This study investigated the effect of Wuling San on transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)-induced fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in human renal tubular epithelial cells(HK-2) and its mechanism of antioxidant stress injury. HK-2 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into a control group, a TGF-β1 model group, and three treatment groups receiving Wuling San-containing serum at low(2.5%), medium(5.0%), and high(10.0%) doses. TGF-β1 was used to establish the model in all groups except the control group. CCK-8 was used to analyze the effect of different concentrations of Wuling San on the activity of HK-2 cells with or without TGF-β1 stimulation. The expression of key fibrosis molecules, including actin alpha 2(Acta2), collagen type Ⅰ alpha 1 chain(Col1α1), collagen type Ⅲ alpha 1 chain(Col3α1), TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 1(Timp1), and fibronectin 1(Fn1), was detected using qPCR. The expression levels of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-8(IL-8), and interleukin-4(IL-4), were measured using ELISA kits. Glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), malondialdehyde(MDA), catalase(CAT), and superoxide dismutase(SOD) biochemical kits were used to analyze the effect of Wuling San on TGF-β1-induced oxidative stress injury in HK-2 cells, and the expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1(HO-1), and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO1) was analyzed by qPCR and immunofluorescence. The CCK-8 results indicated that the optimal administration concentrations of Wuling San were 2.5%, 5.0%, and 10.0%. Compared with the control group, the TGF-β1 model group showed significantly increased levels of key fibrosis molecules(Acta2, Col1α1, Col3α1, Timp1, and Fn1) and inflammatory cytokines(TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-4). In contrast, the Wuling San administration groups were able to dose-dependently inhibit the expression levels of key fibrosis molecules and inflammatory cytokines compared with the TGF-β1 model group. Wuling San significantly increased the activities of GSH-Px, CAT, and SOD enzymes in TGF-β1-stimulated HK-2 cells and significantly inhibited the level of MDA. Furthermore, compared with the control group, the TGF-β1 model group exhibited a significant reduction in the expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 genes and proteins. After Wuling San intervention, the expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 genes and proteins was significantly increased. Correlation analysis showed that antioxidant stress enzymes(GSH-Px, CAT, and SOD) and Nrf2 signaling were significantly negatively correlated with key fibrosis molecules and inflammatory cytokines in the TGF-β1-stimulated HK-2 cell model. In conclusion, Wuling San can inhibit TGF-β1-induced fibrosis in HK-2 cells by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway, improving oxidative stress injury, and reducing inflammation.
Humans ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism* ; Fibrosis/genetics* ; Cell Line ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Epithelial Cells/immunology* ; Inflammation/metabolism*

Corrosive sclerosing cholangitis is a rare postoperative complication of hepatic cystic echinococcosis. Although corrosive sclerosing cholangitis is rare, it progresses rapidly and lacks effective treatments, which usually results in a poor prognosis. This case report retrospectively analyzed the treatment and diagnosis of a case with corrosive sclerosing cholangitis following surgical treatment of hepatic cystic echinococcosis, so as to provide insights into the diagnosis and treatment of corrosive sclerosing cholangitis.

A patient with cystic echinococcosis was presented with primary lesions in the waist and hip. The case was misdiagnosed as subcutaneous abscess at initial diagnosis, and then definitively diagnosed as echinococcosis by means of imaging examinations and anti-Echinococcus antibody test. This case was reported with aims to improve the awareness of cystic echinococcosis among clinical physicians to avoid and reduce the misdiagnosis and missing diagnosis.

