[A new norsesquiterpenoid from Arctium lappa leaves].

Chemical constituents were isolated and purified from ethyl acetate fraction of Arctium lappa leaves by silica gel, ODS, MCI, and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Their structures were identified with multiple spectroscopical methods including NMR, MS, IR, UV, and X-ray diffraction combined with literature data. Twenty compounds(1-20) were identified and their structures were determined as arctanol(1), citroside A(2), melitensin 15-O-ß-D-glucoside(3), 11ß,13-dihydroonopordopicrin(4), 11ß,13-dihydrosalonitenolide(5), 8α-hydroxy-ß-eudesmol(6), syringin(7), dihydrosyringin(8), 3,4,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-δ-truxinate(9),(+)-pinoresinol(10), phillygenin(11), syringaresinol(12), kaeperferol(13), quercetin(14), luteolin(15), hyperin(16), 4,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid(17), 1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde(18), benzyl-ß-D-glucopyranoside(19), and N-(2'-phenylethyl) isobutyramide(20). Among them, compound 1 is a new norsesquiterpenoid, and compounds 2-5, 7-8, and 18-20 are isolated from this plant for the first time.

[Mechanism of Xianglian Pills in improving dyslipidemia in obese mice induced by high-fat diet based on network pharmacology and intestinal flora].

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Xianglian Pills(XLP) on lipid metabolism in obese mice and explore the underlying mechanism based on network pharmacology and intestinal flora. Firstly, network pharmacology was used to predict the possible effect of XLP on obesity. Secondly, an obese mouse model induced by a high-fat diet was established to observe changes in mouse body weight, adiposity index, liver and adipose tissue pathology. Lipid profiles, liver and kidney function markers, insulin content, and the expression of recombinant uncoupling protein 1(UCP-1) and PR structural domain protein 16(PRDM16) were measured. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology was used to analyze the changes in the intestinal flora. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis showed that XLP mainly played a role in improving obesity by regulating lipolysis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and insulin resistance. The results of animal experiments showed that XLP significantly reduced body weight, adiposity, blood lipid levels, and serum insulin levels in obese mice, while enhancing the expression of UCP-1 and PRDM16 in adipose tissue without causing damage to the liver or kidneys. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed that XLP decreased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes(F/B) ratio at the phylum level, increased the relative abundance of Akkermansia and Bacteroides at the family and genus levels, and reduced the abundance of Allobaculum. Therefore, XLP can effectively improve lipid metabolism disorders in high-fat diet-induced obese mice, and the mechanism is related to the improvement of brown adipose function, the browning of white fat, the accelerated lipid metabolism, and the improvement of intestinal flora. However, its effect on promoting the conversion of white adipose to brown adipose still needs to be further studied.

Distinct recruitment dynamics of chandelier cells and basket cells by thalamocortical inputs.

Diverse types of GABAergic interneurons tend to specialize in their inhibitory control of various aspects of cortical circuit operations. Among the most distinctive interneuron types, chandelier cells (i.e., axo-axonic cells) are a bona fide cell type that specifically innervates pyramidal cells at the axon initial segment, the site of action potential initiation. Chandelier cells have been speculated to exert ultimate inhibitory control over pyramidal cell spiking. Thus, chandelier cells appear to share multiple similarities with basket cells, not only in firing pattern (fast spiking) and molecular components, but also in potentially perisomatic inhibitory control. Unlike basket cells, however, synaptic recruitment of chandelier cells is little known yet. Here, we examined the mediodorsal thalamocortical input to both chandelier cells and basket cells in medial prefrontal cortex, through combining mouse genetic, optogenetic and electrophysiological approaches. We demonstrated that this thalamocortical input produced initially weak, but facilitated synaptic responses at chandelier cells, which enabled chandelier cells to spike persistently. In contrast, this thalamocortical input evoked initially strong, but rapidly depressed synaptic responses at basket cells, and basket cells only fired at the initiation of input. Overall, the distinct synaptic recruitment dynamics further underscores the differences between chandelier cells and basket cells, suggesting that these two types of fast spiking interneurons play different roles in cortical circuit processing and physiological operation.

[Chemical constituents of cyclic peptides from fibrous roots of Pseudostellaria heterophylla].

Four cyclic peptides were isolated from the 75% ethanol extract of the fibrous roots of Pseudostellaria heterophylla by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and semi-preparative HPLC. Through mass spectrometry, NMR and other methods, they were identified as pseudostellarin L(1), heterophyllin B(2), pseudostellarin B(3), and pseudostellarin C(4). Among them, compound 1 was a new cyclic peptide, and compounds 2-4 were isolated from the fibrous roots of P. heterophylla for the first time. None of these compounds displayed cytotoxic activities against MCF-7, A549, HCT-116, and SGC-7901 cells.

[Cortical 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 3A (Htr3a) positive inhibitory neurons: diversity in type and function].

Cortical GABAergic inhibitory neurons are composed of three major classes, each expressing parvalbumin (PV), somatostatin (SOM) and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 3A (Htr3a), respectively. Htr3a+ inhibitory neurons are mainly derived from the caudal ganglionic eminence (CGE). This highly heterogeneous group of inhibitory neurons are comprised of many different subtypes with distinct molecular signatures, morphological and electrophysiological properties and connectivity patterns. In this review, we summarized recent research progress regarding cortical Htr3a+ inhibitory neurons, focusing on their molecular, morphological and electrophysiological diversity, and introduced some genetic mouse tools that were used to study Htr3a+ inhibitory neurons.

[Short-term effect of double bundle reconstruction of posterior cruciate ligament with total internal short tendon technique].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the method and curative effect of double bundle reconstruction of posterior cruciate ligament with total internal short tendon technique. METHODS: From October 2010 to June 2018, 50 patients with simple posterior cruciate ligament rupture were admitted, including 35 males and 15 females, ranging in age from 20 to 45 years old, 16 with acute injury and 34 with old injury. The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) was reconstructed by double bundle technique with the whole internal short tendon. The two ends of the transplanted ligament were fixed by titanium plate suspended with adjustable loop. The Lysholm knee score and IKDC score were used to evaluate the clinical effects. RESULTS: All the 50 patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 6 to 60 months, with a mean of (28.84±9.52) months. At the latest follow up, the knee joint activity returned to normal range. The median value of Lysholm knee score was 54 before operation and 100 after operation. According to the IKDC score, there were 0 case of grade A, 0 case of grade B, 20 cases of grade C and 30 cases of grade D before operation;29 cases of grade A, 19 cases of grade B, 1 case of grade C and 1 case of grade D after operation;the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic double bundle reconstruction of posterior cruciate ligament with short internal tendon is safe and reliable, with less tendon transplantation, more stable fixation, and more bone reserve, which is beneficial for healing and renovation. The short term effect is positive.