Aim To investigate the effects of sesamin on inflammation response of asthma and to explore its possible mechanism of action. Methods Forty male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups with 8 mice in each group: normal group, ovalbumin ( OVA) group, sesamin low dose group, sesamin high dose group and dexamethasone( DXM) group. Asthma model mice were induced by OVA in vivo. The left lung was isolated for pathological examination. Experi-ment of ELISA and Western blot were used to deter-mine the effect of sesamin on IL-4 , IL-5 , IL-13 and IFN-γ expression. Hematoxylin and eosin stain was used to investigate pathological examination in lung tis-sue. Western blot was performed to detect the IκBαphosphorylation and NF-κB nuclear translocation. Re-sults The mice developed the following pathophysio-logical features of asthma: increased numbers of in-flammatory cells, increased levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 , decreased level of IFN-γ in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids ( BALF ) and lung tissues ( P <0. 05 ) , and increased IκBα phosphorylation and NF-κB nucle-ar translocation in lung tissues ( P <0. 05 ) . Adminis-tration of sesamin markedly reduced airway inflammato-ry cell recruitment, reduced the production of IL-4, IL-5 , IL-13 and increased IFN-γ in BALF and lung tissues( P <0. 05 ) . The increased IκBα phosphoryla-tion and NF-κB nuclear translocation after OVA inhala-tion were inhibited by the administration of sesamin. Conclusion Sesamin attenuates inflammation re-sponse of asthma through suppression of NF-κB activa-tion.

Objective To identify the routes and branches of the proper plantar digital nerves(PPDN) in the medial of the great toe and its adjoining relationship among the surrounding fascia tissues and organs,which was expected to provide accurate localization of the nerve impingement and possible relevant of anatomical basis for the treatment of nerve entrapment in clinical utility.Methods From December,2016 to January,2019,a total of 54 formalin fixed feet were collected.Fifty of them were performed conventional anatomical procedure,the other 4 were prepared with sectional anatomical technique.The seats and branches of the PPDN in the medial of the great toe were observed;The width and thickness of the nerve were measured at the first metatarpophalangeal joint(FMPJ),along with its proximal and distal sides 0.5 cm.The origin and origin of fascia were observed by foot dissection.Masson staining was used to observe the tissue changes of the nerves in the FMPJ.Results The PPDN of the medial great toe run between the flexor pollicis longus tendon and the abductor pollicis tendon at the proximal,issued (4.21±0.12) final branches.And governed the sensation of the medial half of the great toe.The width of the nerve at the FMPJ was (3.50±0.09) mm,which was significantly increased compared with that of the near [(1.58±0.04) mm] and far [(1.56± 0.03) mm] from the joint.The difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05);The thickness of the nerve in the proximal segment was (0.83±0.04) mm,and that in the distal segment was (0.82±0.03) mm.Compared with that in the FMPJ [(0.67±0.02) mm],the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).A deep fascia was observed on the superficial surface of the PPDN at medial great toe,which was stretched between the tendon sheath of the flexor pollicis longus tendon and the tendon of the abductor pollicis muscle.Masson staining showed obvious proliferation of nerve outer mem brane fibers at the metatarpophalangeal joint,the number of nerve fiber bundles increased,and obvious thickening of nerve fiber bundles and nerve fascia.Conclusion Long-term compression can lead to thickening of the epineurium and perineurium,and the superficial fascia is an important factor of thumb pain and numbness caused by the compression of the PPDN at medial of the great toe.

OBJECTIVETo explore the protective effects and mechanism of ethanol extract of Inonotus obliquus (EEIO) injection on asthmatic mice.

METHODOVA was injected intraperitoneally and inhaled to produce the asthmatic model. Thirty two mice were randomly divided into four groups: control group, asthma group and I. obliquus groups of high and low dose. The concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IFN-gamma in BALF, the phosphor-p38 MAPK in lung tissues were respectively measured by ELISA and Western blotting. The number of inflammatory cells in BALF and histopathology changes were observed.

RESULTIn asthmatic group, the number of inflammatory cells and the concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in BALF and phospho-p38 MAPK in lung tissue were higher, while IFN-gamma were lower than those in normal control mice (P < 0.05). In I. obliquus group, the number of inflammatory cells, the concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in BALF and phosphor-p38 MAPK in lung tissue were lower, but were higher than those in normal control mice (P < 0.05), and histropathology damage was alleviated significantly. There was no significant difference observed among the efficacies in the I. obliquus groups of high and low dose.

CONCLUSIONp38 MAPK may play a role in pathological process of asthma. I. obliquus effectively treats asthma by inhibiting the expression of phosphor-p38 MAPK, correcting the unbalance of IFN-gamma/IL-4 and decreasing the number of inflammatory cells.

Animals ; Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Basidiomycota ; chemistry ; Basophils ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Interferon-gamma ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Interleukin-13 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-5 ; metabolism ; Lung ; pathology ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neutrophils ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; drug effects ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the anatomical structure of the first plantar lumbrical muscle in the foot and to measure the relevant data which could provide anatomical basis for repairing thumb and finger defects with the transplantation of toes accompanied with the first lumbrical muscle,and to explore the marphological function of the first lumbrical muscle of the foot.Methods From March,2016 to January,2018,a systematic and detailed dissection of the 50 formalin-fixed feet was performed to observe the exact position of the starting and ending points of the first lumbrical muscle,and a Vernier caloper was used to measure the relevant record data.Results The first lumbrical muscle originates from the medial portion of the flexor digitorum lungus tendon of the second toe,and the length of the ventral muscle was [55.87±8.67(79.30-41.16] mm.There were 2 endpoints in the tendon.The first one was in the medial tubercle of the proximal phalanges.The second one was aponeurosis of the dorsal toe and the tendon was divided into proximal and distal segments with the medial tubercle as the mark point.The length of the proximal segment was [15.34±4.81(5.52-25.18] mm,the width of the proximal segment was [2.31±1.12(3.28-1.21)] mm,the thickness was [0.44±0.14(0.28-0.68)] mm;the length of the distal segment was [11.51±4.06(3.46-14.90)] mm,the width was [6.10±1.44(9.36-3.70)] mm,and the thickness was [0.18±0.09(1.10-0.38)] mm.The length and thickness of the proximal segment was signifantly larger than those of the distal segment (P＜0.05).Conclusion The first lumbrical muscle has the function of maintaining the balance and stability of both the toe and the arch during movement,flexuring the metatarsophalangeal joint,extending the interosseous joint of the extensor phalangeal,adducting the second toe;also the function of preventing the second toe from pronation during foots' movement.