Regulatory effects of the combination of berberine and ginsenoside Rb1 on high-fat diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via AMPK pathway and improved pharmacokinetics

Objective： We evaluated the protective effects of berberine （BBR） combined with ginsenoside Rb1 （G-Rb1） on high-fatdiet （HFD）-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） in rats and futher investigated the underlying mechanisms.Methods： Rats were fed an HFD for 6 weeks and then randomly divided into four groups and treated with BBR （50mg/kg）, G-Rb1 （100 mg/kg）, BBR （50 mg/kg） ＋ G-Rb1 （100 mg/kg）, or fenofibrate （40 mg/kg）. Histological examinationof liver tissue was performed. In human hepatocellular carcinoma cells HepG2, protein expression of AMP-activatedprotein kinase （AMPK） and acetyl-CoA carboxylase was detected by western blotting, and the mRNA expression ofcarnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 and 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase was detected by quantitativePCR. Pharmacokinetic assessments included analysis of bioavailability of BBR and G-Rb1 in vivo and G-Rb1 metabolismby intestinal bacteria in vitro. Results： Compared to the single-use group, BBR combined with G-Rb1 significantlyameliorated hepatic fat accumulation in HFD-induced obese rats, as demonstrated by reduced hepatic triglyceridecontent, and histological evaluation of liver sections. Activation of hepatic AMPK and phosphorylation of acetyl-CoAcarboxylase were significantly elevated in hepatocytes treated with both BBR and G-Rb1. Consistent with the activationof AMPK, the mRNA expression of carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 was stimulated, while the mRNA expression of3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase was suppressed. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that BBRincreased the bioavailability of G-Rb1 in Sprague-Dawley rats. Additionally, BBR prevented degradation of G-Rb1 infecal solution in vitro. Conclusion： BBR combined with G-Rb1 improved NAFLD through the AMPK signaling pathway,and BBR enhanced G-Rb1 bioavailability via promoting the intestinal absorption of G-Rb1. This combination may be auseful therapeutic agent for NAFLD.

Effect of Land Use Conversion from Rice Paddies to Vegetable Fields on Soil Phosphorus Fractions

Excess phosphorus （P） from agricultural soils contributes to eutrophication in water bodies. Samples （n = 60） were taken from sites where rice paddies have been converted to vegetable fields for 0, 〈 10, 10-20, and 〉 20 years and analyzed for five inorganic P （Pi） fractions, three organic P （Po） fractions, and several soil parameters to investigate how land use conversion affects Pi and Po fractions in a peri-urban area of China with soils characteristic of many agricultural areas of Asia. Significant increases of 33, 281, 293, and 438 mg kg-i were found for soluble and loosely bound Pi （SL-Pi）, aluminum-bound Pi （Al-Pi）, calcium-bound Pi （Ca-Pi）, and iron-bound Pi （Fe-Pi）, respectively, after conversion from rice paddies to vegetable fields. Most of the increase in Pi was in the form of Fe-Pi, which increased from 8% of total P （TP） on paddy soil to 31% on the soil with 〉 20-year vegetable cultivation, followed by Al-Pi, which increased from 2% to 19% of TP. For Po fractions, there was no significant change in P concentrations. The conversion of land use from paddy fields to high intensity vegetable fields was causing significant changes in soil P fractious. Management practices were causing a buildup of soil P, primarily in the Fe-Pi fraction, followed by Ca-Pi and Al-Pi fractions. If current trends continue, a 30%-70% increase in TP could be expected in the next 20 years. Farmers in the area should reduce P application and use to maximize P uptake.

The expression of Twist in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma and its clinicopathological significance

Objective:The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of Twist in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) and the relations between Twist expression and the clinicopathological characteristics. Methods: The expression of Twist was examined immunohistochemically in 48 cases of SACC, 18 of pleomorphic adenoma and 10 of normal parotid gland. The relationship between Twist expression in SACC and the clinicopathological factors was analyzed. Results: Twist expression was significantly higher in SACC tissues compared with pleomorphic adenomas and normal parotid gland tissues (P<0.05). Twist expression levels in SACC were significantly associated with histological type, perineural invasion, postoperative recurrence, and distant metastasis (P<0.05), rather than age, gender, tumor site, tumor size, or clinical staging (P>0.05). Conclusion: Twist expression may be associated with tumor cell differentiation, perineural invasion and metastasis of SACC. Twist expression is a potential prognostic factor for disease survival of SACC.

Effects of two medicinal plants Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) and Diospyros mespiliformis L. (Ebenaceae) leaf extracts on rat skeletal muscle cells in primary culture

Crude decoction, aqueous and ethanolic extracts of two medicinal plants （Psidiura guajava and Diospyros raespiliformis）, widely used in the central plateau of Burkina Faso to treat many diseases were evaluated for their antagonistic effects on caffeine induced calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum of rat skeletal muscle cells. These different extracts showed a decrease of caffeine induced calcium release in a dose dependent manner. Comparison of the results showed that Psidiura guajava leaf extracts are more active than extracts of Diospyros mespiliformis and that crude decoctions show better inhibitory activity. The observed results could explaine their use as antihypertensive and antidiarrhoeal agents in traditional medicine, by inhibiting intracellular calcium release.

Prognostic relevance of ALDH1 in breast cancer: a clinicopathological study of 96 cases

Objective： The aim of the study was to investigate the expression and clinical significance of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 （ALDH1） in breast cancer patients. Methods： The expression of ALDH1 protein was examined by immunohistochemical staining in 96 breast cancer tissues. The disease-free survival analysis of patients was evaluated based on the clinical follow-up data. Results： Expression of ALDH1 protein had significant correlations with ER, PR, and HER2 proteins （P 〈 0.05）, but had no significant correlations with age, tumor size, clinical stage, P-glycoprotein, and lymph node status （P 〉 0.05）. The 2-year disease-free survival rate of ALDHl-positive patients was lower than that of ALDHl-negative patients （P 〈 0.05）. ALDHl-positive patients undergoing chemotherapy and hormonal therapy had lower 2-year disease-free survival rate than ALDHl-negative patients （P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion： ALDH1 expression might play an important role in drug resistant, and ALDH1 may be used as a prognostic marker.

Fic蛋白家族的研究进展

过去的研究发现了一个具有相同保守结构域的Fic(filamentation induced by cAMP)蛋白家族。虽然在原核生物中发现超过3 000种以上含有Fic结构域的不同蛋白质,但到目前为止,在包括人在内的真核生物中仅发现一种Fic蛋白。Fic结构域主要通过含有磷酸基团的化合物在转录中起作用,目前被人类关注的功能是单酰磷酸化(AMPylation, AMP化),一种类似磷酸化的蛋白质调控机制,是以ATP为底物将一磷酸腺苷(AMP)特异地转移至靶标氨基酸残基。该机制主要在细菌侵袭宿主、侵袭后增殖、致病的过程中发挥作用。真核细胞中的单磷酸腺苷化可以调控内质网的稳定性。本文主要对Fic蛋白的特征性结构和作用以及几种主要的Fic蛋白的结构、作用和研究方法进行综述。