OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of baicalin （BC） on insulin resistance in rats with gestational diabetes mellitus （GDM） and its underlying mechanism based on the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）/suppressor of variegation 3-9 homolog 1 （SUV39H1）/histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation （H3K9me3） axis. METHODS A GDM rat model was established by a combination of a high-fat diet and streptozotocin injection. The successfully modeled rats were divided into the GDM group， BC low-dose group， BC high-dose group， and high-dose of BC+AMPK inhibitor （Compound C） group， with 10 rats in each group. Another 10 pregnant rats fed a normal diet served as the control group. Rats in each group were given corresponding drugs/normal saline intragastrically and/or intraperitoneally， once daily for 2 consecutive weeks. After the last administration， the levels of fasting blood glucose （FBG）， pancreatic function indexes [fasting insulin （FINS）， homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance （HOMA-IR）， insulin sensitivity index （ISI）]， blood lipid indexes （total cholesterol， triglyceride， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol）， liver function indexes （alanine transferase， aspartate transferase， alkaline phosphatase）， inflammatory indicators （C-reactive protein， interleukin-1β， interleukin-6）， metabolic regulatory protein [complement-C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein 3 （CTRP3）]， insulin sensitivity related factors [glucose transporter 4 （GLUT4）， adiponectin]， and oxidative stress indicators [superoxide dismutase （SOD）， catalase （CAT）， malondialdehyde （MDA）] were measured. Pathological changes in liver tissue were observed， and the expressions of proteins related to the AMPK/SUV39H1/H3K9me3 axis in liver tissue were detected. RESULTS Compared with the GDM group， rats in the BC low- and high-dose groups showed varying degrees of improvement in pathological changes such as disordered cell arrangement， vacuolar degeneration， lipid deposition， and inflammatory cell infiltration in liver tissue. Their FBG and FINS levels， HOMA-IR， the levels of blood lipid indexes， liver function indexes， inflammatory indicators and MDA， and the expressions of SUV39H1 and H3K9me3 were significantly decreased or down-regulated， while metabolic regulatory protein， insulin sensitivity-related factors and AMPK protein phosphorylation levels were significantly increased （ P ＜0.05）. The improvement was more significant in the BC high-dose group （ P ＜0.05）. Compound C could significantly reverse the ameliorative effects of high-dose BC on the above quantitative indicators （ P ＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS BC can significantly reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory responses， increase serum levels of CTRP3， GLUT4 and adiponectin， thereby improving insulin resistance in GDM rats. These effects may be related to the activation of AMPK and inhibition of SUV39H1-mediated H3K9me3 modification.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effectiveness and safety of Dingchan Granule （定颤颗粒） for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with syndrome of qi stagnation and blood stasis. MethodsUsing a randomised， double-blind， placebo controlled study method， 90 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome were divided into 45 cases each in the treatment group and the control group. Both groups were given conventional western medicine treatment， and the treatment group was additionally treated with Dingchan Granule， while the control group was treated with Dingchan Granule placebo， both of which were taken orally for 8 g each time twice a day. Both groups were treated for 8 weeks. We compared the clinical effectiveness， the improvement of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptoms and the recovery rate of atrial fibrillation between the two groups. We compared the number and duration of atrial fibrillation episodes， TCM symptoms score， atrial fibrillation symptom classification， 24-hour average ventricular rate， Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index （PSQI）， anxiety index， depression index before and after treatment， and evaluated the safety of the two groups. ResultsThe total clinical effectiveness rate in the treatment group was 82.22% （37/45）， which was better than 60.00% （27/45） in the control group （P＜0.05）. The total effective rate of TCM syndrome effectiveness in the treatment group was 88.89% （40/45）， which was better than 66.67% （30/45） in the control group （P＜0.05）； and the rate of atrial fibrillation regression in the treatment group was 26.67% （12/45）， better than 6.67% （3/45） in the control group （P＜0.05）. The number and duration of atrial fibrillation episodes in both groups were significantly decreased （P＜0.01）， and the number and duration of atrial fibrillation episodes in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group （P＜0.01）. The TCM syndrome scores of both groups after treatment were significantly lower than before treatment （P＜0.01）， and the scores of the treatment group was lower than those of the control group （P＜0.05）. The severity of atrial fibrillation symptoms and the grading of atrial fibrillation symptoms in both groups after treatment were improved （P＜0.01）， and the degree of symptom improvement in the treatment group was better than that in the control group （P＜0.01）. The 24-hour average ventricular rate of both groups after treatment was significantly lower （P＜0.01）. The PSQI， anxiety index and depression index of the treatment group were all lower than before treatment （P＜0.01）， while the PSQI and anxiety index of the control group were both lower than before treatment （P＜0.01 or P＜0.05）， the PSQI， anxiety index and depression index of the treatment group being lower than those of the control group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. No adverse events occurred in both groups， and no abnormalities were observed in blood， urine， stool routine， liver and kidney function， and coagulation function indexes. ConclusionDingchan Granule for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome can alleviate clinical symptom， improve TCM symptom scores， increase atrial fibrillation recovery rate， stabilise the average ventricular rate， and significantly improve the quality of sleep， alleviate the anxiety and depression， with a good safety profile.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the association between GPSM2 expression level and gastric cancer progression and analyze the functional pathways and action mechanism of GPSM2. METHODS: We analyzed GPSM2 expression levels in gastric cancer tumors based on data from the GEPIA database and the clinical data of 109 patients. Public databases enrichment analysis were used to assess the impact of GPSM2 expression level on survival outcomes and the functional pathways and action mechanism of GPSM2. We further observed the effects of GPSM2 knockdown and overexpression on proliferation, migration and apoptosis of MGC803 cells using CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry and immunoblotting and on the growth of MGC803 cell xenografts in nude mice. RESULTS: Bioinformatic analysis and immunohistochemical staining of the clinical specimens both revealed high GPSM2 expressions in gastric cancer (P<0.01). A high GPSM2 expression was significantly correlated with T3-4 stages, N2-3 stages, a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level ≥5 μg/L, and a carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 level ≥37 kU/L (P<0.05). Cox regression analysis identified high GPSM2 expression as an independent risk factor affecting 5-year survival of the patients (P<0.05). Gene ontology (GO) analysis suggested that GPSM2 was involved in cell cycle regulation. In MGC803 cells, GPSM2 overexpression significantly promoted cell proliferation and G1/S transition and xenograft growth in nude mice. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that GPSM2 executed its biological functions by regulating the p53 signaling pathway, which was confirmed by the results of immunoblotting experiments showing suppression of p53 signaling pathway activity in GPSM2-over expressing MGC803 cells. CONCLUSIONS GPSM2 is highly expressed in gastric cancer to affect patient prognosis by promoting tumor cell proliferation and G1/S transition possibly via inhibiting the p53 pathway.
Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Humans ; Cell Proliferation ; Prognosis ; Animals ; Mice, Nude ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Mice ; Apoptosis ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism* ; Cell Movement

Objective To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Ophiopogon japonicus polysaccharides(OJP)on submandibular gland inflammation in a mouse model of Sj?gren's syndrome(SS)and its impact on the tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)/nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB)/NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3)signaling pathway.Methods ① Eight C57BL/6J mice served as the control group(Control group),while 32 C57BL/6J mice were subjected to immune induction to establish the SS model and then randomly divided into 4 groups(n=8 each):model group(SS group),low-dose OJP group[OJP(10 mg/kg)group],high-dose OJP group[OJP(20 mg/kg)group],and hydroxychloroquine group(Hyd group).The Control and SS groups received intragastric administration of saline,the OJP(10 mg/kg)and OJP(20 mg/kg)groups received 0.2 mL of OJP solution at 10 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg,respectively,and the Hyd group received 0.2 mL of hydroxychloroquine solution at 100 mg/kg,once daily for 4 weeks.Water consumption and salivary flow rate were measured.Serum levels of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),and TNF-α were detected by ELISA.Pathological changes in submandibular gland tissue were observed by HE staining.Protein expression related to the TNF-α/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway was assessed by Western blot,and TNF-α and NLRP3 protein expression was detected by immunofluorescence.② RAW264.7 macrophages were divided into blank control group(Control group),model group(SS group),low-dose OJP group(OJP1 group),medium-dose OJP group(OJP2 group),and high-dose OJP group(OJP4 group).After 24 hours of culture,the medium was removed;the Control group received 2 mL of complete DMEM medium,the SS group received 2 mL of complete DMEM medium containing 16 μg LPS,and the different OJP dose groups received 2 mL of complete DMEM medium containing 16 μg LPS plus OJP at concentrations of 1,2,or 4 mg/mL,respectively.Inflammatory cytokine levels were measured by ELISA,TNF-α/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway-related protein expression was detected by Western blot,and TNF-α protein expression was detected by immunofluorescence.Results ① Compared with the Control group,the SS group showed increased water consumption and decreased salivary flow rate(P<0.05),elevated serum levels of IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α(P<0.01),aggravated pathological damage observed by HE staining in submandibular glands,and increased expression of NLRP3,apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD(ASC),cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase(Caspase-1),IL-1β,TNF-α,TNF receptor type 1(TNFR1)/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase(GAPDH),and phosphorylated NF-κB p65(p-NF-κB p65)/NF-κB p65(P<0.01),with immunofluorescence also showing elevated TNF-α and NLRP3 protein expression.Compared with the SS group,the Hyd group and both OJP dose groups exhibited decreased water consumption,increased salivary flow rate(P<0.01),reduced serum levels of IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α,alleviated submandibular gland pathological damage,decreased expression of NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-1β,TNF-α,TNFR1/GAPDH,and p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 proteins by Western blotting(P<0.01),and reduced TNF-α and NLRP3 protein expression by immunofluorescence.② Compared with macrophages treated solely with LPS,those treated with OJP intervention showed reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines and decreased expression of NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-1β,TNF-α,TNFR1/GAPDH,and p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65(P<0.01).Conclusion OJP may exert anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the activation of the TNF-α/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway,thereby alleviating the inflammatory response in SS mice.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Guiyuan Decoction(GYD,with Rehmanniae Radix as the principal herb)in Sj?gren's syndrome(SS).Methods Active components of GYD were retrieved from network pharmacology databases,and potential targets for SS were predicted.Common targets were identified via Venn analysis,followed by construction of a"herb-compound-target"network.Protein-protein interaction(PPI)networks were generated,and Gene Ontology(GO)functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analyses were performed using the DAVID platform.Molecular docking was employed to evaluate binding affinities between core components and key target proteins.In vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted to validate predictions based on literature and docking results.Results A total of 318 bioactive components in GYD and 148 disease-related overlapping targets were identified.GO and KEGG analyses yielded 921 functional terms and 159 signaling pathways,respectively.Molecular docking revealed stigmasterol exhibited the strongest binding affinity with caspase-3(CASP3),while quercetin,kaempferol,andβ-sitosterol also showed robust interactions with core targets.Experimental validation demonstrated that both GYD and its active constituent stigmasterol significantly downregulated protein expression levels of CASP3,NLR family pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3),apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD(ASC),interleukin-1β(IL-1 β),and Caspase-1 in submandibular gland tissues of Sj?gren's syndrome mice and in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-stimulated submandibular gland cells.Furthermore,they effectively reduced the concentrations of interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-1β(IL-1 β),and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in peripheral blood and cell culture supernatants of Sj?gren's syndrome mice.Conclusion Integrated network pharmacology and molecular docking suggest that GYD exerts anti-SS effects primarily via stigmasterol-mediated modulation of CASP3.Experimental evidence confirms that GYD and stigmasterol attenuate inflammatory responses and may ameliorate SS by targeting CASP3 to suppress NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Objective:pH low insertion peptide (pHLIP)-variant 7 (var7)-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) was used to explore an accurate imaging tool that targeted burn wounds to better perform burn debridement.Methods:Twelve rat models of burn wound were established and pHLIP-var7-FITC with different concentrations (0.5, 1.5 and 2.0 mg/ml) were injected from the rat tail vein for in vivo fluorescence imaging. By determining the concentration of fluorescent conjugates to the burn wound, the scope of wound injury necrosis was judged by combining pathological sections, and its residue and toxicity in important organs such as heart, liver, kidneys, and brain were detected. The Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test, Bonferroni correction method and one-way analysis of variance were used for data analysis. Results:Within 24 h, the fluorescence photons per unit area of the burn wound in the group of 0.5 mg/ml, 1.5 mg/ml and 2.0 mg/ml were 1.49(1.31, 1.65), 2.46(1.88, 2.68), 2.77 (1.94, 3.10)×10 7 p·s -1·cm -2·Sr -1, with significant differences in the overall distribution of fluorescence photons ( H=73.55, P<0.001). The fluorescence intensity was stronger in the group with higher concentration, but with no significant difference in the number of fluorescence photons between the group of 1.5 mg/ml and 2.0 mg/ml ( P=0.263, Bonferroni correction method). At 14 time points (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 12, 24 h), there was no significant difference in the overall mean of fluorescence photons ( F=1.04, P=0.419), and the tissue with burn necrosis seen in tissue sections was highly consistent with the fluorescence imaging region. There was no obvious fluorescence residue in the heart, liver, kidney and brain sections. Conclusion:In superficial second-degree burn tissue, pHLIP-var7-FITC can accurately target and gather on the burn wound within 24 h, showing a clear boundary between burn tissue and normal tissue, which can assist clinical surgical debridement to determine the extent of injury.

