Celastrol targets IRAKs to block Toll-like receptor 4-mediated nuclear factor-κB activation / 中西医结合学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Celastrol has been established as a nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation inhibitor; however, the exact mechanism behind this action is still unknown. Using text-mining technology, the authors predicted that interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinases (IRAKs) are potential celastrol targets, and hypothesized that targeting IRAKs might be one way that celastrol inhibits NF-κB. This is because IRAKs are key molecules for some crucial pathways to activate NF-κB (e.g., the interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R)/Toll-like receptor (TLR) superfamily).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The human hepatocellular cell line (HepG2) treated with palmitic acid (PA) was used as a model for stimulating TLR4/NF-κB activation, in order to observe the potential effects of celastrol in IRAK regulation and NF-κB inhibition. The transfection of small interfering RNA was used for down-regulating TLR4, IRAK1 and IRAK4, and the Western blot method was used to detect changes in the protein expressions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results showed that celastrol could effectively inhibit PA-caused TLR4-dependent NF-κB activation in the HepG2 cells; PA also activated IRAKs, which were inhibited by celastrol. Knocking down IRAKs abolished PA-caused NF-κB activation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results for the first time show that targeting IRAKs is one way in which celastrol inhibits NF-κB activation.</p>

Study on the efficacy and safety of sublingual immunotherapy with standardized dermatophagoides farinae drops for allergic rhinitis / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the sublingual immunotherapy with dermatophagoides farinae drops on patients with allergic rhinitis.@*METHOD@#One hundred and twelve cases were collected from adult patients with dust-mite allergic rhinitis of our hospital who could adhere to treatment and regular follow-up. These patients were randomly allocated to receive either sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT group, n = 56) or medical treatment (Control group, n = 56). To evaluate the clinical efficacy by side effects which were registered, symptom and medication scores which were assessed and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) which was completed in the baseline and two years after treatment.@*RESULT@#Dropouts after the 2 years' treatment were 5 of SLIT group and 4 of Control group respectively. SLIT group induced the significant reductions on both the symptom scores (7.81 ± 3.14 to 3.89 ± 2.01, P < 0.0 1) and the medication scores (2.86 ± 0.75 to 0.44 ± 0.06, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, Control group induced the reductions on both the symptom scores (8.01 ± 3.32 to 5.20 ± 2.43) and the medication scores (2.95 ± 0.80 to 1.75 ± 0.40). There were significant differences (P< 0. 01) in symptom and medication scores between the two groups after 2-year treatment. The patients in SLIT group had fewer symptoms and lower intake of medication. There were statistically significant differences in RQLQ between SLIT group [19 (15,22)] and Control group [36 (26,47)] after two years treatment (Z = -5. 21, P < 0.01). SLIT group also had significant improvement in RQLQ (Z = -6.10, P < 0.01) between before and after the treatment. There were 4 patients who showed adverse reactions in SLIT group (3 occurred in increment period, and 1 occurred in the maintenance period). The incidence of adverse reactions was 7.14%. No severe systemic side effects were registered.@*CONCLUSION@#SLIT with standardized dermatophagoides farinae drops in China is safe and effective to patients with allergic rhinitis.

The management of 53 non-pituitary lesions in sphenoidal sinus by transnasal endoscopic surgery / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the diagnosis and management of non-pituitary lesions in sphenoidal sinus.@*METHOD@#All cases with non-pituitary lesions in sphenoidal sinus were confirmed by CT scan. Eight cases with localized lesions underwent operation by trans-sphenoidal approach. Two cases with juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma with invasion to the sphenoid sinus were treated by trans-septal approach. The rest received operation by trans-superior meatal or trans-ethmoidal approach.@*RESULT@#Forty-five of these cases underwent complete or major resection of the lesion by endoscopic sphenoid sinus surgery, including 23 cyst and pus cyst of sphenoidal sinus, 8 fungal sphenoid sinusitis, 2 bleeding polyp of sphenoidal sinus, 1 post- hypophysectomy granulation hyperplasia of sphenoidal sinus , 5 papilloma of sphenoid sinus, 1 cerebrospinal rhinorrhea of sphenoid sinus, 2 ossified fibroma of sphenoid sinus,2 juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma with invasion to the sphenoid sinus, 1 meningioma of ethmoid and sphenoid sinus. Three cases with hematoma in sphenoidal sinus and pseudoaneurysm in internal carotid artery underwent nasal endoscopic examination, and the diagnosis was established by DSA, and they received interventional therapy. Three cases with malignancy of sphenoidal sinus received major mass resection of sphenoidal sinus by trans-ethmoidal approach, and followed with radio therapy and chemotherapy. Two cases with NPC involving sphenoidal sinus were treated by radio therapy and chemotherapy after pathological examination.@*CONCLUSION@#Headache and visual loss were two common symptoms for the lesions in sphenoidal sinus. Imaging study including CT, MRI and DSA is very important for the diagnosis of the lesions in sphenoidal sinus. There are various surgical pathways to deal with sphenoidal sinus diseases under nasal endoscope. The operation will be direct, safe and minimal invasive if we choose the pathway properly.

Determination of C21 steroidal glycosides in Marsdenia tenacissima by colorimetric method / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a quantitative method to deter mine C21 steroidal glycosides in Marsdenia tenacissima.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Methanol was used as the extraction solvent and the samples were purified by macroporous resin ADS-7. A mixture of sulfuric acid-methanol (4:1)was used as color-producing reagent. The absorbance was measured at 325 nm.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>There is a good linearity (r = 0.999 9, n = 6) within the range of 10.6-148.4 microg. The average recoveries of tenacissoside-H at different concentrations were 95.8% to 97.1% with RSD less than 2.4% (n = 5).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This method is reliable as a quantitative analytical method for the quality assessment of M. tenacissima.</p>