Therapeutic effect of cinnamaldehyde on ulcerative colitis in mice induced by dextran sulfate sodium with Candida albicans colonization and its effect on dectin-1/TLRs/NF-κB signaling pathway / 中国中药杂志

To observe the efficacy of cinnamaldehyde on dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis(UC) with Can-dida albicans(Ca) colonization and its effect on dectin-1/TLRs/NF-κB signaling pathway in mice. C57 BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal group, DSS group, DSS+Ca group, cinnamaldehyde group and mesalazine group. Mice in DSS+Ca group were given Ca(1×10~8 CFU per mouse) through intragastrical administration for 4 consecutive days and then distilled water with 3.0% DSS for 7 consecutive days. In cinnamaldehyde group and mesalazine group, in addition to the induction method of the DSS+Ca group, mice were given 75 mg·kg~(-1) cinnamaldehyde and 200 mg·kg~(-1) mesalazine accompanied with 3.0% DSS for 7 consecutive days, respectively. Mice in normal group and DSS group were correspondingly administered with distilled water. The general conditions of the mice were observed daily, the diseased activity index(DAI) score was calculated, and fungal loads of feces were detected by plate method. The mice were sacrificed on day 12, colon length was measured, colon mucosa damage index(CMDI) score was calculated, and histopathological analysis was carried out by HE staining. Anti-saccharomces cerevisiae antibody(ASCA) and β-1,3-glucan in serum, and TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 in serum and colon tissue were detected by ELISA. The contents of β-1,3-glucan and macrophage infiltration in colon tissues were examined by immunofluorescence staining. The protein expressions of dectin-1, TLR2, TLR4 and NF-κB were detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry staining. The results showed that cinnamaldehyde could significantly improve the general conditions of UC mice with Ca colonization, decrease DAI and histopathological scores, reduce intestinal mucosal congestion, erosion and colon shortening, decrease Ca load in mouse feces and tissues, down-regulate the contents of ASCA and β-1,3-glucan in serum, reduce the contents of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and increase IL-10 in serum and colon tissues, inhibit macrophages infiltration and down-regulate the protein expression of dectin-1, TLR2, TLR4 and NF-κB in colon tissue. These results suggested that cinnamaldehyde had a therapeutic effect on UC mice with Ca colonization, which might be related to the inhibition of Ca proliferation, the regulation of dectin-1/TLRs/NF-κB signaling pathways and the coordination of the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors.

Application of blood purification in renal impairment of multiple myeloma / 基础医学与临床

Renal impairment is common in multiple myeloma .Besides effective chemotherapy , direct removal of se-rum free light chain by plasmapheresis or high cut-off hemodialysis is also important in the treatment of renal im-pairment in multiple myeloma .Based on results of the randomized controlled trials , the role of plasmapheresis in treating renal disease of multiple myeloma is debated .On the other side , high cut-off hemodialysis is novel and re-cently developed .Many studies have shown its potential function to further increase renal response rate when com -bined with chemotherapy .

Efficacy and safety of micafungin for invasive candida infections: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Invasive fungal infections such as candidiasis and mold infections cause significant morbidity and mortality in seriously ill patients. Micafungin is an echinocandin antifungal agent with potent activity against most species of Candida and Aspergillus. We did this meta-analysis to clarify whether micafungin offers superior efficacy and safety compared with other antifungal agent for treating infections associated with invasive candidiasis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We did a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to examine whether micafungin has superior efficacy and safety compared with other antifungal agents recommended by the treatment guidelines for fungal infection. Seven trials involving 2913 patients were included in this analysis. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Micafungin was associated with significantly better treatment success compared with the comparator antifungal agents (modified intention to treat, 2851 patients; random-effects model, OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.00 - 1.45, P = 0.0487). In addition, micafungin was more effective than the comparators for antifungal prophylaxis of neutropenic patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (OR 1.47, 95%CI 1.08 - 2.00, P = 0.01). Although there was no significant difference between the compared regimens in terms of the incidence of adverse drug effects (OR 0.94, 95%CI 0.77 - 1.11), fewer patients treated with micafungin withdrew from the studies because of adverse events (OR 0.64, 95%CI 0.44 - 0.94).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Micafungin has a good safety and tolerability profile, with an efficacy at least comparable to the other antifungal agents. Micafungin offers advantages over other agents for antifungal prophylaxis. Micafungin offers an appropriate alternative for antifungal prophylaxis rather than the treatment of invasive candida infections.</p>

Stimulating effect of catechin, an active component of Spatholobus suberectus Dunn, on bioactivity of hematopoietic growth factor / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Hematopoietic growth factor (HGF) is indispensable to hematopoiesis in the body. The proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells must rely on the existence and stimulation of HGF. This study investigated the effect of catechin, an active component extracted from Spatholobus suberectus Dunn (SSD), on bioactivity of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating activity (GM-CSA), burst-promoting activity (BPA) and megakaryocyte colony-stimulating activity (MK-CSA) in spleen condition medium (SPCM) of mice to clarify the hematopoietic mechanism of catechin and SSD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Spleen cells of mice were separated and spleen condition medium (SPCM) was prepared from spleen cell culture. Bone marrow cells of mice were separated and cultured in a culture system including 10% (v/v) SPCM (induced by catechin in vivo or ex vivo) for 6 days. Granulocyte-macrophage colony forming units (CFU-GM), erythrocyte burst-colony-forming units (BFU-E) and megakaryocyte colony-forming units (CFU-Meg) formation were employed to assay the effects of different treatment on the bioactivity of GM-CSA, BPA and MK-CSA in SPCM.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SPCM induced by 100 mg/L catechin ex vivo could promote the growth of CFU-GM, BFU-E and CFU-Meg, which indicated that catechin could stimulate the production of GM-CSA, BPA and MK-CSA in SPCM. SPCM prepared at the fourth day of spleen cell culture showed the best stimulating activity. The bioactivity of GM-CSA, BPA and MK-CSA in the SPCM prepared after intraperitoneally injecting catechin into mice was also increased. The number of CFU-GM, BFU-E and CFU-Meg gradually increased as the dose of catechin increased and the time of administration prolonged. CFU-GM, BFU-E and CFU-Meg of the high-dose catechin group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.01) and reached the maximum at the seventh day after administration.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This study suggests that catechin extracted from the active acetic ether part of Spatholobus suberectus Dunn can regulate hematopoiesis by inducing bioactivity of GM-CSA, BPA and MK-CSA in SPCM of mice. This may be one of the mechanisms for the hematopoietic-supportive effect of catechin and Spatholobus suberectus Dunn.</p>

Effect of catechin on bone marrow cell cycle and gene expression of hematopoietic growth factors / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To study the effect of catechin, the active component of Spatholobus suberectus Dunn, on bone marrow cell cycle and the expression of IL-6 and GM-CSF mRNA in spleen cells of normal and marrow-depressed mice in order to clarify the mechanism of hematopoietic-supportive effect of catechin.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Flow cytometry was adopted to investigate the influence of catechin on bone marrow cell cycle in mice and the expression of IL-6 and GM-CSF mRNA induced by catechin in spleen cells was detected by RT-PCR technique simultaneously.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cell proportion of normal and marrow-depressed mice in G0/G1 phase was reduced significantly, while that in S + G2/M phase increased significantly. Being induced by catechin, IL-6 mRNA and GM-CSF mRNA in spleen cells were markedly up-regulated.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Catechin (2 g x L(-1), intraperitoneally injected to mice daily immediately after irradiation for 7 consecutive days) was shown to promote the expression of IL-6 mRNA and GM-CSF mRNA in spleen cells of mice, through which it can accelerate bone marrow cells of normal mice into cell cycle and help those of marrow-depressed mice to get out of "G1-phase-block", enter into cell cycle and radically accelerate the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cell/hematopoietic progenitor cell (HSC/HPC).</p>

Effects of yishenjiangyafang on blood pressure and protecting renal function in RPH rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects and mechanism of Yishenjiangyafang, a prescription of Chinese traditional herbs used for renal hypertension, on blood pressure and protecting renal function of RPH rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The 5/6 kidney of rat was resected to set up the RPH rat model. Blood pressure, Cr(creatinine), Ccr(creatinine clearance) and BUN(urea nitrogen) were measured dynamically. After eight weeks treatment, plasma content of PAR A II TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1 were measured. At same time, The change of renal pathology was observed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Yishenjiangyafang could reduce blood pressure Cr, but had no effect on BUN of RPH rat. The indexes of PAR, A II of each different dosage group of Yishenjiangyafang were decreased. At the same time, it reduced plasma content of TXB2, and increased 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. Glomerulosclerosis and atrophy of renal tubule in Yishenjiangyafang group RPH rats were better than those of the contrast group and the Capten group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Yishenjiangyafang can reduce blood pressure of RPH rats and has protective effects on its kidney. Yishenjiangyafang can perform its effects of reducing blood pressure and protecting kidney by influencing the RAS of RPH rats.</p>

Effect of SS8, the active part of Spatholobus suberectus Dunn, on proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells in mice with bone marrow depression / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of SS8, a monomer extracted from Spatholobus suberectus Dunn used for invigorating the circulation of blood, on proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells in mice with bone marrow depression.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The method of semi-solid culture with methylcellulose of CFU-GM, CFU-E, BFU-E, CFU-Meg was adopted in bone marrow depressed mice which were treated with SS8 for a long time.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The experimental data demonstrated that the numbers of CFU-GM, CFU-E, BFU-E, CFU-Meg in bone marrow depressed mice were raised distinctly under the control of SS8 as compared with those of contrast group. The effect of SS8 became stronger as time went on and the dosage rose.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SS8 can distinctly stimulate the proliferation of hematopoietec progenitor cells in mice with bone marrow depression in a time-and-dosagedependent manner.</p>