Objective To explore the combination effect of unmethylated cytosine-phosphate-guanine oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG ODN) 1826 and X-rays on Lewis lung cancer in mouse and the dose response of CpG ODN.Methods The tumor-bearing mouse model was established by injecting Lewis lung cancer cells into the right infra-axillary dermis of mouse.Sixty-four C57BL /6 J mice were evenly randomized into eight groups with 8 mice each:control group,IR group,CpG OND1826 0.15 mg group,CpG OND1826 0.3 mg group,CpG OND1826 0.45 mg group,CpG OND1826 0.15 mg + IR group,CpG OND1826 0.30 mg+ IR group,and CpG OND1826 0.45 mg + IR group.On the 1st,2nd,and 9th days,CpG ODN was injected into mouse.After 3 hours of injection,the mice were start to irradiate with X-rays once a day on the 2nd-6th days,and the total dose was 12.50 Gy.Tumor growth and TGD were measured,and the apoptosis of tumor cells were examined with TUNEL.Results The Lewis lung cancer-bearing model was successfully established in all mice.Under the treatments of CpG OND1826 and irradiation,the tumor volumes were smaller than that of control group,and the tumor volumes of CpG OND1826 0.45 mg+IR group was the smallest.TUNEL results revealed that the apoptosis rate were (2.40 ± 0.51 )％ in control group,(5.62 ±0.50)％ in IR,(7.13±0.83)％ in CpG OND1826 0.15 mg,(11.63±1.06)％ in CpG OND1826 0.3 mg,(19.13 ±0.83)％ in CpG OND1826 0.45 rag,( 12.88±0.83)％ in CpG OND1826 0.15 mg+ IR,(20.57±2.37)％ in CpG OND1826 0.3 mg+ IR,and (28.17 ±3.31)％ in CpG OND1826 0.45 mg + IR group,and thus the apoptosis rate of every therapy group was higher than that in control ( t=11.15,7.91,17.82,39.48,24.73,16.61 and 17.05,P＜0.05).The apoptosis rates of CpG ODN1826 plus X-ray irradiation group were significantly higher than those in IR alone ( t =13.78,15.08 and 17.47,P＜0.05 ) or CpG ODN group (t=18.53,9.66and7.51,P＜0.05).Conclusions CpG ODN1826 can dramatically increase the efficiency of radiotherapy by inhibiting tumor growth and promoting lumor apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of escitalopram in the treatment of chronic subjec-tive dizziness ( CSD) . Methods A total of 90 CSD patients randomly divided into medication group ( n=32) ,vestibular reha-bilitation group (n=27) and psychological intervention group (n=31).Patients in the medication group treated with escitalopram (10-20 mg?d-1,PO),those in the vestibular rehabilitation group were underwent vestibular rehabilitation training and those in the psychological intervention group were given cognitive behavioral therapy. The treatment course lasted six weeks. All patients were evaluated by zDHI,HAMA and HAMD before and after the treatments. Results The total scores of HAMA,HAMD,DHI and the respective factor scores of DHI were significantly decreased in each group after 6-week treatment when compared with those before the treatment (P<0.01).The total scores of DHI was (30.45±15.84) in medication group and (36.15±13.07) in vestibular rehabilitation group,the physical factor score was (10.06±4.49) in medication group and (10.23±4.64) in vestibular rehabilitation group,and the functional factor score was (10.71±5.95) in medication group and (11.23±5.03) in vestibular reha-bilitation group,respectively.There were no significant differences in the three indices between medication group and vestibular re-habilitation group.But they were significantly lower than those in psychological intervention group [(43.86±12.48),(14.43± 4.37),and (17.57±4.37) for total scores of DHI,physical factor scores and functional factor scores,respectively] (P<0.05,or P<0.01).The emotional factor scores of DHI were (9.68±5.68) and (11.86±4.74),HAMA scores (9.97±4.72) and (12.18± 4.16),HAMD scores (10.26±4.91) and (12.32±4.53) in medication group and psychological intervention group(P>0.05),re-spectively.They were significantly lower in the two groups than in vestibular rehabilitation group [ (14.69±4.76),(14.96±4.77) and (14.88±4.65) for the emotional factor score,HAMA score and HAMD score,respectively,P<0.05 for all]. Conclusion Escitalopram can improve the symptoms of CSD involving the body,emotion and function.The vestibular rehabilitation training and cognitive behavioral therapy have their respective advantages.

