Ulinastatin alleviates early brain injury after intracerebral hemorrhage by inhibiting oxidative stress and neuroinflammation via ROS/MAPK/Nrf2 signaling pathway

Purpose: Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is still a major public health problem, with high mortality and disability. Ulinastatin (UTI) was purified from human urine and has been reported to be anti-inflammatory, organ protective, and antioxidative stress. However, the neuroprotection of UTI in ICH has not been confirmed, and the potential mechanism is unclear. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the neuroprotection and potential molecular mechanisms of UTI in ICH-induced early brain injury in a C57BL/6 mouse model. Methods: The neurological score, brain water content, neuroinflammatory cytokine levels, oxidative stress levels, and neuronal damage were evaluated. Results: UTI treatment markedly increased the neurological score, alleviated brain edema, decreased the levels of the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-6, and NF-κB, decreased the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and upregulated the levels of glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and Nrf2. This finding indicated that UTI-mediated inhibition of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress alleviated neuronal damage after ICH. The neuroprotective capacity of UTI is partly dependent on the ROS/MAPK/Nrf2 signaling pathway. Conclusions: UTI improves neurological outcomes in mice and reduces neuronal death by protecting against neural neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.

Application of lateral supraclavicular incision in unilateral thyroid papillary carcinoma surgery / Incisão supraclavicular lateral em cirurgia de carcinoma papilífero unilateral de tireoide

Abstract Introduction The standard approach to thyroidectomy is a collar incision via the anterior neck, and the neck scar has always been a source of worry for patients. Acceptable wound cosmetology has become a focus for thyroid surgeons. Objective To verify the effectiveness and cosmetic results of thyroidectomy through a lateral supraclavicular incision. Methods 180 patients were randomly divided into two groups: a lateral supraclavicular approach and a conventional transcervical approach. The main outcomes included incision length, intraoperative blood loss, operative time, total drainage volume, hospitalization expense, early postoperative pain measured by visual analog scale, infection, and perceived cosmetic outcome. Results There were no statistical significances between the two groups in terms of age, gender, nodule size, intraoperative blood loss, operative time, total drainage volume, hospital expense and postoperative complications, whereas there were significant differences in terms of incision length (5.2 ± 1.04 cm vs. 6.9 ± 1.14 cm, p < 0.05). Conclusions The lateral supraclavicular incision is a safe and feasible approach for thyroidectomy. Compared with conventional approach, it provides a better cosmetic result.

Resumo Introdução A abordagem padrão para tireoidectomia é uma incisão em colar na face anterior do pescoço; a cicatriz no pescoço sempre foi uma fonte de preocupação para os pacientes; consequentemente, a cosmetologia aceitável da ferida tornou‐se um foco de atenção para os cirurgiões de cabeça e pescoço. Objetivos Verificar a eficácia e os resultados cosméticos da tireoidectomia por meio de incisão supraclavicular lateral. Método Foram divididos aleatoriamente 180 pacientes em dois grupos: um grupo supraclavicular lateral (Grupo LS) e outro transcervical convencional (Grupo TC). Os desfechos principais incluíram comprimento da incisão, perda de sangue intraoperatória, tempo cirúrgico, volume total de drenagem, despesas hospitalares, dor no pós‐operatório imediato medida através de escala visual analógica, infecção e resultado cosmético percebido. Resultados Não houve significância estatística entre os dois grupos em termos de idade, sexo, tamanho do nódulo, perda sanguínea intraoperatória, tempo cirúrgico, volume total de drenagem, custo hospitalar e complicações pós‐operatórias, mas houve diferença significante em termos de comprimento da incisão (5,2 ± 1,04 cm vs. 6,9 ± 1,14 cm, p < 0,05). Conclusão A incisão supraclavicular lateral é uma abordagem segura e viável para tireoidectomia. Em comparação com a abordagem convencional, oferece um melhor resultado cosmético.

Clinical Observation on Jiechang Qingre Pills Combined with Conventional Western Medicine Therapy in Improving Dampness-heat Syndrome of Large Intestine at Active Stage of Ulcerative Colitis / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of Jiechang Qingre pills for dampness-heat syndrome of large intestine at active stage of ulcerative colitis （UC） and investigate its effect on inflammatory factors. Method:One hundred and eight patients with active UC were divided into observation group and control group. Both groups were treated with Mesalazine enteric-coated tablets， 2 g/times， 2 times/day， for 2 weeks. If symptoms were poorly controlled， prednisone acetate tablets would be used instead， 0.75 mg·kg^-1·d^-1in 3 times by oral administration. Patients in the observation group took Jiechang Qingre pills， 10 g/time， 3 times/day before meals. Patients in the control group took Jiechang Qingre pills simulated drug， 10 g/time， 3 times/day before meals. The course of treatment was 12 weeks in both groups and the patients were followed up for 3 months. The modified Mayo score was used to evaluate disease activity. Before and after treatment， large intestine dampness-heat syndrome score， inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire （IBDQ）， mucosal histology assessment and scores of major symptoms and intestinal mucosal lesion severity were graded. The incidence of non-reactivity， hormone failure， hormone dependence， and early recurrence were recorded 2 weeks after treatment. Tumor necrosis factor-<italic>α </italic>（TNF-<italic>α</italic>）， interleukin-6（IL-6） and IL-17 levels were measured before and after treatment. Result:The clinical effective rate in the observation group was 94.00% （47/50）， higher than 77.55% （38/49） in the control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=5.514，<italic>P</italic><0.05）. The clinical remission rate was 82.00%（41/50） in the observation group， higher than 61.22% （30/49） in the control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=5.266，<italic>P</italic><0.05）. The endoscopic response rate was 96.00% （48/50） in the observation group， higher than 79.59% （39/49） in the control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=6.251，<italic>P</italic><0.05）. The rate of mucosal healing in the observation group was 90.00% （45/50）， higher than 79.59% （35/49） in the control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=5.503，<italic>P</italic><0.05）. The scores of diarrhea， purulent stool， abdominal pain， tenesmus， hyperemia， edema， erosion and ulcer in the observation group were lower than those in the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The rate of non-reactivity in the observation group was 16.00% （8/50）， lower than 34.69% （17/49） in the control group（<italic>χ</italic>²=4.581，<italic>P</italic><0.05）. The hormone failure rate in the observation group was 37.50%（3/8）， lower than 64.71%（11/17）in the control group，but the difference was not statistically significant（tested by the exact probaility method）. The hormone dependence rate in the observation group was 12.50%（1/8）， lower than 23.53% （4/17） in the control group，but the difference was not statistically significant（tested by the exact probaility method）. The early recurrence rate in the observation group was 14.00% （7/50）， lower than 32.65%（16/49） in the control group（<italic>χ</italic>²=4.827，<italic>P</italic><0.05）. The scores of Mayo， dampness and heat syndrome and Geboes index in the observation group were lower than those in the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， and the IBDQ scores were significantly higher than those in the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The TNF-<italic>α， </italic>IL-6 and IL-17 levels of the patients in the observation group were lower than those in the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:Based on the routine treatment of western medicine， Jiechang Qingre pills treatment for the patients with active UC can effectively induce clinical remission， alleviate inflammatory reaction， promote intestinal mucosal healing， improve clinical symptoms， quality of life and the response of treatment. Its clinical efficacy and enteroscopy efficacy are better than western medicine treatment alone， so it is worthy of clinical use.

Effect of Koumine on Proliferation and Apoptosis of Colorectal Cancer Cells via ROS/JNK/FoxO3a Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To explore the effect and underlying mechanism of koumine （Kou） at different concentrations （0， 100， 200， 400 μmol·L^-1） on the proliferation and apoptosis of colorectal cancer HCT-116 cells. Method:After 24 hours of<italic> in vitro</italic> intervention with HCT-116 cells by Kou， cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was used to detect its effect on cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell cycle， apoptosis， and reactive oxygen species （ROS） expression. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the mRNA expression of forkhead box O3a （FoxO3a）. Cells were transfected with small interfering ribonucleic acid （siRNA）. Western blot was employed to detect the protein expression of the FoxO3a target gene. Result:Compared with the conditions in the blank group， Kou treatment reduced the proliferation rate of HCT-116 cells （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01） in a dose-dependent manner， caused cell cycle arrest in the G₀/G₁ phase， and induced the apoptosis of HCT-116 cells （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）， which was positively correlated with the concentration of Kou. FoxO3a siRNA interference reduced the expression of FoxO3a and its downstream target genes cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A （p21）， cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B （p27）， and Bcl-2 interacting mediator of cell death （Bim） （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Kou treatment induced the activation of c-Jun <italic>N</italic>-terminal kinase （JNK） in HCT116 cells. SP600125 （JNK specific inhibitor） treatment inhibited the Kou-induced FoxO3a activation and the expression of its downstream target genes. <italic>N</italic>-acetyl cysteine （NAC） treatment reduced Kou-induced ROS levels （<italic>P</italic><0.01） and JNK signal activation. The above results were significantly different from those in the blank group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:Kou can effectively inhibit the proliferation of HCT-116 cells and promote apoptosis， and the mechanism may be related to the regulation of the ROS/JNK/FoxO3a pathway.

Spleen tyrosine kinase inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells in vitro via regulating Fra-1 / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) overexpression on proliferation and apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells and explore the possible mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The mRNA expressions of SYK and Fra?1 in 10 clinical specimens of colorectal cancer and 10 adjacent tissues were measured with qRT?PCR, and their protein expressions were detected with Western blotting. The recombinant plasmid pcDNA.3.1?SYK was constructed and transfected into colorectal cancer cells to induce SYK overexpression, and the cell viability and proliferation were assessed using by MTT assay and BrdU assay, respectively; caspase?3 activity in the cells was evaluated with a commercial kit and the cell apoptosis was analyzed with Annexin?V FITC/PI assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expressions of SYK were significantly decreased in colorectal cancer tissues and colorectal cancer cell lines. Transfection of pcDNA.3.1?SYK into the colorectal cancer cells induced obviously upregulated mRNA and protein expressions of SYK, which caused a significant suppression of the cell viability and proliferation and enhancement of the cell apoptosis along with a significant inhibition of Fra?1 expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>s SYK overexpression inhibits the proliferation and promotes apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells, and these effects are possibly mediated by the regulation of Fra?1 expression by SYK.</p>

Functional polymorphisms in CYP2C19 & CYP3A5 genes associated with decreased susceptibility for paediatric tuberculosis.

Background & objectives: Tuberculosis (TB) bacilli ingested by macrophages evade host immune responses by multiple mechanisms including the inhibition of apoptosis. As the cytochrome-P-450 system (CYP) contributes to apoptosis it has been suggested that genetic variation in CYP may be associated with susceptibility to TB infection. This study was carried out to evaluate cytochrome P-450 polymorphisms in Chinese Han children and to investigate the effect of these polymorphisms in paediatric TB. Methods: Frequencies for the CYP2C19, CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and CYP2E1 mutated alleles and genotypes were compared between 142 Chinese paediatric TB patients and 150 non-infected controls by real time PCR genotyping on peripheral leukocyte DNA. Results: CYP2C19 (636 G>A, rs4986893) A allele and AG genotype were associated with decreased susceptibility to TB (P = 0.006, OR= 0.33, 95% CI: 0.15-0.76; and P = 0.005, OR =0.31, 95% CI: 0.14-0.72 respectively), as were the CYP3A5 (6986A>G, rs776746) G allele and particularly homozygous GG (recessive mode) genotype (P = 0.004, OR=0.61, 95% CI: 0.43-0.85; and P=0.002, OR=0.47, 95% CI: 0.29-0.76). Interpretation & conclusions: The data suggested that CYP2C19 and CYP3A5 polymorphisms affect susceptibility to paediatric TB. Further studies are indicated to confirm and elucidate these observations.