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A novel cell-containing assay system using electron spin resonance (ESR) and spin-trapping methods was established. We used this assay system to evaluate the antioxidant activities of various dietary antioxidants including resveratrol, lycopene, quercetin and rutin. Resveratrol showed the strongest radical-scavenging activity among the compounds tested. Our results provided useful data for the establishment of a model for evaluating the antioxidant activities of natural dietary substances in cell-containing systems.

One of the causes of dental pulpitis is lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced inflammatory response. Following pulp tissue inflammation, odontoblasts, dental pulp cells (DPCs), and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) will activate and repair damaged tissue to maintain homeostasis. However, when LPS infection is too serious, dental repair is impossible and disease may progress to irreversible pulpitis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine whether static magnetic field (SMF) can attenuate inflammatory response of dental pulp cells challenged with LPS. In methodology, dental pulp cells were isolated from extracted teeth. The population of DPSCs in the cultured DPCs was identified by phenotypes and multilineage differentiation. The effects of 0.4 T SMF on DPCs were observed through MTT assay and fluorescent anisotropy assay. Our results showed that the SMF exposure had no effect on surface markers or multilineage differentiation capability. However, SMF exposure increases cell viability by 15%. In addition, SMF increased cell membrane rigidity which is directly related to higher fluorescent anisotropy. In the LPS-challenged condition, DPCs treated with SMF demonstrated a higher tolerance to LPS-induced inflammatory response when compared to untreated controls. According to these results, we suggest that 0.4 T SMF attenuates LPS-induced inflammatory response to DPCs by changing cell membrane stability.

Platelet activation plays a major role in cardio and cerebrovascular diseases, and cancer progression. Disruption of platelet activation represents an attractive therapeutic target for reducing the bidirectional cross talk between platelets and tumor cells. Platinum (Pt) compounds have been used for treating cancer. Hence, replacing Pt with iridium (Ir) is considered a potential alternative. We recently developed an Ir(III)-derived complex, [Ir(Cp*)1-(2-pyridyl)-3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine Cl]BF4 (Ir-11), which exhibited strong antiplatelet activity; hence, we assessed the therapeutic potential of Ir-11 against arterial thrombosis. In collagen-activated platelets, Ir-11 inhibited platelet aggregation, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release, intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, P-selectin expression, and OH· formation, as well as the phosphorylation of phospholipase Cγ2 (PLCγ2), protein kinase C (PKC), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and Akt. Neither the adenylate cyclase inhibitor nor the guanylate cyclase inhibitor reversed the Ir-11-mediated antiplatelet effects. In experimental mice, Ir-11 prolonged the bleeding time and reduced mortality associated with acute pulmonary thromboembolism. Ir-11 plays a crucial role by inhibiting platelet activation through the inhibition of the PLCγ2–PKC cascade, and the subsequent suppression of Akt and MAPK activation, ultimately inhibiting platelet aggregation. Therefore, Ir-11 can be considered a new therapeutic agent against either arterial thrombosis or the bidirectional cross talk between platelets and tumor cells.

Critical vascular inflammation leads to vascular dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases, including abdominal aortic aneurysms, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Andrographolide is the most active and critical constituent isolated from the leaves ofAndrographis paniculata, a herbal medicine widely used for treating anti-inflammation in Asia. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of the inhibitory effects of andrographolide in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) exposed to a proinflammatory stimulus, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α). Treating TNF-α-stimulated VSMCs with andrographolide suppressed the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in a concentration-dependent manner. A reduction in TNF-α-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), Akt, and p65 phosphorylation was observed in andrographolide-treated VSMCs. However, andrographolide affected neither IκBαdegradation nor p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase or extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation under these conditions. Both treatment with LY294002, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt inhibitor, and treatment with SP600125, a JNK inhibitor, markedly reversed the andrographolide-mediated inhibition of p65 phosphorylation. In addition, LY294002 and SP600125 both diminished Akt phosphorylation, whereas LY294002 had no effects on JNK phosphorylation. These results collectively suggest that therapeutic interventions using andrographolide can benefit the treatment of vascular inflammatory diseases, and andrographolide-mediated inhibition of NF-κB activity in TNF-α-stimulated VSMCs occurs through the JNK-Akt-p65 signaling cascade, an IκBα-independent mechanism.

Background Platelet concentrate lysates (PCLs) are increasingly used in regenerative medicine. We have developed a solvent/detergent (S/D)-treated PCL. The functional properties of this preparation should be unveiled. We hypothesized that, due to transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) content, PCLs may exert immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory functions. Study Design and Methods PCL was prepared by S/D treatment, oil extraction, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The content of TGF-β in PCL was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cultured CD4+ T cells were used to investigate the effects of PCL on expression of transcription factor forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), the inhibition of T-cell proliferation, and cytokine production. The regulatory function of PCL-converted CD4+ T cells was analyzed by suppressive assay. The BALB/c mice were given PCL-converted CD4+ T cells before ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge using an asthma model. Inflammatory parameters, such as the level of immunoglobulin E (IgE), airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), bronchial lavage fluid eosinophils, and cytokines were assayed. Recombinant human (rHu) TGF-β1 was used as control. Results PCL significantly enhanced the development of CD4+Foxp3+-induced regulatory T cells (iTregs). Converted iTregs produced neither Th1 nor Th2 cytokines and inhibited normal T-cell proliferation. PCL- and rHuTGF-β-converted CD4+ T cells prevented OVA-induced asthma. PCL- and rHuTGF-β-modified T cells both significantly reduced expression levels of OVA-specific IgE and significantly inhibited the development of AHR, airway eosinophilia, and Th2 responses in mice. Conclusion S/D-treated PCL promotes Foxp3+ iTregs and exerts immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties. This finding may help to understand the clinical properties of platelet lysates.

Atherosclerosis is linked with the development of many cardiovascular complications. Abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays a crucial role in the development of atherosclerosis. Accordingly, the apoptosis of VSMCs, which occurs in the progression of vascular proliferation, may provide a beneficial strategy for managing cardiovascular diseases. Andrographolide, a novel nuclear factor-κB inhibitor, is the most active and critical constituent isolated from the leaves ofAndrographis paniculata. Recent studies have indicated that andrographolide is a potential therapeutic agent for treating cancer through the induction of apoptosis. In this study, the apoptosis-inducing activity and mechanisms in andrographolide-treated rat VSMCs were characterized. Andrographolide significantly induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, p53 activation, Bax, and active caspase-3 expression, and these phenomena were suppressed by pretreating the cells with N-acetyl-L-cysteine, a ROS scavenger, or diphenylene iodonium, a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (Nox) inhibitor. Furthermore, p47phox, a Nox subunit protein, was phosphorylated in andrographolide-treated rat VSMCs. However, pretreatment with 3-O-methyl-sphingomyelin, a neutral sphingomyelinase inhibitor, significantly inhibited andrographolide-induced p47phox phosphorylation as well as Bax and active caspase-3 expression. Our results collectively demonstrate that andrographolide-reduced cell viability can be attributed to apoptosis in VSMCs, and this apoptosis-inducing activity was associated with the ceramide-p47phox-ROS signaling cascade.

Background Cantharidin isolated from the blister beetle is used as a traditional Chinese medicine. The anticancer activity of thiadizolyl and some known N-substituted thiazolyl of cantharidin has been reported. We obtained a novel type of cantharidinimides for testing their cytotoxicity in human carcinoma cell lines. The structural modification of cantharidin to cantharidinimide might lead to the discovery of a novel class of antitumor compounds. Methods We synthesized more than 34 cantharidinimide derivatives from heating the cantharidin (compound 1) to ca. 200°Cin toluene and triethylamine along with primary amine, aniline derivatives, and aminopyridines, respectively. These imide derivatives contain aryl, pyridyl, azolyl, thiadiazolyl, diaminophenyl, aminosulfanyl, sulfamethoxazolyl, or sulfadiazine cantharidinimides (compounds 2-34). All of these synthetic compounds were tested for their capability to suppress growth of the human carcinoma cell lines such as HepG2, HL-60, 59T, HONE-1, DLD-1, SCM-1 NUGC, and Hep3B cells. Results The 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) viability assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of newly synthesized cantharidinimides against the previously mentioned carcinoma cell lines. The current results indicate that compounds 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 29, 30, and 31 were somehow effective and some of them were more potent than the parent compound cantharidin. Compounds 4, 13, 14, and 15, which were thiazol- and thiadiazol-containing cantharidinimides, caused cytotoxic effects on 59T, SCM-1, HONE-1, Hep3B, and NUGC human carcinoma cell lines. Compounds 11 and 16 with a planar side chain had medium cytotoxicity on hepatoma cell lines. Compounds 6 and 8 were bromine-containing aromatic cantharidinimide that produced significant cytotoxic effects on HONE-I and NUGC in high concentrations, but only compound 6 inhibited the growth of 59T and SCM-1 cell lines. Conclusions The current results indicate that the cytotoxic effects on several cancer cells were produced by many different structural domains of the cantharidinimide compounds. The current in vitro results suggest that decreasing electron negativity on the substituent-donating group might increase their cytotoxicity to cancer cells.

Coumarin derivatives are used as fluorescent dyes and medicines. They also have some notable physiological effects, including the acute hepatoxicity and carcinogenicity of certain aflatoxins, the anticoagulant action of dicoumarol, and the antibiotic activity of novobicin and coumerymycin A1. Because the number of drug resistant strains is increasing at present, the synthesis of new antibacterial compounds is one of the critical methods for treating infectious diseases. Therefore, a series of coumarin-substituted derivatives, namely 4-hydroxy- and 7-hydroxycoumarins, and 3-carboxycoumarins were synthesized. 4-Hydroxycoumarin derivatives 4a–c underwent rearrangement reactions. Both 4- and 7-hydroxycoumarins were treated with activated aziridines which produced series of ring-opened products 7, 8, 10, and 11. 3-Carboxy-coumarin amide dimer derivatives 14–21 were prepared by reacting aliphatic alkylamines and alkyldiamines with PyBOP and DIEA. In this study, we use a new technique called modified micro-plate antibiotic susceptibility test method (MMAST), which is more convenient, more efficient, and more accurate than previous methods and only a small amount of the sample is required for the test. Some of the compounds were produced by reactions with acid anhydrides and demonstrated the ability to inhibit Gram-positive microorganisms. The dimer derivatives displayed lower antibacterial activities.

Ray-Neng Chen,1,* Lin-Wen Lee,2,5,* Ling-Chun Chen,3 Hsiu-O Ho,3 Shiao-Chuan Lui,2 Ming-Thau Sheu,3,4 Ching-Hua Su2 1Department of Cosmetic Science and Management, Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, 2Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, 3School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, 4Clinical Research Center and Traditional Herbal Medicine Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, 5Research Center for Biomedical Devices and Prototyping Production, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workAbstract: The extraction residue of the Ganoderma fruiting body, named sacchachitin, has been demonstrated to have the potential to enhance cutaneous wound healing by inducing cell proliferation. In this study, a nanogel formed from micronized sacchachitin (mSC) was investigated for the potential treatment of superficial chemical corneal burns. Reportedly, mSC has been produced successfully and its chemical properties confirmed, and physical and rheological properties characterized. An in vitro cell proliferation study has revealed that at the concentrations of 200, 300, and 400 µg/mL, mSC nanogel significantly increased Statens Seruminstitut rabbit corneal (SIRC) cell proliferation after 24 hours of incubation. In cell migration assay, migration of SIRC cell to wound closure was observed after 24 hours of incubation with the addition of 200 µg/mL mSC of nanogel. In an animal study, acceleration of corneal wound healing was probably due to the inhibition of proteolysis. In conclusion, the findings of this study substantiate the potential application of sacchachitin in the form of mSC nanogel for the treatment of superficial corneal injuries.Keywords: corneal wound healing, sacchachitin, matrix metalloproteinase

Background Platelet (PLT) gels exhibit antimicrobial activity useful for wound healing. The nature of the antibacterial component(s) is unknown. Study design and methods PLT-poor plasma (PPP), PLT-rich plasma (PRP), PLT gel (PG), and solvent/detergent-treated PLT lysate (S/D-PL) from two donors were evaluated either native or after complement heat inactivation. Materials were spiked at a 10% ratio (vol/vol) with approximately 10(7-8) colony-forming units/mL with four Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria of the wound flora. Bacterial count was determined by plate assays at time of spiking and after 3 and 48 hours at 31°C. Bacteria growth inhibition tests were also performed. Results There was no viable Escherichia coli colony for 48 hours after spiking to the plasma and PLT materials from both donors, corresponding to greater than 7.51 to greater than 9.05 log inactivation. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus were inactivated (approx. 4.7, 7, and 2 log, respectively) 3 hours after spiking to PRP, PPP, or S/D-PL from the first donor but less (1.1, 4.6, and 0.2 log, respectively) in PG, before a regrowth at 48 hours in all materials. Similar data were obtained with the second donor. No plasma and PLT material had antimicrobial activity against Enterobacter cloacae, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Complement-inactivated samples had no antimicrobial activity. Conclusion Plasma complement is mostly responsible for the activity of plasma and PLT biomaterials against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and S. aureus. Activation of the coagulation to prepare PG may reduce antimicrobial activity. These findings may help optimize the control of wound infections by blood biomaterials.

Background A solvent/detergent (S/D) treatment in a medical device has been developed for pathogen reduction of plasma for transfusion. Impact of S/D on bacterial growth and on the capacity of complement to kill bacteria has been investigated in this study. Study design and methods A pool of apheresis plasma from four donors was spiked with eight transfusion-relevant bacteria. Plasma was treated with 1% tri(n-butyl) phosphate and 1% Triton X-45 at 31°C for 90 min and then extracted by oil at 31°C for 70 min. Decomplemented plasma and Phosphate Buffer Saline were used as controls. Bacterial count was determined in samples taken immediately after spiking, or after S/D and oil treatment. Similar experiments were conducted using three individual recovered plasma donations. Bacteria growth inhibition tests were performed using discs soaked with plasma samples whether containing the S/D agents or not. Results The mean reduction factors of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae due to complement during S/D treatment were >8·75, 4·71, and 4·18 log in pooled plasma and >7·42, 2·24 and >6·08 log in individual plasmas, respectively. Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis were inactivated by S/D (>7·04 and 1·60 log in pooled, and >6·06 and 2·39 in individual plasmas, respectively). Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterobacter cloacae did not multiply during S/D treatment of plasma. Growth inhibition tests revealed an inhibition of three Gram-negative bacteria by complement and all Gram-positive by S/D. Conclusion The S/D treatment of plasma does not alter the bactericidal activity of complement, and inactivates some Gram-positive bacteria.

Glycosides, steviolside, and rubaudioside A, which are extracted from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana, can be used as sweetener for food additive. Intermediates of steviolbioside, steviol, and isosteviol are very stable compounds obtained from benzotriazol-1-yloxtri(pyrrolidinol)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate. They are suitable to be used in amide and amide dimer synthesis. These nature product intermediates possess special characteristics. The spectra data showed two tautomeric groups: an ester form and an amide form. Their nuclear magnetic resonance, mass and chromatographic/mass/mass spectra were examined.

Midazolam is widely used as a sedative and anesthetic induction agent. The aim of this study was to systematically examine the inhibitory mechanisms of midazolam in platelet aggregation. In this study, midazolam concentration-dependently (15 and 30 microM) inhibited platelet aggregation in washed human platelets stimulated by thrombin (0.05 U/ml). Midazolam (15 and 30 microM) also inhibited phosphoinositide breakdown and intracellular Ca(+2) mobilization in platelets stimulated by thrombin (0.05 U/ml). In addition, midazolam (15 and 30 microM) increased the formation of cyclic AMP but not cyclic GMP or nitric oxide. The thrombin-evoked increase in pHi was markedly inhibited in the presence of midazolam (15 and 30 microM). Rapid phosphorylation of a platelet protein of molecular weight (Mr.) 47,000 (P47), a marker of protein kinase C activation, was triggered by thrombin (0.05 U/ml). This phosphorylation was markedly inhibited by midazolam (15 and 30 microM). Midazolam (30 microM) did not significantly reduce the electron spin resonance signal intensity of hydroxyl radicals in activated platelets. In the vivo study, intravenous injection of midazolam (10 microg/g) significantly prolonged the latent period of inducing platelet plug formation in mesenteric venules. These results indicate that midazolam can significantly prevent thrombus formation in vivo. Its antiplatelet activity may be involved in the inhibition of the activation of phospholipase C and the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger and increased cyclic AMP formation. These lead to lower intracellular Ca(+2) mobilization and phosphorylation of P47.

Critical vascular inflammation leads to vascular dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases, including abdominal aortic aneurysms, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Andrographolide is the most active and critical constituent isolated from the leaves of Andrographis paniculata, a herbal medicine widely used for treating anti-inflammation in Asia. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of the inhibitory effects of andrographolide in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) exposed to a proinflammatory stimulus, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Treating TNF-α-stimulated VSMCs with andrographolide suppressed the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in a concentration-dependent manner. A reduction in TNF-α-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), Akt, and p65 phosphorylation was observed in andrographolide-treated VSMCs. However, andrographolide affected neither IκBα degradation nor p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase or extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation under these conditions. Both treatment with LY294002, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt inhibitor, and treatment with SP600125, a JNK inhibitor, markedly reversed the andrographolide-mediated inhibition of p65 phosphorylation. In addition, LY294002 and SP600125 both diminished Akt phosphorylation, whereas LY294002 had no effects on JNK phosphorylation. These results collectively suggest that therapeutic interventions using andrographolide can benefit the treatment of vascular inflammatory diseases, and andrographolide-mediated inhibition of NF-κB activity in TNF-α-stimulated VSMCs occurs through the JNK-Akt-p65 signaling cascade, an IκBα-independent mechanism.

We address the problem of assigning nonpartitioned files in a parallel I/O system where the file accesses exhibit Poisson arrival rates and fixed service times. We present two new file assignment algorithms based on open queuing networks which aim at minimizing simultaneously the load balance across all disks, as well as the variance of the service time at each disk. We first present an off-line algorithm, Sort Partition, which assigns to each disk file with similar access time. Next, we show that, assuming that a perfectly balanced file assignment can be found for a given set of files, Sort Partition will find the one with minimal mean response time. We then present an on-line algorithm, Hybrid Partition, that assigns groups of files with similar service times in successive intervals while guaranteeing that the load imbalance at any point does not exceed a certain threshold. We report on synthetic experiments which exhibit skew in file accesses and sizes and we compare the performance of our new algorithms with the vanilla greedy file allocation algorithm.

Platelet concentrate lysates (PCLs) are increasingly used in regenerative medicine. We have developed a solvent/detergent (S/D)-treated PCL. The functional properties of this preparation should be unveiled. We hypothesized that, due to transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) content, PCLs may exert immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory functions.PCL was prepared by S/D treatment, oil extraction, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The content of TGF-β in PCL was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cultured CD4+ T cells were used to investigate the effects of PCL on expression of transcription factor forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), the inhibition of T-cell proliferation, and cytokine production. The regulatory function of PCL-converted CD4+ T cells was analyzed by suppressive assay. The BALB/c mice were given PCL-converted CD4+ T cells before ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge using an asthma model. Inflammatory parameters, such as the level of immunoglobulin E (IgE), airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), bronchial lavage fluid eosinophils, and cytokines were assayed. Recombinant human (rHu) TGF-β1 was used as control.PCL significantly enhanced the development of CD4+Foxp3+-induced regulatory T cells (iTregs). Converted iTregs produced neither Th1 nor Th2 cytokines and inhibited normal T-cell proliferation. PCL- and rHuTGF-β-converted CD4+ T cells prevented OVA-induced asthma. PCL- and rHuTGF-β-modified T cells both significantly reduced expression levels of OVA-specific IgE and significantly inhibited the development of AHR, airway eosinophilia, and Th2 responses in mice.S/D-treated PCL promotes Foxp3+ iTregs and exerts immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties. This finding may help to understand the clinical properties of platelet lysates.

The mucosal immune system produces secretory IgA (sIgA) as the first line of defense against invasion by foreign pathogens. Our aim was to develop a galactose-modified liposome as a targeted carrier which can be specifically recognized by macrophage, one of the most important antigen presenting cells. First, galactose was covalently conjugated with 1,2-didodecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DLPE) to give a targeted ligand, a galactosyl lipid. The galactosyl lipid was then incorporated into a liposomal bilayer to form a galactosylated liposome carrier. Further, the ovalbumin (OVA) was encapsulated into the galactosylated liposome carriers and mice were intranasally immunized. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and flow cytometry analysis showed that the targeted galactosylated liposome carrier had a higher uptake rate than unmodified liposomes. The targeted galactosylated liposome induced higher levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 production than unmodified liposomes (P

Platelet (PLT) gels exhibit antimicrobial activity useful for wound healing. The nature of the antibacterial component(s) is unknown.PLT-poor plasma (PPP), PLT-rich plasma (PRP), PLT gel (PG), and solvent/detergent-treated PLT lysate (S/D-PL) from two donors were evaluated either native or after complement heat inactivation. Materials were spiked at a 10% ratio (vol/vol) with approximately 10(7-8) colony-forming units/mL with four Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria of the wound flora. Bacterial count was determined by plate assays at time of spiking and after 3 and 48 hours at 31°C. Bacteria growth inhibition tests were also performed.There was no viable Escherichia coli colony for 48 hours after spiking to the plasma and PLT materials from both donors, corresponding to greater than 7.51 to greater than 9.05 log inactivation. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus were inactivated (approx. 4.7, 7, and 2 log, respectively) 3 hours after spiking to PRP, PPP, or S/D-PL from the first donor but less (1.1, 4.6, and 0.2 log, respectively) in PG, before a regrowth at 48 hours in all materials. Similar data were obtained with the second donor. No plasma and PLT material had antimicrobial activity against Enterobacter cloacae, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Complement-inactivated samples had no antimicrobial activity.Plasma complement is mostly responsible for the activity of plasma and PLT biomaterials against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and S. aureus. Activation of the coagulation to prepare PG may reduce antimicrobial activity. These findings may help optimize the control of wound infections by blood biomaterials.

Sesquiterpenes, arecoic acids A-F and arecolactone, were isolated from the ethyl acetate extracts of the fermented broth of Arecophila saccharicola YMJ96022401 along with two known analogues 1,7α,10α-trihydroxyeremophil-11(13)-en-12,8-olide and 1,10α,13-trihydroxyeremophil-7(11)-en-12,8-olide. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data analyses. The inhibitory effects of all of these compounds on nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 200 μg/mL)-activated murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells were also evaluated. Among these compounds, 1,7α,10α-trihydroxyeremophil-11(13)-en-12,8-olide significantly inhibited NO production without any cytotoxicity, and its average maximum inhibition (E(max)) at 100 μM and median inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) were 85.7%±0.8% and 16.5±1.0 μM, respectively. Arecolactone was the most potent, with the E(max) at 12.5 μM and IC₅₀ being 94.7%±0.8% and 1.32±0.1 μM, respectively, but displayed cytotoxicity at considerable higher concentrations than 25 μM. Analyses of Western blotting indicated that arecolactone (0.8-12.5 μM) inhibited induction of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) by LPS, which involved suppression of NF-κB activation and the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in activated RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, arecolactone concentration-dependently prevented the vascular hyporeactivity to phenylephrine induced by LPS (300 ng/mL) through iNOS pathway in isolated rat thoracic aortic rings. These results indicated that both of these naturally occurring iNOS inhibitors may provide a rationale for the potential anti-inflammatory effect of A. saccharicola YMJ96022401.

Among various strategies of gastroretentive drug delivery systems (DDSs) developed to prolong the gastric residence time and to increase the overall bioavailability, effervescent multiple-unit floating DDSs (muFDDSs) were studied here. These systems consist of drug (losartan)- and effervescent (sodium bicarbonate)-containing pellets coated with a blended polymeric membrane, which was a mixture of gastrointestinal tract (GIT)-soluble and GIT-insoluble polymers. The addition of GIT-soluble polymers, such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000, PEG 600, and Kollicoat® IR, greatly increased the water uptake ability of the GIT-insoluble polymers (Eudragit® NE, RS, and RL; Surelease®; and Kollicoat® SR) and caused them to immediately initiate the effervescent reaction and float, but the hydrated films should also be impermeable to the generated CO(2) to maintain floatation and sufficiently flexible to withstand the pressure of carbon dioxide to avoid rupturing. The study demonstrated that the water uptake ability and mechanical properties could be applied as screening tools during the development of effervescent muFDDSs. The optimized system of SRT(5)P600(5) (i.e., a mixture of 5% Kollicoat® SR and 5% PEG 600) with a 20% coating level began to completely float within 15 min and maintained its buoyancy over a period of 12 h with a sustained-release effect.

Modification of the cantharidinimide structure led to the discovery of a novel class of antitumor compounds. These cantharidinimide derivatives containing aliphartic, aryl, and pyridyl groups showed some effect in vitro against HepG2 and HL-60 cells.

A new group of steviolbioside amide dimers 2a-g, derivatives 2h-i and their related steviol and isosteviol amide dimers 3a and 4a were prepared by reacting aliphatic alkylamine and alkyldiamines with PyBOP and DIEA. The synthesized compounds had cytotoxic effects on cancer and human embryonic lung cells. Compounds 3a, 4a, 2b and 2h were cytotoxic to cancer cells and to a lesser extent to human embryo lung cells. Compounds 2f, 2g and 4 of this series had favorable antibacterial effects, and were superior to penicillin G at inhibiting growth of Bacillus subtilis (BCRC 10029). The cytotoxicity and antibacterial effects may depend on the dimerization and derivative moieties in relation to the respective aglycons.

In this study, specific platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor antagonist ginkgolide B (BN52021) was tested for its antiplatelet activity in zymosan activated polymorphonuclear neutrophil-induced platelet aggregation. Triflavin was also tested for its antiplatelet activity compared with PAF receptor antagonist. Triflavin, an Arg-Gly-Asp-containing disintegrin purified from venom peptide inhibited platelet aggregation by interfering with the interaction of fibrinogen with the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex. Furthermore, we also report an efficient high resolution method for quantitative analysis of PAF using high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE). The supernatant of polymorphonuclear neutrophils after their activation by opsonized zymosan induces the aggregation of washed rabbit platelets. In rabbit platelets, BN52021 (100-1000 microM) only partially inhibited activated polymorphonuclear neutrophil-induced platelet aggregation, and its maximal inhibition was estimated to be about 79%. Triflavin also partially inhibited platelet aggregation about 82% induced by activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Furthermore, after treatment with a combination of triflavin (0.26 microM) with various concentrations of BN52021 (4-1000 microM), the inhibitory effect of platelet aggregation was almost completely. This inhibition was greater than that produced by the individual drugs alone. These results indicate that a combination of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex and PAF receptor antagonist could completely inhibit activated polymorphonuclear neutrophil-induced platelet aggregation. In addition, the amount of PAF released from zymosan (6 mg/ml)-activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils was accurately calculated about 11.8+/-1.5 ng/10(6) cells, and did not further increase even at a high concentration of zymosan (10 mg/ml). These results suggest that PAF play a major role in the interaction between platelets and polymorphonuclear neutrophils. This interaction may be important in the pathogenesis of thrombosis and inflammatory diseases. Our present findings support the hypothesis that combination therapy with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex antagonists and PAF receptor antagonists may represent a new approach to the treatment of ischemic disorders.

A variety of functionalities were introduced at 2-aroylquinoline's C5 position, which is considered equivalent to C-3' of the B-ring of CA4, via Suzuki arylation, Sonogashira ethynylation, and Rosenmund-von Braun cyanation. These substitutions are rarely utilized in the modification of 3'-OH of CA4. The resulting products 6 and 7 having cyano and ethynyl groups exhibited comparable antiproliferative and tubulin inhibitory activities to colchicine.

Background The status of Toxoplasma gondii infection among primary schoolchildren (PSC) of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe (DRSTP), West Africa, remains unknown to date. Methods A serologic survey and risk factors associated T. gondii infection among PSC in the DRSTP was assessed by the latex agglutination (LA) test and a questionnaire interview including parents’ occupation, various uncomfortable symptoms, histories of eating raw or undercooked food, drinking unboiled water, and raising pets, was conducted in October 2010. Schoolchildren from 4 primary schools located in the capital areas were selected, in total 255 serum samples were obtained by venipuncture, of which 123 serum samples were obtained from boys (9.8 ± 1.4 yrs) and 132 serum samples were obtained from girls (9.7 ± 1.3 yrs). Results The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 63.1% (161/255). No significant gender difference in seroprevalence was found between boys (62.6%, 77/123) and girls (63.6%, 84/132) (p = 0.9). The older age group of 10 years had insignificantly higher seroprevalence (69.9%, 58/83) than that of the younger age group of 8 year olds (67.7%, 21/31) (p = 0.8). It was noteworthy that the majority of seropositive PSC (75.8%, 122/161) had high LA titers of ≥1: 1024, indirectly indicating acute or repeated Toxoplasma infection. Parents whose jobs were non-skilled workers (73.1%) showed significantly higher seroprevalence than that of semiskilled- (53.9%) or skilled workers (48.8%) (p p Children who claimed to have had recent ocular manifestation or headache, i.e. within 1 month, seemed to have insignificantly higher seroprevalence than those who did not (p > 0.05). Conclusions Parents’ educational level and cats kept indoors seemed to be the high risk factors for PSC in acquisition of T. gondii infection. While, ocular manifestation and/or headache of PSC should be checked for the possibility of being T. gondii elicited. Measures such as improving environmental hygiene and intensive educational intervention to both PSC and their parents should be performed immediately so as to reduce T. gondii infection of DRSTP inhabitants including PSC and adults.