1.Advances in economic analysis and screening strategies for hepatitis C screening
Tianqi REN ; Lamei LI ; Qianqian YANG ; Xia ZHANG ; Liting LUO ; Junqi NIU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2020;36(10):2305-2309
With the appearance of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), breakthroughs have been achieved in the antiviral therapy for hepatitis C and hepatitis C patients can be cured completely. Due to the insidious onset of hepatitis C, most patients do not know their own conditions, and thus expanding diagnosis and treatment through screening is the key to the elimination of hepatitis C. However, hepatitis C virus is distributed widely and unevenly in the world, which results in difficulties in the screening and diagnosis of hepatitis C. This article introduces the current economic research on hepatitis C screening, analyzes the factors affecting the cost-effectiveness of hepatitis C screening, and shares the strategies and advances for hepatitis C elimination in other countries, so as to provide a reference for eliminating hepatitis C in China.
2.Baitouweng Tang Suppresses Colorectal Cancer HCT116 Cells by Regulating Hedgehog Signaling Pathway
Maolun LIU ; Shan REN ; Han YANG ; Hui ZHAO ; Qiu TAO ; Shun TANG ; Tianqi MING ; Haibo XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(8):125-132
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Baitouweng Tang (BTWT) on the apoptosis of human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells and decipher the underlying mechanism based on the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. MethodHCT116 cells were treated with BTWT (25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 750, and 1 000 mg·L-1) for 24 h, and then the cell proliferation was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetry. Five groups were designed for the treatment of HCT116 cells, including a blank control group, BTWT groups (125, 250, and 500 mg·L-1), and a positive control (5-fluorouracil, 5-FU, 40 mmol·L-1) group. The cell morphology was observed under an inverted microscope. The migration of the cells was detected by scratch test, and the apoptosis by Hoechest 33324/propidium iodide (PI) staining and flow cytometry. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of sonic hedgehog (SHh), GLI family zinc finger protein 1 (Gli1), smoothened (Smo), suppressor of fused (SuFu), cellular-myelocytomatosis viral oncogene (c-Myc), and the apoptosis-related proteins B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax). The quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (Real-time PCR) was employed to determine the mRNA levels of Bax, Bcl-2, SHh, Gli1, Smo, SuFu, and c-Myc. ResultCompared with the blank control group, BTWT changed the cell morphology (making the cell become round with dense nucleus), inhibited the proliferation of HCT116 cells in a dose-dependent manner, decreased the ability of migration (P<0.05, P<0.01), and increased apoptotic cells. Compared with the blank control group, BTWT (500 mg·L-1) treatment for 24 h up-regulated the protein and mRNA levels of Bax (P<0.05, P<0.01) and down-regulated the protein and mRNA levels of Bcl-2 in HCT116 cells (P<0.05, P<0.01). Moreover, the treatment down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of SHh, Gli1, Smo, and c-Myc (P<0.05, P<0.01) and up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of SuFu (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionBTWT inhibited the proliferation and migration and induced the apoptosis of colorectal cancer HCT116 cells by down-regulating the Hh signaling pathway.