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Aim: The aim of the study was to explore the efficacy as well as the mechanism of action of Pitongshu (PTS) on rats with functional dyspepsia (FD) induced by iodoacetamide gavage and tail clamping. Methods: The bioactive components of PTS were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), whereas the potential targets of PTS were obtained from the Similarity Ensemble Approach (SEA), TCMSP, and Swiss Target Prediction Database. The disease targets were obtained from the DisGeNET database, whereas Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed using the R Software. The method of iodoacetamide gavage combined with tail clamping was used to establish the FD rat model in this study. Body weight, food intake, gastrointestinal motility, gastric acidity and secretion, and the mechanical pain threshold of rats were measured. The open-field test was also performed. The stomach and duodenum were histologically observed. The levels of serotonin (5-HT), Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP), Motilin (MTL), and Gastrin (GAS) in gastric tissues were detected by ELISA. Results: A total of 139 bioactive components and 17 potential targets of PTS were identified through a network pharmacology approach. The results of GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that PTS could reduce the 5-HT secretion of gastric tissues through the serotonergic synaptic pathway and alleviate the symptoms of FD, indicating that PTS plays a therapeutic role. The results of animal experiments showed that PTS could increase body weight and food intake, improve autonomous activity, and decrease gastric acidity and secretion in FD rats. Furthermore, gastric sensitivity increased in FD rats, and PTS treatment could significantly decrease it. The results of ELISA showed that the overexpression of 5-HT and CGRP was decreased after PTS treatment in FD rats. Lastly, PTS could significantly improve gastrointestinal motility, as well as the levels of GAS and MTL in FD rats. Conclusion: PTS may reduce 5-HT secretion by regulating the serotonergic synaptic pathway, thereby reducing visceral sensitivity and alleviating the symptoms of FD.

Aim. Hyperuricemia (HUA) has received increased attention in the last few decades due to its global prevalence. Our previous study found that administration of a macroporous resin extract of Dendrobium officinale leaves (DoMRE) to rats with HUA that was induced by exposure to potassium oxazine combined with fructose and a high-purine diet led to a significant reduction in serum uric acid (SUA) levels. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of DoMRE on hyperuricemia induced by anthropomorphic unhealthy lifestyle and to elucidate its possible mechanisms of action. Methods. Dosages (5.0 and 10.0 g/kg/day) of DoMRE were administered to rats daily after induction of HUA by anthropomorphic unhealthy lifestyle for 12 weeks. The levels of UA in the serum, urine, and feces; the levels of creatinine (Cr) in the serum and urine; and the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum were all measured using an automatic biochemical analyzer. The activities of xanthine oxidase (XOD) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) in the serum, liver, and intestine tissue supernatant were measured using appropriate kits for each biological target. The expressions levels of UA transporters (ABCG2 and GLUT9), tight junction (TJ) proteins (ZO-1 and occludin), and inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) in the intestine were assayed by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to assess histological changes in the renal and intestinal tissues. Results. DoMRE treatment significantly reduced SUA levels and concomitantly increased fecal UA (FUA) levels and the fractional excretion of UA (FEUA) in HUA rats. Furthermore, DoMRE significantly reduced both the XOD activity in the serum, liver, and intestine and the ADA activity in the liver and intestine. DoMRE also effectively regulated the expression of GLUT9 and ABCG2 in the intestine, and it significantly upregulated the expression of the intestinal TJ proteins ZO-1 and occludin. Therefore, DoMRE reduced the damage to the intestinal barrier function caused by the increased production of inflammatory factors due to HUA to ensure normal intestinal UA excretion. Conclusion. DoMRE demonstrated anti-HUA effects in the HUA rat model induced by an anthropomorphic unhealthy lifestyle, and the molecular mechanism appeared to involve the regulation of urate transport-related transporters (ABCG2 and GLUT9) in the intestine, protection of the intestinal barrier function to promote UA excretion, and inhibition of XOD and ADA activity in the liver and intestine to inhibit UA production in the HUA-induced rats.

