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Preclinical Research Premature ovarian failure (POF) is defined by the WHO as the loss of physiological ovarian function before the age of 40. The effect of American ginseng and its underlying mechanisms in preventing and treating premature ovarian failure (POF) was studied in female Sprague-Dawley rats where POF was induced by ip administration of 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD). Rat behavior, serum hormone levels, ovarian and uterine size, pathological features, and ovarian tissue expression of genes associated with POF were assessed in controls, untreated POF model rats, and POF model rats treated with low- (1.125 g/kg), medium- (2.25 g/kg), and high-dose (4.5 g/kg) American ginseng. Compared with untreated POF model rats, those treated with medium- and high-dose American ginseng had more stable behavior and better coat appearance as well as serum hormone levels closer to those in control rats. Moreover, treatment with medium- or high-dose American ginseng increased ovarian and uterine size. Hematoxylin and eosin-staining revealed mature follicles and endometrium with an alternating concave/convex surface structure with visible capillaries and glands in ginseng- treated POF rats. PLA2G4A expression was positively correlated with POF, while the expression levels of PAPPA, STC2, CCL2, and NELL1 were negatively correlated with POF. Our study showed that American ginseng may effectively prevent POF and alleviate POF symptoms by regulating serum hormone levels and altering the expression levels of genes related to POF in ovarian tissue.

The aim of this research was developed to provide a scientific basis for individualized prevention, clinical diagnosis, and corrective treatment of nicotine addiction. The objects were 214 cases in the smoke group and 43 cases in the control group. According to the Fagerstrom Nicotine Dependence Test (FTND), the smokers were divided into mild nicotine dependence group (FTND < 6 points, 138 cases) and nicotine severe dependence group (≥6 points, 76 cases). The brain structure in long-term smokers was evaluated by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The nicotine dependence was further analyzed by grouping the included individuals, and some candidate genes related to nicotine addiction were screened by combining with bioinformatics analysis. The family research strategy was adopted to detect nicotine addiction susceptibility genes and their polymorphisms. The MRI imaging results showed that the bilateral thalamus, right parietal, and left lens gram-molecule volume (GMV) were negatively correlated with smoking index and smoking years in the smoking group. The GMV of the posterior cingulate cortex in the severe nicotine dependence group was lower than that of the control group, and the GMVs of bilateral thalamus and bilateral superior limbic gyrus in the mild nicotine dependence group were lower than those of the control group. The gene polymorphism detection showed that rs6275 was highly polymorphic in the target population and the frequency of rs6275-C allele was 53.26%. Therefore, the MRI imaging characteristics suggested that the affected brain regions of smokers and people with varying degrees of nicotine dependence were mainly concentrated in response-related pathways and the limbic system and had cumulative effects on the central nervous system. In addition, the M6275 polymorphism of DRD2 gene was associated with susceptibility to nicotine addiction in Chinese population, and the M6275-C allele had a protective effect on susceptibility to nicotine addiction and smoking initiation.

OBJECTIVE: This study was to investigate whether the expression of vacuole membrane protein 1 (VMP1)was correlated with MicoRNA210 (miR-210) in U87 glioma cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Plasmid was constructed and transfected into U87 glioma cells.The correlation between VMP1 and miR-210 was observed by the double fluorescence sumei experiment. qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the expression levels of VMP1 at mRNA and protein level, respectively.MTT assay was utilized to examine the effect of miR-210 on cell proliferation and apoptosis.The transwell chamber assay and plate cloning experiments showed the changes in the rate of cell migration and invasion after cells were transfected with miR-210. Computer SPSS 22.0 software was used to perform t-test and analysis of variance on all experimental dat and results were considered statistically significant when P < 0.05. Results: The results of the analysis of double luciferase showed that the relative fluorescence intensity of miR-210 and VMP1 in the co-staining group was significantly lower comparing to other experimental groups(P <0.001).qRT-PCR and Western blotting experiments showed that the expression level of VMP1 in miR-210 group was downregulated (P < 0.05).The MTT assay showed that the cell length curve of the miR-210 group was less comparing to the control group (P < 0.05).Transwell experiments showed that the number of cells in the miR-210 group was significantly reduced (P < 0.01).Plate cloning experiments showed no significant difference in the number of cell colonies between the experimental group and the control group (P > 0.05). Conclusion: VMP1 is a potential target gene of miR-210 in U87 glioma cell line, and provides a new option for molecular targeted therapy of gliomas in the future.