The alleviatory effects of koumine on MSU-induced gouty arthritis via the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway.

The aim of this study was to validate the preventive effects of koumine (KM), a monoterpene indole alkaloid, on gouty arthritis (GA) and to explore its possible mechanisms. C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally administered KM (0.8, 2.4 or 7.2 mg/kg), colchicine (3.0 mg/kg) or sterile saline. One hour later, a monosodium urate (MSU) suspension was injected into the right hind paws of the mice to establish an acute gout model. Inflammation symptoms were evaluated at 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h, and the mechanical withdrawal threshold was evaluated at 0, 6 and 24 h. After 24 h, the mice were euthanized, and the joint tissue, kidney and blood were collected for subsequent experiments. Histological examination and antioxidant enzyme, kidney index and serum uric acid (UA) measurements were taken. The expression levels of the signalling pathway components were determined. KM effectively alleviated the symptoms of redness, swelling and pain; counteracted inflammatory cell infiltration; and increased antioxidant enzyme levels, reduced kidney index and seru UA levels through regulating UA excretion in MSU-induced mice. The expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB)/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) signalling pathway proteins and mRNA were reduced in the KM group. These results suggest that KM may be effective in alleviating GA through the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway.

Rapid evaluation of the quality of Smilax glabra Roxb. using QADS based on FT-NIR combined with multiple intelligent algorithms.

Smilax glabra Roxb. (SGR) is known for its high nutritional and therapeutic value. However, the frequent appearance of counterfeit products causes confusion and inconsistent quality among SGR varieties. Herein, this study collected the proportion of SGR adulteration and used high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to measure the astilbin content of SGR. Then Fourier-transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) technology, combined with multivariate intelligent algorithms, was used to establish partial least squares regression quantitative models for detecting SGR adulteration and measuring astilbin content, respectively. The method conducted a quantitative analysis of dual indicators through single-spectrum data acquisition (QADS) to comprehensively evaluate the authenticity and superiority of SGR. The coefficients of determination (R2) for both the calibration and prediction sets exceeded 0.96, which successfully leverages FT-NIR combined with multivariate intelligent algorithms to considerably enhance the accuracy and reliability of quantitative models. Overall, this research holds substantial value in the comprehensive quality evaluation in functional health foods.

Investigation and Analysis of the Effect of Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Nurses on Occupational Protection Against COVID-19.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of knowledge, attitude, and behavior (KAB) of gastrointestinal endoscopy nurses on occupational protection against COVID-19. We analyzed the influencing factors on KAB to provide a reference for the training of nurses on occupational protection in endoscopic centers. A convenience sample of 400 endoscopy nurses from 26 provinces and cities in China was surveyed using a questionnaire to determine their KAB about occupational protection against COVID-19. Job title was an influencing factor of endoscopy nurses' attitude toward occupational protection against COVID-19. The type of hospital, whether nurses had received training on COVID-19, number of training courses received, and nurses' satisfaction with the workload in their endoscopic center were the influencing factors for occupational protective behavior. Study participants had good knowledge of occupational protection against COVID-19. Their overall attitude was positive, but their protective behavior needs further improvement. Feasible interventions to strengthen the occupational protective behavior of endoscopy nurses during the COVID-19 epidemic are suggested to improve the overall occupational protection level of endoscopy nurses.

Montelukast alleviates inflammation in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by altering Th17 differentiation in a mouse model.

Montelukast is a leukotriene receptor antagonist that is known to prevent allergic rhinitis and asthma. Blocking the Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor (CysLTR1), one of the primary receptors of leukotrienes, has been demonstrated to be efficacious in ameliorating experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS), through disrupting chemotaxis of infiltrating T cells. However, the role of CysLTR1 in the pathogenesis of MS is not well understood. Here, we show that MS patients had higher expression of CysLTR1 in the circulation and central nervous system (CNS). The majority of CD4+ T cells expressed CysLTR1 in MS lesions. Among T-cell subsets, Th17 cells had the highest expression of CysLTR1, and blocking CysLTR1 signalling abrogated their development in vitro. Inhibition of CysLTR1 by montelukast suppressed EAE development in both a prophylactic and therapeutic manner and inhibited myelin loss in EAE mice. Similarly, the in vivo results showed that montelukast inhibited Th17 response in EAE mice and that Th17 cells treated with montelukast had reduced encephalitogenic in adoptive EAE. Our findings strongly suggest that targeting Th17 response by inhibiting CysLTR1 signalling could be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of MS and CNS inflammatory diseases.

Novel cucurbitane-type triterpene saponins from Hemsleya amabilis.

The rhizomes of the medicinal plant Hemsleya amabilis (Cucurbitaceae) yielded three new cucurbitane-type triterpene saponins xuedanosides K-M (1-3) by silica gel column, ODS column, and pre-HPLC techniques. The structure was determined by spectroscopic analysis and examined alongside existing data from prior studies. Compounds 1-3 were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against HeLa and HCT-8 human cancer cell lines and showed significant cytotoxicity with IC50 values of 2.01-14.56 and 8.94-27.48 µM, respectively.

The chemical constituents from the active fractions of Eleutherine bulbosa with their antimicrobial activity.

Six compounds including three new polyketide ones named eleubosas A-C (1-3) were isolated from the active frations of Eleutherine bulbosa. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods, including NMR, MS and IR spectroscopic analyses data. All the isolates were evaluated against three pathogenic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the results showed that compounds 1 and 2 displayed moderate inhibitory activities against E. coli with MIC values both 12.5 µg/mL, which are consistent with the clinical applications and need further studies.

Ursane-type triterpenoids from the roots of Rosa multiflora with their anti-inflammatory activity.

Nine ursane-type triterpenoids including three new ones 2α, 19α-dihydroxyurs-3-O-acetyltormentic acid (1), 1α, 2α, 3α, 20ß-tetrahydroxyurs -13(18)-en-28-oic acid (2), and 2α, 3α, 20ß, 24-tetrahydroxyurs-13(18)-en-28-oic acid (3) were isolated from the roots of Rosa multiflora. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods, including NMR, MS, and IR spectroscopic analyses data. All the isolates were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and the results showed that compounds 1-9 displayed moderate inhibitory activity with IC50 values ranging from 24.7 to 86.2 µM compared with the postitive control Amino guanidine (IC50 4.3 µM).[Formula: see text].

Discharge against medical advice in culturally and linguistically diverse Australian children.

OBJECTIVES: This study quantifies the prevalence and rates of discharge against medical advice (DAMA) in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) children and assesses the independent association between CALD status and DAMA accounting for key demographic confounders in a large tertiary Australian hospital network. METHODS: Prospectively collected data between 2010 and 2018 were extracted from the hospital network electronic medical records system for admitted patients (n=192 037), outpatients (n=268 904) and between 2015 and 2018 for emergency department (ED) patients (n=158 903). CALD status was defined as 'preferred language being not English' and DAMA was measured as 'discharge at own risk' in admissions, 'no show' in outpatients, 'left without being seen' and 'did not wait' in ED. Data were analysed using χ² test, bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of DAMA was 1.34% in admitted patients, 19.31% in outpatients and 12.64% in ED patients. Rates of DAMA were higher among CALD children compared to non-CALD children (1.75% vs 1.29% in admitted patients, 26.53% vs 17.92% in outpatients and 18.74% vs 11.61% in ED patients). CALD status was independently associated with DAMA in admitted children (OR=1.30, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.44), outpatients (OR=1.55; 95% CI 1.51 to 1.58) and ED patients (OR=1.60; 95% CI 1.53 to 1.66). CONCLUSION: Being from a CALD background places children at increased risks to DAMA. Implementing appropriate health service responses may ensure equitable access and quality care for children from CALD backgrounds to reduce the rates of DAMA and its associated ramifications.

Optimization of Cultivation Conditions of Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes) for the Highest Antioxidant Activity and Antioxidant Content.

Ganoderma lucidum is a famous medicinal mushroom that is rich in antioxidants. The content of antioxidant components of grains can be effectively improved by G. lucidum as the fermenting strain. Optimization of the solid-state fermentation medium and optimization of the fermentation conditions were studied. The optimal fermentation substrate combination of G. lucidum TS (GL-TS) was 46.79% buckwheat, 53.21% rice; the optimal fermentation substrate combination of G. lucidum Am (GL-Am) was 4.17% soybean, 95.83% rice. The optimal fermentation conditions of GL-TS and GL-Am were as follows: inoculum amounts of 4.5% and 7.5%, temperatures of 30°C and 32°C, medium moisture content of 70% for both media, material granularities of 0.212-0.355 mm and 0.500-0.710 mm, and optimal fermentation time of 12.0 d and 10.5 d, respectively. Results of the analysis of antioxidant components in the fermentation substrates indicated that the antioxidant components were rich in antioxidant varieties and high in content. The contents of the antioxidant components (triterpenoids, total polyphenols, reducing sugars, anthocyanins, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, vitamin C, and vitamin E) in the full-fermentation substrates were greater than those in the nonfennentation substrates (except for flavonoids in the full-fermentation substrates, which were less than in the nonfennentation substrates). Glutathione was the major antioxidant component in the fermentation substrates, and the glutathione content was the highest. Therefore, the fermentation substrates of G. lucidum can be used to make antioxidant foods. This research contributes to the foundation for developing antioxidant foods based on G. lucidum.

[Study on lignans from Xanthii Fructus].

This project is to investigate lignans from the dried fruits of Xanthium sibiricum (Xanthii Fructus). The chemical constituents were extract by 70% ethanol and isolated by silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20, MCI column chromatography. Based on comparison of their spectral data with those reported in literature, they were elucidated as (-)-pinoresinol (1), balanophonin A (2), diospyrosin (3), dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (4), 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-(2-hydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)-3-oxo-1-propanol (5), (-)-simulanol (6), (-)-7R,8S-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (7), chushizisin E (8), dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (9), 7R,8S-dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 4-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (10), erythro-1,2-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-propanediol (11), leptolepisol D (12), 8-O-4' neolignan 4-O-ß-glucopyranoside (13), (-)-1-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-2-{2-methoxy-4-[1-(E)-propen-3-ol]phenoxyl}-propane-3-ol(14), 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy)-phenyl-2-[4-(1,2,3-trihydroxypropyl)-2-methoxy]-phenoxy-1,3-propandiol (15), threo-dihydroxy dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (16), (-)-(2R)-1-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-2-{2-methoxy-4-[(E)-formylviny1]phenoxyl} propane-3-ol (17). Compound 2-17 were isolated from the genus Xanthium for the first time. Compound 1 were isolated form Xanthii Fructus for the first time.

Chemical composition and sensory evaluation of fermented tea with medicinal mushrooms.

In commercial tea production, plenty of tea leaf waste is generated, which may not only exert pollution risk to environment, but also a huge waste of bioactive ingredients in tea. In this study, the 4th to 7th leaves of tea bush were collected and used as substrate for mycelial culture of two renown medicinal mushrooms Grifola frondosa and Tianzhi (new variants of Ganoderma lucidum) to obtain a new type of solid-state fermented tea. Result showed that the polysaccharides of Grifola frondosa and Tianzhi fermented tea were 1.52 and 4.14 %, tea polyphenols were 1.51 and 1.85 %, the free amino acids were 1.52 and 0.94 %, caffeine were 1.16 and 1.70 %, polyphenols/amid acids ratio were 1.0 and 1.98, water extractions were 35.53 and 32.86 %, protein contents were 17.63 and 6.13 mg/g, respectively. The volatile components were mainly composed of alcohols, esters, aldehydes and ketones. The contents of major flavor compositions of fermented tea had changed and their relation tended to be harmonious, and the variety of amino acids significantly increased. Therefore, the sensory flavor and therapeutic qualities of fermented tea were significantly improved.