Maslinic acid protects against obesity-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice through regulation of the Sirt1/AMPK signaling pathway.

Maslinic acid is a pentacyclic triterpenoid that is distributed in the peel of olives. Previous studies found that maslinic acid inhibited inflammatory response and antioxidant effects. We investigated whether maslinic acid ameliorates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice with high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obesity and evaluated the regulation of lipogenesis in hepatocytes. Male C57BL/6 mice fed a normal diet or HFD (60% fat, w/w) were tested for 16 wk. After the fourth week, mice were injected intraperitoneally with maslinic acid for 12 wk. In another experiment, HepG2 cells were treated with oleic acid to induce lipid accumulation or maslinic acid to evaluate lipogenesis. Maslinic acid significantly reduced body weight compared with HFD-fed mice. Maslinic acid reduced liver weight and liver lipid accumulation and improved hepatocyte steatosis. Furthermore, serum glucose, leptin, and free fatty acid concentrations significantly reduced, but the serum adiponectin concentration was higher, in the maslinic acid group than in the HFD group. In liver tissue, maslinic acid suppressed transcription factors involved in lipogenesis and increased adipose triglyceride lipase. In vitro, maslinic acid decreased lipogenesis by activating AMPK. These findings suggest that maslinic acid acts against hepatic steatosis by regulating enzyme activity involved in lipogenesis, lipolysis, and fatty acid oxidation in the liver.-Liou, C.-J., Dai, Y.-W., Wang, C.-L., Fang, L.-W., Huang, W.-C. Maslinic acid protects against obesity-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice through regulation of the Sirt1/AMPK signaling pathway.

Bulnesia sarmientoi Supercritical Fluid Extract Exhibits Necroptotic Effects and Anti-Metastatic Activity on Lung Cancer Cells.

Bulnesia sarmientoi (BS) has long been used as an analgesic, wound-healing and anti-inflammatory medicinal plant. The aqueous extract of its bark has been demonstrated to have anti-cancer activity. This study investigated the anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic effects of BS supercritical fluid extract (BSE) on the A549 and H661 lung cancer cell lines. The cytotoxicity on cancer cells was assessed by an MTT assay. After 72 h treatment of A549 and H661 cells, the IC50 values were 18.1 and 24.7 µg/mL, respectively. The cytotoxicity on MRC-5 normal cells was relatively lower (IC50 = 61.1 µg/mL). BSE arrested lung cancer cells at the S and G2/M growth phase. Necrosis of A549 and H661 cells was detected by flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. Moreover, the cytotoxic effect of BSE on cancer cells was significantly reverted by Nec-1 pretreatment, and BSE induced TNF-α and RIP-1 expression in the absence of caspase-8 activity. These evidences further support that BSE exhibited necroptotic effects on lung cancer cells. By wound healing and Boyden chamber assays, the inhibitory effects of BSE on the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells were elucidated. Furthermore, the chemical composition of BSE was examined by gas chromatography-mass analysis where ten constituents of BSE were identified. α-Guaiene, (-)-guaiol and ß-caryophyllene are responsible for most of the cytotoxic activity of BSE against these two cancer cell lines. Since BSE possesses significant cytotoxicity and anti-metastatic activity on A549 and H661 cells, it may serve as a potential target for the treatment of lung cancer.

Siegesbeckia orientalis Extract Inhibits TGFß1-Induced Migration and Invasion of Endometrial Cancer Cells.

Type II endometrial carcinoma typically exhibits aggressive metastasis and results in a poor prognosis. Siegesbeckia orientalis Linne is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb with several medicinal benefits, including the cytotoxicity against various cancers. This study investigates the inhibitory effects of S. orientalis ethanol extract (SOE) on the migration and invasion of endometrial cancer cells, which were stimulated by transforming growth factor ß (TGFß). The inhibitory effects were evaluated by determining wound healing and performing the Boyden chamber assay. This study reveals that SOE can inhibit TGFß1-induced cell wound healing, cell migration, and cell invasion in a dose-dependent manner in RL95-2 and HEC-1A endometrial cancer cells. SOE also reversed the TGFß1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition, including the loss of the cell-cell junction and the lamellipodia-like structures. Western blot analysis revealed that SOE inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and Akt, as well as the expression of MMP-9, MMP-2, and u-PA in RL95-2 cells dose-dependently. The results of this investigation suggest that SOE is a potential anti-metastatic agent against human endometrial tumors.

