[Correlation between rhizosphere environment and content of medicinal components of Arnebia euchroma].

This study aimed to explore the correlation between rhizosphere soil microorganisms of wild Arnebia euchroma and the content of medicinal components to provide guidance for the selection of the ecological planting base. The total DNA of rhizosphere soil microorganisms of wild A. euchroma was extracted, and the microbial community structure of rhizosphere soil microorganisms was analyzed by IlluminaMiseq high-throughput sequencing technology. The content of total hydroxynaphthoquinone pigment and ß,ß'-dimethylacrylalkannin in medicinal materials was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). The physicochemical pro-perties of rhizosphere soil of wild A. euchroma in main producing areas were determined, and the correlation of soil microbial abundance with index component content and soil physicochemical properties was analyzed by SPSS software. The results showed that the species composition of rhizosphere fungi and bacteria in A. euchroma from different habitats was similar at the phylum and genus levels, but their relative abundance, richness index(Chao1), and community diversity(Simpson) index were different. Correlation analysis showed that the content of available phosphorus in soil was positively correlated with the content of total hydroxynaphthoquinone pigment and ß,ß'-dimethylacrylalkannin, and the abundance of five fungal genera such as Solicoccozyma and six bacterial genera such as Pseudo-nocardia and Bradyrhizobium was positively correlated with the content of medicinal components in medicinal materials. The abundance of Bradyrhizobium was significantly positively correlated with the content of ß,ß'-dimethylacrylalkanin. The abundance of fungi such as Archaeorhizomyces was significantly positively correlated with the content of available phosphorus in rhizosphere soil, and Bradyrhizobium was significantly negatively correlated with soil pH. Therefore, the abundance of fungi and bacteria in the rhizosphere of A. euchroma has a certain correlation with the medicinal components and the physicochemical properties of the rhizosphere soil, which can provide a scientific basis for the selection of ecological planting bases in the later stage.

Chaotropic Effect-Induced Self-Assembly of the Malachite Green and Boron Cluster for Toxicity Regulation and Photothermal Therapy.

Malachite green (MG), a toxic antibacterial agent, is widely used in the farming industry. Effectively regulating the biotoxicity of this highly water-soluble cationic dye is challenging. Here, we present a novel strategy to reduce the biotoxicity of MG through the self-assembly of MG and the closo-dodecaborate cluster ([B12H12]2-) driven by the chaotropic effect. [B12H12]2- and MG in an aqueous solution can rapidly form an insoluble cubic-type supramolecular complex (B12-MG), and the original toxicity of MG is completely suppressed. Surprisingly, this supramolecular complex, B12-MG, has a strong UV-vis absorption peak at 600-800 nm and significant photothermal conversion efficiency under 660 nm laser irradiation. On this basis, B12-MG, the supramolecular complex, can be used as an efficient photothermal agent for antimicrobial photothermal therapy (PTT) both in vitro and in vivo. As a molecular chaperone of MG, [B12H12]2- not only can be applied as an antidote to regulate the biotoxicity of MG but also provides a novel method for the construction of photothermal agents for PTT based on the chaotropic effect.

[Anti-depression mechanism of Zuojin Pills:based on UHPLC-TOF-MS, network pharmacology, and experimental verification].

This study aims to explore the anti-depression mechanism of Zuojin Pills based on the plasma constituents, network pharmacology, and experimental verification. UHPLC-TOF-MS was used for qualitative analysis of Zuojin Pills-containing serum. Targets of the plasma constituents and the disease were retrieved from PharmMapper and GeneCards. Then the protein-protein interaction(PPI) network was constructed and core targets were screened for GO term enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment. Cytoscape 3.7.2 was employed construct the "compound-target-pathway" network and the targets and signaling pathways of Zuojin Pills against depression were predicted. CUMS-induced depression mouse model was established to verify the key targets. The results showed that a total of 21 constituents migrating to blood of Zuojin Pills were identified, which were mainly alkaloids. A total of 155 common targets of the constituents and the disease and 67 core targets were screened out. KEGG enrichment and PPI network analysis showed that Zuojin Pills may play a role in the treatment of depression through AMPK/SIRT1, NLRP3, insulin and other targets and pathways. Furthermore, the results of animal experiments showed that Zuojin Pills could significantly improve the depression behaviors of depression, reduce the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in hippocampus and serum, activate AMPK/SIRT1 signaling, and reduce the protein expression of NLRP3. In conclusion, Zuojin Pills may play a role in the treatment of depression by activating AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway, and inhibiting NLRP3 activation and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus of mice.

