Seven new triterpenoids from the roots of Adenophora tetraphylla (Thub.) Fisch.

Seven new triterpenoids, named Adeterpenoids A-G (1-7) and eight known compounds (8-15), were isolated from 70% ethanol extract of the roots of Adenophora tetraphylla (Thub.) Fisch. The compounds from it were separated by column chromatography techniques such as silica gel, ODS, and preparative liquid chromatography. Their structures were clarified based on extensive spectral analysis (1D, 2D-NMR, HR-ESI-MS, IR, UV, and CD) and comparison with the literature. At the same time, all compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against the LN229 (human glioma cell line). The results showed that compounds 2, 5, 6, 13, and 14 had a significant inhibitory effect on LN229 cells.

Anti-depression-like effect of Mogroside V is related to the inhibition of inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways.

Siraitia grosvenorii (SG) is an edible medicinal plant found mainly in Guangxi, China, and Mogroside V (MGV) is the main component of SG extract. Previous research has shown that SG and MGV exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and neuroprotective effects. However, it is not clear whether MGV has anti-depression-like effect. In this study, we evaluated the neuroprotective effects and anti-depression-like effect of MGV both in vitro and in vivo. By performing in vitro tests, we evaluated the protective effects of MGV on PC12 cells with corticosterone-induced injury. In vivo tests, we used the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) depression model. Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg/day) and MGV (10 or 30 mg/kg/day) were administered by gavage for 21 days, and the open field test (OFT), novelty suppressed feeding test (NSFT), Tail suspension test (TST), and forced Swimming test (FST) were used to evaluate the depressive-like behaviors. In addition, we investigated the role of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-4) in the hippocampal and cortex tissues. The levels of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in hippocampal and cortex tissues were also measured. Pathological changes in the hippocampal dentate gyrus and cortex regions were detected by immunofluorescence and Western blotting was used to measure the protein expression of BDNF, TrkB, TNF-α, and AKT. The results showed that MGV had a protective effect on PC12 cells with corticosterone-induced incurred injury. In addition, MGV treatment relieved the depressive symptoms and significantly reduced inflammatory levels (IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α). MGV also significantly reduced oxidative stress damage and reduced the levels of apoptosis in hippocampal nerve cells. These results suggested that the anti-depressive effect of MGV may occur through the inhibition of inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways and the BDNF/TrkB/AKT pathway. These findings provide a new concept for the identification of new anti-depressive strategies.

Multiple stimulus-response berberine plus baicalin micelles with particle size-charge-release triple variable properties for breast cancer therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to develop a nanoscale drug delivery system with enzyme responsive and acid sensitive particle size and intelligent degradation aiming to research the inhibitory effect on breast cancer. SIGNIFICANCE: The delivery system addressed the problems of tissue targeting, cellular internalization, and slow drug release at the target site, which could improve the efficiency of drug delivery and provide a feasible therapeutic approach for breast cancer. METHODS: The acid sensitive functional material DSPE-PEG2000-dyn-PEG-R9 was synthesized by Michael addition reaction. Then, the berberine plus baicalin intelligent micelles were prepared by thin-film hydration. Subsequently, we characterized the physical and chemical properties of berberine plus baicalin intelligent micelles, evaluated its anti-tumor effects in vivo and in vitro. RESULTS: The target molecule was successfully synthesized, and the intelligent micelles showed excellent chemical and physical properties, delayed drug release and high encapsulation efficiency. In vitro and in vivo experiments also confirmed that the intelligent micelles could effectively target tumor sites, penetrate tumor tissues, enrich in tumor cells, inhibit tumor cell proliferation, inhibit tumor cell invasion and migration, and induce tumor cell apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Berberine plus baicalin intelligent micelles have excellent anti-tumor effects and no toxicity to normal tissues, which provides a new potential drug delivery strategy for the treatment of breast cancer.

Sophora alopecuroides Alleviates Neuroinflammation and Oxidative Damage of Parkinson's Disease In Vitro and In Vivo.

For centuries, Sophora alopecuroides L. has been used both as a food and an herbal medicine in northern China. A new cytisine-type alkaloid, N-methylene-(5,7,4[Formula: see text]-trihydroxy)-isoflavone (LY01), was found in the fruits of Sophora alopecuroides L. and shows neuroprotective effects against Parkinson's disease (PD). PD is a frequently occurring, irreversible neurodegenerative disease that seriously threatens the health of the elderly population. There is no cure for PD. The available treatments help manage the symptoms, but their use is limited by multiple side effects. Therefore, more pharmacological treatments addressing this pathology are urgently required. This study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of LY01 against PD, as well as their underlying mechanisms, using both in vitro and in vivo experimental models. A 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine hydrochloride (MPTP)-induced mouse model of PD was used to assess the effects of LY01 on the motor coordination deficit, progression of the pathology, and molecular characteristics. 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP[Formula: see text])-activated SH-SY5Y cells and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV-2 cells were used to evaluate LY01 effects on oxidative damage and neuroinflammation. In the rotarod test, LY01 alleviated the impaired motor coordination in PD mice. Furthermore, LY01 treatment prevented the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and striatum of the PD mice, reduced neuroinflammation in the mice with MPTP-induced PD and the LPS-activated BV-2 cells, and diminished oxidative stress in the PD mice and the MPP[Formula: see text]-induced SH-SY5Y cells. In conclusion, these results suggest the potential of LY01 as a therapeutic agent for treating PD.

Guanxin Danshen Dripping Pills Improve Quality of Life and Cardiovascular Prognoses of CHD Patients after PCI with Anxiety or Depression (GLAD Study): A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of Guanxin Danshen Dripping Pills (GXDS) in the treatment of depression or anxiety in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: From September 2017 to June 2019, 200 CHD patients after PCI with depression and anxiety were included and randomly divided into GXDS (100 cases) and placebo control groups (100 cases) by block randomization and a random number table. Patients in the GXDS and control groups were given GXDS and placebo, respectively, 0.4 g each time, 3 times daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcomes were scores of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Scale (GAD-7) and the Seattle Angina Pectoris Scale (SAQ). The secondary outcomes included 12 Health Survey Summary Form (SF-12) scores and the first onset time and incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Other indices including blood pressure, blood lipids, microcirculation and inflammatory-related indices, etc. were monitored at baseline, week 4, and week 12. RESULTS: In the full analysis set (200 cases), after treatment, the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores in the GXDS group were considerably lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the baseline, the total PHQ-9 scores of the experimental and control groups decreased by 3.97 and 1.18, respectively. The corrected mean difference between the two groups was -2.78 (95% CI: -3.47, -2.10; P<0.001). The total GAD-7 score in the GXDS group decreased by 3.48% compared with the baseline level, while that of the placebo group decreased by 1.13%. The corrected mean difference between the two groups was -2.35 (95% CI: -2.95, -1.76; P<0.001). The degree of improvement in SAQ score, SF-12 score, endothelin and high-sensitive C-reactive protein levels in the GXDS group were substantially superior than those in the placebo group, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). Similar results were obtained in the per protocol population analysis of 177 patients. Three cases of MACES were reported in this study (1 in the GXDS group and 2 in the placebo group), and no serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: GXDS can significantly alleviate depression and anxiety, relieve symptoms of angina, and improve quality of life in patients with CHD after PCI. (Registration No. ChiCTR1800014291).

ompX contribute to biofilm formation, osmotic response and swimming motility in Citrobacter werkmanii.

