Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality, characterized by poor prognosis due to its high proliferative and invasive potential. Tumor metabolic reprogramming, particularly involving glucose metabolism, is essential for tumor survival. This study investigates the role of the Hippo pathway effector transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) in regulating gluconeogenesis and promoting tumorigenesis in HCC. Methods: TAZ expression in HCC was analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas data and validated in clinical samples and cell lines. TAZ was overexpressed or silenced in HCC cell lines to evaluate its effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. The expression and prognostic relevance of the gluconeogenesis-related genes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) were examined, along with their correlation with TAZ expression. Tumor growth was assessed in nude mice. Interactions between TAZ and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) were investigated using co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Results: TAZ was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines. TAZ overexpression enhanced proliferation, reduced apoptosis, and promoted migration and invasion. In contrast, PCK1 and G6PC were downregulated in HCC and showed a negative correlation with TAZ expression. Conclusion TAZ modulates gluconeogenesis and accelerates tumor growth, whereas its knockdown attenuates tumor progression. TAZ interacts with GR, suppressing its transcriptional activity on gluconeogenic gene promoters.

Objective To investigate and predict the molecular targets and mechanism of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction (黄连解毒汤, HLJDD) in the treatment of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) through network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis. Methods The chemical constituents and action targets of HLJDD were retrieved on Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), SymMap v2, Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ETCM), a High-throughput Experiment- and Reference-guided Database of Traditional Chinese Medicine (HERB), and Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database (TCMID). UniProt and GeneCards were used to query the target genes that corresponding to the active compounds, and then a compound-target network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.7.2. Gene Ontology (GO) database was used to annotate GO functions. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) was used to predict the possible mechanisms of active compounds. The Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) was used to analysis the tissue enrichment. The main active compounds in HLJDD are molecularly docked with their corresponding related targets. Results Seventy-six compounds were screened and 458 corresponding targets in the network were obtained. Gene annotation showed that the targets were involved mainly in 1 953 biological processes. 884 signaling pathways was enriched, involving signaling by interleukins, cytokine signaling in immune system, generic transcription pathway, and RNA polymerase II transcription. The targets mainly distributed in the lung, liver, and placenta, involving a variety of immune cells, such as T cells and B cells. The molecular docking results showed that core compounds such as wogonin, berberine, and baicalein had high affinity with tumor necrosis factor (TNF), insulin (INS), and tumor protein 53 (TP53). Conclusion The active compounds in HLJDD may have a therapeutic effect on COVID-19 through regulating multiple signal pathways by targeting genes such as vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), INS, interleukin-6 (IL-6), TNF, caspase-3 , TP53, and mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3).

Objective:To establish a headspace solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography method for determination of n-Butyl alcohol in urine.Methods:In October 2019, the n-butyl alcohol in urine was extracted with a polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) solid-phase microextraction head. The conditions of salt amount, extraction temperature, extraction time and desorption time were optimized. The separation was performed on HP-5 (30 m×0.32 mm×0.25 μm) capillary column and detected with flame ionization detector. The quantification was based on the external standard curve.Results:The linear relationship of n-butyl alcohol in urine was good in the range of 0.04-3.00 mg/L, the correlation coefficient was 0.999, the detection limit of the method was 0.04 mg/L, the recovery was 77.4%-102.8%, the intra-run precision was 3.67%-8.11%, and the inter-assay precision was 4.94%-6.90%.Conclusion:The method has simple operation, high concentration efficiency and high sensitivity, and it is suitable for the determination of n-butyl alcohol in urine of occupational exposure to n-butyl alcohol.

Objective:To establish a headspace solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography method for determination of n-Butyl alcohol in urine.Methods:In October 2019, the n-butyl alcohol in urine was extracted with a polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) solid-phase microextraction head. The conditions of salt amount, extraction temperature, extraction time and desorption time were optimized. The separation was performed on HP-5 (30 m×0.32 mm×0.25 μm) capillary column and detected with flame ionization detector. The quantification was based on the external standard curve.Results:The linear relationship of n-butyl alcohol in urine was good in the range of 0.04-3.00 mg/L, the correlation coefficient was 0.999, the detection limit of the method was 0.04 mg/L, the recovery was 77.4%-102.8%, the intra-run precision was 3.67%-8.11%, and the inter-assay precision was 4.94%-6.90%.Conclusion:The method has simple operation, high concentration efficiency and high sensitivity, and it is suitable for the determination of n-butyl alcohol in urine of occupational exposure to n-butyl alcohol.

Objective: To study the effects of hedysarum polybotys saccharides (HPS) and selenizated hedysarum polybotys saccharides (SE-HPS) on the oral squamous cancer cell line SCC25. Methods: Different concentrations (0, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400 μg/ml) of HPS and SE-HPS were added to SCC25 cells in the logarithmic growth stage. Cell proliferation was detected by the CCK-8 method, apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, and apoptosis-related indexes were observed by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Results : The concentrations of HPS and SE-HPS inhibited the proliferation of SCC25 cells. The inhibitory effect of 50 μg/mL HPS and SE-HPS on the proliferation of SCC25 cells was the strongest and was time-dependent. The inhibition effect significantly increased within 48 h, and the effect was achieved after 48 h. At the plateau stage, SE-HPS inhibited the proliferation of SCC25 cells more strongly than HPS (P < 0.05). The results of flow cytometry showed that 50 μg/mL HPS and SE-HPS acted on SCC25 cells for 48 h, and the apoptotic rates were 25.8% and 30.8% respectively. Compared with the control group (0 μg/mL HPS and SE-HPS), the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). RT-qPCR and Western blotting showed that 50 μg/mL HPS and SE-HPS acted on SCC25 cells for 48 h, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of the apoptosis gene Fas/FasL were upregulated. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion Both HPS and SE-HPS can inhibit the proliferation of SCC25 oral cancer cells, but SE-HPS is superior to HPS and can induce apoptosis through the Fas/Fasl pathway.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of ultrasonographic measurement of the transverse diameter of the cricoid cartilage in selecting the cuffed endotracheal tube (ETT) size for pediatric patients.Methods A total of 120 pediatric patients of both sexes,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,aged 1 month-6 yr,with body mass index of 10.9-31.2 kg/m2,undergoing endotracheal intubation and general anesthesia,were divided into group A and group B,with 60 pediatric patients in each group.The pediatric patients were intubated with a cuffed ETT in two groups.The ETT size was selected based on the transverse diameter of the cricoid cartilage measured by ultrasonography in group A.The ETT size was selected according to the age-based formula in group B.A tracheal leak was detected after intubation to determine whether or not the ETT size selected was appropriate.ETTs were replaced when the actually selected ones were not appropriate,and the number of replacement was recorded.The development of intubation-related complications was also recorded.Results The accurate rate of cuffed ETT size selected at the first time was 95％ in group A,and it was significantly higher than that in group B (60％) (P＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of intubation-related complications between the two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion Uhrasonographic measurement of the transverse diameter of the cricoid cartilage produces higher accuracy in selecting the cuffed ETT size for pediatric patients and is worthy of clinical application.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of application of single and dual antiplatelet aggregation therapy in high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level in patients with angina pectoris. Methods Ninety-six hospitalized patients with angina 6~48 h (hs-CRP< 2 mg/L) were selected and randomly divided into single aspirin group (aspirin 100 mg/d, n=48) and aspirin plus clopidogrel combination therapy group (aspirin 100 mg/d and clopidogrel 75 mg/d, n=48). The efficacy was evaluated after 30-day treatment. Data of composite end points were analyzed by follow-up in patients within 6 months. Results The total effective rates were 85.42%for combination therapy group and 81.25%for single aspirin group. There was no significant difference in total effective rate between two groups (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in events of composite end points in patients after treatment between two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion For angina pectoris patients with hs-CRP<2 mg/L, the risk of cardiovascular events is relatively little. There is no obvious difference in curative effect between single and dual antiplatelet aggreration therapies.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To explore the mechanisms of fluctuant high blood glucose-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes. METHODS:SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group ( N) , stable high blood glucose group ( S) , fluctu-ant high blood glucose group ( F) and insulin group ( I) .Diabetic rats were induced by intraperitoneal injection of strepto-zotocin (65 mg/kg) , and the fluctuant high blood glucose animal model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of ordinary insulin and glucose at different time points every day.The blood glucose fluctuation patterns of the animals in F group with-in 12 weeks were similar every day and no significant difference of the HbA1c concentration was observed compared with S group, indicating that the fluctuant hyperglycemia was successfully established in F group.The activity of superoxide dis-mutase ( SOD) and glutathione peroxidase ( GSH-Px) , and the content of malondialdehyde ( MDA) and nitric oxide ( NO) in the homogenate of the liver tissues were detected by colorimetry.The mRNA and protein levels of JNK, p-JNK, Bax and Bcl-2 were examined by RT-PCR and Western blot.RESULTS:After 12 weeks, the increases in the intakes of food and water, the urine output, and the abnormal liver function were observed in S group, I group and F group.Compared with N group, the MDA level was increased, the content of NO and the activity of SOD and GSH-Px were decreased, and up-regu-lation of JNK mRNA and p-JNK and Bax proteins, and down-regulation of Bcl-2 were also found in S group, I group and F group.The above effects were more obviously showed in F group.CONCLUSION:Oxidative stress activates JNK-MAPK signaling pathway, which is involved in fluctuant high glucose-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes.

Objective To establish a rat model at the same time in accordance with the “hot sheng syndrome” of traditional Chinese medicine and primary immune thrombocytopenic purpura of peripheral blood platelet reduction. Methods Using back multi-point injection of 20% dry yeast suspension on SD rats and 1∶4 dilution of rabbit anti SD rats platelet serum (APS) by intraperitoneal injection to establish a primary immune thrombocytopenic purpura “heat sheng”rat model.And observing rats of TCM syndrome characteristics, hemogram, myelogram and serotonin (5-HT) level of the temperature regulating center in thalamus.Results After injection of 2 h ~6 h temperature and daily water of the model group rats increased significantly,toe purper showed in fourth day of modeling and intestinal mucosal bleeding in thirty day of modeling(P <0.05);Platelet count in peripheral blood decreased significantly, bone marrow megakaryocyte number reduced significantly((P <0.05);5-HT level of the temperature regulating center of brain increased significantly((P <0.05).Conclusions The study of the primary immune thrombocytopenic purpura heat sheng rat model of combination of disease and syndrome reflected basically the pathological characteristics of purpura caused by “heat sheng” in primary immune thrombocytopenic purpura rat mode.

Municipal wastewater is usually problematic for the environment. The process of oleaginous microalgal culture requires large amounts of nutrients and water. Therefore, we studied the feasibility of oleaginous microalgal culture of Scenedesmus dimorphus in bubbled column photobioreactor with municipal wastewater added with different nutrients. S. dimorphus could adapt municipal nutrient-rich wastewater by adding some nutrients as nitrogen, phosphorus, ferric ammonium citrate and trace elements, and the amounts of such nutrients have significant effects on cell growth, biomass yield and lipid accumulation. At optimum compositions of wastewater medium, the algal cell concentration could reach 8.0 g/L, higher than that of 5.0 g/L in standard BG11. Furthermore, S. dimorphus had strong capacity to absorb inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus from its culture water. There was almost no total nitrogen and phosphorus residues in culture medium after three or four days culturing when the adding mounts of nitrate and phosphate in wastewater medium were no more than 185.2 mg/L and 16.1 mg/L respectively under the experimental conditions. As a conclusion, it was feasible to cultivate oleaginous microalgae with municipal nutrient-rich wastewater, not only producing feedstock for algal biodiesel, but also removing inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater.
Biofuels ; Cities ; Culture Techniques ; methods ; Lipids ; biosynthesis ; Microalgae ; metabolism ; Photobioreactors ; Scenedesmus ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; methods ; Waste Products