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Background: Myricetin (Myr) is a flavonoid compound that exist widely in many natural plants. Myr has been proven to have multiple biological functions, including immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects.Purpose: In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of Myr on calcipotriol (MC903) induced atopic dermatitis (AD) mouse model and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α/interferon (IFN)-γ stimulated human immortal keratinocyte line (HaCaT) in vivo and in vitro.Methods: MC903 was applied topically to the left ears of mice to establish AD mouse model. After the AD model established successfully, the cream base, dexamethasone (DEX) cream or Myr cream were applied on the lesions of mice for 8 days. Through measuring ear thickness and scoring dermatitis severity, we evaluated the therapeutic effect of Myr, the draining lymph nodes (DLNs) and ears of the mice were collected for mechanistic study. In addition, TNF-α and IFN-γ-activated HaCaT cells were used to investigate the underlying mechanism.Results: Our data demonstrated that Myr alleviated the symptoms of AD by exerting anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic functions in vivo. We found that Myr treatment suppressed ear swelling and IgE level in the serum, reduced the infiltration of mast cells in skin lesions, decreased expressions of thymus and activation regulated chemokine (TARC), IL-4, IFN-γ and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in ear lesions, increased the expressions of filaggrin (FLG). Furthermore, our experimental results demonstrated that Myr down-regulated the mRNA expressions of T-bet and GATA-3 in DLNs. In vitro, Myr treatment decreased MDC and TARC expressions in IFN-γ and TNF-α-induced HaCaT cells by blocking the NF-κB and STAT1 signal pathway.Conclusion: The present study is the first to investigate the anti-atopic effects of Myr. Our findings suggested the therapeutic effects of Myr against MC903-induced AD-like skin lesions in mice. Therefore, Myr may be a potential therapeutic agent for AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Artificial muscles are so important that can be used to cure prosthetic limbs. A new kind of taurine Schiff base sodium was synthesized by a series of chemical reactions, which may be applied to strengthen antibacterial activity of artificial muscle. The bioactivity of this material was screened by cytotoxicity test, antibacterial test, and thermal gravity test and so on. All results told us that this material had low toxicity, high antibacterial activity and thermal stability. Combine our deep studies on pharmacological activity of the active material with our knowledge on artificial muscles; we want to know if we can put this material into the content of artificial muscle, in order to strengthen its antimicrobial activity, so that the pains of the patients who were applied artificial muscle would be relieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess outcomes in obese patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who sustained an osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in the improved prone position and right lateral position. Between January 2015 and May 2016, a total of 60 patients were enrolled in this randomized controlled study. Patients in group A were placed in the improved prone position for a bilateral transpedicular technique, and those in group B were placed in the right lateral position for a left transverse process-pedicle approach. Clinical and radiologic outcomes were assessed and compared between the 2 groups during the 12-month follow-up period. All operations were successfully completed without any serious sequelae. The operation time, fluoroscopic time, scores for respiratory condition during the operation, intravertebral cement volume, and incidence of cement leakage were significantly greater in group A compared with group B (P < 0.01). During the follow-up period, all patients in both groups experienced significant improvement in pain relief. Satisfactory functional improvement was obtained at 3 months postoperatively. Treatment of obese patients with COPD suffering from painful OVCF by PVP in both the improved prone position with a bilateral technique and the right lateral position with a unilateral technique was relatively safe and effective. However, unilateral PVP in the right lateral position was associated with a shorter operation time, limited fluoroscopic time, and minimal cement leakage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Influences of alfalfa powder concentration and granularity on the dynamic rheological properties of alfalfa-wheat dough was studied. Frequency sweep tests at 25°C and 80°C and temperature sweep tests from 25°C to 80°C were applied to wheat dough samples. Elastic moduli (G′) and viscous moduli (G″) of the alfalfa-wheat dough at 80°C were higher than those of the alfalfa-wheat dough at 25°C. The viscoelastic moduli (G′ and G″) of the alfalfa-wheat dough at 80°C showed less frequency dependence compared to those of the samples at 25°C. The viscoelastic moduli (G′ and G″) of alfalfa-wheat dough increased with the increasing of alfalfa powder concentration from 0% to 10% and decreased with further increase in alfalfa powder concentration from 10% to 20% at 25°C. All the alfalfa-added samples showed a delay in the dough gelatinization temperature comparing with the control sample. On the other hand, the viscoelastic moduli (G′ and G″) increased with the increase of alfalfa powder granularity distributed from 80–100 to 40–60 mesh. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]