Traditional Chinese medicine (Xielikang) reduces diarrhea symptoms in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients by regulating the intestinal microbiota.

Diarrheal acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) seriously affects the quality of life of patients. In this study, we analyzed the differences in the intestinal microbiota among healthy individuals, AIDS patients without diarrhea and AIDS patients with diarrhea through high-throughput sequencing. The microbial diversity in the intestines of patients in the AIDS diarrhea group was significantly increased, and after treatment with Xielikang, the intestinal microbial diversity returned to the baseline level. At the phylum level, compared those in to the healthy (ZC) and AIDS non diarrhea (FN) groups, the relative abundances of Bacteroidetes and Verrucomirobia in the AIDS diarrhea (FA) group before treatment were significantly increased, while the relative abundance of Firmicutes was significantly decreased. Similarly, compared with those in the FA group, the relative abundances of Bacteroidea and Firmicutes in the AIDS diarrhea (FB) group after treatment were significantly increased, while the relative abundance of Firmicutes was significantly decreased after treatment. Additionally, there was no significant difference between the ZC and FN groups. At the genus level, compared with those in the ZC group, the relative abundance of Prevotella and Escherichia_Shigella in the FA group was significantly increased, while the relative abundances of Megamonas and Bifidobacterium was significantly decreased compared to that in the ZC group. After treatment with Xielikang, the relative abundance of Prevotella and Escherichia_Shigella in the FB group were significantly decreased, while the relative abundances of Megamonas and Bifidobacteria were significantly increased than those in the FA group; moreover, there was no significant difference between the ZC and FN groups. The functional prediction results showed that the ketodeoxyoctonate (Kdo) transfer to lipid IVA III and the superpathway of N-acetylglucosamine pathways in the AIDS diarrhea group were significantly altered. The correlation analysis results showed that Dorea was positively correlated with inflammatory factors, while Streptococcus and Lactobacillus were negatively correlated with inflammatory factors. The composition and function of the intestinal microbiota changed significantly in AIDS diarrhea patients, which affected the immune function of the host. The Xielikang capsule modulated the composition of the intestinal microbiota in AIDS diarrhea patients and thus improved immune function and reduced diarrheal symptoms.

Characterization of intestinal fungal community diversity in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a highly dangerous infectious disease caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), a virus that attacks the human immune system. To explore the correlation between intestinal fungal community and immune function (Immune cells and inflammatory factors) in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The feces and blood samples were collected from two groups of subjects: PLWHA and healthy controls. High-throughput sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 1, flow cytometry, and ELISA were performed to analyze the differences and correlations between fungal microbiota, cellular immune status and serum inflammatory factors in the two groups. There were significant differences in the composition of fungal microbiota between the two groups. The relative abundance of Candida, Bjerkandera, and Xeromyces in PLWHA was significantly higher than that of healthy volunteers (P < 0.01), while the relative abundance of Mycospaerella, Xeroxysium, Penicillium, and Glomerella in PLWHA was significantly lower than that of healthy volunteers. The correlation analysis results show that Mycospaerella and Xeromyces are significantly positively correlated with CD4+/CD8+ T cells and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4. On the other hand, Candida was positively correlated with pro-inflammatory factors negatively correlated with CD4+/CD8+ T cells and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4, while it is positively correlated with pro-inflammatory cytokines. The significant increase in the relative abundance of Candida may be one of the important causes of intestinal damage in PLWHA. The results of this study contribute to the understanding of the relationship between fungal microbiota structure and immune function in the gut ecology of PLWHA.

Integrated traditional Chinese medicine intervention for delaying HIV morbidity: study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome is caused by humans and is high worldwide. Active antiretroviral therapy emerged in the late 1990s and is effective against AIDS. However, despite the extensive research on AIDS, there is still no vaccine or cure. The benefits of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for AIDS are increasingly recognised, especially by patients with asymptomatic HIV infection. METHODS/DESIGN: The proposed trial will enrol 216 eligible patients who will be randomised into treatment and control groups. After 72 weeks of intervention, the efficacy and safety of TCM for patients with AIDS will be assessed. The variables that will be measured include clinical symptoms, TCM syndromes, viral load, immunological indicators, inflammatory factors, quality of life, patient-reported outcomes and safety assessment. DISCUSSION: The study aim to compare the effectiveness and safety of TCM for asymptomatic AIDS and explore its potential underlying mechanism. Additionally, the findings will provide a reference for the use of TCM to delay the onset and control the progression of HIV/AIDS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800018365. Registered on 13 September 2018.

