OBJECTIVE:To establish the method for the simultaneous determination of anticancer activity components of flavonoids from Hedyotis diffusa,i.e. quercetin,kaempferol. METHODS:HPLC was applied to determine the contents and performed on Alltima C18(250 mm?4.6 mm,5 ?m) column. Mobile phase consisted of methanol(A)-0.5% glacial acetic acid,(gradient elution). The detection wavelength was aet at 350 nm. RESULTS:The linear range of quercetin was 0.006 2～0.244 0 ?g(r=0.999 8)and that of kaempferol 0.007 8～0.310 6 ?g(r=0.999 9). The average recovery of quercetin was 101.84%(RSD=1.79%,n=6) and that of kaempferol 99.04%(RSD=2.90%,n=6). CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple,accurate and reproducible for the quality control of H. diffusa.

Objective To study relationships between myocardial injury and the levels of serum complement C3, C4 and C5b-9 in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods A retrospectively analysis was conducted. 170 ACS patients [including 110 cases of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 60 cases of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS)] with ischemic chest pain or chest discomfort onset within the prior 12 hours admitted to the cardiology department of Tianjin Union Medicine Center from January 2014 to July 2016 were enrolled. Thirty-six healthy cases were enrolled as control during the same time. The levels of serum complement C3, C4 and C5b-9 on 1, 3 and 7 days after admission and myocardial function indicators were analyzed. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and readmission rate were analyzed after 1 year follow-up. The correlation between serum complement levels and myocardial function indicators was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. Results ① The levels of serum C3, C4 and C5b-9 on the first day in NSTE-ACS group and STEMI group were significantly higher than control group [C3 (g/L): 1.04±0.33, 1.26±0.35 vs. 0.39±0.21, C4 (g/L): 0.31±0.14, 0.33±0.10 vs. 0.19±0.07, C5b-9 (g/L): 575.46±197.26, 659.26±160.77 vs. 501.40±141.51, all P < 0.05]. There were no changes of serum C3, C4 in NSTE-ACS group, but C5b-9 decreased after a peak (g/L: 700.63±218.42) at 3 days. Serum complements in STEMI group reached peak on the third day [C3 (g/L): 1.37±0.33, C4 (g/L): 0.42±0.12, C5b-9 (g/L): 754.72±136.22]. The levels of serum C4 and C5b-9 in STEMI group were higher than NSTE-ACS group on the third and seventh day. ② The levels of troponin T (TnT), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), solution intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), global registry of acute coronary events (GRACE) scores and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) numbers in STEMI group were significantly higher than those in the NSTE-ACS group, which were as opposite as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, there were no significant differences in levels of serum N-terminal pro-brain nitric peptide (NT-proBNP), Fibrinogen (Fib), readmission rate and incidence of MACE between STEMI and NSTE-ACS groups. ③ According to GRACE, patients with ACS were divided into low risk group (≤ 108 scores, 26 cases), intermediate risk group (109-140 scores, 61 cases) and highest group (> 140 scores, 83 cases). TnT and sICAM-1 in intermediate risk group were significantly increased as compared with low risk group. Levels of TnT, sICAM-1, C3, C4 and C5b-9 in the highest group were significantly higher than the low and intermediate risk groups, however the lowest LVEF was found in the highest group. ④ It was shown by Pearson correlation analyses that levels of serum C3, C4, C5b-9 were positively correlated with TnT (r value was 0.481, 0.367, 0.292, respectively, all P <0.01), sICAM-1 (r value was 0.298, 0.249, 0.365, respectively, all P < 0.01), but negatively correlated with LVEF (r value was -0.384, -0.260, -0.200, respectively, all P < 0.01). In addition sICAM-1 positively correlated with TnT (r = 0.536, P = 0.000), but negatively correlated with LVEF (r = -0.341, P = 0.001). Conclusions Serum complements activation was found in the acute phase of ACS patients. Serum complement C3, C4 and C5b-9 are involved in the process of myocardial injury, and may reflect severity of myocardial injury and cardiac dysfunction.

Based on the octahedral modifiable structures and kinetic inertness, platinum (IV) complexes have become antitumor prodrug candidates to mitigate platinum (II) drug resistance and side effects. The nitrobenzoxadiazole derivative (NBDHEX) can inhibit the activity of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and be introduced to conjugate with platinum(II) complexes DN603 and DN604 to yield two platinum (IV) complexes DN603/DN604-NBD. In vitro assays demonstrated that DN603/DN604-NBD could significantly inhibit the proliferation of cisplatin-sensitive A549 and resistant A549/cDDP cancer cells. The uptake of DN603/DN604-NBD in A549/cDDP cells was much higher than that of cisplatin, causing a higher rate of cell apoptosis and a greater ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, the activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of DNA repair enzyme (PARP), inducing the mitochondria-dependent cell apoptosis pathway. DN603/DN604-NBD could induce higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, significantly enhance phosphorylation of histone H2AX on Ser-139 (γ-H2AX) fluorescence intensity and cause a greater degree of DNA double-stranded damage. Studies have shown that GSTs kinase GSTP1 was highly expressed in cisplatin-resistant cancer cells. Moreover, DN603/DN604-NBD targeted GSTP1 to suppress its expression level. By using the ROS scavenger NAC and the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor SP600125 in advance, it was found that DN603/DN604-NBD could significantly increase the number of living cells and decrease the phosphorylation levels of JNK and c-Jun. The results indicated that DN603/DN604-NBD could produce higher levels of ROS to activate JNK-mediated signaling pathway, induce apoptosis in tumor cells to overcome cisplatin resistance. All the animal experiments were approved by Animal Ethics Committee of Southeast University (grant No. 20210303025). In vivo assays confirmed that DN603/DN604-NBD could inhibit the growth of A549 xenograft tumors with nearly no toxicity and fewer side effects. Taken together, DN603/DN604-NBD are investigated as two potential novel platinum (IV) prodrug candidates for anticancer therapy.

Objective To study the effect of glutamate on metabolism, shifts in glycolysis and lactate release in rat astrocytes.
Methods After 10 days, secondary cultured astrocytes were treated with 1 mmol/L glutamate for 1 h, and the oxygen consumption rates (OCR) and extra cellular acidification rate (ECAR) was analyzed using a Seahorse XF 24 Extracellular Flux Analyzer. Cell viability was then evaluated by MTT assay. Moreover, changes in extracellular lactate concentration induced by glutamate were tested with a lactate detection kit.
Results Compared with the control group, treatment with 1 mmol/L glutamate decreased the astrocytes’ maximal respiration and spare respiratory capacity but increased their glycolytic capacity and glycolytic reserve. Further analysis found that 1-h treatment with different concentrations of glutamate (0.1-1 mmol/L) increased lactate release from astrocytes, however the cell viability was not affected by the glutamate treatment.
Conclusion The current study provided direct evidence that exogenous glutamate treatment impaired the mitochondrial respiration capacity of astrocytes and enhanced aerobic glycolysis, which could be involved in glutamate injury or protection mechanisms in response to neurological disorders.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect and possible impact mechanism of salidroside on cognitive ability of Alzheimer's disease (AD) model rats induced by amyloid beta peptide (Abeta1-40).

METHODAbeta1-40 was injected into bilateral hippocampus to create the AD model. Afterwards, different doses of salidroside (25, 50, 75 mg x kg(-1)) were orally administered for 21 days. Rats' learning and memory abilities were detected by Morris water maze testing system. The levels of the superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and the expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) protein in hippocampus were also detected by different methods.

RESULTThe place navigation test showed longer escape latency, low frequency of platform quadrant crossing per unit time, damage in learning capacity, significant decrease in SOD acivity in hippocampus, notable increase in MDA content, NF-kappaB, iNOS and RAGE protein expressions in rats. Salidroside (50, 75 mg x kg(-1)) significantly alleviated the impairments of learning and memory ability. The activity of SOD increased in salidroside (50 droside group compared with that of the Alzheimer's disease group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSalidroside may treat Alzheimer's disease by inhibiting the oxidative stress.

Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; toxicity ; Animals ; Cognition ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; physiology ; Phenols ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products ; Receptors, Immunologic ; analysis ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the in vitro anti-proliferation effect of a histone deacetylase inhibitor,chidamide,on a cutaneous malignant melanoma cell line,A375.Methods Cultured A375 cells were treated with different concentrations of chidamide(5,10,50,100,500 μmol/L)and aichostatin A (TSA)(0.1,0.25,0.5,1.0 μmol/L),respectively,for various durations(24,48,72,96,120 hours).Subsequently,cell proliferation,apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by MTT assay,annexin Vfluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide double staining,and DNA ploid analysis,respectively.Results The proliferation of A375 cells was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by chidamide of 5-500μmol/L and TSA of 0.1-1 μmol/L,and in a time-dependent manner from 0 to 120 hours after the beginning of trealment with ehidamide of 5-500μmol/L and TSA of 0.25-1μmol/L.The 48-hour 50% growth inhibition concentration(IC50)of ehidamide and TSA on A375 cells was about 250 μmol/L and 0.7μmol/L,respectively.After 48-hour treatment,the apoptosis mte was 80.27%±3.06%,79.53%±5.70%,83.13%±6.90%in A375 cells treated with chidamide of 62.5,125,250 μmol/L,respectively,16.27%±2.46%,28.83%±2.55%,83.40%±8.65%in those treated with TSA of 0.175,0.35,0.7 μmol/L,respectively,10.43%±0.96%in ontreated cells;a statistical increase was noticed in chidamide-treated cells and TSA-treated cells vs.untreated cells(all P＜0.001).A positive correlation was observed between the apoptosis rate and concentrations of TSA(r=0.955,P=0.000).Cell cycle analysis indicated that treatment with chidamide induced cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase,with the cell proportion in G0/G1 phase being 76.30%±6.06%,82.79%±0.74%,88.91%±5.29%in A375 cells treated with chidamide of 62.5,125,250μmol/L,respectively,versus 38.73%±3.36%in untreated cells.While after 48-hour treatment with TSA of 0.35 and 0.7 μmol/L,the proportion of cells in G2/M phases was 25.15%±2.71%and 58.71%±3.45%,respectively,compared to 15.73%±0.23%in untreated cells(P＜0.01).Conclusion Chidamide and TSA could induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis,as well as inhibit the growth of A375 ceils in vitro.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions and action mechanisms of nerve growth factor (NGF) receptors TrkA and p75NTR in the oncogenesis and progression of prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODSUsing immunohistochemistry, we detected the expressions of TrkA and p75NTR in 62 PCa and 35 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) samples, and conducted statistical analysis on the basis of clinical data.