Given the increasing global trend toward unhealthy lifestyles and dietary decisions, such as "over-consumption of alcohol, and high sugar and fat diets" (ACHSFDs), it is not surprising that metabolic hypertension (MH) is now the most common type of hypertension. There is an urgent, global need for effective measures for the prevention and treatment of MH. Improper diet leads to decreased short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in the gut, leading to decreased gastrointestinal function, metabolism, and blood pressure as a result of signaling through G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), ultimately causing MH. Previous studies have suggested that Dendrobium officinale (DO) may improve gastrointestinal function, lower blood pressure, and regulate metabolic abnormalities, but it is not clear whether it acts on MH by increasing SCFA and, if so, how. In this research, it was observed that Dendrobium officinale ultrafine powder (DOFP) could lower blood pressure and improve lipid abnormalities in ACHSFD-induced MH model rats. Moreover, DOFP was found to improve the intestinal flora and increased the SCFA level in feces and serum, as well as increased the expressions of GPCR43/41 and eNOS and the nitric oxide (NO) level. An experiment on isolated aorta rings revealed that DOFP improved the vascular endothelial relaxation function in MH rats, and this effect could be blocked by the eNOS inhibitor l-NAME. These experimental results suggest that DOFP improved the intestinal flora and increased the production, transportation, and utilization of SCFA, activated the intestinal-vascular axis SCFA-GPCR43/41 pathway, improved vascular endothelial function, and finally lowered blood pressure in MH model rats. This research provides a new focus for the mechanism of the effect of DOFP against MH by triggering the enteric-origin SCFA-GPCR43/41 pathway.

Aim and Objective: The Dendrobium officinalis flower (DOF) is popular in China due to common belief in its anti-aging properties and positive effects on “nourish yin”. However, there have been relatively few confirmatory pharmacological experiments conducted to date. The aim of this work was to evaluate whether DOF has beneficial effects on learning and memory in senescent rats, and, if so, to determine its potential mechanism of effect. Materials and Methods: SD rats were administrated orally DOF at a dose of 1.38, or 0.46 g/kg once a day for 8 weeks. Two other groups included a healthy untreated control group and a senescent control group. During the 7th week, a Morris water maze test was performed to assess learning and memory. At the end of the experiment, serum and brain samples were collected to measure concentrations of antioxidant enzymes, including malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GSH-Px) in serum, and the neurotransmitters, including γ-aminobutyric acid (γ-GABA), Glutamic (Glu), and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) in the brain. Histopathology of the hippocampus was assessed using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. Results: The results suggested that treatment with DOF improved learning as measured by escape latency, total distance, and target quadrant time, and also increased levels of γ-GABA in the brain. In addition, DOF decreased the levels of MDA, Glu, and MAO-B, and improved SOD and GSHPx. Histopathological analysis showed that DOF also significantly reduced structural lesions and neurodegeneration in the hippocampus relative to untreated senescent rats. Conclusion: DOF alleviated brain aging and improved the spatial learning abilities in senescent rats, potentially by attenuating oxidative stress and thus reducing hippocampal damage and balancing the release of neurotransmitters.

Aim and Objective. Hyperlipidemia is a public health matter of global scale, contributing to a wide range of diseases that can result in severe complications and significant annual mortality. Dendrobium officinale (DO) is an edible plant with a long medicinal history in China. Our previous studies revealed that DO may have therapeutic benefits in lipid disorders. However, the mechanism of its active compounds is still unclear. This research aimed at uncovering the hidden anti-hyperlipidemia mechanisms of DO through network pharmacology and experimental validation. Materials and Methods. The active compounds in DO, their targets, and targets associated with hyperlipidemia were screened across various databases, and the hidden targets of DO in treating hyperlipidemia were forecast. The compound-target (C-T), protein-protein interaction (PPI), and compound-target-pathway (C-T-P) networks of DO were set up with Cytoscape software. The hub genes and core clusters of DO predicted to be active against hyperlipidemia were calculated by Cytoscape. The DAVID database was adopted for Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Next, we used the high-sucrose-fat diet and alcohol (HFDA)-induced hyperlipidemia rats to evaluate the hypolipidemic effect of DO. Results. In this study, we obtained 264 compounds from DO, revealed 11 bioactive compounds, and predicted 89 potential targets of DO. The network analysis uncovered that naringenin, isorhamnetin, and taxifolin might be the compounds in DO that are mainly in charge of its roles in hyperlipidemia and might play a role by modulating the targets (including PPARG, ADIPOQ, AKT1, TNF, and APOB). The pathway analysis showed that DO might affect diverse signaling pathways related to the pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia, including PPAR signaling pathway, insulin resistance, AMPK signaling pathway, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease simultaneously. Meanwhile, in the HFDA-induced hyperlipidemia rat model, DO could significantly decrease the level of TC, TG, LDL-c, and ALT in serum, and increase HDL-c as well. The liver pathological section indicated that DO could ease liver damage and lipid cumulation. Conclusion. In summary, the biological targets of the main bioactive compounds in DO were found to distribute across multiple metabolic pathways. These findings suggest that a mutual regulatory system consisting of multiple components, targets, and pathways is a likely mechanism through which DO may improve hyperlipidemia. Validation experiments indicated that DO may treat hyperlipidemia by affecting NAFLD-related signaling pathways.

The active compounds in DO, their targets, and targets associated with hyperlipidemia were screened across various databases, and the hidden targets of DO in treating hyperlipidemia were forecast. The compound-target (C-T), protein-protein interaction (PPI), and compound-target-pathway (C-T-P) networks of DO were set up with Cytoscape software. The hub genes and core clusters of DO predicted to be active against hyperlipidemia were calculated by Cytoscape. The DAVID database was adopted for Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Next, we used the high-sucrose-fat diet and alcohol (HFDA)-induced hyperlipidemia rats to evaluate the hypolipidemic effect of DO.In this study, we obtained 264 compounds from DO, revealed 11 bioactive compounds, and predicted 89 potential targets of DO. The network analysis uncovered that naringenin, isorhamnetin, and taxifolin might be the compounds in DO that are mainly in charge of its roles in hyperlipidemia and might play a role by modulating the targets (including PPARG, ADIPOQ, AKT1, TNF, and APOB). The pathway analysis showed that DO might affect diverse signaling pathways related to the pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia, including PPAR signaling pathway, insulin resistance, AMPK signaling pathway, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease simultaneously. Meanwhile, in the HFDA-induced hyperlipidemia rat model, DO could significantly decrease the level of TC, TG, LDL-c, and ALT in serum, and increase HDL-c as well. The liver pathological section indicated that DO could ease liver damage and lipid cumulation.In summary, the biological targets of the main bioactive compounds in DO were found to distribute across multiple metabolic pathways. These findings suggest that a mutual regulatory system consisting of multiple components, targets, and pathways is a likely mechanism through which DO may improve hyperlipidemia. Validation experiments indicated that DO may treat hyperlipidemia by affecting NAFLD-related signaling pathways.

Aim: Modified Suanzaoren Decoction (MSZRD) is obtained by improving Suanzaoren Decoction (SZRT), a traditional Chinese herbal prescription that has been used to treat insomnia for more than thousands of years. Our previous study showed that MSZRD can improve the gastrointestinal discomfort related insomnia by regulating Orexin-A. This study is the first study to evaluate the effects and possible mechanisms of MSZRD in mice with insomnia caused by p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) combined with multifactor random stimulation. Methods: After 14 days of multifactor stimulation to ICR mice, a PCPA suspension (30 mg/mL) was injected intraperitoneally for two consecutive days to establish an insomnia model. Three different doses of MSZRD (3.6, 7.2, and 14.4 g/kg/day) were given to ICR mice for 24 days. The food intake and back temperature were measured, and behavioral tests and pentobarbital sodium-induced sleep tests were conducted. The levels of Orexin-A, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and adrenocortical hormones (CORT) in the serum and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and norepinephrine (NE) in hypothalamus were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The levels of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamic acid (Glu) were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The expression of 5HT1A receptor (5-HTRIA) and orexin receptor 2 antibody (OX2R) was measured by Western blot (WB) and immunohistochemical staining (ICH). Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and Nissl staining were used to assess the histological changes in hypothalamus tissue. Results: Of note, MSZRD can shorten the sleep latency of insomnia mice (P

