Ginger supplementation for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Introduction: The efficacy of ginger supplementation remains controversial for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We conduct this meta-analysis to explore the influence of ginger supplementation versus placebo on the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Methods: We have searched PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases through November 2021 and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy of ginger supplementation versus placebo for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This meta-analysis was performed using the random-effect model. Results: Four RCTs involving 177 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, ginger supplementation was associated with significantly reduced alanine aminotransferase (ALT, standard mean difference (SMD)=-0.43; 95% confidence interval [CI]=-0.85 to -0.02; P=0.04), homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR, SMD=-1.14; 95% CI=-2.05 to -0.22; P=0.02), but revealed no obvious impact on aspartate-aminotransferase (AST, SMD=-0.66; 95% CI=-0.81 to 2.12; P=0.38), total cholesterol (SMD=-0.33; 95% CI=-0.67 to 0.02; P=0.06), low density lipoprotein (LDL, SMD=-0.30; 95% CI=-0.64 to 0.04; P=0.08) or body mass index (BMI, SMD=0; 95% CI=-0.41 to 0.40; P=0.99). Conclusions: Ginger supplementation benefits to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

miR­122/SENP1 axis confers stemness and chemoresistance to liver cancer through Wnt/ß­catenin signaling.

The property of inherent stemness of tumor cells coupled with the development of chemoresistance results in a poor prognosis for patients with liver cancer. Therefore, the present study focused on microRNA (miR)-122, a potential tumor suppressor, the expression of which has been previously shown to be significantly decreased and negatively associated with cancer cell stemness in liver cancer. The present study aimed to identify the molecular targets of miR-122 whilst uncovering the mechanism underlying chemoresistance and stemness of HepG2 cells in liver cancer. Bioinformatics online tools, such as ENCORI, coupled with dual-luciferase reporter assays in HepG2 cells, were used to identify and validate small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) specific peptidase 1 (SENP1) as a potential target of miR-122 in liver cancer. The liver cancer stem cell population was determined using sphere formation assays and flow cytometry, whilst stem cell markers (Oct3/4, Nanog, B lymphoma Mo-MLV insertion region 1 homolog and Notch1) were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Chemoresistance, cell proliferation and migratory ability of HepG2 cells were monitored using Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation and Transwell assays, respectively. The overexpression of miR-122 by mimic transfection led to a significant decrease in the number spheres, downregulation of stem cell marker expression, the number of CD24+ cells, drug-resistance protein levels (P-glycoprotein and multidrug resistance protein), impaired chemoresistance, proliferation and migration of HepG2 cells. The transfection of SENP1 overexpression vector resulted in contrasting functions to miR-122 mimics, by partially reversing the effects induced by miR-122 mimic transfection in HepG2 cells. Wnt/ß-catenin signaling has been proven to be involved in cancer stemness and malignant behavior. Western blotting analysis in HepG2 cells showed that the expression levels of both Wnt1 and ß-catenin were significantly reduced after overexpressing miR-122, but increased after overexpressing SENP1. Co-transfection with the SENP1 overexpression vector reversed the suppression induced by the miR-122 mimics on Wnt1 and ß-catenin expression. Co-immunoprecipitation, SUMOylation and half-life assays showed SENP1 interacted with ß-catenin and decreased the SUMOylation of ß-catenin, thereby enhancing its stability. Finally, tumor xenograft analyses revealed that HepG2 cells transfected with Agomir-122 exerted significantly lower tumor initiation frequency and growth rate, and a superior response to DOX in vivo, compared with those transfected with Agomir NC. Taken together, data from the present study miR-122/SENP1 axis can regulate ß-catenin stability through de-SUMOylation, thereby promoting stemness and chemoresistance in liver cancer.

Effects of Pulsed Radiofrequency with Different Temperature on Model Rats of Chronic Constriction Injury.

OBJECTIVES: The treatment for neuropathic pain is still a big challenge. Pulsed radiofrequency technique has been widely used to relieve neuropathic pain in recent years. The purpose of this study is to optimize the temperature for pulsed radiofrequency therapy. DESIGN: Animal, experimental study. METHODS: Seventy-five male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups: Sham operation group (Sham group), chronic constriction injury group (CCI group), PRF 42°C group (P42 group), PRF 50°C group (P50 group), and PRF 60°C group (P60 group). The hindpaw withdrawal threshold (HWT), paw thermal withdrawal latency (PTWL), sciatic nerve structure, and the concentration of spinal methionine enkephalin(M-ENK) were detected to identify which temperature is the best for PRF treatment. RESULTS: PRF at 42°C, 50°C and 60°C significantly alleviated the pain in CCI rats. The therapeutic effects of 50°C and 60°C were similar, and both were better than 42°C. In addition, PRF using 42°C, 50°C, and 60°C mediated nerve injury to sciatic nerve were grade 1, 1, and 2, respectively. The concentration of M-ENK in spinal cord increased accompanying with the increasing of the temperature of PRF. CONCLUSIONS: PRF using 50°C could induce less damage while achieving better improvement of mechanical and thermal pain threshold than 42°C and 60°C in CCI rats, which may be achieved by promoting the expression of M-ENK in spinal cord.

Magnetic Stress Sensing System for Nondestructive Stress Testing of Structural Steel and Steel Truss Components Based on Existing Magnetism.

