Chinese Medicine Regulates Hepatocellular Carcinoma-related Signaling Pathways： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） is a common tumor in the digestive tract， the formation mechanism of which remains to be fully elucidated. Although surgery， radiation， chemotherapy， targeted therapy， and immunotherapy have achieved significant results in the treatment of HCC， these methods are accompanied by a considerable number of adverse reactions and complications. In recent years， Chinese medicine has shown remarkable efficacy in the treatment of HCC， and both basic experiments and clinical studies have confirmed the effectiveness of Chinese medicine， which exerts therapeutic effects via multiple components and multiple targets. However， the pathogenesis of HCC is exceptionally complex and not fully understood， which means that studies remain to be carried out regarding the specific mechanism of Chinese medicine in preventing and treating HCC. Network pharmacology and molecular biology can be employed to decipher the mechanism of Chinese medicine in the treatment of diseases. Studies have shown that Chinese medicine can regulate various pathways such as the mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B （PI3K/Akt）， Hedgehog， Wnt/β-catenin， nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （JAK2/STAT3）， and transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β）/Smad signaling pathways. Chinese medicine can exhibit its anti-HCC effects by inducing cell apoptosis， inhibiting cell proliferation and migration， and blocking the cell cycle via the above pathways. However， the specific mechanisms remain to be systematically studied. This study comprehensively reviews the regulatory effects of Chinese medicine on HCC-related signaling pathways to reveal the molecular mechanisms of Chinese medicine in the treatment of HCC. This view holds the promise of providing new targets， new perspectives， and new therapies for HCC treatment and advancing the modernization and development of Chinese medicine.

Expression and clinical significance of cell cycle protein-dependent kinase 1 and aurora kinase A in the serum of patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma / 临床肝胆病杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of serum cell cycle protein-dependent kinase 1 （CDK1） and aurora kinase A （AURKA） in the diagnosis of patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma （HBV-HCC）. MethodsA total of 50 HBV-HCC patients， 50 patients with hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis （HBV-LC）， and 50 chronic hepatitis B （CHB） patients who were hospitalized in Department of Gastroenterology， Gansu Provincial Hospital， from June 2022 to December 2023 were enrolled， and 50 healthy individuals， matched for age and sex， who received physical examination at Physical Examination Center during the same period of time were enrolled as control group. Related data were recorded for all patients， including age， sex， complications， and the results of routine blood test， liver function， and coagulation for the first time after admission. ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of CDK1 and AURKA. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups； the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups and the least significant difference Bonferroni test was used for further comparison between two groups； the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. The Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between CDK1 and AURKA， and the receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve and the area under the ROC curve （AUC） were used to investigate the value of CDK1 and AURKA in the diagnosis of HBV-HCC. ResultsThere were significant differences in liver function parameters between the HBV-HCC patients and the control group （all P<0.05）； there were significant differences between the CHB group and the HBV-HCC group in albumin， Glb， direct bilirubin， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase （GGT）， and alkaline phosphatase （all P<0.05）； there were significant differences between the HBV-LC group and the HBV-HCC group in Glb， AST， and GGT （all P<0.05）. The HBV-HCC group had significantly higher serum levels of CDK1 and AURKA than the HBV-LC group， the CHB group， and the control group （all P<0.05）. There was a significant positive correlation between CDK1 and AURKA in the overall study population and the HBV-HCC patients （r=0.526 6 and 0.815 2， P<0.001）. With the control group as reference， CDK1 had an AUC of 0.832 3 in the diagnosis of HBV-HCC， with a sensitivity of 92.86% and a specificity of 75%， and AURKA had an AUC of 0.886 6 in the diagnosis of HCC， with a sensitivity of 95.80% and a specificity of 74%. With the CHB group as reference， CDK1 had an AUC of 0.833 3 in the diagnosis of HBV-HCC， with a sensitivity of 93.75% and a specificity of 75%， and AURKA had an AUC of 0.972 7 in the diagnosis of HBV-HCC， with a sensitivity of 95.83% and a specificity of 91.67%. With the HBV-LC group as reference， CDK1 had an AUC of 0.608 5 in the diagnosis of HBV-HCC， with a sensitivity of 66.67% and a specificity of 54.17%， and AURKA had an AUC of 0.762 2 in the diagnosis of HBV-HCC， with a sensitivity of 95.83% and a specificity of 47.92%. ConclusionThe serum levels of CDK1 and AURKA increase with the progression of hepatitis B-associated chronic liver disease， and significant increases in serum CDK1 and AURKA have a certain value in the diagnosis of HBV-HCC.

Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation on circulation depression in patients undergo-ing thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer / 临床麻醉学杂志

Objective To observe the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS)on circulation depression in patients underwent thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer under general anesthesia combined with thoracic paravertebral block(TPVB).Methods A total of 150 patients from Octomber 2021 to May 2022,58 males and 92 females,aged 19-64 years,BMI 18-30 kg/m2,ASA physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,underwent thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer under general anesthesia combined with TPVB were enrolled.According to random number table method,the patients were divided into two groups:the TEAS group and the control group,75 patients in each group.In the TEAS group,transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation was performed at Hegu,Neiguan,and Zusanli 30 minutes be-fore induction until the end of operation.In the control group,the electrodes were only connected at the same time point without electrical stimulation.HR,SBP,DBP,MAP,and BIS were recorded before stimu-lation(T0),10 minutes after TPVB(T1),the time of skin incision(T2),30 minutes after operation star-ted(T3),60 minutes after operation started(T4),the end of operation(T5),and 30 minutes after opera-tion(T6).The incidences of bradycardia,tachycardia,hypotension,and hypertension,and the usages of vasoactive drugs during operation were recorded.The dosages of propofol,sufentanil,and remifentanil in the operation were recorded.The VAS pain score 1,2,and 7 days after operation,the usages of analgesics used within 7 days after operation,postoperative adverse effects such as nausea and vomiting,dizziness,chest tightness,and shortness of breath,and the length of hospital stay were recorded.Results Compared with the control group,intraoperative infusion volume,incidence of hypotension,hypertension,and circulation depression,the usages of deoxyepinephrine,ephedrine,norepinephrine,and urapidil intraoperation,VAS pain scores 1 and 2 days after operation,and the usage of analgesics within 7 days after operation were sig-nificantly decreased(P＜0.05),length of hospital stay was significantly shortened(P＜0.05),SBP,DBP,and MAP were significantly increased at T1(P＜0.05),the dosagesof propofol,sufentanil,and remifentanil were significantly decreased in the TEAS group(P＜0.05).There were no significantly differ-ences of nausea and vomiting,dizziness,and shortness of breath between the two groups.Conclusion TEAS can improve the circulation depression,and reduce the incidences of intraoperative hypotension and hypertension,decrease the dosages of anesthetics and the rate of using vasoactive drugs during operation,improve early postoperative acute pain and shorten the length of hospital stay in patients undergoing thoraco-scopic radical resection of lung cancer under general anesthesia combined with TPVB.

Ferroptosis in Treatment of Liver Fibrosis with Chinese Medicine： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Hepatic fibrosis characterized by various chronic liver injuries can lead to abnormal activation of hepatic stellate cells， unbalanced production and degradation of extracellular matrix proteins， and excessive deposition that destroys the normal structure of the liver. The aggravated liver fibrosis can cause irreversible cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma， becoming a great challenge to the global health. Ferroptosis is a new form of iron-dependent cell death discovered in recent years， which mainly involves abnormal iron metabolism， lipid peroxide accumulation， and weakening of the antioxidant defense system. A number of studies have reported that inducing ferroptosis in hepatic stellate cells or alleviating ferroptosis in the liver can ameliorate liver fibrosis and reduce liver injury. Chinese medicine widely applied in the treatment of chronic liver diseases has demonstrated good safety， wide therapeutic effects， and easy access compared with Western medicine. Therefore， The intervention of hepatic stellate cells or hepatic ferroptosis by Chinese medicine may be a new direction for the prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis in the future. This paper summarized the various regulatory mechanisms of ferroptosis and expounded how ferroptosis affected the progression of liver fibrosis， providing theoretical support for the prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis with Chinese medicine in the future.

