Effect of acupotomy combined with electroacupuncture on knee function of patients with knee osteoarthritis. / åˆƒé’ˆç»“åˆç”µé’ˆæ²»ç–—å¯¹è†å ³èŠ‚éª¨å ³èŠ‚ç‚Žæ‚£è€ è†å ³èŠ‚åŠŸèƒ½çš„å½±å“.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical effect of combined therapy of acupotomy and electroacupuncture (EA) with the simple application of EA on knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and their influence on knee function. METHODS: Sixty-eight KOA patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, an acupotomy group and an EA group. In the acupotomy group, the combined therapy of acupotomy and EA was adopted. In the EA group, EA was simply used, delivered once every two days, 3 treatments a week；and the duration of treatment was 4 weeks. In the acupotomy group, besides the treatment as the EA group, acupotomy was combined once weekly, and the duration of treatment was 4 weeks. Separately, before and after treatment, and in 4 and 12 weeks after treatment completion (1-month and 3-month follow-up), the results of the timed up and go test (TUG), the 9-step stair climb test (9-SCT) and the knee function (Western Ontario and McMaster University osteoarthritis index visualization scale ［WOMAC］) were measured in the two groups. RESULTS: By the intention-to-treat analysis, the results of TUG, 9-SCT and WOMAC scores were reduced after treatment and in 1-month and 3-month follow-up when compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (P<0.05). Compared with the EA group at the same time point, TUG results were decreased after treatment and in 1-month follow-up, and WOMAC score was reduced after treatment in the acupotomy group. WOMAC score in 1-month follow-up was reduced when compared with that before treatment within the acupotomy group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Either the simple application of EA or the combined therapy of acupotomy and EA can improve knee function, but the combined therapy obviously increases the walking speed and relieves the symptoms such as joint pain and morning stiffness. The treatment with acupotomy and EA is safe and effective on KOA and the long-term effect is satisfactory.

Enhancing Tai Chi Training System: Towards Group-Based and Hyper-Realistic Training Experiences.

In this article, we propose a lightweight and flexible enhanced Tai Chi training system composed of multiple standalone virtual reality (VR) devices. The system aims to enable a hyper-realistic multi-user action training platform at low cost by displaying real-time action guidance trajectories, providing real-world impossible visual effects and functions, and rapidly enhancing movement precision and communication interest for learners. We objectively evaluate participants' action quality at different levels of immersion, including traditional coach guidance (TCG), VR, and mixed reality (MR), along with subjective measures like motion sickness, quality of interaction, social meaning, presence/immersion to comprehensively explore the system's feasibility. The results indicate VR performs the best in training accuracy, but MR provides superior social experience and relatively high accuracy. Unlike TCG, MR offers hyper-realistic hand movement trajectories and Tai Chi social references. Compared with VR, MR provides more realistic avatar companions and a safer environment. In summary, MR balances accuracy and social experience.

Research progress on the treatment of diabetic nephropathy with leech and its active ingredients.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major microvascular complication of diabetes and a common cause of chronic kidney disease. There is currently a lack of effective treatments for DN, and the prognosis for patients remains poor. Hirudin, one of the primary active components derived from leeches, demonstrates anti-coagulant, anti-fibrotic, anti-thrombotic, and anti-inflammatory properties, exhibiting significant protective effects on the kidneys. In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in studying the potential benefits of hirudin, especially in its role in the management of DN. This article delves into the mechanisms by which hirudin contributes to the treatment of DN and its clinical efficacy.

Clinical Efficacy of Posteromedial Approaches for Haraguchi Type II Fracture.

