Arteannoides U-Z: Six undescribed sesquiterpenoids with anti-inflammatory activities from the aerial parts of Artemisia annua (Qinghao).

Four previously unreported sesquiterpenoid diasteromers, arteannoides U-X (1-4), together with one new norsesquiterpenoid 5 (arteannoide Y) and one undescribed rearranged cadinene sesquiterpenoid 6 (arteannoide Z) were obtained from the dried aerial parts of Artemisia annua (Qinghao). Notably, arteannoides U-X (1-4) are four stereoisomers that possess the same molecules and the same planar connectivity, but differ from each other in configuration at a certain stereocenter. Their accurate structures were unambiguously identified and distinguished by extensive spectroscopic analyses, NMR calculations with DP4+ analysis, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations and X-ray diffraction analyses. Compounds 1, 3, and 4 showed inhibitory activities against the production of inflammatory cytokines (PGE2, NO, IL-6 and TNF-α) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Clinical Features of COVID-19 Patients in Xiaogan City.

On February 6, 2020, Xiaogan City became the second most seriously affected city with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), outside Wuhan district, Hubei Province, China. The objectives are to study the clinical features of COVID-19 patients and assess the relationship between the severity of COVID-19, age, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. The retrospective data of 134 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in 3 hospitals of Xiaogan City, between February 1 and March 1, 2020, was collected. This study documented COVID-19 patients. Clinical data in terms of body temperature, history of travel, and direct contact with COVID-19 patients, and incubation period was collected. Out of the 134 patients, only 5 required intensive care. Moreover, 2 patients succumbed during this period. The median age of patients was 45 (33-56) years. The most common symptoms at the onset of disease were fever (66.4%), cough (33, 6%), and sore throat (14.7%). Amongst the medicines used, antiviral agents (92.3%) followed by the traditional Chinese medicine (89.5%) were most commonly used. In both the crude and adjusted (I to III) models, odds ratio and its 95% confidence interval for both age and CRP levels were > 1. Moreover, the smooth curve fitting graph reflected that the severity of COVID-19 was positively correlated with both age and CRP levels (all P value < 0.05). The signs and symptoms of COVID-19 patients were fairly moderate. The health care professionals treating the COVID-19 patients should be aware of the increased likelihood of progression to severe COVID-19 in elderly patients and those with high CRP levels.

Cardioprotective effects of anisodamine against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury through the inhibition of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the cardioprotective effects of anisodamine against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and the molecular mechanisms involved. The present results demonstrated that anisodamine attenuated myocardial infarct sizes, decreased the levels of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase, whereas it increased the left ventricular (LV) systolic pressure, the LV end­diastolic pressure, and the LV pressure maximum rising and falling rates in a myocardial I/R rat model. In addition, anisodamine was revealed to suppress oxidative stress, inflammatory factor production and myocardial cell apoptosis, as demonstrated by the downregulation of caspase­3 and apoptosis regulator BAX protein expression. The production of reactive oxygen species was decreased and the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was downregulated, whereas the expression of endothelial NOS was enhanced. In addition, the activity of nicotinamide­adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (Nox) was suppressed and the expression of Nox4 was downregulated in rats with myocardial I/R injury. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested that anisodamine exerted a cardioprotective effect against myocardial I/R injury in rats, through the inhibition of oxidative stress, the suppression of inflammatory processes and the inhibition of myocardial cell apoptosis.

The role of oxidative stress in hormesis induced by sodium arsenite in human embryo lung fibroblast (HELF) cellular proliferation model.

Hormetic dose-response relationships induced by environmental agents are often characterized by a low-dose stimulation and a high-dose inhibition. The mechanisms underlying hormesis induced by environmental agents still remain an enigma; however, hormetic consequences may have significant implications for health risk assessments. To investigate the role of oxidative stress in hormetic phenomena associated with cell proliferation induced by sodium arsenite, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation (LPO), and heat-shock proteins (HSP) and the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured in human embryo lung fibroblast (HELF) cells after treatment with sodium arsenite at various concentrations for differing times. Results showed that sodium arsenite induced significant cell proliferation at low concentrations (0.5 microM for 12, 24, and 48 h), but inhibited cell growth at high amounts (5 and 10 microM for 24 and 48 h), reflected as a beta concentration-response curve. Data indicated that the relationship between ROS levels and sodium arsenite exposure concentration displayed a positive correlation. It was found out that sodium arsenite at high concentrations induced LPO damage. The activities of SOD were enhanced at low metal concentrations but inhibited with high amounts in a concentration-dependent manner. Similarly, heat-shock protein 27 (HSP27) levels were increased by sodium arsenite of low concentrations with early exposure time (3, 6, and 12 h), but decreased with high metal concentrations with greater exposure time (24 and 48 h). Sodium arsenite decreased HSP70 expression at lower concentrations, but increased HSP70 expression at higher concentration. The results indicated that this cellular hormetic model of cell proliferation induced by sodium arsenite occurred in HELF cells, which may explain contradictory effects seen with this metal. Sodium arsenite at low concentrations induced enhanced ROS generation without cytotoxicity and a cellular protective effect. In contrast, sodium arsenite at high concentrations produced marked ROS formation, marked oxidative stress, and cellular damage, as evidenced by LPO.