A Rare Case of Iliac Saccular Aneurysm Communicating with a Transplant Renal Artery.

BACKGROUND Isolated iliac aneurysms are rare. Although they grow very slowly, they can rupture when large enough. Rarely, they rupture into an adjacent organ, such as the colon, the bladder, or even an adjacent vein. Cases of aneurysms rupturing into or communicating with an adjacent vein, leading to an arteriovenous fistula, have been reported. However, reports of aneurysms that rupture and communicate with another adjacent artery have not been found in the literature. CASE REPORT A 52-year-old man who underwent a renal transplantation in the left iliac fossa 21 years ago was admitted for chronic left lower abdominal pain that began 1 year ago. He did not have a history of any invasive procedures or severe trauma after the renal transplantation. Duplex ultrasound showed an oval-shaped hypoechoic structure adjacent to the left external iliac artery (EIA), with a swirling motion of blood flow inside. Computed tomography angiography showed an aneurysm of the left EIA, with a size of 35×34×47 mm, closely adjacent to or even communicating with the transplant renal artery (TRA). There was calcification in the aneurysm wall, without surrounding hematoma. The aneurysm was considered to be a true aneurysm, not a pseudoaneurysm. Endovascular therapy was performed. Digital subtraction angiography confirmed the communication between the aneurysm and the TRA. After the EIA was reconstructed with a covered stent, no leakage was demonstrated; however, contrast still flowed into the aneurysm though the TRA. A second covered stent graft was implanted in the TRA. Subsequently, the aneurysm was successfully excluded. CONCLUSIONS The pathogenesis of this strange aneurysm communicating with another adjacent artery is not well established. Stenting of multiple arteries was needed to treat this aneurysm.

Mechanism of baicalein in treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer based on network pharmacology and cell experiments.

Objective: Baicalein, one of the most abundant flavonoids found in Chinese herb Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, exhibits pharmacological activities against various cancers. However, the precise pharmacological mechanism of baicalein in treating castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) remains elusive. This study aimed to elucidate the potential mechanism of baicalein against CRPC through a combination of network pharmacology and experimental approaches, thereby providing new avenues for research in CRPC treatment. Methods: The pharmacological and molecular properties of baicalein were obtained using the TCMSP database. Baicalein-related targets were collected from multiple sources including SwissTargetPrediction, PharmMapper and CTD. Targets related to CRPC were acquired from DisGeNET, GeneCards, and CTD. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) was analyzed using STRING 11.5, and Cytoscape 3.7.2 software was utilized to explore the core targets of baicalein on CRPC. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed using DAVID database. Cell experiments were carried out to confirm the validity of the targets. Results: A total of 131 potential targets of baicalein for the treatment of CRPC were obtained. Among them, TP53, AKT1, ALB, CASP3, and HSP90AA1, etc., were recognized as core targets by Cytoscape 3.7.2. GO function enrichment analysis yielded 926 entries, including 703 biological process (BP) terms, 84 cellular component (CC) terms and 139 molecular function (MF) terms. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis unveiled 159 signaling pathways, mainly involved in Pathways in cancer, prostate cancer, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, TP53 signaling pathway, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, etc. Cell experiments confirmed that baicalein may inhibit the proliferation of CRPC cells and induce cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. This effect could be associated with the TP53/CDK2/cyclin E1 pathway. In addition, the results of CETSA suggest that baicalein may directly bind to TP53. Conclusion: Based on network pharmacology analysis and cell experiments, we have predicted and validated the potential targets and related pathways of baicalein for CRPC treatment. This comprehensive approach provides a scientific basis for elucidating the molecular mechanism underlying the action of baicalein in CRPC treatment. Furthermore, these findings offer valuable insights and serve as a reference for the research and development of novel anti-CRPC drugs.

Exploration of the Existence Forms and Patterns of Dissolved Oxygen Molecules in Water.

