Neutrophil elastase:From mechanisms to therapeutic potential / 药物分析学报

Neutrophil elastase(NE),a major protease in the primary granules of neutrophils,is involved in microbicidal activity.NE is an important factor promoting inflammation,has bactericidal effects,and shortens the inflammatory process.NE also regulates tumor growth by promoting metastasis and tumor microenvironment remodeling.However,NE plays a role in killing tumors under certain conditions and promotes other diseases such as pulmonary ventilation dysfunction.Additionally,it plays a complex role in various physiological processes and mediates several diseases.Sivelestat,a specific NE inhibitor,has strong potential for clinical application,particularly in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).This review discusses the pathophysiological processes associated with NE and the potential clinical applications of sivelestat.

Research progress of long noncoding RNAs regulating human chondrocyte inflammatory signaling pathways in osteoarthritis / 中国药理学通报

Osteoarthritis is the commonest joint disease, but its etiology is still not clear.Recently the role of inflammation in its pathogenesis has been attached increasingly importance.Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) play a key role in regulating the occurrence and development of inflammation-related diseases.This artiele reviews the research progress of LncRNAs in regula ting the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis through various endochondral inflammation signaling pathways in recent years , exploring the application of LncRNAs as a potential therapeutic target in the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis.

Research progress on therapeutic potential of quercetin / 中国中药杂志

Quercetin is a naturally occurring phytochemical with good bioactivity, which mainly exists in the form of glycoside in vegetables, fruits, tea, and wine and exhibits beneficial health effects. Quercetin is a dietary polyphenol that exerts the protective effects through diet or use as a food supplement. Compared with chemical agents, quercetin is widely available and safe. Quercetin has been extensively studied for its anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, anti-Alzheimer's disease, anti-arthritic, anti-influenza virus, anti-microbial infection, anti-aging, autophagy-regulating, and cardiovascular protective effects. Studies on its activities against different can-cer cell lines have also been reported recently. However, the poor water solubility, rapid in vivo metabolism, and short half-life of quercetin have led to its low bioavailability, thus limiting its application in the field of medicine. Quercetin nanoparticles and nanoparticle drug delivery system have been effectively utilized for enhancing its bioavailability. This paper reviewed the therapeutic potential of quercetin from both preclinical and clinical aspects and proposed solutions to improve its bioavailability, so as to provide a reference for the therapeutic application of natural compounds in the field of medicine.

The therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells in treating osteoporosis

Osteoporosis (OP), a common systemic metabolic bone disease, is characterized by low bone mass, increasing bone fragility and a high risk of fracture. At present, the clinical treatment of OP mainly involves anti-bone resorption drugs and anabolic agents for bone, but their long-term use can cause serious side effects. The development of stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine has provided a new approach to the clinical treatment of various diseases, even with a hope for cure. Recently, the therapeutic advantages of the therapy have been shown for a variety of orthopedic diseases. However, these stem cell-based researches are currently limited to animal models; the uncertainty regarding the post-transplantation fate of stem cells and their safety in recipients has largely restricted the development of human clinical trials. Nevertheless, the feasibility of mesenchymal stem cells to treat osteoporotic mice has drawn a growing amount of intriguing attention from clinicians to its potential of applying the stem cell-based therapy as a new therapeutic approach to OP in the future clinic. In the current review, therefore, we explored the potential use of mesenchymal stem cells in human OP treatment.

The pharmacology, toxicology and therapeutic potential of anthraquinone derivative emodin / 中国天然药物

Emodin (1, 3, 8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone) is a derived anthraquinone compound extracted from roots and barks of pharmaceutical plants, including Rheum palmatum, Aloe vera, Giant knotweed, Polygonum multiflorum and Polygonum cuspidatum. The review aims to provide a scientific summary of emodin in pharmacological activities and toxicity in order to identify the therapeutic potential for its use in human specific organs as a new medicine. Based on the fundamental properties, such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antivirs, anti-diabetes, immunosuppressive and osteogenesis promotion, emodin is expected to become an effective preventive and therapeutic drug of cancer, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, diabetes, acute pancreatitis, asthma, periodontitis, fatty livers and neurodegenerative diseases. This article intends to provide a novel insight for further development of emodin, hoping to reveal the potential of emodin and necessity of further studies in this field.

