Cultivation and morphology of jujube (Ziziphus Jujuba Mill.) in the Qi River Basin of Northern China during the Neolithic Period.

This transition from gathering to cultivation is a significant aspect of studying early agricultural practices. Fruit trees are an essential component of food resources and have played a vital role in both ancient and modern agricultural production systems. The jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), with its long history of cultivation in northern China, holds great importance in uncovering the diet of prehistoric humans and understanding the origins of Chinese agricultural civilization. This paper focuses on the domestication of jujube by analyzing the morphology of jujube stones found in three Neolithic sites in northern China's Qi River basin, Zhujia, Wangzhuang, and Dalaidian. The measurements of these jujube kernels are compared with those found in other areas of northern China, as well as modern jujube kernels that were collected. The measurements revealed that the length-to-diameter (L/D) ratio of sour jujube kernels ranged from 1.36 to 1.78, whereas the L/D ratio of cultivated jujube stones varied between 1.96 and 4.23. Furthermore, jujube stones obtained from Zhujia and Wangzhuang sites exhibit pointed ends and possess an elongated oval or narrow oval shape overall, which is indicative of clearly artificial domestication traits. Therefore, this study suggests that jujube was selected and cultivated as an important food supplement in the Qi River basin no later than around 6200 BP.

Gitelman syndrome combined with diabetes mellitus: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Gitelman syndrome (GS) is an uncommon autosomal recessive tubulopathy resulting from a functional deletion mutation in the SLC12A3 gene. Its onset is typically insidious and challenging to discern, and it is characterized by hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, and reduced urinary calcium excretion. There is limited literature on the diagnosis and management of GS in individuals with concomitant diabetes. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 36-year-old male patient with a longstanding history of diabetes exhibited suboptimal glycemic control. Additionally, he presented with concurrent findings of hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, hypocalciuria, and metabolic alkalosis. DIAGNOSIS: Building upon the patient's clinical manifestations and extensive laboratory evaluations, we conducted thorough genetic testing, leading to the identification of a compound heterozygous mutation within the SLC12A3 gene. This definitive finding confirmed the diagnosis of GS. INTERVENTIONS: We have formulated a detailed medication regimen for patients, encompassing personalized selection of hypoglycemic medications and targeted electrolyte supplementation. OUTCOMES: Following 1 week of comprehensive therapeutic intervention, the patient's serum potassium level effectively normalized to 3.79 mmol/L, blood glucose parameters stabilized, and there was significant alleviation of clinical symptoms. LESSONS: GS has a hidden onset and requires early diagnosis and intervention based on patient related symptoms and laboratory indicators in clinical practice, and personalized medication plans need to be provided according to the specific situation of the patient.

A "peptide-target-aptamer" electrochemical biosensor for norovirus detection using a black phosphorous nanosheet@Ti3C2-Mxene nanohybrid and magnetic covalent organic framework.

Norovirus (NoV) is a major foodborne pathogen responsible for acute gastroenteritis epidemics, and establishing a robust detection method for the timely identification and monitoring of NoV contamination is of great significance. In this study, a peptide-target-aptamer sandwich electrochemical biosensor for NoV was fabricated using Au@BP@Ti3C2-MXene and magnetic Au@ZnFe2O4@COF nanocomposites. The response currents of the electrochemical biosensor were proportional to the NoV concentrations ranging from 0.01-105 copies/mL with a detection limit (LOD) of 0.003 copies/mL (S/N = 3). To our best knowledge, this LOD was the lowest among published assays to date, due to the specific recognition of the affinity peptide and aptamer for NoV and the outstanding catalytic activity of nanomaterials. Furthermore, the biosensor showed excellent selectivity, anti-interference performance, and satisfactory stability. The NoV concentrations in simulative food matrixes were successfully detected using the constructed biosensor. Meanwhile, NoV in stool samples was also successfully quantified without complex pretreatment. The designed biosensor had the potential to detect NoV (even at a low level) in foods, clinical samples, and environmental samples, providing a new method for NoV detection in food safety and diagnosing foodborne pathogens.

Study on Closely Related Citrus CMMs based on Chemometrics and Prediction of Components-Targets-Diseases Network by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis.

As the representatives of closely related Chinese medicinal materials (CMMs) originated from Rutaceae family, Aurantii fructus immaturus (AFI), Aurantii fructus (AF), Citri reticulatae pericarpium viride (CRPV), and Citri reticulatae pericarpium (CRP) have better functions in regulating qi and promoting gastrointestinal motility. However, differences in the quality of closely related Citrus CMMs have not yet been revealed until now. Herein, this study focused on the systematic differentiation and in-depth understanding of closely related Citrus CMMs by a strategy integrating chemometrics and network pharmacology. Determined by ultra performance liquid chromatography, the content of nine flavonoids showed obvious fluctuations in the decoction pieces from different species (Citrus aurantium Linnaeus and Citrus reticulate Blanco) with decreasing levels in the samples of ripe fruits. Decoction pieces from the different species and ripening stages were well distinguished by orthogonal projection to latent structure-discriminate analysis (OPLS-DA) and cluster analysis. As a result, four active components including narirutin, naringenin, hesperidin, and 3,5,6,7,8,3',4'-heptemthoxyflavone were filtered out by variable importance for the projection (VIP) value (VIP > 1.0), which were regarded as chemotaxonomic markers. Furthermore, a components-targets-diseases network was constructed via ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA), and the correlations were predicted between four chemotaxonomic markers, 223 targets, and three diseases including colitis, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. The obtained results will be of great significance for identifying closely related Citrus CMMs and conduce to improving the resource utilization of CMMs.

[Effect of miltirone on proliferation and apoptosis of leukemia THP-1 cells].

To investigate the toxicity and related mechanism of miltirone to human acute myeloid leukemia THP-1 cells. To be specific, the active components and targets of miltirone were retrieved from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP), and the target proteins were converted into standard gene names with UniProt. Acute leukemia-rela-ted target genes were screened from GeneCards and DisGeNET. Venn diagram was constructed with Venny 2.1 to yield the common targets of the disease and the drug. The protein-protein interaction(PPI) network was constructed by STRING and Cytoscape 3.8.2. THP-1 cells in the logarithmic growth phase were treated with dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO), and 2.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20 µmol·L~(-1) miltirone for 24 h, respectively. The proliferation rate of cells was analyzed by carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester(CFSE), apoptosis rate by flow cytometry with Annexin V-PE/7 AAD staining, and cell morphology by acridine orange staining. Real-time quantitative PCR(qPCR) was employed to detect the mRNA levels of nuclear receptor coactivator 2(NCOA2), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1(PARP1), B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)-associated X protein(Bax), Bcl-2, and cysteine aspartyl protease-3(caspase-3). The effect of miltirone on apoptosis was detected in presence of caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK. A total of 26 targets of miltirone, 1 046 genes related to acute leukemia, and 6 common targets of the two were screened out. Flow cytometry result showed miltirone at 10 µmol·L~(-1) can inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis of THP-1 cells. The typical manifestations of apoptosis, such as cell shrinkage, nuclear rupture, and chromatin agglomerate were displayed by acridine orange staining. The decreased mRNA levels of NCOA2 and PARP1 and increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and the activity of pro-apoptotic protein caspase-3 were observed. Z-VAD-FMK can attenuate the apoptosis-inducing effect of miltirone. This study indicates that miltirone can inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of THP-1 cells, by down-regulating NCOA2 and PARP1, raising Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and activating caspase-3.

Enhanced Nutrient Removal in A2N Effluent by Reclaimed Biochar Adsorption.

