Aromadendrin Ameliorates Airway Inflammation in Experimental Mice with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Aromadendrin (ARO) is an active plant compound that exerts anti-inflammatory effects. However, its ameliorative effects on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the inhibitory effects of ARO on bronchial inflammation using an experimental model of COPD.

Methyl P-Coumarate Ameliorates the Inflammatory Response in Activated-Airway Epithelial Cells and Mice with Allergic Asthma.

Methyl p-coumarate (methyl p-hydroxycinnamate) (MH) is a natural compound found in a variety of plants. In the present study, we evaluated the ameliorative effects of MH on airway inflammation in an experimental model of allergic asthma (AA). In this in vitro study, MH was found to exert anti-inflammatory activity on PMA-stimulated A549 airway epithelial cells by suppressing the secretion of IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and ICAM-1.

Compound K ameliorates airway inflammation and mucus secretion through the regulation of PKC signaling in vitro and in vivo.

Background: Cigarette smoke (CS) is considered a principal cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is associated with mucus hypersecretion and airway inflammation. Ginsenoside compound K (CK), a product of ginsenoside metabolism, has various biological activities. Studies on the effects of CK for the treatment of COPD and mucus hypersecretion, including the underlying signaling mechanism, have not yet been conducted.

Methyl p‑hydroxycinnamate exerts anti‑inflammatory effects in mouse models of lipopolysaccharide‑induced ARDS.

Methyl p‑hydroxycinnamate (MH), an esterified derivative of p‑Coumaric acid exerts anti‑inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‑stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Based on these effects, the present study investigated the protective role of MH in a mouse model of LPS‑induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Daphnodorin C isolated from the stems of Daphne kiusiana Miquel attenuates airway inflammation in a mouse model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Since long-term or high-dose use of COPD medication causes adverse effects in patients with COPD, more effective and safer ways to manage COPD symptoms are required. Daphne kiusiana Miquel is a medicinal plant, but its anti-COPD efficacy was little studied.

Purpose: We investigated the anti-COPD activity and molecular mechanism of action of active compounds isolated from D.

The Role of Microglia in the Development of Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Microglia play an important role in the maintenance and neuroprotection of the central nervous system (CNS) by removing pathogens, damaged neurons, and plaques. Recent observations emphasize that the promotion and development of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are closely related to microglial activation. In this review, we summarize the contribution of microglial activation and its associated mechanisms in NDs, such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington's disease (HD), based on recent observations.

Exerts Anti- Inflammatory Effects in Mice of LPSInduced ALI via Downregulating of MAPK and NF-κB Activation.

Teijsm. & Binn. (LO) (crape myrtle) has reportedly been used as traditional herbal medicine (THM) in Java, Indonesia.

3,4,5‑Trihydroxycinnamic acid exerts anti‑inflammatory effects on TNF‑α/IFN‑γ‑stimulated HaCaT cells.

3,4,5‑Trihydroxycinnamic acid (THCA) exhibits anti‑inflammatory activity in acute or chronic inflammatory disorders, such as acute lung injury and asthma. The present study investigated the anti‑inflammatory activity of THCA in a tumor necrosis factor‑α/interferon‑γ (TI) mixture‑stimulated human keratinocyte cell line. The results of ELISA and reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR revealed that THCA reduced the secretion and mRNA expression levels of interleukin (IL)‑6; IL‑8; thymus and activation‑regulated chemokine; macrophage‑derived chemokine; regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted; and monocyte chemoattractant protein‑1 in TI mixture‑stimulated HaCaT cells.

The Role of Macrophages in the Development of Acute and Chronic Inflammatory Lung Diseases.

Macrophages play an important role in the innate and adaptive immune responses of organ systems, including the lungs, to particles and pathogens. Cumulative results show that macrophages contribute to the development and progression of acute or chronic inflammatory responses through the secretion of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines and the activation of transcription factors in the pathogenesis of inflammatory lung diseases, such as acute lung injury (ALI), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), ARDS related to COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)), allergic asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This review summarizes the functions of macrophages and their associated underlying mechanisms in the development of ALI, ARDS, COVID-19-related ARDS, allergic asthma, COPD, and IPF and briefly introduces the acute and chronic experimental animal models.

3,4,5-Trihydroxycinnamic acid exerts anti-asthmatic effects in vitro and in vivo.

3,4,5-Trihydroxycinnamic acid (THCA) has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory activity. However, the effect of THCA for treating allergic asthma was unknown. Therefore, in the present study, the anti-asthmatic effects of THCA were studied in both in vitro and in vivo studies.

Callicarpa japonica Thunb. ameliorates allergic airway inflammation by suppressing NF-κB activation and upregulating HO-1 expression.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Callicarpa japonica Thunb., as an herbal medicine has been used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases in China and Korea.

Materials And Methods: Ultra performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (UPLC-PDA-QTof MS) was used to detect the major phenylethanoid glycosides in the C.

The Anti-Inflammatory Effect of C. DC. in the Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Inflammatory Response in Macrophages and Airway Epithelial Cells and in LPS-Challenged Mice.

A number of species of the genus (Meliaceae) exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. However, the effect of C. DC.

3,4,5-Trihydroxycinnamic acid exerts a protective effect on pulmonary inflammation in an experimental animal model of COPD.

3,4,5-Trihydroxycinnamic acid (THCA), a derivative of hydroxycinnamic acid, has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. However, its anti-inflammatory effects in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we explored the protective effects of THCA on pulmonary inflammation in an experimental COPD model elicited by cigarette smoke (CS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Suppression of a Subset of Interferon-Induced Genes by Human Papillomavirus Type 16 E7 via a Cyclin Dependent Kinase 8-Dependent Mechanism.

