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ABSTRACT A traditional herbal formula Jakyakgamcho-tang (JYGCT; Paeonia lactiflora and Glycyrrhiza uralensis) has been used for treatment of backache, muscle pain, acute abdominal pain, neuralgia, bronchial asthma, and painful peripheral [...]

Many studies related to high-strength concrete material have been conducted, but relatively few studies have considered high-strength steel reinforcement. Four current design codes – ACI 318-14, Eurocode 2, CSA A23.3-04, and JSCE-07 – limit the yield strength of transverse reinforcement to control diagonal crack width, and to ensure yielding of transverse reinforcement prior to brittle failure mode. ACI, Eurocode 2 and CSA A23.3-04 limit the yield strength of transverse reinforcement to 420, 600, and 500 MPa, respectively; while JSCE-07 limits the yield strength to 800 MPa, when the compressive strength of concrete is higher than 60 MPa. The implementation of high-strength transverse reinforcement in prestressed concrete (PSC) and reinforced concrete (RC) beams has been determined in this study. A total of 16 beams were strengthened using higher yield strength stirrups than the code limitations, and were monotonically loaded to failure. All the beams were designed to experience shear failure prior to flexural failure. Most of the test results showed yielding of the stirrups, and narrower crack width than the code limitations even though the specimens were strengthened with higher than 420 MPa stirrups. The test results imply the feasibility of using high-strength stirrups for PSC beams with regard to serviceability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe nutraceutical and biological potential of Annona atemoya, a fruiting plant, has been reported. We and others have demonstrated that A. atemoya leaf extract (AAL) has various pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective effects. However, knowledge about the safety and potential toxicity of AAL remains limited. We aimed to assess the potential toxicity of AAL using acute and repeated subacute oral toxicity tests in rats. In both acute and repeated subacute toxicity test, no AAL-related behavioral abnormalities or changes in mortality, food intake, body weight were observed up to a dosage of 2000 mg/kg, indicating that the median lethal dose of AAL is higher than 2000 mg/kg. In subacute toxicity tests, no significant changes in hematological and biochemical parameters, urinalysis results, and histopathological variables were observed. Therefore, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of orally administered AAL was estimated to be 2000 mg/kg/day in male and female rats. We also examined the effect of AAL on the inflammatory reaction in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 cells. AAL treatment significantly inhibited the LPS-stimulated increases in the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and inflammatory cytokines, implying that AAL has an anti-inflammatory effect. Quality control analysis revealed that two marker compounds, rutin and isoquercitrin, were present at 27.570 and 4.322 mg/g, respectively, in a freeze-dried AAL sample and were completely eluted within 27 min. The extraction recovery was 99.47–103.80%, and the precision was ≤2.79%. Overall, these findings suggest the safety, anti-inflammatory activity, and standardization of AAL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background In this study, we investigated the effect of Samchulkunbi-tang water extract (SCTE) in an established mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma. The effects of SCTE on the production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, eotaxin, and total and OVA-specific immunoglobulin E, inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity were measured. Methods Mice were sensitized on days 0 and 14 with an intraperitoneal injection of 20 μg ovalbumin (OVA) emulsified in 2 mg aluminum hydroxide in 200 μL PBS buffer. On days 21, 22, and 23, mice received an airway exposure to OVA (1%, w/v, in PBS) for 1 h. SCTE was administered orally to mice at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg per day from days 18 to 23. Results SCTE reduced the number of inflammatory cells, cytokines, and chemokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and iNOS expression and MMP-9 activity in mouse lung tissue. Histological studies using hematoxylin & eosin and periodic acid-schiff staining showed that SCTE substantially inhibited OVA-induced inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue and goblet cell hyperplasia in the airway. SCTE also reduced IL-4 and IL-13 expression in concanavalin-A-stimulated splenocytes. These results were similar to those obtained with montelukast as a positive control. Conclusions Collectively, these results suggest that SCTE may be an effective oral treatment for allergic airway inflammation by virtue of its anti-inflammatory activity.