The excessive nitrogen and phosphorus discharged into the water environment will cause water eutrophication and thus disrupt the water ecosystem and even exert biological toxicities. In this study, the absorption removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from the anaerobic tank in an anaerobic−anoxic/nitrifying system using four different kinds of biowaste-reclaimed biochars were investigated and compared. The effects of temperature and pH on nutrient adsorption removal were further investigated. The four kinds of biochar were successfully prepared and well characterized using a scanning electron microscope, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and Brunner−Emmet−Teller methods. Generally, there was no significant change in chemical oxygen demand (COD) and NH4+-N removal efficiencies when treated by the different biochars, while the activated sludge biochar (ASB) displayed the highest total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiency. The initial TP concentrations (<40 mg/L) displayed no remarkable effects on the TP adsorption removal, while the increase of temperature generally enhanced TP and NH4+-N adsorptions on the ASB. Besides, the increase of pH significantly promoted NH4+-N removal but depressed TP removal. Moreover, the adsorption process of TP by the ASB complies with the secondary kinetic model, suggesting the chemical precipitation and physical electrostatic interaction mechanisms of TP adsorption removal. However, the adsorption of NH4+-N conformed to the inner-particle diffusion model, indicating that the NH4+-N adsorption was mainly involved with pore diffusions in the particles.

Preliminary Study on the In Vitro Antitumor Effects of Nidus Vespae on Gastric Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro antitumor effects of Nidus Vespae on gastric cancer and its ability to promote immune function. METHODS: Cell viability was detected by the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were detected using flow cytometry. The THP-1 human monocytic cell line was used as a source of monocytic effector cells for analyzing proliferation and dendritic cell (DC) induction. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect cytokine production, and multicolor flow cytometry was used to study the phenotype and functionality of THP-1 DCs. RESULTS: A high concentration (>10 mg/mL) of Nidus Vespae decoction (NVD) inhibited SGC-7901 gastric cancer cell growth by inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. However, a low concentration (≤10 mg/mL) of NVD significantly increased the proliferative ability of THP-1 in serum-containing medium and caused an increase in dendritic protrusions with the typical morphology of DCs compared to the negative control in serum-free medium. The THP-1 DCs had significantly increased expression of cluster of differentiation 11c (CD11c), CD40, CD80, CD83, and CD86, as well as secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Furthermore, the supernatant of THP-1 DCs significantly inhibited the proliferation of gastric cancer cells by inducing apoptosis and G1/S cell cycle arrest. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that NVD not only directly inhibits the growth of gastric cancer cells but also exerts indirect antitumor effects by enhancing immune function. These results provide an important theoretical basis for the clinical application of Nidus Vespae in gastric cancer treatment.

Facile carboxylation of natural eggshell membrane for highly selective uranium (VI) adsorption from radioactive wastewater.

With the commercial nuclear technology rising in society nowadays, it is of paramount importance to remove uranium (VI) in radioactive wastewater through a cost-effective and efficient way. Due to simple operation, low cost and abundant adsorbents, the adsorption method has been widely used to treat the radioactive wastewater. However, unsatisfactory selectivity and potential secondary pollution of most adsorbents hamper their practical large-scale application. To overcome these limitations, an effective and green absorbent is developed by functionalizing the waste eggshell membrane (ESM) with carboxyl-rich agents. This design concept transfers waste ESM (or "trash") into a unique "treasure" absorbent for directly handling radioactive wastewater. The resultant ESM-COOH shows excellent adsorption selectivity toward uranium (VI) with the selectivity coefficient of 75%, exceeding a majority of reported adsorbents. Moreover, its adsorption capacity still maintains 84% of the initial value after six cycles, suggesting good reusability. These excellent features enable the ESM-COOH to adsorb uranium (VI) highly selectively and efficiently. This work offers a concept to transfer biological wastes into treasure for the mass remediation of water body.

Transporters (OATs and OATPs) contribute to illustrate the mechanism of medicinal compatibility of ingredients with different properties in yuanhuzhitong prescription.

Various medicinal ingredients with different tastes are combined according to the theory of compatibility in Chinese materia medica to achieve a better efficacy, while the mechanism was not very clear. Here, the authors studied the interaction between ingredients and human transporters such as the kidney transporters OAT1 and OAT3, the liver transporters OATP1B1 and OATP1B3, and the intestine transporter OATP2B1 to discern the compatibility mechanism of ingredients with different tastes in the Yuanhuzhitong preparation (YHP) comprising Corydalis yanhusuo (CYH) and Angelica dahurica (AD), which could relieve pain by restraining the central system. The results show that tetrahydropalmatine (TDE), the major component of CYH, could be transported by OAT3 into kidney, OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 into liver, while imperatorin (IPT) and isoimperatorin (ISP), the two key components of AD, and AD extract showed strong inhibition to OAT1 and OAT3. What's more, AD extract also exerted strongly inhibition to human transporters OATP1B1 and OATP1B3. It was also detected that IPT, ISP, and AD extract significantly downregulated the expression of Oatp1a1, Oatp1a4, and Oatp1b2 of liver in mice. The in vivo results show that the concentration of TDE in liver and kidney significantly decreased, while the TDE concentration in blood and brain were both significantly enhanced in the presence of IPT, ISP, and AD extract. These results suggest that the ingredients in AD with pungent taste could enhance the exposure of TDE in blood and brain by inhibiting the uptake of TDE in liver and kidney. That is to say, TDE with bitter taste could "flood up" into the central nervous system to play its therapeutic effect by the cut-off of that into liver and kidney in the presence of ingredients within AD. This paper not only proves the meridian distribution of CYH in liver and kidney with the role of OAT3, OATP1B1, and OATP1B3, but also illustrates how to improve the efficacy of CYH by reasonable compatibility with AD. This study may offer a valuable clue to illustrate the mechanism of compatibility theory.

Cationic Pillar[6]arene Induces Cell Apoptosis by Inhibiting Protein Tyrosine Phosphorylation Via Host-Guest Recognition.

We reported for the first time that cationic pillar[6]arene (cPA6) could tightly bind to peptide polymer (MW~20-50 kDa), an artificial substrate for tyrosine (Tyr) phosphorylation, and efficiently inhibit Tyr protein phosphorylation through host-guest recognition. We synthesized a nanocomposite of black phosphorus nanosheets loaded with cPA6 (BPNS@cPA6) to explore the effect of cPA6 on cells. BPNS@cPA6 was able to enter HepG2 cells, induced apoptosis, and inhibited cell proliferation by reducing the level of Tyr phosphorylation. Furthermore, BPNS@cPA6 showed a stronger ability of inhibiting cell proliferation in tumor cells than in normal cells. Our results revealed the supramolecular modulation of enzymatic Tyr phosphorylation by the host-guest recognition of cPA6.

Oleic acid as a protein ligand improving intestinal absorption and ocular benefit of fucoxanthin in water through protein-based encapsulation.

In this work, fucoxanthin-oleic acid-protein complexes were constructed to improve the dispersibility and intestinal absorption of fucoxanthin in water. The in vivo absorption/antioxidant capacity was evaluated using a mouse model, and the binding processes were investigated using multi-spectroscopic methods and molecular docking. Results showed that the oleic acid-protein delivery system dramatically improved the absorption of fucoxanthin mainly in its original form. When the molar ratio of oleic acid to bovine serum albumin (BSA) was 4 : 1, the plasma response level of fucoxanthin at 4 h could reach 91.25% that of the pure soybean oil delivery system (336.9 pg mL-1vs. 369.2 pmol mL-1). Furthermore, the loading capacity of BSA to fucoxanthin was increased 5 times when oleic acid acted as a protein ligand. Fucoxanthin, oleic acid and BSA can form complexes with good water dispersibility (transmittance nearly 90% and particle size 265 nm) at the molar ratio of 5 : 4 : 1. Spectral analysis and molecular docking indicated that oleic acid and fucoxanthin have different binding domains in BSA and that fucoxanthin can bind to the hydrophobic cavity of BSA in a static manner. After administration of fucoxanthin-oleic acid-BSA complexes for 15 days in mice, only fucoxanthinol accumulation was discovered in eyes and the ocular antioxidant capability increased by 71.02%. These results suggest that the oleic acid-protein delivery system may be useful in facilitating the application of fat-soluble active substances to hydrophilic food systems.

