Pholidota chinensis alleviates azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium-induced colorectal carcinogenesis through inhibition of TLR4 and COX-2

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) always progresses to colorectal cancer (CRC) which is the second most frequent cause of death by cancer. It is about 2% of population in the lifetime worldwide who at the risk for development of CRC. Oxaliplatin is an effective anticancer drug used for the treatment of advanced CRC; however, it always causes a robust painful neuropathy. Pholidota chinensis is a Chinese folk herbal medicine which was used for treatment of inflammation such as gastroenteritis, duodenal ulcer and bronchitis.Materials and Methods: The azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) were used to induce the colon tumor of mice. The effect of Pholidota chinensis on colon tumorigenesis was evaluated. Immunohistochemistry and semi-quantitative RT-PCR were used to detect the expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in colon.Results: Pholidota chinensis can alleviate the colon tumorigenesis. The prevention effects of Pholidota chinensis are similar to oxaliplatin. Specifically, administration of Pholidota chinensis solution suppresses the expression of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2).Conclusion: Our findings suggested that Pholidota chinensis participate in the regulation of colon cancer development through inhibiting the expression of TLR4 and COX-2.Keywords: Pholidota chinensis; colorectal cancer; Toll-like receptor 4; Cyclooxygenase-

Historical Review about Research on “Bonghan System” in China

The meridian-collateral theory is the theoretical basis of acupuncture-moxibustion therapy. Professor Bonghan Kim, a professor of the Pyongyang Medical University of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, claimed that he found the anatomical structure of meridian-collaterals, named Bonghan corpuscles (BHCs) and Bonghan ducts (BHDs) system or primo vascular system (PVS), in 1962. From 1963 to 1965, researchers from our institute conducted a series of comparative anatomical experiments, trying to reproduce the so-called BHC- and BHD-like structures in different strains of animals. In the present paper, the authors introduced their research findings about BHC- and BHD-like structures in the young rabbit’s umbilicus including its external appearance, ectoplasm and endoplasm, and about strip-like and node-like objects in the blood vessels and lymph vessels near the larger abdominal and cervical blood vessels and chromaffin tissue in the back wall of the rabbit’s abdominal cavity and between the bilateral kidneys. In spite of existence of the BHC- and BHD-like structures in the rabbit, there has been no proved evidence for their association with the meridian-collateral system described in acupuncture medicine. In the present historical review, the authors also make a discussion about the significance of those findings

EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM TAI CHI EXERCISE ON BALANCE CONTROL IN OLDER ADULTS

This study assessed the static and dynamic balance control of older adults who have 10 years of Tai Chi exercise experience and compared their characteristics with their sedentary counterparts. The abilities were measured using methods: single-leg stance times with eyes open and closed; sway of center of pressure (COP) during static standing with eyes open/closed, and leaning the body in three specific directions. Compared with control group, 1) Tai Chi Group showed longer single-leg stance times with eyes open and closed, 2) slower sway velocity of COP in mediolateral and anterioposterior directions and shorter sway distance in both directions, and 3) shorter total, anterioposterior, and mediolateral routes and shorter time spent during the dynamic balance test. Long-term Tai Chi exercise improves the balance ability, especially the dynamic balance, of older adults

PHOLIDOTA CHINENSIS ALLEVIATES AZOXYMETHANE/DEXTRAN SULFATE SODIUM-INDUCED COLORECTAL CARCINOGENESIS THROUGH INHIBITION OF TLR4 AND COX-2

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) always progresses to colorectal cancer (CRC) which is the second most frequent cause of death by cancer. It is about 2% of population in the lifetime worldwide who at the risk for development of CRC. Oxaliplatin is an effective anticancer drug used for the treatment of advanced CRC, however, it always causes a robust painful neuropathy. Pholidota chinensis is a Chinese folk herbal medicine which was used for treatment of inflammation such as gastroenteritis, duodenal ulcer and bronchitis. In the present study, we examined the role of Pholidota chinensis in inflammation-related colon tumorigenesis which was induced by azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in mice. We found that Pholidota chinensis can alleviate the colon tumorigenesis. The prevention effects of Pholidota chinensis is similar to oxaliplatin. Specifically, administration of Pholidota chinensis solution suppresses the expression of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Our findings suggested that Pholidota chinensis participate in the regulation of colon cancer development through inhibiting the expression of TLR4 and COX-2

Classification and hemodynamic characteristics of delayed intracerebral hemorrhage following stent-assisted coil embolism in unruptured intracranial aneurysms

Background and objectiveStent-assisted coil (SAC) embolization is a commonly used endovascular treatment for unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) but can be associated with symptomatic delayed intracerebral hemorrhage (DICH). Our study aimed to investigate the hemodynamic risk factors contributing to DICH following SAC embolization and to establish a classification for DICH predicated on hemodynamic profiles.MethodsThis retrospective study included patients with UIAs located in the internal carotid artery (ICA) treated with SAC embolization at our institution from January 2021 to January 2022. We focused on eight patients who developed postoperative DICH and matched them with sixteen control patients without DICH. Using computational fluid dynamics, we evaluated the hemodynamic changes in distal arteries [terminal ICA, the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), and middle cerebral artery (MCA)] pre-and post-embolization. We distinguished DICH-related arteries from unrelated ones (ACA or MCA) and compared their hemodynamic alterations. An imbalance index, quantifying the differential in flow velocity changes between ACA and MCA post-embolization, was employed to gauge the flow distribution in distal arteries was used to assess distal arterial flow distribution.ResultsWe identified two types of DICH based on postoperative flow alterations. In type 1, there was a significant lower in the mean velocity increase rate of the DICH-related artery compared to the unrelated artery (−47.25 ± 3.88% vs. 42.85 ± 3.03%; p < 0.001), whereas, in type 2, there was a notable higher (110.58 ± 9.42% vs. 17.60 ± 4.69%; p < 0.001). Both DICH types demonstrated a higher imbalance index than the control group, suggesting an association between altered distal arterial blood flow distribution and DICH occurrence.ConclusionDICH in SAC-treated UIAs can manifest as either a lower (type 1) or higher (type 2) in the rate of velocity in DICH-related arteries. An imbalance in distal arterial blood flow distribution appears to be a significant factor in DICH development

CD4+ T Cell-Derived IL-2 Signals during Early Priming Advances Primary CD8+ T Cell Responses

Stimulating naïve CD8+ T cells with specific antigens and costimulatory signals is insufficient to induce optimal clonal expansion and effector functions. In this study, we show that the activation and differentiation of CD8+ T cells require IL-2 provided by activated CD4+ T cells at the initial priming stage within 0–2.5 hours after stimulation. This critical IL-2 signal from CD4+ cells is mediated through the IL-2Rβγ of CD8+ cells, which is independent of IL-2Rα. The activation of IL-2 signaling advances the restriction point of the cell cycle, and thereby expedites the entry of antigen-stimulated CD8+ T-cell into the S phase. Besides promoting cell proliferation, IL-2 stimulation increases the amount of IFNγ and granzyme B produced by CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, IL-2 at priming enhances the ability of P14 effector cells generated by antigen activation to eradicate B16.gp33 tumors in vivo. Therefore, our studies demonstrate that a full CD8+ T-cell response is elicited by a critical temporal function of IL-2 released from CD4+ T cells, providing mechanistic insights into the regulation of CD8+ T cell activation and differentiation