A new strategy for evaluating antitumor activity in vitro with time-dimensional characteristics of RTCA technology / 中国药理学通报

Aim To analyze the anti-A549 and HI299 lung ade-nocarcinoma activities via using examples of baicalin, astragalo-side, hesperidin and cisplatin based on real time cellular analysis (RTCA) technology, and to build a new strategy for EC50 e-valuation reflecting the time-dimensional characteristic. Methods Using RTCA Software Pro for data analysis and GraphPad Prism and Origin Pro plotting, the in vitro anti-A549 and H1299 lung adenocarcinoma activities of baicalin, astragaloside, hesperidin, and cisplatin were characterized using the endpoint method and time dimension, respectively. Results (X) There were significant differences in EC50 values of A549 and H1299 cells at 24 h and 48 h endpoint methods. (2) The correlation coefficient of the curve fitted with the four-parameter equation was > 0. 9, and the dynamic change of EC50 remained relatively stable (the linear fitting of EC50 at adjacent 4 points I slope 1

An Enhanced Neural Network Algorithm with Quasi-Oppositional-Based and Chaotic Sine-Cosine Learning Strategies.

Global optimization problems have been a research topic of great interest in various engineering applications among which neural network algorithm (NNA) is one of the most widely used methods. However, it is inevitable for neural network algorithms to plunge into poor local optima and convergence when tackling complex optimization problems. To overcome these problems, an improved neural network algorithm with quasi-oppositional-based and chaotic sine-cosine learning strategies is proposed, that speeds up convergence and avoids trapping in a local optimum. Firstly, quasi-oppositional-based learning facilitated the exploration and exploitation of the search space by the improved algorithm. Meanwhile, a new logistic chaotic sine-cosine learning strategy by integrating the logistic chaotic mapping and sine-cosine strategy enhances the ability that jumps out of the local optimum. Moreover, a dynamic tuning factor of piecewise linear chaotic mapping is utilized for the adjustment of the exploration space to improve the convergence performance. Finally, the validity and applicability of the proposed improved algorithm are evaluated by the challenging CEC 2017 function and three engineering optimization problems. The experimental comparative results of average, standard deviation, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests reveal that the presented algorithm has excellent global optimality and convergence speed for most functions and engineering problems.

Creating novel ornamentals via new strategies in the era of genome editing.

Ornamental breeding has traditionally focused on improving novelty, yield, quality, and resistance to biotic or abiotic stress. However, achieving these goals has often required laborious crossbreeding, while precise breeding techniques have been underutilized. Fortunately, recent advancements in plant genome sequencing and editing technology have opened up exciting new frontiers for revolutionizing ornamental breeding. In this review, we provide an overview of the current state of ornamental transgenic breeding and propose four promising breeding strategies that have already proven successful in crop breeding and could be adapted for ornamental breeding with the help of genome editing. These strategies include recombination manipulation, haploid inducer creation, clonal seed production, and reverse breeding. We also discuss in detail the research progress, application status, and feasibility of each of these tactics.

Comprehensive Identification of Ginsenosides in the Roots and Rhizomes of Panax ginseng Based on Their Molecular Features-Oriented Precursor Ions Selection and Targeted MS/MS Analysis.

Panax ginseng is widely used in Asian countries and its active constituents-ginsenosides-need to be systematically studied. However, only a small part of ginsenosides have been characterized in the roots and rhizomes of panax ginseng (RRPG) up to date, mainly because of a lack of the fragmentation ions of many more ginsenosides. In order to comprehensively identify ginsenosides in RRPG, molecular features of ginsenosides orienting precursor ions selection and targeted tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis strategy were proposed in our study, in which the precursor ions were selected according to the molecular features of ginsenosides irrespective of their peak abundances, and targeted MS/MS analysis was then performed to obtain their fragmentation ions for substance characterization. Using this strategy, a total of 620 ginsenosides were successfully characterized in RRPG, including 309 protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides, 258 protopanaxatriol-type ginsenosides and 53 oleanane-type ginsenosides. It is worth noting that, except for the known aglycones mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) 459, 475 and 455, twelve other aglycones, including m/z 509, 507, 493, 491, 489, 487, 477, 473, 461, 457, 443 and 441, were first reported in our experiment and they were probably the derivatizations of the protopanaxatriol and protopanaxadiol. Our study will not only help people to improve the cognition of ginsenosides in RRPG, but will also play a guiding and reference role for the isolation and characterization of potentially new ginsenosides from RRPG.

[Anti-angiogenesis in Lung Cancer: Current Situation, Progress and Confusion].

Lung cancer is a highly vascular tumors, over the past ten years, anti-angiogenes is has been proved to be an effective and highly promising combinational treatment. The data of the combination of anti-angiogenesis with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy has been constantly updating. Advanced lung cancer patients, no matter different groups or different stages of the disease, are benefited from anti-angiogenes. In this paper, based on the clinical status and unsolved problems, combined with the latest clinical and translational research data, we reviewed the current anti-angiogenesis treatment of lung cancer.
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A ratiometric sensor for selective detection of Hg2+ ions by combining second-order scattering and fluorescence signals of MIL-68(In)-NH2.

Ratio fluorescence has attracted much attention because of its self-calibration properties. However, it is difficult to obtain suitable fluorescent materials with well-resolved signals simultaneously under one excitation. In this work, we report a different strategy, using MIL-68(In)-NH2 as both the fluorescence element and the scattered light unit, and coupling the fluorescence and the scattered light to construct the fluorescence and scattered light ratio system. Based on the optical properties and the second-order scattering (SOS) of the material nanoparticles, the synthesized MIL-68(In)-NH2 can be used to realize the ratio detection of Hg2+. Because the scattering intensity of small particle MIL-68(In)-NH2 is weak, SOS is not obvious. When Hg2+ is introduced the coordination reaction between the amino nitrogen atoms of MIL-68(In)-NH2 and Hg2+ make the particles larger, resulting in the decrease of fluorescence and the enhancement of SOS. As a result, a novel Hg2+ ratiometric detection method is developed by using the dual signal responses of the fluorescence and scattering. Under the optimal conditions (pH = 6, reaction time 5 min, room temperature, and the maximum excitation wavelength 365 nm), the linear range of the method is 0-100 µM, and the detection limit is 5.8 nM (Ksv = 9.89 × 109 M-1). In addition, the probe is successfully used to evaluate Hg2+ in actual water samples. Compared with the traditional method of recording only the fluorescence signal, the proposed fluorescence-scattering method provides a new strategy for the design of ratiometric sensors.

Anti-angiogenesis in Lung Cancer: Current Situation, Progress and Confusion / 中国肺癌杂志

Lung cancer is a highly vascular tumors, over the past ten years, anti-angiogenes is has been proved to be an effective and highly promising combinational treatment. The data of the combination of anti-angiogenesis with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy has been constantly updating. Advanced lung cancer patients, no matter different groups or different stages of the disease, are benefited from anti-angiogenes. In this paper, based on the clinical status and unsolved problems, combined with the latest clinical and translational research data, we reviewed the current anti-angiogenesis treatment of lung cancer.
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New nanotechnological formulation based on amiodarone-loaded lipid core nanocapsules displays anticryptococcal effect.

Cryptococcus neoformans is the etiological agent of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. The recommended available treatment has low efficiency, with high toxicity and resistance as recurrent problems. In the search of new treatment protocols, the proposal of new pharmacological approaches is considered an innovative strategy, mainly nanotechnological systems considering fungal diseases. The antiarrhythmic drug amiodarone has demonstrated antifungal activity against a range of fungi, including C. neoformans. Here, considering the importance of calcium storage mediated by transporters on cryptococcal virulence, we evaluated the use of the calcium channel blocker amiodarone as an alternative therapy for cryptococcosis. C. neoformans displayed high sensitivity to amiodarone, which was also synergistic with fluconazole. Amiodarone treatment influenced some virulence factors, interrupting the calcium-calcineurin signaling pathway. Experiments with murine cryptococcosis models revealed that amiodarone treatment increased the fungal burden in the lungs, while its combination with fluconazole did not improve treatment compared to fluconazole alone. In addition, we have developed different innovative nanotechnological formulations, one of which combining two drugs with different mechanisms of action. Lipid-core nanocapsules (LNC) loaded with amiodarone (LNCAMD), fluconazole (LNCFLU) and both (LNCAMD+FLU) were produced to achieve a better efficacy in vivo. In an intranasal model of treatment, all the LNC formulations had an antifungal effect. In an intraperitoneal treatment, LNCAMD showed an enhanced anticryptococcal effect compared to the free drug, whereas LNCFLU or LNCAMD+FLU displayed no differences from the free drugs. In this way, nanotechnology using amiodarone formulations could be an effective therapy for cryptococcal infections.

Current advances in research on adjuvant therapy for cerebral malaria / 药学学报

Cerebral malaria (CM) is the deadliest complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection and even with effective anti-malarial treatment the mortality of children can be as high as 18%; up to one-third of CM survivors are left with neurological and cognitive deficits. The pathophysiology of CM is not completely understood, but mechanical obstruction and immunopathology are its mainstream theories. Adjuvant therapy aims to improve clinical outcomes and/or reduce mortality, as well as preventing long-term neurocognitive deficits. Improving survival and reducing neurological damage to survivors are new goals for new antimalarials and adjuvant therapies. Herein, we discussed what is known about the disease mechanism of CM and systematically summarize the progress of adjuvant therapy research in protecting the vascular endothelium, reducing adhesion formation, regulating immune balance, interfering with malarial metabolism, protecting nerves, improving nitric oxide bioavailability, improving energy metabolism and alleviating inflammation, with the aim of exploiting this understanding to reduce the neurological damage to children with CM. This work also highlights some preclinical studies which may be candidate strategies in future clinical trials.

[Development of traditional Chinese medicine:New Era and new strategy].

As China's social development enters the New Era and the pursuit of healthcare is on the rise,people put forward the new requirements to traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) service capability. It is a great mission entrusted to practitioners to give full play to the unique characteristics and strengths of TCM. The development of TCM is currently confronted with important chances and challenges,and has entered a period of adjustment. In order to promote the healthy and sustainable development of TCM and enlarge people's sense of gaining in particular,it is vital to improve the contribution of TCM in China's medical and health services. My suggestions are as follows: ①The development of TCM should stay true to the vision of people's health-oriented development,accelerate shift of " three work emphasis",and scientifically construct five " should do" and five " should do even more" development path suited to features of TCM. ②The development of TCM should focus on the study of its " new four natures"( safety,effectiveness,controllability,accessibility) further,and pursue innovation-driven high quality development of TCM.

Development of traditional Chinese medicine:New Era and new strategy / 中国中药杂志

As China's social development enters the New Era and the pursuit of healthcare is on the rise,people put forward the new requirements to traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) service capability. It is a great mission entrusted to practitioners to give full play to the unique characteristics and strengths of TCM. The development of TCM is currently confronted with important chances and challenges,and has entered a period of adjustment. In order to promote the healthy and sustainable development of TCM and enlarge people's sense of gaining in particular,it is vital to improve the contribution of TCM in China's medical and health services. My suggestions are as follows: ①The development of TCM should stay true to the vision of people's health-oriented development,accelerate shift of " three work emphasis",and scientifically construct five " should do" and five " should do even more" development path suited to features of TCM. ②The development of TCM should focus on the study of its " new four natures"( safety,effectiveness,controllability,accessibility) further,and pursue innovation-driven high quality development of TCM.

Novel Fabricating Process for Porous Polyglycolic Acid Scaffolds by Melt-Foaming Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide.

