OBJECTIVES: To explore the bioactive components in Jiawei Xiaoyao Pills (JWXYP) and their mechanisms for alleviating depression-like behaviors. METHODS: The active compounds, key targets, and pathways of JWXYP were identified using TCMSP and TCMIP databases. Thirty-six SD rats were randomized equally into 6 groups including a control group and 5 chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression groups. After modeling, the 5 model groups were treated with daily gavage of normal saline, 1.8 mg/kg fluoxetine hydrochloride (positive control drug), or JWXYP at 1.44, 2.88, and 4.32 g/kg. The depression-like behaviors of the rats were evaluated using behavioral tests, and pathological changes in the liver and hippocampus were examined with HE staining. The biochemical indicators in the serum and brain tissues were detected using ELISA. Serum metabolomics analysis was performed to identify the differential metabolites using OPLS-DA, and gut microbiota changes were analyzed using 16S rDNA sequencing. RESULTS: Network pharmacology revealed that menthone and paeonol in JWXYP were capable of penetrating the blood-brain barrier to regulate inflammatory pathways and protect the nervous system. In the rat models subjected to CUMS, treatment with JWXYP significantly improved body weight loss, sucrose preference and open field activities, reduced liver inflammation, alleviated structural changes in the hippocampal neurons, decreased serum levels of TNF‑α, IL-1β, IL-6 and LBP, and increased 5-HT and VIP concentrations in the serum and brain tissue, and these effects were the most pronounced in the high-dose group. Metabolomics analysis showed changes in such metabolites as indole-3-acetamide and acetyl-L-carnitine in JWXYP-treated rats, involving the pathways for bile acid biosynthesis and amino acid metabolism. 16S rDNA analysis demonstrated increased gut microbiota diversity and increased abundance of Lactobacillus species in JWXYP-treated rats. CONCLUSIONS JWXYP alleviates depression-like symptoms in rats by regulating the neurotransmitters, inhibiting inflammation and oxidation, and modulating gut microbiota.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Depression/drug therapy* ; Neurotransmitter Agents/metabolism* ; Rats ; Inflammation ; Male ; Hippocampus ; Behavior, Animal/drug effects*

Chronic refractory wounds have been a challenge for clinical treatment because of their diverse causative factors and complex pathological processes, long healing times, and high treatment costs. The microenvironment of the wound surface includes the external microenvironment of the periwound surface, the internal microenvironment of the wound surface, and subsurface physiological structures. Research on clinical treatment strategies based on the microenvironment of chronic refractory wounds continues to innovate and make progress. Hydrogels have the advantages of high-water content, adjustable performance, good biocompatibility, and similarity to extracellular matrix. The ability of hydrogels to load drugs and their modification to confer excellent tissue adhesion, antibacterial, antioxidant, and modulation of inflammatory factor expression can be used to achieve a multi-factor response and modulation of the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the trauma microenvironment. Therefore, hydrogels have outstanding advantages and clinical application prospects in the repair of chronic, difficult-to-heal wounds. In this review paper, the characteristics and etiology of chronic refractory wounds were introduced, and the classification of microenvironment-responsive hydrogels for chronic refractory wounds and their application in the repair of refractory wounds were reviewed. Besides, the shortcomings of current hydrogels were discussed, and an outlook was proposed.

Objective To observe the clinical effect of combining hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) with repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI).Methods A total of 56 hospitalized VCI patients were randomly divided into an HBO+rTMS group (n =25) and an rTMS group (n =27).The patients of both groups were given routine medication,rehabilitation and rTMS treatment,while the HBO+rTMS group was additionally provided with HBO.The mini mental state examination (MMSE),the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA),the Lo Winston occupational therapy cognitive assessment (LOTCA) and the modified Barthel index (MBI) were used to evaluate the cognitive function of both groups before and after 4 weeks of treatment.Results Before the treatment there were no significant differences between the two groups in any of the average measurements.After the treatment,significant improvement was observed in the average MMSE and MBI scores in both groups,with significantly greater improvement in the HBO+rTMS group.After the treatment,all the average subscores except that of naming and the total MMSE score of the rTMS group had improved significantly,together with all the average sub-scores and total scores of the HBO+rTMS group.After the treatment the average visual space and execution,abstraction,delayed recall,orientation and the total MoCA score of the HBO+rTMS group were all significantly higher than those of the control group.Conclusion HBO combined with rTMS can improve cognitive function and the life quality of VCI patients.

Objective To establish the expression profiles of differentially expressed miRNA and mRNA in oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)and to investigate the roles of miRNA and mRNA associated with the occurrence and development of OSCC. Methods The expression profiles of miRNA and mRNA were constructed using a new generation of high-throughput sequencing techniques. The miRNA and mRNA associated with the occurrence and development of OSCC were predicted by Gene Ontology enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis. Results We successfully constructed the differentially expressed miRNA and mRNA profiles of Chinese hamster buccal pouch squamous cell carcinoma. 11 known and 3 novel significantly differentially expressed miRNAs and 194 differentially expressed mRNAs were found. A miRNA can regulate multiple mRNAs, and multiple miRNAs can control one mRNA. Conclusions Differential expression of miRNA play a an important role in the carcinogenesis and development of OSCC through regulating mRNA and forming a complex regulatory network. It provides theoretical data for the occurrence,pathogenesis,clinical treatment and prognosis of OSCC.

Chinese hamsters are a kind of valuable laboratory animal resources and play an important role in medical,genetics and pharmaceutical research. More and more biological characteristics of Chinese hamsters have been discovered with in-depth research,and many Chinese hamster models have been established so far. This paper is a brief overview of the development and research progress of Chinese hamsters and their application in taxonomy and medical research.

Objective: To study the protective effect of Ascorbic acid (AA) on the injury of nickel-exposed mouse embryonic fibroblasts (NIH/3T3) . Methods: A model of damage induced by 50 μg/mL nickel refining dust was established to determine the relative survival rate of cells, superoxide dismutase (SOD) , lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutathione peroxidase. (GSH-Px) activity, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and p53 (wild-type) , Bcl-2 protein expression. To investigate the protective effect of different doses of ascorbic acid (25, 50, 100 mmol/L) on nickel-refined dust-induced NIH/3T3 cell injury. Results: The study showed that ascorbic acid Ⅲ group can make the NIH/3T3 cell survival rate increased significantly; Apoptosis rate was reduced; The vitality of SOD and GSH-Px increased significantly, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) . At the same time, the level of MDA and H₂O₂ and the activity of extracellular LDH enzyme were significantly reduced, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) . The results showed that nickel refining dust induced cell damage through up-regulation of p53 protein and down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein expression; ascorbic acid interventions, the expression level of Bcl-2 protein in ascorbic acid II and III groups was higher than that of nickel refining dust group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); The expression level of p53 protein in each dose group of ascorbic acid was lower than that of nickel refined dust group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion With the increase of concentration of ascorbic acid, oxidative damage levels, antioxidant enzyme levels, reduce cell apoptosis, reduce expression of p53, increased expression of Bcl-2. It showed that ascorbic acid had protective effect on NIH/3T3 cell injury induced by nickel refining dust.

Objective To investigate the impact of pair box 3 (PAX3) gene mutations on transcriptional ac‐tivity of target gene microphthalmia -associated transcription factor (MITF) and the role it plays in the pathogene‐sis of Waardenburg syndrome type I .Methods The 293T cells were transient transfected with wild type (WT ) PAX3 and mutant type (M T ) H80D ,H186fsX5 plasmids .We observed and analysed the regulation effects of WT/MT PAX3 on the transcriptional activities of MITF and the influence of the two mutants on WT PAX3 function u‐sing luciferase activity assays ,detect DNA binding capacity of WT/MT PAX3 to MITF gene promoter using a bioti‐nylated double - stranded oligonucleotide probe containing PAX3 binding motif ATTAAT to precipitate PAX3 , H80D and H186fsX5 respectively .Results H80D mutant was partially functional and was able to transactivate the MITF promoter in part ,but it was dramatically reduced as compared with WT PAX 3(P<0 .01) .H186fsX5 mu‐tant was loss -of -function and failed to transactivate the MITF promoter as compared with WT PAX 3 (P<0 .01) . None of them showed dominant -negative effect on WT PAX3(P>0 .05) .WT PAX3 and H80D mutant were able to bind specifically to the ATTAAT motif on the MITF promoter ,whereas H186fsX5 PAX3 lost the DNA -binding ability .Conclusion The mutations H80D and H186fsX5 made down-regulation of MITF transcription and decrease syn‐thesis of melanin ,which resulted in haploinsufficiency of PAX3 protein and caused mild phenotypes of WS1 .

Binding Sites ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Histones ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans ; Methylation ; Multiprotein Complexes ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Nuclear Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Conformation ; Yeasts ; chemistry

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the expression of interferon-induced protein with tetratricopetide repeats 1 (IFIT1) and liver cell apoptosis in the acute stress period after severe burns.
 METHODS: A total of 25 C57/129 adult mice were randomly divided into the normal control group (0 h) and the groups at 1, 6, 12 or 24 after severe burns (n=5 per group). A model with third degree (20% of the total body surface area) burn injury was established and then liver tissues were taken. IFIT1 expression was examined by Western blot. The expression of caspase-3 and -8 was measured by immunohistochemistry. Liver cell apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL).
 RESULTS: After burns, IFIT1 expression was increased at 1 h, which reached the highest level at 
6 h followed by a decrease at 12 h, which reached minimum level at 24 h. The differences between groups were significant (P<0.01). The caspase-3 and -8 levels significantly increased after burns in a time-dependent manner (P<0.01). Although at 0 h and 1 h there was no significant increase in liver cell apoptosis, the increase reached significance from 6 h to 24 h (P<0.01).
 CONCLUSION The increase in IFIT1 expression after severe burns promotes liver cell apoptosis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Burns ; metabolism ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Liver ; cytology ; Mice ; Mice, 129 Strain ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; RNA-Binding Proteins

Objective To understand status quo of the domestic and foreign iceberg competency model application,and to provide basis for further study in the nursing iceberg competency model.Methods A literature review about the application of competency iceberg model at home and abroad since 2009 was carried out,the relevant data was listed,and the research situation of domestic and foreign nursing iceberg competency model was summarized.Results According to the 141 total literatures whose theme was the iceberg competency model,only 3 articles were related to the nursing field,while most of the iceberg competency model aimed at the study of enterprises in the high-level management personnel,sales personnel and so on.More researches on competency iceberg model were conducted abroad,involved in all walks of life,an research direction of nursing had turned from general iceberg competency model to the study of specific posts.Conclusions The iceberg competency model applied to the management of nursing human resources in China is developed lately and the studies lack breadth,depth and scientificalness.Compared with foreign countries,there is a big gap.A thorough iceberg competency model for human resource management is ought to be studied to provide a new perspective and a more useful tool for the early Chinese nursing theory and practice.