Hovenia dulcis: a Chinese medicine that plays an essential role in alcohol-associated liver disease.

Globally, alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) has become an increased burden for society. Disulfirams, Benzodiazepines (BZDs), and corticosteroids are commonly used to treat ALD. However, the occurrence of side effects such as hepatotoxicity and dependence, impedes the achievement of desirable and optimal therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, there is an urgent need for more effective and safer treatments. Hovenia dulcis is an herbal medicine promoting alcohol removal clearance, lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties. Hovenia dulcis has a variety of chemical components such as dihydromyricetin, quercetin and beta-sitosterol, which can affect ALD through multiple pathways, including ethanol metabolism, immune response, hepatic fibrosis, oxidative stress, autophagy, lipid metabolism, and intestinal barrier, suggesting its promising role in the treatment of ALD. Thus, this work aims to comprehensively review the chemical composition of Hovenia dulcis and the molecular mechanisms involved in the process of ALD treatment.

A preliminary study on the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms and methylation of dopamine system-related genes with psychotic symptoms in patients with methamphetamine use disorder.

Methamphetamine use disorder (MAUD) can substantially jeopardize public security due to its high-risk social psychology and behaviour. Given that the dopamine reward system is intimately correlated with MAUD, we investigated the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), as well as methylation status of dopamine receptor type 4 (DRD4), catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genes, and paranoid and motor-impulsive symptoms in MAUD patients. A total of 189 MAUD patients participated in our study. Peripheral blood samples were used to detect 3 SNPs and 35 CpG units of methylation in the DRD4 gene promoter region and 5 SNPs and 39 CpG units in the COMT gene. MAUD patients with the DRD4 rs1800955 C allele have a lower percentage of paranoid symptoms than those with the rs1800955 TT allele. Individuals with paranoid symptoms exhibited a reduced methylation degree at a particular DRD4 CpG2.3 unit. The interaction of the DRD4 rs1800955 C allele and the reduced DRD4CpG2.3 methylation degree were associated with a lower occurrence of paranoid symptoms. Meanwhile, those with the COMT rs4818 CC allele had lower motor-impulsivity scores in MAUD patients but greater COMT methylation levels in the promoter region and methylation degree at the COMT CpG 51.52 unit. Therefore, based only on the COMT rs4818 CC polymorphism, there was a negative correlation between COMT methylation and motor-impulsive scores. Our preliminary results provide a clue that the combination of SNP genotype and methylation status of the DRD4 and COMT genes serve as biological indicators for the prevalence of relatively high-risk psychotic symptoms in MAUD patients.

Iristectorigenin C suppresses LPS-induced macrophages activation by regulating mPGES-1 expression and p38/JNK pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been used clinically to treat inflammatory diseases clinically. However, the adverse effects of NSAIDs cannot be ignored. Therefore, it is critical for us to find alternative anti-inflammatory drugs that can reduce adverse reactions to herbal medicine, such as Iris tectorum Maxim., which has therapeutic effects and can treat inflammatory diseases and liver-related diseases. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to isolate active compounds from I. tectorum and investigate their anti-inflammatory effects and action mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen compounds were isolated from I. tectorum using silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20, ODS and high performance liquid chromatography, and their structures were identified by examining physicochemical properties, ultraviolet spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Classical inflammatory cell models were established using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and rat primary peritoneal macrophages to examine the effect of these compounds. To examine the action mechanisms, the nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured by Griess reagent and the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the supernatant were measured by ELISA; The expressions of major proteins in prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis and the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways were examined by Western blotting, and the mRNA expression levels were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction; and the nuclear translocation of p65 was examined by high content imaging. Molecular docking was used to predict the binding of active compound to target protein. RESULTS: Our findings revealed that Iristectorigenin C (IT24) significantly inhibited the levels of NO and PGE2 without affecting cyclooxygenase (COX)-1/COX-2 expression in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells and rat peritoneal macrophages. Furthermore, IT24 was shown to decrease the expression of microsomal prostaglandin synthetase-1 (mPGES-1) in LPS-induced rat peritoneal macrophages. IT24 did not suppress the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of proteins in the NF-κB pathway, but it inhibited the phosphorylation of p38/JNK in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Additionally, molecular docking analysis indicated that IT24 may directly bind to the mPGES-1 protein. CONCLUSION: IT24 might inhibit mPGES-1 and the p38/JNK pathway to exert its anti-inflammatory effects and could be also developed as an inhibitor of mPGES-1 to prevent and treat mPGES-1-related diseases, such as inflammatory diseases, and holds promise for further research and drug development.

