Porous Se@SiO2 nanospheres alleviate diabetic retinopathy by inhibiting excess lipid peroxidation and inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Lipid peroxidation is a characteristic metabolic manifestation of diabetic retinopathy (DR) that causes inflammation, eventually leading to severe retinal vascular abnormalities. Selenium (Se) can directly or indirectly scavenge intracellular free radicals. Due to the narrow distinction between Se's effective and toxic doses, porous Se@SiO2 nanospheres have been developed to control the release of Se. They exert strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. METHODS: The effect of anti-lipid peroxidation and anti-inflammatory effects of porous Se@SiO2 nanospheres on diabetic mice were assessed by detecting the level of Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), decreased reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, and interleukin (IL) -1ß of the retina. To further examine the protective effect of porous Se@SiO2 nanospheres on the retinal vasculopathy of diabetic mice, retinal acellular capillary, the expression of tight junction proteins, and blood-retinal barrier destruction was observed. Finally, we validated the GPX4 as the target of porous Se@SiO2 nanospheres via decreased expression of GPX4 and detected the level of MDA, GSH/GSSG, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL -1ß, wound healing assay, and tube formation in high glucose (HG) cultured Human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs). RESULTS: The porous Se@SiO2 nanospheres reduced the level of MDA, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL -1ß, while increasing the level of GPX4 and GSH/GSSG in diabetic mice. Therefore, porous Se@SiO2 nanospheres reduced the number of retinal acellular capillaries, depletion of tight junction proteins, and vascular leakage in diabetic mice. Further, we identified GPX4 as the target of porous Se@SiO2 nanospheres as GPX4 inhibition reduced the repression effect of anti-lipid peroxidation, anti-inflammatory, and protective effects of endothelial cell dysfunction of porous Se@SiO2 nanospheres in HG-cultured HRMECs. CONCLUSION: Porous Se@SiO2 nanospheres effectively attenuated retinal vasculopathy in diabetic mice via inhibiting excess lipid peroxidation and inflammation by target GPX4, suggesting their potential as therapeutic agents for DR.

Lamiophlomis herba: A comprehensive overview of its chemical constituents, pharmacology, clinical applications, and quality control.

Lamiophlomis rotata (Benth.) Kudo (LR) is an extensively used Chinese herbal medicine. It contains a variety of chemical constituents with significant biological activities that were first recorded in the classical masterpiece of Tibetan Medicine, Somaratsa. In this review, we summarize the information regarding the traditional uses, chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, clinical applications, quality control, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics of LR. At least 223 chemical constituents have been isolated from LR, including phenylethanoid glycosides, flavonoids, iridoids, volatile oils, et al. Their various physiological activities have been demonstrated as analgesic, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, marrow-supplementing, anti-bacterial, and immunity-strengthening. The clinical applications of LR and quality control are also discussed, as well as some existing problems. This article aims to provide more comprehensive information on the chemical composition, pharmacological activity, and clinical application of LR, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the further reasonable development of LR in clinical practice and of new drugs.

Bu-Shen-Yi-Qi formula impairs cytotoxicity of NK cells by up-regulating IDO expression in trophoblasts.

Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is a common health problem that affects about 5% of fertile women, when it occurs for unknown reasons, it is called unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA). Traditional Chinese medicine, such as Bu-Shen-Yi-Qi formula which consists of Dangshen, Tusizi, Baizhu, Baishuo, Duzhong, Sangjisheng, Sugeng, and Tiaohuangqin, has played an invaluable role in the treatment of RSA since ancient times. However, the mechanism of how it takes effect is still not clear. To identify Bu-Shen-Yi-Qi formula could modulate immune condition at maternal-fetal interface via its effect on trophoblasts, HTR-8 of different treatment were co-cultured with peripheral or decidual natural killer (NK) cells, and the receptors such as NKP30 and NKP46 expression on NK cells were measured by flow cytometry (FCM). In this study, we found that herb medium could increase the IDO expression at appropriate concentrations. As an inhibitor of IDO, 1-MT could impair the inhibitory function of trophoblasts on NK cells. Furthermore, Bu-Shen-Yi-Qi formula could enhance the inhibitory function of trophoblasts on NK cells. In conclusion, Bu-Shen-Yi-Qi formula can inhibit NK cytotoxicity by up-regulating IDO expression in trophoblasts and play a role in the treatment of URSA patients.

[Efficacy and safety of Saw Palmetto Extract Capsules in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of Saw Palmetto Extract Capsules in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: We conducted a multi-centered open clinical study on 165 BPH patients treated with Saw Palmetto Extract Capsules at a dose of 160 mg qd for 12 weeks. At the baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks of medication, we compared the International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS), prostate volume, postvoid residual urine volume, urinary flow rate, quality of life scores (QOL), and adverse events between the two groups of patients. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline, both IPSS and QOL were improved after 6 weeks of medication, and at 12 weeks, significant improvement was found in IPSS, QOL, urinary flow rate, and postvoid residual urine. Mild stomachache occurred in 1 case, which necessitated no treatment. CONCLUSION: Saw Palmetto Extract Capsules were safe and effective for the treatment of BPH.

A validated high-performance liquid chromatography method with diode array detection for simultaneous determination of nine flavonoids in Senecio cannabifolius Less.

A reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography method coupled with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) was developed for the first time for the simultaneous determination of 9 flavonoids in Senecio cannabifolius, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. Agilent Zorbax SB-C18 column was used at room temperature and the mobile phase was a mixture of acetonitrile and 0.5% formic acid (v/v) in water in the gradient elution mode at a flow-rate of 1.0mlmin(-1), detected at 360nm. Validation of this method was performed to verify the linearity, precision, limits of detection and quantification, intra- and inter-day variabilities, reproducibility and recovery. The calibration curves showed good linearities (R(2)>0.9995) within the test ranges. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the method was less than 3.0% for intra- and inter-day assays. The samples were stable for at least 96h, and the average recoveries were between 90.6% and 102.5%. High sensitivity was demonstrated with detection limits of 0.028-0.085µg/ml for flavonoids. The newly established HPLC method represents a powerful technique for the quality assurance of S. cannabifolius.

Isolation and characterization of ZH14 with antiviral activity against Tobacco mosaic virus.

A large number of bacteria were isolated from plant samples and screened for antiviral activity against the Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). The bacterium ZH14, which was isolated from Chinese Anxi oolong tea, secreted the antiviral substances, having 94.2% virus inhibition when the bacterial culture filtrate and TMV extract were mixed at a ratio of 1:1. The ZH14 strain is a gram-positive, spore-forming rod and has the ability to degrade ribonucleic acid. Based on its effectiveness on virus inhibition, ZH14 was selected for characterization and was identified as a strain of the Bacillus cereus group based on phenotypic tests and comparative analysis of its 16S rDNA sequence. At the same time, we determined the antiviral product of ZH14 as an extracellular protein with high molecular mass, having an optimum temperature of 15-60 degrees C and an optimum pH of 6-10. Hence, the ZH14 strain and its culture filtrate have potential application in controlling plant diseases caused by TMV.

[Alkaloid constituents of Corydalis adunca].

OBJECTIVE: To study the alkaloid component of Corydalis adunca Maxim. METHODS: The constituents were isolated by chromatographic methods, their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic evidences. RESULTS: Three compounds were purified and their structures were identified, they were identified as dorydaline (I), dehydrocorydaline (II), dihydrosanguinarine (III). CONCLUSION: Compounds I , II are isolated from this plant for the first time.

[An evaluation of the cardioprotective action of the preparation ICRF-187 (Cardioxane) during the treatment of breast cancer with large doses of adriamycin]. / Otsenka kardioprotektivnogo deistviia preparata ICRF-187 (kardioksan) pri lechenii bol'nykh rakom molochnoi zhelezy bol'shimi dozami adriamitsina.

Twenty females with disseminated breast cancer received courses of polychemotherapy with 21-day intervals. The regimen comprised adriamycin (ADM), cyclophosphamide and 5-fluorouracil in the dose 50, 500 mg/m2, respectively. 30 minutes prior to the treatment the patients were given the cardioprotector cardioxan (1000 mg/m2). Cardiological control (ECG, EF according to echo-CG and radionuclide ventriculography, PP/EP M1/M2, T1/T2 according to echo-polycardiography and Doppler cardiography) was performed before the treatment and at ADM total dose 200-300 mg/m2 followed by measurements at each dose increase by 100 mg/m2. The findings showed no evidence of ADM-related cardiac damage up to ADM dose 900-1000 mg/m2 in the case of cardioxan protection, though there was a tendency to M1/M2 increase which needs further studies as it suggests worsening of left ventricular diastolic contractility.