[Protective effect of Liujing Toutong Tablets on rats with permanent cerebral ischemia via NF-κB signaling pathway].

This study investigated the neuroprotective effects and underlying mechanism of Liujing Toutong Tablets(LJTT) on a rat model of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion(pMCAO). The pMCAO model was established using the suture method. Eighty-four male SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group, a nimodipine group(0.020 g·kg~(-1)), and high-, medium-, and low-dose LJTT groups(2.8, 1.4, and 0.7 g·kg~(-1)). The Longa score, adhesive removal test and laser speckle contrast imaging technique were used to evaluate the degree of neurological functional impairment and changes in local cerebral blood flow. The survival and mortality of rats in each group were recorded daily. After seven days of continuous administration following the model induction, the rats in each group were euthanized, and brain tissue and blood samples were collected for corresponding parameter measurements. Nissl staining was used to examine pathological changes in brain tissue neurons. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6), IL-1ß, vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP), beta-endorphin(ß-EP), and endogenous nitric oxide(NO) in rat serum were measured using specific assay kits. The entropy weight method was used to analyze the weights of various indicators. The protein expression levels of nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB), inhibitor kappaB alpha(IκBα), phosphorylated IκBα(p-IκBα), and phosphorylated inhibitor of NF-κB kinase alpha(p-IKKα) in brain tissue were determined using Western blot. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression of chemokine-like factor 1(CKLF1) and C-C chemokine receptor 5(CCR5) in rat brain tissue. Compared with the sham operation group, the model group showed significantly higher neurological functional impairment scores, prolonged adhesive removal time, decreased cerebral blood flow, increased neuronal damage, reduced survival rate, significantly increased levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, CGRP, and NO in serum, significantly decreased levels of VEGF and ß-EP, significantly increased expression levels of NF-κB p65, p-IκBα/IκBα, and p-IKKα in rat brain tissue, and significantly upregulated protein expression of CKLF1 and CCR5. Compared with the model group, the high-dose LJTT group significantly improved the neurological functional score of pMCAO rats after oral administration for 7 days. LJTT at all doses significantly reduced adhesive removal time and restored cerebral blood flow. The high-and medium-dose LJTT groups significantly improved neuronal damage. The LJTT groups at all doses showed reduced levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, CGRP, and NO in rat serum, increased VEGF and ß-EP levels, and significantly decreased expression levels of NF-κB p65, p-IκBα/IκBα, p-IKKα, and CCR5 protein in rat brain tissue. The entropy weight analysis revealed that CGRP and ß-EP were significantly affected during the model induction, and LJTT exhibited a strong effect in reducing the release of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and IL-1ß. LJTT may exert a neuroprotective effect on rats with permanent cerebral ischemia by reducing neuroinflammatory damage, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway and the regulation of the CKLF1/CCR5 axis. Additionally, LJTT may exert certain analgesic effects by reducing CGRP and NO levels and increasing ß-EP levels.

The copper(II) complex of dantron showed therapeutic effect on bacterial gill-rot disease in tilapia infected by Flavobacterium columnar.

Dantron (DA), a kind of polyhydric anthraquinone and one of the bio-active ingredient in Rheum officinale was chosen as the ligand to coordinate with the bio-active copper(II) ion to achieve its antibacterial copper(II) complex, DA-Cu. The coordination structure of DA-Cu, both in the crystal state and solution state, was studied by spectroscopy and X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis. The inhibition zone, MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration) values regarding the in vitro antibacterial activity of DA-Cu towards Flavobacterium columnar, which causes the bacterial gill-rot disease on fish, were significant and specific. DA-Cu in vivo acute toxicity on zebrafish and tilapia was evaluated, suggesting that the higher dose of DA-Cu than 0.1 mg/mL might give potential toxicity. The further therapeutic effect of DA-Cu on the tested tilapia challenged by Flavobacterium columnar was also studied, which showed its clear advantage (including the survival rate, relative weight gain rate, and feed conversion ratio) over DA and the positive control, Sanhuang San, at a much lower dosage of 0.025 mg/mL.

A New Calcium(II)-Based Substitute for Enrofloxacin with Improved Medicinal Potential.

Enrofloxacin (EFX) reacting with Ca(II) afforded a new complex, [Ca(EFX)2(H2O)4] (EFX-Ca), which was structurally characterized both in solid and solution chemistry. E. coli and S. typhi were tested to be the most sensitive strains for EFX-Ca. The LD50 value of EFX-Ca in mice was 7736 mg/kg, implying the coordination of EFX to Ca(II) effectively reduced its acute toxicity. EFX-Ca also decreased the plasma-binding rate and enhanced the drug distribution in rats along with longer elimination half-life. EFX-Ca also showed similar low in vivo acute toxicity and higher anti-inflammation induced by H2O2 or CuSO4 in zebrafish, with reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related elimination. The therapeutic effects of EFX-Ca on two types (AA and 817) of E. coli-infected broilers were also better than those of EFX, with cure rates of 78% and 88%, respectively. EFX-Ca showed promise as a bio-safe metal-based veterinary drug with good efficacy and lower toxicity.

Downregulation of PDGF-D Inhibits Proliferation and Invasion in Breast Cancer MDA-MB-231 Cells.

BACKGROUND: The platelet derived growth factor-D (PDGF-D) plays an important role in breast tumor aggressiveness. However, limited study has investigated the effect of silencing PDGF-D on the biological function of breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to clarify the potential value of PDGF-D as a target for breast cancer treatment. METHODS: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot were used to detect PDGF-D expression in 5 different breast cancer cells. The lentiviral vector was usd to silence PDGF-D in MDA-MB-231 cells. Then, Methyl Thiazolyl Tetrazolium was used to detect cell viability, 5-Ethynyl-2'- deoxyuridine and a soft agar assay were used to detect cell proliferation and clonality. Additionally, cell apoptosis after PDGF-D knockdown was measured by Annexin V/ Prodium Iodide staining, and cell migration was detected by trans-well assay. Survival rate and tumor size were measured by nude mice transplantation. RESULTS: The MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3 cell lines showed higher PDGF-D expression than the MCF7 cell lines (P<.05). After the PDGF-D gene was silenced, the growth and colony forming abilitys ignificantly decreased (P<.05) together with the induction of apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells (P<.05). Moreover, MDA-MB-231 cells with PDGF-D silencing showed significantly diminished aggressive migration and invasion potential compared to other cells (P<.05). In vivo experiments also indicated that PDGF-D silencing inhibited tumor growth and improved the survival rate of tumor-bearing mice. CONCLUSION: Downregulation of PDGF-D had dramatic effects on breast cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration, which indicates that it plays an important role in breast cancer development and progression.

Dynamics of soil bacteria and fungi communities of dry land for 8 years with soil conservation management.

Microorganisms play an important role in nutrient cycling and ecosystem stability. This experiment studied the conservation management approaches [control without fertilizer (CK); fertilizer and different mulching based straw mulching (SM), plastic mulching (PM), ridge-furrow with plastic mulching (RFPFM), and green manure (GM)] effects on the soil microbial community structures in spring corn (Zea Mayis) dry land. The results showed that the bacterial phylum mainly included Proteobacteria (28.2%-36.8%), Acidobacteriota (9.1%-17.9%), Bacteroidota (5.6%-8.9%) and Actinobacteria (3.1-6.2%). The most richness fungal components were Ascomycota (35.2%-44.2%), Basidiomycota (3.3%-12%) and Mortierellomycota (3.4%-6.6%). Additionally, the highest Chao1 and abundance-based coverage estimator (ACE) indexes of bacteria (2931.9 and 2953.7) and fungi (1083.316 and 1100.650) were present in RFPFM that indicating the richest microbial abundance, the highest Shannon and Simpson indexes was exist in PM (9.332 and 0.996) for bacteria and RFPFM (6.753 and 0.974) for fungi. Therefore, this study reveals the conservation management of fertilizer addition and mulching management obviously promoted microbial diversity and altered the superior microbial distribution that provides a potential way for agricultural sustainable management approaches in production practice during circular economy.

The Absence of PTEN in Breast Cancer Is a Driver of MLN4924 Resistance.

Background: Numerous studies have indicated that the neddylation pathway is closely associated with tumor development. MLN4924 (Pevonedistat), an inhibitor of the NEDD8-activating E1 enzyme, is considered a promising chemotherapeutic agent. Recently, we demonstrated that neddylation of the tumor suppressor PTEN occurs under high glucose conditions and promotes breast cancer development. It has been shown, however, that PTEN protein levels are reduced by 30-40% in breast cancer. Whether this PTEN deficiency affects the anti-tumor function of MLN4924 is unknown. Methods: In the present study, cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assays were used to detect cell proliferation, and a transwell system was used to quantify cell migration. A tumor growth assay was performed in BALB/c nude mice. The subcellular location of PTEN was detected by fluorescence microscopy. The CpG island of the UBA3 gene was predicted by the Database of CpG Islands and UCSC database. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were used to measure the expression of indicated proteins. The Human Protein Atlas database, the Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus datasets were used to validate the expression levels of UBA3 in breast cancer. Results: Our data show that the anti-tumor efficacy of MLN4924 in breast cancer cells was markedly reduced with the deletion of PTEN. PI3K/Akt signaling pathway activity correlated positively with UBA3 expression. Pathway activity correlated negatively with NEDP1 expression in PTEN-positive breast cancer patients, but not in PTEN-negative patients. We also demonstrate that high glucose conditions upregulate UBA3 mRNA by inhibiting UBA3 promoter methylation, and this upregulation results in the overactivation of PTEN neddylation in breast cancer cells. Conclusion: These data suggest a mechanism by which high glucose activates neddylation. PTEN is critical, if not indispensable, for MLN4924 suppression of tumor growth; PTEN status thus may help to identify MLN4924-responsive breast cancer patients.

Structural characterization and pharmacological assessment in vitro/in vivo of a new copper(II)-based derivative of enrofloxacin.

Enrofloxacin (EFX) was selected as the medicinal ligand to afford a new copper(ii)-based complex, EFX-Cu, which was structurally characterized by spectroscopic analyses including X-ray single crystal diffraction. It was also stable and could retain the coordination state in aqueous solution. The in vitro antibacterial activity of EFX-Cu against a panel of pathogenic bacteria was about the same as that of EFX, except that it was twice as active against E. coli. The in vivo test on mice gave a LD50 value of 8148 mg kg-1 for EFX-Cu, which was much lower than those for EFX (LD50, 5312 mg kg-1) and its clinically used sodium salt, EFX-Na (LD50, 1421 mg kg-1). In addition, no obvious lesions in the organs of the dead mice were found by histopathological examination. Pharmacokinetic studies on rats suggested similar pharmacokinetics between EFX-Cu and EFX. On the other hand, EFX-Cu showed higher acute toxicity than EFX-Na in zebrafish, which was inconsistent with that in mice. The ROS-related inflammation and anti-inflammatory assay of EFX-Cu, respectively, in normal cells and zebrafish could be ascribed to its ROS-related redox property. Unfortunately, the final in vivo therapeutic assay in the E. coli-infected mouse model indicated that the therapeutic effect of EFX-Cu, mainly in terms of mortality in mice, was found to be lower than that of EFX-Na at the same dosage (800 mg kg-1, continuous gavage), although the contradictory factors between toxicity and antibacterial activity could not be excluded in this trial.

SnoN residue (1-366) attenuates hypertrophic scars through resistance to transforming growth factor-ß1-induced degradation.

Hypertrophic scars (HSs) are characterized by fibroblast hyperproliferation and excessive matrix deposition. During wound healing, transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1/Smad signaling acts as a key regulator. As a transcriptional corepressor of TGF-ß1/Smads, SnoN is expressed at low levels in many fibrotic diseases due to TGF-ß1/Smad-induced degradation. SnoN residue (1-366; SR) is resistant to TGF-ß1-induced degradation. However, the expression and role of SR in HSs are unknown. Here, we inhibited TGF-ß1/Smad signaling via overexpression of SR to block fibroblast transdifferentiation, proliferation, and collagen deposition during HS formation. Our results showed that SnoN was downregulated in HS fibroblasts (HSFs) owing to TGF-ß1/Smad-induced degradation. Overexpression of SR in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) and HSFs successfully blocked phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3, thereby inhibiting NHDF transdifferentiation and HSF proliferation and reducing type I collagen (ColI) and type III collagen (ColIII) production and secretion. In addition, we applied overexpressed full-length SnoN (SF) and SR to wound granulation tissue in a rabbit model of HSs. SR reduced wound scarring, improved collagen deposition and arrangement of scar tissue, and decreased mRNA and protein expression of ColI, ColIII, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) more effectively than SF in vivo. These results suggest that SR could be a promising therapy for the prevention of HS.

Outcomes of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Cycles by Fluorescent In situ Hybridization of Infertile Males with Nonmosaic 47,XYY Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The 47,XYY syndrome could result in fertility problems. However, seldom studies reported comprehensive researches on the embryonic development and pregnancy outcomes of these patients. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of nonmosaic 47,XYY patients performed with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) treatment. METHODS: This was a retrospective study. Between January 2012 and May 2017, 51 infertile males with nonmosaic 47,XYY syndrome underwent FISH-PGD were included in the study. According to sex chromosomal FISH results, embryos were classified as normal signal, no nuclei fixed, no signal in fixed nuclei, suspensive signal, and abnormal signal groups, respectively. The incidence of each group, the fixation rate, and hybridization rate were calculated. Embryonic development and pregnancy outcomes were also analyzed. The measurement data were analyzed with Student's t-test. The comparison of categorical data was analyzed with the Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test when expected cell count was <5. RESULTS: The 53 PGD cycles with 433 embryos were analyzed. The fixation rate was 89.6%, while the hybridization rate was 96.4%. There were 283 embryos with two sex chromosomal signals with clear diagnosis (65.4%). The numbers of no nuclei fixed, no signal in fixed nuclei, suspensive signal, and abnormal signal groups were 45 (10.4%), 14 (3.2%), 24 (5.5%), and 67 (15.5%), respectively. Embryos with abnormal signals were abandoned. The number of good-quality embryos was 210 (57.4%), including implanted embryos on day 4/day 5 and cryopreserved. The rates of good-quality embryos in the no nuclei fixed (22.2%), no signal in fixed nuclei (28.6%), and suspensive signal groups (33.3%) were comparable (P > 0.05), and were significantly lower than the normal signal group (66.4%, P < 0.001). The clinical pregnancy rates of fresh and frozen embryos transferred cycles were 70.6% and 85.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Among embryos with a clear diagnosis of sex chromosome, about one-fifth showed abnormal signals. Embryos with two sex chromosomal signals are more likely to develop into good-quality ones. The application of the PGD by FISH may help to improve the clinical outcome s.

Dachengqi Decoction Attenuates Intestinal Vascular Endothelial Injury in Severe Acute Pancreatitis in Vitro and in Vivo.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Dachengqi decoction (DCQD) is a well-known traditional Chinese herbal drug with strong anti-inflammatory effects. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) plays a vital role in maintaining the stability and integrity of the vascular wall and prevents vascular leakage due to inflammatory mediators. Our previous work found that DCQD protects against pancreatic injury in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). This study aims to investigate the effects of DCQD on intestinal endothelial damage in both damaged human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and SAP rats. METHODS: HUVECs were randomly divided into four groups: control group, TNF-α group, TNF-α plus Ang-1 group (Ang-1 group), and TNF-α plus DCQD group (DCQD group). Cells were incubated for 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h, before collection. The treatment concentration of DCQD was decided based on a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The monolayer permeability of the HUVECs was assessed by measuring the transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER). Apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. mRNA and protein expression of aquaporin 1 (AQP-1), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), and junctional adhesion molecule-C (JAM-C) was evaluated by RT-PCR, immunocytofluorescence, and western blot. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into a control group, SAP group, SAP plus Ang-1 group (Ang-1 group), and SAP plus DCQD group (DCQD group). SAP was induced by intraperitoneal injection of cerulein and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), while the control group received 0.9% saline solution. Evans blue was injected through the penile vein and the rats were then sacrificed 12 h after modeling. Levels of serum amylase, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-2, and IL-6 were determined by using ELISA. Intestinal tissue was analysed by histology, and capillary permeability in the tissues was evaluated by Evans blue extravasation assay. Protein and mRNA expression of AQP-1, MMP9, and JAM-C were assessed by immunohistofluorescence, western blot, and RT-PCR. RESULTS: DCQD reduced the permeability of HUVEC induced by TNF-α in vitro. Furthermore, DCQD altered the mRNA and protein levels of JAM-C, MMP9, and AQP-1 in HUVECs after TNF-α induction. SAP intestinal injury induced by cerulein combined with lipopolysaccharides was concomitant with increased expression of JAM-C and MMP9, and reduced expression of AQP-1 in intestinal tissue. Pretreatment with DCQD attenuated SAP intestinal injury and lowered the levels of serum amylase, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-2, and IL-6 effectively. Our study demonstrated that DCQD decreased the expression of JAM-C and MMP9 and increased the expression of AQP-1 both in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION: DCQD can reduce capillary endothelial damage in acute pancreatitis-associated intestinal injury and the mechanism may be associated with the regulation of endothelial barrier function-associated proteins AQP-1, MMP9, and JAM-C.

Cantharidin Inhibits the Growth of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells by Suppressing Autophagy and Inducing Apoptosis in Vitro and in Vivo.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cantharidin, a type of terpenoid secreted by the blister beetle Mylabris phalerata (Pallas), has attracted great attention in cancer therapy because of its potential anti-cancer activities. Here, we report the effects on apoptosis and autophagy in human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines after treatment with cantharidin and attempt to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells were treated with cantharidin and cell proliferation was examined using CCK-8 and clone formation assays. The expression of apoptosis- and autophagy-associated proteins was detected by western blotting. Cells were infected with lentivirus carrying the Beclin-1 gene, and MDA-MB-231-beclin1 (MB231-Bec) and MDA-MB-468-beclin-1(MB468-Bec) cells stably expressing Beclin-1 were established. Autophagic vacuoles in cells were observed with LC3 staining using fluorescence microscopy, and apoptotic cells were detected via flow cytometry. Tumor growth was assessed by subcutaneous inoculation of TNBC cells into BALB/c nude mice. RESULTS: Cantharidin inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells, and induced cell apoptosis. Cantharidin additionally inhibited the conversion of LC3 I to LC3 II and autophagosome formation by suppressing the expression of Beclin-1. Furthermore, overexpression of Beclin-1 in TNBC cells attenuated the cytotoxicity of cantharidin. In vivo, cantharidin inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 xenografts in nude mice by suppressing autophagy and inducing apoptosis, and Beclin-1 overexpression in TNBC cells reduced the efficacy of cantharidin. CONCLUSIONS: Cantharidin inhibits autophagy by suppressing Beclin-1 expression and inducing apoptosis of TNBC cells in vitro and in vivo, thereby representing a potential strategy for the treatment of TNBC.

Loss of the Opa interacting protein 5 inhibits breast cancer proliferation through miR-139-5p/NOTCH1 pathway.

Opa interacting protein 5 (OIP5) has been reported to be over-expressed in several kinds of human cancer. However, the biological function and clinical significance of OIP5 in human breast cancer remains unknown. In this study, we found that OIP5 was notably over-expressed in breast cancer tissues compared with their corresponding nontumorous tissues. Statistical analysis showed a significant correlation of OIP5 expression with advanced clinical stage. Ablation OIP5 inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer cells. OIP5 over-expression inhibited hsa-miR-139-5p expression, antagonized its functions and led to the de-repression of its endogenous target NOTCH1, which was a core oncogene in promoting breast cancer progression. Our results suggested that OIP5 is a potential diagnosis biomarker and therapeutic target for breast cancer.

SHCBP1 is over-expressed in breast cancer and is important in the proliferation and apoptosis of the human malignant breast cancer cell line.

BACKGROUND: SHC SH2-binding protein 1, a member of Src homolog and collagen homolog (Shc) family, has been recently identified in different contexts in unbiased screening assays. It has been reported to be over-expressed in several malignant cancers. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry of SHCBP1 on 128 breast cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues were used to evaluate the prognostic significance of SHCBP1. Survival analyses were performed by Kaplan-Meier method. CRISPR/CAS9 method was used to knockout SHCBP1 expression. CRISPR/CAS9 technology was used to knockout SHCBP1 in 2 breast cancer cell lines. MTT assay, BrdU assay, colony formation assay, cell cycle assay and apoptosis analysis in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines were carried out to evaluate the effects of SHCBP1 on breast cancer in vitro. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis revealed SHCBP1 was significantly up-regulated in breast cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues (82 of 128, 64%). Over-expressed SHCBP1 was correlated with advanced clinical stage and poorer survival. Ablation of SHCBP1 inhibited the proliferation in vitro. SHCBP1 knockout increased cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, and decreased the Cyclin B1 and CDK1. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests SHCBP1 is dysregulated expressed in breast cancer and plays a critical role in cancer progression, which can be a potential prognosis predictor of breast cancer.

