Bufalin inhibits human diffuse large B-cell lymphoma tumorigenesis by inducing cell death through the Ca2+/NFATC1/cMYC pathway.

The 5-year survival rate of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) can reach 60%. However, nearly half of patients undergo relapse/refractory issues with a survival period of less than 2 years. New therapeutic approaches are therefore needed to improve chemotherapy efficacy and patient survival. Bufalin (BF), isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Chansu, has been reported to play an anticancer role in multiple cancer cell types. However, there are few reports of the effects of BF on the growth of DLBCL. In the present study, we demonstrated that BF exerts antitumor activity in DLBCL cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Treatment of DLBCL cells with BF resulted in increased proliferation and apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Daily intraperitoneal injection of 1.5 mg/kg BF significantly delayed DLBCL xenograft growth in NOD/SCID mice without affecting body weight. Bioinformatics analysis showed that BF may regulate NFATC1 protein and affect expression of its downstream gene, cMYC. Our results suggest that BF can attenuate NFATC1 translocation by reducing the intracellular calcium concentration; BF may also have a low synergistic effect with cyclosporin A. In conclusion, we demonstrated that BF exerts antitumor activity that is mediated at least in part by the Ca2+/NFATC1/cMYC pathway. Our findings suggest that BF can be effectively applied as a novel potential therapeutic agent for DLBCL.

[Protective effects of five different types of Dendrobium on CCl4-induced liver injury in mice].

This study aims to investigate the protective effect of Dendrobium huoshanense, D.officinale(Huoshan), D.officinale(Yunnan), D.moniliforme and D. henanense on CCl4-induced hepatic damage in mice. C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, high-dose(7.5 g•kg⁻¹) and low-dose (1.25 g•kg⁻¹) groups of the five Dendrobium. Each group was intragastrically administered with drugs for 2 weeks. The control group was intraperitoneally injected with Olive oil solution, while the other groups were intraperitoneally given 0.5%CCl4combined with Olive oil solution 2 h later after the last administration. Subsequently, ALT and AST activities in serum, SOD activities and MDA contents in liver tissues were determined in all groups 16 h later after administration. The liver index was calculated, and hepatic histopathological examination was performed. The mRNA expressions of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α were analyzed by Real-time PCR. Compared with the CCl4 model group, the activities of ALT and AST in serum decreased significantly in the five different Dendrobium groups. Meanwhile, in liver tissues, the levels of MDA reduced obviously, while the SOD activities markedly increased. Furthermore, liver tissue damage induced by CCl4 was ameliorated according to the histopathological examination. IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA expressions in D.huoshanense-treated liver tissues were significantly decreased. In conclusion, the five different Dendrobium groups showed hepatoprotective effects on CCl4-induced acute liver injury in mice. However, there were differences among Dendrobium of different types and origins. The protect effect of D.huoshanense is the most obvious, and the order of the protective effect of the other Dendrobium from high to low is D.officinale(Yunnan), D. officinale(Huoshan), D.henanense and D.moniliforme. The differences between the different types of Dendrobium might be related to their chemical components.

Atractylodes lancea rhizome water extract reduces triptolide-induced toxicity and enhances anti-inflammatory effects.

The present study was designed to explore the influence of water extracts of Atractylodes lancea rhizomes on the toxicity and anti-inflammatory effects of triptolide (TP). A water extract was prepared from A. lancea rhizomes and co-administered with TP in C57BL/6 mice. The toxicity was assayed by determining serum biochemical parameters and visceral indexes and by liver histopathological analysis. The hepatic CYP3A expression levels were detected using Western blotting and RT-PCR methods. The data showed that the water extract of A. lancea rhizomes reduced triptolide-induced toxicity, probably by inducing the hepatic expression of CYP3A. The anti-inflammatory effects of TP were evaluated in mice using a xylene-induced ear edema test. By comparing ear edema inhibition rates, we found that the water extract could also increase the anti-inflammatory effects of TP. In conclusion, our results suggested that the water extract of A. lancea rhizomes, used in combination with TP, has a potential in reducing TP-induced toxicity and enhancing its anti-inflammatory effects.

EEG dynamics reflects the partial and holistic effects in mental imagery generation.

Mental imagery generation is essential in the retrieval and storage of knowledge. Previous studies have indicated that the holistic properties of mental imagery generation can be evaluated more easily than the partial properties. However, the relationship between partial and holistic mental imagery generations has not been clearly demonstrated. To address this issue, we designed a task to investigate the changes in the spectrum of the electroencephalogram (EEG) during partial or holistic imagery generation. EEG signals were obtained from 18 healthy subjects, and a statistical measure of spectral dynamics between two EEG signals in per frequency band was performed. Additionally, a bicoherence spectrum analysis was used to detect the phase coupling within these two imagery conditions. Our results indicated that EEG of the partial imagery appeared earlier and stronger than that of the holistic imagery in the theta (5-8 Hz) range in a time window around 220 to 300 ms after cue onset, and a slight decrease in the alpha (8-12 Hz) band was observed at around 270 ms. The scalp topography of these changes in the theta and alpha bands distributed overall significantly in the frontal and central-temporal areas. The significant phase coupling within two conditions was remarkable at high frequency. From these results, we infer that there are complex relations between partial and holistic imageries. The generation of partial mental imagery is not a subprocess of holistic imagery, but it is relevant to holistic imagery and requires correct modification from the holistic information.