In diet-induced obese mice, EPO is protective for white adipose tissue inflammation and gives rise to a gender specific response in weight control associated with white fat mass accumulation. Erythropoietin regulation of fat mass is masked in female mice due to estrogen production. EPOR is also expressed in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) and EPO administration in mice results in reduced bone independent of the increase in hematocrit. Concomitant reduction in bone marrow adipocytes and bone morphogenic protein suggests that high EPO inhibits adipogenesis and osteogenesis. These multi-tissue responses underscore the pleiotropic potential of the EPO response and may contribute to various physiological manifestations accompanying anemia or ischemic response and pharmacological uses of EPO. Copyright © 2020 Suresh, Rajvanshi and Noguchi.Background There is still an urgent clinical need to develop non-invasive diagnostic tests for early ischemic heart disease because, once angina occurs, it is too late. Hypocapnia has long been known to cause coronary artery vasoconstriction. Some new cardiology tests are accompanied by the claim that they must have potential diagnostic value if hypocapnia enhances their cardiac effects in healthy subjects. But no previous study has tested whether hypocapnia produces bigger cardiac effects in patients with angina than in healthy subjects. Methods Severe hypocapnia (a PetCO2 level of 20 mmHg) lasting >15 min was mechanically induced by facemask, while conscious and unmedicated, in 18 healthy subjects and in 10 patients with angina and angiographically confirmed coronary artery disease, awaiting by-pass surgery. Each participant was their own control in normocapnia (where CO2 was added to the inspirate) and the order of normocapnia and hypocapnia was randomized. Twelve lead electrocardiograms (ECG) were recorded and automated measurements were made on all ECG waveforms averaged over >120 beats. 2D echocardiography was also performed on healthy subjects. Results In the 18 healthy subjects, we confirm that severe hypocapnia (a mean PetCO2 of 20 ± 0 mmHg, P 0.05 vs. healthy controls) and did not induce angina. Its effects were no greater in patients who did not take β-blockers, or did not take organic nitrates, or had the worst Canadian Cardiovascular Society scores. Conclusion Non-invasive mechanical hyperventilation while awake and unmedicated is safe and acceptable, even to patients with angina. Using it to produce severe and prolonged hypocapnia alone does produce significant ECG changes in angina patients. https://www.selleckchem.com/ But its potential diagnostic value for identifying patients with coronary stenosis requires further evaluation. Copyright © 2020 Parkes, Sheppard, Barker, Ranasinghe, Senanayake, Clutton-Brock and Frenneaux.Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease, representing one of the most severe pathologies in developed countries. Based on a report of the World Health Organization (WHO), it affects about 300 million people worldwide. Few studies have analyzed the effects of daily life physical activity (PA) levels in patients with asthma moreover, little research has been carried out on PA levels in patients suffering from severe asthma (SA). This study aimed to investigate the PA levels in two groups of patients suffering from SA; in particular, this study analyzed the changes that occur in patients treated with biologic therapy (BT group) and patients who underwent traditional treatment (TT group) over 6 months. Moreover, this study represents a pilot study because, to the best of our knowledge, it is the first investigation that analyzed if the kind of biologic drug (omalizumab or mepolizumab) can produce differences in the PA levels of SA patients. Fifty SA patients were enrolled and PA parameters were monitored er studies are needed. Copyright © 2020 Carpagnano, Sessa, Scioscia, Lacedonia, Foschino, Venuti, Triggiani, Valenzano, Resta, Cibelli and Messina.Taohong Siwu decoction (THSWD) is a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription that is widely used in the clinical treatment of gynecological and cerebrovascular diseases. Here we used a method that coupled ultra-performance liquid chromatography to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) in which both positive and negative ion modes were established to investigate the major constituents in THSWD. A Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 μm) was used to separate the aqueous extract of THSWD. The mobile phase consisted of 0.1% aqueous formic acid (A) and acetonitrile (B). Ninety-five components were identified in two different ion modes, including aromatic acids, flavones, polysaccharides, volatile oils monoterpene glycosides, aromatic cyanogenic glycosides, and others. Pathological changes in tumors and serum expression of interleukin-4 in a mouse model of breast cancer were detected after THSWD treatment. The results showed that THSWD had obvious therapeutic effects. This study establishes a material basis for the use of THSWD in the treatment of breast cancer. Copyright © 2020 Duan, Pan, Bao and Peng.Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common and complex inflammatory lung syndrome with higher morbidity and mortality rate. Piceatannol (PIC) has anti-inflammation and anti-oxidant properties. The study was designed to explore the effect and the action mechanisms of PIC on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. Twenty-four hours after LPS challenge, mice from different treatment groups were euthanized, and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue samples were collected. Then the degree of pulmonary edema, lung pathological changes, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines were detected. Additionally, the messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions associated with cell adhesion molecules and tight junction were analyzed through quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR, and the TLR4/NF-κB activation was examined by western blot. The results showed that PIC significantly inhibited LPS-induced lung edema, histopathological damage, MPO activity, cell infiltration, and pro-inflammatory cytokines production.