OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects and mechanisms of cordycepin,an effective component of cordyceps militaris, on renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) and its related eIF2α/TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.

METHODFirstly, 15 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 3 groups,the control group (Group A), the model group (Group B) and the cordycepin-treated group (Group C). After renal interstitial fibrotic model was successfully established by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), the mice in Group C were intraperitoneally administrated with cordycepin(5 mg x kg(-1) d(-1)) and the ones in Group A and B were administrated with physiological saline for 5 days. At the end of the study, the obstructed kidneys were collected and detected for the pathological changes of RIF, and the mRNA expressions of collagen type I (Col I) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the kidney by Northern blot. Secondly, after renal tubular epithelial (NRK-52E) cells cultured in vitro were exposed to transforming growth factor (TGF) -β with or without cordycepin, the mRNA expressions of Col I and collagen type IV( Col IV) by Northern blot, and the protein expressions of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), phosphorylated eIF2α ( p-eIF2α), Smad2/3 and phosphorylated Smad2/3 (p-Smad2/3) were tested by Western blot.

RESULTIn vivo, cordycepin alleviated RIF in model mice, including improving fibrotic pathological characteristics and mRNA expressions of Col I and α-SMA. In vitro, cordycepin induced the high expression of p-elF2α, and inhibited the expressions of p-Smad2/3, Col I and Col IV induced by TGF-β in NRK-52E cells.

CONCLUSIONCordycepin attenuates RIF in vivo and in vitro, probably by inducing the phosphorylation of eIF2α, suppressing the expression of p-Smad2/3, a key signaling molecule in TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, and reducing the expressions of collagens and α-SMA in the kidney.

Actins ; analysis ; Animals ; Deoxyadenosines ; pharmacology ; Fibrosis ; Kidney ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Phosphorylation ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Smad Proteins ; physiology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology

AIM:To observe the efficacy and safety of 1g/L bromfenac sodium hydrate ophthalmic solution in the partial substitution of glucocorticoid after laser subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK).METHODS: Totally 104 cases (208 eyes) were received LASEK, which were selected and divided into study group and control group.The study group were adopted 1g/L bromfenac sodium hydrate ophthalmic solution combined with tobramycin dexamethasone eye drops and fluorometholone eye drops, the control group were adopted tobramycin dexamethasone eye drops and fluorometholone eye drops.The changes of visual acuity and intraocular pressure of two groups were recorded before and after surgery, and the score of painness and the occurrence of haze were observed after surgery.RESULTS: At postoperative 1, 2, 3d, respectively, the pain score of the study group were 1.70±0.35, 1.25±0.34, 0.82±0.32, the pain score of the control group were 2.30±0.43, 1.68±0.44, 1.12±0.33, the differences were significant (P<0.05).Before and at 2wk, 1, 3mo after surgery, respectively, uncorrected visual acuity of study group were 0.035±0.02, 0.71±0.13, 0.89±0.17, 0.88±0.18, while which of control group were 0.037±0.015, 0.73±0.15, 0.87±0.14, 0.86±0.15 (P>0.05), and the differences were not significant(P>0.05).At preoperative and postoperative 1, 2wk, 1 and 3mo of surgery, respectively, the intraocular pressure of study group were 17.33±1.58, 7.54±1.28, 7.23±1.58, 7.26±1.47, and 7.30±1.36 mmHg;the intraocular pressure of control group were 17.53±1.43,7.57±1.32,7.73±1.55,7.80±1.38,7.86±1.43 mmHg,the differences were not significant between before and at 2wk after surgery(P>0.05), the differences were significant between the two groups at 2wk, 1mo and 3mo (P<0.05).At postoperative 1, 3mo of surgery, the score of haze level of the study group were 91.7% and 93.3%, respectively and which in control group were 92.0% and 92.9%, respectively, and the differences were not significant between the two groups at every time point(P>0.05).CONCLUSION: It is safe and effective that 1g/L bromfenac sodium hydrate ophthalmic solution in the partial substitution of glucocorticoid after laser subepithelial keratomileusis.The patient has a lower intraocular pressure, has similar therapeutic effect as glucocorticoid in vision and antiinflammatory.

