Diarylheptanoid glycosides from Dioscorea nipponica rhizomes.

A group of previously undescribed diarylheptanoids with mono/di-glucose substitution, diodiarylheptosides A-F (1-6), together with six known diarylheptanoids (7-12) were isolated from the rhizomes of Dioscorea nipponica. Their structures were established by comprehensive UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS and NMR analyses, and their absolute configurations were determined by a comparison of calculated and experimental ECD, some with optical rotations, after acid-hydrolysis. Moreover, bioassay results showed that compounds 3 and 11 exhibited stronger NO inhibitions on lipopolysaccharides-induced RAW 264.7 cells, with the IC50 values of 14.91 ± 0.62 and 12.78 ± 1.12 µM.

The application of cold snare polyppectomy in the treatment of 5-10 mm colonic polyps in children / 中国小儿急救医学

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of endoscopic cold snare polypectomy(CSP)and hot snare polypectomy(HSP)on 5 to 10 mm colonic polyps in children.Methods:One hundred and eighteen children, who underwent colonoscopy at Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Jiangnan University from June 2018 to June 2022 and found polyps with a diameter of 5-10 mm, were selected as the study subjects.They were divided into two groups by random number table method, with CSP(CSP group) and HSP(HSP group) for polypectomy respectively.The time required to remove a single polyp, intraoperative bleeding rate, postoperative bleeding rate, abdominal discomfort rate, hospitalization time, and hospitalization costs were compared between two groups.Results:Among 118 cases, there were 58 cases in CSP group, including 36 males and 22 females, with an average age of (6.17±3.34) years.There were 60 cases in HSP group, including 34 males and 26 females, with an average age of (5.68±3.18) years.There were no significant differences in sex and age between two groups( P>0.05). Compared with HSP group, the time required to remove a single polyp in CSP group was shorter[(6.68±0.34)min vs.(7.60±0.53)min], the rate of delayed postoperative bleeding was lower (0 vs.10.0%), the hospitalization time was shorter[(5.50±1.87) d vs.(6.38±1.38) d], and the hospitalization expenses were lower[(7 646.99±3 575.10)yuan vs.(10 006.47±3 657.42)yuan]. The differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The application of CSP to remove 5-10 mm colon polyps in children could shorten surgical treatment time and reduce the occurrence of complications.At the same time, it could reduce the hospitalization time and cost, and the overall effect is positive and safe, which is worthy of popularization and application by pediatricians in clinical practice.

Effects of primary duodenogastric reflux on Helicobacter pylori infection and drug resistance in children in Wuxi area / 中国小儿急救医学

Objective:To investigate the effect of primary duodenal bile reflux(DGR)on Helicobacter pylori(HP)infection and drug resistance in children in Wuxi area, and to provide the basis for the selection of anti-HP drugs in children with subsequent DGR.Methods:The clinical data of children who had received upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and HP examination because of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, dyspepsia and other upper gastrointestinal symptoms were collected from January 2020 to February 2022 in the Gastroenterology Department of Wuxi Children′s Hospital.According to the results of endoscopy, children were divided into DGR group (217 cases) and control group without DGR (1 252 cases), and their age, gender, HP infection rate and abdominal pain were analyzed.Results:A total of 1 469 children were included in this study, with a median age of 11(9, 14) years, 808(55.0%) males and 661(45.0%) females.HP infection was detected in 322(21.9%) cases.The median age of DGR group was higher than that in control group[13(11, 15) years vs. 11(8, 14) years, P<0.001], and the incidence of DGR was increased in the elder group( χ2=45.963, P<0.001). There was no significant difference between DGR group and control group in sex and whether abdominal pain was the first symptom ( P>0.05). There were 47(22.0%) cases positive for HP in DGR group and 275(22.0%)cases in control group, with no significant difference( P>0.05). A total of 256 cases were isolated and cultured positive of HP.And in vitro susceptibility tests of strains, there was no significant difference between DGR group and control group in the single and combined resistance rates of HP to metronidazole, clarithromycin, levofloxacin, amoxicillin, furazolidone and tetracycline hydrochloride( P>0.05). Conclusion:Elder children are more likely to have primary DGR.The occurrence of primary DGR has no significant effect on HP infection and drug resistance.

