Raddeanin A isolated from Anemone raddeana Regel improves pathological and cognitive deficits of the mice model of Alzheimer's disease by targeting β-amyloidosis.

Background: Raddeanin A is a triterpenoid isolated from Anemone raddeana Regel. It exhibits a broad spectrum of biological activities such as anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory, however, its neuroprotective effect in targeting Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains uninvestigated.

Purpose: To provide scientific base for the development of novel AD drug by clarifying the neuroprotective effect and molecular mechanisms of raddeanin A in both in vitro and in vivo AD model.

Antimalarial and Anticancer Activity Evaluation of Bridged Ozonides, Aminoperoxides, and Tetraoxanes.

Bridged aminoperoxides, for the first time, were investigated for the in vitro antimalarial activity against the chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strain K1 and for their cytotoxic activities against immortalized human normal liver (LO2) and lung (BEAS-2B) cell lines as well as human liver (HepG2) and lung (A549) cancer cell lines. Aminoperoxides exhibit good cytotoxicity against lung A549 cancer cell line. Synthetic ozonides were shown to have high activity against the chloroquine-resistant P.

Biological Evaluation in Resistant Cancer Cells and Study of Mechanism of Action of Arylvinyl-1,2,4-Trioxanes.

1,2,4-trioxane is a pharmacophore, which possesses a wide spectrum of biological activities, including anticancer effects. In this study, the cytotoxic effect and anticancer mechanism of action of a set of 10 selected peroxides were investigated on five phenotypically different cancer cell lines (A549, A2780, HCT8, MCF7, and SGC7901) and their corresponding drug-resistant cancer cell lines. Among all peroxides, only and showed a better P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitory effect at a concentration of 100 nM.

Saponins isolated from Radix polygalae extent lifespan by modulating complement C3 and gut microbiota.

With the increase in human lifespan, population aging is one of the major problems worldwide. Aging is an irreversible progressive process that affects humans via multiple factors including genetic, immunity, cellular oxidation and inflammation. Progressive neuroinflammation contributes to aging, cognitive malfunction, and neurodegenerative diseases.

[Correlation between Vitamin D Status and Gut Microbiota in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease].

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D[T-25(OH)D]level and fecal microbiota in patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD). Methods Twenty-three patients with IBD completed the tests for serum T-25(OH)D,and the fecal microbiota was studied using V4 hypervariable region of 16S ribosomal RNA(rRNA)gene sequencing.According to serum T-25(OH)D level,the patients were divided into three groups including vitamin D normal group(=5),vitamin D insufficiency group(=5),and vitamin D deficiency group(=13).

Current pharmacological intervention and development of targeting IVIG resistance in Kawasaki disease.

Kawasaki disease is an acute childhood self-limited vasculitis, causing the swelling or inflammation of medium-sized arteries, eventually leading to cardiovascular problems such as coronary artery aneurysms. Acetylsalicylic acid combined with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is the standard treatment of Kawasaki disease (KD). However, a rising number of IVIG resistant cases were reported with severe disease complications such as the KD Shock Syndrome or KD-Macrophage activation syndrome.

[Community structure of Chironomid larvae and their indicative significance for water quality in streams of Xianju National Park, China].

In August 2016, 59 sites of 13 streams in Xianju National Park were surveyed to explore the community structure of Chironomid larvae and their indicative significance for water quality. Water quality of the streams was evaluated based on Hilsenhoff biological index. The results showed that there were 37 clean sites, 19 mild polluted sites and three moderated polluted sites in Xianju National Park.

Tadalafil Promotes the Recovery of Peripheral Neuropathy in Type II Diabetic Mice.

We previously demonstrated that treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy with the short (4 hours) half-life phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, sildenafil, improved functional outcome in diabetic db/db mice. To further examine the effect of PDE5 inhibition on diabetic peripheral neuropathy, we investigated the effect of another potent PDE5 inhibitor, tadalafil, on diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Tadalafil is pharmacokinetically distinct from sildenafil and has a longer half-life (17+hours) than sildenafil.

Identification of miRNomes associated with adult neurogenesis after stroke using Argonaute 2-based RNA sequencing.

Neurogenesis is associated with functional recovery after stroke. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been fully investigated. Using an Ago2-based RNA immunoprecipitation to immunoprecipated Ago2-RNA complexes followed by RNA sequencing (Ago2 RIP-seq) approach, we profiled the miRNomes in neural progenitor cells (NPCs) harvested from the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricles of young adult rats.

[Community structure of macrozoobenthos and its relationship with environmental factors in Lake Gehu, Jiangsu, China.].

A survey on macrozoobenthos was conducted seasonally and 14 aquatic physicochemical parameters were monitored monthly to reveal the community characteristics of macrozoobenthos and their relationship with aquatic environmental factors at 20 sampling sites in the Lake Gehu from July 2013 to December 2014. A total of 25 macrozoobenthos species including 3 species (12% of total) of Mollusca, 12 species (48%) of Chironomidae, 4 species (16%) of Oligochaeta, 4 species (16%) of Crustacean were identified. The dominant species were Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, Branchiuras owerbyi, Tanypus chinensis, and Propsilocerus taihuensis.

MicroRNA-146a Promotes Oligodendrogenesis in Stroke.

Stroke induces new myelinating oligodendrocytes that are involved in ischemic brain repair. Molecular mechanisms that regulate oligodendrogenesis have not been fully investigated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression.

Focal embolic cerebral ischemia in the rat.

Animal models of focal cerebral ischemia are well accepted for investigating the pathogenesis and potential treatment strategies for human stroke. Occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) with an endovascular filament is a widely used model to induce focal cerebral ischemia. However, this model is not amenable to thrombolytic therapies.

Stroke increases neural stem cells and angiogenesis in the neurogenic niche of the adult mouse.

The unique cellular and vascular architecture of the adult ventricular-subventricular zone (V/SVZ) neurogenic niche plays an important role in regulating neural stem cell function. However, the in vivo identification of neural stem cells and their relationship to blood vessels within this niche in response to stroke remain largely unknown. Using whole-mount preparation of the lateral ventricle wall, we examined the architecture of neural stem cells and blood vessels in the V/SVZ of adult mouse over the course of 3 months after onset of focal cerebral ischemia.

Prospects of using DNA barcoding for species identification and evaluation of the accuracy of sequence databases for ticks (Acari: Ixodida).

Ticks are important vectors of disease and parasites of livestock. Species identification of ticks has been traditionally based on morphological characters, which is usually limited by the condition of samples and little variation among specimens, so a rapid and reliable identification method is needed. DNA barcoding uses a standard fragment of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI) to identify species and has been successfully used in many taxa.

MicroRNAs in cerebral ischemia-induced neurogenesis.

Cerebral ischemia induces neurogenesis, including proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitor cells and migration of newly generated neuroblasts. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that decrease gene expression through mRNA destabilization and/or translational repression. Emerging data indicate that miRNAs have a role in mediating processes of proliferation and differentiation of adult neural progenitor cells.

Targeting nitric oxide in the subacute restorative treatment of ischemic stroke.

Introduction: Stroke remains the leading cause of adult disability. Thus, it is imperative to develop restorative therapies for ischemic stroke designed specifically to treat the intact brain tissue to stimulate functional benefit. Therapies targeting amplification of brain repair processes with nitric oxide (NO) donors and phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors in preclinical studies are emerging and showing improvement of functional recovery after stroke.

MicroRNA-17-92 cluster mediates the proliferation and survival of neural progenitor cells after stroke.

The role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in mediating adult neurogenesis after stroke has not been extensively studied. The present study investigated the function of the miR17-92 cluster in adult neural progenitor cells after experimental stroke. We found that stroke substantially up-regulated miR17-92 cluster expression in neural progenitor cells of the adult mouse.

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells decrease transforming growth factor β1 expression in microglia/macrophages and down-regulate plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 expression in astrocytes after stroke.

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) decrease the expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) in astrocytes and subsequently decrease astrocytic plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) level in an autocrine manner. Since activated microglia/macrophages are also a source of TGFβ1 after stroke, we therefore tested whether MSCs regulate TGFβ1 expression in microglia/macrophages and subsequently alters PAI-1 expression after ischemia. TGFβ1 and its downstream effector phosphorylated SMAD 2/3 (p-SMAD 2/3) were measured in mice subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo).

Sildenafil enhances neurogenesis and oligodendrogenesis in ischemic brain of middle-aged mouse.

Adult neural stem cells give rise to neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. Aging reduces neural stem cells. Using an inducible nestin-CreER(T2)/R26R-yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) mouse, we investigated the effect of Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, on nestin lineage neural stem cells and their progeny in the ischemic brain of the middle-aged mouse.

Thymosin β4 promotes the recovery of peripheral neuropathy in type II diabetic mice.

Peripheral neuropathy is one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus. Using a mouse model of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, we tested the hypothesis that thymosin β4 (Tβ4) ameliorates diabetes-induced neurovascular dysfunction in the sciatic nerve and promotes recovery of neurological function from diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Tβ4 treatment of diabetic mice increased functional vascular density and regional blood flow in the sciatic nerve, and improved nerve function.

Regulation of serum response factor by miRNA-200 and miRNA-9 modulates oligodendrocyte progenitor cell differentiation.

Serum response factor (SRF) is a transcription factor that transactivates actin-associated genes and has been implicated in oligodendrocyte (OL) differentiation. To date, it has not been investigated in cerebral ischemia. We investigated the dynamics of SRF expression after stroke in vivo and the role of SRF in OL differentiation in vitro.

MicroRNA profiling in subventricular zone after stroke: MiR-124a regulates proliferation of neural progenitor cells through Notch signaling pathway.

Background: The Notch signaling pathway regulates adult neurogenesis under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression. The present study investigated the effect of miR-124a on the Notch signaling pathway in stroke-induced neurogenesis.

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells increase tPA expression and concomitantly decrease PAI-1 expression in astrocytes through the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway after stroke (in vitro study).

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) increase tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) activity in astrocytes of the ischemic boundary zone, leading to increased neurite outgrowth in the brain. To probe the mechanisms that underlie MSC-mediated activation of tPA, we investigated the morphogenetic gene, sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway. In vitro oxygen and glucose deprivation and coculture of astrocytes and MSCs were used to mimic an in vivo ischemic condition.

Urodynamic parameters development and complications of clean intermittent self-catheterization in Chinese schoolchildren with neurogenic underactive bladder.

Objective: To evaluate the urodynamic parameters, development of bladder function and complications of clean intermittent self-catheterization (CIC) in Chinese schoolchildren with neurogenic underactive bladder.

Methods: Ninety-three children with neurogenic underactive bladder were successfully treated with CIC or combined with oxybutynin for two years follow-up. According to bladder compliance before CIC, they were subdivided into a normal bladder compliance (NBC) group and a low bladder compliance (LBC) group.