Cyclocarya paliurus (CP) contains triterpene acids that can improve glucose and lipid metabolism disorders. However, controlling the composition and content of these active ingredients in CP extracts is challenging. The main active components in CP triterpene acids, including ursolic acid (UA), oleanolic acid (OA), and betulinic acid (BA), exhibit antihyperglycemic and antihypertensive effects. The response surface methodology was utilized to design and optimize the ratio of UA, OA, and BA based on the inhibition rate of pancrelipase and α-amylase. The proportional mixture of UA, OA, and BA resulted in the formation of a complex known as Cyclocarya paliurus triterpenoid acid (TAC). Se-methylselenocysteine (MSC), a compound with various physiological functions such as antioxidant properties and tumor inhibition, has been used in combination with TAC to form the TAC/MSC complex. Our data demonstrate that TAC/MSC improved palmitic acid (PA)-induced insulin resistance in HepG2 cells through activating the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) /protein kinase B (AKT)/glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) pathway. Moreover, TAC/MSC effectively improved hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and lipid metabolism disorder in mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), attenuated hepatic steatosis, and reduced oxidative stress to alleviate T2DM characteristics.

BACKGROUND:The pathogenesis of acquired melanocytic nevi (AMN) is still unclear, and the origin of nevus cells has not been clarified.OBJECTIVE:To analyze the clinical features and pathological types of AMN and identify the possible origin of nevus cells.METHODS:A retrospective study of 2929 cases of AMN was conducted, and 96 specimens of intradermal and junctional nevi were selected. Immunohistochemical assays were performed to detect the expression of basement membrane component receptor DDR-1 and the molecular markers on epidermal melanocytes, dermal stem cells (DSCs), and hair follicle stem cells.RESULTS:Junctional nevi and compound nevi were prone to occur on glabrous skin, such as the palms, soles, and vulva, and on the extremities in children, whereas intradermal nevi tended to develop on the trunk, head, and face of adults. The immunohistochemical data revealed that both junctional nevi and intradermal nevi expressed the epidermal melanocyte surface markers E-cadherin, DDR-1, and integrin α6 and the DSC molecular markers NGFRp-75 and nestin. CD34 was expressed only in junctional nevi, whereas K19 was not expressed in any type of melanocytic nevi. There was no significant difference in molecular expression at different sites or in different ages of onset. Nestin expression was markedly stronger in the intradermal nevi than in the junctional nevi, but there was no difference between the superficial and deep nevus cell nests of intradermal nevi.CONCLUSION:AMN may have a multicellular origin that commonly follows the mode of Abtropfung. Furthermore, DSCs may partly or independently participate in the formation of nevus cells.

Microfocused ultrasound (MFU),as a new approach for facial skin tightening and lifting,has been widely applied in recent years.Its action mechanism is that heat can be transmitted to the deep dermis and superficial musculoaponeurotic system through precise and depth-consistent microcoagulation zones,leading to the contraction and remodeling of skin collagen without damage to the epidermis.MFU has high safety with few serious adverse reactions.However,there are still doubts whether it can lead to subcutaneous scar formation,the risk of lipolysis,or nerve,vessel and eye injuries,etc.Appropriate use and selection of patients can minimize the occurrence of these rare adverse reactions as much as possible.

Purpose: To predict molecular targets and the mechanism of action of hyaluronic acid against various disease conditions. Methods: The present study was designed and conducted based on the principle of network pharmacology, protein-protein interaction (PPI) database, and biological process analysis. At a high confidence score, a protein network comprising seventeen human protein targets was achieved from STITCH (Search Tool for Interaction of Chemicals). Results: Cytoscape-based protein-protein interaction network (PPIN) with 342 nodes was developed and analyzed to ascertain the molecular basis of hyaluronic acid actions. It revealed that hyaluronic acid was mainly involved in various physiological processes including extracellular matrix (ECM) disassembly, collagen catabolic process, mucopolysaccharide metabolic process, and circadian regulation of gene expression. Conclusion: The retrieved pathways are known to be involved in causing several pathologies such as leukemia, psoriasis, tick-borne encephalitis, etc. These pathways are influenced by hyaluronic acid. However, further explanations are required to elucidate whether these targets of hyaluronic acid have a therapeutic or toxicological role.

BRAF V600E mutation analysis has been an important companion diagnostic assay to evaluate prognosis of malignant melanoma and to guide target therapy with BRAF inhibitor. The aim of this study was to assess the sensitivity and specificity of Immunohistochemistry (IHC) using VE1 mutation specific antibody on screening for BRAF V600E mutation patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma. We detected BRAF V600E mutation on a total of 90 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded melanoma tissue samples by ARMS-PCR and immunohistochemistry simultaneously. The results obtained from ARMS were set as a diagnostic gold standard; IHC staining with BRAF V600E mutation-specific antibody displayed 100% sensitivity and 96.8% specificity. Further statistical analysis showed that results from the two methods were consistent (kappa=0.948 p<0.001), Positive Predictive Value (PPV) and Negative Predictive Value (NPV) were 93.1% and 100%. Therefore, as a simple, fast and low cost method, IHC can be used as a routine screening method for BRAF V600E mutation analysis in cutaneous malignant melanoma.

Objectives: This systematic review was conducted to explore whether nutritional supplement can improve the benefits of exercise intervention on sarcopenia in the elderly. Methods: Databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL, CBM, CNKI, WANFANG, and VIP, were searched. All related papers with randomized controlled trials (RCT) methodology that were included in the databases from inception to 19 July 2016 were selected for the study. The tool "assessing risk of bias" from Cochrane Handbook 5.10 was used to evaluate the quality of included papers. A meta-analysis of eligible studies was performed using Stata12.0. Data that we were unable to convene or merge were subjected to descriptive analysis. Results: Six trials were included in our study, which included 429 elderly patients with sarcopenia. The overall methodological quality of the trials was moderate. Compared with the exercise group, patients who were given nutritional supplements gained a bigger boost in fat-free mass (standard mean difference (SMD) = 5.78, 95% CI: 5.17 to 6.40, P = 0.000) and muscle mass (SMD = 2.048, 95% CI: 0.907 to 3.189, P = 0.000), as well as showed enhancement of keen extension strength (SMD = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.71 to 1.45, P = 0.000) and usual walk speed (SMD = 0.570, 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.95, P = 0.003). Conclusion: Nutritional supplementation may magnify the effect of exercise intervention on sarcopenia elderly in terms of muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance. Inconsistencies were present among research studies. More robust studies are needed to determine the most suitable type of nutrient and target population and to explore the actual role of combined intervention in managing sarcopenia in the elderly. (C) 2017 Chinese Nursing Association. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.

Topical calcineurin inhibitors have proved to be suitable for the treatment of AD. We conducted a meta-analysis comparing efficacy and tolerance of tacrolimus with pimecrolimus in treatment of AD. According to our meta-analysis, tacrolimus 0.1% was more effective than pimecrolimus 1% in adult patients (week 3: risk ratio [RR] 0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.42-0.73), and tacrolimus (a combination of 0.03% and 0.1%) was also more effective than pimecrolimus 1% in pediatric patients (week 6/end of study: RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.63-0.92). Regardless of age or illness severity, tacrolimus 0.1% had higher efficacy than pimecrolimus 1% in the treatment of AD (week 3: RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.42-0.72). In adult patients, tacrolimus 0.1% had more adverse events than pimecrolimus 1% (RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.02-1.66), but the incidence of adverse events between tacrolimus 0.1% (or 0.03%) and pimecrolimus 1% was not significantly different in pediatric patients. No matter whether the patients were adult or pediatric, more pimecrolimus-treated patients withdrew from the trials because of a lack of efficacy. Regardless of age and illness severity, more pimecrolimus 1%-treated patients withdrew from the trials because of a lack of efficacy, compared with tacrolimus 0.1% (or 0.03%)-treated patients. More pimecrolimus-treated pediatric patients withdrew from the trials because of adverse events (RR 0.26, 95% CI 0.1-0.68). More pimecrolimus 1%-treated patients withdrew from the trials because of adverse events, compared with tacrolimus 0.03%-treated patients, regardless of age (RR 0.1, 95% CI 0.02-0.53). In conclusion, tacrolimus ointment has higher efficacy and better tolerance than pimecrolimus cream in treatment of AD.

Objective To evaluate the effects of ultraviolet-B(UVB)irradiation and intervention of ferulic on apoptosis, cell cycle,and also expression levels of p16 and c-myc protein in human eternal keratinocyte-HaCaT cells.Methods Subconfluent HaCaT cells were shammed or irradiated with different dosages of UVB irradiation and treated with ferulic.The cell cycle and apoptotic rate were determined with a DNA flow cytometer at 24h after 0,30,60 and 90mJ/cm2 UVB irradiation.Western blot assay was used to measure protein expression levels of p16 and c-myc after 30mJ/cm2 UVB irradiation.Results UVB-induced apoptosis of HaCaT cells ascended with a manner of dependence on the irradiated dosages(0,30,60,90mJ/cm2);and S-phase arrest of cell cycle under 30mJ/cm2 of UVB irradiation were observed.But with UVB dosage increasing,the cell number in S-phase descended.The levels of P16 and c-myc protein expression in the UVB group was higher that those in the control group(P0.05).Pre-treatment of ferulic could inhibited the above changes induced by UVB irradiation.Conclusion Ferulic can inhibit apoptosis,cell cycle arrest and protein expression of pl6 and c-myc is induced by UVB,which shows the photo-protective efficiency of ferulic.

One type of traditional Chinese medicines, epigallocatechingallate (EGCG) has been commonly used as a clinical and skin health protective ingredient. It has been known to have photo-protective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant effects. However, little is known about the mechanisms of EGCG on UV-induced photo-aging and photo-carcinogenesis. In the present study, we investigated the photo-protective mechanisms of EGCG on UVB-induced skin damage, including the potency of EGCG to inhibit the UVB-induced cytotoxicity, secretion of cytokine (IL-6 and TNF-alpha), cellular apoptosis, expression of apoptosis-regulatory genes (p53-p21) and c-fos gene in cultured immortalized human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. EGCG treatment decreased UVB- induced cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis. It also inhibited the mRNA expressions of apoptosis-regulatory gene (p53 and p21) and c-fos gene. These results suggest that EGCG may have an inhibitory effect on UVB-induced photo-damage and apoptosis by blocking the cytokine secretion and the mRNA expressions of p53, p21 and c-fos genes.