Citrobacter werkmanii, an aerobe and mesophilic Proteobacterium, is universal in industrial putrefaction, coastal water, and human blood. Our previous studies have discovered that outer membrane protein X (OmpX) of C. werkmanii is involved in calcium response, but the underlying mechanisms and its molecular characteristics remain elusive. To that end, the ompX gene was deleted from the genome of C. werkmanii and its phenotypic variations were thoroughly investigated in conjunction with the wild type (WT) and complementary strains using biochemical and molecular techniques such as RNA-Seq, respectively. The results demonstrated that deleting ompX reduces biofilm formation on polystyrene and glass surfaces. Meanwhile, ΔompX's swimming ability but not for its twitching or swarming abilities, was also reduced on semi-solid plates compared with WT, which was caused by inhibition of flagellar assembly genes, such as flgC, flhB, and fliE, etc. Furthermore, ompX inactivation altered susceptibility to various bactericide classes, as well as responses to Ca2+ and Mg2+ stress. In addition, when compared to WT, ΔompX captures a total of 1,357 deferentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 465 were up-regulated and 892 were down-regulated, which can be enriched into various GO ontology and KEGG pathway terms. Furthermore, ompX, as well as ompD and ompW, can be modulated at the transcriptional levels by rbsR and tdcA. Overall, the ompX gene contributed to a variety of biological functions in C. werkmanii and could be served as a targeted site for controlling biofilm formation and developing new bactericides.

Guanxin Danshen Dripping Pills Improve Quality of Life and Cardiovascular Prognoses of CHD Patients after PCI with Anxiety or Depression (GLAD Study): A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the efficacy and safety of Guanxin Danshen Dripping Pills (GXDS) in the treatment of depression or anxiety in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).@*METHODS@#From September 2017 to June 2019, 200 CHD patients after PCI with depression and anxiety were included and randomly divided into GXDS (100 cases) and placebo control groups (100 cases) by block randomization and a random number table. Patients in the GXDS and control groups were given GXDS and placebo, respectively, 0.4 g each time, 3 times daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcomes were scores of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Scale (GAD-7) and the Seattle Angina Pectoris Scale (SAQ). The secondary outcomes included 12 Health Survey Summary Form (SF-12) scores and the first onset time and incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Other indices including blood pressure, blood lipids, microcirculation and inflammatory-related indices, etc. were monitored at baseline, week 4, and week 12.@*RESULTS@#In the full analysis set (200 cases), after treatment, the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores in the GXDS group were considerably lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the baseline, the total PHQ-9 scores of the experimental and control groups decreased by 3.97 and 1.18, respectively. The corrected mean difference between the two groups was -2.78 (95% CI: -3.47, -2.10; P<0.001). The total GAD-7 score in the GXDS group decreased by 3.48% compared with the baseline level, while that of the placebo group decreased by 1.13%. The corrected mean difference between the two groups was -2.35 (95% CI: -2.95, -1.76; P<0.001). The degree of improvement in SAQ score, SF-12 score, endothelin and high-sensitive C-reactive protein levels in the GXDS group were substantially superior than those in the placebo group, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). Similar results were obtained in the per protocol population analysis of 177 patients. Three cases of MACES were reported in this study (1 in the GXDS group and 2 in the placebo group), and no serious adverse events occurred.@*CONCLUSIONS@#GXDS can significantly alleviate depression and anxiety, relieve symptoms of angina, and improve quality of life in patients with CHD after PCI. (Registration No. ChiCTR1800014291).

[Protective effect and mechanism of Astragalus membranaceus and Angelica sinensis compatibility against triptolide-induced hepatotoxicity by regulating Keap1/Nrf2/PGC-1α].

This paper aims to investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Astragalus membranaceus and Angelica sinensis before and after compatibility against triptolide(TP)-induced hepatotoxicity. The experiment was divided into a blank group, model group, Astragalus membranaceus group, Angelica sinensis group, and compatibility groups with Astragalus membranaceus/Angelica sinensis ratio of 1∶1, 2∶1, and 5∶1. TP-induced hepatotoxicity model was established, and corresponding drug intervention was carried out. The levels of alanine transaminase(ALT), aspartate transaminase(AST), and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) in serum were detected. Pathological injuries of livers were detected by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The levels of malondialdehyde(MDA), superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), and reduced glutathione(GSH) in the liver were measured. Wes-tern blot method was used to detect the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2), Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1(Keap1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, coactivator-1 alpha(PGC-1α), heme oxygenase-1(HO-1), and NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1(NQO1) in livers. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of Nrf2 and PGC-1α in livers. The results indicated that Astragalus membranaceus/Angelica sinensis ratio of 2∶1 and 5∶1 could significantly reduce the levels of serum AST, ALT, and ALP, improve the pathological damage of liver tissue, increase the levels of GSH and GSH-Px, and reduce the content of MDA in liver tissue. Astragalus membranaceus/Angelica sinensis ratio of 1∶1 and 2∶1 could significantly improve the level of SOD. Astragalus membranaceus and Angelica sinensis before and after compatibility significantly increased the protein expression of HO-1 and NQO1, improved the protein expression of Nrf2 and PGC-1α, and decreased the protein expression of Keap1 in liver tissue. The above results confirmed that the compatibility of Astragalus membranaceus and Angelica sinensis had antioxidant effects by re-gulating Keap1/Nrf2/PGC-1α, and the Astragalus membranaceus/Angelica sinensis ratio of 2∶1 and 5∶1 had stronger antioxidant effect and significantly reduced TP-induced hepatoto-xicity.

