This study evaluated the potential beneficial effect of Moutan Cortex Radicis (MCR) in a murine model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-, D-galactosamine (GalN)- and α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced liver injury. Acute hepatotoxicity was induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 (10 µL/kg), GalN (700 mg/kg), and ANIT (40 mg/kg). Animals received MCR (30, 100, and 300 mg/kg ) orally at 48, 24, and 2 h before and 6 h after administration of CCl4, GalN, and ANIT. Serum activities of aminotransferase were significantly higher at 24 h after CCl4 or GalN treatment. These changes were attenuated by MCR. Histopathological analysis revealed multiple and extensive areas of portal inflammation, hepatocellular necrosis, and an increase in inflammatory cell infiltration. These changes were inhibited by MCR. Serum total bilirubin concentration increased and bile flow decreased significantly 48 h after ANIT treatment, which was attenuated by MCR. Our results suggest that MCR has a protective effect on acute liver injury.

This study evaluated the influence of tobacco Possession-Use-Purchase (PUP) law enforcement and illicit drug use and offers. Twenty-four towns were randomly assigned into two conditions. Both conditions focused on reducing minors’ access to commercial sources of tobacco. The communities assigned to the experimental condition also increased their PUP law enforcement, whereas among communities in the control condition, PUP law enforcement remained at low levels. A Hierarchical Linear Modeling analytical approach was selected due to the multilevel data and nested design. The likelihood of a child currently using drugs, ever having used drugs, or illicit drug offers was lower in the experimental versus control conditions. These outcomes suggest that police efforts to reduce specific substance use behaviors (i.e., underage tobacco use) may have a positive spillover effect and help reduce teen drug use and illicit drug offers.