Mapping trade-offs among key ecosystem functions in tidal marsh to inform spatial management policy for exotic Spartina alterniflora.

Invasive Spartina alterniflora has become a global management challenge in coastal wetlands. China has decided to eradicate it completely, but the high costs and its provision of beneficial ecosystem functions (EF, in the form of blue carbon and coastal protection) have raised concerns about its removal. Here, using the Yangtze Estuary as a case study, we explore a reasonable pathway of S. alterniflora management that balanced control of invasive species and EF. We simulated the spatial patterns of two key EF - blue carbon storage and wave attenuation - and identified appropriate zones for eradicating S. alterniflora based on their trade-offs. We observed contrasting patterns along the land-sea gradient for S. alterniflora community, with a decrease in blue carbon storage and an increase in wave attenuation. Notably, pioneer S. alterniflora near the foreshore displayed a high cluster of blue carbon storage (63.61 ± 7.33 Mg C ha-1) and dissipated nearly 70% of wave energy by a width of 163 m. The trade-offs between the two EF indicated that the eradication project should be implemented along the seawall rather than the foreshore. Even in the scenario of prioritized shore defense with the largest eradication zone, S. alterniflora still stored 43.1% more carbon (10.67 Gg C) compared to complete eradication and dissipated over 70% of wave energy in extreme events. Our study innovatively integrates eradication and reservation in S. alterniflora management, providing a sustainable and flexible spatial strategy that meets the needs of stakeholders.

Flurochloridone induces responses of free radical reactions and energy metabolism disorders to BRL-3A cell.

Flurochloridone (FLC), a wildly used herbicide, could induce hepatotoxicity after long-term exposure to male rat, in addition to its reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent reproductive toxicity. The hepatotoxicity effect and mechanism was investigeted using 1, 10 and 100 µmol L-1 FLC treated BRL-3A liver cell in this study. The function of mitochondrial respiration, glycolysis rate and real time ATP production rate are determined by seahorse XF analyzer, and the bio-transformers of FLC, intermediates of TCA cycle and glycolysis, and related amino acids are determined and identified by [U-13C] Glucose metabolic flux technology based on UPLC-HRMS. The mRNA expression of cytochrome P450s and the key regulatory enzymes of glucose metabolism and γ- glutamyl cycle pathway. The protein expressions of protein kinase B (AKT) and glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3ß) were determined. The results show dechlorination and glutathione (GSH) conjugate products of FLC are predominant bio-transformmers after 24 h treatment in BRL-3A cell. FLC could enhance glycolysis function and inhibit mitochondrial aerobic respiratory, which is accompanied by the decreased total ATP level and ATP produced rate. Increased glucose-6-phosphate, fructose-6-phosphate, pyruvate and lactate levels, and elevated level of GSH and its precursor 5-glutamate-cysteine (γ-Glu-Cys) are observed in FLC treated cells, which indicates that energy metabolism dysfunction and GSH accumulation could be potentially mediated by activating γ- Glutamyl cycle pathway. Conclusively, FLC induced hepatotoxicity could be potentially related to some free radical reactions, including inhibiting mitochondrial function, glucose metabolism via glycolysis, regulating γ- glutamyl cycle pathway to promote reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, and then induced cell apoptosis by inhibiting AKT/GSK-3ß signal.

Novel Strategy for Mining and Identification of Acylcarnitines Using Data-Independent-Acquisition-Based Retention Time Prediction Modeling and Pseudo-Characteristic Fragmentation Ion Matching.

