This study aimed to investigate the correlation between changes in intestinal toxicity and compositional alterations of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix(commonly known as Langdu) before and after milk processing, and to explore the detoxification mechanism of milk processing. Mice were intragastrically administered the 95% ethanol extract of raw Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix, milk-decocted(milk-processed), and water-decocted(water-processed) Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix. Fecal morphology, fecal water content, and the release levels of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) in different intestinal segments were used as indicators to evaluate the effects of different processing methods on the cathartic effect and intestinal inflammatory toxicity of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix. LC-MS/MS was employed to analyze the small-molecule components in the raw product, the 95% ethanol extract of the milk-processed product, and the milky waste(precipitate) formed during milk processing, to assess the impact of milk processing on the chemical composition of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix. The results showed that compared with the blank group, both the raw and water-processed Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix significantly increased the fecal morphology score, fecal water content, and the release levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in various intestinal segments(P<0.05). Compared with the raw group, all indicators in the milk-processed group significantly decreased(P<0.05), while no significant differences were observed in the water-processed group, indicating that milk, as an adjuvant in processing, plays a key role in reducing the intestinal toxicity of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix. Mass spectrometry results revealed that 29 components were identified in the raw product, including 28 terpenoids and 1 acetophenone. The content of these components decreased to varying extents after milk processing. A total of 28 components derived from Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix were identified in the milky precipitate, of which 27 were terpenoids, suggesting that milk processing promotes the transfer of toxic components from Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix into milk. To further investigate the effect of milk adjuvant processing on the toxic terpenoid components of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix, transmission electron microscopy(TEM) was used to observe the morphology of self-assembled casein micelles(the main protein in milk) in the milky precipitate. The micelles formed in casein-terpenoid solutions were characterized using particle size analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy, ultraviolet spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared(FTIR) spectroscopy. TEM observations confirmed the presence of casein micelles in the milky precipitate. Characterization results showed that with increasing concentrations of toxic terpenoids, the average particle size of casein micelles increased, fluorescence intensity of the solution decreased, the maximum absorption wavelength in the UV spectrum shifted, and significant changes occurred in the infrared spectrum, indicating that interactions occurred between casein micelles and toxic terpenoid components. These findings indicate that the cathartic effect of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix becomes milder and its intestinal inflammatory toxicity is reduced after milk processing. The detoxification mechanism is that terpenoid components in Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix reassemble with casein in milk to form micelles, promoting the transfer of some terpenoids into the milky precipitate.
Animals ; Mice ; Milk/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Male ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/immunology* ; Intestines/drug effects* ; Interleukin-1beta/immunology* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Female

Stathmin 1 (STMN1) is a microtubule-binding cytoplasmic phosphoprotein that promotes microtubule depolymerization or inhibits microtubule assembly, thereby regulating cytoskeletal organization and cell cycle progression. STMN1 is upregulated in a variety of malignant tumors, where it drives proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis through classic pathways such as nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and ferroptosis. STMN1 can also modulate the function of immune cells, thereby influencing antitumor immunity. Clinical data show that its high expression correlates positively with tumor drug resistance and poor prognosis, suggesting that STMN1 has potential as a tumor biomarker and therapeutic molecular target with important clinical significance.
Humans ; Stathmin/metabolism* ; Neoplasms/genetics* ; Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm

Objective To develop a GIS-based 3D playback system for the flight human-plane data to realize the fusion of pilots'airborne flight data and physiological data.Methods The 3D playback system was developed with the Browser/Server(B/S)architecture,micro-server model,Java language and Spring Cloud technology framework,which was composed of three functional modules for flight process reproduction,physiological situational awareness and critical event calibration analysis.Results The system developed achieved time synchronization and data fusion of airborne flight data and physiological data with a time synchronization frequency of 1 Hz and a refresh rate of not less than 120 frames/s.Conclusion The system developed with high safety,stability,reliability and accuracy facilitates pilot in-flight physiological monitoring and fusion and simultaneous display of airborne flight data and physiological data,which can be used as an important platform for decision-making support in flight training.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(10):14-19]

OBJECTIVE To establi sh the fingerprint of Cnidium monnieri and a method for the content determination of 4 kinds of coumarins. METHODS Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography （UPLC） method was adopted to establish the fingerprints of 21 batches of C. monnieri ； their similarities were evaluated with Similarity Evaluation System of TCM Chromatographic Fingerprint （2012 edition）；common peaks were identification by comparison with reference substance. Using 10 common peak areas as variables ，cluster analysis was performed for 21 batches of C. monnieri by the method of between groups. The relative correction factors of xanthotoxin ，bergapten and imperatorin were calculated by the same UPLC method with osthole as the internal reference. The contents of them were calculated by quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker （QAMS），and compared with the results of external standard method. RESULTS Totally 10 common peaks were identified in the fingerprints of 21 batches of C. monnieri ；the similarities ranged from 0.997 to 1.000. Peak 4 was identified as xanthotoxin ，peak 8 as bergapten ，peak 9 as imperatorin and peak 10 as osthole. A total of 21 batches of samples were divided into 3 categories，of which S 7 was clustered into one category ，S14 was clustered into one category ，and the other 19 batches were clustered into one category. The relative deviations of the contents of xanthotoxin ，bergapten and imperatorin determined by QAMS and external standard method were in the range of 0.88％ -1.07％ ，2.22％ -2.29％ ，0.67％ -2.93％ ，respectively. CONCLUSIONS UPLC fingerprint of C. monnieri is successfully established ，and QAMS method for content determination of 4 coumarins is also established.

The mammalian epididymis not only plays a fundamental role in the maturation of spermatozoa, but also provides protection against various stressors. The foremost among these is the threat posed by oxidative stress, which arises from an imbalance in reactive oxygen species and can elicit damage to cellular lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. In mice, the risk of oxidative damage to spermatozoa is mitigated through the expression and secretion of glutathione peroxidase 5 (GPX5) as a major luminal scavenger in the proximal caput epididymidal segment. Accordingly, the loss of GPX5-mediated protection leads to impaired DNA integrity in the spermatozoa of aged Gpx5

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristic changes of the peripheral chorda tympanic nerve (CT) electrophysiological responses to salty stimulus and other taste stimuli in rats with the conditioned taste aversion to saltiness. METHODS: Fourteen adult SD male rats were divided into a conditioned taste aversion to salty group (CTA) and a control group (Ctrl) (n=7/group). On the first day of the experiment, rats were given a 0.1 mol/L NaCl intake for 30 min, then, the rats in CTA and Ctrl groups were injected intraperitoneally with 2 ml of 0.15 mol/L LiCl and the same amount of saline respectively. On day 2, 3 and 4, the 30 min consumption of NaCl and distilled water was measured for both groups of rats. On the 4th day after the behavioral test of that day, CT electrophysiological recording experiments were performed on CTA rats and control rats. RESULTS: Compared with the rats in Ctrl group, the electrophysiological characteristics of CT in CTA group rats did not change significantly the responses to the series of NaCl and other four basic taste stimuli (P＞0.05). The amiloride, the epithelial sodium channel blocker, strongly inhibited the response of CT to NaCl in CTA and Ctrl group rats (P＜0.01). CONCLUSION The electrophysiological responses of CT to various gustatory stimuli do not significantly change in rats after the establishment of conditional taste aversion to the saltiness.
Amiloride ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Chorda Tympani Nerve ; physiology ; Conditioning, Classical ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium Chloride ; Taste ; physiology

OBJECTIVE: To clarify whether lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) have protective effects on retina neuronal cells in diabetic rats and to identify the related mechanism involved in this process. METHODS: Eighteen SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n= 6): normal control group (NC), diabetes mellitus group (DM) and LBP-treatment group (DM+LBP). The diabetic rat model was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The rats in DM+LBP group were treated with LBP at the dose of 1 mg/kg by gavage, once a day for 12 weeks. After the treatment, the weight and blood glucose, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the surviving retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and amacrine cells and the protein expressions of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were detected. RESULTS: The successful rate of diabetic model was 100%. Compared with NC group, the rats of DM group caused weight loss, elevated blood glucose, a marked increase of ROS generation and a significant decrease in the number of RGCs and amacrine cells (P＜0.01), and these effects were diminished or abolished by LBP treatment. Meanwhile, LBP significantly increased the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the retinas of diabetic rats (P＜0.01). CONCLUSION LBP can improve retinal oxidative stress and exert beneficial neuroprotective effects in diabetic rats, and its mechanism may be associated with the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway.
Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; drug effects ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; drug effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retina ; drug effects