Lung protection of remote limb ischemic preconditioning during one-lung ventilation in patients undergoing esophageal cancer resection / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective To evaluate the lung protection of remote limb ischemic preconditioning during one-lung ventilation (OLV) in the patients undergoing esophageal cancer resection.Methods Seventyone patients of both sexes,aged 30-64 yr,with body mass index of 15-28 kg/m2,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,scheduled for elective esophageal cancer resection,were randomly divided into control group (group C,n =34) and remote limb ischemic preconditioning group (group RLIP,n =37) using a random number table.Patients in group RLIP received three cycles of 5-min ischemia/5-min reperfusion induced by a blood pressure cuff placed on one upper arm before OLV.Before OLV (T0),at 1 and 2 h of OLV (T1,2),at 20 min after re-expansion of the collapsed lung (T3),and at 2 h after operation (T4),blood samples were drawn from the radial artery for blood gas analysis,oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2) and alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (A-aDO2) were calculated.At T0,T2,T3 and T4,blood samples were collected from the radial artery for determination of plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α),interleukin-6 (IL-6),and IL-10 concentrations.Results Compared with group C,PaO2/FiO2 was significantly increased,and A-aDO2was decreased at T1,2,the plasma TNF-α concentrations were decreased at T2-4 (P＜0.05),and no significant change was found in the plasma IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations and rate of abnormal pulmonary function at T1-4 in group RLIP (P＞O.05).Conclusion Although remote limb ischemic preconditioning can produce lung protection during OLV in the patients undergoing esophageal cancer resection,it provides no clinical significance.

Family-based association study of a variable number of tandem repeat polymorphism of DAT1 gene with Tourette syndrome in a Chinese Han population / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the association of a 40 bp variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism within 3 untranslated region of dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) with Tourette syndrome (TS) in a Chinese Han population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 160 TS patients and their parents were recruited. The VNTR polymorphism was detected with polymerase chain reaction-VNTR analysis, and its association with TS and its subtypes were assessed through a family-based association study comprising transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) and haplotype relative risk (HRR) analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The repeat numbers at the DAT1 40 bp locus were 11, 10, 9, 7.5 and 7 among the patients and their parents, with the most common type being a 10-repeat allele. No significant association was detected between the polymorphism and TS (TDT: X ² = 0.472, df = 1, P = 0.583; HRR: X ² = 0.313, P = 0.576, OR = 0.855, 95%CI: 0.493-1.481).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our data suggested that the VNTR polymorphism of DAT1 gene is not associated with susceptibility to TS in Chinese Han population. However, our results are to be validated in larger sets of patients collected from other populations.</p>

Diagonsis establishment of fluorescen quantitative PCR assay for pseudorabies wild-type virus and vaccine virus / 生物工程学报

We designed two pairs of primers and their corresponding TaqMan probes according to gH, gE gene of PRV. By optimizing the probe's concentration, Mg2+ concentration, primers concentration and sample DNA extraction, real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR) which can quickly identity field virus and vaccine virus of PRV was established. According to our results, the dynamic range of the FQ-PCR assay is between 10 x 10(1) copies/microL and 10 x l0(8) copies/microL, and the detection limit of FQ-PCR is 1.0 x 10(1) copies/microL, which is 100 fold higher than that of conventional PCR. We detected 60 doubtful tissue samples using the FQ-PCR assay, serum neutralization and conventional PCR. In conclusion, the FQ-PCR method is rapid, sensitive, specific and accurate, and can be used to detect field strains of PRV rapidly. The closed-tube format of the assay minimized the risk of contamination of subsequent reaction and the assay can be performed in 2 h or less. Development of real-time quantitative PCR provides the basis for the early and rapid detection and analyzing quantitatively the infectious degree of PRV.

Gene cloning, expression and activity detection of porcine interleukin-18 mature protein in Escherichia coli / 生物工程学报

Porcine interleukin-18 mature protein gene was amplified from porcine spleen cells by RT-PCR. PCR product was cloned into the T vector pGEM-T for sequencing. The nucleotide sequence of this gene was 474 bp. Then, it was subcloned into the prokaryotic expressing plasmid vector pGEX6P-1 and transformed into host E. coli strain BL21 for expression. The expression of pIL-18 mature protein gene was identified by SDS-PAGE .The expression product was fusion protein with molecular weight of 45 kD and the percentage of expression protein in E. coil protein was 28%. The protein was purified by washing of inclusion bodies and the activity was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT).