This study investigated 354 herbal extracts prepared from 115 herbs via 4 extraction methods. The extracts' antibacterial activities against Streptococcus agalactiae were sequentially evaluated in ...vitro by two methods: (1) microplate assay and (2) agar well diffusion. Then the herbal extracts with high antibacterial activity in vitro were mixed into feed at 100 mg/g (dry herb/dry feed, w: w) and fed to fishes with S. agalactiae infection for in vivo evaluation of their therapeutic efficacy. Subsequently, the EC50 values (the concentrations result in the relative percent survival (RPS) of 50%) of the three herbal extracts with the highest therapeutic efficacies were calculated according to fit equations. Finally, phytochemical analyses of the herbs with the highest therapeutic efficacies were conducted using ultra performance liquid chromatography-Q Exactive Orbitrap-Mass spectrometry (UPLC-QE-MS). The results showed the following: in detections from the microplate assay method, 62 of the 354 candidate herbal extracts had antibacterial activity with inhibition ratios above 5%; in detections from the agar well diffusion method, 29 of the 62 the candidate herbal extracts showed clear inhibition zones and 33 showed semi-clear inhibition zones. Aristolochia debilis (fruit), Lonicera japonica (flower), Spatholobus suberectus (stem), and Arecae Semen (fruit) extracts prepared by 3 h of maceration at 50 °C had RPSs of 100.0%, 55.6%, 75.0%, and 33.3%, respectively; Panax ginseng (leaf), Rheum palmatum L. (root), and Semen Alpiniae (seed) extracts prepared by 72 h of maceration at room temperature had RPSs of 77.8%, 25.0%, and 12.5%, respectively; and Radix Isatidis (root) extract prepared by 30 min of ultrasonic-extraction at room temperature had an RPS of 62.5%. A. debilis, P. ginseng, and S. suberectus extracts had EC50s of 44.03, 41.19, 39.54 mg/g, respectively. Phytochemical analyses of A. debilis, P. ginseng, and S. suberectus extracts using UPLC-QE-MS produced the following results: the negative model detected 270, 623, and 326 peaks and identified 54, 70, and 52 compounds, respectively; the positive model detected 446, 1401, and 400 peaks and identified 61, 107, and 44 compounds, respectively. Taken together, these results indicate that the extracts of A. debilis, P. ginseng, and S. suberectus could prove useful for the treatment of S. agalactiae infection in Nile tilapia and suggest that appropriate bioactive compounds from these three herbal extracts may be developed as alternates to antibiotics.
•Seventeen herbs have antibacterial activity against S. agalactiae in vitro, which have not previously been reported.•Six herbal extracts have been demonstrated to have good therapeutic efficacy on tilapia S. agalactiae diseases in vivo.•A foundation for identifying antibacterial ingredients of the three selected herbs was established by UPLC-QE-MS analyses.
Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae) is a major piscine pathogen that causes significant morbidity and mortality among numerous fish species, especially tilapia; these deaths have resulted in ...huge economic losses for aquaculture. Beta-hemolysin/cytolysin and hyaluronidase are critical virulence factors of S. agalactiae, thereby suggesting that they are important targets for the development of potential treatment strategies. Hence the effects of 40 phytochemicals on β-hemolytic/cytolytic activity and hyaluronidase production were evaluated in this paper. The results showed that only bacalin simultaneously possesses significant inhibitory effects on the β-hemolytic/cytolytic activity of five S. agalactiae strains and the hyaluronidase production of S. agalactiae PBSA0901. The β-hemolytic/cytolytic activity-inhibition ratios of 4 μg/mL baicalin ranged from 22.11% to 84.54%, and the half maximum inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of baicalin to the β-hemolytic/cytolytic activity of S. agalactiae PBSA0901 was 5.39 ± 0.55 μg/mL. Additionally, the inhibitory effects of baicalin on the β-hemolytic/cytolytic activity cannot be removed by passage. Baicalin at the concentration of 4 μg/mL completely inhibited S. agalactiae PBSA0901 from producing hyaluronidase. Furthermore, baicalin significantly increased the sensitivity of S. agalactiae PBSA0901 to H2O2. However, it had a nonsignificant effect on the sensitivity of S. agalactiae PBSA0901 to lysozyme. Moreover, studies in vivo demonstrated that baicalin had a significant inhibitory effect on the lethality of S. agalactiae PBSA0901. Furthermore, baicalin exerted a significant therapeutic effect on tilapia challenged by S. agalactiae PBSA0901, and the median effect concentration (EC50) was 525.8 mg/kg. These results indicated that baicalin would be an interesting therapeutic compound against S. agalactiae infection in tilapia.