Objective: This study was to analyze and compare the clinical efficacy of open reduction and internal fixation through posterolateral and the posterior medial approach to treat Haraguchi Type II posterior malleolar fracture. Methods: The clinical data of 91 patients with trimalleolar fractures sent to our hospital from January 2018 to January 2020 were analyzed.All of the patients were the result of traumatic injuries, such as sprains or car accidents. All patients were treated with open reduction and internal fixation and divided into control group and observation group according to different surgical approaches. Forty-five cases were treated with the posterolateral approach(control group) and forty-six cases treated with the posteriormedial approach(observation group) . The operation status of the two groups (operating time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, and hospital stay), postoperative status (visual analogue scale (VAS) before the operation, 1d, 3d and 7d after operation), the score of patient's American orthopedic foot and ankle society (AOFAS) at the time of discharge, fracture healing time and full weight-bearing time), efficacy and safety were recorded. Results: All cases underwent surgery, with no significant difference in the time from fracture to surgery between the control and observation groups (P > .05). Compared to the control group, the operating time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, and hospital stay in the observation group were significantly reduced (P < .05). One day after the operation, no significant difference was shown in VAS between 2 groups (P > .05), while AOFAS score in the observation group was significantly increased (P < .05). Three and 7 days after the operation, VAS, fracture healing time, and full weight-bearing time were significantly decreased in both groups (P < .05). In the control group, the cases with excellent, good, fair, and poor efficacy were 26, 8, 5, 6, with an acceptable rate of 86.67% (39/45). In the observation group, the cases with excellent, good, fair, and poor efficacy were 29, 10, 5, and 2, with an acceptable rate of 95.65% (44/46). There was no significant difference in efficacy between the 2 groups (P > .05). During the follow-up time of 12~27 months (the median time of 18.5 months), all patients showed first-stage grade A healing, and osseous union with good fixation position and no fracture, deformation, loosening or prolapse, and no sural nerve injury or incision infection occurred. Conclusion: Both the posterolateral approach and posterior medial approach open reduction and internal fixation can be used to treat Haraguchi type II posterior malleolus fractures, with good efficacy and safety. The posterior medial approach showed faster recovery and less damage than the posterolateral approach.Overall, the posterolateral approach is more dominant in the treatment of Haraguchi Type II posterior malleolar fracture.

Role of SIRT5 in the analgesic effectiveness of moxibustion at ST36 in mice with inflammatory pain.

Sirtuine5 (SIRT5) is an important molecule involved in the pathology of inflammatory diseases. To investigate the impact of SIRT5 on the analgesic effectiveness of moxibustion, we established a complete Freund's adjuvant- (CFA-) induced inflammatory pain in mice model. Moxibustion was applied at the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint in mice with inflammatory pain. The analgesic effectiveness was evaluated by thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia tests in the right paws after CFA injection. The expression of inflammatory cytokines, including the pro-inflammatory factors IL-1ß and TNF-α, and the anti-inflammatory factors IL-4 and TGF-ß expressions, was evaluated using by ELISA. Furthermore, SIRT5 was evaluated by immunofluorescence and western blotting. The results showed that, compared with the CFA group, both thermal and mechanical pain thresholds increased with moxibustion and the SIRT5 inhibitor MC3482 intervention at ST36. Additionally, compared to the CFA-induced group, the inflammatory mediators, including IL-1ß and TNF-α, decreased, while the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and TGF-ß increased with moxibustion and MC3482 ST36 acupoint injection. Western blot results showed a decreased expression of SIRT5 at the ST36 site with moxibustion and MC3482 injection, compared to the CFA-induced group. SIRT5 expression in the right paw of mice injected with moxibustion and MC3482 was higher than that in the CFA-induced group. This study revealed that SIRT5 expression is involved in moxibustion analgesia and may be a potential mediator in the regulation of analgesia.

