Tumor regression grade in locally advanced rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy: influencing factors and prognostic significance.

OBJECTIVE: The extent of tumor regression varies widely among patients who receive neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) followed by total mesorectal excision (TME) surgery. We evaluated the tumor regression grade (TRG) classification of patients and analyzed factors related to TRG and its value in predicting prognosis in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathologic data of 269 consecutive patients with LARC treated from February 2002 to October 2014. The grade of TRG was based on the extent of primary tumor replaced by fibrosis. Clinical characteristics and relative survival were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: There were 269 patients, among whom 67 patients (24.9%) achieved TRG0, whereas 46 patients (17.1%) showed TRG3. TRG1 and TRG2 were both found in 78 patients (29.0%). Clinicopathologic factors that were related to TRG included post-NACRT carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level (P=0.002), clinical T stage (P=0.022), pathologic T stage (P<0.001) and pathologic lymph node status (P=0.003). The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 74.6%, 55.1%, 47.4%, 28.3% for TRG0, TRG1, TRG2, TRG3, respectively (P<0.001). The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 64.2%, 47.4%, 37.2%, 23.9% for TRG0, TRG1, TRG2, TRG3, respectively (P<0.001). Based on multivariate analysis, TRG was a significant predictor for both OS (P=0.039) and DFS (P=0.043). CONCLUSION: Clinicopathologic factors such as post-NACRT CEA level, clinical T stage, pathological T stage and pathological lymph node status are significantly associated with TRG. TRG is an independent predictor of survival. Therefore, it is reasonable to include the TRG for clinicopathologic assessment.

Clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of colon cancer with lung metastasis without liver metastasis: A large population-based analysis.

Distant metastasis explains the high mortality rate of colon cancer, in which lung metastasis without liver metastasis (LuM) is a rare subtype. This study is aimed to identify risk factors of LuM and LLM (lung metastasis with liver metastasis) from colon cancer, and to analyze the prognosis of patients with LuM by creating a nomogram. Patients' information were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for LuM and LLM. Prognostic factors for cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) were identified by multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression and nomogram models were established to predict CSS and OS. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that blacks, splenic flexure of colon tumor, tumor size >5 cm, T4, N3, and higher lymph node positive rate were associated with the occurrence of LuM. Meanwhile, age >65 years old, female, splenic flexure of colon, higher lymph node positive rate, and brain metastasis were independent risk factors for CSS. The C-index of the prediction model for CSS was 0.719 (95% CI: 0.691-0.747). In addition, age, primary site, tumor size, differentiation grade, N stage, and bone metastasis were significantly different between LuM and LLM. The nomograms we created were effective in predicting the survival of individuals. Furthermore, patients with LuM and LLM from colon cancer might require different follow-up intervals and examinations.

Effect of ischemic compression on myofascial pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a condition with local and referred pain characterized by trigger points (taut bands within the muscle). Ischemic compression is a noninvasive manual therapy technique that has been employed for the treatment of MPS in past decades. However, little attention has been devoted to this topic. OBJECTIVES: The present review was designed to explore the efficacy of ischemic compression for myofascial pain syndrome by performing a descriptive systematic review and a meta-analysis to estimate the effect of ischemic compression on MPS. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis concerning randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with myofascial pain subjects who received ischemic compression versus placebo, sham, or usual interventions. Five databases (PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, Ovid) were searched from the earliest data available to 2022.1.2. The standardized mean difference (SMD) and the 95% confidence interval (CI) were used for statistics. Version 2 of the Cochrane risk of tool 2 (RoB 2) was used to assess the quality of the included RCTs. RESULTS: Seventeen studies were included in the systematic review, and 15 studies were included in the meta-analysis. For the pressure pain threshold (PPT) index, 11 studies and 427 subjects demonstrated statistically significant differences compared with the control at posttreatment (SMD = 0.67, 95% CI [0.35, 0.98], P < 0.0001, I2 = 59%). For visual analog scale (VAS) or numeric rating scale (NRS) indices, 7 studies and 251 subjects demonstrated that there was no significant difference between ischemic compression and controls posttreatment (SMD = - 0.22, 95% CI [- 0.53, 0.09], P = 0.16, I2 = 33%). CONCLUSION: Ischemic compression, as a conservative and noninvasive therapy, only enhanced tolerance to pain in MPS subjects compared with inactive control. Furthermore, there was no evidence of benefit for self-reported pain. The number of currently included subjects was relatively small, so the conclusion may be changed by future studies. Big scale RCTs with more subjects will be critical in future.

Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to quantitatively evaluate and summarize the effectiveness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: The PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CBM, CNKI and Wanfang databases were searched for randomized controlled trails (RCTs) from their inception through July 10, 2021. RCTs that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study, and RevMan software was used for meta-analysis. Outcome indicators included scores on the fatigue severity scale (FSS), modified Ashworth scale (MAS) and the H/M amplitude ratio of the Soleus H reflex. When p < 0.05, the difference was considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 10 articles were included in this study, with 8 of them in the quantitative synthesis. The meta-analysis showed that the short-term effect of rTMS treatment for the MAS was better than that of the control treatment (95% CI: -1.27 to -0.25, p = 0.004); and compared with the control group, the effect of rTMS treatment for the H/M ratio showed a significant effect (95% CI: -0.12 to -0.03, p = 0.002); while the treatment effect for the FSS was not significant (95% CI: -4.87 to 1.28, p = 0.25). CONCLUSION: Our results provide preliminary evidence for the treatment of patients with MS by rTMS, especially for improving spasticity, but further research is needed to evaluate its effects on fatigue.

Local vibration therapy promotes the recovery of nerve function in rats with sciatic nerve injury.

OBJECTIVE: It has been reported that local vibration therapy can benefit recovery after peripheral nerve injury, but the optimized parameters and effective mechanism were unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effect of local vibration therapy of different amplitudes on the recovery of nerve function in rats with sciatic nerve injury (SNI). METHODS: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to SNI and then randomly divided into 5 groups: sham group, SNI group, SNI + A-1 mm group, SNI + A-2 mm group, and SNI + A-4 mm group (A refers to the amplitude; n = 10 per group). Starting on the 7th day after model initiation, local vibration therapy was given for 21 consecutive days with a frequency of 10 Hz and an amplitude of 1, 2 or 4 mm for 5 min. The sciatic function index (SFI) was assessed before surgery and on the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th days after surgery. Tissues were harvested on the 28th day after surgery for morphological, immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Compared with the SNI group, on the 28th day after surgery, the SFIs of the treatment groups were increased; the difference in the SNI + A-2 mm group was the most obvious (95% confidence interval [CI]: [5.86, 27.09], P < 0.001), and the cross-sectional areas of myocytes in all of the treatment groups were improved. The G-ratios in the SNI + A-1 mm group and SNI + A-2 mm group were reduced significantly (95% CI: [-0.12, -0.02], P = 0.007; 95% CI: [-0.15, -0.06], P < 0.001). In addition, the expressions of S100 and nerve growth factor proteins in the treatment groups were increased; the phosphorylation expressions of ERK1/2 protein in the SNI + A-2 mm group and SNI + A-4 mm group were upregulated (95% CI: [0.03, 0.96], P = 0.038; 95% CI: [0.01, 0.94], P = 0.047, respectively), and the phosphorylation expression of Akt in the SNI + A-1 mm group was upregulated (95% CI: [0.11, 2.07], P = 0.031). CONCLUSION: Local vibration therapy, especially with medium amplitude, was able to promote the recovery of nerve function in rats with SNI; this result was linked to the proliferation of Schwann cells and the activation of the ERK1/2 and Akt signaling pathways.

CircRNA_002178 as a ceRNA promotes the development of colorectal cancer by regulating miR-542-3p/CREB1.

OBJECTIVE: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumor commonly found in the digestive tract. This study aimed to explore the effect of circRNA_002178 as a competing endogenous RNA in the development of CRC by regulating the miR-542-3p/cAMP response element binding protein 1 (CREB1) axis and its molecular mechanism. METHODS: The relative expressions of circ_002178, miR-542-3p, and CREB1 in patients' cell lines and CRC tissues were measured using Western blot and qRT-PCR. The localization and expression of circ_002178 were determined using fluorescence in situ hybridization and nucleocytoplasmic separation tests. The targeting relationships among circ_002178, miR-542-3p, and CREB1 were validated using RNA immunoprecipitation and dual luciferase reporter assays. The cells' proliferation, invasion, and colony forming ability were tested using CCK8, Transwell, and Clone formation assays, respectively. The cellular glucose consumption, lactification, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production were measured using glucose uptake colorimetric assay kits, lactate colorimetric assay kits and ATP assay kits, respectively. RESULTS: The circ_002178 and CREB1 expressions were up-regulated in the CRC cells and tissues, and the miR-542-3p expression was down-regulated (all P<0.05). The circ_002178 knockdown inhibited the proliferation, invasion, colony formation, and glycolysis of the CRC cells in vitro, but the overexpression of circ_002178 induced the opposite result (both P<0.05). Our molecular mechanism study revealed that circ_002178, as the molecular sponge of miR-542-3p, promotes CREB1 expression. The downregulation of miR-542-3p or the overexpression of CREB1 is able to partly weaken the inhibition of CRC cells through the circ_002178 knockdown. CONCLUSION: circ_002178 promotes the invasion, proliferation, colony formation, and glycolysis of CRC cells by regulating the miR-542-3p/CREB1 axis, thus driving the development of CRC.

