Background The main mechanism of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the formation of retinal neovascularization. Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) is primarily factor for DR. Objective The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of angelicae sinensis decoction for supplementing blood ( ASD), a kind of traditional prescription of Chinese herbal medicine, on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in vitreous and serum of STZ-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods Thirty-four SPF male SD rats were fed using high fat diet for 8 weeks and then the streptozocin of 25 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected to create the type 2 diabetic models. ASD (3.6 g/kg) and 10 mg/kg Gli of 5 mi were administered intragastrically from the 4th day of high fat die though 8 weeks respectively. Other 10 matched rats were used as normal control group. The body weight, blood glucose level ,triglycerides (TG) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were detected in 4 and 8 weeks after usage of drug. The vitreous and serum samples were obtained in the 8 th weeks for the VEGF detection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This experiment comlied with the Regulations for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission. Results The body weight and HDL in DM group were significantly lower than those of normal control group in 4 or 8 weeks ( P＜0. 01 ), but in ASD and Gli groups ,the body weight and HDL were higher than those of the DM group (P＜0. 05 ). the blood glucose level and TG were elevated in DM group compared with normal control group (P＜0. 01 ), but those in ASD group and Gli group were decreased in comparison with DM group ( P＜0.05 ). EIISA revealed that no significant differences were found in VEGF levels between normal control group and ASD group or Gli group (P＞0. 05 ), but in DM group, the serum VEGF level (147.65±4. 55 ng/L) was reduced and vitreous VEGF level (673.45± 100. 85 ng/L) was raised,showing the considerable differences (P＜ 0.05 ). No any correlation was found between serum VEGF level and vitreous VEGF level (r=0.314,P＞0. 05). Conclusion ASD can decrease the VEGF level in vitreous,implying that ASD postpone the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy in DM rat.

Content of osteocyte in bone tissue is the most abundant, the most widely distributed, and embedding the cells in the mineralized bone matrix, the life can be close to the life of the body. Osteocyte formed by the cytoplasm dendritic communication network system between osteocyte and bone surface, is of great significance to maintaining the normal physiological function of bone tissue. Bone cells as the direct receptor of bone mechanical stress, through the release of bioactive factors such as PEG2, NO, ATP and classic Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway mechanical stress signal can be converted to bone formation and bone resorption of biochemical signals, and the biochemical signals were transfer to the other type cells of the tissue to regulate its function activities and cause bone reconstruction function. The microcracks surrounding osteocyte can disrupt the microtubule network system,cause surrounding osteocyte autophagy. In addition, osteocyte is very important for regulation of the body mineral balance, fat metabolism, and hematopoietic function.
Animals ; Autophagy ; Hematopoiesis ; Humans ; Minerals ; metabolism ; Osteocytes ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Stress, Mechanical

Objective To investigate the correlation between specific features on contrast-enhanced CT and its clinical findings of adrenal tuberculosis so as to improve the diagnostic accuracy of the disease. Methods Contrast-enhanced CT features in 30 patients with documented adrenal tuberculosis were retrospectively evaluated blindly for the features of location,size,morphology,attenuation and enhancement patterns on CT images,and compared with clinical and pathological materials.Results The common CT manifestations were as follows:enlargement of the adrenal glands in all 30 cases(bilateral 90%,mfilateral 10%)including mass-like enlargement in 13 cases and enlargement but the contours preserved in 17 cases, heterogeneity(28 cases,93.3%),calcification(17 cases,56.7%),and low attenuation in the center with peripheral enhancement(16 cases,53.3%)of the lesions.After antituberculosis chemotherapy, 5 cases of enlarged adrenal glands decreased in size or returned to normal size and configuration,with disappearance of the central low attenuation and new appearance of dot-like calcification in 2 cases.Cochran Armitage trend test showed there was an increasing tendency of calcification rate with clinical duration(X~2= 7.47,P

