A machine learning model for predicting abnormal liver function induced by a Chinese herbal medicine preparation (Zhengqing Fengtongning) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis based on real-world study.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects the small joints of the whole body and degrades the patients' quality of life. Zhengqing Fengtongning (ZF) is a traditional Chinese medicine preparation used to treat RA. ZF may cause liver injury.

A novel targeted anticancer drug delivery strategy: Cnidium officinale polysaccharide conjugated with carboxymethyl-5-fluorouracil and folic acid for ovarian cancer therapy.

To mitigate adverse reactions induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), Cnidium officinale fraction 2 (F2) polysaccharides served as the macromolecular carrier, facilitating its reaction with carboxymethyl-5-fluorouracil (C-5-FU) for producing F2-C-5-FU. Subsequently, this compound could react with folic acid (FA) through the ester bond, forming F2-C-5-FU-FA, as verified through NMR analysis. The in vitro anticancer efficacy of F2-C-5-FU-FA was evaluated using SKOV-3 cells that expressed folate receptor (FR) and FR-deficient A549 cells, showing greater cytotoxicity in the SKOV-3 cell line due to the FRs on the cell membrane.

Folic-acid-targeted drug delivery system implementing Angelica gigas polysaccharide: A potential strategy for colorectal cancer treatment.

The study focuses on the development of folate-targeted conjugates utilizing Angelica gigas polysaccharide (F2) as a drug carrier for colorectal cancer therapy. We synthesized F2-C-5-FU conjugates by linking carboxymethyl-5-fluorouracil (C-5-FU) with folic acid (FA) through ester bonding. The drug release behavior of F2-C-5-FU-FA was pH-dependent, favoring release under alkaline conditions.

Preparation and characterization of metal-polyphenol networks encapsulated in sodium alginate microbead hydrogels for catechin and vitamin C delivery.

A novel encapsulation system was designed, utilizing sodium alginate (SA) polysaccharide as the matrix and easily absorbed Fe as the metal-organic framework, to construct microbead scaffolds with both high catechins (CA) and vitamin C (Vc) loading and antioxidant properties. The structure of microbead hydrocolloids was investigated using SEM, XPS, FTIR, XRD and thermogravimetry, and the antioxidant activity, in vitro digestion and the release of CA and Vc were evaluated. These results revealed that the microbead hydrocolloids SA-CA-Fe and SA-CA-Vc-Fe exhibited denser and stronger cross-linking structures, and the formation of inter- and intramolecular hydrogen and coordination bonds improved thermal stability.

Construction of GSH-responsive polyethyleneimine-based delivery vector for effective gene transfection.

The rise of gene therapy has solved many diseases that cannot be effectively treated by conventional methods. Gene vectors is very important to protect and deliver the therapeutic genes to the target site. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) modified with mannitol could enhance the gene transfection efficiency reported by our group previously.

Angelica gigas polysaccharide induces CR3-mediated macrophage activation and the cytotoxicity of natural killer cells against HCT-116 cells via NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Angelica gigas (A. gigas) is traditional medicinal herb that mainly exists in Korea and northeastern China. There have been relatively few studies conducted thus far on its polysaccharides and their bioactivities.

Preparation and characterization of soluble dietary fiber from tiger nut residues, showing enhanced antioxidant activity and metal-ion-binding properties.

To improve the utilization of soluble dietary fiber (SDF) from tiger nut residues, the response surface methodology was used to optimize the conditions of superfine grinding to produce SDF with antioxidant and metal-ion-binding properties. The yield was increased (30.56%) and the average particle diameter of SDF was decreased (D50: 32.

Phellinus linteus polysaccharides: A review on their preparation, structure-activity relationships, and drug delivery systems.

Phellinus linteus polysaccharides exhibit antitumor, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, mitigate insulin resistance, and enhance the diversity and abundance of gut microbiota. However, the bioactivities of P. linteus polysaccharides vary owing to the complex structure, thereby, limiting their application.

Gallic Acid Treats Hypertrophic Scar in Rabbit Ears via the TGF-β/Smad and TRPC3 Signaling Pathways.

