An herbal formulation "Shugan Xiaozhi decoction" ameliorates methionine/choline deficiency-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis through regulating inflammation and apoptosis-related pathways.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Shugan Xiaozhi (SGXZ) decoction is a traditional Chinese medicine used for treating nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). It has been used clinically for over 20 years and proved to be effective; however, the molecular mechanism underlying the effects of SGXZ decoction remains unclear.

Aim Of The Study: We analyzed the chemical components, core targets, and molecular mechanisms of SGXZ decoction to improve NASH through network pharmacology and in vivo experiments.

Inhibition of inflammatory liver injury by the HMGB1-A box through HMGB1/TLR-4/NF-κB signaling in an acute liver failure mouse model.

We aimed to investigate the preventive effect of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1)-A box and the mechanism by which it alleviates inflammatory injury in acute liver failure (ALF) by inhibiting the extracellular release of HMGB1. BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally (i.p.

Retracted: Ursolic Acid Exhibits Potent Anticancer Effects in Human Metastatic Melanoma Cancer Cells (SK-MEL-24) via Apoptosis Induction, Inhibition of Cell Migration and Invasion, Cell Cycle Arrest, and Inhibition of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK)/ERK Signaling Pathway.

Retraction of this publication has been requested by the authors due to problems with reproducibility. Reference: Pengcheng Liu, Ruili Du, Xin Yu. Ursolic Acid Exhibits Potent Anticancer Effects in Human Metastatic Melanoma Cancer Cells (SK-MEL-24) via Apoptosis Induction, Inhibition of Cell Migration and Invasion, Cell Cycle Arrest, and Inhibition of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK)/ERK Signaling Pathway Med Sci Monit 2019; 25:1283-1290.

miR-135b-dependent downregulation of S100B promotes neural stem cell differentiation in a hypoxia/ischemia-induced cerebral palsy rat model.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is frequently caused by brain injury during pregnancy, delivery, or the immediate postnatal period. The differentiation potential of neural stem cell (NSC) makes them effective in restoring injured tissues and organs with minimal risks of side effects. In this study, we identified a novel microRNA-135b (miR-135b) in CP and investigated its functional role in mediating NSC differentiation.

LncRNA HAND2-AS1 overexpression inhibits cancer cell proliferation in melanoma by downregulating ROCK1.

Long non-coding (lnc)RNA heart and neural crest derivatives expressed 2-antisense RNA 1 (HAND2-AS1), an lncRNA antisense transcript adjacent to the heart and neural crest derivatives expressed 2 protein (HAND2), inhibits the development of several types of cancer; however, its role in melanoma is currently unknown. In the present study, it was revealed that lncRNA HAND2-AS1 was downregulated, whereas Rho-associated protein kinase 1 (ROCK1) mRNA was upregulated in tumor tissues when compared with the healthy tissues of patients with melanoma. Expression levels of lncRNA HAND2-AS1 and ROCK1 were inversely correlated in tumor tissues, but not in healthy tissues.

PET imaging of metabolic changes after neural stem cells and GABA progenitor cells transplantation in a rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy.

Purpose: Stem cell transplantation is promising for temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) treatment. This study aimed to use PET imaging for the investigation of dynamic metabolic changes after transplantation of human neural stem cells (NSCs) and human GABA progenitor cells (GPCs) in a rat model of TLE.

Methods: F-FDG PET imaging, video-electroencephalography (EEG), whole-cell patch-clamp recordings and immunostaining were performed after transplantation of NSCs and GPCs.

Ursolic Acid Exhibits Potent Anticancer Effects in Human Metastatic Melanoma Cancer Cells (SK-MEL-24) via Apoptosis Induction, Inhibition of Cell Migration and Invasion, Cell Cycle Arrest, and Inhibition of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK)/ERK Signaling Pathway.

BACKGROUND Ursolic acid is an important bioactive triterpenoid that has been reported to be of tremendous pharmacological importance. However, the anticancer potential of ursolic acid has not been examined against metastatic melanoma cells. Therefore, in this study we examined the anticancer potential of ursolic acid and its mode of action.

In Vivo Dynamic Metabolic Changes After Transplantation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Ischemic Injury.

Unlabelled: This study aimed to investigate in vivo dynamic metabolic changes after transplantation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and iPSC-derived enriched cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) in a rat model of ischemic injury.

Methods: Serial F-FDG PET, echocardiographic, immunohistochemical, and immunofluorescence studies were performed after transplantation of iPSCs and iPSC-CMs and compared with embryonic stem cells (ESCs), ESC-CMs, and a phosphate-buffered saline control group of rats with myocardial infarction.

Results: Increased glucose metabolism in periinfarct areas and improved myocardial function were observed in the stem cell transplantation groups compared with the control group, and serial immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical results exhibited the survival and migration of stem cells during the study period.

PET Mapping of Neurofunctional Changes in a Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Model.

Unlabelled: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that occurs after exposure to a traumatic event. This study aimed to investigate the neurobiologic changes before and after exposure-based therapy by PET in a rat model of PTSD.

Methods: Serial (18)F-FDG PET imaging studies were performed under the control (tone presentation), fear-conditioning, and extinction retrieval phases.

Spatiotemporal PET Imaging of Dynamic Metabolic Changes After Therapeutic Approaches of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Neuronal Stem Cells, and a Chinese Patent Medicine in Stroke.

Unlabelled: This study aimed to use spatiotemporal PET imaging to investigate the dynamic metabolic changes after a combined therapeutic approach of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), neuronal stem cells (NSCs), and Chinese patent medicine in a rat model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Methods: Cerebral ischemia was established by the middle cerebral artery occlusion approach. Thirty-six male rats were randomly assigned to 1 of the 6 groups: control phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), Chinese patent medicine (Qing-kai-ling [QKL]), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), combination of iPSCs and QKL, neuronal stem cells (NSCs), and combination of NSCs and QKL.