Protein-Nanocaged Selenium Induces t(8;21) Leukemia Cell Differentiation via Epigenetic Regulation.

The success of arsenic in degrading PML-RARα oncoprotein illustrates the great anti-leukemia value of inorganics. Inspired by this, the therapeutic effect of inorganic selenium on t(8; 21) leukemia is studied, which has shown promising anti-cancer effects on solid tumors. A leukemia-targeting selenium nanomedicine is rationally built with bioengineered protein nanocage and is demonstrated to be an effective epigenetic drug for inducing the differentiation of t(8;21) leukemia. The selenium drug significantly induces the differentiation of t(8;21) leukemia cells into more mature myeloid cells. Mechanistic analysis shows that the selenium is metabolized into bioactive forms in cells, which drives the degradation of the AML1-ETO oncoprotein by inhibiting histone deacetylases activity, resulting in the regulation of AML1-ETO target genes. The regulation results in a significant increase in the expression levels of myeloid differentiation transcription factors PU.1 and C/EBPα, and a significant decrease in the expression level of C-KIT protein, a member of the type III receptor tyrosine kinase family. This study demonstrates that this protein-nanocaged selenium is a potential therapeutic drug against t(8;21) leukemia through epigenetic regulation.

Baicalin confers hepatoprotective effect against alcohol-associated liver disease by upregulating microRNA-205.

Recently, baicalin refers to flavonoid compound extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi has been indicated to hold promising therapeutic effects in alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). However, knowledge of the molecular mechanisms for its hepatoprotective effect is still very limited. Evidence exists suggesting potential association between miR-205 and baicalin's function. Bioinformatic analysis and dual luciferase reporter assay were conducted to determine the binding affinity between miR-205 and importinα5. Our findings revealed that baicalin could alleviate ALD by raising the expression of miR-205. Additionally, miR-205 repressed NF-κB signaling pathway activation by binding to importinα5 to relieve ALD. Baicalin inhibited importinα5-mediated NF-κB signaling pathway to protect the liver against alcohol-induced injury, inflammation, oxidative stress and hepatocyte apoptosis. Taken conjointly, baicalin confers hepatoprotective effect against ALD through miR-205-mediated importinα5 inhibition via the NF-κB signaling pathway, highlighting a promising therapeutic target for ALD treatment with the help of traditional Chinese medicine.

Meanings of polysaccharides in traditional Chinese medicines decoction from the viewpoint of its gut microbiota regulation effects / 药学学报

Decoction is one of the traditional dosage forms of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). In addition to small molecular components, decoction also contains polysaccharides and other macromolecular components. For a long time, ethanol precipitation has been commonly used during TCMs based new drug development to remove "ineffective macromolecular components", and enrich "active small molecules components", so as to improve the subsequent formability of the preparations. With the recognition of the relationships between gut microbiota and host health/disease, and the potential prebiotic effects of natural polysaccharides, the important values of polysaccharides in TCMs decoctions have been gradually emerged. Based on the representative findings of our own research and the literatures, the potential prebiotics function of TCMs polysaccharides were reviewed regarding its related effects on host physiological and pathological processes of metabolic function, bowel function, immunity, inflammation, emotion and tumor, on the metabolism and absorption of coexisting small molecule components, as well as the structure-function features, so that the meanings of polysaccharides in TCMs decoction were discussed and emphasized, and hopefully to provide enlightenment for the premise of attaching importance to the existence of polysaccharide components in the process of innovative drug research and development based on classical and clinical TCMs prescriptions.

