Deconvolution of potential drug targets of the central nervous system (CNS) is particularly challenging because of the complicated structure and function of the brain. Here, a spatiotemporally resolved metabolomics and isotope tracing strategy was proposed and demonstrated to be powerful for deconvoluting and localizing potential targets of CNS drugs by using ambient mass spectrometry imaging. This strategy can map various substances including exogenous drugs, isotopically labeled metabolites, and various types of endogenous metabolites in the brain tissue sections to illustrate their microregional distribution pattern in the brain and locate drug action-related metabolic nodes and pathways. The strategy revealed that the sedative-hypnotic drug candidate YZG-331 was prominently distributed in the pineal gland and entered the thalamus and hypothalamus in relatively small amounts, and can increase glutamate decarboxylase activity to elevate γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in the hypothalamus, agonize organic cation transporter 3 to release extracellular histamine into peripheral circulation. These findings emphasize the promising capability of spatiotemporally resolved metabolomics and isotope tracing to help elucidate the multiple targets and the mechanisms of action of CNS drugs.

Bone Neoplasms ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Osteoblastoma/surgery*

Pancreatic lipase (PL), a crucial enzyme in the digestive system of mammals, has been proven as a therapeutic target to prevent and treat obesity. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and characterize the PL inhibition activities of the major constituents from Fructus Psoraleae (FP), one of the most frequently used Chinese herbs with lipid-lowering activity. To this end, a total of eleven major constituents isolated from Fructus Psoraleae have been obtained and their inhibition potentials against PL have been assayed by a fluorescence-based assay. Among all tested compounds, isobavachalcone, bavachalcone and corylifol A displayed strong inhibition on PL (IC < 10 μmol·L). Inhibition kinetic analyses demonstrated that isobavachalcone, bavachalcone and corylifol A acted as mixed inhibitors against PL-mediated 4-methylumbelliferyl oleate (4-MUO) hydrolysis, with the K values of 1.61, 3.77 and 10.16 μmol·L, respectively. Furthermore, docking simulations indicated that two chalcones (isobavachalcone and bavachalcone) could interact with the key residues located in the catalytic cavity of PL via hydrogen binding and hydrophobic interactions. Collectively, these finding provided solid evidence to support that Fructus Psoraleae contained bioactive compounds with lipid-lowering effects via targeting PL, and also suggested that the chalcones in Fructus Psoraleae could be used as ideal leading compounds to develop novel PL inhibitors.

Multiple measurements of nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity (NPTR) are widely accepted as a method to differentiate psychogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) from organic ED. However, direct evidence remains limited regarding the first-night effect on NPTR measurement using the RigiScan. Here, we evaluated the first-night effect on the results of NPTR measurement to validate the necessity of NPTR measurement for two consecutive nights, particularly when abnormal first-night measurements are recorded in a laboratory setting. We retrospectively reviewed 105 patients with a complaint of ED, who underwent NPTR measurement using the RigiScan in the Department of Infertility and Sexual Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (Guangzhou, China), for two consecutive nights, during the period from November 2015 to May 2016. NPTR parameters were collected and analyzed. We found that more effective nocturnal erections were detected during the second night than during the first night (P <0.001). Twenty percent of all patients had no effective erection during the first night, but exhibited at least one effective erection during the second night. The negative predictive value of NPTR measurement during the first night was 43.2%; this was significantly lower than that on the second night (84.2%; P = 0.003). Most NPTR parameters were better on the second night than on the first night. The first-night effect might be greater among patients younger than 40 years of age. In conclusion, two consecutive nightly measurements of NPTR can avoid a false-abnormal result caused by the first-night effect; moreover, these measurements more accurately reflect erectile capacity, especially when the first-night record is abnormal in a laboratory setting.
Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Techniques, Urological ; Erectile Dysfunction/etiology* ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Erection ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Reproducibility of Results ; Retrospective Studies ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/diagnosis* ; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological/diagnosis* ; Sleep ; Young Adult

