Review: Mechanism, effectiveness, and the prospects of medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds in lowering ruminants' enteric methane emission.

Animal nutritionists continue to investigate new strategies to combat the challenge of methane emissions from ruminants. Medicinal plants (MPs) are known to be beneficial to animal health and exert functional roles in livestock due to their phytogenic compounds with antimicrobial, immunostimulatory, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities. Some MP has been reported to be anti-methanogenic and can effectively lower ruminants' enteric methane emissions. This review overviews trends in MP utilization in ruminants, their bioactivity and their effectiveness in lowering enteric methane production. It highlights the MP regulatory mechanism and the gaps that must be critically addressed to improve its efficacy. MP could reduce enteric methane production by up to 8-50% by regulating the rumen fermentation pathway, directing hydrogen toward propionogenesis, and modifying rumen diversity, structure, and population of the methanogens and protozoa. Yet, factors such as palatability, extraction techniques, and economic implications must be further considered to exploit their potential fully.

[Alteration and significance of serum lipid levels and nutritional status during BCMA-CAR-T-cell therapy in patients with refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma: a retrospective study based on LEGEND-2].

Objective: To explore the dynamic changes in serum lipid levels and nutritional status during BCMA-CAR-T-cell therapy in patients with refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma (R/R MM) based on LEGEND-2. Methods: The data of patients with R/R MM who underwent BCMA-CAR-T therapy at our hospital between March 30, 2016, and February 6, 2018, were retrospectively collected. Serum lipid levels, controlled nutritional status (CONUT) score, and other clinical indicators at different time points before and after CAR-T-cell infusion were compared and analyzed. The best cut-off value was determined by using the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. The patients were divided into high-CONUT score (>6.5 points, malnutrition group) and low-CONUT score groups (≤6.5 points, good nutrition group), comparing the progression-free survival (PFS) and total survival (OS) of the two groups using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results: Before the infusion of CAR-T-cells, excluding triglycerides (TG), patients' serum lipid levels were lower than normal on average. At 8-14 d after CAR-T-cell infusion, serum albumin (ALB), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1) levels dropped to the minimum, whereas CONUT scores reached the maximum. In addition to TG, apolipoprotein B (Apo B) levels increased compared with baseline. After CAR-T-cell therapy, the patients' serum lipid levels significantly increased with well-improved nutritional status. Spearman's related analysis showed that TC, HDL, and ApoA1 levels after CAR-T-cell injection were significantly negatively correlated with the grade of cytokine-release syndrome (CRS) (r=-0.548, P=0.003; r=-0.444, P=0.020; r=-0.589, P=0.001). Furthermore, survival analysis indicated that the CONUT score was unrelated to PFS, and the median OS of patients with R/R MM in the high-CONUT score group was shorter than that in the low-CONUT score group (P=0.046) . Conclusions: During CAR-T-cell therapy, hypolipidemia and poor nutritional status were aggravated, which is possibly related to CRS. The patients' serum lipid levels and nutritional status were significantly improved after CAR-T-cell treatment. The CONUT score affected the median OS in patients treated with CAR-T-cells. Therefore, specific screening and intervention for nutritional status in patients receiving CAR-T-cell therapy are required.

[Target-territory resection techniques for malignant tumors].

Malignant tumor is a class of diseases with extremely poor prognosis. Current treatment methods mainly include surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, target-therapy, endocrine therapy, and traditional Chinese medicine. For solid malignant tumors, surgical resection is one of the most effective methods. This review proposes a new concept of "target-territory resection" by summarizing a large amount of clinical experience, which can better standardize the implementation of malignant tumor surgery. This technology defines the target-territory area through the principles of differentiation, dynamics and intelligence, thereby determining the optimal operation timing and resection range. According to the "fourstandard surgery" , this operation tries to achieve zero tumor burden, and enables patients to obtain better treatment outcomes.

