[Meta-analysis of Kuntai Capsules combined with GnRH-a in treatment of endometriosis].

To systemically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Kuntai Capsules combined with GnRH-a in the treatment of endome-triosis. The databases of CNKI, WanFang, VIP, PubMed, EMbase and Cochrane Library were searched from their establishment to May 2019 to collect the randomized controlled trials of Kuntai Capsules combined with GnRH-a in the treatment of endometriosis. The data were searched, screened and extracted by two researchers according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the data were analyzed by using RevMan 5.3 software. A total of 58 articles were collected and 13 studies were included. The total sample size was 1 041 cases, including 523 cases in the experimental group and 518 cases in the control group. The results of Meta-analysis showed that Kuntai Capsules combined with GnRH-a can reduce the level of follicle stimulating hormone(FSH), luteinizing hormone(LH) and estradiol(E_2) in patients with endometriosis as compared with GnRH-a alone. With a low incidence of adverse events of peri-meno-pausal symptoms during treatment(RR=0.46, 95%CI[0.35, 0.60], P<0.000 01), it can reduce the VAS score of dysmenorrhea(MD=-1.85,95%CI[-1.92,-1.78],P<0.000 01). The recurrence rate in the combined treatment group was lower than that in the control group(RR=0.27, 95%CI[0.09,0.77], P=0.01). This study showed that Kuntai Capsules combined with GnRH-a can reduce the level of FSH, LH and E_2 in patients with endometriosis, reduce the VAS score of dysmenorrhea, with lower incidence of adverse events and recurrence rate, but it still needs large-scale, multicenter, randomized, double-blind and high-quality clinical trials for support and evidence.

Atractylodin Induces Myosin Light Chain Phosphorylation and Promotes Gastric Emptying through Ghrelin Receptor.

Atractylodin is one of the main constituents in the rhizomes of Atractylodes lancea Thunb., being capable of treating cancer cachexia-anorexia and age-related diseases as an agonist of growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR). GHSR was herein expressed in human gastric smooth muscle cells (HGSMCs) and activated by ghrelin receptor agonist L-692,585. Like L-692,585, atractylodin also increased Ca2+ and enhanced the phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) through GHSR in HGSMCs. In addition, atractylodin promoted gastric emptying and MLC phosphorylation in the gastric antrum of mice also through GHSR. Collectively, atractylodin can activate GHSR in gastric smooth muscle, as a potential target in clinical practice.

Anatomical and Morphological Features of the Fetal Human Pancreaticobiliary Ductal Union.

To investigate pancreaticobiliary ductal anatomy during developmental stages, gallbladders, common bile ducts, pancreatic ducts and their interface with the duodenum were studied in 36 human fetuses between 4-6 weeks postconceptual age were studied. For histological examination, sections were cut continuously from the paraffin-embedded tissue block and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in the gallbladder was examined with immunohistochemistry. Among 36 cases, three shapes of the greater duodenal papilla were found: hemispheroid (58.1%), circular cylinder (25%), and flat shape (16.9%). For the location of the greater duodenal papillas, more than half (69.4%) of the cases were in the middle descendant duodenum. Seven cases (19.4%) were in the lower descendant duodenum. Three cases (8.3%) were in the upper descendant duodenum, and one (2.9%) was in the distal descending part of duodenum. There were four types of the pancreaticobiliary ductal union: "Y" in 24 cases(66.7%), "U" in 4 cases (11.1%),"V" in 7 cases (19.4%), and pancreaticobiliary maljunction in 1 case (2.8%). For patients with congenital bile duct dilation and Biliary cancer, the positive cells of proliferating cell nuclear antigen were increased significantly (P < 0.05). Different types in pancreaticobiliary ductal union investigated in this study may provide clues for pathogenesis and clinical treatment of pancreaticobiliary maljunction.

Daucosterol protects neurons against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion-mediated injury by activating IGF1 signaling pathway.

We previously reported that daucosterol (a sterolin) up-regulates the expression of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF1)(1) protein in neural stem cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of daucosterol on the survival of cultured cortical neurons after neurons were subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation and simulated reperfusion (OGD/R)(2), and determined the corresponding molecular mechanism. The results showed that post-treatment of daucosterol significantly reduced neuronal loss, as well as apoptotic rate and caspase-3 activity, displaying the neuroprotective activity. We also found that daucosterol increased the expression level of IGF1 protein, diminished the down-regulation of p-AKT(3) and p-GSK-3ß(4), thus activating the AKT(5) signal pathway. Additionally, it diminished the down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic proteins Mcl-1(6) and Bcl-2(7), and decreased the expression level of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax(8), thus raising the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax. The neuroprotective effect of daucosterol was inhibited in the presence of picropodophyllin (PPP)(9), the inhibitor of insulin-like growth factor I receptors (IGF1R)(10). Our study provided information about daucosterol as an efficient and inexpensive neuroprotectants, to which the IGF1-like activity of daucosterol contributes. Daucosterol could be potentially developed as a medicine for ischemic stroke treatment.

Disruption of Nrf2 exacerbated the damage after spinal cord injury in mice.

