Alisma Shugan Decoction attenuates hepatic fibrosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress in mice with carbon tetrachloride-induced fibrosis.

Background: Over the years, Alisma Shugan Decoction (ASD), because of its potent anti-inflammation activity, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treatment of many inflammation-associated disorders including those of the heart, blood vessel and brain. Methods: Herein, we examined the probable therapeutic effect of ASD in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury and fibrosis mice models. Results: Our results demonstrate that ASD dose-dependently reduced the fibrosis-related increased collagen deposition secondary to liver tissue exposure to CCl4. Data from our biochemical analyses showed significantly less liver damage biomarkers including ALT, AST and hydroxyproline in the ASD-treated samples, suggesting hepato-protective effect of ASD. Furthermore, we demonstrated that treatment with ASD significantly reversed CCl4-induced elevation of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß and MP-1. Interestingly, NF-κB signalling, a principal regulator of inflammation was markedly suppressed by ASD treatment. In addition, treatment with ASD deregulated stress signalling pathways by suppressing the expression of markers of unfolded protein response, such as ATF6, IRE and GRP78. Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study provides preclinical evidence for the use of ASD as an efficacious therapeutic option in cases of chemical-induced liver damage and/or fibrosis. Further large-cohort validation of these findings is warranted.

Alisma Shugan Decoction (ASD) Ameliorates Hepatotoxicity and Associated Liver Dysfunction by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and p65/Nrf2/JunD Signaling Dysregulation In Vivo.

BACKGROUND Liver fibrosis, defined as the aberrant accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins such as collagen in the liver, is a common feature of chronic liver disease, and often culminates in portal hypertension, liver cirrhosis, and hepatic failure. Though therapeutically manageable, fibrosis is not always successfully treated by conventional antifibrotic agents. While the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Alisma Shugan Decoction (ASD) has several health benefits, including anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, and limitation of cardiovascular and respiratory disorders, it remains unclear if it has any hepato-protective potential. MATERIAL AND METHODS The present study examined the therapeutic effect of ASD in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver injury and fibrosis rat models. RESULTS We demonstrated that 50 mg/kg ASD significantly reversed TAA-induced elevation of alanine or aspartate transaminase levels, elicited no dyscrasia, and conferred a 40% (p<0.01) or 20% (p<0.05) survival advantage, compared to rats treated with TAA or TAA+ASD, respectively. Treatment with ASD reversed TAA-induced liver injury and fibrogenesis via repression of alpha-SMA protein and reduction of the collagen area and fibrosis score. Concurrently, ASD markedly suppressed the mRNA expression of fibrogenic procollagen, ICAM-1, MMP2, MMP9, and MMP13, and production of TIMP-1, ICAM-1, CXCL7, or CD62L cytokine in rat liver injury models. Interestingly, ASD-elicited reduction of liver injury and fibrogenesis was mediated by dysregulated p65/NrF-2/JunD signaling, with a resultant 3.18-fold (p<0.05) increase in GSH/GSSH ratio, and a 3.61-fold (p<0.01) or 1.51-fold (p<0.01) reduction in the 4-hydroxynonenal and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, respectively, indicating reduced oxidative stress in the ASD-treated rats, and suggesting an hepato-protective role for ASD. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, the present study provides supplementary evidence of the therapeutic benefit of ASD as an efficient treatment option in cases of liver injury and fibrosis. Further large-cohort validation of these findings is warranted.

Clonal dissemination of multilocus sequence type 11 Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase - producing K. pneumoniae in a Chinese teaching hospital.

Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing K. pneumoniae has disseminated rapidly in China. We aimed to analyze the molecular epidemiology of four KPC-producing K. pneumoniae strains isolated from a suspected clonal outbreak during a 3-month period and to track the dissemination of KPC-producing K. pneumonia retrospectively. We created antimicrobial susceptibility profiles using an automated broth microdilution system and broth microdilution methods. We screened carbapenemase and KPC phenotypes using the modified Hodge test and meropenem-boronic acid (BA) disk test, respectively. We identified ß-lactamase genes with PCR and sequencing. We investigated clonal relatedness for epidemiological comparison using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). All isolates expressed multidrug resistance and yielded positive results for the modified Hodge and meropenem-BA disk tests. The isolates all carried blaKPC -2 , and coproduced CTX-M-type extended-spectrum ß-lactamase. PFGE and MLST showed that the isolates were clonally related. The PFGE patterns of these isolates had ≥90% similarity. We found a single clone, sequence type (ST) 11, and its typical dissemination mode resembled clonal spread. The dissemination of KPC-producing K. pneumoniae is clonally related and there is probable local transmission of a successful ST11 clone.

[Study on HPLC fingerprint of ethanol extract of Phellinus igniarius].

OBJECTIVE: To establish the HPLC fingerprint of ethanol extract of Phellinus igniarius ( EEPI), and to evaluate its quality. METHODS: Adopted 0.2% phosphoric acid -methanol as mobile phase with a SHISEIDO CAPCELL PAK C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm), the flow rate was 1.0 mL/min,and the detection wavelength was set at 395 nm. Inoscavin A was used as reference peak to establish common mode of characteristic absorption peaks of EEPI, and its similarity was evaluated by peaks overlap rate calculation,similarity evaluation system and cluster analysis. RESULTS: Under the chromatographic conditions, HPLC fingerprint of EEPI was established, and nine common peaks were selected. The similarities was between 0.652 and 0.995. According to cluster analysis, 10 batches of Phellinus igniarius were divided into three groups. CONCLUSION: This method is simple, accurate and repeatable with good separation. It can provide basis for the comprehensive quality evaluation of Phellinus igniarius.