ObjectiveBased on ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS）， network pharmacology， molecular docking and cell experiments， the active ingredients， possible targets and molecular mechanisms of Baoxin granules（BXG） regulating ferroptosis in the treatment of heart failure（HF） were explored. MethodsBXG intestinal absorption fluid was prepared by everted gut sac and the chemical composition contained therein were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. According to the obtained components， the potential targets of BXG were predicted， and the HF-related targets and related genes of ferroptosis were retrieved at the same time， and the intersecting targets were obtained by Venn diagram. In addition， the protein-protein interaction（PPI） network and the component-target network were constructed， and the core components and core targets were obtained by topological analysis. Then Gene Ontology（GO） function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes（KEGG） enrichment analysis were performed on the core targets， and molecular docking validation of the key targets and main components was carried out by AutoDockTools 1.5.7. H9c2 cells were used to establish a oxygen-glucose deprivation model， and the protective effect of BXG on cells was investigated by detecting cell viability， cell survival rate and reactive oxygen species（ROS） level. The protein expression levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3（STAT3）， phosphorylation（p）-STAT3 and glutathione peroxidase 4（GPX4） were detected by Western blot to clarify the regulatory effect of BXG on ferroptosis. ResultsA total of 61 chemical components in BXG intestinal absorption fluid were identified， and network pharmacology obtained 27 potential targets of BXG for the treatment of HF， as well as 139 signaling pathways. BXG may act on core targets such as STAT3， tumor protein p53（TP53）， epidermal growth factor receptor（EGFR）， JUN and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2（PTGS2） through core components such as glabrolide and limonin， which in turn intervene in lipid and atherosclerosis， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B（PI3K/Akt）， endocrine resistance and other signaling pathways to exert therapeutic effects on HF. Molecular docking showed that the docking results of multiple groups of targets and compounds were good. In vitro cell experiments showed that compared with the blank group， the cell viability and survival rate of the model group were significantly decreased， the level of ROS was significantly increased（P<0.01）， the expression levels of STAT3， p-STAT3， p-STAT3/STAT3 and GPX4 proteins were significantly decreased（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the cell viability and survival rate of the BXG group were significantly increased， the ROS level was significantly decreased（P<0.01）， the STAT3， p-STAT3， p-STAT3/STAT3 and GPX4 protein levels were significantly increased（P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionBXG may inhibit the occurrence of ferroptosis by up-regulating the expression of STAT3 and GPX4， thus exerting a therapeutic effect on HF， and flavonoids may be the key components of this role.

ObjectiveBased on ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS）， network pharmacology， molecular docking and cell experiments， the active ingredients， possible targets and molecular mechanisms of Baoxin granules（BXG） regulating ferroptosis in the treatment of heart failure（HF） were explored. MethodsBXG intestinal absorption fluid was prepared by everted gut sac and the chemical composition contained therein were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. According to the obtained components， the potential targets of BXG were predicted， and the HF-related targets and related genes of ferroptosis were retrieved at the same time， and the intersecting targets were obtained by Venn diagram. In addition， the protein-protein interaction（PPI） network and the component-target network were constructed， and the core components and core targets were obtained by topological analysis. Then Gene Ontology（GO） function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes（KEGG） enrichment analysis were performed on the core targets， and molecular docking validation of the key targets and main components was carried out by AutoDockTools 1.5.7. H9c2 cells were used to establish a oxygen-glucose deprivation model， and the protective effect of BXG on cells was investigated by detecting cell viability， cell survival rate and reactive oxygen species（ROS） level. The protein expression levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3（STAT3）， phosphorylation（p）-STAT3 and glutathione peroxidase 4（GPX4） were detected by Western blot to clarify the regulatory effect of BXG on ferroptosis. ResultsA total of 61 chemical components in BXG intestinal absorption fluid were identified， and network pharmacology obtained 27 potential targets of BXG for the treatment of HF， as well as 139 signaling pathways. BXG may act on core targets such as STAT3， tumor protein p53（TP53）， epidermal growth factor receptor（EGFR）， JUN and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2（PTGS2） through core components such as glabrolide and limonin， which in turn intervene in lipid and atherosclerosis， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B（PI3K/Akt）， endocrine resistance and other signaling pathways to exert therapeutic effects on HF. Molecular docking showed that the docking results of multiple groups of targets and compounds were good. In vitro cell experiments showed that compared with the blank group， the cell viability and survival rate of the model group were significantly decreased， the level of ROS was significantly increased（P<0.01）， the expression levels of STAT3， p-STAT3， p-STAT3/STAT3 and GPX4 proteins were significantly decreased（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the cell viability and survival rate of the BXG group were significantly increased， the ROS level was significantly decreased（P<0.01）， the STAT3， p-STAT3， p-STAT3/STAT3 and GPX4 protein levels were significantly increased（P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionBXG may inhibit the occurrence of ferroptosis by up-regulating the expression of STAT3 and GPX4， thus exerting a therapeutic effect on HF， and flavonoids may be the key components of this role.

Objective To explore the action mechanism of long non-coding RNA(lncRNAs)lncRNA KCTD13-DT in oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)and its potential interaction with transcription factor c-Myc,providing a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for patients with OSCC.Methods The expression of lncRNA KCTD13-DT in OSCC and paracancerous tissues was detected by qRT-PCR.The effects of c-Myc overexpression and knock-down on human tongue squamous carcinoma cells HN6 and CAL27 were detected by qRT-PCR.Fluorescence in si-tu hybridization(FISH)assessed the localization of lncRNA KCTD13-DT in cells.A dual luciferase reporter gene was used to analyze the role of c-Myc in target binding to the promoter region of lncRNA KCTD13-DT.Stable cell lines with knockdown or overexpression of lncRNA KCTD13-DT were constructed in human OSCC cell lines HN6 and CAL27 by lentiviral infection,and the knockdown and overexpression efficiencies of lncRNA KCTD13-DT were detected by qRT-PCR.Cell proliferation changes were detected by growth curve assay,CCK-8 assay,colony forma-tion assay,and cell migration was detected by scratch assay and Transwell.Results lncRNA KCTD13-DT expres-sion level was reduced in OSCC tissues and OSCC cells(HN6,CAL27),and Western blot verified that after knoc-king down and overexpression of c-Myc in HN6 and CAL27,the qRT-PCR experiments showed that c-Myc nega-tively regulated lncRNA KCTD13-DT,and overexpression of c-Myc significantly down-regulated lncRNA KCTD13-DT;knockdown of c-Myc significantly up-regulated lncRNA KCTD13-DT levels.Dual luciferase reporter gene showed that c-Myc could target lncRNA KCTD13-DT,and c-Myc could be involved in regulating and repressing the transcriptional activity of lncRNA KCTD13-DT.FISH showed that lncRNA KCTD13-DT mainly existed in the nu-cleus.Growth curve assay,CCK-8 assay,cell scratch assay,Transwell,and colony formation assay showed that knockdown of lncRNA KCTD13-DT promoted the growth and proliferation of OSCC cells,and overexpression of ln-cRNA KCTD13-DT significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of OSCC cells.Conclusion lncRNA KCTD13-DT is negatively regulated by c-Myc.Knockdown of lncRNA KCTD13-DT promotes cell proliferation,while overexpression of it inhibits cell growth.

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a serious and common complication of stroke, which seriously affects the rehabilitation of stroke patients. To date, the pathogenesis of PSD is unclear and effective treatments remain unavailable. Here, we established a mouse model of PSD through photothrombosis-induced focal ischemia. By using a combination of brain imaging, transcriptome sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis, we found that the hippocampus of PSD mice had a significantly lower metabolic level than other brain regions. RNA sequencing revealed a significant reduction of miR34b-3p, which was expressed in hippocampal neurons and inhibited the translation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E). Furthermore, silencing eIF4E inactivated microglia, inhibited neuroinflammation, and abolished the depression-like behaviors in PSD mice. Together, our data demonstrated that insufficient miR34b-3p after stroke cannot inhibit eIF4E translation, which causes PSD by the activation of microglia in the hippocampus. Therefore, miR34b-3p and eIF4E may serve as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of PSD.
Animals ; Mice ; Depression ; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E/metabolism* ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Stroke/metabolism*

Objective:To investigate the effect of KRT5 knockdown in keratinocytes on melanin content in co-cultured melanocytes, and to explain mechanisms underlying formation of hyperpigmented lesions in reticulate pigmented anomaly of the flexures (Dowling-Degos disease, DDD) .Methods:HaCaT cells with heterozygous mutations in the KRT5 gene were obtained by using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) -CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) technology (experimental group) , and HaCaT cells transfected with non-targeting single guide RNA:Cas9 protein complex served as control group, both of which were in vitro co-cultured with primary human melanocyte cells (HEMn) separately. Immunofluorescence study was conducted to determine the expression of cytokeratin and melanosomes in co-cultured cells; melanin content was detected in melanocytes in different co-culture groups, which were obtained by differential trypsinization. Immunohistochemical study was performed to determine the expression of melanocyte-specific premelanosome protein 17 (Pmel17) in skin lesions in a patient with DDD carrying a KRT5 mutation and normal skin tissues in a healthy control. Results:Sanger sequencing showed a heterozygous mutation (c.1delA) at the initiation codon of exon 1 of the KRT5 gene in HaCaT cells in the experimental group, but no mutation in the KRT5 gene in the control group. Western blot analysis showed that the KRT5 protein expression was significantly lower in the experimental group (0.60 ± 0.05) than in the control group (1.00 ± 0.00, t = 32.38, P = 0.001) . Compared with the co-culture system in the control group, the number of Pmel17-labeled melanosomes markedly increased with the melanin content elevated by 52.5% ( t = -3.48, P = 0.025) in the HEMn cells co-cultured with HaCaT cells in the experimental group. Immunohistochemical study showed that the Pmel17 expression increased in the skin lesions in the DDD patient with KRT5 mutation compared with the normal skin tissues in the healthy control. Conclusion:The effect of HaCaT cells with CRISPR-Cas9-induced KRT5 mutation on the co-cultured HEMn melanocytes was verified by the successfully established in vitro co-culture system, which provides a primary cell model for further studies on interaction mechanisms between keratinocytes and melanocytes, and on pathogenesis of skin pigmentation abnormalities.

It has been demonstrated that APPL1 (adaptor protein, phosphotyrosine interacting with PH domain and leucine zipper 1) is involved in the regulation of several growth-related signaling pathways and thus closely associated with the development and progression of some cancers. Diallyl trisulfide (DAT), a garlic-derived bioactive compound, exerts selective cytotoxicity to various human cancer cells through interfering with pro-survival signaling pathways. However, whether and how DAT affects survival of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells remain unclear. Herein, we tested the hypothesis of the involvement of APPL1 in DAT-induced cytotoxicity in HCC HepG2 cells. We found that Lys 63 (K63)-linked polyubiquitination of APPL1 was significantly decreased whereas phosphorylation of APPL1 at serine residues remained unchanged in DAT-treated HepG2 cells. Compared with wild-type APPL1, overexpression of APPL1 K63R mutant dramatically increased cell apoptosis and mitigated cell survival, along with a reduction of phosphorylation of STAT3, Akt, and Erk1/2. In addition, DAT administration markedly reduced protein levels of intracellular TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6). Genetic inhibition of TRAF6 decreased K63-linked polyubiquitination of APPL1. Moreover, the cytotoxicity impacts of DAT on HepG2 cells were greatly attenuated by overexpression of wild-type APPL1. Taken together, these results suggest that APPL1 polyubiquitination probably mediates the inhibitory effects of DAT on survival of HepG2 cells by modulating STAT3, Akt, and Erk1/2 pathways.

Objective:To explore the selection of surgical methods for different sites of symptomatic Rathke's cleft cyst (RCC) and the clinical efficacies of these patients.Methods:Forty-seven patients with symptomatic RCC, admitted to our hospital from January 2016 to December 2019, were chosen in our study; 21 patients with intrasellar symptomatic RCC accepted surgery via unilateral nasal approach at the right side, 19 patients with intra-suprasellar symptomatic RCC accepted surgery via bilateral nasal approach, 3 patients with suprasellar symptomatic RCC accepted endonasal transsphenoidal surgery under endoscope, and 4 patients with suprasellar symptomatic RCC accepted craniotomy via pterion approach. The clinical efficacies and complications of patients accepted different surgical methods were compared. All patients were followed up for 3-36 months to observe the recurrence.Results:The postoperative symptoms of the patients were effectively improved, including headache relief ratio of 27/31, vision loss improvement ratio of 5/5, high prolactin relief ratio of 11/13, pituitary function improvement ratio of 9/18. Complications occurred in 6 patients, presenting as diabetes insipidus. Four patients recurred during follow-up.Conclusion:Intrasellar and intra-suprasellar symptomatic RCC accepted surgery via endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal approach are safe and effective; selection of surgical methods for suprasellar symptomatic RCC should be determined according to the sizes and growth directions of cysts.

Objective: To explore the clinical applications of second generation colon capsule endoscopy (CCE-2). Methods: From July 2017 to December 2018, at the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 40 outpatients and hospitalized patients who underwent CCE-2 examination were enrolled. The examination results were analyzed by an expert gastroenterologist with rich experience in small intestinal and colon capsule endoscopy. The stomach, small bowel and colon transit time, the score of colon cleansing quality, the completion rate of colon capsule examination, lesion detection and adverse effects were observed. Chi-square test and Student′t test were used for statistical analysis. Results: The whole gastrointestinal tract examination was completed during the capsule running time in 65.0% (26/40) of the patients. The average stomach transit time was (0.92±0.74) h, the small bowel transit time was (3.93±1.51) h and the colon transit time was (4.89±0.61) h. The capsule running time of patients who completed the whole gastrointestinal tract examination was shorter than that of patients who did not complete the whole gastrointestinal tract examination ((9.44 ± 3.53) h vs. (15.47±2.09) h), and the difference was statistically significant (t=6.79, P<0.01). The qualified rate of colon preparation was 67.5% (27/40). There were no statistically significant differences in colon transit time or capsule excretion time between patients with qualified colon preparation and poor colon preparation ((4.43±3.33) h vs. (5.96 ± 2.44) h; and (9.06 ± 3.91) h vs. (10.29±2.47) h; t=1.17 and 0.81, both P>0.05). A total of 33 (82.5%) patients had gastrointestinal lesions detected by colon capsule, including three cases of esophageal lesions (inflammation and mass), 21 cases of gastric lesions (chronic gastritis, mucosal protrusion, polyp and ulcer), nine cases of small bowel lesions (polyp, ulcer and vascular malformation) and 19 cases of colonic lesions (diverticulum, polyp, rectitis, mucosal erosion, ulcer and vascular malformation, internal hemorrhoids). Among them, there were 11 patients with two or more lesions. No adverse events occurred during the examination and all the capsules were excreted within 48 hours. Conclusion CCE-2 with high safety and good tolerance can be used for whole gastrointestinal tract examination.

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori( H. pylori)infection among children remains high in China.Children infected with H. pylori reveal a tolerant immune response and a mild inflammatory response according to recent studies.Nodular gastritis is the most common endoscopic manifestation of H. pylori infection in children, and peptic ulcer occurs in a small number of pediatric patients.The relationship between H. pylori infection and digestive diseases, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, dyspepsia, and recurrent abdominal pain remains controversial.Numerous studies have confirmed that H. pylori infection is also associated with some blood system diseases, allergic diseases, and children′s growth, and could interacts with gut microbiota.However, the causality between H. pylori and diseases mentioned are not fully confirmed, and the pathogenesis mechanisms is still unclear.Therefore, further studies are needed to elicit the causality and mechanisms.

Objective: To investigate the effects of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) therapy on the frequency of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and their subset of monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSC) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. Methods: A total of 32 treatment-naive CHC patients and 16 healthy controls were recruited at Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from June 2016 to June 2017. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were separated from the peripheral blood of patients with CHC before DAA therapy, at four weeks after DAA therapy, at 12 weeks after DAA therapy and 12 weeks after the end of DAA therapy. The frequencies of MDSC and M-MDSC were detected by the flow cytometer. The t test, U test and chi-square test was employed to analyze the data. Results: All the 32 treatment-naive patients achieved the rapid virological response and no virological breakthrough was observed. Before DAA therapy, the frequency of MDSC in CHC patients was 2.18%, which was higher than healthy individuals (0.60%; Z=-4.593, P<0.01), and positively correlated with the plasma levels of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA (r=0.688, P<0.01) and aspartate aminotransferase (r=0.735, P<0.01). After four weeks of DAA therapy, the frequency of MDSC decreased significantly to 1.07%, with no statistical significance compared to the controls (Z=-1.221, P>0.05). However, at 12 weeks after DAA therapy, the MDSC frequency increased, with statically significance compared to the controls (1.64% vs 0.60%, Z=-3.117, P=0.002). At 12 weeks after the end of DAA therapy, the MDSC frequency had decreased to 1.29% again, with no statistical significance compared to the controls (Z=-1.387, P=0.664). The changes of M-MDSC frequency were slightly different. Before DAA therapy, the frequency of M-MDSC in CHC patients was higher compared to healthy controls (1.66% vs 0.81%, Z=-2.745, P<0.01). The frequencies of M-MDSC were 0.91%, 1.09% and 1.10% at four, 12 weeks after DAA and 12 weeks after the end of DAA therapy, respectively. The differences were not statistically significant compared to the controls (Z=-0.589, -1.028 and -0.486, respectively, all P>0.05). Conclusion Immune status of the peripheral MDSC and M-MDSC can return to normal after DAA therapy in CHC patients.