Quantitative evaluation of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration: a comparison of ultrashort time-to-echo T2* with T1rho relaxometry.

Background: Early detection of changes in lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) has great clinical significance. T1rho and UTE-T2* relaxometry are capable of providing information about biochemical changes in IVDD. However, they have not been previously analyzed and compared directly in the same patients.

Ultrashort time-to-echo T2* and T2* relaxometry for evaluation of lumbar disc degeneration: a comparative study.

Background: To compare potential of ultrashort time-to-echo (UTE) T2* mapping and T2* values from T2*-weighted imaging for assessing lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD),with Pfirrmann grading as a reference standard.

Methods: UTE-T2* and T2* values of 366 lumbar discs (L1/2-L5/S1) in 76 subjects were measured in 3 segmented regions: anterior annulus fibrosus, nucleus pulposus (NP), and posterior annulus fibrosus. Lumbar intervertebral discs were divided into 3 categories based on 5-level Pfirrmann grading: normal (Pfirrmann grade I),early disc degeneration (Pfirrmann grades II-III), and advanced disc degeneration (Pfirrmann grades IV-V).

Triptriolide Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Liver Injury by Nrf2 and NF-κB Signaling Pathways.

Nrf2 (Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2 Related Factor 2) transcription factor not only regulates oxidative stress response, but also represses inflammation by regulating cytokines production and cross-talking with NF-κB signaling pathways. Nrf2 plays an essential role in liver injury induced by oxidative stress and inflammation. Triptriolide (T11) is a minor component of Hook F.

Determination of artemisitene in rat plasma by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and its application in pharmacokinetics.

Rationale: Artemisitene shows a wide variety of pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant protection in vitro and in vivo. It has been identified as a novel Nrf2 inducer. However, there is no report on an ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS/MS) method to quantitate artemisitene in rat plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic profile study.

A UPLC/MS/MS method for determination of protosappanin B in rat plasma and its application of a pharmacokinetic and bioavailability study.

Caesalpinia sappan L. is a traditional medicinal plant which is used for promoting blood circulation and cerebral apoplexy therapy in China. Previous reports showed that the extracts of Caesalpinia sappan L.

Tuning the regio- and stereoselectivity of C-H activation in n-octanes by cytochrome P450 BM-3 with fluorine substituents: evidence for interactions between a C-F bond and aromatic π systems.

We employed the water-soluble cytochrome P450 BM-3 to study the activity and regiospecificity of oxidation of fluorinated n-octanes. Three mutations, A74G, F87V, and L188Q, were introduced into P450 BM-3 to allow the system to undergo n-octane oxidation. In addition, the alanine at residue 328 was replaced with a phenylalanine to introduce an aromatic residue into the hydrophobic pocket to examine whether or not van der Waals interactions between a C-F substituent in the substrate and the polarizable π system of the phenylalanine may be used to steer the positioning of the substrate within the active-site pocket of the enzyme and control the regioselectivity and stereoselectivity of hydroxylation.