ABSTRACT
Extended inflammation and cytokine production pathogenically contribute to a number of inflammatory disorders. Formosanin C (FC) is the major diosgenin saponin found in herb Paris formosana Hayata (Liliaceae), which has been shown to exert anti-cancer and immunomodulatory functions. In this study, we aimed to investigate anti-inflammatory activity of FC and the underlying molecular mechanism. RAW264.7 macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or pretreated with FC prior to being stimulated with LPS. Thereafter, the macrophages were subjected to analysis of the expression levels of pro-inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6, as well as two relevant enzymes, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The analysis revealed that FC administration blunted LPS-induced production of NO and PGE in a dose-dependent manner, while the expression of iNOS and COX-2 at both mRNA and protein levels was inhibited in LPS-stimulated macrophages pre-treated with FC. Moreover, LPS stimulation upregulated mRNA expression and medium release of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, whereas this effect was blocked upon FC pre-administration. Mechanistic studies showed that inhibitory effects of FC on LPS-induced inflammation were associated with a downregulation of IκB kinase, IκB, and p65/NF-κB pathway. Taken together, these data suggest that FC possesses an inflammation-suppressing activity, thus being a potential agent for the treatment of inflammation-associated disorders.
ABSTRACT
Extended inflammation and cytokine production pathogenically contribute to a number of inflammatory disorders. Formosanin C (FC) is the major diosgenin saponin found in herb Paris formosana Hayata (Liliaceae), which has been shown to exert anti-cancer and immunomodulatory functions. In this study, we aimed to investigate anti-inflammatory activity of FC and the underlying molecular mechanism. RAW264.7 macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or pretreated with FC prior to being stimulated with LPS. Thereafter, the macrophages were subjected to analysis of the expression levels of pro-inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6, as well as two relevant enzymes, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The analysis revealed that FC administration blunted LPS-induced production of NO and PGE in a dose-dependent manner, while the expression of iNOS and COX-2 at both mRNA and protein levels was inhibited in LPS-stimulated macrophages pre-treated with FC. Moreover, LPS stimulation upregulated mRNA expression and medium release of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, whereas this effect was blocked upon FC pre-administration. Mechanistic studies showed that inhibitory effects of FC on LPS-induced inflammation were associated with a downregulation of IκB kinase, IκB, and p65/NF-κB pathway. Taken together, these data suggest that FC possesses an inflammation-suppressing activity, thus being a potential agent for the treatment of inflammation-associated disorders.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:To study the influential factors related to efficacy of Peach kernel-Rheum palmatum couplet medi-cines in TCM formula,and to reveal the general regularity of compatibility environment,common ratio,processing variety and dosage forms of P. kernel-R. palmatum couplet medicines. METHODS:Using Chinese Medical Prescription Selected Dictionary ed-ited by Peng Huairen as data source,142 formulas of P. kernel-R. palmatum couplet medicines were collected. By establishing data-base,compatibility types of P. kernel-R. palmatum couplet medicines,as well as common ratio,processed prodact,dosage form were classified statistically. The influential factors related to efficacy of P. kernel-R. palmatum couplet medicines with different pro-portions were summarized. RESULTS:The efficacy of P. kernel-R. palmatum couplet medicines could be divided into 6 aspects and 11 roles,including activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis(activating blood to relieve pain,promoting blood circula-tion to eliminate disease,activating blood to promote menstruation,breaking stagnant and eliminating blood stasis),eliminating carbuncle and detoxicating(cleaning intestine and clearing away the pathogenic heat of lung,eliminating carbuncle and expelling pus,eliminating sore and detoxicating),expelling the pathogenic heat to loosen the bowels,warming yang for dispelling cold,forti-fying the spleen and nourishing the stomach,relaxing tendon and activating blood. The compatibility environment of P. kernel-R. pal-matum couplet medicines were mainly compatible with TCM for activating qi to eliminate stasis,activating blood to promote menstru-ation,breaking stagnant and eliminating blood stasis,expelling the pathogenic heat to expel stasis. The ratio of P. kernel to R. palma-tum ranged 1 : 8-4 : 1,and the ratio ranged 1 : 8-3 : 1 when performing the role of actirating blood circalation to dissipate blood stasis. Common processed products were crude P. kernel and prepared R. palmatum. Common dosage forms were mainly decoction,pill and powder. CONCLUSIONS:Compatibility environment,ratio,processing varieties,dosage forms influence the effects of P. kernel-R. palmatum couplet medicines,especially compatibility environment.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the levels of literacy and numeracy in type 2 diabetes patients with poor glycemic status in communities of Shanghai,China,and to evaluate their associations with blood glucose level.Methods A total of 800 type 2 diabetes patients with recent HbA1c≥7.5％ or fasting plasma glucose level ≥10 mmol/L were recruited from 8 communities in Minhang district and Changning district of Shanghai,China,and were interviewed using a structured questionnaire during February 2015 and March 2016.Literacy and numeracy levels of all patients were evaluated using the validated Health Literacy Management Scale (HeLMS) and the 5-item version Diabetes Numeracy Test (DNT-5),respectively.Results The patients included in this study were observed to have higher levels of health literacy,with a median score of HeLMS being 116 [interquartile range (IQR),108-120] and a median correct rate of DNT-5 of 80％ (IQR,60％-100％).Age,educational level and occupation were significantly related with health literacy levels and numeracy.Sex and income were closely related with health literacy levels.HeLMS score was not significantly associated with HbA1c level (P =0.383),while the lower correct rate of DNT-5 was linked with a higher level of HbA1c.The median HbA1c level was 8.3％ (IQR 7.7％-9.4％) in the patients with the lowest tertile of DNT-5 correct rate,significantly higher than 8.2％ (IQR:7.5％-9.2％) in the medium and 8.0％ (IQR:7.5 ％-8.8 ％) in the highest tertile group (P =0.009).Conclusions Diabetes patients with poor glycemic status in communities of Shanghai have high levels of health literacy,which was significantly related with age,sex,educational level,occupation and income.Ability in numeracy may be a more important influence factor than health literacy for glycemic status of diabetes patients.
