Quercitrin restrains the growth and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells by regulating gap junction protein beta 2.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most prevalent subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with high lethality, and quercitrin exhibits anticancer characteristics. Here, we attempted to uncover the anticancer activity of quercitrin in LUAD. In this work, quercitrin prohibited the cell viability and clone-formation of LUAD cells .

Nucleus accumbens neurons expressing dopamine D1 receptors modulate states of consciousness in sevoflurane anesthesia.

Although general anesthesia (GA) enables patients to undergo surgery without consciousness, the precise neural mechanisms underlying this phenomenon have yet to be identified. In addition to many studies over the past two decades implicating the thalamus, cortex, brainstem, and conventional sleep-wake circuits in GA-induced loss of consciousness (LOC), some recent studies have begun to highlight the importance of other brain areas as well. Here, we found that population activities of neurons expressing dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a critical interface between the basal ganglia and limbic system, began to decrease before sevoflurane-induced LOC and gradually returned after recovery of consciousness (ROC).

Hypnotic activities of Zao Ren An Shen capsule, a traditional Chinese medicine, in an anxiety-like mouse model.

Purpose: Zao Ren An Shen capsule (ZRASC) which is composed of three kinds of traditional Chinese herbs is a popular Chinese medicine for the treatment of insomnia. This study investigated the hypnotic effect of ZRASC in an anxiety-like mouse model.

Methods: We determined the role of ZRASC in anxiety and co-morbid insomnia using electroencephalogram and electromyogram recordings.

Sevoflurane depresses neurons in the medial parabrachial nucleus by potentiating postsynaptic GABA receptors and background potassium channels.

Despite persistent clinical use for over 170 years, the neuronal mechanisms by which general anesthetics produce hypnosis remain unclear. Previous studies suggest that anesthetics exert hypnotic effects by acting on endogenous arousal circuits. Recently, it has been shown that the medial parabrachial nucleus (MPB) is a novel wake-promoting component in the dorsolateral pons.

Serum parathyroid hormone levels in patients with chronic right heart failure.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a novel cardiovascular biomarker which is particularly useful for detection and assessment of heart failure (HF). However, previous studies examining PTH in heart failure have primarily focused on left HF; thus, the relationship between PTH and right HF remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum PTH levels in patients with chronic right HF.

Glutamate Activates the Histaminergic Tuberomammillary Nucleus and Increases Wakefulness in Rats.

Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain and plays an essential role in regulating wakefulness. Histaminergic neurons, which are exclusively localized in the tuberomammillary nucleus (TMN) of the hypothalamus, have a pivotal role in the regulation of sleep-wake patterns by sending widespread projections into many brain areas implicated in sleep-wake control. The role of glutamate in histaminergic neurons within the TMN and the resulting sleep-wake profile remains unknown.

Dopamine D and D receptors mediate analgesic and hypnotic effects of l-tetrahydropalmatine in a mouse neuropathic pain model.

Rationale: Levo-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP), an active ingredient of Corydalis yanhusuo, has been reported to be a partial agonist for dopamine D receptors (DR) and an antagonist for DR. Although it has been safely used clinically in China for decades as an analgesic with sedative/hypnotic properties, there are few studies that address the mechanisms by which l-THP exerts its beneficial effects in chronic pain-induced sleep disturbance.

Objectives: To investigate the effects and mechanisms of l-THP on sleep disturbance in a neuropathic pain-like condition.

Activation of Parabrachial Nucleus Glutamatergic Neurons Accelerates Reanimation from Sevoflurane Anesthesia in Mice.

Background: The parabrachial nucleus (PBN), which is a brainstem region containing glutamatergic neurons, is a key arousal nucleus. Injuries to the area often prevent patient reanimation. Some studies suggest that brain regions that control arousal and reanimation are a key part of the anesthesia recovery.

Aesthetic principles access thyroidectomy produces the best cosmetic outcomes as assessed using the patient and observer scar assessment scale.

Background: Thyroid carcinoma (TC) is more likely to occur in young women. The aim of this study was to compare the aesthetic effect of different thyroidectomies.

Methods: One hundred twenty female patients who underwent thyroidectomy were evenly distributed into three groups: conventional access (CA), aesthetic principles access (APA) and minimally invasive access (MIA).

Helicid alleviates pain and sleep disturbances in a neuropathic pain-like model in mice.

Natural helicid (4-formylphenyl-O-β-d-allopyranoside), a main active constituent from seeds of the Chinese herb Helicia nilagirica, has been reported to exert a sedative, analgesic and hypnotic effect, and is used clinically to treat neurasthenic syndrome, vascular headaches and trigeminal neuralgia. In the current study, mechanical allodynia tests, electroencephalograms, electromyogram recordings and c-Fos expression in neuropathic pain-like model mice of partial sciatic nerve ligation were used to investigate the effect of helicid on neuropathic pain and co-morbid insomnia. Our results showed that helicid at a dose of 100, 200 or 400 mg kg could increase the mechanical threshold by 2.

Correlation between serum parathyroid hormone levels and coronary artery calcification in patients without renal failure.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation between serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in patients without renal failure, as well as to determine independent risk factors of CAC score (CACS). A total of 157 patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiographic examination at the 101th Hospital of the People's Liberation Army between December 2013 and February 2015 were retrospectively evaluated. The correlation between PTH levels and CACS was determined using a Pearson correlation analysis.

