Heparan sulfate acts as an activator of the NLRP3 inflammasome promoting inflammatory response in the development of acute pancreatitis.

Background: Accumulating evidence has shown that the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome plays a crucial role in the inflammatory cascades involved in the development of acute pancreatitis (AP). However, the specific agonist responsible for activating the NLRP3 inflammasome in this process has not yet been identified. The purpose of this study is to clarify whether heparan sulfate (HS) works as an NLRP3 inflammasome activator to evoke inflammatory cascades in the progression of AP.

Nafamostat mesilate prevented caerulein-induced pancreatic injury by targeting HDAC6-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Objective: Nafamostat mesilate (NM), a synthetic broad-spectrum serine protease inhibitor, has been commonly used for treating acute pancreatitis (AP) and other inflammatory-associated diseases in some East Asia countries. Although the potent inhibitory activity against inflammation-related proteases (such as thrombin, trypsin, kallikrein, plasmin, coagulation factors, and complement factors) is generally believed to be responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects of NM, the precise target and molecular mechanism underlying its anti-inflammatory activity in AP treatment remain largely unknown.

Methods: The protection of NM against pancreatic injury and inhibitory effect on the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation were investigated in an experimental mouse model of AP.

The Short and Long Term Consequences of Delayed Cord Clamping on Late Pre-Term Infants.

Objective: To explore the effect of delayed cord clamping on preterm infants.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the clinical data of 163 preterm infants with a gestational age of 34-36 weeks + 6 who were admitted to the neonatology department within 2 hours after birth. The blood routine examination indices within 2 hours and at 3-5 days after birth, the biochemical indices and arterial blood gas (ABG) indices within 2 hours after birth, and the hemoglobin level 5-6 months after birth were compared between the early cord clamping (ECC) group and the delayed cord clamping (DCC) group.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate attenuates acute pancreatitis induced lung injury by targeting mitochondrial reactive oxygen species triggered NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Green tea has been considered as a health-promoting beverage and is widely consumed worldwide. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most abundant polyphenol derived from green tea leaves with potent antioxidative and chemopreventive activities, has been reported to offer protection against inflammation-driven tissue damage. Here, we evaluated the protective effects of EGCG against lung injury during acute pancreatitis (AP) and further revealed the detailed mechanism.

Plasma-derived exosomes contribute to pancreatitis-associated lung injury by triggering NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis in alveolar macrophages.

Progression of acute pancreatitis (AP) into a severe form usually results in a life-threatening condition with multiple organ dysfunction, and in particular acute lung injury (ALI), often contributes to the majority of AP-associated deaths. Increasing evidence has shown that uncontrolled activation of the immune system with rapid production of inflammatory cytokines play a dominant role in this process. As an intracellular inflammatory signaling platform, the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, is recently reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of AP progression, however, the relationship between NLRP3 inflammasome activation and AP-associated lung injury remains unclear yet.

The Role of Exogenous Hydrogen Sulfide in Free Fatty Acids Induced Inflammation in Macrophages.

Background: This study aimed to investigate whether exogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) can protect the RAW264.7 macrophages against the inflammation induced by free fatty acids (FFA) by blunting NLRP3 inflammasome activation via a specific TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

Methods: RAW264.

Molecular hydrogen inhibits lipopolysaccharide-triggered NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages by targeting the mitochondrial reactive oxygen species.

The NLRP3 inflammasome, an intracellular multi-protein complex controlling the maturation of cytokine interleukin-1β, plays an important role in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory cascades. Recently, the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) in macrophages stimulated with LPS has been suggested to act as a trigger during the process of NLRP3 inflammasome activation that can be blocked by some mitochondria-targeted antioxidants. Known as a ROS scavenger, molecular hydrogen (H2) has been shown to possess therapeutic benefit on LPS-induced inflammatory damage in many animal experiments.

Hydrogen-rich saline protects against ischemia/reperfusion injury in grafts after pancreas transplantations by reducing oxidative stress in rats.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of hydrogen-rich saline on pancreatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.

Methods: Eighty heterotopic pancreas transplantations (HPT) were performed in syngenic rats. The receptors were randomized blindly into the following three groups: the HPT group and two groups that underwent transplantation and administration of hydrogen-rich saline (HS, >0.

Zoledronic Acid may reduce intraoperative bleeding in spinal tumors: a prospective cohort study.

Between June 2010 and June 2011, 176 patients were divided into 2 groups: a group with spinal metastasis of solid tumors (n = 157) and a group with multiple myeloma (n = 19). Both groups were further divided into 2 subgroups: a group receiving zoledronic acid before surgery and a control group. The zoledronic acid subgroup of the solid tumors group was group A (n = 81), the control subgroup of the solid tumors group was group B (n = 76), the zoledronic acid subgroup of the multiple myeloma group was group C (n = 10), and the control subgroup of the multiple myeloma group was group D (n = 9).

Mangiferin loaded magnetic PCEC microspheres: preparation, characterization and antitumor activity studies in vitro.

Mangiferin is a promising effective chemopreventive agent against various tumors. However, its clinical use is limited by poor water solubility and low bioavailability. In this article, mangiferin loaded magnetic PCEC microspheres (MG-MS) were designed, characterized and the antitumor activity of MG-MS was evaluated in vitro.

Hydrogen-rich saline inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation and attenuates experimental acute pancreatitis in mice.

Increasing evidence has demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) induces oxidative stress and plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (AP). Hydrogen-rich saline (HRS), a well-known ROS scavenger, has been shown to possess therapeutic benefit on AP in many animal experiments. Recent findings have indicated that the NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, an intracellular multiprotein complex required for the maturation of interleukin- (IL-) 1β, may probably be a potential target of HRS in the treatment of AP.

Pharmacological blockade of the MaxiK channel attenuates experimental acute pancreatitis and associated lung injury in rats.

Increasing evidence has recently demonstrated that soluble heparan sulfate (HS), a degradation product of extracellular matrix produced by elastase, plays a key role in the aggravation of acute pancreatitis (AP) and associated lung injury. However little is known about the detailed mechanism underlying HS-induced inflammatory cascade. Our previous work has provided a valuable clue that a large-conductance K(+) channel (MaxiK) was involved in the HS-stimulated activation of murine macrophages.

Involvement of a membrane potassium channel in heparan sulphate-induced activation of macrophages.

Increasing evidence has demonstrated that Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) -mediated systemic inflammatory response syndrome accompanied by multiple organ failure, is one of the most common causes of death in patients with severe acute pancreatitis. Recent reports have revealed that heparan sulphate (HS) proteoglycan, a component of extracellular matrices, potentiates the activation of intracellular pro-inflammatory responses via TLR4, contributing to the aggravation of acute pancreatitis. However, little is known about the participants in the HS/TLR4-mediated inflammatory cascades.

Effects of treatment with hydrogen sulfide on methionine-choline deficient diet-induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in rats.

Background And Aim: Oxidative stress and inflammation play important roles in the progression from simple fatty liver to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The aim of this work was to investigate whether treatment with hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) prevented NASH in rats through abating oxidative stress and suppressing inflammation.

Methods: A methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet rat model was prepared.

Progressive balloon dilatation following hepaticojejunostomy improves outcome of bile duct stricture after iatrogenic biliary injury.

Background: Iatrogenic biliary stricture (IBS) is a disastrous complication of cholecystectomy. Although the endoscopic treatments are well accepted as initial attempts for IBS, surgical hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) is often necessary for a considerable proportion of patients. However, the anastomotic stricture after HJ also occurs.

[Protective effect of Ligustrazine preconditioning on hepatic energy metabolism in ischemia/reperfusion injury of rat].

Objective: Objective to investigate the protective effects of Ligustrazine preconditioning against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) in rats.

Methods: Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 3 groups: sham operation group, in which animals underwent laparotomy, experimental group and control group in which were treated with 70% IRI of the liver, especially, the animals in experimental group was given intraperitoneal injection of 2 mL Ligustrazine per day for 3 days before operation. After the operation, liver tissues were harvested at 1 h, 6 h, 24 h and 72 h for the study of histomorphological change, the respiratory control ratio (RCR) and phosphorus: oxygen ratio (P/O) of hepatocytes mitochondria, and the contents of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) of liver tissue.

Cyclic Limulus anti-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) factor-derived peptide CLP-19 antagonizes LPS function by blocking binding to LPS binding protein.

Inflammation and septic shock due to endotoxins from Gram-negative bacteria infection continue to pose significant challenges to human healthcare. It is, therefore, necessary to develop therapeutic strategies targeting endotoxins, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), to prevent their potentially systemic effects. Pathogenesis due to Gram-negative bacteria involves LPS binding to the host LPS-binding protein (LBP), causing detrimental downstream signaling cascades.

Management of patients with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction based on a new classification.

Aim: To propose a new classification system for sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) based on clinical data of patients.

Methods: The clinical data of 305 SOD patients documented over the past decade at our center were analyzed retrospectively, and typical cases were reported.

Results: The new classification with two more types (double-duct, biliary-pancreatic reflux) were set up on the basis of the Milwaukee criteria.

Experimental evidence supporting the lack of primary stem cells in adult pancreatic tissue.

Purpose: To investigate the origin and localization of pancreatic stem cells in adult pancreatic tissues and to determine the primary mechanism underlying the participation of these cells in repairing pancreatic injuries.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group was given intraperitoneal injections of cerulein to induce acute pancreatitis.

[Study of in vitro endotoxin neutralization effect and antibacterial activity of limulus anti-lipopolysaccharide factor simulated peptide REMP2].

Objective: To investigate the role of REMP2 derived from limulus anti-lipopolysaccharide factor in neutralizing endotoxin in vitro and its antibacterial activity.

Methods: (1) REMP2 and PMB in the concentrations of 100.00, 10.

[Reproduction of the murine endotoxin shock model in D-galactosamine-sensitized KunMing mice].

Objective: To reproduce a Kunming murine endotoxin shock model suitable for the anti-endotoxin pharmaceutical research.

Methods: Kunming mice were challenged with an intraperitoneal (i. p.

A synthetic cyclic peptide derived from Limulus anti-lipopolysaccharide factor neutralizes endotoxin in vitro and in vivo.

Endotoxin, also known as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), is the major mediator of septic shock due to Gram-negative bacterial infections. Recently, much attention has been focused on cationic peptides which possess the potential to detoxify LPS. Limulus anti-LPS factor (LALF), a protein found in the horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus), has been proved with striking anti-LPS effects.