Efficacy of intermittent epidural dexamethasone bolus for zoster-associated pain beyond the acute phase.

Herpes zoster develops when latent varicella zoster virus is reactivated in the trigeminal or dorsal root ganglions. Zoster-associated pain (ZAP) is neuropathic pain caused by the herpes zoster virus. Histological studies of postherpetic neuralgia patients suggest that inflammation is involved in ZAP.

Analysis of prenylflavonoids from aerial parts of Epimedium grandiflorum and dietary supplements using HPTLC, UHPLC-PDA and UHPLC-QToF along with chemometric tools to differentiate Epimedium species.

An UHPLC method was developed for the determination of 15 prenylflavonoids from aerial parts of Epimedium grandiflorum and related species (Berberidaceae). The separation was achieved using a reverse phased column and water/acetonitrile gradient as a mobile phase at a temperature of 40°C. The developed analytical method was validated for linearity, limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ), stability and repeatability.

Inner morphological and chemical differentiation of Boehmeria species.

The present study was designed to establish quality control parameters for pharmacognostic evaluation and differentiation of eight locally derived Boehmeria species, B. gracilis, B. nivea, B.

Novel Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Inhibitors Prevent Diabetic Kidney Injury in a Mouse Model.

Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease worldwide, but no effective therapeutic strategy is available. Because plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is increasingly recognized as a key factor in extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation in diabetic nephropathy, this study examined the renoprotective effects of TM5275 and TM5441, two novel orally active PAI-1 inhibitors that do not trigger bleeding episodes, in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. TM5275 (50 mg/kg) and TM5441 (10 mg/kg) were administered orally for 16 weeks to STZ-induced diabetic and age-matched control mice.

Effects of ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block on acute pain after arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Background And Objectives: Apart from a few case reports, the effectiveness of stellate ganglion block (SGB) as a monotherapy in acute nociceptive pain has not been determined. We aimed to assess the effects of SGB on postoperative pain after arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Study Design: Randomized, blind, controlled, clinical trial

Setting: University Hospital outpatient

Methods: Forty-six patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery were assigned randomly to 2 groups: group S included patients who underwent SGB prior to surgery and group C did not.

Short-term Treatment of Daumone Improves Hepatic Inflammation in Aged Mice.

Chronic inflammation has been proposed as one of the main molecular mechanisms of aging and age-related diseases. Although evidence in humans is limited, short-term calorie restriction (CR) has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects in aged experimental animals. We reported on the long-term treatment of daumone, a synthetic pheromone secreted by Caenorhabditis elegans in an energy deficient environment, extends the life-span and attenuates liver injury in aged mice.

Differences in the chemical profiles and biological activities of Paeonia lactiflora and Paeonia obovata.

Paeonia lactiflora and P. obovata are perennial herbs, each root of which has been consumed as a major oriental medicine, Paeoniae Radix and a famous folk medicine, Mountain Paeony Root, respectively. Although morphological studies have been performed comparing these two plants, there is insufficient scientific evidence that characterizes the differences in their chemical profiles and biological activities.

Daumone fed late in life improves survival and reduces hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in mice.

The liver is one of the most susceptible organs to aging, and hepatic inflammation and fibrosis increase with age. Chronic inflammation has been proposed as the major molecular mechanism underlying aging and age-related diseases, whereas calorie restriction has been shown to be the most effective in extending mammalian lifespan and to have anti-aging effects through its anti-inflammatory action. Thus, it is necessary to develop effective calorie restriction mimetics.

Human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells prevent diabetic renal injury through paracrine action.

Aims: The present study examined renoprotective effect of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSC) in diabetes. NRK-52E cells were utilized to determine the paracrine effect of hUCB-MSC.

Methods: hUCB was harvested with the mother's consent.

Alkaloids from Papaver coreanum.

The alkaloid pattern of the endemic plant Papaver coreanum Nakai (Papaveraceae) was determined for the first time. Eight alkaloids could be identified by LC/ESI-MS/MS and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Among them, protopine and allocryptopine represent the main components.

Rhododendrin, an analgesic/anti-inflammatory arylbutanoid glycoside, from the leaves of Rhododendron aureum.

To identify an analgesic/anti-inflammatory component from the leaves of Rhododendron aureum (Ericaceae), phytochemical isolation and pharmacological assays (writhing assays and vascular permeability assay for analgesic action in mice; carrageenan-induced paw edemaand TPA-induced ear edema assays of anti-inflammatory action in rats) were performed. Four compounds were isolated from the active fraction (BuOH fraction) by silica gel column chromatography and identified as (-)-rhododendrol, (-)-rhododendrin, avicularin and hyperoside by spectroscopic methods. Rhododendrin, the main compound of the BuOH fraction, exhibited significant analgesic actions in mice and anti-inflammatory actions in rats.

Quantitative determination of daumone in rat plasma by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Daumone, 6-(3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-tetrahydro-pyran-2-yloxy)-heptanoic acid is a pheromone secreted by Caenorhabditis elegans, and has been known as a pivotal regulator of chemosensory processes in development and ageing. A quantification method using mass spectrometry was developed for the determination of daumone in rat plasma. After simple protein precipitation with acetonitrile including an internal standard, the analytes were chromatographed on a reversed-phase column and detected by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization.

Determination of daumone in mouse plasma by HPLC/MS-MS.

Daumone, a pheromone secreted by Caenorhabditis elegans, is an essential regulator of chemosensory processes in development and aging. A quantification method using HPLC/MS-MS was developed for the determination of daumone in mouse plasma. After simple protein precipitation with acetonitrile including methaqualone (an internal standard), the analytes were chromatographed on a reversed-phase column and detected by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization.

Learning to perceive structure from motion and neural plasticity in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Recent research has demonstrated that Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects the visual sensory pathways, producing a variety of visual deficits, including the capacity to perceive structure-from-motion (SFM). Because the sensory areas of the adult brain are known to retain a large degree of plasticity, the present study was conducted to explore whether the degradation of a visual function impaired by AD can be reversed or slowed through perceptual learning. Whereas many studies directed at learning in AD examined learning capacities involving the implicit memory system, a largely preserved system in AD, the present study focused on perceptual learning involving visual deficits impaired by AD.

Two new flavonol glycosides from Lamium amplexicaule L. and their in vitro free radical scavenging and tyrosinase inhibitory activities.

Two new flavonol glycosides, kaempferol 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)][alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside and quercetin 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)][alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside, together with three known flavonoids were isolated using column chromatography from the aerial parts of Lamium amplexicaule (Labiatae). In addition, the five isolates were evaluated for their in vitro free radical scavenging (EC50 values, 14.1-63.

Role of reactive oxygen species in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.

There is an increasing evidence that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a major role in the development of diabetic complications. Oxidative stress is increased in diabetes and the overproduction of ROS in diabetes is a direct consequence of hyperglycemia. Various types of vascular cells including renal cells are able to produce ROS under hyperglycemic condition.

In vitro neuroprotective activities of phenylethanoid glycosides from Callicarpa dichotoma.

Ten phenylethanoid glycosides, forsythoside B, acteoside, 2'-acetylacteoside, poliumoside, brandioside, echinacoside, isoacteoside, cistanoside H and E-tubuloside E as well as a new compound, Z-tubuloside E, were isolated from the n-BuOH fraction of Callicarpa dichotoma Raeuschel (Verbenaceae) by bioactivity-guided fractionation using glutamate-injured primary cultures of rat cortical cells as a screening system. These phenylethanoid glycosides significantly attenuated glutamate-induced neurotoxicity at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 microM.

Antimutagenic constituents from the thorns of Gleditsia sinensis.

Antimutagenic activity-guided fractionation of an extract prepared from the thorns of Gleditsia sinensis LAM. led to the isolation of one triterpenoid and four steroids, which were identified as D:C-friedours-7-en-3-one (1), stigmast-4-ene-3,6-dione (2), stigmastane-3,6-dione (3), stigmasterol (4), and beta-sitosterol (5). Triterpenoid 1 was found for the first time in a natural source and the steroids 2-5 were first isolated from this plant.

Two new acylated iridoid glucosides from the aerial parts of Paederia scandens.

Two new acylated iridoid glucosides were isolated from the aerial parts of Paederia scandens along with six known iridoid glucosides. The structures of two new compounds were elucidated as 6'-O-E-feruloylmonotropein (1) and 10-O-E-feruloylmonotropein (2) by spectroscopic methods.

Flavonoids from Spatholobus suberectus.

Two pterocarpans [(6aR,11aR)-maackiain, (6aR,11aR)-medicarpin], one flavanone [(2S)-7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-flavanone], one isoflavan (sativan) and two isoflavones (pseudobaptigenin, genistein) were isolated from the Spatholobus suberectus (Leguminosae). Their chemical structures were determined by comparison of their spectroscopic parameters of CD, EIMS, 1D-NMR and 2D-NMR with those reported in the literatures. All of these compounds are reported for the first time from this plant through the present study.

Effects of ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2 on the proliferation of prostate cancer cells.

Ginseng has an anti-cancer effect in several cancer models. This study was to characterize active constituents of ginseng and their effects on proliferation of prostate cancer cell lines, LNCaP and PC3. Cell proliferation was measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation, the intracellular calcium concentration by a dual-wavelength spectrophotometer system, effects on mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases by Western blotting, and cell attachment and morphologic changes were observed under a microscope.

Trollioside, a new compound from the flowers of Trollius chinensis.

A new compound, named trollioside, together with nine known compounds, proglobeflowery acid, isoswertisin, isoswertiajaponin, cirsimaritin, veratric acid, vitexin, orientin, beta-sitosterol and daucosterol, were isolated from the ethanol extract of the dried flowers of Trollius chinensis Bunge. The isolation and structural determination of these compounds are discussed.

In-vitro and in-vivo anti-inflammatory effect of oxyresveratrol from Morus alba L.

The antioxidative effects of mulberroside A and oxyresveratrol obtained from Mori Cortex were examined. Mulberroside A and oxyresveratrol showed an inhibitory effect against FeSO4/H2O2-induced lipid peroxidation in rat microsomes and a scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical. The anti-inflammatory effects of mulberroside A and oxyresveratrol using the carrageenin-induced model of inflammation were investigated in rats.

Inhibitory effects of the fragrance inhalation of essential oil from Acorus gramineus on central nervous system.

The present study was designed to evaluate central inhibitory effects of the essential oil from Acori graminei Rhizoma (AGR), the dry rhizomes of Acorus gramineus SOLANDER (Araceae) upon fragrance inhalation (aroma therapy). Preinhalation of the oil markedly delayed the appearance of pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsion. Furthermore, inhalation impressively inhibited the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transaminase, a degrading enzyme for GABA as the inhalation period was lengthened.

[Studies on chemical constituents from the seed of Trigonella foenum-graecum].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from the seed of Trigonella foenum-graecum.

Method: The compounds were isolated with silica gel chromatography and their structures were identified by physical, chemical properties and spectral analysis.

Result: Seven compounds were isolated and identified as N,N'-dicarbazyl, glycerol monopalmitate, stearic acid, beta-sitosteryl glucopyranoside, ethyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside, D-3-O-methyl-chiroinsitol and sucrose.