The structure of liquid water is primarily composed of three-dimensional networks of water clusters formed by hydrogen bonds, and dissolved oxygen is one of the most important indicators for assessing water quality. In this work, distilled water with different concentration of dissolved oxygen were prepared, and a clear negative correlation between the size of water clusters and dissolved oxygen concentration was observed. Besides, a phenomenon of rapid absorption and release of oxygen at the water interfaces was unveiled, suggesting that oxygen molecules predominantly exist at the interfaces of water clusters. Oxygen molecules can move rapidly through the interfaces among water clusters, allowing dissolved oxygen to quickly reach a saturation level at certain partial pressure of oxygen and temperature. Further exploration into the mechanism by molecular dynamics simulations of oxygen and water clusters found that oxygen molecules can only exist stably at the interfaces among water clusters. A semi-empirical formula relating the average number of water molecules in a cluster (n) to 17O NMR half-peak width (W) was summarized: n = 0.1 W + 0.85. These findings provide a foundation for exploring the structure and properties of water.

Chinmedomics strategy for elucidating the effects and effective constituents of Danggui Buxue Decoction in treating blood deficiency syndrome.

Introduction: Danggui Buxue Decoction (DBD) is a clinically proven, effective, classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula for treating blood deficiency syndrome (BDS). However, its effects and effective constituents in the treatment of BDS remain unclear, limiting precise clinical therapy and quality control. This study aimed to accurately evaluate the effects of DBD and identify its effective constituents and quality markers. Methods: BDS was induced in rats by a combined injection of acetylphenylhydrazine and cyclophosphamide, and the efficacy of DBD against BDS was evaluated based on body weight, body temperature, energy metabolism, general status, visceral indices, histopathology, biochemical markers, and metabolomics. The effects of DBD on urinary and serum biomarkers of BDS were investigated, and the associated metabolic pathways were analyzed via metabolomics. Guided by Chinmedomics, the effective constituents and quality markers of DBD were identified by analyzing the dynamic links between metabolic biomarkers and effective constituents in vivo. Results: DBD improved energy metabolism, restored peripheral blood and serum biochemical indices, and meliorated tissue damage in rats with BDS. Correlation analyses between biochemical indices and biomarkers showed that 15(S)-HPETE, LTB4, and taurine were core biomakers and that arachidonic acid, taurine, and hypotaurine metabolism were core metabolic pathways regulated by DBD. Calycosin-7-glucoside, coumarin, ferulic acid sulfate, cycloastragenol, (Z)-ligustilide + O, astragaloside IV, acetylastragaloside I, and linoleic acid were identified as effective constituents improving the hematopoietic function of the rats in the BDS model. Additionally, calycosin-7-glucoside, ferulic acid, ligustilide, and astragaloside IV were identified as quality markers of DBD. Conclusion: The hematopoietic function of DBD was confirmed through analysis of energy metabolism, biochemical markers, histopathology, and metabolomics. Moreover, by elucidating effective constituents of DBD in BDS treatment, quality markers were confirmed using a Chinmedomics strategy. These results strengthen the quality management of DBD and will facilitate drug innovation.

Meta-Analysis of Functional Electrical Stimulation Combined with Occupational Therapy on Post-Stroke Limb Functional Recovery and Quality of Life.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) enhanced the effect of Occupational Therapy (OT) on post-stroke limb functional recovery and quality of life, using direct and network meta-analysis. METHODS: A computerized search was conducted in databases such as Medline, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), Wanfang Data, and VIP Information for prospective randomized controlled trials on OT, FES, and tDCS for improving post-stroke limb motor function and quality of life, with the search cutoff date of July 1, 2023. RESULTS: Following the screening process, a total of 8 research articles were incorporated, encompassing 358 participants. Among these, 177 individuals underwent OT exclusively, while 181 individuals underwent a combined regimen of OT alongside electromagnetic therapy. In terms of the intervention methods, the control group received OT treatment only, while the experimental group employed tDCS in 5 studies and FES in 3 studies. Within these investigations, Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scores were reported in 8 studies. The aggregated mean difference (MD) for FMA scores was 5.08 (95% CI: 2.46, 7.71), with a specific MD of 2.77 (95% CI: 1.46, 4.09) for the tDCS subgroup and 9.04 (95% CI: 5.34, 12.73) for the FES subgroup. Notably, FES combined with OT exhibited significant advantages in enhancing FMA scores when compared to the combination of tDCS and OT. Furthermore, four studies provided data on modified Barthel Index (MBI) scores, yielding a collective MD of 7.20 (95% CI: 4.44, 9.95). CONCLUSION: In patients with stroke, both FES combined with OT and tDCS combined with OT exhibit substantial enhancements in limb function and quality of life compared to OT alone. Notably, FES combined with OT yields superior clinical benefits when compared to the amalgamation of tDCS and OT.

The discovery of water-soluble indazole derivatives as potent microtubule polymerization inhibitors.

Taking a previously discovered indazole derivative 1 as a lead, systematic structural modifications were performed with an indazole core at the 1- and 6-positions to improve its aqueous solubility. Among the designed indazole derivatives, 6-methylpyridin-3-yl indazole derivative 8l and 1H-indol-4-yl indazole derivative 8m exhibited high potency in the low nanomolar range against A549, Huh-7, and T24 cancer cells, including Taxol-resistant variant cells (A549/Tax). As a hydrochloride salt, 8l exhibited much improved aqueous solubility, and its log P value fell into a favorable range. In mechanistic studies, 8l impeded tubulin polymerization through interacting with the colchicine site, resulting in cell cycle arrest and cellular apoptosis. In addition, compared to lead compound 1, 8l reduced cell migration and led to more potent inhibition of tumor growth in vivo without apparent toxicity. In summary, indazole derivative 8l could work as a potential anticancer agent and deserves further investigation for cancer therapy.

Parsing the Q-Markers of Baoyin Jian to Treat Abnormal Uterine Bleeding by High-Throughput Chinmedomics Strategy.

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a common and frequently occurring disease in gynecology, seriously threatening women's health. Baoyin Jian (BYJ) is a classical prescription for treating AUB. However, the lack of quality control standards of BYJ for AUB have limited the development and applications of BYJ. This experiment aims to explore the mechanism of action and screen the quality markers (Q-markers) of BYJ against AUB through the Chinmedomics strategy to improve the quality standards of Chinese medicine and provide scientific basis for its further development. BYJ has hemostatic effects in rats, as well as the ability to regulate the coagulation system following incomplete medical abortion. According to the results of histopathology, biochemical indexes and urine metabolomics, a total of 32 biomarkers of ABU in rats were identified, 16 of which can be significantly regulated by BYJ. Using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) serum pharmacochemistry technology, 59 effective components were detected in vivo, of which 13 were highly correlated with efficacy, and 9 components, namely catalpol, rehmannioside D, paeoniflorin, berberine, phellodendrine, baicalin, asperosaponinVI, liquiritin, and glycyrrhizic acid, were screened out as the Q-markers of BYJ based on the "Five Principles" of Q-markers. In sum, BYJ can effectively alleviate abnormal bleeding symptoms and metabolic abnormalities in AUB rats. The study shows that Chinmedomics is an effective tool for screening Q-markers and provides scientific support for the further development and clinical use of BYJ.

Quality marker discovery of Danggui Jianzhong decoction for treating primary dysmenorrhoea based on chinmedomics strategy.

