Differential biological effects in two pedigrees of clam Ruditapes philippinarum exposed to cadmium using iTRAQ-based proteomics

Due to the industrial discharges, cadmium (Cd) has been one of typical heavy metal pollutants in the Bohai Sea. Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum is frequently used for pollution biomonitoring and consists of several pedigrees, of which White and Zebra clams are the dominant pedigrees along the Bohai Sea coast. However, limited attention has been paid on the differential biological effects in different pedigrees of clam to heavy metals. In this work, the proteome profiling analysis was performed to reveal the differential proteomic responses in White and Zebra clams to Cd exposure (200 μg/L) for 48 h, followed by bioinformatical analysis. The proteomic investigations showed that Cd treatment induced more differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in White clam samples than in Zebra clam samples. Based on the DEPs, we found that some key biological processes consisting of immune response and metabolism were commonly induced in both two pedigrees of clam. Uniquely, some processes related to cellular signaling, proteolysis and energy production were enhanced in Cd-treated White clam samples. Comparatively, the depletion in some unique processes on proteolysis and energy production was elicited in Cd-treated Zebra clam samples, as well as disorder in gene expression. Moreover, Cd exposure caused increases in CAT and POD activities in White clam samples and decreases in SOD and CAT activities in Zebra clams samples, which were consistent with the proteomic responses. Overall, these findings confirmed the differential biological effects of White and Zebra clams to Cd treatment, suggesting that the pedigree of animal should be taken into consideration in ecotoxicology studies.     

Evaluation of anticancer effects of a pharmaceutically viable extract of a traditional polyherbal mixture against non-small-cell lung cancer cells

ObjectiveThe present work tested organic solvents to prepare an extract with anticancer properties from a polyherbal mixture containing Nigella sativa (seeds), Hemidesmus indicus (roots) and Smilax glabra (rhizomes). We evaluate anticancer effects in non-small-cell lung cancer cells (NCI-H292), and discuss optimization for pharmaceutical use in the context of efficacy, yield and toxicity.MethodsUsing different organic solvents, six extracts were prepared from the polyherbal mixture. Based on the cytotoxic effects of these extracts on NCI-H292 cells and normal lung cells (MRC-5), as evaluated by the sulphorhodamine B assay, the total ethyl acetate (T-EA) extract was selected for further analysis. The possible anticancer mechanisms were assessed by evaluating the extract’s effects on apoptosis (through fluorescent microscopic analysis, DNA fragmentation analysis, caspase 3/7 assay and analysis of expression levels of apoptosis-related genes p53, Bax, survivin, Hsp70 and Hsp90), colony formation and antioxidant activity.ResultsThe extract had cytotoxic effects against NCI-H292 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Significant antioxidant activity and inhibition of colony formation were also observed. The expression level of caspase 3/7 significantly (P < 0.001) increased in NCI-H292 cells treated with 50 μg/mL of the extract. The same dosage led to a significant increase in expression levels of Bax and p53 (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively), accompanied by a significant decrease (P < 0.0001) in survivin, Hsp70 and Hsp90.ConclusionT-EA extract of the above polyherbal mixture has cytotoxicity against NCI-H292 cells via induction of apoptosis, antioxidant effects and inhibition of colony formation.     

中成药治疗缓慢性心律失常临床随机对照试验的网状Meta分析

采用网状Meta分析方法比较治疗缓慢性心律失常中成药的有效性和安全性。计算机检索中国期刊全文数据库(CNKI)、万方数据库(WanFang)、维普数据库(VIP)、SinoMed数据库、PubMed、Cochrane Library,检索时间均为建库至2019年2月。按预先制定的纳入与排除标准进行文献筛选和资料提取。Cochrane系统评价员手册5.3推荐的偏倚风险评估工具对纳入的RCTs进行质量评价。采用WinBUGS软件进行数据分析,STATA软件进行绘图。最终纳入46个中成药治疗缓慢性心律失常的随机对照试验(RCT),涉及4种中成药,3306例患者。网状Meta分析结果显示,心律失常症状改善总有效率共产生7个直接比较和3个间接比较,其中,参仙升脉口服液、参松养心胶囊、心宝丸、宁心宝胶囊联合常规治疗的临床疗效均优于单纯常规治疗,且差异具有统计学意义;中成药疗效排序依次为:参仙升脉口服液>参松养心胶囊>心宝丸>宁心宝胶囊。平均心率监测共产生7个直接比较和3个间接比较,参仙升脉口服液、参松养心胶囊联合常规治疗的疗效均优于单纯常规治疗,且差异具有统计学意义;中成药疗效排序依次为:参仙升脉口服液>参松养心胶囊>心宝丸>宁心宝胶囊。在常规治疗基础上,联用中成药可提高缓慢性心律失常的临床治疗效果。不同的中成药由于纳入的研究数量及质量存在差异,中成药排序结果有待进一步验证。     

兰州百合多糖BHP-1的化学结构与形貌分析

目的:以兰州百合鳞茎中分离和纯化得到的多糖BHP-1为主要研究对象,综合运用仪器分析和化学反应等手段研究其初步的形貌特征和化学结构。方法:采用热重分析(TG)及扫描电镜(SEC)技术分别分析多糖BHP-1的热稳定性和形貌结构特征;通过气相色谱-质谱联用(GC-MS)技术,结合部分酸水解、高碘酸钠氧化-Smith降解以及核磁共振波谱(NMR)分析等方法对多糖BHP-1的化学结构进一步的进行解析。结果:BHP-1是以1,4连接的α-D-吡喃葡萄糖和1,4连接的β-D-吡喃甘露糖为基本骨架的甘露葡聚糖,在葡萄糖和甘露糖的2位和/或3位形成主要的分支,主链或支链的末端残基主要为T-α-D-吡喃葡萄糖,同时在其结构片段中含有少量的O-乙酰基。热重分析显示BHP-1在220℃开始发生降解,520℃基本结束,说明BHP-1热稳定性良好。形貌分析显示BHP-1表面光滑有大量凹陷,凹陷处多为片层结构错落紧密堆积而成,并交织下陷呈不规则的孔洞。结论:多糖BHP-1是一种热稳定性良好,表面光滑有大量的凹陷和孔洞,并含少量O-乙酰基的甘露葡聚糖,其化学结构为首次报道。     

COVID-19: Clinical aspects and therapeutics responses

COVID-19 has created havoc in the world by causing thousands of demises in a short period of time. Up till now, several attempts have been made for potential therapeutics against SARS-COV2. In this retrospective, single-center study, we extracted data from 122 COVID-19, RT-PCR confirmed patients. who were treated with a new treatment strategy of lianhuaqingwen with Arbidol Hydrochloride. The patients were either asymptomatic or had mild symptoms for COVID-19 disease. Of 122 patients 21 (17.21%) patients developed severe conditions of COVID-19, while total 111 (90.9%) experienced mild symptoms such as fever in 93 (76.22%) patients, cough in 23 (20.17%) and muscle pain were observed in total 8 (7%) patients. Furthermore our newly applied drugs combination (Lianhuaqingwen and Arbidol Hydrochloride) showed therapeutic effects in 5–7 days in patients with mild symptoms with 98% recovery rate. These results indicate that COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms can be treated with Lianhuaqingwen and Arbidol Hydrochloride. However, extensive clinical investigations are required to confirm the effectiveness of these drugs.