Early prediction of intestinal mucosal barrier function impairment by elevated serum procalcitonin in rats with severe acute pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels as a prognostic indicator of intestinal barrier function impairment in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). METHODS: Thirty-six male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly grouped into SAP group (injected sodium taurocholate via biliopancreatic duct), Gln group (gavaged with glutamine after modeling), and control group. Blood, pancreatic, and terminal ileum tissues were obtained from the rats after 6 h of modeling. Serum amylase (Amy) levels were determined using an automatic biochemical detector, while endotoxin (ET), diamine oxidase (DAO), and PCT levels were measured by ELISA test. The pathology of pancreatic and small intestine tissues were observed. PCT protein expression in intestinal tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot. RESULT: Pancreatic and intestinal injuries in Gln group were significantly lower than SAP group. Serum amylase, DAO, and PCT levels in SAP and Gln groups differed greatly and were significantly higher than control group. Immuno-histochemistry and western blot results showed that PCT protein expression levels in small intestine tissues of SAP group were higher than Gln group and control group. Serum PCT levels had a significant correlation with serum endotoxin, DAO levels and intestinal mucosal injury scores. CONCLUSION: PCT expression in serum and intestinal tissues in SAP rats increased significantly in the early stages of SAP, and was closely related to the onset and degree of intestinal barrier function impairment. Thus, our results showed that measuring serum PCT can be used to predict intestinal mucosal barrier function impairment in SAP rats.

Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein-Angiopoietin-1 Has a Protective Effect of Vascular Endothelial Barrier in Rat With Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) from capillary endothelial damage in rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP). METHODS: 96 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly averaged and divided into control group, ANP group, Si-Ang-1 group, and COMP (cartilage oligomeric matrix protein)-Ang-1 group. Animals were killed at 6, 12, and 24 hours after molding. Levels of serum amylase, porcine endothelin 1, C-reactive protein, and Ang-1 were detected; histopathological changes in the pancreas were observed; capillary permeability and Ang-1 expression of the pancreatic tissue were detected by Evans Blue extravasation assay, immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: (1) Levels of serum amylase, C-reactive protein, and porcine endothelin-1 increased and level of Ang-1 decrease in the ANP group and Si-Ang-1 group compared with the control group, whereas COMP-Ang-1 group could improve the changes. (2) The order of pancreas pathological changes (mild to severe) is: control group, COMP-Ang-1 group, ANP group, and Si-Ang-1 group. (3) Capillary permeability of the pancreatic tissue in the COMP-Ang-1 group was lower than that in the ANP group. (4) Ang-1 mRNA and protein expression in the COMP-Ang-1 group was significantly higher than in the ANP group. CONCLUSIONS: COMP-Ang-1 can upregulate the expression of Ang-1 protein to promote angiogenesis and improve early inflammatory and pathological damage in ANP group.

A straightforward and efficient synthetic access to biologically active marine sesterterpenoids, sesterstatins 4 and 5.

A straightforward and efficient synthesis of sesterstatins 4 and 5 is reported, in which the reductive Heck cyclisation was employed as the key step for constructing the D ring.

[Detection of early organ dysfunction for the selection of treatment strategy on severe acute pancreatitis.].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the severity related influencing factor and treatment strategy of severe acute pancreatitis with early organ dysfunction. METHODS: From July 2007 to December 2008, 167 patients with severe acute pancreatitis were treated in the Surgical Department of Ruijin Hospital. The relationships between the happening of early organ dysfunction and outcome of the patients were observed, with operative or nonoperative treatment strategy. RESULTS: Among 167 patients, 68 patients have early organ dysfunction, in which 39 with single organ dysfunction and 29 with multiple organ dysfunction. The early organ dysfunction were involved in 47.1% in cardiovascular system, 35.3% in lung and 29.4% in kidney. Aging (P < 0.05) and higher APACHE II score (P < 0.05) predicted a poor prognosis, which were benefit from early operation. CONCLUSIONS: The mortality of the patients with SAP is related to age, and the degree of organ dysfunction as well. In the first phase of the disease, the selection of operation depends on the trends and the degree of early organ dysfunction before infected necrosis happens, with the aid of SOFA score as a scale.