Tomentosin suppressed M1 polarization via increasing MERTK activation mediated by regulation of GAS6.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Xanthium sibiricum Patrin ex Widder (X. sibiricum) are widely used traditional herbal medicines for arthritis treatment in China. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by progressive destructions of joints, which is accompanied by chronic, progressive inflammatory disorder. According to our previous research, tomentosin was isolated from X. sibiricum and revealed anti-inflammatory activity. However, the potential therapeutic effect of tomentosin on RA and the anti-inflammatory mechanism of tomentosin remain to be clarified. The present study lays theoretical support for X. sibiricum in RA treatment, also provides reference for further development of X. sibiricum in clinic. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the effect of tomentosin in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice and reveal its underlying mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vivo, tomentosin (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) was given to CIA mice for seven consecutive days, to evaluate its therapeutic effect and anti-inflammatory activity. In vitro, THP-1-derived macrophages were used to verify the effect of tomentosin on inflammation. Then, molecular docking and experiments in vitro was conducted to predict and explore the mechanism of tomentosin inhibiting inflammation. RESULTS: Tomentosin attenuated the severity of arthritis in CIA mice, which was evidenced by the swelling of the hind paws, arthritis scores, and pathological changes. Particularly, tomentosin effectively reduced the ratio of M1 macrophage and TNF-α levels in vitro and vivo. Then, molecular docking and experiments in vitro was carried out, indicating that tomentosin inhibited M1 polarization and TNF-α levels accompanied by the increase of MERTK and up-regulated GAS6 levels. Moreover, it has been proved that GAS6 was necessary for MERTK activation and tomentosin could up-regulate GAS6 levels effectively in transwell system. Further mechanistic studies revealed that tomentosin suppressed M1 polarization via increasing MERTK activation mediated by regulation of GAS6 in transwell system. CONCLUSION: Tomentosin relieved the severity of CIA mice by inhibiting M1 polarization. Furthermore, tomentosin suppressed M1 polarization via increasing MERTK activation mediated by regulation of GAS6.

INDETERMINATE1 autonomously regulates phosphate homeostasis upstream of the miR399-ZmPHO2 signaling module in maize.

The macronutrient phosphorus is essential for plant growth and development. Plants have evolved multiple strategies to increase the efficiency of phosphate (Pi) acquisition to protect themselves from Pi starvation. However, the crosstalk between Pi homeostasis and plant development remains to be explored. Here, we report that overexpressing microRNA399 (miR399) in maize (Zea mays) is associated with premature senescence after pollination. Knockout of ZmPHO2 (Phosphate 2), a miR399 target, resulted in a similar premature senescence phenotype. Strikingly, we discovered that INDETERMINATE1 (ID1), a floral transition regulator, inhibits the transcription of ZmMIR399 genes by directly binding to their promoters, alleviating the repression of ZmPHO2 by miR399 and ultimately contributing to the maintenance of Pi homeostasis in maize. Unlike ZmMIR399 genes, whose expression is induced by Pi deficiency, ID1 expression was independent of the external inorganic orthophosphate status, indicating that ID1 is an autonomous regulator of Pi homeostasis. Furthermore, we show that ZmPHO2 was under selection during maize domestication and cultivation, resulting in a more sensitive response to Pi starvation in temperate maize than in tropical maize. Our study reveals a direct functional link between Pi-deprivation sensing by the miR399-ZmPHO2 regulatory module and plant developmental regulation by ID1.

A UPLC-Q-TOF/MS and network pharmacology method to explore the mechanism of Anhua fuzhuan tea intervention in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

The possible mechanism by which the active components of Anhua fuzhuan tea act on FAM in NAFLD lesions was investigated. 83 components of Anhua fuzhuan tea were analysed by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS. Luteolin-7-rutinoside and other compounds were first discovered in fuzhuan tea. According to the TCMSP database and the Molinspiration website tool to predict and review the literature reports, 78 compounds were identified in fuzhuan tea with possible biological activities. The PharmMapper, Swiss target prediction, and SuperPred databases were used to predict the action targets of biologically active compounds. The GeneCards, CTD, and OMIM databases were mined for NAFLD and FAM genes. Then, a fuzhuan Tea-NAFLD-FAM Venn diagram was constructed. Using the STRING database and CytoHubba program of Cytoscape software, protein interaction analysis was performed, and 16 key genes, including PPARG, were screened. GO function and KEGG enrichment analyses of the screened key genes showed that Anhua fuzhuan tea may regulate FAM in the process of NAFLD through the AMPK signalling pathway, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease pathway, etc. After constructing an active ingredient-key target-pathway map with Cytoscape software, combined with literature reports and BioGPS database analysis, we believe that among the 16 key genes, SREBF1, FASN, ACADM, HMGCR, and FABP1 have potential in the treatment of NAFLD. Animal experiments confirmed the effect of Anhua fuzhuan tea in improving NAFLD and confirmed that this tea can interfere with the gene expression of the above five targets by the AMPK/PPAR pathway, providing support for Anhua fuzhuan tea interfering with FAM in NAFLD lesions.

BSA-templated synthesis of Ir/Gd bimetallic oxide nanotheranostics for MR/CT imaging-guided photothermal and photodynamic synergistic therapy.

Precision medicine urges the development of theranostics which can efficiently integrate precise diagnosis and effective therapy. In this study, a facile synthesis of Ir/Gd bimetallic oxide nanotheranostics (termed BSA@Gd2O3/IrO2 NPs) with good biocompatibility was demonstrated using a biomineralization method where bovine serum albumin (BSA) served as a versatile template. BSA@Gd2O3/IrO2 NPs exhibited high longitudinal relaxivity (5.2 mM-1 s-1) and X-ray absorption capability (14.5 Hu mM-1), illustrating them to be a good contrast agent for magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) dual-modal imaging. Moreover, BSA@Gd2O3/IrO2 NPs can act as not only a photothermal conversion agent with ultrahigh efficiency (66.7%) as well as a good photosensitizer, but also an effective catalase to decompose endogenous H2O2 to produce O2, thus relieving hypoxia and enhancing the phototherapeutic effect. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated the high effectiveness of BSA@Gd2O3/IrO2 NPs in MR/CT dual-modal imaging and photothermal and photodynamic synergistic tumor treatments. This work sheds new light on the development of versatile nanotheranostic systems using mild and robust biomineralization methods.

Antinociceptive C19-diterpenoid alkaloids from the roots of Aconitum nagarum.

Three new C19-diterpenoid alkaloids, nagarumines A-C (1-3), together two known alkaloids, deoxyaconitine (4) and N-deethyldeoxyaconitine (5), were isolated from the roots of Aconitum nagarum. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectral methods such as 1D and 2D (1H-1H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy, as well as high resolution mass spectrometry. The in vivo pharmacological studies revealed that nagarumine C (3) possessed comparable antinociceptive activity (ED50 = 76.0 µmol/kg) with the positive control drugs aspirin and acetaminophen.

Acoustic-Based Theranostic Probes Activated by Tumor Microenvironment for Accurate Tumor Diagnosis and Assisted Tumor Therapy.

Acoustic-based imaging techniques, including ultrasonography and photoacoustic imaging, are powerful noninvasive approaches for tumor imaging owing to sound transmission facilitation, deep tissue penetration, and high spatiotemporal resolution. Usually, imaging modes were classified into "always-on" mode and "activatable" mode. Conventional "always-on" acoustic-based probes often have difficulty distinguishing lesion regions of interest from surrounding healthy tissues due to poor target-to-background signal ratios. As compared, activatable probes have attracted attention with improved sensitivity, which can boost or amplify imaging signals only in response to specific biomolecular recognition or interactions. The tumor microenvironment (TME) exhibits abnormal physiological conditions that can be used to identify tumor sections from normal tissues. Various types of organic dyes and biomaterials can react with TME, leading to obvious changes in their optical properties. The TME also affects the self-assembly or aggregation state of nanoparticles, which can be used to design activatable imaging probes. Moreover, acoustic-based imaging probes and therapeutic agents can be coencapsulated into one nanocarrier to develop nanotheranostic probes, achieving tumor imaging and cooperative therapy. Satisfactorily, ultrasound waves not only accelerate the release of encapsulated therapeutic agents but also activate therapeutic agents to exert or enhance their therapeutic performance. Meanwhile, various photoacoustic probes can convert photon energy into heat under irradiation, achieving photoacoustic imaging and cooperative photothermal therapy. In this review, we focus on the recently developed TME-triggered ultrasound and photoacoustic theranostic probes for precise tumor imaging and targeted tumor therapy.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Putative Induction of Floral Initiation by Old Leaves in Tea-Oil Tree (Camellia oleifera 'changlin53').

