Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is a flavonoid compound isolated from licorice. It possesses excellent antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities. This study aims to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the alleviatory effect of ISL on energy metabolism imbalance caused by type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). 8-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were used in in vivo experiments. The high-fat-high-glucose diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin was applied to establish T2DM animal model. All animal experiments were performed in accordance with the Institutional Guidelines of Laboratory Animal Administration issued by the Committee of Ethics at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. HepG2 cells were used in in vitro experiments. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to examine the protein and mRNA levels of mitochondrial function-related targets. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in HepG2 cells were measured by the flow cytometry. Additionally, the molecular docking of ISL and key target proteins was analyzed. It was found that ISL significantly inhibited the activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I and increased the protein levels of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) in the livers of mice and HepG2 cells. It also obviously decreased the ROS levels and increased the MMP levels in cultured HepG2 cells. In addition, ISL promoted mitochondrial biogenesis by activating proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1α (PGC-1α) and enhanced mitophagy by upregulating Parkin. It also improved mitochondrial fusion by increasing the mRNA and protein levels of mitofusin 2 (MFN2). In conclusion, ISL alleviates energy metabolism imbalance caused by T2DM through suppression of excessive mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and promotion of mitochondrial biogenesis, mitophagy, and fusion.

Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is an active chalcone compound isolated from licorice. It possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. In our previous study, we uncovered a great potential of ISL in treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, this study aims to reveal the mechanism underlying the alleviatory effects of ISL on T2DM-induced glycolipid metabolism disorder. High-fat-high-sugar diet (HFD) combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) were used to establish T2DM mice model. All animal experiments were carried out with approval of the Committee of Ethics at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. HepG2 cells were used in in vitro experiments, and sodium palmitate (SP) was applied to establish insulin resistance (IR) model cells. The effects of ISL on body weight, fasting blood glucose levels, and pathological changes in the livers of mice were examined. Enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were applied to detect the regulatory effects of ISL on key targets involved in glucolipid metabolism. Additionally, molecular docking and analytical dynamics simulation methods were used to analyze the interaction between ISL and key target protein. The results indicate that ISL significantly downregulates the transcriptional levels and inhibits the activities of key enzymes involved in gluconeogenesis, including pyruvate carboxylase (PC), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), and fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase (FBP). It also downregulates the transcriptional and protein levels of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), the two transcriptional factors involved in gluconeogenesis. Thus, ISL inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis in T2DM mice. In addition, ISL reduces total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels in the livers of T2DM mice. Moreover, ISL downregulates the mRNA levels of lipogenesis genes and upregulates those of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation, lipid uptake, and lipid export. In conclusion, ISL suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis, promotes lipolysis, and restrains lipogenesis in T2DM mice, thereby improving the abnormal glycolipid metabolism caused by T2DM.

Abstract: Due to the continued emergence of multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2, the ongoing pandemic has resulted in severe mortality over the past two years. After the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants, the most recent new variant of concern (VOC) strain to emerge is Omicron (B.1.1.529), which evolved as a result of the accumulation of a large number of mutations. The Omicron variant, which has a much higher transmission rate than the Delta variant, soon replaced the Delta variant and others, is now the dominant variant worldwide. The emergence of Omicron poses new challenges for the prevention and control of COVID-19 and has raised a number of concerns worldwide. Recently, cases of Omicron infection have been reported in several parts of China, and therefore this paper provides a comprehensive analysis and summary of the epidemiology and immune escape mechanisms of the Omicron variant. We also suggest some therapeutic strategies against the Omicron variant, including rapid diagnosis, genome analysis of emerging variants, ramping up of vaccination drives and receiving booster doses, updating the available vaccines, designing of multivalent vaccines able to generate hybrid immunity, up-gradation of medical facilities and strict implementation of adequate prevention and control measures need to be given high priority to handle the on-going COVID-19 pandemic successfully.

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of acute erythroleukemia (AEL, AML-M6). The clinical features and results of morphologic, immunophenotypic, cytogenetic and molecular biologic detections were retrospectively analyzed in 13 cases of AEL from 305 acute leukemia patients hospitalized between October 2007 and October 2012. The results showed that the expression of erythroid and non-erythroid cells increased at the same time. The myeloid antigens mainly expressed CD13/CD33/CD117/CD34, while the erythroid antigens expressed Gly and CD71. The karyotypic detection indicated that there were 1 case with normal karyotype, 3 cases with simple karyotypic abnormality and 2 cases with complex karyotypic abnormality, the other cases were not detected. The molecular biological detection found that the poor prognosis gene existed in 5 cases [38.5% (5/13)], including 3 cases with MLL-MLL fusion gene, 1 case with MLL mutation, and 1 cases with NRAS gene mutation, the abnormal genes were not detected in remainder 8 cases. After chemotherapy with decitabine, the complete remission (CR) rate achieved 53.5% (7/13), partial remission (DR) rate achieved 15.4% (2/13). Finally, 8 patients received allo-HSCT, the median overall survival (OS) was 20.7 months, 3 year survival rate was 79%, 3 year disease-free survival rate was 78%. It is concluded that the acute erythroleukemia is a rare subtype of AML, which is transformed from MDS and has harmful genes and poor prognosis. Allo-HSCT and treatment with decitabine may enhance the survival rate of AEL.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

