Irpex lacteus polysaccharide exhibits therapeutic potential for ovarian fibrosis in PCOS rats via the TGF-ß1/smad pathway.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the commonest endocrinopathies in childbearing women. The research was conducted to assess the impact of Irpex lacteus polysaccharide (ILP, 1000 mg/kg) on the letrozole (1 mg/kg)-induced PCOS model in female rats. Metformin (Met, 265 mg/kg) as the positive control. The study suggested that ILP restored the estrous cycle in rats with PCOS as well as lowered relative ovarian weight and body weight, in comparison to normal. Rats with PCOS showed improvement in ovarian structure and fibrosis when given ILP. ILP decreased the testosterone (T), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), luteinizing hormone (LH), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and insulin (INS) levels and elevated the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estrogen (E2) levels in PCOS rats. In addition, ILP increased the content of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in serum and the antioxidant enzymes (Prdx3, Sod1, Gsr, Gsta4, Mgst1, Gpx3, Sod2 and Cat) expression levels in the ovaries and decreased the serum expression of malondialdehyde (MDA). In addition, ILP treatment slowed down the process of the fibrosis-associated TGF-ß1/Smad pathway and downregulated α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) levels in PCOS rats ovaries. According to these findings, ILP may be able to treat letrozole-induced PCOS in rats by ameliorating metabolic disturbances, sex hormone levels, oxidative stress, and ovarian fibrosis.

Case report: Duodenal obstruction caused by gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm with hematoma: an unusual case and literature review.

Visceral artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare disease that most commonly occurs in male patients in their 50s, with gastroduodenal artery (GDA) pseudoaneurysm accounting for only 1.5% of these. The treatment options generally include open surgery and endovascular treatment. In 40 cases of GDA pseudoaneurysm from 2001 to 2022, endovascular therapy was the mainstay of treatment in 30 cases, and most of them (77%) were treated by coil embolization. Our case report describes a 76-year-old female patient with a GDA pseudoaneurysm, which was treated by endovascular embolization using liquid embolic agent N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) alone. This is the first time this treatment strategy has been used for GDA pseudoaneurysm. We demonstrate a successful outcome with this unique treatment. The successful experience of our case may provide a new treatment strategy for this rare disease.

Rhamnocitrin decreases fibrosis of ovarian granulosa cells by regulating the activation of the PPARγ/NF-κB/TGF-ß1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway mediated by Wisp2.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of anovulatory infertility in women. Rhamnocitrin (Rha) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions. The WNT1-inducible-signaling pathway protein 2 (Wisp2) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB are involved in fibrosis in many diseases. We aimed to elucidate the role of Rha in fibrosis of PCOS and the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-incubated ovarian granulosa KGN cells were treated by Rha. Cell proliferation was detected with cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5-ethynyul-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining. The levels of Wisp2 and transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) in supernatant were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We observed α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) protein by immunofluorescence (IF). The levels of fibrosis factors were determined using Western blot. We observed p65 nuclear translocation with confocal microscopy. We used Wisp2 overexpression and knockdown in cells treated with DHEA or Rha to validate Wisp2 function. Interaction between Wisp2 and NF-κB, as well as Wisp2 and PPARγ, were assessed by co-immunoprecipitation assay, luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Results: The results showed that Rha elevated the reduced proliferation of DHEA-treated cells. In addition, Rha reversed the decreased Wisp2 and the increased TGF-ß1 in supernatant. The proteins CTGF, α-SMA, Collagen I, TGF-ß1, p-Smad2, and p-Smad3 were up-regulated while Wisp2, Sirt1, and PPARγ were down-regulated by DHEA treatment, which were reversed by Rha. Meanwhile, DHEA up-regulated p-IKBa and p-p65 and promoted p65 nuclear translocation, which were inhibited by Rha. These effects of Rha were antagonized by Wisp2 knockdown and were mimicked by Wisp2 overexpression. We confirmed the protein interaction between Wisp2 and NF-κB, along with Wisp2 and PPARγ. Conclusions: Wisp2-mediated PPARγ/NF-κB/TGF-ß1/Smad2/3 signaling contributes to Rha-improved ovarian granulosa cells fibrosis, suggesting Rha as a novel agent for the treatment of PCOS.

[Studies on the chemical constituents of the petroleum ether portion of Nervilia fordii].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of the petroleum ether portion of Nervilia fordii. METHODS: The constituents were separated and purified by using column chromatography with silica gel. These compounds were identified by their physical and spectral data. RESULTS: Six compounds were isolated and identified as Cyclohomonervilol (I), Octacosanoicacid (II), Stigmasterol (III), Cyclohomonervilol-(E)-p-hydroxy cinnamate (IV), 24(R/alpha)-dihydrocycloeucalenol-(E)-p-hydroxy cinnamate (V), Docosanoic acid (VI). CONCLUSION: Compounds I-VI are isolated from this plant for the first time.

[Analysis of essential oil from the leaves and fruits of Eucalyptus tereticornis in Guangxi province by GC-MS].

OBJECTIVE: To Analyze the chemical composition and their relative contents of essential oil from the leaves and fruits of Eucalyptus tereticornis in Guangxi province. METHODS: The column temperature was controlled by a program with a capillary column HP-5 MS, and the MS analysis was performed with EI and quadrupole mass analyzer. The chemical compositions were identified by NIST98 searching and mass spectra comparing, and their relative contents were determined by using normalization method of chromatographic peak areas. RESULTS: 39 compounds constituting 96.69% of the oil of leaves were identified. The major components were eucalyptol (27.93%), 1R-alpha-pinene (22.60%), isopinocarveol (8.71%); 36 compounds constituting 93.50% of the oil of fruits were identified. The major components are 1R-alpha-pinene (32.88%), eucalyptol (13.64%), D-limonene (8.31%). CONCLUSION: The GC-MS is a simple, rapid and sensitive method.

[Studies on the chemical constituents of the ethyl acetate portion of Nervilia fordii].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of the ethyl acetate portion in the herb of Nervilia fordii from guangxi. METHODS: The constituents were separated and purified by using column chromatography with silica gel. These compounds were identified by their physical and spectral data. RESULTS: Five compounds were isolated and identified as norleucine (crystal I), 24 (S/beta)-dihydrocycloeucalenol-(E)-p-hydroxy cinnamate (crystal II) , rhamnocitrin (crystal III), rhamnazin (crystal IV), daucosterol (crystal V). CONCLUSION: Compounds I , II, III, IV, V were isolated from this plant for the first time.

[Study on anticancer effect in vivo of active fraction from Nervilia fordii].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the active fraction with anticancer effect in vivo from Nervilia fordii. METHODS: The effective petroleum ether extract and ethyl acetate extract parts preliminary were selected in vitro, then anticancer experiments in vivo were done by S180-mice and H22-mice models. RESULTS: Petroleum ether extract and ethyl acetate extract parts both had obvious anticancer effects to S180-mice and H22-mice, and could prolong H22-mice life. Meanwhile, they could improve the immunoloregulation of mice. CONCLUSION: It is the first time that the petroleum ether extract and ethyl acetate extract of Nervilia foadii are proved to be the effective anticancer fractions in vivo. On this basis, the further studies are needed on active principles or principle group with anticancer effect and the characteristics of this effect in Nervilia foadii.