RPTOR blockade suppresses brain metastases of NSCLC by interfering the ceramide metabolism via hijacking YY1 binding.

BACKGROUND: Ceramide metabolism is crucial in the progress of brain metastasis (BM). However, it remains unexplored whether targeting ceramide metabolism may arrest BM. METHODS: RNA sequencing was applied to screen different genes in primary and metastatic foci and whole-exome sequencing (WES) to seek crucial abnormal pathway in BM + and BM-patients. Cellular arrays were applied to analyze the permeability of blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the activation or inhibition of pathway. Database and Co-Immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay were adopted to verify the protein-protein interaction. Xenograft and zebrafish model were further employed to verify the cellular results. RESULTS: RNA sequencing and WES reported the involvement of RPTOR and ceramide metabolism in BM progress. RPTOR was significantly upregulated in BM foci and increased the permeability of BBB, while RPTOR deficiency attenuated the cell invasiveness and protected extracellular matrix. Exogenous RPTOR boosted the SPHK2/S1P/STAT3 cascades by binding YY1, in which YY1 bound to the regions of SPHK2 promoter (at -353 ~ -365 nt), further promoting the expression of SPHK2. The latter was rescued by YY1 RNAi. Xenograft and zebrafish model showed that RPTOR blockade suppressed BM of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and impaired the SPHK2/S1P/STAT3 pathway. CONCLUSION: RPTOR is a key driver gene in the brain metastasis of lung cancer, which signifies that RPTOR blockade may serve as a promising therapeutic candidate for clinical application.

Uncovering a CF3 Effect on X-ray Absorption Energies of [Cu(CF3 )4 ]- and Related Copper Compounds by Using Resonant Diffraction Anomalous Fine Structure (DAFS) Measurements.

Understanding the electronic structures of high-valent metal complexes aids the advancement of metal-catalyzed cross coupling methodologies. A prototypical complex with formally high valency is [Cu(CF3 )4 ]- (1), which has a formal Cu(III) oxidation state but whose physical analysis has led some to a Cu(I) assignment in an inverted ligand field model. Recent examinations of 1 by X-ray spectroscopies have led previous authors to contradictory conclusions, motivating the re-examination of its X-ray absorption profile here by a complementary method, resonant diffraction anomalous fine structure (DAFS). From analysis of DAFS measurements for a series of seven mononuclear Cu complexes including 1, here it is shown that there is a systematic trifluoromethyl effect on X-ray absorption that blue shifts the resonant Cu K-edge energy by 2-3 eV per CF3 , completely accounting for observed changes in DAFS profiles between formally Cu(III) complexes like 1 and formally Cu(I) complexes like (Ph3 P)3 CuCF3 (3). Thus, in agreement with the inverted ligand field model, the data presented herein imply that 1 is best described as containing a Cu(I) ion with dn count approaching 10.

Using a consensus acupoints regimen to explore the relationship between acupuncture sensation and lumbar spinal postoperative analgesia: A retrospective analysis of prospective clinical cooperation.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment on postoperative pain in patients with degenerative lumbar spine disease, and explored the relationship between the postoperative analgesic effect of acupuncture and the sensation of acupuncture experienced by the patients. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed the medical records of 97 patients who had undergone an operation by the same surgeon due to degenerative lumbar disease. These patients were divided into acupuncture group (n = 32), patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) group (n = 27), and oral analgesia group (n = 38) according to the different postoperative analgesic methods. During their hospitalization, patients completed daily evaluations of their pain using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and injection times of supplemental meperidine were recorded. Also, the Chinese version of the Massachusetts General Hospital Acupuncture Sensation Scale (C-MASS) was used in the acupuncture group. RESULTS: Each of the three treatment groups showed significant reductions in postoperative pain, as shown by reduced VAS scores. The acupuncture group, however, had less rebound pain (P < 0.05) than the other two groups. Both the acupuncture and PCA groups experienced acute analgesic effects that were superior to those in the oral analgesia group. In addition, the higher the C-MASS index on the second day after surgery, the lower the VAS score on the fourth day after surgery. There was also a significant difference in the "dull pain" in the acupuncture sensation. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that acupuncture was beneficial for postoperative pain and discomfort after simple surgery for degenerative spinal disease. It is worth noting that there was a disproportionate relevance between the patient's acupuncture sensation and the improvement of pain VAS score.

