Background: Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS) injection, the extractive of traditional Chinese medicine Danshen, is supposed to be a supplementary treatment in hypertensive nephropathy. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of STS in treatment of hypertensive nephropathy. Methods: We systematically searched China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP), Wan-fang database, Chinese Biomedicine Database (CBM), PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from their inception to December 2018. All studies were screened by two reviewers according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria independently. The Cochrane Collaboration's risk tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Reviewer Manager 5.3 was employed for statistical analysis. Results: Sixteen trials involving 1,696 patients were included. The meta-analysis results indicated a combination of STS and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) was more effective than ARB monotherapy in modulating hypertensive nephropathy, as represented by improved estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) [mean difference (MD) = 6.87, 95% CI (4.47, 9.28), P < 0.00001] and reduced 24 h urinary protein [MD = −0.23, 95% CI (−0.27, −0.19), P < 0.00001], serum creatinine (SCr) [MD = −21.74, 95% CI (−24.11, −19.38), P < 0.00001], cystatin-C [MD = −0.16, 95% CI (−0.24, −0.07), P = 0.0003], urinary immunoglobulin G (IgG) [MD = −0.85, 95% CI (−1.11, −0.59), P < 0.00001], and urinary transferrin [MD = −0.61, 95% CI (−1.04, −0.17), P = 0.007]. In addition, the combination therapy had better control in systolic blood pressure (SBP) [MD = −6.53, 95% CI (−8.19, −4.87), P < 0.00001] and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) [MD = −4.14, 95% CI (−5.69, −2.59), P < 0.00001]. Only three trials reported adverse events, and no adverse drug reactions were observed.

BackgroundTransforming growth factor (TGF)-β is involved in many physiologic processes, it often promotes metastasis, and its high expression is correlated with poor prognosis. In the present study, we analyzed the correlation between transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) expression and prognosis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.ResultsWe examined the expression of TGF-β1 in 78 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas by immunohistochemistry and correlated the expression with clinicopathological parameters. TGF-β1 was expressed in 37 of 78 (47.4 %) intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas. The expression of TGF-β1 was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and tumour recurrence. Patients with TGF-β1-positive tumours had significantly shorter survival time. In a multivariant analysis, the expression of TGF-β1 and the tumour stage were independent prognostic factors.ConclusionsOur data suggest that expression of TGF-β1 is a novel prognostic marker for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

No abstract

The Zn(II)2Cys6 zinc cluster gene family is a subclass of zinc-finger proteins, which are transcriptional regulators involved in a wide variety of biological processes in fungi. We performed genome-wide identification and characterization of Zn(II)2Cys6 zinc-cluster gene (C6 zinc gene) family in Tolypocladium guangdongense, Cordyceps militaris and Ophiocordyceps sinensis. Based on the structures of the C6 zinc domains, these proteins were observed to be evolutionarily conserved in ascomycete fungi. We focused on T. guangdongense, a medicinal fungus, and identified 139 C6 zinc genes which could be divided into three groups. Among them, 49.6% belonged to the fungal specific transcriptional factors, and 16% had a DUF3468 domain. Homologous and phylogenetic analysis indicated that 29 C6 zinc genes were possibly involved in the metabolic process, while five C6 zinc genes were supposed to be involved in asexual or sexual development. Gene expression analysis revealed that 54 C6 zinc genes were differentially expressed under light, including two genes that possibly influenced the development, and seven genes that possibly influenced the metabolic processes. This indicated that light may affect the development and metabolic processes, at least partially, through the regulation of C6 zinc genes in T. guangdongense. Our results provide comprehensive data for further analyzing the functions of the C6 zinc genes.

No abstract

Ars2 is overexpressed in HCC and may have prognostic value; it might play an important role in HCC proliferation and miR-21 expression.

Graphical abstract Workflows of transcriptome and proteome analyses across the differentially developmental stages of C. guangdongensis . My, Mycelial stages; P, Primordial stage; YFB, Young fruiting body stage; DFB, Developed fruiting body stage; MFB, Mature fruiting body stage.

No abstract