Effects of a Macroporous Resin Extract of Dendrobium officinale Leaves in Rats with Hyperuricemia Induced by Anthropomorphic Unhealthy Lifestyle.

Aim: Hyperuricemia (HUA) has received increased attention in the last few decades due to its global prevalence. Our previous study found that administration of a macroporous resin extract of Dendrobium officinale leaves (DoMRE) to rats with HUA that was induced by exposure to potassium oxazine combined with fructose and a high-purine diet led to a significant reduction in serum uric acid (SUA) levels. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of DoMRE on hyperuricemia induced by anthropomorphic unhealthy lifestyle and to elucidate its possible mechanisms of action. Methods: Dosages (5.0 and 10.0 g/kg/day) of DoMRE were administered to rats daily after induction of HUA by anthropomorphic unhealthy lifestyle for 12 weeks. The levels of UA in the serum, urine, and feces; the levels of creatinine (Cr) in the serum and urine; and the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum were all measured using an automatic biochemical analyzer. The activities of xanthine oxidase (XOD) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) in the serum, liver, and intestine tissue supernatant were measured using appropriate kits for each biological target. The expressions levels of UA transporters (ABCG2 and GLUT9), tight junction (TJ) proteins (ZO-1 and occludin), and inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) in the intestine were assayed by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to assess histological changes in the renal and intestinal tissues. Results: DoMRE treatment significantly reduced SUA levels and concomitantly increased fecal UA (FUA) levels and the fractional excretion of UA (FEUA) in HUA rats. Furthermore, DoMRE significantly reduced both the XOD activity in the serum, liver, and intestine and the ADA activity in the liver and intestine. DoMRE also effectively regulated the expression of GLUT9 and ABCG2 in the intestine, and it significantly upregulated the expression of the intestinal TJ proteins ZO-1 and occludin. Therefore, DoMRE reduced the damage to the intestinal barrier function caused by the increased production of inflammatory factors due to HUA to ensure normal intestinal UA excretion. Conclusion: DoMRE demonstrated anti-HUA effects in the HUA rat model induced by an anthropomorphic unhealthy lifestyle, and the molecular mechanism appeared to involve the regulation of urate transport-related transporters (ABCG2 and GLUT9) in the intestine, protection of the intestinal barrier function to promote UA excretion, and inhibition of XOD and ADA activity in the liver and intestine to inhibit UA production in the HUA-induced rats.

The Mechanism of Dendrobium officinale as a Treatment for Hyperlipidemia Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation.

Materials and Methods: The active compounds in DO, their targets, and targets associated with hyperlipidemia were screened across various databases, and the hidden targets of DO in treating hyperlipidemia were forecast. The compound-target (C-T), protein-protein interaction (PPI), and compound-target-pathway (C-T-P) networks of DO were set up with Cytoscape software. The hub genes and core clusters of DO predicted to be active against hyperlipidemia were calculated by Cytoscape. The DAVID database was adopted for Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Next, we used the high-sucrose-fat diet and alcohol (HFDA)-induced hyperlipidemia rats to evaluate the hypolipidemic effect of DO. Results: In this study, we obtained 264 compounds from DO, revealed 11 bioactive compounds, and predicted 89 potential targets of DO. The network analysis uncovered that naringenin, isorhamnetin, and taxifolin might be the compounds in DO that are mainly in charge of its roles in hyperlipidemia and might play a role by modulating the targets (including PPARG, ADIPOQ, AKT1, TNF, and APOB). The pathway analysis showed that DO might affect diverse signaling pathways related to the pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia, including PPAR signaling pathway, insulin resistance, AMPK signaling pathway, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease simultaneously. Meanwhile, in the HFDA-induced hyperlipidemia rat model, DO could significantly decrease the level of TC, TG, LDL-c, and ALT in serum, and increase HDL-c as well. The liver pathological section indicated that DO could ease liver damage and lipid cumulation. Conclusion: In summary, the biological targets of the main bioactive compounds in DO were found to distribute across multiple metabolic pathways. These findings suggest that a mutual regulatory system consisting of multiple components, targets, and pathways is a likely mechanism through which DO may improve hyperlipidemia. Validation experiments indicated that DO may treat hyperlipidemia by affecting NAFLD-related signaling pathways.