Preventive intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion chemotherapy for patients with T4 stage colon adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been shown to be an effective treatment for peritoneal tumors; whether preventive HIPEC after radical resection for T4 stage colon adenocarcinoma could decrease peritoneal recurrence remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to compare peritoneal recurrence and short-term survival in patients with T4 stage colon adenocarcinoma undergoing HIPEC plus adjuvant chemotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy alone following surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed T4 stage colon adenocarcinoma patients who had radical tumor resection at our institution between January 2014 and January 2019. Clinical data were extracted from the database at our institution, and patient survival and long-term complications were assessed through repeated outpatient examinations and telephone interviews. RESULTS: A total of 352 patients were included in this study; 157 patients received postoperative HIPEC plus adjuvant chemotherapy (HIPEC group), 195 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy alone (conventional chemotherapy group). Forty-one (26.1%) patients in the HIPEC group had a peritoneal recurrence and the peritoneum was the first site of tumor recurrence in 6 (14.6%) of them. However, 73 (37.4%) patients experienced peritoneal recurrence in the conventional group, and the peritoneum was the first site of tumor recurrence in 25 (34.2%) (p = 0.019). Disease-free survival in the HIPEC group at 1 and 3 years was 93.3% and 61.1%, respectively, versus 89.3% and 51.7% in the conventional chemotherapy group (p = 0.038). Overall survival in the HIPEC group at 1 and 3 years was 100.0% and 82.7%, respectively, versus 100.0% and 76.9% in the conventional chemotherapy group (p = 0.420). The two groups did not differ with respect to severe complications. CONCLUSIONS: Preventive HIPEC after radical surgery may decrease peritoneal recurrence and promote disease-free survival for T4 stage colon adenocarcinoma. Large-scale randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm the results of our study.

[A new textual research of Yin Zhongchun and Yi Zang Shu Mu].

Yi Zang Shu Mu(, The List of Medicine Books), written by Yin Zhongchun, is China's earliest medical bibliographer. The years of birth and death of Yin Zhongchun was unknown. By text research, it is confirmed that Yin Zhongchun was born in the 20th Year of Jiajing in Ming Dynasty (1541) and died in the First Year of Tianqi(1621). The only currently existing block-printed edition of Yi Zang Shu Mu is the Fan Xingzhun Qi Fen Shi edition in the library of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. The copies in Japan lack the words " Proofread by Yun Jian Chen Jiru Meigong" , but have an extra preface written by Chen Yidian. This fact indicates that the original of the Japanese copy might be different from the Chinese edition.

[Hypophosphatemic osteomalacia caused by urinary mesenchymal tumor: A case report].

This case report concerns a 34-year-old woman who had been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), osteoarthritis (OA), lumbar disc herniation and the like in different hospitals during the past 18 months. She had progressive osteoarthrosis, significant muscle weakness, gait abnormalities in weightbearing areas, however without typical inflammatory low back pain, while the treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was invalid, with normal inflammation index, negative results for rheumatic factor (RF) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27, and normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). She had hyphosphatemia, normal serum calcium, 1,25-(OH)2-D3 reduction, elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and normal parathyroid hormone (PTH), however with elevated urinary phosphorus. Finally, the medial thigh nodule was found in the subcutaneous of her inner leg by careful examination and imaging scans including B-ultrasound and PET/CT. The final pathology confirmed that the nodule was phosphate urinary mesenchymal tumors. After the tumor was removed, the patient was treated with anti-osteoporosis and phosphorus supplementation. The symptoms of bone pain and muscle weakness were alleviated, and hypophosphatemia was corrected. It was confirmed that the patient had low-phosphorus osteomalacia due to tumor. Tumor-induced hypophosphatemia osteomalacia (TIO) was a rare paraneoplastic syndrome which was caused by excessive phosphorus excretion induced by the tumor, and was thus categorized as an acquired hypophosphatemic osteomalacia. TIO had an occult onset and was associated with a high rate of misdiagnosis, although TIO has some typical clinical features. Early diagnosis, correctly positioning of the tumor, and surgical resection can achieve good outcomes.

Enhancing wastewater remediation by drinking water treatment residual-augmented floating treatment wetlands.

In this study, the involvement of aluminum-based drinking water treatment residual (DWTR) as substrate in floating treatment wetland (FTW) to enhance its treatment performance was firstly proposed and trialed. A laboratory scale DWTR-FTW fed with synthetic wastewater containing COD, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and mineral salts was operated in three stages of unplanted (1-30 days), planted (31-60 days) and aerated (61-135 days) modes. The results showed that the average removal rates of COD, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) in stage 3 were 88%, 85%, and 90.2%, respectively, indicating the outstanding purification performance of DWTR-FTW in comparison of traditional FTWs. The embedded DWTR enriches the biomass and robustly adsorbs P, while aeration supplies sufficient dissolved oxygen for the microorganism. The results revealed that 7.022 g P was accumulated in DWTR, which is 400 times higher than that in sediment and plants during the experimental period, reflecting that DWTR adsorption is the major P removal pathway in DWTR-FTW. Overall, DWTR-FTW could significantly remove pollutants, especially P, and provide an alternative pathway to enhance purification performance of FTW.

