TFIIB-related factor 1 (BRF1) is an important transcription factor. It specifically regulates the transcription of RNA polymerase III-dependent genes (RNA Pol III genes). The products of these genes are some small non-coding RNAs, including transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and 5S ribosomal RNAs (5S rRNA). The transcription levels of tRNAs and 5S rRNA vary with changes in intracellular BRF1 amounts. tRNAs and 5S rRNA play a crucial role in determining protein synthesis. Studies have demonstrated that dysregulation of tRNAs and 5S rRNA is closely related to cell growth, proliferation, transformation, and even tumorigenesis. BRF1 is a key factor determining the generation of tRNAs and 5S rRNA. Increasing BRF1 expression enhances cell proliferation and transformation, promoting tumor development. In contrast, repressing BRF1 activity decreases the rates of cell proliferation and transformation, and inhibits tumor growth. High levels of BRF1 are found in the samples of patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, gastric carcinoma, lung cancer, prostate carcinoma, and other cancers. It indicates that high levels of BRF1 are closely related to the occurrence of human cancer and may be a common landmark of tumors. But there is discrepancy in the regulatory mechanisms and signaling pathways of BRF1 overexpression in different cancers. In general, high levels of BRF1 in patients suffering from cancer show short survival period and poor prognosis. However, there is one exception, namely breast cancer. Approximate 80% of cases of breast cancer are estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) and 20% are ER-. The cases with high levels of BRF1 reveal longer survival period and better prognosis after they accepted the hormone treatment by Tamoxifen (Tam), compared to the cases with low level BRF1. It seems like a contradiction. Most of the cases with high levels of BRF1 belong to ER+ status. Tam has been used to treat ER+ cases of breast cancer after diagnosis and surgery. Thus, hormone therapy, such as Tam, is more effective on these patients. This is because, on one hand, that Tam competes with E2 (17β-estradiol) to bind to estrogen receptor α (ERα), but does not dissociate to occupy the receptors, blocking E2 binding to this receptor and inhibiting its biological effects. On other hand, Tam can inhibit the expression of BRF1, leading to a decline of intracellular BRF1 levels. Therefore, the actual levels of BRF1 are lower in the patients with ER+ breast cancer. It appears the prognosis of the high BRF1 expression cases better than that of the low BRF1 expression cases. Myocardial hypertrophy manifests magnification of cardiomyocyte volume rather than number increasing in the postnatal heart. Myocardial hypertrophy is a critical risk factor underlying cardiovascular diseases. No matter how myocardial hypertrophy occur, it will ultimately lead to myocardial dysfunction and heart failure. Hypertrophic growth of cardiomyocytes requires a large amount of protein synthesis to meet its needs of cardiomyocyte growth. Animal models and cell experiments have shown that myocardial hypertrophy stimulates a significant increase in BRF1 expression and transcription of tRNAs and 5S rRNA. Interestingly, elevated levels of BRF1 are found in the myocardium tissues of patients with myocardial hypertrophy. These studies demonstrate that BRF1 indeed plays a critical role in myocardial hypertrophy. In summary, high levels of BRF1 are found in patients suffering from different cancers and myocardial hypertrophy. It implies that BRF1 is a promising biological target of cancer and cardiomyopathy. BRF1 is expected to become a common biomarker for early diagnosis and prognostic observation of different human cancers. It is also an important biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiomyopathy. BRF1 not only holds an important position in the field of basic medical research but also has great prospects for translational medicine. In the present article, we summarize the progress on studies of BRF1 expressions in cancer and cardiomyopathy, proposes future research directions. It is a new research area. Here, we emphasize the significancy of BRF overexpression in the two huge diseases of human, cancer and cardiomyopathy to raise people's attention to this field.

To investigate the pharmacological substances basis and anti-vitiligo mechanism of Carum carvi L. (caraway) fruits, chemical and blood-absorbed components were identified using mass spectrometry combined with literature study and database analysis. A “blood-absorbed components–target genes–pathways” network was constructed through network pharmacology. The pharmacological effects of Carum carvi L. extract and its key blood-absorbed component, acacetin, were validated in vitro. 72 chemical components were identified in the extract, with 11 prototype blood-absorbed components and 26 metabolites being detected in the plasma of SD rats. 14 key active components and 24 key targets were predicted. In vitro experiments demonstrated that acacetin at 10 μmol/L exhibited melanogenesis-promoting and tyrosinase-activating effects compared with the positive control, significantly upregulating the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase (tyrosinase, TYR). This study comprehensively analyzes the chemical and blood-absorbed components of Carum carvi L. and elucidates its pharmacological substances basis, which provides a theoretical foundation for the anti-vitiligo effects of acacetin.

As the search for effective treatments for COVID-19 continues, the high mortality rate among critically ill patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU) presents a profound challenge. This study explores the potential benefits of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a supplementary treatment for severe COVID-19. A total of 110 critically ill COVID-19 patients at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Vulcan Hill Hospital between Feb., 2020, and April, 2020 (Wuhan, China) participated in this observational study. All patients received standard supportive care protocols, with a subset of 81 also receiving TCM as an adjunct treatment. Clinical characteristics during the treatment period and the clinical outcome of each patient were closely monitored and analysed. Our findings indicated that the TCM group exhibited a significantly lower mortality rate compared with the non-TCM group (16 of 81 vs 24 of 29; 0.3 vs 2.3 person/month). In the adjusted Cox proportional hazards models, TCM treatment was associated with improved survival odds (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the analysis also revealed that TCM treatment could partially mitigate inflammatory responses, as evidenced by the reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and contribute to the recovery of multiple organic functions, thereby potentially increasing the survival rate of critically ill COVID-19 patients.
Humans ; COVID-19 ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Critical Illness ; Treatment Outcome

