One marine actinomycete strain FIM02-523 was isolated from marine soil in the East China Sea in Fujian Province. The fermentation broth of strain FIM02-523 exhibited potent antitumor activities. Strain FIM02-523 grew well on most media tested, the colonies were orange to dark brown but lacked aerial hy-phae, no diffusible pigments were observed. Phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, morphological analyses, physiological and biochemical characteristics demonstrated that strain FIM02-523 belong to the genus Mi-cromonospora, may be a strain of the type species Micromonospora chalcea.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of interference of riboflavin (RIB) metabolic pathways on adhesion and migration to cisplatin (DDP) in ovarian cancer HO8910 cells. METHODS: Intervention RIB metabolic pathways by lentiviral vector harboring shRNA of riboflavin transporter 2 (RFT2) and chlorpromazine (CHL), a competitive inhibitor of RIB. HO8910 ovarian cancer cell line was divided into normal control group, shRNA control group, RFT2 shRNA group, CHL (50 μmol·L-1) group, DDP (20 μmol·L-1) group, RFT2 shRNA+DDP group, CHL + DDP group and DDP + RIB (20 μmol·L-1) group. Each group cells were collected after treatment 48 h according to the design. And then cell adhesive abilities were detected by adhesion experiment, the cells invasive abilities were observed by transwell method, the protein expressions of VEGF, MMP9 and MMP2 were detected by Western blot, and the expressions of TNF-α, NF-κB/p65 were assayed with laser confocal microscopy. RESULTS: Compared with the sole DDP treatment group, RFT2 shRNA or CHL combination with DDP had great advantages in reducing cell adhesion and migration viabilities, deceasing expressions of MM9 and MMP2, reducing cell expressions of TNF-α and NF-κB/p65. However, the RIB could weaken the effects of DDP on HO8910 cell. CONCLUSION: Interference metabolic pathway of RIB can enhance DDP effects on adhesion and migration viabilities of ovarian cancer HO8910 cell lines, and the effects are associated with blocking the pathway of TNF-α/NF-κB; However, RIB could attenuate the anti-tumor effects of cisplatin on HO8910 cell.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of icariin (ICA) on autophagy and activation of HSC-T6 cell line induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and further research whether this effect is associated with FXR protein. METHODS: The HSC-T6 hepatic stellate cell was stimulated with LPS and then treated with ICA of three different doses and TLR4 siRNA. Autophagy changes were observed through the acridine orange (AO) and MDC staining, expression of Beclin-1 and LC3B were determined via laser scanning confocal microscopy, cell mitochondrial membrane potentials were detected using flow cytometry and the proteins of NF-κB (p65), LC3B-II, CollagenI, TGF-(β1, α-SMA were measured through Western blot. Furthermore, the ICA treatment group was intervened with Z-Gug-gulsterone(Z-Gug). The expressions of LC3B, Beclin-1 and FXR were measured through Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, LPS significantly increased autophagy, up-regulated expression of Beclin-1 and LC3B, decreased mitochondrial membrane protentials and increased expression of NF-κB(p65), LC3B-II, Collagen I, TGF-β1 and α-SMA. However, the effects of LPS on HSC-T6 could be partly inhibited by TLR4 siRNA and ICA in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, ICA increased expression of FXR and could be blocked by Z-Gug treatment. CONCLUSION: ICA ameliorated LPS/TLR4 can induce hepatic stellate cell activation by reduction autophagy and association with FXR protein.

The interaction between Gliotoxin and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied by the fluo-rescence, Circular Dichroism (CD) and ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) techniques. The fluorescent experiment showed that the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA was quenched by the binding of gliotoxin in a static quenching procedure, with an association constant of 7.2?103 L/mol and in hydropobic forces. And the CD spectrum revealed that gliotoxin effected the conformation of BSA by increased the mass of ?-helix.

Objective: To observe the therapeutic efficacy of acupoint application at different groups of acupoints in treating bronchial asthma in remission stage. Methods:A total of 120 patients with bronchial asthma in remission stage were recruited and divided by the random number table method into acupoint application group 1, acupoint application group 2 and acupoint application group 3, with 40 cases in each group. In all the three groups, Tiantu (CV 22), Dazhui (GV 14) and Feishu (BL 13) were selected, with Dingchuan (EX-B 1) added in acupoint application group 1, Shenshu (BL 23) added in acupoint application group 2, and Gaohuang (BL 43) added in acupoint application group 3. Before intervention, one month and 3 months after intervention, clinical symptoms, peak expiratory flow (PEF) andforced expiratory volume in 1 second percentage of predicted value (FEV1％) of the three groups were observed, and their clinical efficacies were evaluated. Results: Comparing the therapeutic efficacy regarding traditional Chinese medicine symptoms and signs, after 1-month treatment, the total effective rate was 87.5％ in acupoint application group 1, versus 62.5％ in acupoint application group 2 and 55.0％ in acupoint application group 3, and the between-group differences were statistically significant. After 3-month treatment, the total effective rate was 95.0％ in acupoint application group 1, versus 70.0％ in acupoint application group 2 and 65.0％ in acupoint application group 3, and the between-group differences were statistically significant. After intervention, the three groups all showed significant improvements in pulmonary function with statistical significance; among the three groups, the improvement in acupoint application group 1 was more significant than that in the other two groups. Conclusion: Tiantu (CV 22), Dazhui (GV 14) and Feishu (BL 13) as basic prescription plus Dingchuan (EX-B 1) can improve symptoms of bronchial asthma in remission stage, and it works better in improving pulmonary function than the basic prescription plus Shenshu (BL 23) or Gaohuang (BL 43).