[Review of classical prescriptions in treatment of ulcerative colitis].

Ulcerative colitis(UC) is a continuous inflammatory bowel disease with the main clinical manifestations of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and mucous bloody stools, mainly attacking the colorectal mucosa and submucosa. It is characterized by high recurrence rate, difficult cure, and clustering and regional occurrence. Chinese medicinal prescriptions for the treatment of UC have good therapeutic effect, multi-target regulation, slight toxicity, and no obvious side effects. In particular, the classical prescriptions highlight the characteristics and advantages of traditional Chinese medicine theory and have attracted much attention in recent years. To enable researchers to timely and comprehensively understand the classical prescriptions in the treatment of UC, we reviewed the studies about the pharmacodynamic material basis, quality control, action mechanism, and clinical application of relevant classical prescriptions. We first introduced the latest research progress in the active components such as alkaloids, polysaccharides, saponins, and flavonoids in relevant classical prescriptions. Then, we reviewed the latest research achievements on the quality control of classical prescriptions for the treatment of UC by gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and the like. Further, we summarized the research advances in the mechanisms of relevant prescriptions in the treatment of UC based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, integrated pharmacology platform, and animal experiments. Finally, we generalized the clinical application of the classical prescriptions for clearing heat and removing dampness, mildly regulating cold and heat, soothing liver and regulating spleen, strengthening spleen and invigorating Qi, and tonifying spleen and stomach. By systematic summary of the research progress in relevant classical prescriptions, we hope to promote the application and development of such prescriptions in UC treatment.

Activity fingerprinting of polysaccharides on oral, gut, pancreas and lung microbiota in diabetic rats.

The modern rise in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its correlation to commensal microbiota have elicited global concern about the patterns of microbial action in the host. With the exception of that linked to gut, microbiota were also colonized in pancreas, oral, and lung, contributing to the physiopathology of T2DM. In this study, we aimed to explore the protective effects of Ganoderma atrum polysaccharide (PSG) and White Hyacinth Bean polysaccharide (WHBP) on the intestine, pancreas, oral, and lung microbiota in T2DM rats. Here we showed that, despite capacities of polysaccharides that exerted similar protective effects on hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and dysbacteriosis in T2DM rats, PSG and WHBP were able to be characterized by their own "target" bacteria, which could be proposed for activity-fingerprinting of polysaccharide species. Furthermore, we found a mutual bacteria spectrum in the pancreas and lung, and most bacteria could be tracked to oral or gut samples. Notably, the overlapping areas of the microbiota profile between organs (pancreas, lung) and saliva were more than in the gut, suggesting that a saliva sample was also of interest to serve as a "telltale sign" for judging pancreatic injury. Together, these microbiota interactions provided a new potential to harvest alternative samples for disease surveillance. Meanwhile, polysaccharides had anti-T2DM abilities, which could be distinguished by their own characteristic bacteria.

Neuroendocrine-Immune Regulatory Network of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver.

Eucommia ulmoides Oliver (E. ulmoides) is a popular medicinal herb and health supplement in China, Japan, and Korea, and has a variety of pharmaceutical properties. The neuroendocrine-immune (NEI) network is crucial in maintaining homeostasis and physical or psychological functions at a holistic level, consistent with the regulatory theory of natural medicine. This review aims to systematically summarize the chemical compositions, biological roles, and pharmacological properties of E. ulmoides to build a bridge between it and NEI-associated diseases and to provide a perspective for the development of its new clinical applications. After a review of the literature, we found that E. ulmoides has effects on NEI-related diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative disease, hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis, insomnia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. However, clinical studies on E. ulmoides were scarce. In addition, E. ulmoides derivatives are diverse in China, and they are mainly used to enhance immunity, improve hepatic damage, strengthen bones, and lower blood pressure. Through network pharmacological analysis, we uncovered the possibility that E. ulmoides is involved in functional interactions with cancer development, insulin resistance, NAFLD, and various inflammatory pathways associated with NEI diseases. Overall, this review suggests that E. ulmoides has a wide range of applications for NEI-related diseases and provides a direction for its future research and development.

