Effect of complete revascularization in acute coronary syndrome after 75 years old: insights from the BleeMACS registry.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic benefit of complete revascularization in elderly patients (aged over 75 years) with multi-vessel disease and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is currently unclear. This study aimed to determine the long-term prognostic impact of complete revascularization in this population. METHODS: We conducted this study using data obtained from the BleeMACS (Bleeding complications in a Multicenter registry of patients discharged after an Acute Coronary Syndrome) registry, which was carried out from 2003 to 2014. The objective was to categorize older patients diagnosed with ACS into two groups: those who underwent complete revascularization and those who did not. Propensity score matching and the Kaplan-Meier analysis were employed to examine differences in one-year clinical outcomes. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), which encompassed a combination of all-cause mortality and myocardial infarction. RESULTS: Out of 1263 patients evaluated, 445 patients (35.2%) received complete revascularization. Patients who underwent complete revascularization had a higher prevalence of hypertension and prior percutaneous coronary intervention compared to those who did not. During the one-year follow-up period, complete revascularization was associated with a significantly decreased risk of MACE [13.7% vs. 20.5%, hazard ratio (HR) = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.45-0.88, P = 0.007] and a lower risk of myocardial infarction (5.9% vs. 9.9%, HR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.33-0.92, P = 0.02). However, it was not linked to a lower risk of all-cause death (9.5% vs. 13.5%, HR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.45-1.02, P = 0.06). Similar results were observed in the subgroup analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term clinical improvements were observed in ACS patients aged over 75 years with multi-vessel disease who achieved complete revascularization. Therefore, adhering to guidelines for complete revascularization should be recommended for elderly patients.

Aggressive variant prostate cancer: A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Aggressive variant prostate cancer (AVPC) is a rare disease that progresses rapidly. The first-line treatment for AVPC is currently unknown. We examined a rare case of AVPC with rare brain and bladder metastases. A summary review of the mechanism of development, clinicopathological manifestations, associated treatments and prognosis of this disease is presented. CASE SUMMARY: The patient was diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCA), and was actively treated with endocrine therapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and traditional Chinese medicine. Unfortunately, he was insensitive to treatment, and the disease progressed rapidly. He died five years after being diagnosed with PCA. CONCLUSION: We should reach consensus definitions of the AVPC and other androgen receptor-independent subtypes of PCA and develop new biomarkers to identify groups of high-risk variants. It is crucial to complete a puncture biopsy of the tumor or metastatic lesion as soon as possible in patients with advanced PCA who exhibit clinical features such as low Prostate-specific antigen levels, high carcinoembryonic antigen levels, and insensitivity to hormones to determine the pathological histological type and to create a more aggressive monitoring and treatment regimens.

Effect of botanical drugs in improving symptoms of hypertensive nephropathy: Analysis of real-world data, retrospective cohort, network, and experimental assessment.

Background/aim: Hypertensive nephropathy (HN) is a common complication of hypertension. Traditional Chinese medicine has long been used in the clinical treatment of Hypertensive nephropathy. However, botanical drug prescriptions have not been summarized. The purpose of this study is to develop a prescription for improving hypertensive nephropathy, explore the evidence related to clinical application of the prescription, and verify its molecular mechanism of action. Methods: In this study, based on the electronic medical record data on Hypertensive nephropathy, the core botanical drugs and patients' symptoms were mined using the hierarchical network extraction and fast unfolding algorithm, and the protein interaction network between botanical drugs and Hypertensive nephropathy was established. The K-nearest neighbors (KNN) model was used to analyze the clinical and biological characteristics of botanical drug compounds to determine the effective compounds. Hierarchical clustering was used to screen for effective botanical drugs. The clinical efficacy of botanical drugs was verified by a retrospective cohort. Animal experiments were performed at the target and pathway levels to analyze the mechanism. Results: A total of 14 botanical drugs and five symptom communities were obtained from real-world clinical data. In total, 76 effective compounds were obtained using the K-nearest neighbors model, and seven botanical drugs were identified as Gao Shen Formula by hierarchical clustering. Compared with the classical model, the Area under the curve (AUC) value of the K-nearest neighbors model was the best; retrospective cohort verification showed that Gao Shen Formula reduced serum creatinine levels and Chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage [OR = 2.561, 95% CI (1.025-6.406), p < 0.05]. With respect to target and pathway enrichment, Gao Shen Formula acts on inflammatory factors such as TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 and regulates the NF-κB signaling pathway and downstream glucose and lipid metabolic pathways. Conclusion: In the retrospective cohort, we observed that the clinical application of Gao Shen Formula alleviates the decrease in renal function in patients with hypertensive nephropathy. It is speculated that Gao Shen Formula acts by reducing inflammatory reactions, inhibiting renal damage caused by excessive activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and regulating energy metabolism.