Persistent infection by human papillomaviruses (HPVs), small, double-stranded DNA viruses that infect keratinocytes of the squamous epithelia, can lead to the development of cervical and other cancers. The viral oncoprotein E7 contributes to viral persistence in part by regulating host gene expression through binding host transcriptional regulators, although mechanisms responsible for E7-mediated transcriptional regulation are incompletely understood. Type I IFN signaling promotes the expression of anti-viral genes, called interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), through the phosphorylation and activation of STAT1.

Pistacia weinmannifolia root exerts a protective role in ovalbumin‑induced lung inflammation in a mouse allergic asthma model.

Pistacia weinmannifolia (Anacardiaceae) has been used in herbal medicine for the treatment of influenza, dysentery and enteritis in China. It was recently observed that P. weinmannifolia root extract (PWRE) exerts anti‑inflammatory effects both in in vitro and in vivo models.

Anti-inflammatory effects of linalool on ovalbumin-induced pulmonary inflammation.

Linalool is a natural product present in fruits and aromatic plants with biological activities. Researchers have reported that the inhalation of linalool exerts anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we examined the therapeutic effects of linalool on airway inflammation and mucus overproduction in mice with allergic asthma.

Fascaplysin Sensitizes Anti-Cancer Effects of Drugs Targeting AKT and AMPK.

Fascaplysin, a natural product isolated from marine sponges, is a potential candidate for the development of anti-cancer drugs. However, the mechanism underlying its therapeutic effect of strengthening anti-cancer efficacy of other drugs is poorly understood. Here, we found that fascaplysin increases phosphorylation of protein kinase B (PKB), also known as AKT, and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which are considered therapeutic targets for cancer treatment due to their anti-apoptotic or pro-survival functions in cancer.

The human papillomavirus E7 oncoprotein as a regulator of transcription.

High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) encode oncoproteins which manipulate gene expression patterns in the host keratinocytes to facilitate viral replication, regulate viral transcription, and promote immune evasion and persistence. In some cases, oncoprotein-induced changes in host cell behavior can cause progression to cancer, but a complete picture of the functions of the viral oncoproteins in the productive HPV life cycle remains elusive. E7 is the HPV-encoded factor most responsible for maintaining cell cycle competence in differentiating keratinocytes.

Functional Characterization of the Serine-Rich Tract of Varicella-Zoster Virus IE62.

Unlabelled: The immediate early 62 protein (IE62) of varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a major viral trans-activator, initiates the virus life cycle and is a key component of pathogenesis. The IE62 possesses several domains essential for trans-activation, including an acidic trans-activation domain (TAD), a serine-rich tract (SRT), and binding domains for USF, TFIIB, and TATA box binding protein (TBP). Transient-transfection assays showed that the VZV IE62 lacking the SRT trans-activated the early VZV ORF61 promoter at only 16% of the level of the full-length IE62.

Isolated dilatation of the inferior vena cava.

The diameter and collapsibility of the inferior vena cava (IVC) should be interpreted in consideration with other clinical and echocardiographic parameters before drawing definitive diagnostic conclusions. We report a case of a 46-year-old female with isolated IVC dilation and diminished inspiratory collapse without other abnormalities, and provide a brief review of the literature.

A case of aorta-right atrial tunnel presented with an asymptomatic murmur.

Aorta-right atrial tunnel is a rare and distinct congenital anomaly. It is a vascular channel that originates from one of the sinuses of Valsalva with a tortuous course anterior or posterior to the ascending aorta, and terminates either in the superior vena cava or in the right atrium (RA). We report a 42-year-old female briefly with aorta-right atrial tunnel in which the left coronary artery arose from the tunnel and terminated into the RA.

Impact of cilostazol on the progression of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with retinal vascular occlusion.

Background: Cilostazol, a selective phosphodiesterase three inhibitor, has been proposed to have beneficial effects in the prevention of atherosclerosis.

Aims: We aimed to investigate the effects of cilostazol on carotid intima-media thickening (IMT) and total plaque area (TPA) in patients with retinal vascular occlusion.

Methods: A total of 63 consecutive vascular occlusive retinopathy patients with carotid atherosclerosis were enrolled.

Left atrial responses to acute right ventricular apical pacing in patients with sick sinus syndrome.

Chronic right ventricular apical (RVA) pacing can lead to an increased risk of heart failure and atrial fibrillation, but the acute effects of RVA pacing on left atrial (LA) function are not well known. Twenty-four patients with sick sinus syndrome and intact intrinsic atrioventricular conduction were included. All patients received dual-chamber pacemaker implants with the atrial lead in the right atrial appendage and the ventricular lead in the right ventricular (RV) apex.

Impact of obstructive sleep apnea on left atrial functional and structural remodeling beyond obesity.

Background: To evaluate the left atrial (LA) volume and function of obese patients with/without obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and its association with left ventricular (LV) diastolic function independent of obesity.

Methods: LA volumetric and functional parameters were measured by 2-dimensional and strain echocardiography in 49 obese (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m(2)) subjects (24 non-OSA and 25 OSA).

Results: OSA group showed larger maximal LA volume indexed for body surface area, larger volume before atrial contraction, a reduction in the LA passive emptying fraction, and an increase in the LA active emptying fraction with no significant change in LA total emptying fraction.

Perforated Mitral Valve Aneurysm in the Posterior Leaflet without Infective Endocarditis.

Aneurysm of the mitral valve, although uncommon, occurs most commonly in association with infective endocarditis of the aortic valve and true mitral valve aneurysm is a rare cause of mitral regurgitation. We report a case with perforated mitral valve aneurysm in the posterior leaflet without concurrent infective endocarditis initially mistaken diagnosis of cystic mass, which was confirmed at operation with successful mitral valve annuloplasty.