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Context: Liuweibuqi (LWBQ) capsule has been reported to influence symptoms of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, specific function of LWBQ capsules in COPD with lung-qi deficiency syndrome remains elusive. Objective: This study investigates effect of LWBQ capsules on STAT4/STAT6 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 expression and pulmonary function in stable COPD with lung-qi deficiency syndrome. Materials and methods: Totally, 429 patients diagnosed with stable COPD and lung-qi deficiency syndrome were treated with starch capsules (each time for 9 capsules), or different doses: low (each dose for 8 capsules and 1 LWBQ capsules), medium (each time for 6 capsules and 3 LWBQ capsules), or high (each time for 9 LWBQ capsules) of LWBQ capsules for 30 days, 3 times a day. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC% and DLco%pred were evaluated by pulmonary function meter. STAT4/STAT6 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 expression was assessed by RT-qPCR and western blot analysis, and serum concentrations of IL-4, IFN-γ and IL-6 by ELISA. Results: Spearman rank correlation analysis and ROC curve showed that STAT4/STAT6 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 affected pulmonary functions and curative effect of stable COPD with lung-qi deficiency syndrome. After LWBQ capsule treatment, FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC% and DLco%pred elevated; STAT4/STAT6, MMP-9/TIMP-1, IFN-γ and IL-6 expression declined whereas IL-4 expression increased (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that FEV1/FVC was negatively correlated with STAT4/STAT6 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 expression in COPD patients. Conclusions: LWBQ capsules play a beneficial role in pulmonary function of stable COPD with lung-qi deficiency syndrome via STAT4/STAT6 and MMP-9/TIMP-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, we presented a new approach to access a (1,3-butadiene-2-yl)carbinol, (1R,2R)- and (1S,2S)-1-(hydroxymethyl)-1-vinyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ols. Starting from commercially available 1,4-diol-2-butyne, a six-step synthesis involving dibromination, Zn-mediated addition reaction of phenylpropyl aldehyde, epoxidation, epoxy-arene cyclization, and resolution with D(+)-Camphor afforded the title compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial DNA of nematodes undergoes frequent rearrangements, so it is a very good model for studying the mitochondrial genome evolution. The complete mitochondrial genome of a parasitic nematodeSenga ophiocephalinawas sequenced and annotated. The 13,816 bp-long genome contained 12 protein-coding genes (atp8gene was missing), two ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs, and a 391 bp non-coding region. Phylogenetic analysis showed thatS. ophiocephalinaforms a monophyletic cluster with the remaining two Bothriocephalidae species. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]