Waterlogging in soil restricts the growth of Gleditsia sinensis seedlings and inhibits the accumulation of lignans and phenolic acids in thorns.

Gleditsia sinensis, commonly known as Chinese Zaojiao, has important economic value and medicinal compounds in its fruits and thorns, making it widely cultivated artificially in China. However, the available literature on the impact of waterlogging on the growth of G. sinensis seedlings and the accumulation of metabolite compounds in its thorns is limited. To address this knowledge gap, G. sinensis seedlings were planted in soil supplemented with pindstrup substrate, which enhances the water-holding capacity of the soil. The analyses of morphological traits and nutrient elements in one-year-old G. sinensis seedlings grown naturally under ambient conditions and metabolite accumulation in its thorns were conducted. The results showed that the waterlogged soil significantly diminished the height, fresh weight, and dry weight of seedling roots and stems (P < 0.05). Furthermore, waterlogging hindered the uptake of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn), as well as the transport of potassium (K). The identified metabolites within the thorns were categorized into 16 distinct groups. Relative to the control soil, fatty acids and derivatives were the most down-regulated metabolites in the waterlogged soil, accounting for 40.58% of the total metabolites, followed by lignans (38.71%), phenolic acids (34.48%), saccharides and alcohols (34.15%), steroids (16.67%), alkaloids (12.24%), flavonoids (9.28%), and glycerophospholipids (7.41%). Conversely, nucleotides and derivatives experienced the greatest up-regulation in the waterlogged soil, accounting for 50.00% of the total metabolites. In conclusion, waterlogging negatively impacted the growth of G. sinensis seedlings and inhibited the accumulation of metabolites. Hence, when considering the accumulation of secondary metabolites such as lignans and phenolic acids, appropriate management of soil moisture levels should be taken into account.

Rationality of the ethanol precipitation process in modern preparation production of Zishui-Qinggan decoction evaluated by integrating UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS-based chemical profiling/serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology.

INTRODUCTION: Zishui-Qinggan decoction (ZQD) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine formula (TCMF) for alleviating menopausal symptoms (MPS) induced by endocrine therapy in breast cancer patients. In the production of TCMF modern preparations, ethanol precipitation (EP) is a commonly but not fully verified refining process. OBJECTIVES: Chemical profiling/serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology approaches were integrated for exploring the rationality of the EP process in the production of ZQD modern preparations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) was applied to identify the chemical profiles and absorbed components of ZQD. Network pharmacology was used to identify targets and pathways related to MPS-relieving efficacy. RESULTS: The chemicals of ZQDs without/with EP process (referred to as ZQD-W and ZQD-W-P, respectively) were qualitatively similar with 89 and 87 components identified, respectively, but their relative contents were different; 51 components were detectable in the serum of rats orally administered with ZQD-W, whereas only 19 were detected in that administered with ZQD-W-P. Key targets, such as AKT1, and pathways, such as the PI3K-Akt signalling pathway, affected by ZQD-W and ZQD-W-P were similar, while the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway among others and the MAPK signalling pathway among others were specific pathways affected by ZQD-W and ZQD-W-P, respectively. The specifically absorbed components of ZQD-W could combine its specific key targets. CONCLUSION: The EP process quantitatively altered the chemical profiles of ZQD, subsequently affected the absorbed components of ZQD, and then affected the key targets and pathways of ZQD for relieving MPS. The EP process might result in variation of the MPS-relieving efficacy of ZQD, which deserves further in vivo verification.

Therapeutic inhibition of ATR in differentiated thyroid cancer.

Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein (ATR) is a critical component of the DNA damage response and a potential target in the treatment of cancers. An ATR inhibitor, BAY 1895344, was evaluated for its use in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) therapy. BAY 1895344 inhibited cell viability in four DTC cell lines (TPC1, K1, FTC-133, and FTC-238) in a dose-dependent manner. BAY 1895344 treatment arrested DTC cells in the G2/M phase, increased caspase-3 activity, and caused apoptosis. BAY 1895344 in combination with either sorafenib or lenvatinib showed mainly synergistic effects in four DTC cell lines. The combination of BAY 1895344 with dabrafenib plus trametinib revealed synergistic effects in K1 cells that harbor BRAFV600E. BAY 1895344 monotherapy retarded the growth of K1 and FTC-133 tumors in xenograft models. The combinations of BAY 1895344 plus lenvatinib and BAY 1895344 with dabrafenib plus trametinib were more effective than any single therapy in a K1 xenograft model. No appreciable toxicity appeared in animals treated with either a single therapy or a combination treatment. Our findings provide the rationale for the development of clinical trials of BAY 1895344 in the treatment of DTC.

Holistic quality evaluation of Hibisci Mutabilis Folium by integrating UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS chemical profiling and UPLC-TQ-MS/MS quantification approaches.

In present study, an integrating UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS chemical profiling and UPLC-TQ-MS/MS quantification strategy was developed for the holistic quality evaluation of Hibisci Mutabilis Folium (HMF), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. Using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS, a total of 58 components were characterized in HMF sample, of which 36 flavonoids, 3 coumarins, 7 organic acids and 4 triterpene acids were unambiguously identified by comparing the chromatographic behavior and mass spectrum with that of reference compounds, or tentatively assigned by comparing the fragmentation pathways and characteristic fragment ions with that of reference substances and/or published literatures together with mass defect filtering (MDF) screening. Meanwhile, 29 representative major components, including 16 flavonoids, 3 coumarins, 7 organic acids and 3 triterpene acids, were quantified by a newly established UPLC-TQ-MS/MS method that was validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity, precision, repeatability, accuracy and stability. The integrated strategy was applied to simultaneously qualifying and quantifying HMF commercial samples and self-prepared samples harvested in difference periods and dried with different methods. It was found that the contents of 29 major components were obviously different in commercial samples or self-prepared samples, suggesting that the holistic quality of HMF commercial samples was inconsistent, and harvesting period and drying method might be the main factors that affect the holistic quality consistency of commercial HMF samples. Standardized harvesting period and drying method should be established for ensuring the holistic quality consistency of HMF.

Application of nanomedicines targeting non-glucose nutrients in tumor starvation therapy / 中国药科大学学报

@#Starvation therapy is an emerging oncological treatment that targets the abnormally elevated nutrient uptake and metabolic pathways to inhibit and kill tumors. In addition to glucose, the targets of starvation therapy also include other nutrients in tumor cells.However, concerns like ineffective targeting and drug tolerance probably have an impact on their clinical translation.Nanomaterial-assisted starvation treatment has been developing quickly in recent years to address these concerns.In this review, several exemplary nanomedicines for starvation therapy and combined starvation therapy with other therapies were offered.They target nutrients other than glucose metabolism, including lactic acid, amino acids, and lipids, using nanomaterials to improve the efficacy of starvation therapy.This review provides reference for further development of nanomedicines with starvation treatment effect.

Optimal Perioperative Nutrition Therapy for Patients Undergoing Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Systematic Review with a Component Network Meta-Analysis.

