Mechanism of astragaloside Ⅳ in regulating autophagy of PC12 cells under oxygen-glucose deprivation by medicating Akt/mTOR/HIF-1α pathway / 中国中药杂志

This study explored the protective effect of astragaloside Ⅳ(AS-Ⅳ) on oxygen-glucose deprivation(OGD)-induced autophagic injury in PC12 cells and its underlying mechanism. An OGD-induced autophagic injury model in vitro was established in PC12 cells. The cells were divided into a normal group, an OGD group, low-, medium-, and high-dose AS-Ⅳ groups, and a positive drug dexmedetomidine(DEX) group. Cell viability was measured using the MTT assay. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe autophagosomes and autolysosomes, and the MDC staining method was used to assess the fluorescence intensity of autophagosomes. Western blot was conducted to determine the relative expression levels of functional proteins LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, Beclin1, p-Akt/Akt, p-mTOR/mTOR, and HIF-1α. Compared with the normal group, the OGD group exhibited a significant decrease in cell viability(P<0.01), an increase in autophagosomes(P<0.01), enhanced fluorescence intensity of autophagosomes(P<0.01), up-regulated Beclin1, LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, and HIF-1α(P<0.05 or P<0.01), and down-regulated p-Akt/Akt and p-mTOR/mTOR(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the OGD group, the low-and medium-dose AS-Ⅳ groups and the DEX group showed a significant increase in cell viability(P<0.01), decreased autophagosomes(P<0.01), weakened fluorescence intensity of autophagosomes(P<0.01), down-regulated Beclin1, LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, and HIF-1α(P<0.05 or P<0.01), and up-regulated p-Akt/Akt and p-mTOR/mTOR(P<0.01). AS-Ⅳ at low and medium doses exerted a protective effect against OGD-induced autophagic injury in PC12 cells by activating the Akt/mTOR pathway, subsequently influencing HIF-1α. The high-dose AS-Ⅳ group did not show a statistically significant difference compared with the OGD group. This study provides a certain target reference for the prevention and treatment of OGD-induced cellular autophagic injury by AS-Ⅳ and accumulates laboratory data for the secondary development of Astragali Radix and AS-Ⅳ.

Analysis of upper limbs strength training in table tennis / Análise do treinamento de força em membros superiores no tênis de mesa / Análisis del entrenamiento de fuerza en miembros superiores en el tenis de mesa

ABSTRACT Introduction: The strength training of superior members currently practiced in the university courses does not correspond to the real necessities of the athletes, demanding the development of optimized methods for more expressive performance gains. To create these methods, it is necessary to collect data scientifically to consolidate a solid analysis for improvement. Objective: Analyze upper limbs strength training in table tennis players. Methods: During the experiment, 20 students were randomly divided into groups to perform daily training according to the original table tennis training plan. The experimental group received a schematized protocol improving the existing teaching by adding upper limb strength training. The experiment totaled eight weeks, with one hour of training conducted twice a week. Results: In the experimental group, the attack distance index increased by 25.378%, the one-minute attack swing index increased by 0.585%, the swing index increased by 12.795%, and the technical attack index increased by 11.452%. Conclusion: The improved upper limb strength training method presented in the protocol of this article can optimize athletes' muscle strength, increasing balance and swing ability, positively influencing the technical score and final sports performance. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

RESUMO Introdução: O treinamento de força de membros superiores atualmente praticados nos cursos universitários não correspondem às reais necessidades dos atletas, exigindo o desenvolvimento de métodos otimizados para ganhos de desempenho mais expressivos. Para a confecção desses métodos, é necessário efetuar-se uma coleta de dados de maneira científica afim de consolidar uma análise sólida para aprimoramento. Objetivo: Analisar o treinamento de força dos membros superiores nos praticantes de tênis de mesa. Métodos: Durante o experimento, 20 estudantes foram aleatoriamente divididos em um grupo para efetuar o treinamento diário de acordo com o plano original de treinamento do tênis de mesa, enquanto o grupo experimental recebeu um protocolo esquematizado aprimorando o ensino existente, adicionando o treinamento de força para os membros superiores. O experimento totalizou 8 semanas, com uma hora de treino realizado duas vezes por semana. Resultados: No grupo experimental, o índice de distância de ataque aumentou 25,378%, o índice de balanço de ataque de um minuto aumentou 0,585%, o índice de balanço aumentou 12,795% e o índice técnico de ataque aumentou 11,452%. Conclusão: O método aperfeiçoado de treinamento de força dos membros superiores apresentados no protocolo deste artigo pode otimizar a força muscular dos atletas, aumentando a capacidade de equilíbrio e balanço, influenciando positivamente na pontuação técnica e desempenho esportivo final. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción: El entrenamiento de fuerza de miembros superiores actualmente practicado en los cursos universitarios no corresponde a las necesidades reales de los atletas, exigiendo el desarrollo de métodos optimizados para ganancias de rendimiento más expresivas. Para la confección de estos métodos, es necesario recopilar datos de forma científica con el fin de consolidar un análisis sólido para su mejora. Objetivo: Analizar el entrenamiento de fuerza de los miembros superiores en practicantes de tenis de mesa. Métodos: Durante el experimento, 20 estudiantes se dividieron aleatoriamente en un grupo para realizar un entrenamiento diario según el plan de entrenamiento original de tenis de mesa, mientras que el grupo experimental recibió un protocolo esquematizado que mejoraba la enseñanza existente añadiendo un entrenamiento de fuerza de las extremidades superiores. El experimento duró 8 semanas, con una hora de entrenamiento dos veces por semana. Resultados: En el grupo experimental, el índice de distancia de ataque aumentó un 25,378%, el índice de balanceo de ataque de un minuto aumentó un 0,585%, el índice de balanceo aumentó un 12,795% y el índice de ataque técnico aumentó un 11,452%. Conclusión: El método mejorado de entrenamiento de la fuerza de las extremidades superiores presentado en el protocolo de este artículo puede optimizar la fuerza muscular de los atletas, aumentando el equilibrio y la capacidad de balanceo, influyendo positivamente en la puntuación técnica y en el rendimiento deportivo final. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

Research progress on chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Potentilla / 中国中药杂志

There are 200-500 species of Potentilla(Rosaceae) worldwide, among which 90 species are widely distributed in China and have a long history of ethnic medicinal use. According to our statistics, a total of 367 compounds have been isolated and identified from plants of this genus, including terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, and phenylpropanoids. The medicinal materials made from these plants mainly have antioxidative, blood sugar-lowering, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, cardiovascular system-protecting, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective activities. This study systematically reviews the research progress on chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Potentilla plants to provide a basis for further research and clinical application.

Single-cell qPCR facilitates the optimization of hematopoietic differentiation in hPSCs/OP9 coculture system

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs)/OP9 coculture system is a widely used hematopoietic differentiation approach. The limited understanding of this process leads to its low efficiency. Thus, we used single-cell qPCR to reveal the gene expression profiles of individual CD34+ cells from different stages of differentiation. According to the dynamic gene expression of hematopoietic transcription factors, we overexpressed specific hematopoietic transcription factors (Gata2, Lmo2, Etv2, ERG, and SCL) at an early stage of hematopoietic differentiation. After overexpression, we generated more CD34+ cells with normal expression level of CD43 and CD31, which are used to define various hematopoietic progenitors. Furthermore, these CD34+ cells possessed normal differentiation potency in colony-forming unit assays and normal gene expression profiles. In this study, we demonstrated that single-cell qPCR can provide guidance for optimization of hematopoietic differentiation and transient overexpression of selected hematopoietic transcription factors can enhance hematopoietic differentiation.

The serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 level is an independent predictor of recurrence after ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated whether the serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 level is an independent predictor of recurrence after catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation. METHODS: Fifty-eight consecutive patients with persistent atrial fibrillation were enrolled and underwent catheter ablation. The serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 level was detected before ablation and its relationship with recurrent arrhythmia was analyzed at the end of the follow-up. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 12.1±7.2 months, 21 (36.2%) patients had a recurrence of their arrhythmia after catheter ablation. At baseline, the matrix metalloproteinase-9 level was higher in the patients with recurrence than in the non-recurrent group (305.77±88.90 vs 234.41±93.36 ng/ml, respectively, p=0.006). A multivariate analysis showed that the matrix metalloproteinase-9 level was an independent predictor of arrhythmia recurrence, as was a history of atrial fibrillation and the diameter of the left atrium. CONCLUSION: The serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 level is an independent predictor of recurrent arrhythmia after catheter ablation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

Proteomic profiling of nephrotic syndrome in serum using magnetic bead based sample fractionation & MALDI-TOF MS.

Background & objectives: At present, the diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome (NS) requires a renal biopsy which is an invasive procedure. We undertook this pilot study to develop an alternative method and potential new biomarkers for diagnosis, and validated a set of well-integrated tools called ClinProt to investigate serum petidome in NS patients. Methods: The fasting blood samples from 49 patients diagnosed with NS by renal biopsy, including 17 mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN), 12 minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS), 10 focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and 10 membranous nephropathy (MN), were collected and screened to describe their variability of the serum peptidome. The results in NS group were compared with those in 10 control healthy individuals. Specimens were purified with magnetic beads-based weak cation exchange chromatography and analyzed in a MALDI-TOF MS. Results: The results showed 43, 61, 45 and 19 differential peptide peaks in MsPGN, MCNS, MN and FSGS groups, respectively. A Genetic Algorithm was used to set up the classification models. Cross validation of healthy controls from MsPGN, MCNS, MN and FSGS was 96.18, 100, 98.53 and 94.12 per cent, respectively. The recognition capabilities were 100 per cent. Interpretation & conclusions: Our results showed that proteomic analysis of serum with MALDI-TOF MS is a fast and reproducible approach, which may give an early idea of the pathology of nephrotic syndrome.