Objective To evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of Cinnamaldehyde in combination with Voriconazole (VRC) against clinically isolated Aspergillus fumigatus strains. Methods According to the Clinical and Laboratory Stan?dards Institute (CLSI) M38-A2 document,the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of Cinnamaldehyde and VRC alone or in combination against 42 clinical Aspergillus fumigatus isolates were determined by both microdillution method and check?board method respectively. The MIC50, MIC90, MICG and MICs distribution were compared between single drug and both in combination. The concentration-accumulative curve was drawn and fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) was cal?culated to evaluate the interaction between two test agents. Results The values of MIC50, MIC90 and MICG were significant?ly decreased (P<0.001) when combination of the two drugs than those of their single use, with their MIC distribution concen?tration-accumulative curves shifted to the left. The value of FICI of Cinnamaldehye-VRC combination ranged from 0.187 5 to 1.5. Sixteen strains (38.10%) of them showed the synergistic effect, 19 strains (45.23%) showed additive effect, and 7 strains (16.67%) showed an unrelated effect, and no antagonist effect on tested Aspergillus fumigatus strains in vitro. Conclu?sion Cinnamaldehye in combination with VRC mainly shows a combined synergic and additive inhibitory effect on Asper?gillus fumigatus isolates, and this combination appears to be more active against the test strains, which are less susceptible to voriconazole.

Objective:To investigate the effects of myeloid-derived growth factor(MYDGF) on inflammatory response and osteoclast differentiation of RAW264.7 cells.Methods:The RAW264.7 osteoclast precursor cells were cultured and treated with different concentrations of recombinant MYDGF protein(rMYDGF), and their cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay. RAW264.7 cells were induced with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) to induce inflammation, and the expression of inflammatory mediators and cell polarization were observed after intervention with rMYDGF. The RAW264.7 cells were induced for osteoclast differentiation using receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand(RANKL), and rMYDGF was added for intervention. Osteoclast differentiation was evaluated by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase(TRAP) staining. The osteoclast resorption pits and the number of actin rings(F-actin rings) were observed under a microscope. Reverse transcription PCR was performed to detect the expression of activated T cell nuclear factor 1(Nfatc1), cathepsin K(CTSK), and c-Fos genes during osteoclast differentiation. The protein phosphorylation levels of nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB) signaling pathway proteins were detected using Western blotting.Results:MTT assay showed that rMYDGF did not significantly inhibit the viability of RAW264.7 cell when the concentration was lower than 100 ng/mL. Moreover, rMYDGF inhibited the expression levels of inflammatory factors and M1 cell polarization after LPS stimulation. Compared with the control group, the number and area of TRAP positive cells, the number and area of bone resorption pit were decreased in rMYDGF intervention group respectively, as well as the area of the F-actin ring was reduced and its shape was incomplete after rMYDGF intervention. Furthermore, rMYDGF reduced the expression levels of osteoclast-specific marker genes and inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-κB signaling pathway protein IκBα during osteoclast differentiation.Conclusion:MYDGF inhibits the inflammatory response and osteoclast differentiation of RAW264.7 cells.