Numerous strategies for perioperative nutrition therapy for patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) have been proposed. This systematic review aimed to summarize the current relevant published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating different nutritional interventions via a traditional network meta-analysis (NMA) and component network meta-analysis (cNMA). EMBASE, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched to identify the RCTs. The evaluated nutritional interventions comprised standard postoperative enteral nutrition by feeding tube (Postop-SEN), preoperative enteral feeding (Preop-EN), postoperative immunonutrients (Postop-IM), preoperative oral immunonutrient supplement (Preop-IM), and postoperative total parenteral nutrition (TPN). The primary outcomes were general, infectious, and noninfectious complications; postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF); and delayed gastric emptying (DGE). The secondary outcomes were mortality and length of hospital stay (LOS). The NMA and cNMA were conducted with a frequentist approach. The results are presented as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Two primary outcomes, infectious complications and POPF, were positively influenced by nutritional interventions. Preop-EN plus Postop-SEN (OR 0.11; 95% CI 0.02~0.72), Preop-IM (OR 0.22; 95% CI 0.08~0.62), and Preop-IM plus Postop-IM (OR 0.11; 95% CI 0.03~0.37) were all demonstrated to be associated with a decrease in infectious complications. Postop-TPN (OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.19~0.71) and Preop-IM plus Postop-IM (OR 0.21; 95% CI 0.06~0.77) were clinically beneficial for the prevention of POPF. While enteral feeding and TPN may decrease infectious complications and POPF, respectively, Preop-IM plus Postop-IM may provide the best clinical benefit for patients undergoing PD, as this approach decreases the incidence of both the aforementioned adverse effects.

The complete chloroplast genome of Lonicera hypoglauca Miq (Caprifoliaceae: Dipsacales) from Guangxi, China.

Lonicera hypoglauca Miq, which is widely distribute in south China, is an important Chinese plant used in traditional medicine. Here we report the first complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of this species. The circular cp genome is 154,581 bp in size, including a large single-copy (LSC) region of 88,379 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,646 bp, which were separated by two inverted repeat (IR) regions (IRA and B, 23,778 bp each). A total of 121 genes were annotated, including 8 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), 33 transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and 80 protein-coding genes (PCGs). Phylogenetic analysis of 20 representative members within the Caprifoliaceae showed that L. hypoglauca is closely related to the Lonicera macranthoides. This study provides important genetic information for future systematic and evolutionary studies of L. hypoglauca.

[Nursing Experience of Caring for a Patient With COVID-19 During Isolation].

The ongoing coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) epidemic continues to have a global impact. This article describes the author's experience providing nursing care to a female patient who was diagnosed with COVID-19 after returning to Taiwan from overseas. During the patient's period of isolation (February 5th to February 29th, 2020), the author used Roy's adaptation model to perform first-level holistic physical, psychological, and social nursing assessments and collected health-problem information using face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, and observations via a remote monitoring system. A second level of assessment confirmed that the problems faced by the patient included (1) existing infections related to COVID-19 and (2) anxiety related to uncertainties about disease prognosis, forgiveness from the family, and potential violations of personal privacy by the media. Due to the special nature of the isolation ward, the author used a remote physiological monitoring system to monitor the vital signs, fever, and shortness of breath status of the patient to quickly decrease her physical discomfort and to improve her self-care ability during hospitalization. Environmental cleanliness was strictly maintained to reduce the risk of cross-infection and ensure patient safety. To alleviate patient anxiety, the author established a good therapeutic interpersonal relationship with the patient by making 10-60 minutes of caring calls to her each day, by providing individual care measures, and by using the Internet to play audio and video to teach mindfulness meditation. Caring for COVID-19 cases is a completely new experience. The author hopes that this experience may be used as a reference for caregivers.

