Decursin affects proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of colorectal cancer cells through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway / 中国中药杂志

We investigated the effects of decursin on the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of colorectal cancer HT29 and HCT116 cells through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/serine-threonine kinase(Akt) pathway. Decursin(10, 30, 60, and 90 μmol·L~(-1)) was used to treat HT29 and HCT116 cells. The survival, colony formation ability, proliferation, apoptosis, wound hea-ling area, and migration of the HT29 and HCT116 cells exposed to decursin were examined by cell counting kit-8(CCK8), cloning formation experiments, Ki67 immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry, wound healing assay, and Transwell assay, respectively. Western blot was employed to determine the expression levels of epithelial cadherin(E-cadherin), neural cadherin(N-cadherin), vimentin, B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2(Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), tumor suppressor protein p53, PI3K, and Akt. Compared with the control group, decursin significantly inhibited the proliferation and colony number and promoted the apoptosis of HT29 and HCT116 cells, and it significantly down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 and up-regulated the expression of Bax. Decursin inhibited the wound healing and migration of the cells, significantly down-regulated the expression of N-cadherin and vimentin, and up-regulated the expression of E-cadherin. In addition, it significantly down-regulated the expression of PI3K and Akt and up-regulated that of p53. In summary, decursin may regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, thereby affecting the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of colorectal cancer cells.

Tongxie Yaofang regulates tumor-associated macrophage polarization in colorectal cancer under chronic stress / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to investigate the intervention effect and mechanism of Tongxie Yaofang in regulating tumor-associated macrophage polarization on colorectal cancer under chronic stress. BALB/C mice were randomized into blank, control, model, mifepristone, and low-, medium-, and high-dose Tongxie Yaofang groups. The other groups except the blank and model groups were subjected to chronic restraint stress and subcutaneous implantation of colon cancer cells for the modeling of colon cancer under stress. Du-ring this period, the body mass and tumor size of each group of mice were recorded. The degree of depression in mice was assessed by behavioral changes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to determine the levels of cortisol(CORT), 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT), norepinephrine(NE), M1-associated inflammatory cytokines [interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α], and M2-associated inflammatory cytokines(IL-4 and IL-10) in the serum. The tumor growth of mice in each group was regularly monitored by in vivo imaging. The histopathological changes of tumors in each group of mice were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The proportions of CD86 and CD206 in the tumor tissue were detected by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of Janus kinase(JAK)1, JAK2, JAK3, signal transducer and activator of transcription(STAT)3, and STAT6 in the tumor tissue. The results showed that chronic stress increased the immobility time of mice, elevated the serum levels of CORT, IL-4, and IL-10, lowered the levels of 5-HT, NE, IL-1β, IL-12, and TNF-α, and promoted the growth of subcutaneous tumors. The tumor cells in the tumor tissue grew actively, with obvious atypia and up-regulated protein levels of CD206, JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, STAT3, and STAT6, and down-regulated protein level of CD86. The treatment with Tongxie Yaofang shortened the immobility time of mice, lowered the serum levels of CORT, IL-4, and IL-10, elevated the serum levels of 5-HT, NE, IL-1β, IL-12, and TNF-α, and inhibited the growth of subcutaneous tumors in mice. Moreover, the treatment caused different degrees of necrosis in the tumor tissues, down-regulated the protein levels of CD206, JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, STAT3, and STAT6, and up-regulated the protein level of CD86. In summary, Tongxie Yaofang can promote the transformation of M2 macrophages to M1 macrophages and change the tumor microenvironment under chronic stress to inhibit the development of colorectal cancer, which may be related to the JAK/STAT signaling pathway.

Prevalence rates of healthcare-associated infection and community-associated infection in hospitalized patients in 253 hospitals of Hebei Province / 中国感染控制杂志

Objective To investigate prevalence of healthcare-associated infection(HAI) and community associated infection(CAD in hospitalized patients in Hebei Province.Methods A certain day from August 17 to August 28,2015 was selected as the survey day,unified questionnaires were formulated,the prevalence of HAI and CAI in hospitalized patients in secondary and above comprehensive hospitals in Hebei Province was surveyed,pathogens causing infection were analyzed and compared.Results A total of 65 065 patients in 253 hospitals were surveyed,prevalence rates of HAI and CAI were 2.89％ and 16.84％ respectively.The top three sites of HAI were respiratory tract(61.32％),urinary tract(12.49％),and surgical site(9.83％),the top three sites of CAI were respiratory tract (56.70％),urinary tract(10.89％),and gastrointestinal tract(8.35％).Distribution of sites of HAI and CAI was significantly different(P＜0.01).The top 5 pathogens were of the same species,but ranked differently,the main bacteria causing HAI was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22.69％),CAI was Escherichia coli (23.79％).There was significant difference in the distribution of pathogens between HAI and CAI (P＜0.01).There were significant differences in pathogenic species causing respiratory tract,gastrointestinal tract,urinary tract,and intra abdominal infection(all P＜0.05).Isolation rates of extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing/carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae,methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus between HAI and CAI were all significantly different(all P ＜0.001).Conclusion Incidence of infection,infection sites,as well as constituent of pathogens and multidrugresistant organisms between HAI and CAI are varied,besides monitoring on HAI,monitoring on drug resistance of pathogens causing CAI should be paid attention,so as to provide scientific basis for rational antimicrobial use in clinical practice.