Meta-analysis of traditional Chinese medicine on chronic kidney disease.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: Databases were used for literature research until 16 December 2022, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Embase. After full-text screening, data were extracted by two researchers independently. The Cochrane ROB tool was applied for quality assessment. The heterogeneity was tested using the Chi-squared-based Q statistic test and the I2 statistic. RESULTS: The findings revealed that the use of TCM significantly improved the total effective rate (pooled odds ratio (OR) = 1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) = [1.15, 1.57]), reduced the serum creatinine (SCr) level (pooled mean difference (MD) = -0.11, 95% CI = [-0.20, -0.03]), and increased the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, pooled MD = 3.76, 95% CI = [2.66, 4.87]) in patients with CKD, compared with non-TCM treatment. Meanwhile, TCM performed better effect on 24-h proteinuria (pooled MD = 0.17, 95% CI = [0.04, 0.31]) than non-TCM. No significant difference in the incidence of adverse events was found between TCM and non-TCM treatment (pooled OR = 0.63, 95% CI = [0.32, 1.24]). Sensitivity analysis demonstrated the stability of the pooled estimates. CONCLUSION: TCM has the advantage over non-TCM treatment and is worth popularizing and applying in the prevention and cure of CKD. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021279281.

A cyanine dye probe for K+ detection based on DNA construction of G-quadruplex.

Potassium ion (K+) plays an important role in the maintenance of cellular biological process for human health. Thus, the detection of K+ is very important. Here, based on the interaction between thiamonomethinecyanine dye and G-quadruplex formation sequence (PW17), K+ detection spectrum was characterized by UV-Vis spectrometry. The single-stranded sequence of PW17 can fold into G-quadruplex in the presence of K+. PW17 can induce a dimer-to-monomer transition of the absorption spectrum of cyanine dyes. This method shows high specificity against some other alkali cations, even at high concentrations of Na+. Further, this detection strategy can realize the detection of K+ in tap water.

Effect of disability severity on home-based care quality among families with Uygur and Kazakh disabled older adults in far western rural China: A cross-sectional study.

AIMS: To explore how family functioning and family resilience mediate the relationship between disability severity and quality of home-based care among families with disabled older adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 431 families with Uygur and Kazakh disabled older adults in Xinjiang, China, in 2020. The data were collected using the Katz Activity of Daily Living Scale; Mini-Mental State Examination; Family Adaptation, Partnership, Growth, Affection and Resolve Index Scale; Family Resilience Assessment Scale; and Family Caregiving Consequences Inventory Scale. All mediation effects were estimated in SPSS26.0. RESULTS: Disability severity, family functioning and family resilience were all significantly correlated with home-based care quality. Disability severity had a 46.16% direct effect on home-based care quality and a 53.84% indirect effect on home-based care quality independently and in series through family functioning and family resilience. CONCLUSIONS: Disability severity directly affected home-based care quality and had an indirect influence via family functioning and family resilience. Multidisciplinary care teams should focus on families with disabled older adults and help them improve family functioning and family resilience by implementing targeted interventions, so as to improve home-based care quality.

CD147 supports paclitaxel resistance via interacting with RanBP1.

Though the great success of paclitaxel, the variable response of patients to the drug limits its clinical utility and the precise mechanisms underlying the variable response to paclitaxel remain largely unknown. This study aims to verify the role and the underlying mechanisms of CD147 in paclitaxel resistance. Immunostaining was used to analyze human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and ovarian cancer tissues. RNA-sequencing was used to identify downstream effectors. Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining were used to detect apoptosis. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) were performed to determine protein interactions. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) was performed to measure the speed of microtubule turnover. Xenograft tumor model was established to evaluate sensitivity of cancer cells to paclitaxel in vivo. In vitro and in vivo assays showed that silencing CD147 sensitized the cancer cells to paclitaxel treatment. CD147 protected cancer cells from paclitaxel-induced caspase-3 mediated apoptosis regardless of p53 status. Truncation analysis showed that the intracellular domain of CD147 (CD147ICD) was indispensable for CD147-regulated sensitivity to paclitaxel. Via screening the interacting proteins of CD147ICD, Ran binding protein 1 (RanBP1) was identified to interact with CD147ICD via its C-terminal tail. Furthermore, we showed that RanBP1 mediated CD147-regulated microtubule stability and dynamics as well as response to paclitaxel treatment. These results demonstrated that CD147 regulated paclitaxel response by interacting with the C-terminal tail of RanBP1 and targeting CD147 may be a promising strategy for preventing paclitaxel resistant.

[Environmental Background Values of Heavy Metals and Physicochemical Properties in Different Soils in Shenzhen].

Research on the characteristics of environmental background values of soil can provide a scientific basis for setting regional standards for soils. To determine the characteristics of environmental background values and main influencing factors of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Co, V, Cd, and Hg) in soils in Shenzhen, 500 topsoil samples (0-20 cm) were collected by decision unit multi increment sampling (DUMS) from 500 soil background sites in the whole city, including 405 latosolic red soil, 77 red soil, and 18 yellow soil samples. The results show that the concentrations of heavy metals in red soil are relatively low in general, and those of Cr, Ni, Co, and V in latosolic red soil and Cu, Zn, Hg, Pb, and Cd in yellow soil are higher. Compared with the environmental background values of soil in the Seventh Five-year Plan of China in 1980s, the concentrations of Cr, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, and V in latosolic red soil, red soil, and yellow soil are lower, the concentrations of Cd and Hg are similar, and the concentration of Pb is higher. The spatial distribution patterns of the nine heavy metals are significantly different. Pb, Zn, and Co present an obvious zonal distribution pattern, while Cr, Cu, Ni, V, Cd, and Hg present a point-like distribution pattern. Moreover, the correlation analysis between heavy metal content and physicochemical properties of different soils showed that the correlation between heavy metal content and physicochemical properties of latosolic red soil was the most significant. Stepwise regression analysis was used to elucidate the relationship between heavy metal content in latosolic red soil, and physicochemical properties were quantified. The physicochemical properties affecting heavy metal content in latosolic red soil were found to be mechanical composition, pH, organic matter, and cation exchange capacity.

The effects of maternal cigarette smoking on pregnancy outcomes using assisted reproduction technologies: An updated meta-analysis.

There is strong evidence indicating that smoking has negative effects on female reproductive health. Studies to investigate the effects of female smoking on IVF outcomes have been conducted by several research groups, yet the results are controversial. To evaluate the impacts of female smoking on the outcomes of assisted reproduction, a meta-analysis was performed, which included studies published in English up to September 6, 2017 from the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases. Twenty-eight studies encompassing 5009 female smokers seeking assisted reproduction and 10,078 non-smokers were used in this meta-analysis. Significant negative outcomes were detected in the female smokers compared with non-smokers including decreases in live birth rate per cycle (OR=0.52, 95% CI 0.37-0.74), in clinical pregnancy rate per cycle (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.51-0.68), in number of retrieved oocytes (MD=-0.87, 95% CI -1.39 to -0.25), and in average fertilization rate (MD=-4.80, 95% CI -8.49 to -2.02), as well as a significantly increased miscarriage rate per pregnancy (OR=2.48, 95% CI 1.79-3.43). In conclusion, the current meta-analysis provides compelling evidence that female smoking has a significantly negative impact on the outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) and strongly recommends that female smokers will greatly benefit from a smoking cessation before employing ART to become pregnant.

[Amplitude Changes of Low Frequency Fluctuation in Brain Spontaneous Nervous Activities Induced by Needling at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel].

OBJECTIVE: To observe amplitude changes of low frequency fluctuation in brain spontaneous nervous activities induced by needling at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel, and to preliminarily explore the possible brain function network of Hand Taiyin Lung Channel. METHODS: By using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), 16 healthy volunteers underwent resting-state scanning (R1) and scanning with retained acupuncture at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel (acupuncture, AP). Data of fMRI collected were statistically calculated using amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF). RESULTS: Under R1 significantly enhanced ALFF occurred in right precuneus, left inferior parietal lobule, bilateral superior temporal gyrus, bilateral middle frontal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus, left medial frontal gyrus. Under AP significantly enhanced ALFF occurred in right precuneus, bilateral superior frontal gyrus, cerebellum, bilateral middle frontal gyrus, right medial frontal gyrus, and so on. Compared with R1, needing at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel could significantly enhance ALFF in right gyrus subcallosum and right inferior frontal gyrus. Significant decreased ALFF appeared in right postcentral gyrus, left precuneus, left superior temporal gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, and so on. CONCLUSION: Needing at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel could significantly change fixed activities of cerebral cortex, especially in right subcallosal gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus, and so on.

[Effect of Stabilizer Addition on Soil Arsenic Speciation and Investigation of Its Mechanism].

Arsenic toxicity, mobility and bioaccessibility are influenced by its different speciation in soil, which exerts different impacts on the environment. In this study, coal fly ash, dried sludge, ferrous sulfate and broken peanut shell were used as stabilizers to investigate their stabilizing effects on As in soil as well as relationships between pH, soil organic matter content, cation exchange capacity and speciation of soil As. The results showed rise in soil pH, soil organic matter content and residual arsenic content after the addition of stabilizers. Addition of 10% coal fly ash and 10% dried sludge led to the decrease in the content of exchangeable As, carbonate bound As, Fe-Mn oxide bound As, organic bound As by 34.2%, 17.5%, 19.9%, 53.7%, respectively. Addition of ferrous sulfate could preferably stabilize As in soil. When 10% coal fly ash, 10% dried sludge and 1% ferrous sulfate were added concurrently, the decrease in the content of exchangeable As, carbonate bound As, Fe-Mn oxide bound As, organic bound As was 62.3%, 55.2%, 29.6%, 58.2%, respectively, with an increase in residual arsenic content by 8.1%. After the addition of 10% coal fly ash, 10% dried sludge, 1% ferrous sulfate and 1% broken peanut shell, a most conspicuous decrease in the content of exchangeable As by 73.3% was observed. Appropriate application of coal fly ash, dry sludge and ferrous sulfate converted a proportion of exchangeable, carbonate bounded, Fe-Mn bounded, organic bounded As into residual As, which reduced As's toxicity. The rise in pH led to increasing residual As content and decreasing exchangeable As, carbonate bounded As, Fe-Mn bounded As and organic bounded As content, and As was most stable at the approach of neutral condition. The rise in organic matter content led to increasing carbonate bounded As and residual As content and decreasing exchangeable As, Fe-Mn bounded As, organic bounded As content. The rise in cation exchange capacity led to increasing residual As content and decreasing exchangeable As, carbonate bounded As, Fe-Mn bounded As and organic bounded As content.

Formaldehyde induces the bone marrow toxicity in mice by regulating the expression of Prx3 protein.

Formaldehyde (FA) is a ubiquitous toxic organic compound, and it has been regarded as a leukemogen. However, the mechanisms by which FA induces bone marrow toxicity remain unclear. The present study was aimed to examine the bone marrow toxicity caused by FA and the mechanism involving the expression changes of peroxiredoxin3 (Prx3) in this process. The mice were divided into four groups with 6 mice per group. Animals in the control group were exposed to ambient air and those in the FA groups to different concentrations of FA (20, 40, 80 mg/m(3)) for 15 days in the separate inhalation chambers, 2 h a day. At the end of the 15-day experimental period, all mice were killed. Bone marrow cells were obtained. The level of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the apoptosis rate, and the activities and protein expression levels of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were determined by biochemical assay, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, respectively; DNA damage and Prx3 expression levels were measured by single cell gel eletrophoresis immunohistochemistry and Western blotting, respectively. The results showed that the H2O2 level and cell apoptosis rate were significantly increased in FA groups relative to the control group. Caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities and their protein expression levels were markedly increased as well. Additionally, FA also increased the rate of DNA damage and the expression level of Prx3 compared with control group. Our study suggested that a certain concentration of FA causes the bone marrow toxicity by regulating the expression of Prx3.

[Effects of stabilization treatment on migration and transformation of heavy metals in mineral waste residues].

Different forms of heavy metals in soil will produce different environmental effects, and will directly influence the toxicity, migration and bioavailability of heavy metals. This study used lime, fly ash, dried sludge, peanut shells as stabilizers in the treatment of heavy metals in mineral waste residues. Morphological analyses of heavy metal, leaching experiments, potted plant experiments were carried out to analyze the migration and transformation of heavy metals. The results showed that after adding stabilizers, the pH of the acidic mineral waste residues increased to more than neutral, and the organic matter content increased significantly. The main existing forms of As, Pb, and Zn in the mineral waste residues were the residual. The contents of exchangeable and organic matter-bound As decreased by 65.6% and 87.7% respectively after adding fly ash, dried sludge and peanut shells. Adding lime, fly ash and peanut shells promoted the transformation of As from the Fe-Mn oxide-bound to the carbonate-bound, and adding lime and fly ash promoted the transformation of Pb and Zn from the exchangeable, Fe-Mn oxide-bound, organic matter-bound to the residual. After the early stage of the stabilization treatment, the contents of As, Pb and Zn in the leachate had varying degrees of decline, and adding peanut shells could reduce the contents of As, Pb and Zn in the leachate further. Among them, the content of As decreased most significantly after treatment with fly ash, dried sludge and peanut shells, with a decline of 57.4%. After treatment with lime, fly ash and peanut shells, the content of Zn decreased most significantly, by 24.9%. The addition of stabilizers was advantageous to the germination and growth of plants. The combination of fly ash, dried sludge and peanut shell produced the best effect, and the Vetiveria zizanioides germination rate reached 76% in the treated wasted mineral residues.

Overexpression of FOXM1 predicts poor prognosis and promotes cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion in epithelial ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: The Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1), an important regulator of cell differentiation and proliferation, is overexpressed in a number of aggressive human carcinomas. The purpose of this study was to examine the expression levels of FOXM1 in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), to identify the relationship between FOXM1 expression and patient survival, and to investigate the role of FOXM1 in human ovarian cancer development. METHODS: Immunohistochemical analysis for FOXM1 was performed in a total of 158 ovarian tissue specimens, all with linked clinical outcome data. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards analysis were used to relate FOXM1 expression to clinicopathological variables and to progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). In vitro studies were performed to determine the function of FOXM1 in cell proliferation, migration and invasion in EOC cells using pcDNA3.1-FOXM1 and FOXM1 shRNA. RESULTS: Elevated FOXM1 levels were associated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.009), but not with age, FIGO stage, histological grade and histological type. Patients with high expression of FOXM1 had poorer PFS (P = 0.0001) and OS (P < 0.0001) than patients with low expression of FOXM1. Furthermore, multivariate analyses indicated that FOXM1 positivity was an independent prognostic factor for PFS (P = 0.046) and OS (P = 0.022), respectively. Overexpression of FOXM1 increased expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), and cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion of HO-8910 cells, whereas knockdown of FOXM1 reduced expression and activity of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF-A, and cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion of HO-8910 PM cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that FOXM1 expression is likely to play important roles in EOC development and progression. FOXM1 expression is a potential prognostic factor for PFS and OS, and it could be a novel treatment target in EOC patients.

Partial AZFc duplications not deletions are associated with male infertility in the Yi population of Yunnan Province, China.

OBJECTIVE: There are many reports on associations between spermatogenesis and partial azoospermia factor c (AZFc) deletions as well as duplications; however, results are conflicting, possibly due to differences in methodology and ethnic background. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association of AZFc polymorphisms and male infertility in the Yi ethnic population, residents within Yunnan Province, China. METHODS: A total of 224 infertile patients and 153 fertile subjects were selected in the Yi ethnic population. The study was performed by sequence-tagged site plus/minus (STS+/-) analysis followed by gene dosage and gene copy definition analysis. Y haplotypes of 215 cases and 115 controls were defined by 12 binary markers using single nucleotide polymorphism on Y chromosome (Y-SNP) multiplex assays based on single base primer extension technology. RESULTS: The distribution of Y haplotypes was not significantly different between the case and control groups. The frequencies of both gr/gr (7.6% vs. 8.5%) and b2/b3 (6.3% vs. 8.5%) deletions do not show significant differences. Similarly, single nucleotide variant (SNV) analysis shows no significant difference of gene copy definition between the cases and controls. However, the frequency of partial duplications in the infertile group (4.0%) is significantly higher than that in the control group (0.7%). Further, we found a case with sY1206 deletion which had two CDY1 copies but removed half of DAZ genes. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that male infertility is associated with partial AZFc duplications, but neither gr/gr nor b2/b3 deletions, suggesting that partial AZFc duplications rather than deletions are risk factors for male infertility in Chinese-Yi population.

Basigin-2 is the predominant basigin isoform that promotes tumor cell migration and invasion and correlates with poor prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Basigin, which has four isoforms, has been demonstrated to be involved in progression of various human cancers. The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic value of basigin-2 protein expression in epithelial ovarian cancer. Furthermore, the function of basigin-2 in ovarian cancer was further investigated in cell culture models. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry staining was performed to investigate basigin-2 expression in a total of 146 ovarian tissue specimens. Kaplan Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards model were applied to assess the relationship between basigin-2 and progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Real-time PCR, RT-PCR and western blot were used to explore basigin-2, basigin-3 and basigin-4 expression in ovarian cancer cell lines and tissues. To evaluate possible contributions of basigin-2 to MMP secretion and cell migration and invasion, the overexpression vectors pcDNA3.1-basigin-2 and basigin-2 siRNA were transfected into HO-8910 and HO-8910 PM cells respectively. RESULTS: High basigin-2 expression was associated with lymph-vascular space involvement, lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer. Multivariate analyses indicated that basigin-2 positivity was an independent prognostic factor for PFS (P = 0.006) and OS (P = 0.019), respectively. Overexpression of basigin-2 increased the secretion of MMP-2/9 and cancer cell migration and invasion of HO-8910 cells, whereas knockdown of basigin-2 reduced active MMP-2/9 production, migration and invasion of HO-8910 PM cells. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of basigin-2 might be an independent prognostic marker and basigin-2 inhibition would be a potential strategy for epithelial ovarian cancer patients, especially in inhibiting and preventing cancer cell invasion and metastasis.

Liquiritigenin prevents Staphylococcus aureus-mediated lung cell injury via inhibiting the production of α-hemolysin.

Staphylococcus aureus is a significant Gram-positive bacterium that is associated with a broad spectrum of diseases ranging from minor skin infections to lethal pneumonia, endocarditis, and toxinoses. α-Hemolysin is one of the most important exotoxins that contribute to the pathogenesis of S. aureus infections. Liquiritigenin is one of the most significant active components in licorice. In this study, hemolysis, western blot, and real-time reverse transcription-PCR assays were performed to investigate the impact of liquiritigenin on the production of S. aureus α-hemolysin. The results showed that low concentrations of liquiritigenin remarkably decreased S. aureus α-hemolysin production in a dose-dependent manner. Using live/dead cell staining and lactate dehydrogenase assays, we found that liquiritigenin could protect human lung cells (A549) from α-hemolysin-mediated injury. The data indicated that this compound could potentially be useful in developing drugs aiming at staphylococcal α-hemolysin.

FoxM1 expression is significantly associated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy resistance and poor prognosis in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The transcription factor Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) is known to play an important role in the development and progression of many malignancies including lung cancer. However, the relationship of FoxM1 expression and the clinical response to chemotherapy and prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unknown. METHODS: Total 162 NSCLC (stages IIIB and IV) patients who had tumor specimens available before treatment were assessed for FoxM1 expression using immunohistochemistry. Clinical significance was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank test and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Sensitivities to cisplatin were detected by the MTT assay and drug-resistance related genes were analyzed by real-time PCR and western blot between DDP-sensitive A549 and the corresponding DDP-resistant cell subline (A549/DDP). Furthermore, small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting FoxM1 was transfected into A549 and A549/DDP cell lines in vitro and migration and invasion were examined separately by Transwell chamber assay. RESULTS: Patients with FoxM1 expression had a significantly lower response rate (P=0.009) and poor progression-free survival (PFS, P=0.002) and overall survival (OS, P=0.007) than those without FoxM1 expression. Multivariate analyses indicated that FoxM1 positivity was an independent prognostic factor for PFS (P=0.006) and OS (P=0.021), respectively. Moreover, the expression of FoxM1 was significantly higher in A549/DDP cell subline than in A549 cells at both mRNA and protein levels. The FoxM1 inhibitor thiostrepton also showed efficacy in causing cell death and proliferative arrest in the cisplatin-resistant cells through the downregulation of FoxM1 expression. Knockdown of FoxM1 by siRNA suppressed cell migration and invasion in A549 and A549/DDP cells. Cisplatin resistance in A549/DDP cells could be partially reversed through siRNA-mediated FoxM1 inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of FoxM1 might be an independent prognostic marker for advanced NSCLC patients and FoxM1 inhibition would be a potential strategy for chemosensitization of NSCLC cells.

[Clinical observation on repair of lymphocyte injury in patients with diabetic nephropathy treated by regulating spleen-stomach needling].

OBJECTIVE: To explore therapeutic effect and action mechanism of regulating spleen-stomach needling on diabetic nephropathy (DN). METHODS: Using multi-centric, randomized, controlled and blind principles, 144 cases of DN were divided into an observation group and a control group according to random digital tab, 72 cases in each one. Based on regular treatment of diabetes, the regulating spleen-stomach needling was applied at Zhongwan (CV 12), Quchi (LI 11), Hegu (LI 4) and Xuehai (SP 10), etc. in the observation group while Shenshu (BL 23), Taixi (KI 3), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Yanglingquan (GB 34), etc. were selected in the control group by reference of Acupuncture and moxibustion. The treatment was given twice a day, six days as a treatment session with interval of one day between sessions. Totally six weeks were required. Changes of clinical symptoms and signs, fast blood glucose (FBG), urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER), beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), lymphocyte membrane cholesterol, propanediol (MDA), PCO, 8-hydroxydeoxy guanosine (8-OHdG), superoxide dismutase (SOD), CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+/CD8+ were observed before and after treatment in two groups. RESULTS: As for improving clinical symptoms and signs, total effective rate was 84.29% (59/70) in the observation group and 55.56% (40/72) in the control group, which had statistical difference between two groups (P<0.01). As for regulating glycometabolism [(6.25 +/- 0.32) mmol/L vs (8.09 +/- 0.63) mmol/L], reducing UAER [(154.43 +/- 55.14) mg/24h vs (268.91 +/- 77.65) mg/24h], restraining over-expression of MCP-1 [(137.59 +/- 36.15) pg/mL vs (166.89 +/- 42.82) pg/mL], regulating level of oxidative stress, prohibiting oxidation of protein and adjusting quantity and activity of T lymphocyte subgroup, the observation group was superior to the control group (P< 0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The regulating spleen-stomach needling is an effective method for treatment of DN, which cold improve glycometabolism disturbance-induced progressive kidney injury, recover glomerular filtration, reduce urinary albumin excretion rate, restrain overexpression of MCP-1, adjust level of oxidative stress, prohibit oxidation of protein, increase protectiveness of membrane, adjust quantity and activity abnormity of T lymphocyte subgroup, leading to repairing lymphocyte damage and improving immune expression to delay kidney damage.

Involvement of XZFP36L1, an RNA-binding protein, in Xenopus neural development.

Xenopus ZFP36L1 (zinc finger protein 36, C3H type-like 1) belongs to the ZFP36 family of RNA-binding proteins, which contains two characteristic tandem CCCH-type zinc-finger domains. The ZFP36 proteins can bind AU-rich elements in 3' untranslated regions of target mRNAs and promote their turnover. However, the expression and role of ZFP36 genes during neural development in Xenopus embryos remains largely unknown. The present study showed that Xenopus ZFP36L1 was expressed at the dorsal part of the forebrain, forebrain-midbrain boundary, and midbrain-hindbrain boundary from late neurula stages to tadpole stages of embryonic development. Overexpression of XZFP36L1 in Xenopus embryos inhibited neural induction and differentiation, leading to severe neural tube defects. The function of XZP36L1 requires both its zinc finger and C terminal domains, which also affect its subcellular localization. These results suggest that XZFP36L1 is likely involved in neural development in Xenopus and might play an important role in post-transcriptional regulation.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on cerebral PKC isozyme expression levels in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Dingzhongxian" (MS 5) and "Dingpangxian" (MS 8) on the expression of cerebral protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes in local cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (CI/RI) rats so as to explore its underlying mechanism in protecting ischemic brain tissue. METHODS: Seventy-two Wistar rats were randomized into normal control (n = 8), CI/RI model (model, n = 32), and EA (n = 32) groups. The later two groups were further divided into 4, 12, 24 and 72 h subgroups, respectively, with 8 rats in each. CI/RI model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery under anesthesia and reperfusion for 4, 12, 24 and 72 h, respectively. EA (1 mA, 2 Hz/15 Hz) was applied to "Dingzhongxian" (MS5) and "Dingpangxian" (MS8) for 10 min every time, and once again every 12 h after modeling. The expression of PKCgamma and PKCdelta in the ischemic cortex tissue was detected using immunohistochemistry. TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling was used to detect neuronal apoptosis of the local ischemic cerebral cortex. RESULTS: In comparison with the normal group, the expression levels of cerebral PKCgamma and PKCdelta proteins as well as the number of the apoptotic neurons at time-points of 4, 12, 24 and 72 h after modeling were increased apparently in the model group (P < 0.01); while compared with the model group, cerebral PKCgamma and PKCdelta protein expressions and the apoptotic neuronal number were decreased considerably in the EA group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). No significant differences were found among the 4 time-points in the expression levels of PKCgamma and PKCdelta and apoptotic neuronal number in the model group and EA group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: EA intervention can effectively down-regulate expressions of cerebral PKCgamma, PKCdelta proteins and apoptotic neuronal number in cerebral ischemia rats, which may contribute to its effect in protecting the ischemic cerebral tissue.

