AIM Through research on entire quality standard of Dengzhan Shengmai soft capsule, to establish the quality standard which will meet the criteria of the application requirement for new Chinese patent medicine. METHODS Quantity of scutellarin was determined by HPLC through measuring the main effective ingredients of Dengzhan and quality identifying methods for three meteria medica was established by TLC. RESULTS Method of quantity determination of scutellarin was set up, outcoming with the minimum content of each capsule had not to be less than 15.0 mg; and thus also established the identification method for Herba erigerontis, Ginseng, Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis, and there was no interference with the negative references. CONCLUSION The establishment of quality standard of Dengzhan Shengmai soft capsule is scientificial and practical, which is superior than quality standard of Dengzhan Shengmai capsule, and further ensures the quality and stability of Dengzhan Shengmai soft capsule.
Background: miR-664b-5p accelerates the development of certain cancers, but the role of miR-664b-5p in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been less reported. Therefore, the authors aimed to study the role of miR-664b-5p in HCC progression. Materials and Methods: miR-664b-5p expression in liver cancer and adjacent tissues, and in HepG2 and SUN-475 cells, was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Relationship between miR-664b-5p and AKT2 was predicted by TargetScan and confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay, and gene or protein expressions were determined by performing qRT-PCR and Western blotting. The viability and apoptosis, and the migration and invasion of HepG2 and SUN-475 cells were determined by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, and transwell assay, respectively. Results: Downregulated miR-664b-5p was observed in hepatocellular cancer tissues. Functional analyses revealed that miR-664b-5p mimic suppressed viability, migration, and invasion, but promoted apoptosis in HepG2 and SUN-475 cells. AKT2 was a target of miR-664b-5p, whose mimics inhibited the expression of AKT2. However, upregulated AKT2 promoted viability, migration, and invasion, but inhibited apoptosis in HepG2 and SUN-475 cells, and such effects were reversed by miR-664b-5p mimics. Conclusions: miR-664b-5p acts as a cancer suppressor through negatively regulating AKT2 expression in HepG2 and SUN-475 cells, suggesting that miR-664b-5p could be a protective target for HCC patients.
A case-control study was conducted to explore the multifactor analysis and intervention of menstrual disorders in female athletes under the background of the Winter Olympic Games, which is based on a large sample. For this purpose, from January 2020 to September 2021, 381 female athletes in long-term ice and snow sports were investigated by random sampling. All of them promoted gynecological examination and counted the incidence of menstrual disorders. The subjects were assigned into two groups according to their menstrual status: abnormal (n = 163) and normal menstrual state groups (n = 218). The basic and clinical data of the two groups were compared, and univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were employed to explore the risk factors of menstrual disorders in female athletes. According to the random number table method, the menstrual disorder group was again assigned into the intervention group and the control group. The intervention group received health education and glucose supplement intervention to correct EAMDs, while the control group only received health education. The improvement of patients’ ability balance and the changes of reproductive hormones were compared after intervention. The results of univariate analysis indicated that there exhibited no significant differences in age, menarche age, smoking history, drinking history, grade, sexual life history, abortion history, BMI, and location of household registration, but there were significant differences in family history, sleep quality, diet regularity, and mental health status ( P<0.05 ). The results of univariate analysis indicated that there exhibited no significant differences in age, menarche, smoking, drinking, grade, sexual life history, abortion history, family history, sleep quality, diet regularity, and mental health status. Logistic regression analysis indicated that family history of menstrual disorders, poor sleep quality, irregular diet, and mental health status all affected women’s menstrual disorders (OR: 1.411, 95% CI: 1.378∼1.444; OR: 1.501, 95% CI: 1.030∼2.187; OR: 1.554, 95% CI: 1.086∼2.225; OR: 1.383, 95% CI: 1.018∼1.877, respectively) independent risk factors. According to the comparison of menstrual cycle, in the intervention group, 12 patients had menstrual cycle 21–28 days, 12 patients had menstrual cycle 28–38 days, and 58 patients were irregular and had no amenorrhea, while in the control group, 36 patients had menstrual cycle 21–28 days, 24 patients had 28–38 days, 12 patients had amenorrhea, and 11 patients had irregular menstruation, and there exhibited no significant difference ( P>0.05 ). There exhibited no significant difference in energy balance before and after intervention ( P>0.05 ); after intervention, the ability balance of the two groups was significantly promoted, and the degree of improvement in the study group was better ( P<0.05 ). The indexes of reproductive hormones in the follicular phase were compared before and after glucose supplement intervention, and there exhibited no significant difference before intervention ( P>0.05 ); after intervention, the serum LH and GnRH of the two groups decreased, while FSH and P increased. The improvement degree of the intervention group was better than that of the control group, but there exhibited no significant difference ( P>0.05 ). Before intervention, there exhibited no significant difference in the serum E2 level in the follicular phase ( P>0.05 ); after the intervention, the serum E2 of the two groups increased significantly, and the improvement of the intervention group was better ( P<0.05 ). Before intervention, there exhibited no significant difference in the serum E2 level in the follicular phase ( P>0.05 ); after the intervention, the serum E2 of the two groups increased significantly, and the improvement of the intervention group was better ( P<0.05 ). Before intervention, there exhibited no significant difference in serum E2 and P levels in the luteal phase ( P>0.05 ); after intervention, the level of serum E2 decreased and the level of serum P increased in the two groups. There exhibited no significant difference in the level of serum E2 ( P>0.05 ). There exhibited significant difference in the serum P level ( P<0.05 ). Female athletes have a high rate of menstrual disorders. Family history of menstrual disorders, poor sleep quality, irregular diet, and poor mental health are the main risk factors of menstrual disorders. Health education and sugar supplement intervention measures for female athletes play a positive role in the improvement of their ability balance and the regulation of reproductive hormones.
Previous evidence suggests that plasma phospholipid fatty acids (PPFAs) and HOMA insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) are independently related to leukocyte telomere length (LTL). However, there is limited evidence of regarding the effect of their interaction on relative LTL (RLTL). Therefore, here, we aimed to determine the effect of the interaction between PPFAs and HOMA-IR on RLTL.We conducted a cross-sectional study, involving a total of 1246 subjects aged 25-74 years. PPFAs and RLTL were measured, and HOMA-IR was calculated. The effect of the interaction between PPFAs and HOMA-IR on RLTL was assessed by univariate analysis, adjusting for potential confounders.In age-adjusted analyses, multivariate linear regression revealed a significant association of the levels of elaidic acid, HOMA-IR, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and omega-6 (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) with RLTL. After adjustment of age and gender, race, smoking, drinking, tea, and exercise, elaidic acid, and omega-3 (n-3) PUFA were negatively associated with RLTL, and HOMA-IR and n-6 PUFA were positively associated with RLTL. These associations were not significantly altered upon further adjustment for anthropometric and biochemical indicators. Meanwhile, the effect of the interaction of elaidic acid and HOMA-IR on RLTL was significant, and remained unchanged even after adjusting for the aforementioned potential confounders. Interestingly, individuals who had the lowest HOMA-IR and the highest elaidic acid levels presented the shortest RLTL.Our findings indicated that shorter RLTL was associated with lower HOMA-IR and higher elaidic acid level. These findings might open a new avenue for exploring the potential role of the interaction between elaidic acid and HOMA-IR in maintaining RLTL.
Objective Previous studies of neuropathic pain have suggested that the P2X4 purinoceptor (P2X4R) in spinal microglia is essential for maintaining allodynia following nerve injury. However, little is known about its role in inflammatory soup-induced trigeminal allodynia, which closely mimics chronic migraine status. Here, we determined the contributions of P2X4R and related signaling pathways in an inflammatory soup-induced trigeminal allodynia model. Methods P2X4R gene and protein levels in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis were analyzed following repeated dural inflammatory soup infusions. p38, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, excitatory amino acid transporter 3, c-Fos, and calcitonin gene-related peptide protein levels in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis, as well as trigeminal sensitivity, were assessed among the different groups. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect protein localization and expression in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis. Results Repeated inflammatory dural stimulation induced trigeminal hyperalgesia and the upregulation of P2X4R. Immunofluorescence revealed that P2X4R was expressed in trigeminal nucleus caudalis microglial cells. Blockage of P2X4R produced an anti-nociceptive effect, which was associated with an inhibition of inflammatory soup-induced increases in p38, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, excitatory amino acid transporter 3, c-Fos, and calcitonin gene-related peptide protein levels. The tyrosine receptor kinase B antagonist ANA-12 reversed trigeminal allodynia and the upregulation of excitatory amino acid transporter 3, c-Fos, and calcitonin gene-related peptide, whereas the agonist 7,8-dihydroxyflavone exacerbated these effects. Double immunostaining indicated that p38 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor were mainly expressed in microglial cells, whereas excitatory amino acid transporter 3 was primarily expressed in trigeminal nucleus caudalis neurons. Conclusions These data indicate that microglial P2X4R is involved in the regulation of excitatory amino acid transporter 3 via brain-derived neurotrophic factor-tyrosine receptor kinase B signaling following repeated inflammatory dural stimulation. Microglial P2X4R activation and microglia-neuron interactions in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis may play a role in the pathogenesis of migraine chronicity, and the modulation of P2X4R activation might be a potential therapeutic strategy.
Aberrantly methylated genes contribute to the landscape of epigenetic alterations in colorectal adenocarcinoma. The global CpG Island methylator phenotype (CIMP) and individually methylated genes are potential prognostic/predictive biomarkers. Research suggests an association between methylated DCR1 (mDCR1) and lack of benefit with irinotecan (IFL) treatment. We assessed the association between DCR1 methylation status and survival in patients receiving adjuvant fluorouracil/ leucovorin (5-FU/LV) or IFL. We analysed data from patients with stage III colon adenocarcinoma randomly assigned to adjuvant 5-FU/LV or IFL in CALGB 89803 (Alliance). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS). Using tumour sample DNA, we evaluated the association between survival, DCR1 methylation status, and molecular subgroups (BRAF, KRAS, mismatch repair status, CIMP status) using Kaplan–Meier estimator and Cox proportional hazard model. mDCR1 was observed in 221/400 (55%) colon cancers. Histopathologic features were similar between mDCR1 and unmethylated DCR1 (unDCR1) colon cancers. There was no difference in OS (p = 0.83) or DFS (p = 0.85) based on DCR1 methylation status. There was no association between methylation status and response to IFL . In patients with unDCR1 and KRAS-wildtype tumours, those who received IFL had a nearly two-fold worse DFS compared to patients who received 5-FU/LV (HR = 1.85, 95% CI (0.97–3.53, p = 0.06). This relationship was not notable among other subgroups. In stage III colon cancer patients, mDCR1 status did not associate with response to irinotecan. Larger studies may suggest an association between the iridocene response and molecular subgroups.
Objective High-throughput sequencing based on copy number variation (CNV-seq) is commonly used to detect chromosomal abnormalities including aneuploidy. This study provides evidence for the prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities in target populations. Methods A total of 160 samples, including 83 high-risk pregnancies, 37 spontaneous abortions, and 40 suspected genetic disorders, were analyzed by CNV-seq. Relationships between the incidence of these chromosomal abnormalities and risk factors (e.g. advanced maternal age, abnormal pregnancy history, and family history of congenital disease) were further analyzed by subgroup. Results A total of 37 (44.6%) high-risk pregnancies, 25 (67.6%) spontaneous abortions, and 22 (55%) suspected genetic disorders had chromosomal abnormalities including aneuploidy and CNVs. There was an increased risk association between the prevalence of aneuploidy and pathogenic-relevant CNV in the fetus or abortive tissue and advanced maternal age. Moreover, a family history of congenital disease was also positively correlated with fetal chromosomal abnormalities in high-risk pregnancies. Conclusion A relatively high prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities was detected in high-risk pregnancies, spontaneous abortions, and suspected genetic disorders, indicating the importance of CNV detection in such populations.
BACKGROUND The methylation status of RUNX3 promoter region, its impact on RUNX3 gene expression, and Th1/Th2 imbalance are unknown in bronchiolitis. This study aimed to explore the predictors of bronchiolitis developing into asthma. MATERIAL AND METHODS The methylation status of RUNX3 promoter was assessed using Illumina HiSeq platform method. The relative RUNX3 mRNA levels in PBMCs were measured by qRT-PCR. Serum IL-4 and IFN-γ concentrations were measured by ELISA. RESULTS A series of sites with significantly higher levels of methylation as compared to their corresponding controls were identified, including 24 sites in group Ba vs. group Cn, 13 sites in group Ba vs. group Ca, 7 sites in group Ba vs. group Bn, 16 sites in group Bn vs. group Cn, 11 sites in group Ca vs. group Cn, and 23 sites in group B vs. group C; P<0.05. The relative mRNA levels in group Ba were significantly lower than those in groups Cn, Ca, Bn; P<0.05. The serum IL-4 concentrations in group Ba were significantly higher than those in group Cn; P<0.05. The serum IFN-γ concentrations in group Ba were significantly lower than those in groups Cn, Ca, Bn; P<0.05. Correlation analysis showed that differentially methylated RUNX3 promoter region sites were significantly negatively correlated with levels of relative RUNX3 mRNA and IFN-γ, and were significantly positively correlated with IL-4 levels. CONCLUSIONS The methylation status of RUNX3 promoter region plays a role in Th1/Th2 imbalance by silencing RUNX3 gene expression, which can serve as predictive marker for the development of bronchiolitis into asthma.