Electroacupuncture attenuates vascular hyporeactivity in a rat model of portal hypertension induced by bile duct ligation.

BACKGROUND: A hyperdynamic circulation and impaired vascular responsiveness to vasoconstrictors are observed in portal hypertension (PHT) rats. Inflammation is a major contributor to the hyperdynamic circulation state in murine models of PHT. Electroacupuncture (EA) may ameliorate the inflammatory response and limit arterial vasodilatation and portal pressure. This study investigated the possible mechanisms underlying putative hemodynamics effects of EA in normal and PHT rats. METHODS: PHT was induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) surgery over 4 weeks in rats. Sham-operated and BDL rats were treated with low-frequency EA (2 Hz) at ST36 10 min three times weekly for one or two consecutive weeks (for a total of 3 or 7 treatments, respectively). Serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nitrite/nitrate (NOx) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α) were analyzed, and hemodynamic variation and contractile responses to phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate and phenylephrine in aortic and superior mesenteric arterial rings were recorded. Inducible (i) and endothelial (3) nitric oxide synthase (NOS), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), and protein kinase C-α (PKC-α) levels were determined by Western blotting. RESULTS: EA significantly reduced portal pressure and serum TNF-α, NOx and 6-keto-PGF1α levels compared to the untreated BDL group, enhanced maximum contractile responses in the aorta, up-regulated PKC-α, and down-regulated iNOS and COX-1 levels. In addition, EA decreased the aortic angiogenesis signaling cascade, reflected by down-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) abundance and transforming growth factor ß receptor (TGFßR)I/II expression, as assessed by immunostaining. CONCLUSION: EA attenuates TNF-α, NO and 6-keto-PGF1α overproduction, modulates the vascular levels of constitutive NOS and PKC-α, blunts the development of the angiogenesis cascade, and enhances vascular contractile force in PHT rats.

Anti-inflammatory effects of brucea javanica oil via inhibition of NF-κB activation.

OBJECTIVE: As a traditional herbal medicine extracted from the seeds of Brucea javanica, Brucea javanica oil (BJO) has been clinically used to treat wart, chronic gastroenteritis and a variety of malignant tumors, including gastrointestinal cancer and lung cancer. We have recently reported the anti-tumor role and possible molecular mechanisms of BJO in treatment of lung cancer. However, it remains elusive whether BJO also has an anti-inflammatory effect. METHODS: The pneumonia-related inflammatory factors of macrophages under LPS treatment were investigated by real-time PCR and ELISA assays. LPS-induced acute pneumonia rat model was established. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) examination was performed to detect histopathological changes in the lung tissues. Real-time PCR and ELISA assays were also used to detect the pneumonia-related inflammatory factors in lung tissues. RESULTS: LPS-induced expression and secretion of pneumonia-related inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6 and IL-8) were significantly suppressed by BJO in a concentration-dependent manner in RAW264.7 cells. However, BJO did not affect cell proliferation and survival rate. Further mechanistic studies revealed that BJO down-regulated the phosphorylation of IκB and p65, thereby inhibiting NF-κB pathway of macrophages and exerting its anti-inflammatory function. Western blot analysis showed that the phosphorylation levels of IκB and p65 were significantly up-regulated while the protein level of IκB was inhibited upon LPS stimulation in RAW264.7 cells and in lung tissue. Notably, LPS stimulation levels of IκB and p65 were effectively reversed under BJO co-treatment. The expression level of p65 was not influenced by LPS and BJO treatment. HE staining results showed that BJO can reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cells in lung. CONCLUSION: BJO can reduce the level of inflammatory factors in lung tissue, which provides a theoretical basis for BJO emulsion as an adjuvant therapy for pneumonia.

Effect of acupuncture on capillary refill time in healthy adults: A clinical study.

BACKGROUND: Pulse examination, which reveals information about bodily qi and blood circulation, is an essential diagnostic tool in traditional Chinese medicine. Capillary refill time (CRT) is a simple test parameter for assessing circulation status. Examining the root of pulse and measuring CRT are extremely similar procedures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of acupuncture on CRT. METHODS: Three acupoints were selected to evaluate the effects of CRT. CRT, quantitative CRT, heart rate, core body temperature, and blood pressure were measured before acupuncture and immediately after removal of needles and 30 min after removal of needles. A total of 15 healthy adults representing both sexes were prospectively included in the study. The acupoints selected were bilateral Taixi (KI3), Hegu (LI4), and Zusanli (ST36). Each participant received acupuncture three times, interventions were separated by at least 2 days, and acupuncture was performed on only one acupoint at each intervention. RESULTS: CRT decreased significantly after acupuncture on only KI3. Quantitative CRT decreased significantly after acupuncture on KI3 and LI4. Heart rate changed significantly after acupuncture on KI3 and ST36. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture on KI3 can reduce CRT in health adults.

Intertwined density waves in a metallic nickelate.

Nickelates are a rich class of materials, ranging from insulating magnets to superconductors. But for stoichiometric materials, insulating behavior is the norm, as for most late transition metal oxides. Notable exceptions are the 3D perovskite LaNiO3, an unconventional paramagnetic metal, and the layered Ruddlesden-Popper phases R4Ni3O10, (R = La, Pr, Nd). The latter are particularly intriguing because they exhibit an unusual metal-to-metal transition. Here, we demonstrate that this transition results from an incommensurate density wave with both charge and magnetic character that lies closer in its behavior to the metallic density wave seen in chromium metal than the insulating stripes typically found in single-layer nickelates like La2-xSrxNiO4. We identify these intertwined density waves as being Fermi surface-driven, revealing a novel ordering mechanism in this nickelate that reflects a coupling among charge, spin, and lattice degrees of freedom that differs not only from the single-layer materials, but from the 3D perovskites as well.

Efficacy of Electronic Acupuncture Shoes for Chronic Low Back Pain: Double-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic low back pain is a common problem and is associated with high costs, including those related to health care and indirect costs due to absence at work or reduced productivity. Previous studies have demonstrated that acupuncture or electroacupuncture can relieve low back pain. Electronic acupuncture shoes (EAS) are a novel device designed in this study. This device combines the properties of acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for clinical use. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of EAS in patients with chronic low back pain. METHODS: In this prospective double-blinded randomized controlled study, the data of 83 patients who experienced chronic low back pain were analyzed. Patients came to our clinic for 20 visits and underwent assessment and treatment. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either EAS plus placebo nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (EAS group, n=42) or sham EAS plus NSAIDs (NSAID group, n=41). The visual analog scale (VAS) score and range of motion were assessed at baseline, before and after each EAS treatment, and 2 weeks after the last treatment. The time for achieving pain remission was recorded. Quality of life was assessed at the 2nd, 14th, and 20th visits. RESULTS: After 6 weeks of treatment, the treatment success rate in each visit in the EAS group was higher than that in the NSAID group, as revealed by the intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses, but significant differences were observed only during the 16th visit in the ITT analysis (EAS group: 31/37, 84% and NSAID group: 21/34, 62%; P=.04). The change in the VAS score from baseline in each visit in the EAS group was greater than that in the NSAID group, as revealed by the ITT and PP analyses, and significant differences were observed in the 5th visit and 9th visit in the ITT analysis (P=.048 and P=.048, respectively). Significant differences were observed in the left rotation in the 2nd visit and 4th visit (P=.049 and P=.03, respectively). No significant differences were observed in the VAS score before and after treatment in each visit and in the quality of life in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: EAS might serve as a reliable alternative therapeutic tool for patients with chronic low back pain who are contraindicated for oral NSAIDs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02468297 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02468297.

Effect of Electroacupuncture in Mice with Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis and the Influence of Gut Microbiota.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between inflammatory bowel disease and gut microbiota is inextricable. Electroacupuncture (EA) can alleviate acute experimental colitis, but the performance of intestinal microorganisms and the mechanism are still not fully understood. We investigated the relationship between the EA and gut microbes and clarified the role of tight junction and adiponectin in the anti-inflammatory effect of EA. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into three groups: normal control, dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS-) induced ulcerative colitis (DSS), and DSS with EA ST36 (DSS + EA). Mice body weight, DAI score, colon length, and histological score were evaluated for colitis severity. Colonic inflammation and tight junctions were demonstrated by the immunohistochemical (IHC) method. Systemic responses were confirmed by plasma cytokines and adiponectin with multiplex immunoassays. Gut microbiome profiling was conducted by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. RESULTS: EA had benefit in relieving both macroscopic and microscopic colonic inflammation. It can reduce disease activity, maintain colon length, and ameliorate histological inflammatory reaction. In IHC stain, EA decreased CD11b, F4/80, TLR4, and MyD88 and preserved claudin-1 and ZO-1 expression. Compared with the control group, the DSS group showed elevated levels of CRP, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-6, but decreased adiponectin. These changes were reversed by EA, accompanied by modulation of the overall structure of gut microbiota. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that EA exerts its therapeutic effect by TLR4 signaling via the MyD88-dependent pathway. EA could increase adiponectin, maintain mucosal tight junctions, and modulate gut microbiota.

Acupuncture Effect and Mechanism for Treating Pain in Patients With Parkinson's Disease.

Non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) have been receiving increasing attention. Approximately half of patients with PD have experience PD-related pain. We investigated the effect and mechanism of acupuncture in patients with PD who have pain. PD patients with pain were divided into acupuncture group and control group. Nine patients completed acupuncture treatment; seven patients who received only an analgesic agent underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) twice. fMRI was performed to evaluate the functional connectivity of the brain regions. After treatment, a decrease in total scores on the King's Parkinson's Disease Pain Scale (KPPS) and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale was observed in the acupuncture group (-46.2 and -21.6%, respectively). In the acupuncture group, increased connectivity was observed in four connections, one in the left hemisphere between the middle temporal gyrus (MTG) and precentral gyrus, and three in the right hemisphere between the postcentral gyrus and precentral gyrus, supramarginal gyrus and precentral gyrus, and MTG and insular cortex. A significant correlation was noted between the changes in functional connectivity and KPPS. The involved connection was between the left middle frontal gyrus and the right precentral gyrus (R = -0.698, P = 0.037). Acupuncture could relieve pain in PD patients by modulating brain regions related to both sensory-discriminative and emotional aspects. The present study might increase the confidence of users that acupuncture is an effective and safe analgesic tool that can relieve PD-related pain.

Safety Assessment of the Auto Manipulation Device for Acupuncture in Sprague-Dawley Rats: Preclinical Evaluation of the Prototype.

BACKGROUND: The Auto Manipulation Device for Acupuncture (AMDA) is designed for providing stable, quantified effects and higher frequency when doing lifting and thrusting manipulation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the safety of manipulation by AMDA in different frequency and duration in healthy rats. METHODS: The study was divided into two parts: single intervention and once a day for a week. 12 rats and 15 rats were randomly allocated to different groups: Control (needle insertion only), AMDA (2Hz/10Mins), AMDA (2Hz/20Mins), AMDA (20Hz/10Mins), and AMDA (20Hz/20Mins) for single and repeated interventions. Real-time physiological functions, laboratory data, and the bilateral muscle tissue of acupoint (ST 36) were obtained after the intervention. RESULTS: We found neither real-time physiological functions nor laboratory data differences between control group and AMDA groups in both parts. In the muscle tissue samples, the slight damage had been observed in the AMDA group with a frequency of 2 Hz for 20 minutes after once intervention, and the repeated session groups noted more obvious tissue damage with fibrotic change. Although the period was shorter, higher frequency manipulation caused more damage that fibroblast nuclei became more slender and obvious. However, no significant adverse effect was noted such as crippled and molting in the whole process. CONCLUSION: Our study suggested that the safety issue of AMDA operation in rats is feasible because there was no difference between control group and AMDA groups among real-time physiological functions and laboratory data. However, manipulation with higher frequency should be more preserved.

Photoluminescence mechanism and applications of Zn-doped carbon dots.

Heteroatom-doped carbon dots (CDs) with excellent optical characteristics and negligible toxicity have emerged in many applications including bioimaging, biosensing, photocatalysis, and photothermal therapy. The metal-doping of CDs using various heteroatoms results in an enhancement of the photophysics but also imparts them with multifunctionality. However, unlike nonmetal doping, typical metal doping results in low fluorescence quantum yields (QYs), and an unclear photoluminescence mechanism. In this contribution, we detail results concerning zinc doped CDs (Zn-CDs) with QYs of up to 35%. The zinc ion charges serve as a surface passivating agent and prevent the aggregation of graphene π-π stacking, leading to an increase in the QY of the Zn-CDs. Structural and chemical investigations using spectroscopic and first principle simulations further revealed the effects of zinc doping on the CDs. The robust Zn-CDs were used for the ultra-trace detection of Hg2+ with a detection limit of 0.1 µM, and a quench mechanism was proposed. The unique optical properties of the Zn-CDs have promise for use in applications such as in vivo sensing and future phototherapy applications.

