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Background: Recent studies have shown that consumption of resistant starch (RS) has beneficial effects on the gut microbiota and immune function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of RS on inflammation, uremic toxins, and renal function in patients with CKD through a systematic review and meta-analysis., Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-2020. We included randomized controlled trials comparing RS supplementation to placebo. The National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Excerpta Medica Database (Embase), Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI) databases, and two gray literature sources - Baidu and Research Gate, were used for search, up to 28 August 2024. There was no limitation on publication date, but only manuscripts published in English and Chinese were included., Results: A total of 645 articles were retrieved. Ten articles met the inclusion criteria, and a total of 355 subjects were included. The analysis revealed that RS dietary intervention can significantly reduce indoxyl sulfate (IS) levels (SMD: -0.37, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.70 to -0.04, p  = .03) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels (SMD: -0.30, 95% CI: -0.57 to -0.02, p  = .03). There were no significant differences in the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), p-cresyl sulfate (p-CS), albumin, phosphorus, or tumor necrosis factor-α., Conclusions: The RS diet has potential beneficial effects on uremic toxin levels and renal function indices in patients with CKD. RS supplementation can reduce uremic toxin levels and improve renal function but does not reduce the inflammatory response in patients with CKD. Nevertheless, results should be cautiously interpreted, because of the limited sample size and different treatment dosages. Further research is necessary to corroborate the beneficial effects of RS2 supplementation in this population.

Construction safety is of significance since construction accidents can result in loss of property and large numbers of casualties. This research aims to identify the critical causes of construction accidents by introducing a hybrid approach. The hybrid approach is developed to identify the critical causes of construction accidents by combining the human factors analysis and classification system (HFACS) model with complex network (CN) theory. A total of 863 construction accident cases were collected, and 46 causal factors were identified. Subsequently, the accident causal network was established, and six critical causal factors were extracted. The hybrid analysis approach is demonstrated with a real construction accident case, and the results demonstrate that the hybrid approach could better identify the critical causal factors. Consequently, this research enables the enhancement of understanding the HFACS framework and CN theory, as well as a contribution to safety management in the construction industry at different levels.

Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) have been used in dialysis patients with arteriovenous fistula (AVF) stenosis, but whether DCBs have advantages over ordinary balloons is still controversial. A meta-analysis was designed to investigate the safety and efficacy of DCBs and common balloons (CBs) in the treatment of AVF stenosis. We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, and China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI) databases for randomized controlled trials that evaluated the comparison of DCB angioplasty versus CB angioplasty for AVF stenosis in dialysis patients and reported at least one outcome of interest. The results showed that the DCB group had a higher first-stage patency rate of the target lesion 6 months [odds ratio, OR = 2.31, 95% confidence interval, CI: (1.69, 3.15), p < .01] and 12 months [OR = 2.09, 95% CI: (1.50, 2.91), p < .01] after surgery. There was no statistically significant difference in all-cause mortality between the two groups at 6 months [OR = 0.85, 95% CI: (0.47, 1.52), p = .58] and 12 months [OR = 0.99, 95% CI: (0.60, 1.64), p = .97]. Compared with CB, DCBs as a new endovascular treatment for AVF stenosis have a higher primary patency rate of target lesions and can delay the occurrence of restenosis. There is no evidence that DCB can increase the mortality of patients., (© 2023 The Authors. Clinical Cardiology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) have been proposed to assess the prognosis of patients with cancer. Here, we investigated the prognostic value and relevant mechanisms of TLSs in colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM)., Methods: 603 patients with CRCLM treated by surgical resection from three cancer centers were included. The TLSs were categorized according to their anatomic subregions and quantified, and a TLS scoring system was established for intratumor region (T score) and peritumor region (P score). Differences in relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) between groups were determined. Multiplex immunohistochemical staining (mIHC) was used to determine the cellular composition of TLSs in 40 CRCLM patients., Results: T score positively correlated with superior prognosis, while P score negatively associated with poor survival (all p<0.05). Meanwhile, T score was positively associated with specific mutation subtype of KRAS. Furthermore, TLSs enrichment gene expression was significantly associated with survival and transcriptomic subtypes of CRCLM. Subsequently, mIHC showed that the densities of Treg cells, M2 macrophages and Tfh cells were significantly higher in intratumor TLSs than in peritumor TLSs (p = 0.029, p = 0.047 and p = 0.041, respectively), and the frequencies of Treg cells and M2 macrophages were positively correlated with P score, while the frequencies of Tfh cells were positively associated with T scores in intratumor TLSs (all p<0.05). Next, based on the distribution and abundance of TLSs, an Immune Score combining T score and P score was established which categorized CRCLM patients into four immune classes with different prognosis (all p<0.05). Among them, patients with higher immune class have more favorable prognoses. The C-index of Immune Class for RFS and OS was higher than Clinical Risk Score statistically. These results were also confirmed by the other two validation cohorts., Conclusions: The distribution and abundance of TLSs is significantly associated with RFS and OS of CRCLM patients, and a novel immune class was proposed for predicting the prognosis of CRCLM patients., Competing Interests: Competing interests: No, there are no competing interests., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Abstract: The popularity of flipped classroom (FC) is growing in medical education. However, the application of FC in pathology teaching has not been well explored. This study assessed the efficacy of FC combined with case-based learning (CBL) in undergraduate pathology education via comparison with a traditional lecture-based classroom (LBC).A total of 117 third-year students were enrolled and assigned to the FC group (n = 59) or LBC group (n = 58) with demographic matches. Two sections in the pathology textbook (cardiovascular and respiratory system diseases) were chosen for the teaching content. Students in the FC group were required to study the preprovided course materials pre-class, followed by clinical case-based interactive group discussion in-class. Students in the LBC group were encouraged to preview and attended a didactic lecture in class. Post-class quizzes and Likert questionnaires were performed to investigate the efficacy and possible advantages of CBL-based FC over LBC.The scores of the 2 groups in the mid-term examination of pathology before interventions were comparable. However, students in the FC group gained significantly higher scores in the post-quizzes than those in the LBC group, especially the scores regarding the questions of clinical case analysis. In the questionnaires, more students considered CBL-based FC to be beneficial to learning motivation, knowledge comprehension, critical thinking, patient management and teamwork than LBC. In addition, more students agreed that the FC model increased pre-class burden than LBC, rather than in-class pressure.CBL-based FC modality has promising effects on undergraduate pathology education and may be a better choice than traditional LBC. Further optimizations are needed to implement this novel approach in pathology and other medicine curricula., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Plants can detect the quorum sensing (QS) signaling molecules of microorganisms, such as amino acids, fat derivatives and diketopiperazines (DKPs), thus allowing the exchange information to promote plant growth and development. Here, we evaluated the effects of 12 synthesized DKPs on Arabidopsis thaliana roots and studied their underlying mechanisms of action. Results showed that, as QS signal molecules, the DKPs promoted lateral root development and root hair formation in A.thaliana to differing degrees. The DKPs enhanced the polar transport of the plant hormone auxin from the shoot to root and triggered the auxin-responsive protein IAA7/17 to decrease the auxin response factor, leading to the accumulation of auxin at the root tip and accelerated root growth. In addition, the DKPs induced the development of lateral roots and root hair in the A. thaliana root system architecture via interference with auxin receptor transporter inhibitor response protein 1 (TIR1). A series of TIR1 sites that potentially interact with DKPs were also predicted using molecular docking analysis. Mutations of these sites inhibited the phosphorylation of TIR1 after DKP treatment, thereby inhibiting lateral root formation, especially TIR1-1 site. This study identified several DKP signal molecules in the QS system that can promote the expression of auxin response factors ARF7/19 via interactions of TIR1 and IAA7/17 proteins, thus promoting plant growth and development., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Cyanobacterial blooms have become more frequent and serious in recent years. Not only do massive blooms cause environmental pollution and nutrient eutrophication, but they also produce microcystins (MCs), a group of toxic cycloheptapeptides, which threaten aquatic ecosystem and human health. As such, clarifying the allelopathic interactions between cyanobacteria and other algae is critical to better understand the driving factors of blooms. To date, however, such studies remain largely insufficient. Here, we treated model alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with microcystin-LR (MC-LR) to determine its allelopathic effects. Results showed that MC-LR markedly suppressed C. reinhardtii cell viability. Comparative proteomic and physiological analyses revealed that MC-LR significantly up-regulated protein abundance of antioxidants ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) at the beginning stage of exposure. This was accompanied by an over-accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), suggesting that MC-LR suppresses cell viability via oxidative damage. Furthermore, we found that MCs induced desulfhydrase (DES) activity for hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) generation at the beginning stage. Additional H 2 S donors reactivated antioxidant enzyme activity, which reduced H 2 O 2 accumulation and ultimately enhanced C. reinhardtii tolerance to MC-LR damage. This effect could be reserved by inhibiting H 2 S biosynthesis. Simultaneously, we found that H 2 S also suppressed MC-LR-induced cell autophagy, and thus attenuated the toxic effects of MC-LR. Our findings suggest that oxidative bursts may be the main reason for the allelopathic effects of MC-LR on C. reinhardtii viability and that H 2 S signaling may enhance C. reinhardtii tolerance to MC-LR through the activation of antioxidant enzyme activity and suppression of cell autophagy., (Copyright © 2020 Chen, Liu, Yang, Hu and Jia.)

