Heatstroke induces liver injury via IL-1β and HMGB1-induced pyroptosis.

Background & Aims: Liver injury is a common complication of heat stroke (HS), and often constitutes a direct cause for patient death. The cellular and molecular mechanism underlying HS-induced liver injury remains unclear. Recent evidence indicates that inflammasome plays an important role in mediating sterile inflammation triggered by tissue damage.

Anti-inflammatory secoiridoid glycosides from Gentianella azurea.

A phytochemical investigation on crude extract of Gentianella azurea led to the isolation of ten new (1-10) and one known (11) secoiridoid glycosides. Their structures were unambiguously elucidated by analysis of 1D and 2D NMR. Compounds 2, 5 and 11 were found to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.

Curcumin protects intestinal mucosal barrier function of rat enteritis via activation of MKP-1 and attenuation of p38 and NF-κB activation.

Background: Intestinal mucosa barrier (IMB) dysfunction results in many notorious diseases for which there are currently few effective treatments. We studied curcumin's protective effect on IMB and examined its mechanism by using methotrexate (MTX) induced rat enteritis model and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treated cell death model.

Methodology/principal Findings: Curcumin was intragastrically administrated from the first day, models were made for 7 days.

Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, D-lactate and diamine oxidase in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Aim: To study the levels of serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), plasma D-lactate and diamine oxidase (DAO) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and the potential clinical significance.

Methods: Sixty-nine patients with IBD and 30 healthy controls were included in this study. The concentration of sICAM-1 was detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the level of D-lactate and DAO was measured by spectroscopic analysis, and the number of white blood cells (WBC) was determined by routine procedure.

[Changyanqing decoction produces anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB].

Objective: To detect the changes in intestinal mucosal permeation in rats with methotrexate-induced small intestinal damage and investigate the protective effects of Changyanqing decoction.

Methods: Rat enteritis model was established by methotrexate (MTX) and sodium chloride. The rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) group and Changyanqing decoction group, and Changyanqing decoction (100 mg/kg) or saline was administered daily in the corresponding groups by gastric irrigation for 6 days.

[Role of Rho-Rock pathways induced by angiotensin II in hepatic stellate cell contraction].

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of Ca(2+)-independent pathways mediated by Rho-kinase in contraction of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) induced by angiotonin II (Ang II).

Methods: Human HSCs of the line HSC-T6 were cultured and randomly divided into 6 groups: negative control group, Ang II group treated by Ang II10 micromol/L for 15 min, Ang II + irbesartan (Ang II receptor inhibitor) group, exposed to irbesartan for 60 min prior to Ang II treatment, Ang II + Y27632 (Rho kinase specific inhibitor) exposed to Y27632 for 60 min prior to Ang II treatment, Ang II + ML-7 (myosin light chain kinase specific inhibitor) + saturo (protein kinase C specific inhibitor) group exposed to stauro for 60 min prior to Ang II treatment, and Ang II + Y27632 + ML-7 + stauro group, exposed to Y27632 and stauro for 60 min prior to Ang II treatment. The cell contraction was detected by silicone-rubber-membrane cultivation directly.

[Effects of Changyanqing decoction on the expressions of interleukin-10 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in rats with ulcerative colitis].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Changyanqing decoction, a traditional Chinese medicinal preparation, on the expressions of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the colon mucosa of rats with ulcerative colitis.

Methods: The rats with ulcerative colitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid and ethanol enema were randomly divided into 3 groups, namely the model group, sulfasalazine (SASP) group, and Changyanqing decoction group. Daily treatment with intragastric administration and enema of normal saline, SASP (100 mg/kg), and Changyanqing decoction (39.

[Effect of angiotensin II on Rho-Rock pathway in rat hepatic stellate cell contraction].

Objective: To investigate the mechanisms of angiotonin II (AngII)-induced Ca(2+)-independent pathways mediated by Rho kinase in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Methods: HSC-T6 cells were treated with 1 micromol/L of AngII, and the subsequent cell contraction was directly observed with silicone rubber membrane culture method. The cells with 10 micromol/L AngII treatment were examined for myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation level using Western blotting, and the effects of irbesartan (a specific inhibitor of AngII 1- receptor) and Y27632 (a Rho kinase inhibitor) on AngII-induced MLC phosphorylation were evaluated.

[Protective effect of curcumin against methotrexate-induced small intestinal damage in rats].

Objective: To observe the changes in intestinal mucosal permeability in rats with methotrexate (MTX)-induced small intestinal damage and investigate the protective effects of curcumin.

Methods: The experiment was carried out using 4 groups of rats, namely the normal control group, enteritis model group, sulfasalazine (SASP) group and curcumin group. With the exception of the rats in the normal control group, all rats were subjected to intraperitoneal MTX injection to induce enteritis and received subsequent daily intragastric administration of SASP (100 mg/kg), curcumin (100 mg/kg), or normal saline for 5 days.