Metformin Inhibits Chemokine Expression Through the AMPK/NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Inflammation is mediated by cytokines and chemokines, which are considered targets of inflammatory diseases. Mounting evidence has demonstrated the anti-inflammatory benefits of metformin. However, the underlying mechanisms are not completely understood.

Paeoniflorin Inhibits Migration and Invasion of Human Glioblastoma Cells via Suppression Transforming Growth Factor β-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition.

Paeoniflorin (PF) is a polyphenolic compound derived from Radix Paeoniae Alba thathas anti-cancer activities in a variety of human malignancies including glioblastoma. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), characterized as losing cell polarity, plays an essential role in tumor invasion and metastasis.

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide in the nucleus accumbens shell inhibits cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization to transient over-expression of α-Ca /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II.

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide is a widely distributed neurotransmitter that attenuates cocaine-induced locomotor activity when injected into the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Our previous work first confirmed that the inhibitory mechanism of the CART peptide on cocaine-induced locomotor activity is related to a reduction in cocaine-enhanced phosphorylated Ca /calmodulin-dependent protein kinaseIIα (pCaMKIIα) and the enhancement of cocaine-induced D3R function. This study investigated whether CART peptide inhibited cocaine-induced locomotor activity via inhibition of interactions between pCaMKIIα and the D3 dopamine receptor (D3R).

AMPK downregulates ALK2 via increasing the interaction between Smurf1 and Smad6, leading to inhibition of osteogenic differentiation.

Activin A receptor type I or activin receptor-like kinase 2 (ACVRI/ALK2) belongs to type I TGF-β family and plays an important role in bone development. Activating mutations of ALK2 containing the R206 to H mutation, are present in 95% in the rare autosomal genetic disease fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), which leads to the development of ectopic bone formation in muscle. The effect of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation on ALK2R206H-mediated signaling in fibroblasts obtained from a FOP patient was assessed in the present study.

[Research progress of presepsin in sepsis diagnosis].

Sepsis is a frequently met syndrome with complex clinical symptoms and high mortality in emergency department. Early diagnosis of sepsis and timely treatment can improve survival. In recent years, the application of biomarkers [such as procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6)] are commonly used in the early diagnosis of sepsis, but their specificity and sensitivity are limited because of the long lag of report time.

Adoptive Immunotherapy for B-cell Malignancies Using CD19- Targeted Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cells: A Systematic Review of Efficacy and Safety.

Background: Adoptive infusion of chimeric antigen receptor transduced T- cells (CAR-T) is a powerful tool of immunotherapy for hematological malignancies, as evidenced by recently published and unpublished clinical results.

Objective: In this report, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of CAR-T on refractory and/or relapsed B-cell malignancies, including leukemia and lymphoma.

Methods: Clinical studies investigating efficacy and safety of CAR-T in acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma were identified by searching PubMed and EMBASE.

High expression of IL-4R enhances proliferation and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression and function of interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: We collected 40 pairs of human HCC and adjacent normal tissue specimens and examined the expression levels of IL-4R. After IL-4R knockdown in HCC cell lines, cell proliferation and invasion ability were examined.

Metformin inhibits ALK1-mediated angiogenesis via activation of AMPK.

Anti-VEGF therapy has been proven to be effective in the treatment of pathological angiogenesis. However, therapy resistance often occurs, leading to development of alternative approaches. The present study examines if AMPK negatively regulates ALK1-mediated signaling events and associated angiogenesis.

Calycosin inhibits migration and invasion through modulation of transforming growth factor beta-mediated mesenchymal properties in U87 and U251 cells.

In this study, we investigated the potential anticancer effects of calycosin against human glioblastoma cells, including the impacts on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle distribution. We further studied its inhibitory activity on migration and invasion in U87 and U251 cells. Furthermore, transforming growth factor beta-mediated reductions of mesenchymal-associated genes/activators, matrix metalloproteinases-2, and -9 were detected in this process.

MicroRNA-212 functions as an epigenetic-silenced tumor suppressor involving in tumor metastasis and invasion of gastric cancer through down-regulating PXN expression.

Altered expression of paxillin (PXN) is closely linked to the pathogenesis progression, metastasis and prognosis of different malignancies including gastric cancer (GC). Epigenetic silencing of tumor-suppressive microRNAs (miRNAs) is a crucial component of the mechanism underlying activation of oncogenes in tumor. To screen for epigenetically silenced miRNAs which target PXN in GC, we performed bioinformatics algorithms and real-time PCR analysis, and identified miR-212 as the optimum candidate gene.

Paeoniflorin inhibits human glioma cells via STAT3 degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.

We investigated the underlying mechanism for the potent proapoptotic effect of paeoniflorin (PF) on human glioma cells in vitro, focusing on signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling. Significant time- and dose-dependent apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation were observed in PF-treated U87 and U251 glioma cells. Expression of STAT3, its active form phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3), and several downstream molecules, including HIAP, Bcl-2, cyclin D1, and Survivin, were significantly downregulated upon PF treatment.

Molecular epidemiology of an outbreak of hand, foot, and mouth disease associated with subgenotype C4a of enterovirus A71 in Nanchang, China in 2014.

An outbreak of hand, foot, and mouth disease was reported through hospital-based surveillance in Nanchang, China in 2014. A total of 244 cases were reported, 176 (72.1%) cases were tested positive for enteroviruses by direct reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, in which enterovirus A71 (EV-A71), coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16), and untyped enteroviruses (UEV) accounted for 84.

Protection of vascular endothelial cells from high glucose-induced cytotoxicity by emodin.

Induction of endothelial cytotoxicity by hyperglycemia in diabetes has been widely accepted. Emodin is a natural anthraquinone in rhubarb used for treatment of diabetes, but its mechanism of action is not fully understood. This study aimed to examine the potential beneficial effects of emodin on endothelial cytotoxicity caused by high glucose milieu.

Methylation-associated silencing of MicroRNA-335 contributes tumor cell invasion and migration by interacting with RASA1 in gastric cancer.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that function as endogenous silencers of target genes, previous studies have shown that miR-335 play an important role in suppressing metastasis and migration in human cancer including gastric cancer (GC). However, the mechanisms which result in aberrant expression of miR-335 in GC are still unknown. Recent studies have shown that the silencing of some miRNAs is associated with DNA hypermethylation.

Inflammatory response and neuronal necrosis in rats with cerebral ischemia.

In the middle cerebral artery occlusion model of ischemic injury, inflammation primarily occurs in the infarct and peripheral zones. In the ischemic zone, neurons undergo necrosis and apoptosis, and a large number of reactive microglia are present. In the present study, we investigated the pathological changes in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion.

X-ray irradiation promotes apoptosis of hippocampal neurons through up-regulation of Cdk5 and p25.

Background: Cranial radiation therapy has been used for the treatment of primary and metastatic brain tumors. A prominent feature of brain injury induced by the radiation therapy is hippocampal dysfunction, characterized by a decline in memory. Cdk5 plays an important role in memory formation.

[Preliminary study about the role of c-src in the initiation of primordial follicle in rat ovary].

Objective: To explore the role of c-src on the initiation of primordial follicles.

Methods: 2-days-old female SD rats' ovaries were cultured in Waymouth culture system and were used HE staining and immunohistochemy to observe the number of follicles after 0, 4, 8 days cultured. Use chemically synthesized small interference RNA (siRNA) transfected into ovarian tissue in cultured for RNA interference, and use HE staining and RT-PCR to detect the best siRNA and packaging it by lentiviruses to test the interference effect.

Expression of β-catenin and cyclin D1 in epidermal stem cells of diabetic rats.

The healing of diabetic wounds represents a formidable clinical challenge, and the molecular mechanisms involved in diabetic wound healing are far from clear. In this study, we investigated the expression of β-catenin and cyclin D1 in the epidermal stem cells (ESCs) of diabetic rats, and explored whether the reduction of β-catenin and its downstream target in ESCs, cyclin D1, lead to poor wound healing in diabetes mellitus (DM). We found that, compared to the controls, the ESCs of diabetic rats were markedly reduced, the clone formation efficiency of the ESCs was markedly lower, and the mRNA and protein expression of β-catenin and cyclin D1 was significantly decreased.

[Role of MAPK and PKC signaling pathways in the regulation of c-erbB₂ in the primordial follicles onset].

Our previous studies showed that the proto-oncogene c-erbB₂ played an important role in primordial follicles growth. The present study was conducted to investigate the role of MAPK and PKC signaling pathways in the primordial follicle onset in neonatal rats, and the relationship between c-erbB₂ and MAPK/PKC signaling pathways. Ovaries collected from 2-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured in the Waymouth culture system in vitro.

[The expression of proto-oncogene c-erbB₂ and its role in the initiation of primordial follicle growth in rat ovary].

Little is known about the factors that control the initiation of growth of primordial follicles. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of c-erbB₂ on the onset of primordial follicle development, and whether c-erbB₂ mediates the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in this process. We synthesized three pairs of siRNAs targeting the c-erbB₂ mRNA and transferred them into the newborn rat ovary cultured in vitro with Metafectene.

[The effects and mechanisms of Forsythia suspense on the expression of Foxp3 on splenocytes and level of Treg in peripheral blood in severely burnt rats].

Aim: To explore the immunity modulation function of aqueous of Forsythia suspense (AFS) and its possible mechanisms.

Methods: Rats of burned model group were burned with vapor under 3 mpa pressure and 108 degrees C temperature for 8 seconds to achieve deep partial-thickness burn, to make a thirty percent total body surface area (TBSA) burn. The experiment were divided into five groups:

Control Group: without any treatment; 8PBH group: 8 h after burn; the rats of AFS1 group, AFS2 group and AFS3 group of them were given AFS 5 g/kg, 2.

[Study on the expression of TLR4 on splenocytes and its relation with CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cells in peripheral blood in severely burnt rats].

Aim: To investigate the expression of Toll like receptor 4(TLR4) on splenocytes and TNF-alpha mRNA, the dynamic changes of CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cell(Treg) and endotoxin(ET) in peripheral blood of burnt rats during the early phase, and to explore the mechanism against inflammatory reaction in intestine-derived infection after burn.

Methods: 64 SD male rats were randomly separated into control group and burn model groups. Rats of burn model group were burnt with vapor under 3 mPa pressure and 108 degrees Celsius temperature for 8 seconds to achieve deep partial-thickness burn, and a 30% total body surface area (TBSA) burn model was made.