Ammonium improved cell wall and cell membrane P reutilization and external P uptake in a putrescine and ethylene dependent pathway.

Ammonium promotes rice P uptake and reutilization better than nitrate, under P starvation conditions; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, ammonium treatment significantly increased putrescine and ethylene content in rice roots under P deficient conditions, by increasing the protein content of ornithine decarboxylase and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidase compared with nitrate treatment. Ammonium treatment increased rice root cell wall P release by increasing pectin content and pectin methyl esterase (PME) activity, increased rice shoot cell membrane P release by decreasing phosphorus-containing lipid components, and maintained internal P homeostasis by increasing OsPT2/6/8 expression compared with nitrate treatment. Ammonium also improved external P uptake by regulating root morphology and increased rice grain yield by increasing the panicle number compared with nitrate treatment. The application of putrescine and ethylene synthesis precursor ACC further improved the above process. Our results demonstrate for the first time that ammonium increases rice P acquisition, reutilization, and homeostasis, and rice grain yield, in a putrescine- and ethylene-dependent manner, better than nitrate, under P starvation conditions.

Quantitative comparison of the efficacies and safety profiles of three first-line non-platinum chemotherapy regimens for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to quantify the efficacies and safety profiles of the three first-line non-platinum chemotherapy regimens recommended in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Materials and Methods: The PubMed and Cochrane Library databases were searched comprehensively, and clinical trials involving patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with one of three first-line non-platinum regimens (gemcitabine combined with vinorelbine, gemcitabine combined with docetaxel, or gemcitabine alone) were included in the analysis. A parametric proportional hazard survival model was established to analyze the time course of overall survival (OS). The objective response rate (ORR) and incidence rates of grade 3-4 adverse events (AEs) were summarized using a single-arm meta-analysis with a random-effects model. Results: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. Age and performance status (PS) scores were significant predictors of OS. For each 10-years increase in age, mortality risk increased by 18.5%, and the mortality risk increased by 4% for every 10% increase in the proportion of patients with a PS score of 2. After correcting for the above factors, we found that the three first-line non-platinum chemotherapy regimens did not differ based on OS or toxicity. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in OS or toxicity among the three first-line non-platinum chemotherapy regimens. Age and PS scores were significant predictors of OS, and their heterogeneity across different studies should be considered in cross-study comparisons and sample size estimations when designing clinical trials.

