AIM: To establish the method of determining procyanidin B2 content in grape seed extract by HPLC. METHODS: The determination was carried out with ZORBAX SB-C_ 18 column. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-2% acetate buffer under the gradient elution condition, detection wavelength was at 280nm. RESULTS: There was a good linear relationship between the peak area and concentration in the range of 1~30 ?g/mL for procyanidin B2. The average of procyanidin B2 (n=5) was 99.29% and RSD=1.64%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The method is simple, accurate, reproducible and can be used for assay of procyanidin B2.

A themostable intracellular β-galactosidase from a thermophilic Bacillus stearothermophilus was purified by a combination of (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, ion-exchange (DEAE-22)and gel filtration (Sephades G-75). The optimum temperature and pH of the enzyme acivity were 60Cand pH6.4 respectively. The β-galatosidase activity exhibited thermosttability at 50 C. The enzyme was significaantly activated by alkali and alkali-earth metal ions. The activity was inhibited by Zn2+ 、 Fe3+ 、 Cu2+Reducing agents enhanced β- galactosidase activity. Thiol-binding agents drastically decreased the enzyme activity. The enzyme was specific for β-D glycosidic linkages,and the identity of the aglycone moiety also influenced enzyme activity. At 55Cthe Km for O-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactosidase (ONPG)and lactose were 2. 63mmol/L and 4.39mmol/L, respectively,and Vmax for both substrates were 1.93 × 10-5mmol. min-1 mg-1protein6.54 ×105 mmol. min-1. mg-1protein,respectively. The enzyme was inhibited by glucose (the products of lactose hydrolysis,ki 2.47mmol/L),but not by galactose. In addition,the enzyme possessed transgalactosylation activity. Galacto-oligosaccharides,both tri- and tetrasaccharide,were involved in the products during lactose hydrolysi

Objective:To determine the effect of Hes1 on bone marrow CD34+cells in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Meth-ods:Bone marrow mononuclear cells were isolated by using Ficoll. Then, the proportion and cell cycle of CD34+cells were analyzed by using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). CD34+cells were cultured in vitro for colony-forming cells (CFC). The expression of Hes1 in CD34+cells was evaluated by using real-time polymerase chain reaction. After upregulating the expression of Hes1 in CD34+cells, the cell cycle was analyzed through FACS, and the colony formation of CD34+Hes1+cells was analyzed by CFC. Results:The ra-tio of CD34+cells in the bone marrow was lower in the AML group than in the control group. In addition, more CD34+cells underwent quiescence in the AML group than in the control group. In vitro assay showed that the colony formation of CD34+cells was lower in the AML group than in the control group. The expression of Hes1 was higher in the CD34+cells from the AML patients than that in the CD34+ cells from normal donors. After Hes1 transduction, more CD34+ cells underwent quiescence and showed weak proliferation. Conclusion:The proportion of CD34+cells in the bone marrow was lower in AML patients than in normal donors. A large proportion of CD34+cells underwent quiescence, which was related to Hes1, in AML patients.

A quality control (QC) strategy for quantitative and qualitative analysis of “common peaks” in chemical fingerprint was proposed to analyze Yuanhu Zhitong tablet (YZT), using high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector and tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS). The chromatographic separation was achieved on an Agilent Eclipse plus C18 column with a gradient elution using a mixture of 0.4‰ ammonium acetate aqueous (pH 6.0 adjusted with glacial acetic acid) and acetonitrile. In chemical fingerprint, 40 peaks were assigned as the “common peaks”. For quantification of “common peaks”, the detection wavelength was set at 254 nm, 270 nm, 280 nm and 345 nm, respectively. The method was validated and good results were obtained to simultaneously determine 10 analytes (protopine, jatrorrhizine, coptisine, palmatine, berberine, xanthotoxin, bergapten, tetrahydropalmatine, imperatorin and isoimperatorin). For qualification of “common peaks”, 33 compounds including 10 quantitative analytes were identified or tentatively characterized using LC-MS/MS. These results demonstrated that the present approach may be a powerful and useful tool to tackle the complex quality issue of YZT.

Objective: To observe the relations between the parameters of pulse graph of pregnant and pathological slippery pulse and the indexes of hemorheology.Methods: The pusle diagram parameters(MSAB,MSBC,HFF',HE/HB and TW) of left guan pulse were extracted by the best extraction method,and the indexes of hemorheology(low shear ?b,high shear ?b,?p,Lb and Hct) were tested.Results: Compared with the control group,MSBC and HFF'of the two slippery pulse groups increased,but HE/HB and TW decreased significantly(P

A themostable intracellular ? galactosidase from a thermophilic Bacillus stearothermophilus was purified by a combination of (NH 4) 2SO 4 fractionation,ion exchange (DEAE 22)and gel filtration (Sephades G 75).The optimum temperature and pH of the enzyme acivity were 60℃and pH6.4 respectively.The ? galatosidase activity exhibited thermosttability at 50 ℃.The enzyme was significaantly activated by alkali and alkali earth metal ions.The activity was inhibited by Zn 2+ 、 Fe 3+ 、 Cu 2+ Reducing agents enhanced ? galactosidase activity.Thiol binding agents drastically decreased the enzyme activity.The enzyme was specific for ? D glycosidic linkages,and the identity of the aglycone moiety also influenced enzyme activity.At 55℃the Km for O nitrophenyl ? D galactosidase(ONPG)and lactose were 2.63mmol/L and 4.39mmol/L, respectively,and Vmax for both substrates were 1.93?10 5 mmol.min 1 .mg 1 protein6.54?10 5 mmol.min 1 .mg 1 protein,respectively.The enzyme was inhibited by glucose (the products of lactose hydrolysis,ki 2.47mmol/L),but not by galactose.In addition,the enzyme possessed transgalactosylation activity.Galacto oligosaccharides,both tri and tetrasaccharide,were involved in the products during lactose hydrolysis.

Objective:To investigate effects of a novel synthetic immunostimulator CH1b containing thiazolidin-4-one on the immunoregulation funotion of iNKT ( invariant nature killer T ) cells in active RA patients in vitro.Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells( PBMCs) isolated from active RA patients were cultured with stimulation of α-Galcer and IL-2 in vitro and iNKT cells were then separated by using magnetic activated cell sorting( MACS) method with iNKT isolation kit.The cells were divided into three groups:control group (IL-2),α-Galcer group (IL-2+α-Galcer),CH1b group(IL-2 +CH1b).The effects of CH1b on the proliferation of iNKT cells in active RA patients were analyzed by using MTT assay.MILLIPLEX MAP Human Cytokine/Chemokine kit was used to evaluate the secretion of IFN-γand IL-4 in iNKT cells culture media.The expressions of IFN-γmRNA and IL-4 mRNA in iNKT cells were analyzed by RT-PCR.Results: Compared with control and α-Galcer group,the proliferation of iNKT cells of CH1b group were significantly higher( P<0.05).Compared with control,the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 in iNKT cells culture media in active RA patients of CH1b group were significantly lower (P<0.05).Compared with control,expressions of IFN-γmRNA and IL-4 mRNA were higher inα-Galcer group;compared with control,expressions of IL-4 mRNA were higher in CH1b group,while there were no obvious difference on expressions of IFN-γmRNA.Conclusion:CH1b was found to significantly stimulate the actived iNKT cells in active RA patients proliferation,promote the secretion of IL-4,and increase the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4,promote the expression of IL-4 mRNA in iNKT cells in active patients.

