To investigate the chemical constituents of the endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. FJ-1 of Ceriops tagal, the chemical constituents were isolated by column chromatography on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Their antibacterial activity was tested by paper disco diffusion method. Two compounds were isolated and identified as 7-hydroxy-deoxytalaroflavone (1), and deoxytalaroflavone (2). Compound 1 is a new compound, and compounds 1 and 2 showed weak activity against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Objective To study AngⅡ induced apoptosis of HUVECs and to observe the protective effect of serum contained huangqi on endothelial cell.Methods ECV-304 cells were randomly divided into control group,AngⅡgroup and huangqi group.In the control group,cells were cultured for 18 h,and the concentration of AngⅡ were 0 mol/L,1×10-6 mol/L,1×10-5 mol/L and 1×10-4 mol/L.The cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay.Electron microscope was used to observe the change of HU-VECs.Ultrastructure of HUVECs induced by AngⅡ was observed by electron microscope.In the huangqi group,serum contained huangqi of different concentration were added into the medium and cultured for 24 h,then AngⅡ of 1×10-4 mol/L was included and cultured for 18 h,and the apoptosis ratio induced by AngⅡwas measured by flow cytometry.Results AngⅡof different con-centration could all significantly inhibit HUVECs proliferation.AngⅡof different concentration could all induce endothelial cell ap-optosis.HUVECs apoptosis was observed by electron microscope.HUVECs apoptosis induced by AngⅡcould be inhibited by ser-um contained huangqi.Conclusion Serum contained huangqi could protect endothelial cells.

Background:Esophageal cancer is a common gastrointestinal cancer with poor prognosis,and effective chemotherapy is lacking currently. Studies have shown that cardiac glycosides can inhibit tumor cells growth,but its mechanism has not been fully clarified. Aims:To investigate the effect and mechanism of ouabain in regulating proliferation of human esophageal carcinoma cells. Methods:OE19 human esophageal carcinoma cells were treated with ouabain,and cells in control group were treated with DMSO. Cell proliferation was assessed by cell counting method. mRNA expressions of Sox2,Sox4,Sox7,Sox9 and Sox10 were determined by real-time PCR. Protein expression of Sox4 was determined by Western blotting. Gene expressions of phospho-histone3( ph3),a cell proliferation marker and Sox4 were detected by immunofluorescence staining. Results:Ouabain( ≥ 40 nmol/ L)could significantly inhibit OE19 cells proliferation. mRNA and protein expressions of Sox4 were significantly decreased in OE19 cells in ouabain(40 nmol/ L)group than those in control group(P < 0. 05). No significant differences in mRNA expressions of Sox2,Sox7,Sox9 and Sox10 were found between the two groups(P > 0. 05). Gene expressions of ph3 and Sox4 in nucleus of OE19 cells were decreased in ouabain (40 nmol/ L)group than those in control group. Conclusions:Ouabain is effective in inhibiting human esophageal carcinoma cells proliferation,the underlying mechanism might be related with down-regulation of Sox4 expression and the subsequent cell cycle modulation.

AIM: To study the effect and the mechanism of crenulatin, an effective constituent of Chinese traditional medicine, on apoptosis of cerebral microvascular endothelial cells. METHODS: The following terminal concentrations of crenulatin were used in the study: 25 mg/L and 100 mg/L. Apoptosis of mouse cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (bEnd. 3 cell line) was evaluated by flow cytometer, immunocytochemical assay (Fas, Bcl - 2) and Western blotting (caspase - 3) after culture for 24 h. RESULTS: Compared with control group, apoptosis of bEnd. 3 cells in 25 mg/L group was significantly inhibited ( P ＜0.05), but apoptosis in the 100 mg/L group was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05). In apoptosis inhibited group, the Fas immunocytochemical staining was weaker, the positive cells were significantly decreased ( P ＜ 0.05) and caspase - 3 expression was decreased compared with control group; however, the Bcl - 2 staining was stronger and the positive cells were significantly increased ( P ＜ 0.05). On the other hand, in apoptosis increased group ( 100 mg/L group), the changes were just opposite. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of crenulatin on apoptosis of mouse cerebral microvascular endothelial cells possesses a dual - direction change, inhibitive effect in 25 mg/L and stimulative effect in 100 mg/L group, respectively. The mechanism is related to the alterations of Fas/Bcl - 2 expression and caspase - 3 activity.