An updated meta-analysis: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treating tinnitus.

OBJECTIVE: To undertake an updated meta-analysis to obtain more evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for the treatment of tinnitus. METHODS: PubMed®, Embase®, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CBM, CNKI and Wanfang were searched for RCTs from inception up to March 2020. Studies meeting the eligibility criteria were included in the meta-analysis. The mean difference was calculated and the effect size was evaluated using a Z test. RESULTS: The analysis included 12 randomized sham-controlled clinical trials with a total of 717 participants. Active rTMS was superior to sham rTMS in terms of the short-term and long-term effects (6 months) on the tinnitus handicap inventory scores, but an immediate effect was not significant. There was no significant immediate effect on the tinnitus questionnaire (TQ) and Beck depression inventory (BDI) scores. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis demonstrated that rTMS improved tinnitus-related symptoms, but the TQ and BDI scores demonstrated little immediate benefit. Future research should be undertaken on large samples in multi-centre settings with longer follow-up durations.

Exosome-transferred long non-coding RNA ASMTL-AS1 contributes to malignant phenotypes in residual hepatocellular carcinoma after insufficient radiofrequency ablation.

OBJECTIVES: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging RNA regulators in cancer progression, including in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, insufficient radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been reported to lead to recurrence and metastasis of residual HCC tumours. Herein, we aimed to the role of ASMTL-AS1 in residual HCC after insufficient RFA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vitro insufficient RFA model was simulated in Huh7 cells and subsequently named Huh7-H cells. In vitro and in vivo assays were conducted to investigate ASMTL-AS1 function in HCC. RESULTS: LncRNA ASMTL-AS1 low expressed in normal human liver was found to be highly expressed in HCC tissues and further increased in tumours after insufficient RFA. ASMTL-AS1 expression was related to stage, metastasis and prognosis in HCC. Huh7-H possessed higher ASMTL-AS1 level and more aggressive than Huh7 cells. ASMTL-AS1 contributed to the malignancy of HCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, ASMTL-AS1 was trans-activated by MYC and promoted NLK expression to activate YAP signalling via sequestering miR-342-3p in HCC. Interestingly, ASMTL-AS1 could be wrapped by exosomes and then convey malignancy through NLK/YAP axis between cells even in residual HCC after insufficient RFA. CONCLUSIONS: Exosomal ASMTL-AS1 aggravates the malignancy in residual HCC after insufficient RFA via miR-342-3p/NLK/YAP signalling, opening a new road for the treatment of HCC and the prevention of recurrence or metastasis of residual HCC after insufficient RFA.

The re-evaluation of optimal lymph node yield in stage II right-sided colon cancer: is a minimum of 12 lymph nodes adequate?

PURPOSE: Adequate lymphadenectomy is critical for accurate nodal staging and planning adjuvant therapy in colon cancer. However, the optimal lymph node (LN) yield for stage II right-sided colon cancer (RSCC) is still unclear. This population-based study aimed to determine the optimal LN yield associated with survival and LN positivity in patients with stage II RSCC. METHODS: All patients with stage II-III RSCC were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database over a 10-year interval (2006-2015). The optimal threshold for LN yield was explored using an outcome-oriented approach based on survival and LN positivity. RESULTS: The median number of LNs examined for all 17,385 patients with stage II RSCC was 17 (IQR 12-23). Nineteen LNs were determined as the optimal cut-off point to maximize survival benefit from lymphadenectomy. Increased LN yield was associated with a gradual increase in the risk of node positivity, with no change after 19 nodes. Compared with patients with 19 or more LNs examined, the group with fewer LNs had a significantly poor cancer-specific survival (< 12 nodes: hazard ratio (HR) 2.26, P < 0.001; 12-18 nodes: HR 1.58, P < 0.001) and overall survival (< 12 nodes: HR 1.80, P < 0.001; 12-18 nodes: HR 1.31, P < 0.001). Similar survival results were found in the validation cohort. Patients with older age, small tumor size, and appendix and transverse colon cancer were more likely to receive inadequate LN harvest. CONCLUSION: A minimum of 19 LNs is needed to be examined for optimal survival and adequate node staging in lymph node-negative RSCC.

Histological tumor response assessment in colorectal liver metastases after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: impact of the variation in tumor regression grading and peritumoral lymphocytic infiltration.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the variation in tumor regression grade (TRG) and peritumoral lymphocytic infiltration of colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Methods: A retrospective review was performed in 98 patients with CRLMs who underwent NACT between 2010 and 2016. The TRG scores and counts of TILs at the tumor-normal interface were assessed in all 176 resected liver metastases to determine their association with prognosis. According to the variation in TRG scores, 40 patients with more than one liver metastasis were divided into a decreased TRG group and a stable TRG group. An additional independent cohort of 64 patients with 106 resected liver specimens was established to validate our main findings. Results: In the derivation cohort of 98 patients, 41.8% patients had a favourable pathological response to NACT (TRG 1-3), which were significantly associated with improved prognosis. Seventeen patients (42.5%) showed decreased TRG scores, and the remaining patients had stable scores. The multivariate analysis indicated that patients with decreased TRG scores had a better recurrence-free survival (RFS) compared with those with stable TRG scores (HR=0.42, P=0.034), and a similar trend was observed in the validation cohort (P=0.068). Dense TILs surrounding the metastases were present in 55.1% of the derivation cohort and associated with pathological response (P=0.008). Among patients with a pathological response to NACT, those with dense TILs had a superior RFS compared to those with weak TILs in both cohorts (derivation: HR=0.36, P=0.035; validation: HR=0.34, P=0.016). Conclusions: Variation in TRG scores and peritumoral lymphocytic infiltration may be proposed as secondary pathological parameters to evaluate the pathological response to NACT and predict the risk of recurrence after liver surgery.

Treatment modalities and relative survival in patients with brain metastasis from colorectal cancer.

Standard treatment options for brain metastases (BM) from colorectal cancer (CRC) are controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of multidisciplinary treatment modalities and provide optimal therapeutic strategies for selected patients with different clinical characteristics. All eligible patients diagnosed with BM from CRC during the past two decades (1997-2016) were identified in our center. Clinical characteristics, treatment modalities and relative survival were retrospectively analyzed. Median overall survival after the identification of BM was 6 months. The 1- and 2- year survival rates were 29.40% and 5.70%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, the number of BMs, Karnofsky performance score and the treatment modalities were found to be independent prognostic factors (the p-value was 0.006, 0.001 and < 0.001, respectively). In conclusion, multidisciplinary treatment is supported to be the optimal treatment for patients with BM from CRC. For patients with single brain metastases and KPS > 70, neurosurgery combined with chemotherapy could provide an additional survival benefit. For patients with multiple brain metastases or KPS ≤ 70, radiotherapy plus chemotherapy may be appropriate.

Does vibration benefit delayed-onset muscle soreness?: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a symptom of exercise-induced muscle injury that is commonly encountered in athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Vibration is being increasingly used to prevent or treat DOMS. We therefore carried out a meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of vibration in patients with DOMS. METHOD: We searched nine databases for randomized controlled trials of vibration in DOMS, from the earliest date available to 30 May 2018. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and creatine kinase (CK) levels were set as outcome measures. RESULTS: The review included 10 identified studies with 258 participants. The meta-analysis indicated that vibration significantly improved the VAS at 24, 48, and 72 hours after exercise, and significantly improved CK levels at 24 and 48 hours, but not at 72 hours. CONCLUSION: Vibration is a beneficial and useful form of physiotherapy for alleviating DOMS. However, further studies are needed to clarify the role and mechanism of vibration in DOMS.

