OBJECTIVE: To study the in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of the polysaccharide of Alocasia cucullata (PAC) and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: B16F10 and 4T1 cells were cultured with PAC of 40 µg/mL, and PAC was withdrawn after 40 days of administration. The cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8. The expression of Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 proteins were detected by Western blot and the expressions of ERK1/2 mRNA were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). A mouse melanoma model was established to study the effect of PAC during long-time administration. Mice were divided into 3 treatment groups: control group treated with saline water, positive control group (LNT group) treated with lentinan at 100 mg/(kg·d), and PAC group treated with PAC at 120 mg/(kg·d). The pathological changes of tumor tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The apoptosis of tumor tissues was detected by TUNEL staining. Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 protein expressions were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the expressions of ERK1/2, JNK1 and p38 mRNA were detected by qRT-PCR. RESULTS: In vitro, no strong inhibitory effects of PAC were found in various tumor cells after 48 or 72 h of administration. Interestingly however, after 40 days of cultivation under PAC, an inhibitory effect on B16F10 cells was found. Correspondingly, the long-time administration of PAC led to downregulation of Bcl-2 protein (P<0.05), up-regulation of Caspase-3 protein (P<0.05) and ERK1 mRNA (P<0.05) in B16F10 cells. The above results were verified by in vivo experiments. In addition, viability of B16F10 cells under long-time administration culture in vitro decreased after drug withdrawal, and similar results were also observed in 4T1 cells. CONCLUSIONS Long-time administration of PAC can significantly inhibit viability and promote apoptosis of tumor cells, and had obvious antitumor effect in tumor-bearing mice.
Mice ; Animals ; Alocasia/metabolism* ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Caspase 3/metabolism* ; Apoptosis ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism*

Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.
Female ; Humans ; Adolescent ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Smell ; COVID-19/complications* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; COVID-19 Vaccines ; Incidence ; Olfaction Disorders/etiology* ; Taste Disorders/etiology* ; Prognosis

Aim To study the effect of three kinds of active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (sinomenine, rhynchophylline and isorhynchophylline) on dre-miR-723-5p expression in morphine-induced zebrafish brain. Methods Morphine was injected intraperitoneally to zebrafish, conditional position preference (CPP) was trained and then the behavioral of animals were observed; the miRNA expression profiles of morphine-additive zebrafish were determined by small RNA sequencing; qRT-PCR was used to verify the expression of dre-miR-723-5p, three target gene databases (miRanda, miRDB, andRNAhybrid) were used to predict the target genes of dre-miR-723-5p; Kobas 3.0 was used to perform Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analysis of these target genes. Results Morphine-induced CPP model was established successfully. Compared with control group, the resident time and movement map in drug-pair box of zebrafish in model group significantly increased. After drug administration, the resident time and movement map in drug-pair box of zebrafish decreased. The verification results of qRT-PCR were consistent with the results of small RNA sequencing. Ninety-nine putative target genes of dremiR-723-5p that were common to all three target gene databases, which were mainly enriched in biological process, cell composition and molecular function, involved in the positive regulation of MAPK signaling pathway, lysosome, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and apoptosis. Conclusion Morphine can increase the expression of dre-miR-723-5p in the zebrafish brain, which can be reversed by sinomenine, isorhynchophylline, and rhynchophylline treatment, and dre-miR-723-5p may participate in the mechanism underlying morphine-induced damage of brain.

OBJECTIVETo investigate quinalizarin-induced apoptosis in gastric cancer cells in vitro and explore the molecular mechanisms.

METHODSMTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxic effects of quinalizarin on human gastric cancer AGS, MKN-28 and MKN-45 cells. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and flow cytometry were used to assess quinalizarin-induced apoptosis in AGS cells and its effect on intracellular ROS levels; the expression levels of apoptotic proteins in the cells were determined with Western blotting.

