Protective Effect of Bojungikki-Tang against Radiation-Induced Intestinal Injury in Mice: Experimental Verification and Compound-Target Prediction.

Bojungikki-tang (BJIT) is a traditional herbal medicine used in Korea, Japan, and China to treat gastrointestinal disorders. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether BJIT has protective effects against radiation-induced intestinal injury and to predict the underlying therapeutic mechanisms and related pathways via network pharmacological analyses. BJIT was injected intraperitoneally (50 mg/kg body weight) to C3H/HeN mice at 36 and 12 h before exposure to partial abdominal irradiation (5 Gy and 13 Gy) to evaluate the apoptotic changes and the histological changes and variations in inflammatory cytokine mRNA levels in the jejunum, respectively. Through in silico network analysis, we predicted the mechanisms underlying BJIT-mediated regulation of radiation-induced intestinal injury. BJIT reduced the level of apoptosis in the jejunal crypts 12 h post 5-Gy irradiation. Histological assessment revealed intestinal morphological changes in irradiated mice 3.5 days post 13-Gy irradiation. Furthermore, BJIT decreased inflammatory cytokine levels following radiation exposure. Apoptosis, TNF, p53, VEGF, toll-like receptor, PPAR, PI3K-Akt, and MAPK signaling pathways, as well as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), were found to be linked to the radioprotective effects of BJIT against intestinal injury. According to our results, BJIT exerted its potential protective effects by attenuating histopathological changes in jejunal crypts and suppressing inflammatory mediator levels. Therefore, BJIT is a potential therapeutic agent that can treat radiation-induced intestinal injury and its associated symptoms.

Clinical and duplex-sonographic outcomes of 1,320-nm endovenous laser treatment for saphenous vein incompetence.

BACKGROUND: Endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) can be performed using different wavelengths with different absorption rates and characteristics, but limited data are available regarding wavelength-related side effects and efficacy. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of 1,320-nm EVLT for treating saphenous vein incompetence. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A 1-year retrospective study was performed using clinical and Duplex-sonographic follow-up data from patients treated using an 810-nm or 1,320-nm laser. RESULTS: The difference in clinical improvement after EVLT between the two groups was statistically significant. Improvement in venous clinical severity score (VCSS) was greater in the 1,320-nm group than in the 810-nm group, but improvement in Aberdeen Varicose Vein Severity Score was not statistically significantly different between the two groups. Ultrasonography-proven recanalization rates 1 year after surgery were 11.1% for the 810-nm group and 6.5% for the 1,320 nm group (p < .05). CONCLUSION: EVLT using a 1,320-nm laser had better clinical outcomes and lower recurrence and recanalization rates than EVLT with an 810-nm laser.

Empirical analysis of transcriptional activity in the Arabidopsis genome.

Functional analysis of a genome requires accurate gene structure information and a complete gene inventory. A dual experimental strategy was used to verify and correct the initial genome sequence annotation of the reference plant Arabidopsis. Sequencing full-length cDNAs and hybridizations using RNA populations from various tissues to a set of high-density oligonucleotide arrays spanning the entire genome allowed the accurate annotation of thousands of gene structures. We identified 5817 novel transcription units, including a substantial amount of antisense gene transcription, and 40 genes within the genetically defined centromeres. This approach resulted in completion of approximately 30% of the Arabidopsis ORFeome as a resource for global functional experimentation of the plant proteome.