[Research progress on the effect mechanism of acupuncture-moxibustion for pressure injuries].

Evidence shows that acupuncture-moxibustion could promote the healing of pressure injuries (PI), but its action mechanism is not fully understood. This review summarizes the basic research literature of acupuncture-moxibustion for PI and identifies that the mechanism of acupuncture-moxibustion for PI is related with regulation of related signaling pathway target proteins, improvement of inflammatory response, modulation of vascular microenvironment, attenuation of oxidative stress damage, and inhibition of cell apoptosis. The review also points out the current limitations and future research directions. It emphasizes the need for further exploration of the upstream regulatory mechanism, specific cellular molecules, and the interactions among these molecules. A multi-level, multi-target, and multi-dimensional approach is required to fully understand the mechanism underlying the promotion of PI healing by acupuncture-moxibustion.

Myostain is involved in ginsenoside Rb1-mediated anti-obesity.

CONTEXT: Obesity, one of the major public health problems worldwide, has attracted increasing attention. Ginsenoside Rb1 is the most abundant active component of Panax ginseng C.A.Mey (Araliaceae) and is reported to have beneficial effects on obesity and diabetes. However, the mechanisms by which Rb1 regulates obesity remain to be explored. OBJECTIVE: This paper intends to further explore the mechanism of Rb1 in regulating obesity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The C57BL/6 obese mice were divided into two groups: the control (CTR) and Rb1. The CTR group [intraperitoneally (ip) administered with saline] and the Rb1 group (ip administered with Rb1, 40 mg/kg/d) were treated daily for four weeks. In vitro, Rb1 (0, 10, 20, 40 µM) was added to differentiated C2C12 cells and Rb1 (0, 20, 40 µM) was added to 3T3-L1 cells. After 24 h, total RNA and protein from C2C12 cells and 3T3-L1 cells were used to detect myostatin (MSTN) and fibronectin type III domain-containing 5 (FNDC5) expression. RESULTS: Rb1 reduced the body weight and adipocyte size. Improved glucose tolerance and increased basic metabolic activity were also found in Rb1 treated mice. MSTN was downregulated in differentiated C2C12 cells, 3T3-L1 cells and adipose tissues upon Rb1 treatment. FNDC5 was increased after Rb1 treatment. However, MSTN overexpression attenuated Rb1-mediated decrease accumulation of lipid droplets in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSIONS: Rb1 may ameliorate obesity in part through the MSTN/FNDC5 signalling pathway. Our results showed that Rb1 can be used as an effective drug in the treatment of human obesity.

Design, synthesis and bioactivity study on 5-phenylfuran derivatives as potent reversal agents against P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance in MCF-7/ADR cell.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) is a phenomenon in which cells become resistant to structurally and mechanistically unrelated drugs resulting in low intracellular drug concentrations. It is one of the noteworthy problems in malignant tumor clinical therapeutics. So P-gp protein is one of the ideal targets to solve MDR. Based on the lead compound 5m obtained from our previous work, a series of furan derivatives featuring alkyl-substituted phenols and 6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline were designed and synthesized as reversal agents against P-gp in this paper. Compound 16 containing isopropoxy possessed good potency against P-gp mediated MDR in MCF-7/ADR (IC50 (doxorubicin) = 0.73 µM, RF = 69.6 with 5 µM 16 treated). Western blot results and Rh123 accumulation assays showed that 16 effectively inhibited P-gp efflux function but not its expression. The preliminary structure-activity relationship and docking studies demonstrated that compound 16 would be a potential P-gp inhibitor. Most worthy of mention is that compound 16 has achieved satisfactory results in combination with a variety of anti-tumor drugs, such as doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and vincristine. This study forwards a hopeful P-gp inhibitor for withstanding malignant tumor cell with multidrug resistance setting the basis for further studies.

[Relationship between P65 and radiotherapy-induced oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line apoptosis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of different X-ray doses on the expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) P65 in human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell (OSCC) line and the relationship between NF-kappaB P65 and radiation-induced OSCC cell line apoptosis. METHODS: The squamous cell carcinoma of Tca8113 cell was cultivated in the 37 degrees C, 5% CO2 incubator after recovery. The experiment samples were divided into six groups (control group, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 Gy). After growing to logarithm period, Tca8113 cells were irradiated using above-mentioned X-ray doses. The immunocyteochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the expression of NF-kappaB P65 after irradiation in various times (1, 3, 6, 10, 24, 48 h). The apoptosis rates under different radiotherapy dose were detected by flow cytometer and TDT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL). RESULTS: Compared with the control group, cytoplasm expression of P65 under different X-ray doses had statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). While the cytoplasm P65 protein expression at different time were compared each other, the 3 h group demonstrated significant difference (P < 0.05). Apoptosis rates in various groups, compared with control group, had statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). While the groups at different time points were compared each other, the apoptosis rates of 3 h group had significant differences (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: X-ray can activate the NF-kappaB P65 in oral squmaous cell carcinoma cell lines. The correlation between expressional quantity of P65 and radiotherapy induced apoptosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines possesses positive correlation. The activated and intranuclear P65 may have radiotherapy resistant effect.

The biology and ecology of the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis, in China.