Objective In order to meet the needs of maxillofacical bone defect repair, the aim of this study was to synthesize graphene oxide(GO) modified three-dimensional conneted nano- zirconia(ZrO₂) bone tissue engineering scaffold and evaluate its surface morphology, compressive strength and cytocompatibility. Methods GO was synthesized by a modified Hummers method and then was testified by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. ZrO₂ scaffold was modified by different concentrations(0.5,1.0,1.5mg/mL) of GO dispersion via a silane-mediated method. The composite scaffold with uniform GO coating was chosen for compressive strength test and co-cultured with human dental pulp stem cells(hDPSCs). Actin staining was used to observe the growth of the cells on the scaffold, and MTS was used to detect the cell activity. Results The characterization results showed that, under scanning electron microscope, the GO was flaky and the surface morphology of folds could be seen. Part of the GO layer folds up at the edge. Under transmission electron microscopy, the GO was clearly observed to have a gossylike, translucent and slightly wrinkled lamellar structure. The crystal structure in this area in the high-resolution filter image showed a six-member ring structure like graphite. Under high power electron microscope, the 1.0mg/ml GO-ZrO₂ scaffold could be seen to deposit a thin layer of GO at the crack of the scaffold skeleton, connecting the two ends of the crack, and lamellar GO with folds could be observed on the surface of ceramic particles. The comparison of mechanical properties showed that the compression strength of GO-ZrO₂ scaffold was sgnificantly increased compared with that of ZrO₂ scaffold[（1.292±0.087）vs（1.031±0.076）, P<0.05]. Compared with the simple ZrO₂ scaffold, the GO-ZrO₂ scaffold showed more dense extension and adhesion to the surface of scaffolds, showing more active cell proliferation. The cell viability test showed that the viability of hDPSCs was significantly improved on GO-ZrO₂ scaffold after 1, 3 and 5 days of proliferation compared with the simple ZrO₂ scaffold(P<0.05). Conclusion The ZrO₂ scaffold modified by GO improved compressive strength, promoted the early proliferation of hDPSCs with good cytocompatibility.

Objective To study the effect of enhancer of rudimentary homolog (ERH) gene on migration and invasion in human bladder cancer T24 and 5637 cells.Methods After knocking out the ERH gene of human bladder cancer T24 and 5637 cells,Wound healing assay,Transwell cell migration assay and Transwell cell invasion assay were used to verify the migration and invasion function.Cell migration related protein was detected by Western blot.Nude mouse tail vein transfer assay was used to study the metastasis ability of bladder cancer cells in vivo.Results (1) The Wound healing assay showed that there were significant differences in the migration cell counts of human bladder cancer 5637 and T24 (P ＜ 0.05).(2) There were significant differences in migration and invasion cell counts of Transwell assay (P ＜0.05).(3) Western blot showed that the expression of E-Cadherin in human bladder cancer 5637 cells and T24 cells was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05) after knocking out ERH gene,while the expression of Fibronectin,Twist,Vimentin and Snail2 protein were significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.05).(4) Nude mouse tail vein transfer assay showed that lung metastases were significantly reduced in the ERH knockout group compared with the normal ERH group.Conclusions Both in vitro and in vivo experiments suggest that ERH knockout affects the migration and invasion of human bladder cancer T24 and 5637 cells.

A young female patient with acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) is reported,who aged 15 years,with a history of upper respiratory tract infection,main clinical manifestations of seizures and consciousness disorders,and brain MRI examination showing characteristic symmetrical bilateral abnormal signals at both thalamic area,pons,and cerebellar hemisphere.Imaging changes corresponded to pathophysiological changes.The initial manifestations were found to be brain swelling and edema.In the acute phase,hemorrhage and necrosis of the affected brain tissues were observed.The recovery period was characterized by hemosiderin deposition and cystic space formation,which was consistent with ANE diagnosis.By early use of high-dose gammaglobulin and methylprednisolone,the prognosis of the patient was good,proving that immunosuppressive therapy by corticosteroids and gammaglobulin is effective for ANE.