Objective:To observe the effect of Governor Vessel-unblocking and mind-refreshing needling technique on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in cerebral palsy (CP) children with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) and investigate the underlying mechanism.
Methods:A total of 18 CP children with PVL received modern rehabilitation training and scalp acupuncture. The before-after study was conducted to compare the fractional anisotropy (FA) of the white matter fiber tracts, gross motor function measure (GMFM) score, Gesell developmental scale and changes in muscle tone.
Results:For the comparison before and after the first course of treatment, there were no statistical differences in DTI findings and FA values (both P>0.05); there were statistical differences in GMFM dimensions A and B (bothP<0.05) and no statistical differences in dimensions C, D and E (allP>0.05); and there were statistical differences in six items of Gesell development test (P<0.01 orP<0.05). For the comparison before and after two courses of treatment, there were statistical differences in DTI findings and FA values in 8 cases between before and after 30 and 60 treatments (bothP<0.05); there were statistical differences in GMFM dimensions A, B and C between before and after 30 and 60 treatments and between 30 and 60 treatments (allP<0.05); there were no statistical differences in GMFM dimensions D and E (allP>0.05); and there were statistical differences in six items of Gesell developmental test between before, after 30 and 60 treatments and between 30 and 60 treatments (P<0.05 or P<0.01).
Conclusion:The Governor Vessel-unblocking and mind-refreshing scalp acupuncture has no significant efficacy on the repair and regeneration of white matter fibers in children with PVL and CP in a short period of time; however, it gradually works along with the prolonged treatment time. In addition, it can improve the motor function and mental development and the efficacy is closely associated with the time of treatment.

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture plus occupation therapy for fine motor functions in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Methods:A total of 80 cerebral palsy kids with fine motor dysfunction were allocated into two groups by envelop, 40 cases in each group. Cases in the control group were treated with occupation therapy. Based on the therapy given to the control group, cases in the treatment group were supplemented with acupuncture at the points of the three yang meridians of hand. The treatment was done every other day and 10 times for a course. There was a 15-day interval between two courses, and 3 courses in total. The therapeutic efficacies were evaluated using Peabody developmental motor scale 2 (PDMS-2) and modified Ashworth scale (MAS) before and after treatment. Results:After treatment, the standard score for grasping (Grs), standard score for visual-motor integration (Vis), fine motor quotient (FMQ) and modified Ashworth scale (MAS) were significantly improved in both groups (P<0.05). The improvement in the treatment group was more obvious than that in the control group (P<0.01). Conclusion:Acupuncture plus occupation therapy can achieve better effect than occupation therapy alone in improving fine motor functions of upper limbs in cerebral palsy kids.

] AIM: To study the effect and the mechanism of crenulatin, an effective constituent of Chinese traditional medicine, on apoptosis of cerebral microvascular endothelial cells. METHODS: The following terminal concentrations of crenulatin were used in the study: 25 mg/L and 100 mg/L. Apoptosis of mouse cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (bEnd.3 cell line) was evaluated by flow cytometer, immunocytochemical assay (Fas, Bcl-2) and Western blotting (caspase-3) after culture for 24 h. RESULTS: Compared with control group, apoptosis of bEnd.3 cells in 25 mg/L group was significantly inhibited (P

Objective: To investigate the effects of Liangxue Tongyu Formula (LXTYF), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on brain edema in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage and to explore the mechanism. Methods: Intracerebral hemorrhage was induced by using the intrastriatal autologous blood injection. Rats were randomized into sham-operated (SO) group, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) group and LXTYF group. Rats in the LXTYF group were intragastrically administered with LXTYF every day while the other two groups were given normal saline. Brain water content was determined at 24, 48, 72, and 120 h after intracerebral hemorrhage. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) level, and MMP-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) mRNA expressions in perihematoma area were detected by gelatin zymography and fluorescence quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction at the four time points, respectively. Results: Water content in the ICH group was highly elevated after intracerebral hemorrhage, and reached to the peak at 72 h. Compared with the ICH group, the LXTYF group had lower water contents at 48, 72 and 120 h after intracerebral hemorrhage (P<0.01). The difference in water content between the LXTYF and SO groups was significant only at 72 h (P<0.01). Although the pro-MMP-9 level and MMP-9 activity in the LXTYF and ICH groups were enhanced, they were still lower in the LXTYF group than in the ICH group (P<0.01 for 24, 48, 72 and 120 h, respectively). And there was no significant difference in them between the LXTYF group and the SO group at 120 h. Meanwhile, MMP-9 mRNA expressions were increased in the ICH and LXTYF groups, but the levels in the LXTYF group were significantly lower (P<0.01 for 48, 72 and 120 h, respectively) than those in the ICH group. Also, TIMP-1 mRNA expressions at 24, 48, 72 and 120 h after intracerebral hemorrhage were up-regulated in the LXTYF group, and there were significant differences in TIMP-1 expressions between the LXTYF group and ICH group after intracerebral hemorrhage (P<0.01). Conclusion: Liangxue Tongyu Formula ameliorates brain edema in rats after intracerebral hemorrhage by inhibiting MMP-9 expression and activity and up-regulating TIMP-1.

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of Nie-pinching spine coupled with point application and injection for cerebral palsy (CP) in children with spleen deficiency.
Methods:A total of 70 CP children with spleen deficiency were randomly allocated into a treatment group (n=35) and a control group (n=35). Children in the treatment group were treated with comprehensive rehabilitation training, Nie-pinching spine, point application and point injection, whereas children in the control group were treated with comprehensive rehabilitation training and oral administration of multi-enzyme tablets. One course of treatment made up of 20 d. There was a 20-day interval between two courses. The cases were treated for a total of 3 courses. Then the therapeutic efficacies were evaluated using scores of spleen-deficiency symptoms and gross motor function measure (GMFM).
Results:After 3 courses of treatment, the total effective rates for spleen-deficiency symptoms and rehabilitation were 85.7% and 77.1% respectively in the treatment group, versus 51.4% and 57.1% respectively in the control group, showing statistical differences (bothP<0.05).
Conclusion:In addition to comprehensive rehabilitation training, Nie-pinching spine combined with point application and injection obtained better effects than oral administration of multi-enzyme tablets.

Objective: To compare the effect of scalp acupuncture and scalp acupuncture plus acupuncture exercise therapy (AET) on walking ability in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: A total of 60 spastic CP children with gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) grades Ⅰ-Ⅲ were divided into a control group and an observation group by the random number table method, with 30 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with the same conventional rehabilitation and scalp acupuncture therapy for CP. The control group received conventional rehabilitation first and then scalp acupuncture. The observation group received AET, which was to receive the conventional rehabilitation and scalp acupuncture simultaneously. Before and after treatment, the clinical efficacy was evaluated by the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) score, scores of dimensions D and E of the gross motor function measure (GMFM) scale, walking speed, and walking distance. Results: During treatment, there were 2 dropouts in the observation group. After 3 courses of treatment, the MAS scores in both the control group and observation group decreased compared with the same group before treatment (P<0.05), and the scores of dimensions D and E of the GMFM, walking speed, and walking distance were increased (P<0.05); the between-group comparison showed that the MAS score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the scores of dimensions D and E of the GMFM, walking speed, and walking distance in the observation group were higher or longer than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: W ith the same treatments, scalp acupuncture combined with AET is superior to the conventional scalp acupuncture method in reducing lower-limb muscle tone, improving standing balance ability, and walking stability in children with spastic CP.