Four novel β-galactoside prodrugs were designed and synthesized from anthraquinones HAQ-OH and AQ-OH in an attempt to use the prodrugs to selectively release superoxide anion (O2−) in cancer cells and to achieve selected anticancer activity by utilizing the Warburg effect and the elevated level of β-galactosidase in certain cancer cells. Cellular assays showed that the prodrugs Gal-HAQ and Gal-AQ selectively inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis of ovarian cancer OVCAR-3 cells overexpressing β-galactosidase. Using O2− fluorescent probe, it was found that in OVCAR-3 cells Gal-HAQ and Gal-AQ could time-dependently release O2−, which was essential for their anticancer activity. Furthermore, it was found that Gal-HAQ and Gal-AQ were effective senolytics toward senescent cells overexpressing β-galactosidase without affecting the viability of corresponding non-senescent cells, further confirming the β-galactosidase-dependent cytotoxicity of the prodrugs. In conclusion, Gal-HAQ and Gal-AQ, which release O2− in response to β-galactosidase, are expected to serve as candidate prodrugs targeting cancer cells.

Lipotoxicity is a pivotal factor that initiates and exacerbates liver injury and is involved in the development of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). However, there are few reported lipotoxicity inhibitors. Here, we identified a natural anti-lipotoxicity candidate, HN-001, from the marine fungus Aspergillus sp. C1. HN-001 dose- and time- dependently reversed palmitic acid (PA)-induced hepatocyte death. This protection was associated with IRE-1α-mediated XBP-1 splicing inhibition, which resulted in suppression of XBP-1s nuclear translocation and transcriptional regulation. Knockdown of XBP-1s attenuated lipotoxicity, but no additional ameliorative effect of HN-001 on lipotoxicity was observed in XBP-1s knockdown hepatocytes. Notably, the ER stress and lipotoxicity amelioration was associated with PLA2. Both HN-001 and the PLA2 inhibitor MAFP inhibited PLA2 activity, reduced lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) level, subsequently ameliorated lipotoxicity. In contrast, overexpression of PLA2 caused exacerbation of lipotoxicity and weakened the anti-lipotoxic effects of HN-001. Additionally, HN-001 treatment suppressed the downstream pro-apoptotic JNK pathway. In vivo, chronic administration of HN-001 (i.p.) in mice alleviated all manifestations of MAFLD, including hepatic steatosis, liver injury, inflammation, and fibrogenesis. These effects were correlated with PLA2/IRE-1α/XBP-1s axis and JNK signaling suppression. These data indicate that HN-001 has therapeutic potential for MAFLD because it suppresses lipotoxicity, and provide a natural structural basis for developing anti-MAFLD candidates.

