[Non-targeted metabolomics of spleen and liver metabolism in mice treated with Pruni Semen processed with different methods].

Ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was employed to investigate the impacts of Pruni Semen processed with different methods(raw and fried) on the liver and spleen metabolism in mice. A total of 24 male mice were randomly assigned to three groups: raw Pruni Semen group, fried Pruni Semen group, and control(deionized water) group. Mice in the three groups were orally administrated with 0.01 g·mL~(-1) Pruni Semen decoction or deionized water for one week. After that, the liver and spleen tissues were collected, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS)-based metabolomic analysis was carried out to investigate the impact of Pruni Semen on the liver and spleen metabolism in mice. Compared with thte control group, the raw Pruni Semen group showed up-regulation of 11 metabolites and down-regulation of 57 metabolites in the spleen(P<0.05), as well as up-regulation of 15 metabolites and down-regulation of 58 metabolites in the liver(P<0.05). The fried Pruni Semen group showed up-regulation of 31 metabolites and down-regulation of 10 metabolites in the spleen(P<0.05), along with up-regulation of 26 metabolites and down-regulation of 61 metabolites in the liver(P<0.05). The differential metabolites identified in the raw Pruni Semen group were primarily associated with alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, purine metabolism, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, and D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism. The differential metabolites identified in the fried Pruni Semen group predominantly involved riboflavin metabolism, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, purine metabolism, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, and glutathione metabolism. The findings suggest that both raw and fried Pruni Semen have the potential to modulate the metabolism of the liver and spleen in mice by influencing the glutamine and glutamate metabolism.

Hemiepiphytic figs kill their host trees: acquiring phosphorus is a driving factor.

Hemiepiphytic figs killing their host trees is an ecological process unique to the tropics. Yet the benefits and adaptive strategies of their special life history remain poorly understood. We compared leaf phosphorus (P) content data of figs and palms worldwide, and functional traits and substrate P content of hemiepiphytic figs (Ficus tinctoria), their host palm and nonhemiepiphytic conspecifics at different growth stages in a common garden. We found that leaf P content of hemiepiphytic figs and their host palms significantly decreased when they were competing for soil resources, but that of hemiepiphytic figs recovered after host death. P availability in the canopy humus and soil decreased significantly with the growth of hemiepiphytic figs. Functional trait trade-offs of hemiepiphytic figs enabled them to adapt to the P shortage while competing with their hosts. From the common garden to a global scale, the P competition caused by high P demand of figs may be a general phenomenon. Our results suggest that P competition is an important factor causing host death, except for mechanically damaging and shading hosts. Killing hosts benefits hemiepiphytic figs by reducing interspecific P competition and better acquiring P resources in the P-deficient tropics, thereby linking the life history strategy of hemiepiphytic figs to the widespread P shortage in tropical soils.

Cost-effectiveness of nitrendipine and hydrochlorothiazide or metoprolol to treat hypertension in rural community health centers in China.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this article is to compare blood pressure (BP)-lowing effects of nitrendipine and hydrochlorothiazide and nitrendipine and metoprolol, and estimate the economic effect of these therapies on hypertension. METHODS: Outpatients (N = 793) 18-70 years of age with stage 2 or severe hypertension (SBP ≥ 160 mmHg and/or DBP ≥ 100 mmHg) were recruited from four randomly selected rural community health centers in Beijing and Jilin. After drug wash out, they were randomly divided into nitrendipine and hydrochlorothiazide group or nitrendipine and metoprolol group. The costs of drug treatment for hypertension were calculated and general estimation, whereas effectiveness was measured as a reduction in SBP and DBP at the end of a 24-week study period. RESULTS: Overall, 623 patients were eligible for the study and after a 24-week follow-up, SBP and DBP were 131.2/82.2 mmHg for the nitrendipine and hydrochlorothiazide group and 131.4/82.9 mmHg for the nitrendipine and metoprolol group and these were not significantly different (P = 0.7974 SBP and P = 0.1166 DBP). Comparing with nitrendipine and metoprolol, the cost of nitrendipine and hydrochlorothiazide was less, and its effectiveness was similar. The cost/effect ratio (US$/mmHg) was 1.4 for SBP and 2.8 for DBP for the nitrendipine and hydrochlorothiazide group, and 1.9 and 3.8 for the nitrendipine and metoprolol group's SBP and DBP values, respectively. The incremental cost per patient for achieving target BP was 5.1. Adverse events were mild or moderate and there were no differences between treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Treating hypertension with nitrendipine and hydrochlorothiazide was cost-effective than nitrendipine and metoprolol, and these data will allow more reasonable and efficient allocation of limited resources in low-income countries.

