Xuezhitong capsule, an extract of Allium macrostemon Bunge, exhibits reverse cholesterol transport and accompanies high-density lipoprotein levels to protect against hyperlipidemia in ApoE-/- mice.

BACKGROUND: Xuezhitong capsules (XZT) are derived from Xie Bai and used for abnormal lipid homeostasis treatment through maintained metabolic balance. However, their mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we mainly assessed the contribution of reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) and the accompanying increase in the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) effects of XZT to cholesterol dysfunction amelioration in mice. METHODS: We assessed serum lipids by using enzymatic kits. We observed atherosclerotic plaque formation by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Oil Red O staining. We studied the lipid metabolism, fatty acid synthase (FAS), HDL, low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), triglyceride (TG) metabolic enzyme expression levels, and RCT function in various tissues upon stimulation with high-fat diet, XZT, and some positive drugs by ELISA. RESULTS: After 34 weeks of high-fat diet administration, blood lipids levels increased because attenuated by XZT treatment (800 and 1,600 mg/kg, i.g.). XZT improved the lipid metabolism instability, induced RCT activation, and subsequently increased the HDL levels in hyperlipidemic mice (P<0.05). FAS (P<0.05) and LDLR (P<0.01) levels also remarkably improved. The effects of XZT were closely associated with RCT activation and the accompanying increase in the HDL levels, as characterized by XZT-induced preservation in ATP-binding cassette transporter member 1 (ABCA1), scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SRB1), acyl coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), apolipoprotein A I (ApoA1) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB). However, XZT showed no effect on high fat diet-activated TG metabolic enzyme expression levels (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: XZT are promising drugs in balancing the cholesterol dysfunction from hyperlipidemia through RCT activation and accompanying increase in HDL levels.

MiR-200a is involved in proliferation and apoptosis in the human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line HEC-1B by targeting the tumor suppressor PTEN.

Abnormal cell proliferation is a main driver of tumor formation and development, which involves the deletion, mutation, and downregulation of tumor suppressor genes. One study recently demonstrated that miR-200a plays an oncogenic role by inhibiting phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) expression. In the human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line HEC-1B, suppression of miR-200a expression inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis, whereas its over-expression had no effect on proliferation and apoptosis. Furthermore, inhibition or over-expression of miR-200a increased or reduced the expression of PTEN, respectively, with no change in PTEN mRNA levels. These effects were achieved by directly targeting miR-200a to the 3' untranslated region of the PTEN mRNA to inhibit its translation. Taken together, we propose that in HEC-1B cells, miR-200a functions as an oncogene, affecting proliferation and apoptosis by regulating the expression of the tumor suppressor PTEN at the translational level.

Mmu-microRNA-200a overexpression leads to implantation defect by targeting phosphatase and tensin homolog in mouse uterus.

Successful mouse embryo implantation requires a receptive uterus and an activated blastocyst. A large number of genes, cytokines, and other factors are involved in the process. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the expression of many genes, and previous studies have investigated the relationship between miRNA expression and embryo implantation. In this study, we show that mmu-microRNA-200a (mmu-miR-200a) is expressed in a spatiatemporal manner during implantation in mouse uterus and found that phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), SON, and programmed cell death 4 (Pdcd4) are the target genes of mmu-miR-200a by bioinformatics analysis. In vitro gain and loss of function experiments confirm that PTEN, a critical gene for cell proliferation and apoptosis, is the target gene of mmu-miR-200a. Our experiments also show that injection of the uterine horn with mmu-miR-200a lentivirus leads to a decreased implantation rate. Collectively, our results suggest that mmu-miR-200a affects embryo implantation by regulating PTEN protein expression. Thus, clarifying the physiological functions of uterine miRNAs will help to elucidate the embryo implantation process and may even contribute to curing infertility and inventing new contraceptives.

