Anti-inflammatory effects of anethole in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice

Aims

Anethole, the major component of the essential oil of star anise, has been reported to have antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and anesthetic properties. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of anethole in a mouse model of acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Main methods

BALB/C mice were intraperitoneally administered anethole (62.5, 125, 250, or 500 mg/kg) 1 h before intratracheal treatment with LPS (1.5 mg/kg) and sacrificed after 4 h. The anti-inflammatory effects of anethole were assessed by measuring total protein and cell levels and inflammatory mediator production and by histological evaluation and Western blot analysis.

Key findings

LPS significantly increased total protein levels; numbers of total cells, including macrophages and neutrophils; and the production of inflammatory mediators such as matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nitric oxide (NO) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Anethole (250 mg/kg) decreased total protein concentrations; numbers of inflammatory cells, including neutrophils and macrophages; and the inflammatory mediators MMP-9, TNF-α and NO. In addition, pretreatment with anethole decreased LPS-induced histopathological changes. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of anethole in LPS-induced acute lung injury was assessed by investigating the effects of anethole on NF-κB activation. Anethole suppressed the activation of NF-κB by blocking IκB-α degradation.

Significance

These results, showing that anethole prevents LPS-induced acute lung inflammation in mice, suggest that anethole may be therapeutically effective in inflammatory conditions in humans.     

Spatio-temporal spread of neuronal death after focal photolysis of caged glutamate in neuron/astrocyte co-cultures

Glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity is now accepted as a major mechanism of ischemic neuronal damage. In the infarct core region, massive neuronal death is observed, but neurons in the surroundings of the core (ischemic penumbra) seem viable at the time of stroke. Several hours or days after a stroke, however, many neurons in the penumbra will undergo delayed neuronal death (DND). The mechanisms responsible for such DND are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated whether and how glutamate-mediated localized excitotoxic neuronal death affects surrounding neurons and astrocytes. To induce spatially-restricted excitotoxic neuronal death, a caged glutamate was focally photolyzed by a UV flash in neuron/astrocyte co-cultures. Uncaging of the glutamate resulted in acute neuronal death in the flashed area. After that, DND was observed in the surroundings of the flashed area late after the uncaging. In contrast, DND was not observed in neuron-enriched cultures, suggesting that functional changes in astrocytes, not neurons, after focal acute neuronal death were involved in the induction of DND. The present in vitro study showed that the spatially-restricted excitotoxic neuronal death resulted in DND in the surroundings of the flashed area, and suggested that the nitric oxide (NO)-induced reduction in the expression of astrocytic GLT-1 was responsible for the occurrence of the DND.     

Decreased plasma nesfatin-1 levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Nesfatin-1 is a novel anorexigenic hormone which has close relationship with diabetes, obese, anorexia nervosa, psychiatric disorders and neurogenic diseases. The aim of our study was to evaluate levels of plasma nesfatin-1 among patients presenting with coronary artery disease and the correlation between nesfatin-1 levels and other clinical parameters. Fasting plasma levels of nesfatin-1 were tested in 48 acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients, 74 stable angina pectoris (SAP) patients and 34 control subjects. All of them were examined by coronary angiography. The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was assessed using the Gensini score. Plasma nesfatin-1 levels were significantly lower in AMI group than SAP group or control group (0.91 ± 0.08 ng/mL vs. 0.98 ± 0.19 ng/mL and 1.09 ± 0.39 ng/mL, respectively, P < 0.05). In AMI patients, plasma nesfatin-1 levels were negatively correlated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, neutrophil% or Gensini scores. Such information implies that lower nesfatin-1 concentration may play a very important role in the development of AMI.     

Plasma intermedin levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction

It has been shown that adrenomedullin (ADM) may function as a cardiovascular-regulatory peptide in humans. Intermedin (IMD) is a newly discovered peptide related to ADM and has a greater range of biological effects on the cardiovascular in animal experiments. The purpose of the study was to investigate the pathophysiological role of IMD in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The present study included twenty patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), thirty-three with stable coronary heart disease (SCHD), and eighteen healthy controls. Plasma levels of IMD, malonaldehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and cardiac biomarkers were determined at one, two, four and seven days following AMI. Plasma IMD levels were significantly increased on day 1 in AMI patients when compared with SCHD subjects (P = 0.014), and reached a peak of 181.88 ± 9.47 pg/ml at 96 h. Plasma IMD concentrations were correlated with MDA and SOD. Furthermore, patients with severe lesions in their coronary arteries tended to have higher plasma IMD levels (P < 0.05) in AMI patients. A significant increase in plasma IMD following AMI may be associated with oxidative stress, and could be used as a marker to reflect the severity of the coronary stenosis.     