Floral initiation is a major phase change in the spermatophyte, where developmental programs switch from vegetative growth to reproductive growth. It is a key phase of flowering in tea-oil trees that can affect flowering time and yield, but very little is known about the molecular mechanism of floral initiation in tea-oil trees. A 12-year-old Camellia oleifera (cultivar 'changlin53') was the source of experimental materials in the current study. Scanning electron microscopy was used to identify the key stage of floral initiation, and transcriptome analysis was used to reveal the transcriptional regulatory network in old leaves involved in floral initiation. We mined 5 DEGs related to energy and 55 DEGs related to plant hormone signal transduction, and we found floral initiation induction required a high level of energy metabolism, and the phytohormones signals in the old leaves regulate floral initiation, which occurred at stage I and II. Twenty-seven rhythm-related DEGs and 107 genes associated with flowering were also identified, and the circadian rhythm interacted with photoperiod pathways to induce floral initiation. Unigene0017292 (PSEUDO-RESPONSE REGULATOR), Unigene0046809 (LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL), Unigene0009932 (GIGANTEA), Unigene0001842 (CONSTANS), and Unigene0084708 (FLOWER LOCUS T) were the key genes in the circadian rhythm-photoperiod regulatory network. In conjunction with morphological observations and transcriptomic analysis, we concluded that the induction of floral initiation by old leaves in C. oleifera 'changlin53' mainly occurred during stages I and II, floral initiation was completed during stage III, and rhythm-photoperiod interactions may be the source of the main signals in floral initiation induced by old leaves.

Discrimination and Prediction of Lonicerae japonicae Flos and Lonicerae Flos and Their Related Prescriptions by Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Combined with Multivariate Statistical Analysis.

LJF and LF are commonly used in Chinese patent drugs. In the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, LJF and LF once belonged to the same source. However, since 2005, the two species have been listed separately. Therefore, they are often misused, and medicinal materials are indiscriminately put in their related prescriptions in China. In this work, firstly, we established a model for discriminating LJF and LF using ATR-FTIR combined with multivariate statistical analysis. The spectra data were further preprocessed and combined with spectral filter transformations and normalization methods. These pretreated data were used to establish pattern recognition models with PLS-DA, RF, and SVM. Results demonstrated that the RF model was the optimal model, and the overall classification accuracy for LJF and LF samples reached 98.86%. Then, the established model was applied in the discrimination of their related prescriptions. Interestingly, the results show good accuracy and applicability. The RF model for discriminating the related prescriptions containing LJF or LF had an accuracy of 100%. Our results suggest that this method is a rapid and effective tool for the successful discrimination of LJF and LF and their related prescriptions.

Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture on Symptomatic Improvement in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Aim: We sought to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in treating the main symptoms of primary Sjögren's syndrome, specifically dryness, pain, and fatigue. Methods: A total of 120 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome were randomized in a parallel-group, controlled trial. Participants received acupuncture or sham acupuncture for the first 8 weeks, then were followed for 16 weeks thereafter. The primary outcome was the proportion of participants with a ≥ 30% reduction in ≥ 2 of 3 numeric analog scale scores for dryness, pain, and fatigue. The secondary outcomes included the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Sjögren's Syndrome Patient-reported Index (ESSPRI); the EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index; the Schirmer test score; unstimulated saliva flow; serum immunoglobulin G, A, and M concentrations; the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 score; salivary gland ultrasound imaging; and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score. Results: The proportions of patients meeting the primary endpoint were 28.33% (17/60) in the acupuncture group and 31.66% (19/60) in the sham group, without a statistically significant difference (P = 0.705). The IgG concentration at week 16 and the homogeneity in ultrasonography of the salivary glands at week 8 showed significant differences between the 2 groups (P = 0.0490 and P = 0.0334, respectively). No other differences were observed between the 2 groups. ESSPRI and unstimulated saliva flow were improved in both groups compared to baseline, albeit with a significant difference between them. Conclusion: In patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome, acupuncture did not satisfactorily improve symptoms compared to placebo. However, interesting discoveries and possible underlying reasons were demonstrated and discussed, which may be useful to studies in the future. Clinical Trial Registration: [www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT02691377].

