ABSTRACT Purpose: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a major public health problem and cause of death. Ulinastatin (UTI), a serine protease inhibitor, has been reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect and play a role in immunoregulation and organ protection by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, oxidative stress and inflammation. However, the neuroprotective of UTI in TBI has not been confirmed. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the neuroprotection and potential molecular mechanisms of UTI in TBI-induced EBI in a C57BL/6 mouse model. Methods: The neurological score and brain water content were evaluated. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect neuroinflammatory cytokine levels, ROS and malondialdehyde detection to evaluate oxidative stress levels, and TUNEL staining and western blotting to examine neuronal damages and their related mechanisms. Results: Treatment with UTI markedly increased the neurological score; alleviated brain oedema; decreased the inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor a, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6 and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) levels; inhibited oxidative stress; decreased caspase-3 and Bax protein expressions; and increased the Bcl-2 levels, indicating that UTI-mediated inhibition of neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis ameliorated neuronal death after TBI. The neuroprotective capacity of UTI is partly dependent on the TLR4/NF-kB/p65 signalling pathway. Conclusions: Therefore, this study reveals that UTI improves neurological outcomes in mice and reduces neuronal death by protecting against neural neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Abstract The ingredients in fruit and vegetable enzymes are not only medicine and food for relieving constipation but also rich in dietary fiber. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of panax notoginseng stem, leaf tea combined with panaxnotoginseng fruit, vegetable enzyme, and probiotic powder for functional constipation. Patients with functional constipation had been recruited and been randomly divided into the lactulose intervention group and probiotic intervention group. In the probiotic intervention group, patients received panaxnotoginseng stem and leaf tea + Panaxnotoginseng fruit and vegetable enzyme+probiotic powder, once a day. In the lactulose intervention group, patients received normal drug treatment for 2 weeks. Both probiotics intervention and lactulose intervention can improve the fecal quality of patients with constipation. Probiotics group can lead to an increase in the proportion of diarrhea in patients with constipation. Both probiotics and lactulose can significantly increase the levels of blood SP and GAS and decrease the level of MTL in patients with constipation. Both probiotics intervention and lactulose intervention can improve the quality of life of patients with constipation and the fecal quality of patients with constipation. Probiotics group can lead to an increase in the proportion of diarrhea in patients with constipation.