[Effects of hydrotherapy with traditional Chinese medicine and magnetotherapy on treatment of scars after healing of deep partial-thickness burn wounds in children].

Objective: To study the effects of hydrotherapy with traditional Chinese medicine combined with magnetotherapy on treatment of scars after healing of deep partial-thickness burn wounds in children. Methods: Forty-eight children with scars after healing of deep partial-thickness burn wounds admitted to the Burn Department of Air Force General Hospital from January to December in 2016 met the criteria for inclusion in this study, and their medical records were analyzed retrospectively. Within one month after the wound was completely healed, 24 children were treated with silicone cream for 2 times per day and wore elastic sleeves all day long according to the wishes of the children and their families, and they were enrolled in routine treatment group. The other 24 children were treated by hydrotherapy with traditional Chinese medicine Fuchunsan No. 2 once every 2 days for 30 min each time on the basis of treatment methods of routine treatment group, plus magnetotherapy using pulse magnetotherapy apparatus in the morning and evening of each day for 30-60 min each time, and they were enrolled in hydrotherapy+ magnetotherapy group. Before treatment and 12 weeks after treatment, the Vancouver Scar Scale was used to assess the scar condition of children, the Wong-Baker Facial Expression Scale was used to assess the degree of scar pain of children, the Numerical Rating Scale was used to assess the degree of scar itching of children, the modified Barthel Index was used to assess the activity of daily living (ADL) of children, and the Motor Function Evaluation Scale was used to assess the dysfunction condition of limbs with scar. After 12 weeks of treatment, the incidence of deformity of children was calculated. Data were processed with t test and chi-square test. Results: Before treatment, the scores of scar condition of children between routine treatment group and hydrotherapy+ magnetotherapy group were similar (t=0.517, P=0.721). After 12 weeks of treatment, the score of scar condition of children in hydrotherapy+ magnetotherapy group was (2.8±0.8) points, which was significantly lower than (3.9±0.8) points of routine treatment group (t=5.725, P<0.01). Before treatment, the scores of scar pain and itching degree of children between routine treatment group and hydrotherapy+ magnetotherapy group were similar (t=0.373, 0.241, P=0.712, 0.631). After 12 weeks of treatment, the scores of scar pain and itching degree of children in hydrotherapy+ magnetotherapy group were (0.52±0.21) and (0.7±0.4) points, respectively, which were obviously lower than (1.13±0.32) and (1.3±0.4) points of routine treatment group (t=6.057, 5.259, P<0.01). Before treatment, the ADL scores of children between routine treatment group and hydrotherapy+ magnetotherapy group were similar (t=0.082, P=0.964). After 12 weeks of treatment, the ADL score of children in hydrotherapy+ magnetotherapy group was (67±13) points, which was significantly higher than (48±10) points of routine treatment group (t=5.378, P<0.01). Before treatment, the dysfunction scores of limbs with scar of children between routine treatment group and hydrotherapy+ magnetotherapy group were similar (t=0.261, P=0.720). After 12 weeks of treatment, the dysfunction score of limbs with scar of children in hydrotherapy+ magnetotherapy group was (62±9) points, which was significantly higher than (47±8) points of routine treatment group (t=14.463, P<0.05). After 12 weeks of treatment, the incidence of deformity of children in hydrotherapy+ magnetotherapy group was 8.3% (2/24), which was significantly lower than 37.5% (9/24) of routine treatment group (χ(2)=4.25, P<0.05). Conclusions: On the basis of topical anti-scarring drugs and compression therapy, supplementing hydrotherapy with traditional Chinese medicine and magnetotherapy can significantly reduce the hyperplasia degree, pain degree, itching degree of scars formed after healing of deep partial-thickness burn wounds in children, improve the ADL, promote functional recovery, and reduce the incidence of deformity of children.