BACKGROUND: Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key transcriptional factor for antioxidant response element-regulated genes. After spinal cord injury (SCI), the Nrf2-antioxidant response element pathway is activated in the spinal cord. However, the function of Nrf2 after SCI has not yet been studied. METHODS: Spinal cord compression injury of Nrf2 knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice was induced by the application of vascular clips (force of 10 g) to the dura. Neurologic function was assayed by the Basso open-field motor score, footprint analysis, and spinal motor-evoked potentials. Degenerating neuronal cells were stained with Fluoro Jade C and observed by a confocal microscopy. Nrf2 DNA-binding activity was assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The mRNA levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1ß, NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase (NQO)-1, and glutathione S-transferase (GST)-α1 were detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect IL-6 and IL-1ß protein expression, and colorimetric method was used to detect the enzyme activity of NQO1 and GST-α1. RESULTS: Nrf2 KO mice developed severer hindlimb motor dysfunction and neuronal death after SCI compared with WT mice. In correlation with neurologic deficits, the release of IL-6 and IL-1ß in the spinal cord of KO mice was higher than that in WT mice, whereas the Nrf2 banding activity, the expression and activity of NQO1 and GST-α1 were all lesser in KO mice 24 hours after SCI compared with WT mice. CONCLUSION: Genetic ablation of Nrf2 exacerbated the neurologic deficit and inflammation after SCI in mice. These findings raise the possibility that Nrf2 could be relevant in improving outcome after SCI.

[Effect of Spatholobus suberctus on adhesion, invasion, migration and metastasis of melanoma cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Spatholobus suberctus, a kind of Chinese Traditional Medicine which can dissolve the stasis by activating the blood circulation, on invasion, adhesion, migration and metastasis of B16-BL6 metastatic mouse melanoma cells and its mechanism. METHODS: The proliferation, adhesion, invasion and migration capacity of B16-BL6 metastatic cells was evaluated by MTP assay, adhesion assay and reconstituted basement membrane invasion and migration assay in vitro respectively. Mouse spontaneous motility melanoma model was used to study the effect of Spatholobus suberctus on metastasis in vivo. RESULTS: At the highest innoxious concentration, the extracts of Spatholobus suberctus inhibited the adhesion and invasion capacity of B16-BL6 metastatic cells significantly. In the mouse spontaneous melanoma model, the lung metastatic nodes number and its volume were significantly decreased after continuously treated with the extracts of Spatholobus suberctu. CONCLUSION: The extracts of Spatholobus suberctu can inhibit the metastasis of of B16-BI6 metastatic mouse melanoma cells and its mechanism may be inhibiting the capability of B16-BL6 cells in adhering to the ECM and invading the basement membrane.

[Effects of respiratory syncytial virus upon expressions of mRNA and protein of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in human embryonic lung fibroblast cells].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) upon the expressions of mRNA and protein of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in human embryonic lung fibroblast cells. METHODS: The expressions of mRNA and protein of ICAM-1 were determined in human embryonic lung fibroblast cells after being infected by the LONG strain type A RSV and in normal fibroblast cells with real-time PCR and flow cytometry. RESULTS: The mRNA of ICAM-1 expression in human embryonic lung fibroblast cells was 2.51 times at 24 h post-infection as that in normal fibroblast cells (P < 0.05). The protein of ICAM-1 expression of RSV control group (1.25 +/- 0.09, 1.87 +/- 0.18, 4.78 +/- 0.52, 13.34 +/- 0.64, 1.58 +/- 0.37) were significantly higher than those of normal cell group (0.21 +/- 0.06, 0.30 +/- 0.06, 0.29 +/- 0.07, 0.35 +/- 0.17, 0.35 +/- 0.14) at 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h post-infection (all P < 0.01). The protein of ICAM-1 expression of RSV control group achieved a peak value between 48 h and 72 h, and then it decreased significantly at 96 h. CONCLUSION: Lung fibroblast cell and ICAM-1 may play some roles in pathogenic mechanism of RSV viral pneumonia.

[The effect of Angelica sinensis on adhesion, invasion, migration and metastasis of melanoma cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Angelica sinensis on invasion, adhesion, migration and metastasis of B16-BL6 metastatic mouse melanoma cells and discuss its functional mechanism. METHODS: The proliferation, adhesion, invasion and migration capacity of B16-BL6 metastatic cells was evaluated by MTT assay, adhesion assay and reconstituted basement membrane invasion and migration assay in vitro respectively. Mouse spontaneous melanoma model was used to study the effect of Angelica sinensis on metastasis in vivo. RESULTS: The extract of Angelica sinensis inhibited the proliferation of B16-BL6 metastatic cells and its migration capacity significantly. It regulated bidirectionally the adhesion of B16-BL6 metastatic cells to the basement component laminin while it had no effect on the invasion capacity. In the mouse spotaneous melanoma model, the lung metastatic nodes number and its volume were significantly decreased after continuously treated with the extract of Angelica sinensis at the concentration of 3.67 mg/kg. CONCLUSION: The extract of Angelica sinensis can inhibit the metastasis of of B16-BL6 metastatic mouse melanoma cells and its mechanism is maybe that Angelica sinensis can inhibit the B16-BL6 cells adhering to the ECM and reduce the migration of B16-BL6 cells.