Objective To study the effect and mechanism of Momordica anti-HIV protein of 30 ku (MAP30) on the migration of bladder cancer.Methods The IC50 of human bladder cancer 5637 and T24 cells was calculated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method.The migration ability of these two cells was evaluated by scratch migration test and Transwell cell migration test.The expression of migrating proteins such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and adhesion molecule N-cadherin were compared by Western blot.Results Scratch migration test:there were significant differences in migration rates of 5637 cells at 8 h and 22 h (P ＜ 0.05).There were significant differences in migration rates of T24 cells at 22 h (P ＜ 0.05),but no significant differences in migration rates at 8 h (P ＞ 0.05).The expression of Vimentin,Fibronectin,MMP-2,MMP-9 and N-Cadherin in 5637 cells and T24 cells of human bladder cancer decreased significantly after adding MAP30.The E-Cadherin expression in human bladder cancer 5637 cells were decreased,but no target band was detected in human bladder cancer T24 cells.Conclusions The ribosome-inactivating protein MAP30 can effectively inhibit the migration of human bladder cancer 5637 and T24 cells by inhibiting the EMT pathway and inhibiting the expression of MMPs.

Objective To investigate the effect of ERH gene knockdown on the proliferation and apoptosis of human bladder cancer T24 cells. Methods T24 cells infected by lentivirus with interference on ERH gene sequence were cloned to establish stable T24 cells clone in ERH gene suppression. The expression of ERH mRNA gene in bladder cancer was detected by using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The effects of ERH knockout on the cell proliferation and apoptosis were examined by using methylthiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, colony formation assay and flow cytometry. The effect of ERH knockout on the tumorigenic effect of T24 cells in vivo was verified by subcutaneous tumor formation in nude mice. Results After lentiviral transfection, qPCR results showed that the knockdown effect of ERH mRNA in ERH normal group (untreated T24 cells) was better than that in ERH gene knockdown group, and the difference was statistically significant [(1.006±0.126) vs. (0.079±0.007); t=12.72, P=0.0002]. After knocking out ERH gene, MTT assay showed that the proliferation ability of T24 cells in ERH gene knockdown group was weakened compared with ERH normal group, and the difference was statistically significant [A490 value: (0.13±0.00) vs. (0.66±0.01);t=104.61, P<0.0001]. Colony formation assay indicated that the ability of clone in ERH normal group was weakened compared with ERH gene knockdown group [(10.5 ±1.2) vs. (196.4 ±4.0); t= 73.63, P< 0.0001]. Flow cytometry showed that the cell apoptosis rate in ERH gene knockdown group was higher than that in ERH normal group [(11.0 ±0.5) ％ vs. (4.2 ±0.5) ％; t= 16.06, P<0.0001]. Imaging results of subcutaneous tumor formation in nude mice showed that the total fluorescence intensity of the tumor area in ERH gene knockdown group was (4.67 ±0.59) × 1010 μW/cm2, and the corresponding part in ERH normal group was (9.54±4.20) × 1010μW/cm2 (t=3.64, P=0.0051);tumor weight in ERH gene knockdown group was (0.80±0.62) g, and in ERH normal group was (1.79±0.71) g (t=3.33, P=0.0037). Conclusion ERH gene knockout can inhibit the proliferation of human bladder cancer T24 cells, and promote the cell apoptosis.

Cysticercosis refers to a parasitic infection caused by the larvae of pork tapeworm Taenia solium.It is a parasitic zoonosis and listed by the World Health Organization(WHO)as one of the neglected tropical diseases.Cysticercosis is spread-ing all over the world through globalization and it mainly epidemic in developing countries.In the southwest and minority nation-ality areas of China,as a result of the low level of medical and health care,and the unchangeable diet custom,there are still many cases of cysticercosis,which is manifested as a local high prevalence.Neuroimaging is the preferred method for cysticerco-sis diagnosis,and by using CT and MRI scans it is possible to visualise the infecting cysticerci and assess their number and loca-tion within the central nervous system(CNS).The immunological assay is also required in the diagnosis.At present,the preven-tion and control of cysticercosis is still relatively weak.In this paper,the current status and research progress of cysticercosis are reviewed,and further suggestions on the prevention and control of cysticercosis are put forward.