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ZnO–nano-ZnO@porous carbon (ZnO–nZnO@PC) was in situ fabricated through the Ostwald ripening mechanism and facile pyrolysis process, which demonstrated the performance of piezo-photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 99.4%.

The aim of the present study was to optimize flavonoid extraction from Chrysanthemum morifolium and to study the antitumor effects of flavonoids on human gastric cancer MKN45 cells in vitro. A single factor experiment was designed and the extraction process was optimized using an orthogonal test. MKN45 cells were treated with different concentrations of flavonoid from Chrysanthemum morifolium for 24 and 48 h and the inhibitory effect on the MKN45 cells was evaluated using an MTT assay. Following staining with Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide, flow cytometry was performed. The optimized flavonoid extraction conditions were as follows: Duration of ultrasonic treatment: 35 min; ethanol concentration: 75%; extraction temperature: 80°Cand liquid-to-solid ratio 25: 1. Under the above conditions, the extraction rate of flavonoids was 5.24%. When compared with a blank control group, flavonoids extracted from Chrysanthemum morifolium inhibited the proliferation of MKN45 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, in cell groups treated with low, moderate and high concentrations of flavonoid, it was observed that the proportion of apoptotic cells increased in a dose-dependent manner. The extraction process optimized by the orthogonal test achieved a high yield and satisfactory extraction efficiency. Additionally, the experiment demonstrated that flavonoids from Chrysanthemum morifolium inhibited the growth of MKN45 cells and induced their apoptosis. Thus, flavonoids from Chrysanthemum morifolium exerted antitumor effects on MKN45 cells, which may be exploited as a potential antitumor therapeutic for gastric cancer.

Background An updated meta-analysis was performed to clarify the effects of TGF-β1 T869C polymorphism on the risk of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in the Chinese population. Methods The studies were searched using PubMed, Springer Link, Ovid, Chinese Wanfang Data Knowledge Ser-vice Platform, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Chinese Biology Medicine (CBM) up to October 2018. Results A total of 8 studies including 1,075 DN cases, 610 healthy controls, and 901 diabetes mellitus (DM) con-trols were involved in this meta-analysis. Overall, a significantly decreased risk of DN was associated with all vari-ants of TGF-β1 T869C when compared with the healthy group (T vs. C, OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.61 - 0.83; TT vs. CC, OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.37 - 0.69; TT + CT vs. CC, OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.51 - 0.82; TT vs. CC + CT, OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.48 - 0.82) or DM (T vs. C, OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.56 - 0.76; TT vs. CC, OR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.17 - 0.55; TT + CT vs. CC, OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.54 - 0.84; TT vs. CC + CT, OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.13 - 0.55), as well as their combinations (T vs. C, OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.60 - 0.76; TT vs. CC, OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.21 - 0.56; TT + CT vs. CC, OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.56 - 0.80; TT vs. CC + CT, OR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.17 - 0.57). The sub-group analyses stratified by geographic areas revealed significant results in South China. Conclusions This meta-analysis showed that the TGF-β1 T869C variants may influence DN risk in Chinese, and further studies with gene-gene and gene-environment interactions are required to confirm this conclusion.

To explore the association of Chinese medicine constitution susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy (DN) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 (T869C) gene polymorphism.TGF-β1 gene polymorphism detected with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was screened for 180 DN cases and 180 type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) cases without combined DN. Patients with DN were surveyed epidemiologically with constitution in the Chinese medicine questionnaire (CCMQ). Binary logistic regression analysis was utilized to study the correlation between nine types of Chinese medicine constitution and TGF-β1 (T869C) gene polymorphisms.The DN group has a higher frequency of TGF-β1 (T869C) gene polymorphism than the T2DM group, and CC/CT genotypes than the T2DM group [CC, CT, TT (DN group): 88, 87, 5 (cases) versus (T2DM group) 71, 73, 36 (cases), P0.05]. The phlegm-dampness constitution, damp-heat constitution, and blood stasis constitution have correlations with TGF-β1 (T869C) gene polymorphism.Chinese medicine constitutions were associated with TGF-β1 (T869C) gene polymorphism, a potential predictor of susceptibility to DN in T2DM patients.

Background Abnormal expression of serum TGF-β1 was found in patients with diabetic nephropathy. However, the association of TGF-β1 with the risk of diabetic nephropathy remains unknown. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether such an association exists. Methods We searched the Chinese VIP, Wangfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar databases for relevant studies and extracted all eligible data. Stata12 software was used for statistical analysis. Results Nine reports met our criteria and were used for data extraction. There were 264 patients and 227 healthy controls from qualified reports in this meta-analysis. The results suggested that serum TGF-β1 levels were significantly up-regulated in patients with diabetic nephropathy; the instrumental variable was 3.94 (95% confidence interval 3.20–4.68, p

Asthma is characterized by airway inflammation and airway remodeling. Our previous study revealed that grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) could inhibit asthmatic airway inflammation and airway hyper-responsiveness by down-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase in a murine model of acute asthma. The present study aimed to evaluate GSPE's effects on airway inflammation and airway remodeling in a chronic asthmatic model. BALB/c mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) and then were challenged three times a week for 8 weeks. Airway responsiveness was measured at 24 h after the last OVA challenge. HE staining, PAS staining, and Masson staining were used to observe any airway inflammation in the lung tissue, airway mucus secretion, and subepithelial fibrosis, respectively. The cytokines levels in the lavage fluid (BALF) in addition to the total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were detected by ELISA. Furthermore, lung collagen contents, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression in the airway were assessed by hydroxyproline assay, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis, respectively. GSPE administration significantly suppressed airway resistance as well as reduced the amount of inflammatory cells, especially the eosinophil count, in BALF. Additionally, the GSPE treatment markedly decreased interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in BALF in addition to the total serum IgE levels. A histological examination demonstrated that GSPE significantly ameliorated allergen-induced lung eosinophilic inflammation and decreased PAS-positive epithelial cells in the airway. The elevated hydroxyproline contents, lung α-SMA contents, and TGF-β1 protein expression that were observed in the OVA mice were also inhibited by GSPE. In conclusion, GSPE could inhibit airway inflammation and airway remodeling in a murine model of chronic asthma, thus providing a potential treatment for asthma.

To explore the relationship between Chinese medicine (CM) constitutive susceptibility and syndrome diversity in diabetic nephropathy (DN).Epidemiologic investigation on constitution adopting the "Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire" (CCMQ), and survey on syndrome type by CM syndrome scale (preliminary) were carried out in 180 DN patients. Cluster analysis on symptom items was used to determine the syndrome type, and canonical correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between patients' constitution and syndrome.Baseline levels in all enrolled patients were not different statistically. Cluster analysis showed 8 syndromes existed in DN patients, namely: I, qi-yin deficiency with qi-stagnancy type; II, yin-yang deficiency with heat-water-blood stasis type; III, qi-yin deficiency with dampness-heat type; IV, yin-yang deficiency with blood-stasis and heat type; V, qi-yin deficiency with stagnant heat type; VI, yin-yang deficiency with inner dampness-heat stagnancy type; VII, yin deficiency with heat stagnancy type; and VIII, Kidney (Shen)-Spleen (Pi) deficiency with stagnant heat type. Correlation analysis on the 8 syndromes and the 9 constitutions showed statistical significant correlations between syndrome III and dampness-heat constitution (P=0.0001); syndrome IV and blood-stasis constitution (P=0.0001); and syndrome VII and yin-deficiency constitution (P=0.0180).Certain relationship revealed between CM constitutions and syndrome types; constitution decides the disease genesis, its syndrome type and prognosis, as well as the change of syndromes.

To evaluate the value of CT and MRI in the diagnosis of avascular necrosis of the vertebral body (ANV).Twelve ANV patients were retrospectively analysed by their medical history, clinic manifestation, CT and MRI. Twelve AVN patients were treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP). The pain level of each patient was assessed, both before and after the procedure, using a visual analogue scale (VAS).All the patients had ANV in the thoracolumbar spine. The intravertebral vaccum phenomenon (VP), with gas or fluid-like collection, was seen on computed tomographic (CT) images and magnetic resonance images (MRI). In the early stages, the VP zone was characterized by fluid-like collection, and was low intensity on T1, high intensity on T2. In the latter stages, the margin of VP zone had sclerotic change on CT scan. VAS score decreased from preoperative (9.08 +/- 0.76) to (2.33 +/- 1.43) at 3 days after PVP.ANV must be considered as a possible diagnosis of VP secondary to osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Both CT and MRI could provide reliable diagnostic proof for ANV. PVP is proved to be an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of ANV, and could provid quick pain relief.

Allergic asthma is characterized by hyperresponsiveness and inflammation of the airway with increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and overproduction of nitric oxide (NO). Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) has been proved to have antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and other pharmacological effects. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of GSPE on airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in a mouse model of allergic asthma. BALB/c mice, sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA), were intraperitoneally injected with GSPE. Administration of GSPE remarkably suppressed airway resistance and reduced the total inflammatory cell and eosinophil counts in BALF. Treatment with GSPE significantly enhanced the interferon (IFN)- γ level and decreased interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 levels in BALF and total IgE levels in serum. GSPE also attenuated allergen-induced lung eosinophilic inflammation and mucus-producing goblet cells in the airway. The elevated iNOS expression observed in the OVA mice was significantly inhibited by GSPE. In conclusion, GSPE decreases the progression of airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness by downregulating the iNOS expression, promising to have a potential in the treatment of allergic asthma.