The association of FKBP5 polymorphisms with the severity of depressive disorder in patients with methamphetamine use disorders.

Background: Co-occurring depressive disorder (DD) in patients of methamphetamine use disorder (MAUD) impacts the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of the disease. Although FKBP5 has been associated with a variety of psychiatric disorders, whether FKBP5 influences depression susceptibility in MAUD is unknown so far. Methods: Here, we sequenced six FKBP5 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites (rs4713916, rs6926133, rs9470080, rs737054, rs4713902, and rs9470079) in 282 methamphetamine users. MAUD and DD were evaluated by clinical questionnaires. SPSS was used to analyze the relationship between FKBP5 SNPs and DD in individuals with MAUD. Results: Of the 282 methamphetamine users, 161 individuals met the MAUD criteria, and among them, 50 patients (31.1%) had DD co-occurring. Importantly, the incidence of DD in individuals with MAUD was 3.314 times greater than that of the methamphetamine users who did not meet the MAUD criteria (p < 0.001). Although none of the six SNPs of FKBP5 were correlated with the co-occurrence of DD in the population with MAUD, two FKBP5 alleles (rs4713916A and rs6926133A) were substantially associated with the higher DD scores in patients with MAUD (p < 0.05). Moreover, those with the two risk alleles do not have much higher scores than those with a single risk allele, and the strong linkage disequilibrium of the two SNPs may be the underlying cause of this result. Despite having weak linkage disequilibrium with either rs4713916 or rs6926133, FKBP5 rs9470079 became risky when paired with either. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that the FKBP5 risk alleles (rs4713916A and rs6926133A) were associated with a greater probability of severe DD in patients with MAUD. These findings here would help with the development of biological early warning markers and the creation of personalized treatment strategies for MAUD.

Insights into the Involvement and Therapeutic Target Potential of the Dopamine System in the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a neuropsychiatric disease closely related to life-threatening events and psychological stress. Re-experiencing, hyperarousal, avoidance, and numbness are the hallmark symptoms of PTSD, but their underlying neurological processes have not been clearly elucidated. Therefore, the identification and development of drugs for PTSD that targets brain neuronal activities have stalled. Considering that the persistent fear memory induced by traumatic stimulation causes high alertness, high arousal, and cognitive impairment of PTSD symptoms. While the midbrain dopamine system can affect physiological processes such as aversive fear memory learning, consolidation, persistence, and extinction, by altering the functions of the dopaminergic neurons, our viewpoint is that the dopamine system plays a considerable role in the PTSD occurrence and acts as a potential therapeutic target of the disorder. This paper reviews recent findings on the structural and functional connections between ventral tegmental area neurons and the core synaptic circuits involved in PTSD, gene polymorphisms related to the dopamine system that confer susceptibility to clinical PTSD. Moreover, the progress of research on medications that target the dopamine system as PTSD therapies is also discussed. Our goal is to offer some hints for early detection and assist in identifying novel, efficient approaches for treating PTSD.

Exploring the common pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus via microarray data analysis.