The rhizome of giant taro (Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) Schott), which is a highly adaptable wild plant, is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. In the current study, the antiproliferative constituents of giant taro were investigated and six new (1-6) and four known piperidine alkaloids (7-10) were isolated from its rhizomes. Their chemical structures and absolute configurations were elucidated using various spectroscopic methods and the Mosher ester method. The isolated alkaloids were screened for the antiproliferative activity through MTT assay. The results indicated that piperidine alkaloids exerted potential antiproliferative activity against HepG2, AGS and MCF-7 tumor cells. Further researches showed that compounds 3-5 dose-dependently decreased the colony formation rate and induced the apoptosis of AGS cells, while compound 4 induced AGS cell death via the proapoptotic pathway. This study demonstrates that the piperidine alkaloids isolated from giant taro exhibit significant antitumor activity, which provides phytochemical evidence for further development and utilization.
Alkaloids/pharmacology* ; Alocasia/chemistry* ; Humans ; Piperidines/pharmacology* ; Plants ; Rhizome/chemistry*

Objective: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children and adolescents. The present study investigated the cortical morphology features and their relationship with working memory (WM). Methods: In the present study, a total of 36 medication naïve children with ADHD (aged from 8 to 15 years) and 36 age- and gendermatched healthy control (HC) children were included. The digit span test was used to evaluate WM. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to examine the characteristics of cortical morphology. Firstly, we compared the cortical morphology features between two groups to identify the potential structural alterations of cortical volume, surface, thickness, and curvature in children with ADHD. Then, the correlation between the brain structural abnormalities and WM was further explored in children with ADHD. Results: Compared with the HC children, the children with ADHD showed reduced cortical volumes in the left lateral superior temporal gyrus (STG) (p=6.67×10-6) and left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) (p=3.88×10-4). In addition, the cortical volume of left lateral STG was positively correlated with WM (r=0.36, p=0.029). Conclusion Though preliminary, these findings suggest that the reduced cortical volumes of left lateral STG may contribute to the pathogenesis of ADHD and correlate with WM in children with ADHD.

Imaging and serological approaches play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of alveolar echinococcosis; however, they also suffer from some problems during their applications in clinical practices, which urges the identification of potential diagnostic markers. Novel serological, genomics and proteomics diagnostic markers alone or in combination may increase the sensitivity and specificity in early diagnosis of alveolar echinococcosis, which play vital roles in monitoring of disease courses and prognostic evaluation. This review mainly presents the advances in the studies on novel diagnostic markers for alveolar echinococcosis.

BACKGROUND: Delivery room resuscitation assists preterm infants, especially extremely preterm infants (EPI) and extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI), in breathing support, while it potentially exerts a negative impact on the lungs and outcomes of preterm infants. This study aimed to assess delivery room resuscitation and discharge outcomes of EPI and ELBWI in China. METHODS: The clinical data of EPI (gestational age [GA] <28 weeks) and ELBWI (birth weight [BW] <1000 g), admitted within 72 h of birth in 33 neonatal intensive care units from five provinces and cities in North China between 2017 and 2018, were analyzed. The primary outcomes were delivery room resuscitation and risk factors for delivery room intubation (DRI). The secondary outcomes were survival rates, incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and risk factors for BPD. RESULTS: A cohort of 952 preterm infants were enrolled. The incidence of DRI, chest compressions, and administration of epinephrine was 55.9% (532/952), 12.5% (119/952), and 7.0% (67/952), respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the risk factors for DRI were GA <28 weeks (odds ratio [OR], 3.147; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.082-4.755), BW <1000 g (OR, 2.240; 95% CI, 1.606-3.125), and antepartum infection (OR, 1.429; 95% CI, 1.044-1.956). The survival rate was 65.9% (627/952) and was dependent on GA. The rate of BPD was 29.3% (181/627). Multivariate analysis showed that the risk factors for BPD were male (OR, 1.603; 95% CI, 1.061-2.424), DRI (OR, 2.094; 95% CI, 1.328-3.303), respiratory distress syndrome exposed to ≥2 doses of pulmonary surfactants (PS; OR, 2.700; 95% CI, 1.679-4.343), and mechanical ventilation ≥7 days (OR, 4.358; 95% CI, 2.777-6.837). However, a larger BW (OR, 0.998; 95% CI, 0.996-0.999), antenatal steroid (OR, 0.577; 95% CI, 0.379-0.880), and PS use in the delivery room (OR, 0.273; 95% CI, 0.160-0.467) were preventive factors for BPD (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Improving delivery room resuscitation and management of respiratory complications are imperative during early management of the health of EPI and ELBWI.
Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; China/epidemiology* ; Delivery Rooms ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pregnancy

