Mechanism of action of Orthosiphon stamineus against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Insights from systems pharmacology and molecular docking approaches

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common complications of a metabolic syndrome caused by excessive accumulation of fat in the liver. Orthosiphon stamineus also known as Orthosiphon aristatus is a medicinal plant with possible potential beneficial effects on various metabolic disorders. This study aims to investigate the in vitro inhibitory effects of O. stamineus on hepatic fat accumulation and to further use the computational systems pharmacology approach to identify the pharmacokinetic properties of the bioactive compounds of O. stamineus and to predict their molecular mechanisms against NAFLD. Methods: The effects of an ethanolic extract of O. stamineus leaves on cytotoxicity, fat accumulation and antioxidant activity were assessed using HepG2 cells. The bioactive compounds of O. stamineus were identified using LC/MS and two bioinformatics databases, namely the Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database (TCMID) and the Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for the Molecular Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine (BATMAN-TCM). Pathway enrichment analysis was performed on the predicted targets of the bioactive compounds to provide a systematic overview of the molecular mechanism of action, while molecular docking was used to validate the predicted targets. Results: A total of 27 bioactive compounds corresponding to 50 potential NAFLD-related targets were identified. O. stamineus exerts its anti-NAFLD effects by modulating a variety of cellular processes, including oxidative stress, mitochondrial β-oxidation, inflammatory signalling pathways, insulin signalling, and fatty acid homeostasis pathways. O. stamineus is significantly targeting many oxidative stress regulators, including JNK, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), NFKB1, PPAR, and AKT1. Molecular docking analysis confirmed the expected high affinity for the potential targets, while the in vitro assay indicates the ability of O. stamineus to inhibit hepatic fat accumulation. Conclusion: Using the computational systems pharmacology approach, the potentially beneficial effect of O. stamineus in NAFLD was indicated through the combination of multiple compounds, multiple targets, and multicellular components.     

Evaluating the use of anti-scatter grids in adult knee radiography

IntroductionAnti-scatter grids efficiently reduce scatter radiation from reaching the imaging receptor, enhancing image quality; however, the patient radiation dose increases in the process. There is disagreement regarding the thickness thresholds for which anti-scatter grids are beneficial. This study aims to establish a thickness threshold for the use of anti-scatter grids to optimise adult knee radiography.MethodsThe study consisted of two phases. In Phase 1 phantom knee radiographs were acquired at varying thicknesses (10–16 cm) and tube voltages (60–80 kV). For each thickness and tube voltage, images with and without an anti-scatter grid were obtained. In Phase 2, two radiologists and three radiographers, evaluated the image quality of these images. Visual Grading Analysis (VGA) scores were analysed using Visual Grading Characteristics (VGC) based on the visualisation of five anatomic criteria.ResultsThe average DAP decreased by 72.1% and mAs by 73.1% when removing the anti-scatter grid. The VGC revealed that overall images taken with an anti-scatter grid have better image quality (AUC ≥0.5 for all comparisons). However, the anti-scatter grids could be removed for thicknesses 10, 12 and 14 cm in conjunction with using 80 kVp,.ConclusionAnti-scatter grids can be removed when imaging adult knees between 10 and 12 cm using any kVp setting since the radiation dose is reduced without significantly affecting image quality. For thicknesses >12 cm, the use of anti-scatter grids significantly improves image quality; however, the radiation dose to the patient is increased. The exception is at 14 cm used with 80 kVp, where changes in image quality were insignificant.Implications for practiceOptimisation by removing anti-scatter grids in adult knee radiography seems beneficial below 12 cm thickness with any kVp value. Since the average knee thickness ranges between 10 and 13 cm, anti-scatter grid can be removed for most patients. Nevertheless, further studies are recommended to test if this phantom-based threshold applies to human subjects.     

miR-149与肿瘤关系的研究进展

miRNAs是一类长度约为20~25个核苷酸，参与基因调控表达的内源性非编码RNA。miR-149作为miRNAs的重要成员，在多种肿瘤中表达异常，其表达水平与肿瘤细胞增殖、转移、凋亡、耐药、患者的早期诊断及预后密切相关。因此，miR-149有望成为新一类抗肿瘤治疗的靶点。     

Anomalous Origin of the Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery: Diagnoses and Surgical Results in 12 Pediatric Patients

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital condition. It responds well to early diagnosis and treatment, but otherwise the prognosis is poor. We present our case series of 12 patients (mean age, 2 ± 2.58 yr; age range, 2 mo–8 yr), emphasizing the diagnostic process and discussing our surgical results. The diagnosis of ALCAPA should be suspected in infants who have dilated cardiomyopathy with electrocardiographic changes that suggest ischemia, and in older children who have isolated mitral regurgitation. When clinical suspicion is high, the results of 2-dimensional echocardiography combined with color-flow Doppler studies in expert hands can establish the diagnosis, thus avoiding angiography in critically ill infants. The treatment of choice in our patients was transfer and reimplantation of the left coronary artery onto the ascending aorta. There were 2 deaths: both were infants in extremis who underwent emergency surgery. An older child with severe ventricular dysfunction was given mechanical ventricular assistance and then heart transplantation. As of this report, all 10 survivors remained well and asymptomatic.     

