Regulation of Fuzheng Huayu capsule on inhibiting the fibrosis-associated hepatocellular carcinogenesis.

In the current study, bioinformatics analysis of the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) dataset was conducted with the hepatoprotective effect of the Fuzheng Huayu (FZHY) capsule against the diethylnitrosamine-induced HCC progression analyzed. Eight cell clusters were defined and tanshinone IIA, arachidonic acid, and quercetin, compounds of the FZHY capsule, inhibit HCC progression-related fibrosis by regulating the expression of PLAU and IGFBP3. Combined with the ameliorative effect of the FZHY capsule against liver dysfunctions and expression of PLAU and IGFBP3, our study confirmed the effect of the FZHY capsule on inhibiting the fibrosis-associated HCC progression via regulating the expression of PLAU and IGFBP3.

Fatal and Rapid Progressive Isolated Cerebral Mucormycosis Involving the Bilateral Basal Ganglia: A Case Report.

Isolated cerebral mucormycosis is a clinical type of mucormycosis that is estimated to account for 8% of all mucormycosis cases. The clinical symptoms of isolated cerebral mucormycosis are elusive, and thus conventional techniques often lake sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, cultures are often negative, even when direct microscopy examination is positive. Although histopathology will probably remain the gold standard for the diagnosis of mucormycosis, obtaining a biopsy specimen is not always feasible in most vulnerable populations. Thus, molecular approaches are currently used as an advantageous assistant examination method to improve the early identification of the causative agent and subsequently guide therapy to improve the prognosis of patients. Here, we report a case of isolated cerebral mucormycosis caused by Rhizopus microspores in a healthy young adult that was identified using next-generation sequencing technology.

Vulnerability for apoptosis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of STZ-induced diabetic rats with cognitive impairment.

BACKGROUND: Hyperglycemia impaired hippocampal network via triggering suicide program of immanent neurons, this is regarded as an etiological factor for diabetic cognition deficits. AIM: To investigate the occurrence of apoptosis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats with cognitive impairment and assess the gene and protein expression of the apoptotic proteins bax, bcl-2, and caspase-3. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four weeks after the verification of STZ-induced diabetes, diabetic rats with and without cognitive decline subgroups were subsequently assigned according to Morris water maze test. The expression levels of apoptotic proteins were measured using real-time RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. Neuronal apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining and electron microscopy. RESULTS: In the dentate gyrus of the rats with cognitive decline, Bcl-2 exhibited lower gene and protein levels, whereas a higher expression of bax was detected contributing to a significant increase in their mean bax/bcl-2 ratio. However, caspase-3 was not activated. Statistically different numbers of TUNEL-staining cells and features of apoptosis were no found. CONCLUSIONS: The higher bax/bcl ratio probably represents neurons of dentate gyrus vulnerable to apoptosis in the diabetes with cognitive decline. However, the normal caspase-3 level suggests that apoptosis is not active in this illness phase.

Involvement of serotonin neurotransmission in hippocampal neurogenesis and behavioral responses in a rat model of post-stroke depression.

Ischemia-stimulated dentate gyrus (DG) neurogenesis is hypothesized to be an etiological factor of post-stroke depression (PSD) and a potential target of selective serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in PSD. Clinical investigations have explored the strategy of augmenting SSRIs action by combination with a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist. We investigated the relative importance of the effects on ischemia-stimulated neurogenesis and depressive-like behavior of WAY-100635 versus citalopram at different dose levels in PSD animals. Adult rats were exposed to a chronic mild stress paradigm after ischemic surgery. Decreased sucrose consumption was indicative of the core depressive syndrome anhedonia. Proliferating cells and their fate were monitored by bromodeoxyuridine labeling protocols up to 28 days after ischemia. Expression of the 5-HT1A receptor in DG was also examined. The current findings confirmed the ability of WAY-100635 to augment SSRIs pharmacological efficacy and SSRIs-induced elevation of post-stroke DG neurogenesis. Specifically, WAY-100635 and citalopram in different dose combinations display their relative importance in ischemia-stimulated neurogenesis probably through reinforcing serotonergic neurotransmission and/or density of 5-HT1A receptor in DG. The present data extend our understanding that increase of ischemia-induced DG neurogenesis can be interpreted as a valid index, to an extent, or even a prerequisite for an efficient co-treatment strategy.

Notch1 signaling related hippocampal neurogenesis in adult poststroke depression rats: a valid index for an efficient combined citalopram and WAY100635 pharmacotherapy.

We investigated the hypothesis that hippocampal neurogenesis related to Notch1 signaling could be a valid index for a combined citalopram and WAY100635 pharmacotherapy for the treatment of depression arising after stroke. Adult rats were exposed to a chronic mild stress paradigm after ischemic surgery. Behavioral tests included the open-field test and a sucrose consumption test. Proliferating cells in the hippocampus ipsilateral to ischemia and their fate were monitored by bromodeoxyuridine labeling and confocal laser scanning microscopy for up to 28 days (day 28) after ischemia. Expression of the Notch1 signaling cascade, including its ligand and downstream target genes, was also examined. WAY100635 shortened the onset of citalopram action to less than the day 21 required with citalopram alone and also proved more effective. The activity of the Notch1 signaling pathway in the hippocampus fluctuated in its function in proliferation (day 21) and differentiation (day 28) of newly formed cells in animals receiving the combination treatment. This indicated that augmentation of citalopram by cotreatment with a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A antagonist would be an efficacious strategy for poststroke depression. The observed effects are most likely because of enhanced poststroke neurogenesis mediated by the Notch1 signaling cascade.

Notch1 signaling, hippocampal neurogenesis and behavioral responses to chronic unpredicted mild stress in adult ischemic rats.

Accumulating evidence indicates that the Notch signaling pathway fulfills important roles in ischemia-stimulated neurogenesis, which may be regarded as an etiological factor in post-stroke depression. Here we explored Notch(1) signaling, hippocampal neurogenesis and behavioral responses to chronic unpredicted mild stress (CUMS) in adult ischemic rats. Animals were treated with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by an 18 day CUMS procedure. Proliferating cells in the hippocampus and their cell fate were investigated on days 19 and 28 after ischemic surgery. Additionally, expression of the Notch(1) intracellular domain (NICD) and its downstream targets Hes1 and Hes5 was examined. A sucrose preference test and forced swim test were used to assess behavioral responses. CUMS produced depressive-like behaviors and decreased the number of proliferating cells on day 19 (both p<0.001), accompanied by a decreased expression of both Hes1 and Hes5 in the hippocampus of ischemic animals (p<0.001). On day 28, CUMS resulted in a decreased number of neurogenically-differentiating cells in the subgranular zone (p<0.001) while permitting differentiation into astrocytes in the hilus (p<0.05). Hes1 and Hes5 protein expression levels were increased. The expression of the NICD was significantly decreased at both time-points. CUMS led to expression changes in the Notch(1) signaling cascade in ischemic rats, most of which concerned hippocampal neurogenesis. This suggests that variation in Notch(1) activity and subsequent expression of its downstream targets, including Hes1 and Hes5, may, at least in part, contribute to modulation of ischemia-related hippocampal neurogenesis by CUMS.