The efficacy and safety of Longmu Tang granule for the treatment of atopic dermatitis: study protocol for a single-centred, double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing skin disease that has long-term physical and mental health impacts on children with this condition. Current treatments mainly include anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-allergic interventions, systemic therapy, and recently emerging target-focused agents. However, these treatments have limited effectiveness and unwanted side effects. The use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of AD has a long history, with promising efficacies, low toxicity, and improvements in the quality of life of patients with AD. Longmu Tang granule, a TCM, has been used to effectively treat AD since 2008 through doctors' prescriptions. To scientifically evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Longmu Tang granule, we proposed to launch a single-centred, double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. METHODS: In this single-centred, double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted at Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, a total of 60 participants will be randomly assigned (1:1) to receive the Longmu Tang granule or placebo granule for 8 weeks. The primary outcome will be evaluated using the index of Scoring Atopic Dermatitis. The secondary outcomes will be evaluated using the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index and the number cancellation test. The mechanistic evidence will be the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines, including immunoglobulin E, tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6. DISCUSSION: The results of this trial will provide evidence of the efficacy and safety of the Longmu Tang granule and prove its anti-inflammatory action in patients with AD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Chictr.org ID: ChiCTR2100041591 . Registered on 1 January 2021.

Comparative effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and sodium glucose cotransporter inhibitors in patients with diabetic kidney disease: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), and sodium glucose cotransporter inhibitors (SGLT2i) are commonly used to treat diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Currently, increasing evidence also suggests traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as an effective strategy. We assessed the efficacy of ACEI, ARB, SGLT2i, and TCM on major renal outcomes. We searched the electronic literature published up to March 2021 from CNKI, VIP, WanFang, SinoMed, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and clinicaltrials.gov; a total of 56 studies and 5464 participants were included. We found that TCM plus ACEI, TCM plus ARB, and TCM alone are very effective treatment methods compared with ACEI, ARB, and the placebo in reducing 24-h urine protein, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen. TCM plus ACEI was the most effective treatment (TCM plus ACEI vs. the placebo in 24-h urine protein [mean difference (MD) - 757.18, 95% confidence interval-1177.41 to - 353.31], serum creatinine [MD - 25.81, 95% confidence interval - 35.51 to - 16.03], and blood urea nitrogen [MD - 3.48, 95% confidence interval - 5.04 to - 1.90]). Although the incidence of end-stage renal disease while receiving an TCM plus ARB compared with a placebo was not statistically significant, the treatment ranking showed this combination therapy to have the greatest probability (72.8%) of reducing end-stage renal disease mortality, followed by SGLT2i (68%). Our analyses showed that combining TCM with conventional treatments for patients with DKD can improve renoprotective effects and superiority, and ACEI plus TCM may be the most effective option for treating DKD.

Excellent Anti-lung Cancer Activity of Populus nigra and Phylogenetic Analysis.

Lung cancer has the highest incidence rate among malignant tumors all over the world, and it is also the leading cause of death. In this present research, we aimed to evaluate the anti-cancer activity of the Populus nigra extract against the lung cancer and study the genome evolution of the Populus nigra. Firstly, the inhibitory activity of the Populus nigra extract on the NCI-H292 lung cancer cell viability was determined with Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The trans-well assay was conducted and the influence of the Populus nigra extract on the NCI-H292 lung cancer cell migration and invasion ability was determined. In addition to this, the chloroplast (cp) genome of Populus nigra was sequenced with high-throughput Illumina pair-end sequencing, which was a classical useful model for genome evolution assessment. The CCK-8 and trans-well assay indicated the Populus nigra extract exhibited excellent inhibitory activity on the NCI-H292 lung cancer cell viability, migration and invasion ability. The circular cp genome of the Populus nigra was 156,354 bp in size, including a large single-copy (LSC) region of 84,528 bp and a small single-copy (SC) region of 16,564 bp, which were separated by two inverted repeat (IR) regions (38,612 bp each). A total of 132 genes were predicted, including 8 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), 37 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), and 90 protein-coding genes (PCGs). Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis revealed that Populus nigra has the closest relationship with Populus alba var. pyramidalis. In addition to Populus alba var. pyramidalis, Populus adenopoda and Populus tomentosa are also has closely relationship with Populus nigra.

[Calibration on chromone reference extract and application on quality control of Saposhnikoviae Radix].

