Hypoxia Upregulates NOTCH3 Signaling Pathway to Promote Endothelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cells.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effect of hypoxia on pulmonary artery endothelial cells and the role of NOTCH3 in endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EnMT) and to provide a research model for pulmonary disease and explain the pathogenesis of the pulmonary disease. METHODS: Pulmonary artery endothelial cells were divided into two groups and cultured in normoxic and hypoxic environments, respectively. QPCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence were used to detect endothelial cell-specific marker protein and mRNA expression in each group, and the ability of endothelial cells migration was evaluated by scratch and transwell experiment. RESULTS: The pulmonary artery endothelial cells in the normoxic group presented a typical pebble-like arrangement, and the endothelial cells in hypoxic culture showed a long spindle appearance. Hypoxia induced high expression of NOTCH3, Jagged-1, Hes1, c-Src, and CSL. Immunofluorescence showed that endothelial cells in hypoxic culture began to express the α-SMA, and the expression of vWF increased with hypoxia. Cell viability, scratch, and transwell results showed that endothelial cells in the hypoxic group were more capable of viability and migration than those in the normoxic group. The induction of EnMT by hypoxia can be inhibited by using notch3-specific inhibitor DAPT and Jagged-1. This study also found that miR-7-5p can regulate endothelial NOTCH3, indicating that miRNA is also involved in the process of endothelial-mesenchymal transformation. CONCLUSION: Hypoxia promotes the transformation of endothelial cells into mesenchymal cells by opening the NOTCH3 pathway, which lays the foundation for disease progression or clinical prognosis, and is of great significance in the treatment of diseases.

[Therapeutic efficacy assessment of Chinese medicine on mild cognitive impairment].

OBJECTIVE: To systematically analyze the therapeutic efficacy and safety of Chinese medicine on aged patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS: The PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang Database, and CBM database were retrieved by computer. On the basis of strictly assessing the quality of literatures, the evidence quality was assessed using GRADE Software. RESULTS: Totally 680 papers were primarily retrieved and analyses were conducted in the finally selected 22 RCT articles. Descriptive analyses were conduced due to different interventions in each study. The therapeutic efficacy was assessed as follows. (1) As to the conversion of MCI to Alzheimer's disease (AD), no case conversed to MCI in Jiawei Wuzi Yanzong Granule Group and Shenyin Oral Liquid Group. But there was no statistical difference when compared with that in the placebo group and the vitamin E group. Significant difference was shown between Tiantai No. 1 and the placebo. (2) As for the improvement of cognitive functions, relative therapeutic efficacies of Chinese herbs were different. (3) The improvement of the activities of daily life, serum SOD and MDA contents, and P amyloid concentration in MCI patients was different due to the application of different therapeutic drugs. CONCLUSION: Chinese herbs showed certain therapeutic efficacy in improving MCI. But clinical application could not be recommended due to poor qualities of literatures and evidence.

Identification of coastal water quality by statistical analysis methods in Daya Bay, South China Sea.

In this paper, cluster analysis (CA), principal component analysis (PCA) and the fuzzy logic approach were employed to evaluate the trophic status of water quality for 12 monitoring stations in Daya Bay in 2003. CA grouped the four seasons into four groups (winter, spring, summer and autumn) and the sampling sites into two groups (cluster DA: S1, S2, S4-S7, S9 and S12 and cluster DB: S3, S8, S10 and S11). PCA identified the temporal and spatial characteristics of trophic status in Daya Bay. Cluster DB, with higher concentrations of TP and DIN, is located in the western and northern parts of Daya Bay. Cluster DA, with the low Secchi, is located in the southern and eastern parts of Daya Bay. The fuzzy logic approach revealed more information about the temporal and spatial patterns of the trophic status of water quality. Chlorophyll a, TP and Secchi may be major factors for deteriorating water quality.