The relationship between major depressive disorder and glucose parameters: A cross-sectional study in a Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Depressive symptoms have been linked with insulin resistance in middle-aged and elderly populations. A strong relationship between peripheral insulin resistance and glucose homeostasis imbalance has been well established in previous studies. The role of serum fructosamine and fasting blood glucose (FBG) in elevating glucose homeostasis has been documented in the literature. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to examine the association of serum fructosamine and FBG with major depressive disorder (MDD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study analyzed the clinical characteristics and biochemical parameters of 305 patients with MDD and 312 healthy individuals. RESULTS: Serum concentrations of lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), total protein (TP) and creatinine (Cr) were found to be significantly different between the two groups. Serum fructosamine and fasting blood glucose (FBG) concentrations were high in patients with MDD compared with healthy individuals (2.3 ± 0.26 vs. 2.1 ± 0.27, p = 0.018; 4.7 ± 0.45 vs. 4.5 ± 0.45, p < 0.001). The levels of serum fructosamine and FBG were also significantly higher in patients with MDD when all participants were stratified by gender. Age was found to be positively correlated with FBG, serum fructosamine and Cr (r = 0.203, p < 0.001; r = 0.129, p = 0.025; r = 0.129, p = 0.024), and negatively correlated with TP (r = -0.114, p = 0.047) in patients with MDD. However, there were no correlations between age and FBG, serum fructosamine or Cr in the healthy controls. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, increased serum fructosamine and FBG concentrations were positively associated with MDD independently of age and gender, after adjustment for age and potential confounding factors (OR = 6.313, CI95 %:2.953-13.393, p < 0.001; OR = 2.251, CI95 %: 1.464-3.462, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggest that increased serum fructosamine and FBG concentrations are associated with depressive conditions, which may influence glucose metabolism and impair glucose homeostasis in patients with MDD.

Aucubin and its hydrolytic derivative attenuate activation of hepatic stellate cells via modulation of TGF-ß stimulation.

Eucommia ulmoides is an important traditional Chinese medicine and has been used as a tonic with a long history. Aucubin is an active component extracted from Eucommia ulmoides, which has liver-protection effects. However the mechanisms are still unclear. To investigate the inhibitory effects and the underlying mechanisms of aucubin on TGF-ß1-induced activation of hepatic stellate cells and ECM deposition, Human hepatic stellate cells (LX-2 cells) were incubated with TGF-ß1 to evaluate the anti-fibrotic effect of aucubin. Western blot was used to investigate the expression of α-SMA, Col I, Col III, MMP-2 and TIMP-1. ROS production was monitored using DCFH-DA probe, and NOX4 expression was detected by Real-time PCR. Results indicated that TGF-ß1 stimulated the activation and ECM deposition of LX-2 cells. Compared with the control group, aucubin and aucubigenin both reduced the protein expression of α-SMA, Col I, Col III and MMP-2 in LX-2 cells. Aucubin and aucubigenin also suppressed the generation of ROS and down-regulated the NOX4 mRNA expression. Taken together, aucubin and aucubigenin both inhibit the activation and ECM deposition of LX-2 cells activated by TGF-ß1. Aucubin and aucubigenin are potential therapeutic candidate drugs for liver fibrosis.

Induction of the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in human esophageal cancer cells by DS2, a newly synthetic diterpenoid analog, is regulated by Bax and caused by generation of reactive oxygen species.

Ent-kaurane diterpene compounds have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to its antitumor, antibacterial, and antiviral activities. However, the clinical development of natural kaurane diterpenes, for example, oridonin for cancer therapy has been hampered by its relatively moderate potency, limited bioavailability. Herein, we report a newly synthetic analog of natural ent-kaurane diterpene, DS2, which exhibits significantly improved activity of antiproliferation against various cancer cell lines relative to oridonin. DS2 treatment triggers the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human esophageal cancer cell lines (EC9706, EC109). Interestingly, normal human esophageal epithelial cells (HEECs) and normal human liver cells (HL-7702) are both significantly more resistant to the growth inhibition by DS2 compared with esophageal cancer cells. The DS2-induced apoptosis in EC9706 cells correlated with the drop of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), release of cytochrome c into the cytosol and activation of caspase-9 and -3. The induction of proapoptotic proteins p21 and Bax were also observed in DS2-treated cells. The DS2-induced apoptosis was significantly attenuated by knockdown of Bax proteins. Meanwhile, the DS2 treatment caused generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human esophageal cancer cells, but not in HEECs, which was attenuated by pretreatment with ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC). More interestingly, the antioxidants pretreatment completely attenuated DS2 mediated loss of the MMP and apoptosis, as well as Bax expression and growth inhibition. In conclusion, the present study reveals that the mitochondria-mediated cell death by DS2 is associated with Bax regulation and ROS generation, and understanding the function and mechanism of DS2 will help us to design better anti-cancer drugs.

