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Aims of the study: Sodium houttuyfonate (SH) is an addition compound of sodium bisulfite and houttuynin. Houttuynin is one of the main ingredients in the volatile oil of Houttuynia cordata Thunb, which has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicines. In this study, we investigated the effect of SH in membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) induced by cationic Bovine Serum Albumin (C-BSA) in BALB/c mice. Materials and methods: Mice were divided into four groups, including normal vehicle-treated controls (N group), model (M group), low SH of 60mg/kg body weight (L group), or high SH of 120mg/kg body weight (H group). Urine protein quantification was detected by the urine protein strip test. Morphological assessment in kidneys was observed by light microscope and electron microscopy. The level of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) in the nuclear was evaluated by Western blot. Immunohistochemical was used to analyze the expression of MCP-1. Results: SH was shown to reverse C-BSA induced increases in urinary protein, and changes in morphology. Treatment with SH at 60–120mg/kg (L and H groups, respectively) dose-dependently decreased the level of nuclear NF-κB and MCP-1 expression compared to that of the M group. Conclusions: This study reveals that SH could treat C-BSA induced MGN in BALB/c mice by suppressing NF-κB activation and MCP-1 expression. Therefore, the most likely mechanism underlying the biological effects of SH is inhibition of an NF-κB mediated-cytokine pathway. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: Irritability is among the most bothersome emotional symptoms in children. It often leads to mental health services referral, significant impairment, and distress to their families. Although there is increasing scientific evidence supporting the existence of extreme irritability in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. (DSM-5) diagnosis of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, few studies have investigated the measurement of irritability in children. This pilot study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Affective Reactivity Index (ARI) and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC)-irritability subscale. In addition, we investigated adaptive difficulties among children with irritability., Methods: A total of 97 children and adolescents 6 to 17 years of age (M = 10.20, SD = 2.70) were recruited from the psychiatric outpatient department of a university hospital in Taipei. The participants completed the Chinese version of the ARI self-report form and the Social Adjustment Inventory for Children and Adolescents (SAICA). Their parents completed the ARI parent report form, the Chinese version of the ABC-irritability subscale, and the Child Behavior Checklist. Diagnostic interviews were administered based on diagnostic criteria of DSM-5 to confirm the participants' psychiatric diagnoses., Results: The Chinese ABC-irritability subscale and the parent and self-report scales of the Chinese ARI showed good test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and concurrent validity. Scores from the ABC-irritability subscale and two forms of the ARI were all significantly correlated with aggressive behaviors, anxious/depressed symptoms, and social problems. In addition, irritability among children was significantly associated with maladjustment in school, with peer problems, and with problems at home., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that irritability may be associated with impaired social adaptive functioning among children and adolescents. The Chinese version of the ARI and the ABC-irritability subscale are useful for measuring irritability in both clinical and research settings in the Chinese population.