Evaluation of chemical consistency of triterpene acids in ethanol extracts of Poria and acetic ether extracts thereof by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS with full scan and mimic MRM mode / 药学学报

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) method was developed to evaluate the chemical consistency of triterpene acids in ethanol extracts of Poria and acetic ether extracts thereof. First, high resolution mass spectrometry data were obtained with Full scan mode, by comparing with MS data from the reference compounds and literatures, a total of 23 components were unequivocally or tentatively identified in ethanol extracts and acetic ether extracts thereof. Then, a mimic multiple reaction monitoring (mMRM) mode was established using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS to quantify the triterpene acids in ethanol extracts and acetic ether extracts thereof. Eleven components were absolutely quantified with reference compounds, while 12 components without reference compounds were relatively quantified with peak areas, the transfer and enrichment rate of triterpene acids during liquid-liquid extraction were calculated. It was found all of the 23 triterpene acids identified in Poria ethanol extracts could be transferred into acetic ether extracts with high transfer and enrichment rate. The present study provides not only scientific evidence for further extraction of triterpene acids in Poria by acetic ether, but also an approach for comprehensive evaluation of the chemical consistency of herbal medicine extracts before and after the liquid-liquid extraction.

Retrograde gastric electrical stimulation suppresses calorie intake in obese subjects.

OBJECTIVE: The effect of acute retrograde gastric electrical stimulation (RGES) on food intake, gastric accommodation, and gastric emptying in obese patients was investigated. METHODS: Simple obesity patients underwent RGES or sham stimulation. The maximum food intake volume was determined and the total calorie of consumed food was calculated. Gastric emptying was determined by (99m) -diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid scintigraphy. RESULTS: Sixteen obese patients were studied, with a median BMI of 32.1 (IQR, 31.2, 33.8) kg/m(2) . The median gastric emptying time was 106.1 (IQR, 81.8, 122.4) min with sham stimulation and 113.0 (IQR, 83.7, 124.8) min with RGES (P = 0.352). The mean maximum satiety food intake was 580 (IQR, 510, 725) mL with sham stimulation and 490 (IQR, 385, 590) mL with RGES (P = 0.003). No statistically significant difference was noted between sham stimulation and RGES in the 1 and 2-h food retention rate. The total calories of maximum satiety food intake with sham stimulation were 985.2 (IQR, 842.5, 1063.1) kcal and 759.9 (IQR, 547.9, 784.9) kcal with RGES (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Acute RGES reduces calorie intake by decreasing gastric accommodation in obese subjects.

Application of new technologies and methods in morphological and microscopic identification of Chinese materia medica / 中国中药杂志

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is gaining popularity across the world. The identification of Chinese materia medica (CMM) is vital for assuring safety and efficacy of the products. In this article, new technologies and methods, such as electronic nose, electronic tongue, histochemical localization, fluorescence microscopy, X-ray microscopy in phase contrast, computer image technology, and their application in the morphological identification or microscopic identification of CMM were reviewed.

Upregulation of p53 expression in patients with colorectal cancer by administration of curcumin.

Biological therapies can be beneficial in cancer patients. The present study aims to examine the inhibitory mechanism of curcumin on cancer cells in patients with colorectal cancer. The results showed that curcumin administration increased body weight, decreased serum TNF-alpha levels, increased apoptotic tumor cells, enhanced expression of p53 molecule in tumor tissue, and modulated tumor cell apoptotic pathway. We conclude that the curcumin treatment improves the general health of patients with colorectal cancer via the mechanism of increased p53 molecule expression in tumor cells and consequently speeds up tumor cell apoptosis.

Effect of occupational commitment on job burnout of traditional Chinese medicine doctors / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the status of job burnout in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctors and explore the effect of occupational commitment on job burnout.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A test of occupational commitment and job burnout was carried out in 507 TCM doctors with occupational commitment questionnaire and Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The age group of < 30 years scored lowest (2.352 +/- 0.660) in personal accomplishment compared with 30 years old group and 40 years old group [(2.136 +/- 0.704) and (2.127 +/- 0.628) respectively] (P < 0.01). The score of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization increased with educational levels. There was significantly negative correlation between job burnout and occupational commitment (P < 0.01). Occupational commitment had significant effect on job burnout (P < 0.01). Occupational trouble commitment was a major predictor for emotional exhaustion (P < 0.01). Professional self-efficacy commitment was a major predictor for depersonalization (P < 0.01). Affective commitment was a major predictor for personal accomplishment (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Occupational commitment is a good predictor for job burnout. Improving occupational commitment is an important measure to prevent job burnout.</p>