Design and fabrication of an integrated 3D dynamic multicellular liver-on-a-chip and its application in hepatotoxicity screening.

Nowadays, major methods of in vitro hepatotoxicity research are still based on traditional static two- or three-dimensional cell culture, although these means could investigate some toxic chemicals induced hepatotoxicity, but most of these toxicities failed to reappear in human, at least not in similar or calculable dose level. These failures may cause by the monoculture of only hepatocytes, ignored the signal communication to other non-parenchymal cells in liver tissue, also other complex microenvironment such as endothelial barrier, shear stress and other factors which were really existed in vivo but absent here, final leading to a low reliability of experimental results. In this study, a three-dimensional dynamic multi-cellular liver-on-a-chip device (3D-DMLoC) was developed to reproduce the microenvironment of in vivo liver tissue, including the simulation of hepatic sinusoid, perisinusoidal space and continuous liquid perfusion, hepatocytes could gather to some 3D cell spheroids in this chip. The perfusion could bring a real-time exchange of chemicals, nutrients, metabolites, supply suitable oxygen and a weak shear stress. The pressure and oxygen distribution inner the chip were simulated and evaluated by COMSOL Multiphysics software. HepaRG were co-cultured with HUVEC for 7 days in this chip, expression of hepatic polarization protein ZO-1 and MRP2, liver function factors ALB, UREA and CYP450s were almost all higher than in traditional static culture. Several drugs and heavy metal ions induced hepatotoxicity were then investigated, LDH released from hepatocyte spheroids in mostly 3D-DMLoC groups were higher than same-dosed 2D group, indicated the spheroids were more sensibility to the toxins. The hepatoxicity might be induced by acute hepatocytes injury according to the ratios of secreted AST/ALT contents. In conclusion, a liver-on-a-chip device was successfully developed and verified for better reproducing the in vivo physiological microenvironment of liver. It could be applied for easily, efficiently, and accurately screening the potential hepatotoxic chemicals in future.

Characterization of alkaloids in radix Sophora tonkinensis by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and its application in the comparison of two different habitats.

Sophora tonkinensis is widely used as traditional Chinese medicine for treating the swelling of the gums and tongue and mouth sores due to flame stomach fire. It is mainly origin from Guangxi, Sichuan provinces of China. Alkaloids are considered as the major bioactive components. A method was established for identifying alkaloids in S. tonkinensis root by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and was applied in characterizing alkaloids in S. tonkinensis root of two different habitats. Consequently, twenty-four alkaloids including six new compounds were identified in S. tonkinensis root. Additionally, the difference of alkaloids in S. tonkinensis from Guozhou, Sichuan province was investigated. In the present study, we firstly characterize total alkaloids in S. tonkinensis root by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and firstly established the characteristic fragmentation pathway of alkaloids with hydroxy in S. tonkinensis root.

A DNAzyme-catalyzed label-free aptasensor based on multifunctional dendrimer-like DNA assembly for sensitive detection of carcinoembryonic antigen.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is an important malign tumor marker. In this study, a simple, label-free and antibody-free aptasensor was fabricated based on a multifunctional dendrimer-like DNA nanoassembly. The DNA nanoassembly was embedded with multiple G-quadruplex DNAzyme motifs and a hanging CEA aptamer motif. It was prepared from short DNA sequences by autonomous-assembly. The aptasensor was prepared simply by self-assembly of a capture DNA (cpDNA) on a gold electrode, followed by hybridization with a CEA aptamer (AptGAC-P). CEA as a model target was detected through competitive binding of CEA with AptGAC-P, exposing cpDNA to bind with the DNA nanoassembly. The detection process only contains 2 incubation steps. The high load of G-quadruplex DNAzyme motifs and their catalytic activity resulted in an amplified and label-free differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) electrochemical signal. The peak current correlated linearly with the CEA concentration, with a linear range of 2-45 ng mL-1, and an LOD value of 0.24 ng mL-1. The aptasensor showed high specificity and reproducibility, and retained 96.5% of detection signal intensities after 31 days of storage. The recovery rates for spiked CEA in human serum were within 100 ± 5%, and the coincidence rates for clinical human serum samples with ELISA kits were 80.7-111%. Conceivably, possessing simplicity, sensitivity, reproducibility, storage stability, and accuracy, the aptasensor should be a very prominent and applicable tool for clinical CEA detection and cancer diagnosis, and is promisingly applicable as a platform for detecting other targets of interests.