Transduction of mesenchymal stem cells with multidrug resistance gene provides protection for bone marrow toxicity after being transplanted into a nude mice model.

BACKGROUND: Myelosuppression is the main dose-related toxicity of many chemotherapeutic drugs. The human multidrug resistance (mdr1) gene is well-known for its ability to confering drug resistance. In this study, we meant to transplant the placenta mesenchymal stem cells (P-MSCs) moderated by mdr1 gene into a nude mice model radiated by γ-Co(60) and to explore the chemoprotection for bone marrow (BM) toxicity. METHODS: Human P-MSCs were isolated from trypsin-digested term placentas and then transduced by with reconstructed retroviral vector containing mdr1 gene and green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene. The integration and expression of mdr1 gene was observed indirectedly by the expression of GFP. A nude mice model was constructed after irradiation with a sublethal dosage of γ-Co(60). These irradiated mice were transplanted with mdr1-MSCs through the caudal vein and then received paclitaxel (PAC) intraperitoneal chemotherapy. The Peripheral peripheral blood (PB) of the nude mice was collected, and the PB cells counts and values were determined using an automatic analyzer. RESULTS: After PAC treatment, mdr1-MSCs transplanted mice showed markedly improved survival upon compared to MSCs transplanted mice (85.7% vs. 57.1%). White blood cell (WBC) and red blood cell (RBC) counts as well as the hemoglobin (Hb) values were significantly increased in PAC treated mdr1-MSCs mice compared to PAC treated control mice when PAC chemotherapy had been finished (all P < 0.05), but the difference was not found in the plateltes (PLT) count (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Human P-MSCs moderated by mdr1 gene when transplanted into nude mice may provide chemoprotection for hematopoietic toxicity.

[Status of plasma folate in the third trimester of pregnant women and newborn babies in the northern rural areas of China].

OBJECTIVE: To study the plasma folate concentrations in the third trimester of pregnant women and newborn babies so as to assess the association between them. METHODS: Pregnant women in Yuanshi and Laoting counties in Hebei province from May to June in 2009 were recruited with related information collected at enrollment. Those pregnant women being enrolled were followed up until delivery. Maternal blood was collected before delivery, and cord blood was collected after the expulsion of the placenta. Data from 437 pairs of women and newborns were analyzed. Plasma folate concentration was measured by Microbiological assay, with maternal plasma folate concentration < 6.8 nmol/L defined as folate deficiency. Neonatal plasma folate concentration below 10% was defined as relative deficiency. Student t-test and ANOVA were used to compare the plasma folate concentrations between the groups and χ(2) test was used to compare the situation of folate deficiency. In order to assess the association between maternal and newborn folate levels, logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio of the neonatal plasma folate relative deficiency between the maternal folate deficient and normal groups after adjusting factors as age, BMI, region, career and education. Linear regression was used to test the trend by quintiles of maternal plasma folate concentration. Pearson's test was used to test the relationship between the ratio of neonatal and maternal plasma folate level and the level of maternal plasma folate. RESULTS: The geometric mean of maternal plasma folate concentration was 8.0 (95%CI: 7.6 - 8.5) nmol/L and the deficiency was 29.3%, but in newborn babies, they were 24.0 (95%CI: 23.1 - 25.0) nmol/L and 0.9% respectively. The plasma folate level in newborn babies was 3.0 times as high as in maternal (t = 32.519, P < 0.01) but the neonatal plasma folate deficiency status was higher than in maternal (χ(2) = 137.2, P < 0.01). When compared with the normal plasma folate level group, the risk on neonatal plasma folate relative deficiency in the maternal folate deficiency group was significantly higher after adjusted for confounders (OR = 1.96, 95%CI: 1.02 - 3.80). The neonatal plasma folate level significantly increased along with the maternal plasma folate level (P(trend) < 0.05). The ratio of neonatal and maternal plasma folate level was significantly inversely correlated with the maternal folate level (r = -0.810, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Folate status in newborns was much better than in their mothers', in the northern rural areas of China. The maternal folate status was positively correlated with their offspring's. Active placental transport for folate was significantly increasing when the maternal plasma folate level decreased.