complicated with posterior apophyseal ring separation were treated with total spine endoscopy via interlamina approach. There were 17 males and 4 females. The age ranged from 18 to 48 years old and the median age was 27 years old. All were single segment unilateral disc herniation, interlaminar approach was adopted, and the herniated disc was removed unilaterally at the symptomatic side under the microscope, and all or part of the broken bonewas removed.@*RESULTS@#There were no complications such as incision infection, intervertebral space infection, intestinal injury, dural injury and cerebrospinal fluid leakage. The operation time ranged from 32 to 92 minutes and the median time was 57 minutes. Postoperative imaging examination showed that 2 patients had complete resection of osteotomy of posterior edge of vertebral body, 16 patients had partially resection and 3 patients had no resection. All intervertebral discs were completely removed. All 21 patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 12 to 36 months, with a median of 15 months. The VAS of lumbago was 7.10±1.20 before surgery, 3.46±0.23 on the 3rd day after surgery, 2.36±0.19 on the 6th month after surgery; and the VAS of leg pain was 8.80±0.55 before surgery, 3.54±0.28 on the 3rd day after surgery, and 2.59±0.26 on the 6th month after surgery. The Oswestry Disability Index score was (69.71±9.37)% before surgery, (32.19±6.95)% on the 6th month after surgery, and (20.95± 6.16)% at the latest follow up. Onthe 1st year after operation, 16 patients got an excellent result, 4 good and 1 fair according to Macnab evaluation system.@*CONCLUSION@#Total spine endoscopy via interlaminal approach can be used as an option in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation combined with vertebral posterior margin dissociation, which can reduce trauma and injury to the lumbar dorsal muscle and achieve similar decompression effect as open surgery. The long term efficacy needs to be further proved by prospective randomized controlled studies with larger sample size.

Application of affinity chromatography and its mathematical model in study of active components of traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

Affinity chromatography is characterized by its high specificity,high recovery rate and sensitivity,and it has been widely used in the selection of active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine,separation and enrichment of low molecular weight sugars and protein peptides,research on mechanism of action and discovery of targets.This paper reviewed the application of affinity chromatography and its adsorption isotherm model,kinetic model and adsorption thermodynamic mechanism in the field of traditional Chinese medicine.This summarizes and provides thinking for comprehensive applications of affinity chromatography theory in the field of active ingredient screening,purification and medicine interaction.

An 8-Week Low-Intensity Progressive Cycling Training Improves Motor Functions in Patients with Early-Stage Parkinson's Disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The effects of high-intensity cycling as an adjuvant therapy for early-stage Parkinson's disease (PD) were highlighted recently. However, patients experience difficulties in maintaining these cycling training programs. The present study investigated the efficacy of cycling at a mild-to-moderate intensity in early-stage PD. METHODS: Thirteen PD patients were enrolled for 16 serial cycling sessions over a 2-month period. Motor function was assessed using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III (UPDRS III) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test as primary outcomes. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), modified Hoehn and Yahr Stage (mHYS), total UPDRS, Falls Efficacy Scale, New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire, Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living, 39-item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire, Patient Global Impression of Change, and gait performance were assessed as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: The age and the age at onset were 59.67±7.24 and 53.23±10.26 years (mean±SD), respectively. The cycling cadence was 53.27±8.92 revolutions per minute. The UPDRS III score improved significantly after 8 training sessions (p=0.011) and 16 training sessions (T2) (p=0.001) in the off-state, and at T2 (p=0.004) in the on-state compared to pretraining (T0). The TUG duration was significantly shorter at T2 than at T0 (p < 0.05). The findings of MoCA, total UPDRS, double limb support time, and mHYS (in both the off- and on-states) also improved significantly at T2. CONCLUSIONS: Our pioneer study has demonstrated that a low-intensity progressive cycling exercise can improve motor function in PD, especially akinesia. The beneficial effects were similar to those of high-intensity rehabilitation programs.