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.

Ventilation catheter-assisted airway stenting under local anaesthesia for patients with airway stenosis: initial clinical experience.

PURPOSE: This report details our preliminary results of ventilation catheter-assisted airway stenting under local anaesthesia for airway stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen consecutive patients with airway stenosis underwent ventilation catheter-assisted airway stenting under local anaesthesia. A 4F angiographic catheter was used as the ventilation catheter. During the treatment, the distal tip of the ventilation catheter was placed across the stenosis into one of the main bronchi and the proximal tip of the catheter was linked to the oxygen tube for oxygen supplementation. Airway stenting was performed under ventilation support. Patients maintained autonomous respiration throughout the procedures. Data on technical success, clinical outcome and follow-up were collected and analysed. RESULTS: Ventilation catheter-assisted airway stenting under local anaesthesia was technically successful and well tolerated in all patients. Respiratory difficulty was improved in all patients after treatment. The average Hugh-Jones classification grade, arterial oxygen saturation value, and respiratory rate improved from 4.20 ± 0.68, 80.60 ± 3.83%, and 30.33 ± 2.02 times/min, respectively, before stenting to 1.47 ± 0.52 (P < 0.001), 94.93 ± 1.33% (P < 0.001), and 18.07 ± 1.33 times/min (P < 0.001), respectively, after stenting. After 2-11 months (average 5.73 ± 2.40 months) of follow-up, one patient experienced re-stenosis of the stent. The mean survival time of the 15 patients was 162.00 ± 71.60 days (range 55-320 days). CONCLUSIONS: Ventilation catheter-assisted airway stenting under local anaesthesia can be an effective, simple and safe method for airway stenosis.

Influence of tea consumption on acute myocardial infarction in China population: the INTERHEART China study.

We assessed the association between tea consumption and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) using INTERHEART China data. Cases (n = 2909) and controls (n = 2947) were randomly selected and frequency matched by age and sex. Participants who drank tea ≥4 cups/d had a significantly higher risk of AMI than tea nondrinkers; odds ratio (OR) was 1.29 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.61) compared with tea nondrinkers. A similar trend was found in green tea drinkers; OR was 1.52 (95% CI: 1.13-2.05) in the participants who drank 3 cups/d and 1.73 (95% CI: 1.35-2.22) in the participants who drank ≥4 cups/d compared with tea nondrinkers. We also found that green tea consumption had a greater effect on females; OR was 2.80 (95% CI: 1.43-5.50) in females. In conclusion, we found that the risk of AMI increases as tea consumption increases. Further studies are needed to confirm this association.

[Research progress on effect of coumarins compounds in anti-tumor].

Coumarins are a group of important natural compounds, and have been found to have multi-biological activities such as anti-HIV, anti-tumor, anti-hypertension, anti-arrhythmia, anti-osteoporosis, assuaging pain, preventing asthma and antisepsis. One of which is its anti-tumor effect and that is a research focus on. Therefore, we believe that it is necessaryto carry out further studies on the effect of coumarins compounds in anti-tumor. Investigation should emphasize on improving techniques for extraction and separation, searching the effective precursory compound, and synthesizing and screening out courmarin derivatives with high activity and low toxicity. Here the recent research progress in anti-tumor effect of coumarins compounds is reviewed.