Comprehensive Characterization of Triterpene Saponins in Rhizoma Panacis Japonici by Offline Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry.

Rhizoma Panacis Japonici (RPJ) is an ancient herbal medicine from China that has long been employed for its medicinal benefits in relieving arthritis physical debility and diverse afflictions. The primary bioactive constituents found in RPJ are triterpene saponins, which exhibit numerous pharmacological actions, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulating effects. The present study established a straightforward and effective approach for characterizing triterpene saponins in RPJ. An offline HILIC × RP LC/QTOF-MS method was developed, along with a self-constructed in-house database containing 612 saponins reported in the Panax genus and 228 predicted metabolites. The approach achieved good chromatographic performance in isolating triterpene saponins of RPJ, with the HILIC column as the first dimension (1D) and the BEH C18 column as the second dimension (2D). The developed two-dimensional liquid chromatography system exhibited an orthogonality of 0.61 and a peak capacity of 1249. Detection was performed using a QTOF mass spectrometer in a data-independent manner (MSE) in a negative ion mode. Using the in-house database, the collected MS data were processed by an automatic workflow on UNIFI 1.8.2 software, which included data correction, matching of precursor and product ions, and peak annotation. In this study, 307 saponins were characterized from RPJ and 76 saponins were identified for the first time in Panax japonicus. This research not only enhances our understanding of the chemical characteristics of RPJ but also offers a simple and efficient method for analyzing the complex composition of herbal medicine.

Efficacy and safety of a music-therapy facilitated pulmonary telerehabilitation program in COPD patients: the COPDMELODY study protocol.

Despite considerable evidence for the benefit in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the implementation of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is insufficient. However, music therapy may help address this gap due to its unique benefits. Therefore, we aimed to develop a music-therapy facilitated pulmonary telerehabilitation program based on rhythm-guided walking, singing, and objective telemonitoring. A supervised, parallel-group, single-blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial will be conducted, including 75 patients with COPD anticipated to be randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio into three groups. The intervention groups will receive a 12-week remotely monitored rehabilitation program, while the usual care group will not receive any rehabilitation interventions. Of the two intervention groups, the multi-module music therapy group will contain rhythm-guided walking and singing training, while the rhythm-guided walking group will only include music tempo-guided walking. The primary outcome is the distance of the incremental shuttle walking test. Secondary outcomes include respiratory muscle function, spirometry, lower extremity function, symptoms, quality of life, anxiety and depression levels, physical activity level, training adherence, and safety measurements. The results of this study can contribute to develop and evaluate a home-based music-facilitated rehabilitation program, which has the potential to act as a supplement and/or substitute (according to the needs) for traditional center-based PR in patients with stable COPD. Clinical trial registration: https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/, NCT05832814.

Melittin analog p5RHH enhances recombinant adeno-associated virus transduction efficiency.

OBJECTIVE: Melittin and its derivative have been developed to support effective gene delivery systems. Their ability to facilitate endosomal release enhances the delivery of nanoparticle-based gene therapy. Nevertheless, its potential application in the context of viral vectors has not received much attention. Therefore, we would like to optimize the rAAV vector by Melittin analog to improve the transduction efficiency of rAAV in liver cancer cells and explore the mechanism of Melittin analog on rAAV. METHODS: Various melittin-derived peptides were inserted into loop VIII of the capsid protein in recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors. These vectors carrying either gfp or fluc genes were subjected to quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays and transduction assays in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293T) cells to investigate the efficiency of vector production and gene delivery. In addition, the ability of a specific p5RHH-rAAV vector to deliver genes was examined through in vitro transduction of different cultured cells and in vivo tail vein administration to C57BL/6 mice. Finally, the intricate details of the vector-mediated transduction mechanisms were explored by using pharmacological inhibitors of every stage of the rAAV2 intracellular life cycle. RESULTS: A total of 76 melittin-related peptides were identified from existing literature. Among them, CMA-3, p5RHH and aAR3 were found to significantly inhibit transduction of rAAV2 vector crude lysate. The p5RHH-rAAV2 vectors efficiently transduced not only rAAV-potent cell lines but also cell lines previously considered resistant to rAAV. Mechanistically, bafilomycin A1, a vacuolar endosome acidification inhibitor, completely inhibited the transgene expression mediated by the p5RHH-rAAV2 vectors. Most importantly, p5RHH-rAAV8 vectors also increased hepatic transduction in vivo in C57BL/6 mice. CONCLUSION: The incorporation of melittin analogs into the rAAV capsids results in a significant improvement in rAAV-mediated transgene expression. While further modifications remain an area of interest, our studies have substantially broadened the pharmacological prospects of melittin in the context of viral vector-mediated gene delivery. Please cite this article as: Meng J, He Y, Yang H, Zhou L, Wang S, Feng X, Al-shargi OY, Yu X, Zhu L, Ling, C. Melittin analog p5RHH enhances recombinant adeno-associated virus transduction efficiency. J Integr Med. 2024; 22(1): 72-82.

Neonatal di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate exposure induces permanent alterations in secretory CRH neuron characteristics in the hypothalamus paraventricular region of adult male rats.

Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) play a critical role in the modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Early-life exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has been associated with an increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders in adulthood. The present work was designed to explore the impact of neonatal exposure to DEHP on adult PVN CRH neuronal activity. DEHP or vehicle was given to male rat pups from PND16 to PND22. Then, anxiety-like behaviors, serum corticosterone and testosterone, immunohistochemistry, western blotting, fluorescence in situ hybridization and acute ex vivo slice electrophysiological recordings were used to evaluate the influence of DEHP on adult PVN secretory CRH neurons. Neonatal DEHP-exposed rats exhibited enhanced anxiety-like behaviors in adults, with an increase in CORT. Secretory CRH neurons showed higher spontaneous firing activity but could be inhibited by GABAAR blockers. CRH neurons displayed fewer firing spikes, prolonged first-spike latency, depolarizing shifts in GABA reversal potential and strengthened GABAergic inputs, as indicated by increases in the frequency and amplitude of sIPSCs. Enhancement of GABAergic transmission was accompanied by upregulated expression of GAD67 and downregulated expression of GABABR1, KCC2 and GAT1. These findings suggest that neonatal exposure to DEHP permanently altered the characteristics of secretory CRH neurons in the PVN, which may contribute to the development of psychiatric disorders later in life.

Integrated network pharmacology and cellular assay reveal the biological mechanisms of Limonium sinense (Girard) Kuntze against Breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Limonium Sinense (Girard) Kuntze (L. sinense) has been widely used for the treatment of anaemia, bleeding, cancer, and other disorders in Chinese folk medicine. The aim of this study is to predict the therapeutic effects of L. sinense and investigate the potential mechanisms using integrated network pharmacology methods and in vitro cellular experiments. METHODS: The active ingredients of L. sinense were collected from published literature, and the potential targets related to L. sinense were obtained from public databases. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and DisGeNET enrichment analyses were performed to explore the underlying mechanisms. Molecular docking, cellular experiments, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets were employed to further evaluate the findings. RESULTS: A total of 15 active ingredients of L. sinense and their corresponding 389 targets were obtained. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the biological effects of L. sinense were primarily associated with "Pathways in cancer". DisGeNET enrichment analysis highlighted the potential role of L. sinense in the treatment of breast cancer. Apigenin within L. sinense showed promising potential against cancer. Cellular experiments demonstrated that the L. sinense ethanol extract (LSE) exhibited a significant growth inhibitory effect on multiple breast cancer cell lines in both 2D and 3D cultures. RNA-seq analysis revealed a potential impact of LSE on breast cancer. Additionally, analysis of GEO datasets verified the significant enrichment of breast cancer and several cancer-related pathways upon treatment with Apigenin in human breast cancer cells. CONCLUSION: This study predicts the biological activities of L. sinense and demonstrates the inhibitory effect of LSE on breast cancer cells, highlighting the potential application of L. sinense in cancer treatment.

Antibacterial Effects of Ramulus mori Oligosaccharides against Streptococcus mutans.

Ramulus mori has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine because of its physiological activities, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. Antimicrobial properties of Ramulus mori extract have been well described. However, no information is available regarding on Ramulus mori oligosaccharides (RMOS). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of RMOS on the growth and virulence properties of the cariogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans. The effects of RMOS on the biofilm structure and virulence gene expression of S. mutans were also evaluated, and the results were compared with the effects of commercial prebiotic galactooligosaccharides. RMOS were found to have an antibacterial effect against S. mutans, resulting in significant reductions in acid production, lactate dehydrogenase activity, adhesion, insoluble extracellular polysaccharide production, glucosyltransferase activity, and biofilm formation in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the biofilm structure was visibly damaged. A quantitative real-time PCR assay revealed downregulation of virulence gene-regulated acid production, polysaccharide production, adhesion, biofilm formation, and quorum sensing. These findings suggest that RMOS may be a promising natural product for the prevention of dental caries.

Fortunilides M-O, anti-inflammatory lindenane sesquiterpenoid dimers from Chloranthus fortunei.

Fortunilides M-O (1-3), three new lindenane-type sesquiterpenoid dimers, together with eighteen known dimers (4-21), were isolated from the roots of Chloranthus fortunei. The structures were determined by their NMR, HRESIMS, ECD data and quantum chemical calculations. All compounds were classical [4 + 2] lindenane-type sesquiterpenoid dimers, in which compounds 2-4 and 16-17 had rare additional carbon­carbon link between C-11 and C-7'. Their anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 and BV2 microglial cells were screened, and compounds 9 (IC50: 10.70 ± 0.25 µM) and 2 (IC50: 12.26 ± 2.43 µM) showed significant effect, respectively.

Therapeutic effect of the total saponin from Panax Japonicus on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by attenuating inflammation and regulating gut microbiota in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Rhizomes of Panax japonicus (RPJ), a traditional herbal medicine, was used for treating arthritis and physical weakness in China from the Ming dynasty. Triterpene saponins are the main bioactive components of RPJ. In this work, for the first time, we evaluate the therapeutic effect of the total saponin from RPJ (TSPJ) on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice induced by myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) 35-55, a commonly used animal model of Multiple sclerosis (MS). AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of TSPJ on EAE and explored its possible underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: EAE was induced by MOG 35-55. Mice were administrated with TSPJ (36.5 mg/kg, 73 mg/kg) and prednisone acetate (positive control) orally once daily up to 28 days postimmunization, and their neurological deficit was scored. Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE), Luxol Fast Blue (LFB), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were carried out to evaluate the EAE-induced pathological changes in the brain and spinal cord. IL-17a and Foxp3 levels in central nervous system (CNS)were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. The changes in IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α levels in serum and CNS were measured with ELISA. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to access mRNA expression in CNS of the above indices. The percentages of Th1, Th2, Th17and Treg cells in spleen were determined by Flow Cytometry (FCM). Furthermore, 16S rDNA sequencing was used to detect the intestinal flora of mice in each group. In vitro studies, lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced BV2 microglia cells were used and the expression of TLR4, MyD88, p65, and p-p65 in cells was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: TSPJ treatment significantly alleviated neurological impairment caused by EAE. Histological examination confirmed the protective effects of TSPJ on myelin sheath and the reduction of inflammatory cell infiltration in the brain and spinal cord of EAE mice. TSPJ notably downregulated the ratio of IL-17a/Foxp3 at protein and mRNA levels in CNS, as well as Th17/Treg and Th1/Th2 cell ratios in the spleen of EAE mice. The levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß in CNS and peripheral serum also decreased post-TSPJ treatment. In vitro, TSPJ suppressed LPS-induced production of inflammatory factors in BV2 cells via TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB signaling pathway. More importantly, TSPJ interventions altered the composition of gut microbiota and restored the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes in EAE mice. Furthermore, Spearman's correlation analysis revealed that a relationship existed between statistically significantly altered genera and CNS inflammatory indices. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated TSPJ had therapeutic effects on EAE. Its anti-neuroinflammation property in EAE was related to modulating gut microbiota and inhibiting TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB signaling pathway. Our study indicated that TSPJ may be a potential candidate for the treatment of MS.

Integrated analysis reveals effects of bioactive ingredients from Limonium Sinense (Girard) Kuntze on hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) activation.

Limonium Sinense (Girard) Kuntze is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, showing blood replenishment, anti-tumour, anti-hepatitis, and immunomodulation activities amongst others. However, the mechanism of its pharmacological activities remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of bioactive ingredients from Limonium Sinense using an integrated approach. Water extracts from Limonium Sinense (LSW) showed a strong growth inhibitory effect on multiple cells in both 2D and 3D cultures. Global transcriptomic profiling and further connectivity map (CMap) analysis identified several similarly acting therapeutic candidates, including Tubulin inhibitors and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) modulators. The effect of LSW on the cell cycle was verified with flow cytometry showing a G2/M phase arrest. Integrated analysis suggested a role for gallic acid in mediating HIF activation. Taken together, this study provides novel insights into the bioactive ingredients in Limonium Sinense, highlighting the rich natural resource and therapeutic values of herbal plants.

Phosphorus status and adsorption characteristics of perennial vegetable-cultivated soils in South China.

Phosphorus (P) is an essential element for crop production and a key source of nonpoint pollution in agroecosystems. In this study, we sought to analyze P levels and the factors affecting soil P availability, via P adsorption, in a typical field system that is characterized by the year-round cultivation of vegetables. A total of 190 sites were sampled from vegetable fields in Guangdong Province, South China. Within the research area, average concentrations of 124.49 mg P kg-1 and 1.55 g P kg-1 were recorded for available P (AP) and total P (TP), respectively, which are 8.53- and 1.78-fold higher, respectively, than the corresponding values recorded in 1980. The determined P adsorption maximum (Qm) averaged at 488.38 mg kg-1, which represents a reduction of 16% compared to the values obtained four decades ago. Accumulations of both TP and AP were found to be negatively correlated with the soil's maximum adsorption buffering capacity (MBC), although no significant correlations with the soil binding energies (k) and Qm, were seen. However, soil pH was found to be significantly correlated with k and Qm. Furthermore, both free Mn oxides (Mnd) and silt concentrations in the soil were found to contribute to explaining the variations in Qm. Collectively, the findings of this study provide evidence to indicate that there has been an excessive accumulation of P in the perennial vegetable fields of Guangdong Province over the past four decades, which may have had negative effects on the P supply potential of the soil by reducing the maximum adsorption buffering capacity.

Mogroside-rich extract from Siraitia grosvenorii fruits protects against the depletion of ovarian reserves in aging mice by ameliorating inflammatory stress.

Mogroside-rich extract (MGE), the main bioactive component of dried Siraitia grosvenorii fruit, has long been used as a natural sweetener and traditional Chinese medicine. This extract possesses various types of pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, hypoglycemic and hypolipemic activities. Moreover, we recently revealed that MGE has beneficial effects on female reproduction. Increasing maternal age leads to a rapid reduction in female fertility; in particular, it dramatically decreases ovarian function. Nevertheless, whether MGE can alleviate ovarian aging and the underlying mechanisms have not yet been explored. In this study, mice were treated with MGE by supplementation in drinking water from 10 to 44 weeks of age. Then, ovarian function and molecular changes were determined. Our findings showed that MGE treatment protected aged mice from estrous cycle disorder. Moreover, MGE treatment significantly increased the ovarian reserves of aged mice. RNA-seq data showed that MGE upregulated the expression of genes related to gonad development, follicular development, and hormone secretion in ovarian tissue. Additionally, inflammatory stress was induced, as indicated by upregulation of inflammation-related gene expression and elevated TNF-α levels in the ovarian tissues of aged mice; however, MGE treatment attenuated inflammatory stress. In summary, our findings demonstrate that MGE can ameliorate age-related estrous cycle disorder and ovarian reserve decline in mice, possibly by alleviating ovarian inflammatory stress.

Effects of industry structures on water quality in different urbanized regions using an improved entropy-weighted matter-elementmethodology.

Urbanization and industrialization significantly impact water quality, and detecting the specific factors which influence water quality change would greatly improve urban water environment management. In this study, an improved entropy-weighted matter-element method is used to assess the variations of water quality in two regions with different levels of urbanization in the Yangtze River Delta. Redundancy analysis was used to detect the effects of different industries on water quality. Results show that (1) an improved entropy weight-based matter-element method measures weights of pollutants and water quality levels more reliably and accurately; (2) the improvement rate of water quality in highly urbanized regions is 42.9% during 2005-2014 which is 17.2% higher than that in regions with low urbanization; (3) a decreasing concentration of total phosphorus is the main reason for changes of water quality in both regions, with decreasing concentrations of permanganate index and ammonium nitrogen having a strong influence on changes of water quality in the highly urbanized regions; (4) the decreasing proportion of fishery and heavy industries and the increasing proportion of the tertiary industries significantly influence water quality in highly urbanized regions while the decreasing proportion of animal husbandry is the most important factor influencing the changes of water quality in lowly urbanized regions.

Effects of neurofeedback versus methylphenidate for the treatment of ADHD: systematic review and meta-analysis of head-to-head trials.

BACKGROUND: The comparative efficacy and tolerability of methylphenidate (MPH) and neurofeedback (NF) in individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) remains uncertain. This study aimed to fill this gap by means of a systematic review/meta-analysis. METHODS: PubMed, OVID, ERIC, Web of Science, ClinialTrials.gov and a set of Chinese databases were searched until 22 August 2018. Standardised mean differences (SMD) were pooled using comprehensive meta-analysis software. RESULTS: 18 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were included (778 individuals with ADHD in the NF arm and 757 in the MPH group, respectively; 13 studies in Chinese, five in English). At the study first endpoint, MPH was significantly more efficacious than NF on ADHD core symptoms (ADHD symptoms combined: SMD=-0.578, 95% CI (-1.063 to -0.092)) and on two neuropsychological parameters (inattention:-0.959 (-1.711 to -0.208); inhibition:-0.469 (-0.872 to -0.066)). Dropouts were significantly lower in NF versus MPH (OR=0.412, 0.186 to 0.913). Results were robust to sensitivity analyses, with two important exceptions: removing Chinese studies and non-funded studies, no differences emerged between MPH and NF, although the number of studies was small. At the study follow-up, MPH was superior to NF in some outcomes, but results were inconsistent across raters. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the risk of bias of included studies, the results of the sensitivity analysis excluding Chinese and non-funded studies, and the mixed findings on at the follow-up endpoint, further high quality studies are needed to assess the comparative efficacy and acceptability of NF and MPH in individuals with ADHD. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42018090256.

New Rice-Derived Short Peptide Potently Alleviated Hyperuricemia Induced by Potassium Oxonate in Rats.

Gout that caused by hyperuricemia affects human health seriously and more efficient drugs are urgently required clinically. In this study, a novel peptide named RDP1 (AAAAGAKAR, 785.91 Da) was identified from the extract of shelled fruits of Oryza sativa. Our results demonstrated that RDP1 (the minimum effective concentration is 10 µg/kg) could significantly reduce the serum uric acid and creatinine and alleviate hyperuricemic nephropathy in rats by intragastric administration. RDP1 inhibited xanthine oxidase, which also was verified at the animal level. Results from molecular docking indicated that RDP1 can inhibit uric acid formation by occupying the binding site of xanthine oxidase to xanthine. Besides, RDP1 showed no toxicity on rats and was stable in several temperatures, demonstrating its advantages for transportation. This research was the first discovery of antihyperuricemic peptide from the shelled fruits of O. Sativa and provided a new candidate for the development of hypouricemic drugs.

Dual enzyme-assisted one-step isothermal real-time amplification assay for ultrasensitive detection of polynucleotide kinase activity.

A novel, simple, one-step and one-tube detection method was developed for ultrasensitive detection of polynucleotide kinase (PNK) activity on the basis of dual enzyme-synergistic signal amplification. This method was also demonstrated to work well for PNK inhibitor screening and endogenous PNK detection in cell lysates at a single-cell level.

Photodegradation of 17ß-estradiol on silica gel and natural soil by UV treatment.

This paper evaluates the UV photodegradation of 17ß-estradiol (E2) on silica gel and in natural soil with different soil components. Silica gel was chosen as a stable and pure support to simulate the photochemical behavior of E2 on the surface of natural soil. Ultraviolet light, rather than visible light, was confirmed to play a decisive role in the photodegradation of E2 on silica gel. The effect of three soil components, including humic acid (HA), inorganic salts, and relative humidity (RH), on the photochemical behavior of E2 on silica gel or soil under UV irradiation was then evaluated. Two HA concentrations (10 and 20 mg g-1) and three salts (ferric sulfate, copper sulfate and sodium carbonate) were observed to obviously inhibit the degradation of E2 on silica gel. Interestingly, nitrate was found to obviously improve the removal efficiency of E2. Both too-dry and too-wet conditions obviously reduced the removal rate of E2, and the optimum relative humidity (RH) value was found to be approximately about 35% (30 °C). Furthermore, twenty intermediate products and two major pathways were proposed to describe the transformation processes of E2 treated by UV irradiation, among which oligomers were found to be the major intermediate products before complete mineralization. The efficient UV removal of E2 on silica gel and natural soil suggested a feasible strategy to remediate E2 contaminated soil.

Chronic Swimming Exercise Ameliorates Low-Soybean-Oil Diet-Induced Spatial Memory Impairment by Enhancing BDNF-Mediated Synaptic Potentiation in Developing Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Exercise and low-fat diets are common lifestyle modifications used for the treatment of hypertension besides drug therapy. However, unrestrained low-fat diets may result in deficiencies of low-unsaturated fatty acids and carry contingent risks of delaying neurodevelopment. While aerobic exercise shows positive neuroprotective effects, it is still unclear whether exercise could alleviate the impairment of neurodevelopment that may be induced by certain low-fat diets. In this research, developing spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were treated with chronic swimming exercise and/or a low-soybean-oil diet for 6 weeks. We found that performance in the Morris water maze was reduced and long-term potentiation in the hippocampus was suppressed by the diet, while a combination treatment of exercise and diet alleviated the impairment induced by the specific low-fat diet. Moreover, the combination treatment effectively increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR), which were both down-regulated by the low-soybean-oil diet in the hippocampus of developing SHR. These findings suggest that chronic swimming exercise can ameliorate the low-soybean-oil diet-induced learning and memory impairment in developing SHR through the up-regulation of BDNF and NMDAR expression.

Chemical Composition and Immunomodulatory Activity of Mycelia of the Hairy Bracket Mushroom, Trametes hirsuta (Higher Basidiomycetes).

Trametes hirsuta is a medicinal mushroom that produces laccase. Its mycelium is a by-product when this species is used for laccase production. Aiming to develop its potential medicinal value, we investigated the chemical composition and immunomodulatory activity of T. hirsuta mycelia (THM). Dried THM contained 26.06% protein, 1.15% fat, 57.87% carbohydrates, and 5.47% ash. Sixteen free amino acids (2.63% total content) and 6 5'-nucleotides (adenosine 5'-monophosphate, cytidine 5'-monophosphate, guanosine 5'-monophosphate, uridine 5'-monophosphate, xanthosine 5'-monophosphate, and inosine 5'-monophosphate) constituting 0.275% were detected. Dominant sugars and polyols were fructose (2.47%), mannitol (2.03%), and glucose (1.8%); trehalose and arabinose contents were less than 0.10%. Evaluation of immunomodulatory activity in mice showed that THM could improve macrophage phagocytic function and serum hemolysin concentrations, but only the low-dose group significantly enhanced the natural killer cell activity and increased the spleen index, and only the middle-dose group remarkably increased the thymus index. Therefore, T. hirsuta mycelia could enhance immune function in mice and have immunomodulatory activity.

Sclerosing cholangitis secondary to bleomycin-iodinated embolization for liver hemangioma.

Sclerosing cholangitis (SC) is a rarely reported morbidity secondary to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with bleomycin-iodinated oil (BIO) for liver cavernous hemangioma (LCH). This report retrospectively evaluated the diagnostic and therapeutic course of a patient with LDH who presented obstructive jaundice 6 years after TACE with BIO. Preoperative imaging identified a suspected malignant biliary stricture located at the convergence of the left and right hepatic ducts. Operative exploration demonstrated a full-thickness sclerosis of the hilar bile duct with right hepatic duct stricture and right lobe atrophy. Radical hepatic hilar resection with right-side hemihepatectomy and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy was performed because hilar cancer could not be excluded on frozen biopsy. Pathological results showed chronic pyogenic inflammation of the common and right hepatic ducts with SC in the portal area. Secondary SC is a long-term complication that may occur in LCH patients after TACE with BIO and must be differentiated from hilar malignancy. Hepatic duct plasty is a definitive but technically challenging treatment modality for secondary SC.

Simultaneous determination of three polyphenols in rat plasma after orally administering hawthorn leaves extract by the HPLC method.

A simple and sensitive HPLC method was developed to simultaneously determine three active compounds, vitexin-4″-O-glucoside (VG), vitexin-2″-O-rhamnoside (VR) and hyperoside (HP), in rat plasma after administering the hawthorn leaves extract (HLE). An HPLC assay with baicalin as the internal standard was carried out using a Phenomsil C18 analytical column with UV detection at 332 nm. The mobile phase consisted of methanol-acetonitrile-tetrahydrofuran-1% glacial acetic acid (6 : 1.5 : 18.5 : 74, v/v/v/v). The calibration curves were linear over the range of 2.5-500, 0.2-25 and 0.25-12.5 µg mL⁻¹ for VG, VR and HP, respectively. The method was reproducible and reliable, with relative standard deviations of the intra- and inter-day precision between 1.2% and 13.2% for the analysis of the three analytes. The validated HPLC method herein described was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of VG, VR and HP after oral administration of HLE to rats over the dose range of 2.5-10 mL kg⁻¹.