Paris Saponin II (PSII) has been regarded as an effective and imperative component isolated from Rhizoma Paridis saponins (RPS) and exhibited strong anti-tumor effects on a variety of cancer. Our results revealed that human non-small lung cancer cell lines NCI-H460 and NCI-H520 were exposed to 1 μM of PSII, which inhibited the proliferation of lung cancer cells and activated apoptosis, autophagy and paraptosis. PSII induced paraptosis-associated cell death prior to apoptosis and autophagy. It induced paraptosis based on ER stress through activation of the JNK pathway. Meanwhile, PSII increased the cytotoxicity of cisplatin through paraptosis-associated pathway. All in all, PSII induced paraptosis based on induction of non-apoptotic cell death, which would be a possible approach to suppress the multi-drug resistant to apoptosis.In this work, we aimed to investigate whether oxymatrine exerts its anti-pruritic and anti-inflammatory efficacy in the imiquimod-induced psoriasis mice and the related mechanism. We established the psoriasis model by applying the imiquimod ointment topically and oxymatrine was injected intraperitoneally as the treatment. The behavior and skin morphology results indicated that oxymatrine inhibits imiquimod-induced pruritus alleviating keratinization of skin and inflammatory infiltration. Talazoparib research buy Moreover, we examined the expression of various indicators and found heat shock protein (HSP) 90 and 60 upregulated in model group, which were reversed in oxymatrine treated groups. Molecular docking and the studies in vivo confirmed that HSP90 and HSP60 participate in the inhibitory effect of oxymatrine on the phenotypes of psoriasis mice. Mechanically, immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that oxymatrine-induced downregulation of HSP90 and HSP60 was mainly in keratinocytes. In vitro results showed that oxymatrine decreases the expression of HSP90 and HSP60 upregulated by TNF-α and IFN-γ in HaCaTs cells and the siRNA mediated HSP90 and HSP60 silencing reverses inflammation inhibited by oxymatrine. Taken together, these results indicate that oxymatrine relieves psoriasis pruritic and inflammation by inhibiting the expression of HSP90 and HSP60 in keratinocytes through MAPK signaling pathway.

In obese youth, it is not clear what degree of β-cell impairment translates to glucose dysregulation commensurate with shifts from normal glucose tolerance (NGT) to impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) to type 2 diabetes. We aimed to investigate the quantitative relationship between β-cell (clamp-measured disposition index [DI]) and OGTT glucose area under the curve (G-AUC) in obese youth across the spectrum of glucose tolerance.

Data from 152 youth (58 African-American [AA] and 94 American-White [AW]; 73 NGT, 48 IGT, and 31 type 2 diabetes) who completed a 3-h hyperinsulinemic (80 mu/m

/min)-euglycemic clamp, and a 2-h hyperglycemic (225 mg/dL) clamp synchronized with a 2-h OGTT were examined.

In IGT vs. NGT, 36% lower DI corresponded to 27% higher G-AUC; in type 2 diabetes vs. IGT, 65% lower DI related to 25% higher G-AUC, and in type 2 diabetes vs. NGT, 78% lower DI paralleled 59% higher G-AUC. Although AA vs. AW youth had larger decrements in DI, from NGT to IGT and from NGT to type 2 diabetes, they displayed comparable increments in G-AUC.

At least ~35-50% recovery in β-cell function might be needed to have clinically meaningful improvement in G-AUC commensurate with conversion to better glucose tolerance. Mechanism(s) protective against dysglycemia might be operative in AA vs. AW youth despite greater declines in DI. Treatments aiming to improve β-cell function should focus on degree of change in DI commensurate with clinically meaningful changes in glycemia, reflective of restoration of glucose tolerance.

At least ~35-50% recovery in β-cell function might be needed to have clinically meaningful improvement in G-AUC commensurate with conversion to better glucose tolerance. Mechanism(s) protective against dysglycemia might be operative in AA vs. AW youth despite greater declines in DI. Treatments aiming to improve β-cell function should focus on degree of change in DI commensurate with clinically meaningful changes in glycemia, reflective of restoration of glucose tolerance.

We aimed to examine the associations of obesity-related traits (body mass index [BMI], central obesity) and their genetic predisposition with the risk of developing severe COVID-19 in a population-based data.

We analyzed data from 489,769 adults enrolled in the UK Biobank-a population-based cohort study. The exposures of interest are BMI categories and central obesity (e.g., larger waist circumference). Using genome-wide genotyping data, we also computed polygenic risk scores (PRSs) that represent an individual’s overall genetic risk for each obesity trait. The outcome was severe COVID-19, defined by hospitalization for laboratory-confirmed COVID-19.

Of 489,769 individuals, 33% were normal weight (BMI, 18.5-24.9 kg/m

), 43% overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m

), and 24% obese (≥30.0 kg/m

). The UK Biobank identified 641 patients with severe COVID-19. Compared to adults with normal weight, those with a higher BMI had a dose-response increases in the risk of severe COVID-19, with the following adjusted ORs for 25.0-29.9 kg/m

, 1.40 (95%CI 1.14-1.73; P = 0.002); for 30.0-34.9 kg/m

, 1.73 (95%CI 1.36-2.20; P < 0.001); for 35.0-39.9 kg/m

, 2.82 (95%CI 2.08-3.83; P < 0.001); and for ≥40.0 kg/m

, 3.30 (95%CI 2.17-5.03; P < 0.001). Likewise, central obesity was associated with significantly higher risk of severe COVID-19 (P < 0.001). Furthermore, larger PRS for BMI was associated with higher risk of outcome (adjusted OR per BMI PRS Z-score 1.14, 95%CI 1.05-1.24; P = 0.004).

In this large population-based cohort, individuals with more-severe obesity, central obesity, or genetic predisposition for obesity are at higher risk of developing severe-COVID-19.

In this large population-based cohort, individuals with more-severe obesity, central obesity, or genetic predisposition for obesity are at higher risk of developing severe-COVID-19.