ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma polysaccharides on hyperlipidemia in mice by modulating the gut microbiota. MethodsNinety male C57BL/6J mice were randomized into the following groups （n=15）： control， model， simvastatin， low- （100 mg·kg^-1）， medium- （200 mg·kg^-1）， and high-dose （400 mg·kg^-1） Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma polysaccharides groups. Other groups except the control group were fed with a high-fat diet for the modeling of hyperlipidemia， and drug interventions lasted for 12 weeks. Serum levels of total cholesterol （TC）， triglycerides （TG）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） were measured by an automatic biochemical analyzer. The pathological changes in the liver and epididymal fat were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining， and lipid accumulation in the liver was assessed by oil red O staining. The gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. ResultsCompared with the control group， the model group exhibited an increase in body weight （P<0.01）， along with marked elevations in serum levels of TC， TG， and LDL-C （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Furthermore， the model group showcased increase in the liver index and epididymal fat coefficient （P<0.05）， increased liver fat accumulation， enlargement of adipocytes in the epididymal fat， decreases in both alpha and beta diversity of the gut microbiota， and an increase in the relative abundance of Allobaculum （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma polysaccharides suppressed the increase in body weight （P<0.01）， lowered the serum levels of TC， TG， and LDL-C （P<0.05，P<0.01）， reduced the liver index and epididymal fat coefficient （P<0.05）， alleviated liver fat accumulation， and decreased the size of adipocytes in the epididymal fat. Furthermore， it enhanced the alpha and beta diversity of the gut microbiota in mice， reduced the relative abundance of Allobaculum， Erysipelotrichaceae， and Clostridium （P<0.01）， and increased the relative abundance of Akkermansia and Blautia （P<0.01）. ConclusionPolygonati Odorati Rhizoma polysaccharides can ameliorate hyperlipidemia induced by a high-fat diet in mice by regulating the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota.

The theory of "liver opens at the eyes" was first seen in Yellow Emperor's Internal Canon of Medicine， which is the ancient people's summary of the connection between the liver and the eyes. The theory of "liver opens at the eyes" suggests the characteristic of "co-damage and co-recover of liver and eyes". It has been found in clinical practice that liver diseases and eye diseases often occur together， and "liver and eyes co-recover" is an ideal choice. The key to achieving "liver and eyes co-recover" is to analyze its pharmacological material basis and mechanism. With the development of modern medicine， more and more evidence indicates that the liver and eyes have complex and close relationships in physiological and pathological aspects. In a pathological state， there is a phenomenon of "liver and eyes co-damage"， and after the intervention of traditional Chinese medicine， "liver and eyes co-recover" occurs. "Liver and eyes co-damage and co-recover" can be explained through the "co-material basis and co-action mechanism". On this basis， the research group tentatively proposed that the liver and eyes had "four common characteristics" （4CCs）， namely "co-damage， co-recover， co-material basis， and co-action mechanism" from the theoretical connotation of traditional Chinese medicine， clinical practice， and molecular biology. Additionally， the group also took the intervention of Prunella vulgaris， traditional Chinese medicine， for removing liver fire and improving eyesight on immune liver injury （ILI） and allergic conjunctivitis （AC） as examples to analyze 4CCs. This project aims to deeply analyze the scientific connotation of the theory of "liver opens at the eyes"， reveal the common characteristics and biological essence of liver and eyes， explore a new research paradigm of "liver and eyes co-recover"， and provide a reference for the study of common problems of multi-organ associated diseases.

The successful retrieval of ancient mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from Neanderthals provides powerful experimental evidence that clarifies the arguments between the out-of-Africa and multiregional models of evolution. However, the lack of nuclear DNA from Neanderthal fossils and mtDNA of early modern human fossils dating back to approximately the same time in the Pleistocene constitutes a limitation that may compromise the significance of mtDNA phylogenetic analysis. In this report, we introduce a mitochromic analysis using Neanderthal mtDNA as a foreign transgene and humans as a naturally occurring transgenic species. Forty Neanderthal mtDNA retrievable nuclear fragments were identified by blasting human genome data with Neanderthal mtDNA. Five of the 40 fragments exhibited higher correlation with Neanderthal mtDNA than those with modern human mtDNA. Furthermore, these five nuclear fragments harbor Neanderthal mtDNA-unique haplotypes. Based on the 98%+ identity between Neanderthal and modern human mtDNA when compared by groups, we suggest that some of the modern human nuclear fragments retrieved using Neanderthal mtDNA may aid in decoding Neanderthal genetic information, and also may simultaneously demonstrate a close genetic evolutionary relationship between modern humans and Neanderthals.

Objective:To explore the effects of the process parameters of film dispersion-ultrasonic method on particle diameters and encapsulation efficiency of solid lipid nanoparticles of nicotinate-curcumin in order to obtain the process parameters resulting in smaller particle diameters and higher encapsulation efficiency .Methods: The content of nicotinate-curcumin was determined by HPLC.With the particle diameters and encapsulation efficiency of solid lipid nanoparticles of nicotinate -curcumin as the evaluation in-dicators , the process parameters of film dispersion-ultrasonic method were optimized by orthogonal experimental design and 95％confi-dence interval overlap method as the statistical analysis .Results:The optimum technological parameters of the solid lipid nanoparticles were as follows:the water bath temperature was 40℃and the rotation speed of eggplant bottle was 80 r· min-1 .The average particle size of solid lipid nanoparticles was 107.8 nm, polymer dispersity index ( PDI) was 0.583, and the encapsulation efficiency was 68.91％.Conclusion:The rotation speed of eggplant shaped bottle has notable influence on the particle diameters of solid lipid nanop -articles of nicotinate-curcumin prepared by film dispersion-ultrasonic method , while the water-bath temperature shows great influence on the encapsulation efficiency .Under the optimum conditions , it is possible to obtain the solid lipid nanoparticles with relatively smaller average particle diameters and higher encapsulation efficiency .

Objective:To determine the equilibrium solubility and the apparent oil/water partition coefficients of nicotinate-curcu-min ester,so as to provide basis for the new formula design. Methods:Nicotinate-curcumin ester was dissolved in buffer solution with pH of 1.2-7.8. HPLC was used to detect the equilibrium solubility of nicotinate-curcumin ester in various solutions. The apparent oil/water partition coefficients in octanol-water and octanol-buffer solution system were measured by a shaking-flask method. Results:The solubility of nicotinate-curcumin ester in pH 6.8 was the highest. The apparent oil-water partition coefficients of nicotinate-curcumin ester in pH 1.2,5.8,6.5 and 7.8 were lgPapvalues within the range(lgPap=1.69-1.98) beneficial to the absorption in vivo. But in pH 2,5 and 6.8,the lgPapvalues were greater than 2 with strong lipophilicity. Conclusion:The equilibrium solubility as well as ap-parent oil/water partition coefficients of nicotinate-curcumin ester is greatly influenced by the pH value of media. In the pH value with relatively high solubility,lipophilicity is stronger,suggesting it is difficult to be absorbed by the body and needs to be further studied on dosage forms.

Objective: To provide basis for the preparation process study by establishing an HPLC determination method for nicotinate-curcumin ester.Methods: A C18 column(250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm) was used at 30℃ with the mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.5% acetic acid glacial(65∶35) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml·min-1.The UV detection wavelength was 280 nm.Results: The good linear relationship of nicotinate-curcumin ester was shown within the range of 5.200-104.000 μg · ml-1(r=0.9999 4), The average recovery of nicotinate-curcumin ester and its nanoparticles was 100.1% and 100.9%with RSD of 1.260% and 0.995 0%(n=6), respectively.Conclusion: The method is convenient, accurate and reproducible, and suitable for the determination of nicotinate-curcumin ester nanoparticles and the studies on the preparation technology.

Aim To explore the anti-proliferation effects of curcumin trinicotinate ( CurTn ) on vascular smooth muscle cell ( VSMC ) and its mechanism. Methods The cells were cultured in DMEM supple-mented with 10% fetal bovine serum. MTT assay was used to examine cell proliferation. FCM was used to observe cell cycle. The expressions of PCNA, Cy-clinD1 and p-ERK1/2 were analyzed using Western blot. Results CurTn could inhibit the proliferation of VSMC and showed a certain amount-time relationship. What’ s more, CurTn could increase the G1 phase pro-portion of cell, decrease the S phase proportion and the expression level of PCNA protein. It was also found that CurTn significantly inhibit the protein expression of p-ERK1/2 and Cyclin D1 . Conclusion CurTn may inhibit the proliferation of VSMC via downregulating the expression of CyclinD1 and p-ERK1/2 .

Objective To explore the effects of the Chinese medicine, modified Erchen decoction, on the serum lipid spectrum of ApoE-/-mice, and to explore its possible anti-atherosclerotic mechanism.Methods Forty-four male 7-8-week old ApoE-/-mice were used in this experiment.ApoE-/-mouse models of atherosclerosis were generated by high-cholesterol diet for 4 weeks.And then, they were given simvastatin or modified Erchen decoction by gavage.The body weight of mice was recorded every week, The mice were sacrificed after treated with the drugs for 8 weeks continuously, and the plasma lipid was determined by enzymatic method.The aortic valves and arches were stained with oil red O to depict atherosclerotic plaques and liver structural changes of the mice were examined by pathology.Results Modified Erchen decoction lowered plasma lipid ( including TCHOL and LDL-C ) significantly ( P<0.01 ) .The body weight was increased in the mice of all groups, but it was more pronounced in the mice of model group than in the blank and modified Erchen decoction groups.The serum CHOL and LDL-C levels were significantly lowered in the modified Erchen decoction group (P<0.01).The area of atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic wall was significantly reduced in the mice of modified Erchen decoction group as shown by oil red O staining.The pathological changes of hepatocytes were less severe and the structure of hepatic lobules was better preserved in the mice of modified Erchen decoction group.Conclusions The Chinese medicin modified Erchen decoction can effectively reduce serum lipids, regulate lipid metabolism, and ameliorate the process of atherosclerosis in ApoE-/-mice.

Objective To establish a stable and efficient method of culturing imDCs in vitro,and to explore the effect of GW5074, which blocks ERK1/2 signal pathway in the process of imnature dentritic cells (imDCs) on inducing differentiation of the na(i)ve allogeneic CD4+ T cells into Treg cells in vitro. Methods The imDCs and mature DCs (mDCs) were isolated and cultured from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) derived from a healthy adult male volunteer, and they were identified by cell morphology, cell surface marker and cell functions respectively. Na(i)ve CD4+ T cells were isolated from newborn umbilical vein blood and were divided into 5 groups to be cultured: (1) Blank control group: Na(i)ve CD4+ T cells were cultured alone;(2) Positive control group: The irrDCs were Middle-concentration GW5074 group;(5) High-concentration GW5074 group. In the last three groups, imDCs and na(i)ve CD4+ T cells were co-cultured, the same as the positive control group, but these groups were added by GW5074 dilution at the concentrations of 8, 24, and 40μmol/Lrespectively. After co-culture for 5 days, the transformation ratio from naive CD4+T cells to Treg T cells was detected by flow cytometry. Results On the surface of imDCs, there was stronger pression of CD1a, but weaker expression of CD80 and CD83. On the contrary, on the surface of mDCs, there was weaker expression of CD1a, but stronger expression of CD80 and CD83. The stimulation index in imDCs group and mDCs group was 1.12±0.03 and 2.85±0. 07 respectively. The transformation ratio of Treg T cells in blank control group, positive control group, low-concentration GW5074 group, middle-concentration GW5074 group and high-concentration GW5074 group was (5. 81±1.36)%, (35.73±2.07)%, (22.53±2.11)%, (11.55±1.73)%, and (4.97±1.83)%respectively. One-way ANOVA analysis revealed that there was no significant difference between high-concentration GW5074 group and blank control group, P＞0. 05, but significant difference between the remaining groups, P＜0.01. Conclusion High purity of imDCs can be obtained from PBMC by induction with rhGM-CSF and rhIL-4. ERK1/2 signal pathway plays a role in inducing the immune tolerance. GW5074 can inhibit differentiation of na(i)ve CD4+ T cells into Treg T cells.