Berberine derivative WJCPR11 enhances osteoblast differentiation

Berberine is a phytocompound from plants viz. Phellodendri cortex and Coptis rhizome, used to treat a variety of diseases. It is effective in preventing osteoporosis, but it is less effective than drugs currently used in clinical practice. In this study, we used a novel berberine derivative, WJCPR11, to promote osteoblast differentiation and to investigate its use in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. WJCPR11 at a safe concentration without toxicity increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity induced by bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) dose-dependently. The mRNA expression of ALP, osteocalcin (OC), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and osterix was increased, with the ALP level increasing the most. In addition, the protein abundance of bone sialoprotein (BSP), collagen, type I, alpha 1, Runx2, and osterix were also increased. Moreover, the transcriptional activity of ALP, BSP, and OC was increased by WJCPR11, with OC showing the most significant increase. The results indicate that osteoblast differentiation is promoted by WJCPR11, and it could play a role in the prevention of osteoporosis.

The axillary arch inserted to the coracoid process compressing the brachial plexus / El arco axilar insertado en el proceso coracoideo comprimiendo el plexo braquial

The axillary arch is a variant slip extending between the latissimus dorsi muscle and the pectoralis major. During educational dissection, a variant muscle was found in left arm of 70-year-old female cadaver. A slip muscle originated from the lateral margin of the latissimus dorsi and crossed the axilla obliquely. Therefore, we defined this muscular variation as axillary arch. It ran anterior (superficial) to the medial and lateral cords of the brachial plexus, and then it inserted to coracoid process. We reported this variant muscle and discussed its clinical significances.

El arco axilar es una variante que se extiende entre el músculo dorsal ancho y el pectoral mayor. Durante la disección educativa, se encontró una variante muscular en el brazo izquierdo de un cadáver de una mujer de 70 años. El músculo deslizante se originó en el borde lateral del dorsal ancho y cruzó la axila oblicuamente. Por lo tanto, definimos esta variación muscular como el arco axilar. Se extendió anterior (superficial) a los cordones medial y lateral del plexo braquial, y luego se insertó en el proceso coracoideo. Reportamos esta variante muscular y discutimos sus significados clínicas.

Investigation and research on ticks carrying spotted fever group rickettsia in the border area of Tumen River Basin / 中华预防医学杂志

Objective@#To understand the situation and genotype distribution of spotted fever group rickettsia (SFGR) in the border area of Tumen River Basin in free ticks in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture (Yanbian Prefecture), Jilin Province. @*Methods@#From April to September, 2017, ticks were collected using flagging method from Hunchun, Tumen, Helong and Longjing cities in the Tumen River basin of Yanbian Prefecture. Outer membrane protein A (ompA) was detected by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), then, the species were identified by gene sequencing and analyzed systematically. The positive rate of pools and MIR(minimum infection rate per 100 ticks,MIR) of SFGR were calculated, and the difference of positive rate of pools among ticks with different characteristics was compared by Chi-square test. @*Results@#A total of 3 079 ticks were collected and divided into 536 pools. The positive rate of pools of SFGR nucleic acid was 39.7% (213 pools). The MIR of SFGR was 6.9%.The positive rate of pools of SFGR in Dermacentor silvarum, Haemaphysalis concinna, Haemaphysalis japonica, Haemaphysalis longicornis and Ixodes persulcatus were 80.4% (41/51), 14.0% (25/179), 20.2% (18/89), 78.9% (101/128) and 25.9% (21/81), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). There was statistical difference in the positive rate of pools of SFGR in developmental stages of ticks (P<0.001); the positive rate of pools of female adults, male adults, nymph and larvae were 36.4% (95/261), 34.2% (67/196), 56.3% (40/71) and 7/8, and the MIR was 7.9%, 7.7%, 4.9% and 3.5%. The five genotype was detected which was Candidatus Rickettsia longicornii, Rickettsia raoultii, Rickettsia heilongjiangensis, Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae,Rickettsia monacensis and have 98%-100% homology with known gene sequences. Candidatus Rickettsia longicornii, Rickettsia raoultii, Rickettsia heilongjiangensis and Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae showed close evolutionary relationship with known specie (have 98%-100% homology with known gene sequences); Rickettsia monacensis showed Far from evolutionary relationship with known species (have 98% homology with known gene sequences). @*Conclusion@#SFGR infection of ticks is common in the border areas of the Tumen River Basin. There was high diversity in SFGR species and tick species in the areas surveyed.

Side-effects of protein kinase inhibitors on ion channels.

Protein kinases are one of the largest gene families and have regulatory roles in all aspects of eukaryotic cell function. Modulation of protein kinase activity is a desirable therapeutic approach for a number of human diseases associated with aberrant kinase activity, including cancers, arthritis and cardiovascular disorders. Several strategies have been used to develop specific and selective protein kinase modulators, primarily via inhibition of phosphorylation and down-regulation of kinase gene expression. These strategies are effective at regulating intracellular signalling pathways, but are unfortunately associated with several undesirable effects, particularly those that modulate ion channel function. In fact, the side-effects have precluded these inhibitors from being both useful experimental tools and therapeutically viable. This review focuses on the ion channel side-effects of several protein kinase inhibitors and specifically on those modulating K+, Na+ and Ca2+ ion channels. It is hoped that the information provided with a detailed summary in this review will assist the future development of novel specific and selective compounds targeting protein kinases both for experimental tools and for therapeutic approaches.

Protective effects of the ethanolic extract of Melia toosendan fruit against colon cancer.

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Plant-derived products have proven to be valuable sources for discovery and development of unique anticancer drugs. In this study, the inhibitory effects of ethanolic extract of Melia toosendan fruit (EMTF), a traditional medicine in the Chinese Pharmacopeia were evaluated in vitro and in vivo against colon cancer. Human colon cancer cells SW480 and murine colorectal adenocarcinoma cells CT26 were used to investigate cell proliferation. The results showed that EMTF inhibited cell proliferation of SW480 and CT26 by promoting apoptosis as indicated by nuclear chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation. Through increasing mitochondrial membrane permeability and cytochrome c release from mitochondria, EMTF induced caspase-9 activity which further activated caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, leading the tumor cells to apoptosis. The in vivo results confirmed reduction of tumor volume and apoptotic effects and the side effects were not induced by EMTF. Therefore, EMTF may be an effective chemotherapeutic agent for colon cancer treatment.

Protective effect of triphala on radiation induced acute intestinal mucosal damage in Sprague Dawley rats.

Aim of the study was to determine protective effect of triphala on radiation-induced rectal mucosal damage. Male Sprague Dawley rats (30) were divided into 5 groups. Rats in group A were sham irradiated and rats in group B underwent only irradiation. Rats in group C were administered triphala 1g/kg/day orally for 5 consecutive days before irradiation. Rats in group D and E were administered triphala 1 and 1.5 g/kg/day orally for 10 consecutive days, respectively. Rectal mucosal damage was induced by a single fraction of 12.5Gy gamma irradiation (Ir-192) on 5th day. All the rats were autopsied on 11th day and histological changes in surface epithelium, glands, and lamina propria were assessed. Proctitis showed significant improvement in surface epithelium (P<0.024), glands (P<0.000) and lamina propria (P<0.002) in group E compared to group B. Rats in group E showed significantly less change in glands (P<0.000) compared to rats in group D, All histological variables (surface epithelium, P<0.001; glands, P<0.000; lamina propria, P<0.003) compared to rats in group C. In a Tukey-b test, group E had a significantly recovered grade for glands (P<0.000) compared to groups B, C and D. Results of the present study showed that high-dose triphala improved radiation-induced damage of glands.

Polyopes affinis alleviates airway inflammation in a murine model of allergic asthma.

Marine algae have been utilized in food as well as medicine products for a variety of purposes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an ethanol extract of Polyopes affinis (P.affinis) can inhibit the pathogenesis of T helper 2 (Th2)-mediated allergen-induced airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma. Mice that were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) evidenced typical asthmatic reactions such as the following: an increase in the number of eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid; a marked influx of inflammatory cells into the lung around blood vessels and airways as well as the narrowing of the airway luminal; the development of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR); the presence of pulmonary Th2 cytokines; and the presence of allergenspecific immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the serum. The successive intraperitoneal administration of P. affinis ethanolic extracts before the last airway OVA-challenge resulted in a significant inhibition of all asthmatic reactions. These data suggest that P. affinis ethanolic extracts possess therapeutic potential for the treatment of pulmonary allergic disorders such as allergic asthma.

Cardiac expressions of natriuretic peptide mRNA following 4 weeks of head-down suspension in rat

BACKGROUND: Head-down suspension (HDS) of rats has evolved as a useful model for the simulation of a microgravity environment. Atrial natriuretic peptides (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) have been considered to comprise the cardiac natriuretic peptide family responsible for body fluid homeostasis and blood pressure control. However, little is known about the long-term responses and the simultaneous observations of both ANP and BNP following HDS. Therefore, this study was aimed to characterize the long-term adaptations of cardiac ANP and BNP syntheses to 4 weeks of HDS in rats. METHOD: Unanesthetized, unrestrained, male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to either a horizontal position (control rats) or a 45degree head-down tilt using the tail-traction technique (HDS rats). We determined the cardiac synthesis of natriuretic peptides as a expression of ANP and BNP mRNA, The expressions of natriuretic peptide mRNA were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction with [32P]-dCTP following 4 weeks of HDS in the each cardiac chamber of control and HDS rats. RESULT: After 4 weeks of HDS, the expressions of ANP mRNA were decreased in the both right (p<0.05) and left atria. The ANP mRNA in the ventricles did not show significant changes compared with control values. In contrast with ANP, BNP mRNA was only decreased in the left atrium (p<0.05) and revealed the non-significant decreasing trend in the right ventricle. There were no remarkable changes of BNP mRNA expression compared with control rats in the both right atrium and left ventricle. CONCLUSION: Collectively, these results represent that the cardiac syntheses of natriuretic peptides following 4 weeks of HDS are attenuated to prevent any decrement of body fluid as a long-term adaptive response to simulated microgravity and ANP and BNP genes have the differential expression in the each chamber of the heart.