Background: Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) have an increased incidence in modern society. Although more and more evidence has supported that DM is prone to AD, the interrelational mechanisms remain fully elucidated. Purpose: The primary purpose of this study is to explore the shared pathophysiological mechanisms of AD and DM. Methods: Download the expression matrix of AD and DM from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database with sequence numbers GSE97760 and GSE95849, respectively. The common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by limma package analysis. Then we analyzed the six kinds of module analysis: gene functional annotation, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, potential drug screening, immune cell infiltration, hub genes identification and validation, and prediction of transcription factors (TFs). Results: The subsequent analyses included 339 common DEGs, and the importance of immunity, hormone, cytokines, neurotransmitters, and insulin in these diseases was underscored by functional analysis. In addition, serotonergic synapse, ovarian steroidogenesis, estrogen signaling pathway, and regulation of lipolysis are closely related to both. DEGs were input into the CMap database to screen small molecule compounds with the potential to reverse AD and DM pathological functions. L-690488, exemestane, and BMS-345541 ranked top three among the screened small molecule compounds. Finally, 10 essential hub genes were identified using cytoHubba, including PTGS2, RAB10, LRRK2, SOS1, EEA1, NF1, RAB14, ADCY5, RAPGEF3, and PRKACG. For the characteristic Aß and Tau pathology of AD, RAPGEF3 was associated significantly positively with AD and NF1 significantly negatively with AD. In addition, we also found ADCY5 and NF1 significant correlations with DM phenotypes. Other datasets verified that NF1, RAB14, ADCY5, and RAPGEF3 could be used as key markers of DM complicated with AD. Meanwhile, the immune cell infiltration score reflects the different cellular immune microenvironments of the two diseases. Conclusion: The common pathogenesis of AD and DM was revealed in our research. These common pathways and hub genes directions for further exploration of the pathogenesis or treatment of these two diseases.

Synthesis of hierarchical nanocrystalline ß zeolite as efficient catalyst for alkylation of benzene with benzyl alcohol.

To develop an efficient solid acid catalysts for the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction, especially for involving bulky molecules, the direct synthesis of hierarchical nanocrystalline ß zeolites were achieved by using amphiphilic organosilane ([(CH3O)3SiC3H6N(CH3)2C18H37]Cl, TPOAC) as collaborative structure-directing agent (SDA). The growth evolution of ß crystals and the influence of TPOAC/SiO2 molar ratio on the mesoporous structure, crystal size, and acidic properties of ß zeolites were investigated and discussed in detail. The characterization results reveal that intracrystalline mesopores and intercrystalline mesopores/macropores via the stacking of ß nanocrystals were generated over the hierarchical ß zeolites. Moreover, most of the strong acid sites were well remained compared with the conventional microporous ß zeolite. Consequently, the hierarchical nanocrystalline ß zeolite synthesized under the optimized synthesis conditions shows improved specific catalytic activity of acid sites (turnover number, TON) in alkylation of benzene with benzyl alcohol, which can be attributed to the integrated balance of considerable mesoporosity, accessibility of the acid sites, and well-remained strong acid sites in the hierarchical ß zeolite.

Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture Vs. Hormone Therapy for Menopausal Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Menopausal syndrome (MPS) is a common gynecological disorder around the time of menopause, and hormone therapy (HT) is the first-line treatment for it. However, HT is prone to cause adverse reactions in MPS patients treated with HT. Acupuncture is a popular non-pharmaceutical therapy for MPS, but the differences in the efficacy and safety between acupuncture and HT remain unclear. The purpose of this evidence-based study is to address this issue. Five databases were searched for potentially eligible RCTs. All RCTs comparing acupuncture with HT in the treatment of MPS were included in this study. The clinical effective rate was the primary outcome. Kupperman index, serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E[Formula: see text], and side effects were the secondary outcomes. A total of 15 RCTs recruiting 1376 MPS patients were included. Results of meta-analysis showed that compared with HT, acupuncture significantly improved clinical effective rate (RR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.16, [Formula: see text] = 0.005), decreased the Kupperman index (WMD = -2.55, 95% CI = -2.93 to -2.17, [Formula: see text] < 0.00001) and the incidence of side effects (RR = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.06-0.32, [Formula: see text] < 0.00001). There were no statistically significant differences in serum FSH (WMD = -1.36, 95% CI = -3.25-0.53, [Formula: see text] = 0.16), E2(WMD = -1.11, 95% CI = -2.59-0.37, [Formula: see text] = 0.14), or LH (WMD = -1.87, 95% CI = -4.58-0.83, [Formula: see text] = 0.17) between the acupuncture and HT groups. Based on the current evidence, manual acupuncture is safer and more effective than HT and is recommended for the treatment of MPS, but the evidence for the efficacy of other types of acupuncture is inconclusive.

Macrophage 3D migration: A potential therapeutic target for inflammation and deleterious progression in diseases.

Macrophages are heterogeneous cells that have different physiological functions, such as chemotaxis, phagocytosis, endocytosis, and secretion of various factors. All physiological functions of macrophages are integral to homeostasis, immune defense and tissue repair. However, in several diseases, macrophages are recruited from the blood towards inflammatory sites. This process is called macrophage migration, which promotes deleterious disease progression. Macrophage migration is a key player in many inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases and cancers because it contributes to the accumulation of proinflammatory factors, the destruction of tissues and the development of tumors. Therefore, macrophage migration is proposed to be a potential therapeutic target. Macrophages migrate between two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) environments, implying that distinct migratory features and mechanisms are involved. Compared with the 2D migration of macrophages, 3D migration involves more complex variations in cellular morphology and dynamics. The structure of the extracellular matrix, a key factor, is modified in diseases that influence macrophage 3D migration. Macrophage 3D migration relates to disease pathology. Research that focuses on macrophage 3D migration is an emerging field and was reviewed in this article to indicate the molecular and cellular mechanisms of macrophage migration in 3D environments and to provide potential targets for controlling disease progression associated with this migration.

miR-29 family: A potential therapeutic target for cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart failure, myocardial fibrosis and myocardial infarction, etc, remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Evidence shows that miRNA plays an important role in the pathogenesis of CVD. miR-29 family is one of miRNA, and over the past decades, many studies have demonstrated that miR-29 is involved in maintaining the integrity of arteries and in the regulation of atherosclerosis, especially in the process of myocardial fibrosis. Besides, heart failure, myocardial fibrosis and myocardial infarction are inseparable from the regulatory role of miR-29. Here, we comprehensively review recent studies regarding miR-29 and CVD, illustrate the possibility of miR-29 as a potential marker for prevention, treatment and prognostic observation.

Effect of cultivation ages on anti-inflammatory activity of a new type of red ginseng.

Ginseng has been widely applied in clinical practice, but the cultivation age cannot be ignored as it influences the quality of ginseng and its products. In this work, different cultivation ages of fresh ginseng (FG) from four to seven years were analysed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. Principal component analysis and supervised orthogonal partial least squared discrimination analysis, which belong to the normal method of multivariate statistical analysis, were applied to discover the characteristic components of FG at different cultivation ages. The components of new type of red ginseng (NRG) derived from FG at different cultivation ages were compared by HPLC analysis. The pharmacological anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by ELISA and qPCR. The result showed that the characteristic components of both 6- and 7-year-old ginseng were ginsenoside Rb1, mal-ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rc, mal-ginsenoside Rc, mal-ginsenoside Rb1 isomer, and mal-ginsenoside Rb2. Moreover, the characteristic components of both 4- and 5-year-old ginseng were ADP-glucose and 3-hydroxyhexanoyl CoA. In addition, 6-year-old NRG has higher rare ginsenosides than 4-year-old NRG, which possesses great anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. The results reveal the ginsenoside transformation law of NRG processing and suggest that the cultivation age of FG influences the content of ginsenosides in NRG. Therefore, 6-year-old ginseng is more suitable for red ginseng processing and clinical use.

Forensic and phylogenetic analyses of populations in the Tibetan-Yi corridor using 41 Y-STRs.

