Antiliver Fibrosis Formula of Fuzheng Huayu Alleviates Inflammatory Response.

Fuzheng Huayu's (FZHY) formula ameliorated liver fibrosis in clinical and experimental practice. Based on the close link between fibrosis and inflammation, its anti-inflammatory effect and related mechanisms were explored in this present study. With the aid of the inflammatory macrophage model, FZHY significantly blocked nitrite accumulation without observable cytotoxicity due to its suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene and protein expressions in a concentration-depended manner.

Lucidenic acid A inhibits the binding of hACE2 receptor with spike protein to prevent SARS-CoV-2 invasion.

High infection caused by mutations of SARS-CoV-2 calls for new prevention strategy. Ganoderma lucidum known as a superior immunoenhancer exhibits various antiviral effects, whether it can resist SARS-CoV-2 remains unclear. Herein, virtual screening combined with in vitro hACE2 inhibition assays were used to investigate its anti SARS-CoV-2 effect.

Simultaneous determination of eight analytes of Fuzheng Huayu recipe in beagle dog plasma by UHPLC-Q/exactive Orbitrap HRMS and its application to toxicokinetics.

Fuzheng Huayu recipe (FZHY) is a Chinese patent medicine for the treatment of liver fibrosis. This study aimed to investigate the toxicokinetics of FZHY in beagle dogs after oral administration. Blood samples were collected on days 1, 15 and 28 after oral gavage of FZHY dosages of 400 or 1,200 mg/kg body weight once a day.

Total Flavonoids from Radix Glycyrrhiza Exert Anti-Inflammatory and Antitumorigenic Effects by Inactivating iNOS Signaling Pathways.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) plays an important role in inflammation, which has also been considered as a major driver of breast cancer disease progression. Radix Glycyrrhiza (RG) has been broadly used for its anti-inflammatory and antitumorigenic effects. However, the mechanisms of regulation of iNOS in inflammation and cancer have not been fully explored.

Galangin (GG) combined with cisplatin (DDP) to suppress human lung cancer by inhibition of STAT3-regulated NF-κB and Bcl-2/Bax signaling pathways.

Lung cancer represents a significant problem for public health worldwide. Galangin (GG), a natural active compound 3, 5, 7-trihydroxyflavone, is a type of bioflavonoid, which is isolated from the Alpinia galangal root and suggested to induce apoptosis in various cancers. We investigated the ability of Galangin (GG) to attenuate the drug resistance of human lung cancer cells, resistant to treatment of cisplatin (DDP).

Linc00152 promotes cancer progression in hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The X protein (HBx) plays as a key role in hepatocarcinogenesis associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. The study aimed to figure out the role of Linc00152 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the association between the expression levels of Linc00152 and HBx.

Methods: QRT-PCR assays were applied to analyzed the expression levels of Linc00152 and HBx.

Lower citrinin production by gene disruption of ctnB involved in citrinin biosynthesis in Monascus aurantiacus Li AS3.4384.

The filamentous fungi Monascus spp. have been used in the production of food colorants and health remedies for more than 1000 years in Asia. However, greater attention has been given to the safety of Monascus products because they contain citrinin, which is harmful to the hepatic and renal systems.

Chitosan nanoparticle carrying small interfering RNA to platelet-derived growth factor B mRNA inhibits proliferation of smooth muscle cells in rabbit injured arteries.

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the transfection of chitosan nanoparticle carrying small interfering RNA against platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGF-B) to inhibit the expression of PDGF-B mRNA and proliferation of smooth muscle cells. A rabbit iliac artery injury model was constructed. A small interfering RNA (siRNA) against PDGF-B mRNA expression vector was constructed and packaged by chitosan nanoparticle to transfect into the vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) of balloon catheter-injured rabbit iliac artery wall, using a therapeutic ultrasound for the gene delivery.

Association of CASP9, CASP10 gene polymorphisms and tea drinking with colorectal cancer risk in the Han Chinese population.

The initiators caspase-9 (CASP9) and caspase-10 (CASP10) are two key controllers of apoptosis and play important roles in carcinogenesis. This study aims to explore the association between CASPs gene polymorphisms and colorectal cancer (CRC) susceptibility in a population-based study. A two-stage designed population-based case-control study was carried out, including a testing set with 300 cases and 296 controls and a validation set with 206 cases and 845 controls.

[Analysis on anti-vascular inflammatory mechanism in vitro of total flavones from Artemisia anomala].

Objective: To study the impact of total flavones from Artemisia anomala (TFAS) on activation of macrophages, cell oxidative stress, auto-nitration of CuZn-SOD, platelet aggregation and isolated vascular tension.

Method: LPS and IFN-gamma induced activation of macrophages and oxidative stress in rats; H2O2 and nitrite induced auto-nitration of CuZn-SOD; ADP, AA and collagen induced platelet aggregation in vitro in mice; PE stimulates isolated vascular tension; nitrite content of macrophages was measured by Griess assay; MTT assay and FRAP assay was applied for cell viability and total cell antioxidant capacity; auto-nitration of CuZn-SOD was measured by Western blot and colorimetric methods; platelet aggregation was detected by turbidimetry; and aorta ring relaxation was recorded by isolated vascular function experience devices for rats.

Result: TFAS demonstrated dose dependence (25, 50, 100, 200 mg x L(-1)) on inhibiting induced macrophages NO production from generating, while increasing cell viability and total anti-oxidant capacity.

[Association of miR-605 and miR-149 genetic polymorphisms with related risk factors of lung cancer susceptibility].

Objective: To explore association of miR-149 and miR-605 polymorphisms with other risk factors of lung cancer susceptibility among Chinese population.

Methods: Two hundred and forty-four patients with lung cancer and 243 cancer-free controls matched by age and sex were enrolled from 2002 to 2008. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from all subjects.

[Expression of caspase apoptosis pathway genes mRNA in colorectal cancer and polyps].

Objective: To investigate mRNA expression of caspase apoptosis pathway genes in colorectal cancer, polyps and normal mucosa.

Methods: Nineteen patients with colorectal cancer, 86 patients with polyps and 10 normal controls were enrolled from 2008 to 2010. Fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR was performed to detect the mRNA expression of caspase apoptosis pathway genes (caspase-2,-3,-6,-7,-8,-9 and -10) in colorectal cancer, polyps and normal mucosa.

A hybrid approach to detect and localize texts in natural scene images.

Text detection and localization in natural scene images is important for content-based image analysis. This problem is challenging due to the complex background, the non-uniform illumination, the variations of text font, size and line orientation. In this paper, we present a hybrid approach to robustly detect and localize texts in natural scene images.

Acute oral toxicity evaluation of biodegradable and pH-sensitive hydrogel based on polycaprolactone, poly(ethylene glycol) and methylacrylic acid (MAA).

In this article, a novel biodegradable and pH-sensitive hydrogel based on polycaprolactone, poly(ethylene glycol) and methylacrylic acid (MAA), was prepared by UV-initiated free radical polymerization. The obtained hydrogel was characterized by (1)H NMR and FTIR. The acute toxicity tests and histopathological study were performed in BALB/c mice.

Thermoreversible gel-sol behavior of biodegradable PCL-PEG-PCL triblock copolymer in aqueous solutions.

A series of biodegradable PCL-PEG-PCL block copolymers were successfully synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone initiated by poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), which were characterized by (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, and FTIR. Their aqueous solution displayed special gel-sol transition behavior with temperature increasing from 4 to 100 degrees C, when the polymer concentration was above corresponding critical gel concentration (CGC). The gel-sol phase diagram was recorded using test tube inverting method and DSC method, which depended not only on chemical composition of copolymers, but also on heating history of copolymer's aqueous solution.

Preparation, characterization, and optimization of pancreas-targeted 5-Fu loaded magnetic bovine serum albumin microspheres.

The magnetic bovine serum albumin (BSA) microspheres (MS) were prepared by emulsification/solidification method. In this experiment, two kinds of magnetic MS, e.g.

Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of the VP8* sialic acid-binding domain of porcine rotavirus strain OSU.

The rotavirus outer capsid spike protein VP4 is utilized in the process of rotavirus attachment to and membrane penetration of host cells. VP4 is cleaved by trypsin into two domains: VP8* and VP5*. The VP8* domain is implicated in initial interaction with sialic acid-containing cell-surface carbohydrates and triggers subsequent virus invasion.