Objective To explore whether adiponectin receptor 1/2(AdipoR1/R2)mediates berberine to alleviate renal lipid toxicity in mice with diabetic kidney disease.Methods C57BLKS/J db/db mice and db/m mice were selected and divided into 4 groups,with 8 in each group.db/db mice and db/m mice were given berberine(150 mg·kg-1·d-)or placebo by gavage for 12 weeks,respectively.After intervention,blood glucose,blood lipids,urinary microalbumin/creatinine ratio and urinary albumin excretion rate were determined.Kidney tissues were taken for pathological examination,and oil red O staining,immunohistochemistry,ELISA and Western blotting were used to examine lipid deposition,AdipoRl/R2 expression and fibrosis markers expressions,etc.,respectively.The human glomerular endothelial cell line(HGEC)was used to verify the role of AdipoR1/R2 in berberine alleviating renal lipid toxicity.Results After berberine intervention,the body weight,blood glucose,lipids,proteinuria,renal lipid deposition,and renal pathological changes decreased in db/db mice(P＜0.05);the expressions of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 increased,expressions of TGF-β1 and Col-Ⅳ decreased,and the expressions of PPAR-α and p-AMPK increased in kidney tissue of db/db mice(P＜0.05).In high-fat cultured HGEC cells treated with berberine-treated db/db mouse serum,the expressions of TGF-β1 and Col-Ⅳ decreased,while the expressions of PPAR-α and p-AMPK increased(P＜0.05);after AdipoR1/R2 on HGEC cells were silenced,the expressions of TGF-β1 and Col-Ⅳ increased,while the expressions of PPAR-α and p-AMPK decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusions Berberine can reduce renal lipid toxicity in diabetic nephropathy mice,and adiponectin receptor may mediate this effect of berberine.

Objective To explore the value of vesical imaging reporting and data system(VI-RADS)combined with absolute tumor-wall contact length(ABTCL)and actual tumor-wall contact length(ACTCL)in diagnosing muscle invasive bladder cancer(MIBC).Methods The MRI data of 113 patients with pathologically confirmed bladder cancer(BCa)were analyzed retrospectively.All patients underwent conventional MRI,diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)and dynamic contrast enhanced(DCE)MRI before sur-gery.Two radiologists independently evaluated MRI images based on VI-RADS score,and measured quantitative parameters,inclu-ding ABTCL and ACTCL.The Chi-square test was used to compare the difference of VI-RADS scores between MIBC and non-mus-cle invasive bladder cancer(NMIBC).Quantitative parameters between MIBC and NMIBC were compared by Mann-Whitney U test.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of VI-RADS,quantitative parameters and VI-RADS combined with quantitative parameters in the diagnosis of MIBC.Results VI-RADS,ABTCL and ACTCL had significant differences between MIBC and NMIBC(P＜0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)for VI-RADS,ABTCL and ACTCL in diagno-sing MIBC were 0.89,0.76 and 0.77,respectively.There was no significant difference between the AUC for ABTCL and ACTCL(P＞0.05).The AUC for VI-RADS combined with ABTCL or ACTCL in diagnosing MIBC was 0.93,higher than that of only VI-RADS(P＜0.05).Conclusion The combination of VI-RADS with either ABTCL or ACTCL can effectively improve the diagnostic performance of MIBC.ABTCL obtainedby linear measurement is easier to implement in clinical practice than ACTCL obtained by curved measurement.

Objective:To observe the effect of point application-invigorate the spleen and kidney, circulation of blood formula (PA) combined with five-animal exercise (FAE) on improving the nutritional status for asthenia of patients with dialysis, and provide evidence for the rehabilitation treatment of dialysis patients.Methods:According to the random number table method, a total of 80 patients treated with regular dialysis at Department of Nephrology, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from April 2020 to December 2021 were randomly divided into experimental group and control group, with 40 cases in each group. Participants in the control group received regular dialysis, basic treatment and diet nursing (RBD). Participants in the experimental group received RBD plus PA+FAE. Labaratory test results, Subjective Global Assessment scale score and Traditional Chinese medicine symptom score were measured at baseline and 12-weeks after the intervention. The Fried Frailty scale score was measured at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the intervention.Results:The control group aged (54.08 ± 11.34) years old, 23 males, 17 females; the experimental group aged (57.38±9.89) years old, 19 males, 21 females. After 4, 8 and 12 weeks of intervention, the Fried Frailty Scale scores of the experimental group at different time points were 2 (2, 2), 1 (1, 2) and 1 (0, 1), respectively, lower than 3 (2, 4), 2 (2, 3) and 2 (2, 3) of the control group, and the differences in time effect, inter-group effect and interaction effect were statistically significant ( F=105.76, 18.38, 46.67, all P<0.01). Further pairwise comparisons within groups indicated significant differences of Fried Frailty scale scores at different time points ( Z=-2.78, -4.01, -6.08, all P<0.01). After 12-week of intervention, the results of hemoglobin, serum albumin and serum prealbumin were (107.88 ± 15.58) g/L, (39.10 ± 4.92) g/L, and (289.36 ± 72.05) mg/L in the experimental group, respectively, higher than (100.15 ± 17.62) g/L, (36.93 ± 4.72) g/L, (255.63 ± 75.35) mg/L in the control group ( t=-2.08, -2.01, -2.05, all P<0.05). Subjective Overall Assessment scale was found a significant difference between the 2 groups ( χ2=10.91, P<0.01): the number of grade A (good nutrition) and B (mild to moderate malnutrition) were 36 and 4 in the experimental group and 23 and 17 in the control group. Traditional Chinese medicine symptom score was (4.68 ± 2.50) in the experimental group, lower than (9.58 ± 4.40) in the control group ( t=6.13, P<0.01). Conclusions:Point application-invigorate the spleen and kidney and circulation of blood formula combined with five-animal exercise can effectively improve the nutritional status of dialysis patients and reduce the weakness of patients

Objective To explore the regulatory role of Abelson interactor 2(ABI2)in progression and prognosis of gastric cancer.Methods TIMER2.0,GEPIA,Kaplan-Meier Plotter and DAVID databases were used to analyze ABI2 expression in pan-cancer and its association with the prognosis of gastric cancer.Gastric cancer and adjacent tissues from 120 patients undergoing radical gastrectomy in our hospital between January,2016 and October,2018 were examined for ABI2 expression and its correlation with disease progression and prognosis.MGC-803 cell models of ABI2 knockdown and overexpression were established for observing the changes in cell proliferation,migration,and invasion,and the impact of ABI2 expression modulation on xenograft growth was evaluated in nude mice.Results Database analysis and examination of the clinical samples showed that ABI2 was highly expressed in gastric cancer tissues.Survival analysis suggested that gastric cancer patients with a high expression of ABI2 had a reduced postoperative 5-year survival rate(P<0.0001),and further Cox univariate and multivariate survival analyses indicated that a high ABI2 expression was an independent risk factor affecting the patients survival outcomes(P=0.022,HR=1.887,95%CI:1.096-3.249).Enrichment analysis suggested the involvement of ABI2 in Wnt signaling.In MGC-803 cells,ABI2 overexpression promoted cell proliferation and xenograft growth in nude mice,increased the expressions of vimentin and N-cadherin,and lowered E-cadherin expression,while ABI2 knockdown produced the opposite effects.Mechanistic analysis revealed that ABI2 overexpression promoted the expressions of Wnt2 and β-catenin in both MGC-803 cells and the xenografts,and their expressions were significantly lowered by ABI2 knockdown.Conclusion ABI2 is highly expressed in gastric cancer,which affects long-term prognosis of the patients,possible due to its regulatory effect on Wnt signaling to promote proliferation,migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells.