Inhibitory Effects of Rhein on Renal Interstitial Fibrosis via the SHH-Gli1 Signal Pathway.

Background: Rhein is the main extract of L., which has been proved to improve the renal function of chronic kidney disease, but its mechanism is not clear. Therefore, this experiment explored the potential pharmacological effect of rhein on renal interstitial fibrosis rats.

Network Pharmacology and In Vivo Analysis of Dahuang-Huangqi Decoction Effectiveness in Alleviating Renal Interstitial Fibrosis.

Dahuang and Huangqi are the most frequently prescribed treatment methods for chronic kidney disease in China. Our study aimed to clarify the pharmacological mechanism of action of Dahuang-Huangqi decoction (DHHQD) in renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF). The intersection of genes targeted by DHHQD active ingredients and RIF target genes was searched using network pharmacology to build a chemical ingredient and disease target network.

Integrated analysis of differentially expressed genes, differentially methylated genes, and natural compounds in hepatitis C virus-induced cirrhosis.

Objective: To identify key genes in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced cirrhosis and to predict effective drugs for its treatment.

Methods: Three datasets were used to screen for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially methylated genes (DMGs) in HCV-induced cirrhosis. DEGs were subjected to Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses using the clusterProfiler R package.

Transcriptome analysis reveals the molecular mechanism of Yiqi Rougan decoction in reducing CCl-induced liver fibrosis in rats.

Background: Liver fibrosis develops from various chronic liver diseases, and there is currently a lack of specific treatment strategies. Yiqi Rougan decoction (YQRG) is a traditional Chinese medicine that has shown durative effects in the treatment of liver fibrosis; however, the mechanism associated with YQRG-related improvements in liver fibrosis remains to be experimentally determined. This study evaluated the therapeutic effect of YQRG on carbon tetrachloride (CCl)-induced liver fibrosis in rats and its molecular mechanism.

Is rifaximin better than nonabsorbable disaccharides in hepatic encephalopathy?: A meta-analysis.

Background: The purpose of the present meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy of rifaximin and nonabsorbable disaccharides (NADs) in hepatic encephalopathy (HE).

Methods: After the registration of the present meta-analysis on INPLASY, all procedures were performed according to PRISMA 2020. Relevant literature was retrieved on PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library up to September 5, 2021.

Astragaloside IV regulates NF-κB-mediated cellular senescence and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells to suppress PDGF-BB-induced activation.

Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the principal effectors during hepatic fibrosis, which is characterized by the accumulation of extracellular matrix. Therefore, present therapies and investigations into hepatic fibrosis mainly focus on the suppression of activated HSCs. Astragaloside IV (ASIV) is an effective constituent extracted from the plant and has exhibited anti-fibrotic properties in hepatic fibrosis.

[Exogenous HBx promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition of hepatic progenitor cells in Kunming mice].

Objective To construct an animal model in which hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) directly affect hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs), and investigate the potential mechanisms underlying epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HPCs. Methods Kunming mice were given 2 mL/L carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) in oil solution by gavage twice a week. Four weeks later, HPCs transfected with recombinant lentiviral vectors stably expressing HBx gene as well as empty vectors were separately injected into the mice via the portal vein, and at the same time, the mice underwent a partial hepatectomy.

[Knockdown of SOST in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells increase MG-63 osteoblast-like cell function in co-culture system].

Objective To construct a recombinant adenovirus expressing siRNA targeting human sclerostin (SOST) gene, and test the function of MG-63 cells while co-cultured with MDA-MB-231 cells infected by Ad-siSOST. MethodsAccording to the RNA sequence of SOST gene, two pairs of primers which contained 3 siRNA sequences were designed, and a pB2B plasmid was taken as template to amplify 2 DNA sequences. Both of the 2 DNA sequences were ligated to pAdTrace-OK by Gibson DNA Assembly way.