italic>Bupleurum L. (Apiaceae) is an economically important genus, in which many species are of medicinal value. In this study, the complete plastid genomes (plastomes) of B. chinense DC. and B. boissieuanum H. Wolff were sequenced and their characteristics were investigated. Comparative and phylogenetic analyses were conducted with other published Bupleurum plastomes. The complete plastomes of B. chinense and B. boissieuanum were 155 458 and 155 800 bp in length, and both exhibited the typical quadripartite circular structure consisting of a large single copy region (LSC, 85 343 and 85 804 bp), a small single copy region (SSC, 17 495 and 17 410 bp), and a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRa/b, 26 310 and 26 293 bp), respectively. A total of 129 genes, including 84 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and eight ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes were identified from each of the two plastomes. Repeat sequences detected were similar in types and distribution patterns, but the numbers were slightly different. Comparative analyses revealed that the Bupleurum plastomes were highly conserved in length, structure, the guanine and cytosine (GC) content, and gene content and order, both intraspecifically and interspecifically, and no obvious expansion or contraction of the inverted repeat regions occurred. Sequence variation was lower within the same species than among different species, noncoding sequences (including intergenic regions and introns) showed a higher divergence than the protein-coding sequences, and sequences in the LSC and SSC regions were more divergent than those in the IR regions. In addition, 11 sequences with higher nucleotide diversity among species were detected in the LSC and SSC regions. All studied Bupleurum species were inferred forming a monophyletic group with a 100% bootstrap value. Bupleurum chinense and B. boissieuanum were phylogenetically closest to B. commelynoideum and B. falcatum, separately, with all three B. chinense accessions clustered into a distinct clade. These results provide genetic information for further species identification, phylogenetic resolution, and will assist in exploration and utilization of medicinal Bupleurum species.

AIMTo investigate the possibility of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) as a carrier for the delivery of macromolecular.

METHODSInsulin-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (INS-PLGA-NPs) was prepared by a double-emulsion solvent evaporation method. The size distribution was examined by photo-correlation spectrometry. The entrapment efficiency was determined by HPLC and important factors that affected the entrapment efficiency were investigated. The loading mechanism of different size nanoparticles was assayed by radioimmunoassay (RIA). INS-PLGA-NPs release behavior in vitro was carried out under sink condition. After oral administration of the nanoparticles to alloxan-induced diabetic rats, its glucose level was determined by glucose oxidize method and the oral pharmacological bioavailability in contrast to s.c. of insulin solution was calculated according to the area over the curve.

RESULTSThe INS-PLGA-NPs was prepared with poloxamer 188 as a emulsifier, the mean diameter was 149.6 nm and the polydispersity index was decreased to 0.09. While the entrapment efficiency was increased to 42.8%. Most of the insulin loaded was adsorbed on the surface of the nanoparticles. The release behavior in vitro showed an initial burst effect followed by a slower rate stage. After oral administration of 10 u.kg-1 INS-PLGA-NPs, the plasma glucose level decreased significantly after 4 h (P < 0.05), 10 h later the glucose level decreased to the lowest (52.4% +/- 10.2%, P < 0.01) and the relative pharmacological bioavailability is (10.3 +/- 0.8)%.

CONCLUSIONPLGA-NPs might be used as a new oral carrier for protein drug delivery systems in the future.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Biological Availability ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; blood ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Emulsions ; Glycolates ; chemistry ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Insulin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Lactic Acid ; Male ; Nanotechnology ; Particle Size ; Poloxamer ; Polyglycolic Acid ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Base Sequence ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sequence Deletion ; Smoking ; genetics

AIM To study the phenols from Plantaginis Semen.METHODS The 65％ and 95％ ethanol extracts of Plantaginis Semen were isolated and purified by macroporous resin,silica,ODS,Sephadex and preparative column,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.RESULTS Nine compounds were isolated and identified as (+)-(7R,7'R,8S,8'S)-neo-olivil (1),erythro-guaiacylglycerol-β-ferulic acid ether (2),eriodictyol (3),luteolin (4),chrysoeriol (5),hydroxytyrosol (6),4-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-(E)-3-buten-2-one (7),ferulic acid (8),5,7-dihydroxychromone (9).CONCLUSION Compounds 2-3,6-7 and 9 are isolated from genus Plantago for the first time,compound 5 is first obtained from this plant.

OBJECTIVETo study the inhibitory effect of flavonoids from Glycyrrhiza uralensis on thioacetamide-induced chonic hepatic fibrosis in rats and the effect on the protein expressions of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and Caspase-3 in livers.

METHODMale Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into totally seven groups: the normal control group, the model group, LF groups s (400, 200, 100, 50 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1)) and the silymarin positive control group (30 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1)). The hepatic fibrosis model was induced in the rats through intraperitoneal injection with 3% thioacetamide (TAA) at a dose of 150 mg · kg(-1) body weight twice a week for 12 weeks. During the course, the control group and the model group were orally administered with saline (1 mL · kg(-1) · d(-1)). After the modeling and drug intervention, the pathologic changes and fibrosis in liver tissues were observed by HE staining and Masson's Trichrome staining. The serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and liver hydroxyproline (HYP) contents were assayed by biochemical process. The serum hyaluronic acid (HA) was assessed by radioimmunoassay. In addition, the protein expressions of liver TGF-β1 and Caspase-3 were examined by immunohistochemical method. The mRNA expression of TGF-β1 in hepatic tissues was examined by quantitative Real-time PCR analysis.

RESULTCompared with the model group, flavonoids can protect the integrity of the structure of liver tissues, significantly reduce the hepatic cell degeneration and necrosis and the proliferation of fibrous tissues, notably reduce the serum AST, ALT, ALP and HA and HYP in hepatic tissues and down-regulate the protein expressions of liver TGF-β1 and Caspase-3 and the mRNA expression of TGF-β1 in hepatic tissues.

CONCLUSIONThe licorice flavonoids can resist the thioacetamide-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. Its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of the protein expressions of TGF-β1 and Caspase-3.

Animals ; Caspase 3 ; analysis ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; Hyaluronic Acid ; blood ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thioacetamide ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; analysis ; genetics

The expression vectors of the gene encoding ScFv-2F3 were transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3). Clones of higher expression were first selected, then were grown in the presence of IPTG at 37 degrees C to induce its expression. The culture conditions were carefully optimized. It was found that optimal conditions were as follows: the induction was started as OD590 reached to 1.0-1.8; the concentration of IPTG was 0.3-0.5 mmol/L and induction time is 7 h. The yield of ScFv-2F3 expressed in the selected clones is about 20% of the total proteins. The optimal culture conditions were successfully applied to fermenter of 50 L. The conditions of washing the inclusion bodies were also optimized. A two-step method was used to renature the inclusion body. The expression product of interest and its biological activities were characterized with Western blotting and ELISA. A novel selenium-containing single-chain abzyme with GPX activity was prepared.
Antibodies, Catalytic ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Bioreactors ; microbiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; Gene Expression ; Immunoglobulin Fragments ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Inclusion Bodies ; metabolism ; Protein Folding ; Protein Renaturation ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Selenium ; metabolism

This study aims to clarify out the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Qingfei Xiaoyan Wan. Chemical constituents of Qingfei Xiaoyan Wan identified by UPLC Q-TOF, were submit to Molinspiration, PharmMapper and KEGG bioinformatics softwares for predicting their absorption parameters, target proteins and related pathways respectively; and the gene chip and real time-PCR were carried out to investigate the expression of inflammatory genes on lung tissue of guinea pigs or human bronchial epithelial cell lines. The predicted results showed that 19 of the 24 absorbable constituents affected at 9 inflammation-related pathways through 11 protein targets; Qingfei Xiaoyan Wan treatment can significantly reduce the infiltration of cytokines through ERK1 gene and 5 inflammatory pathways (Focal adhesion, Fc epsilon RI, Toll-like receptors, NK cell-mediated cytotoxic, and ERK/MAPK). The results of real time-PCR further confirmed that the anti-inflammatory effects of Qingfei Xiaoyan Wan were due to active ingredients such as arctigenin, cholic acid and sinapic acid intervened focal adhesion, Fc epsilon RI signaling and ERK/MAPK pathways. The novel approach of 'drug-target-pathway' will present an effective strategy for the study of traditional Chinese medicines.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Asthma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line ; Cholic Acid ; pharmacology ; Coumaric Acids ; pharmacology ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; Female ; Furans ; pharmacology ; Guinea Pigs ; Humans ; Inflammation ; metabolism ; Lignans ; pharmacology ; Lung ; pathology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Receptors, IgE ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptors ; metabolism