Curcumin attenuates sepsis-induced acute organ dysfunction by preventing inflammation and enhancing the suppressive function of Tregs.

Sepsis is characterized by the extensive release of cytokines and other mediators. It results in a dysregulated immune response and can lead to organ damage and death. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties and immunoregulation functions in various disorders such as sepsis, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, lung fibrosis, gallstone formation, and diabetes.

Crosstalk between Mitochondrial Fission and Oxidative Stress in Paraquat-Induced Apoptosis in Mouse Alveolar Type II Cells.

Paraquat (PQ), as a highly effective and nonselective herbicide, induces cell apoptosis through generation of superoxide anions which forms reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mitochondria, as regulators for cellular redox signaling, have been proved to play an important role in PQ-induced cell apoptosis. This study aimed to evaluate whether and how mitochondrial fission interacts with oxidative stress in PQ-induced apoptosis in mouse alveolar type II (AT-II) cells.

[The protective effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells carrying antioxidant gene superoxide dismutase on paraquat lung injury in mice].

Objective: To explore the possible mechanism and protective effect of BMSCs (bone mesenchymal stem cells) carrying superoxide dismutase (SOD) gene on mice with paraquat-induced acute lung injury.

Methods: To establish the cell line of BMSCs bringing SOD gene, lentiviral vector bringing SOD gene was built and co-cultured with BMSCs. A total of 100 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups, namely Control group, poisoning group (PQ group) , BMSCs therapy group (BMSC group) , BMSCs-Cherry therapy group (BMSC-Cherry group) , BMSCs-SOD therapy group (BMSC-SOD group) .

SIRT1 exerts protective effects against paraquat-induced injury in mouse type II alveolar epithelial cells by deacetylating NRF2 in vitro.

Silent information regulator 2-related enzyme 1 (SIRT1), a protein deacetylase, is known to strongly protect cells against oxidative stress-induced injury. The nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) antioxidant pathway plays important regulatory roles in the antioxidant therapy of paraquat (PQ) poisoning. In the present study, we investigated whether the SIRT1/NRF2/ARE signaling pathway plays an important role in lung injury induced by PQ.

[Effect of PON1 overexpression on mouse diaphragmatic muscle cells injury caused by acute dichlorvos poisoning].

Objective: To investigate the effect of paraoxonase1 (PON1) overexpression on mouse diaphragmatic muscle cells injury caused by acute dichlorvos poisoning.

Methods: Mouse diaphragmatic muscle cells were cultured routinely and infected with overexpression lentivirus. Cells were divided into normal control group, DDVP group, LV-GFP + DDVP group, LV-PON1 + DDVP group.

[The effect of resveratrol on paraquat-induced acute lung injury in mice and its mechanism].

Objective: To investigate the effect of resveratrol (Res) on paraquat (PQ)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and mortality in mice and the mechanism of nuclear factor-ΚB (NF-ΚB) inflammatory pathway.

Methods: Sixty-eight healthy male ICR mice with grade SPF were enrolled, among them 20 mice were used for mortality observation (n = 10), and other 48 were used for determination of related parameters (n = 6). The mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal saline (NS) control group, Res control group, PQ group and PQ + Res group.

Protective Effects of Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6 (Gas6) on Sepsis-Induced Acute Kidney Injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication of sepsis, which has a high mortality rate. Growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6), the protein product of the growth arrest specific gene 6, has been shown to have an anti-apoptotic effect as well as pro-survival capability. Here, we investigated the effects of Gas6 on sepsis-associated AKI in mice subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).

Cycloartenyl Ferulate Inhibits Paraquat-Induced Apoptosis in HK-2 Cells With the Involvement of ABCC1.

Nephrotoxicity induced by chemicals such as paraquat (PQ) is a common clinical phenomenon; therefore, searching for drugs with renal protective effect is of a great practical significance. Our previous investigation found that cycloartenyl ferulate (CF) can antagonize the cytotoxic effect of PQ, and recent studies also revealed a variety of bioactivities of CF. However, specific molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effect of CF have not been explored yet.

[The protective effect of regulation of paraoxonase 1 gene on liver oxidative stress injury induced by dichlorvos poisoning in mice].