ABSTRACT
Objective To understand the species,clinical distribution features and drug susceptibility situation of bloodstream infection pathogenic bacteria in this hospital to provide reference for clinical empirical treatment.Methods The retrospective analysis was performed on 1 938 strains of pathogenic bacteria isolated from blood culture in our hospital from January 2012 to August 2016,their species distribution,department distribution and drug sensitivity were analyzed.Results A total of 1 938 strain of bacteria were comprised of 56 kinds of bacteria and 8 kinds of fungi.Gram-negative bacteria had 1 216 strains,accounting for 64.2%,Gram-positive bacteria had 677 strains,accounting for 34.9%,Fungi had 45 strains,accounting for 2.4%.The top 5 of isolation rates were Escherichia coli(628 strains,32.4%),Klebsiella pneumoniae(230 strains,11.9%),Salmonella(143 strains,7.4%),Staphylococcus epidermidis(142 strains,7.3%) and Staphylococcus hominis (130 strains,6.7%).Enterobacteriaceae bacteria had 1 098 strains(58.0%),which was dominated by Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae,in which 363 strains(57.8%) were Escherichia coli and 85 strains(37.0%) were extended spectrum β lactamases (ESBLs) producing Klebsiella pneumoniae.Nonfermenters had 118 strains(6.1%),Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were predominant.Staphylococcus aureus had 75 strains (3.9%),the MRSA occurrence rate was 25.3%,coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) had 401 strains (20.7%),the methicillin-resistant CoNS occurrence rate was 72.8%.Enterococcus had 85 strains(4.5%).The top 5 departments in positive rates were respiratory department,ICU,hepatobiliary department,gastroenterology department and hematology department.The other departments were consistent to the overall distribution except for ICU and pediatrics.The majority of Acinetobacter baumannii showed multi-drug resistant.Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus and Enterococcus did not be detected,Candida maintained good sensitivity to commonly used antifungal agents.Conclusion Bloodstream infection pathogenic bacteria in this hospital are widely distributed.Commonly used drug have different sensitivities,the overall drug resistance rate is higher,clinic may conduct early medication according to the pathogenic bacterial department distribution and drug sensitivity.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for the contents of gallic acid,catechin,sennosides B,aloe-emodin,rhein, emodin,chrysophanol,physcion,chrysophanol-1-O- glucoside and emodin-8-O- glucoside in Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,Jiu Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,Shu Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,Rhei Radix et Rhizoma tan,Cu Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,and analyze the differ-ences. METHODS:HPLC was performed on the column was Hypersil C18 with mobile phase of methanol- 0.2% acetic acid(gradi-ent elution)at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min,the detection wavelength was 260 nm,column temperature was 25 ℃,injection volume was 10 μl. RESULTS:The linear range was 0.252 5-4.040 0 μg for gallic acid(r=0.999 6),0.600 0-9.600 0 μg for catechin(r=0.999 6),0.297 4-4.758 4 μg for sennosides B(r=0.999 9),0.001 8-0.028 8 μg for aloe-emodin(r=0.999 9),0.005 0-0.080 0 μg for rhein(r=0.999 9),0.019 0-0.304 0μg for emodin(r=0.999 8),0.380 2-6.083 2μg for chrysophanol(r=0.999 7),0.008 2-0.131 2μg for physcion(r=0.999 8),0.126 0-2.016 0 μg for chrysophanol-1-O-glucoside(r=0.999 6)and 0.111 3-1.780 8 μg for emo-din-8-O-glucoside (r=0.999 8);RSDs of precision,stability and reproducibility tests were lower than 3.0%;recoveries were 96.17%-97.21%(RSD=1.67%,n=6),97.60%-100.54%(RSD=2.55%,n=6),99.45%-101.32%(RSD=1.63%,n=6), 95.31%-98.19%(RSD=2.42%,n=6),98.99%-100.35%(RSD=1.86%,n=6),98.95%-101.21%(RSD=2.17%,n=6), 99.81%-100.62%(RSD=1.66%,n=6),96.78%-98.52%(RSD=1.99%,n=6),97.80%-100.14%(RSD=3.32%,n=6) and 97.40%-101.24%(RSD=2.89%,n=6). Compared with Sheng Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,the contents of gallic acid,catechin,sen-nosides B and anthraquinones in Cu Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,Jiu Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma tan decreased. The contents of catechin,sennosides B and anthraquinones in Shu Rhei Radix et Rhizoma. Catechin,sennosides B,chrysopha-nol-1-O- glucoside,aloe-emodin