Phytochemical Profile and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of the Fraction from Artemisia lavandulaefolia.

Artemisia lavandulaefolia, a traditional herbal medicine, has been utilized as anti-inflammatory and analgesia agent in clinic. Bioassay-guided fractionation resulted in a fraction (ALDF) with anti-inflammatory effect obtained from A. lavandulaefolia. Its main constituents were analyzed and identified by UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS technology. ALDF showed the strong inhibitory activity on the nitrogen oxide (NO) production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages with an IC50 value of 1.64±0.41 µg/mL. Further results displayed that ALDF also significantly suppressed the secretion of key pro-inflammatory mediators, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and the increase of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression induced by LPS stimulation. Mechanism study indicated that ALDF was able to block NF-κB signaling pathway through inhibiting IκB and p65 phosphorylation, as well as NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. Furthermore, in vivo results in mice revealed that treatments with ALDF evoked significant inhibition on ear edema induced by xylene and on the writhing responses induced by acetic acid. These results suggest that ALDF holds great potential in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory disorders.

Nitric Oxide Production Inhibitory Eudesmane-Type Sesquiterpenoids from Artemisia argyi.

Six new eudesmane-type sesquiterpene derivatives, artemargyinins A-F were isolated from the leaves of Artemisia argyi. Their structures were elucidated based on the extensive analysis of spectroscopic data. Artemargyinins A-F feature a lactone ring-opening eudesmane-type sesquiterpene with an isoprenoid group at C(8). All compounds were tested for their inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 macrophages. Artemargyinins A-F showed more potent NO production inhibitory activity with IC50 values ranging from 7.66±0.53 to 61.19±2.54 µM than the positive control quercetin (IC50 =74.34±1.39 µM). Among them, artemargyinins C and D exhibited strong inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 8.08±0.21 and 7.66±0.53 µM, respectively.

Extraperitoneal laparoscopic adenomectomy (Madigan) versus bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia greater than 80 ml: complications and functional outcomes after 3-year follow-up.

PURPOSE: To compare the performance of voluminous benign prostatic hyperplasia patients who have received laparoscopic simple prostatectomy (LSP) with the patients who have received bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate (B-TURP) in their perioperative and 3-year follow-up period. METHODS: Ninety patients with prostate volumes >80 mL (range 80-130 mL) were randomly assigned to either LSP or B-TURP surgery type. The patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months postoperatively. Perioperative and follow-up characteristics were then recorded and compared. RESULTS: More blood loss, greater resected adenoma volume, and shorter catheterization duration were recorded in LSP group than that of B-TURP group (140.1±81.5 vs 93.1±54.0 mL; 65.3±13.8 vs 49.0±12.7 mL; 3.3±1.2 vs 3.8±1.0 days; p<0.05). None of the patients in LSP group reported complications out of 30 days, while 1 case of urethral stricture, 36 cases of retrograde ejaculation, 1 case of bladder neck contracture, and 2 cases of recurrence were recorded in B-TURP group. At 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively, there were no significant differences in terms of postvoid residual urine volume, maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax), and International Prostate Symptom Score between the two groups (p>0.05). In contrast, the differences became significant at 24 and 36 months (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with B-TURP, LSP with Madigan technique is accompanied by less residual adenoma, shorter catheterization time, and more blood loss. Further, the risk of late complications is lower with LSP and, in terms of functional outcomes, LSP appears to be better than B-TURP beyond 2 years.