Antioxidant and antiinflammatory effect of Epilobium parviflorum Schreb.

Epilobium parviflorum Schreb. (Onagraceae) is used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), but its biological action is not entirely identified. This paper aims to report data on E. parviflorum with respect to its antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects. The aqueous acetone extract of E. parviflorum showed higher antioxidant effect in the DPPH assay than well known antioxidants and inhibited the lipid peroxidation determined by the TBA assay (IC₅₀ = 2.37 ± 0.12 mg/mL). In concentrations of 0.2–15.0 µg/mL the extract possessed a protective effect, comparable to catalase (250 IU/mL), against oxidative damage, generated in fibroblast cells. In the COX inhibition assay E. parviflorum decreased the PGE₂ release, so showing inhibition of the COX‐enzyme (IC₅₀ = 1.4 ± 0.1 µg/mL). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

血清AST/ALT,PAB,TBA在肝炎诊断中的重要意义

目的:通过检测乙肝患者血清谷草转氨酶(AST)/谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、前血蛋白(PAB)、总胆汁酸(TBA)进一步分析以上几项指标,对临床诊断治疗、预后判断的指导作用。方法:对临床诊断为乙型肝炎患者226例,健康体检者28例,采取静脉血,采用ELISA法进行血清乙肝病毒标志物检测,采用日立-7170型全自动生化分析仪检测血清AST、ALT、PAB、TBA。结果:随病情加重AST/ALT>0.6百分率升高,其顺序为重型肝炎>肝炎肝硬化>慢性肝炎>急性肝炎,AST/ALT>1.2者也如此。对于血清PAB各型肝炎与对照组比较P<0.05,而且从急性肝炎、慢性肝炎、肝炎肝硬化、重型肝炎血清PAB逐渐下降。血清总胆汁的各型肝炎患者均高于正常对照组、而且随病情加重,TBA升高明显。结论:开展血清PAB、TBA、AST/ALT的检测与分析与其他检测项目互补,对指导临床医生做肝活检、了解肝损伤程度,肝纤维化进程十分重要。     

肝硬化患者血清中γ-谷氨酰转移酶、胆碱酯酶、总胆汁酸水平及凝血功能对肝功能分级的价值评价

目的探讨肝硬化患者γ-谷氨酰转移酶（GGT）、胆碱酯酶（CHE）、总胆汁酸（TBA）水平及凝血功能的变化在Child—Pugh分级中的价值。方法测定40例肝硬化患者血清GGT、CHE、TBA及血浆中凝血酶原时间（PT）、激活部分凝血激酶时间（APTT）、凝血酶时间（TT）和纤维蛋白原（FIB）含量。与对照组30例比较。同时比较在肝硬化不同Child—Pugh分级状态时这7项指标的差异。结果与对照组比较，肝硬化组GGT、TBA血清含量明显升高，PT、APTT、TT时间延长，而CHE、FIB血清含量明显下降，差异均有显著性（P〈0．001），且在不同肝功能分级时，各项指标均有统计学意义（P〈0．05或P〈0．01或P〈0．001）。结论肝硬化患者GGT、CHE、TBA、PT、APTT、FIB、TT值与正常对照组比较存在明显差异，且不同肝功能分级的上述指标变化相异，故联合检测上述各值可为临床评价肝硬化患者的肝功能及预后提供客观依据。     

妊娠期血清总胆汁酸的检测及临床意义

目的了解正常妊娠过程中血清总胆汁酸（TBA）含量变化及临床意义。方法采用日产Olympus Au-640自动生化分析仪检测215例正常孕妇不同妊娠阶段和136例末孕妇女血清总胆汁酸含量，并同时检测总胆红素（TBIL），直接胆红素（DBIL）、谷丙转氨酶（ALT）、谷草转氨酶（AST）。结果正常妊娠过程中，TBA、TBIL、DBIL、ALT、AST均有增高趋势，与未孕组比较，TBA在妊娠中期即开始显著升高（P〈0．05），妊娠晚期TBA增高更加显著（P〈0．01），而TBIL、DBIL、ALT、AST到妊娠晚期才显著升高（P〈0．01）。结论TBA含量在正常妊娠过程中有生理性改变（〈20umol／L），比TBIL、DBIL、ALT、AST改变早，其异常升高（〉40umol／L），对孕妇及胎儿危害较大，因此妊娠妇女应定期做TBA检测，有利于肝内胆汁淤积症（ICP）的早诊断、早治疗。     

Delivery of progenitor cells with injectable shear-thinning hydrogel maintains geometry and normalizes strain to stabilize cardiac function after ischemia

Objectives

The ventricle undergoes adverse remodeling after myocardial infarction, resulting in abnormal biomechanics and decreased function. We hypothesize that tissue-engineered therapy could minimize postischemic remodeling through mechanical stress reduction and retention of tensile myocardial properties due to improved endothelial progenitor cell retention and intrinsic biomechanical properties of the hyaluronic acid shear-thinning gel.

新生儿黄疸总胆汁酸和胆红素变化分析及临床意义

目的探讨血清总胆汁酸（TBA）测定在新生儿黄疸病例诊断中的临床意义。方法采用循环酶速率法检测本院收治的生理性黄疸39例、病理性黄疸48例及对照组38例血清中总胆汁酸（TBA）水平,并作比较。结果病理性黄疸组显著增高,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论TBA测定在新生儿黄疸诊断中有较高的灵敏性与特异性,肝实质损伤指标灵敏度优于肝功能项目检测。     

Sulforaphane prevents microcystin-LR-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis in BALB/c mice

Microcystins (MCs), the products of blooming algae Microcystis, are waterborne environmental toxins that have been implicated in the development of liver cancer, necrosis, and even fatal intrahepatic bleeding. Alternative protective approaches in addition to complete removal of MCs in drinking water are urgently needed. In our previous work, we found that sulforaphane (SFN) protects against microcystin-LR (MC-LR)-induced cytotoxicity by activating the NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-mediated defensive response in human hepatoma (HepG2) and NIH 3T3 cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate and confirm efficacy the SFN-induced multi-mechanistic defense system against MC-induced hepatotoxicity in an animal model. We report that SFN protected against MC-LR-induced liver damage and animal death at a nontoxic and physiologically relevant dose in BALB/c mice. The protection by SFN included activities of anti-cytochrome P450 induction, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and anti-apoptosis. Our results suggest that SFN may protect mice against MC-induced hepatotoxicity. This raises the possibility of a similar protective effect in human populations, particularly in developing countries where freshwaters are polluted by blooming algae.     

An herbal fruit, Amomum xanthoides, ameliorates thioacetamide-induced hepatic fibrosis in rat via antioxidative system

Aim of the study

Amomum xanthoides is a well-known traditional herbal medicine mainly for diverse digestive system disorders in Asia for a long time. In the present study, we investigate the effects and action mechanism of methanol fraction of Amomum xanthoides (MFAX) on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis in rat model.

Materials and methods

TAA (200 mg/kg, ip on twice a week for 14 weeks) treated rats were orally administered with MFAX (25, 50 or 100 mg/kg) once a day from the 7th week until 14th week.

Result

Significantly elevated serum bilirubin, liver tissue hydroxyproline and malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver fibrosis were ameliorated by MFAX treatment. Further, MFAX treatment attenuated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and restored glutathione (GSH) content and glutathione-peroxidase (GPx) activity. Histopathological data showed that MFAX treatment inhibited collagen accumulation and activation of hepatocyte stellate cells (HSCs) in the liver tissue. Compared to the TAA group, activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), platelet-derived growth factor beta (PDGF-β) mRNAs and the level of pro-fibrotic cytokines PDGF-β and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the liver tissue were attenuated in MFAX treated groups.

Conclusion

The above evidences collectively indicate that MFAX is a potential herb which can be used as an anti-hepatofibrotic remedy.     

肝脏功能严重受损患者相关指标检测结果对比分析

目的：探讨r-谷氨酰转肽酶（r-GT）、胆碱酯酶（CHE）、总胆汁酸（TBA）和凝血四项实验室检测对肝功能受损患者治疗、预后的意义。方法：测定52例肝功能严重受损患者血清r-GT、CHE、TBA及血浆中凝血酶原时间（PT）、活化部分凝血活酶时间（APTT）、凝血酶时间（TT）和纤维蛋白原（FIB）,与对照组比较。结果：与对照组比较,肝硬化组r-GT、TBAA血清含量明显升高PT、APTT、TT时间延长,CHE、FIB血清含量明显下降,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．001）。结论：通过联合检测凝血功能、肝功能可以观察病情,判定肝功能损害程度及预后。     

Evaluation of amentoflavone isolated from Cnestis ferruginea Vahl ex DC (Connaraceae) on production of inflammatory mediators in LPS stimulated rat astrocytoma cell line (C6) and THP-1 cells

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Cnestisferruginea (CF) Vahl ex DC (Connaraceae) is a shrub widely used in traditional African medicine for the treatment of various psychiatric illness and inflammatory conditions.

Aim of the study

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of amentoflavone isolated from methanolic root extract of CF on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammatory cascade of events associated to the oxidative and nitrative stress, and TNF-α production in rat astrocytoma cell line (C6) and human monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1), respectively.

Materials and methods

Rat astrocytoma cells (C6) were stimulated with LPS (10 μg/ml) alone and in the presence of different concentrations of amentoflavone (0.1–3 μg/ml) for 24 h incubation period. Nitrite release, reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced-glutathione (GSH) in C6 cells were estimated; while the TNF-α level was estimated in THP-1 cell lysate. In vivo analgesic activity was evaluated using mouse writhing and hot plate tests while the anti-inflammatory effect was investigated using carrageenan-induced oedema test.

Results

LPS (10 μg/ml) significantly (P<0.05) stimulated C6 cells to release nitrite, ROS, MDA, and TNF-α generation while GSH was down regulated in comparison to control. However, amentoflavone significantly (P<0.05) attenuated nitrite, ROS, MDA and TNF-α generation and also up regulated the level of GSH. Amentoflavone per se did not have any significant effect on C6 and THP-1 cells. Amentoflavone (6.25–50 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.05) reduced number of writhes and also increase pain threshold in hot plate test. It produced time course significant (P<0.05) decrease in oedema formation in rodents.

Discussion and conclusion

Findings in this study demonstrate the anti-neuroinflammatory and antinoceptive effects of amentoflavone which may suggest its beneficial roles in neuroinflammation associated disorders.