[Clinical value of detecting serum soluble CD163 level in patients with atrial fibrillation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between atrial fibrillation (AF) and serum soluble CD163. METHODS: A total of 336 patients with heart valve disease were included in this study, including 167 with AF and 169 with sinus rhythm. The clinical data were compared between the two grops, and Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors associated with AF. RESULTS: The levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL - 6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and left atrial diameter (LAD) all differed significantly between the two groups (P<0.05). Serum soluble CD163 levels in AF patients were significantly higher than those in patients with sinus rhythm (P<0.05). Serum soluble CD163 was positively correlated with TNF (r=0.244, P=0.244), IL-6 (r=0.186, P=0.186), hs-CRP (r=0.183, P=0.183) and LAD (r=0.194, P=0.194) in patients with AF. Logistic regression analysis showed that LAD, IL-6, TNF, hs-CRP and CD163 were all associated with AF. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under curve of serum soluble CD163 was 0.861 in patients with AF (CI 95%: 0.820-0.901, P<0.01) with a sensitivity and a specificity of 80.8 and 76.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Serum soluble CD163 level may be a risk factor for AF, and an increased soluble CD163 level may indicate active inflammation in AF patients.

Biogeography and Adaptive evolution of Streptomyces Strains from saline environments.

The genus Streptomyces is a widespread genus within the phylum Actinobacteria and has been isolated from various environments worldwide. However, little is known about whether biogeography affects distributional pattern of Streptomyces in salty environments. Such information is essential for understanding the ecology of Streptomyces. Here we analyzed four house-keeping genes (16S rRNA, rpoB, recA and atpD) and salty-tolerance related genes (ectA-ectD) of 38 Streptomyces strains isolated from saline environments in Yunnan and Xinjiang Provinces of western China. The obtained Streptomyces strains were classified into three operational taxonomic units, each comprising habitat-specific geno- and ecotype STs. In combination with expressional variations of salty-tolerance related genes, the statistical analyses showed that spatial distance and environmental factors substantially influenced Streptomyces distribution in saline environments: the former had stronger influence at large spatial scales (>700 km), whereas the latter was influential at large (>700 km) and small spatial scales (<700 km). Plus, the quantitative analyses of salty-tolerence related genes (ectA-D) indicated that Streptomyces strains from salt lakes have higher expression of ectA-D genes and could accumulate larger quantities of ectoine and hydroxyectoine than strains from salt mines, which could help them resist to salinity in the hypersaline environments.

Chelerythrine chloride induces apoptosis in renal cancer HEK-293 and SW-839 cell lines.

Previous studies have demonstrated that the benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloid chelerythrine chloride (CC) has inhibitory effects on various tumors. However, the anticancer activity of CC and its underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated in renal cancer cells. The present study examined the effects of CC on growth inhibition and apoptosis of renal cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Flow cytometry and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays revealed that CC markedly suppressed the growth of HEK-293 and human renal cancer SW-839 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The xenograft mouse model, which was performed in nude mice, exhibited a reduced tumor growth following CC treatment. In addition, the present study revealed that CC significantly decreased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt, which was accompanied by upregulation of p53, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X protein, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and downregulation of Bcl-2, caspase-3 and PARP. Furthermore, the use of PD98059, a specific mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor, potentiated the proapoptotic effects of CC, which indicated that CC may induce apoptosis in renal cancer cells partly via inhibition of ERK activity. Overall, the results of the present study demonstrated that CC may be developed as a potential anticancer treatment for patients with renal cancer.

The role of mitochondrial tRNA variants in female breast cancer.

Mitochondrial tRNA (Mt-tRNA) variants have been found to be involved in the carcinogenesis of breast cancer. These tRNAs, which played critical roles in mitochondrial protein synthesis, were important regulators in tumorigenesis. Distinguishing the polymorphisms or mutations in mt-tRNA genes was still puzzling for the clinicians and geneticists when confronted with the breast cancer. In this study, we performed a detailed analysis of recently reported mutations in mt-tRNA genes and further discussed the relationship between these variants and breast cancer.

Andrographolide inhibits the migration, invasion and matrix metalloproteinase expression of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes via inhibition of HIF-1α signaling.

AIMS: Hypoxia is implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), contributing to the tumor-like phenotypes of RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLSs). Andrographolide is the main bioactive component of Andrographis paniculata, an herbal medicine that shows therapeutic benefits in RA patients. Here, we explored the effects of andrographolide on hypoxia-induced migration and invasion of RA-FLSs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RA-FLSs were exposed to hypoxia in the presence or absence of andrographolide and cell migration and invasion were tested by Transwell assays. The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-3 and MMP-9 was measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. HIF-1α DNA binding activity was assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The effects of overexpression of exogenous HIF-1α on the action of andrographolide in RA-FLSs were investigated. KEY FINDINGS: Andrographolide inhibited FLS migration and invasion under hypoxic conditions in a dose-dependent manner. The upregulation of MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-9 in response to hypoxia was significantly (P<0.05) attenuated by andrographolide. Moreover, the expression and DNA binding activity of HIF-1α were dose-dependently decreased in andrographolide-treated cells under hypoxic conditions. Overexpression of HIF-1α almost completely reversed the suppressive effects of andrographolide on the migration, invasion and MMP expression of hypoxic RA-FLSs. SIGNIFICANCE: These results indicate the ability of andrographolide to attenuate hypoxia-induced invasiveness of RA-FLSs via inhibition of HIF-1α signaling, and warrant further exploration of andrographolide for the treatment of RA.

ALDH2*2 Allele is a Negative Risk Factor for Cerebral Infarction in Chinese Women.

Unlike its reported role in the cardiovascular diseases, little information is available for mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) in the cerebrovascular function. We investigated the different effects of ALDH2 genotypes on the risk of cerebral infarction between the genders, because different genders had different smoking and/or dinking status which are also risk factors for cerebral infarction. 247 healthy Chinese Han people (controls, group 1), 287 Chinese Han male patients with cerebral infarction (group 2), and 82 Chinese Han female patients with cerebral infarction (group 3) were involved in this study. The frequencies of the ALDH2*2 allele in group 3 were significantly higher than those in other groups (with P = 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). The difference of ALDH2*2 allele frequency between group 1 and group 2 was not significant (P = 0.652). After adjustment for smoking and drinking status, the male patients without smoking or drinking status (group 4) had higher ALDH2*2 allele frequency than group 1, but the difference was still not significant (P = 0.139). Thus, we conclude that ALDH2*2 allele may be a significant negative risk factor for cerebral infarction in Chinese women [odds ratio (OR) = 2.207, 95% CI 1.416-3.439]. But for Chinese male patients, the negative effects of ALDH2*2 allele on cerebral infarction which might be concealed by other risk factors were not significant.

Jaridonin-induced G2/M phase arrest in human esophageal cancer cells is caused by reactive oxygen species-dependent Cdc2-tyr15 phosphorylation via ATM-Chk1/2-Cdc25C pathway.

Jaridonin, a novel diterpenoid from Isodon rubescens, has been shown previously to inhibit proliferation of esophageal squamous cancer cells (ESCC) through G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. However, the involved mechanism is not fully understood. In this study, we found that the cell cycle arrest by Jaridonin was associated with the increased expression of phosphorylation of ATM at Ser1981 and Cdc2 at Tyr15. Jaridonin also resulted in enhanced phosphorylation of Cdc25C via the activation of checkpoint kinases Chk1 and Chk2, as well as in increased phospho-H2A.X (Ser139), which is known to be phosphorylated by ATM in response to DNA damage. Furthermore, Jaridonin-mediated alterations in cell cycle arrest were significantly attenuated in the presence of NAC, implicating the involvement of ROS in Jaridonin's effects. On the other hand, addition of ATM inhibitors reversed Jaridonin-related activation of ATM and Chk1/2 as well as phosphorylation of Cdc25C, Cdc2 and H2A.X and G2/M phase arrest. In conclusion, these findings identified that Jaridonin-induced cell cycle arrest in human esophageal cancer cells is associated with ROS-mediated activation of ATM-Chk1/2-Cdc25C pathway.

[Identification of marine-derived shell TCM by near infrared spectroscopy].

