Prdx6-induced inhibition of ferroptosis in epithelial cells contributes to liquiritin-exerted alleviation of colitis.

Inhibition of ferroptosis in intestinal epithelial cells ameliorates clinical symptoms and improves endoscopic presentations in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Licorice is used worldwide in food and medicine fields. Liquiritin, a flavonoid component in licorice, is an effective substance used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant food that has been shown to improve chemically induced colitis.

Therapeutic material basis and underling mechanisms of Shaoyao Decoction-exerted alleviation effects of colitis based on GPX4-regulated ferroptosis in epithelial cells.

Background: Shaoyao Decoction (SYD) is a canonical herbal medicine prescription formulated by Liu Wan-Su in AD 1186. SYD has been widely used to treat inflammatory bowel disease by clearing heat and damp, removing stasis toxin in the intestine; however, the precise mechanisms and therapeutic material basis remain largely unclear. In the present study, we measured the effects of SYD on colitis symptom, epithelial barrier function, epithelial ferroptosis, colonic protein and mRNA expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in colitis model, and determined whether SYD restored barrier loss in colitis by modulation of GPX4-regulated ferroptosis pathway.

UVR Promotes Keratinocyte Phagocytosis and Skin Pigmentation Through TRPA1 Channels.

Purpose: Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) enhances skin pigmentation, which involves the production of melanin by melanocytes and subsequent transfer to keratinocytes. In the epidermis, keratinocyte phagocytosis plays a pivotal role in the process of melanosome transfer to protect DNA of epidermal cells against damage from UVR. Previous research suggested that transient receptor potential channels ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) was required for UVR-induced early melanin synthesis in melanocytes.

Platelets Promote Ang II (Angiotensin II)-Induced Atrial Fibrillation by Releasing TGF-β1 (Transforming Growth Factor-β1) and Interacting With Fibroblasts.

Hypertension is a risk factor of atrial fibrillation (AF), and a certain number of patients with hypertension were found with an enlarged left atrium. Platelet activation is found in patients with hypertension or pressure overload/Ang II (angiotensin II)-induced hypertensive animal models and contribute to ventricular fibrosis. Whether hypertension-induced atrial fibrosis is mediated by platelets remains unknown.

Coexpression of Human Hepatic Uridine Diphosphate Glucuronosyltransferase Proteins: Implications for Ontogenetic Mechanisms and Isoform Coregulation.

Uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) catalyze glucuronidation to facilitate systemic and local clearance of numerous chemicals and drugs. To investigate whether UGT expression is coregulated in human liver, we analyzed the protein expression of UGTs 1A1, 1A3, 1A4, 1A6, 1A9, 2B7, 3A1, and 3A2 using western blots from 164 healthy human liver samples, comparing expression with age and sex. UGT1A6 levels were significantly higher in children than adults, and UGT3A1 and 3A2 expression significantly increased with age from childhood to age >65 yearas.

Oral administration of honokiol attenuates airway inflammation in asthmatic mouse model.

Allergic asthma is a disease that pathologically characterized by eosinophilia infiltration, airway inflammation and hyper responsiveness. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy possibilities of honokiol, a bi-phenolic compound obtained from species of the genus Magnolia, which has long been involved in traditional Chinese prescriptions for asthma-related lung diseases, in an ovalbumin-induced mouse model of allergic asthma. We found honokiol significantly inhibited the eosinophilia infiltration, reduced the airway inflammation and suppressed the production of inflammatory cytokines) as well as the IgE in serum.

Elevated Circulating Fibrocytes Is a Marker of Left Atrial Fibrosis and Recurrence of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: In atrial fibrillation (AF), a more extensively fibrotic left atrium (LA) provides a substrate for arrhythmias and increases risk of relapse following ablation. Fibrocytes are bone marrow-derived circulating mesenchymal progenitors that have been identified in the atrium of patients with AF who have valvular diseases. The present study investigates the associations between circulating fibrocytes and LA fibrosis or the prevalence of recurrence after ablation in patients with persistent AF.

Fortunellin-Induced Modulation of Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog by MicroRNA-374a Decreases Inflammation and Maintains Intestinal Barrier Function in Colitis.

Activation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is known to induce cell apoptosis. MicroRNA-374a (miR-374a), which can suppress PTEN expression, has been found abnormally expressed in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Fortunellin is a citrus flavonoid that is a potential anti-inflammation agent in inflammatory diseases.

Revisiting the Latency of Uridine Diphosphate-Glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs)-How Does the Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane Influence Their Function?

Uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) are phase 2 conjugation enzymes mainly located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the liver and many other tissues, and can be recovered in artificial ER membrane preparations (microsomes). They catalyze glucuronidation reactions in various aglycone substrates, contributing significantly to the body's chemical defense mechanism. There has been controversy over the last 50 years in the UGT field with respect to the explanation for the phenomenon of latency: full UGT activity revealed by chemical or physical disruption of the microsomal membrane.

MicroRNA-33a and let-7e inhibit human colorectal cancer progression by targeting ST8SIA1.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide. Aberrant sialylation is crucially involved in the progression of various types of cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been broadly studied in cancer.

EASApprox skin-stretching system: A secure and effective method to achieve wound closure.

Large skin defects are commonly observed in the clinic and have attracted much attention recently. Therefore, finding an effective solution for large skin defects is a global problem. The objective of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of the EASApprox skin-stretching system for closing large skin defects.

A multicenter, cross-sectional, observational study of budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy in real-world settings.

Background: To assess the level of asthma control achieved with budesonide/formoterol in Chinese patients with asthma, based on the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) definition and Asthma Control Test (ACT) score.

Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional study (NCT01785901) evaluated asthma control levels in Chinese patients receiving physician-prescribed budesonide/formoterol treatment. Adults with a diagnosis of asthma ≥6 months and receiving budesonide/formoterol treatment ≥3 months before screening were consecutively enrolled.

The ontogeny and population variability of human hepatic dihydronicotinamide riboside:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO2).

Dihydronicotinamide riboside:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO2) is an enzyme that performs reduction reactions involved in antioxidant defense. We hypothesized that NQO2 hepatic drug clearance would develop in children over time, similar to NQO1. Using human liver cytosol (n = 117), the effects of age, sex, ethnicity, and weight on NQO2 expression and activity were probed.

Relationship between polycythemia and in-hospital mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with low-risk pulmonary embolism.

Backgrounds: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is frequent in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and associated with high mortality. This multi-center retrospective study was performed to investigate if secondary polycythemia is associated with in-hospital mortality in COPD patients with low-risk PE.

Methods: We identified COPD patients with proven PE between October, 2005 and October, 2015.

The effect of the NMDA receptor-dependent signaling pathway on cell morphology and melanosome transfer in melanocytes.

Background: The pigmentation of skin and hair in mammals is driven by the intercellular transfer of melanosome from the melanocyte to surrounding keratinocytes However, the detailed molecular mechanism is still a subject of investigation.

Objective: To investigate the effects of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-dependent signaling pathway on melanocyte morphologic change and melanosome transfer between melanocytes and keratinocytes.

Methods: The expression and the intracellular distribution of NMDA receptor in human melanocyte were analyzed by Western blot and immunofluorescence staining.

Activated platelets inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma cell differentiation and promote tumor progression via platelet-tumor cell binding.

Lack of differentiation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with increased circulating platelet size. We measured platelet activation and plasma adenosine diphosphate (ADP) levels in HCC patients based on differentiation status. Local platelet accumulation and platelet-hepatoma cell binding were measured using immunohistochemistry (IHC) or flow cytometry.

MicroRNA-106b targets FUT6 to promote cell migration, invasion, and proliferation in human breast cancer.

It is demonstrated that the maladjustment of microRNA (miRNA) plays significant roles in the occurrence and development of tumors. MicroRNA-106b-5p (miR-106b), a carcinogenic miRNA, is identified as a dysregulated miRNA in human breast cancer. In this article, the expression levels of miR-106b were discovered to be particularly higher in breast cancer tissues than that in the corresponding adjacent tissues.