Integrated prevention of mother-to-child transmission for human immunodeficiency virus, syphilis and hepatitis B virus in China.

PROBLEM: China continues to face challenges in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis and hepatitis B virus (HBV). APPROACH: In 2010, a programme that integrated and standardized prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) efforts for HIV, syphilis and HBV was implemented in 1156 counties. At participating antenatal care clinics, pregnant women were offered all three tests concurrently and free of charge. Further interventions such as free treatment, prophylaxis and testing for mothers and their children were provided for HIV and syphilis. LOCAL SETTING: China's national PMTCT HIV programme started in 2003, at which time there were no national programmes for perinatal syphilis and HBV. In 2009, the rate of maternal-to-child transmission of HIV was 8.1% (57/702). Reported congenital syphilis was 60.8 per 100,000 live births. HBV infection was 7.2% of the overall population infected. RELEVANT CHANGES: Between 2010 and 2013 the number of pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics with integrated PMTCT services increased from 5.5 million to 13.1 million. In 2013, 12.7 million pregnant women were tested for HIV, 12.6 million for syphilis and 12.7 million for HBV. Mother-to-child transmission of HIV fell to 6.7% in 2013. Data on syphilis transmission are not yet available. LESSONS LEARNT: Integrated PMTCT services proved to be feasible and effective, and they are now part of the routine maternal and child health services provided to infected women. The services are provided through a collaboration between maternal and child health clinics, the national and local Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and general hospitals.

Sesamol suppresses the inflammatory response by inhibiting NF-κB/MAPK activation and upregulating AMP kinase signaling in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN: Sesamol is a lignan isolated from sesame seed oil. In recent years, it was found that sesamol could decrease lung inflammation and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury in rats. In this study, we investigated whether sesamol exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated macrophages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RAW 264.7 cells were treated with sesamol, then treated with LPS to induce inflammation. The levels of proinflammatory cytokines were analyzed with ELISA. The gene and protein expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) were evaluated with real-time PCR and Western blots, respectively. We also examined inflammatory signaling pathways, including nuclear transcription factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. RESULTS: Sesamol inhibited production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and proinflammatory cytokines. Sesamol markedly suppressed mRNA and protein expression of iNOS and COX-2. Sesamol enhanced the protective antioxidant pathway represented by Nrf2 and HO-1. Moreover, sesamol suppressed NF-κB transport into the nucleus and decreased MAPK activation, but it promoted adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggested that sesamol ameliorated inflammatory and oxidative damage by upregulating AMPK activation and Nrf2 signaling and blocking the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Mesenchymal stem cells tune the development of monocyte-derived dendritic cells toward a myeloid-derived suppressive phenotype through growth-regulated oncogene chemokines.

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are promising potential candidates for the treatment of immunological diseases because of their immunosuppressive functions. However, the molecular mechanisms that mediate MSCs' immunosuppressive activity remain elusive. In this article, we report for the first time, to our knowledge, that secreted growth-regulated oncogene (GRO) chemokines, specifically GRO-γ, in human MSC-conditioned media have an effect on the differentiation and the function of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells. The monocyte-derived dendritic cells were driven toward a myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC)-like phenotype by the GRO chemokines. GRO-γ-treated MDSCs had a tolerogenic phenotype that was characterized by an increase in the secretion of IL-10 and IL-4, and a reduction in the production of IL-12 and IFN-γ. We have also shown that the mRNA expression levels of the arginase-1 and inducible NO synthase genes, which characterize MDSCs, were upregulated by GRO-γ-primed mouse bone marrow cells. In addition, the ability of GRO-γ-treated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells to stimulate the OVA-specific CD8(+) T (OT-1) cell proliferation and the cytokine production of IFN-γ and TNF-α were significantly decreased in vivo. Our findings allow a greater understanding of how MDSCs can be generated and offer new perspectives to exploit the potential of MDSCs for alternative approaches to treat chronic inflammation and autoimmunity, as well as for the prevention of transplant rejection.

Effects of Antrodia camphorata extracts on anti-oxidation, anti-mutagenesis and protection of DNA against hydroxyl radical damage.

