Junctional adhesion molecule-like protein as a novel target for kaempferol to ameliorate lung adenocarcinoma

ObjectiveAlthough there have been improvements in targeted therapy and immunotherapy, the majority of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients still lack effective therapies. Consequently, it is urgent to screen for new diagnosis biomarkers and pharmacological targets. Junctional adhesion molecule-like protein (JAML) was considered to be an oncogenic protein and may be a novel therapeutic target in LUAD. Kaempferol is a natural flavonoid that exhibits antitumor activities in LUAD. However, the effect of kaempferol on JAML is still unknown.MethodsSmall interfering RNA was used to knockdown JAML expression. The cell viability was determined using the cell counting kit-8 assay. The proliferation of LUAD cells was evaluated using the 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine incorporation assay. The migration and invasion of LUAD cells were evaluated by transwell assays. Molecular mechanisms were explored by Western blotting.ResultsJAML knockdown suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion of LUAD cells, and JAML deficiency restrained epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via inactivating the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) pathway. Using a PI3K activator (740Y-P), rescue experiments showed that phenotypes to JAML knockdown in LUAD cells were dependent on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Kaempferol also inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion of A549 and H1299 cells and partially suppressed EMT through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Knockdown of JAML ameliorated the inhibitory effect of kaempferol on LUAD cells. Kaempferol exerted anticancer effects by targeting JAML.ConclusionJAML is a novel target for kaempferol against LUAD cells.Please cite this article as: Wu Q, Wang YB, Che XW, Wang H, Wang W. Junctional adhesion molecule-like protein as a novel target for kaempferol to ameliorate lung adenocarcinoma. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(3): 268–276.     

Ferulic acid enhances insulin secretion by potentiating L-type Ca2+ channel activation

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of ferulic acid, a natural compound, on pancreatic beta cell viability, Ca²⁺ channels, and insulin secretion.MethodsWe studied the effects of ferulic acid on rat insulinoma cell line viability using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide viability assay. The whole-cell patch-clamp technique and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were also used to examine the action of ferulic acid on Ca²⁺ channels and insulin secretion, respectively.ResultsFerulic acid did not affect cell viability during exposures up to 72 h. The electrophysiological study demonstrated that ferulic acid rapidly and concentration-dependently increased L-type Ca²⁺ channel current, shifting its activation curve in the hyperpolarizing direction with a decreased slope factor, while the voltage dependence of inactivation was not affected. On the other hand, ferulic acid have no effect on T-type Ca²⁺ channels. Furthermore, ferulic acid significantly increased insulin secretion, an effect inhibited by nifedipine and Ca²⁺-free extracellular fluid, confirming that ferulic acid-induced insulin secretion in these cells was mediated by augmenting Ca²⁺ influx through L-type Ca²⁺ channel. Our data also suggest that this may be a direct, nongenomic action.ConclusionThis is the first electrophysiological demonstration that acute ferulic acid treatment could increase L-type Ca²⁺ channel current in pancreatic β cells by enhancing its voltage dependence of activation, leading to insulin secretion.     

Can acupuncture combined with SSRIs improve clinical symptoms and quality of life in patients with depression? Secondary outcomes of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial

ObjectivesTo explore the effects of acupuncture (manual acupuncture or electroacupuncture) combined with SSRIs for moderate to severe depression improving major clinical symptoms and life quality of the patients on secondary outcomes.DesignPragmatic, parallel, randomized controlled trial.Setting6 hospitals in China.Interventions6 weeks of manual acupuncture (MA)+selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), electroacupuncture (EA)+SSRIs, and SSRIs alone.Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome was response rate of 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17) total score at 6^th week. The secondary outcomes reported in this analysis were HAMD-17 factor scores at 1^st, 2^nd, 4^th, 6^th, 10^th week and WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) scores at 6^th week.Results477 patients were randomly assigned into MA + SSRIs (n = 161), EA + SSRIs (n = 160), or SSRIs alone (n = 156) groups. For HAMD-17 (at 6^th week), the MA + SSRIs group was significantly better than the SSRIs alone group in retardation factor (p = 0.008), while the EA+SSRIs group was significantly better than the SSRIs alone group in anxiety/somatization factor (p<0.001) and sleep disturbance factor (p = 0.002). For WHOQOL-BREF (at 6^th week), the EA + SSRIs group, compared with the SSRIs alone group, produced a more significant improvement in the overall quality of life, general health, physical health, and psychological health (p<0.05). While, the MA + SSRIs group, compared to the SSRIs alone group, showed significant advantage only in psychological health (p = 0.023).ConclusionsEither MA or EA combined SSRIs treatment could improve symptoms and quality of life for patients with moderate to severe depression. The main limitation of this trial was not using a sham control therefore the placebo effect could not be excluded.     

