Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic disease characterized by abnormal deposition of lipid in hepatocytes. If not intervened in time, NAFLD may develop into liver fibrosis or liver cancer, and ultimately threatening life. NAFLD has complicated etiology and pathogenesis, and there are no effective therapeutic means and specific drugs. Currently, insulin sensitizers, lipid-lowering agents and hepatoprotective agents are often used for clinical intervention, but these drugs have obvious side effects, and their effectiveness and safety need to be further confirmed. Adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a central role in maintaining energy homeostasis. Activated AMPK can enhance lipid degradation, alleviate insulin resistance (IR), suppress oxidative stress and inflammatory response, and regulate autophagy, thereby alleviating NAFLD. Natural herbal medicines have received extensive attention recently because of their regulatory effects on AMPK and low side effects. In this article, we reviewed the biologically active natural herbal medicines (such as natural herbal medicine formulas, extracts, polysaccharides, and monomers) that reported in recent years to treat NAFLD via regulating AMPK, which can serve as a foundation for subsequent development of candidate drugs for NAFLD.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and clinical therapeutic effect of in-line mechanical in-exsufflation to assist sputum clearance in patients with invasive mechanical ventilation. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted at the department of critical care medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from April 2022 to May 2023. Patients who were invasively ventilated and treated with in-line mechanical in-exsufflation to assist sputum clearance were enrolled. Baseline data were collected. Sputum viscosity, oxygenation index, parameters of ventilatory function and respiratory mechanics, clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) and vital signs before and after day 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 of use of the in-line mechanical in-exsufflation were assessed and recorded. Statistical analyses were performed by using generalized estimating equation (GEE). RESULTS: A total of 13 invasively ventilated patients using in-line mechanical in-exsufflation were included, all of whom were male and had respiratory failure, with the main cause being cervical spinal cord injury/high-level paraplegia (38.46%). Before the use of the in-line mechanical in-exsufflation, the proportion of patients with sputum viscosity of grade III was 38.46% (5/13) and decreased to 22.22% (2/9) 7 days after treatment with in-line mechanical in-exsufflation. With the prolonged use of the in-line mechanical in-exsufflation, the patients' CPIS scores tended to decrease significantly, with a mean decrease of 0.5 points per day (P < 0.01). Oxygenation improved significantly, with the oxygenation index (PaO₂/FiO₂) increasing by a mean of 23.3 mmHg (1 mmHg ≈ 0.133 kPa) per day and the arterial partial pressure of oxygen increasing by a mean of 12.6 mmHg per day (both P < 0.01). Compared to baseline, the respiratory mechanics of the patients improved significantly 7 days after in-line mechanical in-exsufflation use, with a significant increase in the compliance of respiratory system (Cst) [mL/cmH₂O (1 cmH₂O ≈ 0.098 kPa): 55.6 (50.0, 58.0) vs. 40.9 (37.5, 50.0), P < 0.01], and both the airway resistance and driving pressure (DP) were significantly decreased [airway resistance (cmH₂O×L^-1×s^-1): 9.6 (6.9, 10.5) vs. 12.0 (10.0, 13.0), DP (cmH₂O): 9.0 (9.0, 12.0) vs. 11.0 (10.0, 15.0), both P < 0.01]. At the same time, no new lung collapse was observed during the treatment period. No significant discomfort was reported by patients, and there were no substantial changes in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure before and after the in-line mechanical in-exsufflation treatment. CONCLUSIONS The combined use of the in-line mechanical in-exsufflation to assist sputum clearance in patients on invasive mechanical ventilation can effectively improve sputum characteristics, oxygenation and respiratory mechanics. The in-line mechanical in-exsufflation was well tolerated by the patients, with no treatment-related adverse events, which demonstrated its effectiveness and safety.
Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Respiration, Artificial/methods* ; Respiratory Insufficiency/therapy* ; Sputum

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy, tolerability and safety of adjunctive perampanel in focal epilepsy patients≥12 years old.Methods:One hundred and nineteen focal epilepsy patients≥12 years old accepted adjunctive perampanel in Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from July 2020 to December 2022 were chosen. At 1-3 months, 4-6 months, 7-9 months and 10-12 months after adjunctive perampanel, seizure frequency changes every 28 d, medication retention rate and adverse reactions were recorded to evaluate the clinical efficacy (a reduction in seizure frequency≥50% from baseline was defined as overall valid treatment), tolerability and safety of adjunctive perampanel. According to efficacy results after adjunctive perampanel of 4-6 months (short-term) and 10-12 months (long-term), these patients were divided into valid group and invalid group; and the influencing factors for short-term and long-term efficacy were analyzed.Results:At 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12 months after adjunctive perampanel, reduction in seizure frequency every 28 d was 66.7% (24.3%, 97.2%), 77.5% (48.6%, 100%), 94.6% (50%, 100%), 100% (70.9%, 100%), enjoying overall valid rate of 60.2% (59/98), 75.0% (7/76), 78.9% (45/57), 86.5% (32/37). The retention rate at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after adjunctive perampanel was 85.2% (98/115), 67.9% (76/112), 54.3% (57/105), 41.1% (37/90). Adverse reactions were reported in 33 patents (27.7%), mainly with dizziness and secondly with mental symptoms. After short-term and long-term adjunctive perampanel, no significant difference was noted in gender, initial age of adjunctive perampanel, course of disease, etiology, EEG results, imaging results, number and type of combined anti-seizure drugs, or maximum dose of pirampanel between the valid group and invalid group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Perampanel has good efficacy, tolerability and safety in adolescents and adults≥12 years old with focal epilepsy; no clear influencing factors for pirampanel valid treatment is found so far.

Objective:To explore the status and influencing factors of stress disorder in different periods of postpartum women.Methods:From October 2019 to April 2021, convenience sampling was used to select 332 puerperae from 8 community health service stations in Xi'an as the research object. The Posttraumatic Stress Checklist-Civilian version (PCL-C) was used to investigate the puerperae in T1 (1 to 3 months postpartum) , T2 (4 to 6 months postpartum) , T3 (7 to 12 months postpartum) .Results:Among 332 puerperae, there were no significant differences in the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) positive rate, PTSD total score and symptom cluster scores in T1, T2 and T3 ( P>0.05) . From 1 to 3 months postpartum, occupation, husband participation, sleep, delivery mode, neonatal gender coincidence and initial delivery were the influencing factors of postpartum PTSD ( P<0.05) . From 4 to 6 months postpartum, pregnancy complications was the factor affecting postpartum PTSD ( P<0.05) . From 7 to 12 months, sleep was the influencing factor of postpartum PTSD ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:PTSD was relatively stable within one year in postpartum women. Targeted intervention measures should be taken according to the influencing factors of PTSD in different postpartum periods.

Objective:To investigate the Migration ability toward human pancreatic carcinoma cell line and human colon carcinoma cell line with difference HSP 70 plasma membrane expression .Methods: CD3-CD56+NK cells were obtained from human peripheral blood mononuclear(PBMC)in stem cell growth medium SCGM,2μg/ml TKD was added to the medium on 10th day,the ac-tivating receptor CD94/NKG2C expression levels on NK cells was detected with FAC after 4 days.The human pancreatic carcinoma cell line Colo357 and the human colon carcinoma cell line CW 2 were separated into Colo+and CW2+with high HSP70 expression and Colo-and CW2-with low HSP70 expression;Migration assays of NK to the four difference cell lines were performed in a Transwell cell culture system.The cytolytic activity of TKD-activated NK cells against the four subline with HSP 70 expression on their cell surface was analyzed by MTT assay.Results:Flow cytometry analysis showed that CD 3-CD56+NK cells could expanded after 2 weeks in SCGM medium,and the largest percentage of NK cell was (92.50 ±1.25 )%.CD94 expression levels on NK cells increased obviously after TKD inducement the cell surface HSP 70 expression of Colo+, Colo-were ( 78.2 ±2.2 )% and ( 27.3 ±1.2 )% separately , the cell surface HSP70 expression of CW2+,CW2-were (91.1±2.5)%and (18.2±1.0)%separately after FACS;the Migration of NK cells toward Colo+was (68.6±2.8)%,higher than the migration toward Colo-with (22.8±1.5)%;the Migration of NK cells toward CW2+was(73.5±2.7)%,higher than the migration toward CW2-with (18.2±1.3)%;the cytolytic activity of NK against Colo +was(61.2± 3.0)%compared to (24.5 ±1.5)%against Colo-when the ratio of effector cells and target cell was 20 ∶1,the cytolytic activity of NK against CW2+was (63.8±3.2)%compared to (22.4±1.8)% against CW2-when the ratio of effector cells and target cell was 20∶1.Conclusion:TKD-activated NK cells are highly efficient cytolytic effector cells which have stronger significant migration toward HSP70-positive tumor target cells on their cell surface in vitro .

Aim To explore new ways for developing anticancer drugs by the separation of pigment from Fu-sarium species JN158 ( Fusarium sp JN158 ) , the iden-tification of its structure, the screening of anticancer components and the study of its partial mechanism. Methods Pigment separation was done by HPLC, structural analysis by UV, IR, NMR, the screening of anticancer activity by MTT. Western blot was used to analyze the protein expression of CyclinD1, NF-κB, VEGF in tumor cells. Results The results showed that the pigment from Fusarium produced a total of six different peaks, of which peak Ⅵ was the anthocya-nins. Its molecular weight is about 382, molecular for-mula is C17 H18 O10 . According to investigation, this pig-ment was probably a new compound, which could in-hibit the proliferation of MCF-7 cells markedly ( IC50:0.011mmol·L-1 ,P<0.05;the control medicine ube-nimex IC50:10 mmol · L-1 ) in a concentration-de-pendent manner, and had no effect on human umbilical cord intravenous endotheliocyte ( HUVEC ) . The influ-ence on the gene expression of CyclinD1, NF-κB, VEGF in MCF-7 cells varied with the concentration of this compound. The Western blot results showed that VI pigment compound inhibited CyclinD1, NF-κB, VEGF gene expression (P<0.05 or 0. 01),compared with the control group. Conclusion The Ⅵ pigment compound from Fusarium sp JN158 could inhibit MCF-7 proliferation by inhibiting CyclinD1, NF-κB, VEGF gene expression. The compound may be a promising compound against breast cancer.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of cyclopamine on metastatic ability of human esophageal cancer EC109 cells and explore the possible mechanism.

METHODSTranswell chamber assay and angiogenesis assay were used to examine the metastatic ability, invasiveness and angiogenesis of EC109 cells treated with cyclopamine for 48 h. The expression of Gli-1 mRNA was detected using RT-PCR, and Western blotting was used to examine the protein expressions of Gli-1, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

RESULTSInhibition of the hedgehog signaling pathway by cyclopamine suppressed the migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of EC109 cells. Cyclopamine treatment significantly lowered the expression of Gli-1 mRNA (P<0.05) and the protein expressions of Gli-1, MMP-9 and VEGF (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONCyclopamine can significantly inhibit the metastatic capacity of EC109 cells possibly by down-regulating MMP-9 and VEGF expression as a result of Gli-1 inhibition.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Veratrum Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Zinc Finger Protein GLI1