Polyphenols from Broussonetia papyrifera Induce Apoptosis of HepG2 Cells via Inactivation of ERK and AKT Signaling Pathways.

The extract of Broussonetia papyrifera has been proved to have antitumor activity. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of apoptosis of HepG2 cells induced by polyphenols from Broussonetia papyrifera (PBPs). The results revealed that PBPs inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometry analysis showed that PBPs increased the apoptosis ratio of HepG2 cells significantly. PBPs increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and decreased intracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD) level of HepG2 cells. PBPs induced cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. Western blotting showed that PBPs upregulated the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and the expression level of Caspase-3, and activated p53 in HepG2 cells. The inhibition of proliferative relative signals (protein kinase B, PKB/AKT) and survival relative signals (extracellular signal-regulated kinase, ERK) were also observed in PBP-treated HepG2 cells. Our findings suggest that apoptosis of HepG2 cells induced by PBPs is mitochondria-mediated via inactivation of ERK and AKT signaling pathways.

Advance in Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research of Rehabilitation Therapy on Cerebral Network Remodeling of Motor Deficits after Stroke (review) / 中国康复理论与实践

With the development of rehabilitation researches for post-stroke motor dysfunction, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on nerve injury has also attracted extensive attention. Subcortical lesions of stroke affect nearby or distal brain areas, leading to motor dysfunction. Mirror neuron system therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial electrical stimulation can activate relevant regions of cerebral cortex in a non-invasive way, and restore the balance between cerebral hemispheres, which can regulate the whole brain network circuit. However, there is a lack of grade A evidence for the effects of transcranial electrical stimulation. Although acupuncture and moxibustion can widely regulate the topological structure of the whole brain functional network nodes, it cannot fully explain the therapeutic mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion due to the differences of acupuncture point selection, manipulation, time, and channels. The interactive application of rehabilitation therapy and neuroimaging is becoming a new direction of stroke treatment research.

Lower body mass indices and near-target early energy nutrition therapy may increase intensive care unit-associated infections: A retrospective study in Guangzhou, China.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The optimal energy intake for early nutrition therapy in critically ill patients is unknown, especially in Chinese patients with a lower BMI. This study investigated the relationship between energy intake and clinical outcomes in this patient population. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study was carried out at a tertiary hospital. Critically ill patients were recruited and divided into 3 tertiles according to the ratio of actual/target energy intake during the first week of hospitalization in the intensive care unit (ICU) (tertile I, <33.4%; tertile II, 33.4%-66.7%; and tertile III, >66.7%). 60-day mortality and other clinical outcomes were compared. To adjust for potentially confounding factors, multivariate and sensitivity analyses were performed exclusively in patients who stayed in the ICU for ≥7 days. RESULTS: A total of 325 patients with a mean BMI of 22.5±4.7 kg/m2 were recruited. 60-day mortality was similar between the 3 tertiles. In the unadjusted analysis, tertile III had a longer length of stay in the ICU and at the hospital, longer duration of mechanical ventilation, and higher rate of ICU-associated infections, but only the latter showed a significant difference between the 3 tertiles in the multivariate and sensitivity analyses. Logistic regression analysis showed that energy groups was an independent risk factor for ICU-associated infections. CONCLUSIONS: Energy intake in early nutrition therapy influences risk of ICU-associated infections in Chinese critically ill patients with lower BMI. Furthermore, patients with near-target energy intake have more frequent ICU-associated infections.

Anti-Apoptotic Effects of Diosgenin in D-Galactose-Induced Aging Brain.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of diosgenin on the D-galactose-induced cerebral cortical widely dispersed apoptosis. Male 12-week-old Wistar rats were divided into four groups: Control (1mg/kg/day of saline, i.p.), DD0 (150mg/kg/day of D-galactose, i.p.), DD10, and DD50 (D-galactose+10 or 50mg/kg/day of diosgenin orally). After eight weeks, histopathological analysis, positive TUNEL and Western blotting assays were performed on the excised cerebral cortex from all four groups. The TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells, the components of Fas pathway (Fas, FADD, active caspase-8 and active caspase-3), and mitochondria pathway (t-Bid, Bax, cytochrome c, active caspase-9 and active caspase-3) were increased in the DD0 group compared with the control group, whereas they were decreased in the DD50 group. The components of survival pathway (p-Bad, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, IGF-1, p-PI3K and p-AKT) were increased in the DD50 group compared to the control group, whereas the levels of Bcl-xL, p-PI3K, and p-AKT were also compensatorily increased in the DD0 group compared to the control group. Taken together, diosgenin suppressed D-galactose-induced neuronal Fas-dependent and mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathways and enhanced the Bcl-2 family associated pro-survival and IGF-1-PI3K-AKT survival pathways, which might provide neuroprotective effects of diosgenin for prevention of the D-galactose-induced aging brain.

