Activation of Intestinal HIF2α Ameliorates Iron-Refractory Anemia.

In clinics, hepcidin levels are elevated in various anemia-related conditions, particularly in iron-refractory anemia and in high inflammatory states that suppress iron absorption, which remains an urgent unmet medical need. To identify effective treatment options for various types of iron-refractory anemia, the potential effect of hypoxia and pharmacologically-mimetic drug FG-4592 (Roxadustat) are evaluated, a hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-prolyl hydroxylase (PHD) inhibitor, on mouse models of iron-refractory iron-deficiency anemia (IRIDA), anemia of inflammation and 5-fluorouracil-induced chemotherapy-related anemia. The potent protective effects of both hypoxia and FG-4592 on IRIDA as well as other 2 tested mouse cohorts are found.

Exposure interval to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) collected in Southwest China induced pulmonary damage through the Janus tyrosine protein kinase-2/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 signaling pathway both in vivo and in vitro.

PM2.5 is a well-known air pollutant threatening public health. Studies confirmed that exposure to the particles could impair pulmonary function, cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and increase the incidence of lung cancer.

A plant-based medicinal food inhibits the growth of human gastric carcinoma by reversing epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Background: Natural products, especially those with high contents of phytochemicals, are promising alternative medicines owing to their antitumor properties and few side effects. In this study, the effects of a plant-based medicinal food (PBMF) composed of six medicinal and edible plants, namely, Coix seed, Lentinula edodes, Asparagus officinalis L., Houttuynia cordata, Dandelion, and Grifola frondosa, on gastric cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated in vivo.

[Marine fish bone collagen oligopeptide combined with calcium aspartate increases bone mineral density in obariectomized rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect of marine fish collagen oligopeptide and calcium aspartate alone or in combination on bone mineral density in ovariectomized rats.

Methods: Sixty three-month-old SPF Wistar female rats were randomly divided into 6 groups according to their body weight: sham operation group, model control group(ovariectomy), calcium aspartate group(ovariectomy), marine fish collagen oligopeptide group(ovariectomy), aspartate calcium + marine fish collagen oligopeptide group(ovariectomy) and calcium carbonate control group(ovariectomy), 10 rats in each group. The sham operation group and the model control group were given the same volume of pure water by gavage, and the other groups were intragastrically administered with calcium aspartate(116.

A Compound of Chinese Herbs Protects against Alcoholic Liver Fibrosis in Rats via the TGF-1/Smad Signaling Pathway.

Alcoholic liver fibrosis (ALF) has become a major public health concern owing to its health impacts and the lack of effective treatment strategies for the disease. In this study, we investigated the effect of a compound composed of Chinese herbs (Willd.), , , and on ALF.