雷藤舒对TNF-α诱导的人类风湿关节炎滑膜成纤维细胞促凋亡、抗炎及对Ras-MAPKs信号通路的调节作用

目的:观察雷藤舒(LLDT-8)对肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)诱导的人类风湿关节炎滑膜成纤维细胞(RA-HFLS)的促凋亡、抗炎作用,以及可能的作用机制。方法:在体外培养的RA-HFLS体系中,实验组加入终浓度为50 nmol/L的LLDT-8与终浓度为20 ng/ml TNF-α共孵育,同时设置细胞空白对照组和TNF-α刺激组。采用TUNEL法检测RA-HFLS细胞的凋亡;RT-PCR检测Bcl-2 mRNA表达水平;ELISA和RTPCR分别检测IL-6、MMP-3的表达;Western-blot检测Ras-MAPKs信号通路的磷酸化水平和蛋白表达。结果:与空白对照组比较,LLDT-8组细胞凋亡率明显增加(P0.01)。LLDT-8能显著抑制TNF-α诱导的RA-HFLS分泌IL-6、MMP-3的表达(P0.01);能明显抑制Ras蛋白和p-P38磷酸化水平,而各组之间pERK、p-JNK、c-Fos、c-Jun和c-Myc的磷酸化水平和蛋白表达差异无统计学意义。结论:LLDT-8能够抑制Ras-p38 MAPK信号转导通路的异常活化,从而抑制RA滑膜的增殖,减轻滑膜细胞的炎症。     

Effect of meditation on intracerebral EEG in a patient with temporal lobe epilepsy: A case report

Meditation has been deemed a miracle cure for a wide range of neurological disorders. However, it is unclear whether meditation practice would be beneficial for patients suffering from epilepsy. Here we report on the comparison of the effects of focused-attention meditation and a control task on electroencephalographic (EEG) activity in a patient undergoing stereoencephalographic (SEEG) investigation for drug-resistant epilepsy. The patient routinely practiced focused-attention meditation and reported that she found it beneficial. During the SEEG investigation, intracerebral EEG data were recorded during meditation as well as during mind-wandering task. The EEG data were analyzed for type of electrical activity (labeled) by two expert epileptologists. We found that the proportion of EEG segments containing activity classified as interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs; abnormal electrical activity that occurs between seizures) increased significantly during meditation practice. Although the finding was surprising, this increase in IEDs may not correlate with an increase in seizure frequency, and the patient might still benefit from practicing meditation. The finding does, however, warrant further studies on the influence of meditation on epileptic activity.     

Potential impact of Helicobacter pylori-related metabolic syndrome on upper and lower gastrointestinal tract oncogenesis

Both Helicobacter pylori infection and metabolic syndrome present significant global public health burdens. Metabolic syndrome is closely related to insulin resistance, the major underlying mechanism responsible for metabolic abnormalities, and Helicobacter pylori infection has been proposed to be a contributing factor. There is growing evidence for a potential association between Helicobacter pylori infection and insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and related morbidity, including abdominal obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension, all of which increase mortality related to cardio-cerebrovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and malignancies. More specifically, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and hyperinsulinemia have been associated with upper and lower gastrointestinal tract oncogenesis. Apart from cardio-cerebrovascular, degenerative diseases and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a number of studies claim that Helicobacter pylori infection is implicated in metabolic syndrome-related Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma development, gastric and duodenal ulcers and gastric oncogenesis as well as lower gastrointestinal tract oncogenesis. This review summarizes evidence on the potential impact of Helicobacter pylori-related metabolic syndrome on gastroesophageal reflux disease-Barrett's esophagus-esophageal adenocarcinoma, gastric atrophy-intestinal metaplasia-dysplasia-gastric cancer and colorectal adenoma-dysplasia-colorectal cancer sequences. Helicobacter pylori eradication might inhibit these oncogenic processes, and thus further studies are warranted.     

The clinical efficacy of urate-lowering therapy in acute gout: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Clinical Rheumatology - Gout is a common chronic disease with a high recurrence rate. To date, the debate continues about the best time for using urate lowering therapy (ULT) during an acute gout...     

胃食管反流病中医证型与谷胱甘肽转硫酶P1基因多态性关联的研究

[目的]探讨胃食管反流病(GERD)中医证型与谷胱甘肽转硫酶P1(GSTP1)基因多态性之间是否存在关联。[方法]选择85例GERD患者和15例健康对照者,通过PCR-RFLP方法检测GSTP1基因型。[结果]GERD患者GSTP1突变型基因的比例明显高于健康人群(P<0.05);其在Barrett食管(BE)中的比例高于反流性食管炎(RE)及非糜烂性食管炎(NERD)(P<0.05,<0.05);GSTP1基因多态性在RE中的分布差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);GSTP1基因多态性在GERD各中医证型中的分布差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。[结论]GSTP1基因多态性可能是GERD发生的遗传易感因素,与BE关系密切,但与本病中医证型分布无明显关联。