BOLA (BolA Family Member 3) Deficiency Controls Endothelial Metabolism and Glycine Homeostasis in Pulmonary Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Deficiencies of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters, metal complexes that control redox state and mitochondrial metabolism, have been linked to pulmonary hypertension (PH), a deadly vascular disease with poorly defined molecular origins. BOLA3 (BolA Family Member 3) regulates Fe-S biogenesis, and mutations in BOLA3 result in multiple mitochondrial dysfunction syndrome, a fatal disorder associated with PH. The mechanistic role of BOLA3 in PH remains undefined. METHODS: In vitro assessment of BOLA3 regulation and gain- and loss-of-function assays were performed in human pulmonary artery endothelial cells using siRNA and lentiviral vectors expressing the mitochondrial isoform of BOLA3. Polymeric nanoparticle 7C1 was used for lung endothelium-specific delivery of BOLA3 siRNA oligonucleotides in mice. Overexpression of pulmonary vascular BOLA3 was performed by orotracheal transgene delivery of adeno-associated virus in mouse models of PH. RESULTS: In cultured hypoxic pulmonary artery endothelial cells, lung from human patients with Group 1 and 3 PH, and multiple rodent models of PH, endothelial BOLA3 expression was downregulated, which involved hypoxia inducible factor-2α-dependent transcriptional repression via histone deacetylase 1-mediated histone deacetylation. In vitro gain- and loss-of-function studies demonstrated that BOLA3 regulated Fe-S integrity, thus modulating lipoate-containing 2-oxoacid dehydrogenases with consequent control over glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration. In contexts of siRNA knockdown and naturally occurring human genetic mutation, cellular BOLA3 deficiency downregulated the glycine cleavage system protein H, thus bolstering intracellular glycine content. In the setting of these alterations of oxidative metabolism and glycine levels, BOLA3 deficiency increased endothelial proliferation, survival, and vasoconstriction while decreasing angiogenic potential. In vivo, pharmacological knockdown of endothelial BOLA3 and targeted overexpression of BOLA3 in mice demonstrated that BOLA3 deficiency promotes histological and hemodynamic manifestations of PH. Notably, the therapeutic effects of BOLA3 expression were reversed by exogenous glycine supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: BOLA3 acts as a crucial lynchpin connecting Fe-S-dependent oxidative respiration and glycine homeostasis with endothelial metabolic reprogramming critical to PH pathogenesis. These results provide a molecular explanation for the clinical associations linking PH with hyperglycinemic syndromes and mitochondrial disorders. These findings also identify novel metabolic targets, including those involved in epigenetics, Fe-S biogenesis, and glycine biology, for diagnostic and therapeutic development.

Compositional and Interfacial Modification of Cu2 ZnSn(S,Se)4 Thin-Film Solar Cells Prepared by Electrochemical Deposition.

A highly efficient Cu2 ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe)-based thin-film solar cell (9.9%) was prepared using an electrochemical deposition method followed by thermal annealing. The Cu-Zn-Sn alloy films was grown on a Mo-coated glass substrate using a one-pot electrochemical deposition process, and the metallic precursor films was annealed under a mixed atmosphere of S and Se to form CZTSSe thin films with bandgap energies ranging from 1.0 to 1.2 eV. The compositional modification of the S/(S+Se) ratio shows a trade-off effect between the photocurrent and photovoltage, resulting in an optimum bandgap of roughly 1.14 eV. In addition, the increased S content near the p-n junction reduces the dark current and interface recombination, resulting in a further enhancement of the open-circuit voltage. As a result of the compositional and interfacial modification, the best CZTSSe-based thin-film solar cell exhibits a conversion efficiency of 9.9%, which is among the highest efficiencies reported so far for electrochemically deposited CZTSSe-based thin-film solar cells.

Shenshuai Yingyang capsule ameliorates muscle atrophy in rats with chronic renal failure: role of Wnt7a-Akt/mTOR signal pathway / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Shenshuai Yingyang Capsule (SSYYJN) in ameliorating muscle atrophy in rats with chronic renal failure (CRF) and explore the role of Wnt7a-Akt/mTOR signal pathway in mediating this effect.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male rats were randomly assigned to 5/6 nephrectomy group and sham-operated group, and the former group was further randomly divided into CRF model group, KA group, and SSYYJN group. The size of anterior tibia muscle was examined microscopically with HE staining. Protein synthesis in the soleus muscle was investigated by (14)C-phenylalanine experiment, and the expression of Wnt7a, frizzled-7, phospho-Akt, phospho-mTOR and GAPDH were detected with Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The body weight, the wet and dry weight, cross-sectional area, and muscle protein synthesis of the anterior tibia muscles, and expressions of the proteins in the Wnt7a/Akt signaling pathway all increased significantly in SSYYJN and KA groups as compared with those in the model group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SSYYJN can effectively improve muscle atrophy in the rat model of CRF possibly by reversing the reduction in the expressions of Wnt7a/Akt signaling pathway proteins in the skeletal muscles.</p>

