VSL#3 can prevent ulcerative colitis-associated carcinogenesis in mice

AIM To investigate the effects of VSL#3 on tumor formation, and fecal and intestinal mucosal microbiota in azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium(AOM/DSS) induced mice model. METHODS C57 BL/6 mice were administered AOM/DSS to develop the ulcerative colitis(UC) carcinogenesis model. Mice were treated with 5-ASA(75 mg/kg/d), VSL#3(1.5 × 109 CFU/d), or 5-ASA combined with VSL#3 by gavage from the day of AOM injection for three months(five days/week). The tumor load was compared in each group, and tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α) and interleukin(IL)-6 levels were evaluated in colon tissue. The stool and intestinal mucosa samples were collected to analyze the differences in the intestinal microbiota by 16 s rDNA sequencing method.RESULTS VSL#3 significantly reduced the tumor load in AOM/DSS-induced mice model and decreased the level of TNF-α and IL-6 in colon tissue. The model group had a lower level of Lactobacillus and higher level of Oscillibacter and Lachnoclostridium in fecal microbiota than the control group. After the intervention with 5-ASA and VSL#3, Bacillus and Lactococcus were increased, while Lachnoclostridium and Oscillibacter were reduced. 5-ASA combined with VSL#3 increased the Lactobacillus and decreased the Oscillibacter. The intestinal mucosal microbiota analysis showed a lower level of Bifidobacterium and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 and higher level of Al oprevotel a in the model group as compared to the control group. After supplementation with VSL#3, Bifidobacterium was increased. 5-ASA combined with VSL#3 increased the level of both Lachnoclostridium and Bifidobacterium. CONCLUSION VSL#3 can prevent UC-associated carcinogenesis in mice, reduce the colonic mucosal inflammation levels, and rebalance the fecal and mucosal intestinal microbiota.

Risk factors associated with missed colorectal flat adenoma: A multicenter retrospective tandem colonoscopy study

AIM: To determine the miss rate for colorectal flat adenomas during colonoscopy and the risk factors.

Clinical Research progress of traditional Chinese medicine in treating esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world. In recent years, the incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer have increased year by year, which has seriously threatened human health. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as the primary treatments of Western medicine, have achieved specific results in the clinic, but each has its limitations, this is mainly related to their side effects. The diversified treatment methods of traditional Chinese medicine have visible clinical effects, especially in terms of reducing toxicity and increasing efficiency. This present review reviews the research progress of esophageal cancer in terms of traditional Chinese medicine treatment, including the application of Chinese medicine extract, Chinese herbal compound, Chinese patent medicine and TCM external treatment in clinical practice, may provide valuable information for the adjuvant treatment of esophageal cancer with traditional Chinese medicine.

Effect of Sini Decoction plus Ginseng on COVID-19 based on network pharmacological analysis

Objective:To explore the effect of Sini Decoction plus Ginseng on COVID-19 based on network pharmacological analysis.Methods:TCMSP platform was used to search the compounds of Sini Decoction plus Ginseng with oral bioavailability(OB)≥30%and drug-likeness(DL)≥0.18,and the results were input into the UniProt database and converted into standard target names;Genecards and OMIM database were used to find COVID-19 target,and the intersection targets were obtained and Venn diagram was drawn.Cytoscape 3.7.2 was applied to make the network diagram of composition-disease-target;The interaction database platform-String was used to analyze the target protein interaction,and the data were input into the software of Cytoscape 3.7.2 to make the network diagram;David database was used to analyze the accumulation of Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)signaling pathways of drug-disease intersection targets.The component target pathway network was constructed by using Cytoscape 3.7.2.Results:Altogether,112 active components of Sini Decoction plus Ginseng were screened,corresponding to 234 targets.Besides,261 COVID-19 targets were obtained after screening,and the Venn map showed that 50 targets were intersected.Quercetin,kaempferol,naringenin,andβ-sitosterol were found to have higher moderate values shown by the component-disease-target network.The target proteins with high PPI network analysis value were IL-6,MAPK8,MAPK3,MAPK1,TP53,TNF,and CASP3.GO enrichment function analysis showed that 341 biological processes,33 cell components,and 50 molecular functions were involved,which showed inflammatory reaction,cell response to lipopolysaccharide,exogenous apoptosis signal pathway,positive regulation of RNA polymeraseⅡpromoter transcription,cytokine activity,chemokine activity,heme binding,and other biological processes.KEGG signaling pathway enrichment function analysisshowed that there were 112 signaling pathways.It included TNF signaling pathway,tuberculosis,influenza A,PI3K Akt signaling pathway,HIF-1 signaling pathway,and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway.According to the component-target-pathway network diagram,quercetin,kaempferol,naringenin,andβ-sitosterol in Sini Decoction plus Ginseng may act on IL-6,MAPK8,MAPK3,MAPK1,TP53,TNF,CASP3,and other targets through TNF signaling pathway,MAPK signaling pathway,Tolllike receptor signaling pathway,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,and HIF-1 signaling pathway.Conclusion:Sini Decoction plus Ginseng can affect COVID-19 through multiple active components,multiple targets,and multiple pathways.