Electroacupuncture Alleviates Diabetic Neuropathic Pain and Downregulates p-PKC and TRPV1 in Dorsal Root Ganglions and Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn.

Diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) is a common complication of diabetes. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced changes of protein in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord dorsal horn (SCDH) are critical for DNP genesis. However, which proteins change remains elusive. Here, the DNP model was established by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ, accompanied by increased fasting blood glucose (FBG), decreased body weight (BW), and decreased paw withdrawal latency (PWL). Proteins change in L4-L6 DRGs and SCDH of rats were detected. Western blot and immunofluorescence results showed that expression levels of phosphorylated protein kinase C (p-PKC), transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1), Substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the DRG and the SCDH of rats were increased after STZ injection. A preliminary study from our previous study showed that 2 Hz electroacupuncture (EA) effectively alleviates DNP. However, the analgesic mechanism of EA needs further elucidation. Here, EA at the bilateral Zusanli (ST36) and KunLun (BL60) acupoints was applied for one week, and to investigate the effect on DNP. EA reversed thermal hyperalgesia in DNP rats and downregulated the expression of p-PKC, TRPV1, SP, and CGRP in DRG and SCDH.

Understanding key determinants of health climate in building construction projects.

Health climate is critical for achieving a better health performance in building construction projects. However, the topic is rarely investigated by extant literature. The aim of this study is to identify key determinants of health climate in building construction projects. To achieve this goal, a hypothesis was established between practitioners' perceptions of health climate and their health status, based on a comprehensive literature review and structured interviews conducted with experienced experts. Then, a questionnaire was developed and administered for data collection. Partial least-squares structural equation modeling was used for data processing and hypothesis test. Results showed that health climate in building construction projects is positively correlated with the health status of the practitioners, and that employment involvement was the most important determinant of health climate in building construction projects, followed by management commitment, and supportive environment. Moreover, significant factors under each determinant of health climate were also disclosed. As limited research has been conducted to examine health climate in building construction projects, this study bridges the knowledge gap and is a contributory work to the current body of knowledge of construction health. Additionally, the findings of this study can provide authorities and practitioners with a deeper understanding of construction health and thereby helping them bring forward more feasible measures to improve health in building construction projects. Thus, this study is useful to the practice as well.

Using omics approaches to dissect the therapeutic effects of Chinese herbal medicines on gastrointestinal cancers.

Chinese herbal medicines offer a rich source of anti-cancer drugs. Differences between the pharmacology of Chinese herbal medicines and modern synthetic chemicals hinder the development of drugs derived from herbal products. To address this challenge, novel omics approaches including transcriptomics, proteomics, genomics, metabolomics, and microbiomics have been applied to dissect the pharmacological benefits of Chinese herbal medicines in cancer treatments. Numerous Chinese herbal medicines have shown potential anti-tumor effects on different gastrointestinal (GI) cancers while eliminating the side effects associated with conventional cancer therapies. The present study aimed to provide an overview of recent research focusing on Chinese herbal medicines in GI cancer treatment, based on omics approaches. This review also illustrates the potential utility of omics approaches in herbal-derived drug discovery. Omics approaches can precisely and efficiently reveal the key molecular targets and intracellular interaction networks of Chinese herbal medicines in GI cancer treatment. This study summarizes the application of different omics-based approaches in investigating the effects and mechanisms of Chinese herbal medicines in GI cancers. Future research directions are also proposed for this area of study.

Gastric Mucosa Pathology in Rats with Precancerous Lesions of Gastric Cancer with Spleen Deficiency and Blood Stasis.

Objective: This research aimed at better understanding the histopathological development of precancerous lesions of gastric cancer (PLGC) and organelle ultrastructure changes. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the model and control groups. Model rats drank N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine solution, while control rats drank pure water ad libitum. At 1, 3, 5, 6, and 8 months after the start of feeding, eight rats were randomly chosen from each group, and gastric mucosa tissues were removed for histopathological analysis. H&E staining was applied to analyze the pathological histological structure of the rat gastric mucosa via a light microscope, and the ultrastructural changes were observed via a transmission electron microscope. Results: Gastric mucosal pathologies of model rats such as mucosal atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, inflammatory lesions, and even intraepithelial neoplasia deteriorated over time. The endoplasmic reticulum gap widened, the mitochondrial endothelial cristae were disrupted, the nuclear membrane thickened, and chromatin condensed with heterotypic alterations in the main and parietal cells. Additionally, endothelial cell enlargement and thickening of the microvascular intima were seen. Conclusion: Our research showed that the PLGC progression of rats is correlated with the pathological alteration axis of "normal gastric mucosa-gastric mucosa inflammatory changes-intestinal metaplasia with mild dysplasia-moderate to severe dysplasia." Ultrastructure analysis of model rats is compatible with the structural changes in the gastric mucosa with spleen deficiency and blood stasis. The pathological evolutionary axis and ultrastructural analysis are helpful for evaluating potential novel herbal therapies for PLGC.

Identifying the Antitumor Effects of Curcumin on Lung Adenocarcinoma Using Comprehensive Bioinformatics Analysis.

Background: As the main component of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), curcumin is widely used in the treatment of various diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated that curcumin has great potential as a therapeutic agent, but the lack of understanding of the functional mechanism of the drug has hindered the widespread use of the natural product. In the present study, we used comprehensive bioinformatics analysis and in vitro experiments to explore the anti-tumor mechanism of curcumin. Materials and Methods: LUAD mRNA expression data were obtained from TCGA database and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using R software. Functional enrichment analysis was conducted to further clarify its biological properties and hub genes were identified by a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Survival analysis and molecular docking were used to analyze the effectiveness of the hub genes. By an in vitro study, we evaluated whether curcumin could influence the proliferation, migration, and invasion activities of LUAD cells. Results: In this study, 1783 DEGs from LUAD tissue samples compared to normal samples were evaluated. Functional enrichment analysis and the PPI network revealed the characteristics of the DEGs. We performed a topological analysis and identified 10 hub genes. Of these, six genes (INS, GCG, SST, F2, AHSG, and NPY) were identified as potentially effective biomarkers of LUAD. The molecular docking results indicated that curcumin targets in regulating lung cancer may be INS and GCG. We found that curcumin significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of LUAD cells and significantly decreased the expression of the INS and GCG genes. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the therapeutic effects of curcumin on LUAD may be achieved through the intervention of INS and GCG, which may act as potential biomarkers for LUAD prevention and treatment.

Identification of a distal enhancer that determines the expression pattern of acute phase marker C-reactive protein.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a major acute phase protein and inflammatory marker, the expression of which is largely liver specific and highly inducible. Enhancers are regulatory elements critical for the precise activation of gene expression, yet the contributions of enhancers to the expression pattern of CRP have not been well defined. Here, we identify a constitutively active enhancer (E1) located 37.7 kb upstream of the promoter of human CRP in hepatocytes. By using chromatin immunoprecipitation, luciferase reporter assay, in situ genetic manipulation, CRISPRi, and CRISPRa, we show that E1 is enriched in binding sites for transcription factors STAT3 and C/EBP-ß and is essential for the full induction of human CRP during the acute phase. Moreover, we demonstrate that E1 orchestrates with the promoter of CRP to determine its varied expression across tissues and species through surveying activities of E1-promoter hybrids and the associated epigenetic modifications. These results thus suggest an intriguing mode of molecular evolution wherein expression-changing mutations in distal regulatory elements initiate subsequent functional selection involving coupling among distal/proximal regulatory mutations and activity-changing coding mutations.

Mild haemoglobin drop and clinical outcomes in acute coronary syndrome patients: finding from the BleeMACS registry.

BACKGROUND: Haemoglobin drop is common in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients and correlates with poor prognosis. However, the association between mild haemoglobin drop and adverse clinical outcome remains insufficiently investigated. This study aimed to examine the association between in-hospital haemoglobin drop and risk for adverse clinical outcomes in ACS patients, especially those with mild drop. METHODS: Included patients from the BleeMACS (Bleeding complications in a Multicenter registry of patients discharged after an Acute Coronary Syndrome) registry were categorized into three groups by the presence and amount of in-hospital haemoglobin drop (non-drop, mild drop and severe drop). The cut-off point between mild drop and severe drop is ≥ 3 g/dL. Multivariate Cox regression was used to assess the association between haemoglobin drop and major adverse cardiac endpoints (MACE). Patients taking potent P2Y12 inhibitors were selected for the additional analysis. Propensity score matching was used to avoid selective bias in the additional analysis. RESULTS: Of 6911 patients, 4949 patients (71.6%) experienced in-hospital haemoglobin drop. Compare with non-drop group, patients with haemoglobin drop had higher risk of MACE [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.03-1.80 for mild drop group; adjusted HR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.07-2.68 for severe drop group]. Patients in mild drop group were less likely to receive potent P2Y12 inhibitors at discharge (mild drop group vs. severe drop group vs. non-drop group: 10.9% vs. 10.7% vs. 23.8%). After propensity score matching adjustment among patients with potent P2Y12 inhibitors, patients in mild drop group were not associated with an increased risk of MACE than those in non-drop group (adjusted HR = 1.52, 95% CI: 0.49-4.72). CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital haemoglobin drop was common in ACS patients and associated with a higher risk for adverse events. Reduced prescription for potent P2Y12 inhibitors may be responsible for poor prognoses among patients with mild haemoglobin drop.

Effect of regional cooperative rescue systems based on chest pain centers for patients with acute myocardial infarction in a first-tier city in China.

Given the increasing burden of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in China, regional cooperative rescue systems have been constructed based on chest pain centers (CPCs). This study evaluated the effects of these regional cooperative rescue systems on reperfusion time and prognosis of AMI patients. This study included 1937 AMI patients, divided into two groups according to the date of admission, group A (July 2017-June 2018) and group B (July 2018-June 2019). Reperfusion time, the fatality rate for any cause during hospitalization, and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in the 6 months following discharge were compared between the two groups. The proportion of patients treated within the guideline goals for first medical contact to balloon (FMC-to-B) time showed improvement from 40.7% in group A to 50.4% in group B (P = 0.005). The fatality rate for any cause (5.5% vs. 8.0%, P = 0.026) during hospitalization was lower in the B group compared to the A group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the fatality rate for any cause (OR 0.614, 95% CI 0.411-0.918, P = 0.017) was significantly lower in group B compared with group A. No significant differences were detected between the two groups for the incidence of MACCE and death for any cause at 6 months using the log-rank test and multivariate Cox regression analysis. The improvement of regional cooperative rescue systems shortened system delays and reduced in-hospital deaths. Although the system has resulted in some substantial improvements, additional improvement is needed.

Phytochemical library screening reveals betulinic acid as a novel Skp2-SCF E3 ligase inhibitor in non-small cell lung cancer.

Skp2 is overexpressed in multiple cancers and plays a critical role in tumor development through ubiquitin/proteasome-dependent degradation of its substrate proteins. Drugs targeting Skp2 have exhibited promising anticancer activity. Here, we identified a plant-derived Skp2 inhibitor, betulinic acid (BA), via high-throughput structure-based virtual screening of a phytochemical library. BA significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) through targeting Skp2-SCF E3 ligase both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, BA binding to Skp2, especially forming H-bonds with residue Lys145, decreases its stability by disrupting Skp1-Skp2 interactions, thereby inhibiting the Skp2-SCF E3 ligase and promoting the accumulation of its substrates; that is, E-cadherin and p27. In both subcutaneous and orthotopic xenografts, BA significantly inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of NSCLC through targeting Skp2-SCF E3 ligase and upregulating p27 and E-cadherin protein levels. Taken together, BA can be considered a valuable therapeutic candidate to inhibit metastasis of NSCLC.

Frequency of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST-segment myocardial infarction, and unstable angina: results from a Southwest Chinese Registry.

The burden of cardiovascular disease is predicted to escalate in developing countries. The aim of this study is to assess the characteristics, management strategies and outcomes of the patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who were admitted to hospitals under the chest pain center mode in southwest P. R. China. Adults hospitalized with a diagnosis of ACS were enrolled in the retrospective, observational registry between January 2017 and June 2019 at 11 hospitals in Chengdu, P. R. China. The collected data included the patients' baseline characteristics, clinical management and in-hospital outcomes. After Statistical analysis, (1) A total of 2857 patients with ACS, among which 1482 have ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 681 have non-STEMI (NSTEMI) and 694 have unstable angina (UA) were enrolled in the study. (2) 61.3% of the ACS patients received reperfusion therapy. More patients with STEMI underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared with NSTEMI/UA patients (80.6% vs. 38.8%, P < 0.001), while thrombolytics were administered in only 1.8% of STEMI patients. (3) The median time from symptoms to hospital was 190 min (IQR 94-468) in STEMI, 283 min (IQR 112-1084) in NSTEMI and 337 min (IQR 97-2220) in UA (P < 0.001), and the door-to-balloon time for primary PCI (pPCI) was 85 min (IQR 55-121) in STEMI. (4) The in-hospital outcomes for STEMI patients included death (8.1%) and acute heart failure (22.6%), while the outcomes for those with NSTEMI and UA were better: death (4.0% and 0.9%, P < 0.001) and acute heart failure (15.3% and 9.9%, P < 0.001). (5) Antiplatelet drugs, lipid-lowering drugs, ß-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) /angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) were used in about 98.3%, 95.0%, 67.7% and 54.3% of the ACS patients, respectively. Therefore, the management capacity in Chengdu has relatively increased compared with previous studies, but important gaps still exist compared with developed countries, especially regarding the management of the NSTEMI/UA patients.

The relationships among self-efficacy, social support, and self-care behavior in the elderly patients with chronic pain (a STROBE-compliant article).

ABSTRACT: The relationships among the self-efficacy, social support and self-care behavior in the elderly patients with chronic pain has not been reported. Therefore, we explored the relationships among self-efficacy, social support and self-care behavior in the elderly patients with chronic pain.General data questionnaire, self-efficacy scale, social support scale and self-care behavior scale were performed in 1032 elderly patients with chronic pain from Shenyang city between February and December 2017. The relationships among self-efficacy, social support and self-care behavior, and self-efficacy as a mediator between the social support and self-care behavior were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis and Bootstrap method.In these elderly patients with chronic pain, the total scores of the self-efficacy, social support and self-care behavior were 35.59 ±â€Š12.38, 65.64 ±â€Š19.68 and 50.52 ±â€Š15.26, respectively. The self-efficacy was positively correlated with the self-care behavior (r = 0.414, P < .001), the self-efficacy was positively correlated with the social support (r = 0.293, P < .001) and the social support was positively correlated with the self-care behavior (r = 0.322, P < .001). The mediating effect of self-efficacy was 0.121 which accounted for 27.31% of the total effects.The self-efficacy plays a mediating effect between social support and self-care behavior in the elderly patients with chronic pain.

