Objective To investigate the chemical costituents from Drymaria diandra. Methods Compounds were separated and purified by repeated column chromatographies on macroporous resin D101,silica gel, and RP-18.Two compounds were identified by spectral analysis. Results Two compounds were isolated from D. diandra. Theirs structures were identified as 6-carboxymethy1-5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavone (Ⅰ) and l-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(2S,3R,4E,8E)-Z-N-(2'-hydroxypalmitoyl) octadecasphinga-4,8-dienine(soya cerebroside Ⅰ,Ⅱ). Conclusion Compound I is a new compound. Compound Ⅱ is obtained from this plant for the frist time.

Objective To predict the epitopes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv2657c protein, to understand its immunogenicity Methods The T?cell and B?cell epitopes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv2657c protein were predicted by DNAStar software package. The homology of Rv2657c amino acid sequence with the human protein sequences was prepared using Blast method, then the CTL epitopes were predicted using SYFPEITHI supermotif method, BIMAS quantitative motif method and NetCTL prediction method, and the Th epitopes were predicted by RANKPEP and SYFPEITHI supermotif prediction method. Results The prediction using DNAStar software package showed that Rv2657c protein had 5 B?cell epitopes and 6 T?cell epitopes. The protein had 6 CTL epitopes and there were 38 Th epitopes. Conclusion Rv2657c protein has both B?cell epitopes and T?cell epitopes. It may be a candidate target antigen for the studies of vaccine and diagnosis of tuberculosis.

One new sesquiterpene was isolated from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces sp. and the structure was elucidated by spectral analysis as caryolane-1, 6beta-diol (1). An intermediate 1alpha, 6beta, 11-eudesmanetriol (2) in the biosynthesis of geosmin was also found in this strain which proved sequence for the reactions, especially bicyclization preceding dealkylation.

Objective To investigate effect of Wenjingtongluo prescription combined with acupuncture and moxibustion on ESR, Fib and hemorheology in patients with cervical spondylosis.Methods 110 cases of cervical spondylosis were divided into two groups, 55 cases in each group.The control group was treated with acupuncture and moxibustion.Experimental group on the basis of acupuncture treatment, were given Wenjingtongluo prescription.The PRI index, VAS score and blood rheology of the two groups were compared.Results The total effective rate of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (92.73% vs 76.36%) .There was a significant difference (χ2 =5.636, P <0.05) .After treatment, the two groups of PRI index ( emotional score, sensory score, total score ) , VAS score were significantly reduced ( P <0.05 ) .After treatment, the PRI index ( sensory score, total score) and VAS score of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group after treatment.The difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).After treatment, two groups of ESR, Fib, PCV, whole blood viscosity, whole blood viscosity decreased significantly( P<0.05).The experimental group after treatment, ESR, Fib, PCV, whole blood viscosity, whole blood viscosity was significantly lower than the control group after treatment.The difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion Wenjingtongluo prescription combined with acupuncture can significantly improve the clinical symptoms, reduce the pain of patients and improve the level of blood rheology.

Objective To study the relationship between the genetic polymorphisms of carboxylesterase 1 gene (CESI) and the susceptibility to antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity (ATBDIH).Methods Genetic polymorphisms of CES1 in 473 tuberculosis patients with or without hepatotoxicity (200∶ 273) after antituberculosis chemotherapy were analyzed by PCR-MassArray.Results In4 tags of CES1 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP),the frequency of the rs1968753 allele had statistical difference between the hepatotoxicity group and the no-hepatotoxicity group ( P =0.0236 ).The characteristics of anti-hepatotoxicity had been shown relationship with rs8192950 ( P =0.044,OR =0.649,95％ CI =0.426-0.989,AC/AA ) and rs1968753 ( P =0.048,OR =0.556,95％ CI =0.311-0.995,GG/AA).The diplotypes with ‘ CGC' haplotype exhibited significant protection against hepatotoxicity at one copy (P=0.048,OR=0.654,95％CI=0.430-0.996).Conclusions The genetic polymorphisms of CESI might have significant association with ATBDIH.SNP rs8192950 AC genotype and rs1968753 GG genotype might be the candidates for risk prediction of ATBDIH.