BACKGROUND: Danggui Jianzhong Decoction (DGJZD) has been proven as an effective classical prescription for clinically treating primary dysmenorrhoea (PD). However, the industrialisation development and drug innovation of DGJZD remain limited due to its undefined effective constituents and quality markers (Q-markers). PURPOSE: Elucidating the Q-markers of DGJZD, which is related to clinical efficacy. METHODS: In accordance with chinmedomics strategy, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of DGJZD on the basis of the metabolomic profile and biomarker of a PD rat model to further identify the constituents of DGJZD in vivo that originated from the formula under the acting condition of DGJZD. The potential effective constituents and Q-markers were identified by mining the dynamic relation between the constituents in vivo and the biomarkers. RESULTS: Subsequently, 29 serum metabolites were characterized as biomarkers for PD, and DGJZD adjusted the levels of the primary biomarkers involved in arachidonic acid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, tryptophan metabolism as well as the synthesis of steroid hormones. Under the active condition of DGJZD, 20 prototype ingredients and 4 metabolites of DGJZD were found in vivo, five of which were mostly related with the efficacy of PD, namely, ferulic acid, zizyphusin, cinnamic acid, protocatechuic acid-3-glucoside, and azelaic acid. They were the potential pharmacodynamic constituents for treating PD, and they could be regarded as the Q-markers of DGJZD. CONCLUSION: Taken together, the Q-markers of DGJZD identified in this research are credible and assist in solving problems related to quality control and drug innovation, accelerating industrialisation development. Besides, the efficacy, mechanism and active ingredients of DGJZD for the treatment of PD were innovatively elucidated for the first time on the basis of the chinmedomics strategy for uncovering the Q-markers of drugs from the system perspective.

Psychometric properties of the post-traumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) in Chinese stroke patients.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a devastating disease and can be sufficiently traumatic to induce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Post-stroke PTSD is attracting increasing attention, but there was no study assessing the psychometric properties of the PCL-5 in stroke populations. Our study was conducted to examine the psychometric properties of the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) in Chinese stroke patients. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted at our hospital. Three hundred and forty-eight Chinese stroke patients came to our hospital for outpatient service were recruited. They were instructed to complete the PCL-5 scales and were interviewed for PTSD diagnosis with the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5). The cutoff scores, reliability and validity of the PCL-5 were analyzed. RESULTS: PCL-5 scores in our sample were positively skewed, suggesting low levels of PTSD symptoms. The reliability of PCL-5 was good. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses indicated acceptable construct validity, and confirmed the multi-dimensionality of the PCL-5. By CFA analysis, the seven-factor hybrid model demonstrated the best model fit. The PCL-5 also showed good convergent validity and discriminant validity. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses revealed a PCL-5 score of 37 achieved optimal sensitivity and specificity for detecting PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings supported the use of PCL-5 as a psychometrically adequate measure of post-stroke PTSD in the Chinese patients.

Total Saponin Fraction of Dioscorea Nipponica Makino Improves Gouty Arthritis Symptoms in Rats via M1/M2 Polarization of Monocytes and Macrophages Mediated by Arachidonic Acid Signaling.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of effects of total saponin fraction from Dioscorea Nipponica Makino (TSDN) on M1/M2 polarization of monocytes/macrophages and arachidonic acid (AA) pathway in rats with gouty arthritis (GA). METHODS: Seventy-two Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=18 in each): normal, model, TSDN at 160 mg/kg, and celecoxib at 43.3 mg/kg. Monosodium urate crystal (MSU) was injected into the rats' ankle joints to induce an experimental GA model. Blood and tissue samples were collected on the 3rd, 5th, and 8th days of drug administration. Histopathological changes in the synovium of joints were observed via hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The expression levels of arachidonic acid (AA) signaling pathway were assessed via real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot. Flow cytometry was used to determine the proportion of M1 and M2 macrophages in the peripheral blood. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect interleukine (IL)-1 ß, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), IL-4, IL-10, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and leukotriene B4 (LTB4). RESULTS: HE staining showed that TSDN improved the synovial tissue. qPCR and Western blot showed that on the 3rd, 5th and 8th days of drug administration, TSDN reduced the mRNA and protein expressions of cyclooxygenase (COX)2, microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 derived eicosanoids (mPGES-1), 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), recombinant human mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (Smad3), nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NALP3), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in rats' ankle synovial tissues (P<0.01). TSDN decreased COX1 mRNA and protein expression on 3rd and 5th day of drug administration and raised it on the 8th day (both P<0.01). It lowered CD68 protein expression on days 3 (P<0.01), as well as mRNA and protein expression on days 5 and 8 (P<0.01). On the 3rd, 5th, and 8th days of drug administration, TSDN elevated the mRNA and protein expression of Arg1 and CD163 (P<0.01). Flow cytometry results showed that TSDN decreased the percentage of M1 macrophages while increasing the percentage of M2 in peripheral blood (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ELISA results showed that on the 3rd, 5th, and 8th days of drug administration, TSDN decreased serum levels of IL-1 ß, TNF-α, and LTB4 (P<0.01), as well as PGE2 levels on days 3rd and 8th days (P<0.05 or P<0.01); on day 8 of administration, TSDN increased IL-4 serum levels and enhanced IL-10 contents on days 5 and 8 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The anti-inflammatory effect of TSDN on rats with GA may be achieved by influencing M1/M2 polarization through AA signaling pathway.