There are more and more literature reports about the application of Chinese medicine quality constant in the grading evaluation of Chinese medicine decoction pieces. Chinese medicine quality constant has particularly prominent advantages in comprehensive quantification,so it has become a new method and mode for grading Chinese medicine decoction pieces,highly recognized by the academic circle. In order to determine the effect of Chinese medicine quality constant,a method of grades evaluation for Moutan cortex was established in this paper. 15 batches of samples were collected from Chinese herbal slices enterprises to determine the external morphological indexes and inner quality indexes,calculate the Chinese medicine quality constant of Moutan cortex,and divide them into different grades. The results revealed that the range of the relative quality constant of these samples was from 0. 016 to 0. 060,with percentage quality constant from 27. 4 to 100. 0. If these samples were divided into three grades: the quality constant of the first grade should be ≥0. 048 or the percentage quality constant ≥80. 0; the quality constant of the second grade should be <0. 048 but ≥0. 030 or percentage quality constant <80. 0 and ≥50. 0; the quality constant of the third grade should be <0. 030 or the percentage quality constant <50. 0. This research indicated that Chinese quality constant can objectively divide grades of Moutan cortex decoction pieces,providing reference for formulating grades standards. It was also verified from the results that traditional quality evaluation of Moutan cortex was consistent with quality constant,and the connotation of percentage quality constant was elaborated as well. At the same time,it is suggested to establish a third-party Chinese medicine slices rating agency as soon as possible,which is to unify the terminology and provide rating services for the market.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Paeonia ; Quality Control

The present study was to investigate the role of the interaction between canonical transient receptor potential channel 1 (TRPC1) and calcium release-activated calcium modulator 1 (Orai1) in extracellular Ca-sensing receptor (CaR)-induced extracellular Ca influx and nitric oxide (NO) production. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were incubated with CaR agonist Spermine [activating store-operated calcium channels (SOC) and receptor-operated calcium channels (ROC)] alone or in combination with the following reagents: CaR negative allosteric modulator Calhex231 plus ROC analogue TPA (activating ROC and blocking SOC), Ro31-8220 (PKC inhibitor that activates SOC and blocks ROC) or Go6967 (PKCs and PKCµ inhibitor that activates SOC and blocks ROC). The protein expressions and co-localization of TRPC1 and Orai1 were determined using immunofluorescent staining. The interaction between TRPC1 and Orai1 was examined by co-immunoprecipitation. We silenced the expressions of their genes in the HUVECs by transfection of constructed TRPC1 and Orai1 shRNA plasmids. Intracellular Ca concentration ([Ca]) was detected using Ca indicator Fura-2/AM, and NO production was determined by DAF-FM staining. The results showed that TRPC1 and Orai1 protein expressions were co-located on the cell membrane of the HUVECs. Compared with Spermine+Ca group, Calhex231+ TPA+Spermine+Ca, Ro31-8220+Spermine+Ca and Go6976+Spermine+Ca groups exhibited down-regulated protein expressions of TRPC1 and Orai1 in cytoplasm and decreased co-localization on the cell membrane. Co-immunoprecipitation results showed that the interaction between TRPC1 and Orai1 was reduced by Calhex231 plus TPA, Ro31-8220 or Go6976 addition in the Spermine-stimulated HUVECs. Double knockdown of Trpc1 and Orai1 genes significantly decreased [Ca] level and NO production in all of the Spermine+Ca, Calhex231+TPA+Spermine+Ca, Ro31-8220+Spermine+Ca and Go6976+Spermine+Ca groups. These results suggest that TRPC1/Orai1 may form a complex that mediates Ca influx and No production via SOC and ROC activation.

AIM:To clarify whether sulforaphane (SF) has protective effects on retina neuronal cells in dia-betic rats and to identify the related mechanisms involved in this process. METHODS:The diabetic rat model was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The protective effects of SF were evaluated by measuring the generation of reactive oxygen species(ROS),detecting apoptosis of retina neuronal cells with TUNEL staining and counting the survival retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The nuclear translocation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and the protein expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were examined by immunofluorescence analysis and Western blot. RE-SULTS:SF treatment significantly attenuated ROS generation, decreased the apoptosis of retina neuronal cells and in-creased the numbers of survival RGCs in the diabetic rats. Meanwhile,SF significantly increased the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 and the protein level of HO-1 in the retinas of diabetic rats. However,HO-1 inhibitor,protoporphyrin Ⅸ zinc(Ⅱ) diminished the inhibitory effects of SF on RGCs apoptosis. CONCLUSION:SF partially exerts the beneficial neuroprotec-tive effects via the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway,therefore alleviating retinal oxidative stress and decrea-sing the apoptosis of retina neuronal cells.