BACKGROUND:The gut microbiota in our intestine performs numerous useful functions and has a major impact on the host’s health. Recently some studies have revealed that the gut microbiota cannot only control intestinal activity but also affect bone metabolism by regulating the immune system. OBJECTIVE:To review the new research development in the effects of gut microbiota on bone metabolism. METHODS: We retrieved the PubMed database using “gut microbiota, immune system, bone metabolism, osteoporosis” as keywords. A total of 46 articles were included which were related to gut microbiota, immune system and bone metabolism. For the articles in the same field, those published recently or in authorized journals were selected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Gut microbiota-osteoporosis research wil bridge the gaps between bone physiology, gastroenterology, immunology, and microbiology.In vivo experiments in the germ-free mice and human body have found that the gut microbiota has important effects on bone metabolism, and the intervention of antibiotics, probiotics and prebiotics has further confirmed the effects of gut microbiota on bone mass. The gut microbiota has more obvious effects on bone mass in the adolescent and post-menopause periods.

Objective To study the effect of BRMS1 on the invasion and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells. Methods BRMS1 small interfering RNA (BRMS1-siRNA) was transfected into human ovarian cancer cell-line OVCAR3 by liposome transfection method. The cells were divided into 3 groups: experimental group with BRMSl-siRNA, negative control group with siRNA that did not impact any gene, blank control group without any transfection. Changes of invasion and migration in the cells were per-formed using transwell invasion and migration assay. Results BRMS1 gene was silenced in OVCAR3 cell line successfully detecting by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and immunoblotting.In transwell invasion assay,the numbers of cells in lower chamber passing through the membrane in transfected group were more than negative control group and blank control group (190±8.5, 144±7.8 and 146±6.8 respectively) (t=8.747, t=8.869, P=0.000), while in transwell migration assay, the numbers of cells in lower chamber passing through the membrane in transfected group were more than negative control group and blank control group were (231 ±8.9, 177±9.7 and 182±7.9 respectively) (t=9.314, t=9.224, P=0.000), both with significant differences among the 3 groups. Conclusion BRMS1 gene could suppress the invasion and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells.

AIM:ToinvestigatetheeffectofP21-activatedkinase1(PAK1)andlymphoidenhancer-binding factor 1(LEF1) on the proliferation of esophagus cancer cells .METHODS:Real-time PCR was applied to detect the mR-NA expression of PAK1 and LEF1 in the esophagus cancer tissues .MTT assay were used to measure the proliferation of hu-man esophagus cancer cell line KYSE transfected with PAK 1 and LEF1.RESULTS: The mRNA expression of PAK1 in the esophagus cancer tissues was lower than that in control group (P<0.05).The mRNA expression of LEF1 and tran-scription factor 4 (TCF4) in the esophagus cancer tissues was higher than that in control group (P<0.05).The prolifera-tion of KYSE cells with over-expression of PAK1 and LEF1 was higher than that in control group .No significant change of apoptosis between the KYSE cells with over-expression of PAK1 and LEF1 and control group was observed .CONCLU-SION:The expression of PAK1 decreases and the expression of LEF 1 increases in esophagus cancer tissues .LEF1 domi-nantly regulates the proliferation of esophagus cancer cells .

BACKGROUND:Experimental studies have showed that puerarin has an obvious protective effect on osteoporosis in ovariectomized and orchiectomized mice. But the influence of puerarin in the molecular level in the process of osteoblast differentiation is seldom reported.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of puerarin on the mRNA expression of alkaline phosphatase, bone sialoprotein, osteopontin and osteocalcin in osteoblasts.
METHODS:The MC3T3-E1 cells from mice cultured in vitro were randomly divided into control group, puerarin group (10-6 mol/L puerarin) and estradiol group (10-7 mol/L estradiol) to observe the effects of puerarin on the differentiation of osteoblasts. mRNA expression of alkaline phosphatase, bone sialoprotein, osteopontin and osteocalcin in MC3T3-E1 cells was determined using RT-PCR method.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Puerarin and estradiol both could prolong the expression of alkaline phosphatase that reached the peak at 12 days. Puerarin and estradiol strengthened the mRNA expression of bone sialoprotein at 10 and 12 days, reduced expression of osteopontin at 5 and 12 days, and increased expression of osteocalcin at 10 and 12 days. These results reveal that puerarin can induce the differentiation of cultured osteoblasts by influencing osteoblast differentiation-related protein mRNA expressions, which may be one of the important molecular mechanisms of puerarin for prevention of osteoporosis.

To prepare tacrolimus solid dispersion to increase the solubility and bioavailability of tacrolimus. Tacrolimus solid dispersions were prepared by different water-soluble carriers, which were evaluated by in vitro drug dissolutions to select the optimal formulation. The optimal tacrolimus solid dispersion was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy(SEM), X-ray diffraction(XRD)and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC), and its gastrointestinal absorption kinetics was studied in rats. The results showed that tacrolimus solid dispersion with HPMC E3 as carrier had the fastest dissolution rate. SEM, XRD and DSC studies indicated that tacrolimus was distributed within the carrier HPMC E3 in amorphous form. Gastrointestinal absorption experiments in rats demonstrated that the optimal formulation remarkably increased oral absorption of tacrolimus. These results demonstrate that a novel tacrolimus solid dispersion with HPMC E3 as carrier may be an advantageous dosage form of tacrolimus, boosting the solubility and absorption in gastrointestinal tract.