Mechanism of Neural Regeneration Induced by Natural Product LY01 in the 5×FAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: A sharp decline in neural regeneration in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) exacerbates the decline of cognition and memory. It is of great significance to screen for innovative drugs that promote endogenous neural regeneration. Cytisine N-methylene-(5,7,4'-trihydroxy)-isoflavone (LY01) is a new compound isolated from the Chinese herbal medicine Sophora alopecuroides with both isoflavone and alkaloid characteristic structures. Its pharmacological effects are worth studying. Objective: This study was designed to determine whether LY01 delays the cognitive and memory decline in the early stage of AD and whether this effect of LY01 is related to promoting neural regeneration. Methods: Eight-week-old 5×Familial Alzheimer's Disease (5×FAD) mice were used as disease models of early AD. Three doses of LY01 administered in two courses (2 and 5 weeks) of treatment were tested. Cognition, memory, and anxiety-like behaviors in mice were evaluated by the Morris water maze, fear conditioning, and open field experiments. Regeneration of neurons in the mouse hippocampus was observed using immunofluorescence staining. The effect of LY01 on cell regeneration was also demonstrated using a series of tests on primary cultured neurons, astrocytes, and neural stem cells (NSCs). In addition, flow cytometry and transcriptome sequencing were carried out to preliminarily explored the mechanisms. Results: We found that LY01 reduced the decline of cognition and memory in the early stage of 5×FAD mice. This effect was related to the proliferation of astrocytes, the proliferation and migration of NSCs, and increases in the number of new cells and neural precursor cells in the dentate gyrus area of 5×FAD mice. This phenomenon could be observed both in 2-week-old female and 5-week-old male LY01-treated 5×FAD mice. The neuronal regeneration induced by LY01 was related to the regulation of the extracellular matrix and associated receptors, and effects on the S phase of the cell cycle. Conclusion: LY01 increases the proliferation of NSCs and astrocytes and the number of neural precursor cells in the hippocampus, resulting in neural regeneration in 5×FAD mice by acting on the extracellular matrix and associated receptors and regulating the S phase of the cell cycle. This provides a new idea for the early intervention and treatment of AD.

Protective effect of orange essential oil on the formation of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease caused by high-fat diet.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect of sniffing orange essential oil (OEO) on the formation of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) caused by a high-fat diet. The results confirmed that sniffing OEO could reduce obesity caused by a high-fat diet (HFD) by reducing the levels of triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). In addition, the observation of liver tissue sections showed that sniffing OEO could reduce lipid accumulation in liver cells. Further analysis by western blot analysis showed that OEO treatment made the expression levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) down-regulated and the expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1) up-regulated. These results indicate that the treatment of sniffing OEO could enhance the antioxidant capacity of mice and reduce liver damage caused by a high-fat diet. Furthermore, sniffing OEO could inhibit lipid synthesis and oxidative stress stimulated by a high-fat diet. Overall, OEO treatment had a certain protective effect on NAFLD-related diseases caused by a high-fat diet. Therefore, aromatherapy may be introduced as a treatment of long-term chronic diseases.

Taenia saginata Infection Misdiagnosed as Acute Cholecystitis in a Tibetan Patient, in China.

The present study reports a rare case of Taenia saginata infection, which was initially diagnosed as acute cholecystitis in a Tibetan patient at the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau pastoral area, China. A 45-year-old female was initially diagnosed with acute cholecystitis at a hospital in China. She had a slight fever, weight loss and constipation and complained of pain in the upper abdomen and left back areas. Increase of monocyte, eosinophil and basophil levels were shown. Taenia sp. eggs were detected in a fecal examination. An adult tapeworm approximately 146 cm in length, whitish-yellow color, was collected from the patient after treatment with traditional Chinese medicine. The adult tapeworm had a scolex and proglottids with genital pores. The scolex was rectangular shape with 4 suckers and rostellum without hooklet. The cox1 gene sequence shared 99.5-99.8% homology with that of T. saginata from other regions in China. The patient was diagnosed finally infected with T. saginata by morphological and molecular charateristics.

Sanweidoukou decoction, a Chinese herbal formula, ameliorates ß-amyloid protein-induced neuronal insult via modulating MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways: Studies in vivo and in vitro.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The traditional Chinese medicine Sanweidoukou decoction (DK-3) was a classical formula for the treatment of nervous system diseases, recorded in the Chinese medical classic Sibu Yidian. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study is aim to investigate the neuroprotective effects of DK-3 on ß-amyloid (Aß) protein -induced AD-like pathologies and underlying molecular mechanisms both in vitro and in vivo studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hydrolysates of DK-3 were analyzed by LC-ESI-MS/MS. In vitro, MTT was utilized to examine effects of DK-3 on Aß25-35-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells. In vivo, male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered with Aß25-35 to induce AD-like pathologies and behavioral evaluations were conducted via Morris water maze (MWM) test. Histopathological changes were observed by Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) straining. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detect the tau hyperphosphorylation at Thr181 site. The expression levels of tau hyperphosphorylation, inflammation-related cytokines such as COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, the phosphorylated state of various mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling molecules (p38 MAPK, ERK, and JNK) and activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in vitro and in vivo were assessed via Western blot. RESULTS: In vitro, DK-3 dose-dependently increased cell viability of PC12 cells induced by Aß25-35. In vivo, DK-3 improved learning and memory abilities of Aß25-35-induced AD-like rats. Moreover, DK-3 reversed hyperphosphorylation of tau and reduced the production of inflammation-related cytokines through significantly inhibited MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways both in vitro and in vivo studies. CONCLUSION: The present study suggested that the traditional Chinese medicine DK-3 may play a role in preventing and treating AD by reducing the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein and the expressions of inflammation-related cytokines via modulating the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways.

The Role of Chronic Inflammation in Various Diseases and Anti-inflammatory Therapies Containing Natural Products.

Chronic inflammation represents a long-term reaction of the body's immune system to noxious stimuli. Such a sustained inflammatory response sometimes results in lasting damage to healthy tissues and organs. In fact, chronic inflammation is implicated in the development and progression of various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, metabolic diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and even cancers. Targeting nonresolving inflammation thus provides new opportunities for treating relevant diseases. In this review, we will go over several chronic inflammation-associated diseases first with emphasis on the role of inflammation in their pathogenesis. Then, we will summarize a number of natural products that exhibit therapeutic effects against those diseases by acting on different markers in the inflammatory response. We envision that natural products will remain a rich resource for the discovery of new drugs treating diseases associated with chronic inflammation.

The association between dietary fatty acid intake and the risk of developing preeclampsia: a matched case-control study.

The association between dietary fat intake during pregnancy and the risk of developing preeclampsia has been examined in many epidemiological studies, but the results remain inconsistent. The aim of this study was to clarify this association in pregnant Chinese women. After conducting 1:1 matching, 440 pairs consisting of pregnant women with preeclampsia and hospital-based, healthy pregnant women matched by gestational week (± 1 week) and age (± 3 years) were recruited. A 79-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire administered during face-to-face interviews was used to estimate the participants' dietary intake of fatty acids. We found that the intakes of arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were inversely associated with the risk of developing preeclampsia. Compared with the lowest quartile intake, the multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of the highest quartile intake were 0.42 (0.26-0.68, p-trend < 0.001) for EPA, 0.52 (0.3-0.83, p-trend = 0.005) for DHA, and 0.41 (0.19-0.88, p-trend = 0.007) for AA. However, we did not observe any significant associations between the intake of total fatty acids, saturated fatty acids, and mono-unsaturated fatty acids and the risk of developing preeclampsia. Our results showed that the dietary intake of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (i.e., EPA, DHA, and AA) may protect pregnant Chinese women against the development of preeclampsia.

Chemical Components of Aqueous Extracts of Melia azedarach Fruits and Their Effects on The Transcriptome of Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus is the causative agent of numerous and varied clinical infections. Crude aqueous extracts of Melia azedarach fruits inhibit the planktonic growth and initial biofilm formation of S. aureus in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the biofilm topologies became sparse and decreased as the concentration of the aqueous extracts increased. RNA-Seq analyses revealed 532 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after S. aureus exposure to 0.25 g/ml extracts; 319 of them were upregulated, and 213 were downregulated. The majority of DEGs were categorized into abundant sub-groups in the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. Finally, untargeted UHPLC-MS/MS analyses of the aqueous extracts of M. azedarach fruits demonstrated a highly complex profile in positive and negative electrospray ionization modes. The extracts primarily consisted of lipids and lipid-like molecules, organic acids and their derivatives, phenylpropanoids, polyketides, organoheterocyclic compounds, and benzenoids annotated by abundant lipid maps and KEGG pathways. Overall, this study provides evidences that the aqueous extracts of M. azedarach fruits can control S. aureus infections and sought to understand the mode of action of these extracts on S. aureus.

Treatment of HBV Cirrhosis with Fuzheng Huayu Tablet () and Entecavir: Design of a Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel and Multicenter Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Antiviral therapy can lead to regression of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but it has a limited effect on cirrhosis. Chinese medicines (CMs), particularly Fuzheng Huayu Tablet (, FZHY), have an antifibrotic effect in patients with CHB. OBJECTIVE: To observe the safety and efficacy of adjunctive FZHY in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) cirrhosis, this study was designed as a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel assignment, multicenter trial at 20 centers in China. The total 700 naive patients will be enrolled with compensate cirrhosis due to HBV, and randomly assigned into 2 groups, receiving entecavir (0.5 mg, daily) and FZHY placebo (1.6 g, 3 times a day), or entecavir (0.5 mg, daily) and FZHY (1.6 g, 3 times a day), respectively. The primary endpoint was histological improvement at week 48. The secondary outcome is the decline values of liver fibrosis using the noninvasive methods from baseline to week 48 in each arm of the study. Adverse events such as stomach upset, headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea will be strictly recorded. DISCUSSION: Through this study, we hope to generate a solid evidence for the therapeutic strategy of HBV cirrhosis with a combination of anti-viral such as ETV and anti-fibrotic herbal product such as FZHY. Protocol version: Version 1.3, Date: 2014.12.4. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02241590.

Diallyl sulfide from garlic suppresses quorum-sensing systems of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enhances biosynthesis of three B vitamins through its thioether group.

Diallyl sulfide (DAS) and diallyl disulfide (DADS), two constituents of garlic, can inhibit quorum sensing (QS) systems of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, the differences in the mechanism of QS inhibition between DAS and DADS, and the functional chemical groups of these sulfides that contribute in QS inhibition have not been elucidated yet. We assumed that the sulfide group might play a key role in QS inhibition. To prove this hypothesis and to clarify these unsolved problems, in this study, we synthesized diallyl ether (DAE), and compared and investigated the effects of DAS and DAE on the growth and production of virulence factors, including Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS), elastase and pyocyanin, of P. aeruginosa PAO1. Transcriptome analysis and qRT-PCR were used to compare and analyse the differentially expressed genes between the different treatment groups (DAS, DAE and control). The results indicated that DAS did not affect the growth dynamics of P. aeruginosa PAO1; however, DAS inhibited transcription of most of the QS system genes, including lasR, rhlI/rhlR and pqsABCDE/pqsR; thus, biosynthesis of the signal molecules C4 -HSL (encoded by rhlI) and PQS (encoded by pqsABCDE) was inhibited. Furthermore, DAS inhibited the transcription of virulence genes regulated by the QS systems, including rhlABC, lasA, lasB, lecA and phzAB, phzDEFG, phzM and phzS that encode for rhamnolipid, exoprotease, elastase, lectin and pyocyanin biosynthesis respectively. DAS also enhanced the expression of the key genes involved in the biosynthesis of three B vitamins: folate, thiamine and riboflavin. In conclusion, DAS suppressed the production of some virulence factors toxic to the host and enhanced the production of some nutrition factors beneficial to the host. These actions of DAS may be due to its thioether group. These findings would be significant for development of an effective drug to control the virulence and pathogenesis of the opportunistic pathogen P. aeruginosa.

Taenia saginata Infection Misdiagnosed as Acute Cholecystitis in a Tibetan Patient, in China

The present study reports a rare case of Taenia saginata infection, which was initially diagnosed as acute cholecystitis in a Tibetan patient at the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau pastoral area, China. A 45-year-old female was initially diagnosed with acute cholecystitis at a hospital in China. She had a slight fever, weight loss and constipation and complained of pain in the upper abdomen and left back areas. Increase of monocyte, eosinophil and basophil levels were shown. Taenia sp. eggs were detected in a fecal examination. An adult tapeworm approximately 146 cm in length, whitish-yellow color, was collected from the patient after treatment with traditional Chinese medicine. The adult tapeworm had a scolex and proglottids with genital pores. The scolex was rectangular shape with 4 suckers and rostellum without hooklet. The cox1 gene sequence shared 99.5-99.8% homology with that of T. saginata from other regions in China. The patient was diagnosed finally infected with T. saginata by morphological and molecular charateristics.