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• The particulate filtration efficiency and respiratory resistance of three types of masks (planar, folding and cup type) were systematically evaluated. • The test was conducted based on the EN 149:2001+A1:2009, GB 2626-2019, and NIOSH 42 CFR Part 84-2019 standards. • This study will help enterprises to better control masks quality and ensure the general public to choose proper shape of face mask under different epidemic situations. Face masks from worldwide satisfy different standards during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the public misunderstanding of the concepts. We systematically evaluated the quality of face masks provided by different companies according to multi-national standards, including EN 149-2001+A1: 2009, GB 2626-2019 and NIOSH 42 CFR Part 84-2019, focusing particularly on the particulate filtration efficiency (PFE) and respiratory resistance performance. Three types of masks (planar, folding and cup type masks) were measured based on different standard protocols. The results indicated that the PFE of the mask decreased in sequence of folding mask ≈ cup type mask > planar mask. The respiratory resistance of the masks ranked as follows: cup type mask > folding mask> planar mask. Overall, when PFE was used as the quality indicator, all the masks have a higher chance of meeting criteria of the EN149-2001+A1:2009, followed by the stricter standard set by the GB2626-2019 and NIOSH 42 CFR Part84-2019. Conversely, the respiratory resistance of the masks fulfilled the highest requirement of the EN149-2001+A1:2009 standard, while it is easier to satisfied the standard of GB 2626-2019 and NIOSH 42 CFR Part 84-2019. We believe that our study provides effective guidance for customers worldwide to choose proper face masks under different epidemic situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quick identification of patients with mild ischemic stroke complaining of dizziness from other patients with benign peripheral vestibular disorders who also experience dizziness in the emergency department (ED) may be difficult. Decision-making on intravenous thrombolysis therapy (IVT) in patients whose chief symptoms include acute dizziness or vertigo remains a severe challenge for ED physicians. This study evaluated the diagnosis, treatment processes and the short-term outcomes in patients with mild vestibular stroke in the ED.Methods: A total of 89 consecutive patients with mild ischemic stroke primarily presenting with vestibular symptoms, who arrived at ED within 4.5 after onset, and were admitted at the stroke center of Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital between January 2015 and March 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. Patients treated with IVT (n = 47) were compared to patients without IVT (n = 42) in terms of demographics, onset-to-door time (ODT), baseline clinical characteristics, risk factors of stroke, imaging findings, and short-term outcomes. The correlation between these parameters and IVT decision-making was analyzed.Results: Patients in IVT group more frequently presented with shorter ODT, focal neurological deficits (dysarthria, facial palsy, hemiglossoplegia, hemiparesis, hemisensory loss), disabling deficits, higher baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, and underwent multi-mode imaging before a decision. A higher proportion of isolated vestibular symptoms, acute transient vestibular syndrome, and vestibulo-vagal symptoms were found in the no-IVT group. There were no differences in demographics between the two groups. ODT was negatively correlated with the decision-making on IVT, and baseline NIHSS scores were positively correlated with the decision-making on IVT.Conclusion: ODT and baseline NIHSS scores were correlated with the IVT decision in mild stroke patients primarily presenting with vestibular symptoms. Severe vestibular symptoms and disabling deficits were weakly associated with IVT decision, while the vestibulo-oculomotor signs and multi-mode imaging did not result as the influencing factors promoting the IVT decision-making for mild vestibular stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • UPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap MS analysis identified 69 in Artemisia argyi sesquiterpenoids (AASs), with 17 compounds isolated. • Network pharmacology analysis was used to obtain seven core targets of A. argyi sesquiterpenoids in COVID-19 and the major signaling pathways involved. • Sesquiterpenes with O-diol hydroxyl in the five-membered ring structure of guaiacane lactone are beneficial to inhibit the activity of Mpro, while the structures of α, β-unsaturated-γ-lactone and unsaturated ketone form stable hydrogen bonds with iNOS to inhibit the secretion of NO. • Several AASs compounds were found to be effective in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 and reducing inflammation, with Compound 10 (Achillinin C) identified as a promising compound that effectively inhibited the virus and reduced inflammation without impacting normal cell growt. Artemisia argyi H. Lév. & Vaniot (A. argyi) , a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has been commonly used in plague epidemics and has bactericidal and sterilizing pharmacological effects. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and molecular mechanism of A. argyi , specifically focusing on its main active components, sesquiterpenoids. A total of 69 sesquiterpenoids were identified by UPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap MS, of which 17 compounds were isolated. By integrating multiple databases, 91 overlapping protein targets were found between A. argyi sesquiterpenes and COVID-19, and 7 core targets and major signaling pathways for disease treatment were suggested. The techniques of SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus (PsV) infection, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) have shown that some compounds in A. argyi can effectively inhibit PsV infection and the activities of Mpro and RBD and exert anti-inflammatory effects by reducing the secretion of NO. Molecular docking further confirmed the binding ability of these compounds to the corresponding proteins. It was found that Compound 10 (Achillinin C) could significantly inhibit the infection of PsV at a concentration of 14.85 μM, showing an anti-inflammatory effect and no obvious cytotoxicity to a variety of cells at this concentration. The study concludes that A. argyi holds promise as a natural treatment for COVID-19, offering multiple sesquiterpenoids with potential antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. These findings provide a solid foundation for future research on traditional Chinese medicine for epidemic prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Four steroidal saponins were isolated from the anti-anoxic fraction of the 60% EtOH extract of Selaginella uncinata, including two new compounds, (3β, 7β, 12β, 25R)-spirost-5-ene-3, 7, 12-triol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)]-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), (2α, 3β, 12β, 25R)-spirost-5-ene-2, 3, 12-triol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)]-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2) and two known compounds, (3β, 12β, 25R)-spirost-5-ene-3,12-diol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)]-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, (3), (1α, 3β, 25R)-spirost-5-ene-2-diol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→4)]-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (4). The four compounds showed potent protective effect against anoxia in the anoxic PC12 cells assay, among which compounds 1 and 2 were the most active. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the steroidal saponins in the plant S. uncinata and demonstrate their protective effect against anoxia in PC12 cell assay. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, eight undescribed sesquiterpenoids (artemvulactone A−G and artemvulemdiol A), and two undescribed triterpenoids, (3 S)-dammar-20,25-diene-3-hydroxy-24-one and (3 S ,23 E)-dammar-20,23-diene-25- methoxy-3-ol were isolated from the leaves of Artemisia vulgaris L., together with ten known sesquiterpenoids and three known triterpenoids. The structures of these undescribed terpenoids were determined by extensive spectroscopy methods, including 1D and 2D-NMR, HRESIMS, IR, UV, X-ray diffraction, and ECD. The absolute configurations of artemvulactone A, artemvulactone D, and artemvulactone E were determined by X-ray diffraction (Cu Kα). All isolates were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory efficacy by detecting the expression of inflammatory mediator NO in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, and the results indicated that artemvulactone E exhibited significant anti-inflammatory effect with an IC 50 value of 0.9 ± 0.2 μM. Furthermore, artemvulactone E could reduce LPS-induced COX-2 protein expression dose-dependently by western blotting experiments. [Display omitted] • Ten undescribed terpenoids were isolated from Artemisia vulgaris L. • Thirteen known terpenoids were isolated for the first time from Artemisia vulgaris L. • Guaiane-type sesquiterpene lactones have significant anti-inflammatory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new pairs of benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline (BIQ) alkaloid epimers, Seco-neferine A-F (1–6), were isolated from an EtOH extract of Plumula Nelumbinis. The structures of these compounds were identified by a combination of NMR, HR-ESI-MS, circular dichroism, UV spectroscopic analyses and specific rotations. The structure of compounds 1–6 possesses high similarity with neferine, because these three pairs of epimers have the same skeleton as neferine. Compounds 1,2 and 5,6 are open-loop compounds of position 1′ and 1 of neferine respectively. The H connects with position 2′ N of compounds 1,2 is replaced by methyl, forming the structure of compounds 3,4. Moreover, six compounds were tested for cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell. Compound 6 displayed moderate inhibitory effects on breast cancer with IC 50 of 38.96 μM, while compounds 2,3,4 show certain inhibitory effects. [Display omitted] • Three new pairs of benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline (BIQ) alkaloid epimers were isolated from Plumula Nelumbinis. • Seco-neferine A-F(1–6) were identified as the opening ring analogues of neferine. • Compound 6 displayed moderate cytotoxicity against breast cancer cell with IC 50 value of 38.96 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]