Hypertrophic scars (HSs) develop due to excessive collagen deposition and abnormal fibroblast proliferation during wound healing, significantly impacting patient quality of life. Three dosages of GA ointments were administered to rabbit ear HS models to investigate the potential efficacy and mechanism of gallic acid (GA) on HS. Daily application of ointment was performed on the matrix group, the GA ointment groups, and the silicone gel group for 28 days.

Cnidium officinale polysaccharide enhanced RAW 264.7 cells activation and NK-92 cells cytotoxicity against colon cancer via NF-κB and MAPKs signaling pathways.

In this study, Cnidium officinale-derived polysaccharides were isolated and investigated for their immune enhancing and anticancer activities. The isolated crude and its fractions, such as F1 and F2, contain carbohydrates (51.3-63.

A review of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides: Health benefit, structure-activity relationship, modification, and nanoparticle encapsulation.

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides possess unique functional properties. Various processing technologies have been used to produce and modify G. lucidum polysaccharides to improve their yield and utilization.

A novel sulfated mannan-carboxymethyl-5-fluorouracil-folic acid conjugates for targeted anticancer drug delivery.

CFP is a sulfated polysaccharide isolated from Codium fragile that shows excellent immunomodulatory activity. To reduce the side effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), CFP was used as a macromolecular carrier to react with carboxymethyl-5-fluorouracil (C-5-FU) to form CFP-C-5-FU, which further reacted with folic acid (FA) via an ester bond to form novel conjugates (CFP-C-5-FU-FA). CFP-C-5-FU-FA was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis.

Traditional Chinese medicine for hypertrophic scars-A review of the therapeutic methods and potential effects.

Hypertrophic scar (HS) is a typical pathological response during skin injury, which can lead to pain, itching, and contracture in patients and even affect their physical and mental health. The complexity of the wound healing process leads to the formation of HS affected by many factors. Several treatments are available for HS, whereas some have more adverse reactions and can even cause new injuries with exacerbated scarring.

Pretreatment with millet-derived selenylated soluble dietary fiber ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice by regulating inflammation and maintaining gut microbiota balance.

Inflammatory activation and intestinal flora imbalance play key roles in the development and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Soluble dietary fiber (SDF) and selenium have been proven to be effective for preventing and relieving IBD. This study investigated and compared the therapeutic efficacy of millet-derived selenylated-soluble dietary fiber (Se-SDF) against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice alone or through the synergistic interaction between selenium and SDF.

Predicting Lapatinib Dose Regimen Using Machine Learning and Deep Learning Techniques Based on a Real-World Study.

Lapatinib is used for the treatment of metastatic HER2(+) breast cancer. We aim to establish a prediction model for lapatinib dose using machine learning and deep learning techniques based on a real-world study. There were 149 breast cancer patients enrolled from July 2016 to June 2017 at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center.

Metabolomics study on the intervention effect of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae extract in exercise-induced exhaustion rat using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.

The metabolomics approach based on the gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was adopted to explore the underlying mechanism of the anti-fatigue effect of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (RSM), a famous herbal medicine in China used for multiple biological functions, in load-weighted swimming test in rat, combined with biochemical parameters evaluations. As a result, the metabolomics study followed by orthogonal partial least-square (OPLS) analysis could differentiate metabolic profiling between the control and exhaustive exercise group, showing the rats underwent an obvious metabolic perturbation, whereas RSM treatment restored scores plot close to normal and showed regulatory effects on the muscle metabolic profiles. The changed metabolic pathways of the potential biomarkers in response to the effect of RSM treatment for exhaustive exercise rats included in glucose metabolism (glucose, lactic acid, alanine), glutathione metabolism (glycine, glutamate, 5-oxo-proline), TCA cycle (succinic acid), arginine biosynthesis (glutamine, ornithine, urea), glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism (serine, glycine), oxidative stress (taurine) and purine metabolism (inosine).