Glioblastoma is a malignant tumor in central nervous system, which has strong invasion, poor prognosis and short survival time. At present, the main treatment strategy of glioblastoma is surgical excision, supplemented by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, due to incomplete resection and high recurrence rate, it is urgent to find novel therapeutic method for glioblastoma. Photodynamic therapy, as a promising non-surgical treatment, provides a new strategy for postoperative adjuvant therapy of glioblastoma. This review summarizes the mechanism and clinical application of photodynamic therapy mediated by various photosensitizers in glioblastoma, in order to provide help for the treatment of glioblastoma.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical effect of TPF regimen in the treatment of hypopharyngeal carcinoma and explore various clinical factors affecting treatment efficacy. METHOD: The clinical data of 20 cases with hypopharyngeal carcinoma, who received TPF treatment, were analyzed retrospectively. After two courses of chemotherapy, based on radiographic outcomes, next treatment plan was developed. To sum up the clinical information, including the clinical type, patterns of tumor growth, pathologic type, tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, age and so on. To analyze possible influencing factors affecting curative effect. RESULT: (1) After 20 cases with hypopharyngeal carcinoma received two courses of TPF treatment, the effect was evaluated. Objective response rate was 65%. (2) In patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma, the efficacy of TPF therapy was significantly related to the clinical type, patterns of tumor growth and pathologic type; there was no statistical significance in tumor stage, lymph node metastasis and age. CONCLUSION According to the clinical type, patterns of tumor growth and pathologic type of hypopharyngeal carcinoma, resistance to chemotherapy in hypopharyngeal carcinoma can be assessed, which provides important basis for designing individualized treatment plan.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cisplatin ; therapeutic use ; Fluorouracil ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms ; therapy ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Taxoids ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

To examine the significance of heat shock protein 70 mRNA in ototoxicity resulted from gentamicin (GM), twenty healthy albino guinea pigs (200-250 g) of either sex with a positive Prier reflex were divided into two groups randomly. In GM group the animals received 100 mg/kg GM daily by intraperitoneal injection for 10 d. In saline control group the animals received 2.5 ml/kg saline daily by intraperitoneal injection for 10 d. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds were recorded in each animal before and 1 d after GM or saline administration. After the second ABR measurement, the expression of HSP70 mRNA in guinea pig cochlea was observed with in situ hybridization and image quantitative analysis system. The results showed that the threshold of ABR in the GM group was significantly higher than that of the saline control (P< 0.001). The expression of HSP70 mRNA was more intensive in stria vascularis, spiral ligament and spiral ganglion cells in the GM group than that of the saline control group. These results suggest that administration of gentamicin can induce the expression of HSP 70 mRNA in guinea pig cochlea, and that this effect may protect hearing function from ototoxicity.
Animals ; Cochlea ; metabolism ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; physiology ; Female ; Gentamicins ; toxicity ; Guinea Pigs ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation

Abstract: Objective　To explore the correlation between monocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) and insulin resistance (IR) in male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) combined with metabolic-related fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Methods A total of 454 male patients with T2DM combined with MAFLD in National Metabolic Management Center (MMC) of the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University from May 2018 to July 2020 were enrolled. The general clinical data of subjects were collected, blood routine and biochemical indexes were tested, homeostasis model insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated, visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) were measured. Accordingtothe MHR quartile, patients were divided into group Q1 (MHR≤0.38), group Q2 (0.380.64) to compare the differences in measured indicators above. In addition, patients were divided into two groups according to HOMA-IR, HOMA-IR<2.5 and HOMA-IR≥2.5, and the differences in MHR were compared. Results The patients were divided into four groups according to MHR:group Q1 (n=115), group Q2 (n=110), group Q3 (n=120) and group Q4 (n=109). Fasting insulin (FINS) were respectively 6.17(4.20,9.76), 7.73(4.94,10.66), 8.92(5.32,11.33) and 9.13(5.25,12.27) mU/L, 2-hour postprandial insulin were 22.75(12.87,39.59), 27.55(16.44,39.77), 30.98(17.46,43.11) and 31.28(18.54,45.92) U/L. HOMA-IR were 3.12(1.63,4.25), 3.72(2.26,4.66), 3.87(2.48,5.44) and 3.95(2.42,5.31). Neutrophil (Neu) were 3.10(2.60,3.70), 3.20(2.50,3.93), 3.60(2.80,4.28), 4.20(3.30,5.00)×109/L. Subcutaneous fat area (SFA) were (181.27±53.60), (192.64±62.41), (199.53±61.40) and (203.69±71.51) cm2. They all increased gradually. However, the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) [1.18(1.06,1.35), 1.02(0.86,1.17), 0.96(0.80,1.03) and 0.80(0.69,0.92) mmol/L] and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) [(3.00±0.79), (2.76±0.83), (2.67±0.85) and (2.59±0.92) mmol/L] decreased gradually. Pearson's or Spearman's correlation analysis showed that MHR was positively correlated with FINS, 2-hour postprandial insulin (2hINS), HOMA-IR, VFA and SFA (r=0.190, 0.153, 0.184, 0.114, 0.127, P<0.05). The coronary heart disease history, systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,fasting plasmaglucose (FPG), FINS, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood uric acid (Ur), body mass index (BMI), VFA, SFA and MHR of patients in group HOMA-IR≥2.5 were higher than group HOMA-IR<2.5 (P<0.05). Conclusion　MHR is positively correlated with IR in male patients with T2DM combined with MAFLD, and as MHR increases, the degree of IR is higher.