BACKGROUND: Antrodia camphorata is a geographically special fungus and is one of the precious traditional medicines of Taiwan. A lot of reports have addressed its antioxidant activities and anticancer activities. In order to understand whether these protection effects were resulted from its ability of preventing DNA against hydroxyl radical damage, the A. camphorata extract was used to examine its antioxidant, antimutagenic and DNA-protective activities. METHODS: A. camphorata extract was prepared by extracting the lyophilized powder of A. camphorata mycelium with distilled water. The antioxidative activity of this A. camphorata extract was then evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrozyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging assay, and the antimutagenic activities of the extract against direct mutagen 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide (4NQNO) and indirect mutagen benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) were evaluated by Ames test. The effects of the A. camphorata extract in terms of DNA protection against hydroxyl radical damage were also investigated. RESULTS: It was found that the higher the concentration of A. camphorata extracts, the higher the DPPH radical-scavenging effect. A. camphorata extract at concentrations between 0.625 and 10 mg/ml was found to be neither toxic nor mutagenic. However, the higher A. camphorata concentration (10 mg/ml) used in the test showed higher inhibitory effects on 4NQNO in a dose-dependent manner. The A. camphorata extract also showed reducing and scavenging activities against superoxide anion radical and also exhibited protective effects on DNA against hydroxyl radical-induced damage. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggested that A. camphorata is a non-toxic and novel material with antioxidant, antimutagenic and DNA-protective activities and could be developed into health foods.

Licochalcone D ameliorates lipid metabolism in hepatocytes by modulating lipogenesis and autophagy.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease is a metabolic disease caused by abnormal lipid accumulation in the liver. Excessive lipid accumulation results in liver inflammation and fibrosis. Previous studies have demonstrated that the chalcone licochalcone D, which is isolated from Glycyrrhiza inflata Batal, has anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study explored whether licochalcone D can regulate lipid accumulation in fatty liver cells. FL83B hepatocytes were incubated with oleic acid to establish a fatty liver cell model, and then treated with licochalcone D to evaluate the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of lipid metabolism. In addition, male C57BL/6 mice were fed a methionine/choline-deficient diet to induce an animal model of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and given 5 mg/kg licochalcone D by intraperitoneal injection. In cell experiments, licochalcone D significantly reduced lipid accumulation in fatty liver cells and reduced sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c expression, blocking fatty acid synthase production. Licochalcone D increased adipose triglyceride lipase and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 expression, enhancing lipolysis and fatty acid ß-oxidation, respectively. Licochalcone D also significantly increased SIRT-1 and AMPK phosphorylation, reducing acetyl-CoA carboxylase phosphorylation and inhibiting fatty acid synthesis. Licochalcone D also increased the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes to promote autophagy, reducing oil droplet accumulation in fatty liver cells. In the animal experiments, licochalcone D effectively reduced the number of lipid vacuoles and degree of fibrosis in liver tissue and inhibited liver inflammation. Thus, licochalcone D can improve MASH by reducing lipid accumulation, inhibiting inflammation, and increasing autophagy.

Aibika Flower Flavonoid Extract Exhibits Antiulcer Activity in a Murine Model of Ethanol-Induced Acute Gastric Injury.

Aibika (Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medic) is a garden vegetable whose flower has been shown to have various bioactivities. This study investigated the protective effect of aibika flower flavonoid extract (AFF) on ethanol-induced gastric injury in mice. The experimental results showed that pre-feeding 125 and 250 mg AFF/kg BW for 1 week significantly reduced the gastric injury area in the negative control group from 19.2% to 6.7% and 0.6%, respectively. The results of the pathological sections staining also showed that AFF had a protective ability against alcohol-induced injury of gastric tissue and liver tissue. When the mice were exposed to high concentrations of ethanol, AFF pretreatment significantly upregulated the expression of antioxidant enzymes. The pretreatment also promoted the production of the intracellular antioxidant, reduced glutathione, in both gastric tissue and serum. On the contrary, AFF delayed the lipid peroxidation process, which, in turn, reduced the damage to the gastric mucosa. When acute inflammation was induced by ethanol stimulation, AFF significantly downregulated the proinflammatory cytokines and mediators such as TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, NF-κB, COX-2, and iNOS. Furthermore, AFF pretreatment greatly promoted the production of healing factors, such as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-7, and MMP-9, in the gastric tissue. In addition, AFF significantly reduced gastric cell apoptosis induced by ethanol stimulation. These results demonstrate that AFF has a good protective effect on alcohol-induced gastric ulcer and has the potential to be used in gastrointestinal health care.

[Analysis of partner attitude toward HIV infected pregnant women and its influencing factors in western China during 2005-2011].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze partner attitude change and influencing factors on HIV infected pregnant women HIV disclosure. METHOD: A multi-stage cross sectional method was used to collect information by questionnaires on 1164 HIV infected pregnant women in 6 counties including Ruili and Longchuan in Yunnan, Hezhou, Lingshan and Pingxiang in Guangxi and Yining in Xinjiang. Information on demographic characteristics and sexual behavior of the subjects and partner attitude toward HIV infected pregnant women were obtained. The influencing factors of partner's discrimination against HIV infected pregnant women were analyzed. RESULT: A total of 991(85.1%) HIV infected pregnant women have disclosed HIV status to partners among 1164 respondents and 39 (3.9%) reported they were discriminated against partners. Multivariate analysis showed that the 6.5% (15/231) of HIV infected pregnant women in urban had discrimination from their husbands while the ratio among rural pregnant women was lower(3.2% (24/760), OR = 0.40, 95%CI:0.12-0.77) . Compared with the ratio of discrimination among the women of first marriage(2.9%, 21/731), the discrimination ratio among women with remarriage and other status was higher (6.5% (15/232),OR = 2.45, 95%CI:1.61-5.25 and 10.7% (3/28),OR = 3.77, 95%CI:1.46-9.88) respectively. The discrimination ratio among pregnant women with multiple sexual partners was 5.9% (23/389), higher than women with single partner (2.6%, 15/580) (OR = 2.21, 95%CI:1.80-6.23). CONCLUSION: The discrimination toward HIV infected pregnant women from husbands was related to demographic characteristics and sexual behaviors.

Mulberroside F improves airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation in asthmatic mice.

Mulberroside F is isolated from the leaves and roots of Morus alba L. Here, we investigated whether mulberroside F could alleviate airway inflammation and eosinophil infiltration in the lungs of asthmatic mice. We also examined whether mulberroside F attenuated inflammatory responses in human tracheal epithelial BEAS-2B cells. Female BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA), and administered different doses of mulberroside F via intraperitoneal injection. Additionally, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-stimulated BEAS-2B cells were treated with various doses of mulberroside F, followed by detection of the expressions of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. The results demonstrated that mulberroside F mitigated the levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and CCL11, in inflammatory BEAS-2B cells. Mulberroside F also suppressed reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and ICAM-1 expression in TNF-α-stimulated BEAS-2B cells, which effectively suppressed monocyte cell adherence. In an animal model of asthma, mulberroside F treatment attenuated airway hyperresponsiveness, eosinophil infiltration, and goblet cell hyperplasia. Mulberroside F treatment also decreased lung fibrosis and airway inflammation in OVA-sensitized mice. Moreover, mulberroside F significantly reduced expressions of Th2-associated cytokines (including interleukin(IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid compared to OVA-sensitized mice. Our results confirmed that mulberroside F is a novel bioactive compound that can effectively reduce airway inflammation and eosinophil infiltration in asthmatic mice via inhibition of Th2-cell activation.

[Efficacy analysis of different antiretroviral drug regimens in mother to child HIV transmission prevention in some regions of China].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of different antiretroviral drug regimens in mother to child HIV transmission prevention (PMTCT) in China. METHODS: From January 1st 2006 to Dec 30th 2008, a total of 1072 pairs of HIV positive pregnant women and their babies who were HIV antibody positive and older than 18 months were recruited in this study. These women who had received maternal health care in health care institutions were from 23 provinces. Subjects were investigated by questionnaire, including social demographic data, usage of ARVs, safe delivery and artificial feeding, and other PMTCT related informations. The trend of different antiretroviral drug regiments in different period were analyzed by Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel (CMH) χ(2) test. By stratified analysis and Fisher exact χ(2) test, the efficacy of different antiretroviral drug regimens in mother to child HIV transmission prevention were studied. Antiretroviral drug regimens applications mainly included sd-NVP drug regimen, prophylaxis regimen and highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). RESULTS: Among 1072 pairs of HIV positive maternities and babies, 31 babies older than 18 months were HIV infected, MTCT rate was 2.9% (31/1072). (1) The proportion of using ARVs was increasing from 76.4% (306/395) in 2006 to 83.8% (372/444) in 2008, the difference was significant (CMH χ(2) = 6.4, P < 0.05). (2) The ratio that HIV infected maternities adopted ARVs rose from 3.4% (6/178) in 2006 to 26.3% (104/395) in 2008, the ratio increased year by year (CMH χ(2) = 53.1, P < 0.01). On the contrary, usage of sd-NVP declined from 88.8% (158/178) in 2006 to 70.9% (264/372) in 2008 (CMH χ(2) = 48.5, P < 0.01). (3) Among maternities adopted vaginal delivery and artificial feeding, the MTCT rate of ARVs combination group was 1.0% (1/104), while the MTCT rate of sd-NVP group was 5.9% (16/272) (Fisher χ(2) = 5.5, P < 0.05). (4) In the case of artificial feeding, the MTCT rate of prophylaxis regimens and HAART among maternities adopted vaginal delivery was 3.1% (1/32) and 0 respectively. Among maternities adopted cesarean delivery, MTCT rate of prophylaxis regimens and HAART was 3.2% (2/63) and 3.1%(1/32) respectively, both showed no significant difference (Fisher χ(2) = 1.4, P > 0.05; Fisher χ(2) = 0.0001, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Effect of combination of antiretroviral drugs to PMTCT is obvious, the rate of mother to child HIV transmission of prophylaxis regimens and HAART has not shown significant difference.

