Schisandrin B protects against LPS-induced inflammatory lung injury by targeting MyD88.

BACKGROUND: Acute lung injury (ALI) is a challenging clinical syndrome that manifests as an acute inflammatory response. Schisandrin B (Sch B), a bioactive lignan from Schisandra genus plants, has been shown to suppress inflammatory responses and oxidative stress. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms have remained elusive. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: This study performed an in-depth investigation of the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Sch B in macrophages and in an animal model of ALI. METHODS: qPCR array was used to probe the differential effects and potential target of Sch B. ALI was induced by intratracheal administration of LPS in experimental mice with or without Sch B treatment. RESULTS: Our studies show that Sch B differentially modulates inflammatory factor induction by LPS in macrophages by directly binding myeloid differentiation response factor-88 (MyD88), an essential adaptor protein in the toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) pathway. Sch B spares non-MyD88-pathways downstream of TLR4. Such inhibition suppressed key signaling mediators such as TAK1, MAPKs, and NF-κB, and pro-inflammatory factor induction. Pull down assay using biotinylated-Sch B validate the direct interaction between Sch B and MyD88 in macrophages. Treatment of mice with Sch B prior to LPS challenge reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in lungs, induction of MyD88-pathway signaling proteins, and prevented inflammatory cytokine induction. CONCLUSION: In summary, our studies have identified MyD88 as a direct target of Sch B for its anti-inflammatory activity, and suggest that Sch B may have therapeutic value for acute lung injury and other MyD88-dependent inflammatory diseases.

Effects of tai chi on catheter management and quality of life in tumor patients with PICC at the intermission of chemotherapy: a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) is widely used in chemotherapy due to its minimal complications and simple wound care. This study explored the effects of tai chi on catheterrelated complications, catheter management ability, and quality of life in tumor patients with PICC at the intermission of chemotherapy. METHODS: This study was an open parallel trial. A total of 98 patients with malignant tumors who underwent long-term chemotherapy with PICC were randomly divided into an observation group (49 cases) and a control group (49 cases). The control group received grip strength exercise for 3 months, while the observation group received 24 simplified tai chi exercises. The coagulation function, thrombosis rate, self-management ability, and quality of life were compared between the two groups before and after the intervention. RESULTS: After the intervention, the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) in the observation group were longer than those in the control group, while fibrinogen (FIB) was lower than that in the control group (all P<0.05). After the intervention, the total score of self-management ability of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (t=2.038, P=0.047), and the scores of exercises ability and quality of daily life with catheters were significantly increased (all P<0.05). In terms of quality of life, scores of role-physical (RP), social functioning (SF), mental health (MH) and role-emotional (RE) in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05), while there was no statistical difference between the bodily pain (BP) scores of the observation group and the control group (P>0.05). The incidence of venous thrombosis in the observation group was lower than that in the control group, the difference was statistically significant ( χ 2 =4.439, P=0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Tai chi can prevent PICC thrombosis, reduce PICC-related complications, improve selfmanagement ability, and improve quality of life in at-home patients with long-term PICC.

Preparation and evaluation of a novel bioactive glass/lysozyme/PLGA composite microsphere.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to fabricate a novel nano-bioceramics incorporated lysozyme poly (d, l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microsphere. METHODS: The nano-bioceramics was used as a biodegradable and sustained-release antacid to stabilize the lysozyme in the drug release process. First, the nano-bioceramics were prepared by sol-gel method, and then were characterized by energy dispersive X-ray analysis, dynamic light scattering and in vitro degradation test. Second, the lysozyme PLGA microsphere incorporated with nano-bioceramic was fabricated by the S/W/O/W emulsion solvent evaporation method. The microsphere was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and UV circular dichroism (UV CD). Finally the in vitro drug release and bioactivity test was carried out. RESULTS: The composition of the nano-bioceramics was 58% SiO2, 36% CaO, 6% P2O5, and the average particle size was 295 nm. The nano-bioceramics incorporated lysozyme PLGA microspheres were prepared by the multi-emulsion method. The SEM results showed that the bioceramics was uniformly distributed in the PLGA microsphere. Results from in vitro lysozyme release test exhibited a prolonged release time for 1month. The FTIR and UVCD results suggested that the lysozyme in the drug release process had a similar secondary structure conformation to the native one. The Micrococcus lysodeikticus test showed that the microspheres incorporated with bioceramics provided long-term protein stability against the acidic environment resulted from PLGA's degradates and more than 90% of the lysozyme released over the 1 month period was preserved in a bioactive form. CONCLUSION: A novel bioceramics incorporated lysozyme PLGA microsphere was prepared with potentials for sustained protein release formulation.