Objective To investigate the association between postprandial triglyceride and the severity of coronary artery disease in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods AlI of 91 patients with MS were recruited for this study. Thirty-one patients with normal fasting and postprandial triglyceride was in MS1 group, 29 patients with normal fasting triglyceride and postprandial hypertrigtyceridemia was in MS2 group, and 31 patients with fasting hypertriglyeeridemia was in MS3 group. Blood triglyceride at the time of postprandial 4 hours was measured and the quantity of coronary artery branch disease was determined by coronary angiography. The relationship between them was analyzed. Result There was significant positive correlation between the quantity of coronary artery branch disease and the level of blood triglyceride at the time of postprandial 4 hours (r = 0.42, P < 0.01 ). Conclusions It is important to detect the level of blood triglyceride at the time of postprandial 4 hours. Prompt intervention maybe decrease the incidence and mortality rate of cardiovascular disease in patients with MS.

ObjectiveTo investigate the biological function and molecular mechanism of long non-coding RNA Linc‑pint in colorectal cancer. MethodsQuantitative real‑time quantitative （qRT‑PCR） was performed to detect the expression level of Linc‑pint in 31 pairs of colorectal cancer tumor and adjacent normal tissues； correlation between the expression level of Linc‑pint and the clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed by the chi‑square test. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to assess the relationship between Linc‑pint expression level and the prognosis of patients. Cox regression model was used to analyze the relationship between clinicopathological characteristics and the prognosis of patients. Expression level of Linc‑pint were detected by qRT‑PCR in 5 common colorectal cancer cell lines. Effect of Linc‑pint on cell proliferation， invasion and migration was measured by cell counting kit‑8 assay， Transwell assay and harvested xenografts from nude mice. qRT‑PCR was performed to detect the expression level of Linc‑pint's target gene micro RNA（miR）‑21 in 31 pairs of colorectal cancer tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between Linc‑pint and miR‑21. qRT‑PCR was used to detect the expression of overexpression of Linc‑pint on miR‑21 in colorectal cancer cells. ResultsExpression level of Linc‑pint in normal tissues （3.95±1.16） was significantly higher than that in colorectal cancer tissues （2.74±0.95） （t=6.17， P<0.05）. Overall survival rate of patients with high expression of Linc‑pint was 62.5%， which was significantly higher than that of patients with low expression of Linc‑pint （34.3%， P<0.05）. The proliferation， invasion and migration of CRC cells were inhibited after overexpression of Linc‑pint. In colorectal cancer tumor and adjacent normal tissues， Linc‑pint and miR‑21 showed opposite expression in tumor tissues and were negatively correlated （r=-0.288 and -0.908， both P<0.05）. ConclusionLinc‑pint acts as a tumor suppressor by down‑regulating the expression level of miR‑21 to inhibit the proliferation， invasion and migration of colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE：To establish the method for content determination of 6 components in Fuzheng guben granules ，such as 2，3，5，4′-tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside ，baicalin，icariin，scutellarin，baicalein and wogonin. METHODS ：HPLC method was adopted. The determination was performed on Dikma Diamonsil C 18 column with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile- 0.1％ phosphoric acid aqueous solution （gradient elution ）at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The detection wavelengths were set at 275 nm （0-8 min），320 nm（8-9 min）and 275 nm（9-33 min）. The column temperature was set at 25 ℃，and sample size was 10 μL. With baicalin as reference material ，the relative corr ection factors （fk/s） of other five components were calculated by multi-point correction method and slope correction method ；the retention time difference method was used to locate the chromatographic peaks ； the calculation values obtained by above 2 QAMS were compared with measured values of external standard method. RESULTS ： The linear range of 2，3，5，4′-tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside ，baicalin，icariin，scutellarin，baicalein and wogonin were 0.053-2.12， 0.163-6.52，0.059-2.36，0.021 6-0.864，0.03-1.2，0.021-0.84 μg（r＞0.999），respectively. RSDs of precision ，stability（12 h）and reproducibility tests were all lower than 3％. Average recoveries were 98.72％-99.82％（RSDs were 0.89％-1.24％，n＝9）. Using baicalin as reference material ，fk/s of multi-point correction method for 2，3，5，4′-tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside ，icariin，scutellarin， baicalein and wogonin were 1.172，0.528，1.479，1.820 and 2.534，respectively；fk/s of slope correction method were 1.234， 0.550，1.559，1.939，2.664. RSDs of 6 components in 10 batches of Fuzheng guben granules by 3 methods were 0.29％-2.77％ （n＝10），respectively. Pearson correlation coefficient was not lower than 0.999 9（P＜0.001）in measured values between QAMS and external standard method. CONCLUSIONS ：QAMS method is established successfully for simultaneous determination of 6 components in Fuzheng guben granules.

OBJECTIVE：To study the improvement effects of isopimpinelline on p-chlorophenylalanine（PCPA）-induced pineal injury model rats and its effect on expression of biological clock gene. METHODS ：Totally 60 rats were divided into blank control group（2％ polysorbate solution），model control group （2％ polysorbate solution），positive control group （melatonin，10 mg/kg） and isopimpinelline high-dose ，medium-dose and low-dose groups （3，1.5，0.75 mg/kg）. Except for blank control group ，rats in other groups were given PCPA intraperitoneally （450 mg/kg）to establish pineal injury model. After modeling finished ，they were given relevant medicine intragastrically ，once a day ，for consecutive 7 d. On the 6th day of administration ，the sleep latency and sleep duration of rats in each group were investigated by pentobarbital sodium coordination sleep test ；after last administration ， ELISA assay was used to determine the serum level of melatonin in rats. Fluorescence microscope and electron microscope were used to observe the pathological tissue and cell ultrastructure changes of the pineal gland. RT-qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expressions of biological clock gene Clock，Bmal1，Per1，Per2，Per3，Cry1，Cry2 in pineal gland of rats. RESULTS ：Compared with blank control group ，model control group had significantly longer sleep latency （P＜0.05）；serum melatonin ，mRNA expressions of Bmal1 and Per1 in pineal gland were significantly decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）while mRNA expression of Per3 was increased significantly （P＜0.05）. The pineal gland cell arrangement disorder ，nuclear pyknosis ，vacuolar degeneration increased and cell number decreased significantly ；mitochondria swollen ，cristae broken and pyknosis were observed. Compared with model control group ，the sleep latency of isopimpinelline high-dose group was shortened significantly （P＜0.05），sleep duration time was prolonged significantly （P＜0.05）；the levels of melatonin in serum ，mRNA expressions of Clock，Bmal1， Per1，Cry1 and Cry2 in pineal gland of rats were increased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. In isopimpinelline medium-dose group，the sleep latency was shortened significantly （P＜0.05）；the levels of melatonin in serum and mRNA expressions of Clock， Bmal1，Per1，Cry1，Cry2 in pineal gland were increased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01），while mRNA expression of Per3 was decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. In isopimpinelline low-dose group ，the levels of mRNA expressions of Clock，Bmal1，Per2 and Cry2 were increased significantly （P＜0.05），while mRNA expression of Per3 was decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. Cell arrangement disorder was improved and nuclear pyknosis vacuole degeneration was decreased to some extent in isopimpinelline groups；mitochondria swelled ，cristae fractured ，and pyknosis decreased to some extent. CONCLUSIONS ：Isopimpinelline can improve PCPA-induced pineal gland injury in rats ；it can up-regulate the expressions of positive regulators Clock，Bmal1 and negative regulators Per1，Per2，Cry1，Cry2，while down-regulate the expression of negative regulator Per3.

OBJECTIVE To study the quality of Codonopsis pilosula with different commodity specification grades， and to provide the data support for market transactions， scientific research and clinical use. METHODS According to the classification standard of commodity specification grades of C. pilosula， 17 batches of C. pilosula from different producing areas， origins and commodity specification grades were collected. The contents of tangshenoside Ⅰ， lobetyolin and atractylenolide Ⅲ were determined by HPLC. The contents of alcohol-soluble extracts were determined by hot dipping method stated in general rule 2201 of Chinese Pharmacopeia （part Ⅳ）. The contents of polysaccharide were determined by phenol-sulfuric acid method （calculated by D-glucose anhydrous）. RESULTS For cultivar of C. pilosula， four specifications and three commodity grades of C. pilosula all contained tangshenoside Ⅰ and lobetyolin； Radix C. pilosula from Shanxi of China and C. pilosula from Wenxian County of China， also contained atractylenolide Ⅲ. In terms of the contents of tangshenoside Ⅰ， lobetyolin and atractylenolide Ⅲ， the content of second class was equivalent to that of first class， even better than the first class， while the content of third class was lower than that of first class and second class； the content of tangshenoside Ⅰ was the highest among the two types of wild C. pilosula. The contents of alcohol-soluble extracts and polysaccharides in first class cultivated C. pilosula were higher than those of second class， and the second class was higher than the third class； wild C. pilosula had low content of alcohol-soluble extracts and polysaccharides. CONCLUSIONS The internal quality of C. pilosula is basically consistent with the classification standard of different commodity specification grades； the content of each indicator in first-class and second-class medicinal herb is high， making them high-quality medicinal herbs.

