Dahuang Zhechong Pill Improves Pulmonary Fibrosis through miR-29b-2-5p/HK2 Mediated Glycolysis Pathway.

Objective: To explore the preventive and therapeutic effects of Dahuang Zhechong Pill (DZP) on pulmonary fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: The first key rate-limiting enzyme hexokinase 2 (HK2) of glycolysis was silenced and over-expressed through small interfering RNA and lentivirus using lung fibroblast MRC-5 cell line, respectively. The cell viability, migration, invasion and proliferation were detected by cell counting kit-8, wound healing assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometry.

Development of best evidence-based practice protocols for central venous catheter placement and maintenance to reduce CLABSI.

Although evidence-based interventions can reduce the incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), there is a large gap between evidence-based interventions and the actual practice of central venous catheter (CVC) care. Evidence-based interventions are needed to reduce the incidence of CLABSI in intensive care units (ICU) in China. Professional association, guidelines, and database websites were searched for data relevant to CLABSI in the adult ICUs from inception to February 2020.

Dahuang Zhechong Pill Alleviates Liver Fibrosis Progression by Regulating p38 MAPK/NF-κ B/TGF-β1 Pathway.

Objective: To explore the effect and mechanism of Dahuang Zhechong Pill (DHZCP) on liver fibrosis.

Methods: Liver fibrosis cell model was induced by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6). DHZCP medicated serum (DMS) was prepared in rats.

[Determination of nine aromatic amines in water by cloud point extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry].

Aromatic amines are a class of compounds bearing amino groups on their benzene rings; these compounds are important raw materials for the industrial production of rubber chemicals, pesticides, dyes, pharmaceuticals, photosensitive chemicals, and agricultural chemicals. Research has revealed that some aromatic amines teratogenetic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic properties. Given the high toxicity and potential harm caused by aromatic amines, monitoring their levels in water sources is critical.

Bavachinin Ameliorates Rheumatoid Arthritis Inflammation via PPARG/PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway.

Bavachinin (BVC) is a natural small molecule from the Chinese herb Fructus Psoraleae. It exhibits numerous pharmacological effects, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and immunomodulatory properties. BVC may serve as a novel drug candidate for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Occupational stress is associated with insulin resistance and incident type 2 diabetes: A prospective cohort study of functional community.

Background: To exploit the association of occupational stress with the development of insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in a Chinese population-based cohort.

Methods: A total of 6109 participants from a functional community cohort in Beijing were enrolled in 2015 and followed up until 2021. Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) were used to evaluate occupational stress.

Proteome Analysis of Male Accessory Gland Secretions in the Diamondback Moth, (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae).

In insects, male accessory gland proteins (ACPs) are important reproductive proteins secreted by male accessory glands (MAGs) of the internal male reproductive system. During mating, ACPs are transferred along with sperms inside female bodies and have a significant impact on the post-mating physiology changes of the females. Under sexual selection pressures, the ACPs exhibit remarkably rapid and divergent evolution and vary from species to species.

Sacubitril/valsartan mitigated intermittent hypoxia related intestinal microbiota alteration and aortic injury.

Objective: To investigate the influence of sacubitril valsartan sodium (SVS) on chronic intermittent hypoxia (IH) related gut microbiome composition alteration and aortic injury.

Methods: Experiments were performed using SD rats, which were divided into three groups: control, IH, and SVS group. O concentration was decreased to 7-8% at nadir approximately every 3 min in IH group (8 h per day for 6 weeks) or was left unchanged in control group.

Uncovering the molecular mechanism of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino against breast cancer using network pharmacology and molecular docking.

Because of their strong anti-cancer efficacy with fewer side effects, traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) have attracted considerable attention for their potential application in treating breast cancer (BC). However, knowledge about the underlying systematic mechanisms is scarce. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.

Andrographolide ameliorates hepatic steatosis by suppressing FATP2-mediated fatty acid uptake in mice with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Excessive intrahepatocellular lipid accumulation or steatosis is caused by abnormal lipid metabolism and a common character of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which may progress into cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer. Andrographolide (Andro) is the primary active ingredient extracted from Andrographis paniculata, showing a protective role against dietary steatosis with the mechanism not fully understood. In this study, we showed that administration of Andro (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks, respectively) attenuated obesity and metabolic syndrome in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice with improved glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and reduced hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia.

