Astragali Radix (AR), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has demonstrated therapeutic efficacy against various diseases, including cardiovascular conditions, over centuries of use. While doxorubicin serves as an effective chemotherapeutic agent against multiple cancers, its clinical application remains constrained by significant cardiotoxicity. Research has indicated that AR exhibits protective properties against doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC); however, the specific bioactive components and underlying mechanisms responsible for this therapeutic effect remain incompletely understood. This investigation seeks to identify the protective bioactive components in AR against DIC and elucidate their mechanisms of action. Through network medicine analysis, astragaloside IV (AsIV) and formononetin (FMT) were identified as potential cardioprotective agents from 129 AR components. In vitro experiments using H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes revealed that the AsIV-FMT combination (AFC) effectively reduced doxorubicin-induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner, with optimal efficacy at a 1∶2 ratio. In vivo, AFC enhanced survival rates and improved cardiac function in both acute and chronic DIC mouse models. Additionally, AFC demonstrated cardiac protection while maintaining doxorubicin's anti-cancer efficacy in a breast cancer mouse model. Lipidomic and metabolomics analyses revealed that AFC normalized doxorubicin-induced lipid profile alterations, particularly by reducing fatty acid accumulation. Gene knockdown studies and inhibitor experiments in H9c2 cells demonstrated that AsIV and FMT upregulated peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) and PPARα, respectively, two key proteins involved in fatty acid metabolism. This research establishes AFC as a promising therapeutic approach for DIC, highlighting the significance of multi-target therapies derived from natural herbals in contemporary medicine.
Animals ; Doxorubicin/adverse effects* ; Saponins/administration & dosage* ; Isoflavones/pharmacology* ; Rats ; Cardiomyopathies/prevention & control* ; Mice ; Fatty Acids/metabolism* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Triterpenes/administration & dosage* ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Humans ; Cardiotonic Agents/administration & dosage* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Cell Line ; Astragalus Plant/chemistry* ; Astragalus propinquus

Objective To investigate the MRI features of different fibrotic stroma of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and the relationships between them and delayed contrast-enhanced MR findings. Methods Twenty eight patients were enrolled in the study who had undergone dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI scanning. MRI showed largely complete rim-like enhancement in delayed phase in all the lesions which were confirmed by surgery and pathology. Delayed-enhancement in peripheral and internal position of HCC were evaluated and the thicknesses of rim-like enhancement in delayed phase were measured by analyzing the 5 minute delayed images. Among the 28 lesions, 22 were sampled and pathologically analyzed both in peripheral and internal portion of HCC and the remaining 6 were in the internal portion only. The pathological features were observed including distributions of three fibers (elastic, collagen and reticular fibers) in the periphery and internal positions of HCC, degrees of inflammatory cells infiltration outside the capsule and in the internal portion of HCC, the blood vessels in the capsules and thicknesses of fibrous capsule. The pathological features of HCC with different degrees of delayed-enhancement were compared using χ2 test, and differences in the thicknesses of rim-like enhancement of HCC in delayed phase among different pathological features were analyzed using Chi-square test. Results (1) In the periphery:pathological features: the typical fibrous capsules showed in all 22 HCC. And three kinds of fibers were crisscrossed within the capsules without quantitative differences. MRI findings:statistical differences in the amounts of blood vessels in the capsule of HCC among different degrees of delayed-enhancement were found (P<0.05), however, the differences in the thicknesses of fibrous capsule and the degrees of inflammatory cells infiltration were not found (all P>0.05). In addition, the statistical differences in the thicknesses of rim-like enhancement of HCC showed among different thicknesses of fibrous capsule, degrees of inflammatory cells infiltration and amounts of blood vessels (all P<0.05). (2) In the internal positions:pathological features: the amounts of three kinds of fibers in the internal positions were significantly lower than those in the periphery. MRI findings: the statistical differences in collagen fibers, elastic fibers, reticular fibers and the degrees of infiltration of inflammatory cells of HCC were all seen among different degrees of delayed enhancement inside tumors (all P<0.05). Conclusion The delayed MR enhancement of HCC in peripheral and internal positions showed correlation with the fibers and degrees of infiltration of inflammatory cells in the tumor.

Objective To investigate the impact of different kinds of laparoscopic surgery including conventional blunt elimination and modified acute elimination on sex hormone, antral follicle count and ovarian volume of patients with endometriosis (EMs). Methods 100 patients with EMs were chosen from January 2013 to April 2016 and randomly divided into control group (50 patients) with conventional blunt elimination and observation group (50 patients) with modified acute elimination; and the thickness of elimination lesion, the removal rate of ovary cortex, the thickness of ovarian cortex, the level of serum sex hormones, the AFC number of affected side and the volume of ovary before and after operation of the two groups were compared. Results There was no significant difference in the thickness of lesion elimination, the removal rate and removed thickness of ovarian cortical between the two groups (P > 0.05). The thickness of lesion elimination and the thickness of ovarian cortex in middle position of observation group were significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.05). The thickness of lesion elimination, removed thickness of ovarian cortical and the removal rate of ovary cortex in hilus ovarii in observation group were significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of serum sex hormones before and after treatment between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of AFC number of affected side before and after treatment (P > 0.05). The levels of AFC number of affected side in hilus ovarii of control group after treatment were significantly lower than that before treatment (P < 0.05). The volume of ovary of both groups after treatment were significantly lower than that before treatment (P < 0.05). The volume of ovary of observation group after treatment were significantly higher than that in control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Compared with conventional blunt elimination, modified acute elimination in the treatment of patients with EMs can efficiently shorten the operation time, reduce the surgical trauma degree, speed up the recovery process after operation, regulate the level of FSH and AMH and be helpful to protect the ovarian reserve function.

Objective To explore the addictive tendency of internet and its influence factors among adolescents in Longhua District of Shenzhen. Methods A total of 6552 Students were selected from Longhua District of Shenzhen us?ing randomly stratified cluster sampling method. They were inquired about their gender, grade, family type, behaviors of surfing internet, risk behaviors, and internet addiction tendency with a self-report structured questionnaire and the adoles?cent pathological internet use scale (APIUS). Results The prevalence of addictive tendency of internet was 9.0%(590/6552) among adolescents in Longhua District of Shenzhen. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the addic?tive tendency of internet was significantly and positively associated with male (OR=1.32, P<0.05), living in Minzhi area (OR=1.66, P<0.01), secondary school stage (OR=1.62, P<0.01), uncomplete family type (OR=1.49, P<0.01), surfing in cy?bercafé frequently (OR=2.00, P<0.01), compared with surfing 0~2 h/d, surfing 2~4 h/d (OR=1.92,P<0.01), 4~5 h/d (OR=2.97, P<0.01) or more than 6 h/d (OR=4.90, P<0.01), playing games (OR=3.27, P<0.01), chatting (OR=2.80, P<0.01) or having other kinds of entertaining (OR=2.80, P<0.01), and having risky behaviors (OR=2.39, P<0.01). Conclusion The addictive tendency of internet is affected by multiple factors among adolescents in Longhua District of Shenzhen. There?fore, comprehensive intervention measures shall be used to regulate adolescents habits of using internet and prevent them from the internet addiction.

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of transient receptor potential canonical 1 (TRPC1) in a mouse model of ozone-induced lung inflammation and explore its role in lung inflammation.

METHODSIn a mouse model of lung inflammation established by ozone exposure, the expression of TRPC1 in the inflammatory lung tissues was detected by RT-PCR, Wstern blotting and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCompared to the control mice, the mice exposed to ozone showed significantly increased expression level of TRPC1 mRNA and protein in the inflammatory lung tissues (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed increased TRPC1 protein expressions in the alveolar epithelial cells, bronchial epithelial cells, and inflammatory cells in the inflammatory lung tissues (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expression levels of TRPC1 were positively correlated with the counts of white blood cells, macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the exposed mice (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONTRPC1 may play a role in ozone-induced lung inflammation in mice.

Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gene Expression ; Inflammation ; pathology ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Ozone ; adverse effects ; Pneumonia ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; TRPC Cation Channels ; metabolism

Objective To detect the expression of transient receptor potential canonical 1 (TRPC1) in a mouse model of ozone-induced lung inflammation and explore its role in lung inflammation. Methods In a mouse model of lung inflammation established by ozone exposure, the expression of TRPC1 in the inflammatory lung tissues was detected by RT-PCR, Wstern blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results Compared to the control mice, the mice exposed to ozone showed significantly increased expression level of TRPC1 mRNA and protein in the inflammatory lung tissues (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed increased TRPC1 protein expressions in the alveolar epithelial cells, bronchial epithelial cells, and inflammatory cells in the inflammatory lung tissues (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expression levels of TRPC1 were positively correlated with the counts of white blood cells, macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the exposed mice (P<0.01). Conclusion TRPC1 may play a role in ozone-induced lung inflammation in mice.

Objective To detect the expression of transient receptor potential canonical 1 (TRPC1) in a mouse model of ozone-induced lung inflammation and explore its role in lung inflammation. Methods In a mouse model of lung inflammation established by ozone exposure, the expression of TRPC1 in the inflammatory lung tissues was detected by RT-PCR, Wstern blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results Compared to the control mice, the mice exposed to ozone showed significantly increased expression level of TRPC1 mRNA and protein in the inflammatory lung tissues (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed increased TRPC1 protein expressions in the alveolar epithelial cells, bronchial epithelial cells, and inflammatory cells in the inflammatory lung tissues (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expression levels of TRPC1 were positively correlated with the counts of white blood cells, macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the exposed mice (P<0.01). Conclusion TRPC1 may play a role in ozone-induced lung inflammation in mice.