Ascyrones A-E, type B bicyclic ployprenylated acylphloroglucinol derivatives from Hypericum ascyron.

Five new polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (1-5), ascyrones A-E, and four known compounds (6-9) were isolated from the aerial parts of Hypericum ascyron. All of the isolates containing a bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-2,4,9-trione core and a benzoyl group, belonged to type B bicyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (BPAPs). Their structures and absolute configurations were established based on spectroscopic analyses and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data. The anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and cytotoxicity activities of compounds 1-4 and 6-9 were evaluated. Compound 6 exhibited obvious anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. Compounds 1 and 9 exhibited slight cytotoxicity against Hep3B cells. Meanwhile, compound 1 showed mild neuroprotective activity against corticosterone (CORT)-induced PC12 cell damage at 10 µmol·L-1.

Microgravity versus Microgravity and Irradiation: Investigating the Change of Neuroendocrine-Immune System and the Antagonistic Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula.

During spaceflight, the homeostasis of the living body is threatened with cosmic environment including microgravity and irradiation. Traditional Chinese medicine could ameliorate the internal imbalance during spaceflight, but its mechanism is still unclear. In this article, we compared the difference of neuroendocrine-immune balance between simulated microgravity (S) and simulated microgravity and irradiation (SAI) environment. We also observed the antagonistic effect of SAI using a traditional Chinese medicine formula (TCMF). Wistar rats were, respectively, exposed under S using tail suspending and SAI using tail suspending and 60Co-gama irradiation exposure. The SAI rats were intervened with TCMF. The changes of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, splenic T-cell, celiac macrophages, and related cytokines were observed after 21 days. Compared with the normal group, the hyperfunction of HPA axis and celiac macrophages, as well as the hypofunction of splenic T-cells, was observed in both the S and SAI group. Compared with the S group, the levels of plasmatic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), macrophage activity, and serous interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the SAI group were significantly reduced. The dysfunctional targets were mostly reversed in the TCMF group. Both S and SAI could lead to NEI imbalance. Irradiation could aggravate the negative feedback inhibition of HPA axis and macrophages caused by S. TCMF could ameliorate the NEI dysfunction caused by SAI.

Changes in gonadal function at different stages of chronic restraint stress-induced depression animals.

The aim of this study was to determine the time-dependent changes in adolescent male gonadal function due to chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced depression in a rat model and to elucidate the underlying mechanism. CRS was established in adolescence male Wistar rats by placing the animals in a cylinder for 3 h every day for 28 days, during which time the general behavior and serum hormonal levels were routinely monitored. The CRS model rats showed anxiety-like behavior in the open field test (OFT) and sucrose consumption test, and their body weights also decreased significantly on the 14th, 21st and 28th days. The CRS rats showed a significant decrease in serum 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) after 14 days of restraint and an increase in the CORT and NE levels after 21 days of restraint, while the serum GnRH levels increased significantly on the 14th and 21st days and decreased significantly over the last 7 days. In contrast, the FSH and LH levels decreased significantly from the 14th day to the 28th day, while the PRL and E2 levels were significantly higher during the same time period compared to those of the controls. The serum T levels also decreased significantly in the CRS group on the 21st and the 28th days, with the lowest levels occurring on day 28. Histopathological examination showed that testicular damage was aggravated during CRS. In addition, the levels of MDA, CytC and 8-OHDG increased significantly, while those of SOD decreased significantly in the CRS rats testicular mitochondrial. These results indicate that the gonadal function is altered at different stages of CRS, which can be attributed to changes in neurotransmitters and PRL that affect GnRH levels in the hypothalamus and subsequently regulate the serum T levels. In addition, excessive production of CORT impairs the testicle in adolescent period via enhanced oxidative damage, which eventually leads to gonadal dysfunction.

Review of the compatibility and clinical application about Cheng's Bixie-Fenqing formula / 国际中医中药杂志

In the Qing dynasty Cheng Zhongling based on the Cheng's Bixie-Fenqing formula of Yang Tan, a doctor in the Southern Song dynasty, retained the original Sichuan Bixie and Acorus tatarinowii, and add Phellodendron chinense, and Semen plantaginis to form Cheng's Bixie-Fenqing formula. It had the function of get rid of dampness and heat, and is a classic prescription for stranguria, like the treatment of white turbidity. The author retrieved the related literature of Cheng's Bixie-Fenqing formula in recent years, analyzed the composition and clinical application of Cheng's Bixie-Fenqing formula, and summarized the advantages and disadvantages of the existing researches, providing reference for the further development of Cheng's Bixie-Fenqing formula.

Review of the compatibility and clinical application about Cheng's Bixie-Fenqing formula / 国际中医中药杂志

In the Qing dynasty Cheng Zhongling based on the Cheng's Bixie-Fenqing formula of Yang Tan, a doctor in the Southern Song dynasty, retained the original Sichuan Bixie and Acorus tatarinowii, and add Phellodendron chinense, and Semen plantaginis to form Cheng's Bixie-Fenqing formula. It had the function of get rid of dampness and heat, and is a classic prescription for stranguria, like the treatment of white turbidity. The author retrieved the related literature of Cheng's Bixie-Fenqing formula in recent years, analyzed the composition and clinical application of Cheng's Bixie-Fenqing formula, and summarized the advantages and disadvantages of the existing researches, providing reference for the further development of Cheng's Bixie-Fenqing formula.

Expressions of VEGF and Ki-67 in eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis and effect of Quyu Jiedu Recipe on VEGF expression / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical efficacy of Quyu Jiedu Recipe (, QJR) in treating endometriosis (EM), and to explore the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cell proliferative nucleoprotein antigen (Ki-67), their changes before and after treatment and the clinical significance in the trial.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty patients of EM were randomly assigned to two groups. The 26 patients in the QJR group were treated with QJR, and the 24 patients in the gestrinone (GT) group with gestrinone. Besides, a normal control group with 20 healthy women was set up. The therapeutic effects in the two treated groups were compared. Expressions of VEGF and Ki-67 in eutopic endometrium of all subjects (with both patients and healthy women at the median secretive phase) were determined with immunohistochemical stain before treatment, and the determination in the two treated groups was repeated after 3-month treatment in the same phase.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Before treatment, the VEGF and Ki-67 expression positive rates and their mean optic density (MOD) were higher in patients than in healthy women (P<0.05). After treatment, the positive rate and MOD of VEGF expression lowered significantly than before treatment (P<0.05), but those of Ki-67 changed insignificantly, and comparison between the two treated groups showed no significant difference (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>QJR could markedly improve the symptoms of menorrhagia and menstrual disorder, and its mechanism might be related with the lowering of eutopic endometrial VEGF expression. VEGF and Ki-67 show a high expression in eutopic endometrium of patients with EM.</p>