The Influence of In Vivo Metabolic Modifications on ADMET Properties of Green Tea Catechins–In Silico Analysis

The health effects of green tea are associated with catechins: (?)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), (?)-epigallocatechin, (?)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate, and (?)-epicatechin. An understanding of compound absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity characteristics is essential for explaining its biological activities. Herein, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity properties of in vivo detected metabolites of green tea catechins (GTCs) have been analyzed in silico. The influence of metabolic transformations on absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion profiles of GTCs corresponds to the effects of size, charge, and lipophilicity, as already observed for other small molecules. Mutagenic, carcinogenic, or liver toxic effects were predicted only for a few metabolites. Similar to galloylated GTCs EGCG and (--)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate, the sulfo-conjugates were predicted to bind at the warfarin binding site. The low free plasma concentration of these derivatives may be consequential to their serum albumin binding. The activity cliff detected for methylated conjugates of EGCG indicates that GTCs' pro-oxidative activity in bound state comes primarily from free hydroxyl groups of the pyrogallol ring B.     

Sustained Release of Minocycline From Minocycline-Calcium-Dextran Sulfate Complex Microparticles for Periodontitis Treatment

It is important to address the periodontitis-associated bacteria in the residual subgingival plaque after scaling and root planing to successfully treat periodontitis. In this study, we explored the possibility of exploiting the ion pairing/complexation of minocycline, Ca²⁺, and sulfate/sulfonate-bearing biopolymers to develop an intrapocket delivery system of minocycline as an adjunct to scaling and root planing. Minocycline-calcium-dextran sulfate complex microparticles were synthesized from minocycline, CaCl₂, and dextran sulfate. They were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. An in vitro release study was conducted to evaluate the release kinetics of minocycline from these microparticles. Agar disk diffusion assays and biofilm-grown bacteria assays were used to assess antibacterial capability. High loading efficiency (96.98% ± 0.12%) and high loading content (44.69% ± 0.03%) for minocycline were observed for these complex microparticles. Mino-Ca-DS microparticles achieved sustained release of minocycline for at least 9 days at pH 7.4 and 18 days at pH 6.4 in phosphate-buffered saline, respectively. They also demonstrated potent antimicrobial effects against Streptococcus mutans and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in agar disk diffusion and biofilm assays. These results suggested that the ion pairing/complexation of minocycline, Ca²⁺, and sulfonate/sulfate-bearing biopolymers can be exploited to develop complex microparticles as local delivery systems for periodontitis treatment.     

A high frequency missense SULT1B1 allelic variant (L145V) selectively expressed in African descendants exhibits altered kinetic properties

1.?Human cytosolic sulfotransferase 1B1 (SULT1B1) sulfates small phenolic compounds and bioactivates polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. To date, no SULT1B1 allelic variants have been well-characterized.

2.?While cloning SULT1B1 from human endometrial specimens, an allelic variant resulting in valine instead of leucine at the 145th amino acid position (L145V) was detected. NCBI reported this alteration as the highest frequency SULT1B1 allelic variant.

3.?L145V frequency comprised 9% of 37 mixed-population human patients and was specific to African Americans with an allelic frequency of 25%. Structurally, replacement of leucine with valine potentially destabilizes a conserved helix (α8) that forms the “floor” of both the substrate and PAPS binding domains. This destabilization results in altered kinetic properties including a four-fold decrease in affinity for PAP (3′, 5′-diphosphoadenosine). K_ms for 3′-phosphoadenosine- 5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS) are similar; however, maximal turnover rate of the variant isoform (0.86?pmol/(min*μg)) is slower than wild-type (WT) SULT1B1 (1.26?pmol/(min*μg)). The L145V variant also displays altered kinetics toward small phenolic substrates, including a diminished p-nitrophenol K_m and increased susceptibility to 1-naphthol substrate inhibition.

4.?No significant correlation between genotype and prostate or colorectal cancer was observed in patients; however, the variant isoform could underlie specific pathologies in sub-Saharan African carriers.     

Plasmid-mediated doxycycline resistance in a Yersinia pestis strain isolated from a rat

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant Yersinia pestis strains represents a public health concern. Two antibiotic-resistant Y. pestis strains isolated from Madagascar have been previously identified and characterised. Both strains carried conjugative plasmids that conferred resistance to streptomycin or to multiple antibacterial drugs, respectively. Here we characterised a novel Y. pestis strain (IP2180H) that exhibited resistance to doxycycline. This strain was isolated from a rat in Antananarivo (Madagascar) in 1998. Resistance was carried by a conjugative plasmid (pIP2180H) homologous to pB71 from Salmonella enterica. The plasmid of the previously identified streptomycin-resistant Y. pestis strain was also sequenced and it was found that the three antibiotic resistance Y. pestis plasmids sequenced until now are genetically unrelated and are also unrelated to multidrug resistance plasmids from the phylogenetically close bacterial species Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. The fact that the three antibiotic-resistant Malagasy Y. pestis strains were isolated from different hosts, at different times, from distant locations, and carried unrelated plasmids indicates independent horizontal acquisition of genetic material and further demonstrates the capacity of Y. pestis to acquire antibiotic resistance plasmids under natural conditions. Since these resistance plasmids can frequently carry or easily trap antibiotic resistance cassettes, the emergence of new multidrug-resistant Y. pestis strains may be expected and would represent a major health threat.     

