Tectorigenin inhibits inflammatory responses in murine inflammatory bowel disease and LPS-stimulated macrophages via inactivating MAPK signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Considering the antihepatitis effects of Tectorigenin (TEC), and the same adenosine mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in both hepatitis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) models, exploring the role of TEC in IBD is contributive to develop a new treatment strategy against IBD. METHODS: The IBD mouse model was constructed by feeding with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and injection of TEC. Afterward, the mouse body weight, colon length, and disease activity index (DAI) were tested to assess the enteritis level. Mouse intestine lesions were detected by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Murine macrophages underwent lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induction to establish an inflammation model. Cell viability was determined by cell counting kit-8 assay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to measure interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expressions were quantified via quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Levels of MAPK pathway-related proteins (p-P38, P38, p-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), JNK, signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p-ERK), COX-2 and iNOS were quantitated by Western blot. RESULTS: TEC improved the inflammatory response through ameliorating weight loss, shortening colon, and increasing DAI score in IBD mouse. Expressions of intestinal inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS and COX-2) and MAPK pathway-related proteins (p-P38, p-JNK, and p-ERK) were increased both in DSS-induced mouse intestinal tissue, but TEC inhibited expressions of inflammatory factors. The same increased trend was identified in LPS-induced macrophages, but TEC improved macrophage inflammation, as evidenced by downregulation of inflammatory factors. CONCLUSION: TEC mitigates IBD and LPS-induced macrophage inflammation in mice via inhibiting MAPK signaling pathway.

Effect of diversified and staged health education on the compliance of elderly patients with coronary heart disease.

BACKGROUND: To explore the effect of diversified and staged health education on the compliance of elderly patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: A total of 180 elderly patients with CHD were randomly divided (using computerized random grouping) into a control group (n=90) and study group (n=90) between January 2018 and December 2019 in the Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western Medicine in our hospital. The control group was given routine health education, while the study group was supplemented with diversified and staged health education on this basis. After the intervention, the health knowledge mastery of CHD, compliance, self-care ability, incidence of adverse events, and life quality were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: After the intervention, the health knowledge mastery of CHD, total compliance, and self-care ability scores in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The incidence rate of adverse events in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). After 3-month follow-up, it was found that the life quality score in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Diversified and staged health education for elderly patients with CHD can improve the health knowledge mastery of the disease, self-care ability, compliance, life quality, and subsequently reduce adverse events.