Search

Advanced liver fibrosis can lead to cirrhosis, resulting in an accelerated risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and liver failure. Fuzheng Huayu formula (FZHY) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula treated liver fibrosis in China approved by a Chinese State Food and Drug Administration (NO: Z20050546), composed of Salvia Miltiorrhiza bge., Prunus davidiana (Carr.) Franch., cultured Cordyceps sinensis (BerK.) Sacc. Mycelia, Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., Pinus massoniana Lamb., and Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino. However, the main active substances and mechanism of FZHY are unclear. The aim of this study is to identify a novel anti-fibrotic compound, which consists of the main active ingredients of FZHY, and investigate its mechanism of pharmacological action. The main active ingredients of FZHY were investigated by quantitative analysis of FZHY extracts and FZHY-treated plasma and liver in rats. The anti-fibrotic composition of the main active ingredients was studied through uniform design in vivo , and its mechanism was evaluated in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)- and bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced liver fibrosis models in rats and mice, and transforming growth factor beta 1-induced LX-2 cell activation model in vitro. A novel Chinese medicine, namely JY5 formula, consisting of salvianolic acid B, schisantherin A, and amygdalin, the main active ingredients of FZHY, significantly alleviated hepatic hydroxyproline content and collagen deposition in CCl4-and BDL-induced fibrotic liver in rats and mice. In addition, JY5 inhibited the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) by inactivating Notch signaling in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we found a novel JY5 formula, which exerted anti-hepatic fibrotic effects by inhibiting the Notch signaling pathway, consequently suppressing HSCs activation. These results provide an adequate scientific basis for clinical research and application of the JY5 formula, which may be a potential novel therapeutic candidate for liver fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between calcium‐binding protein S100A8 and S100A9 expression in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and patients’ clinical features. Methods: Fifty‐two NSCLC patients who underwent surgery at Zhejiang Hospital from February 2014 to January 2016 were included in this study. Calcium‐binding protein S100A8 and S100A9 expression patterns in cancer and para‐cancer tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry assay. The correlation between calcium‐binding protein S100A8 and S100A9 expression patterns and NSCLC patients’ clinical characteristics, including age, gender, tumor node metastasis stage, and pathology type, were evaluated. Results: S100A8 and S100A9 were generally expressed on the cytoplasm and nucleus of NSCLC cells, mainly located in the cytoplasm, stained with brown particles, and distributed evenly. The positive expression rates of S100A8 and S100A9 in cancer tissues were 71.2% and 76.9%, respectively, which were significantly higher than in para‐cancer tissues at 11.5% and 19.2%, respectively, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). S100A8 and S100A9 positive expression was associated with tumor differentiation degree (P < 0.05) but were not correlated with age, gender, smoking history, tumor diameter, pathology type, tumor node metastasis stage, or pleural effusion (Pall > 0.05). Conclusion: S100A8 and S100A9 positive expression in cancer tissues was significantly higher than in para‐cancer tissues and was correlated with tumor differentiation, which may be a potential marker for poor prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Today clothing has become the largest category in online shopping in China, and even in Asia-Pacific. The satisfaction degree of apparel online shopping can be improved by effective personalized recommendation. The purpose of this paper is to propose a personalized recommendation model and algorithm based on Kansei engineering, traditional filtering algorithm and the knowledge relating to apparel.Design/methodology/approach Users’ perceptual image and the design elements of apparel based on Kansei engineering are discussed to build the mapping relation between the design elements and user ratings employing verbal protocol, semantic differential and partial least squares. The implicit knowledge and emotional needs pertaining to users are accessed using analytic hierarchy process. A personalized recommendation model for apparel online shopping is established and the algorithm for the personalized recommendation process is proposed. To present the personalized recommendation model, men’s plaid shirts are taken as the example, and the recommendations of apparel for online shopping were implemented and ranked in the context of differing users’ emotional needs. A comparison between the traditional model and this model is made to verify the effectiveness.Findings The recommendation model is capable of analyzing data and information effectively, and providing fast, personalized apparel recommendation services in accordance with users’ emotional needs. The experimental results suggest that the model is effective.Originality/value Similar researches of recommendation mainly focus on the field of computer science, the basic idea of which is using users’ history accessing records or the preferences of other similar users for determination of