Effect of menthol in experimentally induced ulcers: Pathways of gastroprotection

Based on ethnopharmacological indications that Mentha species may be used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, this study aimed to characterize the gastroprotective mechanisms of menthol (ME), the major compound of the essential oil from species of the genus Mentha. The gastroprotective action of ME was analyzed in gastric ulcers that were induced by ethanol or indomethacin in Wistar male rats. The mechanisms responsible for the gastroprotective effect were assessed by analyzing the amount of mucus secreted, involvement of non-protein sulfhydryl (NP-SH) compounds, involvement of calcium ion channels and NO/cGMP/K⁺_ATP pathway, gastric antisecretory activity and the prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production. The anti-diarrheal activity and acute toxicity of ME were also evaluated. Oral treatment with ME (50 mg/kg) offered 88.62% and 72.62% of gastroprotection against ethanol and indomethacin, respectively. There was an increased amount of mucus and PGE₂ production. The gastroprotective activity of ME involved NP-SH compounds and the stimulation of K⁺_ATP channels, but not the activation of calcium ion channels or the production of NO. The oral administration of ME induced an antisecretory effect as it decreased the H⁺ concentration in gastric juice. ME displayed anti-diarrheal and antiperistaltic activity. There were no signs of toxicity in the biochemical analyses performed in the rats’ serum. These results demonstrated that ME provides gastroprotective and anti-diarrheal activities with no toxicity in rats.     

Discovery of 3-phenyl-1H-5-pyrazolylamine derivatives containing a urea pharmacophore as potent and efficacious inhibitors of FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3)

Preclinical investigations and early clinical trials suggest that FLT3 inhibitors are a viable therapy for acute myeloid leukemia. However, early clinical data have been underwhelming due to incomplete inhibition of FLT3. We have developed 3-phenyl-1H-5-pyrazolylamine as an efficient template for kinase inhibitors. Structure–activity relationships led to the discovery of sulfonamide, carbamate and urea series of FLT3 inhibitors. Previous studies showed that the sulfonamide 4 and carbamate 5 series were potent and selective FLT3 inhibitors with good in vivo efficacy. Herein, we describe the urea series, which we found to be potent inhibitors of FLT3 and VEGFR2. Some inhibited growth of FLT3-mutated MOLM-13 cells more strongly than the FLT3 inhibitors sorafenib (2) and ABT-869 (3). In preliminary in vivo toxicity studies of the four most active compounds, 10f was found to be the least toxic. A further in vivo efficacy study demonstrated that 10f achieved complete tumor regression in a higher proportion of MOLM-13 xenograft mice than 4 and 5 (70% vs 10% and 40%). These results show that compound 10f possesses improved pharmacologic and selectivity profiles and could be more effective than previously disclosed FLT3 inhibitors in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.     

不同发育期诸氏鲻虾虎鱼对钻井液的敏感性比较

目的筛选试验鱼适宜急性毒性试验的发育期。方法将诸氏鲻虾虎鱼早期仔鱼、中期仔鱼、晚期仔鱼、稚鱼、幼鱼及成鱼暴露于一定浓度的钻井液中,比较钻井液对不同发育期诸氏鲻虾虎鱼的急性毒性。结果早期仔鱼48 h LC50为157 mg/L,中期仔鱼48 h LC50大于500 mg/L;中期仔鱼96 h LC50为79 mg/L,晚期仔鱼96h LC50为625 mg/L,稚鱼、幼鱼、成鱼96 h LC50显著大于500 mg/L;卤虫无节幼体96 h LC50为105 mg/L;不同发育期诸氏鲻虾虎鱼对钻井液的敏感性顺序为：早期仔鱼〉中期仔鱼〉晚期仔鱼〉稚、幼、成鱼。结论诸氏鲻虾虎鱼的早期仔鱼适用于海洋污染物急性毒性评价。     

金双歧联合通腑合剂治疗急性胰腺炎的临床研究

【摘 要】 目的 观察金双歧联合通腑合剂治疗急性胰腺炎的临床效果。方法 120例胰腺炎患者,随机分为常规治疗组、通腑合剂组和联合治疗组,每组40例。采取不同治疗方法,分别观察3组患者的临床治疗效果、实验室指标改善情况以及住院时间等。结果 联合治疗组治疗效果明显优于常规治疗组及通腑合剂组（P<0.05）,未出现恶化病例,其腹痛、腹胀缓解时间及血淀粉酶（AMY）和C反应蛋白（CRP）恢复时间明显短于常规治疗组和通腑治疗组,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。联合治疗组和通腑合剂组在血白细胞（WBC）和血脂肪酶（LPS）恢复上差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）,但均优于常规治疗组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 金双歧联合通腑合剂治疗急性胰腺炎有较好的临床效果,并能缩短住院时间。     

LPS／D—GalN诱发ⅣF—KB转基因小鼠急性致死性肝损伤模型的建立

目的以NF—KB转基因BALB／c小鼠建立一个LPS／D—GaIN诱发的急性致死性肝损伤模型。方法采取腹腔注射高剂量的LPS／D-GalN建立急性致死性肝损伤小鼠模型,观察模型小鼠的促炎症细胞因子水平和NF—KB的活性改变,以及肝脏功能和病理改变情况。结果模型组小鼠生存时间为8—10h,模型建立后小鼠血清TNF—a、IL-6和MCP-1水平显著升高,在2—4h达到高峰;肝脏外观出现瘀血和出血,肝脏小叶被严重破坏,肝细胞严重坏死和出血;血清ALT／AST水平在模型诱发后持续迅速上升;整体成像显示胛-KB的活性在4～6h达到高峰。正常对照组小鼠以上指标无显著变化。结论成功建立LPS／D-GalN诱发的M-船转基因小鼠的急性致死性肝损伤模型。