[Effects of astragaloside â £ on inflammatory response and percentage of peripheral blood Th17 cells in mice with ulcerative colitis].

This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of astragaloside Ⅳ in mice with ulcerative colitis(UC) and its effect on the percentage of peripheral blood T helper(Th17) cells. Following the establishment of UC mouse model with 2% sodium dextran sulfate(DSS), mice in the positive control group and low-and high-dose astragaloside Ⅳ groups were treated with corresponding drugs by gavage. Disease activity index(DAI) was calculated, and serum interleukin-17(IL-17), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), and transforming growth factor-ß(TGF-ß) levels were assayed by ELISA. The pathological changes in colon tissue were observed by HE staining, and Th17/regulatory T cells(Treg) ratio in the peripheral blood was determined by flow cytometry. Western blot was conducted for detecting the relative protein expression levels of forkhead box protein P3(Foxp3) and retinoic acid-related orphan nuclear receptor γT(ROR-γt). The findings demonstrated that in normal mice, the colonic structure was intact. The goblet cells were not reduced and the glands were neatly arranged, with no mucosal erosion, bleeding, or positive cell infiltration. In the model group, the colonic mucosal structure was seriously damaged, manifested as disordered arrangement or missing of glands, vascular dilatation, congestion, and massive inflammatory cell infiltration. The pathological injury of colon tissue was alleviated to varying degrees in drug treatment groups. Compared with the normal group, the model group exhibited elevated percentage of Th17 cells, increased IL-17 and TNF-α content, up-regulated relative ROR-γt protein expression, lowered TGF-ß, reduced percentage of Treg cells, and down-regulated relative Foxp3 protein expression. The comparison with the model group showed that DAI score, pathological score, percentage of Th17 cells, IL-17 and TNF-α content, and relative ROR-γt protein expression in the positive control group, low-dose astragaloside Ⅳ group, and high-dose astragaloside Ⅳ group were decreased, while TGF-ß content, percentage of Treg cells, and relative Foxp3 protein expression were increased. The DAI score, pathological score, percentage of Th17 cells, IL-17 and TNF-α content, and relative ROR-γt protein expression in the low-dose astragaloside Ⅳ group were higher than those in the positive control group, whereas the content of TGF-ß, percentage of Treg cells, and relative Foxp3 protein expression were lower. DAI score, pathological score, percentage of Th17 cells, IL-17 and TNF-α content, relative ROR-γt protein expression in the high-dose astragaloside Ⅳ group declined in contrast to those in the low-dose astragaloside Ⅳ group, while the TGF-ß content, percentage of Treg cells, and relative Foxp3 protein expression rose. There was no significant difference between the positive control group and the high-dose astragaloside Ⅳ group. Astragaloside Ⅳ is able to inhibit inflammatory response and diminish the percentage of Th17 cells in mice with UC.

Treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnea syndrome by mandible advanced device reduced neuron apoptosis in frontal cortex of rabbits.

Objective: To investigate effects of mandible advanced device (MAD) therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) on the neuron apoptosis and acetylcholine esterase activity in frontal cortex. Materials and methods: Thirty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10 in each group): group OSAHS, group MAD, and control group. Hydrophilic polyacrylamide gel was injected into soft palate of the animals to induce OSAHS in group OSAHS and group MAD. The group MAD animals wore MAD to relief the obstructiveness. The control group was not given any treatment. Computed tomography (CT) examination of the upper airway and polysomnography (PSG) recordings were performed in supine position. All rabbits were induced to sleep in a supine position for 4 to 6 hours every day and were observed for consecutive 8 weeks. The frontal cortices of three groups were dissected and the neuron apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and flow cytometry. Acetylcholine esterase (AchE) activity in the frontal cortex was measured by spectrophotometry. Results: The group OSAHS exhibited high neuron apoptosis rate and low AchE activity than those of group MAD and control group. The blood oxygen saturation was negatively correlated with neuronal apoptosis rate and positively correlated with AchE activity. Applying MAD in OSAHS animals significantly improve the neuronal damage and function deficits by apnoea-hypoxia caused by narrowed upper airway. Conclusion: This study provided evidence that MAD therapy for OSAHS can significantly decrease neuronal apoptosis and increase AchE activity in the frontal cortex.

Rapid discrimination and quantification of alkaloids in Corydalis Tuber by near-infrared spectroscopy.

With the application of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), a convenient and rapid method for determination of alkaloids in Corydalis Tuber extract and classification for samples from different locations have been developed. Five different samples were collected according to their geographical origin, 2-Der with smoothing point of 17 was applied as the spectral pre-treatment, and the 1st to scaling range algorithm was adjusted to be optimal approach, classification model was constructed over the wavelength range of 4582-4270 cm⁻¹, 5562-4976 cm⁻¹ and 7000-7467 cm⁻¹ with a great recognition rate. For prediction model, partial least squares (PLS) algorithm was utilized referring to HPLC-UV reference method, the optimum models were obtained after adjustment. Pre-processing methods of calibration models were COE for protopine and min-max normalization for palmatine and MSC for tetrahydropalmatine, respectively. The root mean square errors of cross-validation (RMSECV) for protopine, palmatine, tetrahydropalmatine were 0.884, 1.83, 3.23 mg/g. The correlation coefficients (R²) were 99.75, 98.41 and 97.34%. T test was applied, in the model of tetrahydropalmatine; there is no significant difference between NIR prediction and HPLC reference method at 95% confidence interval with t=0.746

Cytotoxic macrocyclic trichothecenes from the mycelia of Calcarisporium arbuscula Preuss.

A new cytotoxic macrocyclic trichothecene calcarisporin B1 (1), and two known compounds roridin H (2) and roridin J (3) were isolated from the cultured mycelia of Calcarisporium arbuscula Preuss. The structure of 1 was determined to be 8alpha-acetoxy roridin H on the basis of spectral data. The cytotoxic activities of 1-3 were evaluated in vitro.

[Structures and pharmacological activities of beesiosides O and P].

AIM: To investigate the chemical constituents of the rhizomes of Beesia calthaefolia native to China in order to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of its effective components. METHODS: Compounds were isolated by column chromatography with silica gel. Their structures were elucidated by spectral analysis and chemical evidence. Compounds identified were subjected to pharmacological evaluation. RESULTS: Two novel compounds were isolated and identified as (20S, 24S)-15 alpha-acetoxy-16 beta, 24; 20, 24-diepoxy-9, 19-cyclolanostane-3 beta, 25-diol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (I) and (20S, 24R)-15 alpha-acetoxy-9, 19-cyclolanostane-3 beta, 16 beta, 20, 24, 25-pentaol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (II), named beesioside O and beesioside P. CONCLUSION: Compounds I and II are new compounds. Compounds I exhibited immunosuppressive activity and could inhibit angiogenesis as well as inhibit the proliferation of osteoblast. Compound II displayed remarkable inhibition activity against calcium channel receptor.