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Depression is partially caused by inflammation in central nervous system. This study investigated the ameliorative effects of phenol glycosides (PG) from Ligustrum lucidum Ait. (Oleaceae) on neuroinflammation and depressive‐like behavior in mice hypothalamus as well as the molecular mechanism. Mice were administered with PG extract for 2 weeks prior to treatment with LPS. The mice treated with PG extract showed resistance to LPS‐induced reduction in body weight and LPS‐induced depressive‐like behaviors shown by sucrose preference, tail suspension test, forced swimming test and open field test. LPS‐induced activation of microglial cells and elevation in protein expression of inflammatory cytokines including IL‐1β, RANTES and MCP‐1 in hypothalamus of mice were abrogated by pre‐treatment with PG extract. This extract down‐regulated expression of TLR4, MyD88, NLRP3, renin and angiotensin II and decreased proportional area of Iba‐1+ microglias in hypothalamus. Pre‐treatment with PG extract inhibited LPS‐triggered activation of CaSR/Gα11 signaling, stimulated 1‐OHase expression in hypothalamus, and enhanced circulating 1,25(OH)2D3 level. Overall, pre‐treatment with PG extract ameliorated LPS‐induced depressive‐like behaviors by repressing neuroinflammation in mice hypothalamus which was attributed to its suppression on activation of microglia and production of inflammatory cytokines via acting on TLR4 pathway, CaSR and RAS cascade associated with improving vitamin D metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two multifunctional lanthanide complexes, namely [Dy(HL)]·CH3OH (1) and [Er(HL)]·CH3OH (2), [H4L = N,N′,N′′,N′′′‐tetra(3,5‐dimethyl‐2‐Hydroxybenzyl)‐1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane] were synthesized and structurally characterized. Complexes 1 and 2 are isomorphic and crystallize in the non‐centrosymmetric orthorhombic space group Pca21. Their structure consists of one seven‐coordinated LnIII ion with the coordination geometry of trigonal prism, one HL3– ligand and one lattice methanol molecule. They exhibit second‐harmonic generation (SHG) effect. Complex 1 displays strong fluorescent emissions, which are typical narrow emission bands of lanthanide ions. In addition, complex 1 features field‐induced slow magnetic relaxation behavior. Therefore, complex 1 may be a potential multifunctional molecular material. Two lanthanide (Dy and Er) complexes have been synthesized and the Dy complex may be a potential multifunctional molecular material with field‐induced slow magnetic relaxation, luminescent and SHG properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

R4375 --> 698.12 --> Background: A number of preclinical advances have indicated the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying renal fibrosis, such as the signaling of angiotensin II (Ang II), which is a bioactive peptide in renin‐angiotensin system. As one of kidney‐tonifying herbs, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL), the fruit of Ligustrum lucidum Ait. (Oleaceae) recorded as a tonic and dietary supplement, is a commonly prescribed component in traditional kidney‐tonifying herbal formula. This study aimed to clarify the polysaccharide component in FLL and investigate its potential role in preservation against renal fibrosis. Methods: The crude polysaccharide of FLL was prepared and deproteinized by Sevag reagent. After lyophilization, the DEAE‐cellulose DE52 column and the Sephacryl S‐200 HR column were used for further isolation and purification of homogenous polysaccharide. The mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) underwent daily intraperitoneal injection with FLL polysaccharide starting 7 days before UUO surgery until day 7 after surgery. The murine mesangial SV40‐MES13 cells were treated with vehicle, Ang II (10‐7 M) either with the absence and presence of angiotensin type I receptor blocker (ARB) (10‐6M), or with low dose (50 μg/mL, Poly‐L) and high dose (200 μg/mL, Poly‐H) of FLL polysaccharide. Results: The purified homogenous polysaccharide (Poly) was explored from FLL and the carbohydrate content was 97.45%. A hypothetical structure for Poly was proposed considering the comprehensive data of methylation, monosaccharides, and NMR analyses. Treatment of UUO mice with Poly decreased kidney index and ameliorated glomerular sclerosis and interstitial fibrosis, as well as down‐regulated the expression of profibrogenic factor VEGF and matrix fibrotic protein fibronectin (FN). Furthermore, as the same effect to ARB, the pre‐incubation with Poly alleviated the Ang II‐induced up‐regulation of FN in mesangial cells by immunofluoresence staining. The protein expressions of FN and proinflammatory factors like MCP‐1 and Rantes were significantly lower in Poly‐treated cell group than those in Ang II treatment group. Conclusion: The polysaccharide of Ligustrum lucidum Ait. was accurately explored with structure clarification. This polysaccharide component repressed angiotensin II‐induced fibrotic phenotype of renal mesangial cells and exerted beneficial effects on kidney of UUO mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angiosarcomas account for a mere 2-3% of adult soft tissue sarcomas, with an overall poor outcome. Depending on the primary site, angiosarcomas have distinct prognosis. Primary hepatic angiosarcomas ( PHAs) are much rare tumors, with worse prognosis compared with other angiosarcomas. PHA is reported to be associated with vinyl chloride, but the majority of patients were still with unknown etiology. As PHA lacks specific symptoms, signs, or images, pathological diagnosis is necessary. The review summarizes 25 articles published from January 2000 to December 2012, including 64 cases of PHA with detailed information. Survival curves are estimated using the Kaplan- Meier method by SPSS 21.0. We find that the median survival time is 5 months; local excision alone or combination with adjuvant therapy is the optimal choice, with median survival time of 17 months. In addition, liver transplant is abandoned for high recurrence rate; emergent transcatheter arterial embolization is thought to be an efficient method for controlling intra-abdominal bleeding; and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and chemotherapy may be helpful in improving survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), an active metabolite of artemisinin derivatives, is the most remarkable anti-malarial drug and has little toxicity to humans. Recent studies have shown that DHA effectively inhibits the growth of cancer cells. In the present study, we intended to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the inhibition of growth of iron-loaded human myeloid leukemia K562 cells by DHA. Mitochondria are important regulators of both autophagy and apoptosis, and one of the triggers for mitochondrial dysfunction is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We found that the DHA-induced autophagy of leukemia K562 cells, whose intracellular organelles are primarily mitochondria, was ROS dependent. The autophagy of these cells was followed by LC3-II protein expression and caspase-3 activation. In addition, we demonstrated that inhibition of the proliferation of leukemia K562 cells by DHA is also dependent upon iron. This inhibition includes the down-regulation of TfR expression and the induction of K562 cell growth arrest in the G2/M phase. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A simple and effective template-free synthesis method for nanosized conducting polymers with self-stability and functionality is a main challenge. Herein, a strategy is reported for the facile synthesis of poly(1,5-diaminonaphthalene) nanospherical particles by an interfacial miniemulsion oxidative polymerization of 1,5-diaminonaphthalene at mobile microinterfaces between a stirred biphase without external emulsifiers. The size of the nanospheres was carefully optimized by controlling the polymerization conditions. Formation and self-stabilization mechanisms of the nanoparticles are proposed. The constantly movable and refreshed microinterface is a key to successful synthesis of the nanospheres, for significantly suppressing secondary growth leading to agglomerated particles because vigorous stirring makes as-formed self-stabilized nanospheres instantly leave the microinterfaces. The resulting nanospheres possess several advantages: clean surface, self-stability, redispersibility, semiconductivity, electroactivity, and fluorescence emission. The fluorescence emission can be quenched by specific quenchers, thus enabling low-cost, high-performance chemosensors to be obtained for the sensitive detection of ZnII ions in a wide linear concentration range of more than five orders of magnitude with a superior detection limit down to 1 n M. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]