"Omics" and bioinformatics have brought new ideas to the study of traditional Chinese medicine. This study used metabonomics and network pharmacology to investigate the pharmacodynamic basis and regulation of Qishen Yiqi dropping pill (QDP) improving cardiac energy metabolism in rats with heart failure (HF). ¹H NMR metabonomics analysis showed that eight metabolites, including carnitine, glutamine, creatine, proline, homocitrulline, lactic acid, taurine and alanine appeared significant callback after QDP treatment for HF. The results indicate that QDP regulates the metabolism of carbohydrate, lipid, ATP and protein. The animal experiment was conducted in accordance with the regulations of the Ethics Committee for Experimental Animal Management and Animal Welfare of Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. A "drug-component-target-disease" network was established using network pharmacology, and the "component-target" sub-network related to the above energy metabolism processes was extracted by combining metabonomics results. Results revealed 79 chemical compounds and 47 potential targets of QDP involved in the regulation of energy metabolism, and identified key chemical components including ursolic acid, notoginsenoside G, ginsenoside-Rh1, and core targets such as INS, PPARG, and AKT1. The results also demonstrated the complex multi-target and multi-component relationship between QDP and HF from the perspective of energy metabolism. The molecular docking technique verified a strong interaction between some targets and chemical compounds, with affinities less than -5 kcal·mol^-1. The results of this study provide useful information for the clinical application, development, and utilization of QDP.

Objective To investigate the action and mechanism of NF-κB pathway in up-regulating B cell-activating factor receptor (BAFF-R) expression in multiple myeloma cells induced by IFN-γ.Methods Activated NF-κB were detected with Western blot, while the expression of BAFF-R were measured with RT-PCR and ELISA, and investigated the effect of BAY11-7082 on transcription of BAFF-R mRNA and translation of protein in multiple myeloma cells stimulated by IFN-γ. Results IFN-γ can induce the degradation of IκB-α in time-dependent and dosage-dependent manner, and up-regulated BAFF-R expression in multiple myeloma cells. BAY11-7082, an NF-κB inhibitor, inhibited not only the transcription of BAFF-R mRNA but also the protein of regulated by IFN-γin dosage-dependent manner. Conclusion NFκB may play an important role in high expression of BAFF-R in multiple myeloma cells induced by IFN-γ.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the inhibitory effects mechanism of scallop skirt glycosaminoglycan(SS-GAG)on inju-ry in human umbilical vein endothelium cells (HUVEC). METHODS:In the test,there was a negative control group,a model group and the groups of SS-GAG at high,middle and low concentrations(mass concentrations of 200,100 and 50 mg/L respective-ly). The cells in latter 3 groups were cultured in SS-GAG at different mass concentrations for 12 h,and then in 50 μmol/L oxidized low-density lipoprotein(OX-LDL)for 24 h. MTT method was used to detect cell viability and the activity of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH),the flow cytometer to determine the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS),real-time fluorescence quantitative poly-merase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect mRNA expression of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (LOX-1), and Western blot to detect NOX4 protein expression. RESULTS:Compared to the cells in the negative control group,those in the model group demonstrated lower viability,higher activity of LDH,higher level of ROS,and stronger expressions of LOX-1 mRNA and NOX4 protein. There was statistical significance (P<0.01). Compared to the cells in the model group,those in the groups of SS-GAG at high,middle and low concentrations showed higher viability,lower activity of LDH,lower level of ROS and weaker expressions of LOX-1 mRNA and NOX4 protein. There was statistical significance (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS:SS-GAG can protect HUVEC to some degree by a mechanism which may be related to inhibiting ROS production via LOX-1/NOX4 pathway and relieving oxidative stress injury.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of circulating miR-125b-5p in coronary atherosclerotic heart disease.Methods With case-control study,80 cases of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease were recruited in Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from February 2014 to august 2015.According to coronary angiography result they were divided into two groups: there are coronary artery stenosis group(n=49)and control group(n=31).All patients were also divided into non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction group(n=35),unstable angina group group(n=25),stable angina group(n=20).The level of miR-125b-5p before coronary angiograph was detected.By independent sample t test and variance analysis,the levels of miR-125b-5p were compared between the groups of coronary artery stenosis and the group with no stenosis of the coronary artery,the coronary artery lesions in each group,and between the various types of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease respectively.Results MiR-125b-5p expression level of Coronary artery stenosis group(0.35±0.10)was lower than that in group coronary artery with no stenosis(0.95±0.12),the difference was statistically significant(t=24.179,P<0.000 1).With the increase in the number of diseased coronary arteries,miR-125b-5p expression level decreased gradually.There is also statistical significance(t=8.399,P<0.000 1; t=13.067,P<0.000 1)in miR-125b-5p expression among NSTEMI+STEMI,UA and SAP groups.miR-125b-5p expression level was negatively correlated with Gensini score(R2=0.822,P<0.05).The area under the ROC curve(AUC)of miR-125b-5p was 0.86(95％CI 0.67-0.90),and 0.66 was the optimal cut-off value with sensitivity of 81.22％and specificity of 78.62％.Conclusions With the increase of the number of stenosis,plasma miR-125b-5p expression level decreased gradually.The expression level of miR-125b-5p was negatively correlated with the Gensini score of coronary artery,which indicated that the expression level of miR-125b-5p may be a potential biomarker that can reflect the lesion degree of coronary artery.

Objective To perform the methodological evaluation on Beckman Immage 800 automatic special protein analyzer for determining serum freeκ,λlight chains (sFLC) .Methods The Beckman Immage800 automatic special protein analyzer was used to quantitatively detect sFLC values for investigating its precision and accuracy ,analyzing its detecting range ,interference and residual contamination rate ,meanwhile verifying its reference intervals .Results The low and high values of within‐run precision coefficients of variation(CV) forκsFLC were 7 .84% and 2 .95% respectively ;which of between‐run precision CV were 7 .38% and 5 .57% re‐spectively .The within‐run precision CV for λFLC were 4 .59% and 3 .94% respectively ,which of between‐run precision CV were 3 .97% and 2 .01% respectively ;bias for detecting theκFLC andλFLC fixed quality serum and the target values was less than 5% , when the analytical detection ranges of κFLC andλFLC were 10 .8-128 .0 mg/L and 10 .1-121 .0 mg/L ,a value was 0 .95-1 .05 , r2 ≥0 .98;the carry‐over rates of κFLC andλFLC were 0 .411% and 0 .216% respectively .The interference test results showed that when free hemoglobin≤342 .0 μmol/L ,conjugated bilirubin ≤342 .0 μmol/L ,hemoglobin≤5 g/L and chyle ≤2 400 turbidness , which had no influence on sFLC results ;among 40 healthy subjects undergoing the physical examination ,1 case of κFLC detection results exceeded the reference interval recommended by the manufacturer ,while theλFLC detection values in these 40 cases were all within the reference interval recommended by the manufacturer .Conclusion The main analytical performance of the Beckman Im‐mage800 automatic special protein analyzer for detecting sFLC meets the requirements of quality objectives and can provides the sci‐entific and precise evidence of diagnosis and treatment for clinic .

Studies have found that metformin is not only the preferred drug for lowering blood sugar, but also shows lipid-lowering and weight-loss effects. The purpose of this study was to use a hyperlipidemia hamster model to investigate the lipid-lowering effect of metformin and its effect on important metabolic pathways in lipid metabolism disorders. Fifty golden hamsters were divided into a control group, a model group, metformin high- and low-dose groups, and a simvastatin group. A high-fat diet was fed for 1 week to create the model, and then drug was administered for 11 weeks with the high-fat diet. Serum was taken for measurement of blood lipid and blood glucose at 2, 6, and 9 weeks after administration, and at weeks 3, 5, and 9 feces and urine were collected for ¹H NMR metabolomics tests. After 11 weeks of intravenous injection of [U-¹³C₆] glucose, serum was collected for a ¹³C NMR metabolic flux test. The results showed that the administration of metformin can significantly reduce blood lipids and glucose levels and can significantly affect metabolic pathways such as sugar metabolism, lipid metabolism, ketone metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and intestinal flora metabolism. The results of the metabolic flux analysis showed that the high-fat diet reduced the metabolism of tricarboxylic acids by 37.48%. After administration of low and high doses of metformin the metabolism of tricarboxylic acid increased by 98.14% and 143.10%, respectively. After administration of simvastatin tricarboxylic acid metabolism increased by 33.18%. The results indicate that metformin has a significant effect on promoting energy metabolism. This study used a combination of metabolomics and metabolic flow to explore the effect of metformin on lipid metabolism disorders and quantifies changes in the key pathway of energy metabolism-the tricarboxylic acid cycle. This study provides useful information for the study of the efficacy and mechanism of metformin, as well as a practical technical method for the screening of lipid-lowering drugs based on a hamster model.

Objective To investigate the effects of a proliferation-inducing ligand(APRIL)gene silencing by small interfering RNA(siRNA)on cell cycle and proliferation of colon carcinoma SW480 cells.Methods The siRNA plasmid vector targeting APRIL gene,named as siRNA-APRIL,was transfected into SW480 cells,transfected with scrambled vector as a nontargeting control and nontransfected group as another control.APRIL mRNA and protein expression were examined by real-time PCR and Western blot,respectively.Cell proliferation activity was analyzed by cell counting kit-8(CK-8),cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry,and p21 together with p27,two important regulatory genes in cell cycle,were measured by RTPCR.Results Compared with nontargeting control and nontransfected control,APRIL expression was inhibited significantly at both mRNA and protein level by siRNA-APRIL being transfected in SW480 cells(P ＜0.05).Cell proliferation ability was drastically repressed after siRNA-APRIL being transfected at 48 h,72 h and 96 h(P ＜ 0.05).After transfected 48 h,the percent of Go/G1 phase cell was significantly increased,S and G2/M phase cell were significantly decreased,the number of cell in apoptosis was increased and the expression of p21 and p27 mRNA were up-regulated(P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference when compared the two control groups each other(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion siRNA-APRIL can effectively knockdown the expression of APRIL gene in SW480 cells,moreover,it can inhibit the cell proliferation and induce G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest,which occurrence may involve in upregulation the mRNA expression of p21 and p27.

To investigate the dose effect of isocenter difference during IMRT dose verification with the 2D chamber array. The samples collected from 10 patients were respectively designed for IMRT plans, the isocenter of which was independently defined as P(o), P(x) and P(y). P(o) was fixed on the target center and the other points shifted 8cm from the target center in the orientation of x/y. The PTW729 was used for 2D dose verification in the 3 groups which beams of plans were set to 0 degrees. The γ-analysis passing rates for the whole plan and each beam were gotten using the different standards in the 3 groups, The results showed the mean passing rate of γ-analysis was highest in the P(o) group, and the mean passing rate of the whole plan was better than that of each beam. In addition, it became worse with the increase of dose leakage between the leaves in P(y) group. Therefore, the determination of isocenter has a visible effect for IMRT dose verification of the 2D chamber array, The isocenter of the planning design should be close to the geometric center of target.
Gamma Rays ; Humans ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; instrumentation ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of free and pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flaps for repairing skin and soft tissue defects in limbs, neck, axillary and shoulder.

METHODSFrom October 2009 to Auguest 2011, 16 TDAP flaps were used to repair skin and tissue defects. Among them, five ipsilateral pedicled flaps were used to repair wounds in neck, axillary and shoulder. 11 free TDAP flaps were used to repair the wounds with bone or tendon exposure. In 12 cases, the flaps were pedicled with thoracodorsal artery and vein-lateral branches-perforators, in 4 cases, pedicled with thoracodorsal artery and vein-serratus anterior muscular branches-perforators. The deep fascia, the latissimus dorsi and thoracodorsal nerve were not included in all flaps. The flaps size ranged from 10 cm x 5 cm to 26 cm x 10 cm.

RESULTSAll 16 flaps survived completely with primary healing both at donor site and recipent area. After a follow-up of 3 to 24 months, all flaps gained good texture and appearance. Only linear scar was left at donor area. The shoulder could move freely.

CONCLUSIONSTDAP flap has good texture, long vascular pedicle,and reliable blood supply, leaving less morbidity at donor site. The latissimus dorsi and thoracodorsal nerve are also preserved. The pedicled TDAP flap is an ideal flap for repairing the ipsilateral skin and soft tissue defects of the neck, shoulder, axillary. The free TDAP flap is suited for repairing skin and soft tissue defects of the extremities.

Arteries ; Axilla ; Humans ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Perforator Flap ; transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; transplantation ; Thoracic Wall ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries ; surgery

Seven compounds were isolated from fermentation extract of cave-derived Metarhizium anisopliae NHC-M3-2 by silica gel, semi-preparative HPLC and other chromatographic methods. Their structures were elucidated by UV, IR, MS and NMR methods as 2,3-dehydroindigotide G (1), (-)-regiolone (2), naphtho-γ-pyrone (3), indigotide G (4), indigotide B (5) destruxin A (6) and destruxin B (7). Compound 1 is a new glycoside naphthopyranone compound. The anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity of these compounds was evaluated. The EC₅₀ and CC₅₀ of compound 3 against HBV were 4.5 μmol·L^-1 and 92.3 μmol·L^-1, respectively. This is the first report of the antiviral activity of compound 3.