AIM: To evaluate the antioxidant activity of naringenin in human retinal pigment epithelium (ARPE-19) cells andhuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).·METHODS: MTT assay was used to measure theviability and proliferation of ARPE-19 cells and HUVEC.·RESULTS: Three and 10mg/L naringenin significantlyincreased the proliferation of ARPE-19 cells by 10.8% and11.4%, respectively. Ten mg/L naringenin increasedhypoxia-, 0.3mmol/L NAN3-, and 200μmol/L H2O2- induced damage of ARPE-19 cells by 55.2%, 69.2%, and50.3%, respectively. One mg/L naringenin increased theviability of 50μmol/L t-BHP-, and 30mg/L NalO3-treatedARPE-19 cells by 20.2% and 30.4%, respectively. Thirtymg/L naringenin also increased the proliferation of50μmol/L t-BHP-treated ARPE-19 cells by 32.2%, and1mg/L naringenin increased the proliferation of 30, 100and 300 mg/L NalO3-treated ARPE-19 cells by 30.3%,10.3% and 18.5%, respectively. The reduction of HUVECwas 23.9%, 70.4% and 77.9% in the 3, 10 and 30mg/Lnaringenin-treated groups, respectively. Furthermore, 1and 3mg/L naringenin increased hypoxia-induced damagein HUVEC by 10.7% and 13.1%, and 300mg/L NalO3- induced damage in HUVEC by 41.2% and 37.7%. Threemg/L naringenin increased 200 and 400μmol/L H2O2-in-jured HUVEC by 20.1% and 21.5%, respectively.·CONCLUSION: Naringenin increases the proliferation ofARPE-19 cells and inhibites the growth of HUVEC, and haspotent antioxidant activity in ARPE-19 cells and HUVEC.

Objective: To explore levels of salivary IgA, lysozyme, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and total proteins in unstimulated (UWS) and stimulated (SWS) whole saliva of caries-free children. Methods: 94 caries-free children, aged from 42 to 54 months, were recruited from urban kindergartens in Beijing. 2 ml UWS and 2 ml SWS were collected from each child to measure salivary IgA, lysozyme, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and total proteins. Results:1) There were no differences in salivary proteins between boys and girls in both UWS and SWS, except total proteins. In UWS, the concentration of total proteins in girls was lower than that in boys (P0.05). 2) The concentration of IgA in SWS was significantly lower than that in UWS (P0.05). Conclusion:In 3-to 4-year old children, the protein composition in stimulated whole saliva is different from that in unstimulated whole saliva, and it is also different between genders. Therefore, it is more reliable to measure salivary proteins in both UWS and SWS when studying saliva of children.

AIM: To study the effects of Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration, choroidal blood flow and oxidative stress of RPE cells.METHODS: The 35mg/kg NaIO3-induced RPE degeneration rat eyes was given 25μg 1% TMP eye drops 3 times a day for 7 days before NaIO3 injection, and then 2 to 4 weeks after NaIO3 injection. RPE function was measured with c-wave of electroretinogram (ERG). Colored microsphere technique was used for in vivo experiments to determine the choroidal blood flow in ocular hypertensive (40mmHg) rabbit eyes. Methylthiazoltetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to study in vitro effect of TMP on various oxidants induced injury in the hRPE (ARPE-19 (ATCC, Manassas, VA, USA)) . RESULTS: Two weeks after NaIO3 injection, the amplitude of ERG c-wave fell markedly in NaIO3 group to 36% of control group (P<0.01). No apparent difference was observed in TMP+NaIO3 group. Four weeks later, the NaIO3 group fell to 46% of control group (P<0.01), while the TMP+NaIO3 group fell to only 77% of control group (P<0.01). There was a 67% reversal of the ERG c-wave by TMP as compared to NaIO3 group (P<0.01). The choroidal blood flow was significantly increased at all time points (at 30, 60 and 120 minutes after TMP instillation) as compared with corresponding controls. TMP had no effect on hypoxia-(1%O2), t-BHP- and H2O2-induced damage in RPE cells. 10μg/mL TMP could reverse 1 and 3mmol/L NaN3-induced loss of viability of RPE by 18.5% (P<0.01) and 23% (P<0.01), respectively. 30μg/mL TMP could reverse 30 and 100mmol/L NaIO3 induced loss of viability of RPE by 18.1% (P<0.05) and 16.8% (P<0.01), respectively.CONCLUSION: TMP can significantly protect RPE from NaIO3 induced degeneration in vivo and oxidative stress in vitro and can increase choroidal blood flow markedly in vivo .

OBJECTIVETo study the anti-angiogenesis effect and toxicity of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) plus cinobufacin on transplanted human hepatocarcinoma in nude mice, and the acting mechanism of the treatment was explored as well.