RESULTSIndependent-samples t-test showed that, along with poorer tissue differentiation or higher clinical stage of PCa, the expression of TrkA was significantly up-regulated, that of p75NTR remarkably down-regulated, and the expression ratio of TrkA to p75NTR markedly increased. The TrkA/p75NTR ratio was 0.32 in the BPH, 0.52 in the PCa tissue with Gleason score of 6, 1.65 in the PCa tissue with Gleason score of 7, 5.75 in the PCa tissue with Gleason score ≥ 8, 0.89 in the clinical stage of pT2, 1.5 in pT3 a, 3.75 in pT3b, and 7.00 in pTxN1.

CONCLUSIONThe abnormally increased expression ratio of TrkA to p75NTR might be one of the essential features of malignant transformation of prostate cells. A higher TrkA/p75NTR expression ratio may be associated with a lower tissue differentiation, a higher clinical stage or Gleason score, and therefore a poorer prognosis.

Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Neoplasm Grading ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Receptor, trkA ; metabolism ; Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

Objective To explore the activation and function of Janus protein-tyrosine kinase (JAK)/ signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT1) signal transduction pathway in kidney,lung and brain of MRL/lpr mice.Methods MRL/lpr mice with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were studied at the age of 12 weeks up.Non-SLE MRL/lpr mice were used as controls.We used phosphospecific antibodies to detect STAT1 activation in kidney,lung and brain by immunohistochemistry and Western blots.Gene expression of the STAT induced feedback inhibitors of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS-1) was investigated by SYBR green I real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Results Phosphorylation of STAT1 protein was markedly activated in these three organs,although renal and pulmonary STAT1 activation were much more evidently activated.SOCS-1 gene expression increased in all three organs,while renal SOCS-1 gene expres- sion increased less than lung and brain.Conclusion The activation of JAK/STATI signal transduction path- way may be pathogenic in the organ involvement and progression of SLE.The pathogenesis of lupus nephritis may also be associated with the down-regulation of SOCS-1 feedback inhibition.

AIMTo investigate the protective effects of ginkgolide B and hypoxic preconditioning against acute hypoxia injury in mice.

METHODSOrdinary pressure acute hypoxia model in mice was adopted to observe the ethology, the duration of the death and the degree of brain edema. Meanwhile the expression of RTP801 mRNA and erythropoietin (EPO) were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.

RESULTSGinkgolide B and hypoxic preconditioning could both prolong the survival time of hypoxia under ordinary pressure,and significantly decreased the degree of brain edema. Besides ginkgolide B and hypoxic preconditioning could both up-regulate the expression of RTP801mRNA and EPO.

CONCLUSIONGinkgolide B has the similar effect to hypoxic preconditioning against acute hypoxia. Both of these protective effects may be associated with the up-regulation of the expression of RTP801 mRNA and EPO.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Edema ; prevention & control ; Erythropoietin ; metabolism ; Female ; Ginkgolides ; pharmacology ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods ; Lactones ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects

Based on the infectious clone of JEV vaccine SA14-14-2, the subgenomic replicons pCTCJEV, pCTMJEV with large deletions in the structural region were constructed. Then they were transfected into BHK-21 cell, the RNA replication of JEV subgenome can be monitored by RT-PCR and the non-structural protein can be found expressed in the cell by IFA. To explore the possibility of using a reporter gene assay to monitor synthesis of the positive-strand and the negative-strand JEV RNA, we inserted an enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) gene into the 3'-UTR of pCTCJEV, pCTMJEV under the control of the internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) of encephalomyelocarditis virus RNA. After transfection, the EGFP fluorescence could be seen under the fluorescence microscope 1 day later,and maintained for more than a week with no apparent cytopathic effect. The constructed JEV replicons would provide valuable tools to provide a possible vector for a long-lasting RNA virus expression system.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; metabolism ; Replicon ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors