Polyporus Polysaccharide Ameliorates Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis by Suppressing Myofibroblast Differentiation TGF-β/Smad2/3 Pathway.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc) with no effective medication. Polyporus polysaccharide (PPS), extracted from Chinese herbs, has immune regulation, anticancer, antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities. This study aims to investigate antifibrotic effects of PPS.

Serum uric acid is independently associated with aortic arch calcification in a cross-sectional study of middle-aged and elderly women.

Background And Aims: The increased serum uric acid (SUA) level is associated with the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks. Aortic arch calcification (AAC) reflects subclinical coronary atherosclerosis and is linked to subsequent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality risks closely. To better understand the role of SUA on arteriosclerosis and CVD, we aim to determine the association between SUA and the presence of AAC.

The Bone Marrow Edema Links to an Osteoclastic Environment and Precedes Synovitis During the Development of Collagen Induced Arthritis.

To determine the relationship between bone marrow edema (BME), synovitis, and bone erosion longitudinally using a collagen induced arthritis mice (CIA) model and to explore the potential pathogenic role of BME in bone erosion. CIA was induced in DBA/1J mice. BME and corresponding clinical symptoms of arthritis and synovitis during the different time points of CIA development were assayed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), arthritis sore, and histologic analyses.

Iguratimod (T-614) suppresses RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation and migration in RAW264.7 cells via NF-κB and MAPK pathways.

Introduction: Iguratimod (T-614) has been confirmed as a highly efficacious and safe novel disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) for rheumatoid arthritis therapy in China and Japan due to its potent anti-inflammation effect. Here, we investigate the effects of Iguratimod on osteoclast differentiation, migration and function.

Methods: The effect of Iguratimod on osteoclastogenesis, migration and bone resorption were assessed by TRAP staining, transwell migration assay and osteologic discs, respectively.

The preclinical evaluation of the dual mTORC1/2 inhibitor INK-128 as a potential anti-colorectal cancer agent.

The colorectal cancer is the leading contributor of cancer-related mortality. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), existing in 2 complexes (mTORC1/2), is frequently dysregulated and constitutively activated in colorectal cancers. It represents an important drug target.

Celastrol attenuates bone erosion in collagen-Induced arthritis mice and inhibits osteoclast differentiation and function in RANKL-induced RAW264.7.

Recently, the traditional Chinese medicine Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f (TwHF) of the Celastraceae family has attracted increasing attention for its potential therapeutic application in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is well accepted that TwHF exerts the antirheumatic activity and mainly depends on its potent anti-inflammatory property. To further explore the therapeutic potential of the well-defined TwHF-derived single compound - celastrol in RA, we study the therapeutic efficacy of celastrol on bone erosion in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice and delineate its effects on osteoclast differentiation and functions in RANKL-induced osteoclast precursors RAW264.

Overexpression of KPNA2 correlates with poor prognosis in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.

This study aims to investigate the expression and significance of KPNA2 in human gastric adenocarcinoma progression and prognosis. Using immunohistochemistry and real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay, we identified abnormally elevated expression of KPNA2 in gastric adenocarcinoma tissues compared to paired normal stomach mucosa tissues in 30 patients (p < 0.05).

Effects of Chinese herbs on salivary fluid secretion by isolated and perfused rat submandibular glands.

Aim: To determine whether Chinese herbs (CHs) relieve xerostomia (dry mouth) by increasing salivary secretion.

Methods: The submandibular glands of Wistar rats were surgically isolated and perfused arterially with buffered salt solution. After control perfusion, recording started 5 min prior to the start of stimulation.

High adiponectin and adiponectin receptor 1 expression in synovial fluids and synovial tissues of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: The major objectives of this article are first to measure the levels of expression of adiponectin and its 2 receptors (adipoR1 and adipoR2) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in the synovial compartment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and second, to assess their pro-inflammatory potential. Osteoarthritis patients and healthy subjects served as controls.

Methods: Expression of adiponectin, adipoR1, and adipoR2 were assayed by real-time polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunohistology.