Effect of black cloth ointment on hypertrophic scar formation: An investigation using integrated network pharmacology and animal assay.

BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic scars (HS) are a common disfiguring condition in daily clinical encounters which brings a lot of anxieties and concerns to patients, but the treatment options of HS are limited. Black cloth ointment (BCO), as a cosmetic ointment applicable to facial scars, has shown promising therapeutic effects for facial scarring. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects remain unclear. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Network pharmacology was first applied to analyze the major active components of BCO and the related signaling pathways. Subsequently, rabbit ear scar model was successfully established to determine the pharmacological effects of BCO and its active component ß-elemene on HS. Finally, the molecular mechanism of BCO and ß-elemene was analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS: Through the network pharmacology, it showed that ß-elemene was the main active ingredient of BCO, and it could significantly improve the pathological structure of HS and reduce collagen deposition. BCO and ß-elemene could increase the expression of ER stress-related markers and promote the increase of apoptotic proteins in the Western blot experiment and induce the apoptosis of myofibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the material basis for the scar-improving effects of the BCO is ß-elemene, and cellular apoptosis is the key mechanism through which the BCO and ß-elemene exert their effects.

Seasonal variation in mercury and methylmercury production in vegetated sediment in the Dongtan wetlands of the Yangtze River Estuary, China.

The seasonal cycling of mercury (Hg) in vegetated sediments in the Dongtan wetlands of the Yangtze River Estuary were determined, and microcosm incubation experiments were conducted to evaluate methylmercury (MeHg) production after Hg input. The results showed that the seasonal variations of total Hg and MeHg were very different. The enhanced activity of methylating bacteria could have been the main contributor to the elevated MeHg in the upper surface layer (0-12 cm), which was supported by the higher copy numbers of the hgcA gene in the surface sediment and the MeHg increase during sediment incubation following litterfall addition. Moreover, the incubation results showed that Hg addition greatly increased net MeHg production and that this increase remained under suboxic conditions, suggesting that the potential health risk of Hg in estuarine wetlands could exist for a long time under changing redox conditions.

Effect of spleen-invigorating, Qi-replenishing and blood-arresting formula on zebrafish models with simvastatin-induced hemorrhage caused by spleen failing to control blood, in terms of theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hemostasis effect of spleen-invigorating, Qi-replenishing and blood-arresting formula, on a zebrafish models with simvastatin-induced hemorrhage, and with symptom pattern caused by spleen failing to control blood, in terms of theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). METHODS: In the first experiment, 60 AB strain wild type zebrafishes were randomly assigned into two groups: normal group and model group. The model group was treated with 50 µM simvastatin for 24 h. The second experiment: The melanin allele mutated Albino strain zebrafishes were divided into normal, model, A group and B group. The observational parameters were as follows: blood flow, velocity of movement, hemorrhage ratio and improvement ratio of hemorrhage. RESULTS: Hemorrhage ratio: in the first experiment, brain hemorrhage ratio was 75%. In the second experiment, heart hemorrhage ratio was 65%. Blood flow: compared with the normal group, there was a significantly decrease in the model group (P < 0.001). Velocity of movement: in the first experimental, compared with the normal group, there was a significantly decrease in the model group (P < 0.001). Improvement ratio of hemorrhage: agents A had little effect in heart hemorrhage of the zebrafish; agents B could reduce heart hemorrhage ratio of the zebrafish, and increase the improvement ratio of hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: The manifestation of zebrafish model with simvastatin-induced hemorrhage is basically similar to that of the clinical symptom pattern caused by spleen's failure to control blood. The Spleen-invigorating, Qi-replenishing and Blood-arresting Formula can reduce the heart hemorrhage ratio of zebrafish induced by simvastatin, and increase the Improvement ratio of hemorrhage.

Yangyin Runchang Decoction Improves Intestinal Motility in Mice with Atropine/Diphenoxylate-Induced Slow-Transit Constipation.