Pain relief from combined wound and intraperitoneal local anesthesia for patients who undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become the treatment of choice for gallbladder lesions, but it is not a pain-free procedure. This study explored the pain relief provided by combined wound and intraperitoneal local anesthetic use for patients who are undergoing LC. METHODS: Two-hundred and twenty consecutive patients undergoing LC were categorized into 1 of the following 4 groups: local wound anesthetic after LC either with an intraperitoneal local anesthetic (W + P) (group 1) or without an intraperitoneal local anesthetic (W + NP) (group 2), or no local wound anesthetic after LC either with intraperitoneal local anesthetic (NW + P) (group 3) or without an intraperitoneal local anesthetic (NW + NP) (group 4). A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess postoperative pain. The amount of analgesic used and the duration of hospital stay were also recorded. RESULTS: The VAS was significantly lower immediately after LC for the W + P group than for the NW + NP group (5 vs. 6; p = 0.012). Patients in the W + P group received a lower total amount of meperidine during their hospital stay. They also had the shortest hospital stay after LC, compared to the patients in the other groups. CONCLUSION: Combined wound and intraperitoneal local anesthetic use after LC significantly decreased the immediate postoperative pain and may explain the reduced use of meperidine and earlier discharge of patients so treated.

Chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effect of dietary supplementation of vitamin D on cholangiocarcinoma in a Chemical-Induced animal model.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is an aggressive cancer. Vitamin D, a pro-hormone, is getting popular due to its hormone-like functions after converted to its active form, 1α,25(OH)2D3. Here, we show that dietary supplementation with 6 IU/g of vitamin D greatly suppressed ICC initiation and progression without apparent toxicity in a chemically induced rat model. Microarray analysis of rat ICC tissues showed vitamin D supplementation modulated the expressions of several unique genes, including lipocalin 2 (Lcn2), confirmed by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Further, 53 of 80 human ICC specimens (66%) exhibited high LCN2 expression and LCN2 knockdown in SNU308 cells decreased cell growth and migration, suggesting LCN2 be an oncogene in human ICC. As human ICC SNU1079 cells were treated by 1α,25(OH)2D3, LCN2 expression and cell proliferation were attenuated. The downregulation of LCN2 expression was blunted when vitamin D receptor (VDR) was knocked down, implicating that the in vivo Lcn2 downregulation is a direct consequence of vitamin D supplementation Our results support the prevailing concept that vitamin D status is negatively associated with cancer incidence and mortality and suggest LCN2 may be a potential target against ICC. Further studies of application of vitamin D or its analog against ICC are warranted.

Mechanism of tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines contained in Yiqi Qingwen Jiedu mixture against influenza immune inflammatory injury / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the impact of tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines contained in Yiqi Qingwen Jiedu mixture on mRNA expression of lung inflammatory cytokines and pulmonary pathological injury of mice infected by influenza virus, in order to discuss the mechanism of tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines against pulmonary immune inflammatory injury of infected mice.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>In different time phases after mice were infected with influenza virus FM1, the RT-PCR method was adopted to observe the impact of tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines contained in Yiqi Qingwen Jiedu mixture on five inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ, and the changes in pulmonary pathological injury of mice with viral pneumonia after intervention with tonifying qi traditional Chinese medicines.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>(1) Tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines significantly reduced the mRNA expression of TNF-α at 1-5 d and IL-1 mRNA expression at 7 d, may increase IL-1 mRNA expression in mouse lung at 3 d, significantly reduced IL-6 mRNA expression in mouse lung and increased IL-10 mRNA expression at 3-7 d, and significantly increased IFN-γ mRNA expression at 1 d. (2) Tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines could significantly inhibited and repaired pulmonary immune inflammatory injury of mice infected by FM1, which was most remarkable at 3-7 d after the infection with influenza virus FM1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines contained in Yiqi Qingwen Jiedu mixture could resist pulmonary immune inflammatory injury and repair inflammatory injury by regulating the mRNA expression of imbalance inflammatory cytokines of organisms infected with influenza virus.</p>

Case-controll study on the synergistic effects of electroacupuncture on knee osteoarthritis after arthroscopic debridement / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the synergistic effects of electroacupuncture on the treatment of knee osteoarthritis after arthroscopic debridement.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From May 2008 to July 2010, 78 patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly divided into two groups. There were 42 patients in the experimental group, including 16 males and 26 females, ranging in age from 41 to 63 years, with an average of (53.62 +/- 6.53) years; the disease course ranged from 8 to 24 months, with an average of (10.35 +/- 6.42) months. The patients were treated with arthroscopic debridement combined with electroacupuncture after operation. There were 36 patients in the control group, including 14 males and 22 females, ranging in age from 40 to 62 years, with an average of (54.34 +/- 7.67) years; the disease course ranged from 6 to 25 months, with an average of (11.94 +/- 5.13) months. Those patients were treated only with arthroscopic debridment. All the patients performed isometric quadriceps femoris contraction exercise and knee flexion and extension activities after operation. The visual analog scale(VAS) score and Lysholm knee score were used to evaluate the therapeutic effects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 12 to 30 months, with an average of 15.6 months. At the final follow-up, VAS score was significantly decreased, and the Lysholm score, except for the item demanding for support, significantly increased, compared with those before surgery respectively in both groups. There was significant difference in VAS score between two groups after treatment. As to Lysholm score, there were significant differences in limp, pain, swelling, stair activity and squat, but there were no significant differences in items of interlocking and instability between two groups after treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture can effectively improve the clinical symptoms and knee joint's motor function of knee joints in patients with knee osteoarthritis, as well as the synergistic effects on the treatment of knee osteoarthritis after arthroscopic debridement, leading to a much better long-term therapeutic effect with respect of improving the function of knee joint. This therapy, combined with traditional Chinese medicine and Western Medicine,is worth of clinical application in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.</p>

Study of effect of tongsaimai tablets on experimental diabetic foot model rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Tongsaimai (TSM) tablets in treating foot trauma of diabetic foot (DF) model rats, and discuss its potential mechanism.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Male SD rats were selected to duplicate the diabetic foot ulcer model and randomly divided into the blank control group, the model group, the metformin treatment group, and TSM 12.44, 6.22, 3.11 g x kg(-1) groups (n = 10). The healing of ulcer wounds were observed on day 1, 4, 8, 13 and 18. After 18 days, a histopathologic examination was conducted for ulcer tissues. The contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected by hydroxylamine and TBA methods. The content of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were determined with the radioimmunoassay. The immunohistochemical method was used to observe the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in ulcer tissues and the number of capillary vessels.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>TSM could alleviate the pathological changes of diabetic foot rats, accelerate the ulcer healing on 4, 8, 13, 18 d, reduce MDA, IL-6, TNF-alpha, VEGF content in rat serum at 18 d (after the rehabilitation period), and enhance the SOD content. Specifically, the TSM 12.44 g x kg(-1) group showed significant differences compared with the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). At 18 d after the treatment (the late rehabilitation period), the VEGF expression of TSM 12.44, 6.22 g x kg(-1) groups and the number of blood capillaries of the TSM 12.44 g x kg(-1) group were significantly lower than that of the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TSM could promote the foot wound healing of DF model rats, reduce MDA, IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels in serum, increase the SOD content and decrease the VEGF expression and the number of blood capillaries in the late rehabilitation period. Its action mechanism may be related to the inhibition of oxidative stress injury and the inflammatory cell infiltration.</p>

Clinical practice guidelines for patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor in Taiwan.

For many years, the understanding of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), which are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, has been very limited. However, it is now possible to provide a more precise definition through the use of pathology classification and molecular techniques. Coupled with the advancement of clinical practice, especially the development of targeted therapy, there is now a much better insight into its treatment. At present, organizations such as the National Comprehensive Cancer Network in the USA and the European Society for Medical Oncology in Europe have established a consensus and drawn up guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of GISTs.With experts coming from various districts in Taiwan and combining the most recent clinical data and experiences, the Taiwan Surgical Society of Gastroenterology drafted the first national GIST treatment guidelines after a consensus meeting in 2007. Following subsequent advances in GIST diagnosis and treatment, further revisions and modifications have been made to the original guidelines. We present here the updated consensus and recommendations of the Taiwan Surgical Society of Gastroenterology for the diagnosis and treatment of GIST. We hope these guidelines can help enhance the quality of diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with GIST in Taiwan.

Activating effect of citrus flavonoids on neuromedin U2 receptor and analysis on siRNA interference / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To screen out active substances on Neuromedin U2 receptor (NMU2R) by using stable NMU2R cell lines and negative cell lines and analyzing siRNA interference.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>NMU2R cells were used to observe the activating effect of nine nine citrus flavonoids on NMU2R cell. Afterwards, false-positive interference of citrus flavonoids that showed higher activating effect was eliminated by using negative cells and analyzing the efficiency of siRNA interference.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Hesperidin and nobiletin contained in citrus flavonoids were found to effectively activate NMU2R. The efficacy, EC50 and potency values of hesperidin were 4.688, 318.970 micromol x L(-1) and 200.933 micromol x L(-1), while the efficacy, EC50 and potency values of nobiletin were 4.758, 5.832 micromol x L(-1) and 3.124 micromol x L(-).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Hesperidin and nobiletin contained in citrus flavonoids can activate NMU2R. Nobiletin shows such a low EC50 that it has medicinal value.</p>

[Identification of medical Dendrobium herbs by ISSR marker].

OBJECTIVE: A molecular biology method was studied to identify medical Dendrobium and to provide a method for quality control of these plants. METHOD: ISSR primer was screened through ISSR-PCR reaction according to its gene resolving power, and digital barcodes were established for identification. RESULTS: Screening 2 primers which Rp value above 8, This primers can identify medical Dendrobium from 6 kinds 8 groups. CONCLUSION: ISSR molecular maker technology is useful for identifying species and habitats of medical Dendrobium plants.

Expression of thymidylate synthase determines the response of gastric cancer patients undergoing gastrectomy to 5-fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: We investigated whether the intensity of thymidylate synthase (TS) staining in tissue samples obtained from gastric cancer (GC) patients undergoing gastrectomy could predict response to 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy after gastrectomy. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Clinicopathological features of 124 patients with histologically proven GC who underwent radical gastrectomy were retrospectively reviewed. Tissue samples obtained from these patients were immunohistochemically stained for assessing TS expression. We arbitrarily classified the TS staining results as low (<20% cytoplasmic immunostaining) and high (> or =20% cytoplasmic immunostaining) TS expression. RESULTS: The clinicopathological features of the low TS expression group patients were typically similar to those of the high TS expression group patients. However, multivariate forward stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that low TS expression was independently associated with females and responders to 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy. The median follow-up duration for the 124 GC patients who had undergone curative resection was 41.3 months. The GC patients who showed poor tumor differentiation and high TS expression had short disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). CONCLUSIONS: Low TS expression is significantly associated with female GC patients and responders to 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy. It predicts longer DFS and OS in selected GC patients treated with 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy after curative resection. The results suggest that prospective assessment of TS staining intensity in tissue samples obtained from GC patients undergoing gastrectomy would be useful to predict the patients who would be benefited from 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy after gastrectomy.