Metabolomic-based investigation of Yinlan alleviating hyperlipidemia by inhibiting blood stasis and phlegm turbidity through the PXR-CYP3A4-ABCB1-FXR pathway

Yinlan lipid regulatory capsule (YL) is a composite traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) new drug to alleviate hyperlipidemia, while its therapeutic mechanism in vivo was not clarified with nontargeted metabolomics investigation. An animal model was established in rats fed a high-fat diet, and their body weights, body mass index (BMI) and blood cholesterol levels were measured. Serum, liver and kidney tissue samples were also extracted for PXR-CYP3A4-ABCB1-FXR signaling pathway research using PCR and UHPLC–MS. The obtained plasma samples were analyzed by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS metabolomic investigation, which revealed PXR-CYP3A4-related metabolites and changes induced by YL. Finally, the key metabolites were chosen as index components, and their levels in the serum, liver, small intestine and bile were used for simultaneous UHPLC–MS-MS determination. The results indicated that YL was effective in rebalancing blood TG and TC levels (compared to controls). With respect to the PXR-CYP3A4-ABCB1 pathway, as a result of YL’s effect, gene expression or activity of the two targets decreased significantly in both the liver and kidney. The same trend was observed in the serum samples mentioned above. Metabolomics screening and data revealed that 44 metabolites can be regarded as biomarkers related to hyperlipidemia, fatty acids synthesis, and body energy consumption, as well as synthesis, transportation and exertion of cholesterol. YL’s treatment focused on 26 of them, primarily bile acids, indicating that the antihyperlipidemic effect of this drug lies in its inhibitory activity of cholesterol metabolism. Subsequent analysis of those in vivo components revealed that significant increases (compared to the model group) occurred in the blood, liver, small intestine and bile in groups that received medium and high doses of YL (while the low dose was relatively unchanged). Those target components exhibit a close relationship with PXR and/or CYP3A4. The use of YL repressed PXR expression and subsequently decreased CYP3A4 activity. As a result, synthesis of related bile acids increased, while cholesterol levels decreased, consequently leading to the attenuation of hyperlipidemia. This study comprehensively investigated the antihyperlipidemia mechanism of YL based on its repression of PXR-CYP3A4 activity and related metabolite yield, establishing an accurate method for evaluating the therapeutic effect of YL.     

Event-triggered sliding mode control for switched genetic regulatory networks with persistent dwell time

This paper focus on the event-triggered sliding mode controller design for discrete-time switched genetic regulatory networks (GRNs) with persistent dwell time (PDT) switching. Firstly, the observation error dynamics of switched GRNs with PDT is constructed in the light of event-triggered sliding mode control (SMC) scheme. Next, sufficient conditions are derived to ensure the exponential stability of the augmented plant. Moreover, an event-triggered SMC law is synthesized to impel the system trajectories onto the sliding surface in a finite time. Finally, a verification example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness and potential of the proposed method.     

Dynamic stability of a class of fractional-order nonlinear systems via fixed point theory

In this paper, the problem of the uniform stability for a class of fuzzy fractional-order genetic regulatory networks with random discrete delays, distributed delays, and parameter uncertainties is studied. Although there is a portion of literature on using fixed point theorems to study the stability of fractional neural networks, most of them required the fractional order to be in $\left(\frac{1}{2},1\right)$. However, the case of the fractional-order belonging to $(0,\frac{1}{2})$ has not been discussed. To solve it, this work proposes a novel idea of using fixed point theory to study the stability of fuzzy (0,1) order neural networks, the problem of the uniqueness of the solution of the considered genetic regulatory networks is resolved, and a novel sufficient condition to guarantee the uniform stability of above genetic regulatory networks is also derived. Eventually, an example is given to demonstrate that the obtained result is effective.     

