Objective To elucidate the changes in the gut microbiota and molecular mechanism of huaier in enhancing the efficacy of oxaliplatin (OXA) chemotherapy in gastric cancer (GC). Methods The effects of huaier on the gut microbiota structure and intestinal barrier function in MKN45-bearing mice were analyzed by using 16S rRNA sequencing, RT-qPCR, and IHC. UPLC-MS and network pharmacology, as well as in vivo experimental approaches, were employed to investigate the key bioactive constituents of huaier systematically and elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which huaier exerts therapeutic effects against GC. The expression of the PI3K/AKT/SREBP pathway was detected in cancer cells and tissues via Western blot analysis. The safety profile of huaier combined with OXA was verified through serum biochemistry and HE-stained tissue section analyses. Results Huaier inhibited the PI3K/AKT/SREBP pathway by increasing the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, reduced lipid droplet deposition, and ultimately enhanced the sensitivity to OXA in the treatment of GC. Conclusion This study demonstrates the value of huaier in gastric cancer treatment by enhancing chemosensitivity and provides novel insights into its systemic therapeutic effects through molecular mechanisms and gut microbiota modulation.

Recent studies have shown that stress can substantially facilitate breast cancer metastasis,which can be reduced by nonselective β1/β2-adrenergic receptor(β1/β2-AR)blocker.However,several side effects were identified.Thus,it is extremely warranted to explore more effective and better-tolerated β2-AR blocker.Currently,we demonstrated that baicalin(BA),a major bioactive component of Scutellaria bai-calensis Georgi,could significantly attenuate stress hormones especially epinephrine(Epi)-induced breast cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro.Mechanistically,we identified that β2-AR was a direct target of BA via the drug affinity responsive target stability(DARTS)combined with mass spectrum assay,and BA photoaffinity probe with pull-down assay,which was further confirmed by a couple of bio-physical and biochemical assays.Furthermore,we demonstrated that BA could directly bind to the Phe-193 and Phe-289 of β2-AR,subsequently inhibit cyclic adenosine monophosphate-protein kinase A-focal adhesion kinase(cAMP-PKA-FAK)pathway,and thus impede epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT),thereby hindering the metastatic progression of the chronic stress coupled with syngeneic and xenograft in vivo orthotopic and tail vein mouse model.These findings firstly identify BA as a potential β2-AR inhibitor in the treatment of stress-induced breast cancer metastasis.

Objective:To analyze the diagnostic and prognostic value of routine bone marrow examination in patients with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTCL) based on PET-CT staging.Methods:Clinical data of 186 patients who received bone marrow biopsy and bone marrow aspiration in Fujian Medical University Union Hospital from 2013 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into bone marrow biopsy + bone marrow aspiration group ( n=186) and PET-CT + bone marrow biopsy group ( n=139). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were compared between two groups. The data were analyzed and plotted. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Results:In the whole cohort, 45 patients were positive for bone marrow biopsy, and 30 of them were positive for bone marrow aspiration. A total of 141 patients who were negative for bone marrow biopsy also achieved negative results for bone marrow aspiration. A total of 139 patients completed PET-CT staging and bone marrow biopsy. And 30 patients were diagnosed with positive bone marrow by PET-CT, in which 22 of them were confirmed positive by bone marrow biopsy. Among 109 patients diagnosed with negative bone marrow by PET-CT, 5 of them were confirmed positive by bone marrow biopsy. All these cases were classified as stage Ⅳ due to distant metastases. PET-CT had a diagnostic sensitivity of 81.5%, a specificity of 92.9%, a positive predictive value of 73.3%, and a negative predictive value of 95.4%. Among early stage (Ⅰ-Ⅱ stage) patients diagnosed with PET-CT, all of them were negative for bone marrow biopsy (the negative predictive value was 100%). In stage Ⅳ patients ( n=55), the 1-year overall survival of patients with bone marrow involvement by bone marrow biopsy or PET-CT ( n=35) compared with their counterparts with the involvement of other organs ( n=20) was 28.7% vs.42.0% ( P=0.13), and 1-year progression free survival rates was 23.2% vs. 23.3% in ( P=0.94). Conclusions:Routine bone marrow biopsy does not change the original staging of patients with early stage ENKTCL based on PET-CT staging. Advanced stage patients with positive bone marrow biopsy tend to obtain worse prognosis, indicating that bone marrow biopsy still has certain value.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the budget impact on medical insurance fund upon the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension（PAH）included in the outpatient special and chronic disease management policy （hereinafter refer to as the Policy ）， so as to provide reference for medical insurance reimbursement decision-making. METHODS Based on the perspective of medical insurance payer ，a budget impact model with 10 million people was built to calculate the budget impact on the medical insurance fund in the next three years （2021-2023）after PAH treatment included in the Policy. The measured cost mainly included the cost of medicine，outpatient registration ，examinations，hospitalizations，and death events. RESULTS A total of 34-36 patients with PAH per year were expected to use targeted therapy during 2021-2023. For cities with outpatient costs not covered by the pooling fund of basic medical insurance ，upon the treatment of PAH included the Policy ，the annual expenditure of the medical insurance fund increased by about 40 000 yuan，i.e. an increase of about 1 000 yuan per patient. For cities with outpatient costs covered by the pooling fund ，the annual expenditure of the medical insurance fund increased by about 80 000 yuan，which was equal to 2 000 yuan increase per patient. The increment of above cost decreased year by year. CONCLUSIONS The incremental expenditure of the medical insurance fund is controllable after the treatment of PAH included the Policy ；with the implementation of the Policy ，the incremental expenditure of the medical insurance fund will be reduced year by year.

