Abstract To study the effect of Jiawei Huangqi Guizhi Decoction on gastrointestinal hormones and TGF-β3 signal pathways in rats with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). The model was created by methylnitrosoguanidine (MNNG) comprehensive method. After successful modeling, it was divided into three groups: model group (MC group), frolic acid group (AC group), modified Huangqi Guizhi Decoction high dose group (HH group), modified Huangqi Guizhi Decoction middle dose group (HM group), and modified Huangqi Guizhi Decoction low dose group (HL group). Gastric pathology was observed by HE staining. The levels of gastrin (GAS) and motilin (MTL) in rat serum were detected by ELISA assay. After HE staining, the histopathological sections were analyzed. Inflammatory factors infiltration and disorder of mucosal epithelial cells were found in the model group, which were improved to some extent after administration. According to the pathological chart analysis and score of rats in each group, compared with the model group, the gastric tissue damage of rats in each administration group has been improved in different degrees, among which the pathological scores of HH and HM groups were lower, and the corresponding damage degree was smaller. According to the test results of ELISA, Jiawei Huangqi Guizhi Decoction could reduce the contents of GAS, TGF-β3, and increase MTL abundance in the serum of rats, thus accelerating the apoptosis of tumor cells and inhibiting cancer. Jiawei Huangqi Guizhi Decoction played a positive role in preventing the occurrence of gastric cancer through reducing the concentrations of GAS and TGF-β3 in serum, and increasing the concentration of MLT in serum. This results provided a new treatment idea for CAG.

Abstract Background: UVB irradiation can cause acute damage such as sunburn, or photoaging and melanoma, all of which are major health threats. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the mechanism of skin photoaging induced by UVB radiation in mice through the analysis of the differential expression of miRNAs. Methods: A UVB irradiation photoaging model was constructed. HE and Masson special stains were used to examine the modifications in the epidermis and dermis of mice. The miRNA expression profiles of the mouse skin model exposed to UVB radiation and the normal skin of mice were analyzed using miRNA-sequence analysis. GO and Pathway analysis were employed for the prediction of miRNA targets. Results: A total of 23 miRNAs were evaluated for significantly different expressions in comparison to normal skin. Among them, 7 miRNAs were up-regulated and 16 were down-regulated in the skin with photoaging of mice exposed to UVB irradiation. The differential expression of miRNA is related to a variety of signal transduction pathways, among which mmu-miR-195a-5p and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathways are crucial. There was a significant differential expression of miRNA in the skin of normal mice in comparison with the skin with photoaging induced by UVB irradiation. Study limitations: Due to time and energy constraints, the specific protein level verification, MAPK pathway exploration, and miR-195a-5p downstream molecular mechanism need to be further studied in the future. Conclusions: UVB-induced skin photoaging can be diagnosed and treated using miRNA.

Abstract Epidural fibrosis is the main cause of failed back surgery syndrome. To investigate the role of miR-146 in the diagnosis and development of epidural fibrosis. Lumbar disc tissues were collected from 72 lumbar disc herniation patients (45 developed epidural fibrosis and 27 did not). The expression of miR-146 in collected tissues and isolated epidural fibroblasts was detected by RT-qPCR. The relative levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were analyzed by ELISA. The effect of miR-146 on the proliferation of fibroblasts was evaluated by MTT assay. miR-146 was significantly upregulated in epidural fibrosis patients compared with control patients. The expression of miR-146 was closely associated with the location, lower limb symptom and duration of disease of epidural fibrosis patients, and was positively correlated with the relative levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, miR-146 could discriminate epidural fibrosis patients from control patients. In isolated epidural fibroblasts, the overexpression of miR-146 dramatically enhanced its proliferation and the inflammatory response. miR-146 serves as a diagnostic biomarker for the early detection of epidural fibrosis. The upregulation of miR-146 enhanced the fibroblasts proliferation and inflammatory response in epidural fibrosis. This study provides a novel potential therapeutic target for epidural fibrosis.

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the impact of Ramipril (RAM) on the expressions of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and renal mesangial matrix (RMM) in rats with diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods: The Sprague Dawley rats were divided into normal control (NC) group (n = 12), DN group (n = 11), and DN+RAM group (n = 12). The ratio of renal weight to body weight (RBT), fasting blood glucose (FBG), HbA1c, 24-h urine protein (TPU), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), renal pathological changes, the levels of IGF-1, fibronectin (FN), type IV collagen (Col-IV), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 were compared among the groups. Results: Compared with NC group, the RBT, FBG, HbA1c, TPU, BUN, Cr, and RMM in DN group were significantly increased (P < 0.05), the IGF-1, FN, and Col-IV were significantly upregulated (P < 0.05), while MMP was significantly downregulated (P < 0.05). Compared with DN group, the indexes except for the FBG and HbA1c in DN+RAM group were significantly improved (P < 0.05), among which IGF-1 exhibited significant positive correlation with TPU(r=0.937), FN(r=0.896) and Col-IV(r=0.871), while significant negative correlation with MMP-2 (r=-0.826) (P<0.05). Conclusion: RAM may protect the kidneys by suppressing IGF-1 and mitigating the accumulation of RMM.

Osteosarcoma (OS) has a high incidence, malignity, and frequency of recurrence and metastasis. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential anti-cancer effects of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on human OS MG63 cells as well as underlying mechanisms. Viability of MG63 cells was assessed by CCK-8 assay to determine the adequate concentration of APS. Then, effects of APS on MG63 cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, and migration and invasion were analyzed by BrdU incorporation, PI staining, flow cytometry, and transwell assays, respectively. The expression levels of proteins involved in these physiological processes were assessed by western blot analysis. Afterwards, miR-133a level in APS-treated cells was determined by qRT-PCR, and whether APS affected MG63 cells through regulation of miR-133a was determined. Finally, the activation of c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) pathway was detected. We found that APS treatment suppressed the viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion of MG63 cells, as well as induced cell apoptosis. Moreover, APS enhanced the expression of miR-133a in MG63 cells. Knockdown of miR-133a reversed the APS treatment-induced MG63 cell proliferation, migration and invasion inhibition, as well as cell apoptosis. Furthermore, APS inactivated JNK pathway in MG63 cells. Knockdown of miR-133a reversed the APS treatment-induced inactivation of JNK pathway in MG63 cells. To conclude, APS repressed proliferation, migration, and invasion while induced apoptosis of OS MG63 cells by up-regulating miR-133a and then inactivating JNK pathway.

We investigated inheritance and carried out gene fine mapping of aroma in crosses between the aromatic elite hybrid rice Oryza sativa indica variety Chuanxiang-29B (Ch-29B) and the non-aromatic rice O. sativa indica variety R2 and O. sativa japonica Lemont (Le). The F1 grains and leaves were non-aromatic while the F2 non-aroma to aroma segregation pattern was 3:1. The F3 segregation ratio was consistent with the expected 1:2:1 for a single recessive aroma gene in Ch-29B. Linkage analysis between simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and the aroma locus for the aromatic F2 plants mapped the Ch-29B aroma gene to a chromosome 8 region flanked by SSR markers RM23120 at 0.52 cM and RM3459 at 1.23 cM, a replicate F2 population confirming these results. Three bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones cover chromosome 8 markers RM23120 and RM3459. Our molecular mapping data from the two populations indicated that the aroma locus occurs in a 142.85 kb interval on BAC clones AP005301 or AP005537, implying that it might be the same gene reported by Bradbury et al (2005a; Plant Biotec J. 3:363-370). The flanking markers Aro7, RM23120 and RM3459 identified by us could greatly accelerate the efficiency and precision of aromatic rice breeding programs.