This paper was aimed to analyze and study the process of Turmeric fine pulverizing; and the powder properties of Turmeric ultra-micro powder after the process. Based on d50, the powder properties of Turmeric ultra-micro powder were summarized by using orthogonal design to select the optimal Turmeric fine pulverizing. Compari-sons were made on powder properties, such as exterior characters, IR spectra, fluidity and hygroscopicity before and after fine pulverizing. The results showed that optimal fine pulverizing process was determined based on orthogonal design. The conditions were that the material was 1 200 g, with water of 5.5% and crushing for 40 min. Compari-son of powder properties of Turmeric powders before and after fine pulverizing showed that as the diameter of the particle decreased. Turmeric particle gradually showed signs of aggregation. At the same time, granular sensation disappeared;the color turned lighter;powder became finer;fluidity was reduced;balanced hygroscopic capacity el-evated. Although the chemical composition and molecular structure had not changed;initial velocity and capacity of hygroscopicity increased, acceleration declined. It was concluded that Turmeric fine pulverizing was a convenient, reliable and practical process, with small size of particle. It can be used for Turmeric fine pulverizing. The compre-hensive evaluation showed that ultrafine powder four as the optimum powder.

The hydrophilicity of the normal decoction pieces (NDP) of Indigo Naturalis is not good, therefore, it is not suit for decoctions. In this paper, powder modification technology is used and some NDP and alcohol are ground together in the vibromill to prepare the hydrophilic decoction pieces (HDP) of Indigo Naturalis. Initially, the properties of NDP, ultrafine decoction pieces (UDP) and HDP are compared, the hydrophilicity of UDP was promoted slightly, that of HDP is promoted dramatically. Then, three batches of Indigo Naturalis are prepared to HDP separately, but there is no obvious difference in the contact angle. Furthermore, the size distribution, surface area and micro-shape of HDP are bigger than that of UDP and smaller than NDP. The contents of indigo and indirubin in three decoction pieces are the same, as well as the species of inorganic substance, although there is a little difference in the proportion of five inorganic substances. The fact suggests the change of physical state and the qualitative and quantitative change of organism and inorganic substances are not the main factors to influence the hydrophilicity. In addition, hydroxyl, methylene and methyl can be identified at the wavenumber of 3 356 cm(-1) and 1 461 cm(-1) in infrared spectrum; the content of alcohol in HDP is 0.67% measured by gas chromatogram. The stability of HDP in the heating condition is studied, the fact suggests the hydrophilic effect of HDP at 40 degrees C is relatively stable. All above research suggests that the alcohol is the main factor to influence the hydrophilicity and maybe the intermolecular force which fixed alcohol molecule on the surface of Indigo Naturalis is the basic principle to produce the hydrophilicity.

Objective To investigate the changes of multifocal electroretinogram ( mf-ERG ) in patients with Parkinson′s disease.Methods Forty-five Parkinson′s disease patients ( 70 eyes ) and 35 normal controls (60 eyes) enrolled in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from February 2015 to February 2016 received mf-ERG examination and general ophthalmology examinations including best corrected vision acuity, slit-lamp test, fundus examination, intraocular pressure and vision field test. Results The amplitude density of P 1 wave in Parkinson′s disease patients was dramatically decreased in ring 1, ring 2 and ring 5 compared with the normal controls (amplitude density of P1 in ring 1:(100.58 ± 41.19) nV/deg2 vs (138.10 ±17.16) nV/deg2,t=5.086,P<0.01; amplitude density of P1 in ring 2:(21.93 ±7.46) nV/deg2 vs (37.56 ±9.39) nV/deg2, t=9.844, P<0.01; amplitude density of P1 in ring 5:(7.07 ±3.04) nV/deg2 vs (10.22 ±3.68) nV/deg2 ,t=4.924, P<0.01).The latency of P1 wave in ring 1, ring 3 in Parkinson′s disease patients was significantly higher than the control group (latency of P1 wave in ring 1:(42.72 ±8.09) ms vs (37.90 ±5.95) ms, t=-3.155, P<0.01;latency of P1 wave in ring 3:(41.20 ±7.63) ms vs (37.80 ±4.59) ms, t=-2.995, P<0.01).The implicit time of N1 wave in ring 1 in Parkinson′s disease patients was delayed , which had statistically significant difference compared with the normal controls ((21.92 ±7.87) ms vs (19.04 ±4.19) ms, t=-2.012, P=0.046).However, in the amplitude of N1 wave, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups . Conclusions The vision function has already decreased in Parkinson′s disease patients , even before the vision acuity is normal .The mf-ERG test can find the changes of vision function in Parkinson′s disease patients, which are the decrease of amplitude density of P 1 , the latency of implicit times of P 1 wave and N1 wave in some regions of the retina .

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the effects of sphingosine kinase l ( SphK1) and focal adhesion kinase ( FAK) on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition ( EMT) of human colon cancer HCT 116 cells.METHODS:Human colon cancer HCT116 cells were divided into 3 groups.N, N-dimethylsphingosine (DMS) was used to suppress the activity of SphK1. PF573228 was used to suppress the activation of FAK .The cells treated with equal volume of culture medium severed as control group.The cell viability was measured by MTT assay .The protein expression of SphK1, FAK and the EMT relative protein E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 was analyzed by Western blot.The mR-NA expression of SphK1, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), FAK, E-cadherin and vimentin was detected by real-time PCR. The ability of tumor cell migration was measured by wound-healing assay.RESULTS:The cell viability of HCT116 cells was suppressed by DMS and PF 573228 in dose and time dependent manners .DMS significantly suppressed the expression of SphK1, FAK, N-cadherin, vimentin and MMP2, meanwhile enhanced the expression of E-cadherin.PF573228 reduced the expression of FAK , SphK1, N-cadherin, vimentin and MMP2, meanwhile increased the expression of E-cadherin (P<0.01).In addition, the migration ability of HCT116 cells was significantly decreased by treating with DMS and PF573228 (P<0.01).Compared with control group , the mRNA expression of FAK, SphK1, S1P and vimentin was de-creased, while the expression of E-cadherin was increased significantly in PF573228 group and DMS group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:SphK1 and FAK signaling pathways may play an important role in the occurrence of EMT in the colon cancer HCT116 cells.

Objective To observe the macular morphology and circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) in Parkinson's disease (PD) evaluated by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods A total of 37 patients (74 eyes) with PD were in the PD group, 32 age-and sex-matched healthy subjects (64 eyes) in the control group. All subjects underwent SD-OCT examination with 5 line scanning, macular cube 512×128 scanning and optic disc volume 200×200 scanning. The retinal thickness, central foveal thickness (CFT), macular volume and thickness of circumpapillary, superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal of RNFL between two groups were comparatively analyzed. The relationship between SD-OCT parameters and age, disease duration, scores of Hoehn-Yahr and unified PD rating scale (UPDRS) in PD patients was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. Results Both of the retinal thickness and macular volume in PD group were significantly reduced than those in control group (t=?2.546,?3.410;P=0.012, 0.001). There was no difference of CFT (t=?0.463, P=0.644) and the thickness of circumpapillary (t=?1.645, P=0.102), superior (t=?0.775, P=0.439), inferior (t=?1.844, P=0.067), nasal (t=?0.344, P=0.732) and temporal (t=?0.541, P=0.590) of RNFL between two groups. The retinal thickness, macular volume, CFT and the thickness of circumpapillary, superior, inferior, nasal, temporal of RNFL had no relationship with age, disease duration and scores of Hoehn-Yahr and UPDRS in PD patients (P>0.05). Conclusions In PD patients, the retinal thickness and macular volume are decreased, however, the circumpapillary RNFL have no obvious alterations.