METHODSHuman hepatocarcinoma was transplanted in nude mouse, and the modeled mice were divided at random into 4 groups, 8 in each group. They were treated respectively with normal saline (GA), 2.5 mg/kg As2O3 (GB), 5 mL/kg cinobufacin (GC) and 2.5 mg/kg As2O3 + 5 mL/kg cinobufacin (GD), by intraperitoneal injection for 21 days. The anti-tumor effects was evaluated by estimating general condition of nude mice, tumor size, microvessel density(MVD) level. Expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in tumor, in tumor tissue of mice as well as pathology of tumor were detected by immunohistochemistry assay, optical microscope, transmission electron microscope (TEM), respectively. Moreover, blood routine and pathological examinations of liver and kidney were performed.

RESULTSThe tumor weight and volume were 0.65 +/- 0.25 g and 0.44 +/- 0.14 cm3 in GB, 0.70 +/- 0.27 g and 0.46 +/- 0.19 cm3 in GC, 0.42 +/- 0.16 g and 0.26 +/- 0.11 cm3 in GD, all significantly lower than those in GA (1.06 +/- 0.25 g and 0.67 +/- 0.17 cm3, P < 0.05). The coefficient of drug interaction (CDI) on tumor weight was 0.97 and that on tumor size was 0.86, all less than 1, showing the synergistic action between the two drugs. Expressions of VEGF and EGFR in tumor as well as the MVD were decreased in GB and GC, and the decreasing of these indices were even more significant in GD. Pathologic examination showed the growth of tumor in GB, GC and GD were all inhibited significantly. No obvious toxicity of the treatments to the hepatic, renal and hematopoietic systems in the nude mice was observed.

CONCLUSIONSAs2O3 and cinobufacini showed synergistic action in inhibiting human hepatocarcinoma in nude mice and the angiogenesis in tumor. Combined use of the two had no obvious toxicity to the hepatic, renal and hematopoietic systems.

Amphibian Venoms ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Arsenicals ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood supply ; drug therapy ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Synergism ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood supply ; drug therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; drug therapy ; Oxides ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

To investigate the effect and possible mechanism of echinacoside-containing serum on the osteogenic differentiation in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were cultivated by the whole bone marrow adherence method. The 3rd generation of cells were divided into 3 groups: the blank control group, the classic osteogenic-induced group and the 10% echinacoside-containing serum group. The expression of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin were detected by ELISA. The ex- pression of ZHX, protein was detected by Western blot technique. RT-PCR technique was used to detect the expression of ZHX₃mRNA. According to the result, the expressions of the alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin in the classic osteogenic-induced group and the 10% echinacoside-containing serum group were significantly higher than that of the blank control group (P <0. 01). And expressions of the alkaline phosphatase activity and osteocalcin in the 10% echinacoside-containing serum group were significantly higher than that in the classic osteogenic-induced group (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the classic osteogenic-induced group and the 10% echinacoside-containing serum group showed obviously higher ZHX₃ protain and mRNA expression than that of the black control group, with significant differences (P < 0.01); the 10% echinacoside-containing serum group showed obviously higher ZHX₃ protain and mRNA expression than that of the classic osteogenic-induced group, with a significant difference (P < 0.01). In conclusion, 10% echinacoside-containing serum can promote the differentiation of the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells cultured in vitro. Its mechanism may be correlated with the increase in the ZHX₃expression.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Glycosides ; blood ; pharmacology ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Osteogenesis ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serum ; chemistry ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective:To explore a rapid and cost-effective method for identification of Candida gla-brata through the comparison of two different methods , using molecular methods of sequencing as gold standard.Methods:From our clinic, 200 strains of suspected Candida glabrata were collected during the last 3 years and selected after incubation in CHROMagar Candida medium for 48 h.By comparing the results of the CHROMagar Candida medium, the identification of the rapid trehalose test for different kinds of strains were analyzed under incubation in the tubes for 3 h, 6 h, and 24 h at 37 ℃and 42 ℃, respectively .All the strains were identified to species level by methods of sequencing .The optimal time and temperature of the trehalose test for the identification of Candida glabrata were assessed .Two different methods, CHROMagar Candida medium and the rapid trehalose test , in identification of Candi-da glabrata were compared.Results:In all the 200 strains, Candida glabrata ferment trehalose with 3 h incubation under 42 ℃ were the optimal time and temperature for fermenting trehalose .The accuracy , sensitivity, and specificity of the rapid trehalose test were 99.00% (198/200), 98.66% (147/149) and 100.00%(51/51).The accuracy rate of CHROMagar Candida medium was 79.50%(159/200), the sensitivity and specificity were only 89.93%(134/149) and 49.02%(25/51), however, compared with the domestic current popular methods , the rapid trehalose test had better time efficiency ratio .Con-clusion:The evaluation results suggest that the rapid trehalose test has advantages in terms of operational convenience and low cost , and the results can be obtained in 3 h.Therefore, it has application value in clinical laboratory .

