Correction: ShRNA-Targeted COMMD7 Suppresses Hepatocellular Carcinoma Growth.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045412.].

The screening research of anti-inflammatory bioactive markers from different flowering phases of Flos Lonicerae Japonicae.

Flos Lonicerae Japonicae (FLJ) is an important cash crop in eastern Asia, and it is an anti-inflammatory Traditional Chinese Medicine. There are large variations in the quality of the marketed FLJ products. To find marker ingredients useful for quality control, a tandem technology integrating ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF), principal component analysis (PCA), heat map analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis coupled with a NF-κB luciferase reporter gene assay were used to identify the different ingredients from the green bud, white bud, flowering stage and leaf stages, as well as to screen the anti-inflammatory activity of FLJ compositions. As flowering progressed, the anti-inflammatory effects of FLJ gradually decreased; however, chlorogenic acid, swertiamarin and sweroside should be used to evaluate the quality of FLJ products.

Absorption, metabolism and effect of compatibility on absorption of qishenyiqi dropping pill.

Qishenyiqi dropping pill (QSYQ), is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription for treating heart diseases in China. Knowledge concerning the systemic identification of active compounds and metabolic components of QSYQ is generally lacking. Therefore, it is essential to develop a valid method for the analysis of active compounds of the combined prescription and determination of interactions among the herbs. The absorbable compounds and metabolites of QSYQ were profiled using computational chemistry prediction, an improved everted gut sac in vitro experiment, the Caco-2 cell monolayer in vitro test, a rat in vivo experiment and ultra-performance liquid chromatography/diode array detection/quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrum (UPLC/DAD/Q-TOF MS). In total, 42 prototype compounds were recognized as absorbable compounds, and eight metabolites were identified by UPLC/DAD/Q-TOF MS. The absorption rates of phenolic acids and saponins were significantly improved and the absorption of isoflavone was inhibited after compatibility. The volatile oil component had an improved effect on the absorption of other compounds, while its own absorption was inhibited. In conclusion, the present study established a rapid and effective strategy for demonstrating the absorption and metabolism of QSYQ and revealing the compatible relationship among herbs. This investigation can provide a reference for the compatibility of prescriptions and the modernization of TCM.

ShRNA-targeted COMMD7 suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma growth.

BACKGROUND: COMMD7 is a newly identified gene overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and associated with tumor invasion and poor prognosis. We aim to examine the biological function of COMMD7 in HCC by shRNA silencing. METHODS: COMMD7 expressions were examined in human HCC cell lines HepG2, Huh7, Hep3B, HLE, HLF, SK-Hep-1 and PLC/PRF/5 cells. Recombinant pGenesil-COMMD7-shRNA was transfected into COMMD7-abundant HepG2 cells to silence COMMD7 expression. The effects of COMMD7 silencing on HepG2 cell proliferation in vitro and xenograft tumor growth in vivo were evaluated. Flow cytometry profiling was used to detect the presence of apoptosis in COMMD7-silenced HepG2 cells and to differentiate cell cycle distribution. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and luciferase reporter assays to examine the activities of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signaling pathways in response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in COMMD7-silenced HepG2 cells. RESULTS: COMMD7 expression level was abundance in HepG2 and SK-Hep-1 cells. COMMD7 was aberrantly overexpressed in HepG2 cells, whilst pGenesil-COMMD7-shRNA exhibited a maximal inhibition rate of 75%. COMMD7 silencing significantly reduced HepG2 cell proliferation and colony formation. The knockdown of COMMD7 resulted in an increased apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at S-phase. COMMD7 knockdown also exhibited an antineoplastic effect in vivo, which manifested as tumor xenograft growth retardation. COMMD7 silencing also suppressed the responsiveness of NF-κB signaling pathway to the stimulation with TNF-α in vitro. Moreover, the similar suppressive effects of COMMD7 silence on SK-Hep-1 cells were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: COMMD7 contributes to HCC progression by reducing cell apoptosis and overcoming cell cycle arrest. The proliferative and antiapoptotic effects of COMMD7 may be mediated by NF-κB signaling pathway.

Randomized clinical trial of single-incision versus conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy: short-term operative outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Single-incision laparoscopic surgery may reduce the complications of port site and postoperative pain. The improved cosmetic result also may improve the satisfaction of patients who have undergone surgery. METHODS: The study enrolled 108 patients who consecutively underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy by the same surgeons and randomly divided them into single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) and conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC) groups. Demographic data and short-term operative outcomes were collected and compared. RESULTS: A total of 57 and 51 patients received SILC and CLC, respectively, from May to August 2010 at our institution. No significant difference was found with respect to demographic data including age, sex, and body mass index between the 2 groups. Similarly, short-term operative outcomes such as postoperative complications, length of stay, and visual analog pain score did not differ between the 2 groups. However, the incision of SILC (21.6 ± 2.4) was shorter than that of CLC (30.8 ± 2.6) (P=0.032). CONCLUSIONS: SILC seems to be a safe and feasible technique. It can be undertaken without the expense of added postoperative complication and operative time and provides patients with a minimal apparent scar.

[Determination of loganin and paeonol in Liuwei Dihuang pills by HPLC amalgamated of double UV waves].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) amalgamated to double UV waves method for simultaneous determination of loganin and paeonol in Liuwei Dihuang pills. METHOD: A HPLC method was developed. The separation was carried out on a Agilent Zorbax SB C18 column (5 microm, 4.6 mm x 250 mm). The mobile phase consisted of water (A) and acetonitrile (B) with linear linear gradient elution [0-8 min, (B) from 1% to 12%; 8-21 min, B keep 12%; 21-40 min, (B) from 12% to 90%; 40-50 min, B keep 90% for 10 min]. The detection was Photodiode Array with the detection wavelengths were at 236 nm and 274 nm. The column temperature being 30 degrees C and the flow rate was 1.0 mL min(-1). Extracting the chromatergraph from 274 nm and 236 nm, we amalgamated the two chromatographs by matlab programmed. RESULT: The calibration curves of loganin and paeonol were linear in the ranges of 0.0362-1.09 microg (r =0. 9998) and 0.0450-1.35 microg (r =0.9998), respectively. The average recoveries of loganin and paeonol were 97.3% (RSD 1.4 %) and 103.0% (RSD 1.9%), respectively. Three different batches of Liuwei Dihuang pills were determined with this method. CONCLUSION: This is a more convenient, reasonable and credible quality control method for the traditional Chinese medicine.

Development of a HPLC-UV assay for silybin-phosphatidylcholine complex (silybinin capsules) and its pharmacokinetic study in healthy male Chinese volunteers.

To develop a new HPLC-UV method of determining silybin in human plasma and to study the pharmacokinetic of silybin-phosphatidylcholine complex (silybinin capsules) in healthy male Chinese volunteers using the new developed method. The assays were validated over the concentration range of 3.5-14336.0 ng x ml(-1) in human plasma. In either matrix, the lower limit of quantitation was 3.5 ng x ml(-1). The intra- and inter-day precision were less than 10% in terms of RSD. The absolute recovery was more than 90%. The validated assay was suitable for pharmacokinetic studies of silybin. In order to assess its pharmacokinetic profile in human, plasma silybin levels were determined after administration of single oral doses of silybin-phosphatidylcholine complex (equivalent to 280 mg silybin) to 20 subjects. Silybin was absorbed rapidly, the times to reach peak plasma concentration (Tmax) ranged from 0.67 to 2.67 h, and the mean was 1.4 h. Other Pharmacokinetic parameters of silybin in human were Cmax 4242.1 +/- 2252.9 ng x ml(-1); AUC(0-infinity) 5946.6 +/- 1898.9 ng x h x ml(-1); K(el) 0.31 +/- 0.08 h(-1); t1/2 2.38 +/- 0.76 h; Ka 5.48 +/- 2.00 h(-1); CL 55.0 +/- 28.1 L x h(-1); Vd 191.7 +/- 125.1 L, respectively.