Polyglycolic acid (PGA) is a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer with high crystallinity. It is difficult to obtain PGA porous scaffolds with controllable morphology as well as outstanding mechanical properties without toxic solvents. The current study thus aimed to develop a novel melt-foaming strategy to prepare porous PGA scaffolds through the interaction between PGA molecules and supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2). Before the design of foaming strategy, rheological properties of PGA were first studied by a Haake rheometer, whereas the effect of scCO2 on PGA was investigated by high-pressure differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was revealed that the elasticity and viscosity could be greatly improved by a temperature regulation operation to withstand the growth of bubbles at the initial depressurization. Meanwhile, the melting and crystallization temperatures of PGA were reduced because of the plasticization effect of scCO2. Through the dissolution of compressed CO2 into PGA melt and subsequent rapid depressurization at a relatively low temperature with high PGA melt strength, PGA scaffolds with porosity of 39-74%, average pore sizes ranging from 5 to 50 µm, and interconnectivity greater than 90% could be controllably fabricated. The effect of foaming temperature and pressure on morphology of PGA foams were then examined in detail. Special nanoscale morphology on the pore surface of resultant porous PGA foams was observed. These PGA foams also exhibited attractive compressive modulus of 68-116 MPa. The PGA foams with 74% porosity and average pore size of 38 µm, prepared at 208 °C and 20 MPa were then used as scaffolds for in vitro cellular evaluation. Fibroblasts seeded on the scaffold exhibited excellent spreading shape and good proliferation ability and in vivo implantation of PGA foams manifested as the notable tissue ingrowth and neovascularization process within the foams, ascertaining its potential applications for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This work presents a breakthrough to fabricate highly crystalline PGA into porous scaffolds instead of traditional fibrous ones.

Discussion on the Viewpoint of “Great Health”: from Disease to Health / 中国医学伦理学

Public awareness of health always stays at the level of physical wellbeing,and there is a clear bound between disease and health.As the world health organization (WHO) put forward the new definition of health,health meant not only the absence of diseases and defects,but also psychological and physical health as well as good social adaptation ability,which updated public awareness of health.The viewpoint of “great health” advocated strengthening the overall situation and the strategic thinking,and promoted the resolution of current and long-term major health problems.This paper put forward the realistic meaning and realization approaches of the great health view by discussing the target of new health strategy.

[A new strategy for exploring herb-pair investigation with a case study on Astragali Radix-Corni Fructus in treatment of diabetic nephropathy].

As the smallest unit of traditional Chinese medicinal formula compatibility, herb-pair has the basic characteristic of traditional Chinese medicinal formula compatibility. In recent years, herb-pair investigation has attracted much attention, which is an indispensable part of modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. With the decrease of the efficiency in the discovery of new drug, how to discover new drugs from traditional Chinese medicinal herb-pair has also been a bottleneck for the research and development of drug. The authors reviewed the domestic and foreign literatures in the latest years and summarized the current situations and the existing problems of herb-pair study. Based on these investigations, the authors innovatively proposed a novel concept of "precision herb-pair". Difference from traditional Chinese medicinal herb-pair or formulae with extensive roles and unclear efficacies, "precision herb-pair" belongs to a developed new mini herb-pair formula with an exact treatment and a relatively clear composition based on a certain specific disease. In addition, the authors also proposed a new strategy of "herb-pair - screen of multiple constituents based on column separation and in vitro cell viability - fuzzy target recognition pharmacology - re-evaluation of precision herb-pair", and successfully applied it to the development of a precision herb-pair from Astragali Radix-Corni Fructus in treatment of diabetic nephropathy. This proposed new strategy is simple, easy to carry out, and has a wide application, and can offer references and thoughts for the modern investigation of herb-pair and the research and development of new drug.

An analysis of the New Strategy for American Innovation in health care domains / 军事医学

In October 2015 ,the White House issued a New Strategy for American Innovation which was also concerned with precision medicine initiative , BRAIN initiative and health care .This paper introduces the background , main content and developments of this new strategy ,hoping to facilitate the development of healthcare in China .

A new strategy for exploring herb-pair investigation with a case study on Astragali Radix-Corni Fructus in treatment of diabetic nephropathy / 中国中药杂志

As the smallest unit of traditional Chinese medicinal formula compatibility, herb-pair has the basic characteristic of traditional Chinese medicinal formula compatibility. In recent years, herb-pair investigation has attracted much attention, which is an indispensable part of modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. With the decrease of the efficiency in the discovery of new drug, how to discover new drugs from traditional Chinese medicinal herb-pair has also been a bottleneck for the research and development of drug. The authors reviewed the domestic and foreign literatures in the latest years and summarized the current situations and the existing problems of herb-pair study. Based on these investigations, the authors innovatively proposed a novel concept of "precision herb-pair". Difference from traditional Chinese medicinal herb-pair or formulae with extensive roles and unclear efficacies, "precision herb-pair" belongs to a developed new mini herb-pair formula with an exact treatment and a relatively clear composition based on a certain specific disease. In addition, the authors also proposed a new strategy of "herb-pair - screen of multiple constituents based on column separation and in vitro cell viability - fuzzy target recognition pharmacology - re-evaluation of precision herb-pair", and successfully applied it to the development of a precision herb-pair from Astragali Radix-Corni Fructus in treatment of diabetic nephropathy. This proposed new strategy is simple, easy to carry out, and has a wide application, and can offer references and thoughts for the modern investigation of herb-pair and the research and development of new drug.

Rambutan peels promoted biomimetic synthesis of bioinspired zinc oxide nanochains for biomedical applications.

A naturally occurring rambutan peel waste was employed to synthesis bioinspired zinc oxide nanochains. Rambutan peels has the ability of ligating zinc ions as a natural ligation agent resulting in zinc oxide nanochains formation due to its extended polyphenolic system over incubation period. Successful formation of zinc oxide nanochains was confirmed employing transmission electron microscopy studies. About 60% and ∼40% cell viability was lost and 50% and 10% morphological change was observed in 7 and 4 days incubated ZnO treated cells compared with control. Moreover, 50% and 55% of cell death was observed at 24 and 48 h incubation with 7 days treated ZnO cells and hence alters and disturbs the growth of cancer cells and could be used for liver cancer cell treatment.

New method for the isolation of endothelial cells from large vessels.

BACKGROUND AIMS: Numerous protocols for the isolation of bovine aortic endothelial cells have been described in the previous literature. However, these protocols prevent researchers from obtaining the pure population of endothelial cells. Thus, this study aimed to develop a new and economical method for the isolation of pure endothelial cells by introducing a new strategy to the enzymatic digestion method proposed by previous researchers. METHODS: With the use of this method, the lumen of a bovine aorta was filled with wash medium and the outer surface of the sample was washed with alcohol for 30 seconds. Under a laminar flow hood, the inner surface of the sample was covered with filter paper. Collagenase type II was dripped onto the filter paper as a digestion enzyme. The digestion fluid was seeded in T25 flasks and fed with complete medium every 3 days. RESULTS: The isolated cells were characterized by markers such as CD31, von Willebrand factor, 1,1'-dioctadecyl-1,3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate acetylated low-density lipoprotein and angiogenesis behavior. The purity of endothelial cells was detected by flow cytometry to be of nearly 90% purity; these results were confirmed by immunostaining. Moreover, endothelial cells formed blood vessel-like tubes in a three-dimensional environment, which is specific dynamic behavior for endothelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: The new strategy presented in the current report enables isolation of a highly pure population of endothelial cells that can survive long-term culture without inducing an overgrowth of fibroblast cells.

Current Concept and New Strategy in Osteosarcoma Management

Major progress in the management of osteosarcoma has been made due to advances in diagnostic imaging, operative technique, and chemotherapy, resulting in an improved survival. However, 20~30% of patients with osteosarcoma still develop distant metastases despite combined modality treatment. Currently various experimental efforts are being proposed to the future new strategy include drug resistance, suppression of metastasis mechanism, and targeted therapy to convert the incurable rate of 20~30% upto complete cure rate.