Gastroprotective Effects of Inulae Flos on HCl/Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Rats.

Inulae Flos, the flower of Inula britannica L., is used as a dietary supplement, beverage, and medicine in East Asia. In this study, we evaluated the gastroprotective effects of Inulae Flos extract (IFE) against gastric mucosal lesions induced by hydrochloric acid (HCl)/ethanol in rats and explored its potential mechanisms by measuring antioxidant enzyme activity, mucus secretion, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels. Pretreatment with IFE at doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg significantly inhibited gastric lesions in HCl/ethanol-treated rats. IFE increased the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase and the levels of glutathione and PGE2 in gastric tissues. The administration of IFE also significantly increased the gastric wall mucus contents in HCl/ethanol-induced gastric lesions. These findings suggest that IFE has gastroprotective effects against HCl/ethanol-induced gastric lesions and exerts these effects through increased antioxidant levels and gastric mucus secretion. Inulae Flos may be a promising agent for the prevention and treatment of gastritis and gastric ulcers.

Effects of Eleutherococcus Extract Mixture on Endochondral Bone Formation in Rats.

Eleutherococcus extract mixture (EEM) is an herbal mixture of dried stem of Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus and germinated barley, which has been highly effective, in previous screening and among the traditional medicines to tonify innate qi and acquired qi, respectively. In this study, we investigate the effects of EEM on endochondral bone formation. Female adolescent rats were given EEM, growth hormone or vehicle for 10 days. Tetracycline was intraperitoneally injected to light the fluorescent band 72 h before sacrifice to determine endochondral bone formation. In order to evaluate endocrine or paracrine/autocrine mechanisms, expressions of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3), or bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) were evaluated after EEM administration in liver or growth plate (GP). EEM oral administration significantly increased endochondral bone formation and proliferative and hypertrophic zonal heights of tibial GP. EEM also upregulated hepatic IGF1 and IGFBP3 mRNA expressions, and IGF1 and BMP2 expressions in GP. Taken together, EEM increases endochondral bone formation through stimulating proliferation and hypertrophy with upregulation of hepatic IGF1 and IGFBP3 expressions. Considering immunohistochemical studies, the effect of EEM may be due to increased local IGF1 and BMP2 expression in GP, which may be considered growth hormone (GH)-dependent endocrine and autocrine/paracrine pathways.

Effects of Astragalus Extract Mixture HT042 on Height Growth in Children with Mild Short Stature: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

HT042 is a standardized functional food ingredient approved by Korean Food and Drug Administration with a claim 'HT042 can help height growth of children'. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of HT042 on height growth in children with mild short stature. A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel study was performed on children aged 6-8 years with height ranked below the 25th percentile. In 129 children, height gain was significantly higher in HT042 group than placebo group after 24 weeks (mean difference, 0.29 cm; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.57 cm; p = 0.027). The difference was elevated when the efficacy analysis was restricted to children below the 10th percentile (mean difference, 0.45 cm; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.87 cm; p = 0.031). Because bone age advancement was lower in HT042 group, height standard deviation score gain for bone age was higher in HT042 group and the difference was significant in children below the 10th percentile (mean difference, 0.20 score; 95% CI, 0.00 to 0.39 points; p = 0.045). Serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were significantly increased compared with baseline within HT042 group, but group difference was not significant. HT042 supplementation helped to increase height growth in children without skeletal maturation and was more effective in much shorter children. The effects might be mediated by increases in serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effects of Phlomis umbrosa Root on Longitudinal Bone Growth Rate in Adolescent Female Rats.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Phlomis umbrosa root on bone growth and growth mediators in rats. Female adolescent rats were administered P. umbrosa extract, recombinant human growth hormone or vehicle for 10 days. Tetracycline was injected intraperitoneally to produce a glowing fluorescence band on the newly formed bone on day 8, and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine was injected to label proliferating chondrocytes on days 8-10. To assess possible endocrine or autocrine/paracrine mechanisms, we evaluated insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) or bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) in response to P. umbrosa administration in either growth plate or serum. Oral administration of P. umbrosa significantly increased longitudinal bone growth rate, height of hypertrophic zone and chondrocyte proliferation of the proximal tibial growth plate. P. umbrosa also increased serum IGFBP-3 levels and upregulated the expressions of IGF-1 and BMP-2 in growth plate. In conclusion, P. umbrosa increases longitudinal bone growth rate by stimulating proliferation and hypertrophy of chondrocyte with the increment of circulating IGFBP-3. Regarding the immunohistochemical study, the effect of P. umbrosa may also be attributable to upregulation of local IGF-1 and BMP-2 expressions in the growth plate, which can be considered as a GH dependent autocrine/paracrine pathway.

An 800-MHz all-REBCO Insert for the 1.3-GHz LTS/HTS NMR Magnet Program-A Progress Report.

A critical component of the 1.3-GHz nuclear magnetic resonance magnet (1.3 G) program, currently ongoing at the Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory, Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and now approaching its final stage, is the all high-temperature superconductor 800-MHz insert (H800). The insert consists of three nested double-pancake (DP) coils fabricated with 6-mm-wide REBCO conductor. Coil 1, the innermost coil of H800, has already been fabricated and tested at 77 and 4.2 K. In addition, one third of the DPs for Coil 2 have been wound and each DP individually fully tested. Work described here includes details of Coil 1 fabrication: DP winding, DP testing, assembling, joint performance, overbanding, and coil testing; winding details of DPs for Coil 2 and their testing are also included.

Effects of Eucommia ulmoides extract on longitudinal bone growth rate in adolescent female rats.

Eucommia ulmoides is one of the popular tonic herbs for the treatment of low back pain and bone fracture and is used in Korean medicine to reinforce muscles and bones. This study was performed to investigate the effects of E. ulmoides extract on longitudinal bone growth rate, growth plate height, and the expressions of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in adolescent female rats. In two groups, we administered a twice-daily dosage of E. ulmoides extract (at 30 and 100 mg/kg, respectively) per os over 4 days, and in a control group, we administered vehicle only under the same conditions. Longitudinal bone growth rate in newly synthesized bone was observed using tetracycline labeling. Chondrocyte proliferation in the growth plate was observed using cresyl violet dye. In addition, we analyzed the expressions of BMP-2 and IGF-1 using immunohistochemistry. Eucommia ulmoides extract significantly increased longitudinal bone growth rate and growth plate height in adolescent female rats. In the immunohistochemical study, E. ulmoides markedly increased BMP-2 and IGF-1 expressions in the proliferative and hypertrophic zones. In conclusion, E. ulmoides increased longitudinal bone growth rate by promoting chondrogenesis in the growth plate and the levels of BMP-2 and IGF-1. Eucommia ulmoides could be helpful for increasing bone growth in children who have growth retardation.

Tape-to-Tape Joint Resistances of a Magnet Assembled From (RE)BCO Double-Pancake Coils.

We present the results of tape-to-tape joint resistances in a 1.3-GHz/54-mm nuclear-magnetic-resonance magnet comprising a 500-MHz low-temperature-superconducting magnet and an 800-MHz high-temperature-superconducting insert (H800), which is currently in the fabrication stage at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory. The H800, which is a three-coil assembly of double-pancake coils and wound with a 6-mm-wide (RE)BCO tape (rare earth element), requires a total of 94 tape-to-tape joints. Specific results obtained are: 1) an extrapolation technique to predict the resistances of the tape-to-tape curved bridge joints from those of the curved lap joint samples with the same 6-mm-wide tape batch and joint area; 2) increased resistance owing to a small gap (< 0.4 mm) in the outer radii of the two adjacent pancakes, which is mainly caused by the variation in the (RE)BCO tape thickness (on the order of several micrometers); 3) a method to minimize solder-heating influences on the pancake current-carrying capacity; 4) the dependence of resistance on solder materials; and 5) the experience with the 25 joints on Coil 1, which is the first of three coils for our H800 insert (H800 Coil 1).

Strain in YBCO Double-Pancake Coil With Stainless Steel Overband Under External Magnetic Field.

This paper deals with the mechanical strain issue in a high-temperature superconducting (HTS) insert for a GHz-class (> 23.5 T) LTS/HTS NMR magnet. We present results, experimental and analytical, of hoop strains in a double-pancake (DP) test coil, wound with 6-mm wide YBCO coated conductor (CC) and equipped with strain gauges at their innermost and outermost turns. To keep the YBCO CC to within a 95% Ic retention, the conductor tensile strain must be limited to 0.6%. To satisfy this strain limit in our test DP coil, we wrapped 0.08-mm thick, 6-mm wide stainless steel strip over its outermost turn of an 4.8-mm overband radial build deemed sufficient by our stress analysis based on force equilibrium and generalized Hooke's law with plane stress approximation. A control test DP coil, actually the same test DP coil, without overbanding, was run under the same experimental condition. In each case the test DP coil was energized up to 350 A at 4.2 K in a background field of 4 T. We report the experiment and analysis, with discussion on the merit of overbanding as a means to limit hoop strain in high-field HTS inserts.

Construction and Persistent-Mode Operation of MgB2 Coils in the Range 10-15 K for a 0.5-T/240-mm Cold Bore MRI Magnet.

This paper presents construction and persistent-mode operation results of MgB2 coils for a 0.5-T/240-mm cold bore MRI magnet, wind-and-react with monofilament MgB2 wire at the MIT Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory. The magnet, of respective inner and outer diameters of 276 and 290 mm and a total height of 460 mm, has center field of 0.5 T and current density of 11 kA/cm2. To limit the continuous length of Hyper Tech supplied MgB2 monofilament wire to ≤300 m, the magnet was divided into eight series-connected coils, each equipped with a persistent current switch and a superconducting joint. We have manufactured three coil modules. Before being tested as an assembly, each coil was tested individually to ensure its capacity to carry 100-A superconducting current in the range of 10-15 K. The three coils were then assembled, connected in series, and operated as a 3-coil assembly in persistent mode at nearly 100 A in the range of 10-15 K. We present results that include: 1) construction details; 2) component performances; and 3) a 3-coil assembly performance.

A 1.5-T Magic-Angle Spinning NMR Magnet: 4.2-K Performance and Field Mapping Test Results.

We present results of full-current testing at 4.2 K of a z-axis 0.866-T solenoid and an x-axis 1.225-T dipole coil that comprise a 1.5-T/75-mm room temperature bore magic-angle-spinning nuclear magnetic resonance magnet developed at the MIT Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory. Also included in the paper are results of the magnet performance when the magnet assembly is immersed, to enhance its thermal mass, in solid nitrogen, and operated in the temperature range of 4.2-4.3 K.

Operation of a 130-MHz/9-mm Compact HTS Annulus Magnet With a Micro-NMR Probe.

In this paper, we report final operation results of our compact annulus NMR magnet, named YP2800, with a homemade micro-NMR probe in a bath of liquid helium at 4.2 K. YP2800 comprises of a stack of 2800 YBCO "plate annuli," 0.08 mm thick, either 46 mm or 40 mm square, each having a 26-mm hole machined at the center. By the field-cooling technique, YP2800 was energized at 130 MHz (3.05 T); an overall peak-to-peak homogeneity of 487 ppm within |z| < 5 mm was measured at a moment when a field drift of 11 ppm/h was reached in three days after field cooling. Due to a small (9.2 mm) bore size, no commercial probes could fit into the bore; an 8.5-mm micro-NMR probe was designed and constructed. Following a general description of YP2800 and design construction details of the micro probe, this paper presents NMR signals captured by the probe for a dimethyl sulfoxide sample of ϕ 4.4 and 5 mm long at a base frequency of 130 MHz with a half-peak width of 60 kHz; the corresponding frequency impurity of 461 ppm is chiefly due to a spatial field error, i.e., 487 ppm in the target space.

A High-Resolution 1.3-GHz/54-mm LTS/HTS NMR Magnet.

A high-resolution 1.3-GHz/54-mm low-temperature superconducting/high-temperature superconducting (HTS) nuclear magnetic resonance magnet (1.3 G) is currently in the final stage at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory. Its key component is a three-coil (Coils 1-3) 800-MHz HTS insert comprising 96 no-insulation (NI) double-pancake coils, each wound with a 6-mm-wide GdBCO tape. In this paper, after describing the overall 1.3-G system, we present innovative design features incorporated in 1.3 G: 1) an NI winding technique applied to Coils 1-3 and its adverse effect in the form of charging time delay; 2) persistent-mode HTS shims; 3) a "shaking" magnet; and 4) preliminary results of Coil 1 operated at 4.2 K.

90-mm/18.8-T All-HTS Insert Magnet for 1.3 GHz LTS/HTS NMR Application: Magnet Design and Double-Pancake Coil Fabrication.

This paper deals with the latest design of an all High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) insert for our 1.3 GHz NMR program. Due to a loss of our original 600 MHz HTS insert, the entire program was revised, and upon further examination of the options available for the HTS insert, which included not only conductor material properties, but also new winding technologies recently developed here at the FBML, it has finally been decided to build an 800 MHz (H800) insert purely based in SuperPower YBCO conductor. The new H800 will still be comprised of nested stacks of double-pancake coils and will run in the background of a 500 MHz LTS NMR magnet already available at FBML. We present here electromagnetic and mechanical details of the H800 design, winding technique employed, and testing of individual coils.

Temporal Enhancement of Trapped Field in a Compact NMR Magnet Comprising YBCO Annuli.

Temporal "enhancement" of trapped fields was observed in the central region of a compact NMR magnet comprising a stack of 2800 YBCO "square" annuli (YP2800), field-cooled at 4.2 K. This paper presents an analytical model to simulate the trapped field enhancement in YP2800. First, based on an inverse calculation technique, the current distributions in the 560 5-plate modules of YP2800 were computed from the measured trapped field distribution. Then, YP2800 was modeled as a set of "three magnetically-coupled subcoils": the "bottom" coil (CB, 140 modules); the "middle" coil (CM, 280 modules); and the "top" coil (CT, 140 modules). With the index resistance of each coil included, the circuit model shows that the average current in CM "slowly" increases, induced by "fast" current decays in CB and CT. As a result, the center field in YP2800, dominated by the CM currents, increases in time. The simulation agrees reasonably well with the measurement, which validates the analytical model.

Development of a 0.5-T/240-mm MgB2 MRI Magnet: Assembly Design and Module Coils.

This paper presents the latest results from our continued development of a 0.5-T/240-mm MgB2 MRI magnet at the MIT Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory. Because we have successfully developed our superconducting joint technique with a monofilament MgB2 wire, manufactured by Hyper Tech Research, Inc. (Columbus, OH), we have decided to use a monofilament wire to wind our MgB2 MRI magnet. The magnet, comprising eight module coils, has a winding inner diameter of 276 mm, an outer diameter of 290 mm, and a total height of 460 mm. Each coil has its own persistent-current switch (PCS) and a superconducting joint. In order to guard against a few bad coils forcing the entire magnet to be inoperative, each coil will be heat-treated and tested individually. After eight coils are successfully operated, they will be assembled into an MRI magnet and series-connected with soldering joints between adjacent coils. The PCS in each coil is designed in such way that it will also serve as a detect-and-heat protection absorber when the magnet quenches over a small "localized" region: The conductor volume in the eight switches is designed to absorb the entire magnet energy while still remaining below 200 K. This paper reports 1) the design of the whole magnet and 2) the fabrication and test results of the two real-size test coils, with their PCSs and superconducting joints. The tests were conducted in gas helium in the temperature range of 10-15 K and in the self-field of the coils.

A 1.5-T/75-mm Magic-Angle-Spinning NMR Magnet.

We are currently working on a program to complete a 1.5-T/75-mm RT (room temperature) bore MAS (magic-angle-spinning) NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) magnet. The MAS magnet comprises a z-axis 0.866-T solenoid and an x-axis 1.225-T dipole coil. The combination of the fields creates a 1.5-T field pointed at 54.74 degrees (magic angle) from the rotation (z) axis. During the 2nd year of this 3-year Phase I program, both coils have been wound and testing has begun. Some preliminary field mapping has been performed, and the design of the MAS magnet assembly has been completed. During the final year, the magnet assembly will be integrated into the cryogenic structure and tested at ~5.5 K in a solid nitrogen environment. Each coil will be energized separately, and the magnetic field will be mapped accurately. We expect a bare magnet uniformity of 100 ppm over a 10-mm diameter, 20-mm-long cylindrical volume. Then, using the field data, the uniformity will be improved to < 0.1.ppm with a combination of ferroshims and cryoshims. Final field measurement will be performed as the cryostat-magnet system is spun manually at ~0.1 Hz.

Effect of Winding Tension on Electrical Behaviors of a No-Insulation ReBCO Pancake Coil.

This paper presents a study on the effects of winding tension on the characteristic resistance of a no-insulation (NI) coil. Two ReBCO NI test pancake coils, having the same winding i.d. (60 mm), o.d. (67.6 mm), and number of turns (60), were sequentially prepared in a way that the first test coil was wound with a winding tension of 12-N, tested, and then rewound with a new winding tension of 20-N for the same tests. In each test, the test coil was energized at a target current, the power supply was "suddenly" disconnected, and then the temporal decay of the coil center field was measured, from which the time constant of the test coil and the consequent characteristic resistance were obtained. To check the reproducibility of experimental data, each test was repeated four times and each time the test coil was unwound and rewound with a given winding tension. The experimental results were analyzed with equivalent circuit analyses. Correlation between the winding tension and the characteristic resistance was discussed in detail.

Effects of Taraxaci Herba (Dandelion) on Testosterone Propionate-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Rats.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the non-malignant enlargement of the prostate, associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs). Taraxaci Herba (TH), commonly known as dandelion, has traditionally been utilized in East Asia to treat symptoms related to LUTSs. Based on this traditional use, our study aimed to explore the inhibitory effects of TH on BPH progression using a testosterone propionate-induced rat model. To induce BPH, male Sprague Dawley rats were castrated and injected subcutaneously with testosterone propionate (3 mg/kg/day) for 28 days. Concurrently, TH extract was administered orally at doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg/day throughout the four-week period of testosterone propionate injections. The TH extract significantly reduced both the absolute and relative weights of the prostate, along with histopathological changes in the gland. Moreover, it lowered serum levels of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone and reduced the expression of the androgen receptor in the prostate. Additionally, the TH extract modulated the protein expressions of Bax and Bcl-2, which are key regulators of apoptosis in prostate cells. Collectively, our findings suggest that TH inhibits BPH development partially by modulating androgen signaling and inducing apoptosis within the prostate.

Efficacy of Crataegus Extract Mixture on Body Fat and Lipid Profiles in Overweight Adults: A 12-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

A Crataegus Extract Mixture (CEM) is a combination of extracts from Crataegus pinnatifida leaves and Citrus unshiu peels, well-known herbs used for treating obesity and dyslipidemia. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of a CEM on the body fat and lipid profiles in overweight adults. A 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial was conducted on 105 subjects aged 20-60 years with body mass indexes between 25 and 30 kg/m2. Eligible subjects were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive either a high dose of the CEM (400 mg tid), a low dose of the CEM (280 mg tid), or a placebo. Body fat was evaluated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and anthropometric measurements. The blood lipid and adipokine profiles were measured before and after the administration. After 12 weeks, the reductions in the fat percentages measured by DXA and BIA were significantly greater in the CEM groups than in the placebo group. The CEM also significantly decreased the body weights, body mass indexes, and blood leptin levels. An additional per-protocol analysis revealed that the high dose of the CEM also lowered the blood levels of triglycerides and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. No adverse events occurred after the CEM treatment. Our results suggest that CEMs are safe and effective for reducing the body fat and body weight and regulating the blood lipid and leptin levels in overweight or mildly obese individuals.

Baicalin and baicalein from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi alleviate aberrant neuronal suppression mediated by GABA from reactive astrocytes.

AIMS: γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) from reactive astrocytes is critical for the dysregulation of neuronal activity in various neuroinflammatory conditions. While Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (S. baicalensis) is known for its efficacy in addressing neurological symptoms, its potential to reduce GABA synthesis in reactive astrocytes and the associated neuronal suppression remains unclear. This study focuses on the inhibitory action of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B), the key enzyme for astrocytic GABA synthesis. METHODS: Using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation mouse model, we conducted immunohistochemistry to assess the effect of S. baicalensis on astrocyte reactivity and its GABA synthesis. High-performance liquid chromatography was performed to reveal the major compounds of S. baicalensis, the effects of which on MAO-B inhibition, astrocyte reactivity, and tonic inhibition in hippocampal neurons were validated by MAO-B activity assay, qRT-PCR, and whole-cell patch-clamp. RESULTS: The ethanolic extract of S. baicalensis ameliorated astrocyte reactivity and reduced excessive astrocytic GABA content in the CA1 hippocampus. Baicalin and baicalein exhibited significant MAO-B inhibition potential. These two compounds downregulate the mRNA levels of genes associated with reactive astrogliosis or astrocytic GABA synthesis. Additionally, LPS-induced aberrant tonic inhibition was reversed by both S. baicalensis extract and its key compounds. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, baicalin and baicalein isolated from S. baicalensis reduce astrocyte reactivity and alleviate aberrant tonic inhibition of hippocampal neurons during neuroinflammation.