Y-chromosome haplotypes of 527 non-related males (176 Han, 186 Tibetan, and 165 Yi) in the Tibetan-Yi corridor were analyzed using SureID® PathFinder Plus. In the populations of Han, Tibetans, and Yi, the haplotype diversity was 0.9989, 0.9981, and 0.9993, respectively, and the discrimination capacity was 0.9148, 0.8925, and 0.9576, respectively. Phylogenetic relationships among 12 studied ethnic groups and 7 other ethnic groups in the Tibetan-Yi corridor were investigated. Both multi-dimensional scaling analysis and phylogenetic reconstructions indicated that Tibetans appeared separated from the Han and Yi ethnic groups in the Tibetan-Yi corridor. Their genetic homogeneity or heterogeneity has not entirely been affected by their geographical distance and linguistic origin.

[A study on quality of Paridis Rhizoma and consideration on standards of Paridis Rhizoma in Chinese Pharmacopoeia].

Thin layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography and multivariate statistical analysis were integrated in current study to provide a basis for the quality evaluation and the standard improvement of Paridis Rhizoma(Chinese name: Chong-lou). The results demonstrated that the primary saponins in the two authorized sources of Paridis Rhizoma were polyphyllinsⅠ, Ⅱ and Ⅶ, while the rhizome of Trillium tschonoskii an adulterant of Paridis Rhizoma was rich of polyphyllin Ⅵ. Therefore, the apparent content of polyphyllin Ⅵ plays a determinant role towards the source authentication of raw materials and decoction slices of Paridis Rhizoma, whose adulterants frequently occur in the market. Moreover, the contents of polyphyllin Ⅵ in the two authorized sources could meet the requirements of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Therefore, we suggested that polyphyllin Ⅵ should not be omitted from the quality standard of Paridis Rhizoma in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and on the other side, polyphyllinsⅠ, Ⅱ and Ⅶ should be the eligible quality indicators. The study aims to sound information and evidences for the quality evaluation of Paridis Rhizoma, and also to provide a theoretical basis for the standard revision of Paridis Rhizoma in the future Chinese Pharmacopoeia.

Phylogenic analysis and forensic genetic characterization of Guizhou Miao tribes from 58 microareas via autosomal STR.

Genetic polymorphism of 17 autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci, included in the PowerPlex®18D amplification kit, were analyzed in Miao tribes from 58 different sampling microareas (N = 5255) of Guizhou as well as two cities (N = 151) of Hunan, China. Allele frequencies and forensic efficiency parameters were calculated. Moreover, comprehensive population genetic comparisons among 91 nationwide populations and 174 Asian populations were conducted based on raw genotype data and allele frequency data, respectively. Our results of forensic efficiency parameters showed that the panel was a robust tool in forensic individual identification and paternity cases for this population. Genetic affinities were observed among most of the Miao tribes revealed by multidimensional scaling plot, principal component analysis, and neighboring-joining tree. The genetic distance between Miao tribes and Han nationalities were varies by different geographical positions. Some of the Miao tribes were genetically closer to the Hmong-Mien populations living in southeastern contiguous regions and even the Indochina. The result coincided with the migration or reverse migration routes for Miao nationality in modern history. This study of the Miao tribes from plenty of microareas in Guizhou would be useful in reconstructing the population history and establishing a more comprehensive forensic reference database.

[Comparative study on quality of decoction pieces of Saposhnikovia divaricata with different growth patterns and years and thinking of standard of decoction pieces of S. divaricata in Chinese Pharmacopoeia].

This study aims to compare the internal chemical composition and appearance indifferent growth patterns and years of Saposhnikovia divaricata decoction pieces,which was applied to explore the effect of growth patterns and years on its quality. The appearance characteristic data of 55 batches of different growth patterns and years of S. divaricata were collected using PANTONE color card.High performance liquid chromatography( HPLC) was used to determine the contents of prim-O-glucosyl-cinmifugin,cimifugin,4-O-ß-D-glucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol and sec-O-glucosylhamaudol. The content of alcohol soluble extract and water-soluble extract were determined by hot-dip method. The content of volatile oil was determined by steam distillation. The correlation between growth patterns and years and the contents of 4 chromones,extracts and volatile oil were analyzed by modern statistical methods. Also,the method of comprehensively evaluating the quality of Chinese herbal pieces was developed by combining the growth patterns and years,appearance and chemical indexes. MTT assay was used to evaluate the effects on the survival rate of RAW264. 7 cells at four different concentrations of chromones and LPS was used to stimulate well-growing RAW264. 7 cells to establish an inflammatory model. The contents of NO and TNF-α in cell supernatant were detected by NO test kit and ELISA method. The contents of alcohol soluble extracts and water-soluble extracts in different growth patterns and years are: wild productsperennial cultivation>annual cultivation; the contents of four chromones are: wild products>perennial cultivation and annual cultivation. There was no significant difference between the sum of the two indexes in the Pharmacopoeia of perennial cultivation and wild products. 4 chromones showed no toxicity to RAW264. 7 cells at 5 mg·L-1. The release of NO and TNF-α was inhibited by 4 chromones and the anti-inflammatory effect of cimifugin was the best. In summary,there are obvious differences in appearance characteristics,internal quality and effects between different growth patterns and years. It showed that the wild products were superior to the perennial cultivation and the perennial cultivation was superior to the annual cultivation. In order to alleviate the shortage of wild S. divaricata resources,it is suggested that the Chinese Pharmacopoeia standard should increase the character of decoction pieces of perennial cultivation,and properly raise the limit requirement of the sum of the two indexes in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia to ensure the clinical demands and effect.

Atomic force acoustic microscopy reveals the influence of substrate stiffness and topography on cell behavior.

The stiffness and the topography of the substrate at the cell-substrate interface are two key properties influencing cell behavior. In this paper, atomic force acoustic microscopy (AFAM) is used to investigate the influence of substrate stiffness and substrate topography on the responses of L929 fibroblasts. This combined nondestructive technique is able to characterize materials at high lateral resolution. To produce substrates of tunable stiffness and topography, we imprint nanostripe patterns on undeveloped and developed SU-8 photoresist films using electron-beam lithography (EBL). Elastic deformations of the substrate surfaces and the cells are revealed by AFAM. Our results show that AFAM is capable of imaging surface elastic deformations. By immunofluorescence experiments, we find that the L929 cells significantly elongate on the patterned stiffness substrate, whereas the elasticity of the pattern has only little effect on the spreading of the L929 cells. The influence of the topography pattern on the cell alignment and morphology is even more pronounced leading to an arrangement of the cells along the nanostripe pattern. Our method is useful for the quantitative characterization of cell-substrate interactions and provides guidance for the tissue regeneration therapy in biomedicine.

Comparative Studies on Chemical Contents and Effect in Kidney-Yang Deficiency Rats of Salt-Processed Product and Wine-Processed Product of Cuscutae Semen.

Cuscutae Semen mainly includes salt-processed product (SPP) and wine-processed product (WPP), which are most commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. However, the differences between SPP and WPP have not been reported. In this paper, comparative studies between SPP and WPP on chemical contents and effect in kidney-yang deficiency rats have been investigated. UPLC-MS/MS was used to study the differences in chemical components. Kidney-yang deficiency was induced by hydrocortisone in rats. Rats were orally administrated with different doses of Jinkui Shenqi Pills, SPP, and WPP for 28 days. The average organ coefficients, renal function indexes, sex hormone levels, and testicular morphology were detected. As a result, the contents of flavonoids and chlorogenic acids were higher in SPP than in WPP, which may be caused by different processing methods. The improvement on reproduction of SPP was reflected in organ coefficients, renal function indexes, and biochemical properties of seminal plasma; furthermore, WPP was in sex hormone levels and morphology of testis. As a conclusion, these results indicated that both SPP and WPP can improve the reproductive function of kidney-yang deficiency rats with different mechanisms, which may be due to the differences in chemical contents between WPP and SPP as well as different processing methods. It is the first time that the differences between SPP and WPP have been studied in reproductive function in rats with kidney-yang deficiency.

[Study on quality characteristics of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus in national resource survey and consideration on standards of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus in Chinese Pharmacopoeia].

The content of tyrosol,salidroside,echinacoside,rutin,acteoside,ligustroflavone,specnuezhenide,and quercetin were determined by HPLC,and the color of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus was determined by comparison with color card.Hundred-seed weight was analyzed by using gravimetric method.The correlation analysis and One-way ANOVA were used to analyze the relationship between the characters,the chemical composition,the harvest time and the geographical location of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus,for giving a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus The results showed that 92% of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus were all up to quality standard of Chinese Pharmacopoeia,and the contents of 7 components in Ligustri Lucidi Fructus(except quercetin) were higher than those in samples with black colors.The content of salidroside in Ligustri Lucidi Fructus harvested in June was the highest and the other7 components of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus were relatively high in 8-10 months.According to the quality parameters of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus,the Ligustri Lucidi Fructus from six habitats can not be distinguished effectively.The results showed that there was a certain relationship between the color,harvest season and component content of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus,and the habitats were not related to the quality parameters of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus.The study aimsat providing data support for the resource status of native Ligustri Lucidi Fructus,and a theoretical basis for the revision of standards of Ligustri Lucidi Fructusin the future.

Discovering biomarkers in bladder cancer by metabolomics.

It has become increasingly clear that the development of cancer, a multifactorial disease, cannot be explained by a single molecule or gene mutation. As a new discipline, metabolomics focuses on the body's metabolite changes, and attempts to find differences to explain the development of cancer; it has proven to be effective and credible. Metabolic studies of bladder cancer (BCa) lag behind those of other tumors. This review systematically outlines the specific process of metabolomics and the use of metabolomics in BCa studies in recent years. We have reviewed the in vitro cell line, bladder tumor tissue and biofluid (urine, plasma and serum) studies used in metabolomics analyses of BCa. The advantages and drawbacks of the use of different samples were compared. Based on the available studies, we have further described the aberrant metabolic pathways of BCa and have suggested some metabolites that may be potential biomarkers for BCa detection.

Reversibly immortalized hepatic progenitor cell line containing double suicide genes.

A large number of functional hepatocytes is required for bioartificial liver therapy. Simian virus 40 T­antigen (SV40T) has been previously reported to improve the immortalized proliferation of primary hepatocytes to generate a sufficient number of cells; however, these long­term immortalized hepatocytes may induce further malignant transformation in vivo. In the present study, the SV40T immortalization gene and two suicide genes, herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV­tk) and cytosine deaminase (CD), were transducted into primary hepatocytes to construct a novel type of Cre/LoxP­mediated reversible immortalized hepatocyte line. Polymerase chain reaction analysis and western blotting confirmed that the SV40T, HSV­tk and CD genes were successfully inserted into hepatic progenitor cells and their expression was controlled by Cre/LoxP recombination. Total removal of SV40T could be achieved via the ganciclovir (GCV)/HSV­tk suicide system. Cells maintained their biosafety in vivo with CD gene expression and 5­fluorocytosine (5­FC) induced cell death. Following transplantation into the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) model group, the majority of cells had survived after 14 days post­implantation and a number of the cells had transported into the liver parenchyma. When compared with the CCl4 model group, the transplanted cells repaired the liver biochemical index and pathological structure markedly. Thus, the present study reports a novel reversible immortalized hepatocyte with double suicide genes, which exhibited the cellular phenotype and recovery function of normal liver cells. This method maximally guaranteed the biological safety of immortalized hepatocytes for in vivo application, providing a reliable, safe and ideal cell material for the artificial liver technique.