Polysaccharides with multiple biological activities are usually considered as one of the major bioactive compounds in Chinese medicines (CMs). At present, the development of drug and functional foods related to polysaccharides have attracted a great deal of attention due to their great potential effects and diverse action mechanisms. However, quality control of polysaccharides is the bottleneck and a challenge due to their complexity and chemical diversity. Actually, the bioactivities of polysaccharides are closely related to their molecular structures. In order to ensure their safety and efficacy, the development of novel approaches based on the molecular structures for the improvement of quality control of polysaccharides is significantly important. Therefore, in this article, the relationship between biological activities and chemical structures, as well as the action mechanisms of polysaccharides from CMs were summarized first. Furthermore, saccharide mapping, a novel strategy for quality control of bioactive polysaccharides from CMs, was introduced and the application and perspectives were also discussed.
Carbohydrate Sequence ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; Quality Control

Objective: To investigate the effect of diabetes on the intensity of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA2a)-SUMOylation and SERCA2a activity of myocardium in experimental rats.
Methods: The 8 weeks old SD rats were divided into 2 groups, Diabetic group, with diet-induced type 2 diabetic rats and Control group, with normal rats. The systolic and diastolic cardiac functions were evaluated by echocardiography and left ventricular pressure measurement. The intensity of SERCA2a-SUMOylation was examined by co-immunoprecipitation and SUMOylation kit.
Results: Compared with Control group, Diabetic group had decreased systolic and diastolic cardiac functions, especially for diastolic function;decreased SERCA2a protein expression and intensity of SUMOylation;decreased SUMOylation E2 (Ubc9 ) protein expression. The protein levels of SUMO1, SAE1 and SAE2 were similar between 2 groups.
Conclusion: The intensity of SERCA2a-SUMOylation and Ubc9 decreased in diabetic myocardium which implies that SERCA2a-SUMOylation and Ubc9 were closely related to the damage of diabetic myocardium in experimental rats.

Objective To improve the understanding of the characteristics of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in the elderly patients, and to improve the diagnosis and treatment level. Methods Monitoring results of polysomnography (PSG) from 110 elderly OSAHS patients were analyzed retrospectively. The general conditions, sleep architecture, apnea and hypopnea events, oxygen reduction as well as possible correlations between various indicators were analyzed using SPSS18.0 statistical software. Results The median rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep time of elderly patients with OSAHS accounted for 2. 17% and 76.73%,respectively. The median arousal index was 45.6 times/h. The longest time of sleep apnea was (51.94±22.06) s, the median of average sleep apnea time was 22.50 s, the longest time of hypopnea was (47.06±12.52) s and the average hypopnca time was (21.50±4.63) s. The median respiratory disturbance index (RDI) of all patients was 21.50, the patients with RDI between 5 and 20 accounted for 46.40%, with RDI between 20 and 40 accounted for 31.80% and with RDI over 40 accounted for 21.8%. The average oxygen saturation accounted for (93.45% ± 2.81%), the lowest oxygen saturation accounted for (76.3%± 10. 5%) and the median oxygen desaturation index was 31.6;times/h. BMI was negatively correlated with lowest oxygen saturation (r=-0. 378, P＜0.01) and average oxygen saturation ( r = - 0. 355, P ＜ 0. 01 ), while was positively correlated with oxygen desaturation index (r=0. 338, P＜0. 01 ). The lowest oxygen saturation was negatively correlated with the longest time of obstructive apnea (r= -0. 47, P＜0. 01 ), the average time of obstructive apnea (r=-0.316, P＜0.01), the longest time of hypopnea (r=-0.293, P＜0.01) and the average time of hypopnea (r=-0. 277, P＜0.01). The median time intervals of oxygen desaturation during supine, left side and right side position were 2.36 min, 11.54 min and 12.45 min,respectively. The median time intervals of oxygen desaturation during left side and right side position were both longer than that of supine position (Z= -6.12 and -7. 10 respectively, both P＜0.01).Conclusions Elderly patients with OSAHS manifest obvious disorder of sleep structural and sleep fragmentation. According to RDI, the majority of the patients are classified as mild to moderate in severity. However, elderly patients with OSAHS are severe regarding to hypoxia relatively. The severity of hypoxia is related with BMI and the lasting time of sleep-disordered breathing events, and hypoxia are less severe when sleeping on left side or on right side.

267 newly-diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes were divided into normoalbuminuria group [group N-UAlb, urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR)<30 mg/g, n=103], microalbuminuria group(group M-UAlb, UACR 30~300 mg/g, n=88 ) , and macroalbuminuria group ( group L-UAlb, UACR>300 mg/g, n=76). The control group(group NC) consisted of 114 healthy individuals. Serum betatrophin, adiponectin(APN), and interleukin-1β( IL-1β) levels were determined with ELISA methods and the parameters of body mass index (BMI), estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR), HbA1C, fasting plasma glucose(FPG), OGTT 2h plasma glucose(2hPG), fasting insulin(FINS), OGTT 2h postprandial insulin(2hPINS), fasting C-peptide(FCP), homeostasis model assessment insulin resistant index(HOMA-IR), and blood lipid were collected. Compared with group NC, the serum betatrophin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes were obviously increased. In patients with type 2 diabetes, betatrophin levels increased along with the increase of UACR and there were significant differences in betatrophin among the three groups(P<0. 01). Betatrophin positively correlated with UACR, HbA1C, FPG, 2hPG, FINS, 2hPINS, HOMA-IR, TC, LDL-C, and TG( r were 0. 785, 0. 225, 0. 136, 0. 241, 0. 386, 0. 223, 0. 411, 0.216,0.193,and0.298,allP<0.05),and betatrophin were also positively correlated with APN and IL-1β(rwere 0. 643 and 0. 710, both P<0. 01). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that UACR, HbA1C, FINS, and TG were independent relevant factors affecting betatrophin levels.

This article discussed on the continuing medical education for general practitioners within a nonprofit multihospital system.Literature review,statistical analysis and survey results were employed.Training situation for general practitioner at home and aboard was reviewed.Statistics on population,disease spectrum,present situation of community doctors in Luwan branch of Ruijin hospital was also analyzed.Results showed that current education system for general practitioners cannot catch up the increasing demand yet.Meanwhile patients expected well qualified and skillful physicians in the community healthcare centers.Reinforcement of continuing medical education for general practitioners was the stepping stone of a nonprofit multihospital system.Improving skills and qualifications of physician played an essential role in the urban network of medical services.

Obje:ctive To establish an optimized method to isolate, culture and identify human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) in vitro and induce their osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. Methods The hUCMSCs were isolated from human umbilical cord by digestion with collagenase. After serial subcultivation in vitro, the stem cells were passaged. Morphologic appearance of hUCMSCs was observed under an optical microscope and atomic force microscope. The proliferation rate was measured by MTT assay. Cell cycle and surface antigens were measured by flow cytometry. The osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation was tested and evaluated by specific staining methods. Results The isolation of hUCMSCs by digestion with collagenase was efficient. After seeded for 24 hours, the adherent cells showed spindle shape and fibroblast cell-like shape and the size of hUCMSCs was homogeneous. The similar growth curves of passage 3 and 7 exhibited a great potential for proliferation. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that CD29, CD44 and CD105 were highly expressed on the surface of passages 3 cells, but the expression was negative for CD34, CD45 and HLA-DR. After culture in inducing medium, the cells were successfully induced into osteogenic and adipogenic lineages. These cells were highly positive for alkaline phosphate staining and also showed mineralization presented with von kossa staining after 4 weeks' culture induction of osteogenic differentiation. Furthermore, liquid vacuoles were detected by oil red O staining after 3 weeks' culture induction of adipogenic differentiation. Conclusion An in vitro method for isolation and purification of hUCMSCs from human umbilical cord has been established. The cultured cells were composed of only undifferentiated cells and their biological properties were stable. The hUCMSCs are expected to be a new type of stem cells of tissue engineering.

Objective To investigate the currents impact on delayed rectifier potassium (HERG)regulated by cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in gastric cancer cells and its mechnism. Methods ① The HERG mRNA, protein and current in gastric cancer cells transfected with or without COX-2 antisense vector were measured by RT-PCR, Western blot and patch-clamp, respectively. ② cAMP concentration in gastric cancer cells transfected with or without COX-2 antisense vector was measured by ELISA. ③ The mutant HERG, which was absence of cAMP-binding domain, was constructed by PCR and transfected into gastric cancer cells. ④ The impact of COX-2 inhibitor and proglandin (PG) E2 on HERG current in gastric cancer cells transfected with or without mutant HERG was investigated by patch clamp. ⑤ The effects of agonist and antagonist of cAMP and inhibitor of protein kinase (PK) A on HERG current in gastric cancer cells transfected with or without HERG mutant were observed by patch clamp. Results ① The expression of HERG mRNA and protein in gastric cancer cells transfected with COX-2 antisense vector were not altered, but the amplitude of HERG current was diminished (P<0.05). ② The cAMP concentration in gastric cancer cells transfected with COX-2 antisense vector was lower than that in parental gastric cancer cells (P<0.05). ③ COX-2 inhibitor and PGE2 had influence on the HERG currents in gastric cancer cells. COX-2 inhibitor reduced and PGE2 enhanced the amplitude of HERG current in gastric cancer cells. However, neither COX-2 inhibitor nor PGE2 showed any negative or positive effects on currents of mutant HERG. ④ cAMP agonist enhanced the amplitude of HERG current and cAMP antagonist reduced the amplitude in gastric cancer cells. Neither agonist nor antagonist had effect on currents of mutant HERG. ⑤ PKA inhibitor did not influence the HERG current of parental gastric cancer cells and gastric cancer cells transfected with mutant. Conclusions COX-2 regulates HERG current through its catalytic product of PGE2, which binds with its receptor on the gastric cancer cells and alters cAMP level in gastric cancer cells, cAMP interacts with HERG protein by binding with cAMP-binding domain of HERG protein and exerts impact on HERG current. PKA does not participate in this process.