A clinical study on the role of psychosomatic therapy in evaluation and treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complicated with anxiety-depression disorder.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of psychotic therapy on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) complicated with anxiety-depression disorder by Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and modified British Medical research Council (mMRC). Thirty-five patients with COPD were evaluated by pulmonary physicians with CAT and mMRC. They were further evaluated with HAMD and HAMA by psychologists and diagnosed and grouped into group B and D according to the Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) version 2014.

Effects of the C-terminal of endostatin on the tumorigenic potential of H22 cells.

Endostatin is an endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor whose specific functional site has not yet been determined. In the present experiment, 13 amino acids (LCIENSFMTSFSK) were selectively deleted from the C-terminal of endostatin and the resulting mutant endostatin was named EM13. To determine the effect of the C-terminal deletion on the biological activity of endostatin, EM13, wild-type endostatin and empty plasmid were transfected into H22 cells.

Effects and mechanisms of alveolar type II epithelial cell apoptosis in severe pancreatitis-induced acute lung injury.

This study aimed to examine the role of alveolar type II epithelial cell (AEC II) apoptosis in severe pancreatitis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and the intervening role of Qingyi decoction (QYT). An SAP model was established in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Immunohistochemical analysis was conducted to observe the pathological changes in the pancreas and lung tissue.

Triptolide, a Chinese herbal extract, enhances drug sensitivity of resistant myeloid leukemia cell lines through downregulation of HIF-1α and Nrf2.

Aim: To explore whether triptolide (TPL) can enhance drug sensitivity of resistant myeloid leukemia cell lines through downregulation of HIF-1α and Nrf2.

Materials & Methods: HL60/A and K562/G cells were subjected to different treatments and thereafter an methyl thiazole tetrazolium bromide assay, flow cytometry, western blot and real-time PCR were used to determine IC₅₀, apoptotic status and expression of Nrf2, HIF-1α and their target genes.

Results: Doxorubicin- or imatinib-induced apoptosis was enhanced when anticancer agents were used in combination with TPL.

Utility of 18F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosis and management of mucormycosis.

(18)F-FDG PET/CT on a 23-year-old woman with aplastic anemia and left periorbital swelling showed FDG-avid lesions in the head and neck. The lesions were confirmed to be mucormycosis histologically after (18)F-FDG PET/CT-guided biopsy. Antifungal therapy was adjusted with serial follow-up (18)F-FDG PET/CT until complete patient recovery.

Blocking glutamate-mediated signalling inhibits human melanoma growth and migration.

Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter that has been shown to regulate the proliferation, migration and survival of neuronal progenitors in the central nervous system through its action on metabotropic and ionotropic glutamate receptors (GluRs). Antagonists of ionotropic GluRs have been shown to cause a rapid and reversible change in melanocyte dendritic morphology, which is associated with the disorganization of actin and tubulin microfilaments in the cytoskeleton. Intracellular expression of microtubule-associated protein (MAP) 2a affects the assembly, stabilization and bundling of microtubules in melanoma cells; stimulates the development of dendrites; and suppresses melanoma cell migration and invasion.

Suppression of inflammation by tumor-derived exosomes: a kind of natural liposome packaged with multifunctional proteins.

Exosomes are small-membrane vesicles secreted by hematopoietic and malignant epithelial cells as well as trophoblasts. The composition of cancerous exosomes has been proven to play pivotal roles in the maintenance of the microenvironment that is beneficial for the progression of cancer, such as Fas-ligand-triggered lymphocyte apoptosis. We supposed that the immunosuppressive effect of cancerous exosomes might be helpful in the treatment of diseases characterized by overactivation of the immune system and subsequent tissue injury.

Utilization of FDG PET/CT in the Management of Inflammation and Infection in Patients with Malignancies.

[(18)F]Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET/computed tomography has become an established modality. High-resolution PET images are superior to those provided by most single-photon-emitting tracers. Apart from its value for diagnosing and restaging malignancies, PET is increasingly used to detect associated infectious and inflammatory conditions in oncology patients.