Healthy Beagle dogs were administrated with batroxobin by intravenous infusion at high, medium and low doses. The study of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics was intended to clarify the relevance of them and provided strong evidence for clinical use of batroxobin. The blood samples were collected after injection based on the time schedule and samples were tested by ELISA method to get the concentration of batroxobin. At the same time, changes of prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (Fib) and D-dimmer were tested. The results showed that the concentration of D-D increased significantly after administration compared with that of before administration. The main pharmacokinetic parameters were as follows: t1/2 were (2.27 +/- 0.42) h, (10.65 +/- 2.19) h and (11.01 +/- 3.51) h; C(max) were (11.9 +/- 1.72) ng x mL(-1), (154.53 +/- 12.38) ng x mL(-1) and (172.14 +/- 47.33) ng x mL(-1); AUC(last) were (29.38 +/- 3.69) ng xh x mL(-1), (148.43 +/- 72.85) ng x h x mL(-1) and (599.22 +/- 359.61) ng x h x mL(-1). The elimination of batroxobin was found to be in accord with linear kinetics characteristics. The results of pharmacodynamics showed that D-dimmer level increased significantly after the administration of batroxobin, which was similar with the changes of batroxobin plasma concentration. Simultaneously, Fib concentrations in Beagle dog blood decreased significantly after the iv administration of batroxobin, while recovered to base level after 48 hours. PT, TT and APTT significantly became longer after administration, which returned to normal level after 48 hours. Especially, the D-dimmer levels and the batroxobin concentration in plasma after intravenous infusion of the drug were synchronized in Beagle dogs. Changes between PD/PK results had obvious correlation, and the D-dimmer levels in plasma can be one of the important monitoring indicators of batroxobin in thrombolytic medication.
Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Batroxobin ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Dogs ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; metabolism ; Fibrinogen ; metabolism ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Male ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Prothrombin Time ; Thrombin Time

The aim of this study was to observe the protective effect of ademetionine 1, 4-butanedisulfonate on liver injury caused by chemotherapy in patients with leukemia. The clinical data of protective effect were analyzed retrospectively from January 2010 to April 2012. A total of 62 acute leukemia patients were divided into A group (27 cases) and B group (35 cases), the polyene phosphatidyl choline combined with ademetionine or combined with compound glycyrrhizin were given in A and B group, respectively. The changes of liver function were observed after 2 weeks, 5 patients in B group suffered from acute liver injury were treated by ademetionine as rescue therapy. Liver function was compared before and after treatment. The results showed that ALT and AST levels were significantly reduced in A group (P < 0.05), none of the patients (0/27) suffered from acute liver injury, but 14.29% (5/35) patients in B group suffered from acute liver injury, and liver function could be recovered by substitution treatment of ademetionine (the median time is 8 days, 5-14 days). It is concluded that the protective and therapeutic effect of ademetionine against liver injury caused by chemotherapy in patients with leukemia is better than that of compound glycyrrhizin.
Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; prevention & control ; Female ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; S-Adenosylmethionine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

Male germ stem cells (mGSCs), which is in testis after sex differentiation, derive from primordial germ cells. In this study, bovine mGSCs were isolated from testis of 20 weeks fetuses. Number of CD9 positive cells of the cells through two-steps adhering plates velocity different was 95.8% by flow cytometer. The carina-type cells clones and the plane-type cells clones appeared in co-cultured system. One cells lines had been successively maintained for 4 passages, and the cells clusters showed AKP positive staining. The cells clusters showed nest-shape in third passage showed SSEA1 and Oct-4 positive staining. These cells can also spontaneously differentiate into c-kit positive staining germ cells, and the cells were directional induced to formaactin positive staining cardiac-like cells cluster and NF positive staining neuron-like cells. The conclusion showed that male germ stem cells from 20 weeks bovine fetuses could be in vitro formed like embryonic stem cells.
Animals ; Cattle ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Fetus ; cytology ; Male ; Pluripotent Stem Cells ; cytology ; Spermatozoa ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy of anterior percutaneous screw fixation in the treatment of odontoid process fractures in aged people.

METHODSFrom February 2001 to April 2009, 15 elderly patients with odontoid fracture were treated with anterior percutaneous screw fixation,including 13 males and 2 females; the average age was 69.3 years (ranged, 60 to 86 years). According to Anderson classification, there were 10 patients with type II fractures (type II A in 7 cases, type II B in 3 cases, based on Eysel and Roosen classification), 4 patients with shallow type III fractures, 1 patient with deep type III fractures. Thirteen patients were fresh fractures, 2 patients were obsolete fractures. All patients had varying degrees of neck or shoulder pain, and limit activity of neck. There were 4 patients with neural symptoms including 2 grade D and 2 grade C according to Frankel classification. All the patients were followed up and were assessed by radiology. Clinical examination included neck activity, neurological function and the degree of neck pain. Radiology examinations including anteroposterior, lateral, open mouth position and flexion-extension radiographs of cervical vertebra were performed.

