Effects of Environmental and Spatial Variables on Bacteria in Zhanjiang Mangrove Sediments.

The bottom mud of mangroves contains numerous microbial groups that play an important role in the main ecological functions of the mangrove ecosystem. The diversity and functional and environmental factors related to microbial communities, in terms of the assembly process and in environmental adaptation of the abundance and rare bacterial communities in the mangrove ecosystem, have not been fully explored. We used 16S high-throughput sequencing and operational taxonomic unit analysis to compare the diversity and composition of bacterial communities in different tidal zones in the sediments of the Zhanjiang Gaoqiao Mangrove Nature Reserve, compare the ecological adaptation thresholds and phylogenetic signals of bacterial communities under different environmental gradients, and examine the factors affecting the composition of the bacterial community. The diversity of microbial species and structure and function of the mangrove sediments were affected by the environment, showing the trend: mid tide zone > climax zone > low tide zone. Organic matter content, oxygen content, pH, and total phosphorus were identified as important environmental factors determining the functional diversity of bacterial communities and survival, while pH influences species evolution. The abundant taxa showed a wider response threshold and stronger phylogenetic signals of ecological preference across environmental gradients compared to rare taxa. The abundant bacterial groups have broader environmental adaptability than rare bacterial groups, and different environmental factors affect different communities and functions in the mangrove ecological environment. These results elucidate the mechanism underlying the generation and maintenance of bacterial diversity in response to global environmental changes.

The Status of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Extract from Zhanjiang Mangrove Sediments and the Effects on Tissue Structure and Inflammatory Cytokines in Zebrafish Liver.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are released into the environment from a wide range of sources. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the PCBs extracted from the Zhanjiang mangrove sediments on the immune function of zebrafish. The sediments were collected from 3 mangrove forest points in Zhanjiang (Guangdong Province, China), and the results showed that PCB153 was detected in the sediments of the Guangdong Zhanjiang Mangrove National Nature Reserve (MNNR) and Gaoqiao Mangrove Reserve (GMR), while PCB101, PCB112, PCB155, and PCB198 were detected in the sediments of the Leizhou Peninsula (LP). The zebrafish were exposed to different concentrations of PCBs, i.e., control group, positive control group (Aroclor1254; 10 µg/L), low dose group (LD; 0.6 µg/L), medium-dose group (MD; 3.0 µg/L) and high dose group (HD; 15 µg/L) for 14 days. As compared to the control group, the liver index increased significantly in all PCB treated groups. The liver tissue structure was destroyed in all PCB-treated groups as compared to the control group. In addition, the relative mRNA expression of the target genes (IL-1ß, IL-8, and TNF-α) was significantly expressed in each concentration group. Therefore, these findings suggest that exposure of zebrafish to PCBs can destroy the liver histology and increase the liver index and mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines in a dose and time-dependent manner.

Transcriptome analysis of three cultivars of Poria cocos reveals genes related to the biosynthesis of polysaccharides.

Poria cocos (P. cocos) polysaccharides (PCPs) are used to improve immunity and possess antitumor activities. We compared three cultivars of P. cocos (5.78, XJ 28 and JHYH) PCP contents. Then we determined that malZ, galA, SORD, gnl and bglX are key enzymes within the PCP biosynthetic pathway by using HiSeq2500 transcriptome and qRT-PCR validation. Our results provide more detailed information about the PCP biosynthesis pathway at the molecular level in P. cocos and establish the functions for the molecular breeding to produce polysaccharides in general for therapeutic use in Chinese medicinal plants.

Di-Huang-Yi-Zhi herbal formula attenuates amyloid-ß-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells.

Traditional Chinese medicine can be used for Alzheimer's disease management, such as the modern herbal formula Di-Huang-Yi-Zhi (DHYZ). In the present study, neuronal differentiated PC12 cells were used as a model to evaluate the effects of DHYZ against amyloid-ß peptide 25-35 (Aß25-35) induced neurotoxicity, particularly regarding cell proliferation, apoptosis and related events. Following treatment with DHYZ, cell viability, cell membrane damage, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release, caspase-3 activity and levels of reactive oxygen species in PC12 cells were detected. The results demonstrated that pretreatment with DHYZ significantly protected PC12 cells from Aß25-35-induced proliferation inhibition, lactate dehydrogenase release and apoptosis, as well as upregulating mitochondrial membrane potential and downregulating cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation. DHYZ also inhibited the Aß25-35-induced reactive oxygen species generation in PC12 cells. These observations suggest that DHYZ protected PC12 cells from the Aß-induced neurotoxicity.

CSH guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of drug-induced liver injury.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is an important clinical problem, which has received more attention in recent decades. It can be induced by small chemical molecules, biological agents, traditional Chinese medicines (TCM), natural medicines (NM), health products (HP), and dietary supplements (DS). Idiosyncratic DILI is far more common than intrinsic DILI clinically and can be classified into hepatocellular injury, cholestatic injury, hepatocellular-cholestatic mixed injury, and vascular injury based on the types of injured target cells. The CSH guidelines summarized the epidemiology, pathogenesis, pathology, and clinical manifestation and gives 16 evidence-based recommendations on diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of DILI.

Herbal compound Teng-Long-Bu-Zhong-Tang inhibits metastasis in human RKO colon carcinoma.

Metastasis is one of the primary obstacles to the successful treatment of colorectal cancer. Teng-Long-Bu-Zhong-Tang (TLBZT) is a modern Chinese herbal formula that may be useful in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. The present study evaluated the effects of TLBZT on lung metastasis in human RKO colon carcinoma cells injected into mice via the tail vein. The results demonstrated that TLBZT inhibited the metastasis of human RKO colon carcinoma cells to the lungs. TLBZT downregulated the expression of LOX and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α. TLBZT also inhibited the expression of integrins αV and ß3 and the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase. These results indicate that TLBZT inhibits the lung metastasis of RKO colon carcinoma by regulating the expression of multiple genes. The results of the present study provide a new basis for the management of colorectal cancer metastasis using treatments derived from Chinese herbs.

Preventive and Therapeutic Effects of Chinese Herbal Compounds against Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Traditional Chinese Medicines, unique biomedical and pharmaceutical resources, have been widely used for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prevention and treatment. Accumulated Chinese herb-derived compounds with significant anti-cancer effects against HCC have been identified. Chinese herbal compounds are effective in preventing carcinogenesis, inhibiting cell proliferation, arresting cell cycle, inducing apoptosis, autophagy, cell senescence and anoikis, inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastasis and angiogenesis, regulating immune function, reversing drug resistance and enhancing the effects of chemotherapy in HCC. This paper comprehensively reviews these compounds and their effects on HCC. Finally, the perspectives and rational application of herbal compounds for HCC management are discussed.

[Alteration of thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin levels in rats with obstructive jaundice and the effect of salviae miltiorrhizae on them].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the alteration of plasma levels of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and prostacyclin (PGI2) as well as changes of microcirculation in renal cortex of obstructive jaundice model rats, and to study the effect of Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae (SM) on them. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: the sham operation group (A), the common bile duct ligation model group (B), and the SM treated model group (C). Their blood plasma TXA2/PGI2 ratio (T/P), blood levels of urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) were determined respectively in batches (8 rats from each group) on the 3 rd, 7th and 10th day, their capillary caliber (CC) in renal cortex was measured at the same time points using WX-9 type microcirculation microscope. RESULTS: Compared with Group A, T/P was higher and CC was smaller in Group B at all the time points. Levels of BUN and Cr increased on day 7 and day 10 after modeling (P<0.05), and they were increasing markedly along with the elongation of the obstructive time (P<0.05). As compared with Group B, T/P was lower and CC was expanded in Group C, with levels of BUN and Cr lowered on day 10 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: T/P elevation and renal microcirculation obstacle are the important factors for inducing renal injury in obstructive jaundice, and SM shows a protective effect on kidney against the injury.