Andrographolide ameliorates hepatic steatosis by suppressing FATP2-mediated fatty acid uptake in mice with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Excessive intrahepatocellular lipid accumulation or steatosis is caused by abnormal lipid metabolism and a common character of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which may progress into cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer. Andrographolide (Andro) is the primary active ingredient extracted from Andrographis paniculata, showing a protective role against dietary steatosis with the mechanism not fully understood. In this study, we showed that administration of Andro (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks, respectively) attenuated obesity and metabolic syndrome in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice with improved glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and reduced hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia. HFD-fed mice presented hepatic steatosis, which was significantly prevented by Andro. In vitro, Andro decreased the intracellular lipid droplets in oleic acid-treated LO2 cells. The selected RT-PCR array revealed a robust expression suppression of the fatty acid transport proteins (FATPs) by Andro treatment. Most importantly, we found that Andro consistently reduced the expression of FATP2 in both the oleic acid-treated LO2 cells and liver tissues of HFD-fed mice. Overexpression of FATP2 abolished the lipid-lowering effect of Andro in oleic acid-treated LO2 cells. Andro treatment also reduced the fatty acid uptake in oleic acid-treated LO2 cells, which was blunted by FATP2 overexpression. Collectively, our findings reveal a novel mechanism underlying the anti-steatosis effect of Andro by suppressing FATP2-mediated fatty acid uptake, suggesting the potential therapeutic application of Andro in the treatment of NAFLD.

[Comparison of Short-term Results of Preoperative Planning Combined with 
Fluorescence Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Precision Segmentectomy and Traditional Thoracoscopic Segmentectomy in the Treatment of Early Lung Adenocarcinoma].

BACKGROUND: The mortality of lung cancer ranks first among all malignant tumors, but there are few studies on the effect of different segmentectomy on lung function in patients with early lung adenocarcinoma. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree of lung function preservation and short-term results of preoperative planning combined with fluorescence thoracoscopic precision segmentectomy and traditional segmentectomy in patients with early lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: From January 1, 2020 to October 31, 2020, 60 patients underwent thoracoscopic segmentectomy in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China: 30 patients in precision segmentectomy group and 30 patients in traditional segmentectomy group. The clinicopathological features, perioperative data and postoperative pulmonary function of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: The operation time of the precision group was shorter than that of the traditional group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The preoperative pulmonary function accuracy group and the traditional group in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) were (3.65±0.63) L vs (3.54±0.64) L, (2.72±0.50) L vs (2.54±0.48) L and (20.36±3.02) mL/mmHg/min vs (19.16±3.18) mL/mmHg/min, respectively. One month after operation, the FVC, FEV1 and DLCO of pulmonary function accuracy group and traditional group were (3.35±0.63) L vs (2.89±0.57) L, (2.39±0.54) L vs (2.09±0.48) L and (17.43±3.10) mL/mmHg/min vs (15.78±2.865) mL/mmHg/min, respectively. Three months after operation, the FVC and DLCO of pulmonary function accuracy group and traditional group were (3.47±0.63) L vs (3.20±0.56) L and (19.38±3.02) mL/mmHg/min vs (17.79±3.21) mL/mmHg/min, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative planning combined with fluorescence thoracoscopic precise segmentectomy provides advantages in intersegmental plane recognition, vascular anatomy and postoperative recovery, which significantly shortens the operation time and makes the treatment more accurate.

Effects of Shenqi compound on intestinal microbial metabolites in patients with type 2 diabetes: A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis.

INTRODUCTION: According to the data from the 2017 Chinese Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes [Chin J Diabetes. 2017;20:81-117], in 2013, the incidence of T2DM in China was 10.4%, while nearly 63% of the patients did not receive standard diagnosis. T2DM has become a serious public health problem in China and even in the world. Intestinal flora, as a research hotspot related to T2DM and other diseases in recent years, is a kind of microorganism with a large number in the human intestinal tract, which is considered as one of the important factors affecting the metabolism of the endocrine system and the human internal environment. In fact, many concepts of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) coincide with modern research results of intestinal flora. In fact, TCM is also widely used to regulate intestinal flora disorders, and plays a very important role in restoring the dysfunctional intestinal flora [Hu et al. Drug Eval. 2013:8-10]. T2DM is a chronic systemic progressive disease. Studies [Wang et al. Tianjin Chin Med. 2007;24:507-508] have shown that even ideal blood glucose control cannot prevent the failure of islet cells [Wang et al. Tianjin Chin Med. 2007;24:507-508], and how to restore the function and number of islet cells has naturally become the focus and difficulty of our current research. Studies have shown that the changes in the contents of intestinal microflora and their metabolites are closely related to the performance of T2DM such as hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and restoration of islet function, and play an important role in pathophysiological mechanisms such as chronic inflammation of T2DM [Sun et al. Shi Zhen Chin Med. 2012;23:1434-1436]. It has been confirmed that Shenqi compound, a TCM, regulates intestinal flora of T2DM. However, due to the lack of evidence, there is no specific method or suggestion, it is necessary to make a systematic evaluation of Shenqi compound to provide effective evidence for further research. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Electronic databases included PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Nature, Science Online, WanFang China Biomedical Database, VIP Medical Information, China national Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). MAIN RESULTS: Endotoxin, short-chain fatty acid, bile acid, indole.Other results: low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride (TG), total serum cholesterol (TC). The data will be extracted independently by 2 researchers, and the risk of bias in the meta-analysis will be systematically evaluated according to the Cochrane handbook. All data analysis will be performed using the Data statistics software Review Manager V.5.3. And occupy V.12.0. RESULTS: The results of this study will systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Shenqi compound on the effects of intestinal flora metabolites in patients with type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSION: Through the systematic review of this study, the published evidence of the effect of Shenqi compound on intestinal flora metabolites in patients with type 2 diabetes was summarized to further guide its promotion and application. ETHICS AND COMMUNICATION: This study is a systematic review with findings based on published evidence and does not require erB review or consent. We plan to publish the results in a journal or conference report. OPEN SCIENCE FRAMEWORK (OSF) REGISTRATION NUMBER: September 29, 2020. osf.io/gb3m2.(https://osf.io/gb3m2).

YY1 cooperates with TFEB to regulate autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis in melanoma.

Autophagy is a self-proteolytic process that degrades intracellular material to maintain cellular homeostasis. Transcription factor EB (TFEB) is the master activator that regulates the transcription of genes involved in autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis. However, the cotranscriptional factors of TFEB are rarely identified. Here, we found that Yin Yang 1 (YY1) regulated autophagy and lysosome biogenesis in melanoma cells. YY1 cooperates with TFEB to regulate autophagy through controlling the transcription of autophagy and lysosome biogenesis related genes. Moreover, suppression of YY1 enhanced the antitumor efficiency of vemurafenib both in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, these studies identify YY1 as a novel cotranscription factor of TFEB in regulating autophagy and lysosomal functions and suggest YY1 could be a therapeutic target in cancer treatment.