Alleviation of oxidative stress in pancreatic tissue of hyperglycemic mice by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SCS4.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SCS4 in alleviating oxidative stress in the pancreatic tissue of hyperglycemic mice. A total of 90 six-week-old specific pathogen-free male Kunming mice were randomly divided into six groups [normal group (NG), blank control group (MG), phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) control group (CG), SCS4 first control group (DT1), SCS4 second control group (DT2), and SCS4 third control group (DT3)]. Except the NG group, in the other five groups, streptozotocin (STZ) was intraperitoneally injected for five consecutive days to establish a hyperglycemia model; the concentration of STZ was 50 mg/kg (bw).

Ephedrine ameliorates chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) through restraining endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in vitro and in vivo.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease with limited therapeutic options. Ephedrine (Eph) isolated from Ephedra exerts regulatory role in inflammatory response. However, its effects on COPD development still remain unknown.

Assessment of anti-PD-(L)1 for patients with coexisting malignant tumor and tuberculosis classified by active, latent, and obsolete stage.

Background: It is not a rare clinical scenario to have patients presenting with coexisting malignant tumor and tuberculosis. Whether it is feasible to conduct programmed death-(ligand) 1 [PD-(L)1] inhibitors to these patients, especially those with active tuberculosis treated with concurrent anti-tuberculosis, is still unknown.

Methods: This study enrolled patients with coexisting malignancy and tuberculosis and treated with anti-PD-(L)1 from Jan 2018 to July 2021 in 2 institutions.

Evaluation and optimization of the protocols for measuring cytochrome P450 activity in aphids.

Insect cytochrome P450 plays major roles in detoxification of phytotoxin and insecticides. However, determination of P450 activity in aphids has variable success and there is no reliable method yet. In this study, we found that homogenizing the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, in the 96-well microplate resulted in significantly higher P450 activities than those in Eppendorf tube.

Efficacy and Safety of Dahuang Zhechong Pill in Silicosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: There is no effective therapy for silicosis, and Dahuang Zhechong pill (DHZCP), an ancient Chinese medicine prescription, may have a therapeutic effect on silicosis. This study aims to verify the efficacy and safety of DHZCP in silicosis.

Methods: This is a randomized controlled clinical trial done at Panzhihua Second People's Hospital (Panzhihua City, Sichuan Province, China).

Exploring the antioxidant effect of Lactobacillus plantarum SCS2 on mice with type 2 diabetes.

This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant effect of Lactobacillus plantarum SCS2 (L. plantarum SCS2). After 1 week of acclimation, 120 male KM mice were divided into normal group (NG), model group (MG), solvent control group (KG), and different test groups (TG1, TG2, TG3) (n = 20/group) randomly.

Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics and Changes of Antibiotic Resistance in Children with Nontyphoidal Infections from 2009-2018 in Chongqing, China.

Purpose: Nontyphoidal (NTS) is a leading bacterial cause for acute gastroenteritis in children. With the increasing use of antibiotics worldwide, antibiotic resistance has become a global problem. However, data on NTS infections and changes in antibiotic resistance among children remain limited in China.

Dahuang Zhechong Pills Suppress Silicosis Fibrosis Progression via p38 MAPK/TGF-1/Smad Pathway .

Background: Dahuang Zhechong pills (DHZCP) is a classic Chinese medicinal prescription in "Treatise on Cold Pathogenic and Miscellaneous Diseases (Shanghan Zabing Lun)," and it has the function of tonifying blood, nourishing Yin, and removing blood stasis. Previous studies have shown that DHZCP could alleviate SiO induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. This study aims to further explore the preventive and therapeutic effects of DHZCP against silicosis fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms .

Identification of Spodoptera frugiperda importin alphas that facilitate the nuclear import of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus DNA polymerase.

Proteins containing nuclear localization signals (NLSs) are actively transported into the nucleus via the classic importin-α/β-mediated pathway, and NLSs are recognized by members of the importin-α family. Most studies of insect importin-αs have focused on Drosophila to date, little is known about the importin-α proteins in Lepidoptera insects. In this study, we identified four putative importin-α homologues, Spodoptera frugiperda importin-α1 (SfIMA1), SfIMA2, SfIMA4 and SfIMA7, from Sf9 cells.