[L-arginine suppresses ischemia/reperfusion induced up-regulation of endothelin-1 production in a rat model of acute myocardial injury].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the level of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in serum and its expression in myocardium tissue during the development of acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat and the effects of L-arginine (L-Arg) administration on these indexes. METHODS: One hundred and ten Wistar rats were randomly divided into nine groups to receive: (1) sham surgery, (2)ischemia (I, by ligation of anterior descending coronary artery for 30 minutes), (3) I+reperfusion (R, by the removal of the ligature) for 0.5 hour, (4) I+R for 1 hour, (5) I+R for 2 hours; group (6) ~ (9) also received I/R treatment as in group 2 ~ 5 respectively but with L-Arg pretreatment. Blood and myocardium tissue samples were collected by the end of the experiment for the analysis of: serum level of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase [LDH, by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)], ET-1 (radioimmunoassay), and the tissue content of ET-1 mRNA/peptide [by reverse-transcription polymerase chain-reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting]. RESULTS: In comparison with the sham treated control animals, the serum levels of CK, LDH, and ET-1 were all significantly higher in the groups treated with I/R (particularly those exposed to reperfusion). The myocardial tissue content of ET-1 mRNA/peptide were also significantly increased in I/R treated groups (particularly the I+R 2 hours group) as compared to control (ET-1 mRNA: 0.775 ± 0.029 vs. 0.310 ± 0.076; ET-1 peptide: 0.773 ± 0.055 vs. 0.340 ± 0.099, both P < 0.05). The i.v. administration of L-Arg significantly suppressed the up-regulation of tissue content of ET-1 mRNA /peptide in I/R treated animals (ET-1 mRNA: 0.340 ± 0.049 vs. 0.775 ± 0.029; ET-1 peptide: 0.390 ± 0.094 vs. 0.773 ± 0.055, both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: L-Arg may be tested during certain stage of I/R injury as a therapeutic intervention for the suppression of ET-1 up-regulation.

[Correlation between distributions of pathogenic bacteria on hands and the position of funeral staffs].

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the bacteria contamination on hands of funeral staffs in different positions. METHODS: Bacterial samples were collected from the hands of 105 funeral staffs in different positions (including 90 frontline staffs and 15 administrative workers) from 13 funeral parlors nationwide, and were subsequently tested by bacterium inspection. RESULTS: In total, 1783 strains of bacteria were isolated, including 1027 Gram-positive bacteria, most of which were Staphylococcus; and 756 Gram-negative bacteria, most of which were Pseudomonas. Out of the 1783 strains of bacteria, 570 pathogens and opportunistic pathogens were isolated, accounted to 31.96%. The isolated ratio of pathogens and conditional pathogens in embalmed/cosmetologist of cadavers was 35.67% (370/1037), which was higher than those in the funeral workers in other positions, such as cremators, pick-up and administrative workers, whose ratios were 24.42% (95/389), 22.41% (52/232) and 10.40% (12/125), respectively (χ(2) were 13.682, 10.967 and 32.263, respectively; P values were all < 0.05). And the isolated ratios of pathogens and conditional pathogens in cremators and pick-up workers were significantly higher than that in administrative workers (χ(2) were 11.206 and 7.873, respectively; P values were all < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Lots of bacteria were found in the samples from hands of funeral staffs. The isolated ratio of pathogens and conditional pathogens was different between the funeral staffs in different positions; while the highest was from embalmed/cosmetologist of cadavers and the lowest was from administrators.

[Application of nano-sized TiO2 photocatalysis to air purification and sterilization].

OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate the efficiency of air purification and sterilization instrument based on nano-sized TiO(2) photocatalytic technique. METHODS: The nano-sized TiO(2) photocatalytic air purification and sterilization instrument was designed and a sample had been prepared. The sterilization efficiencies for E.coli and Klebsiella by the nano-sized TiO(2) photocatalytic instrument and ultraviolet (UV) were measured in closed labs. The on-site efficiency of the instrument was evaluated, too. RESULTS: The nano-sized TiO(2) photocatalytic air purification and sterilization instrument was composed of five units: rough filter, nano-sized TiO(2) photocatalytic unit, activated carbon fiber filter, negative ion generator, and programmed control unit. The E.coli killing rates by the nano-sized TiO(2) photocatalytic instrument were 76.0%, 81.8%, 77.5%, and 80.7% at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes, respectively. There was no significant difference between the E.coli killing rates of the instrument and UV (P > 0.05), except the 120 minutes timepoint. The Klebsiella killing rates by the instrument were 78.4%, 79.5%, 67.3%, and 58.5% at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes, respectively. The Klebsiella killing efficiencies of the instrument at 30 and 60 minutes were better than that of UV (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the Klebsiella killing efficiencies of the instrument and UV (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The air sterilization efficiency of the nano-sized TiO(2) photocatalytic instrument should be equivalent or better as compared with the UV. This instrument might be used for the air purification and sterilization of the public locations.