Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum ZFM4 in Helicobacter pylori-infected C57BL/6 mice: prevention is better than cure

ObjectivesThis study was performed to explore the preventive and therapeutic effects of Lactobacillus plantarum ZFM4 on H. pylori infections of the stomach tissue in C57BL/6 mice.MethodsIn this study, 40 specific-pathogen-free female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups, namely, the control, ZFM4 pretreatment) ZFM4 pretreatment before H. pylori infected), model (H. pylori infected), triple therapy (H. pylori infected and treated with triple therapy), and ZFM4 treatment groups (H. pylori infected and treated with ZFM4). The preventive and therapeutic effects of Lactobacillus plantarum ZFM4 were evaluated in H. pylori-infected C57BL/6 mice by assessing gastric tissue morphology, inflammatory cytokine levels, microbial composition, and microbial diversity.ResultsLactobacillus plantarum ZFM4 was able to survive in low gastric pH and play a role in preventing H. pylori infection. This was evident from a reduction in both, the gastric inflammatory response and expression of inflammatory factors caused by H. pylori infection. Lactobacillus plantarum ZFM4 could also inhibit the growth of H. pylori via its beneficial impact on the gastric microbiota.ConclusionOur findings suggest that Lactobacillus plantarum ZFM4 offers superior preventive effects against H. pylori infections when used alone. However, the therapeutic effect on established infections is weaker. Further clinical trials are needed to confirm the specific dosage, duration, and other aspects of administration

Note On Certain Inequalities for Neuman Means

In this paper, we give the explicit formulas for the Neuman means $N_{AH}$, $N_{HA}$, $N_{AC}$ and $N_{CA}$, and present the best possible upper and lower bounds for theses means in terms of the combinations of harmonic mean $H$, arithmetic mean $A$ and contraharmonic mean $C$.Comment: 9 page

Protective effect of total flavonoids from boxthorn leaf against UVB irradiation-induced skin injury

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of total flavonoids from boxthorn leaf against skin injury induced by UVB irradiation, and to elucidate the underlying mechanism of action. Method: Healthy female mice (n = 100) were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group, UV negative control group, cream base group, and boxthorn leaf total flavonoid (BLTF) group, with 25 mice in each group. The mice in each group were irradiated with ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation instrument for 1.5 h daily for 3 weeks. Mice in the cream base group were smeared with cream base on their backs, while mice in BLTF group were smeared with 15 mg/g boxthorn BLTF cream. The control and negative control group mice were not treated. Changes in superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels were determined using standard methods. Results: Compared to the negative control group, the levels of SOD and GSH-Px in the control group and BLTF were significantly elevated, while MDA levels declined significantly (p < 0.05). Although higher GSH-Px and SOD levels, and lower MDA were seen in the cream base group than in negative control group, these indices were comparable for the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The total flavonoids of boxthorn leaves improve resistance to UVB-induced skin damage by regulating SOD, MDA and GSH-Px levels in the skin of mice. Thus, they exert protective effects on the skin

Bis(N′-benzoyl­pyridine-4-carbohydrazide)(1,10-phenanthroline)copper(II) dinitrate

In the title complex, [Cu(C13H11N3O2)2(C12H8N2)](NO3)2, the CuII atom (site symmetry 2) is coordinated by four N atoms from one 1,10-phenanthroline and two hydrazine ligands, respectively. The hydrazine ligands coordinate to the CuIIatom by a pyridine N atom. These four atoms form a slightly distorted square-planar N4 donor set. In the packing, two additional Cu⋯O inter­actions occur [Cu⋯O = 2.462 (2) Å], resulting in a typical Jahn–Teller-distorted octahedral environment around the Cu atom. N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds result in a three-dimensional network. The O atoms of the anion are disordered over two positions in a 0.68 (2):0.32 (2) ratio

{N,N-Dimethyl-N′-[phen­yl(2-pyrid­yl)methyl­ene]ethane-1,2-diamine-κ3 N,N′,N′′}dithio­cyanato-κN,κS-copper(II)

In the title complex, [Cu(NCS)2(C16H19N3)], the CuII atom is coordinated by a total of four N atoms; three from one tridentate Schiff base ligand and one from one of the NCS− ions. The S atom from the other NCS− ion completes the distorted square-pyramidal coordination

Monotonicity of the Ratio of the Power and Second Seiffert Means with Applications

We present the necessary and sufficient condition for the monotonicity of the ratio of the power and second Seiffert means. As applications, we get the sharp upper and lower bounds for the second Seiffert mean in terms of the power mean

Nuclear Factor-Kappa B Activity Regulates Brain Expression of P-Glycoprotein in the Kainic Acid-Induced Seizure Rats

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of NF-κB activity on the seizure susceptibility, brain damage, and P-gp expression in kainic acid- (KA-) induced seizure rats. Male SD rats were divided into saline control group (NS group), KA induced epilepsy group (EP group), and epilepsy group intervened with NF-κB inhibitor-pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate salt (PDTC group) or with dexamethasone (DEX group). No seizures were observed in the rats of NS group. Compared with NS group, increased P-gp expression and NF-κB activation in the rat brain of the EP group were observed after KA micro-injection. Both PDTC and DEX pre-treatment significantly increased the latency to grade III or V seizure onset compared to EP group but failed to show neuron-protective effect as the number of survival neurons didn't significantly differ from that in EP group. Furthermore, PDTC pre-treatment significantly decreased P-gp expression along with NF-κB activation in the hippocampus CA3 area and amygdala complex of rats compared with the EP group, implying that NF-κB activation involved in the seizure susceptibility and seizure induced brain P-gp over-expression. Additionally, DEX pre-treatment only decreased P-gp expression level without inhibition of NF-κB activation, suggesting NF-κB independent pathway may also participate in regulating seizure induced P-gp over-expression

Attenuating effect of pretreatment with Yiqifumai on lipopolysaccharide-induced intestine injury and survival rate in rat

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Yiqifumai is a traditional Chinese medicine compound preparation used for treatment of microcirculatory disturbance-related diseases in China. We have previous reported that pretreatment with Yiqifumai could improve the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) -induced microcirculatory disturbance in rat mesentery. The present study intended to investigate the effect of pretreatment with Yiqifumai on intestine injury and survival rate of the rats subjected to LPS challenge.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Male Wistar rats were continuously infused with LPS (5 mg kg^-1body weight h^-1) via the left jugular vein for 90 min. In some rats, Yiqifumai 80 (mg/kg) was administrated through the left jugular vein 10 min before LPS infusion. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR) and survival rate were measured at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after LPS infusion. At 72 h after exposure to LPS, the intestine morphology was observed under a stereomicroscope and the immunohistochemistry staining of intestine was conducted to evaluate the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and the number of myeloperoxidase (MPO) positive cells in tissue. After observation of intestine microcirculation, blood was collected from the abdominal aorta of each animal to analyze the level of inflammatory markers in plasma, including TNF-α and MCP-1.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared to the control, LPS infusion significantly decreased MAP and the survival rate and increased the HR, RT and RR, as well as elicited leukocyte infiltration, intestine hemorrhage, enhanced expression of ICAM-1 and raised level of inflammatory markers. All of indicators, except for the RT, were significantly attenuated by Yiqifumai, in contrast to the LPS group.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results demonstrated the potential of pretreatment with Yiqifumai to ameliorate rat intestine injury, inflammatory response to LPS and the decrease in survival rate caused by LPS challenge.</p