Objective To explore the effects of volatile oil and 2-undecanone from Houttuynia Cordata Thunb. (H. cordata) on LPS-TLR4 / MD-2-TNF-α signaling pathway. Methods TLR4 / MD-2 blocking agent was used to mask the TLR4 /MD-2 site,then protein expression levels of TLR4 in cells treated with volatile oil and 2-undecanone were analyzed by western blot. ELISA was used to detect the secretion of the inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-10. Comparison analysis was then performed from the results of cell experiments in vitro and anti-inflammatory effects through xylene-induced ear edema test in vivo. Results In concentrations between 1 to 10 μg · mL-1 ,Houttuynia volatile oil showed better effect than 2-undecanone on inhibition of TLR4 protein in LPS-induced RAW264. 7 cells, and had some differences in the effects on inflammatory factors. Compared with the LPS+TLR4 / MD-2 group,the LPS+TLR4 / MD-2 + volatile oil group had no significant difference in the expression of TLR4 protein (P>0. 05),but the LPS+TLR4 / MD-2 +2-undecanone group reduced the expression of TLR4 protein obviously. It appeared that volatile oil exerts its anti-inflammatory effect through LPS-TLR4 / MD-2-TNF-αpathway,but 2-undecanone may exert its anti-inflammatory effect by other means. Houttuynia volatile oil showed better anti-inflammatory activity than 2-undecanone in vivo at the same dose. Conclusion There are some differences in anti-inflammatory effects and related mechanisms between volatile oil and 2-undecanone, probably owing to the synergistic effects of multi-ingredients in the volatile oil.

PURPOSE: Tubulointerstitial hypoxia in the kidney is considered a hallmark of injury and a mediator of the progression of tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha), a master transcription factor in cellular adaptation to hypoxia, regulates a wide variety of genes, some of which are closely associated with tissue fibrosis. The present study set out to characterize urinary HIF-1alpha expressions in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) and to explore whether urinary HIF-1alpha expressions are associated with histologic chronicity changes and renal function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Urinary HIF-1alpha levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in 42 patients with LN and in 30 healthy controls. Activity and chronicity indexes as well as tubular HIF-1alpha expressions were analyzed for each specimen. RESULTS: Urinary HIF-1alpha levels were higher in LN patients than in healthy controls (3.977+/-1.696 vs. 2.153+/-0.554 ng/mL, p<0.001) and were associated with histologic chronicity indexes (r=0.463, p<0.01) and eGFR (r=-0.324, p<0.05). However, urinary HIF-1alpha levels showed no correlation with histologic activity indexes, anti-dsDNA, ANA, complement 3 and 4 levels, proteinuria, systemic lupus erythematosis disease activity index, and WHO pathological classification (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Urinary HIF-1alpha levels were elevated in LN patients and were associated with histologic chronicity changes and renal function, indicating that HIF-1alpha might contribute to histologic chronicity in LN.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/*urine ; Kidney/metabolism/pathology ; Lupus Nephritis/*urine ; Male ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Tongfeng trace elements nutrient balance agent on the various growth indicators, physiological indicators, and the contents of liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid in one-year old Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

METHODThe plants of G. uralensis growing in Chifeng of Inner Mongolia and medicinal garden of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine were fertilized for two times, respectively. The photosynthetic physiological indicators were measured by LI-6400 photosynthetic instrument. The pigments and antioxidase activities of the leaves were determined. Then contents of liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid in the plants were determined by HPLC.

RESULTThe application of this trace element nutrient balance agent could significantly improve the height, chla and chlb, and the photosynthetic physiology indicator such as P(n), C(i), and G(s). Similarly, it could significantly increase the fresh weight of shoots and dry weight of the roots. Compared with control block (CK), the fertilizer which was diluted by 300 times (T(1)) and 600 times (T(2)) significantly increased the content of glycyrrhizic acid by 24.72% and 20. 23%. There was significant difference between different treatments (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe Tongfeng trace elements nutrient balance agent could promote growth, physiology and the content of active constituents of G. uralensis, especially the effect of T(1) was superior to T(2).

Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Fertilizers ; Flavanones ; metabolism ; Glucosides ; metabolism ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; drug effects ; growth & development ; physiology ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; metabolism ; Oxidoreductases ; metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; drug effects ; Trace Elements ; pharmacology

Clinical and endoscopic data of 6 patients with colorectal mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma who were diagnosed by endoscopy in the Digestive Endoscopy Center of Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine from January 2015 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 2 males and 4 females with aged from 62 to 87 years. The lesions were located in rectum in 3 cases, transverse colon in 1 case, sigmoid colon in 1 case, and sigmoid colon and rectum in 1 case. There were 1 case of polyposis type, 2 cases of inflammation type, and 3 cases of submucosal tumor type. The "tree-like appearance (TLA)" found in 5 cases. Endoscopic resection, surgery combined with chemotherapy, Helicobacter pylori eradication and follow-up were performed on 2, 1, 1 and 2 cases, respectively. Five cases had a good prognosis after 21-73 months follow-up, and 1 case had lost to follow-up. No recurrence was found in endoscopic and imaging review. Colorectal MALT lymphoma should be considered when colonoscopy detects a submucosal lesion with TLA sign on the left colon. Endoscopic resection has the potential to be a first-line treatment in the context of early diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE To establish fingerprints and multi-components determination of Jieze lotion, and use chemometrics methods for quality evaluation. METHODS The HPLC-DAD fingerprints was established and 10 components were recognized by comparison with references. Meanwhile, their contents were determined. The data were evaluated by the methods of chemometrics such as similarity evaluation, cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis. RESULTS The similarity of 11 batches of Jieze lotion were all >0.95. The linearity was good(r≥0. 999 1) and the average recoveries were between 89.70% and 106.0% with the RSD of 1.52%−3.41%. Instrument precision, stability and reproducibility of the method were all great. The contents of the common ten components(gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, neochlorogenic acid, caftaricacid, 5-O-feruloylquinicacid, chlorogenic acid, phellodendrine chloride, magnoflorine, 4-O-feruloylquinic acid, berberinehydrochloride) were 40.103−55.841, 2.347−6.179, 8.336−23.810, 7.084−21.956, 33.098−53.833, 24.597−49.610, 21.587−31.188, 5.915−13.162, 115.381−189.702, 31.378−112.686 μg·mL−1, respectively. The results of chemometrics showed that the 11 batches of samples could be divided into 4 categories, and the strong characteristic peaks used to distinguish each batch of samples were berberine hydrochloride, 4-O-feruloylquinic acid, chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid and 5-O-feruloylquinic acid. CONCLUSION The method is accurate and reliable, and it can be used for the quality control and comprehensive evaluation of Jieze lotion.