Targeted Metabolic Profiling and PRM Analysis of Proteins Revealed Impaired Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Metabolism and GTP Metabolism in the Brainstem of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

An untargeted multi-omics study implicated the potential dysregulation of fatty acid, nucleotide, and energy metabolism in the brainstems of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). A further quantitative exploration of the alterations in the metabolic pathways is necessary for a deep understanding of the central nervous system in SHRs. Targeted metabolic profiling of 40 fatty acids (PeptideAtlas: PASS01671) and 32 metabolites of nucleotides and energy metabolism (PeptideAtlas: PASS01672) and parallel reaction monitoring analysis of 5 proteins (PeptideAtlas: PASS01673) were performed on the brainstems of SHRs ( = 8, 11 weeks old) and normotensive Wistar rats ( = 8, age-matched) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem MS.

Targeted metabolomics in the cell culture media reveals increased uptake of branched amino acids by breast cancer cells.

In addition to the altered amino acids in many cancer cells for their uncontrolled growth, targeted metabolomics in cell culture media could display a dynamic interaction between cancer cells and their micro-environments. Methodology for cell culture medium samples is different from that of cell lysates on sampling points, calculation and statistical analysis. Targeted profiling method of 40 amino acid and derivatives was validated and performed on cell culture medium samples from cell lines of HCC 1806 (breast cancer cell) and MCF-10A (normal breast epithelial cell).

Targeted metabolomics reveals dynamic portrayal of amino acids and derivatives in triple-negative breast cancer cells and culture media.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is well-known for its metastatic aggressiveness and poor survival prognosis, accounting for nearly a quarter of cases in breast cancer. We performed intra- and extra-cellular profiling of 40 amino acids and derivatives on three cell lines and their culture media, including TNBC, non-TNBC and normal breast epithelial cells, using HILIC-MS/MS. Characteristic metabolic alteration of amino acids and derivatives was observed in TNBC cells, compared to non-TNBC cells, especially in correlated intra- and extra-cellular metabolic pathways.

Endothelial progenitor cells as the target for cardiovascular disease prediction, personalized prevention, and treatments: progressing beyond the state-of-the-art.

Stimulated by the leading mortalities of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), various types of cardiovascular biomaterials have been widely investigated in the past few decades. Although great therapeutic effects can be achieved by bare metal stents (BMS) and drug-eluting stents (DES) within months or years, the long-term complications such as late thrombosis and restenosis have limited their further applications. It is well accepted that rapid endothelialization is a promising approach to eliminate these complications.

Metabolic mechanism and anti-inflammation effects of sinomenine and its major metabolites N-demethylsinomenine and sinomenine-N-oxide.

Aims: Sinomenine (SIN) is clinically used as an anti-rheumatic drug. However, the metabolic and pharmacological mechanisms of SIN combined with its metabolites are unclear. This study aims to explore the cyclic metabolic mechanism of SIN, the anti-inflammation effects of SIN and its major metabolites (N-demethylsinomenine (DS) and sinomenine-N-oxide (SNO)), and the oxidation property of SNO.

Integrative Metabolic and Proteomic Profiling of the Brainstem in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

The brainstem, the core of the central nervous system, plays a vital role in controlling arterial blood pressure and its elevation of hypertension subtypes, especially essential hypertension. Integrative metabolic and proteomic profiling was performed on the brainstem samples of 11 week old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and age-matched normotensive Wistar rats, using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HILIC-Q/TOFMS) (PeptideAtlas: PASS01621) and nano-liquid chromatography-high-resolution-MS (nano-LC-high-resolution) combined with quantitative tandem mass tags (ProteomeXchange: PXD021210). The results showed a potentially significant measure of metabolic disorders in the brainstem of SHRs, including purine and pyrimidine metabolism and carnitine and acylcarnitine deficiency.

The Effect of Exhaustive Exercise on Plasma Metabolic Profiles of Male and Female Rats.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the alteration in biochemical composition and gender difference within exhaustive exercise in male and female rats using a metabolomics strategy. Sixty male and female rats were randomly assigned to control, exhaustive exercise and one-week recovery groups, respectively. The metabolic profiles of plasma were investigated by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and data further underwent orthogonal partial least-squares (OPLS) analysis.

Gender-Dependent Pharmacokinetics of Veratramine in Rats: In Vivo and In Vitro Evidence.

Veratramine, a major alkaloid from Veratrum nigrum L., has distinct anti-tumor and anti-hypertension effects. Our previous study indicated that veratramine had severe toxicity toward male rats.