Effects of extracts from Chuanwu (Aconitum Carmichaelii) and Banxia (Rhizoma Pinelliae) on excisional wound healing in a rat's model.

OBJEVTIVE: To investigate the effects of extracts from Chuanwu (Aconitum Carmichaelii) and Banxia (Rhizoma Pinelliae) on the excisional wound healing in a rat's model. METHODS: Rats were performed a surgical lesion with a 2.0 cm resected tissue in the dorsal fascia. Following, animals were randomly divided into model group, YNB group and APE group those were respectively treated with saline, 1 mg/mL of Yunnan Baiyao and 1 mg/mL of Chuanwu (Aconitum Carmichaelii) and Banxia (Rhizoma Pinelliae) extracts. Wound contractions in days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21 were calculated by an image analyzer. Histological analysis was analyzed using hematoxilin and eosin. Levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-10, transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were determined by real-time quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Compared with that of YNB group and APE gtoup, the skin of rats showed poor re-modeling and re-epithelization characterized by a significant decrease of neovascularization, epithelialization and fibroblast in the model group. In the APE group, levels of TNF-α and IL-2 were significantly down-regulated and IL-4 and IL-10 significantly up-regulated in contrasted with that of model group. In addition, levels of TGF-ß1 and bFGF in the APE group were significantly induced compared with that of model group. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the extracts from Chuanwu (Aconitum Carmichaelii) and Banxia (Rhizoma Pinelliae) promote wound healing in the rats, which is associated with enhancing anti-inflammatory ability and inducing fibroblast formation.

Evaluating cellular uptake of gold nanoparticles in HL-7702 and HepG2 cells for plasmonic photothermal therapy.

AIM: A novel methodology is provided to quantitatively measure the gold (Au) mass internalized in a cell for effective implementation of plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPTT). MATERIALS & METHODS: The cellular uptake of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid-labeled Au nanoparticles (NPs) is investigated via Raman mapping and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and the efficiency of in vitro PPTT is evaluated. RESULTS & CONCLUSION: The cellular uptake is strongly affected by the size of the Au NPs, concentration of the Au NPs, incubation time and cell type. By optimizing the experimental parameters, the results show that a significant damage is caused to the HepG2 cells and slight harm is caused to the HL-7702 cells during PPTT. This demonstrates a high potential for developing effective photothermal therapy for tumor tissues.

Autophagy Inhibition Enhances SPCA-1 Cell Proliferation Inhibition Induced by By-1 from the Stout Camphor Medicinal Mushroom, Taiwanofungus camphoratus (Agaricomycetes).

Taiwanofungus camphoratus has been reported to have antitumor effects against various cancer cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the direct inhibitory effect of By-1 (3-isobutyl-l-methoxy-4-[4'-(3-methylbut-2-enyloxy)phenyl]-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione), a compound from spent broth from submerged cultures of T. camphoratus, on human lung adenocarcinoma cells and to determine the molecular mechanism underlying this effect. The growth-inhibitory assay and colony formation assay showed that cell viability was significantly decreased. A By-1 concentration of 300 µmol/L caused 73.55% cell death and at a concentration of 240 µmol/L led to a 58% reduction in the number of colonies. The wound-healing assay showed that the distance of migration was 0.3 times shorter than that of untreated cells. Flow cytometry revealed that By-1 could suppress DNA synthesis, cause cell cycle arrest at the S phase, and induce apoptosis in a reactive oxygen species-dependent manner. Furthermore, the expression of caspase-3 and P53 was 4 times higher than that in untreated cells, and the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 was decreased 2 times compared with the protein in untreated cells. It is interesting to note that apoptosis and autophagy were both induced during treatment with By-1, and autophagy inhibition decreased cell proliferation. By-1 potently inhibited the growth of SPCA-1 cells by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The combination of proapoptosis agents and antiautophagy agents could effectively enhance anticancer efficacy, which may be a new strategy in treating non-small cell lung cancer.

