Maimendong and Qianjinweijing Tang combined with cisplatin suppressed lung cancer through targeting lncRNA-p21.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Maimendong and Qianjinweijing Tang (Jin formula) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula that has been proven effective in the treatment of lung cancer in long-term clinical practice. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the anti-tumor effects of Jin formula combined with cisplatin (JIN + DDP) in vivo and in vitro, as well as to explore the role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in the anti-lung cancer mechanism of its action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Lewis lung cancer model was established in C57 BL/6 mice to study the in vivo anti-tumor effect of Jin formula combined with cisplatin. TUNEL staining and western blot were applied to study the effects of Jin formula combined cisplatin on apoptosis. The in vitro anti-cancer function of Jin formula combined with cisplatin was explored by cell viability assay, flow cytometry, wound healing assay and transwell assay. The changes in lncRNA expression profiles were determined by lncRNA microarray, and the differentially expressed lncRNA-p21 was verified by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. The expression differences of lncRNA-p21 in tumor and normal tissues were analyzed by bioinformatics, and the expression differences of lncRNA-p21 in tumor cells and normal cells were detected by qRT-PCR. The role of lncRNA-p21 in the anti-cancer effect of Jin formula combined cisplatin was investigated by knockdown or overexpression of lncRNA-p21 and a series of cell experiments. The expression of MAPK pathway-related proteins was analyzed by western blot. RESULTS: Jin formula combined with cisplatin (JIN + DDP) can suppress tumor growth and promote apoptosis in Lewis lung cancer mouse model. LncRNA-p21 was significantly up-regulated in the JIN and JIN + DDP groups, and the expression of lncRNA-p21 in lung cancer tissues and cells was lower than that in normal tissues and cells. In vitro, JIN + DDP significantly induced apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of H460 and H1650 lung cancer cells. The above effects can be enhanced by the overexpression of lncRNA-p21 and eliminated by knock-down of lncRNA-p21. Further studies revealed that JIN + DDP inhibited the expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway-related proteins, whereas knock-down of lncRNA-p21 abrogated the inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that Jin formula combined with cisplatin could effectively inhibit the progression of lung cancer partially through targeting lncRNA-p21.

The relationship between pregnancy stress and mental health of the pregnant women: the bidirectional chain mediation roles of mindfulness and peace of mind.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pregnancy stress and mental health of the pregnant women, employing a positive psychology perspective. Specifically, the study sought to explore how the two positive psychological qualities of mindfulness and peace of mind may serve as potential mediators in the association between pregnancy stress and mental health of the pregnant women. Methods: Seven hundreds and thirteen pregnant women seeking care at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University were included in this study. The participants completed a self-report demographic questionnaire, as well as several validated scales including the Pregnancy Pressure Scale (PPS), Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Peace of Mind Scale (PoMS), and Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ). The Amos 23.0 system was utilized to construct structural equation models. Results: A total of 713 participants had an average age of 29.46 ± 4.81 years and an average gestational age of 24.26 ± 22.66 weeks. Out of the pregnant women, 163 (22.9%) experienced moderate or higher levels of pregnancy stress (PPS > 1), while 212 (29.7%) exhibited mental distress (CHQ > 3). Pregnancy stress exhibited a positive association with mental distress, while displaying negative associations with mindfulness and peace of mind. Mindfulness and peace of mind were negatively associated with mental distress. By employing structural equation modeling, the analysis revealed that mindfulness and peace of mind acted as partial mediators in the relationship between pregnancy stress and mental health. Furthermore, the identified models exhibited bidirectional sequential mediating pathways, suggesting that the pathways of mindfulness ↔ peace of mind mitigated the harmful influence of pregnancy stress on the mental health of pregnant women. Conclusion: This study adds to the current body of knowledge by investigating the relationships among mindfulness, peace of mind, pregnancy stress, and mental health in pregnant women. From a positive psychology framework, it provides valuable understanding of the intricate dynamics between pregnancy stress and protective factors of mental health. Consequently, interventions aimed at bolstering positive psychological qualities in pregnant women should prioritize the cultivation of mindfulness to foster peace of mind, or alternatively, the cultivation of peace of mind to enhance mindfulness, ultimately leading to improved mental health outcomes.

Gold nanoparticles-biomembrane interactions: From fundamental to simulation.

Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs) are a class of promising nanomaterial for biomedical applications ranging from bioimaging, drug delivery to phototherapy because of their biocompatibility, easily tunable size and shape, and versatile surface modifications. In recent years, the rapid development of AuNPs in nanomedicine has made it imperative to seek fundamental understanding on their nano-biointeractions to minimize adverse effects and improve targeting/imaging efficiency. In this review, we summarize the different pathways of NPs-biomembrane interactions with a focus on AuNPs, follow by an analysis on how the physiochemical properties (size, surface charge, shape, surface ligands, and hydrophobicity etc.) of AuNPs can be involved in the mechanisms of cellular uptake. Finally, some recent advances on simulation modelling of AuNPs-biomembrane interactions and a brief outlook in the field are discussed.

Trait Mindfulness Is Associated With the Self-Similarity of Heart Rate Variability.

Previous studies have linked trait mindfulness with better self-regulation and adaptation. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a good physiological indicator of the capacity for self-regulation and adaptation. The present study explored the relationship between trait mindfulness and HRV from the viewpoint of crosstalking between different HRV parameter pairs, which would reflect the dynamic interactions between each pair of HRV parameters in different processes. We measured the trait mindfulness of seventy-four undergraduate students and recorded nine HRV parameters during the following four consecutive experimental phases: (1) calming phase, (2) mental arithmetic task phase, (3) recovery phase, and (4) mindfulness practice phase. The relationship between trait mindfulness and HRV was explored at the following three levels: (1) the absolute level, i.e., HRV parameters in four different states, (2) the difference-change level, i.e., differences in HRV parameters between different states, and (3) the crosstalking level, i.e., self-similarity of crosstalking HRV parameter pairs. The results supported the following hypothesis: trait mindfulness, as measured by the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), was significantly and positively correlated with the self-similarity of crosstalking HRV parameter pairs but was not significantly correlated with the HRV parameters at the difference-change and absolute levels. These findings indicate that as trait mindfulness increases, the ability to maintain ANS function homeostasis improves. HIGHLIGHTS -Trait mindfulness is associated with better self-regulation and adaptation.-Heart rate variability (HRV) is a good physiological indicator of the capacity for self-regulation and adaptation.-Trait mindfulness is significantly correlated with self-similarity of crosstalking HRV parameter pairs but not with the HRV parameters at the difference-change or absolute levels.

[A new water-soluble lubricant of tablets-L-leucine combined with PEG6000].

OBJECTIVE: To prepare an effective and water-soluble lubricant. METHOD: Co-sprayed lubricant (L-leucine and polyethylene glycol 6000 co-sprayed according to a certain proportion) and mixed lubricant (the physical mixture of spayed L-leucine and crushed polyethylene glycol 6000) were prepared and polyethylene glycol 6000, L-leucine, magnesium stearate, sodium stearyl fumarate and sodium chloride are crushed and sieved, respectively. Residual force, appearance of solution and disintegration time were considered as response variables of the lubrication effect to evaluate different lubricants. The changes of the co-sprayed lubricant were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, fourier infrared, electronic scanning microscope and X-ray diffraction. RESULT: The efficacy of co-sprayed lubricant is better than other lubricants. Efficacy is improved by external form change without inner components and crystal changes. CONCLUSION: Co-sprayed lubricant is a good water soluble tablet lubricant which has good efficacy.