AIMTo explore the effects of gentamicin ototoxicity on the expression of heat shock protein 70 in guinea pigs cochlea.

METHODSWe used immunohistochemistry staining and image quantitative analysis system, combined with auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurement to investigate the change on the expression of HSP70 in guinea pigs cochlea of gentamicin ototoxicity.

RESULTSThe levels of HSP70 immunoreactivity in guinea pigs cochlea of experimental animals were high including Corti's organ, stria vascularis, medial spiral limbus, spiral ganglion cells and the threshold of ABR was in high correlation with the expression of HSP70 ([ r] > 0.8, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONGentamicin can induce expression of HSP 70 in guinea pigs cochlea and protect hearing function.

Animals ; Cochlea ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Gentamicins ; toxicity ; Guinea Pigs ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Response ; drug effects

Objective: To compare the effect of galectin-3 (Gal-3), NT-proBNP and echocardiography paramerters on assessing cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure (HF). Methods: A total of 144 patients treated in our hospital from 2016-03 to 2016-11 were enrolled. According to the NYHA classification, the patients were divided into 2 groups: HF group and Normal cardiac function group. n=72 in each group. Basic clinical information was collected, blood levels of Gal-3 and NT-proBNP were examined, echocardiography was conducted to measure left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD). Correlations between Gal-3, NT-proBNP and echocardiography parameters were studied, the abilities of Gal-3, NT-proBNP and echocardiography for estimating HF were compared. Results: Compared with Normal cardiac function group, HF group had increased blood levels of NT-proBNP [3499.5 (1431.3-9088.0) ng/L] vs [384.1 (122.1-1540.5) ng/L] and Gal-3 [3.0 (1.71-5.8) pg/ml] vs [1.9 (1.4-2.6) pg/ml], decreased LVEF [49.5% (42%-58%)] vs [62.5% (59%-67%)], enlarged LVEDD [52.0 (46.3-57.8) mm] vs [46.0 (42.0-49.0) mm] and elevated serum creatinine [113.6 (90.5-152.7) umol/L] vs 82.4 (69.1-97.4) umol/L], all P<0.05. Correlation analysis showed that NT-proBNP and Galectin-3 were positively related to LVEF and LVEDD; Gal-3 and NT-ProBNP had the strongest correlation (r=0.57, P<0.01). The AUC of ROC for Gal-3 was 0.674 (0.584-0.763), for NT-proBNP was 0.837 (0.771-0.902) and for LVEF was 0.806, (0.735-0.878) which implied that NT-proBNP was the most powerful parameter for estimating HF. Conclusion: Gal-3 had the ability to estimate HF and could be used as a biomarker, while its ability was lower than NT-proBNP in clinical practice.

Tumor brings great threat to human public health. In recent years, incidence rate and mortality of tumor were rapidly increased in the world. Anti-tumor therapies have undergone the development of cytotoxic therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Among them, tumor immunotherapy is rapidly developed and becomes an important anti-tumor therapy in recent years, although it also brings some related side effects. Tumor microenvironment (TME) is composed of immune cells, vascular vessels, fibroblasts, the extracellular matrix, etc. TME significantly affects the efficacy of immunotherapy. Macrophages in the TME are named as tumor associated macrophages (TAMs). Recently, increasing studies have shown that TAMs play an important role in the regulation of tumor immunity, especially in tumor immune surveillance and immune escape. Currently, more and more anti-tumor immunotherapy strategies targeting TAMs are at the development stage. Based on the important role of TAMs in the TME and their potential as therapeutic targets in tumor immunotherapy, we first reviewed the subtypes and functions of TAMs, as well as the roles of TAMs in tumors. Furthermore, we summarized the research progress on anti-tumor strategies targeting TAMs and the current status of drug targeting TAMs. The current review will provide new ideas and novel insights for tumor immunotherapy.