Is rosuvastatin protective against sepsis-associated encephalopathy? A secondary analysis of the SAILS trial

BACKGROUND:Sepsis is a common cause of death in emergency departments and sepsis-associated encephalopathy(SAE)is a major complication.Rosuvastatin may play a neuroprotective role due to its protective effects on the vascular endothelium and its anti-inflammatory functions.Our study aimed to explore the potential protective function of rosuvastatin against SAE.METHODS:Sepsis patients without any neurological dysfunction on admission were prospectively enrolled in the“Rosuvastatin for Sepsis-Associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome”study(SAILS trial,ClinicalTrials.gov number:NCT00979121).Patients were divided into rosuvastatin and placebo groups.This is a secondary analysis of the SAILS dataset.Baseline characteristics,therapy outcomes,and adverse drug events were compared between groups.RESULTS:A total of 86 patients were eligible for our study.Of these patients,51 were treated with rosuvastatin.There were significantly fewer cases of SAE in the rosuvastatin group than in the placebo group(32.1%vs.57.1%,P=0.028).However,creatine kinase levels were significantly higher in the rosuvastatin group than in the placebo group(233[22-689]U/L vs.79[12-206]U/L,P=0.034).CONCLUSION:Rosuvastatin appears to have a protective role against SAE but may result in a higher incidence of adverse events.

Does herbal medicine reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma?

Many herbal medicines are effective anti-inflammatory agents and may therefore suppress the development of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Recently, treatment with a single-tablet regimen containing ledipasvir and sofosbuvir resulted in high rates of sustained virologic response among patients with hepatitis C virus genotype1 infection who did not respond to prior interferon-based treatment. Patients with chronic hepatitis C are expected to receive this treatment worldwide. However, many patients have hepatitis-like fatty liver and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. A strategy to prevent the development of HCC in this subgroup of patients is urgently required.Whether herbal medicines can suppress the development of HCC remains to be established. However, herbal medicines are effective anti-inflammatory agents and may inhibit the development of HCC. Clinical trials exploring the effectiveness of herbal medicines in the prevention and treatment of HCC are therefore warranted. The current lack of knowledge and of educational programs is a barrier to increasing the use of potentially effective herbal medicines and performing prospective clinical trials.

A red pomegranate fruit extract-based formula ameliorates anxiety/depression-like behaviors via enhancing serotonin (5-HT) synthesis in C57BL/6 male mice

This study investigated the anti-anxiety/anti-depression potential of a formula containing red pomegranate fruit extract(RPFE;40%,m/m),Lactobacillus rhamnosus(JB-1)(34%,m/m),magnesium gluconate(25%,m/m)and vanillin(1%,m/m).The RPFE formula(dose:2.0,1.5 or 1.0 mg/g·day)reversed behavioral dysfunctions and body weight gain induced by chronic restraint stress combined with corticosterone injection in C57BL/6 male mice.The RPFE formula exhibited the abilities to normalize the levels of serum infl ammatory cytokines(NF-κB,TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1βand IFN-γ)and malondialdehyde(MDA),and activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT)and nitric oxide synthase(NOS),as well as relieve the injury of hippocampal neurons.The serotonin(5-HT)levels in hippocampus were increasingly enhanced,which might be mediated by reducing the activity of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase(IDO)and increasing the activity of tryptophan hydroxylase(TPH).Thus,the neuroprotective and ameliorating effects on anxiety/depression-like behaviors resulting from the RPFE formula ingestion were possibly related to serotonergic activation,which might be mediated via anti-infl ammatory and anti-oxidant actions.

Simultaneous Screening and Analysis of Anti-inflammatory and Antiproliferative Compounds from Euphorbia maculata Combining Bio-affinity Ultrafiltration with Multiple Drug Targets

Euphorbia maculata has long been used for managing different impairments in Asian countries.However,its antioxidant,anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative potentialities,along with its potential bioactive compounds remain unexplored.In this context,a bio-a ffinity ultrafiltration strategy was developed to fish out ligand candidates against Cycloxygenase-2(COX-2),Topoisomerase I(Topo I),and TopoisomeraseⅡ(TopoⅡ).Thereafter,lead compounds activities were assessed in silico and in vitro for ascertaining the screening results and forecasting its corresponding activities.As a result,the E.maculata ethyl acetate(EMEA)fraction showed interesting COX-2 inhibition activity with an IC 50 value of 0.67±0.09μg/mL,as well as good growth inhibitions for three malignant cell lines.EMEA chemical fingerprinting was also conducted to enable a tentative identification of 17 compounds,among which,11 were assessed as ligand candidates to COX-2,8 compounds to Topo I,and 10 compounds to TopoⅡ.Dihydromyricetin and quercetin-3-O-arabinoside were revealed to be multipotent compounds which exerted good a ffinity to the three targeted enzymes,and also supported with their molecular docking simulations and in vitro assay validations.The interrelationship between E.maculata’s associated activities(antioxidant,anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative)was revealed with the corresponding multipotent phytochemical active components from this work.It also provided a useful direction for its empirical traditional use and further explorations in the near future.