Data Mining-based Analysis of Regularities in Acupoint Prescriptions for Stroke Disorders in Ancient Books / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To summarize regularities in acupoint prescriptions for acupuncture treatment of stroke disorders by using data mining techniques to analyze 150 ancient acupuncture books from the Han dynasty to the end of Qing dynasty. Method A standard database and a ancient book database were established by a manual entry and proofreading method. The sentences containing stroke disorders, acupoints, meridians and needling moxibustion method in the ancient books were selected according to the key words in the standard database using a variety of data mining techniques and a regular relation to establish corresponding disease, acupoint, needling moxibustion method and meridian databases. They were classified into two types: prescriptions for stroke disorders and acupoint indications containing stroke disorders. The results from selection were reviewed manually and standardized. A multilevel analysis of regularities in acupuncture prescriptions for stroke disorders in the ancient books was performed by statistical analysis and apriori algorithm on association rules with support degree and confidence level. Result There were a total of 536 records on acupuncture point prescription for stroke disorders. Single acupoint prescriptions accounted for 34.89% of the total number of prescriptions. The single acupoint that was used most frequently was Baihui(GV20). Thedouble acupoints that were combined most frequently were Quchi(LI11) and Baihui. In three acupoint combination, Quchi and Fengshi(GB31) were separately combined most frequently with Baihui, Jianyu(LI15) and Xuanzhong(GB39). The three meridians that were used most frequently were the Du Meridian, the Large Intestine Meridian of Hand-Yangming and the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang. The two meridians that were combined most frequently were the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang and the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming. Crossing points and Five-Shu points were selected most frequently in specific points. He-Sea points were used most frequently in Five-Shu points. Conclusion The prescriptions for stroke disorders in ancient acupuncture books focus on selecting the confluence of all yang meridians and yang meridian points. Specific points are the important composition of the prescriptions. Crossing points and He-Sea points are mainly used in specific points.

A New Comprehensive Short-form Health Literacy Survey Tool for Patients in General

PURPOSE: To validate a conceptual short-form health literacy 12 items questionnaire (HL-SF12) in patient populations. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted via a convenient sample of 403 patients from three departments of a community general hospital in the northern Taiwan. Patients' health literacy was assessed with a validated HL-SF12, derived from the full scale, the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q), as well as a single-item from Chew's Set of Brief Health Literacy Question. A reference population in Northern Taiwan (n = 928) via the HLS-EU-Q in 2013–2014 was used as a reference to compare the health literacy between that of the general public and the patients. Data was analyzed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), internal consistency analysis, correlation analysis, and linear regression models. RESULTS: Patients' health literacy assessed with the HL-SF12 was shown with high internal consistency (Cronbach α = .87), and moderately correlated with the single-item from Chew's Set of Brief Health Literacy Question, with satisfactory item-scale convergent validity (item-scale correlation ≥ .40), without floor/ceiling effect, and with satisfactory goodness of fit indices of the three-factor construct model for most of the patients. Their health literacy was significantly positively associated with female gender, higher income, and more often watching health-related TV programs. On the other hands, patients were reported with significantly higher healthcare health literacy than the general public, but not in general health literacy, disease prevention health literacy, or health promotion health literacy. CONCLUSION: The comprehensive HL-SF12 was a valid and easy to use tool for assessing patients' health literacy in the hospitals to facilitate healthcare providers in enhancing patients' health literacy and healthcare qualities.

Study on the Chemical Compositions of the Leaves of Iris tectorum / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To study the chemical compositions of the leaves of Iris tectorum. METHODS:Using 70% ethanol for extracting,silica gel column chromatography,Sephadex LH-20 chromatography and thin-layer chromatography were used to iso-late and purify the chemical compositions of the leaves of I. tectorum,the compound structures were analyzed and identified accord-ing to the physicochemical properties and spectral data. RESULTS:12 compounds were isolated from the leaves of I. tectorum, namely 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-6-methoxy isoflavone(1),tiliamin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(2),5-hydroxy- 4′,7- dimethoxy-isofla-vone(3),tectoridin(4),tectorigenin(5),iridin(6),dimethyl tectorigenin(7),genistein(8),protocatechuic acid(9),isorham-netin-7-O-β-D- glucoside (10),daucosterol (11),tetradecanoic acid (12). CONCLUSIONS:Compounds 1,2,3 are isolated from the plants of the genus for the first time,and the study has laid the foundation for the quality evaluation of I. tectorum.

Renal artery injury caused by Kawasaki disease / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate renal artery injury caused by Kawasaki disease (KD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-three children with KD were enrolled in the study. According to the blood pressure in the acute stage, these children were classified into normal blood pressure subgroup and increased blood pressure subgroup. Eighteen children with fever caused by acute upper respiratory tract infection were enrolled as the control group. The diameter of the origin of the main renal artery, hemodynamic parameters of the main renal artery and the renal interlobar artery, rennin activity, and levels of angiotensin II and aldosterone were compared between groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>During the acute stage of KD, both subgroups had a significantly smaller diameter of the origin of the main renal artery, a significantly higher resistance index (RI) of the main renal artery, and a significantly lower end-diastolic velocity (EDV) than the control group (P<0.05).The increased blood pressure subgroup had a significantly lower EDV of the interlobar artery than the normal blood pressure subgroup, a significantly higher RI than the normal blood pressure subgroup and the control group, as well as a significantly higher rennin activity and significantly higher levels of angiotensin II and aldosterone than the normal blood pressure subgroup (P<0.05). A significantly increased EDV and a significantly reduced RI of the renal interlobar artery were observed in the increased blood pressure subgroup in the subacute stage compared with the acute stage (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>KD may cause renal artery injury and early hemodynamic changes, resulting in a transient increase in blood pressure in some patients.</p>

Effect of dangua recipe on glycolipid metabolism and VCAM-1 and its mRNA expression level in Apo E(-/-) mice with diabetes mellitus / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Dangua Recipe (DGR) on glycolipid metabolism, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and its mRNA expression level of transgenic Apo E(-/-) mouse with spontaneous atherosclerosis, thus revealing its partial mechanism for curing diabetes mellitus (DM) with angiopathy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Diabetic model was prepared by peritoneally injecting streptozotocin (STZ) to Apo E(-/-) mouse. Totally 32 modeled mice were stratified by body weight, and then divided into 4 groups referring to blood glucose levels from low to high by random digit table, i.e., the model group (MOD, fed with sterile water, at the daily dose of 15 mL/kg), the DGR group (fed with DGR at the daily dose of 15 mL/kg), the combination group (COM, fed with DGR at the daily dose of 15 mL/kg and pioglitazone at the daily dose of 4.3 mg/kg), and the pioglitazone group (PIO, at the daily dose of 4.3 mg/kg), 8 in each group. Another 8 normal glucose C57 mouse of the same age and strain were recruited as the control group. All interventions lasted for 12 weeks by gastrogavage. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), body weight, food intake, water intake, skin temperature, the length of tail, and the degree of fatty liver were monitored. The hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), and LDL-C were determined. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) was determined by radioimmunoassay. Nitrogen monoxidum (NO) was determined by nitrate reductase. The kidney tissue VCAM-1 level was analyzed with ELISA. The expression of VCAM-1 mRNA in the kidney tissue was detected with real time quantitative PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the body weight and food intake decreased, water intake increased in all the other model groups (P < 0.05). Besides, the curve of blood glucose was higher in all the other model groups than in the control group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the body weight increased; levels of HbAlc, TC, LDL-C, ET-1, and VCAM-1 were significantly lower; and skin temperature was higher in the DGR group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the PIO group, body weight, the increment of body weight, FBG, TC, and LDL-C were lower (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); food intake and water intake increased more and the tail length was longer in the DRG group (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the level of NO among groups. The degree of fatty liver in the model group was significantly severer than that in the control group (P < 0.05). It was obviously alleviated in the DGR group (P < 0.05) when compared with the model group and the PIO group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). But it was severer in the PIO group than in the model group (P < 0.01). The degree of fatty liver in the combination group ranged between that of the DGR group and the PIO group (P < 0.05). The level of VCAM-1 mRNA expression was significantly lower in the DGR group than in the model group, the PIO group, and the combination group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>DGR had effect in lowering blood glucose and blood lipids, and fighting against fatty liver of transgenic Apo E(-/-) mouse with spontaneous atherosclerosis. DGR played an effective role in preventing and treating DM with angiopathy by comprehensively regulating glycolipid metabolism and promoting the vascular function.</p>

Application of novel nanoparticles carriers in drug or gene delivery / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To summary the application of new types of nanoparticles carriers emerged in recent years in drug or gene delivery. METHODS: By sorting, analyzing and summarizing domestic and foreign literatures, the characteristics, in vivo and in vitro properties and the applications in pharmacy of novel nanoparticles carriers such as nano cochleates, virus-like particles, hydrogel nanoparticles, gold nanoshells, carbon nanomaterials, quantum dots and dendrimers were reviewed and elaborated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Nanoparticles possess special physical and chemical properties which could improve the stability and bioavailability of drugs and have a targeting and sustained release effect.

