Arginase 2 is a Diagnostic and Prognostic Marker for Prostate Cancer and Is Associated with Metabolism.

Objective: Metabolism, a basic need and biochemical process for cell survival and proliferation, is closely connected with the pathogenesis and progression of prostate cancer. Methods: A four-gene signature construct that includes CKM (CKM), CD38, Enoyl Coenzyme A(EHHADH), and Arginase 2(ARG2) was created by bioinformatics. Finally, hub genes were validated by IHC and in vitro experiments. Results: The results showed the AUCs of the logistic regression and neural networks diagnostic model for the diagnosis of two subtypes were 0.920 and 0.936, respectively. The risk score demonstrated by univariable and multivariable Cox analysis is an independent predictive component of the prognostic signature for DFS. According to immunohistochemical analyses, ARG2 and CD38 expression levels were considerably under-expressed, but CKM and EHHADH expression levels were significantly overexpressed. Furthermore, The expression of ARG2 was significantly down-regulated in the late Gleason score. Finally, we found that ARG2 is lowly expressed in prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, based on the effect of ARG2 on the malignant phenotype of PCa in vitro, we also found that ARG2 may be a tumor suppressor that plays an important role in inhibiting proliferation, migration, and invasion. Conclusions: These findings suggest that ARG2 has been tentatively identified as a new target for research into how PCa develops in metabolism and for the development of innovative targeted treatments.

A novel DDIT3 activator dehydroevodiamine effectively inhibits tumor growth and tumor cell stemness in pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: The existence of pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs) results in limited survival benefits from current treatment options. There is a scarcity of effective agents for treating pancreatic cancer patients. Dehydroevodiamine (DeHE), a quinazoline alkaloid isolated from the traditional Chinese herb Evodiae fructus, exhibited potent inhibition of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell proliferation and tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: The cytotoxic effect of DeHE on PDAC cells was assessed using CCK-8 and colony formation assays. The antitumor efficacy of DeHE were appraised in human PANC-1 xenograft mouse model. Sphere formation assay and flow cytometry were employed to quantify the tumor stemness. RNA-Seq analysis, drug affinity responsive target stability assay (DARTS), and RNA interference transfection were conducted to elucidate potential signaling pathways. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were utilized to assess protein expression levels. RESULTS: DeHE effectively inhibited PDAC cell proliferation and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo, and exhibited a better safety profile compared to the clinical drug gemcitabine (GEM). DeHE inhibited PCSCs, as evidenced by its suppression of self-renewal capabilities of PCSCs, reduced the proportion of ALDH+ cells and downregulated stemness-associated proteins (Nanog, Sox-2, and Oct-4) both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, there is potential involvement of DDIT3 and its downstream DDIT3/TRIB3/AKT/mTOR pathway in the suppression of stemness characteristics within DeHE-treated PDAC cells. Additionally, results from the DARTS assay indicated that DeHE interacts with DDIT3, safeguarding it against degradation mediated by pronase. Notably, the inhibitory capabilities of DeHE on PDAC cell proliferation and tumor stemness were partially restored by siDDIT3 or the AKT activator SC-79. CONCLUSION: In summary, our study has identified DeHE, a novel antitumor natural product, as an activator of DDIT3 with the ability to suppress the AKT/mTOR pathway. This pathway is intricately linked to tumor cell proliferation and stemness characteristics in PDAC. These findings suggest that DeHE holds potential as a promising candidate for the development of innovative anticancer therapeutics.

Lei's formula attenuates osteoarthritis mediated by suppression of chondrocyte senescence via the mTOR axis: in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Lei's formula (LSF), a traditional Chinese herbal remedy, is recognized for its remarkable clinical effectiveness in treating osteoarthritis (OA). Despite its therapeutic potential, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying LSF's action in OA have remained enigmatic. Existing research has shed light on the role of the mTOR signaling pathway in promoting chondrocyte senescence, a central factor in OA-related cartilage degeneration. Consequently, targeting mTOR to mitigate chondrocyte senescence presents a promising avenue for OA treatment. The primary objective of this study is to establish LSF's chondroprotective potential and confirm its anti-osteoarthritic efficacy through mTOR inhibition. In vivo assessments using an OA mouse model reveal substantial articular cartilage degeneration. However, LSF serves as an effective guardian of articular cartilage, evidenced by reduced subchondral osteosclerosis, increased cartilage thickness, improved surface smoothness, decreased OARSI scores, elevated expression of cartilage anabolic markers (Col2 and Aggrecan), reduced expression of catabolic markers (Adamts5 and MMP13), increased expression of the chondrocyte hypertrophy marker (Col10), and decreased expression of chondrocyte senescence markers (P16 and P21). In vitro findings demonstrate that LSF shields chondrocytes from H2O2-induced apoptosis, inhibits senescence, enhances chondrocyte differentiation, promotes the synthesis of type II collagen and proteoglycans, and reduces cartilage degradation. Mechanistically, LSF suppresses chondrocyte senescence through the mTOR axis, orchestrating the equilibrium between chondrocyte anabolism and catabolism, ultimately leading to reduced apoptosis and decelerated OA cartilage degradation. LSF holds significant promise as a therapeutic approach for OA treatment, offering new insights into potential treatments for this prevalent age-related condition.

Electroacupuncture for mild-to-moderate dry eye: study protocol for a multicentre, randomised, single-blind, sham-controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Dry eye (DE) is a multifactorial ocular surface disease causing considerable medical, social and financial implications. Currently, there is no recognised long-term, effective treatment to alleviate DE. Clinical evidence shows that electroacupuncture (EA) can improve DE symptoms, tear secretion and tear film stability, but it remains controversial whether it is just a placebo effect. We aim to provide solid clinical evidence for the EA treatment of DE. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a multicentre, randomised, sham-controlled trial. A total of 168 patients with DE will be enrolled and randomly assigned to EA or sham EA groups to receive 4-week consecutive treatments and follow-up for 24 weeks. The primary outcome is the change in the non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT) from baseline to week 4. The secondary outcomes include tear meniscus height, the Schirmer I test, corneal and conjunctival sensation, the ocular surface disease index, corneal fluorescein staining, the numerical rating scale and the Chinese DE-related quality of life scale. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The trial protocol and informed consent were approved by the Ethics Committee of Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (identifier: 2021-119), Shanghai Eye Disease Prevention and Treatment Center (identifier: 2022SQ003) and Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University (identifier: 2022014). TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05552820.

Causal relationship between breakfast skipping and bone mineral density: a two-sample Mendelian randomized study.

Objective: To explore the causal association between breakfast skipping and bone mineral density (BMD) through two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis. Methods: A two-sample MR approach was adopted to explore the causal relationship of breakfast skipping with BMDs (across three skeletal sites and five age groups). Publicly available genome-wide association study summary data were used for MR analysis. We used five methods to estimate the causal associations between breakfast skipping and BMDs: inverse-variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode. IVW was used for the main analysis and the remaining four methods were used as supplementary analyses. The heterogeneity of the MR results was determined using IVW and MR-Egger methods. The pleiotropy of the MR results was determined using MR-Egger intercept. Furthermore, a leave-one-out test was performed to determine whether the MR results were affected by a single nucleotide polymorphism. Results: With the IVW method, we did not find any causal relationship between breakfast skipping and forearm, femoral neck, and lumbar spine BMD. Subsequently, when we included BMD data stratified by five different age groups in the analysis, the results showed that there was no apparent causal effect between breakfast skipping and age-stratified BMD. This finding was supported by all four supplementary methods (P > 0.05 for all methods). No heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy was detected in any of the analyses (P > 0.05). The leave-one-out tests conducted in the analyses did not identify any single nucleotide polymorphism that could have influenced the MR results, indicating the reliability of our findings. Conclusion: No causal effect was found between breakfast skipping and BMD (across three skeletal sites and five age groups).

Hyperbaric oxygen improves cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats via inhibition of ferroptosis.