To detect the stress of steel structures and members using the existing magnetism, a magnetic stress sensing system integrating a magnetic flux induction coil, a magnetic flux measurement device, a loaded device, and data acquisition software was developed. The magnetic coupling test research was carried out for different grades of structural building and bridge steel specimens to establish the magnetic stress flux mathematical model, and the fitting equation of the magnetic flux changes with the positions of different sections of specimens was analyzed. Furthermore, a practical formula for stress detection was obtained through the experiments. Meanwhile, on these bases, the typical steel truss structure model of a Bailey beam was designed and manufactured under different working conditions, nondestructive online stress testing was carried out, and the stress of the model structure and its members was measured by strain and magnetic flux tests to obtain the curves of the test results for the stress-strain and magnetic stress flux, respectively. The results of these two methods are in good agreement with each other. The stress of the steel truss model structure was analyzed and calculated using the finite element method. The results agreed well with the experimental results from the magnetic stress sensing system-the maximum error was about 5%, which meets the requirements of engineering applications.

Identification of prognostic significance of BIRC5 in breast cancer using integrative bioinformatics analysis.

AIMS: Baculoviral inhibitor of apoptosis repeat containing 5 (BIRC5) plays vital roles in carcinogenesis by influencing cell division and proliferation and by inhibiting apoptosis. However, the prognostic significance of BIRC5 remains unclear in breast cancer. METHODS: BIRC5 expression and methylation status were evaluated using the Oncomine and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. The relevance between BIRC5 and different clinicopathological features as well as survival information was analyzed using the bc-GenExMiner database and Kaplan-Meier Plotter. BIRC5-drug interaction network was obtained using the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database. RESULTS: Based on the results from databases and own hospital data, BIRC5 was higher expressed in different breast cancer subtypes compared with the matched normal individuals. Hormone receptors were negatively correlated with BIRC5 expression, whereas the Scarff-Bloom-Richardson (SBR) grade, Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI), human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) status, basal-like status, and triple-negative status were positively related to BIRC5 level in breast cancer samples with respect to normal tissues. High BIRC5 expression was responsible for shorter relapse-free survival, worse overall survival, reduced distant metastasis free survival, and increased risk of metastatic relapse event. BIRC5-drug interaction network indicated that several common drugs could modulate BIRC5 expression. Furthermore, a positive correlation between BIRC5 andcell-division cycle protein 20 (CDC20) gene was confirmed. CONCLUSION: BIRC5 may be adopted as a promising predictive marker and potential therapeutic target in breast cancer. Further large-scale studies are needed to more precisely confirm the value of BIRC5 in treatment of breast cancer.

The Association Between AXIN2 Gene Polymorphisms and the Risk of Breast Cancer in Chinese Women.

Background: The protein AXIN2 is involved in the negative feedback regulation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway; it functions by promoting ß-catenin degradation. AXIN2 mutations have been studied in various cancers. In this study, we genotyped three single nucleotide polymorphisms in the AXIN2 gene and investigated their association with the risk of breast cancer (BC) in the Chinese Han population. Methods: In a population of 415 BC patients and 528 controls the expression of AXIN2 was measured using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and compared with the overall survival (OS) of BC patients analyzed through Oncomine and Kaplan-Meier plotter databases. Bioinformatic analyses demonstrated that AXIN2 mRNA levels were downregulated in BC patients; this in turn correlated with a poorer survival rate for BC patients. Results: The polymorphisms rs11079571 and rs3923087, but not rs3923086, were associated with an increased risk of BC. The minor allele containing genotypes of polymorphism rs3923087 were positively associated with lymph node metastases. A haplotype analysis demonstrated that the ATA haplotype was correlated with an increased risk of BC. Conclusion: In conclusion, the downregulation of AXIN2 is related to poorer OS for BC patients. Its polymorphisms rs11079571 and rs3923087 confer susceptibility to BC. These findings should be confirmed with larger studies that include more diverse ethnic populations.

The Combined Use of Tea Polyphenols and Lactobacillus Plantarum ST8SH Bacteriocin in a Rabbit Model of Infection Following Femoral Fracture with Internal Fixation.

BACKGROUND Worldwide, the increasing use of antibiotics has resulted in antimicrobial resistance, leading to studies to find alternative antimicrobial treatments. Tea polyphenols have antibacterial properties. Bacteriocins produced by probiotic lactobacilli can inhibit Gram-positive bacteria. This study used a rabbit model of infection, following femoral fracture with internal fixation, to evaluate the efficacy of the combined use of tea polyphenols and Lactobacillus plantarum ST8SH bacteriocin. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty-four New Zealand White rabbits underwent femoral fracture, internal fixation, and insertion of a mini-titanium implant, and were inoculated intravenously with suspensions of Staphylococcal bacteria. Four treatment groups included group A, injected with tea polyphenols and bacteriocins (N=6); group B, injected with cefradine and bacteriocins (N=6); group C, injected with tea polyphenols and cefradine (N=6); and group D (controls), injected with saline (N=6). Blood samples were collected at 1, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after the injection of bacteriocins. Biofilms that formed on the mini-titanium implant were studied by fluorescence microscopy. Serum levels of level of interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS The combination of tea polyphenols and bacteriocins (group A) had a significant inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus (P<0.05) and significant differences in serum levels of IL-8, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels in serum (P<0.05) when compared with groups, B, C, and D. CONCLUSIONS In a rabbit model of femoral fracture with internal fixation, the combined use of tea polyphenols and Lactobacillus plantarum ST8SH bacteriocin effectively controlled Staphylococcus aureus infection.