3-Hydroxy­meth­yl-6,8-dimeth­oxy-2H-chromen-2-one

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C12H12O5, contains four independent mol­ecules. In the crystal structure, inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into one-dimensional infinite chains. They are arranged in a nearly parallel fashion along the b axis and stabilized by π–π inter­actions [3.443 (2) Å]

Carthamus tinctorius Enhances the Antitumor Activity of Dendritic Cell Vaccines via Polarization toward Th1 Cytokines and Increase of Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes

Carthamus tinctorius (CT), also named safflower, is a traditional Chinese medicine widely used to improve blood circulation. CT also has been studied for its antitumor activity in certain cancers. To investigate the effects of CT on the dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccine in cancer treatment, cytokine secretion of mouse splenic T lymphocytes and the maturation of DCs in response to CT were analyzed. To assess the antitumor activity of CT extract on mouse CD117+ (c-kit)-derived DCs pulsed with JC mammal tumor antigens, the JC tumor was challenged by the CT-treated DC vaccine in vivo. CT stimulated IFN-γ and IL-10 secretion of splenic T lymphocytes and enhanced the maturation of DCs by enhancing immunological molecule expression. When DC vaccine was pulsed with tumor antigens along with CT extract, the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were dramatically increased with a dose-dependent response and more immunologic and co-stimulatory molecules were expressed on the DC surface. In addition, CT-treated tumor lysate-pulsed DC vaccine reduced the tumor weight in tumor-bearing mice by 15.3% more than tumor lysate-pulsed DC vaccine without CT treatment. CT polarized cytokine secretion toward the Th1 pathway and also increased the population of cytotoxic T lymphocytes ex vivo. In conclusion, CT activates DCs might promote the recognition of antigens and facilitate antigen presentation to Th1 immune responses

The Anti-hepatitis B Virus Activity of Boehmeria nivea Extract in HBV-viremia SCID Mice

Boehmeria nivea extract (BNE) is widely used in southern Taiwan as a folk medicine for hepato-protection and hepatitis treatment. In previous studies, we demonstrated that BNE could reduce the supernatant hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in HBV-producing HepG2 2.2.15 cells. In the present study, we established an animal model of HBV viremia and used it to validate the efficacy of BNE in vivo. In this animal model, serum HBV DNA and HBsAg were elevated in accordance with tumor growth. To evaluate the anti-HBV activity of BNE, HBV-viremia mice were built up after one subcutaneous inoculation of HepG2 2.2.15 tumor cells in severe combined immunodeficiency mice over 13 days. The levels of serum HBV DNA were elevated around 105–106 copies per milliliter. Both oral and intraperitoneal administration of BNE were effective at inhibiting the production of HBsAg and HBV DNA, whereas tumor growth was not affected by all test articles. Intraperitoneal administration of BNE appeared to have greater potential to inhibit serum HBV DNA levels compared with oral administration under the same dosage. Notably, reduced natural killer cell activity was also observed after high dosage of BNE administration, and this correlated with reduced serum HBV DNA. In conclusion, BNE exhibited potential anti-HBV activity in an animal model of HBV viremia

An Extract of Antrodia camphorata Mycelia Attenuates the Progression of Nephritis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus-Prone NZB/W F1 Mice

Antrodia camphorata is used in folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation syndromes and liver-related diseases in Taiwan. The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the mycelial extract of A. camphorata (ACE) for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in SLE-prone NZB/W F1 mice. After antibodies against double-stranded DNA appeared in NZB/W mice, the mice were orally administered varying dosages of ACE (100, 200 and 400 mg kg−1) for 5 consecutive days per week for 12 weeks via gavage. To assess the efficacy of ACE, we measured SLE-associated biochemical and histopathological biomarkers levels of blood urine nitrogen (BUN), blood creatinine, urine protein and urine creatinine and thickness of the kidney glomerular basement membrane by staining with periodic acid-Schiff. Antroquinonol, an active component of ACE, was investigated for anti-inflammation activity in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 267.4 cells. ACE at 400 mg kg−1 significantly suppressed urine protein and serum BUN levels and decreased the thickness of the kidney glomerular basement membrane. Antroquinonol significantly inhibited the production of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β by 75 and 78%, respectively. In conclusion, ACE reduced urine protein and creatinine levels and suppressed the thickening of the kidney glomerular basement membrane, suggesting that ACE protects the kidney from immunological damage resulting from autoimmune disease