The biology, ecology, and life cycle of the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), were studied using regular inspection in the forest and observations in the laboratory. Results indicated that A. planipennis are mostly univoltine in Tianjin, China. They overwintered individually as mature larvae in shallow chambers excavated in the outer sapwood. In late July, some full-grown larvae began to build overwintering chambers, and all larvae entered the sapwood for dormancy by early November. A. planipennis pupated in the overwintering chamber from early April to mid May the following year, and the average pupal duration was about 20 days. In late April, some newly eclosed adults could be found in the pupal cells, but they had not yet emerged from the tree. Adults began to emerge in early May, with peak flight occurring in mid May. The average longevity of adults was about 21 days and the adult stage lasted through early July. The adults fed on ash foliage as a source of nutrition. Mating was usually conducted and completed on the leaf or trunk surfaces of ash trees. Oviposition began in mid May and eggs hatched on average in 15.7 days. The first instar larvae appeared in early June. The larval stage lasted about 300 days to complete an entire generation. The emerald ash borer had four larval instars on velvet ash, Fraxinus velutina (Scrophulariales: Oleaceae). The major natural control factors of A. planipennis were also investigated, and preliminary suggestions for its integrated management are proposed.

Biology and behavior of Spathius agrili, a parasitoid of the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis, in China.

Spathius agrili Yang (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a gregarious larval ectoparasitoid of the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) and is a recently described species. Both pest and parasitoid are native to China. In Tianjin City, China, S. agrili typically exhibited 3-4 generations per year, overwintering as a prepupa in a cocoon inside the host gallery. The multiple generations of S. agrili overlapped with its host, as did the emergence dates of the overwintering generation. From a single host, 1-18 S. agrili successfully developed to the adult stage (average 8.4), but in all cases the host was killed. The sex ratio (female: male) of the parasitoid adults emerging from field-collected cocoons was 2:1, whereas the sex ratio of parasitoids reared from field collected eggs and larvae was greater than 3:1. On average, adult females lived 29.1 d, and males lived 23.6 d when fed with 20% honey solution, significantly longer than without a nutritional supplement. Sexual reproduction is the normal mode of reproduction, but in the laboratory females did reproduce parthenogenetically, producing only males. The average fecundity was 23.3 eggs per female in the laboratory. S. agrili developed through five larval instars, and the larvae fed gregariously on the host hemolymph. The generation time from egg to adult wasp was 27-28 d at 22-26 degrees C. Natural parasitism rates were as high as 60%, and in October they reached over 90% in some stands. This study showed that S. agrili is a promising agent for biocontrol of A. planipennis.

[Radiosensitization by double suicide gene system in ACC-2 cell].

PURPOSE: To investigate the radiosensitization by prodrug and CD-TK double suicide gene therapy system in adenoid cystic carcinoma cells (ACC-2). METHODS: The eukaryotic expression plasmids pIRES-CD and pIRES-TK were introduced into ACC-2 cells by electroporation. Then ACC-2 cells stably expressing CD and TK gene were obtained by 10-day positive selection with 400 micro g/mL G418 . The total RNA was extracted and the expression of the CD and TK gene in transfected ACC-2 cells was identified by RT-PCR. The positive transfected ACC-2 cells were treated with radiotherapy of different dose (0,2,4,6,8,10 Gy) and prodrug system in aerobic and anoxic condition. Then cell clone formation assay was used to study the radiosensitization by CD-TK double suicide gene therapy and prodrug system in ACC-2.The data was analyzed by multiple factor ANOVA using SPSS11.5 software package. RESULTS: RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that CD and TK genes were effectively expressed in ACC-2 cells. With the increased of X-ray dose, the colony forming rate dropped significantly after radiotherapy. In aerobic condition, the survival fraction of group ACC-2/CD-TK+prodrug were significantly lower than that of group ACC-2 and group ACC-2/CD-TK with the same dose (P<0.05). In anoxic condition, the survival fraction of group ACC-2/CD-TK+pro-drug was significantly lower than that of experimental group ACC-2 and group ACC-2/CD-TK with the same dose (P<0.05). The colony forming rate in aerobic condition was significantly lower than that in anoxic condition of the same cell group and dose. CONCLUSION: The radiosensitivity and the killing effect of X ray to ACC-2 cells can be increased by CD-TK double suicide gene therapy and the prodrug system.

[Construction of recombinant plasmid vector pIRES-CD and its expression in ACC-2 cells].

PURPOSE: To clone CD gene, construct its eukaryotic expression vector pIRES-CD and obtain positive ACC-2 cells expressing E.coli CD gene stably. METHODS: PCR amplification was performed using primers based on E.coli CD gene sequence from Genebank, E.coli genomic DNA as template. PCR product was inserted into pMD18-T. After sequence confirmation, the gene was subcloned to pIRES to construct recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pIRES-CD. Then the combinant plasmid was conducted into ACC-2 cell by electroporation. ACC-2 cells stably expressing CD was obtained by 10-day positive selection with 400 mug/mL G418. Total RNA was extracted and the expression of the CD gene in transfected ACC-2 cells was identified by RT-PCR. RESULTS: PCR yielded a fragment of 1280bp and CD was verified by sequence analysis. A fragment of 6.1kb and inserted fragment of 1280bp were obtained by cutting positive recombinant plasmid of pIRES-CD with XbaI and NotI. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that CD gene could be effectively expressed in ACC-2 cells. CONCLUSIONS: The CD gene is successfully amplified and the eukaryotic expression plasmid containing E.coli CD is successfully constructed.The positive ACC-2 cell clones expressing CD gene stably are obtained, which provide a basis for further study of adenoid cystic carcinoma gene therapy with CD/5-FC suicide gene system. Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(Grant No.Z2003C03).