This study assessed the efficacy and mechanism of action of Yangyin Runchang decoction (YRD) in the treatment of slow-transit constipation (STC). ICR mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10/group) and treated with saline (normal control; NC), atropine/diphenoxylate (model control; MC; 20 mg/kg), or atropine/diphenoxylate plus low-dose YRD (L-YRD; 29.6 g/kg) or high-dose YRD (H-YRD; 59.2 g/kg). Intestinal motility was assessed by evaluating feces and the intestinal transit rate (ITR). The serum level of stem cell factor (SCF) and changes in interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) were also evaluated. Additionally, the expression of SCF and c-kit and the intracellular Ca2+ concentration [Ca2+] I were investigated. Fecal volume and ITR were greater in the L-YRD and H-YRD groups than in the MC group. The serum SCF level was lower in the MC group than in the NC group; this effect was ameliorated in the YRD-treated mice. Additionally, YRD-treated mice had more ICCs and elevated expression of c-kit and membrane-bound SCF, and YRD also increased [Ca2+] Iin vitro in isolated ICCs. YRD treatment in this STC mouse model was effective, possibly via the restoration of the SCF/c-kit pathway, increase in the ICC count, and enhancement of ICC function by increasing [Ca2+] i .

Comparative polymorphism of BAT-26 between healthy individuals and cancer patients and its cancer risk implication for local Chinese.

PURPOSE: BAT-26 is one of the representative markers for microsatellite instability evaluation and presents different polymorphisms in different ethnic populations. The current knowledge of its comparative polymorphism between healthy individuals and cancer patients in the Chinese population is insufficient. This study aims to analyze germline polymorphic variations of BAT-26 between healthy individuals and cancer patients in Chinese from Jiangsu province and the associated cancer risk implications. METHODS: The various BAT-26 alleles and their percentages in cervical cells from 500 healthy women were assessed by direct sequencing. Twenty of these samples were also analyzed by fragment analysis. BAT-26 of blood DNA from 24 healthy individuals and 247 cancer patients was analyzed by fragment analysis. RESULTS: Compared with the sequencing results, 122.6-122.9 bp, 123.4-123.8 bp and 124.1-124.8 bp corresponded to the A25, A26 and A27 alleles, respectively. The 524 healthy individuals showed 4.58%, 92.18% and 3.24% of A25, A26 and A27, respectively. The variant alleles A18, A24, A28, A29 and A32 were only found in cancer patients, accounting for 0.81%, 0.40%, 0.40%, 0.40% and 0.40%, respectively; the A25, A26 and A27 alleles in cancer patients accounted for 6.48%, 77.33% and 13.77%. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy individuals had a stable BAT-26 profile within the quasimonomorphic variation range (QMVR), but cancer patients harbored variant alleles outside QMVR and showed a trend from quasimonomorph to polymonomorph, suggesting that variant alleles of BAT-26 in germline cells may be regarded as a potential marker of higher cancer risk in the Chinese population from Jiangsu province.

Astragalus membranaceus inhibits peritoneal fibrosis via monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and the transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) pathway in rats submitted to peritoneal dialysis.

Inflammation and transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) contribute to the development of peritoneal fibrosis (PF), which is associated with peritoneal dialysis (PD). Astragalus membranaceus (Astragalus) has anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects in many diseases. The goal of this study was to determine the anti-fibrotic effects of Astragalus on the PF response to PD. A rat model of PD was induced using standard PD fluid, and PF was verified by HE and Masson's staining, as well as through the expression of fibroblast surface protein (FSP) and collagen III. The expression levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, F4/80 (macrophage/monocyte marker in rat), TGF-ß1 and the downstream proteins phospho-SMAD 2/3 in dialyzed peritoneal tissue treated with or without Astragalus was evaluated using immunohistochemistry analysis. Overall correlations between MCP-1 and TGF-ß1 staining were analyzed using both the Spearman and Pearson methods. The results showed that Astragalus could inhibit the recruitment and activation of monocytes/macrophages, thereby reducing the production of TGF-ß1 in the dialyzed peritoneal membrane. PF was also significantly decreased following treatment with Astragalus. MCP-1 expression had a strong positive correlation with TGF-ß1 sensitivity, suggesting that the anti-fibrotic function of Astragalus was mediated by MCP-1 and the TGF-ß1 pathway. Our results indicate that Astragalus could be a useful agent against PD-induced PF.

[Effects of ApoE gene polymorphism on anti-inflammatory action of xuezhikang capsule].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of ApoE gene polymorphism on anti-inflammatory action of Xuezhikang Capsule. METHODS: One hundred and two patients with hyperlipidemia (as the treated group) and one hundred healthy volunteers (as the control group) were enrolled in the case-control study. Total DNA of the peripheral blood was extracted and ApoE genotypes were determined by PCR sequence analysis. The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP)were measured in all subjects. The changes of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and hs-CRP were detected before and after 6-week Xuezhikang Capsule treatment, thus analyzing the correlation between ApoE gene polymorphism and changes of each inflammatory factor. RESULTS: The frequency of E3/3 genotype was 86% (86/100 cases)in the control group, significantly higher than that of the treated group (62.7%, 64/102 cases). The frequency of E3/4 genotype was 6% (6/100 cases) in the control group, significantly lower than that of the treated group (21.6%, 22/102 cases; both P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and hs-CPR were higher in the treated group before treatment (P < 0.05). In hyperlipidemia patients with E3/4 + E4/4 genotype, the serum level of TNF-alpha was higher than that of E3/3 genotype (P < 0.05); the serum level of IL-6 was higher than that of E2/E2 + E2/E3 genotype (P < 0.05); the serum level of hs-CRP was higher than that of E2/E2 + E2/E3 and E3/E3 genotype (P < 0.05). But there was no statistical difference in the serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, or hs-CPR between E3/3 and E2/E2 + E2/E3 genotype. After 6-week intervention of Xuezhikang Capsule, the serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and hs-CRP were lower in the treated group (P < 0.05), but the serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were still higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). But there was no statistical difference in the decrement of TNF-alpha, IL-6, or hsCRP among E2/E2 + E2/E3, E3/E3, or E3/4 + E4/4 genotypes (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of ApoE gene polymorphism is different between the hyperlipidemia patients and the healthy people. Chronic inflammatory reactions exist in hyperlipidemia patients, especially in those with e4 allele. Xuezhikang Capsule showed anti-inflammatory effects, but ApoE gene polymorphism did not affect its effects.

[Distribution of Apo E gene sequencing in patients with coronary heart disease of phlegm-stasis syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation between Apo E gene polymorphism and patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) of phlegm-stasis syndrome (PSS). METHODS: 78 CHD patients were assigned to PSS (49 cases) and non-phlegm-stasis syndrome (NPSS). Polymorphisms of Apo E gene in 78 CHD patients and 100 healthy subjects were detected by complete DNA sequencing. RESULTS: Five gene types as E3/3, E4/4, E2/ 3, E2/4, and E3/4 were detected in the two groups. The frequencies of genotype E3/3 and epsilon 3 allele were significantly lower in CHD patients than in the healthy subjects (P<0.01). But the frequencies of genotype E3/4 and epsilon 4 allele were significantly higher in CHD patients than in the healthy subjects (P<0.01). In CHD patients, the frequencies of genotype E2/4 + E3/4 + E4/4 and epsilon 4 allele were higher in PSS than in NPSS. CONCLUSIONS: Apo E epsilon 4 allele was a susceptible allele to CHD, which was closely correlated to CHD PSS. It was inferred that it might be one of main susceptible alleles for CHD PSS.

[Effects of collagen matrices by covalent incorporation of heparin and loading with huangqi injection (HI) on anagenetic blood vessel].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of collagen matrices by covalent incorporation of heparin and loading with huangqi injection (HI) on anagenetic capillaries, we established the chick chorioallantois model. The collagen matrices by covalent incorporation of heparin and loading with HI were placed and then the eggs were continuously incubated for 3 days. The number of capillaries in the vicinity of samples, the hemoglobin content inside the samples, the dry weight and the macroscopic observation were evaluated. We found the heparinized matrices had comparable angiogenic effects. The number of capillaries, the hemoglobin content, the expression of CD34 increased remarkably (P < 0.01). So we concluded that HI might be considered as an alternative or addition agent to promote the acidification of capillaries.

[Epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon double-sequencing analysis in NSClC].

OBJECTIVE: To study the mutation patterns of epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 18, 19 and 21 in Chinese non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC). METHODS: Somatic mutation in samples of 32 cases without Iressa-treatment were compared with that in 10 volunteers blood control. The mutations were identified for the forward and reverse sequence chains for the tyrosine kinase domain of the EGFR gene, followed by DNA template abstraction and Touchdown PCR. RESULTS: Nine types of mutation were found in sequences of 7 cases among the 32 non-small cell lung carcinoma tissues, namely, five reported mutation within exon 19, and two new heterozygous mutations, L833V and H835L within exon 21, and two intron polymorphism. These results showed a mutation rate of 9/32 (28.1%) in Chinese with NSCLC, and of 31.6% in lung adenocarcinomas. CONCLUSION: EGFR mutation rate in Chinese with NSCLC is consistent with those of Asian women reported in the literature but new mutation points in Chinese were presented as L833V and H835L. The mutation rate is in concordance with release rate of NSCLC obtained by Gefitinib treatment in Chinese.