Characteristics of small pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and risk factors for invasion and metastasis

BackgroundThe number of people with small pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) (tumors with a diameter less than or equal to 2 cm) is gradually increasing, but the selection of treatment strategy is still controversial. Our aim was to characterize small pNETs with a poor prognosis and to define the impact of aggressive small pNETs on survival and the risk factors for the development of invasive disease.MethodsPatients with pNETs diagnosed between 2004 and 2019 and a tumor diameter of 2 cm or less were selected from the SEER Registry. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to identify the factors affecting patient survival, and binary logistic regression was used to identify the associated risk factors.ResultsA total of 3261 patients with pNETs were enrolled in the study. Both older and younger patients benefited from surgery. Regional invasion occurred in 10% of the patients, and distant metastases occurred in 9% of the patients, but in both categories, those who underwent surgery had better survival outcomes than those who did not. There was no difference in survival between patients with a tumor diameter of 1–2 cm and those with a tumor diameter of less than 1 cm, and there was no difference in survival between patients with functional and nonfunctional small pNETs. However, the survival of patients with pNETs in the head of the pancreas was worse than that of patients with tumors in other parts of the pancreas. Survival was worse in elderly patients and in those with poorly differentiated and undifferentiated tumors. Lymphatic metastasis, regional invasion, and distant metastasis all worsened the prognosis of patients. The presence or absence of neuroendocrine function, the degree of tumor differentiation, and the location of the tumor were associated with the risk of lymphatic metastasis and regional invasion; the risk factors for distant metastasis were associated with the degree of differentiation and tumor location.ConclusionThe pNETs ≤ 2 cm in diameter could be still aggressive, and patient prognosis worsens after invasive disease develops. Attention to the characteristics of aggressive tumors can improve patient survival

An Evaluation of the Additive Effect of Natural Herbal Medicine on SARS or SARS-like Infectious Diseases in 2003: A Randomized, Double-blind, and Controlled Pilot Study

Natural herbal medicine (NHM) has been used to control infectious diseases for thousands of years. In view of the possible beneficial effect of NHM on SARS, we conducted this study to examine whether NHM is of any benefit as a supplementary treatment of SARS or SARS-like infectious disease. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Twenty-eight patients fulfilled the WHO inclusion criteria and our exclusion criteria. All enrolled patients received routine western-medicine treatment. Patients were randomly allocated to one of the three supplementary treatment groups: NHM A (Group A, n = 9) NHM B (Group B, n = 9) or placebo (Group C, n = 10). Chest X-ray was done every 1 or 2 days for every patient. Reading radiologists use a standard 0–3 scoring system (0: no infiltration; 1: focal haziness or even small patchy lesion; 2: ground glass picture; 3: lobar consolidation) according to the severity of infiltration in each lung field (three lung fields in both right and left lungs). The main outcome measurements were the improving chest radiographic scores (IRS) and the duration (days) till improvement (DI). One patient from the placebo group passed away. Patients from NHM A took less days before showing improvement (6.7 ± 1.8) compared with placebo group (11.2 ± 4.9), which showed statistical significance (P = 0.04). The cases were too few to be conclusive, the initial observations seem to indicate NHM appears to be safe in non-criticallly ill patients and clinical trials are feasible in the setting of pandemic outbreaks

