Efficacy and safety of Weichang' an pill combined with Western Medicine on gastrointestinal diseases: a systematic review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Weichang'an pill (, WCA) combined with Western Medicine (WM) for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. METHODS: Eight databases, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Wanfang Data, China Science and Technology Journal Database, SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase, were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of WCA from inception to 30 September 2021. We independently screened the literature, extracted data, and then evaluated the bias risk, effectiveness, safety, and other indicators of the included articles. RESULTS: A total of 33 RCTs were included in this study with 3368 patients. After analysis, it was found that WCA combined with WM could effectively prevent and treat antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal reaction, functional dyspepsia (FD), irritable bowel syndrome, rotavirus diarrhea (RVD), and ulcerative colitis (UC); no serious adverse reactions occurred. Moreover, compared with the control group, the experimental group showed significantly improved symptoms and some biochemical parameters. CONCLUSIONS: WCA combined with WM for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases had better clinical efficacy than the control group, without serious adverse reactions. Notably, in the treatment of FD, RVD, and UC, WCA improved clinical symptoms and biochemical indicator expression. Nevertheless, owing to the restricted quality and quantity of the literature, the results need to be further studied using high-quality RCTs.

[Chinese multidisciplinary expert consensus on the management of adverse drug reactions associated with savolitinib].

MET gene is a proto-oncogene, which encodes MET protein with tyrosine kinase activity. After binding to its ligand, hepatocyte growth factor, MET protein can induce MET dimerization and activate downstream signaling pathways, which plays a crucial role in tumor formation and metastasis. Savolitinib, as a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) targeting MET, selectively inhibits the phosphorylation of MET kinase with a significant inhibitory effect on tumors with MET abnormalities. Based on its significant efficacy shown in the registration studies, savolitinib was approved for marketing in China on June 22, 2021 for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer with MET 14 exon skipping mutations. In addition, many studies have shown that MET TKIs are equally effective in patients with advanced solid tumors with MET gene amplification or MET protein overexpression, and relevant registration clinical studies are ongoing. The most common adverse reactions during treatment with savolitinib include nausea, vomiting, peripheral edema, pyrexia, and hepatotoxicity. Based on two rounds of extensive nationwide investigations to guide clinicians, the consensus is compiled to use savolitinib rationally, prevent and treat various adverse reactions scientifically, and improve the clinical benefits and quality of life of patients. This consensus was prepared under the guidance of multidisciplinary experts, especially including the whole-process participation and valuable suggestions of experts in Traditional Chinese Medicine, thus reflecting the clinical treatment concept of integrated Chinese and western medicines.

Effects of dietary supplementation with Taiwanese tea byproducts and probiotics on growth performance, lipid metabolism, and the immune response in red feather native chickens.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared the catechin composition of different tea byproducts and investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with green tea byproducts on the accumulation of abdominal fat, the modulation of lipid metabolism, and the inflammatory response in red feather native chickens. METHODS: Bioactive compounds were detected, and in vitro anti-obesity capacity analyzed via 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. In animal experiments, 320 one-day-old red feather native chickens were divided into 4 treatment groups: control, basal diet supplemented with 0.5% Jinxuan byproduct (JBP), basal diet supplemented with 1% JBP, or basal diet supplemented with 5×106 colony-forming unit (CFU)/kg Bacillus amyloliquefaciens+5×106 CFU/kg Saccharomyces cerevisiae (BA+SC). Growth performance, serum characteristics, carcass characteristics, and the mRNA expression of selected genes were measured. RESULTS: This study compared several cultivars of tea, but Jinxuan showed the highest levels of the anti-obesity compound epigallocatechin gallate. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes treated with Jinxuan extract significantly reduced lipid accumulation. There were no significant differences in growth performance, serum characteristics, or carcass characteristics among the groups. However, in the 0.5% JBP group, mRNA expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) were significantly decreased. In the 1% JBP group, FAS, ACC and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ levels were significantly decreased. Moreover, inflammation-related mRNA expression levels were decreased by the addition of JBP. CONCLUSION: JBP contained abundant catechins and related bioactive compounds, which reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, however there was no significant reduction in abdominal fat. This may be due to a lack of active anti-obesity compounds or because the major changes in fat metabolism were not in the abdomen. Nonetheless, lipogenesis-related and inflammation-related mRNA expression were reduced in the 1% JBP group. In addition, dietary supplementation with tea byproducts could reduce the massive amount of byproducts created during tea production and modulate lipid metabolism and the inflammatory response in chickens.

[Fingerprint analysis and Q-marker prediction of processed liquorice products].

Licorice has long been regarded as one of the most popular herbs, with a very wide clinical application range. Whether being used alone or as an ingredient in prescription, it has an important role which cannot be ignored. However, the efficacy and chemical constituents of licorice will change after honey-processing. Therefore, it is necessary to find quality markers before and after honey-processing to lay the foundation for a comprehensive evaluation of the differences between raw and processed licorice pieces. HPLC-DAD was employed to establish fingerprints of raw and processed licorice. Multivariate statistical analysis methods including principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis(OPLS-DA) were applied to screen out the differential components before and after processing of licorice. Based on network pharmacology, the targets and pathways corresponding to the differential components were analyzed with databases such as Swiss Target Prediction and Metascape, and the "component-target-pathway" diagram was constructed with Cytoscape 3.6.0 software to predict the potential quality markers. A total of 17 common peaks were successfully identified in the established fingerprint, and seven differential components were selected as potential quality markers(licoricesaponin G2, glycyrrhizic acid, liquiritigenin, liquiritin, isoliquiritin, liquiritin apioside and isoliquiritigenin). The HPLC fingerprint method proposed in this study was efficient and feasible. The above seven differential chemical components screened out as potential quality markers of licorice can help to improve and promote the overall quality. These researches offer more sufficient theoretical basis for scientific application of licorice and its corresponding products.

Multidisciplinary collaborative integrated management of increasingly prominent HIV complications in the post-cART era.

OBJECTIVES: With the prolonged survival time of AIDS patients, complications of various systems and organs of HIV infection are increasingly prominent. These diseases have become the major factors influencing the quality of life and prognosis of HIV-infected persons, and multidisciplinary cooperation treatment is urgently needed. METHODS: The Chinese HIV/AIDS Clinical Trial Network has conducted a series of multicentre clinical cohort studies over the past 16 years, in which studies related to people living with HIV systemic complications. Based on the results of previous studies, this review establishes the complications of Chinese people living with HIV after long-term cART. RESULTS: HIV's direct damage to human cells, chronic abnormal inflammatory activation after HIV infection, long-term drug side effects caused by cART and persistent reservoirs cause systemic complications in people living with HIV. We summarised the clinical characteristics of the complications of HIV infection in China from the aspects of the liver, cardiovascular, the nervous system, the kidney, bone metabolism, blood glucose, and lipid metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: The management of the complications of HIV infection is a major link in improving the survival treatment and prognosis of patients in the future. The joint participation of doctors from different departments of general hospitals in the management of comorbidities is the main theme for future improvement of quality of life and prognosis for people living with HIV.

Dietary Antioxidants Significantly Attenuate Hyperoxia-Induced Acute Inflammatory Lung Injury by Enhancing Macrophage Function via Reducing the Accumulation of Airway HMGB1.

Mechanical ventilation with hyperoxia is the major supportive measure to treat patients with acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, prolonged exposure to hyperoxia can induce oxidative inflammatory lung injury. Previously, we have shown that high levels of airway high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) mediate hyperoxia-induced acute lung injury (HALI). Using both ascorbic acid (AA, also known as vitamin C) and sulforaphane (SFN), an inducer of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), we tested the hypothesis that dietary antioxidants can mitigate HALI by ameliorating HMGB1-compromised macrophage function in phagocytosis by attenuating hyperoxia-induced extracellular HMGB1 accumulation. Our results indicated that SFN, which has been shown to attenute HALI in mice exposed to hyperoxia, dose-dependently restored hyperoxia-compromised macrophage function in phagocytosis (75.9 ± 3.5% in 0.33 µM SFN versus 50.7 ± 1.8% in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) control, p < 0.05) by reducing oxidative stress and HMGB1 release from cultured macrophages (47.7 ± 14.7% in 0.33 µM SFN versus 93.1 ± 14.6% in DMSO control, p < 0.05). Previously, we have shown that AA enhances hyperoxic macrophage functions by reducing hyperoxia-induced HMGB1 release. Using a mouse model of HALI, we determined the effects of AA on hyperoxia-induced inflammatory lung injury. The i.p. administration of 50 mg/kg of AA to mice exposed to 72 h of ≥98% O2 significantly decreased hyperoxia-induced oxidative and nitrosative stress in mouse lungs. There was a significant decrease in the levels of airway HMGB1 (43.3 ± 12.2% in 50 mg/kg AA versus 96.7 ± 9.39% in hyperoxic control, p < 0.05), leukocyte infiltration (60.39 ± 4.137% leukocytes numbers in 50 mg/kg AA versus 100 ± 5.82% in hyperoxic control, p < 0.05) and improved lung integrity in mice treated with AA. Our study is the first to report that the dietary antioxidants, ascorbic acid and sulforaphane, ameliorate HALI and attenuate hyperoxia-induced macrophage dysfunction through an HMGB1-mediated pathway. Thus, dietary antioxidants could be used as potential treatments for oxidative-stress-induced acute inflammatory lung injury in patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

[Relationship between selenium and the risk for oral cancer: a case-control study].

Objective: To explore the relationship between selenium and the risk for oral cancer. Methods: We performed a case-control study in 325 cases of newly diagnosed primary oral cancer from the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University and 650 controls from the same hospital and community. Unconditional logistic regression and stratification analyses were used to explore the association between selenium and oral cancer. Adjusted OR and corresponding 95%CI were calculated. The analyses on multiple interactions between selenium and smoking or drinking status, and fruit or fish intake frequencies were conducted. Results: The level of serum selenium was 112.42 (80.98-145.06) µg/L in the case group, which was lower than 164.85 (144.44-188.53) µg/L in control group, the difference was statistical significant (P<0.01). There was a negative correlation between serum selenium level and the risk for oral cancer regardless of smoking and drinking status, and fruits and fish intake frequencies (P<0.05). There were multiple interactions between serum selenium level and smoking or drinking status, and fruit and fish intakes. Conclusions: The high level of serum selenium is a protective factor for the incidence of oral cancer, and serum selenium has multiple interactions with smoking or drinking status, and fruit and fish intakes. Therefore, reducing tobacco use and alcohol consumption and increasing the intakes of fruit and fish can reduce the risk for oral cancer to some extent.

The Long-Term Effects of Ethanol and Corticosterone on the Mood-Related Behaviours and the Balance Between Mature BDNF and proBDNF in Mice.

In this study, we aimed to establish the effects of chronic corticosterone (CORT) and ethanol administration on mood-related behaviour and the levels of mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF) and its precursor protein proBDNF in mice. C57BL6 male and female mice received drinking water (n = 22), 1% ethanol in drinking water (n = 16) or 100 µg/ml corticosterone in drinking water (containing 1% ethanol, n = 18) for 4.5 weeks. At the end of experimental protocol, the open field test (OFT) and elevated plus maze test were performed. Brain and adrenal tissues were collected and mBDNF and proBDNF were measured by ELISA assays. We found that the mice fed with corticosterone and ethanol developed anxiety-like behaviours as evidenced by reduced time in the central zone in the OFT compared with the control group. Both proBDNF and mBDNF were significantly decreased in the corticosterone and ethanol groups compared with the control group in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus and adrenal. The ratio of proBDNF/mBDNF in prefrontal cortex in the corticosterone group was increased compared with the ethanol group. Our data suggest that the ratio of proBDNF/mBDNF is differentially regulated in different tissues. Ethanol and corticosterone downregulate both mBDNF and proBDNF and alter the balance of proBDNF/mBDNF in some tissues. In conclusion, the ethanol and corticosterone may cause abnormal regulation of mBDNF and proBDNF which may lead to mood disorders.

Effects of AttM lactonase on the pathogenicity of Streptomyces scabies.

The biosynthesis of phytotoxin thaxtomin A (TXT) constitutes the major pathogenicity determinant in Streptomyces scabies, the most widely studied phytopathogen causing scab disease in potato and other root crops. It is recognized that S. scabies regulates its pathogenicity via γ-butyrolactone (GBL)-dependent quorum sensing (QS) signalling. AttM, from Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58 strain, has recently been proposed to have GBL-assimilative capacity. Here, we presented the introduction of A. tumefaciens-derived attM gene into S. scabies using the Escherichia coli-Streptomyces shuttle vector pIJ8600 via intergeneric conjugation, followed by the investigation of secondary metabolism (mycelium growth, TXT production and pathogenicity) in S. scabies attM exconjugants (S.s/attM) in comparison with their wild-type parent strain (S.s/WT). Among the resultant S.s/attM exconjugants, attM was found to be integrated into S. scabies chromosome as analysed by Southern blotting. Moreover, S.s/attM failed to evoke the disease symptoms in planta and displayed altered morphological differentiation in contrast to S.s/WT. The abolishment of TXT production in S.s/attM substantiated the loss of pathogenicity and also implied that attM, when constitutively expressed in S. scabies, could paralyse its GBL signalling pathway. Altogether, lactonase-coding gene attM would be useful in a quorum quenching strategy for plant protection via suppressing TXT production and pathogenicity of S. scabies. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study provides an efficient means to introduce the lactonase gene attM from Agrobacterium tumefaciens into Streptomyces scabies for evaluating the role of γ-butyrolactone (GBL) in thaxtomin A production and pathogenicity, etc. Our results showed that pathogenicity was abrogated in attM-expressing S. scabies exconjugants. Although there are gene knockout approaches to inactivating GBL signalling and thus pathogenicity in S. scabies, they are not only time consuming due to refractory host but also possibly incomplete in view of gene redundancy. Our work is the first report for a kind of lactonase affecting pathogenicity and/or virulence of scab-causing Streptomyces species.

Glutamine alleviates heat stress-induced impairment of intestinal morphology, intestinal inflammatory response, and barrier integrity in broilers.

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of glutamine (Gln) on the intestinal morphology, intestinal inflammatory response, and barrier integrity in broilers exposed to high ambient temperature. Three-hundred-sixty 21-d-old Arbor Acres broilers (half male and half female) were randomly allocated to 4 treatment groups in a completely randomized design, each of which included 6 replicates with 15 birds per replicate, for 21 d. The 4 treatment groups were as follows: the control group, in which birds were kept in a thermoneutral room at 22 ± 1°C (no stress, NS; fed a basal diet); the heat stress group (36 ± 1°C for 10 h/d from 08:00 to 18:00 h and 22 ± 1°C for the remaining time, heat stress (HT); fed a basal diet); and heat stress + Gln group (0.5 and 1.0% Gln, respectively). Compared to the NS group, broilers in the HT group had lower villus height (P < 0.05), higher crypt depth (P < 0.05), higher D-lactic acid and diamine oxidase (DAO) activity (P < 0.05), higher soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) concentration (P < 0.05), higher tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α/interleukin (IL)-10 (P < 0.05), and lower tight junction protein expression levels (P < 0.05). Compared with birds in the HT, birds in the HT + Gln group exhibited increased villus height (P < 0.05), decreased D-lactate and DAO activity (P < 0.05), decreased sICAM-1 concentration (P < 0.05), and mediate the secretion of cytokines (P < 0.05), as well as increased zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), claudin-1, and occludin mRNA expression levels (P < 0.05). In conclusion, these results indicate that supplementation with Gln was effective in partially ameliorating the adverse effects of heat stress on intestinal barrier function in broilers by promoting epithelial cell proliferation and renewal, modifying the function of the intestinal mucosa barrier, and regulating the secretion of cytokines.

Evaluation of potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Antrodia cinnamomea powder and the underlying molecular mechanisms via Nrf2- and NF-κB-dominated pathways in broiler chickens.

Antrodia cinnamomea, a precious and unique medical fungus existing exclusively in Taiwan, exhibits antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. This study was conducted to evaluate the beneficial effects of A. cinnamomea powder (ACP) and to further illuminate its underlying antioxidant and immunomodulation molecular mechanisms in broilers. The functional compounds of ACP-crude triterpenoids, crude polysaccharides, and total phenolic content-were assayed, respectively. Two-hundred-forty one-day-old broilers (Ross 308) were assigned to 4 treatment groups receiving dietary supplementation with ACP at 0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4% for 35 days. Each group had 4 replicate pens, with 15 birds per pen. During 1 to 21- and 22 to 35-day periods, chickens on ACP-supplemented diet demonstrated increased body weight gain, compared to those on the control diet, resulting in increased weight gain throughout the entire experimental period with an increased tendency in feed consumption yet no significant difference in FCR. Blood antioxidant potentiality, superoxide dismutase (SOD), increased in birds fed the supplemented diet at both 21 and 35 d, accompanied by higher catalase (CAT) activity at 21 days. In vivo peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and 2,2΄-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) capability showed that the diminished cell viability caused by both challenge factors was improved in ACP-supplemented groups. Antioxidant genes dominated by Nrf2 genes, such as HO-1 and GCLC, were up-regulated in 35-day-old birds. Inflammatory-related genes, such as IL-1ß and IL-6, ruled mainly by NF-κB, were rather down-regulated by 0.2% ACP addition at 21 and 35 days. Protein expression of Nrf2 and NF-κB in the liver supported the mRNA results, demonstrating that all ACP-supplemented groups showed significantly higher Nrf2 expression, whereas the NF-κB was inhibited. In conclusion, preferable microbial balance may putatively indicate the improvement of immunomodulatory-related capacity by ACP. Furthermore, ACP could induce the Nrf2-dependent pathway and decrease the NF-κB-dominated inflammatory signaling pathway. Antioxidant and immune capacity in terms of antioxidant enzymes and cell tolerance also was elevated by ACP. Concomitantly, body weight increasing with ACP supplementation as compared to the corresponding control group further implied the promising effects exerted by ACP.

Association between advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and vascular calcification in uremic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between serum advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and vascular calcification in uremic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The general data of included subjects were collected, and the serum AOPP, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), creatinine (Cre), Urea, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterin (LDL-C), hemoglobin (Hb) and albumin (ALB) were detected. Coronary artery computed tomography (CT) scan was performed and the coronary arterial calcification score (CACS) was calculated; the whole abdomen CT scan was performed and abdominal aortic calcification index (AACI) was calculated. SPSS l9.0 software was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The coronary artery CT and detection of serum indexes showed that AOPP in positive coronary arterial calcification group was significantly increased compared with that in negative coronary arterial calcification group (59.14 ± 14.57 vs. 37.59 ± 5.31) µmol/L. The whole abdomen CT and detection of serum indexes showed that AOPP in positive abdominal aortic calcification group was significantly increased compared with that in negative abdominal aortic calcification group (60.32 ± 15.43 vs. 39.57 ± 6.25) µmol/L. AOPP in severe calcification group was significantly higher than negative group (70.72 ± 18.18 vs. 39.57 ± 6.25) µmol/L. There were no significant differences in AOPP between hypertension and non-hypertension groups, diabetic nephropathy and non-diabetic nephropathy groups. Correlation analysis showed that AOPP of uremic patients had a significantly positive correlation with logl0[CACS+1] and had a significantly positive correlation with inferior AACI. CONCLUSIONS: AOPP in positive coronary arterial calcification group and positive abdominal aortic calcification group was higher than that in negative group and AOPP in severe calcification group was significantly higher than that in negative group. AOPP of uremic patients has a significantly positive correlation with CACS and AACI.

[Nasal irrigation for the treatment of vasomotor rhinitis: a pilot study].

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of simple 3.0% saline nasal irrigation and combined treatment of 3.0% saline nasal irrigation and budesonide nasal spray for vasomotor rhinitis (VMR), and explore the long-term effect for VMR. Through examination of levels of substance P (SP) and mucin (MUC)5B in nasal lavage fluid, the mechanisms of nasal irrigation treatment for VMR was discussed. Methods: One hundred and one patients from Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University with VMR were randomly divided into 4 groups. The number of patients was 24 in control group, 25 in budesonide nasal spray treatment group (budesonide group), 25 in nasal irrigation treatment group (nasal irrigation group) and 27 in budesonide nasal spray + nasal irrigation group (combined treatment group). Control patients were left untreated. Budesonide group was under budesonide nasal spray treatment, nasal irrigation group was treated using 3.0% saline with a temperature of 40℃ and combined treatment group was given both treatments. The duration of the intervention period was 3 months (90 days). Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate nasal symptoms, and the health-related quality of life was assessed using the 12-item Short Form Health Survey version 2.0 (SF-12v2). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to assess the contents of SP and MUC5B in nasal lavage fluid before and after 3-month treatments in budesonide and nasal irrigation group in the study. MUC5B in nasal lavage fluid after the SP challenge and anticholinergic drug intervention in control group were also evaluated with ELISA. Results: Nighty out of 101 patients completed the study. In the budesonide and combined treatment group after relevant interventions, the total VAS score of nasal symptoms decreased (5.91±0.21 vs 3.82±0.15, 6.18±0.17 vs 3.92±0.15, t value was 8.193, 10.060, respectively, all P<0.05) and SF-12v2 score increased (146.00±1.23 vs 152.30±0.97, 146.00±1.08 vs 155.40±0.90, t value was 3.982, 6.697, respectively, all P<0.05), with both scores showed no significant differences in the nasal irrigation group (5.96±0.17 vs 5.72±0.15, 146.10±1.17 vs 147.00±0.94, t value was 1.038, 0.607, respectively, all P>0.05) after the first month. In the budesonide and combined treatment group after relevant interventions, the total VAS score of nasal symptoms decreased (5.91±0.21 vs 5.05±0.15, 6.18±0.17 vs 5.10±0.12, t value was 3.374, 5.351, respectively, all P<0.05) and SF-12v2 score increased (146.00±1.23 vs 150.90±0.76, 146.00±1.08 vs 153.60±0.94, t value was 3.373, 5.343, respectively, all P<0.05), with both scores showed no significant differences in the nasal irrigation group (5.96±0.17 vs 5.78±0.17, 146.10±1.17 vs 148.10±0.80, t value was 0.716, 1.438, respectively, all P>0.05) after the second month. By the end of the third month, in nasal irrigation and combined treatment group, the VAS score was diminished (5.96±0.17 vs 4.80±0.12, 6.18±0.17 vs 4.44±0.13, t value was 5.485, 8.264, respectively, all P<0.05) and SF-12v2 score was elevated (146.10±1.17 vs 150.80±0.96, 146.00±1.08 vs 152.90±0.85, t value was 3.163, 5.008, respectively, all P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in budesonide group (5.91±0.21 vs 5.68±0.18, 146.00±1.23 vs 148.40±0.85, t value was 0.819, 1.587, respectively, all P>0.05). Additionally, SP in nasal lavage fluid decreased and MUC5B showed no statistical changes in budesonide group after three months, however, SP showed no any changes and MUC5B reduced significantly in nasal lavage fluid in nasal irrigation group. Furthermore, the anticholinergic drug could not decrease the concentration of MUC5B after the SP challenge in nasal cavity in control group. Conclusions: The therapeutic effect of simple nasal irrigation with 3.0% saline or combined treatment of 3.0% saline nasal irrigation and nasal corticosteroids is superior to simple nasal corticosteroids. Nasal corticosteroids plays a role in the inhibition of sensory nerve endings in nasal mucosa, but neurotransmitter plays a limited role in the pathogenesis of VMR.

Tea consumption and its interactions with tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking on oral cancer in southeast China.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Epidemiological results on the association between tea consumption and oral cancer remain controversial. We aimed to evaluate the exact relationship between tea consumption and oral cancer in Chinese population. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A large-scale case-control study was conducted on 586 oral cancer patients and 1024 controls frequency-matched by age and gender. Epidemiological data were collected through face-to-face interviews with a structure questionnaire. Unconditional logistic regression model was used to assess the effect of tea consumption on oral cancer stratified by smoking, alcohol drinking and demographics. Quantity of tea consumed (ml/day) was categorized into five subgroups based on quartiles and then its interactions was evaluated with tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking at each subgroup. RESULTS: Tea consumption showed an inverse association with oral cancer for non-smokers or non-alcohol drinkers (the odds ratios (ORs) were 0.610 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.425-0.876) and 0.686 (95% CI: 0.503-0.934), respectively). For smokers or alcohol drinkers, decreased risk was only observed in those who consumed >800 ml/day. Furthermore, oolong tea consumption was associated with decreased risk of oral cancer in smokers or alcohol drinkers but not in non-smokers or non-alcohol drinkers. Tea consumption combined with smoking or/and alcohol drinking had a greater risk than tea consumption alone, but the risk was roughly reduced from zero to Q4 (>800 ml/day). Additionally, when stratified by demographics, the protective effect of tea was especially evident in females, urban residents, normal body mass index population (18.5-23.9), farmers, office workers and those aged <60 years. CONCLUSIONS: Tea consumption protects against oral cancer in non-smokers or non-alcohol drinkers, but this effect may be obscured in smokers or alcohol drinkers. Additionally, demographics may modify the association between tea consumption and oral cancer.

Inhibitory effect of liposome-entrapped lemongrass oil on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in cheese.

Listeria monocytogenes infection in dairy products is of mounting public concern. To inhibit bacterial growth, we engineered stimuli-responsive liposomes containing lemongrass oil for this study. The controlled release of liposome-entrapped lemongrass oil is triggered by listerolysin O, secreted by L. monocytogenes. We investigated the antibiotic activities of lemongrass oil liposomes against L. monocytogenes in cheese. We also assessed their possible effects on the quality of the cheese. Liposomes containing lemongrass oil (5.0mg/mL) presented the optimal polydispersity index (0.246), zeta-potential (-58.9mV) and entrapment efficiency (25.7%). The liposomes displayed satisfactory antibiotic activity against L. monocytogenes in cheese over the storage period at 4°C. We observed no effects on the physical and sensory properties of the cheese after the liposome treatment.

Ascorbic Acid Attenuates Hyperoxia-Compromised Host Defense against Pulmonary Bacterial Infection.

Supraphysiological concentrations of oxygen (hyperoxia) can compromise host defense and increase susceptibility to bacterial infections, causing ventilator-associated pneumonia. The phagocytic activity of macrophages is impaired by hyperoxia-induced increases in the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and extracellular high-mobility group box protein B1 (HMGB1). Ascorbic acid (AA), an essential nutrient and antioxidant, has been shown to be beneficial in various animal models of ROS-mediated diseases. The aim of this study was to determine whether AA could attenuate hyperoxia-compromised host defense and improve macrophage functions against bacterial infections. C57BL/6 male mice were exposed to hyperoxia (≥98% O2, 48 h), followed by intratracheal inoculation with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and simultaneous intraperitoneal administration of AA. AA (50 mg/kg) significantly improved bacterial clearance in the lungs and airways, and significantly reduced HMGB1 accumulation in the airways. The incubation of RAW 264.7 cells (a macrophage-like cell line) with AA (0-1,000 µM) before hyperoxic exposure (95% O2) stabilized the phagocytic activity of macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner. The AA-enhanced macrophage function was associated with significantly decreased production of intracellular ROS and accumulation of extracellular HMGB1. These data suggest that AA supplementation can prevent or attenuate the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients receiving oxygen support.

Therapeutic effect of Pleurotus eryngii cellulose on experimental fatty liver in rats.

The aim of this study was to explore the therapeutic effect of Pleurotus eryngii cellulose on experimental fatty liver in rats. Rats were fed high-fat fodder to establish a rat fatty liver model, and were then fed different concentrations of Pleurotus eryngii cellulose for six weeks. Lipitor was used as a positive control. Measured levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), and total triglyceride (TG); the activity of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), hepatic lipase (HL), and lipoprotein lipase; and liver histopathological changes. Successfully established rat fatty liver model after feeding high-fat fodder for one week. A diet of P. eryngii cellulose for six weeks significantly reduced ALT, AST, TC, and TG levels in rat serum (P < 0.01); TC and AST levels in P. eryngii cellulose high-dose group and Lipitor group were not significantly different from those of the control (P > 0.05). SOD activity increased significantly, while MDA and HL activity decreased (P < 0.05); fatty degeneration and fat accumulation both decreased in hepatic tissue. Hepatic protection of P. eryngii cellulose showed dose-related effect. P. eryngii cellulose can affect lipid metabolism, having therapeutic effects on fatty liver in rats.

YiQi ChuTan Recipe Inhibits Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition of A549 Cells under Hypoxia.

This study aims to investigate mechanism of YiQi ChuTan Recipe (YCR) for inhibiting epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of A549 cells under hypoxia. Flow cytometry was used to optimize YCR dosage by measuring A549 apoptosis, which were subjected to different treatments, including normal condition, hypoxia, hypoxia+YCR. Cell morphology and expression of EMT were measured with differential interference contrast microscopy, real-time PCR and western blot. Optimized condition of 4 mg/ml YCR and 2% O2 for 72 h was used to establish hypoxia. Under hypoxic condition, morphology of A549 cells changed from oblate fusi-form to elongated spindle. E-cadherin expression decreased while vimentin and fibronectin increased. EMT-related genes expression were significantly increased in hypoxia group compared to control group (P<0.05). After treatment with YCR, mesenchymal cells obviously decreased and EMT-related genes expression was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Changes of E-cadherin, vimentin and fibronection were significantly attenuated by YCR when compared to hypoxia group. Expression of proteins GRP78, SRC, MAPK, smad2/3 were significantly increased in hypoxia group compared to control group, but was significantly inhibited by YCR treatment. In conclusion, A549 cells underwent EMT under hypoxia while YCR reversed the EMT through GRP78, smad2/3 and SRC/MAPK signal pathway.