Immunologic events in pigeon breeders'' disease

The immunologic and physiologic status of a group of symptomatic and asymptomatic pigeon breeders was studied in an attempt to define the immunologic events occurring in pigeon breeders' disease. Antibody activity to antigen(s) present in pigeon dropping extract (PDE) and pigeon serum (PS) was detected in the serum of both symptomatic and asymptomatic breeders. Antibody activity, however, tended to be greater in the symptomatic pigeon breeders. When subjects were challenged with PS via aerosol, serum complement activity became depressed only in asymptomatic patients. Cellular hypersensitivity to antigens present in PDE was detected in vitro in peripheral lymphocyte populations of 4 of 5 symptomatic breeders and in none of the asymptomatic breeders; cellular hypersensitivity to antigens in PS was not demonstrated in any of the individuals tested. These findings indicate that cell-mediated hypersensitivity, as well as humoral immunologic processes, may be involved in the pathogenesis of the hypersensitivity pneumonitis found in pigeon breeders.     

Cockroach allergen extract stimulates protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) expressed in mouse lung fibroblast

Objective: To investigate whether cockroach allergen extract can stimulate Protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) expressed in mouse lung fibroblast.Materials: We established an immortalized lung fibroblast cell line, DM5, from PAR-2 deficient mice. By stable transfection with either an empty vector (DM5/EV) or an expression vector encoding mouse PAR-2 cDNA (DM5/Par2), a pair of lung fibroblast cell lines with or without functional PAR-2 expression were prepared.Treatment: The cells were exposed to cockroach allergen extract {up to 800 protein nitrogen unit (PNU)/ml}, trypsin (up to 100 nM), SLIGRL agonist peptide (up to 500 M), and trans-cinnamoyl-LIGRO agonist peptide (up to 400 M).Methods: The cells were loaded with Fluo-3 calcium indicator and mobilization of intracellular calcium with the stimuli was monitored by a fluorometric plate reader. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation was examined by Western blot analysis using an anti-phospho ERK antibody.Results: The cockroach extract induced intracellular calcium transients in a concentration dependent manner in DM5/Par2 but not in DM5/EV. The activity was abolished when the cockroach extract was heat denatured or pre-incubated with PMSF (phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride) prior to the assay. Concomitantly, ERK phosphorylation was seen in DM5/Par2 with the cockroach extract but not with a heat-denatured extract. The responses were sensitive to an inositol-1,4,5 triphosphate antagonist (2-APB) indicating that calcium was mobilized from intracellular store.Conclusions: Cockroach allergen extract can activate PAR-2 and thereby stimulate mouse lung fibroblasts likely through protease(s). The present study proposes a potential mechanism for cockroach antigens, similar to house dust mite antigens, in the etiology of respiratory diseases.Received 29 February 2004; returned for revision 12 April 2004; accepted by M. Katori 22 April 2004     

In vivo and in vitro comparison of fire ant venom and fire ant whole body extract

Thirty-four patients with a history of immediate hypersensitivity to the sting of the imported fire ant were evaluated in a study designed to compare the diagnostic usefulness of fire ant whole body extract (WBE) preparations with that of fire ant venom (IFAV). Ninety-one percent ($\text{31}\text{34}$) of the hypersensitive patients skin tested with IFAV at a maximal concentration of 1:5 × 10³, $\text{v}\text{v}$, demonstrated a wheat equal to or greater than the histamine control. Fifty-three percent ($\text{18}\text{34}$) of the group were skin test positive to a WBE preparation. When the criteria for a positive skin test were relaxed, 82% of the hypersensitive group could be identified with the IFAWBE. A comparison of skin test results in sensitive patients revealed variability in the sensitivity of the WBE preparations utilized in the study. Leukocyte histamine release demonstrated a dose-response release of histamine with both IFAV and SIWBEa preparations. Specific venom antisera produced in rabbits identified a precipitin line of common identity in a gel-diffusion system containing IFAWBE and IFAV. This finding was verified by the competitive inhibition of IFAWBE with IFAV in a solid-phase radioimmunoassay system. Fire ant WBEs contain venom constituents and are effective diagnostic agents in up to 82% of patients with hypersensitivity to the sting of the imported fire ant. Marked variability in the responsiveness of sensitive patients to different WBE preparations mandates standardization of these diagnostic preparations.     

香烟烟雾提取物致小鼠生殖细胞的遗传学损伤

目的：研究香烟烟雾提取物对小鼠生殖细胞染色体和精子的影响,方法：给雄性小鼠腹腔注射不同剂量的香烟烟雾提取物,观察其精原细胞染色体畸变及精子畸形的情况,结果：精原细胞染色体畸变率及精子畸形率均增高,精子畸形率增高的程度大于精原细胞染色体畸变率。结论：香烟烟雾提取物可致雄性小鼠生殖细胞染色体畸变和精子畸形。     

Immune adjuvants for chemotherapy or radiotherapy in the 9L rat brain tumor model

Summary The therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of three biological response modifiers,Corynebacterium parvum (Cp), Chinese blister beetle extract (CBBE), recombinant human IL-1 (rhIL-1), used alone or in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, were investigated in the intracerebral (ic) rat 9L brain tumor model. Used alone, Cp (2mg/rat, ip plus 70g/rat, ic), CBBE (5l of an ethanol extract, ic), or IL-1 (lg/rat, ic or 1g/rat × 3, q 3 d, ic), had no effect on animal survival compared to the untreated or saline treated controls. When combined with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, the three immunotherapeutic agents did not show any additive effects on survival compared to that observed with systemic BCNU (12mg/kg), local ic bleomycin (0.25 unit), or local radiotherapy (16 Gy). While ic IL-1 did not produce evident toxicity, there was fatal toxicity caused by ic Cp or CBBE treatment in a few animals. The combination of Cp and bleomycin produced severe neurotoxicity, resulting in the early death of animals. This study demonstrates a lack of efficacy of the nonspecific immune adjuvants IL-1, Cp or CBBE, used either alone or combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiotherapy, in this rat brain tumor model.     

Behavioral effects of hashish in mice

The acute and subchronic effects of hashish extract (20 mg ⁹-THC/kg) on the social interactions between two drug-treated residents and an untreated intruder male were investigated. In this analysis 28 different behavioral elements were recorded.A single drug application suppressed all categories of behavior, except submissive behavior and flight, in dominant and subordinate residents. Treated animals were less active than controls and immobility was very frequent. An elevated total activity, due to an increase in non-social activities, was observed in the untreated intruder males of this group. Social investigation as well as submissive behavior and flight were reduced in these animals.On introduction of an untreated male after the fourth drug treatment of the residents, the drugged males showed tolerance to the sedative and most of the other behavioral effects of the drug, and intruder males behaved quite normally.The formation of a dominant-subordinate relation within the group was influenced neither by a single nor by repeated drug treatment.The acute and subchronic effects of hashish extract on social, especially aggressive behavior of males are compared to those described in previous papers and the variation in the results of the different studies is discussed.     

三相流化床蒸发浓缩更年安提取物的研究

目的使用三相流化床蒸发浓缩中试装置用于更年安提取物的浓缩,探索最佳浓缩工艺。方法以浓缩器总传热系数、蒸发强度、浸膏的相对密度和最终产品中大黄素为指标,考察影响的主要因素:浓缩温度、分离室压力、加热蒸汽压力,并与普通的汽液两相外循环蒸发浓缩器进行比较。结果三相流化床蒸发浓缩最佳工艺为:加热蒸汽压力为0.15～0.25MPa,浓缩温度小于80℃,分离室压力为0.04～0.08MPa,颗粒直径0～0.020m。与普通外循环蒸发浓缩器相比,更年安醇提液的蒸发强度和总传热系数提高0.6倍,更年安水提液的蒸发强度和总传热系数提高0.3倍。三相流化床浓缩器连续运行300h,没有药物挂壁,而普通外循环浓缩器100h左右即会结垢。三相流化床蒸发浓缩工艺可以使浓缩液相对密度在1.35以上时一次出膏,勿需后续的真空球型浓缩罐再浓缩。更年安片中指标成分大黄素符合要求。结论三相流化床蒸发浓缩器具有在线防止结垢、效率高、浓缩时间短、流程简单,适应范围广等优点,可应用于中药浓缩。     

柴黄益肾方提取物的长期毒性实验研究

目的：观察柴黄益肾方提取物（CYE）对大鼠的长期毒性,为临床安全用药提供依据.方法：将大鼠随机分为4个组,3个剂量组分别按8.8g/kg、4.4g/kg、2.2g/kg连续灌胃给予CYE 6个月,对照组给予同体积生理盐水.停药后继续观察4周,测试大鼠体重、血液学指标、血液生化学指标、脏器指数及病理组织学变化.结果：高剂量组大鼠体重增长缓慢,3个剂量组与红细胞相关指标与对照组比较小幅下降,尿素氮与对照组比较小幅上升,高中剂量组肝脏指数小幅上升,与对照组比较有显著性差异,以上改变均在正常生理范围之内.结论：CYE在临床推荐剂量下有一定的安全性.     

基于UHPLC-QqQ-MS的四逆散水提液中16种主要化学成分的定量研究

目的 建立同时测定四逆散水提液中16种化学成分含量的方法。方法 应用UHPLC-QqQ-MS技术,采用负离子模式进行扫描,以MRM配对离子方式进行定量。结果 柴胡皂苷A、柴胡皂苷B₂、柴胡皂苷C、柴胡皂苷D、橙皮素、儿茶素、甘草苷、甘草酸、甘草素、绿原酸、没食子酸、芍药苷、芍药内酯苷、异甘草素、异绿原酸A、橙皮苷在负离子模式下响应良好。结论 本实验所建立的同时测定四逆散水提液中16种化学成分含量的分析方法专属性强、快速、灵敏且准确可靠,在完成含量测定的同时又可以准确给出化合物质量数信息,从而达到成分鉴别的效果,该方法可以为四逆散水提液的全面质量控制提供技术支持。      

A Novel Herbal Extract Blend Product Prevents Particulate Matters-Induced Inflammation by Improving Gut Microbiota and Maintaining the Integrity of the Intestinal Barrier

Air pollutants of PM2.5 can alter the composition of gut microbiota and lead to inflammation in the lung and gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of a novel herbal extract blend, FC, composed of Lonicera japonica extract, Momordica grosvenori extract, and broccoli seed extract, on PM2.5-induced inflammation in the respiratory and intestinal tract. A549 cells and THP-1 cells, as well as C57BL/6 mice, were stimulated with PM2.5 to establish in vitro and in vivo exposure models. The models were treated with or without FC. The expression of inflammatory cytokines and tight junction proteins were studied. Proteomic analysis was performed to elucidate mechanisms. Mouse feces were collected for gut microbiota analysis. FC was shown to modulate the upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines mRNA expression in A549 and THP-1 cells and downregulated tight junction proteins mRNA expression in A549 cells due to PM2.5 stimulation. In animal models, the decreased expression of the anti-inflammatory factor il-10, tight junction protein ZO-1, and the elevated expression of COX-2 induced by PM2.5 were improved by FC intervention, which may be associated with zo-1 and cox-2 signaling pathways. In addition, FC was shown to improve the gut microbiota by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria.