1.Study on Chemical Constituents of Dioscorea opposita Thunb.
Weisheng FENG ; Fang LI ; Menghuan GUO ; Yangang CAO ; Wenjing CHEN ; Man QI ; Yanyun YANG ; Xiaolan WANG ; Xiaoke ZHENG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2017;19(4):658-662
This article was aimed to study the chemical constituents of Dioscorea opposita Thunb.The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by Diaion HP-20,Toyopearl HW-40,Sephadex LH-20,MCI Gel CHP-20,silica gel column chromatography and preparative HPLC,TLC,purification and isolation from Dioscorea opposita Thunb.The structures of isolated compounds were identified by thc physicochemical properties and spectral analysis.The result showed that 14 compounds were isolated from Dioscorea opposita Thunb.The chemical structures were elucidated as L-Tryptophane (1),Seguinosides F (2),1-methoxycarbonyl-β-carboline (3),Helichrysin A (4),Bungein A (5),Hydroquinone (6),Zarzissine (7),Cyclo-(Pro-Thr) (8),4-Hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl alcohol (9),pyridine-3-carboxamide (10),Arbutin (11),Methyl syringate 4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (12),L-Phenylalanine (13),1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid,1,2-bis[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy) ethyl] ester (14).It was concluded that chemical compounds 1-14 were isolated for the first time from Dioscorea opposita Thunb.
2.A study of the effect of changes in nasal tip prominence on the sense of anterior prominence of the upper lip
ZHUANG Ziting ; BAO Rui ; LI Menghuan ; WANG Weicai ; BAO Baicheng
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2023;31(5):345-351
Objective:
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of changes in nasal tip protrusion on the sense of upper lip protrusion in different populations and to provide a reference for the improvement of soft tissue beauty.
Methods :
Informed consent and portrait authorization were obtained from the model. A female model whose face met the criteria was selected, and a 3D model of her was obtained using a 3D stereo camera. Based on the original model, ZBRUSH2019 software was used to simulate changes in nose tip protrusion. Then, 9 segments of facial dynamic rotation videos were produced, and an electronic questionnaire was created through a questionnaire website to evaluate the effect of different nose tip protrusions on perceived upper lip protrusion. Randomly selected orthodontic patients, orthodontics professionals and general adults completed the electronic questionnaire. In the questionnaire, a Visual Analog Scale was used to evaluate the perceived degree of protrusion of the upper lip. The higher the score, the more prominent the upper lip of the model in the image. The questionnaire data were statistically analyzed using a generalized linear mixed model.
Results :
As the nasal tip position became progressively more retracted, the subjects' upper lip protrusion scores increased. Among male subjects, the results showed that the general population thought that the upper lip protrusion was higher than the patients did when the nasal tip protrusion was +6 mm and +4.5 mm (P = 0.023, P = 0.047). When the nasal tip protrusion was +6 mm, the scores of the general population were higher than those of the orthodontics professionals (P = 0.023). However, when the nasal tip variable was -6 mm, their score was lower than that of the patients (P = 0.003), and there was no significant difference in other retest distances between groups (P>0.05).
Conclusion
When the protrusion of the nasal tip decreased, the three groups experienced a visual illusion of upper lip protrusion. When the nasal tip protrusion is too large, the general population perceived the visual illusion of the upper lip protrusion as being more obvious.
3.Critical involvement of lysyl oxidase in seizure-induced neuronal damage through ERK-Alox5-dependent ferroptosis and its therapeutic implications.