It is a challenging work to screen, identify, and quantify acylcarnitines in complex biological samples. A method, based on the retention time (RT) prediction and data-independent acquisition strategies, was proposed for the large-scale identification of acylcarnitines using liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Relative cumulative eluotropic strength was introduced as a novel descriptor in building a linear prediction model, which not only solves the problem that acylcarnitines with long carbon chains cannot be well predicted in traditional models but also proves its robustness and transferability across instruments in two data sets that were acquired in distinct chromatography conditions. The accessibility of both predictive RT and MS2 spectra of suspect features effectively reduced about 30% false-positive results, and consequently, 150 and 186 acylcarnitines were identified in the rat liver and human plasma (NIST SRM 1950), respectively. This method provides a new approach in large-scale analysis of acylcarnitine in lipidomic studies and can also be extended to the analysis of other lipids.

Accuracy of Multi-Slice Spiral Computed Tomography for Preoperative Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) Staging of Colorectal Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND With the advances in imaging technologies, multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) has demonstrated superiority in the diagnosis and staging of colorectal carcinoma. In the current study, preoperative TNM staging of colorectal carcinoma by using MSCT was conducted and compared with the corresponding postoperative pathological examination findings, in order to evaluate the accuracy of preoperative MSCT for TNM staging. MATERIAL AND METHODS Combinations of biphasic or triphasic enhanced-phase MSCT scans were obtained for 76 patients with colorectal carcinoma, and the TNM stage was determined based on imaging reconstruction from various angles and perspectives to display the size, location, and affected range of tumors. The preoperative TNM stage was compared with the postoperative pathological stage, and the consistency between the 2 methods was tested by the k test using SPSS 17.0 software. RESULTS Among the different combinations of enhanced-phase MSCT scanning, triphasic MSCT imaging, comprising the arterial, portal venous, and delayed phases, showed the highest accuracy rates, at 81.6% (62/76), 82.89% (63/76), and 96.1% (73/76) for T, N, and M staging, respectively, with k values of 0.72, 0.65, and 0.56, respectively, indicating consistency with the postoperative pathological staging. CONCLUSIONS Combined MSCT scanning comprising the arterial phase, portal venous phase, and delayed phase showed satisfying consistency with the postoperative pathological analysis results for TNM staging of colorectal carcinoma. Thus, MSCT is an important clinical value for improving the accuracy of TNM staging and for planning the appropriate colorectal cancer treatment.

Optimizing lung biopsy procedures:Comparative analysis of diagnostic efficacy and safety in experimental low-dose, conventional low-dose, and standard-dose CT-guided approaches.

PURPOSE: Lung cancer is a major cause of cancer-related deaths, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis. CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy(CT-PLB) is a valuable method for diagnosing lung lesions, but multiple scans can elevate radiation exposure. This study aims to compare diagnostic efficacy and safety across different CT-PLB protocols. METHODS: 273 consecutive patients who underwent CT-PLB between June 2018 and February 2021 were enrolled, and were divided into standard-dose, conventional low-dose, and experimental low-dose groups. The study mainly evaluated technical success, diagnostic efficacy, radiation dose, complications, and image quality. RESULTS: 93 patients were assigned to standard-dose group, 85 to conventional low-dose group, and 95 to experimental low-dose group. Technical success rates in these groups were 97.9%, 100%, and 97.9%, respectively. Procedure-related complications rates were similar across the groups(pneumothorax:p=0.71, hemorrhage:p=0.59). Sensitivity, specificity, and overall diagnostic accuracy were comparable among three groups(p=0.59,1.0,0.65), with respective values of 90.5%, 100%, and 93.2% in standard-dose group, 88.1%, 100%, and 90.5% in conventional low-dose group, and 91.9%, 100%, and 93.4% in experimental low-dose group. The effective dose (ED) in the experimental low-dose group was significantly lower compared to both the standard-dose and conventional low-dose CT-PLB groups[ED: 1.49(1.0∼1.97) mSv vs 5.42(3.92∼6.91) mSv vs 3.15(2.52∼4.22) mSv, p<0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: This study has developed a standardized six-step procedure for CT-PLB using experimental low-dose settings. It can achieve comparable diagnostic efficacy to conventional low-dose and standard-dose CT-PLB protocols while substantially reducing radiation exposure. These findings indicate that the experimental low-dose protocol could serve as a safe and effective alternative for CT-PLB.