The identification of five marine-derived shell traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia were studied. Using near infrared technology (NIR) combined with principal component analysis (PCA) methods, Ostreae Concha, Haliotidis Concha, and Margaritifera Concha could be efficiently distinguished from Meretricis Concha together with Arcae Concha. In the first principal components, Ostreae Concha exhibited obvious differences with high loadings in 4 236, 5 263, 7 142 cm(-1) concerning to the contents of CaCO3 and H2O in the samples. Arcae Concha and Meretricis Concha displayed significant differences with others in the second principal components, which can be illustrated by high loadings in 5 000 -4 430 cm(-1) areas. It is indicated that the second principal components might be related to organics which contained NH and CH groups, for example proteins. Meanwhile, our data showed a correlation between the function of these shell TCM and their distribution in the PCA plot. These results suggested that organic components in marine-derived shell TCM could not be neglected for their quality control.

Individuals having variant genotypes of cytochrome P450 2C19 are at increased risk of developing primary liver cancer in Han populations, without infection with the hepatitis virus.

Recently, many researchers have reported that the genetic polymorphisms of CYP2C19 may account for the interpatient variability of the clinical course in cancers including primary liver cancer (PLC). Besides the genetic polymorphisms of CYP2C19, hepatitis viruses (HV, including HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV, HEV, especially HBV and/or HCV) also account for the interpatient variability of the clinical course in PLC. This research covered the above two factors and divided the patients with PLC into two groups (one group with HBV infection and another without any HV infection) to find out whether the genetic polymorphisms of CYP2C19 have different effects in the progressing of PLC in different groups of patients. Eight hundred sixty-four cancer-free Han people (controls, named group 1), 207 Han PLC patients with HBV infection (group 2), and 55 Han PLC patients without any HV infection (group 3) were involved in this study. A wild-type allele (CYP2C19*1) and two mutated alleles (CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*3) were identified. The frequencies of the mutant alleles and genotypes were then compared with each other. The frequencies of the homozygous and heterozygous variant genotypes (*2/*2, *2/*3, *3/*3) in group 3 (25.5 %) were significantly higher than those in other groups (11.9 % in group 1 and 13.5 % in group 2, P = 0.014, 95 % confidence interval (CI)). The differences were statistically significant between group 1 and group 3 (P = 0.004, 95 % CI), but they were not statistically significant between group 1 and group 2 (P = 0.527, 95 % CI). Thus, we conclude that people which were not infected with HV but with the homozygous or heterozygous variant genotypes (*2/*2, *2/*3, *3/*3) of CYP2C19 may have higher possibilities of getting PLC than people with other allelic genotypes (*1/*1, *1/*2, *1/*3) (odds ratio (OR) = 2.523, 95 % CI = 1.329 ~ 4.788). However, in patients with HBV infection, the genetic polymorphisms of CYP2C19 did not seem to be an important factor in the risk of developing PLC (OR = 1.156, 95 % CI = 0.738 ~ 1.810).

Resequencing DCDC5 in the Flanking Region of an LD-SNP Derived from a Kidney-Yang Deficiency Syndrome Family.

Objective. To explore the genetic traits of Kidney-yang deficiency syndrome (KDS). Design. Twelve KDS subjects and three spouses from a typical KDS family were recruited. Their genomic DNA samples were genotyped by Affymetrix 100K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays. The linkage disequilibrium (LD) SNPs were generated using GeneChip DNA analysis software (GDAS, Affymetrix). Genes located within 100 bp of the flanks of LD SNPs were mined via GeneView. 29 exons of the doublecortin domain containing 5 (DCDC5), a representative gene within the flank of an LD SNP, were resequenced. Results. Five LD SNPs display midrange linkage with KDS. Two genes with established functions, DCDC5 and Leucyl-tRNA synthetase, were mined in the flanks of LD SNPs. Resequencing of DCDC5 revealed a nonsynonymous variation, in which 3764T/A was replaced by C/G. Accordingly, the Ser(1172) was substituted by Pro(1172). The S1172P substitution effect was evaluated as "possibly damaging" by PolyPhen. Conclusion. We have identified a genomic variation of DCDC5 based on the LD SNPs derived from a KDS family. DCDC5 and other genes surrounding these SNPs display some relationships with key symptoms of KDS.

[Removing Cr(VI) by composite biosorbent of nano FeO4/Sphaerotilus natans].

The process of biosorption and the adsorbing mechanisms of Fe3 O4/Sphaerotilus natans to Cr(VI) were studied. The experiment results showed that pH value was main influencing factors on adsorption to Cr(VI). In the range of pH 2 to 3, the adsorbance of the composite biosorbent to Cr(VI) is 0.0217 mmol/g. The regeneration efficiency is 90% when the composite biosorbent was regenerated by HCl solution. --CONH2-- and --NH-- were principal activated groups of composite biosorbent. Cr(VI) can primarily combine with the surface of Fe3O4/Sphaerotilus natans by electrostatic attraction.