Two Novel Diterpenoid Alkaloids from Aconitum Pendulum.

Two previously uncharacterized compounds, an aconitine-type C-diterpenoid alkaloid (1) and a napelline-type diterpenoid alkaloid C-diterpenoid alkaloid (2), as well as ten known compounds (3-12), were isolated from Aconitum pendulum. Their structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic data, including 1D and 2D NMR, IR, HR-ESI-MS, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The anti-insecticidal activities of these compounds were evaluated by contact toxicity tests against two-spotted spider mites, and compounds 1, 2, and 9 showed moderate contact toxicity, with LC values of 0.

IL-13 Regulates Orai1 Expression in Human Bronchial Smooth Muscle Cells and Airway Remodeling in Asthma Mice Model via LncRNA H19.

Background: Increased proliferation and hypertrophy of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) contribute substantially to airway remodeling in asthma. Interleukin (IL)-13 regulates ASMC proliferation by increasing Orai1 expression, the pore-forming subunit of store-operated Ca entry (SOCE). The underlying mechanisms of this effect are not fully understood.

The role of isolation rooms, facemasks and intensified hand hygiene in the prevention of nosocomial COVID-19 transmission in a pulmonary clinical setting.

From December 25, 2019 to January 31, 2020, 33 cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were identified in the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, China, yet none of the affiliated HCWs was infected. Here we analyzed the infection control measures used in three different departments in the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University and correlated the measures with the corresponding infection data of HCWs affiliated with these departments. We found that three infection control measures, namely the isolation of the presumed positive patients, the use of facemasks and intensified hand hygiene play important roles in preventing nosocomial transmission of COVID-19.

MCP-1/CCL2 Mediated by Autocrine Loop of PDGF-BB Promotes Invasion of Lung Cancer Cell by Recruitment of Macrophages Via CCL2-CCR2 Axis.

Platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) is recognized as a potential player in a paracrine manner in tumor stroma development. PDGF-BB has an autocrine growth function in lung cancer cells; however, the mechanism in nonsmall-cell lung cancer is not fully understood. In this study, we report that PDGF-BB increased monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)-dependent macrophage recruitment and that expression of metastatic genes increased in A549 cells cocultured with RAW 264.

Daidzein enhances immune function in late lactation cows under heat stress.

Heat stress decreases natural immunity making cows more vulnerable to diseases. A previous study reported that daidzein can enhance animal resistance to heat stress and regulate animal immunocompetence. However, it is unclear whether daidzein regulates the immune performance of late lactation cows under heat stress.

N-acetyl-cysteine protects chicken growth plate chondrocytes from T-2 toxin-induced oxidative stress.

T-2 toxin is now considered to be related to bone malformation such as incomplete ossification, absence of bones and fused bones. In this study, primary cultures of chicken tibial growth plate chondrocytes (GPCs) were treated with various concentrations of T-2 toxin (5, 50, and 500 n m) in the absence and presence of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) to investigate the effects of the antioxidant NAC on T-2 toxin-induced toxicity. Our results showed that T-2 toxin markedly decreased cell viability, alkaline phosphatase activity and glutathione content (P < 0.