Evidence of anti-inflammatory activity of Schizandrin A in animal models of acute inflammation.

Schisandrin A (Sch A) is a lignin extracted from the fruit of Schisandra chinensis, which has potential anti-inflammatory properties and is used for treating various inflammatory diseases. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of Sch A and the underlying mechanisms in animal models of acute inflammation. First, the anti-inflammatory effects of Sch A were evaluated preliminarily in an animal model of xylene-induced ear edema. Sch A pretreatment significantly decreased the degree of edema and inhibited telangiectasia in the ear. Second, a mouse model of paw edema was used to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of Sch A. Pretreatment with Sch A significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining of paw tissues demonstrated that Sch A inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the mouse model of paw edema. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results indicated that the levels of inflammatory factors decreased. The western blot and immunohistochemical assay results revealed that the toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa-B (TLR4/NF-κB) pathway could play a role in the anti-inflammatory functions of Sch A. The findings demonstrated that Sch A exerts anti-inflammatory effects and may provide possible strategies for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Smad Ubiquitination Regulatory Factor 1 (Smurf1) Promotes Thyroid Cancer Cell Proliferation and Migration via Ubiquitin-Dependent Degradation of Kisspeptin-1.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Thyroid cancer is the most common malignancy in human endocrine system. Smad ubiquitination regulatory factor 1 (Smurf1) is an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase in ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) system. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Smurf1 on thyroid cancer proliferation and metastasis, as well as underlying potential mechanism. METHODS: The expression levels of Smurf1 in thyroid tumor tissues and thyroid cancer cells were detected by western blotting and qRT-PCR. Then, the effects of up-regulation or down-regulation of Smurf1 on thyroid cancer cell viability, migration, invasion, proliferation and apoptosis were measured using trypan blue exclusion assay, two-chamber migration (invasion) assay, cell colony formation assay and Guava Nexin assay, respectively. The ubiquitination of kisspeptin-1 (KISS-1) was assessed by protein ubiquitination assay. Finally, the effects of KISS-1 overexpression on activity of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway, as well as thyroid cancer cell viability, migration, invasion, proliferation and apoptosis were also detected, respectively. RESULTS: Smurf1 was highly expressed in thyroid tumor tissues and thyroid cancer cells. Up-regulation of Smurf1 promoted the viability, migration, invasion and proliferation of thyroid cancer cells. Knockdown of Smurf1 had opposite effects. Moreover, smurf1 promoted the ubiquitination of KISS-1. Overexpression of KISS-1 inactivated NF-κB pathway, suppressed thyroid cancer cell viability, migration, invasion and proliferation, and induced cell apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Up-regulation of Smurf1 exerted important roles in thyroid cancer formation and development by promoting thyroid cancer proliferation and metastasis. The ubiquitin-dependent degradation of KISS-1 induced by Smurf1 and the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway might be involved in this process. Smurf1 could be an effective therapy target and biomarker for thyroid cancer treatment.

[Complementary treatment of 141 HIV/AIDS patients with pulmonary infection by qingfei peiyuan micro-pill: a clinical observation].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Qingfei Peiyuan Micro-pill (QPM) on HIV/AIDS patients with pulmonary infection of phlegm heat obstructing lung syndrome (PHOLS). METHODS: Totally 141 HIV/AIDS patients with pulmonary infection of PHOLS were randomly assigned to the treatment group (94 cases) and the control group (47cases). On the basis of Western medicine, patients in the treatment group took QPM. The therapeutic course for all was 28 days. The improvement of symptoms and signs was observed. The body temperature (BT), chest X ray, and white blood cells (WBCs) were detected. RESULTS: The Chinese medical syndrome score was lower in the treatment group than in the control group at the 7th, 21st, and 28th day of treatment, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The efficacy was better in the treatment group than in the control group at the 7th, 21st, and 28th day of treatment, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The BT was lower in the treatment group than in the control group on the 7th day. There was no statistical difference in the patient number with normal WBCs on the 7th day (P > 0.05). But there was statistical difference in the patient number with normal WBCs on the 14th, 21st, and 28th day of treatment (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the patient number with normal chest X ray on the 7th and 28th day of treatment (P > 0.05). But there was statistical difference in the patient number with normal chest X ray on the 14th and 21 st day of treatment (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: QPM had certain complementary effect on HIV/AIDS patients with pulmonary infection of PHOLS.

