Characterization of chromatin regulators identified prognosis and heterogeneity in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Liver carcinogenesis is a multiprocess that involves complicated interactions between genetics, epigenetics, and transcriptomic alterations. Aberrant chromatin regulator (CR) expressions, which are vital regulatory epigenetics, have been found to be associated with multiple biological processes. Nevertheless, the impression of CRs on tumor microenvironment remodeling and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prognosis remains obscure.

A positive feedback loop between Periostin and TGFβ1 induces and maintains the stemness of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via AP-2α activation.

Background: Liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) play key roles in the metastasis, recurrence, and chemotherapeutic resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our previous research showed that the POSTN gene is closely related to the malignant progression and poor prognosis of HCC. This study aimed to elucidate the role of POSTN in generating LCSCs and maintaining their stemness as well as the underlying mechanisms.

Pinocembrin-7-Methylether Protects SH-SY5Y Cells Against 6-Hydroxydopamine-Induced Neurotoxicity via Modulating Nrf2 Induction Through AKT and ERK Pathways.

The present study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects and underlying mechanisms of pinocembrin-7-methylether (PME), a natural bioflavonoid, in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced models of Parkinson's disease in vivo and in vitro. First, we found that PME decreased apoptosis in 6-OHDA-intoxicated SH-SY5Y cells. PME also blocked several 6-OHDA-induced mitochondrial apoptotic cascades, including loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, caspase 3 and PARP activation, and a decrease in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio.

Therapeutic effect of oxyberberine on obese non-alcoholic fatty liver disease rats.

Background: Berberine (BBR) has been widely used to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The metabolites of BBR were believed to contribute significantly to its pharmacological effects. Oxyberberine (OBB), a gut microbiota-mediated oxidative metabolite of BBR, has been firstly identified in our recent work.

A comparative investigation of the interaction and pharmacokinetics of hemoglobin with berberine and its oxymetabolite.

Berberine (BBR), isolated from Coptis chinensis, is one type of isoquinoline alkaloids. BBR exerts numerous of bioactivities but the plasma concentration is really low. In our previous study, a new oxymetabolite (OBB) has been discovered and showed superior anti-inflammatory effect comparing with BBR.

MicroRNA-7 modulates cellular senescence to relieve gemcitabine resistance by targeting PARP1/NF-κB signaling in pancreatic cancer cells.

Senescence is activated in response to gemcitabine to prevent the propagation of cancer cells. However, there is little evidence on whether senescence is involved in gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that microRNAs (miRs) are potential regulators of cellular senescence.

MicroRNA-7 as a Potential Biomarker for Prognosis in Pancreatic Cancer.

MicroRNAs play critical roles in tumor progression. Our recent study has indicated that microRNA-7 (miR-7) impairs autophagy-derived pools of glucose to suppress the glycolysis in pancreatic cancer progression. However, the roles of miR-7 in clinical significance and chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer remain unexplored.

Folate-conjugated herpes simplex virus for retargeting to tumor cells.

Background: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)-mediated oncolytic therapy is a promising cancer treatment modality. However, viral tropism is considered to be one of the major stumbling blocks to the development of HSV-1 as an anticancer agent.

Methods: The surface of oncolytic HSV-1 G207 was covalently modified with folate-poly (ethylene glycol) conjugate (FA-PEG).

Comparison of anti-inflammatory effects of berberine, and its natural oxidative and reduced derivatives from Rhizoma Coptidis in vitro and in vivo.

Background: Berberine (BBR) is the most abundant and major active constituent of Rhizoma Coptidis (RC), which has been widely used to treat inflammatory diseases in traditional oriental medicine. Despite BBR has been found to exhibit pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, the anti-inflammatory activities of its natural derivatives were sparsely dissected out.

Purpose: To comparatively investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of BBR, and its natural oxoderivative (oxyberberine, OBB) and reduced derivative (dihydroberberine, DHBB) in vitro and in vivo, and delineate the possible underlying mechanism.

Patchoulene Epoxide Isolated from Patchouli Oil Suppresses Acute Inflammation through Inhibition of NF-B and Downregulation of COX-2/iNOS.

According to the GC-MS analysis, compositional variation was observed between samples of patchouli oil, of which an unknown compound identified as patchoulene epoxide (PAO) was found only in the long-stored oil, whose biological activity still remains unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory activity with three in vivo inflammatory models: xylene-induced ear edema, acetic acid-induced vascular permeability, and carrageenan-induced paw edema. Further investigation into its underlying mechanism on carrageenan-induced paw edema was conducted.

Transrectal real-time tissue elastography targeted biopsy coupled with peak strain index improves the detection of clinically important prostate cancer.

The focus of the present study was to evaluate transrectal real-time tissue elastography (RTE)-targeted two-core biopsy coupled with peak strain index for the detection of prostate cancer (PCa) and to compare this method with 10-core systematic biopsy. A total of 141 patients were enrolled for evaluation. The diagnostic value of peak strain index was assessed using a receiver operating characteristic curve.

