Caenorhabditis elegans is a very important model organism in life sciences. C. elegans has been widely used in research on life sciences, especially in drug screening and the mechanism of drugs, thanks to some of their prominent characteristics, including a short life,short generation cycle, and easy culture and observation. Aging is a complex process, which is the result of multiple factors. There are mainly three types of anti-aging signal pathways in C. elegans, including insulin-insulin-like growth factor-1 signal pathway, diet-restricted signaling pathway and mitochondrial respiratory chain/ATP synthesis pathway. In this paper, we reviewed the aging models based on the above three signaling pathways and the progress in anti-aging drugs based on the above aging models. In addition, a number of C. elegans models of aging-related neurodegenerative diseases can be obtained by using transgenic or chemical mutagenesis. Thus, this paper reviewed the transgenic models of C. elegans associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including theα-synuclein transgenic model of Parkinson disease, theβ-amyloid deposition model of Alzheimer disease, and the polyQ of Huntington disease, and summa?rized the effective drugs based on the above disease models. This review will provide reference for the study of C. elegans in the future screening of anti-aging drugs and drug screening for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

OBJECTIVE To prepare the glutathione adducts of divinylsulfone (DVS), which is an important oxidative metabolism product of SM in vivo, and to investigate their reactive capability with DNA in vitro. METHODS The mustard sulfoxide (SMO) and mustard sulfone (SMO2) were prepared by oxidation reaction using HNO3 and KMnO4 as oxidants, respectively. Then, DVS was prepared through dechlorination reaction using CaCO3 under alkaline conditions. Furthermore, the DVS-GSH adduct and DVS-GSH-purine adducts were prepared and identified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Finally, the adduct reac?tion process of DVS with GSH was monitored using UPLC-MS/MS. RESULTS The DVS-GSH and GSH-DVS-purine adducts were obtained through preparative HPLC and characterized using NMR and high-resolution MS. In aqueous solution, the reactive activity of DVS with GSH was significantly higher than that of SM, and the DVS-GSH adduct had high or reactive activity, which could produce a series of adducts with adenine and guanine in DNA, and the abundance of the adenine adducts was higher than that of the guanine. CONCLUSION DVS-GSH adducts still have high reactive activity with DNA, and more attention should be paid to its potential damage to DNA.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the antitumor effect of cadmium (Ⅱ) complex of pyrazolone derivatives 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-propionyl-5-pyrazolone salicyloyl hydrazide-cadmium (Ⅱ) (Cd-PMPP-SAL) on the murine melanoma B16 cells in vitro and in vivo and its mechanisms. METHODS B16 cells were incubated with Cd-PMPP-SAL at 1.0, 1.5, 3.0, 5.0 and 10.0 mg·L-1 for 24, 48 or 72 h. The prolifera? tion rate of B16 cel s was evaluated by MTT assay. B16 cel s were incubated with Cd-PMPP-SAL at 6.25, 12.50 and 25.00 mg·L-1 for 24 h, while cell morphology was observed by Hoechst33258 staining. Apop?tosis of B16 cells was detected by Annexin Ⅴ-FITC/PI staining. The activity of caspases in B16 cells was detected by caspase activity assay. C57BL/6J mice were inoculated subcutaneously with B16 cells to establish a tumor-bearing model. Five days later, Cd-PMPP-SAL at 6.25, 12.50 and 25.00 mg·kg-1 was injected into tumors of C57BL/6J mice once a day for 12 d. The body mass was recorded daily. One day after the last administration, all the mice were killed and the tumor was harvested. Tumor volume and mass were measured, and the tumor inhibitory rates were calculated. Pathological changes of the tumor, liver and lung were observed under a microscope. The expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) in tumor tissues were detected by immuno?histochemistry. The apoptotic cells in transplanted tumor tissues were detected by TUNEL. RESULTS Cd-PMPP-SAL inhibited the proliferation of B16 cells. The IC50 was 4.946 mg · L-1, and 95% confidence interval was 4.24-5.65 mg · L-1. The apoptosis rates(12.8 ± 1.4)% and (18.4 ± 0.4)% of Cd-PMPP-SAL 12.50 and 25.00 mg · L-1 groups were significantly higher than those of control group (1.7 ± 0.1)% (P<0.01). The activity of caspase 3 and 9 of Cd-PMPP-SAL 25.00 mg · L-1 group was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference in caspases 3/7. The relative tumor volumes of Cd-PMPP-SAL 6.25, 12.50 and 25.00 mg · kg-1 treated groups from the 8th day of treatment were significantly decreased compared with the model group (P<0.01). The result of paraffin sections showed that the transplanted tumor tissues in Cd-PMPP-SAL 12.50 and 25.00 mg · kg- 1 groups exhibited different degrees of necrosis, but there was no significant pathological damage to the liver or lung tissues of mice. Compared with model group, expressions of VEGF and FGF2 in Cd-PMPP-SAL 12.50 and 25.00 mg · kg-1 treated groups were significantly inhibited (P<0.05), and apoptotic cell rates were significantly higher (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Cd-PMPP-SAL can inhibit growth of B16 cells in vivo and in vitro, which may be associated with induction of tumor cell apoptosis and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of jujuboside A on glomerular cell apoptosis in diabetic rats, and to explore the possible mechanisms. METHODS SD rats were administered with streptozotocin 100 mg · kg-1 to estabilish the diabetic model. Diabetic SD rats received jujuboside A 10 and 20 mg · kg-1 daily for 4 weeks by lavage administration, respectively. The level of glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) in the blood of each group was measured by fructosamine method. The morphological changes in glomerular cells were observed by PAS staining. Glomerular cell apoptosis was determined by TUNEL staining. The protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was detected by immunohistochemistry. The protein expression of cleaved caspase 9 and cleaved caspase 3 was detected by Western blotting. Trans?forming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) mRNA expression was analyzed by qPCR. RESULTS Compared with model group, jujuboside A 10 and 20 mg·kg-1 treatment significantly reduced the level of GHb in blood (mmol · L- 1: 10.9 ± 0.8 vs 17.5 ± 1.5, P<0.05; 7.6 ± 0.5 vs 17.5 ± 1.5, P<0.05), PAS positive score of glomerular cells (26.8 ± 3.2 vs 36.4 ± 3.8, P<0.05; 18.4 ± 2.1 vs 36.4 ± 3.8, P<0.05) and the apoptosis of glomerular cells〔(8.2±0.8)%vs (17.6±1.8)%, P<0.05;(5.1±0.5)%vs (17.6±1.8)%, P<0.05〕. Moreover, Bcl-2 protein expression in kidney tissues was elevated (P<0.05), whereas Bax (P<0.05), cleaved caspase 9 (P<0.05) and cleaved caspase 3 (P<0.05) protein expression and TGF-β1 mRNA (P<0.05) expression were reduced after jujuboside A administration. CONCLUSION Jujuboside A can prevent glomerular cell apoptosis in diabetic rats, which may be associated with the regulation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathways and TGF-β1 expression.

