AIM: To confirm the optimum extraction of the total-saponins from Patrinia Villosa Juss. METHODS: Optimum conditions(ethanol concentration,extraction hours,ethanol solution quantity) were determined by the uniform design test,the extract was refined with macropore resin AB-8,and samples were measured colorimetrically at ?=560 nm compared with oleanolic acid as reference substance. RESULTS: The result was 95% ethanol as solvent, extraction time for 1 h adding 8 times amount of ethanol solution at 100 ℃ water bath for two times.under this condition,the total-saponins content was 0.668%,in accordance with the design forecast. CONCLUSION: The optimum extraction technique and purified methods could extract the total-saponins efficiently from Patrinia Villosa Juss.The technique is simple and adapts for production.

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of different doses of dexamethasone (Dex) on bone quality in rats. Thirty-one SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, Control (7 with saline), Dex-L (8 with 1 mg Dex. / kg), Dex-M (8 with Dex. 2.5 mg/kg), Dex-H (8 with Dex. 5 mg/kg), with tail injection, twice per week for 8 weeks. All the rats were killed then. Their proximal tibia were processed into undecalcified sections and measured for bone histomorphometry. The content of Ca2+ and hydroxyproline in their left ulnars were tested. Bone mineral density (BMD) and biomechanical property of the thigh bone were tested to observe the qualities of bone. Compared to the control group, the bodyweights of the rats in different Dex treatment Groups decreased remarkably. Percent labeled perimeter (%L. Pm), Mineral apposition rate(MAR), Bone formation rate (BFR/BV) and so on reduced significantly. Percent trabecular area (%Tb. Ar) and Trabecular number (Tb. N) were obviously higher while Trabecular separation (Tb. sp) was remarkablely lower than those of the control group. BMD in Dex-L and the content of hydroxyproline in Dex-M reduced notablely. Biomechanical property of Dex groups decreased significantly. Dex suppressed bone formation and reduced bone turnover significantly. As the increase doses of Dex, %Tb. Ar increased, and, on the contrary, BMD and biomechanical property decreased with the reduced matrix in bone at the same time. It suggested that non-mineralized bone formation increased and biomechanical property deceased. The doses of 1 mg/kg Dex had the most obvious effect on bone quality. This dose slightly increased %Tb. Ar, however, bone formation, bone biomechanical property and matrix in bone decreased obviously. Diffferent doses of Dex have different effects on bone qualities. However the dose has no direct influcing ratio to the bone qualities.
Animals ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Dexamethasone ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Osteoporosis ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tibia ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of the mutational status of the ND4 gene and the clinical features of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients with ND4 mutations.

METHODSUsing PCR combined with directly sequencing, we identified somatic mutations of ND4 in 121 primary AML patients to couple with their clinical features.

RESULTSThere were 58 male patients and 63 female patients (median age 49 years, 10-86 years). Eight of 121 patients (6.6%) with de novo AML were found harboring missense mutation of ND4 gene, including 3 patients with A131V (3/8, 37.5%), 2 patients with A404T (2/8, 25%), 1 patient with F149L (1/8, 12.5%), 1 patient with G242D (1/8, 12.5%) and 1 patient with Y409H (1/8, 12.5%), respectively. Patients with ND4 mutations were associated with good karyotype (P=0.049), regardless of gender, age, white blood cell, hemoglobin, platelet, blast cells of bone marrow or immunophenotype (P>0.05). There were no statistical significance in mutations of FLT3-ITD, NPM1, CEBPA, c-KIT and DNMT3A between patients with ND4 mutation and wild-type (wt) ND4 (P>0.05). The median overall survival of patients with ND4 mutations and wt ND4 were all not reached. The median relapse-free survival were not reached and 29(2-53) months, respectively (P>0.05). There was no significance in the ratio of CR and RR patients between wt ND4 and ND4 mutated groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONIt was concluded that novel ND4 mutations could be found in de novo AML patients, especially in patients with good karyotype. Thus, ND4 mutations might play an important role in AML prognosis. However, whether the mitochondria dysfunction contribute to leukemogenesis needs to be further investigated.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; NADH Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; Prognosis ; Young Adult