Neuroprotective Effect of Rhodiola crenulata in D-Galactose-Induced Aging Model.

The medicinal plant Rhodiola crenulata grows at high altitudes in the Arctic and mountainous regions and is commonly used in phytotherapy in Eastern European and Asian countries. In the present study, we investigated the anti-apoptotic effect of Rhodiola crenulata and its neuroprotective mechanism of action in a rat model of D-galactose-induced aging. Two groups of twelve-week-old male Wistar rats received a daily injection of D-galactose (150mg/kg/day, i.p.) and orally administered Rhodiola crenulata (0, 248mg/kg/day) for eight weeks, while a control group received a saline injection (1ml/kg/day, i.p.). We examined apoptosis in the cortex and hippocampus of three groups of rats based on a terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated deoxy uridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) positive assay. The expression levels of apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins in excised brains were analyzed by Western blotting. Our findings indicated that D-galactose caused marked neuronal apoptosis via activation of both extrinsic-dependent and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways. When compared to the control group, the protein levels of Fas receptor, Fas ligand, Fas-associated death domain (FADD), and activated caspase-8 (Fas-dependent apoptotic pathways), as well as those of t-Bid, Bax, cytochrome c, activated caspase-9, and activated caspase-3 (mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways), were significantly increased in the D-galactose treated group. In addition, D-galactose impaired the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt, an important survival signaling event in neurons. Rhodiola crenulata, however, protected against all these neurotoxicities in aging brains. The present study suggests that neuronal survival promoted by Rhodiola crenulata may be a potentially effective method to enhance the resistance of neurons to age-related disorders.

Caffeine-free hawk tea lowers cholesterol by reducing free cholesterol uptake and the production of very-low-density lipoprotein.

Medicinal plants show important therapeutic value in chronic disease treatment. However, due to their diverse ingredients and complex biological effects, the molecular mechanisms of medicinal plants are yet to be explored. By means of several high-throughput platforms, here we show hawk tea extract (HTE) inhibits Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1)-mediated free cholesterol uptake, thereby inducing the transcription of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) downstream of the sterol response element binding protein 2 (SREBP2) pathway. Meanwhile, HTE suppresses hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α)-mediated transcription of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) and apolipoprotein B (APOB), thereby decreasing the production of very-low-density lipoprotein. The catechin EGCG ((-)-epigallocatechin gallate) and the flavonoids kaempferol and quercetin are identified as the bioactive components responsible for the effects on the NPC1L1-SREBP2-LDLR axis and HNF4α-MTP/APOB axis, respectively. Overall, hawk tea works as a previously unrecognized cholesterol-lowering agent in a multi-target and multi-component manner.

[Effect of miRNA from Glycyrrhiza uralensis decoction on gene expression of human immune cells].

MicroRNAs(miRNA) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate the expression of protein coding genes by repressing translation of protein coding mRNA or enhancing mRNA degradation. Its functions have attracted more and more attention from the public. In recent years, the cross-border regulation of miRNA has become a new research direction, and provides a new perspective for people to comprehensively understand the functions of miRNA. Plant miRNA is usually methylated and not easy to degrade. According to our previous researches, there were abundant small RNAs in the decoction of dried liquorice, which provides a new way to study the mechanism of action of licorice. In this study, small RNAs extracted from Glycyrrhiza uralensis decoction and synthesized miRNA mimics were used to treat peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) isolated from healthy volunteers. The gene expression of toll-like receptors(TLRs), some transcription factors, signal molecules and cytokines were analyzed by RT-PCR. The results showed that glycyrrhiza miRNA could significantly regulate PBMC by inhibiting the expression of genes involved in T cell differentiation, inflammation and apoptosis. The study brought new ideas to us in comprehensively studying the mechanism of licorice and developing the traditional Chinese medicine.

Paeonol alleviates interleukin-1ß-induced inflammatory responses in chondrocytes during osteoarthritis.

Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß)-induced inflammatory responses in chondrocytes play an important role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Searching medicines that affect IL-1ß-mediated chondrocytes function is critical in developing therapies for OA. Paeonol, as an important component in traditional Chinese medicine, has anti-inflammatory activity and can offer therapy for a multitude of inflammatory-related diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether paeonol could alleviate the progression of OA through inhibition of IL-1ß-induced inflammatory responses in chondrocytes. The cell counting kit-8 assay, 5-ethynil-2'-deoxyuridine staining, hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometric staining were used to observe the chondrocytes proliferation and apoptosis. Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR were applied to examine the expression of extracellular matrix and cartilage degrading enzymes. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was monitored by 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluoresce in diacetate staining. Furthermore, paeonol was intra-articularly injected into joint capsule in destabilized medial meniscus (DMM)-induced OA rat model for 8 and 12 weeks. The results showed that paeonol could negatively affect IL-1ß-mediate chondrocyte apoptosis and proliferation. Application of paeonol attenuated the secretion of cartilage extracellular matrix and cartilage degrading enzymes induced by IL-1ß in chondrocytes. Increasing of ROS production by IL-1ß was obviously alleviated by paeonol. Besides, paeonol alleviated DMM-induced articular cartilage degeneration in vivo. Taken together, we concluded that paeonol might be used as therapeutic agent for treating OA.

Clinical Use of Curcumin in Depression: A Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: There is growing interest in the use of curcumin, a plant polyphenol with potent anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and neuroprotective properties, as a novel antidepressant. Clinical trials have yielded conflicting conclusions pertaining to its effectiveness in depression. A meta-analysis of the topic, which has not been done until now, is therefore necessary to summarize current evidence and generate hypotheses for further research. METHODS: Using the keywords [curcumin OR diferuloylmethane OR curcuminoid OR turmeric OR Indian saffron] AND [depression OR MDD OR suicide], a preliminary search on the PubMed, Ovid, Clinical Trials Register of the Cochrane Collaboration Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Group (CCDANTR), and Cochrane Field for Complementary Medicine database yielded 2081 articles published in English between January 1, 1960, and August 1, 2016. RESULTS: Six clinical trials with a total of 377 patients were reviewed, comparing the use of curcumin to placebo. In patients with depression, the pooled standardized mean difference from baseline Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores (pooled standardized mean difference -0.344, 95% confidence interval -0.558 to -0.129; P = .002) support the significant clinical efficacy of curcumin in ameliorating depressive symptoms. Significant anti-anxiety effects were also reported in 3 of the trials. Notably, no adverse events were reported in any of the trials. Most trials had a generally low risk of bias, except for an open trial of curcumin and a single-blinded study. LIMITATIONS: Because of the small number of studies available, a funnel plot or sensitivity analysis was not possible. Evidence on the long-term efficacy and safety of curcumin is also limited as the duration of all available studies ranged from 4 to 8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin appears to be safe, well-tolerated, and efficacious among depressed patients. More robust randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and follow-up studies carried out over a longer duration should be planned to ascertain its benefits.

Doll therapy for dementia sufferers: A systematic review.

Dementia affects more than 47.5 million people worldwide, and the number is expected to continue to increase as the population ages. Doll therapy is an emerging nonpharmacologic management strategy for patients with advanced dementia, especially in patients with challenging behaviours. A total of 12 published studies (mainly cohort and observational studies) were identified and discussed in this systematic review. In most instances, cognitive, behavioural and emotional symptoms were alleviated and overall wellbeing was improved with doll therapy, and dementia sufferers were found to be able to better relate with their external environment. Despite the relative paucity of empirical data and ethical concerns, we are of the opinion that doll therapy is effective for dementia care, is well-aligned with the ethos of person-centred care and should be applied in the management of dementia patients. Future research should include more robust randomized controlled trials.

[Efficacy analysis and theoretical study on Chinese herbal properties of Açaí (Euterpe oleracea)].

Açaí (Euterpe oleracea) emerged as a source of herb has a long history in South America, which was approved by the Ministry of Health used in China and it has been introduced planting in Guangdong and Taiwan. This article summarized applied history of Açaí and its present status in China. Did theoretical study on the Chinese herbal properties of Açaí based on the Chinese traditional philosophical culture to analysis the function and symptom preliminary, combining with used for medical recordation, chemical component, biological activity. It is aiming at establishing the theoretical foundation for the application under the guidance of TCM theory.