BACKGROUND: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most common malignant tumor of biliary tract. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is a natural compound with chalcone structure extracted from the roots of licorice and other plants. Relevant studies have shown that ISL has a strong anti-tumor ability in various types of tumors. However, the research of ISL against GBC has not been reported, which needs to be further investigated. METHODS: The effects of ISL against GBC cells in vitro and in vivo were characterized by cytotoxicity test, RNA-sequencing, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection, lipid peroxidation detection, ferrous ion detection, glutathione disulphide/glutathione (GSSG/GSH) detection, lentivirus transfection, nude mice tumorigenesis experiment and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: ISL significantly inhibited the proliferation of GBC cells in vitro . The results of transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis showed that ferroptosis was the main pathway of ISL inhibiting the proliferation of GBC, and HMOX1 and GPX4 were the key molecules of ISL-induced ferroptosis. Knockdown of HMOX1 or overexpression of GPX4 can reduce the sensitivity of GBC cells to ISL-induced ferroptosis and significantly restore the viability of GBC cells. Moreover, ISL significantly reversed the iron content, ROS level, lipid peroxidation level and GSSG/GSH ratio of GBC cells. Finally, ISL significantly inhibited the growth of GBC in vivo and regulated the ferroptosis of GBC by mediating HMOX1 and GPX4 . CONCLUSION ISL induced ferroptosis in GBC mainly by activating p62-Keap1-Nrf2-HMOX1 signaling pathway and down-regulating GPX4 in vitro and in vivo . This evidence may provide a new direction for the treatment of GBC.
Animals ; Mice ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Chalcones/pharmacology* ; Ferroptosis ; Gallbladder Neoplasms/genetics* ; Glutathione Disulfide ; Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1 ; Mice, Nude ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/genetics* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Humans

AIM:To explore the molecular mechanism of Tiaopi Chengqi decoction (TpCqD) improving hyperthermia and high-protein food-induced hyperphagia mice based on transcriptomics. METHODS:C57 mice were randomly divided into a control group, model group, low-dose TpCqD group, high-dose TpCqD group, and domperidone group. The general condition of the experimental mice was observed and the average food intake was counted, and the rate of gastric emptying and intestinal propulsion was determined for each group of mice. H&E staining was used to observe pathological changes in gastric tissue. PAS staining was used to observe glycogen changes in gastric tissue. Pepsin activity was determined by colorimetry. pH value of gastric contents was measured by acid-base titration. Transcriptome sequencing was used to analyze the differential genes in gastric tissue, a volcano map and a cluster heat map were made for the differential genes, and KEGG was used to analyze the signal pathway enrichment of the differential genes. RT-qPCR verified the differential genes obtained by screening. RESULTS:After treatment with TpCqD, the body weight and average food intake of mice with food accumulation increased (P<0.05), and the intestinal propulsion rate and gastric emptying speed of mice with food accumulation accelerated (P<0.05). TpCqD could protect gastric tissue structure and glycogen degradation, increase pepsin activity (P<0.05), and reduce gastric content pH (P<0.05). Transcriptome results showed that TpCqD could regulate the expression of Acox2 and cilp2, regulate fat digestion and absorption, protein digestion and absorption, and pancreatic secretion signals. RT-qPCR showed that compare with model group, TpCqD up-regulated Acox2 (P<0.05) and down-regulated the mRNA level of cilp2 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:TpCqD ameliorated digestive dysfunction in mice with high-calorie and high-protein diets leading to food accumulation involving the regulation of the fat and sugar metabolism genes Acox2 and cilp2, and pancreatic secretory signaling.