Admission hyperglycemia as an independent predictor of long-term prognosis in acute myocardial infarction patients without diabetes: A retrospective study.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: The predictive value of admission hyperglycemia in the long-term prognosis of acute myocardial infarction patients is still controversial. We aimed to investigate this value based on the diabetes status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out a multicenter, retrospective study of 1,288 acute myocardial infarction patients enrolled in 11 hospitals between March 2014 and June 2019 in Chengdu, China. The patients were classified into those with diabetes and those without diabetes, each was further divided into: hyperglycemia and non-hyperglycemia subgroups, according to the optimal cut-off value of the blood glucose to predict all-cause mortality during follow up. The end-points were all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, including all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, vessel revascularization and non-fatal stroke. RESULTS: In the follow-up period of 15 months, we observed 210 (16.3%), 6 (0.5%), 57 (4.4%) and 34 (2.6%) cases of death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, revascularization and non-fatal stroke, respectively. The optimal cut-off values of admission blood glucose for patients with diabetes and patients without diabetes to predict all-cause mortality during follow up were 14.80 and 6.77 mmol/L, respectively. We divided patients with diabetes (n = 331) into hyperglycemia (n = 92) and non-hyperglycemia (n = 239), and patients without diabetes (n = 897) into hyperglycemia (n = 425) and non-hyperglycemia (n = 472). The cumulative rates of all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events among the patients in each hyperglycemia group was higher than that in the corresponding non-hyperglycemia group (P < 0.001). In patients without diabetes, admission hyperglycemia was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. CONCLUSION: Admission hyperglycemia was an independent predictor for long-term prognosis in acute myocardial infarction patients without diabetes.

Partitioning gene-based variance of complex traits by gene score regression.

The majority of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) loci are not annotated to known genes in the human genome, which renders biological interpretations difficult. Transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS) associate complex traits with genotype-based prediction of gene expression deriving from expression quantitative loci(eQTL) studies, thus improving the interpretability of GWAS findings. However, these results can sometimes suffer from a high false positive rate, because predicted expression of different genes may be highly correlated due to linkage disequilibrium between eQTL. We propose a novel statistical method, Gene Score Regression (GSR), to detect causal gene sets for complex traits while accounting for gene-to-gene correlations. We consider non-causal genes that are highly correlated with the causal genes will also exhibit a high marginal association with the complex trait. Consequently, by regressing on the marginal associations of complex traits with the sum of the gene-to-gene correlations in each gene set, we can assess the amount of variance of the complex traits explained by the predicted expression of the genes in each gene set and identify plausible causal gene sets. GSR can operate either on GWAS summary statistics or observed gene expression. Therefore, it may be widely applied to annotate GWAS results and identify the underlying biological pathways. We demonstrate the high accuracy and computational efficiency of GSR compared to state-of-the-art methods through simulations and real data applications. GSR is openly available at https://github.com/li-lab-mcgill/GSR.

The neural system regulates bone homeostasis via mesenchymal stem cells: a translational approach.

Large bone reconstruction is a major clinical issue associated with several challenges, and autograft is the main method for reconstructing large defects of maxillofacial bone. However, postoperative osteoporosis of the bone graft, even with sufficient vascularization, remains a primary problem. Therefore, better understanding of the mechanisms and clinical translation of bone homeostasis is required. Neuronal innervation of the bone is an emerging research topic, especially with regards to the role of peripheral nerves in regulating bone homeostasis. Moreover, sensory and autonomic nerves regulate this process via different types of neurotransmitters, but the specific mechanism is still elusive. In this review article, the current understanding of the interaction between the peripheral nerve and the skeleton system is summarized, with a particular focus on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs), except for osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The novel application of nerve-based bone regeneration via BMMSCs may provide a new strategy in tissue engineering and clinical treatment of osteoporosis and bone disorders.