Traditional medicines used by Q'eqchi' Maya to treat diabetic symptoms and their antiglycation potential.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Because of the recent increase in type 2 diabetes and the need for complementary treatments in remote communities in many parts of the world, we undertook a study of treatments for diabetic symptoms used by traditional Q'eqchi' Maya healers of Belize. We used quantitative ethnobotany to rank culturally important taxa and subsequent pharmacological and phytochemical studies to assess bioactivity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antidiabetic plants identified in field interviews with traditional healers were ranked by syndromic importance value (SIV) based on 15 symptoms of diabetes. Species ranked with high SIV were tested in an assay relevant to many diabetes complications, the advanced glycation endproduct (AGE) inhibition assay. Active principles were identified by phytochemical analysis and bioassay. RESULTS: We collected over 70 plant species having a promising SIV score. The plants represented a broad range of neotropical taxa. Selected Q'eqchi' antidiabetic plants with high SIV were collected in bulk and tested in the advanced glycation endproduct (AGE) inhibition assay. All plant extracts showed AGE inhibition and the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) ranged from 40.8 to 733 µg/mL, while the most active species was Tynanthus guatemalensis Donn (Bignoniaceae). A linear regression showed a significant relationship between 1/ IC50 and SIV. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of verbascoside, as a major component and active principle of the T guatemalensis which had an IC50 = 5.1 µg/mL, comparable to the positive control quercetin. CONCLUSION: The results reveal a rich botanical tradition of antidiabetic symptom treatments among the Q'eqchi'. Study of highly ranked plants revealed their activity in AGE inhibition correlated with SIV. T. guatemalensis was identified as a promising species for further evaluation and local use.

Ecological restoration of eroded karst utilizing pioneer moss and vascular plant species with selection based on vegetation diversity and underlying soil chemistry.

Soil erosion in karst areas not only destroys the natural environment but also accelerates the decline in land productivity together with the associated increase in poverty for local communities. There are no simple or straightforward answers to controlling soil erosion on karst. Such erosion has become a serious problem in China. This study addresses both the diversity of vegetation (mosses, herbs, shrubs and trees) on karst and the underlying soil chemical characteristics, in order to provide a scientific basis by which suitable plant species can be selected for recovery and restoration of karst degraded by soil erosion. Vegetation diversity and soil chemistry were assessed in areas with five different grades of soil erosion in Guiyang Karst Park, Guizhou, China. Mosses are more tolerant than vascular plants of soil erosion and associated environmental degradation of karst and the order of species diversity was: mosses > herbs > shrubs > trees. Mosses were found to play a major role in ecological restoration of microhabitats on karst. Soil microbial biomass carbon was found to be significantly higher in soil under mosses than in bare soil associated with other plant categories. Mosses were more effective in converting unavailable potassium to available potassium. Vascular plants were found to have a positive effect on total nitrogen fixation and the availability of phosphorus in the soil. Increasing soil degradation was associated with lower levels of total Nitrogen in soil underlying mosses than in soil underlying vascular plants. Thus, based on their different but complementary contributions to soil chemistry, mosses and vascular plants in combination can provide the most practical outcome for the repair and restoration of areas of karst affected by soil erosion. The combination of the moss species, Homomallium plagiangium, Cyrto-hypnum pygmaeuman and Brachythecium perminusculum, the herbs Veronica arvensis and Youngia japonica, and the tree Prunus salicina, are recommended as suitable pioneer plant species to cultivate for use in restoration of regions of karstic soil erosion.

[Evaluation of short-term effect of intense pulsed light combined with meibomian gland expression in the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction].

