AIM: To establish the method for identifying the herbs of Curcuma. METHODS: Medicinal materials were extracted by 4 solvents such as,80% ethanol,absolute alcohol,acetone and ether,the extracts were dissolved in CHCl_3 and detected within 400-4 000 cm~(-1) by liquid-film method of FIR spectrophotometry.Comparing absorption maximum of different extractions including the location and intensities of peaks. RESULTS: The FIR spectra of these herbal drugs gave different maximum absorption peaks in number and intensity. CONCLUSION: The method is both simple and accurate and can be used to distinguish four kinds of Curcuma speies.

Objective To investigate the expression of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) in lesions of patients with psoriasis vulgaris,and to explore the relationship between MBL and psoriasis pathogenesis.Methods Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were performed to detect the expression of MBL in lesional and normalappearing perilesional skin of 30 patients with progressive psoriasis vulgaris,as well as in normal skin of 30 healthy human controls.Statistical analysis was carried out by t test using SPSS13.0 software.Results Immunohistochemistry showed that MBL was expressed in lesional psoriatic skin,but weakly expressed or absent in normalappearing perilesional skin and normal control skin,with the relative expression level of MBL in lesional skin significantly higher than that in perilesional skin and normal control skin (0.636 7 ± 0.515 1 vs.0.416 3 ± 0.160 1 and 0.381 6 ± 0.310 9,t =2.24,2.32,respectively,both P ＜ 0.05).Western blot revealed a positive expression of MBL protein in all the skin specimens,and the expression intensity of MBL protein in lesional psoriatic skin was significandy increased compared with perilesional psoriatic skin and normal control skin (0.273 1 ± 0.129 4 vs.0.186 3 ± 0.193 1 and 0.149 2 ± 0.268 7,t =2.05,2.28,respectively,both P＜ 0.05).No significant difference was shown in the expression of MBL protein between perilesional psoriatic skin and normal control skin by immunohistochemistry (t =1.51,P ＞ 0.05) or Western blot (t =0.61,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion There is a high expression of MBL protein in lesions of patients with psoriasis vulgaris,which may be somewhat associated with the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Objective To explore the enhancement effects and mechanisms of IL-32β on human cervical carcinoma cells C33A to hypoxic/hypoglycemic condition.Methods After cultured in hypoxia/hypoglycemic circumstance and normal circumstance for 20 hours respectively, the mRNA and protein expression of IL-32β in C33A cells were detected by real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting respectively.Trypan blue stain was used to detect C33A cells viability in hypoxia/hypoglycemic circumstance and adding 10, 100,500 ng/ml IL-32β circumstance.The xenografted tumor of nude mice was established by intraperitoneal injection, and their volumes were tested for a given time after injecting 0, 1.0 mg/kg IL-32β.siRNA was used to construct IL-32β knockdown cells and detect the expression of VEGF.Results Under the hypoxia/hypoglycemic circumstance, the expressions of IL-32β mRNA were (6.12 ± 0.03) times of the normal circumstance (F =43.16, P ＜ 0.05), the expressions of IL-32β protein were (2.23 ± 0.04) times of the normal circumstance (F =22.32, P ＜ 0.05).The C33A cells viability in hypoxia/hypoglycemic circumstance was (51.92 ± 3.41) ％, whereas, viability in 10 ng/ml IL-32β group was (55.23 ± 3.92) ％ (F =14.25, P ＜ 0.05), viability in 100 ng/ml IL-32β group was (62.52 ± 4.14) ％ (F =35.53, P ＜ 0.01), viability in 500 ng/ml IL-32β group was (69.14 ± 2.45) ％ (F =56.28, P ＜ 0.01).After 28 days, the volume of xenografted tumor of 0 mg/kg IL-32β group was (578 ± 64)mm3, and 1.0 mg/kg IL-32β group up to (1 402 ± 142) mm3 (F =27.84, P ＜ 0.01).In addition, compared with control group, the expression of VEGF in IL-32β knockdown C33A cells was significantly decreased (F =36.85, P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion IL-32β can enhance the resistance to hypoxic/hypoglycemic condition of C33A cells, which is associated with the increase of VEGF.

Objective To determine the gene polymorphism and serum concentration of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) in patients with psoriasis,and to analyze the relationship between MBL and psoriasis.Methods Totally,67 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 69 healthy human controls were enrolled in this study.Venous blood samples were obtained from all the subjects.Genomic DNA was extracted,and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RELP) analysis was conducted to determine the polymorphism at codon 54 of the MBL gene.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to measure the serum level of MBL.A chi-square goodness-of-fit test was carried out to evaluate Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium,t test to compare the serum concentration of MBL,and chi-square test to compare the frequency of genotypes and alleles of MBL gene codon 54.Results The patients with psoriasis showed higher frequency of GGC/GAC heterozygote but lower frequency of GGC/GGC homozygote (x2 =10.36,P ＜ 0.05),together with increased frequency of GAC allele but decreased frequency of GGC allele (x2 =8.31,P ＜ 0.05),at codon 54 of the MBL gene compared with the healthy controls.The variant allele GAC at codon 54 of the MBL gene was markedly associated with psoriasis (OR =3.383,95％ CI 1.585-7.211,P ＜ 0.05).The serum concentration of MBL was (2.193 7 ± 0.816 3) mg/L in patients with psoriasis,significantly lower than that in the healthy controls ((3.269 5±1.205 8) mg/L,t=6.11,P＜ 0.05).Conclusion MBL might be associated with the pathogenesis of psoriasis to some degree.

Objective To investigate the effect of FCGR3A polymorphisms on NK cell function. Methods Peripheral blood samples from can?cer patients were collected and FCGR3A polymorphisms were confirmed by PCR. In vitro proliferation rates,ADCC activity,and expression of NK cell activating receptors were compared under trastumab stimulation. Results This study showed that the wild?type FCGR3A exhibited a higher affinity to trastumab along with better NK cell proliferation and ADCC activity than the mutant type. Compared to the patients with wild?type FC?GR3A,the proliferation rates of NK cells in patients with the mutant type were reduced by approximately 8?fold. In addition,the expression of NK cell activating receptors in patients with wild?type FCGR3A was higher than in patients with the mutant type. Conclusion Mutations in FC?GR3Areduce NK cell function,causing a poor reaction to monoclonal antibody.

Based on the research methods and technologies of science of Chinese materia medica, chemistry and mi-crobiology, the resource material conversion of functional material, biomass energy, nutrients in castoff from Chinese materia medica industrialization is promoted by microbial transformation. This will help enhance the resource utiliza-tion value, extend resource industry chains, and realize Chinese materia medica resource industry with the best use of everything, resource-saving and environment-friendly recycling economy development.

A 16-year-old male presented with a 11-year history of progressively enlarging erythema and crusting on the right cheek.Physical examination revealed an irregularly shaped,sharply marginated,dark erythematous patch sized 6 cm x 10 cm and plaques with mild verrucous proliferation.There were strip-like scar at the margin of lesions and multiple ulcers measuring 0.5 to 1 cm in diameter with firm crusts.No small jellycolored nodules were observed.Direct microscopy of multiple scrapings under the crusts showed many light brown,septate,branching and irregular hyphae.Olivaceous-black woolly colonies grew at 25 C and 35 C on Sabouraud's dextrose agar and potato dextrose agar; flask-shaped conidiogenous cells with funnel-shaped collarettes and ellipsoidal conidia arranged in flower-like shape were observed microscopically.PAS staining showed numerous septate and branching hyphae,pseudohyphae and yeast-like cells.There was a 99.73％ similarity in the species-specific rDNA sequence between the isolate and phialophora verrucosa standard strain CDC-B2152.The patient was diagnosed with cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Phialophora verrucosa.The lesion subsided after treatment with amphotericin B and itraconazole,but recurred after drug withdrawal.Itraconazole and terbinafine were administered for the retreatment of this patient.

Sinisan is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treating various diseases; however, the in vivo metabolic profile of its multiple components remains unknown. In this paper, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) was applied to identify the metabolites of Sinisan extract in rat plasma, urine, feces and bile after intragastric administration. Using MS(E) and mass defect filter techniques, 41 metabolites of 10 parent compounds (naringin, naringenin, hesperidin, neohesperidin, liquiritin, liquiritigenin, glycyrrhizic acid, glycyrrhetinic acid, saikosaponin a and saikosaponin d) were detected and tentatively identified. It was shown by our results that these compounds was metabolized to the forms of hydroxylation, glucuronidation, sulfation, glucuronidation with sulfation and glucuronidation with hydroxylation in vivo.

To investigate the protective effect of the seed oil of Abelmoschus esculentus on gastric ulcer,two acute gastric ulcer mice models were established by intragastric administration of aspirin or absolute ethanol,respectively.Clinical index of ulcer area,ulcer index,gastric volume,gastric pH value,free acidity,total acidity,and histopathological assessment were measured to evaluate the injuries of gastric ulcer and the protective effect of okra seed oil In order to comprehensively uncover the possible underlying mechanism,a series of biochemical assays were also performed,including serum TNF-α,IL-6,IL-10 and Tbil,NO,MPO and SOD in the stomach included.Moreover,the ALT,AST and ALP in the liver of mice were also tested to evaluate the possible hepatic toxicity of the seed oil.The results indicated that the seed oil of A.esculentus exerted protective effect in ethanol-induced gastric ulcer mice by reducing the ulcer area and ulcer index,declining the free and total acidity,and increasing the pH value of gastric content.Histopathological observation showed the gastric mucosa of the acute gastric ulcer mice induced by alcohol was incomplete and severely damaged,with submucosal edema and nuclear pyknosis,as well as glandular structure disappearing,compared with that of normal mice.What's more,a number of inflammatory cell infiltration occured in the gastric mucosa of alcohol-model mice,with messes of neutrophils,lymphocytes,eosinophils and plasma cells.Okra seed oil could improve the damaged structure of the gastric mucosa and gland caused by ethanol,but could not ameliorate the condensation of nucleus and infiltration of inflammatory cells.Biochemical analysis revealed that the seed oil of A.esculentus could counteract the damage induced by ethanol via decreasing Tbil and TNF-α in serum,decreasing NO and myeloperoxidase,and increasing SOD in stomach.Meanwhile,okra seed oil exhibited protective effect in aspirin-induced gastric ulcer mice by increasing the gastric content pH,and reducing free and total acidity.Compared with the control group,the gastric mucosa of aspirin-model group showed multifocal coagulation necrosis,sheet edema and infiltration of inflammatory cells by histopathological assessment.Compared with the aspirin-model group,the soybean oil group and okra seed oil group could ameliorate the inflammatory cell infiltration.Biochemical analysis revealed that okra seed oil could counteract the injury induced by aspirin via decreasing TNF-α and IL-6,and increasing IL-1O in serum,decreasing NO and MPO and increasing SOD in stomach.In a word,the okra seed oil exerted protective effect on acute gastric ulcer by anti-inflammation,anti-oxidation and hepatocyte protection.The okra seed oil deserves further development and utilization.