BACKGROUND: Our previous study found that hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) attenuated cognitive impairment in mice induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI). However, its mechanism of action is not fully understood. In this study, we aimed to establish a rat model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, explore the possible role of ferroptosis in the pathogenesis of CIRI, and observe the effect of HBO on ferroptosis-mediated CIRI. METHODS: Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control, model, Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1), HBO and Fer-1+ HBO groups. Morris water maze, myelin basic protein (MBP) and ß-tubulin immunoreactivity were assessed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of HBO on cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury. Ferroptosis were examined to investigate the mechanism underlying the effects of HBO. RESULTS: Our result showed that Fer-1 and HBO improved learning and memory ability in the navigation trail and probe trail of the Morris water maze and increased MBP and ß-tubulin immunoreactivity of the cortex in the model rats. The levels of ferritin, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) in the serum were also reversed by Fer-1 and HBO treatment. Mitochondrial cristae dissolution and vacuolization were observed in the model group by transmission electron microscopy and these conditions were improved in the Fer-1 and HBO groups. Furthermore, Fer-1 and HBO treatment reversed Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthase 2 (PTGS2), Iron Responsive Element Binding Protein 2 (IREB2), acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4) and Solute Carrier Family 7 Member 11 (SLC7A11) mRNA levels and Transferrin Receptor 1 (TFR1), ferritin light chain (FTL), ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3 (LPCAT3), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (P-JNK) phosphorylated Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (P-ERK) and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK) protein levels. The above changes were more pronounced in Fer-1+ HBOGroup. DISCUSSION: The results of the present study indicated that HBO improves cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats, which may be related to inhibition of ferroptosis. This also means that ferroptosis may become a new target of HBO against CIRI.

Manual Therapy for a Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain Rat Model.

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a highly prevalent condition worldwide and a major cause of disability. The majority of patients with CLBP are diagnosed with chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) due to an unknown pathological cause. Manual therapy (MT) is an integral aspect of traditional Chinese medicine and is recognized as Tuina in China. It involves techniques like bone-setting and muscle relaxation manipulation. Despite its clinical efficacy in treating CNLBP, the underlying mechanisms of MT remain unclear. In animal experiments aimed at investigating these mechanisms, one of the main challenges is achieving normative MT on CNLBP model rats. Improving the stability of finger strength is a key issue in MT. To address this technical limitation, a standardized procedure for MT on CNLBP model rats is presented in this study. This procedure significantly enhances the stability of MT with the hands and alleviates common problems associated with immobilizing rats during MT. The findings of this study are of reference value for future experimental investigations of MT.

Target Embolization Combined with Multimodal Thermal Ablation for Solid Tumors by Smart Poly(amino acid)s Nanocomposites.

Noninterventional embolization does not require the use of a catheter, and the treatment of solid tumors in combination with thermal ablation can avoid some of the risks of the surgical procedure. Therefore, we developed an efficient tumor microenvironment-gelled nanocomposites with poly [(l-glutamic acid-ran-l-tyrosine)-b-l-serine-b-l-cysteine] (PGTSCs) coated-nanoparticles (Fe3O4&Au@PGTSCs), from which the prepared PGTSCs were given possession of pH response to an acidic tumor microenvironment. Fe3O4&Au@PGTSC in noninterventional embolization treatment not only achieved the smart targeted medicine delivery but also meshed with noninvasive multimodal thermal ablation therapy and multimodal imaging of solid tumors via intravenous injection. It was worth noting that the results of animal experiments in vivo demonstrated that Fe3O4&Au@PGTSCs have specific tumor accumulation and embolization and thermal ablation effects; at 10 days postinjection, only scars were found at the tumor site. After 20 days, the tumors of model mice completely disappeared. This device is easier to treat solid tumors based on the slightly acidic tumor environment.

Comparison of acupotomy release combined with glucocorticoid intrathecal injection versus isolated glucocorticoid intrathecal injection for carpal tunnel syndrome: A protocol for a meta-analysis of comparative studies.

BACKGROUND: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is more common in people who need to engage in repetitive wrist work. Once it has occurred, localized pain and numbness of the fingers will develop, in severe cases, muscle atrophy will even arise, and after rest and physical therapy, many patients will still be unable to relieve or recur. In this case, the patient can receive intrathecal glucocorticoid injections, but the hormone injections alone can only provide short-term relief, and because the mechanical factors of median nerve compression are not fundamentally removed. Therefore, combined acupotomy release can help to release the compression of the transverse carpal ligament on the nerve and increase the volume within the carpal tunnel to achieve more satisfactory long-term results. Hence, a meta-analysis is necessary to provide evidence whether there is a significant difference in the treatment of CTS with acupotomy release combined with glucocorticoid intrathecal injection (ARGI) compared with isolated glucocorticoid intrathecal injection (GI). METHODS: We will search, with no time restriction, without any restriction of language and status, the time from the establishment of the database to October 2022, on the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane central register of controlled trials, Web of Science, Chinese national knowledge infrastructure, Wanfang data, Chinese scientific journals database, Chinese databases SinoMed, and electronic databases. The electronic database search will be supplemented by a manual search of the reference lists of included articles. We will apply the risk-of-bias tool of the Cochrane collaboration for randomized controlled trials to assess the methodological quality. Risk-of-Bias Assessment Tool for nonrandomized studies was used to evaluate the quality of comparative studies. Statistical analysis will be conducted using RevMan 5.4 software. RESULTS: This systematic review will evaluate the difference in efficacy of ARGI versus isolated GI in the treatment of CTS. CONCLUSION: The conclusion of this study will provide evidence for judging whether ARGI is superior to GI for treatment of CTS.

Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine Wuwei Xiaodu Drink for wound infection: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Wound infection (WI) is a disease in which pathogenic bacteria invade and multiply in a wound after trauma or surgery, causing a systemic inflammatory response. WI triggers an immune response in the body, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage, as well as slowing down the healing process. The traditional Chinese medicine prescription of Wuwei Xiaodu Drink (WWXDD) has been widely used in clinical practice with good results. However, there is no high-level evidence to support this result. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of WWXDD in the treatment of WI. METHODS: We will search articles in 7 electronic databases including Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data (WF), Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP), Chinese databases SinoMed (CBM), PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. All the publications, with no time restrictions, will be searched without any restriction on language and status, the time from the establishment of the database to October 2022. Two reviewers will independently assess the quality of the selected studies, NoteExpress and Excel software will be used to extract data, and the content will be stored in an electronic chart. Different researchers will separately screen the titles and abstracts of records acquired potential eligibility which comes from the electronic databases. Full-text screening and data extraction will be conducted afterward independently. Statistical analysis will be conducted using RevMan 5.4 software (Cochrane Collaboration). RESULTS: What this study will do is evaluate the efficacy and safety of WWXDD in the treatment of WI in order to provide high quality, evidence-based clinical recommendations. CONCLUSION: This research provides a trusted clinical foundation for the treatment of WI with WWXDD.

Hyperbaric oxygen protects HT22 cells and PC12 cells from damage caused by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion via the inhibition of Nrf2/System Xc-/GPX4 axis-mediated ferroptosis.

This study was to investigate the protective effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on HT22 and PC12 cell damage caused by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion-induced ferroptosis. A 2-h oxygen-glucose deprivation and 24-h reperfusion model on HT22 and PC12 cells was used to simulate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Cell viabilities were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) method. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid reactive oxygen species (Lipid ROS) were detected by fluorescent probes Dihydroethidium (DHE) and C11 BODIPY 581/591. Iron Colorimetric Assay Kit, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) activity assay kits were used to detect intracellular iron ion, MDA and GSHcontent. Cell ferroptosis-related ultrastructures were visualized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, PCR and Western blot analyses were used to detect the expressions of ferroptosis-related genes and proteins. After receiving oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion, the viabilities of HT22 and PC12 cells were significantly decreased; ROS, Lipid ROS, iron ions and MDA accumulation occurred in the cells; GSH contents decreased; TEM showed that cells were ruptured and blebbed, mitochondria atrophied and became smaller, mitochondrial ridges were reduced or even disappeared, and apoptotic bodies appeared. And the expressions of Nrf2, SLC7A11 and GPX4 genes were reduced; the expressions of p-Nrf2/Nrf2, xCT and GPX4 proteins were reduced. Notably, these parameters were significantly reversed by HBO, indicating that HBO can protect HT22 cells and PC12 cells from damage caused by oxygen-glucosedeprivation/reperfusion via the inhibition of Nrf2/System Xc-/GPX4 axis-mediated ferroptosis.

Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine Buzhong Yiqi decoction for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is a disorder of bone metabolism caused by estrogen deficiency in women after menopause, which manifests clinically as pain, spinal deformities, and even fragility fractures, affecting the quality of life of patients and possibly shortening their life span. Traditional Chinese medicine prescription Buzhong Yiqi Decoction (BZYQD) has been widely used in clinical practice and achieved good results. But there is no high-level evidence to support this result. The aim of this study is to evaluate BZYQD's efficacy and safety in the management of PMOP. METHODS: We will search articles in 7 electronic databases including Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, Chinese databases SinoMed, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. All the publications, with no time restrictions, will be searched without any restriction on language and status, the time from the establishment of the database to September 2022. Two reviewers will independently assess the quality of the selected studies, NoteExpress and Excel software will be used to extract data, and the content will be stored in an electronic chart. Different researchers will separately screen the titles and abstracts of records acquired potential eligibility which comes from the electronic databases. Full-text screening and data extraction will be conducted afterward independently. Statistical analysis will be conducted using RevMan 5.4 software. RESULTS: This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of BZYQD in the treatment of PMOP, to provide high-quality, evidence-based clinical recommendations. CONCLUSION: The study provides a trustable clinical foundation for BZYQD in the treatment of PMOP.

Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine Danggui Sini decoction for knee osteoarthritis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) often causes joint pain, weakness and mobility disorders, which seriously affects people's daily life and makes them unable to work and study normally. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription Danggui Sini Decoction (DGSND) has been widely used in clinical practice and achieved good results. But there is no high-level evidence to support this result. The aim of this study is to evaluate DGSND's efficacy and safety in the management of KOA. METHODS: We will search 7 electronic databases including Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data (WF), Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP), Chinese databases SinoMed (CBM), PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. All the publications, with no time restrictions, will be searched without any restriction of language and status, the time from the establishment of the database to September 2022. Two reviewers will independently assess the quality of the selected studies, NoteExpress and Excel software will be used to extract data, and the content will be stored in an electronic chart. Different researchers will separately screen the titles and abstracts of records acquired potential eligibility which comes from the electronic databases. Full-text screening and data extraction will be conducted afterward independently. Statistical analysis will be conducted using RevMan 5.4 software. RESULTS: This study will compare the effects of DGSND and any other different methods on patients with KOA to provide high-quality, evidence-based clinical recommendations. CONCLUSION: The study provides a trustable clinical foundation for DGSND in the treatment of KOA.

Effect of proximal femoral nail antirotation on clinical outcome, inflammatory factors and myocardial injury markers in patients with femoral trochanteric fracture.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences between proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) and dynamic hip screw (DHS) in treatment of femoral trochanteric fracture and analyze the factors influencing recovery after PFNA treatment. METHODS: Eighty-six patients with femoral trochanteric fracture admitted to Taizhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between January 2019 and June 2021 were enrolled in the study and assigned into a PFNA group and DHS group (n=43 in each group) before undergoing these treatments. The clinical efficacy, inflammatory factors, and myocardial injury markers were compared between the two groups. The influencing factors on recovery after PFNA treatment were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Compared to the DHS group, the PFNA group had shorter surgical time, length of stay in hospital, postoperative weight-bearing time, time of healing and detumescence, and less intraoperative blood loss (all P<0.001). The incidence of post-surgical complications with PFNA was lower than with DHS (P<0.05). The serum levels of interleukin-6, C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor-αof the PFNA group were lower than those of the DHS group (all P<0.05). Moreover, the serum levels of cardiac troponin T, creatine kinase-MB and myoglobin in the PFNA group were also lower than for the DHS (all P<0.05). At the first, third, and sixth months after surgery, the Harris scores for PFNA were higher than for DHS (all P<0.05). The univariate and multivariate analysis showed that instability of fracture, history of osteoporosis, excessive intraoperative bleeding, poor compliance with rehabilitation exercise, and long time from injury to surgery were risk factors for poor recovery following PFNA treatment for patients with femoral trochanteric fracture. CONCLUSION: Compared to DHS, PFNA had better clinical efficacy and gave lower serum levels of inflammatory factors and myocardial injury markers. Fracture classification, history of osteoporosis, intraoperative amount of bleeding, compliance of rehabilitation exercise, and time from injury to surgery were closely associated with recovery following PFNA treatment.

Xiaoyao San, a Chinese herbal formula, ameliorates depression-like behavior in mice through the AdipoR1/AMPK/ACC pathway in hypothalamus.

OBJECTIVE: Depression and metabolic disorders have overlapping psychosocial and pathophysiological causes. Current research is focused on the possible role of adiponectin in regulating common biological mechanisms. Xiaoyao San (XYS), a classic Chinese medicine compound, has been widely used in the treatment of depression and can alleviate metabolic disorders such as lipid or glucose metabolism disorders. However, the ability of XYS to ameliorate depression-like behavior as well as metabolic dysfunction in mice and the underlying mechanisms are unclear. METHODS: An in vivo animal model of depression was established by chronic social defeat stress (CSDS). XYS and fluoxetine were administered by gavage to the drug intervention group. Depression-like behaviors were analyzed by the social interaction test, open field test, forced swim test, and elevated plus maze test. Glucose levels were measured using the oral glucose tolerance test. The involvement of certain molecules was validated by immunofluorescence, histopathology, and Western blotting. In vitro, hypothalamic primary neurons were exposed to high glucose to induce neuronal damage, and the neuroprotective effect of XYS was evaluated by cell counting kit-8 assay. Immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to evaluate the influences of XYS on adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1), adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) and other related proteins. RESULTS: XYS ameliorated CSDS-induced depression-like behaviors and glucose tolerance impairment in mice and increased the level of serum adiponectin. XYS also restored Nissl bodies in hypothalamic neurons in mice that exhibited depression-like behaviors and decreased the degree of neuronal morphological damage. In vivo and in vitro studies indicated that XYS increased the expression of AdipoR1 in hypothalamic neurons. CONCLUSION: Adiponectin may be a key regulator linking depression and metabolic disorders; regulation of the hypothalamic AdipoR1/AMPK/ACC pathway plays an important role in treatment of depression by XYS.

Image fusion technique for target volume delineation in 125I seed implant brachytherapy for parotid gland cancers.

Purpose: Variability in volume delineation is a possible error source in brachytherapy. This study assessed the interobserver variations in clinical target volume (CTV) delineation in postoperative adjuvant 125I seed implant brachytherapy after parotid gland cancer surgical resection and evaluated the image fusion technique for target volume delineation. Material and Methods: Five radiation oncologists delineated gross tumor volume (GTV) and CTV in 20 patients using conventional delineation and image fusion methods. The consistency in target volume delineation was determined on the basis of differences between the oncologists. Variability was determined using Kendall's W-test, the mean conformity index (CI), the mean distance to conformity (MDC), and the center of gravity distance (CGD). Results: There were significant variations in the delineated target volumes among radiation oncologists, but the CTV consistency was significantly enhanced using the image fusion technique, based on Kendall's W, mean CI, average MDC, and average CGD, which were 0.752, 0.41, 2.75, and 4.997, respectively, using the conventional method, and 0.987, 0.86, 0.55, and 1.27, respectively, using the image fusion method. Conclusions: The interobserver variation in the delineation of the postoperative parotid target volume is large, but it can be considerably decreased using image fusion technology, which resulted in a noticeable improvement in the delineation precision of the target volume for parotid gland cancer. Thus, this technology can enhance the efficacy of 125I seed implant brachytherapy and decrease any adverse effects induced by errors in target delineation.

Berberine alleviates NLRP3 inflammasome induced endothelial junction dysfunction through Ca2+ signalling in inflammatory vascular injury.

BACKGROUND: Berberine has received rising attention for its application in cardiovascular disease because of its relationship with inflammation. The endothelial NLRP3 inflammasome triggers inflammatory vascular injury which would lead to cardiovascular disease. Endothelial calcium signalling plays a crucial role in both the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and endothelial cells dysfunction. However, the efficacy of BBR on the endothelial NLRP3 inflammasome in inflammatory vascular injury remains unknown. PURPOSE: In this study, we focused on the NLRP3 pathway to determine whether BBR regulates endothelial junction function in inflammatory vascular injury. METHODS: The integrity of the junction proteins VE-cadherin (VEC) and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) detected by immunofluorescence and immunoblotting was used to determine the therapeutic effect of BBR (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg/day) in LPS (100 µg/kg/day)-induced inflammatory vascular injury in mice and mouse microvascular endothelial cells (MECs) treated with LPS (1 µLPS ) and ATP (5 mM). Endothelial permeability was assessed by FITC-labelled dextran and trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) in vitro. The assembly and activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes were detected by western blotting and immunofluorescence. Pharmacophore-based virtual molecular docking studies and calcium imaging analyses were used to determine the interaction of BBR with the ATP-gated Ca2+ channel P2X7R (purinergic P2X receptor 7) in the context of inflammatory vascular injury. RESULTS: BBR recovered the expression of ZO-1 and VEC and inhibited endothelial NLRP3 inflammasome activation in coronary microvascular endothelium and in MECs. These results suggested a crucial role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in BBR-regulated endothelial integrity. Further analysis demonstrated that BBR treatment suppressed the binding of TXNIP (thioredoxin interacting protein) with NLRP3. Intriguingly, eliminating extracellular Ca2+ showed a similar effect as BBR. Virtual docking analysis indicated that R574 of P2X7R is a potential target for BBR binding. Ca2+ imaging showed that BBR inhibited the Ca2+ influx in response to ATP, supporting the potential interaction of BBR with P2X7R. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that BBR exhibits potential and specific therapeutic value by targeting calcium signals and the endothelial NLRP3 inflammasome in inflammatory vascular injury.

A Simple and Efficient Embolization-Combined Therapy for Solid Tumors by Smart Poly(amino acid)s Nanocomposites.

Interventional embolization and minimally invasive thermal ablation are common clinical methods for treatment of unresectable solid tumors, but they both have many insurmountable disadvantages. Inspired by pH-responsive drug delivery systems, we report the tumor microenvironment-gelled nanocomposites with poly[(l-glutamic acid-ran-l-tyrosine)-b-l-threonine-b-l-cysteine]s (PGTTCs) coating nanoparticles (NPs, Au or Fe3O4) for noninterventional targeted embolization combined with noninvasive thermal ablation therapy of solid tumors by intravenous injection without catheter use. The results of the animal trial in vivo with tumor-bearing mice and rabbits showed superior targeted embolization and therapy and fluorescence/single-photon emission computed tomography/magnetic resonance multimodal imaging effects. Tumors treated with NPs@PGTTCs were shrunken and necrotized within 30 days, the long-term survival rate was more than 80%, and the same effects can be achieved within 15 days when combined with thermal ablation. The method is so simple and efficient for many hard-to-treat tumors within an acidic microenvironment, which is not only a great improvement and innovation in tumor theranostics but also an important development in nanomedicine.

[Potential mechanisms of Jiarong Tablets in the treatment of late-onset hypogonadism in men: An exploration based on network pharmacology].

OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic targets and related signaling pathways of Jiarong Tablets (JRT) in the treatment of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) in males by network pharmacology, and further analyze its potential action mechanism. METHODS: Using the Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Analysis Platform (TCMSP), we obtained the active ingredients and therapeutic targets of JRT, disease targets of LOH through the GeneCards and OMIM databases, and drug-disease common targets, followed by drawing a Vennny's diagram of the common targets. We constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the common targets using STRING and an intersection network of JRT active ingredients-LOH-targets with Cytoscape 3.7.2, performed GO bio-functional and KEGG enrichment analyses of the common targets using the R-Language software, and identified the potential signaling pathways of JRT acting on LOH. RESULTS: Totally, we obtained 80 bioactive ingredients from JRT and 64 common targets of LOH, with IL-6, INS, AKT1, JUN and MAPK8 as the core targets in the order of the frequency occurrences. GO and KEGG analyses showed that these targets mainly involved the MAPK, HIF-1, Ras and ErbB signaling pathways. CONCLUSION: JRT acts on LOH with multiple targets, through multiple routes and at multiple levels, which is related to the expression of testosterone synthetase, oxidative stress and apoptosis of Leydig cells.

Smart-Polypeptide-Coated Mesoporous Fe3O4 Nanoparticles: Non-Interventional Target-Embolization/Thermal Ablation and Multimodal Imaging Combination Theranostics for Solid Tumors.

Tumor theranostics hold great potential for personalized medicine in the future, and transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is an important clinical treatment for unresectable or hypervascular tumors. In order to break the limitation, simplify the procedure of TAE, and achieve ideal combinatorial theranostic capability, here, a kind of triblock-polypeptide-coated perfluoropentane-loaded mesoporous Fe3O4 nanocomposites (PFP-m-Fe3O4@PGTTCs) were prepared for non-interventional target-embolization, magnetic hyperthermia, and multimodal imaging combination theranostics of solid tumors. The results of systematic animal experiments by H22-tumor-bearing mice and VX2-tumor-bearing rabbits in vivo indicated that PFP-m-Fe3O4@PGTTC-6.3 has specific tumor accumulation and embolization effects. The tumors' growth has been inhibited and the tumors disappeared 4 weeks and ≤15 days post-injection with embolization and magnetic hyperthermia combination therapy, respectively. The results also showed an excellent effect of magnetic resonance/ultrasound/SPECT multimodal imaging. This pH-responsive non-interventional embolization combinatorial theranostics system provides a novel embolization and multifunctional theranostic candidate for solid tumors.