Basal Forebrain Cholinergic Neurons Primarily Contribute to Inhibition of Electroencephalogram Delta Activity, Rather Than Inducing Behavioral Wakefulness in Mice.

The basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic neurons have long been thought to be involved in behavioral wakefulness and cortical activation. However, owing to the heterogeneity of BF neurons and poor selectivity of traditional methods, the precise role of BF cholinergic neurons in regulating the sleep-wake cycle remains unclear. We investigated the effects of cell-selective manipulation of BF cholinergic neurons on the sleep-wake behavior and electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectrum using the pharmacogenetic technique, the 'designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADD)' approach, and ChAT-IRES-Cre mice.

Paeoniflorin exerts analgesic and hypnotic effects via adenosine A1 receptors in a mouse neuropathic pain model.

Rational: Neuropathic pain is frequently comorbid with sleep disturbances. Paeoniflorin, a main active compound of total glucosides of paeony, has been well documented to exhibit neuroprotective bioactivity.

Objective: The present study evaluated effects of paeoniflorin on neuropathic pain and associated insomnia and the mechanisms involved.

Gelsemine alleviates both neuropathic pain and sleep disturbance in partial sciatic nerve ligation mice.

Aim: Gelsemine, an alkaloid from the Chinese herb Gelsemium elegans (Gardn & Champ) Benth., is effective in mitigating chronic pain in rats. In the present study we investigated whether the alkaloid improved sleep disturbance, the most common comorbid symptoms of chronic pain, in a mouse model of neuropathic pain.

A new aurone glycoside from Veratrum dahuricum (Turcz.) Loes. f.

To study the chemical constituents of Veratrum dahuricum (Turcz.) Loes. f.

Antinociceptive and hypnotic activities of pregabalin in a neuropathic pain-like model in mice.

To evaluate the antinociceptive and hypnotic effects of pregabalin, we established a neuropathic pain-like model in mice using partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL), and examined thermal hyperalgesia, mechanical allodynia, electroencephalogram, rota-rod testing, and c-Fos expression in the anterior cingulate cortex. Gabapentin was used as a reference drug in the study. Pregabalin administered i.

Quinolone-indolone conjugate induces apoptosis by inhibiting the EGFR-STAT3-HK2 pathway in human cancer cells.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is involved in the proliferation of human tumors and is an effective target for the treatment of cancer. In the present study, a novel quinolone-indolone conjugate, QIC1 [9-Fluoro-3,7-dihydro-3-methyl-10-(4-methyl -1-piperazinyl) -6-(2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-indol-3-ylidenemethyl) -7-oxo-2H-(1,4) oxazino(2,3,4-ij)quinoline], which targeted EGFR, was synthesized in order to investigate the anticancer activity and the potential mechanisms underlying the effect of this compound in human cancer cells. Using MTT assays it was observed that QIC1 inhibited the growth of HepG2 human hepatoma cells, MCF7 human breast cancer cells, HeLa human cervical cancer cells and A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Expression of BMP4 in myocardium and vascular tissue of obese mice.

Background: Obesity is regarded as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) is a proinflammatory and profibrotic factor, and the reduced expression of this molecule in obese mice seems to be inconsistent with the known proinflammatory effects of obesity. Therefore, we studied BMP4 expression and inflammation in the myocardial tissue and aortas of obese mice.

Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) as a target of MiR-497 and plasma IGF-1R levels associated with TNM stage of pancreatic cancer.

The expression levels and regulatory roles of miR-497 in pancreatic cancer are unclear. The clinical value of plasma insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) in pancreatic cancers has not been investigated. In the present study, we demonstrated that miR-497 was significantly downregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues.

[Prosapogenin A inhibits cell growth of MCF7 via downregulating STAT3 and glycometabolism-related gene].

This study is to investigate the inhibitory effect and mechanism of prosapogenin A (PSA) on MCF7. MTT assay was performed to determine the inhibitory effect of PSA on MCF7 cells. PI/Hoechst 33342 double staining was used to detect cell apoptosis.

Reversal of multidrug resistance by 5,5'-dimethoxylariciresinol-4-O-β-D-glucoside in doxorubicin-resistant human leukemia K562/DOX.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the reversal effects of 5,5'-dimethoxylariciresinol-4'-O-β-D-glucoside (DMAG) extracted from traditional Chinese medicines Mahonia on multidrug resistance (MDR) of human leukemia cells to chemotherapeutic agents.

Materials And Methods: MTT(3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was performed to determine the effect of DMAG on doxorubicin sensitivity to K562/DOX cells. Propidium iodide /Hoechst 33342 double staining assay was used to investigate the effect of DMAG on doxorubicin-induced cellular apoptosis.

Changes of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels after high-pressure post-dilation following coronary stent deployment.

Objective: To evaluate the changes of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP) levels after high-pressure post-dilation following coronary stent deployment.

Methods: A total of 173 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for the left anterior descending artery were enrolled into the study. All patients were divided into two groups: the conventional group and the post-dilation group.

Alteration of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway is involved in Notch-induced chemoresistance to gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer.

Background And Aims: Chemoresistance is a major challenge in pancreatic cancer (PC) treatment. Limited data have shown that members of the Notch signaling pathway are involved in resistance to gemcitabine (GEM) in PC. However, further evidence is needed and the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated.