Gentianopsis barbata (G. barbata) represents a significant plant species with considerable ornamental and medicinal value in China. This investigation sought to elucidate the primary constituents within the plant and investigate their pharmacological properties. Fifty triterpenoids (1-50), including nine previously undescribed compounds (1, 2, 7, 10, 20, 28, 29, 37, and 41) were isolated and characterized from the whole plants of G. barbata. Notably, compounds 1 and 2 exhibited the novel 3,4;9,10-diseco-24-homo-cycloartane triterpenoid skeleton. The isolated triterpenoids demonstrated substantial anti-inflammatory activity through inhibition of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) cytokine secretion in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages, and hepatoprotective effects by preventing tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative injury in HepG2 cells. These results demonstrate both the presence of diverse triterpenoids in G. barbata and their therapeutic potential for inflammatory and hepatic conditions, providing scientific evidence supporting the clinical application of this traditional Mongolian medicinal plant.
Triterpenes/isolation & purification* ; Mice ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/isolation & purification* ; Animals ; Humans ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Hep G2 Cells ; Interleukin-6/genetics* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics* ; Medicine, Mongolian Traditional ; Macrophages/immunology* ; Protective Agents/isolation & purification* ; Liver/drug effects* ; Gentianaceae/chemistry* ; Plant Extracts/chemistry* ; Molecular Structure

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for the occurrence and poor in-hospital prognosis in patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM).Methods:The clinical data of 35 patients with PPCM and 35 healthy pregnant women in Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University and Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2003 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The personal histories, laboratory examination, imaging examination, cardiac function outcome, etc were collected. According to the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at discharge, the patients with PPCM were divided into in-hospital recovery group (LVEF≥50%, 18 cases) and prolonged disease group (LVEF<50%, 17 cases). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze independent risk factors of poor in-hospital prognosis in patients with PPCM.Results:Among 35 patients with PPCM, the age was (29.81 ± 5.37) years old, 17 cases (48.57%) complicated with gestational hypertension, 6 cases (17.14%) complicated with gestational diabetes mellitus, 24 cases (68.57%) of New York Heart Association (NYHA) cardiac function classification was Ⅲ to Ⅳ class, and 4 cases died (11.43%). The gestational age in patients with PPCM was significantly shorter than that in healthy pregnant women: (36.26 ± 4.27) weeks vs. (38.54 ± 4.59) weeks, the rates of multiple pregnancy and gestational hypertension were significantly higher than those in healthy pregnant women: 17.14% (6/35) vs. 2.86% (1/35) and 48.57% (17/35) vs. 11.43% (4/35), and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05 or <0.01). Compared with hospital recovery group, the patients in protracted disease group had shorter gestational age, larger left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, higher serum creatinine, C-reactive protein and amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), worse NYHA cardiac function classification, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05 or <0.01); but there were no statistical difference in LVEF at the first diagnosis and troponin I between two groups ( P>0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis result showed that elevated creatinine was an independent risk factor for poor in-hospital prognosis in patients with PPCM ( OR = 4.554, 95% CI 1.536 to 13.684, P = 0.018). Conclusions:The gestational hypertension may be a risk factor for PPCM. The gestational hypertension, earlier onset time, enlarged left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, high NT-proBNP, high C-reactive protein, high creatinine and high cardiac function NYHA classification may be risk factors for poor in-hospital prognosis in patients with PPCM; and elevated creatinine is an independent risk factor for poor in-hospital prognosis in patients with PPCM.

BACKGROUND: A polygenic risk score (PRS) derived from 112 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for gastric cancer has been reported in Chinese populations (PRS-112). However, its performance in other populations is unknown. A functional PRS (fPRS) using functional SNPs (fSNPs) may improve the generalizability of the PRS across populations with distinct ethnicities. METHODS: We performed functional annotations on SNPs in strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) with the 112 previously reported SNPs to identify fSNPs that affect protein-coding or transcriptional regulation. Subsequently, we constructed an fPRS based on the fSNPs by using the LDpred2-infinitesimal model and then analyzed the performance of the PRS-112 and fPRS in the risk prediction of gastric cancer in 457,521 European participants of the UK Biobank cohort. Finally, the performance of the fPRS in combination with lifestyle factors were evaluated in predicting the risk of gastric cancer. RESULTS: During 4,582,045 person-years of follow-up with a total of 623 incident gastric cancer cases, we found no significant association between the PRS-112 and gastric cancer risk in the European population (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.00 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93-1.09], P = 0.846). We identified 125 fSNPs, including seven deleterious protein-coding SNPs and 118 regulatory non-coding SNPs, and used them to construct the fPRS-125. Our result showed that the fPRS-125 was significantly associated with gastric cancer risk (HR = 1.11 [95% CI, 1.03-1.20], P = 0.009). Compared to participants with a low fPRS-125 (bottom quintile), those with a high fPRS-125 (top quintile) had a higher risk of incident gastric cancer (HR = 1.43 [95% CI, 1.12-1.84], P = 0.005). Moreover, we observed that participants with both an unfavorable lifestyle and a high genetic risk had the highest risk of incident gastric cancer (HR = 4.99 [95% CI, 1.55-16.10], P = 0.007) compared to those with both a favorable lifestyle and a low genetic risk. CONCLUSION These results indicate that the fPRS-125 derived from fSNPs may act as an indicator to measure the genetic risk of gastric cancer in the European population.
Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/genetics* ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics* ; Risk Factors ; Multifactorial Inheritance/genetics* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics* ; Genome-Wide Association Study

Bisecting N-acetylglucosamine(GlcNAc),a GlcNAc linked to the core β-mannose resi-due via a β1,4 linkage,is a special type of N-glycosylation that has been reported to be involved in various biological processes,such as cell adhesion and fetal development.This N-glycan structure is abundant in human trophoblasts,which is postulated to be resistant to natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity,enabling a mother to nourish a fetus without rejection.In this study,we hypothesized that the human amniotic membrane,which serves as the last barrier for the fetus,may also express bisected-type glycans.To test this hypothesis,glycomic analysis of the human amniotic membrane was performed,and bisected N-glycans were detected.Furthermore,our pro-teomic data,which have been previously employed to explore human missing proteins,were ana-lyzed and the presence of bisecting GlcNAc-modified peptides was confirmed.A total of 41 glycoproteins with 43 glycopeptides were found to possess a bisecting GlcNAc,and 25 of these gly-coproteins were reported to exhibit this type of modification for the first time.These results provide insights into the potential roles of bisecting GlcNAc modification in the human amniotic membrane,and can be beneficial to functional studies on glycoproteins with bisecting GlcNAc modifications and functional studies on immune suppression in human placenta.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a general term that refers to the use of a machine to imitate intelligent behavior for performing complex tasks with minimal human intervention, such as machine learning; this technology is revolutionizing and reshaping medicine. AI has considerable potential to perfect health-care systems in areas such as diagnostics, risk analysis, health information administration, lifestyle supervision, and virtual health assistance. In terms of immunotherapy, AI has been applied to the prediction of immunotherapy responses based on immune signatures, medical imaging and histological analysis. These features could also be highly useful in the management of cancer immunotherapy given their ever-increasing performance in improving diagnostic accuracy, optimizing treatment planning, predicting outcomes of care and reducing human resource costs. In this review, we present the details of AI and the current progression and state of the art in employing AI for cancer immunotherapy. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges, opportunities and corresponding strategies in applying the technology for widespread clinical deployment. Finally, we summarize the impact of AI on cancer immunotherapy and provide our perspectives about underlying applications of AI in the future.

Objective To study effect of a novel schiff base ruthenium coordination compound on cell proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell.Method Gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell were divided into four groups according to different treatment of novel schiff base ruthenium coordination compound (concentration of 10, 30, 50μmol/L) and blank group with DMSO.Cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay, cell apoptosis and cell cycle were analysed by flow cytometry.ResuIts MTT results showed the inhibitory effect of novel schiff base ruthenium coordination compound on SGC-7901 cell enhanced with the increase of its concentration, and inhibitory rates were higher than that of blank group at 24, 48, 72 h.Flow cytometry results showed the apoptosis rate of novel ruthenium coordination compound groups of 10, 30, 50μmol/L were (17.64 ±1.21)%, (26.47 ± 0.61)%, (55.63 ±1.49)%, respectively, all higher than that of blank group (P<0.05).The cell proportion of G1 phase increased with the increasing of the novel schiff base ruthenium coordination.ConcIusion A novel schiff base ruthenium coordination compound could inhibit the growth of gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells, promote apoptosis and arrest gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells at G1.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of VEGFR2 gene polymorphisms (rs2305948 and rs1870377) with the effect of levodopa (L-dopa) and dyskinesia in Chinese population and to provide theoretical basis for clinical treatment.
 METHODS: By using Taqman MGB analysis and gene sequencing, the rs2305948 and rs1870377 polymorphisms of 69 enrolled Parkinson's disease (PD) patients were detected. Among them, 32 cases developed dyskinesia during 5 years and 37 cases did not develop dyskinesia during 8 years (as the control).
 RESULTS: There was no significant association between the occurrence of dyskinesia and VEGFR2 polymorphisms at rs2305948 and rs1870377. However, rs1870377 polymorphism of AA showed greater maximum L-dopa dose [(565.00±163.55) mg/d vs (396.88±200.39) mg/d, (300.00±80.18) mg/d, P=0.038] and higher value of Modified Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (mAIMS) compared with that with polymorphisms of AT and TT [17.00±5.24 vs 8.94±6.53, 7.86±4.45, P=0.026]. 
 CONCLUSION VEGFR2 genes polymorphism (rs1870377) is associated with maximum L-dopa dose and mAIMS value in PD patients.
Antiparkinson Agents ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Levodopa ; pharmacology ; Parkinson Disease ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; genetics

Objective To investigate the correlation between gastric polyps and helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection .Methods 150 patients with gastric polyps(experimental group) and 150 patients with chronic gastritis(control group) from October 2011 to No-vember 2012 in Shapingba people′s hospital of Chongqing were enrolled in this study .The polyps biopsy in patients with gastric polyps and the mucosa in gastric antrum big and small bends ,and the anterior and posterior walls(about 2-5 cm from the pylorus) from both groups were detected for the pathological type ,inflammation degree and stained(modified Giemsa staining) for detection of the existence of Hp .Results In 150 patients with gastric polyps ,58% (87/150) of the cases were infected by Hp mainly in medi-um and low degree ,in which 39 .3% (59/150) of the infection located at polyps and 42% (63/150) of the infection occurred out of polyps .Pathological analysis for this group further demonstrated that the types of hyperplastic polyps ,fundic gland polyps ,inflam-matory polyp and adenomatous polyps accounted for 68 .0% (102 cases) ,20 .7% (31 cases) ,9 .3% (14 cases) and 2 .0% (3 cases) of total 150 gastric polyps cases ,of which 63 .7% (65/102) ,38 .7% (12/31) ,57 .1% (8/14) and 66 .7% (2/3) cases were infected by Hp ,respectively .Pathological analysis also indicated that ,among total 150 gastric polyps cases ,single polyps and multiple polyps types accounted for 62 .0% (93 cases) and 38 .0% (57 cases) .The polyps commonly existed at gastric fundus in which the incidence rate of the hyperplastic polyps type and the fundic gland polyps type were 94 .1% (96/102) and 87 .1% (27/31) ,respectively .The infection rate in hyperplastic polyps was markedly higher than that in fundic gland polyps (P<0 .05) ,and the infection of hyperplas-tic polyps was mainly medium and high degrees .In addition ,the inflammatory response in the hyperplastic polyps was higher ,ac-companied by the intestinal metaplasia and atrophy of gastric mucosa ,as compared with non-hyperplastic polyps .In the total 150 control cases ,52 .0% (78/150) patients were infected by Hp with mainly medium and high degree .Results indicated that there is no relationship between polyps occurring and Hp infection .Conclusion Compared to the chronic gastritis ,there is no positive associa-tion between gastric polyps and Hp infection .There is no remarkable difference for Hp infection rate and degree between the polyps and the non-polyps sites in the stomach .The infection rate and infection degree of hyperplastic polyps is significantly higher than that of fundic polyps .However ,the underlying mechanisms for the development of hyperplastic polyps have to be elucidated in the future .

OBJECTIVEWe ascertained the effect of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) by a series of experiments: Proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) in vitro, ectopic and in situ bone formation and loaded porous calcium phosphate cement (CPC) on the repair of bone defects around dental implants.

METHODSBMSCs from Beagle dogs were cultured in vitro with basic culture medium containing BMP-2, bFGF, and BMP-2+bFGF. Proliferation and differentiation of BMSCs were quantified using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test. The CPC seeded with BMSCs and BMP-2, bFGF, combined BMP-2 with bFGF were implanted subcutaneously into nude rats in ectopic bone formation, and were implanted into critical-sized bone defects of Beagle dogs in the in situ bone formation. The bone formation was detected by histology examination and quantified using an image analysis system. Polychrome sequential fluorescent labels and fluorescence histological examinations of undecalcified sections were performed post-operatively.

RESULTSIt was determined that BMP-2+bFGF promoted BMSCs statistically significant proliferation and differentiation compared to either BMP-2 or bFGF in vitro. The CPC with BMP-2+bFGF group yielded more bone than those with either BMP-2 or bFGF in ectopic bone formation test. The percentages of newly ectopic formed bone were higher in the BMP-2+bFGF group (48.79% +/- 11.31%) than those in other groups (BMP-2 group, 30.71% +/- 10.85%; bFGF group, 27.33% +/- 9.67%; and the control group, 10.65% +/- 6.05%). Undecalcified showed that new bone was actively formed in the BMP-2+bFGF group after 12 weeks in the in situ bone formation test. The bone mineralization apposition rate (MAR) was better in the BMP-2+bFGF group than in other groups (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONBMP-2 combined with bFGF are more effective than one alone in promoting the formation of new bone.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; Bone and Bones ; Calcium Phosphates ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Dogs ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Rats

The main objective of this study was to observe the adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of mouse osteblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells cultured on maleic anhydride-modified poly(D,L-lactic acid) (MPLA) and poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PDLLA) polymers, and to evaluate the cytocompatibility of MPLA polymer. The effects of MPLA and PDLLA polymers on the morphology, adhesion, proliferation, the content of total cellular protein, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and the content of Ca of MC3T3-E1 cells were explored. These results indicated that MC3T3-E1 cells on MPLA polymer adhered and spread more fully. On MPLA polymer, the proliferation, total protein content, ALP activity, Ca content of the cells were significantly higher than those of the cells on PDLLA polymer (P < 0.01). It was concluded that MPLA polymer could promote the adhesion, spreading, proliferation and the synthesis of protein of osteoblasts, and also induced the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblasts, suggesting that MPLA polymer might have the better cytocompatibility than PDLLA.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Maleic Anhydrides ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; Polyesters ; Polymers ; chemistry ; pharmacology