[Extraction of miRNA from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Decoction and Its Effect on Immune Cells].

OBJECTIVE: To extract microRNA(miRNA) from Glycyrrhiza uralensis(liquorice) decoction and to explore its effect on mmune cells. METHODS: With dried processed liquorice, the water decoction was prepared according to the conventional method and subsequently concentrated by rotary evaporation. The concentrated decoction was further freeze-dried by freeze dryer, and miRNAs were extracted with Plant MicroRNA Extraction Kit. The extracted miRNA was digested by DNase I and then analyzed through the agarose gell electrophoresis. The PBMC was isolated from healthy volunteers and treated respectively by liquorice water extract, glycyrrhizic acid, glycyrrhetic acid and liquorice miRNAs. After 24 hours, the cells numbers were counted, and the changes of cell morphology were observed. The expression of CD3, CD56 and HLA-DR were analyzed by flow cytometry to identify the change of cell subsets in PBMC. RESULTS: miRNAs could be extracted from the decoction of dried liquorice which further confirmed the stability of miRNAs. The in vitro culture experiment showed that,compared with the controls, PBMC treated with liquorice miRNAs appeared apparent cell aggregation and increased cell number and HLA-DR+ cells proportion. CONCLUSION: The miRNAs are successfully extracted from the freeze-dried decoction of dried liquorice. It is indicated that liquorice miRNAs have significant stimulative effects on the growth of PBMC and HLA-DR+ cells subset.

Anti-inflammatory activity of mushroom-derived hispidin through blocking of NF-κB activation.

BACKGROUND: Hispidin, a polyphenol compound mainly derived from the valuable medicinal mushroom Phellinus species, has been found to possess distinct biological effects. However, the anti-inflammatory potential of hispidin still remains uncharacterized. RESULTS: In this study, the effects of hispidin on activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and the subsequent production of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were determined in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Our data indicated that hispidin inhibits transcriptional activity of NF-κB in a dose-dependent manner. Hispidin also attenuated LPS-induced NF-κB nuclear translocation and associated inhibitor of kappa B (IκB-α) degradation. Furthermore, hispidin deceased iNOS protein expression and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the LPS-induced cells, but did not affect phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that hispidin exhibits anti-inflammatory activity through suppressing ROS mediated NF-κB pathway in mouse macrophage cells.

Efficacy analysis and theoretical study on Chinese herbal properties of Açaí (Euterpe oleracea) / 中国中药杂志

Açaí (Euterpe oleracea) emerged as a source of herb has a long history in South America, which was approved by the Ministry of Health used in China and it has been introduced planting in Guangdong and Taiwan. This article summarized applied history of Açaí and its present status in China. Did theoretical study on the Chinese herbal properties of Açaí based on the Chinese traditional philosophical culture to analysis the function and symptom preliminary, combining with used for medical recordation, chemical component, biological activity. It is aiming at establishing the theoretical foundation for the application under the guidance of TCM theory.

[Effect of Gansui Banxia Tang plus-minus Gansui and Gancao anti-drug combination that preferred dose close to clinical application on diuretic effect in malignant ascites rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Gansui Banxia Tang plus-minus Gansui and Gancao anti-drug combination on hepatic and renal functions in malignant ascites rats to explore whether the efficacy or toxicity associated with the anti-drug combination. METHOD: The male wistar rats were randomly divided into a blank group, model group, furosemide group, Gansui Banxia Tang group, Gansui Banxia Tang removed Zhigancao group, Gansui Banxia Tang removed Cugansui group, Gansui Banxia Tang removed Zhigancao and Cugansui group. In addition to normal feeding, every morning except for the blank group and model group, the rest of the group was given drugs, the control group and the model group was given distilled water, the volume is 10 mL x kg(-1). Administered five days, all rats were fasted but except water for 24 hours to collect urine. Administered nine days all rats were fasted but except water for 12 hours, we need to weigh weight of rats. When we remove the ascites, we also need to weigh weight of rats. We use the weight before removing ascites minus weight after removing ascites to indirectly measure the amount of ascites. When we remove the ascites, we need to abdominal aortic blood, centrifuge testing renin, angiotensin II, aldosterone, antidiuretic hormone and other indicators. RESULT: The effect of Gansui Banixa Tang on increasing the net weight, lowering abdominal circumference and body weight ratio, lowering renin, angiotensin, aldosterone, antidiuretic hormone is better than the other treatment group. CONCLUSION: In diuresis party, the group of Gansui Banxia Tang is better than the group of Gansui Banxia Tang remove Zhigancao or Cugansui or Zhigancao and Cugansui, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system may play a diuretic effect of its one way.

Effect of Gansui Banxia Tang plus-minus Gansui and Gancao anti-drug combination that preferred dose close to clinical application on diuretic effect in malignant ascites rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Gansui Banxia Tang plus-minus Gansui and Gancao anti-drug combination on hepatic and renal functions in malignant ascites rats to explore whether the efficacy or toxicity associated with the anti-drug combination.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The male wistar rats were randomly divided into a blank group, model group, furosemide group, Gansui Banxia Tang group, Gansui Banxia Tang removed Zhigancao group, Gansui Banxia Tang removed Cugansui group, Gansui Banxia Tang removed Zhigancao and Cugansui group. In addition to normal feeding, every morning except for the blank group and model group, the rest of the group was given drugs, the control group and the model group was given distilled water, the volume is 10 mL x kg(-1). Administered five days, all rats were fasted but except water for 24 hours to collect urine. Administered nine days all rats were fasted but except water for 12 hours, we need to weigh weight of rats. When we remove the ascites, we also need to weigh weight of rats. We use the weight before removing ascites minus weight after removing ascites to indirectly measure the amount of ascites. When we remove the ascites, we need to abdominal aortic blood, centrifuge testing renin, angiotensin II, aldosterone, antidiuretic hormone and other indicators.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The effect of Gansui Banixa Tang on increasing the net weight, lowering abdominal circumference and body weight ratio, lowering renin, angiotensin, aldosterone, antidiuretic hormone is better than the other treatment group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In diuresis party, the group of Gansui Banxia Tang is better than the group of Gansui Banxia Tang remove Zhigancao or Cugansui or Zhigancao and Cugansui, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system may play a diuretic effect of its one way.</p>

[Relationships between typical vegetations, soil salinity, and groundwater depth in the Yellow River Delta of China].

Soil salinity and groundwater depth are the two important factors affecting the vegetation growth and distribution in the Yellow River Delta. Through field investigation and statistical analysis, this paper studied the relationships between the typical vegetations (Suaeda heteroptera-Tamarix chinensis, Robinia pseudoacacia, Phragmites australis, and cotton) , soil salinity, and groundwater depth in the Delta. In the study area, groundwater depth had significant effects on soil salinity, with the average influence coefficient being 0.327. When the groundwater depth was 0.5-1.5 m, soil salinization was most severe. The vegetation growth in the Delta was poorer, with the NDVI in 78% of the total area being less than 0.4. Groundwater depth and soil salinity had significant effects on the vegetation distribution. Soil salinity had significant effects on the NDVI of R. pseudoacacia, S. heteroptera-T. chinensis, P. australis, and cotton, while groundwater depth had significant effects on the NDVI of S. heteroptera - T. chinensis, but lesser effects on the NDVI of P. australis, cotton and R. pseudoacacia.

Effect of Mirazid in Schistosoma japonicum-infected mice: parasitological and pathological assessment.

Conflicting reports are found in the literature about the antischistosomal efficacy of Mirazid (MZ), which is a special formulation of myrrh obtained from the stem of the plant Commiphora molmol. This initiated the present study to assess this drug for the first time in experimental schistosomiasis japonicum. Mice were divided into four groups: infected untreated control (I); infected treated with MZ, 500 mg/kg (II); infected treated with MZ, 250 mg/kg (III); and infected treated with praziquantel (PZQ), 200 mg/kg (IV). The drugs were given 7 weeks post-infection for five successive days. All animals were killed 3 weeks posttreatment. Results showed no signs of antibilharzial activity of MZ. Total worms, total tissue egg load, egg developmental stages, and granuloma area were not affected by any of the MZ treatment regimens as compared to the infected untreated group (P > 0.05 for all variables). These results were in contrast to those obtained in PZQ-treated animals in which 82.82 % total worm reduction, 94.62 % egg reduction, and 86.35 % granuloma area reduction were observed. Also, it significantly increased the percentage of dead ova and decreased the percentage of mature ova with complete absence of immature ones in comparison with the control group (P < 0.01 for all variables). In conclusion, the results of the current study raise serious doubts about the antischistosomal activity of MZ.