[Tea polyphenols ameliorates acute lung injury in septic mice by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasomes].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of tea polyphenols (TP) for regulating NLRP3 inflammasomes and alleviating acute lung injury in septic mice. METHODS: Sixty C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into sham-operated, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and CLP +TP treatment groups, and survival of the mice was recorded after modeling in each group. The lung wet/dry weight ratio and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were determined, and lung injury of the mice was evaluated using HE staining and acute lung injury score. The expressions of IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-6, NLRP3, caspase-1 p10, ASC, MPO, and caspase-8 in the lung tissue were detected using ELISA, Western blotting, or immunohistochemical staining. MDA and H2O2 levels in the lungs were detected to evaluate the level of oxidative stress. Immunofluorescence assay was used to investigate the co-localization of NLRP3 and NOX4. RESULTS: The postoperative mortality rate at 72 h, lung wet/dry weight ratio, MPO level and acute lung injury scores were significantly lower in CLP+TP group than in CLP group (P < 0.05). Treatment with TP significantly reduced the expressions of NLRP3-related inflammatory factors (P < 0.05) and lowered MDA and H2O2 levels in the lung tissue of the septic mice (P < 0.05). Immunofluorescence co-staining showed a lower level of NOX4 and NLRP3 co-localization in CLP+TP group than in CLP group. CONCLUSION: TP inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome-associated inflammation to alleviate CLP-induced acute lung injury in mice through a regulatory mechanism that inhibits NOX4 expression and reduces oxidative stress in the lung tissue.

[Efficacy and safety of Kangbingdu granules in the treatment of influenza: a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, positive-drug parallel control multicenter clinical trial].

Objective: To observe the efficacy and safety of Kangbingdu granules (KBD) in the treatment of influenza. Methods: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, and positive-drug parallel control trial was conducted in 27 Grade ⅢA hospitals in China and the subjects were randomly assigned to the KBD test group or the oseltamivir phosphate capsule control group at a ratio of 1∶1. 200 subjects were planned to be enrolled in each group. The experimental group was given KBD (18g each time, 3 times a day) and oseltamivir phosphate simulator orally, while the control group was given oseltamivir phosphate capsule (75 mg each time, twice a day) and KBD simulator orally for 5 days. The primary efficacy indicators included the remission time of major clinical symptoms and the time of complete defervescence. The secondary efficacy indicators included dosage of acetaminophen, the change of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score and the remission time of other important clinical symptoms. The efficacy of KBD in the test group and Oseltamivir phosphate control group were compared. Adverse events or adverse reactions were observed at the same time to evaluate the safety of KBD Granules. Results: A total of 393 subjects from 27 Grade ⅢA hospitals in China were enrolled. The experimental group included 195 subjects and 191 subjects (97.95%) completed the trial, While the control group included 198 subjects and 195 subjects (98.48%) completed the trial. There was no significant difference in the shedding rate and rejection rate between the two groups (P>0.05). In the Full Analysis Set (FAS), the mean age of the experimental group was (34.9±14.4) years old, with 83 males (42.78%). The mean age of the control group was (33.3±13.5) years old, with 78 males (39.59%). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in demographic data, physical examination, viral pathogen detection, total score of TCM syndromes and scores of each symptom at baseline (P>0.05). In the FAS, the remission time M (Q1, Q3) of major clinical symptoms was 3.0 (3.0, 4.0) days in the experimental group and 3.0 (3.0, 4.0) days in the control group, and the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The time M (Q1, Q3) of complete defervescence was 34.0 (20.3, 49.0) hours in the experimental group and 36.5 (19.6, 48.8) hours in the control group, and the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). KBD granules had the same effect as Oseltamivir phosphate capsule (P>0.05) in terms of acetaminophen dosage, TCM syndrome effect and disappearance rate of most important clinical symptoms. Meanwhile, the disappearance rate of dizziness and chest distress on day 3 in the KBD granules group was better than that of oseltamivir phosphate capsule (P<0.05). Conclusion: KBD granules have the same efficacy as Oseltamivir Phosphate capsule in the treatment of influenza and the drug safety is good.

Binding of local anaesthetics to the lipid emulsion Clinoleic™ 20%.

Lipid emulsions have been used to treat cardiovascular collapse due to local anaesthetic toxicity. However, there are few data available on the comparative efficiency of the partitioning properties of available lipid emulsions in clinical use. This in vitro study compared the buffering properties of the lipid emulsions Clinoleic™ 20% (Baxter, Old Toongabbie, NSW) and Intralipid® 20% (Fresenius Kabi, Pymble, NSW) using both bupivacaine (Marcain® 0.5%, AstraZeneca, North Ryde, NSW) and ropivacaine (Naropin® 1%, AstraZeneca, North Ryde, NSW). The concentration of anaesthetic in buffer before and after mixing with lipid was quantified using chromatographic analysis. Bupivacaine was more effectively bound by the lipid agents, with a 40% reduction in initial concentration. Ropivacaine demonstrated a 20% reduction in concentration with the addition of lipid agents. Importantly, there was no significant difference between Intralipid and Clinoleic in terms of their buffering behaviour, suggesting equivalent binding efficacy.

Efficacy and safety of rifabutin-containing 'rescue therapy' for resistant Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND: Current 'rescue' therapies provide inadequate Helicobacter pylori eradication rates because of antibiotic resistance. AIM: To test the efficacy of a modified triple regimen combining rifabutin, pantoprazole and amoxicillin as rescue therapy for patients in whom eradication of H. pylori had failed standard clarithromycin-based triple therapy. METHODS: One hundred and thirty patients (mean age 51.7 +/- 14.8 years) who had failed one or more eradication attempts with omeprazole, clarithromycin and amoxicillin were treated for 12 days with rifabutin 150 mg daily, amoxicillin 1 g or 1.5 g t.d.s, and pantoprazole 80 mg t.d.s. RESULTS: The intention-to-treat and per-protocol eradication rates were 90.8/90.8%. Metronidazole or/and clarithromycin resistance had no significant impact on H. pylori eradication rates. A higher overall eradication rate of 96.6% (95% CI: 92.1-101%) was obtained in patients treated with a regimen containing 1.5 g amoxicillin t.d.s compared with 90.7% (95% CI: 82-98.6%) using a regimen with 1 g amoxicillin t.d.s but the difference was not significant. Side-effects reported in 40% of patients were mild. CONCLUSION: A 12-day course of low dose of rifabutin with an increased dose of amoxicillin and pantoprazole is well-tolerated and highly effective against dual-resistant H. pylori infection after failure of triple therapy.

Effects of CH-100, a chinese herbal medicine, on acute concanavalin A-mediated hepatitis in control and alcohol-fed rats.

BACKGROUND: Administration of concanavalin A (Con A) leads to acute hepatitis that involves T-cell activation and inflammatory mediator production in mice and rats. We examined the role of CH-100, a Chinese herbal medicine previously trialed in human hepatitis C, in the prevention of Con A-related, T-cell-mediated, acute liver injury in rats. METHODS: Female Wistar rats were fed 40% ethanol, 2% sucrose, or isocaloric sucrose for 8 weeks. At the same time, these animals were fed either the Chinese herbal medicine CH-100 (4 tablets/kg body weight/ day) or placebo in chow daily. Blood from the tail vein was collected for endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) assay at 0, 4, and 8 weeks of ethanol consumption. Twenty-four hours after injection of Con A (20 mg/kg body weight) or phosphate-buffered saline, blood from the tail vein was collected for alanine aminotransferase and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha assays. Liver-associated CD4+ T cells were isolated from liver perfusates and then cultured with Con A (5 microg/ml) at 37 degrees C for 24 hr. Supernatants were harvested for TNF-alpha assay. The proportion of CD4+ T cells in blood and liver perfusates was measured. Liver samples were collected for histopathological analysis. RESULTS: Lipopolysaccharide levels were significantly reduced in CH-100-treated ethanol-fed rats compared with placebo-treated rats. After Con A injection, alanine aminotransferase levels were lower at 12 and 24 hr in herb-treated rats compared with placebo-treated rats. Furthermore, serum TNF-alpha levels were lower in ethanol-fed rats on herbal treatment. A significant decrease in TNF-alpha production by liver-associated CD4+ T cells in culture was observed in CH-100-treated ethanol-fed rats. CH-100 treatment was associated with a decreased percentage of CD4+ cells in both blood and liver perfusate in all groups. Herb-treated rats displayed markedly less hepatic necrosis and a reduced CD4+ T-cell infiltrate in portal areas than did placebo-fed rats. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that CH-100 modified the T-cell response to Con A injection. The effect was more marked in ethanol-fed rats, which suggests a possible role for CH-100 in treating alcoholic liver disease.

[Study on proteins of allele by using the microisoelectric focusing].

Clear protein electrophoresis pattern of single pollen grain from Cucurbita pepo L. was obtained with isoelectric focusing and supersensitive stain technique. The results showed that there were two special distributing protein bands near acidity pole. In species I, the two protein bands were a little near to acidity pole and in species II, that was a little far from acidity pole. In species III, the two protein bands distributed either like species I or like species II and the distributed ratio was 1:1. Moreover, we discuss how to identify relative purity of gene with the sorts of the special proteins.

Digital radiology using active matrix readout of amorphous selenium: geometrical and effective fill factors.

Flat panel self-scanned x-ray detectors using amorphous selenium (a-Se) as the photoconductor are being developed to replace both film/screen cassette systems for radiography and image intensifier (XRII)/video systems for fluoroscopy. These use a two-dimensional array of pixel electrodes to collect and readout the latent image charges formed on the photoconductor surface. The percentage of the area covered by the pixel electrodes (i.e., the geometrical fill factor fg) is always less than unity. In this paper, a novel approach is introduced to make the charge collection by pixel electrodes almost complete (i.e., a close to unity effective fill factor). The idea is to bend the electric field lines in the a-Se layer in such a way that image charges cannot land in the gap region between electrodes. This is achieved by depositing holes in the gap region, which is possible because there are charge traps available at the a-Se/insulator interface. The distribution of holes required in the gap region is calculated. Various factors associated with the feasibility of this approach as well as a method to deposit these holes are discussed. Application of the approach to the case of mammography is also included.

[Studies on new triterpenoids of Tripterygium regelii].

Four triterpenoids were isolated from the root of Tripterygium regelii collected in Fusong Prefecture, Jilin Province. III was confirmed as methyl 3-oxo-22 alpha-acetoxy-23-hydroxy-urs-12-ene-30-oate, named regelin C, V and VI were a pair of isomers identified as methyl 3 beta, 22 alpha-dihydroxy-urs-12-ene-30-oate and methyl 3 beta, 22 alpha-dihydroxy-olean-12-ene-29-oate, named regelindiol A and regelindiol B respectively. VII was represented as methyl 3-oxo-22 alpha-hydroxy-olean-12-ene-29-oate, named regelin D. III, V and VII were new compounds, and VI was isolated for the first time as a natural compound.