Effects of Three Sludge Products from Co-Treatment of Wastewater on the Soil Properties and Plant Growth of Silty Loam.

Currently, little is known about systematic comparisons of sludge products obtained from different sludge treatment processes in terms of land use. Moreover, it is worth evaluating whether the sludge produced from the co-treatment of industrial wastewater and domestic sewage can be applied to land use. In this study, three sludge products derived from the same municipal sludge-sludge biochar (SSB), dried sludge (DSS), and sludge compost (SSC)-were added to silty loam (SL) at a 20% mass ratio to assess their effects on soil structure, properties, and fertility. Chinese cabbage was planted as a model crop and its growth and physiological state were monitored. The experimental results showed that the water retention of the soil was significantly related to its porosity, and the moisture in the three sludge products-modified soil mainly existed in the form of free water. The addition of three sludge products increased the total porosity of SL. SSC enhanced the water retention of SL by increasing the capillary porosity, and SSB improved the gas permeability of SL by increasing the non-capillary porosity. The three sludge products all increased the content of large particles in the soil and improved the stability of the aggregates of SL. Among them, SSB and DSS had significant effects on improving the stability of the aggregates. Although the addition of the three sludge products improved the fertility of SL, compared with that of DSS and SSC, the addition of SSB made the growth indices of Chinese cabbage the best, indicating that SSB can effectively maintain soil nutrients. The heavy metal test results of Ni showed that SSB had a good stabilizing effect on heavy metals. Therefore, compared with drying and composting, pyrolysis of municipal sludge is more suitable for SL improvement.

Emerging Benefits: Pathophysiological Functions and Target Drugs of the Sigma-1 Receptor in Neurodegenerative Diseases.

The sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R) is encoded by the SIGMAR1 gene and is a nonopioid transmembrane receptor located in the mitochondrial-associated endoplasmic reticulum membrane (MAM). It helps to locate endoplasmic reticulum calcium channels, regulates calcium homeostasis, and acts as a molecular chaperone to control cell fate and participate in signal transduction. It plays an important role in protecting neurons through a variety of signaling pathways and participates in the regulation of cognition and motor behavior closely related to neurodegenerative diseases. Based on its neuroprotective effects, Sig-1R has now become a breakthrough target for alleviating Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. This article reviews the most cutting-edge research on the function of Sig-1R under normal or pathologic conditions and target drugs of the sigma-1 receptor in neurodegenerative diseases.

Shaofu Zhuyu decoction for primary dysmenorrhea: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Primary dysmenorrhea (PD), one of the common gynecological diseases, is more common in adolescent women. According to epidemiological investigation, the incidence of PD accounts for about 60% of all patients with dysmenorrhea, and its symptoms seriously affect the normal working life of women, so it is important to find a more safe and effective treatment. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine has made a lot of achievements in the treatment of female PD, among which a number of clinical studies have shown that Shaofu Zhuyu decoction (SFZY) can significantly improve the symptoms of dysmenorrhea and improve the therapeutic effect. Therefore, we intend to conduct a systematic review to further clarify the efficacy and safety of SFZY in the treatment of PD. METHODS: We will search each database from the built-in until May 2021. The English literature mainly searches Cochrane Library, PubMed, excerpt medica database, and Web of Science, while the Chinese literature comes from China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese biomedical literature database, VIP, and Wanfang database. Simultaneously we will retrieval clinical registration tests and grey literatures. This study only screen the clinical randomized controlled trials about XFZY for PD to assess its efficacy and safety. The 2 researchers worked independently on literature selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. The dichotomous data is represented by relative risk, and the continuous is expressed by mean difference (MD) or standard mean difference, eventually the data is synthesized using a fixed effect model or a random effect model depending on whether or not heterogeneity exists. The clinical efficacy and the score of dysmenorrhea symptoms were evaluated as the main outcomes. The artery pulsatility index (API), resistance index (RI), peak systolic/diastolic peak (S/D) were secondary outcomes. Finally, meta-analysis was conducted by RevMan software version 5.3. RESULTS: This study will provide high-quality evidence for treatment of PD with SFZY in terms of effectiveness and safety. CONCLUSION: This systematic review aims to provide new options for SFZY treatment of PD in terms of its efficacy and safety. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study does not require ethical approval. We will disseminate our findings by publishing results in a peer-reviewed journal. OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER: DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/DXZHR.

