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Uncaria rhynchophylla ([Mi] Jack) (gouteng) exerts antidepressive effects. Rhynchophylline (RH), a major component of U. rhynchophylla , exerts similar pharmacological effects to those of gouteng. Thus, RH may have antidepressive effects. To investigate the anti-depressive effects of RH in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depressive mice. The anti-depressive mechanism of RH determined by measuring the 5-HT levels, the expressions of cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in cortex and hippocampus. The behaviors of CUMS-induced depressive mice were measured using an open field test (OFT), forced swimming test (FST), and tail suspension test (TST). 5-HT levels were measured using an ELISA kits. The expressions of BDNF and CREB were determined using western blot test. RH increased the frequency of rearing and grooming in the OFT and decreased the immobility time in the FST and TST. RH effectively increased the 5-HT level and BDNF and CREB expressions in the cortex and hippocampus. Our findings indicate that the antidepressive mechanism of RH is related to increased levels of 5-HT from regulating CREB and BDNF expressions in cortex and hippocampus. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subliminal signature schemes enable senders to hide subliminal messages in a digital signature such that no one besides the authorised subliminal message receiver (called designated receiver) can extract subliminal messages from that signature. This paper is the first to construct subliminal channels on the identity-based threshold ring signature scheme. Two types of subliminal channels are proposed. The first is the unknown-sender subliminal channel, wherein the sender is anonymously sending the subliminal message through an identity-based threshold ring signature. Although the designated receiver can extract the subliminal message and confirm that it is from the known ring of signers, he/she cannot identify the real sender. The other proposed subliminal channel is the known-sender subliminal channel in which the designated receiver can identify the actual sender. Furthermore, the proposed unknown-sender subliminal channel can be extended to permit the sender to send multiple subliminal messages to multiple designated receivers via a single threshold ring signature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mouse orthotopic xenograft tumor models are commonly employed in studies investigating the mechanisms underlying the development and progression of tumors and their preclinical treatment. However, the unavailability of mature and visualized orthotopic xenograft models of nasopharyngeal carcinoma limits the development of treatment strategies for this cancer. The aim of this study was to provide a simple and reliable method for building an orthotopic xenograft model of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (C666–1-luc) cells, stably expressing the firefly luciferase gene, were injected subcutaneously into the right axilla of BALB/C nude mice. Four weeks later, the resulting subcutaneous tumors were cut into small blocks and grafted into the nasopharynx of immunodeficient BALB/C nude mice to induce tumor formation. Tumor growth was monitored by bioluminescence imaging and small animal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The expression of histological and immunological antigens associated with orthotopic xenograft nasopharyngeal carcinoma was analyzed by tissue section analysis and immunohistochemistry (IHC). A visualized orthotopic xenograft nasopharyngeal carcinoma model was successfully developed in this study. Luminescence signal detection, micro-MRI, and hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed the successful growth of tumors in the nasopharynx of the nude mice. Moreover, IHC analysis detected cytokeratin (CK), CK5/6, P40, and P63 expression in the orthotopic tumors, consistent with the reported expression of these antigens in human nasopharyngeal tumors. This study established a reproducible, visual, and less lethal orthotopic xenograft model of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, providing a platform for preclinical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented about the different intervals of endoscopic variceal ligation.

Introduction: The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is widely used as a diagnostic tool for impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in clinical settings and animal experiments. The area under the curve (AUC) is then developed to quantify the total increase in blood glucose during the OGTT. Similarly, attenuation of the increased AUC indicates the improvement of IGT in animals. Variations in fasting plasma glucose between individuals stimulate the development of incremental area under the curve (iAUC). However, the iAUC determined from subtracting the baseline value of fasting plasma glucose (similar to ΔAUC) has been challenged as problematic without evidence.Material and methods: We developed four different diabetic animal models. In each model, rats were treated with metformin, dapagliflozin, and insulin respectively for 1 week. OGTTs were performed after 7 days of the drug treatment. The acute blood glucose changes induced by one-time treatment of drugs were also compared.Results: After a daily application of each drug at an effective dose for 7 days, results indicated potency in the following order: insulin > dapagliflozin > metformin. This was determined by calculation using the AUC in all diabetic models. However, the order changed when using the calculation with iAUC. Additionally, signals were changed before the OGTT in each model that received repeated treatment of each drug. Notably, drug potency was shown to be the same in OGTT calculated from iAUC and AUC in diabetic rats receiving acute treatment.Conclusions: iAUC seems unsuitable for application in cases where subjects are receiving chronic medication(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese patent medicine She-Xiang-Xin-Tong-Ning (SXXTN) is a clinical medication for coronary heart disease (CHD) and angina pectoris. This study aimed to investigate pharmacological effects of SXXTN and elucidate the role in angiogenesis on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and acute myocardial ischemia (AMI) rats. We prepared SXXTN to treat the cells to reveal their effects on oxidative stress-damaged cell viability, as well as cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation processes. SXXTN was also used to treat coronary artery ligation-induced acute myocardial ischemia rats to confirm whether it had positive effect on myocardial issues by hematoxylin and eosin (HE), 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and immunohistochemical staining. We measured the levels of peroxidative damage-related enzymes in cytoplasm and serum by biochemical kits and detected vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiotensin II (Ang II), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 α) levels in cells and rats by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The results showed that SXXTN protects HUVECs against oxidative stress damage and reversed the decrease of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and increase of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) caused by oxidative stress. SXXTN promoted angiogenesis through stimulating cell migration, tube formation, and activating VEGF/VEGFR2 and ERK1/2 pathways. Furthermore, SXXTN reduced infarct size and inhibited PGI2/TXA2 imbalance, preventing atherosclerosis plaque rupture leading to worsening coronary heart disease. Taken together, we report the first in vivo and in vitro evidence that SXXTN reduced oxidative stress-mediated damage and enhanced angiogenesis, which might be useful in treatment of myocardial infarction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]