RESULTSQuinalizarin dose-dependently reduced the cell viabilities of the 3 gastric cancer cells (P<0.05). The ICvalues of quinalizarin in AGS, MKN-28 and MKN-45 cells were 7.07 µmol/L, 22.55 µmol/L and 14.18 µmol/L, respectively. Quinalizarin time-dependently induced apoptosis of AGS cells and potentiated the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Pretreatment with NAC, a scavenger of ROS, inhibited quinalizarin-induced apoptosis (P<0.001). Western blotting results showed that quinalizarin also up-regulated the expression levels of the apoptotic proteins including p-p38, p-JNK, Bad, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved PARP-1 (P<0.05), and down-regulated the expression of the anti-apoptotic proteins p-Akt, p-ERK, and Bcl-2 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONQuinalizarin inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis in gastric cancer cells in vitro through regulating intracellular ROS levels via the MAPK and Akt signaling pathways.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the normal reference values of 33 elements, Ag, Al, As, Au, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sr, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, Zn and Zr, in the blood and urine samples from the general population in Sanmen County of Zhejiang province, a typical coastal area of eastern China. METHODS: The 33 elements in 272 blood and 300 urine samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The normality test of data was conducted using SPSS 17.0 Statistics. The data was compared with other reports. RESULTS: The normal reference values of the 33 elements in the blood and urine samples from the general population in Sanmen County were obtained, which of some elements were found to be similar with other reports, such as Co, Cu, Mn and Sr, while As, Cd, Hg and Pb were generally found to be higher than those previously reported. There was a wide variation between the reports from different countries in blood Ba. CONCLUSION The normal reference values of the 33 elements in the blood and urine samples from the general population in Sanmen County are established, and successfully applied to two poisoning cases.
Blood Chemical Analysis ; China ; Elements ; Environmental Monitoring ; Humans ; Urinalysis

BACKGROUNDInsulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) is suggested to predict the radiosensitivity and/or prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The present study was designed to investigate the clinical and prognostic effects of IGFBP-3 on ESCC.

METHODSIGFBP-3 was detected by immunohistochemistry in paraffin-embedded tissues from 70 ESCC patients treated with radiotherapy alone and further examined by western blotting analysis in 10 pairs of fresh ESCC tissues and adjacent non-malignant esophageal specimens. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine cut-off scores for tumor positivity and to evaluate patient survival status. The χ(2) test was performed to analyze the association of IGFBP-3 expression with clinical characteristics and radiotherapy response. Associations between prognostic outcomes and IGFBP-3 expression were investigated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and the Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTSThe threshold for IGFBP-3 positivity was set to greater than 65% [area under the ROC curve (AUC)=0.690, P<0.019]. Of the 70 ESCC patient tissues tested, 32 (45.7%) were defined as having high IGFBP-3 expression. The levels of IGFBP-3 protein expression were decreased in 70.0% (7 of 10) of ESCC tissues compared with adjacent non-malignant esophageal tissue. In addition, IGFBP-3 expression was associated with pathologic classification (P<0.05 for T, N, and M categories and clinical stage). Patients with elevated protein level of IGFBP-3 in the tumor had an improved radiotherapy response and prolonged overall survival (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONSHigh level of IGFBP-3 expression in ESCC associates with early clinical stages and are predictive for favorable survival of the patients treated with radiotherapy.

Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; ROC Curve ; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents

OBJECTIVETo investigate the nephrotoxic effects of methyl cantharidimide tablets on urinary protein and enzymes in Beagle dogs.

METHODBeagle dogs were randomly divided into negative control group(blank tablet), methyl cantharidimide tablets group (6.11,12.21, 24.42 mg x kg(-1)), continuously 30 days of oral adminiStration, once a day. The drug and control group were collected and determined fresh urine in 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of the administration; Serum urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Crea), total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) as well as sodium, potassium, chloride electrolyte were determined on 15 and 30 days of the administration; Urine albumin (mAlb), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin( NGAL), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), clusterin, beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG), alpha1-microglobulin (alpha1-MG), alanine aminopeptidase( AAP) and im- munoglobulins IgG were tested on 15 and 30 days of the administration.

RESULTCompared with the control group, urine protein and white blood cells was significantly increased in each dose group. On 15 days of the administration, mAlb were higher in each dose group, KIM-1, NGAL, clusterin, NAG and AAP were significantly higher in high-dose group, while the middle and low dose group had no significant difference, as well as blood SCr and BUN no obvious abnormalities. On 30 days, mAlb, KIM-1, clusterin, NAG, AAP were increased in each dose group, appearing dose-effect relationship, beta2-MG and NGAL levels were significantly increased in high-dose group. Contents above indicators were increased with significant dose and time relationship, and serum BUN, Scr were correlated, suggesting that urine mAlb, KIM-1, clusterin, NAG and AAP indicators that can sensitively respond the changes of proteins and enzymes in urine.