Objective To investigate the alterations of invariant nature killer T( iNKT) cells in peripheral blood samples from patients with rheumatoid arthritis ( RA) and to clarify the correlation between the percentage of iNKT cells and the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 in order to further understand the significance of iNKT cells in the development of RA.Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMCs) were isola-ted from 70 patients with RA and 40 healthy subjects.Among them, thirty patients in the stage of inactive RA were involved in a follow-up study.Fluorescence activated cell sorting ( FACS) was used to detect the percentage of iNKT cells.PBMCs were cultured in vitro for analysis of cytokine production.The dynamic changes of iNKT cells in percentages were analyzed by FACS.MILLIPLEX MAP Human Cytokine/Chemo-kine kit was used to measure the secretion of IFN-γand IL-4 in serum samples and culture media of PBMCs. The expression of IFN-γand IL-4 in iNKT cells at mRNA level were analyzed by RT-PCR.Results Com-pared with the healthy subjects, the patients with active RA showed the delayed proliferation of iNKT cells and the decreased percentages and proliferation rates of iNKT cells (P<0.05).The percentages and prolif-eration rates of iNKT cells in patients with active RA were significantly lower than those in patients with inac-tive RA (P<0.05).No statistical significant differences with iNKT cells were found between healthy sub-jects and patients with inactive RA (P>0.05).The ratios of IFN-γ/IL-4 in serum samples and culture media of PBMCs were increased in patients with active RA as compared with those in patients with inactive RA and healthy subjects (P<0.05).No statistical significant differences with the ratios of IFN-γ/IL-4 were observed between healthy subjects and patients with inactive RA (P>0.05).Compared with healthy subjects and patients with inactive RA, patients with active RA showed increased transcriptional level of IFN-γand decreased transcriptional level of IL-4.No significant differences with the expression of IFN-γand IL-4 in iNKT cells at mRNA level were observed between healthy subjects and patients with inactive RA.The per-centage of iNKT cells was negatively related to the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio in patients with RA (P<0.05).Con-clusion Decreased percentage and impaired function of iNKT cells were detected in patients with RA. iNKT cells were closely related to the development and disease activity of RA.

Objective To explore the effects of C-pseudonucleosides bearing thiazolidin-4-one as immunostimulants on differentiation and activation of human lymphocytes. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from healthy adults,and then incubated with immunostimulants (CH1a,CH2a,CH1b,CH2b and pidotimod).After 48 h,we collected the supernatants and then detected the concentrations of IL-2,IL-4 and IFN-γ using ELISA.After 72 h,the proliferation was detected using MTT method.PBMC incubated with immunostimulants (CH1a,CH2a,CH1b,CH2b and pidotimod),after 72 h,the cultural cells were collected and CD expressions of lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry.Results All samples could stimulate proliferation of T cells.Immunostimulants CH1a,CH2a and pidotimod could elevate the expressions of CD3,CD4,CD19 and CD16CD56,and stimulate the secretions of IL-2 and IFN-γ. Immunostimulants CH1b and CH2b could elevate the expressions of CD3,CD4,CD19 and CD16CD56,and stimulate the secretions of IL-2 and IL-4. Conclusion Immunostimulants CH1a and CH2a could differentiate Th0 into Th1 and promote the proliferation of B cells as well as NK cells.However,immunostimulants CH1b and CH2b could differentiate Th0 into Th2 and promote the proliferation of B cells and NK cells.

Objective To investigate the effects of a novel synthetic immunostimulator CH2b containing thiazolidin-4-one on the function of invariant nature killer T (iNKT) cells isolated from patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from patients with active RA were in vitro cultured with α-Galcer and IL-2.The iNKT cells were separated by using magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) method.The effects of CH2b on the proliferation of iNKT cells were analyzed by using MTT assay.MILLIPLEX MAP Human Cytokine/Chemokine kit was used to measure the levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in the supernatants of iNKT cell culture.The expressions of IFN-γand IL-4 at mRNA level in iNKT cells were analyzed by RT-PCR.Western blot assay was used to detect the levels of T-bet and GATA-3 in iNKT cells.Results CH2b significantly enhanced the proliferation of IL-2 activated iNKT cells isolated from the patients with active RA.CH2b promoted the secretion of IL-4,resulting in a decrease in the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4.Moreover,CH2b promoted the expressions of GATA-3 and IL-4 at mRNA level in iNKT cells.Conclusion The novel immunostimulator,CH2b,might enhance the immunoregulatory effects of iNKT cells by promoting the GATA-3 pathway-mediated secretion of Th2-1ike cytokines and inducing the differentiation of Th0 to Th2 cells.