OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the anti-aging effect of β-sitosterol (BS), an important component in the fruits of Alpinia oxyphylla Miq., in C. elegans and its regulatory effect on ETS-5 gene to modulate ferroptosis. METHODS: C. elegans treated with 10 µg/mL BS were monitored for survival time and changes in body length, motility, and reproductive function. The effect of ETS-5 gene knockdown on survival time of C. elegans was observed, and the changes in fat accumulation and lipid redox homeostasis in the transfected C. elegans were assessed using Oil Red O staining and by detecting MDA levels and the GSH/GSSG ratio. The mRNA expression levels of ferroptosis-related genes (FTN-1, GPX-1 and AAT-9) were detected using qPCR. The effects of BS treatment and ETS-5 knockdown on AAT-9 enzyme activity in C. elegans were examined. The effect of BS on nuclear localization of FEV (the human homolog of ETS-5) was validated in cultured human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVECs). RESULTS: Both BS treatment and ETS-5 knockdown significantly prolonged the lifespan, promoted lipid accumulation and reduced lipid peroxidation in C. elegans. ETS-5 knockdown resulted in upregulated expressions of the ferroptosis repressors GPX-1, AAT-9 and FTN-1 and increased the GSH/GSSG ratio in C. elegans. CONCLUSIONS BS inhibits ferroptosis in C. elegans by suppressing the expression of ETS-5 transcription factor and hence the activity of AAT-9 enzyme, a key gene for ferroptosis, which in turn prolongs the lifespan of C. elegans.
Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans/physiology* ; Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Alpinia/chemistry* ; Sitosterols/pharmacology* ; Longevity/drug effects* ; Fruit/chemistry* ; Humans

AIM:This study is aimed to investigate the impact of 3,5,6,7,8,3',4'-heptamethoxyflavone(HMF)on the proliferation,invasion,and migration of human colorectal cancer(CRC)cell lines(SW480 and HCT116)and preliminarily explore the underlying molecular mechanisms.METHODS:Human colorectal cancer cells(SW480 and HCT116)cultured in vitro were subjected to various concentrations of HMF(0,12.5,25 and 50 μmol/L)for 48 h.Proliferation levels were assessed using the CCK-8 assay,invasion abilities were examined via the Transwell assay,migra-tion rates were measured using the scratch assay,and oxidative stress levels were determined by the DCF-DA reactive oxy-genation assay.The mRNA expression levels of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)mRNA and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreduc-tase-1(NQO-1)were quantified using RT-qPCR.RESULTS:Treatment with varying concentrations of HMF resulted in a significant reduction in the proliferative capacity of SW480 and HCT116 cancer cells,as was indicated by CCK-8 experi-ments(P<0.05).Transwell assays demonstrated a pronounced attenuation in the invasive potential of SW480 and HCT116 following HMF treatment(P<0.05).Scratch assays highlighted a notable constraint on the migratory capabilities of SW480 and HCT116 after HMF treatment(P<0.05).DCF-DA staining revealed a substantial increase in reactive oxy-gen species(ROS)levels within SW480 and HCT116 cells after HMF treatment(P<0.05).Furthermore,RT-qPCR ex-periments elucidated that HMF markedly suppressed the mRNA expression of antioxidant genes HO-1 and NQO-1.CON-CLUSION:HMF induces oxidative stress response in SW480 and HCT116 cells,consequently inhibiting their prolifera-tion,invasion and migration.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Gegen Qinliantang（GQT） on the intestinal flora of antibiotic-associated diarrhea（AAD） by 16S rRNA sequencing and network pharmacology. MethodSixty SD rats were randomly divided into six groups（n=10）， including blank group， model group， GQT high-， medium- and low-dose groups（10.08， 5.04， 2.52 g·kg^-1） as well as Lizhu Changle group（0.15 g·kg^-1）， except for the blank group， each group was given clindamycin（250 mg·kg^-1） by gavage once a day for 7 consecutive days. After successful modeling， the blank group and the model group were given equal volumes of normal saline by gavage. The other groups were given corresponding doses of drugs by gavage for 14 days. Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform（TCMSP） was used to screen the active components and targets of GQT， GeneCards， Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man（OMIM） database， Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics Knowledge Base（PharmGKB）， DrugBank and DisGeNET were used to search for AAD disease targets. The drug-disease common targets were obtained by R software. STRING was applied to analyze the target protein-protein interaction， and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes（KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis was performed. Then hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the colon， and 16S rRNA sequencing of AAD colon content flora structure further verified the results of network pharmacology. ResultThrough network pharmacology， it was found that 238 active components were screened from GQT and acted on 276 component targets， among which quercetin， puerarin， wogonin and apigenin were the main core components of GQT， 1 097 AAD disease targets and 127 drug-disease intersection targets. The protein-protein interaction network mainly included core targets such as protein kinase B1（Akt1）， interleukin（IL）-6 and IL-1β， which were mainly enriched in the IL-17 signaling pathway. It was verified through animal experiments that compared with the blank group， the colon structure of the model group was seriously abnormal， the intestinal epithelial columnar cells were damaged， the goblet cells were reduced， and a large number of inflammatory cells were infiltrated. Compared with the model group， the colon structure of the GQT high-dose group improved， but there were still abnormalities， the colon structure of GQT medium- and low- dose groups and Lizhu Changle group improved significantly and reached the normal level. GQT could improve the structural diversity of AAD intestinal flora. At the phylum level， the abundance of Firmicutes was increased and the abundance of Bacteroidetes was decreased. At the genus level， the abundance of Lactobacillus was increased， and the abundances of Prevotella and Bacteroides were decreased. Among them， Lactococcus could be used as a biomarker for AAD treatment with GQT， and the prediction of functional metabolism of intestinal flora revealed that GQT could promote acetate and lactate metabolic pathways in the intestine. ConclusionGQT may activate IL-17 signaling pathway by acting on the targets of Akt1 and IL-6 through key components such as quercetin and wogonin， and improve the abundance of Lactococcus in the intestinal tract as well as acetate and lactate metabolic pathways， so as to play a role in repairing the intestinal barrier for the treatment of AAD.

Objective To understand the cognitive and behavioral characteristics of AIDS between male-male in college students, and to provide evidence for the prevention and control strategies. Methods Using cluster random sampling method, the questionnaire survey including basic situation, the perception of HIV/AIDS of male male actors, sexual behavior and condom use and HIV/AIDS counseling detection, was used to investigate in male students of 8 universities at Beijing fangshan distric. Results A total of 2444 male college students were surveyed, 138 cases with male-male behavior were detected, and the detection rate was 5.65％. The detection rate (18.31％) of the junior college students was statistically higher than that of first-year college students (4.28％) and sophomores (6.52％, P<0.017). The awareness rates of four relevant knowledge about HIV/AIDS for 138 students were 25.36％, 15.22％, 9.42％and 13.77％respectively. The 44.93％male-male in college students had first sexual intercourse were younger than 18 years old. The proportion of students with first time male-male behavior and age <18 years was higher in the first-year college students (58.9％) than that of sophomores and junior college students (30.77％, 26.92％). The incidence rate of bisexuality was 43.48％ in male-male behavior, and 73.91％ was polysexual partners. The correct usage rate of condom was 31.16％. AIDS counseling detection rate was 27.54％. Conclusion The detection rate is higher in students with male-male behavior, and the awareness rate of AIDS-related knowledge is lower. A variety of high risk sexual behaviors are prevalent, so it is necessary to strengthen HIV/AIDS education and HIV/AIDS related knowledge for college students.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the neuroprotective effects and mechanism of hyperin on CoCl2-induced hypoxic/ischemic PC12 cells.

METHODCoCl2 was used to treat rat pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12) to investigate the protective effects of different concentrations of hyperin.

RESULTHyperin could significantly inhibit CoCl2-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis on PC12 cells in a dose-dependent manner, by inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, increasing mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and inactivating caspase-3 and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP).

CONCLUSIONHyperin could inhibit CoCl2-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis on PC12 cells, show neuroprotective effects on hypoxic/ischemic neural injuries.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Cobalt ; toxicity ; Hypericum ; chemistry ; PC12 Cells ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Quercetin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Rats

ObjectiveTo investigate and evaluate the depression in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods62 patients with type 2 diabetes (30 having complications, 32 not having complications) and 20 normal controls were assessed by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HRSD) of Peking University PES Mental State Application System.ResultsThe HRSD total scores of diabetics were higher than that of normal controls, and scores of diabetics with complications were higher than that without complications (P<0.05). The scores of anxiety/somatization and cognitive disturbance of diabetics were all higher than that of normal control (P<0.05).The scores of sluggish, dyssomnia of diabetics with complications were higher than that of normal controls (P<0.05), but there was no difference between diabetics without complications and normal controls (P>0.05). The scores of changing at day and night, weight, and the despair feel of diabetics were not obviously different with that of normal controls (P>0.05).ConclusionThe diabetics are often companioned with depression, and more severe when having complications.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Gecko Swinhonis Gunther freeze-dried powder (GFP) in inducing apoptosis of C6 glioma cells.

METHODSThirty mice were randomly divided into three groups and treated with intraperitoneally injection of cisplatin, orally taken GFP or distilled water respectively. After treatment for 20 days, the serum of mice was collected for treating the C6 glioma cells. The apoptosis state of cells was observed by morphological examination, flow cytometry and TUNEL method, and the cell apoptosis related gene expression of bcl-2 and bax were determined by S-P immunocytochemical assay.

RESULTSThe C6 glioma cell apoptosis induction of GFP contained serum in vitro could be confirmed by morphological examination, flow cytometry analysis and TUNEL method. Comparison between the GFP treated group and the blank control group on intracellular bcl-2 gene expression showed no difference, but bax gene expression was higher in the GFP treated group.

CONCLUSIONGFP contained serum could induce C6 glioma cell apoptosis, its mechanism might be related with the up-regulation of bax gene.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glioma ; chemistry ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Materia Medica ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Serum ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein

To study the action, characteristics and expression of high methylation of p15(INK4B) and p16(INK4A) genes in multiple myeloma (MM), the sensitive methylation specific PCR method was employed to detect the hypermethylation of p15(INK4B) and p16(INK4A) in 24 patients with MM. Results showed that the methylation incidence of p15(INK4B) and p16(INK4A) genes were 70.8% (17/24) and 58.3% (14/24) in the MM patients, with the products of 148 bp and 150 bp fragments, respectively. The methylation of p15(INK4B) and p16(INK4A) genes were simultaneously happened in MM patients of plasmocytoma type with two cases at II phase and two cases at III phase. The simultaneous non-methylation of p15(INK4B) and p16(INK4A) genes were founded in five cases of MM patients, all of the tumor cells were of small plasmocyte type with mature differention. Conclusion suggested that there were high incidence of methylation of p15(INK4B) and p16(INK4A) genes in patients with MM. Hypermethylation can be detected in the early stage of disease, which was associated with its progress. It indicated a bad prognosis when methylation happended simultaneously in the two genes. Methylation of p15(INK4B) and p16(INK4A) genes may be related to the pathogeny of MM.

Objective:To study on symptom characteristics and TCM syndrome types of mild congnitive impairment(MCI),and reveal the relation of TCM syndrome types of MCI with metabolism of free radicals and cholin esterase.Methods:With reference to internationally acknowledged criteria for MCI diagnosis at present,44 cases of MCI were selected and 20 healthy persons were used as controls.Relative neuropsychological scales tests were conducted and TCM syndrome types were established.Serum acetycholin esterase(AchE),superoxide dismulase(SOD)activities,serum malondialdehyde(MDA)content and DNA defect rate in mitochondria of white cells were determined.Results:27 cases(61.4%)of deficiency syndrome,17 cases(38.6%)of coexistence of deficiency and excess syndromes and 93.18% patients of MCI had the symptoms of kidney-deficiency and hollow marrow.Serum MDA level and AchE activity and the DNA defect rate of mitochondria in white blood cells in the patients of deficiency syndrome and coexistence of deficiency syndrome and excess syndrome increased significantly and SOD activity and memory quotient significantly decreased as compared with the healthy persons.Memory quotient,serum MDA level and AchE activity in the patients of coexistence of excess and deficiency syndromes increased significantly and SOD activity decreased significantly as compared with the patients of deficiency syndrome.Conclusion:TCM syndrome types of the patient of MCI have objective substance basis,i,e.varying degrees of memory impairment and disturbances of metabolism of free radicals and AchE.

0.05),but the former was statistically higher than the latter from 2003-2005. Conclusions There is no obvious variation of the schistosome epidemicity at Jiangxin after resettlement but remaining arable land, while the epidemicity of Jiangzhou, after resettlement and converting cultivated land to forest or grassland, declines in some degree.