Electroacupuncture alleviates postoperative pain through inhibiting neuroinflammation via stimulator of interferon genes/type-1 interferon pathway.

OBJECTIVE: This work explores the impact of electroacupuncture (EA) on acute postoperative pain (APP) and the role of stimulator of interferon genes/type-1 interferon (STING/IFN-1) signaling pathway modulation in the analgesic effect of EA in APP rats. METHODS: The APP rat model was initiated through abdominal surgery and the animals received two 30 min sessions of EA at bilateral ST36 (Zusanli) and SP6 (Sanyinjiao) acupoints. Mechanical, thermal and cold sensitivity tests were performed to measure the pain threshold, and electroencephalograms were recorded in the primary somatosensory cortex to identify the effects of EA treatment on APP. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to examine the expression and distribution of proteins in the STING/IFN-1 pathway as well as neuroinflammation. A STING inhibitor (C-176) was administered intrathecally to verify its role in EA. RESULTS: APP rats displayed mechanical and thermal hypersensitivities compared to the control group (P < 0.05). APP significantly reduced the amplitude of θ, α and γ oscillations compared to their baseline values (P < 0.05). Interestingly, expression levels of proteins in the STING/IFN-1 pathway were downregulated after inducing APP (P < 0.05). Further, APP increased pro-inflammatory factors, including interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase, and downregulated anti-inflammatory factors, including interleukin-10 and arginase-1 (P < 0.05). EA effectively attenuated APP-induced painful hypersensitivities (P < 0.05) and restored the θ, α and γ power in APP rats (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, EA distinctly activated the STING/IFN-1 pathway and mitigated the neuroinflammatory response (P < 0.05). Furthermore, STING/IFN-1 was predominantly expressed in isolectin-B4- or calcitonin-gene-related-peptide-labeled dorsal root ganglion neurons and superficial laminae of the spinal dorsal horn. Inhibition of the STING/IFN-1 pathway by intrathecal injection of C-176 weakened the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of EA on APP (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: EA can generate robust analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects on APP, and these effects may be linked to activating the STING/IFN-1 pathway, suggesting that STING/IFN-1 may be a target for relieving APP. Please cite this article as: Ding YY, Xu F, Wang YF, Han LL, Huang SQ, Zhao S, Ma LL, Zhang TH, Zhao WJ, Chen XD. Electroacupuncture alleviates postoperative pain through inhibiting neuroinflammation via stimulator of interferon genes/type-1 interferon pathway. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(5): 496-508.

Gypensapogenin I Suppresses Cell Proliferation in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Via Triggering the Closure of AKT/GSK3ß/ß-Catenin and Notch-1 Signaling Pathways.

Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) tea is a functional food that is commercially available worldwide. Gypensapogenin I (Gyp I), which is a natural damarane-type saponin, was obtained from the hydrolysates of total gypenosides. The present research was performed to investigate the potential antiproliferation effect of Gyp I in MDA-MB-231 cells and the underlying mechanisms. Here, we found that Gyp I attenuated survival, inhibited proliferation, and induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells. Target prediction by binding molecule docking and western blot assays confirmed the mechanism by which Gyp I inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer cells via the AKT/GSK3ß/ß-catenin signaling pathway. We also showed that Gyp I exhibited superior in vivo efficacy that was dose dependent. Tumor tissue transcriptome analysis indicated that Gyp I could decrease the expression levels of NOTCH1 and HES1, which was in contrast to the effect on MAML and NUMBL, indicating that our compound hindered the activation of the Notch-1 signaling pathway. In summary, we report for the first time that Gyp I shows excellent anti-breast cancer activity in vivo and in vitro and that its pathway of action is related to the AKT/GSK3ß/ß-catenin and Notch-1 signaling pathways. Therefore, Jiaogulan tea can not only be used as a health food but also possesses the possibility to treat triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Effect of nitrogen/phosphorus concentration on algal organic matter generation of the diatom Nitzschia palea: Total indicators and spectroscopic characterization.

Critical algal blooms in great lakes increase the level of algal organic matters (AOMs), significantly altering the composition of natural organic matters (NOMs) in freshwater of lake. This study examined the AOM's characteristics of Nitzschia palea (N. palea), one kind of the predominant diatom and an important biomarker of water quality in the great lakes of China, to investigate the effect of AOMs on the variation of NOMs in lakes and the process of algal energy. Excitation-emission matrix fluorescence (EEM) spectroscopy, synchronous fluorescence (SF) spectroscopy and deconvolution UV-vis (D-UV) spectroscopy were utilized to characterize AOMs to study the effects of nutrient loading on the composition change of AOMs. From results, it was revealed that the phosphorus is the limiting factor for N. palea's growth and the generation of both total organic carbon and amino acids but the nitrogen is more important for the generation of carbohydrates and proteins. EEM spectra revealed differences in the composition of extracellular organic matter and intracellular organic matter. Regardless of the nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, aromatic proteins and soluble microbial products were the main components, but the nitrogen concentration had a significant impact on their composition. The SF spectra were used to study the AOMs for the first time and identified that the protein-like substances were the major component of AOMs, creating as a result of aromatic group condensation. The D-UV spectra showed carboxylic acid and esters were the main functional groups in the EOMs, with -OCH3, -SO2NH2, -CN, -NH2, -O- and -COCH3 functional groups substituting into benzene rings.

Identification and Validation of Reference Genes for qRT-PCR Studies of Gene Expression in Dioscorea opposita.

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) is one of the most common methods for gene expression studies. Data normalization based on reference genes is essential for obtaining reliable results for qRT-PCR assays. This study evaluated potential reference genes of Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb.), which is an important tuber crop and medicinal plant in East Asia. The expression of ten candidate reference genes across 20 samples from different organs and development stages was assessed. We identified the most stable genes for qRT-PCR studies using combined samples from different organs. Our results also suggest that different suitable reference genes or combinations of reference genes for normalization should be applied according to different organs and developmental stages. To validate the suitability of the reference genes, we evaluated the relative expression of PE2.1 and PE53, which are two genes that may be associated with microtuber formation. Our results provide the foundation for reference gene(s) selection in D. opposita and will contribute toward more accurate gene analysis studies of the genus Dioscorea.

Dentin tubule occluding ability of dentin desensitizers.

PURPOSE: To compare the dentin tubule-occluding ability of fluoroaluminocalciumsilicate-based (Nanoseal), calcium phosphate-based (Teethmate Desensitizer), resin-containing oxalate (MS Coat ONE) and diamine silver fluoride (Saforide) dentin desensitizers using artificially demineralized bovine dentin. METHODS: Simulated hypersensitive dentin was created using cervical dentin sections derived from bovine incisors using phosphoric acid etching followed by polishing with a paste containing hydroxyapatite. The test desensitizers were applied in one, two, or three cycles, where each cycle involved desensitizer application, brushing, and immersion in artificial saliva (n= 5 each). The dentin surfaces were examined with scanning electron microscopy, and the dentin tubule occlusion rate was calculated. The elemental composition of the deposits was analyzed with electron probe microanalysis. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and the Tukey honestly significant different test. RESULTS: Marked deposit formation was observed on the specimens treated with Nanoseal or Teethmate Desensitizer, and tags were detected in the specimens' dentin tubules. These findings became more prominent as the number of application cycles increased. The major elemental components of the tags were Ca, F, and Al (Nanoseal) and Ca and P (Teethmate Desensitizer). The tubule occlusion rates of MS Coat ONE and Saforide were significantly lower than those of Nanoseal and Teethmate Desensitizer (P< 0.05).

Morphological and chemical analysis of different precipitates on mineral trioxide aggregate immersed in different fluids.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the ultrastructures and chemical compositions of precipitates formed on mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA; White ProRoot MTA) immersed in distilled water (DW) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS), based on the attribution that MTA's bioactivity and sealing ability are influenced by its interaction with the external fluid environment. After 1 and 14 days of immersion, precipitates formed on MTA disks were analyzed using wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy electron probe microanalyzer with image observation function (SEM-EPMA; EPMA1601, Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan), and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. On DW specimens, cubic-like crystals containing Ca, O, and C (17, 66, and 17 at% respectively) were produced. State analysis of calcium k(ß)spectrum also revealed calcium hydroxide. On PBS specimens, acicular-spherical and lath-like crystals with Ca/P molar ratios of 1.42 and 1.58 respectively were produced. In conclusion, the precipitates formed on DW specimens were identified as calcium carbonate and calcium hydroxide primarily, whereas the precipitates on PBS specimens were inferred to be amorphous calcium phosphate.