Phytochemical and analytical studies of extracts from Rhodiola rosea and Rhodiola quadrifida

Column chromatography of hydrophilic extracts from Rhodiola rosea and Rodiola quadrifida led to the isolation of cinnamic alcohol, chlorogenic acid, rhodiooctanoside, rosiridin, rosavin and the phenolic compounds salidroside, rhodiolin and a novel compound consisting of viridoside with an attached arabinose unit (mongrhoside). HPLC analysis of plant material from different sources and from different collection periods showed a great variability in the composition and in the amount of pharmacologically active compounds contained.     

Choleretic effects of the Mongolian medicinal plant Saussurea amara in the isolated perfused rat liver

Saussurea amara is used in traditional Mongolian medicine for the treatment of hepato-biliary disorders. To determine the plant's effect on the bile-salt independent bile flow (hydrocholeresis) as a measure of liver exocrine functions, different extracts were investigated in the isolated rat liver perfusion system. The methanolic extract (3) exerted a dose-dependent increase in bile flow (16%, 37%, 53%, 61%) in concentrations of 50 mg/L, 100 mg/L, 250 mg/L and 500 mg/L. The aqueous crude extract (1) and the ethyl acetate extract (2) also showed a dose-dependent increase, whereas at the highest concentrations (1000 mg/L and 100 mg/L, respectively) a continuous decrease in bile flow could be observed. Cynaropicrin also provoked a dose-dependent increase in bile flow, but caused liver damage at the highest dose tested (20 mg/L). Apigenin 7- O-glucoside, present in extracts 2 and 3, induced a dose-dependent increase of 20%, 30% and 40% (5 mg/L, 10 mg/L, 20 mg/L) and showed a significantly higher effect than the reference substance cynarin. The total flavonoid content was determined by spectrophotometry. To quantify the absolute amount of cynaropicrin in the crude drug and in the tested extracts, an HLPC system was established with santonin as internal standard.     

Investigation of oxidative stress and dietary habits in Mongolian people, compared to Japanese people

Background

The average life span of Mongolians is 62 years for males and 69 years for females. This life span is about 16 years shorter than that of Japanese. Mongolian people generally eat meat, fat and diary products but less vegetables or fruit. Thus, we investigated the state of oxidative stress and dietary habits of Mongolians.

Methods

The investigation was performed in Murun city in the northwest area of Mongolia. A total of 164 healthy subjects (24–66 y) were enrolled. As a marker of reactive oxygen species, the levels of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) were measured using the d-ROM test. Interviews about dietary habits were performed using the Food Frequency Questionnaire established by the Kagawa Nutrition University.

Results

ROM levels were 429.7 ± 95.2 Carr U for Murun subjects, whereas Japanese people (n = 220, 21–98 y) showed 335.3 ± 59.8 (p < 0.001). The levels of serum malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine were also high. ROM levels correlated with body fat ratio and inversely correlated with handgrip strength. Handgrip strength in the subjects over 45 years decreased more rapidly than that of age-matched Japanese. Murun subjects ate larger amounts of meat, fat, milk and flour and dairy products than Japanese, but less vegetables or fruit. Serum vitamin A and E levels were the same as Japanese references, but vitamin C levels were lower.

Conclusion

Murun subjects may be in high oxidative stress, which may have a relationship with early ageing and several diseases, ultimately resulting in their short life span. In order to increase antioxidant capacity and suppress overproduction of ROM, antioxidant food intake is recommended.     

Transplantation of human mesenchymal stem cells promotes functional improvement and increased expression of neurotrophic factors in a rat focal cerebral ischemia model

Previous studies have suggested that intravenous transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in rat ischemia models reduces ischemia‐induced brain damage. Here, we analyzed the expression of neurotrophic factors in transplanted human MSCs and host brain tissue in rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) ischemia model. At 1 day after transient MCAO, 3 × 10⁶ immortalized human MSC line (B10) cells or PBS was intravenously transplanted. Behavioral tests, infarction volume, and B10 cell migration were investigated at 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after MCAO. The expression of endogenous (rat origin) and exogenous (human origin) neurotorphic factors and cytokines was evaluated by quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR and Western blot analysis. Compared with PBS controls, rats receiving MSC transplantation showed improved functional recovery and reduced brain infarction volume at 7 and 14 days after MCAO. In MSC‐transplanted brain, among many neurotrofic factors, only human insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) was detected in the core and ischemic border zone at 3 days after MCAO, whereas host cells expressed markedly higher neurotrophic factors (rat origin) than control rats, especially vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) at 3 days and epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) at 7 days after MCAO. Intravenously transplanted human MSCs induced functional improvement, reduced infarct volume, and neuroprotection in ischemic rats, possibly by providing IGF‐1 and inducing VEGF, EGF, and bFGF neurotrophic factors in host brain. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

High prevalence of hepatitis delta virus infection detectable by enzyme immunoassay among apparently healthy individuals in Mongolia

A previous study revealed a high prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) RNA among 249 apparently healthy individuals (mean+/-standard deviation age, 48.4+/-13.9 years; 126 males and 123 females) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. To investigate further the prevalence of HDV infection there, the same serum samples obtained from the cohort were tested for the presence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) class antibody to HDV (anti-HDV) by a newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using recombinant hepatitis delta antigen protein expressed in the pupae of silkworm as the antigen probe. Anti-HDV was detected in 42 persons (16.9%), among whom 22 (52.4%) were positive for HBsAg and 20 (47.6%) had detectable HDV RNA. Among 170 persons with anti-HBc in the absence of HBsAg, 20 (11.8%) tested positive for anti-HDV, and 1 of the 20 subjects was positive for HDV RNA. Of note, none of 55 anti-HBc-negative persons had anti-HDV, supporting the specificity of the anti-HDV assay. The optical density (OD) value of anti-HDV was significantly higher among HDV RNA-positive subjects (n=21) than among HDV RNA-negative subjects (n=21) (2.513+/-0.514 vs. 0.836+/-0.550, P<0.0001). The present study confirmed the extremely high prevalence of HDV infection in Mongolia, and identified a person who was positive for both anti-HDV and HDV RNA despite negativity for HBsAg and HBV DNA probably due to viral interference. The anti-HDV assay may be useful for further epidemiological studies on HDV infection in larger cohorts in urban and rural areas of Mongolia, where elucidation of the transmission route of HDV is required urgently.     

Non-polio enterovirus isolation among families in Ulaanbaatar and Tov province, Mongolia: prevalence, intrafamilial spread, and risk factors for infection

Studies of non-polio enterovirus prevalence and transmissibility in developing countries are limited and few studies have investigated specific risk factors for infection. An epidemiological survey of non-polio enterovirus among families in Mongolia was conducted in the late summer of 2003. Stools of 122 healthy persons were collected weekly for 5 weeks. Eight serotypes of non-polio enteroviruses (echovirus 30, 33, 12, 25, coxsackievirus A10, A2, A4, A24) were isolated from 62 persons, with an overall isolation rate of 51%, and 64% and 35% among children under 10 years and adults over age 21 years. Fifty-four per cent of isolations were due to intrafamilial infection. Analysis of risk factors for infection suggested contamination of indoor kitchen, bathroom, toilet, and waste disposal area. Hand washing after defecation was protective against infection. Our study findings stress the importance of hand washing and cleaning hygienic facilities to prevent infection by enteric viruses in the home environment.     

CD44 variant 6 is correlated with peritoneal dissemination and poor prognosis in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive tumor initiation and metastasis in several types of human cancer. However, the contribution of ovarian CSCs to peritoneal metastasis remains unresolved. The cell adhesion molecule CD44 has been identified as a major marker for CSCs in solid tumors, including epithelial ovarian cancer. CD44 exists as a standard form (CD44s) and also as numerous variant isoforms (CD44v) generated by alternative mRNA splicing. Here we show that disseminated ovarian tumors in the pelvic peritoneum contain highly enriched CD44v6‐positive cancer cells, which drive tumor metastasis and are responsible for tumor resistance to chemotherapy. Clinically, an increased number of CD44v6‐positive cancer cells in primary tumors was associated with a shortened overall survival in stage III–IV ovarian cancer patients. Furthermore, a subpopulation of CD44v6‐positive cancer cells manifested the ability to initiate tumor metastasis in the pelvic peritoneum in an in vivo mouse model, suggesting that CD44v6‐positive cells show the potential to serve as metastasis‐initiating cells. Thus, the peritoneal disseminated metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer is initiated by the CD44v6‐positive subpopulation, and CD44v6 expression is a biomarker for the clinical outcome of advanced ovarian cancer patients. Given that a distinct subpopulation of CD44v6‐positive cancer cells plays a critical role in peritoneal metastasis, definitive treatment should target this subpopulation of CD44v6‐positive cells in epithelial ovarian cancer.     

Maternal and Child Health in Mongolia at 3 Years After Childbirth: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study

Objectives In recent years Mongolia has made great advances towards Millennium Development Goals to reduce maternal and child mortality, however few studies have investigated maternal and child health status several years after childbirth. Our study aims to describe priority health issues in maternal and child health in Mongolia 3 years after childbirth, and key areas requiring further health policy development. Methods We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study in Bulgan province, Mongolia. Participants were women who gave birth in 2010 and lived in Bulgan in 2013, and their children who were almost 3 years of age. Data was collected using structured interviews, self-administered questionnaires, transcribed records from the Maternal and Child Health Handbook, anthropometric measurements, and a developmental assessment tool. Results Data was obtained from 1,019 women and 1,013 children (recovery rate: 94.1 %). Among women, 171 (17.2 %) were obese and had an average body mass index (BMI) of 25.7, 40 (4.4 %) experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) and 356 (36.2 %) reported urinary incontinence in the past month. Among children, 110 (10.8 %) were assessed as at risk of developmental delay, 131 (13.1 %) were overweight or obese, burns accounted for the highest number of serious accidents at 173 (17.0 %) while lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) were the most frequent cause of pediatric hospitalization. Conclusions for Practice Further development in health policy is required in Mongolia to target the significant health challenges of obesity, IPV, and urinary incontinence in women, and obesity, development delay, burns, and LRTIs in children.     

Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation modulates neuroinflammation in focal cerebral ischemia: contribution of fractalkine and IL-5

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are reported to possess immunomodulatory properties. Previous reports have demonstrated the beneficial effects of MSC-transplantation in focal cerebral ischemia animal models. In this study, we have investigated the neuroimmunomodulatory functions of human MSCs, transplanted in a rat focal ischemia model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Our results revealed that in a human mesenchymal stem cell line, B10 cell transplantation decreased the accumulation of Iba-1(+) microglia and GFAP(+) astrocytes, and inhibited proinflammatory gene expression in the core and ischemic border zone (IBZ). Among the proinflammatory genes iNOS, which was expressed in microglia/macrophage, was persistently inhibited up to 7days after MCAO. In vivo laser capture microdissection and double immunofluorescence staining, and in vitro B10 cell culture experiments showed that, in inflammatory conditions, B10 cells expressed cytokines and growth factors including IL-5, fractalkine, IGF-1, GDNF and VEGF. Fractalkine and IL-5 inhibited cytokine-induced proinflammatory gene expression including iNOS in a human microglia cell line. Thus, our results demonstrate that MSC transplantation suppresses MCAO focal ischemia-induced inflammation, possibly through expression of fractalkine and IL-5.