Effect of Yugan Sanjie decoction on expressions of regulatory T cells, serum P21 protein and vascular endothelial growth factor in mice with hepatocellular carcinoma

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Yugan Sanjie decoction on the expressions of regulatory T cells (Tregs), serum P21 protein and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in mice with hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: A total of forty specific-pathogen-free (SPF) Kunming mice were randomly assigned to four groups of 10 mice each. Except for normal control group, the other three groups were transfected with hepatoma-22 (H22) cells to establish a mouse model of liver cancer. Mice in the cyclophosphamide group was given cyclophosphamide at a dose of 20 mg/kg daily intragastrically, while those in decoction group were treated with Yugan Sanjie decoction (0.4 ml/kg/day) intraperitoneally. After 30 days of treatment, serum levels of CD4+ Th17, CD4+CD25+ Treg, Th17/Treg, TNF-α, and VEGF were determined. Results: There was lower serum level of CD4+ Th17 in the decoction group than in negative control and cyclophosphamide groups (p < 0.05). However, higher serum levels of CD4+CD25+ Treg and Th17/Treg were seen in the decoction group, relative to the negative control and cyclophosphamide groups (p < 0.05). Serum TNF-α was also markedly elevated in decoction group, when compared with negative control and cyclophosphamide groups (p < 0.05). Serum VEGF was markedly lower in decoction group than in negative control and cyclophosphamide groups, and was appreciably lower in cyclophosphamide group than in negative control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Yugan Sanjie decoction effectively alleviates clinical symptoms of LC, and improves immune function of mice by regulating serum levels of T lymphocytes. These findings provide scientific support for a new treatment strategy

Influences of Canopy Nitrogen and Water Addition on AM Fungal Biodiversity and Community Composition in a Mixed Deciduous Forest of China

Nitrogen (N) deposition and precipitation could profoundly influence the structure and function of forest ecosystems. However, conventional studies with understory additions of nitrogen and water largely ignored canopy-associated ecological processes and may have not accurately reflected the natural situations. Additionally, most studies only made sampling at one time point, overlooked temporal dynamics of ecosystem response to environmental changes. Here we carried out a field trial in a mixed deciduous forest of China with canopy addition of N and water for 4 years to investigate the effects of increased N deposition and precipitation on the diversity and community composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, the ubiquitous symbiotic fungi for the majority of terrestrial plants. We found that (1) in the 1st year, N addition, water addition and their interactions all exhibited significant influences on AM fungal community composition; (2) in the 2nd year, only water addition significantly reduced AM fungal alpha-diversity (richness and Shannon index); (3) in the next 2 years, both N addition and water addition showed no significant effect on AM fungal community composition or alpha-diversity, with an exception that water addition significantly changed AM fungal community composition in the 4th year; (4) the increment of N or water tended to decrease the abundance and richness of the dominant genus Glomus and favored other AM fungi. (5) soil pH was marginally positively related with AM fungal community composition dissimilarity, soil NH4+-N and N/P showed significant/marginal positive correlation with AM fungal alpha-diversity. We concluded that the effect of increased N deposition and precipitation on AM fungal community composition was time-dependent, mediated by soil factors, and possibly related to the sensitivity and resilience of forest ecosystem to environmental changes

Identification of a Novel QTL for Panicle Length From Wild Rice (Oryza minuta) by Specific Locus Amplified Fragment Sequencing and High Density Genetic Mapping

Wild rice possesses a large number of valuable genes that have been lost or do not exist in cultivated rice. To exploit the desirable gene controlling panicle length (PL) in wild rice Oryza minuta, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population was constructed that was derived from a cross between the long panicle introgression line K1561 with Oryza minuta segments and a short panicle accession G1025. Specific Locus Amplified Fragment (SLAF) sequencing technology was used to uncover single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and construct the high-density genetic linkage map. Using 201 RIL populations, a high-density genetic map was developed, and spanned 2781.76 cM with an average genetic distance 0.45 cM. The genetic map was composed of 5, 521 markers on 12 chromosomes. Based on this high-density genome map, quantitative trait loci (QTL) for PL were analyzed for 2 years under four environments. Seven QTLs were detected, which were distributed within chromosomes 4, 9, and 10, respectively. pl4.1 was detected twice, and pl10.1 was only detected once. Although pl9.1 was only detected once, it was very near pl9.2 in the genetic map which was detected three times. Thus, we speculate one major QTL exists in the region of pl9.1 and pl9.2 to control PL (temporarily referred to as pl9). pl9 is a potentially novel allele derived from Oryza minuta, and it can be used for genetic improvement of cultivar rice

Research progress in biological activities and mechanisms of theabrownin

Tea is beneficial to human health, which is rich in tea pigments with important biological activities. Theabrownin, derived from theaflavins and thearubigins by oxidative polymerization, mainly distributes in semi-fermented oolong tea, and completely fermented black tea and dark tea. As a kind of macromolecular substance, theabrownin cannot be directly absorbed by the gut, but it can directly interact with intestinal microbiota to regulate and maintain the homeostasis of intestinal flora. Theabrownin has multiple physiological roles via modulating the gut microbiota, including inhibiting hepatic cholesterol production, promoting the catabolism of cholesterol and triglyceride, and promoting energy metabolism in adipose tissues, thereby improving lipid metabolism. Theabrownin can also directly influence the gut absorption of glucose to improve carbohydrate metabolism and maintain blood glucose homeostasis. Theabrownin plays an anti-tumor role by inducing apoptosis and regulating gene expression in tumor cells. Theabrownin also plays an anti-inflammatory role via participating in the regulation of the immune cell differentiation and the levels of inflammatory factors. This review summarizes the formation process, the extraction procedures, and the chemical structure of theabrownin, and reviews the effects and mechanisms of theabrownin on intestinal microbiota, lipid metabolism, blood glucose homeostasis, cancer and inflammation

The effect of Cu content on corrosion, wear and tribocorrosion resistance of Ti-Mo-Cu alloy for load-bearing bone implants

In this study, the effects of Cu content on wear, corrosion, and tribocorrosion resistance of Ti-10Mo-xCu alloy were investigated. Results revealed that hardness of Ti-10Mo-xCu alloy increased from 355.1 ± 15.2 HV to 390.8 ± 17.6 HV by increasing Cu content from 0 % to 5 %, much higher than CP Ti (106.6 ± 15.1 HV) and comparable to Ti64 (389.7 ± 13.9 HV). With a higher Cu content, wear and tribocorrosion resistance of Ti-10Mo-xCu alloys were enhanced, and corrosion resistance showed an initial increase with a subsequent decrease. Wear mechanisms under pure mechanical wear and tribocorrosion conditions of Ti-10Mo-xCu alloys were a combination of delamination, abrasion and adhesion wear

Design and performance evaluation of additively manufactured composite lattice structures of commercially pure Ti (CP-Ti)

Ti alloys with lattice structures are garnering more and more attention in the field of bone repair or regeneration due to their superior structural, mechanical, and biological properties. In this study, six types of composite lattice structures with different strut radius that consist of simple cubic (structure A), body-centered cubic (structure B), and edge-centered cubic (structure C) unit cells are designed. The designed structures are firstly simulated and analysed by the finite element (FE) method. Commercially pure Ti (CP–Ti) lattice structures with optimized unit cells and strut radius are then fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM), and the dimensions, microtopography, and mechanical properties are characterised. The results show that among the six types of composite lattice structures, combined BA, CA, and CB structures exhibit smaller maximum von-Mises stress, indicating that these structures have higher strength. Based on the fitting curves of stress/specific surface area versus strut radius, the optimized strut radius of BA, CA, and CB structures is 0.28, 0.23, and 0.30 mm respectively. Their corresponding compressive yield strength and compressive modulus are 42.28, 30.11, and 176.96 MPa, and 4.13, 2.16, and 7.84 GPa, respectively. The CP-Ti with CB unit structure presents a similar strength and compressive modulus to the cortical bone, which makes it a potential candidate for subchondral bone restorations