Main Conclusion: A terrestrial orchid, Cymbidium sinense appears to utilizes "remedy strategy", while an epiphytic orchid, C. tracyanum , employs a "precaution strategy" to drought stress based on morphological, physiological and proteomic analysis. Drought condition influences plant growth and productivity. Although the mechanism by which plants adapt to this abiotic stress has been studied extensively, the water-adaptive strategies of epiphytes grown in water-limited habitats remain undefined. Here, root and leaf anatomies, dynamic changes in physiological and proteomic responses during periods of drought stress and recovery studied in an epiphytic orchid (Cymbidium tracyanum) and a terrestrial orchid (C. sinense) to investigate their strategies for coping with drought. Compared with C. sinense, C. tracyanum showed stronger drought-resistant adaptive characteristics to drought because its leaves had more negative water potential at turgor loss point and roots had higher proportion of velamen radicum thickness. Although both species demonstrated quick recovery of photosynthesis after stress treatment, they differed in physiological and proteomic responses. We detected and functionally characterized 103 differentially expressed proteins in C. sinense and 104 proteins in C. tracyanum. These proteins were mainly involved in carbon and energy metabolism, photosynthesis, and defense responses. The up-regulated expression of plastid fibrillin may have contributed to the marked accumulation of jasmonates only in stressed C. sinense, while ferredoxin-NADP reductase up-regulation was only found in C. tracyanum which possibly related to the stimulation of cyclic electron flow that is linked with photoprotection. These physiological and proteomic performances suggest distinct adaptive strategies to drought stress between C. sinense (remedy strategy) and C. tracyanum (precaution strategy). Our findings may help improve our understanding about the ecological adaptation of epiphytic orchids.

Chromosome number and genome size are important cytological characters that significantly influence various organismal traits. We investigated chromosome number and genome size variation in 73 accessions belonging to four Colocasia species from China. Five different chromosome counts (2n = 26, 28, 38, 42, and 56) were found, the largest one representing a new record in Colocasia. The basic chromosome numbers are x = 13, 14, and 19, corresponding to 2x, 3x, and 4x cytotypes. Yunnan Province, China is considered the center of Colocasia polyploid origin. The 2C values in our accessions ranged from 3.29 pg in C. gigantea to 12.51 pg in C. esculenta. All species exhibit inter- and intraspecific chromosomal variation. Differences in DNA content among the Colocasia species seem to have occurred by chromosomal gain under similar habitats. Polyploidization also obviously contributes to 2C value variation.

Objectives: To investigate the mechanism of cinobufagin-reduced cancer pain in mouse cancer pain model and in vitro cell co-culture system., Methods: Female Kunming mice were randomly divided into 4 groups. One group of animals was set as normal control without any treatment. Other three groups of animals received H22 hepatoma cell inoculation in right hind paw. At day 9 after inoculation, mice in other three groups were injected intraperitoneally once a day for 8 days with the solvent, morphine or cinobufagin, respectively. The pain behavior was recorded daily. On the last day, all mice were sacrificed and xenograft tissues homogenate and plasma levels of β-endorphin (β-END), corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were assessed by ELISA assay. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the expression of β-END, pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and the μ-opioid receptor (μ-OR) in the xenograft tissues. Immunofluorescence was used to localize lymphocytes with expression of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ in xenograft tumors and adjacent tissues. Mice splenic lymphocytes and H22 hepatoma carcinoma ascites cells were prepared for co-culture. β-END and CRF were detected in co-culture supernatants. The MTT assay and cytometry were used to assess cell proliferation. RT-PCR was conducted to determine the gene expression of POMC and Cathepsin L (CTSL). Chemotaxis was examined using a transwell-based migration assay., Results: Compared to the model group, the thermal and mechanical pain thresholds were increased in mice after cinobufagin treatment. The expression of β-END and CRF in the plasma and tumor tissues of cinobufagin group were much higher than that of the model group mice, but the expression of IL-1β in the plasma and tumor tissues was much lower than that in the model group mice. Meanwhile, the expression of β-END, POMC and μ-OR proteins was significantly increased in the xenograft tissues from cinobufagin group. Lymphocyte population of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ were also elevated in xenograft tumors and adjacent tissues. In the cell co-culture assays, the content of β-END in the supernatant was significantly increased by cinobufagin in a dose-dependent manner. Cinobufagin also largely increased the proliferation of immune cells and inhibited H22 hepatoma carcinoma cell proliferation in single or co-culture cell assays. Gene expression of POMC and CTSL in cinobufagin group was significantly up-regulated comparing to the control group. Finally, cinobufagin addition enhanced the migration of immune cells in transwell assay., Conclusions: Cinobufagin-induced local analgesic effect might be associated with increased activity of POMC/β-END/μ-OR pathway released from invaded CD3/4/8 lymphocytes in cancer tissues.

Geniposide as the major active component of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis has neuroprotective activity. This study elucidated the potential antidepressant-like effect of geniposide and its related mechanisms using a depression rat model induced by 3 consecutive weeks of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Sucrose preference test, open field test (OFT) and forced swimming test (FST) were applied to evaluate the antidepressant effect of geniposide. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) serum levels, adrenal gland index and hypothalamic corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA expression were measured to assess the activity of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Hypothalamic glucocorticoid receptor α (GRα) mRNA expression and GRα protein expression in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) were also determined by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. We found that geniposide (25, 50, 100mg/kg) treatment reversed the CUMS-induced behavioral abnormalities, as suggested by increased sucrose intake, improved crossing and rearing behavior in OFT, shortened immobility and prolonged swimming time in FST. Additionally, geniposide treatment normalized the CUMS-induced hyperactivity of HPA axis, as evidenced by reduced CORT serum level, adrenal gland index and hypothalamic CRH mRNA expression, with no significant effect on ACTH serum level. Moreover, geniposide treatment upregulated the hypothalamic GRα mRNA level and GRα protein expression in PVN, suggesting geniposide could recover the impaired GRα negative feedback on CRH expression and HPA axis. These aforementioned therapeutic effects of geniposide were essentially similar to fluoxetine. Our results indicated that geniposide possessed potent antidepressant-like properties that may be mediated by its effects on the HPA axis., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. and ECNP. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: We investigated whether inhibition of hedgehog (Hh) signal by cyclopamine attenuated inflammation and cartilage damage in adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats., Methods: Cyclopamine (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg) was given by intraperitoneal injection once daily from day 12 to 21 after AIA induction. Paw swelling (volume changes), serum pro-inflammatory cytokines levels (ELISA), histological analysis of joint damage (H&E staining), proteoglycans expression (Alcian blue staining), mRNA levels of sonic Hh (Shh), glioma-associated oncogene homologue 1 (Gli1), type II collagen (COII) and aggrecan in cartilage (real-time PCR) and articular chondrocyte apoptosis (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling) were measured respectively., Key Findings: Cyclopamine effectively attenuated inflammation and cartilage damage of AIA rats, as evidenced by reduced paw swelling, serum levels of tumor necrosis factors (TNF)-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and histological scores of joint damage, increased proteoglycans expression and mRNA levels of COII and aggrecan in articular cartilage. Shh or Gli1 mRNA level was correlated negatively with COII and aggrecan mRNA levels, suggesting Hh signal inhibition was associated with promotion of cartilage extracellular matrix production. Furthermore, cyclopamine decreased the number of apoptotic articular chondrocytes of AIA rats, which might be partly related to its mechanisms on relieving cartilage damage., Conclusions: Our findings present some experimental evidence that Hh signal inhibition might be of potential clinical interest in rheumatoid arthritis treatment., (© 2015 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.)

Medicinal values and their chemical bases of Paris (Trilliaceae) are reviewed. Paris plants include 40 species and varieties. Among them, 18 ones are medicinal plants with similarity in traditional uses. Fourteen species have been studied phytochemically, which led to isolation of 207 compounds including 121 steroidal saponins. These saponins are major active constituents from Paris plants, which can explain the traditional uses of the plants to treat cancer, malignant boil, bleeding, gastritis, and so on. The similarity in medicinal uses and chemical constituents of Paris plants implies the possibility of resource substitution among these species. It is worth to further investigate Paris plants in chemical constituents, pharmacological activity, biological property, and toxicology.

