[Assessing drug targeting of Yougui Pill, Zuogui Pill, and their disassembled prescriptions using infrared thermography].

OBJECTIVE: To dynamically assess drug targeting of Yougui Pill (YP) and Zuogui Pill (ZP) using infrared thermography. METHODS: In this self-control experiment, five healthy volunteers were recruited. By using infrared thermography 10 to 11 thermal images of different body locations were taken from each participant after they took warm water, YP, ZP, and their dissembled prescriptions at 30, 70, 100, 130, and 160 min, respectively. The heat values in the lower quadrant abdomen, uterus, Du channel, and Shenque (CV8) were statistically analyzed after scanning for 125 times. RESULTS: Administration of YP and its disassembled prescriptions enhanced the heat value of the locations of the Du channel and Shenque (CV8), but did no enhance the heat value of the lower quadrant abdomen at 30 min. Administration of ZP and its disassembled prescriptions reduced the heat value in the locations of the lower quadrant abdomen, uterus, Du channel, and Shenque (CV8) at each time point. CONCLUSION: The drug targeting of ZP and YP focused on the locations of the Du channel and Shenque (CV8), not on the locations of the lower quadrant abdomen or uterus.

An EMT-based gene signature enhances the clinical understanding and prognostic prediction of patients with ovarian cancers.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common gynecological cancers with malignant metastasis and poor prognosis. Current evidence substantiates that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical mechanism that drives OC progression. In this study, we aspire to identify pivotal EMT-related genes (EMTG) in OC development, and establish an EMT gene-based model for prognosis prediction. METHODS: We constructed the risk score model by screening EMT genes via univariate/LASSO/step multivariate Cox regressions in the OC cohort from TCGA database. The efficacy of the EMTG model was tested in external GEO cohort, and quantified by the nomogram. Moreover, the immune infiltration and chemotherapy sensitivity were analyzed in different risk score groups. RESULTS: We established a 11-EMTGs risk score model to predict the prognosis of OC patients. Based on the model, OC patients were split into high- and low- risk score groups, and the high-risk score group had an inevitably poor survival. The predictive power of the model was verified by external OC cohort. The nomogram showed that the model was an independent factor for prognosis prediction. Moreover, immune infiltration analysis revealed the immunosuppressive microenvironment in the high-risk score group. Finally, the EMTG model can be used to predict the sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that EMTG model was a powerful tool for prognostic prediction of OC patients. Our work not only provide a novel insight into the etiology of OC tumorigenesis, but also can be used in the clinical decisions on OC treatment.

Identification and validation of a gene-based signature reveals SLC25A10 as a novel prognostic indicator for patients with ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer is a common gynecological cancer with poor prognosis and poses a serious threat to woman life and health. In this study, we aimed to establish a prognostic signature for the risk assessment of ovarian cancer. METHODS: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset was used as the training set and the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) dataset was set as an independent external validation. A multi-stage screening strategy was used to determine the prognostic features of ovarian cancer with R software. The relationship between the prognosis of ovarian cancer and the expression level of SLC25A10 was selected for further analysis. RESULTS: A total of 16 prognosis-associated genes were screened to construct the risk score signature. Survival analysis showed that patients in the high-risk score group had a poor prognosis compared to the low-risk group. Accuracy of this prognostic signature was confirmed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision curve analysis (DCA), and validated with ICGC cohort. This signature was identified as an independent factor for predicting overall survival (OS). Nomogram constructed by multiple clinical parameters showed excellent performance for OS prediction. Finally, it's found that patients with low expression of SLC25A10 generally had poor survival and higher resistance to most chemotherapeutic drugs. CONCLUSIONS: In sum, we developed a 16-gene prognostic signature, which could serve as a promising tool for the prognostic prediction of ovarian cancer, and the expression level of SLC25A10 was tightly associated with OS of the patients.

[Experimental study on tissue engineering platelet lysates in the promotion of bone reconstruction].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of tissue engineered allogeneic platelet lysates (PL) upon bone reconstruction. METHODS: After preparation of recombinant material with PL, allogeneic decalcified bone granules (ADBG) and collagen type I (CG), 30 healthy Wistar rats were used to prepare the bilateral bone defects in femoral condyles. The defects were filled with equivalent PL/ADBG/CG, ADBG/CG and CG in different groups of A, B and C (with 10 rats each) respectively. At 4 weeks, the defect reconstruction was evaluated with radiology, histology, immunology and biomechanics. RESULTS: (1) The X-ray showed that bone density in group A (4.18 +/- 0.96) was close to that of normal bone and it was significantly higher than that in group B (2.36 +/- 0.87) and group C (1.09 +/- 0.55) (P < 0.01). (2) In comparisons with B and C, the histological assay revealed that there were markedly more activities of new bone formation and more implanted bone granules surviving without significant lymphocyte infiltration, as well as more osteoclastic bone resorption in group A. The bone histomorphometric assay showed the newly formed bone area in group A (286.73 +/- 17.22) was significantly higher than that in group B (94.34 +/- 33.56) and group C (19.12 +/- 14.53) (P < 0.01). (3) Anti-press mechanical measures showed that the destructive load in A, B, C and normal control group was 259.63 +/- 34.57, 187.90 +/- 21.07, 91.33 +/- 26.58 and 311.93 +/- 82.45 respectively. The destructive energy in A, B, C and normal control group was 10.82 +/- 1.44, 7.83 +/- 0.88, 3.81 +/- 1.11 and 12.97 +/- 3.43 respectively. These results showed either destructive load or destructive energy in group A was markedly higher than that in group B and group C with significant difference (P < 0.01), but still lower than that in normal controls (P < 0.01). (4) Three-color flow cytometry assay showed that the T lymphocyte subsets of CD3+CD4+CD8-, CD3+CD8+CD4- and the ratio of CD4/CD8 showed no significance difference within these three groups as well as normal controls. CONCLUSION: Tissue engineering PL (PL/ADBG/CG) is capable of accelerating the regenerative repair of bone defect and promoting the bone regeneration and osetointergretion of allograft bone after transplantation.

A modified molecular framework derived highly efficient Mn-Co-carbon cathode for a flexible Zn-air battery.

A controllable Co doping strategy is introduced to significantly activate more catalytic sites for Mn-based materials and anchor Co-Mn nanoparticles on the N-doped carbon nanotube (N-CNT) substrates. The as-synthesized CoMn2O4/N-CNTs exhibit excellent ORR catalytic performance with large limited current density and positive half-wave potential, even outperforming the Pt/C catalysts. The outstanding ORR activity allows the CoMn2O4/N-CNTs to directly serve as the cathode electrode in a liquid/solid state Zn-air battery, demonstrating large power density and robust stability.

[Role of AcSDKP on collagen synthesis and degradation in cultured rat cardiac fibroblast].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of AcSDKP on collagen synthesis and degradation in cultured rat cardiac fibroblasts. METHODS: Neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts were isolated and stimulated by PDGF. The cell proliferation was observed by (3)H-TdR incorporation assay. The synthesis of collagen was measured by (3)H-proline incorporation assay. The expression of type I and type III collagen and MMP-1 protein were measured by Western blot. The MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity was evaluated with zymography assay. RESULTS: PDGF stimulated cardiac fibroblasts proliferation with increased collagen synthesis and type I and type III collagen protein expressions as well as MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities and MMP-1 expression. AcSDKP inhibited cardiac fibroblasts proliferation induced by PDGF and reduced collagen synthesis and type I and type III collagen protein expression. AcSDKP also further up-regulated MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities and MMP-1 expression in cardiac fibroblasts induced by PDGF. CONCLUSION: AcSDKP inhibited proliferation and collagen synthesis and up-regulated matrix metalloproteinases activity or expression induced by PDGF, which was possibly related with the effect of AcSDKP anti-fibrosis.

Stem cells derived from human first-trimester umbilical cord have the potential to differentiate into oocyte-like cells in vitro.

Compared to stem cells derived from human term umbilical cord, stem cells derived from human first-trimester umbilical cord (hFTUC) exhibit a significantly greater proliferative potential, and more efficiency in terms of their in vitro differentiation. In the present study, we investigated whether hFTUC-derived stem cells are able to differentiate into germ cells. The hFTUC-derived stem cells were first isolated, expanded and then cultured in differentiation medium containing human follicular fluid, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)/luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol for 24 days. During the period of induction, a subpopulation of the cultured cells appeared that had a morphological resemblance to primordial germ cells (PGCs) and cumulus-oocyte complex (COC)-like cells, and oocyte-like cells (OLCs). The PGC-like cells expressed specific markers indicative of germ cell formation such as octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4), stage-specific embryonic antigen 1 (SSEA1), B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (Blimp1), PR domain containing 14 (Prdm14), transcription factor AP-2 gamma (Tfap2C), VASA, STELLA, deleted in azoospermia-like (DAZL) and interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3). The OLCs, which contained a single germinal vesicle, expressed oocyte-specific markers, such as synaptonemal complex protein 3 (SCP3), growth/differentiation factor-9 (GDF9), GDF9B and zona pellucida (ZP)1, ZP2 and ZP3. The COC-like cells secreted estradiol, vascular endothelial growth factor and leukemia inhibitory factor. Thus, our findings suggest that hFTUC-derived stem cells have an intrinsic ability to differentiate into OLCs, which may provide an in vitro model for the identification of factors involved in germ cell formation and differentiation.

First occurrence of Platycladus from the upper Miocene of Southwest China and its phytogeographic implications.

Platycladus Spach is native to Central China, but its natural occurrences are very difficult to establish. According to molecular phylogenetic data, this genus might have originated since the Oligocene, but no fossil record has been reported. Here, we describe eight foliage branches from the upper Miocene in western Yunnan, Southwest China as a new species, P. yunnanensis sp. nov., which is characterized by foliage branches spread in flattened sprays, and leaves decussate, imbricate, scale-like and dimorphic. The leaves are amphistomatic, and the stomata are elliptical or oblong, haplocheilic, and monocyclic type. Based on a detailed comparison with the extant genera of Cupressaceae sensu lato, our fossils are classified into the genus Platycladus. The occurrence of P. yunnanensis sp. nov. indicates that this genus had a more southernly natural distribution in the late Miocene than at present. Molecular phylogeny and fossil records support a pre-Oligocene common ancestor for the genera Platycladus, Microbiota and Calocedrus. The separation of the three taxa was most likely caused by the arid belt across Central China during the Oligocene. In addition, the cooling down of the global temperature and the strengthening of Asian monsoon since the Miocene will further promote the migration of these genera.

[Preliminary result of allogenic bone and autogeneic-iliac bone in comminuted fracture reparation in rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the difference of the fracture reparation using autogeneic-iliac bone and allogenic bone. METHODS: Comminuted fracture of humerus in two sides were made in rabbits. Autogeneic-iliac bone was implanted in one side, while allogenic bone of equal capacity was implanted in the other side. General observation, X-ray, and HE histologic section were done when the rabbits were put to death in different stages. RESULTS: One week after implantation, the graft had been enclosed by connective tissue without infiltration of the inflammatory cells. At the 2nd week, the graft had been enclosed in osteoplastic granulation tissue, and the cartilage callus had formed. At the 3rd week, there had been broken sequestrum among the callus; the cartilage had actively formed the bone; and the medulla had been making. At the 4th week, the sequestrum had disappeared, and the mature callus had appeared; the osteoblasts had arranged in a line around the edge of the mature callus. At the 5th week, the callus was strong, compact and approached mature bones. At the 6th week, there had been the compact lamellar structures and the complete haversian's systems. There was no significant difference between callus of two sides by using image quantitative analysis in the 3rd, 4th week (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The allogenic bone has good histocompatibility and bone conduction effect, and can be used for bone transplantation substitute with autogenous-iliac bone.