Geographic and tissue influences on endophytic fungal communities of Taxus chinensis var. mairei in China.

Endophytc fungi were collected from the barks, branches and leaves of Taxus chinensis var. mairei from the Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Chongqing regions of China and their influences on geographic and tissue investigated. A total of 145 fungal taxa were identified based on molecular techniques, of these 125 taxa (86.2 %) belonging to Ascomycota, 14 (9.7 %) to Basidiomycota, 5 (3.4 %) to Zygomycota, and 1 (0.7 %) to undefined fungi. The species richness and diversity of endophytic fungi were significantly affected by tissue, and were 1.2-2.5-fold higher in the branches and barks when compared to the leaves. The locality affected the species richness per tree and the shannon diversity index per tree by longitude. The endophyte assemblages were strongly shaped by locality and tissue according to partial least squares discriminant analysis. In addition, the distributions of dominant fungi at orders and genera levels differed as a function of locality and tissue. Most of the dominant taxa showed spatial heterogeneity and tissue specificity or preference and many fungal taxa with low frequency were special to one locality or one tissue.

CT assessment of liver hemodynamics in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after argon-helium cryoablation.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of tumor response after argon-helium cryoablation is critical in guiding future therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aimed to evaluate liver hemodynamics in hepatocellular carcinoma after argon-helium cryoablation with computed tomography perfusion. METHODS: The control group comprised 40 volunteers without liver disease. The experimental group was composed of 15 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with argon-helium cryoablation. Computed tomography perfusion parameters were measured: hepatic blood flow, hepatic blood volume, mean transit time, permeability of capillary vessel surface, hepatic arterial fraction, hepatic arterial perfusion, and hepatic portal perfusion. RESULTS: After treatment, in the tumor foci, permeability of capillary vessel surface was higher, and hepatic blood flow, hepatic blood volume, hepatic arterial fraction, and hepatic arterial perfusion values were lower (P<0.05). In the liver parenchyma surrounding the tumor, hepatic arterial perfusion was significantly lower (P<0.05); however, there was no significant difference in hepatic blood flow, hepatic blood volume, mean transit time, permeability of capillary vessel surface, hepatic arterial fraction, or hepatic portal perfusion (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Computed tomography perfusion can evaluate tumor response after argon-helium cryoablation.

Structural characterization and antinociceptive activity of polysaccharides from Anoectochilus elatus.

Anoectochilus elatus is a new record species from Yunnan province in China discovered by our group in 2018, used in folk as the most popular Anoectochilus species A. roxburghii for medicinal and culinary purposes. The crude polysaccharide of Anoectochilus elatus (AEP) exhibited significant antinociceptive effects against both chemical and thermal nociception in vivo. Bio-guided isolation identified GJXL-1 as the leading analgesic polysaccharide in AEP. Detailed structural analyses rationalized GJXL-1 (molecular weight: 10.3 kDa) as an α-D-1,4-linked glucan unexpectedly branched at O-3, and O-6 position. GJXL-1 dose-dependently suppressed acetic acid-induced writhing in mice and decreased the serum levels of NO, IL-6 and TNF-α, which also repressed the licking times in both the first and second phases in formalin test. Furthermore, only L-nitroarginine partly reversed the analgesic activity of GJXL-1, indicating that GJXL-1's efficacy was partially mediated by NO regulation, possibly through inhibiting IRAK4/TAK1/NF-κB signaling pathway, and modulating gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids production. In addition, the motor impairment and hypnotic effects of GJXL-1 were excluded. Our study suggests that GJXL-1 can be regarded as a promising and safe drug candidate for diverse pain disorders, and also a promising prebiotic candidate to maintain intestinal homeostasis and promote human gut health.

Primary vaginal signet ring cell carcinoma.