Position Assignment and Oxidation State Recognition of Fe and Co Centers in Heterometallic Mixed-Valent Molecular Precursors for the Low-Temperature Preparation of Target Spinel Oxide Materials.

A series of mixed-valent, heterometallic (mixed-transition metal) diketonates that can be utilized as prospective volatile single-source precursors for the low-temperature preparation of MxM'3-xO4 spinel oxide materials is reported. Three iron-cobalt complexes with Fe/Co ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1 were synthesized by several methods using both solid-state and solution reactions. On the basis of nearly quantitative reaction yields, elemental analyses, and comparison of metal-oxygen bonds with those in homometallic analogues, heterometallic compounds were formulated as [FeIII(acac)3][CoII(hfac)2] (1), [CoII(hfac)2][FeIII(acac)3][CoII(hfac)2] (2), and [FeII(hfac)2][FeIII(acac)3][CoII(hfac)2] (3). In the above heteroleptic complexes, the Lewis acidic, coordinatively unsaturated CoII/FeII centers chelated by two hexafluoroacetylacetonate (hfac) ligands maintain bridging interactions with oxygen atoms of acetylacetonate (acac) groups that chelate the neighboring FeIII metal ion. Preliminary assignment of Fe and Co positions/oxidation states in 1-3 drawn from X-ray structural investigation was corroborated by a number of complementary techniques. Single-crystal resonant synchrotron diffraction and neutron diffraction experiments unambiguously confirmed the location of Fe and Co sites in the molecules of dinuclear (1) and trinuclear (2) complexes, respectively. Direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry revealed the presence of FeIII- and CoII-based fragments in the gas phase upon evaporation of precursors 1 and 2 as well as of FeIII, FeII, and CoII species for complex 3. Theoretical investigation of two possible "valent isomers", [FeIII(acac)3][CoII(hfac)2] (1) and [CoIII(acac)3][FeII(hfac)2] (1'), provided an additional support for the metal site/oxidation state assignment giving a preference of 6.48 kcal/mol for the experimentally observed molecule 1. Magnetic susceptibility measurements data are in agreement with the presence of high-spin FeIII and CoII magnetic centers with weak anti-ferromagnetic coupling between those in molecules of 1 and 2. Highly volatile heterometallic complexes 1-3 were found to act as effective single-source precursors for the low-temperature preparation of iron-cobalt spinel oxides FexCo3-xO4 known as important materials for diverse energy-related applications.

Anti-hyperuricemic and anti-inflammatory actions of vaticaffinol isolated from Dipterocarpus alatus in hyperuricemic mice.

The present study was designed to examine the anti-hyperuricemic and anti-inflammatory effects and possible mechanisms of vaticaffinol, a resveratrol tetramer isolated from ethanol extracts of Dipterocarpus alatus, in oxonate-induced hyperuricemic mice. At 1 h after 250 mg·kg-1 potassium oxonate was given, vaticaffinol at 20, 40, and 60 mg·kg-1 was intragastrically administered to hyperuricemic mice once daily for seven consecutive days. Vaticaffinol significantly decreased serum uric acid levels and improved kidney function in hyperuricemic mice. It inhibited hepatic activity of xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) and xanthine oxidase (XOD), regulated renal mRNA and protein levels of urate transporter 1 (URAT1), glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9), organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1), organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1), OCT2, organic cation/carnitine transporter 1 (OCTN1), and OCTN2 in hyperuricemic mice. Moreover, vaticaffinol markedly down-regulated renal protein levels of NOD-like receptor 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like (ASC), and Caspase-1, resulting in the reduction of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-18, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in this animal model. Additionally, HPLC and LC-MS analyses clearly testified the presence of vaticaffinol in the crude extract. These results suggest that vaticaffinol may be useful for the prevention and treatment of hyperuricemia with kidney inflammation.

Seed Oil of Brucea javanicaInduces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis via Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Human Lung Cancer Cells.

Brucea javanica oil (BJO), a traditional herbal medicine extracted from the seeds of B. javanica, has been clinically used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy in China. However, how BJO exerts this antitumor effect is still largely unknown. Here, effects of BJO on the growth of NSCLC and SCLC cell lines were investigated by the 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenytetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay, and the results showed that BJO inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells (NSCLC) and H446 cells (SCLC). Further studies revealed that BJO induced G0/G1 arrest partly via regulating p53 and cyclin D1 in these two cell lines. BJO also has pro-apoptotic effect on H446 and A549 cells through mitochondria/caspase-mediated pathway, which was initiated by the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). These findings thus revealed the molecular mechanisms underlying the antitumor effect of BJO on SCLC and NSCLC, which may benefit the further clinical application of BJO.