[Transplantation of transforming growth factor beta3 gene-modified nucleus pulposus cells for intervertebral disc degeneration in rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cell biological features and the effect of transplantation of transforming growth factor beta3 (TGF-beta3) gene-modified nucleus pulposus (NP) cells on the degeneration of lumbar intervertebral discs in vitro. METHODS: NP cells at passage 2 were infected by recombinant adenovirus carrying TGF-beta3 (Ad-TGF-beta3) gene (Ad-TGF-beta3 group), and then the cell biological features were observed by cell vitality assay, the expression of the TGF-beta3 protein was determined by Western blot, the expression of collagen type II in logarithmic growth phase was determined by immunocytochemistry. The cells with adenovirus-transfected (Adv group) and the un-transfected cells (blank group) were used as controls. The model of lumbar disc degeneration was established by needling L(3, 4), L(4, 5), and L(5, 6) in 30 New Zealand rabbits (weighing 3.2-3.5 kg, male or female). Then Ad-TGF-beta3-transfected rabbit degenerative nucleus pulposus cells (100 microL, 1 x 10(5)/mL, group A, n=12), no gene-modified nucleus pulposus cells (100 microL, 1 x 10(5)/mL, group B, n=12), and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, 100 microL, group C, n=6) were injected into degenerative lumbar intervertebral discs, respectively. L(3, 4), L(4, 5), and L(5, 6) disc were harvested from the rabbits (4 in groups A and B, 2 in group C) at 6, 10, and 14 weeks respectively to perform histological observation and detect the expression of collagen type II and proteoglycan by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The viability of nucleus pulposus cells was obviously improved after transfected by recombinant Ad-TGF-beta3 gene. At 3, 7, and 14 days after transfected, TGF-beta3 expression gradually increased in nucleus pulposus cells. The positive staining of collagen type II was seen in Ad-TGF-beta3 group, and the positive rate was significantly higher than that of Adv group and blank group (P < 0.05). The disc degeneration in group A was slighter than that in groups B and C. The expressions of collagen type II mRNA and proteoglycan mRNA in group A were significantly higher than those in groups B and C at 6, 10, and 14 weeks (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TGF-beta3 can improve the biological activity of NP cells and promote the biosynthesis of collagen type II and proteoglycan in intervertebral discs, alleviate the degeneration of intervertebral discs after transplantation.

[Identification of gastric cancer-related genes by multiple high throughput analysis and data mining].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate gastric cancer-related genes by combined multiple high throughput analysis and data mining, and to further identify gene markers that may be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer. METHODS: Data of expressed sequence tags (EST) and serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) in Cancer Genome Anatomy Project (CGAP) were employed to analyze differential gene expression between normal and cancerous gastric epithelium,the obtained genes were further analyzed by virtual Northern blotting and compared with microarray data from Stanford Microarray Database (SMD). RESULTS: NCBI digital differential display (DDD), cDNA digital gene expression displayed (DGED) and SAGE DGED produced 165,286 and 181 differential expression genes.All these genes were analyzed by virtual Northern blotting and 45 genes were obtained. Comparing with microarray data, candidate genes were reduced to 12. Further RT-PCR analyses validated 4 genes, including ANXA1, MSMB, ANXA10 and PSCA, were differentially expressed in normal and cancerous gastric tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Combined multiple high throughput analysis and data mining is an effective strategy for identification of gastric cancer-related genes. Further analyses of these genes from data mining will provide biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer.