Monoterpene indole alkaloids from the roots of Alstonia rupestris and their anti-inflammatory activity.

Four new monoterpene indole alkaloids (1-4) together with twelve known alkaloids (5-16) were isolated from the roots of Alstonia rupestris. Compound 1 was the first example of C2-symmetric heteroyohimbine-type indole alkaloid homodimer obtained from natural plant resource. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by comparison of its calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. All compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activities by measuring their NO inhibitory effects in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Compound 2 showed strong NO inhibition with IC50 value of 4.2 ± 1.3 µM. Moreover, compound 2 could decrease the expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-ß1).

[Clinical features of children and their family members with family clusters of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection in Shanghai, China: an analysis of 380 cases]. / 上海380例家庭聚集性感染Omicronå˜å¼‚æ ªçš„å„¿ç«¥åŠå ¶å®¶å±žä¸´åºŠç‰¹å¾åˆ†æž.

OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical features and prognosis of children and their family members with family clusters of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant infection under the admission mode of parent-child ward. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 190 children and 190 family members with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection who were admitted to Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, the designated hospital for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), April 8 to May 10, 2022. RESULTS: Both the child and adult groups were mainly mild COVID-19, and the proportion of mild cases in the child group was higher than that in the adult group (P<0.05). Respiratory symptoms were the main clinical manifestations in both groups. Compared with the adult group, the child group had higher incidence rates of fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and wheezing (P<0.05) and lower incidence rates of nasal obstruction, runny nose, cough, dry throat, throat itching, and throat pain (P<0.05). Compared with the child group, the adult group had higher rates of use of Chinese patent drugs, traditional Chinese medicine decoction, recombinant interferon spray, cough-relieving and phlegm-eliminating drugs, and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir tablets (P<0.05). Compared with the adult group, the child group had a lower vaccination rate of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (30.5% vs 71.1%, P<0.001) and a shorter duration of positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid (P<0.05). The patients with mild COVID-19 had a shorter duration of positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid than those with common COVID-19 in both groups (P<0.05). The patients with underlying diseases had a longer duration of positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid than those without such diseases in both groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both children and adults with family clusters of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection manifest mainly mild COVID-19. Despite lower vaccination rate of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in children, they have rapid disease recovery, with a shorter duration of positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid than adults, under the admission mode of parent-child ward.

Monoterpene indole alkaloids from the roots of Bousigonia mekongensis and their anti-diabetic nephropathy activity.

Four new monoterpene indole alkaloids (1-4) together with six known alkaloids (5-10) were isolated from the roots of Bousigonia mekongensis. Compounds 3 and 4 were the first examples of condylocarpan-adenine type alkaloids obtained from natural plant resource. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. All compounds were evaluated for their inhibiting glucose-induced mesanginal cell proliferation and protecting high glucose-evoked podocyte injury activities. (-)-demethoxycarbonyldihydrogambirtannine (5) can significantly antagonize glucose-induced podocyte injury with EC50 value of 6.5 ± 1.2 µM.

MiR408 Regulates Grain Yield and Photosynthesis via a Phytocyanin Protein.

Increasing grain yield is the most important object of crop breeding. Here, we report that the elevated expression of a conserved microRNA, OsmiR408, could positively regulate grain yield in rice (Oryza sativa) by increasing panicle branches and grain number. We further showed that OsmiR408 regulates grain yield by down-regulating its downstream target, OsUCL8, which is an uclacyanin (UCL) gene of the phytocyanin family. The knock down or knock out of OsUCL8 also increases grain yield, while the overexpression of OsUCL8 results in an opposite phenotype. Spatial and temporal expression analyses showed that OsUCL8 was highly expressed in pistils, young panicles, developing seeds, and inflorescence meristem and was nearly complementary to that of OsmiR408. Interestingly, the OsUCL8 protein was localized to the cytoplasm, distinct from a majority of phytocyanins, which localize to the plasma membrane. Further studies revealed that the cleavage of OsUCL8 by miR408 affects copper homeostasis in the plant cell, which, in turn, affects the abundance of plastocyanin proteins and photosynthesis in rice. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the effects of miR408-OsUCL8 in regulating rice photosynthesis and grain yield. Our study further broadens the perspective of microRNAs and UCLs and provides important information for breeding high-yielding crops through genetic engineering.

Associations between changes in glucagon-like peptide-1 and bodyweight reduction in patients receiving acarbose or metformin treatment.

