Abstract Studies on herbal medicine have exposed some toxic effects on humans. Peperomia pellucida (L.) HBK (P. pellucida) is one of the herbal medicines recommended as an alternative to synthetic medicine for diseases. Studies exist on the pharmacological activities of P. pellucida extracts, but studies on the potential hepatotoxic and mutagenic effects of subchronic administration of P. pellucida aqueous extracts, which is very important knowledge when we venture into alternative medicine, are lacking. In this study, two concentrations (60 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg) of P. pellucida aqueous extracts — decoction and freeze-dried extracts —were administered in vivo to BALB/c mice for nine (9) weeks. Significant differences were observed between the 60 mg/kg freeze-dried extract and the control in terms of mice weight and micronucleus frequency at 7-8 weeks of treatment. Also, no significant differences were found between groups in serum transaminases levels. Generally, there is no sufficient evidence to show that subchronic exposure to P. pellucida aqueous extracts is hepatotoxic though 60 mg/kg concentration may be mutagenic. This study suggests that although the herbal medicine is safe for prolonged consumption, users are advised to take precautions and moderations of its use due to the possibility of potential mutagenic effects.

Abstract Background: Although OIP5-AS1 has been characterized as an oncogenic lncRNA in many types of cancer, its role and underlying mechanism in ovarian carcinoma (OC) remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the role of OIP5-AS1 in OC. Methods: OC tissues and non-tumor tissues (ovary tissues within 3 cm around tumors) were collected from 58 OC patients (age range 36 to 67 years old, mean age 51.4 ± 5.9 years old). The expression of OIP5-AS1 and snail in paired tissues were determined by RT-qPCR. The interaction between OIP5-AS1 and miR-34a was predicted by IntaRNA2.0 and confirmed by dual luciferase reporter assay. The effects of overexpression of OIP5-AS1 and miR-34a on the expression of snail were analyzed by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Cell invasion and migration were analyzed by Transwell assay. Results: We observed that the expression of OIP5-AS1 and snail was upregulated and positively correlated with each other in OC. RNA–RNA interaction analysis showed that OIP5-AS1 might sponge miR-34a. In OC cells, overexpression of OIP5-AS1 resulted in the upregulated expression of snail, while overexpression of miR-34a downregulated the expression of snail. In addition, overexpression of miR-34a reduced the effects of overexpression of OIP5-AS1 on the expression of snail. In cell invasion and migration assay, overexpression of OIP5-AS1 and snail resulted in increased OC cell invasion and migration, while overexpression of miR-34a decreased OC cell invasion and migration. Moreover, overexpression of miR-34a attenuated the effects of OIP5-AS1 overexpression on OC cell invasion and migration. Conclusions: Therefore, OIP5-AS1 may upregulate snail expression in OC by sponging miR-34a to promote OC cell invasion and migration.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have not shown any correlation between bile acid metabolism and bone mineral density (BMD) in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Thus, the current study evaluated the association between bile acid levels as well as BMD and bone turnover marker levels in this group of women. METHODS: This single-center cross-sectional study included 150 postmenopausal Chinese women. According to BMD, the participants were divided into three groups: osteoporosis group, osteopenia group, and healthy control group. Serum bile acid, fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19), and bone turnover biomarker levels were assessed. Moreover, the concentrations of parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D], procollagen type I N-peptide (P1NP), and beta-CrossLaps of type I collagen containing cross-linked C-terminal telopeptide (β-CTX) were evaluated. The BMD of the lumbar spine and proximal femur were examined via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: The serum total bile acid levels in the osteoporosis and osteopenia groups (5.28±1.56 and 5.31±1.56 umol/L, respectively) were significantly lower than that in the healthy control group (6.33±2.04 umol/L; p=0.002 and 0.018, respectively). Serum bile acid level was positively associated with the BMD of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip. However, it negatively correlated with β-CTX concentration. Moreover, no correlation was observed between bile acid and P1NP levels, and the levels of the other biomarkers that were measured did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSION: Serum bile acid was positively correlated with BMD and negatively correlated with bone turnover biomarkers reflecting bone absorption in postmenopausal women. Thus, bile acid may play an important role in bone metabolism.

RESUMO: O presente trabalho analisa a influência das características das famílias e as percepções da variabilidade climática na produção de arroz. Os autores usaram dados primários coletados de pequenos produtores de arroz na região de Mbeya, na Tanzânia. A técnica de Garret e o software Stata foram utilizados para análise de dados. Os resultados confirmam que a educação do agricultor, estado civil, gênero e propriedade da terra têm uma influência positiva no rendimento do arroz. Assim, para cada aumento de 1% em cada variável aumenta a produção de arroz em 14%, 98%, 26% e 21%, respectivamente. Devido aos resultados empíricos sobre as percepções dos agricultores confirma-se que se o período de seca aumentar 1%, reduziria em média a produção de arroz em 20%. A maioria dos agricultores (70%) percebeu o período de seca para reduzir o rendimento do arroz. Além disso, os agricultores usam uma quantidade média menor de sementes de arroz que prejudicaram o rendimento do arroz. Se os agricultores aumentarem a quantidade de sementes em 1%, o rendimento do arroz aumentará em 17%. Nossas descobertas também revelaram que o preço de mercado anterior tem associação positiva com a produção de arroz das próximas safras. Portanto, nosso estudo conclui que entre as variáveis das famílias e suas percepções apresentam uma implicação positiva na produção de arroz, no entanto, com as análises empíricas, outras variáveis foram insignificantes devido aos efeitos de multicolinearidade. Os autores recomendaram ao governo e a outras organizações responsáveis que capitalizassem as infraestruturas de irrigação, a extensão agrícola e os serviços tecnológicos para conter as coercões duradouras de insegurança alimentar na Tanzânia.

