Chemical Constituents with Anti-Proliferative Activity on Pulmonary Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells from the Roots of Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm.

A chemical investigation of Anthriscus sylvestris roots led to the isolation and characterization of two new nitrogen-containing phenylpropanoids (1-2) and two new phenol glycosides (8-9), along with fifteen known analogues. Structure elucidation was based on HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD). In addition, compounds 3, 6, 9-10, 12, and 17 exhibited inhibitory effects against the abnormal proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells with IC50 values ranging from 10.7 ± 0.6 to 57.1 ± 1.1 µM.

An outbreak of acute respiratory disease caused by HAdV-55 in Beijing, China, 2020.

Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) can cause acute respiratory diseases (ARDs) worldwide, and HAdV-55 is a reemergent pathogen in recent years. In the study, we investigated an outbreak of ARD at a school due to HAdV-55 in Beijing, China, during the early outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The epidemic prevention team was dispatched to the school to collect epidemiologic data and nasopharyngeal samples. Then, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and multiplex PCR assays were used to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and other respiratory pathogens, respectively. One representative HAdV-55 isolate was selected and submitted for whole-genome sequencing using a MiSeq system and the whole-genome phylogenetic tree was conducted based on the maximum likelihood method. The outbreak lasted from January 27 to February 6, 2020, and 108 students developed fever, among whom 60 (55.56%) cases were diagnosed with HAdV-55 infection in the laboratory using real-time PCR and 56 cases were hospitalized. All the confirmed cases had a fever and 11 cases (18.33%) presented with a fever above 39°C. Other main clinical symptoms included sore throat (43.33%) and headache (43.33%). We obtained and assembled the full genome of one isolate, BJ-446, with 34 761 nucleotides in length. HAdV-55 isolate BJ-446 was 99.85% identical to strain QS-DLL, which was the first HAdV-55 strain in China isolated from an ARD outbreak in Shanxi in 2006. One and four amino acid mutations were observed in the hexon gene and the coding region of L2 pV 40.1 kDa protein, respectively. We identified the first HAdV-55 infection associated with the ARD outbreak in Beijing since the emergence of COVID-19. The study suggests that improved surveillance of HAdV is needed, although COVID-19 is still prevalent in the world.

Probiotics for preventing postoperative infection in colorectal cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Postoperative infection has seriously affected the prognosis of cancer patients, while probiotics have been increasingly used to prevent postoperative infection in clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate the preventive effect of probiotics on infection after colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery. METHODS: Related clinical trial reports were collected from Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library as well as China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. These reports were then strictly screened, and information as well as data were extracted. Finally, the enrolled studies were evaluated by systematic review and meta-analysis using STATA v11 and Revman v5.2. RESULTS: Probiotics administration contributed to the reduction of overall infection rate after colorectal surgery, with a pooled odds ratio (OR) of 0.51 (95% CI: 0.38-0.68, P = 0.00). Meanwhile, the incidence of incision infection (pooled OR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.39-0.88, P = 0.01) and pneumonia (pooled OR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.32-0.98, P = 0.04) as well as the first flatus time (SMDs = - 0.70, 95% CI - 1.13-- 0.27, P = 0.002) were also reduced by probiotics. In addition, urinary tract infection, anastomotic leakage, and duration of postoperative pyrexia were also analyzed, which displayed no statistical differences compared with those of control. CONCLUSION: Probiotics have potential efficacy on preventing postoperative infection and related complications in cancer patients undergoing colorectal surgery.

Three new flavonoid glycosides from the herbaceous stems of Ephedra intermedia.

Phytochemical investigation of the n-butanol extracts of the herbaceous stems of Epheda intermedia led to the isolation of eight flavonoids that included three new flavonoid glycosides (1-3) and five previously reported analogues (4-8). Their structures have been identified on the basis of various spectral data. Besides, all the flavonoids were tested in vitro for their ability to inhibit α-glucosidase under the positive control of acarbose, and the results indicated that none of them exhibited significant inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase at 100 µM.

