Background. Cardiovascular disease is a major health issue worldwide, which has been well treated by the extracts of traditional herbs. Radix Puerariae, the dried root of the leguminous plant Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, is a delicious vegetable in some southern provinces of China. Puerarin has also been widely used to treat human diseases, but few controlled studies are available. Aim. To determine the anti-atherosclerotic effects of puerarin on fat diet-induced atherosclerosis (AS) in rabbits.Methods. An AS model was established by feeding 60 rabbits a high-fat diet and randomly dividing them into 6 groups: (1) normal control, (2) a model group (3) the statin, simvastatin and groups (4), (5) and (6) received 3 different amounts of puerarin. The fasting sera of all animals were collected before and after 90 days treatment to determine the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoproteincholesterol (HDL-C). The aortas were pathomorphologically examined. PCNA and PDGF-A protein levels were assessed by Western blot. Results. On the 90th day, the levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly lower in high-and middle-dose puerarin groups and simvastatin group than in the model group (P<0.05), and the HDL-C level was higher. The percentages of plaque area to the total aortic area differed significantly for high-and middle-dose puerarin groups, simvastatin group and model group (P<0.05). Whole blood viscosity increased in the high-fat diet groups, while those in the treatment groups (except for the low-dose puerarin group) were significantly lower than those in the model group (P<0.05). PCNA and PDGF-A protein expression levels of rabbit aorta were low in the normal group. Protein expression levels in the groups fed the high-fat diet were significantly increased (P<0.05), but those in the high-dose puerarin group and simvastatin group were significantly decreased compared with the model group (P<0.05). Conclusions. Puerarin inhibits the formation and development of AS plaque and suppresses the migration and reproduction of vascular smooth muscle cells by decreasing PCNA and PDGF-A expressions in the rabbit. This is encouraging in terms of cardiovascular disease prevention/treatment.
Abstract. Incidence and progression of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a multi-factor, multi-step process. The present study investigated the association between the expression level of microRNA (miR)-4458 in NSCLC and paracarcinoma liver tissues and survival rates, and studied the biological functions of miR-4458 at the cellular and protein level. NSCLC and paracarcinoma tissues were sequenced using a miR expression chip. The association between miR-4458 expression and tumor-node-metastasis staging, total survival rate and relapse-free survival rate was analyzed. miR-4458 was subjected to target gene prediction. The target protein of cyclin D1 (CCND1) was verified with western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry and a luciferase reporter assay. The relative level of miR-4458 in paracarcinoma tissues of 9 NSCLC patients decreased from 2.38 to 0.65 (P<0.001). Total five-year survival rates of the high-expression miR-4458 group (29.21%) significantly exceeded that of the low-expression group (14.37%) (P=0.025). The viability of human lung carcinoma A549 and H460 cells transfected with miR-4458 decreased significantly compared with cells transfected with a normal control (blank control plasmid) within 72 h (P<0.001). The percentage of A549 and H460 cells transfected with a miR-4458 mimic at the cell cycle stage G0/G1 was 69.94±8.05 and 68.15±7.75%, respectively. The percentages increased significantly compared with the control group (46.06±6.93 for A549 cells; 45.22±7.24 for H640 cells; P<0.001). CCND1 mRNA was downregulated significantly in H460 cells 72 h subsequent to the addition of miR-4458 mimics (P<0.001). The activity of mutant-CCND1 altered slightly, while the fluorescence intensity of the wild-type-CCND1 group decreased significantly following the addition of miR-4458 mimics. In conclusion, miR-4458 was expressed at low levels in lung cancer tissues, and it arrested cells in vitro at stage G0/G1 and inhibited cell proliferation. Therefore, miR-4458 may participate in the onset of lung cancer as a suppressor gene by inhibiting CCND1.
The solid solubility of alloying elements and microstructures of insoluble second-phase particles of micro-alloyed steel containing genetic and additional rare earth were respectively investigated. Experimental results indicate that adding a rare earth can change the inclusion morphology and promote the formation of a core of composite inclusions with Al, Ca, Mg, S, and a small amount of Ti. The extremely small quantities of genetic rare earth in steel can promote the formation of a solid solution of Nb and Ti. Therefore, although the content of genetic rare earth in steel is negligible, the promotion effect on solid solubility is significant. The addition of a rare earth has no effect on the types of the insoluble second-phase particles; however, it has a distinct dissolution effect on the large particles in steel.
Although a considerable amount of research has been focused on how building information modeling (BIM) helps improve sustainable construction, BIM(6D) model validation and efficient data analysis methods are still lacking. This study aims to provide the more effective research method and analytical method. The Greenjiansville Sunshine analysis software Sun2020 and daylight analysis software Dali2020 were used for 6D modeling and simulation and real simulation of a building outside the daylight range and time. The daylight coefficients, outdoor visual field observation rate, and daylight quality were calculated for the rooms inside the building. The results show that single the daylight statistics and analysis color map can not accurately analyze whether the actual daylighting meets the demand, but combined with Power BI comprehensive analysis can get fast and accurate results. This paper provides important guidance for building researchers and practitioners to better align BIM development with green building development in the future.
Abstract. In the present study a eukaryotic expression vector of varicella zoster virus (VZV) glycoprotein E (gE) was constructed and enabled to express in COS7 cells. Furthermore, a specific immune response against the VZV gE eukaryotic expression plasmid was induced in BALB/c mice. The VZV gE gene was amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloned into a eukaryotic expression vector, pcDNA3.1. The recombinant vector was subsequently transfected into COS7 cells using a liposome transfection reagent. The recombinant protein was instantaneously expressed by the transfected cells, as detected by immunohistochemistry, and the recombinant pcDNA-VZV gE plasmid was subsequently used to immunize mice. Tissue expression levels were analyzed by reverse transcription-PCR. In addition, the levels of serum antibodies and spleen lymphocyte proliferation activity were investigated. The amplified target gene included the full-length gE gene (~2.7 kb), and the recombinant expression vector induced gE expression in COS7 cells. In addition, the expression plasmid induced sustained expression in vivo following immunization of mice. Furthermore, the plasmid was capable of inducing specific antibody production and effectively stimulating T cell proliferation. Effective humoral and cellular immunity was triggered in the mice immunized with the VZV gE eukaryotic expression vector. The results of the present study laid the foundation for future research into a VZV DNA vaccine.
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