users’ preferences. Since the attributes of apparel products are not factored in the approach referred above, the issue of personalized recommendation cannot be solved in a really effective way. Combining Kansei engineering and recommendation algorithm, a framework for apparel product recommendation is presented and it is a new way for improvement of recommendations for apparel products on shopping sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to test the possible correlation between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the adiponectin gene and increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in a Chinese Han population.Materials and Methods: A total of 266 subjects were enrolled into the study to detect 9 SNPs in the adiponectin gene. Multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis, adjusted for gender and age, was used to estimate the associations of these SNPs with OSAS risk.Results: No evidence of a direct association was observed between these SNPs and the risk of OSAS in the Chinese Han population. However, the stratified analysis also revealed a remarkable genotype difference for SNP rs6773957 between cases and controls in the overweight subgroup (p < 0.05). In addition, the allele or genotype distributions of rs12495941, rs182052, and rs16861205 had significant differences with regard to the severity of OSAS (p < 0.05). No differences were identified in the other subgroups.Conclusion: The current research demonstrated that the SNPs in the adiponectin gene did not represent susceptibility loci for OSAS in Chinese Han individuals overall. However, variants of rs6773957 have an association with OSAS in overweight individuals. In addition, polymorphisms of rs12495941, rs182052, and rs16861205 are associated with the severity of OSAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate genotype-phenotype changes between rs29230 in γ-aminobutyric acid B receptor (GABBR1), rs1801278 in insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), and rs9902709 in hypocretin neuropeptide precursor (HCRT) and obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in Chinese Han individuals.Materials and Methods: A total of 130 patients with OSAHS and 136 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. A brief description of DNA extraction and genotyping is given. Multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis adjusted for gender and age was used to estimate the associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs29230 (GABBR1), rs1801278 (IRS-1), and rs9902709 (HCRT) with OSAHS risk. Subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate differences in these SNPs among subgroups according to gender, body mass index (BMI), and severity of disease.Results: Genotype and allele frequencies of rs29230 were significantly different between cases and controls (p = 0.0205 and p = 0.0191, respectively; odds ratio = 0.493, 95% confidence interval = 0.271-0.896), especially for male patients (p = 0.0259 and p = 0.0202, respectively). Subgroup analysis according to BMI also revealed a significant allele difference for rs29230 between cases and controls in the overweight subgroup (p = 0.0333). Furthermore, allele and genotype frequencies of rs1801278 showed significant differences between cases and controls (p = 0.0488 and p = 0.0471, respectively). However, no association was observed between rs9902709 and OSAHS risk (p = 0.2762), and no differences were identified in other subgroups.Conclusion: In this study, there was an association between variants of rs29230 and rs1801278 and OSAHS risk in the Chinese Han population but not for rs9902709. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study was conducted to test the hypothesis that oxidative stress leads to the release of proinflammatory cytokines by activating the Nod-like receptor protein (NLRP)3 inflammasome in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)., Methods: The study recruited 247 participants who were divided into cases and healthy control groups. OSA patients were subdivided into four subgroups according to sex, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and severity of disease. No significant differences were found between cases and controls with respect to age or sex. Peripheral blood samples were collected for analysis after examination, and the serum concentrations of oxidative stress (8-isoprostane), inflammation (interleukin (IL)-18, IL-1β, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α), and NLRP3 inflammasome components (NLRP3, caspase-1, and ASC) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay., Results: The serum concentrations of both oxidative stress and proinflammatory factors were higher in OSA patients than healthy controls. Subgroup analysis also revealed significant differences according to the apnoea-hypopnea index and BMI. Additionally, correlations were identified between 8-isoprostane and proinflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-18, and TNF-α). Multiple regression analysis suggested that sleep parameters and BMI affected inflammation. However, no differences were observed in the serum level of NLRP3 inflammasome components between patients and controls. Furthermore, stratified analysis revealed no additional differences., Conclusions: The current study suggests that oxidative stress leads to inflammation by mechanisms other than activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in OSA patients. Furthermore, both sleep apnoea and BMI influenced the serum concentration of inflammatory mediators.