Objective To study the effect of microRNA-204 (miR-204) on the biological characteristics of breast cancer cells.Methods Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-204 in human breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231 after transfection of miR-204 mimics and inhibitor for 48 h.Flow cytometry was used to analyse the effect of miR-204 on the proliferation and apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells.The effect of miR-204 on the migration of MDA-MB-231 cells was detected by Transwell migration assay.Results Real-time PCR analysis showed that miR-204 mimics and inhibitors had significant effect compared with normal control group(P<0.01).Flow cytometry analysis showed that compared with normal control group,the number of G1 phase cells of miR-204 mimics group was significantly decreased(P<0.01),while the number of G2/M cells of miR-204 mimics group was significantly increased(P<0.01).In contrast,the number of G1 phase cells of miR-204 inhibitor group was significantly increased(P<0.01),while the number of G2/M cells of miR-204 inhibitor group was significantly decreased(P<0.01).miR-204 mimics group significantly promoted apoptosis,while the inhibitor group significantly inhibited apoptosis(P<0.01).Transwell migration analysis showed that the number of cells of miR-204 mimics group were significantly reduced,while the number of cells was significantly increased in the inhibitor group(P<0.01).Conclusion We find miR-204,which can promote cell apoptosis and inhibit cell proliferation and migration,is a negative factor in the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231.

Objective To evaluate the effect of schistosomiasis control in Yunnan Province since achieving the transmission control standards,so as to provide the evidence for formulating the next prevention and control strategy. Methods The schistoso-miasis epidemic monitoring reports,annual reports,relevant information about Oncomelania hupensis snails,and schistosomiasis patient conditions were collected and analyzed for epidemic condition and characteristics of schistosomiasis in Yunnan Province from 2009 to 2012. Results The various epidemic monitoring indicators all decreased. In 2012,compared with 2009,the preva-lence reduced by 33.33%after correction;the number of villages with schistosomiasis patients reduced by 55.56%;the adjusted positive rate of livestock stool tests reduced by 45.45%;the number of villages with infected cow reduced by 42.25%;the actual area with snails reduced by 13.58%;the density of living snails reduced by 25.66%,and no schistosome infected snails were found in 2012. Conclusion There still exist schistosome infections in human and animals in some local areas of Yunnan Prov-ince,and it is difficult to achieve the standard of schistosomiasis transmission interrupted in a short period.

Objective To explore the changes of CD40 and CD40 ligand(CD40L) levels and investigate their significances in children with graft-versus-host disease(GVHD)after related-donor human leukocyte antigen(HLA) matching allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT).Methods Nineteen patients with ?-thalassemia major and 1 patient with congenital inherent hemolytic anemia accepted umbilical cord blood transplantation(UCBT) and allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation(allo-PBSCT),respectively,and all cases were received successfully related-donor human leukocyte antigen matching allogeneic HSCT.Peripheral blood samples were obtained before and after transplantation,the time when GVHD happened,the expressions of CD40 and CD40L were measured by using immunofluresence asssy.Results Four UCBT children and 3 allo-PBSCT children had no acute GVHD.Thirteen children had acute GVHD(degreeⅠ-Ⅳ),the expressions of CD40L on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the patients with acute GVHD increased,especially in allo-PBSCT.Five cases of UCBT and 12 cases of allo-PBSCT patients had chronic GVHD,the expressions of CD40L+,CD25+ and CD69+ on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in patients with chronic GVHD increased obviously.The expression of CD19+CD40+ was lower than normal within 3 months after transplantation.Conclusions The high expression of CD40L+T cells in periferal blood after HSCT was related to the activation and proliferation of T cells in the development of GVHD in HSCT.