CONCLUSIONMethyl cantharidimide tablets has a renal toxicity, urine mAlb, KIM-1, clusterin, NAG and AAP can be used as the early nephrotoxic biomarkers of methyl cantharidimide tablets.

Animals ; Biomarkers ; urine ; Dogs ; Female ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; Male ; Proteins ; metabolism ; Tablets ; adverse effects ; Urine ; chemistry

OBJECTIVE: To establish the electricity plate digestion and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method for determination of 33 inorganic elements in human hair. METHODS: Lithium (6Li), Germanium (72Ge), Yttrium (89Y), Indium (115In), and Terbium (159Tb) were used as internal standards. The electric heating board digestion in a mixture of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide was used as the pre-treatment of the hair. Thirty-three inorganic elements in human hair were analyzed by ICP-MS method. RESULTS: The detection limit of ICP-MS was 0.0001 microg/g(Th)-10.9 microg/g (Ca) and the limit of quantitation was 0.0005 microg/g (Th)-25 microg/g (Ca). The recovery rate of this method was 86%-113%. The RSD for the intra-day and inter-day were less than 9.2%. The method was not statistically different from microwave digestion method. CONCLUSION This method is highly efficient and accurate. It can be used for analysis of 33 inorganic elements in human hair.
Electricity ; Hair/chemistry* ; Humans ; Limit of Detection ; Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Microwaves ; Reference Standards ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Trace Elements/analysis*

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the overall diet quality and diet model of labor workers in Shenzhen using Chinese Diet Balance Index (DBI).

METHODSIn May 2009, 14 canteens from Baoan, Longgang and Nanshan districts were selected by stratified random sampling and 60 workers were randomly selected from each canteen by using random number method. Diet measurements were carried out among the 840 labor workers. Diet quality was evaluated by using DBI scoring and evaluating system.

RESULTSThe median values of labor workers' food intakes of cereal and meat & poultry were 483.8 and 121.7 g/d, which were more than the recommended amounts of their intakes of Chinese residents (cereal: 250 - 400 g/d, meat & poultry: 50 -70 g/d). The median values of the labor workers' intakes of fruit, dairy and eggs were 37.3, 20.6 and 23.5 g/d,which were less than recommended amounts in fruits (200 - 400 g/d), dairy (300 g/d) and eggs (25 - 50 g/d). The DBI-HBS scores of males and females in Shenzhen migrant workers were 24.4 +/- 6.1 and 22.6 +/- 6.3, respectively with a statistically significant difference (t = 4.21, P < 0.01). DBI-HBS scores of < 20 age group, 20 - 29 age group, 30 - 39 age group and > or = 40 age group in labor workers were 12.7 +/- 5.9, 11.3 +/- 6.3, 12.8 +/- 6.4 and 11.2 +/- 5.6 respectively (F = 3.67, P = 0.01). There were 7 dietary patterns among labor workers in this survey. Nearly 8.2% (68/830) of them belonged to Pattern A. Pattern B and E were the main dietary patterns, which accounted for 37.3% (310/830) and 31.0% (257/830) of the total population.

CONCLUSIONDBI can describe and evaluate the overall dietary quality and the major problem of the dietary patterns in labor workers. It is necessary to strength nutritional education to increase the intake of fruits, milk and eggs to improve nutritional status in labor workers in Shenzhen.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Dairy Products ; Diet ; statistics & numerical data ; Diet Surveys ; Eggs ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Fruit ; Humans ; Male ; Meat ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Status ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To establish the method for measurement of acetonitrile in blood and urine by head-space gas chromatography. METHODS: DB-ALC1 (30 m x 320 microm x 1.8 microm) and DB-ALC2 (30 m x 320 microm x 1.2 microm) capillary column were used to measure the acetonitrile in blood and urine with the isopropanol as internal standard reference. RESULTS: The limits of detection of acetonitrile in both blood and urine were 0.5 microg/mL, with a linear range of 5-1000 microg/mL (r = 0.999).The accuracy of this method was 93.2%-98.0%. The RSD for the intra-day and inter-day were less than 3.7%. CONCLUSION The method is capable for measurement analysis of acetonitrile in blood and urine.
Acetonitriles/urine* ; Chromatography, Gas/methods* ; Cyanides/urine* ; Forensic Toxicology/methods* ; Humans ; Reproducibility of Results ; Suicide, Attempted