The Circular RNA Profiles of Colorectal Tumor Metastatic Cells.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been reported that can be used as biomarkers for colorectal cancers (CRC) and other types of tumors. However, a limited number of studies have been performed investigating the potential role of circRNAs in tumor metastasis. Here, we examined the circRNAs in two CRC cell lines (a primary tumor cell SW480 and its metastasis cell SW620), and found a large set of circRNA (2,919 ncDECs) with significantly differential expression patterns relative to normal cells (NCM460). In addition, we uncovered a set of 623 pmDECs that differ between the primary CRC cells and its metastasis cells. Both differentially expressed circRNA (DEC) sets contain many previously unknown putative CRC-related circRNAs, thereby providing many new circRNAs as candidate biomarkers for CRC development and metastasis. These studies are the first large-scale identification of metastasis-related circRNAs for CRC and provide valuable candidate biomarkers for diagnostic and a starting point for additional investigations of CRC metastasis.

Combination of a 2940 nm Er:YAG laser with recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor (rb-bFGF) and light-emitting diode-red light (LED-RL) for the treatment of striae alba: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Striae distensae (SD) are a common dermatologic problem that plagues many people. Although there are many therapeutic modalities have been used to treat SD, effective method has been disappointing for striae Alba. AIMS: To evaluate the clinical and histopathologic efficacy and safety of the 2940-nm erbium yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) ablative fractional laser (AFL) with recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor (rb-bFGF) and light-emitting diode-red light (LED-RL) for the treatment of striae alba. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty volunteers with striae distensae alba were enrolled. The subjects completed treatments with the 2940-nm Er:YAG AFL 6 times at 4-week intervals. Following this treatment, the subjects were required to spray rb-BFGF for 1 week at home. They then received LED-RL once every 7 days for three sessions between the two laser treatments. Two independent investigators evaluated clinical improvement at pretreatment and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-treatment, patients also provided self-assessments of clinical improvement. Two biopsies were obtained from two subjects, both of the same sites of striae alba, one before the first treatment and one 6 months after the last session. RESULTS: All 30 subjects demonstrated clinical improvement after treatment. Skin biopsies after treatment showed an increase in epidermal thickness, dermal thickness, and collagen and elastin density when compared to that at the baseline. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of the 2940-nm Er:YAG laser with rb-bFGF and LED-RL for the treatment of striae alba was a safe and effective approach for improving the appearance of striae alba.

Therapeutic Effect of Vinorine on Sciatic Nerve Injured Rat.

Vinorine is a monoterpenoid indole alkaloid, a type of natural alkaloids. Growing reports exhibited the numerous pharmacology activities of vinorine such as anti-inflammation, anti-bacterial and anti-tumor. In this study, the effect of vinorine injection (7.5, 15 and 30 mg/kg) on motor function, sensation and nerve regeneration in sciatic nerve crush injury rat was investigated. The results of behavioral analysis, electrophysiological analysis and muscle histological analysis suggested that vinorine promoted the motor function recovery after sciatic nerve injury. The results of mechanical withdrawal thresholds assay and hot plate test demonstrated that vinorine improved the sensation recovery after sciatic nerve injury. The results of Fluoro-gold retrograde labeling, transmission electron microscope assay, toluidine blue and HE staining showed that vinorine attenuated the nerve damage caused by sciatic nerve injury and promoted the nerve regeneration. Furthermore, nerve growth factor (NGF) and its downstream extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway participated in the neuro-recovery effect of vinorine after crush. In conclusion, vinorine treatment accelerated the sciatic nerve regeneration, motor function recovery and sensation recovery after crush injury via regulation of NGF and ERK activity. These results suggested that vinorine is a promising agent for never injury therapy.

The Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Toonaciliatin K against Adjuvant Arthritis.

Toonaciliatin K is a natural limonoid purified from the Toona ciliata Roem. var. ciliata (Meliaceae). This study is to reveal the inflammatory suppression effect of toonaciliatin K and further the intrinsic mechanism. Firstly, anti-inflammatory effect of toonaciliatin K was evaluated in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced RAW264.7 cells. RT-PCR results indicated that the mRNA expressions of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß were downregulated by toonaciliatin K. The toonaciliatin K inhibited TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß levels stimulated by LPS. Furthermore, LPS elicited the excess iNOS and COX-2 mRNA and protein production and toonaciliatin K attenuated the excess production. Western blot assay demonstrated that MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways play critical roles in the toonaciliatin K's anti-inflammatory activity. Secondly, toonaciliatin K inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. Thirdly, toonaciliatin K alleviated the paw swelling and improved arthritis clinical scores in the adjuvant arthritis rats. Toonaciliatin K decreased the proinflammatory cytokines levels and Mankin scores in adjuvant arthritis rats. The HE staining, safranin O-fast green, and toluidine blue staining results demonstrated that toonaciliatin K alleviated the histological changes of paw, for example, pannus formation, focal loss of cartilage, bone erosion, and presence of extra-articular inflammation. Hence, toonaciliatin K is a promising agent for treatment of arthritis.

Effects of waste sources on performance of anaerobic co-digestion of complex organic wastes: taking food waste as an example.

Few studies have addressed how to blend wastes for anaerobic co-digestion. This study investigated the effects of waste sources on anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) performance, by varying the quality of food wastes (FWs) from six sources in Xi'an region, China that were individually co-digested with pre-treated corn straw and cattle manure. These effects were analysed in terms of their volatile solid (VS) ratios, C/N ratios, and the chemical composition of the FWs. The results indicated that the VS ratios were not suitable as a common mixture method because the VS ratios at which the best methane potentials occurred differed significantly among the six FW groups. The C/N ratios within a 17-24 range resulted in better methane potentials when the FWs were co-digested with other wastes. Synergistic effects were found among the carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids of the FWs; however, the optimum ratios of these components could not be determined. Thus, the C/N ratio is recommended as a mixture method when co-digesting FWs with other organic wastes in selected region.

Antidesmone, a unique tetrahydroquinoline alkaloid, prevents acute lung injury via regulating MAPK and NF-κB activities.

Acute lung injury, characterized by inflammation, is a main cause of respiratory failure that affects patients worldwide. Antidesmone is one compound mainly isolated from Ajugade cumbens Thunb (Labiatae), an herb agent of Labiatae family. In this research, we investigated the anti-inflammation effect of antidesmone in vitro and in vivo. Antidesmone exerted none apparently cytotoxicity in vitro and toxic in vivo. In vitro results demonstrated that antidesmone suppressed the excess inflammatory cytokines production, including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and interleukin-1ß in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-exposed RAW264.7 cells. In vivo results suggested that antidesmone inhibited inflammatory cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissue after LPS stimulation. Moreover, antidesmone attenuated the nuclear translocation of p65. Mechanism study revealed that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways play important roles in antidesmone's action. Taken together, our data uncover a relative toxic anti-inflammatory drug, antidesmone, can inhibit inflammation on stimulated macrophages and thereby prevents acute lung injury by regulating MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways.

Heliangin inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation through signaling NF-κB pathway on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells.

The heliangin is a natural agent mainly isolated from Helianthus tuberosus L. (Asteraceae). In order to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of heliangin, several typical models in vivo and in vitro were performed. The RAW264.7 mouse macrophages cells were employed in vitro and dexamethasone were conducted as positive. The cytotoxicity results of heliangin on RAW 264.7 cells provided the safety in vitro for further study. The mRNA of TNF-α, IL-6, iNOS and COX-2 were degraded under heliangin exposure in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The protein expression of iNOS, COX-2 were decreased via heliangin exposure in a dose-dependent manner. Heliangin inhibited TNF-α, NO, IL-6 and PGE2 expression levels in macrophage cells lysate. The immunocytochemistry assay showed the fluorescence image of heliangin treatment intercepted the p65 translocation process from outside to inside of nuclei triggered by LPS. Moreover, we founded that MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathway play important roles in heliangin's activity on RAW264.7 cells. Secondly, the acute toxic study results of heliangin manifested the safety in vivo. Heliangin exerted anti-inflammation effect in a xylene-induced ear swelling in BALB/C mice and carrageenan-induced paw edema model in SD rats. The cytokines levels (TNF-α, IL-6 and PGE2) were decreased. The paw tissue immunochemistry assay demonstrated the IL-6 protein level changes in carrageenan-induced paw edema model under heliangin administration.

The action and mechanism of myrislignan on A549 cells in vitro and in vivo.

Myrislignan is a natural compound with little pharmacological study. In our investigation, we investigated the effect of myrislignan in the induction of apoptosis in A549 cells in vitro and in vivo. Myrislignan inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner assayed by MTT. In addition, Hoechst flow cytometry showed that myrislignan significantly induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in A549 cells. The apoptosis and anti-cell proliferation was mediated by the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and the inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor signal pathway, change of mitochondrial membrane potential, the releasing of c-Myc, the downregulation of the level of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and the upregulation of the level of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax. In conclusion, those results reveal a potential mechanism for the anti-cancer effect of myrislignan on human lung cancer, while suggesting that myrislignan may be a promising compound for the treatment of lung cancer.