Growth of human colon cancer cells in nude mice is delayed by ketogenic diet with or without omega-3 fatty acids and medium-chain triglycerides.

BACKGROUND: Tumors are largely unable to metabolize ketone bodies for energy due to various deficiencies in one or both of the key mitochondrial enzymes, which may provide a rationale for therapeutic strategies that inhibit tumor growth by administration of a ketogenic diet with average protein but low in carbohydrates and high in fat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six male BALB/C nude mice were injected subcutaneously with tumor cells of the colon cancer cell line HCT116. The animals were then randomly split into three feeding groups and fed either a ketogenic diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and MCT (MKD group; n=12) or lard only (LKD group; n=12) or a standard diet (SD group; n=12) ad libitum. Experiments were ended upon attainment of the target tumor volume of 600 mm3 to 700 mm3. The three diets were compared for tumor growth and survival time (interval between tumor cell injection and attainment of target tumor volume). RESULTS: The tumor growth in the MKD and LKD groups was significantly delayed compared to that in the SD group. CONCLUSIONS: Application of an unrestricted ketogenic diet delayed tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model. Further studies are needed to address the mechanism of this diet intervention and the impact on other tumor-relevant parameters such as invasion and metastasis.

Development of Automatic Manipulation Device for Acupuncture (AMDA).

Needle lifting and thrusting manipulation is one of common skills in acupuncture. However, there exists artificial error in frequency and amplitude due to individual difference when performing lifting and thrusting during acupuncture. For providing stable and quantified effects and higher frequency when doing lifting and thrusting manipulation, a well controlled device is needed. The aim of this article is to report the preliminary results of the development of Auto Manipulation Device for Acupuncture (AMDA) and characterization of its functional parameters. A tissue-simulating Agar gel phantom with 4.8%, 5.2%, and 5.4% concentrations was prepared and used for characterization of the AMDA. Tests of the linearity, reliability and safety of the AMDA were implemented with conditions of different drive voltages, frequencies, and simulated tissues. Our preliminary results have demonstrated the developed AMDA its plausibility in the clinical application of acupuncture.

Anti-Helicobacter pylori compounds from the ethanol extracts of Geranium wilfordii.

UNLABELLED: ETHNOPHARMOCOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Geranium wilfordii Maxim has been extensively used in Chinese Herbal Medicine for treating gastrointestinal disorders, diarrhea and dysentery. In the current study we aimed to investigate the anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of ethanol extracts of Geranium wilfordii Maxim and its main active compounds, corilagin and 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-galloyl-ß-D-glucose. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The plant materials were extracted three times with ethanol and the concentrated filtrate was successively fractioned into chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-BuOH-soluble portions which were examined in vitro for the anti-Helicobacter. pylori activity. Employing a standard strain and five clinical isolates of Helicobacter pylori, the extract, fractions and compounds of Geranium wilfordii Maxim were assessed in vitro. RESULTS: The ethanol fraction, ethyl acetate fraction, corilagin, and 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-galloyl-ß-D-glucose were found to be strongly inhibitory to Helicobacter. pylori (MICs: 40, 30, 4, and 8µg/ml respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study showed that the ethanol and the ethyl acetate extracts from Geranium wilfordii Maxim displayed as well the most significant inhibition to the growth of Helicobacter. pylori, of which corilagin and 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-galloyl-ß-D-glucose have been identified main anti-Helicobacter pylori active constituents.

[Transformation of astragaloside IV in bidirectional solid fermenting of Astragalus membranaceus].

OBJECTIVE: To study the transformation of Astragaloside IV in bidirectional solid fermenting of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus. METHODS: The chemical components of pre and post-fermenting were comparatively analyzed by techniques of HPLC, column chromatography and spectral identification. Antioxidant effect of transformational product on vascular endothelial cells was researched. RESULTS: In fermenting of Astragalus membranaceus, Astragaloside IV was transformed into 6-O-beta-D-glucoside cycloastragenol, which had significant antioxidant effect. CONCLUSION: Biotransformation of Astragaloside IV in Astragalus membranaceus was occurred after bidirectional solid fermenting with Ganoderma lucidum, and the biotransformation could enhance effect.