Objective To study the correlation between genetic polymorphisms of interleukin (IL)-1A/1B and susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB).Methods Genetic polymorphisms of IL-1A and IL1 B in 1032 TB patients and 1008 non-TB patients were analyzed using PCR-MassARRAY method.The correlation between genetic polymorphisms of IL-1A/1B and susceptibility to TB was statistically analyzed.Results Two tag SNPs of IL-1A and three tag SNPs of IL-1B were screened for the study.There were differences in the allele frequencies of rs2853550 and rs3783526 between TB group and non-TB group (P=0.047and P =0.034,respectively).IL-1 B SNP1 rs2853550 (P =0.025,OR =1.302,95 ％ CI =1.034-1.640,TC vs.CC) was found to be highly associated with TB,while the other SNPs showed no significant correlations with TB.Furthermore,IL-1B SNP1 rs2853550 [P=0.019,OR=1.308,95％ CI=1.045-1.638 for (TC+TT) vs.CC] in the dominant model conferred significant risk for TB,but IL-1A SNP2 rs3783526 [P=0.000,OR=0.764,95％ CI =0.591-0.988 for GG vs.(AA+GA)] in the recessive model showed protective effects against TB.The haplotype ‘TG’ in the IL-1B block showed a higher risk for TB compared with the common ‘ CA’ haplotype (P=0.032,OR=1.265,95％ CI=1.020-1.567).The diplotypes containing ‘ GA’ haplotype in IL-1A block and ‘ TG’ haplotype in IL-1B block were major risk factors for TB (for onecopy,adjusted P=0.014,OR=1.403 and 95％ CI=1.072-1.836; adjusted P=0.013,OR=1.339 and 95％ CI=1.063-1.688,respectively),but the diplotype with ‘CG’ in IL-1B block played a protective effect against TB (for two-copy,P=0.006,OR=0.664 and95％ CI=0.494-0.891).Conclusion The genetic polymorphisms of IL-1B rs2853550 might be closely associated with TB,but the GG genotype of IL1 A SNP rs3783526 might have the characteristic of anti-TB.

Objective To investigate the Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections in 2014 among Beijing army recruits, and evaluate a new method for screening latent tuberculosis infections.Methods A total of 194 army recruits were subjected to chest X-ray examination purified protein derivative(PPD) skin test, antibody detection, and interferon gamma release assay(IGRA) by ELISA combined with recombinant protein CFP10-ESAT6 and latent infection protein Rv2628.Results The positive rates of PPD skin test and antibody test were 49.7% and 15.5%, respectively.The latent infection rate of IGRA test was 22.2% in 194 cases after CFP10-ESAT6 stimulation.After stimulation of latent tuberculosis infection(LTBI) with Rv2628, IFN-γ level was significantly higher than that in healthy control group (P<0.05).The weak positive group of TST (5 mm≤diameter<15 mm) had a significantly higher level of IFN-γ than the strong positive group(diameter≥15 mm)(P<0.05),but after stimulation with CFP10-ESAT6,IFN-γ levels were not significantly different between the two groups(P>0.05).There was no significant difference between antibody negative and positive groups after stimulation by CFP10-ESAT6 and Rv2628 (P>0.05).The area under the ROC curve of Rv2628 diagnosis of tuberculosis infection was 0.84.When Youden index was 0.621,the specificity was 94.7% and sensitivity was 67.4%.ConclusionCombined detection of antigens Rv2628 and CFP10-ESAT6 specific IFN-γ values can be potentially used for differential diagnosis of active or latent tuberculosis infections.

Galectin-9 (Gal-9) is a member of the lectin family expressed in NK cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, T helper cells, regulatory T cells, etc. T cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain-3 (Tim-3) interact with ligand Gal-9 mediating different immune regulatory effects in different immune cells. This Tim-3/Gal-9 pathway is associated with various conditions, such as autoimmune diseases, tumors, virus infections, and pregnancy-related diseases. This paper reviews the role of the Tim-3/Gal-9 pathway in maintaining immune tolerance in pregnancy by regulating innate and adaptive immune responses and its potential as a new target for immunotherapy in pregnancy-related diseases.

Objective To study the therapeutic effects of Ag85A plasmid DNA vaccines in a mouse model of multi-drug resistant-(MDR-) Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Methods BALB/c mice were infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical strain HB361 with isoniazid and rifampin resist-ance by intratail-vein injection and were subsequently divided into 6 groups. At the third day after infection, the mice were treated with saline (group A), vector pVAX1 (greup B), rifampin (group C), vaccae (group D), Ag85A plasmid DNA vaccines (group E),rifampin and Ag85A plasmid DNA vaccines (group F) for 60 d. The lungs and spleens from the mice were taken and their pathological changes, weight and number of myeobacterial colony were examined at the third week after the end of treatment. Results At third week af-ter the end of treatment, the gross pathological observation and histopathological examination in lung showed that the lung lesions were limited, the profile of the alveoli was relatively clear, and normal structure could be seen in 2/3 areas of the lung sections in group D, E and F. The extent of lung lesion was 50% in group D,20% in group E and F. The pathological changes in group A, B, and C were more severer than those in group D, E and F. Compared with group A, the colony-forming units (CFU) in the lungs from mice in group D,E and F decreased 52%, 68%, 78%, respectively. The CFU in the spleens from mice in group D,E and F decreased 48%, 65%, 79%, respectively. Conclusion Ag85A plasmid DNA vaccines alone or Ag85A plasmid DNA vaccines along with chemotherapy have significant therapeutic effects on the mouse model of MDR-Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the constituents from Huperzia serrata.

METHODTwo diterpenoid compounds were isolated by column chromatography with silica gel and Sephadex LH-20. The structures were elucidated by spectral analysis and X-ray crystallographic analysis.

RESULTTheir structures were determined as (15R)-12, 16-epoxy-11, 14-dihydroxy-8, 11, 13-abietatrien-7-one (1) and 3beta-hydroxysandaracopimaric acid (2).

CONCLUSIONCompound 1 was a new natural abietane-type diterpenoid, compound 2 was isolated from this plant for the first time.

Crystallography, X-Ray ; Diterpenes ; analysis ; chemistry ; Huperzia ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization