ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Yunkang oral liquid on postpartum kidney deficiency in mice. MethodPostpartum mice were randomized into model and low-dose （6 mL·kg^-1）， medium-dose （9 mL·kg^-1）， and high-dose （12 mL·kg^-1） Yunkang oral liquid groups. The mouse model of postpartum kidney deficiency was established by sleep deprivation combined with forced swimming. Another 9 female ICR mice were selected as the normal control group. The mice were administrated with Yunkang oral liquid during the period of modeling. The levels of estradiol （E₂）， progesterone （P）， follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， and luteinizing hormone （LH） in the serum were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The morphological changes of ovaries and uterus were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， and the expression of transforming growth factor （TGF）-β and Smad2/3 was determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. ResultThe mice in the model group showed prolonged estrous cycle， reduced voluntary activity， dorsal temperature， grip strength， and bone strength， and whitening tongue coating. Compared with the model group， Yunkang oral liquid shortened the estrous cycle， increased the voluntary activity， dorsal temperature， grip strength， and bone strength， and alleviated the whitening of tongue coating. Moreover， it elevated the E₂ and P levels and lowered the FSH and LH levels in the serum， decreased ovarian follicular atresia rate， promoted uterine repair， and down-regulated the expression of TGF-β and Smad2/3 in the ovarian and uterine tissues. ConclusionYunkang oral liquid can ameliorate postpartum kidney deficiency in mice by regulating the TGF-β/Smads signaling pathway.

[Objective]To investigate the implication of modified Duanggui Buxue Decoction on the immune function of normal mice.[Methods]A total of 120 BALB/c mice were stochastically divided into three groups,immunization group Ⅰ,immunization group Ⅱ and immunization group Ⅲ.According to body weight,each immune group was randomly divided into 4 groups:normal control group,modified Duanggui Buxue Decoction 1.4 g·kg-1 group,modified Duanggui Buxue Decoction 1.9 g·kg-1 group,modified Duanggui Buxue Decoction 2.3 g·kg-1 group.After being gavaged for 30 d,for immune group Ⅰ:test the behaviors,spleen index,thymus index,the proliferative capacity of splenic T lymphocytes,NK cell activities,blood indices,serum levels of immunoglobulin M(IgM)and immunoglobulin G(IgG),the ratios of T and B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and spleen.Immune group Ⅱ:number of hemolytic vacant spots and 50%haemolysis requirement for complement(HC50).Immune group Ⅲ:phagocytosis of phagocytic chicken erythrocytes in mice peritoneal macrophages and expression of CD4 and CD8 in spleen.[Results]Compared with the normal control group,all three doses of modified Duanggui Buxue Decoction significantly elevated the number of voluntary activities and grip strength,spleen index and thymus index of mice(P<0.05,P<0.01);enhanced the proliferative capacity of splenic lymphocytes and the activity of NK cells(P<0.01);increased the number of hemolytic vacant spots,HC50,the phagocytosis rate of chicken erythrocytes and phagocytosis index of the peritoneal macrophage(P<0.01);elevated whole blood lymphocyte(LYMPH),white blood cell(WBC)and red blood cell(RBC)counts,and serum IgM and IgG content(P<0.05,P<0.01);and decreased the proportions of CD3+T and CD8+T cells in blood and spleen,and decreased the amount of CD8 positive expression(P<0.05,P<0.01).Elevated peripheral blood CD19+B cell percentage,peripheral blood and spleen CD4+/CD8+ratio and spleen CD4/CD8 positive expression ratio(P<0.05,P<0.01).[Conclusion]The modified Duanggui Buxue Decoction has the function of enhancing specific immunity and non-specific immunity,which contributes to enhancing immunity.

OBJECTIVES: Hyperhomocysteinaemia (Hcy) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. MicroRNA (miR)-18a-5p is closely related to cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to investigate the effects of miR-18a-5p on homocysteine (Hcy)-induced myocardial cells injury. METHODS: H9c2 cells were transfected with miR-18a-5p mimic/miR-18a-5p mimic negative control (NC) or combined with Hcy for intervention, and untreated cells were set as a control group. The transfection efficiency was verified by real-time RT-PCR, and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to determine cell viability. Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Western blotting was performed to measure the protein levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-I, LC3-II, Beclin1, p62, Bax, Bcl-2, and Notch2. Dual luciferase reporter assay was used to detect the interaction of miR-18a-5p with Notch2. RESULTS: Compared with the control, treatment with Hcy or transfection with miR-18a-5p mimic alone, or combined treatment with Hcy and miR-18a-5p mimic/miR-18a-5p mimic NC significantly reduced the H9c2 cell viability, promoted apoptosis and ROS production, up-regulated the expressions of Bax and Beclin, down-regulated the expressions of Bcl-2, p62, and Notch2, and increased the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I (all P<0.05). Compared with the combined intervention of miR-18a-5p mimic NC and Hcy group, the above indexes were more significantly changed in the combined intervention of miR-18a-5p mimic and Hcy group, and the difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant (all P<0.05). There is a targeted binding between Notch2 and miR-18a-5p. CONCLUSIONS MiR-18a-5p could induce autophagy and apoptosis via increasing ROS production in cardiomyocytes, and aggravate Hcy-induced myocardial injury. Notch2 is a target of miR-18a-5p.
Apoptosis/genetics* ; Autophagy/genetics* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Rats ; Animals ; Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects* ; Homocysteine/adverse effects* ; Hyperhomocysteinemia

BACKGROUND: LY01005 (Goserelin acetate sustained-release microsphere injection) is a modified gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist injected monthly. This phase III trial study aimed to evaluated the efficacy and safety of LY01005 in Chinese patients with prostate cancer. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled, open-label, non-inferiority trial across 49 sites in China. This study included 290 patients with prostate cancer who received either LY01005 or goserelin implants every 28 days for three injections. The primary efficacy endpoints were the percentage of patients with testosterone suppression ≤50 ng/dL at day 29 and the cumulative probability of testosterone ≤50 ng/dL from day 29 to 85. Non-inferiority was prespecified at a margin of -10%. Secondary endpoints included significant castration (≤20 ng/dL), testosterone surge within 72 h following repeated dosing, and changes in luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and prostate specific antigen levels. RESULTS: On day 29, in the LY01005 and goserelin implant groups, testosterone concentrations fell below medical-castration levels in 99.3% (142/143) and 100% (140/140) of patients, respectively, with a difference of -0.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], -3.9% to 2.0%) between the two groups. The cumulative probabilities of maintaining castration from days 29 to 85 were 99.3% and 97.8%, respectively, with a between-group difference of 1.5% (95% CI, -1.3% to 4.4%). Both results met the criterion for non-inferiority. Secondary endpoints were similar between groups. Both treatments were well-tolerated. LY01005 was associated with fewer injection-site reactions than the goserelin implant (0% vs . 1.4% [2/145]). CONCLUSION: LY01005 is as effective as goserelin implants in reducing testosterone to castration levels, with a similar safety profile. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04563936.
Humans ; Male ; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/therapeutic use* ; East Asian People ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/agonists* ; Goserelin/therapeutic use* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Testosterone

BACKGROUND: Ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common syndrome associated with considerable mortality and healthcare costs. Up to now, the underlying pathogenesis of ischemic AKI remains incompletely understood, and specific strategies for early diagnosis and treatment of ischemic AKI are still lacking. Here, this study aimed to define the transcriptomic landscape of AKI patients through single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis in kidneys. METHODS: In this study, scRNA-seq technology was applied to kidneys from two ischemic AKI patients, and three human public scRNA-seq datasets were collected as controls. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and cell clusters of kidneys were determined. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, as well as the ligand-receptor interaction between cells, were performed. We also validated several DEGs expression in kidneys from human ischemic AKI and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury induced AKI mice through immunohistochemistry staining. RESULTS: 15 distinct cell clusters were determined in kidney from subjects of ischemic AKI and control. The injured proximal tubules (PT) displayed a proapoptotic and proinflammatory phenotype. PT cells of ischemic AKI had up-regulation of novel pro-apoptotic genes including USP47 , RASSF4 , EBAG9 , IER3 , SASH1 , SEPTIN7 , and NUB1 , which have not been reported in ischemic AKI previously. Several hub genes were validated in kidneys from human AKI and renal I/R injury mice, respectively. Furthermore, PT highly expressed DEGs enriched in endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy, and retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) signaling. DEGs overexpressed in other tubular cells were primarily enriched in nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor signaling, estrogen signaling, interleukin (IL)-12 signaling, and IL-17 signaling. Overexpressed genes in kidney-resident immune cells including macrophages, natural killer T (NKT) cells, monocytes, and dendritic cells were associated with leukocyte activation, chemotaxis, cell adhesion, and complement activation. In addition, the ligand-receptor interactions analysis revealed prominent communications between macrophages and monocytes with other cells in the process of ischemic AKI. CONCLUSION Together, this study reveals distinct cell-specific transcriptomic atlas of kidney in ischemic AKI patients, altered signaling pathways, and potential cell-cell crosstalk in the development of AKI. These data reveal new insights into the pathogenesis and potential therapeutic strategies in ischemic AKI.
Humans ; Mice ; Animals ; Transcriptome/genetics* ; Ligands ; Kidney/metabolism* ; Acute Kidney Injury/metabolism* ; Ischemia/metabolism* ; Reperfusion Injury/metabolism* ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism* ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins/metabolism*

Paridis Rhizoma， a traditional valuable Chinese herbal medicine， has the functions of clearing heat and removing toxin， relieving edema and pain， cooling liver and calming convulsion， which can be used to treat various diseases such as mumps， abscess， burn， bleeding， and tumor. It has been used in folk medicine for a long time and is the main raw material of various Chinese patent medicines such as Gongxuening Capsules and Yunnan Baiyao. Polyphyllin Ⅰ， an isospirostanol saponin and one of the main active components in Paridis Rhizoma， is distributed in the rhizome， pericarp， and leaves of Paris polyphylla. With high polarity， polyphyllin Ⅰ is mainly extracted by n-butanol extraction and macroporous adsorption resin chromatography， separated by silica gel column chromatography and preparative high performance liquid chromatography， and purified with the combination of methods. With anti-tumor， anti-inflammatory， antibacterial， and anti-virus effects， it is generally employed to treat liver cancer， lung cancer， gastric cancer and other cancers as well as arthritis， influenza， sore toxin， and bacterial infection. However， polyphyllin Ⅰ may cause stomach irritation， hemolysis， liver damage， kidney damage， heart damage， and other adverse reactions. Pharmacokinetic studies show that it has problems such as low bioavailability and poor intestinal absorption and permeability， which affect the clinical application of polyphyllin Ⅰ. This paper summarizes the research on the plant sources， extraction and separation methods， pharmacological effects， adverse reactions， and pharmacokinetics of polyphyllin Ⅰ in recent years， which is expected to provide a reference for the rational clinical application and other in-depth research work of polyphyllin Ⅰ.

OBJECTIVES: Long-term elevated blood pressure may lead to kidney damage, yet the pathogenesis of hypertensive kidney damage is still unclear. This study aims to explore the role and significance of leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 (LRG-1) in hypertensive renal damage through detecting the levels of LRG-1 in the serum and kidney of mice with hypertensive renal damage and its relationship with related indexes. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were used in this study and randomly divided into a control group, an angiotensin II (Ang II) group, and an Ang II+irbesartan group. The control group was gavaged with physiological saline. The Ang II group was pumped subcutaneously at a rate of 1.5 mg/(kg·d) for 28 days to establish the hypertensive renal damage model in mice, and then gavaged with equivalent physiological saline. The Ang II+irbesartan group used the same method to establish the hypertensive renal damage model, and then was gavaged with irbesartan. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of LRG-1 and fibrosis-related indicators (collagen I and fibronectin) in renal tissues. ELISA was used to evaluate the level of serum LRG-1 and inflammatory cytokines in mice. The urinary protein-creatinine ratio and renal function were determined, and correlation analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the levels of serum LRG-1, the expression of LRG-1 protein, collagen I, and fibronectin in kidney in the Ang II group were increased (all P<0.01). After treating with irbesartan, renal damage of hypertensive mice was alleviated, while the levels of LRG-1 in serum and kidney were decreased, and the expression of collagen I and fibronectin was down-regulated (all P<0.01). Correlation analysis showed that the level of serum LRG-1 was positively correlated with urinary protein-creatinine ratio, blood urea nitrogen, and blood creatinine level in hypertensive kidney damage mice. Serum level of LRG-1 was also positively correlated with serum inflammatory factors including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. CONCLUSIONS Hypertensive renal damage mice display elevated expression of LRG-1 in serum and kidney, and irbesartan can reduce the expression of LRG-1 while alleviating renal damage. The level of serum LRG-1 is positively correlated with the degree of hypertensive renal damage, suggesting that it may participate in the occurrence and development of hypertensive renal damage.
Animals ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Fibronectins ; Irbesartan ; Creatinine ; Kidney/physiology* ; Hypertension/complications* ; Angiotensin II ; Collagen Type I

As precious Chinese medicinal materials， Moschus and Bovis Calculus are often used in the treatment of acute and severe patients. However， due to their scarce sources and high prices， wild animal resources are in urgent need of protection， natural Moschus and Bovis Calculus can no longer meet the needs of preparation production. The use of substitutes such as Moschus Artifactus， Bovis Calculus Artifactus and Bovis Calculus Sativus has alleviated the shortage of original medicinal materials to some extent， and has been widely used in the production and use of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） preparations. According to statistics， the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia contains 75 TCM preparations containing Moschus and 95 preparations containing Bovis Calculus， but in the quality standards of these 134 TCM preparations， the difference between natural medicinal materials and their substitutes is not very obvious， and some quality control projects are relatively simple. Based on this， the author intends to sort out the quality standards of TCM preparations containing Moschus or Bovis Calculus in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia （volume Ⅰ）， including the type， drug form， prescription dosage， maximum daily （time） dosage and the quality control items of Moschus and Bovis Calculus in the preparation， in order to explore the rationality of the quality standard of TCM preparations containing Moschus or Bovis Calculus， and to give some suggestions on standardizing the use types of Moschus and Bovis Calculus， improving the quality control items of Moschus and Bovis Calculus in TCM preparations combining modern research achievements and advanced technology.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and efficacy of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and TP53 mutation, and to explore the relationship between TP53 mutation and the prognosis of children with ALL.Methods:The clinical data of 141 children with newly diagnosed ALL from November 2016 to December 2019 in Fujian Medical University Union Hospital were collected, and the whole-exome gene assay was performed in bone marrow samples of the children by using next-generation sequencing technology. The clinical characteristics of children with TP53 mutation were retrospectively analyzed, and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare the overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) of children with or without TP53 mutation.Results:Among the 141 children with newly diagnosed ALL, TP53 mutations were detected in 5 children (3.5%), all of which were B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). No TP53 mutation was detected in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) children, and TP53 mutation accounted for 4.0% (5/126) of B-ALL children. The types of TP53 mutation were all single nucleotide variants. Five ALL children with TP53 mutation were male, with a median age of 60 months (16- 156 months). At the time of onset, all children had anemia and elevated lactate dehydrogenase, and 4 children had subcutaneous hemorrhage and hyperuricemia. The immunophenotypes of all children were precursor B-cell type, and 4 children had myeloid antigen expression. Among 4 ALL children with TP53 mutation who received standard treatment, 2 cases relapsed, and the recurrence time was 8.9 months and 12.1 months, respectively. The expected 15-month EFS rate and OS rate of ALL children with TP53 mutation were lower than those of ALL children without TP53 mutation (37.5% vs. 97.7%, χ2 = 29.90, P < 0.001; 37.5% vs.98.3%, χ2 = 24.90, P < 0.001). Conclusions:ALL children with TP53 mutation are more commonly found in male and B-cell type, with high early recurrence rate and poor efficacy. TP53 mutation may become a necessary supplement for prognostic assessment.

The clinical data of a WHIM syndrome child with cardiac malformation as the first symptom in December 2017 in Beijing Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University was retrospectively analyzed.A 5-year-old female patient presented with cardiac malformation, neutropenia and recurrent infection.Heterozygous mutation(c.1000C>T) was detected in CXCR4 gene.Echocardiography and CT exhibited cardiac malformation.WHIM syndrome is very rare, and it was the first case with cardiac malformation as the first manifestation in China, thus hoping to improve clinicians′ understanding of this disease.