Objective: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children and adolescents. The present study investigated the cortical morphology features and their relationship with working memory (WM). Methods: In the present study, a total of 36 medication naïve children with ADHD (aged from 8 to 15 years) and 36 age- and gendermatched healthy control (HC) children were included. The digit span test was used to evaluate WM. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to examine the characteristics of cortical morphology. Firstly, we compared the cortical morphology features between two groups to identify the potential structural alterations of cortical volume, surface, thickness, and curvature in children with ADHD. Then, the correlation between the brain structural abnormalities and WM was further explored in children with ADHD. Results: Compared with the HC children, the children with ADHD showed reduced cortical volumes in the left lateral superior temporal gyrus (STG) (p=6.67×10-6) and left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) (p=3.88×10-4). In addition, the cortical volume of left lateral STG was positively correlated with WM (r=0.36, p=0.029). Conclusion Though preliminary, these findings suggest that the reduced cortical volumes of left lateral STG may contribute to the pathogenesis of ADHD and correlate with WM in children with ADHD.

The 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (2-ODD) gene is regarded as the key enzyme gene involved with aryl naphthalene lignan-podophyllotoxin synthesis. To study the expression pattern and function of the Sc2-ODD gene, a full-length cDNA of the gene was cloned. Bioinformatic analysis, the expression pattern, and prokaryotic expression and purification were implemented. The open reading frame of Sc2-ODD gene was 1 077 bp and encoded 358 amino acids with a molecular weight of 40.16 kD. The Sc2-ODD protein contained the conserved 2OG-FeII-oxy sequence of the 2-ODD protein. The results of phylogenetic analysis revealed that Sc2-ODD is most closely related to Corchorus olitorius 2-ODD. qRT-PCR results showed that Sc2-ODD expression displayed obvious up-regulation at the fruit-swelling stage, then down-regulation in the fruit-coloring period. The Sc2-ODD gene was cloned into the bacterial expression vector pGS21T, the recombinant Sc2-ODD protein was expressed in Escherichia coli Rosetta (DE3) cells and the fusion protein was obtained and purified by GST fusion protein purification technology. This study will lay a foundation for further research on the function and expressional regulation of the Sc2-ODD gene in the aryl naphthalene lignans biosynthesis pathway, and also provides a scientific basis for improving the lignan content and the medicinal quality of Schisandra chinensis using plant genetic engineering.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with advanced hepatic alveolar echinococcosis, so as to provide more evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of advanced hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. Methods The clinical records of 175 cases with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University from 2012 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Results Among the 175 cases with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis, the male to female ratio was 1∶1.6, and the mean age was (38.6 ± 12.9) years (range, 11 to 69 years). 93.7% of the patients (164 cases) were Tibetan, and 79.4% (139 cases) were from Guoluo Prefecture. 73.7% (129 cases) were herdsmen, and 58.3% (102 cases) were illiterate. The major clinical symptoms included upper abdominal pain, yellowing of skin and mucosa, and scleral icterus. 69.1% of the lesions were located in bilateral livers, and 63.4% of the cases have 2 and more lesions. 53.7% of the cases have their inferior vena cava involved by the lesions. In addition, the most affected neighboring organ was diaphragmatic muscle (21.7%), and lung was the most affected distant metastatic site (40.6%). Conclusions Advanced hepatic alveolar echinococcosis is highly prevalent in Guoluo Prefecture, Qinghai Province. Screening of this disease is required in this region and rational treatment scheme should be developed.