Objective:To investigate the distribution and drug resistance of anaerobic bacteria in the patients with oral and maxillofacial infection.Methods:Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria cultures from 61 specimens of pus from the patients with oral and maxillofacial infection in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery,Peking University School of Stomatology were identified.The culture type was evaluated by API 20A kit and drug resistance test was performed by Etest method.The clinical data and antibacterial agents for the treatment of the 61 cases were collected,and the final outcomes were recor-ded.Results:The bacteria cultures were isolated from all the specimens,with aerobic bacteria only in 6 cases (9 .8%),anaerobic bacteria only in 7 cases (1 1 .5%),and both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in 48 cases (78.7%).There were 55 infected cases (90.2%)with anaerobic bacteria,and 81 anaero-bic bacteria stains were isolated.The highest bacteria isolation rate of Gram positive anaerobic bacteria could be found in Peptostreptococcus,Bifidobacterium and Pemphigus propionibacterium.No cefoxitin, amoxicillin/carat acid resistant strain was detected in the above three Gram positive anaerobic bacteria. The highest bacteria isolation rate of Gram negative anaerobic bacteria could be detected in Porphy-romonas and Prevotella.No metronidazole,cefoxitin,amoxicillin/carat acid resistant strain was found in the two Gram negative anaerobic bacteria.In the study,48 patients with oral and maxillofacial infection were treated according to the results of drug resistance testing,and the clinical cure rate was 81 .3%. Conclusion:Mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacteria cultures are very common in most oral and maxillofa-cial infection patients.Anaerobic bacteria culture and drug resistance testing play an important role in clinical treatment.

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of notifiable infectious diseases reported in Zhejiang Province in 2020 for prevention and control. Methods: Data of notifiable infectious diseases reported in Zhejiang Province in 2020 were extracted from China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. The incidence and death of notifiable infectious diseases were analyzed and compared with the averages from 2015 to 2019; then the characteristics of some key diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ), influenza and other infectious diarrhea were summarized. Results: Totally 487 271 cases of 30 kinds of infectious diseases were reported. The incidence and mortality rate was 832.94/100 000 and 0.615 4/100 000, which were 7.05% and 14.60% lower than the average value of 2015-2019.The weekly morbidity of Class A and Class B infectious diseases fluctuated between 1.24/100 000 and 3.68/100 000, and hit the bottom in the sixth to eighth week. The morbidity of Class C infectious diseases was 154.19/100 000 in the first week, then dropped to 4.83/100 000 in the second to sixth week and maintained at a low level. High morbidity of infectious diseases were reported in Hangzhou ( 1 412.62/100 000 ), Jinhua ( 960.35/100 000 ) and Ningbo ( 921.25/100 000 ). The morbidity of class C infectious diseases in Hangzhou was 1 248.80/100 000, which was far higher than that of other ten prefecture-level cities. The diseases with high reported morbidity were influenza (438.45/100 000), other infectious diarrhea (140.29/100 000 ), hand-foot-and-mouth disease ( 99.64/100 000 ), pulmonary tuberculosis ( 41.92/100 000 ), syphilis (41.37/100 000) and viral hepatitis ( 30.48/100 000 ). More deaths were reported in AIDS and pulmonary tuberculosis, and the mortality were 0.482 1/100 000 and 0.116 2/100 000. A total of 1 306 confirmed cases, 302 asymptomatic infections and 1 death of COVID-19 were reported. Conclusion In 2020, the incidence rate of notifiable infectious diseases in Zhejiang decreased compared with the average value of 2015-2019. Pulmonary tuberculosis, syphilis and hepatitis B still have high morbidity, and the COVID-19 epidemic spread widely. The morbidity of some respiratory infectious diseases and imported infectious diseases have dropped significantly compared with previous years.

Glucose ; Humans ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; Lycium ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; Resistance Training

Metabonomics is a new method to study on the metabolic network and the relationship between body and environment, which conforms to the way of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research. In the study process of modernization of traditional Chinese medicine, effectively conjunction with metabonomics method will facilitate the integration of TCM with modern biological science and technology, and promote the modernization of TCM. This paper introduce the application of metabonomics in the research of toxicity mechanism of TCM, compatibility mechanism of TCM formula, pharmacology effect of TCM and processing mechanism of TCM. This paper summarize the problems in the TCM metabonomics research and prospect its bright future.
Animals ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; analysis ; metabolism ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; trends ; Metabolomics ; methods ; trends