Prime-O-glucosylcimifugin is an active chromone isolated from Saposhnikovia root which has been reported to have various activities, such as anti-convulsant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of prime-O-glucosylcimifugin on acute lung injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharide in mice. BALB/c mice received intraperitoneal injection of Prime-O-glucosylcimifugin 1h before intranasal instillation (i.n.) of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and interleukin (IL)-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pulmonary histological changes were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the lung tissue and lung wet/dry weight ratios were observed. Furthermore, the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway activation and the phosphorylation of IκBα protein were determined by Western blot analysis. Prime-O-glucosylcimifugin showed promising anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the activation of MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathway.

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Rabies is an acute viral infection of the central nervous system and is typically fatal in humans and animals; however, its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. In this study, the morphological changes of dendrites and dendritic spines in the CA1 region of the hippocampus were investigated in mice that were infected intracerebrally with an MRV strain of the street rabies virus. Haematoxylin and eosin and fluorescence staining analysis of brain sections from the infected mice showed very few morphological changes in the neuronal bodies and neuronal processes. However, we found a significant decrease in the number of dendritic spines. Primary neuronal cultures derived from the hippocampus of mice (embryonic day 16.5) that were infected with the virus also showed an obvious decrease in the number of dendritic spines. Furthermore, the decrease in the number of dendritic spines was related to the depolymerization of actin filaments (F-actin). We propose that the observed structural changes can partially explain the severe clinical disease that was found in experimental models of street rabies virus infections.

Background: Bone mass acquisition during growth is a major determinant of the risk of developing osteoporosis later in life. Body composition is an anthropometric determinant of bone mineral density (BMD) and significantly influences its development during childhood and adolescence. Objective: This study aimed to systematically examine the association between body composition and bone mineral density in children and adolescents. Methods: Observational studies addressing this association were identified from PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase, Scopus and the Cochrane Library (up to January 2021). The study populations consisted of healthy children and adolescents. The DerSimonian and Laird method was used to compute pooled estimates of effect size and the respective 95% confidence intervals for upper limbs, femoral neck (FN), lumbar spine (LS) and total body, respectively. Subgroup analyses were further performed based on age, sex and ethnicity. Results: Thirty-one published studies were eligible for inclusion in this systematic review and meta-analysis, including three longitudinal studies. The combined population from all the studies amounted to 21,393 (11,205 males and 10,188 females). The pooled estimates of the correlation coefficients for lean mass (LM) and BMD ranged from 0.53 to 0.74 (p < 0.050), and the pooled regression coefficients ranged from 0.23 to 0.79 for FN, LS and total body (p < 0.050). For fat mass (FM), the pooled correlation coefficients ranged from 0.10 to 0.50 (p < 0.050) and the pooled regression coefficient was only significant for FN BMD with a weak strength (pooled β = 0.07, p < 0.050). The pooled regression coefficients for body fat percentage (BF%) were between −0.54 and −0.04 (p < 0.050). The subgroup analysis revealed a stronger association in Asians than in Caucasians for LM and in males compared to females for BF% (p < 0.050). Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis supports a positive association between LM and BMD. BF% appears to have a deleterious effect on bone acquisition in children and adolescents.