Dendrobium officinale (DOF) is a traditional Chinese edible and officinal plant. Ultrafine DOF powder (DOFP) can regulate lipids and histopathology in the liver, but the underlying mechanisms of hepatic fatty acid (FA) metabolism, which is generally correlated with the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), remain unclear. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether DOFP treatment alters hepatic FA metabolism in NAFLD mice by using multidimensional mass spectrometry-based shotgun lipidomics (MDMS-SL) and analyse the underlying mechanisms. A 3-week DOFP treatment prevented lipid deposition and improved hepatic histopathology in NAFLD mice after withdrawal from the high-sucrose, high-fat (HSHF) diet, and it decreased triglyceride and FA content in the liver. Furthermore, the C16 : 0/C14 : 0 and C18 : 1/18 : 0 ratios in FAs were significantly decreased in the DOFP treatment group, and the C20 : 4/C20 : 3 and C22 : 4/C22 : 3 ratios were increased, and saturated FA was inhibited. Additionally, DOFP treatment significantly increased the content of two FA β-oxidation-related proteins (carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1-α and acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1). It also decreased the content of a FA synthesis-related protein (fatty acid synthase), a FA desaturation-related protein (stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase-1), and a FA uptake-related protein (fatty acid transport protein 2). Moreover, DOFP treatment improved dysregulated levels of major phospholipids in the livers of model mice. The results of this study confirm that DOFP treatment in NAFLD mice has liver recovery effects by regulating FA metabolism.

Aim and Objective. To study the effect of Dendrobium officinale ultrafine powder (DOFP) on the intestinal mucosal barrier in rats with ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Materials and Methods. After intragastric administration of DOFP for 3 weeks, the rat UC model was made by the administration of 4% oral DSS solution for one week, and the drug was given at the same time. During the experiment, the disease activity index (DAI) score of the rats was regularly computed. At the end of the experiment, the blood routine indexes of rats were obtained. The histopathological changes in the colon were monitored by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and PAS staining and observation of ultrastructural changes in the colon by transmission electron microscope. Occludin expression in the colon was monitored by Western blot, the expression of claudin-1 and ZO-1 in the colon was detected by immunofluorescence, and the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in the colon was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results. The results firstly indicated that DOFP could significantly alleviate the signs and symptoms of the DSS-induced rats UC model, which manifested as improvement of body weight loss, increase of colon length, and improvement of the symptoms of diarrhea and hematochezia. Then, results from histopathology, blood routine examination, and transmission electron microscope analysis further implied that DOFP could dramatically reduce inflammatory cell infiltration and restore intestinal epithelial barrier integrity. In addition, the experiments of Western Blot analysis, immunofluorescence, and PAS staining also further confirmed that DOFP could markedly increase related protein expressions of the intestinal barrier and mucus barrier, as the expression of occludin, claudin-1, and ZO-1 in the colon significantly decreased. The experiments of immunohistochemistry confirmed that DOFP could markedly decrease protein expression levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. Conclusion. DOFP notably alleviated inflammatory lesions, repaired the colon mucosa damage by promoting the expression of tight junction proteins occludin, claudin-1, and ZO-1 and inhibiting the release of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, and finally achieved the purpose of treating UC.

Aim and Objective: Fructose, as a ubiquitous monosaccharide, can promote ATP consumption and elevate circulating Uric acid (UA) levels. Our previous studies have confirmed that the macroporous resin extract of Dendrobium officinale leaves (DoMRE) could reduce the UA level of rats with hyperuricemia induced by a high-purine diet. This study aimed to investigate whether DoMRE had a UA-lowering effect on rats with hyperuricemia caused by fructose combined with potassium oxonate, so as to further clarify the UA-lowering effect of DoMRE, and to explore the UAlowering effect of DoMRE on both UA production and excretion. Materials and Methods: Rats with hyperuricemia induced by fructose and potassium oxonate were administered with DoMRE and vehicle control, respectively, to compare the effects of the drugs. At the end of the experiment, the Serum Uric Acid (SUA) and Creatinine (Cr) levels were measured using an automatic biochemical analyzer, the activities of xanthine oxidase (XOD) were measured using an assay kit, and the protein expressions of Urate Transporter 1 (URAT1), glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9), and ATP-Binding Cassette Superfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) were assessed using immune-histochemical and western blot analyses. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to assess the histological changes in the kidney, liver, and intestine. Results: Fructose and potassium induced hyperuricemia in rats. Meanwhile, the activities of XOD were markedly augmented, the expression of URAT1 and GLUT9 was promoted, and the expression of ABCG2 was reduced, which were conducive to the elevation of UA. However, exposure to DoMRE reversed these fructose- and potassium oxonate-induced negative alternations in rats. The activities of XOD were recovered to the normal level, reducing UA formation; the expressions of URAT1, ABCG2, and GLUT9 returned to the normal level, resulting in an increase in renal urate excretion. Conclusion: DoMRE reduces UA levels in rats with hyperuricemia induced by fructose combined with potassium oxonate by inhibiting XOD activity and regulating the expression of ABCG2, URAT1, and GLUT9. DoMRE is a potential therapeutic agent for treating hyperuricemia through inhibiting UA formation and promoting UA excretion.

Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis, results in hypertension and liver injury. This study aimed at investigating the changes of liver lipometabonomics and exploring the underlying mechanisms of liver injury in the L-NAME-treated rats. The male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were treated with L-NAME (40 mg/kg, p.o.) for 8 weeks. After that, the liver, aorta, fecal, and serum were collected for analysis. The results showed that L-NAME induced hypertension and disordered the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-NO pathway in the treated rats. L-NAME could also increase the levels of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST). The multidimensional mass spectrometry-based shotgun lipidomics (MDMS-SL) analysis showed that L-NAME could induce significant changes of the total hepatic lipids and most hepatic triglycerides, as well as fatty acid (FA). A positive correlation was found between the blood pressure and TAG. Immunofluorescence and Western-Blot experiments indicated that the L-NAME treatment significantly influenced some FA β-oxidation, desaturation, and synthesis-related proteins. The increase of intestinal inflammation, decrease of microcirculation and tight junction proteins, as well as alterations of microbial communities were observed in the L-NAME induced hypertensive rats, as well as alterations of microbial communities were notable correlation to TAG and FA species. This study demonstrated that the L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats exhibiting liver injury were the joint action of hepatic abnormal fatty acid metabolism and microcirculation disorder. Furthermore, the gut microflora, as well as the changes of FA β-oxidation (ACOX, CPT1α), desaturation (SCD-1), and synthesis (FAS) may be the potential mechanisms for abnormal fatty acid metabolism.

Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis, results in hypertension and liver injury. This study aimed at investigating the changes of liver lipometabonomics and exploring the underlying mechanisms of liver injury in the L-NAME-treated rats. The male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were treated with L-NAME (40 mg/kg, p.o.) for 8 weeks. After that, the liver, aorta, fecal, and serum were collected for analysis. The results showed that L-NAME induced hypertension and disordered the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-NO pathway in the treated rats. L-NAME could also increase the levels of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST). The multidimensional mass spectrometry-based shotgun lipidomics (MDMS-SL) analysis showed that L-NAME could induce significant changes of the total hepatic lipids and most hepatic triglycerides, as well as fatty acid (FA). A positive correlation was found between the blood pressure and TAG. Immunofluorescence and Western-Blot experiments indicated that the L-NAME treatment significantly influenced some FA β-oxidation, desaturation, and synthesis-related proteins. The increase of intestinal inflammation, decrease of microcirculation and tight junction proteins, as well as alterations of microbial communities were observed in the L-NAME induced hypertensive rats, as well as alterations of microbial communities were notable correlation to TAG and FA species. This study demonstrated that the L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats exhibiting liver injury were the joint action of hepatic abnormal fatty acid metabolism and microcirculation disorder. Furthermore, the gut microflora, as well as the changes of FA β-oxidation (ACOX, CPT1α), desaturation (SCD-1), and synthesis (FAS) may be the potential mechanisms for abnormal fatty acid metabolism.

This study investigated whether sleep duration and quality were related to life satisfaction (LS) among older Chinese adults and whether depression mediated those relationships. Cross-sectional data from the aging arm of the Rugao Longevity and Aging Study were used. Sleep duration, sleep quality, depression, LS and covariates were analyzed using logistic regressions. To assess the potential mediation of depression on the association between sleep duration and quality and LS, Aroian tests were used. Of 1756 older Chinese adults aged 70-84 years, 90.7% of the men and 83.3% of the women reported being satisfied with their lives. After adjusting for covariates, older adults who slept ≤6h per night were more likely to suffer from life dissatisfaction compared with those who slept 7-8h (OR=2.67, 95% CI 1.86-3.79), and individuals who slept poorly were almost 2 times (OR=2.91, 95% CI 2.16-3.91) more likely to have life dissatisfaction. The Aroian tests confirmed that these relationships were partially mediated by depression (p

Various uncertain factors affect the movement of the welding robot, thus welding gun tend to deviate from the theory of welding position which reduces the welding accuracy, of which the revolute pair clearance have an greater effect on the movement of the welding robot. In order to study the influence of revolute pair clearance to the end pose accuracy of welding robot, the mathematical model of revolute pair clearance was established, and the software SolidWorks was used for establishing the welding robot model, making simulations of the mechanical arm with joint clearance and no joint clearance. At last, the movement characteristic of the hinge shaft is attained. The simulation results showed that the shaft velocity and displacement of mechanical arm with joint clearance has a certain degree of fluctuation, which affecting the end pose accuracy of welding robot , and reducing the movement stability and the welding accuracy of welding robot.

Through the key industries identification process, this study identified seven of key industries in Liao River basin, to evaluate the cleaner production potential of industries in the basin. The results indicated that, without the adverse impact on the economic growth, by 2020, under the high cost cleaner production solution, COD and NH3-N production would be 17.02% and 19.17% less than that of 2012, so that industrial emissions of major pollutants in the basin could be 15% less in comparison with that in 2012, as long as the end-of-pipe treatment ratio maintains the level in 2012.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether exogenous retinoic acid (RA) can upregulate the mRNA and protein expression of growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43), thereby promoting brain functional recovery in a rat distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of ischemia. A total of 216 male Sprague Dawley rats weighing 300–320 g were divided into 3 groups: sham-operated group, MCAO+vehicle group and MCAO+RA group. Focal cortical infarction was induced with a distal MCAO model. The expression of GAP-43 mRNA and protein in the ipsilateral perifocal region was assessed using qPCR and immunocytochemistry at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after distal MCAO. In addition, an intraperitoneal injection of RA was given 12 h before MCAO and continued every day until the animal was sacrificed. Following ischemia, the expression of GAP-43 first increased considerably and then decreased. Administration of RA reduced infarction volume, promoted neurological functional recovery and upregulated expression of GAP-43. Administration of RA can ameliorate neuronal damage and promote nerve regeneration by upregulating the expression of GAP-43 in the perifocal region after distal MCAO.

Nonlinear equivalent spring resistance model and Coulomb friction model is used to construct a dynamic mathematical model for a multi-body system, which contains clearance. In the paper an internal combustion engine dynamic model has created for simulated analysis. It shows that joints accuracy and driver speed have obvious effects on crank slider dynamic disturbance. Also joints clearance and the increase of driver speed lead to lower positional accuracy, worse stability and reliability, which has very important theoretical significance and practical value on the analysis of the performance of internal combustion engine.

// Li-Li Liu 1,2,* , Shi-Xun Lu 1,2,* , Min Li 1,2 , Lin-Zi Li 1,2 , Jia Fu 1,2 , Wen Hu 1,2 , Yuan-Zhong Yang 1,2 , Rong-Zhen Luo 1,2 , Chris Zhiyi Zhang 1,2 , Jing-Ping Yun 1,2 1 Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine 2 Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center * These authors contributed equally to this work Correspondence: Chris Zhiyi Zhang, email: // Jing-Ping Yun, email: // Keywords : miR-137; AKT2; FoxD3; metastasis; HCC Received : May 3, 2014 Accepted : June 9, 2014 Published : June 10, 2014 Abstract microRNAs, frequently deregulated in human cancer, have been implicated in the progression of hepatocarcinogenesis. Here, we show that microRNA (miR)-137 is significantly down-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Its decreased expression is associated with vein invasion, incomplete involucrum, and distant metastasis. Multivariate analysis suggests that miR-137 is an independent indicator for poor survival. We next show that over-expression of miR-137 suppresses cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro . Conversely, miR-137 inhibition promotes HCC cell growth. We also identify AKT2 as a key target of miR-137 in this context. Statistical data reveal a reverse correlation of AKT2 and miR-137 expression in HCC patients. Silencing of AKT2 phenotypically copied miR-137-induced phenotypes, whereas re-expression of AKT2 reversed the suppressive effects of miR-137. Further investigations showed that miR-137 exerted its anti-tumour activity via inhibiting the AKT2/mTOR pathway. Moreover, we demonstrate that FoxD3 directly binds to the promoter of miR-137 and activates its transcription. In vivo studies confirm that FoxD3-regulated miR-137 inhibited HCC growth and metastasis via targeting AKT2. Together, our findings indicate that miR-137 is a valuable biomarker for HCC prognosis and the FoxD3/miR-137/AKT2 regulatory network plays an important role in HCC progression.

Circular economy transformation of industrial park refers to reforming and upgrading the traditional industrial park in accordance with the concept of circular economy, with the focus on the transformation and construction of the industrial structure, infrastructure, production technology, management mechanism and so on, thus improving the utilization efficiency of resource and energy, and reducing pollution emissions. Taking Binxi industrial Park as an example, based on the problems existing in the development process, this paper determines the main tasks of circular economy transformation and constructs the main recycling industry chains, providing a model for the circular economy transformation of the industrial parks that are agriculture and Forestry based.

Based on the theory and method of eco-efficiency, the relative efficiency index (Ri) was constructed in the paper. According to the range of the relative efficiency index, the industrial sectors can be divided into four categories. When Ri≥R+0.5δ , the industry should be encouraged. When R≤Ri

Biological fuels have triggered the heated controversy in recent years. This paper critically examined the potentials of biological fuels through the lens of Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) and Integrated Conservation and Development Projects (ICDP). Although MCA framework may possess the capability in making the right decision on land diversion to handle the intensifying competition for land between biofuels and food production, it is difficult to reach a balance among sufficient biofuels supply, biodiversity conservation and social equity from the perspective of ICDP. Despite biofuels could not totally displace fossil fuels in the near future, there might still be some possible policy designs that can help realizing the smooth transition to the biofuels era.

Nucleophosmin/B23 (NPM) is a universally expressed nucleolar phosphoprotein that participates in proliferation, apoptosis, ribosome assembly, and centrosome duplication; however, the role of NPM in cell cycle regulation is not well characterized. We investigated the mechanism by which NPM is involved in cell cycle regulation. NPM was knocked down using siRNA in HepG2 hepatoblastoma cells. NPM translocation following actinomycin D (ActD) treatment was investigated using immunofluorescent staining. Expression of NPM and other factors involved in cell cycle regulation was examined by Western blotting. Cell cycle distribution was measured using flow cytometry to detect 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation. Cell proliferation was quantified by the MTT assay. Knockdown of NPM increased the percentage of HepG2 cells in S phase and led to decreased expression of P53 and P21Cip1/WAF1. S-phase arrest in HepG2 cells was significantly enhanced by ActD treatment. Furthermore, knockdown of NPM abrogated ActD-induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. Taken together, these data demonstrate that inhibition of NPM has a significant effect on the cell cycle.

OBJECTIVES to examine the associations of two common CRP gene polymorphisms with CRP levels, frailty and co-morbidity in an elderly Chinese population. DESIGN a population-based cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS we obtained data on 1,723 elderly participants aged 70-84 from the ageing arm of the Rugao Longevity and Ageing study (RuLAS), a population-based observational cohort study conducted in Rugao, Jiangsu province, China. MEASUREMENTS the genotyping of two common CRP gene polymorphisms (rs1205 and rs3093059) was performed. Items concerning the frailty index and co-morbidity were collected. RESULTS the mean age of the study population was 75.3 ± 3.9 years, and 53.5% (n = 922) were women. The minor allele frequencies of rs1205 and rs3093059 were 42.4% (C allele) and 16.9% (C allele), respectively. The polymorphisms rs1205 and rs3093059 were significantly associated with CRP levels (β = 0.113 and 0.222, all P < 0.001). Non-significant association between rs1205 and rs3093059 and frailty, as well as between rs3093059 and co-morbidity was observed. However, SNP rs1205 CC genotype had an increased odds of co-morbidity compared with the TT genotype (odds ratio (OR):1.53; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16-2.02). Each additional copy of the C allele of SNP rs1205 was associated with 1.23 times (95% CI: 1.07-1.41) odds of co-morbidity. The significance remained after controlling for covariates such as education level, etc. CONCLUSIONS among elderly Chinese individuals, two CRP gene polymorphisms were significantly associated with CRP levels. However, none of them was associated with frailty. The preliminary findings warrant further validations.

It was originally thought that no single routine blood test result would be able to indicate whether or not a patient had cancer; however, several novel studies have indicated that the median survival and prognosis of cancer patients were markedly associated with the systemic circulation features of cancer patients. In addition, certain parameters, such as white blood cell (WBC) count, were largely altered in malignant tumors. In the present study, routine blood tests were performed in order to observe the change of blood cells in tumor-bearing mice following the implantation of 4T1 breast cancer cells into the mammary fat pad; in addition, blood flow in breast tumor sites was measured indirectly using laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI), in an attempt to explain the relevance between the blood circulation features and the growth or metastasis of breast cancer in mice model. The LDPI and blood test results indicated that the implantation of 4T1 breast cancer cells into BALB/c mice led to thrombosis as well as high WBC count, high platelet count, high plateletcrit and low blood perfusion. Following implantation of the 4T1 cells for four weeks, the lung metastatic number was determined and the Pearson correlation coefficient revealed that the number of visceral lung metastatic sites had a marked negative association with the ratio of basophils (BASO%; r=-0.512; P

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among females, with tumor metastasis being primarily responsible for breast cancer-associated mortality. Current literatures have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in tumor metastasis. In this study, we found that the expression of miR-720 was significantly downregulated in primary breast cancer, with greater downregulation in metastatic tumors. Statistical analysis of 105 cases of primary human breast cancer demonstrated that decreased expression of miR-720 was correlated with lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, reexpression of miR-720 in breast cancer cells remarkably inhibited cell invasiveness and migration both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, downregulation of TWIST1, a promoter of metastasis that was identified as a direct functional target of miR-720, was attributed to the inhibition of metastasis. Consistent with the reduced TWIST1 levels in breast cancer, reexpression of miR-720 upregulated epithelial markers (E-cadherin and β-catenin) and downregulated mesenchymal markers (N-cadherin, fibronectin, vimentin and matrix metalloproteinase-2). Expression of miR-720 was inversely associated with TWIST1 in human breast cancer tissues. Knockdown of TWIST1 expression by small interfering RNA exhibited similar effects to reintroduction of miR-720, whereas overexpression of TWIST1 (without the 3'-untranslated region) abrogated miR-720-mediated metastasis inhibition. Collectively, our data indicate that miR-720 is frequently decreased in breast cancer and manifests antimetastatic activity by downregulating TWIST1, presenting a novel mechanism of miRNA-mediated regulation of tumor metastasis.

Background Zinc-alpha2-glycoprotein (AZGP1, ZAG) was recently demonstrated to be an important factor in tumor carcinogenesis. However, AZGP1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its significance remain largely unknown. Methods Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was applied to determine mRNA level of AZGP1 in 20 paired fresh HCC tissues. Clinical and pathological data of 246 HCC patients were collected. Tissue-microarray-based immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to examine AZGP1 expression in HCC samples. Relationship between AZGP1 expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed by Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results AZGP1 expression was significantly lower in 80.0% (16/20) of tumorous tissues than that in the corresponding adjacent nontumorous liver tissues (P P P = 0.013), liver cirrhosis (P = 0.002) and tumor differentiation (P = 0.025). Moreover, HCC patients with high AZGP1 expression survived longer, with better overall survival (P = 0.006) and disease-free survival (P = 0.025). In addition, low AZGP1 expression associated with worse relapse-free survival (P = 0.046) and distant metastatic progression-free survival (P = 0.036). Conclusion AZGP1 was downregulated in HCC and could be served as a promising prognostic marker for HCC patients.

The occurrence of sudden water pollution accident threatens water quality as well as human health and social stabilization. A typical water pollution accident emergency warning system for Chu River downstream basin was developed to aid responsible authorities, water suppliers and emergency responders making impactful rescue measures at the first time in order to reduce influence and loss of the accident effectively. Consisted of the fundamental database, the GIS platform, and the surface water quality model WASP, the system realized the capability with near real-time simulation at temporal and spatial level following accident, toward the release for most of hazardous substance. The functionality of the system was illustrated through a scenario simulation where nitrobenzene assumed to be released accidentally from an enterprise in the Nanjing Chemical Industrial Park.