Ursolic acid represses influenza A virus-triggered inflammation and oxidative stress in A549 cells by modulating the miR-34c-5p/TLR5 axis.

Background: Ursolic acid (UA) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid compound with a wide range of anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive and other pharmacological effects. Here, the biological roles and regulatory mechanisms of UA in influenza A virus (IAV)-treated A549 cells were investigated.

Method: The cytotoxic impacts of UA on A549 cells with or without IAV treatment were determined using MTT and LDH assays.

Divergent Synthesis of Contorted Polycyclic Aromatics Containing Pentagons, Heptagon, and/or Azulene.

Divergent synthesis of four contorted aromatics containing pentagons, a heptagon, and/or an azulene from the same difluorenyl pentacenediene precursor were realized in one step. The subtle differences in molecular structure were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The mechanisms for the control of different products, which involve a ring-expansion rearrangement, Scholl reactions, and/or Mallory cyclization were proposed on the basis of control experiments and DFT calculations.

A Chinese herbal medicine (Modified Guomin Decoction) Influences the differentiation of CD4+ T-cell subsets in OVA-induced asthmatic mice.

Objective: Modified Guomin Decoction (MGD) is an effective Chinese herbal medicine for treatment of various allergic diseases, especially allergic asthma. Its water decoction is conventionally used for treatment of allergic bronchitis in China. Up to date, the underlying mechanisms of this herbal combination have not been fully investigated yet.

Clearance of serum solutes by hemofiltration in dogs with severe heat stroke.

Background: We have previously reported that hemofiltration (HF) may be an effective additional means of treating heat stroke when rapid cooling is not effective.

Methods: Dogs were assigned to a heat stroke (control) or heat stroke + hemofiltration (HF) group (n = 8 each group). After heat stroke induction, dogs in the HF group received HF for 3 h.