Protective activities of ellagic acid and urolithins against kidney toxicity of environmental pollutants: A review

Oxidative stress and inflammation are two possible mechanisms related to nephrotoxicity caused by environmental pollutants. Ellagic acid, a powerful antioxidant phytochemical, may have great relevance in mitigating pollutant-induced nephrotoxicity and preventing the progression of kidney disease. This review discusses the latest findings on the protective effects of ellagic acid, its metabolic derivatives, the urolithins, against kidney toxicity caused by heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins, and organic air pollutants. We describe the chelating, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, antiautophagic, and antiapoptotic properties of ellagic acid to attenuate nephrotoxicity. Furthermore, we present the molecular targets and signaling pathways that are regulated by these antioxidants, and suggest some others that should be explored. Nevertheless, the number of reports is still limited to establish the efficacy of ellagic acid against kidney damage induced by environmental pollutants. Therefore, additional preclinical studies on this topic are required, as well as the development of well-designed clinical trials.     

Treatment strategies for hypertension in patients with type 1 diabetes

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic, autoimmune disease that is characterized by total absence of insulin production. Hypertension is a common comorbidity in T1DM with complex pathophysiology, while it is also a well-recognized risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), as well as other microvascular diabetic complications.     

冠状病毒感染对心血管系统的损伤及可能机制

冠状病毒(coronavirus,CoVs)感染主要累及肺部,但对心血管系统损伤作用也不容忽视。CoVs感染引起的心脏损伤并非罕见,其发生与病情的严重程度密切相关。本文首先从CoVs引起心血管损伤的证据入手,进一步探讨了CoVs对心肌的直接损伤,以及肾素血管紧张素(RAS)系统激活和细胞因子风暴与炎症反应对心血管损伤的可能作用机制。相关心血管损伤的可能机制包括,(1)病毒直接作用:CoVs在心肌细胞复制,损伤心肌;(2)RAS系统激活:感染CoVs后,心脏血管紧张素转化酶2(angiotensin-converting enzyme 2,ACE2)的表达下调,激活RAS系统,使得血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngiotensinⅡ,AngⅡ)收缩血管功能增强,Ang1-7保护心脏效应减弱;(3)诱发细胞因子风暴:循环细胞因子和全身炎症反应引起心脏损伤;(4)其他:包括低氧血症和儿茶酚胺心脏毒性。本文就相关内容作一综述,为后续的详尽机制和治疗策略研究提供思路。     

HPLC-ABTS-DAD-Q-TOF/MS在线检测大黄抗氧化活性成分

目的：建立大黄特征化学成分和抗氧化活性相关联的二维指纹图谱，研究大黄抗氧化活性物质。方法：利用高效液相多检测器联用的抗氧化活性成分在线检测体系，对大黄中化学成分进行检测，共鉴定出大黄中化学成分15种；其中8种具有抗氧化活性；然后采用清除效率为指标对各活性成分的抗氧化活性进行评价。结果：结果发现化合物葡萄糖紫丁香酸、腺嘌呤、没食子酸、儿茶素或表儿茶素、双花母草素、2-O-桂皮酰-没食子酰葡萄糖等具有较强的清除ABTS^·+的活性，而蒽醌类成分对ABTS^·+的清除作用较弱。结论：采用HPLC-ABTS-DAD-Q-TOF/MS对大黄中的抗氧化活性成分进行快速分析鉴定，初步阐明大黄在抗氧化环节起作用的效应物质。     

Safety profile of the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine: Pooled analysis of two large randomised phase 3 trials

Background

The ZOE-50 (NCT01165177) and ZOE-70 (NCT01165229) phase 3 clinical trials showed that the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) was ≥90% efficacious in preventing herpes zoster in adults. Here we present a comprehensive overview of the safety data from these studies.

Computational and experimental studies on the interaction between butyrylcholinesterase and fluoxetine: implications in health and disease

1. Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is a serine esterase that plays a role in the detoxification of natural as well as synthetic ester-bond-containing compounds. Alterations in BChE activity are associated with a number of diseases. Cholinergic system abnormalities in particular are correlated with the formation of senile plaques in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and administration of cholinesterase inhibitors is a common therapeutic approach used to treat AD.

2. Here, our aim was to study the interaction between BChE and fluoxetine.

3. Molecular docking simulations revealed that fluoxetine penetrated deep into the active-site gorge of BChE and that it was engaged in stabilizing noncovalent interactions with multiple subsites. In substrate kinetic studies, the V_m, K_m, k_cat and k_cat/K_m values were found to be 20.59?±?0.36?U mg^?1 protein, 194?±?14?µM, 1.3?×?10⁸?s^?1 and 6.7?×?10⁵?µM^?1s^?1, respectively. Based on inhibitory studies, fluoxetine appeared to inhibit BChE competitively, with an IC₅₀ value of 104?µM and a K_i value of 36.3?±?4.7?µM.

4. Overall, both the low K_i value and the high number of BChE–fluoxetine interactions suggest that fluoxetine is a potent inhibitor of BChE, although in vivo mechanisms for the direct effects of BChE inhibition on various pathologies remain to be further investigated.

     

泽泻化学成分及药理作用研究进展

泽泻为我国传统中药,广泛应用于中医临床复方及多种中成药中。目前从泽泻中分离到了220余个化合物,包括三萜、倍半萜、二萜、糖类、含氮化合物、苯丙素、黄酮、甾体等。药理学研究表明泽泻醇提物、水提物及一些单体类成分具有利尿、抗结石及肾脏保护、降血脂及保肝、降血糖、抗癌、抗氧化损伤、抗炎、抗补体等作用。该文对近五十年来泽泻的化学成分和药理作用进行了全面系统的整理,以期为泽泻的深入研究和开发利用提供理论依据。