An enzyme-free electrochemical sandwich DNA assay based on the use of hybridization chain reaction and gold nanoparticles: application to the determination of the DNA of Helicobacter pylori.

An ultrasensitive enzyme-free electrochemical sandwich DNA biosensor is described for the detection of ssDNA oligonucleotides. A DNA sequence derived from the genom of Helicobacter pylori was selected as a model target DNA. The DNA assay was realized through catching target DNA on capture DNA immobilized gold electrode; then labeling the target DNA with reporter DNA (rpDNA) and initiator DNA (iDNA) co-modified gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The high density of iDNAs serves as one of the amplification strategies. The iDNA triggers hybridization chain reaction (HCR) between two hairpins. This leads to the formation of a long dsDNA concatamer strand and represents one amplification strategy. The electrochemical probe [Ru(NH3)5L]2+, where L stands for 3-(2-phenanthren-9-ylvinyl)pyridine, intercalated into dsDNA chain. Multiple probe molecules intercalate into one dsDNA chain, serving as one amplification strategy. The electrode was subjected to differential pulse voltammetry for signal acquisition, and the oxidation peak current at -0.28 V was recorded. On each AuNP, 240 iDNA and 25 rpDNA molecules were immobilized. Successful execution of HCR at the DNA-modified AuNPs was confirmed by gel electrophoresis and hydrodynamic diameter measurements. Introduction of HCR significantly enhances the DNA detection signal intensity. The assay has two linear ranges of different slopes, one from 0.01 fM to 0.5 fM; and one from 1 fM to 100 fM. The detection limit is as low as 0.68 aM. Single mismatch DNA can be differentiated from the fully complementary DNA. Conceivably, this highly sensitive and selective assay provides a general method for detection of various kinds of DNA. Graphical abstractSchematic representation of the detection and the amplification principles of the electrochemical sandwich DNA assay. Purple curl: Captured DNA; Green curl: Reporter DNA; Orange curl: HCR initiator DNA; Yellow solid-circle: Gold nanoparticle; H1 and H2: Two hairpin DNA; [Ru(NH3)5L]2+: Signal probe.

In silico post-SELEX screening and experimental characterizations for acquisition of high affinity DNA aptamers against carcinoembryonic antigen.

DNA aptamers against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) have been identified through the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) technique, but their affinity needs to be improved. In this study, an in silico approach was firstly used to screen the mutation sequences of a reported DNA aptamer (the parent aptamer, denoted as P) against CEA. The affinities of several high-score DNA mutants were determined by the biolayer interferometry technique. Finally, the newly obtained aptamers were verified in an aptasensor application. For the in silico approach, Mfold and RNA Composer were combined to generate the 3D RNA structures of the DNA mutants. The RNA structures were then modified to 3D DNA structures with the Write program. The docking model and binding ability of the 3D DNA structures with CEA were simulated and predicted with the ZDOCK program. Two mutation sequences (P-ATG and GAC-P) exhibited significantly higher ZDOCK scores than P. The dissociation constant of P-ATG and GAC-P to CEA was determined to be 4.62 and 3.93 nM respectively, obviously superior to that of P (6.95 nM). The detection limit of the P-ATG and GAC-P based aptasensors was 1.5 and 1.2 ng mL-1, respectively, markedly better than that based on P (3.4 ng mL-1). The consistency between the in silico and the experimental results indicates that the developed in silico post-SELEX screening approach is feasible for improving DNA aptamers. The P-ATG and GAC-P aptamers found in this study could be used for future CEA aptasensor design and fabrication, promisingly applicable for highly sensitive CEA detection and early cancer diagnosis.