Objective To study the regulation effects of Bazhen Decoction combined with Baizhu Fuzi Decoction on glucose metabolism and estrogen level in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome.Methods The rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome was established by subcutaneous injection of human chorionic gonadotropin(HCG)combined with insulin.Rats were randomly divided into the polycystic ovary syndrome group,the Baizhu Fuzi Tang group(6.4 g/kg),the Bazhen Tang group(9.2 g/kg),the Bazhen Tang combined with Baizhu Fuzi Tang group(11.55 g/kg)and the diethylstilbestrol group(0.5 mg/kg).A blank control group(unmodulated rats)was set up with 10 rats in each group.The uterine index of rats was determined and calculated.Fasting blood glucose(FBG),2 h postprandish blood glucose(2 h PBG)and fasting insulin(FINS)were determined and insulin sensitivity index(ISI)and insulin resistance index(IR)were calculated.Serum estradiol(E2),testosterone(T),luteinizing hormone(LH),follicle stimulating hormone(FSH),prolactin(PRL),anti-Mullerian tube hormone(AMH)and insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1),C-reactive protein(CRP),interleukin(IL)-6,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,total peroxidase activity(T-AOC),superoxide dismutase(SOD)and malondialdehyde(MDA)levels in ovarian tissue were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The pathological changes of ovarian tissue were detected by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)was used to determine mRNA levels of ARA70,CBP,SCR1 and HOXA10 in endometrium and mRNA expressions of AMPK,GLUT4 and PPARγ in ovarian tissue.Western blot assay was used to determine expression levels of AMPK,GLUT4 and PPARγ in ovarian tissue.Results Compared with the polycystic ovary syndrome group,uterine index,FINS,FBG,2 h PBG,IR levels,serum T,LH,FSH,PRL,AMH,IGF-1 levels,ovarian tissue CRP,IL-6,TNF-α,T-AOC and MDA level,endometrial ARA70,CBP,SCR1 mRNA level of rats decreased significantly in the Baizhu Fuzi decoction group,the Bazhen decoction group and the Bazhen decoction combined with Baizhu Fuzi decoction group(P＜0.05).ISI level,serum E2 level,ovarian tissue SOD level,endometrial HOXA10 mRNA level,ovarian tissue AMPK,GLUT4 and PPARγ mRNA and protein levels were significantly increased(P＜0.05).The above indexes were significantly changed in the Bazhen decoction and Bazhu Fuzi decoction group than those of the Bazhu Fuzi decoction group and the Bazhen decoction group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Bazhen Decoction combined with Baizhu Fuzi Decoction can regulate glucose metabolism,inhibit ovarian tissue oxidation and inflammatory damage,improve endometrium tolerance,regulate estrogen level,and improve the progression of polycystic ovary syndrome in rats.The mechanism may be related to the regulation of AMPK/GLUT4/PPARγ pathway.

[Objective] To investigate the correlation between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene polymorphism and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. [Methods] Venous blood samples were collected from 501 healthy individuals undergoing physical examinations at Yan’an Hospital in Kunming, Yunnan Province. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect HBV halves. Based on the results of HBV half detection, the patients were divided into three groups: HBV carrier group, previous infection group, and healthy control group. The HLA-A antigen genotype was detected using polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) genotyping technology, and the distribution frequency of HLA-A gene polymorphism was compared between HBV carrier group and healthy control group, as well as between previous infection group and healthy control group. SPSS17.0 software was used for data statistical analysis. [Results] In the healthy control group, the HLA-A2 positivity rate was 47.49%, and the allele frequency was 31.29%.The overall frequency of gene distribution in the healthy control group was consistent with the HLA-A allele table commonly and confirmed in China published by the Chinese Bone Marrow Bank. The HLA-A2 positivity rate and allele frequency in the HBV carrier group were 63.04% and 42.23%, respectively; The difference in HLA-A2 positivity rate and allele frequency among carriers was statistically significant (P<0.05). the HLA-A2 positivity rate and allele frequency in the HBV previous infection group were 56.14% and 35.97%, respectively, which did not significantly differ from those in the healthy control group (P>0.05). [Conclusion] HLA-A2 gene may be a susceptibility gene for chronic hepatitis B HBV carriers.

Objective To investigate the dietary patterns of rural residents in the high-incidence areas of esophageal cancer (EC), and to explore the clustering and influencing factors of risk factors associated with high-incidence characteristics. Methods A special structured questionnaire was applied to conduct a face-to-face survey on the dietary patterns of rural residents in Yanting county of Sichuan Province from July to August 2021. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the influencing factors of risk factor clustering for EC. Results There were 838 valid questionnaires in this study. A total of 90.8% of rural residents used clean water such as tap water. In the past one year, the people who ate fruits and vegetables, soybean products, onions and garlic in high frequency accounted for 69.5%, 32.8% and 74.5%, respectively; the people who ate kimchi, pickled vegetables, sauerkraut, barbecue, hot food and mildew food in low frequency accounted for 59.2%, 79.6%, 68.2%, 90.3%, 80.9% and 90.3%, respectively. The clustering of risk factors for EC was found in 73.3% of residents, and the aggregation of two risk factors was the most common mode (28.2%), among which tumor history and preserved food was the main clustering pattern (4.6%). The logistic regression model revealed that the gender, age, marital status and occupation were independent influencing factors for the risk factors clustering of EC (P<0.05). Conclusion A majority of rural residents in high-incidence areas of EC in Yanting county have good eating habits, but the clustering of some risk factors is still at a high level. Gender, age, marital status, and occupation are influencing factors of the risk factors clustering of EC.