Centipeda minima extract exerts antineuroinflammatory effects via the inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Centipeda minima (L.) A.Br. (C. minima) has been used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine to treat nasal allergy, diarrhea, asthma and malaria for centuries. Recent pharmacological studies have demonstrated that the ethanol extract of C. minima (ECM) and several active components possess anti-bacterial, anti-arthritis and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the effects of ECM on neuroinflammation and the underlying mechanisms have never been reported. PURPOSE: The study aimed to examine the potential inhibitory effects of ECM on neuroinflammation and illustrate the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: High performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was performed to qualify the major components of ECM; BV2 and primary microglial cells were used to examine the anti-inflammatory activity of ECM in vitro. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of ECM in vivo, the mice were orally administrated with ECM (100, 200 mg•kg-1•d-1) for 2 days before cotreatment with LPS (2 mg•kg-1•d-1, ip) for an additional 3 days. The mice were sacrificed the day after the last treatment and the hippocampus was dissected for further experiments. The expression of inflammatory proteins and the activation of microglia were respectively detected by real-time PCR, ELISA, Western blotting and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: HPLC-MS/MS analysis confirmed and quantified seven chemicals in ECM. In BV2 and primary microglial cells, ECM inhibited the LPS-induced production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), thus protecting HT22 neuronal cells from inflammatory damage. Furthermore, ECM inhibited the LPS-induced activation of NF-κB signaling pathway and subsequently attenuated the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) and NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), leading to the decreased production of nitrite oxide, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). In an LPS-induced neuroinflammatory mouse model, ECM was found to exert anti-inflammatory activity by decreasing the production of proinflammatory mediators, inhibiting the phosphorylation of NF-κB, and reducing the expression of COX2, iNOS, NOX2 and NOX4 in the hippocampal tissue. Moreover, LPS-induced microglial activation was markedly attenuated in the hippocampus, while ECM at a high dose possesses a stronger anti-inflammatory activity than the positive drug dexamethansone (DEX). CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that ECM exerts antineuroinflammatory effects via attenuating the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway and inhibiting the production of proinflammatory mediators both in vitro and in vivo. C. minima might become a novel phytomedicine to treat neuroinflammatory diseases.

6-O-angeloylplenolin exerts neuroprotection against lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation in vitro and in vivo.

Neuroinflammation is one of the critical events in neurodegenerative diseases, whereas microglia play an important role in the pathogenesis of neuroinflammation. In this study, we investigated the effects of a natural sesquiterpene lactone, 6-O-angeloylplenolin (6-OAP), isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Centipeda minima (L.) A.Br., on neuroinflammation and the underlying mechanisms. We showed that treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) caused activation of BV2 and primary microglial cells and development of neuroinflammation in vitro, evidenced by increased production of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1ß, the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of NF-κB, and the transcriptional upregulation of COX-2 and iNOS, leading to increased production of proinflammatory factors NO and PGE2. Moreover, LPS treatment induced oxidative stress through increasing the expression levels of NOX2 and NOX4. Pretreatment with 6-OAP (0.5-4 µM) dose-dependently attenuated LPS-induced NF-κB activation and oxidative stress, thus suppressed neuroinflammation in the cells. In a mouse model of LPS-induced neuroinflammation, 6-OAP (5-20 mg·kg-1·d-1, ip, for 7 days before LPS injection) dose-dependently inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines, the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, and the expression of inflammatory enzymes in brain tissues. 6-OAP pretreatment significantly ameliorated the activation of microglia and astrocytes in the brains. 6-OAP at a high dose caused a much stronger antineuroinflammatory effect than dexamethansone (DEX). Furthermore, we demonstrated that 6-OAP pretreatment could inhibit LPS-induced neurite and synaptic loss in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that 6-OAP exerts antineuroinflammatory effects and can be considered a novel drug candidate for the treatment of neuroinflammatory diseases.

On single-electron magnesium bonding formation and the effect of methyl substitution.

The complexes formed between MgX2 (X = F, H) molecules and alkyl radicals Y [Y = CH3, CH2CH3, CH(CH3)2, and C(CH3)3] have been characterized by using quantum chemical methods. The binding distance in all cases is less than the sum of vdW radii of Mg and C, indicating the formation of a non-covalent interaction, namely single-electron magnesium bond. Energy decomposition analysis reveals that electrostatic and polarization contributions are the major components responsible for the stability of the studied complexes. According to interaction energy, atoms in molecules, and independent gradient model analyses, methyl substitution on electron donor Y imposes a positive effect on its complexation with MgX2. When compared with other nonbonded interactions, the single-electron magnesium bond is found to have strength comparable to those of the single-electron beryllium bond and π-magnesium bond.