To investigate the protective effects and possible mechanism of Mycelium of Hirsutella hepiali Chen et Shen (MHCS) on metabolic syndromes, free fatty acid and MHCS-treated hepatocytes were used for detecting autophagy-related LC3, p62 and lipid accumulation. Moreover, high fat diet fed mice were used to establish metabolic syndromes model. 50-weeks age mice were randomly divided into: control group, model group and MHCS group. At 80-weeks age, 15 mice were randomly chosen from each group separately for examining oral glucose tolerance, serum insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), hepatic LC3, p62, p-NF-kappaB p65, NF-kappaB p65, IL-6 and CXCL-8. Moreover, insulin resistance index (IRI) was calculated. Hepatic pathological changes, including vacuoles, lipids accumulation and fibrosis were observed. Remaining mice were fed with diet separately to 110 weeks-age for statistics of mortality. MHCS promoted autophagy of free fatty acid treated hepatocytes. Mice fed with high fat plus MHCS diet exhibited improved oral glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, hepatic pathology, inflammation, mortality and activated autophagy. The protective effects of MHCS against metabolic syndroms might be through the activation of hepatic autophagy.
Animals ; Autophagy ; Diet, High-Fat ; adverse effects ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hypocreales ; Insulin ; blood ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Mycelium ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism

Objective To study the preventive effects of vitamin K2 on tumor recurrence in patients with hepatocellalar carcinoma (HCC) after radical resection. Methods The clinical data of 50 patients with HCC who received radical resection from March 2006 to March 2007 in No. 181 Hospital of PLA were analyzed retrospec-tively. All the patients were divided into 2 groups according to the random number table. Twenty-six patients in vitamin K2 group were administered with menatetrenone (45 mg per day), and the rest 24 pateints were in the control group. The accumulative and tumor-free survival rates, differences between the 2 groups, multivariate factors for prognosis were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curve, Log-rank test and Cox regression model, respectively. Results During a period of 36 month follow-up, 10 patients died and 28 had tunor recurrence. The 1-, 2-, 3-year accumulative survival rates were 96%, 92% and 83% in vitamin K2 group, and 96%, 82% and 63% in control group (χ2 = 3.61, P > 0.05). The 1-, 2-, 3-year tumor-free survival rates were 92%, 60% and 38% in vitamin K2 group, and 75%, 42% and 12% in control group, with significant difference between the 2 groups (χ2 =5.61, P <0.05). Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that without taking menate-trenone, the preoperative level of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) ≥800 μg/L and vascular invasion were the indepen-dent risk factors for tumor recurrence. Conclusions Vitamin K2 has a suppressive effect on tumor recurrence of HCC, while patients with AFP≥800 μg/L before operation or with vascular invasion have poor prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect of Yiqi Huaju Recipe (YHR) combined with routine therapy on the blood pressure, the blood pressure variability and other cardiovascular risk factors in hypertension patients complicated with metabolic syndrome (MetS).

METHODSTotally 43 hypertension patients complicated with MetS were recruited in this study and randomly assigned to the treatment group (22 cases, treated with basic routine treatment +YHR) and the control group (21 cases, treated with basic routine treatment + placebo). The treatment course was 12 weeks. Detected were parameters such as 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist to hip ratio (WHR), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2 h postprandial plasma glucose (2 h PPG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI), serum lipid, etc.

RESULTSThe anthropometric parameters and plasma glucose levels (except HbAlc) were obviously lowered after treatment than before treatment in the treatment group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Besides, better effects were obtained in the WC, WHR, 2 h PPG, FPI and HOMA-IR (P < 0.05). The average blood pressure amplitude, the blood pressure variability, and blood pressure load at any time point were more obviously improved in the two groups after treatment than before treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Besides, partial indices were better in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSYHR combined with routine therapy exhibited better effect on reducing the blood pressure amplitude, the blood pressure variability, and the blood pressure load in hypertension patients complicated with MetS. It could also effectively decrease the risk of other vascular disease.

Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; drug therapy ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; complications ; Middle Aged

There has been thousands of years' history that traditional Chinese medicines were used in the prevention and treatment of infectious disease. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine plays a unique role in the control of variety of new infectious diseases. This article provides a summary on our knowledge of the traditional Chinese medicine theory in the explanation of infectious disease, application of Chinese medicines and the pharmacological mechanism in the successful management on the Ebola virus disease.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ; therapy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

AlM:To study the treatment effect of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of high myopia macular hemorrhage, using Chinese medicine etiology and pathogenesis, syndrome differentiation treatment, and provide the basis for the clinical treatment. METHODS: Eighty patients ( 135 eyes ) with high myopia macular hemorrhage were selected in the hospital from January 2012 to september 2014 as treatment group, and applied traditional Chinese medicine treatment. Forty-five patients (64 eyes) with the same period, as the control group, received routine western medicine treatment. After 1mo treatement, the treatment effect and vision improvement situation of two groups were observed, and after 6mo follow-up, the relapse was observed.RESULTS: The total effective rate of treatment group was 85. 19% (115/135), higher than the control group 78. 13% (50/64) (P<0. 05). The average corrected visual acuity of treatment group was 0. 48±0. 11, higher than the control group 0. 36 ± 0. 09, the difference was statistically significant (P<0. 05). The average diopter and macular bleeding scope of the treatment group were -9. 81±0. 85D and 0. 51 ± 0. 27PD, lower than the control group -10. 76 ± 0. 91D and 0. 78 ± 0. 23PD, the differences were statistically significant ( P < 0. 05 ). The eye ground hemorrhage absorption time of treatment group was 25. 34±2. 28d, less than the control group 29. 72 ± 2. 13d, the difference was statistically significant (P<0. 05). The bleeding again of the control group 7. 81% ( 5/64 ), higher than the treatment group was 5. 19% (7/135), the difference was statistically significant (P<0. 05).CONCLUSlON: Evidence-based treatment of traditional Chinese medicine for high myopia macular hemorrhage has good clinical effect, can shorten the treatment time, and is beneficial to the recovery of postoperative vision, worthy of clinical popularization and application.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of estrogen inhibiting osteoblast apoptosis induced with serum hungry.MethodsOsteoblasts of the second or third generation from newly born SD rats calvaria were divided randomly into three groups: control group,serum hungry group,serum hungry with estrogen group.Cells of each group were incubated for 1,2,3,5,7 or 14 d,and then were stained immunohistochemically.The rates of positive cells of each group were analyzed.ResultsThere was a little positive expression of Bax,Bcl2 and Fas in control group.The expression of Bax and Fas were significantly increased(P<0.05)in serum hungry group,peak time was 14 d,but the expression of Bcl-2 were not affected.Compared with that of serum hungry group,the expression of Bax and Fas significantly decreased(P<0.05) in serum hungry and estrogen group,peak time was still 14 d,while that of Bcl-2 increased(P<0.05).ConclusionSerum hungry can increase the expression of Bax and Fas in osteoblast,that can be inhibited by estrogen.Estrogen can also increase the expression of Bcl-2 in osteoblast.All of these may play a role in inhibiting osteoblast apoptosis induced with serum hungry.

Objective To determine the distribution and influencing factors(dehydration method, storage time and chili varieties) of arsenic contents in chilies from southwest China, and the relationship between arsenic content and selenium content in chilies. Methods There were 272 dried chili samples, 76 groups of fresh chili samples and its corresponding soil samples, which were collected from the markets and peasant households in 76 counties of 9 regions in southwest China, and 36 dried chilies from other regions in China and abroad as a comparison. Their dehydration methods and storage time were investigated. The chilies were classified by Bailey Criteria. Arsenic content and selenium content in chilies were determined with hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry. Arsenic content in soils were determined with water bath hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrum. Results Their ranges of arsenic content in dried chili and fresh chili were 0.2 - 16 637.3,0.2 - 295.8 μg/kg, respectively. The median of arsenic content in the dried chili was 106.9 μg/kg while it was 0.2 μg/kg (dry weight) in the fresh chili. The chilies median arsenic of different drying methods and storage time, in order were: the furnace-dried stored for more 1 than year( 197.3 μg/kg), the sun-dried stored for more than 1 year (130.7 μg/kg), the furnace-dried stored for less than 1 year(94.1 μg/kg), the sun-dried stored for less than 1 year (55.5 μg/kg). The arsenic content of different kinds of solar-dried chilies and roast chilies were different. In solar-dried chilies, the median of arsenic contents from a order of high to low sequences were cluster chili (101.5 μg/kg), cherry chili (95.6 μg/kg), corn chili (86.8 μg/kg), and long chili (47. 1 μg/kg); in roast chilies, the median of arsenic contents from a order of high to low sequences were cherry chili(275.5 μg/kg), cluster chili (173.0 μg/kg), corn chili( 164.3 μg/kg), and long chili( 136.8 μg/kg). The medians of chilies from other regions of China and Turkey were higher than that of southwest China, their median were 125.8,112.3 μg/kg, respectively;the medians of chilies from America, France, and other countries were lower than that of southwest China, their median were 29.4,54.1,85.3 μg/kg, respectively. There was no significant correlation between fresh chilies and its corresponding soil arsenic(r = 0.010, P ＞ 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between the amount of arsenic and selenium in chilies(r = 0.616, P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions The arsenic of dried chilies from southwest China was higher than that of fresh chilies. The arsenic of chili was different with different dehydration methods and storage time. There was a significant positive correlation between the amount of arsenic and selenium in chilies.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Parathyroid Glands