Loratadine augments emotional blushing

The aim of this study was to determine whether loratadine, a selective inverse agonist of peripheral histamine H₁ receptors, would reduce emotional blushing. Loratadine (10?mg) or placebo was administered orally one hour before 31 healthy participants sang a children's nursery rhyme to evoke embarrassment and blushing. Skin blood flow was monitored via a laser Doppler probe attached to the cheek. Increases in facial blood flow while participants sang were greater in the loratadine than the placebo group (mean increase?±?standard deviation 71?±?52% in the loratadine group versus 35?±?37%, p?=?.036). However, perceptions of blushing were similar in both groups. These findings suggest that loratadine augmented blushing rather than inhibiting it. Thus, histamine released during blushing may inhibit acute increases in facial blood flow by evoking H₁ receptor-mediated vasoconstriction.     

丹酚酸B调控pSmad3C/pSmad3L发挥抗肝纤维化-肝细胞癌作用

目的观察丹酚酸B(salvianolic acid B,Sal B)对二乙基亚硝胺(diethylnitrosamine,DEN)诱导小鼠肝纤维化-肝细胞癌进程的影响,并探讨Sal B经由p Smad3C/p21介导的抑癌信号、p Smd3L/PAI-1/c-Myc介导的促肝纤维化-肝癌信号转换机制。方法昆明种♂小鼠100只,随机分组,DEN诱导小鼠肝纤维化-肝细胞癌模型,不同剂量Sal B(15、30mg·kg^-1·d^-1,ig)及阳性药秋水仙碱(0.2 mg·kg^-1·d^-1,ig)干预。于造模第12周、第16周分批处死小鼠,肝脏活检,苏木精-伊红(HE)染色、Van Gieson(VG)染色观察肝组织病理学特征,Western blot法检测肝组织中p Smad3C、p S-mad3L、p21、纤溶酶原激活物抑制剂-1(plasminogen activator inhibitor 1,PAI-1)及c-Myc蛋白表达。结果正常组肝脏表面光滑、质地柔软,模型组第12周时肝脏表面粗糙、质地变硬,第16周时肝脏表面可见弥漫性结节、质地坚硬;而丹酚酸B干预组以上病变明显改善。HE及VG染色显示,正常组肝组织结构正常,模型组第12周时肝组织炎细胞浸润、胶原纤维增生,形成假小叶结构;第16周时肝小叶结构紊乱,细胞核变大、分裂相增多、异型性明显;Sal B干预组肝组织病变程度明显减轻。Western blot结果显示,正常组肝组织中p Smad3C、p Smad3L、PAI-1表达均较少,p21、c-Myc几乎不表达;模型组第12周时肝组织中p Smad3C无明显变化,p S-mad3L、PAI-1、p21表达增多,第16周时p Smad3C、p Smad3L、p21、PAI-1、c-Myc表达皆有增加;而Sal B干预组第12周时p Smad3C、p21表达明显增加,p Smad3L、PAI-1蛋白水平明显降低,第16周时p Smad3C表达明显增加,p21几乎无变化,p Smad3L、PAI-1、c-Myc表达明显降低。结论Sal B延缓DEN诱导的小鼠肝纤维化-肝细胞癌进程,其机制可能与调控p Smad3C/p21、p Smad3L/PAI-1/c-Myc信号转换有关。     

Enzymatic glycosylation of oleanane-type triterpenoids

Abstract

Glycosylation is an effective approach to improve the druggability of natural products by increasing their water solubility. In this work, we report the glycosylation of oleanane-type triterpenoids by a recombinant microbial glycosyltransferase YjiC1. A preliminary screening test indicated YjiC1 exhibited robust capabilities for O-glycosylation of triterpenoids, based on LC/MS analysis. Among the products, two new compounds (2a and 3a), together with a known one (1a), were isolated and characterized. These products exhibited improved water solubility, and 3a showed moderate anti-HIV activities at 100 μM. This reaction provides a facile and efficient approach to synthesize the glucosides of triterpenoids.     

某省1996至2015年职业病防治机构人员状况

目的通过了解湖南省20年职防机构人员状况,对未来几年人力资源情况进行预测,为全省及其他地区优化职业病防治人力资源的规划,提升其服务能力提供科学依据与参考。方法在已建立的湖南省职防机构基本信息管理系统中抽取有关人员资料,对1996至2015年人员数量和构成的动态变化进行描述分析,采用灰色模型GM（1,1）进行人员情况预测。结果湖南省1996年职防机构人员为1 591人,至2015年为1 429人。20年间,人员构成从＂中专与无专业学历＂为主转变至以＂本科及以上与专科学历＂为主,以＂其他专业＂为主至以＂公共卫生与临床医学＂为中坚力量,由无职称人员占比超三分之一至仅占5%左右且高级、中级、初级职称均稳步上升的状况。预测显示,2018年和2020年职防机构高学历人员构成比将分别达41.00%和45.61%,公卫人员构成比将分别达44.15%和46.60%。结论湖南省20年职防机构人员数量变化不大,人员质量有了很大的提升,有利于职防事业的可持续发展;未来5年人员学历及专业构成将进一步得到优化。