Inhibitory effect of chikusetsusaponin IVa on proliferation of triple negative breast cancer cells / 药学学报

Chikusetsusaponin IVa (CsIVa) is a natural active monomer of triterpene saponins in the Chinese herbal medicine of Panax japonicus, which has anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and other effects. However, its function and mechanism in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) remain unclear. This study investigated the inhibitory effect and mechanisms of CsIVa on the proliferation of triple negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. In this study, we found that CsIVa could significantly inhibit the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells and eliminate its potential toxic effect on normal breast cells (MCF-10A). The transcriptome sequencing results showed that the inhibition of proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells by CsIVa was closely related to cell cycle and the pathway regulating cell cycle. Further studies confirmed that CsIVa blocked the cell cycle in G2/M phase by down-regulating the expression of cyclin dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), cyclin B1 and up-regulating the expression of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (p21). Moreover, CsIVa can block cell cycle through inhibiting PI3K/AKT signal pathway. In conclusion, CsIVa regulates the expression of cell cycle related proteins (p21, CDK1, cyclin B1) via inhibiting the activity of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, blocks TNBC cell cycle, and thus exerts its anti-tumor activity.

Role of N / 临床肝胆病杂志

N 6 -methyladenosine (m6A) is a chemical modification that exists in a variety of RNAs and is most commonly observed in mRNA. The liver is a vital metabolic and digestive organ in human body, and m6A methylation plays an important role in the physiological and pathological processes of the liver. This article reviews the biological role and potential application value of m6A methylation in liver physiology and liver diseases such as viral hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, and it is pointed out that m6A methylation can regulate related factors and is involved in the development and progression of liver diseases, which provides new ideas and targets for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Effect and Mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Tang on Atherosclerotic Plaque Based on Treg Cells / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective::To explore the effect and mechanisms of Buyang Huanwu Tang (BYHWT) on atherosclerotic plaque based on regulatory T cells (Treg) and inflammation. Method::Totally 50 ApoE knockout(ApoE-/-)mice aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into model group, low, medium, high-dose BYHWT groups, positive control group, and C57/BL mice were taken as control group. The model group and the BYHWT group were given high-fat diet for 12 weeks, while the control group was given normal diet. After successful modeling, BYHWT groups were given drugs (5, 10, 20 g·kg-1) through intragastric administration, the positive control group was given rapamycin (4 mg·kg-1), while the control group and the model group were given equal doses normal saline through intragastric administration for 4 weeks. Four weeks later, the mice were sacrificed. Manufactured paraffin sections were prepared for the aortic sinus of the heart. The plaque area was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and the number of Treg cells in immunohistochemical staining plaque was detected. Blood was collected from eye canthus of mice, the expression of inflammatory factors in peripheral blood was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) gene expression in peripheral blood was detected by Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Result::Compared with the control group, the area of atherosclerotic plaques in the model group was significantly increased (P<0.01), the contents of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were significantly increased (P<0.05), and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the peripheral blood Fxop3 mRNA expression was decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the plaque areas in middle-dose and high-dose BYHWT groups were significantly reduced(P<0.05), the peripheral blood TNF-α and IL-6 contents were decreased (P<0.01), the TGF-β and IL-10 expressions were increased in the high-dose group (P<0.05, P<0.01), the number of Treg cells in the plaque was increased in the high-dose group (P<0.01), and the peripheral blood Fxop3 mRNA expression was increased in each BYHWT group (P<0.01). Conclusion::BYHWT has an anti-atherosclerosis effect, which may be related to the increase of the number of Treg cells and thereby inhibiting the inflammatory response in vivo.

Role of pyroptosis in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis / 临床肝胆病杂志

Hepatic fibrosis is a reversible pathological reaction of the liver during the self-repair of various chronic liver injuries and can progress to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Pyroptosis is a new type of programmed cell death different from apoptosis and necrosis and is closely associated with the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis. This article reviews the latest research advances in the definition of pyroptosis, related activation pathways, and its role in hepatic stellate cells, hepatic parenchymal cells, Kupffer cells, and eosinophils, and it is pointed out that pyroptosis can induce liver inflammation, excessively activate hepatic stellate cells, and promote the development and progression of hepatic fibrosis, in order to provide new ideas and potential targets for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Efficient production of pullulan by Aureobasidium pullulans grown on mixtures of potato starch hydrolysate and sucrose

Abstract Pullulan is a natural exopolysaccharide with many useful characteristics. However, pullulan is more costly than other exopolysaccharides, which limits its effective application. The purpose of this study was to adopt a novel mixed-sugar strategy for maximizing pullulan production, mainly using potato starch hydrolysate as a low-cost substrate for liquid-state fermentation by Aureobasidium pullulans. Based on fermentation kinetics evaluation of pullulan production by A. pullulans 201253, the pullulan production rate of A. pullulans with mixtures of potato starch hydrolysate and sucrose (potato starch hydrolysate:sucrose = 80:20) was 0.212 h−1, which was significantly higher than those of potato starch hydrolysate alone (0.146 h−1) and mixtures of potato starch hydrolysate, glucose, and fructose (potato starch hydrolysate:glucose:fructose = 80:10:10, 0.166 h−1) with 100 g L−1 total carbon source. The results suggest that mixtures of potato starch hydrolysate and sucrose could promote pullulan synthesis and possibly that a small amount of sucrose stimulated the enzyme responsible for pullulan synthesis and promoted effective potato starch hydrolysate conversion effectively. Thus, mixed sugars in potato starch hydrolysate and sucrose fermentation might be a promising alternative for the economical production of pullulan.

Spermicidal effect of alcohol extracts from different ratios of Sophora flavescens Ait/Chinese Bulbul in vitro / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the spermicidal effect of alcohol extracts from different ratios of Sophora flavescens Ait/Chinese Bulbul in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Semen samples aseptically obtained by masturbation and prepared by density gradient centrifugation from 15 healthy men were incubated in the alcohol extracts from 9 different ratios of Sophora flavescens Ait/Chinese Bulbul for 20 seconds, 2 minutes and 4 minutes. Then the motility and movement parameters of the sperm were detected by computer-assisted semen analysis, and the minimal effective concentrations of the instant spermicidal effect of the extracts were determined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the ratio of 3:1, the extract at 0.5 mg/ml significantly inhibited the sperm motility and other sperm movement parameters VCL, VSL, VAP, ALH, WOB and MAD, as compared with the control group. The minimal effective concentration of the instant spermicidal effect of the extracts was 3.5 mg/ml at 3:1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The alcohol extracts from Sophora flavescens Ait and Chinese Bulbul at the ratio of 3:1 have the best spermicidal effect in vitro.</p>

Effects of the proliferation state of the endothelial progenitor cells preconditioned with salvianolic acid B and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells transplanted in acute myocardial infarction rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the proliferation state of transplanted cells in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rats, and the endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) preconditioned by salvianolic acid B in different ratios with the bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cultivation and purification of EPCs were performed by density-gradient centrifugation and plastic adherence method. Two types of cells were identified by immunocytochemical method (CD34, CD133, and CD44). The rat model of AMI was prepared by ligation of left anterior descending artery. The EPCs were pre-treated with the optimal concentration of salvianolic acid B (8 microg/ mL). They were mixed with BMSCs in different proportions (EPCs/BMSCs in the ratio of 1:1, 2:1, 4:1, and 8:1, respectively). BMSCs and EPCs were injected into the myocardial infarction area. The infarcted area was determined by the N-BT staining and hematoxylin-eosin staining. The expression of Ki-67 was detected by immunohistochemical assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the model group (19.60% +/- 3.23%), the myocardial infarction area of each implanted group obviously decreased (P < 0.05). Of them, the decrease was most obvious in the 4:1 group (11.37% +/- 2.18%) and the 8:1 group (9.23% +/- 2.35%, P < 0.05). Compared with the model group (cell/high magnification, 5.17 +/- 2.31), the Ki-67 positive cell number of each implanted groups significantly increased (P < 0.05). Of them, the Ki-67 positive cell number was obviously higher in the 8:1 group (15.00 +/- 3.16, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>EPCs pretreated by salvianolic acid B combined with BMSCs could reduce the myocardial infarcted area, improve the proliferation of BMSCs in the peripheral infarction and local ischemia. Besides, along with the increase of the implant proportion of EPCs, the infarct area was gradually reduced, and the proliferative expression was gradually enhanced.</p>

Experimental study of augmentation phalloplasty using tunica vaginalis grafts in bilateral albuginea of penile corpus / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect and complications of augmentation phalloplasty by implanting autogenous tunica vaginalis grafts into the bilateral albuginea of the penile corpus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Five mongrel dogs underwent augmentation phalloplasty with bilateral autogenous tunica vaginalis grafts. The increase in the volume of the corpora cavernosa was achieved by applying autogenous tunica vaginalis grafts to longitudinal openings made bilaterally in the albuginea along the whole length of the penile cavernous corpora. The perimeter of the penile cavernous corpora was measured in the flaccid state and during erection and dynamic infusion cavernosometry (DIC) was conducted for each dog before and after the operation. Histology of the penis was examined using hematoxylin and eosin stains.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average increase in the perimeter of the penile cavernous corpora was 21. 1% in the erectile state but unobvious in the flaccid state 3 months after surgery. There were no statistically significant differences in cavernosometric parameters before and after the operation, and neither were there any other severe postoperative complications. The grafts had mild inflammatory reaction and fibrosis with apparent reformation of the tunica albuginea over the patch site.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The augmentation phalloplasty technique with bilateral autogenous tunica vaginalis grafts was proved to be effective and reliable with few complications, particularly conspicuous in increasing the volume of the erectile tissues during erection.</p>

Penile vibratory stimulation and electroejaculation in the treatment of ejaculatory dysfunction / 中华男科学杂志

The fertility potential of infertile men can be enhanced to a great extent by the application of assisted reproduction techniques such as intrauterine insemination or in-vitro fertilization with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection, but how to obtain semen from men with ejaculatory dysfunction remains a problem. The development and refinement of penile vibratory stimulation (PVS) and electroejaculation (EEJ) have significantly brightened the prospects for the treatment of ejaculatory dysfunction. Because vibratory stimulation is non-invasive and easy to perform, and needs no anaesthesia, it is preferred by most of the patients to EEJ, and recommended to be the first choice of treatment for ejaculatory dysfunction. Approximately 80% of all ejaculatory dysfunction men with an intact ejaculatory reflex arc (above T10 ) can obtain antegrade ejaculation by PVS. Any condition which affects the ejaculatory mechanism of the central and/or peripheral nervous system including surgical nerve injury may be treated successfully by EEJ. The purpose of this review is to present the current understanding of PVS and EEJ procedures and their clinical use in men with ejaculatory dysfunction.

Cloning and expression of dengue 2 virus NS1 gene in eukaryotic cells / 军事医学科学院院刊

Objective：To investigate the correct expression of dengue 2 virus 43 strain NS1 gene in transfected BHK-21 cell. Methods：The D2-43 DNA fragment coding for signal peptide plus NS1 protein was cloned between KpnⅠ site and EcoR Ⅰ site of expression plamid pcDNA3.1. The obtained recombinant vector pcDNA-NS1 was transfected into BHK-21 cells with electroporation technique. After selection by G418, resistant clones were screened by RT-PCR and Western blotting test. Results：The RT-PCR results of four in five randomly selected cell clones were positive. Western blotting test showed that NS1 gene could be expressed in BHK-21 cells. Conclusions：NS1 protein was capable of being expressed and appropriately processed in pcDNA-NS1 transfected BHK-21 cells. The present results suggest the feasibility of NS1-based DNA immunization.