Xiaoyuan MAO ; Xuan WANG ; Mingzhu JIN ; Qin LI ; Jining JIA ; Menghuan LI ; Honghao ZHOU ; Zhaoqian LIU ; Weilin JIN ; Yanli ZHAO ; Zhong LUO
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2022;12(9):3513-3528
Recent insights collectively suggest the important roles of lysyl oxidase (LysOX) in the pathological processes of several acute and chronic neurological diseases, but the molecular regulatory mechanisms remain elusive. Herein, we explore the regulatory role of LysOX in the seizure-induced ferroptotic cell death of neurons. Mechanistically, LysOX promotes ferroptosis-associated lipid peroxidation in neurons via activating extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK)-dependent 5-lipoxygenase (Alox5) signaling. In addition, overexpression of LysOX via adeno-associated viral vector (AAV)-based gene transfer enhances ferroptosis sensitivity and aggravates seizure-induced hippocampal damage. Our studies show that pharmacological inhibition of LysOX with β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) significantly blocks seizure-induced ferroptosis and thereby alleviates neuronal damage, while the BAPN-associated cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity could further be reduced through encapsulation with bioresponsive amorphous calcium carbonate-based nanocarriers. These findings unveil a previously unrecognized LysOX-ERK-Alox5 pathway for ferroptosis regulation during seizure-induced neuronal damage. Suppressing this pathway may yield therapeutic implications for restoring seizure-induced neuronal injury.
4.A mitochondria-targeting lipid-small molecule hybrid nanoparticle for imaging and therapy in an orthotopic glioma model.
Menghuan TANG ; Kai LIN ; Mythili RAMACHANDRAN ; Longmeng LI ; Hongye ZOU ; Huzhi ZHENG ; Zhao MA ; Yuanpei LI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2022;12(6):2672-2682
Hybrid lipid‒nanoparticle complexes have shown attractive characteristics as drug carriers due to their integrated advantages from liposomes and nanoparticles. Here we developed a kind of lipid-small molecule hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) for imaging and treatment in an orthotopic glioma model. LPHNPs were prepared by engineering the co-assembly of lipids and an amphiphilic pheophorbide a‒quinolinium conjugate (PQC), a mitochondria-targeting small molecule. Compared with the pure nanofiber self-assembled by PQC, LPHNPs not only preserve the comparable antiproliferative potency, but also possess a spherical nanostructure that allows the PQC molecules to be administrated through intravenous injection. Also, this co-assembly remarkably improved the drug-loading capacity and formulation stability against the physical encapsulation using conventional liposomes. By integrating the advantages from liposome and PQC molecule, LPHNPs have minimal system toxicity, enhanced potency of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and visualization capacities of drug biodistribution and tumor imaging. The hybrid nanoparticle demonstrates excellent curative effects to significantly prolong the survival of mice with the orthotopic glioma. The unique co-assembly of lipid and small molecule provides new potential for constructing new liposome-derived nanoformulations and improving cancer treatment.
5.Optical coherence tomography angiography manifestations of different degrees of nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy
Menghuan DAI ; Dongli LI ; Yixin CUI ; Lu SHEN ; Qirui LI ; Lingna RAO ; Shurong GUO ; Ling YUAN
International Eye Science 2024;24(2):307-311
AIM: To investigate the differences in varying stages of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR)using optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA).METHODS: Cross-sectional study. A total of 77 cases(77 eyes)of diabetic patients were included, and they were divided into non-diabetic retinopathy(NDR; 23 eyes)and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR; 54 eyes)groups, further subdivided into mild NPDR(20 eyes), moderate NPDR(20 eyes), and severe NPDR(14 eyes). Foveal avascular zone(FAZ)area, superficial and deep capillary plexus densities(SSP and DSP), and visual acuity(LogMAR)were compared between NDR and NPDR groups. Furthermore, the visual acuity, FAZ area and levels of SSP and DSP were compared in different degrees of NPDR. Correlation analysis were conducted to elucidate relationships between FAZ area, visual acuity, SSP, DSP, and severity of the disease.RESULTS: Compared with the NDR group, the visual acuity(LogMAR)and macular FAZ area increased, while SSP and DSP were decreased in the NPDR group(P<0.05); there were significant differences in visual acuity, FAZ area and SSP and DSP levels in different degrees of NPDR(P<0.05). Visual acuity(LogMAR)and FAZ area displayed a positive correlation with the severity of disease, while SSP and DSP showed a negative correlation.CONCLUSION: With the progression of NPDR, the visual acuity(LogMAR)and FAZ area increased, and the SSP and DSP decreased.