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Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Acanthopanax sessiliflorus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Seem. is a shrub mainly present in China, Japan and Korea, the root bark of which is considered as one of the sources of Wujiapi and widely used for its various pharmacological effects. Aim of the study: A selective and sensitive UPLC–MS/MS method was developed and validated for the determination and pharmacokinetic study of asarinin, sesamin, helioxanthin and savinin in rat plasma. Materials and methods: Sample preparation involved a liquid–liquid extraction of the analytes with methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). LC separation was achieved on a UPLC C18 column at 30°C with a mobile phase consisting of methanol–2mM ammonium acetate (68:32, v/v). The detection was accomplished by multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) scanning with electrospray ionization (ESI) source operating in the positive ionization mode. The optimized mass transition ion-pairs (m/z) monitored for asarinin, sesamin, helioxanthin, savinin and IS were 372.2/233.0, 372.2/233.0, 349.1/319.0, 352.9/334.9 and 180.0/109.7, respectively. Results: The current LC–MS/MS assay was validated for linearity, intra-day and inter-day precisions, accuracy, extraction recovery and stability and was suitable for pharmacokinetic studies of the four lignans after oral administration of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus extract. The time to reach the maximum plasma concentration (T max) was 2.50±0.15h for asarinin, 1.94±0.28 for sesamin, 2.22±0.48h for helioxanthin and 2.83±0.29h for savinin. The elimination half-time (t 1/2) of asarinin, sesamin, helioxanthin and savinin was 6.08±1.10, 11.69±0.50, 7.16±0.52 and 6.26±0.57h, respectively. Conclusion: This paper described a simple, sensitive and validated UPLC–MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of four lignans in rat plasma after oral administration of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus extract, and investigated on their pharmacokinetic studies as well. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective. The anatomical and functional imbalances of sympathetic nerves are associated with cardiovascular disease progression. Xiao-Qing-Long-Tang (XQLT), an ancient Chinese herbal formula, has been used to treat cardiovascular diseases in eastern Asia for thousands of years. We determined the effect of XQLT in maintaining cardiac function during heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) with respect to its neurobiological effects in salt-sensitive rats. Methods. Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) rats were fed a high-salt diet to establish an HFrEF model and were divided into model (DS, administered normal saline) and XQL groups (administrated XQLT) randomly, with SS-13BN rats being used as the control. The bodyweight and blood pressure of rats were observed regularly. Electrocardiogram, echocardiography, and plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were determined to assess cardiac function. The sympathetic tune and myocardial morphological changes were evaluated. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to assay the expression of the nerve growth factor (NGF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), choline acetyltransferase (CHAT), and growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43) were assayed to confirm sympathetic remodeling. The micromorphological changes in cardiac sympathetic nerve endings were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Results. Four weeks after XQLT treatment, cardiac function and bodyweight were higher and blood pressure was lower than that of the DS group. Myocardial noradrenaline (NA) increased, while the plasma NA level decreased significantly. The morphology demonstrated that XQLT significantly alleviated myocardial damage. XQLT decreased the expression of LIF, increased the expression of NGF, enhanced the TH+/GAP43+ and TH+/CHAT + positive nerve fiber density, and improved the TH and GAP43 protein expression, but had no effect on CHAT. Moreover, XQLT improved the micromorphology of sympathetic nerve endings in the myocardium. Conclusion. XQLT maintains cardiac function during HFrEF in salt-sensitive rats, in part, by regulating the imbalance of cardiac sympathetic innervation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: ESBL and plasmid-mediated AmpC (pAmpC)-producing Enterobacteriaceae are frequently found on meat products in Dutch retail, especially on poultry.Objectives: We investigated whether vegetarians are at lower risk of carrying ESBL/pAmpC-producing Escherichia coli/Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-E/K) compared with persons who consume meat.Methods: Vegetarians, pescatarians (vegetarians who eat fish) and non-vegetarians (persons who eat meat at least three times per week) were asked to send in a faecal sample and a questionnaire. ESBL-E/K were cultured and MLSTs were determined. ESBL/pAmpC genes were analysed using PCR and sequencing. The risk of ESBL-E/K carriage in the three study groups was analysed using multivariable logistic regression.Results: Prevalence of ESBL-E/K carriage was 8.0% in vegetarians (63/785; 95% CI 6.3-10.1), 6.9% in pescatarians (27/392; 95% CI 4.8-9.8) and 3.8% in non-vegetarians (14/365; 95% CI 2.3-6.3). Multivariable analysis showed an OR for ESBL-E/K carriage of 2.2 for vegetarians (95% CI 1.2-4.0) and 1.6 for pescatarians (95% CI 0.8-3.2) compared with non-vegetarians. The predominant MLST was E. coli ST131 and the most common ESBL genes were blaCTX-M-15, blaCTX-M-27, blaCTX-M-14 and blaCTX-M-1 in all diet groups. Independent risk factors for ESBL-E/K carriage were travel to Africa/Latin America/Asia (OR 4.6; 95% CI 2.8-7.7) in the past 6 months and rarely/never washing hands before food preparation (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.2-5.0).Conclusions: Vegetarians and pescatarians did not have a lower risk of ESBL-E/K carriage compared with non-vegetarians, indicating that eating meat is not an important risk factor for ESBL-E/K carriage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cordyceps militaris has been widely used as an herbal drug and tonic food in East Asia and has also been recently studied in the West because of its various pharmacological activities such as antitumoral, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. In this study, we examined the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-allergic activity of ethanol extract prepared from silkworm pupa-cultivated Cordyceps militaris fruit bodies in activated mast cells. Our results showed that ethanol extract treatment significantly inhibited the release of -hexosaminidase (a degranulation marker) and mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor- as well as interleukin-4 in RBL-2H3 cells. The cells were sensitized with 2,4-dinitrophenol specific IgE and then stimulated with human serum albumin conjugated with 2,4-dinitrophenol. Oral administration of 300mg/kg ethanol extract significantly ameliorated IgE-induced allergic reaction in mice with passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. Western immunoblotting results demonstrated that ethanol extract incubation significantly inhibited Syk/PI3K/MEKK4/JNK/c-jun biochemical cascade in activated RBL-2H3 cells, which activated the expression of various allergic cytokines. In addition, it suppressed Erk activation and PLC evocation, which would respectively evoke the synthesis of lipid mediators and Ca mobilization to induce degranulation in stimulated RBL-2H3 cells. A compound, identified as -sitostenone, was shown to inhibit -hexosaminidase secretion from activated mast cells. Our study demonstrated that ethanol extract contained the ingredients, which could inhibit immediate degranulation and de novo synthesis of allergic lipid mediators and cytokines in activated mast cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nidrakar Bati (NKB) is an herbal remedy consisted with seven medicinal herbs widely used to cure Somnifacient (sleeping aid) in South Asia as Ayurvedic medicinal system. In the present study, pharmacological and toxicological effects of this medicine was investigated in mice to validate the safety and efficacy of the herb. Methods: Organic solvent extracts NKB were prepared using maceration method. Effect of extracts on the central nervous system was evaluated using hypnotic activity assay. Effect of the extracts on metabolic activity, assessing involvement of thyroid was conducted using hypoxia test. analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities were assessed in mice using acetic acid induced writhing, formalin induced paw edema, xylene induced ear edema assays. Anxiolytic activity was performed using plus maze, climbing out and forced swimming tests. Effect of the extracts on psychopharmacological effect was carried out using locomotor activity tests (open field, Hole-board and Hole-cross tests). Neuropharmacological effect of the extracts was performed using motor coordination (rotarod test). Toxicological potential of the extract was evaluated using gastro-intestinal activity (gastric emptying and gastrointestinal motility tests). Results: The studied formulation reduced the CNS stimulant effects dose independently. In the hypoxia test, only a dose of 100 mg/kg of NKB decreased the survival time. Orally administration of the NKB (200 and 400 mg/kg) produced significant inhibition (P < 0.01) of the acetic acid-induced writhing in mice and suppressed xylene induced ear edema and formalin-induced licking response of animals in both phases of the test. NKB showed locomotor activity (p < 0.05) both in higher and lower doses (100 and 400 mg/kg). NKB increased the total ambulation dose dependently (p < 0.05). NKB, at all tested doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) increased some locomotion activity parameters (ambulation, head dipping and emotional defecation) in hole board test. At higher doses (200 and 400 mg/kg), NKB showed a significant increase in hole cross test. NKB showed an increase in the time on the open arms of the maze at low to medium doses (100 and 200 mg/kg). When using the Rotarod method, NKB showed a considerable increase on motor coordination of the mice. NKB produced marked gastric emptying effect and decreased gastrointestinal motility in mice at low dose. Conclusions: NKB demonstrated various pharmacological effects and toxicological effects due to presence of several herbs in the formulation those are not closely fit for the effect of CNS depressants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used epidemiologic evaluation, molecular epidemiology, and a case-control study to identify possible risk factors for the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus (subtype H5N1) in chicken farms during the first quarter of 2002 in Hong Kong. Farm profiles, including stock sources, farm management, and biosecurity measures, were collected from 16 case and 46 control chicken farms by using a pretested questionnaire and personal interviews. The risk for influenza A (H5N1) infection was assessed by using adjusted odds ratios based on multivariate logistic regression analysis. Retail marketing of live poultry was implicated as the main source of exposure to infection on chicken farms in Hong Kong during this period. Infection control measures should be reviewed and upgraded as necessary to reduce the spread of influenza A (H5N1) related to live poultry markets, which are commonplace across Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]