[Moxibustion combined with highly active antiretroviral therapy for CD4+ and γ chain cytokines of HIV infected patients].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of moxibustion combined with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and simple HAART for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients. METHODS: A total of 100 patients with HIV receiving HAART were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 50 cases in each one. In the observation group, moxibustion was used at Zusanli (ST 36), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), etc. combined with HAART of zidovudine, lamivudine, nevirapine and efavirenzone, etc. Simple HAART was used in the control group. The patients were observed for 18 months. The indexes were CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 7 (IL-7), the incidence of side effects and the score of quality of life. RESULTS: After treatment, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, serum IL-2 and the scores of quality of life (physiological, psychological, social relation fields and comprehensive score) increased and serum IL-7 decreased compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.01, P<0.05), with better results except CD4+ in the observation group (P<0.01, P<0.05). The incidences of gastrointestinal side effects and total side effects in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (14% (7/50) vs 32% (16/50), 58% (29/50) vs 80% (40/50), both P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Moxibustion combined with HAART for HIV infected patients could reduce the incidence of side effects, improve medication compliance, CD4+/CD8+, IL-2, IL-7 and the quality of life.

Adsorption behavior of 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on pristine and doped black phosphorene: A DFT study.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) are highly toxic to humans. The search for novel and effective methods and materials for detecting or removing these gas pollutants is becoming more important and urgent. With its high specific surface area, abundance, and variety of potential applications, phosphorene has attracted much research interest. In this study, density functional theory was used to study the interactions between a doped phosphorene sheet and a tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) molecule. The initial configurations of the TCDD and metallic (Ca or Ti) or nonmetallic (S and Se) dopants were investigated during the TCDD-phosphorene interaction study. Adsorption energy, isosurface of electron density difference, and density of states analysis were utilized to explore the interactions between TCDD and phosphorene. The results indicated that Ca dopant effectively improved the interaction between TCDD and phosphorene. Se dopant reduced the interaction between TCDD and phosphorene. Combining interactions between TCDD and the pristine, Ca-doped, and Se-doped phosphorenes, phosphorene could be a promising candidate for TCDD sensing and removal.

Antitumor Effect of By-1 from Spent Broth from Submerged Cultures of Stout Camphor Medicinal Mushroom, Taiwanofungus camphoratus (Higher Basidiomycetes), on A549 Adenocarcinoma Cells.

By-1 was obtained from spent broth from submerged cultures of Taiwanofungus camphoratus. This report evaluates the effects of By-1 on plate clone formation, wound healing, cell cycle, activated caspase-3 expression, and ROS release in A549 lung cancer cells. The result of plate clone formation assay revealed that By-1 could dramatically inhibit the viability of A549 cells in vitro. The inhibitory effect of By-1 on cell migration was tested using a wound healing assay. Proliferation rates of A549 cells were significantly inhibited following exposure to By-1 (12.5, 50, and 80 µg/mL). Flow cytometry revealed that the extracts increased, in a concentration-dependent manner, the number of cells in the G0/G1 phases of the cell cycle. The results of the caspase-3 experiment suggested that By-1 could induce A549 cells apoptosis, and this apoptosis was related to the release of reactive oxygen species by the A549 cells. All these results indicate that By-1 has potential in anti-lung cancer drug development.

Evaluation of Vitamin C Supplementation on Kidney Function and Vascular Reactivity Following Renal Ischemic Injury in Mice.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is a very common clinical event and usually leads to ischemic acute renal failure (ARF). In the present study, we investigated the protective role of vitamin C in renal function and renal arterial relaxation following ischemic injury. METHODS: IRI model in mice was used. Various biochemical parameters including nitric oxide (NO), reduced glutathione (GSH), total reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were examined. Doppler was used to investigate renal arterial resistance. The isolated renal arterial rings served for hypoxia/reoxygenation analysis. Acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced relaxations of isolated renal arterial rings were exerted. RESULTS: Vitamin C supplementation preserved kidney morphology and renal function following IRI. It was shown that pretreatment with vitamin C for mice subjected to IRI significantly elevated renal NO and GSH levels after reperfusion. Meanwhile, vitamin C administration decreased resistance index of renal artery and ameliorated oxidative stress secondary to IRI. The total ROS level in renal artery was decreased whereas the renal arterial SOD expression was increased by vitamin C supplementation following IRI. Pretreatment with vitamin C significantly potentiated the ACh and SNP-induced relaxations in both control and hypoxic renal arterial rings. CONCLUSION: Vitamin C protects kidney function and renal arterial reactivity against IRI. The protective role of vitamin C is linked to ROS, SOD, GSH and NO levels in renal ischemic injury.

[Features of Syndrome Patterns of Chinese Medicine in Elderly AIDS Patients in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region].

Objective To observe the features of syndrome patterns of Chinese medicine (CM) in elderly human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome ( HIV/AIDS) patients in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Methods According to a case-control study, a clinical question- naire was designated in elderly HIV/AIDS patients older than 50 years and healthy examinees with age and sex match. Their syndrome information of CM were collected from designated medical institutions in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from October 2013 to April 2014. Analyses of syndrome factors were conducted using WF-I[A Diagnosis and Treatment System of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Auxilia- ry). The disease location of CM and nature of diseases were compared between elderly HIV/AIDS patients and the controls. The features of syndrome patterns of CM in elderly HIV/AIDS patients were summarized. Results A total of 417 elderly HIV/AIDS patients and 362 examinees were enrolled. In elderly patients with HIV/AIDS, established syndrome factors of disease nature were qi deficiency, yang deficiency, yin deficiency, blood deficiency, dampness, and phlegm , and established syndrome factors of disease loca- tion included Shen, Fei, Pi, and Gan. There were statistical differences in established syndrome factors of disease location or nature between elderly patients with HIV/AIDS and the controls (P <0. 05). Conclu- sions Elderly HIV/AIDS patients were characterized by deficiency of qi, yang, yin, and blood in Shen, Fei, Pi, and Gan, as well as endogenous production of pathogenic factors such as dampness and phlegm. Intermingled deficiency and excess was dominated in elderly HIV/AIDS patients, and mainly man- ifested as deficiency syndrome.

The Immunomodulatory Effects of Nidus Vespae on Human Peripheral Blood Immune Cells In Vitro.

Nidus Vespae has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat various cancers, but the underlying mechanisms were not yet clarified. This study was to investigate the effect of Nidus Vespae decoction (NVD) on tumor cell viability and immunoregulating functions of human peripheral blood immune cells. The effects on tumor cell viability, peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation activity, and the tumor cell phagocytosis of monocytes were evaluated by cell counting kit-8. Tumor-killing activity of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) was analyzed by (51)Cr releasing assay. IgG production of B cells and cytokine (TNF-α and IL-6) secretion of monocytes were determined by ELISA method. Data showed that NVD has no significant inhibiting effects on gastric cancer cells growth. Nevertheless, it could obviously promote PBMC proliferation in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. After treatment with NVD, the CTL cytotoxicity against SGC-7901 was significantly greater than control. The TNF-α and IL-6 secretion of monocytes and the IgG production of B cells also increased remarkably. Furthermore, NVD could significantly promote the phagocytosis of monocytes on tumor cells. These results suggest that NVD appears to have an immunoenhancing effect on immune cells, indicating that Nidus Vespae is worth exploring for immunomodulatory effects in tumor treatment.