Potential Use of Plectranthus amboinicus in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Plectranthus amboinicus (P. amboinicus) is a folk herb that is used to treat inflammatory diseases or swelling symptoms in Taiwan. We investigated therapeutic efficacy of P. amboinicus in treating Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) using collagen-induced arthritis animal model. Arthritis was induced in Lewis rats by immunization with bovine type II collagen. Serum anti-collagen IgG, IgM and C-reactive protein (CRP) were analyzed. To understand the inflammation condition of treated animals, production of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β from peritoneal exudates cells (PEC) were also analyzed. P. amboinicus significantly inhibited the footpad swelling and arthritic symptoms in collagen-induced arthritic rats, while the serum anti-collagen IgM and CRP levels were consistently decreased. The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β were also decreased in the high dosage of P. amboinicus group. Here, we demonstrate the potential anti-arthritic effect of P. amboinicus for treating RA, which might confer its anti-rheumatic activity. This differs the pharmacological action mode of indomethacin

A study of latent profile analysis of empathic competence and factors influencing it in nursing interns: a multicenter cross-sectional study

BackgroundEmpathy, as one of the fundamental principles of nursing professionalism, plays a pivotal role in the formation and advancement of the nursing team. Nursing interns, as a reserve force within the nursing team, are of significant importance in terms of their ability to empathize. This quality is not only directly related to the degree of harmony in the nurse–patient relationship and the enhancement of patient satisfaction, but also plays a pivotal role in the promotion of the quality of nursing services to a new level.AimThe objective of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the current state of nursing interns’ empathic abilities. To this end, we sought to examine empathic performance under different profile models and to identify the key factors influencing these profile models.MethodsThe study utilized 444 nursing interns from 11 tertiary general hospitals in Inner Mongolia as research subjects. The study employed a number of research tools, including demographic characteristics, the Jefferson Scale of Empathy, and the Professional Quality of Life Scale. A latent profile model of nursing interns’ empathy ability was analyzed using Mplus 8.3. The test of variability of intergroup variables was performed using the chi-square test. Finally, the influencing factors of each profile model were analyzed by unordered multi-categorical logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe overall level of empathy among nursing interns was found to be low, with 45% belonging to the humanistic care group, 43% exhibiting low empathy, and 12% demonstrating high empathy. The internship duration, empathy satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress, only child, place of birth, and satisfaction with nursing were identified as factors influencing the latent profiles of empathy in nursing interns (p < 0.05).ConclusionThere is considerable heterogeneity in nursing interns’ ability to empathize. Consequently, nursing educators and administrators should direct greater attention to interns with lower empathy and develop targeted intervention strategies based on the influences of the different underlying profiles

Antrodia camphorata Mycelia Attenuates the Progression of Nephritis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus-Prone NZB/W F1 Mice

Antrodia camphorata is used in folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation syndromes and liver-related diseases in Taiwan. The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the mycelial extract of A. camphorata (ACE) for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in SLE-prone NZB/W F1 mice. After antibodies against double-stranded DNA appeared in NZB/W mice, the mice were orally administered varying dosages of ACE (100, 200 and 400 mg kg −1 ) for 5 consecutive days per week for 12 weeks via gavage. To assess the efficacy of ACE, we measured SLE-associated biochemical and histopathological biomarkers levels of blood urine nitrogen (BUN), blood creatinine, urine protein and urine creatinine and thickness of the kidney glomerular basement membrane by staining with periodic acid-Schiff. Antroquinonol, an active component of ACE, was investigated for antiinflammation activity in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 267.4 cells. ACE at 400 mg kg −1 significantly suppressed urine protein and serum BUN levels and decreased the thickness of the kidney glomerular basement membrane. Antroquinonol significantly inhibited the production of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β by 75 and 78%, respectively. In conclusion, ACE reduced urine protein and creatinine levels and suppressed the thickening of the kidney glomerular basement membrane, suggesting that ACE protects the kidney from immunological damage resulting from autoimmune disease