A new carbazole alkaloid was isolated from the aqueous extract of the stems of Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels by various chromatographic methods, including HPD-100, PRP-512A, silica gel, and reverse phase C18. Its structure was determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods, including UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D/2DNMR and ECD. Compound 1, named as Claulamine F, showed no antimicrobial activity on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In addition, compound 1 exhibited no cytotoxicity on five kinds of cancer cells through MTT methods.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect and mechanism of miRNA-145 on leukemic cell apoptosis. METHODS: After transfection of miRNA-145 mimic and negative control mimic in leukemia cells by Lipofectamine 2000 liposome, the MTT assay was used to detect the effect of miRNA-145 on cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to detect the effect of miRNA-145 on cell cycle and apoptosis. Western blotting assay was used to detect the expression levels of BCL-2, CDK6, Cyclin D1, BAX, PI3K p-PI3K, p-AKT and AKT. RESULTS: The relative level of microRNA in HuT 78 cells transfected with miRNA-145 was 2.3±02, which was significantly higher than that in blank control group and miRNA-NC group (P＜0.05). MTT assay showed that the proliferation level of HuT 78 cells transfected with miRNA-145 mimic was significantly lower than that of blank control and miRNA-NC group (P＜0.05). Flow cytometry showed that the cells at G/G, S and G2/M phase of HuT 78 cells were significantly decreased after transfection with miRNA-145 mimic (P＜0.05). Annexin V/PI double staining assay showed that the apoptosis rate of HuT 78 cells was 17.6%±3.4%，which was significantly higher than that in blank control group and miRNA-NC group (P＜0.05). Western blot showed that the expression levels of BCL-2, CDK6 and Cyclin D1 in HuT 78 cells were significantly lower than those in blank control and miRNA-NC group (P＜0.05), and BAX expression in HuT 78 cells was significantly higher than that in blank control and miRNA-NC group (P＜0.05). Western blot showed that expression of PI3K, p-PI3K, AKT and p-AKT in HuT 78 cells transfected with miRNA-145 mimic were significantly lower than that in blank control and miRNA-NC group (P＜0.05). CONCLUSION Upregulation of miRNA-145 may inhibit the proliferation of leukemia cells and promote the apoptosis, which may be related with the inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect and mechanism of action of irisin on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in neonatal rats. METHODS: A total of 248 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham-operation group, a model group, and low- and high-dose irisin intervention groups (n=62 each). The rats in the model and irisin intervention groups were given hypoxic treatment after right common carotid artery ligation to establish a model of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage. Those in the sham-operation group were given the separation of the right common carotid artery without ligation or hypoxic treatment. The rats in the high- and low-dose irisin intervention groups were given intracerebroventricular injection of recombinant irisin polypeptide at a dose of 0.30 µg and 0.15 µg respectively. Those in the model and sham-operation groups were given the injection of an equal volume of PBS. The water maze test was used to compare neurological behaviors between groups. TTC staining, hematoxylin-eosin staining and TUNEL staining were used to observe histopathological changes of the brain. Western blot was used to measure the expression of the apoptosis-related molecules cleaved-caspase-3 (CC3), BCL-2 and BAX. RESULTS: Compared with the sham-operation group, the model group had a significant increase in latency time and a significant reduction in the number of platform crossings (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the high-dose irisin intervention group had a significant reduction in latency time and a significant increase in the number of platform crossings (P<0.05). Compared with the sham-operation group, the model group had massive infarction in the right hemisphere, with significant increases in karyopyknosis and karyorrhexis. Compared with the model group, the high-dose irisin intervention group had a smaller infarct area of the right hemisphere, with reductions in karyopyknosis and karyorrhexis. The model group had a significantly higher apoptosis rate of cells in the right cerebral cortex and the hippocampus than the sham-operation group. The high-dose irisin intervention group had a significantly lower apoptosis rate than the model group (P<0.05). At 24 and 48 hours after modeling, the sham-operation group had a significantly lower level of CC3 than the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the high-dose irisin intervention group had a significantly lower level of CC3 and a significantly higher BCL-2/BAX ratio (P<0.05). The low-dose irisin intervention group had similar laboratory markers and histopathological changes of the brain to the model group. CONCLUSIONS Irisin can alleviate hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in neonatal rats in a dose-dependent manner, possibly by reducing cell apoptosis in the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; Brain ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective: To explore the prevalence and risk factors of ischemic stroke in rural areas of Liaoning province. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey. From September 2017 to May 2018, a total of 10 926 rural residents aged ≥40 years were investigated in Chaoyang county, Lingyuan, Liaoyang county and Donggang city of Liaoning province. The investigation included questionnaire survey, physical examination and laboratory examination.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the risk factors of ischemic stroke. Results: The prevalence of ischemic stroke in the rural areas of Liaoning province was 5.51% (602/10 926), and the standardized prevalence rate was 4.04%. The standardized prevalence rate of male (5.05%) is higher than that of female (3.44%). The prevalence of ischemic stroke increased with age in both males (P<0.01) and females (P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age increase(compared with 40-49 years old group, 50-59 years old, OR=2.08, 95%CI 1.31-3.30, P=0.02; 60-69 years old, OR=3.90, 95%CI 2.51-6.05, P<0.01; 70-79 years old, OR=5.32, 95%CI 3.37-8.34, P<0.01; ≥80 years old, OR=3.64, 95%CI 2.00-6.62, P<0.01), male(OR=2.35, 95%CI 1.95-2.84, P<0.01),family history of stroke(OR=2.18, 95%CI 1.83-2.60, P<0.01),coronary heart disease (OR=2.01, 95%CI 1.52-2.66, P<0.01), hypertension (OR=2.82, 95%CI 2.21-3.60, P<0.01), diabetes mellitus (OR=1.36, 95%CI 1.11-1.67, P=0.03) and overweight/obese (OR=1.22, 95%CI 1.02-1.47, P=0.03) were the major risk factors of ischemic stroke. Conclusions The prevalence of ischemic stroke in rural areas of Liaoning province is high. Age, male, family history of stroke, coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, overweight/obesity are the risk factors of ischemic stroke in rural areas of Liaoning province.

Objective To investigate the value of 68Ga-prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-617 PET/CT in predicting high-risk prostate cancer.Methods From May 2016 to January 2017,30 patients (median age 67 years) with biopsy-proven prostate cancer were included.The 68Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT images and clinical data of all patients were analyzed retrospectively.According to prostate cancer risk stratification criteria of National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines (including Gleason scores,prostate specific antigen (PSA)),all patients were classified into low-moderate-risk group and high-riak group.PET images were analyzed semi-quantitatively and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of primary prostate cancer was measured.SUVmax of 68Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT was used to establish logistic regression model for predicting high-risk prostate cancer,and the diagnostic efficiency of the model was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.Results The median Gleason score of 30 patients was 7.5 (7,9),and the median PSA was 34.0 (19.4,119.1) μg/L,including 9 patients with PSA≤ 20 μg/L and 21 patients with PSA＞20 μg/L.According to the NCCN Guidelines,there were 24 patients with high-risk prostate cancer and 6 patients with low-moderate-risk prostate cancer.SUVmax was higher in high-risk group than that in low-moderate-risk group (14.2 (11.4,23.1) vs 7.9 (3.8,13.1);u =118,P＜ 0.05).Logistic regression model established with SUVmax could effectively predict high-risk prostate cancer with the area under ROC curve of 0.819.When the cut-off value was set as 0.73,the sensitivity and specificity of the model were 87.5％(21/24) and 4/6 respectively.Conclusion SUVmax of 68Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT can be used as an imaging biomarker for predicting high-risk prostate cancer.

Purpose To investigate the value of application of D2-40/CD34-CK cocktail antibodies by double immunohistochemical staining for assessment of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and to determine its prognostic significance in colorectal cancer with insufficient lymph node harvest. Methods Specimens from 133 cases of colorectal cancer with less than 12 lymph nodes were selected. HE staining and double immunohistochemical staining of the cocktail antibodies were performed to compare the difference of the two methods in screening for LVI. The The relationship between LVI confirmed by cocktail antibody immunohistochemical staining and clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival (OS) of patients was analyzed. Results (1) The detection rates of cocktail antibody double immunohistochemical staining and HE staining for LVI were 42.9％ (57/133) and 21.8％ (29/133) with statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). (2) The presence of LVI confirmed by double staining was significantly associated with Dukes staging, depth of invasion, clinical stages, lymph node metastasis and tumor budding (P < 0.05). (3) The presence of LVI, the location and extent of LVI, and the number of tumor cells in thrombus ≥5.5 for cases with LVI ≤2 clusters, were significantly associated with OS (P < 0.05). Conclusion D2-40/CD34-CK cocktail antibodies double staining is superior to routine HE staining in assessing LVI. LVI is intimately associated with tumor stage, lymph nodes metastasis and tumor budding, and it is an independent prognostic factor for CRC patients. It should be a supplementary examination for these patients with insufficient lymph node harvest.

Objective To compare aortic root anatomical characteristics between severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) and aortic regurgitation (AR) patients, and to provide useful information for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) device designs and procedural techniques for treatment of AR. Methods Consecutive patients admitted between April 2014 to May 2016 with severe AS or AR and planned to undergo transcatheter aortic valve replacement were included. There were a total of 57 AR and 113 AS patients. All patients underwent multi-detector computed tomographic imaging and echocardiography examinations. Results The mean aortic annulus diameter in AR patients was slightly but significantly larger than AS patients[ (26.4±3.7) mm vs. (25.2±2.9) mm, P=0.001]. The mean diameters of the ascending aorta[ (38.3±6.9) mm vs. (33.9±6.7) mm, P<0.001]and Valsalva sinus[ (38.9±6.9) mm vs. (32.7±4.5) mm, P<0.001] in AR patients were larger than in AS patients. The left coronary ostia height was of no significant difference between the 2 groups [ (12.5±3.7) mm vs. (13.4±3.2) mm, P=0.08] and the right coronary ostia height was higher in the AR group than in the AS group [ (17.5±5.0) mm vs. (15.3±3.3) mm, P=0.001]. Conclusions The anatomical aortic root data from patients with AS or AR in the present study may provide useful information for transcatheter aortic valve replacement device designs and procedural techniques for treatment of AR.

Objective The aim of current study is to determine the effect and mechanism of thymic stromal lymphopoietin on apoptosis of mouse nucleus pulposus cells by investigating the apoptotic activity and variation of intracellular phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt),X-linkedinhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP),cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3 (caspase-3),with the treatment of thymic stromal lymphopoietin.Methods Mouse lumbar nucleus pulposus cells were cultured and identified under a fluorescence microscope.Second or third passage cells maintained in monolayers were used for the following experiments.The groups were divided randomly into normal group,TNF-α treated group,TSLP treated group,TSLP+LY94002 treated group and TSLP+Embelin treated group.As a control,normal group was treated with PBS.TNF-α treated group was treated with 500 ng/ml TNF-αt as a positive control.TSLP treated group was treated with 10 ng/ml rhTSLP.TSLP+LY94002 treated group and TSLP+ Embelin treated group were treated with 10 ng/ml TSLP with the pretreatment of different pathway inhibitors for 30 ain in different corresponding experiments,for which 10 μ mol LY294002 or 50 LY294002 responding experimentsreatment of different pathway inhibitors formouse nucleus pulposus cells was detected by FACS.The expression levels of the intracellular p-Akt,XIAP,caspase-3 were investigated by Western blot analysis.Results As the culture cell type Ⅱ collagen staining was positive observed by fluorescence microscopy,we confirmed that the cuhured cells were nucleus pulposus cells.In comparison with negative control,the levels of p-Akt,XIAP in TSLP treated group were elevated (t=9.510,P=0.001;t=8.851,P=0.001).Thecaspase-3 activity were slightly enhanced and the rate of cells apoptosis was no significance.Compared with TSLP treated group,downregulated level of pAkt and XIAPand upregulatedcaspase-3 activity in TSLP+LY294002 treated group were observed (t=8.798,P=0.001;t=7.032,P=0.002;t=5.908,P=0.004).Upregulated caspase-3 activity were also observed in TSLP+ Embelin treated group (t=7.990,P=0.001).Furthermore,significant increased apoptotic cell rate was observed in TSLP+LY294002 or TSLP+Embelin treated groups (t=21.268,P=0.001;t=21.279,P=0.001).Conclusion TSLP may have a potential anti-apoptotic effect on mouse NP cells via upregulating XIAP in PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to restrain the activation of caspase-3.

As a large micro-ecosystem in the human body,the intestinal microbiota is closely associated with the occurrence of many diseases.The clinical investigations and animal experiments have showed that traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) could maintain the balance of the intestinal micro-ecological system.This review summarized the research methods and literatures on the regulation effects of TCM,including different effective ingredients,extracts and Chinese herbal formulae,on intestinal microflora in recent five years,in order to provide a reference for the further research and development of TCM.
Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; drug effects ; Humans ; Intestines ; microbiology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Research ; trends

BACKGROUND: Blood purification (BP) is one of the most important rescue measures for patients with critical illness in the intensive care unit (ICU), especially for those with acute kidney injury. The purpose of this nationwide survey was to reveal the real world of current BP practice in different ICUs all over China. This study was designed to be a multi-center cross-sectional study. METHODS: All adult patients (over 18 years of age), who were admitted to ICU and required BP in 35 sub-centers across China were included during 30-day survey period in 2018. Demographic characteristics and clinical data were recorded including the timing of treatment initiation, indications, modality, relative contraindication, establishment of vascular access, selection of filter/membrane, settings, anti-coagulation, executive department, complication, intake, and output. DISCUSSION: This nationwide survey may contribute to reveal the real world of current BP practice in different ICUs all over China. TRIAL REGISTRATION Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-EOC-17013119; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=22487.