Expression of piR-9994 in gastric carcinoma and its correlation with PIWIL4 / 临床与实验病理学杂志

Purpose To explore the relationship between the expression level of piR-9994 in gastric cancer and its clinical pathological features,and to analyze its correlation with PIWIL4 expression. Methods Express of piR-9994 and PIWIL4 in 76 cases of human gastric cancer tissue with different clinical stage and differentiated degree and matching adjacent tissue were detected by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry,respectively. Results The expression of piR-9994 in gastric cancer was 2. 3 times higher than that in paracancerous tissues (P = 0. 002 2) . The expression of piR-9994 in stage Ⅲ + Ⅳ gastric cancer was 3. 5 times higher than that in stage Ⅰ + Ⅱ (P = 0. 002) ,and the expression of piR-9994 in cancers with nerve invasion was 2. 5 times higher than that in cancers without invasion (P = 0. 036) . The positive expression of PIWIL4 in gastric cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues (χ2 = 18. 346,P < 0. 001) ,and the expression of PIWIL 4 in stage Ⅲ +Ⅳ gastric cancer group was higher than that stage Ⅰ + Ⅱ gastric cancer group (χ2 = 8. 60,P = 0. 003) . There was a positive correlation between piR-9994 expression and PIWIL4 expression in gastric carcinoma (r = 0. 231,P < 0. 05) . Conclusion piR-9994 overexpression in gastric cancer tissues is closely related to tumor staging and nerve invasion,and piR-9994 may promote the occurrence and progression of gastric cancer by regulating PIWIL4 expression. piR-9994 may be a molecular markers for judging malignant degree and prognosis of gastric cancer.

Surveillance and sociological factors of schistosomiasis among mobile populations in Haining City / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To investigate the correlation between the source of Schistosoma japonicum infections and sociological factors among mobile populations in Haining City, so as to provide insights into the management of schistosomiasis among mobile populations in Haining City. Methods A total of 12 villages were randomly sampled from 8 townships and 4 subdistricts in Haining City. The mobile populations from schistosomiasis-endemic areas were detected for S. japonicum infections using serological tests. In addition, the awareness of schistosomiasis prevention and control knowledge was investigated using a questionnaire survey. Results A total of 1 019 mobile populations were investigated in 12 villages from Haining City, and 23 sero-positives were found, with a positive rate of 2.26%; however, no egg-positives were detected. Logistic regression analysis showed that the mobile populations with original occupations of aquaculture and husbandry were more likely to be sero-positive. The mobile populations had an overall low awareness rate of schistosomiasis prevention and control knowledge, and a higher rate was seen in sero-positive than in sero-negatives. Conclusions The mobile populations with original occupations of aquaculture and husbandry were the key for the surveillance of source of S. japonicum infections. The health education should be intensified to improve the awareness of schistosomiasis prevention and control knowledge among mobile populations.

Surveillance and sociological factors of schistosomiasis among mobile populations in Haining City / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To investigate the correlation between the source of Schistosoma japonicum infections and sociological factors among mobile populations in Haining City, so as to provide insights into the management of schistosomiasis among mobile populations in Haining City. Methods A total of 12 villages were randomly sampled from 8 townships and 4 subdistricts in Haining City. The mobile populations from schistosomiasis-endemic areas were detected for S. japonicum infections using serological tests. In addition, the awareness of schistosomiasis prevention and control knowledge was investigated using a questionnaire survey. Results A total of 1 019 mobile populations were investigated in 12 villages from Haining City, and 23 sero-positives were found, with a positive rate of 2.26%; however, no egg-positives were detected. Logistic regression analysis showed that the mobile populations with original occupations of aquaculture and husbandry were more likely to be sero-positive. The mobile populations had an overall low awareness rate of schistosomiasis prevention and control knowledge, and a higher rate was seen in sero-positive than in sero-negatives. Conclusions The mobile populations with original occupations of aquaculture and husbandry were the key for the surveillance of source of S. japonicum infections. The health education should be intensified to improve the awareness of schistosomiasis prevention and control knowledge among mobile populations.

Design and fabrication of a liver-on-a-chip platform for convenient, highly efficient, and safe in situ perfusion culture of 3D hepatic spheroids.

Spheroid-based three-dimensional (3D) liver culture models, offering a desirable biomimetic microenvironment, are useful for recapitulating liver functions in vitro. However, a user-friendly, robust and specially optimized method has not been well developed for a convenient, highly efficient, and safe in situ perfusion culture of spheroid-based 3D liver models. Here, we have developed a biomimetic and reversibly assembled liver-on-a-chip (3D-LOC) platform and presented a proof of concept for long-term perfusion culture of 3D human HepG2/C3A spheroids for building a 3D liver spheroid model. On the basis of a fast and reversible seal of concave microwell-based PDMS-membrane-PDMS sandwich multilayer chips, it enables a high-throughput and parallel perfusion culture of 1080 cell spheroids in a high mass transfer and low fluid shear stress biomimetic microenvironment as well as allowing the convenient collection and analysis of the cell spheroids. In terms of reducing spheroid loss and maintaining cell morphology and viability in long-term perfusion culture, the cell spheroids in the 3D-LOC were more safe and efficient. Notably, the polarisation, liver-specific functions, and metabolic activity of the cell spheroids in 3D-LOC were also remarkably improved and exhibited better long-term maintenance over conventional perfusion methods. Additionally, a robust micromilling method that incorporates secondary PDMS coating techniques (SPCs) for fabricating V-shaped concave microwells was also developed. The V-shaped concave microwell arrays exhibited a higher distribution density and aperture ratio, making it easy to form large-scale and uniform-sized cell spheroids with minimum cell loss. In summary, the proposed 3D-LOC could provide a convenient and robust solution for the long-term safe perfusion culture of hepatic spheroids and be beneficial for a variety of potential applications including development of bio-artificial livers, disease modeling, and drug toxicity screening.

[Study of isobutyrylshikonin inhibiting proliferation of colon carcinoma cells through PI3K/Akt/m-TOR pathway].

To investigate the inhibitory effect of isobutyrylshikonin on the growth of human colon carcinoma cells in vitro and its effect on the PI3K/Akt/m-TOR pathway. MTT assay was used to detect the inhibitory effect of different concentrations (0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 mg·L⁻¹) of isobutyrylshikonin on the proliferation of human colon carcinoma cell HT29 at 24, 48 h. CCK-8 method was used to detect the inhibitory effect of isobutyrylshikonin on HT29, HCT116, DLD-1 and Caco-2 at 48 h. AnnexinV/propidium iodide staining was applied in detecting the apoptoticrate of HT29 cells treated with different concentrations of isobutyrylshikonin at 24 h and 48 h. Cycletest plus DNA was employed to analyze HT29 apoptosis and cell cycle after 48 h treatment with isobutyrylshikonin at different concentrations. Western blot and RT-PCR assay were used to examine the protein and mRNA expressions of PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt and m-TOR. The results showed that isobutyrylshikonin inhibited the proliferation of different human colon carcinoma cells, and the inhibition rate was in a dose-dependent manner. Isobutyrylshikonin induced apoptosis mainly in the early stage and blocked cells in the G0/G1 or G2/M phase. Isobutyrylshikonin reduced the protein expressions of PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, m-TOR and the mRNA expressions of PI3K, Akt, m-TOR in a dose-dependent manner. Isobutyrylshikonin can significantly inhibit the proliferation, induce the early apoptosis and change the cycle distribution in colon carcinoma cells.This biological effect may be correlated with the inhibition of PI3K/AKT/m-TOR pathway.

Therapeutic Effects of Tangshen Formula on Diabetic Nephropathy in db/db Mice Using Cytokine Antibody Array.

OBJECTIVE: Cytokines are essential promoters in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in type 2 diabetes. The following study investigates the adjustment mechanism of Tangshen formula (TSF) on cytokine expressions in db/db mice (DN animal model). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Db/db mice were randomly divided into three groups. The treated groups were orally administered with TSF and losartan for 12 weeks. Biochemical and histological examinations were determined at 8 and 12 weeks posttreatment, while the cytokine antibody array analysis was applied to analyze the expression of 144 cytokines in kidney tissues at the end of the 12th week posttreatment. RESULTS: TSF significantly reduced urinary albumin excretion and the levels of blood glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, creatinine, and urea nitrogen. Furthermore, a significant decrease in glomerulus and mesangial area, as well as the downregulation of 24 cytokines and upregulated expressions of 5 cytokines, was found in the TSF-treated mice. CONCLUSIONS: The present study reveals that TSF could ameliorate the metabolic anomalies and renal injury in db/db mice. One of the important mechanisms for treatment of DN using the treatment of TSF is the control of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway via regulation of IL-2, IL-6, IL-13, Il-15, and IFN-γ expression.

Study of isobutyrylshikonin inhibiting proliferation of colon carcinoma cells through PI3K/Akt/m-TOR pathway / 中国中药杂志

To investigate the inhibitory effect of isobutyrylshikonin on the growth of human colon carcinoma cells and its effect on the PI3K/Akt/m-TOR pathway. MTT assay was used to detect the inhibitory effect of different concentrations (0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 mg·L⁻¹) of isobutyrylshikonin on the proliferation of human colon carcinoma cell HT29 at 24, 48 h. CCK-8 method was used to detect the inhibitory effect of isobutyrylshikonin on HT29, HCT116, DLD-1 and Caco-2 at 48 h. AnnexinV/propidium iodide staining was applied in detecting the apoptoticrate of HT29 cells treated with different concentrations of isobutyrylshikonin at 24 h and 48 h. Cycletest plus DNA was employed to analyze HT29 apoptosis and cell cycle after 48 h treatment with isobutyrylshikonin at different concentrations. Western blot and RT-PCR assay were used to examine the protein and mRNA expressions of PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt and m-TOR. The results showed that isobutyrylshikonin inhibited the proliferation of different human colon carcinoma cells, and the inhibition rate was in a dose-dependent manner. Isobutyrylshikonin induced apoptosis mainly in the early stage and blocked cells in the G₀/G₁ or G₂/M phase. Isobutyrylshikonin reduced the protein expressions of PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, m-TOR and the mRNA expressions of PI3K, Akt, m-TOR in a dose-dependent manner. Isobutyrylshikonin can significantly inhibit the proliferation, induce the early apoptosis and change the cycle distribution in colon carcinoma cells.This biological effect may be correlated with the inhibition of PI3K/AKT/m-TOR pathway.

Effects of PRMT5 expression on cell proliferation of ovarian cancer cell HO8910 / 医学研究生学报