Combination of ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and network pharmacology to reveal the mechanism of Shengyu Decoction for treating anemia.

Anemia is a common clinical hematological disease with a high incidence, which seriously affects human health. Shengyu Decoction is often used in the treatment of anemia. However, the pharmacodynamic substance basis and therapeutic mechanism are still unclear, which hinders the comprehensive development and utilization of Shengyu Decoction. In this study, 143 compounds were identified in Shengyu Decoction using high-throughput ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, 24 of which were absorbed into the blood. Taking these blood-entering ingredients as the research object, we found through network pharmacology research that ferulic acid, calycosin, and astragaloside A can act on AKT1, MAPK1, and MAPK14, and play a role in treating anemia through PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and Pathways in anemia. Finally, it was demonstrated that the active compound could bind to the core target with good affinity by molecular docking. The research shows that Shengyu Decoction has multi-component, multi-target, and multi-channel effects in the treatment of anemia, which provides a basis for the development and clinical application of Shengyu Decoction.

Effects of scutellarin on the mechanism of cardiovascular diseases: a review.

Cardiovascular diseases represent a significant worldwide problem, jeopardizing individuals' physical and mental wellbeing as well as their quality of life as a result of their widespread incidence and fatality. With the aging society, the occurrence of Cardiovascular diseases is progressively rising each year. However, although drugs developed for treating Cardiovascular diseases have clear targets and proven efficacy, they still carry certain toxic and side effect risks. Therefore, finding safe, effective, and practical treatment options is crucial. Scutellarin is the primary constituent of Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand-Mazz. This article aims to establish a theoretical foundation for the creation and use of secure, productive, and logical medications for Scutellarin in curing heart-related illnesses. Additionally, the examination and analysis of the signal pathway and its associated mechanisms with regard to the employment of SCU in treating heart diseases will impart innovative resolving concepts for the treatment and prevention of Cardiovascular diseases.

Development and Validation of a UPLC-MS/MS Method for the Quantification of Components in the Ancient Classical Chinese Medicine Formula of Guyinjian.

Guyinjian (GYJ) is an ancient classic formula of traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of liver and kidney yin deficiency; it was derived from the book "Jing Yue Quan Shu" in the Ming Dynasty. Modern clinical observation experiments have shown that GYJ has a definite therapeutic effect on the treatment of gynecological diseases such as kidney deficiency type oligomenorrhea, climacteric syndrome, intermenstrual bleeding, pubertal metrorrhagia, etc. However, the lack of GYJ quality control studies has greatly limited the development of its wider clinical application. In this study, a validated UPLC-MS/MS method was developed successfully for the first time and used to quantify fourteen compounds in GYJ samples with good specificity, linearity (r = 0.9960-0.9999), precision (RSD% ≤ 3.18%), stability (RSD% ≤ 2.22%) and accuracy (recovery test within 88.64-107.43%, RSD% at 2.82-6.22%). Simultaneously, the determination results of 15 batches of GYJ samples were analyzed by multivariate statistical methods, and it was found that the compounds have a greater influence on batch-to-batch stability, mainly Rehmannioside D, Loganin, Morroniside, Ginsenoside Re, and 3',6-Disinapoylsucrose. The proposed new method has the advantages of high sensitivity, high selectivity, and rapid analysis, which provides a reference for the GYJ quality control study.

Supportive psychological therapy can effectively treat post-stroke post-traumatic stress disorder at the early stage.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after stroke attacks, and its rate ranges from 4 to 37% in the stroke population. Suffering from PTSD not only decreases stroke patient's quality of life, but also relates to their non-adherence of treatment. Since strokes often recur and progress, long-term medical management is especially important. However, previous studies generally focused on the epidemiological characteristics of post-stroke PTSD, while there are literally no studies on the psychological intervention. In our study, 170 patients with a first-ever stroke during the acute phase were recruited. They were randomized into Psycho-therapy group 1 and Control group 1, and were administered with preventive intervention for PTSD or routine health education, respectively. At 2-month follow-up, PTSD symptoms were evaluated. Participants who were diagnosed with post-stroke PTSD were further randomized into Psycho-therapy group 2 and Control group 2, and received supportive therapy or routine health counseling, respectively. At 6-month follow-up (1°month after the therapy was completed), PTSD symptoms were re-evaluated. Our results showed that at 2-month, the PTSD incidence in our series was 11.69%, and the severity of stroke was the only risk factor for PTSD development. The preventive intervention was not superior to routine health education for PTSD prevention. At 6-month, results indicated the supportive therapy did have a fine effect in ameliorating symptoms for diagnosed PTSD patients, superior to routine health counseling. Thus, our study was the first to provide evidence that the supportive therapy was effective in treating post-stroke PTSD early after its diagnosis. This clinical trial was preregistered on www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2100048411).

Exploring the effects of Chinese herbal ingredients on the signaling pathway of alopecia and the screening of effective Chinese herbal compounds.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: alopecia is a hair disorder that can add a significant medical and psychological burden to patients. Currently, the FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) are minoxidil and finasteride and immunosuppressives are therapeutic options for alopecia areata (AA), but the objective adverse effects and high cost of these treatments reduce patient compliance and thus the effectiveness of the drugs. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has good efficacy, a high safety profile and low treatment costs, but its mechanism of action is still not fully understood. The use of signaling pathways to modulate hair loss is a major direction in the study of the pathogenesis and pharmacology of alopecia. AIM OF THE STUDY: This review aims to collect the results of experimental studies related to alopecia, to screen previously documented combinations of herbs claimed to be effective based on the herbs and their constituent compounds used in the identified studies, and to uncover other useful information that we hope will better guide the clinical application and scientific research of drug combinations or individual herbs for the treatment of alopecia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have reviewed experimental studies to determine the methods used and the mechanisms of action of the herbs and constituent compounds. The following keywords were searched in databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI and CSTJ." Medicinal plants" "Chinese herbal medicine", "hair loss", " alopecia", "androgenetic alopecia" and " alopecia areata ". We also collected combinations of drugs from books approved by various schools for screening. RESULTS: Using known combinations of compounds within herbal medicine to match the documented combinations, 34 topical combinations and 74 oral combinations were identified, and among the 108 herbal combinations screened Angelica, Rehmannia glutinosaLigusticum chuanxiong hort, Radix Rehmanniae, etc. The number of occurrences was very high, and the association with vascular drugs was also found to be very close. CONCLUSIONS: This review further elucidates the therapeutic mechanisms of the compounds within the herbal components associated with alopecia and screens for other combinations that may be dominated by this component for the treatment of alopecia, uncovering compounds from other drugs that may be key factors in the treatment of alopecia. This improvement will provide a better quality of evidence for the effectiveness of herbs and compounds used to treat alopecia.