Objective:To evaluate the post-marketing safety and immunogenicity of a 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23).Methods:From September 2020 to June 2021, a clinical trial of single-dose PPV23 was conducted in people ≥3 years old in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of Guizhou, Hunan and Fujian provinces. Blood samples were collects from the subjects before and 30 d after vaccination. ELISA was used to quantitatively detect IgG antibodies against capsular polysaccharides of 23 Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes in serum samples. The adverse events (AEs) were monitored within 7 d after vaccination. Results:A total of 409 subjects were enrolled and included in safety analysis. Except for one with antibody level inversion, the other 408 participants were included in immunogenicity analysis. The levels of antibodies against the 23 Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes were all increased after vaccination by an average of 4.24 folds. The two-fold growth rates of the antibodies ranged from 51.72% to 96.81% with a total two-fold growth rate of 78.59%. The overall rate of AEs was 27.14% (111/409). Local AEs were mainly pain, induration, redness and swollen. No serious adverse events related to vaccination occurred. Conclusions:This study preliminarily demonstrated the good immunogenicity and safety of PPV23 vaccine.

To investigate effects of α-asarone and β-asarone on induced PC12 cell injury and related mechanisms. Aβ toxic injury cell model was induced by Aβ in PC12 cells. PC12 cells were divided into blank control group, model control group, α-asarone group (0.5, 1.0, β-asarone group (6.3, 12.5, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) group, and VIP antagonist control group. Cell survival rate was detected by CCK-8 kit; cell apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. The levels of inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1, , tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, oxidation-related inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitric oxide (NO), apoptosis factors caspase-3 and p53 were detected by ELISA method. The expressions of C-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) were detected by Western blotting. Compared with model control group, cell survival rates of group, β-asarone group and VIP group increased; the cell apoptosis rate decreased; levels of apoptosis-related factors caspase-3, p53, inflammatory factors IL-1, TNF-α decreased; IL-10 level increased; levels of oxidization-related factors iNOS and NO decreased; the expression of JNK and p38MAPK protein decreased (all <0.05). After VIP antagonist intervention, the survival rate of β-asarone group decreased; apoptosis rate increased; apoptosis related factors caspase-3, p53, inflammatory factors IL-1, TNF-α increased; IL-10 decreased; oxidation related factors iNOS and NO increased; the expression of JNK and p38MAPK protein increased (all <0.05); while there were no significant changes in these indicators of α-asarone group (all >0.05). α-asarone and β-asarone have protective effects on PC12 cell injury induced by Aβ. β-asarone may inhibit inflammatory factors and oxidation-related factors through promoting VIP secretion, regulating JNK/MAPK pathway, and reducing PC12 cell apoptosis; however, the effect of α-asarone may be not related to VIP secretion.
Allylbenzene Derivatives ; Animals ; Anisoles/pharmacology* ; Apoptosis ; PC12 Cells ; Rats

