Objective:To study the inhibition of collagen-induced arthritis by an altered CⅡ263-272 peptide(sub268-270) with three consecutive substitutions of TCR-contacting residues.Methods:Arthritis was induced by bovine collagen type Ⅱ. The altered peptide sub268-270 was given intravenously with a dose of 90 ?g once a week. Peptide control and blank control were treated with similar approaches. The therapeutic effect of the altered peptide was evaluated by arthritis score index, radiological score and pathological score.Results:The arthritis score of rats treated with altered peptide, control peptide and blank control were 5.60?1.24, 11.20?1.21 and 11.80?1.22 respectively(P

Cardiovascular Diseases ; etiology ; Diet ; Glycemic Index ; Humans

Asphyxia Neonatorum ; blood ; drug therapy ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Naltrexone ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood

Objective To investigate the mRNA expression of UPA and MMP-9 in gastric carcinoma and their correlation with histological type, growth-type, differentiation, vessel invasion, metastasis and prognosis. MethodsIn situ hybridization was used to detect the mRNA expression of UPA and MMP-9. ResultsIn situ hybridization revealed that among 105 cases, the positive rates of UPA mRNA and MMP-9 mRNA were both 58.1%. There was no significant relationship between UPA mRNA and histological type( r _ s = 0.123, P =0.210)and differentiation ( r _ s =0.102, P =0.298)of the tumor. However, there was a significant difference between growth-type( r _ s =0.344, P =0.001),tumor invasion depth( r _ s =0.296, P =0.002),vessel invasion( r _ s =0.198, P =0.042),lymph node( r _ s =0.332, P =0.001)and distant metastasis( r _ s =0.530, P =0.001);there was no significant relationship between MMP-9 mRNA staining and histological type( r _ s =0.143, P =0.145)and differentiation( r _ s =0.102, P =0.298)of the tumor. However, there was a statistically significant difference between growth-type( r _ s =0.267, P =0.006),tumor invasion depth ( r _ s =0.335, P =0.001)、vessel invasion( r _ s =0.209, P =0.032),lymph node( r _ s =0.343, P =0.001)and distant metastasis( r _ s =0.468, P =0.001);There was a positive relationship between UPA mRNA and MMP-9 mRNA expression( r _ s =0.237, P =0.015). The mean survival time in cases with positive UPA mRNA and MMP-9 mRNA expression were significantly shorter than that of cases with negative expression. ConclusionThe mRNA expression of UPA and MMP-9 can predict the invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma, They can be used as markers of prognosis of gastric carcinoma in clinical practice.

Objective:To develop a catalytic system for the asymmetric Morita-Baylis-Hillman ( MBH) reaction of conjugated ni-troalkene with activated aldehyde, and screen out the chiral catalysts with high activity and enantioselectivity. Methods: Totally 21 chiral organocatalysts were applied in the asymmetric MBH reaction ofβ-nitrostyrene with ethyl glyoxylate, and the ee value was deter-mined by chiral HPLC. The effects of temperature, solvent and substrate ratio on the catalytic reaction were investigated. Results: In the presence of cinchona alkaloid catalyst (DHQ)2AQN, β-nitrostyrene reacted with ethyl glyoxylate in toluene at 0℃ affording the MBH adduct in 60% yield with good enantioselectivity (up to 56.9% ee). Conclusion: The bis-cinchona alkaloids with aromatic bridging group are the efficient catalysts for the asymmetric MBH reaction ofβ-nitrostyrene with ethyl glyoxylate, and moderate isolated yield and enantioselectivity are obtained.

Many species of genus Bupleurum L. have been pharmaceutically used mainly in Asia and Europe for thousand years. Their roots are the most popular ingredients in Chinese materia medica prescriptions for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and auto-immune diseases. A plenty of chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from the species in Bupleurum L., such as saikosaponins, polysaccharides, volatile oils, flavonoids, polyacetylenes, lignins, and coumarins, most of which possess a variety of biological activities, especially for the hepatoprotective effect, antitumor activity, immunoregulation, and febrifuge efficacy. Therefore, the species in genus Bupleurum L. could be potential herbs of immunomodulator, antineoplastic, anti-oxidant, etc. Meanwhile, as potential toxicities have been discovered in some constituents, it is urgent to establish a comprehensive quality evaluation system to ensure the safety and efficiency of herbs. This paper reviews on the phytochemical and pharmacological studies, especially for the toxicology and quality control of the species in Bupleurum L., which is a reference for the species in this genus for safe usage and further development. © 2013 Tianjin Press of Chinese Herbal Medicines.

Animal models with kidney disease are generally divided into two types. One belongs to the models which imitate human kidney disease by the artificial operations, such as anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody nephritis, Heymann nephritis, anti-Thyl. 1 antibody nephritis, BSA nephritis and puromycin nephropathy. The other one pertains to the models which make themselves kidney disease, and appear the pathological characteristics naturally as like as human, such as HIGA mice with IgA nephropathy and NZB/WF1 and MRL/1pr mice with lupus nephritis. In addition,the transgenic animal models with kidney disease can also be established by the modern molecular biologic techniques including gene knockout and siRNA transfection. As for the studies related with kidney disease in pharmacodynamics and pharmacology of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), it is important to understand deeply the features of each animal model with kidney disease, and select accurately the proper models according to the different experimental objectives, and then, build the special models provided with the combination of disease with syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Therefore,it is the developmental direction for the further study to establish animal models with kidney disease, which should possess the characteristics of syndrome in TCM.
Animals ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; etiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Streptozocin

In order to investigate the comprehensive quality differences of the seeds harvested in different growing time, and offer theoretical guide for the optimization of seeds' production technology, we analyzed the apparent size, 1 000-grain weight, water absorbency, germination indexes, postharvest embryo rate change, relatively contents of coumarins and the yield of single plant of its seeds of different harvesting time, and compared their comprehensive quality by Topsis analysis. The results showed that there existed obvious differences in yield and quality between seeds of 3 harvesting times. While the harvesting time postponed, the yield of single plant raised, and the shrunken seeds rate decreased, the quality of seedlings increased, while the contents of coumarins showed a steady increase, and the germination rate decreased. The comprehensive quality of the seeds harvested in the black ripe time rank the first place, followed by the brown ripe time and the yellow ripe time. As the harvesting time delays, the seeds' comprehensive quality increases, therefore, we could put off the seeds' harvesting time properly for the high efficient seed production.
Bupleurum ; growth & development ; metabolism ; physiology ; Germination ; Plant Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Quality Control ; Seeds ; growth & development ; metabolism ; physiology ; Solubility ; Time Factors ; Water ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore material bases and neurobiological mechanisms of "Shen storing will" by observing learning and memory capacities and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor expressions in Shen deficiency constitution (SDC) rats.

METHODSTotally 40 SD rats were randomly divided into the model group, the Zuogui Pill (ZP) group, the Yougui Pill (YP) group, the blank control group (consisting of normal pregnant rats), 10 in each group. SDC young rat model (inherent deficiency and postnatal malnutrition) was prepared by the classic way of "cat scaring rat". Medication started when they were scared by cat. Rats in the ZP group and the YP group were administered by gastrogavage with ZP suspension 0.1875 g/mL and YP suspension 0.0938 g/mL respectively. Equal volume of normal saline was administered to rats in the blank control group and the model group by gastrogavage. All medication was given once per day, 5 days in a week for 2 consecutive months. Learning and memory capacities were detected by Morris water maze test. Expressions of NMDA receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B in hippocamus were detected by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, the latency period, total distance in Morris water maze test were longer in the model group (P < 0.05). All the aforesaid indices all decreased in the ZP group and the YP group, with statistical difference when compared with the model group (P < 0.05). The protein expressions of NR2A and NR2B in hippocamus were lower in the model group than in the blank control group (P < 0.05). But when compared with the model group, they were obviously higher in the ZP group and the YP group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSDC rats had degenerated learning and memory capacities and lowered NMDA receptor expressions. ZP and YP could up-regulate learning and memory capacities and NMDA receptor expressions, thereby improving deterioration of brain functions in SDC rats.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Pregnancy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

Objective　To explore the expression of Fas ligan d (FasL) protein in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its clinic al significance. Methods　Expression of FasL protein was detecte d by immunohistochemical method in 32 resected tumors of NSCLC. Results 　FasL protein was detected in all of these 32 resected tumors with variant pos itive expression levels ranging from 3.0% to 98.7% ［mean (62.0±32.0)%］. T here wa s significant difference between the tumors of different pathological types no s ignificant difference was found between the tumors of different differentiation nor among the tumors of different pTNM stages (P>0.05). Conclusion　 The results indicated that NSCLC can counterattack the immune cells of t he body and may be the molecular basis for the easily metastasis of adenocarcino ma to in the early stage.