Monitoring the authenticity of pu'er tea via chemometric analysis of multielements and stable isotopes.

Mineral elements and stable isotopes combined with stoichiometric methods were used as a potential tool for first authenticating Chinese tea according to it's production year. A total of 86 mineral elements and stable isotope compositions were determined from the Xiangzhujing Pu'er tea in five different production years using ICP-MS and ICP-OES. On the basis of 78 statistically significant mineral elements and stable isotopes, HCA, PCA, PLS-DA, BP-ANN, and LDA were employed to build authentication models for predicting the Pu'er tea with different production years. The clustering results of the HCA and PCA were worse than that of PLS-DA, BP-ANN, and LDA. The PLS-DA model displayed a perfect model performance (R2X = 0.86, R2Y = 0.974, and Q2 = 0.922). The authentication performance of LDA and BP-ANN revealed their 100% recognition sensitivity and prediction ability and was thus better than that of PLS-DA. Mn, 68Zn, and 203Tl were the markers for enabling the successful authentication of Pu'er tea with different production years. This study contributes toward generalizing the use of mineral element and stable isotope fingerprinting combined with LDA and BP-ANN as a promising tool for authentication of tea worldwide.

Hyperoside ameliorates periodontitis in rats by promoting osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs via activation of the NF-κB pathway.

Hyperoside, as an active compound, widely exists in a large number of Chinese herbal medicines and has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of hyperoside on periodontitis have not been previously reported. In this study, we found that hyperoside ameliorates symptoms of periodontitis in a rat model, with improvements in alveolar bone resorption, relief of inflammatory infiltration, increase in orderly arrangement of collagen fibers and increase of osteogenic differentiation. In addition, hyperoside promoted proliferation, up-regulated EdU-positive cells, decreased cell-cycle distribution and increased the protein expression of Ki67 and PCNA in rat bone mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs), as revealed by Cell Counting Kit-8, EdU, flow cytometry and western blot analysis. Moreover, hyperoside significantly promoted osteogenic differentiation, as shown by quantitative RT-PCR, western blot and alizarin red staining assays. Furthermore, hyperoside activated the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in rBMSCs, similar to the results observed in vivo. Finally, BMS345541, an inhibitor of the NF-κB signaling pathway, could reverse the effects of hyperoside on the biological functions in rBMSCs. In conclusion, our results suggest that hyperoside has potential therapeutic properties against periodontitis via promotion of proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs via activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

[Succession Pattern of Phytoplankton and Its Drivers in Lake Luoma, Jiangsu Province].

As a water storage lake for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, it is crucial to examine changes in aquatic ecosystem structures in Lake Luoma, Jiangsu province. Field sampling was carried out in Lake Luoma monthly from 2014 to 2018 to study the relationship between the phytoplankton community structure and environmental factors. During the studied period, total nitrogen, permanganate index, and electrical conductivity in water column gradually increased, whereas fluoride content declined. The pattern of total phosphorus and dissolved oxygen was not distinct. A total of 71 genera of phytoplankton were identified from 2014 to 2018, and the average monthly biomass variation ranged from 0.16 to 5.51 mg·L-1. Bacillariophyta and Chlorophyta were the dominant phyla in the four years, followed by Pyrrophyta and Cryptophyta. The dominant genera were Synedra sp., Chroomonas spp., Aulacoseira spp., Dinobryon sp., Scenedesmus spp. , Fragilaria spp., Mougeotia sp. , Ankistrodesmus sp. , and Euglena spp. The results showed that the phytoplankton community structure significantly changed in the four years, which was mainly ascribed to the redistribution of biomass. Specifically, in addition to the dominance of Bacillariophyta and Chlorophyta, the dominance of Pyrrophyta and Cyanophyta increased during the last two years. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis showed that variation of the phytoplankton community in Lake Luoma was mainly related to total nitrogen, fluoride, water temperature, total phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, and permanganate index, among which the total nitrogen, water temperature, and fluoride concentration dominated the phytoplankton community change after the generalized additive model test. Water temperature is the driving factor affecting seasonal changes of the phytoplankton community. Total nitrogen and fluoride concentrations are the driving factors affecting the interannual variation in the phytoplankton community. Our study indicated that in recent years, the implementation of the ban on sand mining and demolition of the enclosed aquaculture in Lake Luoma has affected the water environment, resulting in a significant succession of the phytoplankton community.