Primary vaginal cancer is rare, accounting for only 2% of all gynecological malignant tumors. Primary vaginal cell carcinoma is mainly squamous cell carcinoma, accounting for about 90%, and adenocarcinoma only accounts for 8-10%. Primary signet ring cell carcinoma of vagina is rare and has not been reported in the literature. This paper reports a case of signet ring cell carcinoma in vagina.

A diagnostic scoring model of ENKTCL in the nose-Waldeyer's ring based on logistic regression: Differential diagnosis from DLBCL.

Objective: To establish a logistic regression model based on CT and MRI imaging features and Epstein-Barr (EB) virus nucleic acid to develop a diagnostic score model to differentiate extranodal NK/T nasal type (ENKTCL) from diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Methods: This study population was obtained from two independent hospitals. A total of 89 patients with ENKTCL (n = 36) or DLBCL (n = 53) from January 2013 to May 2021 were analyzed retrospectively as the training cohort, and 61 patients (ENKTCL=27; DLBCL=34) from Jun 2021 to Dec 2022 were enrolled as the validation cohort. All patients underwent CT/MR enhanced examination and EB virus nucleic acid test within 2 weeks before surgery. Clinical features, imaging features and EB virus nucleic acid results were analyzed. Univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of ENKTCL and establish a predictive model. Independent predictors were weighted with scores based on regression coefficients. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was created to determine the diagnostic ability of the predictive model and score model. Results: We searched for significant clinical characteristics, imaging characteristics and EB virus nucleic acid and constructed the scoring system via multivariate logistic regression and converted regression coefficients to weighted scores. The independent predictors for ENKTCL diagnosis in multivariate logistic regression analysis, including site of disease (nose), edge of lesion (blurred), T2WI (high signal), gyrus like changes, EB virus nucleic acid (positive), and the weighted score of regression coefficient was 2, 3, 4, 3, 4 points. The ROC curves, AUCs and calibration tests were carried out to evaluate the scoring models in both the training cohort and the validation cohort. The AUC of the scoring model in the training cohort were 0.925 (95% CI, 0.906-0.990) and the cutoff point was 5 points. In the validation cohort, the AUC was 0.959 (95% CI, 0.915-1.000) and the cutoff value was 6 points. Four score ranges were as follows: 0-6 points for very low probability of ENKTCL, 7-9 points for low probability; 10-11 points for middle probability; 12-16 points for very high probability. Conclusion: The diagnostic score model of ENKTCL based on Logistic regression model which combined with imaging features and EB virus nucleic acid. The scoring system was convenient, practical and could significantly improve the diagnostic accuracy of ENKTCL and the differential diagnosis of ENKTCL from DLBCL.

Comparative effects of er-xian decoction, epimedium herbs, and icariin with estrogen on bone and reproductive tissue in ovariectomized rats.

Er-Xian Decoction (EXD), Epimedium herbs (herbs of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim, EBH), and icariin (ICA) have been proven to have estrogen-like and antiosteoporotic activity and are used for the treatment of osteoporosis, menopausal syndrome, and age-associated diseases. The present study found that EXD, EBH, and ICA treatments, emulating estrogen, significantly contributed to bone density and architecture in OVX rats and that EXD is similar to estrogen and exerts a concomitant effect on bone formation and bone resorption at the tissue level, while EBH and ICA produced bone-protective effects mainly by inhibiting bone resorption. Nevertheless, EXD, EBH, and ICA treatments manifested a fewer adverse effects on the uterus, mammary gland, and vagina compared to estrogen administrations. Among the EXD, EBH, and ICA, EXD was found to have superior efficacy and safety profile.

Effects and interaction of icariin, curculigoside, and berberine in er-xian decoction, a traditional chinese medicinal formula, on osteoclastic bone resorption.

Er-Xian decoction (EXD), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been reported to have a protective effect against bone loss in ovariectomized osteoporotic rats, and the inclusion of icariin (I), curculigoside (C), and berberine (B) in EXD displays inhibitory effects on osteoclastic bone resorption. In the present paper, we investigated the interaction and effects of I, C, B, and their combination on bone resorption activity in vitro on osteoclasts derived from rat bone marrow cells. ICB synergistically decreased the formation of bone resorption pits, the number of multinucleated osteoclasts, and the activity of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and showed antagonistic or additive effects on cathepsin K activity in the coculture system of osteoblasts and bone marrow cells in the presence of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) and dexamethasone. The combination of ICB also enhanced the inhibitory effects on the formation of F-actin ring, a cytoskeleton structure of osteoclasts induced from bone marrow cells with macrophage colony stimulation factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL). In addition, ICB synergistically improved the ratio of protein expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and RANKL in osteoblasts and interfered with the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathway in osteoclast. These results clearly show that I, C, B, and their combination in EXD exert effects of mutual reinforcement. However, IBC does not show an intensified adverse effect in the ovariectomized murine model, as revealed by change in body and uterine weight, confirming the safety of EXD. These observations are in agreement with the rationality of the formula used in this paper.

Analysis of serum homocysteine concentration in patients less than 35 years of age with polycystic ovary syndrome and hyperandrogenism.

OBJECTIVES: An increase in homocysteine (Hcy) concentration is closely related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study aimed to further explore serum homocysteine concentration and its influencing factors in clinically young (≤ 35 years) patients with PCOS and hyperandrogenism. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An electrochemical immunoassay was used to investigate the changes in serum homocysteine and related indexes in clinically young patients with PCOS and hyperandrogenism, and the results were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Serum homocysteine concentration in clinically young patients with PCOS and hyperandrogenism (n = 208) was found to be significantly higher than in the control group (n = 663) (15.21 ± 9.99 vs. 12.56 ± 7.20 µmol/L, p < 0.0001), and the total testosterone concentration (1.65 ± 0.68 ng/mL) was higher in the PCOS group than in the control group (1.52 ± 0.58 ng/mL), p = 0.007. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the area under the curve of homocysteine in predicting PCOS was 0.606, and the 95% confidence interval (CI) was 0.563-0.650 (p < 0.001). The homocysteine concentrations of the two groups were graded, and it was found that the percentage of patients with homocysteine levels > 15 µmol/L was 26.92% in the PCOS group and 19.15% in the control group; the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p = 0.0143). The serum homocysteine levels of the two groups were higher in obese patients than in non-obese patients (normal weight vs. overweight), and the difference in the control group was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Serum homocysteine concentration in clinically young patients with PCOS and hyperandrogenism is elevated, so hyperhomocysteinemia can be used as one of the potential indicators of PCOS. In the process of the diagnosis and treatment of patients with PCOS, serum homocysteine concentration and body weight should both be considered.

MRI Extraprostatic Extension Grade: Accuracy and Clinical Incremental Value in the Assessment of Extraprostatic Cancer.

Objective: The purpose was to compare the accuracy of extraprostatic extension (EPE) grade on MRI predicting EPE with Partin tables, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center nomogram (MSKCCn), and combined models and to analyze the clinical incremental value of EPE grade. Materials and Methods: 105 prostate cancer patients confirmed by pathology after radical prostatectomy in our hospital from 2017 to 2021 were selected. The clinical stage, PSA, Gleason score, number of positive biopsy cores, and percentage of positive biopsy cores were recorded. Evaluate EPE grade according to EPE grade criteria, and calculate the probability of predicting EPE with Partin tables and MSKCCn. EPE grade is combined with Partin tables and MSKCCn to construct EPE grade+Partin tables and EPE grade+MSKCCn models. Calculate the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity of EPE grade, Partin tables, MSKCCn, EPE grade+Partin tables, and EPE grade+MSKCCn and compare their diagnostic efficacy. The clinical decision curve was used to analyze the clinical net income of each prediction scheme. Results: The AUC of EPE grade was 0.79, Partin tables was 0.50, MSKCCn was 0.78, the EPE grade+Partin table model was 0.79, and the EPE grade+MSKCCn model was 0.83. After EPE grade was combined with Partin tables and MSKCCn, the diagnostic efficiency of clinical model was significantly improved (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the diagnostic efficacy of the combined model compared with the single EPE grade (P > 0.05). The calibration curve of the combined model shows that it has a good calibration degree for EPE. In the analysis of the decision curve, the net income of the EPE grade is higher than that of Partin tables and MSKCCn and is equal to the EPE grade+Partin tables and is slightly lower than that of EPE grade+MSKCCn. The clinical net income of the combined model is obviously higher than that of individual clinical models. Conclusion: The accuracy of EPE classification in predicting prostate cancer EPE is high, and combined with the clinical model, it can significantly improve the diagnostic efficiency of the clinical model and increase the clinical benefit.

Intestinal farnesoid X receptor signaling controls hepatic fatty acid oxidation.

In addition to maintaining bile acid, cholesterol and glucose homeostasis, farnesoid X receptor (FXR) also regulates fatty acid ß-oxidation (FAO). To explore the different roles of hepatic and intestinal FXR in liver FAO, FAO-associated metabolites, including acylcarnitines and fatty acids, and FXR target gene mRNAs were profiled using an integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis in control (Fxrfl/fl), liver-specific Fxr-null (FxrΔHep) and intestine-specific Fxr-null (FxrΔIE) mice, treated either with the FXR agonist obeticholic acid (OCA) or vehicle (VEH). Activation of FXR by OCA treatment significantly increased fatty acyl-CoA hydrolysis (Acot1) and decreased FAO-associated mRNAs in Fxrfl/fl mice, resulting in reduced levels of total acylcarnitines and relative accumulation of long/medium chain acylcarnitines and fatty acids in liver. FxrΔHep mice responded to OCA treatment in a manner similar to Fxrfl/fl mice while FxrΔIE mice responded differently, thus illustrating that intestinal FXR plays a critical role in the regulation of hepatic FAO. A significant negative-correlation between intestinal FXR-FGF15 and hepatic CREB-PGC1A pathways was observed after both VEH and OCA treatment, suggesting that OCA-induced activation of the intestinal FXR-FGF15 axis downregulates hepatic PGC1α signaling via inactivation of hepatic CREB, thus repressing FAO. This mechanism was confirmed in experiments based on human recombinant FGF19 treatment and intestinal Fgf15-null mice. This study revealed an important role for the intestinal FXR-FGF15 pathway in hepatic FAO repression.

Profiling of pesticides and pesticide transformation products in Chinese herbal teas.

Herbal teas have potential health benefits, but they also contain a variety of pesticides and pesticide transformation products (PTPs) that might brings health risks. Our study maps the pesticides and PTPs in two herbal teas (chrysanthemum and Lusterleaf Holly) from two main producing areas in China. Almost all 122 samples contain pesticides, with concentration ranging from 0.0005 to 10.305 mg/kg. Nearly 40% carbendazim and imidacloprid in chrysanthemum teas and λ-cyhalothrin in Lusterleaf Holly have higher concentration levels than the values permitted in EC Regulation No. 396/2005. Distinct distributions of pesticides were found in different teas and production areas. Eight PTPs were identified along with their parents, and were confirmed using a biosynthetic strategy. Acute, chronic and cumulative health risk assessments of pesticides revealed acceptable results. Our study uncovers the profile of pesticides in herbal teas, and provides new insight into discovering the potential environmental pollution and food contaminants.

A HNMR-based metabonomics study of postmenopausal osteoporosis and intervention effects of Er-Xian Decoction in ovariectomized rats.

A metabonomics method using (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)HNMR) was applied to obtain a systematic view of the development and progression of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Using partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), 26 and 34 characteristic resonances were found respectively in urine and plasma of ovariectomized rats (Variable importance, VIP value ≥1.0), and the significant altered metabolites identified in the plasma and urine were 10 and 9, respectively. Changes in these metabolites were related to the pathways of lipid, energy and amino acid metabolism, some of which involved the oxidative system. The described method was also used to analyze the therapeutic effects of Er-Xian Decoction (EXD), a traditional Chinese medicine widely used in the clinical treatment of osteoporosis in China. The results showed that EXD administration could provide satisfactory effects on osteoporosis through partially regulating the perturbed pathways of lipid, energy and amino acid metabolism and improving the anti-oxidative ability.

Hepatotoxicity of kaurene glycosides from Xanthium strumarium L. fruits in mice.

The fruit of Xanthium strumarium L. (Cang-Er-Zi) is a traditional Chinese medicine that is used in curing nasal diseases and headache according to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. However, clinical utilization of Xanthium strumarium is relatively limited because of its toxicity. The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the toxic effects on acute liver injury in mice of the two kaurene glycosides (atractyloside and carbxyatractyloside), which are main toxic constituents isolated from Fructus Xanthii on acute liver injury in mice. Histopathological examinations revealed that there were not obviously visible injury in lungs, heart, spleen, and the central nervous system in the mice by intraperitoneal injection of atractyloside (ATR, at the doses 50,125 and 200 mg/kg) and carbxyatractyloside (CATR, at the doses 50,100 and 150 mg/kg) for 5 days. However, it revealed extensive liver injuries compared with the normal group. In the determination of enzyme levels in serum, intraperitoneal injection of ATR and CATR resulted in significantly elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), asparate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities compared to controls. In the hepatic oxidative stress level, antioxidant-related enzyme activity assays showed that ATR and CATR administration significantly increased hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, as well as decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities and glutathione (GSH) concentration, and this was in good agreement with the results of serum aminotransferase activity and histopathological examinations. Taken together, our results demonstrate that kaurene glycosides induce hepatotoxicity in mice by way of its induction of oxidative stress as lipid peroxidation in liver, which merited further studies. Therefore, these toxic constituents explain, at least in part, the hepatotoxicity of X. strumarium L. in traditional medicine.

Investigating the Effects of Dapagliflozin on Cardiac Function, Inflammatory Response, and Cardiovascular Outcome in Patients with STEMI Complicated with T2DM after PCI.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of dapagliflozin on cardiac function, inflammation, and cardiovascular outcome in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) combined with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: 70 patients with STEMI and T2DM were divided into the control group (n = 35) and the observation group (n = 35). Before surgery, patients in both groups were given conventional treatments such as coronary expansion, antiplatelet, anticoagulation, and thrombolysis, and PCI was performed. After the operation, both groups were given conventional antiplatelet, anticoagulation, lipid-lowering, and hypoglycemic treatments. On this basis, the observation group was treated with dapagliflozin tablets for 24 weeks. We observe and compare the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), myocardial enzyme spectrum, inflammatory reaction, and occurrence of adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) of the two groups of patients before and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the LVEDD and LVESD of the two groups were lower than those before treatment, and the observation group was lower than the control group (P < 0.05). The LVEF of both groups was higher than that before treatment, and the observation group was higher than the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the levels of two groups' patients' creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), and troponin I (cTnI) were all lower than those before treatment, and the observation group patients were all lower than the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the levels of serum myeloperoxidase (MPO), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the two groups were all lower than those before treatment, and the observation group patients were all lower than the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, there was no statistical difference between the two groups of patients in cardiogenic death, recurrent myocardial infarction, and other adverse cardiovascular events (P > 0.05). But, the incidence of severe arrhythmia and heart failure in the observation group were both lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the median survival time without MACE in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Dapagliflozin treatment for patients with STEMI combined with T2DM after PCI can improve cardiac function to certain extent, reduce inflammation, and will reduce the incidence of adverse cardiovascular outcomes.