and rhein were not detected in Dahuang tan. CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple with good precision,stability and reroducibility,and can be used for the simultaneous determination of 10 chemical components in processed products of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma;there were significant differences in contents of 10 chemical components in processed prod-ucts of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the efficacy and safety of warfarin and aspirin in the treatment of adverse catheter function in long -term catheterization for hemodialysis.Methods 62 patients with renal failure treated with long -term central venous catheterization were selected,and all the patients were divided into the warfarin group (31 cases)and aspirin group(31 cases).Heparin in sealing was used in both two groups,and warfarin pill was given additionally in warfarin group,while aspirin pill was given additionally in aspirin group.The situation of adverse catheter function,coagulation,bleeding events,and catheter -related infections of the patients in the two groups were recorded during the time when they had 40 times of hemodialysis treatment.Results There were 3 cases of adverse catheter function in the warfarin group,the incidence rate was 9.68%,and there were 8 cases in the aspirin group,the incidence rate was 25.91%.The incidence rate in the warfarin group was lower than aspirin group(χ2 =9.081,P 0.05).After treatment,there was 1 case of limb ecchymosis and 1 case of conjunctival hemorrhage in the warfarin group,and there was 1 case of conjunctival hemorrhage and 1 case of bleeding gums in the aspirin group. No catheter -related infections were found in the two groups.Conclusion Warfarin was better than aspirin in treating adverse catheter function in long -term catheterization for hemodialysis.
ABSTRACT
Objective To construct a prokaryotic expression system of human ferritin L which could be overexpressed in E.coli, and then prepare quality control materials of rFL and evaluate the homogeneity, stability, precision and application value of the rFL.Methods RT-PCR was used to clone ferritin L gene with total RNA from peripheral blood.Ferritin L gene was inserted into plasmid pGM-T to construct subclone plasmid pGM-T/ferritin L, which was identified by sequencing.The recombinant plasmid pET-30a/ferritin L was transformed into E.coli BL21 (DE3) and efficiently expressed under IPTG induction.rFL was identified by SDS-PAGE, and its antigenicity was examined by WB.The concentration of rFL was measured by ACCESS immunoassay system.Fifteen control samples were randomly selected using random number table.The homogeneity and stability of rFL were evaluated by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a linear regression model, respectively.The uncertainties of homogeneity, stability and the precision were evaluated.Results A prokaryotic expression system of ferritin L was successfully constructed.Sequence analysis showed that the ferritin L gene inserted was identical with the one from GenBank(NM_000146.3).The PCR products were 527 bp long, in complete agreement with length of ferritin L gene.The molecular weight of rFL highly expressed in E.coli induced by IPTG was 19 000 Da.The WB analysis indicated that this rFL protein had good antigenicity.The concentration of rFL(1 000 times dilution) measured by ACCESS immunoassay system was (1115.84±38.38) ng/ml.Homogeneity evaluation of low-concentration QC sample and high-concentration QC sample of rFL showed that there were no statistical significances in the within-groups and between-groups (for high-concentration F=2.336, P>0.05 and for low-concentration F=0.730, P>0.05).A linear regression based on the stability test indicated that there was no statistically significant trend of instability in five and a half months (F=1.755, P>0.05). Precision analysis showed the within-run CV, the between-run CV, the between-day CV and the total CV of high-concentration QC sample were 2.06%, 2.12%, 0% and 2.96% respectively; the within-run CV, the between-run CV, the between-day CV and the total CV of low-concentration QC sample 2.03%, 2.08%, 0% and 2.90%, respectively.Conclusion This rFL for quality control materials with independent intellectual property rights could meet the clinical requirement of homogeneity, stability and precision, and could provide raw materials for preparation of mixed ferritin for quality control.