Phagocytic capacities of both dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages(M?) in the DC-enriched fractions isolated from rat spleen were comparatively observed under electron microscope. Experiments were divided into two groups: in vitro and in vivo. In group 1, candida albicans(CA), cock red blood cells (CRBC) and CRBC opsonized with rat antiserum against CRBC (OCRBC) used as phagocytic markers were incubated with the DC-enriched fractions for 1h at 37℃ separately in vitro. In group 2, colloidal carbon (CC) (india ink) and heat killed Candida albicans (HKCA) were injected in vivo. The animals were sacrificed 18h later and DC-enriched fractions were isolated from the spleens. The results are as follow: generally, in the cytoplasm of DC, no phagocytic markers were identified except a few of DC ingested a small amount of CC in vivo and few CA occationally in vitro, while M? under the same conditions, ingested a lot of the substances mentioned above. It indicates that spleen M? phagocytose actively either to immunogenic or non-immunogenic, opsonized or non-opsonized particles (especially to opsonized particles), while DC in the same preparations are not.

TLC was used in this experiment to determine phytolaccatoxin in the decoction slices of Phytolacca acinosa processed by different traditional Chinese drug processing methods. The results showed that compared with the unprocessed Phytolacca acinosa, the phytolaccatoxin was reduced to 16.73% in the steamed slices, 21.88% in the vinegar-boiled slices and 45.95% in the vinegar-baked slices. The qualitative test found no histamin in Phytolacca acinosa.

Methyl valerate (MVA) pathway is one of the important ways for synthesis of terpenoids. This study was based on data of the transcriptome sequencing of Magnolia officinalis, the associated genes MoACOT, MoHMGS, MoHMGR, MoMK in methyl valerate (MVA) pathway, were completed in detail by using bioinformatics methods. The results of analysis showed that MoACOT and MoMK were stable hydrophobic proteins, MoHMGS and MoHMGR were unstable hydrophobic protein. The secondary structures of all proteins were hybrid architecture,and alpha helical were the major motifs. There were no clear transmembrane domains in MoACOT, MoHMGS and MoMK, but two transmembrane domains were founded in MoHMGR which were from 39-61 aa and 82-104 aa resepectively. The results of evolutionary relationship analysis showed that MoACOT, MoHMGS, MoHMGR and MoMK had relative close relationship to angiosperm or dicotyledonous plants, and accorded with genetic evolution rule. From transcriptome data, transcripted level of MoACOT, MoHMGS, MoHMGR, MoMK in M. officinalis and M. officinalis var. biloba was not significantly different. The result provided theoretical reference for study on Methyl valerate (MVA) pathway of terpenoid of M. officinalis.
Computational Biology ; Genes, Plant ; Magnolia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Terpenes ; metabolism

Twenty-three histone methyltransferase genes were obtained from transcriptome dataset of Lonicera japonica. The nucleotide and proteins characteristics, subcellular localization, senior structural domains and conservative forecasting were analyzed. The result of phylogenetic tree showed that 23 histone methyltransferases were mainly divided into two groups: lysine methyltransferase and arginine methyltransferases. The result of gene expression showed that 23 histone methyltransferases showed preference in terms of interspecies and organs. They were more expressed in buds of L. japonica than in L. japonica var. chinensis and lower in leaves of L. japonica than in L. japonica var. chinensis. Eight genes were specific expressed in flower. These results provided basis for further understanding the function of histone methyltransferase and epigenetic regulation of active ingredients of L. japonica.
Computational Biology ; Gene Expression ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; Lonicera ; enzymology ; genetics ; Phylogeny

The transcriptome represents the whole complement of RNA transcripts in cells or tissues and reflects the expressed genes at various life stages, tissue types, physiological states, and environmental conditions. Transcriptomics study concerning medicinal plants has become the most active area in medicinal plant genome research. Transcriptome analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of gene expression and its regulation. The study of its transcriptome has great significance in solving the questions of genetic evolution, genetic breeding, ecology and so on. Here we report the application status of transcriptomics in medicinal plants based on emergence, development and methodology of transcriptomics.
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Transcriptome

Objective To investigate the clinical and immunological features,therapeutic response as well as prognosis of adult onset Still's disease (AOSD).Methods AOSD was diagnosed in 137 patients referred to our department.Clinical and immunological data were retrospectively analyzed.Therapeutic response and prognosis were systemically reviewed during the follow-up period.Intergroup incidence divergence was analyzed by chi-square test.Cox regression analysis was adopted to determine factors related with relapse.Results Fever,rash and arthritis were the cardinal clinical features of AOSD patients.Elevated inflammatory indices including ferritin (128 suhjects,97.1％ ) along with neutrophilia and liver dysfunction were the main laboratory findings.Ninety-eight patients were followed up and 75％ (73 subjects) had achieved complete remission after 4 weeks treatment.Forty-one patients (42％) who had achieved remission relapsed during follow-up period.Combination of glucocorticoid steroid and disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were more effective than glucocorticoid steroid only in inducing remission and preventing relapse.More patients received glucocorticoid combined with methotrcxate and hydroxychloroquine achieved remission (8 of 8 patients) than patients who were treated with glucocorticoid and methotrexate (25 of 28 patients,89％ ) and those treated with glucocorticoid and hydroxychloroquine (14 of 16 patients,88％ ).Patients with glucocorticoid were more likely to suffer disease recurrence than those who took glucocorticoid combined with DMARDs (61％ vs 29％,P=0.004).Cox regression analysis suggested that methotrexate had protec-tive effect against recurrence [RR=0.418,95％CI (0.192-0.909),P=0.028].5％ of patients were diagnosed to other diseases during the follow up period.Conclusion Initial treatment with combined glucocorticoid and DMARDs is beneficial to induce remission and prevent reoccurrence.Methotrcxate has a protective effect against recurrence.

To investigate the relationship between sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and metabolic syndrome in elderly males in Shanghai,all the subjects (≥ 60 years old,male) underwent measurements of weight,height,waist and hip circumferences,and blood pressures,serum levels of fasting plasma glucose,total cholesterol,triglyceride,high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C),and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol were determined (Hitachi,7600),while the levels of serum insulin,total testosterone,and SHBG were determined by using chemiluminescence methods.Free testosterone was calculated by using the Vermeulen equation.Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the criteria of the Chinese Diabetes Society (CDS 2004).The SHBG level in the metabolic syndrome group was significantly lower than that in non-metabolic syndrome group [(40.50 ± 26.16) nmol/L vs (47.80± 20.34) nmol/L,P＜0.01].With increasing number of metabolic syndrome components,the level of SHBG became lowered progressively.The subjects were divided into four subgroups according to SHBG Quartiles.From Quartile 1 to Quartile 4,body mass index,waist-hip ratio,diastolic blood pressure,fasting plasma glucose,triglyceride,fasting insulin,homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance(HOMA-IR),free testosterone,free androgen index,and free testosterone percentage became progressively lowered,while age and HDL-C became raised (P＜0.05).SHBG was correlated significantly with age,body mass index,waist-hip ratio,diastolic blood pressure,fasting plasma glucose,HDL-C,and triglyceride.Age,HDL-C,and body mass index remained independently associated with SHBG in the multivariate regression analysis.In a logistic regression taking metabolic syndrome as the dependent variable,SHBG and HOMA-IR were included in the final model with statistical significance.Lowered SHBG is a risk factor of metabolic syndrome in elderly males.SHBG may be an independent predictor of metabolic syndrome,but the mechanism of how SHBG is involved in the metabolic syndrome needs to be further studied.

Objective To investigate the number and activities changes of peripheral blood endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients,and explore the connection between EPCs' number and the levels of advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs),homocysteine (Hcy) and C-reactive protein (CRP).Methods Twenty-five CAPD patients and thirty healthy volunteers were involved.Total mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated from peripheral blood of patients.EPCs were characterized as adherent cells by double staining of FITCUEA-1 and DiL-AcLDL binding,and were further demonstrated by positive cells of CD34,CD133 and KDR using flow cytometry.The abilities of cell proliferation,adhesion and migration were further observed by fluorescent microscope.The correlations between the CEPCs' number and the levels of AGEs,Hcy and CRP were analyzed.Results The number and activities including migration and adhesion of EPCs in CAPD group were significantly lower than control group (P ＜ 0.05).The levels of serum AGEs,Hey and CRP in CAPD patients were increased (all P＜0.05) and had negative correlation with EPCs' number.Conclusions The number and activities of EPCs decrease in patients with CAPD,and EPCs' number is negatively correlated to the levels of AGEs,Hcy and CRP.