PEG-mediated covalent binding of VEGF to decellularized aortic valves promotes adhesion and proliferation of endothelial progenitor cells / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To improve the biological properties of decellularized aortic valves by polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated covalent incorporation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PEG crosslinking of decellularized aortic valves were completed via a Michael-type addition reaction, followed by covalent incorporation of VEGF through another Michael-type addition reaction between the unsaturated propylene acyl of PEG and the thiol groups on cysteine residues of VEGF. The effect of VEGF incorporation was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immune fluorescence assay. The endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were seeded on decellularized aortic valves with or without these modifications, and after 10 days of culture, the valves were examined for DNA content and by hematoxylin-eosin staining and scanning electron microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Immune fluorescence and ELISA showed that the maximal VEGF incorporation on the decellularized aortic valve reached 908.94∓0.27 pg. Compared with the unmodified valves and the valves with PEG crosslinking, decellularized aortic valves with covalent incorporation of VEGF significantly promoted the adhesion and proliferation of EPCs, which formed a confluent cell monolayer on the valve surface.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PEG-mediated covalent incorporation of VEGF in the decellularized aortic valves improves the adhesion and proliferation of the seeded EPCs to facilitate the construction of tissue-engineered heart valves.</p>

Analysis of in vitro anti-leukemia effect of 5-aza-2'-deoxycitydine / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of methylation transferase inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycitydine (5-aza-2 dC) on the growth, differentiation and apoptosis of human acute myeloid leukemia(AML) cell line HL-60, and to explore the possible anti-leukemia mechanism of 5-aza-2 dC.@*METHODS@#HL-60 cells were treated by 5-aza-2 dC at various concentrations for different periods of time. The effect of 5-aza-2 dC on the growth of HL-60 cells were detected by MTT assay. The effect on the cell cycle and differentiation were detected by flow cytometry. The effect on the apoptosis were detected by Hochest33342 staining and flow cytometry. The expression of S100A8 and S100A9 was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).@*RESULTS@#(1) 5-aza-2 dC inhibited the growth of HL-60 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and HL-60 cells were arrested at G2/M phases; (2) 5-aza-2 dC enhanced the expression of cell differentiation antigen CD11b at HL-60 cells, especially at the low drug concentration; (3) 5-aza-2 dC induced HL-60 cell apoptosis in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, especially at the high drug concentration; (4) 5-aza-2 dC increased the expression levels of S100A8 and S100A9 mRNA in HL-60 cells.@*CONCLUSION@#5-aza-2 dC can inhibit the growth of HL-60 cells accompanied with G2/M phase arrest, induce the differentiation and apoptosis of the cells, and increase the expression levels of S100A8 and S100A9 mRNA, which may be the anti-AML mechanism of 5-aza-2 dC.

Screening for differentially expressed proteins in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by laser capture microdissection and proteomic analysis / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To search for the differentially expressed proteins of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC),and provide scientific evidence for identifying molecular biomarkers for NPC.@*METHODS@#Laser capture microdissection (LCM) was used to purify the target cells from NPC and normal nasopharyngeal epithelial tissues (NNET). Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) was used to separate the total proteins of microdissected NPC and NNET, PDQuest software was applied to analyze 2-DE images,and the differential proteins between the 2 types of tissues were identified by both MALDI-TOF-MS and ESI-Q-TOF-MS. Western blot and immunohistochemistry of tissue microarray were used to detect the expression of the differential protein SCCA1 in NPC and NNET.@*RESULTS@#2-DE patterns of microdissected NPC and NNEC were established,and 36 differential proteins in the NPC and NNEC were identified,20 of which only expressed or up-regulated in NPC and 16 only expressed or up-regulated in NNET. The differentially expressed level of SCCA1 in the NPC and NNET was confirmed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry of tissue microarray.@*CONCLUSION@#Thirty-six differentially expressed proteins identified in this study may be associated with the carcinogenesis of NPC,and may be candidate molecular biomarkers for NPC.