Objective:To investigate the effect of β-elemene on mitochondrial structure and function of the A549 cells of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC),and to elucidate the mechanism of β-elemene in the treatment of NSCLC.Methods:The A549 cells at logarithmic growth stage were divided into blank control group(0 mng·L-1 β-elemene),low,medium and high doses of β-elemene groups(10,25 and 50 mg·L-1),and solvent control group(0.5％ethanol in equal volume).After treatment for 24 h,the cell activities in various groups were detected by MTT assay;the morphology changes of mitochondria in the cells in various groups was observed by transmission electron microscope;the levels of adenosine 5′-triphosphate(ATP)in the cells in various groups were detected by colorimetry;the mitochondrial membrane potential of the A549 cells in various groups were detected by JC-1 flow cytometry;mitochondrial membrane permeability transfer hole assay was used to detect the mitochondrial membrane permeabilities of the cells in various groups.Results:The MTT results showed that compared with blank control group,the cell activities in low,medium and high doses of β-elemene groups were decreased gradually(P＜0.05),while the cell activity in solvent control group had no significant change,and the difference was not significant(P＞0.05).The transmission electron microscope results showed that compared with blank control group,the mitochondria of A549 cells in low,medium and high doses ofβ-elemene groups showed swelling,vacuolation,disordered arrangement and dissolution,while the mitochondrial morphology of the A549 cells in solvent control group had no significant changes.The colorimetric method results showed that compared with blank control group,the ATP levels in the A549 cells in low,medium and high dose β-elemene groups were gradually decreased(P＜0.05),while the ATP level in the A549 cells in solvent control group had no significant change,and the difference was not significant(P＞0.05).The JC-1 flow cytometry method results showed that compared with blank control group,the mitochondrial membrane potential of the A549 cells in low,medium and high doses ofβ-elemene groups were decreased,and the percentages of the cells in Q2-4 region were increased(P＜0.05);the percentage of the A549 cells in the Q2-4 region in solvent control group had no significant change.The results of mitochondrial membrane permeability transfer hole experiment showed that compared with blank control group,the mitochondrial membrane permeabilities of the A549 cells in low,medium and high doses of β-elemene groups were increased,and the percentages of the cells in M4 region were increased(P＜0.05);the mitochondrial membrane permeability of the A549 cells and the percentage of the M4 cells in solvent control group had no significant changes,and the difference was not significant(P＞0.05).Conclusion:β-elemene can inhibit the proliferation of the A549 cells,and the mechanism may be that the mitochondrial structure of A549 cells is damaged by reducing the level of ATP and mitochondrial membrane potential,changing the mitochondrial morphology and increasing the mitochondrial membrane permeability.

Objective:To conduct a survey and study on thyroid hormone levels in Tibetan adults in Baingoin County, Nagqu City, analyse reference range of thyroid hormones, and provide a basis for subsequent diagnosis of thyroid diseases.Methods:According to the screening requirements of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB) Laboratory Medicine Application Guidelines, 193 local Tibetan adults in Baingoin County were selected as the survey subjects. Among them, 112 adults underwent physical examinations at the outpatient department of Baingoin County People's Hospital from May 2021 to August 2022, and 81 adults participated in rural physical examinations from June to August 2022. Using the Abbott i2000SR chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer, the levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), total thyroxine (TT 4), total triiodothyronine (TT 3), free thyroxine (FT 4), and free triiodothyronine (FT 3) were determined. The reference range of thyroid hormones for local residents was established, and the correlation between thyroid hormone levels and age, as well as the differences between different townships were analyzed. Results:A reference range for thyroid hormones in Tibetan adults in Baingoin County, Nagqu City had been established (TSH: 0.53 - 6.16 μU/ml, TT 3: 1.07 - 2.28 nmol/L, FT 3: 3.30 - 5.86 pmol/L, TT 4: 60.68 - 129.96 nmol/L, and FT 4: 9.74 - 16.29 pmol/L). TSH level was positively correlated with age ( r = 0.16, P = 0.026), while TT 3, FT 3, TT 4, and FT 4 levels were negatively correlated with age ( r = - 0.21, - 0.23, - 0.16, - 0.26, P < 0.05). The comparison of TT 3, FT 3, TT 4 levels among 5 townships in Baingoin County showed statistically significant differences ( P < 0.05). Among them, Baoji Township was lower than the other four townships in the TT 4 level, and Deqing Township was higher than the other four townships in the FT 3 level ( P < 0.05). Conclusions:Successfully established a reference range for thyroid hormones in Tibetan adults in Baingoin County, Nagqu City. It is recommended to establish a reference range for thyroid hormones based on age groups and conduct more in depth investigations and studies on iodine nutrition and thyroid function in different townships.

Objective:To explore the feasibility of using ultrasound to evaluate the abdominal fat volume to predict bone quality.Methods:A total of 376 men, aged from 34 to 90 years, were recruited.The trabecular bone score(TBS)was measured by TBS iNsight ? software.Bone mineral density(BMD)of the femoral neck, total hip, and lumber spine, as well as android and gynoid fat mass were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry(DXA).Preperitoneal fat thickness and intraperitoneal visceral fat thickness were assessed by ultrasound. Results:BMD of the femoral neck, total hip, and lumber spine was significantly positively correlated with body mass index(BMI)( r=0.346, 0.378, 0.218, all P<0.001), while TBS was significantly negatively associated with BMI( r=-0.353, P<0.001); Femoral neck BMD, lumbar BMD and TBS were positively correlated with total lean mass( β=0.296, P<0.001; β=0.280, P<0.001; β=0.182, P=0.009; respectively), while femoral neck BMD, total hip BMD and TBS were negatively correlated with total fat mass( β=-0.161, P=0.036; β=-0.160, P=0.041; β=-0.354, P<0.001; respectively).Compared with fat mass, BMD was more closely correlated with BMI( P<0.001), while TBS was negatively correlated only with android fat mass( β=-0.297, P=0.017).TBS was inversely associated only with visceral fat thickness( β=-0.244, P=0.04), but not preperitoneal fat thickness( β=-0.119, P=0.256). Conclusions:Abdominal fat mass, especially intraperitoneal visceral fat mass, may have adverse effects on bone quality.Intraperitoneal visceral fat thickness measured by ultrasound is helpful for the prediction of bone quality.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between depression risk and the test time for dual-task timed up-and-go(TUG)test in the elderly.Methods:A total of 193 elderly volunteers aged 60 years and over who lived in the Nanjing community of Jiangsu Province were recruited.The Geriatric Depression Scale(GDS)was used to screen for geriatric depression.The single-task TUG(TUG-single), TUG with additional operational tasks(TUG-manual)and TUG with additional cognitive tasks(TUG-cognitive)were tested in all subjects.The differences in test times taken to complete TUG-single, TUG-manual and TUG-cognitive tests were analyzed by ANOVA.The correlation of GDS scores with test time for TUG-single, TUG-manual, TUG-cognitive was analyzed by using Pearson's correlation.Results:The average test times for TUG-cognitive and TUG-manual tests were longer than that for TUG-single test( P<0.0001). The higher the GDS score, the longer the TUG-single test time, with a significantly positive correlation between GDS and the test time for TUG-single( r=0.2261, P=0.0016). Similarly, GDS score showed significantly positive correlations with the test time for TUG-manual( r=0.2359, P=0.0010)and the TUG-cognitive test time( r=0.1946, P=0.0067). Conclusions:The increase of depression risk is significantly and positively correlated with the prolongation of the TUG test time in the elderly.The TUG test can be used to assess the functional mobility in elderly patients with depression.

Psoriasis is a chronic,non-infective inflammatory dermatosis characterized by erythemas covered with scales.Psoriasis is considered as a systemic disease,and several studies have confirmed that it is associated with many other diseases,such as cardiovascular diseases,obesity,diabetes mellitus type Ⅱ,dyslipidemia,nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,anxiety disorder,depression and inflammatory bowel disease.The occurrence and development of psoriasis is closely related to the immune response,and the immune dysfunction of T lymphocytes induced by the infiltration and activation of inflammatory cells has been confirmed as the key step in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.Various kinds of cytokines in the local microenvironment can promote the activation and proliferation of T lymphocytes,and regulate the differentiation of T lymphocytes into different subsets,which take an important part in the occurrence of psoriasis.In recent years,researchers have found that local microbes also play an important role in this process.Thus,this review summarizes the progress in the roles of human skin and gut microbiota in psoriasis.

ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K) are energy sensors on the plasma membrane. By sensing the intracellular ADP/ATP ratio of β-cells, pancreatic K channels control insulin release and regulate metabolism at the whole body level. They are implicated in many metabolic disorders and diseases and are therefore important drug targets. Here, we present three structures of pancreatic K channels solved by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), at resolutions ranging from 4.1 to 4.5 Å. These structures depict the binding site of the antidiabetic drug glibenclamide, indicate how Kir6.2 (inward-rectifying potassium channel 6.2) N-terminus participates in the coupling between the peripheral SUR1 (sulfonylurea receptor 1) subunit and the central Kir6.2 channel, reveal the binding mode of activating nucleotides, and suggest the mechanism of how Mg-ADP binding on nucleotide binding domains (NBDs) drives a conformational change of the SUR1 subunit.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Binding Sites ; Cryoelectron Microscopy ; Ligands ; Mesocricetus ; Mice ; Models, Molecular ; Nucleotides ; metabolism ; Pancreas ; metabolism ; Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Multimerization ; Protein Structure, Quaternary ; Protein Subunits ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Sf9 Cells ; Spodoptera ; Sulfonylurea Receptors ; chemistry ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effect of statin on trabecular bone microstructure by using trabecular bone score (TBS), a new type of bone microstructure evaluation index. Methods A total of 253 middle and aged patients hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between January 2014 and March 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether statin was used or not, patients were divided into two groups: 90 patients in the statin use group (statin was use for more than 1 year) and 163 in the control group (not taken any statin). Serum biochemical indicators, such as triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, fasting blood glucose and 25 hydroxy vitamin D, were compared between the two groups. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure the bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine and femoral neck. TBS was calculated with TBS iNsight? software, and the DXA image of lumbar spine were analyzed. Results Values of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly lower in statin group compared with those of control group (P<0.001), while no significant differences in other biochemical indicators between two groups (P>0.05). There was higher lumbar spine BMD statin group compared to that of control group (g/cm2:1.04 ± 0.19 vs. 0.96 ± 0.14, P<0.01). There was higher lumbar spine BMD and higher TBS (1.31±0.09 vs. 1.26±0.09, P<0.01) in statin group than that of control group. There was no difference in the femoral neck BMD between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Statin increases lumbar spine BMD and improves trabecular bone microstructure in middle and aged people.