Anti-inflammatory activity of coptisine free base in mice through inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Coptisine is one of the main constituents of Coptis chinensis which has been widely used for the remedy of inflammatory disorders. Although the biological activities of coptisine have been well known, the pharmacological properties of its free base have seldomly been elucidated thus far. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential anti-inflammatory properties of coptisine free base (CFB, 8-hydroxy-7,8-dihydrocoptisine) on three animal models, namely xylene-induced ear edema, acetic acid-induced vascular permeability and carrageenan-induced paw edema.

Supercritical-Carbon Dioxide Fluid Extract from Chrysanthemum indicum Enhances Anti-Tumor Effect and Reduces Toxicity of Bleomycin in Tumor-Bearing Mice.

Bleomycin (BLM), a family of anti-tumor drugs, was reported to exhibit severe side effects limiting its usage in clinical treatment. Therefore, finding adjuvants that enhance the anti-tumor effect and reduce the detrimental effect of BLM is a prerequisite. , an edible flower, possesses abundant bioactivities; the supercritical-carbon dioxide fluid extract from flowers and buds of (CI) have strong anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and lung protective effects.

Synthesis of pogostone by one-step.

Pogostone, isolated from Pogostemon cablin, has many biological activities such as potential antibacterial, anticandida, and antifungal. Traditional extraction leads to low output of PO about 17.6 mg/kg from Herba Pogostemonis.

Anti-Fatigue and Antioxidant Activity of the Polysaccharides Isolated from Millettiae speciosae Champ. Leguminosae.

Millettiae speciosae Champ. Leguminosae (MSC), is a well-known Chinese herb traditionally used as food material and medicine for enhancing physical strength. Our preliminary study found that the aqueous extract of this herb (MSE) had an anti-fatigue effect.

[The effects of DEHP on morphology and function of progenitor Leydig cell in rat].

Objective: To investigate the effects and mechanisms of diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) on morphology and function of progenitor Leydig cells (PLC) in rats.

Methods: Twenty pregnant SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups ( n = 5): normal control group, DEHP low dose group , middle dose group, and high dose group, which were treated from postnatal day (PND) 1 to PND 21 of the pubs with DEHP at the doses of 0, 10, 100, 750 mg/(kg · d) in 0.5 ml of corn oil by gavage respectively.

[The effects of Kangai injection on enzyme activities of macrophages in rats].

Objective: To study the effects of Kangai injection on the enzyme activities of macrophages and morphology of spleen and thymus from rats.

Methods: Twenty four male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups (n = 12), normal control group and experimental group. The rats in experimental group were injected with Kangai injection at the dosage of 5 ml/kg x d for 30 days peritoneally and those in control group were injected with nomal saline at the same volume.

[Histological observation of the central nervous system in Simulium (Wilhelmia) xingyiense (Diptera:Simuliidae)].

Objective: To investigate the morphological characters of the central nervous system in mature larvae, mature pupae and newly emerged adults of Simulium (Wilhelmia) xingyiense.

Methods: From August to November 2009, the blackfly larvae were collected from the rivulets nearby Niujiao Island in Huaxi of Guiyang City. The mature larvae of S.

[Observation on salivary gland polytene chromosomes of Simulium qianense (Diptera : Simuliidae)].

The salivary gland polytene chromosomes of Simulium qianense was observed with wild larvae collected from Guiyang, Guizhou Province. Using an upgraded method of preparation, the polytene chromosomes of the larval salivary glands of S. qianense were observed and analysed.

[Histology of the alimentary canal in mature larva of Simulium (Wilhelmia) xingyiense chen and zhang (Diptera: Simuliidae)].

The histology of alimentary canal of Simulium (Wilhelmia) xingyiense mature larva (with gill spots) was investigated by using paraffin serial section. The alimentary canal is composed of foregut, midgut and hindgut. The foregut includes pharynx, esophagus and proventriculus.

[Bioinformatics analysis of CO I gene of Simulium quinquestriatum].

The genomic DNA was extracted from Simulium quinquestriatum (Sq) and its CO I gene was amplified by PCR. The PCR product was purified and cloned into plasmid pMD18-T vector. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into Escherichia coli DH5alpha and then identified by digestion with restriction enzyme and PCR amplification.

[Sequences analysis of cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene in Aedes albopictus from different geographic strains in China].

Objective: To compare the sequences of cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene (COI) in Aedes albopictus from different geographic strains in China and to discuss the differences in susceptibility among different geographic strains to dengue virus (DV).

Methods: COI was amplified with polymerase chain reaction method and sequenced from its genomic DNA. Molecular phylogenetic trees were constructed with Neighbor-Joining method.

[Changes in element content in Aedes albopictus infected by dengue virus type II].

Objective: To study the changes in the content of elements in Aedes albopictus after dengue virus type II (DV2) infection.

Methods: DV2 were injected into the thorax of Ae. albopictus.