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between metastasis-associated gene 1 ( MTA1 )expression and invasive and metastatic ability of cervical cancer cell. MethodsThree kinds of plasmids pcDNA3( control group), pcDNA3-MTA1 ( MTA1 group) and pSilencer3. 1-MTA1-siRNA ( MTA1-siRNAgroup) were transfected into human cervical cancer cell line CaSki cells. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and western blot were used to detected MTA1 mRNA and protein expressions. The effects of MTA1 expression on CaSki cell growth and proliferation, cell migration, adhesion and invasion, and cell cycles were tested by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), clone formation experiment, wound-healing assay, transwell assay, adhesion assay and flow cytometry, respectively. In animal experiment, three groups of cells were inoculated to BALB/c nude mouse subcutaneously to observe tumor formation ability. ResultsCompared with control group, MTA1 mRNA and protein were significantly overexpressed in MTA1 group, while MTA1-siRNA group showed lower MTA1 expression. Compared with control group, MTA1 group showed significantly accelerated cell growth; while MTA1-siRNA group showed decreased cell growth since the second day (P＜0. 05). Clone formation number in control, MTA1 and MTA1-siRNA group were 133 ±6, 169 ± 10 and 57 ±5,respectively. MTA1 group showed accelerated cell formation, while MTA1-siRNA group showed the reverse effect compared with that in control group(P ＜ 0. 05 ). At 24, 48 and 72 hours after wounding, the healing ability of MTA1-siRNA group significantly lagged behind that in the control group, while MTA1 group showed accelerated cell healing ability. The adhesion rate of control, MTA1 and MTA1-siRNA group were (69. 3 ± 3. 6) ％, ( 80. 4 ± 5. 6 ) ％ and ( 39. 2 ± 7.4 ) ％ separately at 90 minutes after cell seeding. In contrast with control group, MTA1 group promoted the adhesion of CaSki cell to matrigel matrix, while MTA1-siRNA group inhibited the adhesion process (P ＜0. 05 ). In the migration assay, the number of cells migrated to the bottom side of the membrane in control,MTA1 and MTA1-siRNA group were 153 ± 17,247 ± 38 and 82 ± 10, respectively. The number of cells in the invasion assay were 231 ± 19,354 ± 36 and 76 ± 7, respectively. Compared with the control group, MTA1 group significantly increased the migration and invasion ability, while MTA 1-siRNA group showed lower cell migration and invasion ability (P ＜ 0. 05 ). In cell cycle experiment, no significant differences of cell proportions including G1, S and G2 stage were found among three groups (P ＞ 0.05).In animal experiment, compared with control group,MTA1 group showed accelersted tumor formation and growth,whilethe MTA1-siRNA group showed the reverse effect ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). ConclusionsMTA1 may play its roles to promote cervical cancer cell invasion, migration, adhesion, as well as cell growth and colony formation, while RNA interference against MTA1 may decrease the malignant phenotypes. This study shows that it will be an effective beginning to explore metastasis mechanisms and cancer gene therapy strategy targeting MTA1 in cervical cancer.

0.05).At different time points after ischemia-reperfusion,the expression of cytochrome C and activation of caspase-3 were lower in the transgen mice than that in the wild type rats.Conclusions Under standard condition,overexpression of bcl-xl could significantly reduce the infarct area and improve neurological function in transgene mice than those in the wild type rats.The effect of overexpression of bcl-xl might be realized through inhibiting the apoptosis of neuron,and the mechanism might be that the overexpression of bcl-xl inhibit the release of cytochrome C and the activation of caspase-3.