OBJECTIVE To explore the immunity-enhancing effect of ABP-AW1, a low-molecular-mass polysaccharides isolated from Agaricus blazei Murill, on immunosuppressive mice. METHODS ICR mice were ip injected cyclophosphamide 80 mg · kg-1, once daily for 3 d, to establish an immuno?suppressive mouse model. Then, ABP-AW1125, 250 and 500 mg · kg-1 were ig given to the immuno?suppressive mice,respectively, once daily for 7 d. The mouse thymus index and spleen index were calcu?lated, and the phagocytic function of phagocytes was determined using carbon clearance test. Splenic lym?phocyte proliferation was measured by MTT method. The interleukin 2 (IL-2) and interferon γ (IFN-γ) production from splenic lymphocytes was examined by ELISA. The splenic lymphocyte CD4+/CD8+ratio was determined by flow cytometric analysis. RESULTS Compared with normal control group, the thymus index, spleen index and phagocytic index of phagocytes in the immunosuppressive model mice declined (P<0.05). ABP-AW1250 and 500 mg·kg-1 treatment significantly increased the thymus index, spleen index and phagocytic index in immunosuppressive mice (P<0.05). Compared with normal control group, concanavalin A (Con A) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced T and B lymphocyte proliferation, respectively, and IL-2 and IFN-γproduction from splenic lymphocytes in the immunosuppressive model mice was lower (P<0.05). Compared with model group, ABP-AW1250 and 500 mg·kg-1 promoted Con A and LPS induced T and B lymphocyte proliferation (P<0.05) , and elevated IL-2 and IFN-γ production from splenic lymphocytes (P<0.05). In addition, ABP-AW1250 and 500 mg·kg-1 reversed the decreased splenocyte CD4+/CD8+ratio in immunosuppressive model mice (P<0.05). CONCLUSION ABP-AW1 has immuneity-enhancing effect on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressive mice.

In recent years, researches on cells, animals, and human beings have found that the carcinogenic mechanism of environmental carcinogen benzo (a) pyrene〔B(a)P〕can reduce methyla?tion of the whole genes, increase the tumor suppressor gene methylation and reduce the gene methyla?tion of proto-oncogene, in addition to the genetic toxicity. It can also cause changes in small RNA expression, the increase of long-chain non-coded RNA expression and imbalance in histone phosphor?ylation expressions. These changes can cause abnormalities in gene expression and chromosome structure and instability, directly leading to cancer. These changes can also cause the corresponding changes of genetic toxicity, such as gene mutation, abnormal genetic damage repair, increas of cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. All these are considered to be potential epigenetic mechanisms of B(a)P. Existing researches have provided the scientific basis for the mechanism of and prevention counter?measures for environment-related diseases and vocational diseases caused by B(a)P.