RESULTSAfter surgery, all patients were followed up,and the duration ranged from 6 to 60 months (averaged 31.3 months). Two patients died of other diseases during the follow-up period (18 and 22 months after surgery respectively). All patients got satisfactory results, and all screws were in good position. As the screw was too long, esophagus was compressed by screw tail in one case. One case showed fibrous union, 12 cases had achieved solid bony union, 2 cases showed nonunion without clinical symptoms. The rotation of neck in 3 cases was mildly limited,the neck function of the remaining patients were normal. Four patients with symptoms nerve injuries improved after operation (Frankel E in 3 cases, Frankel D in 1 case). The symptom of neck pain had a significant improvement after surgery (P < 0.001). The VAS score decreased from preoperative (6.07 +/- 1.44) (4 to 8 scores),to postoperative (1.13 +/- 0.92) (0 to 3 scores). And there were no severe postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONThe anterior percutaneous screw fixation is less traumatic than conventional approaches for aged people in dealing with odontoid process fractures. Most patients will achieve satisfactory clinical results, as long as the general conditions of them are comprehensively assess. However, this procedure should not be used in patients with comminuted odontoid fractures or severe osteoporosis.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; Fractures, Bone ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odontoid Process ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Skin ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To summarize the thoracolumbar injuries and treatment in children and adolescents.Methods Since 2000,clinical data,surgical methods,efficacy and mechanism of 177 children and adolescents with thoracolumbar spine injury treated in Honghui Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine were analyzed and compared.Treatment was in accordance with easy typing method of Honghui Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine.The principles and systematic methods of analysis of such damage was emphasized.Clinical,physiological and psychological effects were observed.Results According to easy typing method of Honghui Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine.Ⅰ a-c 77 cases,Ⅱ a 40 cases.Twenty-seven cases of Frankel A were unchanged.There were 28 cases that had been restored to Frankel C in 30 cases of Frankel B.There were 2 cases that had been restored to Frankel D in 30 cases of Frankel B.There were 2 cases that had been restored to Frankel D in 27 cases of Frankel C.There were 25 cases that had been restored to Frankel E in 27 cases of Frankel C.There were 30 cases that had been restored to Frankel E in 30 cases of Frankel D.In 177 patients,imaging,VAS,ODI,SF-36,DPQ,MMSE,Barthel and psychology had achieved significant differences before and after treatment for follow-up of 7-12 months(all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Simple type is easy to grasp.It applies to children and adolescents treatment of thoracic and lumbar spine injury to good effect.It is a reasonable treatment strategy.

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between the dosage of corticosteroid, time of onset and incidence of osteonecrosis (ON) in patients with SARS.

METHODSFrom July 2003 to January 2004, general survey carried out for ON in 551 patients with SARS. Five hundred and fifty-one patients except 12 were administrated by corticosteroid from 80 mg to 30 000 mg. The age of patients was (33 +/- 9) years old ranging from 19 to 59 years old. One hundred and thirty-one were male, and four hundred and twenty were female. MRI and X-ray film were taken in all patients including both hips, knees, shoulders, ankles and wrists. CT scan was taken in partial patients. Common classification system were used for staging of hip (ARCO), knee (Lotka) and shoulder (Cruess). Independent test, rank-sum test and multiple factor logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTSNo osteonecrosis was detected in 12 patients without corticosteroid. Osteonecrosis was detected in 176 patients (32.7 percent) among 539 patients. There were ON of femoral head in 130 cases (210 hips), ON of knee in 98 cases (130 knees), ON of humeral head in 21 cases (36 shoulders), ON of talus and calcaneus in 16 cases (26 ankles), ON of scaphoid and lunate in 11 cases (17 wrists), ON of patella in 3 cases (4 patella), ON of ilium in 1 case and bone infarction (femur, tibia) in 18 cases. One hundred and nineteen cases (195 hips) with ONFH were in stage I (IA 45 hips, IB 77 hips, IC 73 hips). Eleven cases (15 hips) were in stage II. All osteonecrosis of the knee and humoral head was stage I. Thirty-four patients with ON had one joint affected, 45 patients had 2 joints, 93 patients had more than 3 joints. The dosage of corticosteroid was (5842 +/- 4988) mg in ON group and (2719 +/- 2571) mg in non-ON group (P < 0.0001). The duration of steroid was (38 +/- 17) d in ON group and (27 +/- 15) d in non-ON group (P < 0.01). The dosage of pulse treatment was (340 +/- 207) mg/d in ON group and (211 +/- 160) mg/d in non-ON group (P < 0.01). The duration of pulse treatment was (28 +/- 13) d in ON group and (18 +/- 11) d in non-ON group (P < 0.01). All patients with ON were detected within 6 months from administration.

CONCLUSIONAbout one-third patients with SARS who were treated with a high dose of corticosteroid occurred osteonecrosis. ON is frequently multiple focuses. The actual time of onset of ON is early of steroid used. MRI is golden standard for early diagnosis of ON. The patients who were treated with a high dose of corticosteroid should be inspected initially by MRI.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Adult ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Femur Head Necrosis ; chemically induced ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteonecrosis ; chemically induced ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; drug therapy