Exploring the therapeutic potential of Qi Teng Mai Ning recipe in ischemic stroke and vascular cognitive impairment

Background:This study aims to explore the therapeutic effects of the Qi Teng Mai Ning recipe on ischemic stroke and vascular cognitive impairment through its potential to modulate cellular autophagy,with a focus on identifying its active ingredients and their target proteins.Methods:The study began with the identification of active ingredients in the Qi Teng Mai Ning recipe.It proceeded to screen the gene expression omnibus database for ischemic stroke and vascular cognitive impairment-associated differentially expressed mRNAs and to identify cellular autophagy-related proteins via the Human Autophagy Database.These proteins were annotated with Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes functions and subjected to molecular docking with the recipe’s core active ingredients.In vitro cell experiments were conducted on hypoxic HT22 cells,involving CCK8 assay,lentiviral transfection to silence autophagy related 9B(ATG9B),immunofluorescence staining,and qPCR validation to investigate the effects of the recipe on autophagy.Results:The analysis identified 104 active ingredients targeting 408 proteins and forming a complex ingredient-target network.Intersecting 55 ischemic stroke-related and 909 vascular cognitive impairment-related differentially expressed mRNAs revealed 14 co-expressed mRNAs.Molecular docking showed quercetin,kaempferol,myrcene,and conferone as key ingredients targeting autophagy-related proteins.Cellular experiments indicated that the recipe significantly enhanced cell viability under hypoxic conditions,reduced apoptosis,and modulated the expression of autophagy-related factors,thereby decreasing apoptosis rates in HT22 cells.Conclusion:The Qi Teng Mai Ning recipe offers protective effects against ischemic stroke and vascular cognitive impairment by modulating autophagy-related proteins.Its efficacy highlights the potential of traditional Chinese medicine in treating these conditions,though further research is needed to fully understand its mechanisms and clinical applications.

Interleukin-21 gene polymorphisms and chronic hepatitis B infection in a Chinese population

AIM: To investigate the relationship between inter-leukin-21(IL21) gene polymorphisms and chronic hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection in a Chinese population.METHODS: In this case-control study, 366 Chinese HBV-infected patients were recruited and divided into hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC; n = 94) and non-HCC(n = 272) groups at The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, from April 2009 to December 2012.In the non-HCC group, the patients were classified into three clinical subsets, 76 patients had chronic hepatitis B, 101 were HBV carriers and 95 patients had HBV-related cirrhosis.Two hundred eight unrelated healthy controls were also included.Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood.Single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) rs13143866, rs2221903, and rs907715 were subsequently genotyped using the SNaP shot SNP technique.RESULTS: There were no significant differences in allele and genotype frequencies of SNPs rs13143866, rs2221903, and rs907715 between chronic HBVinfected patients and control subjects.Furthermore, no significant differences were found in the frequencies of all alleles and genotypes between the HCC group and the non-HCC group.However, in the subgroup analysis, IL21 rs13143866 genotype AA frequency in the HBV carrier group was higher than in controls(OR = 6.280, 95%CI: 1.238-31.854; P = 0.019), and the effect of the recessive model(AA vs GG + GA, OR = 6.505, 95%CI: 1.289-32.828) was observed in the HBV carrier group.IL21 rs2221903 genotype TC frequency in the HBV carrier group was higher than in controls(OR = 1.809, 95%CI: 1.043-3.139; P = 0.035).In the haplotype analysis, the ATA haplotype(rs13143866, rs2221903, and rs907715) of IL21 was more frequent in the HCC group than in the non-HCC group(0.165 vs 0.104, P = 0.044; OR = 1.700, 95%CI: 1.010-2.863).CONCLUSION: Genotypes rs13143866 AA and rs2221903 TC are risk factors for carrying HBV; ATA haplotype increases the risk of HBV-related HCC onsetin a Chinese population.

Apolipoprotein C3(-455T>C) polymorphism confers susceptibility to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the Southern Han Chinese population

AIM:To investigate the relationship between Apolipoprotein C3(APOC3)(-455T>C) polymorphism and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) in the Southern Chinese han population.METHODS:In this prospective case-control study,we recruited 300 NAFLD patients and 300 healthy controls to a cohort representing Southern Chinese han population at The First Affiliated Hospital,Sun Yat-sen University,from January to December 2012. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequencing were used to genotype the APOC3(-455T>C) variants.RESULTS:After adjusting for age,gender,and bodymass index,TC and CC genotypes were found to increase the susceptibility to NAFLD compared to the TT genotype,with adjusted odds ratios(ORs) of 1.77(95%CI:1.16-2.72) and 2.80(95%CI:1.64-4.79),respectively. Further stratification analysis indicated that carriers of the CC genotype was more susceptible to insulin resistance(IR) than those of the TT genotype,with an OR of 3.24(95%CI:1.52-6.92). The CC genotype also was associated with a significantly higher risk of hypertension,hypertriglyceridemia,and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(hDL)(P < 0.05). No association was found between the APOC3(-455T>C) polymorphism and obesity,impaired glucose tolerance,hyperuricemia,hypercholesterolemia,or high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL)(P > 0.05).CONCLUSION:APOC3(-455T>C) genetic variation is involved in the susceptibility to developing NAFLD,IR,hypertension,hypertriglyceridemia,and low hDL in the Southern Chinese han population.