Objective To examine the effect of berberine on tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)-induced VEGF expression and the possible mechanism.Methods There were two sessions in this study.In the first session,HepG2 cells were treated with 10 ng/mL TNF-αfor 0,12,24 and 48 h,respectively.In the second session,HepG2 cells were pre-incubated with 0,10,25 and 50μmol/L berberine for 24 h,respectively,and then treated with 10 ng/mL TNF-αfor 24 h.The effect of berberine on the prolif-eration of HepG2 cells was assayed by MTT.The level of VEGF mRNA was detected by real-time PCR,and the expression lev-els of VEGF,IκBαand NF-κB p65 proteins by Western blot.The activity of NF-κB was measured by ELISA.Results Berberine could dose-dependently inhibit the growth of HepG2 cells.TNF-αcould increase the mRNA and protein expression levels of VEGF in HepG2 cells in a time-dependent manner.Berberine could significantly dose-dependently down-regulate the TNF-α-in-duced VEGF expression at mRNA and protein levels.TNF-αsignificantly decreased the expression of IκBαand increased the ex-pression of NF-κB p65 and the activity of NF-κB in a time-dependent manner,which could be dose-dependently abrogated by pretreatment with berberine.Conclusion Berberine inhibits TNF-α-induced VEGF expression via NF-κB signaling pathway.

Autophagy and apoptosis have been regarded as important processes in the development of diabetic erectile dysfunction (DMED). Probucol is considered to have anti-apoptotic effects, but its relationship with autophagy has not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and mechanisms of probucol on erectile function. Thirty Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats (12 weeks old) were fasted for 12 h. Twenty SD rats were injected with a single intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg kg-1 streptozotocin (STZ). Ten rats were given vehicle only and used as a sham group. After 72 h, 20 STZ-treated rats with random blood glucose concentrations consistently greater than 16.7 mmol l-1 were used as successfully established diabetic rats. The diabetic rats were divided randomly into two groups and treated with a daily gavage of probucol at a dose of 0 or 500 mg kg-1 for 12 weeks. After treatment, the intracavernous pressure (ICP) was used to measure erectile function upon electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve. After euthanasia, penile tissue was examined using immunohistochemistry and Western blot to assess the protein levels of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), BCL2-associated X (Bax), microtubule-associated protein light chain 3-II (LC3-II), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and sequestosome 1 (P62). Caspase-3 activity was measured to determine apoptosis using a caspase-3 assay kit. After 12 weeks of treatment, the erectile function of the probucol group was significantly better than that of the DM group (P < 0.05). Bax and LC3-II protein expression and caspase-3 activity were significantly lower in the probucol group than those in the DM group (all P < 0.05), while Bcl-2, mTOR, and P62 protein expression levels were significantly higher than those in the DM group (all P < 0.05). We demonstrated that probucol inhibited apoptosis and autophagy in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

Lattice degeneration of the retina(LD)is a peripheral vitreoretinal lesion characterized by atrophic retinal lesions and vitreous liquefaction in the equatorial region of the fundus. The progress of the disease is slow and the pathogenesis is not clear, which may be the result of multiple factors, among which the increase of ocular axis is one of the main risk factors. With the increase of myopia incidence, the prevalence of LD is on the rise. In recent years,it has become possible to quickly examine peripheral retina with the development of ultra-wide field fundus imaging technology. At present, retinal photocoagulation is the main prevention and treatment method for LD, but the need for preventive treatment is still unclear. This article reviews the epidemiology, pathogenesis, influencing factors and treatment of LD, hoping to provide ideas for further research and treatment of myopia-related LD.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Fractures, Comminuted ; surgery ; Humans ; Humeral Fractures ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Splints

With the development of the genomic sequencing of human commensal microbiome and bioinformatics, the role of esophageal microbiome in the pathogenesis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Barrett's esophagus (BE), esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has been attracted much attention. Esophageal microbiome are relatively stable, but changes such as age, diet, use of drugs, oral hygiene, smoking, etc. can break the balance between esophageal microbiome and host immunity, and lead to persistent dysbacteriosis, increasing the risk of local inflammation and systemic inflammation and ultimately lead to the progression of many diseases. This article reviewed the progress in study on relationship between microbiome dysbiosis and pathogenesis of esophageal diseases.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease, β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition and Tau protein hyperphosphorylation are the main pathological features. Silent mating-type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) can deacetylate various types of histones and non-histones, and play an important role in the pathogenesis of AD. Recent studies found that exercise can activate SIRT1 to delay the progression of AD. The mechanisms may be as follows: inhibit the activity of β-secretase and increase the activity of α-secretase to reduce the production of Aβ; reduce the accumulation of hyperphosphorylated Tau protein; interact with PGC-1α to promote mitochondrial biogenesis; up-regulate PINK1/ Parkin signaling pathway to improve mitochondrial autophagy; and deacetylate NF-κB to inhibit neuroinflammation. In addition, the protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in hippocampus are increased, and ApoE4 gene is inhibited to enhance synaptic plasticity. This article summarizes the role and mechanisms of exercise in improving AD by regulating SIRT1, and provides new ideas for the prevention and treatment of AD.

BACKGROUNDGlucosylceramide synthase (GCS) can reduce ceramide levels and help cells escape ceramide-induced apoptosis, thus leading to multidrug resistance (MDR). However, its expression and clinical significance in thyroid neoplasms still remain unclear. We aimed to elucidate the expression of GCS and explore its correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs).

METHODSWe retrospectively investigated GCS protein expression level in tissue specimens obtained from 108 consecutive PTC patients by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.

RESULTSGCS was weakly positive or negative in normal follicular cells, but it was frequently overexpressed in PTC cells. GCS overexpression was associated with primary tumor size, local infiltration, lymph node metastasis, and local recurrence, but not associated with gender, age, pathological variants, tumor multifocality, tumor stage or distant metastasis. Western blotting also showed that GCS protein levels were much higher in PTCs' tissues than in normal thyroid tissues.

CONCLUSIONGCS was upregulated in PTCs and might be an independent factor affecting prognosis.

Adult ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma ; enzymology ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Female ; Glucosyltransferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; enzymology ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo probe the feasibility of acupuncture in conversion of paroxymal atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

METHODSEighty cases of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter were randomly divided into 2 groups, a treatment group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6), Shenmen (HT 7), Danzhong (CV 17) and others, and the control group with intravenous injection of amiodarone. The cardiac rhythms and side effects were observed in the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of 85.0% in the treatment group was better than 67.5% in the control group (P < 0.01). The average conversion time was (39.6 +/- 13.7) min in the treatment group and (50.1 +/- 14.8) min in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). No adverse effect was found in the treatment group.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture is a safe and effective therapy for conversion of paroxymal atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Amiodarone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; therapeutic use ; Atrial Fibrillation ; therapy ; Atrial Flutter ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Middle Aged

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Humeral Fractures ; complications ; Humerus ; surgery ; Joint Deformities, Acquired ; surgery ; Male ; Orthopedic Fixation Devices ; Osteotomy ; methods