[Impact of being informed of HIV sero-status on the utilization of mother-to-child HIV transmission prevention services before or after pregnancy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of being informed of HIV infection before or after pregnancy on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) HIV interventions uptake. METHODS: From 2005 to 2009, a tatal of 5552 HIV-infected pregnant women and their 5894 pregnancies in Henan, Guangxi, Yunnan and Xinjiang province were investigated using the method of a cohort study. The social-demographic characters (the objects were divided three age groups 15-, 25-, 35-49), the period identified to be HIV positive, the outcome of pregnancy and the PMTCT interventions including uptake of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) were investigated. Through single-factor and non-conditional logistic regression model, the factors influencing the utilization of PMTCT services were analyzed. RESULTS: Of HIV-infected pregnant women, 84.5% (4979/5894) were under 35 year-old, and 56.0% (3108/5552) of them were Han group and the percentage of peasant or unemployment was 85.1% (4727/5552). 86.8% (4815/5552) of these women had junior high school education or less, and the proportion of women knowing HIV infection before the pregnancy was 31.2% (1836/5894). Of HIV positive pregnant women, 31.7% (1869/5894) chose to terminate the pregnancy artificially, and the percentage was 43.8% (805/1836) among those knowing HIV infection before pregnancy. The proportion of the ARVs uptake among HIV positive maternities who delivered was 80.0% (3046/3808), while the percentage among those knowing HIV positive before pregnancy was 92.3% (883/957), which was much higher than it (75.9% (2163/2851)) among the pregnant women knowing HIV infection just during the pregnancy (χ(2) = 120.39, P < 0.05). The results of multivariate analysis showed that the proportion of ARVs' uptake was high among those HIV positive pregnant women knowing to be HIV-infected before pregnancy (versus knowing to be HIV-infected after the pregnancy, OR = 3.91 (95%CI: 3.03 - 5.05)) and age of 15 to 24 year-old (versus age of 35 - 49 year-old, OR = 0.75 (95%CI: 0.57 - 0.98)). CONCLUSION: It will promote the HIV-infected pregnant women to receive the PMTCT intervention services if they know their HIV sero-status before pregnancy.

[Analysis on the intervention services status of prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS in China].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to get to know the intervention services implementation status of prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS in China, and the trend of recent five years. METHODS: We carried out relevant surveys and investigations among the areas where PMTCT work had been implemented during January 2005 to December 2009. Health providers in these fields provided routine maternal health care, HIV counseling and test for 10 360 655 pregnant women and comprehensive intervention measures to 10 123 HIV infected pregnant women which included antiretroviral (ARV) drugs usage, safety delivery, and exclusive breastfeeding, and collected relevant data and materials to analysis the ratio of main interventions and its change trend. RESULTS: The HIV/AIDS counseling rate was increasing year by year (χ(2)(trend) = 3184.5, P < 0.001), during 2005 to 2009 the rate was 69.8% (406 151/581 975), 84.5% (1 346 745/1 594 579), 90.3% (1 582 757/1 753 191), 93.7% (1 926 224/2 055 232), 82.3% (3 599 228/4 375 678) respectively. HIV/AIDS test rate was increasing (χ(2)(trend) = 146 194.7, P < 0.001), the rate from 2005 to 2009 was 57.8% (336 459/581 975), 80.8% (1 287 812/1 594 579), 87.0% (1 524 595/1 753 191), 89.2% (1 833 246/2 055 232), 85.5% (3 741 337/4 375 678)respectively. The total number of HIV/AIDS infected maternities was 10 123 during 2005-2009, 6156 of them delivered, the general usage rate of ARVs was 71.0% (4373/6156), and increasing to 75.3% (1554/2065) by the end of 2009, the rates of 2005 to 2008 were 64.6% (362/560), 66.9% (623/931), 66.7% (857/1284), 74.2% (977/1316) respectively. The difference was significant (χ(2)(trend) = 47.6, P < 0.001). The proportion of using ARVs during pregnant period was 58.5% (2557/4373). The proportion of using ARVs among born infants of HIV infected maternities was 83.4% (4999/5994), and increasing yearly, 77.2% (409/530) of 2005, 80.1% (720/899) of 2006, 83.8% (1053/1257) of 2007, 89.4% (1116/1249) of 2008, 82.6% (1701/2059) of 2009, the difference was significant (χ(2)(trend) = 13.0, P < 0.001). The general rate of exclusive breastfeeding was 92.9% (5276/5681) and the rate of HIV test in 18 months was 74.6% (2482/3324). CONCLUSION: The rate of HIV/AIDS counseling and test of general maternities is increasing and the proportion of mainly intervention measures have been increased year by year.

Corrigendum: Phloretin Attenuates Allergic Airway Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Asthmatic Mice.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00134.].

[Cost-effectiveness analysis for integrated prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness and economic efficiency of integrated prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in four high-incidence counties. METHODS: Data of local resource investment and total cost for PMTCT in 4 counties in China from 2003 to 2006 were collected. Cost analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis were conducted. Average costs of a confirmed HIV case, a prevented case and a disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) saving were calculated. RESULTS: Average cost of identifying one HIV-infected mother was yen5512. Costs of a pediatric HIV case prevention and per DALY saving were yen46 747 and yen1870 ($231), respectively, based on the total cost perspective. CONCLUSION: The cost of integrated prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV was low. The PMTCT program was economical efficiency.

[The change trend of mother-to-child transmission rate of HIV-1 during 2005-2007 in some areas of China].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the change trend of mother-to-child-transmission (MTCT) of HIV-1 in some areas in China. METHODS: The investigation was conducted in 15 counties or districts of 4 provinces in China with relatively high HIV prevalence from January 2005 to June 2009. The data on the death and HIV-status of the babies born to HIV-positive mothers from January 2005-December 2007 in research sites were collected through 18-month following up after they were born. RESULTS: During the time that the research was conducted, there were 644 babies born to HIV-positive mothers who were followed up for 18 months. At the end of 18 months, full data were collected from 550 babies, 44 babies were lost to follow-up and 50 babies died. Among 550 babies who were followed up for 18 months, 53 babies were confirmed as HIV positive. The rate of MTCT of HIV-1 was 13.19% (24/182), 8.90% (17/191) and 6.78% (12/177) in 2005, 2006, 2007 respectively, which showed a descending trend yearly (chi(2) = 4.23, P < 0.05). Adjusted by the death data of the HIV-exposed children, it was found that during 2005-2007 the rate of MTCT of HIV-1 was 16.74%, 12.98%, 9.52% respectively, which was also descending year by year (chi(2) = 4.69, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Long-term, effective prevention of mother-to-child-transmission of HIV (PMTCT) could reduce the level of MTCT of HIV-1 year-by-year. In addition, using death data of HIV-exposed children to adjust the level of MTCT of HIV-1 is valuable to grade the effect of PMTCT.

[Influencing factors on the death of infants born to HIV infected mothers].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the influencing factors on the death of infants born to HIV infected mothers in areas with high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in China. METHODS: Based on the follow-up cohort study targeting at HIV/AIDS infected pregnant women and their babies initiated in 2004, a survey on the death status and influencing factors on the infants born to HIV/AIDS infected mothers enrolled in this cohort from Jan.2004 to Nov.2007 was carried out during Aug.to Nov.2008 in seven counties of four provinces in China. A total of 498 pairs of HIV-infected mothers and their infants were enrolled and their related information was collected. Single factor and multiple factors Cox model methods were adopted for data analysis. RESULTS: The total observed person-years of 498 infants was 406.22, among which, 45 infants died, and the mortality density was 110.78 per 1000 child-year. A single factor Cox model showed, the pregnancy in pre-period of HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS period (RR = 1.971, 95%CI: 1.143 - 3.396), living status of the pregnancy (RR = 3.062, 95%CI: 1.097 - 8.550), multipara women (RR = 0.517, 95%CI: 0.278 - 0.961), natural childbirth (RR = 0.561, 95%CI: 0.345 - 0.910), premature labor (RR = 5.302, 95%CI: 2.944 - 9.547), low birth weight (RR = 4.920, 95%CI: 2.691 - 8.994), mother-child pairs taking antiretroviral drugs (RR = 0.227, 95%CI: 0.121 - 0.428) and infants infected HIV (RR = 5.870, 95%CI: 3.232 - 10.660) could affect the infants death. The death of HIV-exposed infants was influenced by various factors. The death risk of infants born to HIV infected mothers who were in the danger of pre-period of HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS period was greater than the infants delivered by HIV infected mothers who were in preclinical period of HIV/AIDS (RR = 6.99, 95%CI: 1.92 - 25.64). The death risks were greater in the group that the women whose CD4(+)TLC count number lower than 200 cells/microl (RR = 2.05, 95%CI: 1.01 - 4.15). The infants whose mothers had no ARV treatment had higher possibility to die than the others (RR = 6.17, 95%CI: 1.62 - 23.26). The death risk of premature delivered infants was 2.87 times of mature delivered infants (95%CI: 1.12 - 7.35). The death risk of HIV/AIDS infected infants was 9.87 times of the HIV/AIDS uninfected infants (95%CI: 3.81 - 25.62). CONCLUSION: Some measurements including improving HIV-infected pregnant women's immunity, reducing mother to child transmission of HIV and premature birth, low birth weight are beneficial to reducing infant mortality.

Ets-1 enhances tumor migration through regulation of CCR7 expression.

Ets-1 is a prototype of the ETS protein family. Members of the ETS protein family contain a unique ETS domain. Ets-1 is associated with cancer progression and metastasis in many types of cancer. Many studies have shown a link between elevated expression of Ets-1 in cancer biopsies and poor survival. CCR7 is a chemokine that binds to specific ligand CCL21/CCL19. CCR7 expression is associated with tumor metastasis and infiltration into lymph nodes. The objective of this study was to test whether Ets-1 could regulate CCR7 expression and enhance tumor metastasis. Our data showed that CCR7 expression was downregulated in Ets-1-deficient T cells upon T-cell stimulation. Overexpression of Ets-1 increased CCR7 expression in breast cancer cell lines. In contrast, knockdown of Ets-1 reduced CCR7 expression. Ets-1 could directly bind to CCR7 promoter and mediate CCR7 expression in luciferase reporter assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Transactivation activity of Ets-1 was independent of the Pointed domain of Ets-1. Ets-1 could also enhance NF-κB and CBP transactivation of CCR7 promoter. Our results also showed that Ets-1 could modulate cancer cell transmigration by altering CCR7 expression in transwell assay and wound healing assay. Taken together, our data suggest that Ets-1 can enhance CCR7 expression and contribute to tumor cell migration. [BMB Reports 2019; 52(9): 548-553].

Licochalcone A Inhibits Cellular Motility by Suppressing E-cadherin and MAPK Signaling in Breast Cancer.

A compound isolated from Glycyrrhizauralensis, licochalcone A (LA) exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties in various cell lines. LA has been found to promote autophagy and suppress specificity protein 1, inducing apoptosis in breast cancer cells. However, the regulation of breast cancer cell invasion and migration by LA is elusive. Thus, the present study investigated whether LA induces apoptosis and cellular motility in MDA-MB-231 breast cells, and investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms. MDA-MB-231 cells treated with LA and cell viability measured by cell counting kit-8 assay. Apoptotic signal proteins checked by flow cytometry, fluorescent staining, and Western blot. LA effectively suppressed cell migration, and modulated E-cadherin and vimentin expression by blocking MAPK and AKT signaling. LA inhibited cell proliferation and cell cycle, modulated mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA damage, and reduced oxidative stress in MDA-MB-231 cells. LA also activated cleaved-caspase 3 and 9, significantly decreased Bcl-2 expression, ultimately causing the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytoplasm. Overall, our findings suggest that LA decreases cell proliferation and increases reactive oxygen species production for induced apoptosis, and regulates E-cadherin and vimentin by reducing MAPK and AKT signaling, resulting in suppressed MDA-MB-231 cell migration and invasion.