Effects of a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise, Baduanjin, on the physical and cognitive functions in the community of older adults with cognitive frailty: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Cognitive frailty (CF) is a clinical manifestation characterised by the simultaneous presence of both physical frailty and cognitive impairment among older adults without dementia and has become a new target for healthy ageing. Increasing evidence shows that regular Baduanjin (a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise) training is beneficial in improving physical function and cognitive ability in the older adults. The primary aim of this trial is to observe the effect of Baduanjin on physical and cognitive functions in older adults with CF. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: In this prospective, outcome assessor-blind, two-arm randomised controlled trial, a total of 102 participants with CF will be recruited and randomly allocated (1:1) into the Baduanjin training or usual physical activity control group. The control group will receive health education for 30 min at least once a month. Based on health education, participants in the Baduanjin exercise group will receive a 24-week Baduanjin training with 60 min per session and 3 sessions per week, while those in the usual physical activity control group will maintain their original lifestyle. Primary outcomes (frailty index and global cognitive ability), body composition, grip force, balance, fatigue, specific cognitive domain, including memory, execution and visual spatial abilities, and life quality of secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline, and at 13 and 25 weeks after randomisation, while the structural and functional MRI will be measured at baseline and 25 weeks after randomisation. The mixed linear model will be conducted to observe the intervention effects. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has been approved by the ethics committee of the second people's hospital of Fujian province (Approval no. 2018-KL015). Results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated at scientific conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR1800020341; Pre-results.

[Comparative observation of acupoint thread-embedding and acupuncture therapy of Shugan Tiaoshen for insomnia of liver depression and qi stagnation].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of Shugan Tiaoshen (soothing the liver and regulating mind) acupoint thread-embedding therapy and Shugan Tiaoshen acupuncture therapy for insomnia of liver depression and qi stagnation. METHODS: A total of 68 patients with insomnia of liver depression and qi stagnation were randomly divided into an acupoint embedding group (34 cases) and an acupuncture group (34 cases). Two groups were respectively treated with acupoint thread-embedding and acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Shenmen (HT 7), Neiguan (PC 6), Taichong (LR 3), Ganshu (BL 18) and Xinshu (BL 15). The treatment in the acupoint embedding group was given once a week, and in the acupuncture group was given once every other day for 6 weeks. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), self-rating depression scale (SDS), TCM syndrome scores before and after treatment and medical expenses were compared between the two groups, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. RESULTS: After treatment, the PSQI total scores, each sub-item score and SAS and SDS scores of the two groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05); the sleep quality, time during fall asleep, sleep time, sleep efficiency, daytime dysfunction scores and PSQI total score in the acupoint embedding group after treatment were lower than those in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). After treatment, except for constipation and yellowish urine, the sub-item scores and total scores of TCM syndromes in the two groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05); the sleep disturbance score of the acupoint embedding group was lower than that of the acupuncture group (P<0.05). The medical expenses in the acupoint embedding group was lower than that in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). The total effective rate of the acupoint embedding group was 85.3% (29/34), and the acupuncture group was 82.4% (28/34), there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Shugan Tiaoshen acupoint thread-embedding therapy and Shugan Tiaoshen acupuncture therapy both have significant curative effect on insomnia of liver depression and qi stagnation, but acupoint thread-embedding therapy is better than acupuncture therapy in improving sleep quality and reducing medical expenses.