电针复合TCI靶控输注在单肺通气食管癌开胸手术麻醉中的应用与安全性＊

目的 探讨电针复合靶控输注（Target Controlled Infusion， TCI）在单肺通气食管癌开胸手术麻醉中的应用价值。方法 选取于我院拟行单肺通气食管癌开胸切除手术患者60例作为研究对象。随机将其分为试验组与对照组，对照组30例采取气管插管全麻及TCI靶控输注维持麻醉深度，试验组30例则在对照组方案基础上辅助电针麻醉，记录两组患者手术麻醉时间、药物用量、苏醒时间、并发症；以及术前（T_Ⅰ）、插管前即刻（T_Ⅱ）、插管后1 min（T_Ⅲ）、切皮即刻（T_Ⅳ）、去骨时（T_Ⅴ）、拔管即刻（T_Ⅵ）时平均动脉压（MAP）、平均心率（HR）、BIS值；术前、术后1天、术后3天简易智能精神状态检查量表（MMSE）；并于麻醉诱导前（T₀）、手术开始2 h（T₁）、术后1天（T₂）、术后3天（T₃）时抽取患者外周静脉血检测IL-1β、IL-6、IL-10、TNF-α浓度。结果 试验组手术用时、麻醉时间略低于对照组，但差异无统计学意义（P>0.05），试验组异丙酚、舒芬太尼用量以及苏醒时间均明显低于对照组（P<0.05）；T_Ⅱ时两组平均动脉压（Mean Arterial Pressure， MAP）、心率（Heartrate， HR）较术前明显降低，且试验组MAP明显低于对照组（P<0.05），但两组T_Ⅱ时HR比较无显著差异（P>0.05）；T_Ⅲ、T_Ⅵ时对照组MAP、HR明显高于T_Ⅰ时，而试验组MAP、HR与T_Ⅰ比较无显著差异（P>0.05）。术后1天、3天试验组简易智能精神状态检查量表（Mini-Mental State Examination， MMSE）评分低于对照组，有显著性差异（P<0.05）。T₁、T₂、T₃时试验组白介素-1β（IL-1β）、白介素-6（IL-6）、肿瘤坏死因子（Tumor Necrosis Factor-α， TNF-α）水平明显低于对照组（P<0.05），白介素-10（IL-10）水平明显高于对照组（P<0.05）。结论 采用电针复合TCI靶控输注麻醉方案可有效提升单肺通气食管癌开胸手术麻醉效果，能够降低患者术后认知功能障碍发生风险。     

基于网络药理学的气滞胃痛颗粒抗炎镇痛活性作用分析

目的通过网络药理学的方法预测气滞胃痛颗粒抗炎镇痛主要活性成分的作用靶点,结合中医方解配伍理论对其多成分-多靶点-多通路的作用进行分析。方法基于TCMSP中药系统生物学分析数据库收集气滞胃痛颗粒中6味中药的主要化学成分,并借助LC-MS技术对所筛成分进行分析,通过TCMSP检索和Pharmmapper软件预测获取各成分主要的作用靶标,并通过DIP数据库,利用蛋白质相互作用信息建立药物靶标与炎症疼痛靶标的关联,构建药物-靶标-疾病网络,通过网络特征分析气滞胃痛颗粒抗炎镇痛的作用靶标,阐释其抗炎镇痛的主要作用机制。结果根据网络分析,共有44个炎症疼痛靶点与气滞胃痛颗粒密切相关,其中直接作用靶点有20个,主要是对环加氧酶-2(COX-2)和诱导型一氧化氮合酶(i NOS)等蛋白酶的作用,作用机制可能与调节肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)信号通路、NOD样受体(NLR)信号通路、血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)信号通路等与炎症疼痛密切相关的信号通路有关。结论气滞胃痛颗粒抗炎镇痛作用体现了中药多成分、多靶点、多途径的作用特点,该研究为深入阐释气滞胃痛颗粒抗炎镇痛作用机制提供科学依据,并且进一步说明了中医药古方配伍理论的科学性。     

自噬在前列腺癌发生发展和治疗中的研究进展

自噬是真核细胞通过溶酶体对其自身生物大分子和细胞器回收再利用的过程，其在维持细胞稳态中发挥重要作用，并参与多种病理生理过程。在肿瘤的发病过程中，自噬发挥“双面作用”，既可以抗癌也能促癌。前列腺癌是老年男性最常见的恶性肿瘤，研究表明前列腺癌的发生发展与自噬作用密切相关，放化疗、内分泌治疗等对肿瘤细胞造成的应激可通过自噬得以缓解，抵抗治疗，因而自噬抑制剂对于放化疗等具有协同促进作用。本文就自噬在前列腺癌中发病和治疗进行综述，以期为前列腺癌的诊治提供一些新的思路。