Ameliorative effects of a Chinese herbal formula, fufang meidengmu on uterine leiomyoma in a mice model.

Fufang Meidengmu (FFMDM) is an ethnic herbal medicine form Yunnan province of China, which is often used for the treatment of uterine leiomyoma (UL). Combined Gancao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.) and Haizao (Sargassum pallidum (Turn.) C.Ag) in FFMDM represent an herbal pair in the so-called "eighteen antagonistic medicaments" according to traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, we explored the prevention and treatment effects of FFMDM component compatibility on UL in mice. Female Kunming mice were injected for different periods of time with different concentrations of estradiol benzoate (EB) to investigate a feasible method to establish a mice model of UL. Treatment with 0.3mg/kg EB for 15 days was found to be the optimal condition for UL mice models. We then investigate the role of Gancao and Haizao in FFMDM, and explored the underlying mechanism of action of UL mice. Our findings suggested that Gancao and Haizao exerted the favorable effects. In addition, FFMDM is effective in the treatment of UL, and its mechanism was associated with the estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR).

Yajieshaba prevents lipopolysaccharide-induced intestinal barrier injuryanti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of Yajieshaba (YJSB) on the intestinal barrier dysfunction induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). METHODS: C57BL/6 mice and rat intestinal epithelial cells were treated with LPS. Thiazolyl Blue Tetrazolium Bromide assay were used to detect cell viability. D-Lactate, diamine oxidase and myeloperoxidase and cytokines were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot was used to detect apoptosis-related proteins and tight junction (TJ) proteins. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify the levels of mRNA expression of cytokines. Histological analysis was performed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. An immunofluorescence staining assay was performed to determine the expression level of TJ protein. RESULTS: YJSB increased cell viability and decreased apoptosis, maintained intestinal permeability after LPS-induced. YJSB inhibited LPS-induced decrease of TJ protein expression, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and neutrophil infiltration. CONCLUSION: YJSB protect against LPS-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis, suggesting its therapeutic potential against intestinal barrier injury-related diseases.

Identification of Candidate COVID-19 Therapeutics using hPSC-derived Lung Organoids

Summary ParagraphThe SARS-CoV-2 virus has caused already over 3.5 million COVID-19 cases and 250,000 deaths globally. There is an urgent need to create novel models to study SARS-CoV-2 using human disease-relevant cells to understand key features of virus biology and facilitate drug screening. As primary SARS-CoV-2 infection is respiratory-based, we developed a lung organoid model using human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) that could be adapted for drug screens. The lung organoids, particularly aveolar type II cells, express ACE2 and are permissive to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Transcriptomic analysis following SARS-CoV-2 infection revealed a robust induction of chemokines and cytokines with little type I/III interferon signaling, similar to that observed amongst human COVID-19 pulmonary infections. We performed a high throughput screen using hPSC-derived lung organoids and identified FDA-approved drug candidates, including imatinib and mycophenolic acid, as inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 entry. Pre- or post-treatment with these drugs at physiologically relevant levels decreased SARS-CoV-2 infection of hPSC-derived lung organoids. Together, these data demonstrate that hPSC-derived lung cells infected by SARS-CoV-2 can model human COVID-19 disease and provide a valuable resource to screen for FDA-approved drugs that might be repurposed and should be considered for COVID-19 clinical trials.

Identification of Drugs Blocking SARS-CoV-2 Infection using Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Colonic Organoids

Summary ParagraphThe current COVID-19 pandemic is caused by SARS-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). There are currently no therapeutic options for mitigating this disease due to lack of a vaccine and limited knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 biology. As a result, there is an urgent need to create new disease models to study SARS-CoV-2 biology and to screen for therapeutics using human disease-relevant tissues. COVID-19 patients typically present with respiratory symptoms including cough, dyspnea, and respiratory distress, but nearly 25% of patients have gastrointestinal indications including anorexia, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Moreover, these symptoms are associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes1. Here, we report using human pluripotent stem cell-derived colonic organoids (hPSC-COs) to explore the permissiveness of colonic cell types to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Single cell RNA-seq and immunostaining showed that the putative viral entry receptor ACE2 is expressed in multiple hESC-derived colonic cell types, but highly enriched in enterocytes. Multiple cell types in the COs can be infected by a SARS-CoV-2 pseudo-entry virus, which was further validated in vivo using a humanized mouse model. We used hPSC-derived COs in a high throughput platform to screen 1280 FDA-approved drugs against viral infection. Mycophenolic acid and quinacrine dihydrochloride were found to block the infection of SARS-CoV-2 pseudo-entry virus in COs both in vitro and in vivo, and confirmed to block infection of SARS-CoV-2 virus. This study established both in vitro and in vivo organoid models to investigate infection of SARS-CoV-2 disease-relevant human colonic cell types and identified drugs that blocks SARS-CoV-2 infection, suitable for rapid clinical testing.

Effect of Yajieshaba, a preparation of Dai indigenous medicine, on enhanced liver detoxification.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanistic effects of Yajieshaba (YJSB) on enhanced liver detoxification. METHODS: The effects of YJSB on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were assayed in five acute chemical liver injury models [carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), D-galactosamine (D-Glan), 4-acetamidophenol (AAP), thioacetamide (TAA) and 1-naphthyl isothiocyanate (ANIT)]. Sleep latency and sleep time of pentobarbital sodium were tested in control mice and CCl4 model miceafter oral YJSB administration. The effects of YJSB on drug metabolism enzymes of liver microsomes were tested in control rats and CCl4 model rats. The levels of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) and Cyt b5 in liver microsomes were assayed using the method by Omura and Sato, and activities of erythromycin N-demethylase (ERD) and aminopyrine N-demethyl (ADM) were evaluated by Nash colorimetry. Probe substrate-based high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods were established for CYP3A4 and CYP1A2. RESULTS: The level of serum ALT was reduced by YJSB at 3.51 g/kg in the five models as follows: CCl4 > D-Glan, AAP, ANIT > TAA. YJSB treatment did not reduce the level of serum AST. YJSB at 3.51 g/kg prolonged the sleep latency in control mice and shortened the sleep time of control mice and CCl4 model mice. For control rats, YJSB at 2.43 g/kg increased the levels of CYP450 and Cyt b5 and induced the activities of ERD and ADM; for liver injuries induced by CCl4 in rats, YJSB at 2.43 g/kg increased the levels of CYP450 and Cyt b5. These results suggest that YJSB at 2.43 g/kg induces CYP3A4 and CYP1A2. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that YJSB enhanced liver detoxification and the mechanisms may be partially related to CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 induction.

A Preliminary Research on the Efficacy and Toxicity of Yunaconitine and 8-deacetyl- yunaconitine Isolated from the Processed Products of Aconiti Knsnezoffii Radix / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To conduct comparative study on the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects as well as the acute toxicity of yunaconitine and 8-deacetyl-yunaconitine isolated from the processed products of Aconiti Knsnezoffii Radix.Methods The methods of hot plate test and writhing test were used to evaluate the analgesic effect. Anti-inflammation action was observed by the models of auricle swelling caused by dimethylbenzene. LD50 was determined by the method of Bliss.Results Yunaconitine and 8-deacetyl-yunaconitine have analgesia effect on the pain caused by hot-plate, but there were no statistically significant difference. The pain caused by acetic acid had obvious analgesic action. High and low dose of yunaconitine could significantly reduce the number of mice body torsion and extend the incubation period of pain in mice. The effect of 8-deacetyl-yunaconitine was remarkable only in the high dose. Compared with solvent group, there were little differences in inhibiting effect of auricle swelling caused by dimethylbenzene, and anti-inflammatory action was not exact. The poisonousness of yunaconitine was nearly 20 times of 8-deacetyl-yunaconitine.Conclusion Yunaconitine and 8-deacetyl-yunaconitine may be the analgesic medicine for peripheral analgesic effect. The poisonousness of 8-deacetyl-yunaconitine is less than yunaconitine, the effect is remarkable to the pain caused by acetic acid, and the security is high.

Determination of Pharmacokinetic Parameters of P-methoxybenzyl Alcohol from Gastrodiae Rhizoma in Plasma of Rats by HPLC / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of P-methoxybenzyl alcohol from Gastrodiae Rhizoma in plasma of rats by HPLC. Methods Gavage and intravenous injection were employed for administration. HPLC was used to determine the concentrations of P-methoxybenzyl alcohol from Gastrodiae Rhizoma in plasma of rats in different time points. The pharmacokinetic parameters were computed by DAS3.0. Results The linear range of P-methoxybenzyl alcohol in plasma was 0.63-321.17 μg/mL, r 2=0.994 5. Intra-day accuracy, inter-day accuracy, absolute recovery and stability were in specified range. Conclusion The method is simple and accurate for the determination of the pharmacokinetic parameters of P-methoxybenzyl alcohol from Gastrodiae Rhizoma in plasma of rats.

Effects of Extractive from Gastrodiae Rhizoma on Learning-Memory Function in Mice / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To evaluate the effects of extractive from Gastrodiae Rhizoma on acquisition, consolidation and retrieval of learning-memory function in mice;To provide some reference for clinical research and development of new drugs.Methods Male Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, positive control group and Gastrodia extractive group. Positive control group and Gastrodia extractive group were given gavage by using relevant medicine 0.2 mL/10 g, and the control group and model group were given gavage with the same amount of distilled water for 16 days. After receiving gavage for continuous 11 days, memory acquisition barrier model was induced by scopolamine;memory consolidation barrier model was induced by chloromycetin;memory retrieval barrier model was induced by EtOH. The learning-memory function was reviewed by escape latency and spatial search distance. The quadrant and distance search time percentage was detected through directional navigation test and spatial probe test in Morris water maze.Results Extractive from Gastrodia Rhizoma shortened the time for acquisition, consolidation and retrieval of learning memory about escape latency and spatial search distance (P<0.05,P<0.01), and the quadrant and distance search time percentage were prolonged (P<0.01).Conclusion Extractive from Gastrodia Rhizoa can effectively improve the acquisition, consolidation and retrieval of learning-memory function in mice.

Effect of gypenosides on DMN-induced liver fibrosis in rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of gypenosides on DMN-induced liver fibrosis in rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>A rat liver fibrosis model was established by injecting DMN intraperitoneally. Four weeks later, model rats were randomly devided into three groups: the model group, the gypenosides treated group (200 mg x kg(-1)) and the colchicine treated group (0.1 mg x kg(-1)), with 10 specimens for each group. After a 2-week treatment, following parameters were observed: (1) last body weight, weight ratio between liver and spleen; (2) content of liver hydroxyproline (Hyp); (3) activity of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT), content of albumin (Alb) and total bilirubin( TBiL) in serum; (4) liver pathology (Sirius red staining and HE staining); (5) activity of liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reduced (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and content of liver maleic dialdehyde (MDA).</p><p><b>RESULT</b>There were classic liver cirrhosis pathological changes in model groups. Compared with the normal group, liver Hyp content, activity of serum ATL, AST, gamma-GT and content of serum TBiL, MDA of model groups significantly increased; content of serum Alb and liver GSH, activity of liver SOD and GSH-Px decreased significantly in model groups. In comparison with the model group, liver cirrhosis remarkable improved in the gypenosides group, content of liver Hyp reduced significantly (P < 0.01), which was equal to the colchicine group. Compared with the model group, liver function parameters improved markedly in the gypenosides group; liver SOD and GSH-Px activities significantly increased; MDA content reduced significantly (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Gypenosides shows an effect in treating DMN-induced liver fibrosis in rats.</p>

Clinical analysis of 61 cases of imported malaria / 中华全科医师杂志

Clinical data of 61 cases of imported malaria were analyzed retrospectively.Patients with malaria were divided into three groups,asymptomatic tertian (vivax) malaria,symptomatic tertian malaria and pernicious (falciparum) malaria.Only mild hepatic damage occurred in some patients with asymptomatic tertian malaria,compared with other groups Symptomatic tertian malaria and pernicious malaria were misdiagnosed in 6 of 20 and three of six,respectively before hospitalization,and 16 of 20 and four of six patients complicated with thrombocytopenia,respectively,and both of them had increased serum level of C-reactive protein (CRP).Platelet count negatively correlated with their serum level of CRP significantly in patients with symptomatic tertian malaria (r =-0.555,P ＜ 0.05).Routine anti-malaria therapy was used in imported malaria,blackwater fever occurred in two patients and acute renal failure occurred in one with falciparum malaria.It is suggested plasmodium exam ination in peripheral blood should be performed in all persons returned from countries prevalent with malaria,thrombocytopenia is an indicator of acute malaria,and more severe complications usually tend to occur in falciparum malaria.