Industry serves as the main body and driving force of national economy.The high quality of the urban industrial economy depends on the role of health resources in maintaining the health of the workforce population.It analyzes the allocation of health resources in typical cities ranked within the top 10 in terms of industrial added value,identifies prevailing the new situation facing the allocation of health resources,and puts forward suggestions.It is found that health resources supporting high-quality development of urban industrial economy is currently facing the main situations of population increase and decrease differentiation within the city,more frequent cross-regional medical treatment,and accelerated aging trend of labor force.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect mechanism of Gualou guizhi granule on neurological function and synaptic plasticity in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS The rats were randomly divided into sham operation group， model group and Gualou guizhi granule group （3.6 g/kg）， with 6 rats in each group. The cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model was established by the suture occlusion method. Two hours after modeling， the model rats were given relevant medicine or normal saline intragastrically， once a day， for 7 consecutive days. After the last medication， the neurological function of rats was evaluated [calculated by modified neurological severity scores （mNSS） and corner turning percentage]； the neuronal apoptosis rate of brain histiocyte in the ischemic side of rats was detected in each group； the positive expressions of growth associated protein 43 （GAP43） and microtubule associated protein 2 （MAP2） were detected； protein expressions of neuron-specific nuclear protein （NeuN）， synaptophysin-1 （Syn-1）， postsynaptic density protein-95 （PSD-95）， peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ （PPARγ）， brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） and tropomyosin receptor kinase B （TrkB）， as well as mRNA expressions of NeuN， Syn-1 and PSD-95 were detected. RESULTS Compared with the model group， mNSS， corner turning percentage and neuronal apoptotic rate were decreased significantly in Gualou guizhi granule group （P＜0.01）； GAP43 represented weak immunoreactivity， and MAP2 represented moderate immunoreactivity； protein expressions of NeuN， Syn-1， PSD-95， PPARγ， BDNF， TrkB and mRNA expressions of Syn-1， NeuN， PSD-95 were all increased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS Gualou guizhi granule can promote synaptic plasticity by activating BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway， thus playing a protective role in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of metformin against PM2.5-induced functional impairment of placental trophoblasts and explore the underlying mechanism.Methods Sixteen pregnant Kunming mice were randomly assigned into two groups(n=8)for intratracheal instillation of PBS or PM2.5 suspension at 1.5,7.5,and 12.5 days of gestation.The pregnancy outcome of the mice was observed,and placental zonal structure and vascular density of the labyrinth area were examined with HE staining,followed by detection of ferroptosis-related indexes in the placenta.In cultured human trophoblasts(HTR8/SVneo cells),the effects of PM2.5 exposure and treatment with metformin on cell viability,proliferation,migration,invasion,and tube formation ability were evaluated using CCK8 assay,EDU staining,wound healing assay,Transwell experiment,and tube formation experiment;the cellular expressions of ferroptosis-related proteins were analyzed using ELISA and Western blotting.Results M2.5 exposure of the mice during pregnancy resulted in significantly decreased weight and number of the fetuses and increased fetal mortality with a reduced placental weight(all P<0.001).PM2.5 exposure also caused obvious impairment of the placental structure and trophoblast ferroptosis.In cultured HTR8/SVneo cells,PM2.5 significantly inhibited proliferation,migration,invasion,and angiogenesis of the cells by causing ferroptosis.Metformin treatment obviously attenuated PM2.5-induced inhibition of proliferation,migration,invasion,and angiogenesis of the cells,and effectively reversed PM2.5-induced ferroptosis in the trophoblasts as shown by significantly increased intracellular GSH level and SOD activity,reduced MDA and Fe2+ levels,and upregulated GPX4 and SLC7A11 protein expression(P<0.05 or 0.01).Conclusion PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy causes adverse pregnancy outcomes and ferroptosis and functional impairment of placental trophoblasts in mice,and metformin can effectively alleviate PM2.5-induced trophoblast impairment.

Industry serves as the main body and driving force of national economy.The high quality of the urban industrial economy depends on the role of health resources in maintaining the health of the workforce population.It analyzes the allocation of health resources in typical cities ranked within the top 10 in terms of industrial added value,identifies prevailing the new situation facing the allocation of health resources,and puts forward suggestions.It is found that health resources supporting high-quality development of urban industrial economy is currently facing the main situations of population increase and decrease differentiation within the city,more frequent cross-regional medical treatment,and accelerated aging trend of labor force.

Industry serves as the main body and driving force of national economy.The high quality of the urban industrial economy depends on the role of health resources in maintaining the health of the workforce population.It analyzes the allocation of health resources in typical cities ranked within the top 10 in terms of industrial added value,identifies prevailing the new situation facing the allocation of health resources,and puts forward suggestions.It is found that health resources supporting high-quality development of urban industrial economy is currently facing the main situations of population increase and decrease differentiation within the city,more frequent cross-regional medical treatment,and accelerated aging trend of labor force.

Industry serves as the main body and driving force of national economy.The high quality of the urban industrial economy depends on the role of health resources in maintaining the health of the workforce population.It analyzes the allocation of health resources in typical cities ranked within the top 10 in terms of industrial added value,identifies prevailing the new situation facing the allocation of health resources,and puts forward suggestions.It is found that health resources supporting high-quality development of urban industrial economy is currently facing the main situations of population increase and decrease differentiation within the city,more frequent cross-regional medical treatment,and accelerated aging trend of labor force.