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Background Long noncoding RNA metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (LncRNA MALAT1) has been proven to promote osteogenesis in different health conditions. However, the role of plasma MALAT1 in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) has not been investigated. Objective To investigate whether plasma MALAT1 expressions are associated with severity of PMOP. Methods A total of 126 patients with PMOP and 126 healthy female control individuals were drafted into study participation. Plasma MALAT1 was detected using RT-PCR. Bone formation marker bone-specific alkaline phosphatase plasma concentration was determined using chemiluminescence immunoassay. Levels of bone absorption marker cross-linked N-telopeptidases of type I collagen were measured in duplicate using enzyme immunoassay. Bone mineral density (BMD) was examined in the total hips, femoral neck, and lumbar (L1–L4) spine using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. We used Genant semiquantitative (GSQ) criteria to assess the degree of vertebral deformity and fracture. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the potential diagnostic value of MALAT1 with regard to the GSQ grading. We used the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) to evaluate the symptomatic severity in and functional ability of the study participants. Results Plasma MALAT1 expressions were significantly lower in patients with PMOP, compared with healthy controls. Plasma MALAT1 expressions in patients with PMOP were positively associated with total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar (L1–L4) spine BMD. In total, 95 patients experienced vertebral deformity or fracture (VF), and 31 had no fractures. Plasma MALAT1 expressions were markedly decreased in patients with VF, compared with patients without fractures. Plasma MALAT1 expressions were negatively related to GSQ grading in patients with VF. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that decreased plasma MALAT1 expression exhibits decent diagnostic value with regard to GSQ grading. Finally, we discovered that plasma MALAT1 expression was also negatively associated with VAS and ODI. Conclusion Plasma MALAT1 expressions are negatively associated with severity of PMOP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dried roots of Euphorbia kansui S.L.Liou ex S.B.Ho have long been used to treat edema in China. However, the severe toxicity caused by Euphorbia kansui (EK) has seriously restricted its clinical application. Although EK was processed with vinegar to reduce its toxicity, the detailed mechanisms of attenuation in toxicity of EK stir-fried with vinegar (VEK) have not been well delineated. Diterpenoids are the main toxic ingredients of EK, and changes in these after processing may be the underlying mechanism of toxicity attenuation of VEK. 3-O-(2′E,4′Z-decadienoyl)-20-O-acetylingenol (3-O-EZ) is one of the diterpenoids derived from EK, and the content of 3-O-EZ was significantly reduced after processing. This study aims to explore the underlying mechanisms of toxicity reduction of VEK based on the change of 3-O-EZ after processing with vinegar. Based on the chemical structure of 3-O-EZ and the method of processing with vinegar, simulation experiments were carried out to confirm the presence of the product both in EK and VEK and to enrich the product. Then, the difference of peak area of 3-O-EZ and its hydrolysate in EK and VEK were detected by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). Furthermore, the toxicity effect of 3-O-EZ and its hydrolysate, as well as the underlying mechanism, on zebrafish embryos were investigated. The findings showed that the diterpenoids (3-O-EZ) in EK can convert into less toxic ingenol in VEK after processing with vinegar; meanwhile, the content of ingenol in VEK was higher than that of EK. More interestingly, the ingenol exhibited less toxicity (acute toxicity, developmental toxicity and organic toxicity) than that of 3-O-EZ, and 3-O-EZ could increase malondialdehyde (MDA) content and reduce glutathione (GSH) content; cause embryo oxidative damage by inhibition of the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity; and induce inflammation and apoptosis by elevation of IL-2 and IL-8 contents and activation of the caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity. Thus, this study contributes to our understanding of the mechanism of attenuation in toxicity of VEK, and provides the possibility of safe and rational use of EK in clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) have been widely used to treat disease in China. However, their unstable quality, vague active compounds and ambiguous effects in vivo make most people suspicious of them. Therefore, it is promising to develop strategies for assuring the quality, discovering active compounds, monitoring the in-vivo biological process, and improving the efficacy of CHMs. Combining novel nanomaterials with multiple analytical and imaging modalities becomes a rising solution to these problems. In this review, analytical and biomedical applications of nanomaterials in CHMs field with an emphasize on their merits are highlighted, including hazardous substances detection, screening and quantification of active compounds, the toxicity and pharmacological evaluation, the optimization of therapeutic efficacy and the component enrichment. There is no doubt that the application of nanomaterials in CHMs provides researchers new guidelines and it has long-term prospects if some shortcomings are overcome. [Display omitted] • Analytical and biomedical applications of common nanomaterials in Chinese herbal medicines research are well detailed. • Key challenges and prospects for nanomaterials-based Chinese herbal medicines research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dried roots of Euphorbia kansui S.L.Liou ex S.B.Ho have long been used to treat edema in China. However, the severe toxicity caused by Euphorbia kansui (EK) has seriously restricted its clinical application. Although EK was processed with vinegar to reduce its toxicity, the detailed mechanisms of attenuation in toxicity of EK stir-fried with vinegar (VEK) have not been well delineated. Diterpenoids are the main toxic ingredients of EK, and changes in these after processing may be the underlying mechanism of toxicity attenuation of VEK. 3- O -(2' E ,4' Z -decadienoyl)-20- O -acetylingenol (3-O-EZ) is one of the diterpenoids derived from EK, and the content of 3-O-EZ was significantly reduced after processing. This study aims to explore the underlying mechanisms of toxicity reduction of VEK based on the change of 3-O-EZ after processing with vinegar. Based on the chemical structure of 3-O-EZ and the method of processing with vinegar, simulation experiments were carried out to confirm the presence of the product both in EK and VEK and to enrich the product. Then, the difference of peak area of 3-O-EZ and its hydrolysate in EK and VEK were detected by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). Furthermore, the toxicity effect of 3-O-EZ and its hydrolysate, as well as the underlying mechanism, on zebrafish embryos were investigated. The findings showed that the diterpenoids (3-O-EZ) in EK can convert into less toxic ingenol in VEK after processing with vinegar; meanwhile, the content of ingenol in VEK was higher than that of EK. More interestingly, the ingenol exhibited less toxicity (acute toxicity, developmental toxicity and organic toxicity) than that of 3-O-EZ, and 3-O-EZ could increase malondialdehyde (MDA) content and reduce glutathione (GSH) content; cause embryo oxidative damage by inhibition of the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity; and induce inflammation and apoptosis by elevation of IL-2 and IL-8 contents and activation of the caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity. Thus, this study contributes to our understanding of the mechanism of attenuation in toxicity of VEK, and provides the possibility of safe and rational use of EK in clinics.

The major purpose of this study was to assess the association between the potential long-term effects of previous schistosome infection and atherogenic dyslipidemia. Among 1597 men aged ⩾45 years who received health examinations and lived in previous schistosomiasis-endemic regions of China, 465 patients with previous schistosome infection were selected as study subjects, and 1132 subjects formed the control group. The risk factors for cardiovascular disease were measured and compared between the previous schistosome infection and control groups. The Atherogenic Index of Plasma, triglycerides, waist circumference and body mass index were significantly lower in the previous schistosome infection group than in the control group (all P values <0.001), whereas high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol was significantly higher in the previous schistosome infection group (P<0.001). In the Atherogenic Index of Plasma quartiles (Q1-Q4), the percentages of subjects with previous schistosome infection were 55.89% (Q1), 25.44% (Q2), 16.33% (Q3), and 18.8% (Q4), respectively (χ(2)=139.86, P<0.001). A logistic regression analysis based on previous schistosome infection as the independent variable and Atherogenic Index of Plasma as the dependent variable revealed that previous schistosome infection was significantly negatively correlated with Atherogenic Index of Plasma (odds ratio=0.583, 95% confidence interval: 0.440-0.772, P<0.001) after adjustment for body mass index, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure and uric acid, suggesting that previous schistosome infection is an independent factor associated with Atherogenic Index of Plasma. The potential long-term effects of previous schistosome infection may reduce the Atherogenic Index of Plasma in Chinese men. However, further studies are required to investigate the protective human immune response against schistosome infections. The development of a schistosomiasis vaccine may effectively prevent the development and progression of atherosclerosis., (Copyright © 2015 Australian Society for Parasitology Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)