Correlation Analysis between Cerebrospinal Fluid Status and Prognosis in Childhood with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia by Flow Cytometry / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) status and prognosis value in patients with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by flow cytometry (FCM).@*METHODS@#The clinical features of the 75 newly diagnosed ALL patients from September 2020 to December 2021 in our centre were retrospective analyzed, as well as the bone marrow (BM) and CSF minimal residual disease (MRD) data, and the CSF conventional cytology data. Central nervous system infiltration(CNSI) positive was as CSF MRD positive by FCM or leukemia cells detected by conventional cytology. The status of CSF were compared and analyzed by FCM and conventional cytology, the clinical features and the prognosis value of different CNSI status in these patients were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#Among 75 newly diagnosed ALL, 16 cases (21%) with CNSI positive (CNSI+) were detected by FCM, while only 2 positive cases (3%) were detected by conventional cytology. The CNSI+ rate detected by FCM was significantly higher than conventional cytology(P<0.05). Compared with CNSI- ALL patients, the median age of CNSI+ ALL patients was significantly younger, and the median platelet count was significantly lower, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Up to follow-up time (August 31, 2022), four ALL patients were died, including 3 patients were CNSI- and 1 patient was CNSI+. Furthermore, three cases were primary disease relapse, including 1 case was CNSI+. There was no significant difference in overall survival (OS) rate and relapse-free survival (RFS) rate of the patients with different CNSI status.@*CONCLUSION@#Compared with conventional cytology, FCM is a more sensitive assay to evaluate the central nervous system status in ALL patients. After active treatment, there was no significant difference in OS and RFS between patients with different CNSI status at diagnosis.

Advances in analytical methods for endogenous bile acids based on UPLC-MS/MS technology / 药学学报

Bile acids (BAs) are a group of endogenous steroid molecules that regulate lipid, glucose and energy metabolism. They play an important role in maintaining body homeostasis and physiological functions as key signaling molecules for host and gut microbial metabolism. The accurate characterization and quantification of BAs in vivo is of great importance in basic and clinical research. Over the past decades, enzymatic assay, enzyme-linked immunoassay, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), chromatography, and other related techniques have been developed and applied to the detection of BAs. The diverse structures of BAs, the existence of isomers and the complex matrix of biological samples pose great challenges for the detection of endogenous BAs. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) is a robust analytical technique that combines the rapid separation capacities of UPLC with the powerful structural identification capabilities of MS/MS, facilitating the more rapid separation, characterization and accurate quantitative of target analytes in biological samples. UPLC-MS/MS has been widely used in the quantitative analysis of BAs in recent years for its high selectivity, high sensitivity, and high accuracy. This paper summarized the biosynthetic pathways of BAs, sample pretreatment methods, common analytical detection techniques, and highlights the current status of the application of UPLC-MS/MS technology in the analysis of endogenous BAs over the past five years, to provide a reference for the accurate detection of endogenous BAs and further research development and application.

Clinical Study on the Relationship between Gene Mutation Profile and Prognosis in Pediatric Acute Lymphocyte Leukemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the gene mutation profile in children with acute lymphocyte leukemia (ALL) and to explore its prognostic significance.@*METHODS@#Clinical data of 249 primary pediatric ALL patients diagnosed and treated in the Department of Hematological Oncology of Wuhan Children's Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to obtain gene mutation data and analyze the correlation between it and the prognosis of children with ALL.@*RESULTS@#227 (91.2%) were B-ALL, 22 (8.8%) were T-ALL among the 249 cases, and 178 (71.5%) were found to have gene mutations, of which 85 (34.1%) had ≥3 gene mutations. NRAS(23.7%), KRAS (22.9%),FLT3(11.2%), PTPN11(8.8%), CREBBP (7.2%), NOTCH1(6.4%) were the most frequently mutated genes, the mutations of KRAS, FLT3, PTPN11, CREBBP were mainly found in B-ALL, the mutations of NOTCH1 and FBXW7 were mainly found in T-ALL. The gene mutation incidence of T-ALL was significantly higher than that of B-ALL (χ2= 5.573，P＜0.05) and were more likely to have co-mutations (P＜0.05). The predicted 4-year EFS rate (47.9% vs 88.5%, P＜0.001) and OS rate (53.8% vs 94.1%, P＜0.001) in children with tp53 mutations were significantly lower than those of patients without tp53 mutations. Patients with NOTCH1 mutations had higher initial white blood cell count （128.64×109/L vs 8.23×109/L，P＜0.001）, and children with NOTCH1 mutations had a lower 4-year EFS rate than those of without mutations (71.5% vs 87.2%, P＝0.037).@*CONCLUSION@#Genetic mutations are prevalent in childhood ALL and mutations in tp53 and NOTCH1 are strong predictors of adverse outcomes in childhood ALL, with NGS contributing to the discovery of genetic mutations and timely adjustment of treatment regimens.

Fexaramine improves non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice by stimulating intestinal FXR / 药学学报

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered to be a manifestation of metabolic syndrome and has become one of the chronic diseases that endanger health around the world. There is still a lack of effective therapeutic drugs in clinical practice. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) has been a popular target for NAFLD research in recent years. Fexaramine (Fex) is a potent and selective agonist of FXR, and its mechanism of action to improve NAFLD is unclear. Therefore, in this study, a mouse model of NAFLD was constructed using a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet and treated with Fex orally for 6 weeks. We evaluated the ameliorative effect of Fex on disorders of glucolipid metabolism in NAFLD mice, and preliminarily explored its potential mechanism of action. The animal experiments were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (approval number: PZSHUTCM210913011). In this study, it was found that 100 mg·kg-1 Fex significantly inhibited body weight gain, alleviated insulin resistance, improved liver injury and lipid accumulation in NAFLD mice. The effect of Fex on the expression of hepatic intestinal FXR and its target genes in NAFLD mice was further examined. Analysis of serum and hepatic bile acid profiles and expression related to hepatic lipid metabolism. It was found that Fex could stimulate intestinal FXR, promote fibroblast growth factor 15 (FGF15) secretion, inhibit the expression of cytochrome P450 family 7 subfamily A member 1 (CYP7A1), the rate-limiting enzyme of bile acid synthesis in liver, regulate bile acid synthesis by negative feedback, and improve the disorder of bile acid metabolism. At the same time, Fex reduces liver lipid synthesis and absorption, increases fatty acid oxidation, thus improving liver lipid metabolism. This study shows that Fex can improve NAFLD by activating intestinal FXR-FGF15 signal pathway and regulating liver lipid metabolism.

Panax notoginseng saponins ameliorated LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB / 药学学报

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a kind of lung disease mainly caused by excessive inflammatory reaction. At present, there is a lack of effective therapeutic drugs in clinic. The aim of this study was to investigate the improvement effect of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on ALI and its potential mechanism. The model of wild-type C57BL/6J mice was established by intratracheal instillation of 50 μL 25 mg·mL-1 lipopolysaccharide (LPS). 24 h later, 200 and 400 mg·kg-1 PNS was given intragastric, respectively. 24 h after administration, the improvement effect of PNS on ALI mice was evaluated by lung function, wet-to-dry weight ratio (W/D), total protein, interleukin 6 (IL6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) concentration of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), expression levels of IL6 and TNFα in lung tissues, pathological changes of lung tissues and expression of inflammatory cells in BALF. The protein expression levels of NF-κB and its upstream kinases in Raw264.7 cells and ALI mice lung tissues were further detected to evaluate the potential mechanism of PNS improving ALI mice. The experimental scheme was approved by the Animal Experiment Ethics Committee of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It was found that 400 mg·kg-1 PNS could significantly improve the lung function of ALI mice, reduce the contents of W/D, BALF total protein, IL6 and TNFα, neutrophils expression in BALF and the infiltration of inflammatory cells in lung tissue. In Raw264.7 cells and ALI mice lung tissue, PNS significantly reduced the expression of NF-κB, reduced the protein expression and phosphorylation of NF-κB, promoted the expression of IκBα, and inhibited the inflammatory response. This study showed that PNS can improve ALI by inhibiting the activity of NF-κB, inhibiting the release of inflammatory factors and inflammatory cells infiltration, alleviating lung inflammation.

[Diallyl disulfide inhibits invasion and metastasis of MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro by down-regulating p38 activity].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of diallyl disulfide (DADS) on invasion and metastasis of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and explore the possible mechanism. METHODS: MCF-7 cells treated with 100, 200, and 400 µmol/L of DADS for 24 h were examined for cell invasion and migration capacities using Transwell assay and wound healing assay, respectively. The protein expression of E-cadherin, vimentin, MMP-9 and p-p38 in the cells were detected with Western blotting. The effect of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) as the agonist of p38 activity was tested in antagonizing the effects of DADS. RESULTS: DADS inhibited the invasion and migration of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner, down-regulated the protein expression of Vimentin and MMP-9 and up-regulated E-cadherin expression in the cells. Treatment with TGF-ß1 to up-regulate p38 activity obviously antagonized the inhibitory effect of DADS on the invasion and metastasis of MCF-7 cells. CONCLUSION: DADS can inhibit the invasion and metastasis of MCF-7 cells in vitro by down-regulating p38 activity.

Effects of chrysophanol on expression of SREBPs and lipid metabolism in Huh-7 cells / 药学学报

Rhubarb is a traditional Chinese medicines which possess laxative, lipid-lowering, and weight-loss activities, but the active compounds of lipid-lowering and underlying molecular mechanisms are not yet clear. This study aims to explore the effects of chrysophanol on the mRNA expressions of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) and lipid metabolism in human liver carcinoma Huh-7 cells, which is one of the active compounds obtained from Rhubarb. A reporter gene assay was used to test the transcription of SREBP. The intracellular triglyceride and total cholesterol contents were measured by using commercially available test kits. The SREBPs target genes expressions were measured by Quantitative Real-Time PCR. Cell viability was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8. As the results shown, chrysophanol (40 μmol · L(-1), 16 h) could notably inhibited human SRE promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner and decrease intracellular cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Furthermore, the mRNA expressions of SREBPs target genes were significantly downregulated by chrysophanol treatment. However there are no significant differences on cell viability when compared with the control group. These results suggested that chrysophanol might improve lipid metabolism through suppressing the mRNA expressions of SREBPs target genes to attenuate intracellular lipid accumulation.

Effects of isorhamnetin on CYP3A4 and herb-drug interaction / 药学学报

The study is to report the investigation of the effects of isorhamnetin on CYP3A4 and herb-drug interaction. A reporter gene assay is used to test pregnane X receptor transactivation action, qRT-PCR and a luminescence-based assay were applied to determine mRNA induction and enzyme activity of CYP3A4 after isorhamnetin treatment. The interaction of irinotecan and isorhamnetin was assessed by inhibition assay of cell proliferation. Isorhamnetin at 1, 10 and 25 micromol x L(-1) transactivated the CYP3A4 reporter construct and upregulated CYP3A4 mRNA as well in a dose-dependent manner. However, isorhamnetin had no effect on enzyme activity of CYP3A4 and irinotecan HepG2 cytotoxicity. In conclusion, activation of PXR by isorhamnetin played a role in the upregulation of CYP3A4 mRNA. Moreover, joint action of isorhamnetin with other drugs may not be associated with the herb-drug interaction.

Lidamycin inhibits angiogenesis of zebrafish embryo via down-regulation of VEGF / 药学学报

Lidamycin (LDM) is a potent antitumor antibiotic. Previous studies have shown that LDM could inhibit proliferation and migration in endothelial cells. In the present report, the effect of LDM on angiogenesis of zebrafish embryo was studied. The results showed that treatment of zebrafish embryos with LDM resulted in significant inhibition of angiogenesis. Morphological observation, quantitative endogenous alkaline phosphatase (EAP) assay, alkaline phosphatase staining, and transgenic zebrafish assay were performed to evaluate vascular development defects in zebrafish. The results indicated that after the zebrafish embryos were exposed to LDM, angiogenesis defects of zebrafish embryos were observed, including pericardial edema, reduced numbers of circulating red blood cells, suppression of zebrafish vessel growth, and absences of SIV (subintestinal vein). The expression of VEGF was detected by RT-PCR assay, quantitative reverse transcriptase real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay and Western blotting analysis. The results revealed that LDM could inhibit the expression of VEGF protein, while the expression of mRNA was not significantly affected. The study suggests that LDM could inhibit the zebrafish embryo angiogenesis by down-regulation ofVEGF expression.

Expression and purification of high purity soluble chimeric protein VEGI+ / 第二军医大学学报

Objective: To prepare a novel vascular endothelial growth inhibitor-soluble chimeric protein VEGI+, so as to lay a basis for studying its biological activity. Methods: Chimeric molecule VEGI+ was constructed by grafting oligopeptide CTTH-WGFTLC to extracellular region of VEGI (VEGI23-174). Before ligation into pET30a(+) expression vector, PCR product of the recombinant gene was cloned into pGEM-T vector and verified by restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing, then pET30a-VEGI was used to transfect BL21 (modified E. coli strain). The chimeric protein was purified by metal affinity chromatography. Western blotting and coomassie blue staining were used for protein identification. Results: The chimeric molecule VEGI+ was confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing. The constructed pET30a-VEGI was confirmed by enzymatic digestion. The expression was mainly in the form of inclusion body. SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and Western blotting revealed a chimeric protein about 23 000, with a purity of about 90%. Conclusion: We have successfully constructed the recombinant plasmid pET30a-VEGI+ and expressed it in E. coli. And we have obtained high purity of soluble chimeric protein VEGI+ through affinity chromatography.

Morphological study on the role of ICC-like cells in detrusor neuro-modulation of rat urinary bladder / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of ICC-like cells in bladder neuromodulation in rat urinary bladder.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>14 SD rats and 1 guinea pig were sacrificed in this study. The ultra structural relationships among interstitial cells, nerves and detrusor smooth muscle cells (DSMCs) of urinary bladder were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). c-kit immunofluorescence was used to identify ICC-like cells in SD rat urinary bladder and the structural relationship between ICC-like cells and nerve terminals was studied by immunofluorescence (double-label).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Gap junction between ICC-like cells and DSMCs was confirmed by TEM. ICC-like cells were very close apposition with nerve terminals under TEM. ICC-like cells were identified to exist in sub-urothelium layer, along the longitude of smooth muscle bundles and among detrusor smooth muscle in SD rat urinary bladder by c-kit immunofluorescence. Double-labeled tissue with c-kit and PGP9.5 antibodies also showed that ICC-like cells were very close apposition with nerve terminals in SD rat bladder.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Morphological study indicated that ICC-like cells in rat urinary bladder may play an important role in detrusor neuromodulation. Further study on function will be helpful for elucidating the mechanism of bladder neuromodulation clearly.</p>

Studies on chemical constituents from root of Actinidia macrosperma / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents of root of Actinidia macrosperma.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Chromatographic methods were used to isolate compounds from A. macrosperma and spectroscopic methods were used to identify the structures of the isolated compounds.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Eight compounds were obtained and identified as 12-oleanene-2alpha, 3alpha, 24-triol (1), isotachioside (2), asiatic acid (3), catechin (4), epicatechin (5), ursolic acid (6), beta-daucosterol (7), beta-sitosterol (8).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All these compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time, compound 1, 2 were obtained from this genus for the first time.</p>

Advances in research of chemical constituents and pharmacological activites of Ephedra / 中国中药杂志

The collected information is an attempt to cover the more recent developments in the phytochemistry and pharmacology of this genus. During the past years, alkaloids, flavonoids, volatile oils, organic acids, polysaccharides, tannins and phenolic constituents have been isolated from Ephedra. Pharmacological studies are described according to hypoglycemic effects, anticoagulated blood properties, depressurization, immunosuppressive activity, antioxidation and antivirus activity and so on. The information summarized here is intended to provid a rational foundation for the futher development and utilization of Ephedra which is rich in China.

Effects of isoliensinine on proliferation of porcine coronary arterial smooth muscle cells induced by phenylephrine / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the inhibitory effects and mechanism of action of isoliensinine (IL) on the proliferation of porcine coronary arterial smooth muscle cells (CASMCs) induced by phenylephrine (Phen) and its mechanisms of action.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MTT assay, immunohistochemical method and Western blotting were adopted.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>IL (0.03 - 3 micromol x L(-1)) could inhibit the CASMCs proliferation induced by Phen (0.1 micromol x L(-1)) in a concentration-dependent manner. IL (0.1 micromol x L(-1)) antagonized Phen-induced overexpression of PDGF-beta and bFGF from 0.545 +/- 0.026 and 0.47 +/- 0.03 to 0.458 +/- 0.019 and 0.376 +/- 0.017 (P < 0.01 , P < 0.01). IL (0.1 micromol x L(-1)) also decreased c-fos, c-myc and hsp70 overexpression induced by Phen from 0.57 +/- 0.04, 0.44 +/- 0.04 and (173 +/- 36)% to 0.46 +/- 0.05, 0.372 +/- 0.021 and (115 +/- 35)% respectively (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>IL exerted antiproliferative effect on CASMCs induced by phenylephrine, and its mechanisms were related to decrease the overexpression of growth factors (PDGF-beta, bFGF), protooncogene (c-fos, c-myc) and hsp70.</p>

Effect of zishuijianghuoyin on expression of lymphocyte AngII receptor (AT-1) mRNA of experimental hypertension rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the immuno-neurologic regulation of hypertension and its inherent law as well as the mechanisms of curing and systemic regulating effect of ZiShuiJiangHuoYin(ZSJHY).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>To detect expression level of AT-1mRNA in two-kidney-one-clamp renal hypertension rat lymphocyte cell by means of RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The level of AT-1 mRNA in lymphocyte was higher in group of 2K1C-RHR than that in normal group. ZSJHY (20 g/kg, 40 g/kg) had regulating effect on this.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Depressing excessive expression of lymphocyte AT-1 mRNA may be one of the mechanisms where ZSJHY exert immunoregulation action.</p>

Expression and purification of high purity soluble chimeric protein VEGI~+ / 第二军医大学学报

Objective:To prepare a novel vascular endothelial growth inhibitor-soluble chimeric protein VEGI~+,so as to lay a basis for studying its biological activity.Methods:Chimeric molecule VEGI~+ was constructed by grafting oligopeptide CTTH- WGFTLC to extraeellular region of VEGI(VEGI_(23-174)).Before ligation into pET30a(+)expression vector,PCR product of the recombinant gene was cloned into pGEM-T vector and verified by restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing,then pET30a-VEGI was used to transfect BL21(modified E.coli strain).The chimeric protein was purified by metal affinity chro- matography.Western blotting and coomassie blue staining were used for protein identification.Results:The chimeric molecule VEGI~+ was confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing.The constructed pET30a-VEGI was confirmed by enzymatic digestion.The expression was mainly in the form of inclusion body.SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and Western blotting revealed a chimeric protein about 23000,with a purity of about 90%.Conclusion:We have successfully constructed the recom- binant plasmid pET30a-VEGI~+ and expressed it in E.coll.And we have obtained high purity of soluble chimeric protein VEGI~+ through affinity chromatography.