ABSTRACT: Rice farming is characterized by various factors including environmental and non-environmental factors. The current paper analyses the influence of households’ characteristics, and perceptions of weather variability on rice yield. Authors used primary data collected from small-scale rice farmers in the Mbeya region of Tanzania. Garret technique and Stata software were used for data analyses. Results confirmed that farmer’s education, marital status, gender, and land ownership have a positive influence on rice yield. Thus, for every 1% increase in each variable increases rice yield by 14%, 98%, 26%, and 21% respectively. Owing to empirical results on farmers’ perceptions, it is confirmed that if the drought period increased by 1%, would on average reduce rice yield by 20%. The majority of farmers (70%) have perceived that drought period reduced their rice yield. In addition, farmers’ used averagely less quantity of rice seeds which have impaired their rice yields. If farmers increased the seed quantity by 1%, rice yields would increase by 17%. Our findings also revealed that the previous market price has positive association with the next seasons’ rice yield. Therefore, our study concluded that among households’ variables and their perceptions have positive implications on rice yield; however, with the empirical analyses other variables were insignificant due to multicollinearity effects. Authors recommended to the government and other responsible organizations to capitalize on irrigation infrastructures, agricultural extension and technological services to restraint the enduring food insecurity coercions in Tanzania.

RESUMO OBJETIVO: Este estudo tem como objetivo investigar as expressões de TOLL-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) e metaloproteinase 9 da matriz (MMP-9)/inibidor de tecido da metaloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) em vasos sanguíneos pulmonares com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC) e suas relações com o remodelamento vascular pulmonar (PVR). MÉTODOS: Sessenta tecidos paratumorais foram divididos em grupo COPD e o grupo controle (n = 30). Foram comparadas as inflamações, área da parede da artéria pulmonar/área da artéria total (WA%) e espessura da parede/diâmetro externo vascular (WT%). As expressões de TLR-4, MMP-9/TIMP-1 e PCNA em células de músculo liso vascular pulmonar foram detectadas, e suas relações com PVR foram então analisadas. RESULTADOS: As inflamações (1,6 ± 0,8), WA% (44,0 ± 6,4) e WT% (27,3 ± 3,3) no grupo COPD foram maiores que no grupo controle (0,3 ± 0,5; 26,1 ± 2,8; 15,6 ± 1,8). E as expressões de TLR-4 (31,4 ± 14,7) e MMP-9/TIMP-1 (2,2 ± 2,6) foram aumentadas em relação ao grupo controle (4,7 ± 4,5, 1,9 ± 1,2). Na análise de correlação, TLR-4 e MMP-9/TIMP-1 foram positivamente correlacionadas com as inflamações (r = 0,18; P <0,01), WA% (r = 0,68; P <0,01) e WT% (r = 0,73; P <0,01), bem como correlacionadas positivamente com a expressão de PCNA (r = 0,44; P <0,01). A elevação da TLR-4 foi correlacionada positivamente com as expressões de MMP-9 e TIMP-1. CONCLUSÕES: A regulação positiva do TLR-4 nas células do músculo liso arterial pulmonar de pacientes com DPOC poderia promover as inflamações e a expressão de MMP-9, causando assim uma degradação anormal da matriz extracelular, por isso desempenhou um papel importante no processo de PVR.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aims at investigating the expressions of TOLL-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9)/ tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) in pulmonary blood vessels with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their relationships with pulmonary vascular remodelling (PVR). METHODS: 60 para-tumour tissues were divided into the COPD group and the control group (n=30); the inflammations, pulmonary artery wall area/total artery area (WA%), and wall thickness/vascular outer diameter (WT%) were compared. The expressions of TLR-4, MMP-9/TIMP-1, and PCNA in pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells were detected, and their relationships with PVR were then analysed. RESULTS: The inflammations (1.6±0.8), WA% (44.0±6.4), and WT% (27.3±3.3) in the COPD group were higher than in the control group (0.3±0.5, 26.1±2.8, 15.6±1.8), and the expressions of TLR-4 (31.4±147) and MMP-9/TIMP-1 (2.2±2.6) were increased compared to the control group (4.7±4.5, 1.9±12). Correlation analysis: TLR-4 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 were positively correlated with the inflammations (r=0.18, P<0.01), WA% (r=0.68, P<0.01), and WT% (r=0.73, P<0.01), as well as positively correlated with the expression of PCNA (r=0.44, P<0.01); the upregulation of TLR-4 was positively correlated with the expressions of MMP-9 and TIMP-1. CONCLUSIONS: The upregulation of TLR-4 in the pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells of COPD patients could promote the inflammations and the MMP-9 expression, thus causing abnormal degradation of extracellular matrix, so it played an important role in the process of PVR.

The influence of homogenization treatment on microstructure evolution of Mg-5.8Zn-0.5Zr-1.0Yb (mass fraction, %) alloy was investigated under different annealing temperatures and holding times. Results indicated a severe dendritic segregation in the as-cast ingot. Zn and Yb segregate remarkably at the grain boundary and Zr appears in the form of precipitates. The Mg-Zn binary eutectic phases and a new ternary phase Mg-Zn-Yb are mainly distributed at dendrite boundaries. After homogenization, most of the eutectic phases dissolve into the matrix, except for a small amount of Mg-Zn-Yb phase. The area fractions of residual secondary phase decrease from 5.54% in the as-cast alloy to 0.59% in the well-homogenized sample. Microhardness test indicates that with the increasing temperature and holding time, microhardness value decreased sharply within the first stage of homogenization and then increased steadily to the local maximum value at 380 ºC and 12 h, followed by a slight reduction. Basing on the comprehensive analysis on microstructure and mechanical properties, the homogenization treatment at 380 ºC for 12 h is preferable.