Coronary artery calcification and risk of mortality and adverse outcomes in patients with COVID-19: a Chinese multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is an independent risk factor of major adverse cardiovascular events; however, the impact of CAC on in-hospital death and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains unclear. Objective: To explore the association between CAC and in-hospital mortality and adverse events in patients with COVID-19. Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study enrolled 2067 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients with definitive clinical outcomes (death or discharge) admitted from 22 tertiary hospitals in China between January 3, 2020 and April 2, 2020. Demographic, clinical, laboratory results, chest CT findings, and CAC on admission were collected. The primary outcome was in-hospital death and the secondary outcome was composed of in-hospital death, admission to intensive care unit (ICU), and requiring mechanical ventilation. Multivariable Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier plots were used to explore the association between CAC and in-hospital death and adverse clinical outcomes. Results: The mean age was 50 years (SD,16) and 1097 (53.1%) were male. A total of 177 patients showed high CAC level, and compared with patients with low CAC, these patients were older (mean age: 49 vs. 69 years, P < 0.001) and more likely to be male (52.0% vs. 65.0%, P = 0.001). Comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) ([33.3%, 59/177] vs. [4.7%, 89/1890], P < 0.001), presented more often among patients with high CAC, compared with patients with low CAC. As for laboratory results, patients with high CAC had higher rates of increased D-dimer, LDH, as well as CK-MB (all P < 0.05). The mean CT severity score in high CAC group was also higher than low CAC group (12.6 vs. 11.1, P = 0.005). In multivariable Cox regression model, patients with high CAC were at a higher risk of in-hospital death (hazard ratio [HR], 1.731; 95% CI 1.010-2.971, P = 0.046) and adverse clinical outcomes (HR, 1.611; 95% CL 1.087-2.387, P = 0.018). Conclusion: High CAC is a risk factor associated with in-hospital death and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with confirmed COVID-19, which highlights the importance of calcium load testing for hospitalized COVID-19 patients and calls for attention to patients with high CAC. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42058-021-00072-4.

DMSA-Functionalized Mesoporous Alumina with a High Capacity for Selective Isolation of Immunoglobulin G.

A novel dimercaptosuccinic acid-functionalized mesoporous alumina (DMSA-MA) is synthesized by the dicarboxylic acid groups of dimercaptosuccinic acid molecules coordinating to the Al3+ ions located in the mesostructure. The as-prepared DMSA-MA composites possess a large surface area of 91.17 m2/g as well as a uniform pore size and a high pore volume of 17.22 nm and 0.23 cm3/g, respectively. DMSA coating of mesostructures significantly enhanced their selectivity for glycoprotein adsorption through a powerful hydrophilic binding force, and the maximum adsorption capacity of immunoglobulin G (IgG) can reach 2298.6 mg g-1. The captured IgG could be lightly stripped from the DMSA-MA composites with an elution rate of 98.3% by using 0.5 wt % CTAB solution as the elution reagent. DMSA-MA is further employed as a sorbent for the enrichment of IgG heavy chain and light chain from human serum sample. SDS-PAGE assay results showed the obtained IgG with high purity compared to that of the standard solution of IgG.

[Lifting-thrusting and rotating manipulations: a comparison on energy input].