Recently,the substance P(SP)/neurokinin-1 receptor(NK-1R)system has been found to be involved in various human pathophysiological disorders including the symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).Besides,studies in the oncological field have demonstrated an intricate correlation between the upregulation of NK-1R and the activation of SP/NK-1R system with the progression of multiple carcinoma types and poor clinical prognosis.These findings indicate that the modulation of SP/NK-1R system with NK-1R antagonists can be a potential broad-spectrum antitumor strategy.This review updates the latest potential and applications of NK-1R antagonists in the treatment of human diseases and cancers,as well as the underlying mechanisms.Furthermore,the strategies to improve the bioavailability and efficacy of NK-1R antagonist drugs are summarized,such as solid dispersion systems,nanonization,and nanoencapsulation.As a radiopharmaceutical therapeutic,the NK-1R antagonist aprepitant was originally developed as radioligand receptor to target NK-1R-overexpressing tumors.However,combining NK-1R antagonists with other drugs can produce a synergistic effect,thereby enhancing the therapeutic effect,alleviating the symptoms,and improving patients'quality of life in several diseases and cancers.

Objective:To clarify the clinicopathological, especially molecular, features of early-onset gastric cancer with the aim of informing analysis of treatment strategies.Methods:In this retrospective case-control study, we examined data from a dedicated gastric cancer database in Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University. The original cohort comprised 2506 patients with gastric cancer who had undergone gastrectomy in Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University from July 2020 to October 2021, including 198 with early-onset gastric cancer (aged ≤45 years) and 2,308 with non-early gastric cancer. We used a simple random sampling method to select 396 of the 2,308 patients aged >45 years (ratio of 1:2) as the control group and then compared molecular diagnostic data and clinicopathological features of the two groups.Results:The median age was 39 years in the early-onset gastric cancer group, while 66 years in the control group. The clinicopathological features of early-onset gastric cancer included female predominance (59.1% [117/198] vs. 27.8% [110/396], χ 2=54.816, P<0.001), less comorbidity (32.3% [64/198] vs. 57.1% [226/396], χ 2=32.355, P<0.001), poorer differentiation (93.9% [186/198] vs. 74.5% [295/396], χ 2=30.777, P<0.001) and higher proportion of diffuse type (40.4% [80/198] vs. 15.9% [63/396], χ 2=69.639, P<0.001), distant metastasis (7.1% [14/198] vs. 2.8% [11/396], χ 2=6.034, P=0.014). Regarding treatment, distal gastrectomy was more commonly performed than proximal gastrectomy (55.1% [109/198] vs. 47.0% [186/396], 1.5% [3/198] vs. 8.3% [33/396], χ 2=11.644, P=0.003). Family history of gastric cancer, TNM stage, tumor size, lymph node dissection, nerve invasion, nodes harboring metastases, range of lymph node dissection, digestive tract reconstruction procedure, implementation of laparoscopic surgery, combined resection, and preoperative treatment did not differ significantly between the two groups (all P>0.05). Molecular diagnosis showed there was a smaller percentage of mismatch repair deficiency in the early-onset gastric cancer than in the control group (1.0% [2/198] vs. 10.1% [40/396], χ 2=16.301, P<0.001), and a higher rate of positivity for Claudin 18.2 (77.8% [154/198] vs. 53.0% [210/396], χ 2=5.442, P<0.001). HER-2 and Epstein–Barr virus positivity rates did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusion:Early-onset gastric cancer is a distinct type of gastric cancer with a high degree of malignancy, and treatment targeting Claudin 18.2 may be effective.

ObjectiveTo monitor the microbes in urban drinking water in Jiangxi from 2016 to 2020， to analyze the change in microbial qualification rate， and to provide a scientific basis for government decision-making. MethodsAccording to the Standard Examination Method for Drinking Water （GB/T 5750‒2006） and the Standards for Drinking Water Quality （GB 5749‒2006）， the water samples were collected， tested and evaluated for hygienic safety. The chi-square test was used to compare the qualification rates among different water periods， water source types， water supply modes， water samples， treatment processes， and disinfection methods. ResultsA total of 10 584 water samples were collected and examined from 2016 to 2020，with a qualification rate of 97.72%. The qualified rate of the microbiological index increased gradually over the years. There was no statistically significant difference in the microbiological qualification rate of water samples monitored in different water periods （χ²=0.718，P=0.398）， and the qualification rates were 97.85% and 97.60% in dry and abundant water periods respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the qualification rates of water samples monitored in different water source types （χ²=79.560，P=0.398）， with groundwater having a higher qualification rate of 98.83% than surface water （97.70%）. The microbiological pass rate of water samples differed among different water supply methods （χ²=201.836，P<0.001）. The microbiological pass rates of municipal centralized water supply， self-built centralized water supply and secondary water supply were 97.51%， 88.94% and 96.56% respectively. The microbiological pass rates of water samples differed among different treatment processes. There were differences in the qualification rates of the water samples between different treatment processes（χ²=855.034，P<0.001）， with 98.22%， 67.19%， 95.60% and 53.13% of the conventionally treated， precipitated filtered， disinfected only and untreated water samples， respectively. The differences in the microbiological qualification rates of the monitored water samples between different disinfection methods were statistically significant （χ²=904.993，P<0.001）. Chlorination disinfection， chlorine dioxide disinfection， other disinfection methods and non-disinfected water samples had the pass rates of 98.35%， 98.19%， 84.38% and 60.16%， respectively. ConclusionThe qualified rate of the microbiological index of drinking water in Jiangxi increases year by year， but there are still some drinking water without appropriate disinfectants and water quality treatment processes. There is still a need to strengthen the purification， disinfection and monitoring of drinking water.

‍ ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of safranal against sepsis-related liver injury （SRLI） induced by lipopolysaccharide （LPS） in mice and its mechanism. MethodsA total of 32 experimental male C57BL/6 mice were divided into control group， single drug group， model group， and treatment group using the simple random method， with 8 mice in each group. The mice in the single drug group and the treatment group were intraperitoneally injected with safranal （60 mg/kg） for 7 days of pretreatment， and the mice in the model group and the treatment group were intraperitoneally injected with LPS （10 mg/kg） to induce acute liver injury. The activities of serum alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） were measured； HE staining was used to observe liver tissue sections； immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the expression of the downstream protein heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1） in the signal pathway； TUNEL was used to analyze the apoptosis of hepatocytes； Western blot was used to measure the expression of total proteins （nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 ［Nrf-2］ and HO-1） in liver tissue. The human liver cell line L02 was pretreated with safranal （100 μmol/L）， followed by induction of acute hepatocellular injury with LPS （100 ng/mL）， and DCFH-DA fluorescent labeling was used to detect reactive oxygen species （ROS）. ResultsAfter safranal pretreatment， the treatment group had significantly lower levels of ALT and AST than the model group （both P<0.001）， with a relatively intact pseudolobular structure and a smaller necrotic area in the liver. Compared with the model group， the treatment group had significant increases in the expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 in liver tissue after safranal+LPS treatment （both P<0.001）， and immunohistochemistry showed that safranal pretreatment increased the number of HO-1-positive cells. In the cell model of LPS-induced acute liver injury， the treatment group had a significant reduction in the production of ROS compared with the model group. ConclusionSafranal can exert a protective effect against SRLI induced by LPS in mice through the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.