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A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method was developed for the simultaneous quantitation of (2R,3R)-Dihydromyricetin and Myricetin in rat plasma samples to facilitate analysis of samples collected after administration of SenDeng-4 medicine. The plasma was subjected to protein precipitation with HCl (containing 10% ascorbic acid) and analyzed using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in selected ion monitoring mode with Paeoniflorin as an internal standard. Good linearity for the two compounds was observed. The intra- and inter-day precision of analysis was, Author(s): Pu Bai [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.3], Xin Jia [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.4], Yu Dong [sup.1] [sup.2], Chula Sa [sup.1], Guoyuan Sun [sup.2] [sup.5], Xiaoling Zhu [sup.2] [sup.5] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.410612.0, [...]

Objective By observing the effects of "three methods and three points" tuina technique on the expression of interleukin-17F(IL-17F), interleukin-17 receptor C(IL-17RC), activator 1 of nuclear transcription factor-?B(Act1), tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6(TRAF6) and M1 microglial cell expression in the spinal dorsal horn of rats with mild chronic compressive injury(minor CCI) model, we explored the immediate analgesic mechanism of tuina on peripheral neuropathic pain(pNP). Methods Thirty-six SD rats were divided into the sham group, the model group and the tuina group according to the random number method, twelve rats in each group, and the minor CCI model was replicated by ligating the right sciatic nerve. The rats in the tuina group were subjected to pointing, plucking and kneading at the BL37, BL57 and GB34 points on the affected side using a tuina simulator, while the sham group and the model group were only grasped and restrained, and were intervened for one time. The mechanical pain test and cold plate test were used to evaluate the response of rats to mechanical stimulation and cold stimulation after immediate intervention. The protein expression of IL-17F and TRAF6 in the spinal dorsal horn of rats in each group was detected by Western blotting. The mRNA expression of IL-17F, IL-17RC, Act1 and TRAF6 in the spinal dorsal horn of rats in each group was detected by real-time PCR. The average fluorescence intensity of M1 microglia in the spinal dorsal horn of rats in each group was detected by immunofluorescence. Results Behavioral results showed that before intervention, compared with the sham group, paw mechanical withdraw threshold(PMWT) decreased and cold sensitivity threshold(CST) increased in the model group and the tuina group; after tuina intervention, PMWT in the tuina group was increased, and CST was decreased compared with the model group; after intervention, PMWT in the tuina group was increased, while CST was decreased(P<0.05). RT-PCR results showed that compared with the sham group, mRNA expression levels of IL-17F, IL-17RC, TRAF6 and Act1 in the spinal dorsal horn of the model group were increased; compared with model group, the mRNA expression levels of above indexes in the tuina group were decreased(P<0.05). Western boltting results showed that compared with the sham group, the expression levels of IL-17F and TRAF6 protein in the spinal dorsal horn of the model group were increased; compared with the model group, the expression levels of IL-17F and TRAF6 protein in the tuina group decreased(P<0.05). Immunofluorescence results showed that the mean fluorescence intensity of CD40 in the spinal dorsal horn of model group was enhanced compared with the sham group; compared with the model group, the mean fluorescence intensity of CD40 in the tuina group was decreased(P<0.05). Conclusion The "three methods and three points" tuina technique can produce immediate analgesia by inhibiting the expression of IL-17F, IL-17RC, Act1, TRAF6 and the activation of M1 microglia in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord after one intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eucalyptol, a natural epoxide monoterpene, was found in rat brain tissue after oral administration in our previous study, suggesting that the compound may possess the ability to pass the blood–brain barrier (BBB). However, a few studies have demonstrated that eucalyptol does penetrate the BBB. The aims of this study were to determine the opening effect of eucalyptol on the BBB in rats, to establish and validate a method for the determination of eucalyptol in brain tissue, and to reveal its brain pharmacokinetic characteristics. The opening effect of BBB was assessed by dye extravasation and ultrastructural alterations, and the quantitative method of eucalyptol in rat brain tissue was established and confirmed. For pharmacokinetic research, rat brain samples were taken at 0.05, 0.167, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 h after administration. There was a significantly higher extravasation of Evans blue from the brain parenchyma of rats in the medium‐dose eucalyptol group (P < 0.01), which was associated with the BBB's altered ultrastructure. It is suggested that eucalyptol increased the permeability of the BBB. After oral administration, eucalyptol was quickly absorbed by the brain. This study provides valuable information on eucalyptol use to treat illnesses of the central nervous system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming and human activities are complicating the spatial and temporal relationships between basin hydrologic processes and ecosystem quality (EQ), especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Knowledge of the synergy between hydrological processes and ecosystems in arid and semi-arid zones is an effective measure to achieve ecologically sustainable development. In this study, the inland river basin Ulagai River Basin (URB), a typical arid and semi-arid region in Northern China, was used as the study area; based on an improved hydrological model and remote-sensing and in situ measured data, this URB-focused study analyzed the spatial and temporal characteristics of hydrological process factors, such as precipitation, evapotranspiration (ET), surface runoff, lateral flow, groundwater recharge, and EQ and the synergistic relationships between them. It was found that, barring snowmelt, the hydrological process factors such as precipitation, ET, surface runoff, lateral flow, and groundwater recharge had a rising trend in the URB, since the 20th century. The