Mesalamine suppositories have been used widely for the treatment of distal ulcerative colitis and considered to be safer than systemic administration for its limited systemic absorption. However, previous studies have shown that mesalamine suppository occasionally causes severe hypersensitivity reactions including fever, rashes, colitis exacerbation and acute eosinophilic pneumonia. Here we present a 25-year-old woman with ulcerative colitis with bloody diarrhea accompanied by abdominal pain and fever which were aggravated after introduction of mesalamine suppositories. In light of symptom exacerbation of ulcerative colitis, increased inflammatory injury of colon mucosa shown by colonoscopy and elevated peripheral eosinophil count after mesalamine suppositories administration, and the Naranjo algorithm score of 10, the possibility of hypersensitivity reaction to mesalamine suppositories should be considered, warning us to be aware of this potential reaction after administration of mesalamine formulations even if it is the suppositories.

Pulse wave transit time (PWTT) method has been widely used in continuous blood pressure estimation by simultaneously measuring electrocardiogram and pulse signals in most researches [1]. Comparing with the morphological characteristic of photoplethysmograph (PPG) [2], the alternative sphygmogram (SPG) signal is much sharper and promising to improve the accuracy of onset point detection in PWTT estimation. Consequently, a hardware and software close-loop control scheme for SPG sampling with less distortion is proposed, through which the signal amplitude and baseline self-adjustment is realized such that the resulted SPG signal is more properly suitable for onset point detection. Testing results show out its superior features for adapting PWTT in e-home healthcare., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The gradually increasing changes in a human hyperlipidemic diet along with chronic stress might play an important role in the increased numbers of fatty liver. This study investigated the effects of Ilex asprella root decoction on related genes of lipid metabolism in chronic stress in hyperlipidemic fatty liver in rats., Methods: Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group, model control group, simvastatin group, and Ilex asprella root group. To establish chronic stress and hyperlipidemic fatty liver models in rats, the levels of serum lipids, glucose, liver index, insulin (INS), insulin resistant (IR) index, adiponectin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-pX), glutathione (GSH), liver X receptor (LXR), and sterol responsive element binding protein (SREBP)-1c in rats were measured., Results: When compared to the normal control group, the levels of serum lipids, glucose, liver index, INS, IR index, and GSH in the model control group significantly increased (P < 0.01). The protein levels of LXRα and SREBP-1c increased (P < 0.05), and the serum adiponectin and the SOD and GSH-pX decreased significantly (P < 0.01). When compared to the model control group, the levels of serum lipids, glucose, liver index, INS, IR index, SOD, and GSH-pX in the simvastatin group and Ilex asprella root group increased in varying degrees (P < 0.01 or 0.05); the serum adiponectin and GSH decreased (P < 0.05), while the protein levels of LXRα and SREBP-1c decreased in varying degrees (P < 0.01 or 0.05). When compared to the simvastatin group, the IR index and protein levels of LXRα in the Ilex asprella root group decreased (P < 0.05), and the serum adiponectin and SOD increased (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The Ilex asprella root decoction has some protective effects on regulating the related genes of lipid metabolism caused by chronic stress and hyperlipidemic fatty liver in rats.

Both carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO) play fundamental roles in plant responses to environmental stress. Glutathione (GSH) homeostasis through the glutathione-ascorbate cycle regulates the cellular redox status and protects the plant from damage due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) or reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Most recalcitrant seeds are sensitive to chilling stress, but the roles of and cross talk among CO, NO, ROS, and GSH in recalcitrant seeds under low temperature are not well understood. Here, we report that the germination of recalcitrant Baccaurea ramiflora seeds shows sensitivity to chilling stress, but application of exogenous CO or NO markedly increased GSH accumulation, enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes involved in the glutathione-ascorbate cycle, decreased the content of H(2)O(2) and RNS, and improved the tolerance of seeds to low-temperature stress. Compared to orthodox seeds such as maize, only transient accumulation of CO and NO was induced and only a moderate increase in GSH was shown in the recalcitrant B. ramiflora seeds. Exogenous CO or NO treatment further increased the GSH accumulation and S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) activity in B. ramiflora seeds under chilling stress. In contrast, suppressing CO or NO generation, removing GSH, or blocking GSNOR activity resulted in increases in ROS and RNS and impaired the germination of CO- or NO-induced seeds under chilling stress. Based on these results, we propose that CO acts as a novel regulator to improve the tolerance of recalcitrant seeds to low temperatures through NO-mediated glutathione homeostasis., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Theanine synthetase (TS) is an enzyme involved in theanine biosynthesis in tea plants. Recent studies have revealed that theanine biosynthesis, derived from nitrogen metabolism in tea (Camellia sinensis L.) plants, could be influenced by salt treatment. We have characterized CsTS at the molecular and biochemical level. The expression pattern of CsTS protein was examined by western blot using a self-prepared polyclonal antibody with high specificity and sensitivity. The effect of salt treatment on the levels of theanine synthesis was investigated in this study. Levels of theanine and the total free amino acids were gradually increased in shoots, and reached the maximum on the 8th day after treatment (DAT). The immunoblotting analysis suggested the accumulation of CsTS protein had increased gently up to 8 DAT, and subsequently declined, both in roots and shoots, which is one of the main evidences that resulted in the variation of theanine concentration under salt treatment. Together, these data revealed that theanine synthesis takes place both in root and shoot and CsTS accumulation is positively affected by salt treatment., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Three cases of transient proximal small bowel angioedema induced by intravenous administration of nonionic iodinated contrast media (CM) are presented. Computed tomography (CT) images in the venous phase displayed the proximal small bowel with circumferential thickening of the wall including the duodenum and proximal segment of the jejunum. The bowel wall was normal in non-enhanced images, and normal or inconspicuous in arterial phase enhanced images. In one of the three cases, the bowel wall was thickened in venous phase but disappeared in the 40 s delayed phase images. No filling defect was seen in the lumen of the superior mesenteric artery and vein. No peritoneal effusion or mesentery abnormality was found. Each of these patients reported only mild abdominal discomfort and recovered without specific treatment within a short time. Only one patient suffered mild diarrhea after scanning which had resolved by the following day. The transient anaphylactic small bowel angioedema due to intravenous iodinated contrast media was easily diagnosed based on its characteristic CT findings and clinical symptoms. Differential diagnosis may include inflammatory and ischemic bowel disease, as well as neoplasms. A three-phase CT protocol and good understanding of this disorder are fundamentally important in the diagnosis of this condition. The supposed etiology behind the transient anaphylactic reaction to intravenous administration of iodinated CM in small bowel is similar to other CM-induced hypersensitive immediate reactions. The predilection location of transient anaphylactic bowel angioedema is the small intestine, particularly the proximal segment. A speculated cause may be the richer supply of vessels in the small intestine, ample mucous folds and loose connective tissue in the duodenum and the jejunum.

Objective: To observe the effects of paeoniflorin on 3T3 fibroblast activation, proliferation and collagen production through IL-13/STAT6 signaling pathway., Methods: 3T3 cell strain was cultured with serum-free medium for 12 h, then stimulated by paeoniflorin (200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 mg/L) or rIL-13 (6.25, 12.5, 50, 100, and 200 microg/L) for another 24 h. At the same time the blank control group for paeoniflorin or rIL-13 was observed. 3T3 cell proliferation was assayed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), and an appropriate concentration (100 microg/L) of rIL-13 was chosen according to the result of cell proliferation. Subsequently, 3T3 cell cultured with serum-free medium for 12 h was stimulated by 100 microg/L rIL-13 for 12 h, and then was treated with different concentrations of paeoniflorin (200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 mg/L) for another 24 h. Untreated 3T3 cell served as blank control Cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8. Hydroxyproline content in cell supernatant was determined by alkaline lysis method. IL-13Ralpha1, alpha-SMA and STAT6 protein expression were detected by Western blotting. Col-I, Col-III, IL-13Ralpha1 and STAT6 mRNA expression were analyzed by RT-PCR., Results: Paeoniflorin inhibited 3T3 cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner (r = -0.980, P < 0.01), and there was a statistically significant difference among all groups (F = 198.599, P < 0.01). rIL-13 caused a remarkably concentration-dependent increase in proliferation of 3T3 cells (r = 0.538, P < 0.05). Paeoniflorin (200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 mg/L) inhibited proliferation of 3T3 cell stimulated by rIL-13 in a concentration-dependent manner (1.780 +/- 0.177, 1.636 +/- 0.073, 0.965 +/- 0.066, 0.623 +/- 0.037, 0337 +/- 0.022, r = -0.971, P < 0.01), and among all groups there existed a significant difference (F = 198.537, P < 0.01). Moreover, paeoniflorin also suppressed secretion of hydroxyproline from 3T3 cell stimulated by rIL-13 in a concentration-dependent manner (3.030 +/- 0.094, 2.976 +/- 0.047, 2.814 +/- 0.047, 2.652 +/- 0.124, 2.408 +/- 0.124, r = -0.916, P < 0.01) with a statistical significance among all groups (F = 13.642, P < 0.01). Further investigations showed that paeoniflorin decreased both protein expression of alpha-SMA, IL-13Ralpha1, and STAT6, and mRNA expression of Col-I, Col-III, IL-13Ralpha1, and STAT6 in 3T3 cell stimulated by rIL-13., Conclusion: Paeoniflorin inhibits activation, proliferation of fibroblasts and production of collagen from fibroblasts through IL-13/STAT6 signaling pathway, which might be one of mechanisms of anti-hepatic fibrosis of paeoniflorin in schistosomiasis japonica.

