Icariin stimulates angiogenesis by activating the MEK/ERK- and PI3K/Akt/eNOS-dependent signal pathways in human endothelial cells

We investigated the molecular effect and signal pathway of icariin, a major flavonoid of Epimedium koreanum Nakai, on angiogenesis. Icariin stimulated in vitro endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tubulogenesis, which are typical phenomena of angiogenesis, as well as increased in vivo angiogenesis. Icariin activated the angiogenic signal modulators, ERK, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and increased NO production, without affecting VEGF expression, indicating that icariin may directly stimulate angiogenesis. Icariin-induced ERK activation and angiogenic events were significantly inhibited by the MEK inhibitor PD98059, without affecting Akt and eNOS phosphorylation. The PI3K inhibitor Wortmannin suppressed icariin-mediated angiogenesis and Akt and eNOS activation without affecting ERK phosphorylation. Moreover, the NOS inhibitor NMA partially reduced the angiogenic activity of icariin. These results suggest that icariin stimulated angiogenesis by activating the MEK/ERK- and PI3K/Akt/eNOS-dependent signal pathways and may be a useful drug for angiogenic therapy.     

A pressure cooking-based DNA extraction from archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue

As emerging novel DNA-based methodologies are adopted, nucleic acid-based assays depend critically on the quality and quantity of extracted DNA. Formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue samples provide an invaluable resource for subsequent molecular studies of clinical phenotypes, but high-quality DNA extraction from archival FFPE tissue specimens remains complex and time-consuming. To address this challenge, we have developed a reliable rapid DNA extraction method for FFPE tissue specimens. It is based on deparaffinization at high temperature coupled with relieving crosslink in a pressure cooker. The DNA yield by this rapid method resulted in an average 1.8-fold increase in comparison with the commercial kit and OD 260/280 ratios between 1.87 and 1.95. The DNA obtained by the rapid method was suitable for methylation analyses in colon cancer patients. These data suggest that this new DNA extraction method coupled with methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction can be used for epigenetic studies with the advantages of rapidity and high quality and may contribute to the development of biomarkers in clinical studies.     

A transgenic plant cell‐suspension system for expression of epitopes on chimeric Bamboo mosaic virus particles

We describe a novel strategy to produce vaccine antigens using a plant cell‐suspension culture system in lieu of the conventional bacterial or animal cell‐culture systems. We generated transgenic cell‐suspension cultures from Nicotiana benthamiana leaves carrying wild‐type or chimeric Bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV) expression constructs encoding the viral protein 1 (VP1) epitope of foot‐and‐mouth disease virus (FMDV). Antigens accumulated to high levels in BdT38 and BdT19 transgenic cell lines co‐expressing silencing suppressor protein P38 or P19. BaMV chimeric virus particles (CVPs) were subsequently purified from the respective cell lines (1.5 and 2.1 mg CVPs/20 g fresh weight of suspended biomass, respectively), and the resulting CVPs displayed VP1 epitope on the surfaces. Guinea pigs vaccinated with purified CVPs produced humoral antibodies. This study represents an important advance in the large‐scale production of immunopeptide vaccines in a cost‐effective manner using a plant cell‐suspension culture system.     

Induction of G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by a benz[f]indole-4,9-dione analog in cultured human lung (A549) cancer cells

A synthetic benz[f]indole-4,9-dione analog, 2-amino-3-ethoxycarbonyl-N-methylbenz[f]indole-4,9-dione (SME-6), showed a potent growth inhibition of a panel of human cancer cell lines. The mechanism of action study revealed that the growth inhibitory effect of SME-6 was highly related to the induction of G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human lung cancer cells (A549). These data may provide new information for understanding the mechanisms by benz[f]indole-4,9-diones-mediated antitumor activity.     

Determination of the site of origin of Pinellia ternata roots based on RAPD analysis and PCR-RFLP

Analyses of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) were performed in an effort to distinguish between two different origins of Pinellia ternata. To determine whether the origin of Pinellia ternata is in China or Korea. RAPD analysis was carried out using ten 20-mer random primers. Although the coefficients of similarity between the DNA of Chinese and Korean accessions of Pinellia ternata were high, distinguishable band patterns were observed in the reaction performed using primer numbers 3, 6 and 10. Primer 3 produced one (410 bp) and primer 6 produced four (410 bp, 350 bp, 300 bp, 250 bp) Chinese Pinellia-specific fragments. Primer 10 produced one (900 bp) Korean Pinellia rhizome-specific fragment. In addition, using PCR-RFLP analysis, different fingerprints were obtained from Korean and Chinese Pinellia ternata respectively. These results suggest that the analyses with RAPD and PCR-RFLP can be used to authenticate the relevant Chinese and Korean herbal medicines.     

益生菌联合早期肠内营养对合并应激性高血糖的重症脑卒中患者血糖调控及预后的影响

目的 探讨益生菌联合早期肠内营养(EEN)对合并应激性高血糖的重症脑卒中患者血糖调控及预后的影响,为此类患者的治疗提供参考。 方法 选择2017年5月1日至2019年5月1日我院神经内科收治的合并应激性高血糖的重症脑卒中患者64例为研究对象,随机分为对照组和观察组,各32例。对照组患者在入院48 h内给予EEN,观察组患者在对照组基础上给予双歧杆菌乳杆菌三联活菌片鼻饲。比较两组患者治疗后血糖变异性、胰岛素使用强度、低血糖发生率、炎症反应指标水平、应激反应指标水平、胃肠道不良反应,5 d内肠内营养达标率、营养状态指标水平、医院获得性肺炎(HAP)发生率及病死率。 结果 治疗后,观察组患者血糖变异性较小,胰岛素使用强度降低,低血糖发生率降低,炎症反应指标、应激反应指标水平均低于对照组;胃肠道不良反应中腹泻发生率降低,肠内营养达标率升高,血清白蛋白、前白蛋白水平均高于对照组,医院获得性肺炎发生率降低。两组患者病死率差异无统计学意义(12.50% vs 18.75%;χ2=0.474,P=0.491)。 结论 对于合并应激性高血糖的重症脑卒中患者,益生菌联合EEN有助于控制血糖稳定性,降低胰岛素使用强度及低血糖发生率,同时降低炎症及应激反应,提高患者肠内营养耐受性,改善患者营养状态,降低HAP发生率。