AIM: To investigate the effect of Chinese herbs, Ganxianfang(GXF), on rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC) proliferation and collagen synthesis. METHODS: Two types of herb serum, portal venous serum and circumferential venous serum, were prepared from rats infused intragastrically with 16,8,4 times adult dose of GXF decoction. HSC isolated from rat liver were processed with the above sera in vitro . Then we mensurated the radioactivity of HSC admixed with [ 3H]proline and [ 3H]thymine to judge the effect on proliferation and collagen synthesis of HSC. RESULTS: Both two types of serum collected 0 5, 1, 2 h after intragastrical infusion inhibited HSC proliferation ( P 0 05). CONCLUSION: Inhibition of HSC proliferation and decrease of collagen synthesis may contribute to the GXF antifibrotic action.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of sleep problems and influencing factors among preschoolers, so as to provide a reference for healthy sleep behaviors among preschoolers. Methods: From December 2017 to June 2018, a questionnaires study was administered to parents of 8 456 preschoolers from kindergartens in Yangzhou, Zhenjiang and Xuzhou by using random cluster sampling method. Demographic characteristics, screen time, sleep patterns and the Children s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) were colleted. Results: The average night sleep duration was (9.91±0.64)h, the rate of sleep deprivation was 51.7%, which increased with age ( χ 2 trend =34.19, P <0.01). The total scores of CSHQ were (49.46±5.02), and the prevalence of sleep problems was 95.0%, with the prevalence of specific sleep problems ranged from 2.3% to 76.4%. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that only child, mothers age, parental education, and household economic status was significantly associated the sleep problems ( P <0.05). Conclusion The prevalence of sleep problems among preschool children is more prominent, varies by only child, parental education and household economic status. Parents and society should raise awareness of sleep problems.

Erbin, a member of Leucine-rich repeat and PDZ-containing protein family, was found to inhibit TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in our previous study. However, the mechanism of Erbin in regulating EMT is unclear. Semaphorin protein Sema4C, with PDZ binding site at C-terminal has been recognized as a positive regulator of EMT. Here, we aimed to examine the interaction between Erbin and Sema4C. HK2 cells were treated with TGF-β1, or transfected with Erbin and (or) Sema4C. Interaction of Erbin and Sema4C was identified by immunoprecipitation. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of Erbin and Sema4C at mRNA level after transfection. The expression levels of Erbin, Sema4C, and markers of EMT were measured by using Western blotting or ELISA. After HK2 cells were stimulated with 10 ng/mL TGF-β1 for 72 h, the protein expression levels of Erbin and Sema4C were both up-regulated, and immunoprecipitation results showed Erbin interacted with Sema4C in HK2 cells both at endogenous and exogenous levels. Furthermore, overexpression of Sema4C suppressed E-cadherin, induced vimentin and promoted fibronectin secretion, indicating Sema4C promotes the process of EMT. However, HK2 cells overexpressing Erbin were resistant to Sema4C-induced EMT. In contrast, Erbin specific siRNA promoted EMT induced by Sema4C. Taken together, these results suggest that Erbin can interact with Sema4C, and co-expression of Erbin blocks the process of Sema4C-induced EMT.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Humans ; Immunoprecipitation ; Kidney Tubules, Proximal ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; RNA Interference ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Semaphorins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology ; Vimentin ; metabolism