This study was aimed to explore the resource diversity and microbial inhibition activity of endophytic fungi from medicinal plant Plantago asiatica L. The endophytic fungi were isolated from the root, stem and leaf of the host by tissue inoculation culture and five plant pathogenic fungi and four bacteria strains used as indicating microbes to test microbial inhibition activity by agar plate antagonistic action and modified agar gel diffusion methods. The results indicated that thirteen fungal endophytic strains were isolated from the host. Most of them came from stem, then leaf, and root as the least in number. The isolated strains attribute to five genera, two fam-ilies, and two orders based on morphological characteristics. For the isolated strains, eleven of them were found to have some microbial inhibition activities against one or more indicating fungi, making up 84.6% of the total iso-lates. Six isolated strains had some antimicrobial activities against one or more indicating bacteria, amounting to 46.2% of the total isolates. Three isolated active strains, which are PAEFS001, PAEFS007 and PAEFS008, ex-hibited evident inhibition activities against five kinds of pathogenic fungi used in the trials respectively. The strain of PAEFS001 ascribed to Ozonium sp. Both strains of PAEFS007 and PAEFS008 ascribed to Aspergillus sp. One active strain of PAEFS003 showed evident antibacterial activities to Bacillus subtilis and Staphyloccus aureus, which belonged to Fusidium sp. The endophytic fungi from medicinal plant Plantago asiatica L. have evident an-timicrobial activities. Their inhibition activities against pathogenic fungi have relatively broad spectrum. And their inhibition activities to both Bacillus subtilis and Staphyloccus aureus as G+ are evident and have certain selectivi-ty. It is feasible to find new bioactive compounds associated with endophytic fungi from Plantago asiatica L. Fur-ther research and development of the endophyic fungi will be important for the integrated utilization of the host.

Objective To explore the effect of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) on adhesion,migration and morphology of mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).Methods We isolated and cultured BMSCs from wild-type and NCAM gene knockout mice.The expression of NCAM was detected by Western blot and immunofluorescence.Wound healing and adhesion assays were used to detect cell migration and adhesion ability respectively.The morphological changes were observed and the expressings of protein β1 integrin,E-cadherin,β-catenin and N-cadherin were analysed by Western blot.Results The migration and adhesion of BMSCs were significantly reduced after NCAM gene knockout.Meanwhile,the expression of β1 integrin was lower than those in wild-type BMSCs (P<0.01).The morphology of NCAM gene knockout BMSCs changed from irregular to flattened,and expressed epithelial identification marker E-cadherin and β-catenin (P<0.05).However,the expression level of mesenchymal identification marker N-cadherin was decreased (P<0.01).Conclusions NCAM is involved in adhesion and migration of BMSCs via regulating the expression of β1 integrin.Furthermore,NCAMmay negatively regulate the mesenchymal-epithelial transitions of BMSCs.

Objective To investigate the prevention and cure effects of irbesartan on diabetic nephropathy.Methods The tissues of kidneys were harvested for histomorphometry and transmission electron microscope observation.The nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B) activity was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assays(EMSA) in renal tissue and the level of TNF-? was measured by radio-immunity in serum.Results The glomerular basement membrane thickening,the numbers of total glomerular cells and monocyt cells in a glomerulus in experimental group were less than those of the control group.The NF-?B activity and TNF-? level were positively correlated with glomerular basement membrane thickening.Conclusion The irbesartan can prevent and cure diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting NF-?B and depressing inflammatory response.

0.05).At the end of the experiment the doses of mixed insulin group were higher than that of glargine group significantly(P

Bone Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fibroma ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Humans ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; diagnosis ; Radiography ; Syndrome

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics that affect the early outcomes of the elderly patients with transient ischemic attack(TIA) and provide the guidance for the prediction of disease recurrence.Methods:From January 2016 to December 2019, 315 TIA patients over 60 years old based on the time-clinical definition who were admitted to the department of neurology in Beijing Shijitan Hospital were divided into recurrence cerebrovascular events group(RCVEs group) and non-recurrence cerebrovascular events group(non-RCVEs group) according to the recurrence at 1 month after onset. The clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared by Logsitic regression analysis.Results:There were 29 cases in the RCVEs group and 286 cases in the non-RCVEs group. Compared to the non-RCVEs group, patients in RCVEs group were more likely have higher prevalence of hypertension history(14/15, 83/203), moderate or severe intracranial artery stenosis(21/8, 132/154), carotid stenosis(22/7, 107/179), DWI positive, motor symptoms, carotid artery stenting and higher times of TIA episodes(2(2, 3), 2(1, 2)), fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels(8.86(8.17, 9.56)mmol/L, 5.82(5.27, 6.33)mmol/L). Logistic regression analysis showed that patients in RCVEs group had a DWI positive( B=1.634, OR=5.124, 95% CI: 2.898-9.059, P=0.000) and higher prevalence of moderate to severe stenosis of carotid artery( B=0.572, OR=1.773, 95% CI: 1.050-2.993, P=0.032). Conclusion:DWI positive and moderate to severe carotid stenosis may influence the early poor prognosis in patients with TIA.

In order to establish a rapid method for identifying six constituents in Guizhi Fuling capsule, Q-TOF with DART ion source was used to perform the direct analysis of compounds in Guizhi Fuling capsule. The DART sampler delivery rate was 0.2 mm s(-1). The temperature of helium gas of DART was 450 degrees C. The capillary voltage was kept at 1 000 V. The temperature of the drying gas of Agilent 6538 Q-TOF MS was set at 350 degrees C. The flow rate of the drying gas of MS was set at 3.5 L x min(-1). The MS scan range was m/z 50-1 000. Based on accurate mass measurements and the elemental compositions of the product ions and fragmentation patterns of reference conpounds, six components, amygdalin, paeonol, paeoniflorin, cinnamic acids, gallic acid, benzoic acid were identified rapidly. The method can rapidly identify six chemical constituents in three batch of Guizhi Fuling capsule. The DART-Q-TOF-MS method is simple, rapid and specific and it can be used for rapid identification and characterization of compounds in traditional Chinese medicines.
Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical outcomes rating scale for heart failure (HF) based on patients' report.

METHODSTCM clinical outcomes rating scale for HF (TCM-HF-PRO) were evaluated based on 340 HF patients' report from multiple centers. The completion of the investigation was recorded. Cronbach's α coefficient and split-half reliability were used for reliability analysis, and factor analysis was used to assess the construct validity of the rating scale. Pearson correlation analysis was then used for criterion validity analysis. Discriminant analysis was used to assess the responsiveness of the scale. All 340 HF patients having complete TCM-HF-PRO data were assigned to the treatment group and the control group by central randomization. The total TCM-HF-PRO scores of the two groups were compared using paired t-test to reflect the longitude responsiveness of the scale before treatment and at week 2 after treatment.

RESULTS(1) The recycling rate of the scale was 100.0%. One of them was not filled completely, which was rejected thereby. So the completion rate was 99.7%. The completion time for TCM-HF-PRO scale ranged 15 to 25 min. (2) The Cronbach's α coefficient of rating scale was 0.903, split-half reliability was 0.844 and 0.849. (3) Confirmatory factor analysis showed that 7 factors and items formed according to maximum load factor basically coincided with the construct of the rating scale, 7 factors accumulated contribution rate was 43.8%. TCM clinical outcomes rating scale for HF based on patients' report was relatively better correlated with the Minnesota living with HF questionnaire (r = 0.726, P < 0.01). (4) Discriminant analysis showed that the rating scale correctly classified more than 78.8% of case studies having confirmed initial differential diagnosis by experts. The total scale of the rating scale decreased more in the two group after treatment, with significant difference as compared with before treatment (P < 0.01.

CONCLUSIONTCM clinical outcomes rating scale for HF based on patients' report had good reliability, validity and responsiveness, hence it could be used to assess clinical efficacy for HF patients.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Discriminant Analysis ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Heart Failure ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; standards ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical outcomes of the posterior C1,2 screw-rod combined with C2 unilateral translaminar screw and contralateral pedicle screw fixation and autogenous bicortical iliac crest graft fusion in treating upper cervical instability with vertebral artery variations.

METHODSFrom June 2008 to December 2012, the clinical data of 12 patients with upper cervical instability underwent C1 lateral mass screws-C2 unilateral laminar and contralateral pedicle screws fixation combined with autogenous bicortical iliac crest graft fusion were analyzed retrospectively. There were 8 males and 4 females with a mean age of 47.5 years (ranged, 16 to 77 years). Patients suffered from occipitocervical activity limitation of motion with pain or not, VAS was 0-7 points with an average of (3.50 +/- 2.71) points. Unilateral vertebral artery hypoplasia was demonstrated by vertebral arteriography (VAG) or CTA in all patients. Cervical X-ray and CT scans were done within 7 days after surgery in order to confirm internal fixation position. Internal fixation loosening and breakage, reduction losing, bone fusion ratio were observed during follow-up.

RESULTSNo nerves and vertebral artery injuries occurred during operation. Cervical pain obviously decreased and VAS was (0.92 +/- 0.90) points. Cervical alignment of 12 patients had well-recovered by X-ray while Atlantoaxial ventral lamina cortex of 1 case was encroached by CT scan without neurological symptom. All patients were followed up for 6 months to 3 years, no internal fixation loosening and breakage, reduction losing were found. All patients obtained bone fusion in 6-12 months after operation.

CONCLUSIONPosterior C1 lateral mass screws-C2 unilateral laminar and contralateral pedicle screws fixation combined with autogenous bicortical iliac crest graft fusion can achieve biomechanical stability and raise the successful rate of bone fusion, while avoiding the risk of vertebral artery injury and overcoming the insufficient of bone fusion during bilateral laminar screws placement as well. Posterior C1 lateral mass screws fixation is a safe and effective additional method in treating upper cervical instability with vertebral artery variations.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Screws ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Joint Instability ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vertebral Artery ; pathology

An approach was proposed to evaluate preparation technology by means of fingerprint-peak matching technology of high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD).Similarity and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) were applied to identify the 15 batches of Xiaochaihu granules from different manufacturers and our laboratory,and peak pattern matching between the composite formulae and Radix Bupleuri Chinensis,which was one of the main ingredients of Xiaochaihu granules,was utilized to evaluate the preparation technology of Xiaochaihu granules via the indexes of the relative deviation of retention time (RT) and UV spectrum feature similarity of their corresponding peaks.Eleven matching peaks were found between Xiaochalhu granules and Radix Bupleuri Chinensis.However,the saikosaponin A and saikosaponin D,which are the important active components in Radix Bupleuri Chinensis,were not found in Xiaochaihu granules from any manufacturers.The peak areas of 11 characteristic peaks of Xiaochaihu granules samples formed a matrix of 11 × 15.The result of HCA showed that Xiaochaihu granules samples were divided into four kinds of category.Xiaochaihu granules samples from the same manufacturer were basically clustered of the same category.The results suggested that the saikosaponin A and saikosaponin D are prone to structural transformation under the condition of decoction and in the presence of the organic acidic components.These active components,existing in raw herb,might transform to a series of non-active secondary saikosaponin due to unfavourable preparation technology.So the conventional decoction-based preparation technology of Xiaochaihu granules might greatly affect its quality and therapeutic effectiveness. This study demonstrates that fingerprint-peak matching technology can not only be used for quality control of this composite formulae,but also provide some guidance for preparation technology of Xiaochaihu granules.