This study was initiated to determine the possible antidiabetic effects of total flavonoids of Litsea Coreana leve (TFLC), an alcohol extract from the dried leaves of Litsea Coreana leve, on type 2 diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 40, 160-180 g) were divided into two groups and fed with normal chow diet (Normal Control group) or high-fat diet (HFD) for a period of 4 weeks. After 4 weeks of dietary manipulation, the HFD-fed rats were injected with 30 mg/kg streptozocin (STZ) to induce diabetes 72 hours after STZ injection. These diabetic rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 10): Diabetic Control group, Diabetic + TFLC group and Diabetic + PIO group. Diabetic + TFLC group and Diabetic + PIO group were orally administered with 400 mg/kg TFLC or 10 mg/kg pioglitazone (all suspended in 0.5% CMC-Na) respectively for 6 weeks. All rats were examined for body weight, serum and hepatic biochemical indices, content of malondialdehyde (MDA), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and pathological changes in liver and pancreas, as well as protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) expression in liver. The diabetic rats became obese, insulin resistant, hyperglycemic and hyperlipidemic. Treatment with TFLC showed a significant increase in insulin sensitivity, serum HDL-C level and SOD activities, meanwhile marked decrease in body weight, serum FFA, TC, TG, LDL-C, CRP, MDA content. TFLC also attenuated pathologic alterations in liver and pancreatic islet. Furthermore, TFLC was found to decrease the expression of PTP1B in diabetic rat liver. These results suggested that TFLC could ameliorate hyperglycemia, hyperlipoidemia, inflammation and oxidation stress, as well as insulin resistance of type 2 diabetic rats.

Aim: To prepare specific monoclonal antibody against human S100A4 protein and establish a reliable method to detect S100A4 protein in tumor specimens., Methods: A standard hybridoma method was used to generate monoclonoal antibodies against recombinant human S100A4. ELISA, Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to validate this antibody and the antibody is used to examine specimens of human breast and colon cancers., Results: One hybridoma cell line which secreted monoclonal antibody specifically against recombinant human S100A4 protein was obtained and named as D101. The monoclonal antibody is shown to be more specific for S100A4 protein than the polyclonal antibody, at least in Western blot. The monoclonal antibody is suitable for detecting the expression of S100A4 in specimens from human tissues and gave results consistent with those of a commercially available polyclonal antibody in a small group of breast and colorectal carcinomas., Conclusion: The monoclonal antibody is specific for S100A4 and can be produced on a large scale; therefore it will be more reproducible for future clinical applications.

Five Keggin-based 3D coordination polymers, namely, [Cu3(pz)3(PW12O40)] (pz = pyrazine) (1), [Cu3(2,3-Me2pz)3(PW12O40)] (2,3-Me2pz = 2,3-dimethylpyrazine) (2), [Cu2(2,5-Me2pz)(1.5)(2,5-HMe2pz)(PW12O40)] (2,5-Me2pz = 2,5-dimethylpyrazine) (3), [Cu3(2,3-Me2pz)3(PMo12O40)] (4), and [Ag3(pz)3(PW12O40)].0.5H2O (5), were synthesized and structurally characterized. Crystal data are as follows: trigonal, space group R3c, a = 18.4070(14) angstroms, c = 22.544(3) angstroms, gamma = 120 degrees, and Z = 6 for 1; orthorhombic, space group Pccn, a = 16.599(2) angstroms, b = 20.470(3) angstroms, c = 14.3757(18) angstroms, and Z = 4 for 2; triclinic, space group P1, a = 10.667(2) angstroms, b = 11.147(2) angstroms, c = 20.207(4) angstroms, alpha = 90.983(4) degrees, beta = 108.128(3) degrees, gamma = 92.150(4) degrees, and Z = 2 for 3; orthorhombic, space group Pccn, a = 16.450(3) angstroms, b = 20.170(4) angstroms, c = 14.244(3) angstroms, and Z = 4 for 4; and rhombohedral, space group R32, a = 18.2047(13) angstroms, c = 23.637(3) angstroms, gamma = 120 degrees, and Z = 6 for 5. Their structural differences were investigated using crystal structure analysis, revealing that the influence of steric hindrance of organic ligand on the structures of Keggin-based coordination polymers is realized through changing the number of metal-organic units surrounding the POM anion.

Aim: To explore the effects of anti-HER-2 chimeric antibody chA21 on proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV3., Methods: MTT colorometric assay, HE staining, transmission electron microscopy, flow cytometry and TUNEL staining were used to study the proliferative inhibition and apoptotic induction of SKOV3 cells by chA21 in vitro., Results: Proliferative inhibition rate and apoptotic rate of SKOV3 cells were increased with dose and action time by chA21 (0.2 mg/L-5.4 mg/L)., Conclusion: chA21 can remarkably inhibit proliferation of SKOV3 cells in vitro and induction of apoptosis may be a principal way.

Objective: Comprehensively analysis the correlation and the law of variation between the height of a person and the length of his/her footprint., Methods: Collecting footprint samples of those people of different age and sex from different area all of our country, and adopt the regressive analysis method to study these samples., Results: A sum of useful data and regressive equation were obtained., Conclusion: The correlation between the height of a person and the length of his/her footprint is obviously, the approximate height of a person can be reckoned according to thelength of his/her footprints.

Aim: To investigate the therapeutic effect of the glucosides of Cheanomeles speciosa (GCS) on the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice., Methods: Mice were divided randomly into six groups, including normal, CIA, CIA+GCS (60, 120, and 240 mg/kg) and CIA plus glucosides of Tripterygium wilfordii (GTW) groups. CIA model was based on mice. The effect of GCS in CIA mice was measured by paw-swelling, arthritis scores, and histopathological assessment of synovium. Indices of thymus and spleens were measured. Thymocytes and splenocytes proliferation, activity of interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interleukin-2 (IL-2) were assayed by MTT and [(3)H]TdR method. The level of anti-collagen type II (CII) antibody in serum and prostaglandin E (PGE) in ankle were assayed by ELISA and ultraviolet spectrophotometer method, respectively., Results: The onset of paw-swelling was on d 24 after injection of emulsion. The peak of secondary inflammation appeared on d 36 and then declined after d 40. GCS and GTW significantly reduced paw-swelling and arthritis scores, reduced the increase of spleen indices of CIA mice, suppressed the ConA or LPS-induced thymocyte or spleen cell proliferation, and the production of IL-1 and IL-2 in CIA mice. GCS reduced the level of anti-CII antibody and PGE. Histological pathology analysis demonstrated that the synovium of CIA mice was hyperplastic, pannus was formed, and inflammatory cells infiltrated into synovium. The pathological changes were significantly reduced by GCS., Conclusion: GCS had anti-inflammatory effect on CIA mice, which might be related to the modification of the abnormal immunological function of CIA mice.

Responses to oligogalacturonic acid (OGA) were determined in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings expressing the calcium reporter protein aequorin. OGA stimulated a rapid, substantial and transient increase in the concentration of cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]cyt) that peaked after ca. 15 s. This increase was dose-dependent, saturating at ca. 50 ug Gal equiv/ml of OGA. OGA also stimulated a rapid generation of H2O2. A small, rapid increase in H2O2 content was followed by a much larger oxidative burst, with H2O2 content peaking after ca. 60 min and declining thereafter. Induction of the oxidative burst by OGA was also dose-dependent, with a maximum response again being achieved at ca. 50 ug Gal equiv/mL. Inhibitors of calcium fluxes inhibited both increases in [Ca2+]cyt and [H2O2], whereas inhibitors of NADPH oxidase blocked only the oxidative burst. OGA increased strongly the expression of the defence-related genes CHS, GST, PAL and PR-1. This induction was suppressed by inhibitors of calcium flux or NADPH oxidase, indicating that increases in both cytosolic calcium and H2O2 are required for OGA-induced gene expression.

Objective: Comprehensively analysis the correlation and the law of variation between the height of a person and the length of his/her handprint., Methods: Collecting handprint samples of those people of different age and sex from different area all of our country, and adopt the regressive analysis method to study these samples., Results: A sum of useful data and regressive equation were obtained., Conclusion: The correlation between the height of a person and the length of his/her handprint is obviously, the approximate height of a person can be reckoned according to the length of his/her handprints.