•Baicalin inhibits the β-hemolytic/cytolytic activity and hyaluronidase production of S. agalactiae.•Baicalin could significantly reduce the virulence of S. agalactiae.•Baicalin significantly increased the sensitivity of S. agalactiae to H2O2.•Baicalin showed a promising therapeutic on S. agalactiae infection in tilapia.
Carvacrol (2-methyl-5-isopropylphenol), a phenolic monoterpene in the essential oils of the genera Origanum and Thymus, has been shown to exert a variety of therapeutic effects. Here we examined ...whether carvacrol protected neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells against Fe(2+)-induced apoptosis and explored the underlying mechanisms.
Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were incubated with Fe(2+) for 24 h, and the cell viability was assessed with CCK-8 assay. TUNEL assay and flow cytometric analysis were performed to evaluate cell apoptosis. The mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and NF-κB p65 were determined using qPCR. The expression of relevant proteins was determined using Western blot analysis or immunofluorescence staining.
Treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with Fe(2+) (50-200 μmol/L) dose-dependently decreased the cell viability, which was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with carvacrol (164 and 333 μmol/L). Treatment with Fe(2+) increased the Bax level and caspase-3 activity, and decreased the Bcl-2 level, resulting in cell apoptosis. Furthermore, treatment with Fe(2+) significantly increased the gene expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and induced the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Treatment with Fe(2+) also significantly increased the phosphorylation of p38, ERK, JNK and IKK in the cells. Pretreatment with carvacrol significantly inhibited Fe(2+)-induced activation of NF-κB, expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, and cell apoptosis. Moreover, pretreatment with carvacrol inhibited Fe(2+)-induced phosphorylation of JNK and IKK, but not p38 and ERK in the cells.
Carvacrol protects neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells against Fe(2+)-induced apoptosis, which may result from suppressing the MAPK/JNK-NF-κB signaling pathways.
This study aims to evaluate safety and practicality in clinical application for better guidance of single segmental osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures treatment. From May 2012 to September ...2013, a total of 188 cases of patients with fractures, who received different treatment, were incorporated in the study and then divided into: group A (n=59), conventional pusher-type vertebroplasty; group B (n=54), balloon kyphoplasty; group C (n=60), new-type hydraulic delivery vertebroplasty treatment. The overall follow-up rate was 92.02%. Postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores were significantly improved more than those of the preoperative scores in the three groups. Bone cement injection volumes in group A were significantly lower than those in group B and group C. Vertebral height recovery rates among groups were obviously different, showing statistical significance. After a year of follow-up, the vertebral height recovery outcome in group A was obviously poorer than that in group B and group C. A poorer outcome in group B was also found when compared with group C. In addition, the vertebral height restoration had a certain degree of loss, with the loss rate of 20.5, 14.0 and 7.5% in the three groups, respectively. Three operation methods have equivalent effects in the improvement of symptoms and functional recovery. Therefore, the new-type hydraulic delivery vertebroplasty provides a relatively more concise operation and shorter operation time, displaying more outstanding performance of clinical efficacy in spinal reconstruction and reduction of complications risks by evaluating the diffusion of the bone cement, vertebral height restoration rate and postoperative complications.
In this paper, we report some new progress on plasma facing materials in University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB), China. They include fabrication of tungsten coating with ultra-fine grain ...size by atmosphere plasma spraying; fabrication of tungsten with ultra-fine grain size by a newly developed method named as resistance sintering under ultra-high pressure; using the concept of functionally graded materials to join tungsten to copper based heat sink; joining silicon doped carbon to copper by brazing using a Ti based amorphous filler and direct casting.
Spinal intraosseous schwannomas (SIS) are rare, and as yet have not been fully described in the literature. The first case of SIS was reported in 1971, and 24 cases of SIS have been reported so far. ...However, including the present case, there are only seven cases without spinal canal and neuroforamina involvement.
A 56-year-old man presented with a history of neck pain for 2 years. An obvious osteolytic destruction of the seventh cervical (C7) vertebra was observed on imaging examination. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine showed space-occupying lesions in the C7 vertebra, and destruction of the anterior cortex of the vertebra. The lesions had an exophytic component that extended from the C7 vertebra into the soft tissue on the front side. The foramen transversarium on both sides were intact. The patient underwent surgical biopsy and focal excision of the C7 lesion. The diagnosis of "schwannoma" was verified by postoperative pathological examinations. In a review of the literature, this is the seventh case of SIS without spinal canal and neuroforamina involvement, and the third reported case of type VIII SIS. We discussed our case with respect to reported classification characteristics of SIS.
SIS is a very rare tumor. We report a rare case that may be important for further classification of osteo-schwannoma. The establishment of a complete disease classification is of high importance for the treatment and prognosis of this disease. Thus, more basic studies and retrospective analysis of related cases are necessary.
► Necroptosis is associated with neurotoxicity induced by iron overload. ► Curcumin attenuates necroptosis in iron-overloaded neurons. ► Curcumin reduces expression of receptor interacting protein 1 ...in iron-overloaded neurons.
Necroptosis was reported as one backup way of programmed cell death when apoptosis was blocked, and the receptor interacting protein 1 was considered as the key necroptosis regulator protein. Here, we report the neuroprotective effects of curcumin which attenuates necroptosis. Primary cortical neurons were cultured and were injured by ferrous chloride, z.vad.fmk was applied to block apoptosis, curcumin was administrated to protect neurons, necrostatin-1 was applied to inhibit necroptosis if needed. Cell viability was measured by detecting lactate dehydrogenase activity in lysates of surviving cells, and assessed by cell counting kit-8. The expression of receptor interacting protein 1 was detected by immunoblot and immunofluorescence. Results showed that necroptosis mainly occurred in the concentrations of ferrous chloride ranging from 100 to 200μM, curcumin attenuated necroptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, curcumin decreased expression of receptor interacting protein 1 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Taken together, these findings suggest that curcumin protects against iron induced neurotoxicity in primary cortical neurons by attenuating necroptosis.
To investigate the effect of chronic lead exposure on rat hippocampal CA1 LTP and alpha-Ca2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (alpha-CaM K II) activity in vivo.
A stimulus bipolar electrode ...was placed on the Schaffer/Commissural fibers, with extra cellular microelectrode technique to record the population spike (PS) in the CA1 pyramidal, and we observed the changes of PS amplitude before and after the high frequency stimulation (HFS) of lower, mid and higher level lead exposure groups and the control group, respectively. The hippocampal CA1 alpha-CaM K II activity was determined by Western blots by using phosphorylation antibody.
The average changes of PS after HFS of the control group, the lower, mid and higher level lead exposure groups were 162.5%, 105.2%, 86.8%, 83.0%, respectively (P < 0.01 vs. control). Defined control a-CaM K II activity as 100, that the lower, mid and higher level lead exposure groups were 62.0 +/- 3.7, 50.8 +/- 4.0, 43.3 +/- 4.1 (P < 0.01).
Chronic lead exposure can inhibit CA
7-difluoromethoxy-5,4'-Di-hydroxyl isoflavone (dFGEN), prepared by the difluoromethylation of genistein, is an active chemical entity. In this study, our main purpose was to investigate whether dFGEN ...had an effect on glutamate-induced apoptosis in cultured PC12 cells. The PC12 cells were treated with different glutamate concentrations for 24 h in vitro. The PC12 cells impaired by glutamate were used as the cell model of excitability. Cells were incubated for 30 min with genistein, dFGEN, vitamin E, and exposed to 10 mM glutamate for 24 h. Cell morphology was observed by light microscopy. The growth and proliferation of PC12 cells were detected by 3-4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytome-try (FCM) with propidium iodide (PI) staining. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of malondialdelyde (MDA) were measured by kits, respectively. Acridine orange (AO) staining was used to detect characteristics of cell apoptosis. When PC12 cells were incubated with glutamate for 24 h, cells appeared to have significant changes in shape. The cellular viability was reduced and the apoptotic rate was increased. The levels of LDH and the content of MDA were increased. The activity of SOD was decreased. After PC12 cells were pretreated with dFGEN, dFGEN significantly improved cell morphology, cell growth and proliferation, suppressed apoptosis of cells, reduced the release of LDH, improving SOD activity and decreased MDA content in a concentration-dependent manner. AO staining displayed that apoptosis was decreased. These results suggested that dFGEN has a protective effect against glutamate-induced damage in PC12 cells. dFGEN seemed to have a better protective effect than the lead compound genistein in a concentration-dependent manner. The mechanism of protective effect of dFGEN may be mainly related to its antioxidative activity.
To determine the effect of tanshinone IIA on the growth and apoptosis in human hepatoma cell line HepG2.
The human hepatoma cell line HepG2 was treated with tanshinone IIA at various concentrations ...for 72 h. The inhibition of proliferation was measured by MTT assay and apoptosis-related alterations in morphology measured by cytochemical staining (HT33258). DNA fragmentation was evaluated by agarose gel electrophoresis. Apoptotic rate and cell arrest were quantified by flow cytometry (FCM).
Tanshinone IIA inhibited the growth of HepG2 in a time- and dose- dependent manner. The semi-inhibitory concentration (IC50) value after the treatment with tanshinone IIA on HepG2 for 24, 48 and 72 h were 14.7, 7.4, and 3.9 microg/ mL, respectively. After the treatment with 0.5 - 10 microg/mL tanshinone IIA for 72 h, the formation of apoptotic bodies was observed. DNA ladder was shown in agarose gel electrophoresis, in addition to the cells treated by 1.0 microg/mL tanshinone IIA . The apoptotic rates at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0,
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