CalliSpheres Beads (CB) is the first drug-eluting bead (DEB) product in China. Our aim was to compare the effect on the pharmacokinetics of doxorubicin (DOX) and its local concentration between lipiodol emulsions and CB in the process of TACE in rabbit livers. Twenty-five rabbits were distributed into two groups; Group 1 received lipiodol emulsions with DOX, and Group 2 received CB loaded with DOX (CBDOX). DOX was measured in the peripheral blood at different times after treatment. Livers were sampled at 1 week and 1 month for Group 2 after embolization. DOX concentration and distribution were measured in the liver. The administration of DOX by TACE with CBDOX resulted in peripheral blood DOX concentrations of 39.85 ± 13.86 ng/mL at 5 min, with a gradual decrease to 6.89 ± 1.62 ng/mL at 24 h, after treatment. Plasma concentration of DOX after chemoembolization with lipiodol was 225.91 ± 64.88 ng/mL at 5 min and decreased with time by 24 h to 5.06 ± 0.48 ng/mL. In CBDOX group, the drug impregnated an area as far as 200 μm from the bead edge. The tissue concentration of doxorubicin (tissC) ranged from 40.27 μg/mL to 245.70 μg/mL at 1 week and from 5.64 μg/mL to 28.09 μg/mL at 1 month. Plasma concentrations of DOX resulting from CBDOX embolization were significantly lower than that for cTACE. CB could deliver relatively high concentrations of DOX to an area as far as 200 μm from the bead edge for at least 1 month.

Abstract Previously, linalool was found to be the most abundant component among the cocktail of volatiles released from flowers of Freesia hybrida. Linalool formation is catalysed by monoterpene synthase TPS1. However, the regulatory network developmentally modulating the expression of the TPS1 gene in Freesia hybrida remains unexplored. In this study, three regulatory genes, FhMYB21L1, FhMYB21L2, and FhMYC2, were screened from 52 candidates. Two MYB transcription factor genes were synchronously expressed with FhTPS1 and could activate its expression significantly when overexpressed, and the binding of FhMYB21L2 to the MYBCORE sites in the FhTPS1 promoter was further confirmed, indicating a direct role in activation. FhMYC2 showed an inverse expression pattern compared with FhTPS1; its expression led to a decreased binding of FhMYB21 to the FhTPS1 promoter to reduce its activation capacity when co-expressed, suggesting a role for an MYB–bHLH complex in the regulation of the FhTPS1 gene. In Arabidopsis, both MYB21 and MYC2 regulators were shown to activate the expression of sesquiterpene synthase genes, and the regulatory roles of AtMYB21 and AtMYC2 in the expression of the linalool synthase gene were also confirmed, implying conserved functions of the MYB–bHLH complex in these two evolutionarily divergent plants. Moreover, the expression ratio between MYB21 and MYC2 orthologues might be a determinant factor in floral linalool emission.

ObjectiveTo assess the effectiveness and safety of omega-3 fatty acid for patients with PCOS.MethodsIn this meta-analysis, data from randomized controlled trials were obtained to assess the effects of omega-3 fatty acid versus placebo or western medicine in women with PCOS. The study’s registration number is CRD42017065859. The primary outcomes included the change of homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) of insulin resistance, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and adiponectin.ResultNine trials involving 591 patients were included. Comparing with the control group, omega-3 fatty acid may improve HOMA index (WMD -0.80; 95% CI -0.89, − 0.71; P<0. 00001), decrease TC and TG level [TC: (WMD -9.43; 95% CI -11.90, − 6.95; P<0. 00001); TG: (WMD -29.21; 95% CI -48.08, − 10.34; P = 0. 002)], and increase adiponectin level (WMD 1.34; 95% CI 0.51, 2.17; P = 0. 002).ConclusionBased on current evidence, omega-3 fatty acid may be recommended for the treatment of PCOS with insulin resistance as well as high TC (especially LDL-C) and TG.

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Resveratrol and quercetin have effects on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Hence, resveratrol combined with quercetin may have better effects on it. However, because of the limitations in animal and human experiments, the pharmacological and molecular mechanism of quercetin-resveratrol combination (QRC) remains to be clarified. In this research, a systematic pharmacological approach comprising multiple compound target collection, multiple potential target prediction, and network analysis was used for comparing the characteristic of resveratrol, quercetin and QRC, and exploring the mechanism of QRC. After that, four networks were constructed and analyzed: (1) compound-compound target network; (2) compound-potential target network; (3) QRC-PCOS PPI network; (4) QRC-PCOS-other human proteins (protein-protein interaction) PPI network. Through GO and pathway enrichment analysis, it can be found that three compounds focus on different biological processes and pathways; and it seems that QRC combines the characteristics of resveratrol and quercetin. The in-depth study of QRC further showed  more PCOS-related biological processes and pathways. Hence, this research not only offers clues to the researcher who is interested in comparing the differences among resveratrol, quercetin and QRC, but also provides hints for the researcher who wants to explore QRC’s various synergies and its pharmacological and molecular mechanism.

BackgroundOsteoporosis is an important health problem worldwide. Siwu decoction (SWD) and its modification have a good clinical effect on osteoporosis. However, the molecular mechanism of SWD on osteoporosis has not been thoroughly explained.Material/MethodsA systematic pharmacological methodology was utilized to predict the active compounds and potential targets of SWD, collect the genes of osteoporosis and the known targets of SWD, and analyze the osteoporosis and SWD’s network.ResultsFive networks were constructed and analyzed: (1) Osteoporosis genes’ protein–protein interaction (PPI) network; (2) Compound-compound target network of SWD; (3) SWD-osteoporosis PPI network; (4) Compound-known target network of SWD; and (5) SWD known target- osteoporosis PPI network. Several osteoporosis and treatment-related targets (eg.,. HSP90AB1, FGFR1, HRAS, GRB2, and PGF), clusters, biological processes, and signaling pathways (e.g., PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, insulin signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway and FoxO signaling pathway) were found.ConclusionsThe therapeutic effect of SWD on osteoporosis may be achieved by interfering with the biological processes and signaling pathways related to the development of osteoporosis.

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