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Atractylodis macrocephalae rhizome (AMR) belongs to medicine food homology. Its' clinical application of invigorating the spleen-stomach of AMR was applied to various diseases. In this research, a UPLC-QTOF-MS method was developed for qualitative and quantitative analysis of AMR, simultaneously. A Waters Acquity BEH C18 column (2.1 mm × 100 mm, 1.7 μm particle size) was used for separation of AMR multi-components. The column was eluted with a mobile phase of 0.1% formic acid-water and 0.1% formic acid-acetonitrile. Electron spray ionization with positive-ion mode and external standard method was utilized for quantifying the nine analytes in AMR. Constituents of AMR were scanned by UPLC-QTOF-MS and then identified by mass fragments and chromatographic information compared with the published literature and reference standards. Under positive mode, a total of 61 chemical compositions including 16 terpenoids, 8 polyacetylenes, 6 aromatics, 5 flavonoids, 5 coumarins, 5 organic acids, 4 amino acids, 3 fatty acids, 3 aliphatics, 2 steroids, and 2 alkenes, a nucleoside and an aldehyde were identified. Simultaneously, the contents of three amino acids (L-tyrosine, L-phenylalanine, and L-tryptophan), three sesquiterpenoids (atractylenolide Ⅲ, atractylenolide Ⅱ, and atractylenolide Ⅰ), a flavonoid (rutin), an organic acid (ferulic acid), and a pentacyclic triterpenoid (oleanolic acid) were determined in seventeen AMR batches. Amino acids and triterpenoid were quantified for the first time in AMR. The UPLC-QTOF-MS method developed in this article was reliable, practical, and useful for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of AMR multi-components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection poses a significant threat to global public health and is associated with microcephaly. There are no approved ZIKV‐specific vaccines or drugs for the clinical treatment of the infection. Currently, there are no approved ZIKV‐specific vaccines or drugs for the clinical treatment of the infection. In this study, we investigated the antiviral potential of aloperine, a quinolizidine alkaloid, against ZIKV infection in vivo and in vitro. Our results demonstrate that aloperine effectively inhibits ZIKV infection in vitro, with a low nanomolar half maximal effective concentration (EC50). Specifically, aloperine strongly protected cells from ZIKV multiplication, as indicated by decreased expression of viral proteins and virus titer. Our further investigations using the time‐of‐drug‐addition assay, binding, entry, and replication assays, detection of ZIKV strand‐specific RNA, the cellular thermal shift assay, and molecular docking revealed that aloperine significantly inhibits the replication stage of the ZIKV life cycle by targeting the domain RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase (RDRP) of ZIKV NS5 protein. Additionally, aloperine reduced viremia in mice and effectively lowered the mortality rate in infected mice. These findings highlight the potency of aloperine and its ability to target ZIKV infection, suggesting its potential as a promising antiviral drug against ZIKV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salvianolic acid B (SB) is an antioxidant derived from Salvia militarize, and is one of the most widely used herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. SB is a potent antioxidant that has been well documented as a scavenger of oxygen free radicals, and has been used for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis-associated disorders. To explore its potential therapeutic effects in treating radiation damage, in this study, mice were treated with SB at different doses of 5, 12.5 and 20 mg/kg, subsequent to receiving γ-irradiation. The effects of SB on peripheral blood, bone marrow nucleated cells, spleen and thymus indices, and oxidation resistance were evaluated in both radiated mice and control groups. The results indicated that SB significantly increased the counts of peripheral white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. The number of nucleated cells in the bone marrow and the level of protein increased as well. In addition, improved spleen and thymus indices in the bone marrow were observed. SB treatment additionally reversed the deterioration of both the thymus and spleen indices, which is associated with increased serum superoxide dismutase activity and decreasing malondialdehyde levels via nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 protein/BTB and CNC homology 1 mediated antioxidant effect. Furthermore, ROS levels and Bax protein expression were also suppressed by SB. The data suggested that SB is effective in protecting mice from γ-radiation injury, and could potentially be applicable for clinical use. Notably, the present study identified a promising candidate drug for enhancing the hematopoietic and immune systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The antiviral activity and underlying mechanism of Patchouli alcohol remain unclear., Methods: This study evaluated the cytotoxicity, optimal methods for drug administration, anti-influenza A activity of Patchouli alcohol. The antiviral mechanism of Patchouli alcohol was also assessed via qRT-PCR, western blot, hemagglutination inhibiting (HAI) assay, and hemolysis inhibiting assay., Results: Patchouli alcohol was shown to have low cytotoxicity and its strongest antiviral effect was associated with premixed administration. Patchouli alcohol inhibited virus replication during the early lifecycle stages of influenza A virus infection and specifically prevented expression of the viral proteins, HA and NP. In both the HAI and hemolysis inhibiting assays, Patchouli alcohol was able to block HA2-mediated membrane fusion under low pH conditions. Patchouli alcohol had lower binding energy with HA2 than HA1., Conclusion: These findings suggest that Patchouli alcohol could be a promising membrane fusion inhibitor for the treatment of influenza A infection., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Fan, Zhang, Zhang, Lai, Long, Huang, Zhan, Liu, Lai, Zhang, Pan, Su and Li.)

Objective: This study aimed to provide better understanding of the otolaryngologic features, combined with ophthalmologic and neurologic characteristics in mitochondrial encephalomyopathy（MEM）, and to help ENT and auditory practitioner making correct diagnosis as well. Methods: Twenty-eight patients with MEM were enrolled between September 2001 and January 2020. Information about family histories and clinical symptoms was retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent otorhinolaryngological, ophthalmological and neurological examinations, including: pure-tone audiometry, acoustic immittance（AI）, distortion-product otoacoustic emissions（DPOAE）, auditory brainstem response（ABR）, cochlear micropotential（CM）, speech discrimination score（SDS）, electroneurography（ENoG）, computed tomography（CT） of the temporal bone and cranial magnetic resonance weighted imaging scan（MRI）, muscle biopsy and mtDNA gene testing. Results: ENT subjective manifestations were present in 15 cases （53.6%） with sensorineural hearing loss（SNHL）, 4（14.3%） with tinnitus, 4（14.3%） with facial weakness, 3（10.7%） with dysphagia, 1（3.6%） with auditory agnosia. Ophthalmological and neurological symptoms included ptosis in 16 cases （57.1%）, exercise intolerance in 16（57.1%）, optic atrophy in 15（53.6%）, muscular atrophy in 6（21.4%）, and stroke-like episodes in 5（17.9%）. The results of objective examinations were as follows: DPOAE were not elicited in 18（64.3%） cases, ABR abnormalities in 18（64.3%） cases, hearing threshold shift in 15（53.6%） cases, AI normal and CM was not detected in all cases, SDS decreased in 6（21.4%） cases, facial ENoG abnormalities in 4（14.3%） cases, laryngeal ENoG abnormalities in 3（10.7%） cases, EMG abnormalities in 6（21.4%） cases, and ECG abnormalities in 8（28.6%） cases. Temporal CT were normal, but cranial MRI abnormalities were found in 19 cases（67.9%）, including central nerve demyelination, white matter hyperintensities, generalized cerebellar and cerebral atrophy, multiple cortical/subcortical infarct-like lesions, basal ganglia calcification. Conclusion: Multisystemic syndromes in MEM can present as a variety of otolaryngological, ophthalmological and neurological abnormalities, such as ptosis, audio-visual disturbance, exercise intolerance and stroke-like episodes etc. SNHL, tinnitus, auditory agnosia, facial weakness and dysphagia were ENT specific manifestations. SNHL in MEM is bilateral symmetrical progressive or of sudden onset since teenage. mtDNA testing may be helpful for adolescent patient whose SNHL was associated with neuromuscular symptoms. Muscle biopsy should be considered when middle-aged patients developed facial weakness and dysphagia. DPOAE and ABR are the optimal objective audiometric tests to monitor the progression of MEM associated with SNHL., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Editorial Department of Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.)

Objective: To study the changes of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit 2A (NR2A) expression at local synapses in auditory cortices after early postnatal sound insulation and tone exposure., Method: We prepared highly purified synaptosomes from primary auditory cortex by Optiprep flotation gradient centrifugations, and compared the differences of NR2A expression in sound insulation PND14, PND28, PND42 and Tone exposure after sound insulation for 7 days by Western blotting., Result: The results showed that the NR2A protein expression of PND14 and PND28 decreased significantly (P<0.05). Tone exposure after sound insulation for 7 days, mSIe NR2A protein level increased significantly (P<0.05). It showed bidirectional regulation of NR2A protein. No significant effects of sound insulation and lone exposure were found on the relative expression level of NR2A of PND42 (P>0.05)., Conclusion: The results indicate that sound insulation and experience can modify the protein expression level of NR2A during the critical period of rat postnatal development. These findings provide important data for the study on the mechanisms of the developmental plasticity of sensory functions.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of hearing pathway NMDAR regulating the changes of phosphorylated c-Jun expression in spiral ganglion after exposed Kunming mice to neural injury noise stimulation to induce permanent or temporary threshold shift., Method: To compare the different expressions of the key components (phosphorylated C-Jun) of NMDAR signal pathway during neural injury stimulation by Immunohistochemistry in CG., Result: The levels of phosphorylated c-Jun remarkably, increased in the spiral ganglion after 8 h, 48 h, 7 d and 14 d following noise trauma induced permanent threshold shift (PTS), and the numbers of positive cells reduced gradually. The similar changes occur in mice treated with MK-801 30 minutes before and after 3 h trauma induced PTS. After 48 h of noise induced TTS, the expression of Phosphorylated c-Jun return the level of normal control., Conclusion: The expressions of phosphorylated c-Jun are time-related and uniform in the time and position in CG after noise trauma. MK-801 can alleviate the damage of noise trauma by altered the NMDA receptor-mediated calcium influx. Therefore, the NMDA receptors may involved in the damage of inner ear in common.