Circ_0091579 Serves as a Tumor-Promoting Factor in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Through miR-1225-5p/PLCB1 Axis.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a dreadful threaten to human health worldwide. Many circular RNAs were reported to influence the malignant development of HCC. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of circ_0091579 in HCC progression and the molecular fundamentation. METHODS: Expression of circ_0091579, microRNA-1225-5p (miR-1225-5p), and phospholipase C, ß1 (PLCB1) was examined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or Western blotting. Cell viability, clonogenicity capacity, and apoptosis were determined via Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, colony formation assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. Transwell assay was employed to detect cell migration and invasion. Target relationship between miR-1225-5p and circ_0091579 or PLCB1 was demonstrated by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Moreover, role of circ_0091579 in vivo was assessed by Xenograft model assay. RESULTS: Expression of circ_0091579 and PLCB1 was increased, while miR-1225-5p expression was decreased in HCC tissues and cells. Circ_0091579 or PLCB1 depletion had inhibitory effects on HCC cell proliferation and metastasis. Circ_0091579 sponged miR-1225-5p to upregulate PLCB1 expression in HCC cells. Silencing of miR-1225-5p contributed to HCC progression, which was mitigated by PLCB1 depletion. Circ_0091579 deficiency could suppress HCC tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSION: Circ_0091579 knockdown repressed HCC progression and tumorigenesis by regulating miR-1225-5p/PLCB1 axis, affording a novel molecular basis for HCC development.

STAT1-induced regulation of lncRNA ZFPM2-AS1 predicts poor prognosis and contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma progression via the miR-653/GOLM1 axis.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have drawn growing attention owing to their important effects in various tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, a newly identified lncRNA, ZFPM2 antisense RNA 1 (ZFPM2-AS1), was reported to serve as an oncogene in gastric cancer. However, its function in tumors remains largely unknown. In this study, we identified ZFPM2-AS1 as a novel HCC-related lncRNA, which was observed to be distinctly upregulated in HCC tissues and associated with shorter overall survival. Luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays suggested that overexpression of ZFPM2-AS1 was induced by STAT1. Functional investigations suggested that the inhibition of ZFPM2-AS1 suppressed cell proliferation, metastasis, cell cycle progression while accelerated cell apoptosis. Mechanistic studies showed that there were two binding sites of miR-653 within the sequence of ZFPM2-AS1 and the levels of ZFPM2-AS1 were negatively correlated with miR-653. In addition, ZFPM2-AS1 could reverse the suppressor effects of miR-653 on the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells by the modulation of GOLM1, a target gene of miR-653. To conclude, we provided a better understanding of the interaction mechanism between ZFPM2-AS-miR-653-GOLM1 axis, which may help develop prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic target for HCC.

Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics in health and medical science: a systematic review.

Metabolomics is the study of the investigation of small molecules derived from cellular and organism metabolism, which reflects the outcomes of the complex network of biochemical reactions in living systems. As the most recent member of the omics family, there has been notable progress in metabolomics in the last decade, mainly driven by the improvement in mass spectrometry (MS). MS-based metabolomic strategies in modern health and medical science studies provide innovative tools for novel diagnostic and prognostic approaches, as well as an augmented role in drug development, nutrition science, toxicology, and forensic science. In the present review, we not only introduce the application of MS-based metabolomics in the above fields, but also discuss the MS analysis technologies commonly used in metabolomics and the application of metabolomics in precision medicine, and further explore the challenges and perspectives of metabolomics in the field of health and medical science, which are expected to make a little contribution to the better development of metabolomics.

Enantioselective Total Syntheses of Pallambins†A-D.

The first enantioselective total syntheses of (-)-pallambins A-D have been achieved in 15 or 16 steps from a known chiral cyclohexenone. Salient features of the syntheses include a palladium-catalyzed oxidative cyclization to assemble the [3.2.1]bicyclic moiety, an Eschenmoser-Claisen rearrangement/lactone formation sequence to construct the C ring, an intramolecular Wittig reaction to form the D ring, and individual transformations of pallambins C and D to generate pallambins A and B. The described synthesis avoids protecting-group manipulations through the design of highly chemo- and stereoselective transformations. During the course of this work, a palladium-catalyzed method for the dehydrobromination of α-bromoketones was developed, and the scope of this transformation was also investigated.