[Intervention of auricular point sticking on perioperative psychological stress in patients with anorectal diseases].

OBJECTIVE: To explore and quantify the intervention effect of auricular point sticking on perioperative psychological stress in patients with anorectal diseases. METHODS: Eighty patients who underwent anorectal surgery were randomly divided into an observation group (40 cases) and a control group (40 cases). The routine preoperative guidance, preoperative visits, and informed of the postoperative condition were received in the control group. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, auricular point sticking was immediately applied at Shenmen (TF4), Shen (CO10), Wei (CO4), Gan (CO12), Pi (CO13), Pizhixia (AT4), E (AT1), Nie (AT2) and Zhen (AT3) in the observation group.The patients were pressed by themselves, 3 to 5 min per point each time, 5 times a day, and the contralateral auricular points were replaced every 2 or 3 days until 1 week after surgery. The Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA), Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) scores were compared between the two groups before and 7 days after surgery. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the total HAMA scores between after and before surgery in the observation group (P>0.05). The total HAMA score in the control group was higher than that before surgery (P<0.05). The total HAMA score in the observation group after surgery was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the total HAMD scores between the two groups before and after surgery (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the total HAMD scores between the two groups after the surgery (P>0.05). The scores of somatic anxiety factor in the two groups were higher than those before surgery (P<0.05). The scores of somatic anxiety factor in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The scores of psychotic anxiety factors in the two groups were lower than those before surgery (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the score of psychotic anxiety factors between the two groups (P>0.05). The total score of PSQI in the two groups was lower than that before surgery (P<0.05), and the total score of PSQI in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Auricular point sticking can effectively improve some psychological stress problems during perioperative period in patients with anorectal diseases.

A Systematic Measurement of Street Quality through Multi-Sourced Urban Data: A Human-Oriented Analysis.

Many studies have been made on street quality, physical activity and public health. However, most studies so far have focused on only few features, such as street greenery or accessibility. These features fail to capture people's holistic perceptions. The potential of fine grained, multi-sourced urban data creates new research avenues for addressing multi-feature, intangible, human-oriented issues related to the built environment. This study proposes a systematic, multi-factor quantitative approach for measuring street quality with the support of multi-sourced urban data taking Yangpu District in Shanghai as case study. This holistic approach combines typical and new urban data in order to measure street quality with a human-oriented perspective. This composite measure of street quality is based on the well-established 5Ds dimensions: Density, Diversity, Design, Destination accessibility and Distance to transit. They are combined as a collection of new urban data and research techniques, including location-based service (LBS) positioning data, points of interest (PoIs), elements and visual quality of street-view images extraction with supervised machine learning, and accessibility metrics using network science. According to these quantitative measurements from the five aspects, streets were classified into eight feature clusters and three types reflecting the value of street quality using a hierarchical clustering method. The classification was tested with experts. The analytical framework developed through this study contributes to human-oriented urban planning practices to further encourage physical activity and public health.

Antipruritic effects of electroacupuncture on morphine-induced pruritus model mice through the TLR2/4-MyD88-NF-κB pathway.

Pruritus is one of the common side effects of intrathecal or epidural injection of opioids. The aim of this study was to test the antipruritic effect of acupuncture and its possible mechanism. We used electroacupuncture (EA), toll-like receptor (TLR)2/4 antagonist sparstolonin B (SsnB), and TLR2/4 agonist peptidoglycan (PGN) to precondition female wild-type BALB/c mice, and then prepared a morphine-induced pruritus model. The mRNA and protein expression levels of TLR2, TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB were detected by RT-PCR and western blotting. The contents of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-12, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α in serum were measured by ELISA assays. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze the ratio of M1-phenotype to M2-phenotype macrophages. Our results showed that EA preconditioning improved pruritus; reduced the expressions of TLR2, TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB both at the mRNA and protein levels (P<0.05); reduced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-α; and increased the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (P<0.05). EA promoted M2-phenotype macrophage differentiation. Moreover, these results showed no significant difference between the SsnB group and the EA+SsnB group (P>0.05), but showed a significant difference between the PGN group and the EA+PGN group (P<0.05). Therefore, we propose that EA may be involved in the remission of pruritus in morphine-induced pruritus model mice through the TLR2/4-MyD88-NF-κB pathway. EA is a potential therapeutic treatment for pruritus.