Target gene prediction and functional analysis of miRNAs differently expressed in colon cancer primary tumors to metastases formed in the liver

Background:Colon cancer is one of the main tumor-related causes of death worldwide and now surgical resection is still the most effective method for the treatment of colon cancer.However,many colon cancers currently lose the opportunity for surgical treatment because of liver metastases.The possible molecular mechanism of liver metastasis of colon cancer can provide ideas for the prevention and treatment of liver metastasis colon cancer.Several studies have recently indicated the regulatory effects of microRNAs(miRNAs)in cancer metastasis.Bioinformatics methods were used to analyze the differentially expressed miRNAs in primary colon cancer tissues and liver metastases.Then the target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted.By analyzing the biological processes and signaling pathways that the target gene may participate in,we infer the possible molecular mechanisms of liver metastasis of colon cancer and the effects of target genes on prognosis of patients were explored.Methods:The chip data GSE98406 was selected and differentially expressed miRNAs between primary colon cancer and liver metastatic colon cancer were explored by Morpheus.TargetScan and miRanda were used to predict target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs.The gene oncology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses were performed to analyze the biological processes and possible signaling pathways the target genes involved in.Protein-ptotein interaction analysis was performed by String and Cyotscape,the interactions among target genes and hub genes were analyzed.Finally,we explored the effects of differentially expressed miRNAs and their target genes on the prognosis of colon cancer patients.Results:Two differentially expressed miRNAs were screened out,of which miR-122 was upregulated more than 2 folds and miR-143 was downregulated more than twofold in liver metastatic colon cancer.Target genes of miR-122 and miR-143 were mainly involved in energy metabolism.The major signaling pathways involved are epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathways.Ten hub genes were selected by protein interaction analysis.Among them,KRAS,CDK1,CREB1,CS,PC,RAB7A,and CANX were highly expressed in tumor tissues,and CALM1 and MAPK7 were lowly expressed in tumor tissues.The results showed that reduced expression of CS and PC reduced survival of patients with colon cancer.However,the impact of miR-122 and mi-143 on the prognosis of patients with colon cancer is not clear.Conclusion:Differentially expressed miRNAs mainly affect the expression of target genes involved in energy metabolism and cellular transformation in colon cancer.Intracellular metabolic activity is the center of cellular activity,the treatment of metabolic processes in tumor cells may be a new idea for the treatment of tumors.

Ritual Treatment of Shamans in Northeast China

Shaman originates from the Tungusic-Ian language.In northeast China,the Shamanism traditions have gradually merged,and formed a compound belief form of polytheism and immortality.When a Shaman enters a special state,he has special abilities beyond ordinary people,such as divination,healing,and disaster relief.The most important thing is that as a messenger of communication between man and God,the Shaman expresses his wishes to God.Man communicates the will of God.The Shaman relies on the drum dance and sings the divine music,through the Shaman ritual to convey the request of people and the will of God.This article summarizes the Shaman's ritual therapy methods(music therapy and dance therapy)and psychological mechanism research,and provides a reference for ritual therapy.

An analysis of Liu Songjiang’s experience in treating lymphoma from the theory of Shaoyang based on experimental cases

Professor Liu Songjiang has been engaged in clinical research of tumors for more than 30 years.He is based on syndrome differentiation and treatment.He is good at combining traditional Chinese and western medicine to treat malignant tumors.This article combines the test cases to summarize the experience of Professor Liu Songjiang in treating lymphoma from Shaoyang.He hopes to broaden his thinking and improve the curative effect for clinicians.

An electron-transfer[Fe_(2)Co_(2)]square complex exhibiting unprecedented wide room-temperature hysteresis

Switchable molecules with magnetic bistability that can function at standard conditions are highly desirable from the perspective of practical applications.Over the last decade,significant progress has been made in modulating thermally induced electrontransfer-coupled spin transition(ETCST)events between diamagnetic{Fe_(LS)^(Ⅱ)(μ-CN)Co_(LS)^(Ⅲ)}and paramagnetic{Fe_(LS)^(Ⅲ)(μ-CN)-Co_(HS)^(Ⅱ)}electron configurations(named LS and HS,respectively,for short)within the Fe/Co mixed-valence cyanometallate complexes.Herein,we prepared a novel[Fe_(2)Co_(2)]square complex[(pzTp)Fe(CN)_(3)Co(bnbpen)]_(2)[NO_(3)]_(2)·4CH_(3)OH·2.5H_(2)O(1·Solv)and its desolvated phase[(pzTp)Fe(CN)_(3)Co(bnbpen)]_(2)[NO_(3)]_(2)(1),obtained via single-crystal-to-single-crystal(SCSC)transformation.Complex 1·Solv remaining in the diamagnetic state below room temperature exhibits an irreversible ETCST behavior accompanied by desolvation upon heating.Notably,complex 1 displays an unprecedented rate-dependent ETCST behaviour involving with two diamagnetic LS states(a dynamically favoured LS1 state and a thermodynamically favoured LS2state),between which a net one-way transition from LS1 to LS2 is accessible likely via a structural phase transition(SPT)above255 K.Consequently,two well separated transition channels(HS?LS1 at around 255 K and HS←→LS2 in the temperature range of 317-350 K)are achieved according to either fast(>20 K/min)or slow rate(<1 K/min),respectively.At a moderate rate of 3 K/min,complex 1 shows a wide hysteresis of 66 K centered at 328 K,the largest yet reported for discrete Fe/Co cyanometallate complexes.Complex 1 represents the first ETCST example coupled with dynamic SPT,providing a new strategy for manipulating bistability within this fascinating cyanometallate family.

Effects of probiotics and prebiotics on intestinal microbiota in mice with acute colitis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing

Background:Imbalance of intestinal microbiota was closely related to colitis.Under these circumstances,regulation of enteric flora may be beneficial to the repair of inflammation.We aimed to investigate the effects of probiotics (Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus),prebiotics and their combination on inflammation,and microflora in mice of acute colitis.Methods:C57BL/6J mice were divided into six groups randomly (blank control group,model control group,probiotics group,synbiotics group,lactitol group and probiotics + lactitol group).Each group was given 2.5% dextran sulfate sodium drinking water for 5 days other than the blank control group.Except for the model control group,the other four groups were intervened with probiotics,synbiotics (probiotics and inulin),lactitol,and probiotics + lactitol.Mice were sacrificed after 1 week of gavage,and pathologic scores were calculated.The feces of different periods and intestinal mucosa samples were collected to analyze the differences of intestinal microbiota by 16S rRNA sequencing.Differences of two groups or multiple groups were statistically examined through unpaired Student t test and analysis of variance (ANOVA),respectively.ANOVA,Tukey,Anosim,and metastats analysis were used to compare differences of microbiota among different groups.Results:After gavage for 1 week,the pathologic scores of groups with the intervention were significantly lower than those in the model control group,and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).The model control group was higher in the genus of Bacteroides (relative abundance:0.3679 vs.0.0099,P =0.0016) and lower in Lactobacillus (relative abundance:0.0020 vs.0.0122,P =0.0188),Roseburia (relative abundance:0.0004 vs.0.0109,P =0.0157),compared with the blank control group.However,the same phenomenon was not found in groups gavaged with probiotics and lactitol.Compared with model control group,mice with intervention were increased with Bifidobacterium (relative abundance:0.0172 vs.0.0039,P =0.0139),Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group (relative abundance:0.1139 vs.0.0320,P =0.0344),Lachnospiraceae_UCG-006 (relative abundance:0.0432 vs.0.0054,P =0.0454),and decreased with Alistipes (relative abundance:0.0036 vs.0.0105,P =0.0207) in varying degrees.The mucosal flora was more abundant than the fecal flora,and genus of Mucispirillum (relative abundance:0.0207 vs.0.0001,P =0.0034) was more common in the mucosa.Lactitol group showed higher level of Akkermansia than model control group (relative abundance:0.0138 vs.0.0055,P =0.0415),probiotics group (relative abundance:0.0138 vs.0.0022,P =0.0041),and synbiotics group (relative abundance:0.0138 vs.0.0011,P =0.0034),while probiotics + lactitol group had more abundant Akkermansia than synbiotics group (relative abundance:0.0215 vs.0.0013,P =0.0315).Conclusions:Probiotics and prebiotics reduce the degree of inflammation in acute colitis mice obviously.Mice with acute colitis show reduced beneficial genera and increased harmful genera.Supplementation of probiotics and prebiotics display the advantage of increasing the proportion of helpful bacteria and regulating the balance of intestinal microbiota.Lactitol might promote the proliferation of Akkermansia.

Integration of USEPA WASP model in a GIS platform

The integration of water quality analysis simulation program (WASP) with a geographical information system (GIS) is presented.This integration was undertaken to enhance the data analysis and management ability of the widely used water quality model.Different types of data involved in WASP modeling were converted and integrated into GIS using a database method.The spatial data modeling and analysis capability of GIS were used in the operation of the model.The WASP water quality model was coupled with the environmental fluid dynamics code (EFDC) hydrodynamic model.A case study of the Lower Charles River Basin (Massachusetts,USA) water quality model system was conducted to demonstrate the integration process.The results showed that high efficiency of the data process and powerful function of data analysis could be achieved in the integrated model,which would significantly improve the application of WASP model in water quality management.

A trinuclear {Fe_(2)^(Ⅲ)Fe^(Ⅱ)} complex involving both spin and non-spin transitions exhibits three-step and wide thermal hysteresis

The engineering of switchable molecules with magnetic multistability is lying on the cutting-edge research topics for integrating multi-switches and ternary memory devices. Here we presented a cyanide-bridged {Fe_(2)^(Ⅲ)Fe^(Ⅱ)} desolvated complex {[(pzTp)Fe^(Ⅲ)-(CN)3]2[Fe^(Ⅱ)(L)]} (1), obtained through single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformation from its solvated phase {[(pzTp)-Fe^(Ⅲ)(CN)3]2[Fe^(Ⅱ)(L)]}·2CH_(3)OH·5H_(2)O (1·sol). Remarkably, 1 exhibited unprecedented three-step transition in magnetization with wide thermal hysteresis (44, 40, and 36 K) in the temperature range of 80–320 K. The detailed studies demonstrated that the tristable character originates from both an order-disorder structural phase transition (SPT) and a strongly cooperative two-step spin crossover (SCO) process. This work thus provides a new promising strategy for realizing multiple bistablity in magnetization by introducing two different transitions.

Desolvation–Solvation-Induced Reversible On–Off Switching of Two Memory Channels in a Cobalt(II) Coordination Polymer: Overlay of Spin Crossover and Structural Phase Transition

The engineering of switchable materials with controllable stimuli-responsive multistability remains challenging in materials science.Herein,we present syntheses and structural and magnetic studies of a one-dimensional cobalt(Ⅱ)coordination polymer[(enbzp)Co(bpy)](ClO_(4))_(2)·-MeOH·H2O(1;enbzp=N,N′-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis(1-phenyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)methanimine,bpy=4,4′-bipyridine)and its desolvated analogue[(enbzp)Co(bpy)](ClO_(4))_(2)(2),obtained by reversible single-crystal-to-single-crystal(SCSC)transformation.