Alpha-hederin induces the apoptosis of oral cancer SCC-25 cells by regulating PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

BACKGROUND: Oral cancer is one of the common malignant tumors of the head and neck. However, current treatments have numerous side effects, and drugs from natural sources may have better therapeutic potential. This research investigated the induction of apoptosis by α-hederin (α-HN), a constituent of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel, in the oral cancer cell line SCC-25 and its underlying mechanism. RESULTS: SCC-25 cells were treated with 50, 100, and 200 µmol/L α-HN. Cell proliferation; extent of apoptosis; activities of caspases-3, 8, and 9; and the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, phosphorylated (p)-phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), p-Akt, and p-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) proteins were determined using the 3-(4,5)-2-thiazole-(2,5)-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide, flow cytometry, caspase activity detection kits, and western blot assays, respectively. The results showed that the proliferation of SCC-25 cells in the α-HN-treated groups decreased significantly, and the inhibitory effect was time and concentration dependent. Compared with cells in the control group, the extent of apoptosis increased significantly, caspase-3 and -9 activities were significantly enhanced, and the Bcl-2 level was lowered and the Bax level was elevated significantly in SCC-25 cells treated with α-HN for 48 h (P b 0.05). The expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR was also significantly lower in SCC-25 cells treated with α-HN than that in the control group (P b 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that α-HN can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of SCC-25 cells and may exert these effects by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Application and clinical significance of exosomes in hepatocellular carcinoma / 国际外科学杂志

Exosomes are produced by multivesicular bodies,they are extracellular lipid nano-vesicles carrying a variety off bioactive substances,containing lipids,RNA,DNA and proteins.Exosomes produced by tumor cells carry important information about tumor cells.Exosomes produced by hepatocellular carcinoma can participate in the formation of a microenvironment suitable for the proliferation,growth,invasion,metastasis and drug resistance of tumor cells.Meanwhile,circulating exosomes can be used as non-invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis of tumors and as drug delivery vectors for treatment.This review summarizes the characteristics of exosomes in the growth,invasion and metastasis,immune escape,and drug resistance biology of hepatocellular carcinoma,as well as the potential clinical application of early detection and treatment.

Therapeutic potential of Rho kinase in diabetic retinopathy / 眼科新进展

Rho-associated kinase is originally identified as an effector protein of the G protein Rho,which involves in various diseases,particularly in cancer and cardiovascular disease.Rho kinase inhibitors have already been applied clinically for cerebral vasospasm and glaucoma.Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of diabetes which is the leading cause of visual loss.While anti-VEGF therapy has recently been widely used for DR patients due to its efficacy,but great attention has been drawn to the related risk and complications.The importance of Rho kinase in pathological vitreoretinal conditions has also been elucidated and is attracting attention as a potential therapeutic target.Rho kinase is involved in anglogenesis and hyperpermeability and also in the pathogenesis of various pathologies such as inflammation and neural degeneration,which has been expected that Rho kinase inhibitors will become a new molecular target drug for DR.This review summarizes the mechanism of Rho kinase action and its application in the treatment of DR.

Quantificação de fenóis, flavonoides totais e atividades farmacológicas de geoprópolis de Plebeia aff. Flavocincta do Rio Grande do Norte / Quantification of phenols, total flavonoids and pharmacological activities of geopropolis Plebeia aff. flavocincta of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Esse estudo objetivou avaliar a composição química e potencial terapêutico do extrato hidroalcóolico de geoprópolis produzidas por abelhas Plebeia aff. flavocincta no semiárido do Rio Grande do Norte. Oito amostras (A-H) foram submetidas a quantificação dos teores de fenóis e flavonoides totais e avaliação da atividade antioxidante através do método DPPH (2,2-difenil-1-picril-hidrazilo). Além disso, foram investigadas as atividades antibacteriana, através do método de difusão em ágar, e a cicatrizante, através da indução de feridas cirúrgicas experimentais em Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout, 1769, linhagem Wistar, tratados com creme à base de geoprópolis. Duas amostras (F e G) se destacaram por apresentar altos valores de fenóis e flavonoides totais. A capacidade antioxidante acima de 90% foi observada em cinco amostras. Os extratos foram considerados eficazes no que se refere a atividade antibacteriana, pois das oito amostras, cinco promoveram a formação de halos de inibição ≥9mm para todas as cepas testadas. Duas amostras (D e G) se destacaram em relação as demais por apresentar excelentes resultados, uma vez que, promoveram a formação de halos de inibição para as bactérias Staphylococcus epidermidis e Escherichia coli, superiores estatisticamente aos valores dos antibióticos controles, quando na concentração de 100%. As amostras A e G promoveram, respectivamente, a formação de halos de inibição, que não diferiram significativamente dos halos produzidos pelos antibióticos controles em todas as concentrações testadas para E. coli e Staphylococcus aureus. A análise do processo de cicatrização sob os pontos de vista clínico, macroscópico e histológico permitiu concluir, que o uso do creme à base de geoprópolis apresentou influência positiva na cicatrização de feridas cutâneas experi­mentais, por promover reação inflamatória menos intensa e fechamento mais rápido das feridas em relação ao grupo controle.(AU)

This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and therapeutic potential of the hydroalcoholic extract of geopropolis produced by bees Plebeia aff. flavocincta in Rio Grande do Norte semi-arid. Eight samples (A-H) were submitted to the quantification of total phenols and flavonoid content and evaluation of the antioxidant activity by DPPH method (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl). Additionally, antibacterial activities were investigated by agar diffusion method, and healing process by inducing experimental surgical wounds in Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout, 1769, Wistar line, and treated with the geopropolis-based cream. Two samples (F and G) have stood out by presenting high values of total phenols and flavonoids. The antioxidant capacity of over 90% was observed in five samples. The extracts were considered effective in relation to antibacterial activity since of the eight samples, five promoted the formation of inhibition zones ≥9mm above all strains tested. Two samples (D and G) have stood out over the other for presenting excellent results since it promoted the formation of inhibition zones for Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli exceeding statistically to the values of the antibiotic controls when the concentration was 100%. Samples A and G have provided, respectively, that the formation of inhibition zones were not significantly different than the halos produced by antibiotics controls at all concentrations tested for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The analysis of the healing process from the clinical, macroscopic and histological points of view, allowed to conclude that the use of geopropolis-based cream had a positive influence on the healing of experimental skin wounds by promoting less intense inflammatory reaction and healing faster from wounds in the control group.(AU)

Clinacanthus nutans: A review of the medicinal uses, pharmacology and phytochemistry

Clinacanthus nutans Lindau is known as snake grass belonging to the Acanthaceae family. This plant has diverse and potential medicinal uses in traditional herbal medicine for treating skin rashes, insects and snake bites, lesions caused by herpes simplex virus, diabetes, and gout in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and China. Phytochemical investigations documented the varied contents of bioactive compounds from this plant namely flavonoids, glycosides, glycoglycerolipids, cerebrosides and monoacylmonogalatosylglycerol. The pharmacological experiment proved that various types of extracts and pure compounds from this species exhibited a broad range of biological properties such as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-diabetic activities. The findings of toxicity study showed that extracts from this plant did not show any toxicity thus it can be used as strong therapeutic agents for specific diseased conditions. However, further experiments on chemical components and their mode of action showing biological activities are required to elucidate the complete phytochemical profile and assess to confirm their suitability for future drugs. This review summarizes the medicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of this plant in order to explore its therapeutic potential and gaps necessitating for prospected research work.

Clinacanthus nutans: A review of the medicinal uses, pharmacology and phytochemistry

Clinacanthus nutans Lindau is known as snake grass belonging to the Acanthaceae family. This plant has diverse and potential medicinal uses in traditional herbal medicine for treating skin rashes, insects and snake bites, lesions caused by herpes simplex virus, diabetes, and gout in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and China. Phytochemical investigations documented the varied contents of bioactive compounds from this plant namely flavonoids, glycosides, glycoglycerolipids, cerebrosides and monoacylmonogalatosylglycerol. The pharmacological experiment proved that various types of extracts and pure compounds from this species exhibited a broad range of biological properties such as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-diabetic activities. The findings of toxicity study showed that extracts from this plant did not show any toxicity thus it can be used as strong therapeutic agents for specific diseased conditions. However, further experiments on chemical components and their mode of action showing biological activities are required to elucidate the complete phytochemical profile and assess to confirm their suitability for future drugs. This review summarizes the medicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of this plant in order to explore its therapeutic potential and gaps necessitating for prospected research work.

Interpersonal Touch: The Lost Art Of Mankind - A Review

Surprisingly little was known about the importance of touch in life which was placed at a lower emphasis than the rest-namely visual, auditory, olfactory sense and etc. This writing aimed to decipher the significances of interpersonal touch, its culture, practices, barriers and challenges, which were then conveyed to the public as a form of health promotion. Methodology includes narrative review where the suitable literatures used were searched using ScienceDirect database under the keywords of “Interpersonal Touch”, “Oxytocin” and “Touch”. In this review, we have highlighted some of the most critical points which should have been promoted to the public. For example, touch satisfies individual psychosomatic and psychosocial needs. It forms a non-verbal communication culture which interacts about emotions, trust, compliance and more. Furthermore, it has been linked to the secretion of multifunctional bioactive chemical-oxytocin which was well-known in its therapeutic advantages for a wide range of commonest chronic diseases and social ills. Although some dysfunctional consequences may be resulted, incorporating genuine interpersonal touch into today’s efforts is undeniably viewed as a good option in solving many social problems.

RNAi: A Recent Revolutionary Tool for Understanding of Basic Biology / 대한임상미생물학회지

RNA interference (RNAi) is a gene-silencing technology by which small double-stranded RNAs are used to target the degradation of RNA with complementary sequence. RNAi is found in a wide variety of organisms (Caenorhabditis elegans, insects, plants, microorganisms and animals). With RNAi, we have harnessed the gene function to be explored, revolutionized our ability to perform large-scale genetic screens, and even therapeutic potential.

Therapeutic Potential of Neuroimmunophilin Ligands for Nerve Regeneration / 昆明医科大学学报

It has been well known that Neuroimmunophilin ligands (like FK500) play an important role in the process of nerve regeneration. Based on our studies and combined with relative reports,we mainly introduce the therapeutic potential of Neuroimmunophilin ligands for nerve regeneration,and discuss primarily the mechenism on neurotrophic activity of these compounds.