rate of change was higher in the downstream areas when compared with what it was in the upstream and midstream areas. The multi-year average of EQ in the basin is 53.66, which is at a medium level and has an overall improving trend, accounting for 95.14% of the total area, mainly in the upstream, downstream southern, and downstream northern areas of the basin. The change in relationship between the hydrological process factors and EQ was found to have a highly synergistic effect. Temporally, EQ was consistent with the interannual trends of precipitation, surface runoff, lateral flow, and groundwater recharge. The correlation between the hydrological process factors and EQ was found to be higher than 0.7 during the study period. Spatially, the hydrological process factors had a synergistic relationship with EQ from strong to weak upstream, midstream, and downstream, respectively. In addition, ecosystem improvements were accelerated by government initiatives such as the policy of Returning Grazing Land to Grassland Project, which has played an important role in promoting soil and water conservation and EQ. This study provides theoretical support for understanding the relationship between hydrological processes and ecological evolution in arid and semi-arid regions, and it also provides new ideas for related research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Heyi disease, Xila disease, and Badagan disease are three common diseases in Mongolian medicine. The changes in intestinal microbiota may be associated with the occurrence, development, and treatment of these diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of herbal treatment on intestinal microbiota and serum metabolites in rats with these three diseases. Methods. Firstly, Heyi, Xila, and Badagan disease model rats were established by environmental, diet, and drug intervention. Then, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolomics analysis were used to analyze the changes in intestinal microbiota and serum metabolites after treatment. PICRUSt analysis was applied to predict the potential functions of intestinal microbiota, and OPLS-DA multivariate model was applied to screen differential serum metabolites. Results. 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that herbal treatment significantly increased the species diversity and changed the composition of intestinal microbiota in Heyi disease and Xila disease rats. After treatment, there were 10, 9, and 3 bacterial biomarkers that were increased in Heyi, Xila, and Badagan disease rats, respectively. In the Heyi disease model, treatment resulted in 45 differential serum metabolites, involving 4 pathways. In the Badagan disease model, treatment resulted in 62 differential serum metabolites, involving 4 pathways. However, there was no significant difference in serum metabolites between TreatB and ConB in the Xila disease model. Conclusions. Herbal treatment significantly changed the intestinal microbiota and serum metabolites of rats with three Mongolian medicine diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil moisture (SM) plays a crucial role in the dynamics of coupled atmosphere, water, energy, and carbon cycles. In this study, the spatiotemporal distribution and variations of SM in the Mongolian Plateau were investigated for the period of 1982–2018 based on four gridded SM datasets. Taking the observed SM from 33 monitoring stations as a reference, the reliability of these four gridded products was validated, and the three-cornered hat (TCH) method was also applied to evaluate their uncertainties. Major results indicated that all these four products underestimated the SM in this region at different levels. The ERA-Interim SM performed much better than other three products, with a higher R of 0.53 and lower ubRMSE of 0.0378 m3·m−3. Except for ECV, the surface SM exhibited a decreasing trend at −0.0004 to −0.0008 m3·m−3/decade in the warm season (from April to October) over the past 37 years. The greatest decreases in SM occurred in the summer season. Precipitation change plays a more important role in explaining the variations of SM than temperature reported by partial correlation analysis. The results of this study will benefit our understanding of the climate change effects and the protection of the ecological systems in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Mongolian medicine is a systematic theoretical system, which is based on the balance among Heyi, Xila, and Badagan. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the characteristics of intestinal microbiota and metabolites in different rat models of Mongolian medicine. Methods. After establishing rat models of Heyi, Xila, and Badagan, we integrated 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolomics. Results. Heyi, Xila, and Badagan rats had significantly altered intestinal microbial composition compared with rats in the MCK group. They showed 11, 18, and 8 significantly differential bacterial biomarkers and 22, 11, and 15 differential metabolites, respectively. The glucosinolate biosynthesis pathway was enriched only in Heyi rats; the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids pathway and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway were enriched only in Xila rats; the isoflavonoid biosynthesis pathway, the glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism pathway, and the arginine and proline metabolism pathway were enriched only in Badagan rats. Conclusions. The intestinal microbiota, metabolites, and metabolic pathways significantly differed among Heyi, Xila, and Badagan rats compared with control group rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stratum corneum continues to pose the biggest obstacle to transdermal drug delivery. Chemical penetrant, the first generation of transdermal drug delivery system, offers a lot of potential. In order to fully examine the permeation mechanism of 1,8-cineole, a natural monoterpene, this review summarizes the effects of permeation-enhancing medications on drugs that are lipophilic and hydrophilic as well as the toxicity of this substance on the skin and other tissues. For lower lipophilic drugs, 1,8-cineole appears to have a stronger osmotic-enhancing impact. An efficient and secure tactic would be to combine enhancers and dose forms. 1,8-cineole is anticipated to be further developed in the transdermal drug delivery system and even become a candidate drug for brain transport due to its permeability and low toxicity., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)