BACKGROUND: The present post hoc analysis investigated whether changes in endogenous glucagon-like peptide-1 (∆GLP-1) levels are associated with weight loss in newly diagnosed diabetes patients. METHODS: In all, 784 subjects from the Metformin and AcaRbose in Chinese as initial Hypoglycemic treatment (MARCH) study were stratified according to ∆GLP-1. Changes in clinical and physiological parameters were evaluated across ∆GLP-1 subgroups (low, medium, and high) to assess correlations between ∆GLP-1 and weight loss in acarbose- versus metformin-treated groups. RESULTS: After 24 weeks treatment, greater ∆GLP-1 was associated with significantly greater weight loss (-2 vs -1 kg in the medium/high vs low ∆GLP-1 groups, respectively) and reduction in body mass index (BMI; -0.88, -0.83, and -0.69 kg/m2 in the high, medium, and low ∆GLP-1 groups, respectively). In the acarbose-treated group, there was a significant association between ∆GLP-1 and BMI reductions, and greater ∆GLP-1 across the high, medium, and low ∆GLP-1 groups was correlated with greater weight loss (-2.8, -2.1, and -1.9 kg, respectively) and reductions in fasting plasma glucose (-1.57, -1.28, and -1.02 mmol/L, respectively) at Week 24. No significant differences were found across ∆GLP-1 subgroups in metformin-treated patients (P > 0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that gender, baseline BMI, and ∆GLP-1 at Week 24 were associated with weight loss. Baseline BMI and ∆GLP-1 in the acarbose-treated group and baseline BMI in the metformin-treated group predicted weight loss at Week 24. CONCLUSION: Changes in GLP-1 levels are associated with weight loss in newly diagnosed Chinese diabetes patients receiving acarbose.

Efficacy of acarbose and metformin in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients stratified by HbA1c levels.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the therapeutic efficacy of acarbose and metformin is correlated with baseline HbA1c levels in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: Data for 711 subjects were retrieved from the MARCH (Metformin and AcaRbose in Chinese as initial Hypoglycemic treatment) trial database and reviewed retrospectively. Patients were grouped according to baseline HbA1c levels (<7%, 7%-8%, and >8%) and the results for these three groups were compared between acarbose and metformin treatments. RESULTS: Acarbose and metformin treatment significantly improved T2DM-associated parameters (weight, fasting plasma glucose [FPG], postprandial glucose [PPG], glucagon-like peptide-1 [GLP-1], HOMA-IR, and total cholesterol) across all HbA1c levels. Acarbose decreased PPG and HOMA-ß significantly more than metformin, but only in subjects with lower baseline HbA1c (PPG in the <7% and 7%-8%, HOMA-ß in the <7% groups; all P < 0.05). Acarbose decreased triglyceride (TG) levels, and the areas under the curve (AUC) for insulin and glucagon more than metformin at all HbA1c levels (P < 0.05). After 24 weeks treatment, metformin decreased FPG levels significantly more than acarbose for all baseline HbA1c groups (all P < 0.001). With the exception of FPG, PPG, and TG levels, differences between the two treatment groups observed at 24 weeks were not detected at 48 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Acarbose decreased PPG and TG and spared the AUC for insulin more effectively in patients with low-to-moderate baseline HbA1c levels, whereas metformin induced greater reductions in FPG. These results may help guide selection of initial therapy based on baseline HbA1c.

[Protective effect of Danxuetong injection against testicular injury after testis torsion/detorsion in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of Danxuetong injection (DXT, a combination of Danshen and Xueshuantong injections) against testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury following testis torsion/detorsion in rats. METHODS: Thirty-two 4-week-old healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups of equal number: sham operation, normal saline, single DXT injection, and successive DXT injection. The rat models of testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury were established by 2-hour 720-degree torsion/detorsion of the unilateral testis. At 6 weeks after modeling, the rats were killed and their testes were harvested for measure- ment of testicular coefficients, sperm counts, sperm motility, and the levels of total anti-oxidative capacity (T-AOC) , superoxide dismutase (SOD) , nitric oxide synthase (NOS) , and malondialdehyde ( MDA) in the testis tissue. RESULTS: Compared with the rats of the normal saline group, those of the single DXT injection and successive DXT injection groups showed significant increases in the testicular coefficient (0.11 ± 0.03 vs 0.35 ± 0.04 and 0.40 ± 0.06, P < 0.05), sperm count ([0.46 ± 0.10] vs [1.44 ± 0.50] and [3.00 ± 1.28] x10(9)/ml, P < 0.05), sperm motility ([13.63 ± 14.04] vs [39.63 ± 5.04] and [76.31 ± 3.67]%, P < 0.05), the activity of SOD (72.76 ± 5.58 vs 116.25 ± 8.83 and 133.20 ± 13.84, P < 0.05), and the level of T-AOC (5.58 ± 1.07 vs 13.34 ± 5.81 and 19.21 ± 5.69, P < 0.05), but a remarkable decrease in the content of MDA (42.38 ± 8.94 vs 20.94 ± 5.65 and 15.02 ± 1.03, P < 0. 05) in the injured testes. CONCLUSION: DXT can effectively rid the testis tissue of oxygen free radicals, improve sperm count and motility by antioxidation, and protect the testis tissue of prepubertal rats against testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury after testis torsion/detorsion. It also has a protective effect on the contralateral testis, and successive injection has a better effect than single injection of DXT.

[Effects of Shengmai injection on testicular injury after torsion/detorsion in rats of different ages].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the different effects of Shengmai injection on testicular injury after testis torsion/detorsion in rats of different ages. METHODS: Sixteen healthy male SD rats aged 3, 6 and 12 weeks were equally randomized into an experimental group (testicular torsion/detorsion plus Shengmai injection) and a control group (testicular torsion/detorsion plus saline). The rat models of testicular torsion were killed 24 h after surgery for the measurement of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the testis. RESULTS: Compared with the controls, the 3- and 6-week-old rats of the experimental group showed no significant changes in T-AOC, SOD activity and MDA content (P > 0.05), while the 12-week-old experimental rats exhibited a remarkable increase in SOD and T-AOC and an obvious decrease in MDA content (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Shengmai injection has a protective effect against acute ischemia-reperfusion testicular injury after torsion/detorsion in rats, but the effect varies with the age, more obvious in older ones.

Water quality characteristics along the course of the Huangpu River (China).

Huangpu River is about 114.5 km from upriver Dianfeng to downriver Wusong, near the estuary of the Yangtze River. It plays a key role in supplying water for production, life, shipment and irrigation. With the industrial development, the pollution of the Huangpu River has become serious recently. The biological oxygen demand (BOD), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), oil, phenol and suspended solids (SS) were lower in the upstream sites than in the downstream sites, indicating pollutants being input along its course. Water quality was the worst in the Yangpu site, near the center of Shanghai City. Dissolved oxygen (DO) content was less than 2 mg/L in the site of Yangpu in July. Among relations between thirteen characteristics, relations between BOD, DO, TN, TP, NH4(+)-N, NO3(-)-N and the count of total bacteria or Escherichia coli were significant and interdependent. Inner relationships between these main characteristics in the Huangpu River were studied. High nutrient concentration led to growth of microorganisms, including E. coli. Degradation of organic matters and respiration of bacteria made oxygen concentration decreased in the water body, and DO was a key factor for nitrification-denitrification process of nitrogen. In the Yangpu site, DO was decreased to less than 3.0 mg/L with BOD higher than 7.5 mg/L in May and July. Low DO concentration will decrease nitrification rate. Nitrification need at higher DO value than other organic substrate oxidation. Consequently, river water contains low NO3(-)-N values with high amounts of TN and NH4+-N there. This will block the self-purification of surface water, by decreasing the rate of nitrification-denitrification transformation process in the water body.

[Analysis of trace elements in corncob by microwave digestion-ICP-AES].

The contents of trace elements of Zn, Mg, Mn, Sr, Fe, Pb, Cu and Se in the corncob collected from Beijing, Shan-dong, Jilin, Yunnan, Xinjiang, Gansu, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Neimeng in China were determined by ICP-AES using microwave digestion. The optimum condition of digesting the corncob was: put 1.5 mL of 68% nitric acid and 0.5 mL of hydrofluoric acid in the pot, then digested the sample with 3 steps under the 400 W power in the microwave oven. This digesting procedure could completely and quickly digest the sample. The relative standard deviations and recovery yield are 0.72%-4.16% and 95.5%-104.5% for Zn, 1.58-3.66% and 98.2%-103.5% for Mg, 0.19%-4.58% and 97.0%-103.2% for Mn, 1.31%-4.90% and 95.7%-104.1% for Sr, 1.40%-4.01% and 95.9%-104.6% for Fe, 1.55%-4.28% and 95.1%-104.5% for Pb, 2.16%-5.00% and 96.4%-103.5% for Cu, and 2.00%-4.99% and 95.1%-101.3% for Se, respectively. The analysis of the trace metals by the method of ICP-AES using the method of microwave digestion proved to be easily operational, rapid, highly sensitive, and accurate. It could be adopted as the method of determining many elements simultaneously.

[Analysis of trace elements in corn stover by ICP-AES].

The contents of trace elements of Zn, Mg, Mn, Sr, Fe, Co, Ni and Se in the corn stover collected from Shanxi, Beijing, Xinjiang, Shandong, Neimeng, Gansu, Shaanxi, Jilin, Yunnan and Jiangsu, 10 different provinces in China, were determined by ICP-AES using nitrifying method of high pressure nitrifying pot. This method proved to be easily operational, rapid, highly sensitive, and accurate, and can be adopted as the method of determining many elements simultaneously. The recovery yields of Zn, Mg, Mn, Sr, Fe, Co, Ni and Se are 96.55%-103.8%, 98.0%-102.5%, 95.7%-104.1%, 97.1%-103.2%, 95.1%-101.3%, 95.1%-104.5%, 97.0%-103.5% and 95.9%-104.6%, respectively, and the relative standard deviation of all the elements is all below 5.00%.

[Determination of Eu in long-afterglow of the SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ phospher samples by LMESA].

A method for the determination of Eu in Long-aferglow of the SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ phospher samples by laser microemission spectral analysis was developed. And the accuracy of this method was studied. Analyses of Eu in Long-aferglow of the SrA1204: Eu2+, Dy3+ phospher samples, using the Eu (11) line at 412.973 nm, show that RSD of relative intensity of spectral lines is 4.3%, RSD of quantitative analysis is 7.4%, the average of quantitative analysis is 2.13%. Compared with the content before samples synthesized, it can be concluded that the content of Eu in the SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ phospher samples synthesized by high temperature solid phase reaction has an obvious increase.