AIM To establish the quality standard for Tibeten medicine Ershiwuwei Feibing Pills [Inula racemosa Hook.f.,Swertia bimaculata (Sieb.et Zucc.) Hook.Thors.ex Clarke,Phyllanthus emblica Linn.,Terminalia billerica (Gaertn.) Roxb.,etc.].METHODS TLC was applied to the qualitative identification of L racemosa,S.bimaculata,P.emblica and T.billerica,and HPLC was adopted in the quantitative determination of alantolactone,oleanolic acid,gallic acid and hydroxysafflor yellow A.RESULTS The TLC spots were clear without negative interference.Alantolactone,oleanolic acid,gallic acid and hydroxysafflor yellow A showed good linear relationships within the ranges of 4.324-216.2 μg/mL (r =0.999 9),32.222-1 611.1 μg/mL (r =0.999 9),4.072-203.6 μg/mL (r =0.999 9) and 4.266-213.3 μg/mL (r =0.999 9),whose average recoveries (RSDs) were 100.6％ (0.93％),100.3％ (2.1％),101.5％ (3.0％) and 100.1％ (1.8％),respectively.CONCLUSION This simple method can be used for the rapid quality control of Ershiwuwei Feibing Pills.

Objective To observe the effect of mutant α-synuclein(A30P)in autophagic programmed cell death by transfected PC12 cells and explore its probable role and pathway in PD.Methods The definite PC12 cells which were transfected mutant α-synuclein(A30P)were constructed at first and MPP+,Rapamycin and Wortmanin were administrated to transfected PC12 cells with mutant α-synuclein. Not only the proliferative activity of cells was detected with MTT method but also the ultrastructttre changes of cells and expression of α-synuclein in different circumstance were observed by transmission electron microscopy(TEM),Western Blot and the level of SOD.Results (1)The expression of α-synuclein in groups A30P+Wortmannin and A30P+MPP+was higher than that in group A30P(P＜0.01), particularly.there was more significant expression of α-synuclein in group A30P+Wortmannin.The expression of α-synuclein in group A30P+Rapamycin was weaker than that in group A30P(P＜0.01); (2)The results showed that the SOD level(group A30P+MPP+:3 h:97.49±13.8;12 h:102.7±12.7; 24 h:101.5±11.8;48 h:104.3±12.4)was significantly decreased at various time points after MPP+ treatment compared that of group A30P(t=3.7721,P=0.0017).SOD level gradually increased in A30P +Rapamycin 12 h and showed significant difference at 24 h(121.2±13.0),48 h(124.3±14.1)and 72 h(127.7±13.7)after drug treatment compared with that in group A30P+Wortmannin(t:2.9746, P=0.0083);(3)Mutant α-synuclein(A30P)leading to PC12 cells death by means of autophagy involved α-synuclein accumulation,membrane lipid oxidation,and loss of plasma membrane integrity.Mutant α- synuclein(A30P)mediated the toxicity of MPP+.Rapamycin,an inducer of autophagy,reduced the aggregation of α-synuclein in transfected cells.Meanwhile,Wortmanin,an inhibitor of autophagy,promoted the aggregation of α-synuclein in transfected cells and induced cells to die.Conclusions The abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein induces autophagic programmed cell death in PC12 cells and mutant α-synuclein (A30P)mediates the toxicity of MPP+.Meanwhile,Rapamycin may reduce the aggregation of α-synuclein in transfeeted cells by activation of autophagic pathway.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mischief mechanism of oxidative stress in the varicocele (VC).

METHODSSerum was taken from the spermatic and peripheral veins on ligation of the internal spermatic veins in 28 infertile males with VC. Experimental VC was established in male rats by partial ligation of the left renal vein. And testis tissue was taken three months after operation. The nitric oxide(NO), nitric oxide synthetase (NOS), xanthine oxidase (XO), lactic acid(Lac) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in the serum of 28 infertile males with VC and the testis tissue of the VC rats were detected by spectrophotometry.

RESULTSNO, NOS, XO and Lac in the serum of internal spermatic veins in the infertile males with VC were significantly higher than in the serum of peripheral veins in the VC patients (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). LDH was lower than that in peripheral serum. NO and XO of the left testis tissue in the VC rats were higher compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Lac in the left testis of the VC rats was lower than that in the control group rats (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONNO, NOS and XO in the serum of the VC patients and in the testis tissues of the VC rats were increased, and Lac and LDH were changed obviously, which might not only disturb spermatogenesis, but also inhibit sperm motility. Therefore they might be one of the causes of infertility in VC patients.

Adult ; Animals ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; etiology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; analysis ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Varicocele ; complications ; metabolism ; Xanthine Oxidase ; analysis

In vitro evolution methods are often used to modify protein with improved characteristics. We developed a directed evolution protocol to enhance the thermostability of the beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase. The thermostability of the enzyme was significantly improved after two rounds of directed evolution. Three variants with higher thermostability were obtained. The mutant enzymes were further analyzed by their melting temperature, halftime and kinetic parameters. Comparing to intact enzyme, the T50 of mutant enzymes 2-JF-01, 2-JF-02 and 2-JF-03 were increased by 2.2 degrees C, 5.5 degrees C and 3.5 degrees C, respectively, the halftime (t1/2, 60 degrees C) of mutant enzymes 2-JF-01, 2-JF-02 and 2-JF-03 were shortened by 4,13 and 17 min, respectively, the V(max) of mutant enzymes were decreased by 8.3%, 2.6% and 10.6%, respectively, while K(m) of mutant enzymes were nearly unchanged. Sequence analysis revealed seven single amino acid mutant happened among three mutant enzymes, such as 2-JF-01 (N36S, G213R), 2-JF-02 (C86R, S115I, N150G) and 2-JF-03 (E156V, K105R). Homology-modeling showed that five of seven substituted amino acids were located on the surface of or in hole of protein. 42.8% of substituted amino acids were arginine, which indicated that arginine may play a role in the improvement of the thermostability of the beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase.This study provide some intresting results of the structural basis of the thermostability of beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase,and provide some new point of view in modifying enzyme for future industrial use.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacillus ; enzymology ; Directed Molecular Evolution ; Endo-1,3(4)-beta-Glucanase ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; genetics ; Enzyme Stability ; Hot Temperature ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; genetics

Objective To observe the nutritional status of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and investigate the influences of some non-motor symptoms in nutritional status. Methods One hundred and nineteen PD patients, admitted to our hospital from May 2016 to May 2017, and followed up for a long time, were chosen in our study. General clinical data, as age, gender, disease history, and Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) grading, were collected, and the nutritional status of the patients was evaluated by subject global assessment (SGA) and patient generated subject global assessment (PG-SGA). According to the PG-SGA results, groups of grading A (well-nourished status), grading B (moderately malnourished status), and grading C (severely malnourished status) were divided. The proportion of each type of symptoms appeared in each group was compared and the risk factors of malnutrition in PD patients were determined by Logistics regression analysis. Results Among the 119 PD patients, 86 (72.26％) were classified as grading A, 33 (27.73％) as grading B, and none as grading C. There were statistically significant differences in body mass, body mass index, PG-SGA total scores and H-Y grading between patients from grading A and grading B groups (P<0.05). Among the 82 grading A patients, the common symptoms were dry mouth (n=49, 56.98％), constipation (n=43, 50.00％) and abnormal taste (n=25, 29.07％); among the 33 grading B patients, the common symptoms were dry mouth (n=23, 69.70％), constipation (n=21, 63.64％) and abnormal taste (n=18, 52.90％); there were statistically significant differences in the frequencies of anorexia, abnormal taste or no taste, bad smell, early satiety, pain and dietary intake between patients from the two groups (P<0.05). Anorexia (OR=10.76, 95％CI:2.00-57.894, P=0.006), early satiety (OR=4.539, 95％CI: 1.633-11.491, P=0.003), and pain (OR=4.608, 95％CI: 1.038-20.452, P=0.045) were independent risk factors for malnutrition in PD patients. Conclusion PD patients are prone to malnutrition; when patients have anorexia, early satiety and pain symptoms, timely intervention should be given or nutritional support should be further strengthened.