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Gout is a common metabolic disease caused by abnormal purine metabolism that promotes the formation and deposition of monosodium urate crystals within joints that causes acute arthritis and can seriously affect the daily life of patients. Pistacia chinensis is one of the traditional medicinal plants of the Anacardiaceae family, and there have been many studies on its biological activity, including anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, antibacterial, antioxidant, and hypoglycemic activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antigout effect of P. chinensis leaf essential oil and its constituents through xanthine oxidase inhibition. Leaf essential oil showed good xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity for both substrates, hypoxanthine and xanthine. Six fractions were obtained from open column chromatography, and fraction E1 exhibited the best activity. The constituents of leaf essential oil and fraction E1 were analyzed by GC-MS. The main constituents of both leaf essential oil and fraction E1 were limonene and 3-carene; limonene showed a higher inhibitory effect on xanthine oxidase. Based on the enzyme kinetic investigation, limonene was the mixed-type inhibitor against xanthine oxidase. The results revealed that Pistacia chinensis leaf essential oil and limonene have the potential to act as natural remedies for the treatment of gout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated various responses of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) to a low elastic modulus Ti-24Nb-4Zr-8Sn (Ti2448) alloy surface that underwent immobilization using the natural cross-linker genipin. Specifically, hMSC's adhesion, proliferation, mineralization, and differentiation were evaluated. We also analyzed surface characteristics of the Ti2448 alloy, including chemistry, morphology, roughness, and wettability. Our results suggest that genipin immobilized Ti2448 has the potential to benefit orthopedic and dental implant applications. We found that the immobilization of genipin on a sand-blasted/acid-etched Ti2448 alloy surface significantly enhanced the mineralization of the extracellular matrix as well as the expression of certain osteogenic markers (bone sialoprotein and osteocalcin) in hMSCs. Conversely, surface roughness and hydrophilicity cannot be credited with the improved cellular responses observed in this study. The immobilization of genipin to produce a biomolecular surface on low elastic modulus Ti2448 alloy has considerable potential for bone implant applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The melanogenesis inhibition effect in zebrafish (Danio rerio) and antityrosinase activity of the ethanolic extract and its phytochemicals from Ceylon olive (Elaeocarpus serratus Linn.) leaves were investigated in this study. Among the leaf extract and four soluble fractions, the ethyl acetate soluble fraction exhibits the best antityrosinase and antimelanogenesis activities. One phenolic acid, gallic acid, and two flavonoids, myricetin and mearnsetin, are isolated from the active subfractions through the bioassay-guided isolation; their structures are elucidated based on the 1D and 2D NMR, FTIR, UV, and MS spectroscopic analyses. These compounds have significant antityrosinase activity whether using l-tyrosine or l-DOPA as the substrate; mearnsetin shows the optimal activity. In the enzyme kinetic investigation, both gallic acid and mearnsetin are the competitive-type inhibitors against mushroom tyrosinase, and myricetin acts as a mixed-type tyrosinase inhibitor. Leaf extract and an ethyl acetate soluble fraction show effective performance in the inhibition of melanin formation in zebrafish embryos. Mearnsetin also possesses a promising antimelanogenesis effect, which is superior to the positive control, arbutin. Results reveal that the Ceylon olive leaf extract and its phytochemicals, especially mearnsetin, have the potential to be used as antimelanogenesis and skin-whitening ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity and thermostability of Cinnamomum osmophloeum leaf oil microencapsulated with β-cyclodextrin were evaluated in this study. The yield of leaf oil microcapsules was 86.3% using the optimal reaction conditions at the leaf oil to β-cyclodextrin ratio of 15:85 and ethanol to water ratio ranging from 1:3 to 1:5. Based on the FTIR analysis, the characteristic absorption bands of major constituent, trans-cinnamaldehyde, were confirmed in the spectra of leaf oil microcapsules. According to the dry-heat aging test, β-cyclodextrin was thermostable under the high temperature conditions, and it was beneficial to reduce the emission of C. osmophloeum leaf oil. Leaf oil microcapsules exhibited high xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity, with an IC50 value of 83.3 µg/mL. It is concluded that the lifetime of C. osmophloeum leaf oil can be effectively improved by microencapsulation, and leaf oil microcapsules possess superior xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ovulatory follicular fluid exerts a long-lasting transformation activity covering throughout the ovulation cycle. • The ovulation injury-coagulation proteases-hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) cascade is responsible for the sustained activity. • Ovulation sources HGF into the peritoneal cavity, then into the blood circulation. • This coagulation-HGF cascade promotes the transformation of fallopian tube epithelial cells and ovarian cancer cells. • Physiologically, it promotes the growth of the corpus luteum and injured epithelium after ovulation. The fallopian tube fimbrial epithelium, which is exposed to the follicular fluid (FF) contents of ovulation, is regarded as the main origin of ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma. Previously, we found that growth factors in FF, such as IGF2, are responsible for the malignant transformation of fallopian tube epithelium. However, ovulation is a monthly transient event, whereas carcinogenesis requires continuous, long-term exposure. Here, we found the transformation activity of FF sustained for more than 30 days after drainage into the peritoneal fluid (PF). Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), activated through the ovulation injury-tissue factor–thrombin–HGF activator (HGFA)–HGF cleavage cascade confers a sustained transformation activity to fallopian tube epithelium, high-grade serous carcinoma. Physiologically, the high reserve of the coagulation-HGF cascade sources a sustained level of HGF in PF, then to the blood circulation. This HGF axis promotes the growth of the corpus luteum and repair of tissue injury after ovulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can be enriched from peripheral blood by leukocyte depletion. In this study, a PowerMag system was designed to enhance leukocyte depletion and CTC detection. Methods: The efficiency of PowerMag in leukocyte depletion and recovery of CTCs was evaluated. The cell populations in leukocyte-depleted cell filtrate were characterized by immunofluorescence staining using anti-EpCAM and anti-CD45 antibodies. The suitability of PowerMag in monitoring cancer patient CTCs was assessed by analyzing blood samples collected at baseline and 2weeks after baseline from the patients with colorectal cancer (CRC, n=24) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC, n=28). Results: Only few contaminated CD45+-leukocytes were retained in the leukocyte-depleted cell filtrate. The enriched CTCs were viable with a recovery rate of 46–62%. Immunofluorescence staining of the nucleated cells enriched by PowerMag revealed 2 major cell populations EpCAM+CD45− and EpCAM−CD45−. The number for both cell types was significantly increased in cancer patients when compared to healthy control. After chemotherapy, the number of EpCAM+CD45− and EpCAM−CD45− cells was decreased more prominently for CRC and HNSCC patients, respectively. Conclusions: PowerMag holds great promise as a platform for leukocyte depletion and CTC detection in a clinical setting. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]