Compared with staples following cesarean delivery, subcuticular sutures are associated with decreased risk of wound complications and better long-term cosmetic outcome, but slightly prolong duration of surgery.

1. Radix astragali and puerarin are always used together for cardiovascular disease in China clinics. 2. This study investigates the effects of astragaloside IV (AS-IV, the main components of radix astragali) on the pharmacokinetics of puerarin in rats. 3. The pharmacokinetics of orally administered puerarin (50 mg/kg) with or without AS-IV pretreatment (100 mg/kg/day for 7 days) were investigated. The plasma concentration of puerarin was determined using LC-MS/MS method, and the pharmacokinetics profiles were calculated and compared. Caco-2 cell transwell model was also used to investigate the effects of AS-IV on the transport pf puerarin. 4. The results showed that when the rats were pretreated with AS-IV, the maximum concentration (C) of puerarin decreased from 760 to 467 ng/mL (P < 0.05, n = 6, 90%CI, 293 ± 61.28), and the area under the concentration-time curve from zero to infinity (AUC) also decreased from 4097 to 2330 μg·h/L (P < 0.05, n = 6). The oral clearance of puerarin increased significantly from 11.9 to 22.4 L/h/kg (P < 0.05, n = 6). The Caco-2 cell transwell experiments indicated that AS-IV could increase the efflux ratio of puerarin from 1.81 to 2.79 through inducing the activity of P-gp. 5. In conclusion, these results indicated that AS-IV could affect the pharmacokinetics of puerarin, possibly by decreasing the systemic exposure of puerarin by inducing the activity of P-gp.

Background Sepsis is a severe medical condition. Approximately 0.75 million people are diagnosed with sepsis in the USA annually. Several of anti-inflammatory drugs are used to manage sepsis, but with a very low success rate. This study examined the possible protective effects of a naturally occurring flavanone, quercetin, in a rat model of sepsis. Material/Methods The study was carried out using Wistar albino rats. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture methods. Histological analysis was performed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were determined by flow cytometery. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities were determined by standard assays. Protein expression was determined by Western blot analysis. Results The results showed that quercetin reduced the tissue edema, congestion, and hemorrhage, increased the alveolar volume, and helped to maintain the lung anatomy of septic rats. Admistration of quercetin at the dosage of 15 and 20 mg/kg to septic rats caused significant reduction in the ROS levels. The activities and the expression of SOD, CAT, and APX were significantly decreased upon administration of quercetin in the septic rats at the dosage of 15 and 20 mg/kg. The effects of quercetin were also examined on the expression of the High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein in septic rats. The results showed that quercetin caused a significant decrease in HMGB1 protein levels. Conclusions The findings of this study suggest that quercetin has therapeutic potential in the treatment of sepsis.

Background Sepsis is a devastating medical condition. In the USA, about 745 000 people are diagnosed with sepsis annually. Although many anti-inflammatory drugs have been used to manage sepsis, the treatment success rate is very low. This study was undertaken to examine the protective effects of naringenin on sepsis-induced kidney injury in rats. Material/Methods Sepsis was induced in Wistar albino rats by cecal ligation and puncture methods. Histological analysis was performed with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were determined by flow cytometery. TUNEL assay was used to demonstrate apoptosis. Sandwich ELISA method was used for the determination of urinary angiotensinogen, and protein expression was determined by Western blot analysis. Results We found that naringenin decreased atrophy in the glomerulus and enabled maintenance of the capsule area and normal tubular cavity of the septic rats. Admistration of naringenin at the dosage of 10 and 20 mg/kg to sepsis rats caused significant reduction in the sepsis-induced apoptosis of kidney cells, accompanied by decrease in Bax and increase in Bcl-2 expression. Moreover, naringenin also decreased the ROS levels in septic rats and downregulated the expression of SOD, CAT, and APX. The effects of naringenin were also examined on the levels of urinary angiotensinogen in sepsis rats. We found that naringenin caused a significant decrease in urinary angiotensinogen levels of septic rats. Conclusions Naringenin appears to have potential in the treatment of sepsis.

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