Through the energy input model of lifting-thrusting and rotating manipulations, using the theory of energy density, energy flux density and sound intensity level in physics, the average energy flux intensity and frequency distributions of average poynting's vector were calculated respectively within the range of infrasound. According to the distribution table, it was discovered that both of the energy flux density and sound intensity level during the process of acupuncture were high. And it was concluded that the essence of meridians was probably fascial tissues which were rich in elastic fibers and collagenous fibers. The heat-producing needling with reinforcing effect (setting the moutain on fire) which focused on forceful thrusting was held to be the result of the action of same position solitary wave. And the coolness-producing needling with reducing effect (thorough heavenly cool) emphasized on the manipulation of forceful lifting was considered as the action of opposite position solitary wave. The energy input of lifting-thrusting manipulation is comparatively larger than the rotating method, however without significant difference. The speed of manipulations applied is regarded to have greater impact on energy transmission. And the energy produced by rotating manipulation can be better transmitted through meridians.

[Analysis on the mechanism of acupuncture infrasound energy in treatment of diseases].

Infrasound is a sound wave with vibration frequency of less than 20 Hz, characterized by a longer wavelength, weak attenuating and strong penetration power, etc. Since the inherent frequencies of the human body and the organs are within infrasound vibration range, so infrasound has a stronger effect on the human body. The study found that the process of acupuncture at acupoints could be regarded as one containing a forced vibration with damping, and in the acupuncture, a infrasound of 2-15 Hz could be produced, which can easily has a resonance with the human body and the organs. By calculation of the sound pressure and sound strength in acupuncture, it was found that acupuncture infrasound had four characteristics: small total energy, small amplitude, strong voice, and orientation spreading along the meridian line. Because the meridian lines are the good pathway to spread low-frequency sound, acupuncture infrasound energy can successfully pass the meridian lines to reach the focus, penetrate the morbid tissues and improve the functions of tissues or organs.

[The application of multi-slice CT dynamic enhancement scan in the diagnosis and treatment of colonic lymphomas].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the value of multi-slice CT dynamic enhancement scan in the diagnosis and treatment of colonic lymphomas. METHODS: 16 patients with colonic lymphomas underwent multi-slice CT dynamic enhancement scans, images of axial and reconstructive images of VR, MPR and CTVE were analyzed, patients were respectively diagnosed. RESULTS: Appearances of primary colorectal lymphomas were categorized into focal and diffuse lesions. Focal and diffuse lesions were 6 and 10 patients, respectively. The accuracy rate of diagnosis was 87.5%. CONCLUSION: MSCT dynamic scan has distinctive superiority in diagnosis and treatment of colonic lymphomas.

[Melatonin in in vitro apoptosis of H22 hepatocarcinoma cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of melatonin (MLT) in in vitro apoptosis of hepatocarcinoma cells and its mechanism. METHODS: The apoptotic cells, bcl-2 and bax were detected through immunocytochemical method (ICC) and Tolt-mediated x-duTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Computer image analysis system was used to quantify the expression of bcl-2 and bax by detecting the absorbance value of positive products. Apoptosis index (AI) was used to quantify the number of apoptotic cells. RESULTS: In vitro, AI increase was both concentration- and time-dependent through TUNEL. During the same duration, AI of medium dose group was higher than that of low dose and control group (P < 0.05); AI of high dose, medium dose and 5-Fu group were higher than those of low dose and control group (P < 0.01), however, there was no significant difference between the low dose and control group (P > 0.05). At the same dose, in high dose, medium dose and 5-Fu group, the change of AI showed significant difference from 24 to 36 hours (P < 0.05). The expression of bcl-2 was down-regulated as the MLT increased, and there was significant difference between the low dose and control group (P < 0.01). But, the expression of bax was up-regulated as the dose of MLT increased, showing significant difference between the high dose and control groups (P < 0.01). As time went on, the expression of bcl-2 was decreased and in every group, with the change in absorbance value of bcl-2 significantly different from 24 to 36 hours (P < 0.05), whereas that of bax remained almost unchanged. The ratio of bax/bcl-2 was increased with the increase in the concentration of MLT. CONCLUSION: Melatonin may induce apoptosis in the hepatocarcinoma cells which is concentration- and time-dependent, in which bcl-2 and bax are involved.