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second major neurodegenerative disease.The pathogenesis of PI) is still unclear.It is generally believed that neural damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, oxidative stress and autophagy dysfunction caused by the transmission and aggregation of a- synuclein play an important role in the occurrence and development of PD.More and more research show- that metabolic disorder is one of the pathogenesis of PD.We examined whether overexpression of a- synuclein could induce metabolic disorder in mice and the possible mechanisms.Mice were divided into two groups: Thyl-aSYN transgenic mice (TG) and the control wild-type (WT) group.The rotarod test was used to analyze motor function in mice.We detected the body weight, plasma insulin content, glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance in the two group mice.The morphology of islets in the two groups were observed by hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining, and the islets were isolated to detect the glucose- stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS).The results showed that compared with the WT group, exercise tolerance of 12-month-old TG group decreased by 23.1% (P < 0.05) , body weight increased by 7% (P < 0.01), glucose tolerance decreased (P < 0.05), insulin tolerance decreased (P < 0.05), and insulin contents in the peripheral blood decreased by 20% (P < 0.05).Compared with the WT group, the levels of ce -syn proteins in the pancreas of the TG group increased by 1.32 times (P < 0.05) , the area of islets in the TG group decreased (P < 0.05 ) , the number of islets decreased (P < 0.01) , and the insulin secretion function decreased (P< 0.01).This study showed that the role of a-synuclein in PD is not limited to the damage of dopaminergic neurons, it also can affect metabolism and the morphology and function of peripheral organs, which provides a new theoretical basis for the pathogenesis of PD.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; diagnosis ; epidemiology

This study is to determine six chlorogenic acids (chlorogenic acid, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid) by quantitative analysis of multi-components with a single marker (QAMS). Chlorogeinc acid was used as internal reference to calculate the relative correction factors (RCF) of five compounds. Then the ruggedness of relative correction factors was tested on different instruments and columns. Meanwhile, a total of 4 batches of Lonicerae Flos and 20 batches of Lonicerae Flos extract with five different processing procedures were analyzed by external standard method (ESM) and QAMS, respectively. The ruggedness of relative correction factors was good. And the analytical results calculated by ESM and QAMS showed no difference. The quantitative method established was suitable for the quality evaluation of Lonicerae Flos extract.
Biomarkers ; analysis ; Chlorogenic Acid ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Lonicera ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of Astragalus on cardiac function and serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) level in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

METHODSForty-five patients of Xin-qi deficiency or Xin-yang deficiency types were assigned to the Chinese medicine (CM) group and the Western medicine (WM) group by a randomizing digital table. Standard treatment for correcting heart failure, including digoxin, diuretics, etc. was administered to both groups, but to the CM group oral medication of Astragalus granule was given additionally at the dosage of 2.25 g twice a day, the treatment for both was continued for two weeks. NYHA cardiac functional grading, serum TNF-alpha level, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and walk distance in 6 min (WD) were measured before and after treatment, and a correlation analysis was carried out.

RESULTSAfter therapy, the level of TNF-alpha in the two groups decreased (P < 0.05) and it was lower in the CM group [(54.77 +/- 9.34) microg/L] than in the WM group [(62.10 +/- 9.94) microg/L] (P < 0.05); LVEF in the two groups increased (P < 0.05) and it was higher in the CM group [(64.45 +/- 12.47)%] than that in the WM group [(56.03 +/- 13.33)%] (P < 0.05); both groups' WD increased (P < 0.05) and it was longer in the CM group [(446.97 +/- 68.82) m] than in the WM group [(345.40 +/- 63.62) m] (P < 0.05); the improvement of cardiac functional grading in the CM group was outstriper than the WM group (P < 0.05). The improvement in cardiac function was negatively correlated with TNF-alpha level.

CONCLUSIONAstragalus can alleviate the calcium overload-induced myocardial damage and improve both systolic and diastolic functions of heart in patients with CHF.

Aged ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Chronic Disease ; Coronary Disease ; complications ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Ventricular Function, Left ; drug effects ; physiology

Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Suppositories