In vivo comprehensive metabolite profiling of esculetin and esculin derived from chicory in hyperuricemia rats using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Chicory, renowned for its multifaceted benefits, houses two vital coumarins, esculetin and esculin, both instrumental in reducing uric acid. This study emphasizes the metabolic pathways of esculetin and esculin under both standard and hyperuricemia conditions. Hyperuricemia was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats using oxonic acid potassium salt (300 mg·kg-1 ) and a 10% fructose water regimen over 21 days. Leveraging the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-Q Exactive hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry, we analyzed the fragmentation behaviors of esculetin and esculin in rat bio-samples. Post oral-intake of esculetin or esculin, a notable dip in serum uric acid levels was observed in hyperuricemia rats. The investigation unveiled 24 esculetin metabolites and 14 for esculin. The metabolic pathways of both compounds were hydrolysis, hydroxylation, hydrogenation, dehydroxylation, glucuronidation, sulfation, and methylation. Interestingly, certain metabolites presented variations between standard and hyperuricemia rats, indicating that elevated levels of uric acid may affect enzyme activity linked to these metabolic reactions. This is the first systematic study on comparison of metabolic profiles of esculetin and esculin in both normal and hyperuricemia states, which was helpful to enrich our understanding of the complicated structure-activity relationships between esculin and esculetin and shed light to their action mechanism.

Metabolites Identification and Mechanism Prediction of Neobavaisoflavone In Vitro and In Vivo of Rats through UHPLC-Q-Exactive Plus Orbitrap MS Integrated Network Pharmacology.

Neobavaisoflavone is an important isoflavone component isolated from Psoraleae Fructus. It is used extensively worldwide because of its antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and anti-osteoporotic activities. However, there is no systematic and comprehensive research on the metabolism of neobavaisoflavone in vivo and in vitro. The study aimed to analyze the metabolic characteristics and mechanism of neobavaisoflavone for the first time. Firstly, biological samples were pretreated by the solid-phase extraction (SPE) method, methanol precipitation, and acetonitrile precipitation. Secondly, the samples were analyzed on UHPLC-Q-Exactive Plus Orbitrap MS. Thirdly, metabolites were tentatively identified based on retention time, parallel reaction monitoring strategy, diagnostic product ions, and neutral loss fragments. A total of 72 metabolites of neobavaisoflavone were tentatively identified, including 28 in plasma, 43 in urine, 18 in feces, six in the liver, and four in the liver microsome. The results suggested that neobavaisoflavone mainly underwent glucuronidation, sulfation, hydroxylation, methylation, cyclization, hydration, and their composite reactions in vivo and in vitro. In addition, nine active components with high bioavailability and 191 corresponding targets were predicted by the Swiss Drug Design database. The 1806 items of GO and 183 KEGG signaling pathways were enriched. These results showed that metabolites expanded the potential effects of neobavaisoflavone. The present study would provide the scientific basis for the further exploitation and application of neobavaisoflavone.

[Research progress of targeting macrophage surface receptors in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease].

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract with unknown etiology and pathogenesis. In the intestinal tissues of IBD patients, dysregulation of macrophages results in persistent intestinal inflammation. Macrophages are highly adaptable and their phenotypes and functions could be regulated by various factors in the microenvironment via ligand-receptor binding, thus affecting the progression of the disease.

Thoracoscopic resection of a large lower esophageal schwannoma: A case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal schwannomas originating from Schwann cells are extremely rare esophageal tumors. They commonly occur in the upper and middle esophagus but less frequently in the lower esophagus. Herein, we report a rare case of a large lower esophageal schwannoma misdiagnosed as a leiomyoma. We also present a brief literature review on lower esophageal schwannomas. CASE SUMMARY: A 62-year-old man presented with severe dysphagia lasting 6 mo. A barium esophagogram showed that the lower esophagus was compressed within approximately 5.5 cm. Endoscopy revealed the presence of a large submucosal protuberant lesion in the esophagus at a distance of 32-38 cm from the incisors. Endoscopic ultrasound findings demonstrated a 4.5 cm × 5.0 cm hypoechoic lesion. Chest computed tomography revealed a mass of size approximately 53 mm × 39 mm × 50 mm. Initial tests revealed features indicative of leiomyoma. After multidisciplinary discussions, the patient underwent a video-assisted thoracoscopic partial esophagectomy. Further investigation involving immunohistochemical examination confirming palisading spindle cells as positive for S100 and Sox10 led to the final diagnosis of a lower esophageal schwannoma. There was no tumor recurrence or metastasis during follow-up. CONCLUSION: The final diagnosis of esophageal schwannoma requires histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. The early appropriate surgery favors a remarkable prognosis.