Targeted isolation of lignans from the roots of Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm. by small molecule accurate recognition technology.

Five undescribed lignans (1-5), along with sixteen known lignans (6-21), were isolated from the roots of Anthriscus sylvestris using small molecule accurate recognition technology (SMART). The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, and the absolute configurations of compounds 3-5 were elucidated by comparison of their calculated and experimental ECD spectra. Compounds 5, 14-15, 19, and 21 exhibited significantly inhibitory effects against hypoxia-stimulated abnormal proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Moreover, compounds 5, 14-15, 19, and 21 can significantly restore expression of expression of PASMCs proliferation-related protein, including α-SMA, PCNA, P27, and CyclinD3, which are closely related to cell proliferation.

Apocarotenoids from the fresh roots of Rehmannia glutinosa and their anti-pulmonary fibrosis activity.

Six undescribed compounds (1-6) and twenty-three known analogues (7-29) were isolated from the fresh roots of Rehmannia glutinosa. The structures of the compounds (1-29) were established through the application of spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 3, 4, 6, 8, 13, 18, 21, 22, 25, and 28 exhibited excellent anti-pulmonary fibrosis activity. The potential mechanistic pathway of 3 was also investigated, whose results indicate that compound 3 ameliorate TGF-ß1 induced BEAS-2B cell injury via PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Five new eremophilane-type sesquiterpenes from the fresh roots of Rehmannia glutinosa.

Five undescribed eremophilane-type sesquiterpenes, remophilanetriols E-I (1-5), along with seven known compounds (6-12) were isolated from the fresh roots of Rehmannia glutinosa. Their structures were characterized by extensive spectroscopic data analysis and their absolute configurations were determined by comparing their calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra and experimental ECD spectra. The anti-pulmonary fibrosis activities of all compounds were evaluated in vitro by MTT methods, and compounds 2, 8, 10, and 12 exhibited excellent anti-pulmonary fibrosis activities. In addition, compound 2 can reduce the levels of ROS and apoptosis in TGF-ß1-induced BEAS-2B cells.

Diarylpentanoids and phenylpropanoids from the roots of Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm.

Three pairs of undescribed diarylpentanoid enantiomers (1-3) and five undescribed phenylpropanoids (4-8), along with seven known compounds, were isolated from the roots of Anthriscus sylvestris. The structures of compounds (1-8) were determined by analysis of their 1D and 2D NMR spectra, HRESIMS, and electronic circular dichroism. In addition, the inhibitory activities against hypoxia-stimulated pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells abnormal proliferation were evaluated by MTT assay. The mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2, BAX, Caspase3, and IL-6 were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed that compounds (-)-1, (+)-1, (-)-2, (+)-3, 4, 8-10, 14, and 15 inhibited the abnormal proliferation of PASMCs by regulating the levels of apoptosis and inflammatory factors.

Salviamilthone A-O, diterpenoid quinones from Salvia miltiorrhiza.

Fifteen undescribed diterpenoid quinones salviamilthone A-O (1-15), together with three known diterpenoid quinones (16-18), were isolated from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. Their structures were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR data, while the relative and absolute configurations were confirmed by NOESY correlations and comparison between experimental and calculated ECD spectra. In the evaluation of bioactivities, salviamilthone J (10), salviamone (18) (10 µM) significantly increased cell viability and decreased the expression of IL-1ß in lipopolysaccharide-induced BEAS-2B cells. These data provide the molecular justification for the usage of Salvia miltiorrhiza in treating acute lung injury.

Ionones and lignans from the fresh roots of Rehmannia glutinosa.

Nine undescribed compounds, together with 21 known components, were isolated from the fresh roots of Rehmannia glutinosa. Their structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic data analysis, and the absolute configurations of undescribed compounds were determined by comparison of their calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroic (ECD) spectra and interpretation of their optical rotation data. The α-glucosidase inhibitory effects of the isolated compounds were investigated and all of them exhibited slightly inhibitory activities.

Ten undescribed diterpenoid quinones derived from the Salvia miltiorrhiza.

This study aimed to report the structure elucidation of the compounds isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza, and their biological evaluations. Ten undescribed diterpenoid quinones and 10 known analogues were isolated from the dried roots of S. miltiorrhiza. Their structures were elucidated by extensive analysis, including nuclear magnetic resonance, high-resolution mass spectra, and ultraviolet and infrared spectra. Their absolute configurations were determined by comparing the experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra. In the evaluation of bioactivities, Salvianolactone acid I, epi-danshenspiroketallactone F, danshinspiroketallactone, grandifolia G, and 2H-Naphtho [1,8-bc]furan (10 µM) significantly increased cell viability and decreased the nuclear transport of p-P65 in lipopolysaccharide-induced bronchial epithelial cells. It was concluded that the diterpenoid quinones might belong to potent targeted lung-protective agents.

Evaluation of sample size for laboratory detection during HAdVs outbreaks in China: a systematic review and model research.

Human adenovirus infection is a common cause of upper and lower respiratory illness and easily breaks out in schools and the army. In an adenovirus epidemic, a large number of samples would be collected for laboratory diagnosis, and it is urgent to optimize the current sampling strategy. We researched the application of laboratory detection in the adenovirus epidemic and optimized the range of laboratory pathogen detection in the adenovirus epidemic by summarizing previous theoretical achievements, research reports, and experts' opinions and by using mathematical model tools. Under certain assumptions, a susceptible-infectious-quarantined-recovered (SIQR) model was established to describe the adenovirus epidemic and optimize the range of laboratory pathogen detection. Some standards and implementation rules suggest that when the number of cases is less than 10 or 20, all patients should be sampled for laboratory examination, and when the number of cases is more than 10 or 20, at least 10 or 20 samples should be collected. In practice, the sampling range can be appropriately expanded. A total of 21 studies were analyzed, and the sampling rate of adenovirus infection was 31% (95%CI: 24%~38%). The mathematical model suggested that the screening of asymptomatic people in the latent stage can slow the spreading of the epidemic, but the detection range will be too large. These findings may be helpful for policymaking during an adenovirus epidemic and to avoid proceeding with laboratory testing blindly. Furthermore, it may also provide some guidance for optimizing the sampling strategy of other diseases, especially for respiratory tract infections.

Establishment and evaluation of a theater influenza monitoring platform.

BACKGROUND: Influenza is an acute respiratory infectious disease with a high incidence rate in the Chinese army, which directly disturbs military training and affects soldiers' health. Influenza surveillance systems are widely used around the world and play an important role in influenza epidemic prevention and control. METHODS: As a theater centers for disease prevention and control, we established an influenza monitoring platform (IMP) in 2014 to strengthen the monitoring of influenza-like illness and influenza virus infection. In this study, we introduced the constitution, influenza virus detection, and quality control for an IMP. The monitoring effect was also evaluated by comparing the monitoring data with data from national influenza surveillance systems. The experiences and problems associated with the platform also were summarized. RESULTS: A theater IMP was established based on 3 levels of medical units, including monitoring sites, testing laboratories and a checking laboratory. A series of measures were taken to guarantee the quality of monitoring, such as technical training, a unified process, sufficient supervision and timely communication. The platform has run smoothly for 3 monitoring years to date. In the 2014-2015 and 2016-2017 monitoring years, sample amount coincided with that obtained from the National Influenza Surveillance program. In the 2015-2016 monitoring year, due to the strict prevention and control measures, an influenza epidemic peak was avoided in monitoring units, and the monitoring data did not coincide with that of the National Influenza Surveillance program. Several problems, including insufficient attention, unreasonable administrative intervention or subordination relationships, and the necessity of detection in monitoring sites were still observed. CONCLUSIONS: A theater IMP was established rationally and played a deserved role in the prevention and control of influenza. However, several problems remain to be solved.