Ru(bpy)32+-Silica@Poly-L-lysine-Au as labels for electrochemiluminescence lysozyme aptasensor based on 3D graphene.

In this work, the feasibility of a novel sensitive electrochemiluminescence aptasensor for the detection of lysozyme using Ru(bpy)32+-Silica@Poly-L-lysine-Au (RuSiNPs@PLL-Au) nanocomposites labeling as an indicator was demonstrated. The substrate electrode of the aptasensor was prepared by depositing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on 3D graphene-modified electrode. The lysozyme binding aptamer (LBA) was attached to the 3D graphene/AuNPs electrode through gold-thiol affinity, hybridized with a complementary single-strand DNA (CDNA) of the lysozyme aptamer labeled by RuSiNPs@PLL-Au as an electrochemiluminescence intensity amplifier. Thanks to the synergistic amplification of the 3D graphene, the AuNPs and RuSiNPs@PLL-Au NPs linked to Ru(bpy)32+-ECL further enhanced the ECL intensity of the aptasensor. In presence of lysozyme, the CDNA segment of the self-assembled duplex was displaced by the lysozyme, resulting in decreased electrochemiluminescence signal. Under the optimized conditions, the decrease in electrochemiluminescence intensity varied proportionally with the logarithmic concentration of the lysozyme from 2.25 × 10-12 to 5.0 × 10-8 mol L-1, and the detection limit was estimated to 7.5 × 10-13 mol L-1. The aptasensor was further tested in real samples and found reliable for the detection of lysozyme, thus holding great potential application in food safety researches and bioassay analysis.

Calycosin Inhibits the Migration and Invasion of Human Breast Cancer Cells by Down-Regulation of Foxp3 Expression.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Calycosin, a phytoestrogenic compound, has recently emerged as a promising antitumor drug. It has been shown that calycosin suppresses growth and induces apoptosis of breast cancer cells. However, the effect of calycosin on migration and invasion of breast cancer cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been elucidated. METHODS: Human breast cancer cells MCF-7 and T47D were treated with, or without, different doses (0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 or 150 µM) of calycosin, and the viability of different groups was determined by MTT assay. Next, the inhibitory effect of higher doses (50, 100 or 150 µM) of calycosin on migration and invasion of the two cell lines was determined by wound healing and transwell assay. The relative expression levels of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in MCF-7 and T47D cells were determined by quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: Treatment with lower doses (6.25 or 12.5 µM) promoted proliferation of breast cancer cells, but with higher doses significantly reduced the viability of MCF-7 and T47D cells. Furthermore, higher doses of calycosin were found to inhibit migration and invasion of the two cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, treatment with a higher dose of calycosin significantly reduced the expression levels of Foxp3, followed by down-regulation of VEGF and MMP-9 in both MCF-7 and T47D breast cancer cells. CONCLUSION: Treatment with a higher dose of calycosin tends to reduce migration and invasion capacity of human breast cancer cells, by targeting Foxp3-mediated VEGF and MMP-9 expression.