The calibration of chromone reference extract(CRE) was conducted and a quality control method of Saposhnikoviae Radix(SR) was established based on CRE. Meanwhile, the quality control system of SR was improved and the feasibility of using reference extract as a substitute for single reference substance in quality control of Chinese medicine was discussed. In this study, the content of the prepared CRE was calibrated with prim-O-glucosylcimifugin, cimifugin, 4'-O-ß-D-glucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol, and secO-glucosylhamaudol as indicators. Subsequently, an HPLC analytical method was developed to determine the content of four chromones in 20 batches of SR samples based on the CRE with known content as the standard substance. T-test was used for the comparison of the determination results of the two methods(single chemical component and CRE as reference substances, respectively), and the P values of prim-O-glucosylcimifugin, cimifugin, 4'-O-ß-D-glucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol, and sec-O-glucosylhamaudol were 0. 16,0. 39, 0. 14, and 0. 42. The results demonstrated that there was no significant difference between the two methods. This study initially verified the feasibility that the CRE could be used as a substitute for single reference substance in quality control of SR. In conclusion,this study is expected to provide a scientific basis and a new research model for the application of reference extract in the quality control of Chinese medicine.

Dual-Depletion of Intratumoral Lactate and ATP with Radicals Generation for Cascade Metabolic-Chemodynamic Therapy.

Increasing evidence has demonstrated that lactate and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) both play important roles in regulating abnormal metabolism in the tumor microenvironment. Herein, an O2 self-supplying catalytic nanoagent, based on tannic acid (TA)-Fe(III) coordination complexes-coated perfluorooctyl bromide (PFOB) nanodroplets with lactate oxidases (LOX) loading (PFOB@TA-Fe(III)-LOX, PTFL), is designed for cascade metabolic-chemodynamic therapy (CDT) by dual-depletion of lactate and ATP with hydroxyl • OH radicals generation. Benefiting from the catalytic property of loaded LOX and O2 self-supplying of PFOB nanodroplets, PTFL nanoparticles (NPs) efficiently deplete tumoral lactate for down-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor expression and supplement the insufficient endogenous H2 O2 . Simultaneously, TA-Fe(III) complexes release Fe(III) ions and TA in response to intracellular up-regulated ATP in tumor cells followed by TA-mediated Fe(III)/Fe(II) conversion, leading to the depletion of energy source ATP and the generation of cytotoxic • OH radicals from H2 O2 . Moreover, TA-Fe(III) complexes provide photoacoustic contrast as imaging guidance to enhance therapeutic accuracy. As a result, PTFL NPs efficiently accumulate in tumors for suppression of tumor growth and show evidence of anti-angiogenesis and anti-metastasis effects. This multifunctional nanoagent may provide new insight for targeting abnormal tumor metabolism with the combination of CDT to achieve a synergistic therapeutic effect.

Morroniside Promotes PGC-1α-Mediated Cholesterol Efflux in Sodium Palmitate or High Glucose-Induced Mouse Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells.

Lipid deposition is an etiology of renal damage caused by lipid metabolism disorder in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Thus, reducing lipid deposition is a feasible strategy for the treatment of DN. Morroniside (MOR), an iridoid glycoside isolated from the Chinese herb Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc., is considered to be an effective drug in inhibiting oxidative stress, reducing inflammatory response, and countering apoptosis. To explore the protective mechanism of MOR in attenuating renal lipotoxicity in DN, we investigated the effect of MOR on an in vitro model of lipid metabolism disorder of DN established by stimulating mouse renal tubular epithelial cells (mRTECs) with sodium palmitate (PA) or high glucose (HG). Oil Red O and filipin cholesterol staining assays were used to determine intracellular lipid accumulation status. Results revealed that PA or HG stimulation inhibited the expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α), liver X receptors (LXR), ATP-binding cassette subfamily A member 1 (ABCA1), ABCG1, and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) in mRTECs as evidenced by western blot and quantitative real-time PCR, resulting in increased intracellular lipid deposition. Interestingly, MOR upregulated expressions of PGC-1α, LXR, ABCA1, ABCG1, and ApoE, thus reducing cholesterol accumulation in mRTECs, suggesting that MOR might promote cholesterol efflux from mRTECs via the PGC-1α/LXR pathway. Of note, silencing PGC-1α reversed the promotive effect of MOR on PA- or HG-induced cellular cholesterol accumulation. In conclusion, our results suggest that MOR has a protective effect on mRTECs under high lipid or high glucose conditions, which may be related to the promotion of intracellular cholesterol efflux mediated by PGC-1α.