基因调控网络推断研究进展

随着高通量技术的发展,越来越多的生物医学组学数据亟需处理与分析,基于运筹优化的生物信息学方法是有效解析高维生物医学数据的重要途径之一。综述了近年来在基因调控网络推断方面的研究进展。针对不同类型的转录组学数据和研究目的,分别建立了相应的基因调控网络推断方法,主要包括先验基因调控网络数据库的建立、基于条件互信息的因果网络推断、基于微分方程的动态基因调控网络推断、转录调控和转录后调控协同作用的网络推断以及基因调控网络活性评价等,并展望了基因调控网络推断的重要研究方向。     

Oscillatory and anti-oscillatory motifs in genetic regulatory networks

Recently,self-sustained oscillatory genetic regulatory networks(GRNs) have attracted significant attention in the biological field.Given a GRN,it is important to anticipate whether the network could generate oscillation with proper parameters,and what the key ingredients for the oscillation are.In this paper the ranges of some function-related parameters which are favorable to sustained oscillations are considered.In particular,some oscillatory motifs appearing with high-frequency in most of the oscillatory GRNs are observed.Moreover,there are some anti-oscillatory motifs which have a strong oscillation repressing effect.Some conclusions analyzing these motif effects and constructing oscillatory GRNs are provided.     

少节点基因调控网络的控制

近年来,自组织振荡网络受到越来越多科学家的关注,对生物体的生长、发育起调控作用的基因调控网络即是其中的一种.本文研究了少节点基因调控网络的控制问题.运用多相位超前驱动方法对该种网络进行调控,可以有效地提高对网络的控制效率.通过数值模拟,发现对于少节点基因调控网络,当系统参数确定时,网络的有效控制率可以达到95％以上(10节点网络);当系统参数不确定时,控制的效率也非常高.     

An improved robust delay-dependent stability criterion for genetic regulatory networks with interval time delays

This paper proposes an improved robust delay-dependent criterion for stability of genetic regulatory networks with delays which vary in an interval. A modified Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional is used to derive a sufficient condition in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) which can be easily solved by various convex optimization algorithms. The derived stability criterion is less conservative than ones in the literature. A numerical example and simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Stability analysis of the differential genetic regulatory networks model with time-varying delays and Markovian jumping parameters

In this paper, we investigate the stability and robust stability criteria for genetic regulatory networks with interval time-varying delays and Markovian jumping parameters. The genetic regulatory networks have a finite number of modes, which may jump from one mode to another according to the Markov process. By using Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional, some sufficient conditions are derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities to achieve the global asymptotic stability in the mean square of the considered genetic regulatory networks. Two numerical examples are provided to illustrate the usefulness of the obtained theoretical results.     

Nanoparticulate materials and regulatory policy in Europe: An analysis of stakeholder perspectives

The novel properties of nanoparticulate materials (NPM) and the rapid development of NPM based products have raised many unanswered questions and concerns by different stakeholders over its consequences for the environment and human health. These concerns have led to an increasing discussion in both the US and Europe about possible regulatory policies for NPM. In this article a comparative study of stakeholders’ perceptions on regulatory policy issues with NPM in Europe is presented. It was found that industry wants to regulate this area if the scientific evidence demonstrates that NPM are harmful, but also that the regulatory bodies do not find it necessary at this point of time to regulate until scientific evidence demonstrates that NPM are harmful. This research therefore shows that there will most likely not be any regulatory interventions until there is an established and convincing scientific knowledge base demonstrating that NPM can be hazardous. It is furthermore discussed in this article the different roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders in financing the research required to establish the necessary level of fundamental scientific evidence. It was also found that the activity of the regulatory bodies on this issue differ between the European countries.     

Synthesis,structure and biological activity studies of 2‐[(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)methyl]‐1‐aryl)‐3‐ferrocenyl prop‐2‐en‐1‐one derivatives

Fifteen new ferrocene derivatives containing 1H‐1,2,4‐triazole moiety were synthesized in various yields by the condensation of ferrocenecarboxaldehyde with 1‐aryl‐3‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazo‐1‐yl)‐propen‐1‐ones in toluene. Their structures have been confirmed by ¹H NMR, IR, MS and elemental analysis. In addition, the crystal structure of 4l was determined. The antifungal and plant growth regulatory activities of the title compounds are discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.