Natural medicines (NMs) are indispensable sources for the development of modern drugs. However, the targets for most natural compounds are unknown and the current pharmacokinetic evaluation systems developed for target- defined drugs may not be directly applicable to NM- based drug discovery, which is a major bottleneck in bringing natural compounds to the clinic. We propose the concept of ″ reverse pharmacokinetics″ and discuss how a ″ reverse pharmacokinetics″ perspective could help clarify key questions in modern drug discovery from NMs with validated clinical benefits, thereby strengthening the translational potential. Reverse pharmacokinetics can provide physiologically relevant clues to the target identification and mechanistic study of NMs, which may also innovate drug discovery for complex diseases. We anticipate that an evolving deep understanding of the novel mode of action of natural compounds with a reverse pharmacokinetic insight may improve discovery of both single ingredient and multiple-component modern drugs from NMs.

Countless studies have been devoted to the scientific evaluation of the safety and/or efficacy of botanical natural products. Investigators involved in such studies face a unique set of challenges. Natural products differ from their pharmaceutical counterparts in that they are typically complex mixtures, for which the identities and quantities of components present are not known. To further complicate matters, the composition of these mixtures will vary depending on source material and method of preparation. Investigators conducting clinical trials with complex botanical natural products must choose from a myriad of potential preparations, which may vary greatly in composition. In making such decisions, it is extremely useful to know which components of the mixture are most likely to be responsible for its purported biological activity (the ″active constituents″). The gold standard approach for identifying active constituents of botanical natural products is bioassay-guided fractionation, in which the mixture is subjected to successive rounds of purification and bioassays until an active compound is identified. Bioassay guided fractionation has historically played a critical role in drug discovery, but is, nonetheless, fraught with challenges. The process is biased towards the most abundant and easily isolatable mixture components, which may not be the most biologically active. Furthermore, if multiple compounds contribute either additively, antagonistically, or synergistically to the observed biological activity of the mixture, activity may be lost upon isolation. As a complementary strategy to bioassay-guided fractionation, our research group has developed untargeted metabolomics strategies to aid in the identification of bioactive mixture components. These strategies involve profiling botanical mixtures using ultraperformance chromatography coupled to high resolving power mass spectrometry. The resulting chemical data is then integrated with biological assay data using bioche?mometric data analysis strategies. Several case studies will be presented illustrating how this approach can be applied, including for the identification of compounds from the botanical green (Camellia sinensis) that inhibit drug metabolizing enzymes. Such studies are being conducted as part of the Center for Excellence in Natural Product Drug Interaction Studies (NaPDI), which is supported by a cooperative agreement with the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, a component of the National Institutes of Health.

Translational medicine, a kind of medical scientific practice oriented by patients'demands, emphasizes that basic theoretical study helps enhance clinical effect, transform into new drugs as well as meet major needs of social development and human health. It follows disciplinary development rules of TCM, persists in five-in-one (theory-clinic-new drug-experiment-evidence based) innovative new mode of TCM translational development, accelerates internal transformation of research findings, and promotes clinical effect and disciplinary development driven by the oretical innovation of collateral disease. In terms of the oretical research, establishment of new discipline of TCM collateral disease theory has become a practitioner and typical representative for promotion of TCM industry development. Important position and guiding role of theoretical innovation in disciplinary development has been valued. Systematically constructing ″collateral disease treatment based on syndrome differen?tiation″ and ″meridian-collateral theory″ lay a theoretical foundation for establishment of the discipline. With regard to clinical research, under the guidance of TCM theory-collateral disease theory, systematic researches on Chinese medical pathogenesis, intervention strategy and effective formula of major diseases are conducted; series of innovative Chinese medicines are developed. Through pharmacody?namics study, relevant action mechanisms are investigated and revealed in- depth. Evidence- based medical researches prove that representative activating-collateral drugs developed under guidance of collateral disease theory have great application values in prevention and treatment of major refractory diseases such as ischemic cardio-cerebrovascular disease, arrhythmia, chronic heart failure, influenza, tumors and diabetes, bringing about significant economic and social benefits. In this way, international cooperation is promoted and internationalization process of innovative Chinese medicine is accelerated. USA FDA phase-Ⅱ clinical research of Lianhua Qingwen Capsules has been successfully launched. Guided by inheritance and innovation of conventional theory of TCM, the new five- in- one mode of development is established. Such a mode conforms to disciplinary development rules of TCM, suffi?ciently exerts core driving effect of TCM theory, realizes combination of theoretical innovation with clinical practice, specialty construction with disciplinary development and clinical research with original new drug, as well as powerfully promotes progress of TCM collateral disease discipline.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to clarify the association between Cu levels and heart failure(HF)using a meta- analysis approach. METHODS We searched articles in the PubMed, EMbase, CNKI, Wanfang ,VIP and CBM Database published as of August 2016. The case control study on the relationship between serum copper levels and HF were collected and read and extracted by two independent researchers. A Meta analysis was conducted using Stata 12.0 software. RESULTS A total of twenty- one eligible articles, including 893 HF and 654 control subjects, were enrolled. The Meta analysis showed that serum copper levels in HF were higher than control group〔SMD=0.881, 95%CI: (0.487 ,1.264), Z=4.5, P<0.001〕. The sensitivity analysis indicated that the results were reliable. Begg's tests did not find the existence of publication bias. CONCLUSION This meta-analysis indicates that there is a significant association between high Cu serum level and HF.