Azaphilones from the Fungus Penicillium multicolor LZUC-S2 and Their Antibacterial Activity.

Two new azaphilones, penimultiones A and B, together with seven known analogs were isolated from the culture of Penicillium multicolor LZUC-S2. Their structures were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic data analysis and chemical transformation. Penimultiones A and B belong to a rare class of azaphilones possessing a 1,3-dioxolane moiety. In addition, all compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against five clinically bacterial strains in vitro, and three compounds showed potent antibacterial activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 12.5 to 50.0 µg/mL.

Two New Eremophilane-Type Sesquiterpenoids from Ligularia sagitta.

Two new eremophilane-type sesquiterpenoids, sagittacins F and G (1 and 2), together with one known isomer of sagittacin F (3) were isolated from the leaves and stems of Ligularia sagitta. Their structures were elucidated by interpretation of spectroscopic data and the absolute configurations of 1 and 3 were determined by X-ray spectroscopy. Compound 1 belongs to a rare class of eremophilane-type sesquiterpenoid featuring an α-oriented hydroxy group at C-1. A nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitory assay was applied to evaluate their anti-inflammatory activities by using LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Compounds 2 and 3 exhibited modest NO production inhibitions with IC50 values of 45.15±2.72 and 49.83±2.34 µM, respectively.

[Study on the mechanism of endothelial progenitor cells in periodontal revascularization during orthodontic tooth movement].

PURPOSE: To investigate the mechanism of endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs) bone remodeling during orthodontic tooth movement. METHODS: Experimental tooth movement model was established. EPCs were isolated, cultured, and labeled with 10 µmol/L Brdu and injected into rats through tail vein to observe the distribution in periodontal tissue. VEGF was added to EPCs culture medium, cell proliferation ability was measured by MTT assay, cell adhesion was observed under microscope. Transwell assay was used to observe cell migration ability, and VEGF immunohistochemical staining sections of model rats at different time points were made. The expression of VEGF in periodontal tissues at different time points was defected. All data were imputed into SPSS 20.0 software package for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A rat model of tooth movement was successfully established. EPCs were isolated from cardiac blood. Some spindle-shaped EPCs were observed under microscope and injected into model rats using Brdu-labeled EPCs. With the increase of time, the intensity of fluorescence gradually increased. In the 3d specimen, the fluorescence intensity reached the strongest. The gap between the first and second molars in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group at each time point, with significant difference(P<0.05). The results of VEGF immunohistochemical staining showed that both the tension side and the pressure side of the experimental group were significantly higher than the control group(P<0.05). The expression of VEGF in both osteoblasts and osteoclasts reached a maximum at 14 days. EPCs proliferation and adhesion experiments demonstrated that VEGF promoted proliferation of EPCs and enhanced their adhesion. Transwell experiments showed that VEGF promoted chemotaxis of EPCs.VEGF regulated the biological effects of EPCs. CONCLUSIONS: EPCs can be accumulated in periodontal tissues and participate in periodontal bone remodeling. After EPCs chemotizing to periodontal tissues, they participate in the remodeling of periodontal tissues through mutual regulation of VEGF and other factors, and promote periodontal tissue repair and bone remodeling.

[Use of visual analogue scale and pain-related factors to evaluate the impact of different orthodontic forces on human dental pulp in patients who underwent fixed dental treatment].

PURPOSE: To investigate the role of visual analogue scale (VAS) and pain-related factors, like tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-8 (IL- 8), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) in evaluation of the impact of different orthodontic forces on human dental pulp in patients who underwent fixed dental treatment. METHODS: From January 2014 to April 2015, 156 patients with maxillary bilateral premolar treated with tooth fixed were randomly divided into 4 groups, 42 patients in control group, 40 patients in 100 g-force group, 40 patients in 150 g-force group, and 39 in 200 g-force group. VAS was used to evaluate before and after removed. TNF-α, IL-8, IL-6 and IL-1ß in pulp tissues were measured by ELISA and pathological changes of pulp were observed on HE staining sections. The data were analyzed with SPSS 13.0 software package. RESULTS: Except for the control group, all patients in other groups had pain after 1-7 days, and the pain peaked at 3~5 days. The pain reaction disappeared on 10th day, and VAS increased in a force dependent manner (P<0.05). TNF-α, IL-8, IL-6 and IL-1ß were higher in different force groups than in control group after 1~2 weeks of treatment, and in a force dependent manner (P<0.05). After 3~4 weeks, the expression of IL-8, IL-6 and IL-1ß returned to normal (P>0.05). Except for the control group, blood vessels on the pulp tissue increased and thickened at 1 week after application of force. Occasionally, odontoblast nucleus was enlarged and the nuclear chromatin and cytoplasmic basophilic staining were enhanced, some odontoblasts displayed vacuolar degeneration, connective tissue in the central pulp presented edema; with the increase of applied force, the changes above mentioned became more obvious, in a force dependent way. CONCLUSIONS: The larger the sustained force, the pain, pain-related factors and pathological changes became more obvious, but restored to normal within 3 weeks.

Pain-Induced Pulsograph Changes in Patients with Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Pilot Study.

Objectives. To investigate changes in pulsograph caused by pain in primary dysmenorrhea (PD) patients. Methods. Pulsograph and pain level of PD patients were detected using electropulsograph and Visual-Analogue Scale (VAS), respectively, at four time points, 7-10 days before menstruation (T0), maximal pain during menstruation (T1), immediately after acupuncture analgesia (T2), and 30 mins after acupuncture analgesia (T3). Parameters (t, h, w) and normalized time parameters (t') of pulsograph were analyzed. Results. VAS pain scores decreased from 6.40 ± 1.13 at T1 to 0.70 ± 0.75 at T2 to 0.11 ± 0.32 at T3 (P < 0.001 and 0.001). At T1, compared with those at T0, w1, h3, and h4 significantly increased (P < 0.01), and t2, t2', t3', and h(d) significantly decreased (P < 0.01, 0.001, 0.05, and 0.001). At T2, compared with those at T1, t1, w1, w2, h2, h3, t1', and t4' significantly decreased (P < 0.05, 0.01, 0.01, 0.001, 0.01, 0.001, and 0.05), and h(d) significantly increased (P < 0.001). There was no difference between T2 and T3. Conclusions. There are almost opposite changing trends in pulsographic parameters when pain occurs and when it is relieved in PD patients.