Objective: To explore short-term effect of intense pulsed light (IPL) combined with meibomian gland expression in treating meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Methods: This study was a prospective, randomized, double-masked, controlled study. Forty-four MGD patients were enrolled in the study and received three consecutive IPL treatments with an interval of 4 weeks. One eye of each patient was randomly assigned as the study eye receiving the IPL therapy with an energy of 14-16 J/cm(2), and the fellow eye was as the control eye receiving a placebo therapy with 0 J/cm(2). Meibomian gland expression was immediately performed after the IPL treatment in both eyes. Efficacy was evaluated through assessment of the meibomian gland yielding secretion score (MGYSS) , SPEED questionnaire, tear film break-up time (TBUT), cornea fluorescein staining and infrared meibography. Safety was evaluated through best spectacle corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, slit lamp examination and fundus examination. These examinations were performed before and after each treatment. Results: Significant improvements were observed in the MGYSS and TBUT after IPL treatments (P<0.05). The improvements compared to the baseline of MGYSS at the upper eyelid in the treatment eyes were significantly higher than those in the control eyes after the first treatment (Z=-2.036, P=0.003). The improvements compared to baseline of MGYSS at the lower eyelid and the TBUT in the treatment eyes were significantly higher than those in the control eyes after the second treatment (Z=-2.999 and -2.036, respectively P=0.007 and 0.042, respectively). SPEED and cornea fluorescein staining were decreased in both eyes after IPL treatments, but there was no statistical difference between the two eyes. No obvious complication was observed in the study. Conclusions: IPL treatment combined with meibomian gland expression is an efficient and safe therapy, and can increase meibomian gland yielding secretion, increase the TBUT, relieve the symptoms and repair the corneal epithelium defects for MGD eyes. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53: 675-681).

Oxaliplatin/fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

AIM: Previous randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have demonstrated the ineffectiveness of fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with rectal cancer who have undergone neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and subsequent surgery. The role of oxaliplatin/fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy in such patients is unknown. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of oxaliplatin/fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy based on a comparison with fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with rectal cancer. METHOD: A literature search of MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov was performed to identify eligible studies. The primary end-point of interest was disease-free survival (DFS). The secondary end-points were overall survival, compliance and the incidence of Grade 3 or 4 toxicity. RESULTS: The literature search identified four randomized controlled trials that met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis, and 2793 patients with pathological TNM or clinical TNM Stage II or III disease were included. The meta-analysis showed that oxaliplatin/fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with a significantly improved DFS (hazard ratio 0.85; 95% CI 0.73-0.98; P = 0.03), comparable compliance (OR 1.18; 95% CI 0.95-1.46; P = 0.13) and a higher incidence of vomiting or nausea (OR 2.47; 95% CI 1.21-5.05; P = 0.01). No significant differences were observed between the groups with respect to overall survival and the incidence of leucopaenia, anaemia, thrombocytopaenia and diarrhoea. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant oxaliplatin/fluorouracil-based chemotherapy can improve the DFS of patients after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and radical surgery, compared with adjuvant fluorouracil-based chemotherapy. Data of the longer-term survival outcome are needed.

Influence of dietary nicotinic acid supplementation on lipid metabolism and related gene expression in two distinct broiler breeds of female chickens.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of supplemental dietary nicotinic acid (NA) on lipid metabolism and hepatic expression of related genes in female chickens of two distinct broiler strains [Arbor Acres (AA) and Beijing-You (BJY)]. The treatments were arranged in a 2 × 4 factorial in a completely randomized design. Day-old females (n = 384) were allocated to four treatments with six cages per treatment and fed diets (basal contained approximately 25 mg NA/kg) supplemented with 0, 30, 60 and 120 mg NA/kg. A sample of 72 birds from each breed was slaughtered and sampled at their different market times (8 week for AA and 16 week for BJY). Arbor Acres broilers had thickness of subcutaneous fat plus the skin (SFS), and plasma concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) and lower percentage of abdominal fat (PAF), plasma concentrations of TG, NEFA and adiponectin than the BJY line. The hepatic transcription of apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), apolipoproteinB (ApoB), and adiponectin was significantly higher in AA broilers than in BJY broilers. In both breeds, BW, PAF, SFS, NEFA and TG were increased with increasing supplementation from 0 to 60 mg NA/kg, but then decreased slightly with 120 mg added NA/kg. With increasing supplementation, hepatic expression and plasma concentrations of adiponectin decreased from 0 to 60 mg added NA/kg and then increased with 120 mg added NA/kg. The expression of ApoA-I and ApoB mRNA showed linear response to dietary supplementation with NA. These findings indicate that: (i) supplementation of NA influenced the lipid metabolism and related gene expression; (ii) when supplemented with 120 mg NA/kg, some pharmacologic actions on lipid metabolism appeared; and (iii) changes in BW and fat deposition appeared to be associated with hepatic expression of adiponectin.

Peginterferon plus Chinese herbal therapy is associated with a higher virological response than only peginterferon therapy in chronic hepatitis C.

Traditional Chinese herbal therapies are widely used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in China and several Asian countries. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing peginterferon therapy with peginterferon plus Chinese herbal therapy for the treatment of CHC. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, Science Citation Index, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, and China Biomedical Database were searched to identify RCTs that evaluated the virological response of CHC patients to peginterferon therapy and peginterferon plus Chinese herbal therapy. We statistically combined data using a fixed-effects meta-analysis according to the intention-to-treat principle. The literature search yielded 905 studies and nine RCTs composed of 858 patients matched the selection criteria. Overall, sustained virological response (SVR) was significantly higher in patients treated with peginterferon plus Chinese herbs than in patients treated with peginterferon alone (81 % vs. 64 %, respectively; odds ratio, 2.60; 95 % confidence interval: 1.32­5.14; p < 0.05). A combined therapy of peginterferon plus Chinese herbs was also superior to peginterferon therapy in achieving an early viral response (EVR, 80 % vs. 70 %, respectively), a viral response at week 24 of treatment (82 % vs. 73 %, respectively), and end-of-treatment viral response (ETVR, 73 % vs. 62 %, respectively). The combined therapy resulted in fewer relapses, fewer adverse events, and more rapid alanine transaminase normalization; however, both treatments yielded a similar rapid viral response (RVR, 53 % vs. 57 %, respectively). The current evidence suggests that combined therapy of peginterferon plus Chinese herbs yields a higher viral response and results in fewer relapses and fewer adverse events than peginterferon therapy alone.

Identification of plumericin as a potent new inhibitor of the NF-κB pathway with anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The transcription factor NF-κB orchestrates many pro-inflammatory signals and its inhibition is considered a promising strategy to combat inflammation. Here we report the characterization of the natural product plumericin as a highly potent inhibitor of the NF-κB pathway with a novel chemical scaffold, which was isolated via a bioactivity-guided approach, from extracts of Himatanthus sucuuba, an Amazonian plant traditionally used to treat inflammation-related disorders. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: A NF-κB luciferase reporter gene assay was used to identify NF-κB pathway inhibitors from H. sucuuba extracts. Monitoring of TNF-α-induced expression of the adhesion molecules VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin by flow cytometry was used to confirm NF-κB inhibition in endothelial cells, and thioglycollate-induced peritonitis in mice to confirm effects in vivo. Western blotting and transfection experiments were used to investigate the mechanism of action of plumericin. KEY RESULTS: Plumericin inhibited NF-κB-mediated transactivation of a luciferase reporter gene (IC50 1 µM), abolished TNF-α-induced expression of the adhesion molecules VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin in endothelial cells and suppressed thioglycollate-induced peritonitis in mice. Plumericin exerted its NF-κB pathway inhibitory effect by blocking IκB phosphorylation and degradation. Plumericin also inhibited NF-κB activation induced by transfection with the constitutively active catalytic subunit of the IκB kinase (IKK-ß), suggesting IKK involvement in the inhibitory action of this natural product. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Plumericin is a potent inhibitor of NF-κB pathways with a new chemical scaffold. It could be further explored as a novel anti-inflammatory lead compound.

Moxifloxacin monotherapy for treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of moxifloxacin monotherapy for treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections. PubMed, EMBASE, Science Direct, ClinicalTrials.gov and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched to retrieve randomised controlled trials (RCTs) compared moxifloxacin monotherapy with other antibiotics in the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections from January 1999 to July 2011. A meta-analysis of all included randomised controlled trials was performed. Four randomised controlled trials including a total of 2444 patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections were included for meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis indicated that the moxifloxacin was associated with similar clinical cure rate (four RCTs, 1934 patients, OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.61, 1.04, p = 0.09), bacteriological success rates (four RCTs, 1484 patients, OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.59, 1.05, p = 0.11) and mortality (four RCTs, 2227 patients, OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.45, 1.83, p = 0.79) compared with the control group. The overall incidence of adverse events of moxifloxacin was significantly higher than that in the control group (three RCTs, 1367 patients, OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.63, p = 0.008), although the incidence of drug-related adverse events (three RCTs, 1601 patients, OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.69, 1.85, p = 0.63) and serious adverse events (three RCTs, 1815 patients, OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 0.59, 2.60, p = 0.58) were similar between the compared treatment groups. Moxifloxacin is an effective and relatively safe option for the treatment of patients with intra-abdominal infections. Moxifloxacin monotherapy has similar efficacy to combination therapy.

The pharmacokinetics of C-glycosyl flavones of Hawthorn leaf flavonoids in rat after single dose oral administration.

Hawthorn leaf flavonoids (HLF) are used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Various potential pharmacodynamic effects have been observed for vitexin-4''-O-glucoside (VOG) and vitexin-2''-O-rhamnoside (VOR) which are the main constituents of HLF. The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics of VOG and VOR when a single dose of HLF was administrated orally. The levels of VOG and VOR in plasma, tissues (heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney and brain), bile, urine and feces were measured by HPLC-UV. The results showed that VOG and VOR have the similar pharmacokinetics. Both of them were absorbed quickly into plasma with maximal plasma concentrations of VOG and VOR being reached within 0.75 h. The mean elimination half-life (t(1/2)) of VOG and VOR were 2.53 h and 2.32 h, respectively. High levels of tissue distribution of VOG and VOR were observed in liver and kidney. No VOG and VOR were detected in brain tissue. There was no long-term accumulation of VOG and VOR in rat tissues examined. The total recovery of the dose in 24 hours was 64.91% (0.70% in urine; 64.21% in feces) for VOG and 89.01% (0.72% in urine; 88.29% in feces) for VOR. The cumulative VOG and VOR excreted in bile represented 0.58% and 13.38% of the doses, respectively. VOG and VOR in HLF were not efficiently absorbed in the rodent gastrointestinal tract.

A large iron isotope effect in SmFeAsO(1 - x)F(x) and Ba(1 - x)K(x)Fe(2)As(2).

The recent discovery of superconductivity in oxypnictides with a critical transition temperature (T(C)) higher than the McMillan limit of 39 K (the theoretical maximum predicted by Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory) has generated great excitement. Theoretical calculations indicate that the electron-phonon interaction is not strong enough to give rise to such high transition temperatures, but strong ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic fluctuations have been proposed to be responsible. Superconductivity and magnetism in pnictide superconductors, however, show a strong sensitivity to the crystal lattice, suggesting the possibility of unconventional electron-phonon coupling. Here we report the effect of oxygen and iron isotope substitution on T(C) and the spin-density wave (SDW) transition temperature (T(SDW)) in the SmFeAsO(1 - x)F(x) and Ba(1 - x)K(x)Fe(2)As(2) systems. The oxygen isotope effect on T(C) and T(SDW) is very small, while the iron isotope exponent alpha(C) = -dlnT(C)/dlnM is about 0.35 (0.5 corresponds to the full isotope effect). Surprisingly, the iron isotope exchange shows the same effect on T(SDW) as T(C). This indicates that electron-phonon interaction plays some role in the superconducting mechanism, but a simple electron-phonon coupling mechanism seems unlikely because a strong magnon-phonon coupling is included.

Regular Tai Chi Chuan exercise improves T cell helper function of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with an increase in T-bet transcription factor and IL-12 production.

BACKGROUND: Exercise has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM); its benefit to immune function, however, remains to be determined. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of a 12-week course of Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) exercise on T cell helper (Th) reaction in patients with type 2 DM. METHODS: A case-control study was performed in 30 pairs of patients with type 2 DM and normal age-matched adults. Fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, mediators (interleukin (IL)-12, IL-4 and transforming growth factor (TGF)beta) and transcription factors (T-bet, GATA-3 and FoxP3) of Th1/Th2/T regulatory (Treg) reaction were measured before and after a 12-week TCC exercise programme. RESULTS: Fasting glucose and HbA1c levels in the patients with type 2 DM were significantly higher than in age-matched controls before exercise. After TCC exercise, HbA1c levels in patients with type 2 DM significantly decreased (7.59 (0.32)% vs 7.16 (0.22)%; p = 0.047) and blood levels of IL-12 increased significantly (5.96 (1.10) vs 12.96 (3.07); p = 0.035). To study the molecular Th1/Th2/Treg reaction, patients with type 2 DM were found to have lower T-bet but not GATA-3 or FoxP3 expression than normal controls before TCC exercise. After the 12-week TCC exercise T-bet expression significantly increased in patients with type 2 DM. CONCLUSIONS: A 12-week TCC exercise programme decreases HbA1c levels along with an increase in the Th1 reaction. A combination of TCC with medication may provide an even better improvement in both metabolism and immunity of patients with type 2 DM.