Anti-inflammatory effect of Man-Pen-Fang, a Chinese herbal compound, on chronic pelvic inflammation in rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has become the focus of research for the treatment of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease (CPID) based on unique medical theory system. Man-Pen-Fang (MPF), a Chinese herbal compound, which is composed of Thlaspi arvense L. (Cruciferae), Gleditsia sinensis Lam. (Leguminosae), Smilax china L. (Liliaceae), Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Sieb. (Celastraceae) and Vaccaria segetalis (Neck.) (Caryophyllaceae) MPF has been used for the treatment of CPID and exerted significant clinical curative effects. However, the corresponding active principles and anti-inflammatory mechanism of MPF are still unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY: The objective of present study is to evaluate the effect of MPF on CPID in the chronic pelvic inflammation (CPI) rat model and elucidate its possible anti-inflammatory mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CPI in rats was induced by administration with E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Beta-hemolytic streptococcus. MPF (8.112g/(kg d) (20 times of adult dosage), 4.056g/(kg d) (10 times of adult dosage) and 2.028g/(kg d) (5 times of adult dosage)) and Jingangteng Capsule 2g/(kg d) (20 times of adult dosage) were administered orally for 20 days. The serum levels of five inflammation-associated cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and TGF-ß1) were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay, and the mRNA expression levels of TGF-ß1, P53, Fas, FasL and MMP-2 in the uterus tissue were measured by quantitative RT-PCR. Furthermore, the expression of NF-κB p65 in uterus and ovary tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry assay and the pathological changes induced in the uterus and ovary tissues were observed by histology. RESULTS: MPF caused a reduction in serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and TGF-ß1. The expression of P53 mRNA, Fas/FasL mRNA and MMP-2 mRNA in the uterus tissue was significantly elevated after treating with MPF, in contrast the expression of TGF-ß1 mRNA was decreased. Furthermore, the expression of NF-κB p65 in uterus and ovary tissue was inhibited after treating with MPF. CONCLUSIONS: These results taken together suggest that MPF has a significant anti-CPID effect, probably due to inhibition of the inflammation reaction by the promotion, and the induction of the apoptosis of inflammatory cells and downregulation of the serum levels of inflammation cytokines.

Association between Recreational Physical Activity and the Risk of Upper Urinary Calculi.

OBJECTIVE: Upper urinary calculi (UUC) is considered to be a comprehensive disease associated with many risk factors, but the role of physical activity (PA) is undefined. Here, we conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate this relationship in Asian populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with UUC were the subjects of study and those who participated in a health examination in local medical center were included as controls. Information was collected through the same standard questionnaire. A metabolic equivalent score (METs) was measured for each kind of activity. OR of UUC in categories of PA were determined by logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 1,782 controls and 1,517 cases were enrolled. People who took higher PA (5-9.9, 10-19.9, 20-29.9 and >30 METs/wk) weekly were associated with lower risks of UUC than those took lower PA (<4.9 METs/wk) after adjusting for age, ethnicity, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, water intake, history of gout, history of diabetes mellitus, history of supplemental calcium use and history of hypertension (adjusted OR 0.11, 0.32, 0.24, 0.34; 95% CI 0.08-0.15, 0.23-0.43, 0.15-0.40, 0.22-0.53, respectively; p value <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In our cross-sectional study, PA was associated with UUC.

Formononetin promotes proliferation that involves a feedback loop of microRNA-375 and estrogen receptor alpha in estrogen receptor-positive cells.

Formononetin is an O-methylated isoflavone that is isolated from the root of Astragalus membranaceus, and it has antitumorigenic effects. Our previous studies found that formononetin triggered growth-inhibitory and apoptotic activities in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. To further investigate the potential effect of formononetin in promoting cell proliferation in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive cells, we used in vivo and in vitro studies to elucidate the possible mechanism. ERα-positive cells (HUVEC, MCF-7) were treated with formononetin. The CCK8 assay, Hoechst 33258, and flow cytometry were used to assess cell proliferation and apoptosis. mRNA levels of ERα, Bcl-2, and miR-375 were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction. ERα, p-Akt, and Bcl-2 expression was determined using Western blot. Compared with the control, low formononetin concentrations (2-6 µM) stimulated ERα-positive cell proliferation (HUVEC, MCF-7). The more sensitive HUVEC cells were used to study the relevant signaling pathway. After treatment with formononetin, ERα, miR-375, p-Akt, and Bcl-2 expression was significantly upregulated. The proliferative effect of formononetin was also blocked by a miR-375 inhibitor or raloxifene pretreatment. Additionally, in the in vivo studies, uterine weight in ovariectomized mice treated with formononetin increased significantly, but the weight dramatically decreased with raloxifene or miR-375 inhibitor pretreatment before formononetin. This study demonstrated that formononetin promoted ERα-positive cell proliferation through miR-375 activation and this mechanism is possibly involving in a miR-375 and ERα feedback loop.