Background: Apoptosis is recognized as an important mechanism in contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). As tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) has been recently found to be renoprotective and anti-apoptotic in multiple kidney injuries, we hypothesized that TMP would prevent CIN. Methods: An experimental model of CIN was established in rats. Serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, plasma cystatin C, urinary N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, and urinary γ-glutamyl transpeptidase were measured to evaluate kidney function. Apoptosis was assessed by transmission electron microscopy, transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labeling staining, and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase cleavage. Fork-head box O1 transcriptional factor (FoxO1) mRNA expression was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. Phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Results: TMP significantly attenuated the resulting renal dysfunction and renal tubular cell apo-ptosis. Mechanistically, TMP decreased the expression of phospho-p38 MAPK protein and attenuated the increased FoxO1 mRNA and nuclear protein expression. In addition, TMP inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase and Bax protein expression while it upregulated Bcl-2. Conclusion: In summary, this study demonstrated the protective role of TMP against CIN and indicated the effects of TMP may be mediated by the inhibition of p38 MAPK and FoxO1 pathways. Thus, TMP may be a new potential therapeutic agent to prevent CIN.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the eighth most prevalent cancer in the world, arises from the interaction of multiple factors including tobacco, alcohol consumption, and betel quid. Chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin, 5‐fluorouracil, and paclitaxel have now become the first‐line options for OSCC patients. Nevertheless, most OSCC patients eventually acquire drug resistance, leading to poor prognosis. With the discovery and identification of non‐coding RNAs (ncRNAs), the functions of dysregulated ncRNAs in OSCC development and drug resistance are gradually being widely recognized. The mechanisms of drug resistance of OSCC are intricate and involve drug efflux, epithelial‐mesenchymal transition, DNA damage repair, and autophagy. At present, strategies to explore the reversal of drug resistance of OSCC need to be urgently developed. Nano‐delivery and self‐cellular drug delivery platforms are considered as effective strategies to overcome drug resistance due to their tumor targeting, controlled release, and consistent pharmacokinetic profiles. In particular, the combined application of new technologies (including CRISPR systems) opened up new horizons for the treatment of drug resistance of OSCC. Hence, this review explored emerging regulatory functions of ncRNAs in drug resistance of OSCC, elucidated multiple ncRNA‐meditated mechanisms of drug resistance of OSCC, and discussed the potential value of drug delivery platforms using nanoparticles and self‐cells as carriers in drug resistance of OSCC.

No abstract

Natural resistance-associated macrophage proteins (NRAMPs) have been shown to transport a wide range of divalent metal ions, such as manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd), and Iron (Fe). Iron is an essential micronutrient for plants and Fe deficiency can lead to chlorosis or decreased biomass. AtNRAMP6 has demonstrated the capability to transport Cd, but its physiological function is currently unclear. This study demonstrates that AtNRAMP6 is localized to the Golgi/trans-Golgi network and plays an important role in intracellular Fe homeostasis in the flowering plant genus Arabidopsis. GUS tissue-specific expression revealed that AtNRAMP6 is highly expressed in the lateral roots and young leaves (three to four top leaves) of Arabidopsis. Moreover, knocking out AtNRAMP6 was shown to impair lateral root growth without having a differential effect on the main root under Fe-deficient conditions. Lastly, the expression of AtNRAMP6 was found to exacerbate the sensitivity of the yeast mutant Δccc1 to an excessive amount of Fe. These findings indicate that AtNRAMP6 plays an important role in the growth of Arabidopsis in Fe-deficient conditions.

The fermentation products of Cordyceps sinensis (C. sinensis) mycelia are sustainable substitutes for natural C. sinensis. However, the volatile compositions of the commercial products are still unclear. In this paper, we have developed a simultaneous distillation-extraction (SDE) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for the profiling of volatile components in five fermentation products. A total of 64, 39, 56, 52, and 44 components were identified in the essential oils of Jinshuibao capsule (JSBC), Bailing capsule (BLC), Zhiling capsule (ZLC), Ningxinbao capsule (NXBC), and Xinganbao capsule (XGBC), respectively. 5,6-Dihydro-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one (massoia lactone) was first discovered as the dominant component in JSBC volatiles. Fatty acids including palmitic acid (C16:0) and linoleic acid (C18:2) were also found to be major volatile compositions of the fermentation products. The multivariate partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) showed a clear discrimination among the different commercial products as well as the counterfeits. This study may provide further chemical evidences for the quality evaluation of the fermentation products of C. sinensis mycelia.