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of paraoxonase 1 (PON1) gene against liver oxidative stress injury in mice due to dichlorvos poisoning.

Methods: Experiment 1: 12 male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into three groups, with 4 mice in each group: control group, green fluorescent protein lentivirus control group (Lv-GFP group), and recombinant PON1 lentivirus group (Lv-PON1 group). 2 × 10⁷ TU of Lv-GFP or Lv-PON1 was transfected via tail vein, while normal saline was given to those in control group.

[The protective effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell on lung injury induced by vibrio vulnificus sepsis].

Objective: To discuss the protective effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) on lung injury induced by vibrio vulnificus sepsis and its mechanism.

Methods: BMSCs were isolated by whole bone marrow adherent culture from mouse. Male ICR mice were randomly divided into normal saline control group (NS group), normal saline + BMSC control group (NSB group), vibrio vulnificus sepsis group (VV group), vibrio vulnificus sepsis + BMSC group (VVB group) according to random number table, with 40 mice in each group.

[Curcumin alleviated liver oxidative stress injury of rat induced by paraquat].

Objective: To investigate the effect of curcumin on liver injury in rats induced by paraquat-mediated oxidative stress and the mechanism underlying its effect.

Methods: Sixty rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, curcumin control group (curcumin 50 mg/kg), paraquat group (2% paraquat solution 100 mg/kg), and curcumin intervention group (curcumin 50 mg/kg at 15 min, 24 h, or 48 h after paraquat exposure). On days 1, 3, or 7 after paraquat administration, and liver tissue was collected thereafter.

[An association between NF-E2-related factor 2-617 C/A gene polymorphisms and sepsis in Chinese Han population].

Objective: To investigate the association between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in NF-E2-related factor 2-617 (NRF2-617) promoter region with the susceptibility to the risk of sepsis.

Methods: In this case-control association study, 203 healthy controls and 174 patients with sepsis in Wenzhou Han population were enrolled and genotyped by DNA direct sequencing.

Results: (1) The (CA+AA) genotype frequency was significantly higher in the sepsis group than in the control group (59.

[Protective effect of ghrelin against paraquat-induced acute lung injury in mice].

Objective: To measure the levels of ghrelin-induced expression or activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and

Nad(p)h: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) in the PQ-injured lungs of mice and to evaluate the protective effect of ghrelin against paraquat (PQ)-induced acute lung injury in mice.

Methods: According to the random number table method, 50 ICR mice of clean grade were assigned to 5 groups: normal control group (n = 10), PQ group (n = 10), and ghrelin intervention groups (n = 30). For PQ group, mice were injected with a single dose of PQ (20 mg/kg, i.

[Functional polymorphism of NRF2 gene promoter -617C/A in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cellular inflammatory response in patients with alcoholic liver disease].

Objective: To investigate the influence of NRF2 gene polymorphism at locus -617 on inflammatory response of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD).

Methods: Venous blood samples from 82 patients with ALD were collected and PBMCs were separated using Ficoll density gradient centrifugation. T cell subgroup was detected by flow cytometry.

The reversal of paraquat-induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis by cycloartenyl ferulate, the important role of Nrf2 pathway.

In this study, we demonstrate the protective effects of Cycloartenyl ferulate (CF) against Paraquat (PQ)-induced cytotoxicity and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. The results show that, CF could reverse the PQ-induced growth inhibition and release of lactate dehydrogenase in HK-2 human proximal tubular cells. Treatment with PQ induced apoptosis in HK-2 cells, as evidenced by accumulation of sub-G1 cell population, chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, and translocation of phosphatidylserine, which were significantly attenuated by co-incubation with CF.

[Effects of NF-E2-related factor-2 promoter polymorphism on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in macrophages].

Objective: To explore the effects of NF-E2-related factor-2 (NRF2)-617C/A promoter polymorphism on NRF2 expression as well as lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in macrophages.

Methods: NRF2-617C/A promoter fragments were synthesized by chemical method and cloned into a pUC57 vector. The dul-luciferase reporter assay was employed to determine the activity of promoters.

[Comparison of sedative effects of propofol and midazolam on emergency critical patients on mechanical ventilation].

Objective: To compare the sedative effects of propofol and midazolam, or combination of them on emergency critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation.

Methods: Medical records of 68 patients treated in emergency intensive care unit (EICU) receiving mechanical ventilation and sedation care from August 2007 to July 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. According to the type of sedatives used, patients were assigned to propofol group (n=28), midazolam group (n=20), combination of propofol and midazolam group (combination group, n=20).

[To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of hemoperfusion in treating intermediate syndrome following acute organophosphate poisoning].

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of hemoperfusion in the treatment of intermediate myasthenia syndrome (IMS) following acute organophosphate poisoning (AOPP).

Methods: Eighty cases of IMS following AOPP, who were admitted to the Emergency Department of our hospital from 2006 to 2011 and had complete clinical records, were divided into HP treatment group (n = 36) and non-HP (NHP) treatment group (n = 44). The therapeutic efficacy of HP was evaluated by comparing the clinical data of the two groups.

Thrombolytic therapy for cardiac arrest due to pulmonary embolism after varicose vein surgery.

Anticoagulant therapy is the mainstay in the management of venous thromboembolism. Nevertheless, the situation is entirely different in the patients with submassive or massive pulmonary embolism (PE) and cardiac arrest, and the diagnosis and therapy strategy for such conditions are lacking. This patient, who presented with a cardiac arrest event after varicose vein surgery, was diagnosed as acute pulmonary embolism.

[Effects of hemoperfusion on oxidative stress, matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in acute paraquat poisoning rabbits].

Objective: To observe the effects of hemoperfusion on oxidative stress status and the levels of matrix metallo proteinase (MMP-2, MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) in lungs, livers and kidneys in paraquat poisoning rabbits, and to explore the mechanism of therapeutic effects induced by HP on acute paraquat poisoning.

Methods: Seventy eight rabbits were randomly divided into normal control group (N group, n=6), exposure groups (PQ group, n=24), hemoperfusion treatment group (HP treatment group, n= 24) and blank control group (HP group, n=24). The PQ, HPQ and HP groups were divided into 4 observation time groups (1, 3, 7 and 21 d).

Curcumin inhibits suppressive capacity of naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in mice in vitro.

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that naturally occurring CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) are critical for maintenance of immunological tolerance and have been shown to be important in regulating the immune responses in many diseases. Curcumin, a phytochemical obtained from the rhizome of the plant Curcuma longa, has achieved the potential therapeutic interest to numerous immune-related disorders. However, the effect and mechanism of curcumin on Tregs remain largely elusive.

[Effect of ulinastatin on oxidative stress and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 expression in the lung tissues of acute hydrogen sulfide intoxicated rats].

Objective: To investigate the dynamic changes of oxidative stress and nuclear factor-E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression in the lung tissues of acute hydrogen sulfide (H2S) intoxicated rats and intervention effects of ulinastatin (UTI).

Methods: A total of 96 SD rats of clean grade were divided randomly into four groups: normal control group (n = 8), UTI control group (n = 8), H2S -intoxicated model group (n = 40), and UTI treatment group (n = 40). The H2S-intoxicated model group and UTI treatment group were exposed to H2S (283.

Mitochondrial tRNA mutations are associated with maternally inherited hypertension in two Han Chinese pedigrees.

We report here the clinical, genetic, molecular, and biochemical evaluations in two Han Chinese families with maternally inherited hypertension. Fourteen of 20 adult matrilineal relatives of these families exhibited a wide range of severity in hypertension, while none of offspring of affected fathers had hypertension. The age-at-onset of hypertension in matrilineal relatives varied from 37 years to 83 years, with an average of 55 and 66 years, respectively.

[Effects of hemoperfusion on plasma concentration and histopathological changes in paraquat poisoning rabbits].

Objective: To observe the effects of hemoperfusion on plasma concentration and histopathological changes in paraquat (PQ) poisoning rabbits.

Methods: Sixteen rabbits were randomly divided into exposure group (PQ group, n = 8) and hemoperfusion plus PQ exposure group (HPQ group, n = 8). HPQ group were given hemoperfusion in 45 min after exposure to PQ.