Objective Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5),a member of the histone arginine methylation transferase family,is involved in a wide range of biological regulation through ei-ther epigenetic or posttranslational methylation modifications. The pur-pose of the present study was to investigate the effects of PRMT5 on cell proliferation of ovarian cancer cell HO8910. Methods Cell lines HO8910 with PRMT5 overexpression were obtained by transi-ent transfection,which were divided into three groups in the experiment: blank control group (wild-type cell line HO8910),negative control group (HO8910 cells were transfected with pCMV-myc plasmid),and experimental group (HO8910 cells were transfected with pCMV-myc-PRMT5 plasmid). Western blot was used to detect the expression of myc protein,and qRT-PCR was used to detect the ex-pression of PRMT5 mRNA. Cell lines HO8910 with inducible stable knockdown of PRMT5 were established by shRNA interference method,which were divided into four groups: pLKO control group (infected by empty vector lentivirus),pLKO+Dox (100ng/mL) group,shPRMT5 group (infected by PRMT5shRNA lentivirus) and shPRMT5+Dox (100 ng/mL) group. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to detect the expression of PRMT5 protein and mRNA levels. Dox-induced PRMT5 knockdown was detected by increasing Dox concentration,which includes four groups,Dox 0ng/mL group,Dox 1ng/mL group,Dox 10ng/mL group,Dox 100ng/mL group,and each group was treated for 48 hours. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to detect the PRMT5 protein and mRNA expression. Colony formation assay,EdU assay,and CCK-8 assay were used to test cells proliferation. The experiment was conducted in two large groups each with two subgroups: PRMT5 knockdown group (Dox-group,Dox+ group),PRMT5 overexpression group (pCMV-myc group,pCMV-myc-PRMT5 group). Western blot was used to detect the effects of PRMT5 expression on proliferation-related proteins. The experiment was conducted in two large groups,PRMT5 knockdown group with four subgroups : Dox 0ng/mL group,Dox 1ng/mL group,Dox 10ng/mL group and Dox 100ng/mL group,and PRMT5 overexpression group with two subgroups (pCMV-myc group and pCMV-myc-PRMT5 group). Results Western blot results showed that the expression of myc was detected in the experimental group in which HO8910 cells were transfected with pCMV-myc-PRMT5,and the expression of PRMT5 mRNA was significantly higher in the experimental group than those in the blank control group and the negative control group (P<0.001) . Western blot and qRT-PCR showed that PRMT5 protein (0.32±0.25) and mRNA expression levels in shPRMT5+Dox group were significantly lower than those of shPRMT5 group (0.89±0.18) (P<0.05). Western blot and qRT-PCR confirmed that PRMT5 protein (0.21±0.24) and mRNA expres-sion in Dox 10ng/mL group and Dox 100ng/mL group (0.08±0.15) were significantly downregulated compared to Dox 0ng/mL group (1.11±0.15) (P<0.05). Colony formation experiments,EdU experiments,and CCK-8 experiments confirmed that the proliferative ca-pacity of cells in Dox+group was lower than that of Dox-group in PRMT5 knockdown group(P<0.05); while in PRMT5 overexpression group,the proliferative capacity of pCMV-myc-PRMT5 group was significantly higher than that of the pCMV-myc group (P<0.05). Western blot results showed that the protein expression of Cyclin D1 was significantly lower in Dox 100 ng/mL group (0.17±0.06) than that in Dox 0 ng/mL group (1.18±0.18) (P<0.05) and the expression of P21 was significantly increased in PRMT5 knockdown group (P<0.05). In the PRMT5 overexpression group,the protein expression of Cyclin D1 in pCMV-myc-PRMT5 group (3.48± 0.22) was higher than that in pCMV-myc group (0.88±0.15) (P<0.05),while the protein expression of P21 (0.08±0.17) were significantly lower than that of pCMV-myc group (4.12±0.10) (P<0.05). Conclusion PRMT5 plays an important role in the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells. Down-regulation of PRMT5 can inhibit cell proliferation and up-regulation of PRMT5 can pro-mote cell proliferation.

A new method to evaluate the dose-effect relationship of a TCM formula Gegen Qinlian Decoction: "Focus" mode of integrated biomarkers.

It is difficult to accurately evaluate the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which leads to the uncertainty and complexity of dose-effect analysis. In this study we established the "Focus" mode of biomarkers to characterize the dose-effect relationship of Gegen Qinlian Decoction (GQD), a TCM formula for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (2-DM). A rat model of 2-DM was established through high fat diet feeding combined with low-dose STZ injection. Rats with 2-DM were administered high, middle or low doses (6.785, 4.071, 1.357 mg·kg-1·d-1, respectively) of GQD extract for 60 d. Metformin (300 mg·kg-1·d-1) was taken as the positive control. Blood samples were collected to assess serum biochemical indexes and metabolic profiling. After "Focus" analysis, the biochemical index triglycerides (TG) and insulin sensitivity (ISI) were identified as focused integrated biomarkers (FIBs), while arachidonic acid and docosatetraenoic acid were the metabolic FIBs. Dose-effect relationship curves of GQD were built based on these types of FIBs. Furthermore, the two dose-effect relationship curves showed similar trends with the middle dosage displaying the greatest efficacy, suggesting that insulin function and arachidonic acid metabolism played important roles in 2-DM and the responses to GQD. The metabolic FIB docosatetraenoic should be further explored for understanding its involvement in the process of 2-DM occurrence and the treatment. This "Focus" mode provides a novel strategy to evaluate the dose-effect relationship of a TCM. The system and concepts established here may also be applicable for assessing the dose-effect relationships of Western medicines.