Advancements of Macrophages Involvement in Pathological Progression of Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer and Associated Pharmacological Interventions.

Intestinal macrophages play crucial roles in both intestinal inflammation and immune homeostasis. They can adopt two distinct phenotypes, primarily determined by environmental cues. These phenotypes encompass the classically activated pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype, as well as the alternatively activated anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype.

Copper-catalyzed C2-selective alkynylation of chromones via 1,4-conjugate addition.

Copper-catalyzed selective alkynylation with N-propargyl carboxamides as nucleophiles has been successfully developed for the synthesis of C2-functionalized chromanones. Under optimized reaction conditions, 21 examples were obtained in one-pot procedure through 1,4-conjugate addition. This protocol features readily available feedstocks, easy operations, and moderate to good yields, which provides viable access to pharmacologically active C2-functionalized chromanones.

Sinomenine inhibits macrophage M1 polarization by downregulating α7nAChR via a feedback pathway of α7nAChR/ERK/Egr-1.

Background: Sinomenine (SIN) is an anti-inflammatory drug that has been used for decades in China to treat arthritis. In a previous study, SIN acted on α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) to inhibit inflammatory responses in macrophages, which indicates a new anti-inflammatory mechanism of SIN. However, the level of α7nAChR was increased in the inflammatory responses and was downregulated by SIN in vitro, so the underlying mechanisms of SIN acting on α7nAChR remain unclear.

Triterpenoids from Liquidambar Fructus induced cell apoptosis via a PI3K-AKT related signal pathway in SMMC7721 cancer cells.

A previously undescribed taraxerene-type triterpenoid possessing a class of rare natural taraxerene triterpenoid possessing skeleton with 14, 28-lactone, two undescribed oleane-type triterpenoids, and twenty-five known triterpenoids were isolated from Liquidambar formosana (Hamamelidaceae). The structures of undescribed compounds were determined on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic, HR-ESI-MS, and X-ray crystallographic data analysis. Among the isolates, ursolic acid, 3,6-dion-20(29)-lupen-28-oic acid, and 3-oxo-12α-hydroxyoleanan-28,13β-olide induced a significant apoptosis in SMMC7721 cells in the flow cytometer experiment with apoptosis rates of 94.

Synthesis of Nano-Praseodymium Oxide for Cataluminescence Sensing of Acetophenone in Exhaled Breath.

In this work, we successfully developed a novel and sensitive gas sensor for the determination of trace acetophenone based on its cataluminescence (CTL) emission on the surface of nano-praseodymium oxide (nano-PrO). The effects of working conditions such as temperature, flow rate, and detecting wavelength on the CTL sensing were investigated in detail. Under the optimized conditions, the sensor exhibited linear response to the acetophenone in the range of 15-280 mg/m (2.

Two new triterpenes from the roots of Pfaffia glomerata.

Pfaffia paniculata is a commercialized dietary supplement used as the substitute for the Asian ginseng in Brazil. We conducted the systematic isolation of the EtOAc fraction with anti-inflammatory effect and two new triterpenoids, along with 26 known compounds were characterized by means of MS and NMR analysis. Interestingly, the new compound 1 is the first seco-ring triterpenoid reported in the Pfaffia genus.

[Manipulative reduction and percutaneous K-wires fixation for treatment of supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children].

Objective: To explore clinical effect of manipulative reduction and percutaneous K-wires fixation in treating supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children.

Methods: From July 2010 to December 2012, clinical data of 52 children with supracondylar fractures of the humerus, which treated with manipulative reduction and percutaneous K-wires fixation, were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, there were 35 males and 17 females with an average age of 6.

Vitamin D: preventive and therapeutic potential in Parkinson's disease.

Vitamin D is one of the important nuclear steroid transcription regulators that controls transcriptions of a large number of genes. Vitamin D supplement is commonly recommended for the elderly to prevent bone diseases. Amounting new evidence has indicated that vitamin D plays a crucial role in brain development, brain function regulation and neuroprotection.

[Particle enhanced immunoturbidimetic assay of high sensitive C-reactive protein].

Objective: To evaluate the particle enhanced immunoturbidimetic assay of high sensitive C-reactive protein by the automated chemistry analyzer (Hitachi 7170A).

Methods: The detection limit of quantification, measurement range, precision, interference and reference interval were assessed.

Results: The measurement range of the method was from 0.