Objective:To evaluate the biosafety of medical injectable carboxymethyl glycosaminoglycan gel.Methods:Ames test, chromosome aberration test in vitro and gene mutation test in vitro were used to detect the genotoxicity of the medical carboxymethyl glycosaminoglycan gel. The gel saline extract (50 ml/kg) was injected slowly through the marginal vein of the ear into Japanese big-eared rabbits. The body temperature was measured and the temperature rise was calculated. The gel saline extract (50 ml/kg) and normal saline (control) were injected intraperitoneally and intravenously into the Kunming mice, respectively. The toxicity response in mice was observed after injection, and bodyweight change was valued. The gel saline extract, normal saline and distilled water were added into the rabbit anti-clotting, to detect the rate of hemolysis.Results:Under active and inactive conditions, the number of spontaneous revertants of the 4 strains of gel saline extract group and gel DMSO extract group did not reach 2 times of that of the corresponding negative control group. The rate of chromosome aberration of the three dose groups were 0. There was no significant increase in the large colony mutation frequency, small colony mutation frequency and total mutation frequency in three dose groups (all P>0.05). After injection of gel saline extract for 24, 48 and 72 h, no toxic reaction was found in each group of mice. With the extension of time after injection, the body weight of mice in the sample group and the control group increased, but the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). After injection of gel saline extract, the temperature rise of 3 Japanese big-eared rabbits were 0.0, 0.3 and 0.2 ℃ respectively. The results of hemolysis test showed that the hemolysis rate of the polycarboxymethyl glucosamine gel was 0.1%. Conclusions:No genetic toxicity changes were found in carboxymethyl glycosaminoglycan to induce gene mutation or chromosome damage in bacteria and cells, and no pyrogenicity, acute systemic toxicity and hemolysis were observed. These results indicate that thecarboxymethyl glycosaminoglycan gel has good biosafety.

BACKGROUND: The injectable carboxymethyl glycosaminoglycan anti-adhesion gel prepared in the previous study combines the advantages of anti-adhesion membrane and anti-adhesion liquid. It can form soft gel in situ in a relatively short time, which is not affected by body position, bear the pressure of surrounding tissues and can be used without compression. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the biocompatibility of medical injectable carboxymethyl glycosaminoglycan anti-adhesion gel. METHODS: Logarithmic growing L929 cells were used as test cells, and the cytotoxicity of injectable carboxymethyl glycosaminoglycan anti-adhesion gel extract was detected by MTT method. The intradermal stimulation test of injectable carboxymethyl glycosaminoglycan anti-adhesion gel extract was carried out in Japanese big ear rabbits. Guinea pigs were used as experimental animals to carry out intradermal induction and local induced delayed hypersensitivity test of injectable carboxymethyl glycosaminoglycan anti-adhesion gel extract. Wistar rats were used as experimental animals to carry out the subchronic toxicity test of injectable carboxymethyl glycosaminoglycan anti-adhesion gel extract. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The cytotoxicity of injectable carboxymethyl glycosaminoglycan anti-adhesion gel extract was grade 1, meeting the standard requirements. Injectable carboxymethyl glycosaminoglycan anti-adhesion gel extract had no potential intradermal stimulation and no potential skin sensitization. In the subchronic toxicity test, the rats were subjected to the tail vein injection of injectable carboxymethyl glycosaminoglycan anti-adhesion gel extract for 28 continuous days, and there was no obvious subchronic systemic toxicity in body mass, hematology, coagulation function, blood biochemistry and visceral pathology. These results indicate that the injectable carboxymethyl glycosaminoglycan anti-adhesion gel has good biosafety.

The clinical and genetic data were retrospectively analyzed in a pedigree with pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ⅰ a.Clinically typical Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO),hypocalcemia,hyperphosphatemia,and PTH- and TSH-resistance were manifested in the proband,but not in his brother and parents.The proband's symptom of epilepsy was alleviated by treatment with calcium and vitamin D,which was of no avail in regard to AHO.After GNAS1 genes were sequenced and compared with the GenBank data among the family members,a deletion of c.1107_1108 ( p.Glu370ArgfsX11 ) in exon l3 of GNAS1 gene leading to a frameshift mutation was found in the proband and his mother.It suggested that the GNAS1 gene mutation might be related to the pathogenesis of the disease.

Objective To analyze the effect of three therapeutic methods to find an optimal approach to the treatment of intracranial bacterial infection by retrospectively reviewing 33 intracranial bacterial infection patients who were admitted from 1995 to 2008 in oar hospital. Methods The treatments by intermittent lumbar puncture,continuous lumbar subarachnoid space drainage, and embedment of Ommaya cyst for continuous drainage from the ventricles were performed in 15 cases, 12 cases, and 6 cases respectively along with intravenous application of full dose of antibiotics. Results Nineteen cases were cured and the best prognosis was from the group of Ommaya cyst embedment and continuous drainage from the ventricles. Conclusion Management goals are prompt recognition of the central nervous system (CNS) infection, rapid identification of causative organisms and initiation of treatment with the optimal management methods for complications. Embedment of Ommaya cyst for continuous drainage from the ventricle is a safe and effective treatment for intracranial bacterial infection.